Scan barcode
toosharpbyhalf's reviews
41 reviews
A Lady Awakened by Cecilia Grant
5.0
I adored this Regency romance. Upright widow Martha will lose everything unless her husband got her with child before he died, so in desperation she hires the local dissolute rake as a stud. She has one month to get herself with child, not just to save herself but to save the local school she is setting up for the children of her labourers. Against my expectations (and his) she resolutely does not enjoy these nightly encounters for many weeks until, gradually, he shows himself a good and honourable man and she begins to fall for him, releasing her inner passions. The set up is contrived but the tale itself is wonderful. This is such a sweet book with plenty of delayed gratification, some very sexy scenes later on, and a satisfying ending.
When Love Ignites by Rilzy Adams
4.0
A wonderful contemporary romance. Jasmine is a driven lawyer at her rich father's company. Alec thinks she's a spoiled brat and he's an absolute ass about it. But then they're forced to work together on a criminal case and sparks fly. Honestly these two characters start out hating each other and by halfway through they're the softest couple imaginable. Things move really quickly in their relationship, from Its Just Sex to genuine affection to deep and lasting love but the pacing felt just right. (fair warning - the case they're investigating involves sexual assault and there's some violence in the story.)
A Duke by Default by Alyssa Cole
3.0
This is an adorable but very silly romance. Portia is the wealthy black New York socialite recovering from a wild past, apprenticed to Tavish, a gruff sexy Scottish swordsmith who does good works in the local community. She's insecure, driven and techy and drags Tavish kicking and screaming into the 21st Century. He's grouchy, separated and has lost faith in love. Both are stubborn and self-sabotaging but massively attracted to each other.
Then he is blindsided when Portia discovers he's the secret heir of a Duke (of Edinburgh?!). If that sounds silly you'd be right, it really is the MOST silly thing, but it works because even though this is a US TV movie version of modern Scotland the two lead characters are grounded and well written. Normally I would find this Theme Park Scottish thing insanely annoying but I cared about the people and their relationship. Luckily the book never takes itself too seriously and is often very funny, with Portia's friends thirsting over videos of Tavish on social media, and Tav is familiar with historical romances which is charming.
The ending is so Rom Com it even features the actual Queen of England which makes the whole Duke of Edinburgh title feel extra weird. The end feels quite sudden and maybe doesn't deal with the themes the book has set up very well. But despite it being total nonsense the characters are sincere and I really honestly enjoyed this book.
Then he is blindsided when Portia discovers he's the secret heir of a Duke (of Edinburgh?!). If that sounds silly you'd be right, it really is the MOST silly thing, but it works because even though this is a US TV movie version of modern Scotland the two lead characters are grounded and well written. Normally I would find this Theme Park Scottish thing insanely annoying but I cared about the people and their relationship. Luckily the book never takes itself too seriously and is often very funny, with Portia's friends thirsting over videos of Tavish on social media, and Tav is familiar with historical romances which is charming.
The ending is so Rom Com it even features the actual Queen of England which makes the whole Duke of Edinburgh title feel extra weird. The end feels quite sudden and maybe doesn't deal with the themes the book has set up very well. But despite it being total nonsense the characters are sincere and I really honestly enjoyed this book.
Go Deep by Rilzy Adams
5.0
Lifelong best friends become lovers when an erotic author loses her mojo and asks her musician best friend to sex her up some inspiration. These two old friends are delightful together and watching them fall hard for each other is everything I needed. Also I did not expect it to be quite this hot. Bluetooth vibrator for the win...
Whiteout by Adriana Anders
4.0
He's a buttoned-down loner who has trouble with people.and spends his time alone at an Antarctic base taking ice cores. She is the people-person chef who's only there for the season. When terrorists attack they have to flee on foot across the ice, and gradually fall for each other. This book delivers everything you would want from that premise in a slow burn romance. They have to share a sleeping bag! The blend of romance, survival and action-adventure tropes is very satisfying.
The very end of the book felt a little bit contrived and wrongfooted me as to whether the story was ending - it sets up a special ops team for further books in the series, but the romance was what I came for and that definitely delivered!
The very end of the book felt a little bit contrived and wrongfooted me as to whether the story was ending - it sets up a special ops team for further books in the series, but the romance was what I came for and that definitely delivered!
Indigo by Beverly Jenkins
4.0
This was my first Beverly Jenkins and I enjoyed it a lot, a warm and welcoming romance in a detailed historical setting. The romance between Hester and Galen is very sweet - almost too sweet at times. He's a rich Prince Charming figure who sweeps her off her feet and although it takes a while for him to woo her there's no real conflict or doubt in their relationship, which I should love because I hate the break-up part of romance books but here it felt slightly too easy. Maybe that's because their world is anything but easy, with dangerous racists looking to do them harm, and that aspect provides the peril (and a history lesson - at least for me.)
Blame It on the Billionaire by Naima Simone
3.0
This is roughly a novella length story I think. A determined woman from a deprived background beds the alpha male who runs the company she works for during a blackout, and things go pretty much as you would expect from there! That's not always a bad thing though. I found it a bit short compared to some of the lengthier novels I've read, but it hit the notes I was looking for in this type of story and was great as an undemanding quick read.