5 STARS FOR BACKLIST GEMS ✔️ Dual POVs (Jamie x Alec) ✔️ Set in Scottish Highlands ✔️ Open-door, historical romance (3/5 🌶️) ✔️ Tropes: Arranged marriage This book holds up even after its original publication in 1989. There are some more dated writing styles (like changes in POV between paragraphs), but the story is nonstop action and conflict — and it’s still bouncy and fun! Highly recommend touching on the way-back backlist!

4 Stars for Banter! ✔️ Triple POV (Cal x Min x David) ✔️ Set in miscellaneous city circa early 2000s ✔️ Partially open-door, contemporary romance (2.5/5 🌶️) ✔️ Tropes: Gamble on love ❌ CW: Fat shaming This throwback book still hits. Great banter! Cute chemistry. Excellent and well-rounded cast of supporting characters. There is a LOT OF fat shaming by the FMC’s mother (and some internalized) so proceed with caution. This is on Kindle Unlimited with Whispersync audio right now, so it’s a fun and easy read to pick up!

Did not stick the landing I fear for the future of the final book. This overly long story simply could not stick the landing and was in desperate need of an editor. The plot all seemed to be there, but the modern “girl power” moments pulled away from the storyline. Plus, the spicy scene was cringe. Every. Single. Plot twist at the end was due to her inability to simply finish the job in the first part of the book. And yet, what a world! I enjoyed spending time here for at least 75% of this novel.

✔️ Dual POVs (Maddek x Yvenne) ✔️ Set in a fantasy land with magic ✔️ Open-door romantasy (4/5 🌶️) ✔️ Tropes: Enemies to lovers, road trip romance This is a nearly perfect standalone fantasy romance — with legs to carry the larger story into more books. The romance between Maddek and Yvenne is wrapped up, but the final boss is undefeated. Their romance is really about trust. It was so perfectly plotted. Chef’s kiss. I would caution that it’s maybe not best for beginning fantasy readers. The expository chapters towards the beginning set the world up beautifully, but the author doesn’t really hold your hand through every explanation.

✔️ Dual POVs (Scottie x Sophie) ✔️ Set on a rock band’s European tour ✔️ Open-door, contemporary romance( 4/5 🌶️) ✔️ Tropes: Grumpy/sunshine; rock star romance; forced proximity; workplace romance Scott is the tough-as-nails manager to a famous rock band. Sophie is a “social media manager/photographer” that gets on a plane for a job interview and flirts with her seat mate — but it’s really her new boss! The tension is toe curling and the banter is first rate. I loved the insomnia plot line as a device to force these two back together. Even the third-act breakup seemed reasonable to me!

✔️ Single POV (Hana) ✔️ Set in Toronto, Canada ✔️ Closed-door contemporary romance (0/5🌶️) ✔️ Tropes: Secret identity, epistolary romance If “You’ve Got Mail” was actually a battle between restaurant owners and everyone was South Asian. Without extensive food descriptions, this would be a novella. The podcast transcripts were absolutely excruciating.