A cozy, hot sports romance.

Zach holds himself together tightly with family stress, a nonexistent relationship with his teammates, and a predatory contract he signed when he was younger hanging over his head.

Mali is a new presence in his life as the team PR hire. She's a vibrant, funny, beautiful whirlwind that draws him in whether he's ready or not for a mutual, confusing friendship and attraction to bloom.

I loved the leads as well as the side characters. The friendship and build up to something more was tortuous between these two in a great way.

"The bar is down over her legs, the ride already in motion. Nobody lets you off once it's going. Not until it's over."

Dual POV whirlwind of terror for two trans young adults fleeing Ohio with the hope of something better out west.

Heed the trigger warnings.

I received an advance reader copy at no charge. This is my honest, voluntary review.

In 1927 Mississippi, the town of East Cobb seems to offer safety and hope for Black families looking to follow their dreams and raise children without the threat of White violence or interference within its borders.

The torrents of anger lurking just below the surface of the picture perfect town are something bound to come to the surface, one way or another, in this haunting, excellently crafted debut novel.

I won't go further to avoid spoilers, but will say there were a handful of passages that had me reading and immediately re-reading because they were so abrupt and devastating.

A slower start at the beginning pays off as the brutal secrets of East Cobb reveal themselves.

Highly recommend. A read that will stick with you long after you've finished.

I received an advance reader copy at no charge. This is my honest, voluntary review.

A funny, emotional, heartfelt, and spicy 5 star addition to an already amazing series.

Miss Woodville and Mr. Marchand, Ginny and Gabriel, meet under less than ideal circumstances.

From there, the pair work together and interest blooms between them with Julie Anne Long's observant humor and emotion, leading to angst and spice that had me reading as fast as possible and enjoying every moment.

For those unfamiliar with the series, each work mostly functions as a standalone, but there were a few POV switches that would be enjoyed to the fullest with previous backstory, and the return of several characters who appear in each book at the beloved setting of The Grand Palace on the Thames and round out the humor and comfort of this read in a wonderful way.

I recommend reading a few other books in the series to enjoy this one as much as I did.

As a historical romance lover - can't recommend this one, and the series, enough.

I received an advanced copy of this book at no cost. This is my honest, voluntary review.

A forbidden workplace romance featuring Finley Blake, the first woman to coach in the NHL, and veteran player Beckett Kane.

As someone who loves hockey and sports romance I have to start by admitting my soft spot for veteran players. All of the older guys are my faves and that now includes Beckett Kane, who has great taste when he develops heart eyes for his no-nonsense, driven coach.

They make a hot pair with the bonus of being in their 30's and knowing who they are, while having room to grow.

I also really enjoyed the ensemble cast and the inner workings of the team. It was a bit of a slow start for me in the first vs the second half, which I flew through.

A tidy package of what I love most in historical romance:

Writing/characters that draw me in from the first page Characters with emotional damage - a darker vibe Spicy scenes that are varied and hot Doesn't take itself too seriously in several instances An ensemble cast

The length of the novel was daunting, but it covered a lot of ground between the romance and unfolding mystery.

Between Ethan and Xenia, I really enjoyed Xenia's POV. It had me hooked and rooting for her HEA, while delivering quite a few laughs and emotional moments.

I received an advance copy from the author at no cost. This is my honest, voluntary review.

Paranormal romance with an unhinged and sunshine-y demon MMC who only has eyes for the guarded heroine, haunted by a tragic future that hangs over her due to her supernatural ability.

Great spice and a more action packed second half, which I preferred to the first. I was surprised by how cozy it felt, but I also attribute that to it taking place in a queer normative universe.

This was so hard to put down.

I enjoyed Mary as a narrator. The blend of her anger and longing to be heard in her personal life and professionally, and frustration at being denied a seat at the table where scientific discoveries were happening, were all palpable.

Every decision she made was rewarded with the joy of being known or strain on her interpersonal relationships, which added to the overall tension and made the reader feel the weight of her choices.

Atmospheric and engrossing. Not entirely what I was expecting, but I enjoyed myself.