Review: The Prince

The Prince by Katharine Ashe
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is probably one of my favorite books from Ashe... it's so wonderful to see Libby and Kent fall for each other and overcome all the challenges society threw at them

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Review: The Duke of Kisses

The Duke of Kisses by Darcy Burke
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The book follows the story of Fanny and David, two strangers that met one cold December afternoon, shared a magical moment and never thought they meet again.
When fate puts them back together, secrets are revealed, family feuds are discovered and David and Fanny have to overcome challenges and dangers to be together.
I enjoyed this book a lot. It has a good flow, nice supporting characters that were leads in previous books (or the ones following this) and two wonderful main characters. Both Fanny and David are kind human beings and they deserve their happy ending.
The ending seemed a little rushed to me, but sometimes that is the case with the resolution of the main conflict in this book.
Overall, a great reading experience.
*I was given an ARC of this book in NetGalley*

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Review: The Good, the Bad, and the Duke

The Good, the Bad, and the Duke by Janna MacGregor
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Wonderful! In true Christmas spirit and joy, we get to see Daphne and Paul find love, redemption and hope. I loved Paul as a self-deprecating and flawed hero, someone that wanted to do the right thing, yet had no idea how to go around it. Daphne's quiet (and not so quiet) passion for life, family and friends. It was lovely to follow how they find each other again, and how their feelings bloom in between all the events surrounding them.
The supporting characters are delightful to read and Rufina is simply too cute for words.
And now I'm even *more* intrigued about William!!!

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Review: Kiss Me at Christmas

Kiss Me at Christmas by Valerie Bowman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was quite a delightful read. We've met this characters before in the series but the information is brought to the beginning of this book in case you haven't read the prior book.
Regina is determined to choose her own fate as much as possible and I admire that in her whereas Daffin is determined to behave in the most honorable way.
The book has a great pace and it's a perfect combination between suspense and romance that has you rooting for the characters to find their happily ever after. It also brings a nice introduction to the new book, which promises to be delightful.
I really like this author: she brings well-fleshed characters and the conflicts are rooted in reliable issues. A great holiday season reading!
*I was given an ARC in NetGalley*

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Review: Real Kind of Love

Real Kind of Love by Sara Rider
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sara is quickly becoming my favorite author for modern romance. There is something on the simplicity of her narrative that really lures me in. I'm caught up in her books and transported into the place, the story, the characters. Much like with Eli and Nora, I loved Jake and Clementine. I loved their kindness and good hearts. One of the main strengths of Sara as a writer is her ability to write kind and good hearted characters that are still strong and stood up for themselves. I love that messaging, I love to read about people that are not mean spirited or disguise their cruelty as "strength" or "honesty". I think that is why I'm drawn to her books so much.
Clem's family was too much, but as pages went by, you could see the facets and layers in there. Same with Jake and his friends and family.
Their chemistry was hot, and their connection.
I loved everything about this book and now I'm off to reread the other one.

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Review: Sin and Ink

Sin and Ink by Naima Simone
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What a wonderful book. Both characters are well defined and their voices are distinct as the author goes into each PoV. I love that they have shitty backgrounds and bad omens against them and yet there is hope in the end.
I loved Knox's loyalty towards his family, Eden and his values and his unapologetic way of being. He is what he is and he's not sorry for it.
I love enjoyed watching Eden's development as she comes out of her grieving shell and finds herself and what she wants.
I loved Knox's confession at the end and how he chooses to be true to himself and what is healthy for them. I love how Eden comes to his defense and how it all comes full circle for them without being a cookie-cutter happy ending. It's raw, it's real and it's wonderful. And their scenes were A´+
Jude and Simon are two characters I definitely want to know more about!

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Review: Rafe: A Buff Male Nanny

Rafe: A Buff Male Nanny by Rebekah Weatherspoon
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I truly enjoyed this book: it's a wonderfully simple story, in which two characters meet and fall in love. I enjoyed the reversals, that he was the nanny and she was the accomplished professional. I enjoyed the naturality in which they both accept each other with their goods and bads. I enjoyed the aspects of biracial relationships and how they are presented as part of the fabric of our society, as an organic piece of who we are and who we should be. *I was given an ARC by the author*

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Review: Make Me Fall

Make Me Fall by Sara Rider
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 stars! A wonderful book from beginning to end.
I adored the simplicity of the story (I mean that in the best way, as in without unnecessary drama) and the reality of the conflict between the main characters and the struggles of making friends in a new town.
Both main characters are fully fleshed, multidimensional, with ups and downs and a lot of kindness and respect for each other in between.
I loved the idea of opposites attract and that neither of them has to change, that is more about accepting each other and finding common ground.
A 10/10 rec, for sure

more details under the cut for spoilers
spoiler: (view spoiler)[

It meant SO much to me that Nora doesn't have to change her traits and that Eli accepts them and does accommodate to her needs and same from her towards him. He doesn't need to tide up or become organized...
Eli is a thoughtful hero that is respectful of the boundaries she set while not becoming a doormat and also setting up boundaries for him. Nora, at the same time, is super smart and not oblivious to the fact that he's holding back, not because he doesn't want her, but because she explicitly told him she wasn't pursuing a relationship.

I liked that the initial conflict was Nora struggle to make friends, and how hard it is to make new friends in your 30s in a new place. It's a simple but real issue that resonates with people. Eli going out of his way to make her feel comfortable and accepting her quirks, and making room for her in his life and really introducing her to his friends had me swooning.

I really loved this book from beginning to end.
(hide spoiler)]

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Review: How She Likes It

How She Likes It by Carla de Guzman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

3.5 Stars!
I thoroughly enjoyed this new-to-me author. There are so many good elements in here: a slighter older heroine with the successful career and a younger single dad trying to find his way in life.
The "role reversal" in this book works perfectly, as the author finds a way to show this in an organic way, with an unapologetic heroine that loves her career and an unapologetic dad that loves being a dad and taking care of his daughter.
Things I thoroughly enjoyed in this book:
- both the heroine and the hero's personalities, backstories and character traits
- Isabel and Regina's true friendship amidst of the competition they had been placed in their entire lives. It was refreshing to read women supporting other women and accepting others!
- I honestly loved how the characters and the story unfold from beginning to end
- Adam's loyalty towards the people he loves

Overall, a great and enjoyable read!


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Review: Rebel Hard

Rebel Hard by Nalini Singh
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was a quite interesting read. It was my first book from the author and I have a couple of mixed feelings. I loved both characters: Nayna and Raj. Their passions, their uptake in life, their chemistry and everything in between. This book has some of the best and swoon worthy lines I've ever read, such as "Don't end us before we begin".
Things I love about this book:
- how both characters had great communication even though words didn't come easy to Raj, they both made an effort to talk to each other and understand each other
- how characters met in the middle, working hard to figure out what worked for *them* instead of family mandates
- the cultural aspect around their families, tradition, clothes and food
- the fact that sometimes, people fall in love and live happily ever after

What I wish would have been a little different
- There was some unbalance in the PoV from the characters. I'm ok with stories being told from just one character's pov, but in this case, having two and relying heavily on one (Nayna) over the other (Raj) felt unbalanced to me. This also taints a little bit the vision of the relationship the first 2/3 of the book, in which is all about Nayna's feelings, hopes and dreams while Raj's take a backseat. It balances out towards the end, but I would have loved to read more about Raj's from the beginning
- Given this, the actual romance/conflict around romance takes a little of backstage against Nayna's own family conflicts and her search for her own persona. While this is not a bad thing at all, I would have loved the romance to take more of a front stage.
- Raj's backstory is so powerful and it could have taken more time and space to develop (his feelings, his fears, how this shapes his entire being), instead of just going back and again to Nayna's family dynamics.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and the author's narrative style and look forward to see what else she's working on!
*I received an ARC on NetGalley*

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Review: How to Marry a Millionaire Vampire

How to Marry a Millionaire Vampire by Kerrelyn Sparks
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

DNF at 40%
it was one God's blood too many

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Review: The Governess Game

The Governess Game by Tessa Dare
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

While not my favorite from Tessa, I really enjoyed this book a lot! Alex is a delightful character, with her background history and her ability to see the best in people. Chase's self deprecation if very own kryptonite and the love he has for the people he cares about was a delight.
Fun, flirty, witty, this book really is a good choice for when you need a pick-me up!

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Review: The Duke with the Dragon Tattoo

The Duke with the Dragon Tattoo by Kerrigan Byrne
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a fantastic read! This was a new-to-me author and I'm so thrilled that I read this book.
At the age of fourteen, Lorelei finds a dying young man and she nurtures him back to health. He can't remember who he is, or where he comes from but it doesn't stop him from falling for her until he disappears from her life again.
Twenty years later and after being abused by her brother her entire life, Lorelei is "rescued" from her wedding day by the ruthless pirate of that time, The Rook, the same boy she once loved.

I adored this book from beginning to end. The angst and the ache of the missing chances and the people that conspired to keep them apart for twenty years, to the story of two people coming back to terms to who they were in the present time and falling in love again, to the quest The Rook has to unveil his true identity, it all merges together to make a beautiful story.

I loved the heroine's physical weaknesses and how that, instead of crippling her spirits, makes her a compassionate human being. I loved the hero's journey and how he doesn't shy away from his own shortcomings. There were so many wonderful moments between them.
The overall tone of the book is wonderful, as they are the descriptions and dialogues. A wonderful book and I cannot wait to read the next one!

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Review: Whiskey Dick

Whiskey Dick by Ryan Ringbloom
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Yeap... this was not my cup of tea. Going into the "what did I just read?" category. The novella length didn't help me connect with the characters and to be honest, they claim to be 30 but they act like 22. Just. Not.

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