A pickleball-centered romance? Why not. Big Dill is funny, with solid character voices and an enjoyable slow-burn romance. It doesn’t stick out as something worth a rave, but it’s a fun and pleasant sports romance that did give me a few smiles. Brody Murray is a physiotherapist whose hobby is participating in Ironman triathlons. He…
Fluffy, light as a well-made biscuit and goofy to the max, Bake it ‘Til You Make It is a baking competition romance in which two rivals go head-to-head to prove they have the moistest…cupcakes in all the world. It’s a fun book especially if you’re in the mood for something insubstantial, love Chopped, or simply…
My search for a great Viking romance goes ever onward, and A Shield Maiden’s Warrior is a surprising twist on the Vikings-meet-other-people-from-other-countries trope. I had a lot of fun with this one, with its angst-laden forbidden romance storyline and surprising supernatural elements. There were a lot of twists in the plot that I absolutely didn’t anticipate,…
A very cute, simple firefighter romance, Hot Under the Collar is funny, has spice and takes a deep dive into its characters’ complicated relationships with their families. A perfectly solid little romance with some very cute cat shenanigans to boot. Firefighter Leo March and barkeeper Lynne O’Donnell have known each other forever, but one Halloween…
The Trick of It is definitely my favorite Dragonblade Publishing romance yet. Witty and laden with banter, it’s got a magic subplot, a solid mystery, and a whole lot of fun under its cape. Keep your eye out for the book’s sleight of hand; you might just find yourself enraptured by it. Welshman Rhys Caradoc…
Light-hearted but brainy, I enjoyed Sucker for You in so many different ways – as a romance, a character study, and a glimpse into the lives of squishy-headed cephalopods who rule their world. There were so many layers here, and I kept turning the pages, waiting for our heroine and our hero to melt for…
Like dukes? Enjoy steam? Like Regencies a whole lot? Then this anthology of Dragonblade Publishing authors ought to please you with Sizzling Duke Summer, a set of stories that all include dukes and plenty of steam. As with most anthology series, there are some hits and some misses. The Duke’s Deadly Vows by Deb Marlowe…
Highland Vow is a shockingly quick read, but it contains characters that stick with you. At only 188 pages, it still manages to delver a story for readers who love music – and especially for those who enjoy seeing it act as the bonding glue between two musical people who truly love each other. Add…
I was thirsty for a medieval romance when I picked up Forging a Fiancé, and it definitely scratched an itch for me. Unfortunately, this novel has a little bit of Ye Olde Historical Wallpapering, but there’s still a charming heroine to enjoy, and a perfectly good romance and some fascinating bits about life working in…
Once Upon a Reckless Rogue took me by surprise. This is a rip-roaring adventure with plenty of banter and drama. Don’t let the cover fool you; it takes a while to get to that ballroom because much of the novel is spent on the road with our hero and heroine. They hit a few bumps…
