The Gist: The series King Arthur and Her Knights is an entertaining and light-hearted gender-bent King Arthur retelling that follows Brit as she’s pulled back in time to unite Britain by assuming the position of King Arthur.
(more…)Review: Following Maggie by Melanie Moreland
The Gist: A sweet romance that romanticizes the mundane and explores belonging through a found family trope, small-town life and an only-in-the-movies meet-cute.
Series: Insta-Spark Collection, #7*
Release Date: April 7, 2022
Maggie Andrews is heading back to the only town that ever felt like home. When she meets Sebastian, somehow she knows, together, they’ll find a life together sweeter than the ones they are leaving behind. She can help him find his future. He can be the person she needs. They only have to say yes.
Sometimes you discover home isn’t only a location on a map—but the person you share it with.
• BIPOC characters
• LGBTQIA+ characters
• characters with a disability
And doesn’t address fatphobia
• Parental neglect
• No OW/OM drama
• No pushing away
• No separation
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.
Format: eARC
Rating: 4.25-stars
*Each book in the series is Standalone
(more…)Review: Breaking the Speed Limit by Melanie Moreland
The Gist: A sweet opposites-attract single-parent romance that explores found family and starting over. However, the unrealistic meet-cute was off-putting.
Series: Reynolds Restoration, #2*
Release Date: March 31, 2022
Until she bursts into his life. A stubborn woman with too much baggage, too much to say, and a child in tow.
Far too much trouble.
Except, he likes her spark. The way she refuses to listen. How beautiful she is with her son. How right she feels in his arms.
The way she makes him feel whole.
Can he convince her to give love a second chance?
Book set in Reynolds Restoration world
• BIPOC characters
• LGBTQIA+ characters
• characters with a disability
And doesn’t address fatphobia
• Threat of gun violence (see above)
• Does have OM drama
– Heroine’s abusive ex-boyfriend (and father of her child) stalks her and attempts to abduct the Heroine and her child
• Does have OW drama
– One of the Heroine’s colleagues hits on the Hero, making the Heroine quite jealous.
• Does have the Heroine pushing the Hero away
• Does have a few days separation (both celibate)
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.
Format: eARC
Rating: 3.5-stars
*Each book in the series is Standalone
(more…)Book Review: Endless by Crystal Ash
The Gist: A satisfying conclusion to the STEEL DEMONS MC series that explores parenting, the leftover trauma of war and rebuilding for a hope-filled future.
Series: Steel Demons MC, #9.5
Release Date: December 3, 2021
The war is over. Finally, we can breathe and be a family.
With the worst moments of our lives behind us, we have only the future to look forward to. Our twins arrived nearly four years after the Sha was defeated, and now we face a new challenge–parenthood.
Whether it’s our daughter taunting the chickens or our son’s fear of water, we’ll take the highs and lows of raising them in stride. Most importantly, they’ll never know the horror and loss their parents endured. Our children will be protected and loved endlessly.
The gods haven’t spoken to us in years, but we’ve never stopped listening. When they have a message, we’ll be ready.
Endless is an epilogue novella to the Steel Demons MC series. It is not “required” reading, as the story ends in Merciless. This book shares a slice of life for the Steel Demons characters after the series ends.
• Latino Hero
• Deaf Side Character
• No overly sad parts
• No OW/OM drama
• No pushing away
• No separation
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.
Format: eARC
Rating: 4.5-stars
Note: I received Endless from Elite Author Service in exchange for an honest review.
(more…)Tender and Cozy: Harvest of Love by M. Moreland
The Gist: A tender and cozy romance that explores fresh starts and the importance of community and listening to one’s emotions.
Series: Insta-Spark Collection, #5*
Release Date: September 23, 2021
She’s a career woman, constantly busy, under pressure, and in demand. But the job that once seemed like a dream to her now feels more like a nightmare.
When the stress gets too much, she escapes the office and drives, discovering beauty in the wide-open spaces that surround her in the country. Leaving the worries behind, if only temporarily.
The last thing she expected to find was him.
Noah Edwards
He left the big city behind him long ago and forged a different path. One of earth and sky instead of steel and smog. Acres of plants instead of thousands of people.
The day she stumbled into his life, everything changed.
He saw his former life in her.
And when he looked in her eyes, he saw his future.
He was determined to save her.
Show her a life she never dreamed existed—and a love that would enrich them both.
Book #5 of the Insta-Spark collection
Complete standalone reads with one thing in common – lots of sweetness and a guaranteed HEA. Instant attraction, little angst – love and happiness abounds in this series.
• BIPOC characters
• LGBTQIA+ characters
• characters with a disability
And doesn’t address fatphobia
• No OW/OM drama
• No pushing away
• No separation
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.
Format: eARC
Rating: 4-stars
*Each book in the series is Standalone
Note: I received Harvest of Love from Melanie Moreland’s team in exchange for an honest review.
(more…)Magnetic and Delicious: The Lie by Karla Sorensen
The Gist: A magnetic and delicious sports romance that breathes life into the bad boy trope.
Series: The Wolves, #1*
Release Date: September 15, 2021
Especially not hotheaded tight ends with tattoos and impulse control problems.
That’s why Dominic Walker is completely off my radar. Sort of.
Babysitting the team troublemaker when he’s forced to volunteer for the foundation where I work means I can’t exactly avoid him.
I wish I had though. Because once I get to know Dominic, it’s almost impossible to ignore the feelings he brings out in me.
Pretty soon, I’m breaking all my rules. I just have to hope he doesn’t break my heart in the process.
• BIPOC characters
• LGBTQIA+ characters
• characters with a disability
And doesn’t address fatphobia
• Grief
• Anger management problems
• No OW/OM drama
• Does have the Hero and Heroine pushing away
• Does have a ~1-month separation between the Hero and Heroine (both celibate)
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.
Format: eARC
Rating: 4.5-stars
*Each book in the series is Standalone
Note: I received The Lie from Karla Sorensen’s team in exchange for an honest review.
(more…)Ice Planet Barbarians #11-20, A Series by Ruby Dixon
The Gist: This viral sci-fi erotica series follows a group of women abducted by aliens who crash land on a planet stuck in an ice age as they learn to survive in their new circumstances and fall in love with their ice planet barbarians.
(more…)Ice Planet Barbarians #1-10, A Series by Ruby Dixon
The Gist: This viral sci-fi erotica series follows a group of women abducted by aliens who crash land on a planet stuck in an ice age as they learn to survive in their new circumstances and fall in love with their ice planet barbarians.
(more…)Indulgently Sweet: Loved by Liam by Melanie Moreland
The Gist: An indulgently sweet companion romance to Finding Ronan’s Heart about the power of family and love yet fails to refresh its plot.
Series: ABC Corp, #3*
Release Date: July 29, 2021
He has a successful business, a family he loves, and a life he thinks is fulfilling and complete.
Until a favor for his brother brings him to her.
She sparks something inside him. Something he had no idea he was missing.
One touch and he knows Paige Winters is the woman he wants.
She and her daughter become his focus. His world.
He only has to convince her to believe in them.
Liam entered Paige’s life quietly, but from the moment he took her hand, her world exploded.
Larger-than-life, he stepped in, brightening her days and filling her with happiness.
But she has more than her own heart on the line.
Her daughter, Lucy, has to come first.
As much as her soul yearns for him, can she trust his words?
Can the seeds love plants take root and bloom, growing over the past?
If Liam has anything to do with it, they will.
Author Note: You have read their story as told through Ronan and Beth in FINDING RONAN’S HEART. But readers have asked to see it through the character’s eyes – and my characters agreed. This is a companion novel to be enjoyed with Vested Interest: ABC Corp Book 2.
• Side character with a mobility disability
• Reference to bullying and ableism
• Hero’s university girlfriend died in a tragic skiing accident
• No OW drama
• Does have OM drama
– The MCs run into the Heroine’s ex-husband who is very rude and verbally abusive towards the Heroine
• Does have the Heroine briefly pushing the Hero away
• No separation
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.
Format: eARC
Rating: 3.75-stars
*Each book in the series is Standalone
Note: I received Loved by Liam through Melanie Moreland’s team in exchange for an honest review.
(more…)Delightful and Loving: Finding Ronan’s Heart by Melanie Moreland
The Gist: A delightful and loving sweet contemporary romance that explores independence, family and meaningful connection suffered from repetitive and cliche scenes.
Series: ABC Corp, #2*
Release Date: June 24, 2021
“The Callaghan Triplets.”
“Three of a kind.”
All his life, Ronan Callaghan has been part of a group. Always looking out for his brothers. Never seen as an individual or judged on his own merits.
When his brothers veer onto their own path, he finds himself alone. Restless.
Then he meets her.
Beth.
A waitress who sees him just for himself. None of the trappings of his wealth or family.
A woman who only wants to know him—Ronan.
She captures his heart, but how will she feel when she discovers the truth he’s holding back?
Can he show her the man he really is?
That he would be rather be hers than anything else?
• Discussion/mentions of ableism (btw – the MCs and their family members are not ableist)
• Infidelity
• Hero was victim to a con operation between his ex-girlfriend and his at the time best friend
• Bullying
• Death of parents
• No OW/OM drama
• Does have the Heroine pushing the Hero away
• Does have a brief separation between the Hero and Heroine
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.
Format: eARC
Rating: 4.75-stars
*Each book in the series is Standalone
Note: I received Finding Ronan’s Heart through Melanie Moreland’s team in exchange for an honest review.
(more…)