Angsty and Hot

What was the book about?
Olivia Savage is newly divorced. She suffers from some pretty intense self esteem issues thanks to the emotional abuse of her ex husband. She’s also deep in the closet. Olivia believes herself to be fat and unattractive. She decides she is going to get in shape. On her first attempt at this she ends up running to the top of a mountain. Unfortunately, she failed to adequately prepare and ends up over exerted. Enter Eve Monroe. Eve, a personal trainer, is out for her regular Monday morning run when she comes across Olivia. She assists Olivia back down the mountain and offers her professional services. Eve manages to give Olivia her card before Olivia runs away. She runs away because she recognises an instant attraction to Eve and is headed back to the closet as fast as possible. 

Fate keeps throwing Eve and Olivia together. The tiptoe around their attraction to each other until Olivia decides to accept Eve’s professional help. The both agree to put their feelings on the back burner and focus on getting Olivia in shape. That goes about as well as you would expect it to (the feelings on the back burner, not the training). As they try to cultivate their relationship, they are faced with some obstacles and angst. 

Featured Tropes
Toaster Oven, Fitness

Book Strengths
I loved how this book addressed Olivia’s body image issues and her desire to get in shape. Eve made it clear to Olivia she was attractive and there was nothing wrong with her body the way the was. Then there was the sex! You can always count on Ronica Black for incredibly hot sex scenes. The writing was strong and there was great character development. I especially loved that the secondary characters were not just filler. They were crucial to the story.

Book Weaknesses
This might not be a problem for some people, but the book was, what I would consider, a little preachy about veganism. It wasn’t militant, just a little preachy. Oh and I would have liked an epilogue, but that’s also a personal preference.

Character Chemistry
I loved these women together. They had an instant connection that didn’t feel at all forced. It was very clear that they were just meant to be together, even though they had their issues. And did I mention the sex was hot!

Heat Rating
3 flames

Wrap up
I would love to see these characters in the future, maybe a short story.

Star Rating
4 stars

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Love conquers all! Even misogynistic ex-husbands.

What was the book about?
This is the fourth book in the series. You don’t need to read the other books, but you should. Really! Faith is a nanny. She is looking for a new position when she scores an interview with Eve. She gets the job and begins taking care of Eve’s twins. While out (reluctantly) with her friend Lindsay at the BDSM club, she sees Eve, who she is already attracted to. Once Faith discovers that Eve is into BDSM, she becomes intrigued with the idea of being a submissive. This is difficult for Faith to reconcile because of her past. They must navigate this new facet to their relationship, all while Eve struggles to maintain custody of her children.

Featured Tropes:
BDSM; Age-gap (I would add a potential trigger warning for those who are sensitive about religious fundamentalism).

Book Strengths:
So, this is my least favorite Anna Stone book, but that is because it is triggering for me, personally. It is well written, like all her books. It deals with the subject matter in very respectful ways. I really appreciate the care that is taken with the relationship between Faith and Eve. And even though it’s my least favorite, it’s still fantastic. 

Character Chemistry:
I love the attraction between these women. I also really appreciate how open Eve really is about her feelings. Even when it might not seem that way. These women truly belong together, and this is clear very early on. They really can’t fight it, which is what love is all about.

Heat Rating:
5

Wrap up:
I am really sad this is the last book in this series, and I can’t wait for future offerings from this amazing and talented author.

Star Rating:
5

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Sometimes, Love Surprises You

What was the book about?
This is the third book in the series. You don’t need to read books one and two, but do yourself a favor and do it anyway. Lindsay is unhappy. She has a job she hates, a college degree that she finds useless, and no love-life to speak of. She also has a mountain of debt she’s working to get rid of. When her friend, Faith, suggests that she sign up to be a sugar baby, The last thing straight girl Lindsay expected to find was a sugar mama instead of a sugar daddy. Camille doesn’t have time to date. She knows what she wants and she’s willing to pay for it. What she wants is somebody to do what she’s told and be a companion. Neither woman gets exactly what they’re initially expecting.

Featured Tropes
Toaster oven; BDSM

Book Strengths:
I know I’ve said it before, but I really do adore Anna Stone’s books. This is probably my favorite book in the series. At least so far. I really love the relationship between Lindsay and Camille. I love watching Lindsay come to realize that she’s not so straight after all. Watching the love grow between the two women is the best part of this book.

Character Chemistry:
Lindsay is attraction to Camille is clear from the beginning. Even if she doesn’t realize it. There’s an intimacy between the two of them that is so intense. Often times you don’t necessarily feel that intimacy that you read about, but in this book, you really truly feel it. 

Heat Rating:
5

Wrap up:
There’s one more book in the series, and I’m pretty sure I’m going to be sorely disappointed there’s no more.

Star Rating:
5

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What was the book about?
This is the second book in the series. You don’t need to read book one, but do it anyway. April wants to save her library from the gentrification that has been taking place all over the city. A chance meeting at a bar introduces April to Vicki and the world of BDSM. April soon discovers that Vicki is the property developer who intends to tear down the building the library is located in. A power struggle ensues out of (and sometimes in) the bedroom. All the while April tries to fight her feelings for Vicki.

Featured Tropes
Enemies to Lovers; Opposites Attract; BDSM

Book Strengths
I love Anna Stone’s books. She always tells these wonderful stories about strong women. The writing is fantastic and I love the relationship between April and Vicki. Vicki is one of my favorite characters. She’s so complex, and even though the book is written entirely from April’s POV, it was clear to me (even if not to April) that Vicki had strong feelings for her.

Character Chemistry
Hot! Hot! Hot! The chemistry between these women is off the charts. From the first meeting you know they are meant for one another. 

Heat Rating:
5

Wrap up
Anna Stone Never Disappoints. Read all her books! Do it now!

Star Rating
5

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• 

Sometimes, being in the wrong place at the wrong time works out.

What was the book about?:
Amy likes her comfortable life. She works in a café, she dreams about the exotic customer she has a crush on, and she ignores all the things she could be doing with her life. When she accidentally stumbles into a terrorist plot, she, along with her best friend, are forced to go on the run to try to clear their names. MI5 sends the most skilled hunter in the business after her.

Featured Tropes: Age-gap, mystery

Book Strengths:
A.E. Radley always writes fantastic books. Huntress is a little different than most of her books, but just as wonderful. I had actually had this one in my personal reading list for a long time but kept putting it off. I’m so glad it ended up on my review list. The humor was fantastic, the story was absolutely adorable, and the writing was superb. Amy’s entire journey, while being on the run, was like a comedy of errors. But one in which she consistently came out on top. This is truly one of those books where the characters really stick with you long after the book has ended.

Character Chemistry:
I loved the chemistry between Claudia and Amy. Their interactions were cute, adorable, and hysterical. From their first interaction, you knew they intrigued one another, even though Claudia thought Amy was a great criminal mastermind.

Heat Rating: 1

Wrap up: I wish I’d read it sooner.

Star Rating: 5

Want to grab a copy? Click links below:

A nearly perfect romance!

What was the book about?:
Stella Gilbert doesn’t need or want a personal life. Three years after her divorce, she’s devoted to her career and her daughter, and she likes it that way. Her sister worries about her and wants her to have more, specifically, she thinks she should start dating again. 

Aurora Shirley feels like her life is falling apart. Her dad needs a kidney transplant, and in trying to become a donor, she discovers a family secret. On top of her family issues, her best friend is being relentless in pushing Aurora to find a date for her upcoming wedding. Apparently, it’s a crime to be a dateless maid of honor.

When Stella and Aurora meet, sparks fly, and pretty soon, a friends with benefits arrangement is morphing into potential love.

Featured Tropes: Age-gap, workplace romance

Book Strengths:
Everything about this book is phenomenal. T.B. Markinson delivers every time and this is no exception. The characters are flawed, but likable. The interactions between Stella and Aurora are playful and fun. The sex is HOT. This book has something for everyone, especially if you are a fan of Anne of Green Gables.

Character Chemistry and favourite character:
Stella and Aurora have instant chemistry. They certainly don’t act on it right away, but it’s there, and it’s hot. I feel like if it were a movie, the chemistry would ooze off the screen.

Heat Rating: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

I wouldn’t mind this becoming a series!

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

If you would like to purchase Reservations of the Heart please follow links below:

It’s rare you get a second chance at love, but especially your first love.

What was the book about?:

Paige and Ria were childhood best friends. By college Paige was secretly in love with Ria. Now, years later Paige is a successful artist. She has spent the time since college trying to get over the loss of Ria, who walked away from her after an incident just before graduation. Paige is about to start a project with a gallery in Chicago, when Ria, now a famous soccer player, returns. Paige has to decide if she is going to leave the past behind and try to reestablish their friendship before Ria leaves again. As Paige and Ria begin to get close again, Ria’s ex shows up and Ria decides to move on when the owner of the gallery in Chicago shows romantic interest in her. 

Featured Tropes: Second chance romance, friends to lovers

Book Strengths:
This book is really good. I am not generally a fan of books related to sports, but it did not matter with this one. The writing was good and while second chance romance is a common trope, it was a memorable story with well written characters that were easy to become invested in.

Book weaknesses:
The only fault I could find with this book was that it lacked an epilogue. Even if it were only a few months later, I just would have liked something beyond the end.

Character Chemistry:
It becomes clear very quickly that Paige has never gotten over Ria. An Ria seems like she might having feelings for Paige, but she seems to always be holding back. Nonetheless, the chemistry is there, and I couldn’t help but want them to find their way to each other.

Heat Rating: 🔥

Exceptionally good for a debut author

Star Rating : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

If you would like to buy this book please follow the links below:

You never know where you might find love, maybe even a morgue.

What was the book about?:
Corey Curtis works in the morgue. She loves her job doing autopsies. In her spare time, she’s an MMA fighter. She just ended a relationship, or rather her girlfriend ended the relationship because Corey wasn’t really invested in it. Corey is feeling a lot of guilt about how she treated her Ex. Enter Dr. Thayer Reynolds, the new ER fellow. There’s instant chemistry between the two women, but before they even have a proper date, they are drawn into investigating the suspicious death of a construction worker who ended up on Corey’s autopsy table. After nearly getting killed, Corey and Thayer struggle to continue their budding relationship.

Featured Tropes: Work place romance, medical romance, mystery

Book Strengths:
I really did enjoy this book. The writing was good, and I would have never guessed this was the authors first book. The story was interesting and unique. Let me explain what I mean by unique, because the plot itself is not that unique. It’s the way the book juggled the two story arcs. Usually when you have a dual story arc with a mystery and a romance, the primary arc is the mystery. The romance is usually secondary. This is not the case with this book. The romance is the primary arc, while the mystery is secondary and wrapped up around the halfway mark. It was a great approach.

Book weaknesses:
I was a little disappointed with some of the accuracy of the medical information. If a writer is going to use real world things in their books, it really needs to be accurate. Two things really bothered me. First, when a person gets an intermuscular injection of Demerol it will not work instantly. It actually takes 2-5 minutes. It only works instantly when given intravenously. The second thing was the dosage on the ibuprofen. It was implied that she was given 1200 mg. That is 50% higher than the highest prescription dose. I know this seems nitpicky, but there are people out there who will read things in works of fiction and assume they are accurate. 

Character Chemistry:
I am a sucker for instant attraction. The chemistry between Corey and Thayer is obvious from the beginning. Nothing subtle about it. You really will want these two to find a way to make it work. Even if you might want to slap some sense into Corey (a lot).

Heat Rating: 3

I am looking forward to seeing what this author has in store for the future.

Star Rating: 4 

If you would like to purchase this book please follow the links below:

Marriage doesn’t always lead where we expect it.

What was the book about?:
Yvonne is going through menopause which means sex is not often high on her list of priorities. As if that isn’t enough, she comes home one day to find her wife, Julie, in a rather compromising position. Yvonne thinks she isn’t fulfilling Julie’s needs, and they embark on a sexual journey that could break their marriage or bring them closer.

Featured Tropes: Menopause, Erotica, Light BDSM

Book Strengths:
Donna Jay has written a unique book that includes a story line that is often neglected in women’s literature – the effects of menopause. We sometimes forget that we are all eventually going to experience this, and we need more stories about older women. Additionally, the story is interesting and the sex is HOT!

Book weaknesses:
While not really a weakness, there are some elements in this book that may bother some readers. I am glad I read this book, even though it would not have been something I would have read had I known exactly what it was about. For this reason, I limited my description of the book.

Character Chemistry:
Yvonne and Julie are a great couple. They clearly love each other and want to please each other. Their marriage, even with the issues, would be envied by most people.

Heat Rating: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

I am now on a mission to read all of Donna Jay’s books.

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

If you would like to purchase Arms wide open please follow links below:

Changing your life can be scary, but sometimes love is worth it.

What was the book about?:
Lauren and Andrea meet at a networking luncheon for women six years earlier. Lauren has always been in love with Andrea, but Andrea is oblivious because she’s a complete and total workaholic. One day she comes to the realization that she loves Lauren, too. They spend a steamy night together, causing Andrea to re-examine her life and her priorities. This is further exacerbated when her mother has a psychotic break from also being a workaholic.

Featured Tropes: Friends to lovers; family drama

Book Strengths:
The writing is good. All the interactions between Andrea and the other characters are authentic. Although, some are unexpected. The realness of this book is what makes it great. It will leave most readers wanting to review their own lives to makes sure we are living our best lives.

Book weaknesses:
Since Andrea’s relationship with Lauren was the main catalyst for her changes, it would have been nice to see more of that relationship develop. I understand the author’s choices, I just would have liked more of them as a couple, or even showing more of their prior friendship.

Character Chemistry:
This book is about Andrea and her journey. All the other characters, including Lauren, are merely part of that journey. I loved Andrea. She is real and authentic. Watching her growth is what makes this book.

Heat Rating: 4

I look forward to the next offering by this Author.

Star Rating: 4

If you would like to purchase Learning to Swim please follow the links below:

• 

Running away is never the right answer.

What was the book about?:

Dr Morgan Jennings and Dr Bree Parker have been friends for over three years. Morgan has been in love with Bree for most of that time, but never told Bree how she felt. She thought Bree might feel the same until the day Bree tells her she is pregnant and marrying the baby’s father, Tony. Morgan writes Bree a letter telling her that she has to go away to heal her broken heart. She gives Bree a chance to stop her, but Bree doesn’t show up. Both women try to move on with their lives, but Morgan keeps getting drawn back home and back to Bree.

Featured Tropes: Friends to lovers

Book Strengths:

I really enjoyed everything about this book. The story was fantastic. Claire’s writing is always on point. I really felt the emotion just seeping off the pages. The backstories were important, and not just for fluff. I liked how we got important scenes as memories instead of narration. I think that provides a level of depth not often seen.

Character Chemistry and favourite character:

I loved both of these women. The amazing love they have for each other is clear, even if, at times, the love itself is what kept them apart.

Heat Rating: 🔥🔥🔥

This author always writes exceptional books, and I can’t wait for the next one!

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

If you would like to buy this book please follow the links below:

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The closet is NEVER fashionable.

What was the book about?
Supermodel, Television Show Host, and Ice Queen, Darcy McGregor, is a self-proclaimed bitch. She is distant, even from her daughter. She spends her days remaking women on her television show, Style Surgeon. Pencil factory security guard, Kate Bonvilston, is recovering from a broken heart. Her mother, a huge fan of Darcy’s, signs Kate up for Style Surgeon. While they bump heads over fashion, the chemistry is electrifying.

Featured Tropes: Ice Queen, Celebrity Romance

Book Strengths:
I loved all the characters of this book. The main characters were great, but so were the secondary ones. Also, the romance was there, but there was so much more to this book. Darcy’s relationship with her daughter and her ex, Kate’s love of her brother, and seeing how hard it can be when someone really doesn’t like who they are. It was an impactful book.

Book weaknesses:
This book could have used a prologue to better explain the situation with Darcy’s ex. Up to the point of learning who the ex was, it was very confusing. I felt like maybe there had been another book before this one where I had missed crucial information.

Character Chemistry:
Darcy is annoying at first. I really thought I was not going to like her, but as with all good ice queens, it was a mask. Kate is just sweet and kind. The chemistry and attraction between the women seeps off the pages. I love melting ice queens, and the way Kate melted Darcy was incredible to read.

Heat Rating: 🔥

I will be reading more by this author, for sure.

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

 

If you would like to purchase this book please follow the links below:

Amazon U.S. 

Amazon U.K.