Book Review: In Stormy Weather by Chelsea Curto

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 416 pages
Author: Chelsea Curto
Publisher: Atria Books
Release Date: July 14th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

From USA Today bestselling indie author Chelsea Curto comes an academic rivals-to-lovers romance about storm-chasing meteorologists during hurricane season in Florida—perfect for fans of Ali Hazelwood and B.K. Borison.

Nothing can rain on Quincy Monroe’s parade. She’s a woman-in-STEM with a PhD in atmospheric sciences, the host of a successful online weather show, and has one million followers on her meteorology Instagram.

Quincy has spent endless hours forging her path in this male-dominated field, becoming one of the best in the industry. And with a new job opportunity, nothing can derail her success. Except for the ill-timed arrival of Sebastian Dunn.

Sebastian is her best friend’s brother, her long-suffering academic and professional rival, and a flashy TV weatherman from New York City that everyone swoons over. Everyone but Quincy.

Over a scorching Florida summer and record-breaking hurricane season, Sebastian and Quincy are forced into close proximity. Setting aside their grudges to chase storms and stay alive is one thing, but can they weather the inevitable collision of their hearts?

WELL WELL WELL.

Not too shabby for my first Chelsea Curto book. I’ve had some reservations in regards to the spice but it was alright! Definitely spicy (why did each scene need multiple chapters???) but the innuendo was low which made glossing over them easier.

I think a small downfall was that I read Chase Me If You Can days before and I LOVED that book. This one, with a similar theme and tropes, didn’t hit the same high marks I already fell in love with. Though I do feel it was well researched and the meteorology aspects served the romance and the larger plot. I love a well balanced story.

Don’t get me wrong, I had a good time and I liked the hurricane focus in this book. And the highs and lows of being a woman in a male dominated field. I thought Quincy and Sebastian had good chemistry and I loved the way Sebastian doted on her. The man yearned, and he yearned well. I also really liked his character arc too. I flew through this audiobook and I’m looking forward to the next book in this series!

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 3-4ish open door
  • Violence: mild
  • Content warnings: sexism, misogyny, severe weather scenes (tornados and hurricanes)

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Book Review: Chase Me If You Can by Heather Frances

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 367 pages
Author: Heather Frances
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: June 23rd, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Two storm chasers find a love that could blow them away in this electric debut romance.

Wedding photographer Sloane Michaels might spend most of her year running after brides, but she lives for the six weeks each spring she chases tornadoes instead. When the prestigious magazine Nature Shots announces a cover contest, Sloane knows that winning could be the chance she needs to break up with taffeta for good and establish herself in landscape photography.

The last thing she needs is a distraction in the form of reckless “Wild Wes” Talbot. A legend among storm chasers, he’s been Sloane’s close, personal frenemy for the last decade and is the man to beat for the cover contest.

Sloane isn’t surprised when Wes gets in an accident that jeopardizes his season. But with an active weather pattern emerging, she doubles down on her need to beat Wes fair and square, and begrudgingly invites him to join her for the remainder of the season.

As they race through hail, high winds, and stormy skies, Sloane realizes that Wes might be more than the rich, flirty, Texas wildcard she thought she knew — and that the feelings blooming between them are more charged and dangerous than the storms they’re chasing.

Thank you to PRH Audio for the gifted audiobook.

LOOOOVED.

I didn’t know what to expect, but I also wasn’t expecting to devour this like I did. The audiobook was so good I found myself wandering the house to keep listening and finished this sucker in an afternoon.

I looove a man down bad and West is exactly that. I feel like he takes care of her is underused lately and I was down bad myself during those scenes. I loved the juxtaposition between the tender and the heated. You really got to see these two fall in love over miles and miles of storm chasing.

I thought I would be bugged by the third act (and alright, I was a little bit) but not enough to change my rating. I think it worked out well and I liked seeing the actual communication happen in the end too.

Tornados are 1000% not my thing but I didn’t mind one bit and loved how this felt different than the romances I’ve been reading lately. It felt like it had an adventure quality to it without being a travel romance (even though there were many hotels).

ANYWAYS. I’m obsessed. I loved Wes. I loved Sloan. I am blown away by this debut and can’t wait for more.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 4-5ish open door
  • Violence: mild
  • Content warnings: minor blood incidences, emotional abuse, car accident

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Book Review: Not That Kind of Proposal by Victoria Lavine

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Rating: ★★★.5
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 352 pages
Author: Victoria Lavine
Publisher: Simon Audio
Release Date: July 21st, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

From the internationally bestselling author of Any Trope but You comes an enemies-to-lovers rom-com about a hopeless romantic wedding planner and the cynical divorce lawyer forced to help her plan her ex’s wedding.

Gracie Holland lives for Happily Ever Afters—just not her own. After a crushing breakup, she’s thrown herself into planning weddings at Larkwood, the ivy-covered Rhode Island estate where she also lives in the guest cottage. But when her beloved boss passes away and leaves the estate to her grandson, Gracie’s carefully rebuilt life is suddenly on the line. Jude Larkwood is everything she’s sworn ruthless, practical, and immune to romance—he’s a divorce lawyer, for crying out loud! Worse, he plans to sell Larkwood by the end of the summer.

Jude has spent his life cleaning up other people’s romantic disasters—and he has no interest in watching another love story fall apart on his family’s lawn. But inheriting Larkwood comes with one its maddeningly optimistic wedding planner. Gracie’s sunshiney faith in love unsettles Jude almost as much as her ability to push through his defenses. He’s built a life on keeping emotion out of the equation—but something about her keeps slipping past his guard.

When Gracie’s ex calls out of the blue asking her to plan his wedding, she sees an unexpected opportunity. Jude reluctantly agrees to give her until the wedding to change his mind, and in exchange, she drags him into a two-month crash course in love to make even the most hardened cynic start to wonder if love might not be such a scam after all.

But as cake tastings and vendor emergencies give way to late-night confessions and undeniable chemistry, Gracie and Jude must confront the fears they’ve spent years avoiding. But can a hopeless romantic and a confirmed cynic find a future they both believe in?

Thank you Simon Audio for the gifted audiobook.

HONESTLY, BUGGED.

I super liked Any Trope But You so color me disappointed because this one fell flat. I don’t think it helped that I read two back to back romances with a pushover FMC + wedding crap I hate, but that was the luck of the draw here.

I am 100% not a fan of weddings involving one of the MC’s exes. It’s old. It does nothing for me and makes me cringe. I wish the plot didn’t have this story line whatsoever.

I didn’t mind the enemies to lovers vibes and the banter and tension between Jude and Gracie. I could feel that and it worked well for the chemistry between them. I also liked the plot surrounding the estate and Jude’s lawyer related things too.

What I did not like was the sub plot involving Jude’s best friend. This was another thing that rubbed me the wrong way and could have been left out. Also, some of the romantic scenes were cringy. Bleh.

This didn’t turn me off from trying VL’s next book, but things feel on thin ice.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 4ish open door
  • Violence: mild
  • Content warnings: discussions surrounding domestic abuse (recounted too), loss of a loved one

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Book Review: The Dragon Wakes with Thunder (The Night Ends with Fire #2) by K.X. Song

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 448 pages
Author: K.X. Song
Publisher: Ace
Release Date: August 19th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A young woman who wields the unimaginable power of the dragon spirit must decide who to support—and who to love—in this enthralling fantasy that reimagines the legend of Mulan.

The explosive sequel to The Night Ends with Fire!

The war may be over, but Hai Meilin is still paying a heavy toll. In spite of securing victory for the kingdom of Anlai, she is imprisoned upon her return. Her crime? Wielding a sword as a woman.

In the palace, Meilin is an outcast and a social pariah. But beyond the imperial walls, the legend of the woman warrior has taken on a life of its own. To the east, a new rebel leader needs Meilin to helm his people’s revolution. In the south, a former enemy prince, now a prisoner of war, seeks Meilin’s aid in restoring balance to the Three Kingdoms. And back home in Anlai, Liu Sky, Meilin’s commander and first love, requires Meilin by his side in his bid for the throne.

Pulled in all directions by those who seek to use her for their own ends, Meilin vows that this time, she will not be so quick to trust. Yet there is one she cannot help but listen to—for he dwells within her.

Beyond any human machinations, the sea dragon Qinglong has his own plans for the spirit realm. During the last war, Meilin wielded his power to cheat death and attain victory for Anlai; now the dragon has come to collect his dues. Meilin’s mother warned her long The spirits demand blood. And Qinglong is ravenous.

I DECIDED I LOVED THIS.

I didn’t know how I was feeling about this for the first half but once I settled in I decided that I genuinely enjoyed this conclusion and thought the big bullet points were executed well to wrap up the necessary storylines.

And that romance?? That’s exactly what my dark heart loves reading. I liked the angst and tension and a good dose of will they/won’t they. Meilin was a fantastic FMC. I appreciated her journey and arc. There were many memorable lines and sentiments about power, and having the strength to get through the hard things.

It’s a genuinely solid duology and I look forward to whatever K.X. Song writes next!

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: mild
  • Romance: fade to black
  • Violence: high

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