Category: Book Review

ARC Book Review: A Lass Beloved (The Earls of Cairnfell #2) by Nichole Van

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 310 pages
Author: Nichole Van
Publisher: Florenza Publishing
Release Date: August 11th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Lord Matthias Kinsey lives under an unlucky star. Born without a right hand, he once spent a Season in London and vowed never to endure such humiliation again. But after years of living as a semi-recluse, Lord Matthias has grown tired of merely enduring life. In a bid for change, he lets a castle deep in the Highlands.

Cecily Armstrong once had everything a young lady could desire—social position, wealth, . . . a husband. But life hasn’t gone as she expected. Widowed and penniless, she now must work for her bread.

When Lord Matthias arrives at his new home, he instantly recognizes his new housekeeper as Miss Cecily Moulton, the reigning beauty from his brief time in London. Didn’t she marry some English lord years ago? What has happened to exile her to poverty and a life in service?

As Mathias takes tentative steps to build a life for himself, Cecily must decide if she has the courage to reclaim her own. Perhaps, together, they can even help each other find happiness. The one thing they can’t do is fall in love. Because a gentleman does not—under any circumstances—court his housekeeper.

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

HOW DO I CONVEY.

Oh my love for Nichole Van and her romance stories. Every one is a delectable, swoony journey. I adored both of these characters so much and I looove getting dual POV in romances. It really can bring a story to the next level.

I loved the intimacy between Matthias and Cecily. That man is SO DOWN BAD. And it is the sweetest kind of protective love. They banter and push each other outside of comfort zones and watching the walls crumble is EVERYTHING. I’m just obsessed with the personal character grown for both Cecily and Matthias.

Add on top some well placed danger/suspenseful moments and this one was easy to eat up. They had that genuine chemistry from the get go. And I ended up really loving how the ending all came together. Goodness gracious Van’s books NEVER GET OLD.

Also, as a side note, I am already chomping at the bit to get my hands on the next two stories.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: mild-moderate
  • Content warnings: spousal abuse (recounted, moments of PTSD), ableism, stalking

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Book Review: Love Is a War Song by Danica Nava

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 336 pages
Author: Danica Nava
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: July 22nd, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A Muscogee pop star and a cowboy who couldn’t be more different come together to strike a deal in this new romantic comedy by Danica Nava, author of The Truth According to Ember.

Pop singer Avery Fox has become a national joke after posing scantily clad on the cover of Rolling Stone in a feather warbonnet. What was meant to be a statement of her success as a Native American singer has turned her into a social pariah and dubbed her a fake. With threats coming from every direction and her career at a standstill, she escapes to her estranged grandmother Lottie’s ranch in Oklahoma. Living on the rez is new to Avery—not only does she have to work in the blazing summer heat to earn her keep, but the man who runs Lottie’s horse ranch despises her and wants her gone.

Red Fox Ranch has been home to Lucas Iron Eyes since he was sixteen years old. He has lived by three rules to keep himself out of trouble: 1) preserve the culture, 2) respect the horses, and 3) stick to himself. When he is tasked with picking up Lottie’s granddaughter at the bus station, the last person he expected to see is the Avery Fox. Lucas can’t stand what she represents, but when he’s forced to work with her on the ranch, he can’t get her out of his sight—or his head. He reminds himself to keep to his rules, especially after he finds out the ranch is under threat of being shut down.

It’s clear Avery doesn’t belong here, but they form a tentative truce and make a Avery will help raise funds to save the ranch, and in exchange, Lucas will show her what it really means to be an Indian. It’s purely transactional, absolutely no horsing around…but where’s the fun in that?

BETTER THAN THE FIRST.

I was a wee bit hesitant to pick this one up but Y’ALL. REDEMPTION. I will absolutely be continuing to read Danica Nava books. I loved the fish out of water trope in this one. And celebrity?? Who am I reading so many celebrity romances recently??

I loved seeing Avery discover herself and her roots and all the things in between. She genuinely wanted to learn and I felt all the emotions on her journey. The impact of our own mistakes and how we can progress after those.

And the romance was good! I think I would have liked a little more *something* from them, but the heat and true slow burn nature was so nice to read (and he’s a cowboy so…..). The chemistry and tension between them was just right.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: mild+
  • Romance: one open door; 1-2 almost scenes
  • Violence: mild
  • Content warnings: toxic parents, racism, addiction, loss of family members

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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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