Tag: contemporary romance

ARC/ALC Book Review: Roll for Romance by Lenora Woods

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 368 pages
Author: Lenora Woods
Publisher: Dell
Release Date: July 15th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Two fledgling tabletop gamers find themselves falling for each other—both in and out of their weekly D&D sessions—in this charming, fantasy-tinged romance.

For years, Sadie Brooks has declined her best friend’s standing invitation to join his Dungeons & Dragons campaign. But when she unexpectedly loses her marketing job and flees New York City to spend the summer with him in small-town Texas, she also runs out of excuses to say no.

In the game, she becomes Jaylie, a powerful and self-assured human cleric blessed by the Goddess of Luck with spells to heal her companions. But in real life, Sadie believes her luck has run out, and she hopes the distraction will give her time to clear her head and plan next steps.

She never expected Noah Walker—the handsome, outgoing bartender roped into joining them—to factor into that plan. Like Sadie, he’s new in town. But with a taste for adventure, Noah never stays in one place for long. He’s something of a traveling bard—just like his character Loren, the charismatic, lute-strumming elf. While Jaylie finds herself succumbing to the bard’s charms over the course of their party’s travels, Sadie also begins to fall under Noah’s spell.

As their relationship progresses in both worlds, Sadie can’t help but wonder if they might last beyond the game. But when a surprising new opportunity opens in New York, she must face the truth about why she lost her job in the first place—and whether she and Noah have found something in Texas worth staying for. Torn between her career dreams in the city and the exciting uncertainty of a new adventure, she will have no choice but to roll the dice.

Thank you to Dell Romance and PRH Audio for the gifted ARC and audiobook.

IT WAS SWEET.

I love reading romances set in Texas so I had to have my hands on this one. It was cute! If you’re looking for a low angst, low tension, easy kind of romance, this would fit that bill. There’s not a lot to it and that’s kind of the charm? The plot isn’t heavy and sometimes that’s exactly what you need. I liked seeing Sadie learn what direction she wanted to take and finding the way to get there. Her chemistry with Noah was solid and they were both sweet one each other.

The one thing I struggled with was the multiple D&D/role playing scenes. I felt they kind of took over the story and I wanted more connection and build in the real time story rather than being stuck in the game for maybe 30%? or so of the book.

I liked it enough to read another by this author though. It was a genuine slow burn and the third act didn’t make me want to rage and I appreciate that.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: mild – moderate
  • Romance: 2-3ish open door
  • Violence: low

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Book Review: The Long Way Home (Magnolia Parks Universe #3) by Jessa Hastings

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Rating: ★★★.75
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 608 pages
Author: Jessa Hastings
Publisher: Dutton Books
Release Date: November 7th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

How many loves do you get in a lifetime? And are Magnolia and BJ each other’s one and only? 

It’s been nearly a year since everything happened between Magnolia Parks and BJ Ballentine on the steps of the Mandarin Oriental, and since then it seems like everything has changed.

Magnolia has a life in New York now and BJ appears to have finally let go and moved on.

But when they both wind up back in London and are thrust together once again, they find themselves asking their age-old How many loves do you actually get in a lifetime, and, most important—are they each other’s?

I’M STILL MAD.

I think this is my least favorite of the series so far (and I have seen that book four will possibly be my favorite?? So I’m going to report back on that). For someone (BJ, I AM LOOKING AT YOU) who claims that they have worked on themselves to go around and do the same things he was from book one about made me throw my phone. Same with Magnolia honestly. There were definitely were some moments where I could feel sympathy and the plight of going through hard things but some things they bring upon themselves and I am shouting WHYYYYYYYY.

I did like the second half more. And there were a handful of memorable scenes that pulled at my emotions. I liked some of the situations happening and it makes me want to know what’s going on in book four ASAP.

And that ending????

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: strong
  • Romance: fade to black; brief open; innuendo throughout
  • Violence: moderate
  • Content Warnings: miscarriage, grief/loss depiction, physical violence, car accident

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ARC Book Review: All’s Well that Friends Well (Lucky in Love #2) by Gracie Ruth Mitchell

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Rating: ★★★★.25
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 390 pages
Author: Gracie Ruth Mitchell
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: July 14th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

My love for Luca Slater is not unrequited. It’s just…not requited yet.

Did I break into his house? Technically yes. And did I eavesdrop on that one tiny little conversation? Also yes. But I had good reasons! Intentions matter, you know?

Unfortunately, Luca does not agree. So while I fell for him at first sight, his opinion of me is dismally low, and it’s about to get lower. Because as of today, I am officially working at his office…as the new janitor.

Cleaning toilets isn’t sexy, and I am not cut out for sanitizer and scrub brushes. But I need this job–begged for this job, in fact–so I’m going to make the best of it.

When I see Luca is having some work problems of his own, however, and when I realize I might be just the person to help, I offer my services immediately. As the new branch manager, he needs help softening his image in order to win over his employees, and if there’s one thing I’m great at, it’s people skills.

If I can prove useful, maybe Luca will finally see me as a woman instead of a silly little girl. Maybe he’ll finally realize I’m the one he’s destined to be with forever.

So I’ll help Luca win over his employees, and while I’m at it, I’ll win him over, too. I’m going to do everything I can to make this man fall for me…

One mopped floor at a time.
.
.
This is Juliet Marigold’s story, book two in the Lucky in Love series! These books can be read in any order as complete standalones, but they are best enjoyed when read in order.

Thank you to Gracie Ruth Mitchell for the gifted eARC.

IT WAS SWEET.

Another GRM book I adored so much. This one really took you on a journey from strangers to friends to lovers and it was intriguing to see Juliet be the pursuer. She’s a bit unhinged in her antics and that got to me a touch, buuuut it started becoming endearing and I liked seeing the switch up in this genre.

And I adored Luca. He’s the epitome of a grumpy character who has a soft heart underneath all of the gruff. I really liked his growth and facing the hard things and slowly seeing him break his control to let himself live a little. AND LET ME TELL Y’ALL, that first kissing scene lit my kindle on FIRE. Gosh dang it was hot y’all.

I liked Juliet’s growth a lot too. I understood and could resonate with much of her inner monologue and there were many tender scenes with her and Luca that showed the strength she’s been creating to find a new and enjoyable life path for herself. There were moments that made me laugh, swoon, and squeeze my heart.

I can’t wait for the next book!!

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Content warnings: loss of a loved one (recounted), anxiety

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Book Review: Even if It Hurt (Huntley Square #1) by Molly Barlowe

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Rating: ★★★★.25
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 350 pages
Author: Molly Barlowe
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: September 16th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

My life and career have conditioned me to be prepared for—and desensitized to—traumatic events. Rather, they should’ve. But one phone call blindsided me in a way I never expected, and now there’s a screaming eight-month-old in my custody.

I would’ve done anything to ensure my niece didn’t enter the system, but I never wanted a family. I never wanted ties to anyone, period.

But then my meddling office administrator forcibly hires a nanny for me, and all my resolute vows start crumbling when I come face to face with Lainey Pearson . . . again.

She’s no one—should be no one. Just an oblivious girl I saved nearly a year ago. But she’s the only one who’s ever rocked me. Consumed me. I immediately want to fire her, but with the social worker breathing down my neck, I need her.

Then again, now that she’s fallen back into my life, having a working boundary might be for the best. My life doesn’t allow for relationships, and last I checked, it was frowned upon to date your employees.

Especially when they’re already in a relationship.

I LIKED THIS ONE!

I love finding new to me authors and this is another one I will definitely be continuing with. I didn’t know that this had some suspense elements and I loved finding a closed door author who writes suspense. It’s a hidden gem.

I loved the connection between Asher and Lainey. From that first meeting you could see that there was something there and I loved the push and pull. There’s a lot of walls that had to be taken down and I liked the arguments and quiet moments that created a great atmosphere.

The family bugged me a LOT though. It got to be repetitive and unnecessary and really beating the situation to death. And I always struggle when one of the MC’s is in a relationship most of the book. It makes some of the romance aspects a little less believable.

I did enjoy how things came together and eventually worked out. I loved the security firm aspects and the details and the hints of found family/future book relationships. I absolutely want to continue.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: moderate
  • Content warnings; partner abuse, parental abuse, weapons violence

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