Tropes: next door neighbor; single mom; divorcee; small-town romance; Christmas romance
To be honest, I am not a huge fan of Christmas romances. I will only read the Christmas romances of my favorite authors, L.B. Dunbar being one of them. And her Naughty-ish did not disappoint. Given her background as an English teacher, Dunbar’s intentionality in providing a meaningful structure to her stories impresses me. For this story, she organizes her FMC’s story around statements: “be youthful,” “be present,” and “be the future you want,” all admonishments illustrated through the growth of Holliday, the FMC. As she takes steps to live that out in her life, we, the reader, can ponder how we can do the same in our own. While it might feel prescriptive, I think we could consider it inspiring.
As she usually does, Dunbar gifts us with an older FMC and MMC (Holliday and Nick). Next door neighbors, these two fall fast and hard for each other, even though it takes each of them a bit to accept it. There is a nice blend of spicy romance with the sweetness of a holiday one, and Dunbar’s finished product is one that will put a smile on your face. L.B. Dunbar’s Naughy-ish is a romance meant not only to entertain but to also encourage. At this time of year, it’s everything you need in a Christmas romance.
Tropes: marriage of convenience; opposites attract; meddling grandmother; hate to love or enemies to lovers; one night stand; small town romance
Melanie Harlow has cornered the market on small-town romances set in Michigan and its surrounding areas. She has this way of connecting her series and inviting readers into her world…where you hate to leave. Her newest series, Cherry Tree Harbor, also reads like her dirtiest, enticing more readers into the lives of the Buckley siblings. Make-Believe Match proffers up Devlin Buckley’s marriage of convenience romance. He meets Lexi one night in a bar, and they share a fiery memorable evening together. When it’s revealed a day or so later, that Devlin is the representative of the company wanting to buy her family’s ski resort, fireworks fly as Lexi vows to block Devlin’s efforts. When complications arise, the only way forward is a marriage of convenience between Devlin and Lexi. Hate slowly evolves into love, and Lexi and Devlin must acknowledge their feelings to move forward into a future together, one that saves her family’s resort, or they must be content with the consequences.
Make-Believe Match reminds readers that change can be good when you have an apt partner to inspire and uplift you. Both Devlin and Lexi have lost parents, so they’ve created emotional mechanisms to handle their pain. Instead of setting them free, it has reduced their capacity to process change and embrace love. Melanie Harlow has woven their journeys together in a way that provides the emotional ungirding for her romance.
She has also whipped in a spicy treat for her readers who love a little smut with their romance. Devlin and Lexi are pure fire. Additionally, the treat of extended family is my favorite part of this new series. Besides returning to Devlin’s older brothers whose stories we received in the first two books of this series, Lexi’s grandmother’s machinations and her cousin’s villainy add emotional depth to Harlow’s romance. All of these elements conflate to bring about a captivating and titillating story.
Small-town romance fans, if you’re not reading Melanie Harlow, you are missing out. She continuously crafts regional romances that tug at heartstrings and fog up glasses. Her Cherry Tree Harbor has been an absolute delight, and I inhaled Make-Believe Match.
Tropes: single dad; grump/sunshine; insta-attraction; small town romance; romantic suspense
Stacy Travis’s newest book, Love You More, the first book of her Buttercup Hill series, adds to the tradition of small-town romances found in stories by authors such as Devney Perry, Catherine Cowles, Elsie Silver, etc. Travis has deftly crafted a regional small-town romance much like the authors noted above. Given that I live in California, I’m excited about this series because it sits at my geographical back door. Even more, she has set up a compelling series, starting with Jax and Ruby. Here’s what I loved about Love You More:
There is nothing better than grump/sunshine. Ruby is the light to Jax’s dark, and Stacy Travis has drawn their chemistry well in this story.
I’m also a fan of the single dad (or parent) trope because we know cute encounters with the heroine are a deciding factor for their future. Ruby and Jax’s daughter, Fiona, are adorable together, instantly hitting it off, given their shared experience of losing a parent. Fiona adds levity to Jax and Ruby’s fraught romantic journey.
This is small-town romance at its best in a wine town such as Napa. Stacy Travis has carefully created this town, making us fall in love with it while also wanting more.
The plot and character development are the most important parts of this story. I know readers will want more steam from these two, but, given that this is the first book of the series, Travis has taken the space to set up the region of her series while also doling out the beginnings of a mystery certain to thread through the other books of this series. She’s made some keen decisions with the development of this series in this first book.
Small-town romance needs a combination of fun and angst, and I think Stacy Travis has balanced those two well in her first book.
My biggest criticism of Love You More is the inconsistency in her characterization of Stella. There are moments in her story when her want for Jax versus the pull of her responsibility for her sister is confusing. She would accept Jax in her life to quickly turn around and spurn him out of her need to care for her college-aged sister. It was story whiplash, and I thought it interrupted the flow of her plot.
As the first book of a new series, Stacy Travis’s Love You More, was a delight. I’ve read Stacy from the beginning and her growth as a romance writer is paying dividends in Stella and Jax’s story. I can’t wait to find out Jax’s dad’s secrets. I imagine, though, that Stacy Travis will keep us guessing.
Gah, I don’t want Annika Martin to ever stop writing grumpy billionaire romances. Seriously. Just when I think she can’t write a different story, she finds one. Now, she has found a formula that seems to work for her: grumpy billionaire plus a heroine who keeps him on his toes, extrapolating his humanity through her erstwhile, independent way. Martin’s newest story, The Grumpy Billionaire, is more of this, and it is sure to put a smile on your face by the end.
To get there, however, her billionaire MMC, Hugo, has to recognize his feelings for her FMC, Stella, and he has to become comfortable acting on them. Thankfully, it doesn’t take him too long to recognize them, but it does take him a while to accept them. Martin has paced out her story well, building a mountain of chemistry between Stella and Hugo. It’s one of my favorite parts of this book. But Stella’s burgeoning understanding of Hugo is the piece de resistance of this book. If you fall in love with anything in The Grumpy Billionaire, it’s the puzzle pieces clicking together that charm your pants off.
I love Annika Martin’s ability to draw characters that are equal parts quirky and spicy. Her capacity to draw a swatch of characters over several books is special. She treats her readers to past beloved characters, and they work together to build a world that readers want to return to over and over again. Stella and Hugo now exist in this universe. We can also add their parents and Stella’s brother to that mix. Honestly, Annika Martin’s world of billionaires makes me remember the days of Fisher Price Little People toys: so many options and potential stories to tell.
If you’re looking for a story that will put a smile on your face, you should grab Annika Martin’s The Grumpy Billionaire today.
Catherine Bybee’s The Whole Time gifts us with Salena’s romance. If you’ve been reading her The D’Angelos series, Salena has been a breath of fresh air amongst the old charm of the D’Angelo’s romances. While her best friend, Chloe, is the requisite rule-follower, Salena marches to the beat of her own drum. She’s independent (seemingly so) and knows herself well. She’s a $exual being who doesn’t apologize for it. Instead, we find through her story that she leans into it, and it’s her superpower.
It would make sense that she would need a partner such as Ryan who would accept her as she is and be attracted by it. The self-professed “black sheep” of his family, Ryan is an apt match for Salena. The Whole Time is a story of instant attraction and a journey of becoming. The story begins with Salena sneaking out of her parents’ home to find the independence she craves from her old-world Italian family. It ends with her having found that independence and a whole lot more.
What I’ve loved about The D’Angelos series is its location, the charm of its characters, and the real-life feel of Bybee’s characters. These are characters whom you expect to meet on your street. While we might not be Italian, we understand the difficulty of growing up with a certain amount of respect for parental expectations while also wanting to find our own space. Bybee deftly crafts this struggle in both Ryan’s and Salena’s lives. She makes it palpable and understandable for her reader. Whether you’re the son of a wealthy wine owner or the daughter of traditional Italians, we can understand the want to be our own person on our own terms.
Throughout The Whole Time, we are once again treated to the lives of the D’Angelos after the conclusions of their stories. I love the relationships that Bybee has created through these stories. The theme of family is the foundation of these stories, and they add a layer to Salena and Ryan’s romantic journey.
My biggest criticism about this story is its heavy-handedness in chronology. In the former D’Angelos stories, they don’t read like a time diary. This one, however, walks us through each month of Ryan and Salina’s lives. It sometimes makes the story feel tedious. While I believe the character development and the capacity to place them in the space of this world are these story’s strengths, there were times when the story read slow, and I believe it has to do with the plodding of its chronology.
Catherine Bybee, however, did not disappoint with The Whole Time. My favorite moments come at the end when Ryan and Salena find their happy ending on their own terms. Even though this book and its predecessors are set in San Diego and Temecula, neither of which I’d describe as traditional “small towns,” this newest book from Bybee gives you all the feels of a small-town romance.
Tropes: one night stand (ONS) to more; close proximity/neighbors; insta-attraction; surprise baby; grump/sunshine; cinnamon roll MMC
Who knew? Who knew that the big, busy grump of the friend group in Penelope Ward and Vi Keeland’s series, The Law of Opposites Attract, would have the biggest heart of his friend group? In the series’ first two books, we learn that Owen, the MMC of their newest story, The Rules of Dating: My One-Night Stand, works A LOT. To be a successful real estate mogul would require it. We also see him as the voice of reason, sometimes the “stick in the mud”. However, in their newest story, Owen is a good guy who falls instantly for Devyn, a woman he meets in a bar. When she ghosts him after their one-night stand, he believes he won’t ever see her again until he finds her in an apartment in his apartment building. He is drawn to her, and she is drawn to him too. However, her life is complicated.
What sets Owen apart from his friends is his instantaneous commitment to wooing and winning Devyn’s heart. To date, he is the swooniest of Keeland and Ward’s MMCs in this series. The traits of tenacity and perseverance emphasized through his work ethic become the main reason why Devyn falls for him despite a list of complications. Keeland and Ward draw this couple so well in The Rules of Dating: My One-Night Stand that you cheer them on through the entirety of this book.
What’s compelling about Ward and Keeland’s stories is their second, sometimes third-act plot disruption. It happens in all of their books. Given the predominance of it in their stories, one would think this might cause their readers to grow bored of their storytelling. However, the plot disruption is usually something you don’t expect. In this newest book, you might think it’s the surprise baby plot device. But it isn’t. It’s something I didn’t expect, and it added emotional gravity to Ward and Keeland’s romance. I find their ability to create these moments in their stories compelling and one reason I adore their romances. The Rules of Dating: My One-Night Stand is another example of Ward and Keeland’s genius at crafting spicy, ingenious, and compelling romances.
Tropes: he falls first; fake engagement; pop star FMC; golden retriever MMC
Louise Bay’s Dr. Fake Fiance is definitely my favorite story of her The Doctors series. All of the stories in these books offer FMCs and MMCs that burrow their way into your heart. However, Beau and Vivan have something a bit more magical between them. For one, at a time when Swifties have fallen hard for Taylor and Travis Kelce’s romance, Beau and Vivian’s story has a similar feel. It’s easy to love Beau in Dr. Fake Fiance. He doesn’t take life too seriously and doesn’t know that Vivian is a superstar in hiding. He is a loveable “golden retriever” of a hero. In contrast, Vivian is guarded. She’s been hurt by the machinations of her former long-time fiance and burned by the media. London provides her with the perfect cover, but Vivian and Beau’s instant chemistry makes it difficult for her to keep hiding. Louise Bay has crafted Vivan and Beau so that friendship quickly morphs into something deeper and scary for both of them. While Beau is seemingly easy-going, we recognize that his past trauma has actually impacted him more than he ever suspects, and Vivian is granted the opportunity to take control of her life. Their story arcs are interesting and engaging, and you will find yourself cheering for their happy ending.
Add to this the cornerstone of Bay’s The Doctors series: the familial bond of Beau’s family. This is the tether between the stories, and it acts as the grounding force for the internal struggles of this series’s heroes and heroines. It does the same for Vivian and Beau, allowing them some normalcy in their chaotic world. The guidance of Beau’s parents and his brothers’ wisdom becomes the impetus for Beau to move forward.
If your Roman Empire is currently the Taylor + Travis romance, you absolutely want to read Louise Bay’s Dr. Fake Fiance.
Jewel E. Ann’s Because of Her is a true gem. I was honored to edit this book, so I read it early on. It’s been a month or so, and this book has stayed with me. Jackson/Jax/Jude Day is one of a handful of characters whose story was penetrating. I will never forget him at the end of Out of Love, offering the ultimate parental sacrifice. I felt that deep. When Jewel announced this resolution, this final story, in a series of standalone books, I wanted to celebrate. As I read her manuscript, a process that causes a distance of feeling from the story, I found myself drawn to Frankie and Jackson. Even more, it made me pine for more of this family: Jessica and Luke and Livy and Slade. Even though this book can be read as a standalone, what I loved the most is the return to this beloved world. Jewel doesn’t hold us away from Jackson’s family. She gives us access and resolution in a way that fans like me needed after Out of Love.
If you haven’t read this series, here’s why you should read this story:
A wildly protective, assassin of a man MMC. Yes, he’s older, but he’s wildly attractive
An FMC who reminds me of Jackson’s sister. You don’t have to read her Jack and Jill trilogy (although you should) to get a sense of the one person Jackson believes to be his soulmate: his sister, Jessica. Frankie embodies the same qualities: headstrong, fierce, independent, and protective.
Jewel writes romances that follow the beat of their own drum. It’s hard to pin tropes on them. She intentionally rips up her characters’ lives and their storyline to interrogate different aspects of human nature. For example, one of the challenges for readers is the idea of ethics: what are you willing to do for revenge? Should you sell your soul to mete out revenge on a person who has wronged you? Jackson and Frankie turn this inside out and upside down throughout the story. This is but one of many themes she tests throughout this book as well as the rest of the books on her booklist.
I’ve said this before in many reviews, but it’s important to say it again: Jewel E. Ann is a queen of quotable nuggets. As I was reading her manuscript, I would highlight sentences and type “this is a great teaser.” She wordsmiths at a level that astounds me.
And finally, her intentionality in crafting romances that aren’t formulaic should get people to read Because of Her. This point is the main reason you should download your booklist today and get reading. Her voice and sense of authorial identity are unique in romancelandia.
Jewel E. Ann’s Because of Her is the true final chapter of her Jack and Jill series. Yes, it can be read without the others, but to read it before the rest is to miss out on Jewel E. Ann’s genius. If I had any recommendation, I would download the entire series and binge-read it in one weekend. You’ll fall madly, deeply in love with Jackson, Frankie, Jessica, Luke, Livy, and Slade…
Tropes: hate to love; enemies to lovers; forced proximity; pro hockey MMC; feisty FMC; brother’s best friend/teammate
Ilsa Madden-Mills’s Christmas Cupid is Hallmark charming with an extra helping of steam. It’s sweet and spicy and everything in between.
Let me begin with the reasons it’s a “B”read for me:
I wanted more. I would have liked some parts of the story to be filled in more. There were some places that were outlined and required more development.
There were a few inconsistencies with details in the story. I’ve read everything from Madden-Mills, and this one isn’t as “neat” as her other stories.
Here are the reasons to read it:
The banter between Madden-Mills’s characters, Iris and Kyler, is everything to love about enemies to lovers. It’s clearly their foreplay, and it sets up their chemistry while also keeping the story a funny little nibble of romance.
Ilsa Madden-Mills doesn’t fall prey to writing the oft-used trope “I can’t get hot with my teammate’s younger sister.” Instead, Iris’s brother is the one responsible for their little tete-a-tete.
Forced proximity/one bed is the go-to set-up for a Christmas novella.
Christmas Cupid is a quick little read that feels perfect for days that seem heavy. The journey she takes Kyler, specifically, on is an important one as Iris reminds him what’s important in life: community and relationships with people. In a world such as ours right now, Ilsa Madden-Mills’s Christmas Cupid is EXACTLY the read we need.
Kristen Ashley’s To Good To Be True is the book form of her Kindle Vella story from earlier in the year. And, as it won’t come as a shock, it was everything you’d expect from Kristen Ashley. While she calls it her “murder mystery,” the vibe of this book is decidedly Ghosts & Reincarnation Series-esque.
It’s situated in an old English country home/mansion.
There are “ghost” vibes.
The FMC has dreams that make it seem she’s been reincarnated.
KA has filled it with spookish vibes.
I couldn’t put it down because it read like the books of that popular series. It is also filled with all of our favorite Kristen Ashley elements: an FMC such as a Daphne who feels like she could be a bestie; she knows herself, she loves herself, and she doesn’t suffer fools; an MMC in Ian who is all playboyish, but only has eyes for his heroine; he falls deeply in love with her before he even knows it’s happening; ancillary characters who act as wizened guides, but also others who add the drama to the story (I mean, her main characters need foils, right?); and a twisty, turney story that keeps you glued to the pages. Oh, and don’t forget, there is a four-star heat level between her main characters. Kristen Ashley’s romance characteristics are threaded through the pages of To Good To Be True, and she doesn’t have an obvious suspect in her story. If you think hard enough, you can figure it out, but it isn’t obvious, so she keeps you engaged. This is all that is wonderful with this book, but that isn’t all of it. The true gems of any KA romance/murder mystery/whatnot lie in its depths.
To Good To Be True, like many of her recent stories, highlights important societal ails. In this book, she allows Ian, a 1%er to make better choices with his family’s estate so they can be better civic leaders. She focuses on the archaic notions of the genteel, showcasing their modern-day futility. But what I loved the most, what I found the most compelling about this story, is the truth about the past. That our past has been spoken/written through the patriarchy. Yet, women have their stories too, and they are as important, if not more important at times. She highlights/underscores/double-underlines this truth in such a beautiful maternal way. This is where Kristen Ashley is her most genius: when she shows you who she really is as a human being among other human beings.
I don’t know how she does it, honestly. How she consistently grabs my attention and holds me in the thrall of her pages, but she does it over and over again. While she has granted the label of “murder mystery” to To Good To Be True, it’s definitely much more than that, and you won’t want to put it down.
Professor Romance 