The Game by AB Wilson

September 20, 2022 By Leave a Comment


The Game by AB Wilson
The Shellenberg Brothers series, book 2
Publisher: Totally Entwined
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

He’s everything she hates, but exactly what she needs. What will it take to turn two rival players into teammates?

Recover. That’s Abby’s entire plan when she suffers a potentially career-ending injury. But she needs financial support for her rehab now that she’s been dropped by her pro-soccer team.

Enter Matti, her unlikely, tatted up savior with a man bun. The guy with everything she wants, a stellar career and the ability to get away with anything. When Matti’s dropped by his team after yet another off-pitch scandal, he needs someone to help rehab his reputation.

After a gossip column goes viral with a piece about their supposed engagement, the plan falls into place. A fake engagement to save Matti’s career, and access to the best rehab center for her. A new city, no friends, the only person they have to rely on is each other, and Abby’s grumpy cat of course.

As they play pretend day in and day out, their feelings start to shift from those of uncomfortable teammates to something a lot like love as the two find out each other’s deepest secrets. But when a new opportunity for Matti comes knocking, ready to pull them apart, will they take the risk of admitting the truth behind their feelings?

Soccer, an accident, love and issues. This book has it all.

I love AB Wilson’s work and this book was no different. It’s hot and there’s heart. I read this over the course of two evenings and I’m glad I did. I got invested in the characters and wanted to get back to them.

I liked that the author dealt with mental issues and learning disabilities with Matti. He’s got his heart in the right place, but he gets derailed. He was humanized and I loved him. Abby knows what she wants and when she gets hurt, it’s catastrophic. I liked how she and Matti worked together. That said, this book also brings to light the pay gap for women versus men’s soccer.

There is one quibble I have with the story, but I won’t get into it to keep from ruining the story. While it might have been a quibble for me, it might not be for everyone. The family dynamics are tough and that might annoy some readers, but it wasn’t a deterrent for me. It made the characters more relatable.

If you want a story that’s hot, sweet, has heart and will tug at your heart, then this might be the sports romance for you.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Real Men Knit by Kwana Jackson

September 19, 2022 By Leave a Comment


Real Men Knit by Kwana Jackson
Real Men Knit, book 1
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

When their foster-turned-adoptive mother suddenly dies, four brothers struggle to keep open the doors of her beloved Harlem knitting shop.

Jesse Strong is known for two things: his devotion to his adoptive mom, Mama Joy, and his reputation for breaking hearts. When Mama Joy unexpectedly passes away, he and his brothers have different plans for what to do with Strong Knits, their neighborhood knitting store. Jesse wants to keep the store open. His brothers want to tie off loose ends and close shop….

Part-time shop employee Kerry Fuller has kept her crush on Jesse a secret. When she overhears his impassioned plea to his brothers to keep the knitting shop open, she volunteers to help. Unlike Jesse, Kerry knows the “knitty-gritty” of the business, and together they make plans to reinvent Strong Knits for a new generation.

But the more time they spend together, the stronger the chemistry builds between them. Kerry, knowing Jesse’s history, doesn’t believe their relationship can last longer than she can knit one, purl two. But Jesse is determined to prove to her that he can be the man for her forever and always. After all, real men knit.

A guy, a girl, the yarn shop and a romance. What can go wrong?

This is my first book by Kwana Jackson and I’m glad I picked it up. The writing was crisp, and I felt like I was right there with the characters. It was a quick read and while there was drama, it wasn’t overly complicated. There was a lot of misunderstanding, which is relatable, and I liked that.

Kerry is headstrong and she won’t back down. I liked her as the strong heroine. She’s a good foil for Jesse. Then there’s Jesse. He thinks he’s a screw-up, but he’s just got to find his direction. He’s a player, to a degree, too. I liked the pairing between these two characters, but it took a long time for me to feel the romance between them. That might have been just me and others might feel the romance sizzles the pages.

I liked how the author made the guys knitters. They’re adopted brothers and all different, but still have their strengths. Their individual personalities did show through. I liked that the author normalized guys as crafters, too.

If you’re looking for a great book about boys who knit, then this is the one for you.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , ,

When You Get the Chance by Emma Lord

September 16, 2022 By Leave a Comment


When You Get the Chance by Emma Lord
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Genre: YA, High School, Ages 16+, Contemporary, Romance
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Nothing will get in the way of Millie Price’s dream of becoming a Broadway star. Not her lovable but super introverted dad, who raised Millie alone since she was a baby. Not her drama club rival, Oliver, who is the very definition of Simmering Romantic Tension. And not her “Millie Moods,” the feelings of intense emotion that threaten to overwhelm. Millie needs an ally. And when an accidentally left-open browser brings Millie to her dad’s embarrassingly moody LiveJournal from 2003, Millie knows just what to do―find her mom.

But how can you find a new part of your life and expect it to fit into your old one without leaving any marks? And why is it that when you go looking for the past, it somehow keeps bringing you back to what you’ve had all along?

She’s a force to be reckoned with and she won’t let anyone stand in her way.

This is a cute story. Really is. I liked this book and will happily recommend it to anyone wanting a teen book that’s a feel-good read. Emma Lord’s character’s plug along with fits and starts that is so like a teen. They’re relatable. The writing is good, too. I couldn’t put this one down.

Millie is a drama queen. She’s got Millie Moods and she loves acting. She wants to be on Broadway. She’s got the world in her hand, but she’s got to decide what she wants to do with it. I loved that she had the support system around her, too. Heather has to be my favorite character–the aunt trying to be a mom because Millie’s mom isn’t around. Oh, and Oliver is adorable.

This book tugged at my heart, made me want to both conk Millie on the head while hugging her and was just overall cute. It reads like a teen would talk and it’s relatable.

If you’re looking for a good afternoon read that won’t disappoint, then this is the one you’ll want.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Mysterious Island by Greig Beck

September 16, 2022 By Leave a Comment


Mysterious Island – Lemuria by Greig Beck
Book 1
Publisher: Severed Press
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

On a desolate beach in far northern Scotland, the winter storms have been washing up all manner of things since time began. But buried in the center of one smaller iceberg is a shard of ancient Viking pottery telling a partial tale of a hidden mysterious island beyond the ice and mist, that was home to a great treasure and even greater horrors.

Thawing in the same block of ice was a rotting flap of skin that refused to be identified but had similar skin patterns to a creature not seen for 100 million years.

Now, Troy Strom and the enigmatic Elle Burgan race to find the mysterious island of legend, while staying ahead of a group of brutal killers who claim to be the rightful owners of the greatest prize of all – Odin’s heart.

Troy Strom met Elle Burgan when they were children, and both drawn to the larger than life displays of Viking history in the museum. As adults they reconnected again on the path to finding the mysterious hidden island of Lemuria – an ancient take they both believed truly existed. They quickly discover they’re not the only people on this trail, and the dangers lurking everywhere aren’t just from the adventure and hidden monsters – but from the other seekers as well.

I really enjoyed this full-length novel. While it’s only the first in a trilogy it has all the hallmarks of an exceptional adventure tale – a hidden location, dangerous monsters, secret treasure and riches and of course a huge cast of merciless killers determined to take it all for themselves. A fair bit of this story is “setting up” for the next two installments, but I was pleased the author still kept the tension high and the pace moving forward at a good clip.

There is a wide cast of characters, some just cameos with a defined purpose and others part of the various larger teams that will clearly be part of the reader’s journey through all three books. I feel some more action-orientated readers might feel the pace of this book, particularly in the beginning, is a little slow. There is quite a bit of foundation to lay – a lot of the history and Viking lore, a strong and realistic explanation of how the various puzzle pieces were discovered and helped lead our teams to finding the location of the mysterious island and also just the logistics of setting up such an expedition. Personally, I feel this was all done really well, and with enough movement, murder and mayhem to keep the pace moving right along and not lagging in the slightest. I also felt a lot of this history, background and knowledge was vital to help explain why the search for this island was so important and how it could have stayed hidden for so many centuries.

Even though this is the first book in a trilogy I feel the story is quite well contained within just this book and absolutely I feel it can be read by itself. There isn’t really a cliff-hanger style of ending which I was very grateful for, but equally it’s quite clear there is another book that will carry the story on as there are plot points left unfinished. This is an excellent first installment though and while I hope the remaining two books come soon – there is not that feeling of being left hanging to make me irritated and impatient with the wait.

Beck is a brilliant author when it comes to adventure, monsters and a rollicking good tale. He excels at blending history and monsters; danger and adventure and I feel this is a book where all those exceptional talents of his really shine. I feel many readers will love this book as much as I did, and I can’t wait for the next two in the series to be released.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

D.I.Y by John Wiswell

September 9, 2022 By Leave a Comment


D.I.Y by John Wiswell
Publisher: Tor Books
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, LGBTQ
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

When the the elitist institution of Ozymandias Academy and its headmaster, Vamon Kinctuarin, can’t find a solution to the city’s worsening drought, 2 self-taught magicians, Noah and his partner Manny, take it upon themselves to find a solution to the crisis.

Not all change comes slowly.

The character development was handled nicely, especially considering how few pages the author had to work with here. I grinned as I got to know the two main characters better. They were both compassionate individuals who genuinely cared about everyone around them. This was even more true for the low-income people in their lives who were suffering terribly due to the drought. I’ll leave it up to other readers to discover exactly how Noah and Manny reacted to this humanitarian crisis, but it solidified both my interest in the plot as well as in these two characters in particular.

I would have liked to see more energy spent on world building. Mr. Wiswell casually mentioned interesting things like angel bones or what sounded like a war between angels and humans, but he never dug into how all of those references fit together in the timeline. There seemed to be plenty of material for him to work with. He simply needed to explain it all a little better in order for me to feel comfortable going for a full five-star review.

Some of my favorite scenes were the ones that explored Noah and Manny’s feelings about their health and how they responded when they wanted to do things that bumped up against what they were physically capable of. My diagnosis is different from either of theirs, but I nodded along in recognition of all of the work-arounds people find when they really want to do something but need to be mindful of what their bodies are currently capable of doing. It was refreshing to read about heroes who aren’t invincible.

D.I.Y made me yearn for more.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , ,

Call It Love by Kristian Parker

September 9, 2022 By Leave a Comment


Call It Love by Kristian Parker
Speak Its Name, book 2
Publisher: Pride Publishing
Genre: Historical, LGBTQ, Erotic Romance
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Charlie didn’t believe in love…until he set himself free.

It’s 1922 and after his house guest Frank Harris ran away with the under-butler, Charlie Fitzwilliam has been summoned to face the music. With the vindictive butler Bennett now watching his every move and his father planning out his life for him, Charlie finally faces up to who he is and makes a bid for freedom.

Alone for the first time in his life, he meets Michael Leonard, a kind, caring bookseller. Convinced that sex with men is only for fun, Charlie experiences a summer of self-discovery that takes him to the English seaside, the doorstep of old friends and the arms of a lover who shakes his whole belief system.

But disowned by his parents and cut off from the life he knew, can Charlie make a future for himself…and will Michael be a part of it? Is this affair something that can be called love?

Love, discovery and acceptance. Everyone needs these and Charlie’s determined to find them all.

Once I discovered the books of Kristian Parker, I was hooked. This book was no different. I loved every page. Yes, there were times when the characters weren’t always the best, but there were reasons, and I couldn’t put this book down. It’s hard to find good historical LGBTQ romance and this one fit my bill.

Charlie’s living in a time when sex with men isn’t accepted. He knows who he loves but hasn’t found the one. He’s tired of allowing others to determine the course of his life, too. I liked Charlie, even when he could be a spoiled brat. He’s a bit young and immature, but it added to his character. It made him unique and showed his growth through the book. Then there’s Michael. He knows what he wants, too, and he’s not afraid to get it. He’s also not afraid to give Charlie the what-for. Charlie needed to be reined in a bit and Michael’s a good other half. I liked the pairing of them.

If you’re looking for a novella that’s packed with characters, story and romance, then this is the one for you. Give it a try.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

(Un)Loved by Katy Hunter

September 8, 2022 By Leave a Comment


(Un)Loved by Katy Hunter
Mixed Emotions, Book 1
Publisher: Totally Entwined
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary, Erotic Romance
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Falling in love with Gil was never Sophie’s plan, but the French mountain air, the grumpiest llama ever and her boyfriend’s loving—if liberated— family might just change her mind.

Sophie Smith—actress, influencer, in a close personal relationship with her blender— finds herself on a French mountain with a grumpy llama, a boyfriend with a bad case of commitment phobia and his sexually liberated parents.

In between getting chased around the farm by angry goats, dealing with his beautiful ex-girlfriend and fending off a Frenchman, she’s also having an existential crisis.

All she needs to do is get her boyfriend to stop quivering in fear at the L word, teach that llama to snuggle and work out what she actually wants to do with her life, then everything will be fine. Right?

Sometimes love isn’t enough, but what if it is?

I love the work of Katy Hunter and couldn’t wait to get my hands on this book. I’m glad I did. This was a great premise for a story and there’s a llama. I mean, that’s original–a grumpy llama! I breezed through this story and did root for the characters to find their happy ending.

Sophie is a bit of a mess. She wants her boyfriend to admit he loves her and he’s not ready. There’s the glare of the spotlight and the glitz of Hollywood in the way, too. It’s not the easiest way to keep a relationship going. She’s relatable, but her push-pull with Gil could be a bit over the top. Then there’s Gil. He’s not sure he’s ready to admit he loves her, and he’s scared of strong commitment. He’s very relatable, too. It’s hard to be in a relationship where your every move is scrutinized. But these are two younger characters, and their immaturity does show through. That’s not always a bad thing, but it’s something to mention.

The romance sizzles and the connection does shine through. If you’re looking for a book for the modern era, a romance for the current times, then this is the one you’re looking for. Check it out!

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Six Weeks by Nan Comargue

September 7, 2022 By Leave a Comment


Six Weeks by Nan Comargue
Publisher: Totally Entwined
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Jaya’s relationships never last more than six weeks. Austen wants to be her forever.

Six weeks is the outer limit for one of Jaya’s relationships. When men find out there is no future with her, they tend not to stick around for long.

She’s gotten into the habit of leaning on her cousin Austen to get over each breakup. Who better? Austen is six feet three of solid sympathy. Both adopted into the same extended family at young ages, they’ve been friends their whole lives, with a mutual taste for good food and expensive whisky. But when Jaya takes her latest failed romance to him, Austen makes it clear his interest in her is far from cousinly.

“Think about me,” Austen tells her, and Jaya starts to do just that. No doubt, Austen is incredibly attractive, and she can’t say she’s not curious to find out what he’s like in bed, but can their bond survive this new test?

Why not Austen?

I love the work of Nan Comargue and this book was no different. The second I picked it up, I was immersed in Jaya and Austen’s world. The writing flew along at a great pace and the characters are interesting. I loved it.

Jaya tends to lose people through no fault of her own and her issues with that tend to color her relationships. She needs comfort and stable. She needs someone who won’t leave and won’t give up. She’s relatable because she’s someone you could know. I know people like her and I felt for her. Then there’s Austen. He’s the quintessential romance hero. He’s there, he’s understanding and he’s solid. He’s the one Jaya should love. But they were adopted and are cousins, but not by blood. That’s a complication that could make or break the relationship.

I loved seeing these characters, who were already close, get closer and find their common ground. It’s sweet, hot and great.

If you’re looking for a book that’s not your standard romance, has relatable characters and is so much fun to read, then this is the book for you.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

*The Decoy Girlfriend by Lillie Vale

September 6, 2022 By Leave a Comment


*The Decoy Girlfriend by Lillie Vale
Publisher: Penguin Group, Putnam, G.P. Putnam’s Sons
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Larkspur

Writer Freya Lal has a huge secret: she’s a dead ringer for It-girl actress Mandi Roy. Her second novel is due in a month, but inspiration is nowhere to be found. Desperate to shake off her writer’s block, Freya leans into her look-alike abilities and indulges in some mistaken identity for simple perks, like scoring a free mimosa or getting into a trendy nightclub.

Actor Taft Bamber appears to have it all: gorgeous, talented, and Mandi’s love interest both on- and off-screen. But what nobody knows is that their relationship is a PR stunt, and after years of playing make-believe, he’s yearning for something real.

When Freya’s latest impersonation of Mandi goes viral thanks to Taft’s accidental interference, rumors of a breakup threaten Hollywood’s golden couple. To make amends, Freya is forced to give Mandi a little time off: she’ll pretend to be the actress for a month, move in with Taft, and squash the rumors by acting completely in love. But as Freya and Taft play house, it becomes impossible to ignore that their instant chemistry isn’t just for the cameras. While faking it, they might have just found the real thing.

Decoy Girlfriend is an intoxicating story about a fake Hollywood romance. The story is engaging and the characters are realistic. Even though the two main characters, Taft and Freya are successful, they are filled with self doubt and insecurities, just like all of us.

Freya has written one successful book but she is having an impossible time trying to write the second one. She resembles Mandi Roy, a famous movie star and people often stop Freya thinking she is Mandi.

Taft is a famous movie star who meets Freya while buying a book for his mother and he is instantly smitten with Freya. I loved all the bantering between Taft and Freya. From the moment they meet, they enjoy needling each other, but behind all the bantering is an instant attraction that they both have a difficult time ignoring.

I enjoyed this upbeat story, it has sparkling dialogue and entertaining characters.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Uncovered by Noja Lina

September 6, 2022 By Leave a Comment


Uncovered by Noja Lina
Publisher: Pride Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, LGBTQ, Erotic Romance
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

People keep themselves covered in many ways. But, sometimes, it’s not possible—and someone’s looking.

Jake postpones buying curtains for his new apartment. At one point, he notices that a man from the building across keeps watching him every morning. Jake then confronts the guy, whom he considers a stalker.

Thomas is not actually a stalker and is put off by Jake’s aggressive tendencies. Even so, they continue interacting and a bond starts forming. Jake develops romantic interest in Thomas but refuses to admit it and struggles with getting them to be closer. Along the way, he discovers that Thomas hates aggression because he had dealt with domestic violence in his past.

They both need to overcome their respective fears and change. Will they succeed—or fail and fall apart?

So nuanced and layered, but real.

When I picked up this book, I wasn’t sure what I’d be getting. The blurb drew me in and I had to know more. I mean, these two guys seemed so wrong for each other, but it’s so right. I liked the dynamics of the characters and how they found their way. This wasn’t a light story. It’s complicated and can be messy. But that’s what’s great about it. This book reads like life.

Jake doesn’t like being stared at by the guy across the way. The discomfort of being stared at isn’t his idea of fun so he does something about it. As with life, this isn’t the best way to handle the situation. Thomas doesn’t like aggressive men. He’s fascinated by Jake, but he’s also put off, too. When Jack confronts him, the behavior freaks him out and he’s not wild about aggressive people.

These two men are layered and complicated…and as I said, messy. They’ve got their hang-ups and it’s like reading life. It’s like reading about people I knew, and I could relate to them. That’s what made this book for me. Can they change? Adapt? Make this work? You’ll have to keep reading to find out.

I’m going to look for more by this author because this book snagged me. I suggest you try it, too.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,
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