Romance

Romance Book Reviews

Review of Romance Rules for Werewolves by Linsey Hall

/ authoramysbrown / Leave a comment

Synopsis:
Autumn is a time of snuggly sweaters, crisp breezes, and…. sexy, broody werewolves?

When I inherit a magical house in the beautiful seaside village of Charming Cove, it’s just what I need to turn my dismal life around. Fresh off a bad breakup and with magic that I’ve ignored for a decade, I’m ready to rekindle my inner witch.

The catch? The house is inhabitable until I renovate it, and the only place to live is with a brooding, rugged boat-builder who definitely doesn’t want me in his space. Though there’s no denying the electric spark between us, neither of us is willing to act on it.

To make things more complicated, I have to renovate the house in thirty days or I’ll lose it. But the house hates anyone who enters it and attacks with loose floorboards and horrific odors. I can’t get a single contractor in Charming Cove to help me out.

That leaves only one option—convince my new roommate to help me until I can untangle the mystery of why my new home is so moody. It’ll mean spending every day with the sexy, infuriating werewolf, but I’ll do whatever it takes to make my dreams a reality.

Review:
The book starts out with Isobel in a pretty crappy situation, and within a couple of chapters she’s suddenly gotten an entirely new lease on life and become an entirely different person. While I’m all for change, especially after removal from a toxic situation, the way in which the change was instant was a bit much. Rafe, our werewolf, is far more steady in his demeanor and desires. That being said, watching as Isobel makes a new life for herself and slowly becomes close to Rafe was absolutely worth the time spent. I quite liked how Isobel and Rafe’s relationship grew as they spent more time together and learned more about each other. While I loved seeing the Charming Cove ladies of books past, it seemed very odd that everyone was offering Isobel free help and instant friendship- though it is nice to welcome new magic users into a small town! There was a continuity issue in this novel with Emma’s future grandmother-in-law being named Vivienne when in the previous book her name was Vivian which I wish had gotten caught in editing.

This book is sweet but with a lot of depth to the main characters and their relationship, this is a quick and easy cozy romantasy I’d recommend you give a read to.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯
Spice rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Review of How to Fake-Date a Vampire: A magical romantic comedy by Linsey Hall

/ authoramysbrown / Leave a comment

Synopsis:
Faking it with a vampire duke should be easy, right?

I’ve got one chance to prove to my coven that I’m worth my wand. But to do it, I’m going to have to make a deal with a vampire duke. I get to use his gorgeous estate in Cornwall to host the Beltane Ball–and in exchange, I’ll pretend to be his girlfriend. But it’s all a show for his grandmother.

The rules of our fake relationship are simple:
No flirting. No emotion. No sex. Easy, right?

Except I can’t seem to ignore the allure of the infuriating and devastatingly sexy vampire. Falling for a duke isn’t an option, though. I would lose the anonymity that protects me and my coven, and that would ruin my life–and the lives of the other witches in my coven.

So yeah, totally easy.

How to Fake-Date a Vampire is a fun, frothy romantic comedy full of laughter, love, and magical hijinks. It’s the second in a series of stand alone romances set in the seaside village of Charming Cove. The books do not need to be read in order.

Review:
This book was quite amusing from the beginning with Emma’s accidental meeting of the “it” guy that everyone wants to sneak a peek of and become close to. Emma wants what everyone wants; to feel part of a family/connected/wanted. While perhaps she starts off a little backhandedly in trying to get everything she wants, seeing her interact with Alaric’s family makes everything seem just within reach. I quite enjoyed Emma’s thoughts on being a witch and about how it made her feel powerful; so long as she is clever and strong enough it is flexible and she can do anything.

Very light in feel/depth, it is understandable why Alaric doesn’t want to open up, but it seemed to me as if the connection between Alaric and Emma was a bit too instant for my liking- there wasn’t a lot of development. Things seemed also a bit too easy to reconcile with a big gesture, as if all the issues/problems leading up had really been nothing and it made it seem as if there had really never been any stakes to what the reader has spent an entire book hoping for. All in all, a quick and easy cozy read of light romantic fantasy; while there isn’t a lot of depth it is a decent read.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯
Spice rating: 🌶️🌶️

Review of The Modern Girl’s Guide to Magic: A magical romantic comedy by Linsey Hall

/ authoramysbrown / Leave a comment

Synopsis:
So here’s the deal—I’m a magical disaster. A witch from a family of witches, and the only one whose magic blows up in her face. Which is why I came up with my rules…

1. Never get involved with magic

2. If you must get involved, do not enter a competition to win the biggest magical fortune in England

3. And definitely don’t fall for Callan Hawthorne, the sexy billionaire mage who you’ve hated for years

So how the heck do I end up in a situation that promises to break all those rules? It’s the only way to save Seaside Spells, my family’s magical potion shop.

But it’s cool. When I go back home to Charming Cove—a village of ancient pubs and foul-mouthed familiars—I will totally ignore Witch Weekly’s Sexiest Man of the Year. I’ll win the competition, and if I’m lucky, I won’t turn myself into a toad in the process.

This’ll be fine. It’ll all be fine.

Riiiight.

Review:
Aria is quite an intriguing character as is Boris, and while Callan might seem standoffish, he becomes quite understood as time goes by. While this book seems to be a bit of split perspective from Aria and Callan, it is predominantly about Aria reclaiming her life and figuring out that just because you’re different doesn’t make you bad. I loved the past connection and bits of flash backs from Callan and Aria’s past. Callan does nothing but endear as he continuously does all he can to help Aria become her best self, and I am all for that. I picked up one saying that I hadn’t heard before this novel that I quite liked and think everyone would do well to consider in life: “There was no need to borrow trouble.” This is a quirky quick cozy light fantasy romance read that while not holding much depth, does leave the reader with warm fuzzy feelings afterwards.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯
Spice rating: 🌶️🌶️

Review of Dreadful by Greer Rivers

/ authoramysbrown / Leave a comment

Synopsis:
A dark, modern, romantic retelling of Sweeney Todd with a Medusa twist and a happy ever after.

Their revenge is sweet… their love is unhinged.

Fifteen years ago, a girl sacrificed her life for mine. I’ve wanted only justice ever since.

Then Talia entered the stage.

I’m the barber’s son. The Boss’ nephew. A prince without a throne and only revenge to fuel me.

She’s the bakers’ granddaughter. Sweet Tallie. Their dolce nipotina. My vipera.

My desires have always stopped at vengeance. She’s made me want more. But my vendetta will destroy everything in my path, and I won’t risk bringing her into my world.

I never suspected she’d snake her way in on her own.

I craved a bite of her sugar and spice, but my little vipera is fangs and venom.

Now all I want is to be bitten.


DREADFUL is a dark, revenge mafia retelling of Sweeney Todd, Hamlet, and Medusa, set in modern-day Boston and a complete STANDALONE in the Tattered Curtain Series. Guaranteed HEA. This story has triggers so please check the author’s website for trigger warnings.

Review:
I absolutely adored this book, as I have the other Tattered Curtain tales. This book is HEAVY. I highly recommend anyone interested read the trigger warnings before getting into it. I absolutely loved how well paced and set up the story is, and how it shifted between present and past. I thought that the connection between Sweeney Todd and Medusa was absolutely brilliantly done and well executed. I loved the depth of this story and how entwined the past and present were, but how age and circumstance can keep one from seeing the whole picture. The characters were relatable and well written with great depth. I loved how the characters grow and develop together. I wasn’t particularly keen on the knife play used at one particular scene, but as it was only one, it didn’t really pull me from the immersion of the novel. Do read the trigger warnings, as I definitely was close to tears at the end, but it was still just right. The only thing I am bummed about is not being able to get the bonus epilogue as the link doesn’t work. I cannot wait to see what comes out next in this series, as they are all so unique, immersive, and touching.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯
Spice rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Review of Forged by Malice by Elizabeth Helen

/ authoramysbrown / Leave a comment

Synopsis:
I’ve found a new home and fallen in love with four cursed fae princes. But everything could be taken from me in an instant. If I’m to save the Enchanted Vale and the High Princes, this rose is going to need to grow thorns.

Being a part of the fae is wonderful. Except that the enchanted castle I live in is falling apart, one of my mates wants to give up his magic for good, the other one seems to be hiding something from me, and the two cursed fae princes I’m in love with still need to find their actual mates. Oh, and the villainous Prince of Thorns keeps trying to kiss me. And I kind of want him to.

When whispers of war spread from the Spring Realm, we find ourselves on a knife’s edge, trying to prevent a betrayal that could tear the realms—and my princes—apart. A vicious enemy from the Below will stop at nothing to kill me and claim Spring for herself. And Ezryn’s own brother has turned against him, claiming the Spring throne for himself. Allies become enemies, and enemies become allies.

Now, more than ever, I’ll need to light a way for my princes and help Ezryn, the High Prince of Spring, take back his throne. I won’t let him lose himself to the darkness… unless I lose myself first.

FORGED BY MALICE is the third book in a steamy adult Beauty and the Beast retelling seven-book series set in a fantasy fae realm. In this version, our beautiful bookworm doesn’t have to choose between the four sexy fae princes. It is a full-length novel that ends on a cliffhanger. It includes MF, MM, and MMFM content. It is intended for mature readers only

Review:
The cliffhanger ending on this is absolutely horrible! There were so many things revealed just at the last possible second and ugh!!!! I cannot wait for this series to finish up!

This book has so many layers of what it means to be a good friend, what it means to forgive yourself, and accept goodness in your life. The characterization and depth is amazing. I do have some assumptions on how redemption works in the Vale, which I will reveal whether or not they were spot on after the next book is out. There were so many twists and turns and some I had some inkling on (here’s looking at you, Wrenley) and some I hated (here’s looking at you AGAIN, Wrenley!) There was a series of expectations about Rosalina and her princes and while some may say you cannot always have your cake and eat it too that is what was advertised so I am sure many of us are left mouth gaping.

The spice was, as always, spot on and awesome, but oh how I want everyone to have a happy ending; together! With Rosalina!

P.S. The true villain is never who you think it will be…

Spice rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯

Review of Wreckless Heart by Brighton Walsh

/ authoramysbrown / Leave a comment

Synopsis:
Turns out the gorgeous stranger I had a one-night stand with is not only my sister’s best friend but also my new employee.

Worse? I shared a whole lot more with Avery than one mind-blowing night.

I told her my deepest, darkest secret.

Despite my constant worry that she’ll let the truth slip to my family, I can’t stay away from her. And when we’re tossed together for an out of town trip and forced to share a room with only one bed, the chemistry between us finally explodes…again.

I have no problem making her see stars—or breaking the bed. The trouble is, the longer our secret relationship goes on, the more I want to keep her.

But she’s eight years my junior, the sunshine to my grump, and I know her free spirit wants more than the small town of Starlight Cove can offer.

I have no doubt no one will ever give her more pleasure than I will, but I refuse to hold her back.

Even if that means letting her go when her three month contract is up.

Review:
This book is amazing and gripping from the very first page. Both main characters have excellent back stories with reasons for how they are how they are. Aiden is incredibly considerate and as Avery would say “the best book boyfriend”. The relationship developed well and there was never a point where I skimmed or just wanted to be done with part of the book. I absolutely loved how open and outgoing and out there Avery is (can relate!). I also quite enjoyed how detailed but not overly minutely so experiences were explained, specifically about a trip Addison pushes. One of the best parts of this book is the reoccurring suggestion that you should accept people as they are and while you may want something more, know that people do not often change their nature. “Begrudging her for what she wasn’t took so much more energy than just loving her for what she was.” (Page 225, Chapter 22)

Let’s talk spice. Holy. Crap. I considered adding a spice meter when I have been rating/reviewing romance/smut before and let me tell you- this book is the best to start that scale with a resounding 5/5. Well written, detailed but not too detailed, so perfectly steamy. I immediately signed up to Walsh’s mailing list in order to get those sweet sweet four additional bonus chapters and I was not disappointed!

Do you like best friend’s brother romances, opposites attract romances, hot and incredibly steamy scenes, and book loving MCs? This book is definitely made for you!

Spice rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯

Review of The Misadventures of Miss Adelaide by Maggie Dallen

/ authoramysbrown / Leave a comment

Synopsis:
She’s on the run from her cruel guardian…

And Miss Adelaide has found the perfect hiding spot in the home of the formidable Earl of Tolston. But masquerading as a maid comes at a cost. One day she faints on the job, and when she wakes…

She’s in the arms of the Earl. His eyes are dark as he glowers down at her, but then he says, “What are you hiding, little one?”

Her secrets about to be exposed, Addie wants nothing more than to flee—again. But the powerful, overprotective Earl with dark, brooding eyes makes it very clear that she’s his to protect. Whether she likes it or not.

“You can run, Addie . . . but I will follow.”

This is the first of a 10-book sweet regency romance series filled with enemies to lovers, friends to more, runaway brides, kidnapped debutantes, mistaken identity, alpha heroes, and a loveable group of friends. Each book is a standalone romance. No cliffhangers, just a swoonworthy happily ever after!

Review:
“Admit it,” he said. “You believe in the fairy tales–true love, happily ever afters–all that hogwash.”
“I did once,” she admitted.


This book was a very short and very quick read that I found by means of TikTok advertising. That being said, I did enjoy the characterization but we were left with a lot of insta-feelings that I would have liked more time for development. I did actually like how the Earl came to care and push for Addie’s wellbeing, however, it seemed as if (and this is addressed within the novel) he and Adelaide never truly took the time to get to know each other but just felt a connection. I do very much love how Addie has her own secrets and her own goals that she must accomplish and that she isn’t willing to back down just because she found someone that could “save her”. I like that the two bring out the teasing nature in the other, especially with their word play. I also really liked that despite not knowing the whole story and realizing there is a lot left to learn, Alec doesn’t give up on Adelaide. While I would have liked more character development, perhaps a bit more interactions with Alec (especially with Reggie), I did rather enjoy this book as a quick little clean romance read.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯

Review of Den of Blades and Briars by LJ Andrews

/ authoramysbrown / Leave a comment

Synopsis:

She’s bound to serve her enemy for a hundred years. Now, she’s at risk of killing the man … or falling for him.


After she lands on the losing side of a war, Saga is sentenced to serve Ari Sekundär, the man she despises.

But when Ari is blamed for a tragic assassination, Saga is forced on the run with her reluctant master, and they must work together to survive. Soon hate feels more like passion and disgust more like desire.

What Ari doesn’t know is that falling in love with the enemy will have deadly consequences. But how can Saga tell him, if he ever gives his heart to her, it will unlock a hidden secret that can destroy the kingdom…and end her life.

The tale of the Swan Princess reimagined. This compelling New Adult Fantasy continues the bestselling world of the Broken Kingdoms as the first book in the Southern Kingdom. Welcome to a world filled with fae, Vikings, and spicy romance.


*This book contains content that could be triggering to some readers, so check the TW list inside, along with spicy scenes that are for readers 18+*

Review:
This book was good, but it seemed a bit more of a slow book that I didn’t find as gripping as the others in the series. I’m sure part of it is that I didn’t find Saga as interesting as previous heroines. Perhaps another part is that I waited so long since I last joined this world. Looking at the synopsis now, I clearly should have reread it before reading this book as I personally hadn’t made the Swan Princess connection though I can see some connections to that looking back now. I still loved Ari, but it took quite a while to warm up to Saga. There were definite moments when I felt like he should have seen right through her ruse, especially given his former occupation. All in all they make a good counterbalance to each other, though I did anticipate a lot of things about Saga before they were revealed. The spice in this book was great, and I did think that was well written and thoroughly enjoyable. I have already started the second book by the time of writing this review, and so far, it is picking up a lot quicker.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯

Review of River of Shadows by Karina Halle

/ authoramysbrown / Leave a comment

Synopsis:
Take Hades & Persephone, transport them into twisted Nordic mythology, add in Beauty & the Beast and some Alice in Wonderland, and you get the high steam dark fantasy, River of Shadows.
When 24-year old Hanna Heikkinen’s estranged father dies, she reluctantly makes the trip to Northern Finland for his funeral. Being in the enchanting land of ice and snow feels miles away from Hanna’s busy life back in Los Angeles, especially under the complicated circumstances.
But when Hanna discovers that her father’s body is missing, that’s when things really get weird. A mysterious man, Rasmus, tells Hanna the truth: her father was a powerful shaman who went into Tuonela, the Realm of the Dead, in order to barter for more life, and has been held captive by Tuoni, the God of Death. The only way her father can be freed is if she travels with Rasmus into the mythical underworld to rescue him.
Willing to do anything to have a second-chance with her father, Hanna accompanies Rasmus into the dark and bloody realm, traveling via the River of Shadows, stalked by dangerous creatures, monsters, and the living dead, until they finally come into the haunted kingdom ruled by Death and his family.
Only for her to be captured and held prisoner by the God of Death himself.
Turns out Death is intrigued by Hanna’s beauty and fierceness and makes a bargain with her. If she marries him, and spends an eternity in the Realm of the Dead as his wife, he’ll set her father free.
But even the most noble sacrifices come with hidden costs, and Hanna’s might involve the most unexpected of all things: her heart.

NOTE: River of Shadows is the first book of the Underworld Gods series and is not related to any other previous books. While it fits in the sub-genre “dark fantasy” it is NOT dark enough to be considered a “dark romance.” That said, it does contain dub con, captive situations, graphic sex scenes, filthy language, and scary situations, so sensitive readers (especially those sensitive to dubious consent) please take heed of this warning. It also ends on a cliffhanger.

Review:
This book was so overly hyped on tiktok that I thought it would be great. On the surface it’s everything I like; fairy tales/mythology blended together. That being said there is no draw here. The characters seem to have no true depth, and while Hanna references knowing she’s captive etc. everything still seems to have no build up and just instant. Marketed as Hades and Persephone but certainly has more of a Beauty and the Beast feel, which I know, you’re thinking THEN YOU SHOULD HAVE LOVED IT. While the spice was superb, the characters never really spent time together or grew/developed. There is a nice message about not putting off spending time with loved ones and appreciating them and your time together more, but that is just a tiny bit of the overall story which is far more centered around Death and Hanna. A lot of time is spent explaining things about her past so Hanna doesn’t seem inexperienced, but it’s all told as random filler backstory. Overall, it wasn’t horrible, but it wasn’t gripping/a fast read, and while there is a warning of a cliffhanger, it doesn’t mention how horrible of one it is; and honestly, I’m not sure this series is one I will continue with.

Star rating: ✯✯✯

Review of Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater

/ authoramysbrown / Leave a comment

Synopsis:
It’s difficult to find a husband in Regency England when you’re a young lady with only half a soul.

Ever since she was cursed by a faerie, Theodora Ettings has had no sense of fear or embarrassment—an unfortunate condition that leaves her prone to accidental scandal. Dora hopes to be a quiet, sensible wallflower during the London Season—but when Elias Wilder, the strange, handsome, and utterly ill-mannered Lord Sorcier, discovers her condition, she is instead drawn into peculiar and dangerous faerie affairs.
If her reputation can survive both her curse and her sudden connection with the least-liked man in all high society, then she and her family may yet reclaim their normal place in the world. But the longer Dora spends with Elias, the more she begins to suspect that one may indeed fall in love even with only half a soul. 

Review:
This book was endearing, enchanting, witty, and altogether brilliant. I had apparently bought this book back in August of 2021 and like so many well meaning people with libraries allowed it to sit. The moment I had started it I found it enticing, in the same way books such as A Little Princess are. There were some definite inspiration points taken from other novels, with Chapter One featuring two references that seem very relatable to Alice in Wonderland. The further in we go, the more lessons we learn-about how hard it is to allow yourself to be more than angry at the world, about what makes someone virtuous and why you may think highly of someone. While this story was fantastical and definitely had some Alice and A Little Princess vibes, it stands on it’s own and I think it’s a very neat book about accepting yourself as you are, learning to harness your strengths and work on your weaknesses, and never give up on those who need your help.

I quite love the banter and peculiar way in which Dora views the world. Many have compared it to Howl’s Moving Castle and Bridgerton, some to Pride and Prejudice. It is very much a historical fantasy with a mystery and some romance; if that sounds good to you, you’ll likely love this book. I do intend to continue this series at some point as the writing pulls you in and you just want to know more, especially about one particular Lord Sorcier who seems bent on making everyone hate him…

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯