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Story Blurb This old flame just might set them on fire. Conceited, unattainable, and downright delicious, renowned Michelin-starred chef Ambrose Casablancas has one passion in life—food. Women are a distraction, and he doesn’t do those. Especially Cal Litvin, his baby sister’s best friend. Her entire existence is a complication; she’s awkward, eccentric, infuriating… And, much to his chagrin, hotter than his kitchen. Ambrose has a lot on his plate: a new restaurant to open, a multimillion-dollar property deal to execute, and a violent stalker to tame. Then Cal shows up at his doorstep, looking for both a job and salvation after their messy goodbye. His resolve, like his patience, is ebbing each day she works at his restaurant. Because Cal is no longer a doe-eyed girl. Now? She’s the woman he’ll do anything to conquer. *** Quirky, compassionate ball of sunshine Calla Litvin can’t catch a break, and not just because she swore off running. Back in her hometown to nurse her mother’s broken heart after losing her father, she finds herself jobless, hopeless, and penniless. She hopes to rekindle her friendship with her former BFF, but Dylan is attached at the hip to her cruel brother—the one Cal’s been secretly crushing on since middle school. Falling for the bad boy the second time around would be a mistake of gargantuan proportions. Too bad she’s always been clumsy. My Thoughts/Opinion I gave myself false expectations for this story because I assumed from the cover that it was a darker romance. It is not. This was much more lighthearted than I expected, though there were some serious issues. That being said I liked the main characters but struggled to have patience for Calla immaturity sometimes. Decent read and I liked the forum interactions they had, but sadly I never got super engaged in the story. Favorite Quote: “Your broken is still the most whole thing I’ve seen.”

Story Blurb He was the talented bad boy everyone wanted. I was the irrelevant geek everyone hated. He was the sun...drawing all of us in. I was a black hole...taking up space. He was destined to be a star. I was destined to remain an insignificant no one. Until he made me believe I was special... And then he destroyed me. I never thought I'd see Phoenix Walker again after he broke my heart, but fate had other plans. One tour. Eight weeks. Forty shows. Countless opportunities to make him pay. The world thought he was a God... But I knew the truth . My Thoughts/Opinion I like the first part of this story in their teen years. It did a good job of setting up the conflict and, as importantly, their traumas. Very well done. I also liked the set up of the FMC getting to exact revenge as an adult. I think the story was good, but in my opinion, it went on way too long. The ending was a little meh also. I had a hard time with the overt juxtaposition of the roles. It didn't ring true to me. Favorite Quote: “Don’t let your insecurities overpower that which makes your soul come alive. Otherwise, you’ll walk this earth never feeling whole…and that’s no way to live.”

Story Blurb Briggs, Remember when we parted ways in Germany? It was the day I broke your heart. What you didn't know was that I was breaking mine too. I thought they’d be enough–my husband and my son. That I’d get home and everything would go back to the way it was . . . Before the war. Before the ambush. Before you. But, no matter how hard I try, I can’t erase the trauma we shared. I can’t seem to forget the way my heart beat in time with yours. The truth is I’m lost without you. I thought the nightmare was over when they pulled us from that hole in the ground, but nothing could have prepared me for the war I’d face at home. I know it’s selfish of me to ask, but, please, I have to see you one last time. . . All my love, Scottie My Thoughts/Opinion This book was a big nope for me. First of all, I struggled to empathize with the FMC. But more than that, I'm never going to enjoy reading a story about a woman who breaks her covenant with her husband because of another man. There's nothing redeemable about this story. I'm sorry. I usually try to find something positive to say about any book I add here, but I just can't with this one. Favorite Quote:

Story Blurb Only a bad nanny knows what it’s like to kiss the boss. CEO millionaire, Max Fletcher is a single dad in desperate need of a nanny. Cozy Barlow is in the middle of her self-appointed “gap year” and doing everything she can to detach from her past. But when her sister begs her to interview for the nanny position of a high maintenance client, she doesn’t have a good enough reason to say no. And when Max locks eyes on the twenty-something in a tie-dye sweatsuit who pitches the idea of daydreaming all summer—he prepares to give this bad nanny the boot. One problem: Max’s little girl thinks this plus-sized in body and spirit nanny might be her new bestie, so she hires her on the spot. Now Max is stuck with this bizarre woman who hates everything he represents—corporate greed, money, status, power. But one stormy night when the power goes out, he discovers Cozy doesn’t hate him. In fact, he’s the leading role in her fantasies. Fantasies, he would very much like to make a reality. My Thoughts/Opinion Having read the mountain man Fletcher Brothers series first, I really wanted to go back and catch Max and Cozy's story and I'm so glad I did. I love this author's excellent depiction of curvy girls without the need to make her size the point of the story. And I loved Max's little girl, who in the future books is the matchmaker for all her uncles. The spice is great and I love that Max and Cozy help each other through real past issues. This book was a great palette cleanser and quick read. Favorite Quote: “Being vulnerable only makes you weak if you’re around predators. Being vulnerable with someone good and decent like Max can make you fiercely strong.”

Story Blurb A hopeless romantic meets a jaded radio host in this cozy, Sleepless in Seattle– inspired love story from beloved author B.K. Borison. Aiden Valentine has a secret: he’s fallen out of love with love. And as the host of Baltimore’s romance hotline, that’s a bit of a problem. But when a young girl calls in to the station asking for dating advice for her mom, the interview goes viral, thrusting Aiden and Heartstrings into the limelight. Lucie Stone thought she was doing just fine. She has a good job; an incredible family; and a smart, slightly devious kid. But when all of Baltimore is suddenly scrutinizing her love life—or lack thereof—she begins to question if she’s as happy as she believed. Maybe a little more romance wouldn’t be such a bad thing. Everyone wants Lucie to find her happy ending…even the handsome, temperamental man calling the shots. But when sparks start to fly behind the scenes, Lucie must make the final decision between the radio-sponsored happily ever after or the man in the headphones next to her. My Thoughts/Opinion I loved this book so much. Lucie (an auto mechanic by the way - fun occupation for an FMC) doesn't think she has time or deserves to find love. Aiden is jaded and doesn't for a second see how his life is getting ready to be turned upside down. Their chemistry is so cute and though I didn't feel like either of their reasons for not being together were as big a deal as the story made it, I enjoyed their path to their HEA. Favorite Quote: “I want to feel something when I connect with someone. I want sparks. The good kind, you know? I want to laugh and mean it. I want goose bumps. I want to wonder what my date is thinking about and hope it might be me. I want…I want the magic.”

Story Blurb “Imagine, the letters one has sent out into the world, the letters received back in turn, are like the pieces of a magnificent puzzle. . . . Isn’t there something wonderful in that, to think that a story of one’s life is preserved in some way, that this very letter may one day mean something, even if it is a very small thing, to someone?” Filled with knowledge that only comes from a life fully lived, The Correspondent is a gem of a novel about the power of finding solace in literature and connection with people we might never meet in person. It is about the hubris of youth and the wisdom of old age, and the mistakes and acts of kindness that occur during a lifetime. Sybil Van Antwerp has throughout her life used letters to make sense of the world and her place in it. Most mornings, around half past ten, Sybil sits down to write letters—to her brother, to her best friend, to the president of the university who will not allow her to audit a class she desperately wants to take, to Joan Didion and Larry McMurtry to tell them what she thinks of their latest books, and to one person to whom she writes often yet never sends the letter. Sybil expects her world to go on as it always has—a mother, grandmother, wife, divorcee, distinguished lawyer, she has lived a very full life. But when letters from someone in her past force her to examine one of the most painful periods of her life, she realizes that the letter she has been writing over the years needs to be read and that she cannot move forward until she finds it in her heart to offer forgiveness. Sybil Van Antwerp’s life of letters might be “a very small thing,” but she also might be one of the most memorable characters you will ever read. My Thoughts/Opinion I picked up this book because it was on so many "Best of 2025" lists. I listened to the book which I think was a better experience than reading it. The cast of narrators was exceptional. This book was thought provoking and the writing was incredibly eloquent, but I'm not certain it would land on my best of list. I respected Sybil's perspective and that she was a flawed human with a wealth of life experience, but I never felt truly connected to her. Favorite Quote: “knowing you has been like coming in from the cold, lonely road to find a warm fire and a table laid,”

Story Blurb Boston Bearcats rookie Robbie Corrigan is living the dream. He’s made it to the NHL, his best friend/teammate and fellow “orgasm donor” is his roomie—and the women of Boston love them both. Life is sweet. That is, until he meets Skylar Paige, division 1 softball pitcher, girl least likely to take anyone’s bull…and the one member of the opposite sex immune to his charms. Robbie might be dazzled by the badass pitcher, but Skylar pegs him as a filthy player and wants nothing to do with him. When he discovers she’s carrying a serious torch for her brother’s best friend, Robbie knows he should just go back to clubbing and whipped cream bikini parties, but he can’t seem to leave Skylar to flounder on her romantic quest to land another man. Nor can he miss out on the opportunity to spend time with her and hopefully redeem himself. Before Robbie knows it, he’s agreed to be Skylar’s fake boyfriend/love coach at an upcoming family wilderness competition where her crush will be in attendance. What could go wrong? Through a series of contests that require them to trust each other, Robbie and Skylar grow closer and closer until their fake relationship starts to feel like the realest thing they’ve ever known and the sizzling lessons in sensuality burn out of control. But it’s all just pretend…right? My Thoughts/Opinion As I've mentioned before, I either fall hard for Tessa Bailey's books or they leave me disappointed. Such as it has been for this series. Book 1, good not great. Book 2, phenomenal. Book 3, disappointing. I was anxious about starting this one because I didn't want to be disappointed twice in a row. And I wasn't! This wasn't as good as book 2, but it was surprisingly awesome. Robby Corrigan was NOT a character I was excited to read about. But his transformation in this story, and Skylar's badassery (and weaknesses) were a great combination. I loved this story and their obstacles and although the resolution was a little light, their love for each other and how it was displayed on the page did my little romantic heart good! Now, I'm back to being excited about the next book in this series. Favorite Quote: “Time moved in slow motion as she jumped into his arms, her warm laugh bubbling in his ear. And eventually sighing into his neck when he banded both arms around her and held, locking her curves tight to his frame, his eyes rolling blissfully into the back of his head over the way she fit him, absorbing the perfect feeling of the girl who was going to get away.”

Story Blurb Bee Hobbes (aka Bianca Von Honey) has a successful career as a plus-size adult film star. With a huge following and two supportive moms, Bee couldn’t ask for more. But when Bee’s favorite producer casts her to star in a Christmas movie he’s making for the squeaky-clean Hope Channel, Bee’s career is about to take a more family-friendly direction. Forced to keep her work as Bianca under wraps, Bee quickly learns this is a task a lot easier said than done. Though it all becomes worthwhilewhen she discovers her co-star is none other than childhood crush Nolan Shaw, an ex-boy band member in desperate need of career rehab. Nolan’s promised his bulldog manager to keep it zipped up on set, and he will if it means he’ll be able to provide a more stable living situation for his sister and mom. But things heat up quickly in Christmas Notch, Vermont, when Nolan recognizes his new co-star from her ClosedDoors account (oh yeah, he’s a member). Now Bee and Nolan are sneaking off for quickies on set, keeping their new relationship a secret from the Hope Channel’s execs. Things only get trickier when the reporter who torpedoed Nolan’s singing career comes snooping around—and takes an instant interest in mysterious newcomer Bee. And if Bee and Nolan can’t keep their off-camera romance behind the scenes, then this merry little meet cute might end up on the cutting room floor. My Thoughts/Opinion I was looking for one more holiday-themed read and while my previous one was very Hallmark coded, this one was definitely NSFW. While there was plenty of opportunity for sexy funny moments, this book was surprisingly fraught with real life problems that were handled incredibly well. I was expecting a fun romp, but this story was much more than that. I don't know why I was surprised. Both of these authors are fantastic and this story was no exception. Favorite Quote: “Because that’s what love was—more than a word, more than a mountain of the best and noblest intentions in the world. It was saying I’ll be here with you when it feels like nothing else is certain. It was saying Let the storm come, because I’ll never stop holding your hand.”

Story Blurb When a secret billionaire and his obnoxious(ly pretty) upstairs neighbor get stuck together on an elevator, their sparks could light a Christmas tree. Juliet I go through crushes faster than a kid goes through presents on Christmas morning. But when I crash into my annoying(ly hot) nemesis and we get stuck on the elevator during a blackout, the last thing I expect is to develop feelings for him . Nate Cruz is opinionated, a stickler for justice, talks with his hands, and is the space heater keeping me safe while we’re stuck on this freezing metal box. He’s also the first person to ever push past my defense mechanisms and see me as more than “the girl who messes up everything” that my family sees. And when the blackout ends and we’re back in the real world, he’s the first person to ever stand up to my family…for me. Now that I’ve fallen for Nate, I’m determined not to mess up things with him, and I know exactly how: we’ll fake date to get through the holidays. Because a fake relationship can’t leave me brokenhearted on Christmas. Right? Nate Juliet Shippe is the loudest, most obnoxious(ly pretty) upstairs neighbor in the world. But after six hours on an elevator with her, I’m fighting feelings deeper than I’m willing to admit. And after the power is restored and she manages to drag me to my apartment and give me my insulin shot, I’m all in. When Jules suggests I come to her identical twin’s wedding as her “fake date,” I agree, but only if she comes to my ultra ambitious parents' holiday party as my real one. Because I know the truth she’s too scared to admit: she isn’t faking. And I’ll do everything I can to help her realize it. All I want for Christmas is Jules. My Thoughts/Opinion This story was very cute and struck just the right holiday Hallmark-y vibe for me. Very trope filled enemies-to-lovers, fake dating, forced proximity but they all worked well together. Juliet's voice was a little woe is me from time to time, but Nate supported her well through her twisted family dynamics and was a great book boyfriend. I did enjoy the story and might even revisit the series at some point. Favorite Quote: What started as a moment has become the beginning of forever.

Story Blurb He’s the Ghost of Christmas Past. She’s not exactly Scrooge. Ghost of Christmas Past Nolan Callahan intends to spend this holiday haunting like every other—get in, get out, return to his otherwise aimless existence as a ghost awaiting the afterlife. But when he’s faced with Harriet York, the sweetest assignment he’s ever had, he suddenly finds himself wishing for a future. Harriet York has no idea why she’s being haunted. She’s a good person—or, at least, she tries to be. A people pleaser to her core, she always does what’s expected of her. But as she and Nolan begin to examine her past, they discover there are threads that bind them together— and realize there might be more to moving on than expected. With the deadline of Christmas Eve fast approaching, will they find the key to their futures in each other’s pasts? Or will they stay firmly in the present, indulging in their unexpected, spirited connection? Filled with magic, mayhem, and cozy holiday charm, this swoony romance is B.K. Borison’s best yet! My Thoughts/Opinion I have been anticipating this read for months leading up to the holidays. I love B.K. Borison's writing. It feels so smooth and effortless for her to create this believable fantastical scenario. I must admit that the first few chapters read a little slow for me, but once Nolan arrived on scene, my heart was just along for the ride. Some very swoon-worthy, poignant moments, as are this author's stock and trade. Plus plenty of hilarity and joy. I'm carrying around a little bit of the magic from this book in my own heart today. Favorite Quote: “I could spend an eternity studying you and still not know what you might do next. You give so much of yourself, so freely. You're . . . wild with your attentions. Miraculous. I've seen so many lives, Harriet, but I've never seen someone live like you.”

Story Blurb Duty. Blood. Honor. Power. Saeris Fane doesn’t want power. The very last thing she needs is her name whispered on an entire court’s lips, but now that she’s been crowned queen of the Blood Court, she’s discovering that a queen’s life is not her own. A heavy weight rests upon her shoulders. Her ward—and her brother—need her back in her homeland…but the changes that have strengthened Saeris have also made her weak. Born under blazing suns, Saeris will surely die if she makes her way home through the Quicksilver. Which means that, once again, she must send someone else in her stead... “Keep your mouth shut. Stick to the shadows. And for the love of all seven Gods, do NOT crack any jokes.” Kingfisher of the Ajun Gate has defeated armies and survived all manner of horrors, but traveling back to Zilvaren with Carrion Swift might just be the death of him. The male just will not shut up. Hidden dangers await them down the narrow alleyways of the Silver City. Unfolding secrets pose impossible threats. Fisher must wrangle the smuggler and accomplish his goals quickly if he wants to see his mate again. A darkness falls across Yvelia. The realm and their friends are in danger. Together, Saeris and Fisher will pass through fire and brimstone to save them. My Thoughts/Opinion Ahhhhh....such a good book to follow Quicksilver. I am in LOVE with the audio versions of these books. The duet narration is so good. And I love that in this book, Saeris and Kingfisher are aligned in the goals. Such incredible world building and enough twists and turns to keep you guessing about what's coming next. And, yes, another incredible cliff hanger that has me very impatiently waiting for the third book in the Fae and Alchemy series. If you're a romantasy fan at all, do yourself a favor and immerse yourself in this very well-written world. Favorite Quote: “Every part. I love all of you.” He blew a dark curl out of his eyes. “I’d spend the fortunes of the universe to protect you. I’d drain the seas dry. Fell every tree. I would sacrifice the sun from the fucking sky and surrender the stars, too, if I could. But those things aren’t mine to give. All I have is my life. It isn’t much, but I’d spend it and consider the price small if it meant keeping you safe.”

Story Blurb A hot-tempered warrior lass and an unwelcome Highlander fight over a castle, but when he takes her hostage, his tragic tale and his motherless infant kindle a new flame in her heart. Beautiful, hot-tempered warrior maid Jenefer of Rivenloch is used to taking what she wants, whether it’s command of her father’s archers or the castle she’s had her eye on for years. So when a heathen Highlander arrives to claim her prize, she schemes to run him off the land. Formidable Morgan Mor mac Giric proves a challenging foe, foiling her plans and taking her hostage. But as the Highlander reveals his tragic history, her heart softens toward the honorable laird and his motherless infant. And when the past brings a deadly threat to his heir and his clan, she becomes the fiery champion of his heart. My Thoughts/Opinion Who doesn't need a sassy Scottish lass in their lives? It had been a while since I'd read any historical romance and I wanted to get back to my Julie Garwood roots, so I picked this one up. It's the first of three books in series and was exactly what I'd hoped for. The enemies to loves vibe was strong, but there was also the undercurrent of loss and pride that carried this book and the plot right along. I enjoyed the story a lot and will definitely pick up the other books in this series. Favorite Quote: No one could ever fathom what a rare and special gift for deception she had. Nor what a grueling, demanding business it was.