Category: Adult Fiction Reviews

REVIEW: Fall Into Temptation by Lucy Score

REVIEW: Fall Into Temptation by Lucy Score

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Gia is looking for a fresh start for herself, her step-son Evan, and her daughter Aurora, so she rents a spot in Blue Moon where her dad has made a home. And Blue Moon has real potential – her yoga studio is catching on, the kids are settling into a routine, and her landlord, Mayor Beckett Pierce, is a real temptation.

But Gia’s baggage – her irresponsible ex – and Beckett’s baggage – grief, and a drive to focus solely on helping his family back to solid ground after some rough years – could ruin their chance at love before it can even begin.

Review

Lucy Score has become my go to author for vacations. And this, the second book in the Blue Moon series, was vacation-perfect. Two great main characters with tons of chemistry, two great kids, and a family and community you’d love to be part of. The relationship is spicy, but the romance vibe is cozy. I really enjoyed it!

While I generally dislike reading series out of order, I also don’t love reading e-books on vacation. And I have the first book in this series, No More Secrets, as an ebook. Having read series like this before – Knockemout, Story Lake – I felt like I could dive in with couple 2 in the series and go back and pick up couple 1 later. And I was right. I had no issues starting here. (But I also picked up books 1 and 3 in print for Mother’s Day so I can dive in during my next vacation.)

Score fans should definitely put the Blue Moon series on their TBR. There are 7 books and a novella in this series, so there’s tons to enjoy! (Language, sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

REVIEW: The Big Fix by Holly James

REVIEW: The Big Fix by Holly James

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Kensington in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Penny had let her sister Libby talk her into visiting the estate sale. Libby’s grumpy neighbor had died, and she wanted to finally get a look inside his house. But when Penny meets the grumpy neighbor’s gorgeous nephew, Anthony, she realizes her sister has set her up.

When the dead body falls out of the closet, though, Penny forgets to be annoyed about the fix up.

And when she realizes she actually recognizes the dead man, she starts to panic.

Anthony is hiding things. And there are people watching him. And those people have this crazy idea that Penny is his girlfriend, and therefore “leverage.” So when it all goes wrong, she’s completely caught up in the chaos.

Review

This was so fun! I was sold from the first chapter. I enjoyed the characters, and the writing is terrific. Before I knew it, I was completely caught up in the story. The main characters are great, and I enjoyed the mystery/adventure. There were even laugh-out-loud moments. Every time I set this down, I looked forward to picking it up again.

If you love a mystery/light suspense/adventure story with a side of romance and some laughs, you should absolutely pick this up and give it a try. It’s a fun ride from start to finish. If you are looking for something fun to take along on your summer vacation, this would be a great choice. (Language)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥♥½ = I loved it! Would re-read.

REVIEW: Fan Service by Rosie Danan

REVIEW: Fan Service by Rosie Danan

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

As a teen, Alex Lawson found solace in the show The Arcane Files about a werewolf detective. She even got to meet the show’s star, Devin Ashwood, at a con. Only to have it turn into a “never meet your heroes” cautionary tale. Seventeen years later, Devin is a pop culture punchline as security video catches him faking a public “werewolf transformation” like on his old show.

Only, it’s not fake.

Devin seems to have been affected – in real life – by the same sort of full moon that turned his TV character into a werewolf. And the only person he thinks could help him is the mod who put together the show’s extensive wiki – Alex.

Review

Let me start by saying I really liked this! The premise is creative and clever. And the author does a couple of brilliant things in the storytelling that took this somewhere different in the best sort of ways.

That said, I struggled to like the characters. I got there by the end for sure, but I normally would have given up on a book like this because I just didn’t click with the two leads early on. I hung with this longer than usual because the premise was captivating, and I’m glad I did because it came together so well in the end.

If you are a fan of paranormal romance but craving a little variation on the world building, I would recommend giving this a try. I really liked this take on the werewolf genre. If you like enemies to lovers, know going in that this is light on the enemies. Enough time has passed for Alex to come across as more disinterested than angry. And the disance that comes from “hating” a TV star adds to the “cooling” on any strong feelings she might have had as a teen. And if you like your romance books spicy, this one delivers romantic heat even if the emotional “heat” is subdued.

I really got a kick out of this and would recommend it on the creative storytelling alone. But if these other features appeal to you as well, you should give this a try. (Language, sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great. Might re-read.

 

REVIEW: Story of My Life by Lucy Score

REVIEW: Story of My Life by Lucy Score

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Once upon a time, Hazel Hart was a best-selling romance author. But these days she’s not writing – and sometimes not even showering. It’s been a tough season. At a recent author event with 600 rabid readers, she had less than 20 come by her table. And she’s five days away from losing her home thanks to her recent divorce. The hits just keep coming.

When she comes across a news article from Story Lake, PA in her idea file, everything changes. A story starts flowing in her brain like they used to. And the thought of a fresh start in a small town like the ones she used to write sets her heart pounding. So on impulse she buys a house – the house from the article –  sight unseen, in an online auction.

What Hazel finds in Story Lake – the house, the townspeople, the gorgeous yet grumpy contractor – isn’t at all what she expected. But it could be just what she needs.

Review

Not only is Lucy Score the undisputed queen of rom-coms in my opinion, but she is also the queen of brother trios. I thought the Knockemout guys were amazing, but they have nothing on the Bishop brothers (the whole family, really). I am in love.

This was a home run from the begining. I loved everything – the main characters, the quirky town, the Bishop family, the bantering brothers, the raccoon. All of it. This is the perfect sort of book for me. I’d read things like this every day. My only complaint is discovering this perfection on book 1. I discovered Riley Thorn when there were three books in the series. And I found Knockemout when the whole trio was done. I could blitz through multiple treats in a row with those. With this, I’ll have to settle for re-reads for a year. But the wait will be worth it!

Lucy Score fans and rom-com fans should not miss this! (Language, sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ – Outstanding!

REVIEW: Pomona Afton Can So Solve a Murder by Bellamy Rose

REVIEW: Pomona Afton Can So Solve a Murder by Bellamy Rose

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Pomona Afton plays the role of heiress perfectly. Swanky galas. Personal staff. Designer gowns. Sure, she has ideas of her own, but no one in her family listens to her, so she’s taken to just keeping them to herself.

But her lifestyle comes to a screeching halt after she finds her grandmother murdered. Apparenly Grandma felt her life was at some risk because she had added a clause to her will. If her death was “unnatural,” all of her assets would be frozen. For a year. Pom and her family are evicted from their homes and cut off from their funds immediately. And it will stay that way unless the killer is caught.

When it starts to look like that will never happen, Pom teams up with Gabe, son of her former nanny (who is also feeling the pinch of the frozen assets), to see if she can find out the truth. Everyone has always thought so little of her that she’s just believed them. No one thinks she can really find the truth.

Review

Fantastic! The voice of this was immediately engaging. And it can be tricky to write a spoiled heiress and keep her likeable. But I loved Pom! I was furious that her family was so dismissive of her – and mean in their assumptions that she would fail in the real world. How dare they create an environment that built the woman and then act all put upon and superior when she acts exactly as they have taught her?!

But Pom surprises herself and her family when she rises to the occasion again and again. Choosing the hard thing over the easy thing. I adored her journey!

On top of the excellent character work in this book, the mystery is also terrific. I loved the premise of the family lock out after the grandmother’s murder. I loved watching Pomona warm to her investigative work. And the resolution was supremely satisfying. The relationship with Gabe was the cherry on top of this terrific story – I loved all of it!

This was a perfect fit for me from start to finish. And I am here for more Pomona mysteries in the future. Highly recommend for mystery fans! (Language)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ – Outstanding!

REVIEW: Beast of the North Woods by Annelise Ryan

REVIEW: Beast of the North Woods by Annelise Ryan

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Berkley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Andy Bosworth was working his way through the snowy winter woods with his fishing gear when he spotted the man, mauled by some sort of animal. As he raced to the river for better reception to call for help he encountered the likely animal. But Hodags aren’t supposed to be real! He could never tell anyone that was what he saw. But keeping it to himself doesn’t keep him from becoming the primary suspect.

Andy’s aunt, Rita, works for cryptozoologist – and Odds and Ends shop owner – Morgan Carter. And Andy’s father, an attorney, wants to hire Morgan to investigate Andy’s Hodag sighting as part of his defense.

Morgan would love to say no. The Hodag is a fictional cryptid, and she has her hands full with her shop and watching over her shoulder for her merdourous ex. But she can’t say no to Rita.

Morgan encounters local business owners who want her to leave and not tank the local economy with bad stories about their beloved Hodag.  And there are other weird things going on as she investigates. But nothing as mysterious as the creature she spots in the woods.

Review

This was a twisty adventure for Morgan and her friends! I was guessing all the way to the end how this was going to work out. I enjoyed both how the murder mystery was solved and also the solution to the Hodag question.

Readers who enjoy intricate mysteries that will keep you guessing should check this series out. I loved book 1, Death in Door County. I skipped book 2 (the opener was a few steps too far for me in terms of violence), but my husband has read it and really enjoyed it.

You don’t have to have an interest in cryptids to follow or enjoy these books. Most are aware enough of the Loch Ness Monster and Bigfoot to follow the first two books. The Hodag here in book 3 is a bit of a niche cryptid, but as a Wisconsin girl, I was familiar with it. I did ask two friends from Wisconsin – one who spent several years there for grad school and another who grew up not too far from where I did – and neither had heard of a Hodag. So this story might be a bit more unique for the average reader (although the author does a great job with plenty of backstory). Cyrptid fans will get a kick out of this.

I realized as I read this that while I enjoy the intricate mysteries and the cryptid connections, I have not really clicked with the main characters in the series – thus a “lower” rating than you might expect from my written review. Character connection really matters to me. I think my husband will continue with any future books that might come along, but this is not a great fit for me, so I’ll probably move on from here. (Violence, TW: Stalking)

Rating: ♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥½ = Good +

REVIEW: Daindreth's Assassin by Elisabeth Wheatley

REVIEW: Daindreth’s Assassin by Elisabeth Wheatley

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Amira has been a tool of others for most of her life. First by her mother and grandmother, for the Istovari Sorceresses. Then as her father’s fixer and assassin. Never fully able to pursue her own will.

When Amira is sent to assassinate Daindreth, the Archduke and future emperor, when he comes to marry her siser, she discovers a secret that could destroy everything. Amira has a power that could save Daindreth from a secret… affliction, so she offers herself and her gifts to save her sister. But Daindreth’s secrets go deeper than the assissin even realizes.

Review

I have been following the author – and her delightful Book Goblin character – on social media for awhile now, but last summer I ordered a copy of the first book in this romantasy series. And I enjoyed it! The magic system here is fascinating, and I’m not convinced I understad it fully after just one book. I am intrigued by the Istovari sorceresses and what that history and Amira’s past could mean for her future with Daindreth.

The “villains” of the story include “demons,” which might turn away some readers. This is another piece of the magic system that still has revelations in store. The author does a good job of telling an understandable story while still holding back pieces she can reveal later. I might have to pick up book two, Daindreth’s Outlaw, and see what happens next!

Rating: ♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥½ = Good +

REVIEW: Death in the Stacks by Jenn McKinlay

REVIEW: Death in the Stacks by Jenn McKinlay

Posted on by Jaymie

[I recently discovered some unpublished reviews I wrote several years ago. I’m posting these now as they were originally written.]

Summary

Lindsey and the library crew are preparing for their biggest fundraiser of the year – the $50 per plate Dinner in the Stacks. But the new library board president is determined to cause trouble.

Olive Boyle is only chairing the board because she wants to run for mayor. She thinks a few local leadership positions will help secure her win. But her abrasive personality isn’t doing her any favors. She threatens to fire Lindsey and to expose another library employee for some past indiscretion. And then she tries to bully the event caterers into donating everything for Dinner in the Stacks.

Is it really any wonder that Olive ends up dead?

Unfortunately, Olive’s feud with Lindsey and her staff was quite public. And the body was found in the library. Even though Lindsey has sworn to all her friends that she is done sleuthing for good, how can she hang back now when her friend is the  prime suspect for Olive’s murder?

Review

This was excellent! As I have mentioned before, I love the characters in this series. I enjoy spending time with them in every book. The library angle is also a perfect fit for me.

Fans of McKinlay’s hat shop and cupcake shop series will be delighted to find the characters from those books making an appearance here. Both of those series are on my TBR pile – and this made me want to dive into those soon.

The mystery in this was outstanding. Olive was like Delores Umbridge in the HP series. Just a horrible, mean, hateful, narcissistic character. There were plenty of suspects to choose from. And the solution twisted and turned all the way to the end. Delightful!

I highly recommend this series. I am a big fan of Jenn McKinlay’s work. If you haven’t tried out any of her books, she has several series to choose from for both mystery and romance fans.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!

REVIEW: A Grim Reaper's Guide to Catching a Killer by Maxie Dara

REVIEW: A Grim Reaper’s Guide to Catching a Killer by Maxie Dara

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Kathy’s work for SCYTHE, escorting the souls of the newly dead to processing, is simple. Predictable. And newly-divorced and pregnant Kathy can use some “predictable” in her life.

But the soul she’s supposed to be picking up is at first missing. And then later, when she finds him, he’s belligerent and hostile, insisting he was murdered. So now she’s stuck with a mouthy teen soul as her sidekick while she tries to hunt down the truth.

Review

This was fun! I adored the relationship between Connor (the soul) and Kathy throughout the book. And the role Kathy’s ex played in the story was a sweet addition.

The world building here is fun – the role of SCYTHE, Kathy’s job responsibilities, etc.. I liked the combination of genre’s too – mystery, fantasy, with a little second chance love story to work out on the side. The pieces all came together for an engaging story with a fast-paced ending with a sweet, emotional touch. I loved this quirky story and would absolutely pick up a sequel. (Language)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read

REVIEW: Fangs for Nothing by Steffanie Holmes

REVIEW: Fangs for Nothing by Steffanie Holmes

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Bacchanalia House in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Winnie has a new gig helping someone who needs a professional organizer. And the timing is perfect, getting her out of London and away from her mom and the memories of Patrick… and Claire.

Alaric’s butler has hired the organizer to help him prepare for a ball his mother insists on holding in his home. The problem is that the organizer is a human. And Alaric is a vampire.

Winnie’s job might be too much for one woman to handle in three weeks. But she’s joining a local book club – The Nevermore Murder Club and Smutty Book Coven – and they have a murder to solve. And that’s a nice distraction from her childhood trauma, from her ex-fiancé and ex-best friend who are in town, and from the completely inappropriate feelings she is developing for her client.

But instead of distracting her from her boss, she ends up faking a romantic relationship with him – at first to fool Winnie’s ex and then to fool Alaric’s mother – who has shown up with a woman she expects him to marry.

Review

So fun! I immediately fell in love with this – the characters, the world building, the romance, and the mystery. And the story is LONG – I felt like I really got to dig deep with this. And when I finished the ARC, I immediately bought my own copy and pre-ordered the sequel, A Grave Mistake. Together the books kick off the author’s Nevermore Murder Club and Smutty Book Coven series, which is a spinoff of an earlier Nevermore Bookshop Mystery series. I haven’t read that series, but plan to try it out. [Sadly for readers, book two has been postponed and pre-orders have been canceled. Happily for the author, she has secured a publishing deal! So book one is being re-released and book two will come out later this year. I guess I will have to re-read Fangs for Nothing while I wait!]

The mystery here – humans drained of blood by a rogue vampire – takes a back seat to the romance, and I was okay with that.  (Pieces of the mystery will carry over into book 2.) The romance between two broken people dealing with past trauma was the central focus, and I adored it so much I was a little sad to discover that Winnie and Alaric won’t be the POV characters for the sequel – but only a little sad because the premise for book 2 is fantastic!

I don’t generally love vampire stories – and I definitely don’t seek them out. But this, while also spicier than my usual read, really worked for me. The world building is well done and clever, and the pacing is terrific. I have an aversion to the word “smut,” so I didn’t love it’s use in the book, but it was a small price to pay for the overall experience of this fantastic story. This was the first book in a LONG time that trumped my other hobbies and chores and bedtime and kept me reading any chance I could find until I finished.

Paranormal romance and fantasy fans as well as vampire fans should definitely pick this up.  This checks a few of the same boxes as my 2024 find, the Riley Thorne series – the paranormal aspects (vampire here, psychic there) in a romance/mystery combo story. This is quite a bit darker than Riley as well as being more serious and more spicy. But I loved it all the same! (Language, sex. Trigger warning: Hoarding, nightmares, obsessive-compulsive behaviors)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ – Outstanding!