Much like the cover suggests, this is a hilariously funny second-chance fake-dating paranormal rom-com. If that sounds like trope soup, well, it is, but it’s also extremely tasty. “Congratulations, Wolfman. You’re officially fake-dating the Not-So-Magicless Maxwell.” Violet and Lincoln grew up together. They’d been childhood enemies, then friends, then high school sweethearts… until the day theyRead the Post
Review: Bad Luck Bridesmaid – Alison Rose Greenberg
First off, I’ve seen several places billing this as a second-chance romance. It’s most decidedly not; while Zoey’s romantic arc is a major feature of the book, it’s secondary to her own growth as a person. Zoey is a self-proclaimed free spirit, perfectly content to be by herself. Her version of happiness is not havingRead the Post
Review: Truth, Lies, and Second Dates – MaryJanice Davidson
Content warnings: I’ve enjoyed the author’s paranormal stories before (most recently Bears Behaving Badly) so I thought I’d try out one of her contemporaries. The author specifically states that this book is a mashup of both romance and horror tropes, some subverted and some hilariously not. It’s a bit of weird mix that worked wonderfullyRead the Post
Review: Stroke of Luck – Opal Carew
Content warnings: I picked this book up because it sounded like it could be some pretty fun wish fulfillment and I’m a sucker for second-chance romances. Unfortunately, it really didn’t work for me. To explain why, this post will contain spoilers for the book. After April discovers her fiancé cheating on her during their rehearsalRead the Post
Review: Cry of Metal & Bone – L. Penelope
Content warnings: Wow, what a ride! This book takes the foundation laid in the previous books and novellas and starts tying together many of the threads. I would strongly not recommend reading this without reading the previous books, and most certainly the previous novella. “Listen,” she said, “if someone doesn’t try to kill you atRead the Post
Review: Whispers of Shadow & Flame – L. Penelope
Content warnings: Moving on in my reread, to my favorite so far of the Earthsinger Chronicles – assassin vs her target! I’m not sure what it is about that trope that really pulls me, but it’s also one that can go wrong so quickly if the betrayal aspect isn’t handled well. That’s not an issueRead the Post
Review: Mr. Nice Guy – Jennifer Miller and Jason Feifer
Content warning: First off – this is not a romance. It’s lit fic about two characters who have sex with each other and then write articles about it, layered on top of a traditional “boy meets city” theme. It’s a bit of mash-mash of several themes, and while some of them work, some of themRead the Post