Jeff Jarvis

I'm a big fan of FF soccer stories and M. Ulrich's addition to the subgenre is a really enjoyable one. I enjoyed the character development in this and the building of their relationship. It had a good pace and I especially liked some of the messages that it sends to younger readers, things like not getting into a relationship with someone who is already with someone and not immediately having sex if you are not comfortable with it. I thought these aspects of the story were well done and portrayed a different message from other FF romances I've read. I also liked the aspect of the story that was added with the trainer. To avoid spoilers, I will just say that it added to the story and took it in a different direction from what I was expecting.

I found the story to be very engaging and one that showed very strong women characters, which was another major plus. It is refreshing to see strong portrayals like this.

I would highly recommend this book, even if you are not a soccer fan. It is a very enjoyable read.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

I have enjoyed books from Carsen Taite in the past, but Leading the Witness takes things to a new level for me. While there is an element of a romance between the 2 main characters, Starr and Catherine, it plays a minor role, which did not bother me at all while reading. The mystery took the main focus and was so enthralling and made me want to not stop reading. In some ways, the main sex scene becomes a logistical issue for the police and DA's office since it gives the appearance of impropriety on the arrest of a suspect. It was an interesting way of bringing the romance to light while at the same time introducing it as an issue that could affect the overall investigation and case. It was a wonderful piece of writing.

The abduction of the mayor's daughter starts the story in one direction, but as the search for her continues, it is clear that there are ties to another abduction that occurred 2 decades before, that of Catherine. Taite did an amazing job of bringing Catherine's story out through her interactions with her psychiatrist and showing the deep emotional scars that Catherine's trauma as a child had caused her over the years.

In many ways, this was more of a mystery/suspense novel with a dab of romance instead of a hot-and-heavy romance novel and I loved every minute of it. This is a fantastic novel and anyone who likes a good mystery will enjoy it as well.

4.5 stars

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

I absolutely adore this book. I waffled back and forth on how to rate it after completing it, but I ultimately went with a full 5 stars. It is not a typical lesfic novel, but that is what continues to amaze me with the genre. There are so many different ways stories can develop. This story has so many elements that intertwine to make a beautiful love story, not just between 2 women, but between them and the children they support, ultimately making them into a family.

Davina Trent is a top divorce lawyer who lives to work. She has relations with other women, but never a relationship. She has had her heart broken before and doesn't have time for that again. When her cousin is killed in a car crash, she is the next of kin to his two children and has to care for them. Not being prepared to raise children, she hires a nanny, Wendy Darling, to watch out for them. Wendy herself has been through heartbreak where an ex-fiance took all of her money and then left her, crushing her in the process. The two children have been through a traumatic experience, losing their father and everyone they knew that loved them. This group of four are all on a path to creating a unique and loving family.

There was a line at the end of the book about how all of the people around Trent and Wendy (their friends Rebecca and Dale) were not blood relations, but they had all formed a family. I think this was the line that ultimately pushed me over to giving the book the 5-star rating. It summed up how I feel about families and what they are. It isn't about blood relations. It is about the love that they form and share with each other. There are so many blood-related families that will never share the same love that a family like the one in the story will share. This is a book I will return to for an enjoyable read, of people who have been broken, but find each other and are able to heal.

I was provided with a free copy of this book by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

I wasn't exactly sure what to expect when I first got this audiobook. I fully expected lots of hot sex, which is definitely in there. But I wasn't sure what kind of story there would be. A retired porn actress moves to, of all places, South Dakota, where she hopes no one will recognize her. That doesn't happen because both the teenager next door and his mother recognize her when they first meet her. They both have watched her videos online.

The story plays out like a porn film, which is actually pretty enjoyable. The dialogue is a little cheesy at times, but it fits well with the style of story this is. I found myself enjoying this one very much and looking forward to book #2.

I received a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

This book is hot from the very beginning to the very end. No need for a hot build-up to a relationship. From the very start, Isabelle and Audrey are having sex which over time develops into a relationship. I liked that the story was not too angsty and allowed the couple to really develop into a good relationship. There is a small hitch that occurs in their relationship but compared to other lesfic novels out there it is very minor. I loved how the couple developed and the fact that Isabelle was so wrapped up in work and other things that she was oblivious to how Audrey felt about her.

It is a hot and sweet story that is one of my favorite reads/listens of the year and one I will go back to again.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story from beginning to end. Jea did an excellent job with the characters and making me want to care about them. I had the pleasure of listening to this one on Audible and Lori Prince does an amazing job (as always) with the narration. She added so much emotion to the character's speaking parts. If you are looking for a sweet romance that has a couple of pretty hot sex scenes in it, this is definitely one to check out.

When I do reviews, I am looking for a book that I can relax and unwind with, especially romance novels. I found this book to be very difficult to follow due to the author's style of writing. It was a very tedious read and not one I enjoyed at all. It seemed like there was some agenda the author had at the beginning in regards to religion and lesbians, despite them indicating the girls in the story were not lesbians and then later saying they were. And while I like blunt language in stories, the continual use of the c-word was cringeworthy. Not one I would recommend.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

Not Since You is a very enjoyable, albeit predictable, romance story between two lovers who were separated years before and are brought together on a cruise ship, one as a passenger who was scorned by her fiance before their wedding (Charlotte) and the other as a worker on the ship (Lexi). The chemistry the two had years before is ignited again almost instantaneously. The journey to them getting together again is a quick one, resulting in lots of hot sex scenes which were very fun to read.

I typically enjoy Fiona Riley's novels a lot, but this one seemed like it was missing something. The path to the lovers getting back together seemed too easy. While there was some mild angst when Lexi has issues at work, they were not enough to make me think that the couple couldn't be together again. I think this lack of separation for the couple and a feeling that their relationship might not continue is what I was looking for but never received.

Overall it was an enjoyable read, but was missing that punch that I typically see in romance novels that I really enjoy.

I was provided an ARC of this novel by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

I have always enjoyed Caren Taite's legal lesfics and this is another good one. It continues in the Legal Affairs series where 3 friends leave their law firms and start their own as partners. This book centers on Abby as she first goes on a vacation and hits it off with someone she met on the plane that was going to the same resort as her. The person she meets, Roxanne, is a wedding blogger. The two become even more intertwined after their vacation as Abby takes on a case where a wedding dress store shuts down leaving many angry brides without their dresses. So as not to get into spoilers, I will leave the description there.

The passion between Roxanne and Abby is strong from the start. The only negative that I have from the whole book is the lack of communication between the two characters, especially from Roxanne. Since she covers weddings on a regular basis, it would seem to me that she would see the importance of communication in a relationship, something that she does not do a good job of herself.

It is a very enjoyable story and a relaxing read.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

I really enjoyed this new book from Ronica Black. The characters were developed very well from the beginning. There is an immediate attraction between Olivia and Eve from the first time they met, but once they agree to a business relationship (Eve helping Olivia with workouts and getting into shape), the relationship option is off the table. Olivia has never been with another woman before and was taught as a child that romantic feelings between same-sex people were wrong. So she is constantly battling her feelings for Eve. Eve has her own issues, not wanting to commit to a long-term relationship.

I thought the building of their relationship was paced pretty good at the beginning, but around the middle of the book it started to drag a little. Maybe it was my own impatience, but I wanted the couple to get together finally and it seemed that the smallest obstacles turned into major mountains to overcome for them. I did enjoy the building of Olivia from a woman who was broken by what others told her into a fit, confident woman who finally stood up for what she wanted. It takes a long time for that to happen, but in the end, I found her to be a stronger woman than Eve.

There is one character I particularly despise, Olivia's mother. Her tight religious beliefs have driven a wedge between her and her daughter (as well as others in the family) and she just doesn't seem to care. Unfortunately, it is a very realistic portrayal of how some people are. It is difficult to read a story where a parent will shut out one of their children for being gay. It is reality, but still very difficult for me to read.

Overall, this is an enjoyable book and one I would recommend to those looking for a good coming-out story.

I was provided with an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

Story collections can be a real mixed bag, but I found that I really enjoyed most of the stories in this book. There is enough variety to appeal to many different tastes. I have a pretty broad range of things that I like in stories, which is why think I enjoyed this more than others may. If you only like a few types of romance/sex stories, you may like a few stories and dislike many others.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

I have not listened to or read any of Erica Lee's work previously, so I wasn't sure what to expect. I found this to be an amazing book with a story that really grips at your heartstrings. The two main characters, Rebecca and Cassie were childhood best friends. Cassie's family life was not good and she began running with the wrong crowd, getting involved with drugs. As they hit high school, they grew apart, although it can be seen throughout the story that they never stopped thinking of each other. Now as adults, Rebecca is the teacher of Cassie's sister, which means they have to interact with each other more. Old feelings rekindle as the two become friends again, but family situations and internal issues cause problems for the two becoming more than friends. I will stop the description there to avoid any major spoilers.

I love the writing in this story, going back and forth from chapter to chapter between the two women. Each had their own issues that were keeping them apart. Each had to work to become vulnerable and open up about their past and the hurts they experienced. This felt more real than a lot of romance stories that I read or listen to, which I found to be very enjoyable. I will definitely be listening to this one again. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a story between two friends who have loved each other for as long as they can remember but need a second chance.

One of the best stories I have listened to in a long time. It is an amazing story that I will return to again and again because it has such real emotion in it. It is sweet, tender, loving, erotic, and caring all rolled into one amazing story. I can't recommend this one enough.

I've never read anything from this author before, but I enjoyed her writing style and will be looking for other works in the future. The premise of the book and the cover was what drew me into reading it and I wasn't disappointed. This is definitely not a slow burn novel. There is an immediate attraction between the main characters and not long after there is acting on that attraction.

It is an easy read and for a sweet romance, it is a good choice. It is one that I might pick up if I am just looking for a feel good story.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

Another fantastic romance from Georgia Beers! Her work continues to evolve into beautifully crafted stories with deep emotions. So much is conveyed in a short period of time in this story. I'm also thrilled that this takes place during the holiday seasons of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's, which are my favorite times of the year for love stories, especially when there is snow.

Olivia has been the assistant manager at the Evergreen Resort, basically doing the job of the manager due to his incompetence. When she is overlooked for the manager's job, she is a very bitter and surly character, one that I didn't much care for at first. But when she meets Hayley while out on a walk one day in the woods, her life changes. Hayley turns out to be the new manager, only because her father owns the resort and is punishing her by bringing her into the family business and making her work. I really liked the Hayley character, mainly because even though she is in over her head, she still tries to plow through things. She doesn't give up. She tries to learn, even if it is not what she wants to do. Both she and her father are still grieving the loss of her mom 2 years earlier, so there are lots of emotions there, from the anger and loneliness that her father feels, to the sadness that Hayley feels. The reader gets to feel those emotions as the holidays come on and how different her experiences are to Olivia, who has her family close by.

The relationship that builds between Olivia and Hayley is filled with passion. They both know that it isn't a good thing to get together because they work together, but they can't fight the feelings that they have. When they finally are together, sparks fly and make for a wonderful love scene.

I could very easily see this book being turned into a movie. The way it is written and paced sets itself up to be shot as a movie, which I would love to see.

I highly recommend this as a sweet love story for the holidays.

This is the first book by Lisa Moreau that I have read, so I wasn't sure how she wrote. After completing A Moment in Time, I can say that I absolutely love her storytelling ability.

The Fontenot and Savoy families have had a long-standing feud going after Claire Fontenot left Kurt Savoy at the alter. Little did they know that fifteen years later, Claire would return to the town and would meet her soulmate in Ivy Savoy. I enjoyed so much how the walls of the feud between the families began to crumble as Claire and Ivy began to get together. The build of their relationship was a very slow build that was just fine with me. It allowed the story to evolve, for bits and pieces of the past to be revealed, and for their feelings to grow and grow. By the time they finally get together, it was such a sweet moment.

The way the story was written kept me interested the whole time. I read the whole book in a day's time as I didn't want to put it down. It is a sweet romance as well as the redemption of two families who had feuded for so long. I highly recommend this novel.

I was provided with an ARC of this book by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Last Days of Autumn because it was different from many romance novels I have read. There were some well-developed issues that were presented by the author that made me think whether I would have taken a chance on a relationship while battling cancer or helping someone battle cancer. That the position that Autumn Landry and Caroline Cross find themselves in. Autumn has been diagnosed with colon cancer and hires Caroline to live with her and help her during her treatments. Caroline lost her mother to cancer only a few years before and has been running from the hurt and loss ever since. She takes the job with Autumn to try to find herself and get herself back on the right track. Sparks fly quickly between the two, but there is hesitation on both sides on whether to move forward. Caroline isn't sure she wants to possibly lose Autumn and have her heart broken again. Autumn has never really given her heart to anyone because she has been so wrapped up in helping others and taking care of their needs instead of taking care of hers.

I felt like the characters were very well developed and the author made you care for each of them and the heartaches they were going through. It wasn't just the struggle of a possible relationship. The struggle with cancer was always there as a barrier for them. I felt like that struggle added to the dynamic between the two since it took nearly 3/4 of the book before things started to develop. The slow burn really built the tension between them and led to a wonderful experience for them when it happened.

I highly recommend this book for anyone looking for a different type of romance with some real life issues intermixed.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

I absolutely loved this book. While the book can be read as a stand-alone, in my opinion, it is best if Jae's book, Perfect Rhythm, is read before this one. There are characters from the first book that are in this one, so to avoid major spoilers it is best to read them in this order.

The dynamic in this is one that I really enjoy, two people who initially do not like each other, but through getting to know each other they fall in love. Sasha owns a bakery in Fair Oaks and her character is very open about her sexuality. Ashley, on the other hand, knows who she is, but does not want anyone to find out. She is afraid of outing herself as a lesbian and losing her parents and possibly business in the small town. When the two are asked to help with the cake and flowers for a same-sex marriage, they spend lots of time with each other and their feelings begin to develop quickly.

I loved the building of the characters, the humor and playfulness between them, the slow build to a relationship that Jae does so well.

I highly recommend this to those looking for a sweet relationship and a building coming-out story.

This new novel by PJ Trebelhorn is such a sweet and refreshing love story, a story of forgiveness and learning to put the hurts of growing up behind. Riley Warren had been bullied throughout high school, even to the point of being told she should kill herself. One of those that were part of the bullying group was Victoria Thayer, who secretly had a crush on Riley but was not sure how to deal with the confusing feelings she was having. Fast forward nearly 20 years and their paths cross again, this time with Vic having come to terms with her sexuality and determined to apologize for the pain she had caused. Riley still lived in the same town, working and living paycheck to paycheck. The two search for how to forgive and build a new relationship together.

This was a fantastic story, a slow burn that leaves you wanting this couple to get together so badly that it hurts. The author does a great job of developing the back story and showing how powerful words can be as a teenager and how they can go on to affect you for the rest of your life. Riley is justified in being cautious with her forgiveness after the pain that she had gone through growing up. But Vic slowly chips away at the walls Riley had built up. It is such a beautiful story of forgiveness.

If you are looking for a good slow burn love story, this one will be a sure hit for you.

I received an ARC of this novel in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

I was interested in the premise of this book of a resort having a “lesbian week” where singles would come in and get matched up with dates through the week to try to find love. I was excited to begin the story and for the most part, I wasn't disappointed. The story was pretty straight forward and predictable, although I very much enjoyed the build between the main characters, Katie and Rhys. Katie is there because her family paid for her to be there. She doesn't really believe in love anymore but is willing to give things a shot. She meets Rhys on the first day and an instant friendship forms. Rhys falls for Katie pretty much immediately, but the ground rules were laid down from the start the Katie only had so much she was willing to give. The rest of the story is the zigs and zags of their relationship, seeing each other with other women, jealousy, desire, being scared to communicate, doing stupid things, etc.

For the most part, I enjoyed the book until close to the end. I felt like the last couple of chapters drug on a bit. It felt like the near HEA was close a couple of chapters before the end and things could have been wrapped up in a neater bow quicker. That's not to say the ending was bad. Based on other lesfic novels, I was expecting something quicker and more fulfilling.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

This is my first book read from Chelsea M. Cameron. I very much enjoyed her style of writing in “Anyone But You”. I found it refreshing to have a story where the main characters start off butting heads with each other, fall for each other, and then stay together without a lot of angsty BS thrown in to extend the story. The characters get on each other's nerves, then kiss, then have sex, then get in a relationship that stays. That was an enjoyable storyline.

This was the first book that I've encountered where personal pronouns came into play. I don't know if it was because I was listening to the Audible version or if it was just because I wasn't familiar with hearing they/their instead of she/her type pronouns. It became more natural the more I heard but was a bit jarring at first for someone that hasn't encountered those in use before.

Lori Prince does a wonderful job of narration and is in the handful of top narrators for F/F novels in my opinion.

This was a really heavy book, dealing with infidelity from the very beginning. It goes through the different stages and emotions involved with the aftermath of an affair while at the same time introducing a suspense aspect, as the “other woman” becomes a stalker. It reminded me a lot of a lesbian version of Fatal Attraction. I found the book to be very interesting and at the same time heart-wrenching. The end drug on a little too long for me, but overall I found this to be a very good read.

This was a pretty standard MMF type story. Nothing wrong with it, but also nothing super special either. Left me wanting more from the story/characters. This could easily have been extended into at least a novella.

I wanted to rate this book higher, but there were a few things that prevented me from doing so. First with the good points of the book. I loved the story itself, how much at the Christmas holiday it was, how much family love was shown. The story built well and I enjoyed the characters and the overall storyline. So those are all things that make the story worth reading.

The negatives I saw had more to do with some of the language used in the story and the narration of the audiobook. If you are thinking of getting this on audiobook, just don't. The narration is really bad and it takes the listener away from the story...because...of...how...staccato...the...author...reads...things. OMG, it is bad. I plan on getting a copy of the book and reading it instead of listening to it to see if it gives me a better feeling of it. I believe it will.

The author also uses some language in the sex scenes that I typically don't see with a lesbian author. There is nothing wrong with the language, it was just unusual. Instead of “breasts”, the author uses “boobs”, which is more what I have read from a male author in MF romances. She also uses the phrase “my junk” a few times. I'm not sure I've ever heard a woman call their sexual organs “junk” before. Just a bit jarring when you are used to reading WLW romances that are much more sensual and descriptive.

I will give the print book another chance just to see if it sits better with me than the audio did.

I was not familiar with Erinne Bates' work until I came across the audiobook on Audiobooks Unleashed. The premise sounded interesting so I gave it a try. I loved the story was told through Calli's perspective throughout, providing the listener with a view of her awakening to other women and her relationship with Justine. The part I enjoyed most is that it does not take a standard romance path with these two characters. There were times I kept expecting certain outcomes based on reading other romance books, but this one continued to go in different directions, which I found very refreshing.

The narration by Lucy Emerson was fantastic, providing different accents to the various characters, which kept the story interesting and enjoyable to listen to.

I don't want to go into a lot of detail so as not to spoil the book for others. I found it to be a story that I couldn't stop listening to and I think many others will as well. If you are stuck in a rut when it comes to romance novels, give this one a try. It will leave you breathless at times as well as heartbroken at others. It was a fun listen and is one I'll be listening to again.

I received a copy of this audiobook from Audiobooks Unleashed in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.