Short Take Reviews: Heidi's Guide to Four Letter Words and Top Secret

HEIDI'S GUIDE TO FOUR LETTER WORDS
Tara Sivec & Andi Arndt
Publication date: September 3, 2019
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Format: Audiobook, 6 hrs 15 min
Source: Audible (provided for review)
3.5 STARS
GOODREADS 

Nothing good ever comes from drinking a box of wine alone. So when I decided to entertain my drunken self by setting up some hand-me-down podcasting equipment and reading the steamy parts from romance novels, I never thought anyone would actually listen. The fact that I admitted my huge crush on my sexy next door neighbor made the whole thing even more mortifying. But sometimes life surprises you, and that’s how my podcast, Heidi’s Discount Erotica, was born.

Now I, Heidi Larsen, a sweet former kindergarten teacher in Waconia, Minnesota, lead a scandalous double life reading erotic novels to the listening world. And with each episode, I find myself embracing my new alter ego more and more. Now I’m starting to feel more comfortable in my own skin and do things I never would have dreamed of - like kissing my neighbor.

Look out, Waconia, because Heidi’s on the loose! She’s in your ears, in your hearts, and down your pants...wait, that didn’t sound as good as it did in my head. Well, you get the picture, don’tcha know!

M Y   T H O U G H T S

I have mixed feelings about Heidi's Guide. For the first half of the book I found Heidi (and several other characters) super annoying and downright prissy. Their reactions to anything even remotely risque were so over the top that it was hard to take seriously. (Yes, I know this is a rom-com, with a big focus on the comedy aspect.) But the way they were so completely shocked and offended by romance books that (gasp!) contained sex scenes and dared to include (double gasp!) "dirty words was ridiculous. Was this supposed to be 2019 or 1919? Also, the (over) involvement of Heidi's mother in her life, and Heidi's need to please her mother, bugged me as well. This is supposed to be a mature, self-supporting, independent woman but she often came across as sheltered and juvenile.

The second half of the book was a big improvement. Heidi started making changes and becoming more confident. Her podcasts were a fun part of the story and I enjoyed seeing her loosen up and push her boundaries.  Another highlight was Brent, the sexy next door neighbor. He was 100% of the too-good-to-be-true variety but I didn't care. He was super sweet, patient, and obviously smitten with Heidi. But the true shining star for me was Andi Arndt. She's always been one of my favorite narrators but here she proved just how good she is. She had the ability to take a character that I really wasn't all that wild about and make me find sweet and funny and endearing. Andi brought Heidi to life and infused so much emotion into her narration... big gold star for that! While this type of silly/zany humor really isn't my thing, this was still a fun, light read that was made even better by top-notch narration.

Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the Audible. This does not impact my opinion of the book or the content of this review. I received no compensation and my review is voluntary.

TOP SECRET

Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy

Publication date: May 7, 2019

Genres: New Adult, Contemporary Romance

Format: Trade Paperback, 272 pgs

Source: Purchased

4.25 STARS

GOODREADS

LobsterShorts, 21. Jock. Secretly a science geek. Hot AF.

LobsterShorts: So. Here goes. For her birthday, my girlfriend wants…a threesome.

SinnerThree: Then you’ve come to the right hookup app.

LobsterShorts: Have you done this sort of thing before? With another guy?

SinnerThree: All the time. I’m an equal opportunity player. You?

LobsterShorts: [crickets!]

SinnerThree, 21. Finance major. Secretly a male dancer. Hot AF.

SinnerThree: Well, I’m down if you are. My life is kind of a mess right now. School, work, family stress. Oh, and I live next door to the most annoying dude in the world. I need the distraction. Are you sure you want this?

LobsterShorts: I might want it a little more than I’m willing to admit.

SinnerThree: Hey, nothing wrong with pushing your boundaries...

LobsterShorts: Tell that to my control-freak father. Anyway. What if this threesome is awkward?

SinnerThree: Then it’s awkward. It’s not like we’ll ever have to see each other again. Right? Just promise you won’t fall in love with me.LobsterShorts: Now wouldn’t that be life-changing...?

M Y   T H O U G H T S

Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy. Actually that should be more like: SARINA BOWEN & ELLE KENNEDY!! These two authors are wonderful apart and sheer magic together. They have an ability to create characters that I never fail to love. That held true for Keaton and Luke - two characters that could not have been more different but I cared for them both and pulled so hard for them. Starting off as fraternity brothers and enemies, their backgrounds were worlds apart but both had private struggles. When they connected on a hook-up app, without knowing one another's true identity, there was a connection and chemistry that took them both by surprise. And when they did learn who the other was? That's when the sparks really flew!

I’m just a guy, standing on a beach in nothing but his favorite pair of lobster shorts, waiting for the right man to love me.

My heart hurt for both of these guys at times. For Keaton - and the pressure he felt from his father. For Luke - because his family kept trying to drag him back down no matter how hard he fought to make his life better. Top Secret was filled with Bowen/Kennedy's signature humor and snarky banter in perfect balance with the more emotional aspect. I adored the dual POV and the ending gave me all the happy feels I was hoping for.

HAVE YOU READ EITHER OF THESE BOOKS? 

Top Ten Tuesday: I Love You Just the Way You Are (aka Cover Redesigns Gone Bad)

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.

This week's Top Ten Tuesday topic: 

Cover Redesigns Gone Bad

When given the choice with Top Ten Tuesday topics, I typically go for the more positive option. Something I love over something I dislike. A good change over a bad change. You get the idea. But when it comes to cover redesigns, I tend to want them to leave well enough alone. New isn't always better. And 99% of the time I prefer the original cover over the redesign. So I'm not going with the positive option this time... I'm sharing the cover redesigns that I really dislike. The ones that got worse instead of better. The ones that make me want to sing (à la Billy Joel) "don't go changing to try to please me... I love you just the way you are!" 

THE LUX SERIES - JENNIFER L. ARMENTROUT

I'll admit that I'm extra picky about these covers because the Lux series is an all-time favorite. I LOVE this series. And I know that plenty of people consider these covers cheesy but I'm all for them. When I think of the Lux series (which happens a lot, actually LOL) I think of these covers. They ARE the Lux series. 

But the publisher has changed these covers not one, not twice, but many times. *sigh* First they decided to do bind-ups and came out with these covers that were sparkly for no apparent reason (did they confuse the aliens with the Twilight vampires??) and added a girl with very bad makeup.

The latest covers are even worse, if that's possible, and we've moved on from Bad Makeup Girl to Silhouette People. They should have just left them alone. For me nothing will ever beat the original covers with Pepe Toth.♥

THE OFF-CAMPUS SERIES - ELLE KENNEDY

So, I've mentioned before about how I'm not a huge fan of the whole shirtless-guy-on the-cover thing. I mean, I love a six-pack as much as the next girl, but even so... they're a little cringey. However, I make an exception for the Off-Campus series. When it comes to new adult/college romance these are practically iconic. Romance readers know these covers. So when there was a cover redesign a while back there was quite the scramble to quickly add the original covers to collections before they were nowhere to be found. (I currently have two and am still trying to track down the other two in the original covers.) The new covers aren't bad... but to me they just don't represent the series well. 

THE DARK ELEMENTS SERIES - JENNIFER L. ARMENTROUT

Here's a cover redesign that happened mid-series. The worst! Books one and two came out and I liked them well enough. Layla + Roth, Layla + Zayne, both in muted tones. Then as the third book was being released... *bam*... cover redesign. Muted tones are gone and we get half a girl's face. The new covers stayed with the partial-face theme and I can't say I was a fan. The new covers are totally generic and boring. Boo.

THE CALLOWAY SISTERS SERIES - KRISTA & BECCA RITCHIE

These original covers represented each character so well. Rose's elegance, blonde wild-child Daisy, Connor's cool sophistication, and Ryke's extreme lifestyle. I'm not sure what prompted the cover change (Krista & Becca are self-published so it's not like a publishing house made the call), but I don't feel like it adds anything. And instead of reflecting four distinctive characters it's just four random shirtless guys. Thumbs down.

BITTERSWEET - SARINA BOWEN

   

Maybe it's just me, but the guy on the original cover of Bittersweet is Griffin Shipley. And apparently it really is just me because I recently saw Sarina Bowen talking about the cover change and saying that the original cover didn't capture the tone of the story. But I think the old cover is perfect... and way better than the couple on the new cover. (I'll be standing over here alone in my feelings for the original cover. *looks around forlornly*)

ARCHER'S VOICE - MIA SHERIDAN

   

I love the original cover for Archer's Voice. It's one of those books I would recognize instantly by the cover art, no title or author needed. The newer cover? Just... why? It says nothing about the story. It looks like some generic stock photography that could be used for anything. Why do that? I am confused.

MAKING FACES - AMY HARMON

     

This is another case like Archer's Voice. The black and white cover with Ambrose pictured is what I think of every time I picture Making Faces. I get that the newer cover is supposed to be Fern, but for me the original cover is the one that fits the story best. The photo of a tortured Ambrose, the black and white photography, the font(s) used for the title... it all fits the story best.

TRUST - KYLIE SCOTT

     

Okay, this last one is another I feel strongly about. I received an e-arc of Trust and loved it. I knew I wanted to buy a physical copy but in the blink of an eye they changed the cover. Like, within the first month of release! I have no idea why (I heard that the original cover looked too new adult instead of YA... but who knows.) So all of a sudden, even though it was a new release, I couldn't order a physical copy with the original cover. I was on a mission! I ended up finding a copy on eBay and paid a ridiculous sum of money to get it. While the redesigned cover is okay (I can totally see that being Edie and John), I much prefer the first cover.

So, I know I've only shared eight, and Top Eight Tuesday just isn't a thing, but I can't think of any other cover redesigns that I feel particularly strongly about. I'll let you fill in the last two spots... which cover redesigns do you think got it all wrong?

Review: Superfan by Sarina Bowen

SUPERFAN
Sarina Bowen
Publication date: June 25, 2019
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Format: eARC
Source: Tuxbury Publishing



GOODREADS  *  AMAZON

S Y N O P S I S

Three years ago I met the most amazing girl in the world. We were both down on our luck. Then I got that call—the one that tells you to get your buns on a plane to go meet your destiny.

But the girl was left behind. I didn’t have her phone number, and she didn’t know my real name.

While I became a professional hockey player, she became a superstar, with platinum records and legions of fans. And a slick, music producer boyfriend who treated her badly.

But fate wasn’t done with us yet. When Delilah turns up at a hockey game, I can’t resist making contact. The internet swoons when I ask her out on a date.

She might not remember me. But her jerkface ex does. He’ll do anything to keep us apart.

Good thing athletes never give up. This time I’m playing for keeps.

M Y   T H O U G H T S

Let me start by saying that this is the first of the Brooklyn Bruisers books I’ve read, so I went in totally unfamiliar with the characters and their back stories. I adore Sarina Bowen and am working my way through her entire backlist but just haven’t gotten to this series yet. Even so, I had no problem jumping right into Superfan and was totally invested in Silas and Delilah. So if, like me, you haven’t read the previous books in the series, never fear – pick it up, start reading, and you’ll be sucked right in.

Silas and Delilah met three years ago when she was a struggling musician and he was tending bar while trying to formulate a Plan B when his efforts to play professional hockey didn’t pan out. Timing is everything and it was definitely not on their side. When they reconnected, now both successful in their careers, all the same feelings were still there but their lifestyles were even more hectic and incongruous than before. But no way was Silas willing to lose Delilah a second time!

This was a swoony second-chance romance with all the Sarina Bowen magic. Silas was incredibly down to earth and unassuming. Sweet and thoughtful and protective – definitely one of the good guys. Delilah made jokes about being a diva but in reality she was the same girl as when she was still unknown and struggling. Their chemistry jumped off the page and their easy banter kept a smile on my face. But they still didn’t have an easy road to a future together. Between living on opposite coasts, their crazy schedules, an ex that won’t get the message and let go, and a possible stalker… they had a lot to overcome. And I was pulling for them all the way.

Whether you’ve followed the Brooklyn Bruisers since the very first book, or if you’re brand new to the series, you’ll love being pulled into Superfan. Filled with great friendships, an addictive story and a swoony romance, Superfan is a total hit!

4/5 STARS

Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. This does not impact my opinion of the book or the content of this review. I received no compensation and my review is voluntary.

My Most Anticipated Releases | Summer 2019

I'm a little bit late with this, since we're already two weeks into June, but let's just go with it, shall we? Better late than never and all that. There are actually two that have already released this month that I've read, so I won't list them below but you can check out my reviews for Jennifer L. Armentrout's Storm and Fury and Jennifer Weiner's Mrs. Everything.

Now on to the summer releases that I'm most excited for...

June 18

Letters to Molly - Devney Perry

Molly Alcott didn’t expect to open her mailbox one summer morning and find an old letter stuffed between bills and a supermarket flyer. Penned in familiar handwriting, dated over fifteen years ago, the letter was written to Molly after her first date with the man she’ll never forget.

Week after week, new letters appear. Each marks an event in the history of their epic love affair. Each heals a wound. Each holds the confession of the man who still owns Molly’s heart.

The letters are full of promise, hope and love, but truth be told, Molly wishes she could unread them all.

Because the man who wrote these letters is not the one sending them.

I've been wanting to read something by Devney Perry for quite a while. The synopsis of this upcoming release definitely grabs me so this might be the one I start with.

June 25

Superfan - Sarina Bowen

Three years ago I met the most amazing girl in the world. We were both down on our luck. Then I got that call—the one that tells you to get your buns on a plane to go meet your destiny.

But the girl was left behind. I didn’t have her phone number, and she didn’t know my real name.

While I became a professional hockey player, she became a superstar, with platinum records and legions of fans. And a slick, music producer boyfriend who treated her badly.

But fate wasn’t done with us yet. When Delilah turns up at a hockey game, I can’t resist making contact. The internet swoons when I ask her out on a date.

She might not remember me. But her jerkface ex does. He’ll do anything to keep us apart.

Good thing athletes never give up. This time I’m playing for keeps.

I mean, it's Sarina Bowen. Need I say more?

June 25

Call It What You Want - Brigid Kemmerer

When his dad is caught embezzling funds from half the town, Rob goes from popular lacrosse player to social pariah. Even worse, his father’s failed suicide attempt leaves Rob and his mother responsible for his care.

Everyone thinks of Maegan as a typical overachiever, but she has a secret of her own after the pressure got to her last year. And when her sister comes home from college pregnant, keeping it from her parents might be more than she can handle.

When Rob and Maegan are paired together for a calculus project, they’re both reluctant to let anyone through the walls they’ve built. But when Maegan learns of Rob’s plan to fix the damage caused by his father, it could ruin more than their fragile new friendship...

This captivating, heartfelt novel asks the question: Is it okay to do something wrong for the right reasons?

My reading of YA has waned to almost nil but I make an exception for Brigid Kemmerer. I love her contemporary YA novels and I've read some excellent early reviews for this one.

July 9

The Bookish Life of Nina Hill - Abbi Waxman

Meet Nina Hill: A young woman supremely confident in her own...shell.
The only child of a single mother, Nina has her life just as she wants it: a job in a bookstore, a kick-butt trivia team, a world-class planner and a cat named Phil. If she sometimes suspects there might be more to life than reading, she just shrugs and picks up a new book.

When the father Nina never knew existed suddenly dies, leaving behind innumerable sisters, brothers, nieces, and nephews, Nina is horrified. They all live close by! They're all--or mostly all--excited to meet her! She'll have to Speak. To. Strangers. It's a disaster! And as if that wasn't enough, Tom, her trivia nemesis, has turned out to be cute, funny, and deeply interested in getting to know her. Doesn't he realize what a terrible idea that is?

Nina considers her options.
1. Completely change her name and appearance. (Too drastic, plus she likes her hair.)
2. Flee to a deserted island. (Hard pass, see: coffee).
3. Hide in a corner of her apartment and rock back and forth. (Already doing it.)

It's time for Nina to come out of her comfortable shell, but she isn't convinced real life could ever live up to fiction. It's going to take a brand-new family, a persistent suitor, and the combined effects of ice cream and trivia to make her turn her own fresh page.

I've yet to read anything from Abbi Waxman, but I'm intrigued by this one and think it might be an excellent read.

August 6

Say You Still Love Me - K.A. Tucker

Life is a mixed bag for Piper Calloway.

On the one hand, she’s a twenty-nine-year-old VP at her dad’s multibillion-dollar real estate development firm, and living the high single life with her two best friends in a swanky downtown penthouse. On the other hand, she’s considered a pair of sexy legs in a male-dominated world and constantly has to prove her worth. Plus, she’s stuck seeing her narcissistic ex-fiancé—a fellow VP—on the other side of her glass office wall every day.

Things get exponentially more complicated for Piper when she runs into Kyle Miller—the handsome new security guard at Calloway Group Industries, and coincidentally the first love of her life.

The guy she hasn’t seen or heard from since they were summer camp counsellors together. The guy from the wrong side of the tracks. The guy who apparently doesn’t even remember her name.

Piper may be a high-powered businesswoman now, but she soon realizes that her schoolgirl crush is not only alive but stronger than ever, and crippling her concentration. What’s more, despite Kyle’s distant attitude, she’s convinced their reunion isn’t at all coincidental, and that his feelings for her still run deep. And she’s determined to make him admit to them, no matter the consequences.

K.A. Tucker is basically an auto-buy author for me. I've loved almost everything she's written and this one sounds right up my alley.

August 8

The Family Upstairs - Lisa Jewell

You thought they were just staying for the weekend. They looked harmless enough – with only two suitcases and a cat in a wicker box.

But soon things turn very, very dark. It happens slowly, yet so extraordinarily quickly.

Now you and your sister must find a way to survive.

Not much of a synopsis is it? But Lisa Jewell writes the kind of mystery/thrillers that I love so I don't need to be sold on it. I already have grabby hands.

August 20

The Last Post - Renee Carlino

See you on the other side.

Laya Marston’s husband, Cameron, a daredevil enthusiast, always said this before heading off on his next adventure. He was the complete opposite of her, ready and willing to dive off a cliff-face, or parachute across a canyon—and Laya loved him for it. But she was different: pragmatic, regimented, devoted to her career and to supporting Cameron from the sidelines of his death-defying feats.

Opposites attract, right?

But when Cameron dies suddenly and tragically, all the stages of grief go out the window. Laya becomes lost in denial, living in the delusion that Cameron will come back to her. She begins posting on his Facebook page, reminiscing about their life together, and imagining new adventures for the two of them.

Micah Evans, a young and handsome architect at Laya’s father’s firm, is also stuck––paralyzed by the banal details of his career, his friendships, and his love life. He doesn’t know what he’s looking for, only that there is someone out there who can bring energy and spirit to the humdrum of his life.

When Micah discovers Laya’s tragic and bizarre Facebook posts, he’s determined to show Laya her life is still worth living. Leaving her anonymous gifts and notes, trying to recreate the sense of adventure she once shared with her late husband, Micah finds a new passion watching Laya come out of the darkness. And Laya finds a new joy in the experiences Micah has created for her.

But for Laya, letting another man in still feels like a betrayal to her late husband. Even though Micah may be everything she could wish for, she wonders if she deserves to find happiness again.

I love Renee Carlino and a few of her novels have become real favorites. The advance reviews for The Last Post are a bit... underwhelming (an average GoodReads rating of 3.23 as of this writing - yikes) but I still have high hopes.

August 20

The Reckless Oath We Made - Bryn Greenwood

A provocative love story between a tough Kansas woman on a crooked path to redemption and the unlikeliest of champions, from the New York Times bestselling author of All the Ugly and Wonderful Things.

Zee is nobody's fairy tale princess. Almost six-foot, with a redhead's temper and a shattered hip, she has a long list of worries: never-ending bills, her beautiful, gullible sister, her five-year-old nephew, her housebound mother, and her drug-dealing boss.

Zee may not be a princess, but Gentry is an actual knight, complete with sword, armor, and a code of honor. Two years ago the voices he hears called him to be Zee's champion. Both shy and autistic, he's barely spoken to her since, but he has kept watch, ready to come to her aid.

When an abduction tears Zee's family apart, she turns to the last person she ever imagined--Gentry--and sets in motion a chain of events that will not only change both of their lives, but bind them to one another forever.

Greenwood's All the Ugly and Wonderful Things, caused quite a stir and was certainly divisive, but I thought it was brilliant and moving and it instantly became an all-time favorite. I am so excited for her first release since 2016.

Are you looking forward to any of these upcoming releases? What summer release are you most excited for?

Cover Reveal + Giveaway: Superfan by Sarina Bowen

It's no secret that I'm a big, big fan of Sarina Bowen. Her Him/Us duet is among my favorites (#Wesmie!), The Year We Fell Down is a wonderful new adult romance, and her True North series is fantastic. And now Sarina is continuing her Brooklyn series with SUPERFAN! 

This is the third book in the series, following Brooklynaire and Overnight Sensation, and will release on June 25. And I'm excited to be taking part in the cover reveal!

SUPERFAN by SARINA BOWEN

Series: Brooklyn

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Sports

Publication Date: June 25th, 2019

Sometimes lady luck shakes your hand, and sometimes she smacks your face. Sometimes she does both on the same day.

Three years ago I met the most amazing woman. We were both down on our luck. Then I got that call—the one that tells you to get your buns on a plane to go meet your destiny.

But the girl was left behind. I didn’t have her phone number, and she didn’t know my real name.

While I became a professional hockey player, she became a superstar, with platinum records and legions of fans. And a slick, music producer boyfriend who treated her badly.

But fate wasn’t done with us yet. When Delilah turns up at a hockey game, I can’t resist making contact. The internet swoons when I ask her out on a date.

She might not remember me. But her jerkface ex does. He’ll do anything to keep us apart. 

Good thing athletes never give up. This time I’m playing for keeps.

AMAZON || APPLE || KOBO || NOOK

GIVEAWAY!

Be the first to read! Three winners (US or Canada) will win

early signed paperback copies of Superfan! 

Enter here: https://geni.us/SuperfanGiveaway

Top Ten Tuesday: Things That Make Me Pick Up a Book

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.

This week's Top Ten Tuesday topic: 

Things That Make Me Pick Up a Book

We all have them. Those tropes or keywords or settings that make us all the more likely to pick up a particular book. Some are popular (boarding school settings seems to be one that many people love) and some are a lot more unique and individual. Here are my picks along with some of my favorite examples of each.

SECOND CHANCE ROMANCE

Yeah, this one is more broad in spectrum and less specific, but even so - I'm a sucker for a good second-chance romance. I like the thought of true love never really going away and that two people who are meant to be together will find a way.

    

LETTERS/EMAILS

I don't know why, but I really enjoy a story that is told either in part, or fully, through letters and/or emails. Maybe it's the romantic in me that gets a little swoony at the thought of someone taking the time to write a letter and put their feelings down on paper. 

  

YOUNG PERSON WITH GREAT RESPONSIBILTY/

MATURE FOR AGE

I find this comes into play more with a male character than a female character, but having a main character who is carrying a lot of responsibility on his shoulders at a young age is like an instant win for me. Whether he is handling the responsibility well, or buckling under the pressure, doesn't matter. I am so behind a character who takes on great responsibility either by choice or by circumstance. Same for a character who shows maturity beyond his years. Katie McGarry is a master at writing these types of characters.

    

MORALLY GRAY CHARACTERS

This one is pretty self explanatory but my interest always kicks up a notch when I hear that a story features a morally gray character. I mean, few people are all good or all bad. So when a book explores that I'm intrigued. My favorite is when a villain does something completely out of character or shows kindness.

    

FRIENDS TO LOVERS

It seems like most romance readers are all about the hate-to-love trope. But not me. Nope, I'm all about the best friends to lovers. I like seeing a couple who are already friends take their relationships to the next level. They already know they get along and that they're compatible. And when they realize that they now have feelings that go beyond friendship... I love it. :)

    

TRAPPED TOGETHER

Another favorite is when the couple in question find themselves trapped somewhere together. That forced togetherness is a big check mark for me.

    

FORBIDDEN/TABOO RELATIONSHIP

There are a lot of aspects that could make a relationship fall into the forbidden/taboo category. A boss/employee dynamic, a sketchy background (criminal history), one or both people are not single/available, etc. The forbidden aspect is definitely a draw (in fiction, not real life).

    

BAD BOY + GOOD GIRL

I know, I know. This is one trope that has been done to death. Clear back to Heathcliff and Catherine in Wuthering Heights. It's overused and played out. But I'm still trash for it. 

    

AGE DIFFERENCE

This one sometimes gets lumped in with the forbidden relationship trope, but I'm not talking creepy under-age age differences here. These are legal, of age, consenting adults - but with an age gap. Maybe my personal experience plays into my love of this one (there is a 14 year age gap between my husband and me) but romances with an age difference are among my favorites.

    

SWEET, CINNAMON ROLL GUYS

Sure, I love a good alpha now and then, but I also have a soft spot for the sweet, cinnamon rolls. They guys who are kind. Who are listeners. Who aren't cocky or snarky or broody. But sweet and generous and give their hearts willingly. All together now... awww!

    

What makes you pick up a book?
Do we share any favorites?