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Romance

Latest Book Reviews

READ VIA: Thank you to SMP Early Readers for the opportunity to read this early! Publishes Feb 17, 2026! ABOUT: The Halifax Hellians follows sisters Margot and Matilda on their titillating and adventurous journeys to happily ever after. Composed of two novellas, the first follows Margot and Henry on a quest to rescue her sister, Matilda, from what they believe to be a nefarious situation. Fortunately, Henry has been pining for Margot forever, and a little rain and a little carriage mishap lead to some very requited feelings. In the second novella, we follow Matilda, who, as it turns out, is perfectly safe but just so happens to be an illustrator of salacious things and may or may not have been drawing Christian, a Marquess who is grumpy incarnated. And suddenly finds herself volunteering to be his sister’s tutor and moving into his estate, despite the northern weather, the heat between them is scorching. MY THOUGHTS: I may not know much, but I know if Alexander Vastri writes it, I’m going to read it, and not only going to read it, but I’m also going to have the time of my life. Both of these novels were funny, well-paced, and deliciously salacious. Give me carriage rides and roadside inns and maids pointing out the man’s chambers forever and ever, please. There’s something so charming about the way Alexandera Vasti crafts her heroines. She makes them fierce and opinionated, but at the same time, allows them to be soft with these men who are so besotted with them. I just spent the entire time laughing and crying and swooning, and that’s exactly how I want to feel when I read a historical romance. SIMILAR BOOKS: If you enjoyed her other books, Ne’er Duke Well, and Earl Crush, these novellas have the same swoony romance. I wholeheartedly recommend anything this woman has ever written. SHOULD YOU READ: Honestly, if you’re not reading Alexander Vasti, please correct your mistakes immediately. hist rom | spicy books | upcoming book release | new historical romance | romance book review | book edit

Romance

Latest Book Reviews

Last First Kiss

ABOUT: Jordan has known his cousin Denz’s best friend, Jamie, since they were teens (when Jordan harbored confused feelings). When Denz moves to LA, they begin to explore their friendship more. However, several months ago, Jamie pumped the brakes, leaving Jordan even more confused about his feelings. Now Jamie is associated with a massive project Jordan is taking on at work, and Jordan is not sure how to handle it. MY THOUGHTS: Julian Winters delivers again with a combination of self-discovery, some hot backseat action, and two idiots who desperately want each other. With intermittent flashbacks and quick banter, I was instantly drawn to Jamie and Jordan’s dynamic. At times, I found the pacing uneven; however, I enjoyed how flashbacks were used throughout the book. Some of my favorite moments come from the caretaking (SPOILER: there is soup) and the interactions with cousin Nic. Winters has solidified himself as one of my favorite adult achillean romance authors. While this works as a standalone, I think reading Denz and Braylon’s book first is the way to go. SIMILAR BOOKS: I recommend reading I Think They Love You for more Carter family shenanigans and How You Get the Girl for more demi rep. SHOULD YOU READ: This is perfect for those seeking a book about discovering who they are a little bit later in life!

Romance

Latest Book Reviews

Grace & Henry’s Holiday Movie Marathon

4.5

READ VIA:libby audio ABOUT: Grace and Henry are both sad; both widowers though through different circumstances, they find themselves in need of a friend as the holiday season approaches. They began watching holiday movies together, something they both had done with their late spouses. Slowly, their friendship starts to feel like something more, but neither is sure if they’re ready to move on. MY THOUGHTS: After seeing several high reviews for this book, I knew I had to pick it up. Something enchanting about the way Norman weaves together both grief and joy throughout this novel. I really enjoyed Grace, her children, and the way Henry slowly became involved in their lives. While the subject of death is heavy in this book, there’s also a feeling of hopefulness as the characters reminisce about their spouses. I found myself simultaneously tearful and laughing, which I think relates well to the holiday vibe. I always love a book that pays homage to its location, and you could feel the Baltimore charm and grind throughout! Additionally, I love how they discussed the discourse over the holiday movies they did watch, and I agree that Die Hard is a holiday movie AUDIO: No one can be happy and sad at the same time like Alex Finke, and honestly, I would recommend anything she’s narrated. Jay Myers made an excellent Henry and helped capture so much of this book’s charm. The audio is under 9 hours and a delight! SIMILAR BOOKS: This is a bit of Promise Me Sunshine with maybe some Family Stone holiday elements. SHOULD YOU READ: Highly recommend for those looking for a charming Holiday novel with depth that will leave you feeling that “thrill of hope.” Do you have a Holiday movie that reminds you of a loved one? When my husband and I first started dating, he made me watch Christmas Vacation to decorate the tree, and the tradition is going strong 13 years later.

Romance

Latest Book Reviews

Good Spirits

READ VIA: Spotify audio ABOUT: Nolan, one of the ghosts of Christmas past, finds himself assigned to haunt Harriet. A bubbly, eclectic Christmas lover. As they dig into her past and her complex relationship with her family, they find themselves drawn towards each other and on a strict timeline to untangle their pasts before Christmas Eve. While both struggle to understand their connection, it is clear they both hope for more than the month of December together. MY THOUGHTS: I really enjoyed this one and loved the mix of warmth, spice, and character journeys. Borison manages to create a ghost who yearns delicously and I loved seeing Harriet also try to reason out her feelings. In particular, I enjoyed Harriet’s reckoning with her family. I loved that Nolan helped give her the confidence to ask for what she wanted, and that was just charming as heck. This was steamy, but like in a spiked cider on a cold day type of way, and I loved the way they cared for each other. There were little elements of magic throughout the book that made the charm feel elevated and brought about just a hint of paranormal vibe I really enjoyed. If I have one gripe, this did not feel particularly Christmasy to me, like other than some mistletoe, this could have been set at any time of year, not a bad thing, but just unexpected. AUDIO: Karissa Vacker & Will Watt are delightful. His accent and her range complement each other, and this book is a true delight for the years! SIMILAR VIBE: A bit of Spirited (with Ryan Reynolds and Will Ferrell) with B.K. Borison’s signature charm and heat à la First Time Caller SHOULD YOU READ: If you want a little paranormal Christmas vibe with a little bit of spice!