definitely, possibly, maybe

book 5 in the fire's edge series continues to propel the intricate story of the dragon clans forward. again focused on the american contingent, the ties between the companion series inferno rising series are there, and for maximum enjoyment i strongly recommend reading the series in publication order .  the protector focuses on lyndi chandall the sole female-born dragon shifter based with the huracan enforcers, and the beta of the team, gold dragon, levi rowtag. it is a well-known fact that female dragons are sterile and therefore can't mate, but in a world where the rules about dragon shifters are falling apart, the connection between levi and lyndi can't be denied.  from the moment they met 200 years ago, levi has known lyndi was his mate. but she mistook his reaction as a rebuff, and they've been at cross-purposes ever since. but as the situation around them grows desperate, levi can't deny the connection anymore. and lyndi can't resist giving into temptatio...

the second book in the albin academy series is just as deeply emotional as the first. just like this  features total opposites rian and damon joining forces to help a struggling student. they are from completely different backgrounds and do not expect to find the common ground and connection they discover as they work together. for a category romance, this novel packs in a lot of depth and feels into the shorter format. the slow burn really allows the love story to develop organically, and you really end up feeling the strength of the connection between the characters.  **just like this will publish on november 24, 2020. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/carina press (adores) in exchange with my honest review. 

the thing i enjoy about watson's stories is that they take place outside of the usual historical time periods, this sixteenth century highland tale is a delight. i'm a sucker for an enemies-to-lovers story, and twelfth knight's bride  is just the thing.  set over christmas, james and aileana have to come to terms with their marriage and each other, seriously these two have chemistry in spades. overall this story is sweet and lovely with just the perfect amount of spark.  **twelfth knight's bride will publish on november 17, 2020. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/entangled publishing (scandalous) in exchange for an honest review.

the truth about dukes  is the latest installment in the rogues to riches series, and while it stands alone, it really is best read in concert with previous books in the series. our hero, robert rothmere, has epilepsy, or the falling sickness as it was known at the time. institutionalized by his father and forced to undergo so many inhumane treatments, when he is found to be alive by his brother he is brought back to society to take his rightful place as duke of rothhaven. because he is at constant risk of being declared incompetent, he decides he needs to marry a paragon for a wife, and he is drawn to constance wentworth. little does he know that her veneer of placidity hides the fact that they met as teens in the very asylum he was sent to, she was avoiding unpleasant family circumstances. she also harbors a scandalous secret. anyway, they overcome all odds, and it's a romance so everyone lives happily ever after. this lacked some real sparks for me, it's a quiet romance and a...

so while a lady's guide to mischief and mayhem is not solely a mystery, it's more mystery than romance. but in a way that really works for this victorian set novel. the blurb comps it to evie dunmore, but i think this is closer in feel and appeal to the veronica speedwell novels by deanna raybourn. it almost feels like these two main characters could continue to headline the series, though in that regard these books will follow the romance model and focus on a different set of characters for subsequent stories in the series. the main characters here, katherine bascomb and andrew eversham are at odds as a journalist and detective respectively. a series of murders has captured kate's interest and she feels it is her moral duty to warn others, especially women, of the crimes. but in the strait-laced society she inhabits, it is frowned upon for a woman to discuss unpleasant things.  eversham sees her more as a nuisance getting in the way of his investigation, he's not enti...

i'm used to marissa meyer writing more on the science fiction/fantasy spectrum, so i was intrigued by this contemporary story. but instant karma  does have a touch of fantasy. i'm just not sure the concept was executed successfully. one big issue is that the story appropriates indian/hindu culture, going so far as to have an illustrated cover that implies the main characters are persons of color when they're actually as white as can be.  i know there is debate about #ownvoices, but when a white author repeatedly uses diverse perspectives that do not reflect her own experience for her characters' voices that starts to feel exploitative. and maybe if the main character weren't so judgmental and more sympathetic this would all be less problematic, but plotwise it's where the book falls down.  that being said, the narration here is spot on. rebecca soler does a fantastic job voicing a diverse group of characters and does a great job of distinguishing their voices wi...

this latest entry into the heart of texas series is just as good as the ones that came before it. looking for a cowboy  finds quintessential good guy cooper owens finding love with tough-as-nails private investigator marlee. there's a connection there from the moment they meet, but marlee's suspicious of cooper's friends, so until they resolve that bit of misunderstanding, they can't move forward.  marlee's reasons for being suspicious are valid, but if she knew the harpers she'd know how off-base they were, because the family in these stories are just good, upstanding people. and once they realize what is going on and what she's looking to stop, they're all-in on helping her out.  the suspense and mystery here all unfold at a great pace, and the romance that blooms between the two characters is well done.  **looking for a cowboy will publish on october 27, 2020. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/st. martin's press in exchange f...

ever since i read the sneak peek chapter in   high heat , i’ve been waiting for   feel the fire . usually, i’m not one for second-chance romances, but there was something about the crackle of chemistry and resentment the characters had in the opening pages that made this one hard to resist.  one thing i loved is that the resentment piece isn’t long and drawn out. what blossoms between the characters isn’t a slow burn, in part because they did all that slow-burning off-page. tucker is a demisexual, but the deep, emotional connection he needs is already there with luis. it was always there, even though his life took him on an unintended path.  seeing the two characters figure out how to compromise and build a life they both want together made every moment worth it. it was nice to check in on earlier characters from the series, but luis and tucker are just perfection together and i loved every second of this read.  **feel the fire will publish on october 26, 2020. ...

i wasn't entirely sold on the concept for bane's choice , since i'm not really one for motorcycle club stories, but it also didn't feel like your usual motorcycle club romance rife with misogyny, so i decided to take a chance.  the vampire stuff i found interesting, the motorcycle club stuff felt extraneous but didn't bother me, but oh man did i dislike this heroine. like i'm all for standing up for yourself and being able to protect yourself from danger. but this dimwit was like oh there's a newly turned vampire who will be crazed with bloodlust and none of that matters because he is my patient. he's dead. he's a paranormal being who's vitals actually don't matter and he's going to kill you because you are food to him.  like there's being a badass and there's being stupid. and i thought ryan was totally stupid. she was so stupid that i just couldn't bring myself to care about anything related to her, which killed the romance ...

amy daws is back in the wait with me world, this time with a two career-driven people who find that maybe there is time in their lives for romance when a fake date evolves into real love.  over the course of the series we've had multiple opportunities to interact with dean. he's a little bit douchey, a little bit a hipster metrosexual type, but still somehow charming. and if the guy's best friends are lyndsey and kate, you know that there's got to be something special there. well take a number  pulls back the metaphorical curtain. and dean is a delight.  he finds his perfect counterpoint in norah. the uptight, obsessive-compulsive croinut baker who is intent on getting her donut shops out across the country.  together they make a perfect team, and their mutual fear of commitment and intimacy is challenged by how in sync they are with one another.  **take a number will publish on october 15, 2020. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of amy daws. keep readi...

food trucks, check.  enemies-to-lovers, check.  hawaiian setting, check. all the glorious food descriptions, check.  my best recommendation for reading simmer down  is to either eat a large meal before reading, or make sure you have snacks available. because you will be hungry.  smith's sophomore effort is a delightful read, the perfect bit of escapist fantasy that feels especially necessary when we're still stuck sheltering at home.  **simmer down will publish on october 13, 2020. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/penguin random house (berkley) in exchange for my honest review. 

i don't know if we can call blind heroine in the highlands a trope per se, but i've definitely read books with this casting before and i like them. a lot. amy jarecki continues to write these wonderfully nuanced romances with heroes who history has placed on the losing side, the highland laird is no exception.  but there's so much intrigue and political maneuvering in the setting that makes it the perfect backdrop for these swoony, romantic stories. every time she publishes one, i'm convinced it's the last one, we're looking at number 8 here. but if the lords of the highlands series continues, it's no hardship because these stories are just super enjoyable.  **the highland laird will publish on october 13, 2020. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/grand central publishing (forever) in exchange for my honest review. 

the vicar and the rake  is a steamy m/m historical that finds two former friends reconnecting in the most historical trope-y kind of way, and it's just amazing. the RAKE discovers the VICAR PASSED OUT with A FEVER in HIS GARDEN. it is AMAZING. beyond the tropey meet-cute or "remeet" cute, there is real substance to this story. what the characters have to overcome to really be together and their journey to happiness is well worth the read. and it's a lovely kick off to a series, introducing several intriguing characters.  **the vicar and the rake will publish on october 12, 2020. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/carina press in exchange for my honest review.   

i'd read the previous two books in this series and felt like i should read the third, unwritten , even though this is more a spin-off than anything. i had liked tobias in that first go around. mel was fine, it was nice to get to know him better i guess.  this is a perfectly suitable sequel, i just thing with this whole series there's a lot of untapped potential. in the hands of a better writer this could be something amazing. but to while away a couple of hours this is determinedly fine.  **unwritten will publish on october 8, 2020. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of give me more books promotions in exchange for my honest review. keep reading for more information...

when declan meets sidney in the love study   he's immediately captivated by them. but they don't date. declan has a history that makes him less than promising as a potential love interest. he did leave his ex-fiancé standing at the altar. like left him standing at the altar. it was the right choice, and the exes are friends. but it's still something his friends delight in teasing him about.  it's not that declan has anything against marriage either. or commitment. it's just that maybe marriage as a construct isn't for him. sidney runs a popular youtube vlog and has an opportunity to tie in a sponsorship around declan's dating. and even though he's not sure about the dating thing, declan jumps at the opportunity to spend more time with them.  this story is cute and low-angst. the characters have some baggage to overcome, but the openness of their communication is so endearing. even when they are mixed up about each other, there is such a sweet kindness ab...

welcome back to the ren faire world of deluca's well met this time with a helping of you've got mail  on the side. in well played   stacey is shocked out of her rut by emily and simon's engagement, and so when she finds herself corresponding with her himbo hookup, dex, she is surprised by the depth of their connection.  there never seemed to be much more to him than sex appeal and muscles. but when summer comes around and it's time for the latest willow creek ren faire, stacey is shocked to realize that the man she'd been falling in love with from afar is someone she doesn't even know.  this is just another delight of a story. the mistaken identity, the setting and sweet moments we have with characters from the first book, it's all just so much fun to read.  **well played will publish on september 22, 2020. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/penguin random house (berkley) in exchange for my honest review. 

it's nice to be back in new york, seeing kip and scott from game changer navigate their committed relationship. and eric is a super fascinating hero, like he's so disciplined and grown up. it's like the opposite of chaotic trickster ilya, who makes a couple of delightful cameos in common goal  and okay i'm going to be honest i really kind of just wanted more ilya.  i enjoyed eric and kyle's story. i really did. i just wasn't transported by their story. i think maybe i'd have liked it better if kyle was part of the hockey world? but instead he was an art history major who moonlights as a bartender while working on a degree he's not interested in and had passing interest in kip but that obviously wasn't going anywhere.  kip and eric connect and kip is basically eric's tour guide on the gay side of life. and it's a perfectly good story. i liked it just fine. i just...i just didn't fall in love the way i loved heated rivalry  and that's ...

i was so excited to read furia  because it was set in argentina, i lived in buenos aires for three years as a child and it is always thrilling to see a different perspective of a place i somwhat know. what is real and what is just memory isn't teased out with fiction exactly, but still it's lovely to see familiar landmarks in a new light.  camila is a wonderfully compelling heroine. her fight and struggles to reach her dreams are a true joy to read. we need more of this kind of #latinx representation in literature. not just about the diaspora, but also about the ones who stayed.  **furia will publish on september 15, 2020. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/algonquin young readers in exchange for my honest review. 

n.b. i am linda's literary agent, so disclaimers about bias here.  blood rogue finds vampire charles towner at war with the person who has been his surrogate father. if that weren't enough, he's also tangled up with a too-smart-for-her-own-good human who also happens to be impervious to the memory-wiping abilities that vampires can usually use on humans to keep their existence secret.  if you like vampire stories with a little science-based fact thrown in for fun, this is the book for you. **blood rogue will publish on september 8, 2020. 

the second book in the stay a spell series finds us following a newer to us savoie sister. isadora was out of town during the events of  wolf gone wild . i'd been kind of rooting for violet and nico, or jules and ruben, but they will probably be last because there's so much history there that is worth building up. anyway, don't hex and drive  kicks off with a meet-disaster when devraj (our super special vampire hero, he's a stygorn and that means he's like super strong and has enhanced abilities) crashes his car into isadora's bike.  isadora is a conduit, and her abilities are mostly focused on healing. devraj happens to be in town to investigate some missing girls. and it's inevitable that isadora gets looped into the case.  i really enjoyed the interplay between isadora and devraj. from the get-go it was pretty clear that they were uniquely well-suited. it just took some time for isadora to get on board too.  this was just another delightful entry in this ...