Right Where You Left Me by Kile White

⭐⭐⭐★

Way back when, Sage Collins was in love with her best friend, Emma Newton. One drunken kiss, and straight girl Emma ghosted her. Thirteen years thence, they're back in the same town and in each other's lives. 

I'm not sure whether this can be called a second-chance romance exactly, because it's not like there was a first chance at all. Maybe a different-phases-in-life-finally-converge romance? 

Emma, baker, married to Liam for a few years, has discovered that she's actually a lesbian. Liam is all understanding and her very best friend. They have a perfectly amicable divorce and he is still her best friend and fully supportive. She returns to her hometown, get a job — which just happens to be at Sage's sister's establishment — so frequent running into Sage is inevitable. 

The book is well-paced with likeable characters, everyday narration and dual perspective so we know each MCs headspace and perspective. 

My real issue comes from a blanket get-out-of-jail-free-card for poor behaviour. I cannot stand it when one MC goes out on a limb, makes herself vulnerable — and then continues to carry the burden. Passive personal overthinking that doesn't translate into action just falls so short. So, in this Emma is forever making up for a moment in her confused youth to Sage, who seems pretty narcissistic in the way she gives just enough crumbs to keep Emma in their pattern. Sage remains pretty self-absorbed, self-indulgent and selfish. For that past hurt caused by Emma, Sage seems to have developed a moral entitlement in her behaviour towards Emma. When a relationship starts with this pattern, I don't quite believe in the HEA.  

I liked the writing with it's sudden splashes of humour (Sage's Beef Wellington "... so raw that it was mooing at her" was a gem). It's just that I like an equality in emotion, action and vulnerability between two people in love. It's an idealistic vision, but some books manage to give me just that. This one doesn't.

⭐⭐⭐★

My Boyfriend's Wife by Joy Argento

 

⭐⭐⭐★

The title is actually the story. A few years back an author had read a post in Reddit with this theme and had decided to write a book on this plot. She did. Then there was Funny Story by Emily Henry in which the MCs are dumped; the dumpers get together and the dumpees (the MCs) end up together. So maybe this is a new trope emerging?

In this book we have Megan Montgomery, in a tepid relationship with one Mike. A late night call from Tara Foreman reveals that Mike is married and Megan is an unwitting other woman. Particularly bad, since Megan's girlfriend had cheated on her. 

Tara has a prenup which says that if she seeks divorce due to adultery and can prove it, she gets a boatload of money. So she asks Megan for help to prove adultery. Megan agrees. There is immediate — banked — attraction between the two of them.

Tara wants — needs — the money to support her widowed sister in taking care of her autistic son. Their parents were deeply religious and also abusive, so the sisters basically have just one another. The parental background is also the reason Tara married in the first place — to escape them. It is also the reason she never acted on her attraction to women. 

Despite the dramatic plot, something about the way it's written is unhurried and almost — peaceful? It's not slow paced, yet it's calm. Despite feeling low stakes, I was strongly wanting the two to get together and have their HEA. (This is a definite HEA. These two ladies are really going to work well together. Is it weird that I actually have future visions about book people?)

The husband's unconcern and blackmail against using Megan to prove adultery is an interesting plot point. (I hesitate to call it twist simply because "twist' doesn't exactly fit in the style of writing. 

Both the MCs are likeable. Both have sister and in both cases the relationships with the siblings is well etched. 

This is more than a three but not quite a 4 either. 

⭐⭐⭐★

Learning Curves by Rachel Lacey

 

⭐⭐⭐★

Learning Curves is an age-gap romance that is involving enough to complete. I mention this, because, sadly, more and more books by established authors are not particularly satisfying.

Audrey Lind, 30 is a fresh recruit to teach in her alma mater, Northshire University. She’s excited positive and eager to make an impression so that her temporary position is converted to a permanent one. It’s also the place where she had experience her first female crush on…

Dr. Michelle Thompson, mid-forties and Audrey’s first female crush. She’s no longer the passionate teacher who had made Audrey want to pursue a career in academics. Generally disliked by both colleagues and student, she seems to be just living in countdown mode.

Audrey’s excited to have a new dynamic with Dr. Michelle Thompson, but the latter is, if not an ice-queen, at least a frigid water queen. The unrelenting rudeness could’ve made Michelle an easily dislikeable person — the type that usually makes me wonder why the other MC is making all that effort. However, Lacey develops Michelle with enough care, that she’d not really all that bad. Both the MCs are well-enough characterized, but Michelle is drawn with much more sympathy.

The growth or their relationship and chemistry is very nicely handled.

That said, there are some utterly banal scenes and conversations between the leads, with side characters and even some random cameos that do nothing for plot development, character development or to even add texture to their world. They just exist — most likely to make word count.

What stands out most is the open and constant communication between the leads. There’s a refreshing lack of angst or unnecessary conflict; instead, the focus is on two women finding the courage to pursue what they want and deserve, both in love and in life — together.

The most interesting part of the book was learning about Women in Art. So many overwhelming stories. Michelle has the right idea about writing books about them — each of those artists deserve more, much more, recognition.

A gripe about the cover, though: it doesn’t capture either of the characters. At all. And also kind of sets it to be a romcom — which it isn't.

It’s a story of new beginnings, the joy of embracing who you are and courage to rock the boat enough to make scary changes. It’s not a book that tries to reinvent the wheel, but it delivers a nice easy-read romance.

⭐⭐⭐★

Synclair by Rachel Gold

 

⭐⭐⭐★

Teenage is the time of exploring, of searching and of defining oneself. Gold writes about teens and their struggles with panache in her books. The first book that we read by this author was In the Silences which is one of the most powerful, moving and beautiful books we’ve ever read (and re-read). Synclair is a story about a teenager during a watershed summer. 

The main players: 

Emma Synclair: Seventeen, gay. Older brother, Mac. Parents active atheists who strongly discourage any religious or theistic explorations. In love with her best friend, Kinz.

Kinz: Synclair’s rock. Deeply religious and unforgiving father resulting in poor home life and an active dislike for everything religion. Has a girlfriend, Camden. 

Camden: Loves her God and religion. Loves Kinz. Mature and articulate. New to Kinz’s group of Synclair, Kinz and Duke. Brings along her BF, Jay, into the group.

Jay: Outdoorsy, cool, rolls with the punches, ends up with Duke.

Duke: Cheerful, rock solid, struggling with a medical condition that affects him on a physical level too.

Avery: Synclair’s old friend who had disappeared before sixth grade. More spiritual than belonging to any organised religion, Avery explores all sorts of free-flowing beliefs building her own belief system.

Besides these characters, there is Synclair’s brother Mac and there are smaller appearances by various parents. 

It is summer vacation and Synclair’s parents are travelling while their house is being remodelled so their house ends up becoming the gathering spot for everyone. Synclair has always been interested in understanding various theological beliefs but keeps her interest hidden from her parents. During this watershed summer, she intends finding God / religion/ spirituality – anything that resonates with her. She is also confused about and exploring love and attraction because she is attracted to Avery, Kinz and Camden. 

There are so many books about children rebelling against unforgiving religious beliefs and feeling boxed in by their parents’ theological demands and non-acceptance. It’s an opposite perspective in this – Synclair’s parents are completely accepting of her sexuality but she has to work to make them accept her need to understand and/or find religion. It’s startling to realise that acceptance needs to be more expansive and encompassing. It is accepting a person for everything that they are. 

This book is mostly about acceptance. Within the cast, Gold covers different types, shades and depths of belief. There is a very Looking for Alaska vibe to the book with the teenagers experiencing, exploring, expounding and explaining within their group. The dialogues flow, there are some hilarious moments and snappy back chat. The interactions and relationships are believable and every single person is extremely likeable. 

Quite a nice read, this. 

⭐⭐⭐★

Three Little Spells by JA Armstrong

 

⭐⭐⭐★

We confess that we picked this novella up only because of its winsome cover. 

Beth Carmichael is a nurse and a leaf-raking-procrastinator. She is in the midst of trying-but-failing to rake the many, many leaves in her garden when her new next door neighbour, Bridget Dobbins, comes across with a ‘hello, I’m new to the neighbourhood’ pie. Beth learns that Bridget has three daughters and assumes that there is a husband also in the background. When she returns the ‘hello’ pie with goodies from McDonalds, she becomes wise to the fact the Bridget is in fact single and gay and the daughters are all adopted. 

Bridget takes the initiative to get to know Beth better and explore their initial attraction further. 

Beth and Bridget are both likeable ladies. The kids (alas, too little page time spent n them) are so cute. (Honestly, with the title and the cover, we’d anticipated much more of the girls). There are some good, funny dialogues and situations at the start but then it all settles into an even-paced, simple, non-angsty read. 

There is really little (or nothing) to find fault with in this one, but then, on the other hand, there is no much t rave about either. 

A good enough short, Halloween read.

⭐⭐⭐★

New Girl on the Street by Donna Jay

 

⭐⭐⭐★

Do you ever really get over your first crush/love? Most second chances romances agree that you don’t really get over them completely. As does this one. 

Lisa Barnett is an electrician. In the past she was given a hard time in school for being gay plus she is quite the butch. It also just so happened that the hottest girl in high school and an intrinsic part of the popular group, Bella McBride, was a closeted lesbian who had a flaming relationship with Lisa till they were caught by her friends. Soon after that, Bella disappeared from town and Lisa was left to handle the hate by herself. 

Fate conspires to bring Bella, more gorgeous than ever, back in town. Not only back in town but as Lisa’s next door neighbour. Bella, with a wedding bank and men’s shoes lying in a prominently visible place, seems to be married. She is also mysterious inasmuch she hauls two seemingly heavy suitcases out late at night, returns back even later, immediately puts cleaning materials in her car and varooms off early next morning. Naturally, Lisa’s interest in piqued not only because it is Bella, but also, just what the heel is she up to?

Bella makes no bones about her interest in Lisa which Lisa tries to fight off. But what is meant to be is just meant to be. 

We liked Lisa and total adored Bella. The first half of the book, till the two got together, flowed extremely well. After that, Jay addresses past issues (with the homophobic friends), coming out to parents and a frankly unnecessary detour with two of Lisa’s exes (one her current best friend) and their dynamic but it felt like absolutely nothing of consequence was happening in the book. 

Plenty of sex in this one. BDSM. We are somehow not wired to understand the dome-sub dynamic. We are completely unable to see it as an equal relationship. However, we admit that out of the bedroom, Bella is not at all sub. So not seeing the relationship because it is coloured by the dome-sub relationship is purely our bad. 

We also fail to get the turn-on factor in SM. How does spanking till a person is crying make for good sex? Again, this one is entirely on us because we’re not wired that way. 

We found Alice, a wannbe full time sub carrying a torch for Lisa despite being with someone else, a rather tragic character. She is coloured bad in the narrative, but she is someone we just felt bad for particularly since she is diagnosed bipolar. In fact, right from her first appearance, we felt deep sympathy for her. Wish she wasn’t there in the book or at least she had been given better characterisation and story. 

But, this above all, hot sex. 

Recommended for readers not squeamish about various degrees (albeit on the milder to medium levels) of BDSM and fans of the butch-femme pairing.

⭐⭐⭐★

Twice Shy by Aurora Rey, Narrated by Keira Grace (Audiobook)

 

⭐⭐⭐★

Amanda Russo, owner of Bake My Day, is a successful businesswoman on her way to expanding her popular bakery. She’d just bought the space next door and meets with the architect, Quinn Sullivan, to discuss her vision. 

Amanda and Quinn are both divorced women. Amanda’s ex, Mel, cheated on her and left her and their two kids (now teenagers). Ditto Quinn. Neither of them is particularly looking to get into another relationship despites friends and family egging them to at least date and put themselves out there, maybe just a little. 

On an overnight visit to see her daughter’s recital, Amanda ends up sleeping with Mel, who is in the process of ending things with her new wife (because new wife wants kids and Mel doesn’t). And then they sleep together again. And then the fix up a date for which Mel doesn’t turn up. 

Quinn is attracted to Amanda right away but being somewhat shy and insecure doesn’t particularly do anything about it. But soon they do end up spending time together and their relationship develops. 

So, the synopsis is sketchy considering that there is a lot of presence of Amanda’s children and Mel in this book. Also, the relationship between Amanda and Quinn is developed at an unhurried and convincing pace. The two ladies are very well-developed characters and we really get to know them well. Plus, couple of smoking hot sex scenes. 

But there are a couple of things that weren’t particularly understandable. First, Amanda repeatedly sleeping with Mel and agreeing to meet her for a date all the while loudly protesting that she doesn’t want them to get back together. Didn’t compute. (For the record, Mel seems to be a jerk with her wives. But a mom she seems to have a good relationship with the kids and also seems to be someone the children can count on in times of emergency.) 

The second thing we didn’t quite get was – why exactly did Quinn want a break? Mel made a grand gesture that Amanda rejected. Amanda goes to Quinn post that fiasco…and Quinn asks for space? Huh? There’s lots of mature dialogue but we like are romances to be, well, romantic. More feeling, less thought. 

Keira Grace has a lovely voice and does a great job with the nine-plus hours. But there were times when we wished we’d read the book instead of listening to it – we’d have like to hear voices, intonations and emotions from our imagination in this one. We’d probably have got more involved into it them. Guess we are hardcore readers, after all.

⭐⭐⭐★

Unforgettable by Rebekah Blackmore

⭐⭐⭐★

Katie Williamson is an art teacher who takes on painting gigs. She is invited by a local animal shelter to discuss painting murals. At the shelter, Katie runs into Taylor McCullough, her ex. Both realise that the past is not yet over for them.

Katie and Taylor are both likeable women. The relationship between them in the past seems to be deep and develops at a slow, tentative pace in the present. The is a realistic quality to Taylor's fears and Katie's longing for Taylor. 

Katie's decisions in the past may not have been the most mature or even very caring, but you can completely understand her. And that is the most impressive thing in the book: you can understand both the omen perfectly and empathise with their actions totally.

This is a low intensity, low angst book which is a fairly okay read. 

⭐⭐⭐★

Two Hexes Are Better Than One: A Lesbian Cozy Mystery by Zoe Spell

⭐⭐⭐★

Review-lite

…because…

• This is nice, as in the not-too-exciting but inoffensive and unmemorable meaning of the descriptor: nice
• Has a very strong start i.e. good creating of the crime and the accused
• Plus: plenty of red herrings
• Minus: Inexplicable behaviours and unexplained events
• Plus: Waiting-to-grow attraction between MC Rowena and her high school crush, Noelle, that promises to become more interesting as the series continues
• Minus: Tension of solving a murder distinctly missing
• Plus: Interestingly developed characters: Rowena, Evelyn and Debbie (the most interesting of the three)
• Minus: Doesn’t grab interest and hold you there

⭐⭐⭐★

On the Square by Brenda Murphy

⭐⭐⭐★

Dale Miller, mom of three, is a contractor. After her ex wiped out Dale’s finances, she’s been struggling to make ends meet. One big project in the offing could set her well on the path of financial recovery. Except that when she meets the potential client, Mai Li, they start off on the wrong footing and Dale walks away from the job.

Apologies set thing right and the two women start a tentative work association on renovating a long-closed restaurant with living quarters on the upper level. Decades of being closed and neglect have made the place quite precarious, but Mai wants to renovate it because it is her childhood home. Mai used to be one of the two hosts of a TV show which got cancelled. She, however has enough saved for the renovations. Just about enough for the renovations and nothing else. So when the roof of her childhood home gives way, Mai has no place to stay. Dale gives her shelter.

Both the women feel an incredible attraction towards each other, but do not want to jeopardize the job and fight against it – till they can’t any more.

The environment of the book is very, very real. The pacing of the book is good and the sex is really, really good.

Dale is a great character. She’s made poor relationship choices in the past and is clearly rather overwhelmed with everything she is handling. Yet she moves with dignity, strength and confidence. She tries her best for her children and is human enough to not meet all expectations at all times. As a person, she is large hearted and giving. As a woman, she is sexy as hell (Aside: we’re completely enamoured by Sexy Dale). Her past relationship fails make Dale uncertain about opening her heart again but she knows how to be in and handle a relationship (One more aside: Relationship Dale is really all that).

Mai started off quite likeable. Her interactions with Dale and Dale’s youngest, seventeen-year old Noah, establish her to be a sensitive and mature person. She is a wonderful sister. An experience in a diner and her subsequent reaction shine light on the homophobia and racism she is subjected to on the regular. However, Mai fails when it comes to her relationship with Dale. With Dale, Mai is quick to take offense, unwilling to give the other woman a chance, doesn’t offer to explain her point of view ever, is incapable of seeing or even trying to see where Dale is coming from, doesn’t apologise or do any damn thing to make the relationship work.

Dale really makes the relationship work. In fact, she makes the whole book work. Okay, the books works because of Dale and the sex.

On the whole, an okay read.

⭐⭐⭐★

Evie and the Pack-Horse Librarians by Laurel Beckley

⭐⭐⭐★

This one is a byte-sized bit of thoroughly enjoyable whimsy.

Evie Southeil loves books and is a journey-rank editor at Publishing. One misstep – a serious one – and her career as an editor is stalled, possibly derailed. Evie’s fault was love. She allowed her girlfriend, Anda, take a turn at an unpublished manuscript and the next thing Evie knew is that it has been leaked and she’s been demoted to being a pack-horse librarian in the far out-reaches of the kingdom. As if that wasn’t bad enough, Anda dumps her and acknowledges that she had always been eying Evie’s job.

Completely broken, Evie makes the journey to the vast unknown, district forty-five with her cat, Theodosia, and kitten, Mathilde. Her new colleagues are welcoming but pressed for time and money. With the briefest of training, Evie is sent off on a library run by herself. Her run has her travelling for weeks on end on her pack-horse, leading a mule, collecting the books given earlier and distributing new ones to impoverished villagers in the hills.

On her very first solo journey, something spooks Evie’s pack-horse and mule, and after dumping her off, the animals take off. Evie is rescued by a cute four-year old, Lajo, and his mysterious mother, Katalin. The pair actually live in a cave and have next t nothing, but extend every last bit of hospitality to Evie. Katalina and Evie are attracted to each other but when Evie recovers, Katalina and Lajo lead her to the nearest settlement so that she can continue her journey.

Evie discovers Katalina’s secrets, makes new friends, finds her place in the harsh world and has to decide whether to stay on or return to her city life, where Anda’s duplicity has been discovered.

This is a seriously short book. We’d have easily enjoyed it even more were it twice the length. All the characters are truly likeable. The world, while in dire straits on the financial and material comforts fronts, abounds in acceptance and affection. A nice thought, that.

This is a cute, quick, non-intense read.  

⭐⭐⭐★

The Woman in 3B by Eliza Lentzski

⭐⭐⭐★

This one has an almost romcom meeting premise but is definitely a contemporary romance.

After spending two ill-advised years in college and running up a student debt of about 40k, Alice Kaminski is now a flight attendant scrambling to clear off the debt. To that end, Alice works non-stop even choosing to be on-call when she can have an off. Also to the same end, Alice participates in a secret monthly flight attendant bingo competition which lists twenty-five tasks of varying difficulty levels to be completed in a month. The person completing all tasks takes home the kitty and if no one completed it, the prize money rolls over to the next month. The current kitty stands at 10k which would go a long way in paying off Alice’s debt. One of the tasks in the current month’s competition is to drop a beverage on the person sitting in seat 3B. Alice is all set to complete the task but the gorgeous woman in 3B, Anissa Khouri, shows unexpected politeness towards Alice and mid-task, Alice cannot go through with it and spills the water on herself.

Alice’s klutziness is the start of an unexpected series of events by with Anissa and Alice spend more time together. And the more Alice sees of Anissa, the more she is attracted to her. An attraction that is fully returned by Anissa who is less shy than Alice about acting on it.

Alice and Anissa are both interesting multi-dimensional characters. Alice is singly focussed on herself with little time for her older sister, niece and nephew. Alice finds her sister passive-aggressive and is not particularly there for or with her. But she is also kind, sweet and something about her is rather young and vulnerable.

Anissa is into HR and is married to her work. She is close to her family and generous with her time and interest in Alice’s family. Of the two, Anissa moves in first sexually, but when it comes to the emotional part of the relationship with Alice, she is chicken. In fact, the entire emotional burden of the relationship is carried by Alice singlehandedly. Between the two, Alice has a greater character trajectory especially with her family.

We’re never big fans of lopsided relationships and even less of one person ghosting the other. Nothing ends a relationship more that blocking another. Yet romances would have us believe that this is forgivable behaviour. Well.

The end is surprisingly hurried. There is just no insight or lead-in to Anissa’s behaviour in the end. But all’s well that ends well, so the happy ending (yes it is expected in a romance, but that doesn’t make it less gratifying) makes this a worth it read.

BTW, hot, hot sex scenes ;)  

⭐⭐⭐★

Just One Reason by Jaime Clevenger

⭐⭐⭐★

Sizzling hot chemistry and very, very explicit scenes make this more erotica than romance – though there is romance too.

Dr. Terri Anderson is an amazing doctor but has had a couple of setbacks in her relationships. Two divorces to be exact. The second marriage was to a resident in the hospital which ended up in a triangular drama of rather epic proportions. After that fiasco, Terri has sworn off ever getting involved with a resident.

Elizabeth Samuels (Sam) is a resident in Terri’s hospital. At thirty-one, she is older than a typical resident, but has her reasons for getting in late. Sam has had a crush on Terri from the start and when a colleague tries to set them up, Sam is all for it, except that she runs into Terri’s hard line about steering clear of residents despite scorching chemistry between them.

Terri is quite interesting as a character. Sam – we never really got Sam or even really got to know her. The attraction and chemistry between the two is crazy and once the sex starts, it eclipses everything else. The sex is in the BDSM world, but it is not intense. So it is palatable BDSM.

The forty-one million mentioned is the blurb is the defining touchstone for Sam’s characterisation, motivations and background. Maybe a little more development of their respective backgrounds and personality development would’ve helped in knowing the ladies better.

The writing is solid, but somehow we didn’t feel too invested in the relationship despite actively liking Terri. Nevertheless, we’d definitely recommend this as NSFW romantic erotica.

This is the third part of a series which has recurring characters, but each book can definitely be read standalone.  

⭐⭐⭐★

Kiss Me Every Day by Dena Blake

 

⭐⭐⭐★

Wynn Jamison, COO of an IT company is a ruthless professional. She also carries a torch for Carly Jamison, nee Evans, who is married to Wynn's sister, Jordan. Carly is a leading marriage counsellor and though her marriage has completely deteriorated almost completely because of Jordan, she refuses to end it. Wynn and Carly had a mutual spark but Wynn had stepped away when Jordan claimed that Carly was "the one". Carly has planned a romantic evening with Jordan for the anniversary of their first date but Jordan engineers it such that Wynn and Carly end up sharing the evening. They talk about what happened a year back and end up kissing.

Post that kiss, Wynn wakes up in some alternate reality / dimension. The day she wakes up in this new dimension is one where her actions had far-reaching consequences on many lives. 

This book is Groundhog Day with Wynn reliving the same day over and over again. She is fully aware of each day and everything that's happened in her life before and after that day, but no one else seems to be aware of anything but their current reality. She keeps changing her actions especially at work and with Carly to change the outcomes but no matter what she does, the same day recurs ad infinitum. 

Through the events, present and the looping ones, Carly's character is fairly well etched. You also get a definite feel of secondary characters like Wynn's two sisters and her boss. Wynn however remains rather dimensionless. 

The sweetest moment in the book is when the titular phrase is uttered. 

This well written book is an interesting read because of the whole premise of getting repeated opportunities to right wrongs (it takes Wynn seven attempts to correct things). But honestly? We'd  have much rather preferred it to have been written in the present continuum and read how Wynn and Carly find their way to each other overcoming past mistakes and choices.

⭐⭐⭐★

The Business of Love by Emma Collins

⭐⭐⭐★

Quinn Lawson went into her family business of real estate agency. Her beloved father had a dream of moving into real estate development. Quinn is determined to make her father’s dream come true and has been buying all the properties in a quiet Brooklyn street. There is just one house owned by an elderly lady in her nineties, with no family, left. But Quinn’s plan go a little awry when the lady actually wills her house to Lauren Burke.

Lauren is a chef with a future ambition of opening her own restaurant. Having had a poor coming-out experience with her family, Lauren is on her own, working hard. She is fair, kind and giving which is what made her one-time neighbour will her property to Lauren.

When Quinn arrives on Lauren’s new doorstep with a six-figure offer for the house, Lauren is taken aback, but not interested. Quinn is in a hurry to get the property because she wants her ailing father to know that his dream is on its way to materialise before he passes.

Quinn and Lauren have a stand-off over the house, neither willing to let go for their own reasons. A mutual attraction complicates matters further for them.

Quinn and Lauren are both okay women. Lauren gets the edge on being nicer because she is a little more open and Quinn employs at least one underhand move for the house. Both the woman are well developed characters and it’s easy to see where each one is coming from. The chemistry between the two is good. The pacing of the narrative is even and easy.

Within its niche of being a pocket packet, this age-gap romance is definitely a good choice.  

⭐⭐⭐★

44 Hours by Donna Jay

⭐⭐⭐★

Truths and lies; self-searching and self-assurance; prejudices and support -- this book covers a lot of ground hinging on 44 hours that the two leading ladies spend terrifyingly lost in a dense forest.

Jennifer Andrews has no love lost for her new colleague, Ellaine Baxter, for the simple reason that Ellaine broke Jennifer's best friend's heart. Their mutual dislike doesn't go unnoticed and the company sends the two off for a team building conference. An hour away from their destination, Jennifer's need to pee is uncontrollable and they stop. Ellaine snarks that if Jennifer doesn't hurry back, she'll leave without her. Jennifer takes away the car keys and decides to mess with Ellaine a bit by pretending to be lost. Ellaine falls for the prank and before too long the two realise that they're really lost.


They end up spending 44 hours without food and water with just each other for company. Despite being scared and tired, they learn a lot about each other and their relationship undergoes a sea change. A change which not everyone in their lives is happy about or can even accept.

Jennifer and Ellaine are thoroughly engaging ladies. During their sojourn in the forest, Ellaine emerges as completely charming, considerate, cheerful and dauntless. Jennifer proves to be a peron who is willing to listen with open-mindedness and rolls with the punches. When they're back in the 'real world' Jennifer shapes up to be brave and Ellaine is her perfect complement.

The dialogues, secondary cast and conflict are believable. The sex scenes, par for course with Jay, are excellent. Jennifer's sister, Angela, is definitely a person we'd love to have in our lives on our side. Maternal homophobia is a recurring theme in Jay's books and in this one too that is the entire source of conflict.

We enjoyed this one.

⭐⭐⭐★

Escort by Emily Hayes

⭐⭐⭐★

Sometimes romances surprise you with more than expected erotic content and sometimes, a book with 'erotic' in the title surprises you by being closer to a romance -- albeit with plenty of steamy scenes.

Ashley Davidson is a successful businesswoman and a happy no-strings-attached-one-night-stand camper. Except that nosy clients and possible-clients wanting to chatter about her single status make schmoozing for work a pain. At the advise of her friend, Ashley decides to engage the service of an escort agency and get herself a fake girlfriend for the parties she needs to attend.

Vienna Rhodes Is the best in the escort business. Educated, gorgeous and completely professional, Vienna thoroughly enjoys her job. Since Ashley's asked for the best, Vienna is the girl for her.


Though Ashley had no intention of having sex with her fake girlfriend, she'd not accounted for how charismatic Vienna would be. Or how alluring. Or how irresistible.

The book has a little bit of everything -- some burn, so can't-hold-backness, some romance, some drama, some angst and lots of sexy times. The fact that Vienna is an escort (who loves her job) is treated with normalcy by most every character (who knows this fact) in the book. The easy acceptance is nice. The defined and definite plot surprised us in a very good way.

Ashley doesn't create much of an impression but Vienna packs a punch. She not only bewitches everyone she meets in the books, but cast a spell on us too.

This is a quick, enjoyable read.

⭐⭐⭐★

Revel by Bryce Oakley

⭐⭐⭐★

Being forced to share a room, especially while attending a marriage, is such a popular setting in Lesfic that it is well on its way to become a trope by itself. This setting is used with varying degrees of success. This book is one of the successes.

Isla, a schoolteacher, and Freya, a painter, are the last two singletons in their group of friends. They arrive on a private island for the wedding of two of the group and find that they've been assigned a room together and nothing else is available on the property. All their friends are happily coupled up, the place is romantic and love is in the air. So the universe is conspiring to match them up -- and who are mere mortals to fight aligned stars?

Despite it's short length, Oakley fits in all necessary high points of a typical romance -- irresistible attraction, doubts, interfering friends, heart-to-heart with friend, a couple of sex scenes, some sweet and tender moments between the leading ladies, some fun banter (between leads and with friends), a little misunderstanding and temporary break, a grand(ish) gesture and HEA. And she does it well. 

A quick sweet read that achieves its primary purpose of rounding up all characters making up a group of friends (and a series) in blissful coupledom nicely enough to leave a smile on the reader's face.

⭐⭐⭐★