BOOK REVIEW: Done and Dusted (Rebel Blue Ranch #1) by Lyla Sage

July 15, 2025 / Jen / 0 Comments

Done and Dusted (Rebel Blue Ranch #1)
by Lyla Sage
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
For the first time in her life, Clementine “Emmy” Ryder has no idea what she’s doing. She’s accomplished everything on her to-do list. She left her small hometown of Meadowlark, Wyoming; went to college; and made a career for herself by doing her favorite thing: riding horses. But after an accident makes it impossible for her to get back into the saddle, she has no choice but to return to the hometown she always wanted to escape.

Luke Brooks is Meadowlark’s most notorious bad boy, bar owner, and bachelor. He’s also the unofficial fifth member of the Ryder family. As Emmy’s older brother’s best friend, Luke spent most of his childhood antagonizing her. It’s been years since he’s seen her, but when she walks into his bar and back into his life, he can’t take his eyes off her. Despite his better judgment, he wants to do a whole lot more than just look at her.

Emmy’s got too much on her mind to think about romance. And Luke knows he should stay away from his best friend’s younger sister. But what if Luke is just what Emmy needs to get her spark back? Or will they both go up in flames?

Review:

We were toeing a line I was desperate to cross.

Done and Dusted was a heartwarming and laugh out loud brother’s best friend cowboy romance that I absolutely loved. It was my second time picking up this book, and I loved it even more the second time around! I adored the characters and felt like I was watching a movie play out in my head. If you love small town romances that have a fabulous slow burn and no third act breakup, this is your book!

“Friends, then?” I asked. She seemed to chew on that for a moment.
“Friends,” she said.
When it came to Emmy, I was playing with fire, but I would happily walk into the flames for her.
And I’d have a smile on my face the whole damn time.

Emmy was so easy to click with. She moved back home after a riding accident, and was trying to find her new normal. She had her bestie Teddy at her side, and a loving family who I adored. Luke had always been in her life, but kept finding him there for her. When she was struggling. The compassion and kindness he showed her melted me into a puddle. And I found myself falling head over heels in love with him, right along with Emmy.

That’s your best friend’s little sister, dipshit.
Two words rang in my head like alarm bells: off limits.

Luke was protective, patient, thoughtful, and you couldn’t help loving him. With his jaded past making me want to wrap him in a hug, I loved that Emmy’s family was like his true family. But the way he wanted Emmy, knowing he shouldn’t since she was his best friend’s little sister….ohhh that pull was so good! We got this story in both of their POV’s and it added so much depth to Emmy and Luke’s story!

“Good morning,” he drawled. I used to hate his mountain drawl, but now I wanted to wrap myself up in it. I watched his eyes track me up and down, but he did it fast, like he didn’t want me to notice. My cheeks heated, and I tried to will it away.

Done and Dusted kept me smiling and even gave me butterflies too! The tension that grew between Luke and Emmy was everything! And when they did cross that friendship line, I loved their steamy moments together. And Luke’s dirty mouth! This story felt like home to me and made me cry a few times too. So I can’t wait to binge the rest of the series. Plus, Teddy and Gus’s banter was hilarious, I’m so excited to read their story too!

More quotes I loved…

I wanted to make Emmy mine in every single way.

“Not worth my time?” He sounded…angry? “I don’t know what type of men you’ve been sleeping with, sugar, but devouring your perfect cunt is always going to be worth my time.”

I smirked at her. “Do you think insulting my bar skills is going to change my mind?”
“Depends on what you’re into,” she said coyly.
“Just you.”

BOOK REVIEW: Bound by Stars by E.L. Starling

July 1, 2025 / Jen / 0 Comments

Bound by Stars by E.L. Starling
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
A Love That Defies Gravity…and Fate

She never belonged in his world. He never thought he’d leave it.

When Weslie Fleet wins a golden ticket aboard the Boundless, humanity’s most opulent starliner, it’s a dream―and a danger. Raised in the dust-ridden ruins of Earth, she is thrust into the gleaming luxury of Mars’s elite, where every whispered word carries weight and every glance is a silent judgment. And none watch her closer than Jupiter, the golden boy of Mars’s high society, bound by duty, legacy, and a future he never chose.

Their reluctant partnership was supposed to be a one-off assignment. Instead, it becomes a battle of wills, a spark that ignites, and a love neither of them anticipated. But fate is as cruel as it is unpredictable, and when the Boundless veers off course, love won’t be enough to save them.

The ship is failing. The odds are impossible. And in the darkness of space, survival is the only thing that matters.

But some loves are worth defying the stars for.

Review:

Bound by Stars was a star-crossed lovers, Titanic but in space adventure that was impossible to put down. From that first chapter, this book had me glued to the pages. The found family was everything, and I loved how romance and friendship seeped into the pages. If you’re looking for a story that will whisk you away and is super easy to devour, this is your book!

“You people think the universe is yours to command.”
He holds my gaze, eyes gentle, and shakes his head. “You don’t know anything about me.”
The sincerity in his voice makes my breath catch in my throat. He’s not what I expected.

Weslie Fleet won a golden ticket aboard Boundless. Leaving Earth behind, she was bound for Mars and hopefully a better life. Presenting her creation ILSA, would secure a future for her mother and her that she could only dream of. On that ship, she met Jupiter. Jupiter’s family was one of the more powerful in the universe, but his future was dictated and bound by duty. Together, they shook the stars and all of those around them.

I was never going to be anything more to him than a moment on a ship between planets. It’s the only place where we make any sense.

I absolutely adored Weslie! She was smart, brave, and I loved the risks she took. She spoke true to her heart and refused to back down to others. Then there was Jupiter who had the weight of the world on his shoulders. His future was not his for the making, and once you got to know him, he was truly the sweetest. But Weslie and Jupiter were not only from two different planets, but two entirely different social classes too. They had strong dislike vibes in the beginning. So, their path to friendship was jaded and slow to start, but the more time they spent together they just clicked.

“He was making a bad joke, ILSA.”
“Oh. Then yes, I, too, am often concerned with Weslie’s mental state. Ha-ha.” Her robotic laugh is spaced out and over-pronounced. If she were human, it would sound like she were mocking Jupiter, but she faces him with the swoop of a conspiratorial grin across her face.
I swear, she’s getting more petulant by the day.
Jupiter erupts in laughter.

Surrounding Weslie and Jupiter was prejudice, stigma, and a lot of pushback. But when they spoke to each other, oh their banter was so much fun! And ILSA was always around too….. she was one of my top favorites. Created by Weslie, her personality shined brightly lol. I loved that she spoke about things she shouldn’t have, like telling Weslie she was attracted to Jupiter. And I loved that she had an opinion on so many things, like being put in silence mode against her wishes haha. ILSA was a robot who had so much heart, I loved her sassy ways and she made me laugh so much!

Ice runs through my veins as the threat echoes in my mind again. Hand the power back…or the ship will become an example of the power of the many over the elite few.

With danger and mystery around every curve, Bound by Stars easily kept me intrigued! The world building was fascinating, so I loved learning about the ship and how their worlds worked. But accelerating towards that ending, I had all the anxiety and sweaty palms! Risks were taken that were huge and love tried its best to defy the odds! We were left at the perfect breathing spot on that final page, but I am counting down till I can read the next book. I need to know what happens next and I have so many questions. I absolutely adored this sci-fi romance and can’t wait to see what happens next!

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

BOOK REVIEW: Love on the Korlyan Moon by Petra Palerno

June 18, 2025 / Jen / 0 Comments

Love on the Korlyan Moon by Petra Palerno
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
LENA

When the aliens who kidnapped me dropped my bubble into the ocean of an alien moon, I really thought I was a goner. I thanked my lucky stars when Kitaico, a bizarrely hot, tentacled alien, rescued me from what would have surely been a watery grave. There's one big problem though, I accidentally took his mating sting. So, through no fault of his own, we both have to deal with my forced heats thanks to his venom. Can I fight my chemical-induced attraction enough to work out if I want to spend forever with Kitaico?

KITAICO

With only a short time left until I can complete my Great Proving and be found worthy of one of the few female mates on my planet, Lena drops into my lap. I don't understand how the Great Mother could give me a mate who can't mark me in return, but I know there's something special about this human. Will I be able to resist her during her heats and somehow show the elders that I'm worthy of Lena? I'll do anything to keep her, or die trying.

Love on the Korlyan Moon is a very spicy alien romance novella (50k words) set on a distant moon in the Bubbleverse. This book is a spinoff from the Bubble Babes series, but is a standalone. It features a language barrier, size difference, he falls first, mating marks, forced heats, a human female tattoo artist FMC, and a virgin alien MMC who will do anything for his human mate. If you're ready to dip your toes into tentacle spice, love a sweet inexperienced MMC, or just want to delve deeper into the world the Bubble Babes series started, this is for you! Includes a well-earned HEA.

Review:

Love on the Kolryan Moon was an alien romance I devoured. With forced proximity and a language barrier, this story was so much fun. When Kitaico rescued Lena, I loved watching how brave, kind, and protective he was. His translator chip had been turned off, since he was in the process of proving that he was worthy of a mate. So while Lena could understand him, he couldn’t understand her. Watching them try and figure each other out, to even communicating about basic necessities was hilarious and also heartwarming.

Kitaico was so sweet and patient, while he tried his best to take care of all of Lena’s needs. We alternated the story between the two of them, and I loved both of their thoughts. As they started to form a friendship and find trust, the tension between them was palpable. When they finally crossed that line, I loved Kitaico’s filthy mouth and the detailed steamy scenes! This book ended with a wonderful happily ever after that made me so happy! If you’re looking for a new scifi romance to read, or love forced proximity, or steamy alien moments, definitely add this one to your tbr!

BOOK REVIEW: The Love of My Afterlife by Kirsty Greenwood

June 17, 2025 / Jen / 1 Comment

The Love of My Afterlife by Kirsty Greenwood
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
A recently deceased woman meets “the one” in the afterlife waiting room, scoring a second chance at life (and love!) if she can find him on earth before ten days are up…

If she wasn’t dead already, Delphie would be dying of embarrassment. Not only did she just die by choking on a microwaveable burger, but now she’s standing in her ‘shine like a star’ nightie in front of the hottest man she’s ever seen. And he’s smiling at her.

As they start to chat, everything else becomes background noise. That is until someone comes running out of a door, yelling something about a huge mistake, and sends the dreamy stranger back down to earth. And here Delphie was thinking her luck might be different in the afterlife.

When Delphie is offered a deal in which she can return to earth and reconnect with the mysterious man, she jumps at the opportunity to find her possible soulmate and a fresh start. But in a city of millions, Delphie is going to have to listen to her heart, learn to ask for help, and perhaps even see the magic in the life she’s leaving behind…

Review:

The Love of My Afterlife was such a heartwarming and hilarious story! With a second chance at life, found family, fake dating, and more, I adored this story. It was so much fun and even made me cry! I definitely recommend picking this one up if you’re wanting to shake up your current reading. It felt unique and left me feeling so happy!

Delphie died choking on a burger. When she made a connection in the afterlife, with a mysterious and gorgeous man, she thought she was getting her second chance at life. But he was just sleeping during a dental procedure. When Delphie was given a deal to go back to her life, she took it! Merritt, her afterlife therapist, was pulling all the strings. And came off as a little unhinged with no tact, but I loved her right away. Merritt made this story unfold in such a hilarious way!

It felt like Delphie wasn’t truly living. She seemed to keep those around her at an arm’s length distance. She was just going through the motion of working and going home alone. When she was given a second chance, I loved watching Delphie grow. From baby steps of interacting with her coworkers and neighbors, to slowly even establishing friendships, my heart was bursting with joy for Delphie! And when she asked her neighbor, Cooper, to help track down her mysterious man, I had so much fun watching that unlikely duo work together.

I don’t want to say more, but just know this story unfolded brilliantly and the love story, oh my heart it was EVERYTHING! Ironically, I wasn’t so sure of the book when I started it. It was quirky, to say the least lol. But just wait. The growth we watched Delphie go through will have you cheering her on every step of the way, while laughing out loud too. The twists in this story were so much fun and the tropes eeps, so many favorites. Especially the one bed! This was my first book by Kirsty Greenwood and I will be reading more of her books in the future!

PS I listened to the audiobook and loved the narrator!

BOOK REVIEW: First-Time Caller by B.K. Borison

June 13, 2025 / Jen / 1 Comment

First-Time Caller by BK Borison
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Aiden Valentine has a secret: he’s fallen out of love with love. And as the host of Baltimore’s romance hotline, that’s a bit of a problem. But when a young girl calls in to the station asking for dating advice for her mom, the interview goes viral, thrusting Aiden and Heartstrings into the limelight.

Lucie Stone thought she was doing just fine. She has a good job; an incredible family; and a smart, slightly devious kid. But when all of Baltimore is suddenly scrutinizing her love life—or lack thereof—she begins to question if she’s as happy as she believed. Maybe a little more romance wouldn’t be such a bad thing.

Everyone wants Lucie to find her happy ending…even the handsome, temperamental man calling the shots. But when sparks start to fly behind the scenes, Lucie must make the final decision between the radio-sponsored happily ever after or the man in the headphones next to her.

Review:

I didn’t see First-Time Caller coming. The story pulled me in right away, but then I lingered. Unsure about how I felt as everything played out. Yet before I knew it, I was completely in. Obsessed. Clinging to their every word. I fell in love right along with them. And that ending?! I sobbed. This story was everything.

It feels like every time I get my hopes up for something good, reality comes out swinging. I don’t know how to be a hopeful person anymore.
It’s easier not to be.

Aiden had lost his hope and optimism for love. But when Maya called, Lucie’s 12 year old daughter, something happened. Lucie got on the phone and their conversation was so effortless. And a tiny spark emerged. But when Aiden and Lucie met for the first time in person, I was cackling. It was awkward personified. Even if the chemistry between them was undeniably fun! As Lucie found herself spending more time around the studio and Aiden, I loved listening to them talk. And watching that slow and tentative friendship form between them.

“This is a live conversation?”
I nod. “Mm- hmm.”
“Right now?”
“That’s what this little blinking red light tells me.”
“Oh, good.” Lucie sounds winded. “I was worried this would be embarrassing.”

Aiden, I loved him. I loved how proactive he was, but oh wow did he hold his cards close to his chest. He definitely had some growing to do, so I loved watching his journey! While he was surrounded by those that cared for him, he just had to let himself feel. Lucie started the spark in his heart, and I loved watching the layers peel away from him.

“I want goose bumps. I want to be wanted. All this time and I— I haven’t given up. I guess I’m just waiting for it to find me.”

Lucie was surrounded by love, but it felt like she was in a rut when it came to romance. I adored her co-workers, her ex, and her bestie. They were some of her biggest champions and each one was so memorable! But Lucie deserved her own HEA, and I was cheering her on every step of the way! So many moments with Aiden felt like they were leading her on a path towards hope and love. That something more was in her future. But her path was not an easy one.

Lucie Stone: You guys, Aiden told me he watches YouTube videos and cries.
Aiden Valentine: [sighs]
Lucie Stone: Big, fat tears.
Aiden Valentine: What’s the point of a secret if you’re going to share it with the world?
Lucie Stone: [laughter]
Aiden Valentine: It’s not funny.
Lucie Stone: Then why are you smiling?

Aiden and Lucie on the air together were hilarious. There were so many moments between them, or even when they were with others, that had me screaming with laughter. So getting those little bonus moments between chapters, where we got like a transcript of part of the show, those made me feel so much! And their time outside of the studio I cherished too. Especially when they crossed that line of friendship to more, they could be so steamy together!

“Nah, Lucie.” In my dream, he brushes a kiss against my forehead. “I think you’re the magic.”

The ending to First-Time Caller was absolutely beautiful. I sobbed all the tears and was so happy. And that little peak was so sweet! I can’t wait to be back in this world watching others we grew to care for get their happily ever afters too! So if you’re looking for an adult romance that will warm your heart, while also making you laugh and cry, definitely add this one to your tbr!

A few more favorite quotes:

I got a taste of the real Aiden last night, and now I want more.
But I can’t. I shouldn’t.

I don’t want to fight it anymore. I don’t think I can.

“Fuck it,” I whisper, and I drag her mouth to mine.