Romance Wrap-up 2/1/22 to 2/15/22

 The Witch's Wolves - Ellie Mae MacGregor

This short and steamy paranormal poly romance follows Manon, an accused witch, as she flees her village and heads into the woods.  She literally runs into a cottage in the woods and finds herself at the mercy of two wolf-men (Aimon and Sebastian) who are more interested in causing Manon pleasure than pain.  This gets smutty fast, but it was surprisingly sweet as well.  I liked the established relationship between Aimon and Sebastian and how Manon fit into their already established dynamic. We get little tidbits about the world that were interesting and if MacGregor ever decides to expand this story/world into more books I'd be totally on board.  

Claimed By Cupid - Dana Isaly

This is the second book in the Nick and Holly series and picks up pretty shortly after the first book (Dipped in Holly) for Valentine's day. At the end of the first book, Nick and Holly agree to take their relationship slow because Holly was just getting out of another long term relationship and their age gap is pretty substantial. But after they have some fun at their Valentine's day dinner courtesy of a remote controlled vibrator, they decide to take their relationship to the next level. This was another short and steamy read that was 90% smutty scenes but still managed to get some really cute relationship growth in as well.  The first book in the series was them meeting and having a one night fling but now that we're able to see them in an established relationship, I liked their dynamic a lot more.  This had some good kink elements to it and a lot of heart.

Perfect Matcha - Erin McLellan

This is the third book in the Bold Brew series and follows Theo and Camden.  They've been best friends since childhood and always helped each other out with whatever they needed.  Now, Theo needs Cam's help to find a date to his ex-boyfriend's wedding.  Only problem is that Cam has been in love with Theo since high school.  Not willing to risk their friendship and share his actual feelings, Cam sets Theo up with his boss from the adult novelty shop.  Theo is afraid he's too inexperienced to go out with the owner of a sex toy shop but Cam offers him his help and expertise.  Soon, the two are engaging in spicy phone calls, role play galore, and each trying to push down their feelings in order to preserve their friendship. This was a relatively low angst read which I appreciate.  I loved Theo and Cam's friendship and how much they both cherished it.  I would have liked a little more build up to the sexual aspects of their relationship because the first time Theo calls Cam and asks about the sex toys they jump pretty quickly into full on role play phone sex which just seemed a bit abrupt considering it was established they didn't talk about sex much to each other as friends.  I did like the whole "everyone knows you two are in love except you two" dynamic with their other friends.  

A Brush With Love - Mazey Eddings

This friends to lovers romance follows Harper and Dan, both dental students.  Harper is awaiting placement in an oral-surgery residency program while Dan has just started his first year after making a career change.  Harper is determined to succeed and has no time for distractions this close to graduation, plus she'll most likely be moving away in a few months for residency so she doesn't see the point of starting any relationship now.  The two agree to just be friends but as they spend more time together, they both develop feelings that become hard to ignore. But Harper is afraid that giving into her feelings would mean risking her carefully planned future and Dan is willing to try his best to convince her that being with him doesn't mean giving up what she wants.  This, for me, is the perfect slow burn friends to lovers romance.  Harper and Dan have instant chemistry but their friendship is also a genuine connection.  I prefer friends to lovers where we actually see them be friends first before giving into their feelings.  Harper and Dan are the rare romance book couple where I think they are truly a perfect match for each other. Dan, in particular, had some great snort-laugh moments that caught me completely off guard. Their dynamic was *chef kiss* perfection and I loved how both of them felt so relaxed and comfortable with the other to share some of their innermost thoughts and feelings that they both admit they've never really told anyone else.  I really loved the inclusion of Harper's anxiety and the particular ways that it presents itself in her life and how Dan and their relationship all intertwine.  Great cast of side characters and I really hope we get more from this friend group in the future.  Also, I was so excited to have a non-traditional career path for a romance character - oral surgeon!

TW/CW: emotionally manipulative parent, death of a parent, anxiety/panic attacks

Thanks NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the ARC

Expected publication date is March 1, 2022

Get a Life, Chloe Brown - Talia Hibbert

 This is the first book in the Brown Sisters series and follows Chloe - a chronically ill computer geek - as she sets out to complete a 'bucket list' of sorts to help her get a life.  A few things on her list are a bit outside of her comfort zone, like riding a motorcycle and camping.  So when she meets Red, the handyman at her new apartment complex, she trades her website design services for his assistance in the more rebellious activities on her list.  They each have some preconceived notions of the other but as they spend more time together, they both see more under the surface than they could have ever anticipated. I'm a little embarrassed it took me so long to read this one, but I was afraid the hype was too high for me to enjoy it (the hype was not too high).  This was a fantastic read that had so much heart I thought my own would burst.  It has a bit of an opposites attract situation going on at the beginning but I really think Chloe and Red are such kindred spirits that I really couldn't imagine them without each other by the end.  I loved the way they both had hardened shells from their previous life experiences but they both had a soft center that they only show to the most important people in their lives.  I cannot wait to continue on in the series - which I pan to do ASAP.

TW/CW: past abusive relationship

Pink Valentine - Tabatha Kiss

This is the third installment of The Pink Series and picks up after the events of the previous book, Pink Christmas.  Phoebe, Max, and Thad are back and this previously MFM poly relationship takes a turn into MMF territory when Max admits he has feelings for Thad while Phoebe is away on a business trip.  The two of them spend some time investigating their new relationship dynamic but Max is worried Phoebe might not be as accepting of the situation.  Of course, the third installment on the surprisingly low-angst series doesn't keep the reader in the dark about how Phoebe feels about this new dynamic for long.  I really enjoy this series and the relationship between Phoebe, Max, and Thad and this series is solidly one that really just makes me feel like I love all love stories.  I really enjoy how any drama or angst in the stories is from outside the main relationship dynamic.  In this story, it felt like it might be getting a little close to the 'gay for you' trope which I don't love.  I did love how the situation between Max and Thad was so fluid that even though Thad identifies as a straight man, he acknowledges that pleasure is pleasure and there isn't anything weird about boning his best guy friend while their shared girlfriend is out of town. There was a good amount of emotional arc and character development in this story but it did feel rushed to put that much development in so few pages (the novella is around 90 pages).  As much as I enjoy a low-angst read, I would have liked to see a little more discussion and development around these feelings.  I wanted to see Max's thoughts from his POV before he told Thad, for example.