I picked this book out based on the cover and title alone — didn’t even glance at the blurb before checking it out from the**spoiler alert** 3 stars.
I picked this book out based on the cover and title alone — didn’t even glance at the blurb before checking it out from the library.
The premise is just adorable. An American woman loses her job and her fiancé in the same day, so she flees to Ireland to work on her novel and find herself. Her rental cottage is right next door to a handsome Irish lit professor. Sexual tension ensues.
The confrontation with Aiden’s dad was a bit much, and seemed to distract from the main relationship, rather than inform it.
You could see their big fight coming from a mile away, but it still felt a bit unnecessary. I did like that Antonia ended up with something other than just Aiden drawing her to Ireland — however, it felt weird that she suddenly became a professor, despite not having a PhD or any previous demonstrated interest in teaching.
Steam: 2/5
Merged review:
3 stars.
I picked this book out based on the cover and title alone — didn’t even glance at the blurb before checking it out from the library.
The premise is just adorable. An American woman loses her job and her fiancé in the same day, so she flees to Ireland to work on her novel and find herself. Her rental cottage is right next door to a handsome Irish lit professor. Sexual tension ensues.
The confrontation with Aiden’s dad was a bit much, and seemed to distract from the main relationship, rather than inform it.
You could see their big fight coming from a mile away, but it still felt a bit unnecessary. I did like that Antonia ended up with something other than just Aiden drawing her to Ireland — however, it felt weird that she suddenly became a professor, despite not having a PhD or any previous demonstrated interest in teaching.
The first two thirds of this book was far stronger than the last third — I adored the figure skating and the development of their friendship and the eThe first two thirds of this book was far stronger than the last third — I adored the figure skating and the development of their friendship and the exploration of a new and strange country. (I do wonder what the author’s connection to Russia is, because I know practically nothing about the country but completely bought this depiction.)
The last third fell apart for me. The heroine’s family drama was just all a bit much, and detracted from the really quite lovely relationship she was developing with the hero. It was an unneeded distraction. (And don’t even get me started on the mess with her ex-partner.)
Great hero. He was sweet and tender and stood up for the heroine and loved bright colors and had to learn how to put himself first and was really just quite fantastic.
Moving straight on to the second in the series.
CW: the heroine has a very unhealthy relationship with food, if not a full-blown eating disorder
Merged review:
The first two thirds of this book was far stronger than the last third — I adored the figure skating and the development of their friendship and the exploration of a new and strange country. (I do wonder what the author’s connection to Russia is, because I know practically nothing about the country but completely bought this depiction.)
The last third fell apart for me. The heroine’s family drama was just all a bit much, and detracted from the really quite lovely relationship she was developing with the hero. It was an unneeded distraction. (And don’t even get me started on the mess with her ex-partner.)
Great hero. He was sweet and tender and stood up for the heroine and loved bright colors and had to learn how to put himself first and was really just quite fantastic.
Moving straight on to the second in the series.
CW: the heroine has a very unhealthy relationship with food, if not a full-blown eating disorder...more
I started this in November or December and abandoned it sometime before Christmas. Only just now clearing it off my side table.
I read a loDNF at p158
I started this in November or December and abandoned it sometime before Christmas. Only just now clearing it off my side table.
I read a lot of self-published romance, but this is the first self-pub litfic I ever tried. And phew it desperately needed an editor. The ideas and overall story were decent, but the sentences were pretty terrible. Trying too hard and with three times as much detail as was actually needed. ...more
Absolutely adorable. Short and sweet and some of Lau’s best work. Loved it.
Contains: grumpy (hero)/sunshine (heroine), awkward i4.5 stars rounded up
Absolutely adorable. Short and sweet and some of Lau’s best work. Loved it.
Contains: grumpy (hero)/sunshine (heroine), awkward introvert hero, extrovert bartender heroine, meddling grandma, two Asian MCs (hero of Japanese descent, heroine of Chinese and white descent), social media, food porn, long time frame (1 year), friends-ish to lovers
And all the Schitt’s Creek jokes (seriously SO MANY of them) didn’t work for me at all
Over3.5 stars rounded down.
A bit repetitive through the middle
And all the Schitt’s Creek jokes (seriously SO MANY of them) didn’t work for me at all
Overall cute and cozy and made me want cuddles and hot cocoa by the fire
Contains: Aussie hero + Montana hero, new immigrant, “life sucks imma move halfway around the world,” see snow for first time, driving through blizzard, worst day ever till hero makes it better, car crash (no injuries), snowed in, only one bed, keep getting interrupted at sexy times, cute dog, baking, domesticity, construction hero, city boy country boy, Christmas, hallmark vibes, small town
CW: death of parent (dad from heart attack, offscreen but recent; both from car crash, offscreen, 10+ years ago)
Steam: 2/5 (one brief hands scene, and one anal scene so brief it’s practically fade to black) ...more
Hinted at lots of cool worldbuilding, but we never got to see or explore any of that.
The mermaid anatomy2.5 stars rounded up
Just felt a bit shallow.
Hinted at lots of cool worldbuilding, but we never got to see or explore any of that.
The mermaid anatomy was different and unique. Very not-Disney.
I was intruiged and interested but was left craving more. More emotional connection between our heroes. More physical connection too. I didn’t buy the big breakup at all.
CW: death of both parents (past, offscreen, cancer); death of dog (recent past, offscreen); mention of suicide; physical peril; onscreen death of side character (who is the villain and also coded as having some kind of development disorder, which felt very ableist-y)
Scalding halt and delightfully sweet. Like a kinky cup of hot chocolate.
Contains: MMF (married MF + M), D/s/s (strict roles), safe words, public sex, sex party, sharing, Sir, impact play, bondage, orgasm denial/edging, cum with permission only, brat taming, DP (two holes and one hole), “you belong to me” possessiveness, city couple, small town boy, reverse hallmark movie (small town boy flees to city), anal, remote control vibes, Christmas, Baker hero, artist heroine, wealthy, lumberjack vibes (flannel, Henley, beard), Black heroine, white heroes
This is a sexy short with no HEA (positive vibes, but no declarations of love or plans to see each other again)
Not wild about how many times th3 stars
This is a sexy short with no HEA (positive vibes, but no declarations of love or plans to see each other again)
Not wild about how many times the younger hero was called “the boy” but I guess that is part and parcel with the age gap kink
A lot of page space spent telling us how the younger hero filled his day — descriptions of video games, baking, etc. Quite little time outside of the two sexy scenes were actually spent with the other hero. Didn’t add much to either the sex or the emotional connection, and something this short doesn’t have room for that kind of filler
Contains: age gap (~19 and 31), dad’s coworker, homophobic parents, internalized homophobia, Christmas, closeted hero, secret sex
Cute and sexy. Loved seeing the development of their friendship and then that transitioning into something sexual.
Couple from first couple he4 stars
Cute and sexy. Loved seeing the development of their friendship and then that transitioning into something sexual.
Couple from first couple heavily features, but this works well as a standalone. Think I want to go back and read the first one!
Contains: interracial relationship, close family, recently divorced hero (formerly open relationship), quarterback hero, lawyer hero, queer community center, friends to lovers, crush on “straight” friend, sexual awakening, long distance, major injury, hospital/sickbed/hurt comfort, semi-forced outing, vers
Cheesy and hot and cute and ridiculous all at once
Worked for me better than the other sexy Santa book I tried. Maybe because it focused way l4 stars
Cheesy and hot and cute and ridiculous all at once
Worked for me better than the other sexy Santa book I tried. Maybe because it focused way less on his white hair and beard? Only mentioned once here, I think
Loading...
