a little book of love.

For all readers and lovers of historical, contemporary and paranormal romance fiction 

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[Review] Twisted Pawn by L J Shen

Twisted Pawn by LJ Shen is book 2 in her Society of Villans series. I had not actually read the first book in the series, and given that this book is marketed as a standalone I did not feel like you really needed to. Sure you probably get introduced to the H/h in the previous book, along with some world building - but overall non-essential. I always hate the thought of missing books in series and feeling like I would have a better understanding of everything had I just read them, but I equally hate the waiting to get to the book that i ultimately want to read.

This book intrigued me based on its dark-er spin on enemies to lovers, or how Shen has promoted it as “dark hunter vs hunter”.

Look I don’t think “dark romance” is really my vibe. It feels repetitive- and this book was no exception. Just pages, nay, chapters of going on and on about the reasons why they couldn’t get together, and then plastering all over it with vaguely BDSM level scenes. But then every hero is just marketed to be the ultimate bad guy, a complete loner in his family who barely tolerate, like the modern day equivalent of all those dukes and rakes traipsing around Regency England.

Anyway I felt like Achilles and Tierney’s animosity dragged a bit. And I have enough insight enough to say I would equally dislike if their enemies portion/ justification fizzled out too quickly. But it felt repetitive. What with all the talk about heading back and forth to Naples?!

The scene at 90% that has everyone up in arms is also fair enough- I don’t think it really truly added anything to their relationship. And I know diehard LJ Shen fans would disagree but it was a bit of an eye roll.

Overall this, and dark romances as a whole feel like that scene from the Batman LEGO movies where he goes back and forth saying he’s bat man, except in the romance universe it’s just a bunch of billionaire mafiosos who are either Italian/russsian/irish disemboweling someone and being unhinged for 90% of the book until they randomly show love for 5pages.

I think I was trying desperately to get out of a book slump- and I don’t really feel this hit the mark, albeit not for the same reasons other readers have found problematic.

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[Review] An Academic Affair - by Jodi McAllister

I genuinely liked this book so much, but some of the loose ends at the end leave me perplexed and wanting more information and it’s a shame that’s what I can remember as I write this.

The relationship and push and pull between Jonah and Sadie is fantastic from the beginning- you can really tell they’re enemies without all the explosiveness that some enemies to lovers romances have.

And throughout the book you see the evolution of their relationship and marriage of convenience. But one of the things I loved most is how feisty Sadie was. And yet her disagreement with her sister Chess basically hangs over her like a grey cloud until almost the last few chapters of the book. Changing her persona entirely from a very strong willed and feisty heroine to someone who is meek and mopey. Whilst it to some degree enables Jonah and Sadie to lean on each other and thus develop their own relationship, I felt it was really rushed and poorly justified in the end.

Chess’ reasoning is so flawed even Jonah has to bite his tongue and not roll his eyes to the back of his head with how weak her reasoning is to Sadie. And then Sadie this absolute firebrand who has spent the better part of 70% of the book moping about why her sister won’t forgive her or respond to her calls just unquestioningly accepts her subpar reasoning for leaving her on read for close to a year!!!

Now that I’m on a roll- the actual complication between the university and their jobs and how easily it was resolved/ happy for now, also was a slightly lackluster resolution to something that didn’t really add to either character’s journey .

I mean run to read this for the enemies to lovers, and what I feel like may be Easter eggs for future books -? chess and isamu surely?! Fiona and satoshi?!

This was my first book from Jodi McAllister and I look forward to reading her others!

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[Review] The Wild card - by Stephanie Archer

Thank gosh The Wild Card by Stephanie Archer has finally been released!

This book was easily one of my most anticipated books of the year and the series. Since Jordan walked onto the page back in book one, in all her surly bartender, hockey-hating glory, standing in complete juxtaposition to the Vancouver Storm hockey “found family”that was unintentionally embracing her, I was eager to see who she ended up with. Like the mother of all Easter eggs, Stephanie Archer played the long game throughout the series of not just making Jordan mysterious and her hate for hockey more so, but equally making you wonder which hockey loving hero was going to change Jordan’s mind. You just knew he was going to have to be the poster boy for hockey, and no one satisfied that brief better than Coach Tate Ward.

Tate and Jordan clash throughout the book as Jordan reluctantly begins working in the Storm franchise in order to prevent the team from being sold by her estranged father.

We discover that behind Jordan’s hate for hockey is a childhood full of memories of being second place in her father’s life due to his hockey commitments.

Whilst Tate takes some time to dismiss his preconceived perception of Jordan as spoilt nepobaby, when he does realise what she has been through, Tate delivers one of the best monologues to Jordan’s father. The audience collectively breathes a pent up sigh as we think FINALLY Ross (estranged father and team owner) is getting the talking to he so richly deserves.

The chemistry between the couple is developed so well, as expected by Archer. But made even better with how much Tate tries to resist anything happening.

Whilst it is sad to think this series has come to an end (or has it really?!) it was enjoyable to see past couples and the hockey team play key roles and hijinks to see these two get their HEA.

Easily one of my favourite books of this series. And another example of why Stephanie Archer remains an autobuy author for me. Looking forward to what she writes next!

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[Review] Hate Me Like You Mean it- Kyra Parsi

If you love childhood enemies to lovers, banter that is genuinely witty and spiceeee then you really shouldn’t sleep on Kyra Parsi.

Summarising her brilliance and knack for developing believeable and hilarious characters, the tension between them, and their hilarious hijinks -into one of those TikTok summaries would not do her skill and stories justice at all.

“Hate me Like you mean it” Is the delightful story between Dominic Crawford and Alice Coultier (Adrien’s little sister). Dom and Alice are childhood enemies with Dom’s mother having worked as a housekeeper for Alice’s very wealthy but kind family. Through an incident between the families when the kids are in high school their relationship/reluctant friendship breaks down and Alice loses contact with Dom who later grows up to become an billionaire through his expertise at restructuring businesses.

Despite all these years later he vows to ruin Alice’s job prospects and this is where they meet again.

What follows is the best forced proximity set up between the two as Alice tries to be the worst hired help possible to Dom.

Parsi artfully weaves in really cleverly designed games that the pair have invented when they were younger that take on decidedly spicy stakes once they play them as adults. It also alludes to just how deep their bond was as kids.

This book probably also could be a good example of how an epistolary element(Dom’s diary entries) to the romance helps move the plot and helps readers understand the character who has barely any POV during the book.

I loved literally every aspect of this book - not just because a good childhood enemies to lovers is so difficult to find, but because whilst they don’t have a proper 3rd act breakup the couple do still need to work through their conflict to reach their HEA.

I legitimately went back to my Amazon account to see when I first discovered Kyra Parsi (back in April 2024) and I was so envious of past me who go to read her books for the first time.

I received this book as an ARC but I have never been so happy and fortunate to have the opportunity to review a book this good. Thank you to Kyra and her team for taking a chance on me!

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Elizabeth O'Roark has revealed the cover for My Favorite Fake Romance!

Releasing: December 11, 2025

Faking it never felt this good.

Dr. Easton Walsh thought she’d be showing up to her best friend’s wedding with a dazzling ring and a fiancé everyone wanted to Instagram. Instead, her boyfriend dumped her over what was supposed to be a proposal dinner and the only man offering her a lifeline is the last one she’d ever choose: Elijah Cabot. Her best friend’s older brother. The guy who broke her heart once already.

He'll help make her ex jealous...All she has to do is help him drive his grandmother across several states to the wedding. Easy.

But the fake relationship is starting to feel real, and the longer the trip goes on, the harder it is for Easton to remember that Boston—and her carefully built life—don’t include Elijah. Especially when her ex starts dangling threats that could derail her career if she doesn’t come back to him.

Now Easton has to decide: risk everything for a second chance at the one man she shouldn’t want…or keep playing it safe, even if it means losing the best thing that’s ever happened to her—again.

Pre-order your copy today!

Amazon: http://bit.ly/4pPTwE4

Amazon Worldwide: https://mybook.to/0M24d

Audible: Coming Soon!

Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/4gPzmGc

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[Review] My favourite Bad Decision- Elizabeth O’Roark

My favourite bad decision follows the story between Kit and Miller as they tackle hiking Mt Kilimanjaro.

This enemies to lovers story stems from their initial animosity for each other when Miller used to date Kit’s older sister.

Truth be told the concept of Miller or Kit having feelings for each other but never acting on it from years ago isn’t really the problem for me - it was more the fact that Kit could simply not have a normal adult conversation with her irrational sister. That’s probably where I felt the wheels fall off for me- as Kit held back Miller & her(Kit) from developing a relationship for stupid reasons. It also undermines her sister Maren as a character - not enough that I wouldn’t want to read her story (book 2 in the series’s-which I’m sure will have a tonne of character growth) but it does make you cringe at her a bit.

Regardless of all this- My favourite Bad decision has O’Roark’s trademark humour and is a bit reminiscent of her The Devil and the Deep blue sea book. I’m probably just feeling that from a hiking perspective as opposed to any other real connection with the plot!

Elizabeth O’Roark will always be an auto buy author for me- and whilst this one didn’t hit all the notes for me I still respect the banter and the story and frankly making me eager for the remainder of this series by investing my interest in the future characters like Maren and Charlie!

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[Review] A Wreck You Make Me - Saffron Kent

This book was provided as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A Wreck You Make Me by Saffron Kent is book number 3 in the Bad Boys of Bardtown series. This highly anticipated story follows the final Thorne brother Shepard and his sister’s friend Jupiter. It really takes off from what was a tumultuous journey (one can assume) for Shepard who really had his love life handed to him in book Two when his identical twin Stellan found his HEA with Shepard’s then girlfriend Isodora.

For devout readers of this particular series, Kent has been leaving Easter eggs all over the place building our suspicion of the feelings Jupiter may have been developing for what was thought to be an unrequited love for Shepard.

So it’s actually really nice to see that Shepard was affected by her too.

The relationship that develops between the two initially starts out as quite protective and definitely Shepard trying to but failing to fight his growing feelings for Jupiter. It’s a relationship / interaction underscored by what could be perceived as Taboo (stepbrother romance - which) but something that could also easily be resolved with a decent conversation between the H/h (but obviously can’t happen due to #romance reasons).

What saffron artfully does in this book is reveal how similar these characters really are- both doing a lot in their respective families to be stoic and hold together the family in their own way. It was a nice touch and added depth to a character like Shepard who up until now in the series has seemed jovial / carefree.

The relationship between these two is full of classic angst and steam one can expect from Kent’s writing and scenes that will just about burn your kindle reader down!

Another great book and conclusion to the Thorne brothers- but not to the bArdstown boys series.

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A𝐕𝐀𝐈𝐋𝐀𝐁𝐋𝐄 NOW

A Wreck, You Make Me by Saffron Kent is now live on Amazon and KU

What to expect:

⚽️ Sports Romance

❤️‍🔥 Enemies to Lovers

🤫 Forbidden Romance

🤭 Step Siblings

🩶 Morally Gray

😔 Tortured MMC

💖 Down on her luck FMC

📚 BLURB 📚

I have been in love with Shepard Thorne since I was twelve.

He's my best friend's hot older brother, and I am the weird redhead who low-key follows him everywhere. He's soccer's bad boy, and I am stuck in a dead end job, serving drinks at the local strip club.

Our paths aren't meant to cross.

Until one day I catch him getting a lap dance at the club and jealousy makes me ruin his fun.

Now he's made it his mission to make my life hell and no matter what I do, there is no escape.

Everywhere I turn, there he is, waiting for his payback.

He threatens to kiss me one second, and choke me the next.

He promises to bring me to my knees and make me beg.

What started as a little harmless prank turns into a twisted game of blackmail that's toxic but oh-so-good.

But it has to end.

Because I have a secret...

That ties me to my tormentor in an irrevocable way, and if he ever finds out, it will wreck everything I now crave.

Even his revenge.

@lovenotes.pr #lovenotespr #awreckyoumakeme #saffronakent #authorsaffronakent #saffronakentauthor #books #bookrecommendations #bookrecs #reader #newbooks #romance #romancebooks #romancereads #bookish #bookstagram #romanceauthor #availablenow #ku #kindleunlimited #sportsromance #enemiestolovers #forbiddenromance #stepsiblings #morallygray

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Review coming soon

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[Review] Gloves Off- Stephanie Archer

This book was fantastic.

A truly artful development of tension and banter between these two enemies to lovers in a marriage of convenience backdrop.

Sometimes , these days, it feels rare to find a book that manages to hold the tension / believeability of the tension between two enemies before they quickly turn into lovers.

The great part about this book is also that there is no third act breakup- which is sometimes a deal breaker for some- but I felt it lends itself to making the romance/plot a lot less formulaic.

The buildup between the two characters Alexei and Georgia is so believable. And watching Alexei really try to learn about Georgia and dismiss his preconceived notions of her was also an artful way to learn about the FMC too.

Genuinely best book in the series so far- though to be fair I’m particularly looking forward to book 5 between Tate & Jordan.

—-I did not receive this book as an ARC. I just really really enjoyed the book!!——

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[Review] Not in My Book- Katie Holt

This book really got me out of a book slump- and unslumping yourself is not easily done if anyone were to believe dr Seuss!

Genuinely one of the best enemies to lovers contemporary romances I have read in a long time. Cannot recommend it enough. I loved how the plot moved not only through the main characters interactions but equally through the book they were co-writing.

And far out Aiden brought the entire spice rack to the bedroom!!! 🔥 🔥🔥🔥 so much spice

Also great to see the build up of tension- they were worth the wait without being a slow burn.

Such an amazing debut novel from Katie Holt! Really looking forward to what she writes next

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[Review] You Beautiful Thing you by Saffron Kent

“You Beautiful Thing you” is Saffron Kent’s first book in her spin off /new series on the Boys of Bardstown.

This book follows a much anticipated couple, Tempest and Ledger and their tumultuous relationship.

For readers familiar to Kent’s previous series where in which Tempest and Ledger have had many frosty interactions with each other you could tell that their relationship if it ever eventuated was going to be explosive.

In YBTY we are taken back in time initially to see when they first met each other, and rather satisfyingly get to see the beginning of their relationship/tension from both view points.

But to bring us back to the present we realise that Tempest’s actions in life as an adult and with impending nuptials that have been arranged for her are governed /forced by her father. Who , to put it lightly, is selfish and evil.

This whole storyline of how manipulative her father is requires just a bit too much logic to be suspended to actually seem believable.

Why wouldn’t Tempest just tell her brother Reed? Ok the dad threatens to ruin Reed’s life- but he literally went through this before and managed to sort out the dad?

And then Tempest wants a baby? Because Reed and Callie have one? And she’s clucky? But she wants revenge on Ledger for…. Using her all those years ago and then ignoring her. But halfway through she doesn’t actually want that much revenge on him. And by then she’s pregnant.

I felt like the premise of the book had a lot of promise but when reading about it I couldn’t back any one character.

I normally love enemies to lovers the most as a romance trope, and I think I was hoping for something a little like The Hatesick diaries, one of Saffron Kent’s previous masterpieces.

I don’t quite think this book delivered that for me. What was great to see as always was Kent’s world building in this book as she sets up future couples- most being Ledger’s older twin brothers and the respective girls they are involved with.

Looking forward to those books for sure!

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[Review] Emergency Contact by Lauren Layne and Anthony LeDonne

Another brilliant book by Lauren Layne with her trademark wit and hijinks.

I can’t remember the last time I read Layne’s book, but it feels like it’s been a little while. “Emergency Contact” was just the book to remind me of how much and why I’ve always loved her writing.

This book isn’t steamy, and yet it’s still really satisfying to read of the story between Katherine and Tom , two ex’s who still really love each other despite the disaster that was their marriage.

Also more interestingly Layne wrote this book with her husband Anthony Ledonne a comedian. There’s no distinct parts of this book that stood out to me as being anything other than Layne’s signature banter and comedy which I suppose is a compliment to them both.

They clearly have a knack for writing together and I for one can’t wait to read more books by them both, or more books by Lauren.

Would be really interesting to see the authorial breakdown of this book. And to interview them both!

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[Review] Claiming Carter by Jennifer Bonds

Claiming Carter is the first book I’ve read of Jennifer Bonds, and incidentally the first in her Waverly Wildcats series.

This was a fresh take on the sports romance genre of romance and includes tropes of forced proximity and forbidden romance but with a lighthearted take on it all. It follows the story between Austin and Kennedy who in a weird twist of circumstance end up playing on the same D1 football team, despite Kennedy being a soccer player.

The great part of this of course is that she also happens to hate football players.

Everything about the concept of this book intrigued me from the beginning and Bonds really delivers in this story.

I enjoyed the chemistry between these two and really felt the story was well written. I most especially look forward to readingy about the other characters in this series that Bonds sets up well in this book.