Carole V. Bell's Blog, page 3
September 6, 2020
Review: Accidentally Engaged
Accidentally Engaged by Farah Heron
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I have a confession. I love food and romance but I don’t necessarily love foodie romance. Accidentally Engaged, however, was a joy to read. Some of the beats will feel really familiar— in particular the unwanted arranged or facilitated marriage that becomes a steamy love match— but it’s well executed and
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I have a confession. I love food and romance but I don’t necessarily love foodie romance. Accidentally Engaged, however, was a joy to read. Some of the beats will feel really familiar— in particular the unwanted arranged or facilitated marriage that becomes a steamy love match— but it’s well executed and
August 27, 2020
Review: Better Than People
Better Than People by Roan Parrish
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
When animal loving Jack breaks his leg and can no longer take his pets for the exercise they need, Simon, a man who craves four legged companionship, comes to the rescue. Soon they discover they have more in common than their love of pets. Simon and Jack are just the sweetest, softest and most heart
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
When animal loving Jack breaks his leg and can no longer take his pets for the exercise they need, Simon, a man who craves four legged companionship, comes to the rescue. Soon they discover they have more in common than their love of pets. Simon and Jack are just the sweetest, softest and most heart
August 14, 2020
Review: The Cowboy Says I Do
The Cowboy Says I Do by Dylann Crush
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I had the distinct pleasure of reviewing The Cowboy Says I do, Come Home to Deep River, and Paradise Cove for BookPage: https://bookpage.com/features/25476-s...
View all my reviews
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I had the distinct pleasure of reviewing The Cowboy Says I do, Come Home to Deep River, and Paradise Cove for BookPage: https://bookpage.com/features/25476-s...
View all my reviews
Review: A Cowboy to Remember
A Cowboy to Remember by Rebekah Weatherspoon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Rebekah Weatherspoon kicks off her new Black cowboy series with an inventive new take on the Sleeping beauty myth. A Cowboy to Remember blends small town romance, modern fairy tale, and second chance romance. The beauty in this case is Evie, a famous reality TV princess, her prince is a Black
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Rebekah Weatherspoon kicks off her new Black cowboy series with an inventive new take on the Sleeping beauty myth. A Cowboy to Remember blends small town romance, modern fairy tale, and second chance romance. The beauty in this case is Evie, a famous reality TV princess, her prince is a Black
July 26, 2020
Review: It Had to Be You
It Had to Be You by Susan Elizabeth Phillips My rating: 3 of 5 stars Love in the Time of Slick Willy, the Juice and the Donald. This one was quite a throwback. Since this summer I've been making a conscious effort to better understand the genre I've been so engrossed by recently by reading some of the best known books in the romance canon, and It Had to Be You
Review: Nobody's Baby But Mine
Nobody's Baby But Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
My rating: 1 of 5 stars
This is the second novel that I’ve read by contemporary romance legend Susan Elizabeth Phillips, and I’m finding it even harder to tolerate than the last. The first book in the series was frustrating because it felt twisted and unrealistic in how it depicted/distorted sexism in the
My rating: 1 of 5 stars
This is the second novel that I’ve read by contemporary romance legend Susan Elizabeth Phillips, and I’m finding it even harder to tolerate than the last. The first book in the series was frustrating because it felt twisted and unrealistic in how it depicted/distorted sexism in the
July 15, 2020
Review: Heart and Hand
Heart and Hand by Rebel Carter
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Heart and Hand by Rebel Carter is a lot of fun and a little confounding. It's a quick read, kind of crazy interracial romance set in the old West twenty years after the civil war. Rather than straight historical romance I'd say we need a more specific subcategory to appreciate this book. It's not quite
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Heart and Hand by Rebel Carter is a lot of fun and a little confounding. It's a quick read, kind of crazy interracial romance set in the old West twenty years after the civil war. Rather than straight historical romance I'd say we need a more specific subcategory to appreciate this book. It's not quite
July 14, 2020
Review: Conventionally Yours
Conventionally Yours by Annabeth Albert
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I really like this sweet and tender, slow burn new adult contemporary. In Conventionally Yours, Annabeth Albert breathes new life into the opposites attract and forced proximity tropes by placing them within the very fun and deeply weird gamer culture. When their teammates drop out due to emergencies,
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I really like this sweet and tender, slow burn new adult contemporary. In Conventionally Yours, Annabeth Albert breathes new life into the opposites attract and forced proximity tropes by placing them within the very fun and deeply weird gamer culture. When their teammates drop out due to emergencies,
May 27, 2020
Review: Queen Move
Queen Move by Kennedy Ryan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
In romance, fated mates is a label conferred on couples whose pairing is written in the stars or nature or somewhere in the supernatural. It exists outside of logic and rationality. It’s a pairing that was simply meant to be. They complete each other and no one else will do. Traditionally, fated mates are
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
In romance, fated mates is a label conferred on couples whose pairing is written in the stars or nature or somewhere in the supernatural. It exists outside of logic and rationality. It’s a pairing that was simply meant to be. They complete each other and no one else will do. Traditionally, fated mates are
May 23, 2020
Review: American Sweethearts
American Sweethearts by Adriana Herrera
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Full review at @The_Book_Queen blog: bit.ly/2wTRxcbAmerican Sweethearts is the soul-stirring and deeply satisfying fourth and final installment in Adriana Herrera’s award-winning Dreamers series, which centers on a tight group of Afro-Caribbean friends finding love and living their own version of the
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Full review at @The_Book_Queen blog: bit.ly/2wTRxcbAmerican Sweethearts is the soul-stirring and deeply satisfying fourth and final installment in Adriana Herrera’s award-winning Dreamers series, which centers on a tight group of Afro-Caribbean friends finding love and living their own version of the
