ericas_bookshelf's reviews
684 reviews

Accidentally Compromising the Duke by Stacy Reid

lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? No

2.0

This fell painfully flat for me. I was fighting to finish it out sheer curiosity to see if it got better, and it didn’t. At least for me. I should’ve DNF’d 😬

Idk what it was. The pacing might have been off? I just wanted more pining and angst out of this scenario honestly. I do also prefer when the guy has to work a bit, so this could very much be just a *me* problem. The chemistry felt nonexistent and to top it all off, I found the kids annoying lol. And I LOVE kids in books, but these two were just, again, kind of one dimensional and lacking depth. 

I definitely want to try more of Stacy’s books though. I’ve heard really good things! I just don’t think this one was for me. I loved the idea of a woman compromising the man, but this was a letdown for me. 

Hathor and the Prince: A Novel by J.J. McAvoy

funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

This was a lot of fun! Overall Hathor kind of annoyed me, but I still found this story swoony, fun, and lighthearted. Highly recommend if you’re like me and impatiently waiting for Bridgerton S3 haha

The Bootleggers Bounty by Adriana Herrera

adventurous funny lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

Sometimes smut is the plot. And sometimes that smut involves a jazz singer, a rum runner, and a gangster all stuck on a boat together 🤭

The Hellion's Waltz by Olivia Waite

adventurous funny hopeful informative relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

This was absolutely delightful! Olivia does such a good job at these really unique couple pairings. I mean a weaver and a pianist? Please. I’m obsessed. Then you throw in a heist they have to pull off?! Come on. That’s so fun. I especially loved that this wasn’t a coming out story, both women knew themselves and were supported by their friends & families. 

In conclusion, to quote one of my favorite Amazon reviews (shoutout to LiteraryIllusions): “Be gay, do crimes, take down the rich” 💅🏻

 

The Care and Feeding of Waspish Widows by Olivia Waite

funny hopeful informative relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

Ok this was phenomenal?!

Agatha Griffin is a 45-year-old widow who took over her late husband’s printing shop with her son and her apprentice. When she goes to the other print shop in Meliton she finds one corner overrun by bees. Her mother-in-law introduces her to 43-year-old Penelope Flood who is well known for her skills with bees. Over the course of getting Agatha’s hive settled and bonding over the other hives in town, a romance gradually develops between the two women.

There is a ton about this book I loved. There is a great balance of history, discussions of class, the impact of the marriage laws on women, and political activism! Seriously so cool. There are also other Queer couples and it is discussed how they have to hide the true nature of their relationship. 

This is a slow burn romance, but I am a huuuuge fan of slow burn romances. Their relationship developed so naturally from friends to lovers. I also deeply prefer historical romances that pack in lots of politics and history, so I obviously was the target audience for this book haha.

Overall this was absolutely stellar and I can’t wait to dive into the next book!

P. S. You will learn a lot about bees 🐝

Never Blow a Kiss by Lindsay Lovise

adventurous funny hopeful mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

This was really fun! I really enjoy when historical romance books mix it up by not having everyone be a member of the ton. It makes for such an entertaining read!

There is a mystery to solve and a killer to catch, Emily has secrets of her own, and Zach is just utterly obsessed with her. I personally am just not a fan of detectives or policemen being the love interest, I think in this book it worked, but again, I’m just not a huge fan. I’m super excited for the next book though, I think it’ll be even better!

King of Sloth by Ana Huang

emotional funny hopeful relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

“I didn't want her. I needed her. Desperately.
I needed her the way the ocean tides needed the moon, and I would give anything for her to feel a fraction of the same way toward me.”

Do I have a new favorite Kings of Sin book?? Sloane and Xavier were everything to me. Their chemistry was absolutely scorching! Xavier’s development and growth were, in my opinion, very believable and well done. And listen, eat the rich and billionaires shouldn’t exist, but damnit does Ana know how to write them 😭

I especially loved the grumpy/sunshine dynamic in this with Sloane being the grumpy “ice queen” character. Personally, I find this trope much more entertaining when the woman is prickly. Sloane is truly a top favorite FMC for me now, I really liked her. See the below quote for a peek into how iconic she is lmao. 

“Certain things in life made sense. For example, the concept of cause and effect, the heat of the sun, and female praying mantises killing their partners after sex. No muss, no fuss-they got their pleasure, and they were done.”

Sloane is so real for this tbh. ^^^

Lastly, Ana is always going to deliver with the smut. And this book is no different. 😮‍💨


*I received an arc from the publisher in exchange for my honest review*

A Chance at Love by Beverly Jenkins

adventurous funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

This is my 13th Beverly book and at this point I’m convinced she can’t write a bad book haha. I ADORE how she weaves history with romance and plot, it’s perfectly balanced every time honestly. 😮‍💨

This one also features the “that’s my wife” trope which I go feral for every dang time haha

The Duke's All That by Christina Britton

dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

I am forever and always a second chance, high angst, lots of trauma, girly. So truthfully, going into this I expected to love it, and I did!

I adored how slow burning their romance was, the tension was built really well and by the time they actually did *it*, I was salivating. I loved how Seraphina’s traumas were handled. Christina really aimed to not further traumatize the reader by rehashing everything that was done to her in great detail, which I appreciated. And the romance?? Major swoon. I adored it so, so much. I really tried to savor this book because of how much I was loving it. 😭

Bookshop Cinderella by Laura Lee Guhrke

funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

"But then" he went on, stepping closer to her, "I'm not sure beautiful is the way I'd describe you." 

“No?" She gave a shaky laugh. "What word would you use then?” 

His lashes lowered as he looked down, then lifted as he met her gaze. "Incomparable"


This read like a fairytale honestly, it was lighthearted, low angst, with a dash of spice. Truly a lovely refreshing read! I also devoured it quickly because of how easy going it was haha. Overall loved this! Especially that last third, omg 🥹🫶