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HO
House of the Hanging Jade
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
House of the Hanging Jade is a suspenseful tale of murder and obsession, all taking place against a beautiful Hawaiian backdrop. Lush descriptions of both the scenery and the food prepared by the protagonist leave you wanting more. Fans of both gothic romance and mystery novels should enjoy this story.

Note: I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
  
Hardwired (Hacker, #1)
Hardwired (Hacker, #1)
Meredith Wild | 2015 | Fiction & Poetry
9
7.7 (6 Ratings)
Book Rating
Meredith sucks you in the within the first few pages. I bought the entire book series before I was halfway through the 1st book. I fell in love with romance novels after reading this series. (0 more)
None (0 more)
Great Series Opener
The heat between Erica and Blake is great. The plot is similar to 50 Shades, but it kept me on my toes.
  
The Duke and I (Bridgertons, #1)
The Duke and I (Bridgertons, #1)
Julia Quinn | 2006 | Fiction & Poetry, History & Politics, Humor & Comedy, Romance
8.3 (6 Ratings)
Book Favorite

"For when you need to fall in love The Bridgertons are being turned into their own Netflix series. Julia Quinn is a master of witty banter, romantic tension, and sweet anticipation. Romance novels can be the most delicious mood lifters—and this is one of best of the best. Start with The Duke and I and feast your way through them all."

Source
  
Coming Out On Top
Coming Out On Top
2015 | Simulation
Exclusively Gay Romance (3 more)
Good Character Art
HIgh Replay Value
Multiple Story Arcs
Repetitious (0 more)
The Daddy of Gay Visual Novels
Coming Out on Top is a visual novel about Mark Matthews (who's kind of a weenie), college senior, newly out of the closet. Guide him through his last semester of school and through various sexual misadventures. There are several characters you can develop a "romance" with, and the storylines are not always obvious. You have to learn the characters motives to get them to like you. Other times, it feels more random. However, there is a good variety of characters for you to meet and romance.

(And the art is pretty sexy. Something for everyone, I think.)
  
SS
Secret Santa
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Four Christmas novels - two romance, one mystery, and one chick lit. I bought it for Laura Levine's mystery novella featuring her sleuth Jaine Austen. I loved it as always. Two of the other stories were enjoyable, but Fern Michaels's contribution was just plain bad on all fronts.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/12/book-review-secret-santa-by-fern.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
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Greta Gerwig recommended Americanah in Books (curated)

 
Americanah
Americanah
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie | 2014 | Fiction & Poetry
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Favorite

"In this book, Ms. Adichie has constructed a full on romance that has the addictive power of a Jane Austen novel but with the specifics of life in Nigeria, as well as life in the United States as an immigrant. I fell in love with Ifemelu and Obinze in a way that I haven’t felt since I was a child reading novels for the first time."

Source
  
BT
Black Ties and Lullabies (Playboys, #3)
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Black Ties & Lullabies is a contemporary romance...not usually a book I would pick up on my own. I borrowed it from a friend after she won it on First Reads. It was an entertaining, light read, the perfect book to be reading at the start of the school year.
I enjoyed the story & the characters were interesting & well developed. So why 3 stars? Well, the plot itself was very predictable, maybe that's why I'm not so into romance novels. I like a little suspense & I could pretty much see every aspect of this story taking place before it actually did.
  
The Creator (Alex Hope #3)
The Creator (Alex Hope #3)
A.J. Estelliam | 2017 | Crime, LGBTQ+, Romance
9
9.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Alex and JJ are back with a very "Silence of the Lambs" meet "Psycho" type villian. This was an enjoyable macabre read. I know kinda an oxymoron but if you like crime novels you will love the Alex Hope series. The characters are well done and the plot flows. Yes, there is romance but I feel it is almost secondary to the crime solving but no less enjoyable.
  
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ArecRain (8 KP) rated Gerrity's Bride in Books

Jan 18, 2018  
GB
Gerrity's Bride
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
While I enjoyed reading this, it was one of those novels where the main couple butted heads all the time. It was easy and interesting to watch the two fall in love, and I often found myself laughing. The characters were filled with personality and fire, and I always love a romance novel with some drama. Other than the constant fighting, I can find nothing negative to say about this novel.
  
I had such high hopes for this book. The only nice thing I have to say about this books is that at least Louisa Edwards can write a realistic storyline. Unfortunately, it was a story I was completely uninterested in. I was intrigued because I always have a thing for romance novels involving kitchens and cooks. That is why I asked for the book in the first place.

Yes, the characters were realistic not only in their behaviors and dialogues, but also in their interaction with each other. Yes, the storyline was also believable, with plenty of the usually deceit, secrets, and embarrassing moments that come with romances novels. But that was just it, I felt like I was reading just another romance. Nothing about this novel seemed special, unique, or stuck out in my mind.

Well written, with realistic characters and plot, but nothing special. I will not be reading the other two in the series.