brazenbookbabe's reviews
465 reviews

Had trouble getting into it but cute. 

Beast Takes a Bride by Julie Anne Long is a captivating blend of emotional depth, swoon-worthy romance, and high stakes. Set outside the traditional ballrooms of historical romance, it offers a refreshing take on the genre with the Grand Palace on the Thames as its backdrop.

The estranged marriage trope is handled beautifully as Alexandra and Magnus, separated for five years, find themselves forced back together by scandal. Their journey from icy strangers to rediscovering passion and love was utterly compelling. Magnus, the brooding war hero, falls first and hard, a trope I adore, and their slow-burn connection is both tender and fiery.

With an ensemble cast that adds warmth and humor, and a plot packed with tension and heart, this was a cozy, heartfelt read. Perfect for fans of second-chance romances and heroes with layers to uncover. Highly recommend!

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC of this delightful, laugh-out-loud rom-com!

Connie has always distrusted nice guys—they seem too good to be true. Enter Henry Samuel Beckett (aka Beck): bow-tie-wearing, sunshine-beaming, cinnamon-roll editor extraordinaire. Beck might just be the exception… until his big secret slips out—he’s told his entire publishing house he’s married. Cue Connie accidentally stepping into the role of his fake wife.

Off they go to a writing retreat, trying to convince everyone this “marriage” is legit. But with shared beds, sizzling tension, and moments that make your heart flutter, the line between fake and real starts to blur. And let me tell you—it’s perfection.

Charlotte Stein is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. Her books are so funny that I catch myself snort-laughing and sighing dramatically in public (zero regrets). This one checks all the boxes:

✔️ Grumpy-sunshine dynamic with a twist—the grump is our FMC, Connie!

✔️ Fake marriage trope done to rom-com perfection.

✔️ 90s rom-com vibes without the characters compromising their identities to “fit.”

✔️ Plus-size representation for BOTH leads (love to see it!).

Let’s talk about Beck for a second: this man is the sweetest, softest cinnamon roll, and I would burn the world to keep him happy. He’s officially my new favorite fictional character, and I am ready to wield an imaginary sword in his honor. Seriously.

The tension? Off. The. Charts. Stein masterfully builds it so well that you feel every single moment between these two. And the payoff? Chef’s kiss.

If you’re looking for a romantic, laugh-out-loud, feel-good story with all the tropes you love, My Big Fat Fake Marriage is an absolute must-read.

🌟Rating: 5/5 stars

Would I read it again? Absolutely.

🍩 A lottery ticket + donuts = love in this sweet and steamy fake-dating romance from Denise Williams, who is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors!

Sybil and Kieran’s instant connection had me hooked from their very first late-night donut shop encounter. Sybil’s charm and struggle to find her footing in life paired perfectly with Kieran’s quiet strength and dedication to his family bakery. The fake dating trope was executed so well here—it’s always a favorite of mine, but this one felt especially fresh and heartwarming.

I loved how both characters brought out the best in each other, with their chemistry leaping off the page. Denise Williams gave them so much depth and vibrancy that I found myself rooting for their happy ending from start to finish. The story was fun, romantic, and oh-so-satisfying, like the perfect donut.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC! Denise Williams has once again delivered another fun and charming contemporary romance that is sure to leave readers smiling. 🍩✨

Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early copy of A Tempest of Desire by Lorraine Heath! I couldn’t be more excited to dive into this one because, let me tell you, Lorraine Heath has solidified her spot as one of my all-time favorite historical romance authors. Why? Because she delivers completely bonkers romances grounded in rich historical accuracy—and I’m obsessed.

This book? Oh, it’s a wild one. It centers around a female hobbyist aeronaut (yes, you read that right) who crash lands on a not-so-deserted island. Who does she find there? An Earl recovering from a devastating railway accident. Like, y’all. Would that have been your first idea for a historical romance plot? Because same.

Instead of waltzing through ballrooms during the height of the London Season, we get to watch these characters navigate isolation, confront their traumas, and heal each other’s souls. It’s such a refreshing twist in the historical romance genre—a unique blend of the obscure and the absurd that I can’t get enough of.

This one is for all my fellow bonkers-loving romance readers out there. If you’re into historicals with an imaginative twist, A Tempest of Desire is an absolute must-read. Lorraine Heath, you’ve done it again. 💕