Christmas romance – Cannonball Read 17

I Bought into Amazon’s Author Exploitation Again

Under the Mistletoe: Cruel Winter with You by Ali Hazelwood

Under the Mistletoe: Merry Ever After by Tessa Bailey

Under the Mistletoe: All by My Elf by Olivia Dade

Under the Mistletoe: Merriment and Mayhem by Alexandria Bellefleur

Under the Mistletoe: Only Santas in the Building by Alexis Daria

January 16, 2025 by Mrs. Julien Leave a Comment

I mean, I assume it’s exploitive. It is Amazon. Having had some success with the Improbable Meet Cute collection for Valentines Day, and, as someone who absolutely loves a Christmas novella, I paid for one (the Ali Hazelwood) and borrowed the other four of these Under the Mistletoe “get to know a romance author with a free read” stories. I imagine Amazon is doing the same thing as telling someone to work for free for the exposure. I hope they were compensated in some way. […]

Romance to start the year!

Under the Mistletoe with You by Lizzie Huxley-Jones

January 1, 2025 by faintingviolet 3 Comments

Two years ago, my first review of the year was Make You Mine This Christmas by Lizzie Huxley-Jones. I loved that book, it’s a 4.5-star banger that I hope more and more people find and enjoy. I received it through my Illumicrate Afterlight subscription, and a few months ago they alerted me that they would be doing an exclusive edition of its follow-up Under the Mistletoe with You which I immediately scooped up and saved for my holiday week reading. Under the Mistletoe with […]

Double Cinnamon Roll Slowburn

Time to Shine by Rachel Reid

April 11, 2024 by carmelpie Leave a Comment

“I mean, everyone knows how I feel about you.” “What?” “Yeah. I think I was pretty obvious about it. The guys have been teasing me.” “Oh my god. Landon moaned. “This is going to be so weird.” “Nah, I’ll play it totally cool. “No tongue.” “No kissing at all, you fucking doofus.” “I know. Don’t worry, I won’t even talk to you. Won’t look at you. Who are you, even?” “Thank you.” ― Rachel Reid, Time to Shine Casey lit Landon up, filling all his […]

Road Trips and Christmas Huzzah!

Holiday Romance by Catherine Walsh

Snowed In by Catherine Walsh

February 20, 2024 by Mrs. Julien 3 Comments

Following the magnificent Emmalita’s recommendation (as one should in all things), somehow I went to buy Charlotte Stein’s When Grumpy Met Sunshine and ended up with Catherine Walsh’s Snowed In instead. I have no idea what happened, but the book was still great and now I have a new author! Such are the transitive powers of Emmalita’s approbation*. Now, not only did I buy the wrong book, but I read Holiday Romance and Snowed In out of series order before circling back for a second […]

“What you don’t realize is that the world does not need more perfection. It needs more compassion and empathy.”

How the Dukes Stole Christmas by Tessa Dare, Sarah MacLean, Sophie Jordan, Joanna Shupe

January 23, 2024 by faintingviolet Leave a Comment

I had this collection picked out as my Christmas romance read a full year in advance. Then, I promptly didn’t read it, because that is how 2023 went. (Eventually my 2024 reviews will start without a lament about 2023, but this one isn’t it.) I love Tessa Dare books, particularly when I’m looking for something sweet and lighthearted. When checking her catalogue for a new to me book this past year I spotted this anthology from 2018 and put it on my list, zero questions […]

A fluffy grumpy/sunshine romance with Christmas vibes

Pine-ing for You by T.S. Ankney

December 24, 2023 by carmelpie Leave a Comment

Mason is a lovable himbo trapped in an engagement of convenience. His fiancé promptly dumps him when the press finds out that Mason has absconded to Fiji with the sketchy lead singer of a popular rock band. Mason and his fiancé are disgraced, and the whole thing is a shitshow of epic proportions. It turns out that sketchy rock star (Jackson) only seduced Mason in the hopes of getting some easy publicity. As soon as the scandal breaks, Jackson dumps Mason for his scuba instructor. […]

Zirza on A Gothic Classic for a ReasonIt's one of those wish-you-could-read-it-again-for-the-first-time books. I loved it.
Emmalita on “It came to something when you found yourself hoping that the footsteps you heard were ghosts.”I loved the ending! I don’t think it’s been out long enough to talk about why though.
Dixie on Track Her Down by Melinda LeighI am just starting Track Her Down and I have read them all in order till now and thought I...
Roland of Gilead on How can you give us the gift of a crazy character named Rando Thoughtful and then just as suddenly take that gift away? We need to talk, Uncle Stevie.I came across this randomly years after it was written because I was searching "Random Thoughtful. But I have the...
Emmalita on “Only you, Em, would refer to heartbreak as a distraction. I think I would have a more sympathetic response if I asked to marry a bookcase.”Oh my goodness, Gallifrey was beautiful. I’m sure her mittens were gloriously murdery.

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