M/F romance – Cannonball Read 17

Viking Romance and Fierce Heroines

The Bone King and the Starling by Elizabeth Stephens

July 30, 2025 by LB 2 Comments

The Bone King and the Starling fulfills the “B” square of CBR17 Bingo. I enjoyed Elizabeth Stephens’ Xiveri Mates series and recently loved All Superheroes Need PR, though I’ve been hesitant to give The Bone King and the Starling a try based on the content notes (which can be found on the author’s website, and definitely encourage checking them before checking this book). I finally succumbed to curiosity. I read through several reviews, and the thing that stood out is there is supposed to be an extended sex […]

Aliens being aliens

Watch Your Orbit by Etta Pierce

July 9, 2025 by LB Leave a Comment

Watch Your Orbit fulfills the “rec’d” square on CBR17 Bingo My good friend Seher is someone whose recommendations I always trust, but I’m not always very quick to pick up the books. Such is the case with Etta Pierce’s Intersolar Union universe, which Seher has been shouting about for over a year, and I finally picked up Watch Your Orbit, which is the first book in the Over the Moon spin-off tie-in where the humans that have been rescued are building a home and community […]

“If he thought he could make her doubt her decision with a staring contest, he’d never been in a middle school classroom.”

Birding with Benefits by Sarah T. Dubb

April 11, 2025 by faintingviolet Leave a Comment

One of the things I love most in good romance writing is when authors let themselves really play in the arena of observations about the ways in which we all cope with our varied emotions. When things are really clicking Romance books become case studies in the human condition – just like all my other favorite writings across various genres. Birding with Benefits walks the line between doing that well, and being great at it – which is why I landed on a 3.5 rounded […]

Excellent Use of a Great Dane in Romance, The Rest Was Good.

Back After This by Linda Holmes

March 5, 2025 by faintingviolet 5 Comments

Linda Holmes is probably known to many of you out there in internet-land for her work on NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour or her first two books, Evvie Drake Starts Over and Flying Solo. This is not where I know her from – I am familiar with Holmes through her guest appearances on the Screen Drafts podcast. When she was last on for their 90s Sports Movies draft her next book Back After This came up and I was intrigued. Intrigued enough that I requested […]

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. […]

Isn’t There a White Knight Upon a Fiery Steed?

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

Love Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood

Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood

Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood

December 5, 2024 by Mrs. Julien 5 Comments

Alternate Titles: Obtuse Women and the Men Who Love Them Tall, Professional Man Owns His Own Home What Makes Us Vulnerable Makes Us Human This contemporary romance review started with just The Love Hypothesis and morphed into an amalgamated Ali Hazelwood catchall. I didn’t combine them just because it’s quicker, but because I really struggled with conveying my feelings about The Love Hypothesis. Then I had had a bit of breakthrough while re-reading it Love Theoretically and Not in Love for Cannonball Read honesty purposes, then I […]

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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