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2021 First Quarter (Mostly) Romance Reading Round-Up*






Contemporary Reads for Lovers of Lists (& Rules to Break) to Add to Their TBR Lists

How to Fail at Flirting by Denise Williams 

Much Ado About You by Samantha Young 

Ten Rules for Faking It by Sophie Sullivan 


Revenge/Retribution 

The Devil in Her Bed (Devil You Know #3) by Kerrigan Byrne (historical) 

The Last True Gentleman (True Gentlemen #12) by Grace Burrowes (historical) 

Triple M Murder by Carmen Cady (contemporary supernatural romantic suspense)

-involuntary compliance trigger warning


Contemporary Meta Paradise for Trope Lovers 

Truth, Lies, and Second Dates (Danger, Sweetheart universe #3) by MaryJanice Davidson 

Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur**  


Faux-mance Gone Real  

First Comes Like (Modern Love #3) by Alisha Rai (contemporary) 

Someday My Duke Will Come (Isle of Synne #2) by Christina Britton (historical) 


Nonconformists in Love 

The Worst Duke in the World (Penhallow Dynasty #5) by Lisa Berne (historical) 

40-Love (Marysburg #2) by Olivia Dade (contemporary) 


Partners in Crime/Solving 

An Unexpected Peril (Veronica Speedwell #6) by Deanna Raybourne (historical) 

  • It's playful and buoyant despite the serious nature of the crimes committed.  

Under the Alaskan Ice (Alaska Wild #2) by Karen Harper (contemporary) 


Epic Supernatural Sagas 

A Court of Silver Flames (Thorns and Roses #5) by Sarah J. Maas 

Wild Sign (Alpha and Omega #6) by Patricia Briggs 

  • no Moira and Tom cameos:-( 


Food Fights as Foreplay 

Act Your Age, Eve Brown (Brown Sisters #3) by Talia Hibbert 

Kiss My Cupcake by Helena Hunting 

  • Blaire and Ronan bring the slow burn heat. Blaire is unapologetically a boss. Ronan’s initial high jerk factor receives a clever, believable treatment.  


Non-fiction 

Resources and Strategies for People Who See the World from Different Angles 

At Home with Dyslexia, A Parent’s Guide to Supporting Your Child by Sascha Roos 

Overcoming Dyslexia by Drs. Sally and Jonathan Shaywitz  



#CardynBrooksReviews #books

Act Your Age, Eve Brown (Brown SIsters #3) by Talia Hibbert 

Contemporary romance 

Avon, March 9, 2021 


Feeling down? 

Read AYA,EB to elevate your mood. 


Feeling joyous? 

Read this book to celebrate love and the value in being different. 


In chapter ten Jacob thinks, “... why the world would be a much better place if they stopped congratulating themselves on being normal and started to accept that there were countless different normals, and Jacob’s was just as fine as everyone else’s.” 


Eve and Jacob’s utterly charming love story is an absurdist romp that perfectly blends laugh-aloud humor with emotional complexity and profound social commentary.  




A Court of Silver Flames (Thorns and Rose #5) by Sarah J. Maas 

Supernatural fantasy

Bloomsbury Publishing, February 16, 2021 


This installment moves the Thorns and Roses series from YA to Adult fiction in its development of its recurring themes. More complicated political intrigue and consequences, generational cycles of trauma and oppression, plus rival supernatural forces frame and deepen the interpersonal and romantic struggles of these beloved, and sometimes despised, characters. Nesta has been spoiled, petulant, and self-centered from her first introduction, which makes it difficult to cheer for her as her self-indulgent wallowing continues through most of the first section of A Court of Silver Flames. That’s a significant element of the brilliance of her characterization as a foil for Cassian’s patience, his insistence that she is lovable and worthy of being loved; she’s worth the significant effort required. For readers who feel exhausted by Nesta, hang in there until Part II because S.J.M. delivers an impressive and entertaining story arc of transformation and redemption. Fingers crossed that Morrigan’s journey is next.




* My personal down-time reading (mostly) not reviewed for #CardynBrooksReviews #books, Edelweiss, NetGalley or RomanceDailyNews.com 


** There were two dozen or more folded corners on otherwise pristine pages of this borrowed library volume of Written in the Stars. For shame, unknown inconsiderate book vandal! That’s why bookmarks exist! (Fingers crossed that unfolding the corners, then stacking volumes of encyclopedia on top of the book reverses the damage.) #Bibliocrimes #BookBorrowerFelonyViolation #DIYbookrepair  






 

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