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Let’s get to it!
Sugar and Spice by Rebel Carter
Austin and Daisy have so much animosity, the tension practically leaps off the page. Daisy stalking to give Austin a piece of her mind after she finds out the pickle he and her assistant have gotten her into is glorious – she is a force to be reckoned with. When fake marriage moves into the territory of desire that is far closer to our MCs hearts, the reader knows these two will never be a placid couple. But their fire is what makes this story more than bakery-sweet. Love it so much!
Works of Friction by Marie Lipscomb
I’m here for the two treats Lipscomb offers in this story – wit, wordplay, and body positivity. Jess and Benjamin are hilarious together and what they discover beneath all that sniping is something hot and wonderful. The scene where Jess is doing her little read aloud while poor Benjamin listens to her is absolutely scorching.
Cul-de-sac Cupid by Lauren Connolly
As the niece of a woman who decorates her house as if it were her one and only spiritual calling, I recognize Diana’s competitiveness. But it also masks a deeper heartache, one her fixation with both decorating and her neighbor helps her resolve A lovely sapphic romance that hits all the beats.
Loathe to Love by A. Perveen
I was beyond excited to see A. Perveen’s contribution to this anthology. A gorgeously lyric writer, she delivers a beautiful romance of place, rich in her native language and culture. Mahnoor and Ishraaq have a long and serious history. When Ishraaq returns from his long absence, Mahnoor doesn’t know what to make of him. But it’s clear whatever spark had existed before has hardly been extinguished. This mashup of second-chance and enemies-to-lover is delivered in the lush writing I’ve come to love in Perveen’s work. I have first dibs on her eventual debut novel!
Queen of Thieves by Natalia Andrews
Having lived in Florida a good part of my life, I know a thing or two about hurricanes and the power they can unleash. But the real story is in the cliffs and rumbles of passion between Ramona and John. Fascinating historical piece – the setting alone grabbed me for its unconventionality. I truly enjoyed this story.
The Flip by Inga Gardner
I love, love, love the long and agonized history between Ian and Jackie. The first-person narration really sinks you into Jackie’s thoughts, her resentments but also attraction to Ian. He is nothing like she remembers him and there is much to be said for a kind MC. If you enjoy home renovations and quiet pining, this is definitely the story for you. And it’s set in Central Florida, where I live? Sold!
Hard to Swallow by Emily Hemenway
The premise is brilliant and the food descriptions are exquisite. Chef romances (like those set in cafés and restaurants) fuse my two great passions – reading and food. Jacques’s dislike of Kat is realistic, rooted in the traditionally fraught relationships between artists and critics, exacerbated by Kat’s negative review of Jacques’s and this romance delivers on all these delights.
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