fiction_and_friction's reviews
393 reviews

Gus and Teddy just stole the crown for best Rebel Blue couple. Sorry, Luke and Emmy—pack your bags, it’s second place for you now. This book wasn’t just the best of the series so far; it was practically a work of art.

And can we talk about these tropes? I’m a sucker every time. Hot, grumpy, single-dad cowboy? Yeehaw, check. Enemies to lovers? Oh, double-check. A feisty FMC with a soft center? You betcha.

Lyla Sage nailed it with the character development, not just with Gus and Teddy but with everyone around them. The chemistry between Gussy and Teddy baby was off the charts, but seeing Teddy and Emmy as besties and Gus and Cam co-parenting like pros? Chef’s kiss. Teddy’s sweet moments with her dad? Instant heart melt

This is definitely a one-handed read. I’ve been waiting for Storm ever since Chasing the Wild, and oh man, he did not disappoint. The taboo chemistry between Uncle Storm and Briar? Fire. And the free-use microtrope? Scorching. Honestly, it wasn’t just the heat—there was a surprising amount of emotion mixed in too... but let’s be real, I was mostly focused on the fire than the feels.

This book was everything. Phenomenal. This review will not even be able to do it justice. I loved it so much. You know that moment when you know the book you’re reading is going to be so amazing it’ll be one to stick with you for a long time and become a top recommendation? That moment was within the first 5% of this book for me. This book was SO. GOOD. I could not put it down.

The banter was so witty and clever. As was the overall premise of the book. The whodunnit mystery + will they won’t they + tortured past(s) was all so smart, so incredibly well done. I thought my heart was gonna fall out of my butt at one point.

It was like if Clue x Knives Out + Murder She Wrote = The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year

If I wasn’t married I’d want my own Ethan Wyatt. The Marcie backstory? God dammit, my heart. He was just the sweetest, swoon-worthiest MMC I’ve read in a long, long time…and I read A LOT.

This will be an ongoing comfort read for sure.

Now…anyone know where I can get some special editions for my trophy shelf?

Eve and Foster got married on an impulsive whim five years ago. It didn’t work out, and they haven’t spoken since. Cut to present day and they’re unexpectedly back in each other’s lives, and in close quarters. As feelings begin to resurface, will they give their love another try?

As much as I love a second chance romance, the miscommunication trope will never be my favorite and both of those things were main plot points of this book. I was so torn between loving the reunion of Eve and Foster and being infuriated for never really finding out why they split up the first time, and for Foster not revealing his little secret sooner.

All in all, it was touching story of love and trust that I really enjoyed. The ending wrecked me but then pieced me back together.

This holiday novella (under 200 pages-perfect for your short attention span during holiday chaos) was such a sweet and spicy little treat!
Stella and Jasper, childhood rivals with enough unresolved tension to fuel the plane they're stuck on, are heading home for the holidays and Stella's sister's NYE wedding. Naturally, they fall into the classic fake dating trap, where things quickly heat up.
Jasper's POV stole the show-this guy's been down bad for Stella for years, and watching him expertly press her buttons (looth the fun and frustrating ones) was super satisfying.
The banter? A+. The spice? Steamy enough to melt the snow outside. If you're looking for a laugh, a swoon, and a little holiday heat, grab this immediately!

I usually enjoy a good accidental marriage plot, but this one didn’t quite capture me. Something was missing—it never fully pulled me in. The writing felt choppy and stiff, lacking the fluidity that usually makes a story enjoyable for me.

The reason behind Hannah's animosity toward Grayson felt weak. She was so upset after only a week of dating? Miscommunication is one of my least favorite tropes, especially when it could be easily resolved with a quick conversation.

The “will they, won’t they” dynamic also didn’t last long. There was little tension before they suddenly couldn’t keep their hands off each other. Even when their relationship became more physical, the underlying miscommunication remained unresolved.

Hannah’s troubled relationship with her mother felt forced and didn't add much depth to the story.

It seemed like the plot was just a backdrop for the spice, which, admittedly, was well done. However, I’m still unclear as to why Grayson believed he wasn’t good enough for Hannah.