#sourcebooks casablanca

[triviareads]

ARC Review of A Nobleman's Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel by KJ Charles

Summary:

Rufus, Earl of Oxney, has dealt with multiple attempts by his uncle to take his title away from him. Now, his uncle is claiming that not only is Rufus illegitimate, but he has proof by way of Lucas Doomsday, a secretary who hails from a notorious family of local smugglers. Rufus hires Lucas to help him search through family archives for proof of his legitimacy, and Lucas agrees, in part because he has his own reasons for being at the estate...

My review:

This is the first book I've read by KJ Charles and I only wish I'd read her works sooner because this was a fabulous read. I adored both of the main characters: Rufus is an ex-soldier, honorable with a bit of a temper. But you can't blame the poor guy; he's trying his best to improve the estate after years of neglect while being constantly challenged by his terrible family. Luke is a secretary who comes from a smuggler clan, so he has a raffish edge to an otherwise (mostly) proper façade. He's a schemer who uses his powers for good when it comes to helping Rufus... and other times not so much.

I loved Rufus and Luke's relationship: it's one that comes from a place of mutual understanding and respect which initially makes them friends and allies, and that actually seems to fuel their emotional and sexual attraction. Rufus did read as demisexual to me just based on what he says (thinks) about not seeing the point of having sex with someone you don't care for. And he finds that with Luke fairly early on, even if Luke has to make the first move ("either fuck me or fire me"... he's a brat can you tell).

Both men have a good deal of familial demons, past and present, and the narrative does a great job of having the characters examine them, reconcile where they can, but otherwise creating their own found family they can be happy around. In a way, it's in direct contract to the villains of the story, mostly Rufus's own family, who are miserable with one another, and yet prize their (Norman... you'll see the word "Norman" many times) blood above all.

The mystery aspect (two mysteries, really, and then another mystery no one expected to find the answer to but stumbled across anyway) was mostly tight and well done. I do think the second half became a little too mystery-heavy at the cost of the romance, but it all tied up neatly at the end. At times I wish I'd read The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen just so I knew Luke's background, especially relating to Sir Gareth and Joss Doomsday, but KJ did a pretty good job of filling in those blanks for the reader.

The sex:

Raw. Intimate. Sexy. I can't write this review without including the droit du seigneur aspect, which starts as a joke between Rufus and Luke, but very much ends up as a kink of sort for them in that Luke wants to be taken in the manner of a feudal lord in the olden days sleeping with a vessel's wife first on their wedding night (possessive, a bit rough), which I thought was very hot, and very well done. Luke is a bit of a brat and wants to make Rufus work for it, but Rufus is absolutely willing to rise to the challenge (both Luke and Rufus seem to have a competence kink too). A relentless man, if you will.

Because of how the plot progresses, there's actually a lot more sex scenes in the first half of the book than in the second, but honestly the wait pays off because by the time they're reunited, the emotions are just that much heightened by the fact that they love one another now. I was actually near tears when Luke admits that when he first asked Rufus to "fuck him like he owns him", he really wished that he was his. It was so so romantic.

Overall:

I'd recommend this book to anyone, but specifically readers looking for a romance intertwined with a mystery or adventure, and anyone looking for a queer historical romance. I loved this book so much, and I'm looking forward to reading more KJ Charles.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.

#arc #arc review #netgalley #KJ Charles #SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca #sourcebooks #historical romance #queer romance

[cathygeha]

REVIEW

10 Things That Never Happened by Alexis Hall

So glad I didn’t give up on this book early on…I found it rambling and had trouble getting into it BUT when I finally did, I was totally invested and eager to find out why Sam and Jonathan had become as they were and what their backstories might be. I had trouble, at first seeing them together or even warming to them but…that began to change as I kept reading and by the end…was happy they had found and brought out the best in one another while also growing and becoming more comfortable in their own skin.

This is a very British feeling rom-com with a loving rather wacky family provided by Jonathan and a diverse group of people that Sam was managing and working with. There were times I chuckled, other times I worried that I worried how things would work out, and times that I wanted to sit one or the other down and have a good talking to them.

This is a book that made me care about the outcome even though it was not easy to get into. I believe I would read another book by this author if the synopsis appealed to me and even though British rom-coms are not my favorite cup of tea ;)

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4 Stars

BLURB

Fake amnesia. Real feelings? Real problems. Sam Becker loves―or, okay, likes―his job. Sure, managing a bed and bath retailer isn't exactly glamorous, but it's good work and he gets on well with the band of misfits who keep the store running. He could see himself being content here for the long haul. Too bad, then, that the owner is an infuriating git. Jonathan Forest should never have hired Sam. It was a sentimental decision, and Jonathan didn't get where he is by following his heart. Determined to set things right, Jonathan orders Sam down to London for a difficult talk…only for a panicking Sam to trip, bump his head, and maybe accidentally imply he doesn't remember anything? Faking amnesia seemed like a good idea when Sam was afraid he was getting sacked, but now he has to deal with the reality of Jonathan's guilt―as well as the unsettling fact that his surly boss might have a softer side to him. There's an unexpected freedom in getting a second shot at a first impression…but as Sam and Jonathan grow closer, can Sam really bring himself to tell the truth, or will their future be built entirely on one impulsive lie?

#Alexis Hall #Sourcebooks Casablanca #NetGalley #M/M Romance #Holiday Romance #Amnesia #British Rom-Com #Contemporary Romance #LGBTQIA Romance

[doodlesink]

Witches Get Stuff Done by Molly Harper -- Book Review

Happy Tuesday!  Witches Get Stuff Done by Molly Harper is out today.  Check out the debut of the Starfall Point series.  Happy Reading!

https://bibliophileandavidreader.blogspot.com/2023/09/witches-get-stuff-done-by-molly-harper.html

#theavidreader #the avid reader #book review #paranormal mystery #paranormal romance #sourcebooks casablanca #molly harper #starfall point

[publishedtoday]

Husband Material - Alexis Hall (London Calling #2)  

In BOYFRIEND MATERIAL, Luc and Oliver met, pretended to fall in love, fell in love for real, dealt with heartbreak and disappointment and family and friends…and somehow figured out a way to make it work. Now it seems like everyone around them is getting married, and Luc’s feeling the social pressure to propose. But it’ll take more than four weddings, a funeral, and a bowl full of special curry to get these two from I don’t know what I’m doing to I do. Good thing Oliver is such perfect HUSBAND MATERIAL.

#husband material #alexis hall #london calling series #sourcebooks casablanca #august 2 2022 #lgbtq #new adult

[overflowingshelf]

ARC Review: The Lady He Lost by Faye Delacour

The Lady He Lost Faye Delacour Publisher: sourcebooks Casablanca Publication Date: April 2, 2024 Series or Standalone: Lucky Ladies of London #1 Links: Amazon – Barnes & Noble – Goodreads – StoryGraph Rating: MY REVIEW CW: Kidnapping; toxic relationship (not main couple); death of parents (off-page) I first fell in love with The Lady He Lost because of its stunning cover! And I’m so glad…

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#4.5 Stars #ARC #book review #Faye Delacour #Lucky Ladies of London #Netgalley #Review #Sourcebooks Casablanca #The Lady He Lost

[the-novel-approach-reviews]

Review: A Nobleman's Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel by KJ Charles

Title: A Nobleman’s Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel Series: The Doomsday Books: Book Two Author: KJ Charles Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca Length: 333 Pages Category: Historical Romance Rating: 5 Stars At a Glance: When KJ Charles escalates the threat to life and limb, this story tightens its grip and doesn’t relent for breathless moments in time. It is anxiety manifested by the written word,…

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#5 stars #Childhood Abuse #Historical Romance #Hurt/Comfort #KJ Charles #Past Trauma #Self-Published #Sourcebooks Casablanca

[bargainsleuthbooks]

#TheLonelyHeartsBookClub #LucyGilmore #BookReview #AudiobookReview #contemporaryfiction #Sourcebooks #Dreamscapemedia #chicklit #romance #KindleDeal

Lovely book about the friendships created by books. #TheLonelyHeartsBookClub #LucyGilmore #BookReview #Audiobook #AudiobookReview #ContemporaryFiction #Booksaboutbooks #chicklit #Romance #kindledeal #sourcebooks #Dreamscapemedia #2023books #libraries

Sloane Parker lives a small, contained life as a librarian in her small, contained town. She never thinks of herself as lonely…but still she looks forward to that time every day when old curmudgeon Arthur McLachlan comes to browse the shelves and cheerfully insult her. Their sparring is such a highlight of Sloane’s day that when Arthur doesn’t show up one morning, she’s instantly concerned. And…

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#Audiobook Review #Book Review #Books About Books #Chick Lit #Contemporary Fiction #Contemporary Romance #Dreamscape Media #Kindle Deal #Libraries #Lucy Gilmore #Romance #Sourcebooks #Sourcebooks Casablanca #The Lonely Hearts Book Club

[kkecreads]

The Time of Your Life by Sandra Kitt

Published: April 11, 2023 Sourcebooks Casablanca Genre: Romance Pages: 334 KKECReads Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily. Sandra Kitt is the author of more than twenty novels, including The Color of Love, Significant Others, and Close Encounters, as well as numerous short stories. Her work has been nominated for the NAACP Image Award and…

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#book #Book review #kkecreads #NetGalley #New Release #Sandra kitt #slow burn #sourcebooks Casablanca #the time of your life

[kinziethings]

REVIEW: The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen by KJ Charles

REVIEW: The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen by @kj_charles Wonderful book! Intrigue, action, sizzling romance... twists and turns! #books #MMromance #historicalMMRomance v

  Bridgerton meets Poldark in this sweeping LGBTQIA+ Regency romance from award-winning author KJ Charles Abandoned by his father as a small child, Sir Gareth Inglis has grown up prickly, cold, and well-used to disappointment. Even so, he longs for a connection, falling headfirst into a passionate anonymous affair that’s over almost as quickly as it began. Bitter at the sudden rejection, Gareth…

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#2023 #2023 reviews #book #book lover #book review #Book Reviews #Books #historical #historical M/M romance #KJ Charles #London and Kent #netgalley #new books #reviews #sourcebooks casablanca #the secret lives of country gentlemen

[thebooklovebot]

The Next 6 Books I’m Planning on Reading

Sometimes I like to play too close to the sun and get burned, more specifically, the lack of self-control I seem to have regarding ARCs. I see something I like or could potentially like, I request. Which thanks to the feedback ratio on Netgalley is really not good.   So my ARCs tend to build up, making it incredibly stressful. I take full responsibility and I’m working on it. Now let’s talk…

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#2022 romance books #2023 romance books #arc review #berkley romance #Bloom Books #book lover #edelweiss #forced proximity #Forever Publishing #netgalley #netgalley arc #new releases #romance #romance books #Sourcebooks Casablanca

[triviareads]

ARC Review of The Lady He Lost by Faye Delacour

Rating: 3.5/5 Heat Level: 3/5 Publication Date: April 2nd

Premise:

Everyone is shocked when Lieutenant Eli Williams seemingly returns from the dead after being lost at sea in a shipwreck, no one more so than Jane Bishop, who was his friend and secretly loved him despite his prior engagement to her cousin.

My review:

This is Faye Delacour's debut novel; it's a friends-to-lovers romance by way of unrequited love (I wouldn't really say there's an enemies aspect, especially if the enmity is so one-sided). Jane had feelings for Eli which she thought he did not reciprocate back in the day, then he was caught in a compromising position with her cousin and they were engaged before Eli was lost at sea. I'm gonna be honest: I did not expect the level of resentment Jane showed Eli once he reappeared, but here's my thing: Eli does not owe Jane anything. All he ever did was treat her like a friend before he was caught with her cousin (regardless of what he tells Jane later in the book about his feelings for her before the shipwreck, which I did not find very convincing), and what more, the cousin ultimately married someone else and Eli obviously doesn't feel anything for the cousin anymore. I'm very careful when it comes to checking my biases regarding "unlikeable" heroines or unlikeable things heroines do, and look, unhappiness over unrequited love is natural (though I'm always a bit annoyed when heroines are insecure about their appearance and compare themselves to other women like Jane constantly does with her cousin), but I'd be equally irritated with a hero if he behaved in a similarly rude manner towards his heroine, as if she owed him something.

That being said, I did find it funny when Jane's resentment towards Eli took a turn and she actively started questioning what he was up to during the years he disappeared and was ostensibly kidnapped by pirates, purely out of spite. Does she come across as a narc? Yes, but it's also kind of hysterical when she's interrogating him in front of his navy boss or a bunch of society ladies and he's anxiously trying to communicate through his gaze for her to Shut Up. However, her words do end up having actual consequences, namely, him getting court-martialed for possible desertion.

Eli and Jane begin a no-strings attached affair by the middle of the book, however, Jane is still under the impression he could never want her long-term, and that she will always be seen as second best to her cousin (who also fans the flames with her constant need to put Jane down and her insistence that Eli still has feelings for her), which is admittedly rough to read. There is also the ladies gambling club that Jane is trying to start with a friend, but I feel that subplot was mostly set aside as Jane became entangled with Eli once more.

The sex:

There are actually two instances of the rare male masturbation scenes in historical romance in this book; the second one immediately follows dry-humping and Eli can't wait anymore before jerking off in front of Jane. The good thing is, he reciprocates very thoroughly afterwards. There is also some surprise virgin rep.

Overall:

While this book wasn't quite for me, I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a friends-to-lovers historical romance that is very much a slow-burn as far as feelings go.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.

#arc #arc review #netgalley #faye delacour #sourcebooks casablanca #sourcebooks #historical romance #romance novels #book reviews #books

[cathygeha]

REVIEW

A Nobleman’s Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel by KJ Charles

The Doomsday Books #2

Flat open moorland in 1823 could be a desolate lonely place for some but for others it is a place of intrigue and danger, dysfunctional families and family feuding, messes to clear up, and fertile soil for the growth of potential happily ever after romances for more than one. Great story that kept me awake till almost two this morning – had to finish before I slept last night!

What I liked:

* Rufus: retired major, newly minted earl, in the midst of trying to restore his estate, dealing with evil relatives, in need of someone to assist and perhaps befriend him, caring, kind, short tempered, loud, and lovely, perfect for and with Rufus

* Luke: educated, experienced secretary, loves to create order and be helpful, from a smuggling family, had a difficult childhood, carries baggage and scars from the past, has secrets, a bit of a schemer, perfect for and with Rufus

* The slow burn but then steamy relationship that develops between Rufus and Luke and being able to see the two men as a happy couple

* The way more than one character impacts another in a positive way

* Getting to see and catch up with some of the characters in the previous book

* The setting, plot, pacing, and writing

* That I was drawn in and cared about the outcome

* Being able to hate the bad guys – and be happy when they were dealt with

* Hoping that there will be another book in this series

What I didn’t like:

* Who and what I was meant not to like

* Thinking about inheritance and how ruthless some people can be when trying to achieve their goals

Did I like this book? Yes

Would I read more in this series? Definitely

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

BLURB

Major Rufus d'Aumesty has unexpectedly become the Earl of Oxney, master of a remote Norman manor on the edge of the infamous Romney Marsh. There he's beset on all sides, his position contested both by his greedy uncle and by Luke Doomsday, son of a notorious smuggling clan. The earl and the smuggler should be natural enemies, but cocksure, enragingly competent Luke is a trained secretary and expert schemer—exactly the sort of man Rufus needs by his side. Before long, Luke becomes an unexpected ally...and the lover Rufus had never hoped to find. But Luke came to Stone Manor with an ulterior motive, one he's desperate to keep hidden even from the lord he can't resist. As the lies accumulate and family secrets threaten to destroy everything they hold dear, master and man find themselves forced to decide whose side they're really on...and what they're willing to do for love.

#KJ Charles #The Doomsday Books 2 #Historical Romance #M/M Romance #Fiction #LGBTQIA #Romance #Historical romance #historical fiction #netgalley #sourcebooks casablanca

[whatsheread]

Novel Nuggets - June 2022 Releases Part One

Novel Nuggets – June 2022 Releases Part One

I am bound and determined to catch up on all outstanding reviews before the end of the year. Now that I’ve gotten all of the audiobooks out of the way, that list is much more manageable. Thankfully. Without further ado, here is the first batch of reviews for books released in June of 2022. Ordinary Monsters by J. M. Miro is a novel that did not get much attention this year, and that saddens me.…

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#Alix E. Harrow #Bloomsbury YA #Book Review #Brigid Kemmerer #Edelweiss #Eva Reid #Fairy Tales #Fantasy #Flatiron Books #Hannah Whitten #Harper Voyager #Historical Fiction #J. M. Miro #June 2022 Releases #Katee Robert #NetGalley #Orbit #Romance #Sourcebooks Casablanca #Tordotcom #Young Adult

[whimsicaldragonette]

ARC Review: Never Been Kissed by Timothy Janovsky

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Add to Goodreads

Publication Date: May 3, 2022

Synopsis:

Dear (never-been-quite-over-you) Crush, It's been a few years since we were together, but I can't stop thinking about the time we almost... Wren Roland has never been kissed, but he wants that movie-perfect ending more than anything. Feeling nostalgic on the eve of his birthday, he sends emails to all the boys he (ahem) loved before he came out. Morning brings the inevitable Oh God What Did I Do?, but he brushes that panic aside. Why stress about it? None of his could-have-beens are actually going to read the emails, much less respond. Right? Enter Derick Haverford, Wren's #1 pre-coming-out-crush and his drive-in theater's new social media intern. Everyone claims he's coasting on cinematic good looks and his father's connections, but Wren has always known there's much more to Derick than meets the eye. Too bad he doesn't feel the same way about the infamous almost-kiss that once rocked Wren's world. Whatever. Wren's no longer a closeted teenager; he can survive this. But as their hazy summer becomes consumed with a special project that may just save the struggling drive-in for good, Wren and Derick are drawn ever-closer...and maybe, finally, Wren's dream of a perfect-kiss-before-the-credits is within reach. A feel-good summer LGBTQIA+ New Adult RomCom, perfect for fans of Red White & Royal Blue, Boyfriend Material, and What If It's Us.

My Rating: ★★★★★

*My Review below the cut.

My Review:

This was suuuuuuper cute. Wren does come across as very young at first, but as the story settled into its groove I felt like his reactions and thought processes were actually very accurate for a 22-year old. He starts the novel fairly immature and at loose ends, but through the course of the story he gains confidence in himself. This is helped along by his managerial position at Wiley's Drive-in (where he has to find the line between working with his friends and being responsible for his friends' mistakes), his blossoming friendship with reclusive former film star and director Alice Walker, and his rekindled friendship and burgeoning relationship with his high-school crush Derick.

What begins as a terrible drunk decision - sending emails to all his former crushes and almost-kisses - ends up with a real chance at happiness.

Wren's friends are adorably quirky - sometimes a little too much so - and sweet. Reading the scenes of them together took me back to my college friendships. Derick is a bit of a mystery for pretty much the entire book and I think it could have benefited from some Derick POV chapters. The mystery does add drama and move the plot along in places, however, so I can understand why the author chose to do it this way. I also really appreciated how many of the characters were LGBT+ and how matter-of-fact it all was. There was a little bit of drama between Derick and his family but it wasn't too much and didn't detract from the sense of queer joy that develops throughout the book.

I listened to the audiobook version of this and really like the way the narrator chose to read it. His voices for all the characters were easy to tell apart and fit the characters very well.

I was fully invested in the story from beginning to end, and came away with a lot of nostalgia and also a real appreciation for how the author handled the story.

Also! It was SO nice to see demisexual rep in this story! Ace rep of any kind is hard to come by in fiction, and demisexual rep even more so. It was also explained really well without taking the reader out of the story and really fit Wren's character and experiences. As someone who is demi, I really appreciated the rep. It made me feel that much more connected to the story and more sympathetic to Wren. Especially when he decides that "queer" is how he's going to identify, with the knowledge that he's also gay and demisexual. It was very relatable. Society doesn't know how to handle asexuality for some strange reason, and it can feel very alienating.

The best parts of the story, hands down, were the scenes with Alice Kelly, reclusive film star and brilliant director - and cantankerous old lady. She really came to life in my imagination and quickly became my favorite character. The way Wren approached his friendship with her, slowly drawing her out while making sure she is always comfortable with what is happening, was wonderful to see.

I loved her story that was slowly revealed even more than Wren's and Derick's tbh. I would definitely read a book about her life. I'm glad she became such an important character and her story interwoven so thoroughly with Wren's and Wiley's Drive-in.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing an e-arc for review.

#timothy janovsky #never been kissed #new adult rom com #lgbt+ books #queer romance #drive-in #summer romance #netgalley #arc review #shilo reads #sourcebooks casablanca

[poisonbooknerd]

A Spot of Trouble Review

A Spot of Trouble Review

A Spot of Trouble Terri Wilson A Romance published by Sourcebooks Casablanca on September 7th, 2021 Rating: Get ready to laugh out loud with this hilarious romantic comedy featuring:• A grumpy firefighter who thinks his way is the only way• A bubbly yoga teacher who prefers to go with the flow• Adorable Dalmatians who swap places—and the chaos that ensues• An opposites-attract romance that’ll…

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#a spot of trouble #book review #book reviews #Four stars #Genre: contemporary romance #Genre: romance #raquel reviews #Reviews #sourcebooks casablanca #terri wilson

[quirkycatsfatstacks]

Review: Boss Witch by Ann Aquirre

Review: Boss Witch by Ann Aquirre

Series: Fix-It Witches #2Author: Ann AquirrePublisher: Sourcebooks CasablancaReleased: April 5, 2022Received: NetGalleyWarnings: Toxic family members, prejudice Eee! It’s time for the second novel in Ann Aquirre’s Fix-It Witches series! Boss Witch is, first and foremost, an entertaining title. It’s also a book I’ve been looking forward to, as I love this sort of casual paranormal romance…

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#Ann Aquirre #Book #Book Review #Books #Boss Witch #Boss Witch by Ann Aquirre #Fantasy #Fiction #Fix-It Witches #Literary #Literature #Net Galley #NetGalley #Review #Sourcebooks #Sourcebooks Casablanca