Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez

Did you love What is Love? by Jen Comfort? Check out this book next! Originally posted in May of 2023.

Available now

CW: Discussions of pregnancy loss, divorce, gaslighting, severe illness, depression, and anxiety. This is all covered, and more, in the Author’s Note at the beginning of the book. I listened to this book on audio and this is what I remember from that section, apologies for anything missed.

This is a perfect book! It’s absolutely, hands down, 100% perfect! And contemporary romance is far from my favorite genre! It’s technically book 2 in the Part of Your World series, book 1 is on my nightstand waiting for me to read it, but you can easily read it as a stand-alone novel.

From the Publisher:

Dr. Briana Ortiz’s life is seriously flatlining. Her divorce is just about finalized, her brother’s running out of time to find a kidney donor, and that promotion she wants? Oh, that’s probably going to the new man-doctor who’s already registering eighty-friggin’-seven on Briana’s “pain in my ass” scale. But just when all systems are set to hate, Dr. Jacob Maddox completely flips the game . . . by sending Briana a letter.

And it’s a really good letter. Like the kind that proves that Jacob isn’t actually Satan. Worse, he might be this fantastically funny and subversively likeable guy who’s terrible at first impressions. Because suddenly he and Bri are exchanging letters, sharing lunch dates in her “sob closet,” and discussing the merits of freakishly tiny horses. But when Jacob decides to give Briana the best gift imaginable—a kidney for her brother—she wonders just how she can resist this quietly sexy new doctor . . . especially when he calls in a favor she can’t refuse.

This book is sweet, hilarious, cringey in a good way, and incredibly romantic. After making a horrible first impression at his new job, Jacob and Bri exchange funny, snarky, and sometimes ridiculous letters to each other for weeks. Through those letters, and lunches in a supply closet, the two fall head over heels for each other, but they are both such dumbies that they let all of their, very valid, past experiences and insecurities get in the way and instead of jumping into bed, they start a beautiful and supportive friendship. Jacob has severe social anxiety and Bri immeadiately gets him. She understands what he needs to feel comfortable and secure when going to new places and meeting new people. Bri does all of this without making a big deal about it. She just does it. I found it so sweet.

Their banter is sharp, witty, and highly entertaining. Bri loves to ask ridiculously specific questions and you could feel how much fun the two were having. All of the supporting characters are fabulous and there are some real #friendshipgoals going on.

I listened to the audiobook version and the narrators, Kyla Garcia and Zachary Webber, gave a fabulous performance. If it’s available to you, I highly recommend it.

I truly loved this book. If you would like to add it your shelf, you can click on the cover at the top or here for ordering information. I listened to it through my Library’s Axis360 app so if you’re a Library user, put that hold in now. I had to wait a few weeks for it to become available.

This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon Associate links, and I may earn from qualifying purchases.

Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez

Available now

CW: Discussions of pregnancy loss, divorce, gaslighting, severe illness, depression, and anxiety. This is all covered, and more, in the Author’s Note at the beginning of the book. I listened to this book on audio and this is what I remember from that section, apologies for anything missed.

This is a perfect book! It’s absolutely, hands down, 100% perfect! And contemporary romance is far from my favorite genre! It’s technically book 2 in the Part of Your World series, book 1 is on my nightstand waiting for me to read it, but you can easily read it as a stand-alone novel.

From the Publisher:

Dr. Briana Ortiz’s life is seriously flatlining. Her divorce is just about finalized, her brother’s running out of time to find a kidney donor, and that promotion she wants? Oh, that’s probably going to the new man-doctor who’s already registering eighty-friggin’-seven on Briana’s “pain in my ass” scale. But just when all systems are set to hate, Dr. Jacob Maddox completely flips the game . . . by sending Briana a letter.

And it’s a really good letter. Like the kind that proves that Jacob isn’t actually Satan. Worse, he might be this fantastically funny and subversively likeable guy who’s terrible at first impressions. Because suddenly he and Bri are exchanging letters, sharing lunch dates in her “sob closet,” and discussing the merits of freakishly tiny horses. But when Jacob decides to give Briana the best gift imaginable—a kidney for her brother—she wonders just how she can resist this quietly sexy new doctor . . . especially when he calls in a favor she can’t refuse.

This book is sweet, hilarious, cringey in a good way, and incredibly romantic. After making a horrible first impression at his new job, Jacob and Bri exchange funny, snarky, and sometimes ridiculous letters to each other for weeks. Through those letters, and lunches in a supply closet, the two fall head over heels for each other, but they are both such dumbies that they let all of their, very valid, past experiences and insecurities get in the way and instead of jumping into bed, they start a beautiful and supportive friendship. Jacob has severe social anxiety and Bri immeadiately gets him. She understands what he needs to feel comfortable and secure when going to new places and meeting new people. Bri does all of this without making a big deal about it. She just does it. I found it so sweet.

Their banter is sharp, witty, and highly entertaining. Bri loves to ask ridiculously specific questions and you could feel how much fun the two were having. All of the supporting characters are fabulous and there are some real #friendshipgoals going on.

I listened to the audiobook version and the narrators, Kyla Garcia and Zachary Webber, gave a fabulous performance. If it’s available to you, I highly recommend it.

I truly loved this book. If you would like to add it your shelf, you can click on the cover at the top or here for ordering information. I listened to it through my Library’s Axis360 app so if you’re a Library user, put that hold in now. I had to wait a few weeks for it to become available.

This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon Associate links, and I may earn from qualifying purchases.

Blog Tour! The Lights on Knockbridge Lane by Roan Parrish

It is my absolute pleasure to share with you a warm, gentle, and beautifully written romance from Roan Parrish! I fell in love with Adam and Wes’s story from the very first chapter. While Christmas may seem far away, it’s never too early to jump into a holiday romance to give you all the warm feelings.

Can one man’s crowded, messy life fill another man’s empty heart?

Raising a family was always Adam Mills’ dream, although solo parenting and moving back to tiny Garnet Run certainly were not. After a messy breakup, Adam is doing his best to give his young daughter the life she deserves—including accepting help from their new, reclusive neighbor to fulfill her Christmas wish.

Though the little house may not have “the most lights ever,” the Mills home begins to brighten as handsome Wes Mobray spends more time there and slowly sheds his protective layers. But when the eye-catching house ends up in the news, Wes has to make a choice: hide from the darkness of his unusual past or embrace the light of a future—and a family—with Adam.

Isn’t this the cutest cover!

Add The Lights on Knockbridge Lane to your Goodreads!

Doesn’t this sound amazing? This book is so sweet. Adam and Wes are both dealing with relationship issues, Adam with his previous partner and Wes with his family, that shape the way they approach this new relationship. I’m never one for children in romance but Gus is truly a delight and gave some real weight to the decisions made by both men. It was really fun to see how Adam reacted to Wes’s unusual pets and how Gus immediately latched on to them. If you’re looking for a low-angst, charming, and delightful holiday romance, this is the perfect book to add to your list.

Read on for an excerpt from The LIghts on Knockbridge Lance.

Excerpt of The Lights on Knockbridge Lane by Roan Parrish (Sept 28)

Harlequin Special Edition

Add The Lights on Knockbridge Lane to your Goodreads!

Everyone on Knockbridge Lane had a different theory about Westley Mobray. It was the first thing Adam Mills heard about as he introduced himself around last week, when he and August moved in.

The eight-year-old McKinnon twins next door said he was a vampire. Their parents, Darren and Rose McKinnon, scoffed at that, but said he could be a witch. Marisol Gutierrez three doors down insisted she’d seen him skulking around the neighborhood at night, hunting for animals to sacrifice to the devil. A teenager at the end of the street reported that anyone who looked him in the eyes would be hypnotized, and anyone who touched him would turn to stone. Mr. Montgomery on the corner just said freak.

Westley Mobray was never seen before sunset, though mysterious packages arrived on his doorstep often. He never spoke to anyone and never waved hello. And late at night, the windows of his run-down house glowed an eerie green.

At least, that’s what they told Adam.

So when he saw the man in question through the twilit haze of his own front window—with his daughter in tow—he was understandably startled. Especially since he’d thought she was playing quietly in her room.

He’d slammed two coffees to prevent it, but he’d been asleep. The kind of light, unsatisfying sleep he often fell into when he had a moment of quiet. Which was something that didn’t happen that often as the newly single parent of an eight-year-old.

His insomnia had been pretty bad since the divorce, and worse since they moved back to Garnet Run, where he was the only one responsible for Gus.

The knock at the door jerked him out of that strange sleep, and he scrambled for the door, stubbing his toe in the process, so that when he yanked it open he was biting back the kind of words that he tried with varying degrees of success not to say in front of Gus.

He focused on Gus first. She was all in one piece and was even smiling. It was her I did something bad and delightful smile, but a smile was good—at least when on a child who seemed to have been forcibly dragged home by an irate stranger.

“Where is your coat?” is what came out of Adam’s mouth.

Sometimes he tried to remember what it was like when he talked about things like the composition of his next shot, which restaurant’s tiramisu he preferred, or the latest cozy mystery he was reading.

Now he said things like “Where is your coat” and “Don’t take that apart” and “If you don’t stop making that sound I might have to throttle you.” Okay, he didn’t say the last one so much as think it. Often.

“It’s not that cold,” his wonderful, brilliant daughter said, her lips only vaguely blue.

Adam counseled himself to breathe.

Once he’d determined that Gus was all in one piece and frostbite wasn’t imminent, he turned his attention to the man who’d brought her home.

“Um,” he said intelligently.

Westley Mobray was tall and severe, with shaved dark hair and strong dark eyebrows over piercing blue eyes. Those eyes were narrowed slightly, either in anger or—if the neighborhood rumors were to be believed—because he never went outside when there was the slightest bit of light still in the sky, as it would, of course, burn him to ash.

“She broke into my house,” he said. His voice was low and rough with disuse.

“She’s eight.”

Buy The Lights on Knockbridge Lane by Roan Parrish

Harlequin.com: https://www.harlequin.com/shop/books/9781335408129_the-lights-on-knockbridge-lane.html 

About the Author

​ Roan Parrish lives in Philadelphia, where she’s gradually attempting to write love stories in every genre. When not writing, she can be found cutting her friends’ hair, meandering through the city while listening to torch songs and melodic death metal, or cooking overly elaborate meals. She loves bonfires, winter beaches, minor chord harmonies, and self-tattooing. One time she may or may not have baked a six-layer chocolate cake and then thrown it out the window in a fit of pique.

Connect with the Author 

Website: https://www.roanparrish.com/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/roanparrish/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RoanParrish 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roanparrish/ 

Big thanks to Harlequin for sharing an advanced copy of this title. All opinions and mistakes are my own. This post may contain affiliate links and I may earn from qualifying purchases.

The Devil You Know by Kit Rocha

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The Mercenary Librarians and the Silver Devils are back in The Devil You Know, the next installment of USA Today and New York Times bestselling author Kit Rocha’s post-apocalyptic Action/Romance, with hints of Orphan Black and the Avengers

Maya has had a price on her head from the day she escaped the TechCorps. Genetically engineered for genius and trained for revolution, there’s only one thing she can’t do—forget.

Gray has finally broken free of the Protectorate, but he can’t escape the time bomb in his head. His body is rejecting his modifications, and his months are numbered.

When Maya’s team uncovers an operation trading in genetically enhanced children, she’ll do anything to stop them. Even risk falling back into the hands of the TechCorps.

And Gray has found a purpose for his final days: keeping Maya safe.

I absolutely adore this series! Kit Rocha has created a thrilling and dark world for their characters to navigate through as they continue their quest to save the people around them in a post-apocalyptic Atlanta. Maya is a technological genius who has used her skills to maintain their precious Library and provide those around her with the knowledge necessary to keep the community fed and safe. Of all the Mercenary Librarians, Maya is definitely my favorite. She doesn’t have the typical super strength and fighting skills the other Librarians and Silver Devils have, but what she does have is a perfect memory and a level of empathy that makes her the perfect addition to their crew and community. She’s also a gorgeously curvy and soft heroine who finds herself obsessed with book scanners. 

Her relationship with Gray develops in such a gentle and respectful way and is at complete odds with their surroundings. They have both been treated horribly in the past, and yes, horribly is a vast understatement, but are still able to overcome that abuse to develop a true level of trust. Also, these two show us that there is nothing sexier than consent. 

The Devil You Know also gives us a truly cathartic story of a really bad guy who gets all the consequences coming their way. There is some true justice served that is incredibly satisfying. 

This fast-paced, thrilling adventure is a perfect balance of dark and light. There is a true sense of community between the Mercenary Librarians and the Silver Devils that really shines in this novel. A little something that is much needed in our current climate. 

Intrigued? Want to add this amazing series to your collection? You can find ordering information here:

Mercenary Librarians Book 1

Mercenary Librarians Book 2

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Tor Books for the advanced copy of this title. All opinions and mistakes are my own. 

This post contains affiliate links and I earn from qualifying purchases.

The Beautiful Ones by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

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Readers, I´m not going to lie, I was in the mood to read exactly like this when I discovered this gorgeous book in my inbox. I am a huge fan of Silvia Moreno-Garcia and each book I have read is better than the last. I fell in love with her writing in Mexican Gothic and immediately checked out Certain Dark Things from the Library. Fun fact! Certain Dark Things is going to be re-released this fall and it has a gorgeous cover.

In The Beautiful Ones, we are transported to Loisail and the glamorous homes of the wealthy who reside there. In a world where magic is considered ¨common” and for mere performers, a young socialite´s debut in the Grand Season is threatened when her uncontrolled powers jeopardize her ability to catch the eye of a wealthy gentleman. Antonina ¨Nina¨ Bealieu is overwhelmed by the enormity of the crowds and expectations of the Grand Season. She would much rather spend her days researching and cataloging her extensive insect collection. When she happens upon the great magical performer Hector Auvray in the Library during a ball, she is immediately smitten with his fame and charm. When Nina accepts his offer of a dance, she is completely unaware that she is now a pawn in Hector´s grand plan to win back her cousin´s wife, Valérie, a woman who was once engaged to Hector and still holds his heart.

As Hector maneuvers his way in to Nina´s life to gain access to Valéire, Nina develops feelings that grow from friendship to true love. As the two begin a genuine a courtship, Hectors quest to win back his love exposes dark and lurid secrets that have the ability to put everyone in danger.

This book is amazing! It´s a gorgeous combination of magical fantasy, historical romance, and intense drama. It´s perfect for fans of historical romance who want to branch out from the traditional story and discover a fresh and insightful take on the genre. The magical system is wonderfully developed and adds another layer of complexity to the societal expectations of the characters in this world. I loved how magic was used in this story. Nina is currently living with her adoring and wonderful cousin Gaétan Beaulieu and his critical and harsh wife Valérie during her debut. She is indebted to both of them and needs their contacts to find a suitable husband. Luckily for Nina, Gaétan is more progressive in his thinking and wants love and happiness for his younger cousin. Valérie, on the other hand, wants her married and out of the house. She has no desire to waste any of her time on someone else´s needs and actively despises her husband. When Hector comes back into her life, Valérie seems to genuinely enjoy toying with him and wants nothing more than to bring torment to everyone around her. She is a truly diabolical character and is written perfectly as the foil to Nina´s genuine kindness and curiosity of life and science.

This is the definition of a slow burn romance and watching the three main characters circle around and around each other had me on the edge of my seat the entire book. Over and over again Hector had the opportunity to realize how his love was really obsession and he yet he just kept stumbling in the wrong direction. Nina in all of her naivete, uses romance novels as her guide to courtship and is constantly confused when Hector doesn´t act as the novel´s heroes do and you just want to pat her on the head and have ¨The Talk¨ with her.

I absolutely loved this book and cannot recommend it highly enough. Moreno-Garcia weaves together an intricate and gorgeous story of love, betrayal, and the complexities of societal and familial expectations.

If you want to add this gorgeous book to your shelf, you can find ordering information here:

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions and mistakes are my own. This post also contains affiliate links and I earn from qualifying purchases.