Romance Roundup: August
Welcome to “Romance Roundup” where I share mini-reviews of 3 to 4 romance novels I’ve recently read. This month’s edition includes a story about a time traveler, a romance between friends-to-lovers, and royalty.
Sultry in Stilettos (Stilettos #2) by Nana Malone (2012)
Shy, Fantasy Event Planner, Ricca Munroe has never been lucky in love, so when the latest in a long line of Mr. Oh So Wrongs publicly dumps her, she focuses on her career. All she has to do to land the job of a lifetime is work side-by-side with the one man who can break her heart.
Beckett Mills has never been in love. Personal entanglements are a recipe for disaster—that is until one kiss from Ricca Munroe changes everything. Beckett needs this job to fulfill a promise he made. All he has to do is resist the seductive charms of his best friend.
Can Ricca come out of her shell to land her dream job and the love of her life? Can Beckett trust himself enough to actually fall in love and still keep the promise he made?
Review: Trying to work through my back catalog of Romance reads on my Kindle I happened upon Sultry in Stilettos. The novel is a friends-to-lovers romance where Ricca and Beckett to terms with underlying feelings for each other. They’ve always had a tight-knit relationship so (as a reader) watching their relationship progress fast felt natural, Malone’s romances tend to be on the spicier side of the spectrum and this novel does get pretty heated at times.
I enjoyed the plot having a bit of suspense as the leads both have to compete with each other for a promotion and the fact that someone is trying to sabotage their career. Outside of the romance, the book has a few action-packed scenes and scenic views due to their jobs as event planners. This was a fast-paced and enjoyable romance read.
Final Verdict:
Swept Away (Swept Away Saga #1) by Kamery Solomon (2015)
Dead men tell no tales…
For more than 200 years, the Treasure Pit on Oak Isle has baffled treasure hunters, engineers, and the common man alike. When Samantha Greene arrives, she finds her estranged father has spent years funneling energy and finances into the endeavor, finding nothing.
When an accidental death occurs in the pit, fulfilling the prophecy that seven lives must end before the treasure can be found, the search kicks into high gear, with more than one party vying for the secrets that lie below. Finding herself the closest to the treasure anyone has ever been, Samantha throws herself into the work, landing among the coveted prize. Just as she’s about to discover what’s truly hidden beneath the island, the pit begins to flood with ocean water, sweeping her away despite her attempts to swim to the surface.
Upon awaking, Samantha discovers that, not only did she not drown, but the year is 1695—one hundred years before the Treasure Pit was even discovered. Carried off by the pirate Tristan O’Rourke, a rouge Irishman with more than his share of secrets, she soon finds that there is much more than she realized in play. Will she discover the secrets of Oak Isle, or will an unexpected love keep her from finding out the truth? Will she ever make it back to her own time? Perhaps the real question is this; will she want to?
Review: If you enjoy books with adventures on the high seas, Swept Away is the novel for you. It’s a thrilling romance novel with a heightened sense of adventure and lots of action. Readers are whisked away to the past as Sam tries to adapt and learn about the treasure pit her dad was after. It’s incredibly suspenseful and each chapter left me wanting more.
Sam, the main character, handles herself very well as a new time-traveler, and her tenacity for staying confident even when things seem a bit bleak. Her strength makes her an admirable main character! The relationship between her and Tristan is swoon-worthy and progresses nicely. I appreciated how the duo becomes a team to protect the treasure. The story ends on a cliffhanger that has you wanting more. I am interested in reading the next installment in this series.
Final Verdict:
The Queen’s Game (Cincamarre Series #1) by Carla de Guzman (2017)
There are only two reasons why Nina would come back home to Cincamarre–one, if Auntie Delia promises to stop butting into her business, two, if her father died and she was made to ascend the throne to be queen.
Unfortunately for her, it was the second thing that brought her home.
As a princess who’s sunk a yacht and been caught kissing popstars, it’s easy for her aunt, the regent, to think she’s ill prepared for the throne. But Nina doesn’t think that having to fake date Felipe, the handsome, squeaky clean Prince of Concordia was the best solution for that.
Nina’s ready to learn the ropes of her new role and make it hers, and reconnecting with Felipe only makes her want to be a better queen. But is the monarchy ready for Queen Nina?
Review: A royal romance? ✔️ Beautiful palace? ✔️ A glittering crown and ballgown? ✔️
All of these factors made for an entertaining read in The Queen’s Game. Nina’s heart has been hardened with grief and homesickness after the news of her father’s death. However, she struggles with calling Cincamarre her home because of her difficult past. Felipe seems to be the only bright spot in her life. This novel is definitely a friends-to-lovers romance and their relationships feel natural. It’s as if no time has passed between the two of them. Their romance is fun to read as they tried to deny their feelings for each other. The lush surroundings and the palace setting really immerses the reader in the book. I love novels from these Romance Class authors, they are too good.
Final Verdict:
What romance novels have you read lately? Share your thoughts in the comment section below. If you have any recommendations feel free to share those as well.
