A Lovely Drop by Darynda Jones

Category: Paranormal Romance
Publication date: 02/13/2020
Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Cliffhanger: No

I don’t know when or why Darynda Jones decided to self-publish, but I AM THERE FOR IT!!!

via GIPHY

Plot overview: Andrea has the ability to time travel (essentially...it’s a little more complicated than that) and witness crimes. She’s “asked” (forced, really) to help a sexy Special Agent do just that.

This isn’t so much a romance novel as it is a novella that I could see being a great series starter. I’m not sure what the plans are for this book/series, but here’s what I love.

1. The premise is something I’ve never seen before. It’s very different from the typical psychic romances you find in PNR. And when you find a unique premise in PNR...folks, it’s like finding a freakin’ unicorn that poops rainbows. It’s that special. 
2. Andrea is just the kind of heroine you’d expect Darynda Jones to write: strong, supernaturally talented, empathetic, and just left of “normal.” Quirky and proud of it. I LOVE a good quirky heroine. 
3. Sebastian is all kinds of hot. His willingness to believe in the impossible things that Andrea can do is refreshing. He’s not the typical “I only believe what I’ve experienced” alphaholes that you typically find in PNR where psychics and witches and other powerful women are concerned. He’s willing to do whatever it takes to solve his case, and if that means believing in the quirky heroine who no ones else believes in, so be it. I liked him a lot.  

Frankly, the only thing I wasn’t crazy about in this story was the length. It was too short to provide a lot of “getting to know you” moments between the characters. What they had was more of a deep sexual attraction than a “romance”, per se. I wanted more, I guess. But in the context of a short story, it was pretty awesome. (If it had been a full-length romance, though, it would have been MIND BLOWING. Just sayin’.) 

But, long-story-short, if this was a series starter and there are full-length novels on the horizon, I will 1-click every last one of those full-length with a quickness, because this was a fun read.  

Does this book contribute to or help crush the romance stigma?
It’s far, far, FAR from stigma-y. No rehab needed.