Keeper shelf: Great stuff I've read lately, but haven't had time to review

I don't review half as much as I used to. My reasons for that are vast and mysterious (not really...I explained it all right HERE, but "vast and mysterious just sounds better), but that doesn't mean I haven't been reading just as much as I always have. So, that said, here are some great reads I discovered lately that you might want to consider checking out, too: 

The Wedding Bait by Adele Buck

Characters over 50? Check. Retired escort agreeing to play fake boyfriend to a kickass, professional woman who is attending her daughter's wedding and doesn't want to see her douchecanoe of an ex alone? Check. Characters who TALK about their feelings, wants, and needs like grownups and don't have stupid misunderstandings? Double check. This novella was quick, easy reading that was just delightful. It was exactly what I needed after my last failed foray into the world of new adult romances recommended to me by TikTok. *shudders* Anyhoo, 5 stars all the way on this one. (And for the "mature" readers like me out there...be careful what you pick up based on TikTok. There's some great recs there. Then there's stuff that REALLY isn't for grumpy old people like me. 1-click with caution is all I'm saying.)   

Cyclone by Janie Crouch

This book came out in 2018, so I have no idea how I missed it for so long. But I was in the mood to give romantic suspense a try again (I broke up the category a while back, but hey, what can I say? I'm fickle) and found this book. It was good old-fashioned romantic suspense. The heroine is never TSTL, the hero is super protective without being a giant, flaming alphahole,  and it's a second chance romance, which I adore. Now, it looks like other books in the series highlight different tropes, but this book was good enough that I'll happily be falling into the rabbit hole of this 13-book series (yippee! 13 books!) very soon.   

Beautiful Russian Monster by Odette Stone

This one is angsty, just a little dark, and ALL kinds of sexy with a tormented, scarred, grumpy anti-hero who kidnaps the sunshine-y heroine (it's a long story...his reasons are valid) and ends-up on a globe-trotting adventure and fight for survival with her. They, of course, fall in love along the way, and he'll do ANYTHING to protect her. You can't see me, but I'm swooning. Highly recommend this story, and this author.  

The Alien Quarantine Rescue series by Robin Lovett

This series was recommended to me by an author friend, and let me tell you...phew...it is HOT. Like, dirty hot. And I mean that in the BEST possible way. I read all the books in 2 days. The plot of each is so much over-the-top-banana-pants-crazy FUN that I was instantly hooked, and I've already downloaded the author's other books. (And if you're at all prudish, DO NOT READ BOOK 4. You'll die clutching your pearls. But if you're like me, read it when no one is around to see you blush and...you're welcome.)     

The Dragon's Bride by Katee Robert

If you go into this one wanting a flaming hot, monster fucking read, you will not be disappointed. But the crazy-high heat level shouldn't scare away readers who want deep emotions, because this book has that, too. The world building is pretty great, too. I'm not usually a fan of fantasy romance because I have a short attention span and find the world building to often be tedious and hard to follow. Not so with this one. Highly recommend! (And on a totally shallow note, I adore the cover art!)

​But that's just what I've added to MY keeper shelf lately. What about you? Let's discuss! 

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