The keeper shelf: 8 romances I read lately, and why you should, too

Just because I cut back on reviews a while ago doesn't mean I cut back on reading. In fact, all that time I save on NOT doing reviews has really freed me up to read even more. So, with that in mind, here are a few AMAZING romances I've read lately, and reasons why I think you should read them, too:   

Dear Enemy by Kristen Callihan

Why it's awesome: I almost missed out on this great read because I wrongly assumed it was one of those deplorable bully romances that I hate so much. It's totally NOT THAT. Sure, Macon and Delilah fought like cats and dogs while they were younger, and they did say and do some awful stuff to each other in high school, but they were just dumb kids who had more feelings than they knew what to do with. And when they came together as adults and really got to know each other, watching them realize what dumb kids they'd been and accept how much they'd always truly loved each other was really beautiful. This was an amazing slow-burn, "enemies-ish" to lovers romance that I can't recommend highly enough. It gets all the stars from me.  

The Has-Been and the Hot Mistake by Isabel Jordan

Why it's awesome: This is kind of cheating because I actually DID review this one. You can read my glow-y review here. But I thought I needed to repeat how much I loved this one. Did I mention there's a nice guy, former rockstar himbo? And a dog rescue? And hot sexy times? Seriously...why are you still reading this and not downloading the book??? 

 A Not So Meet Cute by Meghan Quinn

Why it's awesome: If you're in the mood for light, hilarious, sexy romantic comedy with heart, Meghan Quinn is always a pretty safe bet. This book is no different. It's all kinds of adorable and hot. Highly recommend. 

Cliff's Descent by Dianne Duvall 

Can you even call yourself a paranormal romance fan if you're not reading Dianne Duvall's Immortal Guardians series? I don't think so. These books can be read as a standalones, but I recommend starting from the beginning. You get to know the characters better that way. And trust me...you want to know these characters. 

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

I was a diehard Reylo after The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi. (I don't recognize The Rise of Skywalker as part of the series.) So, when I saw two characters on this cover who looked shockingly like Rey and Ben Solo, I was intrigued. Finding out the author was also a Reylo and had written some awesome fanfaction had me even more intrigued. But still, I wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading the book because the author was new to me. What I found was a delightful, sexy, sweet, and all kinds of adorable romance that charmed the hell out of me with its adorkable characters and witty banter. Two very enthusiastic thumbs up on this one. (And Reylos gotta stick together. #BenSoloLives)

Beard Necessities by Penny Reid

The close of the Winston Brothers series was everything I expected: hilarious, heart-warming, packed with witty banter, and sexy. You can read this book as a standalone, but don't do it. Read the whole thing. You'll love this book even more if you read it last. Just trust me. The series MORE than worth your time. 

Hook, Line, and Sinker by Tessa Bailey

If you saw this book and were intimidated by the price, I understand. I'm notoriously cheap. But trust me when I, a notoriously cheap person, say that this book is worth every penny of the asking price. This is friends-to-lovers romance at its finest, and Tessa Bailey never fails to deliver unbelievable heat and chemistry between her characters. Just close your eyes, ignore the price, and click that buy button. Trust me. It's worth it. 

Neon Gods by Katee Robert

Look, in romance, there's hot, and then there's Katee Robert hot. She's in a league all her own when it comes to heat level. But that's not the only selling feature of her books. Neon Gods is a brilliant twist on the Hades and Persephone story, and it frankly blew me away. (And I've read A LOT of romance, so it takes something extra special to blow me away. This book was IT.) 

But those are just a few of the great books I'VE read lately. What about you? What should I add to my TBR list? Let's discuss!