winecellarlibrary's reviews
444 reviews

This review is also available on my blog: Wine Cellar Library

First, I would like to thank the author and Valentine PR for providing me with an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

“You…are the perfect host. You are the appetizer…The cocktail, the main course…but I never could wait to get to my dessert. You’re the most alluring goddamn banquet.” (p.127)

Tropes:
small-town romance
hockey romance
second chance
accidental pregnancy
cinnamon roll MMC
standalone in an interconnected series

Convincing her he truly wants to be with her this time just got so much harder

Beatrix gave up her internship and would have dropped out of college to follow Dominick “Ren” Renaldi to Canada to support his pro hockey career, but he blindsides her by breaking up with her. Ten years later, Ren appears in Buttercup Hill–with a fixer-upper winery, a high-energy dog, and a new hockey team. Buried under stress from work and still sour over being unceremoniously dumped, Trix has no intention of entertaining Ren or his attempts to get her to see the winery he bought under the guise of needing her skilled designer’s eye. But it’s been a long time since Trix has been with anyone, and she figures a one-and-done agreement couldn’t hurt…until morning sickness strikes a few weeks later.

Love You Too is a standalone second-chance romance in the interconnected Buttercup Hill series by Stacy Travis. Trix is high-strung, prone to overburdening herself with commitments, while Ren is more laid back, but both are responsible to a fault. Ren struggles with his duty as a team captain against his role as Trix’s partner and as a soon-to-be co-parent, and the harder he tries to work on one, ultimately, the other suffers. Despite being prone to overworking herself, Trix knows she could squeeze single motherhood into her agenda, but part of her still longs to believe that Ren won’t abandon her this time around.

I always love second-chance romances because there are so many complex emotions on both sides, which allows you to really connect with the characters on a deeper level. Trix grapples with feeling disposable, and now that she’s pregnant, it’s hard for her to believe Ren will ever commit to her for the right reasons and not just out of a sense of duty. I wish there had been a little more groveling and more reassurance on Ren’s part, since he promised her forever and then impulsively ended the relationship, making his career his priority, but overall, I enjoyed this book and am interested in catching up on the rest of the series. 

 This review is also available on my blog: Wine Cellar Library

First, I would like to thank the author and Valentine PR for providing me with an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

“‘Keep looking at me that way’–his voice rumbled like soft thunder–’and I’ll forget all my strict rules about patience.’” (p.332)

Tropes:
alternate dimension
parallel world
portal magic
Scottish folklore
mythical creatures
dragon shifters
love triangle
widower MMC
hidden identity
forbidden love
revenge

Dragons and unicorns and forbidden love? I’m hooked!

Refusing to believe her boyfriend of four months simply ghosted her, leaving behind his car and other belongings, Carys travels to Scotland from California to speak to Lachlan’s twin brother Duncan. Duncan is reluctant to tell her the truth, but when he does, he escorts her into an alternate dimension–the Shadowlands, a world of magic parallel to her own where Lachlan is a prince. All Brightkin–those living in the known world–have a “twin” Shadowkin in the Shadowlands. While she contends with the shocking reasons why Lachlan entered her realm and abruptly disappeared, she must also battle with her conflicting feelings for the twin brothers while seeking information that will reveal the person who murdered her own Shadowkin.

First Light immediately grips the reader, plunging straight into the mystery of Lachlan’s disappearance and the magical yet treacherous world of the Shadowlands. More fantasy than romance, this story was a welcome break from all of the romance novels I have been reading lately. Elizabeth Hunter’s world-building is fully immersive and atmospheric. I always love a well-written love triangle, and the dilemma of Lachlan betraying Carys’s trust on top of Duncan and Lachlan being identical yet complete opposites of each other in personality is immensely captivating. The book ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, revealing shocking information…meaning I need to get my hands on the next book in the series as soon as it’s available! 

This review is also available on my blog: Wine Cellar Library

First, I would like to thank Love Notes PR and the author for providing me with a free advanced review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

“It had been seven years and three days since I’d had her this close. And yes, I’d kept track of each day, regret only piling on over time.” (p. 124)

Tropes:
holiday romance
second-chance romance
brother’s best friend
off-limits romance
snowed in
only one bed
forced proximity

A tender, sweet, and steamy second-chance romance

After confessing that he slept with Nick’s sister Stella, Nick gives Alden an ultimatum: stay away from Stella or lose their friendship forever. Seven years later, Stella is newly single following a toxic relationship. When her grandmother asks for help preparing for a snowstorm, the last person Stella expects to find at Amma’s house is the man who broke her heart. And when the storm comes early, leaving Amma stranded at her neighbor’s house, Stella and Alden are forced to ride out the storm–and Christmas–together.

Snow Struck is a touching second-chance romance. Stella and Alden’s insecurities and emotions are raw, but Alden’s steadfast endeavors to build up Stella’s confidence and make her realize her worth are tender and swoon-worthy. It is a very fast read–feeling more like a novella–as well as predictable, but it captured all the cozy vibes I had been hoping for.

This review is also available on my blog: Wine Cellar Library

“‘I think I’m so hungry that I’m not anymore. Does that make sense?’
Eric laughed. ‘As much sense as anything else that’s happening.’” (p. 215)

First, I would like to thank the author for providing me with an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A nail-biting journey through surrogacy, COVID-19, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine

After losing their 4-year-old to leukemia and years of secondary infertility, Heather and Eric seek out an affordable surrogacy option. Their research leads them to an agency in Ukraine. Stricken by COVID-19 as their surrogate’s due date approaches, Heather must stay behind, and Eric’s mother, Abby, accompanies him on his journey to retrieve his newborn daughter, Jillian. Russia invades Ukraine shortly after Jillian is born, forcing Eric and Abby to flee the country with the baby in the dead of winter.

Emily Gallo’s attention to detail in Out of Ukraine makes the book feel as though it could only have been written by someone who faced all the challenges firsthand. Every turn is met with another blockade, forcing Abby and Eric to devise unique strategies to overcome their circumstances. The tension they feel is realistically conveyed through Eric’s surly tone and Abby’s bouts of panic, which compounds the strain on their resolve. While they are trapped in Europe for many weeks, the story maintains a fast pace and high energy. The narrative, at times, does more telling than showing, but the story is so compelling that the pages fly by rapidly. As the trio faces unimaginable hardship–but also heartwarming, selfless charity–Out of Ukraine is a distinctive literary examination of human resilience. 

This review is also available on my blog: Wine Cellar Library

First, I would like to thank the author and Valentine PR for providing me with an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

“Between the sincerity in Emmett’s eyes, the words he’s choosing to use, and the kiss I can still feel, I’m more confused than fall in the South. Is it hot? Is it cold? That’s exactly Emmett.” (p. 265)

Tropes:
romantic comedy
age gap
brother’s best friend
secret relationship
workplace romance
vacation fling
city girl/country boy

Witty, sexy, and downright hilarious

After being gaslit so much that she even gaslights herself, Stella finally reaches her limit when she walks in on her groom-to-be in a particularly compromising position. Rather than face her family or her 400 guests, she runs–straight to a dive bar in the most hideous wedding dress ever made. Emmett can’t help but be drawn to the beautiful disaster sitting across the bar. And when he is sent to check in on a rental property for his boss, the last thing he expects is to run into her, armed with a stiletto, spending her honeymoon alone. Stella knows rebounds aren’t healthy, and Emmett has never done relationships, so what happens when they can’t seem to avoid bumping into each other?

Chelle Sloan’s romantic comedy Runaway Bride’s Guide to Love is not only witty and hilarious, but it is passionate, both in spice and in relearning how to love oneself. Emmett falters at times, but he is a supportive, caring, and thoughtful partner, even when they agree not to make any commitments beyond the “honeymoon” period. This is the kind of story that needs a film adaptation. I am really excited to read the next book in the series about Stella’s sister Maeve! I’m on board with this series for the long haul.