Posted by Guest Reviewer

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/reviews/the-love-lyric/

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/?post_type=reviews&p=151597

This guest review comes from Lisa! A longtime romance aficionado and frequent commenter to SBTB, Lisa is a queer Latine critic with a sharp tongue and lots of opinions. She frequently reviews at All About Romance and Women Write About Comics, where she’s on staff, and you can catch her at @‌thatbouviergirl on Twitter. There, she shares good reviews, bracing industry opinions and thoughtful commentary when she’s not on her grind looking for the next good freelance job.

…

Kristina Forest’s contemporary romances have that fun, unique sparkle to them that heavily build upon the slow-burning chemistry between her leads. The Love Lyric is no exception to that rule and it proves to be a fine novel, though not an outstanding one. But while it’s not Squee material, it definitely comes recommended and is an enjoyable, sweet-natured novel.

Angel Harrison recently moved from Georgia to Los Angeles, where he knows no one and absolutely doesn’t feel at home. At an anti-wedding party thrown by his stylist, Violet Greene, he meets Violet’s sister Lily, who introduces him to another of their sisters, Iris Greene. Angel is instantly captivated by the talented Iris, but after the party, they won’t see each other again for three whole years.

Iris is the classic older sister, forever in charge of cleaning up the messes her siblings have left behind. She is responsible, controlled, and always there for everyone in her life. When she meets Angel again, he’s a rising music star and she is director of partnerships at Save Face Beauty. They’ve both been living full lives; Iris got married and pregnant before she met Angel, but lost her husband in a car accident, leaving her a single mom raising her six-year-old daughter, Calla, alone.

Angel is enjoying the spoils of fame, but while he’s been dating pretty famous women in the meantime, he’s never quite forgotten Iris. Angel is also caught between his strong Christian faith and his very secular career as a soul singer. It’s clear from the very first that they have great chemistry, but they have to keep things cool – Angel is now Save Face’s new brand ambassador.

Angel and Iris depart on a publicity campaign for Save Face, which keeps throwing them together and into romantic situations. But can Iris ever relax and see Angel as a romantic prospect — and can Angel ever reconcile his newfound fame with his faith?

The Love Lyric is a pleasant experience, though it’s not as outstanding as The Neighbor Favor, which opened the Greene Sisters Trilogy. Poor Iris definitely deserves play time and definitely deserves a nice, flirtatious, kind guy like Angel in her life. Angel’s a great, supportive hero who clearly loves and believes in her.

Uneven writing is my big problem with this one. There are scenes where Iris and Angel pop out as interesting, complex characters – and the occasional credulity stretch where they feel like toys of the plot. Iris’ daughter and her sisters in particular feel underwritten and underused; while the focus understandably stays on the tour and the romance between Iris and Angel, I could’ve used more time with Calla especially.

Who doesn’t feel underused? Angel’s mother, a woman of faith who knows which end is up. I definitely enjoyed her presence. A worthy note – while this isn’t marketed as an inspy, there’s definitely a ton of talk about faith and God in here, so your enjoyment of the book may be stymied or enhanced by this part of the plot.

The book also does quite a good job depicting Iris’ anger and sadness in the wake of her husband’s death. She likes Angel but is afraid about supplanting her memories. Naturally, she slowly but surely comes to realize that she won’t lose those memories if she ends up with Angel, but it’s quite a well-done struggle in the meantime.

It’s easy to enjoy The Love Lyric – well-meaning, sweet-tempered, and smooth as butter. It doesn’t reach greatness, but it’s a perfectly decent way to wind up the summer in an agreeable fashion.

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/reviews/the-love-lyric/

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/?post_type=reviews&p=151597

Posted by Amanda

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/2025/09/the-rec-league-celebrity-crush-romances/

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/?p=151680

This Rec League was sent in by Kim. Thanks, Kim!

I’d love to see a Rec League about celebrity crush romances—where one MC is the celeb crush of the other MC, who is just a regular person. Strongly prefer MM, but I know that may be too niche. I’m really interested specifically in preexisting celeb crushes, not just “one character is a celebrity” plots. Open to actor crushes, sports, music, etc.

This request is brought to you by Cait Nary’s LUCKY BOUNCE (I have worn out the virtual spine of my ebook copy re-reading it).

Amanda: Any pairings are welcome!

Shana: Fan Service by Rosie Danan fits but is m/f. The heroine has longtime crush on an actor who turns into a werewolf.

Elyse: Stars in Your Eyes by Karen Callender ( A | BN | K ): Hollywood bad boy and a up and coming star

A | BN | K

If This Gets Out by Sophie Gonzales ( A | BN | K | AB ) – members of a boy band (YA).

The Rules of Royalty by Cale Dietrich ( A | BN | K | AB ) (stretching celeb to include Royals).

The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun – reality TV. ( A | BN | K )

Tara: I can think of two f/f romances that fit the bill. Tempting Olivia ( A ) is about a very famous actor who needs a divorce lawyer and hires someone who’s had a crush on her for years.

I also recently finished Make or Break by E. J. Noyes ( A | BN | K | AB ), which has one of the lead actors on a police drama and the key makeup artist falling for each other. They’ve had mutual crushes for years and finally act on it.

What celebrity crush romances would you recommend?

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/2025/09/the-rec-league-celebrity-crush-romances/

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/?p=151680

Posted by Amanda

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/2025/09/a-thriller-f-f-romance-more/

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/?p=151693

Libro.fm’s buy-one-get-one sale is happening from Sept 16-19, and you can get two audiobooks for one credit. And if you’ve been thinking of joining Libro.fm, you can get three audiobooks for the price of one if you’re a new member buying a one credit per month plan. This means if you use code SWITCH, you could end up with six audiobooks for three credits you receive on sign up.

Once Smitten, Twice Shy

Once Smitten, Twice Shy by Chloe Liese is $1.99! Fingers crossed this sale is still valid! This is book three in The Wilmot Sisters series. The description mentions it’s a retelling of Twelfth Night.

Star-crossed lovers learn that practicing romance leads to the perfect happy ending in this steamy reimagining of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.

Since heartbreak entered the scene, Juliet Wilmot, once a hopeless romantic, has sworn off love. But when she’s presented with the chance to revisit romance—purely for practice—with the gorgeous, off-limits guy she keeps serendipitously running into, it feels like a sign from the universe.

Quiet, shy Will Orsino knows happily-ever-after isn’t on his horizon. Problem is, for the sake of the family business, marriage is.  Resigned to the inevitable, but with no confidence he can woo a wife, he can hardly say no when fate hands him the alluring, unattainable woman he keeps crossing paths with, offering to help him learn the ropes of romance.

Neither of them looking for love, Jules and Will agree they’re the perfect pair to practice romance. Except that practicing to perfection leads to an irresistible attraction. Their once smitten hearts, though still twice shy, might have happily-ever-after written in the stars for them, after all.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

When Women Were Dragons

RECOMMENDED: When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill is $1.99! Carrie read this one and gave it an A:

I adored this book. This was an astonishing, gripping, and inspiring read that I will return to again and again.

Learn about the Mass Dragoning of 1955 in which 300,000 women spontaneously transform into dragons…and change the world.

Alex Green is a young girl in a world much like ours. But this version of 1950’s America is characterized by a significant event: The Mass Dragoning of 1955, when hundreds of thousands of ordinary wives and mothers sprouted wings, scales and talons, left a trail of fiery destruction in their path, and took to the skies. Seemingly for good. Was it their choice? What will become of those left behind? Why did Alex’s beloved Aunt Marla transform but her mother did not? Alex doesn’t know. It’s taboo to speak of, even more so than her crush on Sonja, her schoolmate.

Forced into silence, Alex nevertheless must face the consequences of dragons: a mother more protective than ever; a father growing increasingly distant; the upsetting insistence that her aunt never even existed; and a new “sister” obsessed with dragons far beyond propriety. Through loss, rage, and self-discovery, this story follows Alex’s journey as she deals with the events leading up to and beyond the Mass Dragoning, and her connection with the phenomenon itself.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

Discovering Nicola

Discovering Nicola by Clare Ashton is 99c! This is book three in Oxford Romance series. This is a f/f romance where the leads are divorcees.

Sparks fly between Nicola Albright KC and Geeta Sachdeva, but not the good kind. They’re the sort that leave small fires, devastation, and everyone peeping between their fingers at arrogant lawyer, Nicola, on one side, and everyone’s favourite mum, Geeta, on the other.

Yet when both are divorced and at a new stage in life, they find themselves living within glowering distance of each other, in beautiful Iffley Village, Oxford. Reluctantly they call a truce and try to make friends. It’s tricky though, when there’s more than one reason they’ve circled and snapped for years.

For a start, Geeta’s lawyer daughter, Olivia, idolises the eminent King’s Counsel barrister, to eye rolls from Geeta. And to Nicola’s annoyance, her own daughter, Charlotte, has always turned to perfect mama Geeta for comfort and understanding. Animosity between the two is a given.

Until they force themselves to be nice to each other, that is, and then they’re compelled to question everything…

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

The Villa

The Villa by Rachel Hawkins is $2.99! This is a Gothic thriller, which is all sorts of Elyse catnip. It was also mentioned in a previous Hide Your Wallet. Have you read any of Hawkins’ thrillers?

From New York Times bestselling author Rachel Hawkins comes a deliciously wicked gothic suspense, set at an Italian villa with a dark history, for fans of Lucy Foley and Ruth Ware.

As kids, Emily and Chess were inseparable. But by their 30s, their bond has been strained by the demands of their adult lives. So when Chess suggests a girls trip to Italy, Emily jumps at the chance to reconnect with her best friend.

Villa Aestas in Orvieto is a high-end holiday home now, but in 1974, it was known as Villa Rosato, and rented for the summer by a notorious rock star, Noel Gordon. In an attempt to reignite his creative spark, Noel invites up-and-coming musician, Pierce Sheldon to join him, as well as Pierce’s girlfriend, Mari, and her stepsister, Lara. But he also sets in motion a chain of events that leads to Mari writing one of the greatest horror novels of all time, Lara composing a platinum album––and ends in Pierce’s brutal murder.

As Emily digs into the villa’s complicated history, she begins to think there might be more to the story of that fateful summer in 1974. That perhaps Pierce’s murder wasn’t just a tale of sex, drugs, and rock & roll gone wrong, but that something more sinister might have occurred––and that there might be clues hidden in the now-iconic works that Mari and Lara left behind.

Yet the closer that Emily gets to the truth, the more tension she feels developing between her and Chess. As secrets from the past come to light, equally dangerous betrayals from the present also emerge––and it begins to look like the villa will claim another victim before the summer ends.

Inspired by Fleetwood Mac, the Manson murders, and the infamous summer Percy and Mary Shelley spent with Lord Byron at a Lake Geneva castle––the birthplace of Frankenstein––The Villa welcomes you into its deadly legacy.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/2025/09/a-thriller-f-f-romance-more/

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/?p=151693