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Top Ten Tuesday

Books That I Was Surprised That I Loved

Books That I Was Surprised That I Loved

Apr 22, 2025

This week, I’m sharing the books I was surprised that I loved. Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and Bookish and is hosted by The Artsy Reader Girl.

I don’t read much out of my comfort zone; I stick to my romance, whether it’s fantasy or contemporary. It can be anywhere from light and fluffy romance to dark and intense. So there aren’t many surprises when I pick up a book. But sometimes I don’t expect to like a book as much as I did. And that is what today’s list is all about. I’m sharing the books that ended up surprising me, with how much I enjoyed and loved reading them.

The books that made today’s Top Ten Tuesday were books that I didn’t expect to love reading, but for most of them, as soon as I started, I was hooked.

So let’s get into it, here are some of the books that surprised me with how much I loved them in the end. As always, these are in no real order.

Done and Dusted (Rebel Blue Ranch, #1) by Lyla Sage. | Close Knit (The Hastings #1) by Kels and Denise Stone. | Dirty Secrets (The Heights, #1) by R.E. Bond. | Serpentine Valentine by Giana Darling.

All I Need (The Knights, #1) by E. Salvador. | Plier (Ironside Academy #1) by Jane Washington. | Bonded by Thorns (Beasts of the Briar, #1) by Elizabeth Helen. | Tattered Stars (Tattered & Torn, #1) by Catherine Cowles.

Lola & the Millionaires: Part One (Sweet Omegaverse, #2) by Kathryn Moon. | Dark Lover (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #1) by J.R. Ward.

So there we go, these are some of the books that surprised me and I loved reading. Have you read any of these books? What did you think of them? What books have surprised you? Let’s chat!

 

New to Reading Romance? Start Here!

Feb 11, 2025

This week I’m sharing romance books for those wanting to start reading more in the genre. Top Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and Bookish and is hosted by The Artsy Reader Girl.

The romance genre is big! And when you haven’t delved into it, it’s hard to know where to start. So for this week’s love freebie, I thought it would be fun to share romance books that I would recommend for first-time romance readers. From contemporary reads to fantasy books, with little to no spice to a nice amount for those starting.

It’s the month of love, so let’s get into it. As always these are in no real order. Here are the romance books that I think are perfect for those just starting to read romacne. And, let’s go!

For the Contemporary Romance Readers 

Done and Dusted (Rebel Blue Ranch, #1) by Lyla Sage. | Close Knit. (The Hastings #1) by Kels Stone and Denise Stone. | Binding 13 (Boys of Tommen. #1) by Chloe Walsh. | Whispers of You. (Lost & Found, #1) by Catherine Cowles.

Out on a Limb by Hannah Bonam-Young. | Rookie Move (Brooklyn Bruisers, #1) by Sarina Bowen

For the Fantasy Romance Readers 

Fourth Wing (The Empyrean, #1) by Rebecca Yarros. | When the Moon Hatched (Moonfall, #1) by Sarah A. Parker. | King of Battle and Blood (Adrian x Isolde, #1) by Scarlett St. Clair. | Slave to Sensation (Psy-Changeling, #1) by Nalini Singh.

And there we go, those are just some of the romance reads that I think are great for those just starting to read romance books. Have you read any of these? What did you think? Are you planning on reading any of them? What are some of the romance books that you would recommend to first-time romance readers? So, let’s chat!

 

2024 Releases I Was Excited to Read but Still Haven’t Gotten To

Feb 4, 2025

This week I’m sharing some of the 2024 releases I was excited to read but didn’t manage to pick up. To Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and Bookish and is hosted by The Artsy Reader Girl.

There were a lot of releases in 2024 and while I managed to read quite a few of them, I still missed a good chunk. So today I’m sharing the ones that I was excited for but just didn’t get to them. But I do hope that I can this year. From some new-to-me authors and some old favs, there is a range of books and authors on this list.

I’m hoping I can get to a few of these in the next few months, especially those that have more books coming out soon. So let’s get into it, here are some of the 2024 releases I was excited to read but didn’t manage to pick up. As always these are in no real order.

Bride by Ali Hazelwood. | Make the Season Bright. by Ashley Herring Blake. | Pucking Sweet (Jacksonville Rays #3). by Emily Rath. | Business Casual (Lovelight, #4) by B.K. Borison.

Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto. | Lights Out (Into Darkness, #1) by Navessa Allen. Quicksilver (Fae & Alchemy, #1) by Callie Hart. | Phantasma (Wicked Games, #1) by Kaylie Smith.

Daydream (Maple Hills, #3) by Hannah Grace. | Only and Forever (Bergman Brothers, #7) by Chloe Liese.

And there we go, those are just some of the 2024 releases I was excited to read but didn’t manage to pick up. Have you read any of them? What did you think? Are you planning on reading any of the books that made it to my list? What books are on yours? So, let’s chat!

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book blogger 💻| romance books 💜| bookseller 📖
💌 angel@angelreads.com
📚53/150

April was a very good reading month for me, especi April was a very good reading month for me, especially after last month. I had some really fantastic reads in April. I did do a lot of re-reading this month but I had such blast. I re-read Caught Up and Play Along and the first 4 books in the Ironside Academy series. 📚

I read some books that I’ve been waiting for including the new book from Kels and Denise Stone, as well as the new Tessa Hale. ✨

Overall it was such a good month, lots of binge reading series and starting on some new authors. I’m so excited to see what May brings. 🖤

What was your favourite book that you read in April? 

🏷️ 
#romancebooks #bookstagram  #romancereads #angelreads #bookblogger #spicybooks #romancereader #romance #smut #recentreads #aprilreads #aprilwrapup
IT’S RACE WEEK! 🏎️ If you didn’t know al IT’S RACE WEEK! 🏎️

If you didn’t know already I love F1, have ever since I was younger and decided that this year it would be fun to combined my love for F1 and reading together. 📚

After a week off we are back at it. We are in Miami this week’s and things are only just heating up. This week I’m reading Falling Off the Cliff  Kanitha P.

…

Formula 1 legend in the making and rising star Thiago Valencia is chasing redemption as well as his second World Champion title. With a tarnished reputation and an undetermined future in F1 that hangs by a terribly loose thread, he can’t afford to lose his seat. Thiago is ready to do anything to redeem himself and erase his past mistakes. When a mysterious woman intrudes on his private party in Monte Carlo, he is certain the universe has brought his polar opposite into his life as salvation. He is sunshine, she is moonlight; he is a bright star and she is a moonbeam.

Destiny takes the wheel, steering Kamari into Thiago’s orbit, but her open disdain and closely guarded heart warn her to stay away. Enchanted by her charms, Thiago is intent on melting her freezing barriers and tearing down the walls shielding her heart.

When Kamari agrees to help him save his future by being his fake girlfriend, the unexpected happens, triggered by a game of lies, secrets and desire.

As they plunge towards the finish line, the race veers offtrack and neither of them are ready to fall off the cliff.
… 

How Race Week Reads Will Work 

On Monday of race week I’ll announce the book I’ll be reading for the week, then throughout the week I’ll be posting stories and my thoughts. And then on Sunday, race day my review and final thoughts will go up.

🏷️ 
#romancebooks #bookstagram  #romancereads #angelreads #bookblogger #spicybooks #romancereader #romance #f1 #formula1 #ausgp #raceweekreads #f1romance #sportsromance #fallingoffthecliff #kanithap #fullthrottle
A little late but I am finally getting to share Ra A little late but I am finally getting to share Race 5’s Race Week Reads review. This week I read, Downforce (Pit Lane #1) by Hannah Lily.

🏎️ Review 🏎️

I had so much fun reading this book. I knew I was in for a ride as soon as I started Downforce. It was entertaining, fun, and I just had a good time reading it. And while it does explore some heavy topics, I don’t think it took away from the fun nature of the book.

Right from the start, we can see the tension between F1 Presenter, Olivia Fraser and F1 Driver, Jonah Scott. And while silly at times, it was fun seeing them interact together. Both really didn’t like each other. They both had said things about and to one another that sometimes it caused chaos. And I was here for it.

I did find that at times, just silly things happened. I am not a massive rom-com reader, and there was a lot of falling into one another, and arguments stemmed from nothing. This is honestly just because I don’t like these types of scenes, but it didn’t really make me dislike the book at all.

I loved the whole road trip aspect of the book, it’s different from other F1 books I’ve read so far this year and just made for some interesting banter and lust. I do wish that the road trip was a little longer than it was because I did feel like the romance moved pretty quickly here, but again, it didn’t really affect how much I was enjoying the book.

The romance was this combination of being slow burn and full of angst right at the start, to the road trip happening and then bam. But I loved it, though. The banter between Olivia and Jonah was fantastic. I loved seeing them grow not only with one another but with themselves as well.

Overall, I had a great time reading Downforce and will be continuing the series for sure when the other books come out. The romance was angsty and just felt right. The found family aspect really worked well here, and the F1 aspects were pretty okay. Not the best I’ve seen, but not the worst either. If you are looking for a fun read that has a great romance and a little rom-comy, then pick this one up.
I’ve already had a pretty amazing reading year. I’ve already had a pretty amazing reading year. There have been so many books that I have enjoyed but there are some that I have just loved. 🖤

I didn’t realise before I put this post together that all of these books are from authors I’ve read and loved before. There hasn’t been a Rebecca Yarros book that I haven’t rated under 4 Stars. Elsie Silver is just making me love everything that she writes. Wild and Wrangled may be my favourite in the series. 📖

Three rereads also made it to this list. Binding 13 still makes me gasp and smile all at the same time. And Caught Up and Play Along just hit every time. 📚

I’ve honestly had a great year so far and since making this post a few more books I’ve read I’ve ended up loving. It’s going to be hard to pick my favourites at the end of the year that is for sure. ✨

What books have you loved reading this year? Are any books that made my list on yours? Let me know! 

🏷️ 
#romancebooks #bookstagram  #romancereads #angelreads #bookblogger #spicybooks #romancereader #romance #smut #recentreads #2025favourites #onyxstorm #wildside  #binding13 #caughtup #wildandwrangled
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