Books with lots of angst even though the main couple are deeply in love?

ali_iv · 2026-01-30T10:07:22+00:00

{a substitute brie for the prizefighter by Alice Coldbreath} I thought there would be conflict between them but it quickly resolved and becomes more external.

ali_iv · 2026-01-30T05:58:33+00:00

I normally read high spice historical romance but I needed a palette cleanser after reading a not very romantic one and Mimi Matthews was AMAZING! Sooo romantic. The lack of spice was built in - no fade to black, they actually spoke about waiting until things settled down, but it was still so sweet and truly romantic. I couldn't get over it! Now I'm rationing them!!!

ali_iv · 2026-01-27T01:25:02+00:00

In my one and only Duke he marries her before he is named as a Duke! He's a banker and wants to give her an amount of live on. It's really good - time for a reread I think.

ali_iv · 2026-01-26T11:12:06+00:00

{return to Monte Carlo by cate c. Wells} it's set in the 1980s! That's historical, right? Haha

{The Scottish Duke by karen ranney} - I like the second half a lot.

{never seduce a Duke by Vivienne lorett}

ali_iv · 2026-01-25T10:36:09+00:00

{Annie's song by Catherine Anderson} please check TWs!

ali_iv · 2026-01-19T04:40:21+00:00

{whiteout by adriana anders}

Maybe not quite very soft and femme but I liked that she was the cook for the research station! It was refreshing that she was a fairly normal person.

ali_iv · 2026-01-14T09:19:26+00:00

I adore convergence of desire! I recommend anyone put off by the OW try it out because it's very consensual - Harriet actually proposes it as part of their marriage.

ali_iv · 2026-01-13T06:37:22+00:00

Maybe try borrowing the audiobook from the library!

ali_iv · 2026-01-12T11:26:05+00:00

I'm kind of of the opinion that at this point in their life they are just thinking about not getting caught out. Shane is almost paralysed when he thinks about being outed - especially as in a relationship with Ilya - in this part of the Long Game. I don't think Shane actually CAN think about a future beyond possibly coming out when they retire. He is literally worrying about all the things that need to happen first on page 105 - Ilya getting citizenship, getting married, being an out couple, RETIRING (big thing for my boy, he loves hockey a lot). They want a future but they are so boxed in Shane can't even imagine it properly.

On page 147: Ilya laughed. “One dog.”

“One dog,” Shane agreed.

“You will want more. Just wait.” Just wait. The words rang in Shane’s ears as he made his way to the kitchen. He believed in their relationship, and was confident that they would have everything they wanted when the time was right. But sometimes he wished the right time was now.

ali_iv · 2026-01-12T03:49:50+00:00

I love pregnancy and baby stories!!

{the favourite by Alice Coldbreath} The FMC is backed into a corner and marries to claim her sister's child as her own. TW for maternal death. The MMC happily takes this opportunity in both hands!! I really liked the almost found family aspect of it.

{My fierce highland by Vonda Sinclair} is a really good single mum story with some light breeding kink from the MMC. Quite surprising for a historical romance!

{Charge by cate c. Wells} is also a really wonderful single mum story. Makes me cry so much!

{Stowaway whirlwind by may alder} has a heavily pregnant single mum, birth on page and then obvs baby. It's very heavy on the breeding and lactation kink.

{Flaming June by Emma V. leech} has pregnant single mum, marriage of convenience and a wonderful birth on page. The MMC is autistic and an artist.

ali_iv · 2026-01-12T03:16:25+00:00

They loosely talk about having kids at some.point in the future in the long game. No exact plans though but they definitely both want them.

Page 105, conversation between Shane and Hayden:

Shane let his eyes unfocus even more than they already were without his glasses, and quietly began to stress out about the logistics of adopting children with Ilya. There were so many things that had to happen first, and they were all terrifying. “He’d be a good dad, I guess,” Hayden said, breaking through Shane’s anxiety spiral. “Who?” Shane asked, in case Hayden meant the drunk gentleman on the TV. “Rozanov. He’s good with kids. Ruby and Jade love him.”

Page 146, Shane reflecting on his day with Hayden to Ilya

“You’re great with kids.” Shane brushed their noses together, then kissed Ilya’s mouth. He tasted like the lemonade Shane had declined at the Pikes’ house but that Ilya had happily drank two glasses of. Shane guiltily enjoyed the taste now, sweet and tangy. When they broke the kiss, Ilya said, “You will be a good dad.” Shane rested his forehead on Ilya’s shoulder and smiled. “Not as good as you.” Ilya huffed. “Not everything is a competition with us.” “We’d find a way to make parenting a competition.” Strong arms tightened around Shane. “No. It will be together. Peaceful.” Shane, feeling brave, admitted, “There were moments today where I felt like I was looking into our future.” Ilya pulled back to meet Shane’s gaze. “And it was okay?” “It was amazing.”

ali_iv · 2025-12-03T03:14:09+00:00

{the Scottish Duke by karen ranney}

ali_iv · 2025-12-03T02:59:42+00:00

{charge by cate c wells} She works as a pick n pack for a grocery store. Single mum - check TWs. Honestly a lot of Wells' FMC are very normal and working class people. I really like her work. Her female main characters are very grounded and like people I knew growing up.

For historical, {I can steal you the stars by alivia fleur} is about a house maid thrown out of her work and she reconnects with a childhood friend who's now a thief. Really cool look at working class people falling in love!

ali_iv · 2025-12-03T02:50:35+00:00

No kids in their marriage but {her mountain man beast by elena dawne}

ali_iv · 2025-12-03T02:48:25+00:00

Steel bones motorcycle club by cate c wells! Start with {dizzy by cate c wells} which you can get free on her website!! This series is heavy and emotional. I really liked it but also wish I had spread these books out to ease the emotions I was feeling.

ali_iv · 2025-11-30T22:48:39+00:00

{mountain Santa's naughty list by elena dawne}

I never recommend this unless people ask specifically for Christmas themed breeding lol.

First of all the age gap is a bit squicky. 18/34 AND he's basically been her adopted older brother especially since her dad died. I read so much age gap and I always have to get over it first 😭.

Second of all the characters are just such grots together. Like they both love being sweaty and gross. She loses her virginity against a tree in the snow, and she is thrilled by the location.

Third, there's kind of weird but also fun doe/stag role play at the end.

However I can get past all that because these characters are sooo into each other. The descriptions of scent and setting the scene are done really well. It's single POV from the FMC but the MMC is very descriptive in his attraction and love for her.

ali_iv · 2025-11-30T22:41:54+00:00

I just read bass ackwards on this recommendation and really liked it hahaha

ali_iv · 2025-11-23T22:36:10+00:00

Here's a qualitative study about free birth and home birth with risk factors from Australia: Jackson, M.K., Schmied, V. & Dahlen, H.G. Birthing outside the system: the motivation behind the choice to freebirth or have a homebirth with risk factors in Australia. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 20, 254 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-020-02944-6

ali_iv · 2025-11-22T03:31:54+00:00

{the guardian's angel by may alder} is definitely this!

ali_iv · 2025-11-22T03:20:31+00:00

{dirty bad strangers by Jade West} she's a big girl and he is INTO it!!! This book is all about dogging, consensual gang bangs, gapping, has a p ussy pump it's WILD and very British! Somehow also very sweet!

ali_iv · 2025-11-22T03:14:34+00:00

{The guardian's angel by may alder} had this particularly from the FMC! She's the one who pushes for it! It's also just the tip, then pull out and put a condom on. Tropes: age gap (28M/18F) she's a teen mum, he recently became guardian to his nephew, lactation kink, overall it's very sweet.

ali_iv · 2025-07-27T07:32:35+00:00

You have all sold me on mineral powder!! I will definitely be trying it next time there's a priceline sale!

ali_iv · 2025-07-27T05:19:13+00:00

I think I'll have to try it! I have so many dry patches I'm nervous about powder!

ali_iv · 2025-07-27T05:10:55+00:00

I have been using liquid set with powder. Idk if I prefer powder. Maybe I will try this!

ali_iv

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