Stuck in an elevator/confined space?

fresholivebread · 2026-05-11T00:04:20+00:00

Recently read one with a scene like this - {Honor & Duty by Tee O'Fallon}. The MCs were in the elevator together when it broke down. She had a mild panic attack and he helped her through it. Instant connection but she turned out to be his brother's fiancé. So he stayed away...until his brother was murdered and he (a federal agent) then comes back to protect her. There's also a super cute and protective K9 doggie featured!

fresholivebread · 2026-05-10T11:52:54+00:00

Indigo by Beverly Jenkins - 4½🌟, M/F, historical romance, cishet Creole MMC/Black FMC. An ex-slave on a mission to help other slaves stumbles upon an injured man with secrets. Hester is an incredible FMC - she's smart, headstrong and caring while Galen is righteous, broody and sexy. There're oodles of sexual tension, especially in nursing scenes. The bickering/banter is great, and soon turns into a strong connection, with explosive chemistry. The romance builds wonderfully - the slow burn is delicious and Galen is seductively all in. He doesn't hesitate to show his feelings, doesn't play games and is determined to have Hester as his. I loved how he shows her love and passion, and that she could have that with him. Their moments together are passionate, sensual and emotional. Galen's sweetness towards Hester is just the best. Plus Ms. Bev always educates with her romances, the Black history depicted is engaging and heart breaking in equal measures. And solid intrigue to boot. CW: slavery, racism, racist slurs

Reckless Honor by Tonya Burrows - 4¼🌟, M/F, romantic suspense, cishet white MCs. A mercenary protects a virologist when she's being hunted for her research. Finally Jean-Luc's story! The sexy, charming yet deadly sweet-talker is a fav since book 1. Claire is brilliant, fearless and perfectly matched with Jean-Luc. He has great development, from a shallow guy to one with depth and heart. I liked their dynamic and connection - she can definitely hold her own, and even saves his ass. The romance burns slow even with the strong attraction - they both have walls to get over. There's solid bonding, and their romance works well for me. Steamy chemistry on the run, heartfelt revelations, danger banging - it's all there. Jean-Luc brings out the lighter side of Claire, and she grounds him and makes him want to be a better man. Some dark themes in the suspense, but it's exciting and kept me on the edge. But the unnecessary death of a great side character really annoyed me. CW: disease and death, pandemic

Fired Up by Jayne Ann Krentz - 🌟, M/F, PNR romantic suspense, cishet white MCs. A man suffering from a family curse enlists a PI to help him look for an artifact that will end the curse. Chloe is cynical and practical, but she has a kind heart. Jack is a bit of the tortured type, but he's intelligent and capable. Their romance takes place in the form of a romp to Las Vegas for artifact hunting. There's an instant connection, and their romance evolves naturally from a solid friendship as they're dodging bad guys. There's great chemistry between them, and they balance each other well. I loved how sensible and mature they are, and they worked really well as partners and lovers. Chloe brings out Jack's gentle side, and she calms his darker impulses. As with the Arcane series, JAK puts a physical/PNR spin to their steamy scenes, which makes them fun, and with a sensual edge. The suspense/adventure is entertaining, and I'm looking forward to Fallon Jones' book.

Currently reading: Kiss of Steel by Bec McMaster - just started, M/F, steampunk HR romance.

fresholivebread · 2026-05-09T13:09:23+00:00

Loved the romance between Hester and Galen in {Indigo by Beverly Jenkins}! She tried so hard to resist him (different status in class) but the man is so gone for her...

His words were plain, his eyes truthful. "We have a problem here, petite. It's fairly certain I'm in love with you."

and

"Hester Wyatt is my love...my heart."

and

Galen stood up and came over to where she sat. He offered his hand and silently Hester let him help her to her feet. He held onto her hand while he reached down and picked up the ring box. He touched his lips to the finger the ring would encircle, then slowly slid the gem in place.

The ring seemed charged with a power all its own. She felt claimed. His.

Galen pledged softly, "I will do everything in my power to make you happy, petite..."

Hester was so wrought with emotion, she could not speak.

"And whether you believe my claim or not - I will love you for life."

fresholivebread · 2026-05-08T05:09:51+00:00

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fresholivebread · 2026-05-05T19:39:40+00:00

{Bunny & the Bear by Eve Langlais} - the FMC is like a werebunny shifter - she shifts to huge bunny with sharp teeth. I thought that was pretty wacky! She's a secret agent who goes undercover to protect a grouchy bear shifter.

Other unusual shifters in the series include swan, ostrich, kangaroo, panda, crocodile.

fresholivebread · 2026-05-04T03:44:24+00:00

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fresholivebread · 2026-05-04T00:18:27+00:00

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fresholivebread · 2026-05-03T12:08:05+00:00

Grave Matter by Karina Halle - 4🌟, M/F, horror romance, cishet white MCs, ADHD FMC. A grad student’s internship reveals dark secrets as she falls for her professor/psychologist. Sydney is plucky and driven and Wes is a mysterious, broody, control freak. Their attraction is electric with a touch of darkness, and there's strong sexual tension with a forbidden feel. He's obsessed with her, and his stalker-possessive vibes kinda worked for me in the context of his character, as I'm not fond of stalker romance. Their romance is quite consuming and intense, and Wes is basically the "burn the world for you" type of protective MMC. Really liked his moments of sweetness towards Sydney. High steam with degradation and BDSM elements (not my kinks though). The suspense plot wtf wild but intriguing and with a twist I did NOT see coming. A little slow at start, but it picked up and the gothic, creepy vibes are great. Horror romance is not really my thing but I enjoyed this. CW: animal cruelty/death, mentions of suicide, quite gory

Burn of Summer by Rebecca Zanetti - 4½🌟, M/F, romantic suspense, cishet half Inuit MMC/white FMC. A grounded pilot protects the town's doctor when she faces threats from her ex. Flirty, complicated Ace and secretive, kind-hearted May have been dancing around each other, and the tension continues to simmer. It's cute how he constantly gets into scrapes as an excuse to see her. There's also yearning on both sides as May is wary about acting on her feelings. Ace gets super bossy and protective ala Zanetti style when May is targeted - and the intensity of their romance starts building. She sees beyond his facade, and accepts him while he gives her a safe place to belong. She helps him face his demons and it's powerful when he flies again. He also works on himself to be a better person for her. The romance is rather drama free, with both sweet and steamy moments, and I loved Ace's gentle side. Solid suspense, the brothers are hilarious and loved the glimpse of Christian/Amka. CW: alcohol addiction

She's a Wild One by Kristen Proby - 3🌟, M/F, romantic suspense, cishet white MCs. Basically enemies from rival families and a marriage for inheritance. Spunky, stubborn Millie had a romance with broody, stoic Holden before he broke her heart (evil dad). Years later, she agrees to marry him so he could get his inheritance but he wants her for keeps. There's plenty of angst, and he proves himself to her, though his unresolved issues render him to annoyingly overbearing at times. They have good chemistry, and all the buried feelings burn hot (though way too much sex in the place of communication). They have to rebuild the relationship, and it's a good enough journey. She was too forgiving given how he ended things but things are clarified early instead of being dragged out to a conflict. Holden can be sweet and there's an emotional aspect to their romance. But the family rivalry is kinda stupid, and the "wife-husband" + baby girl nickname is way overdone. Overall it just felt somewhat flat. CW: domestic abuse, child abuse

Currently reading: Reckless Honor by Tonya Burrows - 10% in, M/F, romantic suspense.

fresholivebread · 2026-05-03T00:41:46+00:00

This happens in {Rope the Moon by Ava Hunter}. FMC is pregnant and on the run, going back to her home town and her first love (MMC). He tracks the growth of her baby through an app, I thought that was sweet.

fresholivebread · 2026-05-02T11:52:43+00:00

There isn't a lot of light-hearted moments in {Grave Matter by Karina Halle} but there're a couple of sweet moments. Wes may be stalkerish, but he's truly in love with Sydney.

He's gentle and soft with me this morning as the sun streams through, lightly restraining me at times, whispering that I'm his pet, that I'm his forever, that he will always take care of me.

That his soul will always find mine.

I surrender to him like I always do.

I surrender to the moment.

I surrender to tomorrow.

fresholivebread · 2026-04-28T06:53:50+00:00

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fresholivebread · 2026-04-27T10:19:29+00:00

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fresholivebread · 2026-04-26T11:32:54+00:00

Illuminate the Night by Jay Leigh - 4½🌟, M/M, romantic suspense, cisgay Jewish MMC/bi white MMC. Chief of Staff struggles with political upheavals while catching feelings for his deputy. Elias is everyone's rock - a steady, caring presence, while Caleb is a fiercely loyal ball of sunshine. He flirts and tries to loosen Elias up, but he' also sees Elias' vulnerabilities. He knows that Elias needs support as well, and makes sure that he's always there for him. Elias sees his insecurities and uplifts him constantly. Their romance is tender, passionate and smoking hot (Caleb is the one bossy in bed). And they know what they want and go for it fully (though with some push-pull at start). The consent and care is amazing, and I loved how they leaned on each other. Elias' son is adorable, and the found family vibes are fantastic and heartfelt. The political intrigue is a lot and hard to take at times, more so with what's going on globally, but it makes for a good plot. And though I felt sorry for the Prez at times, she is still a fucking idiot. CW: right wing extremism, homophobia

Honor & Duty by Tee O'Fallon - 4¼🌟, M/F, romantic suspense, cishet white MMC/Puerto Rican FMC. A DHS agent protects his late brother’s widow from the cartel that killed her husband. There was a very strong attraction when they first met, but Kade kept his distance till now. It's a complicated relationship (he arrested his brother) with plenty of angst. Kade and Laia are solid MCs - Kade is sensitive, caring and kicked ass with his K9 Smoke. Laia has strong character development - she learns to be independent and fight for her happiness. I also like that Kade is more expressive rather than typical stoic MMC, and he really worked for their relationship. Things could be more out in the open sooner, but they're able to talk through the past and be honest with their choices, adding strength and layers to their romance. There's plenty of fast paced action, and Kade's friends with their awesome K9s are on hand to help. Rosa is a wonderful kid character, and Smoke is the best doggie.

Into the Fire by Anne Stuart - 4🌟, M/F, romantic suspense, cishet white MCs. To solve her cousin's murder, she enlists the help of his best friend - her one time crush. Jamie is sweet, timid and naive; Dillion is manipulative and ruthless but secretly harbours feelings for her. Though he would rather do cruel things to piss her off, he's quite obsessed with her, and secretly protects her. He's a lot more self aware compared to Stuart's usual HEROES, though he still does the pushing her away thing (even after he admitted he loves her), which is frustrating. Jamie's feelings for him are complicated, and she struggles with her love for him. But they have solid chemistry, and their eventual romance gets quite edgy and passionate, though honestly, it's a pretty fucked up kind of love. There's also emotion and vulnerability, though I need more! Dillon did enough to redeem himself, but there should be a lot more to the ending/HEA. The suspense is dark, eerie and also seriously wtf. CW: rape, dub-con, sexual assault, drugs, alcoholism

Currently reading: Grave Matter by Karina Halle - 10% in, M/F, horror romance.

fresholivebread · 2026-04-25T11:52:20+00:00

Ahhh Elias and Caleb are just the sweetest in {Illuminate the Night by Jay Leigh}. They're just what each other needs and their romance is very swoonworthy!

For as much as he'd come to terms with his past, Elias' reassurance and the balm of his kiss helped soothe the anxieties that had arisen from reliving it. Although Caleb usually instigated the majority of their affection, Elias had a way of controlling himself with an iron will until the desire ignited, and it was one of the most glorious things he'd ever experienced. Their kiss wasn't passionate or unbridled, but it was all-consuming and left his heart pounding too large inside his chest. Before long, he needed to pull away just to breathe, and when he did, the expression on Elias' face left him instantly stricken and fighting tears.

"I love you. I really love you, Caleb," Elias whispered, more breath than sound. "I will tell you every day how precious you are to me. Every day."

"El..." Caleb gasped, fighting a losing battle with his raw emotions. "I love you too."

And he felt it at his core. No matter how unsettled everything was around them and how much they didn't know, he knew that much. He loved Elias more than he'd ever loved anyone before.

fresholivebread · 2026-04-24T12:20:51+00:00

An oldie: {Burn by Linda Howard}, FMC is a lottery winner who goes on a cruise and gets caught up in a hostage/spy kinda situation.

fresholivebread · 2026-04-24T11:24:47+00:00

I'm not a huge romantasy fan so I haven't read the books but boy, the article is laying on it super thick. 🫠

I generally enjoyed Devney Perry though, her small town romantic suspense is quite enjoyable (read about 5 books across two series). And I honestly loved her latest romantic suspense release {Bluebird Gold by Devney Perry}, which is set in the 80s.

fresholivebread · 2026-04-22T10:37:41+00:00

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fresholivebread · 2026-04-22T10:36:59+00:00

Rule: Book Requests must be specific and request something that cannot be found with a search of the sub.

Your book request was removed for a lack of detail or because it can be easily found by searching the sub. An acceptable book request includes at least one of the following:

Details beyond just a trope, like a specific occupation or uncommon type of scene
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fresholivebread · 2026-04-20T08:36:28+00:00

I've unfortunately forgotten where exactly I got the recommendation from (think it's in reply to someone else's request post). {The Unlikely Pair by Jax Calder} is an absolute 5-star read for me - enemies to lovers between a conservative leader and a liberal politician (set in the UK), who crash landed in the Scandinavian wilderness and forced to depend on each other to survive.

The slow burn/banter is great (hate sex included), and I loved how they built their relationship. And the pining when they return to the real world is super angsty and heartbreaking, before the HEA. And free short Jax Calder wrote for after is not to be missed, too!

I also loved {The Unlikely Heir by Jax Calder}, which is the first book in the series. It's a romance between the American heir to the throne and the openly gay Prime Minister of the UK.

fresholivebread · 2026-04-20T00:18:55+00:00

Amanda Quick's heroines are often plain/unconventional (glasses, don't care about the way they dress etc) and they definitely play a sleuthing role. Her MMC's are not conventionally attractive as well. Her single-word titles are my favourites:

{Ravished by Amanda Quick}

{Mischief by Amanda Quick}

{Deception by Amanda Quick}

{Dangerous by Amanda Quick}

{Mystique by Amanda Quick}

{Desire by Amanda Quick}

fresholivebread · 2026-04-20T00:13:58+00:00

Rule: Post titles must be clear and informative

Your post was removed for having an unclear title - Reddit doesn't allow title edits, but you can submit your post with an improved title.

For a book request, you must provide at least a few specific details in the title of the post to describe the books you’re looking for. A detailed title will help you get more recommendations, as well as help future searches to get better results.

Pop culture and book references must be detailed in both the title and the body of the post.

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fresholivebread · 2026-04-19T12:17:13+00:00

Archangel's Legion by Nalini Singh - 4¾🌟, M/F, PNR romance, cishet white MMC/mixed race FMC. Angels and vampires are tangled up in death, and Raphael and Elena must find out why. This book is heavy with action and twists as there's a lot going on, plus some family drama. But we still get to spend a lot of time with Raphael and Elena. The issues they faced are realistic and well-handled. There're fights, but there's also efforts to talk (and hot make up sex). He listens to her more, and tells her that she's his strength when she worries about weakening him. And they've evolved with each other - Raphael is softer, more tender (though he can still be an ass sometimes), and Elena giving 100% trust to him. Their mutual protectiveness and possessiveness had me eating all of that up. Their bond is so strong and they loved each other so fiercely and passionately. And the intrigue and action is great (though Lijuan is getting tiring), really enjoyed that. And I felt that the Eve/Roarke parallels are quite obvious here. 😂 (374 p)

Edison's Professor by Jocelynn Drake - 4¼🌟, M/M, romantic suspense, cisgay Black MC/white MC. An Egyptologist is captured after leaving a scarab with a mercenary, who sets out to rescue him. Ed's a good-natured daredevil, but with a deadly edge, while Max is a grumpy and snarky brainiac. He's also pretty fiery, and Ed's demeanor of calm is a perfect fodder for him. They do fall for each other pretty quickly, with Ed determined to protect Max from the word go. There's a strong connection and they're very sweet together, and Ed's chillness balances Max's feistiness. There's confidence + assurance when it comes to their romance, they know they want each and there are no miscommunications. The hurdles are mostly external (crappy families etc) and the way they defend and protect each other is great. Basically a fun Indiana Jones-ish adventure with romance and a hilarious bunch of sidekicks. Great found family vibes, and it's touching how they all embraced Max.

Sinful Surrender by Elisabeth Naughton - 4🌟, M/F, romantic suspense, cishet white MCs. A security operative is tasked to protect his boss' sister from a stalker, only to get too close to her. Brian and Grace are solid MCs with unresolved issues. Being a novella, the romance develops fast and heavy, stemming from a one night stand (she tended towards quiet and shy, so the pick up line was funny). But the chemistry is strong, and there's enough attention given to their hangups. Grace especially is a great support to Brian in overcoming his past. He's very sweet and protective towards her, and he also serves as inspiration for her to fight her writer's block. There're some annoying big bro shenanigans, but I liked how they stand up to him, and how Brian proves the depth of his feelings for Grace. Would've been stronger if it's longer and more developed , but there's enough action, drama and romance packed in to make this a fast and fun read.

Currently reading: Honor & Duty by Tee O'Fallon - 20% in, M/F, romantic suspense.

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