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Review: Rafe by Rebekah Weatherspoon

Book cover for Rafe, by Rebekah Weatherspoon. Rafe looking off to the side. He has red hair and a beard, with a tattoo of a human heart on his neck.

Rebekah Weatherspoon’s “Rafe: A Buff Male Nanny” is a contemporary romance. Dr. Sloan Copeland hires Rafe Whitcomb to take care of Sloan’s twin daughters, Addison and Avery. Rafe and Sloan quickly become attracted to each other. They have to navigate what that means, including addressing the ethical dilemma of what begins as an employer/employee relationship.

Rafe and Sloan have become one of my favorite romance couples. Rafe is confident and his security in his masculinity is incredibly attractive. He’s overall mellow but pulls and pushes in the right amounts. This is perfect for Sloan. As one of the best cardiac surgeons in the country, she’s great with physical matters of the heart but struggles with the emotional elements. Even so, she gathers the courage to let Rafe know her feelings. They’re well-matched and able to grow together.

General Thoughts:

  • Since Rafe and Sloan have excellent communication, the main conflict they experience is external, in the form of Drew, Sloan’s ex-husband.
  • The side characters were fleshed out enough that I could get a strong sense of who they were. Addison and Avery are especially adorable.

Favorite Moments:

  • Rafe teasing Sloan during the “app” conversation.
  • Rafe saying he might want to interview for “the other job.”

Questions:

  • Is “yuriXviktor2k4ever@memail” a “Yuri on Ice” reference?
  • What kind of dog will Rafe and Sloan get?

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Review: A Princess in Theory

Alyssa Cole’s A Princess in Theory is a contemporary romance that’s part of the Reluctant Royals series.

Summary: Naledi Smith is a busy grad student who keeps receiving emails about being betrothed to an African prince. Naturally, she doesn’t take that seriously, but life is strange and the emails turn out to be true.

Prince Thabiso, of Thesolo, has a duty to marry and searches for Naledi, the woman destined to be his wife. There’s a major misunderstanding, which is the source of humor and also strife.

Thabiso started out quite arrogant and a bit devious. Still, overtime, he managed to charm me. I saw the best of him once he returned to the palace and was more in his element. That helped support why Naledi had taken such a chance on him. Considering all that was thrown at her, she handled the situation well. She has spent most of her life with little support. So, to believe in Thabiso meant dealing with a huge impact on her life.

General thoughts:

  • The story felt a little rush towards the end. I wish there was more exploration of why her parents left Thesolo. There was an explanation but it could have been more detailed.
  • There are great side-characters, especially Likotsi, Thabiso’s Executive Assistant. Nya and most of the others we meet back in Thesolo are quite likeable too.

Favorite Moments:

  • Thabiso and Naledi cooking together.
  • Thabiso and Naledi in the cave.
  • Quiet conversations in Mrs. Garcia’s apartment and back at the palace.

Questions:

  • Will we get to see Naledi and Thabiso again?
  • How will Naledi handle being a princess?
  • On a lighter note, will Naledi introduce Nya to New York style pizza?

Rating: 4 out of 5.

This is the first novel I’ve read by Alyssa Cole. I’m looking forward to more of her romances!

Review: Silver Silence by Nalini Singh

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Nalini Singh’s Silver Silence is a paranormal romance. It continues Singh’s Psy-Changeling Series. If you’re looking to dive into a rich and complex world, this novel is a strong entry point. Read the blurb and an excerpt.

Though this book is mainly about Valentin Nikolaev and Silver Mercant, we also learn what’s happening to others. The Trinity Accord is shaky and different factions, such as the Consortium, are eager to see it crumble. Still, there are those like Bowen Knight, who try to stabilize interactions between Changelings, Humans and Psy. The contrasting goals of those around Valentin and Silver help expand the range and stakes of the overarching conflict.

Valentin is loyal, robust and playful. Silver is also loyal, as well as reserved and precise. Overtime, Valentin charms Silver, getting her to show emotions that she locked away. Not to be outdone by his craftiness, she’s more than capable of handling the intelligent and mischievous leader of the StoneWater Clan. Valentin and Silver’s stubbornness is an advantage and they bring out the best in each other.

While Singh explores the relationships in other Changeling groups, the closeness within Valentin’s bear clan makes it one of my most loved families. I’m an introvert and I’d normally run from such boisterous people. Yet, I absolutely love the StoneWater Clan. Valentin is the central reason for that. He can be straightforward and is comfortable with his power. He uses coarse language but also switches to being a perfect gentleman. Silver is an excellent match for him, with her innate blend of strength and compassion.

General Thoughts: There are several popular couples in this world that Singh created, including Kaleb Krychek and Sahara Kyriakus. I wouldn’t be surprised if Valentin and Silver quickly become a favorite too. It’s beautiful to see Silver open up to Valentin. He keeps within her orbit, while giving her time to see the depth of his genuine affection. If you’re into BioWare’s Dragon Age video games, Valentin may remind you of The Iron Bull. 😉

Favorite Moments: Aside from the beautiful romance, Singh made the tale fuller with other characters. Among my favorite moments are 1) the StoneWater Clan celebrating the birth of a new cub and 2) Valentin and Silver taking the cubs to play in a foam ball pit.

Questions: Will future books mention the blooming romance between Arwen and Pavel? Will Valentin and Silver have cubs?

Rating: 4 out of 5.

I can’t wait to see what happens next…