Skip to content

The Escapist Book Blog

"Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book." – Author Unknown

  • About Us
  • Book Reviews
    • Book Reviews by Author
      • Book Reviews (A-F by Author)
      • Book Reviews (G-L by Author)
      • Book Reviews (M-R by Author)
      • Book Reviews (S-Z by Author)
    • Book Reviews by Title
      • Book Reviews (A-F by Title)
      • Book Reviews (G-L by Title)
      • Book Reviews (M-R by Title)
      • Book Reviews (S-Z by Title)
    • Series List
  • Recommendations
    • Favorite Reads – 2025
    • Favorite Reads – 2024
    • Favorite Reads by Year
    • Recommendations by Genre
  • Author Spotlights
  • New Releases
  • Coming Soon
  • Contact Us
    • Review Requests
    • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy

Author: AJ

Review: Where I Belong (Alabama Summer, #1) by J. Daniels

March 7, 2023March 7, 2023 AJ Brother/Best Friend

Buy:  Amazon  |  Paperback  |  Audio Review 4 stars! The first book in the Alabama Summer series, this book has been on my TBR for so long, and I’m so glad I finally got to […]

Read more

Audio Review: Toe the Line by Penelope Ward

March 6, 2023March 6, 2023 AJ Angsty

Buy:  Amazon  |  Paperback  |  Apple Books  |  B&N  |  Kobo  |  Google Play  |  Audible Review 4.5 stars! Oh, I loved this book! A deliciously angsty best-friends-to-lovers story that spans ten years of slow-burning build-up. […]

Read more

Audio Review: End of Story by Kylie Scott

March 5, 2023March 4, 2023 AJ Audio Recommendation

Buy  Amazon  |  Paperback |  Audio Review 4.5 stars! I love this book! A fun, witty, sexy and heartfelt friends-to-lovers romance that really gets you thinking when our outspoken heroine is faced with some very intriguing […]

Read more

Review: Wounded Kiss (To Be Claimed, #1) by Willow Winters

March 4, 2023March 4, 2023 AJ Paranormal/Urban Fantasy

Buy:  Amazon  Review 3.5 hot and steamy stars This is a short and steamy paranormal read, the beginning of the To Be Claimed series, and a seriously sexy story of a pack of shifters claiming their […]

Read more

Review: A Glorious and Devilish Expanse (Witches of the Island, #3) by Katie McGarry

March 3, 2023March 2, 2023 AJ Drama

Buy:  Amazon Review 4.5 stars! The third and final book in the Witches of the Island series, this book delivers the epic ending that I was hoping for. From the moment I started this emotional urban […]

Read more

Release & ARC Review: Reverse Pass (Plays & Penalties, #4) by Maggie Rawdon

March 2, 2023April 11, 2024 AJ Age Gap

  Reverse Pass by Maggie Rawdon is live! A best-friend’s-brother, friends-to-lovers, NA sports romance that is fun, playful and sexy, with fantastic characters and a love story that stole my heart! I love this one! […]

Read more

Release & ARC Review: The New Guy by Sarina Bowen

February 28, 2023July 11, 2023 AJ Drama

  The New Guy is live! A new male / male hockey romance from 24-time USA Today bestseller Sarina Bowen! Full of heart, humour, emotion, epic chemistry and heat, the longing-kind-of-angst that I love in […]

Read more

Release Blitz: Toe the Line by Penelope Ward

February 27, 2023February 26, 2023 AJ Book News

  Toe the Line by Penelope Ward is live!   Amazon US  |  Amazon UK  |  Amazon CA  |  Amazon AU |  Paperback Apple Books  |  B&N  |  Kobo  |  Google Play  |  Audible   […]

Read more

Audio Review: The Theory of Second Best (Cake, #2) by J. Bengtsson

February 26, 2023February 26, 2023 AJ Friends-to-Lovers

Buy:  Amazon  |  Paperback  |  Audio Review 4.5 stars! A fun, laugh-out-loud funny romance set within a Survivor-like reality show, this is a wildly entertaining read with characters that I adore and a gorgeously slow burning friends-to-lovers romance, and I […]

Read more

Review: Lover Arisen (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #20) by J.R. Ward

February 25, 2023April 11, 2024 AJ Age Gap

Buy:  Amazon Review 4 stars The latest BDB book brings us the story of Balthazar. Things have been building up for him for a while – he’s possessed by a sexy, manipulative demon, and he’s falling […]

Read more

Release, ARC Review & Giveaway: Blanket of Stars (Camp Bexley, #4) by K.K. Allen

February 24, 2023February 24, 2023 AJ Drama

  Blanket of Stars by K.K. Allen is live! The fourth and final book of the Camp Bexley series is the story of youngest Bexley brother, Cayson, and wow, what a romantic hero! He absolutely […]

Read more

Release & ARC Review: Things We Hide From the Light (Knockemout, #2) by Lucy Score

February 22, 2023February 22, 2023 AJ Enemies-to-Lovers

  Things We Hide From the Light by Lucy Score is live! This is the second book in the Knockemout series, a follow up to the fabulous Things We Never Got Over, and a snarky, […]

Read more

Release & ARC Review: Only You (The Adair Family, #5) by Samantha Young

February 21, 2023February 21, 2023 AJ Drama

  Only You by Samantha Young is live! The fifth and final book in the Adair Family series, this is a heartwrenching friends-to-lovers, almost-second-chance romance that really brings the feels, as movie star Brodan Adair […]

Read more

Review: Bittersweet Melody (The Bittersweet Symphony Duet, #2.5) by Kate Stewart

February 19, 2023 AJ Drama

Available free when you sign up for the author’s newsletter Buy:  Amazon  |  Paperback Review 4 stars Kate Stewart has released a bonus epilogue to the Bittersweet Symphony duet, a little bit more Easton and […]

Read more

Release & ARC Review: Made For You (Made for #2) by Natasha Madison

February 14, 2023February 14, 2023 AJ Drama

  From Wall Street Journal and USA TODAY bestselling author Natasha Madison comes a brand new stand-alone enemies-to-lovers grumpy/sunshine sports romance. A spin-off from the Only One series   Amazon  |  Books2Read   Blurb Vivienne […]

Read more

Review: If the Sun Never Sets (If Love, #2) by Ana Huang

February 13, 2023February 13, 2023 AJ Drama

Buy:  Amazon  |  Paperback Review 3 stars Before spoilers for the first book in the series – If We Ever Meet Again. The second book in the If Love series, and the final part of Blake and Farrah’s […]

Read more

Audio Review: Coming Home by Kennedy Ryan

February 11, 2023 AJ Friends-to-Lovers

Buy:  Amazon  |  Audible Review 3 stars “Sometimes the things that could have happened affect us almost as much as the things that did.” This is a short and sweet novella, an almost-second-chance romance where […]

Read more

Audio Review: Cake (Cake, #1) by J. Bengtsson

February 7, 2023 AJ Audio Recommendation

Buy:  Amazon  |  Paperback  |  Audio Review 4.5 stars! This book has been on my TBR for the longest time, and I’m so happy that I finally dove in! It’s a fantastic rock star romance that starts off as a […]

Read more

Review: If We Ever Meet Again (If Love, #1) by Ana Huang

February 5, 2023 AJ Drama

Buy:  Amazon  |  Paperback Review 3.5 stars! I am a big fan of Ana Huang’s work, and am trying to make my way through her back-catalogue, so I was so excited to dive into this series, bringing […]

Read more

Release & ARC Review: Jasper Vale (The Edens, #4) by Devney Perry

January 31, 2023January 31, 2023 AJ Fake Relationship

  Jasper Vale, the fourth book in The Edens series by Devney Perry is live! What a fantastic read! A sexy, emotional, and gorgeously romantic story with an accidental marriage, a fake relationship, a strong […]

Read more

Release & ARC Review: Whispers of You (Lost & Found, #1) by Catherine Cowles

January 31, 2023January 31, 2023 AJ Drama

  Whispers of You is live! The start of a new series from Catherine Cowles, this is a beautifully romantic and swoony second chance/forced proximity romance with a feisty heroine, a damaged hero desperate to […]

Read more

Audio Review: House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City, #1) by Sarah J. Maas

January 28, 2023January 28, 2023 AJ Fantasy

Buy:  Amazon  |  Paperback  |  Audio Review 5 “Light it up” stars Sarah J. Maas creates the most incredible fantasy worlds, and this time she’s delivered a contemporary urban fantasy full of magic, lore and […]

Read more

Release & ARC Review: Letting Go at 40 (Lakeside Cottage, #4) by L.B. Dunbar

January 26, 2023January 25, 2023 AJ Angsty

  Letting Go at 40 by L.B. Dunbar is live! The fourth and final book in the Lakeside Cottage series, this is the long-awaited story for Anna and Mason. A love-after-loss, unrequited love, friends-to-lovers romance, […]

Read more

Release & ARC Review: Keep This Promise (Rose Canyon, #3) by Corinne Michaels

January 23, 2023January 23, 2023 AJ Mystery/Suspense

  Keep This Promise by Corinne Michaels, is live! The third and final book in the Rose Canyon series, this is sweet and emotional romantic suspense love story with an almost-second-chance-romance, a surprise toddler, and […]

Read more

Review: Heart of Stone (Camp Bexley, #3) by K.K. Allen

January 21, 2023January 23, 2023 AJ Drama

Buy:  Amazon Review 4.5 stars! The third book in the Camp Bexley series, this is the story of troubled, mostly absent brother, Benson. It’s an emotional and sexy romance with beautifully written character development, and I […]

Read more

Posts navigation

Older posts
Newer posts

Welcome

This is a blog for romance booklovers, by romance booklovers. Please be aware that due to the nature of the books reviewed on this site, the content is recommended for people aged 18+

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

What We’re Reading

  • Mel (ARC)
  • AJ (ARC)

What We’re Listening To

  • AJ (ALC)

What’s Happening on Facebook?

Latest Reviews

  • Audio Review: Thaw of Spring (Knife’s Edge, Alaska, #2) by Rebecca Zanetti
  • New Release: If You Keep Me (Toronto Terror, #6) by Helena Hunting
  • New Release & ARC Review: It Seemed Like A Good Idea (Darling Springs, #1) by Lauren Blakely
  • Review: Riftborne (Esprithean Trilogy, #1) by Bree Grenwich and Parker Lennox
  • Release & ARC Review: Whisper Sweet Nothings (Rosewood River, #6) by Laura Pavlov
  • Audio Review: Dead of Winter (Knife’s Edge, Alaska, #1) by Rebecca Zanetti
  • Review: The Situationship (Part of Your World, #3.5) by Abby Jimenez
  • Review: A Crown of Ruin (Blood & Ash, #6.5) by Jennifer L. Armentrout
  • Release & ARC Review: Forever Undone (Forever Boston, #1) by J. Saman
  • Review: We Who Will Die (Empire of Blood, #1) by Stacia Stark

Latest Favorite Reads

Cursed King
Come What May
Hart Street Lane
Only For Love
The Scribe OG
Holiday Fling
In a Second
An Irish Rockstar for Christmas
Mate
Bossing My Holiday
Half Light Harbor
The Death-Made Prince
Fire Heart
Fire
I Dreamt That You Loved Me
The Homemaker
Crazy in Love
Severed Heart
Crazy Love
One Last Rainy Day
A Royal Mile
You, Me and Forever
Say You'll Remember Me
Anathema
If Tomorrow Never Comes
Undeniably Enemies
Wild Side
Save Your Breath
My Silver Lining
Buried Dreams
From Nowhere
Merger ecover copy (1)
On Loverose Lane
Here and Now
The Sleight Before Christmas
The Apple Tree
The Grief We Hold
Chase Lovett Wants Me
Reckless Love
WordPress Photo Gallery Plugin

Search by Bookshelf

  • 6 Star Reads (51)
  • Action (298)
  • Age Gap (111)
  • Angsty (223)
  • Anthology (16)
  • Audio Recommendation (387)
  • Badasses (90)
  • Bikers (64)
  • Billionaire (94)
  • Book News (791)
  • Brother/Best Friend (116)
  • Celebrities (113)
  • Dark & Gritty (188)
  • Drama (955)
  • Dystopia (16)
  • Enemies-to-Lovers (259)
  • Epic Romance (169)
  • Fake Relationship (102)
  • Fantasy (97)
  • Favourite (299)
  • Feeeeeeels (745)
  • Forbidden (101)
  • Friends-to-Lovers (531)
  • Historical (13)
  • LOL Funny (600)
  • Military (68)
  • Mindf**k (15)
  • MM/Menage (61)
  • Mystery/Suspense (240)
  • New Adult (240)
  • No Strings (13)
  • Novella (285)
  • Paranormal/Urban Fantasy (417)
  • Post-Apocalyptic (20)
  • Quickie (25)
  • Rockers (136)
  • Romance (3,140)
  • Sci-Fi (4)
  • Second-Chance-Romance (419)
  • Single Parent (213)
  • Sobfest (61)
  • Sports Star (249)
  • Steamy (2,669)
  • Suspense/Thriller (39)
  • Uncategorized (6)
  • Young Adult (145)
Proudly powered by WordPress | Theme: aReview by aThemes