Wednesday, December 31, 2025

Between the Pages - Books I Read in 2025

"Reading gives us somewhere to go when we have to stay where we are." ~ Mason Cooley
I don't know about you, but I really needed the distraction and escape that reading offers me this year. What a year of adversity 2025 was! I’m naturally a homebody, but even my reclusive tendencies have been tested as I rarely left home the last half of the year. I’ve found that there’s nothing so enjoyable, portable, and affordable as reading. And even though my recall of what I read is dismal, my favorite books featured here left quite an impression. Several of them were the unrivaled choices in multiple categories. I feel fortunate to have discovered them and have them give me so many “WOW” moments.
 
As I haven't discovered a better way of expressing the following, I shall repeat what I said in previous years...
 
To all the authors whose stories entertained me this year, and especially those who wrote my favorites below, you've earned my highest esteem, gratitude, and adoration. Thank you!

The books I select as my favorites each year are those that: I get lost in; the ones that while reading, I lose all track of time; the ones that evoke the strongest emotions; the ones that make me laugh, cry, blush, gasp, and sigh. Yeah, those books!

Each year I meticulously review my database and online shelves to select my favorites. Even though I arbitrarily decide upon the categories, I am careful in considering which books deserve each designation.

Sadly, no matter how much I love a book, I am unable to recall details. In other words, although my devotion is clear, my memory is not. I would, indeed, like to attempt to explain my choices to anyone who may be interested.

There are several books that were published this year that I wanted to read but was unable to, some of which were published late in the year. I may have to make an exception for some of them and include them in a future list.

I'll be starting out 2026 with about 100 books on my to-be-read shelves—Kindle and Audible—and my library wish list. I will again set my StoryGraph Reading Challenge goal at 150 books. 

My 2025 Stats

My StoryGraph Challenge total was 239 (first reads and rereads of single titles) - my 2025 StoryGraph Reading Wrap-up
 
My database total was 143 (first reads of individual formats only)

(Note: I receive no monetary compensation. I only wish to show my appreciation. The book links below open up to the corresponding Webpages on Amazon.com or Audible.com.)
 
My Favorites Published in 2025
(alphabetical by author)

Single Titles 
 
Nightshade (Catalina #1) by Michael Connelly
Ireland (Crossroads #1) by Sylvia Day
Illustrious (Quantum #9) by Marie Force 
Beg for Me (Morally Gray #3) by J.T. Geissinger 
Blackthorn by J.T. Geissinger 
Say You'll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez
Gilded by Skye Jordan (my review)
Bluebird Gold (Lost Legends #1) by Devney Perry 
Shield of Sparrows (Shield of Sparrows #1) by Devney Perry 
Can't Get Enough (Skyland #3) by Kennedy Ryan 
Soul Searching (audiobook) by Lyla Sage (my review)
Denim & Diamonds by Penelope Ward and Vi Keeland 

 
Series Titles (two or more installments published within 2025)
 
The Single Dad Playbook Series by Willow Aster
 
Favorites by Category

Genres

Favorite Contemporary Romance - Say You'll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez
Favorite Romantic Suspense - State of Preservation (First Family #10) by Marie Force
Favorite Paranormal Romance - Blackthorn by J.T. Geissinger
Favorite Romantic Series - The Single Dad Playbook Series by Willow Aster
Favorite Audiobook - Soul Searching (a) by Lyla Sage

Romance Tropes

Favorite Age Gap Romance - Beg for Me (Morally Gray #3) by J.T. Geissinger
Favorite Enemies to Lovers Romance - Shield of Sparrows (Shield of Sparrows #1) by Devney Perry
Favorite Forced/Close Proximity Romance - Gilded by Skye Jordan
Favorite Slow Burn Romance - Soul Searching (a) by Lyla Sage
Favorite Grumpy/Sunshine Romance - Wicked Love (Single Dad Playbook #4) by Willow Aster
Favorite Surprise Pregnancy - Wicked Love (The Single Dad Playbook #4) by Willow Aster
Favorite Secret Baby Romance  - Blackthorn by J.T. Geissinger
Favorite Second Chance Romance - Crazy Love (The Single Dad Playbook #5) by Willow Aster
Favorite Small Town Romance - Soul Searching (a) by Lyla Sage
Favorite Forbidden Romance - Blackthorn by J.T. Geissinger

Characters

Favorite Character Repartee - Odessa Cross and Zavier Wolfe from Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry
Favorite Romantic Couple - Penn Hudson and Adeline "Addy" Evans from Crazy Love (Single Dad Playbook #5) by Willow Aster 
Favorite Romantic Hero - Brady Cooper from Soul Searching (a) by Lyla Sage
Favorite Antihero - Luka Bravo aka Arias from Gilded by Skye Jordan
Most Tormented Hero - Ronan Croft from Blackthorn by J.T. Geissinger
Most Selfless Hero - Atticus Marchetti from The Drummer's Heart by Penelope Ward
Favorite Romantic Heroine - Collins Cartwright from Soul Searching (a) by Lyla Sage
Most "Kick-Ass" Heroine - Odessa Cross from Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry
Favorite Opposites Attract - Brock Hawkins and February Shaw from Denim & Diamonds by Penelope Ward and Vi Keeland 
Favorite Cameo Appearances - Gideon and Eva Cross from Ireland (Crossroads #1) by Sylvia Day

Themes/Moods
 
Most Taboo - Blackthorn by J.T. Geissinger
Most Affecting - Say You'll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez
Most Humorous - Blackthorn by J.T. Geissinger (the aunts! 🤣)
Most Luscious - Illustrious (Quantum #9) by Marie Force
Most Realistic Romance - Say You'll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez
Most Erotic - Blackthorn by J.T. Geissinger
Most Surprising Plot Twist - Blackthorn by J.T. Geissinger
Most Devastating Blow Delivered -
Blackthorn by J.T. Geissinger
Most Pleasant Surprise - Soul Searching (a) by Lyla Sage
Most Striking Cover - Shield of Sparrows (Shield of Sparrows #1) by Devney Perry
 
 
Book Bundles I Read in 2025

Since my book database counts a multi-book bundle as a single book, the following is a list of the individual books from within the book bundles I read this year. 

Cloverleigh Farms Collection (audiobook) by Melanie Harlow
 
Irresistible (#1) 09/16/2025 (9 out of 10 stars)
Undeniable (#2) 09/16/2025 (5 out of 10 stars)
Insatiable (#3) 09/18/2025 (6 out of 10 stars)
Unbreakable (#4) 09/25/2025 (8 out of 10 stars)
Unforgettable (#5) 09/27/2025 (8 out of 10 stars)
 
Grip Trilogy Boxset by Kennedy Ryan
 
Flow (#1) 01/05/2025 (8 out of 10 stars)
Grip (#2) 01/07/2025 (10 out of 10 stars)
Still (#3) 01/08/2025 (10 out of 10 stars)

Most Anticipated Books of 2026
 
Game On (Into the Darkness #3) by Navessa Allen 
Bloodlust by Sandra Brown 
Ironwood (Catalina #2) by Michael Connelly
Illusive (Crossroads #2) by Sylvia Day
The Night We Met (Say You'll Remember Me #2) by Abby Jimenez 
Rites of the Starling (Shield of Sparrows #2) by Devney Perry
The Final Target by Nora Roberts 

Individual First Time Reads of 2025
(The (a) following a book's title designates an audiobook, a (p) denotes the paperback or signed paperback (*p) of a book that I previously read via Kindle, and the (h) denotes the hardcover version. The table is best viewed in landscape mode on mobile devices.)  
  
Books Read in 2025

Author Title Publication Year Reading Date My Rating
Abby, S.T. The Risk 2016 6/6/2025 8
Abby, S.T. Sidetracked 2016 6/6/2025 8
Abby, S.T. Scarlet Angel 2016 6/7/2025 8
Abby, S.T. All the Lies 2016 6/8/2025 8
Abby, S.T. Paint It All Red 2016 6/10/2025 8
Allen, Navessa Lights Out (a) 2024 2/12/2025 8
Allen, Navessa Caught Up 2025 6/22/2025 8
Allen, Navessa Snowed In 2020 9/21/2025 7
Andresen, Tammy King of Depravity 2025 7/18/2025 8
Andresen, Tammy King of Desire 2025 7/18/2025 8
Andresen, Tammy King of Sinners 2024 7/19/2025 8
Andresen, Tammy King of Temptation 2024 7/19/2025 8
Andresen, Tammy King of Wrath 2024 7/19/2025 8
Andresen, Tammy King of Ruin 2024 7/20/2025 8
Andresen, Tammy King of Pain 2025 7/21/2025 8
Andresen, Tammy King of Deception 2025 7/22/2025 6
Ann, Jewel E. I Thought of You 2024 1/20/2025 10
Ann, Jewel E. Sunday Morning 2024 2/4/2025 8
Ann, Jewel E. The Apple Tree 2025 2/6/2025 8
Ashley, Kristen Breathe (a) 2013 1/3/2025 5
Aster, Willow Mad Love 2024 11/10/2025 9
Aster, Willow Secret Love 2024 11/12/2025 8
Aster, Willow Reckless Love 2025 11/15/2025 10
Aster, Willow Wicked Love 2025 11/16/2025 10
Aster, Willow Crazy Love 2025 11/17/2025 10
Black, D.D. The Bones at Point No Point 2022 9/3/2025 7
Bowen, Rhys; Broyles, Clare Silent as the Grave (a) 2025 12/24/2025 6
Boyd, Natasha Stolen English (a) 2024 10/1/2025 7
Brown, Sandra Blood Moon 2025 4/6/2025 7
Callihan, Kristen The Friend Zone 2024 11/24/2025 10
Carlton, H.D. Haunting Adeline 2022 4/23/2025 6
Cates, Georgia Steel Beauty 2025 8/27/2025 8
Cates, Georgia American Beauty 2025 8/28/2025 8
Cates, Georgia Beloved Beauty 2025 8/31/2025 8
Christy, Samantha Crazy Imperfect Hearts 2025 2/10/2025 8
Christy, Samantha Tiny Precious Secrets 2025 7/11/2025 6
Connelly, Michael Desert Star (a) 2022 6/19/2025 8
Connelly, Michael The Waiting (a) 2024 4/13/2025 10
Connelly, Michael Resurrection Walk (a) 2023 4/15/2025 10
Connelly, Michael Nightshade 2025 5/26/2025 10
Connelly, Michael Nightshade (a) 2025 7/13/2025 9
Cowles, Catherine All the Missing Pieces 2025 1/14/2025 8
Cowles, Catherine All the Missing Pieces (a) 2025 6/21/2025 8
Crichton, Michael; Patterson, James Eruption (a) 2024 4/10/2025 8
Day, Sylvia Ireland 2025 4/11/2025 10
DeWitt, Tarah Left of Forever 2025 7/31/2025 7
Dice, I.A. Breaking Hailey 2024 11/27/2025 7
Dice, I.A. Saving Hailey 2024 11/28/2025 7
Dice, I.A. Finding Violet 2024 11/29/2025 8
Dice, I.A. Catching Bianca 2025 11/30/2025 6
Dice, I.A. Keeping Leilani 2025 12/4/2025 5
Farrow, Ronan Not a Very Good Murderer (a) 2025 3/21/2025 10
Flynn, Jack; Ray, Lainey The Scout 2025 10/7/2025 7
Flynn, Jack; Ray, Lainey The Sentinel 2025 10/20/2025 6
Flynn, Jack; Ray, Lainey The Commander 2025 10/21/2025 8
Flynn, Jack; Ray, Lainey The Sniper 2025 10/22/2025 6
Flynn, Jack; Ray, Lainey The Hacker 2025 10/24/2025 5
Flynn, Jack; Ray, Lainey The Medic 2025 10/29/2025 7
Flynn, Jack; Ray, Lainey The Ghost 2025 10/30/2025 7
Force, Marie The Fatal Series Compendium 2025 7/18/2025 6
Force, Marie State of Retribution 2025 12/19/2025 10
Force, Marie State of Preservation 2025 12/29/2025 10
Force, Marie Delivery After Dark 2025 10/6/2025 7
Force, Marie Illustrious 2025 4/19/2025 10
Geissinger, J.T. Blackthorn (a) 2025 11/6/2025 10
Geissinger, J.T. Blackthorn 2025 11/4/2025 10
Geissinger, J.T. Beg For Me 2025 7/4/2025 10
Geissinger, J.T. Beg for Me (a) 2025 10/9/2025 10
Geissinger, J.T. Spicy Little Curses 2025 9/23/2025 7
Geissinger, J.T. Spicy Little Curses (a) 2025 10/5/2025 8
Harlow, Melanie The Cloverleigh Farms Collection Audiobook (a) 2025 9/27/2025 8
Harlow, Melanie Tease (a) 2022 2/27/2025 8
Harlow, Melanie Tempt (*p) 2022 10/9/2025 10
Harmon, Amy The Unknown Beloved (*p) 2022 9/4/2025 10
Hazelwood, Ali The Love Hypothesis (a) 2021 3/1/2025 8
Huang, Ana King of Wrath 2022 6/2/2025 8
Hunter, Elizabeth Crimson Oath 2025 8/7/2025 9
James, Nicole Crash (a) 2022 3/27/2025 9
James, Nicole Shades (a) 2022 3/30/2025 6
James, Nicole Wolf (a) 2023 4/1/2025 8
James, Nicole Ghost (a) 2023 4/2/2025 6
Jimenez, Abby The Fall Risk 2025 2/3/2025 10
Jimenez, Abby The Fall Risk (a) 2025 6/1/2025 10
Jimenez, Abby The Friend Zone (a) 2019 6/8/2025 10
Jimenez, Abby The Happy Ever After Paylist (a) 2020 10/16/2025 8
Jimenez, Abby Say You'll Remember Me 2025 4/8/2025 10
Jordan, Skye Gilded 2025 8/1/2025 10
Keeland, Vi Indiscretion 2025 1/15/2025 9
Keeland, Vi Indiscretion (a) 2025 2/11/2025 8
Keeland, Vi The Naked Truth (a) 2018 1/17/2025 8
Keeland, Vi Something Unexpected (a) 2023 3/5/2025 10
Keeland, Vi We Shouldn't (a) 2019 1/18/2025 8
Lark, Sophie Monarch 2024 11/25/2025 6
Lark, Sophie Grimstone 2023 11/24/2025 7
Lark, Sophie Grimstone (a) 2024 12/17/2025 8
Lark, Sophie Monarch (a) 2024 12/18/2025 7
Page, Tierney The Other Brother 2025 1/19/2025 8
Perry, Devney Bluebird Gold 2025 12/31/2025 10
Perry, Devney Shield of Sparrows (a) 2025 8/9/2025 10
Perry, Devney Shield of Sparrows 2025 5/16/2025 10
Perry, Devney Merit 2025 3/29/2025 8
Reiss, C.D. Deep Thrall 2025 7/17/2025 6
Robb, J.D. Conspiracy in Death (a) 2008 1/26/2025 8
Robb, J.D. Loyalty in Death (a) 2008 10/18/2025 6
Roberts, Nora Hidden Nature 2025 7/1/2025 5
Romig, Aleatha Fear of Flames 2025 10/27/2025 7
Ryan, Kennedy Grip Trilogy Box Set 2020 1/8/2025 10
Ryan, Kennedy The Kingmaker (*p) 2023 8/10/2025 10
Ryan, Kennedy The Rebel King (*p) 2023 8/15/2025 10
Ryan, Kennedy Flow (a) 2017 1/19/2025 8
Ryan, Kennedy Grip (a) 2017 1/23/2025 10
Ryan, Kennedy Still (a) 2019 1/26/2025 10
Ryan, Kennedy This Could Be Us 2024 1/4/2025 10
Ryan, Kennedy Can't Get Enough 2025 5/25/2025 10
Ryan, Kennedy My Soul to Keep 2015 1/10/2025 8
Ryan, Kennedy Down to My Soul 2016 1/11/2025 8
Ryan, Kennedy Refrain 2016 1/11/2025 8
Sage, Lyla Done and Dusted 2023 11/19/2025 7
Sage, Lyla Soul Searching (a) 2025 10/15/2025 10
Score, Lucy Things We Left Behind (a) 2023 4/26/2025 8
Scott, Kylie Because the Night (a) 2025 7/24/2025 8
Scott, Kylie Because the Night 2025 3/13/2025 8
Scott, Kylie Dirty (*p) 2016 2/24/2025 10
Scott, Kylie Lick (*p) 2014 1/21/2025 10
Sheridan, Mia All the Little Raindrops (a) 2023 2/16/2025 7
Toon, Paige What If I Never Get Over You 2025 7/26/2025 7
Tucker, K.A. Release Me 2025 6/16/2025 8
Tucker, K.A. Save Me 2025 10/3/2025 8
Ward, Penelope A Drummer's Heart 2025 3/11/2025 8
Ward, Penelope The House Guest 2025 9/1/2025 8
Ward, Penelope Stepbrother Dearest (a) 2025 2/9/2025 8
Ward, Penelope; Keeland, Vi Cocky Bastard (a) 2025 9/15/2025 10
Ward, Penelope; Keeland, Vi Denim & Diamonds 2025 7/28/2025 10
Weaver, Brynne Butcher & Blackbird 2023 2/14/2025 8
Wilder, Jasinda Rev 2022 1/21/2025 7
Wilder, Jasinda Kane 2022 1/22/2025 7
Wilder, Jasinda Chance 2023 1/24/2025 7
Wilder, Jasinda Silas 2024 1/25/2025 7
Wilder, Jasinda Saxon 2024 2/1/2025 7
Wilder, Victoria Bourbon & Lies 2024 9/7/2025 7
Wilder, Victoria Bourbon & Secrets 2024 9/12/2025 6
Wilder, Victoria Bourbon & Proof 2025 9/19/2025 5
Yarros, Rebecca Variation (a) 2024 1/16/2025 10

Exported from BookCollector on 12/31/2025 11:26:31 AM


Wednesday, October 15, 2025

Audiobook Review: Soul Searching by Lyla Sage

Series: Sweetwater Peak #1
Author: Lyla Sage
Narrators: Samantha Brentmoor, Jason Clarke 
Rating: Five out of five stars
Spice:  🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Published: 09-30-2025
Publisher: Random House Audio
Genre(s):  Contemporary Paranormal Romance 
 
DESCRIPTION 

Home is where the heart is—and this one is haunted.

The #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Rebel Blue Ranch series returns with a brand-new story, featuring a small-town upholsterer in need of a fresh start, a photographer whose life has come to a screeching halt . . . and the supernatural forces that bring them together.

Collins Cartwright does not want to go home. Sweetwater Peak, Wyoming, was supposed to be in her rearview mirror, but when she finds out a developer is trying to buy her parents’ antiques shop out from under them, she doesn’t have a choice—at least, that’s what she tells her family. They don’t need to know she’s lost her job and is out of money. Or that the ghosts who have always been her companions have recently gone silent.

But just because she’s returned home doesn’t mean she has to stay with her parents or crash on her twin sister’s couch. Lucky for her, the new-to-town upholsterer has a room for rent above his store. Unluckily, it is absolutely crawling with more ghosts who are freezing her out. And Collins hates being ignored.

Brady Cooper is absolutely and totally fine. Seriously, there’s no secret reason why he decided to uproot his life and suddenly move to Sweetwater Peak. He just needed a change of pace. At least that’s what he tells himself. And everyone else.

When he agrees to let the elusive Collins Cartwright stay in his spare room, he doesn’t know that she’s absolutely bonkers—constantly talking to herself and having conversations with no one—or that she looked like that. But as they begin to get closer, the lines between them start to blur, leaving both of them—and the ghosts who have been pushing them together—wondering whether their temporary arrangement could be something more permanent.


MY THOUGHTS 

I rarely listen to an audiobook before reading the digital version, particularly when I am unfamiliar with the author. I decided on the audiobook introduction to Lyla Sage entirely because of the two narrators, Samantha Brentmoor and Jason Clarke. Those two, together, performing this fascinating ghostly story in duet, are perfection! The MMC and FMC, Brady and Collins, are such interesting and singular characters, and the rest of the small cast of characters in the fictitious town of Sweetwater Peak are quirky and brought to life by the narrators' limitless talents.  Their slow-burn romance is more rewarding than any other I can think of. The culmination of their emotional, spiritual, and physical chemistry blew me away. Their sexual chemistry was so off-the-charts sensual and connected, my swooning reached epic heights. I absolutely adored these two characters together and look forward to the next book in the duet to spend a little more time with them. 


Friday, August 1, 2025

Book Review: Gilded by Skye Jordan

Title: Gilded
Series: Standalone
Author: Skye Jordan
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Published: 07/28/2025
Publisher: Cygnet Books, Inc.
Genre(s): Contemporary Dark Romance
 
DESCRIPTION 
 
From New York Times bestselling author Skye Jordan comes a bold new morally gray romance—dark, seductive, and unlike anything she’s written before.

For twenty years, I’ve hunted one man—the monster who destroyed my childhood and disappeared behind a fortress of wealth and power. I’ve come for blood—and I won’t stop until I deliver him to hell myself.

When I infiltrate his inner circle, posing as a potential partner, I discover his greatest secret: a daughter. Hidden. Sheltered. Promised to his equally depraved business partner as a trophy bride—and a payoff for years of loyalty.

At first, she’s nothing but a tool—another pawn I can use to bring her father to his knees. So, when he complains that she’s too pure to satisfy him, I offer to educate her. My ticket deeper into the empire, I intend to burn to the ground.

She was supposed to be leverage.

Instead, she’s the only thing I’ll kill to protect—and die to keep.
 

MY THOUGHTS 

Gilded is a fast-paced, intriguing, and authentic-feeling story featuring the most remarkable heroine in Malia. She's had a horrifically sheltered existence full of neglect and abuse, but has an innate sense of decency and strength. I must mention that the graphic abuse she suffers, particularly in the beginning of the book, is difficult to read. With the addition of our morally gray hero, Luka, I felt instant relief for Malia. However, that relief faltered numerous times when his words and actions belied his status as a potential savior. Although their relationship begins with a very unpleasant agreement, it progresses uncomfortably before Luka is enlightened to Malia's actual innocence.

This dual point-of-view story wraps up in the best possible way. For Malia. For Luka, and their life together! 

Undoubtedly, Gilded will be a favorite book this year.  I'm thankful to Skye Jordan for another exceptional read!

Tropes: morally gray hero, revenge romance, mafia romance, enemies to lovers, touch her and die, captivity


HIGHLIGHTS 
 
The Dedication: For the readers who like their heroes lethal, their heroines defiant, and their romance dirty. You know who you are.

I’m stunned. Again. I’ve never been hit before. Not by my father, not by any nanny or guard. Now, I’ve been hit twice in a matter of hours, and I don’t know how to adapt. I’ve been ignored, disregarded, belittled, scoffed at, and now, hated, but I’ve never been hit. 

“She’s a ghost.” Typical of Jairo to just talk, regardless of whether or not I want to listen. But these men are my family. My brothers. I would never dismiss their ideas, the same way they would never dismiss mine. “I can’t locate her birth certificate or her Social Security number,” he says. “Not as Malia Eros or Malia Tarik, and there is no record of Tarik’s wife ever giving birth. I’ve scoured the backgrounds of his known whores—still nothing.”

“I’m wondering if there’s any way I could marry you instead of Soren.” I meet his gaze, the idea cementing as I speak. “I’ll still do the charity work and give the money to Soren. I can do even more and give that income to you. I swear I’d be a good wife. I’d leave you alone so you could work. I wouldn’t care if you’re gone or even had other women in your life. I’d do whatever you want in the bedroom, and I’d learn to cook for you. I⁠—”

“This just keeps getting darker.” “You haven’t heard the darkest part yet.” I rub my eyes. “Christ.” “Those stipulations I mentioned—her grandparents require proof of life every birthday. If they don’t get it, they revoke the trust.”

He grips my face and kisses me, a fierce, hard, passionate kiss that leaves me aching and dizzy. “You may be marrying him tomorrow, Malia, but you belong to me. You’ll always belong to me.” He slips out of the room, and it’s over. It’s over as abruptly as it began. I cover my face with both hands, press my back to the door, and slide to the floor, my heart shattering.



Wednesday, January 1, 2025

Movie Review: Lick (2024)

 

Lick Movie Poster - Passionflix

This is how it's done and done very well indeed.

That was the opening line of my book review for Kylie Scott's novel Lick in 2013. I rated the book 10 stars then, and 11 years later, this movie is my first to receive a 10-star rating. I have read and listened to the novel many times through the years, and the movie is so authentically done that I watched it 20 times in the first 13 days.

The stars have literally aligned because this Passionflix movie (movie trailer) is undeniably an accurate adaptation of the book, but with an outstanding Stage Dive original music soundtrack to liven everything up. Almost all of the book's key scenes are represented comparably in the movie. They are insightfully portrayed by Travis Burns as David Ferris, Brooke Lee as Evelyn Thomas, and Joseph McNabb as Malcolm "Mal" Ericson. The roles of Lauren and Sam are portrayed with genuineness by Amanda Tavarez and Aaron Quick Nelson, respectively. Eric Brody, as Jimmy Ferris, and Zack Mines, as Ben Nicholson, don't have enough screen time to fully convey their abilities, but they demonstrate definite intensity in their limited time on screen. With each viewing, I'm further surprised by Travis's remarkable performance. His screen presence, the natural way he delivers his lines, his gestures, facial expressions, his sparkling smile, and the way he looks at Ev are all so nuanced and genuine-feeling. Crush-worthy Book David has been elevated to top infatuation status by Movie David. The absence of long hair, different eye colors, and nonidentical tattoos can't detract from Travis being the ideal choice for David. Brooke Lee's Ev is adorable, charming, and radiant. She is exactly the right kind of "different" for David, who notices her inherent goodness from the start. Joseph McNabb was born to play Mal, who is the most endearing and entertaining of all the characters.

The movie arc makes for a fulfilling story, even though necessary steps had to be taken to condense a 300+ page book into an hour and forty-one minutes. (The movie is fast-paced with rapid dialogue and so many noteworthy scenes that I can't pick one favorite.) From the opening scene to the superb, swoon-worthy musical conclusion, Lick is a wholly rewarding romantic movie experience. Hopefully, the powers that be have determined that, given Lick's success, the other three novels need to be optioned and produced with the same level of detail, featuring the same cast, crew, and perfect casting of the new female leads.
 
Ten shiny (rock) stars for this faithful adaptation!
 
LICK is amazing! For me, it is the most perfect contemporary romance that checks all of my boxes. Although there are slight flaws, they are completely inconsequential and counterbalanced by other aspects that are remarkable. I will watch it again and again without ever losing my appreciation for it. A 10-star rating is not given lightly.
*Content advisory: partial nudity, tasteful sex scenes, language (lots of f-bombs!). These are rock stars, people. 😉


I was curious exactly how much of LICK (the book) ended up in LICK (the movie). See all of those pink tabs? They represent either the exact dialogue or only a slight variation between the book and the movie. All the blue tabs represent scenes from the book that were included in the movie, with some modifications. The light green tabs represent dialogue and scenes in the book that didn’t make it into the movie. For those of us who have watched it many times, we know how closely the movie adheres to the book. For those devoted readers who are unsure about watching the movie, perhaps seeing proof of how closely adapted it is will help.