⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you like Grumpy/Sunshine, prepare to be obsessed with Ethan Rourke.

I just finished The Grumpy Landlord by Anna May Grace, and I am currently a puddle on the floor. If you love a hero who is "touch her and die" but also "I fixed your toaster because I love you," this book is for you.

The Vibes: This is the ultimate Grumpy/Sunshine pairing. We have Ethan, a trauma surgeon and former soldier who lives in a "fortress of solitude" where everything is gray, silent, and orderly. Then in comes Willow, a chaotic muralist who wears mismatched shoelaces , gets evicted, and has to move into his pristine guest house with her orange tabby cat, Charlie.

The Hero: Ethan is top-tier book boyfriend material. He’s got serious demons (PTSD from his time as a surgeon in the war) and thinks he’s too "broken" to be loved. But the way he cares for her? Swoon. He acts annoyed when she destroys his rosebush , but then he's out there defending her art career against the town mean girl like a knight in a charcoal suit. When he said, "I don't want the quiet. I want the noise. I want you," I melted.

The Steam: Okay, the heat level is definitely Open Door! 🌶️ There is a scene involving body paint on a drop cloth that lives rent-free in my head. It was messy, emotional, and incredibly hot.

The Feels: The metaphor of Kintsugi (repairing broken pottery with gold to make it more beautiful) was woven so perfectly through the story. Watching Ethan realize he wasn't "shattered glass" but a work in progress was beautiful.

Favorite Moments:

• The fact that he chased her to the train station barefoot and covered in gold paint just to tell her he loved her.

• When he bought bran scones at the store but let her get the sugary muffins anyway.

• The "safe harbor" bath scene after the gallery disaster.

Verdict: Read this if you want a protective hero, a heroine who isn't afraid to be messy, and a happily ever after that feels earned. It’s sweet, spicy, and surprisingly deep.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The "Only One Bed" trope has never been done better!

I just finished The Wedding of the Century Disaster and I need a minute to recover because Sam Taggart has officially ruined me for real men. 🥵

The Setup: Chloe is a high-strung wedding planner trying to pull off a pop star's wedding during a literal blizzard. Sam is her childhood best friend/local vet who just happens to be there to save the day. When the venue collapses and the hotel overbooks, they end up trapped in the Penthouse Suite with—you guessed it—ONE BED.

The Hero: Sam Taggart is everything. He’s a rugged veterinarian who wears flannel, fixes generators, saves reindeer, and has hands that are "capable of miracles." The way he looks at Chloe? The way he builds a "pillow wall" to respect her boundaries but clearly wants to tear it down? The Competence Kink in this book is off the charts. Watching him use a truck winch to save a falling Christmas tree while Chloe watched... let’s just say I get why she was flustered.

The Steam: 🌶️🌶️🌶️. The tension builds perfectly. The scene in the shower? And the moment the "pillow wall" finally comes down? It was explosive. But it wasn't just physical; the emotional intimacy of them admitting they've loved each other for ten years was beautiful.

Favorite Moments:

• The "Great Wall of Taggart": Them building a wall of pillows down the middle of the California King bed was hilarious and full of angst.

• The Winch Scene: Sam saving the Christmas tree with his truck while Chloe operated the remote was peak "power couple" energy.

• The Ending: I was so scared she was going to get on that plane to Paris, but the way she realized she didn't want to be the "supporting character" anymore was perfect.

Verdict: If you love second-chance romance, snowed-in cozy vibes, and a hero who will drive a snowmobile into a ravine to save your event, read this immediately. It’s funny, chaotic, and incredibly swoony.