I hadn’t read any books by Alexandria Bellefleur before I picked up Truly, Madly, Deeply after seeing some positive reviews from friends on social media. Knowing that all of her books reviewed here at AAR ranged from B+ to A- grades also gave me high hopes. I’m happy to say that this one will also be well received by fans and new readers alike.

Bestselling romance novelist Truly Livingston is definitely not feeling the romance vibes lately. Her parents are separating (taking a break, they say, to determine whether they want to stay together), which has hit Truly hard. Her own love life is bruised; she’s just ditched her cheating fiancé and now she’s been invited to participate in a relationship podcast. With, of all people, divorce lawyer Colin McCrory.

Colin is helping his sister out with her podcast, which is why he agrees to a sit-down conversation with Truly. But they clash pretty quickly, with their differing views on love and long-term relationships leading to Truly walking out on the recording. Tracking her down, Colin apologizes and wants her to give the podcast a second chance for his sister’s sake (especially since the audience thinks it was a hit and wants more). Their initial animosity soon turns to actual friendship, and then more. Their attraction to each other is off the charts, but can these two opposites really find a happy ever after together?

I can see why this author is so popular! From start to finish, I enjoyed how the story unfolded. Colin is a real sweetheart and isn’t afraid of Truly’s strong and opinionated attitudes – truth be told he likes her occasional bitchiness and it turns him on. A touch of femdom and Colin’s desire to please Truly leads to some pretty steamy scenes between them. The desperation Truly feels about her parents’ split leads to some sketchy and what I found to be childish choices on her part (ones that Colin isn’t afraid to give advice about, even if she doesn’t want to listen). Truly’s parents are musical theater buffs, such that they name house rooms after composers and people are required to use lines from appropriate musicals in conversations while in the rooms! This had no meaning for me, but presumably theater fans would enjoy that part. There is positive LGBTQ representation (both Truly and Colin are bisexual) and the banter between them is witty and fun.

While Truly, Madly, Deeply doesn’t reach DIK status, it’s an enjoyable and sexy contemporary romance, and I look forward to catching up with some of Ms. Bellefleur’s backlist.