Review: Cage of Ice and Echoes by Pam Godwin

April 23, 2024 by · Leave a Comment

CAGE OF ICE AND ECHOES
Series: Frozen Fate #2
Genre: Dark Romance, Why Choose
Author: Pam Godwin 
Release Date: April 23, 2024

Frankie’s story continues in this second book in the Frozen Fate trilogy by Pam Godwin.

Frankie and her ruthless protectors conquered unspeakable evil. But their fight to escape the hills of shivers and shadows is far from over.
Stranded in Alaska, survival becomes paramount against starvation, hypothermia, and the dangerous predators lurking outside their isolated cabin.
Sharing precious body heat with her viciously possessive men presents another challenge. She must navigate not only the brutal arctic tundra but also the intricacies of polyamorous love to ensure they make it out alive.
Tensions rise as the ice thickens, and their only hope rests on a plane they can’t fly.
Unless they unlock the secrets hidden beneath its wings in a cage of ice and echoes.

Tropes: Adult Romance, Age Gap, Alpha Hero, Angsty, Band of Brothers, Billionaire, Boy Obsessed, Close Proximity, Enemies-to-lovers, First Love, Fish out of Water, Forbidden Love, Forced Proximity, Found Family, Heroine in Danger, Menage, MFM, One Bed, Poly (3+ people), Protector, Romantic Suspense, Scars, Stalker, Starting Over, Stranded Together, Survival, Taboo, Touch Her And Die, Tragic Past, Troubled Marriage, Unrequited Love, Virgin Hero, Why Choose, Will They or Won’t They

AMAZON 

I’m bound by heartstrings to two souls, brothers in name, family in blood, rivals in love, united in their resolve to protect one thing. Me.

How? How does Pam Godwin do this? Every. Single. Time. She manages to weave pure addictive magic into her words and fully captivate her readers in a story that’s as gripping as it is unforgettable.

After the painful cliffhanger in book one, I was itching to get my hands on the second installment of this trilogy. I think my hands were legit shaking when I started this book because I was both eager for answers at the same time that I almost dreaded them.

Made by God and raised by the devil, he’s a formidable force of nature, devastatingly handsome, looming over me, stealing all my air.

Now book one was thick, and I mean THICK. And this book was no shorter. And yet, every word packed a meaning. There wasn’t one wasted sentence, page, or chapter. All of it weaving an intricate tale of survival, love beyond all odds, and a dark undercurrent that practically vibrates with the energy hidden within these pages.

Here, in their embrace, I have the entire world wrapped around me. Because my entire world is them.

There is an additional POV added into this book that I am wholly obsessed with. But I also have no idea what end is up any longer. Every time I think I fugue out something, I’m left with even more answers. The intricate details of this story are simply unparalleled. Kody, Leo and Frankie are stranded, starving, and in a desperate bid to survive the brutal elements of the arctic. Amongst the frozen and bare land, desperation, and starvation, the bond between these three continues to grow. And god but I loved the fierce protectiveness these men have for Frankie. Almost as much as I loved how fierce Frankie is in everything she survives and does for these men.

When I tell you I love you, it isn’t out of habit or because I think you need to hear it. I say it to remind the world that you’re irreplaceable, and it will suffer my eternal goddamn wrath if anything happens to you.”

As long as this book was, I devoured it. I couldn’t put it down for even a minute. I was desperately turning the pages only to get to the end with my jaw firmly rooted to the floor. I am shooketh. I am unwell. I am DESPERATE for the conclusion.

If you’re looking for an incredibly well written dark romance that is weaved with suspense, beautiful propose, and a story so additive that you will actually see it unravel behind your eyes as you read, you need this in your life. TRUST ME.

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author, Pam Godwin, lives in the Midwest with her husband, their two children, and a foulmouthed parrot. When she ran away, she traveled fourteen countries across five continents, attended three universities, and married the vocalist of her favorite rock band.
 
Java, tobacco, and dark romance novels are her favorite indulgences, and might be considered more unhealthy than her aversion to sleeping, eating meat, and dolls with blinking eyes.
 
Facebook Reader Group: here
Leave a Comment · Filed Under: All Reviews, Dark, DGR Favorites · Tagged With: , ,

Review: The Villains We Make by Natasha Knight

April 23, 2024 by · Leave a Comment

THE VILLAINS WE MAKE
Series: Heroes & Villains Duet #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Natasha Knight
Release Date: April 23, 2024

You can’t marry him if you’re already married to me.

That was how Silas Cruz proposed to me—more like demanded, really. He didn’t exactly give me a choice.

He’s dark, jealous and incredibly possessive.

And he’s just one of the villains in my story.

I used to think he was my hero.

Still, there’s one thing I know for sure. Whenever I need him, whenever I’m in danger, he comes for me. He’s proven that time and time again.

Now, the game has changed, the stakes life and death.

But loving Silas may be the most dangerous thing for me. Because he’s the man who holds my heart in the palm of his hand.

AMAZON 

I don’t need you to rescue me anymore, Silas.”
“I will always rescue you, Ophelia.”

I couldn’t think of a more perfect conclusion to this stunning duet. Natasha Knight is forever and always the queen of the “my wife” romance. Fight me on it.

The Villains We Make takes off immediately where the jaw dropping cliffhanger of The Heroes We Break ended. Silas is determined to protect Ophelia at all costs, even if it’s from herself and she believes him to be the villain in her story. The way I fell head over heels for this fiercely protective man is not surprising. Silas may have a dark and brooding intensity to him that makes him dangerous, but the man also has a heart of gold that makes him irresistible. The way that he fights for Ophelia melted my cold black heart.

Ophelia really came into her own in this book. She may be younger than Silas but she’s not naive or foolish. She’s fierce and protective in her own right. And the way she rides for her man made me love her so much more, especially with that ending.

The mystery of Ophelia’s past finally unravels and while parts I was able to predict, a particular plot twist caught me completely by surprise and left me with my jaw on the floor. This duet was addictive with enough steam to set my kindle on fire. I binge read it in one sitting, both needing all the answers and dreading being done with these characters.

This duet is exactly why Natasha is my auto buy author; absolute book crack!

Leave a Comment · Filed Under: All Reviews, Contemporary Romance, Dirty Talkers · Tagged With: ,

Review: Learn Your Lesson by Kandi Steiner

April 19, 2024 by · Leave a Comment

LEARN YOUR LESSON
Series: Kings of the Ice #3
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Kandi Steiner
Release Date: April 19, 2024

My mother only wanted me to learn one lesson growing up…
Men are trash.

Her father left her, and then my father left us. Being raised by her and my grandmother, I was surrounded by the reminder to be independent and guard my heart.

After my one and only experience with a boy in college fell flatter than a pancake, I realized they were right — and I was content to live the life of a twenty-six-year-old cat lady.

Until Will Perry blew my quiet world to smithereens.

Starting goalie for the Tampa Bay Ospreys and the kind of hot that scrambles your brain, all I was ever supposed to be to him was his daughter’s kindergarten teacher. Then, in a twist of events, his temporary nanny.

But temporary turns to permanent, and when I move into his pool house, everything changes.

He’s impossibly grumpy and focused on only two things: hockey, and taking care of his daughter. I’m only focused on using this new income to pay back my student loans.

But in that house, I feel his heated gaze beneath that permanent scowl, the way it lingers and warms my skin. And though I know my mother would lose her mind if she knew, my dreams have become midnight fantasies about my long-haired, muscle-lined mystery of a boss.

When the tension becomes too much, we break, and we make a deal.

He still needs a nanny. I still need a paycheck and for my matriarchy to not disown me. But Will agrees to teach me everything I’ve always wanted to learn, and I’m all too eager to be his student.

I can do this. I’m a grown woman. I can explore my sexuality with the hottest goalie on earth and still remain one-hundred percent professional. And I can definitely do it all without catching feelings.

I have to.

Otherwise, I’ll end up heartbroken in my mother’s arms while she shakes her head and asks me if I’ll ever learn my lesson.

___________________________________________

TROPES:
Pro Hockey Romance
Single Dad/Nanny
Forced Proximity
Spicy Lessons
Grumpy Sunshine
Age Gap
Opposites Attract
Found Family

___________________________________________

Learn Your Lesson is book three in the Kings of the Ice series: a series of interconnected standalones following a team of professional hockey players and the women who bring them to their knees. They do not need to be read in order, but you will gain glimpses of future characters/couples in each book.

AMAZON 

What do you want to learn?” he mused, skating the back of his knuckles along my neck before tracing them across my collarbone.
My eyelids fluttered, breath catching in my throat, nipples hardening to a point beneath my sweater. “Everything,” I breathed.

My. Whole. Heart. Right. Now.

OMG! This was the perfect combination of delicious spice with heart fluttering romance and I am in love with Daddy P and Chloe!!

“I’ll walk you to your car.” I waved him off as I stood upright again. “That won’t be necessary.” “I apologize if that came out like a question,” he said, and the way he was looking at me, I knew better than to argue.

Now first of all, I am wholly embarrassed to admit that this was my first Kandi Steiner book. And I plan on rectifying my oversight immediately by binging on her entire backlist, starting with the rest of this series. I am a sucker for a spicy hockey romance and this one just hit the mark at every turn of the page.

Will Perry, aka Daddy P stole my entire heart. This grumpy professional hockey player and goalie, widower, and single dad was tugging at every heart string I have. I fell head over heels from page one. There’s just something about his quiet brooding and closed off heart that just spoke to me. After losing his best friend and wife tragically, his little girl and his job are his world. He’s not looking to put himself out there again.

Chloe is a quirky and sweet school teacher who’s not looking for love either. Growing up with a single mother and grandmother who taught her to always rely on herself and that no man can be trusted or relied on, she’s learned to be a fiercely independent woman. But one very forgettable sexual encounter also made sure that she wasn’t all that curious either. Until a grumpy hockey player and her student’s father made her experience a yearning she’s never known.

Will has cycled through one unreliable nanny after another. So when Chloe comes to the rescue after yet another nanny leaves him high and dry, he decides to ask her for help, which she happily offers. She’s already enamored by his little girl, so becoming her nanny and the ridiculous pay that Will offers is definitely no hardship. But living in his house, seeing him every day, and the undeniable attraction she has to the man who couldn’t be more unavailable is not as easy to deal with. SO when he offers they give into their mutual attraction with no strings attached, she jumps at the chance. And finally experience what all the hype is about when it comes to sex and passion. And the silent and broody man? Has a dirty mouth of a sex god. MY GOD.

When I tell you that devoured this book and yet tried to savor every page, I mean I equally couldn’t turn the pages fast enough and yet dreaded being done. I loved these two together. I absolutely adored Ava and seeing her relationship with Chloe and seeing her coming more and more out of her shell. I love watching Chloe break through Will’s hard shell and seeing him smile and open up. And I absolutely loved watching Will unwillingly fall harder and harder for Chloe.

If you’re looking for a spicy hockey romance with plenty of depth, emption, and a sizzle, this is sure to hit the spot. 

She had to know I was holding back. She had to understand that I wanted her so fucking badly I was making myself sick trying to refrain from giving in. And if she didn’t know, if she was waiting for me to say it… How could I tell her the truth, when I wasn’t even ready to admit it to myself?
Leave a Comment · Filed Under: All Reviews, Contemporary Romance · Tagged With: , , ,

Review: Slay King by Abbi Glines

April 14, 2024 by · Leave a Comment

SLAY KING
Series: Georgia Smoke #2
Author: Abbi Gaines
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: April 14, 2024

This world I live in isn’t one that builds strong relationships. It rips them apart.”

Perhaps that was true, but nonetheless, I had fallen in love with him anyway. The man who had lied to me, the man I couldn’t trust, the man who would never love me back, yet even knowing all that, I loved him still. His smile could make me forget all the reasons why I shouldn’t. I was so easily blinded by the charm that was King Salazar.

He used it like a weapon, and I was one of the many who fell under his spell. Accepting that I had nowhere else to go and running from the southern mafia was impossible, I gave in to my feelings for him. All the while knowing he would eventually break me in a way that my abusive husband he had killed had not.

While he kept me locked away, safe from the gang bent on finding me, I had to sit back and watch him live out a fake relationship with the next Governor of Georgia’s only daughter. We all know how that story goes. I’d read enough of those tropes in books to prepare myself for the end. When he would fall for her and, I would, once again, be left alone. Shattered beyond repair.

This is the second book in the Slay duet in the Georgia Smoke Series.

AMAZON

Love is weak,” I said, taking another step toward her. “It fades.” She looked stricken. Reaching up, I cupped her face in my hand. “So, it’s a fucking good thing that you possess my soul, sweets. You’re under my skin, in my blood, locked so damn deep inside of me that I could never let you go.”

Lately, it takes me days to finish a book because my attention span is that of a squirrel on the best of days. But when it comes to Abbi Gaines books? I’m not capable of not devouring them in one sitting. I don’t know what the woman laces her books with, but they’re absolute book crack. BOOK CRACK I tell you. And Slay King was no exception.

This is the conclusion to King and Rumor’s story and the start of a brand new spinoff from the Smoke series. There’s new characters introduced with some favorites from the Smoke series who make cameos. While I prefer my heroines a bit more on the ball busting variety, I couldn’t help but love Rumor and her quiet strength. The woman is a survivor and I loved watching her put her broken pieces together. While I wanted her to make King work for it more, she wasn’t a pushover and she spoke her mind. But of course his sexual magnetism was impossible for her to resist.

If you like uber alphas who are slightly psychotic, irrationally possessive and fiercely protective with a splash of dirty talk, you would love King. I do wish we got to see a bit more of his kinks play out in this book, but considering Rumor’s past, it also made sense that he tame that part of himself down for her.

While the ending felt a little abrupt it was immensely satisfying all the same. I binge read this in one sitting and enjoyed it from cover to cover. I can’t wait for my next hit of this addictive new series.

Leave a Comment · Filed Under: Contemporary Romance, Dirty Talkers · Tagged With: , ,

Review: Pirate Girls by Penelope Douglas

April 12, 2024 by · Leave a Comment

PIRATE GIRLS
Series: Hellbent #2
Genre: New Adult Romance
Author: Penelope Douglas
Release Date: April 12, 2024

She’s the daughter of Jared Trent. He’s the son of Madoc Caruthers…

Kade and Hunter Caruthers.

Brothers. Twins.

My cousins.

In a way, they’re my family. Protective. Indulgent. My best friends. But there was something else there, too. That ever-present whisper that reminded me more as I got older that we didn’t actually share any blood.

They used to be inseparable. We all were, but not anymore. I don’t know why Hunter left or why he joined a rival team in Weston—that Rebel town across the river—to stand on the opposite side of the field from his brother, but Kade is out for blood now and Hunter has finally decided to engage.

Rivalry Week.

Parades. Parties. Pranks.

And the Prisoner Exchange.

Weston will send a hostage to our school, and they’re taking me. I’m Hunter’s for two weeks. In a dilapidated brownstone on a nearly abandoned street with almost no supervision.

Ten days in an enemy school. Fourteen nights in a town full of bullies with no curfews and no rules.

And Hunter has no intention of protecting his little cousin anymore.

The Pirates will come for me. How can they not? A Pirate never sits out on the fun.

But I never needed protection or rescue, because a Pirate never runs, either.

*PIRATE GIRLS is a new adult romance suitable for readers 18+

AMAZON 

 

You were never anyone else’s but mine,” I tell her.

What is it about Penelope Douglas books that always feel like coming home? I loved Falls Boys but I was head over heels with Pirate Girls.

Now if you haven’t read Falls Boys yet, trust me and read it first. This is a series that absolutely must be read in order because while each couple has their own book, there is an overarching story arc that continues throughout the series, much like Penelope’s Devil’s Night series. But better yet, do yourself a favor and read the Fall Away series first. You would appreciate the spinoff that much better. Trust me on this.

So considering that Jared Trent (Bully) and Madoc Caruthers (Rival) were my favorite guys from Fall Away, you better believe I couldn’t wait to get to their kids stories. Watching Jared Trent go through the trials of being a girl dad? Delicious. But I digress.

All Dylan dreams of is following her father’s racing footsteps. But her overprotective father wants none of it. And is it any surprise that Jared’s daughter is just as hard headed as her father and as spirited and tenacious as her mother? I think not. All of her life, she’s loved the Caruthers twins. Kade and Hunter may be identical in looks, but they couldn’t be more different. When Hunter leaves to join a rival school, Dylan doesn’t understand why. She’s been trying to get in touch with him for months, for Hunter to leave her on read. But when Rival week rolls around, suddenly Dylan finds herself as the captive in the game and on Hunter’s new stomping grounds.

This book was THICK but when I tell you I binge read it, I couldn’t stop. The slow burn with Dylan and Hunter was absolutely everything. I love the two of them together. Dylan’s fierceness with Hunter’s sweetness was perfection. I adored Hunter and his heart of gold. He feels everything so deep, including rivalry, revenge, and the love he tries to deny for Dylan. It’s a breath of fresh air to get an MMC who isn’t a f-boy, though his twin will surely make up for that in his book.

I want her in my arms, smiling at me. She’s the place I feel most alive.

I love the combination of sweet and dirty talker. I cannot gush enough about Hunter. He was absolute perfection.

My gaze darts between him and the vibrator. “What are you doing?”
“I owe you a birthday present.” He runs the vibrator under the scalding hot water, and maybe he’s warming it, but he’s definitely sanitizing it. Is he…? My mouth falls open.
“And what are you giving me?”
He turns off the water and uses the towel to dry off the shaft. Then he closes the distance between us. “A really good memory.”

There is an overarching mystery that continues from book one and when the plot thickens, it thickens. And omg does Pen drop a plot twist with this one. My jaw was on the floor reading it.

For those who have read Credence, you’ll appreciate the cameo of Noah in this book and I sincerely hope his book will be part of the series because I need it. But I digress.

If you’re looking for an addictive New Adult romance with multilayered, incredible character, an unputdownable story, and a romance that will own your heart from page one, read this book. Pen’s books are my crack and the sneak peak into the next book? I’m not sure how I’ll survive the wait because I’ve been waiting for this story for years. YEARS. 

Penelope Douglas is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author. Her books have been translated into fifteen languages and include The Fall Away Series, The Devil’s Night Series, and the stand-alones, Misconduct, Punk 57, Birthday Girl, and Credence. Please look for Tryst Six Venom and Motel, as well as the Hellbent series, coming next!

She lives in Las Vegas with her husband and their daughter.

     
AUTHOR LINKS
 
Website: http://natasha-knight.com
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/natasha-knight
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2kg2fRX
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/natashaknightauthor
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1752075498339742
Newsletter: http://natasha-knight.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natashaknightromance

Leave a Comment · Filed Under: All Reviews, New Adult · Tagged With: , ,

Review: Forgive Me For My Sins by Angel Anders

April 12, 2024 by · Leave a Comment

FORGIVE ME FOR MY SINS
Series: In The Carolinas #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Angel Anders
Release Date: April 12, 2024

A married socialite escaping her husband.
A tormented priest running from his past.
A forbidden love that will consume them both.

Avery’s husband has been unfaithful. While trying to come to terms with her new reality, a man hidden in the shadows of her church catches her attention.

It turns out the man is the new priest everyone’s been expecting, Father Lachlan O’Connell. Only he’s nothing like what she thought he’d be. He is sin personified, and her every fantasy come to life.

They both know there’s a palpable attraction between them that they can’t act on. He’s off-limits, and she’s trying to divorce her husband. Working on the upcoming church gala together is going to be the ultimate test.

What happens when they give into temptation?

AMAZON 

I don’t think having Avery be just my friend is an option anymore. I think I’d like to keep her for myself.

Look, if you know me, you know I love a good taboo/forbidden read. And when a bookish friend releases a book that has a priest falling for his parishioner? I’m all over it.

Now have I read my fair share of this trope, without a doubt. But I did love the unique spin that Angel put on this story with both Father Lachlan and Avery. Avery is an unfulfilled trophy wife who thought she was marrying the man of her dreams, only to realize that she ignored every red flag that showed his true colors. Now she finds herself in a loveless marriage to a narcissist and to add insult to cliche injury, she finds out he’s cheating on her with his assistant.

Lachlan is a man running from his past and has found salvation in priesthood. But when he spots Avery for the first time, it shakes the very foundation of him. She becomes temptation personified and when she doesn’t shy from admitting her connection to him, she becomes his damnation.

Now the story itself could have used a little bit more polish. But with this being a debut, I didn’t dwell on this much. My one quibble is the repetitive nature of the taboo element. When I’m reading a forbidden romance, I want to feel the forbidden elements. But here, the amount of times we get reminded of Lachlan’s priesthood did begin to wear on me after a while. I also wished there was more relationship development. While the characters are well developed and multilayered, I couldn’t help but feel that their connection was more driven by sex than anything else. The spice was great, but at points of the story it also began to be more of a distraction.

For a debut novel, this was fantastic and I can’t wait to see Angel grow into her own because she definitely has a a great start to a series with this book. If you’re looking to dip your toe into the forbidden genre but want it a bit lighter, this a great book. If you’re looking for a spicy romance with a dirty talking priest, this will definitely hit the spot.

Leave a Comment · Filed Under: All Reviews, Contemporary Romance · Tagged With: , ,

Review: The Heroes We Break by Natasha Knight

April 9, 2024 by · Leave a Comment

THE HEROES WE BREAK
Series: Heroes & Villains Duet #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Natasha Knight
Release Date: April 9, 2024

She doesn’t belong to me.

I am the illegitimate son, unwanted and despised.

Ophelia Hart is the girl next door. I’ve watched her grow up. And rescued her countless times from my half-brother.

I’ve been gone from her life for two years and when I run into her again, she’s no longer a girl.

Only problem is, she’s wearing his ring on her finger.

But there’s always been something between us. I’ve always been her protector. Especially when it comes to him. And that pull is stronger than ever.

She no longer thinks me the hero of her story, though.

But I know something she doesn’t. A secret from her past. And she’s in danger.

She’ll fight me.

I’ll fight for her.

If she hates me for what I have to do, so be it.

Because there is no way in hell I will let my half-brother have her.

AMAZON 

“I used to think you were some kind of hero growing up, you know that?” she says, voice sad, tears streaming. “But heroes break. And you’re broken, Silas. You’re so broken that you’ve become the villain of your own story.”

What is it about Natasha’s writing that is total book crack each and every single time? And this book was certainly no exception. I devoured it in a matter of hours and am now at a loss of what to do with myself until the conclusion.

At first I was a little worried after reading the blurb that this would be a love triangle. But it’s the furthest thing from it and I’m so invested.

Ophelia Hart is the sweet girl next door. When her family moves next door to the Fox’s, two boys come into her life; Ethan Fox, the toxic, selfish, rich boy and Silas Cruz, his illegitimate half brother that the family doesn’t claim. The tension between the two boys is evident, and it only grows worse through the years. The story is told in numerous flashbacks from present adult Ophelia, to the progression of her relationship with the two boys over the years from her teens.

The adult Ophelia finds herself in a strange situation of being engaged to a man who doesn’t love and her beloved father behind bars for what she never imagined him doing. And Silas Cruz? He’s determined to save her despite the mysterious animosity he carries for Ophelia from years past. As the reader turns the page, you learn more about what took place between these two and you fall more and more for them even when the odds are stacked against them.

Adult Silas is no longer the boy who was willing to take abuse from his father to protect his beloved mother. He’s a man who found success and money on his own and is so desperate for revenge against those who wronged him, that he can practically taste it. And Ophelia? She’s the key to it all.

The chemistry is incendiary and the story is suspenseful with a splash of grit and I am wholly obsessed! I can’t wait for the conclusion because that cliffhanger was absolutely painful.

Leave a Comment · Filed Under: All Reviews, Contemporary Romance · Tagged With: , ,

Review: Wild Love by Elsie Silver

April 9, 2024 by · Leave a Comment

WILD LOVE
Series: Rose Hill #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Elsie Silver
Release Date: April 9, 2024

Rosie Belmont has been driving me wild for years. The good kind of wild. The bad kind of wild. But mostly the kind of wild that comes with wanting your best friend’s little sister and knowing you can’t have her.

After living in the city, she comes blasting back into Rose Hill like a storm. Beautiful, messy, and chaotic.

And one wide-eyed desperate plea for a job is all it takes for me to hire her.

Forbes may have labelled me the World’s Hottest Billionaire but all I care about is opening my new recording studio. Something that comes to a screeching halt when I end up face-to-face with a young girl who claims I’m her biological father.

Now I spend my days balancing business with parenting a sullen twelve-year-old all while trying desperately to keep my hands the hell off my best friend’s little sister.

I vow to keep Rosie at arm’s length. I try to stick to scowls and grumpy one-liners. But with her verbal sparring is merely foreplay—friction that turns to blistering heat.

I know damn well I shouldn’t cross that line.

But shouldn’t and can’t are two very different things.

And the only thing I truly can’t do is resist her.

AMAZON 

I’m unaccustomed to not getting what I want. And I want Rosie Belmont. It has become downright torturous pretending I don’t.

The way I have been waiting for this spinoff and I can hardly believe it’s in my grabby little hands. Did I love it? YES. Am I already dying for more in this series absolutely!

Now if you’ve read Elsie’s Chestnut Springs series, you’re going to be obsessed with this spin off. And the MMC is Willa’s brother from Heartless (my favorite in that series) so obviously I immediately loved him. This is a bit of a different and unique spin on the single dad trope but I’ll get to that in a second.

Ford is the quintessential nice guy. A boy who took his awkward teenager years and made himself a successful billionaire in adulthood without losing any of the wonderful qualities about himself. Rosie is his best friend’s little sister and his teenage crush. He hasn’t seen her in years but when she shows up in his town, it brings all those feelings right back for him. And oh my god the pining! The pining was so good.

Rosie moved to the city to make herself a success. But when she stands up for herself to her grabby boss, she finds herself jobless and licking her wounds in the small town she grew up in. I absolutely loved Rosie. I loved her tenacity, her perseverance, and her sass. She things that her and Ford hate each other and no one knows about her pining. But turns out the pining is quite mutual and their chemistry is incendiary. I loved their sassy fighting almost as much as I loved when they gave into the inevitable.

Stop playing that game with me. We’re not kids anymore.”
“What game?”
“The one where we pretend to hate each other.” S
he tips her chin up defiantly. “You do hate me. That’s our safe place. You have to hate me. It’s easier that way.”
I shake my head, molars grinding. “I definitely don’t hate you, Rosie. Not even close. But I can fuck you like I do if that’s what you need.”

When Ford offers Rosie a job at his label, this only brings them closer together and suddenly their sassy barbs turn into something so much more.

The single parent part of this book was rather unique and I really loved the way that Elsie wrote it. I adored Cora; she was such an endearing secondary character who brought everything together so flawlessly. She was the perfect addition to an already wonderful story and I loved it!

If you’re an Elsie fan and enjoyed her Chestnut Springs series, you will certainly fall in love with Rose Hill. And if you haven’t had the pleasure of reading this author yet, this is a perfect book to start with. A sassy heroine, a sweet and caring man with a dirty mouth and a heart of gold, wonderful secondary characters, small town feel, and a swoony romanced with plenty of sizzle. What more could you want?

Leave a Comment · Filed Under: All Reviews, Contemporary Romance · Tagged With: , , ,

Review: Lawless God by Lola King

April 4, 2024 by ·

LAWLESS GOD
Series: North Shore Stories #4
Genre: Dark Romance
Author: Lola King
Release Date: April 4, 2024

I sent a psychopath to prison. Now he’s out and back for revenge.
They call me Kayla ‘The Ruthless’ King. The Queen of the North Shore and leader of the Kings’ Crew.

Because of the sacrifices I’ve made and the merciless way I run my crew, the North Shore belongs to me.

In our town, you can only thrive if you’re the worst of the worst. But that all ended when the psychopath I put away returned with a target on my back.

If I’m The Ruthless King, Nathan White is The Lawless God. The biggest and baddest of them all. He’s heartless and cruel, and everyone is safer out of his way. Including me.

When he comes back to the North Shore with only my name on his lips, I know my days are numbered. Or so I thought until he took me.

Nathan doesn’t want me dead. He wants me to suffer. And what better way than to keep me captive as he destroys my crew and legacy.

I’m fighting a war that I’m unprepared for, and in the midst of chaos, my feelings blur with the need for survival. My secrets aren’t safe anymore, and neither is my heart.

You know what they say? Never fall in love with the enemy.

Too late for that.


This book is a standalone in a series of interconnected standalones. It can be read on its own.

AMAZON 

Nathan White. Ruthless leader. Cold-blooded killer. Brutal, merciless, lawless god. My husband for however long he wishes.

If you thought Caden King was a psychopath, just wait until you meet Nathan White. Because this man will make Caden look like a tame kitten in comparison. So obviously I loved this book.

I have been waiting for Kayla’s book for the longest time. She’s one of the most fascinating secondary characters in the series. You just know that beneath the rough and deadly shell there’s something more to her. And boy was there. And I’m not talking about dimensions, because there are so many layers to Kayla. I’m talking about her desires that just so happen to fit Nathan’s penchants to a T.

I might be known as the woman who isn’t scared of death, but he’s different. Death makes him ecstatic.

Nathan White is so much more than the Kings or the NSC. He’s more dangerous than both gangs combined; a cold and lethal mastermind. And when Kayla lies on the stand to put him in prison for what she hopes is the rest of his life? It only takes him 4 to get out and to plot his revenge. He’s going to make her pay by stealing four years from him by making her suffer, making her his, and making her bend. He’s going to drag her to the altar kicking and screaming, keep her his prisoner, and make her admit all of her dark and hidden desires that only he can raise to the surface.

He fucks me hard with a need to possess me. He makes me come with an obsession that defies reason. And he kisses me with something that resembles love so closely… I could be fooled into believing it.

Kayla is ruthless in her own right. You don’t get to be the fearless leader to a notorious gang without it. She’s got her own killer tendencies, but they’re definitely not the level of Nate’s psychopath. She doesn’t just take her captivity lying down and she gives as hard as she gets. And let me just tell you that the woman gets it HARD. Nate is determined to crush her independence and her independence to worship at his altar and he’s not exactly sweet about. If you don’t love your MMCs pitch black, this may not be for you. But what I absolutely loved about this book is that Lola still manages to make you fall for him and show a small side of Nate that you can’t help but love. Is he redeemable? Barely. But you get just a touch of his humanity to make you fall and fall hard.

Your body is mine, and I’m going to hurt it. Your soul is mine, and I’m going to taint it. I’ve already broken your mind, and I’ll do more, little sunflower. I’m going to crush your heart in the palm of my hand and order it to beat for me.”

This book was a non stop thrill ride, packed with action, suspense, and all the feels. The twists are shocking and jaw dropping and the romance is deliciously toxic.

I think I’m starting to like your crazy ass.” He smirks. It’s beautiful, devilish. “I know, baby. That Stockholm syndrome is doing wonders for you.”
I laugh. Truly, wholeheartedly laugh. “Bastard.”

Lola really said save the best for last with this one and I am wholly obsessed. If you haven’t read this series yet, you need to drop everything you’re doing and change that immediately!

· Filed Under: All Reviews, Dark · Tagged With: , , , ,

Review: The Witch Queen of Halloween by Kresley Cole

March 26, 2024 by · Leave a Comment

THE WITCH QUEEN OF HALLOWEEN
Series: Immortals After Dark #18.5
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Author: Kresley Cole
Release Date: March 26, 2024

Take a spooky Halloween tour of the mysterious Lore in this stand-alone installment of the Immortals After Dark series by #1 New York Times best-seller Kresley Cole.

A demon soldier of fortune . . .
Rök Kours dives into a dangerous mission, only to cross swords with the one woman who bewitched him.

A cursed Wiccan mercenary . . .
Poppy Dyer has never let her uncontrollable magic interfere with her work, but she can barely withstand one demon’s charms.

Trapped in a terrifying lair.
If the two rivals can defeat Halloween’s worst nightmares to escape a haunted castle, can they overcome their pasts to claim a spellbinding future together?

AMAZON  | PAPERBACK | NOOK | KOBO | GOOGLE

You are all temptation, aren’t you?”
“I am a demon.”
“And in exchange for your protection you only asked for a mere kiss.” She was playing with him, and he was going to let her! “Maybe I could give you a down payment.”
“I should have asked for more.”
“Then earn a tip.”
“Fucking hell, witch, you drive me crazy.”

It’s embarrassing the level of giddiness that a new Kresley Cole book gives me. And oh how I’ve been craving another installment in the IaD series. This may not have been the full length novel I had hoped for, but it was an immensely satisfying longer novella that hit the spot just right.

This would have been a perfect Halloween read, and if you’re craving something spooky and steamy, this is not to be missed. If you’ve read the series, then you would be familiar with Rök and Poppy; the smoke demon mercenary and the witch. If you haven’t read this incredible series, this is the perfect way to introduce yourself because you can easily enjoy it as a standalone. However, it really is the most enjoyable read in order. And considering this is still one of my absolute favorite PNR series, I will never stop trying to get everyone to read it. But I digress.

Woman, understand me: I’ll take on hell for you.”

Poppy is a mission that lands her in a haunted mansion alongside with the demon who she can’t seem to stop thinking about even two years after their failed date. Now they have to rely on each other to survive the spooky inhabitants and forced to work through the unresolved issues left from their ill fated date and feelings. Suffice it to say that the slow burn was extra delicious here. I loved the way that Rok pined for Poppy and the way that Poppy made him work for it. Their chemistry was incendiary. And for a novella, this was still chuck full of action, laughs, and passion.

If you’ve wanted to try this series but may be intimidated by the amount of books in the series, this is a perfect way to start. I can’t recommend it enough!

Kresley Cole is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the electrifying Immortals After Dark paranormal series, the young adult Arcana Chronicles series, the erotic Game Maker series, and five award-winning historical romances. Her books have been published in 23 countries and consistently appear on the bestseller lists in the U.S. and abroad.

A master’s grad and former athlete, Kresley has traveled over much of the world and draws from those experiences to create her memorable characters and settings. 

She lives in Florida with her family and too many pets. 

Subscribe to Kresley’s newsletter: https://bit.ly/KresleyNews

Kresley’s website: https://kresleycole.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KresleyCole

Instagram: https://instagram.com/kresleycole/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kresleycole

Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/kresleycoleafterdark

Leave a Comment · Filed Under: All Reviews, PNR · Tagged With: , , ,
Copyright © 2015 · Dirty Girl Romance

%d bloggers like this: