Audio Review: Blood of Hercules by Jasmine Mas

February 17, 2025 by · Leave a Comment

BLOOD OF HERCULES
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Series: Villains of Lore #1
Author: Jasmine Mas
Release Date: November 26, 2024

The overnight viral sensation everyone is talking about, Blood of Hercules, is a sarcastically funny, dark fantasy romance reimagining of Hercules from bestselling author Jasmine Mas.

I’m just a girl. And it turns out, I’m Hercules.

I’m struggling to survive in a Titan infested world where Spartans, immortals from twelve royal families who have god-like powers and obscene wealth, rule over all. A shy-stammering foster child with nothing, I keep my head down, cover my scars, and focus on excelling in school. At least, I try to. Then it happens.

My blood test reveals I’m part of the powerful elite. I’m one of them. A Spartan.

Forced to attend the Spartan War Academy, I undergo the most harrowing test of all time to see if I have what it takes to be an immortal. There’s just a few problems. Achilles and Patro are my scary mentors. Kharon, the ferryman of death, and Augustus, the son of war, are my terrifying professors. Also, I’m pretty sure either someone’s stalking me everywhere I go, or my sanity’s slipping––I have a bad feeling both are true.

I’m surrounded by Villains and they’re smothering me with their hate, obsession, and dark possessiveness. Too bad for them, they have no clue just who they’re messing with.

Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

Perfect for listeners who love:

“Who did this to you?”
  • Extreme Enemies to Lovers
  • Morally Gray Alpha Heros
  • Stories where the Villains get the girl
  • Greek Myths and War Academies

AMAZON 

 

During the day, the feminine urge to lead a fictional revolt plagued me.”


I am not usually an audio girly because for whatever reason, I tend to check out when I listen to a book. But there was something about this one that just clicked with me. Interestingly enough, it took me a bit to get into (around 20%). But after that, I was completely obsessed and incapable of setting it down for even a minute and ended up binge listening to it in one day. Suffice it to say, I was obsessed.

Having read and absolutely LOVED Jasmine’s Cruel Shifteverse, I was so excited for this new world and I was not disappointed. I love Mas’s combination of self depreciating humor, wit, and world building. And I especially love how she crafts these fierce FMC who survive hell to become legends. And Alexis has definitely survived hell. As an abandoned baby, she grows ups with abusive foster parents who she finally escapes at a young age when her foster mother brutally dies at the hands of a mysterious entity and her father is blamed for the death. Being left homeless with her foster brother, she is desperate to finish school so she can place herself in a situation to provide for them. But then she receives the shock of a lifetime when a standard school test finds her to have spartan blood and placed in the midst of a grueling challenge.

I enjoyed the narrator bringing Alexis to life with personality and found it fun and engaging. But I especially loved when we finally get the small trickle of POVs from 3 of the 4 men. We have Alexis’s two mentors; Achiles, who doesn’t speak because of his voice powers and muzzle and Patro. And then we have Augustus and Kharen, who we get the most of. There’s a small snippet of Patro’s POV in the end which I definitely devoured.

The story and world building was deliciously enchanting and gripping. And the romance is very much slow burn. If you’ve read anything by Jasmine, you’re already familiar with her brand of humor. And I for one enjoy it thoroughly.

I hope book two brings us more of the male POV because I am absolutely dying to hear Achiles. If you’re looking for a slow burn romantasy with unique spin on greek god mythology, this one hits just right. 

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Review: The Broker by Nikki Sloane

February 16, 2025 by · Leave a Comment

THE BROKER
Genre: Erotic Romance
Series: Nashville Neighborhood #6
Author: Nikki Sloane
Release Date: February 20, 2025

I used to be daddy’s little princess, but I failed out of college and ran away with an older man. Now my father has me cleaning houses to make up for the biggest mistake of my life.

As if that wasn’t punishment enough, it becomes a million times worse when I’m forced to take on Noah Robinson as a client.

He was supposed to be a one-night stand. One scorching night with no last names or commitment. Now I’m working for him, and every week that goes by it gets harder for us to keep things professional.

Plus, the more I learn about him and the secret, sexy lifestyle he lives, the deeper my craving for him becomes.

But I’m out of chances with my father, I can’t risk blowing my life up again.

Noah and I know we can’t be together . . .

Because I’m his boss’s daughter.

AMAZON | iBOOKS | NOOK | KOBO | GOOGLE PLAY

 

Her eyes held secrets, and they whispered about how much fun it would be to tease them out.

This series is a pure, unadulterated, and dirty good time which seems to get hotter with each new installment. And let me just tell you, you will not want to be reading The Broker in public. Because holy hot flashes, batman!!!

I’m going to take you upstairs and f*ck that bratty mouth of yours while everyone watches. Is that what you want?”

Now if you’ve read anything by Nikki before, then you already know that she is simply the queen of erotic romance. She combines delicious smut with swoony romance like no one’s business and I am so here for it. And if you haven’t read anything by her yet, boy are you in for a good time. Because this series is absolute fire.

The Broker, while book 6 in this series, could easily be enjoyed as a standalone. But you’ll appreciate all the cameos in this book so much more having read the rest of the series.

This is a deliciously dirty age gap with plenty of kinky fun and I was instantly pulled into the story. At first I was a little bit afraid I wouldn’t connect fully with Charlotte because her description screamed immature. But I was so pleasantly surprised by the level of growth her character had that it took me no less than 3 chapters to change my mind. She’s definitely not without fault and dropping out of college and defying her parents while staying with her walking red flag of a soon to be ex was not her finest moment. But I also loved how she persevered and took charge of her own future.

Noah. *dreamy sigh*. Oh but I loved this man. I won’t spoil things for you by telling you the kinks explored here, but let’s just say it was fiery hot. Noah and Charlotte meet by coincidence at a bar when he rescues her from being left behind by a date. They share a fiery one night stand, never expecting to see the other again. So imagine their surprise when they figure out that Noah happens to work for Charlotte’s father’s company, where she also happens to help out two days a week cleaning. And her father unknowingly volunteers her to clean Noah’s house. These two fight their chemistry but they can only fight it for so long before an arrangement is formed.

Now if you’re looking for a super sexy book, this one is hot and I mean HAWT. I love how Nikki confidently explores different kinks in this series and it only continues to get hotter. Noah and Charlotte together were pure fire. And I absolutely loved how their romance developed gradually over the pages. I love a spicy book that also gives great character and couple development.

If you’re looking for a fun and sexy read, you won’t want to miss this one!

USA Today bestselling author Nikki Sloane landed in graphic design after her careers as a waitress, a screenwriter, and a ballroom dance instructor fell through. For eight years she worked for a design firm in that extremely tall, black, and tiered building in Chicago that went through an unfortunate name change during her time there.

Now she lives in Kentucky, is married and has two sons. She is a three-time Romance Writers of America RITA© Finalist, a Passionate Plume winner, a two-time HOLT Medallion finalist, and couldn’t be any happier that people enjoy reading her sexy words.

Connect with Nikki

Amazon | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Bookbub | Goodreads | Joining her mailing list

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Review: Under An Endless Moon by A.L. Jackson

February 10, 2025 by · Leave a Comment

UNDER AN ENDLESS MOON
Series: Moonlit Ridge #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: A.L. Jackson
Release Date: February10,2025

I should have known I’d break the oath I made when I offered to let my best friend’s little sister move in with me…

She’s the sweetest woman on the face of the planet.

And to my great misfortune, the sexiest one, too.

She’s been living under her brother’s roof her entire life, and she’s ready to spread her wings.

And I’m the masochist who offers she stay at my place until she can find an apartment.

When I hear her having a nightmare, the only thing I can do is go to her. Hold her so she knows she’s safe from her demons.

The second she’s in my arms, the attraction I’ve tried to hide sparks to life. I know better than to push past the boundaries I’ve set for us, but when she begs me to touch her in a way she’s never been touched, I can’t resist.

And with my name on her lips as I send her soaring for the first time, I know there’s no going back.

I’m willing to break every rule and oath I’ve ever made to keep her.

Accept every consequence.

Only she and I have a dark, dangerous history that no one knows about.

And I’m afraid the consequences of loving her have just caught up to us…

AMAZON

You are the light inside of me, Raven. Only thing that could ever lead me out of the dark. Gonna love you through it all. Under every endless moon. And when dawn finally breaks, I will watch you rise.”

Oh Otto, the man you are. This fictional man right here is the reason I read romance. I don’t know how AL Jackson does it, but the woman weaves absolute poetry with her words. She has written some of my favorite fictional men to date, and Otto just jumped all the way to the top of my list.

He’s a man who can bring the sweet:

Gonna write myself on every inch of you.” My teeth clamped down on my bottom lip. “That’s where I want you. Everywhere. In every way. Forever.”

And then follow it up with the spicy:

Good girl,” he choked. “Such a fucking good girl with my cock stuffed down your throat. Like you were meant to do it.”

This is a deliciously gritty and suspenseful brother’s best friend romance and oh the forbidden angst of it all. I loved Raven and Otto’s relationship. Yes, Otto is River’s best friend. But he’s also been Raven’s shelter from the storm. A constant in her life for as long as she can remember and a forbidden fruit for just as long. These two have some painful history and as you get morsels of their backstory fed in flashbacks, you begin to realize just how interwoven these two are.

Raven has wanted Otto for as long as she was old enough to recognize the feeling. And Otto has been fighting it for just as long because he knows he’s not good enough for Raven or what she needs after everything she’s gone through. I loved his quiet support of Raven. The way he just knew exactly what she needed when she needed it. And I loved the way that she fought for him just as hard.

The romance was absolutely beautiful with just the right amount of spice to add the perfect cherry on the top.

There was no forgetting Raven Tayte because no matter how painful it was, this woman was carved on my heart and written in my soul.

Their story was a gorgeous and painful thrill ride of loss and redemption and man oh man did I gobble it right up.

If you’re looking for a book to hook you on Jackson’s writing, you can’t go wrong with this one.

A.L. Jackson is the New York Times & USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary romance. She writes emotional, sexy, heart-filled stories about boys who usually like to be a little bit bad.

Her bestselling series include THE REGRET SERIES, CLOSER TO YOU, BLEEDING STARS, FIGHT FOR ME, CONFESSIONS OF THE HEART, FALLING STARS, and REDEMPTION HILLS novels. Get her latest enemies-to-lovers, second-chance romance, NEVER LOOK BACK, available now!

If she’s not writing, you can find her hanging out by the pool with her family, sipping cocktails with her friends, or of course with her nose buried in a book.

Be sure not to miss new releases and sales from A.L. Jackson – Sign up to receive her newsletter https://geni.us/ALJacksonBookClubB  or text “aljackson” to 33222 to receive short but sweet updates on all the important news.

Connect with A.L.

Newsletter: https://geni.us/ALJacksonBookClubB

Facebook: https://geni.us/ALJacksonFBB 

Reader Group: https://geni.us/AmysAngelsB 

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Twitter: @aljacksonauthor 

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TikTok: @aljacksonauthor

 

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Review: Savage Lands by Stacey Marie Brown

February 9, 2025 by · Leave a Comment

SAVAGE LANDS
Series: Savage Lands #1
Genre: Dark Fantasy Romance
Author: Stacey Marie Brown
Release Date: October 20, 2020

Almost twenty years after the barrier between Earth and the Otherworld fell in the Fae Wars, Budapest is balancing on the precipice. A battle for dominance is brewing between the elite fae and the privileged humans in Eastern Europe. The prejudice between the sides is bubbling with hate and violence.

Nineteen-year-old human, Brexley, has grown up in privilege, but not without heartbreak. After being orphaned, she is taken in by General Markos, living in a walled city rife with power grabs and ruthless political games. Then one night the course of her life changes, and Brexley is thrown into the most feared prison in the east. Halalhaz, the House of Death—where you go in but don’t come out.

She must learn to live with the worst of fae and human criminals. The rule of hierarchy puts humans on the bottom, where the only way to survive each day is to make alliances with the fae.

Here she meets the sexy, vicious legend, Warwick Farkas. A myth among man and fae. He is as brutal, cruel, arrogant, and as lethal as the lore says he is, ruling the prison with unchallenged authority. Brexley can’t deny an intense draw to him, one that might cost her life.

If The Games don’t take her out first—A fight to the death where only one survives.

AMAZON 

I would kill Warwick Farkas. It was a promise I would not break. I would become the very monster the House of Death created.

I have been eyeing this series for what feels like forever but was always intimidated by the size of it. But I find my greed for addicting stories spans multiple books as of late and so I decided to finally dive in. And holy gasp, batman. This was one killer story.

Will you retaliate?”
“Yes.” I snarled. That bitch stole my blankie.

Now admittedly, it took me a bit to get into the story. I’m not sure why, because the pacing, character development and world building was well paced. I wasn’t bored or disconnected by any means but I wasn’t fully immersed. But boy did that take a turn after the 20% mark. Because from there, I couldn’t put the book down and found myself binge reading it on sitting.

Brexley was exactly the kind of FMC I love reading about. She’s fierce with just the right touch of vulnerability and absolutely kick ass. She’s a warrior in her own right but nothing could prepare her when one fateful night lands her in a place nightmares are made of; Halalhaz, the House of Death. It’s a prison that you go into but never come out of that houses both fae and human. And this is where the story really begins to take of. As Brexley navigates survival in the brutality of Halalhaz. This is also where she meets the man she thought was made up to terrify both human and fae; Warwick.

Now brace yourself because 80% of this book is brutal as hell. Pun intended. Brexley is forced into a brutal world where only the strongest survive and a human is the very bottom of that totem pole. Warwick is mystery until the last page but oh my god did I fall for him. I was desperately grabbing at any morsel of detail about this man. Especially when the mysterious connection between him and Brexley begins to make itself known.

Now this is very much a slow burn so don’t expect much romance in this book. It’s brimming with tension and chemistry, but considering the size of the series, we don’t get much romance here, which is just fine with me. I devoured this book and was left with a jaw dropping ending which makes me so glad that the rest of the series is already out because I will be immediately jumping into the next book. I NEED ANSWERS!

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DGRFave & Review: Skate The Line by S.J. Sylvis

February 6, 2025 by · Leave a Comment

SKATE THE LINE
Series: Blue Devils Hockey #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: S.J. Sylvis
Release Date: February 6, 2024


⁣A grumpy/sunshine, single dad/nanny, hockey romance by Amazon Top 50 and USA Today bestselling author, S.J. Sylvis.
I’ve been making rational decisions my entire life.⁣
⁣
If someone is in need, I’m there. My Nana needs help with the bills? I’ll drop out of art school and secure a well-paying job. Someone needs the shirt off my back? They can have mine.⁣
⁣
When the league’s most desirable bachelor and single dad needs a nanny that can look past his star power and won’t end up in his bed, I’m the perfect choice.⁣
⁣
Except, Rhodes Volkova isn’t the easiest to get along with. He’s grumpy, blunt, and cynical from past women and their inability to do their job and nothing else. It doesn’t matter that he has a serious soft spot for his daughter and is irresistibly good-looking.⁣
⁣
It doesn’t affect my ability to be the best nanny, and it surely won’t lure me into his bed like the rest.⁣
⁣
Rhodes is skeptical of me, fearful I’ll turn out like the rest with dollar signs in my eyes or just wanting a fling with someone rich and famous. But what he doesn’t know is that I’m distrusting too. I’m done with men and have issues of my own. He doesn’t have to worry about me crossing a line.⁣
⁣
No one said anything about skating the line, though.⁣

AMAZON 

What started as something temporary is turning into something that I want to make permanent.

I didn’t think it was possible for me to love a book more than I did Play the Game but OHMYGOD this book has me in such a chokehold that even a day after finishing I can’t seem to stop thinking about this story and Rhodes and Sunny.

Rhodes Volkova is every bit intimidating as he is attractive.

Rhodes was a secondary character who I fell in love with in book one. A jaded singe dad who can’t keep a nanny to save his life because they’re more interested in him than they are his adorable daughter? Yes please and thank you.

Just looking at her can thaw any man’s cold heart. Except mine, of course.

Sunny is recovering from a trauma and the last thing she wants is another nanny job, but then she gets an offer that just be almost too good to be true. An adorable little girl and her professional hockey father that has a strict professionalism clause for his nanny? She’s all for it. But neither one of them is prepared for the chemistry that will quickly blaze between them no matter how much they try to fight it.

Rhodes was an MMC who I fell hard and fast for. He loves two things only; his daughter and hockey. In that exact order. Having run through too many nannies to count because they’re more interested in seducing him than watching his daughter, he’s given up hope. Until a nanny who seems too good to be true comes into their life and immediately enchants both him and his daughter. And when I tell you that I absolutely adored the grumpy sunshine trope, I mean I was reading this with a goofy grin on my face and kicking my feet the entire time. GOD it was good.

This was a delicious slow burn and I was on pins and needles waiting for these two to finally give into the chemistry between them. I also loved the way they both help the other heal but I won’t spoil anything here and you’ll have to read it to get the details. But trust me when I tell you that it was EVERYTHING.

Damn,” he mutters. Then his mouth is on mine, and I suddenly feel like I’m his.

I spent the last few weeks in a terrible slump thinking that I will never be inspired to read a book in one sitting again, until I turned to page one of this book. And I immediately knew this would be a five star read. And you know what? I was not wrong.

Skate the Line had everything I love; emotion, chemistry, and a story that was addictive from beginning to end. I fell so hard for both Sunny and Rhodes and I never wanted this story to end. I five star loved book one, but this one just simply blew me away. I loved it beyond words and can’t recommend it enough for any hockey romance lover out there. Trust me when I tell you that this book is just not to be missed.

S.J. Sylvis is an Amazon top 50 and USA Today bestselling author who is best known for her new adult romances. She currently resides in Arizona with her husband, two small kiddos, and pets! She is obsessed with coffee, becomes easily attached to fictional characters, and spends most of her evenings buried in a book! 

Connect with S.J. Sylvis

Website | https://www.sjsylvis.com/

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Review: Smooth Sailing by Kristen Ashley

February 4, 2025 by · Leave a Comment

SMOOTH SAILING
Series: Wild West MC #3
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Kristen Ashley
Release Date: February 4, 2025

She lives life to the fullest.

He doesn’t know what hit him. 

Smooth Sailing, an all-new page-turning forced proximity, opposites-attract MC romance from New York Times bestselling author Kristen Ashley is available now!

When the Chaos Motorcycle Club came to call, Harlan “Hugger” McCain wasn’t ready to be welcomed into the fold. They said he was a legacy. He felt like an outcast. 

But he patched in anyway.

And he was all in to be a part of their not-quite-outlaw missions. 

This takes him down to Phoenix, right into the orbit of Diana Armitage, a beautiful, green-eyed woman with a heart of gold and a scarily honed tendency to sacrifice for pretty much everyone she cares about, and some people she barely knows.

Hugger has been existing. Life has never given him much, now, he expects even less.

Diana lives life to its fullest. And she doesn’t keep it a secret she wants to drag Hugger right along with her.

But Hugger is certain he’s got bad blood. He’s got one foot in Chaos, one foot out. One foot in Diana’s life, one foot out.

Diana and his brothers in Chaos have their work cut out to show Hugger who he is.

That he belongs.

And he’s worthy to be loved.

 

AMAZON | B&N | iBooks | KOBO | GOOGLE PLAY

We doin’ this, baby?” he whispered against her lips.
“If we don’t do it right now, I think I’ll never forgive you.”

UGH. The feels of it all. The way I teared up reading this book and loved every emotionally impactful part of it. It was so much more than an MC romance in a way that only KA can write. But I digress.

Now if you haven’t yet read her Chaos series, I can’t recommend it enough. And I love that her OG characters will always get a cameo. Heck, who am I kidding? I live for these cameos. But I digress again.

Now we all already know that no one writes an alpha quite like Kristen, and Harlan was no exception.

Why would he do that?”
“Babe,” was all he said.
“Is that an answer to my question?”
“Uh… yeah.”

But she also writes some of the most amazing FMCs and boy did I fall fast and hard for Diana. Like all KA heroines, she’s feisty and sassy but she was also incredibly courageous and fierce. There are some very sensitive topics (particularly SA) referenced in this book and KA does it flawlessly. Diana and Hugger come from two different worlds, when a mutual danger puts them in each other’s past.

I absolutely loved the way that Diana lives her life to the fullest. This is a woman who paved her own way and cares so deeply. In her effort to help, she lands in the crosshairs of a dangerous criminal who is also on MC’s target list. So now she has herself some fierce bearded bodyguards and she’s not exactly mad at it.

Hugger’s past always made him feel like he’s less than and so he fights his connection and attraction to Diana something fierce. But it doesn’t take long for her charm and sunny personality to work its way past all his defenses. I loved the slow burn element of the romance that allowed us to know and understand these characters separately and I absolutely loved the relationship development.

I especially loved the journey between Diana and her father. But I’d be lying if I tell you that Pig Petey didn’t steal most of the show for me. Man but I loved this character.

The story was beautiful, gripping, and oh so emotional. It reminded me all over again why I fell in love with KA’s writing to begin with. Definitely recommend for all my MC romance loving friends out there.


For more information on Kristen Ashley, visit: 

https://www.kristenashley.net/

 

Connect with Kristen Ashley

Newsletter: https://bit.ly/44hqxyI

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Review: Vengeful Lies by T.L Smith & Kia Carrington-Russell

February 1, 2025 by · Leave a Comment

VENGEFUL LIES
Series: Vengeful Lies #1
Genre: Dark Romance
Author: T.L Smith & Kia Carrington-Russell
Release Date: February 1, 2025

Dear Kitten,

Marry me and I’ll give you the world.

Refuse, and I’ll burn yours to the ground.

Sincerely,
Your soon-to-be husband



It started out as a hit. One bullet. One man.

My orders are clear—get close to the mafia heir, Eli Monti, play with his head, and wait for the signal to end it. End him.

I thought he would be my easiest mark yet. But somehow I’m the one being played.

Eli always gets what he wants and now, he wants me.
His vengeful proposal isn’t a request. It’s a demand.

When you play games with a man who’s been mastering them all his life, you learn some new tricks.

Top of the list: Find the best way to kill my fake fiancé.

From USA Today and Amazon Top 25 Best Selling Author duo, a new Standalone Dark Romance in the same world as the Lethal Vows

AMAZON 

Vengeful lies will have you winding up dead, Kitten…”

Know what I love more than a morally gray antihero? An equally morally gray FMC. Make her an assassin for hire and I am putty in your hands. PUTTEH I tells ya!

Oh God.” The words tore out of me, and I shook from the thought of it.
“That’s right. I’m your god. I take care of all your needs. You just have to be my good girl.”

Eli Monti is the cold and ruthless heir to the Monti criminal empire. And Jewel is a woman hired to get close enough to toy with him, right before she kills him. Except when Eli catches wind of this plot, he has better plans; demand she marry him instead and be his fake fiancé. Sound delicious? Well that’s because it really was.

The back and forth with these two was so good, it had a gleeful manic smile on my face the entire time. I loved their antagonism and their cat and mouse game. I loved that the more Eli pushed, the harder Jewel pushed back. And this is no weak FMC. Oh no. This is a woman after my own heart and I loved her sass almost as much as I loved how much hell she gave Eli. But I especially loved when she gave into the chemistry between them because these two were practically incendiary together.

The spice was definitely spicing in this one and the story was fun and action packed. And the twist? Suffice it to say that I never saw that coming and my jaw was on the floor. This was a fun and deliciously steamy mafia romance that I enjoyed from beginning to end. 

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Review: Savage Reign by Monica Kayne

January 31, 2025 by · Leave a Comment

SAVAGE REIGN
Series: Bratva Kings #2
Genre: Dark, Mafia Romance
Author: Monica Kayne
Release Date: January 31, 2025

Bratva kingpin Nikolai Zhukov is the devil in a tailored suit—lethal, ruthless, and utterly irresistible.

Once, he saved my life. Now, he owns me. As his wife. As his prisoner.

He tore me from my world and branded me with his touch, a wedding ring inked into my skin.

Trapped in his gilded cage, I’m nothing but a pawn in his brutal war—a means to an end in his deadly game against a rival syndicate.

But he doesn’t just want my submission. He wants to consume me—body, mind, and soul.

I swore I’d fight him, that I’d never give in. But with every heated glance, every forbidden touch, I’m losing ground.

Because monsters like Nikolai don’t just steal hearts.

They destroy them.

*Savage Reign is a forced marriage mafia romance. It has no cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed happily ever after. Can be read as a complete standalone.

AMAZON 

Savage Reign (Bratva Kings, #2)Savage Reign by Monica Kayne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4.5 STARS

She’s ruined me, this woman. And I don’t think there’s any way to come back.


Monica Kayne quickly shot up my goto mafia romance authors and this book is a perfect example why. It was gritty, sexy, with multilayered characters, action, and a story that had me turning the pages well past my bedtime.

Nikolai Zhukov isn’t just under my skin—he’s in my veins. And the scariest part is I’m done fighting it.


I am an absolute sucker for a forced marriage trope and this one hit so good that I never wanted it to end. Now I did my usual back@sswards thing and read book two before I read book one. And I am not sorry, okay! Though I will definitely be reading book one, I can also say that this easily reads a standalone and I had no issue being fully immersed in the story even though there’s clearly some carry over from the first book.

Five years ago, Sofiya’s parents sold her into a fate she couldn’t imagine, to be married to a brutal mafia man. Only to be rescued by the most unexpected savior in the most unconventional ways. Now five years later, Sofiya’s sister is married to the love of her life while she’s trying to figure out what to do with hers. It took her years to heal from the events of 5 years ago and she’s finally getting her life together. Only for it to take a turn when she meets a handsome stranger who isn’t quite what he seems.

Nikolai is the pakhan of the Zhukov Brava. To grow his power, he wants the contract to operate casinos across russia. The problem is that he needs the approval of the Roman from the Belov Syndicate to operate in Moscow, and considering that Nikolai’s brother almost killed Roman five years ago and there is no love lost between their fragile truce. So what’s a man to do to ensure his success? Kidnap Roman’s sister in law and lock her in a marriage whether she wants it or not.

I loved the chemstry between Nikolai and Sofiya. Even though Sofiya is younger, 22 to his 34, she’s no naive girl. She gives as good as she gets and doesn’t take anything lying down. Well, I mean, she does, but she enjoys those things immensely. But I digress.

There is tension galore and plenty of banter between these two and I loved watching them fall for each other no matter how much they try to fight it. The chemistry was hot and the steam was steaming. I devoured this story and enjoyed it immensely. I definitely need more in this series but for now I will appease myself by going back and reading book 1.

ARC courtesy of author in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Texting Dr. Stalker by Pepper Winters

January 16, 2025 by · Leave a Comment

TEXTING DR. STALKER
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Pepper Winters
Release Date: January 16, 2025

From New York Times Bestseller, Pepper Winters, comes a green-flag stalker standalone romance

Now a #1 bestseller in Medical Romance!

I have a stalker.
A masked man who watches me from the shadows. A guardian who says he’s there to protect me—to help me heal from almost dying at the hands of another man.
He says he’s willing to do anything to help me move on. That I needn’t be afraid of him.
I agree to keep him my secret and share how much I’m truly struggling.
In return, he guards me. Even if it means guarding me from himself.


I’ve known her my entire life.
She’s the girl next door who I share a childhood betrothal with thanks to our two grandmothers wishing to turn their lifelong friendship into family.
I’m also the doctor who tended to her in the ER after her ex tried to kill her. I want to help her in any way I can, but I also know she’ll never accept my help because I’m the reason he tried to kill her in the first place.
But I can’t stand by and see her suffer, so…I come up with a plan.
A highly illegal plan that ends with me breaking laws, rules, and my own heart…

Doctor/girl next door, childhood friends to lovers, green-flag stalker, hidden identity, lots of texts, masked protector, would do anything to keep her safe, standalone, he has a motorcycle, he does things to her in the dark…

AMAZON 

I wasn’t just falling for this girl. I’d fallen. And I was petrified of losing something I’d never had.

I am so used to Pepper Winters brand of dark romance and morally gray antiheroes that I was wholly unprepared for the green flag that was Dr. Alexander North. And you know what makes a green flag better? Make him wholly obsessed with the heroine, with a dirty mouth and a penchant for some kinky fun. But we’ll get to that part in a second.

This was very much a slow burn romance and I loved that about it. Alex “Zander” and Sailor have been neighbors since they were kids, and their grandmothers were obsessed with matchmaking them and planning their future marriage when they get older. Of course, as kids they laughed it off. But they remained neighbors. When Sailor’s boyfriend goes on a psycho jealous rampage and tries to kill her, she lands in the hospital that Zander works for. Unbeknownst to Sailor, Zander is completely obsessed with her and is determined to help her heal from the super traumatic event. But he knows that she’d never give him the time of day and needs a faceless hero, so what’s a guy to do? Why dye his hair, put in colored contacts, don a deliciously sexy mask, and stalk the shit out of her to make her feel safe. I know, I know, it sounds crazy, but it worked. Just trust me on this.

Mine. She’s always been mine. My voice lowered to a growl. “Or I’ll take you into the house and show you exactly how furious I am.”
She quaked with a full-body shudder then shoved my hands off her. Her eyes flooded with heat. “No, you won’t. You would never lay a finger on me and that’s the damn problem!”
“I remember laying three fingers on you if I’m not mistaken,” I hissed, uncontrollable lust arcing through me. “And a tongue.”

I loved the way that Zander is just a quintessential good guy and tries to resist his need and desire for Sailor to help her. Even when she begs and makes it impossible for him to say no. But when he does finally give in? EXPLOSIVELY good.

This book was such a good time. It was emotional, sweet, and when the spice finally hits BOY WAS IT SPICING. I loved Zander and Sailor together. And I loved Sailor finally find herself again with his help. I also loved the way she takes the power back towards the end.

If you’re looking for a hero who would do anything for the woman he’s obsessed with, including disguising himself so he can help her heal anonymously, look no further. This was deliciously good.

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Review: Phantom by H.D. Carlton

January 14, 2025 by · Leave a Comment

PHANTOM
Genre: Dark Romance
Author: HD Carlton
Release Date: January 14, 2025

The married woman of the manor. The stranger outside. An intoxicating novel of dark temptation and dangerous desire by the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Cat and Mouse Duet.

November 12, 1944. This house holds on to souls for a lifetime. I thought I had given it to my husband when I vowed to love him until the end of time. I lied. Nothing could have prepared me for the day my phantom appeared outside my window. He was terrifying, yet hypnotizing, and I couldn’t deny my intrigue. I never intended to fall into a whirlwind romance with my stalker. Especially because he’s so much more than that. A criminal. A mobster. The man who offers me solace from the monster in Parsons Manor. There are many that haunt these halls, yet it’s only my husband I fear.

AMAZON 

I want you so badly, it hurts to breathe without you near,” he whispers softly…

If you’ve read the Cat & Mouse duet then you’re definitely familiar with Gigi and Ronaldo. And if you haven’t read the duet yet, I highly recommend reading that first. Gigi is Adeline’s great grandmother and the owner of the diaries that Adeline discovers as she slowly unravels the mystery of Parsons Manor.

Having read the Cat & Mouse duet I was both excited and nervous for this story having known hot it all ultimately ends. But I absolutely loved the way that HD Carlton chose to write this story and also the way she chose to end it. But I digress.

Now while I didn’t absolutely LOVE this the way I did Cat & Mouse, I definitely still enjoyed the story. However, there were just a few things that made me lower my rating to what it is. The first, is that while this book is set in the 1940s, it doesn’t really read that way. It read like a modern contemporary with some 40s lingo thrown in like “sauced”. I wanted to be fully immersed in that world and this slightly dulled the experience for me. And while I loved the all encompassing romance between Gigi and Ronaldo, it was also a bit too insta for my particular taste. I had a hard time buying into it, but I will admit that I was fully enraptured by the end.

Now look, we all know how subjective books are and just because it felt this way to me, doesn’t mean it would for you. I very much enjoyed the story and ended up reading it in one sitting. And I highly recommend it for all fans of HD and Cat & Mouse. Especially if you’re a fan of Cat & Mouse. There’s just something so special about having this story that just makes it feel complete, you know? And that is especially so with the epilogue, but I won’t spoil it for you.

If you were on the fence with this book like I was, knowing how their story unravels, I’m here to tell you that you definitely need to read and experience it. Trust me on this. And while I didn’t love it quite as much as I loved Cat & Mouse, it was still a great and entertaining read as all HD’s books are.

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