Review: The Tyrant Alpha’s Rejected Mate by Cate C Wells

February 21, 2022 by · Leave a Comment

THE TYRANT ALPHA’S REJECTED MATE
Series: Five Packs #1
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Author: Cate C. Wells
Release Date: November 12, 2021

He rejected me, and then he realized I’m the center of his world. Bummer.

Una
I keep my head down. In this backwards pack, females rank low, and my bad leg makes me damaged goods. It doesn’t help that I’ve never shifted. I don’t mind the late twenties single life, though. No one’s paying any attention as I build an illicit farmer’s market empire.

My roomies and I are doing it for ourselves, and if life under Killian Kelly is stifling, at least it’s predictable. We can deal.

But when biology finally kicks in, I lose my mind. I claim our alpha as my mate. And he rejects me in front of the whole pack.
It’s all good. It only hurts when I breathe. I’ll survive. That’s what I do.

Who wants an arrogant jerk for a mate, anyway? I’ve got a business to run.

Killian
To lead this pack out of the dark ages, I’ve had to be hard. Merciless. I don’t flinch, and I don’t make mistakes.

Una Hayes isn’t my mate.

My wolf might have some kind of strange infatuation, but if she were mine, I’d know it. And I can walk away, can’t I?
And if I keep coming back? If she starts living in my head?

I’m the strongest male in five generations. My pack scrambles to do my bidding. I can bring one quiet female back in line. No one can possibly be as stubborn as I am.

There’s no way I’ve ruined the best thing that’s ever happened to me.

I’m the Quarry pack alpha. I don’t lose.

The Tyrant Alpha’s Rejected Mate is a full-grown shifter romance. No cheating. HEA guaranteed. Intended for adult readers only.

AMAZON  

I need not to have fucked up the best thing that’s ever happened in my life before it even happened.

Say it with me: Book. Crack. Where has this author been all my life and why am I only discovering her now? I’m obsessed!

After seeing a friend talk about this book on Instagram, it took only three words to hook me immediately: rejected mate & grovel. Yep. The magic words and formula. I’m a sucker for the rejected mate trope, but a good one is impossible to find. See I love the rejected mate trope but when the MMC is doing the rejecting. Because the grovel that’s surely to come is the most delicious thing about it. And oh my god, the grovel here was just GAH.

Killian is this fascinating combination of fierce and cinnamon roll. Because while his strength is unmatched as an alpha, when he realizes how badly he screwed up, this man does everything to get back in his female’s good graces.

Killian is the alpha of the pack with a unique ability to flip shift at will. His strength is unmatched and his ferocity unquestionable. He’s made peace with the fact that as he’s gone this long without finding his mate, he doesn’t have one. So when the runt of the pack who he’s known his whole life announces she’s his mate, his response is swift and cruel.

Una is the black sheep of the pack. An grossly injury from her youth never having healed properly has impacted her wolf, and she’s never been able to shift. Denounced to the bottom of the totem pole of her pack, she’s made peace with this. Until suddenly the mating bond activates and her mate rejects her. Hurting, desperate, and heartbroken she barely escapes the humiliation of the night. And when she’s offered to remove the mating bond, she jumps at the chance. Then, the true deliciousness kicks in, because her mate comes to his senses and realizes what he did. While he didn’t feel the bond before, he feels it now, but it’s a little too late. And oh the way he tries to get back into her good graces. Half the book is his grovel, and I was so here for it. There was just the right touch of spice to make this even more satisfying. I loved the slow burn of it and I loved watching Una grow into the fierce she wolf, her injury aside. I am absolutely hooked. HOOKED on this series. I’m already dying for book two!!

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Review: The Immortal by Gena Showalter

February 8, 2022 by · Leave a Comment

THE IMMORTAL
Series: Rise of the Warlords #2
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Author: Gena Showalter
Release Date: February 1, 2022

New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter delivers The Immortal, the second dark and sexy book in her Rise of the Warlords series, featuring a cold and merciless assassin and a stubborn harpy warrior…one fated to die by the other’s hand.

Halo Phaninon, assassin of gods, is as cold and merciless as a machine. For victory, he will cross any line. When tasked to kill twelve of mythology’s fiercest monsters in twenty-four hours, Halo eagerly accepts. Except, each morning he awakens to the same day, forced to relive it over and over again. Only one other person retains their memory—the beauty who threatens his iron control.

Ophelia the Flunk Out hates her disaster of a life. She’s the family disappointment, a harpy warrior without a kill and powerless—or is she? Every night she’s doomed to repeat her own murder, but every morning she rises to spar with Halo, a ruthless warlord increasingly determined to save her…and lure her to his bed.

Halo’s insatiable desire for the stubborn Ophelia drives him wild…and he only craves more. If he remains in the time loop, they stay together. But if he escapes, they lose each other forever.

AMAZON  

He glowered at her. “Why can’t you enjoy staying safe?”
“Because I’m a hardcore warrior with titanium ovaries.”

I live for Gena Showalter’s brand of banter. LIVE FOR IT. It Never fails to put a goofy smile on my face and keeps reading well into the night. And this book was definitely no exception. The Rise of The Warlords series has quickly become my new obsession and I eagerly anticipate each new installment. And while I really liked the first book in this series, I loved this one even more.

Every teacher, trainer, and superior has bemoaned your stubbornness.”
“I’m passionate about my belief that I’m right.”

Halo Phaninon is the ultimate tortured hero. This is a man who had his humanity and any and all emotion beat out of him when he was just a young boy. He feels nothing and kills without feeling. His only goal is the success of the Astra’s mission. Women are just a means to an end to him, until Ophelia.

I absolutely love Showalter’s heroines. The sass, fierceness, and banter they’re all chock full of just does it for me. And Ophelia the Flunk Out is all of the things. A harpy nymph, all she’s ever wanted was to prove herself, and she seems to fail at every turn. When she’s thrown into a loop of challenges with the cold and unfeeling Halo, things get seriously interesting. Halo’s goal is to win at all costs while on an unending loop of a repeat of the day. Her goal is slightly different. The chemistry between them? Unspeakably hot.

This was another fantastic addition to what’s become an incredibly addictive series. The banter, the chemistry, the twists and turns, all of it made for one page turner of a read. I loved seeing Halo slowly thaw for the sassy harpynymph. I loved seeing Ophelia slowly come into her own and become the fierce warrior that she was always meant to be. And the chemistry between them was just everything. I can’t wait for more in this world!

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Review: Good Girl Complex by Elle Kennedy

February 1, 2022 by · Leave a Comment

GOOD GIRL COMPLEX
Genre: Contemporary, New Adult Romance
Author: Elle Kennedy
Release Date: February 1, 2022

Full of romance, hijinks, and longing, Good Girl Complex is Elle Kennedy at her very best.

She does everything right. So what could go wrong?

Mackenzie “Mac” Cabot is a people pleaser. Her demanding parents. Her prep school friends. Her long-time boyfriend. It’s exhausting, really, always following the rules. All she wants to do is focus on growing her internet business, but first she must get a college degree at her parents’ insistence. That means moving to the beachside town of Avalon Bay, a community made up of locals and the wealthy students of Garnet College.

Twenty-year-old Mac has had plenty of practice suppressing her wilder impulses, but when she meets local bad boy Cooper Hartley, that ability is suddenly tested. Cooper is rough around the edges. Raw. Candid. A threat to her ordered existence. Their friendship soon becomes the realest thing in her life.

Despite his disdain for the trust-fund kids he sees coming and going from his town, Cooper soon realizes Mac isn’t just another rich clone and falls for her. Hard. But as Mac finally starts feeling accepted by Cooper and his friends, the secret he’s been keeping from her threatens the only place she’s ever felt at home.

AMAZON  | PAPERBACK 

I was half asleep until I met him.

Oh Elle Kennedy, how I’ve missed your writing. This book just hit all of the right spots for me, and I really do mean all of the right spots. I sincerely hope this is the start of an incredible new series because I’m seriously in love with the setting of Avalon Bay and all of the secondary characters introduced here. But I digress. Let’s chat Good Girl Complex. Because, man I loved this book.

This is your opposites attract, rich girl meets boy from the wrong side of the tracks but with a twist. Cooper and his twin brothers are guys with a definite rep in their town. Oh and icing, they’re twins. Yep. You read that right. TWINS. But I digress again. Coop is sick and tired of the rich trust fund kids that flood their college town with their entitlement and egos. So when particularly vapid one causes trouble at the bar Coop bartends end, and it results with the kid throwing his weight around and Coop getting fired, he’s pissed. He’s beyond pissed. So what’s a guy to do to get revenge? Why target the douchebag’s equally rich and gorgeous girlfriend, get her to fall for him, so he can dump her and get to rub it in the rich a-holes face of course. DUH. But you know what they say about the best laid plans…

Mac is the furthest thing from the stereotypical rich girl. She’s only in college after a gap year to appease her parents who don’t exactly support her entrepreneurial ways. It doesn’t matter that Mac is the mastermind behind a website that made her a millionaire. All her parents want is for her to marry the right man like her equally rich boyfriend, and be the good little wife. Ah stereotypes.

Coop and Mac meet and become fast friends. Mac is yearning for something more, and her life is slowly suffocating her. Coop allows her the freedom she’s been unknowingly yearning for. And the chemistry between them? DELICIOUS.

This is very much a slow burn, and as we slowly get to know each layer of these characters, we see the connection between them grow into something neither of them expected. Mac as she slowly acknowledges her attraction to Coop and grows into her own beyond the chains of her responsibilities. Coop as he realizes that what started as a bet is so much more. And this girl? Devoured every page of it.

This is the New Adult gold in a way that only Elle Kennedy can write. It was opposites attract deliciousness that I devoured from cover to cover and left desperate for more. And while I would have loved an epilogue, I simply adored this book and these characters. There’s so many secondary characters that I’m hoping get their own books in this town, including Coop’s twin. If you’re looking for an incredibly written New Adult romance, you seriously cannot miss this one.

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DGRFave & Review: Hunting Adeline by HD Carlton

January 28, 2022 by · Leave a Comment

HUNTING ADELINE
Series: Cat and Mouse Duet #2
Genre: Dark Romance
Author: H.D. Carlton
Release Date: January 28, 2022

The final installment to the Cat and Mouse Duet…

The Diamond

Death walks alongside me,
But the reaper is no match for me.
I’m trapped in a world full of monsters dressed as men, and those who aren’t as they seem.
They won’t keep me forever.
I no longer recognize the person I’ve become,
And I’m fighting to find my way back to the beast who hunts me in the night.
They call me a diamond,
But they’ve only created an angel of death.

The Hunter

I was born a predator,
With ruthlessness ingrained in my bones.
When what’s mine is stolen from me in the night,
Like a diamond hidden within a fortress,
I find that I can no longer contain the beast.
Blood will paint the ground as I tear apart this world to find her.
And bring her back to where she belongs.
No one will escape my wrath,
Especially not those who have betrayed me.

Warning: This is the second and final installment to the Duet. You must read Haunting Adeline first.

AMAZON  

I may own every breath in your body, but make no mistake, Adeline, you own mine, too. I am yours to command. To bend and break. To mold and manipulate. Do you think that makes me weak? Or do you think I’m strong enough to admit that even though my body can physically live on without you, I would never get my fucking soul back?”

It’s a rare occasion that I get to say this, but I loved this book even more than the first. And considering I 5 star loved the first book, that’s really saying something. For the hours that it took me to devour this book, it owned me. Fully and completely. And when I finished, I simply didn’t know what to do with myself. How do you even move on from this? How, I ask you?!

You’ve never been a good man,” I whisper, reiterating the exact words he’s told me so many times before. “No,” he agrees. “But I have always been yours.”

While I found Haunting Adeline to be more gray than dark, this book made me eat my words. This was dark. Like the very pits of hell dark. Like sick to my stomach, goose bumps, fist in my throat sort of dark. It was pitch fucking black, okay? And holy shit, did I love it!

We’re all fucking damned anyway, forced to live outside of heaven’s gates. I find I like it better living in the darkness next to my shadow.

Am I going to tell you anything about this book that you can’t get from the blurb? Absolutely not. You want to go into this blind. Trust me. But be prepared for one rollercoaster of emotion, because this story puts you through the ringer and then some.

This story was truly the evolution of Adeline. It’s one thing to deal with her obsessed stalker. But when she gets thrown into the pits of hell with true monsters, it’s the true test of her sanity and strength. And this woman has strength. One thing I’ll say is that I loved that Carlton didn’t shy away from the details. She didn’t graze over the difficult things, and go from one extreme to the other. You get to see and experience it all. But what I loved the most, is the aftermath. This isn’t glazed over as it can be in some dark romance. You get to experience all of it with Adeline, the ups and the downs, the painful and gut wrenching. All of it.

Heaven isn’t a place you go to when you die, it’s inside the person that’s worth dying for.

Zade is just as captivating and intense as ever. I fell even harder for this man here. This is the man that will happily walk into hell for his woman, and take on the devil himself. Some may even argue that Zade is the devil, and I loved that about him. This is a man with many layers. He’s firmly rooted in the gray, because while he has a good cause, he’s not a good man by any means. This is a man that does bad things for a good reason, but never loses any of his intensity.

Jesus,” I breathe.
He smirks…“He’s not the one you should be praying to,” he murmurs darkly, sending shivers rolling down my spine. “Only I will be your salvation.”

Now let’s also talk about the secondary characters because OH MY GOD. I’ve always been intrigued by Sibby, and I think that’s now turned into a full obsession. But we get additional secondary characters like a particularly bad man, and some brothers, that I’m desperate for a story for. I won’t tell you the names, because I don’t want to spoiler anything, but GOD. I’m desperate for a certain someone’s book. Talk about your broken men that do bad things for a good reason. I will sell my soul for his story. *desperate sob*

If you’ve been as eagerly anticipating this conclusion as I have, it is worth every painful second of the wait. HD Carlton knocked it out of the park with this book, and I am fully obsessed!


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Review: Munro by Kresley Cole

January 25, 2022 by · Leave a Comment

MUNRO
Series: Immortals After Dark #18
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Author: Kresley Cole
Release Date: January 25, 2022

A human monster huntress. An immortal werewolf. Could any passion be more forbidden?

The next stand-alone installment in the electrifying Immortals After Dark series by #1 New York Times best-selling author Kresley Cole. Venture deeper into the Lore, fierce realm of the immortals—if you dare. . . .

TORMENTED IN UNIMAGINABLE WAYS

Coming off torture at the hands of his warlock captors, Munro MacRieve never expected to find his mate, or to lose her just as abruptly. Driven to desperation, the ruthless warrior uses his enemies’ own powers to reunite with her—in the distant past.

STOLEN FROM HER TIME

When a crazed werewolf crashes her wedding, Kereny “Ren” Codrina does what any cunning huntress would do: she captures him. Yet she finds herself softening toward the wounded beast—until he turns the tables and forces her into an incomprehensible future.

CAN A HUMAN AND AN IMMORTAL UNITE IN ORDER TO SURVIVE?

As danger mounts, Munro will do anything to make her undying, even sell his soul to an evil sorceress. But first he must convince his fiery mate that she belongs with him. If seduction means her survival, Munro will use every weapon in his arsenal to possess her—forever.

AMAZON  | PAPERBACK | NOOK | iBOOKS | KOBO | GOOGLE

 

 

 

Do I make you nervous, wolf?”
“Bit.”
“How can that be? I’m merely a mortal.”
“Because I want you dearly, and I have a feeling you’re about to use your wiles on me.”

The Lykae and his harridan are finally here and they were worth every agonizing minute of the wait!

The minute I finished MacRieve I was desperate for his twin’s book. That sneak peek at the end? PAINFUL. And considering I finished MacRieve when it released in 2013, suffice it to say I’ve been just a touch rabid in my wait. *sheepish grin* This is hands down one of my favorite PNR series, so I’ll happily wait forever for each finger licking taste of the world. And while Kresley gave us a wait between releases, she’s back with a vengeance in this latest installment.

If you’ve read this series, you know the Hot and Hotter twins. And you also know of the seer who foretold that Munro’s mate to be a harridan. And if you’re like me, you’ve been desperate to see just how this prophecy comes to life. But oh the twist! Not only is Munro’s mate a mortal from another time (read-century), but she’s a monster hunter who hates immortals. *pause for dramatic effect*

We saw their first meeting at the end of MacRieve and let’s just say things don’t go well.

I cannot describe to you all just how happy I was to find myself in this magical world again. Munro and Kereny’s story was EVERYTHING. It was a delicious slow burn full of chemistry and unbearable yearning. When a Lykae finds their mate, that’s it. And Munro is prepared to do anything to have Kereny. Even if he has to make her immortal against her wishes. Ren puts my beloved wolf through hell, and at times I wanted to shake her for her stubbornness. Admittedly, she did take me a bit to warm up to. But much like all Kresley heroines, she’s fierce, sharp tongued, and full of sass, so it didn’t take too long for her to grow on me.

All of my favorites are back, especially my crazy vampire Lothaire, Nix, and a peek into Kristoff. The story is fast paced, full of action, chemistry, and amazing characters new and old. We get a bit of Dorada along with a crazy twist at the end, and all of this makes for one unputdownable read! The queen of PNR is back y’all!

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

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Twitter: https://twitter.com/kresleycole

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

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Review: Black Heart by Lynn Raye Harris

January 25, 2022 by · Leave a Comment

BLACK HEART
Series: Black’s Bandits #5
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Author: Lynn Raye Harris
Release Date: January 25, 2022

He’s untouchable. Unbreakable.
She plans to destroy him.

Former CIA agent Ian Black has done terrible deeds. Sacrificed his honor and reputation for God and country. He’s a fighter and a survivor. His mission is to rid the world of scumbags who prey on innocent people.

No price is too high, and no one crosses him. Not for long, anyway.

But then Natasha Oliver walks in, threatening to expose the one thing Ian thought dead and buried: his heart.

Natasha’s innocence was ripped away years ago when she was thrown into prison for crimes her parents committed. Now, as the assassin Calypso, she intends to hunt down those responsible for what happened to her.

Including Ian Black. Getting involved with him is madness, but she made a vow – and she will do whatever it takes to keep it.

Until she discovers that the line between hate and love often stands on a razor’s edge…

**Start reading the Black’s Bandits Series today and enjoy an action-packed, seriously romantic and steamy-good-fun military romantic suspense. Each book can be read as a standalone. No cliffhangers or cheating and a guaranteed happily-ever-after ending!

AMAZON  | NOOK | KOBO | GOOGLE PLAY

Ian Black was an addiction. A dark, dangerous addiction that would get her killed if she didn’t escape. Except she didn’t want to escape. She wanted to stay.

I have been waiting YEARS for this book. YEARS! The second Ian Black appeared on the pages of HOT as a secondary character, he completely stole the show. I was desperate for every morsel of information on this enigma of a man. And the second we meet Natasha in Black List, I knew I needed her story desperately. After all, does it get any better than a redemption book for a female baddy? I think not.

Now I highly recommend that you read this series in order. I’ve loved every spin off since Lynn’s HOT series. But to really understand the dynamics and complexities of this book, you really should read Black’s Bandits in order. Or at the very least have read Black List. This is the book where Natasha is first introduced as Jace’s sister who he thought was long dead, having been executed along with their parents. Now Natasha is known as Calypso, the deadly assassin for the Russian syndicate, and the woman that’s enemy number one for Ian’s team.

When her brother deflected, Natasha and their parents paid the price. While her parents were executed, she was thrown into a prison, soon to become a deadly trained assassin. But in this story, the layers finally peel, and you get to see what’s truly been driving her all this time, and my heart melted and broke for her at the same time. Her and Ian have had a connection that they finally fully give into. And while I’m not usually a fan of the couple getting together in the beginning of the book because it looses a bit of the tension, it quite worked here.

Now admittedly, because this was my most anticipated book in all of the series, I built it up a bit. So it may have been my expectations getting ahead of me here, but I did find myself wishing it had a bit more edginess, considering who both Natasha and Ian are. This read a bit harlequin-y for me, and while that’s not a bad thing, I had hoped for more. But that minor quibble aside, I still devoured this story and loved the super satisfying conclusion with its multiple epilogues. If you like romantic suspense with plenty of steam, you simply can’t go wrong with this series.

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Review: Getting Real by Emma Chase

January 24, 2022 by · Leave a Comment

GETTING REAL
Series: Getting Some #3
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Emma Chase
Release Date: January 24, 2022

 

A sexy, hilarious, emotional, new romance from New York Times bestselling author Emma Chase.

Connor Daniels never thought he’d be starting over at dating square one. His career as a successful doctor, and his three boys, are everything to him. It’s not exactly a set-up conducive to a scorching love life—but he’s giving it a shot.

ER nurse Violet Robinson never intended for Connor to find out she’s had a crush on him forever. It was a dirty little secret only meant for her dirty dreams. Her heart trips every time he’s around—and so do her feet.

When Connor sees Violet coasting across the grocery store parking lot—and she falls on her face—he starts falling for the gorgeous, young nurse right back.

Dating can be tricky. And life can be beautiful and crazy and unpredictable. But when it gets real, you discover what matters most . . . and the one person you want loving you through it all.

AMAZON  | PAPERBACK | NOOK | iBOOKS | KOBO | GOOGLE

Sometimes life can be a straight-up asshole . . . but then it gets better. And that better can end up being more perfect than you ever dreamed.

I swear, this woman can write a grocery list, and I’ll happily read it with a goofy smile on my face. I’m not a reader that gravitates towards sweet and fluffy, unless Emma writes it. This woman can write the fluffiest book on the planet, and I’d love it to pieces. And considering I’ve loved the first two books in this series, is it any wonder that I adored this one?

I’ve been waiting for Connor’s book since meeting him as a secondary character in Getting Schooled. There’s just something about a male character in his 40s who has his sh*t together that just does it for a girl every now and then. And while I love me my alphaholes, Connor hit the spot just right. This divorced father of three was simply amazing. His divorce wasn’t great, but it didn’t turn him bitter. And I just loved the dynamic between him and his sons.

Violet was simply adorable. She’s an ER nurse who’s been working with Connor for two years, and been crushing on him hard just as long. I loved the way she pined for this man without reserve. Poor Connor and his awkward assumptions of what a woman in her 30s wants. And poor Violet in her thinking that Connor isn’t interested.

This was one of those lighthearted, low angst, feel good sort of reads that you devour in one sitting and leaves a huge smile on your face. There’s no crazy drama. And I especially loved the dynamic with Connor’s ex and the growth there. But more than anything, I just loved Violet and Connor together. I loved how sweet they were to each other, and the chemistry between them. I loved how Violet takes care of Connor and how he falls for her almost instantly. I just loved these two together. Their chemistry, their banter, their everything.

Did I read this in one sitting? I sure did. And that ending? Sheer perfection!

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Review: Sweet Mercy by Amelia Wilde

January 22, 2022 by · Leave a Comment

SWEET MERCY
Series: The Collector Trilogy #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Amelia Wilde
Release Date: January 18, 2021

Daphne Morelli is trapped in a gilded cage.

She fought to escape her family, only to be caught by a billionaire. Possessive. Commanding. And determined to keep her.

Emerson LeBlanc wants to own the little painter.
She’s become more than his obsession.
She’s part of his collection now.

Except she’s more perceptive than he’d like.
Her artist’s eye sees the shadows in him.
She paints his pain on stretched canvas.

He’s determined to own her. She’s determined to escape.

In the end only one of them can truly be free.

AMAZON | iBOOKS | NOOK | KOBO | GOOGLE PLAY

I didn’t think a monster could be this beautiful.

Well, didn’t this take a kinky turn? *satisfied grin* I definitely didn’t see this coming, but dang if you’ll hear a peep of complaint from this girl.

After devouring the first book, I was left reeling after that jaw dropping cliffhanger. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this book and the second it landed on my kindle, I dove right in. And then found myself treading water for a bit. What I’m saying is that it took me a hot minute to get into and I’m not certain why. I sort of muddled my way through the first 30% and was worried because it started to feel like I was disconnecting from the story and the characters. But then it took an interesting turn.

The second we began to learn more about Emerson, I was all in. This man was a full enigma in book one, and we finally get a peek into his dark soul in the second half of this one, and I was here for it. He’s such a complex character, and that really gets unraveled here. The more you learn, the more you understand. And while the reader gets to peel back the layers of the enigma that is Emerson, we also get to see the sexual awakening of Daphne. As the overly protected sister of Leo Morelli, Daphne is not exactly naive, but she isn’t experienced. She can’t possibly be too naive with a father like hers, but she’s always been overly coddled by her brother. This book really brings about her sexual awakening…with a bang. So while the first half of the book felt stretched out, and a touch repetitive, I devoured the second half.

Now this is where it also gets interesting because you’ll see there’s a divide. Some readers either really loved this while others hated it. I happen to fall in the former. There’s a particular scene that I didn’t find to be shock value, but a character developing scene for Emerson and Daphne both. It fit, but it wasn’t your mainstream romance, so if you’re expecting that, this book isn’t for you. I personally loved the hell out of it.

And that ending? I can’t wait to see how it all concludes!
Amelia Wilde is a USA TODAY bestselling author of dangerous contemporary romance and loves it a little too much. She lives in Michigan with her husband and daughters. She spends most of her time typing furiously on an iPad and appreciating the natural splendor of her home state from where she likes it best: inside.

Connect with Amelia

Website: https://awilderomance.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14671616.Amelia_Wilde

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Amelia-Wilde/e/B01C38CNJ2

Facebook: facebook.com/awilderomance

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Review: The Words by Ashley Jade

January 20, 2022 by · Leave a Comment

THE WORDS
Author: Ashley Jade
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: January 20, 2022

From USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Ashley Jade comes an edgy, enemies-to-lovers standalone romance about mistakes, forgiveness, and second chances.

He was the talented bad boy everyone wanted.
I was the irrelevant geek everyone hated.

He was the sun…drawing all of us in.
I was a black hole…taking up space.

He was destined to be a star.
I was destined to remain an insignificant no one.

Until he made me believe I was special…

And then he destroyed me.

I never thought I’d see Phoenix Walker again after he broke my heart, but fate had other plans.

One tour. Eight weeks. Forty shows.

Countless opportunities to make him pay.

The world thought he was a God…
But I knew the truth.

AMAZON

Once upon a time, Phoenix Walker made me believe I was special. Then he destroyed me.

Lennon Michael is my biggest craving and my biggest regret.

For the blur of hours it took me to devour this book, it owned every part of me. This is by far, hands down, my favorite Ashley Jade book to date. I am absolutely ruined. RUINED.

When I tell you I binge read this in one sitting, I mean I stayed up until 4 am reading it. And as I write this review bleary eyed and coffee high the next day, I have zero regrets. Because this book was simply EPIC.

As a reader, I love broken, tortured and imperfect characters, and this story delivered this in spades. My heart bled for these characters and their pain.

When Lennon and Phoenix first meet, they’re in high school. Phoenix is the bad boy from the wrong side of the tracks, and Lennon is the girl with the seemingly perfect life…but who’s constantly bullied for her weight. Theirs is an unlikely friendship that forms when Lennon agrees to tutor Phoenix, that grows into something so much more as they get to know each other. Until the day when he completely shatters her heart.

Four years later, Phoenix is a famous rockstar who’s quickly spiraling out of control in drugs, women, and partying. Desperate to keep him out of the tabloids and on the straight and narrow, his manager reaches out to the one woman that’s not going to fall for his charm. She’s also the one woman that wants nothing to do with him.

Phoenix took everything, and her heart from her. Now given the chance at a huge pay day to play babysitter and to get revenge, Lennon agrees to go on tour with him and his band for 8 weeks.

When I tell you that both of these characters are damaged, I really mean it. There were times where I wanted to scream to the ceiling and shake both of them. They’re as far from perfect as they come, and their decisions show it. I wanted to hate both of them for some of the stupid things that they did. But they’re also authentic, multilayered, and so well developed, that you simply can’t help but fall further under their spell. Phoenix and his tortured soul, and Lennon and her hidden insecurities and broken heart.

Their road to a HEA is full of pain, heart ache, betrayal, mistakes, and angst. And when I say angst, I mean ANGST. If you want faultless characters who don’t make their share of stupid mistakes, this book isn’t for you. I love how the author wasn’t afraid to go there with this story and her characters. Yes, they’re damaged, but I loved them and their imperfections. I loved the tension with Phoenix and Lennon almost as much as I loved the incendiary chemistry when they finally give into the inevitable. And the grovel and grand gesture at the end? OUT OF THIS WORLD GOOD.

I also fell incredibly hard for all of the secondary characters, and already salivating for both Memphis and Storm’s books. This was honestly one of my favorite rockstar romances I’ve read in a long, long while, and I cannot recommend it enough. Just be prepared for a book full of messy emotions, unforgivable betrayals, and a once in a lifetime love. I’m absolutely obsessed!!

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Review: The Plight Before Christmas by Kate Stewart

January 17, 2022 by · Leave a Comment

THE PLIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
Author: Kate Stewart
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: December 19, 2021

Clark Griswold was onto something, at least with his annual holiday meltdown. And since the last three weeks of my life have been riddled with humbug—another breakup, a broken toe, an office promotion I deserved and didn’t get—I’m not at all in the mood to celebrate nor have the happ, happ, happiest Christmas EVER.

When Mom insisted that we all gather at my Grandparent’s ancient cabin for an old school family Christmas, I fully intended to get into the holiday spirit with the help of the three wise men, Johnnie Walker, Jack Daniels, and Jim Beam. But those boys did absolutely nothing to offset the shock or temper the sting of seeing my EX on our doorstep the first day of our holiday soiree.

Apparently, Santa missed the memo, and this elf is pissed.

Stuck for a week with the man who obliterated my heart nearly two decades ago, I did the only thing I could do and put on my game face, thankful for the home advantage.

I knew better than to drink that last cup of eggnog.

I knew better than to get tongue tangled beneath the mistletoe with the only man to ever break my heart.

I knew better than to sleep with Satan’s wingman on the eve of the Lord’s birthday.

I could blame the nog. I could blame the deceitful light blue eyes, thick, angelic hair, and panty evaporating smirk…but mostly, I blame Eli because he always knew exactly which of my buttons to push.

I foolishly thought a family Christmas filled with nostalgia was going to turn my inner Scrooge around, but this year’s festivities went up in flames. Leave it to the ghost of my Christmas past to be the one to light the match.

Fa la la la la, la FML.

AMAZON

What are you missing? I think it’s me, and I think I’m missing you, and I think we’ve been missing each other for a long fucking time.” .

Oh.
My.
WORDS.

This book. Is Kate Stewart even capable of writing a book that doesn’t completely own your world as you’re reading it? This was the second chance romance to beat all second chance romance. And it came with a hilarious family, banter, and forced proximity goodness. If you’re looking for THE holiday romance, this is it. THIS IS IT.

You can pretend all you want that I haven’t been inside you, but I refuse to.” .

After losing the promotion that she rightfully deserved to a man, Whitney finds herself in her feels. She recently broke up with her boyfriend because she wasn’t feeling it, much like she hasn’t felt most of her relationships. And her car barely makes it to her parent’s house for Christmas. What else can possibly go wrong? Well, how about her college ex boyfriend showing up as her brother’s plus one? The same college boyfriend who was the love of her life and shattered her heart, and she’s never quite moved on from. The same college boyfriend who never stopped thinking about her either.

Throat burning, I unravel before her. She’s mine. She has to be because my heart is hers and always has been. It’s never been so clear. I loved her then, soul-deep. I love her now, perpetually..

I loved the way that this story combines a slow burn second chance romance with the quirky family antics and dynamics. I fell so hard for this family and their individual plights. I was equally rooting for Whitney’s siblings as I was for Whitney. The banter, the laughs, their love for each other was simply heart warming and laugh till you pee yourself inducing.

The romance was very much a slow burn, and I mean slooooooow burn. And rightfully so considering the history these two had. But man, I loved watching Eli fight for her. I loved him prove to her the man that he is now. And when all the details come out, it’s heart wrenching. But if ever there was a man with a reason, this man is it. I loved him so hard.

Have you lost your mind?” I toss over my shoulder.
“Yes. And it’s your pussy’s fault. Now go.” “I am not dusting, Eli.” “Please, don’t argue with me right now,” he whimpers. “I don’t want your Dad to know that while he was worshiping his lord and savior, I was defiling his daughter. Please just…dust.”.

And for those who have read other books of Kate (and I won’t spoil and say which ones), you will SERIOUSLY appreciate a certain cameo in this book. I think I may have screamed out loud when they were revealed. GAH. SO good.

This book was pure perfection. It brought everything; the feels, the laughs, the holiday spirit, and the once in a life time romance. I simply adored it.

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