Review: Don’t Pretend I’m Yours by Natasha Anders

June 12, 2023 by · Leave a Comment

DON’T PRETEND I’m YOURS
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Natasha Anders
Release Date:  June 6,  2023

When Ben Templeton asks Lilah Beckett to marry him, she’s over the moon. She’s been in love with him for years and now, finally, it looks like those feelings are reciprocated. She eagerly accepts his proposal, but on her wedding day, all expectations of a happily ever after with the love of her life come crashing to her feet. Lilah discovers that her new husband does not love her; he barely even likes her. He married her for all the wrong reasons and now expects her to be satisfied with the scraps of affection and attention he throws her way.

To preserve her heart and her sanity, Lilah knows that she cannot allow this sham of a marriage to continue. But her much-loved grandfather is ecstatic about the union and to avoid disappointing him, Lilah informs Ben that she’ll play at being his wife for one year only. Ben, however, seems perfectly content to remain tethered to her in a loveless union for all eternity. He has his own reasons for marrying Lilah. Reasons he’s hiding behind a wall of secrets, half-truths, and blatant lies.

And when that wall comes tumbling down, Lilah is emotionally unprepared to deal with the further devastation and heartbreak that follow.

AMAZON 

The woman seemed have been operating under some massive misapprehension about this marriage. He wasn’t doing this for her. He barely even liked her.

This, THIS was the book I didn’t know I was waiting for from Natasha Anders. I still remember the rabid giddiness I read The Unwanted Wife back in 2012, which marked my obsession with all things Natasha Anders. While she’s a well rounded contemporary author able to bring sweet and angsty in equal measures, there’s just something about her angst ridden romance with alpha holes that just does it for me. And boy did Ben deliver on all of the things.

The story was in the vein of Unwanted Wife, but also remarkably different. I’ll explain. This is an arranged marriage trope where the heroine is going into the marriage blissfully happy believing it’s love and the hero has anterior motives which love doesn’t enter into. But that’s about where those similarities end. It’s also not your run of the mill arranged/marriage of convenience trope. It’s so much deeper.

Ben and Lilah grew up together, but where Lilah idolized and crushed on Ben, Ben resented Lilah. He found her to be a petulant, spoiled child who could do no wrong in her beloved grandfather’s eyes. While Ben is the Forster child taken in by him and idolizes his mentor to a fault. Theirs is not a marriage built on love or even like, and Ben wastes no time disillusioning Lilah of any notion of anything otherwise.

Lilah was absolute perfection. She was such a wonderfully endearing combination of strength and vulnerability. She wants love and will settle for nothing less. She doesn’t take any of Ben’s BS and isn’t afraid to stand up for herself and boy did she give as good as she gets. Ben was insufferable for the first half (just like I love my heroes); cold and unfeeling. And let me tell you, there is nothing more satisfying then seeing him fall helplessly for his wife and begin to see her in a light he never did growing up. And when he finally sees beyond the impression he built in his eyes, he wants more. But at this point Lilah wants nothing more than a divorce from him. Oh the grovel! The sweet sweet grovel.

I know that right now you hate me, but I’m fucking begging you to give me another chance, mo chridhe. I swear to God, I would move heaven and earth to make you happy and make you love me again.”

I hope we get books for all of Lilah’s garden ‘hoes’. Their friendship was the sunshine needed to break up some of the more heavy elements of this book. But man did I devour this story. Only thing that could have made it better is if it was written in first person POV. But this took nothing away from the story that sucked me in from the first page and kept me glued to it until the end.

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Review: Bittersweet Memories by Catharina Maura

June 10, 2023 by · Leave a Comment

BITTERSWEET MEMORIES
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: Off-Limits #4
Author: Catharina Maura
Release Date:  July  8,  2022

NOW A TOP 5 AMAZON KINDLE STORE BESTSELLER

When her boyfriend breaks her heart, Alanna goes after his older brother in a quest for revenge.

It would have been simple — if he wasn’t also her new boss.

As they work together it soon becomes clear Silas knows more about her than he should.

He knows about the past she’s forgotten and the memories that evade her… but some secrets are better left buried.


Publisher’s Note: this book is divided into two parts; the past and the present. The blurb is written from the heroine’s present point of view.

AMAZON 

You are my first love, Alanna… but more importantly, you’ll be my last.”

I’ve had this on my TBR for what’s felt like forever. I was in the mood for something angsty and so I dove in. But this was not quite what I thought it would be from the blurb.

Was it angsty? Not really. Mostly it was just highly underwhelming. I enjoyed the first half, though it was also missing something to really fully grab me. But the second half was so lackluster that I lost most interest. Now it did keep me invested enough to keep reading to see how it all ends. But on the flip side, I almost wish I stopped reading at the 40% mark like I originally wanted to. Le sigh.

Reading reviews, some are upset that Silas was with another woman in the 5 years he and Alanna spent apart. That part didn’t bother me. But the lack of development in both characters and their complete 180 turns in the second half, did. Their romance was super sweet, which isn’t always my cuppa, but I found it endearing here. But everything that I found endearing about them in the first half was missing for me in the second.

Silas went from living in a homeless shelter to being a billionaire business owner in 5 years, which is hardly believable, but I looked past it. His personality switch from sweet to cocky was harder to believe. I wasn’t anticipating the amnesia plot device here but I could have enjoyed it if it was wrapped up in a way that felt less sudden and needing it to be wrapped up with a pretty bow. We get absolutely no insight on Silas outside of his love for Alanna. It’s convenient time jump that makes him a connected billionaire, though I still don’t fully understand what his business does. I almost wish it wasn’t referenced at all rather than the halfway insight we get which is riddled with plot holes. The whole brother thing was more of a distraction and just felt off and by the 60% mark I was entirely over all of it. It was interesting enough to keep me reading to the end, but ultimately nothing memorable or anything I’d ever come back to. Just one of those meh sort of reads that I neither loved nor hated.

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Review: Reckless by Elsie Silver

June 9, 2023 by · Leave a Comment

RECKLESS
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: Chestnut Springs #4
Author: Elsie Silver
Release Date: June 9, 2023

Theo Silva. Rowdy bull rider. Notorious ladies’ man. Scorching hot trouble wrapped up in a drool-worthy package.

And he’s looking at me like I might be his next meal.

But I’m almost free of my toxic marriage and have sworn off men entirely. So all I see when I look back is temptation served up with a heaping side of heartbreak.

The man is hard to trust—and even harder to resist.

Make that impossible. Because Theo is persistent. And no matter how hard I try to freeze him out, he melts my icy exterior and pulls apart all my defenses.

Over a drink in a small town bar, I blurt out my deepest, darkest secrets. Then I spend the singular hottest night of my life with him.

He worships my body. He makes me blush. I come alive beneath his hands.

Then I tell him to forget it ever happened. I want simple, and with him it all feels complicated.

It was supposed to be a one-time thing.

A secret.

But that little plus sign is going to make this secret impossible to keep.

AMAZON

I’m a bull rider and she’s a doctor. I’m fire and she’s ice. She wants to forget about me, and right now I can’t stop thinking about her.

How this woman does it, I will never understand. Every time I think there is no possible way this series can get any better, she goes and outdoes herself. And Reckless? It was everything I hoped it would be and so much more.

Well, now you have a window into how women feel in your presence.”
“Is that why they scream Oh Theo, this is so boring! when I’m inside them?”
I snort and gaze up at him, blushing a little at the knowing look in his eye. It’s unnerving. He’s unnerving. So I volley. Hoping I can wound him enough to make him leave me alone. “They just tell you that so you’ll finish and stop flopping around on top of them.”
“Do you think? Maybe we could arrange a time when you can instruct me on how to flop less. I do love to practice.”

Full disclosure, I am not a huge fan of the surprise baby trope. But if Elsie writes it, I will read it. And I’m so glad I did, because Winter and Theo were everything together. The instant chemistry, the banter, the yearning, all of it was absolute perfection.

You may recall Winter as the ice princess older sister of Summer from Flawless. But there is so much more to this woman than meets the eye. She’s such a complex and yet endearing character. There is so much hurt she’s been through and as you peel back each layer of what made her into the woman she is today, the more you fall for her.

Theo is the irreverent playboy, or so it seems anyway. But there’s also so much more to him than the playboy bull rider you assume him to be ay first. The minute Winter turns her venom on him, he knows he wants her. But when one night of alcohol and no inhibition turns to something more, neither of them are prepared for the journey it takes them on.

I don’t understand what’s happening here. The things you say. The things you do. Everything that’s happened. It doesn’t make sense. I can’t figure it out.”
He tilts his head, as if he’s trying to figure me out from a different perspective. “What’s happening is Miss Independent met the treat-her-like-a-princess guy, and she’s freaking out.”

The way Theo works to earn Winter’s trust is what book boyfriend dreams are made of. And Theo as a daddy? Be still my ovaries. My GOD, but this man was sheer perfection.

These two were absolutely everything. I couldn’t get enough of them together. I loved their journey almost as much as I loved their banter. Theo is the calm to Winter’s storm and I loved how they balance each other. I am so in love with this series that it’s not even funny. I’m completely addicted and can’t wait for Beau’s book.

Elsie Silver is a Canadian author of sassy, sexy, small town romance who loves a good book boyfriend and the strong heroines who bring them to their knees. She lives just outside of Vancouver, British Columbia with her husband, son, and three dogs and has been voraciously reading romance books since before she was probably supposed to.

She loves cooking and trying new foods, traveling, and spending time with her boys-especially outdoors. Elsie has also become a big fan of her quiet five am mornings, which is when most of her writing happens. It’s during this time that she can sip a cup of hot coffee and dream up a fictional world full of romantic stories to share with her readers.


Connect with Elsie
Website | www.elsiesilver.com
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Review: Unfortunately Yours by Tessa Bailey

June 6, 2023 by · Leave a Comment

UNFORTUNATELY YOURS
Series: Vine Mess #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Tessa Bailey
Release Date: June 6, 2023

A down-on-her-luck Napa heiress suggests a mutually beneficial marriage of convenience to a man she can’t stand… only to discover there’s a fine line between love and hate.

After losing her job and her fiancé in one fell swoop, Natalie Vos returned home to lick her wounds. A few months later, she’s sufficiently drowned her sorrows in cabernet and she’s ready to get back on her feet. She just needs her trust fund to finance her new business venture. Unfortunately, the terms require she marry before she can have the money. And well, dumped, remember? But Natalie is desperate enough to propose to a man who makes her want to kill him–and kiss him, in equal measure.

August Cates may own a vineyard, but he doesn’t know jack about making wine. He’s determined to do his late best friend proud, no matter what it takes. Except his tasting room is empty, his wine is disgusting (seriously, he once saw someone gag), and his buddy’s legacy is circling the drain. No bank will give him the loan he needs to turn the business around… and then the gorgeous, feisty heiress knocks on his door. Natalie has haunted his dreams since the moment they met, but their sizzling chemistry immediately morphed into simmering insults.

Now, a quickie marriage could help them both. A sham wedding, a few weeks living under the same roof, and then they can go their separate ways–assuming they make it out alive. How hard could it be? There’s just one thing they didn’t account for: their unfortunate, unbearable, undeniable attraction.

AMAZON 

He could still remember the moment the expression in those eyes had gone from take-me-to-bed-daddy to please-drink-poison. Witch.

When I tell you that I’m obsessed with August, I mean I worship the pages this man graces with his delicious presence.

Full disclosure, I was not a fan of book one Secretly Yours. It was cute, but not my cuppa. It was missing a little something to fully enrapture me. But this book? This book grabbed me by the heart and my ovaries and owned me from cover to cover.

What do they expect us to do here?”
August considered the curved and extended sides of the swivel chair that were obviously meant to block them from view. “Some groping at the very least.”
Please tell me that my nipples aren’t tingling. “Grope me and live to regret it.”
“Fine.” He sighed, running a hand down his tie. “You can grope me.”

August and Natalie have lust at first sight, until Natalie insults his wine and suddenly their lust turns to hate with a strong undercurrent of lust. And this girl? Couldn’t get enough of their chemistry. They give as good as they take, but none better than August.

August is a retired SEAL who is trying to fulfill the wish of his best friend who he lost during his last deployment. The problem is that he knows nothing about wine or wine making.

Natalie is the black sheep of her family. She ran away from the winery to New York to make it work, until one bad investment for her client cost her billions and a failed engagement later she’s back in the winery she grew up in to lick her wounds. But it still doesn’t fully feel like home. She’s desperate for another chance but only needs the capital. The only issue is that her trust fund comes iwht an archaic clause of needing to be married. So what’s a girl to do? Ask her mortal enemy who needs capital to turn his wine business around for a mutually beneficial arrangement; marriage in name only.

But August isn’t interested in anything halfway. He’s wanted Natalie since the moment he first saw her and he’s determined to make it work beyond just an arrangement.

It’s five o’clock in the morning, give or take a few minutes.”
He sauntered toward her across the lawn, guilt kicking around in his stomach over the phone call he’d just taken. “This is when I get up.”
“Oh.” Another yawn, bigger this time. “In that case, I want a divorce.”
“Sorry, I won’t sign.”
Her smile was sweet and sleepy. “Arsenic poisoning it is.”

I couldn’t get enough of the chemistry these two had. August is absolutely obsessed with his fake wife and I loved his adorable caveman ways. This man is the ultimate cinnamon role with a possessive and obsessive streak a mile long and I loved every part of him.

You need to give me twenty minutes to flip my tire when we get home.”
Puzzlement knit her forehead together. “Huh?”
“The leftover adrenaline, Natalie. I need to work some of it off first or . . .” He pointed at the apex of her very smooth, very spreadable thighs. “I’m going to offend the queen.”
She did a double take. Squinted one eye. “Wait, so I’m the princess and my vagina is the queen?”
“And I’m her loyal subject. Yes.”

When I tell you I devoured this book in one sitting, I mean it. I had a goofy smile on my face from cover to cover. It hit every spot and even those I didn’t know I had. I loved the to pieces and can’t recommend it enough if you’re looking for a sexy, feel good romance with two characters that you’ll fall head over heels for.

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Review: An Armored Heart by RC Boldt

May 26, 2023 by · Leave a Comment

AN ARMORED HEART
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: RC Boldt
Release Date: May 23,  2023

RULE #1: Do NOT catch feelings for the man who doesn’t believe in love.

Four months. That’s how long I’ll need to pretend to be Steele Cunningham’s doting girlfriend.


I agreed to this insanity only to save my restaurant. He’s doing it because he needs someone outside his “social circle” to stick it to his meddling parents and clingy ex.


Ruthless and emotionless in both his personal life and his career, Steele’s ego rivals his net worth.


Operating on joy and positivity—and a healthy bit of feistiness—I challenge him at every step.


He’s a tin man—heartless and cold. Falling for him would be a colossal mistake, because there’s no chance he’ll ever love me.


He can’t.


After all, he’s the man with an armored heart.


AMAZON | iBOOKS | NOOK | KOBO | GOOGLE PLAY

 

Everyone should have a fake fiancé who has a magical penis. One who’s all prim and proper on the outside in those fancy suits but has a filthy mouth when you least expect it.

I love Boldt’s PNRish suspense and greedily awaiting the next one. But when I saw she’s releasing a contemporary fake relationship trope? I jumped on it faster than those seagulls can say ‘mine’
Admittedly, this wasn’t what I expected, because it was even better. I didn’t anticipate the level of banter, sass, and humor laced into this delicious fake dating romance.

Ella is a woman on a mission when the local millionaire developer sets his sights on tearing down her beloved restaurant for his new project. So what’s a woman to do? Why show up at his office unannounced and bribe him with carbs, of course. Except said millionaire doesn’t do carbs or feelings. So how is. it that they end up with a bargain of her pretending to be his girlfriend for four months in exchange for her keeping her restaurant? Well, you’ll have to read that part and see.

What I will say, is I fell hard for Ella. This is a woman with a heart of gold and a spine of steel. SHe’s this wonderful and endearing heroine who’s impossible not to love. Steele is prickly, grumpy, and definitely earns her nicknaming him Tin Man. The man is all work and no play but you just know there’s something fiery beneath that stuffy persona. And boy was I right. Yowza!

Admittedly his hot and cold lasted a bit too long for my liking, thought I still enjoyed it so can’t complain much. He knows how to right a wrong, but it just took hime entirely too long to get his head out of his anus. But I digress.

This is a slow burn full of sizzle, chemistry, and some family drama. Oh how I LOATHED Steele’s family. Luckily the friendship dynamic made up for their venom and balanced it out. This goes not only for Ella’s friends but also Steele’s. This is grumpy sunshine gold with a splash of fake dating and I devoured it in one sitting. Highly recommend for my lovers of sass and grump.

RC Boldt is a USA Today bestselling author currently living in part of the Costa Rican jungle with the love of her life and her mini-me.

If you’re in the mood for some killer mojitos or can’t recall the lyrics to a particular 80s song, she’s your girl.

Connect with RC Boldt 

Website: http://www.rcboldtbooks.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14543027.R_C_Boldt

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Kq1H9C

Facebook: http://bit.ly/RCBoldtFB

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BBBReaders/

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#DGRFave & Review: Liars Like Us by J.T. Geissinger

May 25, 2023 by · Leave a Comment

LIARS LIKE US
Series: Morally Gray #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: J.T. Geissinger
Release Date: May 25, 2023

A young woman on the verge of bankruptcy.
 
A mysterious billionaire with an offer that will change her life.
 
An obsession so powerful, it could destroy them both.

Sex
Lies
Secrets
Passion

What Callum McCord wants, he takes.
 
No matter what he has to do to get it.

~~~~~~~~~~

Author’s note: Liars Like Us is a standalone marriage of convenience romance with an obsessive & possessive morally gray hero and spicy bedroom scenes intended for mature readers only.
 

AMAZON 

You’re something much better than beautiful. And when we’re married, I’ll tell you what it is.”
The queen of sass and banter is back with a vengeance with a new series that will set your kindle on fire and make your ovaries tinge! When I tell you I devoured this book, I mean I devoured this book. I couldn’t put it down and read it in one sitting with a ridiculous grin on my face the entire time.

If there’s one thing that JT always delivers, it’s amazing characters. She brings uber alphas, sassy heroines, and all the banter. Now the thing with the sass is it’s not easy to pull off. It can be over the top, annoying or brash when not done right. But Geissinger hits it out of the park each and every single time.
I say drily, “If you think that was interesting, wait until I tell you what he said to me in the car after the ceremony.”
“What?”
“That he wanted to spank my p*ssy until I squirted on his hand.”
After a moment of silence, Dani breathes, “There is a God.”

I loved everything about this book, starting from the friendships, to the romance, and to the surprise cameos (OMG the cameos!). Wait until you get to this plot twist. This woman’s mind is brilliant the way she brings everything together.

This is a marriage of convenience with a layer of suspense and man oh man did I love it.

Emery is a down on her luck business owner who is facing bankruptcy and having to close her family’s bookstore because of a string of bad luck and a competitor next door. Enter Callum, mysterious billionaire that needs a wife for his inheritance and offers her the deal of a life time. Only Emery is no pushover and she makes the man WORK to take him seriously. I loved that about her. This is no push over and even when facing bankruptcy and failure, she never loses her spark and tenacity.
That dress is incredible.”
“Oh, this old thing? I bought it with your ridiculous limitless credit card at some fancy boutique in Beverly Hills where the salespeople looked at me as if I’d given birth to Satan’s scaly, forked-tongue baby and was dragging it around by its bloody umbilical cord. So charming, those boutique ladies. They made me feel as if suicide was my only viable option.”

Of course in typical Geissinger fashion everything is not as it seems but that’s a whole experience so enjoy the ride spoiler free. Trust me.
His heated gaze rakes over my breasts. “Careful, wife.”
“No, you be careful. Because if you think you married a pushover, think again.”
“I know exactly who I married,” he says softly, his eyes piercing. “Do you?”
“Yes. A psychopath with too much money, too little patience, and too much
confidence for his own good.”

All I will tell you is that I’m practically vibrating in fingerling glee that this is the first in a series and we’re getting more. Because this set up? Delicious. Absolutely dellcious.

If you’re looking for a wild and sexy romp with plenty of witty banter, suspense, and heat, look no further. This is what they mean when they say book crack. This book was everything and entirely too addictive. I can’t wait for more in this series!

 

J.T. Geissinger is a #1 international and Amazon Charts bestselling author of thirty novels. Ranging from funny, feisty romcoms to intense erotic thrillers, her books have sold over ten million copies worldwide and been translated into more than twenty languages.

She is a three-time finalist in both contemporary and paranormal romance for the RITA® Award, the highest distinction in romance fiction from the Romance Writers of America®. She is also a recipient of the Prism Award for Best First Book, the Golden Quill Award for Best Paranormal/Urban Fantasy, and the HOLT Medallion for Best Erotic Romance.

 

Connect with J.T. Geissinger

Website: www.jtgeissinger.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5865943.J_T_Geissinger

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1xQN4za

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

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1546609172103644

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Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/j-t-geissinger

Text BOOK to 844-946-2079

 

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Review: My Best Friend’s Dad by Sadie Black

May 24, 2023 by · Leave a Comment

MY BEST FRIEND’S DAD
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Tropes: Age gap/Best friend’s dad/Forced proximity
Author: Sadie Black
Release Date: May 24, 2023

Ever meet the right guy at the wrong time?

I knew how it would end the minute I met him. Hayes was just a little too good-looking to be real, and just a little too old to be appropriate for me. Not to mention, he already has a girlfriend.

I never stood a chance.

I was fresh off the plane that had delivered me from my threadbare past into an uncertain future. Even in the luxurious world of our resort, his wealth was obvious. I couldn’t believe my luck that a man like him would only have eyes for me. But it was no coincidence we found each other under the stars outside that bar on that particular night.

Hayes Sterling is a name that means something. Generosity. Protectiveness.

Getting the job I so desperately need.

It also means he’s completely off limits. Forbidden. Taboo.
Not just because he owns the guesthouse I’m living in.
Because he’s my best friend’s dad.

A standalone new adult forbidden romance with no cheating and a HEA.

AMAZON 

 

Now look, I’m a sucker for the forbidden age trope okay? Hard to believe I used to shudder at the thought of daddy tropes and here we are. Greedily devouring everything in my sight. So of course when I saw the blurb to this, I knew this would be my very first Sadie Black book. And after finishing it, I’m happy to confirm it won’t be my last.

Generally I love my forbidden trope with a bit more angst. This one was more on the fluffier side. But you know what? I don’t even mind. It hit the spot just right with just the right dose of drama and just a touch of forbidden feels.

Piper and Lincoln have been best friends for years. When he invites her to Aspen to stay at his father’s resort. Hayes is Lincoln’s father who he just recently grew closer to following his divorce from his mother years ago. Hayes is. workaholic and barely has time for anything outside of his resort. I do want to highlight that if you’re thinking this has cheating, since Hayes has a girlfriend, it doesn’t. All is not as it seems there though I wouldn’t have minded the additional angst if it had it.

The chemistry with Hayes and Piper is instantaneous though they do try to fight it. It doesn’t take long for things to get steamy and boy does it get steamy.

If you like a good age gap that’s well written and not drowning in uber angst or drama, give this one a shot.

Sadie Black lives in her head as an ex-member of the British royal family, a current fashion icon, and couldn’t be more annoyed that she has to pay taxes on a job called “governess.”

Connect w/Sadie:

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Review: King of Heartbreak by V.F. Mason

May 18, 2023 by · Leave a Comment

KING OF HEARTBREAK
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: V.F. Mason
Release Date: May 18, 2023

Once upon a time she became mine. Mine to ruin.

I have it all. 

A loving fiancé who adores me. 

A prospering dancing career. 

And a future full of possibilities. 

My life is a perfect fairy tale that nothing can break. 

Until I’m charged with a murder I didn’t commit. 

All the evidence points at me, and the only person who can clear my name?

Is the one man who promised to hate me till his last breath for what I’ve done to him.

And now he craves revenge. 

He’s ruthless, cunning, and heartless. 

A handsome devil wrapped in a three-piece suit that destroys everything he touches. 

He gives me a choice. 

I can either marry him or rot in hell. 

Three months. 

That’s how long our fake marriage will last. 

Enough time for him to ruin me and make me atone for my mistake. 

Except danger lurks in the darkness, a monster hungry for my blood who won’t rest until he hurts me. 

And the only person who can protect me?

Is the powerful and dangerous man who calls me his wife. 

AMAZON 

It’s possible to love a man who brings you nothing but heartbreak. And it’s possible to crave revenge after you lost it along with yourself.”

King of Heartbreak was my first V.F. Mason book but will certainly not be my last. This is like Criminal Minds meets romance and I was so here for it.

As for the romance; age gap, revenge, and marriage of convenience (or blackmail)? Sign me up immediately.

Never apologize to me again, Emmaline. I don’t want your atonement. I want your ruin. And I shall have it.”

Before we go into what I enjoyed about this book, let me cover the few quibbles I had first. The main being I really didn’t feel this book was a standalone. The story was complete, yes. But there were so many cameos from previous books I haven’t read that I was constantly feeling I was missing important context. If I had read the other books, I’m sure I would have loved that here. But as it was, I found myself feeling like I was missing context cues that would have made me enjoy the story that much more.

The next being the overuse of ‘darling’. It got to the point that if I made a drinking game out of having a sip each time he called her darling, I would have be three sheets to the wind by chapter 5.

Now that that’s out of the way, let’s talk about what I liked. The romance. I love a good revenge plot and this one was a delicious mystery that goes years back. Rafael is such a complex, tortured character and I couldn’t get enough of him. This is man who lived and breathed nothing but his drive for revenge over the past 12 years and would stop at nothing to get it. Even if it means blackmailing the now full grown woman of the once young girl who told a lie and set his downfall in motion. What the lie was? Well, admittedly, I’m still not sure I understand. But dang was I invested.

There is a subplot of a mysterious serial killer and I loved being in their head through the unsub’s POV. The pacing was just right, the character development full of depth, and the romance all enrapturing.

One thing I know is that I will be immediately diving into The Land Where Sinners Atone because I need that story!

V.F.Mason always loved reading books and had quite a few fights with her momma over the genre she liked (romance, duh!) She studied filmmaking and thought that would feed her desire for stories, but that didn’t happen. Finally, when she was tired of all those voices in her head, she sat down and wrote a book. It was a huge decision to make and she thanks her friends and family for supporting her in it. When she is not writing, she can be found with her friends doing all sorts of crazy things or reading recent romance books that were written by her favorite authors.

To find out about V.F. Mason’s upcoming releases and giveaways, sign up for her newsletter here

For more information on V.F. Mason and her books visit: https://vfmason.com/

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Review: I’ll Always Be With You by Monica Murphy

May 18, 2023 by · Leave a Comment

I’LL ALWAYS BE WITH YOU
Series: Lancaster Prep #4
Author: Monica Murphy
Genre: New Adult Romance
Release Date: May 18, 2023

Weston Fontaine is the hottest senior at Lancaster Prep.

And he knows it.

He’s gorgeous. Confident. Smart.

Too smart.

Everyone loves him. He could have any girl on campus, except for one.

Me.

I’m a Lancaster, meaning I’m basically untouchable–or so I thought. It’s my family who owns this God forsaken private school that I don’t want to attend. But according to my parents, I have to endure my senior year at Lancaster Prep before I can return to what I love the most: ballet.

West doesn’t make my time here easy. He’s arrogant. Crude. Insufferable. He torments me in the worst way, to the point that I can’t stand him. Yet he’s the only boy I’ve ever let touch me…

You see, West and I? We share a secret. On a hot summer night in Paris, we hooked up. And I never do that. Ever. I revealed parts of myself to him I’ve never shown anyone else. He’s seen me at my most vulnerable. I told him my secrets. And he told me his. In Paris, he was sexy. Protective. Even dare I say…sweet.

Now he’s the villain in my story, yet I can’t help but chase after that feeling only West can give me. Despite our hatred for each other, we somehow burn brighter when we’re together. So what happens when you helplessly fall for the one person you know is bad for you?

If you’re like me, you go ahead and fall for him anyway.

AMAZON

 

I’ll make your life a living hell, if that’s what you want.”
“You already have,” she whispers.
“Right back at you, babe.”

I was unreasonably obsessed with Things I Wanted to Say, But Never Did. Like OBSESSED. And I was desperate for another couple that would give me similar vibes of Whit and Summer, so figures that his younger sister would check the box. I was yearning for angst and hate lust and this book delivered on every single thing.

I can’t get you out of my head, and it fucks with everything I try to do. Every decision I make. You fucking haunt my thoughts, Carolina.”

This is an enemies to lovers turned second chance romance and man did I devour this book. I mean, I DEVOURED this book. It gave me all the feels from rage to swooning and I couldn’t get enough of it.

If there’s one piece of advice I can give you is don’t read it as a standalone. Could you? Yes. Should you? It just won’t be the same unless you at least read Promises We Meant to Keep first. Just trust me on this one. You’ll thank me.

Carolina is the youngest of the Lancaster brood. She’s also lightyears different from her brother and sister. She’s standoffish and almost cold at first glimpse. But beneath the hard exterior is a girl that never felt comfortable around people or emotion. Her psychic mother may have a bit to do with that. All Carolina wants is a career in ballet. Everything she’s done has brought her to this pivotal moment. Meeting a boy who takes her breath away wasn’t on the agenda. Neither was spending one unforgettable night with him and her parents forcing her back to Lancaster prep and out of her beloved ballet school for the school year. The very last thing that she expects is for the mystery boy to be the new ruler of Lancaster prep and to hate everything about her.

Now West wasn’t quite the bully that Whit was but he was definitely up there. But beneath every mean barb and sharp look is an insecurity and deep rooted lust for the girl who acts like she doesn’t remember him or care about him in the very least. I loved the push and pull between these two. I loved that Carolina gave as good as she got. And I loved the way that West was absolutely powerless against her. My only quibble is how long they were separated before reuniting, but I also understand. And that reunion and the way West worked for her melted my cold black heart.

You scare me.” I open my eyes, wishing he knew just how badly he does. “I don’t know if you deserve me.” “I don’t.” He dips his head, his mouth brushing against mine when he speaks. “But I’m going to work hard to prove to you that I do.”

I loved everything about this book. The emotion, the angst, the romance, the steam, and especially West and Carolina. Easily one of my favorite books in the series and I cannot recommend it enough.

 

Monica Murphy is a New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling romance author. Her books have been translated in almost a dozen languages and have sold over two million copies worldwide. Both a traditionally published and independently published author, she writes young adult, new adult and contemporary romance.

A native Californian, she lives on fourteen acres in the middle of nowhere with her husband, son, their goofy dog, and three cats. When she’s not writing, she’s thinking about writing. Or reading. Or binge watching something.

 

Connect with Monica

Website | Goodreads  | Amazon | Facebook | Facebook Group | Instagram | Twitter | Bookbub | Pinterest | Verve Romance | Tik Tok 

 


 

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Review: Contempt by A Zavarelli

April 25, 2023 by · Leave a Comment

CONTEMPT
Series: Sin City Salvation #3
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Dark
Author: A. Zavarelli
Release Date: April 25,  2023

From USA Today Bestselling Author A. Zavarelli comes an angsty forbidden romance about second chances, forgiveness, and a love that conquers all.

Before the world knew me as a rock god, I was just the angry boy who stole her heart.

She was a good girl.

The forbidden fruit I wasn’t meant to taste.

Our stars were crossed, and fate had doomed us from the start.

She was promised to someone else.

I had her secret smiles.

Moments stolen in dark corners.

But I couldn’t have her future.

Destiny tore us apart, and all that remained was the ghost of her memory.

When she died, I did too.

But when I catch a glimpse of her five years later, alive and well, that love turns to hate as the bitter truth emerges.

She left me.

She lied.

And now, I’m going to make her pay.

This book is a standalone dark romance about a military veteran turned rockstar hero and the girl who stole his heart and never let it go. 

AMAZON

Why the fuck did we have the misfortune of meeting if all we were going to do was drown each other?

I have spent years, YEARS, waiting for this book. I was enraptured in this world the second I read Confess. And then when I read Convict, I was totally obsessed. Kodiak is memorable enough as a secondary character, but in his own book? Mama. Stick a fork in me. I’m done.

She falls back against the counter, catching herself on her elbows and praying to a God that won’t grant her relief. In this house, I own her pleasure, and if she’s looking for a higher power, I’m the only one she’s going to worship.

This book had a considerably darker undercurrent to it in comparison to the previous two. And I devoured it in one sitting. It’s this addictive combination of second chance romance, amnesia, enemies to lovers, and a FMC thought dead. And yes, it’s as good as it sounds.

Years ago, Kodiak fell in love with the wrong girl. Theirs was a tumultuous and forbidden romance that ended in the worst sort of tragedy and cost Kodiak everything. All these years later, he is still a prime suspect in her alleged murder. Until one day, he sees a homeless woman busking on the street and he can’t believe his ears. Because even if the woman looks nothing like the girl he loved beyond reason, that voice is one he knows. So what’s a man to do? Why kidnap her until she confesses her evil scheme of course. But the woman he never stopped thinking about doesn’t remember him, or her life before 5 years ago.

The story is told in flashbacks from present to past. The author gives you morsel by morsel pieces to build a picture that when fully revealed, will rock you to the core. It’s full of angst, emotion, pain and heartbreak. The girl Kodiak knew as Bianca is now Lyric and he refuses to believe that she remembers nothing. But beneath the loathing and contempt, the chemistry between them is as strong as it was 5 years ago. No matter how much they both may fight it.

This doesn’t change anything,” she assures me when she sees the crazy look in my eyes. “I still don’t like you.”
“I’ve never hated you more,” I insist, plowing into her as I f*ck her so hard, she’ll feel me for days.

I thought I loved the first two books, but this one simply blew me away. The mystery of it, the slow building suspense, the heartache and angst. I couldn’t get enough of these two. Learning about what Bianca has gone through broke my heart. And I spent chapters waiting for the other shoe to drop and for Kodiak to get his blinders off. Let me tell you, when he finds out the truth, he’s ready to burn the word down. GOD but I loved this book. HARD. It was worth every single painful second, minute, and year of the wait that A Zavarelli put us through. I cannot recommend it enough.
A. Zavarelli is a USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of dark and contemporary romance.

She loves writing about tortured heroes and the strong heroines who love them. When she’s not putting her characters through hell, she can usually be found watching documentaries in the name of research.

She lives in the Northwest with her lumberjack and an entire brood of fur babies.
Zavarelli is a USA Today and Amazon bestselling author.

She likes all things chocolate, books that come with warnings, and putting her characters through hell. Her tales have been known to flirt with darkness and sometimes court it unabashedly altogether. Revenge themes and tortured souls are her favorites to write and this gives her an excuse to watch bizarre and twisted documentaries in her spare time.

She currently lives in the Northwest with her lumberjack and an entire brood of fur babies.

Connect w/A. Zavarelli:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Bookbub | Goodreads | Amazon | Newsletter Signup

 

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