Review: Hotter ‘N Hell by Abbi Glines

November 29, 2024 by · Leave a Comment

HOTTER ‘N HELL
Series: Mississippi Smoke #2
Author: Abbi Gaines
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance
Release Date: November 29, 2024

Saylor
Was it a sin to hate the dead?

It was something I had pondered many times over the past ten months. Although it wasn’t why I required medication to sleep at night. I wasn’t truly concerned about the level of darkness that resided in my soul. It was the images of the night I had watched a bullet take down the boy I had loved most of my life. Seeing the life leave his body, the way his eyes had gone void. It haunted me. Even now that I knew he’d betrayed me. That what I thought had been real had all been a lie. Crosby Cash had been in love, alright, just not with me.

Those closest to me, the ones who were supposed to love me, all accused me of being dramatic. Because that made sense. I just loved the panic attacks that robbed me of my ability to breathe. And the passing out from lack of oxygen was the best. Looking in the mirror and not recognizing the girl looking back at me was my favorite.

Perhaps that was the reason I sought solace in the last place anyone would think I’d go. We weren’t religious people. I’d been born into a family of organized crime. The day I walked into the catholic church seeking… forgiveness, closure, something…anything to find the girl I had once been, I hadn’t expected him. The man ordained by God to lead his people to salvation. Well, that man in the sky so many believed in made a grave mistake allowing a man who looked like Jude, or rather Father Jude, to wear that white collar.

I could lie and say I found what I was looking for standing in front of the altar, staring up at the crucifix, but even those with tarnished souls have their limits. I found something alright, but it wasn’t forgiveness. My answer wasn’t going to come from the one they called their Savior but the one they referred to as Father.

Jude

Temptation comes for all of us. I had thought I could overcome whatever Satan placed before me. This life had held little meaning for me after the day I lost the girl I loved. My first and only love. Too young, sweet, and beautiful for this world. But men are often fools. And I would soon learn just how weak I was – when a pair of bright blue eyes stood in my sanctuary staring back at me.
She was lost. Hurting. Seeking comfort.
She was the one temptation I never expected and would never regret.

Hotter N’ Hell features mature themes and content that may not be suitable for all audiences. Reader discretion is advised. TW include: religion, death of a loved one, mental health, sexual content, and some violence.

AMAZON

The hunger in his eyes went beyond lust. It was desperate, uncontrolled, and so intense that everywhere his gaze touched me, it felt like an electric current..


Truth be told, the way that Saylor was described in Tore Up, I wasn’t exactly sure about having her book and story. Interestingly enough, while Saylor herself didn’t feature in that book, you get a lot of secondhand impressions and the impression is one of a spoiled mafia princess. But when I saw the blurb to this book, I knew I would tolerate a spoiled mafia princess for a forbidden romance.

I love a forbidden romance, and it just doesn’t get more forbidden than a mafia princess and a priest. But let me just tell you, I loved how Abbi wrote her story and finding out that her not being featured as a character but only getting her story from others in the first book was very much on purpose. Because Saylor is definitely not at all what she seems. Yes, she’s a mafia princess, but she’s far from spoiled. She’s also a woman nursing a broken heart after losing her fiancé not only to death, but also to another woman. Once she only found out about after his death. And now she finds herself spiraling in anger and resentment, desperately seeking purpose and finding it inside the walls of a church.

Father Jude is not a man who is easily tempted. He’s dedicated himself to his church and his vows due to his own tragic past. But the more he gets to know Saylor, the harder it is to resist the growing chemistry between them.

This was a slow burn that was full of emotion, tension, and all the forbidden vibes. Though Jude does go from 0 to 60 in the span of one forbidden look, I didn’t mind it. Give me a dirty talker and I’ll forget all the improbabilities. Admittedly, while I love how protective Saylor’s friends and family are, I did hate them for what they pulled at the end. I just didn’t understand the extreme reaction. But I also loved seeing Jude’s strength and love of Saylor shine through in those moments.

If you’re looking for a quick and steamy forbidden romance that has all the feels, definitely give this one a shot…

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Review: Five Brothers by Penelope Douglas

August 12, 2024 by · Leave a Comment

FIVE BROTHERS
Genre: Contemporary Romance, New Adult
Author: Penelope Douglas
Release Date: July 30, 2024

One woman learns the secrets of the five Jaeger brothers in the new romance from New York Times bestselling author Penelope Douglas.

On the other side of town, in the dark glades, under the rain…

Macon is the oldest. Thirty-one. Ex-Marine. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him smile.

Army is twenty-eight. A single dad with the most beautiful green eyes. He has no idea who he is, if not a Jaeger brother.

Iron will be in prison soon. You’d never think it to meet him. He’s a nice guy, actually. But he can’t stop reacting to everything.

Dallas is the one I hate. Twenty-one, cruel, and selfish. He takes and then throws away whatever’s left.

And Trace is mine. Or he was for about two seconds. No one can tame him for long.

Not that I ever wanted to. It was fun, but now I need to go home. Back to my side of the tracks. Away from the swamps and these men. To my parents’ big house. On my clean street. Where I’m never dirty or messy or hot. And I will. I’ll leave first thing tomorrow morning. I just want to crash on the couch tonight.

Their house is dark and quiet, everyone else is asleep. Except for one. He sees me crying and comes at me from behind. I let him wrap his arms around my body and hold me tightly. His breath is on my neck, his fingers are in my hair, and he doesn’t stop there.

I don’t think it was Trace.

AMAZON

Clay fell in love with Liv, the bad girl from the wrong side of town, and I fell into insanity with one of that bad girl’s brothers.

When I tell you that I have been rabid for this series and this book ever since I finished Tryst Six Venom would be a mild understatement. I was ready to part with a kidney for this story. True story. And did I love it? Absolutely. But did I also struggle with my rating, also yes.

Rich girl, poor girl,” I taunt her, kissing and biting her neck. “Y’all look the same when you’re naked.”

Now if you really want the full experience of this story, I highly recommend you read Tryst Six Venom first. While you do get the highlight reel of the background information, there’s also some story arcs that simply need to be experienced in Tryst. Trust me on this. Now as for this book, this was a bit different. I’ve seen people compare it to Credence and it certainly has that vibe. But as someone who has read Penelope’s entire backlist, the way it’s written reminded me a bit of their Devil’s Night series. As in, it reads very much like a saga. And while each character will have their own book, their story arc begins very early in the series. And as for this story, that was what I slightly struggled with as well.

I wanted you under my skin and your scent in my head. I couldn’t think. I did what we do when we’re dying. We rage, and I felt it on you, too. I had to hold you.”

I loved the first 20% and adored the last 30% of this book. But the middle was a bit different. What I mean by that, is that we get only abut 35% of the book with the actual main couple. Which isn’t a bad thing, because the development and story arcs of the other brothers were fascinating. But it’s also a struggle because the main couple themselves are so multilayered that I wanted more. Especially the MC. I could have easily read at least 200 more pages of him.

If you’ve read Tryst, then you remember Krisjen as Clay’s best friend. I was very intrigued by her character, but I also feel like we didn’t get to the full core of her. Admittedly, I struggled with her character in the beginning because while she was intriguing she was also coming across like a simp at times.

The story arc was fascinating in a way that only Penelope can do. These brothers definitely pack a heck of a punch. But I would have loved to spend more time with the main couple. As it was, I couldn’t help but feel we spent the majority of the book on the set up of the series rather than the romance. Now don’t get me wrong, I still devoured it, but it wasn’t quite what I expected.

Would I recommend it? Absolutely. Am I excited for the rest of the series? Without a doubt. So I supposed I wasn’t all that bothered with my minor quibbles because I still enjoyed the heck out of this story. 

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Review: The Prey by JL Beck

August 9, 2024 by · Leave a Comment

THE PREY
Author: J.L. Beck
Series: Oakmount Elite #3
Genre: Dark Romance, New Adult
Release Date: August 9, 2024

Filthy rich. Monstrous. Vile.

He calls me prey.

I call him a bully.

Sebastian Arturo isn’t just cruel, he’s downright terrifying.

With piercing green eyes, a body made for doing very bad things, and a charming demeanor, it’s no wonder everyone thinks the world of him… everyone except me.

When I wake up with pieces of my memory missing he’s the only one who can give me answers.

But he doesn’t give me answers, instead he tells me to stop asking questions, or else…

I heed his warning and do my best to avoid him but since he’s my boss and I live in his house that’s kinda difficult.

Then one night his hate for me reaches its breaking point… and the lines blur.

Hate twists into lustful obsession.

His cruel words become seductive praises.

One touch sparks a raging inferno of desire, and I find myself burned to ash beneath his fingertips.

Just when I think I’ll finally find happiness my memories return bringing with them a vicious truth.

Turns out the man I’m falling for isn’t who I thought he was… and escape isn”t an option.

He has me right where he wants, caught in a trap, just like prey.

** This is a standalone, however for better reading enjoyment please consider starting with The Wallflower before reading The Prey. Again this is a dark romance novel, but does contain a happily ever after. It also contains triggering material, and adult content. Please do not start reading till you check the trigger warning at the beginning of the book. **

AMAZON

Sebastian isn’t the gentleman the world thinks he is…

Well, Elyse, I definitely already knew that much. Sebastian was a deliciously intriguing secondary character in The Wallflower & The Wildflower. But as an MC, this man is in a league of his own and I worship at his alter.

Now I definitely liked Drew and Bel’s book, but I went absolutely FERAL for Sebastian. When I tell you that the first chapter grabs you by the throat, I mean brace yourself. Because holy moly! But I digress. I loved seeing Sebastian’s protective big brother side in The Wildflower, but seeing his dark and deranged side in his own book wa s an experience unparalleled.

We don’t quite know the full details of how, but Elyse ends up working as a maid for Sebastian to work off her father’s debt. Her past is shrouded in mystery as are the full circumstance of how she came to work for Sebastian. All you know is that he hates her as much as he wants her, and the more he wants her, the harder he pushes her away with his a-hole behavior. And this reader was here for every second of it.

Now Sebastian is one fascinating, multilayered character that I couldn’t get enough of. He may be an entitled a-hole to Elyse, but beneath the suits and the money is the dark soul of a man who went through hell himself. And while we only get snippets of what made him the way he is, you. just know that when the full history is revealed, it will hurt so good.

Sebastian fights his attraction to Elyse at every turn, until it becomes unbearable and her past comes knocking on his door. There is still a lot of unknown and I ended the book with more questions than answers, but I can tell you that I absolutely devoured this story.

Elyse is a perfect dichotomy of silent strength and vulnerability. Her circumstance puts her in an impossible position where she will never come out the victor, but she is no pushover, and I loved that about her. When we finally get more morsels about her past, I was absolutely rabid for more. But in true JL Beck fashion, she leaves on a cliffhanger so painful that I dang near cried when I finish. So off to stalk her for the next book I go and I have no regrets!

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#DGRFave & Review: Honey Cut by Sierra Simone

June 21, 2024 by · Leave a Comment

HONEY CUT
Series: Lyonesse  #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance, MMF
Author: Sierra Simone
Release Date: June 18, 2024

I have one job in this arranged marriage, and that’s to seduce my husband.

It should be easy; I’m the heiress to a transatlantic fortune, bred and raised to make a good match. I’ve spent a lifetime building up my endurance, my discipline, my dedication to my god and my church. The danger lies in falling for the devil who put his ring on my finger—a mistake I made years ago, and can’t afford to make again.

There is one more danger: handsome and green-eyed, emotionally wounded. Tristan Thomas, former soldier and my new husband’s bodyguard. A hero who stole my heart with salt-soaked kisses on the sea.

But Lyonesse is not like other places, and this isn’t like other marriages. Soon Tristan, Mark, and I are tangled in a knot of vicious jealousy and gorgeous wickedness, where suspicion is an aphrodisiac and secrets and vows are one and the same.

And there is something far darker at play than my real purpose, than the machinations of the Church I serve. Darker even than the twisted longings of my own heart. Because my husband has secrets of his own, and the reason he’ll stop at nothing to possess me could slice my soul deeper than the honeysuckle-hilted knife he gave me once upon a time.

Because when it comes to Mark Trevena and his games, the first cut is more than the deepest—it’s the sweetest.

And he always leaves you begging for more…

Honey Cut is the second book in the Lyonesse Trilogy.

AMAZON 

You will be mine until you no longer wish to be so; I will be yours forever.”

Masterful, poignant, erotically sinful, and full of twists and turns. I thought I loved Salt Kiss but this book? Wow. This book completely blew me away. So much so, that I can also say that it has taken the place of Camelot Trilogy as my favorite of this author. And really, this is now easily my favorite MMF romance to date, period. And that’s not spoken lightly.

In this installment, we get a peak into the enigma that is Isolde. She’s a character that only gets introduced in the first book, and in this one we get immersed in her POV and what a POV it was. Even the POV is masterfully written to unwind a tale full of twists and turns. We now add Isolde’s POV in addition to Tristan, while desperately awaiting a deeper peek into the dark abyss that is Mark.

I want him as wild as he was on the sea; I want to see, over and over again, the rupture between his inherent goodness and his surrender to sin.

When we last left Tristan, he was chartering a yacht with Mark’s fiancé, Isolde. What we learn is that during that time at sea, he falls hard for her and she for him. But of course, when she’s engaged to his boss who he is still in love with, let’s just say that things are messy.

On one side of me, I have a hero; on my other side, a devil. One I want to fuck. The other I’ll have to.

Isolde and Mark’s union is not one of love but of business and partnership. Though knowing all that didn’t stop Isolde from loving the untouchable man either. And Isolde is an enigma in her own right. The second her POV is introduce, you’re instantly sucked into her world and it was impossible not to immediately connect with this broken but fierce woman.

because even though they have meant for you to be made of gold, you are made of shadows and glass instead, and I am too.

The feel of the forbidden of being in love with two men; one who is your husband to be but offers nothing of himself beyond surface level, the other with a heart of gold who is forbidden to you. But Isolde is no simple woman and she’s not a prize in the arrangement. She has a plan of her own and the more than unwinds, the more obsessed it made me to learn more details.

His voice is his devil’s voice tonight, seductive and cruel. Oh, how he makes us fall in love with him. We should hate him for it.

What I will tell you is that no one, and I mean absolutely no one can write such erotic filth like Sierra and fill it with so much poetry and gorgeous prose. It’s deliciously sinful and masterfully written. It’s not purple prose by any means, but it’s just perfectly written. I don’t even know how to describe it to you, you simply need to experience it for yourself.

Oh God. Oh my God.” Mark licks my mouth, like he wants to eat the words off my lips. He’s still smiling, evil and tyrannical and amused. “Sir will do for now.”

This book had me on the edge of my seat the entire time; loving Tristan, loving Isolde, and desperate for more details of Mark. The man is a dark and erotic enigma that I will never get enough of. It’s this amazing balance of the sweet cinnamon roll Tristan and the dark storm that is Mark, with Isolde at the center of it all.

Because it hurts, loving Tristan. And I’ve always craved things that hurt.

And that ending? I’m not even sure how I can survive the wait for book three. Talk about your jaw dropper! 

Sierra Simone is a USA Today Bestselling former librarian (who spent too much time reading romance novels at the information desk.) She lives with her husband and family in Kansas City.

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Review: So Hectic by Eve Dangerfield

May 24, 2024 by · Leave a Comment

SO HECTIC
Series: Silver Daughters Ink #3
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Eve Dangerfield
Release Date: May 23, 2024

A Super Spicy, Enemies to Lovers, Playboy, standalone romance from critically acclaimed author Eve Dangerfield

Tabby DaSilva’s life sucks. Her dad’s AWOL, her Prosecco-themed music festival ‘Sparkling Whine’ bombed and her big sister’s pregnancy means she’s officially transitioning from ‘youngest kid’ to ‘weird aunt.’
But hardest to take is her best friend Toby Tennant going pure evil.
Taking his virginity was supposed to seal their alliance. Instead, Mr. Nice Guy vanished only to resurface as a full-blown finance douche, complete with Lamborghini and a podcast shilling creatine every five minutes.
Frankly, it’s a fate worse than death.
But Tabby has the perfect solution; run away! All she needs is enough cash to start a new life in Colombia and since Toby’s petitioning for her to tattoo him, what’s a girl to do but slowly inject ink into her enemy’s rippling Ken doll torso?
Little does she know that her ex-best friend doesn’t really want a tattoo. Toby wants her, mind, body, and soul. He’s spent the last two years becoming the Sugar Daddy of Tabitha DaSilva’s dreams and he’s finally ready to show her that he can take care of her, and dominate her, in the ways she’s only ever imagined…

SO HECTIC is a full-length contemporary novel and is the third and final book in the Silver Daughters Ink Series.

AMAZON

She was an agnostic, but she’d happily praise at the altar of Toby Tennant’s God complex.

Ok so two things.
#1. If you haven’t read this series yet, you’re seriously missing out and
#2. This was the most fund I had reading a book in a long while.

Now for a serious question to Eve. Ma’am, can you kindly explain how it’s possible to create an MMC who is both a simp golden retriever and an uber possessive, dirty talking BEAST of an alphahole at the same time? Because I am unwell. UNWELL. And head over ovaries for Toby.

Tabitha,” he said slowly. “Either admit you want a fuck and come upstairs and sit on my dick or get the hell out of my house.”
She gasped, her bag strap sliding off her shoulder, the whole thing hitting the floor. “You’re such a cunt!”
“Yeah, and that’s got you soaking, hasn’t it? So, what’ll it be?”

Now the DaSilva sisters are a riot in their own right. Admittedly I wasn’t sure if I’d like Tabby’s book because she’s always seemed like the craziest of the three but oh how I am humbly eating my words. Because Tabby just so happened to be my favorite DaSilva sister of the series. I love her brashness that hides a soft center that is her heart. I loved her sassy mouth. And I also loved her journey back to Toby.

Toby and Tabby (hehehehehe I love saying that out loud by the way. But I digress) were best friends until one drunken night where Tabby offered to take Toby’s virginity and everything came to a screeching halt. Well, not the sex. that was hot, but the friendship. I’m not sure why but I really connected with Toby and his plight to be the man he thinks he needs to become for Tabby even when I wanted to junk punch him for it too. It’s a conundrum, what can I say.

Toby reappears in Tabby’s life two years later an entirely new man; a self made millionaire with a dirty talking mouth and only one agenda, to get her back into his bed. But Toby also has ulterior motives and has every intention to use the opportunity to weave his way into Tabby’s heart, not matter how hard she fights him or the connection that still tethers them together.

Shall I sit next to you?” Toby leaned back in the booth, and she noted how powerful his thighs looked in his blue suit pants.
“You’ll sit right here,” he growled. “And if I don’t?” He eyed her up and down as though considering whether it was even worth answering. “I’ll tear your fucking dress off.”

Now if you like your MCs mean and I mean MEAN, Toby is going to hit every spot. He’s mean only in bed and beneath the dirty talking exterior with bossy tendencies and a penchant for D/s is a heart of gold and a man who is obsessed with his woman. But holy mother was their role playing hot. I feel like I burned my fingers just turning the pages on my kindle kind of hot. Ya know what I mean? WOWZA

I loved seeing all my favorites from the previous books. And if you really want to enjoy this story to the fullest, I highly recommend reading them in order. This book had everything; emotion, humor, sizzle, and all the feels. It was Eve’s signature sort of delicious chaos and I loved it! Her characters are just so incredibly colorful and memorable and I enjoy the hell out of them, these two in particular. If you’re looking for something fun and super spicy but with a wonderful story and plenty of heart, you need this book.

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Review: The Accidental Siren by Lexi Blake

May 1, 2024 by · Leave a Comment

THE ACCIDENTAL SIREN
Series: Texas Sirens: Legacy #1
Genre: Erotic Romance, Suspense
Author: Lexi Blake
Release Date: April 30, 2024

Joshua Barnes-Fleetwood is the prince of Willow Fork, Texas, but not all is right with his world. He’s the heir to a multimillion-dollar company, has a family he adores, and his best friend at his side. He can’t figure out what is missing until Nicole takes a job at Christa’s Café. The pretty waitress is a mystery he needs to solve. He’s never been so attracted to a woman, and after one night in her company, he’s sure she can handle his needs. Unfortunately, he’s also sure she’s lying to him.

Jared “Grim” Burch found a home with the Barnes-Fleetwood family when he desperately needed one. With support from his newfound family, Grim beat all the odds and became a veterinarian. In Willow Fork, however, there are still people who are suspicious of him and his past. When he sees Nicole, he knows she’s the perfect woman for him and Josh, but he wonders if he has the right to bring her into his sometimes dangerous circle.

For Nicole Mason, Willow Fork is nothing more than a pit stop. Once she can save up the money to fix her car, she’ll do what she’s been doing for the last several years. Run. Framed for her husband’s murder, she can never stop looking over her shoulder. There’s always someone on her trail, and she can’t let them bring her back to the real killer. Getting to know Josh and Grim makes her dream of the life they could have together. If only she could trust them with her secrets.

When their past catches up to them all, they’ll find out that even a small town can be big trouble.

AMAZON

I don’t care what I call you as long as I get to call you mine.”

I love a good spinoff and Lexi’s Texas Sirens series is one of my favorite sexy series. So when I saw we’re getting new generation spinoff, I was so excited! And boy did this deliver with brand new amazing characters and cameos from some of my older favorites. Plus a surprise few cameos from Lexi’s Masters & Mercenaries series.

Nicole is on the run after her abusive husband is killed and she’s set up to take the fall. With no one to help her and nothing to her name, she barely stays at one place long enough. But when she lands in the small town of Willow Fork, she finds herself the attention of two handsome men who are determined to make her his.

Josh Barnes-Fleetwood is the town royalty and the center of all gossip with his parent’s unconventional relationship. Having the same proclivities of wanting a poly relationship with his best friend/adoptive brother makes him just as infamous as his two fathers. Jared “Grim” Burch is the definition of a tortured hero. Growing up with an abusive, uber religious zealot of a stepfather wasn’t easy. And when that step father kicks him out, it’s a blessing in disguise because he lands in the loving hands of the Barnes-Fleetwood and quickly taken into the family fold. Josh and Grim are best friends and brothers with the same desire of finding a woman who can accept them both. They’re instantly drawn to the town’s newbie, Nicole and she’s just as drawn to them. They know she’s hiding something but they’re determined to make her theirs and protect her. Nicole thinks she’s committing to just one night, knowing that she can’t stay long and put them in danger. But nothing goes to plan when feelings get involved.

While this was a touch too insta love for me, it still hit the spot. I loved the chemistry between these three and I loved how Josh and Grim cared for Nicole. There’s a suspense element and I absolutely loved the addition of a cameo here that absolutely made the book for me. I thought I knew how it would end, but it still managed to throw me for a loop and I love when a story can surprise me like this.

This was a sexy little romp with wonderful characters and a a quirky small town that I will never get tired of. I can’t wait for the rest of the characters to get their stories! 

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Review: Slay by Abbi Glines

March 25, 2024 by · Leave a Comment

SLAY
Series: Georgia Smoke #1
Author: Abbi Gaines
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: March 25, 2024

Rumor

There are moments in life when you make a decision. Accept who you are. What you have become. This was one of those times…The fairytale I thought I’d found had become a nightmare so quickly after I said, “I do.” Which was the reason I ran when I had the chance. Not thinking about the consequences. Just knowing I had to get free before it was my life that was taken.

I never expected to end up finding a haven. A place where people were willing to help me hide. It was as if I had walked into my own perfect daydream.

King

“Don’t believe every pretty face you meet, sweets. You should know by now that’s a terrible f—-g idea.”

She was my job. I was to make her feel safe and do whatever I had to in order to make sure she didn’t run. Underneath the abused and broken exterior, there was a fighter. It was in her eyes. I lived for the moments when she let me see that spark.

I had been headed straight to Hell years before I met Rumor, but letting her fall in love with me was going to reserve me a room in the darkest pit available. One day soon, she was going to find out I was the monster she was running from and the family she had come to trust was the mafia that had killed her husband.

*Please be advised that this is book one in a duet and is a standalone in the Georgia Smoke Series.

AMAZON

Monsters could come in pretty packages. I knew that only too well.

Abbi Glines has been an auto buy author for me since 2012. There’s just something about her stories that are total book crack for me. The Georgia Smoke series is a spinoff of her Smoke series. Think mafia meet Yellowstone. And yes, it is as delicious as it sounds. This is the Georgia branch of The Family, and while you can easily start with this series, I highly recommend the Smoke series first, especially now that the series is all on KU. But I digress.

Abbi has a winning formula that just does for me each and every singe time, and it starts with her uber alphas and the sweet souther belles that they fall for. She writes some of the most deliciously borderline toxic alpha men and it just hits every time. Slay brings the story of King and Rumor.

Rumor has been stuck in a marriage to her abusive husband with no way out. With no family and no resources, she has has no choice but to survive one day at a time. But then an opportunity she never saw coming presents itself, and she doesn’t think twice before running, leaving her life in the rearview mirror. But with barely enough money to get her through the week, she doesn’t have a lot of choices at her disposal. So when a kind stranger offers to drive her to a bus station with a stop at his grandmother’s house along the way for meal, she takes it. Rumor is skittish but she’s a survivor through and through. She’s lived through so much in her young life but it doesn’t take away her sweet demeanor or generous nature. It was impossible not to fall for her.

And King? Sweet baby Jesus. This man. The hints towards his dominance and kinky penchants was enough to make me giddy with excitement. And the secret and ulterior motives that he hides from rumor made me eager to turn the next page. Rumor thinks she’s found a temporary safe haven, but King and his family are much more than they seem.

I devoured this in one sitting, just waiting for that other shoe to drop. Because I just knew that when it did, the story would take an exciting new turn. After years of abuse, it takes Rumor some time to warm up to King and even longer to accept the chemistry between them. The romance is a slow burn, but when it finally burns, it IGNITES. And I was so here for it.

The story was a delicious page turner with plenty of cameos from some of my favorites from Smoke. And that cliffhanger? Jaw droppingly painful. I need the next book immediately and luckily the wait isn’t long because I have zero chill for this conclusion.

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Review: Reckless Promises by Eva Simmons

March 15, 2024 by · Leave a Comment

RECKLESS PROMISES
Series: Reckless #2
Author: Eva Simmons
Genre: Mafia Romance
Release Date: March 15, 2024

ODETTE

Sold…
One word seals my fate.

I’m sold to the highest bidder to settle my father’s debts, and now I’m at the mercy of a mafia prince.

Cillian is gorgeous. Heartless. Deadly.

And I’m his revenge.

There’s only one problem… Cillian isn’t the only one seeking vengeance. I’ve been chained and shackled long enough.

So when Cillian threatens to burn my family to the ground if I disobey him, I can’t help but hand him the matches.

CILLIAN

Bought…
I wanted revenge so I bought it.

And now Odette is mine.

It’s not her fault her father placed her on the auction block when I was looking for something of his to break. But he handed me his prized possession. And to ruin him—I’ll start with her.

Odette can fight me, she can resist, she can beg. She’ll learn to play her part in this game.

Except one taste of her fire, and all my rules break.

I vowed ‘til death.
And for her, I’ll do anything.

AMAZON

You want to be a brat? Then I’m happy to teach you a lesson.”

This was my first Eva Simmons book and I’ll definitely be reading more of her after this. And while this book didn’t blow me away, it was still a solid read that I enjoyed quite a bit.

This is a mafia romance with an arranged marriage and you already know I’m a sucker for this trope. Add in the complexity of warring mafia families and I’m all over it.

Odette has been raised to be a good girl. As a daughter to a ruthless mafia man, her virginity is the extent of her value. Put on the auction block to be sold to be married to her father’s business contact, she never expects for her family’s enemy to buy her from under everyone’s nose.

Cillian doesn’t care about marriage but he cares about revenge. A revenge that he has been planning for years in retaliation for the death of his father. The daughter of his enemy now locked in as his wife if a step he didn’t factor for, but he’s using it now that he has her. What he didn’t factor is actually falling for his unwilling bride.

The story was a fun, albeit formulaic plot. And while I’ve read it countless times, it still kept me entertained. I have to say I expected a bit more grit and darkness based on the blurb, but this was on the tamer side. If you’re just dipping your toe into the genre, this is a great book to start with. However, for my seasoned dark romance readers out there like me, it may feel a bit on the lighter side. I didn’t mind that so much, but I did find myself skimming through a few parts if I’m being perfectly honest. The story has plenty of sizzle and steam and Cillian is pure fire. I loved him and Odette together. I also loved that even though she was a virgin, she’s no ingenue. And I especially loved her growing fierceness throughout the book.

If you’re looking for a lighter mafia read with plenty of steam, this will hit the spot nicely.



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Review: Brutal Arrangement by Laurelin Paige

March 13, 2024 by · Leave a Comment

BRUTAL ARRANGEMENT
Series: Brutal Billionaires #3
Author: Laurelin Paige
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: March 13, 2024

He can have any woman he wants.
He wants his brother’s.

Alex Sebastian is the billionaire who knows exactly how to re-launch the pop career I walked away from to raise my little sister.

He knows everything, apparently, about what’s good for me. For my image. Even for my lingerie. Everywhere I turn, he’s there, smirking. I cannot stand him.

So why can’t we stop sneaking around?

Maybe it’s his filthy, bossy mouth that does things more wicked than his insults.

Maybe it’s that he does know what’s good for me when he uses it—backstage before my show, during a black tie event, in another man’s living room.

Because maybe deep down, I’ve never been the good girl the world sees, and the dirty, shameful things he makes me do are exactly what I crave.

The problem? Alex isn’t the Sebastian billionaire I’m dating––I’m dating his brother.

Brutal Arrangement is a complete standalone enemies to lovers, forbidden, age-gap, brother’s girl, set in an intriguing world of billionaires, power, and scandal. While it is recommended to read Brutal Billionaire and Brutal Secret first for best reading experience, it isn’t necessary to thoroughly enjoy the story.

AMAZON

 

Alex Sebastian wasn’t just being mean for the kink of it—the guy is legitimately a fucking asshole.

Look, if you know me, then you know I love the mean MMCs. Like super mean. Like I want to hate them for a solid part of the book, mean. What? I have kinks too, mkay? Fictional ones anyhow *smirks*

If you’ve read any book by Laurelin, then you know she’s a master of the mean ones. She has written some of favorite alphaholes to date. But Alex Sebastian? May have just taken my number one spot of her heroes to date. Well, at least until she gives us the redemption arc of the biggest a-hole Sebastian, Alex’s brother Hunter. But I digress.

Alex grabs both sides of my head and holds me in place. “Breathe,” he says softly. “Breathe. Through your nose.” Then he calls out. “She needs five minutes.”
“She has three.” The sound of heels clicking down the hallway follows, and I practically melt in relief.
“We better hurry then because the only way you’re singing that song the way it needs to be sung is with my cum coating your throat.”

Got your attention now, don’t I. Now the premise of this book is deliciously forbidden because Mariah is dating Alex’s older brother. But that relationship is not all as it seems so if you’re thinking it’s a cheating trope, it’s not really. I don’t want to ruin it for you, but trust me when I say you won’t be rooting for Hunter in this book.

Mariah is a rising pop star who is trying to find her image that isn’t cookie cutter and decided on by her team. Desperate to break through, she’s willing to take risks she’s never taken before, including a vixen image that she most definitely connects with. Alex is her boyfriend’s brother and a man that gets under her skin like no other. And when he’s put in charge of her re-launch, it’s not long before the chemistry they’re both trying to suppress bubbles over. And OMG the sexual chemistry between these two is out of this world.

Alex is deliciously mean for the majority of the book. I loved to hate him and boy did I hate him in parts. But then you get a peak into the layers that he hides, and you can’t help but fall for him as hard as Mariah does.

This had so much heat! Alex is bossy, there’s a degradation kink, and all sorts of sexiness. Trust me when I tell you, you probably don’t want to read this book in public. It was a sizzler of a read that I binge read in one sitting and still find myself thinking about. Highly recommend!

With millions of books sold worldwide, Laurelin Paige is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today Bestselling Author. She is a sucker for a good romance and gets giddy anytime there’s kissing, much to the embarrassment of her three daughters. Her husband doesn’t seem to complain, however. 

When she isn’t reading or writing sexy stories, she’s probably singing, watching Killing Eve or Letterkenny, or dreaming of Michael Fassbender. She’s also a proud member of Mensa International though she doesn’t do anything with the organization except use it as material for her bio. 

She is represented by Rebecca Friedman.

Connect w/Laurelin:

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Review: Salt Kiss by Sierra Simone

September 12, 2023 by · Leave a Comment

SALT KISS
Series: Lyonesse  #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance, MMF
Author: Sierra Simone
Release Date: September 12, 2023

Tristan Thomas is lost.

After leaving the Army, the young former soldier is in limbo. Until, that is, he’s hired by Mark Trevena, the owner of Lyonesse—DC’s ultra-secret club—to be Mark’s new bodyguard. He’s drawn into Mark’s dark, seductive world of power and desire, and slowly drawn to Mark himself, even though Mark is everything Tristan knows he shouldn’t want: cruel and wicked and shamelessly amoral.

But protecting Mark isn’t Tristan’s only duty: soon, Mark asks him to guard his soon-to-be bride as she travels home from Ireland on Mark’s yacht. Tristan is jealous—and hurt to learn that the object of his obsession is engaged—but the soldier in him is made to obey orders, and he goes to fetch Mark’s bride for him.

Isolde Laurence is nothing like Tristan expected, however. Young, quiet, and sharp, she’s being pushed into this marriage by her family, and as the two travel back to America, Tristan finds himself fascinated with Isolde and the glimpses he gets of the lonely but determined woman behind her reserve. And the fascination is mutual: one night, while sailing under the cold stars, they share a searing kiss.

From there, it’s a fast fall into the forbidden.

But in Mark Trevena’s world, the fall is only the beginning…

The Lyonesse trilogy is a queer, kinky contemporary retelling of the legend of Tristan and Isolde, set in the same world as the New Camelot series. Readers will not have to read New Camelot to enjoy Lyonesse, although readers who enjoyed New Camelot will find all the things they loved about the trilogy here: MMF ménage, plenty of the angsty forbidden, and a sweeping retelling of a familiar story.

AMAZON 

I want two people. I’m not able to have either of them.

GAWD but I missed Sierra Simone’s writing and this book made me want to go an binge on her backlist all over again because WOW. How this woman is able to combine eroticism with a beautifully framed story that will make you squirm and obsess is beyond me but I hope she never stops.

I’m in love with her fiancé, and I’m hard underneath her.

This book pulled me in from the very first chapter and kept me in a complete chokehold until the end.

Tristan Thomas is impossible not to immediately fall in love with. There’s just something about this lost soul that called to me. He’s fresh off a war and still fighting the memories that wake him up in a cold sweat. When he gets the opportunity to be a bodyguard for Mark Trevena, in spite of his father’s best wishes. Mark is Tristan’s new uncle-in-law, previous CIA, and the enigmatic owner of the ultra secret club, Lyonesse. What Tristan isn’t prepared for is the raw and electric attraction to his new boss.

I need to be his. On my knees, on my back, humiliated, bruised, used. Whatever he wants me to be, I want it too.

Tristan is the innocent lab to Mark’s devious desires. But although he’s inexperienced, he still knows what he wants, and it’s to be used by his new boss.

When I tell you that the chemistry between the two of them is incendiary, I mean I was entirely enthralled with them. Mark’s dark mystery to Tristan’s sweet romantic heart was addictive to read about. But nothing prepares the reader for when Tristan comes face to face with Mark’s fiancé and immediately is drawn to her.

When I tell you I read this book with bated breath, I mean it was impossible to put down. The pacing was flawless, the characters layered and unique, and the romance sizzling. There were moments where the pacing slowed down a bit and I wanted more, but all of that blurred in comparison to how much this story sucked me in. And that cliffhanger? I’m not even sure how I’ll survive the wait until the next book.

Sierra Simone is a USA Today Bestselling former librarian (who spent too much time reading romance novels at the information desk.) She lives with her husband and family in Kansas City.

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