Review: Sins of the Father by Isabel Lucero

December 19, 2025 by · Leave a Comment

SINS OF THE FATHER
Author: Isabel Lucero
Genre: Dark, MM Romance
Release Date: November 17, 2025

He comes to me through a lattice in a confessional booth in my church.

He’s brash, vulgar, and confessing to things that would send him to hell, and yet, I find myself intrigued by the mysterious man.

His sinful words thrill me. His way of life, so different from my own, has me coveting excitement that’s long been missing. The more I’m around him, the more I realize how long I’ve been deprived of so much, and the more my own deviance begins to emerge.

On paper, nothing about the two of us makes sense, and there are many reasons why I should keep my distance. I try to be pious, but if anyone were to find the skeletons in my closet, I’d be excommunicated from the church.

When something from my past reveals itself, I find myself being pulled into a way of life I didn’t think would be in my future, and now I straddle the line between right and wrong. Morality vs necessity.

I’m a priest. He’s a murderer. But we’re both sinners.

AMAZON

You got me on my knees, Father. Should I make a confession?” I nod once. “I’m about to ruin your life.”

The second I saw the blurb for this book, I knew it would be my first Isabel Lucero read. I am a sucker for the forbidden and the dark, and when you throw some mafia in? Stick a fork in me, I’m done!

A priest and a killer for hire? Yes please and gimme!

You can’t have sex, and I want to be the one to fuck you. To make a priest break his vow,”

While I enjoyed the story, I feel like I may have let my expectations also get the best of me. Carlo’s character development never quite clicked for me. The priesthood element felt glossed over and just thrown in for the plot, but never really fully touched. I missed the depth of the internal struggle and that never really happened. I understand that Carlo’s choice of the church wasn’t really a choice, but being in it for as long as he was, I expected at least some internal struggle. But it just felt like a switch was flipped and he no longer thought of it. And then the direction he took at the end, felt super off. I just couldn’t buy into it. I don’t want to ruin the twist, so I won’t spoil it, but I lacked the connection to really believe or buy into the direction of Carlo’s character.

As for Javi, I absolutely loved him and his filthy mouth. I do wish we got a bit more of his backstory development, but it was also just enough to connect me with him.

And while the chemistry was there, I felt like there wasn’t enough to really make the romance element believable. It went too quick too fast, that it just sort of happened, but lacked the development and the angst I’d expect.

If you like a dark mafia romance, this would hit the spot. It probably could have been done without the priesthood element and been just as good if not better. But again, my expectations got away from me with this one. Did I enjoy it? For the most part, yes. I will definitely be reading more from this author.

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Review: Cross The Line by S Massery & SJ Sylvis

December 18, 2025 by · Leave a Comment

CROSS THE LINE
Series: Shadow Valley U #3
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: S. Massery & S.J. Sylvis
Release Date: December 11, 2025

Scarlett Wallace has hated me since the moment we met.
Fine—feelings are mutual.

When she transfers to Shadow Valley U, her dad’s brilliant idea has us living under the same roof as newly minted step-siblings, and she becomes impossible to ignore.
Too stubborn. Too tempting. Too off-limits.

But when I mess up with the wrong crowd, they demand repayment.
and unfortunately, they decide Scarlett is the perfect leverage.

She deserves a fresh start after what happened at her last school…
Instead, she gets me—her stepbrother. 
The guy who can’t stay out of trouble…and can’t stay away from her.

Protecting her means crossing every line.
Wanting her means destroying the rest.


Cross the Line is a spicy new adult romance featuring a fighter and his brand new enemy (AKA step-sister), brought to you by the bestselling authors S. Massery and SJ Sylvis.

AMAZON 

Scarlett is a temptation I can’t afford.

I love and I mean LOVE this series. And while I definitely still enjoyed this book, it just didn’t hit for me like the rest of the series has. I sat on my rating for a few days, trying to decide on a 3 star or 4 stars. I liked it more than a run of the mill 3 star read, but I also didn’t feel it packed the punch I would expect for a solid 4. So halfway we meet with 3 and a half.

Now I love a good step sibling trope, especially when it’s enemies to lovers with a splash of the bully trope. I mean YUM!

You asshole,” she bites out.
“Obviously. But an asshole who can make you come.” I lean over her. “Did you see stars?”
She grimaces. “That’s that, then.”

What’s interesting here is that I read the book in one sitting and it kept me engaged form cover to cover, but it also didn’t fully connect with me. It’s like all the ingredients were there but something was still off. I can’t tell you exactly what but there was just something missing. I loved Cross as a character, but I also felt like I didn’t know him enough. I felt the same with Scarlett. The chemistry was also there, but not enough to feel their true connection beyond surface level attraction.

They hate each other from their first meeting at their parents wedding, but I never really fully understood why. Cross’s severe dislike of Scarlett felt excessive to understand. Like a distaste, sure. But the level of hate he had for her and the way he antagonizes and borderline bullies her for it, not really. It just never clicked.

I think I would have loved the story as a duet or perhaps if it had 100-150 more pages to it. It just felt like we went from beginning to finish without a middle, if that makes sense. They hate each other for so long and I loved the slow burn of it. But then the romance felt sudden and the love element too early. The ending felt a bit rushed and while it was satisfying on the one side, it also wasn’t.

I genuinely don’t even know how to describe my experience with this book. Because I enjoyed it, but when I compare it to the first two books, it just didn’t hit the same. Would I recommend it for fans of this series? Without a doubt. It was a fun, sexy read and who doesn’t love a fighter MMC? Yes please and thank you. I may have let my expectations get the best of me with this one so definitely don’t let my rating deter you. It was a fun ride and definitely one I recommend. I can’t wait for the next in the series!

S. Massery:

S. Massery is a dark romance author who loves injecting a good dose of suspense into her stories. She lives in Western Massachusetts with her dog, Alice.

Before adventuring into the world of writing, she went to college in Boston and held a wide variety of jobs–including working on a dude ranch in Wyoming (a personal highlight). She has a love affair with coffee and chocolate. When S. Massery isn’t writing, she can be found devouring books, playing outside with her dog, or trying to make people smile.

Author Links:

Website: http://smassery.com

Goodreads: http://goodreads.com/smassery

Amazon: http://amazon.com/author/smassery

Facebook: http://facebook.com/authorsmassery

Facebook Group: http://facebook.com/groups/smasserysquad

Instagram: http://instagram.com/authorsmassery

TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@smassery

Bookbub: http://bookbub.com/author/s-massery

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/authorsmassery

S.J. Sylvis:

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

Author Links:

Instagram: @authorsjsylvis

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

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authorsjsylvis

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Review: West Bound by Maggie Rawdon

November 14, 2025 by · Leave a Comment

WEST BOUND
Series: The Quiet Horsemen #3
Author: Maggie Rawdon
Genre: Dark Romance
Release Date: October 24, 2025

When I’m stalked and kidnapped from the convent by my father’s enemy, a cowboy hellbent on revenge, everything changes.

I’m torn from my cloistered life of simplicity, thrown into the center of a bitter fight, and held at his mercy in a small cabin in the middle of the Colorado wilderness.
There could be a silver lining though.

The quiet, bespectacled, heavily tattooed horseman has an offer: If I give him what he wants, he’ll grant the only wish I have.
He might even be the one person capable of delivering it.

It’s a dangerous temptation. Just like the way he looks at me.

If I’m honest, the more I learn about the man underneath all the scars, the more I’m questioning everything I thought I believed. Especially when he makes a confession of his own.

But the cost for our deal? It’s steep.
I’ll have to break every vow I’ve ever taken.

AMAZON

“No time for being shy now, darlin’. You wanted the fucking wolf, so get up here so he can fucking eat you.”

I love a dark romance with a splash of forbidden so obviously the second I read the blurb for this book I was salivating. I mean, talk about your trope candy.

You will definitely want to read this series in order to get the full appreciation for it. While it is a standalone in an interconnected series, the overall family story arc does continue throughout each book. And while the author does a great job giving the overall summary, you’d appreciate it more having read in order.

This story takes place right after the revelation at the end of Dark Horse with the Stocktons being this much closer to the ones responsible for (I don’t want to spoiler it but let’s just say dark things that happened in their family). This revelation sends Levi Stockton undercover as a priest to stalk (read=watch) and kidnap an enemy’s daughter who’s in training to be a nun. Sounds absolutely delicious, right? And it was, for the most part.

Admittedly, if you’re looking for that feeling of forbidden, this book doesn’t quite deliver. I did feel like it barely grazed the surface of what it could have. And while it was great in the first 20%, it kind of started slipping the further I read. I can’t quite put my finger on exactly what was missing, but it did feel like the book was just trying to be too much all at once. The nun/priest thing just felt like a trope thrown in but wasn’t executed in a way that would have me at the edge of my seat.

Zephyrine was a tough FMC for me to click with. She just felt like she was all over the place. And while I loved her in parts, I struggled with her in others.

Now all that aside, the story was fun and entertaining. Perhaps if I was reading for the steam alone, I’d rate it higher. But while I didn’t love it, it was still enjoyable and a book I’d recommend for fans of dark western romance with a touch of forbidden. I’m still invested enough to want to read the next book and super curious how it will all come together. Especially with the preview of the Stockton sister potentially being our next FMC.

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Review: The Christmas Playbook by S. Massery & S.J. Sylvis

November 7, 2025 by · Leave a Comment

HEART OF THORNS
Series: Shadow Valley U
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: S. Massery & S.J. Sylvis
Release Date: November 7, 2025

One cabin. One week. One fake relationship.

Winter break was supposed to be one last trip with my best friends, a little snowboarding, maybe some hot cocoa spiked with something stronger. No drama, no strings.

Then my cabin got double-booked.

Enter Mira Winters—my childhood neighbor and crush. And somehow, the girl managed to get even prettier since the last time I saw her.

She’s got one her family makes mine look like a walk in the park, and she’d rather fake a boyfriend than deal with their constant judgement.

Guess who she asks to step up? Yours truly.

It’s supposed to be for show. Hold her hand. Steal a kiss under the mistletoe. Pretend I’m head over heels for her.
Easy. Right?

Except the more we play this game, the more I want it to be real. And suddenly I’m less worried about the score her family is keeping and more about what happens when the week is over—because for the first time in a long time, I’m all in.

This Christmas, I don’t just want to win the game.
I want the girl.


This spicy, forced proximity holiday romance is a sweet companion novella to the Shadow Valley U series. It can be enjoyed as a standalone.

AMAZON 

Fake dating or not, that kiss was a sucker punch I wasn’t prepared for.

This was a cute, spicy and quick little novella that put me right into the holiday spirit and anxiously anticipating the next full length installment in this series.

Having LOVED Heart of Thorns, I was so excited for more in this world, and of course for more cameos of Briar and Thorne. Now admittedly, this definitely had a much different tone to it than that book. Not in a bad way, but it was definitely different, and it worked with a novella. It was a light hearted read with an MMC who doesn’t take much seriously. Rhys had some golden retriever energy which I enjoyed, even if it I did find his humor and dialogue a bit cringey in parts.

Rhys and Mira get double booked in the same cabin in the funniest run in.

She turns and her gaze snaps to me. Namely, my naked body. Shit, I’m fucking naked! She screams. I scream, too, because that seems to be the appropriate response. “I have a weapon!” she shouts, lunging for her bag. “I don’t!” I yell back, torn between raising my hands in surrender or covering myself. “Get out of my cabin!”

But it’s also a reunion since they used to be neighbors, and had a crush on each other unbeknownst to the other.

The novella definitely had an insta feel to it, which I struggled with slightly. It wasn’t even how fast things came together. I expect that in a novella. But it’s how quickly everything moved and progressed. But I also struggled to really connect to both Rhys and Mira. I can’t exactly put my finger on why, but it just never fully clicked. I enjoyed them, but I just didn’t fully connect with them either.

I also absolutely LOATHED Mira’s family. I swear, they almost ruined the book for me. I wanted Mira to stand up for herself so bad and it frustrated me to no end. I loved when Rhys stuck up for her, but I wanted her to also draw a line. It just never really resolved for me and so it felt slightly unsatisfying at the end.

All in all, it was still a good time with plenty of spice and laughs and hit the spot in my wait for the next full length. So if you’re looking for a spicy holiday novella, this one will hit the spot for you too.

S. Massery:

S. Massery is a dark romance author who loves injecting a good dose of suspense into her stories. She lives in Western Massachusetts with her dog, Alice.

Before adventuring into the world of writing, she went to college in Boston and held a wide variety of jobs–including working on a dude ranch in Wyoming (a personal highlight). She has a love affair with coffee and chocolate. When S. Massery isn’t writing, she can be found devouring books, playing outside with her dog, or trying to make people smile.

Author Links:

Website: http://smassery.com

Goodreads: http://goodreads.com/smassery

Amazon: http://amazon.com/author/smassery

Facebook: http://facebook.com/authorsmassery

Facebook Group: http://facebook.com/groups/smasserysquad

Instagram: http://instagram.com/authorsmassery

TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@smassery

Bookbub: http://bookbub.com/author/s-massery

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/authorsmassery

S.J. Sylvis:

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

Author Links:

Instagram: @authorsjsylvis

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

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authorsjsylvis

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Review: Secret Haven by Catherine Cowles

October 21, 2025 by · Leave a Comment

SECRET HAVEN
Series: Sparrow Falls #6
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Catherine Cowles
Release Date: October 21, 2025

The first time I met Kyler Blackwood, he was a bruised and battered boy with fire in his eyes and nowhere safe to land.

Since the first time he kissed me, he was my best-kept secret, my quiet rebellion, my haven in the storm.

But fate forced us apart, making us pretend to be strangers because it hurt too much to be anything else.

Years later, time hasn’t dulled what we felt, has never erased the way we fit. And when Kye’s past collides with my present, everything shifts.

It’s a choice neither of us expected.
A bond that never really broke.
A line we were never meant to cross.

We tell ourselves it’s only temporary, that the arrangement is just a means to an end. But with each passing day, the lie feels more like the truth. And with each stolen touch, Kye feels more like mine. Because some things were never meant to be pretend.

And some dangers are closer than we ever imagined…

AMAZON 

I’ve been dreaming of you since I was sixteen. You’ve been my one spark of light in the hellish dark. The only good thing in my life.”

Oh the way I love this series. And I was beyond excited to learn this would be Kye and Fallon. Now if you’re looking at my rating and judging already, don’t be. I think most would absolutely adore this book. And don’t get me wrong, I did enjoy this story. But this was also a bit of my own personal tastes that entered the chat and I just couldn’t silence. But I digress.

It’s always been you, and it’ll always be you.”

These two give new meaning to the It’s Always Been You trope, because my whole heart. And while you may think, but they’re foster siblings, how can they? Well silence your non believing ways! Because trust me when I tell you that the second you learn their history, you will whole heartedly understand that they were always meant to be. Their connection started way before they ended up foster siblings and when Kye’s tragic circumstance lands him on the doorstep of Fallon’s loving foster family.

And while years may have passed, their connection never lessened. Fallon has given up hoping that the boy that she never stopped loving would see her the same way. And Kye still feels like he’ll never be good enough for Fallon because his history will always be the barrier between them that he can’t escape. But when Kye’s past comes back in the most unexpected way, Fallon may just be the solution and a marriage of convenience may be the answer. But is it really a convenience only when they both still have feelings?

I know most readers would absolutely love the way that both Fallon and Kye chose to spend their years apart. But I found it to be a bit of a stretch for my personal tastes. I struggle with this, especially on Fallon’s side. But ultimately I did also understand it.

The twist at the end definitely caught me off guard and it’s not often a twist catches me by surprise. I did not see that coming and I’m still not sure how I feel about it. It felt both like connecting a puzzle but also, almost out of left field. I can’t really explain it, but I didn’t fully love it.

Did I enjoy this book? Absolutely! I love Catherine’s blend of small town romance and suspense. And I do love me the pining of the it’s always been you trope. Were there parts of this book that didn’t fully work for me? Yes, but the romance stole the show and it helped smooth the edges of the parts that didn’t quite click for me.

Would I recommend this book? Without a doubt. Fans of this series will adore this story. And if you haven’t read this series yet, I highly recommend that you do yourself a favor and start from the begging. While each book is a standalone, you’d enjoy the connections so much more if you’ve met the other side characters already.

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Review: Unveil By Greer Rivers

October 10, 2025 by · Leave a Comment

UNVEIL
Series: Frayed Satin #1
Author: Greer Rivers
Genre: Dark Romance
Release Date: October 2, 2025

A dark Swan Lake retelling where the ‘villain’ steals the girl, set in a world of secret pacts, feuding families, and primal obsession.

He’s her curse, but she’s his salvation, and he’ll do anything to keep the ones he loves safe.

Rebellious ballerina Luna Bordeaux may be the darling of the New Orleans elite, but she’s destined to dance in her parents’ shadows. Her twenty-second birthday was supposed to be her escape. One last performance, one necessary breakup, then? Freedom.

Except her white knight of a boyfriend just proposed on stage.

And now her masked stalker has crashed the engagement party…

Orion Fury has protected Luna for years, counting the seconds until he can claim his future wife, honoring a vow made between their fathers decades ago. His discipline has only ever slipped once, but his enemy just crossed the line. All bets are off, and a night that began with a party ends in kidnapping and murder.

Now Luna is a stolen bride with blood on her slippers and a target on her back, trapped in the wilderness with the man who hunted her. But Orion isn’t the only predator in these woods, and the men coming for her will do anything to stop the Fury-Bordeaux alliance.

Her villain may be the one person she’s determined to hate, but is he the only one dangerous enough to keep her alive?

Tropes:
Arranged marriage
Masked stalker
Primal play
Touch her and die
Hidden identity
Stolen bride
Villain gets the girl

Unveil is Book 1 of the Frayed Satin Series, a Tattered Curtain second-generation legacy series of interconnected standalones reimagining classic ballets with dark and twisty HEAs. Each series can be enjoyed separately. TWs will be available in the front of the book.

AMAZON

“You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to do this.”
My voice is hoarse. “Do what?”
His thumbs lift my chin, pressing my jaw as a low growl rumbles from his chest. “Make you mine.”

*kicks feet giddily*

Now if there’s one thing about me, it’s that I love an obsessed MMC. And Orion Fury is the unhinged kid of obsessed that I absolutely DEVOURED in this book.

Now if you haven’t yet read Greer’s Tattered Curtain series, I highly recommend you start with that first. You’ll have a much easier time wrapping your head around the history of these characters since Frayed Satin is the next generation spinoff.

Our FMC, Luna, is the daughter of none other than Sol from Phantom. She’s a talented ballerina who’s eager to break out on her own but has the looming years long rivalry and a potential marriage pact that’s looming over her head on the day she turns 22. She’s dating a guy who barely stirs anything more than friendship in her but when he proposes, the man who has been stalking her for years finally makes him move. After all, Luna is promised to be his wife and Orion Fury will stop at nothing to both have her and protect her with his life. Especially when a dangerous rivalry between families lands her in the crosshairs of the Wildes.

The story was fast paced and the premise of it super interesting. Unfortunately, I struggled to really connect to both Luna and Orion. And while they did have chemistry, I still struggled to connect to them as a couple. Orion was obsessed from the very beginning and Luna took a minute to get there. But there was just something missing for me to fully connect with them as a couple. I can’t really put my finger on what it was exactly. Perhaps having a snippet of how Orion watched her through the years may have helped develop that bond for me.

The other quibble I had with the story was the part in the woods. I don’t want to spoil it, but it felt very out of left field and I struggled to understand why it had to happen that way and if it really was necessary for the plot.

I had fun reading it, but it just didn’t grab me by the throat the way the Tattered Curtain books did. It did suck me into the series and I’ll definitely be reading the rest of the books. I still enjoyed this one and would recommend for those who enjoy a dark romance with an obsessive and possessive FMC. I also really loved the mental health representation and loved the way it was written into the story. 

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Review: Martyr by S. Massery

September 18, 2025 by · Leave a Comment

MARTYR
Series: Sterling Falls Rogues #3
Genre: Dark Romance
Author: S. Massery 
Release Date: September 18, 2025

I thought surviving Sterling Falls was the worst of it.
I was wrong.

Saint doesn’t remember the last two years—doesn’t remember the war we fought, the people we lost, or the way we burned for each other. To him, I’m a stranger. To me, he’s the man I can’t let go of, even if it feels like starting over with a ghost.

Reese shows up on the island, raw with regret and determined to prove he’s changed.
Kade follows, carrying secrets I’m not sure I want to uncover.

We’re trapped together in a place meant to heal but built to break us. And beyond the waves of Isle of Paradise, Ouranos is tightening his grip on Sterling Falls, tearing the city I love apart piece by piece.

If we can’t put our past betrayals aside and fight as one, we’ll lose more than the town we swore to protect.
We’ll lose each other.

And this time, there won’t be a second chance.

—
Nemesis and Warrior must be read prior for continuity.

AMAZON 

Don’t go thinking we aren’t inevitable, babe.” Her eyelashes flutter, and her dark-brown eyes bore into mine. “Even with all the guilt trying to crush you from the inside out.”

Phew, what a ride! This book had me on the edge of my seat the entire time, binge reading it well into the night. S Massery sure knows how to hook readers and this series had me in chokehold.

After the jaw dropping cliffhanger in book two, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this one. I was especially excited to hear that this will also be the conclusion and instead of a 4 book series will now be a trilogy. Having finished it, I have mixed feelings about it not having the fourth book.

Artemis continued to prove in this book why she’s one of my favorite S Massery FMCs. And Reese, Saint, and Kade were each amazing in their own right. The story was an absolute powerhouse with so many moving pieces, which I will also say I appreciate a whole lot more having read the Sterling Falls series.

And while I loved the story, I also couldn’t help but feel like it left me wanting more. The conclusion, though fitting, also felt a bit anticlimactic. I supposed with the villain being as big as he was, it just felt something was missing still. I fully appreciate the full circle moment of it all, but it still just felt sudden and quick. My other quibble is that I wish we spent more time on the poly element of the relationship between Tem and her men. While it felt natural, it also felt very sudden and slightly rushed, particularly the Kade and Saint part. I wanted more time with them, I wanted to feel the feelings and the chemistry. We got a great story, but I suppose I just wanted more on the relationship development. I would love to see a bonus epilogue and spend more time with these characters. I can understand why S Massery didn’t do a 4th book, but I also felt like this one could have been a touch longer.

Did I still enjoy it? Absolutely. It’s a series that I cannot recommend enough and if you love dark why choose, it’s a must read. I’d also be lying if I didn’t share that I was greedy for just a little bit more.

But maybe S Massery will take pity on us and give us a bonus epilogue in the future.

S. Massery:

S. Massery is a dark romance author who loves injecting a good dose of suspense into her stories. She lives in Western Massachusetts with her dog, Alice.

Before adventuring into the world of writing, she went to college in Boston and held a wide variety of jobs–including working on a dude ranch in Wyoming (a personal highlight). She has a love affair with coffee and chocolate. When S. Massery isn’t writing, she can be found devouring books, playing outside with her dog, or trying to make people smile.

Author Links:

Website: http://smassery.com

Goodreads: http://goodreads.com/smassery

Amazon: http://amazon.com/author/smassery

Facebook: http://facebook.com/authorsmassery

Facebook Group: http://facebook.com/groups/smasserysquad

Instagram: http://instagram.com/authorsmassery

TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@smassery

Bookbub: http://bookbub.com/author/s-massery

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/authorsmassery

 

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Review: Red Ruin by Lola Rock

July 22, 2025 by · Leave a Comment

RED RUIN
Series: Savage Sentinels #1
Genre: Guideverse Romance
Author: Lola Rock
Release Date: July 22, 2025

Instead of sticking around to watch my suddenly EX fiancé adore the Guide he replaced me with, I do the totally sane, normal thing and run away to war.

The Sentinels battling monster hordes desperately need my power. I just want to find a place to belong as something other than a tool.

When I report for duty, ready to fight on my own terms, I find my new squad in shambles.

Its strongest warriors are so poisoned by their own magic, they’re not just insane—they’re barely hanging on to their humanity.

If I can’t tame the rampaging vampire and the one-horned devil, I won’t have to wait for my enemies to ruin me.

Vhex and Remy will grin with their fangs as they ruin what’s left of my soul.

♥ Medium
♥ High (spicy MFM scenes, no sword-crossing)
♥ NOT an omegaverse
♥ frequent cursing, monster combat, magic system entrenched with sexual healing & possessive-but-useless MLs who hate each other (forever). Check the author’s site for the full list of tags, tropes, and warnings

AMAZON

What’s your name, Sentinel?”
“I’m Vhex.” He shoots me a sharp, sweet smile- all razor blades in cotton candy. “You call me husband.”

Having loved Lola’s Omegaverse series, I was super excited for something new and different. I’ve never read Guideverse so I had no idea what to expect when I started this one. And frankly, I’m still not sure how to describe it. It was a fun and sexy romp but it also took me a minute to wrap my head around all the things.

Iris is a “guide” who is essentially like a healer. She gets assigned Sentinels, who are essentially warriors who lose their humanity when they fight and only a guide can heal them. Iris is unique in being an 80% match to all Sentinels, which also makes it difficult to find her imprint match. And after she gets rejected by her fiancé, she’s given up hope on imprinting altogether. She asks for a reassignment to escape her constant reminders of her ex, and lands in a middle of a war zone with her new squad. There she meets two completely feral Sentinels; the devilish Vhex, and the vampire Remy. Both are out of their mind feral and unhinged in every sense of the word. Obviously I loved them. Though I have to say that Vhex was extra special to me with his sweet and mushy ways of calling himself husband. Remy is out of his mind even more, to the point of memory loss and when he’s on a rampage would even forget Iris’s name.

Now I have to say if you like the insta lust vibes, you’d love this book. I don’t tend to favor that, so the instant connection and jump into spice wasn’t my favorite. I didn’t hate it, but I felt like the spice took over the world building and story. Like the first 60% of the book felt entirely focused on the spice. Whereas I wanted to better understand the world and magic system and get to know the characters more. I felt like I started to lose that a bit. It’s interesting since a lot of the healing is sexual, so it also felt cold and mechanical in parts. I’m not sure how to describe it really. It was very hot, yes. But because the characters haven’t developed their bond yet and the instant connection/chemistry, it felt more like duty than anything else.

The story itself took a bit for me to finish and felt a touch too long. But the second I hit the 70% mark, it really took off and I began to enjoy it a whole lot more.

While it took me a bit to get into, I was fully invested at the end and will definitely be continuing this story. If you like monster smut, guideverse, feral and unhinged MMCs, MFM action, and all the spice, then you definitely want to check this one out.

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Review: Heartless Game by Jo Brenner

May 13, 2025 by · Leave a Comment

HEARTLESS GAME
Series: Kings of Reina University #2
Author: Jo Brennar
Genre: Dark Romance
Release Date: April 27, 2025

The hottest hockey player at Reina U has dark plans for me.

Everyone on campus loves Isaac Jones. The gorgeous, dimple-cheeked charmer can do no wrong in the public’s eyes.

But they don’t know what I do.

I know the truth about his violent past. Exposing his real identity and his family’s crimes won’t just help me graduate with a journalism degree—it will save my mother’s life.

When Isaac discovers I’m writing an article that will ruin his hockey dreams and destroy his family, he’ll do anything to bury it—unleashing his deepest, darkest, most depraved desires on me.

Twisted battles in the locker room.
Wickedness on the ice.
Cruelty to keep my mouth shut.

The worst part? I’m starting to fall for him, even as I fight back.

And I’m not sure who will win our heartless game.

Heartless Game is a standalone romance in the Kings of Reina University series, and can be read independently of the others. It contains several dark themes that some readers may be sensitive to. For more information, please visit the author’s website at jobrenner dot com.

AMAZON

When I was done with Tovah Lewis, she’d be nothing more than a broken shell. And I’d be free, no longer haunted by her face, her voice, her goddamned scent.


After first discovering Jo Brenner with Brutal Game, I was itching to get my hands on Isaac and Tovah’s book. If you know me then you know that I love a spicy dark romance full of trigger warnings and a walking red flag of an MMC. And this certainly delivered on that. Isaac may seem like the more down to earth guy of the bunch compared to Jack, but boy did he give Jack a run for his money. This man was toxic with a capital T, jealous, possessive, and with a penchant for the kinky stuff. So of course I loved him.

Tovah, while I enjoyed her character, never fully clicked for me. I can’t put my finger on what it was exactly, but she frustrated me more often than not. And while I loved that she gave as good as she got, I also found that she gave in too easily to Isaac at times where I wanted her to make him crawl for some of the stunts that he pulls. One in particular was so bad that I fully expected Tovah to make him GROVEL. And while she did push back, it wasn’t as much as I would have expected.

The story itself was suspenseful and I loved the mysterious connection that these two share, unbeknownst to Isaac. You spend a good chunk of the book waiting for that other shoe to drop, because you just know that it will be GOOD. There were parts of the writing that did feel repetitive at times. I lost track for the amount of times that Isaac’s inner monster is referenced. And while the depth of his darkness was written well, the receptiveness of the “monster” just felt unnecessary.

As someone that enjoys a good push and pull, I didn’t mind Isaac’s hot and cold behavior towards Tovah. Though I will say that it also felt a bit much with the three times it happened. I felt that two would have more than sufficed. But as it is, I can’t say I minded it too much because it was still entertaining.

The spice was spicing and as a reader that thoroughly enjoys dub con in books, this one hit all the spots. I loved Isaac’s brand of psycho. These two were as toxic as they get, and this reader devoured it greedily. The story did begin to drag a bit towards the end, but I still devoured it in two days.

If you’re looking for a deliciously spicy dark hockey romance, you need to check this series out. Can’t wait for the next installment!

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Review: Broken by Serena Akeroyd

August 13, 2024 by · Leave a Comment

BROKEN
Genre: Forbidden Romance
Author: Serena Aneroid
Release Date: August 1, 2024

Forgive me, Father, for I am undeserving when blood soaks these hands that hold Your gift to me.

I am broken and find solace in the darkness.

She is pure and basks in the light.

Did You send her to be my shelter?

I made a vow of celibacy.

She remained untouched.

Did You create her for me?

I am a sin eater, a purger of evil.

She is an angel, a guardian of good.

Did You know she would be my savior?

Thank You, Father, for she is the one sin I will willfully commit.

Broken is a forbidden, dark romance and a complete standalone.

AMAZON

He is my purpose. My reason. This goes beyond being soul mates. This is divine intervention.

If there is one thing I can tell you, it’s that Serena Akeroyd is an immaculate story teller. She has a way with her words that manages to spin you into the story and suck you into the characters. And this book was a true testament of her craft. It’s a polarizing type of story where you definitely want to read and heed the trigger warnings for. I wouldn’t call it dark, per se, but it definitely has dark and heavy undertones and subject matter.

It’s a painfully beautiful story of soulmates and healing, and it didn’t take me long to be wrapped up with these characters. Now admittedly, that is also the part that worked against me too. While I loved the intention behind it, I also found the romance to be almost too sudden. But do take my review with a grain of salt because I’m also a reader that isn’t a big fan when the FMC is the main pursuer in an almost mindless and aggressive way, and try as I might to look past it, it did impact my reading enjoyment.

I loved the different elements of the book, but for some reason the romance just didn’t click for me. I liked it, but I just didn’t love it like I usually do with Serena’s characters. I just couldn’t connect with either one of them on a level I needed to really click with the story.

But having said that, I still enjoyed the book. It was incredibly unique and while it covered some dark and disturbing subjects, the way that Serena wrote it was masterful. I wish I clicked with the romance more, but even then, it was still an enjoyable read that I would recommend for anyone looking for something different and unique.

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