Review: Break Up With Him, For Me by Whitney G.

June 19, 2021 by · Leave a Comment

BREAK UP WITH HIM, FOR ME
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Whitney G.
Release Date: May 31, 2021

Penelope, I know that it’s three o’clock in the morning, but I have to get this off my chest.

I can’t give you any more advice on landing this other guy, can’t tell you another “sexy” thing that you should do, or suggest a new set of filthy words that you should text him late at night.

As your best friend, I’ve reached my limit, and I can honestly say that he doesn’t deserve you.

I’m not saying all of this because I’m f-cking jealous, or because he had the audacity to say that he makes more money than me. (I still can’t find his name on the Forbes 500 list, and I know damn well that he’s renting that Ferrari, but that’s a story for a different day.)

He’s not who you think he is, and the better man has always been right in front of you…

You have every reason to never give me a chance since you know me better than anyone, and you agree with all the tabloids calling me “The Cocky King of New York,” and the “Untamed Playboy of Manhattan.” But I honestly believe that you’re better off with someone else, and I need you to see.

I’m not asking for too much…I just want you to break up with him, for me.

AMAZON

I have no idea what ‘this’ is, Hayden. When exactly would you need my help?”
“Tomorrow and every morning this week,” I said. “We ride at dawn.”
Silence. “Can you be honest with me?” He let out a long breath. “Is it cocaine or heroin?”

I’ve been desperately waiting for a full length romance from Whit for what feels like forever. As much as I love her steamy novellas, I wanted a bigger hit of her brand of banter and alphas. And I definitely got it with this book.

This was a slow burn, enemies to friends to lovers romance filled with hilarious banter that I couldn’t get enough of. Hayden is Penelope’s older brother’s best friend. When Pen’s parents pass and her brother chases his career dreams of being an MMA brother, Hayden becomes a bit of Penelope’s keeper. Unwittingly they shift from bantering enemies to unlikely friends. Hayden becoming almost like a crutch to Penelope at times. He’s becomes her relationship guru as she stumbles from one disastrous “relationship” to another.

Admittedly, I had a tough time connecting with Pen’s character. It feels like she barely has any growth from 17 to early twenties and remains the bumbling ingenue even boyfriend #15 later. It was frustrating to read. She used Hayden like a crutch more than a friend at times, and that was even more frustrating.

Hayden is the type of alpha I’ve come to crave from Whit. He’s a rich manwh*re whose sudden feelings for his best friend’s younger sister hits him like a two by four. I loved the build up between them, though I could have done with a bit less flashbacks. Those parts dragged a bit for me and were a bit of same old same old. I didn’t really care to know about any more breakups beyond the first two. I also didn’t care for the side plot with Simon. The way that it all resolved was odd and…unsatisfying. But my main quibble was Pen’s brother. I HATED him. SO HARD. I needed him to redeem himself at the end. Grovel. Beg for forgiveness. ANYTHING. But it was mostly glazed over.

All that aside, I did still enjoy this quite a bit. It was steamy and fun and full of banter. I don’t think I could dislike a Whitney G book. Not really. There’s just something about her books that no matter if I have quibbles or not, they’ll still leave me with a smile on my face. And this one certainly did the trick.

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Review: Smoke & Mirrors by Skye Jordan

June 16, 2021 by · Leave a Comment

SMOKE & MIRRORS
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: Forged In Fire #2
Author: Skye Jordan
Release Date: May  31,  2021

Another sizzling firefighter romance from New York Times bestselling author Skye Jordan.

I’m taking a break from women. I’ve been lied to once too often, and I’m over it.


Then Isabel, my best friend’s little sister, blows into town without notice, bringing the past with her. Her secret past.

From the moment she crashes poker night and hustles the whole firehouse out of a couple hundred bucks, I know she’s not telling the truth about why she’s here.

Lies have influenced my entire life.

They’ve also torn my world apart too many times already.

But by the time the truth comes out, she’s tangled around my heart like barbed wire, and there’s no way out unscathed.

AMAZON 


I love me a sizzling firefighter romance and this one hit the spot just right.

Logan is the quintessential nice guy but he’s far from perfect. Years ago he was Isabel’s brother’s best friend and for one night they were something else entirely. But then Isabel left to chase her dreams and left everything behind. Their ties were tight back then. Isabel was also best friends with Logan’s younger sister. Until she left town and everyone else behind.

Now she’s back and she’s hiding something, including the illusion of her perfect life which took a turn somewhere while chasing her dreams in the concrete jungle of New York. Her stopover in the small town is temporary but it doesn’t take long for the chemistry that always brewed between her and Logan to rear its head and for her to start falling in love with the town and the new citizens that she didn’t know when she left as a teen.

While I totally understood Isabel’s issues from her past and everything she’s dealing with now, I have to say Logan frustrated me. Yes he has a history himself but his hangups were a bit extreme at times for what they were in my opinion. I was also beyond frustrated with Tucker and his immaturity though I am looking forward to seeing his inevitable fall an the playboy get his.

This was a sweet and steamy romance. While I loved the secondary characters, two in particular stole the show; the cussing parrot and the cute and trouble making puppy. Can’t wait for the next one in the series!

 

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Review: Blame It on the Tequila by Fiona Cole

May 27, 2021 by · Leave a Comment

BLAME IT ON THE TEQUILA
Series: Blame It On The Alcohol #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Fiona Cole
Release Date: May 27, 2020

The world loves him and his music, but I loved him first. 

It started on a dance floor after too much tequila and ended with looking into the handsome face I never thought I’d see again. In-person, at least.

I saw his face all the time on magazine covers.

To the world, he’s Parker Callahan- famous rockstar.

To me, he was the boy I loved, the stepbrother who left me behind to follow his dreams.

After our tequila-fueled encounter, he wants me back but that’s not a road I’m ready to walk down again. He broke my heart once, and even five years later, I’m not sure I could handle another blow.

When a once-in-a-lifetime offer comes my way, even my broken heart isn’t enough for me to be able to turn it down. I agree to join the band’s tour and help Parker write his next album–but this time I’m not falling in love.

This time I’ll walk away.

If there is one thing life has taught me, it’s that love never goes to plan–especially when Parker is involved. 

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AMAZON

I’d never had the all-consuming urge to go, go, go until we were one. I’d never had the urge to crawl inside someone and never come out. Until him

I’m a sucker for a second chance romance. Something about the feels and angst of it just does it for me. Add a rockstar into the mix, and I’m so sold!

This one had a bit of a mystery element to it that hooked me from the very first page. The story is told in alternating past and present, with the majority of the story taking place in the present.

Parker and Nova first met as teens. They had an immediate chemistry and pull that both of them tried desperately to avoid because they were step siblings. Their mutual love of music brought them together, but then seemed to ultimately tear them apart. Parker and Nova fell hard and fast, until they fell apart and everything changed.

Years later, Nova is still not quite over Parker, but she’s moved on and determined not to think about that part of her life again. But then a night of tequila and a bit of fate bring them into each other’s orbits again.

Parker is determined not to let Nova walk away this time, and Nova is just as determined to run from all of it. She’s pretty hell bent on avoiding Parker, until fate intervenes once more and puts them as close to each other as possible.

While I enjoyed the story, I didn’t love it as much as I did the first book. I think part of it stems from my frustration with Nova and her inability to tackle anything head on. She runs from any confrontation and while I understood it at the very end when the big part of the mystery gets revealed, it was no less frustrating. Ultimately, I can’t place my finger on exactly what it was or why, but it was just missing a little something for me. That spark just wasn’t there. I liked the couple and the romance, but I wasn’t riveted to the pages. Would I recommend it? Absolutely. It was a fun and engaging read. It just won’t be anything I’d come back to.

Fiona Cole is a military wife and a stay at home mom with degrees in biology and chemistry. As much as she loved science, she decided to postpone her career to stay at home with her two little girls, and immersed herself in the world of books until finally deciding to write her own.

 Connect with Fiona

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Review: Ruthless Creatures by J.T. Geissinger

February 19, 2021 by · Leave a Comment

RUTHLESS CREATURES
Series: Queens & Monsters #1
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance, Suspense
Author: J.T. Geissinger
Release Date: February 19, 2021

An explosive new novel of love, lies, and obsession from bestselling author J.T. Geissinger

Five years ago, my fiancé disappeared. Left me with a wedding dress I’d never wear. Left me with the kind of scars that can’t be healed. The man I built my future on vanished like a ghost. All that remained were my broken heart and unanswered questions.

Until a mysterious stranger arrives in town.

Tall, dark, and dangerous, Kage is as full of secrets as he is sex appeal. Though I know he’s hiding something, I’m drawn to him like a moth to flame.

The intensity of our connection is addictive, unlike anything I’ve ever felt before. Heat crackles between us with every look, desire flares into passion, and I fall hard, helpless to resist.

But when I discover how he’s tied to the darkness in my past, I learn what happens when you fly recklessly into fire:

You get burned.

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AMAZON | AMAZON PAPERBACK

People say time heals all wounds, but those people are assholes. Wounds like mine don’t heal. I’ve just learned to control the bleeding.

I have an obsession with JT Geissinger’s words. The woman has created some of my absolute favorite alphas and some of my favorite heroines. She’s the queen of banter and uber alphas. And I love me some uber alphas.

Ruthless Creatures is the start of her brand new Queens & Monsters series and I was so here for it. Mafia bad boys meet their match with fierce heroines? Yes please and thank you!

Let’s start with what I loved. Nat and Sloane. I am a sucker for a sassy and fiercely loyal BFF dynamic, and these two had it in spades. I couldn’t get enough of them.

He said that?”
“Verbatim.”
“Holy shit.”
“That was pretty much my reaction, too.”
Sloane pauses. “And you didn’t throw yourself to your knees, rip open his zipper, and latch onto him like a sucker fish?”
Rolling my eyes, I sigh. “And they say romance is dead.”

I lived for glimpses of Sloane in all her sassy, maneater glory. I love a female that owns her sexuality and is not one to settle. I can’t wait to meet the man to bring her to her knees. But I digress.

Nat met the love of her life, only for him to disappear on their wedding day. Five years later, she’s still moving on from the loss. The worst of it is the not knowing what happened to him and whether he’s alive or dead.

She’s been living in limbo all these years, keeping her heart in check, and not able to commit to any man. Until a mysterious stranger with an aura of danger changes everything.

Kage was absolutely DELICIOUS. When I tell you that the man has presence, I mean he has PRESENSE. He practically oozes sexuality and badass. But he’s also hiding something dark and dangerous with Nat in the front and center of it. He tries to deny their chemistry for as long as he can (which wasn’t that long) until his need for her turns desperate. Now I’m not one for the insta-love vibe, but it actually worked for me here.

What kept this from being a five star were a few things. One, while the sex was hot, there was just too much of it. I found myself skimming sex scenes, and when I admit to doing this, you know it’s a lot. This was a lot more erotic than what I’m used to from JT’s other books. And don’t get me wrong, I’m a girl that loves a good sex scene. But when it begins to detract from the plot, it’s too much. I wanted more character development. I wanted more meat to the story. I felt like the focus was on the sexy times rather than the seriously intriguing plot. There’s so much to unpack here with the rival mafia families, and I would have loved to spend more time with that. As it was, I found the primary focus to be on the sex. The other, because the focus was primarily on the plot, the characters were more forgettable then what I’m used to from this author as well. I won’t find myself going back for a re-read of this one.

Now that’s not to say I didn’t enjoy it, because I really did. I finished it in one sitting. Did I love it? No. But I did like it quite a bit. I’m complete hooked on the series, and the set up for the next book? I’m drooling.

If you’re looking for a super spicy book with a bad boy, mafia, suspense, and the hottest dirty talk, you need to check this one out.


J.T. Geissinger is a bestselling author of emotionally charged romance and women’s fiction. Ranging from funny, feisty rom coms to intense, edgy suspense, her books have sold more than one million copies and been translated into several languages.

She is the recipient of the Prism Award for Best First Book, the Golden Quill Award for Best Paranormal/Urban Fantasy, and is a two-time finalist for the RITA® Award from the Romance Writers of America®. She has also been a finalist in the Booksellers’ Best, National Readers’ Choice, and Daphne du Maurier Awards.

Her first novel was published in 2012. Since then she’s written eighteen more novels. When she’s not writing, she’s reading, drinking wine, surfing the internet, and daydreaming about all the things she’s going to be when she grows up. She lives near the beach in Los Angeles with her husband and deaf/demented rescue kitty, Ginger.

Connect with J.T. Geissinger

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Review: Hard to Score by K. Bromberg

February 16, 2021 by ·

HARD TO SCORE
Series: Play Hard #3
Genre: Contemporary, Sports Romance
Author: K. Bromberg
Release Date: February 16 2020

I’ve signed numerous players to my family’s agency—I assumed winning over my next client would be just as easy.

The last thing I expected was to run into the boy who took my first kiss and broke my heart: only now Drew Bowman is all grown up.

Sexy. Scandal-tainted. Second-string. The crush I never got over.

I tell myself work is the reason I can’t get him out of my head. I tell him his talent far outweighs his position, and I know I can help. I lie and lie, because admitting that I want a second chance at my first love is impossible.

Some lines cannot be crossed, and ours was drawn in the sand years ago.

***

I’m supposed to hate her.

I’ve been told so time and again for ten years – her father ruined our family, smeared my name before my career even began.

But that’s not what I’m feeling now.

Brexton Kincade just strode out of my memories and onto my field.

Driven. Determined. Grown up. The Capulet to my Montague.

Being with her would be an unforgivable sin against my father, but I can’t resist the pull between us. Even if it means hiding what we have. Even if it means confronting the secrets I’ve always feared were lies.

AMAZON | iBOOKS | NOOK | KOBO | GOOGLE PLAY

He tastes of anger and longing, and every ounce of pent-up frustration I feel toward him I sense it back from him.

I’ve been devouring this series one book at a time and the addiction stays strong. There’s just something about the premise to this series that just does it for me. The sisterly bond, the female sports agents, each one dealing with their own internal struggles on their road to their HEA.

Now don’t let my rating detract from anything here, because this was all personal tastes at play. But I’ll get to that in a second.

Brexton and Drew practically grew up together. And while Brex had the biggest crush on Drew when they were teens, she never thought he saw her as anything more than a friend. The friend zone was hard. Years later, she’s sent on a mission to steal a starring QB from a sports agent they all love to hate, and stumbles upon the immensely talented backup QB that also happens to be her childhood crush.

Drew lives and breathes football. It’s his biggest love and all he’s ever wanted to do. but most of his adult life has been spent living in the shadow of his father’s major scandal. There’s some bad blood between Drew and Brex’s families, that adds a new layer of complexity to their renewed chemistry.

But enough about the summary, let’s talk about the book. If you’re a fan of sweet but emotional friends to lovers romance, you’ll love this. I’m a reader that prefers a little less sweet and a lot more turmoil and angst, so admittedly I did find myself a little bored in parts. There’s still turmoil, but it’s mostly internal with Drew working through his family secrets and scandal. There’s plenty of complex layers, emotion, and steam to keep you turning the pages. We also finally see a human side to Finn that I’ve been waiting to see for three books now and was so happy to get here. I can’t wait for the next installment!


New York Times Bestselling author K. Bromberg writes contemporary romance novels that contain a mixture of sweet, emotional, a whole lot of sexy, and a little bit of real. She likes to write strong heroines and damaged heroes who we love to hate but can’t help to love.

A mom of three, she plots her novels in between school runs and soccer practices, more often than not with her laptop in tow and her mind scattered in too many different directions.

Since publishing her first book on a whim in 2013, Kristy has sold over one and a half million copies of her books across eighteen different countries and has landed on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestsellers lists over thirty times. Her Driven trilogy (Driven, Fueled, and Crashed) is currently being adapted for film by the streaming platform, Passionflix, with the first movie (Driven) out now.

With her imagination always in overdrive, she is currently scheming, plotting, and swooning over her latest hero. You can find out more about him or chat with Kristy on any of her social media accounts.

Connect with K. Bromberg:

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Review: Filthy Rich Prince by Lynn Raye Harris

January 27, 2021 by ·

FILTHY RICH PRINCE
Series: Filthy Rich Billionaires #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Lynn Raye Harris
Release Date: January 26, 2020

He’s rich, ruthless, and royal. He will make her his wife…

Single mother Lily Morgan knows what it’s like to struggle. Not a day goes by that she doesn’t work hard to survive. But when she’s thrown in jail in a foreign country, she has no idea she’s about to come face to face with the prince who took her virginity and left her pregnant two years ago.

Nico Cavelli might’ve released Lily from his dungeon, but he’s not letting her go. She stole his son and heir, and he can’t forgive that. He’ll make her his princess – and he’ll make her pay for keeping his child a secret.

What he will never do is show her any mercy.

Or fall in love with her…

NOTE: This is a Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella romance with an alphahole hero who is transformed by love in the end. If you don’t like angsty reads with dramatic conflict, best keep scrolling! There will be some bad decisions. There will be bossiness. And there will be groveling by the end. You were warned.

*This book originally published by Harlequin as Cavelli’s Lost Heir. It has been revised and expanded with new scenes and characters. If you read the original and enjoyed it, you don’t need to purchase this one. But if you want an expanded story, then this is the book for you. And if you’ve never read it, then you definitely don’t want to miss it! Rich and royal, reunion, forced marriage, secret baby romance!

AMAZON

I love Lynn’s military heroes and sinfully hot romantic suspense. But when I saw the blurb to this book, I’m pretty sure I may have salivated a little. It’s a bit of a change of pace to what I’m used to from her, but no less satisfying. This was such a fun harlequin-y type of romance that hit the spot from beginning to finish.

Reeling from a devastating loss that’s still fresh, Nico Cavelli is now the crown prince but with a reputation of a hellion. He’s the tabloid’s bad boy, always with a different woman and never with any complicated entanglements. But then a blast from his past ends up in his prison dungeon and with a surprise to boot.

Now I’m not usually a fan of the surprise baby trope. Especially if there’s been some time that’s passed without the father knowing. Usually this is because I simply don’t buy the reason that the child was kept a secret and it drives me nuts and makes me resent the heroine. This was not the case here. I completely understood why Lily kept her son a secret. Lily is not usually the type of heroine that I gravitate towards, but she really grew on me here. She’s a little innocent and a touch naive, but she’s no less fierce.

Nico is a ruthless a-hole for the majority of the book and I was so here for it. I was especially here for his ultimate fall. And is there anything more satisfying than the bad boy falling for the good girl? I think not.

This was a fun little book with plenty of feels and a splash of angst. I did wish for a slightly bigger grovel, but you can’t have it all. This was a guilty pleasure sort of read that you certainly need to suspend your disbelief for but will leave a smile on your face when you’re done. I really enjoyed it.

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Review: Abel by Katee Robert

January 7, 2021 by · Leave a Comment

ABEL
Series: Sabine Valley #1
Genre: Erotic Romance, Menage, MMF
Author: Katee Robert
Release Date: January 5, 2020

Seven Brothers. Seven Brides. A revenge seven years in the making.

Eight years ago, my family was betrayed by those closest to us.

Now we’re back in Sabine Valley, staging our return during the feast of Lammas, where I step into the ring and ensure we’re given what we’re owed. Who we’re owed.

Our enemies send their seven best warriors against me.

With each victory, I win a Bride for each of my brothers.

And for me? I’m saving the best for last.

My Bride is Harlow, the woman claimed by the man I used to call friend—the one responsible for our exile. Eli.

And if Eli has a problem with it? Well, then I’ll take him as my Bride, too. All the better to enact my revenge…and bring Sabine Valley to its knees.

The Paine brothers are back, and we’re here to stay.

AMAZON

They look like mine.

Oh.
My.
OVARIES.

Dis. Book.
If you’re looking for some trope candy, how about a sinfully sexy mix of revenge, marriage for convenience, and enemies to lovers? And did I mention it’s an MMF? Because GAH.

The second I saw Katee post about this series, I was instantly drooling. 7 Brothers set for revenge after their faction betrayed them. A little pagan, a little mystery, a lot of revenge and sexy times to be had. Now admittedly, I could have used a little more background on the universe here. Perhaps a little more development on the brothers past? I was confused on all the different factions at first and what differentiates a mystic from a radar? But I ultimately began to get the gist of it. I also got a little confused trying to wrap my mind around all of the characters, because there’s a bit of a data dump with this.

The romance was SO good. It was insanely hot with just the right touch of angsty feels and I was so here for it. The push and pull between these three was delicious. Hawlow and Eli have the angst of a relationship that’s falling apart because Eli just doesn’t see Harlow for who she really is. Then there’s the hate lust between Eli and Abel who used to be best friends until Eli’s father murdered Abel’s father and ran the brothers out. Abel is set on revenge, even if it means keeping his enemies close. When he wins his battle, not only does he choose Harlow as a Bride, but Eli as well. To say that these three have some unresolved issues is an understatement. But I loved the development of their relationship.

While I felt like we got a lot of development for Eli and Abel, it was a little lacking with Harlow. We hear about her difficult past, we never learn what it was. Perhaps that’s going to be revealed in the future books? I hope so because I was so intrigued by her character.

If you’re looking for a crackilicious read with plenty of sizzling hot scenes, you’ve found your next read.

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Review: The Office Party by Whitney G.

December 29, 2020 by · 2 Comments

THE OFFICE PARTY
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Whitney G
Release Date: December 18, 2020

I can’t believe that I pulled my boss’s name for our company’s annual Secret Santa tradition…

As the devil incarnate, this infuriating, cocky bastard never gives us the holidays off, and he honestly expects us to be grateful for his generous alternative: The Office Party.

It’s a mandatory, all-expenses trip for two weeks at a surprise luxury resort—where we still have to work twelve to fifteen hours a day.

I’m so over this…

So, I put zero percent effort into his gift. I tear the tag off whatever my sister gifts me, add a five-dollar amazon gift card, and hand it off to him.

It’s not until my sister sends me a text that I realize how terrible of a decision that was.

Georgia: Why haven’t you sent me a ‘LOL’ about the brand-new vibrator I got you? I really do hope that you use your boss’s face as a muse, like my note says. 🙂

If that’s not bad enough, this year’s “luxury trip” will be in my hometown–the place I’ve avoided for years. At the resort that my grandmother owns…

If the universe gets me out of this, I will never ‘regift’ anything ever again…

 AMAZON

For a few seconds, I forget that he’s Satan in the flesh—that he’s flown thirteen hours to confront me in another country.

If you’re looking for a quick, steamy and fun read, look no further. If there’s one thing I can say, is no matter the quibbles I may have, Whitney G always delivers on a fun and satisfying read, no matter the length.

I love a good enemies to lovers romance, but particularly when you have a sassy heroine give as good as she gets to the alphahole of a hero. And this one delivered that in spades! Garrett and Savannah have amazing chemistry and I loved the push and pull between them.

This could have been an amazing full length novel and had all of the ingredients to be one. While I love Whit’s sexy novellas, I couldn’t help thinking this would have been better as a full length. I would have loved more development for these characters and to see on the page what was described of their personalities off the page. Like Garrett’s satan boss antics. I would have loved more of that.

All that aside, this was still incredibly satisfying and hit the spot nicely. If you’re looking for a fun office romance with an enemies to lovers trope, definitely give this one a go.

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Review: Fables & Other Lies by Claire Contreras

December 28, 2020 by · Leave a Comment

FABLES & OTHER LIES
Genre: Gothic Romance
Author: Claire Contreras
Release Date: December 20, 2020

Do you believe in curses?

I never did.

Not until that fated night, six years ago, when I sat in The Devil’s Chair and made a wish.

Not until it came true.

Not until I met River Caliban himself, heir to a fortune of curses. My fated sworn enemy.

I knew I should have stayed away from him. I should have run the other way when he called out my name, when he flashed that sinful smile of his, but instead, I walked toward him, leaving the light behind. Instead, I go against all reason, against all warning, and attended the gala of the year at his dark, allegedly haunted home at the top of the hill.

The moment I step foot inside I know I’m in trouble, but there’s something about River that magnetizes me, reels me in, and when he asks for the impossible, I find it impossible to turn him away.

AMAZON

The moment you came back to the island, you sealed your fate.

The second I heard Claire will be releasing a gothic romance, I was gagging for it. I love a unique and twisty read, and this one certainly delivered in spades.

Admittedly, it did take me quite a bit to get into it fully but that likely has more to do with my blah mood lately than anything else. I have the attention span of a gnat. It’s ridiculous. But I digress.

Fables & Other Lies is a story full of secrets, revenge, family rivalry, curses, and folklore. It was deliciously addictive. The mystery around the town and the curse that plagues it was something I couldn’t get enough of. It’s rare that I’ll read a book that gives me goosebumps, and this one did. There were parts that sent shivers up my spine and I was so here for it.

River was exactly the kind of mysterious and enigmatic hero that I love to read about. The second he appeared on the pages, I was hypnotized with his presence. What I loved most about this book was how incredibly unique it was. I’ve only read a few gothic romances, and it’s not an easy genre. I’d love to see more books like this from Claire.

My one quibble was I wish it was longer. I just didn’t feel like there was enough relationship development between River and Penelope for me to fully connect with it. I also wanted a bit more on River in general. I felt like we’re thrown right into the deep end of this story from the beginning. And while it made me immensely curious to unravel the mystery, I also felt like I needed a little more information on the families and the backstories there.

That aside, I enjoyed this quite a bit. It was mysterious with a splash of dark magic and curses all wrapped around a years old family curse and rivalry. The romance was a slow burn full of sizzle and the characters were unique. Highly recommend if you’re looking for something different and wildly entertaining!

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Review: The Proposal by Maya Hughes

July 19, 2020 by ·

THE PROPOSAL
Series: SWANK #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Maya Hughes
Release Date: July16, 2020

When I envisioned Zara Logan dropping to her knees in front of me, this wasn’t what I had in mind…

I was expecting a lot less glaring and a lot more moaning.

Instead, she’s proposing an enticing deal that I can’t bear to walk away from.

To land one of the city’s biggest clients, she wants us to put our differences aside and play fake fiancés for the next thirty days.

So, I slip the diamond ring onto her finger and agree to play the perfect fiancé. How hard can this be?

A hell of a lot harder than I thought…

She’s infuriatingly stubborn and she thinks I’m a cocky jerk with an enormous ego. (She’s right, but I can definitely back it up…)

As our long days stretch into even later nights, it’s getting harder to remember we’re only playing pretend, which means one thing.

She won’t be faking it for long…

AMAZON

Leo was the best distraction I’d ever discovered and I couldn’t wait for another taste. But what happened when we stopped playing pretend?

This was so stinking cute! I was super excited to learn that Maya Hughes has a brand new series coming out. And when I read that blurb? DEAD. I needed this book. I’m a sucker for a good enemies to lovers romance with a splash of fake engagement thrown in.

Zara is the definition of sassy. She is barely scraping by in a job that she hates. With deadbeat parents, she’s used to being the sole support for her little brother. She’s been scrimping and saving every penny for his education and support. If it’s meant denying herself, then that’s what it’s been. Zara is an incredibly supportive and loving older sister. This endeared her to me right away. She’s also sassy with a fiery temper and a get it done at any cost attitude. She’s pretty tough not to like.

The meet cute between her and Leo is anything but smooth. The man bumps her, spills her precious coffee, and tramples her croissant. In a pure accident of course, but it doesn’t save him from her temper. The icing on the cake is finding out that they now have to work together. Leo to save his beloved uncle’s company and Zara to finally prove herself to her boss. They have one goal, win over a tough client with their proposal. Even if they have to stop snapping at one another long enough to get it done.

As they work on the project together, the chemistry that’s been between them begins to burn hotter and hotter, and before they know it, the fake relationship is no longer as fake for them as they thought.

This was such a fun romance! I immediately fell for all of the secondary characters. Leo is an incredibly lovable hero. An injury cost him his pro football career and he’s been sort of floundering in the time since. He’s not a cocky jerk or a stereotypical jock. He’s a nice guy and I was rooting for him from page one to get past Zara’s walls. Though she certainly didn’t make it easy.

My one quibble with the book was the pacing. I’m not sure if it was the length or maybe some parts that I felt didn’t quite add to the story and wished it focused more on the main couple? There was some time spent building out and introducing the other characters and the couple would get a little lost in the background of that at parts. I found myself going in and out of the story. That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy it because I really did. But I also wasn’t riveted to the pages. Did it hook me on the series? Absolutely! I’m dying for the rest of it. Ultimately it was a cute and light hearted read that was perfect to spend the afternoon with.

· Filed Under: All Reviews, Contemporary Romance · Tagged With: , ,
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