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SPOILER ALERT! I'm not in the business of ruining books, so if you haven't read this book yet, turn back now! Author: Jaymin Eve Series: Shadow Beast Shifters Series Books Reviewed: 1- 3 Category: Paranormal Romance Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Overall Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ I decided to combine my review of the Shadow Beast Shifter series, books 1 - 3 since they are about the same couple and storyline. The series does branch out after the first three and focus on other couples, but I'll limit this review to Mera and Shadow's story. Head to the bottom of the page for individual ratings of the books and their Amazon/Goodreads links. Review I am way late to the rejected mates bandwagon, but I finally got on board and I'm so glad I did! This series wasn't the first I read with this trope but it was definitely one of the better ones and I am going to tell you why...Mera does.not.settle. "From the ashes, a phoenix will rise." The start of the first book takes its time setting up the story of Mera's life in Torma and the abuse that she is desperate to escape. We are introduced to a host of ugly shifters that make it their life's mission to push Mera to her breaking point, but she is far too strong to fully break. Things are not good in the pack, rotten from the top alpha to everyone in between. It was glaringly obvious that no one, outside of Mera's best friend Simone and her adopted mother of sorts Dani, sees Mera as an actual person, a common theme that carries through once she meets the Shadow Beast. Mera was defiant in all the ways she could be while at the mercy of the pack. I loved her constant sass that got under their skin, a valuable tool to keep her sane in her suffering. Her one-liners got old, but I appreciated her humor and tough-girl act. She did not show true fear, and that was her biggest strength. While I was surprised Torin the alpha's son, not Jaxson her ex-best friend, turned out to be Mera's true mate, the rejection was brutal. Despite the pain that it caused her, once Mera came to her senses, she knew she absolutely did not want a bond with a monster that could hurt her so much for so many years. She did not forgive or forget. Finally, the Shadow Beast arrived on the scene, intending to use Mera in his own selfish ways, and the story really picked up. Mera and Shadow's chemistry was explosive and I adored the push and pull of their relationship, especially the constant tease about when they will finally give in to each other. Their time in the Faerie world and the random sex music debacle was written purely to move their physical relationship along, and while it was maybe a too easy ploy to spice the book up, it did the job. Mera's fast-growing friendship with Angel was a great element of the book. I loved how supportive they were of each other. Even if it was a bit of an insta-friend situation, Angel was a complex character and necessary to balance out the testosterone of Shadow's gang of psycho friends. About the only plot point that annoyed me in book one was the virginity bet. I didn't like the emphasis that Mera was not living life fully until she experienced sex. It was supposed to be a fun competition between them, but it was out of character that she would randomly find a man somewhere in the library and have sex with them. Starved for affection due to her past, this book walked the line of stockholders syndrome and true enemies to lovers. Mera recognized the power that Shadow had over her and while she continued to grow stronger in power, she constantly accepted his slightly nice actions for proof of his feelings for her. In the beginning, Shadow was cruel, point blank telling her that he may kill her if she did not do as he says. Their relationship grew from enemies to something more like friends, but Shadow continually proved he was willing to sacrifice Mera for revenge in his home world. He may not want to, but he would, and that's all that should have mattered to Mera. The story ended on a big cliffhanger and I quickly downloaded book two. Unfortunately, Reclaimed was my least favorite of the three. It was a mismatch of poor decision-making from our formally smart characters and contrived other woman drama. Mera had been kidnapped by her old pack, and for some reason, now alpha of the pack Torin thought that she would come around eventually to their true mate bond. Considering their last moments together in the first book consisted of him having sex with someone else in front of her....sure dude, forgiveness is within reach. After a minor freakout about her friend Dani being murdered, Mera loses control and blames Shadow for her loss. While this was a pivotal point in her power breakthrough, I'm not sure why she believed her pack over Shadow. Only one had proven to never lie to her by this point. I appreciated that Mera didn't forget about her best friend Simone this time, dragging her to the Library of Knowledge and into worlds that she never knew existed. There wasn't much time for the friends to reunite, however, because once the Shadow world door mysteriously opens, Mera and Shadow are off to get his revenge. And this is where the book takes a nose dive downhill. Mera learns that Shadow had a true mate, and shocker, she was still alive and kicking after thousands of years since he had been in the realm and wants to cement their bond. Ixana was up to something, but despite voicing concerns, our main characters continue to go along with her plans to visit the Nexus. It was clear very quickly she was going to screw them over but no one thinks to stop telling her vital information or keep an eye on her. Quickly, Shadow fell back into his old routine of undervaluing Mera to the point of hurting her to save face in front of his true mate. Mera quickly went on the defensive, which for her meant acting like a brat. Seriously, between the scorching sex scenes, the two of them were unbearable for a good portion of this book. There was a lot of importance in the fact that Shadow gave his first kiss to Mera, which was much more significant in his culture than sex. I've seen variations of this theme in other books and while not original, it served as proof of his feelings for her. One surprise I did not see coming was Mera's friend Dani, who was not only Shadow's mother but the Mother of Creation, living at the Nexus in the Shadow world. Learning all that Dannie had done to change the Shadow realms imprisonment of her creatures, ie. putting Mera's soul into a shifter which led to her father's insanity and eventual torment for years in the pack, was a bit convoluted. I'm not sure if I still have all the details correct, to be honest. Of course, there was an epic fight with Ixana, and while our gang came out on top, it seemed a little too easy for them considering the power they were up against. The end of the book left us with another cliffhanger, this one a doozy. Dani, who ultimately saved the day in the last battle, evolved into a new version of herself. She decided to fix the timeline she messed up when she created Mera so she wiped her mind, sending her back to the pack in a new reality. WTF? I was less than thrilled with the turn of events, especially since she and Shadow were FINALLY figuring it out together, but I'm in too deep to stop now. On to book three... Thankfully, the series redeemed itself with the third book and final featuring Mera and Shadow, though the odds looked stacked against them initially. Mera was back with the pack, but even without her memory of Shadow and the past two years, she was way too smart to be fooled that everything is okay. And doing what she does best, Mera asked questions until she figured out what was going on. There were chapters and chapters of Mera avoiding or trying to repel Torin and Jaxson, the dumb and dumber twins that couldn't seem to let her go. Mera probably should have been a little less combative considering she was once again at the pack's mercy, but I'm not surprised at the amount of times she attacked those two. With the help of a new friend Sam, Mera rediscovered she was more than just a shifter and somehow they are able to get back to the Library. It does seem that Mera is able to make a new friend no matter where she goes, but I liked Sam immensely. I wished I made friends so easily. Finally, the gang was back together with their memories intact and they were off on another quest to save the world. This time, Dani was their target and the battles proved much more deadly. The last two books had strongly hinted at Mera's phoenix connection and it was no surprise that her death was not permanent. Which was a good thing, since Shadow had officially fallen for his mate and barely kept from destroying the world while she was dying. Then, in act two of killing off characters, Angel was lost. This was where the story took an odd turn, giving Angel a chance at rebirth because of her connection to Mera. I wasn't too mad since I loved the character but definitely lowered the stakes of future fights since it seemed like no one can truly die in this group. Eventually, we got our happily ever after, or for now, ending with the conclusion of this last battle. Whew, it was a lot. Overall thoughts The Mera and Shadow relationship part of the story could have been condensed into two books. Once they got together I got tired of the lovey-dovey possessive looks they gave each other. Seriously, did anyone count how many orgasms Mera had over the three books, my guess is at least 30 on paper. Books 1 and 3 were much better than 2. I think between the three of them, readers were served up almost all the possible storylines/tropes/one-liners. Some elements of the story were repetitive, and while there always seemed to be a world's destroying threat, I loved seeing the gang battle together as the best anti-heroes ever. As of this post, there are three more books available, each featuring a different couple. Overall, this series is perfect for those who like shifter and paranormal romances. It has all the things needed for a great story: a strong heroine, a possessive alpha who falls hard, and a bunch of secondary characters that make me want to know more about their own backgrounds. Tropes and Themes: Shifter, Demon, Rejected Mate, Fated Mate, Magic, Witches, Anti-hero. Rejected Book 1 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ Rejected Goodreads Link Reclaimed Book 2 Rating: ⭐⭐ Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ Reclaimed Goodreads Link Reborn Book 3 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ Reborn Goodreads Link

Author: Avery Flynn Series: Downside of Dating Series book #1 Category: Contemporary Romance Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ Goodreads Link Blurb "Sometimes, revenge came with orgasms. That was the beauty of it." - Thea The moment I read the blurb for Anger Bang, I was counting down the days until it came out so I could review this book. There was no way in my mind that this book could go wrong, there's a raptor with a tutu on the cover! Thankfully, this book lived up to all the hype, I was not disappointed and neither will you. Thea is a conundrum of a people pleaser that I felt soul deep. Always trying to keep the peace, brave when it counts and is willing to make a change to get more out of life than she currently is. The relationship with her sister is relatable, if not more faceted than readers are originally led to believe, and I appreciate the bond that grows out of honest conversations. In the end, Thea is loyal to a fault, but so deserving of love and happiness, whatever that may look like to her. "Issues? She had none, because everything was fine. Totally fine. Without a doubt, perfectly fine - with a dollop of extra fine on top." - Thea Kade was a marshmallow underneath a sarcastic defense. While Thea put on a happy face to smooth things over, Kade punched through people with harsh behavior in a bid to keep people away from him. He was brash, unapologetic, and unhappy but unwilling to examine why he acts the way he does. It wasn't until he found someone he couldn't lose, that he finally made the decision to open up and heal old wounds that were holding him back. "'Thea Pop,' he whispered, too quiet for her to hear, not realizing the words were a solemn promise until he started talking. 'I don't ever want to not know you.'" - Kade Huge props for the complex secondary characters, Jackie and Dex, and the two mothers were perfectly written to demonstrate the importance of understanding different points of view. There was a lot of family drama that was wrapped up in miscommunication and assumptions, and all the characters need some sense talked into them in order to move forward. There was definitely some insta-love going on, but despite jumping into a physical relationship, the two characters actually spoke about themselves and got to know each other. It made the short timeline feel a little less rushed and the feelings less superficial. Kade and Thea were great balances to one another and despite their denial of feelings for most of the book, it was obvious they cared for one another. The sex was frequent and adventurous in location, but nothing crazy. The sneaking around because of cameras gave stolen moments extra spice - Kade could hide with me in a shed any day that's for sure. "Then, one side of his mouth went up in a crooked smile, and her pink panties embroidered with 'Always The Bridesmaid' - thank you, Jackie - went up in flames." - Thea I loved everything about this book. Anger Bang was witty, with funny dialogue, hilariously awkward '80s-themed bridal events, and sneaking around to avoid reality T.V. live streaming. Add some dinosaur-themed pajama pants to your cart when you place your order for this book for the ultimate themed reading session. Tropes and Themes: Romantic Comedy, Forced Proximity, Wedding. Blurb Shy paleontologist Thea Pope just wants to get through her sister's '80s-themed monstrosity of a TV reality-show wedding so she can get to her summer field work. The only problem? Her sister has turned into the ultimate bridezilla - as in pink parasols, organza hats, forcing people to shave and dye their hair levels of over-the-top, it's-my-day antics - all while on location in a place literally called hell that reeks of sulfur and lost hopes. The only thing that can make it worse is when her sister declares that she never even wanted Thea in the wedding at all but that the producers insisted. Ouch doesn't begin to express how much it hurts that her own sister didn't even want her to be at her wedding. There's only one thing Thea can do after her sister finally pushes her too far - she picks the one man at the wedding her sister cannot stand - the groom's brother, Kade St. James - and has sex with him. Is it petty revenge that she'll be rubbing in her sister's face from now until eternity? Absolutely. Still, it seems like a great idea at the time, and really what could go wrong? Pretty much everything it turns out.

Author: Trilina Pucci Series: Holidates Series book #2 Category: Sports Romance Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ Goodreads Blurb "'Give me a break. Marrying some rando you just fucked is like a rite of passage in Vegas. There are movies made about it.'" - Eleanor Knot So Lucky was laugh-out-loud funny, seriously don't read this book or review in public. My husband gave me so many side eyes while I was laughing by myself with tears in my eyes. And if that wasn't enough, there were some seriously HOT scenes. Even when faced with the consequences of an alcohol-fueled wild night in Las Vegas, Eleanor was one of those effortlessly cool girls who can just roll with the punches and take it all in stride. I don't know if there was ever a more chill, sex-positive character ever written. Eleanor was fun, easy to like, and definitely the life of any party. "'I am the epitome of a walk of shame. I expect a trophy. If getting railed and smelling like sex was an Olympic sport, I'd get gold. Because there is no amount of cigarette smoke in this casino that could rid me of the smell of whore and unwanted pregnancy.'" - Eleanor Crew was not as interesting a character, but that's alright. He was cocky, arrogant, and set in his bachelor lifestyle but his tune changed pretty quickly once he met Eleanor and I can't blame him - she's that cool. Stereotypically, the moment Eleanor said she wasn't interested in a relationship, Crew just had to have her. The woman kept him on his toes, and their chemistry between the sheets only made their budding romance that much more inevitable. "'Eleanor isn't there for me to take...That woman is a gift only she can give.'" - Crew The relationship between Eleanor, her sister Samantha, and her best friend Millie was #squadgoals. While snarky and more than a little crass, their friendship was so supportive and caring. They clearly cared for each other and weren't afraid to meddle a little if someone needed a bit of tough love. The text messages between them were the highlight of the book (minus the smut of course). "'Here's to the best weekend of our lives, Eleanor Roosevelt. Because what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Let's get slutty, buddy.'" - Millie While there is a plot and character development, the story is built on smut. There was just about every sex position, kink, and multiple-partner play that could have been crammed into 200+ pages. Overall, Knot So Lucky was a smut-tacularly hilarious ride! "It's all fun and games, kids, until you drunk-marry a stranger." - Eleanor Tropes and Themes: MFMM, Forced Marriage, Sports Romance, Football, Forced Proximity. Blurb Me: Ask me what happens in Vegas… Samantha: What happens in Vegas? Me: Let me tell you. What happens is that you get “make out with strangers and pee in a parking lot” drunk. TIE THE KNOT WITH A GUY YOU JUST MET. Then *allegedly* participate in depraved group activities with him and his friends in the honeymoon suite of a five-star hotel. But that’s not even the worst part. Because after an epic walk of shame, you find out he’s some insanely famous bad-boy quarterback who’s in the midst of cleaning up his act. So now, you have to pretend to like him… sober…until you can skip town with an annulment and a shirt that reads, “I’d hit that.” Except for bam—tiny hiccup, his personality cancels out his hot AF face. And let’s not mention how you definitely took a trip to pound town with his friends. So, yeah. That’s what happens in Vegas. You get Knot so Lucky even when you think you hit the jackpot.

SPOILER ALERT! I'm not in the business of ruining books, so if you haven't read this book yet, turn back now! Author: Grace McGinty Series: Stand Alone Category: Sports Romance Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ Goodreads Blurb "She was a do-what's-right kind of person. She wouldn't sell a baby for any amount of money." - River "'If we can't buy Huey, we buy the girl instead.'" - Devan Nova was a weird mix of tears and determination. The first chapters are dedicated to her having constant mental breakdowns, not that they weren't warranted, but they become tedious. Her character was sweet but very co-dependent and while she wanted to prove herself, Nova very much wanted someone else to be in control of her life. "'I'm fine. Another day, another emotional crisis.'" - Nova The romance was insta-love, all three of the MCs fell quickly for Nova and while some fought the pull more than others, they were goner's the first time they saw her. All of the characters had layers of trauma that they were trying to work through, and I appreciated the normalization of going to therapy and working to get better almost as much as the frank acceptance that some wounds won't fully heal. While rushed, the relationship as a whole felt authentic. There was jealousy and hesitation, with all the characters feeling uncertain about the dynamic. The smut was there for sure, but there was more plot and feelings written in than in some other spicy books I've read. Aside from multiple partners, there wasn't anything too crazy to the sex scenes. The one on one scenes were more spicy than the obligatory three/four ways. The relationships between the MCs were almost as important as the romantic relationships in the book. Devan, Rigby, and River clearly loved one another, respecting their individual contributions to the household and recognizing the importance of their friendship. Rigby was a shining star, knowing what he wanted and slowly convincing the rest of the group to accept the possibility of a polyamorous relationship. He was the most in tune with himself and his feelings, only wanting everyone to be happy. The praise kink was very on trend with other current books, but different in that Rigby was the one who sought it out. "But I was persistent as fuck, and I made him love me. It was basically my superpower." - Rigby Devan and River were more reserved in going after Nova. Devan was emotionally unavailable but invested in giving everything he could give, while River didn't know how to be open to real relationships. "I was a damaged kid who turned into a fucked up adult, but I wasn't unfeeling. I'd shut down my emotions so I didn't end up like my father. Feeling nothing was better than hurting the people around me." - Devan Baby Huey is a prime example of the importance of picking good character names. Every time his name was written, I pictured Huey, Dewey, and Louie from the Donald Duck T.V. show. Another irritating element of the story was the amount of sleep that this baby was getting - seriously no 9-week-old is sleeping through a hockey game, even with tiny ear mufflers on. I completely understand the need for the baby to be out of the way so the story didn't center around cluster feeding and diaper blowouts, but still... babies are not this easy. The blowback from their less-than-traditional relationship was no surprise, and it was a bit annoying how shocked they were by it. Nova in particular never tried to hide her feelings or PDA with the men, so it's a wonder that it only took a couple of weeks for their relationship to be made public. Considering the risks, all four characters were horrible at keeping on the down low. "'You have to decide if you're strong enough to stand beside them and tell the world to go to Hell if they don't like it. You don't have to sacrifice your happiness for theirs, because in the end, no one is happy at all.'" - Lorriane, Rigby's mother Sticks and Stone was enjoyable, but not very original. The beginning held the promise of something different, but the story quickly turned into Pucking Around lite, condensed into 300 pages with an added custody battle. That being said, I'm not complaining at all! I love the overall storyline of navigating a unique relationship while balancing other people's opinions and career consequences and could read it a thousand more times. Tropes and Themes: Reverse Harem, Single Mom, Why Choose, Sports Romance, Hockey Romance. Blurb My name is Nova Stone and I was a ghost in my own life until a knock at the door changed my whole world. Applying for guardianship of my infant half-brother was a no brainer, even if I hadn't known he existed. But that was before I met his uncles; two pro ice hockey players, and a CEO. They wanted to take Huey home with them and they were willing to pay me millions of dollars for the privilege. When that didn't work, they managed to convince me that it would be better for my brother–and for me–if I moved into their Ann Arbor mansion. At first, I said hell no. I'd listened to true crime podcasts. I'd read the newspaper articles. But a week of sleepless nights and emotional breakdowns later, I relented. They were helpful, I'd give them that. But they were also hot, and that was a problem. River with his brooding intensity, he was as huge as you'd picture an NHL enforcer to be. His foster brother Devan, who was mysterious and standoffish, and their best friend Rigby, the literal embodiment of a golden retriever in the body of a 6'2 pro athlete. But I had to do what was right for Huey, and anyway, how could I ever choose? And I had to choose...right? *As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases on Amazon links.

SPOILER ALERT! I'm not in the business of ruining books, so if you haven't read this book yet, turn back now! Author: Geneva Lee Series: Filthy Rich Vampires Series book #1 Category: Paranormal Romance Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ Goodreads Link Blurb "I wanted the world at my fingertips, and I knew experiencing it with Julian would be beyond my wildest fantasies." - Thea From the first page, I was completely enthralled by the rich and immersive world of Filthy Rich Vampire. Who doesn't love a forbidden romance, family drama, and a bit of biting on the side? This book gave me romantic Twilight vibes, plus a healthy dose of spice and tension. Julian was a charismatic and enigmatic vampire with a sinful allure but an emo vibe of exhaustiveness. He was clearly tired of the world, enough so that he would rather sleep away his eternal life than put up with his status as a prince and the egotistical vampire culture he couldn't seem to get away from. I disliked how he leveraged his wealth to corner Thea into doing what he wanted several times, and the fact that he didn't think it was a bad thing to do. A product of his upbringing for sure, but it skewed their power dynamic and made me question if he truly was that different from the vampires he claimed to not like. "'I don't care how much money you have. You don't send someone a half-million-dollar present just because.'" - Tanner, Thea's roommate Thea's life was hard, but she had a great attitude with enough optimism to get her through trying times. I liked that she took things in stride, more so than most people would have been able to deal with, and was open-minded enough to accept that the world she knew wasn't entirely true. She was a pushover, especially when it came to Julian, and almost empathic to her own detriment. Some of the situations she got herself into, in order to prove something or because she went along with what someone else wanted her to do, boarded on TSTL territory. "Usually, I liked to consider myself a fairly adaptable person. Why fight change when you can run with it?" - Thea The forbidden romance element added an extra layer of tension and excitement to Julian and Thea's taut relationship, as they tried to navigate the complexities of their different worlds and struggle against their undeniable connection. Julian's attempt at aloofness was hilariously adorable. I love it when a male character tries to reason their actions away - bro you aren't fooling anyone! "'You are exactly the person I want by my side. You deserve the world. Let me give it to you.'" - Julian Maybe I am reading too many paranormal romances as of late, but this is the fourth book with virginity as a main plot point. Are we in a time loop, when did virginity become important again? I thought we were done putting virgins on pedestals. While Thea was "young-ish", I found it hard to believe that she knew nothing about her own sexuality and had never made herself orgasm. Without penetration, there was a good dose of spice in this book. Nothing fancy, unless you count fangs, but enough to keep my interest and expectations high for the next books in the series. There were some inconsistencies in the world-building that needed some editing. At one point, it was mentioned that vampires don't have sex with humans, but didn't Julian do just that when he woke up in the first chapter? The vampire/familiar relationship was also murky, somehow vampires held all the power even when they required familiars to keep their species alive. As a fan of the paranormal romance genre, Filthy Rich Vampire is a must-add to your TBR pile. It was a seductive and thrilling tale whose cliffhanger left me immediately picking up book two. With an irresistible blend of passion, suspense, and supernatural allure, I can't wait to see what happens next with Julian and Thea. "'I'm your mate, Julian. I am yours. All of me. My body. My blood. You can have both. You can have everything.'" - Thea Tropes and Themes: Vampire, Forbidden Romance, Urban Fantasy, Billionaire, Cliffhanger. Blurb Julian Rousseaux has a problem. He’s single, and for the world’s wealthiest vampires, the social season is about to begin. Julian would rather stake himself than participate in the marriage market. But as the eldest, eligible Rousseaux he’s expected to find a wife before the season ends—whether he likes it or not. When cellist Thea literally stumbles into his life at a gala, he knows she's the last person he could ever fall in love with. She's too innocent, too kind, and way too human. But now that she knows about his world, she's also a walking target. She needs protection. He needs a fake girlfriend to discourage overzealous vampire matchmaking. So, Julian makes Thea an irresistible offer: pretend to be his lover and he’ll change her life. For one year, they’ll attend the season’s social events together in exchange for his protection and a way out of her mother’s crippling medical debt. She can’t say no. But the vampire world is impossibly decadent and darker than Thea ever imagined, and Julian’s filthy rich vampire family wants her out of the way. But with each moment they share, new dangers emerge: a desire as forbidden as their stolen touches, an awakening of a long-dead heart, and secrets that could tear them both apart. *As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases on Amazon links.

ARC Review - Publish Date June 1, 2023 Author: Eve Madison Series: Seattle CEO Series book #1 Category: Contemporary Romance Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ Goodreads Blurb "Derek Anderson. Billionaire bachelor. Famous Seattle figure. My boss." - Mia Match for the Billionaire was a solid billionaire romance with every element of the sub-genre that I've come to expect: an egotistical workaholic, a down-on-her-luck clumsy damsel in distress, and mass amounts of sexual tension that the characters can't ignore for long. This book offered an enjoyable escape into a world of wealth and romance, and while the storyline and plot had its merits, there were aspects of the execution and character development that left me wanting more. The not-so-meet-cute was pretty standard to set the tone of their relationship. Mia can definitely stand up for herself and as a hurricane of fresh air, Derek finally takes notice of something other than his company. I wish the characters had more than one-dimensional personalities and I struggled to care about either of them individually. "I want this Mia, someone who just cursed me out over whiskey, who looks like she's got the cojones to jaw a guy three tables over and then compete in the Miss America beauty pageant in one night." - Derek The pacing of the book was generally steady, aside from timeline inconsistencies, but ultimately the plot felt a bit predictable and formulaic. The conflicts and obstacles faced by the characters felt resolved too quickly. Also, as a Seattle local, I cringed at the mention of the "Pacific Sound" instead of "Puget Sound". My biggest complaint while reading the book was the dialogue between the characters. At times it felt stilted in the name of being blunt or arranged for no other purpose than for info-dumping. Other scenes read as disjointed and not how real people speak to one another. I can imagine dialogue is the hardest part of writing a book, but it is also the easiest way to knock readers out of the story when it is not perfected. "'Make me lose control,' I whisper. 'I want to lose control. With you, with you, with you.'" - Mia I wish I had connected more with the story and characters, especially because this book is the first in a series of CEO Billionaire romances. I hope as the series develops, the execution becomes more precise. Tropes and Themes: Billionaire, Workplace Romance. Match for the Billionaire Blurb MIA He's making me an offer I can't resist. So, get this. I'm slaving away at my waitressing gig, dealing with the world's pickiest customer, when he drops a bombshell. He wants me to be his assistant. Me! I couldn't believe it! I mean, sure, I needed the cash and some time to focus on my art. But seriously, working for this guy? I must be out of my mind. He's got all the looks, like he walked straight out of a romance novel. But boy, does he have an ego the size of Mount Everest. He's the type who thinks he's always right, even when he's dead wrong. But, against my better judgment, I'm starting to think there might be something more to him. Could he actually be the one? --- DEREK I'm doing everything in my power to avoid a colossal business disaster. I made the crazy decision to hire Mia Kamaka as my assistant, and now I can't help but feel a spark of excitement. She's drop-dead gorgeous, and I want to spoil her rotten. But let's face it, things are complicated. We're on a dangerous path, and I'm not sure if it's the right one. Maybe there's a better way, a better match. But what if Mia is the one who can turn my life around? *I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you Eve Madison for the opportunity. **As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases on Amazon links.

SPOILER ALERT! I'm not in the business of ruining books, so if you haven't read this book yet, turn back now! Author: Kathryn Moon Series: Tempting Monsters Series book #3 Category: Paranormal Romance Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ Goodreads Link Blurb "I was starving. A fathomless hunger that dug a pit deeper than my frail form could hold. But I was free." - Evanthia Like everyone else who read the first two books and previous novellas in the series, I've been waiting for the conclusion of the Tempting Monsters series and crossing my fingers for the ultimate demise of Birsha. One of Hedone's daughters, Evanthia feeds on pleasure, mostly of the sexual type. It is this weakness that she has been held captive for centuries, used by Birsha to power himself and his houses and to satisfy his monstrous clients. Kept barely alive, she endured countless abuse and became a shell of her former self before the house she was held in fell and she ran away at the end of the second book. "'I've lived too long to make plans when I know how well they can be destroyed in a moment, or how much can change in a matter or minutes, or how long a life might live beating against stagnancy'" - Evanthia This book is much darker than any of those that came before it, and the main character Evanthia is clearly traumatized and slow to heal. She was very rational, despite being slow to trust. The beginning of the book is slow, while Evanthia works to accept her past and become herself once more. She constantly questions her ability to love and doesn't want to hurt any of the men in her life. I loved seeing her finally embrace her own strength and transform into a fighter instead of hiding behind others. "I'd been a whore, a courtesan, a seductress, and a lover so many times in my life, in so many variations, but I was at a loss now. Had I forgotten how to invite passion during my time in Birsha's cage, too used to being a tool or a toy to be broken?" - Evanthia Asterion was my favorite character for the first third of the book, but quickly pissed me off. While his never-ending patience was so needed for Evanthia in the beginning, he was unwilling to recognize her ability to choose what she wanted and in fact, needed to live. He struggled the most with the multiple partner aspect of Evanthia's eventual partners, but finally got over himself and realized that he was never less than any of her other lovers. Despite being so strong and solid, Asterion was the most insecure which played out as being distant for a majority of the book. "No man, no god, no mother had come to my rescue. This monster had." - Evanthia Conall was the life of the party, and the youngest monster certainly livened up a lot of scenes. We got the most details of his backstory and he was a much-needed addition to the harem. Though he came with his own issues as well, he reminded Evanthia how to laugh and have fun, something she desperately needed. Though very different characters, Hywel and Lazone were interchangeable to me. Long-time mates in their own right, they decided almost instantly that they wanted Evanthia and never strayed in their quest to have her. Their plan of loving her to death until she agrees to be theirs was so sweet and even when she had a hard time accepting affection they continued to shower her with it until she finally surrendered. The Kings of Clouds and Dreams set a high bar that no one in the harem could best, personally, I would have settled in at their castle and never left. "'We might be monsters with impulses and instincts, but we are also men falling in love with you, dear one. Your wants and wishes are the most imperative of all.'" - Laszol Most of the main characters from the first two books made an appearance in the third, coming together to fight against Birsha. It was a little hard to remember all the different monsters, their abilities, and which woman they belonged to, there were simply too many names to remember. This book certainly had more adventure in it than the first two. There is the journey to a castle, a quest for Excalibur, and the ultimate battle. I appreciated that the three main female characters of the three books were the ones to face their tormentor head-on, and while some of the men didn't agree with it, they were given the option to be fighters. I would like to have seen more of the battle, it was relatively quick and not as satisfying as I would have hoped. After everything Birsha had done, I wouldn't have been opposed to some light torture. "But Birsha didn't speak, just stared at me. He was stripped of illusions, lured out of safety by a young human woman, trapped by the eager obedience of trees, facing down his once captive prize." - Evanthia And as for the sex...I'm not sure spicy is even the right heat level to describe it. There was pretty much every position and multiple couplings in every combination. Hell, we even had sex with a dragon tongue. Seriously though, even with the main character needing pleasure to sustain her, there was still much more plot than sex especially in the first 100 pages. So expect smut but with a healthy dose of emotional recovery and adventure. Overall, Sanctuary with Kings was a great conclusion to the Tempting Monsters series. I suspect that there is at least one more novella book coming from this world which I will happily read and review (who bought Grace Manor?!?) but we may not get any more full-length books for this series. Tropes and Themes: Why Choose, Reverse Harem, Shifter, Vampire, Dragon, Monster Romance, Paranormal. Blurb Evanthia has spent half her life trapped inside the Seven Veils. When the house crumbles, she seizes her moment and runs from Birsha and his twisted pleasures. But pleasure is what she needs to survive, and the dark streets of London leave her starving and vulnerable. Rescued by a mysterious monster who vows her sanctuary, Evanthia must piece back the woman that Birsha tore apart. Quiet sanctuary is no cure for her endless hunger, but the war brewing on the horizon is the last place she wants to be. Hiding with sleeping dragons and lonely monsters in a castle made from dreams might be a fantasy, but it’s not enough to keep the nightmares at bay. When not even Evanthia’s tired heart can remain dormant in the tender care of the kings who keep her safe, she must make the decision. Hide from her past forever, or face the man she fears most on the battlefield.

SPOILER ALERT! I'm not in the business of ruining books, so if you haven't read this book yet, turn back now! Author: J.T. Geissinger Series: Morally Gray Series book #1 Category: Dark Romance Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ Goodreads Link Blurb "'Sure. And next you'll tell me you're a billionaire book lover who wants to help save my store.'" - Emery "'That's correct.'" - Callum First and foremost, I just want to say that while I was reading the blurb I immediately assumed this was going to be a You've Got Mail retelling, and that was my main reason for picking it up. While I was mostly right, if you're looking for a wholesome story about enemies to lovers, this is NOT that. For all the secrets Tom Hanks kept from Meg Ryan, Callum's are leagues darker and more manipulative. You've been warned, now read on for the book's review. Emery had my sympathies although she wasn't my favorite female character. She was a bit of a wild child but gave off the "not like other girls" vibes. I thought she was a little crass, but had a backbone that she needed to stand up to her new husband. Did I admire her for taking her anger out on his prized possessions, heck yes! Hit him where it hurts! Callum was such an exaggerated character, most of the time his actions left my mouth hanging open. At his core, he is a jealous and possessive man but he does learn to bend when Emery tells him he's gone too far. He can't seem to help himself by taking everything he can get from her and holds no remorse for his actions, only the possible consequences as they relate to himself. The spice in this book was surprisingly hot, I did not expect all of the kink that was crammed into these pages. It took a while for the characters to get physical, but once that door was open, things quickly ramped up. "But now it's too late. We touched the fire. There's no going back from here. The tragedy of it all is that I already know this man will ruin me, but even that isn't enough to make me want to save myself. Now, I just want to jump into the flames and burn." - Emery This book was over the top in almost every way, but it was fun to read. I couldn't get enough of the constant banter between the two main characters. They pushed each other's buttons in the best ways, always trying to one-up the other. Callum clearly had a dull life before Emery came to shake everything up. Most of the plot was very easy to infer, as Emery's life quickly implodes and Callum just so happens can solve all her problems. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to connect the dots. Slowly throughout the book, horror crept up on me as I figured out more about Callum's deception and the true lengths he went to get Emery. Even at my wildest guess, however, I could have never predicted how long Callum had been truly inferring and stalking Emery or the origins of his obsession coming from a brief encounter 5 years earlier. Why was Callum obsessed with Emery? An attractive girl turns you down for a date at a house party and your next move is to ruin her life so she has no choice but to marry you and return your love. Maybe take a step back first and try and ask her out again Callum before going nuclear? "'There are a million shades of gray between good and evil, love. Am I on the darker end of the spectrum? Yes. Am I a bad man who does good things or a good man who does bad things? Both. But you made this monster your slave. All of what I am, good and bad, light and dark, belongs to you.'" - Callum I really enjoyed this book, despite the more than morally grey Callum, although the ending was a letdown. For all that Emery showed her strength and independence throughout the book, she forgave Callum much too easily. His apology wasn't real, and he went about it the same way he "won" her in the first place: by slowly wearing her down. It might have taken weeks, but we know the man was patient since he stalked her for years in the first place. Not enough groveling took this down to a four-star read, but still highly recommend it. Tropes and Themes: Marriage of Convenience, Stalker, Anti-Hero, Dark Romance, Touch Her and Die, Billionaire. Blurb A young woman on the verge of bankruptcy. A mysterious billionaire with an offer that will change her life. An obsession so powerful, it could destroy them both. Sex Lies Secrets Passion What Callum McCord wants, he takes. No matter what he has to do to get it.

Author: Becka Mack Series: Playing for Keeps Series book #3 Category: Sports Romance Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ Goodreads Link Blurb "'You know, Rosie. I wasn't having the best day when I ran into you. Or rather, when my dog tackled you to the ground. Maybe he knew what he was doing, though. Because my day got a hundred times better after you fell into it.'" - Adam Two awkward souls finding their person...count me in! Rosie and Adam may be the sweetest couple in existence, but throw in a 101 Dalmatians meet-cute and two very adorable dogs and you've got a sugary sweet romance that only gets better the more they let their guard down and fall in love. "'You're not my first choice, Rosie. You're the only goddamn option.'" - Adam Although Adam was a serial dater, he was looking for the right woman who wanted him for himself, not his profession. He was on the border of desperation when he met Rosie, convinced that the one for him may not be out there and I understood his hesitation to be completely honest with her from the beginning. Unfortunately, Adam realized too late that a relationship built on half-truths isn't a very steady one. The character really had to look at himself and his own selfish actions before he was able to open up. "I want something. I want to be needed. Appreciated. Loved. No, I don't just want it. I fucking crave it." - Adam Rosie was a kindhearted disaster on wheels, with so much on her plate and not enough resources or bandwidth to deal with it all. She really was the perfect person for Adam because she was able to give him the satisfaction of being the center of someone's world and solving all of their problems. I loved how relatable Rosie was with her insecurities and genuine doubts. She had so many positive affirmations to remind herself of her own worth but the struggle she still had was very real. Rosie's life had not been an easy one, but regardless of the hurdles, she still pushed forward. "'Beautiful isn't enough Rosie. You're fucking immaculate.' And here's the most incredible thing: I believed him." Despite their normally timid behavior when interacting with each other, the spice in this book ramps up. Adam is a secret dirty talker and constantly shows Rosie how much he cherishes and wants her. He is one part awkward man trying to impress and one part ladies man when he throws off his fears of not being good enough. This is the third book in the series and while it can be read as a stand-alone, there are multiple characters from the first two books in the series that make an appearance. I'll be honest in that I didn't care for either of the other books due to the tropes used (OW drama, reformed manwhore, etc.) but in this book and as reflected in my review, these characters were much more tolerable and downright funny. Unravel Me has all the angst and highs and lows that make a book great. There was enough humor to break up the drama, and in the end, I was rooting for both Rosie and Adam to find a way past their insecurities and secrets so they could be the family that each of them was desperate to have. Tropes and Themes: Sports Romance, Hockey Romance, Meet-Cute, Single Mom. Blurb Golden boy. Notorious serial dater. The NHL’s most eligible bachelor. That’s what the headlines say about me, at least. I wish I could say they’re not accurate, but truthfully? I don’t even know who I am anymore. Between a soul-crushing ex-girlfriend and a never-ending queue of dates gone wrong, one thing has become glaringly obvious: I don’t want to be Adam Lockwood. So when my dog decides to play matchmaker, taking down a sweet little thing with rose gold waves, brilliant green eyes, and a smile for days, I can’t believe my luck that she doesn’t have a clue who I am. I know I should tell her, but for once in my life someone sees the man behind the goalie mask. Rosie gives me all of her–her heartache, her laughter, and her son. But me? I’m holding on a little too tightly to the pieces I’m scared to give up, the pieces she might not like. One small lie becomes a secret hanging above my head, but what if there’s another one hiding right around the corner? Suddenly, my deepest desire becomes my biggest fear. I’m terrified she’s going to unravel me.

Author: Stephanie Archer Series: Vancouver Storm Series book #1 Category: Sports Romance Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ Goodreads Link Blurb "Besides, there's no way he remembers me. Our high school was huge. I was the dorky music girl, always hanging with the band kids, and he was a hot hockey player." - Pippa This was your classic grumpy x sunshine romance novel, complete with a cute dog and plenty of spice. Pippa is a ray of delightfulness and though the beginning of the book starts at a trying point in her life, Pippa truly starts living once she meets Jamie and finds out just who she wants to be. Her positive attitude was a great contrast to Jamie's surliness and they just worked. "Pippa is intoxicatingly pretty, and around her, my mind blanks, but I feel a twinge of excited anticipation that I haven't experienced in a long time." - Jamie Jamie was so overwhelmed with his responsibilities, that he couldn't see beyond the trees to the bigger picture. I could almost understand his grumpiness, and reluctance, to have Pippa in his life but once he accepted he couldn't live without her, she became his rock. His character was a total marshmallow, complete with a filthy side in the bedroom. "Pippa Hartley is standing in my living room, playing with the dog, and I can't breathe." - Jamie Behind the Net didn't disappoint in the spice and has plenty of it. While the characters have great chemistry, I did find some of their scenes together became repetitive because of how long the book was. Jamie ended up so in love with Pippa early on that there was very little angst or drama between them when it really came down to it. A good romantic comedy book for sure, but it lacked that "something" special to move it into a great read and review for me. Tropes and Themes: Sports Romance, Hockey Romance, Grump x Sunshine, Forced Proximity. Blurb After my ex crushed my dreams in the music industry, I’m done with getting my heart broken. Working as an assistant for an NHL player was supposed to be a breeze, but nothing about Jamie Streicher is easy. He’s an intimidatingly hot, grouchy jerk who can't stand me. The guy has a massive ego. Keeping things professional will be no problem, even when he demands I move in with him. Beneath his surliness, though, Jamie’s surprisingly sweet and protective. When Jamie learns how bad my ex was in bed, his competitive nature flares, and he encourages and spoils me in every way. The creative spark I used to feel about songwriting? It’s back, and I’m writing music again. Between wearing his jersey at games, rowdy parties with the team, and being brave on stage again, I’m falling for him. He could break my heart, but it might be worth it.

Author: Sarah Blue Series: Pucked Up Omegaverse Series book #2 Category: Sports Romance Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ Goodreads Link Blurb "It's not that I think Alexi is out of my league, I think that if I let myself indulge in that tall, big, future silver fox that I wouldn't be able to walk away." - Piper I was uneasy going into this because, while clearly set in the Omegaverse, this book is about a female alpha unlike 99% of these stories centered around female or male omegas. I can say that I was pleasantly surprised with how the characters of the story were portrayed, both with their perceived stereotypes based on the world and also by pushing the boundaries of what is normal for anyone. Piper was such a strong character, but insecure and deeply affected by her father's neglect and conditional love. In the first book of the series, Piper basically held her best friend together in times of crisis, but book two explored who she was outside of the best friend of an omega and what she truly wanted out of life. There are definitely things that Piper needed to work on about herself but once she finally decided to stop using avoidance as a coping mechanism, she was 100% committed to the men she initially held at arm's length. "Alexi is a one way ticket to domesticity I'm not ready for, so I do what I do best; I run away and don't take another glance back." - Piper Everyone needs an Alexi in their life, this man was so confident and steady. Seriously, any problem that came up, his answer was 'I'll take care of it' and that is the type of loyalty and love everyone needs in a partner. I adored his methodical maneuvering in bringing his pack together, one step at a time, with never-ending patience. He was sneaky, but with only the best intentions, and while he did overstep sometimes he was quick to recognize he pushed too far and apologize. "But I'm not really sure who is going to be the hardest to convince. The good thing is, I love a fucking challenge." - Alexi Owen was a breath of fresh air in the Omegaverse, a male omega who was hiding who was he so he could follow his dreams. There was a lot of introspection for the character as he grappled with who he was and society's expectations. Owen fit in so well with Piper and Alexi, his energy a good balance with their more intense personalities. Even through miscommunications and mistakes, the three of them had the best relationship. Constantly checking in with one another, owing to their faults, and working to improve their communication, I loved this pack! They had chemistry, sexual tension, and outright lust in spades, and really enjoyed the different storyline of a male omega in a pack. "'So you're what? The house fuck toy?' Owen says, and I laugh. I grin. 'Damn right I am.'" Don't Puck With My Heart was such a sweet book and hopefully, this review pushes everyone to give it a chance. While there were conflicts, most of them centered around work and avoiding feelings, not the pack's relationship once they decided to be together. I highly recommend reading the first book in the series to get more background on some of the side characters, but the second in this series definitely lived up to its hype. Tropes and Themes: Omegaverse, Why Choose Romance, Fated Mates, Sports Romance, Hockey Romance. Blurb Having a pack isn’t even on the radar for Dr. Piper Blake. Her focus is strictly on her surgical residency. There’s no time for dating when the standards you set for yourself are sky high. Unfortunately for Piper, the captain of the New Haven Foxes has a different idea. Alexi Badnin is ready to make this his best season yet, by winning the Cup, and building his dream pack in the process. The larger-than-life Alpha is playing his own matchmaker when it comes to the stubborn Piper and the team’s new broody goalie, Owen. He becomes obsessed with the three becoming a pack, and will do just about anything to make them both his. The three have to unpack insecurities, self-doubt, and secrets to make this work. Time will only tell if they can make it to the end of the hockey season in one piece, or completely shattered.

SPOILER ALERT! I'm not in the business of ruining books, so if you haven't read this book yet, turn back now! Author: Catherine Cowles Series: Lost & Found Series book #2 Category: Romantic Suspense Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ Goodreads Link Blurb "Because I'd loved Nash Hartley for as long as I could remember. Cedar Ridge was just a place. But Nash would always be home." - Maddie Coming back to the small town after breaking up with an abusive fiancé, Maddie Byrne comes face to face with the best friend she has always loved but never thought she could have. Maddie was a complex character with a classic abuse victim mentality of blaming herself for letting the abuse happen. Having always had feelings for Nash, feelings that she didn't think were reciprocated, she tried to look for love only to end up in a similar situation of abuse that was the hallmark of her life growing up. While frustrating to read about a character who constantly blamed themselves for the abuse they received, this was a very accurate portrayal of victims. "'He's wrong. I know you. Down to your soul. If you've forgotten who you are, ask me, and I'll remind you.'" - Nash I was annoyed with Nash for 90% of the book. Honestly, I just cannot understand his reasoning for not having a romantic relationship with Maddie when he's been in love with her forever. His rationale of not wanting to rock the boat of their friendship is weak considering pushing her away caused him to lose her anyway. Nash's insecurities about being seen as the clown of the family were nonsensical, if he genuinely felt no one respected him because of his actions, maybe consider becoming more responsible. "Now, the only thing I wanted was my best friend at my side, even if that meant never having him completely. I'd rather have the echoes of him than anyone else." - Maddie The two main characters have such an intertwined and affectionate history together. Hell, they have slept in the same bed a million times, even joking about morning wood and how much they hug. Basically, they were in an emotional relationship without sex for a good majority of their friendship but Nash refused to cross the line. Although there were a couple of semi-spicy sex scenes once they finally gave in to their feelings, I couldn't see past Maddie and Nash's friendship. There was no chemistry and nothing really changed between them except now they were physical. The book's suspense plot had a lot going on. We've got the ex-fiancé who can't let Maddie get the best of him, a vengeful father fresh out of prison, the father's friend who needs to put a woman in her place and a random man irritated he didn't make the SAR team. Maddie dances on the line of STSL with her many poor decisions of going out in the dark alone or not getting restraining orders. He met you in the same town you are hiding in....trust me your abusive ex knows where you are. I don't understand why she continued to let herself be manipulated by him. Unsurprisingly, Maddie eventually got kidnapped by her ex-fiancé, however, finding out he randomly murdered her dad because he was the only one allowed to hurt her was a curveball I didn't see coming! Ultimately, I've decided I just am not enough of a fan of the friends-to-lovers trope to really have enjoyed this book or writing this review. The slow burn was too slow, especially since their only romantic drama was not acting on their feelings. I felt disappointed that they had wasted so much time and Maddie's suffering was indirectly due to Nash not pulling his head out of his ass and taking a chance on them. Tropes and Themes: Small Town, Mystery, Suspense, Friends to Lovers, Found Family, Stalker. Blurb Nash Hartley has always been my everything: Protector. Partner in crime. Best friend. The person who was there for me in my darkest hour. But my heart wanted so much more. So, when I knew for certain Nash didn’t feel the same about me, I tried to move on. What a mistake that turned out to be. Now, I’m back in our small town, desperate to escape my living nightmare, and the only person I want to see is him. As secrets are revealed, and Nash finds out what happened to me, he’ll do anything to keep me safe. But there are those who will do anything to stop him, and this time neither of us may make out alive…