Game Changers Book 2: Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid

Game Changers Book 2

Nothing interferes with pro hockey star Shane Hollander’s game.

Now that he’s captain of the Montreal Voyageurs, he won’t let anything jeopardize that—definitely not the sexy rival he loves to hate.

Boston Bears captain Ilya Rozanov is everything Shane’s not. The self-proclaimed king of the ice, he’s as cocky as he is talented. No one can beat him—except Shane. Publicly, they’re enemies. Privately, they can’t stop touching each other. 

The smart thing to do? Walk away, once a few secret hookups turn into a struggle to keep their relationship out of the press. The truth could ruin them both. But for Shane and Ilya, secrecy is soon no longer an option…

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/220966494-heated-rivalry

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My Review: 4/5 Stars

I’m usually a reader who likes to read a series in order. But with the hype of this particular book having a show that literally just came out and a sequel book that is the last in the series… yeah, I’m going to be jumping around just a bit. I’ve been seeing this story blow up and I decided I must check it out before I watch the show! And it was actually pretty great. I loved a good mm hockey romance, and this didn’t disappoint. Shane and Ilya have known one another since their rookie year. And we see exactly how that has played out for about ten years. The media has put them as rivals on the ice. They’re the best and they continue to prove it every time they are on the ice. But off the ice? There is a tension between them. One they end up exploring and continue to do so for many years until finally… something finally changes. How can it not? It’s clear these two feel something for one another but with the world they are currently in, change doesn’t seem to be happening much. And being the first is pretty scary. But eventually, they may just be brave enough to take a leap of faith. I really loved getting to know these two! Their banter was a lot of fun and I loved seeing them vulnerable with one another. It took them so long to figure out who they were as people and who they were to one another and then what to do with that. But clearly they felt something strong if they couldn’t shake one another off after so many years. I can’t wait to see how their story continues in their next book. And I can’t wait to see them translated to a tv show! I have a feeling it’s gonna be great! I also can’t wait to read the rest of this series too!

Alchemy of Secrets by Stephanie Garber

 

It starts with a class in an old movie theater.

Folklore 517: Local Legends and Urban Myths, taught by a woman called the Professor. Most students believe the Professor’s stories are just fiction, but Holland St. James has always been convinced that magic is real. When she tracks down a local legend named the Watch Man, who can supposedly tell you when you’ll die, the world finally makes sense. Except that the Watch Man tells her she will die at midnight tomorrow unless she finds an ancient object called the Alchemical Heart.

With the clock ticking, Holland is pulled deeper into this magical world in the heart of Los Angeles—and into the path of a magnetic stranger. Everything about him feels like a bad idea, but he promises Holland that her sister sent him to protect her. As they chase clues and stories that take them closer to the Alchemical Heart, Holland realizes everyone in this intoxicating new world is lying to her, even this stranger. And if she can’t figure out whom to trust, not even the Alchemical Heart will save her.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/222706197-alchemy-of-secrets

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My Review: 4/5 Stars

Holland has always been in love with stories and magic. And after taking a class in college about local legends and myths, it’s only convinced her that magic is real. She’s even working on her thesis around this. The Professor of this special course tells these stories to her students with the condition they don’t tell anyone about it. And when Holland comes across a trail to one of those stories, she can’t help but follow it. This is how she meets the Watch Man. Who tells her that she will die at midnight the following day unless she finds a magical object called the Alchemical Heart. With the clock ticking, Holland races to find this heart and what it means. It leads her down the path of more magic than she can imagine. But with a few hiccups. Like two men rushing to her aid saying they’ve both been sent by her sister to protect her. It’s a battle of figuring out who to trust every time she meets someone on her path. Can she find what she is looking for in time? This was a really fun story! It’s this race against the clock as you try to figure the clues out with Holland. But also a game of tying to figure out who is actually on Holland’s side. Not gonna lie, I hit a point of wanting to shake her and tell her to trust no one cause it seems she may have been better off on her own! But we had some pretty interesting twists and turns and overall, I really enjoyed the story. And with the looks of a promise of a sequel, I’m very curious to see what story, and maybe even who’s story, could possibly be next. 

Saints & Sinner Books 2: Fever by Devon McCormack

 

Saints & Sinners Book 2

ALEXEI

Before I came to St. Lawrence University, I didn't believe in magic.

Now I'm desperate to get my hands on a spell, even at the expense of lying to my friends.

It's not something I'm proud of, but I have my reasons.

Enter the charming, carefree Matteo Baros, who—unfortunately for both of us—becomes suspicious of me.

I expect him to rat me out.

Instead, maybe because he's such a stand-up guy, he offers to help me with a spell.

Not just any spell—a sex spell.

Not really something two straight guys can manage easily, but we find a way, and what should've been a nightmare turns into a feverish night of passion.

But there are consequences for our actions.

The spell ignites a sequence of events neither of us could have anticipated, and as the intensity of this fever between us mounts, we find ourselves caught in a war between rival covens, battling sinister forces from another realm that threaten to wreak havoc upon our world.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/223662174-fever

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My Review: 4/5 Stars

Alexei didn’t believe in magic before coming to St. Lawrence University, but that has changed once he sees things that can’t be explained. What’s more, he needs magic right now if he is going to find answers he is desperately seeking. So he agrees to spy for a group called the Saints to find out what another group, the Sinners, are up to. But months of this, spying on those he would call his friends, and things not adding up, he can’t help but wonder if he is on the wrong side. So when he tries to press for some sort of answers if the Saints will get him answers and comes back with nothing, well it’s time to take matters into his own hands. He just didn’t expect Matteo to be watching him so closely. Or for Matteo to be the one who cares enough to help him. Matteo has noticed something off with Alexei more and more lately and just when he thinks he has figured it out, turns out he is pretty wrong. And what he sees is Alexei needing some help and his protective instincts kick in. He won’t stand by and let Alexei get hurt. Even if it means performing sort of sex spell together to do it. But one night sparks a sequence of events they never saw coming. This bigger than anything and they’ll have to figure out who to trust. Add in the fact that their connection may be way more than friends. Something they never thought could happen with them. So much to unpack in this story! And it leaves us definitely wanting more after that crazy ending. I liked getting to know Matteo and Alexei as they find their way to the Sinners’ group. Things are coming together but we still are left with so many questions! I can’t wait to see what happens next.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Longwood U Book 4: Just for Christmas by Crea Reitan

Longwood U Book 4

It’s only temporary holiday magic

Brent

Life has taught me not to get attached to anyone because they’ll only let you down but I can’t stop myself from falling in love with my roommate and frat brother the moment we meet. It’s been three years and not only do I secretly pine for him, but now he’s also my very best friend. My first real friend.

Nothing can possibly go wrong when I agree to be his fake boyfriend for the holidays, right? I know I’m putting my heart on the line but it’ll just be a bit of hand-holding. My heart can survive that…

Rafe

I know my mother will get off my back about settling down if I bring home a partner so I recruit my best friend into becoming my fake boyfriend. It’ll be fun, easy, and a great holiday without all the subtle hints from my parents.

One kiss under the mistletoe changes everything and the childhood make believe suddenly morphs into so much more. There’s only one problem - this arrangement is only for Christmas and then we’re back to being only friends when we return to school.

I didn’t plan to fall in love with Brent Mitchell… I don’t know what to do now that he’s acting like I don’t exist.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/240137042-just-for-christmas

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

Brent is used to spending the holidays alone. Kicked out of his home when he was seventeen for being gay, he hasn’t seen his parents since. He had an elderly aunt who took him in, but she is now in assisted living. And he has an ex-uncle who he speaks to on occasion. So for Christmas, he expects to do what he always does. Stay at the dorms. But his roommate and best friend have other plans for him. Rafe never realized Brent’s family situation. He feels like an awful friend for now only seeing that Brent avoided the subject and for good reason, but he is going to make it up to Brent now. He’ll bring Brent home for Christmas to be spoiled and loved by his very big family. And before they leave Rafe comes up with a bit of a crazy idea. His mom has been especially pushy about settling down and no matter how much Rafe tells her no, she won’t hear him. So he asks Brent to he fake boyfriend for the holidays. For Brent, it’s a bit of torture. Having a crush on his best friend for a long time but never realizing that Rafe’s sexuality could swing his way. So how in the world can he keep his crush in line? And when Rafe kisses Brent for the first time, he never expects the wake up call it gives him about his best friend. These two are about to have an interesting holiday. Loved this story! I loved that Brent could finally get that full experience of what it was like to have a family around him. And it was extra special that it was a family of someone he cared about so much. I also just loved that they kind of woke up to realize what was in front of them all along. It made their love story so much sweeter to go from friends to more. Even though they were unsure if they pretending or not as the holiday went on. A really great story all around! Longwood U is proving to be a favorite of mine and I can’t wait to see who’s story is next!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Inheritance Games Book 0.5: The Same Backward as Forward by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Inheritance Games Book 0.5

Read her side of the story, then flip the book over to experience their love anew through his eyes in this novel that you can read backward or forward.

Hannah Rooney knows how to be invisible. At twenty, she keeps her head down and her eyes open, and so far, she’s managed to avoid being pulled into the dealings of her notorious criminal family. Hannah lives her life in countdown mode, biding her time in nursing school as she waits for her beloved sister, Kaylie, to turn eighteen so Hannah can get them both far, far away from Rockaway Watch and start a new life. 

Tobias Hawthorne II acts every inch the entitled heir that he is. As the only son of one of the country's richest men, there isn't a door that isn't open to him. Yet behind his razor sharp cheekbones and devil-may-care attitude, Toby is guarding a nest of deadly secrets and a fiery anger fierce enough to burn everything in his path.

Their lives collide in one tragic, stormy night, where an act of arson and nature leave Kaylie and two others dead and Toby just barely alive--with no memory of who he is. The fisherman who pulls him from the ocean enlists Hannah to help save the very person who she knows took away her sister. Fueled by her hatred, Hannah is determined to deny Toby's death wish by keeping him alive. He is the last person that she should ever develop feelings for, and she is the first thing he ever remembers seeing.

*Hannah’s side of the story was previously published as a novella in Games Untold.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/228646235-the-same-backward-as-forward

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

Toby and Hannah may not get a happily ever after with one another, but their love story is still worth telling. Read both sides of their love story in this latest addition to the Inheritance Games series! Hannah’s story we’ve already seen in Games Untold. We saw her pain and anger as she saved the boy who is part of the reason her sister is dead. She refuses to let him die and cares for him through the burns and the missing memories. All the while, they fall in love. And now we get Toby’s side. Toby who wakes to pain and agony and no memories. But he just sees her. The girl with eyes that hold everything he needs even though he doesn’t know it yet. And though he wants to give in to the pain and feel it no more, she won’t let him go. And in doing so, she makes him fall for her a little more each day. I loved reading his side of the story. We get a lot more about what was going on with him during that time and after and why some decisions to stay away were made. I will also say that I think this series should be read in publishing order. Toby’s story revealed some things that you will recognize after reading the later books, especially Glorious Rivals. Another great addition to this series that only makes it more interesting and puzzling. And I can’t wait to see where this series finally takes us as we come to the end.

Inheritance Games Book 6: Glorious Rivals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Inheritance Games Book 6

Millions, hearts, and lives are on the line in this heart-stopping sequel to The Grandest Game by #1 bestselling author Jennifer Lynn Barnes.

Seven players arrived on Hawthorne Island, each with their own secrets and motivations to win the Grandest Game. Millions are at stake, but so are hearts—and lives. The players now must race to win the game, solve myriad mysteries, and survive the twists and turns of Glorious Rivals. 

The stakes get higher, the game gets twistier, and everything heats up in this newest installment in the TikTok sensation Inheritance Games Saga.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/216635092-glorious-rivals

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

It’s amazing how with this series I pick up the latest book and then just don’t put it down. I have to read them in one sitting, no matter how long. We have returned to the Grandest Game and the stakes continue to get higher and higher. While we have a few player gone from the island, another, Gigi, has been kidnapped. Though no one seems to realize that just yet. The rest, Lyra, Grayson, Rohan, Savannah, and Brady continue to play. All have a reason to win and another reason to take someone out the running. The only one not looking to win is Grayson. And that’s because he is determined to keep Lyra safe. But turns out his family is still in danger and he needs some answers. Some from his brother who has been keeping quite a secret. In the story the game will finally end, but leave us with some big problems. As always, I love the puzzles in this series. It’s always fun to try to figure it out alongside the characters. Also, just when you get some answers to what is going on, a bunch of other things turn up that leave you with more questions. The series always keeps you on your toes, the characters are always interesting, and stakes just get higher. I can’t wait to see how everything finally ends! One more book to go and I think it’s going to be pretty insane. 

A Very Merry Anthology

 

My Review: 4/5 Stars

The Castle by Hannah McBride

This short holiday story was very cute! Kailah and Vane met when they were kids in foster care. Though they only got to know one another for a few months, they never forgot one another. Not even twenty years later when they are reunited. Stranded at Vane’s family hotel because of the snowstorm, they reconnect and realize that this connection between them could be so much more if they are brave enough to take it. A sweet holiday romance story! I ended up loving these two and wished it could have been a whole book! But their story was utterly very sweet and magical. A perfect way to celebrate the holidays!