Bewitched Book 3: Bedeviled by Laura Thalassa

 

Bewitched Book 3

“My queen, my wife, my lovely Selene … You who saved me, died for me. Waited eons for me so we could exist in this moment … I am yours forever.”

It’s been two thousand years since Selene Bowers first fell in love with Memnon Uvagukis, the sorcerer king of the Sarmatians. So when, at present, an unbreakable vow forces Selene to marry this soul mate she once died for, it is in many ways a dream made real.

Unfortunately for her, neither she, nor Memnon, are able to bask in the moment for long. Not when demons keep ambushing her, and her husband’s magic appears to slowly be consuming him. And not when, despite eliminating the prior threats to Henbane, the coven still teeters on the brink of shutting down.

And then of course there’s Eislyn, an age old menace who lurks somewhere in the shadows. She led to Selene and Memnon’s demise long ago, and now she threatens their existence once more. It seems she wants something from them, something she’s been waiting millennia for, and if Memnon and Selene don’t figure out what that is and stop her for good, she just might get it—and destroy them in the process.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/241362576-bedeviled

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

The final book of this series has arrived! And it did not disappoint! Selene and Memnon have been through a lot. From Selene’s past life to reuniting with her soulmate two thousand years later. They’ve come so far. And they are stronger than ever. But there is still one more thing to do before they can truly claim their happily ever after. And it’s stop the fae who hurt them in the first place: Eislyn. She need to be stopped once and for all before she cause more harm than she already has in the thousands of years she has been banished to the mortal realm. It will take everyone working together to stop her and a surprising new friend. I loved the end to this series! Definitely a satisfying ending after everything that has happened. I loved how much Selene and Memnon have grown since the first book. I also loved our surprised guest! If you haven’t read the Bargainer series, you will definitely want to after this book! It’s always fun getting a crossover. Wonderful series all together! Get ready for romance, magic, and lots of action. It’s got everything you could want. 

The Firm Book 4: Allegiant by Cora Rose & Lark Taylor

 

The Firm Book 4

Some ghosts never stop haunting you.

Mine wears the face of the only boy who ever knew the real me.

His blood stains my conscience, and the guilt I carry keeps everyone in my life at arm's length. I don't deserve love. I don't deserve forgiveness. After what I've done, I only deserve the darkness.

Then a handsome lumberjack of a stranger walks into my dance studio. And I crave him. I need him.

Not to save me, or to fix me. I need him to help me forget. Just for a little while. Samson Buckingham is the perfect distraction.

But getting involved is dangerous. Not because of his family ties or the violence he's clearly capable of, but because I promised myself I'd never let anyone get close again. And Samson is the only man who could make me risk unearthing the parts of me long buried…

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/249093200-allegiant

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

It’s Samson’s turn! The one who vowed he wouldn’t fall in love and all it took was one look at Rowan and he was a goner. When Samson is sent on his next mission, he stops in his tracks when he lays eyes on Rowan. The beautiful dancer who was born to be on stage…and does not look or act like a killer. The Firm takes out the bad guys. And Samson knows deep in his gut something is off. He’ll protect Rowan at all costs to prove it and find out exactly why someone wanted Rowan gone. Rowan is lost in his grief. His best friend is dead and he only blames himself. For not being there when his best friend needed him most. The only thing that keeps him truly going is dance. He won’t ever let anyone into his heart again. Because every person he has ever loved is gone. Then Samson enters his life and the walls Rowan built around his heart are threatened. And anything good that has come into his life has been taken away. So trusting Samson to stay? May just be impossible and too good to be true. Oh boy, what a story! I adored these two. Samson has truly pushed down a lot of who he is because of how he was raised, but Rowan gives him a safe place to be himself. Especially when it comes to his love of dance. He didn’t know he could fall for someone so fast and so easily, but he can’t let Rowan go. Never. Even when the secrets of his life and family threaten to break them. And for Rowan, he has dealt with so much loss, it’s been so hard to trust again. And he does with Samson. And even when bad things come, he proves his strength and his ability to loved. Absolutely loved getting to know these two and see them fall for one another so hard. We got a sneak peek of the next book and oh boy!! Is that going to be crazy. Two brothers to go and I can’t wait to see how their stories go!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Legacy of Deth Book 2: Vile Acts by Crea Reitan

 

Legacy of Deth Book 2

The missing black paint told of horrors…

Sometimes rescuing someone once isn’t enough to banish their demons. This is something that has haunted the Deth brothers for a decade. Erez can’t let it go.

It took him ten years to prove that his baby sister didn’t die accidentally. Ten years to uncover horrors that he never imagined plagued her behind the smile she wore.

Now that he’s discovered the truth, Erez and his family are ready to usher in the days of reckoning for such vile acts committed against his sister.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/249497925-vile-acts

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

Fade has been in love with his best friend for the last five years. But getting Erez to notice? Complete failure. The man is truly oblivious. Doesn’t matter how many dates has taken Erez on or how openly his flirts or states it outright, Erez is just not seeing it in the most true manner. So why hasn’t Fade given up or moved on? Because Fade knows his best friend of the last five years and there is something underneath the surface going on and maybe until he surfaces from that, he won’t see what’s in front of him. And turns out, Fade is right. Erez hasn’t been the same since his sister died. Ten years later and he is haunted by her suicide. He knows she wouldn’t have left with a goodbye but he hasn’t found it. Even when he should have given up long ago, something in his gut tells him he missed something. And for the first time in a long time, he finds a clue. It unlocks the deeper horrors his sister had been through before Erez literally saved her life and brought her home to his family. And he has his family and his best friend, helping them solve the hardest puzzle yet. The answers they find are horrifying in so many terrible, terrible ways. But with each new find, Erez is waking up, maybe even healing in a way, and maybe it will finally let him see what has been in front of him all along. Wow! Definitely one of the more darker books in the Crea-universe, but still so good. I was definitely rooting for Erez to find the answers he had been searching for for so long and glad to see he gets answers. Even when the answers aren’t exactly great. And through the darkness, I loved watching Erez finally see his best friend for the first time. It was truly like he was waking up in a way from his grief. I loved Erez and Fade’s relationship and seeing how close they were as friends and watching it shift into something so much more. It may take Erez a while (yes, a whole while), but the end is so worth it for them to get their happy ending. A great book overall, and I can’t wait to see our last Deth sibling get his book!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wings of Pixie Hollow Book 2: Wings of Reverie by Anna Bright

Wings of Pixie Hollow Book 2

 

Centuries after the events of the #1 New York Times bestseller Wings of Starlight, two fairies must battle a dangerous magic—and their growing feelings for each other—in order to save their home in the Winter Woods of Pixie Hollow.

When frost fairy Periwinkle travels too close to the forbidden border where Spring meets the Winter Woods, she unknowingly discovers a thread of a lost magic. And, for the first time, she begins to dream. While Periwinkle’s dreams start sweet, they slowly morph into more disastrous visions of the Pixie Dust Tree—the life source for all of Pixie Hollow—destroyed. Soon Periwinkle is confronted by a sparrow man who knows two one, that Peri has been dreaming, and two, that the Winter Woods is in terrible danger. 

The infuriatingly handsome stranger introduces himself as Weaver, claiming to be a dream-talent, the last of his kind. There's a chance he can spin Periwinkle's dreams into dream thread which could protect the Pixie Dust Tree. But to do so, they will have to embark on a quest to find a magic spindle and scissors in the legendary lost fairy workshops of dream-talents past.

Peri begins a reluctant journey with Weaver through the uncharted heart of the Winter Woods. But dreaming is dangerous, and as Peri’s dreams begin to unravel, she will start to question everything she thought she knew. For in Winter even beautiful things can hurt you… and Weaver is no exception.

Return to Pixie Hollow with this exciting new story set in the world of Wings of Starlight several hundred years in the future.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/243701828-wings-of-reverie

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

I have a soft spot for the fairies of Pixie Hollow. And I was so excited to see a story about Periwinkle! Set after Wings of Starlight by before she meets Tinker Bell, Periwinkle has her own adventure. When Periwinkle stumbles upon a piece of lost magic, she finds herself dreaming for the first time. But they aren’t always sweet, nightmares plague her too. And it starts to feel like they are telling her something is about to happen to the Pixie Dust Tree. Then Periwinkle meets Weaver. Weaver is a dream talent, something no one else knows because it’s a lost talent. He has had to figure out things for himself. But he tells Periwinkle that he needs her help. This sparks their journey together. Learning about dream talents and constantly butting heads along the way. That is until they realize they just might be a better match for one another than they realize. I adored this book! Lots of twists and turns in the story. It definitely keeps you on your toes. I also just loved Periwinkle and Weaver. Their banter and a bit of enemies-to-lovers vibes was great. And they really were exactly what the other needed. I loved watching them fall for one another through all the ups and downs. Overall, just a really great story. If you love this world, you won’t be disappointed! And I hope to see more in the future!

South Shore Serpents Book 1: Monstrous Serpent by EV Olsen

 

South Shore Serpent Book 1

I was never anyone's first choice. Until two monsters made me their only one.

One bad decision leads me into the woods and straight into the hands of two masked strangers who chase me through the dark, pin me down, and leave me questioning everything I thought I knew about myself.

Then I learn who they are.

Serpents.

And not just any Serpents, but six-foot-ten Hunter Kincaid and his other half, six-foot-eight Atlas Trembley.

Atlas gets under my skin like a splinter. He fights me, steals from me, and doesn't care that I want to kill him. He's counting on it.

Hunter doesn't speak. He takes. He decides. And he's decided on me.

They even call me Little Titan like I belong to them.

The worst part?

I want to belong to the two hockey players who fight over marshmallows and look at me like I'm the best thing that's ever happened to them.

But Hunter's past isn't done with him. And when it threatens to tear us apart, I learn exactly what kind of monsters my Serpents are.

Tropes:

MMM

Hockey Romance

Enemies to Lovers

Best Friends to Lovers

Masked men

Bi Awakening

Pining

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/244784614-monstrous-serpent

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

Was so excited for this book and it did not disappoint! We return to this world of dark romance hockey but now we aren’t just with the Titans but with the Serpents. Out Titan, Cody, never imagined when he caught his girlfriend cheating on him, he would become the target of two Serpents, Atlas and Hunter. The two of them decided Cody was theirs and they aren’t letting him go. Not for anything. Hunter and Atlas are closer than any two people can get. Held together by friendship and surviving some pretty horrible things. And while Atlas knows how he feels about Hunter, getting Hunter to admit it is a whole other thing. Hunter can’t lose his best friend, his anchor. Better to deny they are anything more and cross any lines with just the two of them to make sure. But when they realize what Cody could be to them, it is only a matter of time until he’ll have to acknowledge his own feelings about his best friends. Cody doesn’t understand how he feels anything toward Atlas and Hunter. They fight on and off the ice, but the moment they put their hands on one another? Logic goes out the window. And maybe even his heart. There’s a lot of secrets and the past may threaten to tear them apart, but these three won’t let go of one another without a fight. I loved this book! The banter between these guys was absolutely the best and hilarious. We get those dark elements we have seen with the Titans series and now spilled over to the Serpents. Turns out, these teams aren’t so different. And it looks like we’ll definitely have some interesting stories to tell in this series and I can’t wait!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Crowns of Nyaxia Book 5: The Lion and the Deathless Dark by Carissa Broadbent

 

Crowns of Nyaxia Book 5

#1 New York Times bestselling author and BookTok sensation Carissa Broadbent returns with a brand new novel in the Crowns of Nyaxia series, The Lion & the Deathless Dark – the first book in the Bloodborn Duet.

Some blood tastes like vengeance. Some blood tastes like grief. Some blood tastes like nothing at all.

Under an eternal night, the world has been ravaged by ten years of war between humans and vampires. Kyrene scrapes by as a bounty hunter, bearing a blessed sword from the goddess of justice. But in the wake of a devastating loss, Kyrene commits a crime that makes her a target for mortals and gods alike – and she is still desperate for vengeance.

Her only chance at survival – and revenge – is making a deal with her enemy, the silver-tongue vampire prince, Septimus, who offers her one final to slay the gods themselves.

Together, Kyrene and Septimus must hunt the ultimate marks, all while navigating a web of prophecies and curses. Septimus is calculating and mysterious, masking secrets bloodthirsty enough to consume them both. Yet, most dangerous of all, Kyrene finds an unexpected kinship in him.

But their growing attraction is deadly in a world where the only currency is blood. And Kyrene will stop at nothing to fulfill her ultimate goal: to kill the goddess of vampires, even if it means sacrificing love for revenge.

Every kingdom breaks...Every ruler kneels...This is how a pantheon falls.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/240019929-the-lion-the-deathless-dark

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

It’s been since the sun was lost to the endless night and the war has begun. A lot has happened since then. And for those who have been patiently waiting, we finally get Septimus’s story! Well, maybe not his point of view in this book, but we finally get to see what he has been truly up to. He’s been plotting away for a long time. We know to break the curse on his kingdom, but we learn just how deep that goes. How much plotting he has truly been doing that has all lead to these moments. And in the end, he needs Kyrene. Kyrene wields the sword of the goddess of justice. For the last ten years she has been doing the goddess’s bidding. But after a devastating loss, she commits quite the crime. Killing a god. And she isn’t done. Her swords deals with justice and she will have it. She will just have to work with Septimus to get it. Because he needs less gods in the world as well. But it is no easy task and the kinship they find between them only grows. Leading to quite a crazy ending. Absolutely loved this book. It kept you on your toes the whole way through. Just when you think you learn one thing, something throws you for a loop. And I loved getting to know Septimus and Kyrene. Watching these two become closer and closer, fighting for one another, and trying so hard to do some good despite feeling like they are monsters themselves. Yeah, these two were fantastic and I can’t wait for more.  And that ending? Wow! I need to get my hands on the next book asap. I can’t wait to see how it all ends. 

Creepin U Season 2 Book 8: Operation: Ogre by Mars Quinn

 

Creepin U Season 2 Book 8

We’re just friends. Nothing more.

Jaxon

My crush on the hot ogre goalie isn’t going anywhere, but my best friend and roommate, Christopher, is certain that he can help me and Aaron get together. Chris should know; he’s famous on campus for his hook-ups and dates. I’m hesitant about his plan, but I can never say no to Christopher. And then I will be with Aaron, and that’s what I want, right?

Christopher

Jaxon, my shy ogre best friend, needs my help to get Aaron, one of the most popular guys in school. I’ll help him, of course--I’d do anything for Jaxon--but I have no experience with romance besides fictional. So armed with romance books and a foolproof plan, I decide we’ll pretend to date each other to make Aaron jealous. It’s genius and will definitely work! Nothing is going to get in the way of my plan, not my annoying siblings, not my lack of dating experience, and definitely not this odd feeling I have when I see Aaron and Jaxon together.

You are formally readmitted to Creelin University, known locally as “Creepin U.” The only thing wilder than the monsters prowling around the campus are the spicy MM love stories unfolding between the classes. This is a stand-alone romance with an introverted ogre, his mandated extroverted human, friends-to-lovers, fake dating, and lots of feels. This book is intended for adult audiences only.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/252781622-operation

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My Review: 4/5 Stars

Returning to Creepin U and I’m so excited! I’m kicking this off with Jaxon and Chris! Chris and Jaxon have been inseparable since meeting at Creepin U. Best friends and roommates. When they return from their summer vacation to start the new semester, they are more than happy to see one another. Even with the amount of time they spent together over the summer. And when Jaxon admits to Chris he may like another ogre, Chris is ready to help! Though there are some mixed feelings about it. Chris has a reputation when it comes to romance but the truth is, he has no experience at all. He just can’t escape the lie that started way back in high school. And then there is the fact that there is something bothering him about Jaxon being into someone else. Jaxon may have said he he had a crush, but almost the moment Chris starts to help his crush notice him, Jaxon comes to the realization that the only person’s attention he truly wants is Chris’s. And the moment they kiss? It’s over for both of them. And while Jaxon knows he wants Chris forever, Chris fears losing his best friend. Can they put away their fears long enough to realize that the two of them together is everything they could have ever wanted? So sweet! I adored these two. Truly best friends to lovers. It was clear that these two were meant for one another. I actually love the little twists this took when it came to the fake dating tropes. And that Jaxon was quick to realize who his true feelings were for. A great way for me to kick off this new season of Creepin U! And I’m excited for so much more!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

NY Rush Book 1: Rookie Attraction by Ava Olsen

 

NY Rush Book 1

Selwin

I planned on coming out in the NHL. I didn't plan on having to switch teams to survive it.

With the New York Rush, keeping my head down should be safe—until rookie defenseman Finn Baran shows up. Finn is talented, determined, impossible to ignore. Every late-night conversation and every stolen glance on the ice pulls me closer to a line I swore I'd never cross.

Falling for my teammate was never part of the playbook.

Finn

After going undrafted, I thought my hockey dreams were over. A last-minute tryout with the Rush gives me one more chance—and puts me face-to-face with Selwin Kirkland, a player I've admired for years.

Our chemistry is undeniable.

The timing couldn't be worse.

As friendship turns into something more, we have to decide if protecting our careers is worth losing the one thing we never saw coming: each other.

Rookie Attraction is a bi awakening, friends-to-lovers, hurt/comfort MM hockey romance. Book 1 of the NY Rush series—where love doesn't play by hockey rules.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/240635583-rookie-attraction

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My Review: 4/5 Stars

When Sel decided it was time to stop hiding who he was and announce he was bisexual, he never imagined just how bad the reactions could be. Especially from his own NHL team. The team he thought of as family. The moment he walks into the locker room, things are bad and escalate to the point where he knows he needs to leave or risk his safety. Being traded to the NY Rush has to be a new and fresh start. And luckily most of the team seems to be good with him. But even better is seeing a familiar face that he knows is definitely okay with him. Finn is beyond excited to be with the NY Rush and even more so when he learns that Sel was traded to the team. He has always admired Sel and after meeting him over the summer, he feels good that they can be friends. And even partners on the ice. But their friendship slowly turns into so much more as they get to know one another. And while Sel fears Finn’s future if they get involved, Finn is also someone who knows what he wants. So it’s only a matter of time until that pull between them will be too much to resist. Great start to this new series! Sel and Finn have great chemistry on and off the ice. They are really perfect for one another and balance each other out so well. Both of them have a lot going on in their lives, but they can lean on one another. I loved watching their friendship blossom to more. And I’m super excited for book two!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Darling Brothers Book 4: Painted in Wildflowers by Emmy Sanders

 

The Darling Brothers Book 4

I’ve always listened to my heart, and what it wants is him.

Remi

I can confidently say I never thought my crush on my best friend’s older brother would amount to anything.

Until Benson Harper returns to Darling, possibly to stay.

As the forty-two-year-old desperately searches for his sense of self, I begin falling for a man I never truly knew before now. One who’s kind, honest, and caring.

Amidst wildlife rehabilitation, explorations in mountain climbing, and the strained tensions with his brother, Benson works up the courage to tell his family he’s autistic. And I gain companionship that goes far beyond the eldest Harper brother shadowing me on the ranch.

I wasn’t prepared for love to bloom in the quiet days spent by Benson’s side.

Now, I’m not prepared to lose him.

Painted in Wildflowers is a brother’s-best-friend romance at a small-town ranch, with a twelve-year age gap, the cutest-ever sidekick, Deaf and autistic representation, and one very HEA. It’s book 4 in The Darling Brothers series but can be read as a standalone.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/244335689-painted-in-wildflowers

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

The final Darling Brothers book has arrived! It’s Remi’s turn. And it was everything you could have wanted for his story and the finale of this series. Remi has had a crush on his best friend’s older brother since he was a teenager. Never did he expect anything to happen. Especially since Benson had left Darling years ago. But now that Benson is home and finds himself at the Darling Ranch more often than not, that long ago crush is surfacing. But what’s even better? It’s more real this time. Because now Remi is getting to know Benson and he is both not what he expected and probably exactly what he has been looking for. Can it be possible for Benson to have feelings for Remi too? Benson returns home after so long staying away and being anything but himself. He finally has a name for what he never understood about himself until now and it comes with much needed peace. Now, he just wants to work on finding out exactly who he is. He just never expected that Remi Darling would be the one to embrace Benson’s true self and love him for it. Benson has never felt safer than when he is with Remi. And maybe they are exactly what one another have been looking for all along. I loved these two. They were so sweet and beautiful and just utterly perfect for one another in every way. I loved how they found one another at the right time. I just absolutely loved their story and it couldn’t have been a sweeter end to the series. I will definitely miss these characters! Great finale and a great series!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Legends & Fury Book 3: Yard Sale by EM Lindsey

 

Legends & Fury Book 3

“Would you rather be trapped in a cabin with your arch enemy, or not be allowed to shower for a hundred days?”

Problem number one: My arch enemy is the jackass reporter who keeps making up lies about me.

Problem number two: He’s also absurdly hot so the idea of being trapped in a cabin with him gives me ideas.

Problem number three: As much as he pisses me off, Aravind Gupta might actually be right about a few things: namely that my career in hockey is probably over.

A poorly timed check might have robbed me of being able to retire old and with nearly half of my original teeth, and Aravind was right there on the front lines to tell the world about it.

In a wild attempt to get away and figure out what comes next, I find him on my same ferry, heading out to a quiet island where I planned to do nothing but bed rot. 

Aravind has other ideas though, and he makes those known before we’re even off the boat.

And while it’s not like me to want to sleep with a man I can’t stand, somehow, he’s turned into the only bright light in the dark shadows my terrible family casts. 

I might not be used to believing in myself, but with Aravind’s quiet and gentle persistence, I’m starting to think that despite what I’ve always been taught, I deserve my happily ever after.

Yard Sale is the third and final book of the Legends and Fury trilogy, a spin-off of Punk as Puck. It’s a rivals to lovers romance featuring a tired, injured D-man with a crappy family who is failing to cope at life, a reluctant reporter with a thing for lace and silk who is doing his best to figure out who he is and what he wants, sandcastles, walks on the beach, making unique use of panties, the joys of too many aunties coming to visit, and a steamy, swoony happily ever after.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/252600533-yard-sale

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My Review: 4/5 Stars

The final book of this series has arrived! I’m really sad to see it end. This was such a great series. We end the series with Tiago and Aravind. And if you have read the previous book, you know these two don’t exact get along. Aravind tends to say exactly the wrong thing and is a sports reporter. So if you aren’t at your best, prepare for that bad report. And Tiago is having quite a time. Tiago has been slowly going blind for a long time now. And he knows that the day is coming sooner rather than later where his vision will be gone for good. But then to add to it all, he gets a very bad injury at his hockey game. Jeopardizing his career. This may just be the game that makes him retire. And of course, Aravind is there to write about it. Aravind hates his job. It’s not the type of writing he wanted and the fact that his cheating of an ex works in the same building as him does not help. He is counting the days until his contract is up. His last article will be on Tiago’s injury. He knows he hasn’t been his best around Tiago, but he is trying. And that comes soon when the two of them find themselves on a ferry together. And the chemistry between them ignites. All the tension finally releases in an unexpected way. And both of them realize…they want more. More of one another. So when Tiago needs a major buffer between his horrible family, Aravind is there to be the perfect boyfriend. And well, pretending is the last thing on their mind when everything feels realer and realer by the moment. Can they actually have a future together? These two definitely had some enemies to lovers vibe, but I loved when they actually communicated and were able to get past some things and realize that they are actually pretty perfect for one another. I loved watching them get to know one another better and falling hard for each other. Just a perfect way to end this series!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sinful Things Book 1: Craving Sin by Riley Hart

 

Sinful Things Book 1

Rian

As head of the O’Shea family, I don’t make mistakes.

I certainly don’t become obsessed with a guy. Stalk him. And then proceed to kidnap him to a secluded cabin when an attempt on my life is made.

But that’s exactly what I did.

While my family hunts down the men who tried to kill me, Doctor Preston Abbott is trapped with me, and I expect him to nurse me back to health before paying the ultimate sacrifice. Abbott…who is also the governor’s son.

Each day my interest in him grows. He cares for me, shares parts of his life with me, willingly gives his body to me and begs for more…even though he knows he’ll die by my hand.

I never thought I would want someone again this way, that I would crave another person the way I do Abbott. He’s too good for the violence of my world, and all the sinful things I revel in. I’m a monster but he’s mine until the end.

Mine to crave…mine to touch…mine to kill…

Craving Sin contains MCs dealing with grief, violence, darker themes, and morally gray characters with no redemption arc. This is still a Riley Hart romance, so you can expect a happily ever after for our guys.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/252732477-craving-sin

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

A great start to this new series! This is a spin off to Sins of the Father. Now actually the stories of some of the dads we’ve seen in that series. The book starts with Rian. Rian is currently the head of the O’Shea family. He has been drowning in his grief for too long. He lost his wife nine years ago and left his son alone so Rian could deal with his own grief. He wasn’t the best father he could have been and he has been doing what he can to change it now. But he never expects to feel that love for someone again. Because that same instinct gut feeling when he met his wife? He feels it again. For a man. Abbott. A doctor and later he learns, the governor’s son. All Rian wants is to see Abbott again to see if it was a fluke. It wasn’t. And what makes matters worse? The two of them are shot at in the process. Rian gets hurts and essentially kidnaps Abbott to take care of him and maybe even to protect him. But he made a mistake. Dragging Abbott along is a death sentence. He can’t live knowing Rian and what Rian does. So what is he going to do? Oof! These two!! Absolutely loved them and their story. Despite the impossible situation they find themselves in, they still manage to fall so hard for one another. Abbott is exactly what Rian needs and vice versa. Abbott needs a family and someone who cares about him and there is no one better than Rian for that. They both deserve a lot of happiness after what they’ve been through in life. I just loved getting to know them. And their story is just the beginning of something big going down. There are other players on the board set out to hurt the O’Shea family. And I’m looking forward to seeing what happens next!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Comebacks Book 3: King of the Crease by AJ Truman

 

The Comebacks Book 3

Hank's new teammate is a secret prince. Red, white, and royal WTF?!

Crown Prince Nicholas of Ardenia has everything—except the freedom to be himself. Trapped by tradition and suffocating expectations, he secretly longs for a simple life…one where he can make real friends, chase real passions, and maybe even fall in love. So when a diplomatic trip to the U.S. offers him a rare chance to slip away from his royal identity, he seizes it. Disguised as just another guy, he spends December in a cozy small town and signs on as the local beer league’s backup goalie.

Hank, the team’s main goalie, is a charming, big-hearted plumber still piecing together his confidence after a brutal divorce. He’s spent most of his life playing the comic relief, never the romantic lead—but something about the shy newcomer on the ice makes him wonder if he might deserve a happily ever after after all. As Hank teaches Nicholas the finer points of goaltending, their easy camaraderie deepens into crackling chemistry, with more than a few stolen moments under the mistletoe.

But Nicholas’s growing feelings come with a painful he can’t stay hidden forever. Will the crown cost him his shot at true love?

KING OF THE CREASE is a warm, funny, and swoony holiday MM romance featuring secret royalty, teammates-to-lovers magic, and lots of Christmas charm. It’s book 3 in the Comebacks series but can be read as a standalone.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/245210105-king-of-the-crease

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My Review: 4/5 Stars

Being the prince of a small country is not an easy life. Nick has spent his life following the rules and never truly being himself. He’s tired. He’s lonely. And he needs a desperate break. So when his friend Millie tells him to stay with her and her family for the holiday season, he finds himself agreeing. He’ll spend the next few weeks pretending to be normal. For once, he can just be Nick. He just never expects to fall in love. Hank is used to never being the main character of someone’s story. Always the comic relief. His divorce years ago may have been messy, but he is so past it and made sure to be the best dad he can be to his son. He is the sweetest guy and when he meets Nick, he doesn’t hesitate to invite him to play with his hockey team. The chemistry between them is insane from the moment they meet and it doesn’t take long for them act on it. But Nick knows it is only a matter of time until he must reveal the truth to Hank about who he is. He can only hope that Hank won’t hate him for it. These two were so adorable! They were perfect for one another. Being truly themselves with one another with zero regrets. Minus the hidden true identity of Nick, but for once Nick could be himself without hiding such important parts of himself for the sake of duty. This was sweet and funny and a perfect holiday romance!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Psy-Changeling Trinity Book 10: Cold Redemption by Nalini Singh

 

Psy-Changeling Trinity Book 10

Amara Aleine was born emotionless. A scientist with a piercing, cold intellect, the only person who matters to her is her identical twin. Some term her a psychopath. They might be right.

Pax Marshall is the epitome of Psy perfection. Raised by his ruthless grandfather, he was never permitted to be anything less. But Scarab Syndrome has ravaged his mind, until he’s now mere weeks away from total psychic collapse, insanity…and death. Any cure will come too late for him, but he is determined to spend his last weeks fighting for the rest of the afflicted.

Amara has never seen a mind as clean, as orderly, as beautiful, as Pax Marshall’s. Patient Zero. A twin just like her. And a man so cold-blooded that everyone warns her about him—when she is used to being the predator in the room.

As they work together in a hunt for the cure, Pax’s enemies deliver a violent strike. The choice Amara makes as Pax struggles to survive will have consequences far beyond anything Amara or Pax could have ever imagined.

This time, Amara might just have played herself…

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/249223254-cold-redemption

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

Every time I pick up a new book in this series, I am reminded how much I absolutely love it and why it remains one of my favorites. We return to this world and it’s Amara’s story! I never imagined we would get Amara’s story. We met her in the early days of this series before Trinity and I gotta say what a change it has been. Amara has grown so much in this series and in this book specifically. I loved getting to know her and to see just how much she has changed. And for her to fall for Pax? Wow! I adored these two. So, we find Amara and Pax at the center of the Scarab issue. With Pax being Patient Zero. Pax knows he is running out of time. But his twin won’t give up on him. Not after they were finally reunited. And Pax won’t give up yet either but they need some major help. And who better to tackle the impossible task than Amara and her own twin? With Amara taking point, she is always up for a challenge. She just never imagined it becoming so personal. Pax understands her more than any, including her twin, has ever understood her. His mind is beautiful and she finds him interesting, when so little holds her attention. And after so much time around E’s and the work they have done with her? She may just be in a position to fall for someone. Not that she would call it that just yet. And for Pax, his connection to Amara is one he has never felt with anyone. And the more they work together, the more he feels. He won’t let go. Not yet. But can they solve this puzzle before his time is up? Loved it. We get so many familiar faces in this story. And like I said, I was so intrigued to see Amara get a book and it was absolutely perfect for her. Another amazing book in this series. And I cannot not wait to see what is coming next!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Pine Ridge Book 1: The Hitman’s Final Job by Ana Ashley

 

Pine Ridge Book 1

Have you ever met a hitman who dreams of having a veggie patch?

It's me. I'm the hitman.

It's the day before I retire from ten years of killing people for hire. Not only am I given one last job- wasn't that job in Budapest last month THE last job?- but then I find out I'm tasked with killing my best friend's dad.

Did I mention he's a total silver fox, the smartest man I've ever met and my all-time crush?

Yeah...life sucks.

Now I have to figure out who hired me so I can stop them. But keeping Vaughn safe while trying not to fall in love with him is a threat I didn't expect to face.

The Hitman's Final Job is a small-town romance featuring suspense, heat, and the sweetness of two men finding real love amongst danger. You can expect slow-burn tension, emotional depth, unexpected humor—including a surprisingly heated giant vegetable competition—and the kind of love that makes you want to stop running.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/246493670-the-hitman-s-final-job

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

So happy to be back in Pine Ridge! I’ve been looking forward to this new series and this first book didn’t disappoint! For the last ten years, Silas has been a hitman for a secret government agency. But ten years is a long time to take out some pretty bad people. He wants to be done. But he is forced to take one more job first. The problem? The hit is on his best friend’s father, Vaughn. Also the man that Silas has been secretly in love with for years now. But has never made a move for the fear of losing his best friend, Rowan. Silas knows Vaughn. He knows the work he does. And there is no way that Vaughn can be the bad guy in this scenario. And lucky for Silas, his partner listens to him when he says they need to learn more about who made this request. So in the meantime, Silas will have to follow Vaughn home to Pine Ridge to keep him safe. Vaughn is surprised to find Silas at his doorstep after crossing paths in Europe only a few days before. And when Silas says he would like to stay for several weeks, he has some mixed feelings. Happy but at the same time, he knows how hard it will be to be in Silas’s vicinity. Because Silas isn’t the only one with feelings. They may address the elephant in the room about their feelings and how they can’t cross any lines, but it’s only a matter of time before the pull between them becomes impossible to resist. Also, Vaughn has been keeping his own secrets. Ones where someone has been threatening him and his work. And it’s only a matter of time until all is revealed! I loved this story!! It was just so good. A great new town with awesome characters to explore. And I just adored Vaughn and Silas. They fit together in so many ways despite the little over ten years age gap between them. The age thing isn’t a big deal to them. Their biggest concern is Rowan and the fear of losing him. But they also are just clearly meant to be. A great way to kick off this series! And I’m so excited to see what happens in book two!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.