Stonefire Dragons Universe Book 5: Protecting Seahaven by Jessie Donovan

 

Stonefire Dragons Universe Book 5

When Dr. Emily Davies is invited to visit Clan Seahaven in Scotland, she jumps at the chance to get away from Stonefire and her heartbreak at Trahern Lewis mating someone else. However, as soon as she arrives, their head of security starts barking orders and riling her up. Determined to ignore him, she focuses on her research. However, when she learns the dragon hunters have a bounty on her head, she has no choice but to pose as the irritating dragonman’s girlfriend for her protection. She moves in with him, and the more time they spend together, the more she sees a different side to him. Regardless, Emily is determined to protect her heart, no matter how much she wishes for someone to simply want her.

Cameron Alexander is protective of his clan, especially since they were banished from Clan Lochguard years ago for having human mates or parents. With his team on high alert because of recent dragon hunter sightings, the last thing he wants to do is protect an outsider. However, once he learns his enemy wants to kidnap her, he has no choice but to amp up security and pose as her pretend boyfriend. What he didn’t expect was to feel a pull toward her and want to win her for real.

As the two dance around each other, danger strikes and it’s up to Emily to rescue Cam. Will she be able to use her knowledge to save him? Or, will the dragon hunters win and steal the dragonman she wants a future with?

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/253723261-protecting-seahaven

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

When Emily gets an invitation to Clan Seahaven to continue her research to help dragons against the dragon hunters, she jumps at the chance. Partly because her research is everything to her, but another part is to run away. There was a time she had hoped her best friend had feelings for her became clear he did not when he mates someone else. She needs a little space. And she is quickly distracted when Seahaven’s head Protector is quick to rile her up. He sparks something in her she didn’t realize she was missing. But she won’t let his attitude stop her from doing her job. But when she learns that the dragon hunters have a bounty on her head, Cam is there to protect her. And it leads they to posing as a fake couple in order to protect her at all times. But it isn’t long until fake dating starts to feel so much more real. For Cam, he has been wary of human women given his past. And he isn’t looking for a mate. But being around Emily slowly chips away his former feelings. Because seeing who she is? How can he not develop feelings for a woman like her. But danger is still around the corner and he will do whatever it takes to protect Emily. Loved this story! These two were fun to watch them banter. Both have been hurt in the past and it was nice to see them heal together and find a partner in one another. It’s always fun being back in this world, and it was just another great addition to the universe as a whole!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Evergreen University Book 1: Blitz’d by Lee McCormick & RS McKenzie

 

Evergreen University Book 1

Zander

Kissing my rival shouldn’t have felt so good.

Finding out my girlfriend has been cheating on me for months makes me do something crazy: kiss my rival to make her jealous. I wasn’t supposed to like kissing Kerian Slade. He’s a psycho who demands things of me…things I shouldn’t want. But there’s something about Kerian that draws me in, and now that I’m caught in his web, he won’t let me go.

Kerian

The number one rule: don’t care about people.

Caring is a distraction, and emotions are messy… and messy is something I hate. Which is why I’m confused when the messiest player I’ve ever met—my rival—kisses me and turns my world on its head. Zander Braithe is sweet, emotional, and straight. That doesn’t stop him from coming back for more, and that doesn’t stop me from realizing I’ll burn the world down to make him mine.

Blitz'd is a dark themed MM romance between two rival football quarterbacks and a kiss that changes everything. It contains high heat, unexpected sweetness and a possessive quarterback that thinks stalking is a love language and a NFL hopeful that wants to love him despite his initial misgivings.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/223399381-blitz-d

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My Review: 4/5 Stars

When Zander finds out his girlfriend has been cheating on him for months with one of his teammates right before their game against their rival school, he may do something a bit impulsive. Like kiss his biggest rival, the opposing quarterback. The kiss was just to make his now ex-girlfriend jealous. It wasn’t supposed to be the best kiss of his life. Or spark something in Kerian either. Because Kerian won’t let him go now. Now after that. And turns out, Zander doesn’t mind one bit. Kerian keeps everyone at a distance. But the moment Zander kisses him, he knows he is in trouble. And for someone like him, he can’t walk away that easily. Zander is his now and he won’t let him go. I really enjoyed this darker mm romance. I loved that Zander at first may have been confused to his reaction to Kerian but it doesn’t take him long to accept himself and realize that his feelings for Kerian are real. He puts his whole heart into it. And Kerian needs someone like that. And Kerian is definitely that bit of crazy, little violent, but super protective of those he calls his. And there wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for Zander. A good story all around!

Storm Season Book 1: Don’t Fall by EM Lindsey

 

Storm Season Book 1

That’s it. My neighbor has to die. There’s no other way around it. The man must be killed—and I’ll even find a way to do it gently, but this cannot go on.

Okay, maybe I’m a bit dramatic, but living next to my brother’s best friend who decided to befriend crows who spend all week spreading garbage across my lawn is not I signed up for.

I wanted quiet.

I wanted peace.

I wanted to stop fantasizing about the gorgeous man I couldn’t stand.

Unfortunately for me, North is a big presence with an annoyingly sunny smile and a way of making life sound like it’s worth living. And as a widower who wants to spend the rest of my life wallowing, the last person I want around is one who makes me question my new life’s purpose.

But these feelings can’t be real, can they? I had my great love, and I lost him. So that’s supposed to be it for me.

Isn’t that the way things go?

I can’t seem to stay away from North, even when I know I should. And when he starts to make me feel like maybe there’s another happily ever after out there, I find that as cautious as I’ve taken each step, I’m on the verge of falling once more.

Don’t Fall is the first book in the small town, enemies to lovers, heavy yearning, MM romance series, Storm Season. It features a virgin EMT whose smile is hiding a lot of things, a disgruntled, grieving writer who just wants solid sleep and a good meal, neighborhood crows wreaking havoc, cooking lessons, hurt/comfort, and a toe-curling happily ever after.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/250603341-don-t-fall

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

North has spent most of his life trying to take care of his family. He has scars, physical and emotional, to show just how much he has been through. Working at the fire station was never his dream. But it gave him a steady career to take care of him mom and sisters after everything his stepdad put them through. And the guys at the station mean everything to him as well and he finds himself taking care of them when he can. But even he can admit he gets lonely. And the one guy who sparks something in him, is the same guy North keeps putting his foot in his mouth about. Leo. His best friend’s younger brother. Leo has his own set of trauma. Him and his husband were in a horrible accident six years ago that resulted in Leo’s husband’s death, and many physical damages to Leo as well. Especially when it involves his brain and he can get seizures. He thought moving into a house he liked near his brother would not only give him space but show he can be independent. Except when he learns North is his neighbor, he is anything but happy. Turns out, these two have quite the misunderstandings about one another. And what they think is hate is anything but. And when they finally talk and acknowledge the attraction brewing between them, well it might be the thing that both have been looking for all along. Absolutely loved this story! A great start to this series which included a bunch of characters I desperately want books for. I really loved getting to know North and Leo. Both have been through quite a lot. And while their traumas are different, they also do understand one another at the same time. It was sweet for them to finally get out of their own way and find the happiness they both more than deserve. Really can’t wait to see what book two brings us!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

False Start by Regina Kyle

 

When the race ends, the real heat begins.

Kip Carmichael knows exactly how this is supposed to do the job, keep it professional, don’t get attached. Especially not to someone like Hutch.

Tire gunner, menace, walking bad decision.

He’s grease-streaked hands and a crooked grin, the kind of guy who says whatever he wants and somehow gets away with it. The kind of guy Kip definitely doesn’t have time for.

Until a grounded flight and a spectacular run of bad luck strand them together somewhere in rural Germany with one run-down van, two beds (barely), and way too many hours to kill.

Somewhere between missed exits, questionable motels, and songs neither of them will admit to liking, the lines start to blur. What was supposed to be temporary starts to feel … not.

Which is a problem.

Because the paddock has eyes. Because Kip has rules. Because Hutch doesn’t do careful, and Kip doesn’t do this.

But the thing about bad decisions?

Sometimes they’re the only ones that feel right.

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

Kip likes to be organized and know exactly what is coming next. Kind of has to be considering his job. So when him and Hutch get stuck together in a round of bad luck on their way to their next destination for work, well he is barely hanging on by a thread. Especially when Hutch is his opposite. Goes with the flow and easily adapts to every situation. And as much as Hutch may infuriate Kip…he is also very attracted to Hutch. Being in close quarters with one another gives them a chance to get to know one another more. And maybe, opposites really do attract. This was a cute novella set in the Faster world! I loved Kip and Hutch’s dynamic. They had great chemistry and banter. And despite being pretty different, they actually balanced one another really well. A fun story all around!

The Firm Book 3: Vigilant by Cora Rose & Lark Taylor

 

The Firm Book 3

As the eldest brother and leader of The Firm, I take my responsibilities very seriously. There’s nothing I won’t do to keep my family safe. Staying vigilant, always thinking ten steps ahead, and holding the pieces of my life together with steady hands. Control is everything, because if I loosen my grip for even a moment, the darkness I’ve buried inside will claw its way free.

Everything is stable. Predictable. Safe.

Until Neo.

He’s a distraction I can’t afford but a temptation I can’t seem to ignore. My darkness is drawn to him; it wants to be set free.

And as our enemies close in, Neo becomes the one variable I can’t control… and the one risk I find myself wanting to take. Because for the first time, surrendering to the dark doesn’t feel like weakness.

It feels a lot like love.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/243961834-vigilant

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

Wylder is the eldest brother. The one always in control. The one who suffered the most by their father’s hands because there was no one around to protect him. But he would do everything in his power to protect his brothers. But his control is tested when Neo walks into his life. Neo who loves to get under Wylder’s skin in every way possible. Who is looking to unleash the monster that lurks inside of Wylder, caged by sheer force of will. Wylder may say he hates Neo’s pranks and distractions, but then why doesn’t he put a firm stop to it? Why does he…look for Neo every chance he gets? For Neo, he has grown up with the idea that no one wants him and that everyone will leave him. Putting his heart on the line is never an option. But Wylder and his family make him want to take a chance. To have some hope that Wylder may stick around for him. They may start off a bit rocky, but it’s only a matter of time until something snaps between them. And it will be everything. I loved these two! You got hints of something happening in the last book and it is everything you would expect and more. So much chaos when Neo is involved. I love that he broke Wylder’s walls down one by one. That he was determined to unleash the monster inside of Wylder if it meant seeing the real him. Watching these two get to know one another and break down each other’s walls, was great. Watching them fall hard for one another, even better. I am absolutely loving this series! We got a hint of who is up next and gotta say I’m a bit surprised considering the obvious pairs, but I cannot wait to see what happens next!

The Firm Book 2: Deviant by Cora Rose & Lark Taylor

 

The Firm Book 2

In my defense, this is all Brad’s fault.

I had one very important job: kidnap Brad.

I’ve never kidnapped someone before but how hard could it be? Find Brad. Snatch Brad. Deliver Brad to the very scary people who hold my fate in their hands.

So when a handsome, flirty stranger at the bar drops his name, I think my luck has finally turned. No chase. No fight. The man practically throws himself in my trunk, smiling like it’s a treat to be taken, like he wants me to have him.

The only problem? “Brad,” the charming and slightly unhinged man I’ve been keeping hostage for days, may be the most dangerous man of all.

Now I’m knee-deep in a life of crime I never signed up for. Tangled up with a man I never meant to take—and definitely never meant to fall for. And I’m staring down the barrel of a gun for mistakes I never should’ve made.

Because everyone knows The Firm never forgives a debt… and they always collect in blood.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/232378273-deviant

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

Ansel is not a criminal. Okay, well he is a hacker, but that is it! Until he takes the wrong job with some very bad people. And the only way for his life to be spared is if he kidnaps someone named Brad. Can’t be that hard, right? Well, that is until he does in fact kidnap someone who says his name is Brad…but that’s not exactly the truth. Cade was just out looking for a hook up and when he thinks he has one, Ansel surprises him by the trap he set. And instead of coming clean that his name is not Brad, he decides to see where this goes. Ansel is definitely the worst kidnapper ever. Cade would know. He’s done that and more considering he is part of The Firm, but for the first time in a very long time, something has grabbed his attention. Someone. Doesn’t happy with Cade, not with his brand of psychopathy. He is a product of his environment thanks to dear old dad. But now that Cade has found interest, he isn’t letting go. So he’ll go on this ride and see where it takes him. And the more time he spends with Ansel, the more he knows that Ansel is his. He just needs to be a bit patient and wait for Ansel to get on the same page. And even once the air is cleared on who is who, Cade knows he needs to protect Ansel. But Ansel won’t put Cade in harms way. Not when he knows the people he was tangled with, won’t let it go. Can they find their way out of this mess? Oh man, these two. Cade had me cracking up this whole book. He’s obsessive when it comes to Ansel, but only in the best ways. Knowing deep down that Ansel is it for him, there is nothing he won’t do to protect him and show him that this thing between them can be so much more. And it was equally fun to see how baffled Ansel was but bit by bit he warmed up, realizing that there is something very special about Cade. I really loved getting to know these two and seeing them fall hard for one another. Even with the danger that came with it. Also, with big hints of who the next couple would be, I am super excited to see how that story plays out! Really enjoying this series so far and I can’t wait for the next book!

The Firm Book 1: Covenant by Cora Rose & Lark Taylor

 

The Firm Book 1

The Firm can make any wish come true.

Money. A job promotion. Murder.

Whatever you desire can be yours—for a price.

The Firm has ruled St. Dismas for generations. To most, they’re just a myth.

But in truth, they are the last resort of the desperate.

I never understood why anyone would go to The Firm. There’s always a price to pay—a price you won’t discover until your request has been granted.

It was a path I swore I’d never walk.

Or so I thought.

When my brother is gravely injured, everything changes.

I have no choice but to go to The Firm.

I don’t know what they’ll ask of me, but I’ll give anything to save Jackson.

He has his whole life ahead of him, and I’ll make sure he gets to live it.

But when my price comes due, it’s nothing like I expected.

Not drug smuggling or murder. Not the darkness I braced myself for.

No, this is worse.

My price is to fulfill someone else’s request.

To give them what they asked for.

A marriage.

For anyone else, it may seem simple. But not for me.

Because the man I must marry is my worst enemy.

My rival.

The man I once trusted above all others—until he shattered that trust and threw it back in my face.

The idea of pretending to be Matthias’s doting husband for a year is my worst nightmare.

But I won’t do it for me.

I’ll do it for Jackson.

For my brother, I’ll pay the price.

Even if it means condemning myself.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/230228134-covenant

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

Wyatt thought he had the life he wanted. Until everything came crashing down around him. When his little brother gets into an accident and that leaves him gravelly injured, he knows he will do whatever it takes to make sure he is okay. So after a year of struggling and realizing that he needs help, he does the one thing he thought he would never do. He puts in a request at The Firm. The boogeymen of their town, they are mysterious and are known for answering pleas. But at a price. And for Wyatt, he never expected his price. To marry the man that shattered his trust years ago. For a year, he’ll have to be Matthias’s husband. But how can be look at Matthias with love when all he feels is anger? But being around Matthias reminds him of how they used to be before the day Matthias disappeared from his life. And Matthias claims that Wyatt doesn’t know the truth about what happened that day that ruined everything. Wyatt can’t decide if he wants the truth or not. But he knows one day he’ll have to learn it. In the meantime he is trying to figure out how he went from believing he is straight to being attracted to Matthias. Was he always attracted to guys? Or is it just his former best friend? There are a lot of secrets and answers Wyatt needs, but is he willing to find out and risk another broken heart? I really loved this story! Matthias and Wyatt have been through a lot. And you just wanted them to be happy and together after so many years apart. Especially when you learn the truth about Matthias and what happened in their past. These two have just been through so much. Their happy ending is one they have to fight for every day to get to the point where all cards are on the table and their past set to rest. The journey there is a great one! I’m definitely looking forward to the other books in this series!

Cruel Fates Book 2: Once Written in Gilded Blood by KM Moronova

 

Cruel Fates Book 2

Love is the sharpest weapon of all….

Born with gilded blood, Alira is a demigod knight forged for war - her rare gift makes her both priceless and disposable in the eyes of the gods she serves. When centuries of bloodshed threaten to consume the world, she is sent into a political marriage with Kalel Lornhelm, the infamous Blood Knight and demon commander of Devicit.

Devicit is a kingdom of beauty and terror, hidden behind a shimmering magical veil. As Alira is drawn into demon life, mistrust slowly gives way to desire, and Alira learns that Kalel has been bound to her fate far longer than she ever knew.

But beneath the city’s splendour lies a devastating secret. As gods rise, war reignites, and the systems that shaped them both demand blood once more, Alira and Kalel must confront the cost of peace….

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/239829534-once-written-in-gilded-blood

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My Review: 4/5 Stars

A great end to this duology! The end of the last book left us off with some major reveals. Kalel has many secrets and the day they are revealed is coming closer and closer. He knows he must tell Alira the truth before he loses her for good. But none are easy and none may end with forgiveness. The most pressing secret is the fact that her sacrifice was for nothing. A marriage between them should have ended the war. But neither kings want that to truly happen. And it is only a matter of time before Alira finds out. Alira knows Kalel is keeping secrets and with every little thing that happens, she knows she must find out the truth. Their love for one another is unexpected and wonderful and it is also the thing that will bring them the most pain. But if they want peace, sacrifices must be made. I really enjoyed the conclusion to this series! These two have been through so, so much. By others and by their own hands and they just deserved a happy ending after everything. But first they have to face one another and lay everything bare. Not easy. But by the end, they have more than earned their peace. You definitely don’t want to miss the conclusion of this story!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Cruel Fates Book 1: Once Upon a Demon’s Heart by KM Moronova

 

Cruel Fates Book 1

This is no fairytale—It’s yearning and guilt of two burdened hearts that will leave readers breathless.

Alira, a devoted demigod knight, has found herself trapped in the throes of a brutal curse. A time loop in which the demon kingdom’s Blood Knight kills her every time. She is haunted by the attack she led on the innocent village of Thornhall, and her guilt consumes her from the inside out. After the twentieth time loop, she has finally had enough. Something has to change, lest she die at the Blood Knight’s hand for the rest of time. A choice she hopes she won’t regret—one to end the war between demigods and demons. Alira is shocked when she realizes that she’s marrying the very knight who has slain her so many times.

A daughter of Venus and a duke of demons. Their love is both cursed and destined—a marriage to save the fragility of their kingdoms.

Kalel is as cruel as they come. A devourer who survives on the gilded blood of demigods. He wants to hate her as much as he did when Thornhall fell, but he finds himself warring with his heart over his emotions for her. Together, they unravel the truths of Faultore, that perhaps not everything is as it seems. The gods may be pulling more strings than they should.

It’s not a question of what love can conquer; it is a matter of what they are prepared to demolish in the path of it.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/239829563-once-upon-a-demon-s-heart

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My Review: 4/5 Stars

Alira is stuck in a time loop. And it ends the same every single time. Her death by the hands of the Blood Knight. No matter what she does, he finds her and kills her in the end. Ands she is just exhausted. The last time it happens, she decides it’s time for a new tactic. To run. Staying in her kingdom of demigods and their war against demons is exhausting and every time she spills blood, it hurts her more and more. But as she leaves she comes across someone and the conversation she has with him reminds her there is in fact one things he has yet to try. There was a decree that peace could be made if there is a union between the demigods and the demons. Alira has kept her bloodline hidden but by revealing it, no one will deny her request that she be the one to marry a demon and end the war. She will make the sacrifice. She just never expects that when they accept, it will bet the Blood Knight to answer the call. Or that he was the stranger she had met that made her decision to go down this path. But she will endure. She will bring peace. Even if it means marrying Kalel. This is such a fascinating new fantasy world! Demigods and demons were such an interesting mix. And a time loop curse? Even more so. I really enjoyed this first book and getting to know Alira and Kalel and this world. And that ending? Super glad I have the next book ready for me to read because I definitely need to know what happens next!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Toronto Thunder Book 4: Thunderstruck by Beth Bolden

 

Toronto Thunder Book 4

When Lane realizes he’s attracted to his straight stepbro, he’s absolutely thunderstruck . . .

It’s not the worst day of Lane’s life when his team, the Toronto Thunder, drafts his baby stepbro, Trevor, but it’s close.

No. The worst day was when his mom married Trevor’s dad. Trevor’s just too good, too naïve, too sheltered. Too hot.

Lane might claim he wants nothing to do with him, but that’s the worst delusion of all. He’s always wanted everything to do with Trevor. Even when they have zero in common. Even when Trevor’s always been on the straight and narrow. Literally.

Lane’s the total opposite. He’s walked—and danced and sashayed—to the beat of his own drum, forever. Mentoring Trevor now that they’re on the same team? Sounds like his idea of hell—and heaven, too. There’s a reason their teammates call them the demon twins.

But with the final few games of the season and the Thunders’ playoff run looming, Lane’s self-control is weaker than ever. Especially when Trevor confesses that he’s been thinking about it, too.

Suggesting Trevor experiment with their mutual attraction would be a terrible idea, but Lane’s had worse, and that’s never stopped him before.

And when it becomes way more than just sex? When Trevor becomes the first guy he wants to see in the mornings and the last thing before he goes to bed at night? When they’re so completely entangled together that he couldn’t get free, even if he wanted to?

That’s a special kind of thunder.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/241985713-thunderstruck

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

At eighteen, Lane never would have imagined the guy he was crushing on would be the son of his mom’s current and very serious boyfriend. From the moment he saw how happy his mom was and that her boyfriend may be an actual good guy, he knew he could never act on his feelings for Trevor. Or tell him or anyone that there are feelings at all. So he spent the next six years refusing to call Trevor “brother” or being around much at home to avoid it, hoping his feelings would go away. But when Trevor is drafted to the Toronto Thunder with Lane, well, he can’t decide if this is the best or the worst thing to ever happen. Scratch that, learning that Trevor may be into guys and wanting to explore that may be what kills Lane. Especially when Lane volunteers himself. Trevor has never understood why Lane has been so distant with him. And moving in with him when was drafted didn’t seem like a great idea. But spending months slowly getting to know one another, helped bring them a bit closer. Though Trevor can still see Lane’s walls are very much still up. But when Trevor is realizing he may be into guys and says something to Lane, he can’t help but feel deep down that maybe Lane can help. And then Trevor’s eyes are open to Lane for the first time. Because he now is truly getting to see and know Lane and that may be the best thing that has ever happened. I loved these two! Oh man, poor Lane has been torturing himself for years trying to get over his feelings for Trevor and just never succeeding. It was so great he finally had a chance to do something about it and even more amazing for him to admit what has been going on with him for so long. He definitely deserved a nice happy ending. I loved how their relationship developed in this story. They slowly broke down one another’s walls and it showed that those gut feelings they had for one another since they met were proven right. Great story all around! And I can’t wait for the next book!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Devon Falls Book 4: Found in the Falls by JE Birk

 

Devon Falls Book 4

After Dr. Milo Warner saves me from humiliation in a hotel hallway, I can’t stop thinking about him. When I get the chance to hide from my problems and open a community center with Milo in a small town called Devon Falls, I take that opportunity and run. But now things between the two of us are heating up fast. Milo protects me from runaway gondolas, takes care of me when I’m injured, shields me from my trauma, and sees power and strength in me that no one else ever has. We keep making jokes about the two of us being the perfect alpha/omega pair, but honestly? I’m not joking.

The problem is that it’s becoming more and more likely our parents will soon run against each other in a high-profile political primary race. Milo and I have both been burned by the public spotlight before, and we understand the dangerous territory we’re wading into. When we uncover a secret that’s been kept from our parents, one thing becomes clear: Milo and I will both need to take some big risks if we plan to fight for each other.

Found in the Falls comes with an older doctor who struggles to suppress his protective side, a younger social worker who just wants to make the world better, a sweet rescue dog they accidentally adopt together, and the Devon Falls found family they both desperately need. This is the fourth book in the Devon Falls series, but it can be read as a standalone.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/235733447-found-in-the-falls

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

I love being back in Devon Falls! Another great story in this series. This time it is Milo and Noah’s story! Noah hasn’t had it easy. Losing his mom in the way he did when he was a kid has left his scars. But he was raised by his uncle who loves him deeply. And who, unfortunately for Noah, has a high profile political career. Being in the spotlight is the worst place for Noah to be but he knows his uncle does good work. Though his advisor is unkind and harsh with Noah. Which Milo catches when him and Noah run into one another. Milo rises to Noah’s defense. And with Milo’s own mom in politics, he gets it. It starts a friendship between them. And when Noah needs to get away, Milo offers Devon Falls as an escape. Working at the new community center that is being developed in Devon Falls is great for Noah. And it gives Milo and Noah a chance to get to know one another better…and explore the sparks between them. They are exactly what one another needs. They have great chemistry and the dynamic between them works so well with them. I loved getting to know them and watch them fall hard for one another. I also loved seeing our other favorite characters from this series and what they have been up to. And even more, looks like we have a new character who will be getting their book next! So happy to see this series continue and can’t wait for the next love story!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Van Doren Book 8: Kairo by Crea Reitan

 

Van Doren Book 8

Every heart hides something.

He walks into my office like he has a right to be here. Unfazed and unbothered by my sharp words and thorny exterior, Malcolm challenges everything I know. Somehow, he breaks down my walls and I’m laid bare before him. 

There’s nothing more terrifying than exposing my vulnerability so when I force him out of my life to protect my heart, I realize there are some things that being a Van Doren alone can’t fix.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/250436343-kairo

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

Kairo’s turn! I’ve been looking forward to his story for a while. Kairo has come off as prickly and a jerk through a lot of eyes. Though in recent books, it looked like everyone was starting to realize something. That he isn’t what he appears. And he may be hiding who he is behind a very tall wall. But no one has been successful getting past his defenses. Until Malcolm. Malcolm is a survivor of a very messed up game. He owes the Van Dorens for getting him out of there and they’ve helped him give him a new purpose. So when Jalon asks Malcolm to go to Chicago and see if he can help Kairo a bit, he goes. But mostly because he is very curious about Kairo himself. He may have heard different things about Kairo, but he won’t judge until he gets there. And to his surprise and delight, Kairo feels like his. Now to prove it to him. To earn his trust and show him that Malcolm sees everything he is hiding about himself. And that Malcolm can take care of him, be there for him… if he lets him. I loved this story! It was so great to finally know more about Kairo and see the big heart he desperately hides. And Malcolm is absolutely perfect for him. This was just a great story all around!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Van Doren Book 7: Arath by Crea Reitan

 

Van Doren Book 7

Be careful what you ask for.

Elgin Bolingbrook is drunk and in the wrong place at the wrong time. The mistaken target for a gang lands Elgin in my protection. He’s cute, confused, and so ridiculously responsive to me that I quickly become addicted. 

As we close in on the gang who’s after Elgin, I realize that once we eliminate the threat, I’m going to lose the man I enjoy playing like a violin.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/250436102-arath

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

When Elgin ends up at the wrong place at the wrong time, he never imagined where it would lead him. Arath Van Doren is in charge of Philly. Keeping it safe with his team, they track a local gang who are trying to make a name for themselves. And lucky for Elgin, Arath is at the right time to save him from being shot. But now that gang thinks they have to take out Elgin. Arath won’t let that happen. Elgin knows he should probably object a bit to being a bit of a “hostage” to Arath, but he can’t seem to find a reason to care all that much. Arath has awakened something in Elgin he has never felt before and he isn’t ready to let it go just yet. And for Arath, well he definitely addicted to Elgin and letting him go isn’t an option either. These two were pretty funny. We got a willing hostage and a protective caveman, but they were definitely cute. It’s always fun to get a Van Doren brother story! And I loved seeing this one extended after having read a sneak peek of it. You definitely don’t want to miss these two!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Beautiful and Beastly Book 1: A Curse of Beasts and Magic by Jeaniene Frost

 

Beautiful and Beastly Book 1

New York Times bestselling author of The Night Huntress series Jeaniene Frost returns with a brand-new series! It’s Beauty and the Beast meets The Witcher in this dark fantastical retelling, except Beauty IS the Beast, and he’s the Warden keeping mythical beings in check in our world and beyond.

Raine Stone was the sole survivor of a horrific creature while camping. Her account of the attack was attributed to shock, but Raine knows all too well that her story is true because now she carries that same Beast inside her!

She’s been restraining its violent urges by letting it 'feed' on the pain and chaos she’s exposed to as an ER nurse, and by playing vigilante against would-be muggers at night. But when Raine uses the Beast’s energy to heal a frail elderly gentleman from a seemingly random attack, she opens herself to a new world of danger—literally.

Remington “Remy” Byrne knows that the wall between a realm of deadly mythic creatures and our own world is very thin; he’s the Warden who guards the gateways between them. He also rules the supernatural creatures living in secret among us. Raine’s Beast makes her an intruder on Remy’s territory, but the elderly gentleman she saved is Remy’s grandfather, and her Beast contains power that could tip the scales in a sinister plot against Remy’s rule—if Raine allies with him.

Will they be friends or foes…or will the dangerous attraction between them turn into something else? And can our world be saved by their explosive alliance?

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/240019965-a-curse-of-beasts-and-magic

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

A great start to this new series by Jeaniene Frost! Raine has a problem. One that started eleven years ago. There is this Beast inside of her, and no matter what she does, it won’t go away. So over the years she has done everything in her power to control it and feed it to keep it tame. The Beast craves violence, and Raine has found ways to provide it. But one night changes her future. After she helps an old man from being attacked and heals him with her powers, Remy comes to her door. Turns out, she isn’t the only magical being in the world. The world is filled with them and there are some rules and guardians. Remy is a Warden. Basically keeping balance and providing some order between magical creatures and the unknowing humans. And turns out, he knows what Raine is and he may just be able to help. So they strike a bit of a deal. But there are other grabs for power going on in the world around them and they’ll need to work together. All the while trying to figure out what is sparking between them. A really great start to this whole new urban fantasy world! I really loved getting to know Raine. She is exactly what you would expect out of a Jeaniene Frost heroine. Sassy, smart, and brave. You never knew what she would do next. A great match to challenge Remy at every turn. A great story all around and I can’t wait to see what happens with these two next!

Dark Olympus Book 10: Shattered Gods by Katee Robert

 

Dark Olympus Book 10

She was Olympus's Queen. Its sacrifice. Its savior. Its destruction.

Long ago, Circe was Hermes' entire heart. The two women lived on the outskirts of Olympian society, content with a quiet life away from the spotlight. Then Circe caught the eye of Zeus…and was forced into a marriage that would take her freedom, her future, and in the end, her life. In the wake of the tragedy, gossip swirled about the woman Zeus married and (allegedly) murdered…but in time, everyone forgot about beautiful, tragic Circe.

Everyone but Hermes, who vowed on that day to bring Olympus to its knees.

Now, fifteen years later, a new Zeus rules the city, a new Hades protects his people, a new hope dawns…and Hermes has begun to think there may be things about Olympus worth saving. With Atalanta by her side―and slowly rebuilding her heart―Hermes may finally be ready to set aside her fury and seek the city's rebirth instead of its total annihilation. But there is a beautiful devil on Hermes' other shoulder: a devil who rose, blood-soaked, from where Zeus left her for dead years ago. A devil who has waited all this time to have her revenge.

And no matter their past, no matter the desperate love they once shared, no matter the complicated triad forming between the three women, Circe will not rest until all of Olympus lays shattered at her feet…and the gods help anyone who gets in her way.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/240468760-shattered-gods

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

The final book of this series has arrived! And we finally get Hermes’s story. It’s been a long time coming to see what she has been up to all this time and her exact plans. And her past. Hermes’s goal has been to take down the Thirteen. To build something new. But then Circe arrives unexpectedly and it disrupts her plans over and over again. Add in the fact that Hermes thought Circe was dead. And they have quite the past. And right now, Circe is making moves to take the city. She may think she is helping but her ways only lead to death and destruction. Lost in her vengeance. She must be stopped. But that’s not easy. Then we have Atalanta. Hermes’s friend who also loves Hermes. Though they have never acted on it. Knowing that they had a bigger agenda. But the time to hold back from the one you love is no longer an option. Not even any day could you be your last. A pretty wild ride this last one. I was trying to figure out early on how Hermes, Circe, and Atalanta would end up together while also trying to figure out how this story could possibly end with those characters we have come to love remaining intact. At lot goes down in this final book, but the ending is what Olympus needed. A fun series all around. I’m sad to see it go!