Kate's bookshelf: all en-US Mon, 31 Mar 2025 04:44:57 -0700 60 Kate's bookshelf: all 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg <![CDATA[My Dark Fairy Tale (My Dark Mafia Romance, #1)]]> 217498914 When a mysterious man rescues her from near death, a young woman finds herself in the throes of a dark and dangerous storybook romance, where pleasure reigns but happy endings are no guarantee.

Guinevere

For all my life, Italy has called to me just as strongly as my father forbade me to go. But now I’m making my own way, spending a summer in his homeland before I accept the life my parents have planned for me.

All those plans come to a screeching halt the moment I meet him. Raffaele Romano.

Raffaele

Everyone knows me as the capo dei capi of the Camorra, a notorious mafioso in Northern Italy, but she makes me remember who I used to be before I became this monster. For her, I could be so much more, but she can never know the truth about who I am.

She’s falling in love with me, but if she discovered the truth about what that monster is capable of, about the things I’ve done…she’d never believe in happily-ever-after again.]]> 316 Giana Darling 1662527578 Kate 0 to-read 4.38 2025 My Dark Fairy Tale (My Dark Mafia Romance, #1)
author: Giana Darling
name: Kate
average rating: 4.38
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/31
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Kiss the Villain (Villain #1) 220287670 From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Rina Kent comes a scorching standalone professor/student dark MM romance set in the world of Legacy of Gods.

My darkness meets a darker soul.

I’m a golden boy.
A genius law student, the heir to the Carson empire, and the dutiful son.
Or, at least, that's what it looks like from the outside.
Deep inside, I have the urge to set the world on fire.
I keep these impulses in check, rarely indulging in mayhem.
Until one night of debauchery backfires, and I'm caught by a villain.
I bury the entire ordeal with the rest of my skeletons.
That is, until that night walks into my classroom in the form of my new professor.
Kayden Lockwood.
A criminal who’s teaching criminal law.
I can't expose what he's done without unmasking my secret life.
What I can do, however, is force him to taste the poison he gave me.
In the clash of titans, Kayden and I break and crumble.
And I'm starting to realize this dangerous game may have no winners.

Kiss the Villain is a dark MM romance. Please check the author's note or visit the website for content warnings before diving in. While this book can be enjoyed as a standalone, diving into the Legacy of Gods series will give you a deeper connection to the characters.]]> 514 Rina Kent Kate 3 2025, solid-eh-books, spicy 4.17 2025 Kiss the Villain (Villain #1)
author: Rina Kent
name: Kate
average rating: 4.17
book published: 2025
rating: 3
read at: 2025/03/22
date added: 2025/03/22
shelves: 2025, solid-eh-books, spicy
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Sunrise on the Reaping (The Hunger Games, #0.5)]]> 214331246 When you’ve been set up to lose everything you love, what is there left to fight for?

As the day dawns on the fiftieth annual Hunger Games, fear grips the districts of Panem. This year, in honor of the Quarter Quell, twice as many tributes will be taken from their homes.

Back in District 12, Haymitch Abernathy is trying not to think too hard about his chances. All he cares about is making it through the day and being with the girl he loves.

When Haymitch’s name is called, he can feel all his dreams break. He’s torn from his family and his love, shuttled to the Capitol with the three other District 12 tributes: a young friend who’s nearly a sister to him, a compulsive oddsmaker, and the most stuck-up girl in town. As the Games begin, Haymitch understands he’s been set up to fail. But there’s something in him that wants to fight . . . and have that fight reverberate far beyond the deadly arena.]]> 382 Suzanne Collins 1546171460 Kate 3 2025, solid-eh-books, ya
This was the prequel I actually asked for (sorry not sorry Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes) ]]> 4.66 2025 Sunrise on the Reaping (The Hunger Games, #0.5)
author: Suzanne Collins
name: Kate
average rating: 4.66
book published: 2025
rating: 3
read at: 2025/03/21
date added: 2025/03/21
shelves: 2025, solid-eh-books, ya
review:
I read the first book when I was 12 and I will be 23 when this comes out…WTF

This was the prequel I actually asked for (sorry not sorry Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes)
]]> <![CDATA[My Life with the Walter Boys (My Life with the Walter Boys #1)]]> 13580846 My Life with the Walter Boys centers on the prim, proper, and always perfect Jackie Howard. When her world is turned upside down by tragedy, Jackie must learn to cut loose and be part of a family again.

Jackie does not like surprises. Chaos is the enemy! The best way to get her successful, busy parents to notice her is to be perfect. The perfect look, the perfect grades-the perfect daughter. And then...

Surprise #1: Jackie's family dies in a freak car accident.

Surprise #2: Jackie has to move cross-country to live with the Walters-her new guardians.

Surprise #3: The Walters have twelve sons. (Well, eleven, but Parker acts like a boy anyway)

Now Jackie must trade in her Type A personality and New York City apartment for a Colorado ranch and all the wild Walter boys who come with it. Jackie is surrounded by the enemy-loud, dirty, annoying boys who have no concept of personal space. Okay, several of the oldest guys are flat-out gorgeous. But still annoying. She's not stuck-up or boring-no matter what they say. But proving it is another matter. How can she fit in and move on when she needs to keep her parents' memory alive by living up to the promise of perfect?

Ali Novak wrote My Life with the Walter Boys when she was just 15 years old. First a hit on the online community Wattpad, this debut novel has already been read over 33 million times and is loved by readers around the world.]]> 368 Ali Novak 1402297874 Kate 4 3.77 2012 My Life with the Walter Boys (My Life with the Walter Boys #1)
author: Ali Novak
name: Kate
average rating: 3.77
book published: 2012
rating: 4
read at: 2014/03/31
date added: 2025/03/20
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Bone Conjurers (The Chronicles of Castellane, #3)]]> 216417412 Cassandra Clare Kate 0 to-read I NEED THIS NOW 4.41 The Bone Conjurers (The Chronicles of Castellane, #3)
author: Cassandra Clare
name: Kate
average rating: 4.41
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/18
shelves: to-read
review:
I NEED THIS NOW
]]> <![CDATA[The Ragpicker King (The Chronicles of Castellane, #2)]]> 36692308
Kel Saren, body double to Conor, crown prince of the dazzling city of Castellane, is caught between two worlds. In order to protect his beloved prince, Kel must find the culprits responsible for a massacre at the royal palace—and the only clues are held by the Ragpicker King, the notorious criminal who rules Castellane’s underworld. The trail Kel follows leads back to the Hill, where among decadent nobles and glittering parties a dark conspiracy to destroy the royal family has taken hold—a conspiracy headed up by the monstrous Artal Gremont, the man engaged to marry the woman Kel adores.

Meanwhile, Lin Caster must face the aftermath of the greatest risk she’s ever taken. To save the life of a dying friend, Lin has falsely claimed to be the Goddess Reborn, the legendary heroine destined to save her people. Now the terrifying—but strangely magnetic—leader of her people has arrived to test her powers. The price of failure is exile, and only through her alliance with the Ragpicker King can she continue to access the magic that may save her.

Then Prince Conor reappears in her life, demanding that she use her healing powers to cure the madness of his father, the King. Lin soon realizes the King is gripped by an ancient and terrible magic, one whose lure she cannot deny any more than she can deny her growing passion for Conor.

As the simmering tensions in Castellane reach a fever pitch, Lin and Kel must decide who to trust when any false move means death—or worse.]]> 480 Cassandra Clare 1529001447 Kate 5
Also Lin and Conor are my babies, I love them and will protect them at all costs

]]> 4.46 2025 The Ragpicker King (The Chronicles of Castellane, #2)
author: Cassandra Clare
name: Kate
average rating: 4.46
book published: 2025
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/18
date added: 2025/03/18
shelves: 2025, book-boyfriends, fantasy-paranormal-sci-fi, favorite-leading-ladies, favorites
review:
HOLY PLOT TWIST BATMAN

Also Lin and Conor are my babies, I love them and will protect them at all costs


]]> <![CDATA[The Charlie Method (Campus Diaries, #3)]]> 212688557 The third in the steamy, hilarious Campus Diaries series by New York Times bestselling author Elle Kennedy, set in the same world as Off Campus and Briar U.

College senior Charlotte Kingston is living two lives―and she's nailing both of them. By day, she's the perfect sorority girl, a STEM student in biomedical engineering, and the adopted daughter of an overachiever family. At night, she's Charlie: a risk-taking daredevil looking for fun who finds herself chatting on a dating app with two anonymous hotties.

Will Larsen may seem like the breezy boy next door, but his congressman father is a constant thorn in his side. After a scandal hits another Division 1 hockey program, Will's dad is determined to distance his son from it, hiring a journalist to prove how squeaky-clean Will and his team are. Which means the last thing Will wants is for anyone to find out he and his best friend Beckett Dunne―a laidback Aussie shielding secret heartache―sometimes share girls in the bedroom.

When Charlie finally meets them in person and realizes she's been chatting with two gorgeous Briar U hockey players, things get steamy―fast. But all their messy secrets are piling up, and real life soon threatens to shatter the fantasy. With Charlie, Will, and Beckett all coming to terms with what they want and what others want for them, difficult decisions will need to be made.

Especially when lust starts to look a lot like love.]]> 528 Elle Kennedy 1464219354 Kate 2 2025, not-my-fave, spicy
Update:
1.5 Stars

I thought the fanfiction was more compelling than this.

This should have been a story with just Charlie and Beckett OR even better should have been just Beckett and Will’s book. Will and Beckett themselves had significantly more chemistry than all of them combined. I don’t even know if I believe the Beckett/Charlie leg of this relationship, but it would still be better than whatever this was.

There was no reason that Will and Charlie should have been together. There was zero chemistry, they barely any page time spent on them, and they seemed like a complete afterthought.

I would also accept just all three of them being together if the chemistry issue was resolved.

This book just seemed like an attempt to be edgy, and it was a complete FLOP.

Also if this was a set up for Blake to get with that creepy football player, I’m gonna be PISSED.]]> 3.48 2025 The Charlie Method (Campus Diaries, #3)
author: Elle Kennedy
name: Kate
average rating: 3.48
book published: 2025
rating: 2
read at: 2025/03/02
date added: 2025/03/15
shelves: 2025, not-my-fave, spicy
review:
This is the last book so there’s only going to be one actual second gen book? Interesting�

Update:
1.5 Stars

I thought the fanfiction was more compelling than this.

This should have been a story with just Charlie and Beckett OR even better should have been just Beckett and Will’s book. Will and Beckett themselves had significantly more chemistry than all of them combined. I don’t even know if I believe the Beckett/Charlie leg of this relationship, but it would still be better than whatever this was.

There was no reason that Will and Charlie should have been together. There was zero chemistry, they barely any page time spent on them, and they seemed like a complete afterthought.

I would also accept just all three of them being together if the chemistry issue was resolved.

This book just seemed like an attempt to be edgy, and it was a complete FLOP.

Also if this was a set up for Blake to get with that creepy football player, I’m gonna be PISSED.
]]> Wild Side (Rose Hill, #3) 217465190
But when my nephew’s guardianship is contested, I decide I’ll do whatever it takes to keep him in Rose Hill. Even if it means marrying the enemy.

Rhys Dupris.

A man who is secretive, broody, and completely infuriating. A man whose work takes him away for weeks on end and brings him back covered in mysterious bruises—ones he won’t talk about. In fact, we barely talk at all.

Which would be fine, except when he’s not talking, he’s staring. And the way he looks at me is borderline indecent.

The tension between us has always been palpable. But living under the same roof is a dangerous temptation.

I swore I would never forgive him. But that was before I knew the man behind the mask. The one who’s fierce and protective. The one who’s gentle and patient. The one who shows up for us when we need him most.

He’s not at all who I thought he was.

And that makes hating my husband so much harder� and loving him just a little too easy.]]> 466 Elsie Silver Kate 2 I fear that Wild Love might have been a fluke in this series for me.

I felt nothing reading this. There wasn’t effective relationship development much like Wild Eyes, and when they finally said I love you, I rolled my eyes.

And again like Wild Eyes, I think Milo was deeply underutilized. He was only in this book for 5 secs and then he was gone. Thinking back to Heartless, Luke was in almost every chapter and you could truly feel the love between him and Cade and the relationship grow with him and Willa. Here, I didn’t find that I knew anything about Milo’s relationship with Tabby or Rhys by the end beyond that he would stay with them when his mom was gone and the very occasional moments he had with them in this. If this is going to be touted as a “dad� series, I need to see them being dads.

Also this is where I discover that I don’t personally find wrestling sexy lol.

Sigh, I hope I can get back on board the Elsie Silver train when Wild Card comes out. ]]> 4.28 2025 Wild Side (Rose Hill, #3)
author: Elsie Silver
name: Kate
average rating: 4.28
book published: 2025
rating: 2
read at: 2025/03/04
date added: 2025/03/07
shelves: 2025, solid-eh-books, spicy, contemporary-romance
review:
2.5 Stars
I fear that Wild Love might have been a fluke in this series for me.

I felt nothing reading this. There wasn’t effective relationship development much like Wild Eyes, and when they finally said I love you, I rolled my eyes.

And again like Wild Eyes, I think Milo was deeply underutilized. He was only in this book for 5 secs and then he was gone. Thinking back to Heartless, Luke was in almost every chapter and you could truly feel the love between him and Cade and the relationship grow with him and Willa. Here, I didn’t find that I knew anything about Milo’s relationship with Tabby or Rhys by the end beyond that he would stay with them when his mom was gone and the very occasional moments he had with them in this. If this is going to be touted as a “dad� series, I need to see them being dads.

Also this is where I discover that I don’t personally find wrestling sexy lol.

Sigh, I hope I can get back on board the Elsie Silver train when Wild Card comes out.
]]> Wild Eyes (Rose Hill, #2) 209568782
As a chart-topping country singer with a recent streak of bad press it’s hard to find any peace. But I find it in Rose Hill. With a little boy and a little girl who steal my heart just as thoroughly as their dad.

Weston Belmont.

The man is a shameless flirt. He oozes confidence and masculinity in a way that’s downright distracting. And in bed? He’s addictive.

Everything with him is wild and impulsive and I’m desperate to regain some control.

But no one has supported me like West does. And no one has ever made me feel as loved as he does either.

So, while my brain says settling down with a small-town horse trainer is impossible� my heart says I’m right where I belong.

Still, my life as a celebrity haunts me. It has the power to pull us apart.

I can see in his eyes that wants me to stay. And I want that too.

But I know better than anyone that we don’t always get what we want.]]> 464 Elsie Silver 1464220824 Kate 3 2024, solid-eh-books, spicy
The characters had the typical Elsie Silver charm and they were truly a highlight. However, this book lacked strong relationship development and it was a little too insta-lovey for my taste.

Also the kids were barely in this. One of my favorite parts of single dad romance is the interactions with the kids. They were highly entertaining when we did get them, but then the kids would be gone for a while. We got some cute moments with Skylar and the kids but I would have loved to see more of her integrating into this family.

The big conflict was also supposed to be Skylar’s parents. They kinda loomed over the entire plot but then when they finally show up, it felt like an afterthought and poof they were gone. And conveniently, the conflict was resolved.

I loved Chestnut Springs and Wild Love so I’m hoping this was a fluke and I’ll love Wild Side!

Update: I didn’t like Wild Side either ]]> 4.24 2024 Wild Eyes (Rose Hill, #2)
author: Elsie Silver
name: Kate
average rating: 4.24
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at: 2024/09/13
date added: 2025/03/04
shelves: 2024, solid-eh-books, spicy
review:
I was a little disappointed with this one.

The characters had the typical Elsie Silver charm and they were truly a highlight. However, this book lacked strong relationship development and it was a little too insta-lovey for my taste.

Also the kids were barely in this. One of my favorite parts of single dad romance is the interactions with the kids. They were highly entertaining when we did get them, but then the kids would be gone for a while. We got some cute moments with Skylar and the kids but I would have loved to see more of her integrating into this family.

The big conflict was also supposed to be Skylar’s parents. They kinda loomed over the entire plot but then when they finally show up, it felt like an afterthought and poof they were gone. And conveniently, the conflict was resolved.

I loved Chestnut Springs and Wild Love so I’m hoping this was a fluke and I’ll love Wild Side!

Update: I didn’t like Wild Side either
]]> To Catch a Firefly 203499988 He was my beginning. And my never-ending.

Ellis
There’s a lot I’ve never told my best friend. The fact that I love him. That I miss him every day he’s gone. That, sometimes, I ache for him with a ferocity that leaves me breathless.

Lucky Buchanan tore into my life as a boy, wild and daring, my opposite in every way. He drew me in, stole my heart without trying. He hears me, even though I rarely speak a word. But I always knew this place wouldn’t be enough for my free-spirited friend. I knew he wasn’t mine to keep.

So why, when I finally try to get over him, does he sweep back into town? Why is he upset? Why is there tension between us for the first time in years?

I never saw a future where Lucky could be mine. But now, unless I want to lose my friend, I might not have a choice but to tell the truth. My heart belongs to him. It has from the start.

If only I knew how to hold onto a creature that’s meant to fly.

To Catch a Firefly is a standalone, childhood friends-to-lovers romance told in dual POV. There’s epic levels of pining, a neurodivergent MC with selective mutism, two friends who always come back to one another, glass hearts and romantic declarations, and a HEA beneath the night sky.]]> 313 Emmy Sanders Kate 0 4.41 2024 To Catch a Firefly
author: Emmy Sanders
name: Kate
average rating: 4.41
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at: 2025/03/03
date added: 2025/03/03
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[My Return to the Walter Boys (My Life with the Walter Boys #2)]]> 215057178 The highly anticipated sequel to My Life with the Walter Boys, the internationally bestselling novel that inspired the Netflix series!

Jackie Howard returns to the Walter ranch after a summer in New York. She needed space—and got it. But she doesn't know where things stand with her and Cole Walter after that goodbye kiss. Over the summer, she stopped texting him. She never stopped thinking about him.

Still, with Cole living off in town to work at Tony's garage before he heads off to college, Jackie thinks it'll be easy to avoid him—only to find that when she sees him face to face at last, it's, well... impossible to resist him. Things are getting complicated: he's the boy she can't get off her mind, and the Walters have become the family she loves and needs. How can Jackie move forward when she's afraid of taking the next step?]]> 336 Ali Novak 1464230226 Kate 0 to-read 4.00 2025 My Return to the Walter Boys (My Life with the Walter Boys #2)
author: Ali Novak
name: Kate
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/11
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Longing of Lone Wolves (Season of the Wolf #1; Fae Guardians, #1)]]> 53303848
Rush is a Fae Guardian, a wolf-shifter whose enhanced abilities have made him a ruthless protector of Elphyne. His job is to protect the realm from the human enemy, and to ensure the sins of the past never come to pass again lest magic die forever. Well... it was his job until half a century ago when he allowed one night of weakness to distract him from his job. His punishment was a curse worse than death. Now a ghost, he spends his lonely time longing to be part of the living, once again protecting them from monsters� until one washes up on the shores of his lake.

Clarke is beautiful, feisty, fierce, and she's the only person who can see him.

If he hands her over to the Order, she’s his ticket to having his curse removed, but the more he learns about this human, the more he realizes maybe she’s not the monster he’s trained to believe. In fact, she’s capable of inciting passion he’d never dreamed possible again, but Clarke has a message from the past� sins are already repeating. This time, if they don’t stop the coming evil, it won’t just be magic that dies. It will be everything.

The Witcher meets Beauty and the Beast in this gripping, heart-stopping new epic fantasy romance featuring a band of brothers, shifters, fae protectors and their strong willed women from our time. If you love your books full of page turning action, intrigue, and romantic tension then this book is for you. For fans of Kristen Ashley's Fantastical series or Sarah J Maas's adult fantasy romance.

More in the Fae Guardians Series

The Longing of Lone Wolves
The Solace of Sharp Claws
The Dreams of Broken Kings]]> 468 Lana Pecherczyk Kate 3 3.97 2021 The Longing of Lone Wolves (Season of the Wolf #1; Fae Guardians, #1)
author: Lana Pecherczyk
name: Kate
average rating: 3.97
book published: 2021
rating: 3
read at: 2025/02/09
date added: 2025/02/09
shelves: 2025, fantasy-paranormal-sci-fi, solid-eh-books, spicy
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Fair Catch (Red Zone Rivals, #1)]]> 60387145
A cocky kick returner and my brother’s best friend who should have been ripped of that title years ago, he’s as infuriating as he is undeniably sexy.

I hate him, and for good reason � reason I won’t ever let him forget.

He thinks because we grew up together that it’s his role to protect me, but all he does is get in my way, make me look weak, and piss me off more.

I tell him I can handle myself, and I’m hell-bent on getting that point across to him and the rest of the nation watching the only girl in collegiate football.

The pressure doesn’t get to me. The scrutiny? I’m ready for.

But sharing very thin walls with Zeke Collins? I wasn’t prepared for that.

And the more we’re forced together, the harder it is to distinguish that pencil-thin line between hating him� and wanting him.]]> 362 Kandi Steiner Kate 3 3.62 2022 Fair Catch (Red Zone Rivals, #1)
author: Kandi Steiner
name: Kate
average rating: 3.62
book published: 2022
rating: 3
read at: 2025/01/22
date added: 2025/01/22
shelves: 2025, contemporary-romance, solid-eh-books, spicy, sports-romance
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Loving Romeo (Magnolia Falls, #1)]]> 202399571 I was the boxer from the wrong side of the tracks.
She was the epitome of everything good, while I was broody and rebellious.
We couldn’t be more different.
Her family was enemy number one which made her guilty by association.
I despised her before I even knew her.
It was easier that way.
But now she’d moved in next door to me, and she was everywhere I turned.
I couldn’t avoid her no matter how hard I tried.
She was beautiful and honest and sweet.
Everything I knew I shouldn’t want.
Shouldn’t need.
They say there’s a fine line between love and hate—and I don’t know when I crossed over.
I was so wrapped up in this girl I couldn’t see straight.
She was the right hook I never saw coming.
Hating her was supposed to be my end game.
Loving her� well, that was just the beginning.
But the secrets that lived between us threatened to tear us apart.
Lucky for her—I was a born fighter.
And she was definitely worth the fight. ]]> 346 Laura Pavlov Kate 2 2025, dnf DNF 3.89 2024 Loving Romeo (Magnolia Falls, #1)
author: Laura Pavlov
name: Kate
average rating: 3.89
book published: 2024
rating: 2
read at: 2025/01/21
date added: 2025/01/21
shelves: 2025, dnf
review:
DNF
]]> <![CDATA[Consider Me (Playing For Keeps, #1)]]> 60040033
He’s arrogant, self-centered, and the man doesn’t seem to know what a filter is, let alone how to use one. He’s had everything served to him on a silver platter, including endless strings of women, and apparently, I’m up next.

His only problem? I have no intention of falling for his shi—um, charm.

I have the solution to all my sexual frustrations in a drawer at home, and it’s far less complicated than Carter Beckett. Sure, he may be pretty, but he’s also a walking, talking reminder for you to wrap it before you tap it.

But then I start letting my guard down, and he starts showing me pieces of himself I had no intention of seeing. The bricks surrounding me may be tumbling down one by one, but I’m not sold yet, which means for the first time in his life, Carter’s the one begging.

For my time, my trust, for a single chance.
For me to just…consider him.]]> 462 Becka Mack Kate 0 2025, dnf Le sigh another DNF 3.83 2022 Consider Me (Playing For Keeps, #1)
author: Becka Mack
name: Kate
average rating: 3.83
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at: 2025/01/20
date added: 2025/01/20
shelves: 2025, dnf
review:
Le sigh another DNF
]]> <![CDATA[Behind the Net (Vancouver Storm, #1)]]> 174713026 He's the hot, grumpy goalie I had a crush on in high school... and now I'm his live-in assistant.

After my ex crushed my dreams in the music industry, I’m done with getting my heart broken. Working as an assistant for an NHL player was supposed to be a breeze, but nothing about Jamie Streicher is easy. He’s an intimidatingly hot, grouchy jerk who can't stand me. The guy has a massive ego. Keeping things professional will be no problem, even when he demands I move in with him.


Beneath his surliness, though, Jamie’s surprisingly sweet and protective.

When Jamie learns how bad my ex was in bed, his competitive nature flares, and he encourages and spoils me in every way. The creative spark I used to feel about songwriting? It’s back, and I’m writing music again. Between wearing his jersey at games, rowdy parties with the team, and being brave on stage again, I’m falling for him.

He could break my heart, but it might be worth it.

Behind the Net is a grumpy-sunshine pro hockey romance with lots of spice and an HEA. It’s the first book in the Vancouver Storm series, and can be read as a standalone.

Tropes:

grumpy sunshine
slow burn
boy obsessed
pro hockey
forced proximity (boss vs assistant + roommates)
spice coaching]]> 424 Stephanie Archer Kate 0 2025, dnf DNF 3.71 2023 Behind the Net (Vancouver Storm, #1)
author: Stephanie Archer
name: Kate
average rating: 3.71
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at: 2025/01/20
date added: 2025/01/20
shelves: 2025, dnf
review:
DNF
]]> <![CDATA[The Right Move (Windy City, #2)]]> 84943172
She’s a distraction, that’s what she is.

I’m the newest Captain of the Devils, Chicago’s NBA team, and the last thing I needed this year was for Indy Ivers, my sister’s best friend, to move into my apartment. She’s messy, emotional, and way too tempting.

But when the team’s General Manager vocalizes his blatant disapproval of my promotion to Captain, referring to me as an unapproachable lone wolf with no work-life balance, I can’t think of a better way to convince him otherwise than pretending to date my outgoing roommate.

The only problem? Faking it feels far too natural.

Having a fake girlfriend wasn’t supposed to be messy but having Indy under my roof and in my bed is complicated, especially when she wants all the romantic parts of life that I could never give her.


INDY

I never imagined I’d be living with my best friend’s brother, NBA superstar Ryan Shay. Even more unbelievable? He needs me to act as his loving girlfriend who’s suddenly changed him into a friendly and approachable guy.

Because, well…he’s not. He’s controlling of his space and untrusting of others.

Our arrangement isn’t one-sided, though. I’m in a wedding coming up, one where every one of my childhood friends, including my ex-boyfriend, will be in attendance, and there’s no better date than my ex’s celebrity hero.

Blurred lines make it almost impossible to separate real from fake. Falling for my roommate was never part of the deal, especially when Ryan is quick to remind me that he doesn’t believe in love.

I’m a romantic and can’t help fantasizing that he’ll change, but soon enough, I find myself questioning if sharing a roof with my best friend’s brother was the right move after all]]> 499 Liz Tomforde Kate 5 4.39 2023 The Right Move (Windy City, #2)
author: Liz Tomforde
name: Kate
average rating: 4.39
book published: 2023
rating: 5
read at: 2025/01/18
date added: 2025/01/18
shelves: 2024, book-boyfriends, contemporary-romance, favorite-leading-ladies, favorites, spicy, sports-romance
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Wooing the Witch Queen (Queens of Villainy, #1)]]> 211003749 In a Gaslamp-lit world where hags and ogres lurk in thick pine forests, three magical queens form an uneasy alliance to protect their lands from invasion…and love turns their world upside down.

Queen Saskia is the wicked sorceress everyone fears. After successfully wrestling the throne from her evil uncle, she only wants one thing: to keep her people safe from the empire next door. For that, she needs to spend more time in her laboratory experimenting with her spells. She definitely doesn’t have time to bring order to her chaotic library of magic.

When a mysterious dark wizard arrives at her castle, Saskia hires him as her new librarian on the spot. “Fabian� is sweet and a little nerdy, and his requests seem a little strange � what in the name of Divine Elva is a fountain pen? � but he’s getting the job done. And if he writes her flirtatious poetry and his innocent touch makes her skin singe, well�

Little does Saskia know that the "wizard" she’s falling for is actually an Imperial archduke in disguise, with no magical training whatsoever. On the run, with perilous secrets on his trail and a fast growing yearning for the wicked sorceress, he's in danger from her enemies and her newfound allies, too. When his identity is finally revealed, will their love save or doom each other?]]> 304 Stephanie Burgis 1250359597 Kate 0 to-read 3.83 2025 Wooing the Witch Queen (Queens of Villainy, #1)
author: Stephanie Burgis
name: Kate
average rating: 3.83
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/18
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Mile High (Windy City, #1) 60909831
Chicago hockey isn't complete without me - everyone's favourite player to hate. I know my role, and I play it well. In fact, I thoroughly enjoy spending the majority of my game time in the penalty box before leaving the arena with a new girl on my arm each night.

What I don't like is the new flight attendant on our team's private plane. She works for me, not the other way around. But I'll be sure to remind her of that, and I can guarantee, by the end of the season, she'll be begging to quit her job.

But every road trip blurs the lines, and I can't quite figure out if I keep pushing that flight attendant call button in order to push her buttons, or if it's more than that.

STEVIE

I've been a flight attendant for years. I thought I'd seen it all, but when my new job lands me onboard working for the most egotistical and self-righteous diva in the NHL, I start to second guess everything. Including the promise I made to myself of never hooking up with an athlete again . . . no matter how annoyingly tempting he may be.

Evan Zanders is unfiltered, unapologetic, and too attractive for his own good. He loves his image, but I hate everything about it.

Everything but him.]]> 603 Liz Tomforde Kate 5 3.98 2022 Mile High (Windy City, #1)
author: Liz Tomforde
name: Kate
average rating: 3.98
book published: 2022
rating: 5
read at: 2025/01/18
date added: 2025/01/18
shelves: 2024, book-boyfriends, contemporary-romance, enjoyed, favorite-leading-ladies, spicy, sports-romance
review:
Exactly what I needed during this reading slump
]]> <![CDATA[The Other Side of the Mirror (The Mirrored Trilogy, #1)]]> 209081164 What if the fairytale was always a lie?

Seven years after her family’s murders, Eva is attacked by a magical creature and abducted to the faerie realm. When a handsome fae saves her, Bash reveals that he must bring Eva to her faerie soulmate to stop a world-ending Curse. She relents, but only for the opportunity to find answers about her parents� deaths.

As their journey progresses, Eva delves into her previously hidden magic—and grows steadily closer to Bash. But when she meets her prince, she soon learns that all is not what it seems. While mystery and intrigue surround her, Eva takes it into her own hands to uncover the truth. But what she discovers is beyond her imagination, as she unravels the fae’s web of lies.]]> 316 Dana Evyn 1648984460 Kate 0 to-read 3.87 2024 The Other Side of the Mirror (The Mirrored Trilogy, #1)
author: Dana Evyn
name: Kate
average rating: 3.87
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/06
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Inadequate Heir (The Bridge Kingdom, #3)]]> 211081102 Return to the world of The Bridge Kingdom in this sensuous fantasy full of romance and intrigue that is perfect for fans of From Blood and Ash and A Court of Silver Flames.

A soldier raised as heir to an empire, Zarrah is motivated by two truths. The first is that the Veliant family murdered her mother. And the second is that her pursuit of vengeance will put every last one of them in their graves.

The Endless War between Maridrina and Valcotta has raged for generations, leaving thousands of Zarrah’s people dead and countless more orphaned. So when she’s given command of the contested city of Nerastis, Zarrah is prepared to do whatever it takes to destroy the Maridrinian forces who oppose her. And to kill the Veliant prince who leads them.

Yet a chance encounter with an anonymous, and handsome, Maridrinian causes Zarrah to question whether the violence she’s perpetrated is justice or a crime. And as she continues to meet the nameless man each night, she finds common ground - and fiery passion - in his arms.

But when identities are revealed, Zarrah must decide whether to embrace a chance at peace…or march to the drums of war.]]> 673 Danielle L. Jensen 0593975243 Kate 3 4.07 2022 The Inadequate Heir (The Bridge Kingdom, #3)
author: Danielle L. Jensen
name: Kate
average rating: 4.07
book published: 2022
rating: 3
read at: 2025/01/05
date added: 2025/01/05
shelves: 2025, fantasy-paranormal-sci-fi, solid-eh-books, spicy
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Hidden Truths (Perfectly Imperfect, #3)]]> 195034078 Sergei

Home,
Bratva is my home.
My sanctuary from the past.
The only place where a killing machine like me belongs.

Sometimes, my demons come rushing back,
And I feel out of control, full of rage,
Close to losing myself completely.

Until a broken, injured woman stumbles onto my path,
Awakening my protective instincts,
And sending my demons to sleep.

Keeping her prisoner is my only option.
If she leaves,
My darkness will resurface,
And there will be no escaping it this time.

Angelina

Escape,
That's all I can do,
Only to end up in the hands of a crazed killer.

Now, I'm fighting to stay away from my enemies,
And trying to not fall for a man I shouldn't want.

But what will happen when we both reveal our hidden truths?

*Hidden Truths is a full-length novel with several open-door steamy scenes, no cheating and a guaranteed HEA.

This is the third book in Perfectly Imperfect mafia series. Each book in this series features a different couple and can be read as a standalone, but for maximum enjoyment, follow the recommended reading order.]]> 258 Neva Altaj 1961423065 Kate 3 3.66 2022 Hidden Truths (Perfectly Imperfect, #3)
author: Neva Altaj
name: Kate
average rating: 3.66
book published: 2022
rating: 3
read at: 2024/12/31
date added: 2024/12/31
shelves: 2024, contemporary-romance, mc-mafia-romance, solid-eh-books, spicy
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Broken Whispers (Perfectly Imperfect, #2)]]> 194980757 Mikhail

The Italian and Russian mafias are at war,
And it is brutal.
We're both ruthless, relentless, and unforgiving.
But then, the decision is made to merge our worlds,
A marriage between the two sides.

The most beautiful woman of the Italian mafia,
And the Bratva's most feared monster.

I loved her from afar for so long,
And I finally get to have her as my own.
But will she run away,
When she realizes who I really am?

Bianca

Anything,
I would do anything for my sister,
Even marry into Bratva to keep her safe.
I expected a vicious, cold-hearted savage,
But I am in for a surprise.

This scarred, frightening man,
Is everything I have ever wanted.

Now, it's up to me,
To break down his walls,
And destroy the barriers between us
With broken whispers.]]> 226 Neva Altaj 1961423022 Kate 4 3.62 2022 Broken Whispers (Perfectly Imperfect, #2)
author: Neva Altaj
name: Kate
average rating: 3.62
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2024/12/30
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: 2024, contemporary-romance, enjoyed, mc-mafia-romance, spicy
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Painted Scars (Perfectly Imperfect, #1)]]> 183316718 Nina

Charming, captivating, and seductive,
And a cold-blooded killer.
But I married the Pakhan of the Russian Bratva anyway.
I had to. It was part of the deal.

Now, I'm faking marital bliss,
As I tremble with fear,
And I cannot wait to be out of the clutches of this ruthless man.

Roman

I get anything I desire.
And I want this perfectly imperfect little manipulator.

The way she can deceive anyone into believing she's crazy in love with me,
Just makes me want her even more.

She doesn't know it yet,
But I am not letting her go.
The deal - is off.

*Painted Scars is a full-length novel with several open-door steamy scenes, no cheating and a guaranteed HEA.

This is the first book in Perfectly Imperfect mafia series, and compared to the other books in the series, it's not overly dark. Painted Scars is primarily a love story which focuses on the relationship between Nina and Roman, and while there are a few scenes depicting violence, it's considerably lighter than the sequels.]]> 238 Neva Altaj 1961423014 Kate 3 3.25 2022 Painted Scars (Perfectly Imperfect, #1)
author: Neva Altaj
name: Kate
average rating: 3.25
book published: 2022
rating: 3
read at: 2024/12/29
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: 2024, contemporary-romance, mc-mafia-romance, solid-eh-books, spicy
review:

]]> Winter’s Orbit 57693520 Ancillary Justice meets Red, White & Royal Blue in Everina Maxwell's exciting debut.

While the Iskat Empire has long dominated the system through treaties and political alliances, several planets, including Thea, have begun to chafe under Iskat's rule. When tragedy befalls Imperial Prince Taam, his Thean widower, Jainan, is rushed into an arranged marriage with Taam's cousin, the disreputable Kiem, in a bid to keep the rising hostilities between the two worlds under control.

But when it comes to light that Prince Taam's death may not have been an accident, and that Jainan himself may be a suspect, the unlikely pair must overcome their misgivings and learn to trust one another as they navigate the perils of the Iskat court, try to solve a murder, and prevent an interplanetary war... all while dealing with their growing feelings for each other.]]> 432 Everina Maxwell 125075884X Kate 0 to-read 3.96 2021 Winter’s Orbit
author: Everina Maxwell
name: Kate
average rating: 3.96
book published: 2021
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/12/29
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Traitor Queen (The Bridge Kingdom, #2)]]> 211081092
A queen now in exile as a traitor, Lara has watched Ithicana be conquered by her own father, helpless to do anything to stop the destruction. But when she learns her husband, Aren, has been captured in battle, Lara knows there is only one reason her father is keeping him alive: as bait for his traitorous daughter.

And it is bait she fully intends to take.

Risking her life to the Tempest Seas, Lara returns to Ithicana with a plan not only to free its king, but for liberating the Bridge Kingdom from her father's clutches using his own weapons: the sisters whose lives she spared. But not only is the palace inescapable, there are more players in the game than Lara ever realized, enemies and allies switching sides in the fight for crowns, kingdoms, and bridges. But her greatest adversary of all might be the very man she's trying to free—the husband she betrayed.

With everything she loves in jeopardy, Lara must decide who—and what—she is fighting for: her kingdom, her husband, or herself.]]> 416 Danielle L. Jensen 0593975219 Kate 4 4.17 2020 The Traitor Queen (The Bridge Kingdom, #2)
author: Danielle L. Jensen
name: Kate
average rating: 4.17
book published: 2020
rating: 4
read at: 2024/12/25
date added: 2024/12/25
shelves: 2024, enjoyed, fantasy-paranormal-sci-fi, favorite-leading-ladies
review:
I really enjoyed this but I wish the ending was a couple chapters longer because it was a little anticlimactic.
]]> <![CDATA[The Bridge Kingdom (The Bridge Kingdom, #1)]]> 43383182
But as she infiltrates her new home - a lush paradise surrounded by tempest seas - and comes to know her new husband, Aren, Lara begins to question where the true evil resides. Around her, she sees a kingdom fighting for survival, and in Aren, a man fiercely protective of his people. As her mission drives her to deeper understanding of the fight to possess the bridge, Lara finds the simmering attraction between her and Aren impossible to ignore. Her goal nearly within reach, Lara will have to decide her own fate: Will she be the destroyer of a king or the savior of her people?]]> 354 Danielle L. Jensen 1733090320 Kate 5 4.08 2018 The Bridge Kingdom (The Bridge Kingdom, #1)
author: Danielle L. Jensen
name: Kate
average rating: 4.08
book published: 2018
rating: 5
read at: 2024/12/23
date added: 2024/12/23
shelves: 2024, book-boyfriends, fantasy-paranormal-sci-fi, favorites, favorite-leading-ladies
review:
Why did I avoid reading this for so long? It’s so good!
]]> <![CDATA[Quicksilver (Fae & Alchemy, #1)]]> 212127083
In the land of the unforgiving desert, there isn't much a girl wouldn't do for a glass of water.

Twenty-four-year-old Saeris Fane is good at keeping secrets. No one knows about the strange powers she possesses, or the fact that she has been picking pockets and stealing from the Undying Queen's reservoirs for as long as she can remember.

But a secret is like a knot. Sooner or later, it is bound to come undone.

When Saeris comes face-to-face with Death himself, she inadvertently re-opens a gateway between realms and is transported to a land of ice and snow. The Fae have always been the stuff of myth, of legend, of nightmares... but it turns out they're real, and Saeris has landed herself in the middle of a centuries-long conflict that might just get her killed.

The first of her kind to tread the frozen mountains of Yvelia in over a thousand years, Saeris mistakenly binds herself to Kingfisher, a handsome Fae warrior, who has secrets and nefarious agendas of his own. He will use her Alchemist's magic to protect his people, no matter what it costs him . . . or her.

Death has a name. It is Kingfisher of the Ajun Gate. His past is murky. His attitude stinks. And he's the only way Saeris is going to make it home.]]> 588 Callie Hart Kate 5
I already enjoyed Callie Hart’s writing from Riot House and the subsequent books after so I was very excited to see what she could do in a fantasy setting. This is not an original plot by any means but it has just about everything I could ever want in a romantasy and it’s done well! ]]> 4.35 2024 Quicksilver (Fae & Alchemy, #1)
author: Callie Hart
name: Kate
average rating: 4.35
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/12/17
date added: 2024/12/23
shelves: 2024, book-boyfriends, fantasy-paranormal-sci-fi, favorite-leading-ladies, favorites, spicy
review:
Is this 5 stars objectively? Probably not. Was it still 5 stars TO ME? Fuck yes

I already enjoyed Callie Hart’s writing from Riot House and the subsequent books after so I was very excited to see what she could do in a fantasy setting. This is not an original plot by any means but it has just about everything I could ever want in a romantasy and it’s done well!
]]> <![CDATA[Feather (Angels of Elysium, #1)]]> 150275773 A modern ROMEO & JULIET retelling featuring an epic sinner and the angel who'll stop at nothing to save him. Perfect for fans of NALINI SINGH and BECCA FITZPATRICK.


It was supposed to be a quick mission. The only thing quick about it was how rapidly I failed.


With only a month left to earn her missing feathers, nineteen-year-old Leigh embarks on a trip to Paris to meet her newest project, twenty-five-year-old Jarod Adler, leader of the Parisian Mafia and the worst kind of sinner . . . a Triple.

If Leigh can get Jarod to accomplish a single act of kindness, she stands to win 100 feathers, more than enough to complete her wings and ascend to Elysium, the land of angels.

What she doesn’t count on is Jarod's dark charm costing her feathers.

She’s dead set on saving him, and he’s dead set on destroying her.

Until he realizes destroying her wings is also destroying her heart.

A heart he longs to hear beat only for him.]]> 440 Olivia Wildenstein Kate 0 to-read 3.77 2019 Feather (Angels of Elysium, #1)
author: Olivia Wildenstein
name: Kate
average rating: 3.77
book published: 2019
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/12/19
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[To Carve a Fae Heart (The Fair Isle Trilogy, #1)]]> 61141014 Every young woman dreams of marrying a king.
Everyone except for me.
Because the king I am to wed has razor sharp fangs and a thirst for blood.

All my life I knew I’d come of age during the Hundred Year Reaping. According to the ridiculous treaty, two human girls are sent to the faelands as brides for the fearsome fae king and his devilish younger brother.

Not me. I was supposed to be safe. Two girls were chosen from my village already. But when they are executed for offending the king, my sister and I are sent in their place.

What a mess. Then again, maybe it’s not so bad. The younger brother I’m paired with doesn’t seem as monstrous as I’d expected. He’s delightfully handsome too. But nothing compares to the chilling, dangerous beauty of the fae king. And when my sister flees the castle and her terrifying husband-to-be, I’m left to marry him instead.

If I go through with this, I might not survive my wedding night. If I don’t, no one is safe, neither human nor fae. An ancient war will return, bringing devastation we haven’t seen in a thousand years. Can I sacrifice myself for the good of my people? Or will a dangerous desire be the death of me first?

If I don’t lose my heart, the king will certainly lose his. I’ll carve it out with an iron blade if I have to.

To Carve a Fae Heart is an enemies-to-lovers fantasy, perfect for fans of The Cruel Prince, ACOTAR, and The Iron King. If you like snarky fae, brooding fae royals, sizzling romance, and fierce heroines, you'll love this breathtaking fae fantasy.]]> 384 Tessonja Odette Kate 3 2024, not-my-fave, ya 3.71 2020 To Carve a Fae Heart (The Fair Isle Trilogy, #1)
author: Tessonja Odette
name: Kate
average rating: 3.71
book published: 2020
rating: 3
read at: 2024/12/19
date added: 2024/12/19
shelves: 2024, not-my-fave, ya
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Trial of the Sun Queen (Artefacts of Ouranos, #1)]]> 61246394 The Bachelor meets the Hunger Games. Ten women. A deadly contest. Only one can win the Sun King's heart.

Lor has endured twelve long years of torment under the Aurora King's rule. Her only desire is to get free and pay him back for every moment of misery.

When a surprise release finds her in the hands of the Sun King, Lor is thrust into the spotlight when she competes against nine other Tributes for the role of queen. If she wins his heart, she'll earn her freedom and finally get her revenge.

But Lor doesn't belong in the Sun Queen Trials. She doesn't understand why she was freed, and she isn't a citizen of the Sun King's court. The other Tributes resent her presence and will stop at nothing to ensure Lor is wiped off the gameboard, permanently.

Now Lor must win, because if she loses, she dies. Or worse, she'll be sent back into the hands of the Aurora King.

This glittering fae romance is perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Jennifer Armentrout, and Raven Kennedy. Trial of the Sun Queen is the first book in a trilogy with an eventual happy ever after. ]]> 400 Nisha J. Tuli Kate 0 2024, dnf 3.76 2023 Trial of the Sun Queen (Artefacts of Ouranos, #1)
author: Nisha J. Tuli
name: Kate
average rating: 3.76
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at: 2024/12/18
date added: 2024/12/18
shelves: 2024, dnf
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Fear the Flames (Fear the Flames, #1)]]> 63057844 Elowen Atarah, Princess of Imirath, came into the world like a firestorm made flesh. A princess with a link to five dragons should have been a blessing to her kingdom, but her blessing became her curse. The little girl in shackles became a knife wielding woman with a thirst for retaliation.
Now, Queen of Aestilian, a secret kingdom she forged through strength and survival, Elowen needs a way to feed her rising population. She never thought she would have the force to take on Imirath, but when the snarky Commander Cayden Veles of Vareveth, her father’s enemy kingdom, offers her a deal she’s been dreaming of for years, how can she not take it? Even if he ignites her temper like no other, nothing unites two begrudging allies more than a common enemy.
The pair of them, along with three accomplices, will navigate their partnership, politics, and attempt to pull off the greatest heist their world has ever known. Five people, all united through revenge, will have to transcend the odds stacked against them and infiltrate the impenetrable castle if they want to reap their rewards before someone reaps their souls. Putting aside their differences to accomplish a common goal because everyone knows…vengeance is a promise signed in blood.]]> 571 Olivia Rose Darling Kate 0 to-read 3.66 2022 Fear the Flames (Fear the Flames, #1)
author: Olivia Rose Darling
name: Kate
average rating: 3.66
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/12/18
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Tort law - The American and Louisiana Perspectives, Fourth Edition]]> 196220203 798 Frank L Maraist 1600425542 Kate 3 3.00 Tort law - The American and Louisiana Perspectives, Fourth Edition
author: Frank L Maraist
name: Kate
average rating: 3.00
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2024/12/15
date added: 2024/12/15
shelves:
review:
I had to read this bitch cover to cover, I deserve to have this on my reading goal after not being able to read like I have wanted for months lol
]]> Hexed (Never After, #6) 210722967
From USA Today bestselling author Emily McIntire comes a dark and delicious fractured fairytale of The Little Mermaid.

Venesa Andersen has never been good. She wasn’t good enough for her parents, and she isn’t good enough for the gangster uncle who took her in after they died. But she’s cunning. Beautiful. Dutiful to her uncle’s demands. And she doesn’t have time for a moral compass, anyway. When her runaway cousin returns to their coastal southern town, she brings a man with her…and Venesa soon realizes he’s the only one who’s ever seen her for her.
There’s just one problem: she can never have him.

Enzo “Loverboy� Marino is a wealthy businessman by day and prince of the underworld by night. Underboss to a notorious mafia syndicate, he answers to no one except his father, the strongest don in the Northeast. When he’s tasked with marriage, Enzo doesn’t think twice.

Until he meets his fiancée’s cousin.

Venesa is everything he never knew he wanted, bewitching him with her sultry voice and supple curves. But Enzo learned long ago that for a man like him, life is better without the things you want.

When plans unravel and temptation sings its siren song, they’ll both have to choose what’s more important: duty to their families, or a forbidden love that was never supposed to be.]]> 544 Emily McIntire 1728275865 Kate 4 4.17 2024 Hexed (Never After, #6)
author: Emily McIntire
name: Kate
average rating: 4.17
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/11/30
date added: 2024/11/30
shelves: 2024, contemporary-romance, mc-mafia-romance, solid-eh-books, spicy
review:

]]> <![CDATA[King of Wrath (Kings of Sin, #1)]]> 86121173 She’s the wife he never wanted…and the weakness he never saw coming.

Ruthless. Meticulous. Arrogant.

Dante Russo thrives on control, both personally and professionally.

The billionaire CEO never planned to marry�
until the threat of blackmail forces him into an engagement with a woman he barely knows.

Vivian Lau, jewelry heiress and daughter of his newest enemy.

It doesn’t matter how beautiful or charming she is. He'll do everything in his power to destroy the evidence and their betrothal.

There’s only one problem: now that he has her...he can't bring himself to let her go.

***
Elegant. Ambitious. Well-mannered.

Vivian Lau is the perfect daughter and her family’s ticket into the highest echelons of high society.

Marrying a blue-blooded Russo means opening doors that would otherwise remain closed to her new-money family.

While the rude, elusive Dante isn't her idea of a dream partner, she agrees to their arranged marriage out of duty.

Craving his touch was never part of the plan.

Neither was the worst thing she could possibly do: fall in love with her future husband.

King of Wrath is a steamy billionaire/arranged marriage romance. It contains explicit sexual content, profanity, and mild violence. Recommended for mature readers only.]]> 407 Ana Huang 1728289726 Kate 0 to-read 4.11 2022 King of Wrath (Kings of Sin, #1)
author: Ana Huang
name: Kate
average rating: 4.11
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/11/19
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Bride Bet (Girl Meets Duke, #4)]]> 49975375 How to lose a duke in ten years…without losing your heart.

Once upon a time, two sworn enemies - the bookish daughter of a scholar and the devilish heir to a duke - made a pact: If they were both still single in ten years, they would marry each other.

It was a joke, Nicola thought. A duchess? Her?

But when the Duke of Westleigh returns a decade later, he’s serious. He needs an heir, so he’s holding her to their marriage bargain—diamond ring, lavish gown, engagement ball, and more. Nothing Nicola says can dissuade him. When she calls him arrogant, he praises her honesty. When she makes social stumbles, he catches her fall. And when she gets exasperated, the duke can’t seem to get enough. For reasons she can’t fathom, he claims that no other woman will do.

He’s betting he can change her mind, with logic and passion.

She’s betting she can change his mind, just by being herself.

And as the clock ticks down to a wedding day, neither is counting on losing their heart.]]> 384 Tessa Dare 0062672193 Kate 0 to-read
Update: A year later and I’m about to finish my first semester of law school. this is still not out ]]> 3.98 2026 The Bride Bet (Girl Meets Duke, #4)
author: Tessa Dare
name: Kate
average rating: 3.98
book published: 2026
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/11/19
shelves: to-read
review:
I read the first 3 books before I graduated from high school…I graduated from college a couple of weeks ago. This book isn’t ever coming out

Update: A year later and I’m about to finish my first semester of law school. this is still not out
]]> Firelight (Firelight, #1) 6448470 A hidden truth.
Mortal enemies.
Doomed love.

Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet among her kind, she nearly pays with her life. Until a beautiful stranger saves her. A stranger who was sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki, a descendant of dragons whose greatest defense is her secret ability to shift into human form.

Forced to flee into the mortal world with her family, Jacinda struggles to adapt to her new surroundings. The only bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irresistibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will's dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slowly slipping away;if it dies she will be left as a human forever. She'll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy.

Mythical powers and breathtaking romance ignite in this story of a girl who defies all expectations and whose love crosses an ancient divide.

]]> 323 Sophie Jordan 0061935085 Kate 0 to-read 3.85 2010 Firelight (Firelight, #1)
author: Sophie Jordan
name: Kate
average rating: 3.85
book published: 2010
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/11/17
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Wrath of an Exile (River Styx Heathens, #1)]]> 57554787
Jude Sinclair is West Trinity Falls� favorite exiled loner.

Cocky. Insufferably hot. Family foe.

Raised across the tracks in a rival town, he reeks of trouble. Which is the one thing I’ve always had a problem avoiding and now that he’s just down the hall, it’s harder to resist the pull.

My father made one rule when Jude moved in, never trust a Sinclair.

The last thing I need is for my new foster brother to make me question my loyalty with his filthy smirks and poet tongue. But with every forbidden kiss and secret hookup, I quickly find myself faced with two options.

Betray my family? Or betray my heart?]]> Monty Jay Kate 3 4.14 Wrath of an Exile (River Styx Heathens, #1)
author: Monty Jay
name: Kate
average rating: 4.14
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2024/11/06
date added: 2024/11/06
shelves: 2024, contemporary-romance, solid-eh-books, spicy
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Civil War: Young Avengers & Runaways]]> 331208
Collecting: Civil War: Young Avengers & Runaways 1-4.]]> 112 Zeb Wells 0785123172 Kate 0 3.83 2007 Civil War: Young Avengers & Runaways
author: Zeb Wells
name: Kate
average rating: 3.83
book published: 2007
rating: 0
read at: 2024/10/24
date added: 2024/10/24
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Young Avengers, Vol. 2: Family Matters]]> 331201
Collecting: Young Avengers 7-12, Special]]> 144 Allan Heinberg 0785120211 Kate 0 4.27 2006 Young Avengers, Vol. 2: Family Matters
author: Allan Heinberg
name: Kate
average rating: 4.27
book published: 2006
rating: 0
read at: 2024/10/23
date added: 2024/10/23
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Young Avengers, Vol. 1: Sidekicks]]> 331205 Avengers Disassembled, a mysterious new group of teen super heroes appears. But who are they? Where did they come from? And what right do they have to call themselves the Young Avengers?

Collecting: Young Avengers 1-6]]> 144 Allan Heinberg 0785120181 Kate 0 4.18 2006 Young Avengers, Vol. 1: Sidekicks
author: Allan Heinberg
name: Kate
average rating: 4.18
book published: 2006
rating: 0
read at: 2024/10/23
date added: 2024/10/23
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Striker (Gods of the Game, #1)]]> 204538483 She's the only woman he wants...and the only one he can't have.

Asher Donovan is a living legend—the darling of the Premier League, the (arguably) greatest footballer in the world.

But his reckless antics and recent team transfer have caused much controversy, and when his feud with his rival-turned-teammate costs them a championship, they’re forced to “bond� during off-season cross-training.

Surviving the summer shouldn’t be hard…until Asher meets their new trainer. She’s beautiful, talented, and no matter how hard he tries, he can’t take his mind off her.

The only problem? She’s his rival’s sister—and completely off limits.

***

Scarlett DuBois is a former prima ballerina whose career was cut short by a tragic accident.

Now a teacher at a prestigious dance academy but still haunted by the ghosts of her past, the last thing she wants is to spend the summer cross-training Asher Donovan, of all people .

She swore she would never date a footballer, but when her brother leaves town for an emergency, she finds herself thrown into dangerously close proximity with the gorgeous, charming striker.

Training, she can deal with. But falling in love? That’s out of the question—especially when he’s the only person with the power to break her heart.]]> 595 Ana Huang Kate 4 3.79 2024 The Striker (Gods of the Game, #1)
author: Ana Huang
name: Kate
average rating: 3.79
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/10/23
date added: 2024/10/23
shelves: 2024, contemporary-romance, enjoyed, spicy, sports-romance
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Keeping 13 (Boys of Tommen, #2)]]> 42968173 Until now.

Following a devastating injury that has left him sidelined and stripped of his beloved number 13 jersey, Johnny is struggling to hold onto his dreams. Lost, insecure, and desperately seeking comfort, he sets his sights on unraveling the mystery of the girl with the midnight-blue eyes. With his best friend, Gibsie, by his side, Johnny embarks on his quest of exposing the secrets surrounding the girl who haunts his every waking hour.

Keeping secrets has never been a problem for Shannon. The life she was born into demands nothing less. She knows that demons and evil men don't just exist in fairytales. They exist in her world, too. Traumatized beyond repair after her return from Dublin, and desperate to protect her little brothers, Shannon finds herself falling into the same old cover-up, barely keeping her head above water, as her future unravels before her eyes. Beaten and broken, her walls are up and her trust is shaken. Only one boy has the ability to climb those walls. The boy who owns her heart.

Secrets are exposed and lives are changed forever in Keeping 13, the explosive sequel to the bestselling book, Binding 13. Follow Johnny and Shannon as they try to navigate their way through the aftermath of that fateful rugby match in Dublin.

Falling in love was the easy part, what comes next is the test...

Friendship, first love, rising fame, horrifying secrets, and pain all fuel together as two teenagers from the opposite side of the tracks collide in Keeping 13, the concluding story for Johnny and Shannon.

Based in Ireland, the Boys of Tommen series is bound to captivate and lure you into the world of rugby, love, and teenage heartbreak.


Warning
Some scenes in this book may be extremely upsetting for some readers. Due to its bad language and certain scenes, Keeping 13 is recommended for mature readers.
]]> 938 Chloe Walsh Kate 5

Did this ebook need to be over 1000 pages? Fuck no. Did I read, enjoy, and cry during all of it? Fuck yes.

I love Johnny and Shannon bad.]]> 4.51 2018 Keeping 13 (Boys of Tommen, #2)
author: Chloe Walsh
name: Kate
average rating: 4.51
book published: 2018
rating: 5
read at: 2024/10/22
date added: 2024/10/22
shelves: 2023, book-boyfriends, contemporary-romance, favorite-leading-ladies, favorites, sports-romance
review:
I have reread this at least 6 times haha.


Did this ebook need to be over 1000 pages? Fuck no. Did I read, enjoy, and cry during all of it? Fuck yes.

I love Johnny and Shannon bad.
]]> <![CDATA[The Ragpicker King (The Chronicles of Castellane, #2)]]> 214591924 In the epic follow-up to the New York Times bestseller Sword Catcher, praised by George R. R. Martin as “everything I look for in fantasy,� Lin and Kel must chart a perilous course between love and lies.

Kel Saren, body double to Conor, crown prince of the dazzling city of Castellane, is caught between two worlds. In order to protect his beloved prince, Kel must find the culprits responsible for a massacre at the royal palace—and the only clues are held by the Ragpicker King, the notorious criminal who rules Castellane’s underworld. The trail Kel follows leads back to the Hill, where among decadent nobles and glittering parties a dark conspiracy to destroy the royal family has taken hold—a conspiracy headed up by the monstrous Artal Gremont, the man engaged to marry the woman Kel adores.

Meanwhile, Lin Caster must face the aftermath of the greatest risk she’s ever taken. To save the life of a dying friend, Lin has falsely claimed to be the Goddess Reborn, the legendary heroine destined to save her people. Now the terrifying—but strangely magnetic—leader of her people has arrived to test her powers. The price of failure is exile, and only through her alliance with the Ragpicker King can she continue to access the magic that may save her.

Then Prince Conor reappears in her life, demanding that she use her healing powers to cure the madness of his father, the King. Lin soon realizes the King is gripped by an ancient and terrible magic, one whose lure she cannot deny any more than she can deny her growing passion for Conor.

As the simmering tensions in Castellane reach a fever pitch, Lin and Kel must decide who to trust when any false move means death—or worse.]]> 576 Cassandra Clare 0525620028 Kate 0 to-read 4.55 2025 The Ragpicker King (The Chronicles of Castellane, #2)
author: Cassandra Clare
name: Kate
average rating: 4.55
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/21
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Binding 13 (Boys of Tommen, #1)]]> 40944965 His first, last, and only true love has always been rugby.
Until now.

He wants to save her.
She wants to hide.

She's damaged.
He's determined.

Fate brought them together.
Love binds them.

Johnny Kavanagh has everything going for him. On the rugby pitch, he's a force to be reckoned with. Primed for stardom, he's heading straight for the top. Nothing can possibly get in his way, right?
Not even the shy new girl at Tommen College. The one with the sad eyes and hidden bruises. The one that distracts him like no one ever has.
Plagued with a hidden injury and desperate to impress the scouts watching his every move, Johnny has been placed on a pedestal so high, he has no room to make mistakes.
Striving to maintain balance, and on the crest of the International Summer Campaign, Johnny needs to keep his head in the game. He needs to stay focused, and cannot afford to let distractions get in the way of the bigger picture.
But what happens when a lonely girl with sad eyes becomes the only picture?

Life has never been easy for Shannon Lynch. Bullied and tortured, she arrives at Tommen College mid-way through the school year praying for a fresh start and desperate to shake off the demons that plague her.
On her very first day at the prestigious private school, she comes into contact with the notorious Johnny Kavanagh.
Thrown through a hoop over her feelings for him, and desperate to keep a low-profile, Shannon finds herself once again the target of bullies as she forms a fragile alliance with rugby's rising star.

Falling into a complicated friendship and grappling with their undeniable chemistry, Johnny and Shannon must face obstacles that threaten their relationship.

Two teenagers from opposite sides of the tracks collide.

Friendship, first love, rising fame, horrifying secrets, and pain all fuel together in Binding 13.

Hearts are binding and lives are entwining in Binding 13.

Binding 13 is the explosive first installment of a brand-new series from Chloe Walsh. Based in Ireland, the Boys Of Tommen series is bound to captivate and lure you into the world of rugby, love, and teenage heartbreak.]]> 626 Chloe Walsh Kate 5 I am unwell 4.43 2018 Binding 13 (Boys of Tommen, #1)
author: Chloe Walsh
name: Kate
average rating: 4.43
book published: 2018
rating: 5
read at: 2024/10/07
date added: 2024/10/07
shelves: 2023, book-boyfriends, contemporary-romance, favorite-leading-ladies, favorites, sports-romance
review:
I am unwell
]]> <![CDATA[A Cuban Girl's Guide to Tea and Tomorrow]]> 50892004 Love & Gelato meets Don’t Date Rosa Santos in this charming, heartfelt story following a Miami girl who unexpectedly finds love—and herself—in a small English town.

For Lila Reyes, a summer in England was never part of the plan. The plan was 1) take over her abuela’s role as head baker at their panadería, 2) move in with her best friend after graduation, and 3) live happily ever after with her boyfriend. But then the Trifecta happened, and everything—including Lila herself—fell apart.

Worried about Lila’s mental health, her parents make a new plan for her: spend three months with family friends in Winchester, England, to relax and reset. But with the lack of sun, a grumpy inn cook, and a small town lacking Miami flavor (both in food and otherwise), what would be a dream trip for some feels more like a nightmare to Lila…until she meets Orion Maxwell.

A teashop clerk with troubles of his own, Orion is determined to help Lila out of her funk, and appoints himself as her personal tour guide. From Winchester’s drama-filled music scene to the sweeping English countryside, it isn’t long before Lila is not only charmed by Orion, but England itself. Soon a new future is beginning to form in Lila’s mind—one that would mean leaving everything she ever planned behind.]]> 320 Laura Taylor Namey 1534471243 Kate 5
I swooned the entire time]]> 3.74 2020 A Cuban Girl's Guide to Tea and Tomorrow
author: Laura Taylor Namey
name: Kate
average rating: 3.74
book published: 2020
rating: 5
read at: 2025/01/22
date added: 2024/10/02
shelves: 2024, book-boyfriends, contemporary-romance, favorite-leading-ladies, favorites, ya
review:
Yeah I’m gonna need them to let the movie out of jail because I need to see Kit Connor as Orion asap

I swooned the entire time
]]> <![CDATA[A Curse of Blood and Wolves (Wolf Brothers, #1)]]> 201291419 336 Melissa McTernan 0008643024 Kate 0 to-read 3.04 2024 A Curse of Blood and Wolves (Wolf Brothers, #1)
author: Melissa McTernan
name: Kate
average rating: 3.04
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/09/28
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Kiss of Fire (Dragonfire, #1) 39743077
One kiss can change the course of destiny�

When ace accountant Sara Keegan decides to settle down and run her quirky aunt’s New Age bookstore, she’s not looking for adventure. She doesn’t believe in fate or the magic of tarot cards, but when she’s saved from a vicious attack by a man who has the ability to turn into a fire-breathing dragon, she questions whether she’s losing her mind � or about to lose her heart.

Self-reliant loner Quinn Tyrrell has long been distrustful of his fellow Pyr. When he feels the firestorm that signals his destined mate, he’s determined to protect and possess Sara, regardless of the cost. Then Sara’s true destiny is revealed and Quinn realizes he must risk everything � even Sara’s love � to fulfill their entwined fates.]]> 298 Deborah Cooke 1988479606 Kate 0 to-read 3.96 2008 Kiss of Fire (Dragonfire, #1)
author: Deborah Cooke
name: Kate
average rating: 3.96
book published: 2008
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/09/11
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Play Along (Windy City, #4) 199285128 Kennedy

I’m the only woman on staff for the Windy City Warriors, and after years of putting up with a sexist lead doctor, I’m desperate to land my dream job with a new team next year. All I have to do is maintain my professional reputation for my final season in Chicago.

But a Las Vegas run-in with the team’s shortstop threatens it all, leaving me with a fuzzy memory and a ring on my left hand.

Now, not only am I legally bound to the most persistent man I’ve ever met, but thanks to Isaiah’s scheme to save my job, I have to pretend the whole thing was a planned elopement and not a drunken mistake.

Isaiah Rhodes is reckless, impulsive, and frustratingly charming. He’s also my brand-new husband.

They got the saying wrong. What happens in Vegas doesn’t always stay in Vegas� sometimes it follows you right back home.


Isaiah

As the shortstop for Chicago’s professional baseball team, I’ve had my fair share of fun. But that all ended the day Kennedy Kay became a single woman.

I’ve crushed on the team’s athletic trainer for years. I’ve flirted to no avail, so imagine my surprise when I woke up in Sin City with a ring on my finger and my favorite redhead in my bed.

We agree to stay married for one baseball season, just long enough to keep her job safe, but in my mind, I’m using our time together to prove to her I’m husband material.

Kennedy might be reluctant to join in on our game, but it’s one I refuse to lose.

So come on, wife� play along.]]> 384 Liz Tomforde Kate 5 4.44 2024 Play Along (Windy City, #4)
author: Liz Tomforde
name: Kate
average rating: 4.44
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/09/01
date added: 2024/09/01
shelves: 2024, book-boyfriends, contemporary-romance, enjoyed, spicy, sports-romance
review:

]]> Caught Up (Windy City, #3) 199335111
I’m a single dad and starting pitcher for Chicago’s MLB team.
I’m stretched too thin, but I don’t want help raising my son.

Each of his previous nannies only lasted a few weeks before I let them go.
Now, my coach is putting his foot down by hiring the one person I can’t fire—his daughter.

Miller Montgomery is the last woman I should fall for. Too wild, too young, and too unattached.

Chicago is just a quick stop for her. I thought I’d be counting down the days until she left, but summer feels too short when I start thinking about forever.


Miller

As a high-end pastry chef who recently won the most prestigious award in my industry, I’m desperate to prove I deserve it. But with a new title comes new pressure, and I can’t create a fresh and inspiring dessert to save my life.

With only two months to get back on track, I should be focusing in the kitchen, but instead, I let my dad talk me into using my time off to nanny for his star player’s kid.

Kai Rhodes forgot how to have fun, and I’m eager to jog his memory. But when he and his son start to feel like home, I have to remind us both that my time in Chicago ends with the summer.

Besides, I’ve always been a runner, and the last thing I want is to get caught.]]> 408 Liz Tomforde 139972858X Kate 4 4.37 2023 Caught Up (Windy City, #3)
author: Liz Tomforde
name: Kate
average rating: 4.37
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2024/08/26
date added: 2024/08/26
shelves: 2024, contemporary-romance, enjoyed, spicy, sports-romance
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Off to the Races (Gold Rush Ranch, #1)]]> 57516722 Keeping things professional with my employees has never been an issue. Until she waltzed onto my property.

Billie is talented. She's mouthy. And she's so damn tempting. I can't stop thinking about all the ways I could take her down a peg.

I can't stop thinking about her, period.

We clash from the moment we meet. And in a small town, on an even smaller farm, it’s hard to keep your distance. It’s even harder to keep that friction from turning to fire.

But keeping my distance? That might be the biggest struggle of all. Because Billie is the whole package, whip-smart with a body I fantasize about when I’m alone, and quite possibly the only woman who can save this business—and me.

She drives me crazy. In every sense of the word. Every smart-mouthed little comment—every game we play—I end up wanting more. Wanting her closer. With me. Under me.

I try not to let her get to me, but the more time we spend together the more I crave her. Her lips. Her trust. Her heart.

I want it all.

But at what cost?

Because suddenly I don’t just want to win races, I want to win the girl.]]> 334 Elsie Silver Kate 1 3.65 2021 Off to the Races (Gold Rush Ranch, #1)
author: Elsie Silver
name: Kate
average rating: 3.65
book published: 2021
rating: 1
read at: 2024/03/14
date added: 2024/08/23
shelves: 2024, favorite-leading-ladies, not-my-fave
review:
Billie Black deserves better.
]]> <![CDATA[Primal Mirror (Psy-Changeling Trinity, #8; Psy-Changeling, #23)]]> 199067471 New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh takes us into a family dark with shadowy secrets, as the world of the Psy hangs on the edge of a final catastrophic collapse�

Daughter of two ruthless high-gradient telepaths, Auden Scott is not the child her Psy parents wanted or expected, even before her brain injury. Her thoughts are scattered, her memories fuzzy—or just terrifyingly blank. The only thing she knows for certain is that she must protect her unborn baby…a baby she has no recollection of conceiving and who draws an abnormal intensity of notice from her dead mother’s closest associates.

Leopard alpha Remi Denier is a man driven by the primal instinct to protect. Protect his pack, protect his allies� and protect the mysterious woman who has become a most unlikely neighbor. With eerie eyes that see too much and a scent that alters in ways disturbing and impossible, Auden Scott is the enemy…but nothing about this strange Psy is what it seems, Remi’s feline heart as fascinated by her as the human half of his soul.

Then Auden asks Remi to help her shatter the wall of secrets that is the Scott bloodline. What they unearth will reveal a nightmare beyond imagination. This time, the battle is to the death…]]> 400 Nalini Singh Kate 0 dnf 3.96 2024 Primal Mirror (Psy-Changeling Trinity, #8; Psy-Changeling, #23)
author: Nalini Singh
name: Kate
average rating: 3.96
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at: 2024/08/23
date added: 2024/08/23
shelves: dnf
review:
This is a soft DNF because I just don’t have the mental capacity to read a fantasy book right now lol but I do want to pick this up again
]]> <![CDATA[Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy, #1)]]> 345627 Only a true best friend can protect you from your immortal enemies...

Lissa Dragomir is a Moroi princess: a mortal vampire with a rare gift for harnessing the earth's magic. She must be protected at all times from Strigoi; the fiercest vampires—the ones who never die. The powerful blend of human and vampire blood that flows through Rose Hathaway, Lissa's best friend, makes her a dhampir. Rose is dedicated to a dangerous life of protecting Lissa from the Strigoi, who are hell-bent on making Lissa one of them.

After two years of freedom, Rose and Lissa are caught and dragged back to St. Vladimir's Academy, a school for vampire royalty and their guardians-to-be, hidden in the deep forests of Montana. But inside the iron gates, life is even more fraught with danger... and the Strigoi are always close by.

Rose and Lissa must navigate their dangerous world, confront the temptations of forbidden love, and never once let their guard down, lest the evil undead make Lissa one of them forever...]]> 332 Richelle Mead 159514174X Kate 4 4.12 2007 Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy, #1)
author: Richelle Mead
name: Kate
average rating: 4.12
book published: 2007
rating: 4
read at: 2024/08/11
date added: 2024/08/11
shelves: solid-eh-books, fantasy-paranormal-sci-fi
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Veins of Magic (The Otherworld, #2)]]> 36899152 The conclusion of Heart of the Fae, where Beauty and the Beast meets Irish Mythology.

Once upon a time�

Heartache dogs the steps of Sorcha of Ui Neill. Although she is home with her family, she is unable to shake the memories of her time in Hy-brasil. She heals with a heavy heart, tells stories with melancholy words, and cannot forget the magic of the Otherworld. When an opportunity arises to return to her beloved Fae Prince, she makes a questionable deal. Dark magic, druidic curses, and a witch open a portal and send her tumbling into the middle of a war she must end for the sake of all who dwell in the Otherworld.

Saving the faeries will not be easy when she has become a woman they fear.

The once banished king battles his way through the Otherworld, freeing the Lesser Fae with each swing of his sword. Each attack turns Eamonn into something far more beastly than before. Geodes multiply and hinder his movements, harden his heart, and crystalize his resolve.

Together, they face the King of the Seelie Fae and his golden army to end the war that will change the fate of the Otherworld forever.]]> 350 Emma Hamm Kate 0 dnf 3.79 Veins of Magic (The Otherworld, #2)
author: Emma Hamm
name: Kate
average rating: 3.79
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2024/05/29
date added: 2024/08/07
shelves: dnf
review:
The first book was so good but this one is just dragging on and every problem is solved a little too conveniently for my taste
]]> <![CDATA[King of Wrath (Kings of Sin, #1)]]> 217206738
Ruthless. Meticulous. Arrogant.

Dante Russo thrives on control, both personally and professionally.

The billionaire CEO never planned to marry—until the threat of blackmail forces him into an engagement with a woman he barely knows.

Vivian Lau, jewelry heiress and daughter of his newest enemy.

It doesn’t matter how beautiful or charming she is. He'll do everything in his power to destroy the evidence and their betrothal.

There’s only one problem: Now that he has her...he can't bring himself to let her go.

***

Elegant. Ambitious. Well-mannered.

Vivian Lau is the perfect daughter and her family’s ticket into the highest echelons of high society.

Marrying a blue-blooded Russo means opening doors that would otherwise remain closed to her new-money family.

While the rude, elusive Dante isn't her idea of a dream partner, she agrees to their arranged marriage out of duty.

Craving his touch was never part of the plan.

Neither was the worst thing she could possibly do: fall in love with her future husband.

King of Wrath is a steamy arranged-marriage billionaire romance. It includes explicit content and profanity. Recommended for mature listeners only.]]> 398 Ana Huang Kate 5
Merged review:

Vivian and Dante ate. And seeing glimpses of my favorite Twisted couple (#christianstella) was everything

Merged review:

Vivian and Dante ate. And seeing glimpses of my favorite Twisted couple (#christianstella) was everything

Merged review:

Vivian and Dante ate. And seeing glimpses of my favorite Twisted couple (#christianstella) was everything]]> 4.05 2022 King of Wrath (Kings of Sin, #1)
author: Ana Huang
name: Kate
average rating: 4.05
book published: 2022
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2024/08/07
shelves: 2023, book-boyfriends, contemporary-romance, favorite-leading-ladies, favorites, spicy
review:
Vivian and Dante ate. And seeing glimpses of my favorite Twisted couple (#christianstella) was everything

Merged review:

Vivian and Dante ate. And seeing glimpses of my favorite Twisted couple (#christianstella) was everything

Merged review:

Vivian and Dante ate. And seeing glimpses of my favorite Twisted couple (#christianstella) was everything

Merged review:

Vivian and Dante ate. And seeing glimpses of my favorite Twisted couple (#christianstella) was everything
]]> <![CDATA[One Dark Window (The Shepherd King, #1)]]> 58340706
Elspeth Spindle needs more than luck to stay safe in the eerie, mist-locked kingdom of Blunder—she needs a monster. She calls him the Nightmare, an ancient, mercurial spirit trapped in her head. He protects her. He keeps her secrets.

But nothing comes for free, especially magic.

When Elspeth meets a mysterious highwayman on the forest road, her life takes a drastic turn. Thrust into a world of shadow and deception, she joins a dangerous quest to cure Blunder from the dark magic infecting it. And the highwayman? He just so happens to be the King’s nephew, Captain of the most dangerous men in Blunder…and guilty of high treason.

Together they must gather twelve Providence Cards—the keys to the cure. But as the stakes heighten and their undeniable attraction intensifies, Elspeth is forced to face her darkest secret yet: the Nightmare is slowly taking over her mind. And she might not be able to stop him.]]> 399 Rachel Gillig 0316312487 Kate 3 4.26 2022 One Dark Window (The Shepherd King, #1)
author: Rachel Gillig
name: Kate
average rating: 4.26
book published: 2022
rating: 3
read at: 2024/07/28
date added: 2024/07/28
shelves: 2024, fantasy-paranormal-sci-fi, solid-eh-books
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Play of Passion (Psy-Changeling, #9)]]> 11497364 Passion and reason collide with explosive force in the newest installment of Nalini Singh's 'mesmerizing' Psy-Changeling series. As a conflict with Pure Psy looms on the horizon, two powerful wolves fight a far more intimate war of their own... In his position as tracker for the SnowDancer pack, it's up to Drew Kincaid to rein in rogue changelings who have lost control of their animal halves - even if it means killing those who have gone too far. But nothing in his life has prepared him for the battle he must now wage to win the heart of a woman who makes his body ignite...and who threatens to enslave his wolf. Lieutenant Indigo Riviere doesn't easily allow skin privileges, especially of the sensual kind - and the last person she expects to find herself craving is the most wickedly playful male in the den. Everything she knows tells her to pull back before the flames burn them both to ash...but she hasn't counted on Drew's will. Now, two of SnowDancer's most stubborn wolves find themselves playing a hot, sexy game even as lethal danger stalks the very place they call home...]]> 356 Nalini Singh 0575100125 Kate 4 4.33 2010 Play of Passion (Psy-Changeling, #9)
author: Nalini Singh
name: Kate
average rating: 4.33
book published: 2010
rating: 4
read at: 2024/07/19
date added: 2024/07/19
shelves: enjoyed, 2020, fantasy-paranormal-sci-fi
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Branded by Fire (Psy-Changeling, #6)]]> 5628753 Hailed by Christine Feehan as “a major new talent,� NYT bestselling author Nalini Singh now brings together two fierce changelings in her most explosive story yet.

Though DarkRiver sentinel Mercy is feeling the pressure to mate, she savagely resists when Riley Kincaid, a lieutenant from the SnowDancer pack, tries to possess her. The problem is not simply that he pushes her buttons; the problem is that he's a wolf, she's a cat, and they're both used to being on top.

But when a brilliant changeling researcher is kidnapped from DarkRiver territory, Mercy and Riley must work together to track the young man—before his shadowy captors decide he's no longer useful. Along the way, the two dominants may find that submitting to one another uncovers not just a deadly conspiracy, but a passion so raw that it'll leave them both branded by fire . . .]]> 358 Nalini Singh 0425226735 Kate 4 4.26 2009 Branded by Fire (Psy-Changeling, #6)
author: Nalini Singh
name: Kate
average rating: 4.26
book published: 2009
rating: 4
read at: 2024/07/05
date added: 2024/07/05
shelves: enjoyed, 2020, fantasy-paranormal-sci-fi
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Mist Thief (The Ever Seas, #3)]]> 199327328 She tried to kill him, so he made her his wife.

Skadi first met her husband-to-be with blades in hand on the opposite side of a battle. She lost, and he claimed his prize.

To her horror, the king of the shadow elven agrees to marry her off to Jonas, a prince in the fae realms, as a way to unite their kingdoms against a shared enemy—the light elves. Skadi knows the marriage is nothing but a political game. Feelings won’t come into play.

Except her new husband makes not falling in love . . . challenging.

When new threats arise, Skadi must decide to either love her enemy, or keep him alive by betraying him to another.

Welcome to another installment in the Ever Seas world where pirates, fae, and elves collide with Vikings in a dark fantasy romance between a morally gray cinnamon roll and the broken princess who steals his heart.

*This book is a standalone with a guaranteed HEA, and can be read before The Ever King/Queen, but to see the full impact of their story, it’s recommended to read that duet first. This series is set in the same world as the bestselling Broken Kingdoms series, but can be read independently, and readers are encouraged to read the list of triggers inside.*]]> 454 L.J. Andrews Kate 4
It was alright but Livia and Erik are still my babies]]> 4.38 2024 The Mist Thief (The Ever Seas, #3)
author: L.J. Andrews
name: Kate
average rating: 4.38
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/07/05
date added: 2024/07/05
shelves: 2024, enjoyed, fantasy-paranormal-sci-fi, spicy
review:
3.5 Stars

It was alright but Livia and Erik are still my babies
]]> <![CDATA[A Court of Frost and Starlight (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #3.5)]]> 31076583 229 Sarah J. Maas 168119631X Kate 1 electric-chair 3.77 2019 A Court of Frost and Starlight (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #3.5)
author: Sarah J. Maas
name: Kate
average rating: 3.77
book published: 2019
rating: 1
read at:
date added: 2024/07/02
shelves: electric-chair
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Ruthless Vows (Letters of Enchantment, #2)]]> 127280062 Torn apart by war. Reunited by love?

Two weeks have passed since Iris returned home bruised and heartbroken from the front, but the war is far from over.

Roman is missing, lost behind enemy lines, with no memory of his past, or Iris. Hoping his memories return, he begins to write again � but this time for the enemy.

When a strange letter arrives through his wardrobe door, he strikes up a correspondence with a penpal who seems at once mysterious� and strangely familiar.

As their connection deepens, the two of them will risk their very hearts and futures to change the tides of the war.]]> 420 Rebecca Ross 1250857457 Kate 5 3.99 2023 Ruthless Vows (Letters of Enchantment, #2)
author: Rebecca Ross
name: Kate
average rating: 3.99
book published: 2023
rating: 5
read at: 2024/06/30
date added: 2024/06/30
shelves: 2024, book-boyfriends, enjoyed, fantasy-paranormal-sci-fi, favorite-leading-ladies, ya
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Hostage to Pleasure (Psy-Changeling, #5)]]> 8820027 With her darkly seductive Psy/Changeling world, Nalini Singh has created “a sensual, dangerous adventure not to be missed� (NYT bestselling author Lora Leigh). Now, as the deadly Psy Council tightens its grip, a rebel Psy scientist finds herself at the mercy of a changeling who has sworn vengeance against her kind . . .

Separated from her son and forced to create a neural implant that will mean the effective enslavement of her psychically gifted race, Ashaya Aleine is the perfect Psy—cool, calm, emotionless . . . at least on the surface. Inside, she's fighting a desperate battle to save her son and escape the vicious cold of the PsyNet. Yet when escape comes, it leads not to safety, but to the lethal danger of a sniper's embrace.

DarkRiver sniper Dorian Christensen lost his sister to a Psy killer. Though he lacks the changeling ability to shift into animal form, his leopard lives within. And that leopard's rage at the brutal loss is a clawing darkness that hungers for vengeance. Falling for a Psy has never been on Dorian's agenda. But charged with protecting Ashaya and her son, he discovers that passion has a way of changing the rules . . .]]> 352 Nalini Singh 0575100036 Kate 4 4.20 2008 Hostage to Pleasure (Psy-Changeling, #5)
author: Nalini Singh
name: Kate
average rating: 4.20
book published: 2008
rating: 4
read at: 2024/06/30
date added: 2024/06/30
shelves: enjoyed, 2020, fantasy-paranormal-sci-fi
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Mine to Possess (Psy-Changeling, #4)]]> 8711617
Talin McKade barely survived a childhood drenched in bloodshed and terror. Now a new nightmare is stalking her life--the street children she works to protect are disappearing and turning up dead. Determined to keep them safe, she unlocks the darkest secret in her heart and returns to ask the help of the strongest man she knows...

Clay lost Talin once. He will not let her go again, his hunger to possess her, a clawing need born of the leopard within. As they race to save the innocent, Clay and Talin must face the violent truths of their past...or lose everything that ever mattered.]]> 352 Nalini Singh 0575100001 Kate 3 3.99 2008 Mine to Possess (Psy-Changeling, #4)
author: Nalini Singh
name: Kate
average rating: 3.99
book published: 2008
rating: 3
read at: 2024/06/24
date added: 2024/06/24
shelves: 2024, fantasy-paranormal-sci-fi, solid-eh-books, spicy
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Caressed by Ice (Psy-Changeling, #3)]]> 7179261
Brenna Shane Kincaid was an innocent before she was abducted - and had her mind violated - by a serial killer. Her sense of evil runs so deep, she fears she could become a killer herself. Then the first dead body is found, victim of a familiar madness. Judd is her only hope, yet her sensual changeling side rebels against the inhuman chill of his personality, even as desire explodes between them. Shocking and raw, their passion is a danger that threatens not only their hearts, but their very lives . . .]]> 384 Nalini Singh 0575095709 Kate 5 4.31 2007 Caressed by Ice (Psy-Changeling, #3)
author: Nalini Singh
name: Kate
average rating: 4.31
book published: 2007
rating: 5
read at: 2024/06/16
date added: 2024/06/16
shelves: favorites, 2020, fantasy-paranormal-sci-fi, spicy, book-boyfriends, favorite-leading-ladies
review:

]]> <![CDATA[God of War (Legacy of Gods, #6)]]> 203146594 A standalone enemies-to-lovers, marriage of convenience romance.

I fell for the villain.
It happened back when I was a clueless girl.
But he ruthlessly broke my heart and trapped it in a jar.
Since then, I’ve sworn to hate him to the end of my days.
Eli King might be a savage devil, but I’m out of his way. And league.
That is until I wake up in a hospital and find him holding my hand.
He tells me the words that change my life forever.
“We got married two years ago, Mrs. King.�
So I set out to investigate how I landed myself into this marriage.
Turns out, my memories are darker than my present.
I thought I was ready for the hurricane.
I thought I could handle his soulless eyes and cold shoulder.
I thought wrong.
Nothing can stop my husband.
Not the secrets surrounding us.
Not the hatred between us.
Not even me.

This book can be read on its own, but for a better understanding of the world, you might want to start with God of Malice.]]> 488 Rina Kent Kate 4
Sad this world will be over for a little while ]]> 4.20 2024 God of War (Legacy of Gods, #6)
author: Rina Kent
name: Kate
average rating: 4.20
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/06/15
date added: 2024/06/15
shelves: 2024, contemporary-romance, enjoyed, spicy
review:
This was definitely not my favorite in the series, but I didn’t hate it. The amnesia trope just really isn’t for me.

Sad this world will be over for a little while
]]> <![CDATA[Visions of Heat (Psy-Changeling, #2)]]> 7179272
Changeling Vaughn D'Angelo can take either man or jaguar form, but it is his animal side that is overwhelmingly drawn to Faith. The jaguar's instinct is to claim this woman it finds so utterly fascinating and the man has no argument. But while Vaughn craves sensation and hungers to pleasure Faith in every way, desire is a danger that could snap the last threads of her sanity. And there are Psy who need Faith's sight for their own purposes. They must keep her silenced - and keep her from Vaughn ...]]> 332 Nalini Singh 0575095687 Kate 4 3.99 2007 Visions of Heat (Psy-Changeling, #2)
author: Nalini Singh
name: Kate
average rating: 3.99
book published: 2007
rating: 4
read at: 2024/06/10
date added: 2024/06/10
shelves: enjoyed, 2020, fantasy-paranormal-sci-fi
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Slave to Sensation (Psy-Changeling, #1)]]> 7179268 Dive into a world torn apart by a powerful race with phenomenal powers of the mind—and none of the heart . . .

In a world that denies emotions, where the ruling Psy punish any sign of desire, Sascha Duncan must conceal the feelings that brand her as flawed. To reveal them would be to sentence herself to the horror of “rehabilitation”—the complete psychic erasure of everything she ever was . . .

Both human and animal, Lucas Hunter is a Changeling hungry for the very sensations the Psy disdain. After centuries of uneasy co-existence, these two races are now on the verge of war over the brutal murders of several Changeling women. Lucas is determined to find the Psy killer who butchered his packmate, and Sascha is his ticket into their closely guarded society. But he soon discovers that this ice-cold Psy is very capable of passion—and that the animal in him is fascinated by her.

Caught between their conflicting worlds, Lucas and Sascha must remain bound to their identities—or sacrifice everything for a taste of darkest temptation . . .]]> 334 Nalini Singh 0575095660 Kate 5
For this book in particular, starting this series out with a bang with Sascha and Lucas was the correct move. They are just the best (behind a certain couple in a few books). The tension, the yearning, the yummy possessiveness, the love. Going back to them after catching up completely has been a pleasure like no other.

One of my all time favorite series. ]]> 4.03 2006 Slave to Sensation (Psy-Changeling, #1)
author: Nalini Singh
name: Kate
average rating: 4.03
book published: 2006
rating: 5
read at: 2024/06/05
date added: 2024/06/05
shelves: enjoyed, 2020, fantasy-paranormal-sci-fi
review:
Nalini Singh has such a talent for world building and character work that is just unmatched. The fact that she can write a 20+ book series and develop this world and plot in such a way that things are foreshadowed 4-5 books before they happen is INSANE. And she’s still releasing great books 20+ books into the series.

For this book in particular, starting this series out with a bang with Sascha and Lucas was the correct move. They are just the best (behind a certain couple in a few books). The tension, the yearning, the yummy possessiveness, the love. Going back to them after catching up completely has been a pleasure like no other.

One of my all time favorite series.
]]> <![CDATA[A False Start (Gold Rush Ranch, #4)]]> 59582214 I kissed my best friend’s little sister, and the world stood still.

That night we were two perfect strangers, the town’s grumpy recluse and a gorgeous girl in the back of a bar. Until we weren’t.

Because Nadia Dalca isn’t just some girl. She’s the girl I can’t have. Fourteen years younger than me and completely off-limits.

My plan is to stay away, but the universe keeps pushing us together. It’s like some sort of cosmic joke, to give me a taste of something so electric—so real—something that breathed life back into me.

Because I can look, but I can’t touch.

Her sinful curves, her light-hearted laughter, her wild side . . . I’m addicted to every last bit of her.

And when she turns those sultry eyes on me––the ones so full of longing and so free of judgement? I’ve always considered myself a strong man. But when she looks at me I’m weak.

To give in to our connection would be a betrayal. My life is beyond complicated, and she has the world at her fingertips. Her brother is the only family she has left, and sad as it sounds, he’s also my only friend.

But I kissed her again anyway.

And now I can’t stop.
]]> 404 Elsie Silver Kate 4 4.16 2022 A False Start (Gold Rush Ranch, #4)
author: Elsie Silver
name: Kate
average rating: 4.16
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2024/06/02
date added: 2024/06/02
shelves: 2024, book-boyfriends, contemporary-romance, enjoyed, spicy
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Forged by Magic (Falling for Fables, #1)]]> 161942909 A heartwarming, feel-good fantasy romance…with a helping of spice and only a pinch of danger.

Trapped in a tower by the emperor who conquered her homeland, Daella yearns for an escape. But as one of the few half-orcs left in the world, she knows she’ll never be free, much less find her own happily ever after.

Destiny takes an unexpected turn when the emperor offers her a deal. To earn her freedom, she must journey to the mysterious Isles of Fable and track down wielders of outlawed dragon magic. Eager to seize her chance, Daella agrees.

When a brutal storm tosses her ship off course, she washes up on the wrong island—right at the feet of Rivelin, a gruff but handsome elven blacksmith, who seems more likely to stab her than help her. To her surprise, he offers her shelter until the next ship passes through in six weeks� time.

Daella soon realizes he’s hiding something big. It could be the very magic she’s been tasked to hunt down—the key to her long-awaited freedom. But as they bicker over the flames of his forge, her heart kindles with something she’s never felt before.

When his secrets finally come to light, Daella must decide what’s more her freedom from the wicked crown or the desires of her heart.

Forged by Magic is a complete, stand-alone fantasy romance novel set in the whimsical world of Falling for Fables.]]> 310 Jenna Wolfhart Kate 0 to-read 3.85 2023 Forged by Magic (Falling for Fables, #1)
author: Jenna Wolfhart
name: Kate
average rating: 3.85
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/06/02
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Front Runner (Gold Rush Ranch, #3)]]> 57722167 Stefan Dalca is infuriatingly handsome. And annoyingly persistent. We’re supposed to hate each other. But apparently he didn’t get the memo, because he’s been asking me out for years.

And I always say no. Until today.

Today he has something that I desperately need. Today he’s a savior, and I’m his prize.

Our time together starts out as a simple transaction. Three dates. No touching. No telling anyone. And definitely no falling in love.

But with every intimate conversation, and each stolen glance, the tension between us builds.

The way he looks at me gives me butterflies. And when he finally touches m? We sizzle.

Stefan makes me feel seen in a way no other person has before. He cherishes my words as passionately as my body.

He makes me laugh. He makes me blush. He calls me kitten.

He’s not the villain he’s been made out to be.

And suddenly I find myself longing for him in a way the people closest to me wouldn’t approve of or understand.

Giving in to Stefan Dalca is playing with fire.

But with him I don’t even mind the heat.]]> 356 Elsie Silver Kate 4 4.26 2021 The Front Runner (Gold Rush Ranch, #3)
author: Elsie Silver
name: Kate
average rating: 4.26
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at: 2024/06/01
date added: 2024/06/01
shelves: 2024, book-boyfriends, contemporary-romance, enjoyed, spicy
review:

]]> <![CDATA[A Photo Finish (Gold Rush Ranch, #2)]]> 57722155 I’ve seen every square inch of Violet Eaton’s delectable body and she has no idea who I am.

Until now.

What happened between us online, in our chats, was meant to stay anonymous and in the past.

Until it didn’t.

It’s a small world, but Ruby Creek is even smaller. When I move to the tiny town, the grumpy facade I’ve created slips when we’re forced to live under the same roof.

Every flush of her cheeks, every time her eyes flare with heat, every time she begs me not to stop, the ice I’ve encased myself in melts. She has me wanting things I can’t want. Things I’ve been dreaming about since I first laid eyes on her two years ago—things I don’t deserve.

But my invisible wounds have the power to ruin us both. As a former soldier, I should have the discipline to walk away, but the more I open up to Violet, the more I want to keep her.

I came back from the war a different man, but my scars are older and deeper than anyone knows—and I planned to keep it that way. I planned to keep my secrets hidden.

Until her.]]> 420 Elsie Silver Kate 3 4.06 2021 A Photo Finish (Gold Rush Ranch, #2)
author: Elsie Silver
name: Kate
average rating: 4.06
book published: 2021
rating: 3
read at: 2024/05/30
date added: 2024/05/30
shelves: 2024, contemporary-romance, solid-eh-books, spicy
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Heart of the Fae (The Otherworld, #1)]]> 35919863 Beauty and the Beast meets Irish Mythology in this sweeping retelling of the beloved fairytale....

Once upon a time�

A plague sweeps across the emerald hills of Uí Néill, leaving a young midwife’s father with months to live. To save her people, Sorcha makes a deal with a dangerous Fae. She must travel across the sea, through merrow and kelpie lands, to find a forgotten king on a crumbling throne.

Born king of the Seelie Fae, Eamonn fought battles unnumbered to uphold honor, duty, and freedom� until his twin brother sank a blade between his shoulders. Crystals grew from the wound, splitting open skin and bone. His people banished him to a cursed isle for his disfigurement, now king of criminals and fools.

With the help of brownies, pixies, and will-o�-the-wisps, Sorcha battles to break through his crystalline shell and persuade him to take back his stolen throne.

This determined beauty could come dangerously close to stealing his beastly heart.]]> 350 Emma Hamm 0999424424 Kate 4 3.69 2017 Heart of the Fae (The Otherworld, #1)
author: Emma Hamm
name: Kate
average rating: 3.69
book published: 2017
rating: 4
read at: 2024/05/29
date added: 2024/05/29
shelves: 2024, enjoyed, fantasy-paranormal-sci-fi
review:

]]> Bride 181350812 A dangerous alliance between a Vampyre bride and an Alpha Werewolf becomes a love deep enough to sink your teeth into in this new paranormal romance.

Misery Lark, the only daughter of the most powerful Vampyre councilman of the Southwest, is an outcast—again. Her days of living in anonymity among the Humans are over: she has been called upon to uphold a historic peacekeeping alliance between the Vampyres and their mortal enemies, the Weres, and she sees little choice but to surrender herself in the exchange—again...

Weres are ruthless and unpredictable, and their Alpha, Lowe Moreland, is no exception. He rules his pack with absolute authority, but not without justice. And, unlike the Vampyre Council, not without feeling. It’s clear from the way he tracks Misery’s every movement that he doesn’t trust her. If only he knew how right he was�.

Because Misery has her own reasons to agree to this marriage of convenience, reasons that have nothing to do with politics or alliances, and everything to do with the only thing she's ever cared about. And she is willing to do whatever it takes to get back what’s hers, even if it means a life alone in Were territory…alone with the wolf.]]> 416 Ali Hazelwood 0593550404 Kate 4 4.07 2024 Bride
author: Ali Hazelwood
name: Kate
average rating: 4.07
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/02/14
date added: 2024/05/27
shelves: 2024, enjoyed, fantasy-paranormal-sci-fi, spicy
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Riot House (Crooked Sinners, #1)]]> 51976550 As far as the boys who run America’s most exclusive international academy are concerned, I’m an unwelcome interloper, an inconvenience, and they’re determined to make my life a living hell.

When Wren Jacobi sets eyes on Wolf Hall Academy’s newest inductee, all he sees is an easy mark. A reserved little girl with a target painted on her back. He knows nothing of my troubled past, though. Nothing of my mother’s suspicious death, or the horrific treatment I’ve had to endure at the hands of my psychotic father.

And he has no idea of the lengths that I, unassuming little Elodie Stillwater, will go to in order to break the savage beast who dreams of breaking me first.

There’s a wolf stalking the forests that surround my new school.
Little does he know�
There are far scarier predators lurking out there in the dark.]]> 465 Callie Hart Kate 5
This book was absolutely not what I expected. I went into this thinking this is a bully romance…It’s not. It is a beautifully written and compelling story about two damaged people unexpectedly finding everything they have been missing in someone else.

Both our main characters were phenomenal, but Elodie was definitely the stand out. She has been through so much but uses that to fuel her. She isn’t meek or just takes things on the chin. She stands up for herself and doesn’t give people the satisfaction to see her break down. She is a strong person, so unapologetic, and I adore her.

Now, to Wren. Ugh, I love him. He’s mysterious and sexy, and the way he loves Elodie was apparent and swoon worthy. He at first did want to break her because he had a connection to her and he didn’t like that. He thought she was a spoiled army brat. But he quickly realized that he was wrong and instead, begins to respect her. He falls hard and a little fast and isn’t afraid to let Elodie know.

This book is definitely a bit dark (definitely check trigger warnings!). Elodie’s backstory is especially heartbreaking so be prepared.

This book. Dear God. ]]> 3.86 2020 Riot House (Crooked Sinners, #1)
author: Callie Hart
name: Kate
average rating: 3.86
book published: 2020
rating: 5
read at: 2024/05/25
date added: 2024/05/25
shelves: 2021, book-boyfriends, contemporary-romance, favorites, spicy, favorite-leading-ladies
review:
5 Stars

This book was absolutely not what I expected. I went into this thinking this is a bully romance…It’s not. It is a beautifully written and compelling story about two damaged people unexpectedly finding everything they have been missing in someone else.

Both our main characters were phenomenal, but Elodie was definitely the stand out. She has been through so much but uses that to fuel her. She isn’t meek or just takes things on the chin. She stands up for herself and doesn’t give people the satisfaction to see her break down. She is a strong person, so unapologetic, and I adore her.

Now, to Wren. Ugh, I love him. He’s mysterious and sexy, and the way he loves Elodie was apparent and swoon worthy. He at first did want to break her because he had a connection to her and he didn’t like that. He thought she was a spoiled army brat. But he quickly realized that he was wrong and instead, begins to respect her. He falls hard and a little fast and isn’t afraid to let Elodie know.

This book is definitely a bit dark (definitely check trigger warnings!). Elodie’s backstory is especially heartbreaking so be prepared.

This book. Dear God.
]]> <![CDATA[The Dixon Rule (Campus Diaries, #2)]]> 200338241
Shane just moved into her apartment building and seems dedicated to sleeping his way through her entire cheerleading squad. Sure, he’s a tall, gorgeous hockey player, but he’s messing with her turf. This calls for some ground rules: no parties in her apartment, leave her teammates alone, and—most importantly—leave her alone.

What Diana doesn’t realize is that Shane’s sick of hookups and tired of being on the rebound after his long-term girlfriend called it quits. He wants a relationship. And when his ex comes back into the picture, he pretends he has one to make her jealous…and who better to play the girlfriend role than his sassy new neighbor?

Despite Diana’s reluctance to break her rule, a fake relationship is the perfect solution for her own ex issues, and soon she can’t deny something is sizzling between her and Shane. Something hot and completely unexpected.

And it might just be getting a little too real.]]> 498 Elle Kennedy Kate 4 4.16 2024 The Dixon Rule (Campus Diaries, #2)
author: Elle Kennedy
name: Kate
average rating: 4.16
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/05/22
date added: 2024/05/22
shelves: 2024, enjoyed, spicy, sports-romance
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Lassiter (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #21)]]> 61295517 Destiny, duty, and desire clash in this epic new novel in J.R. Ward’s #1 New York Times bestselling Black Dagger Brotherhood series.

Lassiter, the fallen angel, is too good at the savior business. In his new role overseeing the fates of all vampires, he’s influenced outcomes he shouldn’t have—so the Creator is calling him home. But the angel has a reason to stay in Caldwell. He’s bonded with a mysterious female who seemed to appear from out of nowhere...and has powers that defy all reason.

Rahvyn is well aware that she doesn’t belong in the present. And she never intended to stay, for her true place is in the past. Lassiter proves to be undeniable, however, and she lets herself fall for the angel—until a secret he’s been keeping comes out and she fears that for him, it’s not about love, but duty.

As the Omega’s son reestablishes the Lessening Society, and the Brotherhood must resume the deadly war, an unfathomable tragedy occurs. In the aftermath, Rahvyn has to decide whether to stay and help—or save herself from an immortal heartbreak she knows will crush her very soul...]]> 468 J.R. Ward 1982180064 Kate 0 2024, dnf 4.22 2023 Lassiter (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #21)
author: J.R. Ward
name: Kate
average rating: 4.22
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at: 2024/05/21
date added: 2024/05/21
shelves: 2024, dnf
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Oath We Give (Hollow Boys, #5)]]> 126835939
Two years.
That’s all the peace we had before our past awoke from the dead.
Rose from the grave with malicious hands, famished, and ready to bury us six feet below. The tombstones of our enemies have been overturned, and we are reminded that we can never escape the chains of the corrupt.
Seeking retribution for my lost love consumed my past, but that violence and desire for punishment now jeopardized the future of those closest to me.
We are given one choice, a singular option.
Return to Ponderosa Springs. Or reap the consequences.
But it’s more than the infamous Hollow Boys in danger this time.
It’s her.
The cursed one.
A mirage of a woman too stubborn for her own good.
Coraline Whittaker and I share a common enemy. Her fear of him and his possession over her is the only reason she agrees to work with me.
We promise to protect one another. Share the weight of his return and the misery his presences brings; Till death do us part or the man plaguing her dreams is finally sent to the grave.
What she doesn’t know is there is more than a villain weaving us together.
It’s not just the revenge I want. It’s not the satisfaction of ruining the town that tainted us.
I want her.
Once again, I’ve taken a vow to protect someone, took her vengeance and made it my own.
Still waters have always run deep.
Ponderosa Springs isn’t the only one with secrets. I’ll let the world know mine before they take her away from me. That rotting town knows what I do to people who take things that belong to me.
A mistake repeated?
Not even God himself will deliver them from my evil.]]> 429 Monty Jay Kate 4 4.29 2023 The Oath We Give (Hollow Boys, #5)
author: Monty Jay
name: Kate
average rating: 4.29
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2024/05/21
date added: 2024/05/21
shelves: 2024, book-boyfriends, contemporary-romance, enjoyed, spicy
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Viper (Black Dagger Brotherhood: Prison Camp, #3)]]> 60209477
Nadya is a self-taught nurse who does what she can to ease the suffering of the prisoners. When Kane comes under her care, she cannot help but empathize with his condition for very personal reasons—and as the guards take him away one last time, she fears he is facing a terrible death.

After a daring rescue, Kane is offered a treatment that will change his very nature. Choosing life, for the time being, he goes back for the female who took such good care of him—but his duty to Nadya sets him on a collision course with his own past. When long-buried secrets are exposed, his self-destruction is inevitable…unless true love can save his soul.]]> 353 J.R. Ward 1982179902 Kate 2 4.09 2022 The Viper (Black Dagger Brotherhood: Prison Camp, #3)
author: J.R. Ward
name: Kate
average rating: 4.09
book published: 2022
rating: 2
read at: 2024/05/20
date added: 2024/05/20
shelves: 2024, fantasy-paranormal-sci-fi, not-my-fave, spicy
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Blood We Crave: Part Two (The Hollow Boys, #4)]]> 123018867
I'd always believed my love was enough to save him. To protect him.

I was wrong.

The Copycat killer gets closer every day, and I can’t help but feel his every move is in my direction.

With dead ends around every curve and bodies piling up, it seems our time is running out.

They took him from me. Stole the last bit of light and left him empty.

Now, it’s not only the Hollow Boys who are seeking revenge.

I'm out for blood. A war path for vengeance.

They wanted a villain?

I’ll give them one.]]> 333 Monty Jay Kate 4 4.19 The Blood We Crave: Part Two (The Hollow Boys, #4)
author: Monty Jay
name: Kate
average rating: 4.19
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2024/05/20
date added: 2024/05/20
shelves: 2024, book-boyfriends, contemporary-romance, enjoyed, spicy
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Blood We Crave: Part One (The Hollow Boys, #3)]]> 66089602
His cravings are dripping in blood.

Is it love?

Or is it something much darker�

An obsession.

Death found me as a young girl. Latching onto the core of my soul.

No one knows what that horrid night did to me. What kind of monster it flourished inside me. I’d become a ghost, hiding from the world so that people would never find out about the morbid desire I harbor.

Until he noticed me.

Thatcher Alexander Pierson: Cunning. Sharp. Beautiful.

A man bred from the seed of a serial killer. Stitched together with old money and Dolce & Gabbana clothing.

He is my strongest fixation. My sweetest, darkest addiction.

And I’m his phantom.

I have haunted him my entire life and now?

He sees me for exactly what I am.

A killer.

I sicken him. But he has always mesmerized me.

When a copycat murderer prowls among the trees of Ponderosa Springs, our loyalty is tested.

It had been foolish of us to believe our revenge would go unpunished. That the town wouldn’t retaliate after what we did.

With our lives hanging in the balance, Thatcher and I have no choice but to coexist.

In the twilight of musty cabins and haunted library towers, my somber secrets are exposed, and his cravings are revealed.

So the question is…What is love without obsession?]]> 383 Monty Jay Kate 4 4.09 The Blood We Crave: Part One (The Hollow Boys, #3)
author: Monty Jay
name: Kate
average rating: 4.09
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2024/05/19
date added: 2024/05/19
shelves: 2024, contemporary-romance, enjoyed, spicy
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Forever (Lair of the Wolven, #2)]]> 59366229 Lydia Susi and Daniel Joseph’s story continues in the Lair of the Wolven series from #1 New York Times bestselling author J.R. Ward.

For Lydia Susi, there is no sweet sorrow in saying goodbye to the man she loves. As a wolven hiding among humans, she’s used to being alone—until destiny gives her the kind of love she never dared to dream about. But after a sudden devastating diagnosis, grief is the only thing she sees in her future.

As an operative for a clandestine arm of the United States government, Daniel Joseph always expected to die an early death. He just assumed it would be out in the field—not in a laboratory hospital bed. With his time running out, he refuses a potentially lifesaving treatment to focus on making sure that Lydia finds her wolven clan.

Following an attack on the lab’s compound, Daniel fears his former boss is coming after the two of them. Marshaling his strength, he must call on all of his training to protect his love…even if it means her moving on without him.]]> 433 J.R. Ward 198218020X Kate 0 2024, dnf 3.82 2023 Forever (Lair of the Wolven, #2)
author: J.R. Ward
name: Kate
average rating: 3.82
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at: 2024/05/19
date added: 2024/05/19
shelves: 2024, dnf
review:
For my own sanity I’m DNFing this book as well as this spinoff series
]]> <![CDATA[The Wolf (Black Dagger Brotherhood: Prison Camp, #2)]]> 56898299
In the next installment of bestselling author J.R. Ward’s Prison Camp series, things get steamy when Lucan, a wolven forced into bartering drug deals for the infamous Prison Colony, meets Rio, the second in command for the shadowy Caldwell supplier, Mozart. After a deal goes awry, a wolf with piercing golden eyes swoops in to save her from certain death. As shocking truths unfurl, Rio is uncertain of who to trust and what to believe—but with her life on the line, true love rears its head and growls in the face of danger.]]> 418 J.R. Ward 1982179872 Kate 3 4.05 2021 The Wolf (Black Dagger Brotherhood: Prison Camp, #2)
author: J.R. Ward
name: Kate
average rating: 4.05
book published: 2021
rating: 3
read at: 2024/05/15
date added: 2024/05/15
shelves: 2024, fantasy-paranormal-sci-fi, solid-eh-books, spicy
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Truths We Burn (The Hollow Boys, #2)]]> 60066321
Blood has soaked the hands of those we trusted most. Decrepit intentions finally come to light.

And now truths are ready to be incinerated in the open for everyone to witness.

I was ready to watch this town that made me the villain, Rot in front of my eyes, but it seems ghosts don’t stay buried here either.

Everyone’s favorite sweetheart has returned to Hollow Heights dragging nothing but unanswered questions and grim memories behind her.

A distraction I can’t afford with the police sniffing around.

A mistake that torched my last piece of humanity.

The dirty little secret that has returned searching for closure surrounding her sister’s mysterious death.

But I know the innocent, lost girl is an act. Underneath it’s just another part of her show.

They all are eating from the palm of her hand, puppets on her string.

But not me.

I see her for what she truly is, I always have.

A fake. A manipulator. A liar.

I won’t let her ruin all we have worked for. I refuse to let her derail our plan of vengeance.

I’ve played your game once before, Sage, now it’s time to play mine.

And you’re not making it out without getting burned.]]> 473 Monty Jay Kate 4 4.17 The Truths We Burn (The Hollow Boys, #2)
author: Monty Jay
name: Kate
average rating: 4.17
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2024/05/15
date added: 2024/05/15
shelves: 2024, book-boyfriends, contemporary-romance, enjoyed, favorite-leading-ladies, spicy
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Lies We Steal (The Hollow Boys, #1)]]> 59010421 It marked the bitter end of our vengeance.
We have done things that have marked our souls for eternity.
But before we get there, we have to go back.
Back to where it all started.
The place I could find in my sleep.
Hollow Heights University in the macabre, somber seaside town of Ponderosa Springs.
A college for prestigious, wealthy children to receive the highest education. A town drowning in treachery and secrets that became our damnation.
But it wasn’t the forest surrounding the grounds or even the mysterious hidden mausoleum that haunted me.
It was them.
The ones that lurked in the night, things so wicked, so twisted, so evil, they would become the rulers of my nightmares.
The Hollow Boys.
One wrong move and I landed myself directly in their line of fire.
This is not a story about love, it is not a story of happy endings.
Love just happened to blossom in our sorrows, in our pain, our fear, our blood.
Every terrible thing they ever did, we watched, we helped, we loved them anyway.
Some run from their monsters, we fell in love with ours.]]> 398 Monty Jay Kate 3 3.63 2021 The Lies We Steal (The Hollow Boys, #1)
author: Monty Jay
name: Kate
average rating: 3.63
book published: 2021
rating: 3
read at: 2024/05/13
date added: 2024/05/13
shelves: 2024, contemporary-romance, enjoyed, spicy
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Claimed (Lair of the Wolven, #1)]]> 55711656
A heart-pounding new series set in the Black Dagger Brotherhood world, with a scientist fighting to save the timber wolves—and getting caught in a deadly trap herself...

Lydia Susi is passionate about protecting wolves in their natural habitat. When a hotel chain develops a tract of land next to the preserve, Lydia is one of the most vocal opponents of the project - and becomes a target.

One night, a shadowy figure threatens Lydia’s life in the forest, and a new hire at the Wolf Study Project comes from out of nowhere to save her. Daniel Joseph is both mysterious and someone she intrinsically wants to trust. But is he hiding something?

As the stakes get higher and one of Lydia’s colleagues is murdered, she must decide how far she will go to protect the wolves. Then a shocking revelation about Daniel challenges Lydia’s reality in ways she could never have predicted. Some fates demand courage, while others require even more, with no guarantees. Is she destined to have true love...or will a soul-shattering loss ruin her forever?]]> 509 J.R. Ward 1982150378 Kate 4 3.70 2021 Claimed (Lair of the Wolven, #1)
author: J.R. Ward
name: Kate
average rating: 3.70
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at: 2024/05/11
date added: 2024/05/11
shelves: 2024, book-boyfriends, enjoyed, fantasy-paranormal-sci-fi, spicy
review:
The ending of this really went off the rails
]]> <![CDATA[Lover Unveiled (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #19)]]> 52681795 Meet a powerful MMA fighter with a buried secret that could change the world of Caldwell forever...

Sahvage has been living under the radar for centuries-and he has every intention of staying 'dead and buried.' But when a civilian female sucks him into her dangerous battle with an evil as ancient as time, his protective side overrides his common sense.

Mae has lost everything, and desperation sets her on a collision course with fate. Determined to reverse a tragedy, she goes where mortals should fear to tread- and comes face to face with the Brotherhood's new enemy. She also discovers a love she never expected to find with Sahvage, but there can be no future for them.

Knowing they will part, the two band together to fight against what Mae unknowingly unleashed- as the Brotherhood closes in to reclaim one of their damned, and the evil vows to destroy them all...]]> 509 J.R. Ward 150119514X Kate 0 dnf 4.22 2021 Lover Unveiled (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #19)
author: J.R. Ward
name: Kate
average rating: 4.22
book published: 2021
rating: 0
read at: 2024/05/07
date added: 2024/05/07
shelves: dnf
review:
Thank God for the BDB wiki for the recap of this because I was going to be in a reading slump if I finished this
]]> <![CDATA[The Jackal (Black Dagger Brotherhood: Prison Camp, #1)]]> 48863512 The #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Sinner brings another hot adventure of true love and ultimate sacrifice in the Black Dagger Brotherhood world.

The location of the ˛µ±ô˛âłľ±đ°ů˛ąâ€�s notorious prison camp was lost after the raids. When a freak accident provides Nyx clues to where her sister may still be doing time, she becomes determined to find the secret subterranean labyrinth. Embarking on a journey under the earth, she learns a terrible truth—and meets a male who changes everything, forever.

The Jackal has been in the camp for so long he cannot recall anything of the freedom he once knew. Trapped by circumstances out of his control, he helps Nyx because he cannot help himself. After she discovers what happened to her sister, getting her back out becomes a deadly mission for them both.

United by a passion they can’t deny, they work together on an escape plan for Nyx—even though their destiny is to be forever apart. And as the Black Dagger Brotherhood is called upon for help, and Rhage discovers he has a half-brother who’s falsely imprisoned, a devious warden plots the deaths of them all…even the Brothers.]]> 365 J.R. Ward 1501195085 Kate 3 4.23 2020 The Jackal (Black Dagger Brotherhood: Prison Camp, #1)
author: J.R. Ward
name: Kate
average rating: 4.23
book published: 2020
rating: 3
read at: 2024/05/06
date added: 2024/05/06
shelves: 2024, fantasy-paranormal-sci-fi, solid-eh-books, spicy
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Thief (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #16)]]> 34848965 New enemies rise from the shadows in the next novel of the New York Times bestselling paranormal romance series the Black Dagger Brotherhood.

Having allied themselves with the Band of Bastards, the Brotherhood is committed now more than ever to eradicating the Lessening Society. Recovering from their most recent battle against the last of the lessers, the Brotherhood comes to realize that the fight against their enemies is far from over.

Throe, Xcor’s former second in command, is using an ancient tome to summon a new army engineered by a force more dangerous and evil than the Omega.

And now the brothers of the Black Dagger Brotherhood will be tested both at home and on the battlefield.]]> 454 J.R. Ward 0349409218 Kate 4 4.15 2018 The Thief (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #16)
author: J.R. Ward
name: Kate
average rating: 4.15
book published: 2018
rating: 4
read at: 2024/04/11
date added: 2024/05/02
shelves: 2024, enjoyed, fantasy-paranormal-sci-fi, spicy
review:

]]> <![CDATA[King of Envy (Kings of Sin, #5)]]> 210825471 He had everything he could’ve wanted…except her.

Dangerous. Powerful. Reclusive.
Ěý
Vuk Markovic is notorious for shunning human interactions. The scarred billionaire rarely talks, and he has no interest in relationships outside his small but trusted circle.
Ěý
His only exception? Her . The beauty to his beast, the object of his obsession.
Ěý
He saw her first. He wanted her first. But now, she’s engaged to his oldest friend—and the closer the wedding looms, the more he’s torn between loyalty and desire.
Ěý
She should be his…and he might just risk it all to have her.
Ěý
***
Beautiful. Successful. Glamorous.
Ěý
To the world, supermodel Ayana Kidane leads the perfect life. Her career has skyrocketed, and she’s engaged to one of New York’s most eligible bachelors.
Ěý
What people don't know is that the engagement is only a business arrangement. He gets his inheritance when they marry; she gets the money she needs to leave her abusive agency.
Ěý
Pretending to be in love should be easy—until she finds herself increasingly drawn to her fiancé’s enigmatic best man.
Ěý
Vuk thrills and terrifies her in equal measure. She knows she should stay away, but when her wedding is thrown into chaos, he’s the only person she finds comfort in�
Ěý
Until his past catches up with them and threatens everything they love.]]> Ana Huang Kate 0 to-read 4.37 2025 King of Envy (Kings of Sin, #5)
author: Ana Huang
name: Kate
average rating: 4.37
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/05/01
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> The Marble Queen 57130693 The Marble Queen is a YA Fantasy graphic novel that’s the political drama of Nimona meets the heartfelt romance of The Prince and the Dressmaker, but this time in a sapphic romance surrounded by a mist of magic.

Princess Amelia’s kingdom, Marion, is in shambles after months of their trade routes being ravaged by pirates, and now the only seemingly option left is for her to save it through a marriage alliance. When she gets an exorbitant offer from the royalty of Iliad—a country shrouded in mystery—Amelia accepts without question and leaves her home to begin a new life.

But she lands on Iliad’s shores to find that her betrothed isn't the country’s prince, but the recently coronated Queen Salira.
�
Shocked, Amelia tries to make sense of her situation and her confused heart: Salira has awakened strange new feelings inside her, but something dark hides behind the Queen's sorrowful eyes. Amelia must fight the demons of her own anxiety disorder before she can tackle her wife's, all while war looms on the horizon.]]> 336 Anna Kopp 150672812X Kate 0 to-read 3.62 2024 The Marble Queen
author: Anna Kopp
name: Kate
average rating: 3.62
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/05/01
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[King of Sloth (Kings of Sin, #4)]]> 75491526 He'd never wanted anyone enough to chase them...until he met her.

Charming, easygoing, and rich beyond belief, Xavier Castillo has the world at his fingertips.Ěý

He also has no interest in taking over his family’s empire (much to his father’s chagrin), but that hasn’t stopped women from throwing themselves at him…unless the woman in question is his publicist.Ěý

Nothing brings him more joy than riling her up, but when a tragedy forces them closer than ever, he must grapple with the uncertainty of his future—and the realization that the only person immune to his charms is the only one he truly wants. Ěý

***
Cool, intelligent, and ambitious, Sloane Kensington is a high-powered publicist who’s used to dealing with difficult clients.Ěý

However, none infuriate—or tempt—her more than a certain billionaire heir, with his stupid dimples and laid-back attitude.Ěý

She may be forced to work with him, but she’ll never fall for him…no matter how fast he makes her heart beat or how thoughtful he is beneath his party persona.Ěý

He’s her client, and that’s all he’ll ever be. Right?]]> 466 Ana Huang Kate 5 Ana devoured this I fear 4.00 2024 King of Sloth (Kings of Sin, #4)
author: Ana Huang
name: Kate
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/05/01
date added: 2024/05/01
shelves: 2024, book-boyfriends, contemporary-romance, favorite-leading-ladies, favorites, spicy
review:
Ana devoured this I fear
]]> <![CDATA[The Sinner (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #18)]]> 49874094 A sinner’s only hope is true love in this passionate new novel in J.R. Ward’s #1 New York Times bestselling Black Dagger Brotherhood series.

Syn has kept his side hustle as a mercenary a secret from the Black Dagger Brotherhood. When he takes another hit job, he not only crosses the path of the vampire race’s new enemy, but also that of a half-breed in danger of dying during her transition. Jo Early has no idea what her true nature is, and when a mysterious man appears out of the darkness, she is torn between their erotic connection and the sense that something is very wrong.

Fate anointed Butch O’Neal as the Dhestroyer, the fulfiller of the prophecy that foresees the end of the Omega. As the war with the Lessening Society comes to a head, Butch gets an unexpected ally in Syn. But can he trust the male—or is the warrior with the bad past a deadly complication?

With time running out, Jo gets swept up in the fighting and must join with Syn and the Brotherhood against true evil. In the end, will love true prevail...or was the prophecy wrong all along?]]> 498 J.R. Ward 1501195093 Kate 4 4.25 2020 The Sinner (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #18)
author: J.R. Ward
name: Kate
average rating: 4.25
book published: 2020
rating: 4
read at: 2024/04/30
date added: 2024/04/30
shelves: 2024, enjoyed, fantasy-paranormal-sci-fi, spicy
review:

]]> <![CDATA[A Kiss at Midnight (Fairy Tales, #1)]]> 6957682
Forced by her stepmother to attend a ball, Kate meets a prince... and decides he's anything but charming. A clash of wits and wills ensues, but they both know their irresistible attraction will lead nowhere. For Gabriel is promised to another woman—a princess whose hand in marriage will fulfill his ruthless ambitions.

Gabriel likes his fiancee, which is a welcome turn of events, but he doesn't love her. Obviously, he should be wooing his bride-to-be, not the witty, impoverished beauty who refuses to fawn over him.

Godmothers and glass slippers notwithstanding, this is one fairy tale in which destiny conspires to destroy any chance that Kate and Gabriel might have a happily ever after.

Unless a prince throws away everything that makes him noble...

Unless a dowry of an unruly heart trumps a fortune...

Unless one kiss at the stroke of midnight changes everything.]]> 384 Eloisa James 0061626848 Kate 3 3.78 2010 A Kiss at Midnight (Fairy Tales, #1)
author: Eloisa James
name: Kate
average rating: 3.78
book published: 2010
rating: 3
read at: 2024/04/28
date added: 2024/04/28
shelves: 2021, enjoyed, historical-romance, spicy
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Blood Truth (Black Dagger Legacy, #4)]]> 42731069
Ever since her sister was murdered at the club, Helaine has been committed to finding the killer, no matter the danger she faces. When she crosses paths with Boone, she doesn't know whether to trust him or not—and then she has no choice. As she herself becomes a target, and someone close to the Brotherhood is identified as the prime suspect, the two must work to together to solve the mystery...before it's too late. Will a madman come between the lovers or will true love and goodness triumph over a very mortal evil?]]> 432 J.R. Ward Kate 4 4.22 2019 Blood Truth (Black Dagger Legacy, #4)
author: J.R. Ward
name: Kate
average rating: 4.22
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2024/04/23
date added: 2024/04/23
shelves: 2024, enjoyed, fantasy-paranormal-sci-fi, spicy
review:

]]> Taming 7 (Boys of Tommen, #5) 195241326 464 Chloe Walsh 1464216053 Kate 4
But my babies are finally together and I can live happy ]]> 4.35 2024 Taming 7 (Boys of Tommen, #5)
author: Chloe Walsh
name: Kate
average rating: 4.35
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/04/17
date added: 2024/04/17
shelves: 2024, book-boyfriends, contemporary-romance, favorites
review:
This being the shortest book in the series is a crime. This could have easily been twice as long. Also you can tell this is much more YA than the other 4 so fuck you Bloom.

But my babies are finally together and I can live happy
]]> <![CDATA[The Savior (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #17)]]> 42101728
Dr. Sarah Watkins, researcher at a biomedical firm, is struggling with the loss of her fellow scientist fiancé. When the FBI starts asking about his death, she questions what really happened and soon learns the terrible truth: Her firm is conducting inhumane experiments in secret and the man she thought she knew and loved was involved in the torture.

As Murhder and Sarah’s destinies become irrevocably entwined, desire ignites between them. But can they forge a future that spans the divide separating the two species? And as a new foe emerges in the war against the vampires, will Murhder return to his Brothers... or resume his lonely existence forevermore?]]> 479 J.R. Ward 1501194941 Kate 4 4.36 2019 The Savior (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #17)
author: J.R. Ward
name: Kate
average rating: 4.36
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2024/04/15
date added: 2024/04/15
shelves: 2024, enjoyed, fantasy-paranormal-sci-fi, spicy
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Prisoner of Night (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #16.5)]]> 42091185
When Ahmare’s brother is abducted, there is nothing she won’t do to get him back safely. She is unprepared, however, for the lengths she will have to go to save his life. Paired with a dangerous but enticing prisoner, she embarks on an odyssey into another world.

Duran, betrayed by his father, imprisoned in a dungeon for decades, has survived only because of his thirst for vengeance. He has been biding his time to escape and is shocked to find an unlikely and temporary freedom in the form of a determined young female.

Battling against deadly forces and facing unforeseen peril, the pair are in a race to save Ahmare’s brother. As time runs out, and the unthinkable looms, even true love may not be enough to carry them through.]]> 176 J.R. Ward 1501195174 Kate 3 2024, solid-eh-books, spicy 3.93 2019 Prisoner of Night (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #16.5)
author: J.R. Ward
name: Kate
average rating: 3.93
book published: 2019
rating: 3
read at: 2024/04/12
date added: 2024/04/12
shelves: 2024, solid-eh-books, spicy
review:

]]> Wild Love (Rose Hill, #1) 199368721 She's been driving him wild for years . . . the good kind of wild.

The kind of wild that comes with wanting your best friend's little sister and knowing you can't have her.

Forbes may have labeled Ford Grant the World's Hottest Billionaire, but all he cares about is escaping the press and opening a recording studio in gorgeous small town Rose Hill. Something that comes to a screeching halt when he ends up face-to-face with a young girl who claims he's her biological father. Now, he spends his days balancing business with parenting a sullen twelve-year-old, all while trying desperately to keep his hands the hell off his best friend's sister, Rosie Belmont.

After living in the city, Rosie came blasting back into town like a storm. Beautiful, messy, and chaotic. And one wide-eyed, desperate plea for a job is all it takes for Ford to hire her. He vows to keep her at arm's length. Tries to stick to scowls and grumpy one-liners. But with her, verbal sparring is a type of foreplay―friction that soon turns to blistering heat.

Ford knows damn well he shouldn't cross this line. But shouldn't and can't are two very different things.

And the only thing he truly can't do is resist her.]]> 402 Elsie Silver 0349441626 Kate 5 Elsie Silver is that bitch 3.98 2024 Wild Love (Rose Hill, #1)
author: Elsie Silver
name: Kate
average rating: 3.98
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/04/09
date added: 2024/04/09
shelves: 2024, book-boyfriends, contemporary-romance, favorite-leading-ladies, favorites, spicy
review:
Elsie Silver is that bitch
]]> <![CDATA[Archangel's Kiss (Guild Hunter, #2)]]> 6582637 New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh returns to her world of angelic rulers, vampiric servants, and the woman thrust into their darkly seductive world�

Vampire hunter Elena Deveraux wakes from a year-long coma to find herself changed—an angel with wings the colors of midnight and dawn—but her fragile body needs time to heal before she can take flight. Her lover, the stunningly dangerous archangel Raphael, is used to being in control—even when it comes to the woman he considers his own. But Elena has never done well with authority�

They’ve barely begun to understand each other when Raphael receives an invitation to a ball from the archangel Lijuan. To refuse would be a sign of fatal weakness, so Raphael must ready Elena for the flight to Beijing—and to the nightmare that awaits them there. Ancient and without conscience, Lijuan holds a power that lies with the dead. And she has organized the most perfect and most vicious of welcomes for Elena…]]> 323 Nalini Singh 0425233367 Kate 0 to-read 4.20 2010 Archangel's Kiss (Guild Hunter, #2)
author: Nalini Singh
name: Kate
average rating: 4.20
book published: 2010
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/04/09
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Powerless (The Powerless Trilogy, #1)]]> 75513900 She is the very thing he’s spent his whole life hunting.
He is the very thing she’s spent her whole life pretending to be.

Only the extraordinary belong in the kingdom of Ilya—the exceptional, the empowered, the Elites.

The powers these Elites have possessed for decades were graciously gifted to them by the Plague, though not all were fortunate enough to both survive the sickness and reap the reward. Those born Ordinary are just that—ordinary. And when the king decreed that all Ordinaries be banished in order to preserve his Elite society, lacking an ability suddenly became a crime—making Paedyn Gray a felon by fate and a thief by necessity.

Surviving in the slums as an Ordinary is no simple task, and Paedyn knows this better than most. Having been trained by her father to be overly observant since she was a child, Paedyn poses as a Psychic in the crowded city, blending in with the Elites as best she can in order to stay alive and out of trouble. Easier said than done.

When Paeydn unsuspectingly saves one of Ilyas princes, she finds herself thrown into the Purging Trials. The brutal competition exists to showcase the Elites� powers—the very thing Paedyn lacks. If the Trials and the opponents within them don’t kill her, the prince she’s fighting feelings for certainly will if he discovers what she is—completely Ordinary.]]> 523 Lauren Roberts Kate 0
My library hold expired and I wasn’t picking it up ]]> 4.17 2023 Powerless (The Powerless Trilogy, #1)
author: Lauren Roberts
name: Kate
average rating: 4.17
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at: 2024/04/09
date added: 2024/04/09
shelves:
review:
DNF @ 50%

My library hold expired and I wasn’t picking it up
]]>