M.'s bookshelf: all en-US Sun, 27 Apr 2025 08:55:57 -0700 60 M.'s bookshelf: all 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg <![CDATA[Throne of Vengeance (Throne Duet, #2)]]> 55855971






You don't know me, but I know you.

I'm the shadow that creeps behind you without notice.

The moment you see me, you're dead.

An assassin. A killer. A nobody.

Until I became somebody.

I'll make everyone who reduced me to a shadow pay.

To do that, I'm willing to risk everything.

Everything except for my reluctant wife.

Rai Sokolov can show me her worst, but this will only end when death does us part.

The road to the throne is paved with loss, betrayal, and blood baths.

To win, we go all in.

Our lives included.




This book is the conclusion of a duet and is not standalone.]]> 344 Rina Kent M. 1 4.05 2021 Throne of Vengeance (Throne Duet, #2)
author: Rina Kent
name: M.
average rating: 4.05
book published: 2021
rating: 1
read at: 2021/03/18
date added: 2025/04/27
shelves:
review:
omf he switched rai's birth control pills so she could get pregnant without knowing it!!! how romantic is that?? couple goals
]]> Good Lies (Wild Minds, #1) 34527117 Addison Wanks, rock'n'roll's favorite daughter, is good at keeping secrets.

Secret One

She's responsible for the long-standing feud between her father's band, Wanks and Janks, and younger band Wild Minds. She may or may not have let Wild Minds' sexy bad-boy lead singer Warren defile her backstage at a concert. Okay, she totally did.

Secret Two

She's supposed to be attending college but instead skips town to follow Wild Minds on their European tour. Addy adores Warren Price.

Secret Three

Europe doesn't go so hot. Her sexy lead singer turned out to be king of the assholes. He's arrogant, demanding and controlling. Addy loathes Warren Price. Oh, well.

Secret Four

Fast forward a few years and Addy is planning to attend her father's farewell tour when she hears the news—Wild Minds is back in the good graces of Wanks and Janks. The two bands will be headlining together. This is going to make avoiding Warren difficult. Especially since it seems Warren doesn't want to be ignored. He also doesn't want a divorce. That's right, Addy is married to the Wild Minds front man. Shh. Don't tell.

What will happen when all Addy's secrets are revealed? ]]> 279 Charlotte West 0998724904 M. 5 4.09 2017 Good Lies (Wild Minds, #1)
author: Charlotte West
name: M.
average rating: 4.09
book published: 2017
rating: 5
read at: 2020/11/16
date added: 2024/08/13
shelves:
review:

]]> <![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 DZ’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 M. 3 How many times have I read this same story, but with a different title and by a different author? millions. Will that stop me from reading it one more time? NEVER!!

In all honesty, Dante and Vivian are nothing more than your generic brand of arranged marriage but also hard proof that some trope combos work even without a hard thought never-seen-before blow your mind kind of plot, aaaaand... I'll leave it up to you if that's a good or bad thing.

I'm being lazy when it comes to reviews, but here are some thoughts to put my two braincells to use:
� I liked Vivian (except when she was in front of her parents, but that's maybe because I don't understand that kind of upbringing and I've never been there, and so I especially celebrated when she finally decided to talk back to her father).
� Dante Christian Alex Russo... those millions mean nothing if you can't buy a good personality with it!! I'm honestly a little disappointed that all these billionaires club characters are just copies of each other, and don't have a single original thought, like what in the LJShen is this??
� Now the romance wasn't bad, but it could use a little work. I liked all those romantic gestures and small details between them, but the time jumps and gaps with Dante on so many business trips made it hard for me to think that there was anything more than an bussines arrangement between them.
� This valhalla club... I had so many BIGGER expectations about it!! You could have gotten the same result with an overpaid tennis club.
� Miss Ana, I'm begging you to come up with another RhrysBridget or JoshJules, I'M BEGGING YOU WOMAN!!! I don't know what kind of crack you put in them, but those books are something else and I need you to go back to it.
� Bonus points for mentioning my shitty country TWICE. That was honestly the most surprising thing about this whole story.

This review sounds a bit like I didn't enjoy the book, but actually I used my one day off to read it in one sitting and I really got hooked, I just expected better, not so repetitive.
Just to finish and clarify I wanna say that YES, I KNOW THAT MAGDA IS A PAINTING!! I actually think someone made me realize it the day after the previous review, AND I SAID IT, so besties please stopppp I just didn't delete it because I'm lazy lol

---------------------------------------------

yes I KNOW she just announced this series but i already have some ideas about possible characters!! this is definitely Dante Russo's book because billionaire and CEO of a luxury conglomerate, duh. but what about the football player (can't remember his name) in twisted games and twisted hate, is he a possible candidate for this series too? and Magda? i don't know who she is but Christian was in charge of her and set her up with bodyguards but she went missing with no clues... i feel like she could be a main character too!! ok, that's enough of a gut feelings dump for today i think

Merged review:

How many times have I read this same story, but with a different title and by a different author? millions. Will that stop me from reading it one more time? NEVER!!

In all honesty, Dante and Vivian are nothing more than your generic brand of arranged marriage but also hard proof that some trope combos work even without a hard thought never-seen-before blow your mind kind of plot, aaaaand... I'll leave it up to you if that's a good or bad thing.

I'm being lazy when it comes to reviews, but here are some thoughts to put my two braincells to use:
� I liked Vivian (except when she was in front of her parents, but that's maybe because I don't understand that kind of upbringing and I've never been there, and so I especially celebrated when she finally decided to talk back to her father).
� Dante Christian Alex Russo... those millions mean nothing if you can't buy a good personality with it!! I'm honestly a little disappointed that all these billionaires club characters are just copies of each other, and don't have a single original thought, like what in the LJShen is this??
� Now the romance wasn't bad, but it could use a little work. I liked all those romantic gestures and small details between them, but the time jumps and gaps with Dante on so many business trips made it hard for me to think that there was anything more than an bussines arrangement between them.
� This valhalla club... I had so many BIGGER expectations about it!! You could have gotten the same result with an overpaid tennis club.
� Miss Ana, I'm begging you to come up with another RhrysBridget or JoshJules, I'M BEGGING YOU WOMAN!!! I don't know what kind of crack you put in them, but those books are something else and I need you to go back to it.
� Bonus points for mentioning my shitty country TWICE. That was honestly the most surprising thing about this whole story.

This review sounds a bit like I didn't enjoy the book, but actually I used my one day off to read it in one sitting and I really got hooked, I just expected better, not so repetitive.
Just to finish and clarify I wanna say that YES, I KNOW THAT MAGDA IS A PAINTING!! I actually think someone made me realize it the day after the previous review, AND I SAID IT, so besties please stopppp I just didn't delete it because I'm lazy lol

---------------------------------------------

yes I KNOW she just announced this series but i already have some ideas about possible characters!! this is definitely Dante Russo's book because billionaire and CEO of a luxury conglomerate, duh. but what about the football player (can't remember his name) in twisted games and twisted hate, is he a possible candidate for this series too? and Magda? i don't know who she is but Christian was in charge of her and set her up with bodyguards but she went missing with no clues... i feel like she could be a main character too!! ok, that's enough of a gut feelings dump for today i think

Merged review:

How many times have I read this same story, but with a different title and by a different author? millions. Will that stop me from reading it one more time? NEVER!!

In all honesty, Dante and Vivian are nothing more than your generic brand of arranged marriage but also hard proof that some trope combos work even without a hard thought never-seen-before blow your mind kind of plot, aaaaand... I'll leave it up to you if that's a good or bad thing.

I'm being lazy when it comes to reviews, but here are some thoughts to put my two braincells to use:
� I liked Vivian (except when she was in front of her parents, but that's maybe because I don't understand that kind of upbringing and I've never been there, and so I especially celebrated when she finally decided to talk back to her father).
� Dante Christian Alex Russo... those millions mean nothing if you can't buy a good personality with it!! I'm honestly a little disappointed that all these billionaires club characters are just copies of each other, and don't have a single original thought, like what in the LJShen is this??
� Now the romance wasn't bad, but it could use a little work. I liked all those romantic gestures and small details between them, but the time jumps and gaps with Dante on so many business trips made it hard for me to think that there was anything more than an bussines arrangement between them.
� This valhalla club... I had so many BIGGER expectations about it!! You could have gotten the same result with an overpaid tennis club.
� Miss Ana, I'm begging you to come up with another RhrysBridget or JoshJules, I'M BEGGING YOU WOMAN!!! I don't know what kind of crack you put in them, but those books are something else and I need you to go back to it.
� Bonus points for mentioning my shitty country TWICE. That was honestly the most surprising thing about this whole story.

This review sounds a bit like I didn't enjoy the book, but actually I used my one day off to read it in one sitting and I really got hooked, I just expected better, not so repetitive.
Just to finish and clarify I wanna say that YES, I KNOW THAT MAGDA IS A PAINTING!! I actually think someone made me realize it the day after the previous review, AND I SAID IT, so besties please stopppp I just didn't delete it because I'm lazy lol

---------------------------------------------

yes I KNOW she just announced this series but i already have some ideas about possible characters!! this is definitely Dante Russo's book because billionaire and CEO of a luxury conglomerate, duh. but what about the football player (can't remember his name) in twisted games and twisted hate, is he a possible candidate for this series too? and Magda? i don't know who she is but Christian was in charge of her and set her up with bodyguards but she went missing with no clues... i feel like she could be a main character too!! ok, that's enough of a gut feelings dump for today i think

Merged review:

How many times have I read this same story, but with a different title and by a different author? millions. Will that stop me from reading it one more time? NEVER!!

In all honesty, Dante and Vivian are nothing more than your generic brand of arranged marriage but also hard proof that some trope combos work even without a hard thought never-seen-before blow your mind kind of plot, aaaaand... I'll leave it up to you if that's a good or bad thing.

I'm being lazy when it comes to reviews, but here are some thoughts to put my two braincells to use:
� I liked Vivian (except when she was in front of her parents, but that's maybe because I don't understand that kind of upbringing and I've never been there, and so I especially celebrated when she finally decided to talk back to her father).
� Dante Christian Alex Russo... those millions mean nothing if you can't buy a good personality with it!! I'm honestly a little disappointed that all these billionaires club characters are just copies of each other, and don't have a single original thought, like what in the LJShen is this??
� Now the romance wasn't bad, but it could use a little work. I liked all those romantic gestures and small details between them, but the time jumps and gaps with Dante on so many business trips made it hard for me to think that there was anything more than an bussines arrangement between them.
� This valhalla club... I had so many BIGGER expectations about it!! You could have gotten the same result with an overpaid tennis club.
� Miss Ana, I'm begging you to come up with another RhrysBridget or JoshJules, I'M BEGGING YOU WOMAN!!! I don't know what kind of crack you put in them, but those books are something else and I need you to go back to it.
� Bonus points for mentioning my shitty country TWICE. That was honestly the most surprising thing about this whole story.

This review sounds a bit like I didn't enjoy the book, but actually I used my one day off to read it in one sitting and I really got hooked, I just expected better, not so repetitive.
Just to finish and clarify I wanna say that YES, I KNOW THAT MAGDA IS A PAINTING!! I actually think someone made me realize it the day after the previous review, AND I SAID IT, so besties please stopppp I just didn't delete it because I'm lazy lol

---------------------------------------------

yes I KNOW she just announced this series but i already have some ideas about possible characters!! this is definitely Dante Russo's book because billionaire and CEO of a luxury conglomerate, duh. but what about the football player (can't remember his name) in twisted games and twisted hate, is he a possible candidate for this series too? and Magda? i don't know who she is but Christian was in charge of her and set her up with bodyguards but she went missing with no clues... i feel like she could be a main character too!! ok, that's enough of a gut feelings dump for today i think]]> 4.05 2022 King of Wrath (Kings of Sin, #1)
author: Ana Huang
name: M.
average rating: 4.05
book published: 2022
rating: 3
read at: 2022/10/20
date added: 2024/08/07
shelves:
review:
How many times have I read this same story, but with a different title and by a different author? millions. Will that stop me from reading it one more time? NEVER!!

In all honesty, Dante and Vivian are nothing more than your generic brand of arranged marriage but also hard proof that some trope combos work even without a hard thought never-seen-before blow your mind kind of plot, aaaaand... I'll leave it up to you if that's a good or bad thing.

I'm being lazy when it comes to reviews, but here are some thoughts to put my two braincells to use:
� I liked Vivian (except when she was in front of her parents, but that's maybe because I don't understand that kind of upbringing and I've never been there, and so I especially celebrated when she finally decided to talk back to her father).
� Dante Christian Alex Russo... those millions mean nothing if you can't buy a good personality with it!! I'm honestly a little disappointed that all these billionaires club characters are just copies of each other, and don't have a single original thought, like what in the LJShen is this??
� Now the romance wasn't bad, but it could use a little work. I liked all those romantic gestures and small details between them, but the time jumps and gaps with Dante on so many business trips made it hard for me to think that there was anything more than an bussines arrangement between them.
� This valhalla club... I had so many BIGGER expectations about it!! You could have gotten the same result with an overpaid tennis club.
� Miss Ana, I'm begging you to come up with another RhrysBridget or JoshJules, I'M BEGGING YOU WOMAN!!! I don't know what kind of crack you put in them, but those books are something else and I need you to go back to it.
� Bonus points for mentioning my shitty country TWICE. That was honestly the most surprising thing about this whole story.

This review sounds a bit like I didn't enjoy the book, but actually I used my one day off to read it in one sitting and I really got hooked, I just expected better, not so repetitive.
Just to finish and clarify I wanna say that YES, I KNOW THAT MAGDA IS A PAINTING!! I actually think someone made me realize it the day after the previous review, AND I SAID IT, so besties please stopppp I just didn't delete it because I'm lazy lol

---------------------------------------------

yes I KNOW she just announced this series but i already have some ideas about possible characters!! this is definitely Dante Russo's book because billionaire and CEO of a luxury conglomerate, duh. but what about the football player (can't remember his name) in twisted games and twisted hate, is he a possible candidate for this series too? and Magda? i don't know who she is but Christian was in charge of her and set her up with bodyguards but she went missing with no clues... i feel like she could be a main character too!! ok, that's enough of a gut feelings dump for today i think

Merged review:

How many times have I read this same story, but with a different title and by a different author? millions. Will that stop me from reading it one more time? NEVER!!

In all honesty, Dante and Vivian are nothing more than your generic brand of arranged marriage but also hard proof that some trope combos work even without a hard thought never-seen-before blow your mind kind of plot, aaaaand... I'll leave it up to you if that's a good or bad thing.

I'm being lazy when it comes to reviews, but here are some thoughts to put my two braincells to use:
� I liked Vivian (except when she was in front of her parents, but that's maybe because I don't understand that kind of upbringing and I've never been there, and so I especially celebrated when she finally decided to talk back to her father).
� Dante Christian Alex Russo... those millions mean nothing if you can't buy a good personality with it!! I'm honestly a little disappointed that all these billionaires club characters are just copies of each other, and don't have a single original thought, like what in the LJShen is this??
� Now the romance wasn't bad, but it could use a little work. I liked all those romantic gestures and small details between them, but the time jumps and gaps with Dante on so many business trips made it hard for me to think that there was anything more than an bussines arrangement between them.
� This valhalla club... I had so many BIGGER expectations about it!! You could have gotten the same result with an overpaid tennis club.
� Miss Ana, I'm begging you to come up with another RhrysBridget or JoshJules, I'M BEGGING YOU WOMAN!!! I don't know what kind of crack you put in them, but those books are something else and I need you to go back to it.
� Bonus points for mentioning my shitty country TWICE. That was honestly the most surprising thing about this whole story.

This review sounds a bit like I didn't enjoy the book, but actually I used my one day off to read it in one sitting and I really got hooked, I just expected better, not so repetitive.
Just to finish and clarify I wanna say that YES, I KNOW THAT MAGDA IS A PAINTING!! I actually think someone made me realize it the day after the previous review, AND I SAID IT, so besties please stopppp I just didn't delete it because I'm lazy lol

---------------------------------------------

yes I KNOW she just announced this series but i already have some ideas about possible characters!! this is definitely Dante Russo's book because billionaire and CEO of a luxury conglomerate, duh. but what about the football player (can't remember his name) in twisted games and twisted hate, is he a possible candidate for this series too? and Magda? i don't know who she is but Christian was in charge of her and set her up with bodyguards but she went missing with no clues... i feel like she could be a main character too!! ok, that's enough of a gut feelings dump for today i think

Merged review:

How many times have I read this same story, but with a different title and by a different author? millions. Will that stop me from reading it one more time? NEVER!!

In all honesty, Dante and Vivian are nothing more than your generic brand of arranged marriage but also hard proof that some trope combos work even without a hard thought never-seen-before blow your mind kind of plot, aaaaand... I'll leave it up to you if that's a good or bad thing.

I'm being lazy when it comes to reviews, but here are some thoughts to put my two braincells to use:
� I liked Vivian (except when she was in front of her parents, but that's maybe because I don't understand that kind of upbringing and I've never been there, and so I especially celebrated when she finally decided to talk back to her father).
� Dante Christian Alex Russo... those millions mean nothing if you can't buy a good personality with it!! I'm honestly a little disappointed that all these billionaires club characters are just copies of each other, and don't have a single original thought, like what in the LJShen is this??
� Now the romance wasn't bad, but it could use a little work. I liked all those romantic gestures and small details between them, but the time jumps and gaps with Dante on so many business trips made it hard for me to think that there was anything more than an bussines arrangement between them.
� This valhalla club... I had so many BIGGER expectations about it!! You could have gotten the same result with an overpaid tennis club.
� Miss Ana, I'm begging you to come up with another RhrysBridget or JoshJules, I'M BEGGING YOU WOMAN!!! I don't know what kind of crack you put in them, but those books are something else and I need you to go back to it.
� Bonus points for mentioning my shitty country TWICE. That was honestly the most surprising thing about this whole story.

This review sounds a bit like I didn't enjoy the book, but actually I used my one day off to read it in one sitting and I really got hooked, I just expected better, not so repetitive.
Just to finish and clarify I wanna say that YES, I KNOW THAT MAGDA IS A PAINTING!! I actually think someone made me realize it the day after the previous review, AND I SAID IT, so besties please stopppp I just didn't delete it because I'm lazy lol

---------------------------------------------

yes I KNOW she just announced this series but i already have some ideas about possible characters!! this is definitely Dante Russo's book because billionaire and CEO of a luxury conglomerate, duh. but what about the football player (can't remember his name) in twisted games and twisted hate, is he a possible candidate for this series too? and Magda? i don't know who she is but Christian was in charge of her and set her up with bodyguards but she went missing with no clues... i feel like she could be a main character too!! ok, that's enough of a gut feelings dump for today i think

Merged review:

How many times have I read this same story, but with a different title and by a different author? millions. Will that stop me from reading it one more time? NEVER!!

In all honesty, Dante and Vivian are nothing more than your generic brand of arranged marriage but also hard proof that some trope combos work even without a hard thought never-seen-before blow your mind kind of plot, aaaaand... I'll leave it up to you if that's a good or bad thing.

I'm being lazy when it comes to reviews, but here are some thoughts to put my two braincells to use:
� I liked Vivian (except when she was in front of her parents, but that's maybe because I don't understand that kind of upbringing and I've never been there, and so I especially celebrated when she finally decided to talk back to her father).
� Dante Christian Alex Russo... those millions mean nothing if you can't buy a good personality with it!! I'm honestly a little disappointed that all these billionaires club characters are just copies of each other, and don't have a single original thought, like what in the LJShen is this??
� Now the romance wasn't bad, but it could use a little work. I liked all those romantic gestures and small details between them, but the time jumps and gaps with Dante on so many business trips made it hard for me to think that there was anything more than an bussines arrangement between them.
� This valhalla club... I had so many BIGGER expectations about it!! You could have gotten the same result with an overpaid tennis club.
� Miss Ana, I'm begging you to come up with another RhrysBridget or JoshJules, I'M BEGGING YOU WOMAN!!! I don't know what kind of crack you put in them, but those books are something else and I need you to go back to it.
� Bonus points for mentioning my shitty country TWICE. That was honestly the most surprising thing about this whole story.

This review sounds a bit like I didn't enjoy the book, but actually I used my one day off to read it in one sitting and I really got hooked, I just expected better, not so repetitive.
Just to finish and clarify I wanna say that YES, I KNOW THAT MAGDA IS A PAINTING!! I actually think someone made me realize it the day after the previous review, AND I SAID IT, so besties please stopppp I just didn't delete it because I'm lazy lol

---------------------------------------------

yes I KNOW she just announced this series but i already have some ideas about possible characters!! this is definitely Dante Russo's book because billionaire and CEO of a luxury conglomerate, duh. but what about the football player (can't remember his name) in twisted games and twisted hate, is he a possible candidate for this series too? and Magda? i don't know who she is but Christian was in charge of her and set her up with bodyguards but she went missing with no clues... i feel like she could be a main character too!! ok, that's enough of a gut feelings dump for today i think
]]> <![CDATA[Water Under The Bridge (Perks & Benefits #1)]]> 61968777
Avery Soko, a bright-eyed and ambitious do-gooder, is on the cusp of getting her dream fundraising job at the Oceanic Research Organization. Luca Navarro, a former corporate lawyer with an extravagant tie collection and an irritatingly handsome smirk, holds Avery's future in his very large hands. When he calls with the news of her rejection, Luca seems to revel in crushing her dreams.

But Avery will do anything to pursue her passion, even accept a job at a struggling start-up. Her spell of bad luck finally changes when a competition is announced at a grandiose gala that could save her and her new team from going under. Of course, Avery's least favorite person, Luca, also joins the running for the multimillion-dollar prize.

At the height of the competition, Avery and Luca realize they've met their match. Will the tense moments, absurd attempts to out-do each other, and the string of games and bets they've concocted turn into a series of failures, or will it make them into something more than adversaries?]]> Kels Stone M. 5 arcs
“How many more examples will it take for you to realize I remember everything about you?� he says. My heartbeat quickens. “Every ordinary and extraordinary piece of you, Avery, has a home within me.�

Fans of the hating game, the spanish love deception, and christina lauren's books, this one's for you!
(*) I didn't like TSLD, but I can see that both books share the same vibes.

4.5 | full review to come.

Merged review:

“How many more examples will it take for you to realize I remember everything about you?� he says. My heartbeat quickens. “Every ordinary and extraordinary piece of you, Avery, has a home within me.�

Fans of the hating game, the spanish love deception, and christina lauren's books, this one's for you!
(*) I didn't like TSLD, but I can see that both books share the same vibes.

4.5 | full review to come.]]> 3.61 2022 Water Under The Bridge (Perks & Benefits #1)
author: Kels Stone
name: M.
average rating: 3.61
book published: 2022
rating: 5
read at: 2022/09/01
date added: 2024/05/23
shelves: arcs
review:
“How many more examples will it take for you to realize I remember everything about you?� he says. My heartbeat quickens. “Every ordinary and extraordinary piece of you, Avery, has a home within me.�

Fans of the hating game, the spanish love deception, and christina lauren's books, this one's for you!
(*) I didn't like TSLD, but I can see that both books share the same vibes.

4.5 | full review to come.

Merged review:

“How many more examples will it take for you to realize I remember everything about you?� he says. My heartbeat quickens. “Every ordinary and extraordinary piece of you, Avery, has a home within me.�

Fans of the hating game, the spanish love deception, and christina lauren's books, this one's for you!
(*) I didn't like TSLD, but I can see that both books share the same vibes.

4.5 | full review to come.
]]> <![CDATA[The Lie (The Wolves: A Football Dynasty, #1)]]> 58675126
Especially not hotheaded tight ends with tattoos and impulse control problems.

That’s why Dominic Walker is completely off my radar. Sort of.

Babysitting the team troublemaker when he’s forced to volunteer for the foundation where I work means I ’t exactly avoid him.

I wish I had though. Because once I get to know Dominic, it’s almost impossible to ignore the feelings he brings out in me.

Pretty soon, I’m breaking all my rules. I just have to hope he DZ’t break my heart in the process.]]> 296 Karla Sorensen M. 5 arcs Summary: f*ck nice guys!! I'll take the grumpy tattooed bad boy who's only soft for his girl anytime of the day!!

“And when Faith's mouth curved into a pleased smile, I knew how completely and utterly wrecked I would be if she ever left me.�


If you know me, then you already know that I love pretty much everything Karla come up with and this book isn't the exception. Following what I believe to be her hallmark, she started a new generation and brought all the necessary tools to start this with fireworks; a sports rom-com, new characters ready to steal your heart, a lot of angst (this was new), a new family dynamic and old characters doing their rounds... Sorry, after knowing that there are all these characters that could have their own book I think I'm gonna be trapped in this universe forever!

Dominic Walker is Washington Wolves' new hire, but his bad boy attitude on and off the field seems to follow him everywhere. So when he ends up making a mistake on his first day, the last thing he needs is to be paired with the owner's daughter and her sunny personality to do some pr work. Faith Pierson may be the daughter of a football legend and the owner of the team, but there's so much more to her, and sooner rather than later Dominic will find himself falling for her... for the second time.

Ugggh, this book! I'm not even ashamed of all the times that it made me cry! The romance was amazing to me, I loved how they started off on the wrong foot, with Dominic being judgemental and Faith not letting him off the hook easily, giving him a battle of her own. And then came the revelation with Dominic realizing what was going on and who Faith really was [spoilers removed], and I loved all the effort he made to be in her good graces again, and then the way to win her heart. If I'm being honest I really didn't like the way Dominic kept the secret about him and Faith and their true connection because I feel like the excuse wasn't good enough, but I did like the way the situation turned out, with them taking their time at Faith's request, and Dom working through his issues so they could be in the relationship they both deserved. I think it was a very somewhat mature ""groveling"", and much more meaningful than just words of love, flowers and an apology.

And then there are the new family dynamics, new characters, and old appearances! We have Dominic's family, who were not basically the cause of all my tears here, but damn if it wasn't something sometimes painful sometimes beautiful to read. He had a lot to work on here, and when it all came out, the result was heartwarming. AND THE PIERSONS!!!! The Allie and Luke crumbs were immaculate, but the best of all was seeing Lydia in action, and if you think I'm desperate for her book then you're so right! Her tropes promise a lot of fun so obviously I can't wait!!! And finally, the mentions about the Ward... sorry I'm DEAD. Logan Ward being a sexy silverfox DILF?? the girls? MOLLY GRIFFIN WITH KIDS??? Emmett Ward on the field following in his father's footsteps? this is too much for my weak old heart!!

I mean, I just wanna say that if you are still not into this universe... WHAT ARE YOU EXACTLY WAITING FOR?

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.



Merged review:

Summary: f*ck nice guys!! I'll take the grumpy tattooed bad boy who's only soft for his girl anytime of the day!!

“And when Faith's mouth curved into a pleased smile, I knew how completely and utterly wrecked I would be if she ever left me.�


If you know me, then you already know that I love pretty much everything Karla come up with and this book isn't the exception. Following what I believe to be her hallmark, she started a new generation and brought all the necessary tools to start this with fireworks; a sports rom-com, new characters ready to steal your heart, a lot of angst (this was new), a new family dynamic and old characters doing their rounds... Sorry, after knowing that there are all these characters that could have their own book I think I'm gonna be trapped in this universe forever!

Dominic Walker is Washington Wolves' new hire, but his bad boy attitude on and off the field seems to follow him everywhere. So when he ends up making a mistake on his first day, the last thing he needs is to be paired with the owner's daughter and her sunny personality to do some pr work. Faith Pierson may be the daughter of a football legend and the owner of the team, but there's so much more to her, and sooner rather than later Dominic will find himself falling for her... for the second time.

Ugggh, this book! I'm not even ashamed of all the times that it made me cry! The romance was amazing to me, I loved how they started off on the wrong foot, with Dominic being judgemental and Faith not letting him off the hook easily, giving him a battle of her own. And then came the revelation with Dominic realizing what was going on and who Faith really was [spoilers removed], and I loved all the effort he made to be in her good graces again, and then the way to win her heart. If I'm being honest I really didn't like the way Dominic kept the secret about him and Faith and their true connection because I feel like the excuse wasn't good enough, but I did like the way the situation turned out, with them taking their time at Faith's request, and Dom working through his issues so they could be in the relationship they both deserved. I think it was a very somewhat mature ""groveling"", and much more meaningful than just words of love, flowers and an apology.

And then there are the new family dynamics, new characters, and old appearances! We have Dominic's family, who were not basically the cause of all my tears here, but damn if it wasn't something sometimes painful sometimes beautiful to read. He had a lot to work on here, and when it all came out, the result was heartwarming. AND THE PIERSONS!!!! The Allie and Luke crumbs were immaculate, but the best of all was seeing Lydia in action, and if you think I'm desperate for her book then you're so right! Her tropes promise a lot of fun so obviously I can't wait!!! And finally, the mentions about the Ward... sorry I'm DEAD. Logan Ward being a sexy silverfox DILF?? the girls? MOLLY GRIFFIN WITH KIDS??? Emmett Ward on the field following in his father's footsteps? this is too much for my weak old heart!!

I mean, I just wanna say that if you are still not into this universe... WHAT ARE YOU EXACTLY WAITING FOR?

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.]]> 4.15 2021 The Lie (The Wolves: A Football Dynasty, #1)
author: Karla Sorensen
name: M.
average rating: 4.15
book published: 2021
rating: 5
read at: 2021/09/06
date added: 2024/03/20
shelves: arcs
review:
Summary: f*ck nice guys!! I'll take the grumpy tattooed bad boy who's only soft for his girl anytime of the day!!

“And when Faith's mouth curved into a pleased smile, I knew how completely and utterly wrecked I would be if she ever left me.�


If you know me, then you already know that I love pretty much everything Karla come up with and this book isn't the exception. Following what I believe to be her hallmark, she started a new generation and brought all the necessary tools to start this with fireworks; a sports rom-com, new characters ready to steal your heart, a lot of angst (this was new), a new family dynamic and old characters doing their rounds... Sorry, after knowing that there are all these characters that could have their own book I think I'm gonna be trapped in this universe forever!

Dominic Walker is Washington Wolves' new hire, but his bad boy attitude on and off the field seems to follow him everywhere. So when he ends up making a mistake on his first day, the last thing he needs is to be paired with the owner's daughter and her sunny personality to do some pr work. Faith Pierson may be the daughter of a football legend and the owner of the team, but there's so much more to her, and sooner rather than later Dominic will find himself falling for her... for the second time.

Ugggh, this book! I'm not even ashamed of all the times that it made me cry! The romance was amazing to me, I loved how they started off on the wrong foot, with Dominic being judgemental and Faith not letting him off the hook easily, giving him a battle of her own. And then came the revelation with Dominic realizing what was going on and who Faith really was [spoilers removed], and I loved all the effort he made to be in her good graces again, and then the way to win her heart. If I'm being honest I really didn't like the way Dominic kept the secret about him and Faith and their true connection because I feel like the excuse wasn't good enough, but I did like the way the situation turned out, with them taking their time at Faith's request, and Dom working through his issues so they could be in the relationship they both deserved. I think it was a very somewhat mature ""groveling"", and much more meaningful than just words of love, flowers and an apology.

And then there are the new family dynamics, new characters, and old appearances! We have Dominic's family, who were not basically the cause of all my tears here, but damn if it wasn't something sometimes painful sometimes beautiful to read. He had a lot to work on here, and when it all came out, the result was heartwarming. AND THE PIERSONS!!!! The Allie and Luke crumbs were immaculate, but the best of all was seeing Lydia in action, and if you think I'm desperate for her book then you're so right! Her tropes promise a lot of fun so obviously I can't wait!!! And finally, the mentions about the Ward... sorry I'm DEAD. Logan Ward being a sexy silverfox DILF?? the girls? MOLLY GRIFFIN WITH KIDS??? Emmett Ward on the field following in his father's footsteps? this is too much for my weak old heart!!

I mean, I just wanna say that if you are still not into this universe... WHAT ARE YOU EXACTLY WAITING FOR?

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.



Merged review:

Summary: f*ck nice guys!! I'll take the grumpy tattooed bad boy who's only soft for his girl anytime of the day!!

“And when Faith's mouth curved into a pleased smile, I knew how completely and utterly wrecked I would be if she ever left me.�


If you know me, then you already know that I love pretty much everything Karla come up with and this book isn't the exception. Following what I believe to be her hallmark, she started a new generation and brought all the necessary tools to start this with fireworks; a sports rom-com, new characters ready to steal your heart, a lot of angst (this was new), a new family dynamic and old characters doing their rounds... Sorry, after knowing that there are all these characters that could have their own book I think I'm gonna be trapped in this universe forever!

Dominic Walker is Washington Wolves' new hire, but his bad boy attitude on and off the field seems to follow him everywhere. So when he ends up making a mistake on his first day, the last thing he needs is to be paired with the owner's daughter and her sunny personality to do some pr work. Faith Pierson may be the daughter of a football legend and the owner of the team, but there's so much more to her, and sooner rather than later Dominic will find himself falling for her... for the second time.

Ugggh, this book! I'm not even ashamed of all the times that it made me cry! The romance was amazing to me, I loved how they started off on the wrong foot, with Dominic being judgemental and Faith not letting him off the hook easily, giving him a battle of her own. And then came the revelation with Dominic realizing what was going on and who Faith really was [spoilers removed], and I loved all the effort he made to be in her good graces again, and then the way to win her heart. If I'm being honest I really didn't like the way Dominic kept the secret about him and Faith and their true connection because I feel like the excuse wasn't good enough, but I did like the way the situation turned out, with them taking their time at Faith's request, and Dom working through his issues so they could be in the relationship they both deserved. I think it was a very somewhat mature ""groveling"", and much more meaningful than just words of love, flowers and an apology.

And then there are the new family dynamics, new characters, and old appearances! We have Dominic's family, who were not basically the cause of all my tears here, but damn if it wasn't something sometimes painful sometimes beautiful to read. He had a lot to work on here, and when it all came out, the result was heartwarming. AND THE PIERSONS!!!! The Allie and Luke crumbs were immaculate, but the best of all was seeing Lydia in action, and if you think I'm desperate for her book then you're so right! Her tropes promise a lot of fun so obviously I can't wait!!! And finally, the mentions about the Ward... sorry I'm DEAD. Logan Ward being a sexy silverfox DILF?? the girls? MOLLY GRIFFIN WITH KIDS??? Emmett Ward on the field following in his father's footsteps? this is too much for my weak old heart!!

I mean, I just wanna say that if you are still not into this universe... WHAT ARE YOU EXACTLY WAITING FOR?

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
]]> <![CDATA[Things We Hide from the Light (Knockemout, #2)]]> 62022434
Too bad Lina’s got secrets of her own, and if Nash finds out the real reason she’s in town, he’ll never forgive her. Besides, she DZ’t do relationships. Ever. A hot, short-term fling with a local cop? Absolutely. Sign her up. A relationship with a man who expects her to plant roots? No freaking way. Once she gets what she’s after, she has no intention of sticking around. But Knockemout has a way of getting under people’s skin. And once Nash decides to make Lina his, he’s not about to be dissuaded…even if it means facing the danger that nearly killed him.]]> 594 Lucy Score M. 3
also why is the weirdest shit always happening in small towns?? and the kid solving everything for the adults? okay just give me lucian and sloane and i'm done]]> 4.04 2023 Things We Hide from the Light (Knockemout, #2)
author: Lucy Score
name: M.
average rating: 4.04
book published: 2023
rating: 3
read at: 2023/03/05
date added: 2023/03/05
shelves:
review:
2.5 maybe?? the thing is i don't know how to rate this book because even though Nash and Lina made me feel a little spark of emotion, this really didn't need to be so unnecessarily long!! and when things FINALLY started to take off i feel like it was already too late? i felt like i spent long insufferable YEARS inside this book just to get the most predictable storyline :(

also why is the weirdest shit always happening in small towns?? and the kid solving everything for the adults? okay just give me lucian and sloane and i'm done
]]> <![CDATA[Of Violent Lineage (The Vigliano Underworld Book 1)]]> 59043185
After destroying the Lombardi family and rising to power as one of the infamous Mob Bosses of New York City, Giovanni Vigliano has finally achieved all his goals. But his territory is threatened by the traditional families he reigns over and they will only be satisfied one way: If Giovanni takes Isabella Lombardi, daughter of his enemy, as his wife.

A pawn to her family and new husband, Isabella is caught up in a deadly game of chess, where one wrong move could end with her being permanently removed from the board. Determined to avenge her family, Isabella begins to spy on the Vigliano family…only to find herself falling in love with its members.

However, the Vigliano’s enemies strike from the shadows and aim for those closest to her. To protect everything she holds dear, Isabella will go to ends she never thought herself capable of…and prove once and for all that she is of violent lineage.]]> Bree Porter M. 2 I like to summarize my reviews in 3 main thoughts so:
1. If I end up reading the 2nd book it will be solely and purely for the relationship between the 7yo kid and the heroine
2. My cereal box has more personality than Giovanni Vigliano and that's a fact.
3. Is it really a cliffhanger if one can see it coming from miles away? asking for a friend...

Just like in Kingpin's Foxglove and Empress of Poisons, the plot here promised more than it delivered. Isabella Lombardi has always been second in everything; daughter, wife, mother. Never enough for anyone, but now her moment to shine came from the hand of an arranged marriage with the enemy, Giovanni Vigliano, and the burden of being the one responsible for restoring power to her family. Now this sounds good, but I had two major problems here; First is the thing with time, as in that I don't know how much time passed from the beginning of the book to that end, and that conditioned the way in which I perceived the development of the relationship between the hero and the heroine.

The second thing was the development of the characters and the relationship itself. The romantic aspect was much more telling than doing, and that's why I don't understand the rush in the love confessions at the end of the story considering that this is a duet and there's more time to develop it properly. Add to that that they BARELY talked and spent time together during the development of the book, so I really don't understand where all these feelings are coming from... the romance was really lacking during the course of the story to try to evoke such angst in the last chapters. And then there's Giovanni Vigliano's personality... or lack thereof. From the beginning he was described as cold and impasive (kinda like Dante Cavallaro), only showing signs of being human when he was around his daughter Marzia, so my logical thinking was that yes, he was going to be a asshole to Isabella at first, to then warm up to the idea of her, developing feelings and taking their relationship to the next level, but nope. They did take their relationship to a physical level, but there were never any signs of feelings developing in between, that's why the ending surprised me a bit because it seemed to come out of nowhere. Also, we got POVs from him, but they didn't add anything to the story.

About Isabella, I liked her and her hard-to-anticipate personality. My only problem was the scene with her brother because throughout the book she's described going through a lot of emotions, not being able to hide any of them and, therefore, being someone VERY passionate, so it was quite dissonant the way she was able to betray him, giving him just a little thought after murdering him and then moving on with her life. Yeah, they weren't close, but anyway it was mentioned how he was the one who taught her how to dance and looked for monsters in her room at night so for me it was just an example that she can't be trusted.

My favorite part and the way I got to the end was Marzia and her relationship with Isabella. She was really cute and funny, and I loved to see how this relationship between stepdaughter and stepmother evolved so that goodbye scene was really sad for me and now I'm a bit heartbroken for both of them :(.

And the cliffhanger... disappointing. Maybe I'm too smart for my own good, or someone else's detective skills suck (JUST KIDDING!!! no offense), but it was obvious to me where this was heading so the reveal came as no surprise. Now I'm only intrigued to know how Isabella will take this news considering the way in which being the second Isabella shaped her life. Also, if her mother doesn't die in a painful way I'm throwing hands!

Merged review:

I like to summarize my reviews in 3 main thoughts so:
1. If I end up reading the 2nd book it will be solely and purely for the relationship between the 7yo kid and the heroine
2. My cereal box has more personality than Giovanni Vigliano and that's a fact.
3. Is it really a cliffhanger if one can see it coming from miles away? asking for a friend...

Just like in Kingpin's Foxglove and Empress of Poisons, the plot here promised more than it delivered. Isabella Lombardi has always been second in everything; daughter, wife, mother. Never enough for anyone, but now her moment to shine came from the hand of an arranged marriage with the enemy, Giovanni Vigliano, and the burden of being the one responsible for restoring power to her family. Now this sounds good, but I had two major problems here; First is the thing with time, as in that I don't know how much time passed from the beginning of the book to that end, and that conditioned the way in which I perceived the development of the relationship between the hero and the heroine.

The second thing was the development of the characters and the relationship itself. The romantic aspect was much more telling than doing, and that's why I don't understand the rush in the love confessions at the end of the story considering that this is a duet and there's more time to develop it properly. Add to that that they BARELY talked and spent time together during the development of the book, so I really don't understand where all these feelings are coming from... the romance was really lacking during the course of the story to try to evoke such angst in the last chapters. And then there's Giovanni Vigliano's personality... or lack thereof. From the beginning he was described as cold and impasive (kinda like Dante Cavallaro), only showing signs of being human when he was around his daughter Marzia, so my logical thinking was that yes, he was going to be a asshole to Isabella at first, to then warm up to the idea of her, developing feelings and taking their relationship to the next level, but nope. They did take their relationship to a physical level, but there were never any signs of feelings developing in between, that's why the ending surprised me a bit because it seemed to come out of nowhere. Also, we got POVs from him, but they didn't add anything to the story.

About Isabella, I liked her and her hard-to-anticipate personality. My only problem was the scene with her brother because throughout the book she's described going through a lot of emotions, not being able to hide any of them and, therefore, being someone VERY passionate, so it was quite dissonant the way she was able to betray him, giving him just a little thought after murdering him and then moving on with her life. Yeah, they weren't close, but anyway it was mentioned how he was the one who taught her how to dance and looked for monsters in her room at night so for me it was just an example that she can't be trusted.

My favorite part and the way I got to the end was Marzia and her relationship with Isabella. She was really cute and funny, and I loved to see how this relationship between stepdaughter and stepmother evolved so that goodbye scene was really sad for me and now I'm a bit heartbroken for both of them :(.

And the cliffhanger... disappointing. Maybe I'm too smart for my own good, or someone else's detective skills suck (JUST KIDDING!!! no offense), but it was obvious to me where this was heading so the reveal came as no surprise. Now I'm only intrigued to know how Isabella will take this news considering the way in which being the second Isabella shaped her life. Also, if her mother doesn't die in a painful way I'm throwing hands!]]> 3.97 Of Violent Lineage (The Vigliano Underworld Book 1)
author: Bree Porter
name: M.
average rating: 3.97
book published:
rating: 2
read at: 2021/09/25
date added: 2023/03/04
shelves:
review:
I like to summarize my reviews in 3 main thoughts so:
1. If I end up reading the 2nd book it will be solely and purely for the relationship between the 7yo kid and the heroine
2. My cereal box has more personality than Giovanni Vigliano and that's a fact.
3. Is it really a cliffhanger if one can see it coming from miles away? asking for a friend...

Just like in Kingpin's Foxglove and Empress of Poisons, the plot here promised more than it delivered. Isabella Lombardi has always been second in everything; daughter, wife, mother. Never enough for anyone, but now her moment to shine came from the hand of an arranged marriage with the enemy, Giovanni Vigliano, and the burden of being the one responsible for restoring power to her family. Now this sounds good, but I had two major problems here; First is the thing with time, as in that I don't know how much time passed from the beginning of the book to that end, and that conditioned the way in which I perceived the development of the relationship between the hero and the heroine.

The second thing was the development of the characters and the relationship itself. The romantic aspect was much more telling than doing, and that's why I don't understand the rush in the love confessions at the end of the story considering that this is a duet and there's more time to develop it properly. Add to that that they BARELY talked and spent time together during the development of the book, so I really don't understand where all these feelings are coming from... the romance was really lacking during the course of the story to try to evoke such angst in the last chapters. And then there's Giovanni Vigliano's personality... or lack thereof. From the beginning he was described as cold and impasive (kinda like Dante Cavallaro), only showing signs of being human when he was around his daughter Marzia, so my logical thinking was that yes, he was going to be a asshole to Isabella at first, to then warm up to the idea of her, developing feelings and taking their relationship to the next level, but nope. They did take their relationship to a physical level, but there were never any signs of feelings developing in between, that's why the ending surprised me a bit because it seemed to come out of nowhere. Also, we got POVs from him, but they didn't add anything to the story.

About Isabella, I liked her and her hard-to-anticipate personality. My only problem was the scene with her brother because throughout the book she's described going through a lot of emotions, not being able to hide any of them and, therefore, being someone VERY passionate, so it was quite dissonant the way she was able to betray him, giving him just a little thought after murdering him and then moving on with her life. Yeah, they weren't close, but anyway it was mentioned how he was the one who taught her how to dance and looked for monsters in her room at night so for me it was just an example that she can't be trusted.

My favorite part and the way I got to the end was Marzia and her relationship with Isabella. She was really cute and funny, and I loved to see how this relationship between stepdaughter and stepmother evolved so that goodbye scene was really sad for me and now I'm a bit heartbroken for both of them :(.

And the cliffhanger... disappointing. Maybe I'm too smart for my own good, or someone else's detective skills suck (JUST KIDDING!!! no offense), but it was obvious to me where this was heading so the reveal came as no surprise. Now I'm only intrigued to know how Isabella will take this news considering the way in which being the second Isabella shaped her life. Also, if her mother doesn't die in a painful way I'm throwing hands!

Merged review:

I like to summarize my reviews in 3 main thoughts so:
1. If I end up reading the 2nd book it will be solely and purely for the relationship between the 7yo kid and the heroine
2. My cereal box has more personality than Giovanni Vigliano and that's a fact.
3. Is it really a cliffhanger if one can see it coming from miles away? asking for a friend...

Just like in Kingpin's Foxglove and Empress of Poisons, the plot here promised more than it delivered. Isabella Lombardi has always been second in everything; daughter, wife, mother. Never enough for anyone, but now her moment to shine came from the hand of an arranged marriage with the enemy, Giovanni Vigliano, and the burden of being the one responsible for restoring power to her family. Now this sounds good, but I had two major problems here; First is the thing with time, as in that I don't know how much time passed from the beginning of the book to that end, and that conditioned the way in which I perceived the development of the relationship between the hero and the heroine.

The second thing was the development of the characters and the relationship itself. The romantic aspect was much more telling than doing, and that's why I don't understand the rush in the love confessions at the end of the story considering that this is a duet and there's more time to develop it properly. Add to that that they BARELY talked and spent time together during the development of the book, so I really don't understand where all these feelings are coming from... the romance was really lacking during the course of the story to try to evoke such angst in the last chapters. And then there's Giovanni Vigliano's personality... or lack thereof. From the beginning he was described as cold and impasive (kinda like Dante Cavallaro), only showing signs of being human when he was around his daughter Marzia, so my logical thinking was that yes, he was going to be a asshole to Isabella at first, to then warm up to the idea of her, developing feelings and taking their relationship to the next level, but nope. They did take their relationship to a physical level, but there were never any signs of feelings developing in between, that's why the ending surprised me a bit because it seemed to come out of nowhere. Also, we got POVs from him, but they didn't add anything to the story.

About Isabella, I liked her and her hard-to-anticipate personality. My only problem was the scene with her brother because throughout the book she's described going through a lot of emotions, not being able to hide any of them and, therefore, being someone VERY passionate, so it was quite dissonant the way she was able to betray him, giving him just a little thought after murdering him and then moving on with her life. Yeah, they weren't close, but anyway it was mentioned how he was the one who taught her how to dance and looked for monsters in her room at night so for me it was just an example that she can't be trusted.

My favorite part and the way I got to the end was Marzia and her relationship with Isabella. She was really cute and funny, and I loved to see how this relationship between stepdaughter and stepmother evolved so that goodbye scene was really sad for me and now I'm a bit heartbroken for both of them :(.

And the cliffhanger... disappointing. Maybe I'm too smart for my own good, or someone else's detective skills suck (JUST KIDDING!!! no offense), but it was obvious to me where this was heading so the reveal came as no surprise. Now I'm only intrigued to know how Isabella will take this news considering the way in which being the second Isabella shaped her life. Also, if her mother doesn't die in a painful way I'm throwing hands!
]]> Jasper Vale (The Edens, #4) 61431600
Eloise Eden’s pride and joy is her family’s hotel in Quincy, Montana. Her lifelong dream is to own The Eloise Inn. All she has to do is prove to her parents that she’s the epitome of responsible. That her days of being duped and making reckless decisions are history. She’s so close she can taste it.

Until after one weekend in Las Vegas, she comes home married to a stranger.

Jasper must have put her under a spell with those soul-deep eyes because after a single night together, they woke up husband and wife. Her only hope is to keep this marriage a secret until it’s annulled. Then she’ll pretend it never happened.

Except Jasper begs her to stay married. To fake it for three months so she can accompany him to a wedding. Maybe she’s lost her mind to agree. But her brooding husband seems desperate. It’s only three months, right? Then she’ll say goodbye to Jasper Vale, and with any luck, hello to her new hotel.]]> 354 Devney Perry 195737621X M. 2
I'm scared for Lyla now...]]> 4.11 2023 Jasper Vale (The Edens, #4)
author: Devney Perry
name: M.
average rating: 4.11
book published: 2023
rating: 2
read at: 2023/02/06
date added: 2023/02/06
shelves:
review:
I don't know what's going on with this series and honestly it pains me to say it, but so far it seems like the Edens men —a.k.a Griff and Knox� are the only real men here, and that's a FACT, not an opinion.

I'm scared for Lyla now...
]]> <![CDATA[Final Offer (Dreamland Billionaires, #3)]]> 61681786 Callahan
I’m the Kane brother everyone gossips about behind closed doors.
Trust fund brat. Washed-up athlete. High-functioning alcoholic.
No one knows the real me but her.
Lana Castillo—my childhood best friend and the only woman I ever loved.
When I broke her heart six years ago, I promised to never return to Lake Wisteria.
I kept my word until my grandfather’s will changed everything.
To receive my inheritance, I was tasked with spending a summer at the family lake house before selling it.
The request was simple in theory until my entire plan blew up on the very first day.
Turns out Lana DZ’t just live at the house, but she claims to own it, too.

Alana
Falling in love with Callahan Kane was a mistake.
He told me so before destroying my heart and our friendship six summers ago.
When he promised never to come back, I foolishly believed him.
But then Cal showed up again, intending to sell his grandfather’s lake house.
The biggest flaw in his plan?
My name is on the deed.]]> 583 Lauren Asher 172827222X M. 4 4.18 2023 Final Offer (Dreamland Billionaires, #3)
author: Lauren Asher
name: M.
average rating: 4.18
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2023/02/02
date added: 2023/02/02
shelves:
review:
taking one star off for how repetitive this was at certain points, but honestly this was all i was hoping for for CalAlana <3 great way to end the series!!
]]> <![CDATA[The Devil Gets His Due (The Devils, #4)]]> 63184308 An accidental pregnancy, grumpy-sunshine romance
Last January, I drunk-married my nemesis—hot, oversized geek Graham Tate. With no memory of how it came about, there was only one run off before he woke up and pretend it didn’t happen. It would have worked perfectly if I hadn’t wound up pregnant.

Graham is the opposite of everything I want in a man—practical, disciplined, frugal—but living with him until the baby arrives has me wondering if, perhaps, I’ve been wanting the wrong things all along. And if that drunk version of me last January might have been onto something.


I never planned to have kids, and I certainly wouldn’t have planned on one with Keeley Connolly—a woman who does not believe in savings accounts or personal safety and thinks Lucky Charms is a health food because of the non-marshmallow bits.

A woman who also didn’t think twice about marrying me in Vegas and ditching me hours later.

I ’t wait to put this behind me and return to my careful, chaos-free life in New York. But the more time I spend with Keeley, the more I’m remembering the things that led me to marry her in the first place…and wondering if I can live without them when this ends.]]> 337 Elizabeth O'Roark M. 3
Merged review:

yeah there's definitely something off about these characters' personality. not really what i was expecting]]> 4.03 2022 The Devil Gets His Due (The Devils, #4)
author: Elizabeth O'Roark
name: M.
average rating: 4.03
book published: 2022
rating: 3
read at: 2022/12/01
date added: 2023/01/31
shelves:
review:
yeah there's definitely something off about these characters' personality. not really what i was expecting

Merged review:

yeah there's definitely something off about these characters' personality. not really what i was expecting
]]> Jake Wilder 56235793
A Fake Fiancé Sports Romance]]> 0 S.M. Soto M. 0 to-read 1.62 Jake Wilder
author: S.M. Soto
name: M.
average rating: 1.62
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/12/24
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[By Virtue I Fall (Sins of the Fathers, #3)]]> 61361898 She only has one goal: to become a fashion designer. Chicago’s elite already copies her style religiously, not least because she’s the daughter of the city’s notorious mafia boss.
When she’s accepted at a world-famous fashion institute in Paris, her father’s condition is to take her bodyguard along.
Anna definitely wouldn’t mind a few weeks of no-strings-attached fun with her brooding protector.

Santino Bianchi became the Outfit’s enforcer because he liked the thrill of the hunt and kill.
Babysitting his capo’s daughter is an honorable assignment he ’t refuse. His thoughts about Anna? Not so honorable.
Santino’s ignored Anna’s persistent flirting for years. Now, far away from home boundaries begin to blur. But Santino DZ’t have any intention to be the reason for a failed engagement and the ensuing scandal.

A summer fling in Paris.
Only two things stand in Anna’s way.
Santino’s iron will.
And…her fiancé.]]> 312 Cora Reilly M. 2 2.5 | I liked this romcom version better than her half-assed mafia/dark romance plots, but I still got shit to say.

Mostly, I don't understand why Cora keeps insisting on sexualizing a teenager in the eyes of grown men. Just like Sofia's book, this story begins with Anna at a young age, nd I understand showing the main female character —who was a girl at the time�, having a little crush or interest in her bodyguard, but from there to spending a third of the story with her being underage, where Santino was already starting to look at her with other eyes? big nope for me.

Also, you're telling me that these two characters had a secret relationship for +3 years (I think), and we didn't get to see any of it? we only got the beginning with them just being horny for each other with no major feelings, and that was it? no development of the couple, no small glimpses? I feel SO robbed. It's like she got bored with the story and decided out of the blue to skip a big part because she couldn't think of anything else, and then when we came back to the present time they were still horny for each other sans couple development. The lack of development made me not feel much for the main couple, so I can't say much for them.

My favorite part was obviously seeing the Cavallaros again, who even objectively speaking are her best family and those are facts. Valentina and Dante were the parents I expected; even when Dante was still a cold fish, he did everything for his daughter, and even more so Valentina, who stopped an entire wedding just because she knew her daughter would not be happy. As for Leonas, I'm really interested in his story now because that guy is going to bring more and more trouble for Dante and give him green hair, but not for the Outfit because he was ready to sacrifice himself for them too. And I liked Anna too, she was a bit spoiled like every mafia princess, but also so manipulative, always looking to get her own way, like a DanteVal daughter would. Also, I like that in this new gen it is the women who string the men along like, Santino could seem as grumpy as he wanted, but in the end he was just a love sick puppy following Anna everywhere, and it was a bit ridiculous to see this big man acting like a toddler but I enjoyed the jealous scenes anyway.

Merged review:

2.5 | I liked this romcom version better than her half-assed mafia/dark romance plots, but I still got shit to say.

Mostly, I don't understand why Cora keeps insisting on sexualizing a teenager in the eyes of grown men. Just like Sofia's book, this story begins with Anna at a young age, nd I understand showing the main female character —who was a girl at the time�, having a little crush or interest in her bodyguard, but from there to spending a third of the story with her being underage, where Santino was already starting to look at her with other eyes? big nope for me.

Also, you're telling me that these two characters had a secret relationship for +3 years (I think), and we didn't get to see any of it? we only got the beginning with them just being horny for each other with no major feelings, and that was it? no development of the couple, no small glimpses? I feel SO robbed. It's like she got bored with the story and decided out of the blue to skip a big part because she couldn't think of anything else, and then when we came back to the present time they were still horny for each other sans couple development. The lack of development made me not feel much for the main couple, so I can't say much for them.

My favorite part was obviously seeing the Cavallaros again, who even objectively speaking are her best family and those are facts. Valentina and Dante were the parents I expected; even when Dante was still a cold fish, he did everything for his daughter, and even more so Valentina, who stopped an entire wedding just because she knew her daughter would not be happy. As for Leonas, I'm really interested in his story now because that guy is going to bring more and more trouble for Dante and give him green hair, but not for the Outfit because he was ready to sacrifice himself for them too. And I liked Anna too, she was a bit spoiled like every mafia princess, but also so manipulative, always looking to get her own way, like a DanteVal daughter would. Also, I like that in this new gen it is the women who string the men along like, Santino could seem as grumpy as he wanted, but in the end he was just a love sick puppy following Anna everywhere, and it was a bit ridiculous to see this big man acting like a toddler but I enjoyed the jealous scenes anyway.]]> 3.73 2022 By Virtue I Fall (Sins of the Fathers, #3)
author: Cora Reilly
name: M.
average rating: 3.73
book published: 2022
rating: 2
read at: 2022/06/01
date added: 2022/12/17
shelves:
review:
2.5 | I liked this romcom version better than her half-assed mafia/dark romance plots, but I still got shit to say.

Mostly, I don't understand why Cora keeps insisting on sexualizing a teenager in the eyes of grown men. Just like Sofia's book, this story begins with Anna at a young age, nd I understand showing the main female character —who was a girl at the time�, having a little crush or interest in her bodyguard, but from there to spending a third of the story with her being underage, where Santino was already starting to look at her with other eyes? big nope for me.

Also, you're telling me that these two characters had a secret relationship for +3 years (I think), and we didn't get to see any of it? we only got the beginning with them just being horny for each other with no major feelings, and that was it? no development of the couple, no small glimpses? I feel SO robbed. It's like she got bored with the story and decided out of the blue to skip a big part because she couldn't think of anything else, and then when we came back to the present time they were still horny for each other sans couple development. The lack of development made me not feel much for the main couple, so I can't say much for them.

My favorite part was obviously seeing the Cavallaros again, who even objectively speaking are her best family and those are facts. Valentina and Dante were the parents I expected; even when Dante was still a cold fish, he did everything for his daughter, and even more so Valentina, who stopped an entire wedding just because she knew her daughter would not be happy. As for Leonas, I'm really interested in his story now because that guy is going to bring more and more trouble for Dante and give him green hair, but not for the Outfit because he was ready to sacrifice himself for them too. And I liked Anna too, she was a bit spoiled like every mafia princess, but also so manipulative, always looking to get her own way, like a DanteVal daughter would. Also, I like that in this new gen it is the women who string the men along like, Santino could seem as grumpy as he wanted, but in the end he was just a love sick puppy following Anna everywhere, and it was a bit ridiculous to see this big man acting like a toddler but I enjoyed the jealous scenes anyway.

Merged review:

2.5 | I liked this romcom version better than her half-assed mafia/dark romance plots, but I still got shit to say.

Mostly, I don't understand why Cora keeps insisting on sexualizing a teenager in the eyes of grown men. Just like Sofia's book, this story begins with Anna at a young age, nd I understand showing the main female character —who was a girl at the time�, having a little crush or interest in her bodyguard, but from there to spending a third of the story with her being underage, where Santino was already starting to look at her with other eyes? big nope for me.

Also, you're telling me that these two characters had a secret relationship for +3 years (I think), and we didn't get to see any of it? we only got the beginning with them just being horny for each other with no major feelings, and that was it? no development of the couple, no small glimpses? I feel SO robbed. It's like she got bored with the story and decided out of the blue to skip a big part because she couldn't think of anything else, and then when we came back to the present time they were still horny for each other sans couple development. The lack of development made me not feel much for the main couple, so I can't say much for them.

My favorite part was obviously seeing the Cavallaros again, who even objectively speaking are her best family and those are facts. Valentina and Dante were the parents I expected; even when Dante was still a cold fish, he did everything for his daughter, and even more so Valentina, who stopped an entire wedding just because she knew her daughter would not be happy. As for Leonas, I'm really interested in his story now because that guy is going to bring more and more trouble for Dante and give him green hair, but not for the Outfit because he was ready to sacrifice himself for them too. And I liked Anna too, she was a bit spoiled like every mafia princess, but also so manipulative, always looking to get her own way, like a DanteVal daughter would. Also, I like that in this new gen it is the women who string the men along like, Santino could seem as grumpy as he wanted, but in the end he was just a love sick puppy following Anna everywhere, and it was a bit ridiculous to see this big man acting like a toddler but I enjoyed the jealous scenes anyway.
]]> Misconduct 23605463 From the New York Times bestselling author of the Fall Away series who never fails to deliver a “powerfully written contemporary love story…�*

Former tennis player Easton Bradbury is trying to be the best teacher she can be, trying to reach her bored students and trying to forget her past. What brought her to this stage in her life isn’t important. She ’t let it be. But now one parent-teacher meeting may be her undoing�

Meeting Tyler Marek for the first time makes it easy for Easton to see why his son is having trouble in school. The man knows how to manage businesses and wealth, not a teenage boy. Or a young teacher, for that matter, though he tries to. And yet…there is something about him that draws Easton in—a hint of vulnerability, a flash of attraction, a spark that might burn.

Wanting him is taboo. Needing him is undeniable. And his long-awaited touch will weaken Easton’s resolve—and reveal what should stay hidden�

(*STANDALONE, NO CLIFFHANGER*)]]> 368 Penelope Douglas M. 3 3.88 2015 Misconduct
author: Penelope Douglas
name: M.
average rating: 3.88
book published: 2015
rating: 3
read at: 2022/11/01
date added: 2022/11/29
shelves:
review:
trashy books are my comfort zone don't judge me
]]> <![CDATA[By Fate I Conquer (Sins of the Fathers, #4)]]> 63843944
Amo
Do you believe in love at first sight? In a love so strong and bright, it ignites you even in your darkest hours? Do you believe that somewhere in this world there’s someone who’s destined to be your other half? Your soulmate?
I didn’t.
Until I met her.
Greta Falcone.
Protected mafia princess from the madmen of Las Vegas, she’s forbidden to me.

Greta
My love for my family and my animals was all I needed. I never thought I’d fall in love. Until I met him.
Amo Vitiello. Future Capo of the Famiglia. Cruel and cold. The smiles that he has only for me quiet the chaos in my head.
What if you find your soulmate at the wrong time?
I knew the cruelest men, and yet nothing could ever be crueler than fate itself.]]> 466 Cora Reilly M. 3
We're not even close to the end of Cora's flop era, but considering the previous books in this series, and the fact that the bar was in hell, this was fiiiiiine, very... average. The Camorra saved this from being a shit show, and if you're looking for a quick recap then think about a reverse NinoKiara.]]> 4.08 2022 By Fate I Conquer (Sins of the Fathers, #4)
author: Cora Reilly
name: M.
average rating: 4.08
book published: 2022
rating: 3
read at: 2022/11/01
date added: 2022/11/27
shelves:
review:
Vitiellos are NOT real men and that's a fact (Matteo was a glitch and therefore excluded from this statement).

We're not even close to the end of Cora's flop era, but considering the previous books in this series, and the fact that the bar was in hell, this was fiiiiiine, very... average. The Camorra saved this from being a shit show, and if you're looking for a quick recap then think about a reverse NinoKiara.
]]> <![CDATA[God of Wrath (Legacy of Gods, #3)]]> 61100797 From USA Today bestselling author Rina Kent comes a new STANDALONE enemies-to-lovers college romance.

I’m trapped by the devil.
What started as an innocent mistake turned into actual hell.
In my defense, I didn’t mean to get involved with a mafia prince.
But he barged through my defenses anyway.
He stalked me from the shadows and stole me from the life I know.
Jeremy Volkov might appear charming, but a true predator lurks inside.
He’s out to possess, own, and keep me.
But I have no plans to stick around in his blood-soaked world.
Or so I think.

This book is a dark unconventional romance and contains themes that aren't to everyone's liking. Please check the author's note for content warnings before reading.]]> 492 Rina Kent M. 3 4.19 2022 God of Wrath (Legacy of Gods, #3)
author: Rina Kent
name: M.
average rating: 4.19
book published: 2022
rating: 3
read at: 2022/11/01
date added: 2022/11/21
shelves:
review:
History was made when Landon King said with a big grin “Hi, mouse. Miss me?� to a furious Mia Sokolov. We (I) love provocative bastards!!
]]> <![CDATA[Game of Hearts (Stacked Deck #3)]]> 51467359 Listen harder, even when there are no words.

Lucy “Bean� Kincaid is the quiet one. The sweet one who never creates waves in her already crazy family. She’s the second born of her generation, a skilled fighter, a dancing angel, and as selfless as it’s possible to be.
When Mac Blair’s heart gave out seven years ago and he became the recipient of a very special transplant, Lucy changed her life to make sure her best friend’s would be as smooth as possible.
Perhaps, if she never knew Mac, her college degree would lean toward the very thing that speaks to her soul. But that’s not her reality. Now Lucy is just a year out from graduation, she’s set to become a nurse, and when she’s not in class, she’s intent on making Mac see her as a woman, and not some kind of ornament made only to look pretty and sit upon a shelf.
How many times must she shake her backside in his face before he takes a hint - and a bite?

Game of Hearts is a friends to lovers, steaming hot tug of war between what Mac thinks is right, and what he so desperately wants to taste. It’s time Lucy stopped being the quiet one in the family.]]> 376 Emilia Finn M. 4
She’s my most constant in my life, and I know, just one look, one single breath of the same oxygen she breathes, would make it so my lungs stop stinging.


Mac and Lucy have been best friends for half their lives, but there's also an undeniable attraction between them that everyone is aware of, even they know it, but Mac is determined to put the brakes on while Lucy wants the opposite.

Macallistar Blair hasn't had an easy life, and every time something good happens he's waiting for the other shoe to drop. He has been in love with Lucy for a long time, but he's not going to make any move because in his mind he doesn't deserve her. Lucy is a royalty princess and he's the boy from the wrong side of the tracks. Not only in a poor way, but also with a permanent baggage called "I'm afraid of dying again" and "Lucy doesn't deserve this kind of life."

Lucy was born as a Kincaid, but where all her relatives are noises and obnoxious, she's the calm and quiet one. She's also a martyr, always putting the wishes of others above her own, but she doesn't blame them because she also recognizes the fact that everyone assumes things that aren't true about her because she keeps them to herself like, for example, her true passion. I can't explain well enough how identified I felt with her and her role in her loud and big family, so I also felt like they were calling me out.

I'm a little conflicted about whether I should give it 3-3.5 or 4 stars, mostly for three reasons:
1) The romance. It was always there, even before they were really together, in those little acts of best friends that they did for each other and they were cute and soft, but once they both recognized being together as soon as it passed we didn't see much of the relationship and the epilogue wasn't what I expected, it was more like a familiar thing.

2) The main conflict. This was bound to happen and it was Evie or Lucy, and considering that Evie's book had enough drama already, it was Lucy's turn. I'm not complaining about the conflict itself, nor that the OG have been touched, but about the time it happened. It was almost at the end of the book, and that mean a lot of drama and crying because that's the Kincaid way, but also little time to solve it so it felt rushed. I still love Jimmy anyway, he will always be my favorite clown <3

3) Mac's great gesture. I loved him, but I'm not giving him points for leaving everything aside and fulfilling Lucy's dream because that's basically the only thing he could do, so no points for doing the bare minimum. Besides it was all Soph's idea, my favorite feminist hacker ballerina <3<3<3 I loved that we got to see more of the Checkmate guys in this book.]]> 4.66 Game of Hearts (Stacked Deck #3)
author: Emilia Finn
name: M.
average rating: 4.66
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2020/06/06
date added: 2022/10/24
shelves:
review:
She’s my most constant in my life, and I know, just one look, one single breath of the same oxygen she breathes, would make it so my lungs stop stinging.


Mac and Lucy have been best friends for half their lives, but there's also an undeniable attraction between them that everyone is aware of, even they know it, but Mac is determined to put the brakes on while Lucy wants the opposite.

Macallistar Blair hasn't had an easy life, and every time something good happens he's waiting for the other shoe to drop. He has been in love with Lucy for a long time, but he's not going to make any move because in his mind he doesn't deserve her. Lucy is a royalty princess and he's the boy from the wrong side of the tracks. Not only in a poor way, but also with a permanent baggage called "I'm afraid of dying again" and "Lucy doesn't deserve this kind of life."

Lucy was born as a Kincaid, but where all her relatives are noises and obnoxious, she's the calm and quiet one. She's also a martyr, always putting the wishes of others above her own, but she doesn't blame them because she also recognizes the fact that everyone assumes things that aren't true about her because she keeps them to herself like, for example, her true passion. I can't explain well enough how identified I felt with her and her role in her loud and big family, so I also felt like they were calling me out.

I'm a little conflicted about whether I should give it 3-3.5 or 4 stars, mostly for three reasons:
1) The romance. It was always there, even before they were really together, in those little acts of best friends that they did for each other and they were cute and soft, but once they both recognized being together as soon as it passed we didn't see much of the relationship and the epilogue wasn't what I expected, it was more like a familiar thing.

2) The main conflict. This was bound to happen and it was Evie or Lucy, and considering that Evie's book had enough drama already, it was Lucy's turn. I'm not complaining about the conflict itself, nor that the OG have been touched, but about the time it happened. It was almost at the end of the book, and that mean a lot of drama and crying because that's the Kincaid way, but also little time to solve it so it felt rushed. I still love Jimmy anyway, he will always be my favorite clown <3

3) Mac's great gesture. I loved him, but I'm not giving him points for leaving everything aside and fulfilling Lucy's dream because that's basically the only thing he could do, so no points for doing the bare minimum. Besides it was all Soph's idea, my favorite feminist hacker ballerina <3<3<3 I loved that we got to see more of the Checkmate guys in this book.
]]> <![CDATA[You Beautiful Thing, You (Bad Boys of Bardstown, #1)]]> 61329105
No, her biological clock isn’t ticking, but she’s desperate for unconditional love. Rejected by all except her brother and soon to be married off by her father for financial gain, she aches for someone to hold close and call hers.

Enter Ledger Thorne. Soccer god, devastatingly handsome and her brother’s rival.

Once upon a time they had a thing. A beautiful thing. But while Tempest thought she was madly in love, Ledger was only using her for petty revenge.

So Tempest has a plan: seduce the sexy jerk who broke her heart, use him to get pregnant and then leave him in the dust like he left her, to marry a stranger.

Only the problem with making babies is that it DZ’t feel like revenge. It feels a lot like that thing they used to have: Hot and stormy, and intense and intimate.

But Tempest isn’t a fool. She’ll stick to the plan.

Because wasn’t it Ledger who turned their beautiful thing into something ugly?
Now it’s her turn�

NOTE: This is a STANDALONE set in the world of Bardstown, a St. Mary’s Rebels spin-off.]]> 0 Saffron A. Kent M. 0 to-read 3.28 2023 You Beautiful Thing, You (Bad Boys of Bardstown, #1)
author: Saffron A. Kent
name: M.
average rating: 3.28
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/10/22
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Promises We Meant to Keep (Lancaster Prep, #3)]]> 60587378
They fell deeply in love while at Lancaster Prep - where Sylvie's parents ran the school. Their relationship was a whirlwind of passion. But Sylvie committed the ultimate betrayal.

And she lost him for good . . .

Until one day she runs into him at a wedding. He's older and still unbearably handsome. Their undeniable connection draws them together.

But will he trust her again? Or walk away from her forever?]]> 450 Monica Murphy M. 4 arcs SYLVIE LANCASTER, MY TROUBLEMAKER CHILD, YOU WILL ALWAYS BE FAMOUS!

Tropes: first love, second chance romance, brother's best friend, obsessed boy.

"I've been in love with you for what feels like forever."


So... if you read TWIST, then you know that towards the end Sylvie was kinda one of the mean girls against the main couple, right? WRONG! she was just a misunderstood rich girl on her death bed so please excuse her if her feelings got in the way.

I didn't really know what to expect here plot-wise, even though there were some lights on what was happening with Sylvie in the previous books, and why her health was so deteriorated, everything was a mystery until now, but my theories were proven right, and a b*tch just had to die for it.

Promises We Meant To Keep was a super vulnerable story when it came to Sylvie, her problems and her relationship with her family until she found her own freedom, and only then was she able to reconnect with some of them (WHIT LANCASTER YOU ARE MY EVERYTHING!!). There were also a bit of suspense to keep everyone on their toes, am I right? I think that even when many of us suspected what was happening with Sylvie and her health, and her mother's involvement, it was still surprising and a bit shocking how everything ended between them... nothing like a twists to keep you hooked on the story!

And romance! This was crazy because all the other books made me think it was Spencen Donato that was keeping them both at arm's length because you know... best friend's little sister and all that, always just in this "secret" relationship with benefits that was super platonic at the same time, but it was actually Sylvie? there was a lot of push and pull in this story, from their high school days to the present, but I think it was sweet how Spence was always there for her, even when Sylvie didn't want to see it, and how he pushed her out of her mother's claws and to stand on herself.

And I can't finish this review without mentioning my beloved crumbs! WhitSummer, you two are still insane and I'm still completely OBSESSED with your story... CrewWren, good job on still being the sweetest things EVER!! And since the Lancasters are such a prominent family, I just wish more of these books would keep coming my way! I just love reading about rich people's problems ]]> 3.50 2022 Promises We Meant to Keep (Lancaster Prep, #3)
author: Monica Murphy
name: M.
average rating: 3.50
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2022/09/01
date added: 2022/10/14
shelves: arcs
review:
SYLVIE LANCASTER, MY TROUBLEMAKER CHILD, YOU WILL ALWAYS BE FAMOUS!

Tropes: first love, second chance romance, brother's best friend, obsessed boy.

"I've been in love with you for what feels like forever."


So... if you read TWIST, then you know that towards the end Sylvie was kinda one of the mean girls against the main couple, right? WRONG! she was just a misunderstood rich girl on her death bed so please excuse her if her feelings got in the way.

I didn't really know what to expect here plot-wise, even though there were some lights on what was happening with Sylvie in the previous books, and why her health was so deteriorated, everything was a mystery until now, but my theories were proven right, and a b*tch just had to die for it.

Promises We Meant To Keep was a super vulnerable story when it came to Sylvie, her problems and her relationship with her family until she found her own freedom, and only then was she able to reconnect with some of them (WHIT LANCASTER YOU ARE MY EVERYTHING!!). There were also a bit of suspense to keep everyone on their toes, am I right? I think that even when many of us suspected what was happening with Sylvie and her health, and her mother's involvement, it was still surprising and a bit shocking how everything ended between them... nothing like a twists to keep you hooked on the story!

And romance! This was crazy because all the other books made me think it was Spencen Donato that was keeping them both at arm's length because you know... best friend's little sister and all that, always just in this "secret" relationship with benefits that was super platonic at the same time, but it was actually Sylvie? there was a lot of push and pull in this story, from their high school days to the present, but I think it was sweet how Spence was always there for her, even when Sylvie didn't want to see it, and how he pushed her out of her mother's claws and to stand on herself.

And I can't finish this review without mentioning my beloved crumbs! WhitSummer, you two are still insane and I'm still completely OBSESSED with your story... CrewWren, good job on still being the sweetest things EVER!! And since the Lancasters are such a prominent family, I just wish more of these books would keep coming my way! I just love reading about rich people's problems
]]> <![CDATA[Cherry Beats (Gods of Rock, #1)]]> 49471765 Bryan Adams.
Presley West.
My favourite men of music.
Only one of them within reach.

The night before Presley West was due to leave our small town of Hollings Hill, all of my high school fantasies came to life. He finally wanted me. Eight years I’d spent pining, and now I, bar-tending Tessa Lisbon, was going to make damn sure I made that night count before the music industry stole him.

Never screw your idols. That’s what they say, right? Well, I did, and I did it well. So well, I somehow managed to screw my own heart in the process.

He gave me one night to convince him to stay. In the end, I begged him to go.

Forever.

But that’s the thing about rock stars: they do what they want, when they want, and forever didn’t end up being as long as I expected.

Presley was back, and with his face, voice, and music now everywhere I turned, I officially had nowhere left to run.]]> 427 Vicki James M. 3 4.16 2019 Cherry Beats (Gods of Rock, #1)
author: Vicki James
name: M.
average rating: 4.16
book published: 2019
rating: 3
read at: 2022/10/01
date added: 2022/10/12
shelves:
review:
i wanted to hit things from start to finish
]]> Otherwise Engaged 58721980 I thought inventing a boyfriend would help get me out of trouble, but it landed me in more.

My little white lie put me in the crosshairs of Bennett Bradford. Satan in a suit. He might be easy on the eyes, but he's rough on the heart. I learned that one the hard way.

Suddenly, there's a gigantic rock on my left ring finger that's as fake as our relationship—but our chemistry is all too real.

At least there's no risk of me falling for him... right?

BENNETT
Thayer Montgomery sold me out back in high school, so I cut her out and never looked back.

Now my business is in peril, and I'll do whatever it takes to save it. Even if that means faking an engagement for a couple of months to repair my so-called reputation.

Luckily, I know the perfect pretend fiancée. Thayer would pass anyone's background check anywhere, any time. And getting revenge? Well, that’s just a bonus.

She might not want to play along with the charade, but I have leverage—and she won’t have a choice.

*
Author's Note: Otherwise Engaged is a high-heat, enemies-to-lovers, fake engagement standalone novel with a HEA and no cliffhanger.]]> 480 Avery Keelan M. 4 A LOT of drama between rich people, but the fact that it was between former childhood best friends who always had a crush on each other but were too shy to act on it, to strangers/hate to lovers made it ✨special� to me... It's just about giving the right feeling you know?]]> 3.98 2021 Otherwise Engaged
author: Avery Keelan
name: M.
average rating: 3.98
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at: 2022/09/30
date added: 2022/10/01
shelves:
review:
For the most part it was the same old marriage of convenience with A LOT of drama between rich people, but the fact that it was between former childhood best friends who always had a crush on each other but were too shy to act on it, to strangers/hate to lovers made it ✨special� to me... It's just about giving the right feeling you know?
]]> I Can Fix That 61037289
In the process, she finds herself spending a considerable amount of time with her hot and ill-tempered contractor, Grant Dawes.

Grant Dawes is a grouchy handyman who can seem to fix everything except his troubled past. His lack of family and friends leaves him to put all of his focus on restoring homes. That is until a polka dot, crocheting, vanilla coke-obsessed client pushes her way in to throw off his routines.

When he falls for his sweet-natured client, June Hart, Grant is forced to confront his complicated history to have a future with her.]]> 227 Juliana Smith M. 4 3.55 2022 I Can Fix That
author: Juliana Smith
name: M.
average rating: 3.55
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2022/09/27
date added: 2022/09/28
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Two for the Show (One for the Money, #2)]]> 61181285
The father, however? He made his position on marriage and children very clear.

Finn Hughes has fought his fate for years, but it’s finally catching up to him. Duty took away his choices. How can he hope for forever? He already knows how this ends.

There’s only one thing worse than having a family.

Losing them.

Welcome to the Midnight Dynasty... The warring Morelli and Constantine families have enough bad blood to fill an ocean, and their brand new stories will be told by your favorite dangerous romance authors.

WARNING: This book is intended for readers eighteen years old and over. It contains material that some readers could find disturbing. Enter at your own risk...
Read less]]> 184 Skye Warren M. 3 Eva Morelli was cold and detached, charming playboy Finn Hughes was spiraling out of control after what he thought was his worst nightmare came true, and THEN when they finally found a semblance of peace... BOOM! The Hughes' best kept secret, their family curse, breaks free to the media and once again Eva, Finn and their relationship is in the midst of a public storm. The drama is coming for them!

In all honesty, I'm still not sure how this book made me feel. On the one hand, I was confused because I haven't read any of the other books in this universe, and this was heavily focused on the Morelli family and related ones, so I got a little lost in all the talk and who was who. And on the other hand, the main characters, Eva and Finn, showed another side of their personality that I hadn't seen in the first installment, which is obvious, considering how serious an unexpected pregnancy was for them, ESPECIALLY, after the the way Finn broke Eva's heart. GOD, their monologues were so angsty and desperate, because they obviously got a little too caught up in this fake dating to the point of catching real feelings, but Finn wasn't coping well with the current situation (understandable I think?), and Eva was so distant from everyone while inside she silently suffered for her baby and her, and I just wanted a happy ending!!

And then when they finally had a semblance of peace, all hell broke loose, and they ended up in the eye of the storm again. I'm looking forward to the third and final installment, and I really hope they face this new scenario in a power couple style who doesn't give a shit about anyone but them, ready to finish them all with their power and money. They do have the means and the brains so... (specially my girl eva)]]> 4.21 2022 Two for the Show (One for the Money, #2)
author: Skye Warren
name: M.
average rating: 4.21
book published: 2022
rating: 3
read at: 2022/09/01
date added: 2022/09/22
shelves:
review:
This was every bit of a rollercoaster, just like the first installment, but now for different reasons; caring Eva Morelli was cold and detached, charming playboy Finn Hughes was spiraling out of control after what he thought was his worst nightmare came true, and THEN when they finally found a semblance of peace... BOOM! The Hughes' best kept secret, their family curse, breaks free to the media and once again Eva, Finn and their relationship is in the midst of a public storm. The drama is coming for them!

In all honesty, I'm still not sure how this book made me feel. On the one hand, I was confused because I haven't read any of the other books in this universe, and this was heavily focused on the Morelli family and related ones, so I got a little lost in all the talk and who was who. And on the other hand, the main characters, Eva and Finn, showed another side of their personality that I hadn't seen in the first installment, which is obvious, considering how serious an unexpected pregnancy was for them, ESPECIALLY, after the the way Finn broke Eva's heart. GOD, their monologues were so angsty and desperate, because they obviously got a little too caught up in this fake dating to the point of catching real feelings, but Finn wasn't coping well with the current situation (understandable I think?), and Eva was so distant from everyone while inside she silently suffered for her baby and her, and I just wanted a happy ending!!

And then when they finally had a semblance of peace, all hell broke loose, and they ended up in the eye of the storm again. I'm looking forward to the third and final installment, and I really hope they face this new scenario in a power couple style who doesn't give a shit about anyone but them, ready to finish them all with their power and money. They do have the means and the brains so... (specially my girl eva)
]]> Our Secrets and Scars 61793104
I never meant to fall in love with you. You were only ever supposed to be my pen pal, the faceless man in a prison cell who got me to spill my secrets.

But for four long years, your letters were my lifeline. They brought me comfort in a world of cruelty. They brought me peace when all I felt was pain.

Until suddenly, they stopped.

But I never stopped thinking about you. I never stopped wishing that one day we could meet in real life. What is it they say? "Be careful what you wish for".

Do you remember when you said that our secrets and scars are what make us?

I guess they're what break us too.]]> 313 Maisie Myers M. 3 3.87 Our Secrets and Scars
author: Maisie Myers
name: M.
average rating: 3.87
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2022/09/22
date added: 2022/09/22
shelves:
review:
I have read this recycled plot with the plot twist that can be seen from miles away so many times since 2012... and i still cried a little? someone is more definitely NOT in control of their emotions but I won't tell you who I am!
]]> <![CDATA[Say It's Forever (Redemption Hills #2)]]> 60547645
An obscenely hot, mountain-of-a-man who screams danger .But I have little choice other than climbing onto the back of his bike.

One look at Salem Aguilar, and I'm hooked. The girl is devastation wrapped in a black, seductive bow.

A knockout.
A dream.

Turns out, she needs a job, and I need the help. Now I have a vixen strutting around my shop, and I'm the fool who's itching to reach out and take what he can't have .But neither of us can ignore the burning attraction. The fire that leads to a kiss.
A kiss that has us falling into my bed. The connection that has me wanting the one thing I'd never thought I could have again. Because monsters like me don't deserve love.
Only Salem has a secret, too. She's been running for years, and her past just caught up to us...]]> 414 A.L. Jackson 1946420581 M. 4 arcs Sometimes you just need a suspense romance in the mountains with a broody biker, his dark past, and the woman who ran into him trying to escape her own demons, you know? bonus points if it's a single mom romance and the little girl is the cutest and funniest thing ever!!

Tropes: suspense romance, single mom, close proximity, workplace romance.

This is my first A.L. Jackson book so if I'm being honest, I didn't really know what I was getting myself into but damn... these two brought all the passion and mystery to a whole new level!

Salem and her little daughter, Juniper, have been running and living in the shadows for years, escaping from the monster that young Salem was unable to prevent, and now, so many years on the run, she's the one who feels invisible... until Judd. Judd is far from an angel; With a dark past that took away what he loved most, he's not ready to put his heart on the line again. But staying away from Salem and little Juni seems impossible when fate keeps pulling them together, and now he seems like the right person to free her from all those fears and finally get on with their lives.

Now, this book was a lot of surprises; the connection between these two characters goes far beyond the "first time" they met, and they have been so deprived of love that when they finally get together everything is so intense and passionate between them, and so vulnerable! because both have stories to tell, but they are not easy to remember. In the end, they learn each other's scars and are ready to heal together after so much fatality.]]> 4.21 2022 Say It's Forever (Redemption Hills #2)
author: A.L. Jackson
name: M.
average rating: 4.21
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2022/03/01
date added: 2022/09/21
shelves: arcs
review:
Sometimes you just need a suspense romance in the mountains with a broody biker, his dark past, and the woman who ran into him trying to escape her own demons, you know? bonus points if it's a single mom romance and the little girl is the cutest and funniest thing ever!!

Tropes: suspense romance, single mom, close proximity, workplace romance.

This is my first A.L. Jackson book so if I'm being honest, I didn't really know what I was getting myself into but damn... these two brought all the passion and mystery to a whole new level!

Salem and her little daughter, Juniper, have been running and living in the shadows for years, escaping from the monster that young Salem was unable to prevent, and now, so many years on the run, she's the one who feels invisible... until Judd. Judd is far from an angel; With a dark past that took away what he loved most, he's not ready to put his heart on the line again. But staying away from Salem and little Juni seems impossible when fate keeps pulling them together, and now he seems like the right person to free her from all those fears and finally get on with their lives.

Now, this book was a lot of surprises; the connection between these two characters goes far beyond the "first time" they met, and they have been so deprived of love that when they finally get together everything is so intense and passionate between them, and so vulnerable! because both have stories to tell, but they are not easy to remember. In the end, they learn each other's scars and are ready to heal together after so much fatality.
]]> <![CDATA[God of Pain (Legacy of Gods, #2)]]> 61100791
Being a mafia princess, I knew my fate was already decided.

But I went ahead and longed for the wrong one.

Creighton King is bad news with a gorgeous exterior.

He’s silent, brooding, and obviously emotionally unavailable.

So I thought it was over.

Until he awakens a beast inside me.

My name is Annika Volkov, and I’m Creighton's worst enemy.

He won’t stop until he breaks me.

Or I break him.

This book can be listened to on its own.]]> 487 Rina Kent M. 4
The only thing that didn't fully convince me were those final chapters with Creighton kidnapping Annika, Adrian descending with his entire army and Annika threatening to kill herself, all because they couldn't be together because of Creighton's past and the role Annika's parents played into it.

I still think my theory about Annika going into an arranged marriage and Creighton kidnapping her on her wedding day, after having a secret relationship for months in the UK, made more sense.

Now I'm sad because I'm only interested in EliAva and LandonMia, and one of them we already know are the grand finale of the series, and the others weren't even teased here to believe that they're next, which means I'm gonna have to wait until after the big break to get them.

I'm 99% sure JeremyCecily is next, but I'm not really that interested. I don't care about Cecily if she's gonna be an annoying Teal 2.0 (which is what we've seen so far), and I don't know about Jeremy. He's supposed to be a God that everyone fears, but honestly he hasn't given much so far, a little blan to be a leader, and Niko has somewhat stolen the spotlight from him. We'll see how it all pans out, but for now I'm just tuning in to get a few more AdrianLia crumbs.]]> 4.10 2022 God of Pain (Legacy of Gods, #2)
author: Rina Kent
name: M.
average rating: 4.10
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2022/09/17
date added: 2022/09/17
shelves:
review:
I love that miss RK really comes through when it really matters!

The only thing that didn't fully convince me were those final chapters with Creighton kidnapping Annika, Adrian descending with his entire army and Annika threatening to kill herself, all because they couldn't be together because of Creighton's past and the role Annika's parents played into it.

I still think my theory about Annika going into an arranged marriage and Creighton kidnapping her on her wedding day, after having a secret relationship for months in the UK, made more sense.

Now I'm sad because I'm only interested in EliAva and LandonMia, and one of them we already know are the grand finale of the series, and the others weren't even teased here to believe that they're next, which means I'm gonna have to wait until after the big break to get them.

I'm 99% sure JeremyCecily is next, but I'm not really that interested. I don't care about Cecily if she's gonna be an annoying Teal 2.0 (which is what we've seen so far), and I don't know about Jeremy. He's supposed to be a God that everyone fears, but honestly he hasn't given much so far, a little blan to be a leader, and Niko has somewhat stolen the spotlight from him. We'll see how it all pans out, but for now I'm just tuning in to get a few more AdrianLia crumbs.
]]> <![CDATA[The Brawl (Calamity Montana, #5)]]> 60421789
Except Calamity’s sweetheart has sworn off men. The last time Ronan was rejected was, well . . . never. Yet Larke dismisses him without even batting those pretty brown eyes.

Bruised ego in check, he’s about to walk away when a teenager marches into his office and asks to hire Ronan as her lawyer. Something about a bad grade and a ruined grade point average that will inevitably destroy her future. He’s about to lecture the kid for being melodramatic until he learns that the teacher she wants to sue is Larke.

Suddenly this frivolous lawsuit seems like a bright idea. Ronan wants Larke’s attention and this is guaranteed to snag it. So let the brawl begin.]]> 322 Willa Nash M. 0 to-read 4.13 2022 The Brawl (Calamity Montana, #5)
author: Willa Nash
name: M.
average rating: 4.13
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/09/12
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Shattered Truths (Lies, Hearts and Truths, #3)]]> 62223920 The first time I met Winter Marks, I almost took her out with my Jeep.
To be fair, she came out of nowhere.

I flirted with her, and she flipped me off and disappeared into the woods on her bike.
But she left me a souvenir: a single hockey skate.

Seemed to me that divine intervention shouldn’t be ignored.

She was my icy Cinderella and I would be her Prince Not-So-Charming.

Winter was more than just a sassy, badass hockey-playing hottie.
She’s stuck in a prison of a life. And I’m the perfect escape.

Neither of us expected to fall.
Or for the truth to shatter us.]]> 400 H. Hunting 1989185479 M. 0 to-read 4.35 Shattered Truths (Lies, Hearts and Truths, #3)
author: H. Hunting
name: M.
average rating: 4.35
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/09/09
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Hating the Player (Campus Wallflowers, #2)]]> 60863718 He lives in the best party house off campus at Valley U, overrun by jocks galore.
I live next door, watching Jane Austen adaptations with my sketchbook in hand.
He stays on his side of the fence.
I stay on mine.
Now we're accidentally on a camping trip together, but there's only one tent left.

Gavin Leonard is the worst.
And he's the last guy who broke my heart.]]> 302 Rebecca Jenshak 1951815300 M. 0 to-read 3.85 2022 Hating the Player (Campus Wallflowers, #2)
author: Rebecca Jenshak
name: M.
average rating: 3.85
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/09/09
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[A Million Kisses in Your Lifetime (Lancaster Prep, #2)]]> 60306208
Beautiful.
Smart.
Sweet.
Innocent.

At Lancaster Prep, the girls love her. They all want to be her friend. Only I see Wren for who she really is.

A repressed little virgin who keeps her feelings locked up so tight she’s probably close to bursting. She thinks she’s above us all.

Even me.

I shouldn’t be drawn to her. She’s not my type.

Until we’re forced to work together in class and realize we might have more things in common than we originally thought. Soon enough I find myself completely obsessed. I will do anything for this girl to make her fall in love with me.

Anything.]]> 552 Monica Murphy M. 3 3.73 2022 A Million Kisses in Your Lifetime (Lancaster Prep, #2)
author: Monica Murphy
name: M.
average rating: 3.73
book published: 2022
rating: 3
read at: 2022/09/01
date added: 2022/09/05
shelves:
review:
yes they were cute but i liked whittsummer insanity brand better
]]> <![CDATA[Now's the Time (The Ladies Who Brunch #3)]]> 61437297
That was the agreement between me and Maddox Taylor, the NFL’s most notorious playboy and mega-talented quarterback who happened to be out in California for one night—one night in which I broke all of my rules and gave in to the undeniable attraction I felt for the man.

He wooed me with dirty jokes, 80s musical references, an obsession with Steve Harvey, and a very specific piercing. How the hell was I supposed to fight that?

However, I should have listened to my gut because my reaction to him wasn’t just physical—it was more, something I hadn’t felt since the last man I let in left me all alone, and I vowed never to fall in love again.

Six weeks later, I find out I’m the new PR spokesperson for The Los Angeles Bolts football team, a team that just signed Maddox Taylor to their roster in hopes of a winning season.

With his signature cocky swagger, he corners me in my office, intent on rekindling our connection, but the tables had turned—I was now working for his team which created a conflict of interest, and put my job and both of our reputations on the line.

But that stubborn man wasn’t taking no for an answer, and before I knew it, I agreed to date him in secret even though relationships weren’t my thing.

And when Maddox had finally had enough of me refusing to open up, I was faced with a choice—do I let go of the one man that I’ve ever contemplated letting in despite the rules I’ve lived under for the past twelve years?

Or was now the time to face my demons so I could hold onto a future I didn’t know I wanted�

TW: loss of a loved one, themes of grief]]> 402 Harlow James M. 3 arcs Tropes: one night stand, secret relationship, sports romance, he falls first.

Just like the other books in this series, I thoroughly enjoyed the story of Penelope and Maddox. Easy to get hooked on, funny and at times emotional, the romance of these had me swooning ]]> 4.35 Now's the Time (The Ladies Who Brunch #3)
author: Harlow James
name: M.
average rating: 4.35
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2022/09/01
date added: 2022/09/04
shelves: arcs
review:
Tropes: one night stand, secret relationship, sports romance, he falls first.

Just like the other books in this series, I thoroughly enjoyed the story of Penelope and Maddox. Easy to get hooked on, funny and at times emotional, the romance of these had me swooning
]]> Morphine (The Rush World #1) 61605784 As the first female F1 driver to hit the sport, I fought for my fame. For the respect that I am given. For my place on the grid.
But I also wanted him, only him, and I was going to get him.
There are only two problems.
1. He's my team principal
2. My past is coming back to haunt me]]> 354 Sam Lynn M. 3


This book follows Maria Alejandra Castillo, a determined and opinionated Mexican F1 driver, and her 18-year-older italian team principal, Luca Donatello. They're butting heads literally from their first interaction, but the tension and build up... off the charts ]]> 3.61 Morphine (The Rush World #1)
author: Sam Lynn
name: M.
average rating: 3.61
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2022/08/28
date added: 2022/08/28
shelves:
review:
Good debut novel overall.



This book follows Maria Alejandra Castillo, a determined and opinionated Mexican F1 driver, and her 18-year-older italian team principal, Luca Donatello. They're butting heads literally from their first interaction, but the tension and build up... off the charts
]]> <![CDATA[Hey, Mister Marshall (St. Mary's Rebels #4)]]> 59784860
After her mom’s death, he appeared out of nowhere and became Poe’s controlling guardian. When she protested his tyranny, he had the audacity to send her away to an all-girls reform school. A school full of iron clad rules and regulations.

But at least she’s graduating soon.

Until Alaric himself arrives at the school as the new principal and takes that away from her as well.

That devil.

He’s really asking for it, isn’t he?

And Poe is going to give it to him.

It DZ’t matter that her sworn enemy has the prettiest dark eyes she’s ever seen. Or that he looks really, really good in his boring tweed jackets. So much so that she wants to rip them off his body and see what’s underneath.

Because scorching hot or not, her new principal or not, Poe is going to ruin Alaric’s life.

NOTE - This is a STANDALONE set in the world of St. Mary's
St. Mary’s Rebels #4]]> 638 Saffron A. Kent M. 1 2021 apologize to Salem and Arrow for believing that they were the worst, when in fact they were the ONLY saving grace of this entire series? I wanna be clear and state that this is a "it's not the book, it's me" situation for the most part, but also a "it's definitely the book, and NOT me, ma'am please put the pen down!!".

My personal lesson that I got out of this is that maybe big age gaps between teenagers and grown adults are not my thing, it doesn't do it for me, it's not my cup of tea, it's not my jam, HARD. PASS. The same thing happened to me with These Thorn Kisses , making me feel uncomfortable all the time to the point of not finishing the book, so that's totally on me!! BUT the writing sometimes weird and kinda on the predatory side is a point in my discomfort too, and not only the fact that I don't understand what they may have in common, again, a teenager almost out of high school and an adult with two PhD and what else... Like, I can get the POV of the girl wanting to get the attention of someone older, especially Poe's, but not the reasons for a fully funcional adult to fall for it.

Now why was the book too... first of all, there was no need to make this so thick if you were just going to repeat the same nonsense over and over again; how she felt, how he looked, how he dressed with precise detail of the material of his clothes, how EVERYTHING smelled like leather and cigarettes... I GOT IT! I know I'm slow, but don't overdo it either. There's also the writing with that "poetic touch" that she always tries to give, but honestly it only worked for me in the first book, and then it got ridiculous and tiring because after all it's just teenagers saying and thinking those things, and it just made me think about how pathetic and self-centered we all probably were at that stage of our lives, and if I rolled my eyes a little harder I'd already be able to see my own brain.

And the worst part... well, actually it was two things for me. 1) Where's Poe Blyton? The one from the previous books? that girl was really badass and full of mischief in the other installments, but here that personality disappeared and she was just another Callie, Salem and Wynn, with the same whining as the previous characters and this obsessive and excessive love coming out of nowhere because they barely spoke, like really talk, throughout the book. And 2) The daddy and baby thing... NOPE. It's just that I can get the kink, okay? but here it was just weird because he has known her since she was 14 years old?? back to the uncomfortable point... and the whole way those terms were phrased, mixed in with the writing and + the smutty scenes...sorry, but what the hell did she do here? I had so much faith in this!! Mostly faith in Poe's character if I'm being honest because the male characters in this series are a bit meh to me, but Mr. Marshall... go get yourself checked out and never go near an educational establishment again, thank you.]]> 3.79 2022 Hey, Mister Marshall (St. Mary's Rebels #4)
author: Saffron A. Kent
name: M.
average rating: 3.79
book published: 2022
rating: 1
read at: 2022/06/15
date added: 2022/08/28
shelves: 2021
review:
Ok but how many more times am I gonna have to apologize to Salem and Arrow for believing that they were the worst, when in fact they were the ONLY saving grace of this entire series? I wanna be clear and state that this is a "it's not the book, it's me" situation for the most part, but also a "it's definitely the book, and NOT me, ma'am please put the pen down!!".

My personal lesson that I got out of this is that maybe big age gaps between teenagers and grown adults are not my thing, it doesn't do it for me, it's not my cup of tea, it's not my jam, HARD. PASS. The same thing happened to me with These Thorn Kisses , making me feel uncomfortable all the time to the point of not finishing the book, so that's totally on me!! BUT the writing sometimes weird and kinda on the predatory side is a point in my discomfort too, and not only the fact that I don't understand what they may have in common, again, a teenager almost out of high school and an adult with two PhD and what else... Like, I can get the POV of the girl wanting to get the attention of someone older, especially Poe's, but not the reasons for a fully funcional adult to fall for it.

Now why was the book too... first of all, there was no need to make this so thick if you were just going to repeat the same nonsense over and over again; how she felt, how he looked, how he dressed with precise detail of the material of his clothes, how EVERYTHING smelled like leather and cigarettes... I GOT IT! I know I'm slow, but don't overdo it either. There's also the writing with that "poetic touch" that she always tries to give, but honestly it only worked for me in the first book, and then it got ridiculous and tiring because after all it's just teenagers saying and thinking those things, and it just made me think about how pathetic and self-centered we all probably were at that stage of our lives, and if I rolled my eyes a little harder I'd already be able to see my own brain.

And the worst part... well, actually it was two things for me. 1) Where's Poe Blyton? The one from the previous books? that girl was really badass and full of mischief in the other installments, but here that personality disappeared and she was just another Callie, Salem and Wynn, with the same whining as the previous characters and this obsessive and excessive love coming out of nowhere because they barely spoke, like really talk, throughout the book. And 2) The daddy and baby thing... NOPE. It's just that I can get the kink, okay? but here it was just weird because he has known her since she was 14 years old?? back to the uncomfortable point... and the whole way those terms were phrased, mixed in with the writing and + the smutty scenes...sorry, but what the hell did she do here? I had so much faith in this!! Mostly faith in Poe's character if I'm being honest because the male characters in this series are a bit meh to me, but Mr. Marshall... go get yourself checked out and never go near an educational establishment again, thank you.
]]> Mine Would Be You 59223562
After her first and only relationship left her burned and broken, she is hesitant to open herself up to the idea of love again. Even throwing herself into work at Poze, a major fashion magazine, drunken nights with her friends in the city, and long therapy sessions, haven’t quite changed her mind—Nina still tries to keep the walls around her heart sealed up tight. A wedding invitation sends her straight to the past and to the bars. And the blurry night ends with sea-blue eyes, blonde hair, and a bright smile.

Jackson Ross holds the sun in his hands.

He’s overly optimistic and wouldn’t know a rain cloud if it hit him. And he’s anything but deterred by her negative outlook on relationships. If anything, it just enchants him more. When he finally begins to whittle his way past her walls, life comes crashing in when he least expects it.

Will Valentina take a chance and let Jackson in? Will Jackson make his way through the rain? Or will life and all its disasters come crashing down and shroud them in the darkness just when they were ready to step into the sun?]]> 362 K. Jamila M. 4 I still feel a bit cheated by the way bookstagram and booktwitter sold this book, but it made me cry, so bottom line: I liked it.

“He's looking at me like he always has. Like I'm the only thing that exists. Like I'm the only sun in the sky.�


Valentina "Nina" Scott is taking back the reins of her life after a love relationship that only stole her from her, leaving her full of insecurities and wary of love. So she's been working on herself, to become an even better version of herself than before, but she's not even close to giving her love life a thought. But then one day, Jackson Ross walked into her life, all sunshine and flirty smiles. An easygoing and laid-back man that she never thought to see again, and that after all she found in the least expected place; the wedding of her ex-boyfriend. From that moment on, Jackson hasn't stopped in his quest to win Nina over, win her trust and a small place in her life, so most of this book is them facing their fears, having a good time together, until they fall for each other.

I did like this book. I had never read anything by this author and I really found her writing engaging and vulnerable, making it easy to connect with Nina mostly because Jackson didn't have many POVs. BUT, I went into this book for all the wrong reasons, like I kind of thought this was a reverse grumpy-sunshine, but in the end I ended up staying for the character development, and the healthy relationship that they were definitely working towards. Jackson was an angel, definitely boyfriend material and forever an optimist, and Nina was a fighter, so determined yet real about the ups and downs of life. I don't know, I think I can see a bit of myself in both characters.

The romance was swoon-worthy because Jackson was willing to bring out the big guns to get to Nina's heart, there was a lot of talk about personal growth that came through in the character development, and I loved the side characters. Plus, it made me cry, and characters and writing styles that do that count a lot in my book. Oh, And I love extra scenes besides the epilogue to get a final look at these characters' lives, so yeah, I totally recommend it.]]> 3.89 Mine Would Be You
author: K. Jamila
name: M.
average rating: 3.89
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2022/03/01
date added: 2022/08/27
shelves:
review:
I still feel a bit cheated by the way bookstagram and booktwitter sold this book, but it made me cry, so bottom line: I liked it.

“He's looking at me like he always has. Like I'm the only thing that exists. Like I'm the only sun in the sky.�


Valentina "Nina" Scott is taking back the reins of her life after a love relationship that only stole her from her, leaving her full of insecurities and wary of love. So she's been working on herself, to become an even better version of herself than before, but she's not even close to giving her love life a thought. But then one day, Jackson Ross walked into her life, all sunshine and flirty smiles. An easygoing and laid-back man that she never thought to see again, and that after all she found in the least expected place; the wedding of her ex-boyfriend. From that moment on, Jackson hasn't stopped in his quest to win Nina over, win her trust and a small place in her life, so most of this book is them facing their fears, having a good time together, until they fall for each other.

I did like this book. I had never read anything by this author and I really found her writing engaging and vulnerable, making it easy to connect with Nina mostly because Jackson didn't have many POVs. BUT, I went into this book for all the wrong reasons, like I kind of thought this was a reverse grumpy-sunshine, but in the end I ended up staying for the character development, and the healthy relationship that they were definitely working towards. Jackson was an angel, definitely boyfriend material and forever an optimist, and Nina was a fighter, so determined yet real about the ups and downs of life. I don't know, I think I can see a bit of myself in both characters.

The romance was swoon-worthy because Jackson was willing to bring out the big guns to get to Nina's heart, there was a lot of talk about personal growth that came through in the character development, and I loved the side characters. Plus, it made me cry, and characters and writing styles that do that count a lot in my book. Oh, And I love extra scenes besides the epilogue to get a final look at these characters' lives, so yeah, I totally recommend it.
]]> <![CDATA[Things I Wanted to Say, But Never Did (Lancaster Prep, #1)]]> 57388047
He’s a menace on campus. Adored and feared. Hated and respected. His taunting words carve into my skin, shredding me to ribbons. Yet his intense gaze scorches my blood, fills me with a longing I don’t understand.

When I stumble upon him one night alone, I find him broken. Bleeding. My instincts scream to leave and let him suffer, but I ’t. I sneak him into my room. Clean him up. Fall for his lies. Let him possess every single part of me until I’m the one left a gasping, broken mess.

When he leaves me alone in the dead of night, he takes my journal with him.

Now he knows all my secrets. My hate. My truth. And he promises to use my words against me. I’ll be ruined if my darkest secret gets out.

That’s when I strike a bargain with the devil.

I’ll let Whit Lancaster ruin me behind closed doors instead.]]> 506 Monica Murphy M. 4 3.64 2021 Things I Wanted to Say, But Never Did (Lancaster Prep, #1)
author: Monica Murphy
name: M.
average rating: 3.64
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at: 2022/08/01
date added: 2022/08/26
shelves:
review:
please don't judge me too harshly, i just enjoy a dose of toxicity from time to time and now i'm completely obsessed with these two
]]> Icebreaker (UCMH, #1) 61767292
Nothing will stand in her way, not even the captain of the hockey team, Nate Hawkins.

Nate’s focus as team captain is on keeping his team on the ice. Which is tricky when a facilities mishap means they are forced to share a rink with the figure skating team—including Anastasia, who clearly ’t stand him.

But when Anastasia’s skating partner faces an uncertain future, she may have to look to Nate to take her shot.

Sparks fly, but Anastasia isn’t worried . . . because she could never like a hockey player, right?]]> 447 Hannah Grace M. 2
I liked Nathan –the hero�, because he was sweet, caring and understanding, while also being charming and a little bit cocky, but I guess that's it?

1. I didn't like the heroine because she was presented as someone determined and focused on her career as a figure skater, but all her actions towards that goal made her look childish and annoying for me because of the way she treated those around her, as if they were disposable, and almost as if she was doing them a favor by giving them the time of day, when at the end of the day she was always the one who came back for more because of that feeling of familiarity she didn’t had before.

2. There were too many side characters that I couldn't keep track of, and at some points they stole the limelight in this book, while others became more and more annoying with each intervention (Henry please shut up, you stopped being quirky like 20 chapters ago). Also I don't wanna be like that, but I really feel like the author tried too hard to score those rep points while not even using google translate properly.

3. And then the plot dragged and dragged, forever and ever, AMEN. I heard this was a Wattpad story before and maybe that's why the whole plot feels a bit cut off, but gosh, a new conflict after a few chapters? It was a few conflicts too much. I can't even remember how many acts this book had because they felt endless to me.]]> 3.75 2022 Icebreaker (UCMH, #1)
author: Hannah Grace
name: M.
average rating: 3.75
book published: 2022
rating: 2
read at: 2022/08/01
date added: 2022/08/25
shelves:
review:
I fell for the cute cover and the figure skater x hockey player trope, but honestly this was so NOT good for me.

I liked Nathan –the hero�, because he was sweet, caring and understanding, while also being charming and a little bit cocky, but I guess that's it?

1. I didn't like the heroine because she was presented as someone determined and focused on her career as a figure skater, but all her actions towards that goal made her look childish and annoying for me because of the way she treated those around her, as if they were disposable, and almost as if she was doing them a favor by giving them the time of day, when at the end of the day she was always the one who came back for more because of that feeling of familiarity she didn’t had before.

2. There were too many side characters that I couldn't keep track of, and at some points they stole the limelight in this book, while others became more and more annoying with each intervention (Henry please shut up, you stopped being quirky like 20 chapters ago). Also I don't wanna be like that, but I really feel like the author tried too hard to score those rep points while not even using google translate properly.

3. And then the plot dragged and dragged, forever and ever, AMEN. I heard this was a Wattpad story before and maybe that's why the whole plot feels a bit cut off, but gosh, a new conflict after a few chapters? It was a few conflicts too much. I can't even remember how many acts this book had because they felt endless to me.
]]> The Favor 53608355
Of course, if she’d known he’d request that she be his wife for twelve months, she’d have hesitated in accepting his help. Because what she’d learned from Dane was that the devil wasn’t ugly and terrorising. He was seductive and captivating. He hummed with whispers of temptation � the temptation to sin and surrender, to let him brand and possess you. He awakened every need and fantasy you had.

He could even make you love him.]]> 388 Suzanne Wright M. 3 3.5 ☆| Well now I feel silly for having had this on my TBR for so long and not reading it before, because this? these pages are exactly where drama was created, and where there's drama is where I NEED to be! (in my defense I was scared of all that popularity, plus the book community ALWAYS lies to me with their most hyped books)

First things first, Vienna and Dane are main characters in every sense of the word; it seems that almost the whole city hates them or is working against their marriage, they are boss x PA power duo, they live in a giant mansion, he bought her a whole new wardrobe and the cat of her dreams, she pushes him and pushes him and doesn't care AT ALL that he's her boss when it comes to calling him out on his asshole behavior since before they were married� I don't know, they just seem like a ]]> 3.97 2020 The Favor
author: Suzanne Wright
name: M.
average rating: 3.97
book published: 2020
rating: 3
read at: 2022/08/01
date added: 2022/08/22
shelves:
review:
3.5 ☆| Well now I feel silly for having had this on my TBR for so long and not reading it before, because this? these pages are exactly where drama was created, and where there's drama is where I NEED to be! (in my defense I was scared of all that popularity, plus the book community ALWAYS lies to me with their most hyped books)

First things first, Vienna and Dane are main characters in every sense of the word; it seems that almost the whole city hates them or is working against their marriage, they are boss x PA power duo, they live in a giant mansion, he bought her a whole new wardrobe and the cat of her dreams, she pushes him and pushes him and doesn't care AT ALL that he's her boss when it comes to calling him out on his asshole behavior since before they were married� I don't know, they just seem like a
]]> <![CDATA[Yours Truly (Part of Your World, #2)]]> 61918479
A novel of terrible first impressions, hilarious second chances, and the joy in finding your perfect match.

Dr. Briana Ortiz’s life is seriously flatlining. Her divorce is just about finalized, her brother’s running out of time to find a kidney donor, and that promotion she wants? Oh, that’s probably going to the new man-doctor who’s already registering eighty-friggin�-seven on Briana’s “pain in my ass� scale. But just when all systems are set to hate, Dr. Jacob Maddox completely flips the game . . . by sending Briana a letter.

And it’s a really good letter. Like the kind that proves that Jacob isn’t actually Satan. Worse, he might be this fantastically funny and subversively likeable guy who’s terrible at first impressions. Because suddenly he and Bri are exchanging letters, sharing lunch dates in her “sob closet,� and discussing the merits of freakishly tiny horses. But when Jacob decides to give Briana the best gift imaginable—a kidney for her brother—she wonders just how she can resist this quietly sexy new doctor . . . especially when he calls in a favor she ’t refuse.]]> 11 Abby Jimenez 1549135139 M. 0 to-read 4.41 2023 Yours Truly (Part of Your World, #2)
author: Abby Jimenez
name: M.
average rating: 4.41
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/08/22
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Serve 61409643
Getting summoned to a meeting at the White House felt like an honor—until I caught the catch.

I’m the newest member of her security detail. Not only for this summer in DC, but once she leaves for Stanford in the fall as well. Her safety is my responsibility.

Trouble is, the only place Georgie respects any rules is on the tennis court.

Our priorities clash and our personalities conflict, yet somehow—the more time we spend together, the less it feels like work.

But my job description DZ’t include making her laugh or enjoying our conversations. And it definitely DZ’t involve broken rules or blurred lines.

My only job?

Is to serve.]]> 304 C.W. Farnsworth M. 4 arcs
"I stare, and I wonder. Is this what falling in love feels like?"


Things I'm in need of recently:
1. For my father to become president so I can get a cold and grumpy young secret agent assigned as my head of security whom I can mercilessly taunt and flirt with even when he tries to resist, only to end up giving on the explosive chemistry and admit he can't be without me... pretty simple I think.

Tropes: president's daughter x bodyguard, forbidden romance, age gap, forced proximity, grumpy-sunshine. Coming August 16th!



This is my second book by this author and I'm completely OBSESSED, and ready to make my way through her other books now ]]> 3.86 Serve
author: C.W. Farnsworth
name: M.
average rating: 3.86
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2022/08/01
date added: 2022/08/16
shelves: arcs
review:
"I stare, and I wonder. Is this what falling in love feels like?"


Things I'm in need of recently:
1. For my father to become president so I can get a cold and grumpy young secret agent assigned as my head of security whom I can mercilessly taunt and flirt with even when he tries to resist, only to end up giving on the explosive chemistry and admit he can't be without me... pretty simple I think.

Tropes: president's daughter x bodyguard, forbidden romance, age gap, forced proximity, grumpy-sunshine. Coming August 16th!



This is my second book by this author and I'm completely OBSESSED, and ready to make my way through her other books now
]]> <![CDATA[A Nordic King (Nordic Royals, #3)]]> 41957608 A widowed father of two little girls. The beautiful nanny he's hired to raise them. A forbidden romance unlike any other. A Nordic King is the newest standalone royal romance from the New York Times Bestselling author of The Pact and The Swedish Prince.

When I first applied for the job I thought it would be like all the others: working as a nanny for an aristocratic family.
Then I got the job and found out how wrong I was.

Now I’m the new nanny for two adorable little girls who happen to be princesses.

Their father is the widowed King of Denmark.
And my new home? The royal palace in Copenhagen.
Adjusting to my new life isn't easy but the hardest part hasn’t been the girls who still grieve over the loss of their mother.

It’s their father.

Cold, mysterious and moody, with an icy stare that seems to penetrate your soul, King Aksel may have hired me to take care of his daughters but he wants as little to do with me as possible.

Yet the longer I share these palace walls with this man, the more that I’m drawn to him. His chiseled face and sexual swagger are only part of the package. It’s in the long, intense glances at the dinner table, the way we’ll brush up against each other in the halls, the rare glimpses of the man deep inside, like the sun passing through clouds.

But no matter how I feel about him, we can never be together.

You think it's bad enough being in love with your boss?

Try falling in love with a king.

A Nordic King is a 100% complete standalone story and a spinoff of The Swedish Prince and The Wild Heir.
This book contains GRAPHIC SEX SCENES AND FOUL LANGUAGE - reader discretion is advised]]> 378 Karina Halle M. 3 3.94 2018 A Nordic King (Nordic Royals, #3)
author: Karina Halle
name: M.
average rating: 3.94
book published: 2018
rating: 3
read at: 2022/08/01
date added: 2022/08/11
shelves:
review:
a really sweet romance, but they did a lot of thinking when i just wanted more action so
]]> <![CDATA[The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea (The Devils, #2)]]> 59952350 You don’t really know a guy until you’ve vacationed with him�

When Drew Wilson’s ex-boyfriend Joel “Six� Bailey asks her to go on his family trip to Hawaii with him just as her life is falling apart, she decides it's the perfect time to give him another chance.

The hitch? The Bailey family includes Six’s rude older brother, Joshua—a hot-nerd doctor who has hated Drew since the moment they met and once suggested she’d steal the family silver.

Drew is determined to win the Baileys over and give this thing with Six a fair shot…but Joshua is making that difficult. Not simply because he is in her way at every turn, but because—as one tropical adventure leads to the next—she’s beginning to wonder if obnoxious, odious Joshua might be the brother she actually belongs with.]]> 316 Elizabeth O'Roark 1956800042 M. 5 THIS BOOK WAS A PASS STRAIGHT TO HEAVEN FOR THE ANGSTY COMMUNITY!!

Quick summary: Drew's on-and-off fling asked her to come with him on a dream family vacation to Hawaii, only to not show up and leave her alone there with his family. Now add to that the fact that Josh Bailey, Josh, her ex's super acomplished brother who has hated her since the first time he met her, is also there to point out each of her mistakes. Spoiler alert: he doesn't hate her, he never hated her, and he's more obsessed with her than any of his fans (did I forget to mention that she's a world-renowned super pop singer?)

I still can't believe this book brought ALL the angst to the table, character-wise and romantically speaking... THE SERVE THAT IT WAS! These two really are complete opposites, except for the fact that they both carry the weight of the world on their shoulders, yet choose to keep quiet about the pain they carry.

Drew had a bad childhood and a worse current relationship with her family -the root of all her problems-, and was pushed super young into the music industry, with people manipulating her left and right to the point of losing herself and her self value. There's nothing Josh wouldn't do to see his mother happy, even if it means being in the presence of his asshole father and brother on a family trip, while living in constant danger just to prove that he's nothing like his father. Slowly through the adventures of this journey they start to really get to know each other, realizing that there's so much more than meets the eye, developing a kind of friendship but with a lot of chemistry and tension between them. That's why they want to help each other to see the best side of themselves, but it is impossible when each of them separately is not ready to go through their own fears and issues, and realize how much they are worth as people.

Now the romance... FORBIDDEN EXCELLENCE. They began to spend so much time alone, doing everything from the simplest to the most complicated things while getting to know each other, to the point that they forgot that they shouldn't be alone at all, but they never felt better in someone else's company. They collided with reality when Six -Josh's brother and Drew's ex-, finally arrived in Hawaii, but even before then there was nothing to save between this man and Drew, and it only took her a couple of days to realize that since the beginning she chose the wrong Bailey brother. But now they need to return home, they both live in different countries, and the sacrifices it takes to be together is perhaps too much commitment for a vulnerable girl who always avoided exactly that... The pain that those scenes between them stealing time together caused me; the calls, the trips, the love gestures, the trip to Somalia and its outcome... I'M STILL IN PAIN AND I ALREADY GOT MY HAPPY ENDING? help.

I really loved this book from start to finish to the point I couldn't put it down and read it in less than 24 hours, zero flaws found!

P.S. some people think that the 4th book in this series will be about Six and I honestly hope not? He was a horrible boyfriend, brother, and son, and just generally a selfish jerk, so i really can't see him redeeming himself and being a good partner to any heroine. I really hope the next book is about Ben's brother, or maybe Juliet, who was also after a bad boy.]]> 4.09 The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea (The Devils, #2)
author: Elizabeth O'Roark
name: M.
average rating: 4.09
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2022/08/01
date added: 2022/08/08
shelves:
review:
THIS BOOK WAS A PASS STRAIGHT TO HEAVEN FOR THE ANGSTY COMMUNITY!!

Quick summary: Drew's on-and-off fling asked her to come with him on a dream family vacation to Hawaii, only to not show up and leave her alone there with his family. Now add to that the fact that Josh Bailey, Josh, her ex's super acomplished brother who has hated her since the first time he met her, is also there to point out each of her mistakes. Spoiler alert: he doesn't hate her, he never hated her, and he's more obsessed with her than any of his fans (did I forget to mention that she's a world-renowned super pop singer?)

I still can't believe this book brought ALL the angst to the table, character-wise and romantically speaking... THE SERVE THAT IT WAS! These two really are complete opposites, except for the fact that they both carry the weight of the world on their shoulders, yet choose to keep quiet about the pain they carry.

Drew had a bad childhood and a worse current relationship with her family -the root of all her problems-, and was pushed super young into the music industry, with people manipulating her left and right to the point of losing herself and her self value. There's nothing Josh wouldn't do to see his mother happy, even if it means being in the presence of his asshole father and brother on a family trip, while living in constant danger just to prove that he's nothing like his father. Slowly through the adventures of this journey they start to really get to know each other, realizing that there's so much more than meets the eye, developing a kind of friendship but with a lot of chemistry and tension between them. That's why they want to help each other to see the best side of themselves, but it is impossible when each of them separately is not ready to go through their own fears and issues, and realize how much they are worth as people.

Now the romance... FORBIDDEN EXCELLENCE. They began to spend so much time alone, doing everything from the simplest to the most complicated things while getting to know each other, to the point that they forgot that they shouldn't be alone at all, but they never felt better in someone else's company. They collided with reality when Six -Josh's brother and Drew's ex-, finally arrived in Hawaii, but even before then there was nothing to save between this man and Drew, and it only took her a couple of days to realize that since the beginning she chose the wrong Bailey brother. But now they need to return home, they both live in different countries, and the sacrifices it takes to be together is perhaps too much commitment for a vulnerable girl who always avoided exactly that... The pain that those scenes between them stealing time together caused me; the calls, the trips, the love gestures, the trip to Somalia and its outcome... I'M STILL IN PAIN AND I ALREADY GOT MY HAPPY ENDING? help.

I really loved this book from start to finish to the point I couldn't put it down and read it in less than 24 hours, zero flaws found!

P.S. some people think that the 4th book in this series will be about Six and I honestly hope not? He was a horrible boyfriend, brother, and son, and just generally a selfish jerk, so i really can't see him redeeming himself and being a good partner to any heroine. I really hope the next book is about Ben's brother, or maybe Juliet, who was also after a bad boy.
]]> <![CDATA[The Hatesick Diaries (St. Mary’s Rebels, #5)]]> 60379831
So it should be easy to stay away.

It should be easy to not dream about his dark and mean eyes, or his cruel but sexy smirks. It should be easy to not think about the guy who ruined her happily ever after.

Only it’s not.

Sometimes his intense stares make her heart race, and those smirks of his make her breathless.

But it needs to stop.

Because she has a mission: to get back together with her ex-boyfriend. And Echo will be damned if she keeps dreaming about Reign.

The guy who not only makes her sick with hate but who also happens to be her ex’s best friend.]]> 829 Saffron A. Kent M. 0 to-read 3.99 The Hatesick Diaries (St. Mary’s Rebels, #5)
author: Saffron A. Kent
name: M.
average rating: 3.99
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/08/07
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Requiem 61436434 SORRELL

He’s going to pay for what he’s done�

Theo Merchant was born into a kind of privilege I’ve never known.

He has everything I don’t: Money. A private school education. Popularity. A bright and shiny future, full of success to look forward to. He took the only thing I had going for me—my best friend, Rachel. Now that she’s gone, I have nothing left to lose.

I will infiltrate his world.

I will cradle his worthless heart in my hands.

I will burn down his entire life and destroy everything he holds dear.

I haven’t enrolled at Toussaint Academy to learn.

I’ve come to destroy a monster�

…and I won’t leave until he’s dead.

THEO

She has no idea what she’s getting herself into�

Sorrell Voss is intelligent, caustic as hell, and quite possibly the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. She’s also going to get herself f#cking killed.

She’s a fool if she thinks I’ll go easy on her just because she’s broken.

You don’t venture into the lion’s den and walk away unscathed.

She has her secrets. That’s fine.

*My* secrets will unravel her until she comes apart at the seams.

She will bow to me, and she will break.

Then, and only then, will I make her mine.

REQUIEM is a 110,000-word, full-length enemies-to-lovers dark high school romance standalone. Some scenes within this book may be considered triggering to some readers, and it is therefore recommended for an audience 17+.]]> 450 Callie Hart M. 4 "I don’t want to lose myself. But if I do, then at least this way I’ll wake up in Theo Merchant’s arms."

4.5 � | This book... WHAT THE F*CK DID I JUST READ? Callie Hart, you once again left me speechless. Everyone needs to pick up this book and go into it as blind as possible because NOTHING is what it seems.



I'm not saying much about the plot to avoid spoilers, but be prepared for a roller coaster of emotions. Plus these characters... chef's kiss. Sorrell Voss is a total queen, she has never done a bad thing in her life and if you have a bad thing to say about her I will fight you!! She's rude, cold and grumpy, but everything she does and thinks has a reason for you to discover. Definitely my second favorite Callie character after Carina.

And Theo Merchant... the sweetest enemy EVER. At first I didn't know what to make of him and why he enjoyed provoking Sorrell so much and making her second guess everything, but DAMN, this man? Totally boyfriend material.

I guess I'm obsessed with this story right now and there's nothing I can do about it. The only reason I'm not giving it a full 5 stars is because it was a bit difficult to get into it in the first 30% and the "kid" nickname.]]> 3.99 2022 Requiem
author: Callie Hart
name: M.
average rating: 3.99
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2022/08/01
date added: 2022/08/06
shelves:
review:
"I don’t want to lose myself. But if I do, then at least this way I’ll wake up in Theo Merchant’s arms."


4.5 � | This book... WHAT THE F*CK DID I JUST READ? Callie Hart, you once again left me speechless. Everyone needs to pick up this book and go into it as blind as possible because NOTHING is what it seems.



I'm not saying much about the plot to avoid spoilers, but be prepared for a roller coaster of emotions. Plus these characters... chef's kiss. Sorrell Voss is a total queen, she has never done a bad thing in her life and if you have a bad thing to say about her I will fight you!! She's rude, cold and grumpy, but everything she does and thinks has a reason for you to discover. Definitely my second favorite Callie character after Carina.

And Theo Merchant... the sweetest enemy EVER. At first I didn't know what to make of him and why he enjoyed provoking Sorrell so much and making her second guess everything, but DAMN, this man? Totally boyfriend material.

I guess I'm obsessed with this story right now and there's nothing I can do about it. The only reason I'm not giving it a full 5 stars is because it was a bit difficult to get into it in the first 30% and the "kid" nickname.
]]> The Godparent Trap 58950955 Life's Too Short meets The Unhoneymooners in this sparkling, steamy, and swoon-worthy novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Rachel Van Dyken, in which two sworn enemies must share house, home—and maybe their hearts—when they become co-parents after a sudden loss. Colby's living her best as a popular food blogger, she gets to fulfill her dreams of exploring the globe. But her world comes crashing down when a tragic accident leaves her co-guardian of her best friend's two adorable children. Not only does she need to put down roots—fast—but she'll be sharing custody with the one man she can't stand sharing a continent with, let alone a house.   Accountant-extraordinaire Rip values rules and plans. But when he loses his sister and his best friend and becomes an insta-guardian all in one night, Rip sees his organized life imploding. What he really doesn't need is his sister's irresponsible, flighty—albeit kind and gorgeous—best friend making it worse. Rip doesn't trust Colby to take their new responsibilities seriously, while Colby can't believe Rip thinks children will thrive under his rigid control. Yet soon Rip and Colby discover they need each other more than they hate each other. Could it be possible that following their hearts is just what their new little family needs?]]> 333 Rachel Van Dyken 1538720531 M. 4 arcs This story 3.69 2022 The Godparent Trap
author: Rachel Van Dyken
name: M.
average rating: 3.69
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2022/07/01
date added: 2022/08/05
shelves: arcs
review:
This story
]]> <![CDATA[Cross Checked Hearts (Wyncote Wolves, #1)]]> 61164744 And my biggest secret.

Logan

It’s been two years since I left for college and the last time I saw Isla, but when she shows up on my doorstep, the last thing I’m expecting is old feelings to resurface.
Growing up, we were friends, until everything started to shift.
Our friendship turned into stolen kisses and forbidden touches, but we agreed it could never be anything more.
Not when her brother was my best friend.
Leaving Clifton Falls meant leaving the past behind too. Hockey is my life now, more so than before, and Isla is a distraction.
But what happens when the lines begin to blur and she becomes the only thing I can see?


Isla

Logan Knight� Star hockey player, my brother's best friend, and the first boy I ever loved.
But we could never be more than friends.
He broke my heart when he left for college and now, two years later, he's back in my life and my new roommate.
Old feelings resurface and our friendship is put to the test.
I've tried to resist him as long as I could, but Logan has a way of knocking down every wall I've built around my heart.
It's only a matter of time before our secret comes to light and when it finally does, will Logan be the one to protect my heart?]]> 206 Cali Melle M. 1 best friend's little sister nonsense once again ruined it. Summary: a pathetic heroine and a worthless hero.

They went from friends to secret lovers in high school while he had a girlfriend but he still visited the heroine at night because "she was the only one he wanted, but they couldn't be together" � the first of many red flags...

Two years later, she ends up in college living with her brother and the hero, who swears to her that he'll be a better friend now than before, only to end up acting like a real possessive jerk at the first frat party she attends, taking her back to the apartment, to end up doing "more than friends" stuff. And for what? to act like nothing happened the next day and agree with the heroine's brother when he was talking about avoiding commitment to anyone and just focusing on hockey. Once again she was the hero's dirty secret. � Whose hero is this? definitely NOT mine!

Also, he confessed to her that he had not been a saint in those two years that they had not seen each other, but that "she was always the only one for him. � If this character was real I would have kicked him in the balls by now.

The whole book is practically the same; the heroine trying to stand her ground but giving in to him in the name of chemistry and soulmatism, and the hero more concerned with remaining "loyal" to his best friend, even when that meant keeping said best friend's little sister as dirty secret, and treating her poorly even when she was "the one".

I'm interested in August and Poppy's story, but considering how this hero turned out I choose to be realistic so I have ZERO faith in them.]]> 3.34 Cross Checked Hearts (Wyncote Wolves, #1)
author: Cali Melle
name: M.
average rating: 3.34
book published:
rating: 1
read at:
date added: 2022/08/01
shelves:
review:
1.5� | I picked this book up because the cover was cute, and so was the blurb, but the best friend's little sister nonsense once again ruined it. Summary: a pathetic heroine and a worthless hero.

They went from friends to secret lovers in high school while he had a girlfriend but he still visited the heroine at night because "she was the only one he wanted, but they couldn't be together" � the first of many red flags...

Two years later, she ends up in college living with her brother and the hero, who swears to her that he'll be a better friend now than before, only to end up acting like a real possessive jerk at the first frat party she attends, taking her back to the apartment, to end up doing "more than friends" stuff. And for what? to act like nothing happened the next day and agree with the heroine's brother when he was talking about avoiding commitment to anyone and just focusing on hockey. Once again she was the hero's dirty secret. � Whose hero is this? definitely NOT mine!

Also, he confessed to her that he had not been a saint in those two years that they had not seen each other, but that "she was always the only one for him. � If this character was real I would have kicked him in the balls by now.

The whole book is practically the same; the heroine trying to stand her ground but giving in to him in the name of chemistry and soulmatism, and the hero more concerned with remaining "loyal" to his best friend, even when that meant keeping said best friend's little sister as dirty secret, and treating her poorly even when she was "the one".

I'm interested in August and Poppy's story, but considering how this hero turned out I choose to be realistic so I have ZERO faith in them.
]]> <![CDATA[The Crush (The Wolves: A Football Dynasty, #3)]]> 60814569
That’s Adaline Wilder for me.

Nothing came before football. Not in college, and not in my five years in the pros. All I wanted was to win games, win a championship, carve my own path out of the illustrious Ward family football legacy. And I’ve done all that. But something is missing.

I’ve never been wrong about what I want. Except with her.

She moved on to someone else, but that baseball playing moron just broke her heart. I don’t blame her for not trusting me, but even Adaline ’t deny the heat when we’re together.

I have one shot at winning her back. And I intend to take it.]]> 302 Karla Sorensen M. 5 arcs
“Someday,� he said quietly, “we’ll start this in a place we can finish it.�

Tropes: right person wrong time, friends to lovers, sports romance. Can be read as a standalone.

Talk about a book leaving you completely CRUSHED... Karla Sorensen has always nailed the sweet&steamy sports romance books, so no surprise there, but this book? WOW. Emmett and Adaline's story is a thing of its own and different from anything she has written so far; sweet and steamy indeed, but also so angsty, honest and heartwarming at the same time.

Emmett was a swoon-worthy hero (like father like son), Adaline a relatable and down-to-earth heroine, and the romance felt so natural and real, slow but going somewhere, and " right person, wrong time " is always a hit according to me, so imagine... but that wasn't even the best part for me! As always, the family ties, the heart-to-heart talks, and the À la Paige moves to get what they wanted were what stole my heart.

It was 2AM when I finished this book and I was a MESS after bawling my eyes out, and it wasn't just one scene, nope, it was A LOT of them making me emotional, but honestly, the author did justice to each character in the Ward family here (and the Wilder's too), and this book was the perfect finishing touch to close this chapter and move on to new things. Well done, Karla!

]]> 4.21 2022 The Crush (The Wolves: A Football Dynasty, #3)
author: Karla Sorensen
name: M.
average rating: 4.21
book published: 2022
rating: 5
read at: 2022/07/01
date added: 2022/07/30
shelves: arcs
review:
“Someday,� he said quietly, “we’ll start this in a place we can finish it.�

Tropes: right person wrong time, friends to lovers, sports romance. Can be read as a standalone.

Talk about a book leaving you completely CRUSHED... Karla Sorensen has always nailed the sweet&steamy sports romance books, so no surprise there, but this book? WOW. Emmett and Adaline's story is a thing of its own and different from anything she has written so far; sweet and steamy indeed, but also so angsty, honest and heartwarming at the same time.

Emmett was a swoon-worthy hero (like father like son), Adaline a relatable and down-to-earth heroine, and the romance felt so natural and real, slow but going somewhere, and " right person, wrong time " is always a hit according to me, so imagine... but that wasn't even the best part for me! As always, the family ties, the heart-to-heart talks, and the À la Paige moves to get what they wanted were what stole my heart.

It was 2AM when I finished this book and I was a MESS after bawling my eyes out, and it wasn't just one scene, nope, it was A LOT of them making me emotional, but honestly, the author did justice to each character in the Ward family here (and the Wilder's too), and this book was the perfect finishing touch to close this chapter and move on to new things. Well done, Karla!


]]> <![CDATA[A Deal with the Devil (The Devils, #1)]]> 58253755 He might not be the devil, but working under him for six weeks is my idea of hell.

Hayes Flynn is an arrogant jerk known best for his scotch habit and the way he spreads his British “charm� all over Hollywood, never with the same woman twice.

He’s the last person I want to work for, except he has a face I ’t look away from, and the longer we’re together, the harder he is to hate. Because under that smug exterior is a heart he DZ’t want to show—one that was badly broken a decade earlier.

A part of me wants to fix it for him before I leave…but can I do it without breaking my own in the process?]]> 300 Elizabeth O'Roark M. 3 4.16 2021 A Deal with the Devil (The Devils, #1)
author: Elizabeth O'Roark
name: M.
average rating: 4.16
book published: 2021
rating: 3
read at: 2022/07/01
date added: 2022/07/29
shelves:
review:
3.5 � | I'm not really a fan of the redeemed manwhore trope but talihayes slowburn workplace romance did things to my weak heart
]]> <![CDATA[A Fractured Reign (Crowned Crows, #3)]]> 59747962 The Crows are more than nightmares lurking in every shadow.
They’re a brotherhood. Family. When threats creep in, they’ll protect what belongs to them.

Quinn
Does a wrong make a right?
In my case, it has to.
The Kings gave me no choice, no chance to fold.
I betrayed the guy who believed he was protecting me while I gave his secrets away.
Now we’re enemies once more.
My brother and I burned all our bridges. Begging Colton DuPont for his help again is my only option.
The Crows demand a steep price, but to buy our safety I’ll do anything.
Even sell my soul to the man who wants me dead.

Colton
Our unmatched reign is going up in flames.
And I know exactly who our enemy is. Quinn Walker.
My queen turned out to be my downfall.
Any danger to my brothers is a threat I won’t allow.
Once these flames sputter to ashes and the dust settles, our next hunt begins.
My monster has come out to play, and I won’t rest until I get revenge.
Burn me once, shame on you. Burn me twice?
Baby, you better run, because I’m coming for you.

Warning: This is part of a continuing series and each book ends on a cliffhanger!

A Fractured Reign is a dark new adult enemies to lovers college romantic suspense intended for mature readers. This book is the third in the Crowned Crows series following a gritty brotherhood of antihero bad boys and the feisty heroines that capture their hearts. The plot continues across the next novels and each book in the series should be read in order. If you’re not a fan of morally bankrupt book boyfriends, steer clear. This mature new adult romance contains dubious situations, crude language, and intense sexual/violent content that some readers might find triggering or offensive. Please proceed with caution]]> 366 Veronica Eden M. 4 arcs The way men acted when the joker came out� the last installment of this series will be MY joker except I will be so much worse! JudePippa morally corrupt guy x cop officer second chance romance please come home ]]> 4.27 2022 A Fractured Reign (Crowned Crows, #3)
author: Veronica Eden
name: M.
average rating: 4.27
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2022/07/28
date added: 2022/07/29
shelves: arcs
review:
The way men acted when the joker came out� the last installment of this series will be MY joker except I will be so much worse! JudePippa morally corrupt guy x cop officer second chance romance please come home
]]> Garnet Flats (The Edens, #3) 59730242
For one year, two months and eleven days Talia Eden loved Foster Madden . . .

And on the 438th day that love died. He chose to marry her best friend and she chose to never think of him again.

Until years later when he has the audacity to show up in her small hometown of Quincy, begging for her help.

The ink on his divorce papers is barely dry, yet he comes armed with apologies and promises. She knows it's all a ploy. Foster is the king of games and secrets. But he's got delusions the size of Montana if he thinks she'll help him train for a world championship fight.

Except Talia has forgotten exactly what made Foster famous. The man has dedicated his life to victory. He's steadfast. He's determined. And he won't stop fighting until he's won her heart.]]> 346 Devney Perry 1950692981 M. 3 ALWAYS has my back, it's because I really mean it, so imagine the expectations I had here... only to sadly not be met. At least not all of them.

Tropes: second chance romance, small town romance.

From the blurb I was a bit skeptical about Talia's story because damn, how are you gonna create a good excuse for the hero to leave the heroine, and to marry her best friend? spoiler: you didn't.

Did i enjoy this? Yes. I still like reading the dynamics of the Eden family, and seeing how different all the siblings are, plus those little crumbs from the previous couple and how this family is getting bigger and bigger. I also liked Talia; she was the most reserved of the Eden sibilings, but there was so much going on inside her that I felt identified with the way she bottled everything up, and also her self doubts. I think she was a great character, but it is also true that I expected her development to come from her own experiences and realizations, and not from the validation of a man simply calling her "doctor". And I liked some of the romance, especially the angst before all the secrets were revealed and the pieces fell into place. I liked that Foster was determined to win her back, willing to do anything while also giving her the space she needed, BUT... it still bothered me a bit that he came out of nowhere and felt he had the right to insert himself into her life just because it was time and he was finally free. Idk, despite some of his swoon-worthy actions of his, he was kinda dumb.

I was skeptical but willing to give it a try, but in the end this whole story about underworld fights and this bad guy keeping him on a tight leash for 7 years didn't convince me. There were 2 things that especially bothered me; 1) Foster not being aware of how much his actions hurt and changed Talia, doubting her, her feelings and motivations for not introducing him to her family or saying the L-word again in the present when HELLO!? you were the one who betrayed her in the first place, giving her a shitty excuse to dump her and marry her best friend!! The brain is there for a reason buddy... I know he was a fighter, but I don't think his head was damaged enough to not grasp that so basic... And 2) Vivvi staying close... as in the same town where everyone knows everyone. NOPE. I know she had her reasons too for giving in to Arlo's manipulations, but the fact that Talia is gonna have to see her all the time? and also the fact that Foster considered her his best friend (before the fallout), and whose well-being he continues to take into consideration "for Kadence", even when he knows Talia's feelings after YEARS of misunderstandings?? (and I don't care if they are irrational, I'm with my girl Talia on this one). It just doesn't sound that dreamy to me AT ALL.

Now about what's to come, I like the tropes for Eloise and Jasper's story, but I also felt a little bad for Lyla in THAT scene. I don't know if all the sibilings are gonna have a book, but I'm already adopting her and waiting for her book!! hopefully a hopeless romantic sunshine coffee owner x grumpy who falls first and doesn't know what to do with those feelings ]]> 3.78 2022 Garnet Flats (The Edens, #3)
author: Devney Perry
name: M.
average rating: 3.78
book published: 2022
rating: 3
read at: 2022/07/26
date added: 2022/07/27
shelves:
review:
When I say that second chance romances ALWAYS has my back, it's because I really mean it, so imagine the expectations I had here... only to sadly not be met. At least not all of them.

Tropes: second chance romance, small town romance.

From the blurb I was a bit skeptical about Talia's story because damn, how are you gonna create a good excuse for the hero to leave the heroine, and to marry her best friend? spoiler: you didn't.

Did i enjoy this? Yes. I still like reading the dynamics of the Eden family, and seeing how different all the siblings are, plus those little crumbs from the previous couple and how this family is getting bigger and bigger. I also liked Talia; she was the most reserved of the Eden sibilings, but there was so much going on inside her that I felt identified with the way she bottled everything up, and also her self doubts. I think she was a great character, but it is also true that I expected her development to come from her own experiences and realizations, and not from the validation of a man simply calling her "doctor". And I liked some of the romance, especially the angst before all the secrets were revealed and the pieces fell into place. I liked that Foster was determined to win her back, willing to do anything while also giving her the space she needed, BUT... it still bothered me a bit that he came out of nowhere and felt he had the right to insert himself into her life just because it was time and he was finally free. Idk, despite some of his swoon-worthy actions of his, he was kinda dumb.

I was skeptical but willing to give it a try, but in the end this whole story about underworld fights and this bad guy keeping him on a tight leash for 7 years didn't convince me. There were 2 things that especially bothered me; 1) Foster not being aware of how much his actions hurt and changed Talia, doubting her, her feelings and motivations for not introducing him to her family or saying the L-word again in the present when HELLO!? you were the one who betrayed her in the first place, giving her a shitty excuse to dump her and marry her best friend!! The brain is there for a reason buddy... I know he was a fighter, but I don't think his head was damaged enough to not grasp that so basic... And 2) Vivvi staying close... as in the same town where everyone knows everyone. NOPE. I know she had her reasons too for giving in to Arlo's manipulations, but the fact that Talia is gonna have to see her all the time? and also the fact that Foster considered her his best friend (before the fallout), and whose well-being he continues to take into consideration "for Kadence", even when he knows Talia's feelings after YEARS of misunderstandings?? (and I don't care if they are irrational, I'm with my girl Talia on this one). It just doesn't sound that dreamy to me AT ALL.

Now about what's to come, I like the tropes for Eloise and Jasper's story, but I also felt a little bad for Lyla in THAT scene. I don't know if all the sibilings are gonna have a book, but I'm already adopting her and waiting for her book!! hopefully a hopeless romantic sunshine coffee owner x grumpy who falls first and doesn't know what to do with those feelings
]]> You Again 60438954 They have to stop meeting like this.

After a disastrous meet-cute turns into repeated meetings, a flighty free-spirit and a stodgy rule-follower come to realize that one they can't get away from ... is the one they can't live without.

� � �

Mackenzie ‘Mac� Austin just wants what any modern, commitment-phobic woman in New York wants: a no-strings-attached hook-up, steamy enough to brag about over mimosas the next morning. What she DZ’t want is her dating app’s latest suggestion: preppy, corporate Thomas Decker. So, obviously, she rejects the guy without a second thought. There’s just one snag: he’s sitting next to her, so he witnessed her do it. And now he’s calling her out.

After the initial embarrassment, Mac is determined not to let it bother her, but Fate has other plans � and Thomas isn’t going anywhere. First, he pops up as her new boss. And then he reappears as her best friend’s soon-to-be brother-in-law.

As the not-so meet cutes add up, Mac is sure that uptight Thomas is the last man that a free-spirit like her should want. Only the more time she spends with him, the more Mac realizes that the man she ’t get away from has become the same one that she wants to keep close…]]> 233 Lauren Layne 1733073736 M. 2
The plot was good, I liked the idea and some scenes, but the execution was lacking and that was just because of the main characters' personality.

Mackenzie was this commitment-phobic free spirit whose only verb tense was the present tense, and her biggest fear was feeling stuck and trapped, but honestly that whole introduction was unnecessary, the only thing you need to know is that she was one hell of a judgmental and annoying ass of everyone who was not as ✨free� as her. It took her almost the ENTIRE book to realize her mistakes and stop judging others instead of analyzing where her own traumas came from, and by the time she had her eye opening experience it was too late for me because I was already too upset and irritated with this character.

As for Thomas, he was the perfect boyfriend on paper, full of green flags and swoon-worthy gestures BUT... he felt bland AF. I couldn't say anything more about him because he wasn't that memorable, and the only thing that could have fixed this is could be having his POV to give his character a bit more depth, but I kinda get why he only got the epilogue.]]> 3.89 2022 You Again
author: Lauren Layne
name: M.
average rating: 3.89
book published: 2022
rating: 2
read at: 2022/07/20
date added: 2022/07/21
shelves:
review:
2.5 | Miss Lauren you are my second mother, my bestie, the one who always has my back and comes up with the best romcoms, but this book... for your sake and mine I'm gonna pretend it didn't happen.

The plot was good, I liked the idea and some scenes, but the execution was lacking and that was just because of the main characters' personality.

Mackenzie was this commitment-phobic free spirit whose only verb tense was the present tense, and her biggest fear was feeling stuck and trapped, but honestly that whole introduction was unnecessary, the only thing you need to know is that she was one hell of a judgmental and annoying ass of everyone who was not as ✨free� as her. It took her almost the ENTIRE book to realize her mistakes and stop judging others instead of analyzing where her own traumas came from, and by the time she had her eye opening experience it was too late for me because I was already too upset and irritated with this character.

As for Thomas, he was the perfect boyfriend on paper, full of green flags and swoon-worthy gestures BUT... he felt bland AF. I couldn't say anything more about him because he wasn't that memorable, and the only thing that could have fixed this is could be having his POV to give his character a bit more depth, but I kinda get why he only got the epilogue.
]]> <![CDATA[God of Malice (Legacy of Gods, #1)]]> 60913024 I didn’t ask for it.
Didn’t even see it coming.
But the moment I do, it’s too late.
Killian Carson is a predator wrapped in sophisticated charm.
He’s cold-blooded, manipulative, and savage.
The worst part is that no one sees his devil side.
I do.
And that will cost me everything.
I run, but the thing about monsters?
They always chase.

This book is not a conventional romance and contains themes that aren't to everyone's liking. Please check the author's note before reading. ]]> 468 Rina Kent M. 2 that's #notmyAsher 4.03 2022 God of Malice (Legacy of Gods, #1)
author: Rina Kent
name: M.
average rating: 4.03
book published: 2022
rating: 2
read at: 2022/07/01
date added: 2022/07/17
shelves:
review:
that's #notmyAsher
]]> Tease (Cloverleigh Farms, #8) 60576722 Felicity
I didn’t mean to say I was engaged to a hot billionaire–it just slipped out.

In my defense, I’d had a really bad haircut, a really strong drink, and I was trying to save face in front of the Mean Girl at my high school reunion.

Lucky for me, I happen to know a hot billionaire. Hutton French and I have been friends forever, and even though big social gatherings are not his thing, I called him from the coat closet and begged him for a favor�show up and play my fake fiancé for the night.

Except that word of our engagement spreads like wildfire. Our families are ecstatic. We’re front page news. My little food blog is launched into the stratosphere.

Of course, I offer to set the record straight right away, but Hutton wants to give it a little time–the phony engagement is keeping his matrimony-mad mother and every matchmaking granny in town off his back.

He even suggests I move in with him to make the ruse more real.

And we don’t stop there.

We practice kissing. Undressing each other. Saying things–and doing things–we’d never dare if we weren’t pretending. Because it’s all for show, right? We’re just role-playing. Hutton DZ’t want a real relationship, and I don’t want to get hurt. But the more time we spend faking it, the more I start to wonder.

Could Hutton French and I actually be right for each other, or is it all just one big tease?]]> 310 Melanie Harlow M. 4 arcs just to go get the engagement ring you lied about? i totally COULD never... ]]> 4.12 2022 Tease (Cloverleigh Farms, #8)
author: Melanie Harlow
name: M.
average rating: 4.12
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2022/07/01
date added: 2022/07/11
shelves: arcs
review:
But can you imagine fake dating your billionaire best friend who will whisk you away to a luxury vacation on a private jet just to go get the engagement ring you lied about? i totally COULD never...
]]> <![CDATA[The Enforcer (Lakeside University Hockey, #1)]]> 59842647 Nash Richards was my first everything. First boyfriend, first time, first love. First heartbreak, too.

In a former life, I used to religiously attend Lakeside U's hockey games. Then my ex-who-shall-not-be-named—the team's top defensive enforcer—cross-checked my heart into the boards, and I haven't set foot in that arena since.

But when fate conspires against me, I’m assigned to complete my senior athletic training internship with Nash's team, and forced to work closely with the only guy I've ever loved. You know, the one who skated out of my life freshman year without looking back.

After what happened last time, I know better than to fall for Nash again. Not to mention, there’s a strict no-fraternization policy between trainers and their athletes. Problem is, our chemistry is hotter than ever—and he’s determined to convince me to give him another chance.

Before we know it, the boundaries begin to blur until we ’t see them anymore. But with so much on the line, I'm risking a lot more than just my heart this time.

*

THE ENFORCER is a steamy second chance college sports romance with a HEA and no cliffhanger.]]> 399 Avery Keelan M. 3 Aaaand I'm back in my college sports romance era!

I really enjoyed this forced proximity second chance romance; both main characters were likeable, both with some secrets, fears and insecurities that shaped them into the person they were now, and also introduced a group of friends/roommates with books to come with interesting tropes (and to no one's surprise, the characters from the last installment were the ones that most caught my attention ]]> 3.85 2022 The Enforcer (Lakeside University Hockey, #1)
author: Avery Keelan
name: M.
average rating: 3.85
book published: 2022
rating: 3
read at: 2022/07/01
date added: 2022/07/10
shelves:
review:
3.5 � | Aaaand I'm back in my college sports romance era!

I really enjoyed this forced proximity second chance romance; both main characters were likeable, both with some secrets, fears and insecurities that shaped them into the person they were now, and also introduced a group of friends/roommates with books to come with interesting tropes (and to no one's surprise, the characters from the last installment were the ones that most caught my attention
]]> Twisted Lies (Twisted, #4) 60217302 He'll do anything to have her...including lie.

Charming, deadly, and smart enough to hide it, Christian Harper is a monster dressed in the perfectly tailored suits of a gentleman.

He has little use for morals and even less use for love, but he ’t deny the strange pull he feels toward the woman living just one floor below him.

She’s the object of his darkest desires, the only puzzle he ’t solve. And when the opportunity to get closer to her arises, he breaks his own rules to offer her a deal she ’t refuse.

Every monster has their weakness. She’s his.

His obsession.
His addiction.
His only exception.

**

Sweet, shy, and introverted despite her social media fame, Stella Alonso is a romantic who keeps her heart in a cage.

Between her two jobs, she has little time or desire for a relationship.

But when a threat from her past drives her into the arms—and house—of the most dangerous man she’s ever met, she’s tempted to let herself feel something for the first time in a long time.

Because despite Christian’s cold nature, he makes her feel everything when she’s with him.

Passionate.
Protected.
Truly wanted.

Theirs is a love twisted with secrets and tainted by lies…and when the truths are finally revealed, they could shatter everything.

Twisted Lies is a steamy, medium to slow burn fake dating romance. It is the fourth and final book in the Twisted series but can be read as a standalone.

WARNING: Contains a morally gray male MC, explicit content, violence, profanity, and topics that may be sensitive to some readers. Please see inside the book for a detailed list. Recommended for 18+ ]]> 530 Ana Huang M. 3 NOPE, I do NOT need therapy, I just need cute and fluffy epilogues with all the couples in an interconnected series!

3.5 | ChristianStella what a roller coaster... the first chapters were exciting, then came a lot of turns that after a while made me dizzy and made the car feel a bit dragged, and the big reveal was not the big coaster I was expecting and rather a small jump, but in the end I got out of this game feeling ALL the emotions at least once. I think that anticipating something so much makes me feel more critical of the final result, so conclusion: do not wait so much for a book, nor create or believe in the book community theories ]]> 4.20 2022 Twisted Lies (Twisted, #4)
author: Ana Huang
name: M.
average rating: 4.20
book published: 2022
rating: 3
read at: 2022/07/03
date added: 2022/07/05
shelves:
review:
NOPE, I do NOT need therapy, I just need cute and fluffy epilogues with all the couples in an interconnected series!

3.5 | ChristianStella what a roller coaster... the first chapters were exciting, then came a lot of turns that after a while made me dizzy and made the car feel a bit dragged, and the big reveal was not the big coaster I was expecting and rather a small jump, but in the end I got out of this game feeling ALL the emotions at least once. I think that anticipating something so much makes me feel more critical of the final result, so conclusion: do not wait so much for a book, nor create or believe in the book community theories
]]> <![CDATA[The Annihilator (Dark Verse #5)]]> 60178872
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗯𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗶𝘅𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻?

She lives in the shadows. He rules them.

She's the moon, and he the dark night encompassing her.

She's surrounded by demons, and he's the biggest devil of them all.

And she's his.

Passion, obsession, possesion. Theirs is a tale of danger, deviance, dread, desires, and the darkest flavors of love.

𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗻.

Disclaimer: This is not a standalone. The series must be read in order. Please read the author's note.]]> 1 RuNyx M. 4 arcs
"She coul never be anyone else's. She'd been claimed by a devil in the shadows long before anyone could bring her to light."

4.5 | After so much waiting this final book is out, and I just want to start by saying that, for me, this is one of Runyx's best stories to date, and it completely blew my mind. Jaw? on the mf floor!!

I loved the previous books, but this is nothing like those. This 5 installment isn't so action packed, but it is full of development. Jumping between present and past, we get to meet these main characters who have both been through SO MUCH, together and individually speaking, so it shows a lot of trauma, but also a lot of growth and healing.

Luna Caine's character was a true warrior; she went through so many horrible situations from a very young age, but until the present time she kept fighting because she had a cause that kept her wanting to continue living, but also throughout history there were times when she hesitated to continue, about to lower her arms and let that horrible world swallow her completely, but in the end her strength was bigger, and so was her healing journey. Now, the Shadowman... I think it's hard to find a middle ground between love and hate because that man was INTENSE, but we always knew he was an obsessed anti-hero and not a prince charming, so I'm team #WeLoveYouShadowman #MYderangedAndunhingedMan!! He was a constant presence in Luna's life for a few years, and was present at one of her most pivotal moments helping her, and through the time jumps we can see them "interact", and do some questionable things too, but I think i can undertand part of his logic in withholding certain information about Luna and her life, not wanting to overload her with the whole truth and waiting until she was ready for the reveal. I don't deny that he was manipulative as fuck, and somewhat selfish, but I can see the vision. After all, he also helped her "get ready" to face the truth.

This book was darker, heavier and heartbreaking, but it was also sweet and heartwarming at times, so imagine that contrast. As for the plot and the writing, it just gets more and more engaging and I just love how the pieces fall into place and some theories start to add up. And that plot twist? I think I saw it coming, but it was still shocking and I cried a new river (although the whole story made me cry from beginning to end). Now I just have more and more theories about how they're gonna overthrow the syndicate, the Shadowman's upbringing, what the relationship between the Caine family will be like, etc, etc, etc. MY BRAIN IS BURNED.

The only reason I'm not giving it full 5 stars is because I wasn't expecting that end, like I really thought this would be the last book and I would get my long awaited reunion between Tristan and Luna, but if this book has made something clear, it’s that the wait is worth it.

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
------------------------------------
My two braincells still can't believe what they read so I present you a thread with my reactions for now:

when the ARC landed on my kindle after so much waiting:
description

starting the first part:
description

end of the first part:
description

starting the second part:
description

the female main character:
description

shadowman:
description

when the pieces and theories began to add up:
description

third part:
description

THAT end??
description

me after finishing the book, processing everything that's to come:
description

description]]> 4.18 2022 The Annihilator (Dark Verse #5)
author: RuNyx
name: M.
average rating: 4.18
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2022/07/01
date added: 2022/07/04
shelves: arcs
review:
"She coul never be anyone else's. She'd been claimed by a devil in the shadows long before anyone could bring her to light."

4.5 | After so much waiting this final book is out, and I just want to start by saying that, for me, this is one of Runyx's best stories to date, and it completely blew my mind. Jaw? on the mf floor!!

I loved the previous books, but this is nothing like those. This 5 installment isn't so action packed, but it is full of development. Jumping between present and past, we get to meet these main characters who have both been through SO MUCH, together and individually speaking, so it shows a lot of trauma, but also a lot of growth and healing.

Luna Caine's character was a true warrior; she went through so many horrible situations from a very young age, but until the present time she kept fighting because she had a cause that kept her wanting to continue living, but also throughout history there were times when she hesitated to continue, about to lower her arms and let that horrible world swallow her completely, but in the end her strength was bigger, and so was her healing journey. Now, the Shadowman... I think it's hard to find a middle ground between love and hate because that man was INTENSE, but we always knew he was an obsessed anti-hero and not a prince charming, so I'm team #WeLoveYouShadowman #MYderangedAndunhingedMan!! He was a constant presence in Luna's life for a few years, and was present at one of her most pivotal moments helping her, and through the time jumps we can see them "interact", and do some questionable things too, but I think i can undertand part of his logic in withholding certain information about Luna and her life, not wanting to overload her with the whole truth and waiting until she was ready for the reveal. I don't deny that he was manipulative as fuck, and somewhat selfish, but I can see the vision. After all, he also helped her "get ready" to face the truth.

This book was darker, heavier and heartbreaking, but it was also sweet and heartwarming at times, so imagine that contrast. As for the plot and the writing, it just gets more and more engaging and I just love how the pieces fall into place and some theories start to add up. And that plot twist? I think I saw it coming, but it was still shocking and I cried a new river (although the whole story made me cry from beginning to end). Now I just have more and more theories about how they're gonna overthrow the syndicate, the Shadowman's upbringing, what the relationship between the Caine family will be like, etc, etc, etc. MY BRAIN IS BURNED.

The only reason I'm not giving it full 5 stars is because I wasn't expecting that end, like I really thought this would be the last book and I would get my long awaited reunion between Tristan and Luna, but if this book has made something clear, it’s that the wait is worth it.

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
------------------------------------
My two braincells still can't believe what they read so I present you a thread with my reactions for now:

when the ARC landed on my kindle after so much waiting:
description

starting the first part:
description

end of the first part:
description

starting the second part:
description

the female main character:
description

shadowman:
description

when the pieces and theories began to add up:
description

third part:
description

THAT end??
description

me after finishing the book, processing everything that's to come:
description

description
]]> Between Hello and Goodbye 60588266 She’s a city girl in Seattle. He’s a firefighter in a rainforest. This is never going to work�

Faith Benson isn’t your emergency contact, she’s the party-girl friend you call for a good time. The gal-pal who loves mimosas at brunch and martinis at Happy Hour. But her carefree lifestyle threatens her job at a top Seattle ad agency. There’s no one better at landing big accounts (when she shows up) but her boss demands she take a leave of absence to get her head on straight.

Faith heads to the remote Hawaiian island of Kauai, far away from the vices that get her in trouble. But a twisted ankle on Day One requires rescuing by a man who is vice personified—a gorgeous firefighter who awakens feelings in her heart she never knew existed.

Asher Mackey DZ’t get involved with beautiful tourists beyond taking them to bed and then watching them leave his tiny island. He’s devoted his life to the safety and care of everyone around him…except himself. Until he meets Faith Benson, the city girl whose vibrant, inner beauty shines a light on the dark corners of his life, showing him how safe—but empty—it truly is.

Despite their best efforts to keep their distance, Faith and Asher fall hard and fast, but there’s an ocean between them. Both are building their lives on opposite sides of the Pacific while their feelings for each other grow more profound and undeniable by the day.

Something has to give.

When Asher receives devastating news, he and Faith have to decide once and for all to entrust their hearts fully to the other or return to their safe—but separate—worlds. Because neither can endure much longer, living somewhere between hello and goodbye.

Between Hello and Goodbye is a contemporary romance about love, loss, and experiencing life in all its facets. It deals with sensitive topics that may be triggering for some readers.]]> 309 Emma Scott M. 5 arcs
"We're stuck, aren't we? Trapped somewhere between hello and goodbye."

Tropes: grumpy-sunshine, opposites attract, beach romance, angsty.



If you have read Emma Scott before then you already know that she easily goes back and forth between heartwarming and heartbreaking romances, and Between Hello and Goodbye was no exception. I cried and laughed and cried some more, but it was worth it because this is one of those stories that grabs you and just won't let go ]]> 4.11 2022 Between Hello and Goodbye
author: Emma Scott
name: M.
average rating: 4.11
book published: 2022
rating: 5
read at: 2022/06/25
date added: 2022/06/28
shelves: arcs
review:
"We're stuck, aren't we? Trapped somewhere between hello and goodbye."

Tropes: grumpy-sunshine, opposites attract, beach romance, angsty.



If you have read Emma Scott before then you already know that she easily goes back and forth between heartwarming and heartbreaking romances, and Between Hello and Goodbye was no exception. I cried and laughed and cried some more, but it was worth it because this is one of those stories that grabs you and just won't let go
]]> <![CDATA[The Devil You Know (The Devils, #3)]]> 60062931
Ben—Stealer of Clients, Evicter of Homeless Women, Nemesis. Sitting across from me every damn Monday with his lovely, smug smile and his too-perfect teeth, the living symbol of everything I hate.

It’s been my policy to avoid him, but when a case comes into the firm—one that could change his career and mine—I make an exception. It means weekends and evenings by his side. It means enduring his smirk and his smart mouth and never taking the bait.

Until the night Ben says, “Beg.�
And that devil on my shoulder decides to make a few demands of her own.]]> 296 Elizabeth O'Roark M. 5 arcs OR MORE LIKE SCREAM ABOUT!!), so here we go:

Tropes: office romance, rivals to lovers, forced proximity, he fell first AND harder.

1. The heartless and driven lawyer who is actually heartbroken and afraid of love, and her office rival ready to help her heal but always approaching her the wrong way? SOLD!!! These characters really got the job done when they said frenemies/rivals to lovers; The banter and bickering was AMAZING, like they really had me wheezing with every one of their conversations and the witty comebacks they threw at each other, and all the unresolved tension after every "fight"? don't let me start about their chemistry too... off the charts.

They really knew how to get on each other's nerves, and that didn't go away even once Ben and Gemma were together. And if you think about it, they spent two years going down each other's throats (or mostly Gemma being in a fight mode), and that added to Gemma's issues with the idea of romantic love also brought A LOT of trouble, miscommunication and angst, and you will not see me complaining. I really ate that up; the jealousy scenes, the misunderstandings, all that overthinking, Ben doing everything to make Gemma feel secure about the two of them...exactly MY thing.

2. I'm not gonna lie, if BOTH characters here hadn't been so aware and obsessed with each other this would have been a bit on the creepy side, but luckily that wasn't the case so I'm looking at it as a rivals to lovers office romance with some sweet gestures and that's it! Especially the epilogue! like talk about a big elaborate romantic gesture� I loved that it was 50% romantic and swoon-worthy, but also 50% Ben trying to prove Gemma wrong.

3. It's been a while since I've read a book in just one day but this had me hooked from the start so maybe my reading career isn't over...yet. And since I read this one in one sitting and couldn't put it down for hours, I'm gonna try my luck with the 2 other previous installments in this series because this book can be read as a standalone, but previous characters make cameo appearances here and I liked what i saw read, so I'm waiting for a similar feeling out of them.



ARC provided in exchange of an honest review.]]> 4.15 2022 The Devil You Know (The Devils, #3)
author: Elizabeth O'Roark
name: M.
average rating: 4.15
book published: 2022
rating: 5
read at: 2022/06/12
date added: 2022/06/25
shelves: arcs
review:
So many things i wanna say (OR MORE LIKE SCREAM ABOUT!!), so here we go:

Tropes: office romance, rivals to lovers, forced proximity, he fell first AND harder.

1. The heartless and driven lawyer who is actually heartbroken and afraid of love, and her office rival ready to help her heal but always approaching her the wrong way? SOLD!!! These characters really got the job done when they said frenemies/rivals to lovers; The banter and bickering was AMAZING, like they really had me wheezing with every one of their conversations and the witty comebacks they threw at each other, and all the unresolved tension after every "fight"? don't let me start about their chemistry too... off the charts.

They really knew how to get on each other's nerves, and that didn't go away even once Ben and Gemma were together. And if you think about it, they spent two years going down each other's throats (or mostly Gemma being in a fight mode), and that added to Gemma's issues with the idea of romantic love also brought A LOT of trouble, miscommunication and angst, and you will not see me complaining. I really ate that up; the jealousy scenes, the misunderstandings, all that overthinking, Ben doing everything to make Gemma feel secure about the two of them...exactly MY thing.

2. I'm not gonna lie, if BOTH characters here hadn't been so aware and obsessed with each other this would have been a bit on the creepy side, but luckily that wasn't the case so I'm looking at it as a rivals to lovers office romance with some sweet gestures and that's it! Especially the epilogue! like talk about a big elaborate romantic gesture� I loved that it was 50% romantic and swoon-worthy, but also 50% Ben trying to prove Gemma wrong.

3. It's been a while since I've read a book in just one day but this had me hooked from the start so maybe my reading career isn't over...yet. And since I read this one in one sitting and couldn't put it down for hours, I'm gonna try my luck with the 2 other previous installments in this series because this book can be read as a standalone, but previous characters make cameo appearances here and I liked what i saw read, so I'm waiting for a similar feeling out of them.



ARC provided in exchange of an honest review.
]]> Fake Empire (Kensingtons, #1) 61207852
Then there’s the Ellsworth family. The Kensingtons. American royalty.

Money buys power, and power always has a price. The fear of those who already possess both? Losing it. The best way to ensure keeping it? Alliances. And elites don’t marry down—they marry equal.

For Scarlett Ellsworth and Crew Kensington, that leaves one option: each other. Accepting that inevitability is very different from embracing it. That’s the only thing they agree upon.

It was meant to be a union for better and for business.

Instead, it challenges everything Scarlett and Crew thought they knew about themselves, their families, and most of all…each other.]]> 390 C.W. Farnsworth M. 4 arcs
Tropes: arranged marriage, billionaire romance.

3.5 | An arranged marriage among New York's elite? this can only mean one thing: it's rich people drama time! They know they're gonna marry each other since they're teenagers, they made peace with it, and it's just a business transaction... or not?

First thing i liked here is that they were both on an equal footing on being rich, and i would even say Scarlett was more successful than Crew! And the second point is the romance. Scarlett was the ice queen, and Crew was the typical charismatic millionaire playboy, but from the beginning he is the one who has to do all the work to lower Scarlett's barriers, and the poor man is so desperate to achieve it! but Scarlett didn't put up an easy fight and if you read this then you'll see how they navigate their marriage while trying to put out other little fires around them. Rich people... always so busy with some drama. This is like a grown up version of Gossip Girl!

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
]]> 3.84 2022 Fake Empire (Kensingtons, #1)
author: C.W. Farnsworth
name: M.
average rating: 3.84
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2022/06/01
date added: 2022/06/22
shelves: arcs
review:


Tropes: arranged marriage, billionaire romance.

3.5 | An arranged marriage among New York's elite? this can only mean one thing: it's rich people drama time! They know they're gonna marry each other since they're teenagers, they made peace with it, and it's just a business transaction... or not?

First thing i liked here is that they were both on an equal footing on being rich, and i would even say Scarlett was more successful than Crew! And the second point is the romance. Scarlett was the ice queen, and Crew was the typical charismatic millionaire playboy, but from the beginning he is the one who has to do all the work to lower Scarlett's barriers, and the poor man is so desperate to achieve it! but Scarlett didn't put up an easy fight and if you read this then you'll see how they navigate their marriage while trying to put out other little fires around them. Rich people... always so busy with some drama. This is like a grown up version of Gossip Girl!

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

]]> Most of All You 32854499
Then Gabriel Dalton walks into her life. Despite the terrible darkness of his past, there's an undeniable goodness in him. And even though she knows the cost, Crystal finds herself drawn to Gabriel. His quiet strength is wearing down her defenses and his gentle patience is causing her to question everything she thought she knew.

Crystal and Gabriel never imagined that the world, which had stolen everything from them, would bring them a deep love like this. Except fate will only take them so far, and now the choice is Harden their hearts once again or find the courage to shed their painful pasts.]]> 352 Mia Sheridan 1538727323 M. 5
“I don’t mind chasing you, Ellie. Just let me catch you once in a while.�

I really don't know what to tell you other than Mia Sheridan is THE author I trust when it comes to heartbreakingly beautiful stories. This easily made it into my top Mia Sheridan books, going head-to-head with Grayson's Vow for number one, but honestly it's impossible to choose when they're both amazing reads.

Gabriel and Cristal's story was something so unexpected and painful, but through it all, even before the HEA, it also had so many moments of happiness that I'm full of mixed feelings after all the emotions that it made me feel, and I'm not even talking about the romance yet! the plot, the angst, the writing and character development was amazing, and the romance was just the cherry on top ]]> 3.90 2017 Most of All You
author: Mia Sheridan
name: M.
average rating: 3.90
book published: 2017
rating: 5
read at: 2022/06/01
date added: 2022/06/17
shelves:
review:
“I don’t mind chasing you, Ellie. Just let me catch you once in a while.�

I really don't know what to tell you other than Mia Sheridan is THE author I trust when it comes to heartbreakingly beautiful stories. This easily made it into my top Mia Sheridan books, going head-to-head with Grayson's Vow for number one, but honestly it's impossible to choose when they're both amazing reads.

Gabriel and Cristal's story was something so unexpected and painful, but through it all, even before the HEA, it also had so many moments of happiness that I'm full of mixed feelings after all the emotions that it made me feel, and I'm not even talking about the romance yet! the plot, the angst, the writing and character development was amazing, and the romance was just the cherry on top
]]> <![CDATA[No One Else (The Ladies Who Brunch #2)]]> 60779959
Staring up into the eyes of Ethan Fuller, the single dad and divorce attorney who opened his practice in the same complex as mine, I should have known he was bad news—for my business and my heart.

But when has that organ in our chests ever listened to rational thought, huh, ladies?

As a marriage and sex therapist, I take pride in helping couples revitalize their marriages, or women embrace their sexuality, focusing on empowerment and fighting for love.

But Ethan Fuller stands for the opposite of everything I believe in with a mischievous smile that makes me weak in the knees, threatening my business and everything I’ve built, and eventually sparking a prank war between us.

Until the day he kisses me—and then nothing makes sense besides the raw magnetism I feel for him, and the pure adoration I have for his son.

My brain tells me to be cautious, but my heart leads the way as we give in to our feelings toward one another and visions of our future are all I can see.

Until that vision is threatened by one admission that has us struggling to catch our breaths and acknowledging what we truly feel.

And even though I know that walking away was the right thing to do, I fight to uphold the promises I made to his son and myself—the types of promises that have me realizing there is no other man I could see my future with.

What do you do when the person you’re supposed to be with is too scared to admit it? What do you do when you refuse to sacrifice what you want and who you are for a man? And how do you move on when in your heart you know, there’s no one else?]]> 402 Harlow James M. 4 arcs
Tropes: grumpy-sunshine, single dad, opposites attract.

A marriage counselor and sex therapist versus the single dad divorce attorney, and their silly little war across the courtyard of the office complex... what could go wrong... No One Else has ALL the right elements to be a great romcom; banter, some sexy times, a silly little prank war, tension, a bit of angst, some much-needed groveling, and a swoon-worthy romance. and the chemistry between these two? off the charts!!

This is the second installment in The Ladies Who Brunch Series and can be read as a standalone, but I really recommend reading the first one too... its tropes... FIRE ]]> 4.25 No One Else (The Ladies Who Brunch #2)
author: Harlow James
name: M.
average rating: 4.25
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2022/05/30
date added: 2022/06/06
shelves: arcs
review:
Interconnected romances following a group of best friends is always a big YES for me! I love how we can go from book to book, each with different tropes and main characters, and still get little crumbs of past characters to know how they're doing.

Tropes: grumpy-sunshine, single dad, opposites attract.

A marriage counselor and sex therapist versus the single dad divorce attorney, and their silly little war across the courtyard of the office complex... what could go wrong... No One Else has ALL the right elements to be a great romcom; banter, some sexy times, a silly little prank war, tension, a bit of angst, some much-needed groveling, and a swoon-worthy romance. and the chemistry between these two? off the charts!!

This is the second installment in The Ladies Who Brunch Series and can be read as a standalone, but I really recommend reading the first one too... its tropes... FIRE
]]> <![CDATA[One for the Money (One for the Money, #1)]]> 60659562
Eva Morelli is the oldest daughter. The responsible one. The caring one. The one who doesn't have time for her own interests.

Especially not her interest in the charismatic, mysterious Finn Hughes.

A fake relationship is the answer to both their problems.

It will keep the swarming society mothers from throwing their daughters at him.

And it will keep Eva's mother from bothering her about marriage.

Then the fake relationship starts to feel real.

But there's no chance for them. No hope for a woman who's had her heart broken. And no future for a man whose fate was decided long ago.]]> 294 Skye Warren 1953553990 M. 5 arcs
"Every second that I spend with her, I'm one step closer to the end."


Tropes: fake dating, billionaire romance, older heroine younger hero, and something else that I can't tell you just yet because I don't wanna ruin it for anyone ]]> 4.17 2022 One for the Money (One for the Money, #1)
author: Skye Warren
name: M.
average rating: 4.17
book published: 2022
rating: 5
read at: 2022/05/27
date added: 2022/05/31
shelves: arcs
review:
"Every second that I spend with her, I'm one step closer to the end."


Tropes: fake dating, billionaire romance, older heroine younger hero, and something else that I can't tell you just yet because I don't wanna ruin it for anyone
]]> <![CDATA[Bitter Sweet Heart (Lies, Hearts & Truths, #2)]]> 59630959
My dad’s advice has always been to make hockey my number-one priority—at least until I make it to the pros. So, going into my senior year of college, I have a plan. I’ll put in the effort required to pass my classes, play hockey like my life depends on it, and avoid relationships. All I have to do is stay focused on the end game, and I’ll walk away with a degree and into a career in the NHL.

It should be easy.

But when a woman literally floats into my dock, just before summer ends and my senior year begins, I ’t resist one last hookup. What harm could a one-night stand do? It’s not like we even exchanged numbers.

Everything is fine until I run into her on campus.

It’s a big school. I should be able to avoid her.

Except she happens to be in my class.

And she’s not a student.

She’s my professor.
]]> 400 H. Hunting 1989185223 M. 0 to-read 4.37 2022 Bitter Sweet Heart (Lies, Hearts & Truths, #2)
author: H. Hunting
name: M.
average rating: 4.37
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/05/28
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Fate After Fame (Balsam Ridge, #2)]]> 60386757
Everything is on track until my old high school flame, Nashville’s trouble-making superstar Garrett Tuttle, comes back to town. His wild ways and out-of-control behavior caused his label to send him home while the chatter dies down. Garrett DZ’t know how to lay low, and his arrival turns my world upside down.

But I’m not the same broken-hearted girl he left all those years ago, and I’m the only woman on earth who’s not affected by his playboy charm.

Can I stand firm or will Garrett’s sweet lyrics make my heart soar again?]]> 294 Amber Kelly M. 3
Also I'm not a religious person but i was willing to look over that aspect here, but everyone has a limit and I reached mine with all those mentions about the lord, so clearly I wasn’t the target audience here.]]> 4.22 Fate After Fame (Balsam Ridge, #2)
author: Amber Kelly
name: M.
average rating: 4.22
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2022/05/24
date added: 2022/05/24
shelves:
review:
Just a silly second chance small town romance with no angst at all, but who am I to judge if I still got some joy out of this anyway? just an ordinary girl

Also I'm not a religious person but i was willing to look over that aspect here, but everyone has a limit and I reached mine with all those mentions about the lord, so clearly I wasn’t the target audience here.
]]> <![CDATA[On the Edge (Frozen Hearts, #1)]]> 60774312 I lost everything because of him. He says he would give anything to get me back.

Once upon a time I had it all: an Olympic gold medal, a career as a professional ski racer, and a happily ever after so close I could almost touch it. Then my perfect life imploded in one tragic weekend.

Five years later I’ve rebuilt my life with the best girlfriends, the perfect new boyfriend, and a new career. Now my ex—the one who wrecked everything five years earlier—is back as the newest member of the National Ski Team and I’m forced to be his physical therapist.

My days are filled with him. He’s constantly shirtless and sweaty and sexy as sin, and trying to make me fall in love with him again.

But I built these walls around my heart for a reason—and his presence is threatening to undo everything I've created without him. With the stakes this high and the sexual tension this hot, this could all go so very wrong.

Or, maybe we’re on the edge of getting everything we ever wanted.

Author’s Note: If you don’t like globe-trotting to ski destinations around the world, powerful female friendships, athletes with ridiculous bodies, a strong heroine determined never to have her heart broken again, and an even stronger hero willing to do whatever it takes to earn back the love of his life, this book isn’t for you. But if you like all that in a steamy romance, with no cheating and a happily ever after, one-click to download this book immediately.]]> 383 Julia Connors M. 5 arcs
“The things you remember...�
“You'd be surprised how little I've forgotten.�

Second chance romances where they used to be THE couple but broke up after a misunderstanding, so years later character A hates character B and character B is ready to go and fight for character A's love again.... SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY ]]> 3.70 2022 On the Edge (Frozen Hearts, #1)
author: Julia Connors
name: M.
average rating: 3.70
book published: 2022
rating: 5
read at: 2022/05/01
date added: 2022/05/18
shelves: arcs
review:
“The things you remember...�
“You'd be surprised how little I've forgotten.�

Second chance romances where they used to be THE couple but broke up after a misunderstanding, so years later character A hates character B and character B is ready to go and fight for character A's love again.... SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY
]]> <![CDATA[Can't Help Love (Paradise Bay Billionaire Brothers, #2)]]> 60172959 They’ll get their second chance at love� if they don’t kill each other first!

If I ever cross paths with Gatsby Spearman I might just push him from the tallest building in San Francisco.
Saying that I don’t like him is an understatement—I hate him.
The prick ghosted me in college, stole the program we created to start a billion-dollar company—oh and I failed a class because of him.
I want revenge. And I want it to be petty.
I created an infallible five-step plan to make him pay for what he did to me.
1. Destroy his company.
2. Hire him out of pity.
3. Make him fall in love with me.
4. Rip out his heart.
5. Ghost him while he’s crying from a broken heart.
Simple, right?
Except, I didn’t take into consideration the old college chemistry rearing its ugly head and bringing us closer together despite everything we do to fight it.
I want vengeance, all he wants is to flirt.
Though, I don’t plan on falling for his antics.
I’ll play this to win.
Let the games begin.

Can’t Help Love is a sexy, fun, at time angsty enemies-to-lovers billionaire romance that’s the perfect combination of seduction and sassy with a couple who live to torture each other!]]> 268 Claudia Y. Burgoa M. 3 arcs 4.27 Can't Help Love (Paradise Bay Billionaire Brothers, #2)
author: Claudia Y. Burgoa
name: M.
average rating: 4.27
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2022/05/01
date added: 2022/05/11
shelves: arcs
review:
what do you want me to do? i just love my silly little romances no thoughts just fun
]]> <![CDATA[Starry-Eyed Love (Spark House, #2)]]> 58724991
As luck would have it, a multi-million-dollar company calls a few months later asking for a meeting to discuss a potential partnership, and London is eager to prove to her sisters, and herself, that she can land this deal. Just when she thinks she has nailed her presentation, the company’s CEO, Jackson Holt, walks in and inserts himself into the meeting. Not only that, but he also happens to be the same guy she turned down at the bar a few months ago.

As they begin to spend more time together, their working relationship blossoms into something more. It isn’t until their professional entanglements are finally over, that London and Jackson are finally ready to take the next step in their relationship. But between Jackson’s secretive past and London’s struggle with her sisters, London must question where she really stands - not just with Jackson, but with the Spark House, too.

Charming, hilarious, and emotional, Starry-Eyed Love is Helena Hunting at her very best! ]]> 352 Helena Hunting 125062472X M. 4 arcs Tropes: workplace romance, kinda second chance, cinderella vibes.

Months ago London Spark turned down a handsome man just because she was just getting out of a relationship. She and her sisters just needed to focus on their family-runned inn, and now London is getting calls from a multi-million dollar company that wants to partner with Spark House, and guess who the CEO is? exactly! Jackson Holt, the man from bar. They never exchanged names, so this new meeting was pure coincidence, almost as if the stars wanted to bring them together when the time was right.

I really loved this book because it was so charming and full of cinderella vibes. There were so many sparks between London and Jackson, but they had to wait because working on a project together made it a bit off limits, so the slowburn and tension was palpable in the air, and once all bets were off? they couldn't keep their hands off each other.

There was also a classic drama when one half of the relationship is famous, so if you like angst, here it is! Also, this can be read as a standalone but if you happen to read the first book When Sparks Fly , then you will be surprised to find a slightly different sister relationship here, with more downs than ups, but in the end they are so close and they only have each other, so they end up solving any problem together after a few tears.]]> 3.75 2022 Starry-Eyed Love (Spark House, #2)
author: Helena Hunting
name: M.
average rating: 3.75
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2022/05/01
date added: 2022/05/10
shelves: arcs
review:
Tropes: workplace romance, kinda second chance, cinderella vibes.

Months ago London Spark turned down a handsome man just because she was just getting out of a relationship. She and her sisters just needed to focus on their family-runned inn, and now London is getting calls from a multi-million dollar company that wants to partner with Spark House, and guess who the CEO is? exactly! Jackson Holt, the man from bar. They never exchanged names, so this new meeting was pure coincidence, almost as if the stars wanted to bring them together when the time was right.

I really loved this book because it was so charming and full of cinderella vibes. There were so many sparks between London and Jackson, but they had to wait because working on a project together made it a bit off limits, so the slowburn and tension was palpable in the air, and once all bets were off? they couldn't keep their hands off each other.

There was also a classic drama when one half of the relationship is famous, so if you like angst, here it is! Also, this can be read as a standalone but if you happen to read the first book When Sparks Fly , then you will be surprised to find a slightly different sister relationship here, with more downs than ups, but in the end they are so close and they only have each other, so they end up solving any problem together after a few tears.
]]> <![CDATA[A Rival's Kiss (Fulton U Rivals #3)]]> 56674059
Willa’s mine from the moment I rescue her. I protect her from a brawling crowd and she stares up at me like I’m her prince charming. No one’s ever looked at me like that. No one has ever dared to come that close.

I didn’t know she was the little sister of one of my biggest rivals. Her brother and I have both drawn blood on the field, dislocated joints, broken bones, but I’ll never want to show her that side of me.

I long to be the man she believes I am, but there’s only one way I know how to win—how to survive—and that’s ensuring my enemies lose.

Once he finds out who his sister has been dating it’ll be all-out war, and I might lose the only woman who’s ever looked at me like I’m not built only for destruction.

Changing my ways won’t be easy, but I’m willing to risk it all for her.]]> 418 Maya Hughes M. 4 arcs immaculate!! I definitely have a type and that is PAIN, period. This book really was a rollercoaster of emotions ]]> 4.24 A Rival's Kiss (Fulton U Rivals #3)
author: Maya Hughes
name: M.
average rating: 4.24
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2022/05/01
date added: 2022/05/09
shelves: arcs
review:
No but the keytonbay and averyemmett vibes here? immaculate!! I definitely have a type and that is PAIN, period. This book really was a rollercoaster of emotions
]]> Empire of Lust (Empire, #4) 58511154 My Boss. My hell.

When I slept with a faceless jock as a teen, I didn’t think I would become pregnant.
I also didn’t think I would lose that child.
Several years later, I find out that my daughter is alive and I’m given a second chance.
One problem, though.
The faceless jock isn’t so faceless anymore.
He has a name everyone fears; Kingsley Shaw.
A ruthless bastard. A heartless devil. And most importantly, my daughter’s father.
Oh, and he hates me as much as I hate him.
We’re out to destroy one another with all methods available.
Including a dangerous game of lust that might lead to our downfall.

Empire of Lust is a complete STANDALONE. No book should be read prior to this.]]> 403 Rina Kent M. 3 thought process� while writing this book:

First 15%: we have a plot people ]]> 4.17 2022 Empire of Lust (Empire, #4)
author: Rina Kent
name: M.
average rating: 4.17
book published: 2022
rating: 3
read at: 2022/05/07
date added: 2022/05/07
shelves:
review:
What I think was Rina Kent's �thought process� while writing this book:

First 15%: we have a plot people
]]> <![CDATA[Return to You (Whisper Lake, #1)]]> 58363568 Stand-alone Whisper Lake romance, complete with HEA--and plenty of heat and heart along the way!

There is a thin line between love and hate. For Allison Walsh, that line was a tightrope hanging a hundred feet in the air, with no safety net to catch her if--or when--she fell.

Ali was barely treading water after losing her big brother, who was her hero and best friend. His sudden death left her to raise her twin nephews when the man that was supposed to share the responsibility with her went MIA after the funeral.

Kade's MMA training made him a champion, but it never equipped him to fight off the one force beyond his control: his feelings for his best friend's little sister. He's sure his demons mean he's not good enough for her, but he's going to do everything in his power to conquer them.

When the sexy, tattooed fighter shows up on Ali's doorstep out of the blue with a bag hanging over his shoulder and a smile that would make a nun blush, he seems different. But after all he's put her through, Ali's not in a forgive-and-forget kinda mood.

Will Kade prove that he's the man worthy of Ali's heart and trust, or will his past sins determine their future?]]> Melanie Shawn M. 4 instant family trope and I'm no even sorry about it. It's the 14-year-old me obsessed with the Life as We Know It movie (no, I'm still not over that movie and I probably never will, ILY Katherine Heigl!!!)]]> 3.90 2018 Return to You (Whisper Lake, #1)
author: Melanie Shawn
name: M.
average rating: 3.90
book published: 2018
rating: 4
read at: 2022/04/01
date added: 2022/05/02
shelves:
review:
You can hate and trash all you want, but I'm always up for an instant family trope and I'm no even sorry about it. It's the 14-year-old me obsessed with the Life as We Know It movie (no, I'm still not over that movie and I probably never will, ILY Katherine Heigl!!!)
]]> <![CDATA[Twisted Cravings (The Camorra Chronicles, #6)]]> 57408458 Becoming a Made Man like his brothers was his destiny but never his passion. When he becomes the organizer of his family’s successful illegal street races and one of their thrill-seeking drivers, he finally asserts his own path in the harsh mafia world.
His purpose isn’t the only thing Adamo discovers on the fuel-soaked roads he calls home�
�
Dinara Mikhailov is the only female race driver and hard to ignore. Not only because of her flaming red hair and ruthless driving style, but also because the Bratva princess is allowed to drive in enemy territory.
Soon Adamo and she find themselves entangled in a passionate game that goes beyond the race track. Yet, both haunted by events in the past, their dark cravings put everything on the line.
�
As what they crave the most, comes with a brutal price.]]> 303 Cora Reilly M. 2 Thoughts after reading this book:

1. Can't believe I anticipated this book so much only for it to end up being boring asf. The romance did nothing for me and those poorly executed Mindf*ck series vibes... hmm I think I'm gonna to pass.

2. Moral of the story: you don't need therapy to heal your past traumas, just have sex and go on a killing spree with your significant other.

3. Adamo Falcone? is he a side character or something? Sorry I don't remember much of him in this story... 0 personality beyond the car races and checking Dinara's ass and tits and lusting after her. seems that all the trauma and conflicts about him that we saw in the previous books never existed.

4. 1 star for Dinara being different from other Cora Reilly characters, and 1 star for the Falcone family crumbs, even when they felt OOC to me.

5. Why is C.J. still alive?? Cora Reilly please come to the stand and explain to the jury why having Adamo have sex with her while he was a minor wasn't enough for you, so you decided that they could be friends with benefits over the years, share "something special" AND ALSO INCLUDE A SEX SCENE BETWEEN THEM IN THE FIRST CHAPTERS!!! Ew, woman, what was your reasoning for that? just nope.]]> 3.46 2021 Twisted Cravings (The Camorra Chronicles, #6)
author: Cora Reilly
name: M.
average rating: 3.46
book published: 2021
rating: 2
read at: 2021/03/15
date added: 2022/04/24
shelves:
review:
Thoughts after reading this book:

1. Can't believe I anticipated this book so much only for it to end up being boring asf. The romance did nothing for me and those poorly executed Mindf*ck series vibes... hmm I think I'm gonna to pass.

2. Moral of the story: you don't need therapy to heal your past traumas, just have sex and go on a killing spree with your significant other.

3. Adamo Falcone? is he a side character or something? Sorry I don't remember much of him in this story... 0 personality beyond the car races and checking Dinara's ass and tits and lusting after her. seems that all the trauma and conflicts about him that we saw in the previous books never existed.

4. 1 star for Dinara being different from other Cora Reilly characters, and 1 star for the Falcone family crumbs, even when they felt OOC to me.

5. Why is C.J. still alive?? Cora Reilly please come to the stand and explain to the jury why having Adamo have sex with her while he was a minor wasn't enough for you, so you decided that they could be friends with benefits over the years, share "something special" AND ALSO INCLUDE A SEX SCENE BETWEEN THEM IN THE FIRST CHAPTERS!!! Ew, woman, what was your reasoning for that? just nope.
]]> <![CDATA[The Reluctant Bride (Arranged Marriage, #1)]]> 58927051
In public, Perry Constantine is the life of the party. Easygoing. Adored. In private, he’s brooding. Dark. Angry. But so am I. It’s a contest of wills to see who will break in the bedroom first, and while I try to remain strong, I find myself craving the very man I swore to hate.

My husband.]]> 348 Monica Murphy 1953553605 M. 2 painfully boring and I barely made it to the end, with the help of a few naps in between. I should have known this was doomed from the start when I realized the lead man's name was Perry... like the platypus.]]> 3.56 2022 The Reluctant Bride (Arranged Marriage, #1)
author: Monica Murphy
name: M.
average rating: 3.56
book published: 2022
rating: 2
read at: 2022/04/22
date added: 2022/04/22
shelves:
review:
I let myself get caught up in all those teasers and early tiktok aesthetic reviews, but always being honest, this was painfully boring and I barely made it to the end, with the help of a few naps in between. I should have known this was doomed from the start when I realized the lead man's name was Perry... like the platypus.
]]> Star Bright (Starstruck, #1) 58742186 She’s an A-list Hollywood starlet. He’s a gossip reporter. Sleeping with the enemy has never been sweeter�

Kimberleigh Cress didn’t get to be one of the hottest young actresses in Hollywood without learning how to protect herself. Rule number one? Don’t show weakness. Ever. Especially not in front of the press.

So when a sleazy tabloid reporter comes upon her during a vulnerable moment, the last thing she expects is kindness.

Sexy, charming, and surprisingly thoughtful, Spencer Devlin isn’t at all who Kimberleigh thought he was. After their fateful encounter, she ’t seem to stay away from him—even though she knows she should.

Spencer never expected to share an unlikely connection with the spoiled starlet who hates his guts. With the face of a goddess and an attitude to match, Kimberleigh Cress is one ice queen he’d love to melt.

Now that she’s gotten under his skin, he’ll do anything to keep her in his life. Or will he?]]> 178 Susannah Nix M. 3 arcs A short, but totally fun novel to start the Starstruck Series!

Kimberleigh Cress is an A-list Hollywood actress, and to get to the top she knows exactly what she has to do; be untouchable, no weakness in sight, an ice queen. And she should never EVER sleep with the enemy... not when said enemy is a gossip reporter always looking for a scoop, who already did her wrong once. Oh, but when is said reporter the only one who makes her feel alive anymore? things are about to get messy!

I'm a little sad that this book was so short, because it was so much fun and it also gave me ALL the right feelings. Kimberleigh is THE celebrity, but she is also a bit of a mystery to her fans and the press, with a lot of secrets under the rug that no one has yet been able to find, and trying to put that past behind her, she has built walls so high to around her, that no one has been able to bring her down…until Spencer. Now this man was ambitious and work-focused, trying to move beyond reporting gossip; he did Kimberleigh wrong in an interview a while ago and that's why she can't see him, but now that they've met again? he was the one who kept her anchored to reality and saved her from herself.

After truly getting to know each other, they did realize that there was much more that their public persona, and they fell in love with each other so quickly, that when everything exploded in their faces it was just as intense; there were cute words, declarations of love and groveling, everything I needed to stay til the end.

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.]]> 3.71 2022 Star Bright (Starstruck, #1)
author: Susannah Nix
name: M.
average rating: 3.71
book published: 2022
rating: 3
read at: 2022/04/01
date added: 2022/04/18
shelves: arcs
review:
A short, but totally fun novel to start the Starstruck Series!

Kimberleigh Cress is an A-list Hollywood actress, and to get to the top she knows exactly what she has to do; be untouchable, no weakness in sight, an ice queen. And she should never EVER sleep with the enemy... not when said enemy is a gossip reporter always looking for a scoop, who already did her wrong once. Oh, but when is said reporter the only one who makes her feel alive anymore? things are about to get messy!

I'm a little sad that this book was so short, because it was so much fun and it also gave me ALL the right feelings. Kimberleigh is THE celebrity, but she is also a bit of a mystery to her fans and the press, with a lot of secrets under the rug that no one has yet been able to find, and trying to put that past behind her, she has built walls so high to around her, that no one has been able to bring her down…until Spencer. Now this man was ambitious and work-focused, trying to move beyond reporting gossip; he did Kimberleigh wrong in an interview a while ago and that's why she can't see him, but now that they've met again? he was the one who kept her anchored to reality and saved her from herself.

After truly getting to know each other, they did realize that there was much more that their public persona, and they fell in love with each other so quickly, that when everything exploded in their faces it was just as intense; there were cute words, declarations of love and groveling, everything I needed to stay til the end.

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
]]> <![CDATA[The Scorecard (Totally Pucked, #3; Scoring to Win Duet, #1)]]> 58974673
But there was a thin line between lust and hate, and when I fell into bed with the NHL’s rookie playboy, I found out just how easy that line got blurred.

We were enemies with benefits, but then two pink lines changed itall.

Now he was bringing me back home to his family’s farm and faking it became real� in moreways than one.

He was meant to be the enemy but falling for him meant letting him win.

The Scorecard
Graham: 1
Me: 0

**The Scorecard is book 1 of the duet and is approximately 60,000 words. This book does end on a cliffhanger."]]> 223 Maren Moore M. 3 arcs Fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiine. maybe the boyfriend with golden retriever energy isn't for me, and I should stick to the sarcastic ones with a mean sense of humor and a lot of red flags in sight ]]> 3.73 2022 The Scorecard (Totally Pucked, #3; Scoring to Win Duet, #1)
author: Maren Moore
name: M.
average rating: 3.73
book published: 2022
rating: 3
read at: 2022/04/18
date added: 2022/04/18
shelves: arcs
review:
Fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiine. maybe the boyfriend with golden retriever energy isn't for me, and I should stick to the sarcastic ones with a mean sense of humor and a lot of red flags in sight
]]> Taste (Cloverleigh Farms, #7) 59684983 stranded with is Gianni Lupo.

But thanks to the blizzard of the century, I’m trapped in a roadside motel room with that cocky bastard for two straight days.

With one small bed.

Some women might thank Mother Nature for delivering a polar vortex that maroons them with six feet of solid muscle, those deep blue eyes, that sexy grin--but not me. I’ve known Gianni Lupo all my life, and he’s never brought me anything but bad luck and trouble.

So when the tension between us explodes with enough fiery heat to melt my icy defenses, I should have known what the disastrous end result would be--

A big fat plus sign.

After the snow melts, I’m left with more than just memories of the night we spent keeping each other warm. And he might be a rising star on the culinary scene, but he’s got no idea how to handle this bun in the oven.

He says he wants to do the right thing, but I’m not about to spend the rest of my life feeling like someone settled for me.

But just when I think I’ve got Gianni Lupo all figured out, he gives me a taste of the man he could be, of the family we could become, of the way he could love me if I let him.

I’m terrified of falling for him.

But one taste might be all it takes.]]> 310 Melanie Harlow M. 4 4.09 2022 Taste (Cloverleigh Farms, #7)
author: Melanie Harlow
name: M.
average rating: 4.09
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2022/04/15
date added: 2022/04/15
shelves:
review:
unexpected pregnancy is one of the best tropes, and girls that get it, get it, and girls that don't... don't
]]> <![CDATA[Ten Trends to Seduce Your Bestfriend]]> 59829197
Yes, they’ve known each other for years, but they’re not even friendly. Winnie considers them more like casual, distant acquaintances who find each other barely tolerable, especially when he's being condescending (which is all the time).

The truth is, they have nothing in common. She’s a public school science teacher with stars in her eyes, and he’s a pretentious, joyless double PhD turned world-famous bestselling fiction author. She loves sharing her passion for promulgating women in STEM careers and building community via social media, and he eschews all socialization, virtual or otherwise. She’s looking for a side hustle to help pay down a mountain of student debt, and his financial portfolio is the stuff of fiduciary wet dreams. So why are they faking a #bestfriend relationship for millions of online spectators?

When a simple case of tit-for-tat trends between nonfriends leads to a wholly unexpected kind of pretend, nothing is simple. Sometimes, it takes a public audience to reveal the truth of private feelings, and rarely—very rarely—you should believe what you see online.

Ten Trends to Seduce Your Bestfriend is a full-length, complete standalone, adult contemporary romantic comedy.
]]> 438 Penny Reid 1942874839 M. 4 arcs
“It feels like you snuck past my defenses when I wasn’t looking, Byron Visser. You were simply yourself and I had no choice but to love you. That’s what it feels like.�


Tropes: slowburn, unrequired love, guy falls first, grumpy-sunshine, only one bed trope, I hate everyone but you.

Another Penny Reid hit, no doubt! she always manages to come up with the most unique characters, but she outdid herself here.

The journey of these characters... chef's kiss. Winnie and Byron were always acquaintances, meeting over the years through a mutual friend, but there was never anything else, and she even thought he hated her!

But now they finally have a real reason to spend time together, and what do they discover? a whole new person and a lot of chemistry! Their development was everything i was hoping for, step by step, they went from strangers to friends, and then to something else and it was the most beautifully written relationship ]]> 4.04 2022 Ten Trends to Seduce Your Bestfriend
author: Penny Reid
name: M.
average rating: 4.04
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2022/04/01
date added: 2022/04/13
shelves: arcs
review:
“It feels like you snuck past my defenses when I wasn’t looking, Byron Visser. You were simply yourself and I had no choice but to love you. That’s what it feels like.�

Tropes: slowburn, unrequired love, guy falls first, grumpy-sunshine, only one bed trope, I hate everyone but you.

Another Penny Reid hit, no doubt! she always manages to come up with the most unique characters, but she outdid herself here.

The journey of these characters... chef's kiss. Winnie and Byron were always acquaintances, meeting over the years through a mutual friend, but there was never anything else, and she even thought he hated her!

But now they finally have a real reason to spend time together, and what do they discover? a whole new person and a lot of chemistry! Their development was everything i was hoping for, step by step, they went from strangers to friends, and then to something else and it was the most beautifully written relationship
]]> Juniper Hill (The Edens, #2) 59114267
But maybe it takes a little crazy to build a good life. If putting the past behind her requires a thousand miles and a new town, she’ll do it if it means a better future for her son. Even if it requires setting aside the glamour of her former life. Even if it requires working as a housekeeper at The Eloise Inn and living in an apartment above a garage.

It’s there, on the fifth worst day of her life, that she meets the handsomest man she’s ever laid eyes on. Knox Eden is a beautiful, sinful dream, a chef and her temporary landlord. With his sharp, stubbled jaw and tattooed arms, he’s raw and rugged and everything she’s never had—and never will. Because after the first worst day of her life, Memphis learned a good life requires giving up on her dreams too. And a man like Knox Eden will only ever be a dream.]]> 326 Devney Perry 1950692701 M. 4 Starting this review backwards because I need to SCREAM about that epilogue and bonus scene!! OH. MY. GOD., Miss Perry, it's like you know the way straight to my heart... you give me an epilogue with all the happy family paraphernalia, I'm sold. You give me an extra epilogue with a look at what these characters' lives have been like a few years later, and they still are in their fluffy cloud of love and happiness? my life belongs to you now, woman!

Tropes: forced proximity, single mom, workplace romance, small town romance.

3.5 stars | Now about the book; Memphis Ward is my girlfriend and the Edens are my new family, I'm moving in to the ranch soon. No, seriously I love, love, love small town romances, and this has everything you need to get through a good few hours without putting these books down; a swoon-worthy romance, some gossipy neighbors who do a better job of spreading the news than the TV and newspaper combined, and a bit of suspense, with the cops and all involved.

Memphis was THE character. She was struggling so hard to support herself and her little son after leaving all the comforts she grew up and lived in for a long time, and sometimes she was so close to giving up and taking the easy way out, like, you could literally feel her desperation, but no. Until the last moment she remained firm in her decision to give her son a better life, full of love and people who really cared about them both. Those kind of characters deserve the world.

And Knox Eden, my grumpy tattooed chef... the man was lost from the first time he ever saw her, never mind that at the time Memphis was a mess after days in her car, old clothes, puffy eyes and a screaming child in tow... he was DONE, your honor. I'm not gonna lie, Griffin Eden, my overprotective cowboy is still my favorite, but Knox had moves too. His story was super sad, but once he left the past and his fears behind? he was hands-on dad from the first moment he held drake, and the way he changed every part of his routine just to be near memphis and the baby? daddy material!!

I do think there were a lot of subplots going on here, so it was kinda hard sometimes keep up with every part of the story, but in the end every loose end was worked out and it all made sense, so who cares? I'm just here enjoying my romances, while setting extremely high standards for men in real life!

And now comes Talia's book, the Eden who walked away from the family business to be a doctor. And that blurb... GOSH! the man she loved married her best friend, and now he's divorced and back in town ready to ask her help... and the first time she heard his voice in I don't even know how long, she made a run for it. YES, I WANT IT!]]> 4.14 2022 Juniper Hill (The Edens, #2)
author: Devney Perry
name: M.
average rating: 4.14
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2022/04/01
date added: 2022/04/09
shelves:
review:
Starting this review backwards because I need to SCREAM about that epilogue and bonus scene!! OH. MY. GOD., Miss Perry, it's like you know the way straight to my heart... you give me an epilogue with all the happy family paraphernalia, I'm sold. You give me an extra epilogue with a look at what these characters' lives have been like a few years later, and they still are in their fluffy cloud of love and happiness? my life belongs to you now, woman!

Tropes: forced proximity, single mom, workplace romance, small town romance.

3.5 stars | Now about the book; Memphis Ward is my girlfriend and the Edens are my new family, I'm moving in to the ranch soon. No, seriously I love, love, love small town romances, and this has everything you need to get through a good few hours without putting these books down; a swoon-worthy romance, some gossipy neighbors who do a better job of spreading the news than the TV and newspaper combined, and a bit of suspense, with the cops and all involved.

Memphis was THE character. She was struggling so hard to support herself and her little son after leaving all the comforts she grew up and lived in for a long time, and sometimes she was so close to giving up and taking the easy way out, like, you could literally feel her desperation, but no. Until the last moment she remained firm in her decision to give her son a better life, full of love and people who really cared about them both. Those kind of characters deserve the world.

And Knox Eden, my grumpy tattooed chef... the man was lost from the first time he ever saw her, never mind that at the time Memphis was a mess after days in her car, old clothes, puffy eyes and a screaming child in tow... he was DONE, your honor. I'm not gonna lie, Griffin Eden, my overprotective cowboy is still my favorite, but Knox had moves too. His story was super sad, but once he left the past and his fears behind? he was hands-on dad from the first moment he held drake, and the way he changed every part of his routine just to be near memphis and the baby? daddy material!!

I do think there were a lot of subplots going on here, so it was kinda hard sometimes keep up with every part of the story, but in the end every loose end was worked out and it all made sense, so who cares? I'm just here enjoying my romances, while setting extremely high standards for men in real life!

And now comes Talia's book, the Eden who walked away from the family business to be a doctor. And that blurb... GOSH! the man she loved married her best friend, and now he's divorced and back in town ready to ask her help... and the first time she heard his voice in I don't even know how long, she made a run for it. YES, I WANT IT!
]]> <![CDATA[Puck Shy (Carolina Comets, #1)]]> 59361314
Game Six loss costing my team the Cup? Check.
Getting arrested and ruining my image? Check.
Almost getting run over after my car breaks down? Oh, look—a hat trick.

My contract is up with the Carolina Comets this year, and I need to get it together if I want to stay with the team.

I need relaxation, not a relationship.

But when I’m scrolling on a dating app and stumble across the pretty girl who almost ran me over, I know I ’t let her walk away this time.

Harper is funny, smart, and DZ’t care about hockey.

I’m not supposed to be focusing on anything other than my career, yet I ’t get Harper off my mind.

I know I shouldn’t fall for her…but I think I already have.

PUCK SHY is a standalone hockey romantic comedy. It's good, low angst fun with some hot hockey players.]]> Teagan Hunter M. 3 arcs I just love relatable characters! Colin has the shittiest luck ever... and so do I.

rtc]]> 3.71 2021 Puck Shy (Carolina Comets, #1)
author: Teagan Hunter
name: M.
average rating: 3.71
book published: 2021
rating: 3
read at: 2021/10/25
date added: 2022/04/02
shelves: arcs
review:
I just love relatable characters! Colin has the shittiest luck ever... and so do I.

rtc
]]> Indigo Ridge (The Edens, #1) 55926057
According to her pops, all she has to do is earn favor with the Edens. But winning over the town’s founding family might have been easier if not for her one-night stand with their oldest son. In her defense, it was her first night in town and she didn’t realize that the rugged and charming man who wooed her into bed was Quincy royalty.

Sleeping with Griffin Eden was a huge mistake, one she’s trying to forget. He’s insufferable, arrogant and keeps reminding everyone that she’s an outsider. Winslow does her best to avoid Griffin, but when a woman is found dead on Eden property, the two of them have no choice but to cross paths.

As clues to the murderer lead to one of Quincy’s own, Griffin realizes Winslow is more than he gave her credit for. Beautiful and intelligent, she proves hard to resist. For him. And the killer.]]> 340 Devney Perry M. 4 me, a city girl through and through: obsessed with an overprotective cowboy and the mysterious suicides happening in his cute small town]]> 4.15 2021 Indigo Ridge (The Edens, #1)
author: Devney Perry
name: M.
average rating: 4.15
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at: 2022/03/01
date added: 2022/04/01
shelves:
review:
me, a city girl through and through: obsessed with an overprotective cowboy and the mysterious suicides happening in his cute small town
]]> <![CDATA[Things We Never Got Over (Knockemout, #1)]]> 60060431 Bearded, bad-boy barber Knox prefers to live his life the way he takes his coffee: Alone. Unless you count his basset hound, Waylon.
Knox DZ’t tolerate drama, even when it comes in the form of a stranded runaway bride.

Naomi wasn’t just running away from her wedding. She was riding to the rescue of her estranged twin to Knockemout, Virginia, a rough-around-the-edges town where disputes are settled the old-fashioned way…with fists and beer. Usually in that order.

Too bad for Naomi her evil twin hasn’t changed at all. After helping herself to Naomi’s car and cash, Tina leaves her with something unexpected. The niece Naomi didn’t know she had. Now she’s stuck in town with no car, no job, no plan, and no home with an 11-year-old going on thirty to take care of.

There’s a reason Knox DZ’t do complications or high-maintenance women, especially not the romantic ones. But since Naomi’s life imploded right in front of him, the least he can do is help her out of her jam. And just as soon as she stops getting into new trouble he can leave her alone and get back to his peaceful, solitary life.

At least, that’s the plan until the trouble turns to real danger.]]> 572 Lucy Score 1945631848 M. 4 the first time i picked up this book i only got to the 20% and put it down. the second time around i couldn't put it down until i finish it and yep i'm already saying it's my fav reading of this month.

i'm feeling a little lazy to write a review so i'm just gonna leave the tropes here in case someone doesn't know them, but you only have to look at them to know this is a ton of fun like!! really can't wait for more books in this town because i feel like Nash's could be good guy (literally the town chief) x bad girl, and Lucian and Sloane second chance romance maybe?? gimme gimme

Tropes: grumpy-sunshine, boss-employee, age gap, neighbor next door, single parent/guardian, small town romance ]]> 4.15 2022 Things We Never Got Over (Knockemout, #1)
author: Lucy Score
name: M.
average rating: 4.15
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2022/03/01
date added: 2022/03/22
shelves:
review:
4.5 � | the first time i picked up this book i only got to the 20% and put it down. the second time around i couldn't put it down until i finish it and yep i'm already saying it's my fav reading of this month.

i'm feeling a little lazy to write a review so i'm just gonna leave the tropes here in case someone doesn't know them, but you only have to look at them to know this is a ton of fun like!! really can't wait for more books in this town because i feel like Nash's could be good guy (literally the town chief) x bad girl, and Lucian and Sloane second chance romance maybe?? gimme gimme

Tropes: grumpy-sunshine, boss-employee, age gap, neighbor next door, single parent/guardian, small town romance
]]> <![CDATA[Never Say Never (The Ladies Who Brunch, #1)]]> 60009607
When those words left the lips of Damien Shaw, my childhood nemesis, I should have told him to kick rocks right then and there.

But sadly, his scheme to impress his boss left me with something to gain from it too—getting my meddling mother, who was obsessed with my love life, off my back just in time for my parents� thirtieth wedding anniversary celebration in Hawaii.

You see, Damien and I grew up together, but we weren’t friends. No—we were rivals.

And when we both moved out to California to go to different colleges, we promised never to think of each other again.

It had been twelve years since we had been face to face, but when he kept popping up everywhere, I should have known that trouble would follow.

And sure enough, during a lunch with my parents he told them we were dating.
I was hellbent on exposing him, but then my mother’s reaction made it hard to say no. So, I ended up fake dating my enemy while trying desperately not to fall for him.

My gut told me to keep my distance. But my heart? That bastard was falling for the man with every sweet gesture he made and every orgasm he gave me.

But when the reason for our rivalry and our fake relationship comes to light, everyone and everything explodes, leaving one hell of a mess to clean up.

I never thought I’d fall for Damien Shaw. I never thought my enemy could force me to figure out my life. But you know what they say—never say never.

TW: toxic parental relationships]]> 402 Harlow James M. 3 As the spiritual guru and fashion icon Cyndi Lauper once said; oh, girls just wanna have fun... and brunch.

Tropes: childhood rivals, fake dating.

“Charlotte Montgomery, I’m going to be the best fake boyfriend I can be.�


3.5 | Charlotte Montgomery and Damien Shaw may have been enemies back in the day, and may have vowed to never see each other again, not even think about the other, but now they are each other's perfect solution to all their problems. Charlotte is hitting 30, with a successful career and a life she created for herself, but that's not enough for her mother, who keeps nagging her about being single, and things are getting worse and worse with her parents 30th wedding anniversary, the one in Hawaii she's attending alone. Damian is fighting for a promotion, but not having a female reproductive organ put him out of the competition, so after a little white lie now he must prove to his boss that he is, in fact, in touch with his feminine side... how? fake dating his childhood enemy, of course.

This book was actually very funny and light to read; I liked the characters (although it took a bit of getting used to Damian) and the farce leading up to the real romance. And then when things blew up... WOW. Pain, but the good one. Also, the series is called The Ladies Who Brunch, so here you have a group of 4 friends from college, all with quite different personalities and careers, who have this tradition to spend time together, and brainstorm and come up with solutions for all their problems.

The only reason I'm not giving it a higher rating is because for all the feminist talk going on here, the author still end up giving the menstruating-based work to the male character anyway? as if he was somehow discriminated against for being a man and not having a vagina? as if a man had problems intruding into all other spaces of society? This one was for the girls, and even if he learned to value women differently with everything that happened after that lie, that wasn't his place.]]> 4.14 Never Say Never (The Ladies Who Brunch, #1)
author: Harlow James
name: M.
average rating: 4.14
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2022/03/11
date added: 2022/03/12
shelves:
review:
As the spiritual guru and fashion icon Cyndi Lauper once said; oh, girls just wanna have fun... and brunch.

Tropes: childhood rivals, fake dating.

“Charlotte Montgomery, I’m going to be the best fake boyfriend I can be.�


3.5 | Charlotte Montgomery and Damien Shaw may have been enemies back in the day, and may have vowed to never see each other again, not even think about the other, but now they are each other's perfect solution to all their problems. Charlotte is hitting 30, with a successful career and a life she created for herself, but that's not enough for her mother, who keeps nagging her about being single, and things are getting worse and worse with her parents 30th wedding anniversary, the one in Hawaii she's attending alone. Damian is fighting for a promotion, but not having a female reproductive organ put him out of the competition, so after a little white lie now he must prove to his boss that he is, in fact, in touch with his feminine side... how? fake dating his childhood enemy, of course.

This book was actually very funny and light to read; I liked the characters (although it took a bit of getting used to Damian) and the farce leading up to the real romance. And then when things blew up... WOW. Pain, but the good one. Also, the series is called The Ladies Who Brunch, so here you have a group of 4 friends from college, all with quite different personalities and careers, who have this tradition to spend time together, and brainstorm and come up with solutions for all their problems.

The only reason I'm not giving it a higher rating is because for all the feminist talk going on here, the author still end up giving the menstruating-based work to the male character anyway? as if he was somehow discriminated against for being a man and not having a vagina? as if a man had problems intruding into all other spaces of society? This one was for the girls, and even if he learned to value women differently with everything that happened after that lie, that wasn't his place.
]]> <![CDATA[The Kiss List (Fulton U Rivals, #2)]]> 60161249 If I were on fire, she’d break out the marshmallows.

It’s not that we don’t like each other, more like hate with the fury of a thousand suns. But it wasn’t always that way.

I still remember how her lips tasted. How they felt pressed against mine. How I wanted more.

How I still crave her. Our disastrous night together ended with her storming out, me wondering if I’d ever be able to show my face on campus again and us as bitter enemies.

When a campus competition is announced to find the most in love couple, she’s the last person I thought I’d turn to for help. But the prize could change both our lives. An internship for her and a chance to finally connect with my father. It’s too hard to resist. Just like her heated glares and tempting curves.

To win, we’ve got to prove to everyone we’re a couple. Head over heels, ’t keep our hands off each other in love. Fake the hell out of it for our chance at glory.

Maybe we’re a little too good at selling it to the whole campus because the lines haven’t just been blurred, they've gone up in flames.

Can I convince her I want us to be together for real and keep the prize? Or will I lose them both?

A Fulton U rivals standalone. Explore a whole new campus with the rivals in this enemies to lovers, fake relationship romance.]]> 383 Maya Hughes M. 3 arcs But when is it gonna be MY time to fake date someone, only to end up really falling in love?

“Fake love, I could try because real love lead to nothing more than heartbreak.�


Tropes: fake dating, kinda second chance romance, sports romance, found family trope.

The Kiss List, The second installment in the Fulton U Rivals series, brings us nothing more and nothing less than hilarious shenanigans, sexy times, a swoon-worthy romance, and a little bit of angst...just to keep you on your toes, you know. Kennedy and Cole are definitely not the best of friends. In fact, everyone all know they can't stand each other and love to throw barbs at each other every chance they get, so imagine their friends reaction when they see the two of them acting like a married couple? jaw on the ground. The Puppy Love competition offered two prizes that they didn't want, but NEEDED to win, so with a shared past that no one knew about, they were willing to fake it until they made it. And then things got very real for two people with a lot of emotional issues.

I was surprised by the background of Cole and Kennedy. They both unknowingly came from dysfunctional families, and those shaped them into the adults they are today, bringing a lot of unresolved issues to the table, which ultimately grew them both up. Wariness towards love may be one of the ONLY things they had in common, but in the end, with a few fights and romantic gestures, they got over it too. We also got to see a bit more about the group of friends here, and how knit tight they are, so great found family trope! I definitely can't wait for the next guys to tell their stories, and especially Ezra and his "mysterious girl" from Fulton U.

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.]]> 4.03 2022 The Kiss List (Fulton U Rivals, #2)
author: Maya Hughes
name: M.
average rating: 4.03
book published: 2022
rating: 3
read at: 2022/02/01
date added: 2022/03/11
shelves: arcs
review:
But when is it gonna be MY time to fake date someone, only to end up really falling in love?

“Fake love, I could try because real love lead to nothing more than heartbreak.�


Tropes: fake dating, kinda second chance romance, sports romance, found family trope.

The Kiss List, The second installment in the Fulton U Rivals series, brings us nothing more and nothing less than hilarious shenanigans, sexy times, a swoon-worthy romance, and a little bit of angst...just to keep you on your toes, you know. Kennedy and Cole are definitely not the best of friends. In fact, everyone all know they can't stand each other and love to throw barbs at each other every chance they get, so imagine their friends reaction when they see the two of them acting like a married couple? jaw on the ground. The Puppy Love competition offered two prizes that they didn't want, but NEEDED to win, so with a shared past that no one knew about, they were willing to fake it until they made it. And then things got very real for two people with a lot of emotional issues.

I was surprised by the background of Cole and Kennedy. They both unknowingly came from dysfunctional families, and those shaped them into the adults they are today, bringing a lot of unresolved issues to the table, which ultimately grew them both up. Wariness towards love may be one of the ONLY things they had in common, but in the end, with a few fights and romantic gestures, they got over it too. We also got to see a bit more about the group of friends here, and how knit tight they are, so great found family trope! I definitely can't wait for the next guys to tell their stories, and especially Ezra and his "mysterious girl" from Fulton U.

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
]]> Criminal (Hush, #3) 58028265
On the surface, Talent has it all. The respect from his city, a successful law firm he shares with his brother, and a beautiful woman by his side. But nothing is as it seems. When the workday is over and the lights go down, the charming and sophisticated lawyer loosens his tie and takes rank in the mob he grew up in.

The elusive Lydia Montgomery changed everything the moment she stepped into his office and his heart a year ago and gave him something other than revenge to focus on. As they enter the world of organized crime and balance their public and private lives, Talent sees a new future. But there’s a reason why Lydia’s called Ice Queen.

As a lawyer, he swore to abide by the law. As a made man, he pledged his life to the mafia.

He has one more vow to make.

If only she’ll let him in.]]> Mary Elizabeth M. 3 arcs Character and relationship development, but make it painful and raw!

3.5 | This is like a new take on giving a series a kind of novella-continuation to the series with characters that already had their main book, but I think the author did a good job with it, because she stayed true to the essence of both Lydia and Talent, while also made them grow, apart and together. Lydia Montgomery truly is THE ice queen, the aloof woman who nothing faze her but her man's cold shoulder. And Talent� he remains a man who would give everything for his woman, literally the sweetest, but he reached his limit, so I liked seeing Lydia work for him and try harder to show him her vulnerable side, because Talent has done nothing but exactly that from the very beginning.

Also, I love how the whole series is getting more and more into the dark/mafia setting, so I can't wait for the next story.]]> 4.09 2022 Criminal (Hush, #3)
author: Mary Elizabeth
name: M.
average rating: 4.09
book published: 2022
rating: 3
read at: 2022/02/01
date added: 2022/03/07
shelves: arcs
review:
Character and relationship development, but make it painful and raw!

3.5 | This is like a new take on giving a series a kind of novella-continuation to the series with characters that already had their main book, but I think the author did a good job with it, because she stayed true to the essence of both Lydia and Talent, while also made them grow, apart and together. Lydia Montgomery truly is THE ice queen, the aloof woman who nothing faze her but her man's cold shoulder. And Talent� he remains a man who would give everything for his woman, literally the sweetest, but he reached his limit, so I liked seeing Lydia work for him and try harder to show him her vulnerable side, because Talent has done nothing but exactly that from the very beginning.

Also, I love how the whole series is getting more and more into the dark/mafia setting, so I can't wait for the next story.
]]> Empire of Hate (Empire, #3) 58511146 My boss. My enemy.

I escaped my life.
Leaving everything behind wasn’t easy, but I did it.
I turned the page and flew over the ocean.
This is my new beginning.
My new chapter.
My new book.
Or so I hoped before I met my new boss.
Daniel Sterling.
Rich as sin, illegally attractive, and the face of every magazine cover.
Oh, and the reason why I escaped in the first place.
I made his high school life hell.
He won’t stop until he gives me a taste of my own medicine.

Empire of Hate is a complete STANDALONE. No book should be read prior to this.
Note: This is NOT a dark romance.]]> 384 Rina Kent M. 4 Ms. Kent, please give us an explanation as to why your most hated characters by your most "loyal" fans always end up being some of your best written ones? lmao I know that those people in the previous reviews are pulling their hair out while the others who didn't comment without first knowing the whole story laugh at their expense. A gold star for trying tho!

If you want to know, Nicole Adler is my sister and Silver Queens is our mother, that's right. 3 stars go to Nicole —who I never gave a single thought to, good or bad�, because I didn't expect her to become a main character ever, but this book did a great job recapping from BEFORE Cruel King until the present. She was an amazing character ALL THE TIME —yes, including her mean girl era�, and once you get to know her reasoning I swear to God I shed a few tears for all the times she felt invisible to literally the only person she wanted to really see her, or when he acknowledged her only to berate her for something ]]> 3.91 2022 Empire of Hate (Empire, #3)
author: Rina Kent
name: M.
average rating: 3.91
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2022/03/07
date added: 2022/03/07
shelves:
review:
Ms. Kent, please give us an explanation as to why your most hated characters by your most "loyal" fans always end up being some of your best written ones? lmao I know that those people in the previous reviews are pulling their hair out while the others who didn't comment without first knowing the whole story laugh at their expense. A gold star for trying tho!

If you want to know, Nicole Adler is my sister and Silver Queens is our mother, that's right. 3 stars go to Nicole —who I never gave a single thought to, good or bad�, because I didn't expect her to become a main character ever, but this book did a great job recapping from BEFORE Cruel King until the present. She was an amazing character ALL THE TIME —yes, including her mean girl era�, and once you get to know her reasoning I swear to God I shed a few tears for all the times she felt invisible to literally the only person she wanted to really see her, or when he acknowledged her only to berate her for something
]]> <![CDATA[Hook, Line, and Sinker (Bellinger Sisters, #2)]]> 58283080 friends? Bizarre. But he likes her too much to risk a fling, so platonic pals it is.

Now, Hannah's in town for work, crashing in Fox's spare bedroom. She knows he's a notorious ladies' man, but they're definitely just friends. In fact, she's nursing a hopeless crush on a colleague and Fox is just the person to help with her lackluster love life. Armed with a few tips from Westport's resident Casanova, Hannah sets out to catch her coworker's eye... yet the more time she spends with Fox, the more she wants him instead. As the line between friendship and flirtation begins to blur, Hannah can't deny she loves everything about Fox, but she refuses to be another notch on his bedpost.

Living with his best friend should have been easy. Except now she's walking around in a towel, sleeping right across the hall, and Fox is fantasizing about waking up next to her for the rest of his life and... and... man overboard! He's fallen for her, hook, line, and sinker. Helping her flirt with another guy is pure torture, but maybe if Fox can tackle his inner demons and show Hannah he's all in, she'll choose him instead?

In the follow-up to It Happened One Summer, Tessa Bailey delivers another deliciously fun rom-com about a former player who accidentally falls for his best friend while trying to help her land a different man...]]> 353 Tessa Bailey 0063045699 M. 3 So so sweet, but it didn't hit as hard as It Happened One Summer did for me!

I'm not really picky when it comes to tropes, and I enjoy friends to lovers when it's done well like anyone else, but Hannah and Fox didn't give me much to work with. This was one of my most anticipated releases, and if I'm being honest, I don't think the problem for me was in the trope, but in the lack of plot itself, after a while everything became very circular, and things started to get... boring quickly.

I like Hannah's character for no other reason than I also see myself as a side character sometimes (but it doesn't happen that often, I'm a sagittarius after all). And I think it was cute of her how she related everything to music, and how that sparked a dormant relationship with Henry Cross, her biological father, because I really felt bad for her when she couldn't relate to her past in the same way Piper did. As for Fox, he was okay?? he was a good friend and a good man in general, with a reputation that had long since ceased to depend on him, and no matter what he did he couldn't get rid of it, so that hurt a little because it also affected the way he saw himself, and that's just sad, so it made me happy the way Hannah showed him trust and helped him see that he was so much more than his father's son and his past, BUT I'm not a big fan of the "love can heal everything" trope, so... yep. As for Fox, he was okay?? he was a good friend and a good man in general, with a reputation that had long since ceased to depend on him, and no matter what he did he couldn't get rid of it, so that hurt a little because it also affected the way he saw himself, and that's just sad, so it made me happy the way Hannah showed him trust and helped him see that he was so much more than his father's son and his past, BUT I'm not a big fan of the "love can heal everything" trope, so... yep, there's that.

And about the romance, yeah, it was sweet, with mutual pining and scenes of jealousy when one of them didn't want to acknowledge their feelings, but in truth it didn't make me feel much. It was just fine. The epilogue was wholesome tho so my heart is full.]]> 3.87 2022 Hook, Line, and Sinker (Bellinger Sisters, #2)
author: Tessa Bailey
name: M.
average rating: 3.87
book published: 2022
rating: 3
read at: 2022/03/01
date added: 2022/03/04
shelves:
review:
So so sweet, but it didn't hit as hard as It Happened One Summer did for me!

I'm not really picky when it comes to tropes, and I enjoy friends to lovers when it's done well like anyone else, but Hannah and Fox didn't give me much to work with. This was one of my most anticipated releases, and if I'm being honest, I don't think the problem for me was in the trope, but in the lack of plot itself, after a while everything became very circular, and things started to get... boring quickly.

I like Hannah's character for no other reason than I also see myself as a side character sometimes (but it doesn't happen that often, I'm a sagittarius after all). And I think it was cute of her how she related everything to music, and how that sparked a dormant relationship with Henry Cross, her biological father, because I really felt bad for her when she couldn't relate to her past in the same way Piper did. As for Fox, he was okay?? he was a good friend and a good man in general, with a reputation that had long since ceased to depend on him, and no matter what he did he couldn't get rid of it, so that hurt a little because it also affected the way he saw himself, and that's just sad, so it made me happy the way Hannah showed him trust and helped him see that he was so much more than his father's son and his past, BUT I'm not a big fan of the "love can heal everything" trope, so... yep. As for Fox, he was okay?? he was a good friend and a good man in general, with a reputation that had long since ceased to depend on him, and no matter what he did he couldn't get rid of it, so that hurt a little because it also affected the way he saw himself, and that's just sad, so it made me happy the way Hannah showed him trust and helped him see that he was so much more than his father's son and his past, BUT I'm not a big fan of the "love can heal everything" trope, so... yep, there's that.

And about the romance, yeah, it was sweet, with mutual pining and scenes of jealousy when one of them didn't want to acknowledge their feelings, but in truth it didn't make me feel much. It was just fine. The epilogue was wholesome tho so my heart is full.
]]> <![CDATA[Terms and Conditions (Dreamland Billionaires, #2)]]> 58353827 Declan
I’m destined to become the next CEO of my family’s media empire.
The only problem? My grandfather’s inheritance clause.
Fulfilling his dying wish of getting married and having an heir seemed impossible until my assistant volunteers for the job.
Our marriage was supposed to be the perfect solution to my biggest problem.
But the more we act in love for the public, the more unsure I feel about our contract.
Caring about Iris was never part of the deal.
Especially not when breaking her heart is inevitable.

Iris
My plan to marry Declan was simple in theory.
Move in together. Throw a wedding. Have a baby.
We set rules to prevent any kind of issues.
Ones that were never meant to be broken, no matter how much Declan tempts me.
But what happens when our fake relationship bleeds into our real one?
Falling in love was never an option.
At least not for me.]]> 435 Lauren Asher M. 5 arcs Consider this my official petition for a lost Kane brother to come out of nowhere because I have dependency issues and 3 books are not nearly enough for me. The campaign to gather enough signs for the petition starts now!!

�I want it all. These are my terms and conditions, take it o leave it bacause I'm not open to negotiations.�

OH. MY. GOD. Where do I even begin when everything about this book was perfection? I'm not kidding when I say that every book by Lauren Asher is better than the last, and in a short amount of time she's right there in the top 5 of my go-to authors.

Terms and Conditiones is the 2nd installment in the Dreamland Billionaires Series, and it met every single one of my expectation! You might think the boss here is Declan Kane, right? WRONG!! my girl Iris Landry was the real person in power, melting all the barriers of this grumpy and controlled man, one sarcastic comment at a time. I just know that she was just biding her time to make Declan her b*tch ]]> 4.20 2022 Terms and Conditions (Dreamland Billionaires, #2)
author: Lauren Asher
name: M.
average rating: 4.20
book published: 2022
rating: 5
read at: 2022/02/01
date added: 2022/02/26
shelves: arcs
review:
Consider this my official petition for a lost Kane brother to come out of nowhere because I have dependency issues and 3 books are not nearly enough for me. The campaign to gather enough signs for the petition starts now!!

�I want it all. These are my terms and conditions, take it o leave it bacause I'm not open to negotiations.�

OH. MY. GOD. Where do I even begin when everything about this book was perfection? I'm not kidding when I say that every book by Lauren Asher is better than the last, and in a short amount of time she's right there in the top 5 of my go-to authors.

Terms and Conditiones is the 2nd installment in the Dreamland Billionaires Series, and it met every single one of my expectation! You might think the boss here is Declan Kane, right? WRONG!! my girl Iris Landry was the real person in power, melting all the barriers of this grumpy and controlled man, one sarcastic comment at a time. I just know that she was just biding her time to make Declan her b*tch
]]> Tramp (Hush, #1) 55021314
After fleeing a tragic past, Lydia’s determined never to go back to the life she left behind at any price. She lands in Grand Haven, California—a city booming with billion dollar corporations and tech money—and everything changes.

Armed with the only lesson she learned from her mother, Lydia builds a life of routine, solitude, and success.

Nothing is out of reach when you’re beautiful.

Nearly a decade after her arrival, Lydia's the highest paid escort in the city, and only the most influential people in Grand Haven can get near her. She's a goddess among her clients, and out of reach to everyone else. Lydia's created the perfect illusion, and no one will take it from her again.

Until a misunderstanding lands her in the office of the city’s most eligible bachelor.

Talent Ridge is Grand Haven royalty. Despite running in the same circles as Lydia’s clients, he’s scandal-free and on his way to being the most powerful man in the area.

Their chemistry is undeniable, but a relationship has the potential to destroy everything they’ve worked for. Especially when Lydia is running from her past, and Talent is running toward a future she can never be a part of.

Beauty and money ’t save them this time.

Are Lydia and Talent willing to give it all up for each other, or will their differences cost too much?]]> 312 Mary Elizabeth M. 3
I fell in love with everything about this book; the plot (something new to me), the pacing, the romance, and the characters and their backgrounds. Lydia is THE ice queen. Trying to escape her past she created this new personality so detached that she doesn't know how to be otherwise. Nothing unfazed her, until Talent Ridge. This man was the sweetest thing ever, not giving up trying to get to Lydia's heart, even when it seemed like a nearly impossible mission from miles away.

I'm not gonna lie, it was infuriating a lot of the time because Lydia is one of those tough to crack characters, but God, when you finally know her backstory and the past she's trying to escape? And the woman she became to avoid being hurt again? It's one of those cases in which you are happy because the fictional character finally found someone who loved her as she deserved!!]]> 3.82 2020 Tramp (Hush, #1)
author: Mary Elizabeth
name: M.
average rating: 3.82
book published: 2020
rating: 3
read at: 2022/02/01
date added: 2022/02/21
shelves:
review:
Lydia Montgomery is a high-end escort. Talent Ridge is the golden boy of Grand Haven with ties to a dark side that few know about. their romance is forbidden, but since an unfortunate encounter they can't seem to escape each other, not when they can't get each other out of their minds.

I fell in love with everything about this book; the plot (something new to me), the pacing, the romance, and the characters and their backgrounds. Lydia is THE ice queen. Trying to escape her past she created this new personality so detached that she doesn't know how to be otherwise. Nothing unfazed her, until Talent Ridge. This man was the sweetest thing ever, not giving up trying to get to Lydia's heart, even when it seemed like a nearly impossible mission from miles away.

I'm not gonna lie, it was infuriating a lot of the time because Lydia is one of those tough to crack characters, but God, when you finally know her backstory and the past she's trying to escape? And the woman she became to avoid being hurt again? It's one of those cases in which you are happy because the fictional character finally found someone who loved her as she deserved!!
]]> Twisted Hate (Twisted, #3) 56688531 He hates her...almost as much as he wants her.

Gorgeous, cocky, and fast on his way to becoming a hotshot doctor, Josh Chen has never met a woman he couldn’t charm—except for Jules f**king Ambrose.

The beautiful redhead has been a thorn in his side since they met, but she also consumes his thoughts in a way no woman ever has.

When their animosity explodes into one unforgettable night, he proposes a solution that’ll get her out of his system once and for all: an enemies with benefits arrangement with simple rules.

No jealousy.

No strings attached.

And absolutely no falling in love.

**

Outgoing and ambitious, Jules Ambrose is a former party girl who’s focused on one thing: passing the attorney’s bar exam.

The last thing she needs is to get involved with a doctor who puts the SUFFER in insufferable…no matter how good-looking he is.

But the more she gets to know him, the more she realizes there’s more than meets the eye to the man she’s hated for so long.

Her best friend’s brother.

Her nemesis.

And her only salvation.


Theirs is a match made in hell, and when the demons from their past catch up with them, they’re faced with truths that could either save them …or destroy everything they’ve worked for.

Twisted Hate is a steamy enemies with benefits/enemies to lovers romance. It's book three in the Twisted series but can be read as a standalone.

Warning: It contains explicit content, profanity, and topics that may be sensitive to some readers. For details, please see content notes inside the book. Recommended for 18+.]]> 522 Ana Huang M. 4 arcs Yeah, i'm starting to see the appeal in hate-fucking your "enemy"...

❝All I knew was, he set me ablaze, and I never wanted the fire to go out.�


GODD, I can't even explain the chokehold this group of friends has on me right now... I'm obsessed with their stories, no matter how many times all these tropes have been done before! Twisted hate was a real roller coaster of emotions for me; one moment I was laughing at Jules's reactions, and all the banter and bickering going on between her and Josh, and the next I was on the verge of tears at their sob-worthy stories and all the angst this romance brought to the table... like please give me a break, my heart is VERY weak. This was one of my most anticipated releases of January and it did NOT disappoint; from the main characters, to the plot, the romance, and the side characters doing their own thing, this book had me hooked from the start.

I fell in love with Jules from the first moment (and by this I mean THE FIRST BOOK) because, 1. she's a law student like yours truly, and 2. I KNEW IT! I knew that the funny character always ready to have a good time is ALWAYS one of the ones that keeps the most trauma, and I wasn't wrong; she just had all this pain from her childhood bottled up, always pretending that everything was wonderfully fine, when in reality her mind was full of doubts, fears and insecurities, like please give this girl a free therapy coupon and a hug to my account!! And Josh... this is a love-hate relationship because I'm sorry okay, but I can't get over the scene when he found out the truth and the way he treated Jules. Like, he was charming and funny, and I loved the way he enjoyed pushing Jules' buttons, but that scene near the end destroyed me, and who's gonna pay for the tears that made me shed? As for the romance, I loved that it was so intense and explosive, and to be honest, my favorite part was the "hate" because these two, they were both so stubborn and feisty, and all those barriers that they had to break down made of the vulnerable moments something so much beautiful and emotional to read.

And now I'm just sad that we're getting to the last book... don't get me wrong, I'm super excited to hear Stella's story, but also I don't want to say goodbye? is it too early to ask for an epilogue book for all couples?

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.]]> 3.98 2022 Twisted Hate (Twisted, #3)
author: Ana Huang
name: M.
average rating: 3.98
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2022/01/01
date added: 2022/02/17
shelves: arcs
review:
Yeah, i'm starting to see the appeal in hate-fucking your "enemy"...

❝All I knew was, he set me ablaze, and I never wanted the fire to go out.�


GODD, I can't even explain the chokehold this group of friends has on me right now... I'm obsessed with their stories, no matter how many times all these tropes have been done before! Twisted hate was a real roller coaster of emotions for me; one moment I was laughing at Jules's reactions, and all the banter and bickering going on between her and Josh, and the next I was on the verge of tears at their sob-worthy stories and all the angst this romance brought to the table... like please give me a break, my heart is VERY weak. This was one of my most anticipated releases of January and it did NOT disappoint; from the main characters, to the plot, the romance, and the side characters doing their own thing, this book had me hooked from the start.

I fell in love with Jules from the first moment (and by this I mean THE FIRST BOOK) because, 1. she's a law student like yours truly, and 2. I KNEW IT! I knew that the funny character always ready to have a good time is ALWAYS one of the ones that keeps the most trauma, and I wasn't wrong; she just had all this pain from her childhood bottled up, always pretending that everything was wonderfully fine, when in reality her mind was full of doubts, fears and insecurities, like please give this girl a free therapy coupon and a hug to my account!! And Josh... this is a love-hate relationship because I'm sorry okay, but I can't get over the scene when he found out the truth and the way he treated Jules. Like, he was charming and funny, and I loved the way he enjoyed pushing Jules' buttons, but that scene near the end destroyed me, and who's gonna pay for the tears that made me shed? As for the romance, I loved that it was so intense and explosive, and to be honest, my favorite part was the "hate" because these two, they were both so stubborn and feisty, and all those barriers that they had to break down made of the vulnerable moments something so much beautiful and emotional to read.

And now I'm just sad that we're getting to the last book... don't get me wrong, I'm super excited to hear Stella's story, but also I don't want to say goodbye? is it too early to ask for an epilogue book for all couples?

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
]]> The Rake (Boston Belles, #4) 51248391
Emmabelle Penrose has cruised through life never needing a man, a plan that has worked stunningly well until about five minutes ago, when she decided she must have a baby.

Devon Whitehall is 6�2� of premium DNA, financial security, and British royal titles. Best of all, he fears the one thing she dreads the most: getting hitched.

Emmabelle figures it’s a no-brainer when Devon offers his services—sperm and involvement in her future child’s life.

What begins as an innocent, modern-family arrangement, quickly erodes into a web of lies, dark pasts, and unfurled secrets.

Inside this chaos, Emmabelle and Devon are forced to face the awful truth—they are capable of love.

Even worse, they might feel it toward each other.]]> 416 L.J. Shen M. 1 An amazing CillianPersy sequel ]]> 3.80 2022 The Rake (Boston Belles, #4)
author: L.J. Shen
name: M.
average rating: 3.80
book published: 2022
rating: 1
read at: 2022/02/16
date added: 2022/02/16
shelves:
review:
An amazing CillianPersy sequel
]]> <![CDATA[Pieces of Me (Pieces Duet, #2)]]> 55361459 “I loved you then,
I love you now,
and I’ve loved you every single day in between.�

Jameson Taylor is a nomad. A drifter. A memory collector.
Or, at least, that’s what’s become of her life ever since she was forced to leave pieces of her fractured heart behind.

“This is the fault in our fate, our one undoing:
All he’s ever wanted is my happiness,
even when it costs him his own.�

Holden Eastwood is resentful. Angry. But most of all, hurt.
Torn to pieces by the girl who left him, he struggles to find forgiveness in the organ she once broke.

When a tragedy forces them to face the aftermath, Jamie seeks acceptance, while Holden searches for answers.
What they find, instead, are remnants of their love.
Fragments of forever.
And parts of a puzzle that will lead them to the truth�
A truth that might shatter them to pieces.]]> Jay McLean M. 3 arcs Don't you think it's beautiful when books help you discover parts of yourself that you didn't know yet? for example, this book taught me that it's easier for me to act out my own problems by crying about fictional characters, even if the story has nothing to do with me.

Tropes: right person wrong time, hate to love, forced proximity, popular guy/outcast, second chance romance.

Pieces of You � 3 stars.

I know I'm super late, but I finally found the courage to finish this duology. Yep, I was super scared about the things this book would reveal, and I was right! I suffered so much with this story, Jay and her words really made me go through a lot of emotions, from angst, to rage, to pain, to silly smiles and happiness... a total roller coaster ]]> 4.01 2022 Pieces of Me (Pieces Duet, #2)
author: Jay McLean
name: M.
average rating: 4.01
book published: 2022
rating: 3
read at: 2022/02/01
date added: 2022/02/12
shelves: arcs
review:
Don't you think it's beautiful when books help you discover parts of yourself that you didn't know yet? for example, this book taught me that it's easier for me to act out my own problems by crying about fictional characters, even if the story has nothing to do with me.

Tropes: right person wrong time, hate to love, forced proximity, popular guy/outcast, second chance romance.

Pieces of You � 3 stars.

I know I'm super late, but I finally found the courage to finish this duology. Yep, I was super scared about the things this book would reveal, and I was right! I suffered so much with this story, Jay and her words really made me go through a lot of emotions, from angst, to rage, to pain, to silly smiles and happiness... a total roller coaster
]]> <![CDATA[The Plan (The Wolves: A Football Dynasty, #2)]]> 58863815
Especially if he's anything like Erik Wilder: former football player, world class know-it-all and unapologetic grump.

To be clear, I didn't want a bodyguard (hence the fake dating idea). Most days, I ’t figure out why he wants the job either. We drive each other insane, probably because we’re as opposite as two people can be.

He’s suspicious, never talks about his past and has the comfort skills of a cactus. I’m a happily ever after kinda girl who knows exactly what she wants out of life.

Erik’s words might say that the lines have to stay firm between us, but those dark eyes of his? They tell another story when he looks at me.

He’s just as stubborn as I am, but when our fake dating plan starts to feel a lot more real, it's only a matter of time before his professional walls come crashing down.

I just have to hope my heart doesn't get buried in the rubble.]]> 320 Karla Sorensen M. 5 arcs Do I like sports? No. Will that stop me from reading these books? Also big NOPE, not when every new book is better than the last! at this rate I'll never be able to leave the washington wolves universe... I feel like an honorary member of the family!

Tropes: fake dating, bodyguard/client, grumpy-sunshine, sports romance, age gap.

Lydia Pierson most definitely does NOT need a bodyguard/babysitter... but her family who has seen her holed up in her old room at her parents' house for months after the car accident caused by paparazzi think otherwise. Erik Wilder is NOT a bodyguard, but after an injury ended his dream of playing professionally and also took a hit in his personal life —leaving him wary of love� that's what he's doing now. And when a football legend comes to him for help? he can't say no, but he also doesn't know what a hurricane Lydia Pierson is. Perhaps taking on grumpy, silent ex-football player Erik Wilder as a bodyguard is the first step in the right direction for her...and him.

GODDD I'm so in love with every person and couple in this universe! I'm always afraid of the next generations, but Karla really knows what she's doing introducing these new characters, while keeping the old ones (with the same essence!!) around. Lydia was A-MAZ-ING. Not only physically she was like her mother, but also her personality, a hurricane in every sense of the word. She is this girl "stuck" in this influencer life that she is growing sick of because that was never her true plan, and the accident and all its consequences was only the beginning of her journey to find herself; She was funny and driven, and she was also so considerate of everyone who came her way, her intention was always to help.

Lydia was also a bit chatty... the complete opposite of Erik. This character fought so hard not to give an inch of his heart to Lydia, only to lose the battle in a matter of seconds, even if he didn't want to acknowledge it at first. All we know is that he's a former football player who left the field after an injury and never came back, but then when you learn his story? the real reason why he was ready to leave that life and never come back? And how did it all end for him? the reason why he is so lonely and closed now? how to hug a fictional character yahoo answers ]]> 4.11 2022 The Plan (The Wolves: A Football Dynasty, #2)
author: Karla Sorensen
name: M.
average rating: 4.11
book published: 2022
rating: 5
read at: 2022/02/04
date added: 2022/02/10
shelves: arcs
review:
Do I like sports? No. Will that stop me from reading these books? Also big NOPE, not when every new book is better than the last! at this rate I'll never be able to leave the washington wolves universe... I feel like an honorary member of the family!

Tropes: fake dating, bodyguard/client, grumpy-sunshine, sports romance, age gap.

Lydia Pierson most definitely does NOT need a bodyguard/babysitter... but her family who has seen her holed up in her old room at her parents' house for months after the car accident caused by paparazzi think otherwise. Erik Wilder is NOT a bodyguard, but after an injury ended his dream of playing professionally and also took a hit in his personal life —leaving him wary of love� that's what he's doing now. And when a football legend comes to him for help? he can't say no, but he also doesn't know what a hurricane Lydia Pierson is. Perhaps taking on grumpy, silent ex-football player Erik Wilder as a bodyguard is the first step in the right direction for her...and him.

GODDD I'm so in love with every person and couple in this universe! I'm always afraid of the next generations, but Karla really knows what she's doing introducing these new characters, while keeping the old ones (with the same essence!!) around. Lydia was A-MAZ-ING. Not only physically she was like her mother, but also her personality, a hurricane in every sense of the word. She is this girl "stuck" in this influencer life that she is growing sick of because that was never her true plan, and the accident and all its consequences was only the beginning of her journey to find herself; She was funny and driven, and she was also so considerate of everyone who came her way, her intention was always to help.

Lydia was also a bit chatty... the complete opposite of Erik. This character fought so hard not to give an inch of his heart to Lydia, only to lose the battle in a matter of seconds, even if he didn't want to acknowledge it at first. All we know is that he's a former football player who left the field after an injury and never came back, but then when you learn his story? the real reason why he was ready to leave that life and never come back? And how did it all end for him? the reason why he is so lonely and closed now? how to hug a fictional character yahoo answers
]]> Mr. Smithfield (Mister #3) 57309780 Wanted: American nanny for an adorable four-year-old. Must be able to handle a moody, brooding, sexy British boss.

I’m a single father, a lawyer and some say the most serious man in London. I’m completely focused on raising my four-year-old daughter.

Since my wife walked out three years ago, the only woman who has ever caught my eye is the strictly off-limits sister-in-law of my best friend, Autumn Lumen.

But temptation is easy to resist because Autumn is only visiting London from Oregon.

Until she moves to London. The nanny quits. And she’s the only woman for the job.]]> 300 Louise Bay 1910747645 M. 1
2) I thought this was a standalone? It's my first book by this author and looking at the other covers I can now deduce that it is an interconnected series, but this was not a standalone at all. There's nothing about the first time they met, about how she got the babysitting job, NOTHING. This starts with them living together and that's it. It felt like there were a lot of missing pieces.

3) the side characters... yeah, nope. Usually with this type of series later I feel the need to read about the other characters, but it's not the case here. Autumn's sister? annoying. the other men here? pretty meh and sometimes annoying too.

My favorite part was little Bethany's moments, but even that couldn't save this book ]]> 3.77 2021 Mr. Smithfield (Mister #3)
author: Louise Bay
name: M.
average rating: 3.77
book published: 2021
rating: 1
read at: 2021/04/15
date added: 2022/02/09
shelves:
review:
1) Promoted as grumpy-sunshine and single dad trope, and the woman here was indeed pure sunshine, but Gabriel? maybe I got the wrong definition of grumpy, but he was just boring through the ENTIRE book. ZzzzZZZZzzZ is everything he made me feel.

2) I thought this was a standalone? It's my first book by this author and looking at the other covers I can now deduce that it is an interconnected series, but this was not a standalone at all. There's nothing about the first time they met, about how she got the babysitting job, NOTHING. This starts with them living together and that's it. It felt like there were a lot of missing pieces.

3) the side characters... yeah, nope. Usually with this type of series later I feel the need to read about the other characters, but it's not the case here. Autumn's sister? annoying. the other men here? pretty meh and sometimes annoying too.

My favorite part was little Bethany's moments, but even that couldn't save this book
]]> <![CDATA[Reckless (Wildrose Landing #3)]]> 59132581
When my brother’s best friend asks me to marry him—right after we fell into bed together!—it’s not for love. And it’s certainly not because he has his eyes set on a happily ever after.

Oh no.

He wants me to be the future Mrs. Malone because he’s in a bind and “kind of needs a wife.�

But I’ve been head-over-heels, stupid-in-the-brain in love with the guy since I was sixteen. SIXTEEN.

While he’s talking about a business proposal, I’m staring at a dream come true.

Obviously, I should walk away from this crazy idea with my head held high, but when it comes to Jude, I’m weak. I always have been.

Plus, after our drunken rendezvous the night of my brother’s wedding, I’ve got some very real reasons to say yes.

I can get through this with my heart intact…’t I?]]> 376 Abby Brooks M. 3 arcs
Tropes: marriage of convenience, unexpected pregnancy, kinda second chance romance, small town. Can be read as a standalone.

I was expecting a light romcom but this book really said "Nope, I'm not gonna make it easy for you", and it ended up being completely emotional! Izzy has always had a crush on Jude, and when he finally gave her the time of day, he also asked her to marry him...as a favor. But this character was so understanding about Jude's situation that she ended up accepting it anyway, even when her own feelings were on the line. And Jude, the funny friend of the group, who always keeps his problems to himself, was a character full of good intentions, but bad executions. Somehow he always ended up screwing it, and that was funny, but it also brought a lot of heartache when both he and Izzy were caught up in her feelings without being able to show them out, still pretending that it was all a fake. Then he got it right, but not before Izzy made a decision for both of them (and frankly that was one of my favorite parts of the book, even if it was painful), and he had to fight. And then the happy ending came, with an extra epilogue and everything. I'm telling you, I discovered these books recently, but I'm loving all these characters; small town romances with a close knit group of friends are my weakness, and this author is really good at hooking you with her light and fun plots, with a dash of angst just to keep you on your toes ]]> 4.38 2022 Reckless (Wildrose Landing #3)
author: Abby Brooks
name: M.
average rating: 4.38
book published: 2022
rating: 3
read at: 2022/01/01
date added: 2022/02/06
shelves: arcs
review:
Jude Malone needs a wife ASAP, and who better for it than Izzy Prescott? she is kind, smart, funny beautiful and independent. She's also hisr best friend's little sister and he's had a little crush on her since way back. And so is she. But that's a topic for another time... surely they can walk free from this arrangement as "friends".

Tropes: marriage of convenience, unexpected pregnancy, kinda second chance romance, small town. Can be read as a standalone.

I was expecting a light romcom but this book really said "Nope, I'm not gonna make it easy for you", and it ended up being completely emotional! Izzy has always had a crush on Jude, and when he finally gave her the time of day, he also asked her to marry him...as a favor. But this character was so understanding about Jude's situation that she ended up accepting it anyway, even when her own feelings were on the line. And Jude, the funny friend of the group, who always keeps his problems to himself, was a character full of good intentions, but bad executions. Somehow he always ended up screwing it, and that was funny, but it also brought a lot of heartache when both he and Izzy were caught up in her feelings without being able to show them out, still pretending that it was all a fake. Then he got it right, but not before Izzy made a decision for both of them (and frankly that was one of my favorite parts of the book, even if it was painful), and he had to fight. And then the happy ending came, with an extra epilogue and everything. I'm telling you, I discovered these books recently, but I'm loving all these characters; small town romances with a close knit group of friends are my weakness, and this author is really good at hooking you with her light and fun plots, with a dash of angst just to keep you on your toes
]]> Empire of Sin (Empire, #2) 58511140 My boss. My sin.

I’m not the type who has one-night stands.
It wasn’t supposed to happen, okay?
A couple of drinks and a sinful British accent later and I’m in bed with a stranger.
Of course, I left first thing in the morning because I’m a responsible adult.
An adult who has a new job that I need in order to keep my double life a secret.
Little did I know I’m not, in fact, responsible.
Because the stranger I left in bed? Yeah, he’s not a stranger after all.
He’s my new boss.
Knox Van Doren might have a charming smile, but a true villain lurks beneath it all.
And like any villain, he’ll use my sin against me...

Empire of Sin is a complete STANDALONE. No other books should be read prior to this.]]> 406 Rina Kent M. 3
Tropes: secret identity, one night stand, office romance. Can be read as standalone.

1. The ghostwriter is back and I'm crossing my fingers that she stays for the next book!!

2. Anastasia Sokolov? my princess. Most of the time Rina Kent comes up with horrible female characters, but for some reason she nailed it here. She was the little mafia princess mafia sheltered her entire life so it was to be expected that the moment she was "free" she would end up submitting to her love interest's ideas, but nope, my girl was smart and even in moments of vulnerability defended her ideas. One of the best characters along with Lia Volkov –best character development�, and Silver Queens –my mother who didn't need any redemption arc because in this house we love bad bitches�.

3. I never thought much about Knox, he was a minor character that didn't catch my attention, but here? good male main character. He was ruthless and determined in his own way, but he also gave us a sweet romance, which I didn't expect so points for that.]]> 4.02 2022 Empire of Sin (Empire, #2)
author: Rina Kent
name: M.
average rating: 4.02
book published: 2022
rating: 3
read at: 2022/02/05
date added: 2022/02/05
shelves:
review:
Just some points that I need to make.

Tropes: secret identity, one night stand, office romance. Can be read as standalone.

1. The ghostwriter is back and I'm crossing my fingers that she stays for the next book!!

2. Anastasia Sokolov? my princess. Most of the time Rina Kent comes up with horrible female characters, but for some reason she nailed it here. She was the little mafia princess mafia sheltered her entire life so it was to be expected that the moment she was "free" she would end up submitting to her love interest's ideas, but nope, my girl was smart and even in moments of vulnerability defended her ideas. One of the best characters along with Lia Volkov –best character development�, and Silver Queens –my mother who didn't need any redemption arc because in this house we love bad bitches�.

3. I never thought much about Knox, he was a minor character that didn't catch my attention, but here? good male main character. He was ruthless and determined in his own way, but he also gave us a sweet romance, which I didn't expect so points for that.
]]> Running Wild (Wild, #3) 56146978
The trouble is, she ’t seem to find anyone who appeals to her even a fraction as much as that burly bush pilot did. Competitive musher Tyler Brady certainly DZ’t, especially not after the heated altercation with the handsome but arrogant, spiteful man.

Or so she thinks.

While volunteering at the Iditarod Sled Dog Race, Marie discovers that first impressions may have been false, and her attraction to Tyler is very real. But his heart belongs to someone else, leaving him with nothing to offer but friendship. Marie’s been down this road before and knows how that ends. Yet, no matter how hard she works to keep from falling for Tyler, it seems she’s doomed to follow her own trail once again.

From the internationally bestselling author of The Simple Wild comes the story of a woman at a crossroads in her life, struggling between the safe route and the one that will only lead to more heartbreak.]]> 370 K.A. Tucker 1990105203 M. 5 arcs This is probably the closest I'll ever get to Alaska, but I really wish that K.A Tucker can continue to write books in this universe... they always end up coming out with beautiful and emotional stories!

Tropes: unrequired love, hate to love.

I know it's hard but I'm asking you to put all your preconceived ideas about Marie aside so you can totally enjoy this one, because this book is just as welcoming and moving as Calla and Jonah's story. I don't think this is Marie Lehr's redemption arc because I don't think she needed one. She was just a woman who misread things and spent years with an unrequited love that she's more than ready to leave behind, but the whole romance thing is proving to be harder than expected when the new man in town came with a closed heart and high walls guarding it.

This story really made me go through a lot of emotions. At first it was a bit awkward to see everything related to Jonah and Calla from Marie's point of view, like... it literally pained me to see how badly she understood the situation with Jonah, but she accepted it and from there I could start to see a little more of this character and all the things that went through her head, and I just completely fell for her, like she was such a good person?? with such good intentions?? I was literally rooting for her all the way because she deserved to find that love story. And then we have Tyler and here things get tricky for me... I understand where he was coming from, and even though the dead wife trope is one of my most hated ones I was enjoying this, even the first time he put distance between him and Marie I was eating all that angst, but the second time? after the way he played Marie after knowing all her dreams, her story and her biggest insecurities? I was ready to throw hands!! I believe that he did redeem himself and everything ended as it should, with the ending that I was waiting for, but even so, I was fuming for a few seconds.

As always, it is a pleasure to return to this universe. Not only was this story great for me, but the crumbs were so so good!! I love seeing these characters again and I really hope that we can have more books in this universe, there are still so many characters to meet who need their happy ending!

ARC provided in exchange of an honest review.]]> 4.15 2022 Running Wild (Wild, #3)
author: K.A. Tucker
name: M.
average rating: 4.15
book published: 2022
rating: 5
read at: 2022/01/22
date added: 2022/02/01
shelves: arcs
review:
This is probably the closest I'll ever get to Alaska, but I really wish that K.A Tucker can continue to write books in this universe... they always end up coming out with beautiful and emotional stories!

Tropes: unrequired love, hate to love.

I know it's hard but I'm asking you to put all your preconceived ideas about Marie aside so you can totally enjoy this one, because this book is just as welcoming and moving as Calla and Jonah's story. I don't think this is Marie Lehr's redemption arc because I don't think she needed one. She was just a woman who misread things and spent years with an unrequited love that she's more than ready to leave behind, but the whole romance thing is proving to be harder than expected when the new man in town came with a closed heart and high walls guarding it.

This story really made me go through a lot of emotions. At first it was a bit awkward to see everything related to Jonah and Calla from Marie's point of view, like... it literally pained me to see how badly she understood the situation with Jonah, but she accepted it and from there I could start to see a little more of this character and all the things that went through her head, and I just completely fell for her, like she was such a good person?? with such good intentions?? I was literally rooting for her all the way because she deserved to find that love story. And then we have Tyler and here things get tricky for me... I understand where he was coming from, and even though the dead wife trope is one of my most hated ones I was enjoying this, even the first time he put distance between him and Marie I was eating all that angst, but the second time? after the way he played Marie after knowing all her dreams, her story and her biggest insecurities? I was ready to throw hands!! I believe that he did redeem himself and everything ended as it should, with the ending that I was waiting for, but even so, I was fuming for a few seconds.

As always, it is a pleasure to return to this universe. Not only was this story great for me, but the crumbs were so so good!! I love seeing these characters again and I really hope that we can have more books in this universe, there are still so many characters to meet who need their happy ending!

ARC provided in exchange of an honest review.
]]> The Finisher (Dark Verse, #4) 53473067 What happens when a beast of blood finds a bride of light in the land of death?

Growing up on the streets of Los Fortis, Alessandro 'Alpha' Villanova scrapped his way to the top, fighting for his very survival, losing everything in the process. A city that shunned him then is now the one he rules, albeit alone, as the king of a dark empire few know about.

Far from Alpha's world, Zephyr de la Vega has a normal life, normal family, normal drama. Her biggest problem is people trying to make her lose a few pounds. When a chance encounter puts her on his path, she makes a proposition that changes the course of their lives.

As a killer goes on a spree in Alpha's city, taking apart his scarred empire corpse by corpse, and The Syndicate comes into play, their partnership evolves into something deeper, more enduring, more powerful than either of them anticipated.

Evil ascends. Darkness descends.

A new order is born.]]> 314 RuNyx M. 4 arcs Okay but imagine this scenario: your grandmother left you an inheritance but you can only access to it if you get married before your 29th birthday. Wouldn't you propose to the most fearsome and mysterious man in town? I would definitely do it, seems like a good plan if you ask me!

"My sunshine. Lighting me up from the insides."


Tropes: marriage of convenience, grumpy-sunshine, dark underworld romance, second chance romance.

But how is it possible for this series to get better and better with each new book? I'm obsessed with this universe and how all the mystery fried my brain! and I just can't with how well planned this plot is to make all the pieces fall into place, that's an incredible job Runyx ]]> 4.06 2021 The Finisher (Dark Verse, #4)
author: RuNyx
name: M.
average rating: 4.06
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at: 2022/01/19
date added: 2022/01/22
shelves: arcs
review:
Okay but imagine this scenario: your grandmother left you an inheritance but you can only access to it if you get married before your 29th birthday. Wouldn't you propose to the most fearsome and mysterious man in town? I would definitely do it, seems like a good plan if you ask me!

"My sunshine. Lighting me up from the insides."


Tropes: marriage of convenience, grumpy-sunshine, dark underworld romance, second chance romance.

But how is it possible for this series to get better and better with each new book? I'm obsessed with this universe and how all the mystery fried my brain! and I just can't with how well planned this plot is to make all the pieces fall into place, that's an incredible job Runyx
]]> <![CDATA[Cream and Punishment (King Family, #2)]]> 58451443 She’s not just my ex-girlfriend. She’s my new coworker.

I knew Lucy Dillard was The One the first time I met her. Yes, I’m enough of a sap to believe in love at first sight. When I fell for Lucy, I fell hard. Everything was great between us—until the moment she dumped me.

Now I just want to forget about her. Instead, I’m stuck staring at her face all day. But I need this job, so I’ll find a way to be civil and professional.

There’s just one small problem: I’m nowhere close to being over her.

First, we were lovers. Then enemies. Now we’re trying to be friends.

I didn’t set out to break Tanner King’s heart, but you know what they say about the road to hell.

I’ve got too many responsibilities and no room in my life for love. I can deal with Tanner’s resentment until he starts working at the desk directly across from mine. Obviously, a truce of some kind is required. We’re both grownups. We can handle this situation like professionals.

There’s only one thing threatening this fragile peace we’ve negotiated: all these inconvenient feelings I apparently still have for him.

Cream and Punishment is book #2 in the King Family series set in the small town of Crowder, Texas, home of the King’s Creamery ice cream company. Each book is a standalone, full-length contemporary romance that follows one of the six King siblings as they find and fight for love.]]> 417 Susannah Nix M. 4 arcs
"But I knew with unshakable certainty that Lucy was my soul mate. Against all odds, I’d found the person who completed me and made me whole."


Tropes: second chance romance, office romance, forced proximity, cinnamon roll hero, small town, big family. Can be read as a standalone.

This book must be the sweetest, swoon-worthy thing I've read this month! I haven't read the first book yet, but I already have it ready on my Kindle to get into this family ]]> 3.70 2022 Cream and Punishment (King Family, #2)
author: Susannah Nix
name: M.
average rating: 3.70
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2022/01/01
date added: 2022/01/18
shelves: arcs
review:
"But I knew with unshakable certainty that Lucy was my soul mate. Against all odds, I’d found the person who completed me and made me whole."


Tropes: second chance romance, office romance, forced proximity, cinnamon roll hero, small town, big family. Can be read as a standalone.

This book must be the sweetest, swoon-worthy thing I've read this month! I haven't read the first book yet, but I already have it ready on my Kindle to get into this family
]]> The Grump Who Stole Summer 59689559
I never meant to hurt her. Okay, so that might be a lie. The truth is, I just... panicked.
My soul died when I was fourteen, and there was no reviving it.

But when the one person who’d tried made headlines, got dumped by her Ivy League college, and was forced to work in my bookstore, I began to wonder if I needed it when my heart beat faster at just the sight of her.
I began to wonder if I’d been wrong to push her away three years ago, and if she was as I’d hoped and feared—different. If maybe, she could truly accept a guy like me.

All of me. Every vile, cruel, tattered piece.

First, I had to find out a few things.

Would she still smile and laugh when I said something acidic?
Would she still melt beneath the pads of my inexperienced fingers?
Did she still want me as much as I wanted her?
And finally, could she ever forgive an undeserving prick like me?

Something told me I’d regret not finding out.

A complete standalone enemies to lovers romance with dual POV and a happily ever after.]]> 315 Ella Fields M. 3 What does the fact that I really enjoy the miscommunication trope, angsty plots, and asshole characters say about me? is that... is that a red flag?

“I found my end where we began. Heart first, I tumbled into the deep dark I'd once thought would destroyme. And I let it consume me.�


Tropes: second chance romance, forced proximity.

If you've read Ella Fields before, then you already know what you'll find in her books: miscommunication, angst, and flawed characters. This is a warning of sorts.

Alice and Smith have met before and had an instant connection, no matter how different they could be there was something that brought them together... until Smith betrayed her in the worst way. Years later and still with little broken heart, Alice is forced to work in this dilapidated bookstore owned by a hermit –Smith�, so maybe now is the right time to close all those wounds from the past and move on from each other, or not.

There's just something about Ella Fields writing that speaks to your soul and takes you through the full range of emotions together with these characters, so engaging that you can't wait for the next chapter and then you feel a bit empty when you say goodbye to the story. Here we have an early romance cut short, and a chance to finally get it right, but there's also a ton of character development, each with their own baggage that they have to work through to get to the end together. And then there are the characters themselves; they are far from perfect, actually they usually make a lot of mistakes, and that makes them unique and relatable, and seeing their character development makes these stories even more worthy.

These are my favorite kind of books, and as always reading Ella is a pleasure, bye.]]> 3.82 The Grump Who Stole Summer
author: Ella Fields
name: M.
average rating: 3.82
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2022/01/01
date added: 2022/01/12
shelves:
review:
What does the fact that I really enjoy the miscommunication trope, angsty plots, and asshole characters say about me? is that... is that a red flag?

“I found my end where we began. Heart first, I tumbled into the deep dark I'd once thought would destroyme. And I let it consume me.�


Tropes: second chance romance, forced proximity.

If you've read Ella Fields before, then you already know what you'll find in her books: miscommunication, angst, and flawed characters. This is a warning of sorts.

Alice and Smith have met before and had an instant connection, no matter how different they could be there was something that brought them together... until Smith betrayed her in the worst way. Years later and still with little broken heart, Alice is forced to work in this dilapidated bookstore owned by a hermit –Smith�, so maybe now is the right time to close all those wounds from the past and move on from each other, or not.

There's just something about Ella Fields writing that speaks to your soul and takes you through the full range of emotions together with these characters, so engaging that you can't wait for the next chapter and then you feel a bit empty when you say goodbye to the story. Here we have an early romance cut short, and a chance to finally get it right, but there's also a ton of character development, each with their own baggage that they have to work through to get to the end together. And then there are the characters themselves; they are far from perfect, actually they usually make a lot of mistakes, and that makes them unique and relatable, and seeing their character development makes these stories even more worthy.

These are my favorite kind of books, and as always reading Ella is a pleasure, bye.
]]> <![CDATA[Kiss and Tell (Fulton U Rivals, #1)]]> 56674056 "Wouldn't most guys love a no strings attached hook up?"
"Maybe, but most guys don't deserve you. I want to be one who does. And I want to be all tangled up in your strings."

Newly arrived on campus, I knew two things. 1) No one could know my dad was the president of the university and 2) football players were bad news.

My run in, the literal kind with my neighbor cranked up the heat and sparks flew.

A new college campus. A secret bound to explode in my face. And a football player neighbor who is bad news in the best of ways.

Reid Riddick was hotness personified, so of course I literally ran into with him--well, more like he plowed into me.

I didn’t know he was a football player when I started falling and now I ’t stop. A stolen kiss later and my heart races whenever he looks at me from across the quad.

But my secret would spell disaster for him.

I’m the daughter of the college president. The college president who’s been feuding with his football coach for years. Their bitter campus war leaves us teetering on the edges of a divide we ’t see a way across.

Resisting him is more than I can handle. He’s risking it all for me. His team standing. His football season. His pro future.

Throw in a campus gossip site. My out of control new friends. His way too hot roommates. College traditions. A secret campus bar and the only guy who’s ever made me feel like he ’t live without me. And I have one last secret.

Our star-crossed love is my first and I want him to be mine.]]> 389 Maya Hughes M. 3 arcs sports guy focused on reaching the big leagues but who sees his life taken by a whirlwind when the girl of his dreams enters the scene trope as in � The Perfect First �, and the forbidden aspect like in The Fourth Time Charm , then I think you will like this new installment of Maya Hughues introducing us to a new group of friends going through all the ups and downs of college!

“She was a complication I'd have never thought I'd get tangled up in, but now I couldn't walk away.�


Tropes: secret and forbidden romance, sports romance.

Leona has just transferred to St. Francis U from Australia leaving her mother and the big lie that took her away from her father behind, but the lies and secrets don't seem to leave her since she's the daughter of the president of the university −a fact that she prefers to keep to herself�, especially after meeting Reid, a football player with a promising future, but also a vengeful coach who hates Leona's father.

This was another classic MH book; entertaining, sweet (but steamy), with a pinch of angst and and great declarations of love to make up for that. This is just the first installment, but we've already been introduced to a lot of characters; 5 guys and some female characters that I pretty much hope are more than side characters in this new sports universe! we have the easy guy who gets at his worst when a certain someone appear, the quiet and mysterious one with a "friend" that no one knows, and the comic relief that I bet we'll get to know better in the next books, so I can't wait to see what else this new series has in store for us!]]> 4.00 Kiss and Tell (Fulton U Rivals, #1)
author: Maya Hughes
name: M.
average rating: 4.00
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2022/01/05
date added: 2022/01/11
shelves: arcs
review:
If you liked the sports guy focused on reaching the big leagues but who sees his life taken by a whirlwind when the girl of his dreams enters the scene trope as in � The Perfect First �, and the forbidden aspect like in The Fourth Time Charm , then I think you will like this new installment of Maya Hughues introducing us to a new group of friends going through all the ups and downs of college!

“She was a complication I'd have never thought I'd get tangled up in, but now I couldn't walk away.�


Tropes: secret and forbidden romance, sports romance.

Leona has just transferred to St. Francis U from Australia leaving her mother and the big lie that took her away from her father behind, but the lies and secrets don't seem to leave her since she's the daughter of the president of the university −a fact that she prefers to keep to herself�, especially after meeting Reid, a football player with a promising future, but also a vengeful coach who hates Leona's father.

This was another classic MH book; entertaining, sweet (but steamy), with a pinch of angst and and great declarations of love to make up for that. This is just the first installment, but we've already been introduced to a lot of characters; 5 guys and some female characters that I pretty much hope are more than side characters in this new sports universe! we have the easy guy who gets at his worst when a certain someone appear, the quiet and mysterious one with a "friend" that no one knows, and the comic relief that I bet we'll get to know better in the next books, so I can't wait to see what else this new series has in store for us!
]]> <![CDATA[Sincerely, The Puck Bunny (Totally Pucked, #2)]]> 58913043 Briggs Wilson, the NHL’s most notorious bad boy isn’t actually who everyone thinks he is.
He’s kind, compassionate, loyal.
And plot twist?
The best baby daddy ever.
Yep, you read that right.
One night.. One mind blowing night that ended with me having a baby with someone I barely knew.
We had a plan.
Co-parent, raise our son and put him first. Always.
Too bad I never considered actually falling for my charming baby daddy.
Even better?
He wanted our family, more than anything.
The problem?
I have a secret.
One that could destroy everything.

Sincerely,
The Puck Bunny]]> 349 Maren Moore M. 4 arcs 3.75 2021 Sincerely, The Puck Bunny (Totally Pucked, #2)
author: Maren Moore
name: M.
average rating: 3.75
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at: 2022/01/03
date added: 2022/01/03
shelves: arcs
review:
unexpected pregnancy trope always has my back with the cutest moments, and if you don't get it then i'm sorry... for you! (this is a joke btw)
]]> Made in Manhattan 58438547
Violet Townsend has always been a people pleaser. Raised in the privileged world of Upper East Side Manhattan, she always says the right things, wears the right clothes, and never rocks the boat. Violet would do anything for the people closest to her, especially her beloved grandmother. So when she asks Violet to teach the newly-discovered grandson of her friend how to fit in with New York City’s elite, Violet immediately agrees. Her goal? To get Cain Stone ready to take his place as heir to his family company…but to say he’s not exactly an eager student is an understatement.

Born and raised in rural Louisiana and now making his own way in New Orleans, Cain Stone is only playing along for the paycheck at the end. He has no use for the grandmother he didn’t know existed and no patience for the uppity Violet’s attempts to turn him into a suit-wearing, museum-attending gentleman.

But somewhere amidst antagonistic dinner parties and tortured tux fittings, Cain and Violet come to a begrudging understanding—and the uptight Violet realizes she’s not the only one doing the teaching. As she and Cain begin to find mutual respect for one another (and maybe even something more), Violet learns that blindly following society’s rules DZ’t lead to happiness…and that sometimes the best things in life come from the most unexpected places.]]> 304 Lauren Layne 1982152834 M. 4 Just another irrefutable proof that Lauren Layne is the queen of rom-coms... your classic New York romance from Lauren, but with a twist we haven't seen her use before.

Tropes: opposites attract, grumpy-sunshine, forced proximity, fish out of water, lost heir.

4.5 | Cain Stone is the lost heir to a great fortune, but from the time he stepped foot in New York, he knew he didn't fit into that posh society, but that's what Violet Townsend is there for. She has a big problem saying no sometimes, and that's how she found herself caught up in this scheme to make Cain the perfect candidate for his family's legacy, even if most of the time it seems like an impossible mission.

Ahhh, this book... I could literally see this whole story play out like a movie in my mind! Violet and Cain are COMPLETE opposites, and apparently there is nothing in common between them that could bring them closer and leave that first hostile encounter behind... or so they believed from the first appearances, because the forced proximity behind the to turn Cain into the prodigal grandson mission showed them that those differences between them is what they were looking for without even knowing it, being the perfect fit for the other. Although they took their sweet time, so page after page we got to see them both fall for each other in a sweet and steamy romance, but we also got a lot of banter, bickering and witty comebacks to laugh our way to the HEA.

This book really had a bit of everything; Lauren's hooking writing from the start, a well developed sweet and swoon worthy romance, a background to meet the main characters and understand the motives behind the way they acted, amazing side characters who also brought a lot of humor, and a happy ending that we aren't used to seeing from this author.

Thanks to the author and Edelweiss+ for an advanced reading copy.


----
i don't know about you but i just want to live in lauren layne's new york universe...]]> 3.65 2022 Made in Manhattan
author: Lauren Layne
name: M.
average rating: 3.65
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2021/11/01
date added: 2021/12/29
shelves:
review:
Just another irrefutable proof that Lauren Layne is the queen of rom-coms... your classic New York romance from Lauren, but with a twist we haven't seen her use before.

Tropes: opposites attract, grumpy-sunshine, forced proximity, fish out of water, lost heir.

4.5 | Cain Stone is the lost heir to a great fortune, but from the time he stepped foot in New York, he knew he didn't fit into that posh society, but that's what Violet Townsend is there for. She has a big problem saying no sometimes, and that's how she found herself caught up in this scheme to make Cain the perfect candidate for his family's legacy, even if most of the time it seems like an impossible mission.

Ahhh, this book... I could literally see this whole story play out like a movie in my mind! Violet and Cain are COMPLETE opposites, and apparently there is nothing in common between them that could bring them closer and leave that first hostile encounter behind... or so they believed from the first appearances, because the forced proximity behind the to turn Cain into the prodigal grandson mission showed them that those differences between them is what they were looking for without even knowing it, being the perfect fit for the other. Although they took their sweet time, so page after page we got to see them both fall for each other in a sweet and steamy romance, but we also got a lot of banter, bickering and witty comebacks to laugh our way to the HEA.

This book really had a bit of everything; Lauren's hooking writing from the start, a well developed sweet and swoon worthy romance, a background to meet the main characters and understand the motives behind the way they acted, amazing side characters who also brought a lot of humor, and a happy ending that we aren't used to seeing from this author.

Thanks to the author and Edelweiss+ for an advanced reading copy.


----
i don't know about you but i just want to live in lauren layne's new york universe...
]]> <![CDATA[A Partridge and a Pregnancy (Holiday Brothers, #3)]]> 58958099
Instead, I’m here, standing in front of my one-night stand’s house, working up the courage to ring the doorbell and tell him I’m pregnant.

I hate that term—one-night stand. It sounds so cheap and sleezy. Tobias Holiday is neither of those things. He’s handsome and caring. Witty and charismatic. And once, a long time ago, he was mine.

Our one-night reunion was only supposed to be a hookup. A fling with an old lover. A parting farewell before I moved to London and put my feelings for him an ocean away. How exactly am I supposed to explain that to Tobias that I’m having a baby? His baby? Maybe I could sing it. He always loved the silly songs I made up in the shower.

Three French hens, two turtle doves.

And a partridge and a pregnancy.]]> 170 Willa Nash 1950692671 M. 3 So much angst and miscommunication to only be 170 pages... this can only mean one thing: I need to read more books by this author.

Once upon a time, Eva and Tobias were perfect for each other, until she chose the job of her dreams over the man of her dreams. Now, years later, she's back in town and ready for a closure. What she didn't expect was for the closure to turn into a one-night stand, which in turn would turn into an unexpected pregnancy.

Overall, I liked this holiday novella. It was short, but it still managed to give a little background about the characters, their fears and insecurities, why it didn't work out the first time, and what they did this time when the story repeated itself to get it right. The only thorn in my side was the fact that she remained celibate while he had a regular but meaningless hook up (with an acquaintance of hers) and also that we couldn't get to see anything of the pregnancy beyond the morning sickness.]]> 3.61 2021 A Partridge and a Pregnancy (Holiday Brothers, #3)
author: Willa Nash
name: M.
average rating: 3.61
book published: 2021
rating: 3
read at: 2021/12/28
date added: 2021/12/28
shelves:
review:
So much angst and miscommunication to only be 170 pages... this can only mean one thing: I need to read more books by this author.

Once upon a time, Eva and Tobias were perfect for each other, until she chose the job of her dreams over the man of her dreams. Now, years later, she's back in town and ready for a closure. What she didn't expect was for the closure to turn into a one-night stand, which in turn would turn into an unexpected pregnancy.

Overall, I liked this holiday novella. It was short, but it still managed to give a little background about the characters, their fears and insecurities, why it didn't work out the first time, and what they did this time when the story repeated itself to get it right. The only thorn in my side was the fact that she remained celibate while he had a regular but meaningless hook up (with an acquaintance of hers) and also that we couldn't get to see anything of the pregnancy beyond the morning sickness.
]]>