Gabi's bookshelf: all en-US Wed, 16 Apr 2025 17:53:43 -0700 60 Gabi's bookshelf: all 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg <![CDATA[Essential Labor: Mothering as Social Change]]> 58782831 From the acclaimed author of Like a Mother comes a reflection on the state of caregiving in America, and an exploration of mothering as a means of social change.

The Covid-19 pandemic shed fresh light on a long-overlooked truth: mothering is among the only essential work humans do. In response to the increasing weight placed on mothers and caregivers—and the lack of a social safety net to support them—writer Angela Garbes found herself pondering a vital question: How, under our current circumstances that leave us lonely, exhausted, and financially strained, might we demand more from American family life?

In Essential Labor, Garbes explores assumptions about care, work, and deservedness, offering a deeply personal and rigorously reported look at what mothering is, and can be. A first-generation Filipino-American, Garbes shares the perspective of her family's complicated relationship to care work, placing mothering in a global context—the invisible economic engine that has been historically demanded of women of color.

Garbes contends that while the labor of raising children is devalued in America, the act of mothering offers the radical potential to create a more equitable society. In Essential Labor, Garbes reframes the physically and mentally draining work of meeting a child's bodily and emotional needs as opportunities to find meaning, to nurture a deeper sense of self, pleasure, and belonging. This is highly skilled labor, work that impacts society at its most foundational level.

Part galvanizing manifesto, part poignant narrative, Essential Labor is a beautifully rendered reflection on care that reminds us of the irrefutable power and beauty of mothering.]]> 256 Angela Garbes 0062937367 Gabi 0 to-read 3.80 2022 Essential Labor: Mothering as Social Change
author: Angela Garbes
name: Gabi
average rating: 3.80
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/16
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women That a Movement Forgot]]> 36687229 267 Mikki Kendall Gabi 0 to-read 4.37 2020 Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women That a Movement Forgot
author: Mikki Kendall
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.37
book published: 2020
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/16
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones]]> 40121378 Atomic Habits offers a proven framework for improving—every day. James Clear, one of the world's leading experts on habit formation, reveals practical strategies that will teach you exactly how to form good habits, break bad ones, and master the tiny behaviors that lead to remarkable results.

If you're having trouble changing your habits, the problem isn't you. The problem is your system. Bad habits repeat themselves again and again not because you don't want to change, but because you have the wrong system for change. You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems. Here, you'll get a proven system that can take you to new heights.

Clear is known for his ability to distill complex topics into simple behaviors that can be easily applied to daily life and work. Here, he draws on the most proven ideas from biology, psychology, and neuroscience to create an easy-to-understand guide for making good habits inevitable and bad habits impossible. Along the way, readers will be inspired and entertained with true stories from Olympic gold medalists, award-winning artists, business leaders, life-saving physicians, and star comedians who have used the science of small habits to master their craft and vault to the top of their field.

Learn how to:
- Make time for new habits (even when life gets crazy);
- Overcome a lack of motivation and willpower;
- Design your environment to make success easier;
- Get back on track when you fall off course;
...and much more.

Atomic Habits will reshape the way you think about progress and success, and give you the tools and strategies you need to transform your habits--whether you are a team looking to win a championship, an organization hoping to redefine an industry, or simply an individual who wishes to quit smoking, lose weight, reduce stress, or achieve any other goal.]]> 319 James Clear Gabi 0 currently-reading 4.34 2018 Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones
author: James Clear
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.34
book published: 2018
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/16
shelves: currently-reading
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Beyond the Wand: The Magic & Mayhem of Growing Up a Wizard]]> 61062194 From the magical moments on set as Draco Malfoy to the challenges of growing up in the spotlight, get a backstage pass into Tom Felton’s life on and off the big screen in this #1 New York Times bestseller.

Tom Felton’s adolescence was anything but ordinary. His early rise to fame in beloved films like The Borrowers catapulted him into the limelight, but nothing could prepare him for what was to come after he landed the iconic role of the Draco Malfoy, the bleached blonde villain of the Harry Potter movies. For the next ten years, he was at the center of a huge pop culture phenomenon and yet, in between filming, he would go back to being a normal teenager trying to fit into a normal school.

Speaking with great candor and his signature humor, Tom shares his experience growing up as part of the wizarding world while also trying to navigate the muggle world. He tells stories from his early days in the business like his first acting gig where he was mistaken for fellow blonde child actor Macaulay Culkin and his Harry Potter audition where, in a very Draco-like move, he fudged how well he knew the books the series was based on (not at all). He reflects on his experiences working with cinematic greats such as Alan Rickman, Sir Michael Gambon, Dame Maggie Smith, and Ralph Fiennes (including that awkward Voldemort hug). And, perhaps most poignantly, he discusses the lasting relationships he made over that decade of filming, including with Emma Watson, who started out as a pesky nine-year-old whom he mocked for not knowing what a boom mic was but who soon grew into one of his dearest friends. Then, of course, there are the highs and lows of fame and navigating life after such a momentous and life-changing experience.

Tom Felton’s Beyond the Wand is an entertaining, funny, and poignant must-read for any Harry Potter fan. Prepare to meet a real-life wizard.]]> 288 Tom Felton 1538741369 Gabi 0 to-read 4.28 2022 Beyond the Wand: The Magic & Mayhem of Growing Up a Wizard
author: Tom Felton
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.28
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/16
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Gold (The Plated Prisoner, #5)]]> 61314205 "Find me in another life. Find me in them all."

Every end is also a beginning.

I thought I was going to die, and would have if it weren’t for Slade. The only way he could save me was to open a rip between worlds. The only way for me to save myself was to go through it.

Sometimes, fleeing one dangerous place just brings you to another.

Annwyn.

The realm of the fae.

There is magic and beauty here, though around every corner, threats lurk.

But I’m a threat too.

I’m not a girl in a gilded cage anymore, and no one is going to stop me from finding my way back to Slade.

But returning home means facing danger and secrets. So I have to burn bright enough to light my own way�

Or else I might be swallowed by the dark.

Please note: This adult fantasy book includes dark elements that may be triggering, including violence, cruelty, death, adult language, and explicit romance. It is intended for ages 18 years and older. Read at your own discretion.]]> 646 Raven Kennedy Gabi 0 to-read 4.10 2023 Gold (The Plated Prisoner, #5)
author: Raven Kennedy
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.10
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/16
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Of Flames and Fallacies (The Arterian, #1)]]> 222604868 Possession of dragon contraband in the Arterian kingdom is a guaranteed brutal execution.

When twenty-two-year-old Katerina Blackwind finds a dragon egg buried in her father’s grave, she begins to question everything she thought she knew. She must return the forbidden dragon hatchling—Daeja—north to the secretive Dragon where dragons roam free and a rebellion group resides.


But she can’t do it on her own � smuggling a dragon hatchling across the realm during a war between Arterians and rebels means she can be killed by either side. She knows there’s only one person she can truly trust, her old flame, Cole Ashbourne.


Yet, Cole is much different than the last time Kat saw deliciously chiseled in all the right places with a raw power lingering beneath the surface. Cole is torn between his responsibilities as a newly-promoted Captain in the King’s military, and his heart.


Kat works on a plan to get Daeja to the Dragon Lands while keeping a low profile at the military outpost. Though, having a room next to the sinisterly provocative Darian Raventhorn proves to be anything but easy.


Danger lurks at every turn, and as more secrets are unearthed, Kat is left to question everything she thought she knew about dragons, her family, love, and the kingdom.]]> 496 Courtney Whims Gabi 4
Everything about this book was such a surprise to me and I really had the BEST TIME reading it.

This book has so many I already loved & new things that I never realized I was missing ]]> 4.09 Of Flames and Fallacies (The Arterian, #1)
author: Courtney Whims
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.09
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/15
date added: 2025/04/15
shelves:
review:
4.25⭐️ THIS BOOK WAS SO FUN

Everything about this book was such a surprise to me and I really had the BEST TIME reading it.

This book has so many I already loved & new things that I never realized I was missing
]]> <![CDATA[Hollow Heathens: Book of Blackwell (Tales of Weeping Hollow, #1)]]> 55504599
Once upon a time, there lived a girl named Fallon who was taken far away from home shortly after she was born. 
A home that held more than strange traditions and bizarre superstitions.
Twenty-four years later, she returned to Weeping Hollow, a town she’d only heard about in stories during restless nights under a marble moon, in the middle of the night to take care of her last living relative. 
They called the nosy mortician a freakshow–a ghastly thing.
They said I couldn’t go near her.
Still, there was this aching pull to Fallon Grimaldi that I couldn’t escape.
A nostalgic pull as if we’d been here before.

Once upon a time, there lived a mysterious boy named Julian with a curse as old as centuries wrapped around his soul. 
He was one of the four Hollow Heathens, the very dark creatures who caused the town’s people to live in fear. 
And the Blackwell name was stained with darkness and death.
They called him a monster. Cold and hollow.
They said I shouldn’t go near him.
Still, there was this aching pull to Julian Blackwell that I couldn’t escape.
A nostalgic pull as if we’d been here before. ]]> 475 Nicole Fiorina 1735204722 Gabi 0 to-read 3.85 2020 Hollow Heathens: Book of Blackwell (Tales of Weeping Hollow, #1)
author: Nicole Fiorina
name: Gabi
average rating: 3.85
book published: 2020
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/15
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Oathbound (The Legendborn Cycle, #3)]]> 214151316
Bree Matthews is alone. She exiled herself from the Legendborn Order, cut her ancestral connections, and turned away from the friends who can’t understand the impossible cost of her powers. This is the only way to keep herself—and those she loves—safe.

But Bree’s decision has come with a terrible price: an unbreakable bargain with the Shadow King himself, a shapeshifter who can move between humanity, the demon underworld, and the Legendborn secret society. In exchange for training to wield her unprecedented abilities, Bree has put her future in the Shadow King’s hands—and unwittingly bound herself to do his bidding as his new protégé.

Meanwhile, the other Scions must face war with their Round Table fractured, leaderless, and missing its Kingsmage, as Selwyn has also disappeared. When Nick is detained by the Order’s Merlins, he invokes an ancient law that requires the High Council of Regents to convene at the Northern Keep and grant him an audience. No one knows what he will demand of them...or what secrets he has kept hidden from the Table.

As a string of mysterious kidnappings escalates and Merlins are found dead, it becomes clear that no matter how hard Bree runs from who she is, the past will always find her.]]> 656 Tracy Deonn 1665951907 Gabi 0 currently-reading 4.42 2025 Oathbound (The Legendborn Cycle, #3)
author: Tracy Deonn
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.42
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/15
shelves: currently-reading
review:

]]> Say You'll Remember Me 216437557 From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Just for the Summer comes a new playful yet deeply emotional contemporary romance.

There might be no such a thing as a perfect guy, but Xavier Rush comes disastrously close. A gorgeous veterinarian giving Greek god vibes—all while cuddling a tiny kitten? Immediately yes. That is until Xavier opens his mouth and proves that even sculpted gods can say the absolute wrong thing. Like, really wrong. Of course, there’s nothing Samantha loves more than proving an asshole wrong�

. . . unless, of course, he can admit he made a mistake. But after one incredible and seemingly endless date—possibly the best in living history—Samantha is forced to admit the truth, that her family is in crisis and any kind of relationship would be impossible. Samantha begs Xavier to forget her. To remember their night together as a perfect moment, as crushing as that may be.

Only no amount of distance or time is nearly enough to forget that something between them. And the only thing better than one single perfect memory is to make a life—and even a love—worth remembering.]]> 416 Abby Jimenez 0349442827 Gabi 4
I just love Abby Jimenez and everything she writes. She captures different human experiences so beautifully & this was no exception!!

I’ve heard some criticism that this book “is not romantic� & frankly - I completely disagree. I think this is one of the MOST romantic books of hers (if not, the most). Xavier and Samantha are the epitome of loving through the mundane and normal parts of life. It’s not big or flashy & it’s not easy. This is a story of TRULY unconditional love! And so unique from most contemporary romance books I’ve read. It doesn’t rely on tropes or gimmicks and it’s so raw & real.

I will continue to read everything by Abby Jimenez]]> 4.19 2025 Say You'll Remember Me
author: Abby Jimenez
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.19
book published: 2025
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/14
date added: 2025/04/14
shelves:
review:
4.5⭐️ for now but likely to increase as I simmer on this!!!

I just love Abby Jimenez and everything she writes. She captures different human experiences so beautifully & this was no exception!!

I’ve heard some criticism that this book “is not romantic� & frankly - I completely disagree. I think this is one of the MOST romantic books of hers (if not, the most). Xavier and Samantha are the epitome of loving through the mundane and normal parts of life. It’s not big or flashy & it’s not easy. This is a story of TRULY unconditional love! And so unique from most contemporary romance books I’ve read. It doesn’t rely on tropes or gimmicks and it’s so raw & real.

I will continue to read everything by Abby Jimenez
]]> <![CDATA[Feathers So Vicious (Court of Ravens, #1)]]> 218393880
Perched between branches and shadows,
We watch, we scheme,
Fighting for a kingdom forgotten and forlorn.

Until we rip her away with our claws,
Our prisoner, our pawn, our plaything.

She’s innocent and pure,
Fragile and helpless�
…but oh so guilty by blood.

She calls us beasts,
Wicked and evil,
Vicious and cruel.

We are all that and worse.

One of us offers her shelter beneath his wings,
Whispering promises of pleasure,
Seeking redemption.

The other longs to shatter her into a million pieces,
Whispering promises of pain,
Seeking revenge.

Caught between our feathers,
She endures our deranged desires,
Our secrets, our lies,
Our twisted plans.

Will she surrender to our darkness,
or fight for a destiny growing ever elusive?

Welcome to the Court of Ravens, little white dove.

Feathers so Vicious is a full-length dark fantasy romance novel, and book one in the Court of Ravens duet. The two-part story features two morally gray raven shifters, a young woman at the mercy of their shadows, and a HEA. This world contains dark elements, violence, and themes some may find disturbing. Readers can find more detailed information on the author's website. What this book doesn't contain is a hero - because villains do it better. And two do it better than one…]]> 414 Liv Zander Gabi 3
2.5⭐️

Ya’ll this just wasn’t for me ]]> 4.14 2023 Feathers So Vicious (Court of Ravens, #1)
author: Liv Zander
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.14
book published: 2023
rating: 3
read at: 2025/04/13
date added: 2025/04/13
shelves:
review:
Hey so this is insane……�..

2.5⭐️

Ya’ll this just wasn’t for me
]]> Can't Get Enough 218372325 “Kennedy Ryan pours her whole soul into everything she writes, and it makes for books that are heart-searing, sensual, and life affirming.”―EMILY HENRY, #1 New York Times bestselling author Hendrix Barry lives a fabulous life. She has phenomenal friends, a loving family, and a thriving business that places her in the entertainment industry's rarefied air. Your vision board? She’s probably living it.

She’s a woman with goals, dreams, ambitions—always striving upward. And in the midst of everything, she's facing her toughest challenge caring for an aging parent.

Who has time for romance? From her experience, there's a low ROI on relationships. She hasn't met the man who can keep up with her anyway. Until...him.

Tech mogul Maverick Bell is a dilemma wrapped in an exquisitely tailored suit and knee-melting charm. From their first charged glance at the summer's hottest party, Hendrix feels like she’s met her match. Only he can’t be. Mav may be the first to make her feel this seen and desired and appreciated, but he’s the last one she can have. Forbidden fruit is the juiciest, and this man is off limits if she plans to stay the course she’s set for herself.

But when Maverick gives chase—pursuing her, spoiling her, understanding her—is it time to let herself have something more?


A deeply moving and personal novel about sacrifice, self-reliance, and finding true happiness from “one of the finest romance writers of our age.� �Entertainment Weekly]]> 448 Kennedy Ryan 1538772809 Gabi 5
I absolutely LOVED Hendrix & Mav SO much & loved their dynamic.

I am usually do enjoy a billionaire romance, HOWEVER, I loved this way more than usual because of the success, career, drive, & passion that Hendrix already has. So many billionaire romances feature a love interest who “needs� their money. But I loved that this was different. Mav was able to spoil her & be there for him because of that financial privilege, but he didn’t outshine her or reduce her success.

In addition to that part, which I loved, I also thought the representation for caregiving, Alzheimer’s, and watching your parents age was so beautifully and intentionally done. Kennedy Ryan is a MASTER storyteller and can capture difficult parts of the human experience unlike anyone else!!!

I loved the found family with Yas & Sol & their men & kids! Everything about this was just chefs KISS

Thank you so much to Forever Publishing & NetGalley for the early opportunity to read & review this early ]]> 4.51 2025 Can't Get Enough
author: Kennedy Ryan
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.51
book published: 2025
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/28
date added: 2025/04/10
shelves:
review:
4.5⭐️ !!! AMAZING FINALE TO THIS TRILOGY

I absolutely LOVED Hendrix & Mav SO much & loved their dynamic.

I am usually do enjoy a billionaire romance, HOWEVER, I loved this way more than usual because of the success, career, drive, & passion that Hendrix already has. So many billionaire romances feature a love interest who “needs� their money. But I loved that this was different. Mav was able to spoil her & be there for him because of that financial privilege, but he didn’t outshine her or reduce her success.

In addition to that part, which I loved, I also thought the representation for caregiving, Alzheimer’s, and watching your parents age was so beautifully and intentionally done. Kennedy Ryan is a MASTER storyteller and can capture difficult parts of the human experience unlike anyone else!!!

I loved the found family with Yas & Sol & their men & kids! Everything about this was just chefs KISS

Thank you so much to Forever Publishing & NetGalley for the early opportunity to read & review this early
]]> Enchantra (Wicked Games, #2) 217182344 Ready or Not meets Throne of the Fallen in a spicy, enemies-to-lovers fantasy romance, where an Italian getaway turns deadly after a young woman is trapped in her host family's cursed game.

Ready or not, the game has begun.

Genevieve Grimm has felt adrift ever since her sister became the head of the family. So when a mysterious friend of their mother's invites her to Italy, she accepts. She arrives at his grand palace, expecting passion and magic, decadence and luxury... perhaps even a midnight ball.

She doesn't expect the owner's ruthlessly handsome son to slam the door in her face. Rowin Silver is tall, dark, and exceptionally rude, and invitation or not, he demands Genevieve leave and never come back. But Genevieve follows nobody's orders, especially those of arrogant rich boys. She slips inside—and immediately discovers her mistake.

Rowin and his family are caught in an insidious game of hide and seek, where only one can win. The rest will be trapped in Hell... until the competition begins again.

Genevieve must either join the hunt or forfeit any hope of escaping. But to her dismay, her best chance of survival lies with Rowin. Since lovers may play as a pair, Rowin and Genevieve agree to form an alliance under the guise of a fake courtship. However, as they race through the game's elaborate labyrinth, trapped among gleaming gold and shining marble, their loathing gives way to irresistible attraction. Only Rowin is keeping secrets, especially when it comes to his ruthless family, and Genevieve can't help but wonder if she's trapped in two treacherous games: Enchantra and the one Rowin is playing with her heart.]]> 448 Kaylie Smith 1538770806 Gabi 4 4.39 2025 Enchantra (Wicked Games, #2)
author: Kaylie Smith
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.39
book published: 2025
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/10
date added: 2025/04/10
shelves:
review:
4.25⭐️ FUN & entertaining & spiccyyyyy stars for Rowin & Vivi
]]> In the Wild Light 44287012
But when Delaney manages to secure both of them full rides to an elite prep school in Connecticut, Cash will have to grapple with his need to protect and love Delaney, and his love for the grandparents who saved him and the town he would have to leave behind.

From the award-winning author of The Serpent King comes a beautiful examination of grief, found family, and young love.]]> 432 Jeff Zentner 1524720240 Gabi 0 to-read 4.44 2021 In the Wild Light
author: Jeff Zentner
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.44
book published: 2021
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/09
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> James 173754979 A brilliant reimagining of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn—both harrowing and satirical—told from the enslaved Jim's point of view

When Jim overhears that he is about to be sold to a man in New Orleans, separated from his wife and daughter forever, he runs away until he can formulate a plan. Meanwhile, Huck has faked his own death to escape his violent father. As all readers of American literature know, thus begins the dangerous and transcendent journey by raft down the Mississippi River toward the elusive and unreliable promise of the Free States and beyond.

Brimming with nuanced humor and lacerating observations that have made Everett a literary icon, this brilliant and tender novel radically illuminates Jim's agency, intelligence, and compassion as never before. James is destined to be a major publishing event and a cornerstone of twenty-first-century American literature.

Alternate cover edition of ISBN 9780385550369.]]> 303 Percival Everett Gabi 0 to-read 4.47 2024 James
author: Percival Everett
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.47
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/09
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Bound in Inked Flame (Of Crows and Thorns Saga, #1)]]> 228196513 When I signed myself away in marriage, I should have read the fine print. Ink fades—blood binds.

I'm a prisoner, trapped behind gilded gates, my freedom traded for safety. Magic pulses beneath my skin, wild and forbidden. In our world of ruling Houses, wielding such power means death. One slip, one spark—everyone I love dies.

As a princess of the Great House, I should have been untouchable. But in a cruel twist of fate, a ruthless family of enforcers claims the right to choose any bride. Now I'm to marry the infuriating Graysen Crowther. Our loathing is legendary, but with only a wall between us each night, hatred burns into something far more treacherous. One touch and I might lose something far worse than my life—my traitorous heart.

As my control fractures and betrayal tightens its noose, my only chance at survival lies in escaping to seek the monster who holds the truth about my magic. Yet when a bargained kiss unleashes an unbreakable bond, dark suspicion whispers through my bones that I’m caught in a blood-soaked web.

For in this deadly game of power, where trust is a luxury I can't afford, Graysen moves like someone who's been playing long before I knew there was a game.

And his secret might prove more lethal than any forbidden magic.

BOUND IN INKED FLAME is the first book in the OF CROWS AND THORNS SAGA, an epic dark romantasy. Perfect for readers who crave plot-heavy, character-driven sagas drenched in atmosphere and rich world-building—where dark mysteries unravel alongside a slow-burn romance and heart-wrenching choices that threaten to destroy everything. Please note this book ends on a cliffhanger. For content warnings, please check the author’s website.]]> 731 Ava Larksen 1067065903 Gabi 0 to-read 4.40 2025 Bound in Inked Flame (Of Crows and Thorns Saga, #1)
author: Ava Larksen
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.40
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/09
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Things I Wish I Told My Mother]]> 61634056
Every daughter has her own distinctive voice, her inimitable style, and her secrets.

Laurie Ormson is an artist, a collector of experiences. She travels the world with a worn beige duffel bag.

Every mother has her own distinctive voice, her inimitable style, and her secrets.

Laurie’s mother is the famous “Dr. Liz.� An elegant perfectionist. She travels the world with a matched set of suitcases.

When Laurie invites her mother on a trip to Paris and Norway, she sees an unexpected sparkle in her mother’s eyes. So begins Things I Wish I Told My Mother. You will wish this novel never ends.

Laurie and Dr. Liz are the female version of The Odd Couple.

Authors Susan Patterson and Susan DiLallo were inspired to write their moving novel by the shared experience of beloved mothers who lived into their nineties then died in the same year. Their co-author, James Patterson, was usually around to fetch coffee, tea, and sandwiches while the two Susans wrote.]]> 320 Susan Patterson 0316406201 Gabi 3 3.82 2023 Things I Wish I Told My Mother
author: Susan Patterson
name: Gabi
average rating: 3.82
book published: 2023
rating: 3
read at: 2025/04/09
date added: 2025/04/09
shelves:
review:
3.25! I read this for a book club so definitely not my typical genre. I enjoyed it but thought it was rushed. The sentiment at the end was really beautiful & I loved that. Overall, it was good
]]> <![CDATA[Magnolia Parks: Into the Dark (Magnolia Parks Universe, #5)]]> 206054035
How many loves do you actually get in a lifetime? Everyone knows by now that Magnolia and BJ are in the stars, but is that enough?

Magnolia and BJ are reeling from a devastating loss as they try to plan what’s been dubbed “the wedding of the century�. As family tensions mount and their respective pasts begin catching up to them, they finally have to look the truth in the Can they learn to trust and be with one another again, or will they die trying?]]> 720 Jessa Hastings 1398721743 Gabi 5 This is officially one of my absolute favorite series of all time. & Magnolia (& BJ but especially her) is one of my favorite characters in any book, ever. She’s so utterly complete & human & unapologetically herself. I feel like I KNOW her deeply. The way Jessa made these characters so multi-dimensional is truly in a class of her own. I completely understand now how people get so connected to these books because I feel like I will MISS these characters like I’ve never experienced before in another book.

After the ending of The Long Way Home, & then experiencing Magnolia & Julian’s relationship from his perspective in The Great Undoing, I already felt like my heart was torn open ]]> 4.48 2024 Magnolia Parks: Into the Dark (Magnolia Parks Universe, #5)
author: Jessa Hastings
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.48
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2025/04/08
date added: 2025/04/08
shelves:
review:
˾️⭐️ “How many loves do you get in a lifetime?�
This is officially one of my absolute favorite series of all time. & Magnolia (& BJ but especially her) is one of my favorite characters in any book, ever. She’s so utterly complete & human & unapologetically herself. I feel like I KNOW her deeply. The way Jessa made these characters so multi-dimensional is truly in a class of her own. I completely understand now how people get so connected to these books because I feel like I will MISS these characters like I’ve never experienced before in another book.

After the ending of The Long Way Home, & then experiencing Magnolia & Julian’s relationship from his perspective in The Great Undoing, I already felt like my heart was torn open
]]> <![CDATA[Kingdom of Fallen Ash (The Order #1)]]> 202644768
In the dystopian realm of "The Order" society is eternally divided between the privileged Untouchables and the struggling Unfortunates. The Untouchables, draped in opulence and power, govern the city with an iron fist, casting long shadows over the impoverished Unfortunates who toil beneath in the murky depths of the working class.

As the ruling elite revel in excess and luxury, the Unfortunates navigate a world stacked against them, grappling with meager resources and restricted opportunities. The social chasm widens daily as the Untouchables tighten their grip on wealth and influence, leaving the Unfortunates to navigate the shadows cast upon their lives. "The Order" follows the intertwining fates of two sworn enemies—one an ambitious Untouchable seeking to challenge the system from within, struggling to cope as the lies of her society unfold in front of her, the other an Unfortunate yearning for a chance to seek vengeance on any and every Untouchable in his path. Their stories unfold against a backdrop of intrigue, rebellion, and the unyielding determination to break free from the oppressive shackles of a society defined by its merciless class divisions.

The question is, can free will exist in a society this divided?]]> 503 Katerina St. Clair Gabi 0 to-read 4.12 2024 Kingdom of Fallen Ash (The Order #1)
author: Katerina St. Clair
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.12
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/08
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Fearless (The Powerless Trilogy, #3)]]> 214151222 Paedyn and Kai are reunited but face a terrible decision in this thrilling conclusion to the New York Times bestselling romantic fantasy trilogy perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas and The Red Queen.

Paedyn Gray and Kai Azer return to the Kingdom of Ilya�

And Paedyn has a life-altering choice to make. Whatever she decides will determine her fate—and the fate of those around her—forever.

In the ultimate battle of love and loyalty, who wins?]]> 608 Lauren Roberts 1665955465 Gabi 0 to-read 4.40 2025 Fearless (The Powerless Trilogy, #3)
author: Lauren Roberts
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.40
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/07
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[In The Shadows (The Amari, #1)]]> 214305778 Damned by gods and threaded by fates, two mortals must embrace the darkness to find their true destinies.

Lilith Clarke is supposed to be dead: murdered by the vicious King Oren, her blood staining a field of daisies. But death would have been merciful.

After years of having no name, she is finally given a title: Queen of Umbra. But it will cost her everything. Lily is now bound to King Asher, the most powerful and brutal shadow divinus in all of Omnia. Forced to rule in secret, she slowly loses herself to the darkness. She fears it will swallow her whole.

Until he arrives, tugging an ancient thread deep within her soul.

Theodore Kincaid seeks justice in Umbra but falls captive to his sworn enemy, the ruthless King Asher. Trapped in the kingdom that killed his beloved, his fate seems sealed until a chance encounter with the secret Queen of Umbra offers him an opportunity he can’t resist.

Theo and the Queen each believe that they are in full control, but neither is prepared for what the fates have in store.
Amidst a realm on the brink of chaos, two souls collide in a heart-wrenching tale of unveiling secrets, conquering the darkness, and igniting a love that could save or destroy.

In The Shadows is the first book in a new series filled with forbidden romance, enemies-to-lovers, magical powers, fated mates, and political intrigue. It’s perfect for fans of The Serpent and the Wings of Night, Fourth Wing, The Cruel Prince, One Dark Window, and A Court of Thorns and Roses.]]> 496 L.B. August Gabi 5
I NEED BOOK 2 like yesterday!!!!! That ending!!???

Seriously this was so unbelievably unique & literally the best time. The spice, THE TENSION! WOW I’m shook rn.

☑️ forbidden love
☑️ enemies to lovers
☑️ memory loss (done right!!!)
☑️ fated mates
☑️ shadow MOMMY ‼️
☑️ SPICEEEE ]]> 3.83 2024 In The Shadows (The Amari, #1)
author: L.B. August
name: Gabi
average rating: 3.83
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2025/04/04
date added: 2025/04/04
shelves:
review:
UMMM 4.5⭐️ THIS WAS SO STINKING GOOD???

I NEED BOOK 2 like yesterday!!!!! That ending!!???

Seriously this was so unbelievably unique & literally the best time. The spice, THE TENSION! WOW I’m shook rn.

☑️ forbidden love
☑️ enemies to lovers
☑️ memory loss (done right!!!)
☑️ fated mates
☑️ shadow MOMMY ‼️
☑️ SPICEEEE
]]> <![CDATA[The Night Prince (Wolf King #2)]]> 223259676 Aurora is caught between powerful alphas as they fight for the Wolf Throne. But darker forces are rising. . .

The highly anticipated sequel to The Wolf King. Pre-order now!

Aurora may have survived the Wolf King. But his bite marks her skin, and in accordance with Wolf Law, that makes her his property. Now, he wants her back.

To beat him and take his throne, Aurora and Callum must form a dangerous alliance with one of the most feared Wolves in the Kingdom, Blake. He is their enemy, but he has entangled his life with Aurora’s—meaning she cannot harm him without forfeiting her own life.

As she fights to break their connection, she suspects Blake is keeping secrets about a dark power that rises in the north, and the unsettling nature of the bond between them. It seems there is a bigger game at play than who sits on the Wolf Throne—one that threatens both the Kingdom of Wolves, and the Kingdom of Men.

With her wolf awakening, enemies closing in, relationships tested, and secrets revealed—Aurora may be the only one who can stop an ancient evil from rising.

If she can figure out who to trust.

If she can figure out where she, and her heart, belong.

If she can stay alive.

The highly anticipated sequel to The Wolf King. A romantasy for fans of enemies to lovers, shifters, forbidden romance, villains you love to hate (or maybe just love!), and werewolves. Contains strong language and sexual situations.]]> 499 Lauren Palphreyman Gabi 0 to-read 4.43 The Night Prince (Wolf King #2)
author: Lauren Palphreyman
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.43
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/04
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Daisy Haites: The Great Undoing (Magnolia Parks Universe, #4)]]> 63922275 »Daisy Haites - The Great Undoing« ist der vierte Band von Jessa Hastings' TikTok-Sensation, dem Magnolia Parks Universum, und setzt Daisy Haites' Geschichte fort.

Daisy Haites dachte, sie hätte alles in ihrem alten Leben hinter sich die Kriminalität, ihre Familie und den Mann, den sie liebt. Doch als ihre Sicherheit erneut bedroht ist, muss sie wieder zu ihrem Gangsterbruder Julian und ihrem Ex-Freund Christian zurückkehren, die beide verzweifelt versuchen, sie zu beschützen.
Alles wird noch komplizierter, als Magnolia Parks mit einem gebrochenen Herzen auftaucht, und Julian ihr näher kommt als er sollte. Denn sich zu verlieben ist für Julian nicht nur unerwünscht - es könnte für alle Beteiligten tödlich sein ...

In diesem TikTok-Bestseller kehrt Londons attraktivste Gangsterfamilie zurü Daisy und Julian müssen in dieser dramatischen Fortsetzung nicht nur ihr Leben, sondern auch ihre Herzen beschützen.]]> 366 Jessa Hastings 1398717002 Gabi 5
Going to review after I’ve slept on this because I am NOT WELL ]]> 4.47 2022 Daisy Haites: The Great Undoing (Magnolia Parks Universe, #4)
author: Jessa Hastings
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.47
book published: 2022
rating: 5
read at: 2025/04/02
date added: 2025/04/02
shelves:
review:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ !!!!! WHAT JUST HAPPENED

Going to review after I’ve slept on this because I am NOT WELL
]]> <![CDATA[Anathema (The Eating Woods, #1)]]> 209741142 A spellbinding gothic dark fantasy about a shunned woman who is forced beyond the mortal realm's forbidden boundary, into a terrifying world of cursed souls and grotesque creatures.

Only the banished know what lies beyond the woods ...

There are whispers about what lurks in Witch Knell—the forest where sinners go to die. The villagers call it The Eating Woods because what’s taken is never given back. Only those who’ve lost their senses would dare to go near it.

Or the banished.

Maevyth Bronwick knows better than to breach the misty labyrinth of trees, but a tragic turn of events compels her beyond the archway of bones, to a boundary no mortal has crossed before. One that cloaks a dark and fantastical world that’s as dangerous as it is alluring.

It’s there that he dwells, the cursed lord of Eidolon. The one tasked to keep her hidden from the magehood that seeks to crucify her in the name of an arcane prophesy. Zevander Rydainn, known to his prey as The Scorpion, is the coldest, most calculated assassin in all of Aethyria and he’d sooner toss his feisty ward to a pack of vicious fyredrakes than keep her safe.

If only he could.

Maevyth’s blood is the key to breaking his despised curse and vanquishing the slumbering evil in Witch Knell. Unfortunately for Lord Rydainn, fate has other plans for the irresistible little enchantress. And his growing obsession with her threatens to destroy everything.

Including himself.

Anathema is a full-length, gothic dark fantasy, the first book in The Eating Woods duology. Perfect for readers who enjoy a plot-heavy and atmospheric story with a unique magic system, a slow-burn romance and a touch of horror.]]> 688 Keri Lake Gabi 4 4.14 2024 Anathema (The Eating Woods, #1)
author: Keri Lake
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.14
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/22
date added: 2025/04/02
shelves:
review:

]]> The Bond That Burns 221210824 At Bloodwing Academy, blood is currency, but a dragon's legacy is priceless–and as dangerous as fire.

I thought surviving my first year in Bloodwing's deadly halls would be enough. I was wrong.

I accidentally woke a dragon–a creature of myth, of death, of fire.

Now every highblood house wants control over me and the dragon's legacy I carry. But here's the I have no control. I'm bluffing my way through every encounter, trying to keep everyone from realizing that I'm not the one pulling the dragon's strings.

And then there's Blake Drakharrow. I thought he was on my side, that I might even be able to trust him. But he betrayed me. Now I'm his only blood source. How messed up is that? In a place like Bloodwing, where power and survival are everything, this bond may well be the death of us both. Unless I can find a way to end it.

In this world of vampires, dragons, and lies, there are no happy endings. Just legends–and the darkness it takes to make them.


Set in a richly crafted world of vampire courts and dragon lore, On Wings of Blood blends dark academia, a brooding bully with Draco Malfoy energy, forbidden romance, heart-pounding enemies-to-lovers tension, banter, and dangerous intrigue. A full list of Trigger Warnings may be found in the book's interior. ]]> 395 Briar Boleyn Gabi 0 to-read 4.22 The Bond That Burns
author: Briar Boleyn
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.22
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/02
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Before Dawn (Timeless Love Book 2)]]> 221497198 ABIGAIL-ANN ASHER
New York City was supposed to be my fresh start, a chance to leave behind the ghosts of San Francisco and the insecurities that refuse to let me go. I came here to rebuild myself, to prove that I am more than my past.

Then I meet him.

Mikkel Suarez is powerful, magnetic, and heartbreakingly handsome. He’s everything I should avoid—yet every time he looks at me, my walls begin to crack. He makes me want to believe in something I swore I’d given up on. Love. The kind that consumes you. But trusting him feels like a risk I can’t afford.

Because if I fall, I might not survive the landing.

MIKKEL SUAREZ

My life is built on control. Everything in its place. I never questioned what I wanted—until I saw her.

Abigail is a contradiction—strong yet guarded, confident yet wounded—and I can’t stay away. She doesn’t see what I do—her brilliance, her strength, the way she lights up a room. I want to be the man who proves she’s worthy of love.

But she’s not the only one afraid. There are parts of me I never let anyone see� but with her, I want to.

I just have to convince her to stay before she decides she’s better off alone. Because losing her? That’s not an option]]> 591 Jada West Gabi 0 to-read 4.54 Before Dawn (Timeless Love Book 2)
author: Jada West
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.54
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/01
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Beg The Night (Mystics of Ashora Book 1)]]> 225414096 From author Emily Blackwood comes a new dark and twisted romantasy about two powerful mystics and the forces that urge them together—even if they hate each other.

Athena is an earthly. She wields no power, and though war rages across the lands, she lives a relatively normal life in isolation until she’s kidnapped by the Ministry and questioned for the magic they’re certain she possesses.
As she struggles to grasp her new reality, she’s forced into a dungeon with dozens of mystics. Only to discover she’s the only female.
True unleashing of power can only be obtained by the claiming—a mating ritual under the powerful blood moon. But Athena is in luck. Those mating must be willing, and she is certainly not willing to come within a foot of any of her options.
Until she meets Sinner.
Sinner is a tier three—the only three in the entire dungeon, making him the most dangerous and powerful of the men. He has very little interest in getting along with others and prefers to live his life alone.
So it comes as a shock when he volunteers to complete the claiming with Athena. She’s his ticket out of that dungeon, and she knows it.
The two struggle for the upper hand as Sinner tries to convince Athena to mate with him willingly.
But Athena resists. She has a secret, and it’s one the Ministry would do anything to get their hands on.
Can she keep her secret hidden long enough to survive? Or is Sinner the one person who will expose her for what she truly is�a monster?]]> 299 Emily Blackwood Gabi 4
Thank you so much to Emily Blackwood for the early copy ]]> 4.22 Beg The Night (Mystics of Ashora Book 1)
author: Emily Blackwood
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.22
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/31
date added: 2025/03/31
shelves:
review:
4.25 WOWWW i actually loved this & especially the second half�. So good!!! The only reason it’s docked a little bit is because the beginning felt pretty rushed to me & I wanted MOREEE like I needed more detail and world building. But OTHERWISE literally 10/10 this was SO unique, interesting & I truly loved it. Such a quick read & I cannot recommend it enough!!!

Thank you so much to Emily Blackwood for the early copy
]]> Blood Over Bright Haven 208430658 Magic has made the city of Tiran an industrial utopia, but magic has a cost—and the collectors have come calling.

An orphan since the age of four, Sciona has always had more to prove than her fellow students. For twenty years, she has devoted every waking moment to the study of magic, fueled by a mad desire to achieve the impossible: to be the first woman ever admitted to the High Magistry. When she finally claws her way up the ranks to become a highmage, however, she finds that her challenges have just begun. Her new colleagues will stop at nothing to let her know she is unwelcome, beginning with giving her a janitor instead of a qualified lab assistant.

What neither Sciona nor her peers realize is that her taciturn assistant was once more than a janitor; before he mopped floors for the mages, Thomil was a nomadic hunter from beyond Tiran’s magical barrier. Ten years have passed since he survived the perilous crossing that killed his family. But working for a highmage, he sees the opportunity to finally understand the forces that decimated his tribe, drove him from his homeland, and keep the Tiranish in power.

Through their fractious relationship, mage and outsider uncover an ancient secret that could change the course of magic forever—if it doesn’t get them killed first. Sciona has defined her life by the pursuit of truth, but how much is one truth worth with the fate of civilization in the balance?

A standalone dark academia brimming with mystery, tragedy, and the damning echoes of the past. For fans of Leigh Bardugo, V. E. Schwab, and Fullmetal Alchemist.

(Content warnings for gore, sexual assault, and suicidal ideation)]]> 430 M.L. Wang 0593873351 Gabi 0 to-read 4.40 2023 Blood Over Bright Haven
author: M.L. Wang
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.40
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/31
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Magnolia Parks: The Long Way Home (The Magnolia Parks Universe, #3)]]> 168437305
It’s been nearly a year since everything happened between Magnolia Parks and BJ Ballentine on the steps of the Mandarin Oriental, and since then it seems like everything has changed.

Magnolia has a life in New York now and BJ appears to have finally let go and moved on.

But when they both wind up back in London and are thrust together once again, they find themselves asking their age-old How many loves do you actually get in a lifetime, and, most important—are they each other’s?]]> 602 Jessa Hastings 0593474910 Gabi 5
I’m actually going to be physically ill and cannot review until I mentally and emotionally recover x]]> 4.30 2022 Magnolia Parks: The Long Way Home (The Magnolia Parks Universe, #3)
author: Jessa Hastings
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.30
book published: 2022
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/27
date added: 2025/03/27
shelves:
review:
˾️⭐️

I’m actually going to be physically ill and cannot review until I mentally and emotionally recover x
]]> A Vow of Blood and Tears 219513328 Bane

Never did I dream that a woman would cry on our wedding night.

Ten years have passed since humans and vampires allied to defeat the wolves.

Now, to seal the covenant between our people and keep my throne, I must take a mortal bride.

But I’ve gone further than any vampire has gone before—become a fiend, a monster even among my own kind. No woman can lay eyes on me now without horror and fear.

When I first see her, I know I’ve doomed her. But she doesn’t scream in terror.

She fears not my face, but my bestial thirst.

Because of her courage, I will be the remorseless beast who keeps a beauty chained with vows.

And though I crave the taste of her blood�

I will fight the monster within to win her heart and soul.


Cirri

Never did I dream that a monstrous vampire would be the one to hear me.

Voiceless and ignored by the world, I was never considered good enough for anything beyond my indentured servitude—a silent, forgettable shadow.

Until my blood betrayed me.

Chosen by chance as a pureblood bride for the Lord of the Rift, I’ve been sold in marriage to a vampire more hideous than I could’ve imagined.

But despite his savage appearance, he tries to hear my silent words.

He alone learns to read the language of my hands.

He might be a beast, but there is beauty in his soul. For the sake of my people, I will spend a lifetime shackled to this monster�

But for the sake of his heart, I will make myself heard.



This novel is a full-length standalone fantasy romance with a guaranteed HEA. Beauty & the Beast entwines with Dracula in this steamy, slow-burn romantasy for readers 18+.

One-click this MF standalone if you

Dual POVs

Romantasy

Monstrous vampires

Obsessed goth husbands

Arranged/political marriages

Strong, smart heroines ]]> 696 Cate Corvin Gabi 0 to-read 4.34 A Vow of Blood and Tears
author: Cate Corvin
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.34
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/25
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Daisy Haites (Magnolia Parks Universe, #2)]]> 59708060
As their romance blossoms into something neither were anticipating, Daisy, Christian, and Julian each have to come to terms with the fact that in this life everything comes at a price. As their relationships intersect and tangle, they all learn that sometimes life’s most worthwhile pursuits can only be paid in blood.]]> 436 Jessa Hastings Gabi 5 4.09 2021 Daisy Haites (Magnolia Parks Universe, #2)
author: Jessa Hastings
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.09
book published: 2021
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/25
date added: 2025/03/25
shelves:
review:
Another 4.5⭐️ and I STILL CANNOT LOOK AWAY
]]> <![CDATA[The Tournament of Heirs (The Mexica Chronicles, #1)]]> 216901052 Bloodshed is coming

It's simple.

Six Houses

Twelve Heirs

Only Two Blood Bound tributes can win and bring home victory.

Acalan has a duty to the empire he will inherit, and his sister Metztli has to make sure she keeps Acalan alive long enough to see his rule come to fruition. Together, both siblings must compete in the Tournament and win, but nothing in the empire is quite as it seems, and destiny has plans of its own.

Only one thing is certain for the two heirs of the House of Life.

Sacrifices must be made.]]> 532 Amilea Perez Gabi 0 to-read 3.86 The Tournament of Heirs (The Mexica Chronicles, #1)
author: Amilea Perez
name: Gabi
average rating: 3.86
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/25
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Magnolia Parks (Magnolia Parks Universe, #1)]]> 58527403 423 Jessa Hastings 1737281198 Gabi 5
THAT ENDING WHAT ]]> 3.68 2021 Magnolia Parks (Magnolia Parks Universe, #1)
author: Jessa Hastings
name: Gabi
average rating: 3.68
book published: 2021
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/24
date added: 2025/03/24
shelves:
review:
4.5⭐️

THAT ENDING WHAT
]]> <![CDATA[Rebel Witch (The Crimson Moth, #2)]]> 60217777 The stakes are even higher in this epic, romantic conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Crimson Moth duology.

A WITCH...
Rune Winters is on the run. Ever since the boy she loved, Gideon Sharpe, revealed who she was and delivered her into enemy hands, everyone wants her dead. If Rune hopes to survive, she must ally herself with the cruel and dangerous Cressida Roseblood, who’s planning to take back the Republic and reinstate a Reign of Witches—something Cressida needs Rune to accomplish.

A WITCH HUNTER...
Apparently it wasn’t enough for Rune to deceive Gideon; she’s now betrayed him by allying herself with the witch who made his life a living hell. Gideon won’t allow the Republic to fall to the witches and be plunged back into the nightmares of the past. In order to protect this new world he fought for, every last witch must die—especially Rune Winters.

AN IMPOSSIBLE CHOICE...
When Rune makes Gideon an offer he can’t refuse, the two must pair up to accomplish dangerous goals. The more they’re forced into each other’s company, the more Gideon realizes the feelings he had for Rune aren’t as dead and buried as he thought. Now he’s faced with a terrible choice: sacrifice the girl he loves to stop a monster taking back power, or let Rune live and watch the world he fought so hard for burn.

In Kristen Ciccarelli's Rebel Witch, the exciting conclusion to The Crimson Moth duology, love has never been so deadly.]]> 464 Kristen Ciccarelli Gabi 4 4.24 2025 Rebel Witch (The Crimson Moth, #2)
author: Kristen Ciccarelli
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.24
book published: 2025
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/23
date added: 2025/03/23
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Under Your Scars (Under Your Scars, #1)]]> 177121503
According to the FBI, I was considered a serial murderer after three kills. What do they call me after fifty-two? They call me the Silencer. One final bullet would have been all it took to stop me from taking another soul, and I would have been doing Meridian City a service by pulling that trigger. An angel crying for help stopped me, and that night, I took three lives for her. Then three turned into eight. Then eight turned into twenty. Twenty turned into twenty-one. Twenty one turned into twenty-three. Elena Young is the hero in my story, but I’m the villain in hers. And this is the kind of story where the villain gets the girl, even if it kills her.]]> 660 Ariel N. Anderson Gabi 0 to-read 4.42 2023 Under Your Scars (Under Your Scars, #1)
author: Ariel N. Anderson
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.42
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/23
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Phantasma (Wicked Games, #1) 209813409 Welcome to Phantasma.

There are only two rules to the game. Stay alive. And don’t fall in love.

When Ophelia’s sister disappears, there is only one way to save her. Ophelia must enter Phantasma, a deadly contest inside a haunted mansion, and claim its prize�a single wish.

Phantasma is a maze of twisting corridors and lavish ballrooms, of demons and temptations. Ophelia will face nine challenges, each more dangerous than the last. There can only be one winner, and the other contestants will stop at nothing to eliminate their rivals.

Every day the house creates new monsters. But just as Ophelia’s fears threaten to overwhelm her, a mysterious stranger offers her a bargain.

Charming, arrogant and infuriatingly attractive, Blackwell claims he can guide her through the lethal trials ahead. All he asks in return is ten years of her life.

Ophelia knows she shouldn’t trust him. Blackwell doesn’t seem dangerous, but appearances can be deceptive. Worse still, she feels a dark and irresistible attraction drawing them closer and closer.

Her life is on the line. But in Phantasma, the only thing deadlier than losing the game is losing your heart�

A Court of Thorns and Roses meets Caraval in this seductive fantasy adventure. With steamy romance, a sexy morally gray love interest, OCD rep and jaw-dropping twists, Phantasma is perfect for fans of Rebecca Yarros, Nisha J. Tuli and Carissa Broadbent.]]> 428 Kaylie Smith 1835251412 Gabi 4
This book is truly so fun! I had the best time reading it & it was SO UNIQUE! The trials, the magic & different phantoms, demons & necromancers, and the spice was seriously so fun!! I love SO MUCH that this is a standalone & CANNOT WAIT for Enchantra!!]]> 4.15 2024 Phantasma (Wicked Games, #1)
author: Kaylie Smith
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.15
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/21
date added: 2025/03/21
shelves:
review:
4.25⭐️ !!!

This book is truly so fun! I had the best time reading it & it was SO UNIQUE! The trials, the magic & different phantoms, demons & necromancers, and the spice was seriously so fun!! I love SO MUCH that this is a standalone & CANNOT WAIT for Enchantra!!
]]> <![CDATA[Steel Heart Iron Claws (The Godkissed Bride #3)]]> 209558649
Sabine finally had a chance at a life with Basten. Simple. Free. But gods and men conspired to rip them apart. Now, on the eve of war, Sabine is trapped in her father’s secret-shrouded court, prized as the gods� new plaything. She clings to memories of Basten, the only thing that grounds her in the dangerously bewitching new world. She’ll play along in a desperate gamble to escape—but if she slips and shows her true hand, she’ll be separated from Basten forever.

Basten is haunted by a love he can’t remember. Her face, her name—gone. But her scent lingers, and midnight dreams of his mystery woman torment him. His mind is a black pit of frustration and longing, driving him to question everything he once knew to be true. He follows his obsession north to Sabine’s doorstep, where their paths will collide in a deadly game between them and the gods. And the gods don’t like to lose.

In this thrilling third installment in the Godkissed Bride series, Sabine and Basten cross worlds to reunite before they’re permanently lost to one another—even in memory.]]> 452 Evie Marceau Gabi 0 to-read 4.27 Steel Heart Iron Claws (The Godkissed Bride #3)
author: Evie Marceau
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.27
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/21
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The New York Charm (Uptown Love #1)]]> 228066319 The past wasn’t supposed to follow her to New York. Neither was he.

Dylan Jenkins was ready to start fresh in New York City—until fate (or bad luck) sat her next to Parker Townsend on the flight out. Her ex. Her first love. The man she spent years trying to forget.

But Parker isn’t just back in her life. He’s the editor behind the debut author Dylan has been assigned to promote, forcing the two to work together closely—too closely—for the next few months.

Late-night meetings, book tour mishaps, and a city filled with second chances make it impossible to ignore the past. The spark between them? Still very much alive. The pain that tore them apart? Just as real.

Dylan swore she’d never make the same mistake twice. Parker is determined to prove she won’t regret it.

In a city built on stories, is theirs ready for a new chapter—or is history doomed to repeat itself?]]> 312 Riley Winters Gabi 5 4.01 The New York Charm (Uptown Love #1)
author: Riley Winters
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.01
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/17
date added: 2025/03/17
shelves:
review:
This book is a 90s romcom lover’s dream
]]> <![CDATA[Silver Wings Golden Games (The Godkissed Bride, #2)]]> 200239859 After one thousand years, the sleeping fae are awakening…and chaos will reign.

Bride. Idol. Betrayer.


Promised to a villainous future king, Sabine once dreamed of forsaking everything for the huntsman who captured her heart. But Wolf’s devastating betrayal locks her in another prison: the sinful court of her betrothed. There, she forges an unexpected alliance with her future husband. He’s ambitious. Handsome. Surprisingly complex. Together, they might save the kingdom of Astagnon from a waking evil—but in harnessing her power, she risks becoming what she most despises.


Huntsman. Fighter. Sinner.


Wolf believed betraying Sabine was the only way to ensure her safety. Now, tormented by the sight of another man’s ring on her finger, his role as her bodyguard keeps him achingly close to the woman he can’t have. To hide Sabine’s dangerous secret even from herself—and to stop a coming war—he ventures to the enemy’s borders. What awaits him is an explosive discovery that thrusts him into a dark past he thought was long buried.


In a dance of danger and desire, it’s more than their lives in peril—it's their hearts at war.



In the second installment of the Godkissed Bride series, Evie Marceau delivers another captivating romantic fantasy where love defies destiny, fae gods rise, and hearts are set ablaze. Perfect for fans who love arranged marriage, fae lore, spice, and enemies-to-lovers romance.

]]> 454 Evie Marceau Gabi 5 4.13 Silver Wings Golden Games (The Godkissed Bride, #2)
author: Evie Marceau
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.13
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/17
date added: 2025/03/17
shelves:
review:
WOW 5⭐️ !!! This was one of the most truly jaw dropping & crazy romantasy books I’ve read & I LOVED IT so much. Read it in one sitting !!
]]> <![CDATA[Riftborne (Esprithean Trilogy #1)]]> 218405601 He was striking in a cold-blooded kind of way, like his beauty was tinged with poison. Unassuming, alluring even.

I brought my eyes up to meet his.

"Fia Riftborne?" The words dripped from his lips like blood from a dagger.

Twenty years after a rebellion branded her an outcast, Fia Riftborne navigates a city rife with prejudice so deep, it's often deadly. But she harbors a secret, one that would paint an even larger target on her back. A hidden power within her is growing, threatening to destroy everything she's built for herself.

Enter the elusive Sidhe General, Laryk Ashford, who is building a unit of powerful wielders within the Guard to face a growing threat. Wraiths of darkness devour the Western border, leaving a trail of death and destruction in their wake.

When Fia's power erupts, and two daughters of Nobility are seemingly dead, General Ashford offers her a chilling choice: join the Sidhe Guard or face execution.

Because Fia might be the only hope for the Isle's survival.

Torn between surrendering to the chaos or becoming a weapon for those who took everything from her, Fia must confront her growing feelings for the General and face a dark truth that could shatter everything she's ever known.]]> 426 Parker Lennox Gabi 0 to-read 3.70 2024 Riftborne (Esprithean Trilogy #1)
author: Parker Lennox
name: Gabi
average rating: 3.70
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/17
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Duskbound (Esprithean Trilogy #2)]]> 222855390
She was wrong.

Taken prisoner by the very shadows she was sworn to fight, Fia uncovers a devastating truth. The wraiths who brought destruction to the Isle's western border aren't monsters at all, but a race of people from a dying realm called the Kálfar, and they believe Fia's growing powers are tied to their survival.

As war looms on two fronts, Fia must navigate a world of shadow magic and political upheaval. A disgraced Kálfar lord builds an army in the south while tensions within Sídhe reach a breaking point. And the Void that gave Fia her power is calling—but answering it means betraying everyone she left behind.

The Guard. Her friends. Laryk.

In a war where nothing is as it seems, choosing the wrong side could cost her everything, including the brooding commander whose darkness seems to recognize her own.]]> Parker Lennox Gabi 0 to-read 4.38 Duskbound (Esprithean Trilogy #2)
author: Parker Lennox
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.38
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/17
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[White Horse Black Nights (The Godkissed Bride, #1)]]> 195934852
Locked away for twelve years, Sabine Darrow’s only friends are animals she communicates with using magic. Now, sold as a bride to a villainous high lord, her greatest fear is trading one prison for another. But a potential escape lies in the form of her gruff yet achingly handsome guard, whose loyalty she is determined to break.

A huntsman with heightened senses, Basten “Wolf� Bowborn has more important things to do than transport his master’s new bride. With ancient creatures reawakening along the kingdom's border wall, he is torn between his duty and his desire to investigate—until a forbidden attraction becomes an unyielding obsession.

Welcome to Astagnon—a kingdom of cruel games and corrupted courts, where the only thing more dangerous than the secrets slumbering underground is falling for the one person you can’t have.

Drawing inspiration from Snow White and the Lady Godiva legend, WHITE HORSE BLACK NIGHTS is a dark enemies-to-lovers fantasy romance that will take you on a journey you’ll never forget. This captivating story of a girl with a special gift is perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Jennifer Armentrout!]]> 416 Evie Marceau Gabi 5
I literally binged this within 24 hours & started book 2 IMMEDIATELY!? I have a feeling this world is about to expand majorly & I CANNOT WAIT !

I love the characters so far, the plot is SO UNIQUE & I’m having the best time ]]> 3.79 2023 White Horse Black Nights (The Godkissed Bride, #1)
author: Evie Marceau
name: Gabi
average rating: 3.79
book published: 2023
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/17
date added: 2025/03/17
shelves:
review:
4.5 ⭐️ THIS WAS SO FUN!!???

I literally binged this within 24 hours & started book 2 IMMEDIATELY!? I have a feeling this world is about to expand majorly & I CANNOT WAIT !

I love the characters so far, the plot is SO UNIQUE & I’m having the best time
]]> <![CDATA[A Kingdom of Gods and Ruin (A Game of Malice and Greed, #0.5)]]> 122996537 Once upon a dark dream, the gods told me of our ruin,
But I wasn’t nearly as afraid as I should have been.

The walls of my world are crumbling, and it may be too late to save us.
The clock is ticking, and a cruel fate has been laid at my feet,
And now I am standing at a crossroads with the blade of destiny in my grip.

To strike would be to end us all, but staying my hand is not an option.
So perhaps it’s time to accept that my sins may cause the Fae to fall.

This is a prequel novella set 1000 years before A Game of Malice and Greed. Once upon a tangled tale of broken hearts and blackened souls, comes a brand new fantasy romance series retelling from the Wall Street Journal and Amazon #1 bestselling fantasy romance authors of Zodiac Academy. Step into this world of Fae, gods and curses unlike any retelling you’ve read before.

TW: Please be aware there is mention of rape in this story, though it is not described nor on page.]]> 121 Caroline Peckham Gabi 0 to-read 4.26 A Kingdom of Gods and Ruin (A Game of Malice and Greed, #0.5)
author: Caroline Peckham
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.26
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/16
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[A Game of Malice and Greed (A Game of Malice and Greed, #1)]]> 62815080 A broken warrior, lost gods of old.
A thief of shadows, blessed with light,
A single lie which stole their might.

A princess to win, in a brutal game.
A great empire falling to a monster’s claim.
A forbidden love, a curse untold.
The last immortal trapped in a coin of gold.]]> 612 Caroline Peckham Gabi 0 to-read 3.93 A Game of Malice and Greed (A Game of Malice and Greed, #1)
author: Caroline Peckham
name: Gabi
average rating: 3.93
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/16
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Jasmine Throne (The Burning Kingdoms, #1)]]> 50523477 Empire of Sand and Realm of Ash Tasha Suri's The Jasmine Throne, beginning a new trilogy set in a world inspired by the history and epics of India, in which a captive princess and a maidservant in possession of forbidden magic become unlikely allies on a dark journey to save their empire from the princess's traitor brother.

Imprisoned by her dictator brother, Malini spends her days in isolation in the Hirana: an ancient temple that was once the source of the powerful, magical deathless waters � but is now little more than a decaying ruin.

Priya is a maidservant, one among several who make the treacherous journey to the top of the Hirana every night to clean Malini’s chambers. She is happy to be an anonymous drudge, so long as it keeps anyone from guessing the dangerous secret she hides.

But when Malini accidentally bears witness to Priya’s true nature, their destinies become irrevocably tangled. One is a vengeful princess seeking to depose her brother from his throne. The other is a priestess seeking to find her family. Together, they will change the fate of an empire.]]> 533 Tasha Suri 0356515648 Gabi 0 to-read 4.12 2021 The Jasmine Throne (The Burning Kingdoms, #1)
author: Tasha Suri
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.12
book published: 2021
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/16
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Vale of Dreams (Fey Spy Academy, #2)]]> 210277261
Captured by the prince, I quickly learn he’s a beautiful, living nightmare. He immediately discovers my hidden talent—mind control. He gives me no choice but to serve him. Avalon Tower thinks it’s a good idea, too. Now, I'm keeping secrets from everyone, and the Dream Stalker doesn’t know I'm a spy. His plan? Manipulate ministers, overthrow his father, and annihilate humanity.

Seductive and complex, he’ll get in my head if I let him. In the Fey palace, courtly intrigue reigns. If I can’t outsmart the prince, my neck will be the next one on the execution block, and he will crush humanity in his beautiful hands.]]> 390 Alex Rivers Gabi 5
I NEED BOOK 3 NOW

I’m even more obsessed with Nia than I was in book 1. Talan is the PERFECT villian MMC ]]> 4.40 Vale of Dreams (Fey Spy Academy, #2)
author: Alex Rivers
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.40
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/15
date added: 2025/03/15
shelves:
review:
WHAT!!!!!! What!!!!! 5⭐️!!!

I NEED BOOK 3 NOW

I’m even more obsessed with Nia than I was in book 1. Talan is the PERFECT villian MMC
]]> The Queen Rises 220952326
Her mother sold her soul to a demon, her grandmother is dead, and her father is in prison for a crime he did not commit.

Worse yet, she lives in a dystopian Elven Kingdom where the King has made it the law for males to steal magic from females. She's barely making ends meet as a second class citizen in a dangerous patriarchy, but she does have a talent for sneaking into places she really shouldn't be.

So as a last ditch effort to get her family back, she starts trying to break her father out of prison... only to get caught by the absolute worst male she can imagine: a viciously powerful High Guard warrior, who's also the right hand to the King.

It's a high stakes game of cat and mouse that leads to several unexpected consequences... life or death, betrayal and romance, and getting tangled in a web of secrets that makes it difficult to know who to trust.

But the secrets aren't all bad... in fact some of them lead Fiana to believe that there's potential to overthrow the King and restore magic back to all of the female elves.

The Queen Rises is a faced paced, page-turning romantic fantasy and is the first in a series that explores deeper psychological themes of overcoming feelings of powerlessness, learning how to trust and depend on others (not just yourself), unraveling toxic masculinity and femininity, and finding the divine balance between the two.

The Vibes:
- FMC is in her mid 20s... and she's good at sneaking into places she really shouldn't be
- MMC is both dark/mysterious and hilariously funny
- unique magic system
- found family, animal friends + mythical creatures
- secret societies / organizations
- slow burn forbidden romance
- plot-driven spicy scenes


Early reader mini reviews:

“The smut is smuttin!!�

"Plot to smut ratio is chefs kiss."

“Okay so I’m obsessed when FMCs get manhandled for their own good lmao.�

“I’m in love with all of these animal characters. She’s like a little Snow White.�

“I was going to read for like thirty minutes max and over an hour later my hubby was like ‘are you still reading Kristen’s book?� I legit didn’t realize how long it had been lmao.�

"I read the first 3 chapters a few days ago and I'm not even kidding you when I say I CANNOT STOP THINKING ABOUT IT. My heart yearns for the rest of the book. It's such a unique story and I LOVE your writing style!"

"The story is seriously so good Kristen. Your writing is blowing it out of the water. I can't wait for the rest of booktok to get their hands on this!"

"Lmao the cliffhanger is giving me a heartache... like... WHAT DO YOU MEAN? Like, my mouth dropped."

The Queen Rises launches February 1st and is the perfect Valentine's Day read for romantic fantasy readers!]]> 576 Kristen Cipriano Gabi 4
I am so impressed by this debut romantasy!!! I LOVED that it was elven & dystopian vibes. & it was so fast paced!

Highs]]> 4.70 The Queen Rises
author: Kristen Cipriano
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.70
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/15
date added: 2025/03/15
shelves:
review:
4⭐️ !!

I am so impressed by this debut romantasy!!! I LOVED that it was elven & dystopian vibes. & it was so fast paced!

Highs
]]> <![CDATA[Avalon Tower (Fey Spy Academy, #1)]]> 208674368 Avalon Spy Academy rules: spy on the fey, resist falling for your mentor, and try not to die in the process.

What I’m hoping for on my European vacation is to read books and drink champagne on the beach. Instead, I end up kidnapped by an arrogant, lethally sexy fey named Raphael.

It turns out, I have a magic power needed to fight an evil fey king. Next thing I know, Raphael has enrolled me in an elite spy academy. There, in the ancient and gothic halls of Avalon Tower, snobbery and brutal competitions are among the oldest traditions.

Making my job harder, the silver-eyed Raphael is my mentor. Romance is forbidden here--a distracted spy is a dead spy. So I need to push his dangerous allure out of my mind as we travel into the Fey realm. If we get captured by the fey king, we’ll die horrific deaths–and humanity won’t stand a chance.]]> C.N. Crawford Gabi 4
The FMC Nia is seriously such a badass I love her. This whole concept was so fun & reminding me of zodiac academy in many ways ]]> 3.84 2024 Avalon Tower (Fey Spy Academy, #1)
author: C.N. Crawford
name: Gabi
average rating: 3.84
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/14
date added: 2025/03/14
shelves:
review:
OKKKK 4.5⭐️ this was actually SO FUN!!!!

The FMC Nia is seriously such a badass I love her. This whole concept was so fun & reminding me of zodiac academy in many ways
]]> <![CDATA[How Does It Feel? (Infatuated Fae, #1)]]> 122447584
A forbidden obsession
Unyielding family allegiance
Three deadly challenges

THE HUMAN.
    When a trip into the forest to collect a rare mushroom goes horribly wrong, I find myself falling through a fairy portal and straight into the arms of the Unseelie Fae prince. The dangerously unhinged and handsome Unseelie Fae prince.
   What could be more horrible than that? He thinks I'm an assassin sent by the humans to kill him, not a biologist.
   Determined to kill me first, and rid himself of the human he has unwillingly grown obsessed with, yet also needing to entertain his people, the villain challenges me to three deadly trials.
          If I survive, I gain my freedom. But if not...
The Fae.
    I've never felt anything but hate and loathing until my eyes found hers--the vile human assassin's. She is a parasite that has mercilessly latched onto my mind and won't let me free.
    My hand itches to be ungloved and feel her smooth skin, even though I would never. The Unseelie Fae royals would rather burn than touch a repulsive human.
     I fear that if I do not destroy the girl soon, she may be the only thing that's capable of truly destroying me.]]> 388 Jeneane O'Riley Gabi 0 to-read 3.65 2023 How Does It Feel? (Infatuated Fae, #1)
author: Jeneane O'Riley
name: Gabi
average rating: 3.65
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/14
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Kissed by the Gods (Eternal Wars #1)]]> 228272683 Full description and cover coming soon!]]> Caty Rogan 1967285004 Gabi 0 to-read 0.0 Kissed by the Gods (Eternal Wars #1)
author: Caty Rogan
name: Gabi
average rating: 0.0
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/14
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Unwritten by the Gods 228988424
As a serf in Selencia, Maera had no right to love Aelric, the son of the overlord. Aelric was forbidden to love her back, and when the gods reveal Aelric is an elite warrior his family tries to erase all evidence of their relationship, including Maera.
She escapes and forges herself into a weapon for the rebellion.

Ten years later, a chance mission brings her face-to-face with Aelric, the man she loved and mourned, forcing the truth of their past to collide amid the chaos of war.

As the rebellion escalates and the gods� war looms, Maera and Aelric must confront their buried love, the scars of betrayal, and a secret that could change everything.

For fans of forbidden romance, second chances, and high-stakes rebellion, Unwritten by the Gods is a heart-wrenching tale of love, survival, and redemption.

Unwritten by the Gods is available in Bewitched Blooms: A Fundraiser Anthology for Zoë.]]> 120 Caty Rogan 9781967285 Gabi 0 to-read 4.77 Unwritten by the Gods
author: Caty Rogan
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.77
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/14
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Sunlight (Haven River Ranch, #2)]]> 205963763 From USA Today bestselling author Devney Perry comes a sweeping Western romance about undeniable attraction, unforeseen circumstances, and seemingly unbeatable odds.

My first day in Montana, I got into a tug-of-war over a grocery store shopping cart. The most handsome man I’d ever seen broke up the scuffle before he asked me on a date. I was seconds away from accepting but then he told me his name.

As an owner of the Haven River Ranch, Jax Haven wasn’t my boss. But he wasn’t not my boss either.

Obviously, my only option was to turn him down, scurry away, then pretend like he was a stranger on my first day of work. And obviously, I could never, ever admit that he was my secret crush.

For as hard as I work at my job, I work twice as hard to pretend Jax doesn’t exist. I don’t let myself think about his dazzling eyes or charming smile. I refuse to acknowledge how good he looks in a pair of faded Wrangler jeans. And as tempting as he is in a cowboy hat, Jax is a distraction I cannot afford.

Everything was going according to plan until the annual holiday party. Until I drank one too many flutes of champagne and let him sweep me off my feet. After a night in his bed, there was no more ignoring Jax Haven. Not when I’m pregnant with his baby.]]> 300 Devney Perry Gabi 0 to-read 4.13 2024 Sunlight (Haven River Ranch, #2)
author: Devney Perry
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.13
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/14
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Crossroads (Haven River Ranch, #1)]]> 203420369 A sweeping small-town romance about love, loss, and a Montana legacy from USA Today bestselling author Devney Perry.

I met West Haven when I was eight years old. He taught me to play poker when I was nine, and we made paper airplanes together when I was eleven. He kissed me when I was sixteen. He was the best part about my family’s summer vacations to Montana. He was the boy who stole my heart. I was twenty-three when life ripped us apart.

Years later, I’m breaking my vow and returning to the ranch, not as a guest but its new owner. West might want me gone, but even he has to admit the only way to save his family’s legacy is with my help.

It’s not easy working side by side and facing those old memories. But this situation is only temporary. We’re at a crossroads. And as long as I don’t let myself fall in love with West Haven again, maybe this is our chance to put those ghosts to rest. Maybe this time we’ll finally be able to say goodbye.]]> 300 Devney Perry 166251879X Gabi 0 to-read 4.12 2024 Crossroads (Haven River Ranch, #1)
author: Devney Perry
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.12
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/14
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Scarlight (Castles of the Eyrie, #1)]]> 60673107
When she was six years old, Bryn was saved from a wolf attack by a prince from a rival kingdom. Rangar Barendur’s people believe that a life saved is a soul owned, and ten years later, Rangar returns to collect his prize: Bryn. Yet Bryn is the youngest daughter of a ruthless royal family, and Rangar arrives on the night the Mir people rise up against their despotic rulers. With her castle on fire and most of her family dead, Bryn has no choice but to escape with Rangar's help.

Is she rescued…or abducted?

Taken to Rangar’s wild seaside kingdom, Bryn slowly finds beauty in the harsh Outlands. There, she discovers magic is not the sin she’s been led to believe it is. Magic can heal the sick and summon rain for the crops. As she learns the full truth of her own family’s tyrannical rule and plans to take back her kingdom by the sword or by marriage, Bryn falls under the spell of each of the three Barendur brothers. But which one will end up with her hand—and her heart—not even magic can foretell.]]> 332 Evie Marceau Gabi 0 to-read 3.85 2022 Scarlight (Castles of the Eyrie, #1)
author: Evie Marceau
name: Gabi
average rating: 3.85
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/13
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Direbound 226078520 Only the worthy survive the Bonding Trials. She’ll risk her life—and her heart—to be one of them�

Meryn Cooper has never dreamed of being one of the Bonded, the King’s elite warriors who form mental links with massive, vicious direwolves. She’s made peace with her life scraping by in poverty in the shadows of the castle. But then her younger sister Saela is kidnapped, stolen across the border by the immortal monsters her country has spent centuries fighting.

And Meryn’s world falls apart.

Desperate to cross the front and save her sister, Meryn enlists in the army—only to discover that there are Bonding Trials this year, where all soldiers are forced to risk their lives in an attempt to connect with a direwolf. It’s too late to turn back; Meryn is thrown into the deadly competition against her will.

Now, she’ll need to survive the next four months of training at the castle if she wants a chance of finding Saela. Everything here is a test, from the brutal classes where one mistake means death, to the glittering court parties where every smile hides a knife.

To make things worse, Meryn is bound to a feral direwolf who refuses to communicate. The other trainees would love to spill her common blood. And her gorgeous instructor, Stark Therion, is as malicious as the wolves himself.

Everyone is out to get her—everyone but the dangerously handsome crown prince, Killian Valtiere. But if she loses her heart to him, she may also lose her life.

And the castle is hiding dark secrets�

Fourth Wing meets The Hunger Games in dark action-packed fantasy series, perfect for romantasy fans of A Court of Thorns and Roses , The Serpent & the Wings of Night , When the Moon Hatched and Quicksilver!

See why readers love

“A God Tier Fantasy book!!! I just finished and still trying to mentally and emotionally recover to what just happened to me. You need to read it IMMEDIATELY.� ŷ reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐�

“If you’re into dark romantasy with high stakes, fierce characters, and just the right amount of emotional wreckage, Direbound is your next obsession.� ŷ reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐�

�OMG THIS BOOK YOU GUYS!!! I'm OBSESSED and I need to know what happens next like ASAP.� ŷ reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐�

“What an incredible read!! � I am blown away. � The romance, the anguish, the BANTER! I love a book with good banter and this was FULL OF IT!� ŷ reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐�

�I. Am. OBSESSED. � Left me spiraling in the best way possible. The morally grey anti-hero? Perfection. The slow-burn tension? Electric. � I was completely immersed.]]> 610 Sable Sorensen Gabi 0 to-read 4.45 Direbound
author: Sable Sorensen
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.45
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/13
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Stars Are Dying (Nytefall, #1)]]> 63890424 "The brightest star needs the darkest night."

In a world abandoned by the celestial guardians and left to suffer a tyrant king’s reign, all Astraea knows is safety in seclusion. With fragmented memories of only five years of her life, she’s determined to discover more about her past, even if that means fleeing the cruel arms that hold her safe from the wicked vampires rumored to roam the land.

But when Astraea stumbles upon the mysterious Nyte, she soon realizes determination alone isn’t enough to guard her heart. He lingers like the darkness that expands between the stars, and soon she discovers her captor’s wicked means of control weren’t based on a lie to keep her under locks after all. In her desperation, Astraea accepts Nyte’s help before she can decide if she might have sold her allegiance to one of the bloodthirsty beings the people of her world fear.

Once their bargain is struck, Astraea’s chance to escape comes in the form of accompanying her best friend Cassia to the King’s Central. There on royal territory it’s the centenary of the Libertatem, a succession of trials hosted by the king in which five human lands compete for a cycle of safety from the vampires seeking blood, claiming souls, and savaging after dark. So when tragedy strikes, Astraea must decide if taking the place of a murdered participant for the safety of her kingdom is a ruse worth dying for, or if protection—and the answers to her past—really are her strongest desires.]]> 566 C.C. Peñaranda 1915534046 Gabi 0 to-read 3.43 2023 The Stars Are Dying (Nytefall, #1)
author: C.C. Peñaranda
name: Gabi
average rating: 3.43
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/13
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Of Deathless Shadows (Alkrose Academy, #1)]]> 155167312
Terra.
Fernestia has destroyed everything, leaving only ashes and the new Shadows that teem beneath our skin. My lovely assassin claims I'm his Shadow mate and has agreed to help me find my brother and ex-boyfriend—if they're still alive.

Finn.
After my village is destroyed, I'm trapped in an enemy camp surrounded by other survivors. Blood and magic are twins here, and there's a dark itch coming from deep within me. If I ever want to see Terra again, I must become invincible.

Edgar.
I wake up in a lavish estate with my memories stolen. All I know is that my parents and sister are gone. A sinister boy haunts me, pushing me to uncover the truth of this strange place.

Although separated, our hearts are tied. The Shadows running through our veins call to each other, demanding answers. If we're ever to reunite, we must uncover the truths of Fernestia.

Everything leads back to Alkrose Academy.]]> 336 K.M. Moronova Gabi 0 to-read 3.66 2023 Of Deathless Shadows (Alkrose Academy, #1)
author: K.M. Moronova
name: Gabi
average rating: 3.66
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/13
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Wild Side (Rose Hill, #3) 217271595
But when my nephew’s guardianship is contested, I decide I’ll do whatever it takes to keep him in Rose Hill. Even if it means marrying the enemy.

Rhys Dupris.

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

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

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

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

He’s not at all who I thought he was.

And that makes hating my husband so much harder� and loving him just a little too easy.]]> 464 Elsie Silver 1464237522 Gabi 5
Somehow I feel like Elsie is getting better & better??? The Rose Hill Series is just hit after HITTTTT.

Elsie Silver has this way about making romance SO unique & interesting. There is NOTHING like this & her execution is just pure magic

Tabby is so sassy & I feel like her & Willa will be best friends when they meet ]]> 4.16 2025 Wild Side (Rose Hill, #3)
author: Elsie Silver
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.16
book published: 2025
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/12
date added: 2025/03/12
shelves:
review:
4.5⭐️ but the more I think about it, it’ll probably be 5⭐️ lol

Somehow I feel like Elsie is getting better & better??? The Rose Hill Series is just hit after HITTTTT.

Elsie Silver has this way about making romance SO unique & interesting. There is NOTHING like this & her execution is just pure magic

Tabby is so sassy & I feel like her & Willa will be best friends when they meet
]]> <![CDATA[Ruined Wings (Severed Flames, #1)]]> 216780432 A Luxa will wake the Beast�
A Luxa will unbind him�
A Luxa will destroy us all�

Vale Tenebris has a big problem–she needs to get her and her sister out of the Perder Lucem like yesterday. Living with a bunch of cave-dwelling magic hunters wouldn’t be so bad if she wasn’t hiding what she is from the very people sworn to kill her.

Her escape plans crumble to dust when she has to choose between the freedom she longs for and saving her sister from the clan leader’s son. Forced to use the unruly magic, she exposes the one thing that would mean her execution.

Being put to death isn’t the worst part, either. No, that comes in the form of two dragon shifters who come to her rescue, claiming that she is the key to unbinding their king and saving the realm from extinction.

Betrothed to the Beast and thrust into an unknown world filled with daggers at every turn, Vale needs to learn how to use her magic–and fast. Because that ring on her finger won’t save her if she can’t figure out how to help the king, nor will it stop her attraction to the shifters who pulled her from the brink of death.

And the magic brewing under her skin could very well be the end to them all.

**Ruined Wings is a spicy dragon romantasy set in the Severed Flames universe. You can expect three sinfully hot, super growly shifters who will do anything to keep their woman alive. Mature themes will be present. Reader discretion is advised. **]]> Annie Anderson 1960315463 Gabi 0 to-read 3.77 2024 Ruined Wings (Severed Flames, #1)
author: Annie Anderson
name: Gabi
average rating: 3.77
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/12
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[City of Souls and Sinners (House of Devils, #2)]]> 63049374
But Loren soon finds herself caught in a new storm of trouble when the Terran Imperator blackmails her into working for him. There’s only one problem: he expects her to use her magic, and she doesn’t seem to have any of it left. To keep Darien and the other Devils safe, she agrees to everything the imperator asks of her. But the secrets she is forced to keep from Darien, and her involvement with the imperator’s son, threaten to drive her away from Darien in ways she might never recover from�

As Randal Slade’s successor, Darien wants nothing to do with the throne his father once sat in, but the city of Angelthene has other plans. The Magical Protections Unit asks for his help in taking down the illegal arms trade his father once dabbled in, and to do that Darien must claim his place at the top of the tiers of Darkslayers—a crown the other circles are willing to kill to possess. As he spirals deeper into the secrets his father kept, he makes enemies of friends and friends of enemies—and finds himself buried so deep in Angelthene’s underbelly that he is uncertain he’ll ever get out of it. And if that wasn’t enough, Darien fears he is going crazy when he starts to see creatures that only he can see�

Return to Angelthene in City of Souls and Sinners, a gripping, action-packed tale that tackles themes of love and loss, light and darkness, and the battle between good and evil—and what happens when you can’t tell which is which.

Please note: This book contains darker content that might not be suitable for some readers, including violence, mature language, detailed sex scenes, drug abuse/drug addiction, bullying, domestic violence and child abuse (shown in flashbacks), sexual harassment, anxiety, panic attacks, depression, and discussion of suicide.]]> 973 Kayla Edwards 1777880777 Gabi 5
These CHARACTERS !!! I’m just so obsessed with Darien & Loren it’s not healthy ]]> 4.10 2023 City of Souls and Sinners (House of Devils, #2)
author: Kayla Edwards
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.10
book published: 2023
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/11
date added: 2025/03/11
shelves:
review:
4.5⭐️ !!!!

These CHARACTERS !!! I’m just so obsessed with Darien & Loren it’s not healthy
]]> <![CDATA[The Secrets of Jane: Forgotten (Improper Bastards #1)]]> 215048836 “I’m a disciplined man, Jane. I can stay here for as long as you need before the lesson sinks in that you don’t run from me while in my charge." -- Soren.

He's a Mercenary with powers that allow him feel the hearts / desires / fears of others.
She's his target, and must guard her identity at all costs.

My village is aflame, and a deadly legend becomes my captor.

I’m to appear before the most elite faction of mercenaries and warlords, commanded to answer for a crime they refuse to explain. Even if my only guess for why they want me is wrong, they cannot have me. I’ve sworn to never return to Skull’s Row, home to thieves and killers; the graveyard of my childhood.

He plans to unbury every memory until my soul is stripped bare: Soren, my captor, is strangely fascinated by me. By what I hide. Of the scars I have.

I’m unwillingly drawn to him. To his brutality. He harbors the same viciousness that coats my veins. He even seems persistent in taking me for himself�

He’ll either be my reckoning, or my undoing.

This Dark Fantasy Romance is a Duet full of foul language, sensual scenes, and improper bastards.

DUAL POV � his/her
Duet with a Guaranteed HEA

Content Warning 18+: This series contains explicit scenes (3.5 chili peppers), depictions of war, battle violence, abduction, graphic depiction of violence, drugging, and overall a very crude world.]]> 410 Charlotte Mallory Gabi 0 to-read 3.98 The Secrets of Jane: Forgotten (Improper Bastards #1)
author: Charlotte Mallory
name: Gabi
average rating: 3.98
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/10
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Swallowed 221101521
Humanity's first mission to the Planet ended in tragedy, but botanist Jill Jones won’t let that stop her from joining the second.

Perfect climate, perfect terrain, perfect flora and fauna; the Planet has called to Jill all of her life. She knows, with bone-deep certainty, it's home. A new beginning for humanity. She just needs a chance to prove it.

But as Jill and her team survey the Planet, a mysterious presence begins to infiltrate their thoughts. When her colleagues start to disappear, it's up to Jill to uproot the Planet's secrets before they consume her, her friends, and the one man she would do anything to keep.]]> 180 Meg Smitherman Gabi 0 to-read 4.03 Swallowed
author: Meg Smitherman
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.03
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/10
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Blood & Betrayals (Avalon University, # 1)]]> 219798599 Fear, Fury and Fire.

To Know is Not Enough.

Power flows through the ancient halls of Avalon University like a neverending flood. Admission to the elite institution enables students to hone their magic under the watchful eye of their icy headmaster.

Summer Tuatha De Daanan planned to slide through her tenure at Avalon, unnoticed and inconspicuous. She has no interest in learning more about her past or why someone applied to the school on her behalf. Her emotional walls keep everyone at bay, and her sharp tongue makes people give her a wide berth. Yet, despite her best attempts, her emotional armor begins to melt from her feral vampire roommate to the angelic senior who is never dissuaded by her feigning disinterest. Maybe this could be good for her, a new life. Yet, dark secrets lurk in the halls of Avalon, and soon those same halls are drenched in blood.

Summer finds herself as the obsession of the sadistic stalker with the Seven lessons to learn. With the help of her new friends, she races against the clock to solve the mystery, hoping to save lives and catch the killer before it's too late.]]> 1026 Jeanette Rose 196259906X Gabi 0 to-read 4.40 Blood & Betrayals (Avalon University, # 1)
author: Jeanette Rose
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.40
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/10
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Kiss of the Basilisk (Split or Swallow, #1)]]> 221548497 From internet sensation and Amazon bestseller Lindsay Straube comes the first book in the sexy, biting Split or Swallow series, featuring dangerous basilisks, competitive seduction, and a love triangle that could destroy kingdoms.

Twenty-year-old Temperance Verus has never been kissed. But that's what the basilisk is for.

Along with thirteen other contestants, Tem must train with a basilisk to learn the power of seduction and win the prince's hand in marriage. When Tem is matched with Caspen, the Serpent King, she realizes she might actually stand a chance.

But with tensions rising between the basilisks and the humans, Tem is suddenly torn in two directions. As her bond with Caspen deepens, so does her connection with the prince. When she uncovers a terrible secret about the royal family, Tem finds herself caught between two worlds, neither of which she can survive without.]]> 525 Lindsay Straube 1464247587 Gabi 4
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
]]> 3.78 Kiss of the Basilisk (Split or Swallow, #1)
author: Lindsay Straube
name: Gabi
average rating: 3.78
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/09
date added: 2025/03/09
shelves:
review:
OKAY WHY WAS THIS SO GOOD THO LMAO

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

]]> Not Safe for Work 218372272 Rival engineers dabble in personal chemistry while at a tropical company retreat in this smart, zippy romcom.

Engineer Trishara Malik once dreamed of being the first woman of color to smash the glass ceiling at WMC Purcell, but after years of dealing with white male privilege and blatant nepotism, she watches her hard-earned promotion go to her nemesis, Rafe Gallagher—the boss’s son. Teetering on the edge of burnout, Tris is stunned when she’s picked to attend WMC's corporate leadership retreat in Hawaii. It’s a chance to revive her stalled career and compete for a coveted spot in an executive training program—plus, three weeks in paradise! The only downside? Rafe is her co-attendee.

Tris plans to avoid Rafe entirely, but when she arrives in Maui, a booking error has them stuck sharing the honeymoon suite. Sure, it’s not all torture. Rafe is a smoldering ten—okay fine, an eleven—but after years of competition, they can barely stand being in the same time zone. As they vie against each other during aptitude tests and team-building exercises, Tris begins to realize Rafe might not be the villain after all. With her dreams at stake, can she learn to trust the man who might have been standing in her corner all along?]]> 352 Nisha J. Tuli 1538759268 Gabi 5
After reading Nisha J Tuli’s romantasy books, I already knew she could write an incredible romance & dynamic story, & this was NO exception!!

I loved the representation of Tris as a woman in STEM right away & just the representation of how so many women, especially WOC, get lost in the boys club of these corporate companies. I LOVED how she advocated for herself

And don’t even get me started on Rafe ]]> 4.26 Not Safe for Work
author: Nisha J. Tuli
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.26
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/01
date added: 2025/03/06
shelves:
review:
4.5⭐️ BUT ROUNDING UP

After reading Nisha J Tuli’s romantasy books, I already knew she could write an incredible romance & dynamic story, & this was NO exception!!

I loved the representation of Tris as a woman in STEM right away & just the representation of how so many women, especially WOC, get lost in the boys club of these corporate companies. I LOVED how she advocated for herself

And don’t even get me started on Rafe
]]> <![CDATA[A Fate of Onyx & Ivory (The Obsidian Blade Series #1)]]> 208161704 In a quest intwined with dark magic and immortality, Amira begins to question everything she has ever known. She’ll need to remain the fighter she’s always been while piecing together the truths that are hidden in the shadows of Solaris if she wants to survive.
With each day that passes she finds herself more attached to her new surroundings. Including the white-winged Fae that unexpectedly entered her life. Will she become a permanent part of his lavish world or return to a life of poverty in the mortal realm to reunite with her family? Amira’s decision won’t be easy; deciphering between lust and fate.]]> 268 O'Junea Brown Gabi 1 4.00 A Fate of Onyx & Ivory (The Obsidian Blade Series #1)
author: O'Junea Brown
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.00
book published:
rating: 1
read at: 2025/03/05
date added: 2025/03/05
shelves:
review:
Unfortunately, this book was not for me
]]> <![CDATA[City of Gods and Monsters (House of Devils, #1)]]> 59820919 Welcome to the city of Angelthene. We hope you survive.

Loren Calla has only ever been ordinary. As a human struggling to survive in a city that caters to the needs of vampires, werewolves, witches, and other supernatural creatures, she always assumed her life would remain simple, predictable, and as safe as her world would allow.

Until she barely escapes abduction at the hands of Darkslayers—supernatural bounty hunters that possess the Sight, a magical tracking ability that allows them to see a person’s aura—and one of her friends is taken in her place. The abductors are demanding a ransom: Loren's life in exchange for her friend's safe return. Loren will do whatever it takes to get her friend back—even if it means accepting help from Darien Cassel, the leader of the Seven Devils, the most feared Darkslaying circle in the city.

Darien specializes in tracking down demons and criminals that are better off dead than alive, so when he takes a job to track down Loren and finds out she is human—and couldn't hurt a fly if her life depended on it—he decides to protect her instead of turn her in for a reward. As much as Loren doesn't want to admit it, Darien is her best and only chance at finding her friend alive, if she can somehow manage to get along with him—and not fall head-over-heels in love with him in the process, which is far easier said than done.

When more women start disappearing, and some of them slowly turn up dead, Loren and Darien's search for answers takes them deep into Angelthene's corrupt underbelly, where they discover a dark secret that threatens to unravel their world. And when tragedy strikes, Loren learns that love can make an ordinary person do extraordinary things.

From the author of Dreams of Ice and Iron comes a new fantasy romance perfect for fans of Sarah J Maas, Ilona Andrews, and Cassandra Clare.

Please note: This book contains darker content that might be triggering for some readers, including violence, mature language, sexual content, drug abuse, death of an animal (with a HEA), sexual harassment, anxiety, panic attacks, depression, and suicide. It is not intended for anyone under the age of 18.]]> 760 Kayla Edwards 1777880734 Gabi 5 4.5⭐️ !!! DARIEN MF CASSEL 3.68 2022 City of Gods and Monsters (House of Devils, #1)
author: Kayla Edwards
name: Gabi
average rating: 3.68
book published: 2022
rating: 5
read at: 2025/02/28
date added: 2025/03/01
shelves:
review:
4.5⭐️ !!! DARIEN MF CASSEL
]]> <![CDATA[Thorns & Fire (The Ashes of Thezmarr, #2)]]> 220617923
Wren Embervale and Torj Elderbrock share a dark and bloody history. With Thezmarr on the brink of another war, and overwhelmed by the force of their feelings for one another, Torj discovers there is far more to their bond than mere passion. The legendary Warsword is determined to protect Wren at all costs, even if it means lying to her . . . Even if it means losing her forever.

Meanwhile, Wren is struggling to find her place in the world � both as an advanced student of alchemy at the ancient academy of Drevenor, and as one of the heirs to a lost kingdom. With the midrealms once again facing destruction, Wren must decide: loyalty or liberation? Legacy or love?

As new political players emerge, Wren discovers that her gift for alchemy is more powerful than she ever imagined � and that it could tear the kingdoms apart.

Will she and Torj find their way back to each other, or will the ancient magic that binds them become their undoing?]]> 448 Helen Scheuerer 103506734X Gabi 0 to-read 4.74 2025 Thorns & Fire (The Ashes of Thezmarr, #2)
author: Helen Scheuerer
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.74
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/28
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Path of Ruin (Wolves of Lyca #1)]]> 214502882
Centuries ago, the people across the land bowed in worship to the gods of old, to the rulers who sat atop Olympus watching as the world deteriorated before their eyes. Following years of prayers gone unanswered, the common people turned their devotion elsewhere. The early rulers decided to embrace the spirit of the wolf, embedding its legends into their culture, and renaming their dominion in honor of the fallen wolf king, Lycaon. The empire was then divided up into five Pack four ruled by Betas, the fifth reigned over by the Alpha of the Realm. The unfaithful were hunted down and slaughtered, until only those willing to bow down to Pack Law remained.

In a world where survival hinders on the ability to kill, nineteen-year-old Hypatia “Peia� Madaeus is as fierce as they come. Viper tongued and unapologetic in regard to her actions, Peia is willing to carry out the unspeakable to protect those she cares for.

Having lost her family during a vicious raid by one of the rivaling Pack territories, the fallen Beta’s daughter must make the ultimate sacrifice in exchange for her life and the life of her sister. She agrees to serve as one of The Dire, the brutal butchers and enforcers that serve the vicious Beta Marxus Jakobian. These soldiers are the work of nightmares, marking their kills with ink tattoos etched along their skin. Setting out to become as indispensable as possible, it isn’t long before Peia bears more ink stains than any other Dire.

When presented with a task that could guarantee freedom for her sister, it’s up to Peia to decide how much farther she’s willing to go to save the one she loves most. With the aid of her Commanding Officer and fiercest ally Roman Jakobian, son to the vicious Beta, she’ll have to weave her way through Lycan politics and new potential threats to accomplish her task.

Meanwhile, while facing off against the wolves of Lyca, could there be a more sinister threat lurking about?

Brimming with action, morally complex characters, and just a hint of humor, this is a journey of suffering, sacrifice, and an unfailing spirit, led by a wicked heroine you’d beg to ride alongside into battle.]]> 366 Erica Myers Gabi 0 to-read 4.17 Path of Ruin (Wolves of Lyca #1)
author: Erica Myers
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.17
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/28
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Echoes of War (State of the Union #2)]]> 202012592 Hope and war would never go in the same sentence. The words were like oil and water.

Treaties crumble. Unlikely alliances emerge. The resounding Echoes of War amplify their call. Amaia and her found family, bound together by threads of loyalty, have been shattered by a heart-wrenching betrayal. Desperate to do everything they can to protect the place they call home, the band of misfits find themselves compelled to split up.

As the line between right and wrong blurs, the question shifts from “What would you do?� to the haunting realization of “What have I done?� In this dystopian landscape, morality is but a fragile thing. The group finds themselves tested as elemental magic clashes with dark arts and advanced technology.

In the midst of turmoil; delicate bonds begin to flourish for some, emerging as symbols of hope amid life’s unyielding storms, while others grapple with the tests imposed by the ravages of war.

The saga continues, and the echoes sing louder than ever before.]]> 598 Nelle Nikole Gabi 0 to-read 4.43 2024 Echoes of War (State of the Union #2)
author: Nelle Nikole
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.43
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/28
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Rising (State of the Union #1)]]> 124945467 The Before doesn’t matter, only The After.

In a post-apocalyptic Earth ravaged by nuclear war, humanity struggles to survive amidst the aftermath of radiation that has altered their DNA. Amongst the survivors, elemental magic runs through their veins, while a select few have developed extraordinary powers.

Amaia is a fierce leader in The Compound, a powerful community in Monterey, California, that’s been fighting to defend its borders against a series of attacks from the undead. But when her partner is tragically killed in an explosion, Amaia is consumed by a burning desire for vengeance.

When a mysterious stranger appears at the gates of The Compound, the truth behind the undead attacks is revealed; Amaia, her most trusted friends, and the stranger must embark on a dangerous mission to another territory. Along the way, they must navigate treacherous obstacles and captivity, ultimately uncovering a sinister plot involving a common enemy and a shocking betrayal that will test everything they know about trust and loyalty.]]> 478 Nelle Nikole Gabi 0 to-read 4.07 2023 Rising (State of the Union #1)
author: Nelle Nikole
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.07
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/28
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Eyes of Devious Burgundy (Deathcaller Duet, #1)]]> 220277129 In the midst of war, love might be the deadliest weapon of all.

For ten long years, Angels and Demons have waged a brutal war, with one man standing between the Demons and total Rokath, the cruel and merciless general feared for his power to raise the dead.

A prophecy whispers of a woman with eyes of devious burgundy who will shift the balance of power, but Rokath has plans of his own. After a deadly plague wipes out millions of Demons across the realm, Rokath issues an unforgiving command—every family must send one male to the front or face being put to the sword.

Assyria, a sharp-tongued, burgundy-eyed farmgirl, is trapped in an abusive marriage to a nobleman who only values her for the power she could give their offspring. Her life unravels when Rokath’s soldiers arrive with the decree. A violent clash leaves her covered in blood—and running for her life. With her rare magic, she assumes the form of her slain husband and marches off to war, hiding among the very men she’s sworn to hate for killing her family.

In a society where women must remain veiled and pure, Assyria's survival hinges on secrecy. Yet nothing can prepare her for the sharp, sinister gaze of Rokath, whose punishments for disobedience are swift and savage.

When their paths cross, fate sets into motion a dangerous chain of events neither of them can control. With tension crackling between them and thousands of lives balanced on a knife’s edge, will their unlikely connection ignite salvation for the Demons—or doom them to destruction?

Eyes of Devious Burgundy is the first book in the Deathcaller Duet, a slow meet, hate-to-love, banter-filled high dark fantasy romance with a vicious, dangerous MMC and a fiery FMC. Perfect for fans of A Choice of Light and Dark, Carissa Broadbent, and LJ Andrews. An Age of War and Prophecy is a series of interconnected duets and standalones centering around the world-altering events of the Great War between the Angels and Demons. It contains mature, dark themes that some readers might find disturbing. A full TW list is available on the author’s website.]]> 754 Lacey Lehotzky Gabi 0 to-read 4.29 Eyes of Devious Burgundy (Deathcaller Duet, #1)
author: Lacey Lehotzky
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.29
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/27
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[City of Smoke and Brimstone (House of Devils, #4)]]> 198288310 The battle for Terra is only just beginning...

Loren Calla and Darien Cassel return in this breathtaking fourth installment in the House of Devils series, coming 2025.

Cover and blurb to come. This is Book 4 in an ongoing series. All books must be read in order, starting with City of Gods and Monsters.]]> Kayla Edwards Gabi 0 to-read 4.59 2025 City of Smoke and Brimstone (House of Devils, #4)
author: Kayla Edwards
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.59
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/27
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Trials of Dusk and Dreams (Fae Devils, #2)]]> 209044212
One hates her.

One confuses her.

One distrusts her.

One is encased in stone.

One rejects her, and,

One thinks she’s a dangerous distraction.

The task seems impossible. To make matters worse, Avorlorna’s mortal populace is starving and fodder in a looming faerie war. If they find out she’s the reason for their suffering, she’ll be dead before the Solstice Trials begin. But that’s months away. She still has time to rewrite the realm’s fate, remind six demigods they have hearts, and find the belonging she’s always yearned for.

She has time . . . until she doesn’t.

Moments before she’s thrust into the arena, she receives a chilling warning: “One will betray you. One will try to kill you.� With alliances shifting like quicksand, Willow faces an agonizing choice: fight for the love of villains or sacrifice everything for a realm that hates her.

Trials of Dusk and Dreams is a slow-burn, spicy “why choose� dystopian-fantasy romance novel where the underdog heroine finds her inner power, the tension is hot, and the world-building is full of intrigue. It is recommended for mature readers.]]> 516 Lana Pecherczyk Gabi 0 to-read 4.42 Trials of Dusk and Dreams (Fae Devils, #2)
author: Lana Pecherczyk
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.42
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/26
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Castle of Nevers and Nightmares (Fae Devils, #1)]]> 199470280
But the deadly tournament has a darker purpose—to flush out flawed mortal blights on the perfectly pretty fae society� and to kill them. Any left alive are conscripted when war returns in spring. When the coveted prize can give you anything your heart desires, allies are likelier to stab you in your sleep than save you.

Surviving means securing the highly contested patronage of the powerful fae nobility. But when the notoriously recluse House of Shadow is the only option left, the odds are stacked against her. Especially since it’s led by the six beautiful fae boogeymen who ruined her life. Then, the unthinkable happens. For the first time in years, the House of Shadow chooses a protégé.

Her.

Nothing is as it seems in the Court of Dreams, least of all the Nightmares.

Castle of Nevers and Nightmares is a slow-burn dystopian fantasy romance novel where the underdog heroine finds her inner power and the six villains learn to love. The tension is hot, and the world-building is full of intrigue. It’s the first in the Fae Devils series, a Fae Guardians spinoff that will continue with a standalone world and story. Reading the Fae Guardians is unnecessary to enjoy this story, but it can enhance your reading experience as these characters have a past. It is recommended for mature readers.]]> 491 Lana Pecherczyk Gabi 0 to-read 4.30 2024 Castle of Nevers and Nightmares (Fae Devils, #1)
author: Lana Pecherczyk
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.30
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/26
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Blooms of Darkness (The Broken Prophecy, #1)]]> 215636743
Eight Fae fight for my hand in marriage. They’re willing to kill for it. But if they discover my secret, my future husband might kill me too.

The King of Brookmere has decreed his daughter is to marry—which means, despite my protests, he’s enacted an archaic tradition, summoning powerful Fae from across the land to compete for my hand in marriage. And more importantly, the throne.

Eight fae will fight in the deadly trials, braving formidable magic and each other to prove themselves worthy of the crown. Including the arrogant, shadow-wielding Kade Blackthorn, who arrived out of nowhere and appears to have far more abilities than he should. In truth, all I’ve ever wanted is for someone to love me for who I am, despite my secrets. An ally. An equal.

While one of the contenders might become my husband, a trusted friend is the last title any of them can win. These men are willing to do anything for power. If they discover my secret, that I’m an heir with no magic, then we’re all doomed.

Blooms of Darkness is the first book of the Broken Prophecy Series, a slow burn, NA / adult romantasy. Readers are encouraged to review the list of content notes inside before diving into this enemies-to-lovers, shadow daddy romance.]]> 434 Anna Applegate Gabi 0 to-read 4.12 Blooms of Darkness (The Broken Prophecy, #1)
author: Anna Applegate
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.12
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/26
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Lies of Lena (The Otacian Chronicles #1)]]> 208884873 Passionate and Dark. Forbidden Romance. Forced Proximity. Angst.
The Otacian Chronicles is a Dark Romantasy that will progressively get darker as the series continues. Please be mindful of the content warnings.

Lena Daelyra has always lived in fear, as do most Mages in Tovagoth. Mages are discriminated against, hunted for sport, and have no laws that provide them protection. She has kept to herself her entire life, even after she and her mother found a permanent residence in the kingdom of Otacia. That is until she meets Quill Callon, a handsome resident of the Inner Ring, who agrees to train her in weaponry—a safe way of defending herself. As her feelings for Quill develop, she is taunted by the reminder that she can never show her true self, show what she really is. Not even to him.

Silas La’Rune, Crown Prince of Otacia, has been kept inside the castle walls since he was five years old, since the kidnapping and murder of his younger sister, the Princess. He hasn’t known freedom. Hasn’t even seen his kingdom, except from the castle windows. It isn’t until the Queen allows him one day outside the walls that he sees Otacia for himself. One day that changes everything.

When something devastating separates Lena from the man she grows to love, things are not the same when they find each other five years later. Not at all.

And when Lena and Silas’s story finally becomes intertwined, it is clear the fate of Magekind rests on both of their shoulders.]]> 471 Kylie Snow Gabi 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ !!!! Wow!!<br /> 4.23 The Lies of Lena (The Otacian Chronicles #1)
author: Kylie Snow
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.23
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2025/01/06
date added: 2025/02/26
shelves:
review:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ !!!! Wow!!

]]> <![CDATA[The Sins of Silas (The Otacian Chronicles Book #2)]]> 220267641 Passionate and Dark. Forbidden Romance. Forced Proximity. Angst.
The Otacian Chronicles is a Dark Romantasy that will progressively get darker as the series continues. Please be mindful of the content warnings.

“I felt it then…felt how her presence was nothing more than a constant tease—a reminder that he could not satiate that hunger� could not feast on what it was he truly desired.�

Five years ago, Silas La’Rune lost everything. After the deaths of his mother and Lena Daelyra, the love of his life, something in Silas changed, turning him into a cold, merciless man. His sole purpose became eradicating the kind he believed responsible for those deaths. Witches.
Silas, also known to the people of Tovagoth as “The Slayer of Witches,� ended lives without remorse. Without mercy.


Until one day, he raided a Mage village and saw her.
Turns out Lena was very much alive. Not only that, but she had hidden her identity for the entirety of their romance. She herself was a witch—a Mage.


Despite his anger and hatred for the Mages, Silas showed mercy when he met eyes with the woman he had once loved. The two joined forces, wishing to recruit allies to not only overthrow Ulric La’Rune, the King of Otacia, but to rally against the necromancer that now terrorized the land.


While hiding their history from their friends, Lena and Silas must battle their rising feelings for one another amidst their forced proximity, where every glance serves as a reminder of the many days they were tangled beneath the sheets, lost in each other’s embrace.
Silas couldn’t be with Lena, couldn’t hold her in his arms or feel her lips against his...because he was a married man now.
But despite his commitment to another, he couldn’t get his first love out of his mind.

In this thrilling sequel to The Lies of Lena, Lena Daelyra and friends travel south on the continent, fighting various foes while piecing together ancient prophecies in the hopes of finding Oquerene, a realm the seer Igon Natarion has entrusted Lena to find. This triple-POV action-packed romantasy novel is filled with romantic tension, sexy banter, and heartbreak.]]> 786 Kylie Snow Gabi 5
All I know for sure is�. ˾️⭐️

_____________________ 3 days later (SpongeBob voice)

YEP, ITS STILL ˾️⭐️ !!!!
The Sins of Silas was one of the most twisty, unique, unpredictable, & addicting romantasy books I have ever read.

The found family is one of my favorites OF ALL TIME. The depth of the characters & their traumas, THE ROMANCE!!!???? Like I’m sorry but I’m actually obsessed with every single one of them & all of the side couples. The spice is SPICINNNGGGGGG & it’s actually so good I was straight up blushing many times. Lena can get it. (Literally all of them can)

The plot was truly mindblowing. The reveals at the end had me squealing in public and absolutely freaking out. The sign of an amazing romantasy is when I cannot stop coming up with theories & ideas in my head for days afterwards. And that’s how I’m still feeling.

There aren’t enough stars in the world or positive words in the English dictionary. I am obsessed, fully. This will go down as one of my favorite romantasy series of all time. People will be so sick of me talking about it, but I can’t let it go.

JUST READ THIS NOW OKAY????? ITS SO LIFECHANGING

(Trigger warnings: sexual assault, death, grief, miscarriage, death of a child, torture)

]]> 4.51 The Sins of Silas (The Otacian Chronicles Book #2)
author: Kylie Snow
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.51
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2025/02/23
date added: 2025/02/26
shelves:
review:
I need 3-5 business days to recover before I can write a review. But that was one of the best books I’ve ever read…� I’m in shock

All I know for sure is�. ˾️⭐️

_____________________ 3 days later (SpongeBob voice)

YEP, ITS STILL ˾️⭐️ !!!!
The Sins of Silas was one of the most twisty, unique, unpredictable, & addicting romantasy books I have ever read.

The found family is one of my favorites OF ALL TIME. The depth of the characters & their traumas, THE ROMANCE!!!???? Like I’m sorry but I’m actually obsessed with every single one of them & all of the side couples. The spice is SPICINNNGGGGGG & it’s actually so good I was straight up blushing many times. Lena can get it. (Literally all of them can)

The plot was truly mindblowing. The reveals at the end had me squealing in public and absolutely freaking out. The sign of an amazing romantasy is when I cannot stop coming up with theories & ideas in my head for days afterwards. And that’s how I’m still feeling.

There aren’t enough stars in the world or positive words in the English dictionary. I am obsessed, fully. This will go down as one of my favorite romantasy series of all time. People will be so sick of me talking about it, but I can’t let it go.

JUST READ THIS NOW OKAY????? ITS SO LIFECHANGING

(Trigger warnings: sexual assault, death, grief, miscarriage, death of a child, torture)


]]> <![CDATA[Lore of the Wilds (Lore of the Wilds, #1)]]> 195853531
A Fae lord who wants in.

A human woman willing to risk it all for a taste of power.

In a land ruled by ruthless Fae, twenty-one-year-old Lore Alemeyu’s village is trapped in a forested prison. Lore knows that any escape attempt is futile—her scars are a testament to her past failures. But when her village is threatened, Lore makes a desperate deal with a Fae lord. She will leave her home to catalog/organize an enchanted library that hasn’t been touched in a thousand years. No Fae may enter the library, but there is a chance a human might be able to breach the cursed doors.

She convinces him that she will risk her life for wealth, but really she’s after the one thing the Fae covet above all: magic of her own.

As Lore navigates the hostile world outside, she’s forced to rely on two Fae males to survive. Two very different, very dangerous, very attractive Fae males. When undeniable chemistry ignites, she’s not just in danger of losing her life, but her heart to the very creatures she can never trust.]]> 339 Analeigh Sbrana 0063380595 Gabi 4 3.33 2024 Lore of the Wilds (Lore of the Wilds, #1)
author: Analeigh Sbrana
name: Gabi
average rating: 3.33
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/26
date added: 2025/02/26
shelves:
review:

]]> Lights Out 211200239
I want someone with a soul as black as night. Someone who would burn the world down for me and not lose a single minute of sleep over it.

Trauma nurse Aly Cappellucci doesn’t need any more kinks. She likes the one she’s landed on just fine. To her, nothing could top the masked men she follows online. Unless one of those men was shirtless, heavily tattooed, and waiting for her in her bedroom. She dreams about being hunted by one in particular, of him chasing her down and doing deliciously dark things to her willing body. She never could have guessed that by sending one drunken text, those dreams would become her new reality.

I want things most people don’t, craving darkness and depravity instead of light and love.

Josh Hammond has spent his life avoiding the limelight, but his online persona is another story. At night, he posts masked thirst traps for his millions of fans to drool over, but one follower has caught his eye: Aly. After reading a comment begging him to break into her house wearing a mask, he decides to take her up on her offer.

Together, Aly and Josh live out their darkest fantasies, unaware that Aly has captured the attention of someone else. Someone with far more sinister intentions than a little light stalking. As Josh turns from predator to protector and the stakes heighten, he must ask himself how far he’s willing to go for the woman he’s obsessed with.]]> 416 Navessa Allen 1638932239 Gabi 4 4.21 2024 Lights Out
author: Navessa Allen
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.21
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/11/22
date added: 2025/02/26
shelves:
review:
Okaayyyyy not my typical genre but this was an AWESOME audiobook
]]> <![CDATA[Heavenly Bodies (Heavenly Bodies, #1)]]> 214011215
“You know the most dangerous kind of villain? A woman with nothing left to lose.�

In a world ruled by the cruel and merciless Stars, Elara has been cursed by fate. A prophecy promises she will fall for a Star, but that it will kill them both.

So when Ariete, Star of Wrath, War and Chaos, descends to wreak havoc on Elara’s kingdom, she flees her home—the Kingdom of Night—for the neighbouring Helios, Kingdom of Light.

And strides straight into the arms of an enemy prince.

Fearing that Ariete might turn his sights to Helios next, Prince Lorenzo is forced to train Elara as a weapon—one worthy of battling against the tyrannical reign of the Stars. But there are shadows even within the Kingdom of Light—and they threaten to reveal the darkness in Lorenzo’s past and the ancient magic that slumbers in Elara’s veins.

And with it all comes an undeniable, star-crossed pull between Elara and Lorenzo that neither can seem to resist...]]> 496 Imani Erriu 1039012590 Gabi 4
The writing & prose was absolutely beautiful and made the scenes so vivid in my mind

ENZO ]]> 4.11 2022 Heavenly Bodies (Heavenly Bodies, #1)
author: Imani Erriu
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.11
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/23
date added: 2025/02/26
shelves:
review:
4.25⭐️ !!! I realllyyyy enjoyed this one & that twist at the end!!??? WHAT?? I definitely cannot wait to read on in this series!

The writing & prose was absolutely beautiful and made the scenes so vivid in my mind

ENZO
]]> <![CDATA[Lore of the Tides (Lore of the Wilds, #2)]]> 213344046 From the author of Lore of the Wilds comes the exciting and passionate conclusion, as Lore navigates Fae magic amid looming dangers that threaten to destroy her world.

Lore Alemeyu wakes up to discover she’s on a ship in the middle of the ocean. Held prisoner and with no way to escape, she’s faced with a dire set of circumstances�

A crew that’s distrustful of Lore’s magic capabilities�

Her betrayal by a Fae she thought she could trust�

A dangerous quest for the sun book, which, if placed in the wrong hands, will make the Alytherian Fae even more powerful.

Lore must navigate threats on the ship and beyond, into the ocean’s magical and mysterious depths, in order to find the sun book herself and help free the humans. All the while, Lore can’t help but feel the intense pull of one Fae male who has been helping her all along. But is she willing to risk her human heart for creatures that have burned her in the past, and jeopardize her people’s future?]]> 464 Analeigh Sbrana 0063380641 Gabi 0 to-read 4.21 2025 Lore of the Tides (Lore of the Wilds, #2)
author: Analeigh Sbrana
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.21
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/25
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Of Blood and Aether (Harbingers, #1)]]> 204469230 A rare conduit of Light, drawn to the Shadows. A spymaster who can’t seem to stay away.

For as long as she can remember, Arken Asher has been searching for answers—driven by an insatiable hunger, a need to understand the meaning behind her dangerous arcane secrets. She’s finally taken that leap into the unknown, leaving her simple life behind to attend the Arcane Studium: a prestigious college of magickal arts & sciences nestled in the heart of Sophrosyne: the City of the Gods.

As the Scouting & Reconnaissance Captain of the Elder Guard, Kieran Vistarii deals in Shadows, blood and subterfuge. Scarred by his past but dedicated to safeguarding Sophrosyne’s future, Kieran’s self-imposed isolation is easily masked by charm and cocksure energy. Strange disappearances have kept his cadre busy as of late, and yet the captain finds himself sidetracked, distracted by the inexplicable allure of a certain golden-eyed Conduit and her curious mind.

They both know better than to get involved, but the Fates have other plans. The dark threads of prophecy were woven long ago, and the ties that bind just might be what it takes to mend these broken, star-crossed souls� or what forges a deadly bond that could damn them all.]]> 608 Harper Hawthorne Gabi 4 3.99 2024 Of Blood and Aether (Harbingers, #1)
author: Harper Hawthorne
name: Gabi
average rating: 3.99
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/25
date added: 2025/02/25
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Psycho Shifters (Cruel Shifterverse, #1)]]> 210998178 Fight like a girl...or a shifter of lore.

After growing up with nothing, I've finally found my path to freedom: I'm a shifter, an elite soldier who transforms into a monster.

All I have to do is survive.

I didn't count on my three 6'5 roommates. Covered in tattoos, jeweled, and horned, these are like no men I've ever dealt with before.

They don't think I belong.
They don't think I'm strong enough for war.
They don't think I can fight.

I'm about to prove them wrong.

The only problem, can I survive them discovering the secrets of my past? In the battle for life and death, everyone is so much more than they seem.

Jax, Ascher, and Cobra are going to be devastated when they discover my truth...just wait until they see my shifted form.


This is a dark paranormal reverse harem bully romance. Not for the faint of heart � this story is about three psycho alpha shifters and the girl who stands her ground.

� Slow Burn
� Heat level: High (spicy MMM + MMFM scenes)
� Reverse Harem and a new take on the Omegaverse. Dark and bloody, yet also humorous, we love unhealthy coping mechanisms. Potential triggers.]]> 280 Jasmine Mas Gabi 0 to-read 3.78 2022 Psycho Shifters (Cruel Shifterverse, #1)
author: Jasmine Mas
name: Gabi
average rating: 3.78
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/25
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Blood of Hercules (Villains of Lore, #1)]]> 216595852
I'm just a girl. And it turns out, I'm Hercules.

I'm struggling to survive in a Titan infested world where Spartans, immortals from twelve royal families who have god-like powers and obscene wealth, rule over all. A shy-stammering foster child with nothing, I keep my head down, cover my scars, and focus on excelling in school. At least, I try to. Then it happens.

My blood test reveals I'm part of the powerful elite. I'm one of them. A Spartan.

Forced to attend the Spartan War Academy, I undergo the most harrowing test of all time to see if I have what it takes to be an immortal. There's just a few problems. Achilles and Patro are my scary mentors. Kharon, the ferryman of death, and Augustus, the son of war, are my terrifying professors. Also, I'm pretty sure either someone's stalking me everywhere I go, or my sanity's slipping––I have a bad feeling both are true.

I'm surrounded by Villains and they're smothering me with their hate, obsession, and dark possessiveness. Too bad for them, they have no clue just who they're messing with.




]]> 496 Jasmine Mas Gabi 0 to-read 3.85 2024 Blood of Hercules (Villains of Lore, #1)
author: Jasmine Mas
name: Gabi
average rating: 3.85
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/25
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Phoenix King (The Ravence Trilogy, #1)]]> 63325346
The Ravani kingdom was born of a prophecy, carved from unforgiving desert sands and ruled by the Ravence bloodline: those with the power to command the Eternal Fire.

Elena Aadya is the heir to the throne—and the only Ravence who cannot wield her family’s legendary magic. As her coronation approaches, she will do whatever it takes to prove herself a worthy successor to her revered father. But she doesn’t anticipate the arrival of Yassen Knight, the notorious assassin who now claims fealty to the throne. Elena’s father might trust Yassen to be a member of her royal guard, but she is certain he is hiding something.]]> 513 Aparna Verma 0316522775 Gabi 0 to-read 3.64 2023 The Phoenix King (The Ravence Trilogy, #1)
author: Aparna Verma
name: Gabi
average rating: 3.64
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/24
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> The Fall That Saved Us 193772072
But the past hasn’t let go of Cassiel yet. When a succubus named Avitue arrives to claim her angel-touched soul, Cassiel’s old hunter instincts flare, forcing her to choose between old knowledge and her truth. What should be a fatal seduction becomes a bargain neither woman expects. As they grow closer, Avitue is surprised to find her own pain reflected in Cassiel, a nephilim deemed fallen by her own family’s standards.

By choosing trust, they reveal the lies that bind them. Falling for each other begins a path towards healing. But exorcising the effects of trauma is harder than naming it, and to explore the unfettered possibility Avitue represents, Cassiel must find a way to reclaim and redefine her angelic heritage.]]> 327 Tamara Jerée Gabi 0 to-read 3.93 2023 The Fall That Saved Us
author: Tamara Jerée
name: Gabi
average rating: 3.93
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/24
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> The Love Haters 217387810 It’s a thin line between love and love-hating.

Katie Vaughn has been burned by love in the past—now she may be lighting her career on fire. She has two choices: wait to get laid off from her job as a video producer or, at her coworker Cole’s request, take a career-making gig profiling Tom “Hutch� Hutcheson, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer in Key West.

The catch? Katie’s not exactly qualified. She can’t swim—but fakes it that she can.

Plus: Cole is Hutch’s brother. And they don’t get along. Next stop paradise!

But paradise is messier than it seems. As Katie gets entangled with Hutch (the most scientifically good looking man she has ever seen . . . but also a bit of a love hater), along with his colorful Aunt Rue and his rescue Great Dane, she gets trapped in a lie. Or two.

Swim lessons, helicopter flights, conga lines, drinking contests, hurricanes, and stolen kisses ensue—along with chances to tell the truth, to face old fears, and to be truly brave at last.]]> 320 Katherine Center 1250283825 Gabi 0 to-read 4.02 2025 The Love Haters
author: Katherine Center
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.02
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/24
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> The Amalfi Curse 218674082 Powerful witchcraft. A hunt for sunken treasure. Forbidden love on the high seas. Beware the Amalfi Curse�

Haven Ambrose, a trailblazing nautical archaeologist, has come to the sun-soaked village of Positano to investigate the mysterious shipwrecks along the Amalfi Coast. But Haven is hoping to find more than old artifacts beneath the azure waters; she is secretly on a quest to locate a trove of priceless gemstones her late father spotted on his final dive. Upon Haven’s arrival, strange maelstroms and misfortunes start plaguing the town. Is it nature or something more sinister at work?

As Haven searches for her father’s sunken treasure, she begins to unearth a centuries-old tale of ancient sorcery and one woman’s quest to save her lover and her village by using the legendary art of stregheria, a magical ability to harness the ocean. Could this magic be behind Positano’s latest calamities? Haven must unravel the Amalfi Curse before the region is destroyed forever�

Against the dazzling backdrop of the Amalfi Coast, this bewitching novel shimmers with mystery, romance and the untamed magic of the sea.]]> 336 Sarah Penner 0778308006 Gabi 0 to-read 4.32 2025 The Amalfi Curse
author: Sarah Penner
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.32
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/24
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[First-Time Caller (Heartstrings, #1)]]> 213243908 A hopeless romantic meets a jaded radio host in this cozy, Sleepless in Seattle-inspired love story from beloved author B.K. Borison.

Aiden Valentine has a secret: he's fallen out of love with love. And as the host of Baltimore's romance hotline, that's a bit of a problem. But when a young girl calls in to the station asking for dating advice for her mom, the interview goes viral, thrusting Aiden and Heartstrings into the limelight.

Lucie Stone thought she was doing just fine. She has a good job; an incredible family; and a smart, slightly devious kid. But when all of Baltimore is suddenly scrutinizing her love life-or lack thereof—she begins to question if she's as happy as she thought. Maybe a little more romance wouldn't be such a bad thing.

Everyone wants Lucie to find her happy ending... even the handsome, temperamental man calling the shots. But when sparks start to fly behind the scenes, Lucie must make the final call between the radio-sponsored happily ever after or the man in the headphones next to her.]]> 448 B.K. Borison 0593641191 Gabi 5 4.08 2025 First-Time Caller (Heartstrings, #1)
author: B.K. Borison
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.08
book published: 2025
rating: 5
read at: 2025/02/21
date added: 2025/02/21
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Heir of Illusion: A fast-paced fantasy romance with gods and fae (The Verran Isles Series Book 1)]]> 223351184 An alliance between enemies. A weapon of untold power. And a bond that could rewrite fate.

Blessed with the power of illusion, Ivy Pomeroy has many tricks up her sleeve. However, none of them are a match for the enchanted collar at her throat that keeps her bound to a ruthless king. Forced to play the role of his obedient pet, she plots in secret to destroy him and claim the freedom she has always been denied.

When a mysterious reaper arrives in the city with his sights set on the same weapon Ivy needs, she must decide how far she’s willing to go for her freedom. With a tenuous alliance tying them together, Ivy learns there is more to her reluctant companion than meets the eye. He sparks her curiosity and ignites dangerous desires within her. But will their newfound connection lead them to triumph? Or will the secrets they harbor destroy each other?

Above all, Ivy must remember she is not the pet they tamed.

She is the beast they let inside.

And she will show no mercy.



FOR FANS OF JENNIFER L ARMENTROUT, REBECCA YARROS, AND SARAH J MAAS COMES A FAST-PACED FANTASY ROMANCE FULL OF TWISTS, BANTER, AND BETRAYAL.]]> 464 Madeline Taylor Gabi 0 to-read 4.68 Heir of Illusion: A fast-paced fantasy romance with gods and fae (The Verran Isles Series Book 1)
author: Madeline Taylor
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.68
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/20
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Faefever (Fever, #3) 2702704 New York Times bestselling author of Darkfever and Bloodfever returns to Dublin’s Fae-infested shores in a bold, sensual new novel. Hurtling us into a realm of seduction and shadows, Karen Marie Moning tells the enthralling tale of a woman who explores the limits of her mysterious powers as she enters a world of ancient sorcery—and confronts an enemy more insidious than she could ever have imagined.

He calls me his Queen of the Night. I’d die for him. I’d kill for him, too. When MacKayla Lane receives a torn page from her dead sister’s journal, she is stunned by Alina’s desperate words. And now MacKayla knows that her sister’s killer is close. But evil is closer. And suddenly the sidhe-seer is on the hunt: For answers. For revenge. And for an ancient book of dark magic so evil, it corrupts anyone who touches it.

Mac’s quest for the Sinsar Dubh takes her into the mean, shape-shifting streets of Dublin, with a suspicious cop on her tail. Forced into a dangerous triangle of alliance with V’lane, an insatiable Fae prince of lethally erotic tastes, and Jericho Barrons, a man of primal desires and untold secrets, Mac is soon locked in a battle for her body, mind, and soul.

As All Hallows� Eve approaches and the city descends into chaos, as a shocking truth about the Dark Book is uncovered, not even Mac can prevent a deadly race of immortals from shattering the walls between worlds—with devastating consequences.…]]> 327 Karen Marie Moning 0385341636 Gabi 0 to-read 4.29 2008 Faefever (Fever, #3)
author: Karen Marie Moning
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.29
book published: 2008
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/20
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Darkfever (Fever, #1) 112750 "My name is MacKayla, Mac for short. I'm a sidhe-seer, one who sees the Fae, a fact I accepted only recently and very reluctantly.

My philosophy is pretty simple—any day nobody's trying to kill me is a good day in my book. I haven't had many good days lately. Not since the walls between Man and Fae came down. But then, there's not a sidhe-seer alive who's had a good day since then."

When MacKayla's sister was murdered, she left a single clue to her death, a cryptic message on Mac's cell phone. Journeying to Ireland in search of answers, Mac is soon faced with an even greater challenge: staying alive long enough to master a power she had no idea she possessed—a gift that allows her to see beyond the world of man, into the dangerous realm of the Fae.

As Mac delves deeper into the mystery of her sister's death, her every move is shadowed by the dark, mysterious Jericho…while at the same time, the ruthless V'lane—an alpha Fae who makes sex an addiction for human women—closes in on her. As the boundary between worlds begins to crumble, Mac's true mission becomes clear: to find the elusive Sinsar Dubh before someone else claims the all-powerful Dark Book—because whoever gets to it first holds nothing less than complete control of both worlds in their hands.]]> 309 Karen Marie Moning 0385339151 Gabi 0 to-read 4.08 2006 Darkfever (Fever, #1)
author: Karen Marie Moning
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.08
book published: 2006
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/20
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Bloodfever (Fever, #2) 344262
When my sister was found dead in a trash-filled alley in Dublin, I came over to get answers. Now all I want is revenge. And after everything I’ve learned about myself, I know I have the power to get it�.

MacKayla Lane’s ordinary life underwent a complete makeover when she landed on Ireland’s shores and was plunged into a world of deadly sorcery and ancient secrets.

In her fight to stay alive, Mac must find the Sinsar Dubh–a million-year-old book of the blackest magic imaginable, which holds the key to power over both the worlds of the Fae and of Man. Pursued by Fae assassins, surrounded by mysterious figures she knows she cannot trust, Mac finds herself torn between two deadly and irresistible men: V’lane, the insatiable Fae who can turn sensual arousal into an obsession for any woman, and the ever-inscrutable Jericho Barrons, a man as alluring as he is mysterious.

For centuries the shadowy realm of the Fae has coexisted with that of humans. Now the walls between the two are coming down, and Mac is the only thing that stands between them.…]]> 303 Karen Marie Moning 038533916X Gabi 0 to-read 4.25 2007 Bloodfever (Fever, #2)
author: Karen Marie Moning
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.25
book published: 2007
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/20
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[I Got Abducted by Aliens and Now I'm Trapped in a Rom-Com (Cosmic Chaos, #1)]]> 213618276 A hilarious and sexy romance about a woman who gets dropped on a strange planet only to fall for not one, but two, aliens, from the author of I Got Drunk and Yeeted a Love Potion at a Werewolf.

Dorothy Valentine is close to getting her PhD in wildlife biology when she’s attacked by a lion. On the bright side, she’s saved! On the not-so-bright side, it’s because they’re abducted by aliens. In her scramble to escape, Dory and the lion commandeer an escape pod and crash-land on an alien planet that has...dinosaurs?

Dory and her new lion bestie, Toto, are saved in the nick of time by a mysterious and sexy alien, Sol. On their new adventure, they team up with the equally hot, equally dangerous Lok, who may or may not be a war criminal. Whether it be trauma, fate, or intrigue, Dory can’t resist the attraction that’s developing in their trio....

As this ragtag group of misfits explore their new planet, Dory learns more about how and why they’ve all ended up together, battles more prehistoric creatures than she imagined (she imagined...zero), and questions if she even wants to go back home to Earth in this hilarious and steamy alien romance adventure comedy romp.]]> 287 Kimberly Lemming 0593818636 Gabi 0 to-read 3.69 2025 I Got Abducted by Aliens and Now I'm Trapped in a Rom-Com (Cosmic Chaos, #1)
author: Kimberly Lemming
name: Gabi
average rating: 3.69
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/19
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Scythe & Sparrow (The Ruinous Love Trilogy, #3)]]> 127616032 Discover the serial killer romance series everyone is talking about!From the no.1 New York Times bestselling author of the genre-breaking international TikTok sensation Butcher & Blackbird and Leather & Lark comes the final book in the Ruinous Love Trilogy - a friends-with-benefits dark romantic comedy.

Murder.

Mayhem.

And spice.

Doctor Fionn Kane is running from a broken heart, one he hopes to mend in small-town Nebraska, far away from his almost-fiance and his derailed surgical career. It's a simpler head down, hard work, and absolutely no romantic relationships. He wants none of the circus he left behind in Boston.

But then the real circus finds him.

Motorcycle performer Rose Evans has spent a decade on the road with the Silveria Circus, and it suits her just fine, especially when she has the urge to indulge in a little murder when she's not in the spotlight. But when a kill goes awry and she ends up with an injured leg, Rose finds herself stuck in Nebraska, at the home of the adorably nerdy town doctor.

The problem is, not every broken heart can be sewn back together.

. . . And the longer you stay in one place, the more likely your ghosts are to catch up.

***


Friends with benefits
Small town romance
Fish out of water
Forced proximity
Hurt/care
Touch her and die]]> 416 Brynne Weaver Gabi 0 to-read 4.10 2025 Scythe & Sparrow (The Ruinous Love Trilogy, #3)
author: Brynne Weaver
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.10
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/19
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[And Now, Back to You (Heartstrings, #2)]]> 217513554 B.K. Borison Gabi 0 to-read 4.50 2026 And Now, Back to You (Heartstrings, #2)
author: B.K. Borison
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.50
book published: 2026
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/18
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Unbroken Bonds (The Bonds That Tie, #6)]]> 60909286
I thought that the death of the man who tortured me, broke me, and then hunted me to the ends of the Earth would be the end of our fight; but it’s only the beginning.

After thousands of years of being apart, our god bonds are reunited once again; and they’re not ready to go down without a fight.

They’ve woken up hungry.

All of the research in the world couldn’t have prepared us for what’s to come, enemies and wars fought over millennia. Now we’re being forced to act, but this time, we have the advantage.

This time, we’re Bonded.

Are we strong enough to survive the gods and their plans? Will we ever live in the peaceful world we’ve fought so hard for, or is history doomed to repeat itself?


*Unbroken Bonds is a full-length reverse harem PNR novel with material that may be difficult for some readers. This book is the final installment and will not end on a cliffhanger. It's recommended for 18+ due to language and sexual situations. Book 6 in the 6 book series.]]> 542 J. Bree Gabi 4 4.01 2022 Unbroken Bonds (The Bonds That Tie, #6)
author: J. Bree
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.01
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/17
date added: 2025/02/17
shelves:
review:

]]> The Shadows that Listen 221970440 It's been five years since the world was brought to its knees by an immortal war.

Anyone who survived the day the other worlds arrived remembers it clearly. The ground cracked open, and daemons crawled from the depths of hell. The sky bled the colour of a raging fire and angels arrived to stop them. Only humanity quickly realised that they were not their allies, and they're certainly not their guardians.

Amara Jones is a human warrior working for the Angel Intelligence Agency. She spends her days at a desk searching for those who don't make it home in time for curfew. When Amara’s boyfriend is added to that list, she is forced to choose between running off into the darkness to save him and her own life.

Suddenly she’s thrust into the midst of a war that she's not equipped to fight, and quickly realises that she is unlikely to survive on her own.

Nathaniel is the archangel leading the destruction on humanity, for which he cares little. After he finds Amara hiding in the dark, she leaves a lasting impression in the form of a blade through his abdomen and her enemy quickly changes from daemons that lurk in the shadows to the vengeful winged beast that stalks her from the skies.

Amara soon discovers that Nathaniel may not only be the key to survival, but to finding the man that she loves.

The only question is - who will survive the night?]]> 459 Louisa Carmody 0646707981 Gabi 0 to-read 4.32 The Shadows that Listen
author: Louisa Carmody
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.32
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/17
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Tragic Bonds (The Bonds That Tie, #5)]]> 60654360
Our Bonded Group has been torn apart, and the monsters are now the prey.
But we’re not going to just wait around for our enemy to strike; the blood on his hands is unforgivable, and the god living inside of me wants her revenge paid in blood.

And a thousand souls.

We have been pushed to the limit, tested in ways that have devastating outcomes, and paid the ultimate price. Can we recover from such losses? Is the promise of a world without our enemy worth the sacrifices we’ve made?

Can we prove to everyone, and ourselves, that together our bonds are unbroken?

*Tragic Bonds is a full-length reverse harem PNR novel with material that may be difficult for some readers. This book will end on a cliffhanger. It's recommended for 18+ due to language and sexual situations.]]> 542 J. Bree Gabi 4 4.20 2022 Tragic Bonds (The Bonds That Tie, #5)
author: J. Bree
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.20
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/15
date added: 2025/02/15
shelves:
review:
Okay so I am genuinely still enjoying this series a lot but if Atlas says “sweetness� one more time, I may have a menty b
]]> <![CDATA[Trial of the Sun Queen (Artefacts of Ouranos, #1)]]> 194848627 A Court of Thorns and Roses meets The Fourth Wing  in this pulse-pounding, enemies-to-lovers fantasy romance—with fae magic, high-stakes trials, and a dark prince—from Booktok favorite author Nisha J. Tuli. 

Ten women. A deadly contest. Only one can win the Sun King's heart.
Lor has endured twelve long years of torment under the Aurora King’s rule. Her only desire is to escape and pay him back for every moment of misery she's endured.

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

But Lor doesn't belong in the Sun Queen Trials. Not only does she not understand why she was freed, she isn’t a citizen of the Sun King’s court. The other Tributes resent her presence and will stop at nothing to ensure Lor is removed from the competition, permanently.

Now Lor must win, because if she loses, she dies. Or worse, she'll be returned to the evil—and now vengeful—Aurora King.]]> 407 Nisha J. Tuli Gabi 0 4.11 2023 Trial of the Sun Queen (Artefacts of Ouranos, #1)
author: Nisha J. Tuli
name: Gabi
average rating: 4.11
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at: 2024/11/14
date added: 2025/02/14
shelves:
review:
4.25⭐️ !!! DEVOURED this in like 1.5 days & loved every minute
]]>