bribreez's reviews
679 reviews

Fall Into Temptation by Lucy Score

funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

4.25⭐️/ 3🌶️

The small town of Blue Moon had a unique bunch of residents who lived there, and were a close knit group. Once again in the small town, we were introduced to the newest couple in this series, and this book followed, Beckett and Gianna. Beckett was a familiar face since we met him in the first book, and the mayor of Blue Moon. Beckett was use to keeping busy between his mayor duties and law practice in town. Never one to settle down, Beckett had his focus on other aspects of his life, but he couldn’t help noticing the new person in town, a.k.a. the woman who also happened to be his newest tenant. For Gianna, moving to Blue Moon was a fresh start, an opportunity to finally have her own yoga studio, and be closer to her father. With two kids, Gianna tried her best to provide and care for them which was evident in how loving and close she was with them. The last thing Gianna wanted was a relationship or having an instant attraction to her landlord, Beckett. A small town romance with the single mom trope, and more lovable characters, Lucy Score once again captured the essence of small town life in a way that made me want to jump into the story as well. 

Beckett and Gia were obviously attracted to each other, but with each of them not looking for a serious relationship it made them to try to avoid from things getting more intimate. Regardless, Beckett and Gia were always around each other due to being neighbors hence the forced proximity, living in a small town, they always saw one another, and when they did see each other, they always ended up talking or inevitably hanging out. I think from the moment Beckett and Gia met, it was not only an instantaneous attraction, but also a realization that sometimes when you least expect it, you’ll find the one for you.

Gianna was a single mom trying to juggle her yoga studio, and her kiddos, and also trying to find time for herself. As a mom, Gianna tried to do everything herself, but since moving to Blue Moon, she found herself surrounded by amazing friends, her dad, and Beckett helping her out. Along the way, it was clear to see that Gianna was such a heartwarming person who helped others, and gave them all her attention. Although, when it came to Gianna’s own wellbeing she often forget to prioritize herself which Beckett helped her realize. Seeing Gianna get time to herself whether that was downtime from after doing chores, taking the kids to and from school, or work, she later got to have a bit of fun with Summer, and Joey. The single mom trope in this book really highlighted all the ways Gianna was there for her kids, and no matter what she always put them first, but she also learned to put herself first as well which ended up being a good thing in her growth. 

This book never failed in giving me the sweet, cozy, heartwarming feel I get whenever I read a small town romance by Lucy Score. While this is only the second book in the series, it gave me the fall vibes just like in the title, “Fall into Temptation”, and I very much saw the temptation brewing between Beckett and Gianna. Lucy Score wrote Gianna and Beckett’s romance in a way that showed them going from neighbors, to friends, and finally lovers. I loved the way Beckett and Gianna’s romance progressed and especially towards the end with how they resolved their issues. Show me a man groveling for the woman he loves, and I absolutely love it! The way Beckett went above and beyond to show Gianna he was serious about fighting for her, showing her how sorry he was, and more importantly literally showing through his actions how serious he was about her and the kids really sealed the deal for me. From seeing Gianna and Beckett fall in love, to Beckett’s mom and Gianna’s dad in a relationship, and seeing familiar faces from the first book, Summer, Carter, Jax, and Joey, there was plenty of love and happiness to see all around. Towards the end of the book, Gianna and Beckett resolved their issues, and came out stronger  together. I really enjoyed once again seeing the found family in this story especially when it came to Gianna and how she was embraced by everyone similar to how Summer felt in the first book. The book ended on a really sweet note and the epilogue was another heartfelt moment that truly made Beckett and Gianna’s story along with the rest of the characters end on a happy note. Definitely recommend reading this series, and I cannot wait to read the next book with JOEY AND JAX! Yay! 

Tied by Carian Cole

dark hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

*Please Check Trigger Warnings before reading.

4.5 ⭐️/ 3🌶️

Holly Daniel’s life wasn’t an easy one. At the age of five, she was kidnapped and held captive by a horrible man. After eleven years in captive and horrifying circumstances, she was finally free by a mysterious man who saved her. Although, she was now back living her new life, things still weren’t the same as she still dealt with the trauma of everything she endured over the years, and couldn’t stop thinking about the man with beautiful blue eyes who literally saved her. Tyler Grace was a reclusive person, didn’t speak much, and was use to being on his own ostracized by the town he lived in. The day that Tyler saved Holly from the horrors she knew he also knew he would never forget her face and how so much was hidden behind her eyes. Carian Cole wrote an angst filled romance with some heavy topics, and a slow burn romance between Holly and Tyler as they both found peace with each other, as well as grew stronger in themselves.

Holly endured a lot in the years during her kidnapping and afterwards, it wasn’t an easy journey, but slowly she started to find her place in the real world. The interesting thing I found about Holly was her outlook on life. Following the time when she was saved and found, Holly still had to adjust to her new surroundings and basically learn how to live independently. I think how Holly slowly gained confidence and independence was a big factor in her character growth, and truly showed that she wasn’t necessarily going to let her trauma override all the work she put into bettering herself. As much as people such as, Holly’s mom viewed Holly as a fragile and delicate person, she wasn’t that. Instead, Holly gradually grew into her own person, and developed her personality, her wants, her needs, her own self. This story tackled a bit of Holly’s trauma so please check trigger warnings before reading as this book did mention some heavy topics.

Tyler was a reclusive man who didn’t speak much, and when he did it was a few gruff words, but when he was around Holly, he started to soften a bit of his rough edges. If there’s one thing I love about a rough and tough man is not only seeing him become soft for the woman he’s falling for, but also being aware of what she needs. Tyler was observant in everything, but in particular with Holly, he knew when to soften his tone or step back a bit in order to make sure she felt comfortable especially since sometimes Holly was still working through feeling comfortable with physical touch. Tyler was known around town as the golden boy gone bad, and many were suspicious of him, but in all honesty Tyler wasn’t the bad guy at all. The moment when Tyler saved Holly he was a hero, but a miscommunication with the police and town had them labeling Tyler as the Villian. Tyler was use to people around town judging him, but being around Holly it was clear to see that he slowly started to enjoy the friendship they formed. 

Both, Holly and Tyler had a good amount of character growth that was shown throughout the book, and their romance was actually endearing. Through all the trauma and loss Holly and Tyler experienced, seeing them together going from friends to lovers was heartwarming, sentimental, and deep. As much as Tyler was initially stand off-ish towards Holly, he quickly found himself looking forward to the days they would spend time together. There wasn’t much conflict in this book other than the trauma that Holly experienced when she was kidnapped, and Tyler being the one who saved her. The rest of the story really showed the character growth both Holly and Tyler went through as well as seeing the two of them find their own happiness together. This story felt more character driven which I really liked, and genuinely felt the chemistry and love that Holly and Tyler felt for one another. With a bit of angst, sadness, romance, and hope, this story illustrated the way two lost souls not only found happiness, but also overcame the obstacles they faced. Good story, really enjoyed it, and loved the sentimental epilogue that was included at the very end. 

Torn by Carian Cole

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

4.25⭐️/ 3-4🌶️

For as long as Kenzi could remember, Toren was always there for her. From different points in her life, Tor had always been the one she could always rely on. When Kenzi was little, she use to say that she would marry Toren when she was older. Little did we realize that the best friend she often spoken of was actually her father’s best friend!!!!! Told in the past and present, this story illustrated the younger days of Kenzi as she grew up, but also how she and Toren’s relationship changed into something unexpected. With tropes like, age gap romance, taboo romance, father’s best friend/ best friend’s daughter, this romance wasn’t the typical one you would think of, but still packed a punch in the emotional and sentimental moments between Kenzi and Tor.

Before we even get into this book, let’s just address the main thing that I’m sure some people might be questioning about this book. Yes, it is an age gap romance, and yes Kenzi did indeed call Toren “Uncle Tor” for many years, but they were never ever blood related. Also, this was kind of a taboo romance so, if that isn’t something you like, then this book won’t be for you. On the off chance, you’re looking to read a taboo romance/ age gap romance then this one might be the one to read. 

 The way Carian wrote Kenzi and Toren’s story in this book really illustrated the timeline of them from a young age to them in the present, and how their relationship evolved from one as treating each other like family to becoming a couple. I liked how at the beginning of each chapter there was a flashback to different points in Kenzi and Toren’s lives together. In addition to the flashbacks, some were sweet and sentimental in how even from a young age, Kenzi was always close with Tor and Tor was always caring for Kenzi and giving her all his affection. Compared to the present (at least in the beginning when Kenzi is a bit older), we get to see the subtle changes in the dynamic between Kenzi and Tor. For as long as Kenzi and Tor knew each other, once the small changes started to shift in their friendship to one hinting at deeper feelings that weren’t so friendly, it became more of a passionate relationship but one that was also forbidden considering Kenzi was Tor’s best friend’s daughter. 

The tile of this book really did fit the story perfectly because I was torn between the angst and forbidden romance that was Kenzi and Toren’s love! Man oh man this was quite the predicament for both Kenzi and Tor. Knowing each other for so many years, and basically knowing Kenzi since the moment she was born caused quite the stir between Tor and Kenzi as they started to realize they had intimate feelings for each other. Kenzi had always known she wanted to be by Toren’s side, but fully coming to the conclusion she wanted more with him was a turning point especially as she became older. For Toren, he was…TORN between the duty he always had of taking care of Kenzi, making sure she was safe, loved, and protected, but also wanting her in ways that he felt guilty about. The thing that I did like throughout the story was actually seeing Toren coming to terms over his feelings for Kenzi, it wasn’t an easy, “yes! Let’s be together!”, more so there was other things at play besides the obvious large age gap, but also how others such as, Kenzi’s dad a.k.a. Toren’s best friend’s would react to it all. The angst in this book also illustrated the obstacles that prevented Toren and Kenzi from being together and the conflicted emotions surrounding them. This romance was taboo, and forbidden, but even through that, both Kenzi and Toren couldn’t deny the strong emotional connection they felt for each other. 

Even with all the angst surrounding Kenzi and Toren, there was still some sweet and loving moments sprinkled in as well as some spice too. Once Toren and Kenzi became one hundred percent sure they wanted to pursue a relationship together, it wasn’t necessarily a big change for them only the oncoming obstacles that they had to face when others found out, etc. For most of the book, Toren was usually seen as “cold” and “quiet”, but when he was with Kenzi, he was sweet, open, and dare I say even a bit softer? Regardless, Toren was a romantic at heart and it definitely showed when he went from being considered a family friend to lover with Kenzi. I think Kenzi even became a bit more serious with Toren by showing him all the ways she wanted to bring a smile to his face, and genuinely just make him happy which definitely showed in how Toren reacted to the things Kenzi did for him. I got to see a different side of Toren, one that was lighthearted and wasn’t so “broody” as Kenzi would say haha. 

Carian Cole had me intrigued with her unconventional/ taboo romance filled with angst, passion, and a sweet connection between Kenzi and Toren. Kenzi and Toren had literally always been in each other’s lives so, it was no surprise that they ended up developing feelings for each other. The thing that I liked how Carian Cole wrote this story was emphasizing how Toren was initially conflicted over his feelings for Kenzi, and how he had initially tried to prevent things from progressing into a romantic relationship. Try as hard as he might, Toren couldn’t deny, he loved Kenzi in every way possible, and Kenzi felt the same about him. Through the sweet and romantic moments Kenzi and Toren shared, I was then waiting for the inevitable moment when Asher, Kenzi’s mom would find out the truth of his best friend being with his daughter. The road to a happily ever after wasn’t easy, but through some self reflection and time apart, Kenzi and Toren reached a point where they could finally be together. Carian Cole did a great job of showing all the sides of the romance between Kenzi and Toren from the obstacles they faced from their age gap, and the taboo aspect of their relationship too. In the end, Kenzi and Toren had a happy ending, and the epilogue was another tender moment that showed them happily married, with a baby of their own, and even mentioning other details that revealed even more stuff about Kenzi’s parents which was nice. Anyways, I enjoyed this book, I think Carian Cole did a great job of depicting an angst filled, taboo romance. While this book may not be everyone’s cup of tea, I still enjoyed it and may some might want to give this book a chance. 

Bull Moon Rising by Ruby Dixon

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

4.25⭐️/ 4-5🌶️

*Check Trigger warnings before reading 

When one dreams of adventures of discovering magical artifacts in underground tunnels it sounds like a fun time right? For Aspeth it was always her dream to join the Guild, but especially considering her home close to ruin for the loss of financial support and all the magical artifacts no longer working, Aspeth needed to join the Guild to help save her home. For Hawk, he just hoped he would get a group of students who would finally pass and not be the laughing stock of the Guild. As if that’s wasn’t enough to be stressed over, the Conquest Moon was fast approaching which meant things for Hawk were going to be tense…or in his case in need of some serious release. With Aspeth wanting to join the Guild, but needing a chaperone to approve her to go and Hawk needing someone to help him through the Conquest Moon, a marriage of convenience happened, and the two agreed to help each other. A group of misfits put together, a grumpy teacher, a hopeful student, and some magic, Ruby Dixon wrote a fun monster romance that piqued my interest right away. 

There’s just something about Ruby Dixon’s books that are so addicting and enjoyable that I love reading them. Granted, this is only my second book I’ve read by Ruby Dixon, but within the couple of chapters I read, I was already immersed into the world of the book. Ruby Dixon crafted a world that relied on the magic of artifacts to both help and use as a means of rise in power. Not to mention, Ruby also tackled the issue of misogyny that Aspeth constantly found herself faced with. Aspeth wasn’t a woman to go down easy, she put up a fight in order to show everyone she was willing to put in the work to become a full fledged guild member. Aspeth and Hawk were different in every way possible from different upbringings and species they were. Aspeth was a holder’s daughter and came from nobility, whereas Hawk was a working Minotaur trying to make sure he still had his job as an instructor. With Aspeth and Hawk meeting, it set off a whole new direction that neither of them saw coming. 

When I heard about this book, I knew it was going to be a fantasy romance, but add in a marriage of convenience and I was even more excited! I feel like I haven’t necessarily read a fantasy romance with a marriage of convenience especially in the case with Aspeth and Hawk. Both, Aspeth and Hawk needed something from the other so, by marrying each other they provided a means the other needed. Little did Aspeth realize that with the Conquest Moon approaching, the tension between her and her husband would grow hotter each day! Add in the moments when Hawk would say, “my wife” and show her all the ways she could experience pleasure especially with him being a Minotaur, and it was quite the surprise for Aspeth that she enjoyed VERY MUCH! 

If there’s one thing I throughly enjoy about Ruby Dixon’s books is the unique take she brings to her stories, and with Aspeth and Hawk their story was one I was really intrigued by. The more that I read, the more I realized just how much both Aspeth and Hawk had things that were taking a toll on their lives. Aspeth wanted to try to make it into the guild, but also try to find artifacts that could help her family’s hold. With Hawk, trying to ensure his group of Five passed or else he would lose his job and resort to whatever means to support himself. Aside from the occasional obstacles they faced, Aspeth and Hawk little by little started to get more comfortable with each other, and their marriage of convenience became less transactional. 

I wanted a smutty, spicy monster romance and Ruby Dixon once again for me! I was throughly immersed into the world of this story, and I loved the elements of magic from the artifacts and the sense of adventure that Aspeth felt along the way. Granted, not everything was easy as Aspeth originally planned, but she ended up marrying a strong and handsome Minotaur, Hawk. Hawk was grumpy at first, but he grew on me more as the story progressed. I’m a sucker for a marriage of convenience trope, and seeing it the way Ruby Dixon wrote it in this story was absolutely perfect! Oh no, a hot, single Minotaur needed someone for his Conquest Moon and help him through all the rutting he was going to go through…Aspeth volunteering for the job! I also liked how the story illustrated the significance behind the artifacts and how Aspeth was so knowledgeable about it. Aspeth and Hawk were a great couple and from their first time meeting to them falling in love, it really became a passionate and loving relationship they formed. By the end of the story, I was sad to be done with their story because I really adored them. I’m happy to see how Aspeth and Hawk’s story ended on a good note, and while things changed originally from how both Aspeth and Hawk initially planned, the way things ended were even better for them both. If you’re looking for a fun, enjoyable monster romance with spice, lovable characters, adventure, and humor, then definitely read this book! 

Only With Me by Brooke Montgomery

emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

*Thank you to LoveNotesPR and Brooke Montgomery for providing me an ARC of this story, I greatly appreciate it! All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

*Please check trigger/content warnings before reading.

4.5⭐️/ 4🌶️

Brooke Montgomery’s Sugarland Creek series is back with another story, and this one had even more amazing tropes and characters that I fell for! With tropes like, age gap, she was his ex-girlfriend’s little sister, he’s basically a cowboy, hidden identity, and a slow burn romance with spicy lessons, Harlow and Waylon’s story was already one I was eagerly waiting for! Harlow Fanning and Waylon Hollis knew one another, but only because of Waylon’s previous relationship with Harlow’s older sister. Now, years later Waylon and Harlow were focused on their respective lives, until one day Waylon found himself talking to a young woman he met through a group text from a club he was added to. Little did Waylon know at the time, but the young woman he was constantly messaging with none other than Harlow! A hidden identity and a slow burn to create a wonderful build up to Harlow and Waylon’s romance was exactly what I wanted!

I just adore this series so much with the small town, beautiful scenery, and lovable characters, there’s nothing but pure happiness sprinkled in each story. Waylon and Harlow’s story immediately had me hooked and I was emotional connected to their story. Even seeing the rest of the Hollis family and the previous couples from the other books made me so happy because, hello, I really do love this series a lot! So between seeing some of my favorite characters and learning more about Waylon and Harlow, this was a great story to read. 

Right from the prologue, this story didn’t hold back on the emotional front from seeing what Waylon experienced years ago with his twin, Wilder. If you’ve read the previous books, then you’ll have some idea about Wilder, but even as someone who remembered Wilder, I was not prepared for what happened to Wilder. Needless to say, Brooke jumped right into Waylon’s story that opened up to the harsh realities he and his family faced along with Wilder. As if this wasn’t enough to have me feeling sad, learning about Harlow’s traumatic assault years ago and her father’s accident, it was a bit heavy to take in. Brooke wrote both Harlow and Waylon’s story that expanded on their obstacles, hardships, and overall the emotional toll they experienced alongside their families. Despite some of the heavy topics explored in this story, I do think Brooke wrote it in a way that was honest, raw, and truly made me empathize with both Harlow and Waylon. 

I just love a small town romance, and the way Brooke Montgomery continues to write such amazing stories makes it all the more enjoyable to read. Harlow and Waylon’s story had a bit more of an emotional impact on me, and especially when it came to the scenes with Harlow’s dad, I found myself tearing up. This was the kind of story that got you feeling sad, and empathetic towards Harlow and Waylon. While the story covered heavy topics, there was still humor, lighthearted fun, banter, and lovable characters. There was a good build up to Harlow and Waylon’s romance, especially adding in the spicy lessons, and Waylon falling head over heels for Harlow was equally satisfying to see over the course of the story. Getting to see the rest of the Hollis family once again was fantastic! If you want to read a story that has, found family, emotional connections, lovable characters, humor, entertaining, and all kinds of small town life, and a handsome cowboy? Then you should definitely read this book! 

Wild Eyes by Elsie Silver

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

4.75⭐️/ 3🌶️

*Check Trigger warnings before reading.

We’re back in the small town of, Rose Hill with some new faces and familiar ones as well. Small town life in Rose Hill was great and easygoing for all who lived there, and for Weston “West” Belmont, he was busy juggling fatherhood and his business all together. As a single dad, West was use to trying to wrangle his fun loving kids, but the one person he didn’t expect to join his busy day to day life was country music singer, Skylar Stone. Skylar was a well known and beloved Southern Belle sweetheart who millions adored from her country music, but after a bad breakup and the media hounding her, she decided to take a break from all the glitz and glamour of Los Angeles and decided to record her album in none other than Rose Hill. Elsie Silver once was again captured the essence and love living in the small town of her stories and with tropes like, single dad/ country music singer, friends to lovers, slow burn romance, and more, it was a done deal this book was going to be GREAT! 

Skylar seemed like she had it all from, fame, money, a glamorous lifestyle, but even with all of that, she wasn’t truly happy. From the beginning couple of chapters, it was clear that Skylar was trying to get away from all that she left behind in Los Angeles. With the fall out of her breakup being publicized in the media, and being written about in a horrible matter, it was no wonder Skylar wanted to go to Rose Hill. Seeing Skylar in Rose Hill was a change for her that helped her grow and get back to what she wanted. In addition, with Skylar meeting West, she got to meet someone who, for one, didn’t want her for ulterior motives, he just liked her for who she was, and it was one of the many things that attracted Skylar to him. Plus, seeing Skylar interact with Rosie, Ford, and especially West’s kids, Oliver and Emmy was so adorable and heartwarming. Skylar went to Rose Hill to focus on herself and her album, but she also found a groups of people who truly cherished and loved her the way she had always wanted. 

West was such a lovable character from being an incredible father, an amazing friend, and overall a genuinely kind person who took Skylar under his wing. West juggled a lot of responsibilities, but he didn’t let it deter him from having fun with his friends with their regular bowling nights or being is usual fun loving self that exuded a wonderful energy that was infectious. West was also a wonderful man who helped Skylar learn that she shouldn’t take herself too seriously and instead focus on the joys of life around her. West was able to bring light hearted joy into Skylar’s life from taking her out on the canoe, spending time doing night checks with the horses, or my favorite was when West emailed funny headlines to Skylar to make her laugh and in more of a positive light as opposed to how the media treated her negatively. 

I will say this again and again, but ELSIE SILVER KNOWS HOW TO WRITE A FANTASTIC SMALL TOWN ROMANCE! Inglewood addition, writing such lovable, amazing characters, this book was filled with heart felt moments, humor, romance, and a close knit family that made me go “aww” through out the book. Skylar and West grew over the course of the story in different ways, but seeing Skylar in particular take charge of her life and career was inspiring and powerful. After living her life according to the demands and abuse of her parents, Skylar finally had enough and set out to make her life how she wanted, and it all started when she arrived in Rose Hill as well as with West alongside her. Seeing how much of a devoted and loving father West was really admirable, and his kids, Ollie and Emmy truly were endearing and lovable too! The kids in this story really were amazing and the moments where Emmy and Ollie appeared really so darn sweet and made for some sentimental moments. The romance was great, I LOVED THE SLOW BURN ROMANCE! I honestly liked seeing the build up between West and Skylar because, it made for a more enjoyable moment once they both decided to finally transition into a relationship as opposed to “just friends”. I have nothing but words of love and kindness for this book and any book by Elsie Silver. I felt the small town vibes, the picturesque atmosphere of Rose Hill, loved seeing Ford and Rosie once again, as well as getting some crumbs for the next book! YAY! I’m intrigued to see how the next book will be! Nonetheless, this was a wonderful book to read, and I would recommend it if you love, single dad trope, she’s a county music singer, slow burn romance, friends to lovers, spicy small town romance, and a bit of found family. 

Spark of the Everflame by Penn Cole

emotional hopeful mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

*Thank you to Atria for sending me this book, I greatly appreciate it! As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

4.5⭐️

Diem Bellator was a talented healer who was trained under her mother’s tutelage, had a great family, but in the world she lived in, it was one where you were either a mortal or a Descended. This story had the equivalent of gods as royalty, people trying to survive living in the Mortal City, and a mystery that unfolds as Diem’s mother goes missing. Little things started to add up more and more in the way that it seemed to connect back to Diem and in ways that revealed more about who she was really. Diem’s story wasn’t the only one in this story, but also connected to none other than the infuriating Prince Luther who initially frustrated her. As the story continued, more secrets were revealed, and the slow burn romance was slowly built up to a great crescendo. 

Not everything was as it seemed in Diem’s life. For one thing, the way certain people in Diem’s life acted secretive especially when it came to Diem having to take the flame root powder that “helped” with her hallucinations. There was some unmistakable coincidences that added up to hinting that Diem wasn’t the person she had always believed to be. In fact, the whole time I was reading (especially in the beginning) I had my own thoughts as to maybe the possibility that Diem might have…certain qualities that would change the direction of her life entirely. 

I’m a sucker for a slow burn romance, and the way Penn Cole wrote Diem and Luther’s story was full of tension! Despite Diem saying that she “hated” Luther, one could see the subtle ways both of them had the beginnings of an attraction towards one another. Diem and Prince Luther were from different worlds, and yet, once they met, it set off a chain reaction of feelings ranging from anger, frustration, and…a whole lot of something that led to ROMANCE! 

If there’s one thing I really admired about Diem, it was her willingness to fight no matter what. From the societal expectations of a woman being submissive and obedient to following the rules set forth by the Descended, Diem wasn’t necessarily one to follow the rules. For starters, when it came to Diem’s relationship with Henri, while it initially seemed like two life long friends having formed a romance, Diem came to the realization that her and Henri weren’t exactly the right match. Diem wanted to be independent, make her own choices as opposed to the ones made by her family, or being on a predetermined path like being a healer. For Diem, joining the Guardians was the first time she decided to make a choice that had no bearing from her parent’s decisions. Instead, Diem joined something that in her mind would change the lives of others, and fight the injustices she saw throughout Mortal City. Whether it came to fighting actual evils in the world or fighting against the role society expected of her, Diem never gave up, and constantly pushed against whatever was in her way. 

Penn Cole absolutely created a magical world with Diem and Luther’s story! I wanted a fantasy story and this book was entirely unique with the world building, the characters, the magic system, and strong characters that were cool. Diem Bellator had a mysterious ability that unknown to her  at the beginning of the story, later revealed more of itself as the story progressed. Diem was mixed up in the middle of everything from joining the Guardians, to reconsidering her life’s choices, and having a strong attraction to the stubborn prince who she couldn’t stop thinking about. I really loved how the whole story was a slow build up since it really set the stage of both Diem and Luther’s story, and obviously the tension that was created in this book in particular. While there wasn’t much romance in this story, the times that were sprinkled in I very much enjoyed. There was tension and attraction between Luther and Diem that I obviously loved, and Diem wasn’t afraid to say what she wanted to Luther even going as far to insult him! Lowkey though, Luther liked Diem having the guts to be rude to him haha. The more I read, the more I fell in love with the story, and Diem and Luther. I feel like with this being the first book it set up the future books perfectly that will expand more, and leave me wanting more. With the way this book ended, I was wholeheartedly caught off guard, and my jaw DROPPED WITH THE PLOT TWIST!!! Diem will face even more obstacles in the next book, but I’m confident it will be a adventure filled with secrets, more mystery, magic, and a specific dark and brooding Prince who we will see more of. Highly recommend! 

Bride by Ali Hazelwood

funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

4.75⭐️/ 3-4🌶️

Ali Hazelwood is one of my favorite authors, and when she announced that she was coming out with a paranormal romance between a VAMPIRE AND A WEREWOLF, I WAS SO EXCITED! Ali Hazelwood’s take on a paranormal romance combined an arranged marriage, the politics between each species, and seeing our two main characters, Misery and Lowe navigate their new marriage. People often say, marriage is the beginning of a new chapter for couples, but for Misery and Lowe, it was the means of survival and trying to bring peace after years of distrust and more. When Misery is tasked to marry the alpha of the Were pack, it wasn’t like she wasn’t happy to do so, but hey, when it came to the survival of her kind, she gave into the responsibility and did what needed to be done. 

Misery and Lowe were married, not happily, but, when it came to arranged marriages for the betterment of their species, it had to be done. As per usual with Ali Hazelwood, she had me hooked right from the start! Seeing the reasoning why Misery and Lowe went through with their marriage, and the politics along with it made it even more interesting. This wasn’t just a paranormal romance where a vampire and a werewolf got married, it had mystery, politics, family dynamics, and seeing two species trying to work together. Within the first couple of chapters, Ali was able to bring some of Misery’s backstory to life, and furthermore highlight the experiences she experienced when she was the Collateral. All in all, this was a unique and intriguing take on a paranormal romance, and I could confidently say that right away I would recommend this to anyone! 

Misery and Lowe were different in every way from the different type of creatures they were to how they in their own personalities. Regardless, as Misery and Lowe adjusted to their newly married life, they slowly got to know each other, and the initial hostility melted away. At first, Misery wasn’t exactly happy with the new arrangement that came with being Lowe’s wife, but she later saw that there was more to the powerful Alpha. Lowe was an all mighty alpha who won his position fair and square, and yet still had to deal with the politics surrounding his pack and his wife. Ultimately, Lowe and Misery entered in their marriage with the sole focus of bringing peace to their species and hopefully making it out alive. 

Ali Hazelwood really did give us all the KNOTS and more when it came to Misery and Lowe’s romance. Yes, I did indeed include a knot pun, and I’m not ashamed about it. Anyways, I really liked Misery and Lowe, they were great characters, unique, lovable, and on Misery’s part added a flair of humor. I liked the way the politics of the story added a bigger plot line to the story, and it really illustrated the high stakes that inevitably lead to the big reveal. Misery and Lowe were different in every way possible, but little things started to add up that had me seeing them in a new way, as well as having some suspicions that ended up being true. I even liked the other characters like Lowe’s little sister, Ana, she was adorable and she was equally funny. The big brother dynamic Lowe had with his little sister was so FREAKING PRECIOUS AND UGH SO DARN CUTE! Lowe was a fantastic big brother, attentive, a strong leader, and an amazing husband to Misery. Misery had a long way to go in finding happiness and little did she know that her husband would actually be the one for her! All in all, this was a great paranormal romance with vampires, werewolves, politics, betrayal, mystery, spice, humor, and romance. 

Filthy Rich Fae by Geneva Lee

dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

*Thank you to Entangled Publishing for providing me with this e-book.

*Check Trigger warnings before reading 

3.75⭐️/ 2-3🌶️

Cate Holloway was a young woman trying to get by in her day to day life, and she knew exactly what to not do, and who to avoid. The name everyone knows in New Orleans is, the Gages, and their influence and power held over everyone was unmatched. No one could go up against the Gages, and yet when Cate’s foster brother gets caught up in the Gage business, she takes it upon herself to settle things straight. In a turns of events, Cate then found herself bound to a bargain to none other than Lachlan Gage, but Gage wasn’t just a notorious criminal, he was actually a FLITHY RICH FAE! Geneva Lee crafted an urban fantasy with dark elements, an almost mafia type feel to the Gage family business, and a young woman willing to go to any length to ensure her freedom from the nefarious yet devilishly handsome fae who held her soul…LITERALLY!

Care Holloway’s life had changed in drastic ways when she came face to face with, Lachlan Gage. I thought it was really gutsy of Cate to go out and seek Lach in order to help her brother from getting into more trouble, but…GIRL! Things could have ended up very differently if Lach hadn’t been the man that he was! Regardless, Lach ended actually being a lot more than Cate could have ever imagined, and while she was surprised, she didn’t really Lach. Cate was a dedicated nurse, and early on in the story it became clear that Cate hadn’t always had the easiest life. Bouncing around from foster homes, and apparently running with the wrong people was Cate’s life when she was younger. Now in the present, Cate wasn’t in the bad crowd, just struggling to make ends meet with her job, and trying to make the most of what she had. With Lach becoming a central part of Cate’s life, he became someone who changed it in ways that didn’t always have to be bad. 

This story kept me entertained and with Cate trying to navigate her bargain with Lach, it seemed like Cate was in for new things and an interesting turn with her…relationship with Lach. I feel like the story started to pick up in terms of the plot a lot more towards the end. With the unexpected cliff hanger, and plot twist of certain characters turning on Cate and Lach, it added an unexpected turn in the story. As for the rest of the story, it all just seemed to show how Cate and Lach went from unlikely individuals being forced together through the bargain, to the sexual tension brewing between them, to ultimately falling for each other. The story progressed to a big climax, and I feel like I enjoyed the story more towards the ending. I didn’t feel a connection to either Cate or Lach, but I still liked parts of their story together. Literally this had a, filthy Rich fae, and I was entertained seeing Lach become increasingly protective over Cate as well as him staking his claim on her. With the way this story ended, I might end up reading the next book because, I want answers and want to see what happens next. 

Wisteria by Adalyn Grace

dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

4.5⭐️/ 1🌶️

Blythe always imagined her life to be filled with travel, and exploring new things, but the last thing she expected was to be married to a man she loathed. On top of that, Blythe didn’t expect her husband to be none other than, Fate himself. Following the events of, “Foxglove”, we were back in the world of Signa, Death, Blythe, and Fate. With Blythe having taken Signa’s place to fulfill Fate’s bargain, she was now married and had to put up with her less than pleasant marriage. Fate never wanted Blythe as his wife, but he had plans to make her life miserable. Fate and Blythe were didn’t get along, but as time passed, the two started to form a shall we say…friendship? Even more, there was things that Blythe was starting to see that revealed more into the mystery of Fate’s first wife. This book had a bit of mystery, enemies to lovers, marriage of convenience, and magic.

The previous books have been some of my all time favorites, but I will say, I was really curious to see how Blythe and Fate’s story would be. Blythe had always been a character that was smart, and tried to navigate her way back to society especially following the events that occurred within her family. With her cousin, Signa, Blythe found friendship and a close confidant to confide in. Now, with Blythe’s marriage to Fate, she was alone in a new home, and a rude husband who wanted nothing to do with her. In all fairness, even Blythe wanted nothing to do with Fate, other than make his life equally miserable for as long as they both lived. 

Fate had started off as a bit of an antagonist in the previous books, and even dare I say rude in the beginning of this book, but little by little, he started to grow on me. Fate was a character that grew on me, and as I learned more about his backstory, and the ever present longing of his first wife, Life, Fate had things that he was still holding onto that prevented him from seeing what was RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIM. I will say, that once Fate started to lessen his harshness towards Blythe, he formed an amicable relationship with her. Going as far as giving Blythe a room of her to literally create it as she had always dreamed of! I kid you not, the magic Fate used was amazing, but even more magical when it came to gifting Blythe out of this world things that she had only ever dreamt of inside her mind. 

Now, if you’ve read the previous books (which I would ASSUME YOU DID!) you’d know that Blythe and Fate were now married. The marriage didn’t start off with love and romantic gestures, but it did eventually lead to deeper feelings, and a realization that both Blythe and Fate never anticipated. As in every marriage, or specifically in books that have it, the moment Fate said, “my wife”, in regard to Blythe I was CHEERING AND HAPPY! Say what you will about Fate, but when it came to his wife he didn’t want ANYONE OR ANY HARM TO BEFALL HER! Then entered the protective hubby status, and I could see that the mighty Fate had fallen head over heels in love with Blythe!!!! 

OMG WOW! I did not expect to see Blythe and Fate’s story unfolding the way that it did! Adalyn Grace wrote Blythe and Fate in a way that was entertaining, meaningful, and lovely. While Blythe and Fate didn’t get off on the right foot, they slowly but surely developed a close connection that truly made their romance beautiful and memorable. This book was full of interesting turns, and especially towards the end, it had a bit more drama, plot twists, and even a heartbreaking moment I truly didn’t expect! Little did I know, that I would even BE CRYING MY EYES OUT AT THE ENDING AND EPILOGUE!!!! (Sniff) Adalyn Grace, you made me cry! But it was tears of joy! Aside from, Blythe and Fate’s story, I also loved seeing Signa and Death be part of the story as they truly are some of my favorite characters, and it really has come full circle to see all the characters together! I would say, this book ended on the perfect happily ever after that made me cry, and even a glimpse of Blythe, and Signa growing into their abilities and their closeness. The found family was perfection in this book, and I can’t say how amazing it was! I really think that the more I read, the more I fell in love with Blythe and Fate. (Sigh) bittersweet to have finished this book, but once again, I’m really happy with the ending of this story. Highly recommend!