originalbooknerd's reviews
978 reviews

Say You Swear by Meagan Brandy

challenging emotional funny reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

💜𝒮𝒶𝓎 𝒴𝑜𝓊 𝒮𝓌𝑒𝒶𝓇 - 𝐵𝑜𝓎𝓈 𝑜𝒻 𝒜𝓋𝒾𝓍 𝐵𝑜𝑜𝓀 𝟣 - 𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌 💜

“𝑰’𝒍𝒍 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒑 𝒊𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒋𝒖𝒎𝒑 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒔 𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖. 𝑨𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔.”
“𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓.”
“𝑰 𝒔𝒘𝒆𝒂𝒓.”

Author: Meagan Brandy

Couple: Arianna Johnson & Noah Riley

Tropes: College romance, sports romance (football), single mother, he falls first, boy obsessed, angsty

Review: Meagan Brandy otherwise known as the heart shredder, the woman who tears us apart to leave us gaping trying to glue ourselves back together really pulled out the stops in, Say You Swear. This book…this absolute masterpiece of a book left me in tears, sobbing and wanting to hold on to Noah Riley FOREVER! The way she wove this romance was beautifully tragic and yet it was absolute perfection and I was unable to put it down while reading. Ari and Noah are what romance books are judged off of and I am afraid nothing will ever come close again!

Noah Riley is the absolute show stopper in this book and the way he just brought it all to the table from the first time he meets Ari was a foundational piece to this romance. I was in awe of the ways he held her up on a pedestal but also was able to see her for who she was and NEVER, I mean NEVER wanted to let her go. The ups and downs that Megan puts this man through were epic and gut wrenching but proved the whole time that he was in it for the long haul and ultimately would do whatever Ari wanted. From the way he was selfless with his love for her to the possibility that he would lose her to Chase (who still needs some redemption), Noah captivated me at every turn. The way Meagan made his story and included so many pivotal parts of his past as parallels to what Ari went through was an emotional rollercoaster but in my opinion was what made him so perfect for her at the same time.

Ari was a frustrating FMC for me for most of this book because she is so confused about what she wanted and who she wanted. I found myself wanting to shake sense into her but also adoring the way she slowly grew into herself and was able to move past her crush on Chase to see that man who was always standing in front of her. The way Meagan was able to evolve their friendship to more along the course of Ari’s journey also helped push me into Ari’s camp since she was a lot different than Meagan’s normal type of FMC. Seeing her insecurities and vulnerabilities come to light made her seem so real inside my head while reading and I found myself wanting to hug her at multiple times in this book. While Chase was the guy who I wanted to just leave five minutes into this book, I found the turmoil he brought to the plot to be needed in ways I never expected. The plot twist that Megan throws at us in this book shook the foundation of the romance between Noah and Ari and the way Chase slithered in was anger inducing, however, the beautiful way she brought Ari back to Noah made it all worth it in the end!

Say You Swear is an emotional rollercoaster and is best read with tissues, chocolates and wine but is also one of the BEST romances I have ever read. The level of angst Meagan Brandy infuses into this story about destroyed me while reading and I was ecstatic with the HEA at the end. Ari and Noah have of of the rawest and most gravity defying love stories that is full of banter, love and a sense of “it’s always been you” that is echoed through every chapter. Meagan Brandy really outdid herself with this book and I cannot recommend it enough! 

Rating: 1000+; Noah Riley will forever and always be the book boyfriend to rival all others and this boy rips me to SHREDS every time!


Thank you Meagan and Wildfire Marketing for this eARC!

Promise Me Not by Meagan Brandy

challenging funny slow-paced

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

5.0

💗𝒫𝓇𝑜𝓂𝒾𝓈𝑒𝑀𝑒𝒩𝑜𝓉 - 𝐵𝑜𝓎𝓈𝑜𝒻𝒜𝓋𝒾𝓍𝐵𝑜𝑜𝓀 2 - 𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌💗

Author: Meagan Brandy

Couple: Payton Baylor & Mason Johnson 

Tropes: 

✔️ 𝘏𝘦 𝘍𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵

✔️ 𝘚𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘦 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵

✔️ 𝘍𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘍𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺

✔️ 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘈𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘓𝘰𝘴𝘴

✔️ 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘣𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘯/𝘖𝘧𝘧-𝘓𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘴

✔️ 𝘖𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘉𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳'𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥

✔️ 𝘗𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘦/𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘏𝘦𝘳𝘰

✔️ 𝘕𝘦𝘸 𝘈𝘥𝘶𝘭𝘵/𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘦 𝘍𝘰𝘰𝘵𝘣𝘢𝘭𝘭

✔️ 𝘚𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘉𝘶𝘳𝘯

✔️ 𝘈𝘯𝘨𝘴𝘵 𝘍𝘦𝘴𝘵 

Review: When he calls her…PRETTY LITTLE!! Rip my heart out why don’t you Meagan?? Promise Me Not was everything we were promised and then some and the wait was sooo so worth it! This book was vastly different than Say You Swear but oh so perfect for these two. Payton and Mason were the epitome of “right person, wrong time” and “off-limits” romance and the whirlwind, emotional rollercoaster Meagan put us through ended with a well deserved HEA for them both!

Mason Johnson was a man who had his heart stomped on. REPEATEDLY. His romance with Payton was only overshadowed by his love and need for her beautiful son, Deaton, and the amount of love he showed was devastating! From his first chapter, I knew Mason’s story would WRECK ME and oh boy did Meagan do her best to try. The way we see this man unravel at the seams as he battles with the ghost of Payton’s past for just a sliver of space in her heart was heartbreaking yet also achingly beautiful. The way he PROMISED to wait for her and to always be there when she needed anything no matter how small won my heart over many times.

 I am always a sucker for a good he falls first romance and this book is definitely one where he fell fast, hard and whole heartedly. The nice surprise was Mason’s love and bond with Deaton and the way he absolutely MELTED for him upon first sight. I adored the way Meagan gave us the beginning of Payton’s and Mason’s story and found it to be foundational for the two of them.  Seeing Mason’s softer side warmed my heart in ways I never expected from his gruff and broody persona while also opened up my eyes to the turmoil that was yet to come.

Payton Baylor was a conundrum and a young woman struggling to keep her head above water while also learning how to navigate being a mother.  Her story was one that tugged at every heartstring but also made me want to yank my hair out simultaneously. Meagan was able to show us EVERY SINGLE EMOTION she went through as she began to fall for Mason and once again Chase has a pivotal role in upsetting the balance. The way this FMC went up and down and sideways in regards to Mason was FRUSTRATING but I couldn’t help but see it from her side as well. I found that as the story went on I began to see how broken and lost she was after Deaton’s death and then the birth and arrival of her son who took his namesake. Seeing her full circle moment where she begins to realize how her hesitation was slowly ripping Mason apart was the end all be all of this book and also my favorite chapters!

Promise Me Not is a book that has it all. Everything we love from Meagan is in it from witty banter, biting sarcasm, gut wrenching angst, slow burn to burning chemistry and a feeling of finding your one. One this that sees this book apart though was the story Payton and Mason told. This book was one that shined a light of the raw impact of learning to love again after a loss and Meagan outdid herself with brining us ALL the emotions that would come with this trope while also throwing on the addition of a newborn and being alone in your mind! Seeing the way she wrote the love between Payton and her son Deaton and also between Mason and Deaton was HEARTSTOPPING. The absolute devotion this football player had for his little man destroyed me but also built this story in ways that made it inspiring. While the romance was the center piece of the story with the angst and heartache in included, for me the way Meagan wrote Deaton and Mason together was what stole the show for me. Promise Me Not was another angst filled romance set within the Avix U world and I can only say…I cannot wait for more!

Rating: 100+;  Mason Johnson is an absolute swoon fest and I want to tug him close and hug him tight in this book!

Shattered Souls by R.A. Smyth

challenging dark emotional mysterious fast-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

5.0

❄️𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕥𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕖𝕕 𝕊𝕠𝕦𝕝𝕤 – ℍ𝕒𝕝𝕤𝕥𝕠𝕟 𝕌 𝟛  – ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨❄️

Author: R.A. Smyth

  

Couple: Riley James with Logan Astor, Royce King & Grayson Van Doren

 

Tropes: dark romance, hockey romance, why choose, RH, tortured heroine heroine in danger, single mother, stepbrother romance, bully romance, hidden past, college romance 

 

Review:  No. Words. I have absolutely no words for the way R.A. Smyth obliterated me in Shattered Souls, the final Halston U book. The final bits of Riley’s story are both heartbreakingly beautiful yet achingly devastating and I would not have it any other way! The way Rachel was able to wrap up the story but also give us the HEA Riley and her men deserved broke me down in ways I was not ready for and made me wish we were getting a book four!

Riley James…this woman. She has to be one of the strongest and most resilient FMCs I have ever read. Her story in this book is SHATTERING. From the way we ended book three to the journey and struggles she had to go through in this final book, she has blown me away with her ability to keep going with her chin held high. The ruthless way she fought for Aurora, her daughter, and the relentless was she pursued every lead to save her cemented her in my heart of book hearts. The ups and downs Rachel puts her through as she pushes to achieve her dreams and be united with Aurora were tragic in ways that made this book raw and emotional but also allowed us to see how she was built of a lot stronger stuff than your normal FMC.

Shattered Souls is the culmination of all the bonds between Riley and her men but what was shocking was the ABSOLUTE DEVASTATION Grayson Van Daren caused me while reading. Grayson has been my favorite (in the unpopular opinion) since we met him and the unraveling of his character, his past and the prior ties he had to Riley drew me in until I was unable to step away. His story implodes in this book and I felt like Rachel was stomping on my heart and tearing at the strings as she divulged why Grayson was the way he was. I also adored the way he absolutely MELTED for Aurora. It was not what I expected but also everything that I needed. Seeing the cold, broody man fall hard for his half sister was the most heartwarming part of this book. 

R.A. Smyth also spent a good part of this book piecing together and healing the wounds between Riley and Grayson and I was so THERE! The intensity these two have lit the pages on fire and while the other two were much needed to balance out their fire, I found that this book was the Grayson and Riley story! I appreciated how R.A. Smyth took time to explore their relationship more and REALLY LOVED how they were like fire and gasoline *wink wink, abandoned church and forest scene anyone**!! Seeing them put their pasts behind them gave me the warm fuzzies and I adored how Royce was the one who took it upon himself to push them together.

Shattered Souls is the book that is the darkest yet also the one that kept me in a chokehold the longest. I found that R.A. Smyth left the biggest revelations for last and I cannot say how happy I was that Grayson’s father and Riley’s mother had their appropriate endings. This book was filled with fiery banter, biting sarcasm and a cold ruthlessness that I have come to love from this author and it also held pieces of heartwarming found family vibes after Aurora was brought into the mix. This book marked the end of an era in the Halston U series and I can only say…I can’t WAIT FOR MORE!

 

Rating: 100+,  R.A. Smyth shredded my soul in this final book of Riley’s story and I cannot express words for how astounding this finale was!

Thank you to RA Smyth for sending me this eARC!

Protective Phlox by Brooklyn Cross

challenging dark emotional mysterious fast-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

5.0

🖤𝔓𝔯𝔬𝔱𝔢𝔠𝔱𝔦𝔳𝔢 𝔓𝔥𝔩𝔬𝔵 - ℭ𝔞𝔩𝔦𝔣𝔬𝔯𝔫𝔦𝔞 𝔐𝔞𝔡𝔢 𝔐𝔢𝔫 1 - ℜ𝔢𝔳𝔦𝔢𝔴🖤

Author: Brooklyn Cross

Couple: Savannah Freeborn & Nathan Mikhailov

Tropes: 

✓MF 

✓ Mafia

✓ Second Chance

✓ Secret Child

✓ Forced Marriage 

✓ Dub Con

✓ Touch Her & D13

✓ OTT/JP 

✓ Breath Play

✓ Mild BDSM 

✓ Forbidden

Review: Protective Phlox sets off an all new dark mafia series by Brooklyn Cross and you are not ready to dive into a new cast of characters tied to out favorite Wayward Kinds and Lost Souls MC. Nathanial Mikhailov and Savannah were a romantic disaster waiting to happen after they novella and seeing the resolution to their romance was EVERYTHING! This book was a surprise child romance and let me tell you…Cutter will tie you around his finger so fast you best be ready!

Brooklyn was able to provide us with a steamy, intense and action packed romance in this book and the way she builds the tension between Savannah and Nathaniel blew my mind. I adored seeing the fierce leader melt for his woman and son and appreciated how Brooklyn was able to show his soft center in this book.N The ups and downs that this new family goes through will get your blood pumping and kept me on edge since I was waiting for the last show to drop after Nate goes against his father to marry Savannah. I also could not wait to see the moment where Savannah realizes that Nathaniel was ALL IN and she was never going anywhere!

Nathaniel is a big grumpy hero in this book but his son Cutter was the center piece. The way this man melted for his son destroyed me and I adored every moment they shared. Savannah’s mamma bear instincts added a nice layer of ruthlessness to the book and I loved seeing her show her claws but Nate was where the bread and butter were. Watching him freak out when he did things wrong or seeing him tamper his edges to not scare Cutter were parts that I felt were vital to his story since he did not want to become his father and the parallels Brooklyn did there were astounding. I hope to see more of Cutter and his adorableness in books to come!

Protective Phlox centers around the Russian Bratva family the Mikhailov’s and expands the dark and gritty universe Brooklyn’s immersed herself in. Seeing this family start 4 years after the Wayward Kings sets the stage for more to come and shocking secrets to be revealed. The intensity this book carried showed just how embroiled the Mikhailovs are in everything inside this book universe and I cannot wait for more!

Rating: 5/5; Ultimate mafia daddy is here and Nathaniel Mikhailov is goals for the dark, broody leader in this new series!

Thank you to Brooklyn for sending me this eARC!

Intolerable Bishop by Brooklyn Cross

challenging dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0

🖤𝕴𝖓𝖙𝖔𝖑𝖊𝖗𝖆𝖇𝖑𝖊𝕭𝖎𝖘𝖍𝖔𝖕 - 𝕿𝖍𝖊𝕶𝖎𝖓𝖌𝖘𝖔𝖋𝖂𝖆𝖞𝖜𝖆𝖗𝖉𝕬𝖈𝖆𝖉𝖊𝖒𝖞𝕭𝖔𝖔𝖐 3 - 𝕽𝖊𝖛𝖎𝖊𝖜🖤

Author: Brooklyn Cross - @author_brooklyncross 

Couple: Ren Davies with Nash Collier, Liam Hicks, Theo, Blake & Myles McCoy

Tropes: 
🖤Mafia
💜Secrets Revealed
🖤Street Racer MMC
💜Steamy
🖤Slow Build MMFMMM
💜Strong FMC
🖤Alphahole
💜Touch Her & ☠️

Review: BROOKLYN!!! THIS BOOK. WOW! Theo O’Brien is center stage in this book and it couldn’t be more aptly named. Intolerable Bishop sucker punched my emotions, simply put. Brooklyn was able to master the slow burn until Theo walked on scene and oh man did this guy twist everything up! From the first few pages in this book I knew Theo was going to cause Ren’s relationships to spin out of control and I wasn’t ready for the carnage Theo would cause to the established dynamic!

Theo and Ren were a ticking time bomb waiting to happen. I honestly think these two were the most similar and most explosive so far since they could push the other’s buttons so easily. The way Brooklyn was able to create their characters in parallels but also grow their dynamic and bond was utter perfection. Theo and Ren were opposite sides of the same coin in every aspect of their life and Theo was perhaps the only guy in this book who could bridge the gap between the sweeter guys and the ones more ruthless. The way Theo pushed Ren’s boundaries but also subconsciously protected her at every turn proved how far he had fallen for the silver haired beauty and what a ride it was!

Ren also grew a ton in this book. The battles she faces both physically and mentally were impressive. What took my breath away though was the way she was able to relate so well to Theo and the way they both needed control. I loved how Brooklyn matched these two perfectly even though adding Theo put tension with Blake and Myles at first. The way Brooklyn uncovered the secrets surrounding Ren’s past kept me on edge but also allowed me to fall in love with her resilience. I found the way Theo took charge to be introspective to how the rest of the book will go since he is higher up the chain of command in the Wayward Kings group and often times took the fall for plans and actions that upset Ren in this book.

LIAM. Can I just say this man…I know his book is going to destroy me and I am NOT ready for it but at the same time I NEED IT SO BAD!! This book solidified Ren’s and Theo’s relationship but at the same time put a strain on the bond between Theo and Liam. Brooklyn absolutely dominated the raw impact of how the addition of Ren would destroy Liam’s sanity and I was not emotionally ready for how much it would affect me in this book. Liam was perhaps the most secretive guy in the group and the one we have learned the last about but also the one who seems to hide the biggest heart under his broody, silent persona. The chapters that focused on Liam and Theo were the most HEARTBREAKING in this book and also the ones that had the biggest meaning since these two had so m much to unpack. I was shocked with the explosion that seemed to happen but also was appreciative of how Brooklyn handled it. 

Intolerable Bishop dives deeper into the interworking of Nash and the levels involved in his secret society. I found the suspense and mystery surrounding the Wayward Kings to be intense, especially when Brooklyn began divulging the order of the 5 Kings and who held more power. I also really enjoyed how Theo was the first guy who straddled the line of being a top dog but also being less in the know than the final two. 

This book was the spiciest book yet but also the one with the most emotional punch. Theo and Ren have been my favorite pairing in the group so far and I adored how they bridged the gap between the two parts of the Wayward Kings. This book is packed full of action and once again Nash lived to instigate and push Ren past her boundaries as well as yank at her sanity. Brooklyn gave us a book that was perfection from the first chapter up until the end and I cannot believe all the turns and secrets that came out in this one (Ren’s origins!!). This book left us in ABSOLUTE NEED of Liam’s book and I cannot wait for the way  Brooklyn will put us through the wringer in the next book! 

   

Rating: 100+; Theo, Theo, Theo O’Brien the man who is giving this book spice, tension and some twisty swoony moments! 

Thank you to Brooklyn for sending me this eARC!

 

Defiant Knight by Brooklyn Cross

challenging dark emotional slow-paced

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

5.0

🖤𝕯𝖊𝖋𝖎𝖆𝖓𝖙𝕶𝖓𝖎𝖌𝖍𝖙 - 𝕿𝖍𝖊𝕶𝖎𝖓𝖌𝖘𝖔𝖋𝖂𝖆𝖞𝖜𝖆𝖗𝖉𝕬𝖈𝖆𝖉𝖊𝖒𝖞𝕭𝖔𝖔𝖐 2 - 𝕽𝖊𝖛𝖎𝖊𝖜🖤

Author: Brooklyn Cross - @author_brooklyncross 

Couple: Ren Davies with Nash Collier, Liam Hicks, Theo, Blake & Myles McCoy

Tropes: 

🖤Enemies to lovers 

💛Mafia 

🖤Academy 

💛Sports 

🖤Slow Burn/Build MMFMMM

💛Opposites attract

🖤Arranged Marrriage

💛Best Friend’s Girl

🖤Playboy

💛Virgin

🖤OTT/JP

💛Touch Her &☠️

🖤Revenge

💛Murder

Review:  Defiant Knight was NOT what I expected but everything that needed to happen in this second book of the Kings of Wayward Academy series! Brooklyn astounded me with the twists, turns, secrets, deceptions and deceit that she packed in this book and I could not believe what Ren went through and overcame in this book to get a glimpse of what her HEA could be. Brooklyn Cross was able to enthrall me in this world of darkness and light but also keep me on the edge trying to guess what she would do next!

Ren Davies continued to grow into her own in this book and she also continued to blow my mind with her compassion, fight and determination. I adored the way  her bond with Myles evolved in this book but also found that Blake was the natural second addition to the group she was building. Seeing the way she bonded with Blake opened my eyes to how she was not just a fierce FMC that wouldn’t bend the knee but also a caring soul who wanted everyone to be happy. Brooklyn sucker punched me with her story in this book and it was refreshing to see the romance be more slow build but have the relationships and found family vibes be front and center.

While Ren, Myles and Blake grow closer in this book, the other Wayward Kings are still not on board with the silver haired siren. I found that the tension that began to build in this book was next level and I am anxious for book 3 but also appreciative of how Brooklyn developed the strained bonds between Liam, Theo and Nash. This book centered around Blake and his story of redemption and I loved seeing the blonde laid back twin find his match in Ren. This book showed a new side to Blake and I adored how Brooklyn had Ren and Theo build him back up to his normal cocksure self! 

Defiant Knight was filled with banter and wit but what did me in was the absolute blistering tension she had with Nash. They way she fought back with his demands just keeps getting hotter and I am EXCITED for Nash’s book as well as the mysterious Liam. This book left us with curiosity about Theo and how he will take to Blake and Ren becoming an item as well as divulging secrets about who Ren actually is. The final events in this book once again left me in shock and Brooklyn did her job with making me need the next book ASAP! Two down and THREE more Kings to fall!

   

Rating: 10/10; Blake O’Brien was a cinnamon roll wrapped in a delicious package and Brooklyn gave us another enticing read in this Wayward Kings world!

Thank you to Brooklyn for sending me this eARC!

Disobedient Pawn by Brooklyn Cross

challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

5.0

💙♟️𝕯𝖎𝖘𝖔𝖇𝖊𝖉𝖎𝖊𝖓𝖙 𝕻𝖆𝖜𝖓 - 𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝕶𝖎𝖓𝖌𝖘 𝖔𝖋 𝖂𝖆𝖞𝖜𝖆𝖗𝖉 𝕬𝖈𝖆𝖉𝖊𝖒𝖞 𝕭𝖔𝖔𝖐 1 - 𝕽𝖊𝖛𝖎𝖊𝖜♟️💙

Author: Brooklyn Cross - @author_brooklyncross 

Couple: Ren Davies with Nash Collier, Liam Hicks, Theo, Blake & Myles McCoy

Tropes: 

♟️ Why Choose MMFMMM

♟️ Academy

♟️ Swim Team

♟️ Mafia

♟️ Arranged Marriages

♟️ Touch Her and ☠️

♟️ Enemies to Lovers

♟️ PTSD

♟️ Angsty

Review: Disobedient Pawn was a PHENOMENAL kickstart to Brooklyn Cross’ new upper-YA mafia academy romance! Ren Davies may be my next favorite FMC within YA mafia books and I was utterly captivated from the beginning with her story and how Brooklyn would unravel her past and grow her through this book. The way Brooklyn tied each player in the book to a chess piece left me curious who would fall into each piece on the board and I was pleasantly surprised with whose book this turned out to be.

Disobedient Pawn centered around Myles and Ren for the majority of it and I loved getting to see the sweetest MMC fall hard for the cold-edged FMC. Ren was FIERCE in this book and a little broken which was perfection for her storyline as well the image she needed to portray in this first book within the Wayward Kings series! The way Ren overcame all the heartache in this first book showed her strength and resilience while also proving that she was not the weak girl everyone assumed she was.

To say Ren clashed with the Kings in this book would be an epic understatement. From the first eye catch we KNEW she was going to be a force to be reckoned with and she proved it over and over as she dodged advances, fought back and refused to bow down to the Kings who brought trouble her way. I found that Nash and Liam were the most intriguing of the five and the most devious and mysterious and cannot wait to get their books soon, however Myles and Blake were the sweethearts and the softer ones which gave us the first moments of lust and sweetness to the book’s romance.

This book was all about Myles and the way he blustered through his crush on the new gril who was shaking the school up. I enjoyed seeing the guy fall hard and never look back but also found I wanted to shake him for the way he made the bet that spurred everything on. His naivety about the way that would go down once Ren found out provided a lot of humor to the book and also a bit of suspense as I waited for Ren’s explosive side to show once she learned the bet the Kings made.   The bond between Myles and Ren is probably the sweetest of the five so far and also the one with the most innocence…at least on her part. Seeing them both thaw a little was fun to read and I enjoyed every word!

While Myles is the main focus in this book romance wise, Nash and Blake are also key players in this book as well. Blake was a little playboy who can put on a great show and I found his character a paradox of conflicting points. I am excited to read his book next and cannot wait to dive into his mind and learn who he really is. Nash on the other hand was the leader, the rebel and the Kingmaker behind everything and I LOVED his antagonism in this book. He was truly the guy who “pulled on pigtails” to show he liked a girl and I am anxiously waiting to get his book. The push and pull between him and Ren is NEXT level and I already know that he will be the favorite of the five for me…with a close second being Liam.  THe snippets we get form his POV in this book were heartbreaking, tragic and full of deception that I am excited to pull apart as the series continues as well as EXPLOSIVE heat between him and Ren who will be the QUEEN on the board by the end!

 

Rating: 100+; a dark, taboo, mafia academy romance perfect for anyone loving a Fierce FMC and the men who capture her attention!

Thank you to Brooklyn for sending me this eARC!

Steel by Eva Simmons

dark emotional funny fast-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

5.0

🖤𝔖𝔗𝔈𝔈𝔏 - 𝔗𝔴𝔦𝔰𝔱𝔢𝔡𝔎𝔦𝔫𝔤𝔰𝔐ℭ 1 - ℜ𝔢𝔳𝔦𝔢𝔴🖤

Author: Eva Simmons

Couple: Tempe Evans & Jameson Steel

Tropes: enemies to lovers, dark romance, forced proximity, MC romance, protective sister, he melts for her

Review: Steel was hands down a 5 star, binge read that hit every mark while reading! Eva Simmons delivered one of her best stories with this book and the romance between Tempe and Jameson. The way she spun the enemies to lovers vibes and added Tempe’s sweet little brother Austin was utter perfection and every minute just captured my feelings more. Seeing the way the cold as ice MC president fell to his knees had me on the edge for the other shoe to drop and I loved seeing Tempe crack his shields.

Jameson Steel was EVERYTHING!! From the beginning this man sucked my interest into the story and he only drew me in more as it went on. Eva was able to perfectly blend the tension, animosity and burning attraction between him and Tempe is ways that added to the plot but also provided the perfect balance of push and pull. The way he melted for Tempe just showed how the tiny woman broke down all his walls and claw her way to his heart. The bond he also had with Austin, Tempe’s little brother, was one of the best things in this book. Eva really tugged on the heartstrings with this bond in the book and it was swoon-worthy to see the fierce club president fall to his knees for the cape wearing kid!

Tempe was also a force in this book. I adored the bond with Austin she shared and found myself in my emotions multiple times while reading. I also enjoyed seeing her go toe to toe with Jameson in this book. Watching the fiery young woman refuse to bend and instead claw her way into Jamison’s heart was fascinating. I loved how she had her own aspirations and also felt the intrinsic pull the the MC family. Watching her transformation in this book was astounding since we saw her come into the woman she was meant to be.

Jameson and Tempe were an amazing story of found family, unexpected love and perfectly matched strength. Eva was able to draw out their sarcasm, banter and wit in ways that had me enthralled at times and cackling at others. Seeing them do everything to protect Austin was something I also appreciated since he was so integral in their story. Eva opened up a can of worms in this book and I cannot wait for more!

Rating: 100+, Jameson Steel is the man! Eva went all in with this first look into the Twisted Kings MC and I cannot wait for more!!

Thank you to Eva for sending me this eARC!

Wings of Pain by M. Sinclair, R.L. Caulder

challenging dark emotional funny fast-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

5.0

✨𝓦𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓼𝓸𝓯𝓟𝓪𝓲𝓷 -𝓕𝓪𝓵𝓵𝓮𝓷𝓓𝓮𝓼𝓽𝓲𝓷𝔂 2 - 𝓡𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀✨

Author: M. Sinclair & R.L. Caulder

Couple: Kieran with Niz, Gabe, Ronan, Bastian and Steele

Tropes: dark romance, fantasy romance, why choose, reverse harem, magical beasts, fallen angels, dystopian romance

Review: Wings of Pain…WOW. Kieran’s story takes a turn in this book and I found that I was not ready for the cliffhanger that these two authors give us at the end. The way they blended all of the angst, banter, intensity and bonds in this book pushed boundaries of what Kieran could take but also showed that book 3 will be end all be all for this group! RL Caulder and M. Sinclair were able to pick up where we left off in book 1 while also adding to the plot and to each character’s arc which left us dreading what they will cook up next!

While book one pushed me into Gabe’s and Bastian’s corners, this book firmly into Niz’s camp! Finally getting the secrets surrounding him left me with my jaw hanging on THE FLOOR!! I was not ready for all the secrets and questions that his revelations would lead to and I can say that I cannot wait for more of him and the goofiness he adds to the group. I also LOVED Gabe in this book, seeing him finally stand up to Steele (finally)! While Steele did not jump up super high in my list, he also started to be more of a favorite towards the end and I loved seeing the surly man fall hard to his knees!

Wings of Pain is a whirlwind of high emotions, secrets and banter and these authors leave us hanging on the deadliest of cliffhangers at the end of it all. I could not believe everything that Kieran went through but also loved how she persevered and kept fighting! The way they delved more into her destiny and the powers they each had me guessing at whose would manifest next while also hoping no more upsets would come! RL Caulder and M. Sinclair outdid themselves with this book and I am anxious for more of Kieran and her men!

Rating: 5/5, Kieran’s book blew me away with this second book and the major cliffhanger this duo gives us!

Thank you to M. Sinclair & RL Caulder for sending me this eARC!

 

Play the Game by S.J. Sylvis

emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

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

5.0

🏒ℙ𝕝𝕒𝕪𝕋𝕙𝕖𝔾𝕒𝕞𝕖 - 𝔹𝕝𝕦𝕖𝔻𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕝𝕤 ℍ𝕠𝕔𝕜𝕖𝕪𝟙 - ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨🏒 

Author: S.J. Sylvis

Couple: Scottie Monroe & Emory Olson

𝙈𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:

💙𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 

 🏒𝘗𝘳𝘰 𝘏𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘺

💙𝘌𝘯𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴

🏒𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘹𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘺  

𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙧𝙤 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:

💙𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘥

🏒"𝘔𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘧𝘦"

💙𝘖𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘰𝘧𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘳 

🏒𝘗𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘔𝘔𝘊

💙𝘞𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘫𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘺 

🏒𝘍𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭 

💙“𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘳”

Review: S.J. Sylvis HAS DONE IT AGAIN!! Play The Game was PHENOMENAL! Emory Olson was not the man I expected but OH WHAT A MAN HE WAS! From the first chapter I KNEW that SJ was going to throw us for a loop and the way she untangled the backstory of both Scottie and Emory resulted in a heartbreaking, tragic, beautiful and FULL STOP SWOON level romance that rocketed to my all time favorite “marriage of convenience” books! The vibes these two throw off from first glance is enough to burn the pages and I cannot express how much Emory’s story pulled at my heartstrings alongside Scottie’s painful backstory!

SJ has given us something new in this book and you are not ready for the havoc Scottie and Emory will put you through. This marriage of convenience, hockey romance was not the typical romance with these tropes and I found myself ensnared by their romance as they each navigated the new life they shared. SJ was able to capture the rawness and the unflinching emotions Emory tried so hard to keep hidden and as he began to unravel for his new wife, I found myself routing for him to reach for his HEA. 

Emory Olson was a 5 star book boyfriend. He brought his broody game from page one but as he grows closer to Scottie, I found that the small things he did for her everyday to be what did me in. The way he was almost disconnected from his emotions at first hinted at a past that hurt him deeper than he wanted to admit but once Scottie blew in and broke his walls down we saw a beautifully broken yet protective bad boy of hockey who MELTED for his woman! I adored his bond with his sister in this book and found his epiphany moment surrounding Ford’s obsession with Tatum to be hilarious. Seeing him learn to accept his growing feelings was EVERYTHING in his character arc and SJ could not have done anything better!

Scottie Monroe is a fiery and feisty little thing who never backs down from a challenge and Emory Olson might have been her biggest challenge yet. Her determination to protect her brother cemented my love for her story and as she realized how deep she was in with her “husband” I found myself giggling constantly at her refusal to accept the obvious. Her POV always lifted my spirits and I was appreciative that SJ was able to fully develop her past and also the insecurities she was with her financial situation. Seeing Emory support her dreams was one of the best parts in this book and I adored how they became each other’s best friends, person and ultimate confidante. 

Emory and Scottie are HAWT! If you like a “My Wife” trope then this one is for you. Emory is full on protective and broody husband material while also having a heart of gold. HIs mouth is sinfully dirty and made me sweat multiple times throughout the book but Scottie’s naivety was the ultimate win in this book. Seeing the two of them come together blew expectations out of the water and I cannot wait to see them more in books to come! SJ Sylvis detonated the hockey romance scene with Play The Game and I can’t wait for more to come!

 

Rating: 100+; Scottie and Emory Olson snatched my heart in the opening act and refused to let go until the end…end even then I wanted to hold on tight and keep them close! 

Thank you to SJ for sending me this eARC!