originalbooknerd's reviews
978 reviews

Wings of Strife by Victoria Pauley

adventurous challenging 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

💜𝓦𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓼 𝓸𝓯 𝓢𝓽𝓻𝓲𝓯𝓮 – 𝓢𝓲𝓵𝓿𝓮𝓻 𝓒𝓲𝓽𝔂 𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓿𝓮𝓻𝓼𝓲𝓽𝔂 𝓢𝓮𝓻𝓲𝓮𝓼 3 - 𝓡𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀💜

 

Author: Victoria Pauley

 

Couple: Hayliel with Ezekiel, Raph & Theo 

 

Tropes: RH, why choose, tortured FMC, feisty heroine, angels/demons, hidden identity, found family, dark academy romance, PNR, fantasy romance 

 

Review: Wings of Strife was GUT WRENCHING!! This book began right where we ended book 2 and oh man did Victoria take us on a journey! Hayliel and her men rally around her in this book and I loved seeing them all come tighter and also become more of a unit. Seeing Hayliel begin to grow into her destiny was also amazing since we finally see her gain curiosity about what makes her so different. 

This book kept the mystery alive and while Victoria gives us bits and pieces to piece together in this book, she still keeps us I the dark for a lot. I adored the way Ezekiel finally pulled his head out of the dark and became her number one supporter. I loved his character since book 1 and finally seeing him come around was everything. I also found that he was one of the males who really drove the story home. The way he and Hayliel bonded in this book sent tears to my eyes and I also appreciated how Victoria really put time in having him mend fences (in his terms) with the guys.

Wings of Strife is high action, high intensity and high fantasy. The spice is hotter. The banter is steamier. And the tension is escalated from the first page. Victoria was able to wrap us up in the adventure but also give us a book that kept us on edge with glimpses at a happy ending. Hayliel’s story once again ends in a cliff hanger but the end is so close I can taste it now!

Rating: 5/5, an epic third installment to Hayliel’s romance with a major cliffy you never expect!

Thank you Completely Booked PR & Victoria Pauley for the ARC!

Brutal Savage by Lilian Harris

challenging dark emotional 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

5.0

❤️‍🔥𝔅𝔯𝔲𝔱𝔞𝔩𝔖𝔞𝔳𝔞𝔤𝔢 - 𝔖𝔞𝔳𝔞𝔤𝔢𝔎𝔦𝔫𝔤𝔰𝔅𝔬𝔬𝔨 2 - ℜ𝔢𝔳𝔦𝔢𝔴❤️‍🔥

Author: Lillian Harris

Couple: Elara Hill & Tynan Quinn

Tropes:

❤️ Irish Mafia Standalone

❤️ Age Gap

❤️ Single Dad

❤️ Forced Marriage

❤️"My Wife"

❤️ Teacher FMC

❤️ Grumpy/Sunshine

❤️ Hate to Love you

❤️ Touch Her & D!e

❤️ Jealous & Possessive

❤️ He Falls First 

❤️ Pierced MMC

❤️ Somnoph!lia

❤️ Cute Dog w/One Eye

 

Review: Brutal Savage may be my next favorite Lillian Harris read! Tynan Quinn was so different from what I went into the book thinking he would be like and every page confounded me about his character in the best ways! From the pull he had toward Elara to the bond he desperately wanted with Brody, Tynan was a man between a rock and a hard place. Lillian did amazing with the way she cultivated his story as he grew closer to both of them and also fought the protective urges that began springing up!

Elara was the most UNIQUE FMC I have ever read by Lillian. Her back story was riveting and the way it was unfolded provided so much tension as the book went on that I never knew what to expect. From the instant dislike and lust she felt for Tynan to the bond she had with Brody, everything about her story showed that she could preserver and come out stronger than before. While I adored her character, I found that her incessant need to always push Tina away to be the one area I wanted her independence to be less. The push and pull she had almost pushed into being too much when she was so reluctant to share her past with him until it was almost too late. 

Tynan Quinn was the corner stone in this book! I loved him from the first introduction and just fell harder into his story as it went on. He was brash, crude, broody and everything that Elara and Brody needed to feel safe in their homes. I appreciated how Lillian made his story more unique and loved learning about his past and the relationship he shared with Brody’s parents. Seeing the way this hardened man fell hard for the little dude melted my heart and the pain he had while Brody refused to accept his new place in life was hard to read. This provided a lot of character to the story since they had an unconventional guardian bond and Lillian did phenomenal with creating the tension between them but also with Elara as she snuck past both Tynan’s and Brody’s defenses.

Tynan and Elara were HAWT. This romance is not sweet but is overly possessive and both of these MCs suffer from jealousy and obsession in different ways. I LOVED seeing Elara deal with the new emotions that Tynan pulled out of her and also found that his DIRTY mouth brought so much angst into the story that I don’t know what I would do without it! This book was another terrific read within this interconnected mafia romance universe and Lillian gave Tynan the book he deserved! I cannot wait for the next Quinn brother to meet his match in book 3!

Rating: 5/5; Tynan, Brody and Elara stole my heart and I cannot wait for the next Quinn brother to fall hard again!

Thank you to Lillian for sending me this eARC!

The Romance Line by Lauren Blakely

emotional funny 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

5.0

💕𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℝ𝕠𝕞𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕖 𝕃𝕚𝕟𝕖  - 𝕃𝕠𝕧𝕖 𝕒𝕟𝕕 ℍ𝕠𝕔𝕜𝕖𝕪 𝟚 - ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨💕

Author: Lauren Blakely

Couple: Everly & Max

Tropes: Sports/Hockey Romance, Forced Proximity, Enemies to Lovers, Opposites Attract, PR person x Goalie, Grumpy/Sunshine, Broody MMC

Review: The Romance Line was a SELL OUT! Lauren Blakely once again gave us an enemies to lovers hockey romance that is guaranteed to make you swoon, cry, laugh and shake these two MCs and I can safely say I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! Everly and Max may be my favorite hockey couple every by her and the way she built their banter and angst was perfection. From the first sentence I knew Max was going to sneak past all my defenses without much effort and oh boy did he!

Max is the goalie of the hockey team and he is also a broken man who has been put through the wringer. I adored his mentality of wanting to stay out of the spotlight but also ENJOYED the push and pull he had with Everly since it was SOO obvious he liked her but was unsure how to show it! Lauren did a phenomenal job with creating Max’s character and maturing him in his POV but what stood out to me was how he was able to overcome the hurt he suffered from his last relationship. The way Lauren had Everly stand by him steadfastly was an area I truly LOVED about their relationship from start to end and it was everything to read!

Everly was a fierce FMC and she fit into Max’s character wonderfully. I adored how she tried her best to support him but also wanted to see him heal and move pst his trauma. The way she used her job as his PR manager to get past his defenses was absolutely devious and I found that Lauren knew exactly what to do to keep us hooked on the tension brewing between them. I also LOVED how she was soooo snarky but knew when to dial it down when necessary. 

Everly and Max were a binge worthy romance and this book was FULL of banter, wit, sass, sarcasm and humor. Lauren put me through a whirlwind of emotions while reading and by the end I was so ecstatic for their HEA! I also LOVE how the other hockey players make up the SHEER PERFECTION of the secondary cast and found that their ribbing and jokes pushed this book into new depths! I cannot wait for the next book in this series and definitely recommend this one to hockey romance fans! 
 
Rating: 5/5; The Romance Line was another Hat Trick and Max and Everly are a immediate hockey romance favorite!

Thank you Lauren & Good Girls PR for the eARC copy!



💕𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℝ𝕠𝕞𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕖 𝕃𝕚𝕟𝕖  - 𝕃𝕠𝕧𝕖 𝕒𝕟𝕕 ℍ𝕠𝕔𝕜𝕖𝕪 𝟚 - 𝔸𝕦𝕕𝕚𝕠𝕓𝕠𝕠𝕜 ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨💕

Author: Lauren Blakely

Couple: Everly & Max

Narrators: Teddy Hamilton & Vanessa Edwin!

Tropes: Sports/Hockey Romance, Forced Proximity, Enemies to Lovers, Opposites Attract, PR person x Goalie, Grumpy/Sunshine, Broody MMC

Review: The Romance Line was another 5 star audiobook by Lauren Blakely and her chosen narrators were PERFECTION! Vanessa Edwin and Teddy Hamilton were absolute perfection as Max and Everly and my oh my did they have some narration chemistry! From the beginning you could feel the way they vibed off the other and as the story picked up I loved listening to how Teddy was able to embody Max and all his grumpy, broody and broken self! He was really the narrator that held a lot of the book since while reading I felt like Max had the story of more growth and evolution. 

Vanessa was able to emote for Everly really well and I felt like she brought Everly to life in a way that showed how Everly struggled with certain aspects of Max and her growing emotions. Vanessa and Teddy did a knockout job in this audio and I cannot wait for more from them!

Lauren was able to give us another angsty hockey romance in The Romance Line and I found that this couple was even more enticing than Wes and Josie since they had more Hate to Love You vibes!
 
Rating: 5/5; Vanessa and Teddy BLEW ME AWAY! These two brought Max and Everly to LIFE and I cannot express how well done this audiobook was!

Thank you Lauren & Good Girls PR for the eALC copy!

Slap Shot Surprise by Melanie Harlow

emotional funny lighthearted 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

🏒𝒮𝓁𝒶𝓅𝒮𝒽𝑜𝓉𝒮𝓊𝓇𝓅𝓇𝒾𝓈𝑒 - 𝒞𝒽𝑒𝓇𝓇𝓎𝒯𝓇𝑒𝑒𝐻𝒶𝓇𝒷𝑜𝓇𝟧 - 𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌🏒

Author: Melanie Harlow

Couple: Mable & Joe Lupo

Tropes: Professional hockey player, Accidental pregnancy, Opposites attract, Mile high meet cute, Small town romance

Review: Melanie gives us an angsty and emotional romance between two people who you would never guess would fit together in Slap Shot Surprise! Mable and Joe are a swoon filled, emotionally charged couple who find solace in one another but also fit perfectly together as the book heats up! Melanie drew me in right away since their meet-cute was so unique and ironic but oh so perfect for how socially awkward Mable was.

Slap Shot Surprise is an accidental/surprise pregnancy that is perfect for those who adore when the broody, strong willed hockey player falls hard for his girl! Joe Lupo was what dreams are made of in this book and from the first time we see his reaction to the surprise, I knew that he was going to destroy every wall she put in place. The way Melanie matured his character as the book went on was amazing and I found that watching him grow up as he supported Mable through the pregnancy to be what drive this romance home!

Mable and Joe had an adorable relationship. I loved how both of them had a lot of growing to do but also formed a solid foundation as the story went on. Melanie really shocked me with how hard Joe fell and I adored how he became uber protective yet devoted to Mable. This book was a book perfect for anyone who loves a more emotionally charged hockey romance and one that is more angsty since these two spend a majority long distance. Slap Shot Surprise is a wonderful romance that is a must fro hockey romance fans!

Rating: 4.5/5; Joe Lupo..the man..the myth..the legend! Melanie was amazing with this hockey romance full of love, life and family!

Thank you Melissa & Melanie for the eARC copy!

Rival Hearts by W. Million

challenging emotional funny 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

5.0

💕ℝ𝕚𝕧𝕒𝕝 ℍ𝕖𝕒𝕣𝕥𝕤 - 𝔸 𝕃𝕚𝕥𝕥𝕝𝕖 𝔽𝕒𝕝𝕝𝕤 ℕ𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝 𝟙 - ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨💕

Author: W. Million

Couple: Maggie Sullivan & Grady Castillo

Tropes:

💕Small Town

🔥Enemies to Lovers

💕Second Chance

🔥Musician MMC

💕FMC is the Mayor 

🔥Open door

💕Witty Banter

Review: Rival Hearts…WOWWEEEE! W. Million gives us an angst filled small town romance in this book and I cannot wait to see more of Little Falls! Maggie and Grady packed a punch that you don’t see coming but also provide all the sweet and gooey center you love in forbidden romances as well! The way Wendy built the town around the Mayoral race in this book provided the perfect gateway for the tension between the two of them and I cannot believe the speed at which I devoured this book!

Maggie is the town sweetheart but also one that has a secret she has been hiding for years. I found that she pulled my attention in surprising ways as she struggled to compete for re election against Grady. While the competition between them was intense, I was waiting for the full backstory to be uncovered and what a doozy it was once Wendy revealed everything that went down all those years ago. As the plot got hotter, the attraction and pull between Maggie and Grady also spun out of control and I found myself waiting for the bomb to detonate as their attraction won over during the campaign!

Wendy was able to weave a romance filled with emotional longing as well as hate to love you vibes that set the pages on fire. The push and pull that these two had kept me entertained and salivating for more as I read. The way that Grady felt guilty for his feelings towards Maggie was a highlight in this book since it showed that he was not the complete jerk he like to portray but I also found myself wanting more brotherly bonding between him and Trent. Seeing the way that Grady  tortured himself over the tension he and Maggie shared hooked me right away and also kept me crossing my fingers that they would realize they were falling for each other!

Rival Hearts is a book that takes you on an emotional roller coaster and leaves you happy at the end! Maggie and Grady were a beautiful romance and triggered a lot of real emotions while reading but also had some really good SWOON worthy moments. The way these two came together was organic and Wendy did terrific with captivating us from the get-go! I cannot wait to see what else she does within this world!

Rating: 5/5; A super angsty, rival to lovers small town romance that is guaranteed to make you swoon!

Thank you to Hambright PR & W. Million for sending me this eARC!

Monarch by Sophie Lark

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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

➰𝕸𝖔𝖓𝖆𝖗𝖈𝖍 - 𝔊𝔯𝔦𝔪𝔰𝔱𝔬𝔫𝔢𝔅𝔬𝔬𝔨 2 - ℜ𝔢𝔳𝔦𝔢𝔴➰

Author: Sophie Lark

Couple:  Elena Zelenska & Atlas Covett

Tropes: Spooky gothic romance, Halloween vibes, enemies to lovers, Dark romance, Age gap, A plot twist you’ll never see coming, Small town, arranged marriage 

Review: Monarch!! Sophie Lark obliterated spooky and taboo in this book and from the first word Elena’s story enthralled me to keep reading! The way she was catfished and came over to Grimstone so oblivious to her fate hooked me in from the initial build up between her and Atlas. Sophie Lark took the taboo trope of “mail order bride” and made it deliciously mysterious as Atlas and Elena grow more ensnared with one another as they divulge secrets, betrayals and face the consequences of their actions in town!

Atlas Covett was the other half of the Covett duo and his story was so full of secrets that I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop. The way this man fell for his bride was whimsical, dark and full of the intrigue and Sophie was amazing at creating his character as Elena dug her way into his heart. That being said, this man was NOT soft and I found his sharp edges and darker tendencies were the meat of his POV and I absolutely devoured his insanity and depravity.

Elena was oh so innocent and her story was full of a dark Cinderella retelling except she never gets the “white knight”. The mystery she gets ensnared in after arriving at Grimstone provided so much angst and tension to the plot since her immediate reaction was that Atlas was not who she wanted. The slow build and fall she goes through for her unlikely match was shocking but also done in the most Sophie Lark way that I found myself cackling at her realization when she realizes how far she had fallen for Atlas.

Monarch once again dives into Grimstone and the gothic vibes in this book are next level. Atlas and Elena have a romance brimming with tension yet also one that shows Atlas’ softer side…but only with her! From the banter, the wit and the unending obsession from both sides (but mainly Atlas), Monarch was a knockout and just sucked me in deeper to the gritty and mysterious small town of Grimstone!

Rating: 5/5;  Atlas Covett was sin wrapped in mystery and his romance left me salivating for more!

Thank you to Sophie & Hambright PR for sending me this eARC!

Grimstone by Sophie Lark

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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

5.0

➰𝔊𝔯𝔦𝔪𝔰𝔱𝔬𝔫𝔢 - 𝔊𝔯𝔦𝔪𝔰𝔱𝔬𝔫𝔢𝔅𝔬𝔬𝔨 1 - ℜ𝔢𝔳𝔦𝔢𝔴➰

Author: Sophie Lark

Couple: Remi Hayes & Dane Covett

Tropes: Spooky gothic romance, Halloween vibes, Neighbors to lovers, Dark romance, Age gap, A plot twist you’ll never see coming, Small town

Review: Grimstone was another knockout by Sophie Lark and the perfect read to get in the mood for spooky season! Remi and Dane are a romance full of hidden secrets, shocking twists and dark truths that lead us perfectly into the Halloween season. Sophie did an amazing job with creating the tension between the two MCs and making the romance suspenseful yet intense. 

Grimstone sets off a new universe by Sophie and it couldn’t be more better timed! The book takes place in a small town that is rich with hidden secrets, dark truths and a haunted vibe that was just what I wanted when picking this book up! Remi Hayes is a Mrs. Fix-It and unapologetically unique FMC who overcomes a lot of upheaval to achieve her HEA and I was not ready for all the shocks that would occur throughout the story for her to reach that end! From the beginning we see her fierce devotion to her brother and the way she love unconditionally, the heartbreak she goes through in this book kept me turning the pages as I began to learn all the truths she kept hidden from everyone.

Dane Covett is your new spooky season book boyfriend and his relationship with Remi was fraught with tension, lust and hidden emotions neither wanted to accept. His immediate reaction to her kept me intrigued about his story and the reason he was so cold to everyone. I found the ultimatum he threw at Remi at their meet-hate to be hilarious since he was already on his way to full blown obsession and he only got more and more obsessed as time went on. Sophie did wonders with his POV and story arc and I found myself sad that his book was ending as I got close to the end. The way he protected Remi so fiercely but also wanted to have privacy from his past that was not given in the small town was heartbreakingly tragic and I found myself rooting for him to find the balance he sought out so desperately.

Dane and Remi are a couple full of ups and downs and heartbreak but are the best balance for one another. Grimstone was a great book for fans of spooky season romances and the story kept me on the edge as the plot thickened, especially at the end with the shocking twist Sophie threw in! I am excited to continue in the Brimstone universe and am looking forward to Monarch!

Remi and Dane are a perfect couple to set off your spooky season romance reads!

Rating: 5/5; Grimstone is your new spooky book obsession by Sophie that is full of twists, turns and creepy vibes in Haunted Houses just in time for Halloween! 

Thank you to Sophie & Hambright PR for sending me this eARC!

False God by C.W. Farnsworth

challenging emotional funny lighthearted 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

5.0

𝔽𝕒𝕝𝕤𝕖𝔾𝕠𝕕 - 𝔸𝕂𝕖𝕟𝕤𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕥𝕠𝕟𝕤𝕊𝕡𝕚𝕟-𝕆𝕗𝕗 - ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨

Author: C.W. Farnsworth

Couple: Elizabeth “Lili” Kensington & Charles "Charlie" Marlborough

Tropes: Billionaires, Black Cat x Golden Retriever, American/British Royalty, opposites attract, enemy to friends to lovers

Review: False God was BRILLIANT! Charlotte blew me away with this book and I can safely say that no words describe how much I loved this book and the romance between Lili and Charlie! The way she was able to capture all the angst, attraction and absolute draw these two shared was evident from the fist meet cute and she only captivated me more as their story went on!

Lili Kensington was the daughter of the infamous couple of Fake Empire and if the parallels between these two books’ titles doesn’t hint at the story to come then I don’t know what would! I knew that Lili was going to enthrall me from the moment she was introduced and her story was fraught with a ton of REAL WOUNDS that made her POV raw, real and emotional. The way Charolette was able to depict her vulnerabilities but also grow her into a fiercely independent yet resilient FMC was beautiful to read and seeing her step out of her shell after meeting Charlie made this book SO. MUCH. BETTER! I loved how her dyslexia and feelings of inadequacy in her family were center points to her story and the way she overcame them was done expertly and in a way that made them shine as areas that made her better instead of weaker.

Charlie Marlborough…can you marry me? Please? This man. HIs story was heartbreaking yet foundational to the plot of their book in ways that I never anticipated. The instant draw he had towards Lili was the center point of his POV in most cases but the underlying past that Charlotte unravels everything going on in his life, his past and the emotional turmoil surrounding the passing of his father WRECKED ME. While Charlie has the aristocratic air while reading, he was NOT what I expected for a MMC who was a DUKE! I loved seeing the struggle he had over taking his title and then falling for Lili unexpectedly. Seeing his support of her career and his easy acceptance of everything that made Lili her, cemented him in my list of favorite book boyfriends and he only got better as I read more!

Lili and Charlie are both eerily similar yet vastly different. Seeing the way they pushed and pulled at each other kept me on the edge and waiting for the explosion of which of them would win. The wit, banter, sass and easy camaraderie between these two was legendary. Charolette was able to capture how insanely stubborn they each were and I adored how they were almost like children on a playground egging each other on. While the pull between them was intense, it was all the small moments that had me fall in love with the book. Charlie was a swoon level MMC who knew how to make each moment count and the ways Charlotte added the small morsels of them being “normal” humans was everything! False God was a sensational read that had me immediately wanting to do a re-read and I cannot wait for more of the Kensington children as well as more of these two in future books!

Rating: 100+; False God just shot to my all time favorite reads list and Charolette blew me away with Lili’s and Charlie’s romance!

Thank you to Charolette & VPR for sending me this eARC!

Redeeming by Bella Matthews

challenging emotional funny 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

5.0

🩷𝑅𝑒𝒹𝑒𝑒𝓂𝒾𝓃𝑔 - 𝑅𝑒𝒹 𝐿𝒾𝓅𝓈 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒲𝒽𝒾𝓉𝑒 𝐿𝒾𝑒𝓈 𝟤 - 𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌🩷

Author: Bella Matthews

Couple: Caitlin Beneventi & Callen Sinclair 

Tropes: 
🩷Best friend’s little sister
🩷Frenemies to lovers
🩷Accidental pregnancy
🩷Secret romance
🩷Second chance
🩷Roommates
🩷Forced proximity
🩷Found family
🩷Football romance
🩷“it’s always been you”

Review: Redeeming was PERFECTION!! Bella Matthews did it once again in this second generation romance and man WHAT A BOOK THIS WAS! From the beginning I knew this book was going to DESTROY me and Bella was able to pack all the right punches in his and Caitlin’s book. The level of ANGST between these two is guaranteed to make you pull your hair out, grab wine or yell at your book while reading but also promise the HEA of the ages by the end!

Called Sinclair stole my heart in the previous books in the books Bella has released this year and it is safe to say he has not let go after reading his book. The absolute loyalty this man had in this book  was astounding and he continued to shock me as he showed the absolute devotion he had to Caitlin. Redeeming was the book where the older generation of Sinclair’s, Beneventis and Kingstons took a bigger role in and I applaud Bella for the way she was able to blend the lines between the “kids” and the adults it was also nice to see some of my favorite past characters again even when they put Callen through h3ll. The tension that he and Sam (Caitlin’s father) had spurred the book on from the position Sam forced on him and I was thrilled with how Caleb played everything until the end.

Caitlin was not what I expected but also everything I expected at the same time. I knew from the first page that she was going to sucker punch me and I just kept taking the hits as the book went on. Seeing her become the strong woman I knew she would be felt full circle since se see her lose the confidence after her initial break up with Callen. I also found that the way she stood up for herself once secrets came out to be my favorite part in this book. The way Bella was able to develop the accidental pregnancy in my opinion was everything these two needed. Seeing Callen fall to his knees for Caitlin and his baby was heartwarming. 

Callen and Caitlin were the most tension filled “brother’s best friend x best friend’s little brother” romance I have read in ages and Bella really knew how to give us the best book of this second generation. I found the complexities in this book to be a center piece of the story since Callen was the awkward man not quite in wither generation but the middle man between the two. I also lived to see the blow out between him and Maddox since I knew it was gong to be INTENSE. Bella really threw the teasers out in this one too surrounding the rest of the guys getting books in this series and I can’t wait for the next one! Those group texts kept me cackling as they all teased Leo while also being a codependent unit.

S/o to Beckett who has yet to learn to shut his mouth after several years and books inside this interconnected universe! Keep being your snarky self dude!

Rating: 100+; Called Sinclair…the MAN, the MYTH, the LEGEND has finally graced us with his book and nothing will stand in the way of him and the romance Bella delivered in Redeeming!

Thank you to Bella for sending me this eARC!


🩷𝑅𝑒𝒹𝑒𝑒𝓂𝒾𝓃𝑔 - 𝑅𝑒𝒹 𝐿𝒾𝓅𝓈 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒲𝒽𝒾𝓉𝑒 𝐿𝒾𝑒𝓈 𝟤 - 𝒜𝓊𝒹𝒾𝑜𝒷𝑜𝑜𝓀 𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌🩷
 
Author: Bella Matthews

Narrators: Savannah Peachwood, Ava Erickson & Teddy Hamilton

Couple: Caitlin Beneventi & Callen Sinclair 

Tropes: 
🩷Best friend’s little sister
🩷Frenemies to lovers
🩷Accidental pregnancy
🩷Secret romance
🩷Second chance
🩷Roommates
🩷Forced proximity
🩷Found family
🩷Football romance
🩷“it’s always been you”

Review: 𝑅𝑒𝒹𝑒𝑒𝓂𝒾𝓃𝑔 was emotional angst and second chance love on steroids in book form and 100% more impactful in audiobook form. Bella chose narrators that were able to take the story and then elevated it to the next level but also embody the true turmoil that Callen and Caitlin had throughout 𝑅𝑒𝒹𝑒𝑒𝓂𝒾𝓃𝑔. The way Savannah and Teddy built off one another in the alternating POVs created a ton of chemistry which added the to second chance and frenemies to lovers tropes. I found that both were able to capture my attention 10 fold and I was sad when this audiobook finally came to an end. 

While I am a huge Teddy Hamilton fan, Savannah was the one who truly stole the show. This book was 100% Caitlin’s story and seeing the way Savannah was able to build up the layering emotions and shocks she endures was everything! I adored how she was truly able to embody Caitlin but also build tension between Teddy’s POV as Callen . 𝑅𝑒𝒹𝑒𝑒𝓂𝒾𝓃𝑔 was one of the best Bella audiobooks I have listened too and I am excited for the rest to come!


Rating: 10/10; 𝑅𝑒𝒹𝑒𝑒𝓂𝒾𝓃𝑔 was a masterpiece in audiobook and if you need to be brought to tears in angst - Bella delivers this to you 


Thank you to Bella for sending me this eALC!

Goldsin by Aveline Knight

challenging dark emotional medium-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

🖤𝔊𝔬𝔩𝔡𝔰𝔦𝔫 - 𝔗𝔥𝔢ℭ𝔥𝔯𝔶𝔰𝔬𝔭𝔥𝔦𝔩𝔦𝔰𝔱𝔗𝔯𝔦𝔩𝔬𝔤𝔶𝔅𝔬𝔬𝔨 1 - ℜ𝔢𝔳𝔦𝔢𝔴🖤 

 

Author: Aveline Knight 

 

Couple: Aurelia Draven & Julian Harrow 

 

Tropes: Childhood Best Friends to Enemies to Lovers, Ex-boyfriend's Brother, Secret Society/ Billionaire Romance, He’s Obsessed with Her, She 💀 People, He’s Unhinged, Blood and Knife Play, Revenge Plots 

 

Review: Goldsin is your next book obsession! Aveline Knight is the reason why my last book slump occurred and I’m not even sorry about it! Aurelia and Julian were a matchmake in purgatory h3ll and this book should come with its own trigger warning sign! From the first page, it was apparent that Aveline would shoot to the top of my favorite dark romance author list but I was unprepared for the emotional rollercoaster I would go through by the end. Aurelia and Julian are the perfect balance of childhood pining and possessive obsession in this first book of the Chrysophilist series and it will only get HOTTER from here! 

 

Aurelia and Julian are a couple made of walking red flags, questionable morals and INSANELY HAWT OBSESSION! I LOVED the push and pull they had and found the sloooow burn of their romance was wonderfully done! All of the twists and turns Aveline puts the two of them through showed how deep both of them were in with the other…even if neither could fully accept the reality of their tumultuous and toxic lust. 

 

Julian Harrow was EVERYTHING book boyfriends are made of in dark romances and Aveline really did a phenomenal job creating his story arc in this first book. From the instant attraction and connection he had with Aurelia to the love he had for his mother; Julian was truly the goal for red flag romance! I especially enjoyed the taboo and forbidden vibes he had surrounding the actual romance with Aurelia since she had been his brother Adrian’s last girlfriend. Goldsin opened the doors for multiple routes Aveline could take and I was SHOCKED with the final events in this book but am insanely excited for how she will begin book 2 (which I am ecstatic to hopefully Alpha read for again!) and all the twists and turns Julian will go through for his HEA! 

 

Aurelia was an FMC I got behind. From the initial Alpha read I was hooked on her and everything in-between just sealed me in more with her story. I enjoyed the way she was going after the men responsible for her mother’s demise and found the way Aveline unveiled events and memories kept me on my toes until the last word. The fierce independence she had was also addicting to read and I’m excited to see how her mission adjusts now since she uncovered some secrets that should have stayed buried! Aurelia was the flame in this book and seeing her fire burn so bright for her mission and Julian led me down the rabbit hole with needing more of this series ASAP! 

 

Goldsin was *chef’s kiss* level romance and I am anxious to dive back into the dark and dangerous world Aveline created! Aurelia and Julian were fulls of twists, turns, deceit, betrayals and dark family secrets that refused to stay hidden! I found myself in a love-hate with Aurelia throughout the book since Julian sucked me in so hard to his POV and was shocked with the way Aveline ended the potential love-triangle with Adrian. This book sits rent free in my head and I will be counting the days until book two discussion begins! 

 

Rating: 100+; HOLY…WOW! Goldsin is my newest dark romance obsession and I will BOW DOWN to Julian Harrow! 

 

Thank you to Aveline for sending me this eARC!