Hiya lovelies! Today I am super excited to celebrate the cover reveal for The Sweetest Betrayal by Natalie Mae, one of my most anticipated reads for 2023. I adored The Kinder Poison and The Cruelest Mercy had me viciously biting my nails so I know this one will be a winner!
The Sweetest Betrayal is releasing on February 14, 2023, and the cover just dropped and I am SCREAMINGGGGGG
The Sweetest Betrayal by Natalie Mae
Book Synopsis
War has come to Orkena.
Zahru has risen as Mestrah, and she is determined to peacefully end the escalating tensions with Wyrim, her country’s long-time enemy. Yet diplomacy proves to be futile, and when Zahru turns to Orkena’s allies for help, she finds that none are willing to come to her aid—not without Kasta ruling at her side.
As Wyrim advances on the capital, Zahru is desperate to protect her people, even if that means accepting Kasta’s help. But her enemy is merciless. And as ambushes and betrayals push Zahru to increasingly dark tactics, she wonders if perhaps Kasta had it right all along: maybe peace was never an option … and maybe she was never meant to do this alone.
Can Zahru spare her enemy without sacrificing her kingdom? Or will Orkena’s salvation only come if Zahru becomes the monster her people need?
About the Author
Natalie Mae is the critically acclaimed author of The Kinder Poison trilogy. She has also been a freelance editor and Pitch Wars mentor, and she feels it notable to mention she once held a job where she had to feed spiders. When not writing, Natalie can be found exploring the Colorado wilderness with her family. Visit her online at nataliemaebooks.com.
Hiya fellow book lovers! I absolutely adored reading The Night When No One Sex by Kalena Miller as it immediately transported me to my high school days. From the iconic group chat to the friendly banter and sarcastic retorts, this novel perfectly encapsulates what’s it like when you are on the cusp of adulthood. Told from multiple perspectives, The Night When No One Had Sex offers a realistic overview on teenagers perspective of sex and the significance of losing your virginity. It is a laugh-out-loud funny, honest novel celebrating the beauty of friendships, love and family.
Synopsis
The Night When No One Has Sex Book Cover
Title: The Night When No One Had Sex Author: Kalena Miller Pub. Date: Sept 7, 2021 Genre: Contemporary | Young Adult Format: E-book Arc
It’s the night of senior prom, and eighteen-year-old Julia has made a pact with her friends. (Yes, that kind of pact.) They have secured a secluded cabin in the woods, one night without parental supervision, and plenty of condoms.
But as soon as they leave the dance, the pact begins to unravel. Alex’s grandmother is undergoing emergency surgery, and he and his date rush to the hospital. Zoe’s trying to figure out how she feels about getting off the waitlist at Yale—and how to tell her girlfriend. Madison’s chronic illness flares, holding her back once again from being a normal teenager. And Julia’s fantasy-themed role play gets her locked in a closet.
Alternating between each character’s perspective and their ridiculous group chat, The Night When No One Had Sex finds a group of friends navigating the tenuous transition into adulthood and embracing the uncertainty of life after high school.
My Review
The Night No One Had Sex follows a close-knit group of friends, enjoying their last glory days of high school before adulthood with a sex pact.
If you’ve ever wondered what the inside of a bunch of horny high schoolers looks like then read this book for one hell of a group chat!
I adored the multiple POVs as the storyline follows 8 characters (4 couples) and readers can fully appreciate the dynamic relationships and the ability to canvas each character’s thought process and emotions. The character representation was eclectic from LGBT couples, chronic illness, anxiety disorders, plus-sized characters, and a plethora of ethnicities this novel offers something for everyone and I approve of the inclusivity.
At its core, this novel touches on the struggles of transitioning from a teenager to adulthood, planning for college to the uncertainty of what the future may hold. It imparts such an integral lesson to the younger generation which is to live in the moment and stay true to yourself. The writing style is extremely sarcastic and comical and 100% entertaining.
There’s a level of uncertainty as the author wraps up the story, that is very vague and open to interpretation which I don’t usually like but somehow it works with this story. There is almost a whisper of, “this isn’t the end of their journey but merely the beginning.”
This was a highly entertaining coming-of-age story about love, friendship, and family. It provides an extremely sex-positive, straightforward overview of teen sexuality and common issues of teenage life.
Thank you to the author, publishing, and NetGalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Author
Kalena Miller is a teacher, editor, and writer of books for children and young adults. She studied Religion and Gender Studies at Carleton College before receiving a Masters in Creative Writing from Hamline University. She currently lives in Hopkins, Minnesota with her husband and lovable, if slightly neurotic, dog.
Thanks so much for joining me today for this review! Until next time remember to Jes Read It!
Hi everyone! Today I am so excited to be participating in celebrating the publication day for the extremely dark and sexy Reverse Harem by Lilith Vincent- First Comes Blood. This novel is described by the author as a “Why Choose” romance, and if you’re like me and the term is new to you don’t worry, it is as the name says- Why choose one man when you can have them all?
Today’s blog tour is super exciting as I’m not only sharing my review but an exclusive link to the novella Promised in Blood and some spicy quotes!
First Comes Blood by Lilith Vincent Book
Title: First Comes Blood Author: Lilith Vincent Series: Promised in Blood Pub. Date: July 21, 2021 Genre: Mafia Romance| Dark Reverse Harem Format: E-book Arc
Four ruthless men. A virgin mafia princess to unite them. But first, there will be blood.
On my seventeenth birthday, I learn a terrible secret about my family. My future is in the hands of four brutal men, and what awaits me at their hands is too terrible to imagine.
Four men who desire me. Four men who vow to possess me. Four men who think they can destroy me.
As the only daughter of Coldlake’s mayor, I should be kept far, far out of their reach. Instead, I’m being thrown to them as a sacrifice. My father insists only one of them can marry me, but all of them vow to secure my promise.
A promise in blood.
They take. I bleed. Happy birthday to me.
AUTHOR’S NOTE: First Comes Blood is the first book in the Promised in Blood series and ends on a cliffhanger. These books contain dark themes, violence, and a Why Choose romance with ruthlessly possessive men. The story is dark, dirty and delicious so please read at your discretion.
My Review
Trigger warnings aka the best form of advertisement- contain dark themes, violence, and a Why Choose romance with ruthlessly possessive men. All I can say is holy spice meter this one was off the charts! First Comes Blood is a reverse harem mafia romance with four sexy as sin and dynamic alpha males and one headstrong female!
Sweet sheltered Chiara is thrust into the underworld on her 17th birthday when she realizes her senator father intends to barter her hand in marriage for stronger alliances with the city elite criminals. While Chiara may be an innocent virgin, she is not going down with a fight.
Cue the real reason we are all here, the sexy foursome:
Salvatore-“I can be your friend or your worst nightmare.”
Vinicius- “All these dragons, I’ll be her prince charming until she surrenders.”
Cassius – “When you become my wife, I’ll expect you to obey my orders without question.”
Lorenzo-“Once I marry you, I’ll probably slit your throat on our wedding night.”
Side note- Lorenzo is a sadistic, depraved psycho but for reasons unknown evil grin* I know he will be a fan favorite because who doesn’t love a bad boy???
What I like about this book is that it’s a PLUT – readers get an actual plot plus smut that will make you blush! The original premise seemed to indicate that, the brothers in every way but blood, would be sharing Chiara but the lines become blurred and we see Salvatore coming out as the victor causing a wedge between the foursome. This strain is developed throughout the book and the author leaves readers shrouded in mystery as to the true reason.
I liked that the guys were honest from the get-go, letting Chiara see the good, the bad, the aching truth, and the ugliest parts of themselves. Each of them has their unique quirks from Vinicius with his smooth talks and his angel good looks, to Lorenzo and his sadistic front hiding his marshmallow interior, Salvatore with his old school notion of life, and finally, my personal favorite, Cassius, who gives me just the right amount of alpha hole and vulnerability to snag a piece of my heart. They’ve each managed to lay themselves bare to her and open their darkest self and I appreciated this.
“We’re not normal and you’re lying to yourself if you think you can be normal after what you’ve been through.”
Another secret is the origination of their painful past, we get glimpses but it hovers on the periphery of the story with just the barest of hints of them losing their sisters. The foursome has realized they are all broken and looks to Chiara to make them whole.
“Each of us has a little piece of what a woman might grow to love. Between us, maybe we’re one decent boyfriend.”
Spoiler alert- it ends in a massive cliffhanger and, I honestly can’t wait to see how the story develops and how it unfolds when the secrets of the past collide with the drama of the present. Chiara’s life will be threatened now that she’s being claimed by them and they’ve promised to lay down their lives for her, but would she allow them to?
Thank you to Lilith and the folks over at Enticing Journey for providing me with an arc.
Lilith Vincent is a steamy mafia reverse harem writer who believes in living on the wild side! Why choose one when you could choose them all.
Promised in Blood Series
Promised in Blood Novella Lilith Vincent
First Comes Blood by Lilith Vincent Book
Thanks so much for joining me today for my stop in this book tour, hosted by the lovely folks at Enticing Journey Book Promotions. Until next time remember Jess Read It!
Hiya and welcome to my weekly rant. This week I am touching on the Alice Oseman’s graphic novel HeartStoppers. I cannot formulate words to express how amazing this novel really is, the barriers that this one novel has managed to break, the connections that millions of younglings and even some adults have made with this book is phenomenal. But what really makes the series so great?
First of all, when I headed to Goodreads to check this out after seeing it EVERYWHERE on bookstagram I noticed two things, firstly, this baby has nearly 90,000 ratings and a 4.2 average rating which is AHmazing , secondly its been categorized as a sequential art/graphic novel.
For those of you out there, who are just like me and really didn’t know two hoots about sequential art, lemme slap you with a Wikipedia definition:
Basically, the book is a comic/graphic depiction of a story and boy, oh boy, was this some story. I recently started getting into LGBT novels because being a straight person or identifying as straight (urgh, you know what I mean) I wanted to see how it differed from my usual fanfare for strictly scientific and observatory purposes only, (LIES, I wanted to see the smut). What I ended up seeing was a beautiful journey, of a brave guy named Charlie, who comes out openly as being gay (in an all boys school..yikes) and basically puts his heart out into the Universe in the hopes of getting some positive vibes in return.
Unfortunately, as we all well know, the Universe doesn’t give two shits about anyone and she (yes its a She, don’t aruge with me on this) usually sends you what you need instead of what you want. Case in point Charlie is on the low with a popular guy not ready to come out, essentially using him. The Universe, wanting to get her laughs in, decides to throw in Nick, the popular Rugby guy and all around STRAIGHT guy into Charlie’s already chaotic world.
What ensues is an extremely cute and heart warming journey of Charlie trying to befriend Nick without getting emotional, and Nick, trying to understand his sexual orientation after he begins to get the feels to Charlie.
Check out my review below as I spill all the deets on book one and two because my library is ruled by the universe which ahs decided book 3 should remain firmly out of my grasp (loud sigh).
I have also included the excerpt from Netflix outlining their rationale for taking on Heartstoppers and describing how the series will run!
Heartstopper Book Series
Title: Heartstopper Author: Alice Oseman Genre: Young Adult| LGBT Format: E-book
Honestly, my heart is bursting with the feels from this book.
Heartstopper is my first graphic/comic novel and it was such a refreshing change from word overload. The comics were superbly executed and I love how casual and unconventional it felt.
I adored Charlie and I am so happy to see him taking the leap towards “coming out” and very interested in seeing how the process unraveled for him. Alice handled the scenarios and the characters themselves in such a relevant but mature manner that I respected it.
Of course no heart stopping is complete without a heartthrob and I adored Nick’s kind manner and genuine confusion on his sexuality.
In the second book, Nick and Charlie’s “friendship” is evolving and I adored how raw and genuine Nick’s internal struggles are as he navigates his sexual orientation. Charlie is such a fantastic guy and I am glad to see him standing up for himself and realizing his inner worth. I loved the cameos with his sister who was so relatable and exhibited common “sisterly” responses.
Alice also introduced the concepts of varying degrees of sexuality- gay/ bi-sexual etc. and I admired how open and accepting the entire novel was. I think depicting that its okay to be confused on your preference is such an important factor for individuals who are struggling and I love that Alice created a safe space where people can openly relate to the characters. She also took a step further when we see the response of both Nick and Charlies respective parents. I liked that we saw different perspectives- sibling, friend, parent, outsider, hater etc. as it gave powerful insights.
I need book 3 ASAP because this relationship is giving me all the feels!
In comes NetFlix
Why this is a story that deserves to be told
We knew we were being pitched something incredible the first time See-Saw introduced us to the creator and artist/writer behind Heartstopper, Alice Oseman. It was clear right away that Alice not only had created these brilliant and emotionally engaging characters, but the world they populated was relatable yet somehow aspirational. The whole thing is just so poignant and beautifully crafted. To tell a love story between two boys who meet at school involves such vision and creative focus, Alice has absolutely delivered this here.
Heartstopper started out as a webcomic in 2016 and it is no surprise that something as brilliant as this hasn’t taken long to develop a large and loyal fanbase. The graphic novels are beautiful and compulsive reads laced with a unique style; sweetness and romance crossing over with contemporary and compelling plotlines. Our lead characters, Charlie and Nick, meet at school and become friends before gradually developing a romantic relationship. The emotional tension is brilliantly portrayed and I felt joy and nerves for them both throughout. When we started to develop the project we collectively decided that Alice had such a clear vision that it would make sense for her to adapt and write the episodes herself; this has paid dividends and we are confident that the 8 episodes we have commissioned will live up to the expectations of existing fans while also engaging a new audience. Alice is only 26 years old but her talent as a storyteller is astounding.
We are clear in our ambition to entertain the world and that means making the best quality content for all of our viewers. We are especially aware that younger audiences are looking for relatable and sincere stories dealing with real life subjects; not shying away from elements of their own lives.
This is a story that deserves to be told. Beyond anything else I have worked on in my career, the feeling regarding Heartstopper was that there was no way we could not make it. Alongside Alice, Heartstopper is being directed by the acclaimed Euros Lyn and incredible team at See-Saw Films – the best possible team to bring this world to life.
I am so proud to be championing Charlie and Nick’s story. We care deeply that all young people see themselves reflected in our content, and are hopeful that many people, whatever their age or identity, will see themselves in this bold and uplifting series.
Book Synopsis
Charlie, a highly-strung, openly gay over-thinker, and Nick, a cheerful, soft-hearted rugby player, meet at a British all-boys grammar school. Friendship blooms quickly, but could there be something more…?
Charlie Spring is in Year 10 at Truham Grammar School for Boys. The past year hasn’t been too great, but at least he’s not being bullied anymore. Nick Nelson is in Year 11 and on the school rugby team. He’s heard a little about Charlie – the kid who was outed last year and bullied for a few months – but he’s never had the opportunity to talk to him.
They quickly become friends, and soon Charlie is falling hard for Nick, even though he doesn’t think he has a chance. But love works in surprising ways, and sometimes good things are waiting just around the corner..
Heartstoppers
About the Author
Alice Oseman is an author/illustrator and was born in 1994 in Kent, England. She has written four YA contemporary novels about teenage disasters: SOLITAIRE, RADIO SILENCE, I WAS BORN FOR THIS, and LOVELESS. She is also the creator of LGBTQ+ YA romance webcomic HEARTSTOPPER, which is now published in physical form by Hachette Children’s Books.
Alice’s first novel SOLITAIRE was published when she was nineteen. Her YA novels have been nominated for the YA Book Prize, the Inky Awards, and the Goodreads Choice Award, and HEARTSTOPPER has been optioned for TV. She can usually be found staring aimlessly at computer screens, questioning the meaninglessness of existence, or doing anything and everything to avoid getting an office job.
Howdy book lovers! Today’s review has me torn up because I wanted to like this series soo much. I honestly think there is real potential here. That being said I don’t think this book was good or bad but rather a nice grey in-between.
Check out my review below or better yet, pick up a copy and slide in my dm’s with your thoughts!
Title: The Queen’s Assassin Author: Melissa De La Cruz Length: 384 pages Genre: Young Adult | Fantasy| Paranormal Format: E-book
Caledon Holt is the Kingdom of Renovia’s deadliest weapon. No one alive can best him in brawn or brains, which is why he’s the Guild’s most dangerous member and the Queen’s one and only assassin. He’s also bound to the Queen by an impossible vow–to find the missing Deian Scrolls, the fount of all magical history and knowledge, stolen years ago by a nefarious sect called the Aphrasians.
Shadow has been training all her life to follow in the footsteps of her mother and aunts–to become skilled enough to join the ranks of the Guild. Though magic has been forbidden since the Aphrasian uprising, Shadow has been learning to control her powers in secret, hoping that one day she’ll become an assassin as feared and revered as Caledon Holt.
When a surprise attack brings Shadow and Cal together, they’re forced to team up as assassin and apprentice to hunt down a new sinister threat to Renovia. But as Cal and Shadow grow closer, they’ll uncover a shocking web of lies and secrets that may destroy everything they hold dear. With war on the horizon and true love at risk, they’ll stop at nothing to protect each other and their kingdom in this stunning first novel in the Queen’s Secret series.
My Review
⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 3 out of 5.
Cal is charged with murder (which as the Queen’s Assassin was kinda confusing but meh), anyways charged with murder and sent to prison. There’s a super interesting twist where he is bound by an oath made by his father to serve the queen until he finds the lost scrolls of power. I really wanted to connect with him but found this difficult because his character, a main character of the book in my opinion, was written in third person.
Another thing that threw me for a loop was who he actually was, he is penned as the ultimate badass but I am afraid to report the worst thing he made me do was yawn (sigh). I wanted to get a dark streak, a bad boy flair, or even some action-packed fight scenes to showcase his prowess.
Moving on to our other main character- Shadow, who rejects the life of parading around in the palace court for a darker route as a member of the Guild of Assassins. She yearns to prove herself and decides Cal, yes prison Cal, is the man to assist her. Breaking him out of prison, they venture towards the land of Montrice to assassinate the spirit of the long-lost prince who is stirring up all the baddies and causing quite the ruckus. I cannot believe I am about to say this but the villain was so underrepresented. I believed his story could have provided a different perspective that added another dynamic into the story.
Things that didn’t sit right with me:
Shadow has all kinds of powers and I am so very confused as to what it all means in the big picture
There is so much going on in this book in terms of the sheer volume of characters, lengthy history dumps and tons of narrative on auxiliary details while major events are handled in two pages or less
I am yet to connect with the characters or see any growth or development as they fell kinda flat which is a shame because I think they could be epic
The romance was AWKWARD, yes I brought out the capitals, there is a certain reference to almost familial relations which is a huge NUH UH in my books
Overall, I felt slightly cheated because this book had the potential to be spectacular. I did enjoy the plot twists and the WTF moments but I needed more pizazz, more spark, and action.
Thanks so much for reading my review. Feel free to check out my bookstagram or follow me on Goodreads!
Hi everyone! Today I am so excited to be participating in a Book Blitz for Dead Wolf Walking, a dark academy reverse harem with dangerously possessive shifters.
Today’s blog tour is super exciting as I’m not only sharing my review but exclusive excerpts from the book, some laugh loud quotes and no Xpresso Tour would be complete without a Giveaway!
Title: Dead Wolf Walking Author: Rory Miles Series: (Bad Moon Academy, #1) Pub. Date: May 18, 2021 Genre: Adult, Paranormal | Reverse Harem |Romance Format: E-book Arc
I was living life to the fullest when a wolf attacked.
Now I’ve been ripped from my home and shipped off to Bad Moon Academy, a place for changed wolves. Or so I’m told.
There’s something sinister lurking within the confines of the academy, and I’m starting to think I was brought here as a sacrifice.
My Review
Raven has the gift of sight, too bad she can’t see the huge scary wolf about to attack her in the woods. As a recovering alcoholic, she’s trying to be better, but her soul longs for something more.
Fast forward to her being bitten by a werewolf and held within the confines of the Bad Moon Academy (yes, you heard me, Bad Moon lol), to acclimatize to life as a werewolf shifter.
Now the story wouldn’t be complete without some twists which come in the form of our main character, Raven, having the Sight and being a rare form of wolf called Luna.
Besides having a pretty cool name she also gets to choose a harem of five, I know, only five ??? This is where things get interesting because each potential candidate of the Harem is unique but at the same time have this synergistic balance which Raven desperately needs in her life.
There’s Draco, but not like Malfoy, who is a freak, professor Carter who is innocent and sweet, Everett the dominant alpha and some surprising inclusions who may or may not be wolf (I can’t ruin everything now can I?)
As if girl getting bitten wasn’t enough, her inner wolf is the QUEEN of sass. The juxtaposition between Raven and her inner wolf is pure comedic gold. Raven is a follower but her wolf is pure alpha bisch.
Her inner wolf is in constant heat and her main goal, besides annoying Raven, is too collect men like candies (I too do this in my spare time).
Two things I’ve learned about my wolf—she loves food and is obsessed with finding me a harem.
The blurb says this is a Reverse Harem, but I haven’t seen anyone doing the deed which is equal parts frustrating and delicious because I love a good slow burn.
The book basically ends in a cliffhanger, urgh, FML, but I am pretty excited to read on to see how our girl Raven progresses with her freedom from Bad Moon Academy and the harem.
Thank you to the author and Epresso Tours for providing me with an arc.
Sneak Peeks
Excerpt One
“Pack magic prevents unauthorized people from leaving. You haven’t been granted permission to leave.” He runs a finger over one of the cuts on my palm.
I hiss. “The whole stabbing part seems a bit extreme.”
He hums and sniffs my palm. “This won’t do.” Slipping his tongue past his lips, he licks my hand.
“Hey, gross. Don’t.” I try to yank away again, but his hold tightens.
Lifting his gaze to meet mine, he hovers his mouth above my skin. “Would you rather the vampires smell your blood and come for you?”
Vampires?
I wrinkle my nose and press my eyebrows together. “No.”
“Then let me finish.” Strands of dark hair fall across his forehead, and I fight the urge to brush them away from his eyes.
Am I really going to give him permission to lick me?
Do I really want to be eaten by vampires?
Absolutely not.
“Fine, but hurry.”
He smiles and tsks. “You can’t rush perfection, Little Red.”
I press my lips together and watch him lick my wounds clean. He slowly rolls his tongue over the cuts. Once the blood is gone from those, he slips my index finger inside his mouth and sucks on it. My knees knock together, heat flaring low in my belly. With a gasp, I place my hand on his shoulder to stay upright. He chuckles, and the sound vibrates against my finger as he drags his mouth to the end of it and moves to my middle one.
“Draco! Release her.” Carter doesn’t sound happy.
“It’s not what it looks like,” I say over my shoulder. He’s storming toward us and looks ready to knock Draco out. “The gate cut me, and he’s getting rid of the blood before the vampires— “
“Vampires?” Carter scoffs. “Moons, Draco, is that what you told her?”
The man in question swirls his tongue over my bloodied finger and places a chaste kiss at the tip before releasing my wrist, standing, and smirking at Carter.
“I was helping.”
Carter crosses his arms over his chest. “Fucking hell. What is your problem?”
Excerpt Two
Taking a slow step forward, his eyes lock with mine. “A Luna is a female alpha. A shifter blessed by the moon.”
“I thought genetic mutations were responsible for shifters.”
He takes another step, towering over me. I crane my neck to better hold his gaze.
“Some say the shifter mutation occurred during the light of the full moon, marking us as children of the lunar tides.”
Right.
“Is that why my wolf wanted to pummel you? Because I’m a luna?”
Everett grins and runs his hand over his short hair. “That’s more because she’s a superior being.”
He’s not so bad, my wolf says, preening. If he’s well-endowed, he would be a good addition to our harem.
Our what now? I ask, trying not to look outwardly confused.
Lunas have five partners. Five who fulfill her pack needs. An alpha, beta, delta, zeta, and someone with a strong affinity toward nurturing.
What level does that? I haven’t learned the different levels and what they mean, but why would the fifth need be different than the other needs?
It does not matter, but the position is one of the most treasured as he is the one who will hold us together. Omegas can fulfill this role, but so can another.
“Is she speaking?”
I jump when Everett touches my arm. He moved closer, and I didn’t even realize it. I take a step away.
“She was explaining some things.”
“The harem?” he asks as if a woman having not one but five guys is no big deal.
I squint at him. “So it’s a thing?”
Part of me didn’t believe her.
“It is a thing. Lunas are not the only female shifters who take harems, but she is the only one who needs the harem.”
Not going to lie, I’m not particularly excited about being a needy, codependent woman. I’ve always prided myself in being comfortable on my own. Even more so after Mom killed herself. Love made her soft.
I’m not.
Lunas are not weak.
Needing five men to survive isn’t weak? I ask her, voice colored with disbelief.
Child, I never said anything about need. We take what we want.
Her correction does little to console me.
Meeting Everett’s intense gaze, I lift an eyebrow. “Is that all?”
He wavers on the edge of a question but thinks better of it and shakes his head. “When you’re ready, I’m here to talk.”
Leaving the classroom, I think over what he and my wolf said.
Five partners?
Sounds like a lot of work if I’m honest.
It isn’t work if they’re part of the pack. They’ll make your life easier, fulfill you in ways you’ve never dreamed of. It is a privilege to be part of a luna’s harem.
Can we talk about something else? Are you hungry? You’re always hungry. Let’s go get a snack, focus on that.
Howdy book lovers! I honestly love a dark romance every once in a while and the Warm-up gave me all the feels. This is not your typical love story but delves into some serious issues relating to post military life and the struggles trying to adapt. I enjoyed that the author placed an emphasis on a form of abuse that is commonly swept under the rug, emotional abuse, which is both detrimental to one’s psyche and emotional well-being.
This is my first review for Violet Gordon and it certainly is not my last and I thoroughly enjoyed her ability to pen compelling yet realistic stories with great characters and surprise twists.
Check out my review below on the first book of her Gold Digger series.
Johanna Miller finally found a way to pull herself out of an abusive relationship, and she’s determined to create a happier and more fulfilling life for herself in Denver.
Max Phillips left the military and the battlefields of the Middle East years ago…at least physically. In his mind, however, the demons of his past still haunt him.
When Johanna and Max meet, they quickly see how much they have in common and how good life can be when they are together. Will their pasts prevent them from ever having the future they dream of? Or were their past experiences simply getting them warmed up for a fantastic life together?
My Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
The Warm-Up is a story of perfectly imperfect characters navigating real-life problems and scenarios to the best of their ability.
I relished the raw vulnerability of the characters who, despite having dark pasts, still persevere despite the odds. This was such an emotionally riveting book, filled with heartache and emotional abuse and the power in standing up for yourself and moving on.
Joanna had such a tumultuous past with her less than ideal family situation and her d*ck of an ex Scott. She finally works up the courage to leave her abusive relationship and create a fresh start for herself. I admire her tenacity and inner strength, to consistently see the good in people and open herself up despite constantly being put down and demoralized.
I appreciate how Joanna was penned in that she didn’t get a sudden AHA moment but rather progressively worked towards shedding her past and moving on. Her incremental actions were very believable and showcased her development as a character.
Scott reminded Johanna of an old sweater, one that used to fit perfectly but was now too tight, full of holes, and completely the wrong color.
Another aspect I thoroughly enjoyed was her introduction to the local gym aka the Gold Digger crew (Max, Ed, and Hellcat). Each character is so uniquely appealing that I could not help but fall in love. The backstory of both Max and Ed was enough to provide a solid foundation for this story and future stories which speak well of the author’s ability to weave a captivating story. Too often authors draft a world with meager details and expect repeat readers, I was pleasantly surprised to note that is not the case with this series.
Max is an ex-marine with some PTSD issues (don’t tell him that though because he’ll deny it) who is shrouded in mystery for a lot of the book. Whereas Claire is an open book, Max is infinitely more reserved and readers aren’t privy to a lot of his actions, just little glimpses here and there. Despite the glimpses adding up to an earth-shattering conclusion, I was secretly hoping to get more insight into him.
As a discharged marine he struggles with acclimatizing to a civilian lifestyle. This, coupled with his self-esteem issues and guilt over his fallen troops has led him down a dangerous path. Max’s character was so complex and the additional dynamic of his prosthetic only served to enhance the overall story.
I enjoyed that despite the somber mood and dark themes being covered throughout the story, there were still intersperses of comedic relief and witty banter which created a well-balanced story, I mean who doesn’t love Matrix references in their books?
The last couple of chapters honestly took me by surprise and the turn of events rocked me to my core. I loved how the author closed off this chapter and will end the review with some great words of advice from Joanna, “Have faith in the future and what it could hold.”
Thank you to the author and Discovery for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks so much for reading my review. Feel free to check out my bookstagram or follow me on Goodreads!
Howdy book lovers! I started reading the Harbinger series by Jennifer L. Armentrout and only at the second book realized the Dark Elements series offered a prelude. Realizing this I immediately picked up the series and binged it out.
I still think the Harbinger series is better because Zayne has my entire heart but I enjoyed this series none the less.
White Hot Kiss by Jennifer L. Armentrout Audiobook Review
Title: White Hot Kiss Series: The Dark Elements Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout Length: 388 pages Genre: Fantasy | Paranormal Romance Format: E-book
Seventeen-year-old Layla just wants to be normal. But with a kiss that kills anything with a soul, she’s anything but normal. Half demon, half gargoyle, Layla has abilities no one else possesses. Raised among the Wardens-a race of gargoyles tasked with hunting demons and keeping humanity safe-Layla tries to fit in, but that means hiding her own dark side from those she loves the most.
Especially Zayne, the swoon-worthy, incredibly gorgeous and completely off-limits Warden she’s crushed on since forever. Then she meets Roth-a tattooed, sinfully hot demon who claims to know all her secrets. Layla knows she should stay away, but she’s not sure she wants to-especially when that whole no-kissing thing isn’t an issue, considering Roth has no soul.
But when Layla discovers she’s the reason for the violent demon uprising, trusting Roth could not only ruin her chances with Zayne…it could brand her a traitor to her family. Worse yet, it could become a one-way ticket to the end of the world.
My Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
The utter perfection that is Jennifer L. Armentrout never ceases to excite and amaze me!
This book honestly had me in a moral quandary, “Can you have two book boyfriends, from the same book?” I know *big gasp*, but for anyone who has read this will know, one simply cannot choose between the deliciously sinful aura of Roth or Zayne’s sexy af boy next door appeal. For all the ladies out there picking sides, in the immortal words of Taylor Swift- Two is better than one.
Layla is a half warden, half-demon and I enjoyed seeing her navigate the harsh curveballs life is throwing her on her journey of self-discovery. Being raised by Wardens has significantly skewed her perspective but as the luscious Roth tempts her with the truth of her origins and his Layla comes to realize, maybe the dark side isn’t so bad after all?
Zayne has only ever loved one girl- Layla and to see her sideline him crushes a little part of my soul. Being a warden/gargoyle and the only son of the clan’s ruler means his destiny is already mapped out and he cannot take chances with Layla for fear of losing more than his heart, but his very soul.
Roth is a mysteriously dangerous agent of hell sent to protect Layla at all costs. He is my favorite character only because Guns N’ Roses-Paradise City is one of my absolute favorite songs and he is constantly humming it. Aside from his obvious physique, there is a surprising depth to his personality and a yearning for the chance to live. There is bravado in being bad and Roth is unapologetically himself. I relished his ability to portray casual indifference while still making me feel like he cared and is a good person underneath.
The only thing better than the characters are the animals, you read me right, there’s a lovable snack named Bambi who gets hangry (totally relatable), cute but viciously cuddly demon cats, and a dragon that we have yet to see. I mean, how does she make animals interesting among these titans of characters?
White Hot Kiss covers all my must-have book bases: -Killer plotline -Interesting and engaging supernaturals -Forbidden love triangle -Irresistible characters -Action and adventure – Pure comedic gold with epic one-liners – Appropriately aged sarcasm that I understand – Organic relationships that aren’t forced
Audiobook review: Saskia Maarlevald has such a uniquely husky voice that toes the line between male and female characters perfectly. I loved her narration and the versatility of her voice that truly added to my enjoyment of the overall story.
Favorite Quotes
“I lost myself the moment I found you”
“People with the purest souls are capable of the greatest evils. No one is perfect, no matter what they are or what side they fight for.”
““When people inexplicably disappeared into thin air, it was usually because they had a new zip code. Something like 666”
Thanks so much for reading my review. Feel free to check out my bookstagram or follow me on Goodreads!
Howdy book lovers! I love visiting old bookstores and finding gems and when I came across this Madeline Baker I could not help but grab it up. Madeline has 100’s of romance novels and I am pretty happy this was my introduction to her writing. This book was witty and quite advanced for the period it was written. And can I say, hello old school cover lust!
Check out my review below on this oldie but goodie
Title: Chase the Wind Author: Madeline Baker Length: 394 pages Genre: Western Romance Format: Paperback
Defying her parent’s plans for her to marry a fancy lawyer, Elizabeth Johnson flees into the desert with a virile Apache warrior known as Chase the Wind. Soon, she is fleeing into the desert with him, fighting off a lynch mob and finding ecstasy beneath starry skies.
My Review
⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 3 out of 5.
I found this gem in one of my favorite used bookstores and immediately knew I had to get it, because Madeline Baker, duh!!!!!
Because this was an impulse purchase I honestly didn’t read the blurb or realize it was book two in the series, but again, it’s Madeline and she can do no wrong so let’s get into the review!
Chasing the Wind is the apache name for the main character, yes you read right, it’s his name who is half Indian and half white. He grew up believing his mother abandoned him, and now with the death of his father, he goes in search of her in the white world.
This book truly had me shook because SO much drama transpired in these pages. I am talking about Chase stealing his brother Dusty’s girl, to be fair to him he didn’t know, and honestly, Elizabeth wanted him from the moment she saw him. To her, Chase was exotic and virile and stroked her inner desires and passion until she was alight with want and abandoned her home and family to rescue him (this is either true love or raging hormonal lust). He was the man of her fantasy but could she handle the reality with him?
Poor Chasing the Wind has a multitude of issues besides finally meeting his birth mother and stealing his brother’s girl though because he is accused of murder on his second day in town and sentenced to hang for this crime.
The author portrayed the division of Indians and Whites quite well and I applaud her for straying from the conventional Regency romance and voicing controversial issues of injustice. I liked that there were different dimensions to this book- forbidden love, an outlaw on the run, family drama, murder mystery, and finding independence from your family.
This was such a rollercoaster read as separate from everything else we have two other budding romances, a fake engagement, and tons of sexual tension between the main characters.
The sense of familial bonds is very strong within this book and I loved how close-knit the family was. I relished knowing that Chase the Wind mother Jenny and her husband Ryder would break the law without hesitation to save their son. Their easy acceptance of him and Jenny’s honest desire to build a relationship with Chase was heartwarming.
While the insta-love between Chase and Beth was slightly jarring and unrealistic for these times, I believe for a book set within that era it was executed quite well.
Favorite Quotes
“Love is not a matter of wisdom but of the heart”
Thanks so much for reading my review. Feel free to check out my bookstagram or follow me on Goodreads!
Howdy book lovers! Today’s review has me torn up because I wanted to like this series soo much. I truly adored the MC Rain but I just found it hard to get into it fully. I must admit that I go down the rabbit hole of YA constantly so its pretty tough for something in this genre to catch and grip me.
Haven was good and I liked the link of Watchers (shapeshifters) and Weavers (magic users) but it wasn’t great. Yeah I was silently routing for Rain, but nothing else really resonated with me.
Check out my review below or better yet, pick up a copy and slide in my dm’s with your thoughts!
Title: Haven Author: Mary Lindsey Length: 371 pages Genre: Young Adult | Fantasy| Paranormal Format: E-book Arc
Rain Ryland has never belonged anywhere, He’s used to people judging him for his rough background, his intimidating size, and now, his orphan status. He’s always been on the outside, looking in, and he’s fine with that. Until he moves to New Wurzburg and meets Friederike Burkhart.
Freddie isn’t like normal teen girls, though. And someone wants her dead for it. Freddie warns he’d better stay far away if he wants to stay alive, but Rain’s never been good at running from trouble. For the first time, Rain has something worth fighting for, worth living for. Worth dying for
My Review
⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 3 out of 5.
There’s something strange going on in the town of New Wuzburgs, a secret society hiding in plain sight, until now…….
Haven was such a fun rollercoaster of events. Every page featured a new twist or turn and I was firmly buckled in to enjoy this ride!
I enjoyed reading from Rain’s perspective, it was such a refreshing change to follow along from a male POV. I immediately liked Rain because despite growing up on the streets on the “hard knock life” philosophy, he still has a heart and a conscience. Despite his tragic past, he is afforded a fresh start with his aunt Ruby in a small town that emanates weird.
Small town settings are one of my favorite settings because everyone tends to be nosey and there’s a nice sense of camaraderie and community. As Rain struggles to adapt to his new environment, he runs into danger, more accurately Freddie, who walks, talks, and smells like trouble.
Too bad for Rain, trouble is his middle name and he soon finds himself caught up in a whodunnit scenario that exposes the town’s Watcher/Weaver supernatural community that consists of werewolves and witches.
Haven was unique in that the roles were reversed, the girl is in a position of power and trying to save the guy from trouble. The romance is very minor so I would classify it as YA paranormal romance.
Thanks so much for reading my review. Feel free to check out my bookstagram or follow me on Goodreads!
Jessica Reads It 