No chit chat, I will jump straight into what I read in May.
Continue reading “May 2026 Reading Wrap Up”
Tag: booktok
Revisiting Fiasco: Love, Family, and Secrets Unveiled
Bourbon & Secrets by Victoria Wilder
18+ Contains Adult Content
Bourbon & Secrets is book two in The Bourbon Boys series. It follows Lincoln Foxx, who, after his wife passed away, was left to raise his two girls on his own. The same night Liv passed away, Lincoln bumps into Faye Calloway doing something she should not be doing. Lincoln tells her to leave Fiasco and never return. Now, five years later, Lincoln only has two priorities: raising his girls and making good bourbon. That is, until Faye steps back into Fiasco. Lincoln knows there is more to Faye’s return than her dancing burlesque at Midnight Proof, but he can’t help but become distracted by the stunning woman who treats his girls like they matter. Faye is going to save her sister and right the wrongs of her past, and Lincoln will do anything to save her and his girls.
How do you like your bourbon?
Anyway you want to give it to me, Foxx.
Cold Cases and Warm Hearts: Exploring “All the Missing Pieces” by Catherine Cowles
All the Missing Pieces by Catherine Cowles
18+ Contains Adult Content
All the Missing Pieces follows Ridley, who is a true crime podcaster; she travels the country covering cold cases. Ridley lost her twin sister, Avery, the night before their college graduation; all that was left were Avery’s keys. Ridley knows what it feels like to lose someone and never get answers, which is what makes her a caring, sensitive and respectful podcaster. Ridley’s latest cold case takes her to Shady Grove, where she is covering a cold case from 10 years ago in which a young girl was taken, but she managed to get away. This may be the first time Ridley has a victim she can speak with, said, victim is the Sheriff’s sister, and Sheriff Colter Brooks will be damned if some podcaster comes into his town and stirs up trouble. Well, that is, until Ridley’s case goes from cold to smoking hot in one leap, putting her in danger. Colt does what any respectable Sheriff would do and moves her into his house to keep her safe.
That was the one thing these monsters didn’t realize. They thought they were only ending one life, but it was so many more. The ripple effect of cruel violence that would live on for generations to come, all of us still breathing branded by it.
Elspeth’s Journey: Enemies to Allies in One Dark Window
One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig
One Dark Window is a gothic fantasy novel that follows Elspeth Spindle, who was infected with the fever as a child. The fever is caused by the magical mist, which is a curse that seals off Blunder from the rest of the world. Those who get caught in the mist without a lucky charm will get infected, and if they survive the fever, they will be granted wild powers which slowly kill the host. The only way to get rid of the mist is to reunite all 12 Providence cards. Elspeth must team up with the ruthless King’s nephew to collect the cards before the solstice.
What creature is he, with mask made of stone? Captain? Highwayman? Or beast yet unknown?
Loving the Legends of Chaos: My Thoughts on “The Never List” by Jade Presley
The Never List by Jade Presley
18+ Contains Adult Content
The Never List is a why-choose, enemies-to-lovers, fantasy romance that follows Rylee, who is an Ashlander and a Demi, 2 things hated by the Kings. After Rylee’s sister goes missing, Rylee and her friends decide to attend the choosing ceremony with a forged invitation. The choosing ceremony is for the 4 princes known as the legends of chaos to find their mate, the one woman who can tether them when they come into their full powers. Rylee is only there to see if her sister’s name is on the never list; she certainly isn’t there to be chosen, but when Jax calls her number, she has no choice but to go and make them fall in love with her in hopes that when they find out she is a Demi from Ashlander, they won’t kill her.
The imbalance of power became a catalyst for betrayal by their people, so the goddesses wanted to ensure their sons, their only heirs, would never suffer the same fate. They used their magic to call forth for their sons only one mate who would connect them all, to act as their tether to the people of Lumathyst and ground them if their hunger for power ever grew too large.
Unravelling Past Secrets: A Deep Dive into C.J. Tudor’s “The Chalk Man”
The Chalk Man by C.J. Tudor
The Chalk Man is a mystery/thriller that follows Eddie and his friends. In 1986, as preteens, the group came across the body of a young girl, but her head was nowhere to be found. This was all strange enough as is, but what led the boys to the girl’s body in the first place was even stranger…drawings of chalk men. Now in 2016, the boys are adults, and not as close-knit as they once were. Eddie knows who they say killed the girl, but he doesn’t believe it. It’s been 30 years, but maybe they can figure out who actually killed her.
It never came. There were extensive searches, questions and appeals but, despite the best efforts of all the detectives and all the town’s men, her head was never found, and the girl in the woods was never put together again.
From A Marriage of Convenience to Love: Cassidy and Finn’s Story in The Neighborly Thing To Do.
The Neighborly Thing To Do by Addison James
18+ Contains Adult Content
I received an advanced copy of this book at no charge. This is my honest, voluntary review.
The Neighborly Thing To Do follows Cassidy and Finn. Cassidy is a human living in Hearthstone, a supernatural town. After sending her younger sister off to college, Cassidy is confronted by the town’s bylaws, which state that she can’t stay in the town unless she is legally connected to a supernatural creature. Finn is Cassidy’s neighbour, who is known as the grumpy recluse artist gargoyle. He’s watched Cassidy give up everything to raise her younger sister, and he is not going to stand by and let her be kicked out of town. If she is connected to a supernatural creature, she can stay…so if Finn marries Cassidy…
There are a lot of differences between us, I remind myself. Age, species-no wonder she didn’t immediately jump to that conclusion.
The Heart-Wrenching Journey of “Saving Jessie’s Girl”: A Review of Lauren Biel’s Dark Romance
Saving Jessie’s Girl by Lauren Biel
18+ Contains Adult Content
Saving Jessie’s Girl is a dark romance that follows Emmy, Jessie & Benji. Jessie and Benji are twin brothers, both very attractive; however, there are quite a few differences. Benji is kind, caring & compassionate, whereas Jessie is hard, manipulative and evil. Benji cannot speak, whereas Jessie can. Benji treats Emmy like a princess, whereas Jessie treats her like dirt…but I’m getting ahead of myself.
Let me start from the beginning.
Continue reading “The Heart-Wrenching Journey of “Saving Jessie’s Girl”: A Review of Lauren Biel’s Dark Romance”
Twins, Tension, and a Troubling Obsession: A Review of “Graves” by Katelyn Taylor
Graves by Katelyn Taylor
18+ Contains Adult Content
Graves is a dark romance why choose romance, which follows Zayden and Dominic, who are twin brothers and Blake. Zayden sees Blake whilst he is lying on the floor after being shot, and thinks she looks like an angel. He then, after recovering, starts to watch over his “angel”, going as far as watching over her as she sleeps. Zayden will stop at nothing to make Blake his, but whilst protecting Blake, unbeknownst to her, Zayden gets arrested. He asks his brother to watch over her and keep her safe. To protect his girl. Dominic does, but falls in love and takes Blake as his own; he isn’t willing to let her go either. Zayden gets out of prison and is taking his girl back, even if it means going through his twin to get her.
My sight begins to dim as darkness begins to cloud over me. If I don’t make it out of this, at least I got a glimpse of an angel before I burn in hell. If I do, then that angel is mine.
Heart Eyes: A Deep Dive into the Dark Stalker Romance of Kat and Liam
Heart Eyes by Effie Campbell
18+ Contains Adult Content
Heart Eyes is a dark stalker romance that follows Kat & Liam. Fourteen years ago, Kat saved Liam, who at the time was a little boy, hungry, dirty and needing a friend. Kat, just a little girl herself, became Liam’s friend. He never spoke a word, but he didn’t have to. Kat understood. Then, after a tragic event, they no longer saw each other. Liam thinks she will have forgotten him; he never forgot her, and when he, by chance, sees her again, he knows he is about to lose her again. He doesn’t want to scare her or ruin her life, so he is happy to watch her from the shadows, that is, until he sees someone else watching her. Someone from their past, who knows what she did and wants her to pay. Liam will go to the ends of the earth to protect Kat, the girl who holds his heart.
‘He’s hot. He’ll happily chow until you wet his face, what more do you want?’
To fill the boy-shaped hole in my soul. To know what happened to him. Stuffing my fork into my food, I lift my fingers to the heart-shaped rock I wear on a cord around my neck. A gift from him. The dark-haired, dark-eyed, dirty-kneed, bruised boy whom I’d taken under my wing.
