Posted in Monthly Reading Wrap Ups

Discover My Top Reads: 13 Books I Devoured This November and Their Ratings

This month has been a really good month for me reading wise. I’ve managed to read 13 books this month 🙂 Here is what I read and what I rated it 🙂

I started the month with an ARC from Nova Kane, so you already know it was a good start to the month! I read Blood & Throttle, which I devoured! This was Death Race but on bikes, and it was amazing. I gave it 5 stars.

I then read Queens of Ruin by Selena Collins. I read this because I needed to read a book beginning with Q for my alphabet challenge, and I had this on my Kindle. I didn’t enjoy it. The idea was good, the execution not so much. I gave it 2.5 stars.

I then read the book I was most excited for this month! Veradel by Mariah Montoya and Grace Pearce. This was book two in the Guardians and Monsters duology. I read Xantera last month and was obsessed, so I had been eagerly waiting for this ARC to pop in my inbox, and I was just as obsessed with this one as I was with Xantera! 5 stars. This is a new favourite duology for me!

I then listened to and ALC of Dark Desires by Effie Campbell. I enjoyed the narrators, but felt the spice-to-plot ratio was too heavy in the spice direction. I still enjoyed it, just didn’t love it. I gave it 3.5 stars.

I then read Of Darkness and Ruination by Rachel Fallon. This was on my 12 months, 12 Friends, 12 books challenge. I enjoyed this; the only issue was that it was very, very similar to ACOTAR. Had I not read ACOTAR already, then I would have probably given this book 5 stars, but because it was so similar, I kept unintentionally comparing the two books, and Calix just didn’t hit the same as Rhysand for me, and so I gave it 4 stars.

I then read Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. I never read this in school, as I think my set did Jane Eyre, anyway, I had to read a classic as part of my StoryGraph challenge, and I picked this because it was 121 pages and figured I could manage that. I’m not a classics girlie, but this was okay. I felt rather uncomfortable reading it, though, which was maybe the point of the book, I dunno. I gave it 3 stars.

I then had another ALC, this one was Becoming Justice by Liv Macy. I hadn’t heard of this author prior to this, but I really enjoyed listening to this. I gave it 4 stars.

I then read A Wife for the Blacksmith by Viola Grey, because I needed a Historical Fiction for my 52 book challenge, I swear these challenges got me reading all sorts of books outta my comfort zone…I guess that’s the point of them though haha. I picked this because it was short, and it was okay. I gave it 3.5 stars.

I then read Mariposa by Lexi Axelson. I’ve wanted to read See You Soon by her, but for some reason, I’m scared to start that book, so I read this one instead. I did not expect to cry reading this book, but I sobbed! 4 stars.

I then read You May Now Kill The Bride by Kate Weston. This had been on my TBR for over a year, and I needed a book beginning with Y to finish my book alphabet, lol. I enjoyed it. I don’t read much mystery/thriller these days, but it was once my comfort genre, so it’s always fun to go back to that genre. I gave it 4 stars.

I then received an ARC of Fatal Collision by Harleigh Beck. You all know by now that Harleigh is one of my favourite authors. I loved this book! Kane had me swooning, giggling, kicking my feet the lot! I can’t wait for book 2. 5 stars!

I then read Fost by Lo Gold, which was another ARC. This was a monster romance, which isn’t a genre I’ve read much of. I enjoyed it, but didn’t love it. 3.5 stars.

I finished the month with Sweet Doe by Melissa McSherry and Dana LeeAnn. I had read the first book in this duet last year and loved that. I didn’t love this one quite the same, and I ended up giving it 3.5 stars.

There should be full reviews for all these books on my blog (except of mice and men).

My favourite book of the month is Veradel.

My top 3 favourite books this month are:
Veradel
Blood & Throttle
Fatal Collision

I hope you all had a good reading month.
Now it’s on to Christmas books xD

Posted in Dana LeeAnn, Dark Romance/Erotic Horror, Melissa McSherry

The Allure of the Forbidden: A Thoughtful Review of “Sweet Doe”

Sweet Doe by Melissa McSherry and Dana LeeAnn

18+ Contains Adult Content

Sweet Doe is book 4 in the Wrecked series, but you only need to read Slaying for Sloan (book 3) before you read this one. You must read Slaying for Sloan first as Sweet Doe continues where Slaying for Sloan ends.

Sloan is in Holly Grove for the holiday’s meeting her boyfriend’s family. When Alex starts acting differently, he has a darker, more exciting side to him that Sloan loves, only she realises it isn’t Alex. It’s his twin brother Asher. It was a game that started in a lustful haze, that soon turned into fear when Asher takes Sloan deep into the mountains, hiding her away and keeping her for himself. Sloan wants to be angry, wants to be scared, but on one hand, he killed his own twin brother; on the other hand, he treats Sloan well, cares for her, cooks for her, and loves her. She knows she should run, but she finds herself not wanting to. Instead, she runs with Asher, away from the law and their families. Just the two of them against the world.

Continue reading “The Allure of the Forbidden: A Thoughtful Review of “Sweet Doe””
Posted in Book Review, Dark Romance/Erotic Horror, Lo Gold

Love in the Myrkviðr Woods: A Thoughtful Review of “Frost” by Lo Gold

Frost by Lo Gold

18+ Contains Adult Content

Frost follows Elisa, who is in her last year of college, has no family, and it’s Christmas break. She decides to travel, joining a foreign exchange program. It is not what she thought it would be, and now she is stuck in a cabin in the middle of the woods in below-freezing temperatures. Not only that, there is a monster lurking outside. Jack is the monster outside. He is a creature of legend that has been lost to time. Jack Frost is cursed to an eternity in the woods, collecting the souls of the wicked. Only his soulmate can release the curse if she can fall in love with the monster he is.

Continue reading “Love in the Myrkviðr Woods: A Thoughtful Review of “Frost” by Lo Gold”
Posted in Book Review, Dark Romance/Erotic Horror, Harleigh Beck

“Fatal Collision” by Harleigh Beck: A Gripping Start to the Dark Lanes Series.

Fatal Collision by Harleigh Beck

18+ Contains Adult Content

Fatal Collision is book one in the new Harleigh Beck series, Dark Lanes. It follows Jessica, who is from the “poor” side of town and Kane, who is from the “rich” side of town. Jessica’s only goal is to survive; her mum is in hospice, dying from cancer. Her Dad is an alcoholic, her brother keeps losing money in races, and her younger sister needs her to protect and care for her. Jessica needs money to keep her family together and feed them, so she decides to gate-crash a party on the rich side of town and steal from Mr Ravencourt himself, one of the town’s founders. Unfortunately for Jessica Kane, one of Mr Ravencourt’s sons catches her. Jessica holds her own, and one forbidden touch was like waving a red flag at a bull. Kane is obsessed and isn’t about to let his prey get away.

Continue reading ““Fatal Collision” by Harleigh Beck: A Gripping Start to the Dark Lanes Series.”
Posted in Book Review, Kate Weston, thriller, Uncategorised

Love, Loyalty, and Murder: Exploring the Thrills of ‘You May Now Kill The Bride’

You May Now Kill The Bride by Kate Weston

You May Now Kill The Bride is a mystery thriller following a group of friends, Lauren, Saskia, Dominica, Farah and Tansy, who have been best friends since they were in nursery. Tansy is about to get married, and the girls get together for her spiritual hen party in the woods. They enter the woods together, but they don’t leave together. Tansy stays behind after choking on a drink that contained peach, which she was allergic to. It couldn’t be murder, right? Just one of Tansy’s allergies. However, come Farah’s hen do not long after, and another hen dies. Hen do 2.0 for Farah, and there is another body. The group now suspect it is one of their own doing the killing. But who is it and why? Will Farah manage to walk down the aisle? And what happened twenty years ago, that they have all been keeping secret?

Continue reading “Love, Loyalty, and Murder: Exploring the Thrills of ‘You May Now Kill The Bride’”
Posted in Book Review, Dark Romance/Erotic Horror, Lexi Axelson, Uncategorised

Emotional Rollercoaster: Mariposa by Lexi Axelson

Mariposa by Lexi Axelson

18+ Contains Adult Content

Mariposa is a military romance that follows Violet Isla, who has made it into the special forces course. Her instructor is known as Operator Beast, who is well known for being cold-hearted. Violet is known as the Unbreakable Soldier. Beast, also known as Kade O’Connell, has made it his mission to break her. However, Violet’s heart skips a beat when she is near him, and it isn’t out of fear like everyone else. Not only is he older than her, but he is also her Master Sergeant and her ex-boyfriend’s dad. Kade has never broken the rules, never put anything before his work, but Violet is breaking down his walls and seeing underneath the mask.

Continue reading “Emotional Rollercoaster: Mariposa by Lexi Axelson”
Posted in Book Review, Romance, Viola Grey

Smutty Historical Romance: Grace and the Blacksmith

A Wife for the Blacksmith by Viola Grey

18+ Contains Adult Content

Grace is living in misery, married to John, who treats her with zero respect, who hurts her and goes out gambling away all their money. One day, John gets himself into deep trouble, deep enough that he needs to flee the village. He grabs Grace, telling her to pack, but Grace has an idea. She tells John to sell her, auction her off in the town square. Which is exactly what John does, not knowing that the village blacksmith Gerald has been harbouring a longing for Grace for quite some time. Gerald is silent, grouchy and gruff, but when he sees Grace being auctioned, he steps up and pays a substantial amount of money for her to be his. Now Gerald can show Grace how she is meant to be treated; he can shower her with love and hope she will love him back.

Continue reading “Smutty Historical Romance: Grace and the Blacksmith”
Posted in Book Review, Liv Macy

Cassie’s Quest for Truth in ‘Becoming Justice’ by Liv Macy

Becoming Justice by Liv Macy

18+ Contains Adult Content

Becoming Justice is book one in the Infinites Universe by Liv Macy. This book follows Cassie, who is living on her own, surrounded by grief after the loss of her brother and her mother, her only family. The police say her brother Brian died of an overdose, but Cassie knows that isn’t Brian; he wouldn’t do that, and she is hell bent on finding out who killed her brother. Armed with a new hair colour and a lot of contour to change her appearance, the best she can, Cassie gets a job as a bartender at the club where Brian died. She wants answers, but what she didn’t expect was to find a secret society of magic and darkness. Cassie also did not expect to be so drawn to her boss, Dex. She is bound to him by a contract to protect her, but did he bother to protect her brother? Cassie has to decide if vengeance is worth outing Dex’s abilities in which she is also handing Dex a death sentence.

Continue reading “Cassie’s Quest for Truth in ‘Becoming Justice’ by Liv Macy”
Posted in Book Review, Rachel Fallon

From Slavery to Rebellion: Exploring Themes in Rachel Fallon’s “Of Darkness and Ruination”

Of Darkness and Ruination by Rachel Fallon

18+ Contains Adult Content

Of Darkness and Ruination is book one in Rachel Fallon’s The Star Queen Chronicles, set in the magical world of Celesterra, a world run by fae and where all humans are slaves. At the age of 21, each human is to leave their families and face Placement Day, which is where they are placed in a different kingdom within Celesterra. Asteria is sent to the Dusk Kingdom and is to be the personal slave for Crown Prince Cyrus, who wants Asteria to give in to his lust and desire for her. She refuses and knows it is a matter of time before he takes it by force, and the only option is to escape. She will be killed if she is caught, and what’s worse, the ruthless King Calix of the Night Kingdom keeps attacking the Dusk Kingdom. There is a war brewing in Celesterra, and Asteria seems to be in the middle of it.

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Posted in Book Review, effie campbell

“Dark Desires” Audiobook Review: An Extra Steamy Standalone in the McGowan Mafia Series

Dark Desires by Effie Campbell

18+ Contains Adult Content

Dark Desires is book four in the McGowan Mafia series. It is a standalone, and you don’t need to have read the others to read this one. It follows Valentina, who is a cam girl and Logan, who is a mafia boss. Logan is engaged to Nicole, not because he loves her, but because marrying her will merge the two mafia families together and be good for business. Logan, bored and restless one night, signs onto a cam girl website where he sees Cherry. He can’t stop thinking about her after they have a cam session together, one where he doesn’t show his face; he is well known in Scotland after all. Imagine his surprise when he sees Cherry, or should I say Valentina, at his engagement party, even more surprised when his fiancée introduces her as her cousin. Valentina recognises Logan from his tattoos and his voice; she was obsessed with him before she saw his face, by the way he dominated her and now, after seeing him in the flesh, she can not and will not settle for anyone less than Logan.

Continue reading ““Dark Desires” Audiobook Review: An Extra Steamy Standalone in the McGowan Mafia Series”