Posted in Book Challenges

12 Months…12 Authors…12 Books

I completed the 12 months…12 friends…12 books challenge last year, and I decided I was doing it again, but that I also wanted to ask 12 authors to recommend me a book by another author to read. So obviously, I reached out to 12 of my favourite authors, and this is what they have recommended to me.

Wrecking Ball by Lindsey Powell
Recommended by Nikki J Summers
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

All the Missing Pieces by Catherine Cowles
Recommended by Mariah Montoya
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Harbinger by Ann-Marie Davis
Recommended by Lauren Biel

The Hot Vampire Next Door by Nikki St. Crowe
Recommended by Harleigh Beck
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Unrequited by Saffron A. Kent
Recommended by Aveline Knight

Unveil by Greer Rivers
Recommended by Dakota Wilde

Collide by E. K Hunter
Recommended by Luna Peters

Blackwood Institute by J Rose
Recommended by Alina May

The Sainthood Series by Siobhan Davis
Recommended by Nova Kane

The Never List by Jade Presley
Recommended by Kinsley Kincaid
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Mr. Sin by S.J. Tilly
Recommended by C.J. Riggs
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Stalking Christmas by A.L. Maruga
Recommended by Brooklyn Cross

I’m super excited to read these. Make sure you check back, as I will update the post to add star ratings under the ones I have read.

Posted in Book Challenges

12 Months…12 Friends…12 Books

I completed this challenge last year, and so I once again asked 12 friends I met on BookTok for a book recommendation.
This is what I have been recommended this year.

Terror at the Gates by Scarlett St.Clair.

So Not Meant To Be by Meghan Quinn.

The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow.

For The Fans by Nyla K.

Graves by Katelyn Taylor.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig.
⭐️⭐️⭐️

Unhinged Cain by Brooklyn Cross.

The Violent Hours by N.A. MCD.

Bourbon & Lies by Victoria Wilder.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Streams and Schemes by Rebecca Kinkade.

Pump Two by J Cherry.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Crawl Space by JN. Bamforth
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I’m super excited to read these. Make sure you check back, as I will update the post to add star ratings under the ones I have read.

Posted in Updates

Bookish Life Updates: My 2025 Reading Journey

Let me start off by apologising for being MIA. Life became crazy when we signed for a new flat on the 12th December. I spent all of December packing, painting the new flat and dealing with chronic illness flare-ups that left me unable to do pretty much anything. Then, of course, with it being the Christmas period, it was hard work getting movers and carpet fitters. It was very stressful, and my body definitely paid a hefty price. We are in the new flat. Mostly unpacked, and are settling in nicely.

So… let’s talk books.

Continue reading “Bookish Life Updates: My 2025 Reading Journey”

Update

I am currently in the process of moving house & so I am behind with my book reviews but I will get up to date as soon as possible.
I Hope you all enjoy the holidays.
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Joyous Kwanzaa & Blessed Yule.

Posted in Book Review, Dark Romance/Erotic Horror, Lauren Biel

A Spicy Snowman Tale: My Thoughts on “Frisky the Snowman” by Lauren Biel

Frisky the Snowman by Lauren Biel

18+ Contains Adult Content

Frisky the Snowman is as weird a read as it sounds. It follows Holly, who loves the snow and builds herself a snowman she names Frisky, with whom she gets frisky. Imagine her surprise when Frisky comes to life.

Continue reading “A Spicy Snowman Tale: My Thoughts on “Frisky the Snowman” by Lauren Biel”
Posted in Book Review, Laurie Gilmore, Romance

The Gingerbread Bakery: A Sweet Small Town Romance

The Gingerbread Bakery by Laurie Gilmore

The Gingerbread Bakery is book 5 in the Dream Harbor series; however, each book can be read as a standalone. This one follows Annie, the owner of the Gingerbread Bakery, and Mac, the owner of the pub. Annie is just as sweet as the cookies she bakes. She likes everyone well, everyone except Mac. Mac wants the only thing he can’t have…Annie. There is bad blood between the two of them, and whenever they are around each other, all they do is bicker, but when two of their friends are getting married, they have to put aside the bickering and get along.

Continue reading “The Gingerbread Bakery: A Sweet Small Town Romance”
Posted in All Things Authors, Author Interviews

Explore the World of Fantasy with Mariah Montoya in this exclusive Interview

I’m not sure if you’re all aware, but this year I discovered one of my all-time favourite fantasy series, thanks to my wonderful friend Roni, who recommended it to me. This was not only a new series but a new author to me. One who has now become an auto-buy author! So I decided to pull up my big girl pants and slide my behind into her DMs to ask if she would be down for an interview. I was so nervous, but when she replied saying yes…guys, I felt so giddy!! I mean, the title has given away who it is already, but I’m so super happy to have the wonderful Mariah Montoya on my blog 🙂 By the Orchid and the Owl may be one of my all-time favourite fantasy worlds!

So let’s get to it!

Continue reading “Explore the World of Fantasy with Mariah Montoya in this exclusive Interview”
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”