Emily

What a ride y'all! I had been seeing this book everywhere and bought a copy because it had pretty sprayed edges telling myself I'd read it soon, but when I saw @styleyourshelf was also wanting to read it, a buddy read ensued! I have enjoyed past works by Danielle Jensen, so I knew the writing would be strong, but this book had it all—strong writing, strong plot, intrigue, tension—everything. A Fate Inked in Blood follows Freya, a woman in a miserable marriage who harbors a secret power bestowed on her by a god. Her circumstances change abruptly when this power is made known. The jarl she is forced to marry ensures her safety from harm by putting his son, Bjorn, in charge of looking after her. Y'all, Bjorn. Is. Everything. I really loved his character so much. He's a bit grumpy but that only makes the banter so good. Their romance is the slowest of burns, and at one point I was practically begging for a break in the tension. There's forced proximity, enemies to lovers, and amazing tension and banter. This Norse inspired story was so good, and I can't wait for book 2! A Fate Inked in Blood is an adult romantic fantasy, 18+ for sexual content

Spoiler-Free Review:

Another great book from @alexis mendard! I actually had the amazing opportunity of beta reading this book for the author a few months ago, and I immediately told her how much I loved Vali and Ailsa! This story is rich in the Norse culture and the research the author did is very evident by the language and descriptions she uses. The Last Daughter follows Ailsa, the daughter of a chieftain, who is unable to go off and fight with her clansmen due to chronic illness involving her lungs and breathing. Vali is our MMC, is on a mission to find the Tether to a great power. This is such a great enemy to lovers story, and there's a one cloak moment that is chefs kiss. Alexis added some steamy and spicy moments since I beta read, and it really adds so much to the romantic element of the story. The plot is well paced, and the ending has left me craving more! This is an Adult Fantasy, 18+ for language, sexual content, and themes.

Spoiler-Free Review:

Elsie Silver does it again! First, I would like to thank Elsie Silver for an ARC of this book. If you're a fan of the Gold Rush Ranch series, go ahead and preorder this book right now! Flawless is the first book in the author's brand new series, Chestnut Springs. The same small town romance vibes and steamy romance but in a new place and with a new cast of characters. This story follows professional bull rider, Rhett, who is kind of a loose cannon. Enter Summer, his agent's daughter, who is assigned to keep Rhett in line for the time leading up to the championship event. Elsie creates the most dreamy male main characters, and Rhett is no exception. Summer is a girl with a strong personality who absolutely can hold her own. The banter between these two is chef's kiss so damn good. There were so many times I laughed out loud at witty comments or texts that they exchanged. Summer's relationship with her father is another thing I adored about this story. They share such a special bond, and the author portrayed that perfectly. This book is a forced proximity romance with exquisite sexual tension, and the pay off is HOT. So many scenes will absolutely live rent free in my head. Do you like a one-bed moment? Because Flawless has that too! Flawless releases 6/24/2022 and preorder is available now. This is an adult romance, 18+ for language and sexual content.

This isn't my first Rebecca Ross book, and so I knew going in that the writing would be beautiful. Everything about this book was so good, and I absolutely devoured it! Her writing style is some of the most beautiful I've ever read; it breathes so much emotion into the story and the characters. Divine Rivals follows Iris and Roman, rival journalists for their town's newspaper. Iris's brother is at war, fighting for one of their gods, and Iris promised to write him letters. When her letters start to get replies, Iris is intrigued by the man responsible the words. Y'all, the letters. I loved the letters so much. So many of their words hit me in the feels so hard. Iris and Roman's romance is incredibly special, it's just so tender and sweet! The ending of this book broke me and I'm starting Ruthless Vows very soon! Divine Rivals is a young adult fantasy romance, 16+ mild sexual content very vague in description.

I don't know where to even begin. This book moved me in a way that I haven't been moved in a long time. It was truly unlike any romance I've ever read, and it doesn't fit the typical formula at all. I loved it so much, and I need everyone to read it right now so I can have people to share in these feelings with. This story follows Will, a man who is starting a new job with his bestie, Klair, at a publishing house. On his first day of work, he meets Graham swoon. The friendship between Klair and Will is the definition of found family, and they are truly friendship goals— hilarious banter included! This book is a workplace romance with exquisite tension and spice. The romance between Graham and Will is so incredibly sweet, I just love them and their love so much. Their consideration for each other's feelings is so evident in the way they speak to each other— despite their grumpy/sunshine introduction. The twist... gosh the twist I never saw coming. I haven't cried in a book in so long, but this book did me in. I was so incredibly moved by the gravity of the story. You can tell as you read that the author is deeply connected to this story and how it is told. I love being able to feel the author's connection to a story while reading it— it's just something so special. This is an adult contemporary romance, 18+ for sexual content, themes. Check the trigger warnings because there are some heavy themes. Thank you so much, Chip for sharing this story with us. I know I won't be able to stop thinking about it for a while.

First off, I would like to thank the author for an ARC of this book. Dark Night Golden Dawn is a modern fantasy book with a complex world and hierarchy of different beings. As with most first-in-the-series books for me, it was slow to start. I found some of the verbiage and writing style to be a little difficult at first, but once I was into the story I was able to look past that. This story focuses a lot on familial bonds, both blood and found family, which I appreciated. There is also a focus on forgiving past wrongdoings and not holding a grudge which I found super relevant. There is a romantic element to this book that I loved! I loved Finn and how tender he was with Harlow. He pulled her out of her comfort zone to make her see herself how he saw her. I found Harlow to be relatable in some of her insecurities related to her body.There is definitely some spice, and it was so good! This book has many tropes, but my favorite is the enemies to lovers element. There is also a fake dating element that was fun. I took off one star because I struggled a little with the writing style in the beginning and the pace. Overall, I really enjoyed the story and the characters, and I am definitely intrigued to read book two when it comes out. Dark Night Golden Dawn is an adult fantasy, 18+ for themes, and sexual content. Check trigger warnings. The author has a really nice note to the reader about triggers at the start of the book. Follow Allison Carr Waechter for more information on preorders and future works. This book comes out 4/12/2022.

Spoiler-free review:

First off, I would like to thank @authorlenahendrix for sending me an ARC of this book. The Alias and the Altar is a grumpy/sunshine/marriage of convenience romance with all of the yummy things that come with that. There is forced proximity and the sexual tension throughout between the two main characters is super present. This book follows out two main characters, Sienna and Parker, who are on the run and find themselves seeking shelter at a ranch in Montana. This ranch is sort of like witness protection, and Sienna and Parker are forced into new identities, and to protect themselves, a marriage. They share a house, start new jobs, and fall into routine in their new lives all while a romance is blooming between them. Some suspicious things start happening and their relationship is put to the test.The MMC was such a grumpy hard ass, but softened when he finally let Sienna in, and we love that. The tension between them was well-written with spicy pay-off (which we love of course). I really enjoyed this book! It was a shorter book which I didn't mind, but the characters felt a tad under developed to me. The book starts off running which was great for pacing, but I think I missed having some back story or the events leading up to that point. Overall, however, a great read. This is an adult romance, 18+ for sexual content, language, and themes.

Spoiler-Free Review:

Oh Boy! What an amazing follow up to Fair Catch! I loved this book so much! Clay Johnson is a man on a whole other level, and I was here for every bit of it! Blind Side is the second installment in the Red Zone Rivals series, and it follows Clay and Giana (both who we meet in Fair Catch). Giana is a quirky PR assistant who doesn't quite fit her family's mold, and Clay is a confident football player who is trying his best to do right by his mom and make it big in the industry. After an extremely bad break up, and a terrible interview with a reporter, Clay suggests that he and Giana pretend to date to make his ex jealous and make Giana be seen by the guy she has her eye on. This really is fake dating at its finest! The tension and development of feelings are all chef's kiss. And don't get me started on Clay's lessons... I still haven't recovered. I found this book to be a little more quick paced both in plot and in the burn than Fair Catch, although I would probably still consider it medium burn. The romance that Clay and Giana have is so hot and sweet. The way Clay brings out her confidence and makes her feel sexy is absolutely swoon worthy. This is a New Adult Romance, 18+ for sexual content

Spoiler- Free Review:

First, I'd like to thank S.C. Grayson for sending me an ARC of this book! It is always so special when authors trust you with their book babies. Spears and Shadows is an urban fantasy that follows Nora, a museum weapons specialist. After some rare weapons come into the museum's possession, strange things start happening around Nora. She meets Adam, a quirky professor and language specialist, and enlists his help translating some inscriptions on the weapons. The events that follow are full of intrigue, twists, and turns. I really appreciated, as I always do, that medical details that were in the book were factual. I also really appreciated the diversity and representation in her characters. I really enjoyed all of the side characters and what they added to the story. In my opinion this was like an adult version of Night at the Museum. It was such a fun read with a slow burn steamy romance toward the end. I took off one star simply because I felt some things could have been expanded on or explained, but that may come in future books of the series. This is an adult fantasy, 18+ for themes and sexual content. Book releases 6/16/2022 and is available for preorder now!

Spoiler-Free Review:

There's something about Elle Kennedy's books that is just so comfy and cozy. I've read the Off-Campus series and the Briar U series, and those were both excellent! This book was no exception. Making my way through Elle Kennedy backlist, I decided to pick up the Out of Uniform Series. This series has undergone some republishing recently, so some of the titles and the order is a bit different that originally published. This story follows Jen, a young woman trying to find her purpose while dealing with familial pressures, and Cash, a Navy SEAL who has a hard time talking to women and is a bit of a grump. When Jen's ex begins stalking her, her brother decides that she needs better protecting. Enter Cash! This is a forced proximity romance with amazing and funny banter and grumpy/sunshine vibes. I've read nine of Elle Kennedy's books so far, and this (in my opinion) is the spiciest. There is steam and spice throughout the book, and it ranges from fun and playful to extremely romantic. I can't wait to continue with this series and see what Seth's story has in store for us. This is an adult romance, 18+ for language, sexual content, and themes.

Jack Whitney, y'all! Jack. Freaking. Whitney! It's no secret that I am a fan of Jack's work, and this work is no exception. I was a bit nervous because dark romance isn't a genre I frequent, but I loved this so much. The dark elements were so well written, and the spicier dark bits were great as well. This book follow Sam (who I now love so much) and Ana. Ana is a mortal woman who is seeking revenge among the different kingdoms' leaders, and Sam is the leader of Shadowmyer. What begins as seduction with the intent to trap and/or kill Ana, quickly leads to more. The tension throughout this book is so good, and the pay off is even better! I would say the level of spice in this book is similar to her other works but with some darker elements/kinks. There is a found family friendship that I immediately fell in love with, and their banter was absolutely exquisite. Millie is one of my favorite side characters that Jack has written, and I think her and Lex are competing for ‘who is the most bad ass' inside of Jack's brain. This book was well paced in plot and character development. Ballad of Nightmares is an enemies to lovers adult dark romance with some fantasy elements. 18+ for sexual content, themes, language. Jack is always so good about listing her trigger warnings, so definitely check those out.

Sometimes you just need a feel good, cozy small town romance, and this book definitely delivered. So glad I finally picked this up after being raved about by my sweet friend, @rhiannonbarber
This book follows Vivian and Niko and takes place in the town of Honey Mountain. Niko and Vivian have been friends for as long as they can remember. After a bad experience with an ex boyfriend, she suggests that Niko help her out. Niko has lots of demons he has to overcome, but he is usually clammed up and takes out his frustrations at his job as a firefighter. This is a friends to lovers romance with great tension and payoff. Their romance is just so wholesome and sweet! This book is an adult romance, 18+ for sexual content and themes.

Spoiler-Free Review:

It has been months of a bit of a reading slump for me. Not reading at my usual pace and just the chaos of life— but this book has just sparked a binge that I can't wait to continue! I've been seeing Kandi Steiner around Instagram for a while now, and I'm mad at myself that it took me this long to get to this series! Fair Catch follows Riley, a female college football player, and Zeke, Riley's brother's best friend and Riley's teammate. A tragic accident when they were in high school has caused a rift between Riley and Zeke, but when the two are forced to be roommates in the athletic dorms, Riley must look beyond her bitterness toward Zeke for the good of the team. Tensions rise— like a lot— between them, and the payoff is absolutely satisfying. I would call this like a medium-burn but with lots of tension. Fair Catch is a brother's best friend, forced proximity romance with a little bit of friends with benefits vibes sprinkled in. This is a new adult romance, 18+ for sexual content.

Spoiler-Free Review:

What a fun and festive read! This is my first book I've read by Sarah Blue that wasn't an omegaverse, and it didn't disappoint! This story follows Blair, a witch who doesn't feel like she is a part of her coven, and Dax, a demon on the hunt for evil wreaking havoc on Earth. What starts out as a revenge plot, quickly turns into a spicy romance, and y'all, it is SPICY. The author has a full list of content warnings on her website, which I appreciated. Some themes, actions, etc may be triggering so check that out. Overall, my month of seasonal reads is starting out strong! If you want a spicy, witchy, ex's dad story, definitely check out Charming Your Dad! This is an adult paranormal romance, 18+ for themes and sexual content

I enjoyed this so much! This book was so funny. I found myself laughing at the dialogue and banter often. The murder mystery aspect of it definitely had me turning pages and trying to predict who committed the crime. I devoured this in one sitting because I simply couldn't stop. This story follows Taylor, a teacher on vacation, who like to play it safe (well for the most part). Things go awry when she finds a body in her vacation rental. Enter Myles, ex-detective now bounty hunter, who is a grump with a mushy center. There is a ton of sexual tension between them, which we love, and the payoff was so worth the wait!

This was just like a breath of fresh air. I loved it so much! Sometimes you wants something light, fluffy, and sweet, and this was all of those things. This book was my first Sarah Adams book, but it definitely won't be my last (I have Cheat Sheet sitting on my shelf). First, I'd like to thank Netgalley for sending me an eARC of this book. I've been sitting on it for a few months now, and I wish I'd read it sooner. Fans of clean adult romances will love this book. While that's not normally something I would pick up, I think my palate was in desperate need of cleansing, and this did the trick. This story follows Amelia and Noah. Amelia is a famous singer who runs away to a small town to decompress from celebrity life. She is also obsessed with Audrey Hepburn, and honestly, I love that because same. Noah is a grumpy small town guy who has an extreme soft spot for his family. When Amelia's car breaks down in front of Noah's house, he offers her a place to stay for the night. This leads to all the things we love— forced proximity, tension, fun banter. This book made me laugh, but also tugged hard on my heart strings. Such a fun and sweet romance. This is an adult romance, 16+ for some themes.

ARC Review
Spoiler-Free Review:


Just when I thought I couldn't love any of @Jackwhitney's characters more, she introduces us to Chloe and Gavin! They are absolutely adorable and I love the bond they form in this quick seasonal novella. Sweet Girl is a spicy Valentine's Day novella that I absolutely devoured. I love that even though this was a novella there's still some tension in the beginning that keeps you turning the pages and begging for more. I love that you get a little back story from Chloe and why she is the way she is. Even though this is a “smutty” novella, these two have the cutest romance. It's playful, it's hot, it's well-written, and I can't wait to see where Chloe and Gavin's journey takes us in the future! This novella is 18+ for sexual content and language. Check trigger warnings

Straight from my home state, Louisiana, we have a debut work from author, Alexis L Menard! First, I'd Like to thank the author for sending me this ARC for review; I really enjoyed it! This book was very entertaining and kept my attention the entire time I read. Alexis's writing style is very lyrical with good imagery and world-building sprinkled throughout the story. I never felt like there was “info-dumping” that took place. The world that she created was very unique as well as the cast of characters. The story was full of action and adventure that kept me very engaged. Y'all know I am a sucker for a white-haired male and Azriel is no exception. Arya is a strong young woman who doesn't accept no for an answer and comes to know her true strength. The banter between these two is so witty and fun. They have a semi-slow burn with pay off that I thought was tasteful and well-written. The action in the last few chapters had me on the edge of my seat. I took off one star because I felt like some things weren't as rounded out as I would've liked as far as level of detail in the world. Overall, I really enjoyed this book, and bravo to Alexis for her debut book and sharing this story with us all. This book is an adult fantasy 18+ for sexual content. This book will release on 4/20/22. Be sure to follow Alexis L Menard on Instagram for all the details on preorder and release.

This book came highly recommended, and it definitely hit all the marks for me! Consider Me is the first installment in the Playing for Keeps series and the first I've read by Becka Mack. The story follows professional hockey player, Carter, and high school teacher, Olivia. Carter has a loud personality and a cocky disposition, especially when it comes to the ladies. Olivia is best friends with one of his teammates girlfriends, and his attraction to her in immediate. Olivia isn't like other girls he's hooked up with in the past, and this makes her question whether or not Carter is serious about his intentions. Y'all, the banter between these two is so good. I found myself absolutely cackling at parts! There is a fair bit of tension, and the spicy bits were super fun. I loved how the communication between Carter and Olivia was written and how even though Carter had this huge boisterous personality, he was still super tender with Olivia. There's also some extremely special friendships in this book and I can't wait to read about those in future books as well. Consider me definitely scratched my hockey romance itch, and I can't wait to read book 2! This book is an adult sports romance, 18+ for sexual content.

This was such a cute seasonal/holiday read! It was all of the cozy, cheesy, magical, and fun things I love about Halloween. This story takes place in Grave's Glen (the same place The Ex Hex took place) and follows the story of Wells (Rhys's brother) and Gwyn (Vivienne's cousin). This is a rivals to lovers romance with thick sexual tension and fun payoff. Gwyn and Wells are both witches. After moving back to Grave's Glen for a fresh start, Wells opens up a shop near Gwyn's, and that's where the tension sparks. They work together to solve some mysterious things that are happening around town. Such a cute and fun read. Fans of The Ex Hex will like it as it had similar vibes, but it can be read as a stand-alone. This is an adult romance, 18+ for sexual content and language.

Bad Girl Reputation by Elle Kennedy
An Avalon Bay Novel

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 Stars

Swipe for Synopsis ⏩

Spoiler-Free Review:

If you've been here for a bit, or if you even scroll my feed, it's no secret that I love Elle Kennedy! This is my sixteenth book that I've read written by her, and they're all just so good. She's become one of my favorite auto-buy authors, and her books are some of my favorite comfort reads and places to revisit. With all of that being said, this book was no exception! Bad Girl Reputation follows the story of Genevieve and Evan. Evan is Cooper's twin brother (from Good Girl Complex), and Genevieve is his ex girlfriend. After having to return home for a funeral, the two reconnect and realize the sparks are still there. This book follows their journey trying to repair their bad reputations both as a couple and individually, and I absolutely ate it up! There is classic Elle Kennedy tension and spice throughout the book. I fell in love with how Evan cared for Genevieve and how he grew as a character. This is the second installment in the Avalon Bay series, and have you seen the cover for book 3, The Summer Girl because

This author loves a cliffhanger and this book was absolutely no exception— maybe the biggest one in the series so far! Forced Bonds picks up right where Blood Bonds left off thankfully because again with the cliffhangers, I couldn't deal! There are still so many unknowns for Oli and her Bonds as they navigates these troubling times for their community. They all adjust to changes within their Bond Group in terms of their relationship with each other as well as their evolving powers. I found this book to a little more action packed and the last 10% had me by the throat. Y'all the ending— THE ENDING! I so wish I could pick up the next one right now because I am absolutely feral for it. Fear not, I will definitely be getting back to it soon! Spice level is comparable to other books in the series, but I love the deeper romantic connections we are getting with Oli and the Bonds. This book and series is Adult Paranormal Romance, 18+ for sexual content, violence, and themes.

Spoiler-Free Review:

Oh my goodness... My heart, my soul, my brain, literally my entire body. Jessa Hastings has me in a choke hold with this series. It's so addictive, I literally can't stop. In this book, we get 3 POVs: Daisy, Christian (swoon), and Julian (Daisy's brother). I loved being inside their heads and the overlapping of some of the events of Magnolia Parks but from their POV. Daisy's story is so heartbreaking, but I love how she tries to rise above the deeds of her family. Julian is so damaged, and I don't know where he is heading in the next book or what we will see from him. Christian is probably my favorite of the men in this world. He (like the others) is also broken, but the way he loves is so sweet and so strong. All three of them are deliciously toxic. There is amazing banter and tension, and like in Magnolia Parks, there is a lot of sex but not explicit or on page. This is a new adult romance, 18+for sexual content, language, and themes. Thanks again, @Bookish.Teresa for peer pressuring me into reading this series... it's going to be a favorite.

Garnet Flats is the third installment in The Eden's series, and I really wanted to love it as much as the other books in the series. This story follows Talia, a doctor trying to prove herself, and Foster, an MMA fighter with some secrets. Their story is a second-chance romance which I loved, and I loved that there was no third act break up. Foster and Talia had amazing tension and that first break in tension

I would like to first thanks NS Perkins for sending me an ARC of this book. This book was everything I wanted it to be and more! Last summer I read The Summer I Turned Pretty series and absolutely fell in love with it. This book is all of those vibes but on an adult level, which I absolutely loved. This book is about Violet and Will who are both on a journey to find peace and resolve from past trauma that effected them both. They have the most tender romance, and my heart is so full after finishing their story. I love Will so much, and I loved all of the character growth that Violet achieves. By the end of the book, she has grown so much and acknowledges that she has more growing to do, which I appreciated. I am now convinced that I need a beach house so I can go on summer-long vacations and take time to recenter myself. I loved the flashbacks and thought they were well-written and very easy to follow. This book definitely put me in my feels right from the beginning- the dedication. I loved everything about this story and Violet's journey. There were many parts of her that I could resonate with, and I always love when the characters are relatable. Will and Violet's story is a second-chance, forced proximity romance with some spicy bits that I thought fit the story and character perfectly. This book is an adult romance, 18+ for sexual content, language, and themes.