Blood So Deadly Divine by. J.M. Grosvalet | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️

Title: Blood So Deadly Divine (The Deadly Divine, #1)

Author: J.M. Grosvalet

Pages: 596

Format: ebook (kindle unlimited)

Publication Date: 11/18/24

Categories: High Fantasy, Romance, Series


A Hallowed…

Born with a soul that unites realms, Elara, the Hallowed, has lived a life that has never been her own. Trapped within a web of divine rituals and spiritual duties, she’s more a vessel than a person. With a power that has the dual edge to purify or defile, the weight of the realm’s hopes rests on her shoulders. But when her sheltered existence among the Druid sect is shattered by a friend’s brutal murder, she’s compelled to peel back the layers of deceit that have long ensnared her.

A Hunter…

Ivan Dantan, known in hushed tones as “The Hunter”, is the cold embodiment of lethal precision and power. With a mask that strikes terror and a legacy stained in blood, he is duty-bound to the High Council. But when Elara, a beacon of light and defiance, enters his life, the lines between duty and desire blur. He challenges her, stirs her spirit, and draws her to the precipice of the forbidden.

A Realm…

Latheria, poised on the knife’s edge of dark power and ancient pacts, stands threatened by forces that wish to shatter its delicate balance. As the shadows of treachery loom large, the distinctions between ally and enemy, right and forbidden, begin to fade. Elara and Ivan find themselves at the heart of a realm teetering on the edge of upheaval, where the ties that bind them could be the very threads that unravel the fabric of their world.

Content Warning: violence, death, blood sacrifice

+ I’ve had this one in my KU library for awhile now and I’ve been meaning to get to it and finally did. Ellara is Hallowed, supposedly chosen by divine to give up her blood periodically for the kingdom to thrive. She is a prison to this life of Druids and sacrifice and she is tired of it but don’t know a way out until she learns the truth about the Fae that are being hunted and taken, and how it ties to her.

+~ Everything revolves around Ellara and her blood. There are secrets, so many betrayals and political intrigue in this one which I enjoyed a lot. I’d say it’s more fantasy than romance. It has dense world building so the story moves slow in the first half. There is even Faerie language (there are footnotes with translation in the glossary). We learn about the Druids, some things about the Fae and also the space between realms called the Void. A lot of the information later on in the book about the Void gets very dense though and kind of went over my head. But I stuck with it and enjoy the action moments especially in the end.

+ Ellara’s character was obedient in the beginning but it was clear she was tired of being a pawn for everyone, especially Osin, who has her trapped as the blood sacrifice. Because she was sheltered by the Druids, there was a lot of growth in her but I do hope to see more. She was naive about a lot of things which was to be expected, but once her eyes are open to Osin’s crimes and know that not everyone can be trusted she grows much more.

+ There is barely a romance in this one, it’s a very slow burn with not really any spice, just some steam and a lot of the times there was not one guy who I thought Ellara was fully connected to, but you have to read to the end to see it play out. I don’t know how I feel about the Hunter, the man Ellara spent most of her time with. He is an enemy but she has missing memories about her past so when some things are revealed, it opened my eyes about him but I was still wary. There are other men that come into her life though that will probably be featured more in book two – it will be interesting to see how the romance plays out.

Final Thoughts:

Despite the heavy world building and slow first half I was hooked on Ellara and her journey as a naive, sheltered, blood sacrifice and her regaining memories and getting stronger. She’s a very resilient character and I loved seeing her grow. The political intrigue kept me invested in the story. There is more fantasy than romance but I still enjoyed and downloaded book two right away! Can’t wait to see what happens next!

Read if you like:

  • high fantasy/low romance
  • enemies to lovers
  • found family

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Spotlight | Love Me Like a Rock Song by. Shelly Jay Shore

Book Details:

Title: Love Me Like A Rock Song
Author: Shelly Jay Shore
Genre: Romance, Jewish, Queer
Pages: 368
Published: 8/25/26
Buy the Book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Book Links: Goodreads


Book Blurb:

Delilah is a lyricist looking for a muse. Emmett is a golem ready to be unmade.

From the bestselling author of Rules for Ghosting comes a soul-stirring, romantic novel about a jilted singer-songwriter, her unexpected hitchhiker, and the road trip of a lifetime.

When Delilah Cohen’s much more famous fiancée leaves her at the altar right before Delilah is supposed to start recording her first solo album, she finds herself with a notebook full of love songs that no longer make sense. Picking up a hitchhiker two hours into the road trip that was supposed to be her honeymoon seems as good a way as any to get her groove back. The last thing she expects is to start falling for her mysterious new passenger, but what’s more inspiring than a rebound with a built-in expiration date?

But there’s more to Emmett than meets the eye. Emmett is a golem, a human-ish being of Jewish mythology who was created from clay to serve a now-deceased master. No longer needed, their final task is to make their way back to the California cave where they were made in order to undo the magic that brought them to life in the first place. But the longer Emmett spends with Delilah—who has plenty of secrets and insecurities of her own—as they cross the country to visit historical queer locales from Brooklyn to Los Angeles, the more their ending feels like something to fight, rather than something set in stone.

As the California coast brings Delilah’s writing deadline—and Emmett’s fate—closer with every passing mile, Delilah has to decide just what song it is she wants to write…and whether writing the album of a lifetime is worth losing a love she never expected to find.

Part road trip romcom, part epistolary exploration of America’s vibrant queer culture, and all a love letter to the phrase “it’s about the journey, not the destination,” Love Me Like a Rock Song is a glorious love story about discovering who we are and what we want, and what it means to be human.

The Queen’s Bodyguard by. Lauren Blackwood | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️.5

Title: The Queen’s Bodyguard

Author: Lauren Blackwood

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 320

Publication Date: 8/18/26

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Categories: Fantasy, Romance

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to Delacorte Press for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!


In a matriarchal society with nature-based powers, Queen Theora Umbra is the new, unexpected ruler of the thriving Aranean colony. Her predecessor was assassinated by a rival queen, igniting a year-long war. To finally bring peace, Theora must now grudgingly engage in diplomacy with an unscrupulous enemy.  

But peace talks mean no armor or weapons, and Theora has no intention of following her predecessor to the grave. To protect herself, she needs a weapon of a different sort—a bodyguard. But the only way to bring one along without suspicion is to marry one. She quickly selects Argos, a prickly and formidable Warrior with a fearsome reputation, to be her new husband. Once peace is secured, she can easily annul the marriage, and they can go their separate ways.

But like all Warriors, Argos’s ruthless tendencies can only be tempered by dominant will and powerful magic . . . magic that Theora lacks. With the help of a trusted advisor who knows her secret, Theora might just be able to assert her command over Argos and get through peace negotiations alive. But she doesn’t expect to feel so affected by Argos’s protective personality. Pretending to be married and in love is not nearly as difficult as pretending she doesn’t desperately want him—all of him.

The Queen’s Bodyguard unleashes a torrent of blazing romance, set against a vibrant fantasy world with webs of corruption and sexy scheming.

Content Warning: power dynamics, violence

+ I thought this was a unique story. Queen Theora needs protection for peace talks that would last 2 weeks and she decides the best way to get that is to marry a Warrior. Warriors are genetically more aggressive that Dociles and even have magic but there is a way to deal with Warriors – through commands which makes for very interesting dynamics between her and her chosen Warrior, Argos.

+~ This is a quick read with light world building so though I got through it quick, I can’t say I connected much to any of the characters. Also because there isn’t much world building I didn’t feel like I got a good grasp of the magic system. I just needed more. It’s an easy read though.

+~ The romance is basically a two week relationship so it is insta-lust and insta-love. Theora is Queen and Argos is a proud Warrior. The power dynamics show Theora in control but there are clearly times, especially when Argos takes control, that makes her feel a type of way, so that was very interesting. There is a hint of maybe a love triangle in the mix with Theora’s best friend Apollo but it’s not anything that becomes a huge conflict between them.

Final Thoughts:

I think the most interesting thing about this book was the power dynamics between Theora and Argos. I would have loved more world-building and even more depth to the characters so I could connect to them. I did like the political intrigue and it’s a quick read.

Read if you like:

  • fantasy
  • insta-romance
  • power dynamics

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

The Dangerous Ones by. Lauren Blackwood | ARC Review – 3 stars

Wildblood by. Lauren Blackwood | ARC Review – 3 stars

Within These Wicked Walls by. Lauren Blackwood | ARC Review – 4 stars

TBR List for the Rest of 2026

We only have a few months left in 2026 and I just want to say I have been being FED with so many good books this year. I am so grateful for being an arc reader and gifted books from publishers and NetGalley. Thank you so much!

Even though we have almost only 4 months left in 2026, there are so many more books I want to read this year and some are about to be released soon – YAY! So let’s take a look at all the books so far on my list.

Release Date: 9/1/26

  • The Knave and the Moon by. Rachel Gillig
  • Stalkers Anonymous by. Dana Leeann
  • An Immaculate Deception by. Isabela Livino
  • Cursebreaker by. R.M. Gray
  • The Heart Trials by. J. Elle
  • Hawk & Sparrow by. Ayana Gray
  • White Raven by. Stacey Marie Brown
  • Storm Caller by. Nisha J. Tuli
  • The Wolf Queen’s Curse by. Kaylee Archer
  • Our Strange Duet by. Erin A. Craig
  • Us Defiant Few by. Alexis Patton
  • The Cannibal by. I.V. Ophelia

  • The Tempest by. Victoria Aveyard – 9/8/26
  • Sorrow & Stragners by. Jeanette Rose & Alexis Rune – 9/8/26
  • Wicked Endeavors by. Kamilah Cole – 9/8/26
  • A Snake Among Swans by. Hannah Kaner – 9/8/26
  • Love Felt Like This by. Julie Olivia – 9/8/26
  • Heart of Thieves by. Jessica S. Olson – 9/15/26
  • A Crown of Blood and Magic by. Amy De La Force – 9/15/26
  • Wretched Divine by. Adalyn Grace – 9/22/26
  • The Sweetest Fiend by. Raven Kennedy – 9/22/26
  • Empire by. Sabaa Tahir – 9/22/26
  • Six Bullets and a Crown by. Alexis Calder – 9/22/26
  • Harbinger by. Genenva Lee – 9/22/26

  • Escape Me by. Tahereh Mafi – 9/29/26
  • Tallow and Bone by. Rhiannon Hargadon – 10/2/26
  • Hallowed Bones by. Lucy Smoke – 10/6/26
  • The Stolen Crown by. L.J. Andrews – 10/6/26
  • Reap & Sow by. Charlotte B. Plumb – 10/6/26
  • The Shattered Tempest by. Thea Guanzon – 10/6/26
  • Bloodbound by. J.A. Good -10/6/26
  • Devoured by. Jordan Stephanie Gray – 10/6/26
  • The Divines by. Rachel Greenlaw – 10/6/26
  • The Sixth Faction by. Veronica Roth – 10/6/26
  • A Vow of Malice and Blood by. Charlene Antrobus – 10/9/26
  • Cursed City by. Kate Golden – 10/13/26

  • White Mountain by. Ruby Jean Cottle – 10/13/26
  • The Tarot Trials by. Katee Robert – 10/20/26
  • Our Dark Incantations by. Wanda Hellmund – 10/20/26
  • A Court of Splintered Harmony by. Sarah J. Maas – 10/27/26
  • Daughter of the Tempest by. Braidee Otto – 10/27/26
  • Mortal Things by. Marie Lu – 10/27/26
  • Sharpest Court by. Keira Azar Barnes – 11/3/26
  • Defy the Dusk by. Danielle L. Jensen – 11/3/26
  • Captive Traitor King by. Brigid Kemmerer – 11/3/26
  • The Secrets of Clarence Manor by. Devney Perry – 11/3/26
  • Dreams of Ruin by. Emma Noyes – 11/17/26
  • An Edge So Sharp by. Jesse Q. Sutanto – 11/17/26
  • Deadlock by. Chloe Gong – 11/17/26
  • Revived by. Bree L. Mina – 11/24/26
  • The Dragon and the Dove by. Catherine Doyle – 11/24/26
  • Vice & Virtues by. Alexis L. Menard – 11/24/26
  • Wicked Spirit by. Debbie Cassidy – 12/1/26
  • All Nighter: The Undergrads by. Julie Murphy – 12/1/26
  • When Shadows Burn by. Vanessa Le – 12/1/26
  • The Soul Mate by. Lana Ferguson – 12/1/26
  • Vine of Hearts by. Julie Soto – 12/1/26
  • Starlight and Storms by. Arcadia Rayne – 12/8/26
  • Chosen Son by. Adrienne Young – 12/15/26

Are any of these books on your TBR list also? I doubt I can fit all of these in 4 months but we’ll see how far I get!

The House That Eats the Dead by. Max Doty | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: The House That Eats the Dead

Author: Max Doty

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 336

Publication Date: 8/18/26

Publisher: Bantam

Categories: Horror, Suspense, Haunted House

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to Bantam for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!


A family moves into their dream home—only to discover that it hides an insatiable hunger—in this dread-laced and darkly outrageous domestic horror novel.

The new house is a fresh start for Claire and her family. It’s a move away from the cityscape of a declining San Francisco and towards the quiet suburban life she has craved since her turbulent childhood; a step up the corporate ladder for her husband, Tom; and a safe haven for their two children.

Yet as they unpack their boxes, she senses something is wrong. Fresh flowers dry up, store-bought eggs are inexplicably hollow, and her daughter’s favorite toy disappears. Claire soon confronts a series of impossible The house is hungry. It’s devouring anything that was once alive. And only Claire and Tom, the owners of the house, will remember that this “food” ever existed.

When Claire exploits the house’s power in a moment of weakness, she and the house forge a fragile bond. But as its hunger intensifies and Claire loses control, she fears who else might be drawn to her home—and what sinister appetites they’ll bring.

Content Warning: violence, death, gore

+ Claire and her husband Tom, with their two kids move into a new house. But this house eats things so naturally Claire wants to move because what if the house wants to eat them? But Tom feels like this house could be a tool for them. So they stay until things get really crazy.

+ This story has it’s creepy and gory moments, but it wasn’t too scary that it freaked me out. Actually I was surprised that the more I read about this house eating things, I was like Claire and thought of the house like a house pet! This story was actually fun to read. The house had different tastes but it sure did love a dead body. Yikes! But it’s not only a house that ate things, when the house ate a person, even the memory of said person is erased from everyone not tied to the house. I thought that was really interesting and made me question a lot of decisions that Claire and Tom made. I also questioned was it the house making them more bloodthirsty or was it just them?

+ This is a horror story but I love how spot on this author captured Claire who went from being an artistic young woman, to now a wife and mother. It felt so relatable, down to the issues she had being married to Tom but never voiced out loud. I thought the ending was very interesting!

+~ I think I went into this one thinking I wouldn’t be able to read it at night, so I was surprised that it wasn’t that kind of horror. So halfway into the book I was expecting more horror and thrills and it wasn’t living up to my expectations in that sense, but it’s not a bad thing because I actually had fun reading this book.

Final Thoughts:

This one has its creepy and gory moments but it’s also kind of funny. How did I end up being scared of a house and then in the end kind of sympathize and care about it? That’s what happened while I read this very interesting and usual horror story. I actually want to read more of this type of horror, so I look forward to see what this author writes next.

Read if you like:

  • haunted house
  • horror

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Full Throttle by. J.K. MacLaren | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: Full Throttle (Love in the Fast Lane, #1)

Author: J.K. Maclaren

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 416

Publication Date: 8/18/26

Publisher: Dell

Categories: Romance, Contemporary, Sports Romance, Racing Romance, Second Chance Romance

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to Dell for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!


She’s the first-ever female driver. He’s her biggest competition. They broke each other’s hearts. Can they survive a cutthroat Formula 1 season . . . as teammates?

When Juliette Marchmont becomes the first female driver in F1, she knows it’s her one shot to prove she has what it takes to win. She has sceptical managers, rivals, and fans to prove wrong, all while driving the worst car on the grid…and her teammate is the man who broke her heart.

Dominic Hastings is the Prince of F1, but all his composure and accolades couldn’t stop his own father from firing him after a disastrous performance last season. He’s desperate to show his distant, secretive father and the rest of the racing world that he’s far from finished…but can he survive working with the woman who destroyed his life?

Forced to train in close quarters, Dominic and Juliette butt heads on and off the racetrack. As the competition grows ever more heated, and their connection undeniable, they start to wonder if the bruised love between them might be repaired after all…but they can’t afford distractions. Teammates or no, only one driver can emerge as world champion, and each is willing to do whatever it takes to cross the finish line first.

Content Warning: complicated parental relationship, harassment, misogyny

+ This second chance sports romance is filled with tension, complicated relationships, some spice and of course racing. All of it made a good combination and an entertaining read.

+~ The story is told with a dual timeline, the present and the past, it goes back and forth to show us how Juliette and Dominic met and why they are where they at in the present. I don’t usually like flashbacks but I actually liked how this dual timeline played out. I loved the peek into the racing world and I thought the racing scenes were fun and dramatic enough. The rivalry between racers added to the tension and high stakes of the racing world. The secondary characters were great also, but I do think Juliette’s twin brother could’ve had her back a bit more.

+ Juliette is a rising star in the racing world but she’s female so that means things are harder for her. If she wins they say she slept her way to the top, if she loses it’s because she’s female and not good enough. All she wants is to prove to everyone she has what it takes and I was cheering her on. Dominic is the Prince of Racing, he comes from a family of racing and winning but he hasn’t won a championship yet – but he’s come close. He feels that isn’t enough to please his father. So with Juliette back in his life and hating his guts, he has to make a choice eventually…racing or Juliette. I think Dominic’s story had more depth because of his relationship with racing and his dad but I totally sympathized to Juliette’s challenges being a woman in a male dominated field also.

+~ I think the second chance romance was well done. Juliette and Dominic are on bad terms but get thrown together as teammates. In the past timeline we see how Juliette is a student and Dominic is her instructor, so there is that trope. We do have to wait a little to figure out what went wrong between the two of them, and there is a little miscommunication but they eventually sort things out. I do wish we saw more of their past relationship and how in love they were before things went wrong. But I did enjoy their second chance among the drama of the racing world.

Final Thoughts:

This has romance, family drama, racing rivalries and even exciting races. It explores the women in sports theme and I enjoyed seeing Juliette prove them all wrong. Definitely check this one out if you like car racing romances!

Read if you like:

  • racing – sports romance
  • second chance romance

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

WWW Wednesday | 8/19/26

WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Sam over on Taking on a World of Words.

The idea is pretty simple, every week you dedicate a post to the three W’s:

What are you currently reading?

What have you just finished reading?

What are you going to read next?


We had a hurricane pass under our island over the weekend and it caused flash flooding, heavy rain, high winds – so glad that though our power did go out here and there, it came back on quick. So kids got the day off on Monday because there was a lot of clean up needed around the island I think – lots of huge trees down, etc…

I did get lots of reading done though!

What are you currently reading?

Because I Killed Him by. Erin Birde – 5% – no progress

In the Veins of the Drowning by. Kalie Cassidy – 15%

Every Spiral of Fate by. Tahereh Mafi – 5% – no progress

The Calamities by. Chuck Wendig – arc – 10%

The Wolf Queen’s Curse by. Kaylee Archer – arc/alc – 13%

Storm Caller by. Nisha J. Tuli – arc – 35%

A Forsaken Prophecy by. Stacey McEwan – 2%

A Blood So Deadly Divine (The Deadly Divine, #1) by. J.M. Grosvalet – 8%


What have you just finished reading?

The Best I Never Had by. Amy Buchanan – arc – 3.5 stars/2 🌶️

When the Universe Sings by. Gillian Eliza West – 4 stars/3 🌶️

The House That Eats the Dead by. Max Dody – arc – 4 stars

Daughter of the Tempest by. Braidee Otto – arc – 4.5 stars/1.5 🌶️

This Wretched Alchemy by. Tina Mars – alc – 3 stars/1.5 🌶️

The Queen’s Bodyguard by. Lauren Blackwood – 3 stars/1.5 🌶️

**Daybreak by. Autumn Woods – audiobook – 5 stars/2 🌶️ (I’ve read this already but had to try the audiobook since it was available on Libby – the narrator who does Alex’s voice is so good!)**


What are you going to read next?

Hawk & Sparrow by. Ayana Gray

Our Strange Duet by. Erin A. Craig

The Age of Blood and Magic by. Hannah Mathewson

What are YOU reading right now?

When the Universe Sings by. Gillian Eliza West | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Title: When the Universe Sings

Author: Gillian Eliza West

Pages: 318

Format: ebook (kindle unlimited)

Publication Date: 8/6/26

Categories: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Romance, LGBT+


There is only one rule in the trust no one.

Juniper knows it all too well. After her home planet was destroyed and eleven years on Ebyd III, a Galactic Federation mechanical prison, the only thing she might fear now is death. Taking a chance at freedom, she climbs into the ventilation shaft of a docked pleasure barge only to be discovered by the mistress of the ship. Given the choice between certain death on Ebyd III and the unknown, she joins as their new silks dancer.

When Captain Asher Ruciyah seeks someone to complete his crew for a mysterious mission, Juniper is hired as their climber to round out their numbers. As part of this new crew intent on stealing one of the universe’s most powerful weapons, Juniper discovers she wants something more than revenge on the man who took everything from her.

But nothing and no one is as it seems, especially in a galaxy filled with lies, deceit, and false identities. Juniper will learn that revenge isn’t as simple as she thought it would be and sometimes it’s not one person, but an entire universe against you.

Content Warning: violence, death, grief, attemped sexual assault

+ Whatever this is, I want more of it! This space, sci-fi romance genre is so refreshing for someone like me who reads so much romantasy. The story is told with 2 POVs, Juniper and Asher. I loved the world building, and the different species of people from various planets in the galaxy. I especially love Asher’s crew who is planning to do a heist or two to find a special stone, the found family element was great.

+~ Juniper is a young woman with lots of trauma and she doesn’t talk much and honestly, I didn’t blame her. She has had to endure a lot. I love her character but there were some moments where her fears didn’t make her think rationally or trust people she should trust. Again, it’s from her trauma, but things could been really messed up because of her distrust. I love how things end for her though! Asher is a Captain, and he’s also from Juniper’s traumatic past. But wow did I love the way he loves her! Some things could have been fixed with a little communication but it was hard to get past Juniper’s wall of trauma.

+ I love the romance. It is enemies to lovers, and fated mates but I like how it is done. Because Juniper has a wall Asher can’t get past it takes awhile before Juniper acknowledges how much she desires him. And the spice? Beautifully done, especially that mating bond scene at the end – that’s how to do a mating ritual! 🔥 It was hot but beautiful and meaningful too. I loved how Asher yearns for Juniper and eventually she lets him in.

~ This is a standalone and it’s a quick read at barely over 300 pages. I wanted more because I love this world and the romance! I wish this was a series. I love Asher and Juniper so much that I wish there was more time to see them getting to know one another. I want even more of the crew, and Crux/Kal, I want him to have a happy ending because he’s such a good friend! There is another book in this world coming but will these characters make a cameo? I hope so.


Quotes From the Book:

“In a thousand lifetimes, June, I would choose you. With or without this bond.” – When the Universe Sings by. Gillian Eliza West

Final Thoughts:

I wasn’t planning on reading this but for some reason I needed something different from the typical romantasy and took a chance on this one and I’m so glad I did. I loved it and I just we had more books about these characters! I enjoyed the found family, the characters, the story and the world-building. The romance is so good and the spice was spicing, I love Asher and Juniper. I hope we get more books in this world and these characters come back for a cameo.

Read if you like:

  • sci-fi/fantasy romance
  • enemies to lovers
  • fated mates
  • found family
  • standalone

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble


Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

The Fallen & the Kiss of Dusk by. Carissa Broadbent | Book Review– 4.5 stars/2 🌶️

The Songbird & the Heart of Stone by. Carissa Broadbent| ARC Review – 4.5 stars

Six Scorched Roses by. Carissa Broadbent | Book Review – 4.5 stars

The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King by. Carissa Broadbent | Book Review – 4.5 stars

The Serpent and the Wings of Night by. Carissa Broadbent | Book Review – 5 stars

**I’m pretty sure I read Slaying the Vampire Conqueror but never wrote a review so I will be re-reading and doing a review soon**

**I also read Daughter of No Worlds, up to book 2 but never wrote reviews because I just started my blog I believe so I will be doing a re-read of those and reviewing them also!**

New Book Releases This Week | 8/18/26

Happy book birthday to these new releases this week!

Five Broken Blades by. Mai Corland (paperback release)

It’s the season
for treason…

The king of Yusan must die.

The five most dangerous liars in the land have been mysteriously summoned to work together for a single objective: to kill the God King Joon.

He has it coming. Under his merciless immortal hand, the nobles flourish, while the poor and innocent are imprisoned, ruined…or sold.

And now each of the five blades will come for him. Each has tasted bitterness―from the hired hitman seeking atonement, a lovely assassin who seeks freedom, or even the prince banished for his cruel crimes. None can resist the sweet, icy lure of vengeance.

They can agree on murder.

They can agree on treachery.

But for these five killers―each versed in deception, lies, and betrayal―it’s not enough to forge an alliance. To survive, they’ll have to find a way to trust each other…but only one can take the crown.

Let the best liar win.


Immortal Rose by. Alexandra Bracken

Members of the ancient House Rosebourne have a strange gift born of a fairy ancestor: the ability to infuse fragrance with magic capable of manipulating mind, body, and emotion.

When a shocking murder leaves the kingdom of Albion vulnerable to a coup, royal spymaster Hugh Thornton seeks the one person who can help: Viola Lockwood, the last living Rosebourne and secret heir to a fraught legacy.

Livid at the silver-eyed aristocrat who had her thrown in jail to force her compliance, Viola nevertheless comes to an agreement with him. In exchange for crafting Immortal Rose, the singular perfume capable of saving Albion, illegitimate Viola can seize the life—and fortune—that should have been hers.

As Hugh and Viola race to find the perfume’s lost fairy ingredient, hidden deep in Albion’s dark underbelly, neither can deny the scorching attraction building between them—especially as the attempts on Viola’s life grow increasingly brazen.

But a terrible truth lurks in the heart notes of their kingdom—and while every bargain has a cost, Immortal Rose may demand more than Hugh and Viola can ever pay.


Full Throttle by. J.K. Maclaren

When Juliette Marchmont becomes the first female driver in F1, she knows it’s her one shot to prove she has what it takes to win. She has sceptical managers, rivals, and fans to prove wrong, all while driving the worst car on the grid…and her teammate is the man who broke her heart.

Dominic Hastings is the Prince of F1, but all his composure and accolades couldn’t stop his own father from firing him after a disastrous performance last season. He’s desperate to show his distant, secretive father and the rest of the racing world that he’s far from finished…but can he survive working with the woman who destroyed his life?

Forced to train in close quarters, Dominic and Juliette butt heads on and off the racetrack. As the competition grows ever more heated, and their connection undeniable, they start to wonder if the bruised love between them might be repaired after all…but they can’t afford distractions. Teammates or no, only one driver can emerge as world champion, and each is willing to do whatever it takes to cross the finish line first.


The Calamities by. Chuck Wendig

The heir to one of the world’s most influential families reckons with the demonic secret to their power, in this contemporary dark fantasy that melds occult magic with shocking family drama from the New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Accidents.

Mourning Mayne knows he’ll one day bear the duty of managing his family’s vast empire of wealth and power. But the feckless Mourning has always struggled to accept this legacy, which is one of cruelty, domination, and exploitation… and something even darker.

Because the Maynes are no ordinary family: Hidden in our world are the fiends—half-human, half-demon, and possessed of dark magic born from buying human souls—and the Maynes are one of the oldest and most influential fiendish families.

But when Mourning’s estranged father, the formidable and terrifying Hadrian Mayne, demands that he return to the fold, Mourning has to make a decision whether to accept his legacy and embrace his role in the family, or to forge his own destiny, and with it, change the course of the world.

Because along the way home, he will meet Key, a black-market seller of human souls, and Quinn, an artist who may hold the dark truth behind the fate of the fiends. Alone, they have all struggled with the darkness of their fiendish nature… but together, they might find a path out of the shadows.


The Best I Never Had by. Amy Buchanan

They staged a romance, faked a breakup, and this time around, anything can happen—even something real.

Thea Pappas has always been the storm in her own life—fiery and unpredictable—traits that led her and her younger sister, Addy, through a series of foster homes. But with Addy’s whirlwind engagement, Thea is determined to be the perfect maid of honor, even if she finds it odd that she hadn’t heard of the fiancé until the ring was on Addy’s finger. She believes she can survive a week in the Blue Ridge Mountains with a group of strangers without causing any trouble.

But upon arrival, Thea realizes these aren’t strangers. Among the familiar faces is Owen Hayes—the man who, three years ago, paid her to pretend to be his girlfriend at a family wedding. Now, he’s looking at her with the same panicked expression.

Owen’s life has always been about control—managing his mother’s matchmaking schemes, his family’s expectations, and the career path he never truly chose. Thea was his one rebellion, a beautiful lie that ended with a “heart-destroying” fake breakup. Now, with his younger brother’s wedding underway and his mother on the prowl, Owen begs Thea to reprise their roles. One week. Same fake breakup. No feelings.

But as old sparks reignite and the lines between pretense and reality blur, Thea and Owen will have to choose: carry on their greatest performance yet or admit the truth—that it was never fake at all.


The House That Eats the Dead by. Max Doty

A family moves into their dream home—only to discover that it hides an insatiable hunger—in this dread-laced and darkly outrageous domestic horror novel.

The new house is a fresh start for Claire and her family. It’s a move away from the cityscape of a declining San Francisco and towards the quiet suburban life she has craved since her turbulent childhood; a step up the corporate ladder for her husband, Tom; and a safe haven for their two children.

Yet as they unpack their boxes, she senses something is wrong. Fresh flowers dry up, store-bought eggs are inexplicably hollow, and her daughter’s favorite toy disappears. Claire soon confronts a series of impossible The house is hungry. It’s devouring anything that was once alive. And only Claire and Tom, the owners of the house, will remember that this “food” ever existed.

When Claire exploits the house’s power in a moment of weakness, she and the house forge a fragile bond. But as its hunger intensifies and Claire loses control, she fears who else might be drawn to her home—and what sinister appetites they’ll bring.


Dreamland by. Olivie Blake

The headlines are calling it the “summer of exsanguination” in LA—girls are being murdered, the Santa Ana winds are blowing a strange energy into the city, and all signs point to fire season.

More pressing for Anya Morris, though, is the drudgery of living at home, working part time at the family store, and contending with her mother’s disdain for the acting career Anya knows she’s destined for but that feels more impossible by the day.

It’s in this suffocating late summer heat that Anya receives a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, an invitation to work for the de Witt family, one of LA’s most influential film dynasties. Soon, she’s spending her days and nights at their strange villa high in the Hollywood hills, where she meets Jude, a recluse who is both the family’s heir apparent and its most closely guarded secret.

There’s a magnetism to Jude that Anya cannot resist, despite warning signs that scream like sirens in the night. Because the villa holds generations of bloodstained history, and an occult family curse may even live within its walls—or within Jude himself.

In this city, everyone cuts a deal with the devil. When Anya comes face to face with a devil of her own, she’ll learn just how far she’s willing to go to get everything she’s ever wanted.


The Queen’s Bodyguard by. Lauren Blackwood

In this sizzling romantic fantasy, a magicless queen intertwines her fate with a fierce warrior to ensure her safety during high-stakes peace negotiations—until their electrifying chemistry ignites an unexpected and perilous new alliance—from New York Times bestselling author Lauren Blackwood.

In a matriarchal society with nature-based powers, Queen Theora Umbra is the new, unexpected ruler of the thriving Aranean colony. Her predecessor was assassinated by a rival queen, igniting a year-long war. To finally bring peace, Theora must now grudgingly engage in diplomacy with an unscrupulous enemy.  

But peace talks mean no armor or weapons, and Theora has no intention of following her predecessor to the grave. To protect herself, she needs a weapon of a different sort—a bodyguard. But the only way to bring one along without suspicion is to marry one. She quickly selects Argos, a prickly and formidable Warrior with a fearsome reputation, to be her new husband. Once peace is secured, she can easily annul the marriage, and they can go their separate ways.

But like all Warriors, Argos’s ruthless tendencies can only be tempered by dominant will and powerful magic . . . magic that Theora lacks. With the help of a trusted advisor who knows her secret, Theora might just be able to assert her command over Argos and get through peace negotiations alive. But she doesn’t expect to feel so affected by Argos’s protective personality. Pretending to be married and in love is not nearly as difficult as pretending she doesn’t desperately want him—all of him.

The Queen’s Bodyguard unleashes a torrent of blazing romance, set against a vibrant fantasy world with webs of corruption and sexy scheming.


The Shadows That Listen by. Louisa Carmody (paperback release)

In this sizzling romantic fantasy, a magicless queen intertwines her fate with a fierce warrior to ensure her safety during high-stakes peace negotiations—until their electrifying chemistry ignites an unexpected and perilous new alliance—from New York Times bestselling author Lauren Blackwood.

In a matriarchal society with nature-based powers, Queen Theora Umbra is the new, unexpected ruler of the thriving Aranean colony. Her predecessor was assassinated by a rival queen, igniting a year-long war. To finally bring peace, Theora must now grudgingly engage in diplomacy with an unscrupulous enemy.  

But peace talks mean no armor or weapons, and Theora has no intention of following her predecessor to the grave. To protect herself, she needs a weapon of a different sort—a bodyguard. But the only way to bring one along without suspicion is to marry one. She quickly selects Argos, a prickly and formidable Warrior with a fearsome reputation, to be her new husband. Once peace is secured, she can easily annul the marriage, and they can go their separate ways.

But like all Warriors, Argos’s ruthless tendencies can only be tempered by dominant will and powerful magic . . . magic that Theora lacks. With the help of a trusted advisor who knows her secret, Theora might just be able to assert her command over Argos and get through peace negotiations alive. But she doesn’t expect to feel so affected by Argos’s protective personality. Pretending to be married and in love is not nearly as difficult as pretending she doesn’t desperately want him—all of him.

The Queen’s Bodyguard unleashes a torrent of blazing romance, set against a vibrant fantasy world with webs of corruption and sexy scheming.


Wrecked by. Bree L. Mina (paperback release)

Fate is a fickle thing.

It can lead you down a path of pain, or it can take you on a journey toward happiness.

There is no equity in the unpredictable.

Fate is inevitable.
Not everyone is destined for a happy ending.
Not every story will work out in the end.
Not every love is meant to survive.

Some believe we are in control of our destiny. That we determine the outcome of our lives, the people we love, and the path we walk.

But I didn’t choose to survive a plane crash.
I didn’t choose to be trapped on an island with the man who once crushed my soul.
I didn’t choose to reopen my heart to a love so powerful that the end of it would be unsurvivable.

I didn’t want to fall in love with my sister’s fiancé. To feel the insurmountable pain that followed my rescue. Or let go of a man that would own my heart until the day I die.

But I am no longer allowing fate to decide my future.

This next path is mine.

*Please note this book is a romantic tragedy. The conclusion of this book is the conclusion of this story. There will not be a cliffhanger. This book does not end with an HEA; however, the events of this book inspire the story in book two. Book two will have an HEA*


The Poison Daughter by. Sheila Masterson (hardcover release)

To err is human. To avenge is Divine.
Every person Harlow Carrenwell kisses dies immediately, and that’s the way she likes it. The poison-lipped youngest daughter of Lunameade’s magical founding family has used her power to annihilate their opposition.

Her first husband is in the ground. Her new betrothed is next.

But the merry widow has a secret. When she’s not acting as an assassin at her parents’ whims, she moonlights as a vigilante for abused women in their walled-off city.

Meet a man. Lure him in. Kill him with a kiss. Until one night Harlow kisses a mark and he doesn’t die.

Worse, her invincible partner in passion is her new betrothed, Henry Havenwood, and now he knows about her double life. Instead of selling her out and bringing the rival families to blows, he does something much more sinister—whisks her away to wed in his wild mountain fort.

Harlow doesn’t trust Henry, but the only way to protect her family and the city of Lunameade is to figure out what his family is planning.

Cursed with a husband she can’t kill and trapped in a fort miles of vampire-infested woods from home, Harlow’s survival requires her to do the impossible: Make the man who knows she’s a killer fall in love with her anyway.

The Poison Daughter is a standalone dark fantasy romance that combines the vigilante justice for abusive men of Promising Young Woman with a romantasy arranged marriage and a dash of vampires.


Are you getting any new books this week?

Happy Reading!

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Book Series I Want to Catch Up On | TTT | Top Ten Tuesday | 8/18/26

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. Please check out her website for more TTT topics!

This week’s topic is:

Book Series I Want to Catch Up On

There are some book series I actually have to finish but sometimes finishing a series is tough, especially when I’m not a big re-reader anymore, so the thought of trying to remember what happened in last book seems so daunting. It’s okay if there is a year break before books but the series with 3 years between books? It’s hard! So here are some series I would like to catch up on or finish.


  • Scorched Earth is book 4 in the Dark Shores series but there was so much time between book 3 and 4 that I feel like I have to do a reread of the series before reading this one. I’m not sure but hopefully I’ll figure out what I want to do.
  • The Tempest Blade by Danielle L. Jensen also is the 6th book in The Bridge Kingdom and I will get to it eventually.
  • Spark of the Everflame by. Penn Cole – I’ve read book one but need to get onto book 2 and the others.

In the Veins of Drowning by. Kalie Cassidy – it’s been on my TBR so hoping I can get to it.

What’s on your TTT?

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Top Ten Tuesday Topics:

August 4: Cover Freebie (Pick any topic related to book covers. You can make up your own topic or pick one from the list of previous ones!)
August 11: Books I Was Reading On This Day Over the Last Ten Years (Stolen from Anne @ HeadFullofBooks) (This might be tricky if you don’t use a reading tracker like Goodreads, but the idea is to share what you were reading on August 11th of 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, and 2016. If you have no idea, pick a book you loved that you read at any time during each of the last ten years. And if you still have no idea, pick a book you loved that was published during each of the last ten years. Make this work for you!)
August 18: Book Series I Want to Catch Up On (or series you’d like to start)
August 25: Bookish Places I’ve Visited (Share all the cool places you’ve been that are bookish or tied to books! This includes neat libraries, book stores, places featured in books, places inspired by books, author homes/places they’ve stayed, etc. You can also share your bucket list of the bookish places you’d like to visit someday.) (submitted by Susan @Bloggin’ ’bout Books)
September 1: Books With Nationalities In The Title (e.g. The French Lieutenant’s Woman, Mexican Gothic, An American Mariage, etc.) (submitted by Cathy @WhatCathyReadNext)
September 8: Indie Freebie (This topic encompasses a lot: your favorite indie bookstores, indie books, indie authors, indie publishers/presses, indie books on your to-read list, indie authors I read before they became traditionally published, etc.) (submitted by @dark.shelf.of.wonders and Books Are The New Black)
September 15: Authors I’ve Met
September 22: Books on My Fall 2026 To-Read List (or Spring if you live in the Southern Hemisphere)
September 29: Fall-Themed Freebie (or Spring if you live in the Southern Hemisphere)
October 6: Books that Bring Me Happy Memories (Feel free to tell us about those memories if you’d like!)
October 13: Book Covers Featuring Autumnal Colors (submitted by Wordy Witterings)
October 20: Things That Make Up My Perfect Day (Share the people, places, activities, foods, circumstances, etc. that make a day perfect for you. Go into as much or as little detail as possible!)
October 27: Halloween Freebie