Fate So Cruelly Bound by. J.M. Grosvalet | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️

Title: Fate so Cruelly Bound (The Deadly Divine, #2)

Author: J.M. Grosvalet

Pages: 750

Format: ebook (kindle unlimited)

Publication Date: 6/23/26

Categories: High Fantasy, Romance, Series

The veil has been crossed—
and the cost has only begun.

Hunted by the realm she fled and mistrusted by the one she’s entered, Elara walks the immortal isles of Tir na nÓg with a single truth thrumming in her chest—she no longer belongs to either world. The Sidhe call her dangerous. The remnants of her human heart call her lost. Somewhere between them, her blood hums with a power that was never meant to exist—her heart pulled toward two men divided by war.

When an attack within the Sidhe courts exposes a conspiracy older than the war between their realms, Elara and Reynnar are thrust into a perilous journey across Tir na nÓg.

Gaps in the ledgers. Altered maps. Names the courts refuse to speak.
But the land remembers what they bury— and Elara means to unearth it.

Across the veil, Latheria burns. The Lord Sovereign tightens his grip as rebellion rises in the north. Ivan Dantan—once the Hunter, now a fugitive—feels himself turning into something monstrous. Marked by a power he does not trust, he walks the fault lines of the war he helped ignite, haunted by the girl he cannot forget.

As gods stir and the past and the future begin to braid, Elara must face what she was always meant to become—
the key, the weapon, and the warning.

Because some truths do not rest.
Some threads refuse to break.
And some destinies aren’t chosen.
They are cruelly bound.

Content Warning: violence, death

+~ I had to read this right away after being addicted to book one and again, I could not put this down even though it is 750 pages long. Is it too long? Yes, but I stuck with it anyway because I enjoyed it The world building is dense and some things get confusing especially when the math comes into the equation concerning the Void (traveling between space), I just go with it. But I love the world building because now we are in the realm of the Sidhe (Faerie) and Elara has to learn all these different types of Sidhe, their powers, and their land. So the world opens up so much more, plus we get to learn about the Vredians also in the North, the only ones who Lord Osin hasn’t conquered. There is also the mystery of how Osin is taking Sidhe from their realm and taking their powers and imprisoning them. I was invested in that but I think some of it could have been cut out because it does slow the story down when they are hanging out at a house doing research.

+ I love all the characters. This story is told in third person and it’s a huge cast but I love that despite the big cast, each character has unique personalities and stories and I get so invested in them! I think it’s what I love most about this series so far – I care about the characters. The found family in this book is wonderful.

+ Ellara grows a lot in this one, finally she learns some combat skills because I was worried about her in book one. Also, she learns more about herself and past so she has to grapple with all aspects of her being human, Sidhe and/or other. She has this sense of never belonging but so badly wanting to and I just want her to have a good group of people to love her.

+~ Is the romance a love triangle? I don’t even know because it is so low spice (barely steaming), and such a slow burn…I can’t even call it a burn. More like slow yearn! 😅. The yearning and longing in this book is off the charts! I cannot even choose between Reynnar and Ivan and I have never had a dilemma like that. I don’t want her to choose between them! I love them both. And I understand both guys are different, but they love Elara so fiercely. Will it be Why Choose? Or will it be a devastating love triangle? I just wish there was a tiny bit more spice…just a tiny bit. If you like slow build up romance with low spice, you will like this one.

~ I don’t know what was going on with my ebook copy from kindle unlimited but there were a few typos. Like words without a space between them which kind of made some of my reading experience jarring since I had to figure out what the author was trying to say! But I realize it was typos when it happened on more than one page.

+ I was so happy that after book one, I had book two ready to download but after that ending, now what do I do? How long do I have to wait to see Ellara take down Osin because I want that so badly for her and her friends!

Final Thoughts:

I’m hooked on this series! It’s long and has dense world-building but I am so invested in the characters, I cannot seem to put the story down. I love learning about this whole world the author has created and I love the secret and betrayals too. I’m actually surprised I’m so addicted to this story when it’s sometimes a slow read and a low spice high fantasy – I do want a little more spice in it but I can’t even decide who I want Elara to get spicy with. I love both MMC’s, which makes me sad if she chooses one. The ending ends on a cliffhanger so I’ll be trying to wait patiently for book three!

Read if you like:

high fantasy/low romance
dense world building
found family

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

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

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

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

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!**

Immortal Rose by. Alexandra Bracken | ARC and ALC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️.5

Title: Immortal Rose (#1)

Author: Alexandra Bracken

Format: eBook (Avon) and audiobook (Avon)

Pages: 496

Listening Hours: approx. 20 hrs

Publication Date: 8/18/26

Publisher: Avon

Categories: Fantasy, Romance, Series, Fae

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

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

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.

Content Warning: death, violence, gore

+ The narrators for the alc were fantastic! They really brought the story to life with their voices and I loved the accents they used for this regency romance, fantasy, mystery story. I did listen to the alc but also read the ebook when I couldn’t listen.

+ It feels like the story is set in an alternate regency London, but with magic and people with rare Fae bloodlines like Viola Lockwood. Her bloodline gives her the talent of enhanced smelling capabilities. Magic is sold in perfume and her bloodline is one of those can make the perfume. But Viola has had a rough upbringing and she finds herself in a bad situation, to stay in prison or to work for Lord Foxcourt (Hugh) to produce the perfume that has been keeping the king alive. The world building and magic was really interesting.

+~ I did find parts of this story to be slow going, because there is a mystery taking place and lots of parts to the puzzle. Who poisoned the king? Plus there is a race against time to save him. Viola and Hugh also have to avoid being killed in the process since someone is out there trying to stop their progress. So the pacing was up and down through but there is so much more action, twists and turns at the end which was fun.

+~ This is a very slow burn, to the point I was begging for something to happen with Viola and Hugh. Now the payoff is fun in the end, but still, it’s steamy not spicy. The romance though is something to be invested in especially when the yearning becomes unbearable for the both of them. Just seeing Hugh trying to keep it together around Viola was entertaining, but his confessions were everything!

+ I adored the characters, especially Hugh’s interesting staff and the found family trope.

Final Thoughts:

I really enjoyed this one despite the pacing that was slow at times. I loved the found family trope. I also adored Viola and Hugh and seeing them go from enemies to lovers, their yearning was palpable, I just wish they could cave into their desires! The twist and turns at the end were fun, there was even some unexpected gore. I can’t wait to see what happens next!

Read if you like:

marriage of convenience, enemies to lovers
magic
mystery
found family

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Silver in the Bone by. Alexandra Bracken | ARC Review – 3.5 stars

The Mirror of Beasts by. Alexandra Bracken | ARC Review – 4 stars

Lore by. Alexandra Bracken | Book Review – 4 stars

The Best I Never Had by. Amy Buchanan | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: The Best I Never Had

Author: Amy Buchanan

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 336

Publication Date: 8/18/26

Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin

Categories: Romance, Contemporary, 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 St. Martin’s Griffin for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

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.

Content Warning: complicated family

+ I thought this was a fun second chance romance! Thea and Owen fake dated in the past when Owen needed a date and now her sister Addy is engaged to Owen’s brother Harrison. So now they have to fake their relationship again so that Owen’s mom doesn’t find out and get upset.

+ The best thing about this story was the theme of family. Thea and Addy had a hard childhood and went into foster care, so they have only one another. Thea is the older sister and is overprotective about Addy. Owen became the man in his family after his father died and he does everything for the family business and tries to keep everyone happy. Both Thea and Owen know the burden of taking care of family and trying to please them, which makes them bond. And like any family, there are complicated relationships. Owen’s family is large and fun but can also be a pain, it was funny to see their interactions.

+ The romance was sweet with some spice. Owen is someone always taking care of people so being with Thea makes him feel a bit more free. Whereas Thea feels safe and taken care of by Owen. I thought they were cute together and I thought it sucked that they had to hide their feelings because of Addy and Owen’s mom!

~ I didn’t like Addy, especially how she acted towards Thea and asking Thea to stay away from Owen so that nothing bad happens to ruin the wedding. But honestly the both of them had a lot to work through when it came to their sister relationship.

Final Thoughts:

This was a cute read and it was interesting to see what happens after you fake date and are caught in the lie. Thea and Owen were cute together and actually deserve some happiness with one another. I didn’t like Addy and Owen’s mom but the rest of Owen’s family was so much fun!

Read if you like:

family themes
second chance romance
fake dating

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Want Me, Take Me, Haunt Me, Make Me by. Isabel Crowley | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Want Me, Take Me, Haunt Me, Make Me

Author: Isabel Crowley

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 384

Publication Date: 8/11/26

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Categories: Paranormal, Romance, Horror

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

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

Hazel Lewis has a serious problem. The guy who hired her to conduct a seance before he died turned out to be a serial killer with a demonic contract, and the seance itself was a trap. Hazel escaped with her life, but not as she knew it: the bite of a demon is spreading through her body, letting the supernatural bleed into the world around her, and the now-dead serial killer is waiting to take over her body if she dies.

Hoping to contain the damage, Hazel moves to a small house in a remote location. She figures she’ll stay on her own until she gets a handle on her new dark reality, but she soon finds out that she’s not alone. There’s the reporter demanding answers, the friendly neighbor with chemistry she doesn’t need and problems he can’t talk about…and the mysterious face she sees beyond her window, watching her every night with glowing red eyes.

Making her hunger.

Hazel knew a little bit about the world beyond the physical. Now she’s learning how much she doesn’t know, including who she can trust…and who she can become if she trusts herself enough to give in to the shadows stalking her dreams.

Content Warning: violence, stalking, gore

+ The title for this book caught my interest and the premise sounded intriguing. Hazel is a medium who performs a seance and gets marked by a demon instead. The demon sends his henchman, Ligat, to keep an eye on Hazel and report to him but instead Ligat is attracted to Hazel. So plans change for him and her.

+~ I did enjoy the paranormal elements of the book. I love that Hazel can do rituals, and her job is very interesting. She even has a group of friends who help her out with research and there is the cutest ghost dog named Casper! The house she lived in has some hauntings but overall I just didn’t feel it was creepy enough. Hazel has to figure out how to fight this demon and so I was expecting more horror, but this mostly felt like a paranormal romance rather than a thriller story. There’s even a twist in the story but I wasn’t shocked about it, just maybe a little confused until it is explained.

+~ Speaking of the romance, even this felt a tiny bit lackluster. The spice is fun, and there are frequent moments of it but it isn’t anything super spicy. I don’t know if it’s because Hazel and Ligat are mature people who are just mature and hook up because they are attracted to one another, but I wanted more from them, a little more emotion. I think with a title like this I was expecting way more darker devouring and more passion.

+~ The story starts off strong but the pacing slows down from middle to the end of it, which surprised me. It’s why I felt like it turned more into a romance than a thriller.

Final Thoughts:

I think I went into this story with different expectations because of the title, and the synopsis. It started off strong and I was expecting something really dark and expecting the spice to maybe fit it but overall the story was kind of mild. I did like Hazel and her unique talent and job. Ligat was unexpected because I was expecting a scary demon henchman but instead he’s a nice one. The paranormal romance had spice, but I wanted a little emotion from the two characters. I did respect that they were mature adults and actually acted like it though! Overall, I wanted a little more thrills and chills from the story. It was an okay read, I just wanted more.

Read if you like:

paranormal romance

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Bonfire & Bliss Bookstore by. Brittanée Nicole | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Title: Bonfire & Bliss Bookstore (Hope Harbor, #2)

Author: Brittanée Nicole

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 432

Publication Date: 8/11/26

Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons

Categories: Contemporary, Romance, Fall 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 G.P. Putnam’s Sons for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Settle in with a warm glass of cider and FALL in love beside the bonfire on a crisp autumn evening in this friends-to-lovers fake dating romance about a jilted romance bookstore owner and her handsome failed-writer best friend, from the romance superstar author of The Boston Bolts hockey series.

These old flames are ready to catch fire.

After a very public failed engagement, Penny Darling, proud owner of Bonfire and Bliss Books, is done with love. She’d rather cozy up by the fire with a pumpkin spiced-anything and one of her book boyfriends than a real one any day.

So when her old high school best friend, author Jake “Monty” Montgomery, tells the town busybodies that he’s her new boyfriend and volunteers them to co-host Hope Harbor’s famed Maple Festival, Penny is more than hesitant.

Until Monty admits the real reason he returned his latest book release failed and if he doesn’t turn in something amazing soon, his career as an author is over. Convinced that Penny’s obsession with romance novels makes her an expert on the subject, Monty begs Penny to teach him how to be the perfect romantic hero so he can finally write one. In return, Penny’s “boyfriend” will put a stop to neighbors’ pitying looks and matchmaking.

But as pretend kisses in the apple orchard turn into searing ones beneath the autumn moon, Penny begins to wonder if Monty could really love her, or if she’s destined for another broken heart.

Content Warning: grief, divorce

+ I know we are still in summer but with fall around the corner, I wanted to add some holiday romances to my reading pile. I love the book cover of this one, it screams FALL, and looked like a cozy romance so I requested but I was in for a big surprise. This cover looks sweet but the story was more spicy than I expected! It is set in a small town called Hope Harbor, and I do want to say I did not read book one, but picked this up anyway and I didn’t feel like I needed to read book one – I wasn’t feeling lost at anytime reading this. So I think it’s safe to say they are standalones in a romance series. But I adored the town and the community – I love the quirks of the characters. It definitely gave a cozy, safe, sweet vibe to the story! I thought it was funny that Penny as the owner of a bookstore was giving very interesting romance books to women in town, I love her, she knows her romance tropes and wasn’t afraid to share the knowledge.

+ Penny owns Bonfire and Bliss Bookstore and she’s a sweetheart. Monty is her friend who is back in town because he needs inspiration to write. He’s an author and his books haven’t been selling. Penny and Monty used to be close friends when they were younger but drifted apart when he moved to NYC. They still keep in contact but the moment he comes home, sparks fly. They decide to fake date, to help the community get off Penny’s back to date again after her failed engagement to her ex. And the fake dating would help spark Monty’s inspiration to write. Penny also challenged him to dig in deeper with his characters…so they are using their fake dating as inspiration.

+ Penny and Monty are flaming hot when their fake dating leads to some interesting ways to liven up his writing. He plays the role perfectly and gives Penny everything that she wants. And I went into this thinking I was getting some 2 chili pepper kind of spice, when oh no…I even learned something new in this one which I didn’t think was even possible with how much spicy books I’ve read over the years. 😅 But I loved their relationship because these are two good people, Monty is the sweetest and clearly worships her, they were best friends at one point in their life, and so their scenes together showed the trust between them and I was happy for them in any way they got their pleasure. It was a fun time too! Also he wears glasses…I feel like I’ve been reading more MMC with glasses lately, which I adore.

+~ There is barely any conflict in this story. Monty deals with some personal stuff to do with his family, and it does affect him and Penny eventually but it’s not a huge third-act break-up. Just a situation that is fixed with an apology, and grand gesture, like I said, these two are so sweet on one another.

Final Thoughts:

This is perfect for fall if you are looking for a romance that is sweet yet very spicy. Very spicy in the sense that Penny makes a list of things she’s read about in romance books and wants to try and Monty helps her out with the list enthusiastically. 😅 Though it was more spicy than I expected, I loved the small town setting and the quirky and funny people in the community of Hope Harbor. I thought the friends to lovers romance between Penny and Monty was heart-mealting and I was rooting for them all the way, spice and all! This was a fun read.

Read if you like:

fall romance
spicy
small town romance
friends to lovers

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Lion & the Deathless Dark by. Carissa Broadbent | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: The Lion & the Deathless Dark (Crowns of Nyaxia, #5)

Author: Carissa Broadbent

Pages: 560

Format: ebook (kindle unlimited)

Publication Date: 8/4/26

Categories: Fantasy, Romance, Vampires, Gods, Series

Some blood tastes like vengeance. Some blood tastes like grief. Some blood tastes like nothing at all.

Under an eternal night, the world has been ravaged by ten years of war between humans and vampires. Kyrene scrapes by as a bounty hunter, bearing a blessed sword from the goddess of justice. But in the wake of a devastating loss, Kyrene commits a crime that makes her a target for mortals and gods alike – and she is still desperate for vengeance.

Her only chance at survival – and revenge – is making a deal with her enemy, the silver-tongue vampire prince, Septimus, who offers her one final to slay the gods themselves.

Together, Kyrene and Septimus must hunt the ultimate marks, all while navigating a web of prophecies and curses. Septimus is calculating and mysterious, masking secrets bloodthirsty enough to consume them both. Yet, most dangerous of all, Kyrene finds an unexpected kinship in him.

But their growing attraction is deadly in a world where the only currency is blood. And Kyrene will stop at nothing to fulfill her ultimate to kill the goddess of vampires, even if it means sacrificing love for revenge.

Content Warning: violence, death, gore, grief

What can I say about another book in the Crowns of Nyaxia that has made me care about the characters, grips me with the story telling and then made me gasp at the end and now I NEED the next book. I can’t even believe the next book will be the last in the series. I have loved this series from book one and it has never disappointed me, which is absolutely amazing. So the thought of it coming to an end in the next book actually makes me sad.

I loved the storytelling which is a given with all the books in this series. The characters, Kyrene, the FMC is filled with rage, wields a godly sword just hacking away at enemies and Gods. She is the Vindica Ultis. There is violence, lots of blood and even sometimes gore. She has no fear, but has so much trauma and a secret that shocked me. Septimus, the Bloodborn cursed MMC, where’s white, smokes vanilla scented cigarillos to keep his curse at bay, has self-control (mostly), wears glasses and reads to Kyrene. What can I say but that I loved both of them, down to their raw, flawed state. Both are anti-heroes, Kyrene has the title and the sword, but she doesn’t have the desire to be the good hero everyone sees her to be. She doesn’t do emotional attachment, which made me hurt for her when she allows herself to feel grief. And Septimus, who wants the curse to end with him, to spare the rest of his family. Both want to kill the Gods for different reasons and they team up to try and carry out this goal.

The romance is slow burn and so good! The banter between Kyrene and was Septimus was great, she’s wild and he’s always in control so seeing her try to always make it lose it is so much fun. And that scene where he drinks her blood? Perfection.

So much of this story was devastating, and the ending is emotional with the twist leaving me needing the next book right away. I was rooting for Kyrene so, so hard. I wanted her and Septimus to achieve their goal and create the world they dreamed.

One thing I found fascinating and different was the machines! I was not expecting this story to have machinists and even a god who was made of parts. But I love how each book opens up the world in this series.

Quotes From the Book:

“What’s life without a few regrets?” – The Lion and the Deathless Dark by. Carissa Broadbent

“Monsters recognize monsters.” – The Lion and the Deathless Dark by. Carissa Broadbent

Final Thoughts:

I love this series and this book was everything I expected it to be. It opened the world of this series even more, it is violent, devastating and emotional. And the only regret I have is I wish I didn’t read it until the next book came out because now I have to wait so long, hopefully not too long! I’m also pretty sure I’m going to be so sad when this series ends because I have loved all the characters and the romance. I’m ready to see what happens to these Gods and if Kyrene and Septimus can take them down.

Read if you like:

Crowns of Nyaxia series
slow burn romance
vampires and Gods
female rage

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!**