Stalkers Anonymous by. Dana Leeann | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: Stalker Anonymous

Author: Dana Leeann

Pages: 398

Format: paperback

Publication Date: 9/1/26

Categories: Dark Romance

Cole Matthews definitely isn’t a stalker. Probably.

Sure, he used company resources and crossed some lines to “have a conversation” with his sister’s abusive ex. But that was a one-time thing. Now, Cole has to attend a group therapy program with a long, clinical name…but the participants? They call it Stalkers Anonymous.

Hailey Brigham is definitely dating the perfect man. Probably.

She’d love to focus more attention on Cole, the smoking hot, ex-military sweetheart whose idea of a casual second date is tandem skydiving. But a drug-seeking patient at the ER where she’s a second-year resident knows too much about Hailey’s personal life, and his fixation on her is getting harder to ignore.

When threats against Hailey escalate, Cole’s protective instincts go into overdrive. To keep her safe, he would do anything—even if it means becoming the monster he’s kept so carefully locked up inside.

Stalkers Anonymous is a dark romance with a morally gray hero, a fierce heroine, and a found family of misfits you won’t see coming (unless they want you to).

Content Warning: violence, death, stalking, mental health

Thank you to Entangled Publishing for sending me a copy of Stalker Anonymous by. Dana Leeann!

+ I wasn’t sure how this story would play out because clearly, stalking is a bad thing, but the twist in this story is Cole, a recovering stalker (he stalked the guy who hurt his sister), meets and falls for Hailey who has a stalker. So Cole’s tendencies to stalk and protect Hailey is coming out in full force. But he’s stalking her stalker! I could sympathize with Cole – clearly he knows what he did to his sister’s ex-boyfriend was over the line, and he was getting help, but I also love that he was stalking the bad guy.

+ The romance was easy and fun until the stalker ramped up his obsession with Hailey. I love how Cole and Hailey meet, they are both good people, and they fall for one another. But I also love when Cole’s past is revealed and it presents a conflict in the relationship that there is space between them so each of them can work on themselves. There are spicy moments between but nothing too crazy.

+ Cole is attending a therapy group session but I love how they sort of become a found family/friendship for him later on in the book. I thought that twist was kind of fun.

Final Thoughts:

I found this book to be a quick, easy read with a fun dark romance twist. Who really is the bad guy when the stalker is helping catch another stalker? I loved the romance between Cole and Hailey, I thought it was easy and fun until the conflict – but I like how they work things out too. Overall, I enjoyed this one and can’t wait to see what this author writes next.

Read if you like:

stalker romance
dark romance with a twist
found family

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Heart Trials by. J. Elle | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: The Heart Trials (#1)

Author: J. Elle

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 400

Publication Date: 9/1/26

Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers

Categories: Dystopian, Fantasy, Young Adult, Series

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 Books for Young Readers for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Welcome to The Heart Trials.
The prize is love.
The cost is everything.

In Ethyria the highborn may love; the lowborn may only feel what the Benevolent allows.

Saltblood lowborn Axira Merreri survives the decaying districts by keeping her heart locked tight, couriering goods by day — and smuggling the ruler’s euphoric Heartfillers to the highborn by night. Until a drop goes wrong and her execution looms.

When she strikes a dangerous bargain to steal something from the Tournament of Hearts, a ruthless dating competition for highborn citizenship, she enters. Not for love. For freedom. But as the twisted allure of the competition turns deadly, an unexpected connection cracks her defenses, forcing her to confront a truth she In a regime built on engineered happiness, the most dangerous weapon she has is her heart.

Content Warning: violence, death, drug use

+ The Heart Trials has some really unique world building. People are named after districts they are from for example Saltborn (place with water), Grainborn, Skyborn (wealthy), etc…so trying to learn about this world took some time to get used to. Also, low borns are prevented from falling in love, meaning they have to wear a chain across their mouth to avoid kissing, they have to wear gloves to not be able to touch, and these lower born citizens are monitored heavily by Mercyenforcers. People are also given drugs to stay compliant – can’t have people sad or angry, so the Benevolent (the ruler) can stay in power comfortably. Now the Heart Trials is a competition held by the Benevolent, contestant have to show they have fallen in love at the end of the trials. The winner gets to become a Skyborn, also there is some magic released in the kiss between two people who are truly in love that helps the Benevolent.

+ Axira is a smuggler of heartfillers, the drugs that keep people happy, but one meeting with a client ends up in disaster and she ends up joining the Heart Trials in agreement with the prince. Their goal is to steal the magic of the last kiss in order to take power away from the prince’s father. I thought Axira was an interesting mix of naive but also being savvy. The thing she has no experience in is the falling in love part, which was interesting to see. She’s new to touch, to a kiss, to feelings that involve love for another person that isn’t family or a friend. But I did think she kept herself aware of who was plotting against her.

+~ The romance is young adult and very clean. Axira spends a lot of time with Caelus, the prince, because they have a plan together. But she does start to feel things for him by the end except there is a twist in the story. I can’t wait to see what happens next!

+~ I do think the first half of the story moved slow even though there were deadly rials that helped show a lot of mistrust among the contestants. It was giving Hunger Games vibes throughout the trials, but I thought it was so funny to have a deadly trial and then they had to get to know a potential lover in the next moment. It wasn’t exactly the environment for romance to bloom! I was thinking this was a 3 star read until that ending. There was good tension that built from the slow start all the way to the cliffhanger ending, which I enjoyed a lot. The second half was my favorite part, especially with the twist in the end.

Final Thoughts:

I think the first half of this story moved a little slowly but there is some world building to acclimate to because it was so unique. I love the creativity. The trials gave Hunger Games with speed dating vibes at times, which was strange but refreshing also. I did like the tension! I also liked the romance and that the twist in the end led to a cliffhanger and now I need book two! Can’t wait to see what happens next.

Read if you like:

young adult dystopian
deadly trials
cliffhanger ending

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

House of Marionne by. J. Elle | ARC Review – 3.5 ⭐️

Shadow of Perl by. J. Elle | ARC Review – 3 ⭐️

Turncloak by. L.K. Steven | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️

Title: Turncloak (The Silvercloak Saga, #2)

Author: L.K. Steven

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 544

Publication Date: 9/15/26

Publisher: Del Rey

Categories: Fantasy, Romance, Series

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

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

Revenge drove Saffron Killoran to go undercover in the Bloodmoon gang. But now, with any chance of retribution gone, she sees only one path forward: harnessing a long-dormant power to fix her ruinous mistakes.

Meanwhile, the new kingpin of the Bloodmoons has discovered Saffron’s true identity as a Silvercloak—and her ultimate goal of bringing his empire down. As old wounds resurface and fresh enemies close in, he finds himself torn between the cause to which he has devoted his life and the fate of the traitorous mage he loves.

Hot on their heels is an ambitious rookie detective sent to stake out the Bloodmoons’ growing rivals. She will stop at nothing to destroy both gangs—and anything or anyone who dares to stand in her way.

Caught in a cat-and-mouse game of trust and betrayal spanning continents, Saffron must choose where her loyalties lie—and determine if her quest to unmake time itself is worth becoming a villain to the whole world.

Content Warning: violence, death, drug addiction symptoms

World Building: The world of Silvercloak is really interesting. It’s a society of mages, with organized crime – the Bloodmoons – who’s leader’s goal is to resurrect his mom’s body so she can get the throne; the Whitewings – a rival gang who is trying to produce a drug that rivals or is better than what the Bloodmoons pedal in the streets. And Silvercloaks are the police force trying to take all of them down. There is a king that rules this world, who has heard of the Bloodmoons thirst for the throne, so he is trying to thwart them too. With all these things at play, it is a place of violence, spying, betrayal, going undercover and trading information – not knowing who you can really trust. I enjoy that political intrigue a lot. I also enjoy the mages and their magic wands, especially when they are battling one another.

Characters: Saffron is trying to rebuild the trust she broke with Levan. Yet she’s still lying, still has cards up her sleeve. As for Levan, though he was made to be a ruthless killer, he is very vulnerable, a recovering drug addict who still craves a hit, someone who trusts too easily, and just someone in a lot of pain. He’s lost so many people. I was really rooting for the two of them – even though their shared goal of turning back time and bringing their parents back, would upend everything. I just kept thinking, it’s a bad idea and wish they gave up their plans and let the dead stay dead. A character that we get to know better is Auria and honestly…I didn’t totally love her. I know she’s law-abiding, but I wanted her to bend a little. We also get to know more about Levan’s past and the brother he once had.

Romance: There is barely any spice, just some steam and honestly, I wanted some spice. But I also respect that Saffron and Levan’s relationship is not so easy to repair. Their relationship is very complicated. I just wish by the end of the book things turned a corner for them and in a way it did, but it will not get any easier for them.

Story: I really enjoyed Saffron and Levan’s story and loved when the focus was on them. I was taken out of the story a bit when Auria came into the picture. I do think this sequel moves the story forward a lot, especially when it comes to Saffron’s powers as a Timeweaver and the search for the Fifth prophecy. We get to learn so much about Levan’s upbringing and his obsession with bringing his mother back. It does start off a little slow because Saffron is trying to earn Levan’s trust but it picks up a lot in the second half and ends with a bang.

Vibes: cat and mouse game

Final Thoughts:

I thought this was a pretty good sequel to Silvercloak. I kind of miss the growing tension between Saffron and Levan from book one, but their relationship has turned in another direction, and one day I hope they can find themselves back to what they had. The cat and mouse game gets even more involved in book two because of the addition of the Whitewings who is causing havoc for the Bloodmoons and there is always the Silvercloaks in the background, I really enjoy the political intrigue of this series so far. I’ll definitely be reading book three to see what happens next with Saffron and Levan.

Read if you like:

political intrigue
magic wands
enemies to lovers

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Silvercloak by. L.K. Steven | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

In the Veins of the Drowning by. Kalie Cassidy | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: In the Veins of the Drowning (The Siren Mage, #1)

Author: Kalie Cassidy

Pages: 377

Format: ebook (kindle unlimited)

Publication Date: 7/15/25

Categories: Fantasy, Romance, Series

The monster is always slain…

Imogen Nel is in hiding. Hiding from a cruel kingdom that believes Sirens are monstrous, blood-hungry creatures. Hiding from a king and his captain who viciously hunt her kind. Hiding from her own alluring abilities. By keeping herself from the sea, Imogen’s bloodlust is dulled, and her black wings remain hidden beneath her skin.

When a neighboring king comes to visit, Imogen can no longer hide. He knows precisely what she is, and he believes she can save both their kingdoms from an even greater monster. But Imogen’s power threatens to violently reveal itself, and the two form a blood bond that protects them both. They flee the kingdom together, traversing waters teeming with the undead. As the lines between duty to their people and desire for each other begin to blur, Imogen worries her own ancestral powers may not be enough to kill what hunts her—the only way to defeat a monster may be to become one herself.

Content Warning: self harm, violence, death, gore

I finally read this book and I don’t know why it took me so long to get to it. It starts off like most romantasy books, an FMC who is trapped and needs help fleeing the king that oppresses her. There are the usual tropes in this book that are found in romantasy but what stood out to me was how the Imogen and Theodore bicker! It was so much fun. I like how they are honest and tell each other off, to their faces. It’s kind of refreshing! So I loved the enemies to lovers romance in this one, or is it dislike to like? Whatever it is, I loved it even though Theo is reserved and dutiful at first, he very much so reminded me of Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice so it was fun to see Imogen getting under his skin. It was my favorite part of the whole story.

But there is also a lot going on in this story – Imogen is a Siren and bound to multiple people and she needs to break free of them, but doing so has it’s own consequences. I was very invested to see what path Imogen would choose and what choices she would make. There is political intrigue, travel, some action, romance, and secrets. I loved learning about the Sirens and the world building was good.

Final Thoughts:

I’m so glad I finally finished this one and I’m not sure why it took me so long to finally read it. It has a lot of things I enjoy in a romantasy like political intrigue, and romance of course, but what I really loved was Imogen and Theo. Seeing them interact and eventually fall for one another was very, funny and entertaining. I also want to see how this story plays out so I’m eager to read book two.

Read if you like:

romantasy
forced proximity

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

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 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

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

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: