Tag: books

Roses & Ruin by. Hazel Cross | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: Roses & Ruin

Author: Hazel Cross

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 352

Publication Date: 9/1/26

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

Categories: Young Adult/New Adult, Romance, Vampires

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!


A steamy paranormal YA romance with deadly stakes for a new generation of Twilight and Vampire Academy readers.

A year ago, Rose was in an accident that nearly claimed her life. In the chaos of that night, a mysterious boy pulled her from the brink of death, then vanished before anyone else could see him. No one believes he was there. But Rose knows the truth.

When Rose moves across the country for college, she’s expecting a fresh start, one that’s not haunted by the memory of this mysterious stranger. But then she sees Hayden. He’s cold and distant and claims he wasn’t there that night. Yet Rose can’t shake the pull she feels toward him. She pursues him, daring him to reject her. Daring him to explain himself.

That’s when she learns the truth about who—or what—Hayden really is, and that the bond between them goes deeper than the night he saved her life. Fate has woven their paths together, and no matter how hard they fight, it refuses to let them go. But loving Hayden may come at a cost . . . one that could destroy them both.

Content Warning: violence

Roses & Ruin is about a girl, Rose, who was saved by a boy from an accident (sound familiar?) but no one believes her because no one saw him there. That moment has haunted her and then she goes to college and coincidentally runs into him there.

The beginning of this book mostly about Rose going to college. And in college she’s doing the typical college girl things – checking out the hot teachers, making new friends, dressing up and going out her friends, and even going on a date. So I feel like it starts off good though nothing that really made me interested in Rose, except maybe her interactions with Julian, her TA. The mystery about Hayden was interesting – we find out what he is and who he is to Rose. There are secrets that are revealed, and even betrayal which I liked.

It had a lot of the elements I would want in a paranormal, vampire young adult story but it didn’t work for me. I think the writing just wasn’t my style. There is a lot of angst between Hayden and Rose, and it was a little too much for me – I know she is reincarnated and they have a history but I still want to still see a build-up in this present time between them. So I wasn’t invested in them at all when all the confessions start. And this is being pushed as young adult, but at least they do disclose it is steamy, but I don’t know why it’s not being pushed as New Adult since the characters are in college and it’s not only steamy, there are spicy scenes.

Final Thoughts:

I love young adult vampire stories, but this one didn’t work for me. I just didn’t gel with the writing style – there was a little too much angst in the romance for me and spice when I was expecting steam. So I do think it’s New Adult instead of Young Adult. I liked the second half more than the first half of the book because of the betrayal that is exposed. I think if you like books like Twilight, you will enjoy this one, but this one sadly wasn’t for me.

Read if you like:

  • vampire
  • spicy, angsty romance
  • secrets, betrayal

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Pretty Vicious: The Order by. Lexi Davis | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: Pretty Vicious (The Order, #1)

Author: Lexi Davis

Pages: 303

Format: ebook (kindle unlimited)

Publication Date: 1/13/26

Categories: Secret Societies, Dark Romance, New Adult, Series

Laurel just wanted to survive college, keep her father fed, and fly under the radar.

Delivering pizzas was supposed to be the safe kind of side hustle, until the night she witnesses a murder at Ashford House, the most elite and secretive fraternity on campus.

Now she’s a prisoner of The Order, a blood-bound society that controls everything from politics to police. They rule with ritual, obedience, and violence, and they’ve decided Laurel doesn’t get to leave.

At the center of it all is Carrson Ashford, heir to the powerful Ashford legacy.
Cold. Commanding. Infuriatingly magnetic.
Under the rules of The Order, he “bonds” her, marking Laurel as his.

Body. Mind. Soul.

But Laurel isn’t here to be claimed. Not without a fight.
To save her father and her future, Laurel must navigate a twisted realm of initiation rites, brutal secrets, and a bond that may destroy them both.

In this world, there’s one rule: obey or die.

But love doesn’t follow rules. And neither does Laurel.

★ Dark academia meets Southern Gothic in this emotionally intense, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, morally gray, twisted college romance filled with secrets, violence, and impossible love. Perfect for fans of Penelope Douglas, LJ Shen, Shantel Tessier, and Sierra Simone.

Content Warning: violence, death, assault, mention of rape, alcoholism, physical and emotional abuse, prostitution, *check triggers in book*, suicide, suicidal ideation

I’ve been slowly going back to contemporary dark romances after being picky about which ones to read for a few years now. But the sound of a Southern Gothic dark romance sounded so intriguing so I got this one on Kindle Unlimited and was pleasantly surprised.

Laurel is in the wrong place at the wrong time and that leads to Carrson Ashford, son of a powerful man, to take her and make her his Bonded to save her life. Laurel is thrust into this dark, strange, creepy world of The Order – a secret society of men and women who basically produces the people that will someday run the world in every aspect – financial, world leaders, and more. And Carrson is poised to inherit it all but nothing comes easy in The Order. Success comes at the hands of killing and lots of blood, so Carrson is now a good person – but Laurel sees something redeemable in him.

The Handmaid’s Tale is mentioned in this book a few times because the role of women in The Order is basically to procreate, and the rules for them are diabolical. But Laurel is questioning their culture and rules since she is forced to bond to Carrson. But this is a very dark world, a very dark upbringing for anyone who belongs and grew up in The Order.

I was wary about Carrson because he’s an alpha-male, a killer, and sometimes an a-hole but surprisingly Laurel softens him up. Which is why I actually enjoyed their romance. He becomes protective and possessive of her but not in a way to dominate her. There is more to Carrson than what he presents and we actually get a good insight to his heinous upbringing. Even the spicy scene to me was particularly tame for a dark romance but I loved it because it showed he had restraint and had come to care a lot for her. So I’m rooting for them to make it!

Final Thoughts:

I am surprised I enjoyed this one! The characters have depth, and the spice was meaningful instead of degrading or too dark. It’s a very dark story so please check the warnings beforehand! I am totally rooting for Laurel and Carrson’s love story and I hope we see them make changes to The Order as the story progresses in the series.

Read if you like:

  • dark romance
  • secret society

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

New Book Releases This Week | 8/25/26

Happy book birthday to these new releases this week!

Once Swindled by. Laura Sebastian

The Ryskamp family fortune is in trouble. And Arden’s gift for invisibility can’t stave off his creditors…or the shame of catastrophic courtships. His only recourse is to marry a highborn Luster girl of his great-aunt’s choosing. But when Arden goes to meet her, another woman catches his the copper-haired beauty who ran away with his heart. And engagement ring.

Newly betrothed to yet another wealthy bachelor, Mavis has gone by many names—Arabella then, Delphinia now. Unlike the Lusters, however, Mavis lacks magical abilities, relying instead on her charms and her cons to get by. But no amount of money can repay her debts. And no amount of distance could prepare her for a reunion with her first mark.

Thrown together by fate, Arden and Mavis put aside their past to pull one last con that could save them both. The only price may be falling in love again. This time, for real.

The Dark in Her Veins by. M.K. Lobb

From critically acclaimed, bestselling author MK Lobb comes a noir romantic fantasy set in a world in which sin is a fatal disease, and the rich hire the poor to carry out their basest instincts—until the forbidden romance between a sinner and a mysterious figure threatens to destroy everything.

In Valestadt, everything has a price. Sinning leaves its mark in the form of the Bloodrot, a slow-creeping disease that leads to madness, then death. Most sins are negligible, but murder—committed enough—can be fatal. For the rich, violence is something to be outsourced. For the poor, it’s a paycheck that comes with a cost.

Talin Keller is a sinner. Employed by  the holiest man in the city, the Prophet, she gets her hands dirty so his can stay clean. And with her Bloodrot rapidly advancing, Talin knows her next job could be her last. But when a new assignment puts Talin on a collision course with a shadowy figure known as “the Warden,” she begins to see a future for herself that doesn’t involve a body bag. If she can get close enough to the Warden, she can trade his life for her own freedom. That is, if she can keep her balance on the knife’s edge. 

The closer Talin gets to the Warden, though, the more she finds herself falling for his sharp edges and twisted sense of justice. As savior and sinner bleed together, Talin finds the real threat isn’t either man – but a conspiracy tied to the past she hoped was dead.

Love Me Like a Rock Song by. Shelly Jay Shore

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.

Monster, Monarch, Maiden by. Rae Carson

Bria Angarsold isn’t supposed to be a hero. She’s just a mountain girl. A mountain girl with a near useless Gift, living an idyllic life with her sister and her parents, running the family’s thriving inn. But then the raiders come, and Bria’s family is destroyed.

One of the last survivors of the raid, Bria isn’t sure she’ll live to see where the captors are taking her. Until the caravan crosses paths with a mysterious traveler and Bria’s luck changes again.

With no family or home to return to, Bria swears her life to this moody, secretive young man. Titus has been chosen to complete a perilous quest—one that will make Bria question everything she’s ever believed, from the magic that weaves through their world to the very gods themselves. As the journey unfolds, Bria realizes she has something—someone—new to believe in. She’d follow Titus to the Edge of the World, sworn oath or not, even if neither of them stands a chance at returning from it.

But Bria Angarsold is a survivor. She isn’t useless, and neither is her Gift. And this is her story.

Runebreaker by. Mila Finch (hardcover deluxe)

Aelie can break runes with her bare hands—magic the fae built their entire world on. They hate her for it. Fear her for it. And when she’s caught, they sentence her to die.

Desperate to survive, she shatters the rune enslaving Kairos, a devastatingly handsome fae executioner with a blood-soaked past.

Big mistake.

Kairos slaughters the court and drags Aelie to his breathtaking realm—a kingdom of towering forests and shimmering mists.

Bound to the ruthless king she freed, Aelie must navigate deadly fae politics, master her forbidden power, and resist the fae who sees her as his greatest weapon… and darkest obsession.

Runebreaker is a steamy, fast-paced romantasy with forced proximity, he-falls-first tension, and captive/captor dynamics perfect for adult fans of Jennifer L. Armentrout and Sarah J. Maas. It features a feral, morally grey hero, a soft girl with a dangerous gift, mating bond tension, and immersive world building. This is book #1 of a trilogy.

Are you getting any new books this week?

Happy Reading!

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Weekly Wrap Up | 8/23/26

Aloha friends!

+ On Friday my kids and I, and one of my besties are flying to California for the Daisy Chain Festival! We are so excited to see Olivia Rodrigo and honestly this was the only way I could get tickets since I lost the Ticketmaster war for her Unraveled Tour (which I still want to see but won’t). It’s also my son’s 14th birthday on Thursday, so what a birthday weekend for him going to an all women’s music festival, supporting us girlies. He’s excited to see Mitski, Doechii, and Chappel Roan and Olivia Rodrigo. My daughter is excited to see Katseye, Chappel and Olivia. I’m excited to see all the acts but honestly with the heat they are predicting that day and me having the kids with me, I think we aren’t going to fully see all of them – we shall see how we do with the heat.

It’s also my first music festival. Like I’ve been to many events outdoors where they had music, etc…but not a full on music festival, and honestly it’s not my type of concert to go to. I’m bougie and old and I need seats 😅. But this is the only way I could see Olivia this year and it’s for charity! So we are sooo excited.

Blog Posts:

Books I Finished

  • Storm Caller by. Nisha J. Tuli
  • Hallowed Bones by. Lucy Smoke
  • The Wretched Divine by. Adalyn Grace
  • Fate so Cruelly Bound by. J.M. Grosvalet
  • Blood so Deadly Divine by. J.M. Grosvalet
  • Daughter of the Tempest by. Braidee Otto
  • Hawk & Sparrow by. Ayana Gray
  • The Wolf Queen’s Curse by. Kaylee Archer
  • The Calamities by. Chuck Wendig – DNF
  • Once Swindled by. Laura Sebastian

Currently Reading:

  • Our Strange Duet by. Erin A. Craig
  • The Age of Blood and Magic by. Hannah Mathewson
  • The Tarot Trials by. Katee Robert
  • A Crown of Blood and Magick by. Amy De La Force
  • Heir of Twisted Lies by. L.J Andrew
  • The Heart Trials by. J. Elle

Shows/Movies/Music I Watched/Listened To:

How was your week? Did you get a lot done? Watch anything good? Read any amazing books or books you didn’t finish? What are you reading?…Leave me a comment below!

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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

The Calamities by. Chuck Wendig | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️💫

Title: The Calamities

Author: Chuck Wendig

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 592

Publication Date: 8/18/26

Publisher: Del Rey

Categories: Horror, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy

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!


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.

Content Warning: gore, violence, body horror

I was gifted this book by the publisher but I am not someone who reads a lot of horror – I have my limits and this one hit my limit due to one very gross scene. So I DNF’ed this one at 37% in but from what I read, I thought the writing was engaging and I was very intrigued with the main characters. Also the way these powerful families hoarded their power was very interesting. Unfortunately, it was way too dark for me.

Final Thoughts:

I’m not the biggest horror fan, I only dabble here and here. I have never read this author’s books before but I wanted to try this out because it was gifted to me. Unfortunately, this one was too much horror for me, way too dark. But I think if you already love this author’s books, you will enjoy this one.

Read if you like:

  • horror
  • powerful families

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

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

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!

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!**