The Sweetest Betrayal by. Natalie Mae | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: The Sweetest Betrayal (#3)

Author: Natalie Mae

Format: ebook (own)

Pages: 394

Publication Date: 2/14/23

Categories: Fantasy, Young Adult, Series, Magic, Adventure, Romance

In this heart-pounding conclusion to The Kinder Poison trilogy—which People magazine proclaimed a “delicious high-stakes adventure”—war looms over Orkena, but can Zahru save her people without losing herself?

War has come to Orkena.

Zahru has risen as Mestrah, and she is determined to peacefully end the escalating tensions with Wyrim, her country’s long-time enemy. Yet diplomacy proves to be futile, and when Zahru turns to Orkena’s allies for help, she finds that none are willing to come to her aid—not without Kasta ruling at her side.

As Wyrim advances on the capital, Zahru is desperate to protect her people, even if that means accepting Kasta’s help. But her enemy is merciless. And as ambushes and betrayals push Zahru to increasingly dark tactics, she wonders if perhaps Kasta had it right all along: maybe peace was never an option … and maybe she was never meant to do this alone.

Can Zahru spare her enemy without sacrificing her kingdom? Or will Orkena’s salvation only come if Zahru becomes the monster her people need?

Content Warning: violence, kidnapping

This is one of my most anticipated reads for 2023 and it did NOT disappoint. And the covers for these series – absolutely stunning. Simple and stunning and I will be adding this to my bookshelf for sure. Here’s what I thought:

+ Things carry on right away from the ending of book two and boy does Zahru have a lot to answer for and face in this last book of the series. She goes through some things! But she has to in order to grow. She has major trust issues especially when it comes to Kasta. But also she doesn’t know if she can even trust herself with this god-like power. Is she a good person? Is she bad? Is she a good leader? She has a lot of growing up to do if she wants to prove she can be Mestrah.

+ One reason I love this series? The characters! From our main ones like Zahru and Kasta to all her friends her found family of sorts, they are all different, complex and amazing. They fight, argue, have fun together, support one another – intervene if need be. I love this group of characters. Hen is my favorite! I want her as my bestie.

+ Zahru and Kasta are off the charts and I didn’t even know if they would make it in the end! I didn’t even trust him for most of the story. 😅They had me anxious, eyes wide, palm over my mouth when some things happen. But wow the tension between them is so good and then also wondering as a reader if they are even good for one another made me question a lot of things but honestly and I don’t know if it’s my hormones but I teared up in some places of this book. I love them so much. They are the perfect couple in all their imperfections and I love that ultimately it was about them finding their way to trust one another and forgive. I can go on but yeah…I found a new favorite couple. They have a few steamy moments but what I love about it is it’s quick, not super detailed but you still feel the heat, maybe because it’s a long time coming and it comes as a relief that they finally stop fighting one another.

+ Wonderful story telling! It has humor, romance (and not only between Zahru and Kasta), friendship, battles, danger, adventure and more. I read this in one day without expecting to! And I wrote this review after I finished because I was feeling so much things about this book.

+ A perfect ending to a great series!

~ Some of the young characters sounded like the spoke in modern day speech which sometimes threw me off but I went with it and laughed a lot when it happened because it was mostly between Zahru and her friends. I didn’t mind it at all but I don’t remember if the previous books had the characters talking this way. I’ll have to re-read the whole series and I most definitely WILL since I loved this conclusion so much.

Tropes: enemies to lovers

Why you should read it:

Zahru and Kasta 🥰 – angst, bickering, tension, enemies to lovers and a very happy ending
great cast of characters – Hen is amazing
great story-telling, action, adventure, politics, romance

Why you might not want to read it:

My Thoughts:

I loved this conclusion – it had everything I wanted and really exceeded any expectations I had. I just wanted it to be as amazing as the cover and I can say it did it’s job in making me happy and satisfied at the end. Great series that I will be re-reading again hopefully soon! I want Natalie Mae to be working on her next series now with more enemies to lovers please 😅. I look forward to reading more from this author!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Kinder Poison | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

The Cruelest Mercy by. Natalie Mae | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

House of Pounding Hearts by. Olivia Wildenstein | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: House of Pounding Hearts (#2)

Author: Olivia Wildenstein

Format: ebook (KU)

Pages: 444

Publication Date: 1/29/23

Categories: Romance, Fantasy, Series, Crows, Faerie, Fated Mates

I MEANT TO CAPTURE THE PRINCE’S HEART . . . AND ENDED UP WITH A KING’S.

My desire to sit upon the Lucin throne led me to revive an ancient, winged monarch; one I deemed a friend until that friend duped and imprisoned me.

Lorcan claims he’s holding me captive for my own safety, but then he also claims I belong to him. Slumbering for five centuries has evidently given the Crow King severe delusions.

We may share an unfortunate mind-link, but we are still masters of our own destiny, and I intend to steer mine away from the Sky Kingdom and its prophecies . . . away from him.

I quickly find out there is no escaping the possessive male. In all honesty, I’m no longer certain I want to.

Get swept away in the second installment of a slow-burn shifter fantasy series full of heartbreaking deceit, wicked supernaturals, and alpha males.

I wasn’t on planning on reading the sequel in this series because the first one was just an okay read for me. But I was curious about the crows, which came at the ending part of book one, so since I needed a break from reading arcs, I decided to pick this one up. This is what I thought:

+ Fallon annoyed me less in this one. She still acts young-because she IS, but mostly around her friends because she’s fun and wild around her friends. They drink and party a lot, but being in Lore’s world has finally opened her eyes to a few things. He’s the serious one between the two of them and with a lot at stake, he’s trying to keep her safe, break a curse and free his crow people.

+ I adore Phoebus who is not only a good friend to Fallon but super funny too. Fallon has great friends.

+ I liked the political intrigue and that the story was now more about that than Fallon’s love life.

+ Finally Fallon has seen what Dante really is! This book is mostly about Fallon and Lore and this bond that they have with one another and when she will stop fighting it. When they finally get together, it’s hot and steamy times Fallon and Lore!

~ This book is book, just like its predecessor is over 400 pages long. I think it’s a tad bit too long. There was a lot of court intrigue in this one, which I enjoyed but I think we could have done without Antoni pining for Fallon. That was so over when Lore came into the picture.

~ There are a lot of characters in this book so at times I just had to try and remember who was who in Luce…and I didn’t always do a good job at that but I just went with it.

~ I do wish we got to know more about Shabbe but I’m assuming that’s where this story is going in the third book.

Why you should read it:

you liked the first book
Fallon and Lore finally gets some sexy time together
you want to read a romantasy with fated mates and alpha males

Why you might not want to read it:

you weren’t into the first book

My Thoughts:

I actually liked this book slightly better than the first one because I think the crow people are fascinating. Also there is finally some sexy action between Fallon and Lore. I still think the story could be shorter but I’ll read the next one to see what happens.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

House of Beating Wings by. Olivia Wildenstein | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Of Wicked Blood | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thorn Kissed and Silver Chains by. Shannon Mayer and Kelly St. Clare | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Thorn Kissed and Silver Chains (#1)

Author: Shannon Mayer and Kelly St. Clare

Format: ebook (KU)

Pages: 271

Publication Date: 11/28/22

Categories: Romance, Fantasy, Series, Faerie, Reverse Harem

A continuation in the world of Honey and Ice . . .with new characters, new loves, new enemies . . .

Underhill is my ruthless mother. Her realm is my deadly home. The brutal creatures here are both foe and friend.

But the group of fae that just attacked me? They’re all foe. Dragged from my game of hide-and-seek with a dragon, and my home of twenty-one years, I’m thrust into a weak, ugly realm.

Earth.

Something is taking the fae children of the Irish court, and an Oracle has declared I must find them. Nope. Not my problem. Bye. Except a three-year-old girl they suspect is the next Queen of All Fae was taken too. She’s crucial to the success of my mother’s work and the wellbeing of all, including these simpering fae who’ve forgotten who they are.

Now they have my attention.

The child-snatching darkness flickers in and out of sight, spreading in secret, reaching through cracks and fissures to seize and steal the innocent. Yet I earned each breath in my life by understanding that which seeks to kill me. I will learn the ways of this enemy and find its lair, ideally without the Seelie and Unseelie males who only slow me—even if they’re not quite as stupid as most Earth-dwelling fae.

All I’m sure of is that Underhill is testing me. My mother is testing me in her typical, brutal fashion. And I will not fail.

Well, I wasn’t planning on reading this spin-off but I was bored and wanted to make use of my Kindle Unlimited subscription so why not! Plus I did enjoy Honey and Ice series a lot. So here is what I thought:

+ Our main character is nameless until one of her potential love interests names her Silver. She is feral and her mother is Underhill. If you read the Honey and Ice series you would know who/what Underhill is. Anyway, Silver is not anyone to mess with, she is powerful, strong, brave and reckless but it’s fun to see her kicking butt.

+~ There is a reverse harem situation or menage a trois thing going on with Silver, Aaden who is a Seelie Fae and Cormac, who is an Unseelie Fae. Honestly didn’t know this going into the story, because I was definitely rooting for bad boy Cormac but it seems like for now she’s vibing with both guys. Thing is, I’m not the biggest fan of reverse harem but at least there isn’t five guys for her to choose from, two I can deal with. I’m not sure how I feel about the ending of this book yet – but it’s definitely not what I expected.

+ This is a very quick read at under 300 pages long. It’s definitely pure escapism especially if you love the world of Faerie. By the way I loved her bat companion Orry, she’s funny, she’s my favorite character I think.

~ I really need to know what the deal is with the thorns. There are so many questions and no answers yet.

~ Silver is feral and speaks that way. She doesn’t speak in long sentences until later in the book when she all of a sudden does? I kind of felt like that was distracting because then she reverted back to simple speech. That threw me off.

~ If this is a reverse harem/menage give us some steam. This one definitely is only a teaser of things to come. But there was always something stopping these three. Aaden is okay – he doesn’t intrigue me much. Cormac, definitely is the one I wanted her to end up with but I guess the theme of this book is “balance”…so we will see what will happen with this threesome.

Tropes: feral girl, reverse harem

Why you should read it:

you liked the Honey and Ice series
there is a reverse harem romance brewing with a feral girl, alpha male and a sweet male

Why you might not want to read it:

not into any mentioned above

My Thoughts:

I found the start of this series quite entertaining but I’m not sure how I feel about the romance aspect of it yet. I like Silver and her being feral, but it would be nice if she stayed in character especially with her speech. Orry was my favorite part of this book for sure. I’ll definitely give book two a try and see what happens after the cliffhanger ending we got in this book.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

A Court of Honey and Ash by. Shannon Mayer and Kelly St. Clare | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

A Throne of Feathers and Bone by. Shannon Mayer & Kelly St. Clare | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A Crown of Petals and Ice by. Shannon Mayer, Kelly St. Clare | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️

First Quiver by. Beth C. Greenberg | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: First Quiver (#1)

Author: Beth C. Greenberg

Format: paperback (gifted)

Pages: 302

Publication Date: 1/25/21

Publisher: Isotopia Publishing

Categories: Contemporary, Romance, Greek Mythology, Humor, Series, LGBT+

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

Thank you to Beth C. Greenberg for giving me a chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review!

Immortality isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, especially for the 3,375-year-old virgin of Mount Olympus.

Day after day, the God of Love launches his arrows, then watches from the sidelines while everyone else has all the fun. On a mischievous whim, Cupid sends a love-tipped arrow into the wrong rump—and the gods sentence him to a taste of his own medicine.

Banished from the only home he’s ever known, Cupid plunges to Earth and lands in present-day Tarra, Indiana, where mortals go on about their daily routines, oblivious to the capricious gods stirring the pot from above. Delighted to discover his wings and pubescent pudge have been transformed into a magnificent human body, Cupid swiftly leaves his virginity behind.

But his carnal spree is cut short when he falls passionately in love for the first time in his immortal life, and he understands the full measure of his punishment: he must find the Right Love match for the mortal he desperately loves, and then he must let her go.

Caught between two worlds on a quest to fix Love, Cupid must survive the violent throes of his own coming of age and triumph over the powerful gods conspiring against him. Failure will not be tolerated; success will cost him everything.

First Quiver is an irreverent, contemporary twist on mythology and the struggle between duty and love, a battle as old as the gods themselves.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book, First Quiver, but I like greek mythology so here’s what I thought:

+ This is a light-hearted, humorous and steamy story about Cupid falling from grace (onto Earth). Cupid is basically unleashed among humans and is learning about sex and trying to learn about love.

+ I thought it was interesting how it Cupid’s job as “cupid” to find the perfect love for the woman he’s now fallen in love with. What a conundrum! It was funny how Pan, his friend, was always trying to get Cupid back on track. I enjoyed all the greek mythology aspect of this book.

+ The supporting cast with the other fallen greek gods was interesting, especially Pan. Now Cupid may be losing his virginity to women, but what is this chemistry he has with his friend Pan? I was actually rooting for the two of them to get together! Cupid hooks up with women but there is an attraction and flirtation with Pan.

~ Story-wise I did like the humor but I wanted something more to happen. I know it’s a light-hearted read and it’s perfect for a quick reading experience. But I wanted to see what would happen with Cupid and Pan’s relationship. I wonder if the two of them hook up in the next book? This is a series so there is no full conclusion at the end of this first book – Cupid’s journey in love and lust continues in the next book

Why you should read it:

you want to read a light-hearted, humorous, steamy romance
you like greek mythology

Why you might not want to read it:

not into greek mythology or romance

My Thoughts:

If you are into greek mythology and want a light-hearted, steamy, romance book, definitely try this one!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon

Daughter of the Moon Goddess by. Sue Lynn Tan | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Daughter of the Moon Goddess (#1)

Author: Sue Lynn Tan

Format: paperback (own)

Pages: 512

Publication Date: 1/11/22

Publisher: Harper Voyager

Categories: Fantasy, Chinese Mythology, Romance, Adventure

A captivating debut fantasy inspired by the legend of Chang’e, the Chinese moon goddess, in which a young woman’s quest to free her mother pits her against the most powerful immortal in the realm.

Growing up on the moon, Xingyin is accustomed to solitude, unaware that she is being hidden from the feared Celestial Emperor who exiled her mother for stealing his elixir of immortality. But when Xingyin’s magic flares and her existence is discovered, she is forced to flee her home, leaving her mother behind.

Alone, powerless, and afraid, she makes her way to the Celestial Kingdom, a land of wonder and secrets. Disguising her identity, she seizes an opportunity to learn alongside the emperor’s son, mastering archery and magic, even as passion flames between her and the prince.

To save her mother, Xingyin embarks on a perilous quest, confronting legendary creatures and vicious enemies across the earth and skies. But when treachery looms and forbidden magic threatens the kingdom, she must challenge the ruthless Celestial Emperor for her dream—striking a dangerous bargain in which she is torn between losing all she loves or plunging the realm into chaos.

Daughter of the Moon Goddess begins an enchanting, romantic duology which weaves ancient Chinese mythology into a sweeping adventure of immortals and magic—where love vies with honor, dreams are fraught with betrayal, and hope emerges triumphant.

There are two reasons why I wanted to read this book. The cover is stunning and I heard of the legend of Chang’e, the moon goddess, from the cute Netflix movie my kids and watched 2 years ago called Over the Moon. We loved that movie and it was my first introduction to Chang’e and I loved her story. This is what I thought about the book:

+ The book cover is so gorgeous.

+ I loved that this was the story about Chang’e and Houyi’s secret child. The story about the couple is so heartbreaking but I loved how this book was about Xingyin, their daughter, and her love for her mother. She loved her so much she would do anything to free her from her punishment.

+ I enjoyed the action and adventure in the story. This story takes place in the Celestial Kingdom so the characters are immortals and there are monsters and even dragons. Xingyin is an amazing heroine who becomes a soldier and a great archer at that. She is away from her mother, and makes her life in enemy territory all with the goal of freeing her mother. I love her focus and determination.

+ The romance between Xingyin and Liwei is so sweet because it starts off as friendship and grows over the years into something more. But of course how can they be together when he is promised to someone else? Their love is full of angst and drama but I do love how their friendship is strong.

~ The romance involves a love triangle and I’m all for a girl keeping her options open after a heartbreak but clearly she wasn’t over Liwei and was rushing into whatever she was feeling with Wenzhi – even though I didn’t really feel it between them. He definitely felt like a rebound. So at the end when Wenzhi expresses how he feels about her, it felt a bit flat. I feel like Liwei will always be end game for her. I’ll have to read book two to find out!

~ For the most part I was engrossed in the story because I wanted to see if she could free her mother. But there are some moments in the middle of the story when I wondered if the story lost sight of the goal or I was wondering when it would loop back into saving Chang’e – and the story eventually gets there but there are a lot of other things in the way. I just felt like the story wasn’t straightforward and it took Xingyin too long to save her mom – I was like…did she forget about her? Clearly she didn’t but it felt that way for a few moments.

Why you should read it:

fantasy and Chinese mythology about Chang’e (but this mostly about her daughter)
romance, adventure, world-building

Why you might not want to read it:

there is a love triangle

My Thoughts:

I’m so glad I finally read this one and I didn’t have super high expectations because I’m reading this a year later so I actually enjoyed this a lot despite some issues I had with it. I don’t like the love triangle but I am convinced she will end up with Liwei. I also wish there was more about Chang’e in the story but in the end it did pull my heartstrings because of Xingyin’s love for her family. Am I going to read book two? Yes most likely since I have the story fresh in my head.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon

Stardust in Their Veins by. Laura Sebastian| ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Stardust in Their Veins (Castles in Their Bones, #2)

Author: Laura Sebastian

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 576

Publication Date: 2/6/23

Publisher: Delacorte Press for Young Readers

Categories: Young Adult, Fantasy, Series, Political Intrigue

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

Immerse yourself in the second book in a fantasy trilogy from the New York Times bestselling author of the Ash Pricess series. The sequel to Castles in Their Bones is the story of three princesses and the destiny they were born for: seduction, conquest, and the crown.

Princesses Beatriz and Daphne have lost their older sister, but their mother’s grand scheme of taking the continent of Vesteria is far from complete. With the country of Temarin now under the Empress’s control, only the nations of Cellaria and Friv remain free from her rule. What’s worse, an ominous prophecy has begun to shine through the constellations: the blood of stars and majesty spilled.

Usurped by conniving cousins Nico and Gigi, Beatriz fears for her life, while in icy Friv, Daphne continues her shaky alliance with the rebels even as she struggles to stay a step ahead of them. But when an unlikely ally offers Beatriz a deal, she finds herself back in her mother’s sights.

With enemies around every corner and the stars whispering of betrayal, Daphne and Beatriz can’t trust anyone–least of all each other. If they’ve learned anything, though, it’s that the Empress’s game is constantly changing. And the arrival of surprise visitors from Temarin just might tip the scales in the princesses’ favor . . . if they manage to avoid meeting their sister’s fate before they can make their next move.

Content Warning: kidnapping, poisoning, grief

Stardust in Their Veins is the sequel to Castles in Their Bones, which I read last year and found very unique and intriguing. The story continues in this story filled with political intrigue – this is what I thought about the book:

+ One sister is gone, and two are left. I did love Sophie’s story in book one. I feel like Beatriz is the beauty and Daphne is the brains but Sophie was the heart between the three of them. So I was sad she wasn’t in this story but I think it was time to get to know Daphne much better. There is more time in this book to get to know both sisters actually and surprisingly the stories adds a third voice, Violie.

+ There is a lot of political intrigue going on in this story because of the different kingdoms and how Daphne’s mother wants to rule them all. The remaining daughters now realize they need to team up and take their mother down – but what will it take?

+ I liked Beatriz’ story in this sequel because we get a better idea about how they were created and the whole magic about the stars and constellations. I’m curious to see how Beatriz’ power helps or hinders their mission in the next book. Daphne was never my favorite because I felt she was the last one to break from her mom but I think there is a lot of growth in her in this sequel.

~ It took me awhile to get into the story. I think it lags in the middle but starts to pick up a lot closer to the end – and of course it’s another cliffhanger ending.

~ There is no romance in this one. Bairre and Daphne are going through some things and Beatriz and Pas was on the run, plus Pas is with Ambrose. I think there will be more in the next book maybe? But this one had nothing.

~ Did they really have to change the cover style? I feel like the first book and this one do not match at all!

Tropes: sisters trying to take down their evil mother

Why you should read it:

you enjoyed the first book in the series
I think the magic with the stardust and how the girls were made is very interesting and unique
the bond between sisters

Why you might not want to read it:

didn’t like the first book

My Thoughts:

The story continues with more political plots to foil and not knowing who to trust. Can Beatriz and Daphne outsmart their own mother? We get more time with Beatriz and Daphne and see their characters grow. I miss Sophie but now there is another voice in the mix, Violie. I’m definitely interested to see how this story ends and I hope there is a bit more romance in the next book as well. Despite the lag in the story in the middle, I still found it entertaining and look forward to book three!

Book Links:

Goodreads

Castles in Their Bones by. Laura Sebastian | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

A Guide to Being Just Friends by. Sophie Sullivan| ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: A Guide to Being Just Friends (Jansen Brothers, #3)

Author: Sophia Sullivan

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 336

Publication Date: 1/17/23

Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin

Categories: Romance, Slow Burn, Friends to Lovers, Series, Contemporary

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!

A playful and emotional romantic comedy from the author of Ten Rules for Faking It

Hailey Sharp has a one-track mind. Get By the Cup salad shop off the ground. Do literally everything possible to make it a success. Repeat. With a head full of entrepreneurial ideas and a bad ex in her rearview, her one and only focus is living life the way she wants to. No distractions.

Wes Jansen never did understand the fuss about relationships. With a string of lackluster first dates and the pain from his parents’ angry divorce following him around, he’d much rather find someone who he likes, but won’t love. Companionship, not passion, is the name of the game.

When Hailey and Wes find each other in a disastrous meet cute that wasn’t even intended for them, they embarrassingly go their separate ways. But when Wes finds Hailey to apologize for his behavior, they strike a friendship. Because that’s all this can be. Hailey doesn’t want any distractions. Wes doesn’t want to fall in love.

What could possibly go wrong?

Content Warning:

I’ve done it again where I requested a book not knowing it’s part of a series! But that’s okay, I felt like you could read this one without reading the first two. Here’s what I thought:

+ If you like friends to lovers and slow burn romance, you will like this one. Hailey and Wes start off on the wrong foot but right away start to be friends. Their friendship grows and they get to know one another as Hailey tries to build her salad business. And eventually they get a happily ever after.

+ It’s a clean, easy, sweet romance.

+ There is a great chemistry between the large cast, and yes it’s a large cast because there are two books before this one. Hailey is new in town but Wes and his brothers and their other halves really start to welcome her into their circle.

~ It started off good but I just wanted more and I got a bit bored. I need a little steam.

~ As I mentioned, I went into this book not knowing it’s book three. And though it felt like a standalone – I wonder if reading the first two would alter my opinion about this book? Not sure.

Tropes: new girl in town, friends to lovers, slow burn

Why you should read it:

you like a easy, sweet friends to lovers romance, a slow burn
you read the other books in the series

Why you might not want to read it:

it’s the third book in the series

My Thoughts:

This one didn’t work for me, but I know it will work for many romance readers who love the friends to lovers trope. Also if you like a slow burn with no steam, this one is for you. I don’t think I’d have requested this one if I knew it was book three, but I think it reads fine as a standalone.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon

Heartbreaker by. Sarah MacLean | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Heartbreaker (Hell’s Belles, #2)

Format: ebook (borrowed)

Author: Sarah MacLean

Pages: 391

Publication Date: 8/22/22

Categories: Romance, Historical Romance

New York Times bestselling author Sarah MacLean follows her highly acclaimed Bombshell with Heartbreaker, featuring a fierce, fearless heroine on a mission to steal a duke’s secrets…and his heart.

A Princess of Thieves

Raised among London’s most notorious criminals, a twist of fate landed Adelaide Frampton in the bright ballrooms of Mayfair, where she masquerades as a quiet wallflower—so plain and unassuming that no one realizes she’s the Matchbreaker…using her superior skills as a thief to help brides avoid the altar.

A King of Reputation

Henry, Duke of Clayborn, has spent a lifetime living in perfection. He has no time for the salacious gossip that arises every time the Matchbreaker ends another groom. His own reputation is impeccable—and the last thing he needs is a frustrating, fascinating woman discovering the truth of his past, or the secrets he holds close.

A Royal Match

When the two find themselves on a breakneck journey across Britain to stop a wedding, it’s impossible for Clayborn to resist this woman who both frustrates and fascinates him. But late-night carriage rides make for delicious danger…and soon Adelaide is uncovering Clayborn’s truths, throwing his well-laid plans into chaos…and threatening to steal his heavily guarded heart.

Content Warning: violence

I haven’t read a historical romance in SO long but Sarah MacLean is a must-read author for me so I had to read her newest book. This is what I thought:

+ It’s Sarah MacLean and she writes historical romance the way I like it and this book is no exception. There is swoon worthy romance, chemistry, spicy sexy scenes, humor and a fun cast of characters!

+ I love Adelaide as our heroine! She’s the thief of the Hell’s Belles with a shady past – I love that she’s from the streets and the daughter of a notorious leader of a gang. She’s smart, brave, and drives the Duke of Clayborn, Henry, crazy. She has her insecurities from growing up without parental love but Henry is going to show her in every way possible he’s noticed her for a long time. Henry is a stable love interest – he has the ducal airs but has a secret of his own. They are a perfect match!

+ The romance is fantastic and I like that Addie is the one who makes the first move. They have great chemistry and the scenes between them are filled with tension, heat and eventually love – it’s so well done. I loved it and it made me miss historical romance books! I love all the emotions and the room for humor even at a climactic scene.

+ I’m excited to read Imogen’s story! A plus-size, short, young woman with a love for explosives? Yes!

~ I did feel like we didn’t know much about Henry until we hear about his secret but it didn’t make my reading less enjoyable.

Tropes: close proximity

Spice Level: 🌶🌶🌶

Why you should read it:

this is historical romance at it’s finest, full of romance, chemistry, heat and a happy ever after
the cast of characters is so much fun – yes this is about Addie and Henry falling in love but the Hell’s Belles are an amazing group of young women
you read the first book in the series, Bombshell – this one is way better

Why you might not want to read it:

not into the Hell’s Belles series

My Thoughts:

This book is so much fun from the action, the romance, the sexy times and the cast of characters. I wasn’t sure if I was going to read this one because I liked Bombshell but I didn’t love it – but this one I love a lot. I felt all the emotions I want to feel when I read a historical romance. I love Addie and Henry as a couple. I’m looking forward to book three!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other books by this author that I have reviewed on my blog:

Bombshell by. Sarah MacLean | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Daring and the Duke | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book Review: Brazen and the Beast ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Belladonna by. Adalyn Grace | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Belladonna (#1)

Format: ebook (own)

Author: Adalyn Grace

Pages: 416

Publication Date: 8/29/22

Categories: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult, New Adult, Gothic, Mystery, Paranormal

New York Times bestselling author Adalyn Grace brings to life a highly romantic, Gothic-infused world of wealth, desire, and betrayal.

Orphaned as a baby, nineteen-year-old Signa has been raised by a string of guardians, each more interested in her wealth than her well-being—and each has met an untimely end. Her remaining relatives are the elusive Hawthornes, an eccentric family living at Thorn Grove, an estate both glittering and gloomy. Its patriarch mourns his late wife through wild parties, while his son grapples for control of the family’s waning reputation and his daughter suffers from a mysterious illness. But when their mother’s restless spirit appears claiming she was poisoned, Signa realizes that the family she depends on could be in grave danger and enlists the help of a surly stable boy to hunt down the killer.

However, Signa’s best chance of uncovering the murderer is an alliance with Death himself, a fascinating, dangerous shadow who has never been far from her side. Though he’s made her life a living hell, Death shows Signa that their growing connection may be more powerful—and more irresistible—than she ever dared imagine.

Content Warning: poisoning, illness, death, grief

I have finally read the book everyone is talking about and I feel like the hype is well deserved. Here’s what I thought:

+ This book has a little bit of everything! Romance, mystery and gothic vibes and all of it worked so well together. Usually mysteries can be too slow for me, but I was totally engaged in this story. There are a few twists in this story that was so good – it makes me wonder what book two will bring!

+ Signa is no wilting flower – she’s been basically been passed off from relative to relative all her life. I love that she is optimistic even with Death always near her. I like how she helps her cousin even though she barely knows her. She’s not afraid when most people would be. And I love Death too – I mean, what a gentleman and so unexpected! Who knew he could be such a romantic figure. But I love how he isn’t an evil entity because really what is life without death? They have great chemistry and their love story is sweet and romantic.

+ A mystery always needs a good cast of characters to make us keep guessing and though I had my suspicions who was the villain, I still wasn’t spot on with my assessment. I love the paranormal aspect of the story and how Signa can see spirits. It really had everything I want in a gothic mystery and I actually wish I read this near Halloween!

+ This could have been a standalone book with how questions were answered at the end but I love the twist in the end! Glad we will get a sequel.

Tropes: Death is a character, a girl who cannot die

Spice Level: 🌶🌶

Why you should read it:

it’s a dark fantasy with Death as a character, ghosts, mystery, gothic vibes and romance
the mystery about what is happening at Thorn Grove kept me on my toes
the romance between Death and Signa

Why you might not want to read it:

not into Death falling in love? lol

My Thoughts:

I waited to read this one because I wanted the hype to die down and go in with lower expectations and I’m glad I waited. I fell in love with this story about Signa and Death. The dark tones, mystery, ghosts and gothic vibes were captivating and kept me engaged with the story. The romance between Signa and Death I thought was unexpectedly sweet and romantic. I’m looking forward to reading the sequel!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Ledge by. Stacey McEwan | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Ledge (The Glacian Trilogy, #3)

Format: ebook (own)

Author: Stacey McEwan

Pages: 271

Publication Date: 10/30/21

Categories: Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy

After being randomly selected as a human sacrifice, instead of death, Dawsyn finds herself on a quest to save her people from their icy prison…
—

In a place known as the Ledge, a civilization is trapped by a vast chasm and sheer mountain face. There is no way for anyone to escape the frozen wasteland without befalling a deathly drop. They know nothing of the outside world except that it is where the Glacians reside – mystical and vicious winged creatures who bring meagre rations in exchange for a periodic human sacrifice.

Dawsyn, ax wielder and only remaining member of her family, has so far avoided the annual culling, but her luck has run out. She is chosen and ripped from her icy home, the only world she knows. No one knows what will happen to her on the other side, least of all Dawsyn. Murdered? Enslaved? Worse?

Fortunately, a half-Glacian called Ryon offers to help them both escape, but how can she trust one of the very creatures that plagued her life? Dawsyn is a survivor, and she is not afraid to cut anyone down to live.

With a slow-burning romance, high stakes and even higher rewards, this richly created new fantasy series by popular TikToker Stacey McEwan will keep you gripped to the very end.

*Content warnings* gratuitous violence & death; death of a minor; suicide; attempted sexual assault

Content Warning: gratuitous violence & death; death of a minor; suicide; attempted sexual assault

Why did I choose to read this? I was on the east coast – cold…and saw this cover, read the synopsis and bought it on a whim. Why not read a book about the cold, while I’m cold? 😆 Here’s what I thought:

+ I enjoyed the beginning of this story a lot – the setting is cold, raw, and you get a really good sense of this place called the Ledge where people are dying, starving and trying hard to survive before these creatures called The Glacians come to take them away. I thought it was pretty unique.

+ This story of Dawsyn who is this ax wielding, strong young woman turns into a romantasy pretty fast. It’s a book under 300 pages, but once Ryon comes into the picture, you know where this is going, so it’s a bit insta-lovey but I didn’t mind it. I won’t call it a fated mates trope book because they don’t come out and say it – but if you like fated mates tropes, you will enjoy this one. Ryon and Dawsyn are meant to be and I like how they take care of one another. They have great chemistry in and out of bed!

+ Life on the Ledge is brutal and it makes sense that Dawsyn is always up for a fight and violent with no qualms about it. She has to deal with sexual assault, physical challenges when it comes to living in the brutal cold and it was interesting to see how much softer Ryon was than she is.

~+ I feel like there were some similarities to SJM books when it came to the pool of magic the Glacians used to get power – it reminded me of the Cauldron in ACOTAR. Also the Glacians have wings and can fly which reminds of Rhys – so although the Ledge part of the story felt unique, the rest reminded me of SJM stories, so if you are a fan of her books, you may enjoy this one.

~ I love Ryon and Dawsyn’s attraction to one another and yes they definitely have chemistry but I wish he would stop calling her “girl”. It annoyed me for some reason, even though I knew he said it to get under her skin.

~ I think there could have been more world building because the Ledge setting is fascinating and a lot of what made Dawsyn was because she survived this setting. I just needed more of it and especially when she and Ryon make the trek down the slope.

Tropes: survival of the fittest, instalove, secret bloodline

Spice Level: 🌶🌶🌶

Why you should read it:

you like romantasy
the setting of the Ledge, with it’s brutal winter is great and you feel immersed in it
Dawsyn has a great survival story and a strong will to live

Why you might not want to read it:

needs more world-building
not into books similar to SJM stories

My Thoughts:

I read this one pretty quick and it helped that it’s under 300 pages. I love the setting and the brutal winter which shows just how amazing Dawsyn is for her to survive as long as she did alone. I enjoyed that it is a romantasy because that’s what I was looking for at the time I got this book and it delivered with Ryon and Dawsyn’s growing relationship and wild attraction to one another. I do think the story could use more world-building but other than that I look forward to reading book two.