“You’re telling it all wrong, Dahlia.” “Am I?” “You are. He didn’t hate her. He loved her so much that it was like holding his heart outside of his body.”
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 chickens
Ugh. My heart. I know that for a long while there, I was as confused as Wyatt was. But as the story progressed, I figured out so much and then I was emotionally gutted. So that was fun. I really enjoyed this one. Witches and cults and rituals, immortal beings and love. Always love. Young love, friendship love, all of it. This was just so, so good. There was definitely some parts that could have been fleshed out more, so that’s why there isn’t a 5 star, but it wasn’t so much as to take away from anything for me. I know there are some really negative reviews on this one, but I don’t agree with them, hence, my own review. I thoroughly enjoyed this one.
“All those years wondering what a real kiss from Peter might taste like, and now she knew. He tasted like a tragedy. An end, before they’d even begun.”
And with this one, I am only 2 books away from my reading goal this year, which means I will surpass it once again! I’m so excited!
I was able to take some time and catch up on some ARC’s that I was behind on while I was on vacation this weekend! I was in Colorado surprising my brother for his 30th birthday, so you best BELIEVE I was on that flight there and back reading those books!!! I had two very different genres of books, one was definitely more romantasy and one was straight smut romance. Ok, onward!
By the Lockpick and the Lyre by Mariah Montoya (book 3 of the Esholian Institute)
Rating: 5 out of 5 Good Council members…
I am behind on reviewing this but OMG Mariah Montoya did it again. I was so excited to get the ARC for the newest book in the Esholian Institute series that I devoured this. Even with the time in between novels, I was able to pick this up right where I left off and become totally immersed in the narrative. I feel like Montoya does a great job of plugging plot holes as she goes, and not leaving anything but a cliffhanger to keep you interested. Rayna and Coen, but this point, have been through so much and this was definitely “it’s going to get worse before it gets better”. The cast of characters were just amazing and of course there was devastation everywhere. I sincerely can’t wait until the next book and to see where the storyline goes from here.
*ARC received from the author for review*
Rules and Reservations by Michele Elizabeth
Rating: 4 out of 5 consent checks
This was such a fun book. I knew going into it that it was going to be spicy and a why choose but I think what I really appreciated was just how much character development there was and how much thought was truly put in to show what the kink world is truly like. Yes, consent IS key and I loved just how often the guys checked in with our FMC and how she was able to do that with them as well. What brings this down to a 4 instead of a 5 star is Garrett. To be honest, I don’t feel like he had nearly the chemistry with Amanda as she does with Eaton and Wells. They truly took some time to get to know her, and it was just insta lust/love with Garrett. To me, that really kind of ruined the epilogue for me too. I felt like it was too close to the way author Emily Rath handles her own stories that are like this (Pucking Around and the Second Sons series). I had that same gripe about her books too. Still, I thoroughly enjoyed this, and am grateful to the author for sending me an ARC for review. I will likely continue the series because I did enjoy this!
*ARC received from the author for review*
Before those, I went on a crazy novella reading spree. To see those reviews, please visit my Goodreads page and check them out, as well as see what books I’m currently reading.
I haven’t done an ARC review in a minute so let’s get to it! This is a direct copy of my review on Goodreads, so if you’ve seen it there, you’ll see it here too!
ARC: Wild Open Country by Sunny del Williams
Rating: 4 out of 5 chickens
Let me start by saying that OMG I wish I had found this author sooner! There were times I just sat there SMILING at the interaction between Grace and John (or Gracie and Johnny as they call each other). Clare was a DARLING too! The way del Williams writes her MC’s is just *chef’s kiss*. They both had their hang ups but communicated fairly decently with each other. The age gap can be hard on communication but I think it was handled with care. Now, was there definitely some communication issues?? Of course, it’s not romance without SOME kind of conflict, but it wasn’t long and drawn out, which I appreciate. Honestly, my only critique (and what brings it down from 5 to 4 stars) is the slight inconsistency with the age of Clare. We start chapter one with Clare being four and a half. Ok cool. But then like a page later, we are talking about Clare starting Kindergarten (which I looked up and in the area this is set in, you have to be 5 by December 31). Ok I can get behind this, it works. So then we get the backstory of Grace and Johnny meeting and their tryst that they had that summer….which happened six years ago. But part of the storyline is Grace wondering if Johnny is Clare’s father…which he COULDN’T be if they fooled around 6 years ago, because Clare is too young. So….yea. That whole part really threw me off and it made me a little frustrated because it was messing with the timeline which throws off part of the plot. Also…definitely was not a fan of Grace’s dad. I think maybe he could have been fleshed out more, showed that he was actually a caring dad and not an absent minded one? IDK, he just…was not my favorite and the author kept trying to make a case for him and I just wasn’t buying it, I guess. That being said, I loved seeing a little of Johnny’s family (his sister sounds like a RIOT and Luke is a cinnamon roll, protect him) and I loved the glimpse we had of Marissa, Gracie’s best friend. I wish we had gotten more of her aunt, she seemed like she would be awesome to get to know also. I really did enjoy this book, it was an easy to love story and I’m so glad I was chosen to read an ARC prior to publication. I will absolutely be devouring her other series!
*I was graciously given an ARC of this book by the author*
I was so excited to read this book, it had been on my TBR after listening to my local library podcast where the librarians spoke so highly of this book. Then…I promptly forgot about getting it on my hold list! So now, here we are, and the review is in!
All of Us Murderers by K.J. Charles
Rating: 5 out of 5 crazy relatives
Oh gosh. I’m not entirely sure what it was that I thought I was getting into but I loved every second of it. Miscommunication trope? ✅ Crazy family trope? ✅ Mysterious family history trope? ✅ LQBTQIA+ representation done without it being mocking or for simply being a check box on a list? ✅
I truly loved the relationship between Zeb and Gideon. Their animosity stemming from them being unable to clearly communicate only to FINALLY communicate and then realize they need each other not just emotionally but like to get out alive?! Yes please!!!!
This family was a true nightmare though, holy moly. I hated Zeb’s brother, he was truly awful. Actually, ALL the men, bar Gideon and Zeb, were truly terrible. Granted it seems to speak of the rakish nature of men back then and what they were allowed, and still are allowed to do, simply because they have status and money. Abhorrent. The ending was, I think, justified.
I would definitely read this again, it was quick, fun and didn’t take itself too seriously, though there were certainly themes that were very serious. I think this was truly done well.
I am so SO glad that I read this. It was a super quick read, but fun and a little twisted, but a game changer on the typical stuck in a house mystery.
I had quite the time with reading this last week! I was on a mission to get some Goodreads Challenges done before the September 14th deadline and boy did I!
Up first: Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
Rating: all 8 tentacles
What started as a book that I wasn’t sure I was going to finish, became a book that made me cry over it. Wow. What a story, about grief, about loss, about aging, about finding family. Just stunning. Marcellus was by far the best part of that story. His brief narrations were amazing. Tova’s story was so sad but she was a superstar. And Cameron, once I stopped being annoyed by him, really was just a guy who had a bunch of crap luck. The town and the area of Puget Sound seemed like just the perfect setting and I longed to be there so many times. This was just such a genuine and heartfelt book. I loved listening to it, the audio narrators were amazing. I chuckled, I gasped and I cried.
I really do want to watch this now, knowing that Sally Field is playing Tova.
Then: Dead Eleven by Jimmy Juilano
Rating: 5 out of 5 VCR’s
Now THIS is the creepy horror I was looking for this past weekend. Whew. I might be dreaming about dead things for a while. Willow and her grief…honestly, I’m not sure I wouldn’t be acting the same if it were me. My kiddo is my life. Clifford Island is a super creepy place. To be stuck in 1994 is a…choice. It kind of reminded me of the Wayward Pines trilogy, except you can come and go as you please on the island. The real creepy factor is the psychological aspect of it all. Of something evil preying on your grief and misery. Of never being able to escape it or move on from it. Lily was a firecracker of a character. I enjoyed her time with Willow. I loved the way the book was written, almost epistolary, which is my favorite way to read a book. Truly a great horror novel.
Finally: Every Summer After by Carley Fortune
Rating: 3 out of 5 pierogies
Well dang it all. This was an emotional gut punch the whole way through. I really enjoyed reading this as flashbacks and present time, with the present being at an age I could at least somewhat relate to, as I’m in my 30’s. A story about growing up and young love, and making mistakes and owning up to them, this had it all. I actually really appreciated seeing the growth that our FMC (Percy) had. I also appreciated seeing apologies happen and that they were meant, not just said to say them to be absolved. Percy and Sam really went through it and absolutely had some devastating things happen to them. I wish we had seen a little more of Delilah and Chantal, especially Chantal, because I think Percy really needed to have people on her side. Either way, this was such a beautiful story, some amazing lines that I HAD to highlight/tab, which I only really do on some books, but this one had some doozies. I think this was the author’s debut work and she really hit it out of the park.
*I ended up editing this review on Goodreads and I want to add that edit here*
editing my review once I’ve had some time with this…I realized that while I liked it, I liked it precisely because it was very similar to another book and I kept thinking “I know romances tend to be similar but this is another thing entirely, why does it seem familiar?” and BOOM – because it’s just like Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren, which I LOVED (I still think about it occasionally too). I also have to agree with others that the twist was kinda…there in plain sight, though I disagree with readers that it’s SOLEY on Percy…Charlie had a hand in that too. But the end was definitely rushed, and I feel like, even though Sam forgave a long time ago, there should have been just a little more in the present, since Percy didn’t know. The makeup was just…to swift, I think. So rating moved to 3 stars from 5. Also, I’m noticing that for the show, I feel like the actors they chose look SO YOUNG, and I thought they were supposed to be in their 30’s?? And why does the guy who plays Sam look…nothing like the description in the book??? Same with Charlie? Am I missing something?? (edited review ends here).
I did not realize that this was a series on Amazon Prime and now I am intrigued and want to watch it…
Now, I am currently listening to I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy, and it’s…whew. That’s going to need it’s own review when I’m done. Everyone let this poor woman down. I’m surprised she is still standing.
Hey there! Here’s some more fun! I have a few books (ok, more than a few), but I swear, I’m going to get better at this!
UP FIRST: Student Union by Julie Murphy
Rating: 4 out of 5 fake marriages
I really needed this palette cleanser, a HEA after the roller coaster of emotions I’ve been on the last week and half. Bennett Graves is a snotty Rich Kid and Clover Walsh is decidedly not. But their history is something that Clover decides to lean on when she realizes that her housing situation at college needs to be changed and quick. So she asks him to marry her for the housing perk. Thus begins the whole trope of former friends to lovers, one bed, forced proximity, etc. I did enjoy seeing the characters fully fleshed out, though sometimes they acted both older than their ages and exactly their ages. Bennett was definitely a dick for a good portion of the book, but I think he was also just trying to protect himself from more pain. Clover gave as good as she got though. They both hurt each other but Bennett needed to grow up to learn how to apologize to Clover for the pain he caused her when they were young. I did really enjoy this though. It was a quick read for me (finished in a day, few hours at most) and I will likely go ahead and read the next book in the series.
NEXT UP: Where You See Yourself by Claire Forrest
Rating: 5 out of 5 ADA Compliant Colleges
As a non disabled person, I will never have to navigate the challenges of the world they way those that are will have to. I am very grateful and thankful for that. Reading this, though, made me so much more aware of all the way we let our disabled community down. I work at a university. A MAJOR university, where I know we still have plenty of work to do to make people of all backgrounds feel seen and supported and valued. This book highlighted challenges that I would have never even thought of. I want to be challenged and I want to be able to be a better ally. I never want to make someone feel the way Effie did about navigating the world. She shouldn’t have to feel that way. I loved her little community, her parents and her sister were quite possibly the best humans in the world. I loved that she fought and made up with her bestie, Harper. I did that in high school too and now I’m still friends with mine 20+ years later. And I love that she figured out (with some nudging) how to truly advocate for herself and for future students. She was amazing. Wilder was great too, that he saw her chair but didn’t see it as something negative, it was just a part of her. He never made it seem like it was a burden. He was an amazing young man. I honestly would love to see this as a sequel, her first year in college, maybe coming home for the summer and seeing her friends and family. Just so we can see her growth and her view on the world. This was a phenomenal book. 100/10 would read again and again.
NEXT: Heated Rivalry and The Long Game by Rachel Reid
Ratings: 3 out of 5 Stanley Cups (HR) and 5 out of 5 GOALS (TLG)
Heated Rivalry: Well I have to say, I definitely think the second half of the book made up for the absolute mess of the first half. I’m all for smut and smut for smut sake but this was supposed to also be them like falling in love and stuff and…we didn’t really get there? Like I loved their banger and some of the sex was super hot but really it was all lust and anger and then BOOM they love each other and I just…didn’t buy it. I wish the slow burn that happened at the end had happened in the middle. It would have given the story more substance. I’ll probably still go read their next part of the series, but this one wasn’t as strong as other hockey romances I’ve read, or even other MM romances.
The Long Game: Ok I liked this one WAY MORE than the first one. There is so much more character development and the dive into mental health and homophobia with hockey culture was so good. Ilya is a precious cinnamon roll and I will hear no slander. Also, Anya is the best puppers. I also appreciated that Shane got his mess together, because he was really starting to get on my nerves but again, CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT! It was all here in this one. The smut and spice was still hot but it was also so tender. I just really really liked this one so much more. I’m glad I read the first one so that I could get here to this part of Ilya and Shane’s story. I can’t believe I have to wait until June for the next one. 😩
ALMOST DONE: In Stormy Weather by Chelsea Curto
Rating: 5 out of 5 crazy storms and podcasts
OBSESSED. I love a good “guy is ultimate simp for FMC” and LORDY IF SEBASTIAN WASN’T THE BIGGEST SIMP! 😍😍😍Quincy and Sebastian’s banter with each other had me cracking up laughing and sometimes just blushing-I can’t believe it took her so long to figure it out! I knew my boy was down bad for her from the beginning! This was like the ultimate pulling on the pigtails because he likes you. There were a few times in the beginning that I was like “ugh he better not be a huge jerk that has some crazy turn around and boom we have to like him”. No. No he was just obsessed with Quincy the whole dang time. I really loved, though, how much time we get with each Quincy and Sebastian with their friends. It really fleshed out the friend and friend group too, which I loved. Yes, they are side characters, but they also had substance. I really hope we get more books with Harlow and Mia and Cooper and Nate. Above all, I’m always down for a good disaster movie or documentary and having all that sprinkled into the plot?! Sign. Me. UP! I absolutely devoured this. It’s definitely on my favorite list for summer reading. Maybe even the year so far. If only all the world loved like these two did. 💜 What a story.
FINALLY: Icebreaker by Hannah Grace
Rating: 4 out of 5 skating rinks
I almost gave this a 5, and I did really enjoy it. It was a fun, easy read. I think the big reason why it’s not a 5 is because I kind of feel like there are some plots that don’t really get resolved. Like, we get a hint of Nate’s dad and him talking out what happened but then…nothing. Same with Anastasia and Aaron. Like, there’s sort of a resolution but it wasn’t satisfying for me. There were definitely parts of the book that were a little tedious (honestly, Anastasia annoyed me sometimes) but I did appreciate the mental health inclusion and the body image/food issues that women face. Having that worked out in a healthy way was amazing. I honestly think there were some parts that seemed excessive to the story, but overall, it was a decent book.
OK – I swear, I’m not going to leave this so long again! I’m currently listening to the audiobook of Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt and I am loving it. Hope to have a review for that soon!
So after being gone for FAR TOO LONG (I’m sorry, please forgive me), I have a few book reviews to give you. I also just went to the Emily Rath book tour here in Detroit for her new release DEVOUR ME and OMG it was the best time! I love her books so much. Was able to get some signed books and chat with both her and B.B. Reid, it was amazing! Now, on to the reviews!
Willing Prey by Allie Oleander
Rating: 4 out of 5 lawyers
I have to admit that I wasn’t sure what I expected from this book but boy did I like it! Came out swinging right out the gate and it was HOT!🥵 The first time we meet Shane, I was ready to be just like Claire! Then as the story goes, and we see these two figure out that they are falling for each other, you realize that yea, these two work in a fun way. Keith is a jerk and Claire was too good for him. Margot and Gretchen though were hilarious. I wish we would have had more of Claire’s bestie but since Claire was “living” with Shane, it makes sense to have just had those in that household. I feel like the ending was a bit rushed but I’m glad we got an epilogue…not gonna lie, I wish some of the epilogue showed some of the aftermath of Keith but I also understand that that storyline was done.
Good book and I will most likely read the next one when it’s out!
First-Time Caller by B.K. Borison
Rating: 4 out of 5 late-night radio calls
I loved this book. The four stars instead of 5 are for two reasons: 1) I struggled with the MMC name bc…it’s my son’s name. So that was hard to get around lol. 2) there was all this build up between Aiden and Lucie, and we got to see Lucie interact a TON with her side crew (Maya, Greyson, Mateo, even the guys at the shop) and we got like…barely anything with Aiden and his crew until the end, nor did we get much interaction between him and Lucie’s crew or vice versa. As someone who dates while raising a kid, that interaction is SO important and I feel like it was just barely included. I know women shouldn’t all be reduced to being a mom but like, dating someone, bringing them around? That’s usually HUGE for a parent and I really feel like we missed out on some golden opportunities for Aiden to not just fall in love with Lucie, but with Maya and even the silly family they have with Greyson and Mateo. Watching Lucie and Aiden fall together was so worth it though.
Overall, this was very sweet and I definitely smiled pretty much the whole way through. It is definitely also a slow burn with not a ton of smut, so if you’re looking for that, this isn’t really your book. I will absolutely venture and read the others by this author and would recommend this to someone who believes in the magic of love or who needs to find that magic again. 💜
And Now, Back to You by B.K. Borison
Rating: 5 out of 5 post it notes
This is everything I wanted First Time Caller to be. More development of the characters, more interactions with their respective friends and families, more…everything. Again, if you’re looking for a tone of spice, you won’t find it here but this is such a great love story. Jackson is the epitome of a hot nerd and I loved, nay, absolutely adored, Delilah. Her personality was just what Jackson needed to help him realize that it is ok to have life be a little chaotic. His sisters were hilarious though. And the tv crew that Delilah worked with (minus Keith, that absolute jerk) were the best kind of found family.
All in all, a fantastic and heartwarming story. 10/10 would read again.
Note: I got all of these as part of my Probably Smut monthly subscription, so I had to find these pics of those covers specifically because LOOK AT THEM!!!!
Now I am off to go read a MASSIVE backlog of books I have. Toodles!
Romance instalove, which is pretty normal in the romance genre, so I’m not mad at it! We begin by meeting Dallas Northlane and his pregnant wife, Samantha, having a picnic by the water. We then fast forward a few years, and Dallas and his daughter are heading to a funeral. A few more years, and we are in the present, Dallas is taking his daughter to school and he meets her music teacher, Annabeth Harrington. And what a Meet Cute (or Meet Lust!) it is! They are both completely enamored with each other right away. Dallas is nervous for a variety of reasons, one of which is the age gap between them, and Annabeth is scared because, well, he’s the parent of one of her students! But they just can’t seem to stop running into each other all over this small town. The side characters are also fleshed out to give them some substance, which I appreciate. I loved Dallas’s brother Colt, and Annabeth’s friend group, especially Ella, her roommate and best friend. I loved the setup of the POV’s for this, I think books where we get both MC’s perspectives are my favorite. The spice was SPICING and Dallas definitely knew what he was doing in the bedroom…whew! Made me almost blush! I also loved how vulnerable Dallas was when he finally talked to Annabeth about his past, especially about his wife. That vulnerability and willingness to open up is so sexy to me. Honestly, the only thing that made this not a 5 star for me was the incredibly fast time they took to say I love you. That took me right out of the story. I thin kif they had said something like “I could see me falling in love with you” that would be one thing, but they barely knew each other-I think the timeline is something like 2 weeks-so that was just so unrealistic, especially given the emotional trauma both Dallas and Annabeth had gone through in their lives. Plus, as a dad, he was very clearly thinking with his dick and not his brain. As someone who is a single parent (though I’ve been with my partner for a decade now), it took me almost 3 years before I said anything along those lines and it was almost a year before he even MET my kid. Granted, Annabeth knows his daughter, but still. That’s a big shake up for an 8 year old. His daughter was also written as if she was a teenager, not a child, so that threw me a little. Occasionally, there would be some dialogue that would show her age, but not always. Either way, these issues were not so egregious that I needed to rate this any lower than a 4 star for me. This was certainly a great story and I cannot wait to get into the second book!
*I received this ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review*
Yep. I knew it. I knew I was going to love this story so freaking much. After the last book, I knew Jordan and Tate’s story was going to just crush me in all the best ways. And I was right. I loved Jordan’s character, watching her figure out how to trust and learn to lean on people. I loved how devoted Tate was to Bea, and how well he had a relationship with Bea’s mother. That was so fun to watch. And Bea!!! She was the shining star. Stephanie Archer truly captured the hilarity of kids (“I won’t let you die alone, Dad.” She gives me a worried look. “I’ll be with you. I’ll hold your hand as you stop breathing.” -I FREAKING CACKLED 🤣) Jordan and Tate though, it was a like watching two people who needed each other and just couldn’t realize it until it basically slapped them in the face…but it was also so gradual. I’m fairly certain this is my favorite of this entire series, hands down.
Check out my thoughts on Behind the Net, The Fake Out, The Wingman, and Gloves Off. I truly loved this series. I would read them over and over again. They were great, feel good romances and very quick reads. Good palate cleansers if you need them with just enough plot to make the characters people you want to root for.
OMG I did not fully know what I was getting into with this! Jen is just getting back into the dating game after Adam broke up with her. He was no good, anyways so she feels like maybe she shouldn’t be so upset by it. But she does miss certain…parts…of him. But then he calls one day freaking out because he’s dead. Or rather, undead. The story goes wild from there. There is a LOT of smut, so steer clear if you don’t like that. But there was definitely a lot of that story that could have made this a GOOD story, like the ending with the SEO being a thing, and the coven…heck, even the date with Astor. Adam and Jen go through some growth though, and while it may have seemed rushed, we have to remember that they had already been together before! So this was a great, quick read. Fun, but not serious, so please do NOT go into this thinking there is going to be anything serious about it. If you need something to palette cleanse, this is your go to though!
This was seriously so much fun and I was able to read it very quickly on my lunch break, though that just might be because I’m a very fast reader haha. There were definitely some folks out there who thought it wasn’t so good, and maybe they are right, but I’m here for vibes and a good time. I didn’t see any glaring plot holes or anything like that so I appreciated this work for what it was: a good time. Honestly, Adam, after going through his stuff, seemed like a good dude in the end, so I think it worked out for them.
I received a copy of this title in exchange for an honest review, so thank you Ami!
