(Ghostverse, #1) Pucking Feral: Part One by Lenore Rosewood review

 

Pucking Feral: Part One by Lenore Rosewood
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 Stars
🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3 Spice

I will start by saying I am a HUGE, MASSIVE fan of the Ghost Alpha Unit series by the same author. My favorite was Wraith. I loved him. I was super pleased with the three books in that series and was really sad when it ended, so when I saw that the same author had made Pucking Feral, which is a contemporary AU retelling of the Ghost Alpha Unit series, I ran to the Amazon store to hunt the book down, needing it like you would not believe.

While the book is very different from the series I first read, I really liked getting to see Ivy, Wraith, Thane, Plague, Whiskey, and Valek again. I love getting a different story with characters I had already loved from another series, but in a new setting with a new story. Did I love it as much as Feral Omega? No, but I still loved getting a new look at much loved characters.

While I am not a massive contemporary fan at all, I have to say even in this book I love Wraith. He just holds a big old place in my heart, and I do not think I will lose that.

There is a story here, but honestly it sort of leans toward hockey and other dramas, which I know a lot of people love, and of course it is a sports omegaverse and why choose. It might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I really enjoyed it and found that it was a nice change-up from my last few books I have read this month.

I wished there was more going on in the story, but that might be a me thing. Otherwise, I enjoyed seeing the exchanges and learning about the characters, how they have changed, and what they are now like in Pucking Feral. I loved spotting differences, and I all but read nonstop all day until the book was done.

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(Stars and Shadows, #3) A Kingdom of Venom and Vows by Holly Renee review

 

A Kingdom of Venom and Vows by Holly Renee
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

⭐ 1 Star
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 4 Spice

Please do not hate me. I know a lot of people love the series, and I did give book 1 four stars, and well, book 2 was just a hot mess of back and forth, and here we are with book 3, and I… sigh. Listen, it is hard.

The plot was so far from actually plotting that some events in this book left me totally and utterly confused and screaming, what are you doing? Did everyone just drink the stupid juice? This makes no sense. Ugh. Something happened in this book that pretty much made the end of book two seem totally stupid.

Really, I found myself feeling like I was on a merry-go-round, getting nowhere.

The spice, while I love books with spice, what I do not love is spice in place of actual plot and things that could be happening. I felt a lot of it in this book was dirty filler and not really needed. Also, add the fact that there was no real heat to the spice because the emotional level was low between them. It was not burning hot. It was, at best, more lukewarm.

Anyone can be in lust or like, but I think portraying love is harder, and it was an epic miss here. The words and interactions did not feel like a mature heart-to-heart; more like two people shacking up in a hayloft. There was just zero depth, which, in my opinion, made reading the spice all but boring.

There were parts I had to skim because I feared I would DNF the book, and I really hate doing that. I also have trauma hearing the words “you are mine” and the word mate. Like, seriously.

While I did like the sudden shift from the single POV used in books 1 and 2, I appreciated that book 3 used multiple POVs, even if it was a little jarring. I also liked the action at the end, but for me, it could not save the book overall.

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(Stars and Shadows, #2) A Kingdom of Blood and Betrayal by Holly Renee review

 

A Kingdom of Blood and Betrayal by Holly Renee
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

⭐⭐ 2 Stars
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 4 Spice

Wow, this one really gave me ping pong vibes. I was back and forth with the leads, yes, no, yes, no, to the point that I think I got whiplash. I really flipping hate the way mates are portrayed. FREE WILL seems to have thrown itself out the window, AHHHHHHH, and it sort of put a damper on the book.

The first 50 percent of the book was pretty much whine, moan, and want, and I was just really not into it or down for it if I am being honest with you. Nothing inside of this book feels like real love. It felt more like attraction at best.

My heart did not race. I felt sort of uninvested in the romance and spice side of things, really. At some points during the book, I had to stop myself from just breezing over parts of the story because I was that done at times.

I really cannot get my head around how differently this book hit. I felt like there was very little story there, and the actions and exchanges made me cringe. The spice I all but dozed through, but that might be because I felt little beyond lust, really.

The ending did have it pick up a little, but by this point, I had totally checked out.

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(Stars and Shadows, #1) A Kingdom of Stars and Shadows by Holly Renee review

 

A Kingdom of Stars and Shadows by Holly Renee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 Stars
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️–🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 4–5 Spice
Honestly, the book was so spicy I might as well have been eating a chilli pepper. If this were a song, it would be “It’s getting hot in here…”

So… to start with, the beginning of this book was really easy to get into. There was nothing difficult about the writing style, and the storyline was clear and easy to follow.

But sweet heaven, the spice in this book was like spice spice baby… some more spice spice baby… duh duh. I was honestly shocked that there was even a story with how much spice was packed in here. I mean, the book isn’t even that long, how is there this much spice and still a plot? It made zero math sense to me.

The story is there, believe me. But if you like your books heavy on plot and lighter on spice, this might not be your book. If you want enough spice to need your eyes washed with holy water, come on down. If you want the heat turned all the way up? Then yes, absolutely, this is for you.

I’m not always super keen on insta-attraction, and things didn’t really feel like ooo sweet love to me. Like if the Author was trying to make me feel love, then they totally missed the mark. There was also a moment in this book that had me pulling my hair out and groaning. If I had been the FMC? Listen… she showed far more restraint than I ever would have. I would have been slapping people and setting fires with the way they spoke to and about her.

All that being said, it was a FUN ride. The story felt fresh and entertaining. Was I deeply emotionally invested? Not really. But if you’re looking for a quick, dirty read with lots of spice and enough story to keep things moving, then I think you’ll have a great time.

And that ending??
Yeah. I was swearing.

So of course, I’m off to read the next book.

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(Cursed Legacies, #4) Divine Fate by Morgan B. Lee review

 

Divine Fate by Morgan B. Lee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 Stars
🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3 Spice

I finally reached the last book in the series, four books in four (maybe five) days, and I have to say, overall, I really enjoyed the ride.

This final book was fun and action-packed right from the start. There was barely a pause between panic and downtime, which made it incredibly easy to stay hooked and keep flying through the pages.

I’ll be honest there was a moment around the eighty-something percent mark that had me weeping, grabbing tissues, and trying not to completely fall apart. That was actually a first for me in this series, and it really hit.

I loved how everything came together in the end. The stakes felt higher in this one, keeping me on the edge of my seat and making the conclusion feel earned. Overall, it was a really good finish.

If I had to rate the full series, I’d probably land at a solid 4 stars overall with around a 3 spice level. The spice is definitely there and clearly written, but it wasn’t the standout element for me.

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(Cursed Legacies, #3) Twisted Soul by Morgan B. Lee review

 

Twisted Soul by Morgan B. Lee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 Stars
🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3 Spice

Well, book three starts right where the last book left off and throws you straight into a cluster of crazy action, and I really liked that. It honestly felt like I was walking into a war zone, wide-eyed and waiting to see what would happen next. I have to say, I really enjoyed the stronger focus on action in this one.

The book, as usual, flips between POVs. I feel like you get to know some of the characters a little better here, and you also learn more about our lead from small bits of information sprinkled throughout.

The spice in this book is kind of a staple of the series, but weirdly, while it’s detailed and on page, it didn’t really do much for me this time. Maybe I’m just used to it now, or maybe it felt a bit similar I’m not totally sure. But it was fine, and thankfully the story was still the main focal point that everything revolved around.

Our lead remains consistent, and I appreciate that a lot. Sometimes in series, a strong FMC can start off powerful and then soften or weaken as things go on, but not here. She’s been strong in every book, and that hasn’t been watered down to make her sweeter or gentler. This series is very clear in portraying her as dark and gritty, and I, for one, really like that.

Overall, I think this was a great addition to the series. Were there little things I didn’t love? Yeah. But did they slow me down or make me want to stop reading? No.

There were a couple of moments where I caught myself thinking, hang on… no way would you not question that. She questions everything, and Silas and Everett absolutely would too so why are we acting like it’s not a big deal? But in the end, I let it slide and kept reading because I wanted to see what happened next.

An easy, fun read.

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(Cursed Legacies, #2) Shadow Heart by Morgan B. Lee review

 

Shadow Heart by Morgan B. Lee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 Stars
🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3 Spice

Okay, I was more than a little worried about moving on to the second book in this series, as I only gave book one 3.5 stars, but I actually liked book two more than the first.

I really enjoyed that we got to see more of our lead’s true self, her power, and a clearer understanding of why she is who she is. I loved learning more about her secrets, and also getting more depth with Crypt, Everett, Silas, and Bealfire. That helped a lot. In book one, I struggled to tell Everett and Silas apart at times, but not here. Thankfully, my brain knew exactly who everyone was. I still don’t have super clear images fixed in my head, but I knew who I was reading about, which made a big difference.

I also really liked the care and concern between the characters. After reading so many why choose books where the male leads are cold, mean, or stone-faced, this felt refreshing. This book wasn’t like that at all, and I appreciated it. Things finally felt like they were starting to come together.

I enjoyed the action, and I liked that the story felt more front and center instead of being an afterthought to the spice. There was more spice in this book compared to the first one, but thankfully, it wasn’t rammed down my throat nonstop.

Overall, I really felt like this book was a step up from book one. It was easy to read, flowed well, and felt more put together. Was it the best book I’ve ever read? No. But it was definitely far from the worst, and I enjoyed it.

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(Cursed Legacies, #1) Blood Oath by Morgan B. Lee review

 

Blood Oath by Morgan B. Lee
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐ 3.5 Stars
🌶️🌶️ 2.5 Spice

Please don’t come for me. I know a lot of people loved this book, but for me it was… alright. Was I blown away? Not really.

At times, I found myself getting confused between Everett and Silas, mostly because some things felt a little more 2D than 3D, if that makes sense. Not fully fleshed out or in full color. That said, there were funny moments and banter between characters that I really enjoyed.

I love why choose, and I love books with strong female leads, and this book has both. Our FMC is focused, gritty, and clearly carrying more secrets than she knows what to do with. I liked her strong outer shell, and I liked that I was left with a lot of questions that will clearly be answered as the series goes on. That part was done well.

The writing style itself was easy to glide through, but some moments felt a bit flat, and I had to be careful not to skim. By the end, I felt like I was left with a bucket of questions and very few answers, which was both fun and really annoying at the same time. I know series always leave unanswered questions to keep readers hooked, but this felt less like a handful and more like an entire lake with very little payoff so far.

One thing I did appreciate was that this book didn’t lean into the super bully-heavy vibes that some why choose books do. I liked the mystery of the storyline, even though at times it felt like it blurred in and out.

I really loved Bealfire's massive golden retriever energy, genuinely nice, and just a comfort character for me. I also found myself leaning toward the mysterious Crypt, who was surprisingly funny.

Overall, when I weigh the good with the not-so-good, I’d say the story was okay. Was it the best book I’ve read? No. But did I hate it? Also no. It’s a shorter book, so I honestly wouldn’t even mind rereading it at some point.

As for the spice, it was fine. Was it setting me on fire? No. But it was there, it was detailed, and it wasn’t dumped all over the book, so it didn’t overshadow the story, which I appreciated.

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Halfling by S.E. Wendel review

 

Halfling by S.E. Wendel
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 Stars
🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3 Spice

I stumbled upon the ebook while I was randomly browsing for books for my birthday, and I’m super glad I picked it up. The book was really easy to read and get into, and while the start of the story offers a sad, dark look into Orek’s life, it drew me in completely.

There are lots of deep, cosy, and warm parts throughout this book, but there’s also a constant thread of sadness and pain, and a big focus on trying to see your own self-worth, which I really liked. There is a storyline, but it goes hand in hand with the romance and a generous sprinkling of spice. I’d say if you’re a cosy romance reader but still want a proper story, this book is for you.

I really did love it. Was it perfect? Nope, but it was well worth the read.

I also had a little giggle at the use of the word “quim” in the book, as I honestly haven’t heard it used in this day and age.

Overall, I found the book to be a great mix of cosy and cute at times, sad at others, and even action-filled, and that balance really made it a fun and enjoyable read.

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Steal The Sky by Marina Massino review

 

Steal The Sky by Marina Massino
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 Stars
🌶️🌶️ 2.5 Spice

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own and given honestly.

The moment I started reading and understood how women and dragons interacted in Dyeus, I felt a surge of anger and injustice. The unfairness made me imagine setting the world on fire. I was so furious that my blood felt hot, and the situation gave me chills. In that instant, I realised I was entirely invested in the story and eager to see what would happen next. This was an amazing opening for a book.

Wonderful world-building and creation of how the world works. I loved learning how it worked, how that impacted the people I was reading about, and what that really meant and led to as a whole. I felt rage at the dynamics of the society, but I was excited to see where it all led.

I found Kaisa to be a great lead. She wants to be free, wants a life that is her own, but she also wants to protect what she holds dear without having to give herself away when she does not want to. I felt like she was nonstop being tested in a way. She wants to do the right thing. She wants to make sure the world is better, even at the expense of her own wants and needs, and I found that relatable. It is a heavyweight to carry.

By over halfway into the book, I was conflicted, unsure who the lead should trust and what the lead should do. I would find myself putting myself into her shoes and worrying. I had moments where I wanted to question people more, to end someone for all the evil they had done, and that really had me spinning out. I felt untethered and totally unsure of what direction this story would be heading, which is always great when you truly do not know. I had no idea who was good and who was bad, and it made for an epic rollercoaster ride.

The book was entirely story-driven, with romance and spice sprinkled here and there, but the main event was the story, and it was amazing. I ate up each chapter like it was a favorite dish. I pretty much read the book in a few hours, unwilling to close it, sleep, or do anything, really, needing to know how it would end.

I did have a nitpick. I felt like our lead’s growth throughout the book would lead her to ask more questions and not blindly step into things. Given her life and upbringing, she was always portrayed as strong, even when she had to yield. But why, oh why, did she not look into things more, ask more questions, fact check, and not blindly nod and follow?

The ending… I am a wreck. My heart and head are a total mess, and I need the next book like I need air to breathe. How am I meant to go on without knowing what happens? Sobs. The wait will be painful.

What I liked:
Fantastic story. I had no idea where it was going, and that was great.
The connection I felt to the lead at times.
How the author portrayed the males in this book messes with me.
All the questions I have are rolling about in my mind at top speed.
The pain and grief the book got me feeling.
THAT ENDING!!! OMG

What I did not like:
A few moments in the book were a little confusing, so I had to go back and reread.
That our lead did not ask more questions or think more about the choices she was making.

Would I recommend the book:
Yes. It was a fantastic start to a series.

Sum up:
A phenomenal start to what I think will be an EPIC series. It had me in a tizzy from the get go, had me questioning so much and feeling so much, and DRAGONS!!

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(Coven Crest Academy Book 3) A Witch and Her Orc by Emberly Wyndham review

 

A Witch and Her Orc: A Cozy Fantasy Monster Romance by Emberly Wyndham
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 Stars
🌶️🌶️️🌶️ 3 Spice

Thank you to the author and Booksirens for providing me with an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own and given honestly.

I want to start off by saying I have read the first two books of the Coven Crest Academy series by Emberly Wyndham, and I totally loved them. The easiest 5-star reads you can bet your life on. The moment I saw the chance to get my hands on book three, I yeeted myself at it at top speed to get my little hands on it.

Where do I even start? Maybe with a warning: reading this book may lead to a dentist appointment, because it was so sweet, I swear I developed cavities and a massive sugar high.

The story follows Poppy, a smart yet super shy witch, and Aric, a large half-orc who is handsome and popular but totally failing some of his classes, which would see him kicked off the runeball team. After his stepsister gives up trying to tutor him, her friend Poppy agrees to help. There’s a lot of academy stuff going on, but the real highlight was the interaction between our leads.

The way the two of them act, and their thoughts, had me grinning like a fool and giddy with laughter. I felt like the two of them, even with all their clear differences, were so well matched and fit together perfectly. The whole thing was warm and cozy and left me with a good ache in my chest, wishing it were me.

I totally loved the friendships and the great exchanges between friends; it felt so real and easy that it completely sucked me in. I felt like the book really captured people trying to figure out what they want to do with their lives, fears of not being enough, trying to do things alone, and feeling overwhelmed, and it made everything feel too real. I genuinely felt what was happening on the page. My heart ached and squeezed with pain and disappointment at times, like I was feeling Poppy’s emotions myself, and it was just so immersive.

There was one part in this book that really made me weep for Poppy, but strangely, it just showed me how good this book really is.

I would have loved maybe a little more story, but that’s just me being greedy at this point. I also feel like enough is never enough when you love a book this much, when something gives you exactly what you want and need as a reader. I love many books, but cozy, warm books hold a special place in my heart, and I am so excited for the next one.

Likes:
The cozy vibes
Interactions and exchanges between characters
The leads are totally perfect.
The romance and spice

Dislikes:
…Nothing to add

Would I recommend it?
In a heartbeat. The whole series so far has been amazing.

Would I reread?
Massive yes.

Sum up:
Sweet and cozy, with lots of emotion and warmth.

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(Daughter of the Earth, #2) Journey to the Elderoak by K.M. Gordon review

 

Journey to the Elderoak by K.M. Gordon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 Stars
🌶️🌶️ 2 Spice

It genuinely hurts knowing I have to wait until March to get my hands on the final book in this series. I absolutely ate this book up in just a few hours and honestly wish I’d slowed down so it could have lasted longer, but here we are again.

This is book two in the series, and it pretty much picks up right where the first one left off. Our lead is trying to get to grips with this new place and step up into her role, all while dealing with trauma, a huge amount of guilt, and a lot of pain, and I thought this was portrayed really well. I loved watching her actually go through it, struggle, break, and slowly open up. Normally, books gloss over trauma with a quick “oh no, that was awful” before jumping to the next scene, but not here. When she finally breaks, you really feel it.

The slow burn in this book had me groaning and cursing, but also giggling and kicking my feet. There’s much more longing and deep wanting between the leads this time, and I really enjoyed that shift.

While Raine might not be the lead, he easily became one of my favourite characters in this book. He’s so likeable and clearly carrying his own pain, but he just keeps going and doing his best. This book is full of emotion, and while the main story is still very much at the forefront, there’s a stronger focus on romance, longing, and connection. I also loved seeing how this group isn’t just a random collection of people thrown together, but slowly becomes a family. There might not be blood ties, but there’s a lot of care and love there, and I ate that up.

There’s plenty of action again, but we see a lot less of Deidamia and Andras, which honestly made me nervous. I spent half the book on edge, waiting for them to pop up like a jump scare in a horror movie.

The spice is definitely hotter in this book. Where book one barely dipped its toe in, this one leans into it more, but if you’re looking for nonstop, burn-the-pages spice, this still isn’t that kind of book. The spice works because it’s tied to longing, wanting, and slow burn… and it was totally worth it.

Another thing this series continues to do really well is training. Real training. No one goes to the gym once and comes out ripped. No one takes one swimming lesson and suddenly knows how to swim. This book shows regular, logical training, and I loved how realistic that felt. Overall, totally loved the book.

What I Struggled With:

At times, I felt like more could have happened story-wise. I loved the romance, but it occasionally felt like it took up space where more plot could have fit.

Two moments genuinely confused me and had me questioning things. I don’t want to spoil anything here, but I was definitely left scratching my head.

[
⚠️ Spoilers ⚠️

Why were there no guards outside the princess’s room while she was in another kingdom? She’s a princess. Corvus would never have had the chance to attack her if she hadn’t been left so exposed.

And the ball scene, she leaves alone to get some air while surrounded by people from different kingdoms, after spotting someone who already freaked her out twice, and no one follows her? No one checks on the creepy guy? And she doesn’t think, “Maybe I shouldn’t wander alone into the gardens right now”? That all felt wildly unsafe and out of character. (hide spoiler)]⚠️ Spoilers ⚠️

Why were there no guards outside the princess’s room while she was in another kingdom? She’s a princess. Corvus would never have had the chance to attack her if she hadn’t been left so exposed.

And the ball scene, she leaves alone to get some air while surrounded by people from different kingdoms, after spotting someone who already freaked her out twice, and no one follows her? No one checks on the creepy guy? And she doesn’t think, “Maybe I shouldn’t wander alone into the gardens right now”? That all felt wildly unsafe and out of character.

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Whispers of the Elderoak by K.M. Gordon review

 

Whispers of the Elderoak by K.M. Gordon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 Stars
🌶️ 1 Spice

Have you ever wished for a book that felt like reading a Dungeons & Dragons campaign? Because I have many times. And honestly, finding books that truly capture that feeling isn’t easy. But wow… this one absolutely delivered.

This book had me in a total chokehold, demanding my full attention, and it played with my head and my heart more than once. One of the biggest shockers for me? The main character is an actual adult. And I mean a real adult, not “just turned 19 or 20.” No. She’s in her 30s. I had to double-check because I genuinely couldn’t believe my eyes. That alone made me ridiculously happy and instantly invested.

The first 25% of the book is set in our world, where we follow Ava as she’s dealing with life, stress, and trying to make the best of the hand she’s been dealt. Things start to look up when she reconnects with an old friend, and honestly, I loved this part. Seeing two grown women navigating daily life but also being fun, silly, and free together reminded me so much of my own friendships. At that point, I had no idea where the story was going, but I was enjoying the warm, cosy vibes.

And then… BANG.

The story flips on its head.

I was heartbroken, confused, sobbing, and suddenly thrown into a completely different phase of the book, and I was so here for it. While trying to put my shattered heart back together (and crying for Ava all over again), the story turned into this epic, quest-style adventure filled with wonder, horror, confusion, and danger. Ava is trying to understand what’s happening and why, and I felt completely in her shoes the entire time. It made for such an immersive reading experience.

When the POVs shifted, I’ll admit I hesitated. The book moves from Ava’s single POV to also include Casimir, and at first, I wasn’t sure how I felt about it. But within a few pages? I was fully on board. The dual POV worked so well, especially since we’re now in a world that’s completely unfamiliar to Ava Casimir’s perspective, which was exactly what the story needed to help everything click.

The story is packed with action, pain, beauty, and horror. It had me hooked from start to finish. There were moments where I was wide-eyed with my hand over my mouth, moments where I was so angry I wanted to scream, and all of it made for an absolutely epic read.

Now, being honest, there were a few moments where I struggled a bit. I’m not entirely sure why, but a handful of times (maybe four or five) I had to stop, go back, and reread sections because the information just didn’t stick the first time. It didn’t ruin the experience, but it did slow me down a little.

Also, the spice.
At the start? Nope. Hard cringe for me. Not really spicy, and definitely not my thing. That said, I do understand why it was written that way later on, so I won’t hold it against the book overall.

What I Liked:
The story is very D&D-esque for me.
The characters
The shocks and surprises
Dual POV done right
Animal companion (OMG 🥹)

What Didn’t Work for Me:
A few sections where I had to reread to fully grasp what was happening
The early spice (that’s all I’ll say)

Would I Recommend This Book?
Totally. 100%.

Would I Reread?
Yes, and I’ll probably be buying physical copies too.

How I’d Sum It Up:
A Dungeons & Dragons–style fantasy full of action, adventure, joy, pain, and heartache — a fantastic and brilliant start to a series.

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