(Monster Match #1) Swipe Right for Monsters by R. O'Leary

 

Swipe Right for Monsters by R. O'Leary
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

⭐⭐ 2 Stars
🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3 Spice (shrugs)

Book 1 of the Monster Match series. This is the first time I have heard of this author or picked up one of her books.

OK, so the book opened up fast, funny, and super easy to get into, but dear lords, she is the most whiny, self-centred, and unlikeable female I think I've read about. It was hard to push through and swallow some of her thoughts and the way she acted, and it made me sort of think she should live alone and only have a cat at this point. The poor MMCs were fighting to hold this book up on their backs alone, and she was dragging it down at breakneck speed.

This is a why choose monster romance, so there are many MMCs in this book, and while they are all different, I think the book was far too short to really flesh them out and make them pop and stand out on the page. I also felt like nothing about this felt like romance from her POV, and more like using people and getting what she wanted, so it did not give me light and cozy vibes.

The males were more of the highlight than anything else, but the ending felt rushed and really lacklustre overall. I felt like, one, the book needed more pages, or two, fewer MMCs to really give us a good story with spice. I was excited by the glimpses of the storyline, but the ending just zoomed over it like it was nothing, and it felt totally flat.

I think the spice was OK, but due to the unfeeling nature of it all, I got fewer butterflies and more of a yawn sort of vibe. I find that if the tension and some sort of emotional connection are not there, then I rarely like the spice, even if it's fleshed out and full of heat.

I LOVE why choose romance, but I do think if your book is on the shorter side, you are going to struggle to do a why choose well. Making multiple characters stand out, giving them personalities, and then also telling a good story takes time, and I think this book showcased what can happen when you are not given enough pages to really take your time.

The whole book for me was fast and just OK, but I felt like if it had been given more time, and the FMC had been given a kick up the butt, I would have liked it more. The book was not horrible, it was just... not a standout for me.

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(Let's Split Up, #1) Let's Split Up by Bill Wood (DNF)

 

Let's Split Up by Bill Wood


DNF

This is my first DNF of the year. I very rarely give up on a book, honestly.

OK, so let me start by saying I got about halfway through, maybe a little more than that...

It was easy to read. There was nothing hard about the writing style, and the story premise was a good one, but maybe this was just not the trope for me. The book is listed as a young adult mystery, thriller, slash horror. I felt like the story leaned a little more towards the younger side, and I don't know, something just did not click for me. It made what I was reading feel really draggy.

I might try it again another time, but for right now, it's a DNF.

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(The Sacred Stones, #3) A Reign of Rose by Kate Golden review

 

A Reign of Rose by Kate Golden
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐½ 3.5 Stars
🌶️🌶️½ 1.5 Spice

Where to start… OK, again, this whole series has been easy to read. There is nothing super difficult or overwordy with this book, or the whole series to be honest, so reading one book a day was really easy. I liked that a lot.

I also really like having easy world building. The kingdoms and their rulers were simple to follow and warranted little brain power. With this being the last book in the series, we saw a few new places and some of the places we already knew. It’s not over the top detailed like you might see in a high fantasy book series, but it’s also not bare bones and hard to imagine either. I would say it happily skipped down the line between the two, which made zooming through the book, and the whole series, easy.

Now all the characters at this point are totally fleshed out, as best you’re going to get. The main characters, of course, are the ones you know the most about and have a clear understanding of why they are the way they are. There was clear growth for a few of them, more than others, throughout the series and this book.

Some of the highlights for me in this book had to be the friendships, found family, love, and overall the willingness to protect and look after each other. I loved that the spice was NEVER the main focus, and it was the story that stayed at the forefront of the whole series and this book. Overall, I enjoyed the book.

I totally loved Acorn, and I wished we saw more of her. I also loved that our lead, Arwen, did something in this book that really made me like her so much more!!

Now onto some of the problems I had, starting with a few characters getting little growth all the way to the last few chapters. That ticked me off. Loose ends?? Like why do that to me? Why give me something and leave loose ends? Ahhhhh. There were patches of the story that totally confused me and left me feeling a little whip-lashed. Also, one thing happened in this book more than once, and it got old fast. It left each event feeling less impactful.

Overall, it was a fun series, and I am glad I read it. I struggled between 3.5 stars and 4 stars with this one because there was a list of things I did like, even if there were many things I did not like as well, which made rating it hard. But I think the whole series overall would be a solid 3.5, slipping towards a 4.

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A Promise of Peridot by Kate Golden review

 

A Promise of Peridot by Kate Golden
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐½ 3.5 Stars
🌶️ 1 Spice

The story follows 10 days from the last book's end, so right away you're back into the story. While book one was simply our FMC Arwen's POV, book two is now dual POV with our FMC and the MMC, Kane. I loved getting to see both POVs. I would say seeing things from both sides can sometimes make you lose a little bit of the magic by knowing what the MMC feels, but given how different our FMC, Arwen, is after the events of the last book, I really, really needed a break now and then from her, and Kane helped. Even with him dealing with his own stuff, it was nice.

The story is in full swing. As I said with the first book, the story is not super deep or confusing, but there is a lot going on. You do not have to worry about getting too overwhelmed with it though, which is great. There is a little bit of spice sprinkled in, but not over the top. Really, the focus is the story and the relationships going on in the book.

But I did have some big problems with this book that I did not have with the last one...

Arwen's mood and behaviour really dragged me down in this book. While I get why in parts, I also found her to be a hypocrite. She was upset with the MMC for lying and all that, which I understood, but then she was totally fine lying to her friend and withholding things. Nope, not on in my book, and it brought me down.

Then I felt like a few things in the book were just cheap drama, adding gas to an already lit fire, and I was just not into that. It sort of dampened my enjoyment of the book. And what in the world was that ENDING?! I wanted to pull my hair out. Like WHAT!! Sadly, I cannot say anything without giving it away, but that ending left me totally confused.

There is a lot to like about the book, from action and family drama to romance and backstabbing. The list goes on. I really did like the book, but I felt like some things were put in just to prolong the pain, and other stuff just worked to confuse the whole thing.

I would say the first half of the book was more of a 3 star read, and the second half leaned more towards a 4 star read. There were good parts and bad parts for me, but overall, counting it all together, it was a good read.

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(The Sacred Stones, #1) A Dawn of Onyx by Kate Golden review

 

A Dawn of Onyx by Kate Golden
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 Stars
🌶️ 1 Spice

Well, that was unexpected. I was not expecting much when I started this book. I had been given the series a while back, and I had not gotten around to reading it. I am not sure why I never picked it up before now, but I am so glad I randomly decided to start reading it.

The book was super easy to get into and follow. It is told through a single POV from our FMC, Arwen. From the beginning, you are given a clear view of the world we are stepping into, but in an easy way. There was not so much information that you lost interest or your head wanted to pop. Nope, it was woven into the story and the introduction of our FMC and her life.

I found the writing style super easy to read and follow. It was clean, story driven, and not spice driven, which was FANTASTIC!! There is weight to the story, many layers, and lots going on.

For our MMC, we have Kane. He is a total sass bag, and seeing the two of them banter and get to know each other was a lot of fun. This is not a slow burn, but I also felt there was instant lust, even if our FMC wanted to put a pillow over his face while he slept. So I cannot really call it a slow burn, but it was not overly rushed either.

There was very little spice, so if you are hoping for a book filled with that, sadly this is not it. It definitely has the romantasy side covered with a little light spice, but the story always remained the main focus, which I was really happy about.

I felt like the book moved at a steady pace and was not rushed. The events had emotional weight, although it was not one of the more emotionally impactful books I have read. Overall, I was really impressed with the world, the story, and the characters.

I did have one moment where I was like, WHAT... hang on. I grabbed my book map and started trying to work out the travel times and how one character got somewhere a day after she did. I was trying to work out the locations and distances, but I just ended up confused and scratching my head.

I felt like a few of the side characters were a little flat, but that might simply be because they are side characters. I am also hoping the author develops them more in the next book.

Overall, I was really happy with this book and can honestly say I will be reading the next one.

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Haunt by Meg Alivien review

 

Haunt by Meg Alivien
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 Stars
🌶️ 1 Spice

Achingly sweet and sad, I have to say that book three in this series had to be one of the more emotional ones. I really liked the storyline of the book.

What happens in the afterlife? When you do not move on and you are stuck with your own unfinished business or guilt? When it feels like all you can do is watch everyone else move forward while you are stuck in the same place?

There were many moments in this book where I felt grief and sadness. The story really tried to capture what life would be like for a ghost while also keeping the sweet, cozy romance that the rest of the books in this series have. I feel like with each book you get more of a sense that everyone is welcome, no matter what or who they are, which is so lovely. There was something really warm and heartfelt about this one that I could not help but like.

I found both leads really likeable, and even if the MMC, Theo, was a little prickly at times, he grew with each chapter, and it was so lovely to see.

I will say that I felt like there was some missing information that should have been in this book, but I cannot really talk about that without spoiling it. So all I will say is that without it, I was left wondering what happened to our FMC, Kennedy, to get her to this point. There were a few other small things as well.

I did feel this book had much, much less spice than the others, but it totally fit the story, so I was really happy with that. It was tasteful, fitting, and left me smiling.

Overall, a really good read.

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(Monster Boyfriends #2) Hunt by Meg Alivien review

 

Hunt by Meg Alivien
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐ 3 Stars (I was fighting between 3 and 3.5 stars.)
🌶️🌶️ 2 Spice

I read the first book in this series, I think, maybe at the end of last year, so I was happy to finally get my hands on book 2. I sort of remembered the basic story from the first book, so going into the second I already had a good idea of who everyone was. Even though this book follows two different characters, I already had a basic idea of them and what their personalities would be like.

This book has a cozy vibe, with a small town, supernatural elements, basic drama, and emotional moments. It’s an easy to read book, and it only took me a few hours to get through without any real stop start. The story is pretty soft, honestly. It’s not massively hard to follow. It’s a monster romance, but if you removed that aspect, it would very much just be a contemporary romance.

I loved the sass and banter between our FMC and MMC. It was amusing and totally gave an opposites attract sort of vibe. I really loved how hard working our FMC was and how much she loved her mum. I also loved watching the change and growth of our MMC. Aiden had a pretty big turnaround, and I loved seeing that.

I will say I did not like this one as much as I liked the first, but that was mostly because any real growth from our FMC happened right at the end, which felt a little bit like a copout to me. At times, the FMC really grated on my last nerve because of some of her behavior and the way she lashed out. Now, I love a sassy FMC and I love banter. I am totally there for it. But I dislike snapping at people and bullying them just because you feel bad inside. That totally left a bad taste in my mouth. If I had seen more growth before the 90 percent mark, I might have given her a little more leeway.

There also was not a clear reason for why our lead was the way she was. There was no rhyme or reason behind it, and it left me trying to work out why. Overall, I felt like I was missing a key piece of information.

The spice was okay but, honestly, a little underwhelming at times. I loved the moments where there was more emotional connection because they made your heart flutter and pulled you into what was happening. But most of the spice felt watered down and, at times, lacked that emotional connection.

Overall, not a horrible read, but not the best either.

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(DreamTogether Breeding Program #4) Bred by the Satyrs by Lyonne Riley review

 

Bred by the Satyrs by Lyonne Riley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 Stars
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 4 Spice

And the last book went out with a bang. Why choose, cozy, slice of life, and buckets of drama and spice.

I think this might be the longest of the four books in this series, which was a great idea because I do not think it would have been as fun if it had been shorter. One of the main problems with why choose books that have multiple MMCs is that they can all start to feel the same or come across a little flat. I found that I knew everyone in this book, and they all had clear personalities.

While it is not the best why choose book I have ever read, it was quick, fun, packed with spice and drama, and had a clear storyline, even if it was not especially deep.

I could easily eat this book up while drinking a cup of tea and eating a biscuit. Given the length of the book, I think the author did a great job of fitting so much into it. Sure, there were things I would have loved to see changed or expanded on, but overall it was an easy read.

If you like a quick, dirty, fun read with more than one monster love interest, then this might be the book for you.

The highlights for me had to be the upped stakes in this book. Everything felt more important, and the ending had a much bigger payoff. I also loved getting to see a different group of monsters in each book. That was one of my favorite parts of the whole series.

The only thing I really wished for was that the books had been longer. I would have happily read another hundred pages or so if it meant getting even more time with the characters and story.

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(DreamTogether Breeding Program #3) Bred by the Minotaur by Lyonne Riley review

 

Bred by the Minotaur by Lyonne Riley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 Stars
🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3 Spice

And that's book 3 read in record time! The books in this series are pretty short so far, ranging from around 150 to maybe 250 pages at the most. They are simply drama filled monster romances with lots of spice.

I think this one might be my new favorite out of the three books. It has, by far, been the cutest and coziest in terms of overall feel, and I really loved Milo. Adorable!

The MMC was a total cinnamon roll, and I saw no red flags, which was a welcome change. I loved the family vibes and the way the relationship progressed. It had a sweetness to it that I really enjoyed.

If I was going to pick a hole in it, I would say it lacks the depth of longer books simply because it is so short. But for what it is, and for the length of the book, I really cannot be disappointed. It is quick, sweet, and packed with plenty of spice.



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(DreamTogether Breeding Program #2) Bred by the Dragon by Lyonne Riley review

 

Bred by the Dragon by Lyonne Riley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 Stars
🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3 Spice

Spice heavy, monster romance, emotional, slice of life sort of read.

This happens to be the second book in the DreamTogether Breeding Program series. I would say I liked this one a touch better than the first due to one trope from the first book not being in this one. Thank heavens!

This book is shorter than the first, and honestly, it does not give me a lot to review apart from being a short, easy, spicy read.

If you are after something with a lot of depth or a strong storyline, this is probably not for you. But I do think these books, and the one before it, make great in between reads. If you have just finished something really deep and emotional and need a break with something fun, mindless, and easy to fly through, this series definitely gives you that.

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Bred by the Wolfman by Lyonne Riley review

 

Bred by the Wolfman by Lyonne Riley
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐½ 3.5 Stars
🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3 Spice

Quick, fun, and drama filled.

I would say this might be a monster romance book, but you also get a lot of real life relationship drama in books like these, and this one is no different.

It is a pretty easy read, and honestly, there is not a lot of focus needed to get through it. There were a few things I simply hated, but that is more down to me not liking those particular tropes. I know plenty of other readers who do enjoy them.

The story is pretty simple, and there is a lot of spice and relationship focused content in this book, but not a lot else really.

Overall, it was a quick, easy read that kept me entertained, even if it was not anything particularly groundbreaking.



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Games with the Orc by Kathryn Moon review

 

Games with the Orc by Kathryn Moon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 Stars
🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3 Spice

Well... what can I say but... if you like your books to be 80 percent spice and the rest story, then this is for you.

Everything in me said I should dislike it, but here I am giving it 4 stars because it was quick, fun, and mostly dirty. I think if the book had been longer, there could have been a real story added, lol. But alas, I will have to live with just the smut.

I do not think this book will be for everyone. The spice leans more toward the softer BDSM side, and there are whole chapters dedicated to it. It is not just sprinkled throughout the story; it is the core of the book.

I think if you like the Cambric Creek series by C. M. Nascosta and books with a similar vibe, then you will definitely enjoy this one.

If you are looking for a short, easy, mindless, spice heavy read with just enough story to tie it all together, then I think you will have a great time with this book.

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(Naga Brides, #1) Viper by Naomi Lucas review

 

Viper by Naomi Lucas
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐½ 3.5 Stars
🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3 Spice

Do you like your flags red? Do you like your males monstrous? And still like a little story as well? Then you have come to the right place, my friend.

I started reading this book and kept rolling between liking it and disliking it, then back again. Here is the thing, maybe I like my male leads more on the cinnamon roll side and less on the "he sees a female, clubs her over the head, and throws her over his shoulder" sort of side.

I still stayed and read the WHOLE thing, and it was quick and super entertaining. It is a great book to kill some time with and mindlessly read if you want something fast, spicy, and packed with a few very big red flags throughout.

I use the word plot loosely because I would say the smut and the story sort of go hand in hand. So if you want something with a much stronger focus on the story, this might not be the book for you.

If you are after a cozy read with a soft, caring male lead... run. Run away. This book is totally not for you.

While it was quick and fun to read, I would say there were a few things that really ticked me off. So if you are anything like me, you are going to have to take a big breath, cover one eye, and pretend you do not see it... that your blood is not boiling. 😂

But honestly, it was a fun, quick read. I liked the overall idea of the story, and I hope it gets even better as the series goes on.

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Breathless Breathless by Cat Wynn review

 

Breathless by Cat Wynn
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

⭐ 1 Star
🌶️ 1 Spice

Ugh, I wanted to pull my own hair out and beat our FMC with it. I do not think I have ever met such an unlikable lead in my life. The fact is, it does not matter if you give her a heartbreaking backstory that is meant to pull at your emotions. If she acts like a complete butt hole, has the personality of a brat who always wants her own way, and constantly disregards what everyone else wants, that does not make for a good lead. She infuriated me to no end. I wanted to scream at her.

The fact is, she begins the book with a social disorder and trauma that stops her from going outside and interacting with the outside world. However, when the plot decides it is necessary, she magically overcomes all of this with no real character growth to support it. To make matters worse, later on, when she is faced with someone with a similar disposition, she instantly dismisses it in favor of her own feelings.

There were moments where I 100 percent felt for her. My heart genuinely bled for her. But she would immediately throw all of that away by making another awful decision or acting in a way that made her incredibly difficult to like.

The truth is, she was not too bad at the start of the book, but by the halfway point, I was just about ready to DNF and throw in the towel.

Sadly, here I am after finishing it instead, wondering... what on earth was this? The story could have been GREAT. I mean SOOO good. But instead, I got a patchy storyline where several moments felt like they had been thrown in randomly, with no rhyme or reason. It felt like the story was trying to patch over massive plot holes but only ended up making everything feel even less coherent. It left me with so many questions, and even by the end a lot of things were still unanswered. I was left confused, muttering, "What??" and scratching my head.

With there being more unlikable characters than likable ones, reading this book felt a bit like having my fingernails pulled out. I struggled not to skim read and had to force myself to keep going at every turn. Every time things started looking up, the rug was pulled out from under my feet, and I was right back to square one.

Now, if I overlook my raging dislike for several of the characters and cover one eye to ignore the massive problems with the story, I am still left with subpar spice that honestly might as well not have been there.

It is really, really hard to enjoy a book when almost everything is pushing you toward Dislike Town at breakneck speed.

There were a couple of things that were not totally horrible. The FMC's best friend was solid, even if I wish she had been developed more to feel like a real person rather than just someone who appeared when needed. Then there was the MMC. He was not totally horrible either... though at this point I feel like I am grasping at straws.

Sadly, to sum it all up... nope.

It was very nearly a DNF for me. I hardly ever give out 1 star ratings, but I genuinely struggled to find enough positives to rate it any higher.

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Sheer Cupidity by Raven Kennedy review

 

Sheer Cupidity by Raven Kennedy
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐½ 3.5 Stars
🌶️🌶️ 2 Spice

This book does not follow directly after the original three books. Instead, it is a standalone spin off set in the same world, and I think it wraps up the overall series well.

I loved Belren in the original series, and I hated how things ended for him in book 3. I was honestly so upset. So getting to read book 4 and finally have the closure I wanted so badly was fantastic, and I was totally here for it.

There is still plenty of fun, sass, and banter, but there is a little less of it than in the first three books. I actually found that the slightly more serious tone mixed with the comedy and banter worked really well. I think the book balanced those elements nicely.

I will say I would have loved a bigger bang at the end and a little more wow, but overall, I found the book easy to read and enjoyed it as a standalone story.

I do think the book could have been a little shorter, as there were parts that felt like unnecessary filler, but otherwise it was a fun and super easy read.

There was a little spice, but it really did not do much for me. No need for ice water here, but overall it was a solid read.

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Crimes of Cupidity by Raven Kennedy review

 

Crimes of Cupidity by Raven Kennedy
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐½ 3.5 Stars
🌶️🌶️ 2 Spice

It seems like Emelle's story has come to an end, and honestly, as the third book in the series, it had all the key things the previous books did. Banter, sass, and an easy story to follow.

That being said, I did have a few problems with this one, the biggest being our FMC. I felt like there were a few things she would have done FIRST, well before making some of the choices she did. It felt a little out of character for her. I also felt like she gave up at one point and just moved on like it was nothing, which pulled me out of my little happy reading bubble.

That said, it was still really fun to read and easy to follow. I never struggled to understand what was going on.

The spice throughout the series has never really wowed me, but I have been fine with that because I love the fun vibes. However, this book took a more serious turn, and I felt that the jokey nature of the series clashed quite hard with what was happening. Again, that pulled me out of the story a little.

Overall, I thought the series was a lot of fun. I think book 2 is still my favorite, with book 3 being my least favorite. I would have liked the humor to have been better placed at times. If you are going to create a unique, funny book but also include really heartbreaking moments and emotional pain, then I think you need to pull back on the jokes and sass during those heavier scenes unless they blend together naturally.

Overall, it was a solid read. I finished it in a short amount of time and would happily read it again.

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Bonds of Cupidity by Raven Kennedy review

 

Bonds of Cupidity by Raven Kennedy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 Stars
🌶️🌶️ 2 Spice

Book 2 of this series was much bigger than the first one, and boy was I glad. There was so much more going on in this one than in book 1. It was still really easy to read and not too complicated. There were still lots of laughs, sass, and banter, but there was also so much more drama. There were even a few moments where I was genuinely worried about what might happen, so book 2 totally upped the stakes, and I was completely here for it.

The spice was definitely stronger in this one than in the first book, but it is not simply filled with smut. I would say the spice is still on the lighter side. It fits the story really well, but if you are after something that is spice heavy and enough to have you fanning yourself, this series is probably on the lower end of the scale.

I would say my favorite part was still the story itself. I loved seeing where it was leading and wondering what was going to happen next. As I said before, I have never read a book centered around a cupid before, so I am really enjoying the fun, cheesy uniqueness of it.

I do think book 2 took a much more serious turn and raised the stakes, so I cannot wait to see what book 3 has in store for me.

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Signs of Cupidity by Raven Kennedy review

 

Signs of Cupidity by Raven Kennedy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 Stars
🌶️Half a Spice

First time reading a book with a cupid in it, and honestly, it was a lot of fun.

I loved the banter and really liked the way the book was set up, giving us a better idea of our lead and her life before anything big happened. I really felt for her, and she was a TOTAL sass bag. I was absolutely here for it.

The book is pretty simple to read, very easy to follow, and the storyline is easy to grasp. It was mindless fun, but it had enough substance to keep me reading and wanting to find out what happened next.

I will say, if you are hoping to read something with SUPER RICH DEPTH, maybe this one is not for you. But if you are after a quick, fun, and super easy read with great banter and enough going on to keep you entertained, then this book is definitely for you.

I finished the whole book in about 3 to 4 hours, and it was just really easy to fly through, needing very little brain power.

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For Whom the Belle Tolls by Jaysea Lynn review

 

For Whom the Belle Tolls by Jaysea Lynn
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐½ 3.5 Stars
🌶️🌶️ 2 Spice

What an unusual book. Hells bells, did I not know what I was getting into when I started this one.

I had never heard of this book before and happened to pick up a second hand copy by chance. Unsure what to read next, I grabbed it without even reading the back because I wanted to surprise myself.

Well... it was NOT what I expected at all.

This book covers a detailed interpretation of the afterlife, and honestly, I flipping loved the way it was imagined and how the author portrayed it. The idea that the end does not always have to be a true ending, that sometimes it can simply be the beginning of something new, a chance to heal and become more, was a premise I absolutely adored. It made for a fascinating and unique reading experience.

Bal was a massive GREEN FLAG. Honestly, he was as sweet as honey, and I was overwhelmed by how much joy his personality brought to the story. The way he and Lily bounced off one another was wonderful. The characters, settings, and details were fun to read about, and I found the book easy to follow. Some of the characters really stood out, and I loved the friendships and family dynamics. It was heartwarming and, at times, very emotional.

That said, I did have some problems with the book.

For one, given the subject matter, it felt strange to have such cozy, fluffy vibes while also touching on some very dark lives and experiences. The afterlife itself was portrayed beautifully, but where was the WOW after that? Where were all the events I wanted to see unfold? Where was the action? Where were the moments that could have elevated this from good to unforgettable?

Now, I love a cozy read, but this book felt like it had the potential to be so much more. I felt like I spent a lot of time reading about... not much really. It often felt more like a day to day slice of life story, despite having all these fascinating ideas sitting right there, begging to be explored.

That left me a little sad.

I felt like the book was building toward something bigger that never fully arrived. I have a lot of unanswered questions and quite a few things I wish had been explored further. There was so much untapped potential here. The book is fairly long, and there was plenty of room to dig deeper into some of those ideas, but sadly it never quite happened.

I do not hate the book. Not at all. But I was disappointed.

Honestly, if the book had fully committed to being a cozy read and never hinted at all these bigger possibilities, I probably could have given it 4 stars. But because it kept teasing me with glimpses of something more and never fully delivered on them, I have to settle on 3.5 stars.

I think readers who enjoy stories that stay relatively gentle and never really peak into something larger will probably love this. But if you are anything like me and felt teased by all the missed potential, welcome to the club.



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A Spark So Bright by Emma Hamm review

 

A Spark So Bright by Emma Hamm
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐ 3 Stars
🌶️ 1 Spice

This is book 3 in the series.

It was a quick, easy read, and I got through the whole thing in just a few hours. Was it one of my favorites in the series? No. I think the first book still remains my favorite of the bunch.

I thought the book was okay, but I did have some fairly big problems with it. The SA content in the book was a lot for me(not detailed on page fyi) . I have read plenty of books with traumatic backstories and difficult experiences for characters, but this one just did not sit right with me. Maybe it was the way it was portrayed, which at times felt more like a crutch to unlock her powers rather than something explored with the depth I expected.

I also did not really connect with Rose. I struggled to fully invest in her story and found myself drifting at times. Thankfully, the author has a very easy writing style, so it was still simple to read and get through.

I do not think I hated the book, but it definitely landed more on the "meh" side for me. I was very much on the fence throughout most of it.

I also think the first part of the book felt a little all over the place. There was a lot of information and events thrown in to catch readers up to the same timeline as the first two books, and honestly, I just was not really here for it.

One thing I did like was Gunnar. He was smart, kind, and a genuine gentleman. I honestly felt a little bad for him at times because he was often just trying to do the right thing. He was definitely the highlight of the book for me and the character I found most likable.

I was also not particularly invested in the spice. There was not much of it in the book, but given the circumstances and themes being explored, I completely understood why.

Overall, it was an okay read. Not bad, not amazing. Just okay.

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(Moonfall, #2) The Ballad of Falling Dragons by Sarah A. Parker

 

The Ballad of Falling Dragons by Sarah A. Parker
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 Stars (Honestly, I would give it 6 if I could.)
🌶️🌶️ 2 Spice

Yep, this book was written to destroy me and leave me curled up and weeping in the middle of the night, I swear to you.

I really enjoyed book one of this series. Book two looked at book one, rubbed its little hands together, and laughed maniacally while proclaiming it would bathe in the tears of everyone who read it. Well, bravo, because it had me tearing up and sobbing more than once.

I found the writing in this one even better than the first. It is so beautifully woven, both gorgeous and dark, and so involved that you need all your brain cells firing to truly appreciate the masterpiece this book is.

This book also had a lot more POVs, and I was totally fine with that. I actually felt like it helped break the story down, making it feel more layered and giving it even greater depth overall. The character growth of our lead was incredible to watch, and it made so many moments hit even harder because we got to see so much more of her as a whole.

The secrets, lies, and pain in this book could bring most people to their knees, but it was done so well and was so amazing to read. I will admit there were points where I was cursing like a sailor as my heart was ripped out and booted across my living room while I begged and pleaded for a different outcome. Did I get that outcome? Absolutely not. Instead, it just added to everything, including the steady downfall of my mental stability. Lol.

This story has an abundance of everything. Family, friendship, love, betrayal, grief in many forms, and even spice. But the best way to sum it up is that the story itself is operating on a WHOLE other level. It is working full time, taking no breaks, and giving you absolutely everything it has.

I got goosebumps. I could be laughing one minute and sobbing the next. Then suddenly I would be excited, hopeful, or completely devastated. It was a full emotional assault that left me totally invested and hopelessly in love with what I was reading.

So far this year, this is my favorite read. But honestly, it is more than that. I genuinely think this is one of the best books I have EVER read, and I am hopelessly in love with this series.

Also, I have SO many questions, and I really hope the next books answer them and somehow manage to live up to my ridiculously high expectations!

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When the Moon Hatched by Sarah A. Parker review

 

When the Moon Hatched by Sarah A. Parker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐⭐½ 4.5 Stars
🌶️🌶️ 2 Spice

What a roller coaster I just got myself onto. Where, oh where, do I start? Not going to lie, this book threw me through some emotional hoops. From the VERY start, it pulled me right into its world, and it was not a slow lead in. Nope. I was dragged into its pages wide eyed and totally unprepared for what was about to unfold before me.

This book had one great opening. I am talking a fantastic introduction to a very deep fantasy world. I would say if you are more on the easy fantasy side, where you like to sit back, relax, and drift through the pages like a pleasant little stroll, this is not your read.

If, however, you are after a book that sits somewhere between medium and hard fantasy, where you have to focus on what is going on and really get to grips with the world, then this is absolutely for you.

Let me put it simply. You need your full brain switched on for this one, or you are not getting the most out of it. Normally I can read well into the early hours of the morning on minimal brain power. Not with this book. OH NO. The moment my concentration started to drift, I knew I needed to be giving it one hundred percent if I wanted to truly appreciate it.

Once I got into a real flow, I realized just how much was going on. This plot was PLOTTING. Working overtime and then some.

For the first half of the book, I was convinced I had it figured out. I was enjoying our strong female lead, Raeve. She was smart, skilled, and had sass for days, and I was completely here for it. I was practically sitting in the stands with pom-poms, cheering her on and thinking this was going to be a really cool read.

And then... BANG.

The plot smirked at me and told me to hold on tight as it ripped my heart out and kicked it into a ditch.

I sobbed. I blinked. I stared into space.

The story suddenly kicked into high gear, and after one major event I felt like I had been thrown into freefall without wings. The plot started throwing curveballs and secrets so shocking that I was gasping out loud.

I was blindsided. Completely.

Honestly, I do not think I can fully explain how flabbergasted I felt half the time. My brain was constantly trying to piece things together, making theories, only to throw them out and start all over again. It was all wrapped up in this beautiful, dark, and fascinating world, and by the end I felt emotionally wrung out in the best possible way.

I loved being surprised. I loved being thrown into complete chaos. I genuinely do not think I would have guessed some of these twists even if I read another thousand books.

There is so much going on story wise. As I have said, this plot is working two jobs and doing both exceptionally well.

But beyond the plot, I loved the way the world unfolded before me. It felt detailed, but not in an overwhelming way. I never felt like I was being handed an encyclopedia and told, "Good luck."

Instead, I felt like I was learning the world naturally. A little information here, a little more there, and then suddenly a lightbulb moment where everything clicked into place. It felt immersive and rewarding.

That being said, there were a few moments where I wanted more information. Sometimes I struggled to form a completely clear picture of certain things, but overall it was fantastic.

As for the characters, what can I even say?

Raeve is an enigma wrapped inside another enigma. We learn a lot about her, yet somehow it still feels like so much of her remains hidden. It is like knowing someone while only seeing one side of them and sensing that seventy percent of who they are is still out of reach. It made her incredibly compelling to read about.

I also loved Kaan. Getting his POV and watching his story unfold felt like watching a beautiful painting slowly come together. The emotion, the angst, the pain... I felt all of it.

Overall, this was a GREAT read.

The reason I did not give it five stars is that I got lost a couple of times and had to stop and reread sections. I also felt that there were a few points where I needed more information, and I was a little disconnected from Vega's POV at the start.

But overall, I am really pleased with this book and cannot wait to move on to the next one in the series.

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Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir review

 

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 Stars
🚫 Zero Spice lol

This book is light years away from my normal day to day read, but turns out that did not matter because fudging hell, I loved it!!

The book starts off pretty easy. There is humor and mystery, and honestly, I felt like I slipped into the book as easily as breathing. It is hard to even put into words why the book worked so well, but I will start with my highlights.

The premise of the story itself, the high stakes, the risks, and this massive unknown all work brilliantly. As someone who is not particularly science minded, I would say that even with all the information and technical details sprinkled throughout the book, I was still completely invested.

I normally dislike books that use flashbacks or things that pull me away from the main story, but here it felt like I was living inside Grace's struggling mind as he worked to understand for himself what in the world had happened to get him here. It made for the BEST mystery. I spent almost the whole flipping book convinced of one thing, only to reach the end and go OMG!!! I was wrong. It completely flipped everything on its head, and I loved it. It had me gasping and feeling awful for Grace when he learned the truth too.

While Grace was, of course, the lead, and I really enjoyed his character, Rocky totally stole the top spot for me. He was so likable, and watching him become a little sassier, more fun, and more outspoken as the story went on had me rolling around giggling. I loved watching the pair bounce off one another, learn together, and simply try to do the best they could.

I was honestly shocked by how much I liked this book because it somehow felt like it had both a lot going on and not much going on at the same time. It is such a weird feeling. Normally when I read a book there are so many characters that I need notes to remember important names, but here the story is limited and contained because of the environment and situation.

The flashbacks give you lots of people, places, and events, but they all exist within Grace's memories. In reality, you are stuck on a small ship and almost completely alone. I felt like the author handled the back and forth between those two elements incredibly well, and I could not have been happier with it.

A few things I struggled with were that some of the science became a little overwhelming for me, and I had to reread those sections. I also would have loved a more emotional reaction from Grace in a few places. There were moments where I felt he should have had a bigger outburst or more emotional turmoil. I know I would have been climbing the walls.

Also, that ending... OMG!!! Perfect. I really liked how it ended, but I did have one massive question and one moment that made me gasp. I cannot say much more because I do not want to spoil anything for people who have not read it.

Overall, a fantastic science fiction book!!

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A Witch and Her Vampire by Emberly Wyndham ARC review

 

A Witch and Her Vampire 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.

Guess who is back!!! Yep, we are finally here, the last book of the Coven Crest Academy series. The moment I saw the book pop up, I all but threw the book I had been reading aside and raced to my PC like there was a time limit on getting my greedy little hands on book 4, the final book in the series. And yes, I am also sobbing at the idea of this being my last time in this amazingly cozy world.

This book follows Maeve, who will absolutely ruin your day if you tick her off and might strike you with lightning if you cross her, being the only storm witch in the academy, and Severin, who is moody and broody with a side helping of serious, mixed with an “I do not need to sparkle to dazzle you” kind of energy.

Where do I even start with Maeve? She is hardworking and struggles to gain control and grasp the future she wants. I found her totally relatable and easy to follow. She went through so much growth over the course of the book and honestly pulled out the sass and boss lady energy more than once, which had me screaming GO GIRL!!

Meanwhile, Severin came across as so contained and moody at times that I had no idea how these two were going to work together, but clearly I should never have doubted it because these two were such a hoot together that I gobbled up every scene they shared. The pair bounced off each other like some strange competitive sport.

The cozy vibes in this book are absolutely “bring a blanket and warm drink” levels of comfort, but do not be fooled.

The emotion in this book had me sobbing like I had just dropped my ice cream, wiping away tears while yelling “I am not crying, YOU are crying!” because I genuinely freaked out over how many feelings this book pulled from my little soul.

This book had such a fantastic balance of cozy moments, pain, angst, and fantasy slice of life that I all but forgot it was make believe at times. Seeing the deep, unbreakable love and friendship, seeing how moving on and growing up can be both beautiful and painful, with fears of the unknown and fears of losing the things you hold dear, hit me so hard in the emotions that I was rolling around wishing the story would never end.

Now I cannot miss talking about the spice. This book has just the right amount. I was blushing and giddy, and it felt so well placed within both the book and the series that it never overshadowed the actual story.

But here is the thing. The spice is not what keeps me attached to this book or this series, and that shocked me. Why? Because while the spice is good, like the other books, it comes down to one simple thing: how this series makes you feel while reading it.

I could curl up on the sofa and completely slip away into a safe, fun place where friendships are true, magic is real, and love runs bone deep. To me, that is the sign of a fantastic book and an amazing series.

I am horribly sad it is over, and honestly, if I could, I would beg at the author's feet for just one more book, though I know it would never feel like enough.

This whole series earned far more than five stars from me, and I know it will stay with me for years and become one of my forever comfort reads.

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(Flame and Thorns, #1) Empire of Flame and Thorns by Marion Blackwood review

 

Empire of Flame and Thorns by Marion Blackwood
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐½ 3.5 Stars
🌶️🌶️ 2 Spice

The banter and sass in this book could keep my little heart going for an eon.

Where should I start? The book is fun pretty much from the get go. There is lots happening, and the storyline was THICK in this one, but not so much that I was losing track of what was going on.

I have to say that the lead, at times, REALLY ticked me off due to her being so focused on people liking her that she all but curled in on herself. After a while, that started to get old fast, but I did understand why she was like that. She had a lot of baggage and distrust from the people who should have understood her. I loved it when she stood up for herself and just shone.

Now, I sort of called the ending of this book right from the start, but it did not take away from how much I liked the story. I would say the first half is slower paced, while the second half slowly starts to race toward the ending, where it becomes one thing after another.

Overall, it was a fun read, but it was not outstanding for me. Still good, though. The spice in the book was a highlight, even if it was not the main focus. Mostly, it helped break the book up a little. I do feel like more could have been done with the trials, and at times, it all felt a little like schoolyard bullying.

Here is one of my biggest problems. EVERYONE IS OLD. Like, these characters have lived for centuries, and yet no one seems to ask questions or learn from anything. I felt more like I was reading about twenty somethings rather than people who are centuries old. Maybe it is just me, I do not know, but I thought there should have been more substance there.

Also, there were a few questionable things in this book that really did not fit and had me doing mental math and coming up blank. I cannot really go into some of the problems because I do not want to spoil it for others, but those points definitely stuck out to me and left me a little miffed.

Either way, it was a fun little read and a great jumping off point for a series.

The absolute joy I got from Draven and Selena's ongoing banter battles made me giggle. It was one of my favorite things in the book. I would say things really picked up during the fourth trial for me. It felt like an explosion of even more events and action, and it was super fun.

I also would have loved to learn more about the side characters. Overall, a solid read.

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(Monstrous Shifters) A Game of Cat and Witch by Ruby Rune review

 

A Game of Cat and Witch by Ruby Rune
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 Stars
🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3 Spice

The first thing this book slapped me in the face with was the cozy, funny vibes I got right from the start. I am a sucker for a cozy book with a dash of spice, so I was all in. Sign. Me. Up.

When all a witchy girl dreams of is getting a familiar and some chicken nuggets, does she get that? Nope! Not for her. Say hello to Avery. This book really shows the pressure and pain of feeling like an outsider among your own people, and at times, it’s hard seeing her struggle with that. But it also makes her feel very three-dimensional and stand out.

Now, Felix is like wildfire in this book. He is confident and sassy, and watching these two banter and fight like cat and dog was so funny at times that I thought I would cry laughing.

I did have one small problem. While I felt like Avery and Felix were really well fleshed out and practically came off the page, I felt like a lot of the side characters around them were a little too two-dimensional. I loved the main character, but what about Maya and Wren?? Tell me more about them, I want more!!

The story turns out to be much more than just some cozy read, though. Nope. There is a kick ass storyline, mystery, secrets, and surprisingly good action. I honestly thought I was going into a super fluffy, funny read all the way through, but while it starts off more easygoing, it slowly slips into a much darker and deeper story, which I personally found amazing!

There is banter and fun, but there is a lot more than that too. I found myself flying through the pages and genuinely having a really good time. I would say it is not the most serious read I have ever picked up, but it was absolutely worth reading.

There were a few moments where I felt more could have been done, or where something could have been expanded on a little more to help develop another character. But overall, it was a quick and easy read.

There is spice in the book, and it is good, but honestly? I found myself enjoying the storyline even more than the spice. Together though, they balanced each other out really well.

That ending though!!! Sweet Lord, it had me clutching me pearls and scared to death, but what an ending!! Can't wait to see what's next.

P.S. Dust bunnies for the win!

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(The Wolves of Ruin, #2) Fury Bound by Sable Sorensen review

 

Fury Bound by Sable Sorensen
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐ 3 Stars
🌶️🌶️ 2 Spice

I will start by saying I loved Dire Bound, so I was over the moon to get the second book into my grubby little hands, and I started reading it the moment the book mail arrived.

Now here is where I plead with you not to judge me for what I am about to say next, but… I did not like Fury Bound as much as I liked the first book.

The first book was in a single POV, but this second book is now dual POV, which is normally my favorite. But I felt that because of this, it gave up a lot of the mystery and tension between our leads. I felt like everything that had been built in the first book was sort of knocked down here. Hearing some of Stark’s thoughts honestly did not help the book for me at all.

The book started right where the first left off, which was great, but my problem was that the first 30 percent or so of the book did not feel impactful at times. Our lead felt more like a doll in a dollhouse while someone else moved the pieces around, and it sort of devalued her as a character.

I felt like we got a lot of new names and people introduced, and while I was happy about some of them, I also felt a lot added very little to the book overall. Now please do not get me wrong, I by no means hated this book. Not at all. It was well written, easy to read, and enjoyable. But I just could not hold it to the same level as the first book because too many things paled in comparison.

I felt like the leads needed a slower build up because nothing really felt like real love. It felt more like lust, want, and maybe a mix of them not being able to help themselves due to outside factors. For me, that also impacted how I felt about the spice. It was alright, but was I burning for what I was reading? No. The last spicy scene I honestly hardly remember because it seemed totally crazy to me that they would be doing that at that moment after everything that had happened.

Not sure about anyone else, but if my world is falling apart at the seams, spicy time is not exactly high on my to do list.

Now there were things I did like about this book. Seeing more of the world was fantastic, and learning some really key information while seeing how in the dark everyone was about the siphons was a massive highlight for me. The adventure and banter were saving graces, and I totally loved it when our lead Meryn was thinking strategically and really showing who she was. I think throughout parts of this book she felt more like a side character due to how inactive she was in her own role.

I also felt like the last few chapters were rushed in an attempt to create a big explosive ending, but instead of leading to epicness, it sort of felt like the story was sliding downward. Honestly, I almost wish I had stopped reading at page 577 and let that be the ending I sat with until the next book. It felt a little too déjà vu with her trust being broken all over again.

While this was not a horrible read, it was not up there with the first book for me. I enjoyed it, but when book one felt amazing and had so many strong elements, I could not help holding book two to the same standard. I wanted it to be either just as good or even better, which I know is a big ask.

Instead, this book felt stop start at times. Some events felt unnecessary, and some plot points overwhelmed the story. We went from direwolves, kings and queens, and siphons to gods and goddesses in very quick succession. There was also unnecessary spice at strange moments.

Overall, I gave the book 3 stars and 2 spice. I am hoping book three pulls me back to what I loved because right now my faith in the series is a little shaken.

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(The Wolves of Ruin, #1) Dire Bound by Sable Sorensen reread review 2026

 

Dire Bound by Sable Sorensen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
2025 Review plus 2026 reread review
Holy moly! 😳 What a fantastic read! 👏 Where the hell should I start? I feel totally lost for words. The story in this book is just spectacular!! I love the struggles and the desire to push forward and protect. The view of family life that is not always conventional, family comes in many forms and dynamics. The strong female lead was super enjoyable, but she was by no means perfect and made rash and stupid choices that had me pulling out my hair.

I had feelings for a person in the book, and I felt like I was going mad, wondering if maybe I was being mean because I felt distrust and icky about them, but that’s what good books are about: reading, getting lost in its words and its world, questioning everything you thought was true, and being left speechless and wanting more.

I absolutely 💯 was gripped by this book and its characters for better or worse. The things I didn’t like about this book didn’t make me dislike it; they were told in such a way that they added to the big wow at the end. The spice in this book is sprinkled throughout, but honestly, I was more in love with the story and what was going on than the smut side, which really shocked me.

I absolutely love the direwolves in this world 🐺, and enjoyed learning about the world the author wove and created into such a lush and brilliant fantasy realm. I would have loved to see more use of power and more combat scenes ⚔️. I felt the book had so much to give, and it hit all the right spots for me, even my epic rages and screaming at the lead seemed worth it for such a great start to a series.

Fantastic! I don’t know how I’m going to wait for the next book. 😍🔥

2026 Reread Review

As I recently got the second book in this series, I decided to reread this one before starting the next.

I still very much love this book the second time around just as much as I did the first, but I do think I had a few more thoughts after rereading it. One thing I noticed more this time was that while our lead is strong and determined, she is also often her own worst enemy.

I do understand it, given the life she had and how suddenly everything changed for her, but I do think the story would have gone very differently if she had given others more of a chance. She might have seen the truth much earlier.

Overall, though, my first review still very much stands!!

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Karma by K.A. Knight Review

 

Karma by K.A. Knight
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐ 3 Stars
🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3 Spice

This was a hard one for me. I am a MASSIVE fan of Den of Vipers, so I kind of hoped I would love this one too.

After reading what the book is about, I was glad to see a strong female lead and three hot male leads. The book was jam packed with gore, action, and childhood trauma that could sink a ship. The writing was easy to follow, and the pacing was really fast. I felt like it jumped from one thing to another, spice here, then more drama and spice, rinse and repeat. So you can probably guess my disappointment when the book sadly felt more like a Temu version of Den of Vipers.

Now please do not get me wrong. Did I hate it? No. Did I love it? Also no. It was an okay read. A lot happened, and it was interesting, but here are the things that stood out to me.

It is hard for characters to grow when they are already at the top of their game. It is hard to take things seriously when there is nonstop gore and action, but no real after effects or consequences. The spice was there and frequent, but it felt a bit lackluster due to there not being much emotional connection or range between the characters.

I did love the sass and the strength of our female lead, but honestly, at times it was hard to keep going. By the end, I finished it just to get it done.

It was easy and fun, but not something I would reread, sadly.

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(Daughter of the Earth, #3) Triumph of the Elderoak by K.M. Gordon review

 

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

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 Stars
🌶️🌶️½ 2.5 Spice

I have never cried so much in my life. What a way to finish a series. I was sobbing so hard. I even read a few parts to my teen daughter, and she was sobbing too.

It was so good, but also heartbreaking and painful at times. I really, really wish I had reread the first two books in the series before starting the final one, but honestly, the ending was everything.

I am talking heart stopping, high stakes. No softly, softly here. No, everything is going to be ok. This was an end of battle where it could go either way. Loss, blood, and pain. I was scared out of my mind almost from the get go, and I did not relax the whole way through.

The story had bumps and twists and turns, and some amazing, I mean OMG, moments where I was screaming no way, I did not see that coming. There were small pockets of downtime where I could breathe and try to relax my clenched hands and put my heart back together. You also get some fantastic interactions and spice that fits the story but never overshadows it.

This was a start to end, story driven series, and the spice was a lovely bonus. The love in this book comes in many forms, from family to your other half, to friendship, and more beyond that. There is also some shocking character growth that had me completely dazed.

I loved it. I am struggling to even explain how much I enjoyed this series, but for me it got better with each book. I think those who love Dungeons & Dragons would really enjoy this, and also those who love more story driven fantasy books with great world building and so much action that you will never get bored.

LOVED!!!!

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(Duskwalker Brides, #1) A Soul to Keep by Opal Reyne review

 

A Soul to Keep by Opal Reyne
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Reread: 2026 I read the book last year and thought I would try the audiobook. LOVED IT, super fun to listen to. Thankfully, it was duo-narrated, which really made the book stand out, and WOLFGANG as the male lead… massive thumbs up. I've never read or listened to the rest of the series, and I'm considering maybe trying book 2.

First read:2025 I was recommended this book by a friend, and I was a little unsure at first but wow, I am so glad I read it.

To start with: what a hell of a story! A world of humans and demons can be hard to make feel fresh after so many books portray it this way and that, and honestly, I thought there were no new ways left to make it unique. But this? This was fantastic. I was sucked in pretty much from the first word.

I really loved learning and getting to grips with everything going on. While the book is on the darker side and pretty open about it… it didn’t feel that dark while reading, which is kind of wild considering what actually goes on in the story.

The SPICE in this book was GIVING inferno I honestly thought I might catch on fire! But weirdly, despite how many spicy parts there were, it didn’t feel like that was all there was. There was a great balance of story and spice.

Call me crazy, but I couldn’t help but feel for the characters seriously, I got butterflies of my own. Orpheus? I couldn’t help but totally love him. It was easy to fall down that rabbit hole… and before you knew it, you were too far gone to turn back.

If you love monster spice books, this is a big must-read. Fantastic read, and I’d totally read it again in a heartbeat.

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Shadow Trials by Evelyn Hart review

 

Shadow Trials by Evelyn Hart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 stars
🌶️half spice

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

Would you like a book that keeps you up all night, that has a plot so plotting all other plots pale compared to it, how about so much action you think you're in a MMORPG and currently raiding at 1am, how about horror and trauma to boot, strong main character and lore for days. Well, look no further because this book has all that in abundance. And for the low, low price of your sadness and tears, knowing once you reach the end, you have to wait for the next book, it can all be yours.


I just got slammed in the face with a plot so rich and detailed that I feel like I slipped into the book's world myself. I have read so many books, and honestly, sometimes it's hard to see a plot in books. Sometimes I am underwhelmed by them, well, not this book, this book slammed down the plot and was like, “Are you ready to lose yourself? Are you ready for more story than you can shake a stick at... well, here I am.” I was not disappointed. I was consumed by the world laid before my feet and the characters, the build-up and history; it was just amazing.

I would say almost from the get-go, the book was dark and gritty and gives you a great introduction to our female lead, Fiona. She is totally a badass. I love that she is smart and strong; I love myself a good female lead, and I felt like I got that in spades with Fiona. I loved getting to know her and her story; I found it really easy to put myself in her shoes and just go with the story. There was friendly banter, epic character interactions, and a well-written build-up to something spectacular, and it was so easy to read. I think the only time I really paused was when I was taking in information on things I didn't know about yet, otherwise, I ate it all up.

Oh, this is action-packed to the brim. My cup runneth over, and I revelled in it. I was totally spoiled, in fact, and so pleased. The whole story was dripping with dark grittiness, there were shocks and an unapologetic way about it that had me reading long into the wee hours of the morning. I found myself totally consumed by a need to know what happened next and how it would all end, and not wanting it to end all at once. I was on the edge of my seat with anticipation, waiting for each big revelation yet dreading what it would bring. While I was grinning at the action, there were also dark themes and gore...and sometimes I was sobbing my little heart out in the dead of night. This book, at times, really had my emotions on the run around, and a few times I thought my heart was being pulled out of my own chest. It was phenomenally written, and done so well that honestly, there was hardly anything I struggled with or did not like. The only thing that threw me off now and then were the many names, which I sometimes had to pause and check my notes for. Otherwise, the book was perfect for me!!



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(Courts & Kings #1) Court of Nightmares by K.A. Knight review

 

Court of Nightmares by K.A. Knight
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐½ 3.5 Stars
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 5 Spice

PLEASE READ THE TRIGGER WARNINGS!! Lol.

I struggled with rating this one, spinning between 3.5 stars or 4 stars. I had read this book once before, but I never reviewed it, and I felt the need to do so this time.

The opening of this book is dark and fantastic. It has a great introduction to the world and our FMC, Althea. I zipped through the first few chapters like I was possessed, and I loved the gritty darkness. I totally felt for our FMC and was invested in what came next.

I am a massive why choose fan. I love these books because I hate love triangles or squares, as sometimes the one you want does not get chosen. Why choose gives me what I need, so I am all for them. But this book had seven, which is a lot of men, and sometimes I did struggle to keep track of who was who. I did enjoy getting their backstories and getting to know them, which made things easier as the book went on.

The storyline of the book was great, like top notch, and I was super excited. Sadly, I quickly realized that the spice was leading the charge in this book. There was instant want and connection followed by hot and heavy spice all the way through, with some moments that honestly had me blinking in stunned silence.

I felt like all that spice made me less interested in it because it was so constant and packed throughout the book. The story ended up feeling more like an afterthought instead of the main focus. That being said, the book has an easy writing style, so I still zoomed through it. It is packed with blood, gore, and spice, and it is hard not to enjoy reading it on some level.

I would have loved some bigger balance changes where the story took the lead, and everything else followed, but it is what it is. I did get a bit tired of certain things, but honestly, by the end, it felt like mindless fun.

A manic bundle of fun with death, blood, and gore. A storyline that was good, but overshadowed by the insane amount of spice. Some key elements needed slower pacing to really unfold instead of being thrown at you at full speed. There was a lot of cute and fun stuff to love and a story screaming to take the lead, but spice won this time.

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Den of Vipers by K.A. Knight review

 

Den of Vipers by K.A. Knight
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars)
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ spice

Hush... don’t tell anyone, but this book is like that song you love but never admit to, or the sneaky snack you eat when no one’s looking. Somehow, this book has become my guilty pleasure, my dirty little indulgence when I’m in a reading slump or can’t get into anything else. I keep slipping back into it, and right now I’m on my third reread.

The shocking part? This is 100% NOT my usual kind of book... and yet I still love it.

What do I like?
Well… It’s pretty much unhinged. Like, totally derailed and chaotic. If you squint, there’s definitely a storyline. It's action-packed and full of blood and fighting, but let’s be real, the spice steals the spotlight. And this isn’t just spice… It’s blistering, check your triggers immediately kind of spice. There are moments that made my mouth drop open, had me shaking my head thinking, “No, they’re not going to.....oh wait, yes... yes, they are.”

If you like soft, fluffy romances, please keep walking.
If you want a book that won’t make you question your life choices, run.
This book had me wondering: Why am I reading this? Why do I like it so much? Should I seek professional help?!
And yet… I still wanted more.
It’s confusing, and it’s kinda wrong, but in the best way. Like Marmite, you’ll either love it or hate it.

The book is super easy to get into. It opens dark and intense with lots of action and character introductions. I really liked the strong female lead (even though she made me sigh and groan at times because she could really tick me off). But that’s just part of the charm, I think. I just like that the whole thing is so totally crazy. 😂

Would I recommend it? No sneaky winks and whispers YES.
Would I read it again? This is my third reread, so… yeah.
How would I sum it up? Totally unhinged and SO spicy.

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Oops! I Summoned a Metamorphic Monster by Opal Reyne review

Oops! I Summoned a Metamorphic Monster by Opal Reyne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐½ 3.5 Stars
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 4 Spice

What in the tentacles did I just read, lol.

This book is perfect for those who want a fast, fun, super spicy, weird read. One where the story is mostly centered around the spice and romance and not so much about anything else. But it is fun, quick, and really made me question what in the world I was reading.

I was definitely freaking out when things started to heat up, but it was all in good fun and there was nothing really hard to get through. It was pretty easy to read and just a lighthearted book overall.

I had no clue this was part of a series. I do know the series is called the Witches Love Monsters series. Each book is a standalone, so you can jump in anywhere, but I am guessing the best way is to start from the first book and go forward.

I have read something by the author before that I loved, which was A Soul to Keep, the first Duskwalker book, and I loved that.

I would say if you are after something with more depth and a longer, story driven plot where the story comes first and spice second, this book is totally not for you. But if you want a dirty, quick, questionable monster read with heaps of spice, this book is definitely for you.

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Howl by Meg Alivien review

 

Howl by Meg Alivien
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 Stars
🌶️🌶️ 2 Spice

Cute and cozy with a splash of drama, but the female lead is clearly a horror movie protagonist who makes some proper stupid choices, lol.

It is a short read, just over 250 pages, and the book was super cute. It is a friends to lovers story with some drama here and there, and it made for a super fun, easy read. I really cannot fault that. In fact, I liked the book overall.

But OMG. The lead is like one of those characters from a horror movie where we are all screaming at the TV, do not go up the stairs, run, or questioning her brain cells because no, you do not go down the dark alley. Are you crazy?

I definitely felt like that at times, but overall it was a super light, easy read.

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(The Cocky Kingmans, #1) The C*ck Down the Block by Amy Award review

 

The C*ck Down the Block by Amy Award
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐½ 3.5 Stars
🌶️🌶️ 2 Spice

The name of this book and the cover had me low-key giggling, so of course I picked it up.

The FMC is a book-loving librarian, and she is on the bigger side, like me, so I love that. The male lead is totally into her and has been since they were young. I found this cute little foundation of the story to be super lovely.

I ate up the playful male lead Chris' banter, but I also really loved that he was a little scared of losing what he had loved for so long. He was super likeable and a comedian half the time. Our female lead Trixie was more on the shy side and did not care much about stepping into the limelight if she could help it. I liked that she was a self loving woman, but she still dealt with bullies and weirdos at times.

The book was in first person dual POV, going back and forth the whole way through, and I totally loved that. The internal monologue at times had me cackling with laughter. The story was pretty simple. It is a sports romance with friends to lovers and fake dating, but honestly, there was little to no real sport shown in the book. It felt more like a background setting for the male lead’s job and something his family revolves around as a group. Thankfully, because I have no clue about sports.

I loved the friendship and the family interactions. There was spice in the book and a lot of spicy thoughts from the MMC, but in truth, the spice did not really impact me all that much, which was a little sad.

Here are some things I struggled with. At times, it felt less like love and more like desire and want. I did not like how one event was not taken more seriously, and it felt way too rushed and brushed aside. The way the lead reacted to it also felt a little underwhelming.

The ending felt rushed. The pacing was steady for a large part of the book, but at about 75 percent through, everything felt like it was speeding up, which left some key moments feeling less impactful.

Overall, it was a good read, and I enjoyed it, but I did not love it.

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