Cynfulbooks
His in the Dark by Willow Winters is a Hades and Persephone retelling. It is a dark romance with trigger warnings, such as, but not limited to, kidnapping, violence, SA, r*pe, and murder.
Persephone is depressed and feeling hopeless with the unexplained loss of her powers in Olympus. Desperate for purpose, she casts a spell, and the next thing she knows, she knows she has been kidnapped and held captive in the Underworld. Enter Hades, the jealous/possessive MMC determined to make Persephone his Queen. Hades is patient in his pursuit to get Persephone to realize and harness her powers, both in the Underworld and over him. Meanwhile, Demeter is hellbent on recking the worlds with the loss of her daughter. Hades is torn between keeping Persephone and risking war between the Gods.
His in the Dark starts out slow as we experience world building, but halfway through, it picked up and truly captured my attention. I enjoyed Hades and Persephone's passion, both sexually and when fighting. Hades' faith in Persephone's ability to rule and be Queen is empowering.
Be warned, it ends on a cliffhanger, leaving you desperate for book 2, His in the Fire.
He Sees You When You're Sleeping by Haley Tyler is a short and easy Christmas novella that will have you thinking twice about mall Santas. From sleigh reins and garland to sugar cookies and candy canes, Santa brings in all the Christmas accessories to make Noelle's encounter extra naughty. I'd be happy being on his naughty list.
I enjoyed the smut but found the post-O emotional declarations extreme and unrealistic. I suggest knowing a man's name before using those three little words. Also, side note, if you plan to use candy canes for an “icy” feeling, consider picking up Vagisil for after.
Overall, the novella wasn't bad. At 57 pages, give it a try and let me know your thoughts.
Joe Arden and Heather Firth knocked the audiobook out of this world! They conveyed a depth of emotions in an intense and impactful way that had me hooked.
Leigh Rivers delivered a dark, taboo story in such an artful way. I was connected to both main characters and felt their emotions. Even after dark and frankly, disturbing moments, I still empathized with the MMC and felt heartbroken for him.
Malachi is a deranged man with an over the top obsession with his adopted sister, Olivia. He has questionable morals with no remorse. And his love is only for her.
Olivia is confused by her attraction and more than familial love for her brother. But, she is confined by her need to follow familial and societal expectations so their relationship has to be a secret.
Caution: intensely dark read. Check trigger warnings first!
When Hearts Surrender was excellent. The prologue immediately gripped me and literally had tears in my eyes. The curse was artistically woven into the book. It was a beautiful eternal love story transcending more than a lifetime.
Belle and Maxwell were adorable. I loved the portrayal and realness of Maxwell's crippling social anxiety and how supportive Belle was. Maxwell truly grew throughout the book.
Birthday Girl by Penelope Douglas was a really enjoyable slow burn with building sexual tension. Forced Proximity, caused by Jordan's boyfriend, aka Pike's son, led to Pike and Jordan falling for each other. It is a taboo read involving a boyfriend's dad with a 20-year age gap. But let me tell you, I fell hard for Daddy Pike.
Jordan was a breath of fresh air for Pike. She brought life into his monotonous existence. Pike gave Jordan stability, appreciation, and reliability. He was incredibly thoughtful and attentive. They fought their attraction and magnetism for one another for what felt like a long time, but they fit seamlessly together, almost kismet. With one problem, Cole. How do they overcome the fact that her ex is Pike's son? I was invested in their relationship and felt the depth of their emotions and situation.
