Sasha Fountain

This was very interesting take on the alpha/omega universe and angels/demons that was different from most of the common narratives about them. The book had Greta world building, a good plot, some interesting character development and romance. I'm not big on reading angst so I had some reservations about this book but I was pleasantly surprised with the plot choices. I loved that despite the dark themes in the book the relationship itself was not a dark romance. The miscommunications throughout the book were frustrating but it did not deter from my enjoyment of the book.

I received an ARC from GRR and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review.

This book was definitely a page turner complete with telenovela level drama. There's a lot of scheming, conniving and backstabbing behavior throughout the book. At the heart of this book is an enemies-to-lovers romance with a marriage of convenience. The twists in the narrative kept me very engaged. I enjoyed the rival family and family drama dynamic set in the small town setting. The prose is easy to read and its not very long so it is easy to binge.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Based on the premise, I was unsure if I would enjoy this book. It wasn't enthralling for me, and it was slow-paced until the end when the action picked up. I struggled to get through this book because Natalie was a bit boring. I understand that a major point of the book is that Natalie is trying to find out who she is and become someone, but her portrayal is very bland. I did want her to be okay, but it was because many of her situations were cringe.

I gave this book 3 stars because the prose was well-written despite being boring at times. I can see others enjoying this book, and I think that this book works well for people who enjoy coming-of-age stories.

Thank you to Algonquin Books for an ARC copy of this book, and I have provided my honest review.

This is a contemporary gay enemies-to-lovers romance featuring two men who were manipulated and dumped by the same man. Patrick is reeling from the end of his 2-year relationship with his ex Aubrey. Aubrey manipulated Patrick and told him blatant lies about his ex Charles. Aubrey was older and more knowledgeable in wine than Patrick. He taught Patrick a lot about wine, so when an opportunity came for Patrick to lead a wine tour, he jumped on it. He ends up facing Charles, his ex's ex and realizes why Aubrey had avoided one particular winery.

Charles is not impressed to see Patrick the person Aubrey ended their 7-year relationship to be with. Charles was manipulated and emotionally abused by Aubrey, and that cut down on his self-confidence, confirming his belief that he has nothing to offer in a relationship. As the story progresses, Patrick sees a lot in Charles. After some short encounters and a bad accident, things start to change for them. Both Patrick and Charles start to see their lives and each other differently.

I gave the book 4 stars because things start to go a bit off the rails after those realizations. There are major personality changes that don't have much explanation. Also, there are many relationship-ending challenges that are easily resolved without much introspection. Despite the interesting plot choices, I end enjoy this book.

Thanks to GRR for the ARC copy for my honest review.

I enjoyed this book better than the first installment. Throuple stories are usually hit or miss for me, and I really enjoyed this one. The two dragons turned the fated mate affair into a funny territorial dispute.

Ben is a human who gets two fated mates who are dragons. Dragons don't share, and definitely not Nevin and Eaman, who can not stand each other. Ben wants them to connect as a throuple because he knows that it is how they are meant to be. It is a bit of a mess with two competitive dragons who are extremely possessive. It was a great fantasy story with good world-building, lovable characters, and a good plot.

Thanks to GRR for the ARC copy for my honest review.

I loved how Kell and Joula met by chance and had instant chemistry. The connection was initially wholesome and quickly turned steamy. I wish this were a full-length novel to flesh out some of the storylines and give more background to the character's relationships. I also wish the magic system in this world was explained a bit more. This book has perfectly set up for the next book in the series. I'm looking forward to reading the next installment.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Caleb is a cowboy billionaire who is one of the most eligible bachelors in town. At a charity event, he is immediately drawn to Wiley, a server at the event. He fumbles over a pickup line and then lets Wiley know that he will be waiting for her after her shift.

Wiley is a college student working part-time to fund her studies. She is from a completely different world than Caleb, but they have strong chemistry. There was definitely a case of instalust, but I like that they don't immediately jump into bed together. This book ends on a cliffhanger, and I'm excited to read part two.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

4.5 stars

Content Warnings: Physical & Verbal Abuse, Homophobia

Paul left his hometown as a teenager, dropping out of high school and escaping to Denver to get away from his abusive father. Now he is returning after 9 years to take over his dad's estate since his death. The portrayal of his emotional state while crossing the border into Shafter Falls is heartbreaking. He must deal with his hateful and bigoted uncle when he gets home.

Sam is a loveable being who is always looking to help others, so he becomes a cop. I loved meeting Sam in the prequel Waking Wyatt, where his dad falls in love with his best friend. Sam has always cared for the people he loves, including Paul, his childhood sweetheart. We learn that Sam is drawn to domestic abuse cases because of his connection with Paul because he feels like he could not save him from his father when they were younger. Since Paul left town, Sam has carried the guilt over not doing enough to help him.

Sam swears to himself that he will protect him now that Paul is back in his life. Sam is considerate and caring like his father, Wyatt, and he emotionally supports Paul throughout the book. This story is full of challenges because they have to deal with the abuse and havoc that Paul's uncle brings. Paul's uncle was an absolutely vile person who consistently terrorized Paul throughout the book.

Ultimately, Paul and Sam got their HEA, which was well deserved.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

I loved The Blood-Born Dragon, so I enjoyed getting a peek at Des's life prior to the events of book one in the trilogy. This novella gives us a taste of the great world-building and settings in the Everlands Cycle series. The writing is well done, gut-wrenching, and fast-paced, which lead me to read the book in a few hours. The plotline was easy to follow, and J.C. Rycroft interwove complex elements to give us a great introduction to Des. I loved that Des is a tough sellsword and the way she holds her own in a male-dominated field. The sapphic tension throughout the novella and the spice 3

Aldrich and Roslene meet at a conference and are immediately attracted to each other. I struggled to read this book because I could not empathize with these characters. Aldrich did not handle the news of his child and his feelings well, which is sometimes understandable but did not endear me to him. This story has confused signals and miscommunication tropes that work if executed correctly. That way the tropes were executed was frustrating, so I'm rating this book 3 stars.


I received an ARC, and I have provided my honest review.

This book had interesting world-building, and I had read Silvana's short story in this same world, so I had a bit of an introduction to how fated mates in this world worked. Dariel was highly prejudiced against paranormal creatures throughout the book, and it was sometimes a bit grating. Curren was understanding and had a great concept of consent which I appreciated. It was a good fated mates story, and I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

Thank you to GRR for providing this ARC copy for my honest review.

Kieran has just been released from prison after a 20-month sentence for a crime he did not commit, and he plans to find out who set him up. Kieran has been let down his whole life by his parents, the foster care system, and the justice system. He gets a job at Redemption Ranch and finds himself drawn to Finley, a horse trainer with a magic touch. This read was full of angst because Kieran has a lot of built-up distrust. I'm not a big fan of slow burn, but Aimee wrote it well, so I enjoyed reading this.

Thank you to GRR for providing this ARC for my honest review.

Jake was only assigned to keep tabs on Marco Bresi, but from the moment he laid eyes on Alex; he was drawn to her. Alex had decided to forgo relationships and focus on her career, so she was surprised by her instant attraction toward Jake. This is the final book in the Denver Men series, and I think it was a great way to finish off the series. This series must be read in order because the storylines from the previous books lay the groundwork for this final book. This story has an instalove storyline which I don't mind because it was done well. I was satisfied by the resolution of the plot line with Marco Bresi the villain throughout this series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Five stars.

I loved this book! Donna Hill wove several distinct timelines between ancestors and descendants who are separated by generations, but their struggles were intermingled. The amidst the book, there are passages from what we learn are our MC Alessandra's ancestors. Here are the tragedies and oppressions that Alessandra's maternal ancestors experienced throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries.

After developing a strained relationship after her mother's death, Alessandra was estranged from her father for the last few years. She is an aspiring photographer on the cusp of her first gallery show, and she is surprised by a call that her father has been hospitalized. She comes back home to Sag Harbor to deal with her father's condition, and to her surprise, her father is glad to see her. Before her return home, she begins to have vivid dreams and realistic visions that she can not comprehend. She also finds out that her father wanted her to know the history of her ancestors, which her mother did not like to share with her.

When she returns to Sag Harbor, she meets Zach, one of her father's neighbors who has a close relationship with him, making her a bit jealous. We also get chapters with Zach's perspective which gave us a soul-moving story about soulmates, accepting and honoring the past, and forgiveness. Alessandra and Zach's connection was powerful, and they were drawn to each other their band intensified as they explored the segments of her family's history. Zach also finds out that Alessandra's family is integral to the research he has been doing on the maroon community in Sag Harbor.

The book was very enthralling because there were so many facets to the plot, and at first, I wondered how the historical accounts fit into the book's main narrative. Overall I loved how everything came together, and this is yet another amazing book by Donna Hill.

Thanks to Hear Our Voices Tours for providing me with a copy for my honest review.

4 Stars

I gave the book four stars because of Valentina. Initially, I really did not like her. As the book progressed, she grew on me because she began to grow as a person. The writing is solid, so that is what helped me power through the first 30% of the book. I'm not a big contemporary YA reader, so this book has convinced me to give this genre a chance. I loved Leticia's banter; she was my favorite character in this book. Vale had some fun barbs, but Leticia's retorts were so great. The book also delved into some hard topics, such as grief and an emotionally abusive parent. Racquel Marie wrote this book with such care that I'm excited to see what she does next.

Thank you to Turn the Page Tours for an advanced copy of this book for my voluntary review.

Mèo and Bé is a beautiful and heartbreaking middle-grade novel about an eleven-year-old girl who suffers abuse at the hands of her stepmother and is drugged and sold to a sex trafficking Gand during the Vietnam. For a a major duration of the story Bé's only friend is her three footed kitten Mèo who helps her keep her spirits up throughout all of the challenges she encounters. Bé also finds new friends and family as the story progresses. I gave this book fours stars because it feels more adult than middle-grade to me at times. There were very heavy themes in this historical fiction that teaches about overcoming adversity and resilience.

Thank you to Hear Our Voices Tours for the advanced copy and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

5 ⭐️
3.5

Light My Pyre is a paranormal mystery where supernatural outcasts like fae, dragon shapeshifters, fallen angels, vampires, and werewolves try to coexist. It's a great cozy mystery romance with dashes of paranormal elements. Unlike most dragon shifter stories, I loved that the female MC was a dragon. The description of Everwood Falls was really lovely. I loved the multiple plot twists. I'm ready for book two!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

4.5 stars

This book takes you on a wild ride from start to finish. This universe is unique and interesting. I really enjoyed the book and I loved seeing the bond between Des and Squid grow. This book is mostly fantasy with a heavy dose of adventure. Des is a kick-ass heroine and I'm excited for the next installment.

I received an ARC of this book so that I could leave an honest review.

4 stars.

This book is a YA novel full of adventure, romance and representation. The MC is Andrea, who is determined to have the best summer ever after spending the previous summer recovering from a cerebral palsy surgery. She has made a Best Summer Ever list with 8 steps to having the best summer of your life. On that list is a secret ninth item to fall out of love with her best friend Hailee because she does not want to ruin their friendship. Andrea and Hailee's friendship is well developed in the book any their interactions are genuine and realistic. I gave the book a four star rating because the characters seemed a bit juvenile instead of being young adults. It's a great coming of age story and it's full of heart.

Thank you to Hear Our Voices Tour for providing me a copy of this book for my honest review.

4.5 stars

I loved the banter and sweet moments in the book. Hailey is a date-for-hire who gets in the wrong car and ends up fake engaged to Landon, the grumpy billionaire she meets. Their hijinks and the way they fall in love are interesting. I'm glad that no one found out about their fake engagement contract, and at one point, I thought that Ivan had figured it out. They had some obstacles to overcome, and I'm glad the miscommunication trope wasn't heavily used in the book.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

4.5 stars
Like the first two books in the Denver Men series, this short story moves quickly. Rachel is a grieving widow with twin boys whose only support is her sister Chelsea. She felt guilty that Chelsea had put her life on hold to help her, so she encouraged her to go after a dream job. When Chelsea left for that job, Rachel's life was left in chaos, and she was barely coping. Then Chance, a handsome ex-FBI agent and now PI, comes looking for her sister and immediately takes charge of helping her. It's a bit rushed and requires a bit of suspension of belief because what mom lets a strange man around her children that easily.

Chance finds himself drawn to Rachel and hesitant to form a commitment with her because getting involved with her is a ready-made family. Rachel is also drawn to Chase and hesitant because she does not want to get involved with another man who has a dangerous job because she does not want to risk losing someone else in her life. Chance and Rachel had some challenges ahead of them because of the hangups they had about relationships, and it took some time to overcome them, but they got their HEA.

This was a quick romantic read with a bit less suspense and action than the previous book with their siblings, Chelsea and Seth. I enjoyed the story and loved how quick the read was, and other than the speed with which Chance crashes into Rachel's life, I liked the development of their romance.

I received a free copy via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

4.5 stars

Justin is the kind of guy who does one-night stands and has his ex-girlfriend bust in the next morning to scare off that guy. He doesn't do relationships. Gabriel is a notorious flirt who connects with everyone he meets, and while he enjoys hooking up, he wants more. I liked Justin better than Gabe despite his penchant for jealousy. Justin is a bit insecure, which is what fuels his jealousy, and at times Gabe plays into that to rile up Justin. Gabe is great at his job, but the rest of his life is a bit self-destructive. Gabe deals with an extremely homophobic family that we get a peak at during the book, and I wish we got a moment where he confronts them and reads them the riot act. We do get Justin standing up for him, and that's when I realized that his whole family is horrible people. Justin's relationship with his mother has really affected him because he lived his life in the shadow of his brother, and that caused the rift between them. Gabe really played up the flirting which gets annoying at points, and his connection with Eric was abrupt, and the weird fixation Eric was really desperate. But overall, the romance and HEA were what gave the book the extra .5 above the four stars I was planning on giving the book.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

3.75 stars

Foxy Tails is an MM fantasy romance with a colorful cast of characters. This story involves demons, foxes, healers, magic, murder, and vengeance. In a world where nothing is what it seems, the story is full of magic, danger, suspense, and tension. Honestly, the romance fell a bit flat to me because it seemed like a slow burn that was building towards something big, and it didn't. The book feels like it is geared toward a younger audience.

Thank you to GRR for providing a copy for my honest review.

This a fairytale retelling of Cinderella with a paranormal omegaverse twist. I like the storyline and worldbuilding in the series the chemistry between the main characters is a bit weak. Despite my view on the characters, I am interested in seeing what the next book is about. Be aware that this book ends on a cliffhanger.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.