Kats

As always check the trigger warnings! This is the first book in the Blackmore University series but can be read as a standalone or out of order (as I did).

In this story we meet Kaye and Xavier, step-brother and step-sister although they did not grow up together. Now Kaye has turned 18 and is off to college Xavier is now ready to break her, as revenge for her mum breaking up his dad's marriage. Initially the bully aspects plays into their interactions a lot, although as Kaye realises her attraction to him they become more involved and both their feelings start to develop. There are dubious consent moments, some I would classify as non-consensual, although it happens off page. The other spice is great and although it was a hot and angsty romance I ultimately was not really rooting for these two to stay together particularly with how it ended.

The other books in the series were more engaging stories in my opinion but I'm still glad to have read all three to see the opposing perspectives from other characters. I look forward to more in this series in the future.

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

A magical sisterhood

“They were witches by their blood, the product of generations of power, built and cut down, burned, yet surviving still. They were mastery and dominance, subtlety, and silence.”

What an intro! In the first chapter we meet the Bay sisters, witches from an old and powerful magical family who now reside on Star Island. This book is Laurel's story, but her sisters Rosemary, Sage, Lavender and Verbana are featured throughout. They are a cosy little sisterhood with hearth and home specialties that seem to complement each other. Laurel is able to traverse another realm, the Hedge World, and it's here she finds remnants of a past life where she was Amee, and the love she had with Onfroi. Then begins a series of events that will fulfill the Beltane prophecy about the Bay sisters.

“My soulmate showed up in the Hedge World. Shit's about to hit the fan.”

Indeed it does. As the story unfolds Laurel meets Onfroi, who is now Owen in his present life, and together they face the threat of a family curse, while getting to know each other in a lovely romance. There was tension and action and many intertwining stories from past lives.

The story ended on quite a tense moment and it's clear there is much more story to come both for Laurel and her sisters. I'm eagerly awaiting the next instalment to learn more!

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

In this short story, a prequel to the book Sweet Revenge, we follow Jackson confronting his birth father about abandoning his mother in order to marry his mistress. Turns out Dad is complete jerk so who feels bad about a cheeky bit of blackmail between estranged family? Coincidentally Jackson runs into an upset women on the street and learns she is Malcolm's new mistress Carrie. This discovery leads to his years long scheming on how to seek revenge on his father, which is the story told in Sweet Revenge. It was great to get some background to how they all first met, though I read this after Sweet Revenge I still recommend reading it either way!

Revenge is spicy and sweet

As always check the trigger warnings! This is the third book in the Blackmore University series but can be read as a standalone or out of order.

In Sweet Revenge we meet Jackson, the lovechild of yet another affair with a mistress. Set on seeking revenge on the father who abandoned him, he sets his eyes on Carrie, Malcolm's new wife. After they meet at a charity function Carrie starts having an affair with Jackson but eventually the truth starts to unfold and things get more complicated.

There are some great spicy scenes and we find out the difference between an domineering man who is abusive and cruel versus a hot sexy domineering man who takes charge and claims you (but with consent and mutual feelings). Total opposites even when they say the same words.

I enjoyed the story overall, though the big reveal and ending was a bit quick and I would have liked a bit more tension there. Although there is some age difference and a forbidden romance aspect, you never feel ick from Jackson being Malcolm's stepson due to his age and their estrangement. Definitely could have read even more of this story.

Malcolm's son Xavier and Carrie's daughter Kaye are the subjects of Book 1 Cruel Intensions, so the story overlaps some and it's definitely worth reading the other books in the series to learn more about other characters.

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

Study. Eat. Sleep. Kill.

Rae is a young woman out for revenge after surviving a brutal assault that ended her swimming career aspirations. College student by day, by night she and her bestie are the crime scene cleanup crew for a mysterious serial killer. While plotting to murder one of her abusers, “The Lion”, she has encounters with three interesting men - the Gabe the Detective who was on her assault case, his son Cormac who is a fellow student, and Blake the thief who teaches her how to shoot a gun and we find also works for the serial killer.

Threads between these three men become more clear as her involvement with each develops. Rae also becomes more confident in herself, more able to deal with the trauma and panic attacks that her assault caused, helped in some part by the men she is getting involved with who are all supportive and mindful. Rae sometimes has childish tantrums with them, but this doesn't seem out of character considering her past. As Book 1 comes to an end the mystery around the serial killer remains and the ending is such a cliffhanger! Without spoiling the story I needed to know more about these romantic interests, I still have questions that I hope will be answered in the next books.

There is some spice which is explicit but fairly tame for a dark romance and the reverse harem aspect I suspect will develop further in future books too. There is some spice which is explicit but fairly tame for a dark romance and the reverse harem aspect is mild and I suspect will develop further in future books too.

I look forward to the next books in the series to find out where this story goes with both Rae and the serial killer.

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