Mélanie

⭐️ 5/5 | 🌶️ 3/5

L.A. Cannon is one of my all-time favorite authors, and the first two books in the Burn To Rise series were the only ones left for me to read before finishing her entire backlist. So I was incredibly excited to finally pick up Behind The Lights, the first book in the series. I had already met Leah and Søren in Of Chords And Dreams, where they appeared as side characters, and after getting small glimpses of their relationship there, I couldn’t wait to dive into their love story.

For an early work, L.A. Cannon truly impressed me with the depth of her character exploration. Leah and Søren both feel incredibly layered, and I loved how much attention was given to their thoughts, emotions, and inner struggles. They’re each carrying painful pasts that still heavily affect their lives in the present. Leah’s story especially hit me hard, and some of her flashbacks were genuinely difficult to read. Watching her try to learn how to trust again—and open her heart despite everything she’s been through—was deeply emotional.

This is a rockstar romance, and I really enjoyed the contrast between Søren’s band, Dark Omen, already being massively successful while Leah’s band, Buried Alive, is only beginning its rise. That difference in experience and fame added such an interesting dynamic to the story.

It was also amazing to see Marc and Chris again as side characters. Chris, in particular, was absolutely perfect as Leah’s best friend.

Behind The Lights is definitely a slow burn, but the payoff is so worth it once Leah and Søren finally allow themselves to fully give in to each other.

And that twist at the end left me speechless. I immediately needed to know where the story was heading in the second book.

I loved how introspective this story was—how focused it was on making us truly feel the characters and everything they were going through emotionally. I’m completely obsessed with these two.

⭐️ 4.5/5 | 🌶️ 4/5

The Ritual by Shantel Tessier is a book I never thought I’d read one day. I literally remember telling my friend that while she was reading it months ago. At the time, I was completely shocked by everything she told me about the story, and I was convinced this type of book would never work for me. And yet… here I am, months later, having read The Ritual and feeling genuinely surprised to say that I absolutely loved it. Who would’ve thought?

From the very first chapters, I was hooked by the secret society of the Lords and their intense, dark world. And Ryat… this man had my attention immediately. I loved how completely obsessed he was with Blakeley—how everything seemed to revolve around her for him.

The spice is present throughout the entire book and starts pretty early on. Once Ryat gets a taste of Blakeley, there’s no turning back for him. The two of them are completely insatiable together and ridiculously sexy as a couple. At the same time, I really enjoyed the progression of their relationship over the course of the story. Trust and love didn’t come easily for them, and I liked that they actually had to work to reach that point together.

This is the kind of book that constantly keeps you on edge, with twists and revelations that, personally, I never saw coming.

Overall, it was just an incredibly fun ride from beginning to end, set in a world that fully captured my attention. I’ll definitely be continuing the series.

⭐️ 5/5 | 🌶️ 3.5/5

Wish We Were Here by Risa Cruise was a book I had been eagerly anticipating—partly because I already love this author’s writing style, and also because the story is set in the ’90s. I was a teenager during that decade, and so much of the music I still listen to comes from that era. Many of my favorite films—like Basketball Diaries, which is mentioned in the book—also came out in the ’90s. I went in expecting something rich in emotion and nostalgia, and that’s exactly what Risa Cruise delivered.

I have a soft spot for road trip stories and journeys of self-discovery, so it was such a joy to follow Sam and Ash across the United States. Watching them evolve from strangers into something deeper felt incredibly natural and organic. Sam’s bi-awakening was beautifully done—seeing him come to terms with his identity was both tender and moving. And Ash… my god, his story hit hard. His struggle with self-worth made so much sense given his past, and it was heartbreaking at times. I loved that he had Sam in his life—someone who gently helped him believe he deserved more, both from himself and from the world.

I also really appreciated how Risa Cruise handled the topic of AIDS, which was still relatively new in the ’90s and devastating so many lives. Its presence in the story felt authentic and meaningful, especially in the way it shaped the characters’ experiences and relationship with their own sexuality. It added an extra layer of realism that grounded the narrative.

The spice was incredible. Their first time together, in particular, was so sensual and emotionally charged—it’s still living in my head days after finishing the book. Every intimate scene carried real depth and feeling.

I honestly have no notes. This book was perfect for me. The characters, the setting, the pacing, and the level of spice all hit exactly right. I devoured it so quickly—I couldn’t put it down.

⭐️ 4.25/5 | 🌶️ 3/5

Starting this series felt both exciting and a little nerve-wracking, since it’s my best friend’s all-time favorite. I really wanted us to share that same love for Legacy of Gods.

It ended up being quite the rollercoaster. For more than half the book, I struggled to connect with the characters. I couldn’t fully understand the hype around Killian—he was entertaining in his own way, but I felt oddly detached from him. His relationship with Glyndon left me cold as well; I just wasn’t seeing the spark between them.

What kept me going were the side characters. There were so many intriguing personalities to discover, and knowing that most of them have their own books gave me a strong push to continue.

Then the last 25% completely flipped everything for me. The dynamic between Killian and Glyndon started to shift, and for the first time, I truly believed in their relationship. The plot twist near the end caught me off guard, and I was glued to my Kindle until the final page.

I never thought Killian would win me over—but wow, he really did. By the end, I was fully rooting for him.

It’s rare for a book to change my mind so drastically after the halfway point, but this one pulled it off. I’m so glad I stuck with it until the end.

I can’t wait to continue with God of Pain.

⭐️ 4.75/5 | 🌶️ 3/5

This was my first book by Pam Godwin, and wow—just wow. I was completely blown away by this complex, emotional love triangle story. And this is only the first book in a trilogy.

The beginning felt a bit slow for me, and I even questioned whether I would end up enjoying it. But once the story found its rhythm, I couldn’t put my Kindle down.

My heart broke more than once for Danni. Her grief was raw and painful, and watching her struggle with her growing attraction to Trace was incredibly intense.

As for Cole, I’m still not entirely sure how I feel about him. But Trace… he put me through every emotion possible. I went from falling for him to being frustrated and even hating him at times. He’s such a layered, complicated, and fascinating character.

And that ending… 😭 Pam Godwin really left us there after all those revelations. I had no choice but to immediately pick up the second book. I need more of Danni, Cole, and Trace.