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.
⭐️ 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.
⭐️ 4.75/5 | 🌶️ 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.
⭐️ 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.
Added to listTriggers centralwith 3 books.
Added to listExtra spicywith 5 books.
⭐️ 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.
⭐️ 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.
Added to listForced proximitywith 6 books.
