amandamant's reviews
213 reviews

This is my first T.S. Joyce book and I’m so glad that I read it! It’s beyond sweet! I teared up a little which is a beautiful thing that doesn’t happen to me often. There’s also some steam. I’ll be honest and say I expected a tiny bit more steam from such a short story - we novella readers love our smut - but there was still a nice hotness factor! Plus, the story itself was very strong. I was right there with these characters the whole way through! And as a black sheep myself, I couldn’t help but relate. I’ll definitely be looking more into Ms. Joyce’s back catalog. And I’m already stoked for Burke’s story! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I thought this story was cute. It’s short and sexy like all Ella Goode books and our Hero is a hottie!

I wasn’t a huge fan of the instagrammer aspect to be perfectly honest. I don’t know why a bounty hunter who clearly needs to keep a low profile would be okay with his image out there for all of her hundreds of thousands of followers to see. And seriously, would you be okay giving birth live-streamed to 40,000 people? Particularly on someone else’s account? Yeah, I wouldn’t either. I know Ella is always over the top, but I feel like this match up is taking it a bit too far.

That aside - it’s well written in Ella fashion. It’s funny and sweet and steams up the Kindle exactly as it should!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I love Jessa Kane books! They’re always short sexy stories with over the top Alpha who do everything they need to do to get their women. And this one did not disappoint! Was it believable? Nope. Is that okay? Yes! It’s a hot little story that will make you smile. Yes, there’s a Daddy aspect...well, that’s another Jessa Kane staple at this point. And I am here for it!! If you love Jessa’s books, you’ll love this one!

Wow. Just wow. I love Margot Scott’s work so I can’t deny I waited for this book on bated breath. And it was totally worth the wait!

Mariah and William were meant for each other, but fate isn’t easy in stories with vampires, ghosts, and clairvoyants. Both of these characters had huge obstacles to overcome and I lived on the edge of my seat as I waited for their HEA. This unique story went in some many new directions that I didn’t see any of it coming. Sure the HEA was expected, but the way they got there surprised me at nearly every turn.

It’s brilliantly written, and while there is definitely a smut factor I actually think that it was a bit tame compared to Margot’s other work. Darker, yes. But I didn’t feel as naughty about it. There was one scene that...well, you’ll read it...but everything else was actually not too naughty for her. Unless you consider that this is like a 500-something year old vampire and a 17 year old girl. She does actually turn 18 before anything too crazy so don’t go all pedo pissy y’all!

Fact is, that the story really shined in this book. It’s a different take on a vampire romance that we addicts think we have read 100 times. But this story breaks the mold. It takes new direction and it shines. I can’t recommend it enough. And while it’s not a ‘Halloween holiday romance’ per se, it was definitely released in the right month!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ &

First of all, the minute I find out that a new Jessa Kane book is available I download it. Never fails. She’s released a couple of books that didn’t work for me, but I never miss them.

This one was a perfect example of why I enjoy her work so much. Our characters were both over the top in their ‘trope’. Our heroine was the sweetest, most perfect, 18-year-old virgin ever. And she was, of course, a total sex kitten. And our hero was the big, bad, rich man who hates the world because he’s been through h*ll and refuses to care about anyone, ever. And of course they bring out the very best in each other. And there’s fun suspense and a bit of will-they-won’t-they to bring it all together.

Instalust to instalove with characters that were just perfectly cliche and language that required a change of panties...exactly what I want in a Jessa Kane novel. In the grand scheme of life is this a 5 star book? Maybe not. But for sexy novellas that read like M&Ms for me? It’s a total 5 star! Keep em’ coming Jessa! I adore you!

Okay, I’m on an Alexa Riley kick right now and I refuse to be ashamed of it.

This book promises taboo naughtiness and it completely delivers. I love a short story that makes me go to sleep with a smile on my face. I can always count on Alexa Riley to give me just that.

So why 3 stars? Well, this one is just...how do I put it? There are moments that I don’t find this as hot. The older brother has a bit of a jerk moment and that pulls me out for a bit. I don’t like seeing my heroines sad. And she had a good reason to be sad. There was also a bit of language in this one tat went a bit past sexy and into creepy. Normally that’s not too big of a deal, but coupled with the bad treatment of our heroine by the older brother, I had to deduct a couple of stars.

Now, if you’re looking for a super short, hot menage, step sibling story then I do recommend this book. It’s worth the read, and it’s short enough that it won’t feel like too much of a waste of time. But I don’t suggest you go out of your way to read it unless all three of those things appeal to you. Obviously, those things do appeal to me because this is a re-read.

So, this book should be a 4 star book. The smut is off the charts and highly enjoyable if you’re into smut. Particularly, if you’re into taboo smut...and if you’ve looked at my read list you can probably tell that I am.

BUT, this didn’t hit the 4 star mark. Why?

Because new step dad was a jerk for far too long.

This is an insta-lust/insta-love story. Him wanting her, but saying he can’t have her is fine. Frankly, it’s what we lovers of this trope (super smutty taboo romance) crave. However, once the heroine starts to feel bad about herself and actually runs away, we lose the sexy.

No, she technically didn’t run from him, and yes, she did come back on her own. But she had to get away from the situation because she’d been treated like crap most of her life and she was over it.

Was that enough for our hero?

Nope.

He kept being a douche-canoe a little longer. And I HATED that.

For smut we’re definitely in 4 star territory. But for hero and (at times) heroine we’ve got to go down to 3.

I recommend for lovers of taboo smut and Alexa Riley. However, there are better AR options that are smuttier and don’t leave as bad a taste in my mouth. Just my two cents.

I wanted to love this one SO MUCH!!! I has everything I’m looking for in a smutty novella. And she owns a romance only bookstore?!?!?!? Sounds like bliss!

Unfortunately, it’s just not written that well. The very first paragraph has a blatant typos and a sentence that makes very little sense. I wanted so badly to love it, but the insta-love just didn’t click well for me, and the drama felt pretty contrived. I may have been reading it with frustration in place due to the first paragraph issues, but it didn’t overcome them.

I’d read it again if I had absolutely nothing else to do, but I’d pick up other Alexa books first. Even the next in this duo. I enjoyed it more.

Do I recommend? Well, if you love AR, go for it. But if you’ve never read her, don’t start here. I guarantee you will have high hopes, and there is a very good possibility that they won’t be met.

I truly enjoyed this book. I was worried that we were going to miss a lot of it because these two were mentioned so many times in the first book (Bookstore Barbie), but I didn’t feel that way at all.

Was it smutty? Yep. Was it over the top? MMM-hmmm. Was it dripping in semi-taboo, older man goodness? Oh yes. And I lapped it up like a cat to cream.

Is it my favorite Alexa Riley? No. But when I’m on a smutty kick and choosing books by these two to binge, I’ll definitely pick this one back up.

I highly recommend it to Alexa Riley lovers, and those who enjoy short, steamy romance novellas. If you’re new to AR and this synopsis appeals to you, I think you should grab it. It’ ll definitely wet your appetite for more.

It’s not bad. If you’re feeling this trope then you won’t be disappointed. But it’s honestly not great.

There’s a bit of a creepy factor that isn’t completely out of the realms of an Alexa Riley book, but it makes this one just feel like more of the same. I mean, 18 year old goes with a man that she’s never met before often her dad steals her life savings. I mean, I guess? But...I’m not sure I’d be comfortable knowing this actually happened to anyone. In fact, I’d be calling for help for this young woman right away.

But, suspending disbelief is a big part of an over the top short and steamy smut novella. I respect it. And I love it. But this book, while not bad, is just not a favorite of mine.

I recommend it if you’re board and it’s available for free or deeply discounted. If you’re an AR fan, you’re going to like it. But will you love it? Probably not. But it’s not bad enough to not recommend it. It’s just not good enough to say ‘go read this now.’