booksandmeforevermore13's reviews
311 reviews

Aspen was a funny, sweet, and kind character, and though her family is basically royalty in Hollywood, she never uses that to flex power over anyone. The way she genuinely cared about interacting with everyone around her, working for her, on the set, during the dates, or her fans drives this point home. She's dealing with anxiety over the uncertainty over both her personal and professional life. The insecurities over where her career will go next along with the fears she had for her mom's ongoing battle with cancer.

Grey was initially a bit grumpy, cocky, and closed off and had a difficult time opening up to anyone. After his last relationship with a co-star went sideways, he decided to keep his distance from Aspen right from the start. And though it seems like he has everything he wants with his popularity and being sexiest man alive twice, he also deals with issues of his own when it comes to Hollywood, how people view him, treat him, and the stereotypes set with what he can do.

I like the focus on mental health, how it can be misconstrued when it comes to celebrities who are under so much scrutiny to always be on their best behavior and don't have much room for making any mistakes. Aspen wasn't shy about talking about her struggles with her mental health with Grey. Similarly, Grey had different but equally valid experiences in Hollywood that were so often disregarded because he was a man.

This was a sweet, refreshing, cozy, but also spicy read, where the characters make you feel all warm and happy. I love that there's no third-act breakup. Both Grey and Aspen didn't leave room for any misunderstandings. The way Grey hurried to reach Aspen to convey his true feelings was just adorable and funny.

What starts off as a fake dating agreement in order to do damage control quickly turns into Grey and Aspen developing very real feelings. I loved the way they slowly opened up and always supported each other. The banter between them was hilarious from the start, and I also loved the way they both put each other out of their comfort zones. Both of them were so considerate of each other's feelings, always paying close attention to confirm everything was okay. These two had so much fun planning their "fake dates," with them picking turns with each date.

The spice was really good and didn't take the focus away from the plot or the budding relationship between Grey and Aspen. Moreover, it just added to their banter and fun, which I really enjoyed. Grey definitely had a filthy mouth that I highly appreciated.

The side characters were really fun, especially Julie and Piers. Their relationship with Grey was really sweet and funny. That brownie scene had me laughing so much. Aspen's relationship with both her sisters was different but sweet in their own way, and they were just so supportive and open with each other.

Thank you, Lilah Morris, for providing me with the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Firstly, I was really intrigued by the world-building. At first it was a bit confusing for sure, given all the places, characters, and their hierarchies, but I slowly got the hang of it. Once that happened, it was amazing to see how well the author has set up this realm of demons and angels and the upcoming war they're preparing for.

Assyria's character went through so much over the course of this book, and she wasn't just handed anything freely. She had to work twice as hard as the men and was still only viewed as nothing just because she was a woman. It also took a lot for her to let go of the beliefs that were beaten into her of what the duty of a woman must be in this world, and her confidence only grew from there. She held on to the defiance and rage until the very end of the book, unwilling to bend down to anyone ever again.

This book does contain sensitive matters such as DV, so I'd suggest you check the trigger/content warnings before getting into it. What Assyria had to endure for years was gut-wrenching, and it wasn't an easy journey even once she'd escaped her abuser. The trauma accompanyin her abuse was woven into her journey. Being so utterly tired of being weak and helpless finally gave her the push she needed to fight back for herself, which she did beautifully. I loved how she called people out constantly and didn't shy away from asking to be treated as an equal and showing others just how capable she was at every turn. She was such a strong and admirable character who matched Rokath every step of the way.

Rokath was such a complex character, and initially all we see is the broody brute who doesn't care for the consequences of his actions or see any errors in his ways. He's used to commanding everyone and knowing they'll obey him. The last thing he expects is someone like Assyria to be his mate who challenges him openly every step of the way without any fear. Certain things he did definitely pissed me off, but this behavior also made sense given this world and how the men actually viewed the women. Over time, Rokath started seeing how brave, determined, and capable Assyria was, which also shifted his perspective of what women can achieve.

We also learned more about the things he'd had to endure to reach his position today—the losses, sacrifices, regrets, and guilt that plagued him and kept him up all night to focus only on winning the war without any distractions. Seeing his vulnerable side made me understand his nature better and why he needed the control and order. Reading about Rokath in action during the war was also something I loved, and his dangerous side only made him hotter.

The romance between the two started as hate when they found out they were mates, which neither had anticipated nor wanted. They both question the plan of the fates in bringing them together, as they don't see how they could ever find any semblance of trust or understanding. And though there's lust and attraction due to the bond at first, it slowly shifts into something more tender and deeper with time.

Both Rokath and Assyria had endured a lot in their own ways and had closed themselves off from the world, feeling like they couldn't count on anyone but themselves. However, as the story progressed, things slowly started shifting between them, and it wasn't just the mate bond between them that was the driving force. They slowly start leaning on each other without even realizing it and want to open up parts of themselves that they'd be scared to reveal before. I loved the shift in their relationship over time and how Rokath softens for Assyria and how Assyria in turn embraces all of Rokath's darkness.

I LOVED the banter between these two. All that snark, snapping, growling, and trying to one-up each other was top tier. I also enjoyed the way they communicated their thoughts with each other through their mate bond. It was all so hilarious AND jaw-droppingly sexy.

The spice was so fucking hot. The angst, the push and pull, the attempts to keep their distance, the heated banter, the fucking tension between them. The way this man was fucking feral for her... GAHHH!!!! So freaking intense… and the hate sex was incredible. The games, the chase, the need to possess, was all so... wowww!!! I couldn't get enough.

I loved the side characters a lot and how they added to the plot and their relationship with both Rokath and Assyria. The understanding Kiira and Assyria built, being women in a man's world, was something I loved. The small steps they took to assert their stance on being seen as more than just "broodmares," as Assyria put it. Their small movements of rebellion against a male-dominated world.

I also loved Assyria's bond with Rapp. He was a true friend and was exactly what Assyria needed at a time when her life had completely upended. The way he never once treated her differently for being a woman, conspired with her, saw her worth and strength, and encouraged her to build on it while also trying to advocate to both Assyria and Rokath on each other's behalves for them to learn to trust their bond. He was a loyal friend to Rokath, who'd always stayed by his side through everything and only wanted the best for him but also constantly gave him shit.

Grem and Zeec were the cutest despite being such feral beings. The way they could never get enough belly rubs from Rokath, Rapp, Assyria, and Xannarin was just so adorable. I loved the bond that grew between Assyria and them with how they protected her and also understood and comforted her in her time of need. The banter between Rokath and Assyria was also hilarious when they involved the beasts, who were just confused as hell to pick a side.

I honestly can't not mention Izgath. His character truly touched my heart, and he was the first person who showed Assyria understanding and kindness.

The turns things took towards the end had me at the edge of my seat, and the choice Rokath had to make wasn't an easy one, and I was as shocked as Assyria when he did. I'm so invested in reading book 2 and seeing where Rokath and Assyria go from here.

Thank you to Grey's Promotions and Lacey Lehotzky for providing me with the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Narration: 5⭐️
Book: 4.75⭐️
Spice: 2.5🌶

Audiobook Review: E.J. Bingham and Hathaway Lee were both new narrators to me, and I loved them in this dual narration. I enjoyed this story a lot more in the audiobook format because it made me feel the feelings of these characters so much better. It made the moments between the MCs that much more effective for me.

Aiden's character had a lot going on. Feeling like he was in a rut at his job, with nothing to spark his interest lately, and making a conscious effort to keep everyone in his life at an arm's length. Feeling like he'd lost his faith in love because of what that ultimately brings—pain and suffering. His skepticism about love and keeping his distance from everyone stemmed from his own experience of watching his mother battle cancer all his life and the toll that took on his father. It broke my heart to see him close up the way he did, not wanting to feel more pain by subjecting himself to developing feelings for someone. The way he had put up so many walls to protect himself from being hurt or the constant fear of losing said person.

Lucie hadn't realized that she was lonely until the night she spoke to Aiden on the romance hotline, courtesy of her daughter meddling in her love life. But once the thought took root, she realized that she had in fact been feeling lonely and wanted to try again despite how much it scared her. She wanted the magic when it came to romance and didn't want to simply settle. Getting on the radio show was her way of putting herself out of her comfort zone and taking a chance on herself too. The more dates she goes on, the more she realizes what she truly wants and how she'd been making up excuses out of her own fears. I loved her bond with everyone in her life—her baby daddy and his husband, her best friend, her coworkers, her daughter, and Aiden.

Aiden and Lucie's relationship grew very naturally as they slowly went from strangers to friends to lovers. The way Aiden paid such attention to everything Lucie said and did, and how he slowly started letting loose with her was all so sweet. The cute banter between them, how the snippets from their show gave glimpses of the way they started flirting with each other more and more as time went by. The way Aiden was at every failed date, turning it into such a heartfelt moment between them without either of them realizing it. It all felt so seamless between them, which I truly loved, and it made me smile a lot.

Both Aiden and Lucie had tremendous character growth as the story progressed. They both had to come to terms with the things holding them back in their lives in order to truly give each other a chance, which was a journey they both had to take on their own. Aiden had to finally have some difficult conversations with that he'd been putting off for so long, and I loved how mature he was about owning up to his mistakes. The part where the title of the book finally made sense made me pause what I was doing and just place a hand on my heart because damn!!!

Definitely loveddddd the spice after all that tension building between the two. All that jealousy from Aiden, the banter, the flirty texting, sitting pressed up for hours at the radio station. The almost snapping of his restraint. Aiden reached his breaking point multiple times, and that was honestly so sexy. He was just so fucking gone for Lucie and had to struggle to keep from fucking her senseless in public places. GOOD LORDDDD!!!

The side characters were all so amazing, and I loved each one of them. Maya, Grayson, and Mateo, who were Lucie's family. Maya was the sweetest kid who had the best intentions for her mother and was so honest and open about her feelings and communicated them as such. Patty was just the best friend Lucie needed by her side through the chaos that was her life. Her coworkers—Dan, Harvey, and Angelo—were so supportive and cared so deeply for her, and I loved all the fun banter between them. Jackson was absolutely hilarious, and I couldn't get enough of him. I NEED his book, and I WANT it to be with Delilah. Those two already have a lot going on, and we haven't even seen her yet in the book.

The -0.25 star is because I wish that there had been more face-to-face interactions between Maya and Aiden. I get that she wanted the best for her mom and she liked Aiden, but I just wish we'd seen a bit more of them forming some bond than the one conversation we see during breakfast.

Narration: 5⭐️
Book: 4.25⭐️
Spice: 3🌶

The audiobook was such a delight with Samantha Brentmoor and Eric Nolan as the narrators, who also did the narration for Leather & Lark. So yes, they were absolute perfection as Rose and Fionn. They brought all the characters to life again, and I will definitely recommend you guys go for this version. It truly intensifies the experience.

Fionn had a carefully crafted life on the outside and in his mind. One he'd worked hard to build by pretending he didn't have a dark side. The darkness he'd tried so hard to bury after his father died, and he'd taken every step since that day to carve a separate path for himself. To convince himself that he wasn't that man and to make sure all the sacrifices his brothers had made for his sake paid off. Over the years, pretending got easier, but when Rose stumbled into his life, she unraveled this facade and the control he'd had. The illusion of the person he'd forced himself to be for years started slipping. And Rose was the one who gave him the faith to acknowledge his dark side and embrace it.

Rose was absolute chaos in the best way. I loved her relationship with everyone in Silveria Circus, who'd become her family, and the circus, her home, when she fled her abusive home at the age of 15. She knew then that she wanted to be the person who helped those who couldn't help themselves, just like she hadn't been able to until she decided to leave. But eventually, just providing the means stopped being enough, and she decided to take matters into her own hands.

However, I do wish that all of Rose's "endeavors" weren't so messy and incomplete, I guess. I'd get it if it happened once or twice while she got the hang of getting her hands dirty, so to speak, but it just happened every time, and she had to ask Fionn for his help, which didn't really go with the theme of this series. Also, her half-assed attempts were also the reason why Fionn had to take the measures he did and reach out to people he didn't want to in order to help Rose.

The romance did take a while, although there was a pull between Rose and Fionn right from the moment he found her bleeding in his clinic. He felt this fierce need to protect her, which he did, every step of the way. Somewhere along the way of protecting her and helping clean up after her crimes, Fionn started realizing that the darkness he'd tried so hard to pretend didn't exist in him was right there, which terrified him at first. Rose kept waiting for the other shoe to drop when it came to Fionn, waiting for him to see how dark and twisted she truly was and finally wash his hands off her or be disgusted with her, but that never happened even as they kept pushing the boundaries of how far they could test each other to see if the other would abandon them due to their dark, twisted ways.

Though there were feelings growing between the two of them as they lived together and formed a bond, neither was willing to act on it given their own insecurities and fear of being rejected. There was a lot of push and pull, which added greatly to the sexual tension between them. Loved Fionn's version of 'touch her and die' because boyyy… did he deliver.

The spice, as always in this series, was mind-blowing. This was also enhanced in this duet narration, which is also why I recommend the audiobook. Fionn seemed so quiet in the previous books, but oh god, this man... the things he did, craved, and said... holy hotness... and Rose was just as amazing with how unashamed she was to ask for what she wanted and also understood Fionn's deeper desires and prodded him enough for his restraint to snap.

The letters... good lord… the letters. The Kane brothers sure know how to grovel, because what was that? The planning, dedication, and fucking devotion Fionn had for Rose.

I also wish there was a bit more clarity towards the end with Fionn's work and if he'd truly grown to embrace and enjoy his new job or was it because of the deal he'd made? I wasn't exactly clear on that because he does say that he didn't want to continue doing what he'd agreed to because of all that he'd seen, but the end also has Rose saying that he's taken to his new role well.

No matter what anyone says, Barbara was the true MVP in this book; you can't convince me otherwise. Oh, and I also want to be a part of the Suture Sisters because they just have the best time.

I can't get over the stunt Rowan pulled with his costume and face paint and all the chaos that followed. That poor, adorable, silly man-guy. The bond between the Kane brothers was truly something else, and I'm going to miss that so much. The part where they have a moment of heartfelt conversation mixed with insulting and teasing was just so perfect and emotional. What I also love is how terrified these men are of their women, which made me laugh a lot. And I totallyyyy need a bonus epilogue or a novella where the Annual August Showdown becomes a team activity where the three couples compete against each other for the k!lling.

That epilogue sure did have quite the surprise in store for us, and my jaw was on the floor. I'm so ready for what's to come next.

Although I'm used to Brynne ruining food for me at this point, and I was wondering what's going to happen with the cotton candy but it didn’t really do much for me. And my reaction to it was normal. Even that questionable use of beer didn't faze me. Am I just desensitized to it all at this point??

Despite everything, I felt like there was SOMETHING that was missing in this book but I can't pinpoint what it is.

Narration: 5⭐️
Book: 4.5⭐️
Spice: 2.5🌶

This was my first time listening to narrators Rusty Mewha and Dani Cochrane. They were exceptional and really got these characters to life. I was able to feel everything the characters did—I enjoyed their banter a lot more, and the heartfelt moments also hit harder. Would definitely recommend the audiobook.

The setup is a blend of the Regency era meeting the fae world, which itself was quite intriguing. Edwina Danforth is a human romance author from the human realm traveling to the fae cities for her book tour. William Haywood is a fae poet who has joined her as a tour companion, promoting his own poetry book. However, they soon turn into rivals when they find out that they're also competing for the same prize, which is a three-book deal with the publishing house, and the winner will be decided based on their performance during the tour.

Edwina was smart, witty, determined, and curious. Being a romance writer, and one who wrote smutty books, people (mostly men) tended to not take her work seriously. This especially is something that's relatable to me as a romance reader when people don't take romance as a genre into consideration or think of it as just corn. Being a romance writer in a Regency era made it difficult for her as a woman to have the kind of success and exposure she yearned for. Which is why winning the competition was vital to her—for her career and for her work to be recognized widely.

William was a more layered character, and there was this air of mystery around him throughout the book, which kept me hooked. He came off as unbothered, confident, and cocky. On the inside, it was a different story. As the story progresses, we uncover more about him—his past, his secrets, his reasons, and his fears. For William, winning the competition was of the utmost importance in order to support and protect his family.

The constant bickering and banter between Edwina and William was everything and had me laughing so hard. The way Edwina felt on top of the world after being drunk on Cloud Dive but looked so wasted when we got to William's POV had me cackling. William trying to sneak in his book to her at every chance and then the two trading insults using said book was so entertaining. Also, the jealousy... These two absolutely could not stand the sight of the other with anyone else, and I loved their reactions to each other and the attempts they made for their competition. Monty and Zane didn't make it easier for them either. The way my jaw dropped when William said "use me" to Edwina.

There were also so many heartfelt moments between them that just hit you in the feels. The petals inside the book… that part was just so sweet. The hidden message William wrote for her in the book just made me pause and want to cry. The way he opened up to her and told her his truth.

The reenactment scene from Edwina's book by Edwina and William was so hot. I was just here listening to it with my mouth open and then ended up squealing like a lunatic at the turn of events. I truly didn't expect the spice in this book and was so pleasantly surprised. The way he walked away after Edwina's confession to lock that door... DAMNNN!!

The side characters were amazing, and this book had a found family aspect to it, which is something I always love. The genuine friendships formed between these characters made me love the book even more. Daphne, Monty, Zane, and Cassie were all just too good, and I loved their meddling ways.

Although I do wish we'd gotten more into Edwina's whole reasoning of agreeing to the bet as also a way of learning more about the fae as research for her next books. So I wish that whole aspect had been incorporated in a more detailed way.

I'm looking forward to Monty and Daphne's book already. Their banter in this book was already so brilliant, and I can't wait to see where they'll go from here.

Narration: 5⭐️
Rating: 5⭐️
Spice: 3.5🌶

Audiobook Review:
Firstly, thank you to @eliv_bookstagram, who recommended the audiobook for this one because, Oh. My. GOD!! It was spectacular, and I would really recommend it to everyone. The narrators—Stephen Dexter and Lila Winters—who were both new to me, were truly commendable and perfect as Cash and Mollie. Every time Cash said "Yes ma'am", I was fanning myself because that definitely did things to me. The mouth on this man AND the narration by Stephen Dexter? I was done for. I stood no chance.

When her estranged father leaves her his ranch after he passes away, Mollie Luck has no idea how to feel about it. She has no intentions of taking care of the ranch when her life is miles away in the city. However, his will has a stipulation that she needs to live on the ranch and run it for a year before she can gain access to her inheritance. Needing the money to keep her business back in the city afloat, Mollie has no choice but to agree to said terms. What she doesn't expect is the foreman of her father's ranch, Cash Rivers, to get in her way and disagree with said terms. Things between Mollie and Cash don't start off on a great note, with Mollie wanting to fire Cash immediately and Cash wanting to do whatever to make sure Mollie goes back to the city.

Mollie held on to a lot of hurt, anger, regret, and jealousy over her strained relationship with her dad that she never got to work on. She was dealing with the grief of losing her father without having rectified their frayed relationship. It was a long journey for her to come to terms with her feelings about her father and form her own opinions about him. Working at the ranch, she slowly starts remembering how freeing the feeling of ranch life had been when she was younger. It doesn't feel as terrible as her mother had portrayed it to be, and she starts feeling a sense of belonging and like a way to connect with her father, which she never got the chance to do while he was alive. And doing so helps her understand more about who she is as a person too.

She was able to understand herself better as she spent time at the ranch. How she was dedicated to her business in the city but also felt like she was a cowgirl at heart and had found the piece of herself that was missing. I loved how genuine her bond was with everyone at the ranch, which took its time but gave her the family she'd always craved. There was a lot of self-reflection on her part, which she also communicated with her mom.

Cash Rivers had to give up on his own dreams of going to college and instead had to take over the responsibility of raising his four younger brothers after his parents passed away. His life after that had been all about making sure everyone around him had what they needed and that he was always present to put out any fires. Taking care of Lucky Ranch, his siblings, and working on clearing off his family's debt so he could one day revive their ranch was all that consumed him. And somewhere along the way, he'd stopped living for himself. Losing Garrett, the man who was a father figure, mentor, and his friend, so unexpectedly had hit him hard. The man who'd taken him and his siblings under his wing after they lost their parents. He was dealing with the grief, which turned to rage towards Mollie at first for not being a part of Garrett's life without knowing the full situation.

The romance between Cash and Mollie took its time to develop from their initial dislike and distrust of each other. Eventually, the two get into a routine of sorts, which surprises both of them but feels right. They also helped each other process their grief over losing Garrett, despite having a very different relationship with him. As Mollie spends more time at Lucky Ranch, Cash starts to see that he was wrong about his initial impression of her and sees her for the strong, compassionate, and hardworking woman she is. The more he gets to know the real her, the more his feelings for her grow.

Cash was never threatened by Mollie. He acknowledged her dreams when it came to Bellamy boots and worked hard to make things easy for her so she can pursue both her business and the ranch and doesn't have to give up either of the things. He was a steady presence in her life who supported and encouraged her and never wanted her to limit her growth. Mollie helps Cash realize that it's okay to rely on others for help and that he doesn't have to carry the weight of everything on his own. She becomes his partner in the true sense and helps him realize that things will still work out fine if he takes a step back to just breathe and think about himself. That his siblings have grown up and are capable enough to handle things on their own. That it's okay to let go of the constant worry he was holding on to, the pressure of keeping things going for his family that he'd taken on from the age of nineteen. She worked hard to help him achieve his own dreams just like he did for her.

The SPICE!!!! These two were so bloody hot together. Cash and his teasing and challenging ways, which Mollie matched equally. Both were absolutely open and unashamed about their desire for each other. Love it when women are so open to taking what they need and aren't shy to take the lead either. Mollie was sexy AF for taking control the way she did and being so vocal about her need for Cash. Get me a man like Cash, who is so ridiculously thoughtful but oh sooo filthy at the same time. The things he did and said... HOLYYY FUCKKK!!! That mouth and the things it did... I could not get enough.

I loved the side characters a lot. The way they were such a close-knit group who made Mollie feel welcome and were understanding and empathetic towards her. I liked the way they spoke to her about her dad, which allowed her to get to know him the way she couldn't before.

The ending has me eager to jump right into book 2 to find out what on earth is going on between Wyatt and Sally.

This book picks up right where book 1 ended but from Xavier's POV. Without giving away anything, things are rocky between Xavier and Saoirse when the book begins. They're both still holding on to some big secrets, but at the same time, they're also letting each other in by opening up.

Saoirse had choices to make, figure out where she stood with Gage and what that would mean for her growing feelings for Xavier. She realizes that this is no longer a game that she wants to play but also has no idea how to reason with Xavier.

Xavier had a lot to unpack after everything he learned, but at the same time, he still can't stop caring about Saorise or deny that this all feels like more and the beginning of something important. There was some back and forth as the two tried to work through the issues while also trying to figure out a solution to their much bigger problems regarding Gage.

Despite the doubts and lies, the spice was still going strong in this one and the two couldn't stay away from each other for long. Definitely loved the spice. I also loveeee how open Saoirse is when asking for what she wants and Xavier alwayssss delivers.

The book again ends on a cliffhanger that again has me so curious to find out what happens next. If that ending is hinting at what I think it is hinting at, then I was right, and now it's going to be one hell of a ride.

Thank you to Danielle Sarah, and Luna Literary for providing me with the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

So I picked this up when I signed up for the ARC of book 2—A Simple Lie. This is part of a series and must be read in order to understand what's going on.

Even though this was a novella, I'm surprised by how well the plot was set and also the air of mystery surrounding the entire book. It all starts with Saoirse walking in on her boyfriend cheating on her, which leads to her hooking up with his stepbrother to get even. Over time, the two slowly strike a deal of sorts to work together to con rich men. Given her situation, she doesn't feel too bad about taking what she can from the rich, especially when they deserve it.

However, things change when their latest target—Xavier Atwood—walks into the strip club Saoirse works at. She tries her best to keep herself detached from the situation and treats Xavier as just a target but finds herself questioning everything when it comes to him.

Xavier Atwood has made a lot of mistakes and has worked overtime to turn his life around. His only regret now is his barely-there relationship with his son, whom he hasn't seen in a decade. This is how he seeks out Saoirse, as he thinks that she might have some connection to his son. But what starts off as a way for him to get to his son through Saoirse quickly turns into him feeling an undeniable pull towards her that he can't seem to ignore against his better judgment.

There were a lot of conflicting thoughts Saoirse had throughout the book as her feelings for Xavier got more complicated the longer she spent time with him. She did do what she needed to, but for the first time, she started questioning her actions because of Xavier and how he made her feel. Xavier also has his own secrets that he's kept from Saoirse, which I think we'll be getting into in future books, and I'm eager to find out more.

The spice was spicing so well, and the chemistry between these two was off the charts right from the moment they laid eyes on each other.

The plot kept building as the story progressed, and there's so much going on in the background that neither Xavier nor Saoirse is aware of, and I'm really looking forward to seeing how this all plays out. The book ends on a cliffhanger, and boyyyy, what a cliffhanger it was that I jumped right into the next book the next second.

What was one thing that kept bugging me, though, was

why didn't Xavier ever show Saoirse the photograph he had of her with his son? Wouldn't that have helped him figure out if and how she knew him when she told him that she didn't recognize his name as someone from town?

I was so excited for this book after what little I'd learned in Chilled and Thrilled about Honor and Julian.

Honor meets Julian, who is her girlfriend's dad, under less than ideal circumstances when she shows up to his house for Christmas just minutes after she finds out that said girlfriend has been cheating on her and breaks up with her. What was supposed to be a weekend spent meeting the parent of her girlfriend turns into just Honor and Julian spending time together.

During this time, they slowly built a sort of connection that neither had even expected. Julian was nothing like the man her ex had portrayed him to be, and Honor wasn't like so many others in his life who only saw him for what he was worth in dollars.

So much so that they continue to stay in touch even after Honor leaves. They both know it isn't right, but they aren't strong enough to sever that connection. Even now, they both still feel the pull towards each other but try their best to keep a tight leash on their emotions for all the reasons they think this thing between them is wrong.

Eventually, when Honor almost confesses her true feelings to Julian, he decides that he no longer wants to live this way and deny the connection that is very much real between them.

I loved their journey for sure. Honor being the responsible, rule-following people-pleaser, who always tried to do the right thing kept feeling guilty for wanting Julian even if everything felt right with him. She wanted someone to see her, choose her, and get her but didn't think it was a possibility.

Julian has spent years building his empire but now seems to have reached a point where it has lost its charm. Being the billionaire he is, he's used to people always trying to associate with him for his money, including his own daughter. He'd also spent years trying to work on his relationship with his daughter but only ended up feeling hurt in the process. Being with Honor, though, made him light up. When he decided to finally go after her, he gave it his all, and I loved that.

Their relationship had to go through a lot right when it began, but what I loved was that the two worked together to get ahead of things and were absolutely sure about each other. Julian gave Honor all the assurances and backed them up with his actions too.

I also liked that there were past chapters too, detailing the time when Julian and Honor spent time together over Christmas for us to see how things slowly developed between them. It was honestly so sweet and right.

The spiceeeee!!!! I couldn't get enough of it. Sooo freaking HOT!!! All that angst, all that time craving each other, and it was all so worth it. I love that the spice didn't take away from the plot or overwhelm, but was just what was needed.

Thank you to Cleo White for providing me with the ARC in exchange for an honest review.