booksandmeforevermore13's reviews
300 reviews

Releasing on September 30, 2024

Meyer could come off as prickly or rude to the people she was wary of, but she was fiercely protective and present for those who mattered to her. Growing up in a small town, everyone still saw her as the kid she used to be and didn't take her seriously enough when she took over the inn from her mother. This made her even more determined to prove herself to everyone, but she was terrified of failing and proving that she wasn't cut out for it. Change was something that she didn't do well with, and she needed that sense of control over her life and the inn desperately. When Jackson's involvement threatens everything she's planned and worked for her entire life, she lashes out and fights him every step of the way to hold on to any shred of control she can. Having to not only prove herself to the whole town but also to Jackson now, who had a fancy degree and was from the city, made her feel like she wasn't enough and was failing before she had even started.

Jackson had a lot going on in his personal life, and his workaholic lifestyle was really taking a toll on his health, but he had no idea how to stop. When his grandmother's last request leads him to Fraisier Creek, making him half owner of the Dog Days Inn, he doesn't know what to think of it and initially wants nothing to do with the small town that's located in the middle of nowhere. However, he decides to give it the six months that his grandmother asks him to while he's forced to take a break from work.

As the story progresses, Jackson slowly but surely starts feeling a sense of belonging in this small town and starts forming relationships with the people in town. The quiet of the town, the banter with Meyer, and planning how to develop the inn spark his interest while also not making it feel like work or making him feel like it's too much. Coming up with new ideas to better the inn with Meyer brings a sense of excitement that he was missing in his life.

The romance between Meyer and Jackson took its time to develop, which was really good because we could see these characters slowly falling into a routine and getting to know each other even if they weren't interested in a partnership at first. Things picked up for them when the person targeting Meyer started getting bolder and the two put aside their personal differences and worked together. This led to them sharing parts of themselves that they had kept hidden from everyone. Both had a lot to work on and figure out as individuals, but being together kind of helped them see things from a new perspective.

I really loved the banter between Meyer and Jackson. The way Jackson pushed her buttons and her reactions to him were so hilarious. What I also loved was how her reactions didn't irritate him, but he grew to love them and feel amused when he was able to get under her skin the way he did. Jackson was really patient with Meyer. Meyer took a long time to see Jackson for who he truly was instead of sticking to the version of him she had created in her head when he first came to town. I loved the way Jackson observed her, wanting to know everything about her, constantly kept proving that he was on her side, and he gained her trust. She was also scared to look at her feelings too closely because she thought her behavior towards him would surely push him away, or if he knew too much of what went on in her head, he'd leave. 

The suspense part of the book had me absolutely hooked, and the threats and incidents only kept getting more intense and dangerous, which had me at the edge of my seat, and the reveal at the end also aligned with everything very well. I have to say that the balance between the romance, the self-discovery of Meyer and Jackson as individuals, and the suspense were all worked on very well, and as a reader, you get a good understanding of all aspects without feeling rushed, left out, or neglected.

I loved the side characters and how supportive they were, how they welcomed Jackson, and how they were the voice of reason for Meyer. I'm looking forward to Pippa and Well's book next.

One thing I personally felt could've made this a 5-star read for me, and I think it's just minute things really was that when the reveal happened, I kind of wished that whole situation and the drama were prolonged more and things had gotten more tense between all the parties involved before being concluded, especially given how well the danger and suspense had been incorporated throughout the book. I just felt like I needed that situation at the end to get a bit more tense. But again, that's just a me thing.

Thank you to Bobbi Maclaren and Luna Literary for providing me with the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Getting tangled up in a scandal when the season had just begun wasn't a good look for Jax. This caused him to work on his PR to smooth things over, which in turn gave him the push to start working on a project that he had been thinking of setting up for a while now—a camp for disabled kids who were interested in sports, which is how he gets in touch with Lucy, asking her to help him with the project. Even though it wasn't his fault, he held a lot of guilt over what happened to Tyler, his best friend, that ended his NFL dreams. He was also dealing with a lot of doubts and conflicts regarding his future in the NFL and what he wanted to do going forward. But in spite of it all, he was sure about one thing, and that was Lucy.

Lucy just got out of a relationship that she was in for all the wrong reasons, and she feels the guilt and the judgment from her family for it. She had dreams of moving away from her town, but given how her brother's situation had impacted her family, she hadn't had the chance to do so. Now she wants to work hard and save up so she can leave her town to explore what's out there. I liked how dedicated she was to her career and how much time and effort she put into helping every single patient.

Lucy had despised Jax, who was her brother's best friend, ever since a tragic accident ruined her brother's chances of getting into the NFL, and thereby permanently affecting her entire family. But when they confront each other, Lucy realizes that there might have been more to the story that she wasn't aware of, and once things get cleared up, the two slowly start forming a friendship.

As the two spend time together, they realize how easy it is to be with each other, and when they aren't at odds with one another, they actually feel an attraction. However, with Lucy being his best friend's little sister, he tries his best not to go there, but as their bond and feelings for each other grow, Lucy is the one he sees his future with, and he doesn't want to give up on that without trying.

There was a lot going on with both of them, like Jax's PR situation, the chaos with his father, his injury, and doubts about his future, and with Lucy about how her family would react to them being together, especially her brother, and what the future would look like for them being from two different worlds, and how they'd make it work. But Jax was persistent even when Lucy was doubtful about their relationship, and he got her to eventually trust him and take that leap of faith to try.

There was a lot of character development in both their cases, and this relationship really made them reflect on what they wanted from life and where they saw their future taking them. These were questions that they had both been pondering over for quite some time, but developing feelings for each other is what put things into perspective for both of them to understand where they would go as a couple but also what their individual journey would be like.

This book was a closed-door romance, but the tension building between Jax and Lucy leading up to that point was definitely exciting to read.

I really loved Jax's family and how close and supportive they were throughout the book. They got together when Jax was going through a rough time and helped him get through it and made him see reason when he wasn't able to. I also loved how they all readily accepted Lucy and made her feel like a part of their family. They also collectively sided and supported her plans to help Jax out when he was way in over his head about the whole situation with his team.

I do have some questions that were left unanswered about their father and the revelation that came to light, which wasn't entirely gotten into, but given how the book ended, it makes me feel like we'll be revisiting that and getting into it in the future books. Maybe.

Thank you to Samantha Chase and Valentine PR for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Oh my god, this book was everything. I really didn't know what to expect from the blurb, but this just made me feel so many things, and I adore these characters.

Going into this, starting with that prologue, we don't know what exactly went down in Jude's past to get him where he was today. But his past had deeply affected him to the extent that he didn't trust anyone and kept his distance from everyone. I LOVED Jude's sense of humor and how he messed with Nora. His friendship with Blair was just so pure and amazing.

It hurt to see how much he was actually struggling when he was by himself and felt so utterly lonely for all these years, but his fears from his past wouldn't let him open up or let anyone in, and it was totally justified once we find out what happened. He tries keeping his distance from Blake, but Blake never stopped trying and basically didn't give Jude an option except staying. He does feel intrigued by Blake and finds himself wanting to know more about him and spend more time with him even when he's having inner conflicts between running away and staying. But as they start forming a friendship and hanging out, he can't help but feel good to be around Blake and keep their banter going.

Knowing Blake's past and how he was raised in foster care made me feel so bad for him, but I was also proud of the man he had become by putting in the hard work and surrounding himself with people who truly cared about him. I also loved how Blake slowly but surely became a part of Jude's friend group and formed a genuine friendship with both Blair and Nora. When Jude built Blake that blanket fort, and the way Blake reacted truly made my heart ache in the best way, and I got emotional.

Their relationship grew gradually, and Blake knew pushing Jude too much would result in him running, but at the same time Blake was also very open about wanting him and not letting him pull away like he usually did. Eventually Jude lets his guard down, and everything feels right with Blake, and it finally feels like he's found his home after being lost for all these years. It was truly amazing how well the two got to know each other that they'd know what the other needed before they did. I loved how Blake connected with Jude's dad and formed a bond with him. How nervous he was to meet him and not disappoint him.

I loved the found family aspect in this and how close Blair, Nora, Steph, and Jude were for so long. Jude's friends didn't let him pull away when he tried to and stayed by his side like his family. They called him out when they needed to but were also always there to be the voice of reason or the ones he could go to for everything.

This entire book was from Jude's POV, and the way the prologue went, I was hooked and invested in knowing what had happened for Jude to go from having the perfect family to becoming so cynical. When that revelation was made, my heart just broke for him and his parents. It was a tough choice. These characters really did what they had to in certain situations, and even if you wanted to hate some of them, you could still see where they were all coming from too. That whole plot was well written where you don't know whom to empathize with and can't really blame any party even if you want to.

That third-act breakup really broke my heart for Blake and Jude. I felt anger towards Blake for his role in it all, but I also felt his love when he put Jude first. That was a pivotal moment, especially knowing Blake's backstory. I definitely cried reading the letter from Blake to Jude because, damnnn. These two deserve the world, and I'm so happy they got it, as we see in the epilogue.

I don't know why I was sleeping on this for so long. Just reading all the mixed reviews had me questioning picking this up, but I'm SO glad that I finally did because I loved this a lot.

I was rooting for Pike and Jordan right from that first meeting. Their whole relationship unfolded at the perfect pace, with the right mix of banter, angst, yearning, pining, companionship, love, and internal conflicts and dilemmas.

Jordan was a strong and truly admirable character. Despite her situation with her family and her only being nineteen, she was headstrong and worked hard to better her life. While others her age were enjoying their lives, Jordan couldn't take the same liberties because she was basically supporting herself—putting herself through school and paying all the bills for her and her boyfriend Cole. I truly felt bad for her at times when she constantly gave and tried with people only to be disappointed. Everything she had gone through and was still going through would've been overwhelming for anyone, especially at her age when you are still figuring yourself out and where you want your life to go. I loved how she didn't take shit from Pike and put him in his place when he was out of line. I also loved the moments when she bossed him around to do what she asked him to, and he would grumble but always comply.

Pike Lawson!!! I'm in love with his man. Despite the hand he was dealt, he never once complained when the course of his life was permanently changed when he found out he was going to be a father when he was a teen himself. That moment onwards, his sole purpose in life became to give his son everything in life, and his own life and needs took a backseat, and he had no regrets about it. Knowing how his ex manipulated and turned Cole against Pike was truly awful because of how that distance between them deeply wounded him, but he had no idea how to fix things between them but kept trying his best.

Their already strained relationship was a major reason for Pike to keep his distance and feelings hidden from Jordan because he couldn't do that to his son and ruin whatever little faith Cole had in him. So he does resist his feelings for the longest time. Even though spending all that time with Jordan makes him realize how similar they actually are to each other and how much he wants her around all the time.

Honestly, it was so cute to see how gone Pike was for Jordan and was sometimes so self-conscious about the things he did for her, not knowing if it was too much or too little. All these feelings and emotions were new for him and not something he had ever experienced with anyone, especially after the way things had ended with his ex. He obviously he screws up at times when he's unable to make sense of things, but he definitely makes up for it. They truly fought like a couple way before they even got together, which really said something.

I loved all the moments Pike and Jordan spent together, whether it was Jordan helping Pike out at his job sites, them ordering pizza with their half-n-half toppings, the cassettes Pike got for her, the 80s movies they watched, the car ride, them being jealous, and honestly everything else in between.

The sexual tension between these two was written so well, coupled with the slow burn; it was a delicious combination. When all that tension brewing between them finally snaps, holy hell I was done for. Especially when you add in the forbidden aspect (which is a personal favorite), the result was fucking phenomenal.

The third-act breakup really does get you all emotional because of how things reached that point and everything that followed. Pike really had to work through his feelings and doubts about not being right for Jordan. That jar of dreams made me so emotional when Pike read it, and I was like, "Yesss, go get her already!!"

Both Jordan and Pike go through a lot, and there was good character development, where we see Pike grow more mature when it comes to his personal relationships, and with Jordan we see her set boundaries and learn to ask for more for herself.

I have to mention the two characters who were always on Jordan's side and I loved. Her sister Cam and her boss Shel, who both cared and stood by Jordan through everything.

That epilogue was absolute perfection and just made my heart melt and left me wanting more. Jordan and Pike have my whole heart.

There were some questions/situations that weren't cleared up well enough for me to have all the answers, so that is the only reason for this not being a 5-star read.

* Not getting Cole confronting his mother about the lies she had told him about Pike.
* What were the things Lindsay had said to Cole to turn him against Pike.
* Cole and Jordan having a proper conversation about everything after things cooled down like about him cheating on her, their friendship, his feelings on her dating his dad. They never had that conversation.
* What exactly happened with Jay. It wasn't quite clear for me.

I enjoyed this a lot. Although I did have some issues going into this at first as there were some discrepancies with respect to how certain events took place in The Dare (the prequel) vs. here.

Manson was the only one I knew some details about after reading The Dare. I got an understanding of how things had been for him after he was expelled. Even after Jessica ghosted him after the party, he still had feelings for her after all this time. But he didn't want to jump headfirst into this situation with her in the present because he didn't know where her mind was at. He convinces himself and others that it's purely transactional and physical, but with time he accepts that he might not be able to let her walk away from him this time. I loved his relationship with Lucas, how he knew what he needed, and they were just so hot together.

Jason was a total genius, and people didn't even suspect that he could actually pull off the things that he did. Being raised in the family he had with the kind of religious beliefs had forced him to obey and hide his sexuality for the longest time until Vincent helped him come to terms with it all and break free from the toxicity. That also resulted in him being abandoned by his family, but he was fine with that, finding a home with Vincent and the other two. Jason had a crush on Jessica while he was in high school but never thought anything would come of it until now. Every time he called her "our girl," it made me smile. He was a nerd, but boy was he sexy as hell in a way you wouldn't have expected.

Vincent was the chill guy who was always the best person to diffuse any situation. But when it came to sex, he was all about taking control and getting things done his way. I liked that he was close to his family and how his family accepted and included Jason into their own family after he came out and was disowned by his family. I liked his relationship with Jason and how he knew his needs so well even when Jason didn't know it himself. I loved the playful banter between him and Jess, and he helped bridge the distance between the five of them the most and made her feel really comfortable and included right from the start. He was also the voice of reason in most cases and awesome in general.

Lucas took the longest time to come around and warm up to Jessica. Watching the way she had treated his friends in high school had convinced him that she was just playing them again and would be gone as soon as her purpose was served. But as he spends time with her, he starts feeling like he's seeing Jessica for the first time. Not the act she put up for the world for years, but who she truly was, while she herself was coming to terms with accepting herself along with the rest of the guys getting to know her. But at the same time he was also scared of getting attached to her only to watch her walk away again, which made him act out and pull away for a long time. Eventually, she gets through to him, and he slowly lets her in.

I also loved his relationship with Manson as his lover. They had been through a lot together and stuck by each other's side when things got too much and helped each other survive one day at a time. I liked how they had a connection and an understanding of their own, which was so sweet.

Jessica had a lot to unpack. Given how she was brought up and told to act a certain way, the expectations that her family had from her to be with someone of their own status made her feel like she needed to fit into the mold that everyone told her to or she would be seen as an outcast and a freak herself. But she had desires and feelings deep inside that she suppressed for the longest time, feeling like she would be laughed at for the things she liked and craved. But the only time she could feel herself let go and relish in that want was when she was with Manson, Jason, Lucas, and Vincent because they helped bring out that side of her and cherished her for it instead of feeling mortified. They gave her the space and freedom to be herself, experiment, and embrace her desires rather than feeling like something was wrong with her.

Oh Fucking My!!! The spice was fan-fucking-tastic, and I loved every second of it. I listened to the audiobook, and I honestly couldn't get any work done. The things these guys did were just so freaking hot and Harley knows how to write mind blowing smut. So many k!nks were explored, and so many more are yet to be in the next book.

I liked that there were flashbacks about instances between Jessica and the four of them in high school that showed that there was a spark, an attraction, and some sense of a connection even if she was their bully the rest of the time in front of her group.

I truly loved the found family aspect in this book and how Jessica slowly finds herself becoming a part of their group, and she surely fit right in with them. The way she built a connection and relationship with each one of them and how they all got together to celebrate and support each other was amazing, and watching Jess slowly blend into that group felt natural once she stopped fighting herself about wanting them.

I also enjoyed all the drama with Jessica's old friends and how it created a dilemma about what she was expected to choose vs. what she wanted. With time, she slowly realizes that her old friendships were always transactional, always ready to reprimand her if she didn't follow what was expected of her. Getting older and leaving town after high school gave her some perspective, and she was able to see through this behavior even as she felt the conflict to just agree so as to not be labeled as a freak. But the more she grew closer to the four men, the more she felt like she was okay with that if it meant she could embrace her true feelings.

Things get more complicated and intense when Manson's father returns to town, which puts them all on edge about what he wants, knowing what his father is capable of. The book ends with a tense conversation between Manson and his father, which makes things a lot more dangerous and will pick up in book two.

Holy shit! I absolutely could not put this down. What an incredible ride this was, and I still haven't stopped thinking about it. Definitely had a lot of hand-wringing, nail-biting moments.

When Ophelia and her sister Genevieve find the mother dead in their living room, Ophelia, being the eldest, inherits the family magic and, along with it, the responsibility of carrying their family legacy. But when they learn of the debt their mother was in, her sister enters Phantasma—a game that is held in a cursed manor all over the world and has been scheduled to come to New Orleans next in order to win it and clear the debt. Ophelia has no choice but to take part in it herself to save her sister.

The game contains nine levels, inspired by the nine circles of hell. The person to clear all levels and win the contest gets to have their one wish granted. Here she meets Blackwell, who makes a bargain with her to help her with the levels of the game to find her sister, in return asking her to help him look for something he needs to find within the manor.


The plot was really well paced and will keep you at the edge of your seat right till the very end. The gothic setting of Phantasma was so captivating and enthralling that you can't help but get lost in it. The curiosity to learn more about these characters, the mystery they're trying to solve, the different levels of the game, and the manor and its many secrets. I loved the concept of the nine levels of the game being inspired by the nine circles of hell. Things kept getting more intense and dangerous as they cleared more levels, and the idea and hints of every challenge were so spectacularly done. The group of people partaking in the contest were diverse, which heightened the whole experience. There were devils too, each one wicked in their own way, trying to get them to make deals.

Ophelia Grimm was an absolute delight. Firstly, I loved the fact that she was tall because I'm tall and so tired of reading about FMCs who are tiny. She was a force to be reckoned with. I loved how badass she was, not having a care in the world about what others thought of her, calling people out when needed. She was so brave, never backing away from anything the game, manor, devils, or contestants threw at her, facing every challenge head-on even as things kept getting more gruesome with each level. Though she didn't spend her time trying to form friendships or bonds in Phantasma, she definitely had to question her morals, what she was willing to do, and how far she was willing to go with each level. These conflicts were well portrayed. Being sheltered the way she had, taking part in Phantasma really made her find herself in the most unexpected place and situation. Her struggles with OCD were very well woven into her character, and it was definitely well explored when it came to the game itself and how that was something the manor used as a pushback in her challenges. With this, Ophelia not only had to fight other contestants but also her own mind that was working against her.

As Ophelia tries to find clues about her sister, she unearths some secrets and shocking revelations about her family that make her question if she truly ever knew them as well as she thought she had, leaving her feeling confused and betrayed. She starts wondering if all that she had been taught to follow was really the truth.

Blackwell had me smitten right from their first encounter. He was mysterious, charming, sexy, mischievous, flirty, sarcastic, and just loved to mess with Ophelia. There was so much that was unknown about him due to his situation, and it only made the story more compelling as the plot unfolded. I loved how he was always there to help Ophelia, even before she made the bargain. He was so protective of her and took care of her after every level in whatever way she needed him to. Watching him slowly fall for Ophelia was so beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time, given the curse and their limited time with each other. My heart definitely ached for how lonely and hopeless he had felt for so long, and Ophelia was the first one to truly want to know him.

When it comes to the relationship between Ophelia and Blackwell, it felt natural and effortless for them to get comfortable with each other from the first moment. Though Ophelia had her reservations about trusting a Phantom given all the teachings from her mother, she couldn't help finding her way to him each time. Their constant bickering and banter was amazing, giving way to flirting, which made me smile a lot. They made a pretty great team, helping each other out in their quests. However, they also feel a sense of rightness, a pull towards each other that neither could explain. This leads to their relationship going from just their bargain to gradually developing much deeper feelings. Knowing the rule about not falling in love in Phantasma, they fought really hard against these feelings. They were both willing to do whatever it took for the sake of the other, which was just so beautiful and heartwarming.

The growing tension between Ophelia and Blackwell and all the close proximity led to some amazing smut, and damnnn the skills of that phantom, dirty talking being just one of them. The way he teased and worshiped her body was something.

The game, mystery, romance, and everything about this book were all well placed, timed, and executed.

Thank you, Kaylie Smith, Second Sky, and Netgalley, for providing me with the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Second chance romances are either a hit or miss for me. This was unexpectedly a big hit for me. I was sold right from that prologue and knew this would hit hard, and it did. This story had the perfect blend of angst, pining, love, longing, want, heartbreak, friendship, and two people who you can't help but root for. The author's ability to intertwine their personal growth with romantic tension made this book truly compelling.

Georgia was a relatable character, and her internal struggles and self-doubts were explained well through her actions and thoughts. Her relationship with her parents deeply affected her sense of belonging, which in turn instilled the fear of being abandoned or forgotten by her friends as they all moved on to the next phases of their lives.

After having Eli as 'her person' for years and then taking the leap of getting into a relationship with him only to watch it shatter had a huge impact on her life. It was understandable why she kept trying to avoid putting herself through that pain again by keeping Eli at a distance, knowing that she wouldn't survive if things went south this time. As the story progressed, there was immense growth in her individually, making decisions that were for her and not influenced by anyone else in her life.

Eli Mora. God, this man and his love for Georgia really had me sobbing. He was a complex character whose charm overshadowed his internal battles. The duality of his character was well-crafted, revealing both his endearing and flawed sides. As the story progresses, we get to slowly peel back the many layers and understand the complexities of this character. Watching his family struggle and fall apart at such a young age causes him to become hyper-focused on not ending up in the same situation as his father, but in doing so, he slowly starts pulling away from the people who were important to him. Though he wanted to tell them what was going on in his mind, his fear, anxiety, and self-doubt stopped him from seeking out their help.

He eventually seeks help, determined to figure things out in his life while also showing up for the people who mattered to him. He has a lot of regrets over how his relationship ended even when it was the last thing he wanted and how he couldn't be there for his best friend when he needed him and wanted to make up for it.

When it comes to their relationship, Georgia and Eli showed immense growth both as individuals and together. I could feel the emotional tension through the flashbacks and their present-day interactions. Georgia felt a mix of bitterness and longing when it came to Eli and these conflicts were well depicted. Eli was intent on fixing the issues that they had ignored for five years, while also always respecting her wishes.

As they confront their past, they navigate the fine line between rekindled passion and lingering fear. The unresolved issues between them weren't just obstacles but vital components of their personal growth. Their journey wasn't just about reconciliation but also about understanding their own paths in the process.

Getting Georgia's perspective of how much she had always wanted Eli and tried so hard to be with him, only to lose him, was hard. Finding out Eli's feelings about how helpless and conflicted he felt while unable to do anything about it was heartbreaking. It wasn't either person's fault, but the timing and their situations couldn't be helped.

Reading about the wedding planning and how the two drew parallels to the plans they had for their future made me just pause and take a moment to collect my emotions. Eli and his paper rings, and that list made me cry because, how could I not???

The spice was done really well, and the emotional tension between the two only enhanced it. I loved that the smut didn't overpower the plot and was just the right amount to balance things out.

I loved the side characters who felt more like family and were always there for each other and were extremely supportive and understanding. Adam was such an incredible friend to both Georgia and Eli right from the first day.

Oh God, my heart. I knew when I finished Keeping 13 that reading Joey's book would wreck me. I knew it would be too raw and far more emotional than the first two books, but nothing could've prepared me for this. I ugly sobbed while reading this book, and my heart shattered for Joey Lynch and for Aoife Molloy.

Joey and Aoife's first meeting made me root for them instantly. It was just so cute and innocent before everything changed. They first meet on the day of their secondary school and feel a kind of connection and attraction when Aoife decides she's going to be his girlfriend, and he agrees. But everything changes that day for Joey when he comes back home to find that his older brother Darren abandoned them all and left town, leaving him as the oldest sibling and in charge of keeping his younger siblings safe from the monster that was their father. He had to grow up and step into the role of their protector overnight, without any warning or preparation. Due to this and the fact that he worked for Aoife's father and needed the money to support his family, he distanced himself from her. The book progresses with Aoife and Joey dancing around their feelings for each other for 3 years, and while Aoife knew she had some feelings for Joey, Joey decided to shove all his feelings and wants for Aoife down and stay away.

Reading Shannon's book gave me an understanding of the horrors the Lynch family had to live through due to having such an abusive father and a bystander mother, and I thought I knew how bad it was for them, but it wasn't even the half of it, and that was because Joey shielded them from a lot of it by letting their father use him as his punching bag so his siblings were spared. And he did so on multiple occasions and for years. Knowing now what Joey had to endure physically, emotionally, and mentally for years is horrifying.

Joey didn't have anyone by his side while he kept sacrificing himself for the sake of his siblings and his mother. There was no one he could confide in, rely on, or go to for advice or help. He was so utterly alone, and it made my heart hurt so damn bad. Even after giving his all every single time, it still wasn't enough. Knowing how his own mother told him she was convinced that Joey would turn into his father one day was so brutal. And after he kept hearing it for years and seeing the look in his mother's eyes every time, he truly started believing it. No one believed in him or cared about what he went through while Joey carried the burden of their entire family on his shoulders. People looked at him and just decided that he's bad news or trouble, that he wouldn't amount to anything or end up in a ditch somewhere.

He had to start working at the age of fifteen to support his mother and his siblings, getting into the role of a protector to keep his siblings safe from their father's wrath, and going up against his father even when he knew he couldn't outpower him to protect his mother. Knowing the things Joey had seen and heard his father do to their mom was so sickening. After Darren left, Joey basically raised Tadhg, Ollie, Shannon, and then Sean, whom he raised right from day one.

Even after all that he was going through, he never took it out on his siblings or didn't let it dampen the little joys in their lives. Taking them for trick or treating, making sure they all had gifts on Christmas, going after the people who bullied Shannon even if it meant getting expelled, and fighting off his father even if it meant getting arrested. He kept giving until he had nothing left in him.

Aoife was honestly such a headstrong, brave, loyal, inspiring, and overall brilliant character. She never stepped down from a fight, called people out on their bullshit, and didn't let Joey hide behind his anger or excuses. She kept pressing and pushing him because she knew he was deflecting and she wasn't going to have it. She didn't give him the option to bolt, like he kept trying to, and I love her so much for that.

She truly did save him, over and over again. Loving someone like Joey wasn't easy when he was already on the path of self-destruction, but she did it even when she knew it would end in heartbreak that she wouldn't recover from. She didn't give up on him when everyone, including Joey himself, already had, because she knew there was something in him worth saving and worth fighting for. And so she fought against everything and everyone for him, and she fought with Joey the hardest, knowing he was his biggest enemy. She was absolutely unapologetic for wanting Joey, didn't let anyone say a word about him, and always defended him. She stood up to his parents too and let them know, in no uncertain terms, that she was here to stay. Where everyone saw a train wreck, good for nothing junkie, Aoife only saw the potential in Joey, and she was so proud to be with him.

My heart broke for everything she had to endure in the process. Having to watch Joey be with other girls while he kept distancing himself from her for years. Watching him ruin his body and mind with drugs the way he did broke something in her every time, and you could feel those emotions, which broke me too. Reading about everything Aoife had to watch Joey go through in these situations, not knowing how to help or if he'd survive was gut-wrenching.

Joey spends years trying to keep Aoife at a distance, knowing he couldn't give her what she deserved with everything going on in his life. He was so closed off when Aoife tried to get him to talk to her, and he snapped at her and said hurtful things. Knowing how he grew up, he was always on edge and ready for a fight, and it was easier for him to be angry and hurtful than to be vulnerable or let his guard down in front of anyone. The tension keeps building between them for years, and they have their fair share of fights, but they also end up becoming best friends over time.

Joey does try to get clean for Aoife's sake, to be better for her, and reading his struggle of just wanting to be free from all the torment in his life and how much he was breaking and spiraling wasn't easy. He needed an escape from the reality of his situation, even for a few moments, so he could keep going for his siblings. The guilt for the times he wasn't around to stop their dad, the anger toward Darren for abandoning them, the fear of turning into his dad one day, the desperation for wanting his mother to really see him, and the hopelessness of being convinced that he doesn't deserve to be with Aoife because he thought he ruined everything he touched.

The way this book ended has left me feeling raw, emotional, and angry at the unfairness of it all. Knowing what I know from Shannon's book, Redeeming 6 is going to be a lot more intense, and I'm not sure how I'll handle myself.

The Dare is a prequel novella in the Losers series, and it is set during the night of a Halloween party.

The story follows Jessica, who was known to be the ice queen back in high school, captain of the cheerleading squad, and the person who bullied people around her, including Mason and his group of friends—Jason, Vincent, and Lucas, who were deemed freaks back in high school.

Jessica hasn't seen Mason since the day he was expelled from school for getting into a fight with her then boyfriend for making out with her. 

When she sees him show up at the Halloween party, she gets annoyed by his presence, but at the same time, she can't deny the jolt of desire that she feels. Mason then challenges Jessica to a game with a twist of adding dares, and when she loses the final shot, he dares her to be his slave for the rest of the night or accept defeat. Her curiosity for all that could entail only flames her desire, and so she accpets.

Jessica has had these hidden desires for a long time, but she doesn't let them be known, feeling like she would be seen as a freak too for wanting what she does. But when Mason dares her to be his slave, she allows herself to give up control of the situation to him so she doesn't have to think too hard about how much she wants it. This also gives Mason the chance to act on his own desires for Jessica that he's had for a long time now.

This was pretty straightforward as far as the plot goes. Though there was some involvement from the other three guys, the novella mostly focused on Jessica and Mason.

The smut was well done, and I definitely enjoyed it a lot. I did get the ick from her tasting the soil while licking his boot though, but otherwise it was really fun and hot. Jess getting spanked and edged while there was a horror movie playing in the background was really something, given how the author drew the parallels between what was happening on screen and what was going on in Jess's mind.

There was spanking, knifeplay, bloodplay, breathplay, handcuffs, edging, bondage, degradation, humiliation, and much more that I can't exactly remember now.

I definitely liked Mason, and even with this being a novella, we got a bit of backstory about him. He was mysterious, intense, danerous, sexy, and commanding, but at the same time he also made sure Jessica knew she had the power to stop it all if needed while also caring about her throughout everything they did and after too.

Jessica was a bit bratty and annoying, sure, but that kind of played into the smut too, so I can't really complain.