originalbooknerd's reviews
966 reviews

Author: AL Jackson

Couple: Aria Rialta & Pax Morrison

Tropes:

▪️Fated Mates ⁠

▪️Forbidden ⁠

▪️The Chosen One⁠

▪️On the Run⁠

▪️Morally Gray Hero ⁠

▪️Two Worlds Collide⁠

▪️Only One Bed⁠

▪️Ultimate Touch her and 🔪Protector ⁠

Review: AL Jackson did more than just dip her toe into the realm of romantasy with 𝔙𝔦𝔰𝔦𝔬𝔫𝔰 𝔬𝔣 𝔇𝔞𝔯𝔨𝔫𝔢𝔰𝔰! This book had me captivated from the first time we meet Aria and Pax and kept me enthralled until we see them get a well earned and very well deserved HEA at the end. 𝔙𝔦𝔰𝔦𝔬𝔫𝔰 𝔬𝔣 𝔇𝔞𝔯𝔨𝔫𝔢𝔰𝔰 had everything I love in romantasy and to top it off Amy also delivers one of the best parts of the book in the form of Pax Morrison - the broody, quiet and uber protective fated mate. His fate and identity had me questioning everything I knew all throughout this book and there were times my heart truly hurt for him and for Aria as I was reading. 

Aria was a true warrior in this book and was titled “the Chosen One” but Pax was the MC that drew in my attention the most. He embodied what it meant to be her protector and Amy really went all out devoting his character to Aria in this book. Everything Pax did was for her and I felt myself fall in love with him over and over as he battled his way through Kruen and the realm of Faydor by her side. The concept that Pax’s touch can kill anyone by the slightest brush also had me guessing at what Amy would do to keep the angst and tension high as the spark intensifies between them…and I can safely say I was NOT ready for how the forbidden aspect of their romance would play out. 

While their romance was forbidden, Pax and Aria had one of the most beautiful connections I have ever read in a darker romantasy. These two embodied the meaning of fated mates and meeting the other half of you soul in a way that left you feeling warm and happy but also angry that they had so many hoops to go through within the ever changing romance between them. Amy was able to capture the soul-deep bond between them in varying ways but the way Pax was always in tune with Aria’s feelings, thoughts and actions had me swooning every time. 

𝔙𝔦𝔰𝔦𝔬𝔫𝔰 𝔬𝔣 𝔇𝔞𝔯𝔨𝔫𝔢𝔰𝔰 has been one of the best fated mate romances I have picked up in a while. Everything from the fated bond, the soul-deep connection and the way these two seem to be able to overcome each pressing obstacle in their fight against evil while together had me rooting for Pax as the real and ream world began colliding in this book. I know that these two had such a grasp on me that I was sad to end the story but am extremely excited to expand upon the world of Faydor!

 

Rating: 100+, Perfection. Sheer utter perfection wrapped up in one broody, uber protective MMC and a fiery, magic defying fated mate bond that captivated me from the first chapter! 

Thank you Amy & Valentine PR for the eARC!

Author: AL Jackson

Couple: Aria Rialta & Pax Morrison

Tropes:

▪️Fated Mates ⁠

▪️Forbidden ⁠

▪️The Chosen One⁠

▪️On the Run⁠

▪️Morally Gray Hero ⁠

▪️Two Worlds Collide⁠

▪️Only One Bed⁠

▪️Ultimate Touch her and 🔪Protector ⁠

Review: 𝔙𝔦𝔰𝔦𝔬𝔫𝔰 𝔬𝔣 𝔇𝔞𝔯𝔨𝔫𝔢𝔰𝔰 captivated me. Amy truly blew me away with her foray into romantasy and the narration for this book just elevated it into the stratosphere. Victoria Mei and Teddy Hamilton were outstanding as narrators for Aria and Pax and they were truly able to transport you to another realm as the MCs battled it out for their HEA and to save the world. The way they were able to being both of them to life in ways that made you feel every emotion between the MCs had me full of every emotion and wishing that these two MCs did not have such a hard journey to their HEA at the end. 

Teddy and Victoria were in sync as they narrated through the story and I found that I was never able to favor one over the other. Victoria emoted for Aria in ways that brought out small details that were overlooked while reading but were so much more important to the audio version of the story. Teddy also was able to suck me into Pax’s story as he narrated the ups and downs this man goes through to save Aria and be the ULTIMATE protector. Amy really did wonderful with choosing the voices for these two and I only hope that she continues to dive into this world of fantasy and romance with more of these characters!

Rating: 100+; 𝔙𝔦𝔰𝔦𝔬𝔫𝔰 𝔬𝔣 𝔇𝔞𝔯𝔨𝔫𝔢𝔰𝔰 blew me away with the narration from Victoria and Teddy and I can only hope to see more inside this wicked realm of magic!

Thank you Amy for the eALC

Author: Hannah Gray

Couple: Paige Hendrix & Kolt Kolbourne

Tropes:

💙Hockey romance 

💙Ex-wife to “MY WIFE”

💙Second chance

💙Found family

💙”It’s always been you”

💙Mental health rep

Review: 𝕊𝕙𝕠𝕠𝕥 𝕐𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕊𝕙𝕠𝕥 is the “My Wife” trope at its best and its worst. Kolt Kolbourne has surpassed most of Hannah’s book boyfriends with his story and I was unable to put this book down until the words The End. This book was not sweet or sappy but real. Raw. And emotional. Kolt and Paige have this intensity between them that Hannah was able to capture perfectly in both times of love and hate as we read this second chance hockey romance. Kolt was one of the most self sabotaging but also devoted MMCs I have ever read and it will be hard to top the love he had for his wife. 

Like all Hannah books the side characters and found family added so so much to the story and Amelia once again stile my heart. The way Kolt and Paige fell in love with Amelia (who we meet in Tell Me Lies) had me hoping for them to get the final piece to their HEA in books to come and I just adored the way we really see the sense of found family between the New England Bay Shark hockey team. 𝕊𝕙𝕠𝕠𝕥 𝕐𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕊𝕙𝕠𝕥 was a 5 star read that shot near the top of my all time favorite Hannah books and I am excited to see what comes next!

Rating: 5/5; Hannah Gray destroyed me with Kolt and Paige in 𝕊𝕙𝕠𝕠𝕥 𝕐𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕊𝕙𝕠𝕥 and I am still not over the emotional punch to the gut!

Thank you Hannah & Wordsmith Publicity for the eARC!

⚽️𝕊𝕥𝕖𝕒𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝔽𝕠𝕣 𝕂𝕖𝕖𝕡𝕤 - 𝔽𝕣𝕠𝕤𝕥 𝕃𝕒𝕜𝕖 ℍ𝕚𝕘𝕙 𝟙 - ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨⚽️

Author: Rebecca Jenshak

Couple: Claire Crawford & Austin Keller

Tropes:
⚽️YA Romance
💙High school romance 
⚽️Soccer romance
💙Captain’s ex-girlfriend
⚽️Friends to lovers
💙Figure Skater x Soccer Star
⚽️Sweet romance 
💙Found family  
 
Review: 𝕊𝕥𝕖𝕒𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝔽𝕠𝕣 𝕂𝕖𝕖𝕡𝕤 brings you back to the angst filled and awkward days of high school crushes, cocky jocks and first love! Rebecca brought me back to the days where all you had to worry about was turning in your algebra homework or if your crush liked you back in this book and the sweet and feel good romance Claire and Austin had put me in the feels from start to end. 𝕊𝕥𝕖𝕒𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝔽𝕠𝕣 𝕂𝕖𝕖𝕡𝕤 had me rooting for Austin Keller from the minute we meet the hotshot soccer star who falls head over heels for his Captain’s ex-girlfriend.

While this was a YA romance full of the teenage angst and awkward moments - Claire and Austin were also characters that had full stories with real problems and baggage. Rebecca was able to weave real life situations with both of their stories that helped to solidify their relationship together and I enjoyed how they both learned to lean on one another as they grew closer. I absolutely ADORED how Austin struggled with being 100% devoted to soccer but began realizing that Claire was someone who would easily become more important than a game. It was also heart warming to see him try and get her to be on the ice again even if she wasn’t able to compete. 

𝕊𝕥𝕖𝕒𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝔽𝕠𝕣 𝕂𝕖𝕖𝕡𝕤 was a 5 star binge-worthy romance and Rebecca outdid herself with Claire and Austin in this YA soccer romance. I enjoyed the blend of soccer, romance and friendships in this book and absolutely adored how she made sure to include the banter and razzing among the soccer team. The way she was able to balance the tension with Austin and Claire’s ex-boyfriend who was Austin’s tam captain had me anxious to see what would happen but also rooting for Austin to pull ahead since he won my heart over right away. 𝕊𝕥𝕖𝕒𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝔽𝕠𝕣 𝕂𝕖𝕖𝕡𝕤 was the perfect step into Frost Lake High and I am so excited to get more of these soccer stars as they find their missing pieces!

Rating: 100+; I was unable to put 𝕊𝕥𝕖𝕒𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝔽𝕠𝕣 𝕂𝕖𝕖𝕡𝕤 down until the very end when Austin and Claire finally got their swoony teenage angst filled HEA!

Thank you Rebecca & Bloom Books for the eARC!


⚽️𝕊𝕥𝕖𝕒𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝔽𝕠𝕣 𝕂𝕖𝕖𝕡𝕤 - 𝔽𝕣𝕠𝕤𝕥 𝕃𝕒𝕜𝕖 ℍ𝕚𝕘𝕙 𝟙 - 𝔸𝕦𝕕𝕚𝕠𝕓𝕠𝕠𝕜 ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨⚽️

Author: Rebecca Jenshak

Narrators: Abigail Reno & Max Meyers

Couple: Claire Crawford & Austin Keller

Tropes:
⚽️YA Romance
💙High school romance 
⚽️Soccer romance
💙Captain’s ex-girlfriend
⚽️Friends to lovers
💙Figure Skater x Soccer Star
⚽️Sweet romance 
💙Found family  

Review: 𝕊𝕥𝕖𝕒𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝔽𝕠𝕣 𝕂𝕖𝕖𝕡𝕤 was a sweet and swoon audiobook narrated by Abigail Reno and Max Meyers that brought back memories of high school crushes and teenage angst. Rebecca picked two narrators who were able to embody to voices, emotions and characters in this story and I adored how they both brought Claire and Austin to life! 𝕊𝕥𝕖𝕒𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝔽𝕠𝕣 𝕂𝕖𝕖𝕡𝕤 has been one of my favorite audiobooks by Rebecca and the way Abigail and Max narrated this book was so in sync that I felt like I was right alongside them! 

The way Abigail was able to voice Claire’s worries and also make us feel like we were immersed inside her story had me going though all the ups and downs in her POV. Add that onto Max narrated Austin as the perfect player, sweetheart and teenage boy and we had a perfect balance of sweet and cozy romance. While they both were terrific narrators, Max truly shined with Austin’s character since I felt like Austin was who drew me in the most to this book. 𝕊𝕥𝕖𝕒𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝔽𝕠𝕣 𝕂𝕖𝕖𝕡𝕤 had me unable to hit pause while listening and I loved my time entering the Frost Lake High soccer team and inside Claire and Austin’s romance! 

Rating: 5/5; 𝕊𝕥𝕖𝕒𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝔽𝕠𝕣 𝕂𝕖𝕖𝕡𝕤 had me giggling like a high schooler and the narrator truly brought the A game to this audiobook production!

Thank you Rebecca for the ALC!

🏈𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐬 - 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐰 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐔 𝟐 - 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰🏈 

 

Author: SJ Sylvis & S. Massery 

 

Couple: Briar & Thorne 

 

Tropes: 

- College Football 

- Shadow Valley U 

- Fake Dating 

- Angst 

- Suspense 

- Black Cat Vibes FMC 

- Reverse Grumpy/Sunshine 

 

Review: S.J .Sylvis and S. Massery did it again with 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐬! This is the second book in the Shadow Valley U series and is a complete standalone with very little character overlap. Briar and Thorne are not your typical football x fake dating couple and the way these two authors were able to weave the suspense and mystery into their romance had me grasping at straws to guess who was to blame for Briar’s accident at the beginning of the book. This book immediately sucked me into the story as SJ and S. Massery immediately amp up the tension and mystery from page one and then leave us guessing about events and identities for the first half of the book. 

 

𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐬 was a complete 5 star read that balanced the sports romance, cocky jock and tortured artist perfectly between Briar and Thorne and I loved getting to see all their violent and tender sides. I think what really captivated me though was how Thorne was not your typical cocky jock or rich boy MMC. The way he melted for Briar and showed his vulnerability to the prickly heroine had me swooning and rooting for him to get his head on straight. These two authors really did amazing with 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐬 and Briar may ultimately be one of my favorite FMCs this duo has done. They mastered the balance of revenge and fear as she began to dig into her accident and I appreciated how they made Brair a fierce and fiery FMC who just needed the right man to help soften her sharp edges! 

 

𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐬 is another great book in the Shadow Valley U series and I am excited to see what comes next! There was so much upheaval and angst in this book that had me salivating for Briar and Thorne to get their HEA that it almost beat out the exceptional tension and heat these two had from the first glare. SJ Sylvis and S. Massery did these two justice with this book and hopefully they appear in books to come! 

 

Rating: 5/5; 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐬 is not your typical football romance and had me on edge waiting for more as Briar and Thorne catapulted to their HEA! 

 

Thank you SJ Sylvis for the eARC!

🖤𝔇𝔢𝔳𝔦𝔩'𝔰 𝔗𝔥𝔦𝔯𝔰𝔱 - 𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔐𝔬𝔯𝔢𝔱𝔱𝔦 𝔐𝔢𝔫 𝟏 - ℜ𝔢𝔳𝔦𝔢𝔴🖤 

 

Author: Jill Ramsower 

 

Couple: Amelie Brooks & Sante Mancini 

 

Tropes: 

-Alpha anti-hero 

-Ballerina good girl 

-Obsessed stalker 

-Tragic past 

-My wife 

-Spicy slow burn 

-Has an HEA 

-Can be read as a standalone 

-Dual POV 

 

Review: 𝔇𝔢𝔳𝔦𝔩'𝔰 𝔗𝔥𝔦𝔯𝔰𝔱 was a wild ride of deviant obsessions and dark romance that Jill blanked wonderfully. From the first page we could see how both MCs had their own versions of a wild streak and fire inside them that was combustible up close. Amelie Brooks was a breath of fresh air within the Jill Ramsower mafia universe and I loved seeing her bloom into the fierce FMC she showed signs of being from the beginning. Sante was also a different type of MMC from past Jill books and he truly put me through the wringer with his chapters and mindset as the book went on. 

 

This book is set within the same mafia universe as Jill’s previous series with some character overlap but it has a different vibe than the previous series. I enjoyed how we got to see old characters but loved getting to see these new ones thrown in as well. Jill was able to come full circle with Sante’s story and seeing him fall hard for his little dancer sucked me in rapidly! This book was not al light romance and I found that while it was not as dark as some of Jill’s books, it was filled with dark undertones which added a ton of suspense to Amelie’s story. The way Jill built her story and her past together was really one of my favorite areas in this book and I hope to see more cameos of her in the future. 

 

𝔇𝔢𝔳𝔦𝔩'𝔰 𝔗𝔥𝔦𝔯𝔰𝔱 was a whirlwind of a read that was both singable and suspense inducing but ended in an HEA that fit Amelie and Sante wonderfully. This book had me on pins and needles and Jill really knew ow to throw wrenches into their story that forced them to overcome hurdles together. I am excited to see where she takes the Moretti Men Series next! 

 

Rating: 4/5; This book kept me on the edge and waiting for the other show to drop in the best of ways! 

 

Thank you Valentine PR & Jill for the eARC!

💙𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲 - 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐜𝐞 𝟒 - 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰💙 

 

Author: Anastasjia White 

 

Couple: Layla Benson & Clay Rodgers 

 

Tropes: 

🏒Hockey romance 

💙“It’s always been you’ 

🏒Single mother 

💙Second chance 

🏒Teammates little sister 

💙Forced proximity 

🏒Closed off FMC 

💙Golden retriever MMC 

 

Review: 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲 has been one of my most anticipated Ana books since we met Clay and Layla in Sin Bin back in book one of the series and to say this book exceeded expectations would be an understatement. Clay Rodgers was EVERYTHING in this book and I don’t think I have ever read a book where the MMC was so overly in love and infatuated with his woman as he was. The was Ana was able to write his story to perfection while also giving us the snippets in both past and present had me head over heels for this man from the first page and seeing him FINALLY win over Layla was the perfect cherry on top in this series. 

 

𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲 was the pinnacle book of this series in my opinion and while Sin Bin is my favorite couple of the series, Clay and Layla were able to eek by in terms of story and overcoming hardships to be the favorite romance for me! Clay and Layla had so much to overcome in this book and seeing how they both struggled and endured had me wanting to both hug and shake them at the same time. These two were perhaps the couple who fit the best together right at first sight but also the ones that had the most baggage and hidden secrets between them. Ana was able to put me through all the feels in this book as I learned how much Layla was truly keeping from everyone and her only saving grace was the love for her daughter Maya and the insane bond she still shared with Clay. 

 

This book was full of so many full circle moments and scenes that made you swoon but my favorite parts were always the ones that Clay and Maya were together. There were so many heart warming moments where we saw how Clay truly loved Layla and Maya with everything he had and seeing the soft-hearted hockey player fall under Maya’s spell and seeing her love for him in return was EVERYTHING. The bond these two shared truly had me rooting for him to win Layla over and for Ana to give me all the dirty details of what went down between them and I could not be more satisfied by the time this book ended. 

 

𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲 was the sweetest way to end this series and I loved seeing everyone appear again as cameos. The way Ana was able to bring Colt and Ava back as pinnacle support characters had me cackling since the roles were widely reversed this time and it was hilarious to see those two try and scheme and match make their best friends together. 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲 was the end of an era but I cannot wait to see what Ana has in store next! 

 

Rating: 100+; Clay Rodgers is EVERYTHING and Ana really went all out with the ending of the Sinners on the Ice series with him! 

 

Thank you Anastasjia for the eARC!

🖤𝕾𝖙𝖔𝖑𝖊𝖓 𝕳𝖊𝖎𝖗 - 𝕭𝖗𝖚𝖙𝖆𝖑 𝕭𝖎𝖗𝖙𝖍𝖗𝖎𝖌𝖍𝖙 𝟐 - 𝕽𝖊𝖛𝖎𝖊𝖜🖤 

 

Author: Sophie Lark 

 

Couple: Nessa Griffin & Mikolaj Will 

 

Tropes: 

🖤Mafia romance 

🩰Forced proximity 

🖤Dark romance 

🩰Enemies to lovers 

🖤Captive romance 

🩰Morally grey to black MMC 

🖤Soft x Innocent FMC 

🩰Virgin FMC 

🖤Beauty & The Beast Reimagined 

 

Review: 𝕾𝖙𝖔𝖑𝖊𝖓 𝕳𝖊𝖎𝖗 is the next binge-worthy read in the Brutal Birthright series by Sophie Lark and this time we take a stroll deeper into the dark. Miko and Nessa are not a sweet romance but rather are one of the darker ones within the series and this version of Sophie’s ‘Beauty and the Beast’ had me riveted from the first time Miko catches the attention of Nessa in his club. The way Sophie was able to balance two completely opposite character personalities in this book but bring them together in a way that makes you full stop swoon was phenomenal and I adored every gut wrenching page. 

 

Nessa Gallo is the youngest Irish Mafia Princess and the naivety and innocence she had was surprising yet honestly perfect for who she was. I think the way Sophie paired her with Miko was just right since he needed that innocence and softness to help soften him both in his revenge plot and in his feelings for his stolen mafia princess. The main area in this book that had me flipping back and forth was the captive romance aspect but Sophie was able to balance the dark and light with Miko taking Nessa but then not truly keeping her in her room as he slowly fell for her and her quiet fierceness. While the other Grffins and Gallos are not overly present in this book, Sophie did introduce us to the other factions within the Chicago underworld and I cannot wait to dig into the Russian web she is dropping hints at in this book. 

 

𝕾𝖙𝖔𝖑𝖊𝖓 𝕳𝖊𝖎𝖗 was another knockout mafia romance and I loved how this book was a bit slower to burn and angstier to build. The range of emotions and growth Sophie put into these two made me feel like I was in Miko’s haunted castle and I cannot say how hard I fell for this broken mafia prince and his other half! 

 

Rating: 5/5; Nessa and Miko were one of the best reimagined ‘Beauty and the Beast’ retellings I have ever read and I wish I could get more of these two! 

 

Thank you Hambright PR & Sophie for the eARC!

🖤𝕭𝖗𝖚𝖙𝖆𝖑 𝕻𝖗𝖎𝖓𝖈𝖊 - 𝕭𝖗𝖚𝖙𝖆𝖑 𝕭𝖎𝖗𝖙𝖍𝖗𝖎𝖌𝖍𝖙 𝟏 - 𝕽𝖊𝖛𝖎𝖊𝖜🖤 

 

Author: Sophie Lark 

 

Couple: Aida Gallo & Callum Griffin 

 

Tropes: 

🖤Dark romance 

🍓Enemies to lovers 

🖤Mafia romance 

🍓Forced proximity 

🖤Marriage of convenience 

🍓Morally grey MMC 

🖤Political corrupt MMC 

🍓Fiery FMC 

 

Review: 𝕭𝖗𝖚𝖙𝖆𝖑 𝕻𝖗𝖎𝖓𝖈𝖊 is the beginning of the end for Sophia Lark fans! This book while loosely tied to the Underworld Series sets off the ripple effect of the power families in Sophie’s mafia world and what better way to start then with the Irish Mafia Heir Callum and the youngest Italian Mafia Princess Aida! These two were nothing if not compatible even while hating each other and Sophie really was able to showcase how they became each other’s person while also staying true to who they were. Aida is my spirit animal in this book and I swear I could never tell what would happen with her crazy mouth, attitude or actions. Callum was really in for a ride with her! 

 

One thing I loved in this book was the way Sophie went about the arranged marriage of convenience. Callum and Aida are not two people who would mesh well on paper but we see them truly become as unit as events and secrets unfold and it shows how great Sophie is at creating a story but also developing characters. 𝕭𝖗𝖚𝖙𝖆𝖑 𝕻𝖗𝖎𝖓𝖈𝖊 is one of my favorite couples in the whole connected universe and Aida and Callum just have that sense of ease and almost a dark comfort after finishing their story. From the ups, downs and the raging emotions they both experience to the way they slowly break each other’s walls down, 𝕭𝖗𝖚𝖙𝖆𝖑 𝕻𝖗𝖎𝖓𝖈𝖊 was really a book I could not put down. 

 

Another area I loved diving into was how Sophie blended the political intrigue with mafia and corruption. She was able to balance both sides of the underworld and upper echelon really well and she did it in a way that also allowed us to see Callus’s ruthless side in spades - especially when Aida is in danger! I know I fell head over heels for his alpha protector side but also adored how he knew that he could not contain Aida unless he wanted to dim her fire. 𝕭𝖗𝖚𝖙𝖆𝖑 𝕻𝖗𝖎𝖓𝖈𝖊 was a terrific segue into the Brutal Birthright series and I a see excited for more! 

 

Rating: 5/5; Callum and Aida had me pushing walls and sweating in equal measure as these two combustible MCs fight their way to an HEA! 

 

Thank you Hambright PR & Sophie for the eARC!

❄️🎄𝒩𝒶𝓊𝑔𝒽𝓉𝓎 & 𝒩𝒾𝒸𝑒 𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌🎄❄️ 

 

Author: Tracy Lorraine 

 

Couple: Noelle with Hendrix & Wilder Kemp 

 

Tropes: 

❄️Snowed in 

🎄Holiday romance 

❄️MFM x Twin MCs 

🎄“It’s always been you” 

❄️Best friends to lovers 

🎄Frenemies to lovers 

❄️One bed 

🎄Forced proximity 

❄️Found family 

 

Review: 𝒩𝒶𝓊𝑔𝒽𝓉𝓎 & 𝒩𝒾𝒸𝑒 is another knock out romance by Tracy Lorraine and this time she brings the holiday cheer with the Kemp Twins! 𝒩𝒶𝓊𝑔𝒽𝓉𝓎 & 𝒩𝒾𝒸𝑒 had me rolling in laughter than sweating from the spice as we read the absolute hilarious Christmas holiday vacation that these three get up to. I enjoyed how each of the MCs had a distinct voice and how much Wilder just needed his twin and Noelle to soften him out! 

 

𝒩𝒶𝓊𝑔𝒽𝓉𝓎 & 𝒩𝒾𝒸𝑒 was a super festive snowed in romance as well. Noelle and Hendrix were softies for the holiday and all tings Christmas and after seeing the Kemp twins and Noelle in ‘By His Rule’ it was great to see them grown and getting their story. Noelle and Hendrix had that soul mate and best friend connection that buttered their romance and their story since it was a contention point between the three of them and between the friends. I enjoyed how Tracy tackled the feelings Hendrix and Noelle had for each other but also indulged how Wilder was a new addition to their relationship and to the bonds between them. 

 

Wilder Kemp was my favorite in this book. Hands down. No contest. His story was in my opinion the most important to the group and to the book since he was so misunderstood. Tracy really opened up the feelings in his POV at times and then had him shrink back in and lash out towards both Noelle and Hendrix - which to me was what drove me to need more of his story. I wanted him to find happiness with his twin and Noelle so bad that I found myself wanting to throw my book against the wall every time they put distance between them. The culmination of the snowed in holiday and the time back home after put everything in Wilder’s POV into perspective and his HEA was so sweet to read! 

 

𝒩𝒶𝓊𝑔𝒽𝓉𝓎 & 𝒩𝒾𝒸𝑒 was a spicy, romcom holiday romance that held all of my favorite holiday book tropes in one. The Kemp twins were a delight to read and I loved seeing how they all found family in one another after the trip was done. It was also great to see Tempest cameo with her new husband in this book while she was on her own HEA!  

 

Rating: 5/5; 𝒩𝒶𝓊𝑔𝒽𝓉𝓎 & 𝒩𝒾𝒸𝑒 turns up the heat and provides all the laughs and found family love 

 

 

Thank you to Tracy for sending me this eARC! 

 

➰💜𝔈𝔪𝔭𝔢𝔯𝔬𝔯𝔬𝔣𝔏𝔲𝔰𝔱 - 𝔐𝔢𝔪𝔢𝔫𝔱𝔬𝔐𝔬𝔯𝔦 3 - ℜ𝔢𝔳𝔦𝔢𝔴💜➰ 

 

Author: Jagger Cole 

 

Couple: Hana More & Damian Nikolayev 

 

Tropes: 

➰Dark romance 

💜Mafia Romance 

➰Enemy to lovers 

💜Engagement of convenience 

➰Mystery x suspense 

💜Dubcon, somnolent, BDSM 

 

Review: Jagger Cole did ALL THE THINGS with Emperor of Lust and I am so here for this alphahole bad boy we get in Damian! This book was INTENSE to say the least. From the first chapter these two MCs do not like each other and then tension is palpable between them. The sheer amount of sparks Jagger Cole was able to put between them had me sweating as Damian begins to soften his edges minutely and Hana begins to open a small crack in her walls. I found the romance between them was a lot different than the previous couples in this series and while not calm, was more reminiscent of the calm in the storm for both of them. 

 

Hana and Damian are completely opposite yet so similar when it comes down to values they desire in themselves and others that it was like looking through a glass wall. For all his faults, Damian quickly realizes that Hana is his person and Jagger was able to tackle his confusion and interest in a balancing act that added layers to who he was as a mafia man and as a man. Hana also had a lot of growth in her POV as we see her past traumas and her future predicament with Damian begin to unearth memories and fears she thought were long forgotten. The one thing I loved in this book was how Takeshi got a few chapters to show his POV and what has been going on behind the scenes. 

 

Emperor of Lust was an intense and high action read that had smoldering romance and a true enemy to lovers feel that was topped off with an “arranged engagement”. Hana and Damian are one of my all time favorite Jagger Cole couples and seeing their explosive HEA was the perfect way to lead into Takeshi and his story next (especially with that Easter Egg towards the end!!) 

 

Rating: 100+; Damian was straight fire and Emperor of Lust has been the best book yet in the Memento More series so far! 

 

Thank you to Valentine PR & Jagger Cole for sending me this eARC!