If you know me you know why I LOVED themes and revelations in this book. Sarah has a way of bringing everything together at the end. The last 100 pages are always a ride I can't wait to take in her books.
In my reread of SJM and I'm starting Throne of Glass over again (and I still haven't finished the whole series).
Celaena's our bad-ass FMC who was slaving away in the Endovier salt mines before the Crown Prince of Adarlan, Dorian Havalliard, and Captain Chaol Westfall show up. They present her with an offer to fight to win the title of The King's Champion. If she wins she can work as his personal assassin for a time to earn her freedom.
Celaena encounters mystery, magic, friends, foes, and perhaps a romantic crush, or two.
Contains:
Violence, Magic, Demons, Blood & Gore
Celaena's our bad-ass FMC who was slaving away in the Endovier salt mines before the Crown Prince of Adarlan, Dorian Havalliard, and Captain Chaol Westfall show up. They present her with an offer to fight to win the title of The King's Champion. If she wins she can work as his personal assassin for a time to earn her freedom.
Celaena encounters mystery, magic, friends, foes, and perhaps a romantic crush, or two.
Contains:
Violence, Magic, Demons, Blood & Gore
Thank you #NetGalley, #HarlequinTradePublishing #HarlequinAudio #MIRA and #SadieKincaid for an eARC and ALC of #TheAuction in exchange for this honest review!
The Auction (Deluxe Limited Edition), Book 1 in Sadie Kincaid's Wages of Sin Duet, drops April 14, 2026!!
Book 2, The Game, is expected by November 2026 and I can't wait to find out how these two wind up!
So now to the nitty gritty!
First of all, I received this as an ebook and audiobook from the publisher. The narrators, Grayson Owens (The Ravenhood Legacy, The Cat & Mouse Duet, and The Web of Silence Duet, etc.) and June deBorahae (Broken Bloodlines Series, Grim, King of the Damned, etc.), do a FANTASTIC job, and since it's in duel narration you won't get lost in the POVs.
Our twenty-one-year-old FMC, Imogen, is sold at auction by The Brotherhood (dark mafia and sex-trafficking). She lives with the masked man who buys her and holds her on his estate for months on end. Basically, they're the age-gap, dark mafia, criminal-version of Beauty & the Beast. He even has a butler version of Lumière!
Definitely check triggers because there are a lot!
This is a kinky, dark-mafia, age-gap, romance with a virginal FMC and scenes included things like:
-menstrual blood kink (I'm not going to kink-shame, but I could've done without this scene),
-anal sex and plugs (again, could've done without, but I get it, she's exploring her sexuality)
-masturbation and sex toys
I didn't like their corny dialogue at times, but I enjoyed the plot and show more can't wait to find out what happens to the two of them in November! show less
The Auction (Deluxe Limited Edition), Book 1 in Sadie Kincaid's Wages of Sin Duet, drops April 14, 2026!!
Book 2, The Game, is expected by November 2026 and I can't wait to find out how these two wind up!
So now to the nitty gritty!
First of all, I received this as an ebook and audiobook from the publisher. The narrators, Grayson Owens (The Ravenhood Legacy, The Cat & Mouse Duet, and The Web of Silence Duet, etc.) and June deBorahae (Broken Bloodlines Series, Grim, King of the Damned, etc.), do a FANTASTIC job, and since it's in duel narration you won't get lost in the POVs.
Our twenty-one-year-old FMC, Imogen, is sold at auction by The Brotherhood (dark mafia and sex-trafficking). She lives with the masked man who buys her and holds her on his estate for months on end. Basically, they're the age-gap, dark mafia, criminal-version of Beauty & the Beast. He even has a butler version of Lumière!
Definitely check triggers because there are a lot!
This is a kinky, dark-mafia, age-gap, romance with a virginal FMC and scenes included things like:
-menstrual blood kink (I'm not going to kink-shame, but I could've done without this scene),
-anal sex and plugs (again, could've done without, but I get it, she's exploring her sexuality)
-masturbation and sex toys
I didn't like their corny dialogue at times, but I enjoyed the plot and show more can't wait to find out what happens to the two of them in November! show less
Another reminder to set goals with my dreams as a focus. Another reminder to say no to things that I really don't want to do. For whatever reason. It's always cool to hear about how people find success. I enjoyed hearing how she deals with not meeting other people's expectations & their comments. Some things didn't fit well for me, but the focus of her book was all for me.
A very short read.
There are a few Biblical references in Rachel Hollis's Christian-faith based self-help book, "Girl, Wash Your Face."
I needed the reminder to plan how I'll meet my goals, but some thoughts didn't fit in my circumstances. Either way, Rachel speaks humbly, and frankly, about her experiences in accomplishing goals, publishing, public speaking, and relationships.
There are a few Biblical references in Rachel Hollis's Christian-faith based self-help book, "Girl, Wash Your Face."
I needed the reminder to plan how I'll meet my goals, but some thoughts didn't fit in my circumstances. Either way, Rachel speaks humbly, and frankly, about her experiences in accomplishing goals, publishing, public speaking, and relationships.
B.K. Borrison's romance series, Heartstrings, starts with First Time Caller.
It's small-town, slow-burn romance where our grumpy, touch-her-and-die MMC, Aiden Valentine, receives a call from little Maia, the daughter of our FMC, Lucie Stone. When Maia calls the Heartstrings radio show to help her mom find love, Aiden decides to introduce Lucie to his listeners in hopes of helping her find the magical kind of love she wants.
It's cute, it's a bit spicy, and I LOVED it!
It's small-town, slow-burn romance where our grumpy, touch-her-and-die MMC, Aiden Valentine, receives a call from little Maia, the daughter of our FMC, Lucie Stone. When Maia calls the Heartstrings radio show to help her mom find love, Aiden decides to introduce Lucie to his listeners in hopes of helping her find the magical kind of love she wants.
It's cute, it's a bit spicy, and I LOVED it!
Thank you #RandomHouseChildrensBooks #DelacortePress #NetGalley and #SarahBethDurst for an eARC of her new Teen & YA Fantasy, "The Faraway Inn," in exchange for this honest review!
This is a Teen & YA Cozy Fantasy Adventure where a teen girl travels to help her aunt recover her tragically dilapidated bed & breakfast and discovers so much more! While helping her aunt, Calisa finds magical creatures & portals, new family, friends, and love. It's a mature coming-of-age story that has no cliffhanger. However, the expansive nature of the world leaves it wide open for additional books, and I'd love to see more!
This book is squeaky clean with just a few kissing scenes. It does have LGBTQ representation as the FMC has two moms.
It's available March 31, 2026!
This is a Teen & YA Cozy Fantasy Adventure where a teen girl travels to help her aunt recover her tragically dilapidated bed & breakfast and discovers so much more! While helping her aunt, Calisa finds magical creatures & portals, new family, friends, and love. It's a mature coming-of-age story that has no cliffhanger. However, the expansive nature of the world leaves it wide open for additional books, and I'd love to see more!
This book is squeaky clean with just a few kissing scenes. It does have LGBTQ representation as the FMC has two moms.
It's available March 31, 2026!
A quick read with an emotional plot and a few spicy scenes thrown in (MM & MMF). Style was very similar to Vicious Lost Boys series with very short chapters and multi-POV.
Thank you #Random House Children's Books #Delacorte Press and @AmelieWenZhao for an eARC of "The Dragon and the Sun Lotus," the second book in Amélie Wen Zhao's YA Fantasy, The Three Realms Duology, in exchange for this honest review.
First of all, I'll be first in line to pick up a copy on March 3!
This duology brought characters with so much life, strength, hope, and courage. I didn't know what decisions they'd make because I felt like I was just as conflicted as they were. How does one decide between their family, their kingdom, the expectations of all your heroes and friends, and love? The love of an otherwise enemy, and the love that's inevitable?
She took 2 books to develop characters, plot lines, and epic-world-building where some authors take 8! It's an emotional series that clearly shows her passion for these legendary tales.
I will definitely be rereading this series and recommending to any reader.
There are a few modestly spicy scenes in the series, but they are tasteful and non-explicit. This is a true YA series with more mature themes in the plot and character development including; sexual intimacy, war violence, gore, death of characters, parental abuse, drowning, and torture.
First of all, I'll be first in line to pick up a copy on March 3!
This duology brought characters with so much life, strength, hope, and courage. I didn't know what decisions they'd make because I felt like I was just as conflicted as they were. How does one decide between their family, their kingdom, the expectations of all your heroes and friends, and love? The love of an otherwise enemy, and the love that's inevitable?
She took 2 books to develop characters, plot lines, and epic-world-building where some authors take 8! It's an emotional series that clearly shows her passion for these legendary tales.
I will definitely be rereading this series and recommending to any reader.
There are a few modestly spicy scenes in the series, but they are tasteful and non-explicit. This is a true YA series with more mature themes in the plot and character development including; sexual intimacy, war violence, gore, death of characters, parental abuse, drowning, and torture.
I purchased Amélie Wen Zhao's "The Scorpion and the Night Blossom" back in 2025 and the beauty has just been sitting on my shelf waiting... and waiting...
Fast forward to 2026 when I received an eARC of "The Dragon and the Sun Lotus," the second book in Amélie Wen Zhao's The Three Realms Duology, and I've finally finished it! I'm so glad I did too!
First of all, it's a book I wish I could read again for the first time. It's full of twists and turns and family secrets. I was picturing the world and every battle and scene with her BEAUTIFUL descriptions. However, it's not overly descriptive or really boring, it is beautifully written and sophisticated. The author speaks of her gratitude to her family for their Chinese story-telling and you can really see her dedication and love throughout the book.
Honestly, there wasn't anything I could say bad about this book. In the beginning I was a little scared not knowing how to pronounce some of the names. I admit, I did look at Google Translate to check some of the pronunciations but one could easily look over that to progress in the story. It moves at a super fast pace with characters and plot that had me glued to it with every chance I got.
It does contain some tasteful, modest, romantic content, tropes would include forbidden romance, touch-her-and-die, and some themes were taboo. I don't want to spoil anything here.
Anyways, I'm off to read book 2, "The Dragon and the Sun Lotus,"which drops March 3, 2026!
Onto the next!
Fast forward to 2026 when I received an eARC of "The Dragon and the Sun Lotus," the second book in Amélie Wen Zhao's The Three Realms Duology, and I've finally finished it! I'm so glad I did too!
First of all, it's a book I wish I could read again for the first time. It's full of twists and turns and family secrets. I was picturing the world and every battle and scene with her BEAUTIFUL descriptions. However, it's not overly descriptive or really boring, it is beautifully written and sophisticated. The author speaks of her gratitude to her family for their Chinese story-telling and you can really see her dedication and love throughout the book.
Honestly, there wasn't anything I could say bad about this book. In the beginning I was a little scared not knowing how to pronounce some of the names. I admit, I did look at Google Translate to check some of the pronunciations but one could easily look over that to progress in the story. It moves at a super fast pace with characters and plot that had me glued to it with every chance I got.
It does contain some tasteful, modest, romantic content, tropes would include forbidden romance, touch-her-and-die, and some themes were taboo. I don't want to spoil anything here.
Anyways, I'm off to read book 2, "The Dragon and the Sun Lotus,"which drops March 3, 2026!
Onto the next!
Kelly Rimmer's, "The Things We Cannot Say," delivered the emotional ride I was looking for in this WWII historical fiction novel.
Throughout the novel we follow two women in different timelines. Alina, a young adult in Poland as the events of WWII unfold and progress, and Alice, a modern wife and mother. When Alice's grandmother nears the end of her life she takes a trip to her Babcia's native country of Poland in search of family stories. Moving along with Alice as she learns about her family's secret history and watching Alina travel through Nazi-occupied Poland reminded me of the bravery we see in our own personal histories and those who came before us.
I went into this read pretty much blind knowing that it was a WWII-era novel and historical fiction. I was so glad I didn't read too far into the synopsis, so I won't give away too much here, but I absolutely LOVED this book!
Rimmer writes characters you will not only relate to, but you'll fight for. So, bring tissues because it's a journey.
Throughout the novel we follow two women in different timelines. Alina, a young adult in Poland as the events of WWII unfold and progress, and Alice, a modern wife and mother. When Alice's grandmother nears the end of her life she takes a trip to her Babcia's native country of Poland in search of family stories. Moving along with Alice as she learns about her family's secret history and watching Alina travel through Nazi-occupied Poland reminded me of the bravery we see in our own personal histories and those who came before us.
I went into this read pretty much blind knowing that it was a WWII-era novel and historical fiction. I was so glad I didn't read too far into the synopsis, so I won't give away too much here, but I absolutely LOVED this book!
Rimmer writes characters you will not only relate to, but you'll fight for. So, bring tissues because it's a journey.
Thank you to #RandomHouseChildrensBooks #DelacortePress for an eARC of Katherine Quinn's new YA Fantasy Adventure, "Stolen Midnights," in exchange for this honest review.
Stolen Midnights was so good! I knew at about 10% this was the book for me. It has a bit of a modest and tasteful romance, but the bulk of the story is really a coming-of-age story involving a theft, magical objects, a mystery, family-secrets, social injustices, and murder.
Stolen Midnights leaves us on a major cliffhanger. I can't wait for news about Book 2!
Stolen Midnights was so good! I knew at about 10% this was the book for me. It has a bit of a modest and tasteful romance, but the bulk of the story is really a coming-of-age story involving a theft, magical objects, a mystery, family-secrets, social injustices, and murder.
Stolen Midnights leaves us on a major cliffhanger. I can't wait for news about Book 2!
Thank you #NetGalley and #Harper360 #Avon publishers for an eARC of the Third book in Aamna Qureshi's Baby Dragon Series, "The Baby Dragon Bookshop."
It's sweet and adorable just like the first two books, it's lovers-to-rivals-to-... well, just read it! There's a little bit of jealousy sprinkled in, baby dragons and chimeras, and the Dragon racing gang continues to be a plot point in the story. The other characters from the series make appearances and their lives and stories continue on.
If you liked Laurie Gilmore's Dream Harbor series, Travis Baldree's Legends & Lattes, or Sarah Beth Durst's The Spellshop, I think you'll enjoy this cozy romantasy series.
It's sweet and adorable just like the first two books, it's lovers-to-rivals-to-... well, just read it! There's a little bit of jealousy sprinkled in, baby dragons and chimeras, and the Dragon racing gang continues to be a plot point in the story. The other characters from the series make appearances and their lives and stories continue on.
If you liked Laurie Gilmore's Dream Harbor series, Travis Baldree's Legends & Lattes, or Sarah Beth Durst's The Spellshop, I think you'll enjoy this cozy romantasy series.
Thank you #NetGalley and #VictoryEditingNetGalleyCoOp and #PaperandVine for the eARC of Debbie Cassidy's, "Wicked Onyx," Book 1 in The Veritas Legacy series.
It was so good I had to go out and buy the Special Edition right away! This is going to be an amazing series!
It's a dark-academia fantasy with magical beasts, shifters, where the FMC is cursed with family secrets and trying to solve a mystery while monsters and danger lurk around every corner. It seems we may have a slow-burn, forbidden, age-gap romance in the works too, but I'm also sensing some why choose or love-triangle vibes in future books.
I can't wait to read future books in this series! If you stear clear of fantasy because of the typical lengthy, boring, world-building, "Wicked Onyx," is NOT that. We learn everything about Ana's world as she does which keeps it interesting with relevant timing keeping to the plot and character progress.
The book contains a map and list of types of magical beings and beasts- which is awesome! But, after finishing the book, I learned there's also a Glossary at the back of the which wasn't really necessary for me but will probably come in handy in the future.
It was so good I had to go out and buy the Special Edition right away! This is going to be an amazing series!
It's a dark-academia fantasy with magical beasts, shifters, where the FMC is cursed with family secrets and trying to solve a mystery while monsters and danger lurk around every corner. It seems we may have a slow-burn, forbidden, age-gap romance in the works too, but I'm also sensing some why choose or love-triangle vibes in future books.
I can't wait to read future books in this series! If you stear clear of fantasy because of the typical lengthy, boring, world-building, "Wicked Onyx," is NOT that. We learn everything about Ana's world as she does which keeps it interesting with relevant timing keeping to the plot and character progress.
The book contains a map and list of types of magical beings and beasts- which is awesome! But, after finishing the book, I learned there's also a Glossary at the back of the which wasn't really necessary for me but will probably come in handy in the future.
It's tragic, definitely not a feel-good fantasy if that's what you're expecting.
I really hope Mother of Death & Dawn has a HEA. This one was depressing and hard to get through. I wanted to DNF so many times.
I really hope Mother of Death & Dawn has a HEA. This one was depressing and hard to get through. I wanted to DNF so many times.
Blake is a creepy fiancé which made the beginning kinda annoying and difficult to get through. It picked up about 40%. Overall, I enjoyed this fast-paced thriller.
Thank you #NetGalley and #Bramble #TORPublishing for the eARC of #MotherofDeathandDawn," the Third book in Carissa Broadbent's War of Lost Hearts series. It's rerelease is scheduled for March 17, 2026.
This fantasy adventure is very well-written, but I need to DNF for now. (30%)
After Book 1 it just feels depressing. There's so much war and just doesn't vibe well with the state of the world right now. I'll pick it up again later.
This fantasy adventure is very well-written, but I need to DNF for now. (30%)
After Book 1 it just feels depressing. There's so much war and just doesn't vibe well with the state of the world right now. I'll pick it up again later.
Thank you #NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group | G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for an eARC of Melissa de la Cruz's "Syballine," in exchange for this honest review.
I'm torn on what I should rate this because it's marketed to Young Adults.
There may be spoilers in this review, but for the sake of transparency for parents of teens I feel like it's necessary to have all the information to make a decision. (As much as I can remember at least).
First of all, let's be clear. There is one spicy scene in the book I think the author made to look like the throuple has a vision of them all having a three-some. It's not clear to me if that's what happened, but the scene borders on necrophilia and actually made me uncomfortable. There were a few instances where characters kissed and made-out, grabbed an ass cheek, touched a breast, stuff like that sprinkled a couple times. So definitely more mature content.
The story itself goes between the secretive, dangerous, magic-school, and the relationships of the friends. There's a mysterious secret-society, a magical school that didn't admit students with magical talent, and magical objects. Magical themes included necromancy, invocation, evocation, pentagrams, spell-casting, etc. All-in-all it wasn't bad! That one scene was just kinda off-putting to me. The story is kinda tied up at the end, but it appears that there will be a Book 2.
I edited my star review because apparently I wasn't the only person who read the scene that show more way. show less
I'm torn on what I should rate this because it's marketed to Young Adults.
There may be spoilers in this review, but for the sake of transparency for parents of teens I feel like it's necessary to have all the information to make a decision. (As much as I can remember at least).
First of all, let's be clear. There is one spicy scene in the book I think the author made to look like the throuple has a vision of them all having a three-some. It's not clear to me if that's what happened, but the scene borders on necrophilia and actually made me uncomfortable. There were a few instances where characters kissed and made-out, grabbed an ass cheek, touched a breast, stuff like that sprinkled a couple times. So definitely more mature content.
The story itself goes between the secretive, dangerous, magic-school, and the relationships of the friends. There's a mysterious secret-society, a magical school that didn't admit students with magical talent, and magical objects. Magical themes included necromancy, invocation, evocation, pentagrams, spell-casting, etc. All-in-all it wasn't bad! That one scene was just kinda off-putting to me. The story is kinda tied up at the end, but it appears that there will be a Book 2.
I edited my star review because apparently I wasn't the only person who read the scene that show more way. show less
I received an eARC of "The Library of Amorlin," Book 1 in Kalyn Josephson's, " The Age of Beasts series in exchange for this honest review.
I liked the premise of the story. She becomes the Assistant Librarian to spy on the Librarian who protects the magical beasts, and then their relationship changes.
However, it missed the mark for me. It just didn't seem to flow well, and the verbiage didn't make sense at times. I could probably remove 10% of the book with all the instances of the words "had" and "have." I just don't understand why authors add extra words when they're already writing in 3rd person. It seems like they're trying to inflate their word count, or, dare I say, it leads me to believe they may have used AI since their sentence structure seems inauthentic.
I received an unedited eARC and so I hope as it goes through edits it will mature to the adult book it's supposed to be.
Thank you #NetGalley and #KensingtonPublishing #Erewhon !!
I liked the premise of the story. She becomes the Assistant Librarian to spy on the Librarian who protects the magical beasts, and then their relationship changes.
However, it missed the mark for me. It just didn't seem to flow well, and the verbiage didn't make sense at times. I could probably remove 10% of the book with all the instances of the words "had" and "have." I just don't understand why authors add extra words when they're already writing in 3rd person. It seems like they're trying to inflate their word count, or, dare I say, it leads me to believe they may have used AI since their sentence structure seems inauthentic.
I received an unedited eARC and so I hope as it goes through edits it will mature to the adult book it's supposed to be.
Thank you #NetGalley and #KensingtonPublishing #Erewhon !!
I received an eARC of Carissa Broadbent's "Mother of Death and Dawn," and so I had to reread "Daughter of No Worlds" again since it's literally been a year! I'm so glad I did too! The first read through I sped through and missed A LOT. This time I took my time and I also read the prequel novella "Ashen Son" first. Reading the prequel helped a lot because it gave me some of Max's background story, and also showed me how much he values family and his people.
"Daughter of No Worlds" is a fantasy adventure with a bit of a spicy romance thrown in. Tisaanah is a badass FMC, and as a badass she's been through it, fought her way out, and is helping others to freedom.
It ends on a cliffhanger so be prepared with Book 2. I'm starting it now!
"Daughter of No Worlds" is a fantasy adventure with a bit of a spicy romance thrown in. Tisaanah is a badass FMC, and as a badass she's been through it, fought her way out, and is helping others to freedom.
It ends on a cliffhanger so be prepared with Book 2. I'm starting it now!
I really wish we had the four parts to this Prequel novella.
Either way, Part 1 was incredible. It really gave me a perspective on Max's family values and his military and leadership training.
Onto the next!
Either way, Part 1 was incredible. It really gave me a perspective on Max's family values and his military and leadership training.
Onto the next!
Danielle L. Jensen's, Saga of the Unfated, continues in "A Curse Carved in Bone."
Danger follows Freya and Bjorn as they try to escape Snorri and his armies.
Freya must travel to lands of the gods to defeat him and everyone is not as they seem.
It continues the adventure of the couple, their spicy romance, themes of heritage, found family, and bound promises.
5 stars!
Danger follows Freya and Bjorn as they try to escape Snorri and his armies.
Freya must travel to lands of the gods to defeat him and everyone is not as they seem.
It continues the adventure of the couple, their spicy romance, themes of heritage, found family, and bound promises.
5 stars!
Florence and Cayden's romance continues in Olivia Rose Darling's, "Wrath of the Dragons," the second book in her Fear the Flames series.
It has a spicy romance, bonded-dragons, politics, war, and an ending I for sure didn't see coming.
I'm looking forward to the third book and seeing how this plays out for the couple. Fix it please, Olivia!
It has a spicy romance, bonded-dragons, politics, war, and an ending I for sure didn't see coming.
I'm looking forward to the third book and seeing how this plays out for the couple. Fix it please, Olivia!
Lexi Davis's, "Pretty Vicious," is a dark-gothic-romance centered on a mysterious secret-society and all the danger, murder, possessive-passion, and protection that entails. It's super-hot with spice and a 2-page list of trigger warnings including SA, kidnapping, suicide, and murder.
Carrson Ashford, wow, what can I say, he's the villain you love to hate, but grow to love. Everything about Ashford House and The Order is dangerous and mysterious. When Laurel, our pizza delivery girl, falls into some of their mysterious shenanigans she has no idea what's coming for her.
Thank you #NetGalley, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, and #LexiDavis for the eARC of #PrettyVicious in exchange for this honest review.
Lexi Davis's "Pretty Vicious" is available January 13, 2026!
"Pretty Savage," Book 2 in Lexi Davis's series, The Order, is set to publish September 13, 2026!
Carrson Ashford, wow, what can I say, he's the villain you love to hate, but grow to love. Everything about Ashford House and The Order is dangerous and mysterious. When Laurel, our pizza delivery girl, falls into some of their mysterious shenanigans she has no idea what's coming for her.
Thank you #NetGalley, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, and #LexiDavis for the eARC of #PrettyVicious in exchange for this honest review.
Lexi Davis's "Pretty Vicious" is available January 13, 2026!
"Pretty Savage," Book 2 in Lexi Davis's series, The Order, is set to publish September 13, 2026!
6☆!!
Olivia Rose Darling's, "Fear the Flames," was so good!
Reluctant-allies-to-lovers, touch-her-and-die, one-bed, found-family, bonded-dragons, a hilariously sarcastic FMC with corny, but romantic, banter with the MMC. It's so quotable!
A beautiful fantasy world with an estranged daughter and the man who will help her in her quest to find her dragons.
I especially loved how Darling describes the world and the MCs history throughout their quest instead of dumping a bunch of world-building at the beginning. It made for a fast-paced read and I'm definitely looking forward to the rest of the series (4 books).
Olivia Rose Darling's, "Fear the Flames," was so good!
Reluctant-allies-to-lovers, touch-her-and-die, one-bed, found-family, bonded-dragons, a hilariously sarcastic FMC with corny, but romantic, banter with the MMC. It's so quotable!
A beautiful fantasy world with an estranged daughter and the man who will help her in her quest to find her dragons.
I especially loved how Darling describes the world and the MCs history throughout their quest instead of dumping a bunch of world-building at the beginning. It made for a fast-paced read and I'm definitely looking forward to the rest of the series (4 books).
In A Forbidden Alchemy, Stacey McEwan just drops you into Nina and Patrick's world. It has steam-punk vibes and I kept picturing it as the mines in Hogwarts Legacy. Actually, the whole setting kind of felt like that game.
You have a group of elites who have everything, and then the people who risk their lives to mine the product giving power to them all.
There's found family, a rebellion with gangsters as the lead, mistaken-identity, secrets, classism, fighting for your family and your community, and of course... love.
It's childhood crush that turns into a bit of a spicy, slow-burn romance.
It's a bit twisty and leaves off on a cliffhanger.
Part 2 in Stacey McEwan's Artisan Trilogy, "A Forsaken Prophey," is set to publish July 14 2026!
You have a group of elites who have everything, and then the people who risk their lives to mine the product giving power to them all.
There's found family, a rebellion with gangsters as the lead, mistaken-identity, secrets, classism, fighting for your family and your community, and of course... love.
It's childhood crush that turns into a bit of a spicy, slow-burn romance.
It's a bit twisty and leaves off on a cliffhanger.
Part 2 in Stacey McEwan's Artisan Trilogy, "A Forsaken Prophey," is set to publish July 14 2026!
Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Audio: Forever for the ALC of Kylie Snow's, "The Lies of Lena," available on January 6, 2026.
This audiobook is Duet Narration format with Natalie Van Sistine (ACOTAR Graphic Audio) and Kieran Regan (Voice actor for many animated TV shoes and Movies as well as Video Games).
I read Kylie Snow's, "The Lies of Lena," back in October 2025 from Kindle Unlimited and LOVED it! It's a book I wish I could read again for the first time, but the emotional character arc and high stakes still pays off in a big way. I loved the Duet format of the audiobook which brought me right back into Lena's world.
This was my previous review and I wouldn't change a thing:
10☆ easily.
I loved how Kylie jumped the timeline a couple times to focus on the main parts of the story. It made for a fast paced romantasy that was highly rewarding.
I can't wait to read the rest of the series, and it's on KU too!
Explicit Sexual Content
Check trigger warnings
This audiobook is Duet Narration format with Natalie Van Sistine (ACOTAR Graphic Audio) and Kieran Regan (Voice actor for many animated TV shoes and Movies as well as Video Games).
I read Kylie Snow's, "The Lies of Lena," back in October 2025 from Kindle Unlimited and LOVED it! It's a book I wish I could read again for the first time, but the emotional character arc and high stakes still pays off in a big way. I loved the Duet format of the audiobook which brought me right back into Lena's world.
This was my previous review and I wouldn't change a thing:
10☆ easily.
I loved how Kylie jumped the timeline a couple times to focus on the main parts of the story. It made for a fast paced romantasy that was highly rewarding.
I can't wait to read the rest of the series, and it's on KU too!
Explicit Sexual Content
Check trigger warnings
This was the cutest!
In a nutshell: Coffee shop owning barista becomes dragon rider as she tries to help raise her fake-fiancees baby dragon as their own. There's so much plot in this book and a tiny bit of spicy romance.
This was my first Qureshi read and I loved her simple world building. It was pretty fast-paced, and I can't wait to read the rest of the series. Onto the next!
In a nutshell: Coffee shop owning barista becomes dragon rider as she tries to help raise her fake-fiancees baby dragon as their own. There's so much plot in this book and a tiny bit of spicy romance.
This was my first Qureshi read and I loved her simple world building. It was pretty fast-paced, and I can't wait to read the rest of the series. Onto the next!
Lavinia is working to becoming a vet and pining for her life-long friend, Theo, who's clueless and turns her down at a friend's engagement party.
Baby Dragon Bakery is friends-to-lovers, a little grumpy-sunshine, and oh-so-cute and cozy in this small-town. Was definitely a good sequel to The Baby Dragon Cafe which should be read before this book.
The third book in the Baby Dragon series, The Baby Dragon Bookshop is available 12 February 2026!
Baby Dragon Bakery is friends-to-lovers, a little grumpy-sunshine, and oh-so-cute and cozy in this small-town. Was definitely a good sequel to The Baby Dragon Cafe which should be read before this book.
The third book in the Baby Dragon series, The Baby Dragon Bookshop is available 12 February 2026!
Starchaser, the second book in R.M. Gray's Nightweaver series was such a ride!
It's a YA, dark-fantasy-adventure with a clean romance, pirates with special abilities, monsters that can shape-shift, and high stakes that have Aster searching for a cure.
Hidden in Aster's world are family secrets and a secret order.
Everyone is in danger in this fast-paced sequel.
Look out for announcements on Book 3, Cursebreaker!
It's a YA, dark-fantasy-adventure with a clean romance, pirates with special abilities, monsters that can shape-shift, and high stakes that have Aster searching for a cure.
Hidden in Aster's world are family secrets and a secret order.
Everyone is in danger in this fast-paced sequel.
Look out for announcements on Book 3, Cursebreaker!