“Hard to Take” is another sexy, steamy hit from Piper Lawson! As a huge fan of the Denver Kodiaks (does that make me a Kodashian?), to say I was exci“Hard to Take” is another sexy, steamy hit from Piper Lawson! As a huge fan of the Denver Kodiaks (does that make me a Kodashian?), to say I was excited for this would be an understatement! In “Hard to Take”, we learn more about Miles and Brooke’s developing situationship, as well as witness how they handle the rest of the team finding out about their romance.
Similar to other books by Lawson, “Hard to Take” furthers the overall plot of the series, while allowing readers the chance to slow down and savor the moments between our two main characters. As characters, Brooke and Miles develop greatly during this installment. Brooke is able to become more financially independent, and Miles hits his stride on the team. Separately, they are certainly stronger than how they were introduced to us, but together they are unstoppable.
Another aspect of the book that I enjoyed was how much the overall cast interacts with each other! We have various scenes where players come together with family, friends, and even honorable mentions from other series. This is more than just “found family”, it truly reads like you’re in the middle of a small town (only, it’s Denver). I love that!
Thankfully, Lawson dials back on the angst in this book. I was able to read it in one sitting, and found it to be easygoing and a quick read. Similar to Lawson’s other works, the cliffhanger at the end is brutal, but I know we’re going to get answers very early on in the next book! If you’re a fan of basketball romance, or perhaps enjoy reading about characters who have a rich community, I would highly encourage you to add “Hard to Take” to your TBR!...more
“Captive Omega” is the newest release from Ember Nicole and is another dark, gritty omegaverse that follows the same timeline as book one, only throug“Captive Omega” is the newest release from Ember Nicole and is another dark, gritty omegaverse that follows the same timeline as book one, only through the eyes of omega Resa.
Resa has suffered immense trauma over the last two years, both physical and mental. She was abused during a visit to a heat clinic and, since then, has been a captive of one of the Asylum members (who we learned about in book one). A freak accident provides Resa with the chance to escape, and she quickly falls right into the lap of the Lucas pack.
Before I continue, I want to provide a disclaimer that this review will contain spoilers to the first book. If you have not read the first book, which is by no means required in order to enjoy this one, please be aware that there will be spoilers if you proceed.
When Resa is taken in by Pack Lucas, she has no clue that they’ve been looking for her for quite some time. Bloody and pregnant, Resa begins to build herself back up with the help of two alphas and one stubborn beta.
Compared to book one, I enjoyed the MMCs quite a bit, but grew frustrated with Resa. Like Ever in book one, Resa was a horrible communicator. However, she made great strides to better herself mentally, and for that I applaud her. I also felt that the journey to recovery was written very realistically, as Resa spends the *entire* book working on bettering herself. Resa has grit and tenacity and I will give her that. The MMCs are not without fault, however. I found their pack to be a bit disjointed. We have alpha Garrison, stoic leader of the pack, who I enjoyed. Then we have Blaine, who suffered a horrible attack that left him with burns over his entire body. Blaine, understandably, is suffering with immense trauma and self-esteem issues. Lastly, we have the beta Vaughn, who unfortunately, every time I read his name, immediately thought we were talking about Vince Vaughn. Nevertheless, Vaughn was the light to Resa's darkness. He was the comedic character of the bunch, and truly helped Resa make the most progress in her journey.
Pack aside, I felt that there were times where the plot became quite predictable and boring. While shorter than Ever’s book, there were still chapters where I wanted to grab Resa by the shoulders and tell her to hurry up and get back to the men!!! As seen in book one, when the FMCs come into their own and begin to have a voice, that is when family shows up and wants to bring them back to their old life. For Resa, this meant her family bringing her home and making no mention of her pack. I don’t remember how many chapters Resa spent at home, but I do remember feeling so frustrated that Resa made so much progress in her healing but was just as weak when it came to standing up for herself. In a way, I see bits of myself in her. You can be strong in front of others, but when it comes to family you feel like that small child once again. Despite that, I still would have liked to see Resa advocate for herself and her new life.
Still an enjoyable continuation of the series with an overall rating of 3.5. I’m most excited for book three where we get to see Della and what pack she ends up with!...more
Do you ever love a book so much that you grow tired of how long it is?
I know, usually when you love a book you want it to last forever. In this case,Do you ever love a book so much that you grow tired of how long it is?
I know, usually when you love a book you want it to last forever. In this case, by the time I got to page 500 I was ready for the book to be over. Don’t get me wrong, it’s an excellent read and one I will be thinking about for days, but at almost 600 pages, this book is way too long.
Nicole Ember is an author who I have never read before, and I was excited to have the chance to read some of her books early! In preparation for her upcoming release, I decided to read book one, “Runaway Omega” to get a better understanding of the world that these books take place in.
As far as characters go, they’re all very well written. They are full of depth and unique, and I never caught myself confusing one MMC with another (which can sometimes happen in OV RH’s). Everleigh, the omega, did frustrate me quite a bit with how she treated the Ashe pack. While she had a traumatic bonding experience, I felt that she was her own worst enemy at times. Further, when Ever was finally ready for her own happiness, she still sacrificed herself for the sake of her mother. Pack Ashe has a hell of a lot more compassion than I do, as I would’ve walked by then.
One thing that stood out to me about Ember’s take on omegaverse was the mating bite. In traditional OV, the bite is not only a visual sign of your bond, it’s also a conduit between partners. While Ever had a mating bite from Lawrence, her old alpha, at no point during the book does she pick up on his emotions or he on hers. Without the emotional connection, I am curious why there is a bite at all. Is it purely for control? Is it seen as barbaric? The only one who benefits from it would be the alpha, so hopefully we get more clarification on this in the next book!
While I have my gripes about the length of the book, I still stand by it being one of the best OV’s that I’ve read this year. I highly, highly recommend this book if you’re looking for a darker, grittier omegaverse! ...more
“Glass Omega” by Calliope Stewart is, like many of the first books in a series, more plot than anything else.
As an omegaverse fan, I go into these bo“Glass Omega” by Calliope Stewart is, like many of the first books in a series, more plot than anything else.
As an omegaverse fan, I go into these books eager to see each authors take on the trope (genre?). While Stewart has written some strong, entertaining OV’s, “Glass Omega” unfortunately fell short to me. Though truthfully not in length, as it honestly read quite long.
Like many of her first books, I felt that it was more macro plot development than actual storyline. As far as characters go, I didn’t find myself rooting for anyone in particular. The MMCs weren’t remarkable and, for being a mafia romance, there was nothing cutthroat about them or their lives. Instead, they felt rather lackluster and the mafia aspect felt forced. The omega FMC was equally as flat and was altogether dull. As I sit here writing this review I find myself drawing blank on what she actually contributed…
Now, that isn’t to say that it’s a bad book! The characters are entertaining and the steamy scenes are well written. While this book wasn’t a hit for me I have no doubt that the series will get better over time. Stewart always reads this way to me, and I wouldn’t give up on her just yet! If you’re new to omegaverse, I would recommend this book. If you’re a voracious reader like myself, then consider going into it knowing that the series will certainly get better with each book. ...more
“His Tesoro” is Emilia Rossi’s debut mafia romance. The characters are diverse and multi-dimensional. If you haven’t read an age-gap mafia romance bef“His Tesoro” is Emilia Rossi’s debut mafia romance. The characters are diverse and multi-dimensional. If you haven’t read an age-gap mafia romance before, prepare to fall in love with it!
In “His Tesoro” we learn about Sofiya, a disabled mafia princess who has been sold off (really, betrothed) to the head of the Italian mafia, Matteo. Matteo has no clue that Sofiya has a disability, though he doesn’t let that deter him from taking her as his wife and fulfilling his duty to the Family.
Throughout the story, I loved seeing Sofiya and Matteo’s character development. Their marriage started out stinted and uncomfortable, but by the end of the book Matteo would have laid down his life for her. Further, Sofiya was not your typical mafia wife in that she wasn’t raised within the world of politics and war. She is a breath of fresh air within their social circles.
While I found the romance to be rushed at times, and underdeveloped in some areas, overall I do think that this is an excellent debut into mafia romance. The core aspects of mafia are there, and I have no doubt that Rossi will improve over time! At the end of the book we get a sneak peek of who might be next, and I so hope we get more soon. I also will be keeping my eyes peeled for a love story featuring the security (eep!)...more
“Bright Lights & Summer Nights” is the final book in the Black Tie Billionaire’s series by Kat Singleton. Having read the first two books, to say that“Bright Lights & Summer Nights” is the final book in the Black Tie Billionaire’s series by Kat Singleton. Having read the first two books, to say that I was eager for the conclusion would be an understatement.
This book follows Emma and Preston. Emma, as we’ve come to learn in the other books, is a free spirit who has no real job and, if I can be brutally honest, identity outside of being friends with Margo and Winnie. She herself admits that one of her biggest insecurities is that she hasn’t yet figured out her life. On a whim, she decides to take Winnie up on her offer to stay in her home in the Hamptons for the summer. In an effort to “discover herself”, she decides to break into a party on her first night there.
Preston is a billionaire football star who is in the Hampton’s celebrating his sister’s upcoming wedding when he runs into Emma scaling the fence. While the chemistry is there, Emma and Preston decide to team up and mutually help each other achieve their goal. For Emma, this is simply enjoying the party. For Preston, this abruptly turns into roping Emma to play the part of his girlfriend until the wedding is over.
If this is your first Kat Singleton book, I have no doubt that you’ll enjoy it. If you’ve read any one of her previous books, then this is likely to leave you feeling quite bored. I’ve found that Singleton’s BTB series has the same tropes and format in each book. Chance meeting, blackmail proposal (both literally and figuratively), and a fake relationship that they *must* hide from their friends. Tie it altogether with a couple who ends up developing feelings (that cannot ever last longer than the time we’ve decided to be together as part of our agreement) and you have yourself the plot of the next BTB book. Because I’ve read the others in the series, I knew where the plot of this book was going the entire time. I expected the hesitation, the insta-love, and the spice scenes. In the end, I expected everything and wasn’t surprised by anything. To me, this book isn’t any better than the previous one. In fact, I would likely say that this book wasn’t close to the others, as it felt like a recycled plot. But again, if you’re just getting started with Singleton’s series, you might enjoy it! Unfortunately for myself, it fell flat. ...more
“Hard to Fake” is one of my favorite contemporary romances of the year! “Hard to Fake” follows Miles, a basketball star, and Brooke, daughter of a se“Hard to Fake” is one of my favorite contemporary romances of the year! “Hard to Fake” follows Miles, a basketball star, and Brooke, daughter of a senator. They have been friends for years, but the two of them have been harboring secret feelings for one another. With Brooke’s sorority reunion on the horizon, and her reputation on the line, she secretly invites Miles to join her as her plus one. What could go wrong?
Well, when you’re fake dating your teammates sister (behind his back), it turns out there is plenty that can go wrong! Fake dating, only one bed, and “it’s always been you” are the biggest tropes in this book. There is a lot of relationship building in this book, though without all of the info dump that you might find in a new series. I am eagerly awaiting the next book and cannot wait to see what trouble Miles and Brooke get up to! With a romance like theirs, the slow burn is going to turn up the heat in no time....more
“All In” was everything I’ve been wanting from West! In my previous review, I highlighted how many of the recent MMC’s have been similar to the ones “All In” was everything I’ve been wanting from West! In my previous review, I highlighted how many of the recent MMC’s have been similar to the ones who came before them. Not in “All In”! “All In” has a cast with refreshing, unique characters who make for such an enjoyable read.
Right before you dive in, you’re met with a notice from West highlighting the neurodiversity of the upcoming cast of characters. West has done a phenomenal job of writing these characters in previous books, so I was immediately intrigued with how she would tackle these characters. West is an author who embraces diversity with her books, and I’m always left feeling that she has done her research and done them justice.
Plot-wise, “All In” does have some overlap with it’s predecessor, “Queen of Spades”, though it stands strong enough on it’s own to where you don’t necessarily need to read it in order to understand what’s going on in this world. Like always, I do recommend that you read in order so that you get the most enriching experience!
I know that I’ve alluded to it already, but the characters are what made this book for me. Laken is a character with such depth that is complimented by her pack mates. Locke (my baby!) is extremely protective of her from the beginning. He truly fits the “he fell first” mold to a T. Tanner is who I would have initially described as the himbo of the group, but as you read the story you’ll come to realize that there is more to him than meets the eye— and he does that intentionally! Lastly, Ranger (my love!) is our MMC who is similar to Laken in that he is also neurodivergent. Ranger is extremely protective of Laken and pack, and I love getting to see his more dominant side that we didn’t quite get the chance to explore in the previous book. As a whole, this pack was so refreshing to read about and I can confidently say that they are unlike any of West’s previous packs.
If you have space in your summer TBR, or are looking for your next addictive read, look no further! ...more
“Ruthless Savage” by Lilian Harris was a miss for me.
Harris writes excellent mafia romances, but this one missed the mark for me. In “Ruthless Savage“Ruthless Savage” by Lilian Harris was a miss for me.
Harris writes excellent mafia romances, but this one missed the mark for me. In “Ruthless Savage”, we learn about Eriu and her unrequited love to her longtime bodyguard, Devlin. Like most everyone in Eriu’s life, Devlin has been harboring a dangerous secret for a long time. To keep Eriu safe, Devlin takes it upon himself to always keep her at a distance. Naturally, what follows is a very hot-and-cold relationship with Eriu.
As a character, I found Eriu to be insufferable. Sexually, Eriu is a desperate virgin who wants to be with Devlin regardless of their age gap and his shady history. Socially, she’s completely unaware of what the mafia world entails, and what her role is. That isn’t necessarily her fault, but as a grown adult, once she realizes the truth of her life, she should’ve been more mature and realistic in her actions. She was extremely trustworthy and severely lacking in street smarts. Out of all the FMC’s that Harris has written, Eriu topped the list as my least favorite. Devlin wasn’t much better. The entire book is him wanting Eriu, but putting his relationship with her father before all else. His respect for her father trumped his desire for Eriu, yet when he finally comes clean about his feelings, Eriu’s dad responds with relief and happiness that Devlin has finally come to his senses.
The tropes in this book really got me, but it was the execution that lost me. If you’re looking for a forbidden romance, I would instead recommend the first book in the Messina series (by Lilian Harris!)...more
“Queen of Spades” by Jillian West is another hit in West’s omegaverse world. Even more, it’s part of a larger collection featuring other authors! Whil“Queen of Spades” by Jillian West is another hit in West’s omegaverse world. Even more, it’s part of a larger collection featuring other authors! While I only read this story, I will definitely be keeping my eye on the rest of the world and checking out some of the other authors stories.
In “Queen of Spades”, we learn about an omega, Annika, on the run from her past. While on the run, she steps into a line of work that leads her to cross paths with many wealthy, albeit suspicious, men. This environment is only further made dangerous by the fact that she is an unbonded omega just weeks away from her next heat.
Without spoiling the rest of the story, I will say that the pack development was very interesting. Some relationships, such as Annika’s relationship with Grady, developed quite slowly, whereas her relationship with Ward, was unexpectedly quick. Overall, I would cite this book as being fast burn.
If you’re new to West, this is an excellent place to start. If you’re very familiar with her work, then you might find many similarities to this pack and some of her others. In my case, I feel like the men begin to run together, as there’s typically always an alpha male (or two) and a himbo. I’ve read every book West has put out, and this pack wasn’t anything memorable to me. Unfortunately, and perhaps this is the risk with omega verse, they all begin to run together.
Despite that, I would still recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a more grittier omegaverse!...more
“Mayhem of Crows” by Evelyn Flood is a rollercoaster ride of a story! I devoured this book and cannot wait for the next one in the series. In the mean“Mayhem of Crows” by Evelyn Flood is a rollercoaster ride of a story! I devoured this book and cannot wait for the next one in the series. In the meantime, let’s dig into my thoughts…
First off, I made the mistake of thinking this was a duet and that this was the end of the duology. Don’t be like me — this is actually a four book series. In this book, we’re able to learn more about Cats whereabouts, as well as get to watch the relationship between the heirs, and Dom, deepen.
Character development in an RH is extremely important to me, especially when you have enemies that are spending more time together (say, an enforcer and an heir). Flood carefully crafts a relationship that is both believable and realistic. There are times throughout the story where I did find certain moments cheesy, but overall I found the development to be enjoyable. By the end of the book I wasn’t cheering for each of the guys and didnt feel like there were any relationships that were “better” than any of the others! Though, if we’re being honest, I am partial to Dante and Luc.
In addition to the character development, the plot itself is engaging and keeps you hooked. Again, I didn’t realize this book wasn’t the ending, and so I foolishly thought that all of the problems occurring at 96% would be resolved in a few pages…needless to say the cliffhanger left me staggering. This is undoubtedly one of my favorite books of Flood’s, and I cant wait for the next installment. If you read any of Flood’s work, let it be this one. If you’re a fan of mafia romance with a twist, I cannot recommend this series enough. ...more
“Heart on Ice” is the conclusion to the Seattle Omegas trilogy. It tells Ciara’s story and gives readers further insight into how she’s been feeling s“Heart on Ice” is the conclusion to the Seattle Omegas trilogy. It tells Ciara’s story and gives readers further insight into how she’s been feeling since Brynn’s accident in book one.
Ciara has been an enigma to me throughout this series, and I was so excited to finally have her book! She surprised me with how headstrong she was, and I like that her pack grounded her and encouraged her to grow in a healthy way.
At the beginning of the story, Ciara is snarky and brash, choosing to run rather than face her problems head on. She’s impulsive and knows when she’s making a bad decision, even when it’s at the expense of someone else. Truthfully, I didn’t connect with her much in the beginning because of those attributes. However, Stewart really won me over and by the end of the book I appreciated and empathized Ciara so much! Ciara goes through incredible development and is not a FMC to underestimate.
One of the things I love about Stewart’s FMC’s is that they love hard. Ciara is no exception. Her pack is the center of her world, and I love that her family wasn’t an after thought, but often an extension of her pack. This means we see a ton of Brynn and Aurelia in this book, so get excited for all of the cameos!
Overall, my second favorite book of Stewart’s. A must read for fans of sports, omegaverse, or romance in general. ...more
“Lawless God” officially concludes the North Shore series. What will I do now that this series is complete?!
In “Lawless God”, our main characters go t“Lawless God” officially concludes the North Shore series. What will I do now that this series is complete?!
In “Lawless God”, our main characters go through tremendous amounts of growth. Kayla shoulders the weight of leading her crew alone, and I loved how Nathan steps in and takes that burden from her entirely (in his own deranged way, of course). Nathan was equally as unique, having gone on his own tumultuous journey throughout the story. He’s similar to some of King’s other dark characters, but I would argue he stands out among the rest as being the darkest. There is no other MMC like him. He’s twisted, abusive, yet soft only for her. Somehow, I found myself a fan of him only a quarter into this book and am glad that he got his HEA.
For those curious, “Lawless God” also features characters from all of King’s books, which was amazing to see! I love when a standalone is interconnected, as we’re able to see bits and pieces of our other favorite characters.
King never fails to leave me breathless with her stories. They stay in your heart long after you close the book, and I have a feeling this series is going to stay with me for a long time.
Merged review:
“Lawless God” officially concludes the North Shore series. What will I do now that this series is complete?!
In “Lawless God”, our main characters go through tremendous amounts of growth. Kayla shoulders the weight of leading her crew alone, and I loved how Nathan steps in and takes that burden from her entirely (in his own deranged way, of course). Nathan was equally as unique, having gone on his own tumultuous journey throughout the story. He’s similar to some of King’s other dark characters, but I would argue he stands out among the rest as being the darkest. There is no other MMC like him. He’s twisted, abusive, yet soft only for her. Somehow, I found myself a fan of him only a quarter into this book and am glad that he got his HEA.
For those curious, “Lawless God” also features characters from all of King’s books, which was amazing to see! I love when a standalone is interconnected, as we’re able to see bits and pieces of our other favorite characters.
King never fails to leave me breathless with her stories. They stay in your heart long after you close the book, and I have a feeling this series is going to stay with me for a long time....more
“Game Day” … gah! I cannot say enough good things about this series. If you’re reading this book, you already know all about Clay and Nova’s love stor“Game Day” … gah! I cannot say enough good things about this series. If you’re reading this book, you already know all about Clay and Nova’s love story. If you haven’t read this book, please read through the trilogy and then come back.
I am a huge fan of Piper Lawson, this is no secret. My favorite series of hers is the “King of the Court”. With that being said, “Game Day” is the best way this trilogy could have ended. As readers, we’re given a brief glimpse into Nova and Clay’s lives post season. We get to see Nova plan her wedding with Clay and watch their love story cement. We also get a brief look into the next series, which features Miles and Brooke (eep!).
Lawson’s writing produces a novella that packs as much heat as her full length work. There is virtually no angst and all of the focus is on how our characters are enjoying their lives together. If you’re a sucker for slice-of-life stories, you’re going to fall in love with this novella. ...more
This book is fun and lighthearted, but the pacing was difficult at times. In some scenes, we’re moving very slowly, and in others it felt too quick toThis book is fun and lighthearted, but the pacing was difficult at times. In some scenes, we’re moving very slowly, and in others it felt too quick to really flesh out the story. In the end, this reads more like a novella than a full length book....more
“Ready or Not” is the second part of the Assurance Security duet.
I will admit, the cliffhanger in book one left me so curious as to how this book wou“Ready or Not” is the second part of the Assurance Security duet.
I will admit, the cliffhanger in book one left me so curious as to how this book would start! Needless to say, the opening of the book was a good indicator of how the book in its entirety would flow: fast.
Vale does spend the majority of this book pregnant, and I was very surprised to see how quickly her pack grew. What I thought was established as a pack of convenience, quickly (and quite suddenly) turned into a legitimate pack. I felt like I blinked and the other men, save Bishop, were calling her their wife and ensuring they were in a position to bond her ASAP. Compared to book one, where you have certain characters (read: Mercer) stressing that the pack is simply formality, this sudden change in tone left me feeling like I suffered whiplash.
In this book, we’re able to get more of Cooper and Vale’s backstory, while simultaneously getting to know the remaining members of the pack.
It was an overall enjoyable book, but not my favorite from this author. It was slightly too fast paced for me, and in the end I would have enjoyed seeing more of Vale and her pack post baby. Unfortunately, that was saved for the final quarter of the book and the epilogues. ...more
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