"Somewhere, opposing forces raised weapons and unleashed bloodshed. And nearby, the rainforest watched us. And around us, the water flailed. This w"Somewhere, opposing forces raised weapons and unleashed bloodshed. And nearby, the rainforest watched us. And around us, the water flailed. This was how it felt to surrender and conquer. This was how it felt to kiss a villain."
Well, where to start?! I first read Dare by the sublime Natalia Jaster back in 2020 when it was the second book in the Foolish Kingdoms series and I adored it. Now 4 years later, the author is re-writing the series, making it way longer, expanding and developing all the amazing story lines, character arcs and world-building, and upping the spice rating ten-fold!
The first book Trick is now told across three books, the other two being Ruin and Burn, and all books in the series do need to be read in order, because whilst they are about different couples (Poet and Briar are across the first three books) they are all interlinked and there is one overarching story.
So back to Dare, which is Jeryn and Flare's story. Prince Jeryn is heir to the Winter Kingdom (Poet and Briar are from the Autumn court) and Flare is a 'born soul', considered 'less than' because of her inability to speak and her tendency for the dramatic; she has been imprisoned for most of her life.
They hate each other and they are obsessed with each other. Flare escapes from Summer's prison and Jeryn hunts her down. All the way to a tropical island undiscovered for centuries. Where things slowly start to change between them, as misunderstandings and revelations and life and death situations lead to lines being crossed, and the longing for things that can never be starts taking root in both of them....
What To Expect:
❣️MF fantasy romance ❣️Enemies to lovers ❣️Dark themes ❣️Forced proximity ❣️Forbidden ❣️Found family ❣️"Touch her and die" ❣️ALL THE STEAM! ❣️HFN
On the topic of steam, these are probably some of the longest spicy scenes, so be prepared!
As always, with Natalia's work, we have wonderfully diverse characters and fabulous representation. The writing is beautiful, such amazing prose, flowery and descriptive and divine. The world building is stunning and the characters sublime.
When we finally break apart, our chests are heaving as we struggle to catch our breath. Harry rests his forehead against mine, his eyes closed, hisWhen we finally break apart, our chests are heaving as we struggle to catch our breath. Harry rests his forehead against mine, his eyes closed, his fingers still tangled in my hair. He finally withdraws. He opens his eyes and his blue gaze pierces mine. “It appears you are still a necessity,” he says.
I totally loved this! Toby and Harry are divine. The Unlikely Pair is such a feel-good read and I highly commend a read of the first book in the Unlikely Dilemmas series by the wonderful Jax Calder - The Unlikely Heir - too.
What To Expect:
❥ rivals to friends to lovers ❥ politicians ❥ opposites attract ❥ forced proximity ❥ first times ❥ LOL moments ❥ HEA
"Seconds ticked by . . . The kiss went on . . . Zee’s tail flicked. Victor rocked with the motion of their embrace. Erm. Maybe they should ge"Seconds ticked by . . . The kiss went on . . . Zee’s tail flicked. Victor rocked with the motion of their embrace. Erm. Maybe they should get a room? I shouldn’t watch, but also couldn’t look away. Zee and Victor, tongue-wrestling, hand-grabbing. There was even some hip action going on. Mercy, they were spicy hot."
Ariana Nash continues the craziness in book 5 of her SOS Hotel series. Adam's troubles continue in SOS Hotel: No Rest for the Wicked and in this instalment, we have gremlins. Gremlins and murdery pixies. Oh and did I mention the MMM action is going up a notch. Or three......
To be continued in book - SOS Hotel: Luxury to Die for- and I can't wait for more not-quite-so-human Adam Vex and his boys!
"Something about him drew me like a moth to a flame, which was only a problem because most of the time, he looked at me as if he couldn’t ever trus"Something about him drew me like a moth to a flame, which was only a problem because most of the time, he looked at me as if he couldn’t ever trust me, as if he didn’t even like me, when all I saw in him was safety. A place to lay down my head and rest, knowing that he’d have my back while I slept."
Kiss a Villain is book 1 in the No Mercy duet by debut author Mia Darling, and what a totally fabulous debut this was! I was sucked in from the very first chapter and inhaled the entire book over one (sleepless!) night. I totally adored our gorgeously innocent despite the horror, pining mafia prince Yarik, but my heart is still with that beautifully broken lonely Bratva boy, Kirill. So much angst!
"Where did you go?" she asked Jeremy. He looked at the boy on the ground, then at her, and his one-word answer was frightening enough that she aske"Where did you go?" she asked Jeremy. He looked at the boy on the ground, then at her, and his one-word answer was frightening enough that she asked him nothing more. "Far."
Meg Shaffer is a new-to-me author, so I was excited to take a deep dive into The Lost Story kindly provided to me by NetGalley. And I was so happy I did!
The Lost Story was an absolute palate cleanser compared to the dark, MM contemporary romance/sports romance books I usually read. Pitched as an 'adult fairytale' and very loosely based on the Narnia stories, this was an enchanting tale of lost and found, and hidden memories that somehow stay forever.
Whilst this does have a MM romance woven throughout, it is very much 'fade to black' on any romantic scenes between our fabulous MMCs, Jeremy and Rafe, with the fantasy element and overarching storyline taking priority. Nothing here for fans of smut!
There are some strong FMCs too, in Skya and Emilie, and a gorgeous fantasy world in Shanandoah to get lost in.
What to Expect
❣️Fantasy romance ❣️Alternate/parallel worlds ❣️MM best friends to lovers ❣️Strong FMCs ❣️Mental health rep ❣️Some dark themes ❣️HFN
"The world exploded into deafening silence as their lips touched. Thousands of threads had interwoven into their lives, some severed, some stitched"The world exploded into deafening silence as their lips touched. Thousands of threads had interwoven into their lives, some severed, some stitched tight, all of them carrying traces of memories of the years they’d spent in each other’s company."
"Luca glares at me for a moment longer, before his expression softens and his lips tilt up in a soft smile. And as I hold his gaze, I can’t help bu"Luca glares at me for a moment longer, before his expression softens and his lips tilt up in a soft smile. And as I hold his gaze, I can’t help but smile as well, and send him a silent thank you. As irritating as he can be, he’s also the only one that can really get me out of my head, and help me find my way home."
Choke Hold is the second and final book in the No Holds Barred duology by Eve Holmes and my love affair with Ty and Luca continues! Whilst I didn't lose myself in this one quite like I did with Hooks In, it was still a fabulous ending to their story.
Adam's troubles continue. Turns out the hotel definitely has a gremlin problem, Zodiac is becoming more and more irresistable, Gideon Cain is unrelenting and Reynard has a damn wife!
This is still just MM as far as the romance goes, with Adam falling for BOTH his business partners in book one, but you just know this is going to end up as MMM once the demon and the vampire sort out their differences - and who doesn't adore an enemies to lovers show-down?!
Adam's troubles continue. Turns out the hotel definitely has a gremlin problem, Zodiac is becoming more and more irresistable, Gideon Cain is unrelenting and Reynard has a damn wife!
This is still just MM as far as the romance goes, with Adam falling for BOTH his business partners in book one, but you just know this is going to end up as MMM once the demon and the vampire sort out their differences - and who doesn't adore an enemies to lovers show-down?!
"He was wrong. Wrong about everything. But mostly, wrong about me. He couldn’t enthrall me. It wasn’t possible. Because I wasn’t human, and never h"He was wrong. Wrong about everything. But mostly, wrong about me. He couldn’t enthrall me. It wasn’t possible. Because I wasn’t human, and never had been. And he could never know."
I am absolutely loving these shorter, funnier yet still spicy, character and story-driven books, from the fabulous Ariana Nash (no offence to Adam Vex!) SOS Hotel: For a Supernaturally Safe Stay! is book one of (at least!) three books in her latest PNR urban fantasy series, SOS Hotel.
Adam Vex is the human (or is he?!) hotelier narrator of the books. He runs a sanctuary for supernatural Lost Ones, the SOS Hotel, with the help of his business partners, the gorgeous lust demon Zodiac and the sophisticated billionaire vampire Lord Reynard, who may or may not be up to something untoward.
Throw in an AI bartender called Tom Collins who's intent on poisoning half the guests, a vicious demon called Sebastien who has a secret hold over Zodiac, a murder (or two) on the hotel's opening night, an interfering detective and a psychotic real-estate mogul called Gideon Cain who wants to see Adam exposed in all the ways, and you have the recipe for a perfect storm!
This is a MM PNR, with Adam falling for both his business partners in book one. But you just know this is going to end up MMM once the demon and the vampire sort out their differences - and who doesn't adore an enemies to lovers show-down?!
"He was wrong. Wrong about everything. But mostly, wrong about me. He couldn’t enthrall me. It wasn’t possible. Because I wasn’t human, and never had been. And he could never know."
I am absolutely loving these shorter, funnier yet still spicy, character and story-driven books, from the fabulous Ariana Nash (no offence to Adam Vex!) SOS Hotel: For a Supernaturally Safe Stay! is book one of (at least!) three books in her latest PNR urban fantasy series, SOS Hotel.
Adam Vex is the human (or is he?!) hotelier narrator of the books. He runs a sanctuary for supernatural Lost Ones, the SOS Hotel, with the help of his business partners, the gorgeous lust demon Zodiac and the sophisticated billionaire vampire Lord Reynard, who may or may not be up to something untoward.
Throw in an AI bartender called Tom Collins who's intent on poisoning half the guests, a vicious demon called Sebastien who has a secret hold over Zodiac, a murder (or two) on the hotel's opening night, an interfering detective and a psychotic real-estate mogul called Gideon Cain who wants to see Adam exposed in all the ways, and you have the recipe for a perfect storm!
This is a MM PNR, with Adam falling for both his business partners in book one. But you just know this is going to end up MMM once the demon and the vampire sort out their differences - and who doesn't adore an enemies to lovers show-down?!
"Kyranis is the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen. While I know he took me against my will and that his reasons are selfish, I can’t help the way m"Kyranis is the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen. While I know he took me against my will and that his reasons are selfish, I can’t help the way my body reacts to his presence. There’s a raw power in him, and not just in those firm muscles and wide shoulders. His eyes burn with the conviction of someone who knows what they want and how to get it."
Taken by the Lord of the Nocturne Court is a different read for me from K.A. Merikan, in that it's not their usual MM, dark and dirty contemporary read, this one is a MM PNR/fantasy romance with less dark but still as much dirty.
What To Expect:
❥ MM PNR/fantasy romance ❥ Dual POV ❥ Kidnapping ❥ Forced proximity ❥ Elf prince/human ❥ Possessive MC ❥ Dark humour ❥ Virgin MC
"How did one person feel like all the atoms in the universe conspired to make stardust? Stardust entirely designed to make me happy. One person sho"How did one person feel like all the atoms in the universe conspired to make stardust? Stardust entirely designed to make me happy. One person shouldn’t feel this fucking good."
If you've read J.R. Gray's totally fabulous Pretty Broken series, you'll know that they write a a mighty fine MM rockstar romance, full of all the angst and all the steam. Goodbye Note is another brilliant venture into the rockstar romance world, with the same great style and writing, but with two new bands and some fresh, front man fodder.
This is Varian and Arik's love story spanning two decades, so bring your tissues because it gets tough along the way.
"His kiss swept me out to sea and drowned me, the world fading into nothingness and my body and mind going pliant."
The Captive's Curse is another "His kiss swept me out to sea and drowned me, the world fading into nothingness and my body and mind going pliant."
The Captive's Curse is another really enjoyable read in Eliot Grayson's Twilight Mages series. This is book 2 and it's Cyril and Enzo's story. Whilst it follows The Royal Curse and we do meet the MCs from that book briefly again in this one, The Captive's Curse can definitely be read as standalone.
Again, Eliot Grayson provides some great world-building, hilarious (and hot!) MCs, sinister side-characters, top of the range snark, a mad as hell ghost, laugh out loud moments and off the chart steam all at the same time! The world of the Twilight Mages is definitely one I can recommend.
"She’s the most beautiful disaster I’ve ever seen, and my whole body aches to finish the work of her destruction, but I drag myself back from the b"She’s the most beautiful disaster I’ve ever seen, and my whole body aches to finish the work of her destruction, but I drag myself back from the brink and suck in a ragged breath."
Wristlocked: A Dark College Sports Romance is the debut novel from the fabulous AK Blythe and is the first in their Broken Boys of Cirque series. I am seriously hoping for many more to come if book 1 is anything to go on!
This is Gia, Lyot and Gale's story and whilst Gia is the bright light at the centre of the trio, Lyot and Gale have an equally turbulent, passionate, dark and twisted relationship together, as well as individually with Gia.
When they finally work out that it takes the three of them to make a whole, the spice turns up a whole extra level too!
What To Expect:
♥️ Dark romance ♥️ MMF, MM and MF interactions ♥️ Found family ♥️ Bi-awakening ♥️ Circus/aerial acrobat theme ♥️ Angsty ♥️ Extreme spice ♥️ Broken boys ♥️ Changing power imbalnace ♥️ Pain play ♥️ HEA
Take care to read the author's notes as there are some dark themes, but I absolutely loved it!
"For all the storms that thundered through our lives, his more than mine, Nate Partridge was still the anchor that kept me safe and sound. He was t"For all the storms that thundered through our lives, his more than mine, Nate Partridge was still the anchor that kept me safe and sound. He was the monolith I had fallen in love with and who somehow, miraculously, loved me back."
Coaching Prince Charming is the seventh and final novel in Hayden Hall's Arctic Titans of Northwood U series. It can be read on its own, but reading the entire series in the order of release helps with the overarching team dynamic and characters. This is Carter and Nate's story.
What to Expect:
❥MM sports romance ❥Age gap (19 years) ❥Size difference ❥Coach/player ❥Dad's friend and ex-teammate ❥Forbidden ❥Steamy times ❥HEA
Short and sweet. Not my fave instalment but loved the series overall.
"I’d never considered arson before I found myself living in a motorhome with Harper James. Right now, sending the whole thing up in flames so I can"I’d never considered arson before I found myself living in a motorhome with Harper James. Right now, sending the whole thing up in flames so I can return to my quiet hotel room sounds like a really good idea."
Pole Position by new-to-me author Rebecca J. Caffery was a fun, rivals-to-lovers, MM romance read, set around the sport of F1 motor racing.
Our MCs are Kian Walker and Harper James, rivals on the track although they race for the same team, with Harper being the 25 year old 'rookie' and Kian the 34 year old 'veteran' world champion and golden boy of the sport.
Whilst there were a few angsty moments and themes, this was essentially a light-hearted read and who doesn't love it when the player realises he's fallen hard?!
What To Expect:
❣️MM romance ❣️F1 racing ❣️rivals to lovers ❣️opposites attract ❣️age gap ❣️found family ❣️steamy moments ❣️HEA
"The trouble is, I have a thing for each and every one of his red flags. I want them. Have to have them. Want them all. Want to collect them and st"The trouble is, I have a thing for each and every one of his red flags. I want them. Have to have them. Want them all. Want to collect them and stitch them all into one giant red flag. Then I want to cut a neat slit in the middle of that big ole red flag and drape it over my head so I can wear it as a kaftan."
Work: Strictly Professional is the second book in Jesse H. Reign's new Bad Decisions series, which are all linked standalone reads. So whilst you can totally enjoy this as a standalone because the books are showcasing very different relationships, you'll probably get more out of the books if you read them in order, as some of the previous characters make cameo appearances. This is Wyn and Derek's story.
"Gael had always been accused of being too reckless and daring. Maybe he’d forgotten that in these past months, but it was all coming back to him n"Gael had always been accused of being too reckless and daring. Maybe he’d forgotten that in these past months, but it was all coming back to him now when a thread of anticipation swept through him. What was the worst that could happen? He accepted the invitation."
Whilst Devil in the Details can be read and enjoyed as a standalone, I do highly recommend that you immediately download and devour Between the Devil and the Sea first, as Devil in the Details is a companion book of sorts with that one, featuring the ex-work partner of our MC, Gael Thiago.
Devil in the Details is an absolute rollercoaster of twisted delights, set in a complex, rich and exotic sci-fi world that Chani Lynn Feener has seamlessly and effortlessly created for our reading pleasure!
Gael is a Detective and a Sampson (a race who are well known for their free thinking around sexuality and sex in general), and is taking some time out from his IPF police work at the exclusive Moonward Manor, a club that caters to the dark and twisted.
Whilst Gael is there searching for answers about his ex-partner, Detective Shadow Yor, he meets the delicious Kai Laurier and they explore some of his darker k*nks together. When Gael receives an invitation from the mysterious Owner to a Murder Mystery weekend event, he decides to attend. Except the event turns out to be anything but harmless fun.....
Do check out the author's warnings as there are some dark themes, but you will absolutely inhale this if you love:
"My heart inexplicably starts to pound. I've never been this physically near her before with no room to run. She's always kept me at an icy distanc"My heart inexplicably starts to pound. I've never been this physically near her before with no room to run. She's always kept me at an icy distance. Now we're cramped in this tiny closet and I’m suddenly aware of her in a completely different way."
#Micdrop is a standalone, enemies to lovers (my kryptonite), rockstar/popstar romance, with our MCs from different sides of the tracks - Rain Sinclair, troubled rockstar's daughter, lost in memories of the past and desperate to come out of her dad's shadow and Billie St. James, ex-boyband member, now solo artist, looking for a fresh start and a new spark.
When these two get put together to record a collaboration piece, the sparks well and truly fly!
I absolutely loved it, such a change of pace from my usual reads and so engagingly written too.
Julia (bookish.jka)
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