Caught Up by Navessa Allen

3.5 Stars

I wanted this woman, and I was a man who always got what he wanted.

Nico “Junior” Trocci knows Lauren Marchetti is off limits. She is sweetness and laughter, whereas Junior exists in a world of violence and depravity. Men like him don’t get to have women like her. It’s why he pushed her away back in high school and kept his distance ever since.

But when Junior looks Lauren up online, he discovers the shy, bookish girl he remembers is gone. In her place is a strikingly beautiful woman whose social media is filled with scantily clad pictures of herself and a connection to a nearby play club. Junior’s innocent curiosity quickly turns into a dark obsession. Watching Lauren from a distance isn’t enough; he needs to make her his.

He’s ruthless; a walking red flag. Good thing red is my favorite color.

Lauren is intrigued by the mystery man who keeps showing up at her club, who tempts her white-hot desires. But as their flirty online messages stir up a deeper form of connection, Lauren worries she’s developing real feelings for this brooding stranger. As their combined desire ratchets up to a breaking point, who will seduce who?

I took a minute to get into the story. Once I was into it I loved it. Listening to the book vs reading the book made it easier to fall into it. It was a darker book than book 1 which is why the struggle happened. I loved Nico and Lauren together. There were a lot more darker moments with them then book one characters. There were just as many new spicy scenes with some interesting locations. Definitely read the trigger warnings to make sure you are comfortable with this book.

Book 2 Into the Darkness

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Turns of Fate by Anne Bishop

 

5 Stars

Words have power. Intentions matter.

Most people come to Destiny Park for entertainment. They come to have their cards read to tell them a bit about their future. They come to walk through a beautiful park and to eat at the hotel’s restaurant. They come in the hope of catching a glimpse of the Arcana, the paranormal beings who rule the Isle of Wyrd.

But some people come to make a bargain with the Arcana—to change their fate. And some people come for dark purposes.

When Detective Beth Fahey is sent to Destiny Park to inquire about a “ghost gun,” she will begin a strange journey on which she must learn to navigate the Arcana’s unforgiving laws and dangerous attractions. Her search will draw her into seemingly impossible cases and the secrets of her own past as tensions rise between the Arcana and their human neighbors across the river.

For the Isle of Wyrd is a place where the dead ride trains to their final destinations, predators literally become prey, and seekers’ true natures are revealed in the ripples of destiny unknowingly stirred in their wakes.

Who will live? Who will die? And who will be lost in between?

I loved this book so much. It was different and very much a fantasy book. I loved the world building and the character development. I feel like I understand the characters and can’t wait to see what happens with them in future books. Listening to the audio was also nice. Narrator did an excellent job bringing the story to life.

Book 1 Isle of Wyrd

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Fall with Me by Jennifer L Armentrout

3 Stars

Eleven months ago, bartender and weird-shirt-wearing extraordinaire

Roxy and Officer Reece Anders had a one night stand. Well, kind of.

She's been in love with him since she was fifteen, and he wishes that

night they shared never happened. She's sworn him off forever, but the

past and future collide, forcing her to rely on the one man who broke

her heart not once, but twice.

Her best friend since birth has been in a long-term care facility

since he became a victim of a hate crime years ago, and the person who

put him in there is out of prison and wanting to make amends with him

and Roxy. She's not sure she has room for forgiveness in her and when

she begins to receive frightening messages and is on the receiving end

of escalating violence, she thinks she knows who is to blame. The man

who already destroyed one life already.

But Reece isn't convinced. The threats are too personal, and even if

Roxy doesn't believe him, he's not willing to let anyone hurt her.

Including himself. He's already messed up more than once when it comes

to Roxy and he's not going to let history repeat itself.

It is a part of a series and it felt like you were dropped in the middle of the story so you do need to read the other books. I also struggled with Roxy being very bitchy even though she’s in danger. She was too stupid to live so many times. I also felt Reece let miscommunications go on too long between them which put her in more danger. Overall, it was an ok read.

Book 5 Wait for You

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Bookish Girl’s Guide to Mating with a Werewolf by Lola Glass

4 Stars

I ran into a werewolf at a grocery store. The moment our eyes met, he decided I was his mate.

Now he's trapped in his furry form, threatening every other guy who so much as looks in my direction.

His friends try to convince me that I need to stay in his house until he goes human again, but I refuse.

So he shifts back.

And the giant of a man—er, wolfman—basically carries me away himself.

This werewolf is hunting me, and honestly?

I'm a very willing victim.

I laughed so hard at the beginning of the book. She’s looking for a shifter, finds one, and then is shocked…just shocked when he wanted her. It was a short and spicy story. Very easy to read and I will be continuing the rest of the series. It did take a while to realize that shifters aren’t out and so her looking was weird and more amusing to me.

Book 1 Mate Hunt

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A Partridge and a Pregnancy by Devney Perry

3 Stars

There are a lot of places I’d rather spend Christmas Eve morning than on a cold, snowy sidewalk outside someone else’s home. I’d kill to be sitting beside a fireplace, drinking cocoa, wearing flannel pajamas, and reading a book.

Instead, I’m here, standing in front of my one-night stand’s house, working up the courage to ring the doorbell and tell him I’m pregnant.

I hate that term—one-night stand. It sounds so cheap and sleazy. Tobias Holiday is neither of those things. He’s handsome and caring. Witty and charismatic. And once, a long time ago, he was mine.

Our one-night reunion was only supposed to be a hookup. A fling with an old lover. A parting farewell before I moved to London and put my feelings for him an ocean away. How exactly am I supposed to explain that to Tobias that I’m having a baby? His baby? Maybe I could sing it. He always loved the silly songs I made up in the shower.

Three French hens, two turtle doves.

And a partridge and a pregnancy.

I wanted to love this like I did the first two but I hated Eva so much. She never gets better even when they finally got together. She was selfish throughout the book. She didn’t want to be stuck in one location. Ok no problem. Instead of having that talk with Tobias she decided they wouldn’t work and broke up with him. Then when they come together is mad that he dated others after they broke up. The fight over custody was another issue for me. Ma’am you have no support in London. Who do you think is watching the kid while you work. Tobias has his entire family but yeah you are the better choice. I wanted more for Tobias.

Book 3 Holiday Brothers

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Promo: Carrie Ann Ryan

 

Kiss Me Forever

Book 10 in the Montgomery Ink Legacy Series

Kiss Me Forever is an age gap, workplace, surprise single dad contemporary romance featuring Brooklyn and Reece. Each book can be read as a complete standalone. An HEA is guaranteed!

Falling for your enemy is bad. Falling for the man you only call your enemy is worse.

Reece Fox is a decade older than me but I’m his boss. And if the man growls at me one more time, he’s going to learn the true meaning of the Montgomery temper. Yet I can’t stop thinking of him.

After losing my fiancé, I’ve sworn off men, but when Reece does the one thing I never thought he’d do—ask for help—I can’t walk away.

Brooklyn Montgomery is too young for me. She’s not only my boss, but my friend’s family. The definition of forbidden. We both know this. But I can’t keep my hands off of her. When we finally give into the heat between us, there’s no going back.

Only when a little girl shows up at our work, she changes our world completely with one word: Dad.

Kiss Me Forever is an age gap, workplace, surprise single dad contemporary romance featuring Brooklyn and Reece. Each book can be read as a complete standalone. An HEA is guaranteed!

Buy Now: Amazon or Direct

Alpha of Grave Hills by Kathryn Moon

5 Stars

She's an omega in hiding.

Broken hearted and rejected by her beta, Brigid Grant has spent the last five years in self-imposed exile. When her former lover comes sniffing at her door, demanding she take her place back in his bed or lose her sanctuary, Brigid knows it would break more than her heart to agree.

There's only one person powerful enough to keep her out of another man's reach.

A new alpha has risen.

With the death of his father, it’s time for Torion to step into his rightful place, as Alpha of Grave Hills. Young, determined to do better for his home and his people, Torion needs to focus on the work ahead of him. What he should not do, is anger a respected beta by stealing away his omega.

It would be an even bigger mistake to fall in love with her, when his heart is the last thing she wants.

Gave this the Best book of the year for 2025. I loved Torion and Brigid. They had so much chemistry and the give and take between them was awesome. I don’t know how else to describe their relationship other than it was comfortable. It felt like they had been together for years and not just coming together. There were some miscommunications between them that is resolved pretty quickly. I love what happens to Brigid’s former mate. He definitely gets what he deserves.

Book 2 Dragonkin

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