Married to Number 22 by Elise Faber

3 Stars

I signed the contract. I just didn’t expect her to show up ten years later, ready to cash it in. Recently traded to the Grizzlies, I’m struggling to find my place on the team. I’ve changed coasts, moved away from my best friend, from the Breakers who became family, and…I’m alone. And it’s my birthday. A fact that everyone around me seems to have forgotten. Until a knock at the door proves differently. I was in love with Luna when I was a teenager, and now she’s on my doorstep, vivacious and beautiful and…holding a piece of paper I barely remember. One that says we’ll get married

This was more like 3.5 Stars. I really enjoyed reading this book. I liked the characters but wanted more growth with them. I also really wanted to have the stuff with her family fleshed out a bit more.

Book 1 Grizzlies Hockey

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Death is Easy by Letty Frame

4 Stars

“It’s nothing against you,” my fated mate said. “But you’re not good enough.”

On the night that should have been the start of my mated life, I was rejected. Betrayed. Banished.

Cast aside not because I’d done anything wrong—but because I wasn’t enough for him. For my pack. For anyone.

Six years later, I’ve built a quiet life in the shadows of the city. No family. No wolf. No pack.

But fate doesn’t let broken things stay hidden.

Atticus Phoenix. Alpha lion. Ruthless billionaire. The most powerful shifter in the country.

He declares I’m his.

And his inner circle of possessive, unyielding men agree.

They offer me safety. Vengeance. A future I never believed I could have.

But with hunters closing in, my sister flaunting the mate who destroyed me, and a heart that refuses to trust again… nothing comes easy.

Because no matter what they see in me—

I’m still not good enough.

Pretty solid start to a new series. Rejected mates is one of my favorite tropes and this one hit all the notes nicely. FMC was both strong and weak. She had a lot of trauma to work through. I liked the men she ends up with as they help elevate her. However, adding new mates was a bit weird. Overall, it was good enough to read the next book.

Book 1 Second Chances

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Omega Swipe Right by Alexis B Osbourne

3 Stars

Gwen

Gwen doesn’t date Alphas.

They’re rude, entitled jerks, and she doesn’t want to deal with it. She just wants a nice, sweet boyfriend who doesn’t like her omega dynamic more than her. That’s why she exclusively dates betas, but when her best friend snags her datapad and matches her with a new super-cute guy on Swiper Gwen doesn’t know that she’s in for a shock.

Because Piotr is smart, cute, and caring . . . but he’s an Alpha.

Piotr

Dr. Piotr Wyse is married to his job and the aliens just can’t seem to quit invading New York.

He doesn’t have time to date even though he’d like to have someone special in his life and maybe even start a family one day. Then his coworker makes a Swiper account for him and sets him up on a date. Gwen is sweet, charming, and gorgeous.

The problem? She keeps running away from him . . . and Piotr is getting desperate to chase her.

This book was ok. There was no world building at all so everything needs more explanation. It’s the same with characters. Things are thrown in as needed but left so many questions. The ending felt rushed.

Book .5 Omegas of OAN

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The Fake Out by Stephanie Archer

4 Stars

The best way to get back at my horrible ex? Fake date Rory Miller--my ex's rival, the top scorer in pro hockey, and the arrogant, flirtatious hockey player I tutored in high school.

Faking it is fun and addictive, though, and beneath the bad boy swagger, Rory’s sweet, funny, and protective.

He teaches me to skate and spends way too much money on me.

He sleeps in my bed and convinces me to break my just-one-time hookup rule.

He kisses me like it’s real.

And now I wonder if Rory was ever faking it to begin with.

I really enjoyed this hockey romance. I liked the development between Hazel and Rory. Rory was just amazing throughout the books. There was some repetitiveness in the book but it wasn’t too bad. It was a sweet story with minimum conflict.

Book 2 Vancouver Storm

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He Falls First by Jill Shalvis

4 Stars

No one is going to convince her to fall in love again...

Ryder Colburn has his hands full running the family business and caring for the ailing father who’s a virtual stranger from the cold, heavy-handed man he used to be. He’s got zero free time for hobbies or women. Or so he thinks until one walks into his life… and the path of an oncoming car.

Ryder doesn’t mind playing the hero for the skittish, scarred chef Penny. Maybe it’s the secrets in her eyes or the scar on her chin. Whatever the reason, he’s compelled to get closer.

Penny’s learned her lesson and now she’s paying the price. That’s why she’s sharing a dilapidated house in a tiny California town with her feisty grandmother and tween brother living off the leftovers from her catering job. It’s a far cry from her dream life. But who needs dreams… or love… or sex when there’s amateur plumbing projects to tackle and breakfast casseroles to bake?

One thing’s for sure, she’s never falling in love again. Not even with the sexy, snarky contractor who keeps testing the walls she’s built.

I loved this audiobook. The narrators did a good job bringing the characters to life. I liked the characters and the drama the Penny and Ryder are working through. It was interesting to read the prolog and then see how the father is after a stroke. There are still some plot points that need to be fleshed out but this is book one in the series so they might be resolved in future books.

Book 1 Colburn Brothers

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Horde King of Shadow by Zoey Draven

4 Stars

The fearsome creature came from across Drukkar’s Sea…and there was a rider on its back.

As a scholar in Dothik’s library, Klara has spent her life trying to understand the strange dreams that have plagued her since she was a child—visions of dragons and a world with no written record. Rejected by her royal bloodline after her mother’s death, Klara hides her chilling secret, knowing her rare magic could get her killed.

But when a dragon suddenly appears in Dothik, those dreams become a monstrous reality.

Sarkin Dirak’zar, king of the Sarrothian horde, cares only about finding heartstones—the dwindling power source for their revered dragons. Ice-cold and merciless, the last thing Sarkin wants is a wife, especially a weak and unwanted princess who likely won’t last one night on dragonback. Yet the key to acquiring heartstones lies in Klara’s visions, and so he gives her a cruel choice: marry him to save her people…or let Dothik burn.

Her first duty as queen? Claim a dragon of her own. What’s even more alarming is that unexpected desire begins to simmer with her beguiling but guarded husband...even though his barbed cage of a heart is only meant to keep her away.

You should have read the other books in the original series before reading this one. There are things you will not understand if you haven’t read them. Otherwise it will feel like you are dumped in the middle of a story. Other than this the story flowed nicely and was engaging. The build up between MMC and FMC was amazing to read and I liked how it all played out.

Book 1 Hordes of the Elthika

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Dealbreaker by Elise Faber and Kat Mizera

3 Stars

She’s the biggest movie star in the world.

And she’s in danger.

My specialty is security for the rich and famous, so when legendary actress Willow St. Claire asks for my help protecting her, I can’t say no.

The only problem is that I’m in danger too.

Of losing my heart.

She’s smart and sweet, beautiful and kind, and despite my determination to never fall in love again I know I’m going to make her mine.

But when her past catches up with her, the future I’ve begun to plan is suddenly at risk.

I might lose her.

And everything I never knew I wanted.

Of all the books I this series, this was my least favorite. I liked the couple, but it felt too insta love considering what Willow went through. I also felt like Dash's medical stuff went to the wayside once Willow entered the picture.

Overall, it was a fine read I just had some issues that are all me. the writing was good seeing Willow come into her own was awesome.

Book 3 Gamebreakers

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