Assistant to the Villian by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

4 Stars

Evie Sage is looking for a new job, but she wasn’t planning on working for the villain. He pays well and he’s not making moves on her so she can live with some severed heads and screaming from the captives. Now she just needs to keep from drooling over her boss.

This would have been a 5-star read but for the fact that it ends on a cliff with no clue when the next book will be out, and it used modern idioms that didn’t fit the world. There was a scene where Evie was described as a wrecking ball, but this world is described as magical with horse drawn carriages. I would highly doubt they would have a wrecking ball available.

I really enjoyed this one and can’t wait for book 2. The slow burn between Evie and the Villian is amazing. Nothing beyond looks really happens in this book which was fine. Getting to know all the characters and seeing the give and take was awesome. The sucky thing is the bad guy. No spoilers but once you read it you will see why it sucks and it’s not because it’s poorly written.  

Book 1

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Shattered Truth by H Hunting

 

4 Stars

Nearly running into Winter, BJ found his Cinderella. Instead of a shoe she left her hockey skate. Winter is just trying to earn enough funds for school and hockey gear when she is nearly run off the road she didn’t realize her life was about to change.

Loved this book. It was light with bits of drama and seriousness. The drama wasn’t over the top and it just made me like the book even more. I loved the give and take between Winter and BJ. They balance each other out. I also liked seeing all the characters from Pucked series. It is not necessary to read that series to read this one. This is one of my favorite books by H. Hunting. Definitely give it a read.

Book 3 Lies, Hearts, and Truths

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Craving His Blood by Zoey Draven

3 Stars

Millie was on Krynn for her dad. He’s always wanted to come home, but he’s died before he could. She promised he would come home, and this forces her to work at a dyaan to earn the funds. While working there she meets the ruler of Erzos, Kythel. They are drawn together but can’t be together. When she’s most in need will he be there for her?

The first book was so good that I went in hoping this one would be awesome. I ended up being let down. I struggled with falling into this one and kept putting it down to do other things. It took about 50% of the book for me to stop doing that and finally blow through the book. I love how it ended and hope there are more in this world because one thing Zoey Draven does really well is world building.

Book 2 Brides of Kylorr

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Misfit by Elle Kennedy

3 Stars

RJ Shaw was not expecting his mother to remarry a millionaire and move him to a new school his senior year but that’s what’s happened. He doesn’t fit in with his classmates and doesn’t want to. He just wants to make it through to when he can go off to college. He makes some friends including his stepbrother but will their differences tear them apart?

This might be a low rating because I wasn’t interested in a YA angsty book. The writing was there, and the story was like all other YA angst. Boys’ mom marries wealthy and now he must learn to fit in with the rich crowd and a new school. It just didn’t hit well with me. Elle Kennedy does do a good job with building the world and characters so if you want teen angst to give this one a shot.

Book 1 Misfit

Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Misfit-Prep-Elle-Kennedy-ebook/dp/B0BCB791X5/

Misfit, Elle Kennedy, 3 Stars, YA, Prep, Class Disparities

Vested Interest by Bethany Jadin

3 Stars

Emma is being pursued by a tech company. She thinks it’s just for her skills on the computer but they want it all. Will she give into to the carnal thoughts she’s having for them?

Slow burn to a why choose always gets me. Classic nerd girl who doesn’t think she’s good enough for anyone and the guys are already all in with her even before she knows they are interested. It is always interesting to see how this plays out. It is a serial and you will need to read the rest to get to the HEA which also leads to so much being left unanswered. I enjoyed the writing enough I will be checking out the next one but there better be answers.

Book 1 The Code

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Random Encounter by Allyson Lyndt

3 Stars

Adrienne meets Dustin and Phillips when they volunteer to be the nude models for her art class. She is intrigued by them and wants them but can’t be in a relationship right now. She’s just changed jobs and on her first day she finds out these men she’s so intrigued by are her new boss and coworker. They are in a relationship but open for more but nothing too series. With everything going on with her is she willing to take what she can get or will she demand it all.

The guys needed to have their asses handed to them way more than they do. They were dicks and the Adrienne deserved better. I loved her and she’s been screwed before which makes me want her to have better guys. I think my biggest issue was the guys had their relationship and because of them not being open and honest it screwed with their relationship with her and put her life in danger. The guys sort of make it up to her but more begging would not have been a disappointment. Enjoyed the author’s writing and world building so I will read the next one in the series.

Book 1 Three Player Tag Team

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Pucking Wrong Number by CR Jane

1 Star

Monroe has been on her own forever. A runaway from foster home and finally an adult just trying to make it in the world when one night she gets a random text. She tells the texter they have the wrong number, but they don’t believe her snarky response. What she doesn’t realize is that she texted Lincoln Daniels NHL golden boy who is intrigued by her snark. He is determined to have her no matter what. Will he win her over?

WHAT THE HELL did I just read? From the description of the book, it sounds like a standard hockey romance. Boy meets girl by text the wrong number and he goes after her. Boy is wealthy and plays pro hockey and girl is form foster/street kid trying to make her way in the world with nothing. Sounds good. MAJOR SPOILERS COMING.

That is until about ¾ of the way through and she finds out he is literally stalking her and isolating her, so she only has him. He’s got her phone and apartment bugged. Her landlord evicts her, so she has no where to live because her bosses fired her because he PAID them all off to do this to her. When she is rightfully angry and tries to throw him out of her life, he KIDNAPS her and CHAINS her to his bed. He won’t let her go because she is HIS.

I read dark romances all the time and don’t mind dub con if it is done correctly. This was not done correctly. She literally caves to his whims almost immediately and is all in because she just loves him sooooooo much. I can’t get behind a book that is classic abusive relationship. This one is a hard pass, and the author ends up on my no thank you list.

Book 1 Pucking Wrong

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Our Secret Song by Emily C Childs

3 Stars

Alexis was in Vegas to get married and attend school. Only one of those is happening as her fiancé ran off with her stepsister. Now she’s in a different state with no where to live. Her brother comes to the rescue and sends his best friend to help her out. Bridger is dealing with his own issues but will do anything for Alexis. Will his problems ruin their budding relationship?

This is very much a blush romance and was a nice pallet cleanse. Alexis is screwed over by her fiancé and needs a helping hand. She wasn’t expecting it to come from her frenemy. I love the journey for her and Bridger to get to that HEA. There were a couple of things that were too pat. Bridger has his name dragged through the mud by an ex. She has her tell all that lays some really heinous charges at his feet. It’s like a week of this being out and then bam she recants and all is well. He deserved more with everything he went through. I very much like seeing those who do wrong make it right and the fiancé and ex do not make it right with either Alexis or Bridger. I guess living their best life is supposed to be good enough.

Book 1 For Love and Rock

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Omega Fallen by Evelyn Flood

3 Stars

It’s been five years since the collapse of Omega Creed. Things are better but not perfect for everyone. Cade, Axel, Hudson and Nate have everything but an omega but they are waiting for the perfect match. When they each individually run into Gabrielle, an omega in desperate need of help, they all want her and want to help her. However, she’s damaged and isn’t sure she wants to be anyone’s omega. Will they find away to help her?

This one take place years after the last book and shows what the omegas are currently dealing with since they’ve been freed. I really enjoyed seeing what’s happening and it isn’t all sunshine and daisies. With the pack, I liked seeing them struggles the pack went thought to get their omega to trust them. I loved watching her come into her own. It was a good addition to the series.

Book 3 Omega War

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Cracked Foundation by Bex Dawn

3 Stars

Shiloh is trying to get past her divorce, but she keeps being stood up on her dates. A bartender takes pity on her and offers her a new job and a new start. She is hesitant but she takes the leap only to find out her new boss is HOT but also grumpy. There is an instant attraction but will they fall?

This was a super short and smutty book. Logan was all in with Shiloh including all of her fantasies. It’s more sex than plot but worth checking out. It would be interesting to see more with these two and have more stories with the brothers.

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The Royal by Susan Stoker

3 Stars

Callum is asked to check out a stalker issue his cousin’s girlfriend is dealing with. When he shows up he figures out there is no stalker but he does fall for the stepsister Juniper. He sees how she’s treated and wants to help her even if she doesn’t want to be with him. He’s too scarred to be with her anyways. Can she finally blossom into the woman she’s meant to be and will she choose him?

I have a feeling this series is not going to be my favorite. Insta love and just the perfect life once the prince saves Juniper from her evil stepmom and sister. Callum is a literal prince. You don’t really see them getting to know one another just kind of meet and attraction to lets live together. Callum is all about taking care of her from the get go. I also felt like things weren’t really resolved. Like what ended up happening to the stepmom and sister. Where is the justice for Juniper for what she went through because of them. It was just ok.

Book 2 Game of Chance

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Blood Moon by Jillian Graves

3 Stars

Hazel loves working her bar and seeing her supernatural regulars. She occasionally needs to blow off steams, but anonymous strangers work for that until she meets Vlad. She thinks he’s an excellent lay but is definitely running away when she finds out he’s the owner of the night club that just opened a crossed from her bar that is trying to close her down. Will they find their HEA?

This was a super spicy short story. I wanted more world building and character development but for a short story it was really good. Loved the main characters story and seeing them get their HEA. Will definitely check out other books by this author.

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Sanctuary Books by SM Oliver

2 Stars

Avery is on her way to the Olympics when everything changes. The world is dealing with something that is changing everyone. She and her loved ones need to get to their sanctuary and hunker down. They will have to deal with strife and change with little to help. Will they be able to make it in this post world?

I am combining all three of these books into one review as there is no good way to write the review for each book since it is like one big, long book just with breaks. In addition to this notice, I also want to say I am not a huge fan of post-apocalyptic books. My issues with the book weren’t because of this trope but because there were other issues with the book. The big one being spelling errors and the misuse of words. In one instant ran was used when run should have been. When I catch errors like this there are problems because I don’t usually catch them. Each book ends on a cliffhanger and only 3 are out but the story isn’t completed. Nothing really happened past book 1. The same things happen in book 2 and 3 that happened in 1. More families show up and more kids are rescued but that is about it. Nothing is resolved and there isn’t any real progress in the story. I also want to know how they never seem to run out of gas even though months and months have gone by. Anyways I would pass on the books.

Seeking Asylum

Refuge Found

Beyond Haven 

Book 1-3 Beyond Haven

Myths and Monsters by Beatrix Hollow

2 Stars

My plan was to travel the country writing about the things I see and to get away from my strange family. Instead, my first stop in West Virginia shows you can never get away from the strange. Will I survive what’s coming for me?

This book had a good idea but needs work. There was no world building or character development. This led to the book basically being all about sex and nothing else. Nothing wrong with that but I like to have some story with my sex and this was not the case.

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Iced Up Love by Elizabeth Bardot

2 Stars

My writing career is up in smoke, and I need to find something else to do. My best friend is there to help me out. She needs me to help her launch a blog by putting the new team in a good light. Now I just need to keep my hands off some hot men.

I had several issues with this book. The biggest being FMC starts a relationship with all of these guys without TALKING to any of them about her plans. This led to huge problems and it made me feel skeevy that she was basically cheating on them with others. The others were also friends/co-workers so lets create drama in their professional and private life. I also hated that FMC ex was able to get away with revenge porn without any consequences. FMC and the guys had their private life released and had fallout but the ex no consequences. Overall, it was just meh.

Book 1 Sports Sensual

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No More Black Magic by A.L. Kessler

 

3 Stars

Abigail works for the Paranormal Investigation Bureau Agent. She’s seen a lot in her time with them but she’s about to take a case that hits too close to home. She’s looking for people that are linked with the murder of her parents. This might be over her head. Will she make it out alive?

This one started and ended nicely but the middle needed work. I still have so many questions about the Abigail and the world they live in. The book got bogged down in the middle with too much going on that wasn’t helping the story. This led to a bit of skimming. The ending was interesting, and I am curious to see where the author is taking the characters and the world itself. I will be giving her one more chance.

Book 1 Here Witchy Witchy

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