Knot Without You by Lucy Scott Bryon

2.5 Stars

𝗜’𝗹𝗹 𝗱𝗼 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲, 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗚𝗶𝗿𝗹𝘀.

The instant I saw King I knew he was my scent-matched Alpha, and boy did he drive that point home. The second time I met him was when my bestie, who also happens to be his daughter, introduced us. Yep, that was a plot twist I never saw coming.

My Scorned Girls have always said ‘slots before knots’ but in one night the friendship we share is changed forever by my need for King. Throw in the fact one of his enemies knows about me, it’s little wonder I stop sharing secrets with the girls. When those threats become physical I start lying through my teeth.

I don’t even tell them about Maverick who scents as good as he fights, or the doctor I accidentally claim. Of course those Alphas have deadly secrets of their own.

I know we’re living a dangerous life but the heart wants what the heart wants - and I want to call those Alphas mine. No matter the distance we try to maintain our paths keep crossing and it doesn’t take long to see that nothing is going to stop us packing - not even their Alpha rivalry.

What threatens our future isn’t telling the Scorned Girls, it’s the very reason we’ve had to keep each other a secret.

In the darkness that follows all I can do is hope they didn’t lie when they said we’d be together…because I’m not sure I want to survive, not without them.

She was never a priority for the rest of the pack. It made me so mad that all the guys put Tristan last. It was all little rejections in the pack. Everything was overly complicated between pack members. Not to mention how discombobulated things were because they tried to include things from other books. It’s a rare bad book from this author.

Book 3 Scornedverse

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Craving the Obsession by Ava Selwyn

2.5 Stars

“I’m busy. Solve your matters on your own.”

Every time James Sinclair said those words, the light in Mia’s eyes dimmed a little more.

For five years she was his wife. Sweet. Obedient. Devoted. He believed she wanted his money and status. That was why she married him at nineteen. Why she would never leave.

Until one day, a call came…

“Miss Mia Bennett, your parents died in a car crash. Please come to collect their bodies.”

Shattered, she reached out to her billionaire husband. His only reply was, “I’m busy. Solve your matters on your own.”

“Okay,” she whispered. That night, she handed him divorce papers and walked out of his life, leaving all his wealth behind.

She never wanted money. She wanted love. He gave her nothing—so she took nothing.

James thought she wouldn’t survive without him. That she would crawl back. Instead, she vanished.

And when he found her again… she was living in luxuries far beyond his reach.

For some reason, Alexander Graves, one of the most powerful, cunning, and possessive billionaires in the country, was madly devoted to his ex-wife.

Now James is unraveling. Jealousy burns him alive.

But didn’t he already get exactly what he wanted?

This ends on a cliffhanger and waiting for the next part irritates me. It also seemed like it could have been one book vs the multiple it looks like it will be. There was a lot of repeated scenes that bogged the story down. It was an interesting concept and if you like some of the Asian shorts this probably will work for you. I will pick up the rest of the books cause I need to know how it ends but I am not happy about having to read two more books for the full story.

Book 4 Possessive Billionaires, Precious Sweethearts

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Knocked Up by my Fated Alpha by Jennifer Eve

2.5 Stars

Getting cheated on the night before my wedding?

Fine. I just slept with a ridiculously hot stranger.

Too bad he turned out to be my ex-fiancé’s uncle...And my new boss.

After losing my parents and my wolf, being forced into a political marriage was the last straw.

So, I ran.

Finding a job to make ends meet should be easy enough, right?

Unless my boss is Damien Blackwell—

Sharp, ruthless, my one-night stand and my ex’s uncle.

I’m his new assistant—faking smiles while hiding the way my body betrays me every time he’s near.

We’re supposed to keep things strictly professional.

Until he corners me behind closed doors, and every line between us starts to blur.

Then—his long-lost mate returns, with no memory of their breakup.

Perfect timing.

Except I’m already pregnant.

With his pup.

The writing in this book was so bad. At one point I swear Damien kills another character but than later talks about banishing him. I went back and reread to make sure I wasn’t confusing characters. There were also grammatical issues and it read like a high schooler wrote it. Besides the writing issues I also didn’t like how Damien treated Raven and she just takes it. I struggled to finish the book.

Book 1 Knocked up & Claimed

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Fractured Constellations by Rosa Lee

 

2.5 Stars

I wasn't supposed to fall for my stepbrothers.

When my mother married Richard Banks, I never expected cold shoulders and cruelty from his triplet sons.

Chase, calculating and ruthless.

Blade, clinical and unforgiving.

Thorn, whose smile hides venom.

Three identical faces with emerald eyes that watched me with contempt, three voices that cut deeper than any chemo ever could.

They made it their mission to break me, not knowing I was already breaking from the inside out.

They weren't supposed to find out about the cancer that's been stealing pieces of me since I was ten.

But they did—when they found me on the cancer ward. I expected pity. Instead, I got possession.

Now I live in a beautiful cage of their devotion. Their hands hold my hair when treatments make me sick. Their bodies warm mine when I can't stop shaking.

As the cancer fights to claim me and their father schemes to control us all, the four of us are breaking every rule. The hatred that bound us has transformed into something far more dangerous—a love so fierce it burns everything in its path.

They've claimed every broken piece of me and refuse to let death take what's theirs.

But I'm not sure if I'm fighting to live for them... or fighting to protect them from the pain of watching me die.

Three forbidden stepbrothers. One girl with a ticking clock. When stars collide, entire galaxies burn.

The idea was here for this book but it just didn’t work for me. It went from the guys bullying her for being there to all in and in love with her. It was like a light switch was flipped for the guys. There was no groveling at all with how they treated her once they wanted her. I was also confused by the parents.

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Savage Promises by Deborah Garland

2.5 Stars

She’s the wrong bride, but he’ll make her the perfect wife.

She was my secret obsession.

My best friend’s younger sister.

But with our families at each other’s throats,

I turned my back on the only woman I ever cared about.

And I regretted the loss of her fiery spirit

every day of my life.

I learned to live with the pain and emptiness,

vowing never to fall in love or marry another.

But Lennox didn’t disappear.

She was right there.

Gorgeous. Successful. Ice cold.

So close. But out of my reach.

Years later our world is very different.

With so many enemies, Irish blood must stay pure.

Putting chains on my wrists,

to marry my worst enemy’s daughter.

But not Lennox.

Her sister.

Now Lennox hates me all over again.

But underneath, I see profound sadness.

The hidden desire for me that she never let go of.

And I’ll drag hell to my doorstep to marry the woman I want.

Lennox was always mine.

I will not let her slip through my fingers again.

Considering I am not a fan of mafia books in general this one wasn’t bad. I didn’t like it and won’t read another in the series. What I loved was the pining between them. They very much wanted to be together but because of the nature of the families they couldn’t. She had to help him with planning a wedding to her sister. You could see how much this hurt her and there was a lot of emotions there. That was about all I liked. The entire family knew who he wanted to be with instead tried to marry him off to the minor sister. That is a whole other issue. Add in the cheating. Yes it was between the main characters but he was engaged when they got together and that is a hard pass to me.

Book 2 Quinlan Empire

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Eat Me by Amber Vale

2.5 Stars

She fell into Wonderland expecting madness—

Not monsters who'd burn kingdoms just to make her moan.

 

When Alice enters a sensual, twisted version of Wonderland, she doesn't find tea parties— she finds monsters.

 

A shapeshifting Cheshire seduces her with purring growls and a tongue that brings out her desire— whether she wants it to or not.

 

A Jabberwocky watches her pleasure through magical mirrors, slowly burning for her as he waits his turn.

 

And from far away, a Bandersnatch seduces her with his words, unable to do anything more than wait— driven by instinct, consumed with hunger for her, and aching to fill her until she can take no more.

 

In this world, magic feeds on lust. Desire burns stronger than ever. And her monsters want a taste of her.

My review is not so nice but that is because I didn’t realize it was a play off of Alice in Wonderland. I am not a fan of Alice in Wonderland. If you love Alice in Wonderland you will probably enjoy reading this. The story was well written and I will probably try something else by this author.

Book 1 Monsters of Wonderland

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Her Pucking Stepbrother by RJ Sterling

2.5 Stars

Being shamed out of college and forced to move back home is bad enough.
Having nothing but a thin wall separating my bedroom from my stepbrother's is even worse.
But the cherry on top?
The reminder that, before my dad and his mom ever thought to make us "family"... he was my first.
And now he hates me.
Puck my life.

Book was so freaking slow. Add in the cliffhanger ending with no next book. This is a book I would skip. MMC was an ass to FMC through most of the book and he never really makes up for it. Then the ending happened and I was so mad.

Book 1 Royal Icehole

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Their Pucking Omega by Tericka Black

2.5 Stars

Omegas are weak and submissive... and definitely should not roll their eyes during meetings with potential packs.

Holly Riley was many things. Sassy, snarky, easily irritated, and curvy. None of those things align with the ideal image of a proper omega. With her Senator father breathing down her neck, Holly is running out of time to find a pack on her own terms. But no one, not even Holly, expected her to scent match with her brother's biggest rivals. And she never thought they would smoosh her cupcake.

In a perfect world, Holly would be swept away by her pack... in this world, they would have to fight for her on and off the ice.

This was an ok read. I liked parts of the book but there were too much going on. The characters weren’t developed well either. It has the potential to be an amazing story but it needs some formatting and development.

Book 1 Knotty and Ice Verse

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Wanted Girl by Lexie Winston

2.5 Stars

Things are looking up for Harlow in the Summers household. She’s working toward establishing a solid relationship with her father and his children are coming around to the fact that she will be a permanent fixture in their lives. In fact, you could say things are starting to look very good for Harlow.

Unfortunately, someone wants her as desperately as the Summers men. Wants her dead that is!

Once again, the Summers family are on the hunt for those that are determined to disrupt their lives. It’s hard to woo the woman you want when you are constantly dodging attacks. Harlow has been assigned a bodyguard and a trip overseas will hopefully get her out of the firing line. New leads are beginning to point to the person or person’s responsible.

Really tired of the insta connections and either the person is amazing or awful. There is no middle ground. With more information revealed about the guys I am starting to question the author’s development of the characters. The one brother works covert ops but doesn’t have any security on his own home? It’s all adding up to a very dragged-out story that is in desperate need of a good editor.

Book 4 Neighpalm Industries

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Wayside by A.A. Gordon

2.5 Stars

The Dowrra are human females descended from Inanna, a goddess of love, whose dormant desires erupt when they meet their destiny and mate with powerful, supernatural creatures.
Oblivious to her Dowrra heritage, curvy red-headed stunner, Gwendolyn Rhys never imagined there was a reason for her lack of passion and poor choices in boyfriends.
Then, 500-year-old Miguel Santos, vampire Prince of Wayside Coven, walks into the downtown Toronto diner where she’s serving and changes everything.
Gwen is blindsided by desire. Her heart beats so hard she can feel it pulsing in her fingertips. She’s unnaturally captivated by the tall stranger’s full mouth, rugged jaw, and sculpted body. Her hunger is confusing, disturbing, magnetic – intoxicating. She’s never known such fierce yearning.
Miguel is equally mesmerized by this bold human who doesn’t seem to fear him. The heat of her desire flushing under her soft skin is pure temptation, but it is her innocence and feisty intelligence that fascinates him. Such a powerful impulse can only be a Dowrra bond forming.
Miguel charms Gwen with the city’s glittering nightlife, black tie events, and luxury cars, but his obligation is to maintain the shaky truce between humans and the paranormal. As tensions rise, he’ll need to protect his Dowrra mate, but will Gwen accept Miguel’s dark secret before it’s too late? Can the proud, self-assured vampire prince humble himself for love? Will they survive the war that threatens to unravel their destiny?

This book had a good idea but wasn’t implemented well. It frustrated me that everyone knew what was going on but Gwen. Plus, Miguel is all in while holding this huge secret. When it’s revealed he’s just going to walk away from her because he doesn't think she can handle what he is. He doesn’t give her an option to stay. So frustrating. She deserves better. I might give book 2 a chance to see if it gets better and to see how everything plays out but I need a break from it.

Book 1 The Dowrra

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My Stuffed Valentine by Rozy Mack

 

2.5 Stars

For a single mom who long since gave up on finding the right person to love me, Valentine’s Day is another painful reminder of my loneliness. Sure, I love my little miss with all my heart, but a woman has needs.

When a stuffed gift from my bestie turns into my very own life-sized monster vowing to worship me with his love and devotion, I have to decide to let my heart lead or listen to the doubt screaming in my head that this can’t be real.

He’s big, covered in fur, and purrs on demand. Oh, and his tail. Let’s not forget the special delight it brings behind closed doors.

Cursed by Cupid, my surprise Valentine monster asks me to help break the chains of the past so we can move to the future. Together. Maybe I’ll find love after all.

Short and spicy but it needed to not be so short to be a complete story. It was a cute concept and I think I would have liked it better if it was expanded more with better world and character development. As it stands now it’s just meh.

Book 1 Guardians of Cupid

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Knot Again by Lucy Scott Bryan

2.5 Stars

Growing up, all I wanted was a family. Now all I need is a pack.

Being the heir of the Verdune family legacy is a blessing. The responsibility that comes with it, not so much. Add in the fact I’m an Omega, and some days I wish I was born into a different life.

Meeting my scent-matched Alpha, should be a night of celebration but instead it becomes an event marred by tragedy and a stark reminder of how controlling Alphas can be.

I’m told to find a pack. Or they’ll find one for me.

A pack of delicious smelling Alphas swoop in to save me. Okay, they actually win me at an auction but either way they insist we’re fated to be together. They promise we'll be living our own sweet fairytale.

The thing about fairytales… they’re usually stories of false hope, crushed dreams, and ruined happily-ever-afters. Complete BS really.

But those Alphas are real life princes, and they believe in whimsical destiny and everlasting happiness. They’re also ruthless, borderline obsessed and won’t take no for an answer.

I’m just not sure I can trust them. Knot again.

The idea was there but I had issues with FMC and the flow of the book. I’ve read other books by this author and loved them but this one just fell flat for me. If you like omegaverse there are better ones to read.

Book 2 Scornedverse

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Pleasing Mr. Parker by Elle Nicoll

2.5 Stars

“You are mine, Sweetheart. You were always going to be mine.”

They say don’t mix business with pleasure. But I bet they never had to work with Griffin Parker.

He headhunts me to manage the spa in his iconic New York hotel,

The Songbird.

It’s a dream opportunity.

But he’s a nightmare in a designer suit.

We clash spectacularly when he refuses to give up control.

He doesn’t trust me. I don’t like him.

Until one day we manage to work together, and an idea grows wings.

And the things he says…

Oh God.

I’ve spent my life fighting back against the repercussions of pleasing other people. Yet, I find myself doing exactly that.

Because when Mr. Parker is pleased with you the rest of the world drifts away.

He tells me I belong to him. But he doesn’t tell me if I will survive him.

No one can tell me that.

He didn’t get to be one of the most powerful businessmen in New York easily.

He has enemies.

I’m flying straight into a storm.

And I don’t even want to stop myself.

Griffin Parker is an idiot throughout this book, and he doesn’t really make it up to Maria. He believes the worst of her throughout this book. Some others thought he groveled enough for forgiveness, but I didn’t think he did. The person causing the problems was obvious, so the big reveal was just meh. I would skip.

Book 5 The Men Series

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Molly and the minotaur by Bea Gallow

2.5 Stars

Love is the key to unlocking the magic in Minos Falls!

For most of her life, Molly Durand was told to stop believing in fairytales, and when she arrives in Minos Falls, North Carolina, she finally does. With no boyfriend, no job, and no place to live, a mysterious town in the mountains is the last place she wants to start over. So, when she’s offered her dream job managing the town’s bookstore, she accepts. Until she discovers her new boss, Leo Angelos, is a Minotaur.

Leo Angelos has been waiting for his mate to arrive for fifteen years. Not because she’s destined to be the love of his life, but because she’s the key to breaking the curse plaguing his town. He just wasn’t expecting his mate to be his newest employee.

But when monsters from Molly’s past step out of the town’s shadows, they jeopardize not only the end of the town’s curse but also her happily ever after with Leo.

I wanted more world building and character development. I wanted more information on everything which led to me feeling like something was lacking. It was insta love between Leo and Molly which was meh. I am undecided about reading the next book.

Book 1 Magic in Minos Falls

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Falling for the Forward by Brenda Rothert

2.5 Stars

Suki Brennan is broke. After she co-signed several hefty loans for her ex’s business, he fled the country and left her working two jobs to pay his bills.
So when her new boss, a sulky pro hockey player who recently became the guardian of his three nieces, proposes a deal to help him secure permanent custody of the girls, she agrees.
If Suki fake marries Carter Stanton for one year, and pretends to be his doting wife, she’ll get half a million dollars and a clean divorce at the end. Not only will the money pay off all her debts, she’ll be able to help the girls she already adores settle fully into their new lives.
It’s a foolproof plan. At least, it seems like it. As Suki grows closer to Carter and his nieces, though, her feelings for them become very real. But does her brooding boss feel the same?

This is the first in a series. It didn’t feel like that. I have missed a couple of her newer books so this might be a spin off of another series but it doesn’t say that. I literally stopped reading multiple times to double check because I was lost. It felt like we were dropped into the middle of the story and I am missing things. It led to a lot of confusion plus just not connecting to the story/characters. If this is truly book one it needs to be fleshed out so that the book matches the description. Overall, it was a massive miss for me by an author I normally love.

Book 1 Love on the Line

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Scorned Vows by Victoria Page

2.5 Stars

He was the perfect husband until she got pregnant.

An arranged marriage was always in Natalya Conte’s future.

Luca Moretti is charming and considerate.

Handsome like the devil, he dotes on her and spoils her.

But when two pink lines should have brought them unbridled joy, her husband ices her out.

An arranged marriage gives Luca great power.

To cement that power, he needs an heir.

The quickest way to do it is to make Natalya fall madly in love with him.

He will have her loyalty without risking his heart because love to him means weakness.

Natalya needs Luca to love her.

Because she has secrets that will put them all in jeopardy.

Her heart shatters when Luca shows her exactly how little she means to him.

But it isn’t until she sees evidence of the unforgivable that she loses all hope for a happily ever after.

Oh Instagram adds gets me every time. I wanted to like this as the premise was interesting. However, the time leap because of amnesia was overdone. Not to mention it was as if all issues were just swept under the rug once Luca found Natalya. It just didn’t work for me.

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Railed by the Leprechan by Dalia Davies

2.5 Stars

Are you feeling lucky?

My father disappeared into the old gods’ realm more than a year ago… and even though I hate him, my family needs him back.

Getting into the Leprechaun’s domain means chasing rainbows. Gaining my father’s freedom means making a bet with a god who thinks he can break me. But when my bet is placed and his games begin, I start to wonder if he wants me to lose at all.

I’ve liked all of the previous books but this one was lacking for me. It never came together as a complete story. I wanted more but it was fine ish.

Book 8 Valley of the Old Gods

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Destined Mate by Jen L Grey

2.5 Stars

Fate stripped everything from me and forced me to face my worst nightmare.

As the adopted and weakest member of my pack, I’ve always been an outcast and mistreated, especially since I've never been able to shift into my animal form.

Every time I try to find a way to escape my personal hell, my pack leader stops me, vowing that I'll never be free from him.

Then the worst happens.

A group of my pack members attack me.

Alone, outnumbered, and stuck in my human form, I'll fight for my life even though there’s no hope for survival.

Until a group of unfamiliar wolves come to my aid.

The sexiest and strongest of them, Bodey, is adamant to protect me.

And something inside me tugs toward him almost unnaturally.

But it turns out things aren't what they seem.

There might be something more to my past than I knew . . . and Bodey might be the very person I need protecting from.

The idea of this series is a good one but you have to be really stupid to not figure out the outcome of the book. And I don’t mean who she ends up with or the general plot. I mean who the FMC is and how important she is. It was a nice set up but it frustrated me so much. I got through this one and started the next and quickly DNF. Going to try a different book by this author.

Book 1 Twisted Fate

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Chasing Goldie by Holly Robards

2.5 Stars

Ever been stuck between an alpha and a hard place?

In a world where mages, faes, and humans coexist, I, Goldie, am taking a stand – swearing off the male species entirely. Ironically, all of them start throwing themselves at me with almost supernatural fervor the minute I make my vow. All except for one man, that is...

When I move into a crumbling Victorian mansion, I didn't know my unexpected inheritance would come with a neighbor who is a rugged alpha bear shifter with an alpha complex.

He also comes with not one, but two baggage-laden brothers and a knack for turning my blood into molten lava. Oh, and did I mention the weird habit of finding myself in one of their beds each morning?

My grumpy neighbor does *not* appreciate my friendly nature, and now we are locked in a heated feud that may bring down the whole house.

As darker threats close in from both our worlds, we'll need to bury the porridge to navigate the fine line between hate, love, and survival.

This book was so slow moving and it felt discombobulated. I also struggled with liking the characters. The ideas was there but wasn’t implemented well. If it was reworked a little bit, it would work so much better. Also maybe because it is book 2 there isn’t a whole lot of world building which led to confusion because even though the description says magical it doesn’t come across that way. I might try another one just to see if it gets better.

Book 2 Lost Girls

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Betrayed by Dragons by Dizzy Hooper

2.5 Stars

Things are finally looking up for me and my fated mates. Both are amazing with me. I am finally learning about who I am and my magic but there’s something not quite right. There is too much not answered and too many enemies unrevealed. Will they be able to keep everyone safe?

There is nothing to this book other than Rafe and Jianyu hooking up with Ember. There isn’t much movement on the plot at all. They are still in Jianyu kingdom and she is learning some of the things she can do but that’s about it. My take away from the book is literally how many times can she get sexed up with the guys and break up fights between them. This frustrates me because the idea behind the book is a good plot it is bogged down and there has to be movement in the story. Here’s hoping the next one is better.

Book 3 Queen of Dragons

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