Broken Beginnings by Clio Evans

3 Stars

You’re Next.

I was in the wrong place at the wrong time—and that moment changed me forever. After walking in on a masked man murdering my neighbor, I went back to the one place I swore I’d never step foot in again. Citrus Cove.

The sleepy town hasn’t changed much, but the people have. Including my old high school bully, Cameron Harlow.

He’s the last person I want to see. He should be the last person I want.

But Cameron Harlow has been dreaming of the day he’d see me again, and wants to set things right. Our history makes me hate him, but he’s sinfully hot, has that sexy southern charm, and calls me sunshine. How can I resist him?

When the danger I’ve been running from shows up in my hometown, Cameron becomes my sole refuge. Someone is watching me. Following me. They want me dead.

From the ashes of our broken beginnings, all we want is our happy ending. But the killer has other ideas and the only way Cam and I have a future together is if we live to see it…

This book was so slow in the middle. I loved the beginning and the ending thirds but the middle third just slowed the book down. It was a struggle to get through because of this. I did get through it and did love the ending.

Book 1 Citrus Cove

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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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Knot my Type by Evie Mitchell

3.5 Stars

He doesn’t do relationships.

She doesn’t do flings.

Everything they thought is about to unravel…

Frankie

When you say you're a sexologist, people imagine Marilyn Monroe. They don't expect a woman who uses a wheelchair. As the host of the All Access Podcast, I'm breaking barriers, crushing stigmas, and creating sexual connections that are fulfilling for my fans. I'm like cupid, but with pink hair and fewer diapers.

Only, I've hit a snag. A lovely listener wants some advice about accessible rope play and I'm drawing a big fat blank. Which leaves me with no option but to get out there and give it a go.

Which is how I meet Jay Wood—rigger, carpenter, and all-round hottie.

I'd be open to letting him wine and dine me—only Jay isn't my type. He's not a one-girl kind of guy. Monogamy isn't even in his vocab, and I'm not a woman who'll settle for being second choice.

But there's something about Jay has me tied up in knots.

And it's making me think, maybe I could compromise and accept a little Wood in my life. Even if it's only temporary.

Jay

Frankie's funny, intelligent, and ridiculously sexy. This should be a no-brainer. A little fun in the sheets, and a little romp with some ropes—simple.

Only the infuriating woman has commitment written all over her.

It'll be fine. I'll just ignore the chemistry bouncing between us.

Yep. Totally fine.

So... why does my heart feel frayed? And why is it I can't help but consider taking the ultimate leap of faith—tying myself to Frankie. Permanently.

The best scene in the book was when MMC finds out FMC can’t get into his bathroom because the door width is too narrow for her chair. She won’t ask for help and was planning on using the gas station down the road. He doesn’t think it was acceptable and started demoing his room for her. It was so freaking sweet. The issues with his ex was just meh but I enjoyed the reading of these two together.

Book 1 All Access

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An Accidental Nest by Letty Frame

3 Stars

A surprise heat shouldn’t lead to two little pink lines…

As a successful Omega, I take pride in my work. With my upcoming heat edging closer, I had everything organized. Well, I did—until a company restructure sends me scrambling at the last minute, and fate lands me in the hands of Uri Rothschild, our COO… and my new scent match.

One scorching moment, one unexpected heat flare-up, and now I’m pregnant—with my boss’s baby.

Before I can even tell Uri the news, Opus Media’s Chief Security Officer, Sterling Carter, intercepts me, assuming I have ulterior motives. Turns out, he’s one of my new mates too… along with Paxton, the CEO, and Oscar, the CFO.

Four powerful men, all driven by the instinct to protect me and our baby, could unravel everything I’ve worked for. They want to build a future together, but I’ve spent my entire life proving I’m more than just my Omega instincts.

They’re willing to give me everything—but can I let go of the life I built to embrace the one created by our Accidental Nest?

I enjoyed reading this but it was too long. Things could have been cut to make it a better book. I also shouted at them several times that they all needed therapy. Sterling was my least favorite and he needed a wake up call and a redemption arc to make up for everything he put Emmaline through. Uri was a dick but he had reasons for it. I did like how they all came together in the end.

Book 1 Tying the Knot

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Best of Me by Maya Aiden

3 Stars

She’s the love I never saw coming, but can I give her the best of me?

My family’s roots run deep, and my responsibilities are etched into every part of my life—my daughter, my family, and the Rhodes family business.

As a father, I’ve always put my daughter above everything. I built my world around her, living next door to my ex-wife, keeping the peace for the sake of our child.

I never expected to fall in love again. But then Aurora came into my life, and suddenly I felt something I hadn’t felt in years. I thought it would be simple—until I introduced her to my daughter.

My ex-wife's manipulation of our daughter, shatters the fragile balance I’d worked so hard to maintain, and now I’m faced with choices I never wanted to make. I hurt the only woman I’ve ever truly loved, and I don’t know if I can put the pieces back together.

This guy was lucky she was so understanding. I understand why she stuck it out with him for as long as she did. I loved that when she hit her limit and was done she was done. I wish there was more that was done to the ex-wife. The redemption arc when he realizes how much he screwed up was ok but he didn’t do enough to make up for everything. The writing was fine but it wasn’t one of favorite reads.

Book 1 Savannah’s Best

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Wrapped in Ink by Carrie Ann Ryan

4 Stars

Liam Montgomery will try everything once.

He started his career as a model and turned that opportunity into becoming a bestselling author.

The only thing he hasn’t tried is a steady relationship.

Not that he’s looking for one.

Arden Brady doesn’t get out much.

Living with Lupus means sometimes her days aren’t her own. She’s lived her life to the fullest so far, but the one thing she’s never let herself do is fall in love.

Then comes Liam.

A chance encounter changes the game, and both will have to risk everything they thought important to make this work. Because family secrets and unplanned heartache aren’t the only things trying to tear them apart. But if they’re lucky, the passion between them might just make this romance thing something they can believe in.

Arden has Lupus and doesn’t think she will ever get her HEA. Liam is all in with her basically from the beginning. He works with her and wants to care for her. There were a lot of cute moments in the book.

Book 12 Montgomery Ink

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Puck Your Nanny by Sara Vincent

2 Stars

Daisy figured being a beta meant a drama-free life.

No messy mating bonds, and steady work was always easy to find. That all goes out the window when she takes a live-in nanny gig for a hockey player who's suddenly become a single "dad" to his baby half-brother. As if that wasn't enough, his pack includes two other seriously hot alphas. Not that they would be interested in a beta like her. Or so she thinks...

Nate, star forward for the Vipers, is totally in over his head. Baby duty on top of hockey? Yeah, that's a big yikes. Thank goodness for Daisy, who's a natural with the little guy. Plus, she smells amazing, but she's a beta, so it shouldn't mean anything, right? He's only ever felt this kind of pull towards his packmates...

Peter, ex-hockey star with a bum leg and a grumpy attitude, has his walls built up higher than a goalie net. But there's something about Daisy that makes him want to let his guard down. And Calvin, the Vipers' chill goalie, is pretty much smitten from the get-go. Daisy just fits with them, like the perfect puzzle piece.

Turns out, Daisy isn't the beta she thought she was. Nope, she's a late bloomer, and her inner omega is wide awake now, thanks to the three hot alphas she's living with.

The idea was there but the writing was very immature. It felt very high school writing. Add in how quickly things played out it just didn’t work for me.

Book 1 Puck You Omegaverse

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Heartbreaker by Elise Faber and Kat Mizera

3 Stars

She was just supposed to be a one-night stand…

But then she became my world.

Once, I was the lead guitarist of the hit rock band, Midnight Sun. Then a tragic accident took everything from me. I can no longer play guitar, my wife left me, and the future I worked so hard for is slipping away.

All I am now is a grumpy, infamous, former rockstar.

So, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that I’m not in the market for a woman, especially not Jade Cantrell—who’s as beautiful and talented as she is sweet.

Then the media pounces on a story about the two of us, and suddenly we’re zipping off to a mountain retreat and writing an album together.

I can’t keep it strictly business—no matter how hard I try.

And the more I get to know her, the more I know I don’t have any hope of keeping her out of my heart.

One night will never be enough.

I'm going to keep her forever.

When the Game Breakers meet more than hearts will be broken…

They’ll claim, protect, and...maybe just rock their women's worlds.

Jade and Royal both had their own struggles they had to work through in this book. They are best when they're working together and the ending was so not fair I wanted more. Can't wait for book 3.

Book 2 Gamebreakers

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Claimed by Cthula by Wendi Gogh

3 Stars

MONSTER SPEED DATING—sounds fun, right?

Except my life as a marine biologist takes a slippery turn when I mistake a cthulhu for an octopus, only to find him seated across from me on date night.

Now, every time I turn around, he’s there.

Watching.

Winking.

Waiting until I succumb to his charm.

But I’m not ready for love. I have my studies, a mission to save the ocean, and a secret darker than the deepest depths of the sea.

This was a very cute read but felt very rushed. The secy time was different and interesting. The relationship was very quick. I liked the writing enough to try another book by her.

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Being Pucked by Rosemary Johns

2 Stars

An NHL star player pucked up my life, and now I have one rule: Avoid all ice hockey players.

But when I run to my hometown, desperate for a fresh start, I find that it's easier said than done. My dad is the coach of the newest team in the NHL and offers me the job of PR Director to these gorgeous players who are walking disasters.

They say that cocky hockey players are obsessed with their sticks. It turns out that three of them are also obsessed with me.

First, there’s the charming, playboy captain. Then there’s the scorching-hot twins. One brother is a fighter on the ice but has the heart of a golden retriever, when he takes off his skates. The other is intense and tattooed but sweetly protective. Yet they’re all hiding secrets that could blow apart the team.

My job is to keep these three out of trouble. But will I break my one rule for them? Their careers depend on winning this season, and my new life depends on beating them at their own game.

Will falling for hockey players puck up my life again? Will my heart be broken or is this my second chance?

The ending killed the book for me. There was no reason to have this as two books for this pack. I liked the book overall and the characters. I loved Robyn’s never sleeping with another hockey player to immediately sleep with another hockey player. The backstory of each of the guys was interesting and helped move the story. I overall, I probably will pick up book 2 but just not right now.

Book 1 Bay Rebels

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For Whom the Belle Tolls by Jaysea Lynn

5 Stars

They told her to go to Hell.

She went, but on her own terms.

Lily isn’t exactly thrilled with her arrival in the Afterlife, but what awaits her there is more fantastical than she ever could have imagined: Deities wait in line at the coffee shop. Fae flit between realms. Souls find ways to make death a beginning.

As she explores the many corners of the Afterlife, Lily finds herself surprisingly drawn to a place most people would avoid at all costs: Hell. Armed with years of customer service experience and pent-up sarcasm, Lily carves a job out for herself amongst Hell’s demons, sending souls to their rightful circles with more than a hint of sass.

Lily’s expectations are subverted every day in Hell—especially by Bel, a demon general with a distractingly sexy voice. The two meet by chance and form an immediate, deeply healing friendship, but the undeniable heat between them threatens to combust.

Meanwhile, something stirs beyond the boundaries of their world, threatening to destroy everything they’ve known and everything that could be…unless they fight like Hell to stop it.

I loved this book so much. It would have been my number one book for the month if it hadn’t been read in the same month as Devney Perry’s Shield of Sparrows. This book deals with death and dying and if this subject is hard for you avoid the book. I loved that Lily creates a help desk in hell to deal with crabby afterlife souls. She gets to take out her anger on those who are going to different levels of hell or to help them find their afterlife. This book has so much humor along with the serious notes which led me to not be able to put the book down. Would definitely read again.

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Unwanted by Sirena Song

4 Stars

Cammie Cooper became an alpha-chaser by accident.

After a one-night stand that ends in two pink lines, Cammie thinks she’s found her happily ever after. She forgets all about scent matches, fated mates, and the truth about being a beta from the town of Crawley. That is, until her alpha drops her when he finds his scent match.

Cammie finds herself back home and out of options. She’s got two kids, two jobs, and more bills than she can keep up with.

Her neighbor Reid comes to the rescue after a run-in with the wrong side of the law, vowing to protect Cammie and her kids. But she can't trust another alpha, no matter how much he promises. When she meets his bonded omega, it confirms her suspicions. What could the pair want from her but a good time?

Can Reid and Finn convince Cammie they mean to claim her and her kids? Is it possible for them to blend their lives and find love after so much heartache?

LOVED Cammie so much. She is a beta living in an omega world. She doesn’t change either which I loved so much. She stayed who she was and still found her HEA with Reid and Finn. I loved that they stepped up for her kids when her ex abandons them for his scent match. It was just a very nice and sweet omegaverse book.

Amazonhttps://www.amazon.com/Unwanted-Knotty-Neighbors-Sirena-Song-ebook/

Icebreaker by Elise Faber and Kat Mizera

4 Stars

She hates me…

I’m going to make her fall in love with me anyway.

As captain of the SoCal Vipers, the last couple of seasons haven’t been going well. My stats are slipping, and I’m at risk of being traded.

So, I’m not in the mood for a case of mistaken identity with the woman playing bouncer at the arena door.

But when I find out she’s come to town to escape her controlling family and make a fresh start, I know I can’t just let her walk away.

I’ll do anything to make sure she’s safe.

And if that means claiming her forever…then all the better.

Because she’s mine.

Even if she doesn’t know it yet.

Two of my favorite hockey romance writers wrote an amazing story. Loved Aspen and Banks. Seeing Aspen grinding to succeed and prove her family wrong made for a lovely read. Banks needed to grovel a little bit more after his mess up but I still love him. Would love to see the rest of the friend group and the little sister get a story.

Book 1 Gamebreakers

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