Alpha’s Revival by Reece Barden

4 Stars

Rex is an Alpha without a pack. Rejected by his fated mate, he's not interested in second chances.
He just wants to be left in peace to lick his wounds and rebuild his life.
When he starts a new business, his sister-in-law comes to help, but Leah is exactly the kind of happy, bubbly woman he normally can't stand to be around. It doesn't matter how attractive she is.

And let's not forget she knows nothing about shifters.
Even if he wanted to keep her, he can't. Not without facing the one thing that has the power to strike fear in his heart and turn his world upside down all over again. His mate.

Leah knows what she wants and she won’t give up until she gets it.
The second she lays eyes on her handsome brother-in-law, she knows Rex is the one for her.
Even if he pretends to be irritated by her mere presence, she knows he feels it, too.
She's not sure what’s holding him back, but it won’t work, not with this stubborn human.
He can run, but he can’t hide.

When trouble comes to Grey Ridge, and Leah gets caught in the middle, will Rex be too stubborn to go after what he wants? Or will he be too late?

I loved this second chance at a fated mates. The ending makes me want to keep reading to find out more in this world. My biggest pet peeve with this book was trying to keep everything a secret as long as they did because she clearly saw something was going on. I know why it was a secret but Leah ended up being hurt by the lack of transparency. She had a vested interest in keeping it a secret as it would affect her sister so it just irritated me that it took so long to reveal to her. I loved the connection between Rex and Leah. The way they interacted showed the chemistry and made it such a good read.

Book 3 Shifter’s of Grey Ridge

Amazon 

Blood Sweeter Than Honey by Chiara Forestieri

2 Stars

Gideon

After leaving the military and an all-too-violent past behind, I craved nothing more than solitude—a peaceful life carved out under open skies and green pastures. So, when the local sheriff asks me to take in a mysterious woman, I’m far from thrilled. I’ve spent the last five years celibate and untouched by romance, surrounded only by honest work and the gentle souls of the animals on my ranch. Yet with every moment I spend in Winnow’s presence, some unseen cord winds tighter inside me, drawing me toward her. Soon enough, the urge to protect her—truly care for her—settles deep in my bones, impossible to ignore. I’m starting to believe I was made for this woman—and she, for me.

Winnow

After surviving a war and a traumatic past, I was endowed with the Duchy of Cerulia—thrust into a life I never wanted, bound by a duty I never chose. I’ve been shackled between the urge to walk away and the aching need to give my people the peace they’ve long been denied. It doesn’t take long for the weight of responsibility to wither my soul. So when a rare chance for a vacation appears, I seize it—only for everything to go horrifically awry.

Just when I think all hope is lost, the universe rewrites my path in the most unexpected way, and I find myself with nowhere to go but into the arms of a gruff cowboy—my soulbound.

There were so many tropes in this book. It was too many and made it hard to read. The SA and torture scenes were talked about but not really addressed or resolved. I almost DNF so many times reading this book because it didn’t make sense.

Part of Fated to the Cowboy

Amazon 

 

Nine Month Contract by Amy Daws

3.5 Stars

Help Wanted: Grumpy mountain man seeks baby momma. Job is an incubator position only. Surrogate must be impervious to grunting as the form of communication and nosy brotherly neighbors. Rustic mountain range housing available upon request.

I wanted to pummel my irritating brothers when they posted their own version of a wanted ad to help me with my life.

But I can’t fault the results once the right woman lands in my lap.

Becoming a single father is not a decision I made lightly. In fact, it’s the biggest decision of my entire life.

Which is why when I interview Trista, I know she’s perfect.

She’s wild, she’s opinionated, she wears cowboy boots. Even my pet goat loves her…

She’s the exact type of person I was holding out for.

And to my great horror, I realize on our first night of attempting this baby-making dance—when the lights are low, the cheap wine is flowing and the home-insemination supplies are laid out on the kitchen counter—I want to do a lot more than just make her my surrogate.

I want to make her mine.

I enjoyed the audiobook. It was a slowish story to get to the HEA but it was worth the wait. It was different as Wyatt’s niece picks Trista to have her uncle’s baby. Trista had every intention on walking away once the kid is born as she doesn’t feel she would be a good mom. The way they make the kid is interesting… Once they finally admit they don’t want to end their relationship it was so cute and I loved it.

Book 1 Mountain Men Matchmaker

Amazon 

Bossed by the Orc by Saam King

4 Stars

The damsel in distress is supposed to fall for prince charming, not the monster in her fairy tale…right?

 

Cleaning offices was far from Penelope’s dream job. But dreams don’t pay the bills, and if she wanted to save her family’s home, she needed money fast. Her grumpy, annoyingly sexy orc boss didn’t factor into her plans at all. Or so she kept telling herself…

 

Dristan was too busy running his empire to waste time on things like romance. Then he saw his pretty new employee and everything changed. He knows Penelope would be a perfect mate. Too bad wooing is not part of his skillset…

 

When danger finds its way to Penelope’s door, Dristan will do anything to protect her. But when all is said and done, will it be enough to convince her to take a shot at happily ever after? Or will their love story end before it ever truly begins?

I really enjoyed this book. MMC was so grumpy and crabby even with FMC. He was so in for her but his personality was 100% grumpy. I enjoyed reading him falling for her. I loved watching him lose his mind when others talked with her and also being such a dick to everyone.

Book 1 Kingverse Orc

Amazon 

Nine Month Contract by Amy Daws

3.5 Stars

Help Wanted: Grumpy mountain man seeks baby momma. Job is an incubator position only. Surrogate must be impervious to grunting as the form of communication and nosy brotherly neighbors. Rustic mountain range housing available upon request.

I wanted to pummel my irritating brothers when they posted their own version of a wanted ad to help me with my life.

But I can’t fault the results once the right woman lands in my lap.

Becoming a single father is not a decision I made lightly. In fact, it’s the biggest decision of my entire life.

Which is why when I interview Trista, I know she’s perfect.

She’s wild, she’s opinionated, she wears cowboy boots. Even my pet goat loves her…

She’s the exact type of person I was holding out for.

And to my great horror, I realize on our first night of attempting this baby-making dance—when the lights are low, the cheap wine is flowing and the home-insemination supplies are laid out on the kitchen counter—I want to do a lot more than just make her my surrogate.

I want to make her mine.

I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook. Wyatt was a bit of a grump and he never gets better but he is so sweet with Trista. Trista was a bit to sunshiny and it did grate. I also questioned if she really would have been ok walking away. The give and take between them and how it went from just a transaction to all in was fun to read.

Book 1 Mountain Man Matchmaker

Amazon 

A Little to Close by Rebecca Yarros

4 Stars

Nine years ago, Weston Madigan saved me. I came to Colorado penniless, heartbroken, and pregnant, searching for a fresh start. Weston gave me a job at his family’s resort, then left the next day and never returned, not even to visit.

Then I stumble in on Weston cooking breakfast shirtless—gloriously, inappropriately shirtless—in the shared kitchen of my duplex in employee housing. Given the shock on both our faces, he wasn’t expecting a roommate either, let alone two.

The growly pilot is only home to start his family’s new heli-skiing operation. I can handle being his temporary roommate, right? Chemistry and attraction aren’t impossible to ignore when you agree on ground rules. Besides, even with those gorgeous, brooding brown eyes, the guy is a walking thundercloud…until my daughter, Sutton, makes him laugh and he smiles at me. Then everything changes. Cue inconvenient heart flip.

This is only temporary.
I can’t fall for Weston.
I. Will. Not. Fall. For. Weston.
But rules go out the window when you’re a little too close.

I enjoyed listening to this book so much. MMC has so many issues with his family and it doesn’t really get resolved persay. I loved himn with FMC and her kid. The miscommunication between them was fun to read. I loved how they get back together.

Book 2 Madigan Mountain

Amazon 

Stealing Hearts by Lex Martin

3.5 Stars

A marriage of convenience might save his ranch, but will it break her heart?

I don’t remember a time when I didn’t love Rhett Walker, which is complicated since he’s ten years older and my brother’s best friend. After a falling out, we didn’t speak for years—until today, when he found me sleeping in my car, threw me over his shoulder, and dragged me “to safety.”

He’s grumpy and overprotective and even more handsome than I remembered. I’m shocked to learn he’s in trouble. Someone is sabotaging his ranch, which is thirty days from foreclosure. He needs a loan from a friend who won’t extend the funds unless he’s married. Only Rhett’s now a single dad with no plans to fall in love again.

When his brother suggests I marry Rhett for health insurance so I can rehab an injury, my first reaction is hell no. I can’t afford to catch feelings for someone who won’t see me that way.

But spending time at the ranch reminds me how much is at stake—the family business, the welfare of Rhett’s children, and the happiness of a man I’ve always longed for.

Rhett says we’ll keep things platonic in private, even though I’ll be sleeping in his bed. He refuses to mix business with pleasure.

Except when the lights go out in his bedroom, our chemistry is too explosive to contain.

Would it be so bad to fall for Rhett? Or will he steal my heart all over again?

One thing’s for sure—the clock is ticking on our divorce.

Rhett was just so freaking stubborn about Paige and caused all sorts of problems in their relationship. I loved Paige so much. She had so much working against her besides the injury. Having a crush on her husband was minor compared to everything else. The pacing in the book was spot on and it kept me reading. Pulled me out of a reading slump. The reason for knocking it down from a 4 was the will they/won’t they got old very quickly.

Book 1 Wild at Heart

Amazon 

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

Amazon 

Jasper Vale by Devney Perry

3 Stars

Eloise Eden’s pride and joy is her family’s hotel in Quincy, Montana. Her lifelong dream is to own The Eloise Inn. All she has to do is prove to her parents that she’s the epitome of responsible. That her days of being duped and making reckless decisions are history. She’s so close she can taste it.

Until after one weekend in Las Vegas, she comes home married to a stranger.

Jasper must have put her under a spell with those soul-deep eyes because after a single night together, they woke up husband and wife. Her only hope is to keep this marriage a secret until it’s annulled. Then she’ll pretend it never happened.

Except Jasper begs her to stay married. To fake it for three months so she can accompany him to a wedding. Maybe she’s lost her mind to agree. But her brooding husband seems desperate. It’s only three months, right? Then she’ll say goodbye to Jasper Vale, and with any luck, hello to her new hotel.

Oh Jasper. I loved him so much but he’s so stupid too. I connected with Eloise. She’s ignored so much and just wanted to be seen. Yes she’s made mistakes in the past but the way the family deals with it is to make her feel useless. The big shooting at the end really didn’t add anything to the story other than to show the matriarch of the family doesn’t take responsibilities for her own mistakes.

Book 4 The Edens

Amazon 

 

Lights Out by Navessa Allen

4 Stars

I want someone with a soul as black as night. Someone who would burn the world down for me and not lose a single minute of sleep over it.

Trauma nurse Alyssa Cappellucci doesn’t need any more kinks. She likes the one she’s landed on just fine. To her, nothing could top the masked men she follows online. Unless one of those men was shirtless, heavily tattooed, and waiting for her in her bedroom. She dreams about being hunted by one in particular, of him chasing her down and doing deliciously dark things to her willing body. She never could have guessed that by sending one drunken text, those dreams would become her new reality.

I want things most people don’t, craving darkness and depravity instead of light and love.

Joshua Hammond has an infamous father—the kind of man that true-crime podcasts love talking about. He’s spent his life avoiding the limelight, but his online persona is another story. At night, he posts masked thirst traps for his millions of fans to drool over, but one follower has caught his eye: Aly. After reading a comment begging him to break into her house wearing a mask, he decides to take her up on her offer.

Together, Aly and Josh live out their darkest fantasies, unaware that Aly has captured the attention of someone else. Someone with far more sinister intentions than a little light stalking. As Josh turns from predator to protector and the stakes heighten, he must ask himself how far he’s willing to go for the woman he’s obsessed with.

I caved to all the Instagram reviews and I am happy about it. I loved this book so much. It is a dark romance that is more like a grey romance. The Joshua is such a teddy bear character that you just love him even though he is stalking Alyssa. He only stalks cause he doesn’t know any other way to get close to her. I enjoyed Josh’s interactions with Alyssa before and after the reveal of his identity. The way he interacts with her cat is so sweet and amusing. I just really enjoyed this book.

Book 1 Into Darkness

Amazon 

Romancing the Grump by Jenny Proctor

3 Stars

He’s a grump and happy to stay that way. But can her sunshine melt the ice around his heart?

Nathan Sanders didn't earn his reputation as the grouchiest player on the Appies hockey team by chance. So when Summer Callahan breezes into his life with her flirtatious smiles and endless charm, he responds like he always does: he completely ignores her.

But Summer is intrigued by the surly defenseman, so when a viral social media post requires her to step in and fake it as Nathan's girlfriend, she jumps at the chance. She's convinced the ones with the hardest shells are often the softest underneath, and she's determined to prove it.

But Nathan doesn't crack so easily. Despite their obvious chemistry, he makes his lack of interest in a relationship—any relationship—perfectly clear. But the longer they pretend, the less fake everything seems, and the more Summer starts to fall.

She can only hope her fake relationship doesn't lead to real heartbreak.

Not one of the better hockey books. It was just meh. It’s sweet but felt unfinished. Needed more to the story and connection in the story.

Amazon 

Knotted Laces by Elise Faber

4 Stars

I fell for the woman who’s in love with my brother.

As a professional hockey player, there’s no shortage of women who want me.

Just…not the woman I want.

Because she’s in love with my older brother.

Until a freak summer rainstorm means that we’re stuck together. In the mountains. With the road washed out and only one hotel room to share between us.

And suddenly, all of her focus is on me.

Suddenly, I’m in the most important game of my life—

Trying to win Attie’s heart.

I loved these two. The struggle Attie had excepting Cam was into her and would work as a relationship was fun to read. I never understood where the part that Attie was in love with Cam’s brother. She never indicated she wanted him. If it was in another book I don’t remember it. I still think they were so cute together and it just works.

Book 2 Eagles Hockey

Amazon 

Dear Grumpy Boss by Julia Wolf

4 Stars

I’ve spent the better part of the last few years successfully avoiding my brother’s best friend, Weston Aldrich.

As CEO of Andes Inc, the infuriatingly handsome and incessantly grumpy Weston also happens to be my new boss.

It shouldn’t have been hard to continue avoiding him. After all, he’s on the executive floor and I’m one of many copywriters.

Weston has his own ideas about how things should go between us. He’s in my emails, leaving notes on my desk, and as if that’s not enough, he arranges for me to accompany him on a business trip.

That leads to stolen touches, frenzied kisses, and the undeniable need to work each other out of our systems. That always works, right?

Except now that I know what it feels like to have Weston Aldrich appreciate every inch of my abundant curves, avoiding him is impossible.

But he’s my brother’s best friend.

And a workaholic.

We have to stop.

And we will.

Soon.

Just…not yet.

Loved this book. The snarky covertness from Elise to Weston made me laugh throughout the book. I loved how Weston was all in with Elise and her daughter almost immediately. The story flowed nicely and made me want to go and read the other books by the author. My biggest complaint was the Elise was a bit of a doormat with her baby daddy and it did get frustrating.

Part of The Harder They Fall

Amazon 

PS You’re Intolerable by Julia Wolf

5 Stars

My boss, Elliot Levy is intolerable, and I tell him so everyday…in the little notes I write and then hide in the back of my desk.

I can’t exactly say to his face that I’m convinced he’s a cyborg, considering I'm about to become a single mother and I really need to keep my job as his assistant.

Elliot never looks at me, so he doesn’t even notice I’m pregnant until I’m seven months along. The first thing he asks is if I’m planning to come back to work once I have the baby.

Not unexpected.

What is unexpected is Elliot coming to my rescue when I need a place to stay after my daughter is born. While living with him, I get to see a whole other side of him…especially when he walks around his house without a shirt on.

Which he does, ALL. THE. TIME.

I shouldn’t look, but I can’t help it. He’s gorgeous in a suit, but out of one? Devastating.

Elliot shows me he isn’t the heartless robot I once thought. It’s still terrifying to take a chance on him, even when he holds my baby like she’s precious to him, and he touches me like he’s been longing to for ages.

Now that he has me, he isn’t letting me go without a fight.

And Elliot Levy didn’t get where he is in business without learning a few underhanded tricks. What will he do to keep me? To keep us?

P.S. I think I’m falling for you.

This was a surprise read for me. I find this on Instagram and sometimes those books aren’t good but this hit all the marks for me. I loved the main characters. The notes FMC made every day before she would go and talk with MMC were hilarious. When he found them and got a kick out of them I laughed so hard. It was such a cute thing for her to do. The pacing was great and I loved the world building in this book. I loved how MMC was with FMC and her baby Joey. I will definitely be picking more books up by this author.

Amazon 

Unperfect by Susie Tate

4 Stars

Content Warning – There is physical abuse against the FMC (MIA) from someone other than the love interest. If this is an issue for you, please skip.

 

When Mia shows up for the interview at a well-known architecture firm, she only has 27p, a squashed loaf of bread and a jar of peanut butter to her name. She needs this job. Even if she is scared to death of the owner of the company.

Max has made a name for himself as that grumpy northern architect off Dreams Homes (the most popular property design programme in the UK), after he told the famous host that designing affordable, environmentally friendly homes “wasn’t rocket science” and that most of the other projects featured on the programme were for “reight poncy bastads who want to spend a grand on a shite tap.” It turned out that the whole gorgeous-but-rough-around-the-edges-Yorkshire-man vibe was just what the country was looking for – the episode had gone viral and Max was the new, extremely reluctant, pin-up of the building industry.

But to Mia, huge, grumpy men aren’t sexy, they're simply terrifying. She knows from experience that even men of average size can be dangerous. If she wasn’t so desperate, she’d run. She’s used to running. Running away is Mia’s special talent, together with invisibility – survival techniques she’s perfected over the years. So, she’ll put up with Max and his moods, ignore him calling her a teen emo freak (he’s not to know that her black hair used to be honey blonde or her heavy eyeliner isn’t by choice) and just bloody well jog on. Just try to survive. Try to hide.

It’s easy to hide when nobody really sees you. But what happens when Max finally opens his eyes?

 

This book has all the feelings. You are rooting for Mia to get everything she deserves and then some. She’s a sweetheart and has been through hell to get where she’s at and it isn’t over yet. I loved seeing her come out of her shell and get to her HEA. Max took longer for me to like and want to see Mia end up with her. Once he stops being a dick to Mia and starts helping her, I began to like him. Can’t wait to read the next book.

Amazon 

Monster Mishap by Rory Miles

4 Stars

Daisy just wanted to have some fun in the tub when she’s transported to another world. Now she’s mated to a crabby orc who wants nothing to do with her. He’s trying to stay away from his father and his responsibilities as prince. Daisy is trying to get used to this new world and dealing with his attitude when she falls but will he give her a chance or is he willing to let her walk away just to show up his father?

This was a super smexy, funny, good read. I loved Daisy and Orcus. Daisy is out of her depth, but she rolls with it. The way she ends up with Orcus is hilarious. Orcus is such a grump except with her and it’s perfect. One thing that bothers me and isn’t pivotal to the story but I am still thinking about it so I am saying it here. Would no one notice that Daisy is no longer on earth and if they did how would they react. I also want to mention the page count is 414 pages and it doesn’t feel like it is that long. To me this means it is a really good read. Can’t wait for the next book.

Amazon 

Keep by Anna Hackett

4 Stars

Macy knows life is too short and refuses to be down about anything. She’s sunshine and daisies about everything. Colton Fury is the opposite. He knows how hard life can be and that not everything works out the way you plan. He has too much on his plate to be fantasizing about his assistant but when she starts getting weird calls and someone breaks into her home all bets are off. He will do anything to keep her safe.

I absolutely loved Ember and Colton. They are so opposite that they work together. The story was well written and I loved the struggle between Colton and Ember. Neither of them wanted something permanent and they fought it so hard but fail epically. The one big issue I had was how the bad guy is caught. Ember does something that is too stupid to live. It all works out and I am going to overlook it for the rest of the story being so good. Can’t wait for the next brother.

Book 2 Fury Brothers

Amazon 

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.

Amazon 

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.

Amazon 

Queen of Vengeance by Poppy Jacobson

4 Stars

I was hoping for my fairytale ending with my prom king boyfriend. Only it turned out he had other plans with his buddies. They took something I never intended for them to have. I’ve finally able to get out of my nightmare 10 years later and get the revenge I am owed. An unmarked grave in the backyard isn’t enough and all of the men need to pay for what they did to me. The only thing that is in my way is two childhood friends who abandoned me when I needed them the most. Will they be there for me now?

If you are like me and like seeing people get what they deserve this is the book for you. It is very dark and FMC is very much out for revenge against those who SA her in high school. After reading the story I was left with some questions like why did her parents make her marry the guy? I know why she stayed but not how she ended up forced into marriage. I did love how everything was handled with her guys and the trauma she was still working through. Definitely pick up if you are in a rage against men time.

Amazon