Long Shot by Kennedy Ryan

4 Stars

Iris DuPree meets August West in a sports bar during her last semester of college. It's the conversation of a lifetime and sends sparks flying in every direction. The connection is undeniable...but the timing is all wrong. August is poised for the NBA draft, and Iris belongs to another man―basketball's "golden boy" and August's long-time rival.

The two go their separate ways, but they often recall that electric night and what could have been. While August has embarked on his all-star life, studded with wealth and fame, Iris's perfect public relationship has become a nightmare behind closed doors. A tarnished dream of fool's gold.

When August re-enters her life, the world seems briefly bright again, but Iris's darkest nights are not over yet. To survive, she must build her own strength and trust that her bond with August can endure after all this time.

Even when her fraudulent prince has vowed never to let her go.

Read the warnings. There is on page SA with the Iris. It is graphic and bad. This book starts slow for me but once it picks up it moves and I loved the story. There are hard topics in the book, and they’re handled well. Definitely one of my favorite reads so far this year.

Book 1 HOOPS

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Strength from Courage Kerry Taylor

2 Stars

Warning!!!! This book has a massive trigger as the FMC has been Physically and sexually abused her entire life. If this is a trigger for you, please skim this book and review.

Things are finally looking up for Blake. She has a father and brother who adore her and want to keep her safe and happy but trouble is brewing. Mysterious things are going on with her family and friends. Will they be discovered before it’s too late?

Where I was fine with book 1 book 2 was just over the top. I took issue with the fact she’s not really doing therapy but she’s dating. Everyone brushes off threats which is what causes so many problems. It just all felt like how much drama can we add in no matter how fantastical it is. One more in the series but I am just done.

Book 2 Perpetually Broke

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The Promise by Kerry Taylor

3 Stars

Warning!!!! This book has a massive trigger as the FMC has been Physically and sexually abused her entire life. If this is a trigger for you, please skim this book and review.

Blake has never known a bit of good. When she thinks things are about to turn around bad things happen. She thought she was finally getting her life together when she was assaulted. The men who kidnapped her were able to use their influence to get her committed and it wasn’t until her long-lost father found her that things start looking up. He rescues her and brings her home. Is her bad fortunes finally turning around?

This one was a hard one to read. Blake has a horrible life. She thinks she’s got her life turned around and bam more bad things happen. The description in the book doesn’t do it justice. This is a book with a lot of sensitivity needed and it’s handled ok. There are times it’s a little too Pollyanna for me, but it was a good enough read to try the next one…particularly since it ended on a cliffhanger ending.

Book 1 Perpetually Broke

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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.

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Pack of Freaks by Miss Renae

 

3 stars

Rain Elara has been accepted to Blood Moon Academy for the next three years. Her dad is forcing her to bond with some people she doesn’t want to protect her baby sister. She will do anything to protect that little girl including pretending that she is her daughter. This isn’t the only secret to be had. There are so many to go around. Will she be able to keep her safe and will she find away out of her arranged marriage?

I enjoyed this one. It had an interesting take on supernatural and why choose. I liked Rain. She was trying to do the best she could to survive and keep the only person she cared about safe. It took a bit for me to get behind her guys, but they do end up being the best thing for her. There are two more books in the series but they are with secondary characters from this book.

Book 1 Blood Moon Bonds

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Enchanted by Demelza Carlton

2 Star

Enchantress Zuleika was summoned by the king to help him with a problem. Instead of letting her do her duty he forces himself on her. She curses the King and swears she will never help him again. She travels the world learning new things and helping those in need. When one of her father's ship goes off course causing financial problems she heads to the last known location and discovers the Beast. The Beast is Prince Vardan. He's been cursed and will only help if she breaks the curse. She's willing to help even if he's a beast. When secrets are revealed will they be able to find their happy ending?

I love a good retelling of a fairy tale. I don't mind explicit sex scenes. What I do mind is misogynistic statements being made and then we're supposed to brush it off as a joke. No thank you. I liked Zulerika. She was a woman who is dealing with a lot after she's sexually assaulted. She deserves better than a love interest who cracks a joke about wanting to ravish the FMC who had already been raped. When the Prince is called out on the statement, he's all it was a joke. He was just an ass through most of the book. I would skip this one.

Book 1 Romance a Medieval Fairytale

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The Beta Part Two by Avanne Michaels

 

4 Star

Talia wakes up at the hospital and is determined to not bother the pack. They’ve made it clear they don’t want her and no one else will do for her. When the pack gets told off by her mother and finally show up at the hospital to claim her, she’s not sure if the alphas of the pack want her for her or just because she’s an omega and that Jasper wants and needs her. She knows her heat is coming and doesn’t want to force the men to take care of her even if they want to. When it’s decided they need more men to protect everyone and help with her heat they call in her former pack. Corso, Reid, and Alex are more then willing to help as they never wanted to let her go. The problem comes in when Talia is accidentally mated to someone other than Jasper’s pack. They need to figure out what this means for Talia and Jasper as they can’t be parted. Will it all work out?

This one starts where the last one ended and we get so many new information right from the start. It was interesting to see Talia come into her own as an omega and seeing her relationship grow and change with each of her men. I loved the solution everyone came up with to combine packs and have one big happy home for all of them as Talia deserves happy. One of my favorite parts of the book was her refusing to change her core being just because she is an omega and going out and kicking butt. It also ends in a cliffhanger, and I am not sure why it did. I don’t know where the author is taking the series next but I can’t wait for the next one.

Book 2 The Beta

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The Beta Part One by Avanne Michaels

 

4 Star

Talia has the designation of beta even though her mother expected her to be an omega. She’s gone from pack to pack without finding her forever. When her mother pulls some string to get her into Devon Jackson’s pack, she knows she’s not wanted. They make it very clear she is not wanted nor needed until she is. The pack’s omega, Jasper, wants her and doesn’t want her gone like the rest of the pack does. The closer they get the more everyone realizes there is danger that might take Jasper away and that doesn’t work for Talia or the pack. When Talia is made to choose she will always put Jasper’s safety first but when things change will they find away to make it work?

I’ve been on an omegaverse kick and found this one. I hesitated to buy it as it’s a new author and not part of KU. I am so happy I did as I blew through the first book and can’t wait for the next book. There are some major abuse and rape in the book and if these bother you skip this book as it is very much front and center. I enjoyed each of the characters and the give and take Talia, Jasper, Devon, Trent, Kaleb, and Nathan. They each have their own personality and relationship with each other. I am very interested to see where the series goes. I did knock one star off as it was a cliffhanger ending and I hate those but that’s a me issue.

Book 1 The Beta

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