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.

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Wicked in the Pines by L.R. Friedman

4 Stars

Any witch would be lucky to live in Celestial Haven.

At least that’s what new mom Oakley Brooks tells herself when she moves to the idyllic supernatural suburb with her sister. If raising a witchling and adjusting to a new neighborhood wasn’t hard enough, Oakley has a sinful secret.

Her magic is running out.

And if the truth about her dry spell is uncovered by the tight-knit coven’s rumor mill, she’ll be sent packing.

After her sister doesn’t return home from a night on the town, Oakley begins to worry and enlists the help of two of her neighbors: a charming personal trainer who conjures up once-forgotten feelings and the coffee truck’s resident brewista who’s as broody as he is enigmatic.

Could her magic be playing tricks on her or are these two tasty treats actually interested in the hot mess mom down the street?

The full moon closes in—the perfect opportunity to recharge her magic. Oakley must decide if she can accept the consequences of her gift or if she’ll let her magic disappear forever.

As they continue to search for answers about her sister, two things become clear: Secrets never stay hidden and something wicked is brewing on Starry Night Lane.

Surprise read for me. I enjoyed it a lot. It was a different take on witches and magic. It ends up being a steamy cozy mystery which was a weird but good type of crossover I didn’t know I was looking for. It ends on a cliffhanger ending but you do get a lot of answers before it ends. Book 2 is out, and I am interested in the answers not given in this book.

Book 1 Celestial Haven

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I’ve Watched You Die by Karina Banks

4 Stars

A young woman, cursed. A rebellious prince in hiding. A forbidden love that will threaten two worlds…

There are two main things I’ve learned since my life turned upside down. The first is, if you speak of someone’s death before it happens, you’ll be blamed for murder. The second? If the hottest guy you’ve ever seen kisses you, and thanks you for saving his life, don’t argue.

I watched him die, over and over. So many times. The vision is always the same and there is never one damn thing I can do to save him. I don’t know why I can’t dream about normal things, like going to school naked, or spiders. I hate spiders. No, I’m lucky enough to see strangers at the moments of their deaths. The only thing keeping me sane is knowing the visions aren’t real. Until the accident. The blood. He dies in my arms. At least, I thought he did. But now he’s here, telling me I saved his life. Telling me unbelievable stories about monsters and gods and destiny. Promising to protect me. If none of this is real, why am I afraid of the creatures hunting me? And if I saved his life, why are the nightmares back, stronger than ever? What is this thing lurking inside me, eager to strike? I don’t know, but I’m freaking out. I’m afraid what I think is real, isn’t. And what I know is not, just might be.

So many feelings with this book. I saw the ending coming through most of the book but getting there was worth it. Dani is for the most part a strong woman just trying to figure things out with this weird ability. This weird ability draws Zelik to her and draws her into his world. I loved Dani and Zelik. Even the cliffhanger ending made sense. I loved seeing the growth in this book and can’t wait to see where book 2 is going to take us.

Book 1 Academy for Gods and Freaks

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He’s so Slick by Sinclair Kelly

3 Stars

This Omega doesn’t do drama, drugs, or hockey players. The first two for obvious reasons. The last because I don’t shit where I eat. As the daughter of the Phoenix Heat’s owner, I know better than to dip my toes into that particular pool. The league is way too small a world, and I am a drama-free zone.

When my daddy strongly suggests (read: insists) I come home for a visit, how can I say no? But without my besties by my side, there’s no one to stop me from making an epically stupid decision when I discover the Heat’s captain in a compromising position. I’m suddenly in the one place I swore I’d never be…a hockey player’s bed, forging pack bonds I had no intention of having.

When scandal erupts around us, I vow to do whatever it takes to save my new pack, even at my own expense. In a moment of desperation, I lock lips with their nemesis right on the kiss cam. Now, I’m the one in desperate need of saving from the grumpy center of the Chicago Storm.

Can this Omega bridge the gap between these mortal enemies, or have I just doomed us all?

It was a very slow start but it does pick up. I nearly DNF it a couple of times but ended up finishing it. Once it got going it was a good read, but it took so long to get there. It was a meh read once it got going. The guys who fucked around didn’t find out the consequences which was disappointing.

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Broken Laces by Elise Faber

4 Stars

This team of misfits and bad boys is going to puck you in the best possible way.

I’m the captain…

And I’m in love with the owner’s daughter. I played my entire career with the San Francisco Gold. But now I’ve been traded to our rivals, and I’m playing for Jean-Michel Dubois, owner of the Oakland Eagles, my new boss, and father to the woman I’m in love with. And he’s made it clear that anyone who so much as looks at Chrissy will find themselves out of the league. The problem is that I end up moving in right next door to her. And the more time I spend with Chrissy, the harder it is to keep my distance. Only…I can’t have her. Because if I do, I’ll lose everything.

I loved Crissy and Rome in this book. It was sad to see Rome leave the Gold but I can’t wait to see how the new team comes together and reality is most players do get traded. I also loved all the pets and need them in my life. The personal stuff going on with Crissy was interesting and I liked seeing the struggle she had to work through to end up with Rome. Rome also had his own issues since the Gold was his found family and he’s now with people who don’t want him there. It definitely came together to be a really good read and made me want the next book in this series and the next Gold book.

Book 1 Eagles Hockey

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End Game: New York Stars by GA Mazucke and Serena Akeroyd

4 Stars

Gracie Has been raised around hockey. She loves and hates it all in one breath. Everyone is so focused on making sure her brothers and their friends make it to the pros that they forget she might want something different. Gracie is determined to make her own way away from her family and hockey even if Liam makes her want to fall into him. Life takes them on their own paths but can they find a way back to each other?

Where the last hockey book was a disappointment this one exceeded all expectations. It’s 600 + pages of fun reading. Gracie is trying to find her path away from hockey because of her family. She has dealt with so much because of them and she forgives them way too quickly. I love MMC. They’ve been friends for so long he doesn’t know how to get out of that zone with her. When he finally gets to go beyond that he is all in and has her back no matter what. It was probably one of the best books I’ve read this year.

Book 1 New York Stars

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Trained for Their Pleasure by LV Lane

2 Stars

Widowed and uninterested in another husband, Hazel is prepared to live the life of a widow. Unfortunately, she is given to Jack and Fen. A beta to be used for their pleasure. They will teach her how to take them and be ready whenever they want her to be. Will she find her HEA with them?

Was not a fan of this book. I can’t even point to why I didn’t like it. I just know it was a struggle to get through it. Jack and Fen were assholes from beginning to the end with no redemption. It was about them pushing the FMC limits to please them. It never felt like they wanted her for her, just the challenge they got from being with her. Plus, she was just a hole for them to use. It could have been a really good book but it just fell flat for me.

Book 5 Coveted Prey

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