Games We Play by Auryn Hadley

3 Stars

We're tempted to play games, thinking they will give us more power - but that only works if we win.

After spending the holidays with my guardian's family, it seems that everyone in the temple has the wrong idea. The Baron isn't my patron. He's not even a friend. In truth, I hate the man.

But the rumor mill is strong, and jealousy is running rampant.

This is all just one more excuse for my instructors to hold me back, lower my grades, and try to force me to choose one path. I can't! My god needs me to save him, and the Path of Temptation gives me the power to do that.

Except that I'm drowning in the pressure, feeling like I'm failing my god. I need to make people believe in him, but how can I do that when I can't believe in myself? All these mind games are starting to pile up, and it's tearing me apart.

But Zeal is getting stronger.

That's enough to keep me going. No matter how hard they try to push me down, I'll just keep fighting back, learning to play this game better each time. I will not become the victim here, because I'm not doing this alone. My lovers will always stand with me.

But this is not a game.

If we fail, we'll lose everything -

Including each other.

This one continues where the last ended and the story progresses but not quickly. One of the biggest issues I had was the repetitive conversations that were had plus the inner dialogue which slowed the story down drastically. It was still good but needs work.

Book 3 The Path of Temptation

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Raider’s Treasure by Leann Ryans

2 Stars

Lyric's quiet life was shattered when a raid on her village left her father and the alpha he’d promised her to dead. The warrior who caught her wants her for himself, but he destroyed everything she’d ever known, so how could she give in to her omega nature?

The raider intended to take her whether she was willing or not, but he offered the other omegas a choice if she cooperated. She’d never had the option to choose her mate, but could she forgive Raider for what he'd done and learn to trust him so the others could have the choice she'd been denied?

This book felt very unfinished. Your dropped into a story with zero world building or character development. You get 0 connection between FMC and MMC. This leads to me thinking it’s a meh read.

Book 1 Alpha Barbarians

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Paths We Lay by Auryn Hadley

3 Stars

To find temptation, we must lay our own path.

For the last ten years, I thought I was nothing special. I was just another priestess in the Temple of Temptation. One of many. Little did I know that my god has plans for me. He intends to make me powerful.

But what I will become is up to me.

For centuries, things here have always been done the same way - and the gods are now paying for it. Somehow, I'm expected to revive the faith. I'm their last hope, but no one is quite sure how I'm supposed to do that.

That means I'm making this up as I go. My god is begging me to become something new. My temple wants me to respect traditions. My instructors want to force me to follow their rules.

I just want to save my god.

With my three men, I know I'll figure it out. That is not the same as this being easy, though. Even worse, being "special" makes those around me jealous, and giving in to temptation is a part of our nature. When my guardian's family gets involved, things get infinitely more complicated.

The temple wants to break me.

My success or failure depends on the path I choose.

I just hope I find the right one.

The big reveal was big, and Nari has a lot to do and defend in this book. Some of the relationship stuff frustrated me in this one but it was minor. It wasn’t as good as book one but still good. Wished it would move a bit faster.

Book 2 The Path of Temptation

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Knot Your Past by Jarica James

2 Stars

I swore off mates years ago, yet they have me reconsidering...

After being rejected by a chosen mate and losing everything, I vowed I would never let anyone make me feel that way again.

Since then I’ve enjoyed the single life. My weekends were full of random hook ups and enough booze to forget how lonely I am.

Until someone starts following me.

I quickly find that not only did my ex hire someone to tail me, it was his brothers and childhood friend.

And all three of them are my mates.

In a day that seems hellbent on tearing my world apart I find that the Sulley Pack has come to town. It takes one meeting to realize that fate wasn’t done with me yet.

Now two packs want to claim me as theirs. They’re all far too caring and understanding for a jaded omega like me. At least that’s what I’m telling myself.

Can I put my past aside and give these men a chance?

There was way too many partners with this book. I struggled to track who was who. None of them were developed at all. It also felt like the story was unfinished. Just overall, a miss for me.

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Cover Reveal Carrie Ann Ryan

Couple cover by Sweet N Spicy Designs

Special Edition cover by WildHeart Graphics

Image by Wander Aguiar

PREORDER: https://carrieannryan.com/books/one-quick-obsession/#order

Price We Pay by Auryn Hadley

4 Stars

Everyone wants to give in to temptation, but no one wants to pay the price.

I was a child when my father surrendered me to the Temple of All Gods. No one gave me a choice. No one even bothered to explain. I was simply tossed aside, unwanted.

That was the day the God of Temptation claimed me as his.

Now, I'm studying how to become the perfect priestess. Life in the temple means embracing my emotions and learning to harness each type of desire. Power, fear, lust, and rage are the most common, but not the only ones. Each has a power. Each has its place. I just have to figure out which kind of priestess I'll become.

Before I decide, I have questions - yet no one seems willing to give me answers. My only option is to leave it in my god's hands. This won't be easy, and my instructors think I'm a fool, but Temptation has been listening. Asking. Offering it all.

In exchange, he intends to use me.

I have demands. The priest and priestess who took me in have become my family. The guys? They taught me to love. How am I supposed to give this up? Why should I? Not even a god can make me walk away from them! All I have to do is stand my ground.

In this temple, there's always a temptation.

The question is if I'm stubborn enough to resist...

Or brave enough to pay a god's price.

Very very spicy read and it’s different. I love Nari and how strong she is and how willing she is to follow her own path. Even when theis means problems for her. There is a lot of things going on in this book but it works for me. Ends on a cliffhanger ending so you will need to read on.

Book 1 The Path of Temptation

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Knot That Likely by Sierra Cassidy

3 Stars

It was his first time as a heat helper without supervision. And also his last.

Erik is bright-eyed and confident in his abilities to get Cindy through her heat. He’s done all the training, learned all her preferences, and even knows how to make her favorite foods. He just forgets one important thing…

Cindy is a cynical, mature omega who’s sworn off relationships. Heat helpers have always gotten her through her heats, and she assumes this time with Erik will be no exception. He’s hot, happy to do what she likes, and his charming smile makes her a little weak in the knees.

All it takes is one mistake to upend their lives forever.

Short and spicy read. Cute story but no development of characters or the world. Sometimes all you need is the short and spicy and for me this book was good.

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