Walk of Shame by Avery Flynn

4 Stars

One night. No strings. And a really good puck.

Five years ago, Astrid O’Malley experienced the ultimate in public humiliation. Being dumped at the altar by her childhood sweetheart was horrifying enough. That fact that he was a professional hockey goalie and her dad was his coach? It was all anyone in sports could talk about.

Eff hockey. Eff goalies.

These days, Astrid lives a life (mostly) free of hockey and free to pursue whoever she wants with exactly zero shame in her game. Like tonight’s hook-up. This guy’s nailed the lumberjack aesthetic perfectly. Especially when he has the stamina and creativity to back it up.

Because the rule is: it’s one night only. Which is gonna be a problem because she’s just discovered he lives in the apartment upstairs.

And he’s joined her dad’s team. As the goalie coach. To train her ex.

Now Astrid is in some kind of hockey hell–filled with her ex, her family, and the best sex of her life. And somehow she’s been roped back onto the team.

Puck my life.

I loved this book so much and the reason why I continue to read Avery Flynn’s books. Astrid is screwed by her fiancé the day of their wedding and she’s left to pick up the pieces including dealing with the media. She of course ends up falling for another hockey guy even though she’s sworn off all hockey guys. Her dad did irritated me in the book but that was to be expected. Overall, a lot of humor and a good book.

Book 2 Downside of Dating

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Traitor Witch by Marie Mistry

4 Stars

My name is Nilsa.

I am the Shadow of the Moon.

A lunar witch.

A divine assassin.

And they will tell you that I am a traitor.

Framed for the murder of my own high priestess and with nowhere else to go, I'm forced to seek refuge amongst pirates. This mismatched crew of immortal males thinks I'm a solar witch; a harmless, goody-two-shoes, celibate priestess of life.

But it's hard to keep up the charade with a cursed fae, two broken shifters and an overprotective vampire tempting me at every turn.

It's even harder when I have to constantly restrain the urge to murder their asshole captain.

All I need to do is live long enough to exact vengeance and reclaim my place in my coven. There's no place for men in my life. Not even the siren haunting my dreams who claims I'm his mate.

Holy crap this was such a good book.  I loved Nilsa and how much shit she gave the guys throughout this book. I loved all the secrets they were keeping from each other and how they slowly started coming out. Even though the overarching story isn’t completed by the end of the book it still had a pretty good ending. Can’t wait to see how things play out in the next two books.

Book 1 Deadwood

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Magical Makeover by Brenda Trim

4 Stars

Divorce comes as a relief when you discover your husband is a walking cliche and having an affair with a woman half your age. When life gives you lemons... give yourself a magical makeover!

One day I'm married, living in the triangle, and working as a head nurse at one of the country's best hospitals. The next, I've shed a hundred and seventy-five pounds of idiot and find myself encountering ghosts, dragons and pixies while taking care of a sick patient.

Losing my sanity didn't seem like the worst thing to happen since I moved back home with my mom and nana. But I have to make the best of this mess for the sake of my children. And I refuse to give my ex the satisfaction of knowing he literally drove me crazy.

I didn't mind rolling with the punches... I just never imagined those hits would come in the form of magic. Witches, shifters, and Fae don't exist, right? This new world I've discovered is dangerous.

The Tainted want to kill me, innocent paranormals want my help, and the son of Hades needs me to find demons. Give me an Ibuprofen, and watch out. I'm not about to stand by and let someone else ruin my life.

I'm a middle-aged woman on a brand-new mission, and nothing's going to stop me.

This was a different book in a good way. Phoebe is older and human but becomes magical with a very steep learning curve. The pacing in the book was nice and I liked all the characters. Phoebe is very determined to do her best by everyone and at times does to much. It doesn’t end with Phoebe ending up with anyone yet and I can’t wait to see how it plays out.

Book 4 Midlife Mysteries and Magic

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Keepsake by Amy Oliviera

4 Stars

In the red corner is a six-foot-three machine of pure mass, an ex-MMA fighter with a bad attitude and fists of steel.

He is my best friend’s brother.

But Sofia is not here anymore, and all that she left me were her instructions: take care of my kids.

Not a simple task, especially when I have to open my doors to Sofia’s estranged brother.

I spent my entire life dreaming about having a family of my own, but I didn’t think it would be through loss that I would find my gain.

Three brilliant children need me, and I’ll have to learn to co-parent with a bull of a man in the China shop of my life.

We are complete opposites; I’m the business first, workaholic in the big city with a penthouse. Then there’s Alvaro Castillo, El Toro, with callouses in his hands and ink all over his skin.

I’ll need him on my side if I want the best for these kids, but my trust isn’t something I give out easily. To make things worse, El Toro has a secret that might ring the bell of defeat in all of our lives.

Now I have everything I’ve ever wanted. But at the cost of my best friend’s life.

This was such a good book. It had all the feels with it. Sophie has her issues but wants to step up for her friend’s kids. Alvaro is struggling just as much as Sophie but hides it better than Sophie. The story flows nicely and it was such a good reading, and the ending was perfect.

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Heart of Curiosities by Karice Bolton

2 Stars

Amelia Evans knew one day she’d come back to help at her family’s Antiques and Baubles on Curiosity Bay. She just didn’t expect it to happen after her fiancé leaves her for her best friend, her apartment burns down, and her trusty ride of over a decade wheezes its last breath.

With her sisters welcoming her into the fold, she realizes the island’s coveted antique store might just be the place to mend her broken heart.

But when an exotic vase arrives with something special inside, she knows she needs to find the rightful owner. There’s no way he would ever have let this go. She just never expects it to be…him.

When James Edwards hears from an antique dealer regarding his family’s belongings, he ignores the call. After all, everyone’s been after him since his mom’s death to get a piece of his family’s rare collectibles.

And that was the least of his worries. Between his own life imploding and his future not what he ever expected for his small son, he doesn’t have time to worry about an expensive vase.

It isn’t until the woman shows up at his doorstep that he realizes there’s more to it than he realizes, but the mystery surrounding the woman holding the vase is as intriguing as the one he wishes he could solve.

This was an interesting story idea, but it had a massive pacing issue. The beginning and ending were good but getting there took way too long. The ending was also a little bit weird. I liked the main characters and wanted to love this book but with the pacing issue it made it hard to read this book. Overall meh.

Book 1 Curiosity Bay

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Omegaverse by Roxy Collins

3 Stars

Every famous love song has been written by an alpha for an omega.

As a beta, I’ve never expected to be anyone’s muse. I’m happy to stick in the background – and with a past like mine, it’s simply safer avoiding the spotlight.

But that changes the day I learn my long-lost brother is Stix Rain. The drummer for one of the biggest rock bands in the world, we lost touch when we went into foster care. He ran away, I stayed, and I still carry the scars from growing up alone.

I have so many questions for him – until I discover he died three months ago.

I’m desperate to know more about him, but my only chance to meet his bandmates is at his tribute concert. The same concert where I get rained on, mugged, and the lead singer accuses me of being a tragedy chasing groupie.

But earning the trust of a bunch of moody, grieving rockstars isn’t my biggest problem. Because I’m suddenly triggered by a switch and my hidden omega nature takes over, hungry for knots, and bites, and a pack of my own.

Now I’m on a tour bus in the middle of nowhere, and I’m hot and needy for my brother’s best friends.

But helping me through my first ever omega heat is just the start of it.

Because someone is trying to destroy the band, and I now have an impossible choice to make.

I can either sacrifice my brother’s legacy, or walk away from the only pack I’ve ever wanted.

I enjoyed this one. Some of the guys took a bit too long to get on board. It starts off sab but ends super nicely. I had some questions about how the bad guy was able to do what they. Well worth the read if you like omegaverse.

Book 3 Billionaires in Heat

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Pucking Revenge by Brittanee Nicole

4 Stars

Good boys don’t lie, fight, or steal.

Up until the moment I learned that my uncle and coach, the man I’ve looked up to my entire life, was having an affair with my best friend–the only woman I’ve ever wanted–I was a good boy. The Saint of hockey. Brooks Langfield–star goalie of the Boston Bolts and all around nice guy.

Apparently, being good is overrated because seeing Sara blindsided when she learns that the man she was dating is married makes me just angry enough to stop thinking and finally take what I want–a real shot with my best friend.

Fake dating Sara under the guise of revenge means I’m now lying to my family, fighting anyone who even looks at her the wrong way, and stealing kisses as if she’s truly mine to touch.

Now she’s the only person I want calling me a good boy and somehow I need to show her this is so much more than pucking revenge.

Loved this story so much. Friends to lovers with a splash of fake romance. I loved the give and take between Sara and Brooks. When Brooks finally tells her the truth it was perfect. Brooks’ aunt still sucks for how she acted at the end of the book. I hate when the wrong person is blamed for bad deeds. Will be looking for more books by this author.

Book 2 The Revenge Games

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