Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

4 Stars

ASSISTANT WANTED: Notorious, high-ranking villain seeks loyal, levelheaded assistant for unspecified office duties, supporting staff for random mayhem and terror, and other Dark Things In General. Discretion a must. Excellent benefits.

With ailing family to support, Evie Sage's employment status isn't just important, it's vital. So when a mishap with Rennedawn’s most infamous Villain results in a job offer—naturally, she says yes. No job is perfect, of course, but even less so when you develop a teeny crush on your terrifying, temperamental, and undeniably hot boss. Don’t find evil so attractive, Evie.

But just when she’s getting used to severed heads suspended from the ceiling and the odd squish of an errant eyeball beneath her heel, Evie suspects this dungeon has a huge rat…and not just the literal kind. Because something rotten is growing in the kingdom of Rennedawn, and someone wants to take the Villain—and his entire nefarious empire—out.

Now Evie must not only resist drooling over her boss but also figure out exactly who is sabotaging his work…and ensure he makes them pay.

After all, a good job is hard to find.

Very very slow burn book. If you expect any romance to happen in this book guess again. It is a cute read but slow going. It finally picks up and it ends. There’s no world building or character development. There are times things are mentioned that are very modern and doesn’t fit with the image of the world but it is used. I did enjoy reading it enough to want book 2.

Book 1 Assistant to the Villain

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Seize the Castle by Elizabeth Dear

3 Stars

In Saint Gabriel City, there’s a war brewing.

The Four Families have ruled the City for generations, but they made a huge fucking mistake when they murdered my parents and didn’t manage to kill me too.

I’ve revealed my true identity, taking the City and Holywell Academy by storm, but the heads of Spencer, Hargraves, and Ferrero continue to underestimate me. They think I’m an annoying little gnat trying to play at being an Heir, and that will make it all the sweeter when I take everything from them.

But their sons—the boys who were my best friends for eleven years—they have different ideas about me than their parents do.

Zach wants me back—and maybe just plain wants me.

Noah longs for our friendship but feels hurt by my lies.

And Bennett—he’ll resist my attack on his legacy until the bitter end, but he’d still rather die than lose me again.

And me? I’m starting to think I need my boys back with me after all.

But they’ll have to choose—it’s me or the Families.

Because I came to burn it all down, and nothing is going to stand in my way.

I took issue with the guys. They didn’t want her until they found out who she really was. They let horrible things happen to her and at the end now they care. They need more groveling to make it up to her and don’t. Curious to see how the series will end.

Book 2 A Knight’s Revenge

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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