Tag: Romance (Page 35 of 122)

BOOK REVIEW: Mirror of Malice (Stolen Crowns #1) by Tee Harlowe

January 25, 2024 / Jen / 2 Comments

Mirror of Malice (Stolen Crowns #1)
by Tee Harlowe
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
He’s supposed to be my salvation, but he might just become my ruin.

I’m a prisoner in my own castle. Trapped by my apple-loving narcissist of a stepmother, desperate for my betrothed to rescue me.

Yet it’s not my one true love who comes—it’s the king of thieves.

He takes my stepmother’s mirror, the source of her power, but leaves with an additional treasure: me.

Now I’ve traded one prison for another. Penn Vanderbilt is cunning, captivating, and completely insufferable. He’s also secretive about his stolen goods . . . and the reason he kidnapped me.

Forget the thief’s plan. I’ve got one of my own: pretend to go along with his little scheme while plotting my escape.

I’ll only have to con the greatest con man alive. Never mind that I might be falling for him. The price of failing is my kingdom. But succeeding might just cost my heart.

Mirror of Malice is book one in Stolen Crowns, a series of steamy standalone but interconnected fairytale retellings. This enemies-to-lovers, opposites attract book is perfect for fans of banter, (very) snarky heroines, and slow-burn fantasy romance.

Review:

Mirror of Malice was a fairytale retelling that was enchanting and will sweep you away! With the most fabulous found family, all the adventure, a beautifully magical setting, and storyline that was easy to binge, this book was so much fun! Mix that in with lots of laughter and a little bit of steam, and well it was impossible not to fall for this book! Mirror of Malice was a Snow White retelling, with some Robin Hood mixed in, that was beautifully executed!

“You kidnapped me!”
“You’re welcome for that, by the way.”
“I didn’t say thank you.”
“I noticed.” He tsked. “Not very polite for a princess.”

Princess Liliath of Elwen was trapped in a tower with her two best friends for two years, courtesy of her evil stepmother. She was convinced her betrothed, Jasper, was going to rescue her any day now. And when she was rescued, it wasn’t who she thought it would be. It was Penn Vanderbilt, the king of thieves. He had plans to use the Princess for his own cunning reasons. Yet she has plans of her own, to take back her crown! What unfolded was a magical journey that was laugh out loud hilarious!

I’d been stripped of my crown, imprisoned by my stepmother, made to watch my court fall apart, and yet this man, he might be my greatest obstacle yet.

Penn was my absolute favorite! He was a book boyfriend many will fall for. He cracked me up time and again, and I loved how he did what he wanted to do and didn’t apologize for it! He had his merry little band of 7 thieves who lived in a tree house, in the most beautiful described area. Seriously, the descriptions in this book were breathtaking. I would love pictures to go along with this story! And he stood up for what was right and true. Penn was thoughtful, brave, protective, smart, and so easy to love!

He was coaching me on my shortcomings when it came to eavesdropping. Unbelievable.
I gritted my teeth. “Yes, apologies that I’m not an expert criminal.”
He continued, as if I hadn’t even spoken. “You also breathe shockingly loud. Is that a medical condition of some sort? You should really have a healer check that out.”
My mouth dropped open and I shoved him. He barked out a laugh.

Lilith had a lot of growing up to do. She was a naive fairytale princess, who was stuck up and thought she was better than Penn and his criminal ways. I loved how Penn was so blunt with her. And I definitely laughed at Lilith as she struggled with her training. Her squeaking at a bug had me rolling on the ground. I felt like she was a contestant on Wipe Out lol. Plus her incessant need to remind herself of her plans, oh goodness. There is a huge but coming…..but Lilith’s growth was amazing to watch. It was real. Took so much work and effort on her part. I loved the punch! And her realizing how she had been so wrong, I could stand up clapping! By the end of this story I was so proud of the woman she became! Lilith became a Queen that many would be proud of!

Penn stepped back and brought his boot down on my stick, snapping it in half. Then he spun around me, dropped to his knees and crushed my back to his chest, arms around my neck, limiting my breathing.
“Now, come on, Lilypad,” he purred into my ear. “You know I’m not one to make empty threats.”
“Oh, I know,” I rasped. “I also don’t care. I’m not . . . scared . . . of you.”

Penn and Lilith’s slow burn, opposites attract romance had the most fabulous banter! And I loved watching what was an initial enemies existence, turn into a tentative friendship. It took a while to get there, and I loved how everything felt like it occurred naturally. And when they did turn to more, there was some steam that fit them perfectly! Surrounding them were the 7 thieves. Shadow and her blunt ways was one of my favorites, and Hammer too! And as they trained and went on adventures, there were so many scenes that will stick in your head. The swamp and the dragon were two of my favorites. And most of all, I loved all of the humor in the pages. There were so many times I was laughing so hard I had tears pouring down my face! Sir Stallion I’m looking at you!

I was just drifting off to sleep when I could’ve sworn I heard him whisper, “Just so you know, you’re not alone.”

I didn’t talk too much about the plot, because I believe that is best for you to discover on your own. But know that the princess’ kingdom was ruled by her evil stepmother and everything was dark, bleak and filled with rot. And I kept nervously waiting for that poisoned apple to show up! So with one horse and one bed tropes, it just made this book even more loveable! The twists were done so well! I didn’t see that latter one coming at all! The epilogue was fabulous! And I am excited for more stories set in this world! It seems like the next book may be about Gabrielle and someone I won’t mention, you’ll learn in this story! And I’m also hoping we’ll get a novella or something more on Seraphina too! If you love fairy tale retellings, definitely add Mirror of Malice to your tbr!

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

BOOK REVIEW: Lost Kingdom by Laurel Black

January 18, 2024 / Jen / 2 Comments

Lost Kingdom by Laurel Black
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Trusting him is the only way to save the kingdom.
Betraying her is the only way to keep them both alive.

Stripped of her memories and her magic, Raven has been left for dead.

As a prisoner in the enemy’s mineral mines, her only clue to who she is and where she came from is the mysterious map tattooed on her hand—a map containing hidden secrets that some people would kill for.

Jeddak is one of those people.

A warrior from the Kovak tribe, he’s hunting for the powerful Zavien stone to pay the corrupt king’s ransom. If he doesn’t return home with it by the new moon, his betrothed will be executed.

When Jeddak discovers that a prisoner named Raven has the only map that leads to the artifact, he allies with her as they navigate treacherous lands and battle against ancient magical forces to unravel the map’s secrets. But can Raven trust this stranger who’s helping her? If the map gets into the wrong hands, thousands of people will die.

As their feelings for each other grow, their tenuous alliance begins to fray. Until Jeddak is forced to make a decision—betray Raven or forsake his kingdom.

Choose wrong, and he’ll lose everything.

Review:

Lost Kingdom was a young adult fantasy that swept me away. With secrets, lies, adventures, friendship, and betrayal, this book was a magical journey that was impossible to put down! I loved learning about this new world. The tribes, magic system, and politics were fascinating! The characters felt so real. And the story-line was so easy to devour. With an extremely slow burn romance, this book will have you begging for more.

Suddenly, I didn’t feel so alone.

Raven was a prisoner in the mineral mines. With no memory of her past, or even what tribe she belonged to, she was struggling just to survive another day. The conditions she lived in were atrocious. Then there was Jeddak, who was from the Kovak Tribe, and was in search of a stone to give to his king. If he didn’t do that, his betrothed would be murdered. And Raven had the only map that would lead them to the stone. The story alternated between Raven and Jeddak, and I truly had no idea how it would all unfold.

No one would be punished except me if they found him dead now. At this point, I would gladly accept the consequences just to see him choke on his last breath.

Raven was so effortless to like. She persevered in the face of atrocity. Where she was used as nothing more than just another body to accomplish someone else’s goal, she was still brave and fearless. She fought to stay alive. But at the same time, she was so unsure of who to trust. Her past was a blank slate. So many that surrounded her kept her hidden from their true intent. Yet through it all, she had this fire that burned deep inside her that pushed her along!

My breath caught. With his dark, wavy hair and long lashes, he was already strikingly handsome. But now the subtle dimples on his cheeks and the playful sparks in his gold-flecked eyes made me temporarily forget it was cold outside. He could rule a kingdom with that smile.

Jeddak, oh my goddess my feelings towards him kept twisting and turning. I loved how he tried his best to protect Raven. He was brave, smart, and I loved his relationship with his bear, Kah. Btw Kah was not only the voice of reason, but I adored his sarcasm. He cracked me up again and again! So I kept wondering, who was going to protect Raven from Jeddak? He was keeping secrets from her. That entailed not only why he was helping her. But that he was betrothed. Yet…..just wait….because once we get the full picture at the end of this story, my kaleidoscope of emotions towards Jeddak turned solid and became true and heartfelt. I can’t say more without spoilers, other than it was a path to get there!

I felt the weight of one of his throwing knives in my hand. Like the sword from last night, it felt oddly familiar. Using a nearby tree as a target, I took aim at a small knot in the wood and let the knife fly.
The knifepoint hit the center of the knot.
My eyes went wide. Who am I?

Jeddak and Lila together will run you through the gamut of emotions. They connected on such a deep level, but at the same point they kept each other at arm’s distance. They kept secrets from one another. But they also needed each other to survive and accomplish their goals. It was a perilous journey every step of the way! And there were unthinkable obstacles. It’ll keep you on your toes wondering what’s going to happen next! So watching even the tiniest bit of their friendship form had me smiling so huge! Just try not to smile during the runes scene.

I studied his face, lit by the golden flames. Just a few days ago, he was a stranger. A liability I wanted to leave behind in the stables of Malengard. Now, he felt familiar. Safe. Even though I was in a foreign land, I felt like I’d found a small piece of home in him.

This story had so many twists and turns. And while it felt fast paced, there were also so many deeper moments laced throughout the pages. With foreshadowing, a possible deadly fate, and battles in the future, this book had so much story within these pages. I am nervous for what’s to come and looking forward to that next book! Especially because of Skyler. I don’t know what that says about me, especially the feelings I have towards that character, and nope I’m not explaining anything more other than I am beyond obsessed!

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

BOOK REVIEW: Make-Believe Match (Cherry Tree Harbor Book 3) by Melanie Harlow

January 16, 2024 / Jen / 2 Comments

Make-Believe Match (Cherry Tree Harbor Book 3)
by Melanie Harlow
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Fall in love with my enemy? No way.

Marry him to save my family’s struggling ski resort? That’s a different story…

Getting hitched is the only way I can inherit Snowberry Lodge, and I’ll do anything to spare my childhood home from the wrecking ball–even wear Devlin Buckley’s ring on my finger.

Not that I’ll enjoy it.

Sure, he’s charming and handsome, and that no-last-names one night stand we shared ended with a fantastically big bang (I saw stars I hadn’t seen in six months, if you catch my drift).

But I’ll never trust him–he was working for the company trying to bulldoze my life.

Right up until the day he knocked on my door with an offer I couldn’t refuse.

Marry him, and he’ll help me restore my family’s crumbling resort to its former glory–and get revenge on his ex-boss in the process. Once our goals are achieved, we’ll go our separate ways.

It’s temporary. Strictly business. Purely for show.

Until I realize how much I like it when he says "my wife."

Once we’re sharing a last name–and a bed–our make-believe match starts to feel a little too real.

And if I’m not careful, I could lose everything… my home, my dreams, and my heart.

Review:

Make-Believe Match was a marriage of convenience, forced proximity, adult romance that was filled with all the steam and fun! This is my third book by Melanie Harlow and I am obsessed with her writing. Her stories are so easy to devour, her characters feel like your best friends, and her males are book boyfriend worthy. I’m so glad I stumbled upon her books and I can’t wait to read them all!

He wasn’t the love of my life, but right now he was my only hope.

Lexi’s whole world was caving in. It looked like her family ski resort was going to be sold, yet she desperately wanted to keep it in the family. It meant so much to her. But to inherit, she had to be married. Enter Devlin Buckley. They met and had the steamiest one night stand. But then the next day she found out that he was the one overseeing the property being sold. What unfolded was a heartwarming story that was so easy to devour!

I would not touch myself and fantasize about him. I would not.

Lexi and Devlin’s meet cute was so memorable! I’m a sucker for a good one, and theirs was so fun! And just by page 26, things escalated quickly to their one night stand which extremely hot *fans face*. They had this incredible chemistry where you could just feel the sexual tension thrumming between them. So each time it turned into more, it was impossible not to be obsessed!

“Wife,” I said through clenched teeth.
She took her mouth off me and laughed throatily. “I love when you say it like that.”
“Like what?”
“Like you might lose control if I don’t behave.”

Lexi was so easy to click with and like. She was effortless to click with and her thoughts made me laugh, bedeviled me with your magic tongue lmao!. While she definitely trusted too easily, she loved her home, where she worked, her Grandma and she tried her best with her bratty cousin. Watching Devlin step into her world was intoxicating.

As I looked into his blue eyes, the thought struck my heart again, piercing it like an arrow.
We were a family, Devlin and me.
We were a family.

Every single time Devlin called Lexi his wife, I was obsessed. Add to that, he had the most phenomenal filthy mouth, was so smart, motivated, compassionate, and him warning Lexi to help reach her dreams just solidified what a fabulous book boyfriend he was! On top of that, I loved his large family, his ideas to help Lexi and how he had no problems showing Lexi how much he physically wanted her!

I picked up my head and looked down at her. My chest didn’t feel big enough to contain what I felt.
If I was the kind of guy who could make promises, I’d have made one right then and there.

Lexi and Devlin’s moments together were extremely hot, seductive, and I loved all the fabulous details! Yet they both had issues when it came to their pasts and how it shaped them into who they were now. So watching them lean on each other, and start to find the beginnings of trust had my heart soaring! The way their relationship evolved had me so obsessed!

“Nothing matters but you,” I said, brushing my nose and mouth against her pussy, letting her feel my breath and lips and the tip of my tongue.

With a steamy romance, fabulous characters, family that will warm your heart, and a story-line that was a ton of fun, this book was such a huge win! And while you can read this as a standalone, I highly recommend starting back with Runaway Love, which starts with one of Devlin’s brothers. Make-Believe Match made me laugh, smile, shed some tears, and fall in love.

PS The epilogue was everything!

PPS I learned that Winnie, Lexi’s bestie, is from Ignite – Cloverleigh Farm Series, and I’m definitely wanting to read that next!

BOOK REVIEWS: Resting Scrooge Face by Meghan Quinn & Almost Like Being in Love by Sariah Wilson

January 9, 2024 / Jen / 6 Comments

BOOK REVIEWS: Resting Scrooge Face by Meghan Quinn & Almost Like Being in Love by Sariah Wilson Resting Scrooge Face Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
After a bad breakup, Nola wants nothing to do with Christmas, especially in her quaint hometown of Bright Harbor, Maine. Infuriatingly charming and cheery, Nola’s surroundings only worsen her sour mood.

To make matters worse, Caleb, the boy who broke her heart years ago, is all grown up and still living in town. While doing her best to avoid him, Nola bumps into the local mailman, who gives her a mysterious letter. And when she finds that the writer is a fellow Scrooge, she can’t help but feel her spirit lifting.

Nola writes back to her new pen pal—who, unbeknownst to Nola, is none other than Caleb. When Caleb gets a response hand delivered by the mailman, he’s intrigued by the mystery sender. A friendly correspondence develops—and quickly turns flirtatious.

Although Nola and Caleb claim they can’t stand each other, they can’t deny the simmering attraction that brought them together in the first place.

Can these nameless pen pals write their own love story—or will they be too caught up with the ghosts of their Christmases past to find a future together?

Review:

Resting Scrooge Face was such a fun Christmas novella to listen to! With lots of small town cheer, secret letters, snow, and a Christmas vibe, I adored this second chance romance story! And it made me want to pick up another book by Meghan Quinn!

“What?” she responds. “That’s what you’re going to say to me? What?”
No, what I really want to say is how beautiful you are.
How I’ve missed staring into your eyes.
Or hearing your laugh.

The story alternated between Nola and Caleb and I loved listening to both of their thoughts! I would have loved for this book to be longer and for their regular lives to be interspaced within this story instead of some of the letters being back to back. I felt like there was so much more that could have been there. But for novellas, this one was still done beautifully. They were high school sweethearts, who went their separate ways and hurt one another in the process. Not seeing each other in years, Christmas time and some little helpers created the perfect opportunity for a second chance!

“Even during our time apart, even when our hearts were both shattered, it’s always been you. Always and forever.”

It was so easy to like Nola and Caleb and their banter was laugh out loud hilarious and so much fun! Add into the mix Grandma Louise, who was an absolute hoot! And I adored Arden too, he delivered the mail and decided to play matchmaker. With fun letters and heartwarming scenes, this story was fabulous. If you’re looking for a quick and festive book to get you in the mood for the holidays, or even something fun to listen to, I can’t recommend this one enough!

BOOK REVIEWS: Resting Scrooge Face by Meghan Quinn & Almost Like Being in Love by Sariah Wilson

Almost Like Being in Love by Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
A modern-day Ohio woman and a seventeenth-century Scottish laird fall in love at first sight in a magical holiday romance by Sariah Wilson, the bestselling author of The Chemistry of Love.

Maren Kelly and her friend Penny may be lost in the Scottish Highlands, yes. They may be caught in the blizzard of the century, sure. But despite their dire straits, Maren is going to honor her ailing mother’s wish for them to experience all the magic, mystery, and whimsy Scotland has to offer, even if she freezes to death trying. When they’re rescued by the dashing Duncan Campbell, who seems like he walked straight out of the seventeenth century, Maren is more than a wee bit bewildered.

Their shelter is Duncan’s castle in Highglen, a captivating village that feels somehow familiar…as does the laird himself. Brimming with holiday cheer and friendly, boisterous family members, Highglen is a safe haven in the frigid winter storm. Maybe it’s the carolers and the warm hearth—or Duncan’s comforting brogue and stolen kisses—but Maren feels as though she’s come home. And in Duncan, she may have found her long-awaited soulmate.

But is this a miracle that could last a lifetime?

Review:

Almost Like Being in Love was a whimsical, heartwarming romance filled with magical realism. This story had characters that were so easy to like, and a storyline that was a lot of fun. The found family and friendships were done realistically. And the romance was very insta love. I adore Sariah Wilson’s full length novels, and I feel like this book would have worked better for me being longer, so the romance could have been explored more. But regardless, I adored the holiday setting in Scotland. And this was a very sweet Christmas story left me feeling happy. I’m hoping we’ll see more stories in this world!

Maybe it was Christmas, maybe it was Duncan, but Highglen was a place of pure magic. For the first time, I understood why my mother had told me to search for it.
I didn’t want to let it go.

BOOK REVIEWS: Sleighed by Vi Keeland & Penelope Ward and The Holiday Trap by Roan Parri

January 8, 2024 / Jen / 2 Comments

Sleighed by Vi Keeland, Penelope Ward
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Get Sleighed
When my ex dumped me right before Christmas, I was left with a luxury, all-expense paid trip for two to Cabo—private jet and all. Somehow, my best friend roped me into giving away the other half of the trip as a contest prize on her podcast. Kelly won the “World’s Worst Dump Story.” She and I didn’t meet until we arrived at the airport, which was when I discovered she was actually a he. Apparently we’d forgotten to include open to women only in the rules. My trip to Cabo started as a disaster, but as time went on Kelly and I grew close. Until someone unexpectedly showed up…

Lights out Love
Cole is utterly annoyed by his neighbor Josie’s obnoxious Christmas display. When she blows out power on the street, he marches over and lets her know what he thinks of the mess she’s made. But when the only generator in town brings the two nemeses together…the Christmas display isn’t the only thing burning bright.

Hot Item
Getting into a fight with a sexy stranger over the last hot toy on the shelf was not the way I intended to spend Christmas Eve. And I certainly didn’t plan on spending hours more trying to win a contest to decide who would get to buy it. But when our time is up, would the toy be the only hot item I wanted to take home?

Review:

Sleighed was filled with three short holiday stories that were a quick, fun read! Here’s my quick thoughts on each story….

Get Sleighed
Rating: 4 stars

We sat there with our battery- operated Santa playing music and sipped our eggnog while munching on cookies. Despite being too hot, this was my favorite Christmas in a very long time.

This was my favorite and I wish it was a full length novel. It was fun, flirty and made me smile so much! I adored Kelly, who was a quirky book boyfriend that was impossible not to fall in love with. He added so much joy. I loved his dancing Stanta playing music haha. And the necklace ohhhh so sweet! This was a cute story and while there was talk of sex, there was no steam on the pages.

Lights Out Love
Rating: 3.5 stars

“Cole here is going to help us lift out those heavy nutcrackers.”
I smirked at him. “Cole? Is that your real name or what old Saint Nick leaves in your stocking because you’re such a scrooge?”

This story dealt with a scroogey man named Cole, who was jaded from his ex. And then there was Josie who had all the Christmas joy in the world. I loved how she started to help Cole find the Christmas spirit. And his manger scene was absolutely hilarious! Their story was cheesy, adorable goodness, and will warm your heart!

Hot Item
Rating: 3 stars

Out of the three stories, this one had the best banter that was also so much fun! This story was about a single mom and a man who brought joy to her family. Their story is one I felt like could have benefited the most with a longer story. But it was still heartwarming.

The Holiday Trap by Roan Parrish
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Greta Russakoff loves her tight-knit family and tiny Maine hometown, but they can't seem to understand what it's like to be a lesbian living in such a small world. When an act of familial meddling goes way too far, she realizes just how desperately she needs space to figure out who she is.

Truman Belvedere's heart is crushed when he learns that his boyfriend has a secret life including a husband and daughter. Reeling, all he wants is a place to lick his wounds far, far away from Louisiana.

Enter a mutual friend with a life-altering idea: swap homes for the holidays. For one perfect month, Greta and Truman will have a chance to experience a whole new world…and maybe fall in love with the partner of their dreams. But all holidays must come to an end, and eventually these two transplants will have to decide whether the love (and found family) they each discovered so far from home is worth fighting for.

Review:

I think I need to make a resolution not to read books that have below a 3.6 rating on Goodreads. I felt like this book dragged on, I wasn’t a huge fan of some of the characters, and I couldn’t ever find it in me to care.

I wasn’t ever a fan of Greta or Carys. Greta was awkward and as someone who doesn’t mind cussing, here’s a heads up that she cusses and says wow a lot. I wish I wasn’t listening to the audio format so I could have searched how many wow’s there were in this book lol. But one of the things I struggled with the most, was I kept wondering what Greta ever saw in Carys. Yes she was pretty and there was passion between them, but that’s it. And while Carys could be kind, when she wanted to, she was finicky more times than not. Her explanations could be seen as condescending and she could be rude without even trying. Also I have to say that being pressed up to a tomb is not hot imo. That gave me a huge ick factor.

We also got a second romance in this book, which was Truman’s story. And I adored his romance, it was sweet and charming. When he met Ash, oh my heart it was so adorable and the two of them together balanced each other out so perfectly. They were kind, thoughtful and truly wanted the best for each other. But, here’s where the huge but comes in. Truman did something at the end of the story that is a huge NO in my world. Stalking is never okay! Imagine if you did what he did?! And then for it to be cheered for? That was not okay. I lost all the respect and love I had for Truman.

So this Christmas romance story, filled with two love stories, was not a hit for me. I won’t be reading any more of Roan Parrish’s romance stories.