BOOK REVIEW: The Halifax Hellions (Halifax Hellions #1 & #2) by Alexandra Vasti

February 15, 2026 / Jen / 0 Comments

The Halifax Hellions by Alexandra Vasti
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
From USA Today bestselling author Alexandra Vasti comes The Halifax Hellions: a pair of sexy, hilarious romps in which the most scandalous ladies in London finally meet their match.

From the day of their debut, when Matilda smoked a cheroot and Margo tied a cherry stem in a knot with her tongue, the Halifax twins have flouted convention at every turn. But when Matilda runs off with the dangerous Marquess of Ashford―who has every reason to hate her―she may have gone a bit too far.

Determined to stop Matilda’s inexplicable elopement, her sister Margo turns to her oldest friend for help: because if anyone can get her to Scotland in time, it’s starchy solicitor Henry Mortimer. But the road to Scotland is paved with secrets. Beneath his buttoned-up exterior, Henry is ardently, wildly, miserably in love with Margo. And Matilda and Ashford’s relationship too may not be quite what it seems.

Between salacious engravings, secret identities, and demanding feral cats, nothing about the journey goes as planned. With the Halifax Hellions at the reins, a week in a carriage is exactly enough time to turn the world upside down . . . and, perhaps, find the love stories they never expected.

For the first time ever in print, The Halifax Hellions brings together Margo and Matilda’s novellas, along with a swoony new epilogue.

Review:

The Halifax Hellions was hilarious, charming, steamy, and had a fun and flirty vibe! There are two novellas in this story, one for each twin, Margo and Matilda. Here are a few of my thoughts….

Physically, Henry was in hell, which was unfortunate, because spending every second of every day with Margo was fucking wonderful.

Margo:

He wanted to tell her he loved her. He wanted to tell her that he’d always loved her, that he would sell his soul to be inside her once more.

This friends to lovers, older brother’s best friend romance was my favorite! We alternated between Margo and Henry and I adored both of their thoughts. Especially Henry, because while he tried to be rational and a good friend, he wanted her so badly. And Margo was lusting after Henry too. With steamy and descriptive scenes, I loved watching them cross that line of friendship into more! And they both got a beautiful and HEA!

Matilda:

She wanted to tease him until he said it again, wanted to fray his control until he turned her over his knee.

This steamy, age gap romance was swoon worthy! Matilda was clever and so easy to love! And Ashford could seem so buttoned up, but he definitely had a different side to him too. He had such a big heart, and I loved watching as he slowly let Matilda in. This story overlapped with Margo’s, and I was shocked how things truly unfolded. It kept me on my toes! With a memorable cat, and a beautiful ending that wrapped up alongside her sister and Henry, I adored this book!

I want forever, any way I can get it.

If you’re looking for a steamy historical romance that will also have you laughing out loud, definitely pick this one up!

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

BOOK REVIEW: Christmas With a Crank by Courtney Walsh

February 14, 2026 / Jen / 0 Comments

Christmas With a Crank by Courtney Walsh
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
A second chance with your first crush.

Doesn’t happen often.

For Liam Fisher, that first crush was his next door neighbor, Olive Witherby.

Childhood was lazy summers, treehouse stargazing, and endless games of hide and seek at Pine Creek, the Christmas tree farm that’s been in Liam’s family for generations.

When Liam moves away, he and Olive say goodbye the only way they know how—with a fumbling first kiss neither of them will ever forget.

Even though twelve-year olds’ promises of keeping in touch feel eternal, time and distance eventually make Olive and Liam practically strangers.

Twenty years later, Liam’s parents announce they’re retiring and selling the tree farm.

Twenty years later, Pine Creek is the last place grown-up Liam wants to be. Inherit this legacy? Not on your life.

And twenty years later, grown-up Olive is stuck.

Her work life is a lot like her love life—floundering. After a humiliating business failure, loads of debt, and one too many laughable first dates, she’s in no hurry to put herself out there again, in business or in romance.

When Olive is hired by Liam’s parents to rekindle the lost magic of the farm one final time before it’s sold, she sets out to make this the last, best Pine Creek Christmas, for the town and for a very cranky, not-so-talkative, surprisingly attractive Liam.

Part of her mission? Convince the crank to fall in love with Christmas.

The other part? Not fall head over heels in the process.

Christmas With a Crank is a low spice grumpy/sunshine, childhood crush, opposites attract romance with plenty of sizzle but none of the steam.

Review:

Christmas With a Crank was a grumpy sunshine, holiday romance that will capture your heart! When Liam’s parents announced that they were selling the family tree farm, they hired Olive to help them have one last fabulous Christmas. Liam and Olive used to be neighbors and best friends. So the tension between them was fabulous, and the storyline was beyond adorable. This festive book was impossible to put down!

Liam is endearingly handsome when he doesn’t talk.
That thought makes me laugh to myself. Great guy, good- looking, but a total jerk when he opens his mouth.
The kind, soft, tender side of Liam has to be in there somewhere, right?

Olive was one of my favorites! She was hilarious, energetic, so happy, and I loved spending time with her! She made me laugh out loud so many times! Whereas Liam was the ultimate grump. But I’m so glad that we got to hear both of their points of view! Liam could come across as rude to others, but he just got lost in his thoughts. Listening to where his brain would take us, oh my heart, he had so much going on. I loved him! He did listen, and I loved that he showed that he cared too!

I meet her eyes— “It’s always been you, Liv.”

Watching their friendship slowly snap back into place with Olive’s kind heart and persistence was beautiful to watch. With homemade ice cream sandwiches, Christmas trees galore, forts, and lots of family charm, this Christmas romance was heartwarming and memorable! I listened to the audiobook and was completely lost in this story! It ended happily and left me hoping that Liam’s sister, Lacey, gets her own book. I have all my fingers crossed!

BOOK REVIEW: The Odds of You by Kate Dramis

February 13, 2026 / Jen / 0 Comments

The Odds of You by Kate Dramis
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Sage Collins knows a thing or two about odds. A year ago, she was a data analyst until she burned it all down to pursue her dream of becoming an author. One whirlwind bestseller and a struggling second book later, and Sage isn’t sure she’ll ever write a novel again.

But then an accidental encounter with an irritating passenger on the flight to Comic Con leaves Sage in an untested position. That passenger is Theo Sharpe: a breakout actor on the cusp of fame. And, unfortunately, the paparazzi have mistaken her for his girlfriend.

Armed with signature British charm and a smile that could tame oceans, Theo wears fame like a well-fit coat…though Sage can see there’s something deeper held in his eyes. But his fans are too involved in the drama, the pressure to deliver the next bestseller is on, and Sage and Theo both must agree there’s nothing between them. They don't have to acknowledge that saying it doesn't make it true.

When Sage decides to flee to Scotland to clear her head and write her novel, she expects to find fresh air and the stillness to think. What she doesn’t expect is Theo Sharpe to come back into her life…and how he may be her greatest miscalculation of all.

An emotionally-charged novel in the vein of Ashley Poston and Yulin Kuang, The Odds of You is a smart and sexy first contemporary novel from bestselling romantasy author Kate Dramis.

Review:

The Odds of You was a celebrity romance set with a beautiful background. With a quaint little town I want to visit someday, I loved the scenery in this book! I adored the golden retriever MMC, but I unfortunately struggled with Sage. She could be her own worst enemy. Her negative thoughts and her fixation on things affected my mental health reading this book. So, I faltered when connecting to not only Sage, but the romance too. Connecting to the main characters and romance is a must for me to truly enjoy or love a book. Even though I struggled, this steamy romance had a lot of heart, and a wonderful happy ending that readers will adore.

It’s never going to be enough because you want everyone to love you, to tell you that you’re good enough, that you’re worth it, but you don’t even believe that you are!

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

BOOK REVIEW: We Who Will Die (Empire of Blood #1) by Stacia Stark

February 12, 2026 / Jen / 0 Comments

We Who Will Die (Empire of Blood #1)
by Stacia Stark
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Life in the perilous Thorn district is a constant battle for Arvelle and her younger brothers. And the vampire standing on her doorstep is about to turn their world upside down.

Faced with an unthinkable choice, Arvelle makes a magically binding vow to do the impossible: kill the emperor, an ancient vampire created by the god Umbros. But first, she must enter the Sundering—an arena where only the fastest, strongest, and deadliest survive long enough to be selected for the emperor’s elite guard.

She quickly draws the ire of the Primus, the powerful figure charged with protecting the emperor. But the vampire under the armor is the last person Arvelle expects to encounter in the emperor’s court.

With her brothers’ lives in the balance, Arvelle has no choice but to ally with the man who once shattered her heart… and with the emperor’s sadistic son, Rorrik—two vampires whose motives are impossible to pin down. Rorrik holds the key to understanding the powers Arvelle is developing—abilities that would put a price on her head if discovered by the emperor.

To survive the arena and complete her mission, Arvelle must get to the bottom of a conspiracy that will change everything she thought she knew about herself—and the two vampires who are deeply entwined with her destiny…

Review:

With gladiator vibes and deadly trials, this book held me in the palm of its hand. The characters were so effortless to love and cheer on! Especially since Arvelle would do anything for her younger brothers. As this story unfolded with a slow burn, second chance romance, not everything was as it seems. With fun twists and turns, We Who Will Die was another huge hit and instant favorite by Stacia Stark! If you love romantasy, you desperately need this book in your life!

A chill slides down my spine. Every move I’ve made was to ensure I’d never have to fight for the emperor again. It’s bitterly ironic that those very steps have led me right back to this exact situation.

I was terrified for Arvelle’s journey. She was so smart and refused to give in, even with her past haunting her at every turn. But she lived in a deadly world. While it was Roman-inspired with magic, I loved that it was filled with vampires, magical creatures, and gods. I found myself screaming, crying, and clapping. And with mystery swirling through the pages, it made this story impossible to put down! One of my favorite things about Stacia Stark’s books is that her characters are always so effortless to connect to. There were so many that you couldn’t help but love, and others that will make you rage.

When he moves toward me, any pretense of civility is gone. This is the man who disemboweled his enemy the first time I saw him.
He was always this man.

With sacrifices, deals made, steamy moments, jealousy, and more, We Who Will Die was so easy to love. And while I guessed a few of the twists correctly, a few of them I definitely didn’t. Now here’s the struggle, I usually talk about the romantic interest in my reviews. But I think you need to discover this on your own. I’ll just say….while my brain is torn, my heart is leading me solidly down one path. And that path makes me nervous! So, with countless shades of gray and not everything is as it seems, this story left us at a fabulous spot. You’ll be able to breathe, somewhat. I can’t wait to start that next book!

Other Favorite Quotes:

The pain of loss never ends. It never gets better. Anyone who says it does is lying.

The stars are blocked by the Primus as he looms over me. He doesn’t offer to help me up. Instead, he crouches down. And when he dips his chin, the movement is suddenly so familiar, my heart stutters in my chest.

“All this time I thought leaving you smashed my heart into pieces, and I’d be picking shards out of my chest until the day I died. But my heart wasn’t smashed. I left it with you, and you’ve held it hostage ever since.”

He tastes like lost dreams and a thousand sleepless nights. He tastes like young love and bitter heartbreak.

“I missed you more than I miss the sun,” he says hoarsely.

“You never should have come here. And I’m a selfish bastard because I’m so fucking glad you did.”

Nothing else exists except this moment. These sensations. Us.

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

BOOK REVIEW: Dirty Hit by Livy Hart

February 5, 2026 / Jen / 0 Comments

Dirty Hit by Livy Hart
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Gender-bent TED LASSO meets THE DEAL in a new grumpy/sunshine hockey romance from bestselling author Livy Hart.

When a career-ending injury forces hockey superstar Sadie Rivers to hang up her skates, she never expects to be the NHL’s first female coach. The Portland Fury are the league’s worst team—and Sadie has one season to turn the franchise around. Critics of her “soft touch” coaching style make no secret of their skepticism, but Sadie has never bucked a challenge, on or off the ice.

Defenseman Leo McLaren is hockey royalty. Or he was, until a dirty hit last season left him with a shoulder injury and migraines that have destroyed his game. When he’s traded to the Fury, it feels like the end of his hockey dreams. That is, until the new head coach names him captain—and asks for his help getting to know the team, who resist her personal approach.

Secret coach-captain meet-ups lead to a tentative friendship that quickly turns into sizzling chemistry hot enough to melt a hockey rink. But with the season and both their careers on the line, Sadie and Leo will have to decide if love is a risk worth taking when the game they’re playing demands all they have to give.

Review:

Dirty Hit was a grumpy sunshine hockey romance that pulled me in from the beginning. I was excited for the position that Sadie found herself in, but horrified with the team dynamics and how they treated her. She was the first female NHL coach, and the team she was hired to turn around just had 59 losses. Brutal. They also added a new player, Leo who was a hockey god. But saying he had a rough last year was an understatement. With Sadie’s uphill battle, and Leo’s personal body becoming his own worst enemy, I kept my fingers crossed that Leo, Sadie, and this underdog team could defy the odds!

I should use the five or so feet left between us to talk myself out of making a mistake. But maybe the mistake was already made long ago, and now I’m just living the consequences.

As negotiations were made and Sadie and Leo spent more time together, I started to fall for them. They were both attracted to each other, and it led to a forbidden romance filled with tension and longing. But Sadie could be too nice sometimes to the men on the team who treated her like an inconvenience. And while Leo could be sweet, caring, and protective of Sadie, his grumpy closed off persona shined brightly. Along with his internal struggles. With guilt, steamy moments, and the beginnings of a found family starting to form, this book was a quick and easy binge! While the ending wrapped up a little too quickly for my liking, I was left with a smile on my face and I’m excited to read the next book!

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