Review // Nobody Cares Unless You're Pretty by Lani Lynn Vale

October 26, 2022

Nobody Cares Unless You're Pretty by Lani Lynn Vale

Finally realized that I wasn't asking too much. I was just asking the wrong person. ~ Wake to Dutch

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Nobody Cares Unless You're Pretty by Lani Lynn Vale

Nobody Cares Unless You're Pretty by Lani Lynn Vale


Standalone - Gator Bait MC #1
Release - November 1, 2022
Genre - Contemporary Romance / MC romance elements
Dual POV - 1st person
Heat - 4 out of 5 / several descriptive scenes
Format/Source - eARC provided by Uplifting Author Services
Length - 257 pages
Publisher - Indie

The problem with Wake was that he was understandable.

He was the type of villain that literally scared the absolute sh*t out of you because you knew that under the right circumstances, you could end up exactly like him.

Which, sadly, was the case for me.

I’d done the exact same thing as Wake, and now I was a murderer just like him.

Did I know that I did wrong? Hell yes.

Did I regret that? Hell no.

Did I plan on changing a thing? Also, no.

Was I falling in love with a man that should scare the shit out of me? A resounding hell yes.

My Two Cents

4.5 "Spousal Privilege" stars

Nobody Cares Unless You're Pretty was the perfect introduction to the Gator Bait series!

After meeting Wake Westfield during the craziness of Bram and Dory's story, I was excited to see that he was getting his own book. Not only that, but it would be in a new, undiscovered town with completely new characters. And to say that these people are already compelling would be an understatement. Getting to know them here was such a treat!

So there's Wake, who had served time for killing the man who thought it was okay to touch his daughter. And he didn't stop there. Oh no... He wanted everyone to feel as safe as his daughter did, so he went on a spree and started killing all of the pedophiles in the area. I know I shouldn't condone his behavior, but... I can't help myself!!

Then there's Dutch, who met Wake by asking him how to get away with murder. It was love at first sight, for both of them. If only their story was that easy.

Terror and corruption were rife in the town of Accident, and it was up to these two and their friends to fight against it, by any means necessary. There were plenty of laughs, tender moments, and tons of love interspersed with bits of suspense and mystery, making this a book I couldn't put down.

I had to know what happened next.
I needed to know that my peeps were going to be okay.
And behind all of that, I was also rooting for Dayden and Lolo. Tell me these two weren't adorable?!

New series. New stories. New characters. I'm definitely gonna be here for all of it!

The Author

Lani Lynn Vale is married to the love of her life that she met in high school. She fell in love with him because he was wearing baseball pants. Ten years later they have three perfectly crazy children and a cat named Demon who likes to wake her up at ungodly times in the night. They live in the greatest state in the world, Texas. She writes contemporary and romantic suspense, and has a love for all things romance. You can find Lani in front of her computer writing away in her fictional characters world...that is until her husband and kids demand sustenance in the form of food and drink.

Visit https://lanilynnvale.com for more information!

Review // A Queen of Broken Realms by Brynne Weaver

October 25, 2022

A Queen of Broken Realms by Brynne Weaver

So many times I've tried to imagine we weren't meant to be enemies, even when we were. I wanted to forget we were a vampire and a demon, hunter and prey. I wished we were just a man and a woman, trying to come to terms with one another. Probably ourselves too. Now, suddenly, I realize how precious this moment is. Because I'm not trying. That's all we are.

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A Queen of Broken Realms by Brynne Weaver

A Queen of Broken Realms by Brynne Weaver


The Shadow Realm #3
Release - October 27, 2022
Genre - Paranormal Romance / enemies-to-lovers
Dual POV - 1st person
Heat - 4 out of 5 / several descriptive scenes
Format/Source - eARC provided by the author
Length - 379 pages
Publisher - Indie


Lu promised herself she would never go back to the Shadow Realm, but the fates have other plans. Ashen has forfeited his rule to crown Lu the Queen of the Reapers, and now she has the power to remake the realm of the demons, to bring back merciful justice to the land where souls suffer in eternal servitude and violence lurks in the twilight fog. But not everyone is on board with the new change in leadership to a vampire queen, and following the torture and trauma of her last visit to the Shadow Realm, Lu isn’t thrilled about it either.

Trouble is, there are worse creatures than the dangerous demons whose flaming eyes follow her through their realm of darkness.

Lu’s enemies aren’t just lurking in the shadows. They’re beating down her door.

When Lu and Ashen are attacked in the Shadow Realm, the secret goals of the Nephilim begin to surface like creatures of the deep, dragging everyone’s ancient history with them as they rise. And if the Nephilim succeed, they will seize the ultimate power to rebuild the realms to their own design. Their reach and might is greater than anyone anticipated. And unless Lu can conquer not only her own fears but the distrust that immortals hold against one another, the Nephilim will win the new war.

Secrets have sharp edges in the Shadow Realm. Love can be a lethal poison. And Lu must never forget…
No betrayal is worse than when it’s delivered by the hand of someone you love.

A Queen of Broken Realms by Brynne Weaver

My Two Cents

4.5 "A few endings... and new beginnings" stars

With A Queen of Broken Realms, Brynne Weaver delivered a book full of action, chaos, blood and guts mayhem, and so much love. Seriously, love was virtually overflowing from the pages of this book!

Who knew that such a perilous story would also make me laugh? I laughed so freaking much and at the most inappropriate times, but that was the kind of humor these characters had. Finding joy amidst the darkness. Having a smile through the madness. And I loved every moment that this demon full of rage and his lover found happiness.

"Your touch reminds me that there are better things than rage." - Ashen

In the end, everyone is where they are meant to be. Honestly, I don't want to give you much more than that because this is a story you need to experience yourself. And while I'm still left in confusion as to why Ashen gave up his kingdom (yes, yes... I get it... he's broken and feels undeserving... but STILL c'mon!!), my bafflement means nothing. Because this story was amazing. Each person that mattered was incredible. Ashen is still my favorite, but Lu is right up there because she was beautifully vulnerable in this book. So real!

So yeah, start from book one and read on. The discovery of The Shadow Realm does not disappoint!

Quick Peek

I take off my clothes, setting them on a dry patch of stone when I'm done. Ashen places his on mine and I nearly choke on my own spit.
"What?" he asks, confusion thick in his voice as I cough. It's impossible to look hot in a bikini when you hack up a lung, by the way, but I still make a valiant effort.
"It's just...I mean...I've seen you naked—"
"Obviously—" "And I've seen you with tailored suits, and armor, and then those snakeskin wings, I mean those are really f*cking hot. Seriously. I like the wings. But why," I say, my voice almost pained as I wave my hand in his direction and try not to cough. "Why is it you look even hotter in swim trunks? Your audacity knows no bounds, Ashen."
And oh my God, no sooner do the words leave my mouth than the demon blushes. Impossibly, he's even sexier than he was just two seconds ago. I cross my arms beneath my boobs and cock a hip and give him a chastising arch of my brow like this is a problem. Frankly, it is. Those low-slung black swim trunks with their subtle diamond pattern in thin lines of charcoal gray, the expanse of muscle and radiant skin and lines upon lines of black tattoos, they are a problem. A big problem. Because I'm about ready to jump him in what will shortly be a public location full of off-season human tourists looking to make the most of this instagrammable location.

The Author

Brynne is a fan of velociraptors, the Alien movies (well, most of them), red wine, and wild adventures.

She can relate nearly anything you say to a line from the movie Hot Fuzz. She has been trying unsuccessfully for years to convince her husband that they should acquire a pet mink to add to their menagerie of animals (what could possibly go wrong with that plan?!).

Brynne has been everything from an archaeologist to a waitress, a deep-sea core analyst to an advertising account executive. For the last several years, she has been working in the field of neuroscience clinical research. Brynne has been writing since childhood and has published a non-fiction book under her real name, but she won’t tell you what it is unless you provide a live, fully trained velociraptor.

When not busy at her day job or writing, Brynne can be found working with her husband and their son on their family farm in Nova Scotia, Canada, or enjoying her other passions which include riding horses, reading, and spending time with family and friends around a raclette and a bottle of wine.

Find Brynne Weaver here:
Goodreads * Facebook * Instagram

Books That Didn't Make the Cut Pt. 5

October 24, 2022


Since the last one of these posts, I received a few messages asking why I would basically put these authors on blast. Here's the thing: that's not my intention. AT ALL! These posts aren't about putting down these books or these authors. Things that bother me in a book, things that make me quit or rate poorly, aren't necessarily the same things that would trouble you. We are individuals with independent thoughts, opinions and actions. What I like may not be the same thing you like. I could possibly hate what you love. And there's nothing wrong with that.

Some people love angst or slow builds or little to no sex in their books. I'm not that person. Will I read and enjoy books like that? Absolutely! However, they don't always work for me. And as anyone who has ever read my reviews will tell you, heroines usually make or break a book for me. So there's that.

Welcome to another post about three books that didn't work for me, but just might be your next favorite read!



Bound by Flames by Jeaniene Frost


Play with fire, pay the price.

Leila’s years on the carnie circuit were certainly an education. What she didn’t learn: how to be a vampire, or how to be married to the most famous vampire of them all. Adjusting to both has Leila teetering on a knife edge between passion and peril, and now the real danger is about to begin…

Vlad must battle with a centuries-old enemy whose reach stretches across continents and whose strength equals his own. It isn’t like Vlad to feel fear, but he does…for Leila, because his enemy knows she is Vlad’s greatest weakness. As friend and foe alike align against him—and his overprotectiveness drives Leila away—Vlad’s love for his new bride could be the very thing that dooms them both…

*** DNF ~ I had to stop at 18%. I realized I was forcing it and that is no way to enjoy a book. I'm over Leila. I can't put up with her for one moment more. Which sucks, because I have these books sitting on my bookshelves and I was so looking forward to reading and falling in love with these characters. If only I got some of Vlad to keep me going. Unfortunately, this is Leila's story and Vlad is just a character in it. Unfortunately. So unfortunate.

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Lovers Lies and Lilies by Ronald D. Walker


In 1944, women were thought to be the weaker sex. Divorce was unheard of—a woman’s place was in the home, obeying her spouse and raising their children. After a miscarriage, Calvin Barnes blamed his wife Sarah for being too weak to carry out her duties. His violent, drunken rampages turned deadly.
A chance encounter with a mysterious stranger empowers Sarah to find freedom, sexual enlightenment, and love. Wealthy businessman, Jon Bartleaux, teaches Sarah there is more to life than the 1940s mindset of sex only being for procreation at the pleasure of the husband. Treated as an equal, he teaches her that tender, generous, mutually satisfying sex can be enjoyed by both partners.
Sarah puts the pain and guilt of her past behind her until her sister Carol asks for help with a neighbor who is desperate to escape her husband’s abuse, with the added danger of a standing hitman contract should anything happen to him. Will Sarah risk revealing her secret weapon for ending spousal abuse to help Twyla?
Will Jon’s terrible secret unravel it all?

*** DNF ~ I'm not going to rate this because I didn't finish. Technically, I got to 32% and skipped to the end. It was a hard read for me.

★ I actually liked the realistic abuse scenes between Sarah and her husband. Don't get me wrong, I don't condone it, but I admire the author for not sugarcoating how ugly it was.
★ I didn't like Sarah. She made excuses (which is typical of abuse victims), but she had the presence of mind to correctly identify how wrong things were. But she blamed herself. She couldn't leave because he'd kill her. But wasn't he killing you anyway?
★ the sex scene with Jon. What was that? It was hot if you take out the textbook mumbo jumbo. It was ridiculous!

So yeah, I was entertained for the most part and yet incredibly bored.


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Broken by K Webster


Andi has the perfect life. She is about to graduate with an Architecture degree and marry her-All American baseball star-fiancé. When she catches him in bed with another woman, her world is turned upside down. Left to pick up the pieces of her shattered life, she takes on a new persona — a promiscuous one. This new role protects her heart from ever being broken again.

Andi now lives by a set of rules. The game? Sex with a new pawn every weekend. Every Friday, she sets her sight on a new sexy, successful man to play along — no strings attached, please. When Monday rolls around, she kicks them to the curb and moves on. It has helped her get through the pain of her past — that is, until she meets Jackson.

The mysterious Jackson is excited to play her game. He too has had his heart broken in the past and isn’t looking for a repeat. Eventually, hearts get involved and Andi wonders if the game is still worth playing. Will she look for a new pawn or will she break the rules with Jackson?

*** DNF ~ I don't think I have to tell most of you how very much I love K. Webster. From her sweet, erotic contemporary romance to her dark romance to her taboo reads, she continues to captivate me one book at a time. But this book... nope. I couldn't do it. I'm so glad her writing and her ideas have become so much better because if this was a taste of what she had to offer, I'm not sure I would have read from her again. I'm ecstatic that I'd already fallen in love with her amazing ass way before this.

The heroine: ick
The hero: no idea
The plot: seriously?
The heat: on point

Review // Witches Get Stitches by Juliette Cross

October 21, 2022

Witches Get Stitches by Juliette Cross

I wasn't going anywhere, and I wasn't going to give up until I got what I wanted.
Her.

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Witches Get Stitches by Juliette Cross

Witches Get Stitches by Juliette Cross


Standalone - Stay a Spell #3
Release - July 20, 2021
Genre - Paranormal Romance / friends to lovers
Dual POV - 1st person
Heat - 3.5 out of 5 / a few scenes
Format/Source - ebook borrowed from the library
Length - 392 pages
Publisher - Indie

Also in this series: Wolf Gone Wild * Don't Hex and Drive

Violet Savoie has a plan. A dream, rather. To open her own tattoo shop, which caters to supernaturals in need of permanent charms. As a powerful Seer, she has the potent magic to cast every kind of spell. Except the kind to give werewolves control over their beastly side. And her business partner Nico needs help in the worst kind of way.

Nico Cruz has a secret. A motive, rather. To subtly stalk and seduce Violet until she finally recognizes they are fated to be together. Ever since their heated encounter in Austin on New Year’s Eve two years earlier, he’s been dying to get his hands—and his tongue—back on her body. He knows a woman like Violet can’t be courted in the usual way. Luckily, Nico has no scruples about misbehaving to get what he wants.

But when his former pack roams into town, and an old friend is far too interested in Violet, his focus shifts to the threat venturing into his territory. Nico may come across as the quiet, broody one, but the intruders are about to regret stepping foot in New Orleans. And when Violet goes missing, no charm or spell can keep Nico’s wolf at bay.

Witches Get Stitches by Juliette Cross

My Two Cents

3.5 "Get Your Head Out of Your Ass, Girl" stars

Well-written with a romance that had plenty of swoon-worthy moments (thank you, Nico), Witches Get Stitches was a pleasure to read. Nico was just as Alpha I wanted him to be, kind of had a cinnamon roll vibe, sexy and kind, talented and shy, a bit broken... mmmhmmm... Nico was yummy!

I have to admit, I loved pretty much everything about this story... except for Violet Savoie.

Hear me out! Violet was an enjoyable character. Funny, kind, super sweet when she chose to be...
She was also extremely compassionate... just not to the man whose heart she held in her hands.
She did Nico dirty for two years. TWO YEARS!! And while he wore his heart on his sleeve, giving her any and everything, she kept him firmly in the friend zone.
Why?
She did a reading about their future, misread it, and doomed him to heartbreak.
Know what's funny?
She knew that she wasn't supposed to do reads for herself. She was warned!
She did it anyway and caused a lot of unnecessary drama.

So yeah... for the most part, I wasn't a fan of hers. However, Nico was a dream!

The Author


Juliette lives in moss-laden Cajun country in Louisiana where she lives with her husband, four kids, and black lab, Kona. She is a multi-published author of paranormal and fantasy romance with confident, persevering heroines and dark, sexy heroes. While she enjoys reading and writing the dark, broody types, she also appreciates the fun, levity of humor in a good love story, so she tries to give her characters both on their way to their HEA.

Visit http://juliettecross.com for more information

Free Books & Book Deals - October 21, 2022


Hello everyone and Happy Friday!!

I'm back with a new list of books that are either free or for sale for less than $2. These books are cheap and we should grab them up at these prices while we can.

I hope your weekend is happy, healthy and safe! Happy Hunting xo

Please Note: All books are listed for $2 or less (prices valid at time of post). I apologize in advance if the sale is over by the time you found yourself here.

I only list authors I've either read or plan to read. If you know of any deals that are missing that you'd like to share, that I'd probably enjoy, please let me know in the comments section below :)



*** Anthology ***


A. Zavarelli


Adriana Locke


Aleatha Romig


Amo Jones


Amy Harmon


Aurora Rose Reynolds


CD Reiss


Carly Phillips


Helen Hardt


Helena Hunting


Honey Phillips


Ilsa Madden-Mills


J. Kenner


J.T. Geissinger


K Webster


Kendall Ryan


Kristen Callihan


L.J. Shen


Lauren Landish


Layla Hagen


Lisa Renee Jones


Louise Bay


Mariana Zapata


Marni Mann


Meghan Quinn


Melissa Foster


Pam Godwin


Pepper Winters


Rebecca Zanetti


Ruby Dixon


Shayla Black


Skye Warren


Susan Stoker


Suzanne Wright


Taylor Jenkins Reid


Vi Keeland & Penelope Ward