Review // One Cursed Rose by Rebecca Zanetti

December 31, 2023

One Cursed Rose by Rebecca Zanetti

Find it here: Goodreads * Amazon



One Cursed Rose by Rebecca Zanetti

One Cursed Rose by Rebecca Zanetti


Rating -
Standalone - Grimm Bargains #1
Release - June 25, 2024
Genre/Trope - Paranormal Romance / enemies-to-lovers / retelling
POV - Dual 1st person
Heat - explicit scenes
Source - eARC provided by NetGalley
Length - 400 pages

Information is power, and those who control it live like gods.
In my world, billionaires play deadly games of insult and influence where magic is the dirtiest weapon of all. Here, even a powerful princess can be swallowed by the darkest of shadows . . .

My name is Alana Beaumont, and due to a recent tragedy, I’m the sole heir to Aquarius Social, a family business being systematically dismantled by an unseen enemy. My father’s solution is to give me in marriage and create a coalition with a competing family, so I’m torn between my thirst for revenge and my duty. Now I just have a week to finish my hunt before the wedding.

There’s nothing like an assassination attempt to cut short the best of plans—even worse is my unwanted rescue by Thorn Beathach, the Beast whose social media empire is driving Aquarius under. The richest, most ruthless of them all, he protects his realm with an iron rule: no one sees his face. When he shows himself to me, I know he’ll never let me go.

Thorn may think he can lock me in his castle forever, but I’m not the docile Beauty he expects. If the Beast wants to tie me up, I’m going to take pleasure from every minute of it . . .and we’ll just see who ends up shackled.


Anyone who pays attention to my reading habits knows that Rebecca Zanetti is an author I HAVE to read. No joke. Anything she writes, I want it. Hearing about a dark romance from one of my favourite authors? You know I had to get my hands on it. So here's what I liked:

Beauty and the Beast... twisted and screwed.
rivals to lovers plot. You know it's going to be hot when their relationship starts off with animosity, defiance, and misunderstandings.
Thorn's a stalker. Watching his prey's every move, but never really getting to know her... until he kidnaps her!
a stunning AND smart heroine. Alana was so much more than she seemed and I enjoyed watching her embrace her power.
the fantastical elements with the gems. I still don't really understand the power that these stones have, but I'm very interested in learning more.
the bond that grew between our protagonists. It may have been a tad unorthodox, especially with the way Thorn courted Alana, but it was entertaining.

My only issue with this story — aside from the missing information about the gems, their power, and how and why they're relied upon — was the fact that I was promised a dark romance and this wasn't it. Aside from the kidnapping, the captivity, the killing of people (by Thorn), and the mystery surrounding some other deaths, there wasn't anything really dark. It was more suspenseful than anything else. It did read differently than anything I've read from this author before. I had to remind myself a time or two about who actually wrote this story because the tone felt very new.

I'd recommend this to anyone who enjoys suspense with a splash of the supernatural in their love stories.


Rebecca Zanetti is the author of over forty romantic suspense, dark paranormals, and contemporary romances, and her books have appeared multiple times on the New York Times, USA Today, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iBooks bestseller lists. She lives in the wilds of the Pacific Northwest with her own Alpha hero, two kids, a couple of dogs, a crazy cat…and a huge extended family. She believes strongly in luck, karma, and working her butt off…and she thinks one of the best things about being an author, unlike the lawyer she used to be, is that she can let the crazy out. Upcoming series are: The Blood Brothers, The Realm Enforcers and The Scorpius Syndrome.

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

Review // The Wrath by Gena Showalter

December 27, 2023

The Wrath by Gena Showalter

Find it here: Goodreads * Amazon



The Wrath by Gena Showalter

The Wrath by Gena Showalter


Rating -
Standalone - Rise of the Warlords #4
Release - February 6, 2024
Genre/Trope - Paranormal Romance / fated mates
POV - Multiple 3rd person
Heat - descriptive scenes
Source - eARC from NetGalley
Length - 378 pages

For centuries, Rathbone the Only, King of Agonies, has existed for one recovering the enchanted bones of his slain wife to bring her back to life. He’s never been closer to success. But a new enemy has risen. A band of deadly war gods who have thirty days to destroy her or suffer the consequences. With time running out, Rathbone hires a maddening harpy-oracle, unaware she has an agenda of her own.

Neeka the Unwanted is a fierce warrior on a stop Rathbone and the gods. She’s seen the future if either is victorious, and it’s horrifying. She’ll do whatever proves necessary to forge a new path, even seduce the ruthless royal from his purpose. What she can’t predict? How the intense male will shatter her hard-won defenses along the way.

As Rathbone battles unexpected betrayals, cunning foes and the wild temptress he craves with every fiber of his being, he knows he must hold on to a cold dream or embrace a new flame.


Why did no one ever see her potential?


The Wrath by Gena Showalter


Okay. Wow. I need to start this series from the beginning because I AM IN LOVE WITH THE WAY THESE BEINGS LOVE!!

Rathbone has spent centuries trying to put his wife back together. Neeka is the oracle who will help him find the remaining bones. The journey is what proves to these two that they deserve so much more than they ever believed.

Strangely enough, Neeka was maybe kinda sorta envious of the corpse. Oh, to be loved in such a way. Thanks to Grenwich's chosen moniker, Neeka herself was forever cursed to be, well, unwanted. Her lack of male companionship had nothing to do with her personality, she was certain of it. She slapped!

Rathbone and Neeka were raised to feel wanting. He was "If Only" and she was "The Unwanted", however, together... these two finally found the one person perfect for them. It took a loooooong time to realize it and they had to jump over many obstacles to obtain their happiness, but I felt their hope for forever right from the beginning.

He didn't understand the intensity and speed of his reaction to her. And what was this new, terrible sensation growing inside him? This... calm. As if everything was right, nothing missing, nothing broken. Even though so much was missing and nearly everything was broken. How was a king supposed to get anything done feeling like this? He hated it. And loved it. What did it mean?

My copy of this book wasn't formatted, but that didn't stop me from savouring this story. I flipped pages while ignoring everything pertinent to my life. Who cared about laundry, dishes, or cleaning. Priorties!!

I do wish I had read the previous books in the series, but I was in no way lost or felt like I was missing something. Reading this book only made me want to read those stories pronto. So if you like paranormal romance, exceptionally oblivious but incredibly endearing heroes, fierce and hilarious heroines, and an intense plot, you'll need this book in your life.

Why did she have to be beautiful and soft? Smell so sweet. Rouse his smiles. Be so brilliant. Look at him as if she admired him as much as he admired her. His ever-increasing hunger for her complicated things. He should be strong enough to resist. But. He wasn't.


Gena Showalter is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of a multitude of sub-genres within romance: paranormal, Fantasy, contemporary, and young adult. She’s also written standalone novels, novellas and anthologies, as well as co-authored a nonfiction guide about how to write a book in a year.

Gena lives in Oklahoma with her husband, two adult children who grew up way too fast, and menagerie of dogs and cats who enjoy farting while she works, walking across her keyboard during pivotal scenes and demanding pets at all hours of the day and night. Her novels have appeared in Cosmopolitan’s Red Hot Reads and Seventeen magazine. She’s been interviewed on Nightline and mentioned on Orange is the New Black—the very moment her family decided she might be a real writer after all.

Chances are good she’s hard at work on her next novel. Chances are even better that the book is a twisted tale featuring an alpha male with a dark side and the strong woman who (lovingly…sometimes) kneecaps him.

Visit https://genashowalter.com for more information.

What to Read Weekend (Dec.22)

December 22, 2023


Hello and Happy Friday!

I FINALLY decorated. It's nothing like past years, but my kids told me something is better than nothing. I'm working on getting into the holiday spirit. I have a few more gifts to get (yes, I'm doing the last minute thing for the first time in years) and hoping that everyone has an amazing Christmas!!

Alright, below I'm sharing a week's worth of what I want to read, what I want to buy (or borrow), what I want to read, and several romance book bargains.

Hopefully you find something to enjoy here too!

New Releases of the Week



Upcoming Releases of the Week


Dec.25 — Balls to the Walls by Giulia Lagomarsino
Dec.25 — State of Bliss by Marie Force
Dec.26 — Ashes by Abbi Glines
Dec.26 — Melody by Helen Hardt
Dec.27 — The Season of Secrets by Q.B. Tyler
Dec.28 — Buried Under Ice by Cynthia Eden
Dec.28 — The Playboy by Marni Mann
Dec.28 — Sold to the Enemy by Sam Crescent
Dec.29 — Lethal Vows by T.L. Smith
Dec.31 — Wrath of the Damned by Ella Fields

What I'm Reading Next


One Cursed Rose by Rebecca Zanetti
Scheme by Colette Rhodes
A Soul to Touch by Opal Reyne
Sharpest Edge by Alessa Thorn
Heartless by Elsie Silver

Romance Book Bargains


99c


standalone
Genre: contemporary
Trope: holiday

99c


Smoke and Mirrors #1
Genre: contemporary
Trope: rich hero

99c


The Whiskeys #7
Genre: contemporary
Trope: friends to lovers

$2.99


standalone
Genre: contemporary
Trope: protection

$1.99


Wildstone #7
Genre: contemporary
Trope: new beginnings

FREE


SEALs of Chance Creek #1
Genre: contemporary
Trope: military

99c


Volkov Bratva #2
Genre: contemporary
Trope: mafia

FREE


Web of Sin #1
Genre: contemporary
Trope: organized crime

FREE


Boxed Set
Genre: contemporary
Trope: first in series

99c


standalone
Genre: contemporary
Trope: fake relationship

FREE


Boxed Set
Genre: contemporary
Trope: motorcycle club

99c


Open Road #1
Genre: contemporary
Trope: motorcycle club

FREE


Stronghold #1
Genre: contemporary
Trope: BDSM

FREE


Dirty Billionaire #1
Genre: contemporary
Trope: rich hero

FREE


standalone
Genre: contemporary
Trope: sports

99c


Welcome to Hell #11
Genre: paranormal
Trope: holiday

$1.99


standalone
Genre: contemporary
Trope: instant connection

FREE


Rockin' Country #1
Genre: contemporary
Trope: rockstar

99c


Stay a Spell
Genre: paranormal
Trope: holiday

$1.99


standalone
Genre: paranormal
Trope: holiday

99c


Boxed Set
Genre: scifi
Trope: assorted

FREE


Cold Justice #6
Genre: suspense
Trope: forced proximity

99c


standalone
Genre: suspense
Trope: protection

99c


Endgame #1
Genre: suspense
Trope: second chance