
Hello hello!
Yes, I'm late, as usual. Get used to it 🤣😂
November was actually a very decent reading month for me. I found some to love, some to not love, and some I couldn't finish. Here's what I was up to for the month...
Stats
Total Books Read: 23
Total Pages Read: 4639
DNFs or No Rating: 3
From my TBR: 16
Avg. Rating 3.11
Total Pages Read: 4639
DNFs or No Rating: 3
From my TBR: 16
Avg. Rating 3.11
All the Books
My favorite books of the month were:

The other books I still found worthwhile (and would recommend) were:
Brute Force, Machine, and Primal Urges by Lizzy Bequin
The Mermen Trilogy by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff
The Kingdom Series by Marie Hall
The Darkest Half by J.A. Redmerski
Set by Alessa Thorn
Good Trouble by Lani Lynn Vale


The other books I still found worthwhile (and would recommend) were:
Brute Force, Machine, and Primal Urges by Lizzy Bequin
The Mermen Trilogy by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff
The Kingdom Series by Marie Hall
The Darkest Half by J.A. Redmerski
Set by Alessa Thorn
Good Trouble by Lani Lynn Vale
Added to my tbr
Pretend by R.L. Mathewson
Gift of Dragons by Aja James
Totally Folked by Penny Reid
Gift of Dragons by Aja James
Totally Folked by Penny Reid
Book Haul











I hope you find only the best reads!
Talk soon,
Talk soon,
xo, Natalie

"If I'm yours, that must mean that you're mine." ~ Poppy
────── ♔ ──────

Emperor by Anna Hackett
Standalone - Galactic Kings #2
Release - January 18, 2022
Genre - SciFi Romance
Dual POV - 3rd person
Heat - 3.5 out of 5 / several scenes
Format/Source - ebook borrowed from Kindle Unlimited
Length - 266 pages
Publisher - Indie
Release - January 18, 2022
Genre - SciFi Romance
Dual POV - 3rd person
Heat - 3.5 out of 5 / several scenes
Format/Source - ebook borrowed from Kindle Unlimited
Length - 266 pages
Publisher - Indie
Other book(s) in the series: Overlord
When an experimental starship test goes horribly wrong, a scientist from Earth finds herself fighting for her survival, and her only lifeline is a wild, powerful alien king.
Waking on an alien world, wracked by pain, Dr. Poppy Ellison is confused and adrift…until his voice calls to her in the darkness. The big, wild, enthralling man reveals that she’s been infected and is turning into an alien shapeshifter. Poppy has always been smart, practical, and boring, but with her entire life turned upside down, there is no one she can trust…except for this alien wolf.
Emperor Brodin Damar Sarkany is king of Damar and its shapeshifters. As wild as the forest city they call home, the Damari can be volatile, always fighting to control the wolf inside. Brodin uses his immense strength to keep his people in check and protect them from the most dangerous evil of all—his war-mongering father. He can’t afford the distraction of a small, tantalizing woman from Earth, even when everything about Poppy sings to the instincts of both man and wolf.
As his father’s ruthless warlord attacks, innocent children are at risk, and Poppy knows she has to help by mastering her new, emerging abilities. She must also face the shocking passion that explodes between her and Brodin. But as Poppy and Brodin hunt down the enemy, they uncover a plot that could mean the destruction of all the Damari…if they don’t stop it in time.
My Two Cents
4.5 "She calms his beast" stars
I don't know what it is about this series, but it is ticking all of my boxes!
Dr. Poppy Ellison crashlanded on an alien planet along with her bestie, Mal in Overlord. While Mal developed energy powers and fell in love with the ruler of Zhalto, Poppy had been infected by a Damar wolf, and the transition was killing her. Her best hope was to be taken to the planet of Damar and be treated by their best and brightest. Under the protection of the Emperor, she couldn't be safer.
I loved that while Brodin wanted to make sure Poppy was alright, he couldn't help but be drawn to her. He was so protective and possessive and the fact that she returned those feelings only made this read better. I love when there's no instant denials and lies to get in the way of a must-have romance.
Poppy was a great heroine—smart, quirky, loyal and surprisingly fierce. Through Brodin, she was able to see the potential within herself. She was able to overcome her perceived shortcomings and embrace the life and love that Brodin and his world were there to offer.
And Brodin... he was absolutely yummy. I really, really loved this male. Strong, intelligent, kind, respectful, honorable... he was everything that Poppy deserved.
The plots of these books, where the father of these heroes is so desperate to have his sons by his side that he sends sinister villains to cause trouble, is very entertaining. Poppy and Brodin may have defeated the current foe this time, but everyone knows that Zavir (the evil father that didn't seem quite so evil when he appeared in this story) isn't anywhere near done.
Captain Thadd and First Claw Annora are next. They will be sent on a mission to protect the Talnians, the planet of one of the brothers. It's more than obvious that there is a lot of tension, of the sexual variety, going on between these two and I can't wait to see how it all explodes. Luckily I've already got their loaded up and it's what I'll be reading next. See you there!
The Author

Anna Hackett is a USA Today bestselling romance author who’s passionate about fast-paced, emotion-filled romantic suspense and science-fiction romance. She loves writing about people overcoming unbeatable odds and achieving seemingly impossible goals. Some of her bestselling series include Norcross Security, Team 52, Galactic Gladiators, and Eon Warriors.
Anna lives in Australia with her real-life hero and their two little boys. For more information on Anna and her books visit: www.annahackett.com

All I could think about was Bain.
────── ♔ ──────

Good Trouble by Lani Lynn Vale
Standalone - Gator Bait MC #2
Release - December 6, 2022
Genre/Trope - Contemporary Romance / brother's ex / friends to loveres
Dual POV - 1st person
Heat - 3.5 out of 5
Format/Source - eARC from Uplifting Author Services
Length - 245 pages
Publisher - Indie
Release - December 6, 2022
Genre/Trope - Contemporary Romance / brother's ex / friends to loveres
Dual POV - 1st person
Heat - 3.5 out of 5
Format/Source - eARC from Uplifting Author Services
Length - 245 pages
Publisher - Indie
Other book(s) from the series: Nobody Cares Unless You're Pretty
Bain met Diana, a.k.a. Luce, the night before he was set to deploy to Afghanistan.
It’s not every day that you take your brother’s girlfriend to prom because he refuses to put out the effort.
That night was one of the best nights of his life and the next day, he leaves and doesn’t see her again.
But there are letters. Not many, but enough for them to form a connection.
Over the two-year deployment, they became great friends.
The best of friends—at least, as good of friends as you can be when it’s your brother’s wife.
Fast-forward six years and she still counts him as one of her greatest friends. Even going as far as to stick by him when he’s sent to prison because his own brother turned on him.
***
Luce had a crush on her then-boyfriend’s brother since way before she and Bain’s brother were married. From the moment he volunteered to take her to prom, she’d fallen.
Over the years, she’d tried to hide it. Tried to go on with her life and act like she loved her husband and only her husband. But as time went on and Braxton started to treat her more and more like crap, she realized the truth. Her husband wasn’t Bain. Her husband would never be him.
Hell, that’d been proven time and time again.
The smoking gun, though? The thing that made her realize it was time to leave?
When her husband stood by while she was assaulted, while the man she tried to act like was just a friend protected her. Then was sentenced to eight years in jail for it.
It was time to admit the truth.
Bain McDempsey was it for her. She just had to help him see it. Oh, and get him out of prison first.
My Two Cents
4 "He's so much better than his brother" stars
I thought I was ready for this story.
I really wasn't.
Lani Lynn Vale did taboo so right!
Diana (Luce) was Bain's brother's girlfriend. She came into his orbit when his brother refused to take her to prom. After the best night of his life (it was all platonic), he went into the Navy and decided to always have her back.
And despite being madly in love with Bain... Luce married his brother instead.
While the author tried to make the reasons behind that something we could all stomach, it made me queasy. It just didn't make sense for me, but it did fit the story so I went with it.
Six feet of dirt would look good on you. - Bain to Braxton
The brother was the same jerk he always was. One day, when she was being attacked, he ran like a coward and Bain came to her defence. It was Bain who served time for her. It was Bain who owned her. Shoot... he owned me too.
I loved the way Bain interacted with all of the people in his life, even his villainous brother. The men of the unclaimed MC are such great heroes, always there for each other, newfound family with all of the perks. I'm so excited to read all of their books!
After a ton of hilarious drama, Bain and Luce were well on their way to happily ever after and I couldn't be more thrilled for them.
-------------------------------------------
My notes: I didn't like how hard to get she played with Bain. Here was a guy who had already proven that he would do anything for her. A man who has shown her that he knows her, inside and out. So why hurt him? Why deny them both the opportunity to be something special?
Thankfully, she didn't play this game for long and they were both able to have what they both wanted and needed.
About 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!

I'm back with three more books that didn't work for me, but they have amazing ratings so I know it's a 'me' problem.
Maybe you've read one. Maybe you plan to. Let me know!

Wicked Fall by Sawyer Bennett
Genre - Erotic Romance
Never in your wildest dreams could you begin to imagine all the filthy and depraved things that go on inside The Wicked Horse. Step inside and Woolf Jennings will make every one of your dirty fantasies come true.
He's covered in a facade of deception. An enticing blend of multi-millionaire and hot-as-hell Wyoming rancher, those that think they know Woolf Jennings admire his abilities to preside as CEO of his family's cattle and oil empire. But only a privileged few truly understand what fuels the glitter of depravity in those gorgeous blue eyes. Only a few know he's opened up a sinfully erotic and private sex club named The Wicked Horse right at the base of the beautiful Teton Mountain range.
Sweet Callie Hayes has returned home to Wyoming and is looking forward to starting her life over again. After a night of impetuosity, she's managed to put herself right in Woolf's line of sight... the man who she foolishly offered up her virginity to years ago and was flatly turned down.
Now Woolf is seeing that Callie is all grown up and has a kinky side to her that leaves him as confused as it does turned on. Worse yet, both Callie's dirty desires and sweet heart are getting under his skin, and making Woolf question everything he's ever believed about himself.
I ended up not finishing this one. I thought I could handle reading something with menage like I used to, but I didn't enjoy it. It threw me off. So while the writing was on point, I couldn't stomach the story anymore. So I didn't even rate it.
────── ♔ ──────

Hold My Breath by Ginger Scott
Genre - Contemporary Romance
Fractions of seconds can do lots of damage. One decision can ruin lives. A blink can be tragic. And loving a Hollister…can hurt like hell.
I would know.
They say the average person can hold their breath under water for two full minutes when pushed to the extremes. Will Hollister has been holding his for years. The oldest of two elite swimming brothers, Will was always a dominant force in the water. But in life, he preferred to let his younger brother Evan be the one to shine.
Evan got the girl, and Will…he got to bury all of the secrets. A brother’s burden, the weight of it all nearly left him to drown.
The daughter of two Olympians, my path was set the day my fingertips first touched water. My future was as crystal clear as the lane I dominated in the pool—swim hard, win big, love a Hollister.
My life with Evan burned bright. He gave me arms to come home to, and a smile that fooled the world into believing everything was perfect. But it was Will who pushed me. Will…who really knew me.
And when all of the pieces fell, it was Will who started to pick them up.
In the end, the only thing that matters are those few precious seconds—and what we decide to do while we still have them in our grasp.
This was a DNF too. I couldn't like the heroine. She was too immature and I didn't like how she treated the hero. I didn't even get a chance to warm up to her and I felt no connection between them so I wasn't sold on the romance. It was proving too hard and boring to read, so I quit it and didn't rate it.
────── ♔ ──────

Awakened by Brenda K. Davies
Genre - Paranormal Romance
Traumatized by her past, and struggling to move on from it, Sera has spent the past three years of college hiding herself from the world and content to stay that way.
A chance encounter with Liam shatters her sheltered world, leaving her stunned and shaken by the strange feelings and emotions he arises in her, feelings she never thought she would experience and that frighten her in their intensity.
Harboring a dark and deadly secret of his own, Liam knows that he should stay away from Sera; that he will only bring her more hurt, but he is irresistibly drawn to her and unable to deny himself the pleasure that only she can bring to him.
But when their pasts collide with their present, and Liam’s true nature is revealed, will their love for each other be enough, or will they be torn apart forever?
I read and loved a previous series from this author, but this one didn't work for me. I couldn't stand the heroine, which would make it hard to enjoy the following books. I quit about halfway through and didn't think it would be fair to rate it so I gave it a DNF.
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