Today's flashback is the Broken Love series by B.B. Reid. It's how I found and fell in love with this author's writing and I've never regretted it. Please note that I didn't actually finish this series. Books 4 (Breaking Love) and 5 (Fearless) are still unread. Have you read this series? Should I read the last two books?

I rated each book with 5 stars and here were my thoughts...

Fear Me

I don't believe in fairy tales and Prince Charming.

I believe in fear.

He taught me how to be afraid.

We first met on a playground on a wonderful summer day. It was the first time he hurt me and it wouldn’t be the last. For ten years, he's been my tormentor and I've been his forbidden. But then he went away, and yet I was still afraid.

Now he's back and wants more than just my tears. You see...he thinks I sent him away so now he wants revenge...and he knows just how to get it.

Fear You

What happens when she’s had enough?

Lake Monroe has given in to her childhood tormentor too many times. She knows it, he knows it, and even their enemies know it. When he returned after being found guilty of a crime he didn't commit—a crime he thought she set him up for, he returned darker than ever, demanding her body and her submission. To survive him, she knew she had to give in to fear once more or suffer the deadly consequences...

But Lake experienced what it was like to submit to the dark and demanding boy who invaded her dreams. Now she’ll experience what it’s like to fight him.

What happens when he wants more?

Keiran Masters has a past that is both shocking and dark. Once enslaved, he now has demons he can’t escape—demons that have followed him for ten years, demons he blames his beautiful obsession for. He promised to make her pay. He promised to make her break...

But after Keiran had conquered her body and tasted her submission, he found a new addiction instead—one he has no intention of giving up.

Fear Us

KEENAN
It’s been four years since I ran away—from home, my brother, and my maybe father. I created a life free of expectations while pretending I wasn’t being hunted by all of the above. I managed to stay under the radar all this time… or so I thought. When big brother shows up and saves my ass, I’m forced to face everything I left behind, including her.

SHELDON
It’s been four years since I became another statistic. I made a lot of mistakes when it came to Keenan Masters. The first was loving him at all. He took something from me the night he left, and when I told him I still loved him, he told me he’d always hate me. After that, I learned how to be okay… until he came back. Gone was the boy who always knew how to make me laugh, and in his place was a cold, arrogant monster.

"No one will hurt you and not see the end of my blade."

A Kingdom of Stars and Shadows

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Destiny or desire?

Where does your allegiance lie?

I am told my union to the crowned prince will determine the fate of the kingdom, but it isn’t my betrothed who haunts my dreams. It’s the half-breed prince who stands at his side.

He is darkness and sin, and when he whispers promises of wickedness in my ear, I crave a man who I can’t have.

Every thought I have is treasonous. The way my hands ache to touch him deceitful.

Even my dreams make me a traitor to the kingdom I am sworn to protect.

But when the kingdom is attacked, I am forced to make choices I’m not prepared for. Our lies and deception are entangled in the shadows and stars, and as they unravel so shall my fate. Betray a kingdom or betray my heart.

A Kingdom of Blood and Betrayal

Kindle Unlimited: https://amzn.to/3RmVa1h

My fate is bonded to two princes– one born of blood, the other of power— but my trust lies in neither.

My skin is cursed by the stars, my fate damned by desire.

But when the dark prince offers me a bargain that will save his people and my life, the cruel and intoxicating male gives me no choice.

Our union is his revenge, and I am his sacrifice.

His lies are unforgivable. His wicked touch still bathes me in sin.

He is my mate, and he is tortured by a curse to protect his people from his own family.

I could now see him for exactly who he was. So why can’t I get his alluring touch out of my head?

I am the key to saving his kingdom, but he alone has the power to ruin me.

A Kingdom of Venom and Vows

Kindle Unlimited: https://amzn.to/3Pc0emk

I entered into a bargain—choosing my mate over my freedom.

But I underestimated the crowned prince who took me. His touch like venom. His vengeance lethal.

He craves a power I no longer hold, and he’ll sacrifice every part of me until he gets it.

But I don’t belong to him. I belong to his brother.

His brother who will come for me, consequences be damned.

My fate is entangled between two princes—one who craves my power, the other who covets me—and I have more to lose than I ever imagined.

War rages in a game between queens, and I have become their pawn. But I will fight for my life, for my mate, and he will raze kingdoms to get me back.

I love book recommendations and these three books came across my eyes too many times to resist. I more than enjoyed them and will definitely be reading more from these authors!

Garnet Flats by Devney Perry

Standalone - The Edens #3
Genre/Trope - Contemporary Romance / small town & second chance
POV - Dual 1st person
Heat - descriptive scenes
Source - Kindle Unlimited
Length - 346 pages

Talia Eden loved Foster Madden for one year, two months and eleven days. It was on day 438 that her love died. The day he chose to marry her best friend. The day she vowed never to think of Foster again.

Until years later when he has the audacity to show up in her small hometown of Quincy, begging for her help.

The ink on his divorce papers is barely dry, yet he comes armed with apologies and promises. She knows it’s all a ploy. Foster is the king of games and secrets. But he’s got delusions the size of Montana if he thinks she’ll help him train for a world championship fight.

Except Talia has forgotten exactly what made Foster famous. The man has dedicated his life to victory. He’s steadfast. He’s determined. And he won’t stop fighting until he’s won her heart.

Whispers of You by Catherine Cowles

Standalone - Lost & Found #1
Genre/Trope - Contemporary Romance / small town / second chance
POV - Dual 1st person
Heat - descriptive scenes
Source - Kindle Unlimited
Length - 369 pages

One night—a single bullet—cost me everything.

My body, broken beyond repair. The boy I’d thought was my forever. The life I’d always dreamt of.

Now, Holt’s back. And he’s no longer a boy, but a man with shadows in his eyes and demons haunting him.

He says he’s here to make things right. To get back a little bit of all we’ve lost. And he doesn’t show any signs of leaving the small town that has been my refuge.

As stolen moments turn to days, Holt’s around every corner. With his burning stare and lingering touches. Before long, my walls come crashing down and I’m just hoping that taking this second chance isn’t as reckless as it feels.

But not everyone is happy that Holt has returned. As tragedy strikes again, I’m the one left in the crosshairs. And Holt might not be able to save me this time…

Mourning Wood by Heather M. Orgeron

Standalone
Genre/Trope - Contemporary Romance / single mom
POV - Dual 1st person
Heat - descriptive scenes
Source - Kindle Unlimited
Length - 278 pages

After an ill-fated one-night stand, Wyatt Landry was the last person I ever expected to see again.

By design, mind you, as I spent the last two years avoiding him.

He was only ever meant to be a good time—a really good time—and now, thanks to one teensy little mistake, he’s back in my life and wielding an entirely different set of tools.

It’s not like I intentionally hired a bogus contractor to redo our chapel, and Lord knows I never imagined Wyatt would ride up in his pickup truck, like a knight in thigh-hugging blue jeans, to save the day.

But here he is, and to make matters worse, he’s every bit as charming as I remember, and before I can fully process his reappearance in my life, he has my six-year-old daughter wrapped around his finger, my parents eating out of the palm of his hand, and my best friend shipping us like we’re some celebrity couple.

Thankfully, working in the death industry, I’ve mastered the skill of compartmentalization. Keeping my growing feelings tucked away should be a piece of cake. Except, seeing him every day definitely throws a wrench in that plan.

Before I know it, we’re trading favors for dates, and as much I don’t want to admit it, the feelings for him I thought were dead and buried are taking root and growing into something that looks a lot like love.

“A dragon without its rider is a tragedy.
A rider without their dragon is dead.”

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, living a quiet life among books and history. Now, the commanding general—also known as her tough-as-talons mother—has ordered Violet to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become the elite of Navarre: dragon riders.

But when you’re smaller than everyone else and your body is brittle, death is only a heartbeat away...because dragons don’t bond to “fragile” humans. They incinerate them.

With fewer dragons willing to bond than cadets, most would kill Violet to better their own chances of success. The rest would kill her just for being her mother’s daughter—like Xaden Riorson, the most powerful and ruthless wingleader in the Riders Quadrant.

She’ll need every edge her wits can give her just to see the next sunrise.

Yet, with every day that passes, the war outside grows more deadly, the kingdom's protective wards are failing, and the death toll continues to rise. Even worse, Violet begins to suspect leadership is hiding a terrible secret.

Friends, enemies, lovers. Everyone at Basgiath War College has an agenda—because once you enter, there are only two ways out: graduate or die

Find it here: Goodreads

My Rating - ★★★1/2

What can I say that hasn't already been said? Social media went crazy blasting this book, which is why I finally gave in to the hype. Did this book live up to expectations? Kinda sorta. And rather than highlight what has already been extolled about this book, I'm going to get into what I want to happen in the next one for this series.


You see that right there? Please elaborate. Why did I read over 600 pages that didn't tell me why these kingdoms were at war. Nothing explained why this academy existed. What was the need for the factions, such as riders, scribes, healers and infantry? What sparked the conflict? Who was the leader of the other side? Seems like they've been fighting over 400 years for something no one even remembers. KMT!!


You don't say. Yet we're now realizing that the truth has been a hidden secret for who knows how long. Facts are missing from your so-called history and it took practically the entire book to realize that. Seriously? Forget foreshadowing. The author basically screamed that something wasn't right from the beginning. And then we had to wade through the nonsense for the characters (I'm looking at you, Vi) to catch up. That ending only prompts more questions!!


PREACH!!


Okay, so I'm not a huge fan of the romance in this book, only because it didn't really get a chance to shine. That was mostly due to Violet and her antics, however, I did appreciate the way the author allowed her to be free with her thoughts and feelings. Was it annoying that for half the book she kept believing he was going to kill her when all he did was help her? Did I get frustrated that she was so oblivious and a bit ungrateful towards Xander? When Xander's truths came out, was I more sympathetic towards him than towards Vi? Yes. The answer to all of these questions is yes. I'm putting a bit of faith in this author that she will pull off a better dynamic between these characters in the next book. Give Xander a voice please, not a diluted mishmash of personality as seen through the eyes of a naive scribe-forced-to-turn-into-a-rider.

I'm sure there are so many other things I need clarification on, but I'll wait to see what the next book brings me. In the end, I enjoyed myself while reading Fourth Wing. I've never tried this author before and it was an exciting experience. I love dragons and war and I'm looking forward to what's to come for these characters that I've started to adore.


Rebecca is a #1 New York Times, USA Today, Sunday Times, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of over fifteen novels, including FOURTH WING, and is always ready to bring on the emotions. She's also the recipient of the Colorado Romance Writer’s Award of Excellence in New Adult for Eyes Turned Skyward from her Flight and Glory series.

She loves military heroes and has been blissfully married to hers for twenty-one years. She’s the mother of six children and lives in Colorado with her family, their stubborn English bulldog, feisty chinchillas, and Maine Coon cat who rules them all. Having fostered then adopted their youngest daughter, Rebecca is passionate about helping children in the foster system through her nonprofit, One October.

Visit her website at www.RebeccaYarros.com for more.