Hey everyone and welcome to another Throwback Thursday!

Today I'm sharing with you the first five books posted on the blog with the Single Parent Trope. These stories can be hit or miss for me. Some authors do amazing things with these single parents and their kids. And some kids ruin the story.

Hey, don't give me that look!

Anyhoo, I do enjoy this trope and I hope if you haven't read any of the following books, you'll give one of them a try :)

Dissident by Cecilia London

After seeing some early reviews from some of my favourite readers about this series, I knew I had to try it. The Bellator Saga is a political thriller, full of romance and intrigue. I haven't read anything like it before or since, so if you would enjoy something unique, you should definitely start with book one of this series.

Lip Service by Simone Sowood

Knox is a single dad who doesn't know how to juggle being a great dad and dating. Avery was the woman to make him question everything. It was light and fun and I enjoyed all of the characters involved in the story. I love when the interactions seem genuine.

Blood Money by Tee O'Fallon

I enjoyed everything about this book. There's suspense, romance, and a single mom trying to keep things together. I love when I can find no wrong with the characters an author creates. I adored both Alex and Gray and I hope you do too!

Whisper of Love by Melissa Foster

I love books by this author and this one was no different. Melissa Foster has a warmth that is very evident in her writing. I wonder what she's like in person? This book was light and fun and an easy book recommendation to make.

Extra Credit by Poppy Dunne

I haven't read another book from this author since I reviewed this one and I'm wondering why. Seems I really enjoyed this story and I loved the main character, Chelle. Her love interest, single dad Will, was a sweetheart and there was a decent amount of heat involved too. There's humour with this romance and I think it would be great for those who enjoy romcoms.

Does it Hurt? by H.D. Carlton

Who am I?

I've forgotten the answer to that question long ago. Ever since I ran from that house, so desperate to escape, I left with only the clothes on my back and socks on my feet. After that day, I've only ever walked in stolen shoes.

Could I be a girl who is searching for the meaning of life in faceless men? They were all so forgettable. Until he came along. He took me under a waterfall and made me forget my name, and in return, I took his instead.

Enzo Vitale.

An enigmatic man that will only ever love the deep sea. Or rather the predators that inhabit it. Turns out, he's not so different than the monsters he feeds. He lured me onto his boat like a fish in the ocean, seeking vengeance for my crime. Had I realized his intentions, and that a massive storm would leave us shipwrecked, I would've ran.

Now, I'm a girl who's seeking refuge in a decrepit lighthouse with a man who loathes me almost as much as he craves me. He wants to hurt me, but the old caretaker of the abandoned island may have intentions far more sinister.

It's no longer a question of who I am, but rather, will I survive?

Goodreads * Amazon

He's a shark expert (predator) and she's a thief (prey).

I've seen this author's books all over the feeds from some of my favourite bloggers and knew I had to try something. The premise for this book sounded promising so I dove in...

And enjoyed myself... for the most part. This book is listed as dark romance, but it read more like a contemporary romance to me with some eerie bits.

"What happened to you does not define you. It only forged a new path that will take you to a different version of yourself. But no one can force you to walk that road; only you can determine who you will be once you get there. It's your choice who you become, Sawyer."

Here's what I liked:

✫ Sawyer and Enzo hooked up and it was amazing. So incredible that Sawyer found it hard, for the first time, to sneak out. But that wasn't the last time she saw him and I was thrilled with Enzo's vengeful plan.

✫ Enzo's dark side. This seemingly mild-mannered, smart and sweet man was hiding some demons and I loved when he let them out to play.

✫ Every time Enzo was mean to Sawyer. Most of it was well-deserved, some of it was unfair, all of it was entertaining.

✫ The connection between Sawyer and Enzo. It grew from hate, but it grew into something wonderful and I was a willing witness to their madness.

I didn't hate anything in this story, but I didn't really get the whole lighthouse setup. While I found it hilarious, when I knew it wasn't supposed to be funny, I didn't understand how we got there. While evading the creepiness of the mad man who lived there, Enzo and Sawyer had to work through their issues and somehow it was all intertwined. Did it make sense? Not really, but I still had fun.

No matter what was happening, I was paying attention and I'll definitely be trying this author again.



H. D. Carlton is an International and USA Today Bestselling author. She lives in Ohio with her partner, two dogs, and cat. When she's not bathing in the tears of her readers, she's watching paranormal shows and wishing she was a mermaid. Her favorite characters are of the morally gray variety and believes that everyone should check their sanity at the door before diving into her stories.

The Heretic Royal by G.A. Aiken

Other books in the series: The Blacksmith Queen * The Princess Knight

Ainsley Farmerson has always planned to break free of the family business—and the family drama. But what was once farming, smithworking, and bickering over the dinner table has turned into open warfare between sisters. Sides have been taken, lives are on the line, and Ainsley has no doubt which sister must be queen. She’ll do whatever is necessary to take down the soulless Beatrix. Even if that means joining forces with angry battle nuns, irritating monks, and overbearing centaurs.

Gruffyn of the Torn Moon Clan has no time for human beings. And yet . . . there is something about the uncontrollable princess that he can’t ignore. Maybe it’s the way her eldest sisters underestimate her. Or her bravery facing down dragons and mad queens from distant lands. Whatever the reason, Gruff is willing to fight by this human’s side. Not only for the entertainment value, but because she’s right. Beatrix must never be queen. So whatever he has to do, whoever he has to destroy, Gruff will battle beside Ainsley. Fast. Hard. And with absolutely no mercy . . .

Find it here: Goodreads * Amazon

I have to tell you something...
I absolutely LOVED Annwyl!!

I honestly forgot how ridiculous and fun and perfect this series is. The fantastical imaginings of the way this story is told makes me giggle and laugh uncontrollably. I'm constantly in a state of shock and awe, thinking to myself "Did they really just say that?" or "No way did they just do that."

Before I started this book, I remembered I left Keeley and friends being confronted by Annwyl and her dragons. I had no idea what would happen next and I could have never predicted what I found.

While this was primarily Ainsley's book with the aloof and grumpy Gruff, everyone had a huge part to play and still had prominent roles in how everything turned out.

The highlights (without spoilers):

❋ Ainsley was tired of being overlooked and underestimated and Gruff was determined to see her.

❋ Keeley realized that she had some hard choices to make when it came to her evil sister and Annwyl might just be the key. Shoot, Annwyl had some hard truths to lay down on her fellow queen. LOVED IT!!

❋ Gemma was suspicious of everyone (what else is new?) and wasn't looking to make new friends (or any friends).

❋ Annwyl was hilarious and most definitely the best part of this story. Sorry, not sorry.

If you love fantasy, tons of action, reasons to laugh, with a bit of romance thrown in, you need this series in your life!



New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author G.A. Aiken, Originally from Long Island, New York, lives on the West Coast and spends most of her time writing and making sure her rescued Pittie doesn’t love everyone into a coma. When she’s not writing about sexy dragons, she’s writing about sexy wolf, lion, tiger, and other fang-filled predators under the name Shelly Laurenston. Find out more about this New York Times and USA Today Bestselling authors books at www.shellylaurenston.com.

Today's flashback is the Sweet Addiction series by J. Daniels. This is a contemporary romance that reads more like a romantic comedy. It features a woman who decides to have a fling at her ex's wedding and it turns into the love of a lifetime. I absolutely adored Dylan and Reese, but I also fell for the other characters that made this series a five-star read for me.

Have you ever read these books? Are you interested?

Sweet Addiction

Wedding hookups never amount to anything.

Those who partake in this wicked little activity know the rules. Get in. Get laid. Get out. There's no expectation of a relationship. It is what it is.

Dylan Sparks knows the rules. She’s familiar with the protocol. And she engages in the best sex of her life with a complete stranger at her ex-boyfriend’s wedding.

Reese Carroll doesn’t care about the rules. He wants more than just one night with Dylan.

And Dylan finds him too addicting to pass up.

Sweet Addiction is the story of one woman’s struggle to keep things casual, and one man’s desire to never let her go.

Sweet Possession

A sassy, in-your-face baker. A panty-stealing, dirty-talking accountant. And a bathroom quickie that changed their lives forever.

Wedding hookups never amount to anything.

Unless that hookup knocks you on your ass.

For Dylan Sparks and Reese Carroll, the big day can’t arrive soon enough. Dylan, stressed to the max from overbearing mothers and last minute preparations, struggles to keep her sanity. As for Reese, he’s fighting to not only keep his bride-to-be safe from creepy investors, but also to make it to the actual wedding day without losing his mind in the process.

Throw in a crazy group of friends, and a bachelor/bachelorette party weekend getaway, and you have a recipe for the sweetest wedding of the year.

Sweet Obsession

Everyone knows Brooke Wicks loves to have a good time.

She’s not interested in getting serious, settling down, or limiting herself to one man. So when she meets the sexy, irresistible Mason King, she sees another opportunity to let loose and go wild. But the gorgeous Aussie isn’t interested in just a quick fling with Brooke, and if she wants to get into his bed, she’s going to have to do it on his terms.

Loving fast and hard has always been Mason’s philosophy.

He doesn’t want a meaningless connection, he wants it all, and he wants it with Brooke. When she makes her one desire known—to hit it and quit it—Mason wages a plan to ensure Brooke keeps coming back for more. Or so he hopes.

Getting her attention was the easy part. Keeping it might be damn near impossible.

Stain by Francette Phal

A dual POV dark YA story about abuse and addiction

"You're like the sun...and I'm the stupid moon. Always chasing after you."

I didn't know it was possible to fall so deeply into someone. To drown so strongly into their bottomless depths coming up for air was unfathomable. Until he comes along, with his sun-hot radiance, and eclipses the candle that is me. He's Lucifer before the fall, beautiful but the devil is in the way he looks at me. In the way his touch brands his name across every inch of my skin. His kisses possess my soul in the most sinful of ways.

Maddox Moore is my beginning and my end. Protector, friend, and lover—he's become my sole religion. At his side I become fearless, in his arms I burn to cinders, and in worshiping him I lose myself and discover the person he sees in me. But nothing is forever. Moments are ephemeral. No matter how much you want something life inevitably reminds you that you can't have it.

I'm damaged. He's broken. We're both covered in stains. Stains that make it impossible for us to hold onto each other.

My Rating - ★★★★★

WOW!! Now I understand the hype behind YA books because if they're anything like this, then they are definitely worth a read.

This story packed so much of an emotional punch that I'm still feeling its effect. My mind is still trying to wrap its way around what the heck just happened. It had my heart racing and I was feeling those palpitations.

This author's skill with the written word is simply incredible. Each scene was phrased so eloquently, so passionately, that I couldn't help but FEEL each and every emotion it was trying to evoke from me.

Aylee and Maddox (Max). Why two such young people had to suffer so much is beyond me. What bothered me was the fact that this is what many children are suffering through in reality and it's friggin horrific. Makes me understand vigilante justice, even if I don't sanction it.

I am not going to spell out the plot because I really, really, really want people to read this book. I will say that I was a bit disappointed by the unfinished ending until I saw that these two beautiful characters will be getting a novella. Can't wait for that to be released!

Deliverance for Amelia by Bonny Capps

Multiple POV covering tropes such as abuse, captor/captive, and a killer

Amelia
My entire life I've lived in my father's shadow. As the Mayor's daughter, I'm expected to maintain a pristine reputation. Everything must be perfect. My days of tutors and piano lessons may be behind me, but the need to be my father's perfect daughter still rings true.

However, I'm in college now - so why not have a little fun? It started out that way, anyway. When I decided to go to a party with my new friend Meg, I thought my college days were just beginning. My boring little life was finally getting the shakeup that it desperately needed. Little did I know, I would become the captive of the devil himself.

He says that I'm his. He calls himself my master.

Gabe
Well, well - Mr. Mayor couldn't pay up. I can't say that I'm surprised. The greedy bastard is more concerned about pocketing all that money masked as charity rather than paying his debts.

I'm not a debt that you want to forget. I did, after all, kill that poor journalist that was putting his nose where it didn't belong. Not saying that I minded - no, not one bit. It's a high. Watching them writhe in pain, their bodies seizing up as every last drop of hope is drained from their wide eyes. I live for it - the thrill of killing. Not to mention it keeps my wallet nice and plump. My clients know when they say they'll pay - they better pay. Otherwise, I take what I want from them. In most cases, the result is their own blood on my hands. Not this time though.

This time I wanted her, and I always get what I want.

My Rating - ★★★★

HOLY CRAP!! WTF did I just read?! I love dark, please don't get me wrong, but this was freaking out-in-the-country-no-streetlights kind of dark. There was no light. Can someone please turn on a damn light????!!!! A flashlight, a lighter even!

If you're looking for something dark, gritty, dirty, sexy, with lots of torture, killing and mayhem, then this is definitely the book for you.

Bonny Capps is freaking warped and I freaking love it!! Honestly, not many authors can pull of the depths of depravity found in this book, but she freaking nailed it. You know this book got me freaking good because I can't freaking stop using the freaking word "freaking"!

Gabriel/Gabe is one twisted mofo. He is only happy when he is torturing and killing. Sadistic isn't even a good enough word to describe his evil wants and needs. Amelia is his poor innocent captive, taken as collateral until Gabe became too obsessed with her to let her go. Able is her knight in shining armour. He is willing to do any and everything in his power to save her from Gabe.

This book is not for the faint of heart. This is not a love story per se. Gabriel is absolutely NOT a hero in this book, though he is featured predominantly in it. Be afraid. Be very afraid!!

Dirty Ugly Toy by K. Webster

Dark, dual POV

Her time is over.
Things are looking up.

She’s dirty and ugly.
He’s wicked but handsome.

Six months to toy with her.
Six months of vacation and a ton of money.

I’ll hurt her beyond repair.
I’ve been through much worse.

She's difficult to control and doesn't obey.
I'm done submitting to anyone or anything in this life.

I should hate her.
I should hate him.

The game has changed.
I will win.

My Rating - ★★★★1/2

I'm not even sure how to write this review because I'm still trying to absorb what I've read. My mind is blown with this piece of work! Thank you K. Webster for your amazing writing skills!! It takes real talent to get the reader into the mind of a truly dark, corrupted, warped, and tortured soul but that's just what she did with Braxton and Jessica.

Every time Jess gave some lip I was like 'you go girl!' I was also tempted to jump up and down in anticipation of how Brax would react because he was so unpredictable. I loved it. Throwing in flashbacks of Brax's past absolutely humanized him for me. Jessica's flashbacks were painful to read. I kept waiting for her to tell Brax her truth, which made me frustrated to say the least.

It was beautiful when their feelings started to get deeper, especially Brax's. I must say I was a bit annoyed with how rushed the climax was. I would have loved to see the frantic behind the scenes to set up James for his downfall. Regardless, this was a wonderful read and I'm glad I gave this author a chance!

Embrace of Dragons by Aja James

Arthur Pendragon, the Once and Future King of an ancient Isle, finally recovered his heart and awoke from his witch queen’s spell. But he sustained mortal wounds before he was spirited away to “Avalon,” a Celestial Realm beyond human ken. In order to restore him, his life force was bound to another—his First Knight, Lancelot.

There was a time when Arthur loved and admired Lancelot above all men, before the Betrayal. Since the destruction of their shared tormentor, he realized that he’d accused his friend wrongly. But so much time, distance and regret have accumulated between them. So much sadness and pain. A trip to their homeland with Arthur’s newly discovered family reopens old wounds, but also reminds them of how they used to be.

Along the way, they are tasked with the search for the Everlasting Embrace by a mysterious being who speaks to them in dreams.

The end of the world may be just around the corner. Along the way, enemies may become lovers, reluctant friendships may form, and lots of hot, desperate, this-may-be-the-last-time-we-have-sex sex will definitely be had.

And who knows, you too may help discover the…

EMBRACE OF DRAGONS.

Find it here: Goodreads * Amazon

I can honestly tell you that no one writes romance quite like Aja James. I don't know how this author keeps track of all of details, even the little ones, but I'm down to keep enjoying this journey. Finding out more bits and pieces, discovering and re-discovering how everything fits together... it's a mystery lovers dream!

In Embrace of Dragons, we are given the whole story of characters we've already met—Arthur and Lancelot. And let me tell you, this story is nothing like any of the stories of Camelot I've ever seen, heard or read before.


Don't even get me started on the imagery and the almost lyrical tone the author uses when telling a story. In the end, Arthur and Lancelot's story is full of hope, wonder, pain, magic, and so much love. Love that transcends time, distance, and any obstacle thrown in their way.


Here are some of the things I loved about this book (can't share it all because... spoilers):

★ the sex (obvs)
★ the hesitation between Arthur and Lancelot, despite all that they shared. They went to hell and back together and had a hard time adjusting to 'normal'.
★ the almost enemies-to-lovers vibe this book gives off at the start. Arthur and Lancelot are forced together, but they don't talk. Communication doesn't exist. Yet their thoughts, their feelings, their everything is tied to the other. All of that angst gave me life!
★ the absolute cuteness these manly males exhibited when they finally got their ish together.

Honestly, there was so much to love about this story. Arthur and Lancelot were these strong, lethal, virile males and yet there was a softness to them, a vulnerability that they only shared with each other. It made what they had all the more beautiful and the author did an incredible job capturing all of that beauty, their warmth, their perseverance when it came to their love, and their inevitability.

With the added hint of what's to come, especially for my sweet, not-so-little Ben, I'm excited to see what's next!



Best-selling author, Aja James, just completed the Pure/ Dark Ones paranormal-fantasy romance series in 2020. If you want your heart battered, bruised, shattered and skewered, then put back together in the most glorious ways, check out the series below. Every couple gets an HEA, but they fight like hell for it on the way.

Aja is now working on her new series, Dragon Tails, because dragons are her favorite shifters of all!

Check out Aja's expanded distribution of the Pure/ Dark Ones series on Google, Apple, Kobo and Barnes & Noble Books.

Visit https://aja-james.blog for more information!