JL Jackola: Obsessive Cravings

 Wicked Cravings Book 1 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/210594256-obsessive-cravings

I recently joined a few Indie Author book clubs and this was the book chosen for one of the groups, I haven't really read much in the darker romance/mafia romance genre but this is a good book to dip your feet in with if you are on the fence about trying one.  While it had some darker elements I don't think it it was over the top with the darker parts of this book it had one of those vibes where the MMC's behavior in books possibly acceptable, in real life I would be telling any woman to stay away from this man... red flag city.

To start off with Riley is running from her home she packed up in the middle of the night and left to start her new life several towns over she doesn't have much but she has her own apartment it's small but it's cozy, she got a new job and is looking forward to making a fresh start in this new town away from her over protective brother who she just found out has been lying to her about everything... did she even ever really know him?  She doesn't make friends easily but finds an easy friendship with her neighbor Ava down the hall from her.  

Riley is happy to be far away from her terrible ex if she hadn't been in the dark about what her brother was up to she could have been better prepared but he told her nothing and the truth was unbearable.  She has mixed feelings about leaving her brother's home but after what happened to her with her ex and finding out about her brother's business dealings how could she stay?  Shortly after arrival she runs into a purse snatcher and a handsome older man (Greyson) intervenes just in time to save the day... how lucky for her that he was in the right place at the right time.  

Greyson is a powerful man he is the boss and runs a large area and he always gets what he wants and right now what he wants has come right into his clutches Riley is his enemies younger sister... is she here to infiltrate his territory?  is she running from something?  Does she even know he exists?  Well if she doesn't know about him upon arrival to town he will make sure she will notice him soon enough he just has to wait... but not for long he's not that patient.  From the moment Riley steps foot into his territory he watches her movements he needs to know everything about her she is his and no one else will touch her.   

Greyson starts out playing a game with Riley watching her on cameras he has hidden in her apartment and sneaking in tying her up and doing things to Riley (but never anything she doesn't want).  Once he realizes that Riley isn't there for anything other than starting a new life the game starts to change and soon all his previous plans towards destroying her to get back at her brother are no longer an option... because if anything happens to her it would destroy him too... he's obsessed with this woman.  

Could Greyson and Riley actually be together when he is keeping so much of his life from her and if she would be with him she would be walking right into the life that she just ran from.  With her ex still out there will he find her?  Will her brother find her?  The author does a good job pushing the story along and keeping you wanting to find out what happens next even though it is predictable in the way that you know that she is eventually going to find out (they always do) and there will be hearts to mend this book will leave you wanting more... lucky for us it's a series! 

If you read and enjoyed The Pucking wrong number you would probably enjoy this too, it was a quick read with a good story to spice ratio with characters you are rooting for to have a happy ending even if some of the characters are essentially "the bad guy."  I plan to read the next in the series and I'm so glad that my new book club introduced me to this author.  

**as a side note I kind of got thrown off the first time I heard Greyson's hair was auburn I was picturing a hot dark haired guy (not a problem, I just had to redirect my imagination).  

have you read anything by this author?  have you read this series?  what did you think about it? 

*Mafia romance *age gap *billionaire boss MMC  *family drama *FMC running from her past  

*Spicy  *darker elements  *touch her and 💀  *Revenge romance  *Brother's enemy  

*morally grey MMC   *hidden agenda  *forbidden romance  *he falls first  *insta attraction/lust/love

Trigger warnings:  read these before you start this book

ARC opportunities: July 28, 2025

If you are looking for a new author/your next read consider being an ARC reader/reviewer I have been doing a lot of ARC reads this year and finding a lot of new to me authors with amazing books that don't always get the hype that the more popular authors get.  

Leaving reviews matter especially for Indie authors the more reviews that a book has the more it gets shown to others as an option to read.  

Thank you for supporting Indie Authors 💓

If you are an author with an upcoming ARC opportunity and want me to place it in my next ARC opportunities blog post let me know!  

I've added good reads links for if you are interest in the book but can't commit to the ARC read and review timelines. 

1. Less than Perfect S.M. Levine 

Looking for ARC readers who love angst, heart, and steam! If you'd like to read and review a contemporary romance novella (65 pages) featuring pining, opposites attract, and banter, sign up at the link below! This signup link will only be open for 4 days, and ARCs go out Aug. 2nd!

ARC signup link: https://forms.gle/zTnhjukKbjHnPZFK7

 Less than Perfect by S.M. Levine

Her ideal man might just be … less than perfect.

 Opposites attract

 Secret admirer

 Extensive pining

 OCD rep

 Awkward cinnamon roll hero

 Novella length

goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/239256114-less-than-perfect

2.  Afterburn Haley Cook

Join the Flight Crew – ARC & Street Team for My Pilot Romance Series!

Are you ready to take off with a sizzling new romance series that’s packed with sky-high tension, forbidden chemistry, and badass pilots?

I’m launching my Pilot Romance Series, and I’m looking for passionate readers to join my ARC & Street Team—aka The Flight Crew. If you’re ready to swoon over a fiercely talented female pilot and the grounded, determined man who crashes into her world, this is your boarding call!

As a member of the Flight Crew, you’ll get:

Early access to each book (before it’s released!)

Exclusive teasers, deleted scenes, and sneak peeks

Opportunities to win swag and be part of launch-day giveaways

First dibs on future ARC drops and insider updates

A front-row seat to all the behind-the-scenes drama, banter, and burn

Whether you’re a die-hard romance reader, a sucker for strong heroines, or just here for the tension in the cockpit—this team is for you.

Sign up now:

https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLScu3uVbOw.../viewform

Let’s light up the skies with this story. Are you ready to fly?

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/223783174-afterburn

3. Elina Conti: Unplanned Arrangement

Hey! Want a deliciously dangerous slow-burn romance? Dive in! A big welcome and thank-you from me.

Last Call: Only One Week Left to Steal the Billionaire’s Heart (Before Everyone Else Does)

Dominic Monti built an empire on control and distance.
Lena Medina? She ruins both.
Their arrangement was supposed to be a headline fix.
Instead, it’s a slow-burn fire neither of them can put out.
And when the threats close in, he’ll protect her with everything he’s got.
Even his heart.

Tropes include:
✦ The Hottest Man in the City Wants Her
✦ Alpha Male, Always Driving (Her Crazy)
✦ Public Playboy, Private Protector
✦ Feisty Heroine with a Cause
✦ She Hates His Charm, He Loves Her Fire
✦ Just One Bed (and So Many Feelings)
✦ Forced Proximity with a Man Who Can’t Stop Looking at Her
✦ Fake Marriage, Real Tension

✦ Protected by a Pack of Powerful Men

 Want in? Claim yours!

Leave a  or check the links:

 Form: https://forms.gle/joV1srawJxiR8JGu8

Booksprout https://booksprout.co/reviewer/review-copy/view/220742/unplanned-arrangement

 BookSirens https://booksirens.com/book/PNFSBUP/QDKNXDE

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/219754652-unplanned-arrangement

4.  Laura M. Drake  Pride & Prejudice & Potions

Looking for people interested in an ARC of my upcoming fall release. It's perfect for readers who love Jane Austen, cozy mysteries, and cozy fantasies.

[https://forms.gle/ZocwiBubawHGrFXH9](https://forms.gle/ZocwiBubawHGrFXH9)

goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/236778700-pride-prejudice-potions

5. Those That Burned Shelbie Yvonne Farmer (Debut Romantasy)

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc6wDQpTPBiEjRd5kor8toTfoFs5C3h8O5Vh97AWRJn20hNmQ/viewform?fbclid=IwY2xjawL0oDVleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHljkRXF4R0mePU4_xXYEn_arnYiJAMmWAKTchfBubLhGykAAn2zt_5Uygpct_aem_DMqDSwoxwVz7NAe4QOMANQ

first book in The Silpera Rising Trilogy, Those That Burned! Coming 9.16.2025

unjust exile

forced allies to lovers

dragons (and dragon like creatures)

forbidden magic

touch her and die

found family

she’s the powerful one

centuries old secrets

She is SPICCYYYY

goodreads: I couldn't find this book on there yet, will try to come back and update once it's available

Violet Sinclair: Her Duke of Duty and Desire

 American Heiresses book 1 read in 2025  

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/223160799-her-duke-of-duty-and-desire

Gabriel Rayborne is now the Duke of Rothbury his father recently passed away leaving him the title and all the problems that go with it and there are a lot including a run down estate and dwindling funds to run the estate not helping is the recent flooding which has damaged the crops that were to bring in a profit for the farmers, there is also another matter that he is a widowed father of 2 young children they are in need of a mother and he is in need of funding to keep his estate and his tenants he had agreed to wed an American heiress sight unseen to obtain a dowry large enough to protect his property.  Gabriel weds his American by proxy (her grandmother who is a Duchess) and then he waits... and waits some more for his wife to arrive.

Diana Wakefield is independent and spirited she has come back to England from America and she has some things to say to her grandmother how could she marry her off without even discussing it with her first she wants to have some say in her future, even if she has to run away with the Spanish coins that she has sewn into her dress and then later placed into ribbons and hidden (yes this is a big part of the story and is mentioned multiple times) if necessary she will just flee the country and start a new life with her coins.

However when she arrives and has the discussion with her grandma she has a different plan for her she has created a false identity so that Diana can meet his Grace and the children prior to letting them know who she really is she will go to the household not as herself but as Miss Smith the children's new governess if she finds that family life isn't for her in a month's time her grandma will visit her at the estate and she can let her know then that she doesn't want to go through with the arrangement and she will help her get out of it... only her Grandma shortened the time to two weeks after her arrival how can she make such a big decision so quickly.  

That's how Diana finds herself living in what is now legally her home with her husband but from the outside looking in as the children's new governess she has a lot of fresh American ideas that the Duke doesn't always see eye to eye with but she is making a difference with his children and they are happy and that's what makes him happy.    

You can see how much Gabriel loves his children and how the weight of the world is on his shoulders as he tries to turn things around for the future of the estate even if it means not marrying for love and staying as far away as he can from Miss Smith his new fiery governess who has been occupying more of his thoughts.  The longer Diana is with the children and the Duke the more she is losing focus of her dreams of freedom and wondering if just maybe this could be her new home, with her grandmothers time line approaching quickly Diana has some big decisions to make and she needs to decide soon, can she really leave the children when they have already snuck into her heart... and maybe the handsome Duke has a place there too.    

The story was a sweet romance but got a bit repetitive which made parts of the story feel like a slog to get through, the timeline from the FMC's arrival until the deadline of her grandmother coming to check in was short leading to everything in the back half of the book between the couple feeling rushed, the couple didn't really have all that many interactions with each other by the time I was over half way through the book.  Would have liked for more actual time spent together with our couple but it was a cute quick read and I plan to read the next in the series.  

Gabriel is a hard working man who is not opposed to picking up tools and rebuilding the land right along with his tenants he is also a loving father and I love how the author placed cute interactions between the powerful/imposing Duke and his two children throughout the book.  I love our FMC's fiesty American attitude it made for funny interactions with the Duke and a different teaching style as the children's "governess" you could see the children's walls coming down and them falling in love with her right along with the Duke.    

*Historical Romance  *Hidden Identity (FMC)  *Duke  *run down estate needs funding

*Book Sirens  *secrets  *drama  *single father  *widowed MMC  *marriage by proxy 

*lack of communication  *MMC with a heart of gold  *Independent FMC *governess 

*American Heiress  *no spice for those that like closed door romances 

**possible spoilers**

The FMC kind of frustrated me at times because while the Duke was getting closer to her as the governess she was also really upset with him for essentially "cheating" on his wife with her... you are his wife just tell him, you have been there under false pretenses the whole time lady and he's never met "his wife."  So Diana is upset with the duke for falling for her instead of his wife but she has been omitting the truth to keep up with her charade of being the governess to see if she even wants to be his wife all while watching him struggle with the estate crumbling around them and no funds to fix it until his bride presents herself at the estate (per her grandma's rules from the marriage contract).  She does try to help with what she can without giving away her true identity but it seemed a bit harsh to me that she was getting so upset with him for "cheating" when she has been lying to him the whole time as far as he knows his American bride might not even ever show up at this point since he has heard very little from the duchess about her since her arrival.  Also we all know that there are going to be hurt feelings when the truth comes out I found myself telling her to just tell him the truth already!! 😟

New Facebook book group: Give me More... book recommendations (come join me :))

 

Here is the link to my new book group: 

https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BtLHQ8kUv/

Hello everyone, 

I created a new book group last week on facebook and I would love to have more members in the group, while a big part of my goal for this group is to help promote the books that I worked on with my husband under our pen name Beth Anderson and my husbands crime and mystery fiction (Brandon Barrows) along the way I would love to help other Indie authors find more readers.  If you are interested come join us 💓

I mainly read romance novels while occasionally branching off to cozy mystery or true crime but I have been trying to be more supportive of Indie authors this year.  If there is interest in it I would like to maybe a few times a month post a blog sharing new books out by Indie authors if you are interested in being apart of this post please let me know.

Would love more bookish friends here are the links to my other socials:  

Blue Sky:    https://bsky.app/profile/elby1313.bsky.social

Good reads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/28052351-lb

Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@elby1313?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

Fable: @Elby  I don't know how to use this yet but I'm trying 😅

Samara Reed Atonement

 Book 2 The Fitzpatricks:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/222445653-atonement

I did not read the first book I started with this 2nd book (I will go back and eventually read the first in the series).  I think that enough information was given throughout the book to make this a stand alone but it probably would have been good to read them in order to get the full story of what was going on.

The story starts out with Dane who is trying to leave his father's control he has lived in a compound his whole life and has been instructed from an early age not to go against his father's power and until now he has always just gone with this that his father's rule is the law and that's how things are... but when things start to change in his "community" and not for the better he knows that he needs to get out and get help, he also knows that he's not the only one afraid of what will happen in the future there are many women and children in the compound and now women are losing even more of their rights it's time to take a stand.  

Dane builds up the courage and leaves with some cash on hand because he doesn't know what it will take to get the help he needs but money talks and he ends up looking for help with someone he knows is capable of helping he heads out looking for Jack he was able to make a life for himself outside of the compound walls and Dane knows that if anyone is up to the challenge it's him but they need to act fast their dad's (who both control the compound) are bound to know that something is up since he left the compound and they will notice he is missing.

While looking for Jack, Dane runs into Ginger who is fierce and fiery but under the tough exterior she is a survivor with a heart of gold she has been through a lot and still wants to help any way she can and quickly Dane finds that she is a good person to have on his side.

This was a action packed quick read that kept me on the edge of my seat hoping that everyone would get through the rescue mission safely.  Dane and Ginger had instant sparks that turned into full blown flames by the end of the book.  

I enjoyed this book over all but the way the FMC spoke took me out of the story a bit, it didn't take away from the storyline just something that took awhile to get used to.  

*reverse age gap (not sure how old FMC is but led to believe she is older than our MMC)  

 *rescue mission *Spice  *instant attraction  *touch her and 💀vibes  *protective MMC *found family

*Indie author