Ruby Ellis: Nightfury

 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/241344203-nightfury

Book Blurb

I have dreamed of him my entire life. But now that he is standing in front of me, he doesn’t want me.

A night out with my sisters turned into the headache of a lifetime. Having been transported to another world, I survive the brutal elements with the help of an unlikely new friend. A friend I have seen before in my dreams.

But she isn’t the only one.

He is here too.

My dream man.

My Viking warrior who traveled with me through my dreams every night for as far back as I can remember.

Whether he wants me or not, I need his help because my arrival to this world isn’t very dreamlike. And the nightmares that hide in the shadows of this land are ready to make their move into the light.

Are my sisters and I truly meant to fulfill the prophecy–To Bear, Mend, and Find?

Will we be able to survive those that hunt us and save the wolves from their infertility crisis?

Or, will using such powerful magic come at too great of a cost?

Tropes:

*Indie Author *Shifter Romance *another world *magic *fated mates *Protective MMC

*check trigger warnings *found family *Spice *human FMC x wolf shifter MMC *Grumpy MMC

Thoughts:

This is book 3 in the Moon Touched Chronicles and these should be read in order as they build on each other.

This book focuses on Reese (the 3rd sister) and her journey she also arrives in this new world without knowing how she got there along the way she faces many challenges including finding and caring for a young girl (who is around 4) and is a bear shifter.  She also begins to grow into her new powers which involve visions.

Reese is brave and does what she needs to do to survive knowing that this is the best plan for a positive outcome and living on the hope that she will reunite with Juni (bear shifter cub) and her sisters.  

Reese has been dreaming of Juni (bear shifter) and her fated mate Bane for years now that she is in this world and she sees them in person it's a bit overwhelming... but Bane and Reese start off on the wrong foot when he tells her he can't have a mate, he is protective of her but wants to keep his distance as much as possible... and I was so frustrated with him!  

Once Reese, Juni and Bane meet back up with the sisters and brothers at their main home after one threat has been eliminated they find that they still have problems in their midst and someone is still out to get them... when someone they love is taken will they be able to save them in time?  

I really enjoyed this series the world building was easy to follow, the lead and side characters are all likeable and it made me want to root for them to have their happy endings. 

I would have liked to find out how the 3 sisters actually got to the new world, but maybe it's just one of those mysteries.  

If you enjoy found family, shifter romance with a portal to a different world and magical elements add this one to your list!  

I'm looking forward to reading more books from this author!

Have you read this one?  What did you think? 

Tequilla Havens: The Quiet Game

 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/247926582-the-quiet-game

Book Blurb:

Some silences are chosen.
Some are inherited.

Selena Wilder is tired of running into walls.

She knows what she feels for Ezra Merrick. She isn’t blind. She isn’t foolish. But loving someone who hides behind quiet can feel like shouting into a locked room. And lately, the quiet in Willow Bend has taken on a life of its own.

Notes are still appearing.
The air still shifts when no one is looking.
And the past refuses to stay buried.

Ezra has spent years believing silence is safer than truth. If he doesn’t say it, it can’t break. If he doesn’t dig, it won’t bleed. But when the echoes of 1965 begin pressing closer—closer to his family, closer to Selena—his restraint starts to look less like protection and more like fear.

As tension builds between them, the line between caution and avoidance blurs. Old loyalties are tested. Family history resurfaces. And something in Willow Bend is no longer content to wait.

Because in a town where memory lingers in every creaking floorboard and every flicker of light, the quiet isn’t empty.

It’s listening.

Tropes:

*Indie Author *Small town romance *slow burn *mystery *Age Gap *supernatural elements

*Family mystery *cover up *secrets *town lies *multiple POV *Found family *longing

*pining *Forbidden romance (Ezra thinks so... no one else feels that way) 

Thoughts:

This is the second book in the Willow Bend Trilogy and should be read in order as these books build off each other and this one picks up where the last book ended.

While this book is multiple POV between our group the leading characters of this book are Selena and Ezra (middle Merrick brother).  

Selena and Ezra have been friends for a long time but something more has been coming to the surface for a long time, Selena one night wanting to push things further into more than friends asks Ezra a question... which leads to Ezra going into a big of a spiral... truth is he feels a lot towards Selena but doesn't believe he should due to his own reasons.

Ezra was frustrating throughout this book he wanted to be with Selena but was pushing himself away and pushing her away from him as well, he was hot and cold with her and sending mixed signals... I wanted to pull him aside and tell him to get it together and tell her how he felt already! 

The small town mystery continues in this book as Ezra, Selena and their friend group work to find the clues and put together what happened to the woman the town seems set on hiding even existed... throughout the first book and this book there was a paranormal element helping/leading our group in the right direction and had me wanting to get to the bottom of what happened all those years ago.

I love the found family elements being back in this story felt like visiting with old friends, and wanting to maybe play cupid pull Ezra aside and tell him to go for it, get your woman before she gives up on you... on another note I do get Ezra's internal struggle with his feelings but I think that he was so hyper fixated on these issues that he failed to see that anyone who mattered would be happy for him and Selena.

It's Christmas time in town but spooky vibes continue throughout the story with mysterious messages from unknown beings, notes that show up at random, strange voicemails and radio static that comes through as a transmitter from beyond the veil.  

I appreciated the blend of the mystery still happening along side the Romance and the tension from the push and pull from Ezra and Selena.  

Also what is happening with the Merrick Brother's aunt and uncle?   

This book revealed some hidden truths but with all the questions left unanswered I'm looking forward to seeing how everything ties together and is revealed in book 3.  

 Have you read this one?  What did you think? 

Ruby Ellis: Nighthowl

 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/239998437-nighthowl

Book Blurb:

I escaped from Hell and landed on my soulmate’s doorstep.

After experiencing the unimaginable at the hands of monsters, I wake up in another world.

With the help of the woman who nursed me back to health, I avoided the witch hunters sweeping through the land and journeyed to the main village. Bolstered by the rumors of a human living there, I storm into the Alpha’s lodge just in time to find my sister, Rowan, bleeding out on the floor.

The desperate need to save her triggered something in me.

Magic.

Rare magic that The Moon blessed me with.

Incredible magic that can heal.

But that isn’t all that I discovered.

My soulmate is here too.

He is Alpha of the Nighthowl pack, and my sister’s new brother-in-law.

Forced to live under the same roof, Griffin sees my fractured parts, and offers to help me carry the load.

Can I trust him with all of my demons?

Together, can we mend what has been broken?

Tropes:

*Indie Author *Wolf Shifter MMC x Human FMC *from another world *Magic

*Strangers --> More *Fated mates *Spice *found family *Protective MMC *touch her and 💀

*trigger warnings  *healing journey *paranormal *age gap 😅 *insta lust/love

Thoughts:

After the ending to the first book I really wanted to know what happened next Ramsey made it to camp just in time and finds out that she has a fated mate (Griffin) and he's a wolf shifter... this is a lot to process especially after all she's been through.

Ramsey has been in this new world for the same amount of time as her sister and is adapting well, she is so strong and has had to rely on herself for everything from a young age taking care of her 2 younger sisters and putting herself through nursing school these skills can help in this new world too especially with her new found magical abilities.

Griffin (MMC) is so patient and respectful of Ramsey he knows that she has been through a traumatic series of events and he is willing to wait as long as he needs to and gives her the feeling of safety to the point where she feels open to sharing her experience with him when she's ready.

This was a fast paced shifter romance, it is very insta lust/love but it works for the story since we are talking about fated mates, the world building is simple and easy to follow and that also goes along well with the story line.  This is book 2 in this series and I would recommend that you read them in order to get the full story as book one meshes with book 2. 

This story blends humor, romance, action, drama and a beautiful healing journey.  Ramsey is so used to taking care of others it's nice to see someone put her first and Griffin is so attentive and sweet (I love him!).

While the romance itself is very sweet, check your trigger warnings before reading Ramsey's revealed history is of a sensitive nature but handled with care and I love how her healing journey never felt rushed as she began to feel safe in her surroundings and learn to trust her fated mate. 

I love the siblings together they all care for each other so much.

Ramsey is fierce and a baddie she's determined to not let the past get in the way of her future and even works towards learning to defend herself.

I'm just going to come out and say it, I love this series! so good and I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

Have you read this one?  what did you think?

Shani Cossins: A Game of Masquerade

 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/239404032-a-game-of-masquerade

Book Blurb:

Everyone has heard of Jack the Ripper the Whitechapel serial killer whose identity remains a mystery to this day.
But what if there is more to this mystery than meets the eye? What if the identity of the murderer is more than
human? A fugitive from another world who joins forces with Scotland Yard is soon to discover that past and future
events have created a monster, which ignites fear and outrage on the streets of the East End.
To stop the murderous rampage in 1888, Professor Orlando Delbrotman must solve one of the most brutal mysteries of the 19th century…without changing history…

Themes:

*Murder Mystery *Historical Fiction *Science Fiction *Aliens *Other Worlds *Future Technology

*Time Travel *World Travel *Trigger warnings (it is about Jack the Ripper)  *Indie author

Thoughts:

Professor Orlando Delbrotman is not from Earth but finds himself in 1888 England right in the middle of the Jack the Ripper mystery, while he has studied history from other worlds he never expected to be part of it... but now that he's here how can he help without fully changing history and damaging the future?

This story follows the Professor as he adapts to his new environment and assists local law enforcement and Scotland Yard with their old fashioned investigation, but with minimal clues and lack of technology at their disposal he begins to wonder if they will be able to find the culprit before he takes more innocent lives.

Jack's hunting grounds are full of dark and shady dealings leaving there to be plenty of potential suspects.

The author does a great job with building the world for the time period with bits of the future added into it, I wasn't quite sure what to expect as I occasionally will read a true crime book but have never read a blend of historical fiction + true crime + science fiction this was a truly unique take on the story of Jack the Ripper which kept me turning pages to find out what would happen next... this mystery has captivated the world for over 100 years who is to say there wasn't a bit of the paranormal involved.    

There are many characters introduced throughout the story, and it took me a bit to get used to the writing style as it is written how the people would speak and bounced around to multiple different characters but once I got used to this it flowed well for me.

As the Professor begins to figure out what is really going on the mystery unfolds with twists and turns that kept me interested from beginning to end.  

Have you read this one?  what did you think?  

Ruby Ellis: Nightfang

 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/239573160-nightfang

Book Blurb:

I escaped from monsters and ran straight into the arms of my soulmate.

This new world is very different from the one that I know. Beasts live within every person here and I am just a weak human who was given a one way ticket into this place and shook everything up.

I have magic in this world.

Powerful magic that was gifted by The Moon.

Magic that can help my Mate and his people overcome a devastating obstacle that they are facing.

If, I can learn to control it.

But navigating this new world comes with its own challenges and not everyone is eager to accept me into the pack.

It isn’t long before I learn that someone’s bark can be just as dangerous as their bite.

Nightfang is the first book in the Moon Touched Chronicles trilogy. Each book follows a different couple, but should be read in order. The Moon Touched Chronicles feature protective wolf shifter MMCs and their human mates. Mature content intended for readers 18+.

Tropes:

*Indie Author *Shifter Romance (Wolf) *Protective MMC *Human FMC *found family

*transport to another world *Fated Mates *Insta lust/love *Magic *fish out of water

*State Challenge New York (repeat) *Alpha MMC *Age Gap 😁 *Bingo Board Full Moon

*Trigger warnings --> Check them *touch her and 💀 *spice *banter

Thoughts:

This story starts out in modern day NYC where Rowan our human FMC is going out for the night to celebrate her 21st birthday with her two sisters, they work hard and often don't get the time to just relax together.  While at the club the sisters get separated and Rowan passes out waking up captured in a forest she does the only thing she can she runs as fast as she can the moment she gets a chance... she's not in New  York City anymore, but where is she?  If she can just find a cab maybe she can get home.

This is a fast paced fated mates story where Rowan very soon after waking up realizes she's not only no where near her home... she's in a completely different world.  

Rowan really accepts her new situation quickly, learning that the wolf that she saw in the forest is actually a shifter the alpha male of the pack and huge... everywhere, oh and by the way she is his fated mate and it was destiny that pulled them together, concerned that she might never find her way home she decides to make the best of this situation and she does feel safe with her new wolf protector.

Warr (MMC) is protective, strong, handsome and a true leader he has been waiting a long time for his mate and now that he knows that she's here on the same planet he has no plans of letting her go.

Rowan and Warr spend time together getting to know each other better and Rowan learns more about her new world, new magical abilities since her mate bond and pack dynamics.  Unfortunately not everyone is happy that Warr has found his mate which leads to drama and danger for Rowan.

Rowan also wonders if she ended up in this new world did her sisters end up there too?  And if so where are they?  

This has been on my TBR for awhile I just haven't had the chance to get to it but I do try to support Indie authors as often as I can and as part of my book challenge group we are doing a bingo board this fit the -> Full Moon category... I'm now upset for not being able to get to this book sooner, I listened to this book in a few hours and it had me hooked from the beginning.

The world building was simple but easy to follow, the story flows well and kept me wanting to know what would happen next everything happens quickly and it worked for the story, I did want to know more about how Rowan ended up in her current situation but I'm sure more of the story will come out in the rest of the series.  

If you are looking for a fast paced and fun shifter romance check this one out!  I plan to read the rest of the series soon because I need to find out what happens next!!  

Have you read this one?  what did you think? 

Kelly Parker: Ludi

 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/255569979-ludi

Book Blurb:

Every sailor knows the stories of the girl the sea refused to drown.
Of the storms that rise without warning.
Of the ships that never return.
Most call her a curse.
They're wrong.

When Ludivine Lamont was only three days old, her father cast her into the sea, believing the ocean would bury his greatest mistake.
Instead, it claimed her.
Raised by pirates and fiercely protected by the crew who became her family, Ludi has spent her life outrunning the whispers. Wherever she goes, storms follow. Ships disappear. Men blame the sea's fury on the mysterious pirate girl they call Stormblood.
Ludi knows only one thing for certain.
When danger finds her...
The sea answers.

Kaiser Crowe hunts monsters for a living.
When he's hired to capture the infamous daughter of the sea and deliver her to the man who wants her dead, he expects to find a weapon.
Not a reckless pirate with a knife in her boot, salt in her hair,
and a habit of smiling in the face of danger.
She should be his easiest bounty.
Instead, she'll make him question everything he believes.

As ancient secrets rise from the depths and a relentless enemy closes in, Ludi and Kaiser are forced into an uneasy alliance that neither of them wants—and neither of them can survive without.

Because the sea doesn't create monsters.
It protects them.

And anyone foolish enough to threaten what it has claimed...
will have to survive the storm.

Tropes:

*Indie Author *ARC read *Pirate Romance *Action *Adventure *curses *Battles *Family Drama

*Found Family *He falls first *Baddie FMC *Touch her and 💀 *Protective MMC *Banter

*Enemies --> More  *age gap *Slow burn *Morally Grey MMC & FMC 

Thoughts:

Ludi has had a tough life, abandoned as an infant she was thankfully cared for and taken in by a pirate and because of that grew up learning the value of hard work and how to take care of herself.  

Unfortunately for Ludi most believe her to be cursed... including herself at times especially with her history of storms coming without warning.  She has been on her own for a long time after one of these storms claimed her original crew and has been going with any crew willing to take her but truth is she hasn't felt like she's had a home for a long time... until she's captured by Kaiser Crow who has been paid quite well to make sure the daughter of the sea gets to her final destination.

Kaiser (MMC) was also raised by pirates working in tough environments and has rised through the ranks to be captain of his own ship... but don't call him that, or else!  He's handsome but he's also cruel, but Ludi knows the type she's lived with them and worked with them for years, if he wants to abduct her she's going to make him work for it.

Kaiser thinking that this will be an easy bounty... she's a young woman after all what could go wrong?  

Ludi is loyal, fierce, beautiful and bold, and honestly just as ruthless as Kaiser himself, trouble finds her wherever she goes she has a fire inside of her but she's also charming and can light up any room... or all the parts of the ship, making friends with his crew and throwing Kaiser off his game he doesn't know what to do with her and the more he gets to know of her he begins to question if bringing her in is the right thing to do, it's not only his crew that has fallen for her at this point but his own hardened heart is cracking and Ludi is slipping right in.

Ludi while she shows no fear honestly all she really wants is to find a place that accepts her and feels like home again it's been so long since she's had that feeling and is beginning to feel that way again with the Blackwater crew but that could be dangerous... she is just a bounty to them, isn't she? 

This book has everything you would want in a pirate romance --> an old curse, tension between our MMC and FMC you could cut with a knife, danger, action, adventure and a lot of drama.  While our handsome MMC is protective and has no problem backing up our feisty FMC Ludi she is a firecracker and can handle her own and proves it time and time again.  

The back and forth between our couple had so much tension, you just knew when they finally gave in it was going to be fireworks!! 

Kaiser and Ludi both have trouble trusting others and letting their guards down but once someone is in... they are in, Love the found family aspect of this story the Blackwater crew were awesome and I loved how some of them took Ludi's side during some of these arguments right away it shows that sometimes the family choose yourself is so much better than the one you were born into... and Ludi's father! Seriously what is wrong with this guy!! ugh!  

Thank you so much to Kelly Parker for giving me an advance copy of this book!  I was so excited to try a pirate romance and it exceeded my expectations!  Loved this book so much!!

Have you read this one?  What did you think?  

Myranda Rae: Mark of the Damned

 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/231327250-mark-of-the-damned

Book Blurb:

Niamh is on the run. Leaving behind her family, her past, and everything she's ever known in search of something more.

When she charters a ride on a ship bound for Portugal, she expects rough waters, maybe even danger. What she doesn't expect is this crew… or the secrets they keep beneath the surface.

Adventure and love on the high seas are perilous enough, but with this ship, things turn unreasonably deadly.

Because some monsters don’t wait in the water, some walk the deck.

Tropes: 

* Indie Author  *Shifter Romance *Protective MMC *Found Family *origin Story *Ireland

*Spice  *under 200 pages *Close proximity *fierce FMC *Secrets revealed *fantasy

Thoughts:

Niamh is a young lady and her father has decided that she will marry a local nobleman to essentially help with her younger sister's future marital prospects... Problem is the guy is a lot older and he is just awful she can't do it and she won't do it.  

Her only option is to run away to the coast and hopefully sell the horse she stole from her father, once she gets there the horse doesn't fetch as much coin as she thought it would but she has no choice as her father is likely to be after her soon.

She gets taken in as a passenger by the first crew she can they are on their way to Portugal and at this point she is willing to go anywhere as long as it gets her far away from her current fate as unwilling bride.

Now she is alone on board with a rough and tumble crew... who all share a secret and it's one that could cost her... she just has to continue to keep her head down and make herself useful as a cook and cleaning and mending thier clothes... but there is a lot to learn when it comes to sea living and it isn't a luxury cruise.

The Captain and a few of the crew members are not a fan of her being on board, but she catches the eye of The Captain's son Silver (aka Cooper).  Cooper is nothing like his gruff father he is sweet, protective and handsome as sin... she is beginning to feel things for him that she probably shouldn't but can't help but feel anyways.

Cooper feels the same towards her but he wants to protect her from himself and the rest of the crew, in order to do this he has to do the hardest thing ever and push her away it's for her own good.  

Niamh our brave FMC ends up tagging along with this crew on their mission in Portugal and she knows what she wants in her life... but can she make her own future with so many elements out of her control?  

This was a fun adventure on the high seas with danger, secrets revealed, and a true love worthy of becoming legendary! 

Have you read this one?  What did you think?  

Marlissa Cunningham: Catalyst

 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/235671217-catalyst

Book Blurb:

"Elissa, you are the worst princess I have ever met, and by far, my favorite."

In a land divided by centuries of war and distrust, an elven princess and a human prince are the last hope for peace — or the spark that ignites another war.

Princess Elissa of Treiaul has never fit the mold of royal perfection. She prefers the forest to the throne room, her bow to the delicate trappings of court life. But when Prince Hayward of Aasleagh arrives to negotiate a fragile peace treaty, she’s ordered to play the gracious host to the human she’s been raised to despise.

Hayward is no stranger to being underestimated — the youngest of his brothers and a seasoned soldier, he’s spent his life carving out a place for himself. He enters elven territory with low expectations and party of men mostly chosen by his father who he doesn’t trust, prepared to endure the cold shoulder of a princess who sees him as the enemy.

But what neither of them anticipates is the undeniable pull between them. Their sharp words turn into lingering glances, and every clash of wills ignites something far more dangerous than hatred. As their chemistry simmers, Hayward becomes the unexpected catalyst for Elissa to embrace her wild heart and for her people to see the looming human threat for what it truly is.

With tensions rising and kingdoms on the brink of war, their forbidden connection might either shatter the fragile hope of peace — or forge a love powerful enough to change the fate of their realms forever.

This romantasy debut is a tale of passion, prejudice, and the power of choosing love in a world that demands war.

Tropes:

*Indie Author  *Romantasy *Insta Lust  *Insta Love *Spice *Curvy FMC *Feisty FMC

*Royalty *Politics *betrayal *forced proximity *Fantasy *Fae FMC x Human MMC 

*first in series --> read in order *magic *Banter *animal side kick (FMC)

Thoughts:

Prince Hayward (human MMC) arrives to the Fae lands on a diplomatic mission to meet with the Fae King and discuss peace talks, he is escorted by men from his own kingdom but his father picked out most of his group and he doesn't trust them.  Upon entering Fae lands he is greeted by the beautiful Princess Elissa (Fae FMC) and escorted back to her home to meet with her father the king.

Another reason for coming to the Fae kingdom is to see if a marriage between himself and the eldest daughter could be potentially a good match for their kingdoms, as the youngest son (not the heir or the spare) he has mostly been looked down upon in his own home and isn't fully against the idea... he's just not quite sure he needs to settle down right yet.

Hayward is I guess supposed to be charming... but to me he felt more on the arrogant side as gods gift to everyone (especially the ladies).  He did grow on me by the end of the book but I wasn't fully sold on him.  Also wasn't a fan of the way he is described looking at the princess and her assets... and it's all the time... come on man get it together I thought you were there to discuss politics with the king too! 

This was easy to read and listen to.  This does have more modern dialogue so kind of took me out of the fantasy world for me at times.

Because we didn't have much back story on anything in the human or fae kingdom I didn't feel fully invested in what turned out to be more something happening in the back ground of this story.

While there is some chemistry between Hayward and Elissa I don't feel that anything they did during their week together would lead them to know much more than surface layer stuff... I mean they have room to grow as a couple for sure and will check out book 2 to see what happens next.

For me personally this book had so much spice it began to over power any plot happening.

There are a few secrets revealed during the book that I would like to find out more about... like Hayward and his super fast healing abilities. 

I'm going to try to find this book the right kind of audience

If you are looking for epic world building with a lengthy back story on characters that isn't present in this book.  

The book briefly covers that there is potential for war between the humans and Fae but doesn't really explain why... they mention that the Fae lands have more resources (like water and gems) so maybe this is part of it?  but it isn't really discussed at length at any point in the story.

While Hayward is there basically as a political diplomat this is more in the back ground of this story it pops up occasionally to remind us that he was sent there for that reason too. 

If you are looking for a slow burn romance --> this is very insta lust and love, I'm not even sure if they knew each other a full day before they are learning the curves of each others bodies if you know you know.

This did have some witty banter throughout so you witty banter lovers will appreciate that

The Princess is strong and is probably one of the Fae's best fighters she knows how to use a bow & arrow and helps the prince with a few really dangerous situations, I do love a baddie!

This was a more low stakes, cozy romantasy with lots of spicy fireworks 

If you get the Audiobook like I did the narrators did a great job bringing the book to life it was Duet narration with RL Hemm and Luke Persiani. 

have you read this one?  What did you think?

Skye Daniels: Beneath Our Stars

 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/256289641-beneath-our-stars

Book Blurb:

Some people are written into your life long before you meet them.

Annabelle Prescott has spent years carrying a grief no one seems willing to talk about.

Behind the privilege, perfect grades, and carefully planned future is a girl searching for something she can't quite name. She never expected to find it when three scholarship students walked into her elite private school.

Jax is steady, patient, and impossible not to love.

Caleb is guarded, complicated, and hiding more than he'll ever admit.

Kassie becomes the best friend she never knew she needed.

Together, they build a friendship that feels more like home than any place they've ever known.

Spanning a decade, Beneath Our Stars follows four lives forever changed by friendship, first love, devastating loss, and the promises that continue to shape them long after graduation. As they chase dreams, face unimaginable heartbreak, and discover that healing is never a straight path, they'll learn that some people become part of your soul—and loving them changes you forever.

Heartfelt, unforgettable, and deeply emotional, Beneath Our Stars is a coming-of-age romance about grief, healing, found family, enduring love, and the hope that even in life's darkest moments, the stars can still guide you home.

Tropes:

*Indie Author *Friends to More *Small town romance *covers a large period of time

*Emotional *Found family *Spice *Family drama *grief  *Second chances *Slow burn 

Thoughts:

From the beginning you know this book is going to put you through a roller coaster of emotions... I wish I had grabbed tissues to be honest because this book had be full blown ugly crying during several chapters... because of this I decided to read this alone in my room later at night.

I loved how we start with this group of friends from the beginning when they meet in high school our FMC Bells is from a wealthy family she has a twin sister but her sister has always been more of a social butterfly and spends her time with the popular kids while she doesn't mind hanging out with her sisters friends from time to time she's thrilled to have some new faces at the school when Jax, Caleb and Kassie arrived to the school all receiving a scholarship to the school it's harder for them to fit in since they are foster kids just trying to live day to day and do what they can to improve their lives.  Bells befriends the new kids right away no questions asked.

The group of four become pretty inseperable even though the other kids are initially not fully trusting of her intentions towards them Bells wins them over easily with her kind and non-judgemental nature.  

Even though Bells and her new friends backgrounds were different all of these kids have had to grow up fast dealing with their own life events that changed how they viewed everything around them in this way it's clear to see that their friendship was inevitable even with guards and walls up around their hearts.

This story continues to cover many years of this friend group through their life changes, the sweet feelings of first love, making big moves,  how even if you are close friends life happens and sometimes you grow apart but this makes things even better when you find each other again.  Most importantly throughout this is that this group of friends are there for each other when they are most needed.

Part two showed so much bravery and love in the face of the unknown, because the author did such a great job making us fall in love with our group of kids in the first part this second part felt that much more emotional... seriously I was sobbing through most of it and I don't usually like reading tear jerkers but I knew I would be missing out on something special if I didn't read this book.

Part three: was like a rainbow after the storm, while your heart is breaking in the second part this next part focuses on grief, emotional healing, and feelings of how to move on when you feel like your whole world has stopped.  

Where there is a great loss you know there was great love, I appreciated that this story showed the reality of grief it doesn't go away automatically and everyone grieves on their own time line it's nothing anyone can rush.  

Loving someone new doesn't make your past love mean less it just means that your heart is so big that you have the capacity to love many people in different ways.  

I don't want to give too much more away but this was a beautifully written book and I thank the author for the opportunity to read this early copy 💓.

Have you read this one?  What did you think? 

Lena Knight: Averted

 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/240714165-averted

Book Blurb:

She was determined to avert her heart,
He was determined to claim it.

What happens when a badass model in the midst of her master plan for revenge gets distracted by a pair of brown eyes?
Her desperate need to escape her feelings only seemed to pull him closer. She was set on averting. Too bad she came across one stubborn motorcycle riding distraction.


I was a puppet, the strings pulled by my parents. A Barbie doll brought up to sit still and look pretty, preferably with my mouth shut. Feelings were a foreign concept. That was until I locked eyes with a bad boy with a killer smirk. He was a distraction I couldn’t afford. I had dirty secrets to expose, my plan already set in motion. I was determined, focused, all in… Until Mateo.

She was a vision, looking so innocent while screaming trouble. Butterflies were flying around, a magnetic pull so strong, but she managed to turn the poles, fighting me every step of the way, not allowing me to get closer. The more she pulled back, the more I wanted to figure her out. She had her walls firm in place, but I was going to break them, brick by brick. No matter how hard Sabrina wanted to keep up the aversion, I was going to be the one she’d let in.

Tropes:

*Indie Author ALC *Strangers to More *Heiress FMC *Model FMC *College romance

*Revenge plan *FMC doesn't know love *found family *pop culture mentions 

*State Challenge Mass (repeat) 

Thoughts:

Sabrina (FMC) is young, beautiful and set on revenge she's recently learned a lot about her life that she never fully realized and even though she was born into a world of privilege, there is more to life than money and power and she is on a mission to make things right.

Mateo (MMC) although he is also young (in his early 20's) he is smart, kind, compassionate and loyal to those he holds close he was raised in a foster home but there was so much love and support.  While out on his bike he see's a beauty they have a moment where they never exchange names, numbers, addresses basically they know nothing about each other other than what they learned in their brief interaction but it's kind of like that movie Serendipity (which is mentioned in the moment) if it's meant to be it will happen again.

Going their seperate ways Mateo and Sabrina continue to think about the other even though it's doubtful they will ever see each other again (you never know)... but Sabrina did like the fact that Mateo didn't know who she was since she is in a number of magazines and billboards, it's nice to be noticed for just you not your status.

Naturally they do end up running into each other again, there is a bit of a push and pull since Sabrina is getting involved in some dangerous activities and is trying to put distance between anyone she cares about she doesn't want them caught in the cross fire.  Our FMC is a brave baddie and I was rooting for her the whole time to succeed with her plans.  

Sabrina doesn't want to think about or like Mateo as much as she does, she is trying to focus on this one goal... and she doesn't want to have a weak point and the more time she spends with Mateo and his family the more she realizes that she could hurt not only him but also his family... is what she's working towards really worth wrecking what she's building with Mateo?  

I would say that I felt like I might of missed something a few times in the story because I wasn't quite sure how much time had passed throughout most of the book and I thought they had only been together maybe once or twice at this particular time but Mateo was upset that Sabrina hadn't told him the truth leading me to believe that he felt their relationship had progressed further than I thought it had.

There are many pop culture references to books, movies and music and I wasn't always able to follow along quite as well with those segments because I hadn't heard the song, read the book or seen the movie but if you are up on your pop culture references you are going to love these parts of the book.  

I'm so glad that I was finally able to get to this book it's been on my TBR for awhile but if you've been reading by blog you know that I have a habit of probably picking up way too many arcs/alcs (oops) This story was fast paced with a dash of heart, humor and emotional moments spread throughout.  There is a large cast of characters I may have had an easier time with this as I have read a few of the other books in a different series by this author that involved this loving band of brothers and their beautiful Mama Eva.    

I loved Mateo's family they are true family goals!  Sabrina while her own family were ruthless she did have some close friends to help her get through.  

I received this ALC from the author and I loved the Narrators Andi Eloise and Caden Hart were awesome!  

Have you read this one?  what did you think?