Nicole Blanchard: Little Death

 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/242701279-little-death

Book Blurb:

I should have known better than to play games with dangerous men.

Crashing a masquerade party for the most elite members of New Orleans was supposed to give me answers, not put me in the sights of the Irish mafia’s most enigmatic enforcer, Aiden O’Connor.

But when one reckless gamble binds me to him for a night, I learn too late that some wagers can’t be won.

What begins as a game spirals into obsession, temptation, and ruin.

Because Aiden doesn’t just want control for one night—he wants to break me in ways I’ll never escape unscathed.

Little Death is a dark romance novella and a prequel to Until Death. Some themes and scenes may be disturbing to readers. Please check the TWs at the beginning of the book.

Tropes:

*High Gravity ALC *Irish Mafia Romance *Masked FMC & MMC  *Masquerade party

*Mystery *One night only *Obsessive MMC *Dark Romance  *Trigger warnings (check them) 

*Spice *Enemies --> more *Prequel Novella  *State Challenge Louisiana (repeat)

Thoughts:

I received this ALC from High Gravity audio and it's not my usual type of book and I knew it would be darker so at first I wasn't planning to listen to this one, but I saw a few reviews from my friends and saw it was a shorter listen so decided to give it a chance.  

To start with we have Catriona (FMC) she is sneaking into her former home after it's been sold to an Irish billionaire who she doesn't know much about but she is on a mission and he happens to be throwing a masked party... works out for her maybe no one will notice she's even there she can go in look for what she needs and hopefully leave without being seen.

Unfortunately luck is not on her side and she ends up being witness to something she shouldn't... but now that Aiden (MMC) has seen her he's not going to let her go that easily.

Catriona's whole reason for being in the home was to find her mother's cell phone, her mother has recently passed away and even though as far as the police are concerned the case is closed... she feels something is off and maybe if she had her phone she could get them to re-open the investigation, she can't tell Aiden this information especially now after what she's seen tonight.

Knowing that Aiden is a gambling man she makes a bet with him, she loses and is now forced to spend the evening with this guy who is terrifying... and the most shocking part about it is she is drawn to this man in ways she can't explain, doesn't hurt that he's super hot (and Irish).

They have a night to remember... but it was just one night right?  

This has an amazing cast: Eric Nolan, Kasi Hollowell, Corvin King and Eboni Flowers.  Did I mention the MMC is Irish, that accent 💓.  

There really wasn't much plot or more than surface level info on our characters in this one as things got steamy pretty quick, and I didn't like some of the things our MMC said to the FMC during those times... but that could just be a me thing (also he is in the mafia... so there's that).  So low on plot but it does set up several things that we will hopefully find out more about throughout the rest of the series and I'm intrigued to find out more!  

Thank you to the author and High Gravity Audio for this ALC, I'm glad that I decided to listen to this one! 

Have you read this one?  What did you think? 

C.K. Darling: Embers Of Fate

 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/250286117-embers-of-fate

Book Blurb:

He puts out fires for a living. She's the fire he didn't know he needed.Event planner Ember Harper arrives in Peachwood Grove for a much-needed escape — a chance to breathe, regroup, and help her best friend plan a local fundraiser. What she doesn't plan on is a rainstorm, a deer in the road, and ending up in the arms of the most devastatingly handsome firefighter in Georgia.

Captain Ryan McCallister has seen plenty of emergencies. None of them looked quite like her.

What starts as a rescue turns into something neither of them saw coming—a connection that feels less like coincidence and more like fate. But Ember's carrying more baggage than the suitcases he helped unpack, and staying means trusting someone again. That might be the scariest emergency she's ever faced.

Good thing she's got a firefighter in her corner.

Embers of Fate is a quick, swoony ride through small-town Georgia, where sparks fly fast and feelings burn even faster—the perfect read to devour in an afternoon.

Tropes:

*High Gravity ALC *Small town romance *Novella *Strangers to more *Insta lust/love 

*Firefighter MMC x Event planner FMC *He saves her *shady business partner

*Quick Read *Cozy Read *Found Family *He falls first *State Challenge Georgia (repeat)

Thoughts:

Ember (FMC) is on her way to help a friend in a small town plan an event when she ends up in a MVA, thankfully the handsome fire captain Ryan (off duty) saw the accident and was able to get her out of her vehicle and get her fast medical care. 

The event that Ember has been asked to help with is the upcoming fire fighter fundraiser and this puts her in close proximity to Ryan, since this story is short everything happens quicker so it is insta lust/love and everything moves fast in a short period of time.

Ryan and Ember's romance even though it moved fast felt natural for the story, this was a cute and cozy small town romance with charming side characters and even had a bit of drama since Ember is in the middle of a legal battle over her business in the city with her shady business partner.  

I would have liked to see more character development for both leads.  But I did enjoy it for what it was the leads are likeable and I found myself hoping for a happily ever after for them but since Ember is in town for just a short time to help her friend could she make that huge move to a small town from her big city life?  Or will their relationship be over before it ever really started?  

The story also sets up the story line for the next book and I'm looking forward to checking out the next in the series.  

The Narrators did a great job bringing this story to life Thank you to the Author and High Gravity ALC for this early listen copy! 

Have you read this one?  what did you think?  

Jada McCrary: Of Fae and Wicked Kings

 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/225807449-of-fae-and-wicked-kings

Book Blurb:

A human, a fae warrior, and the wicked Unseelie king walk into a bar. Just kidding. There is no bar. But there is a quest to find a missing queen. And tension. Lots of tension.

When she and her love, Rowan, went to the Unseelie Court, Gwyndolin only intended to ask the Unseelie king to stop his fae from attacking the humans and Seelie fae. She did not intend for him to insert himself into their quest to find the high queen. But who can say no to the wicked High King Aspen? He takes what he wants, and he doesn’t care who he hurts in the process.
His magic may be useful, but his arrogant, flirtatious attitude may cause a rift between her and Rowan. She hates Aspen, and he seems to only want to antagonize her. So, why does it seem like there’s something else he’s hiding? And will it threaten everything when she finds out?
This novella, set in the realm of the Fae-blessed series but sometime before that series, is full of love, betrayal, and villains. Who doesn’t love villains? Of Fae and Wicked Kings is a dark fantasy romance

Tropes:

*Romantasy *Enemies --> More *Villain gets the girl *He falls first *touch her and 💀

*morally gray MMC *Dual POV *Plot twists *Betrayal *Novella

Thoughts:

I picked this one up after I got an ALC from Netgalley for Of thrones and savage things it was recommended this be read first prior to reading the next in the series.

Gwyndolin (Human FMC) teams up with Rowan (Fae and the one she has been falling in love with while they have been together).  They are on a quest to find and save the queen but make a stop to see the King of another court... he is known to be untrustworthy and more on the evil side but they make their request for him to stop the attacks on their own people and then the plan is to be on their way but the shady king decides to join them on their journey.  

On their trip the king begins flirting with Gwyndolin and she's not sure how to take this as she is in love with Rowan.  On their journey some surprises happen and Gwyndolin is left thinking about what her future will be now that everything has changed including her view points.

So this has the beginnings of setting up several different plots but unfortunately for me nothing was fully formed or fully explained.  Everything that was there happened so quickly that it didn't give me enough time to care about what was happening, there wasn't really back story on anything, the world building is slim and we don't have enough of any part of the story to fully grasp anything.  

The king is head over heels with the FMC after only a few days (?) and willing to burn everything down for her... I didn't think it was that serious myself.  

It did set up a cliffhanger of sorts so will see how things pan out in a the next story which is full length.  

I listened to this and thought the narrators did a good job, it's really what kept me with the story. 

did you read this one?  what did you think?

Shayne McClendon: Breaking the Ice

 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19039939-breaking-the-ice

Book Blurb:

This book is no longer available as a stand-alone.

Diesel LeBlanc notices MacKenzie Rhodes ice-skating on a pond in their hometown and decides he has to have her. He makes no secret of his desire – or the casual nature of it. He finally gets what he wants…on her terms…and heads off to live the fabulous life of a professional hockey player.

Years later, a chance meeting brings them together again and Diesel realizes she’s the one woman he was never able to forget. He’s ready to prove that he can be a man worthy of her heart.

Is she ready to trust him with the life she’s built?

Tropes:

*Novella *Hockey Romance *2nd chance for romance *Spice *hidden secrets

*State Challenge North Dakota  

Thoughts:

I grabbed this one for my kindle as I've been doing the 50 states reading challenge and needed a book set in North Dakota.

To start with we have Mackenzie (FMC) who has had a tough time in life growing up with two neglectful parents and helping to raise her younger brother's and sisters she's put all of her own dreams on hold to make sure she's there for them.  

Back in town while on break from College handsome Diesel (MMC) notices Kenzie ice skating at first not realizing it's the girl he went to school with for years... she is gorgeous and has grown into her curves.  Being the ladies man he is he pursues Kenzie and goes to the local bar she works at night after night trying to wear her down.

Kenzie at first continues to push Diesel away but one night frustrated and feeling alone she ends up stranded on the side of the road and they have a night to remember and go their seperate ways... MacKenzie ends up with a big memory from that night while Diesel goes on to get drafted after college into the NHL.

Kenzie now living in Boston with her younger brother and working a zillion hours a week on top of going to night school and dealing with other things doesn't have time for romance... but it's been several years and now Diesel has been traded to the team in Boston he finds her at the bar she works at and it's just like he never left her he's always thought about her while they were apart and now is a second chance.  

Will stubborn Kenzie allow herself to fall for Diesel completely?  he could have any woman he wanted what would he want with her?  Will Diesel be able to convince her that they are meant to be? 

This was a quick read at a bit over 100 pages, I feel like I might have missed part of their relationship development at times due to unknown time jumps at the beginning like she didn't want anything to do with him then he's telling him to take her home with him?? 

Due to the shorter length it also feels like some of the dialog was weird like it feels like too much personal information is just dumped in sections where it didn't make sense because our FMC is more guarded but next thing you know she's sharing her childhood trauma with him.  This also goes for the secret being revealed it seemed that everything was just fine right away.

The plot that was there was ok and I don't mind spice, but I felt the spice almost over powered the plot.  

This was a short hockey romance there really wasn't any hockey involved in this so if you enjoy sports romance with sports this won't be for you --> basically it's just used to say what a great job Diesel has as an NHL star later in the book.

Have you read this one?  What did you think?

Lauren Flynn: In My Heart

 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/240454700-in-my-heart

Book Blurb:

She didn’t sign up for snow-covered trees, twinkling lights, or falling for a Christmas tree farmer.

Sloan Sterling avoids Christmas every year like it’s her full-time job. So when a photography gig lands her in a small town that runs on nothing but holiday spirit, she’s already counting down the days until she can leave.

What’s worse? She’s staying at a charming Christmas tree farm, where the owner, Jonah Holly, is the living embodiment of seasonal cheer. He’s tall, ridiculously attractive, and always wearing the most obnoxious Christmas sweaters. Funny, warm-hearted, and infuriatingly hopeful, he’s everything she doesn’t believe in anymore.

Their mission is work together to bring in more customers to the farm before the season ends. But working alongside him has Sloan catching feelings she didn’t plan on... and Jonah falling hard for the grumpy girl behind the lens.

The only problem? Sloan isn’t staying. She’s only there until Christmas, and then she’s gone.

So, is this just a holiday fling wrapped in fairy lights, or something worth believing in?

Tropes:

*High Gravity Audio Books ALC *Holiday Romance *reverse grumpy x sunshine 

*Small town romance *saving the tree farm!  *Hallmark vibes  *strangers to more

*insta lust/love *Nickname *sweet MMC but spicy in the bedroom *novella

Thoughts:

Thank you to the author and High Gravity Productions for sending me this ALC!

To start with we have Sloan (FMC) she is a photographer and often works on projects that take her all over the world, but she usually takes a break for her least favorite time of the year... the christmas holiday season, she has her reasons but still just leave her alone and let her stew during this time.  

Unfortunately her friend had a job lined up but had an injury leaving her unable to go so "Sloan, can you please please do this for me?" ... Sloan agrees to do it but didn't fully understand what she was signing herself up for... now she has landed in the center of a hallmark movie (not really) but seriously the christmas all year long, small town holiday vibes are going to be a real problem for this grinch.

Jonah (MMC) is the owner of the christmas tree farm which he needs help bringing customers back to pick out their trees... lately business has been down due to people buying those fake trees.  Even with that hanging over his head he is delightfully cheerful at all times and his dog is too  (except when he is giving puppy dog eyes as needed), constantly wearing those awful holiday sweaters, and looking hot while cutting down trees... seriously why is that so hot?

As Sloan begins her time in this holiday haven she is at first reluctant to the charm... but the more she spends time among the residents and Jonah, she can't help but wonder if maybe Christmas time isn't so bad after all... maybe she could trust a man and settle in this cozy, holiday town?  

The reverse grumpy x sunshine vibes caused great tension throughout the book as Mr. Holiday charm himself helped Sloan work through some deep seated resentment fueled by her past and opening up to others at her own pace helped soothe her Holiday disliking heart.  

The story is told from Sloan's POV with the Epilogue in Jonah's POV and Autumn Mercer and John Maddaloni did a great job bringing this holiday story to life!  

This was a novella so it did have that insta love vibes, but I didn't fully mind it in this story it was a cute small town romance with lots of holiday charm.  If you enjoy those holiday hallmark romances and don't mind spice add this one to your tbr it's a fun quick read that will have you ready to visit a tree farm and open some presents. 

have you read this one?  what did you think?

Evie Rose: Accidentally Marrying the Mafia Don

 https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/250473047-accidentally-marrying-the-mafia-don

book blurb:

One tiny oops, and I’m married to a mafia boss.

I’m the stand-in maid of honour, he’s the silver fox uncle of the groom who saves the day when the wedding becomes a disaster, with a fluffy ring-bearer gone rogue, a drunk priest, and a child with perfect comic timing. But the dream Italian wedding continues, and the uncle—Dante—and I sign as witnesses. And if I try to flirt with him, I blame the romantic setting and the fact that although he’s twice my age, he’s the hottest man I’ve ever met. His edge of danger, with his tattoos and the way everyone is nervous of him, gossiping that he’s a morally gray billionaire, only makes me want him more. He turns me down with a touch to my cheek and a hoarse murmur that I’m too young and innocent for a man like him. Back at home, my dull little life doesn't compare. Then a wedding certificate arrives at my door. There’s been a mix up, and I’m married. To him.

Accidentally Marrying the Mafia Don is a sweet and spicy instalove romance with fluffy mafia romcom vibes and sizzling chemistry.

Duet narrated by gruff and growly Brandon Francis and light and relatable Zara Hampton-Brown.

*Netgalley ALC 2026 (2/12)  *Duet *Mafia Rom-Com  *Novella *"My Wife" *touch her and 💀

*Age Gap *spice  *quick read  *Insta Love/Lust  *Accidental Marriage *forced proximity *One Bed

*Young, Naive, inexperienced FMC x Experienced older man *Billionaire MMC *possessive MMC

Thoughts:

Ruby (FMC) is working as a hairdresser for a special client at a destination wedding in Italy when things begin to go downhill quickly with the wedding she manages to step into a new role as Maid of Honor since she can fit in one of the extra dresses and the other ladies are not well enough to stand.  She quickly finds herself wanting to do everything she can to give the bride and groom a perfect day... including keeping their dog from ruining the wedding photos... It also doesn't hurt that the brides handsome but dangerous looking Uncle is standing with her in her quest to make this day magical.

The story really falls to "Fluffy mafia romcom" but spent too much time on certain "funny" parts like I don't think in a story under 150 pages there needs to be this many pages about keeping a dog from licking their business... we get that it's a dog that's what they do.  

Ruby and Dante are pretty much immediately in love with each other after this brief encounter at the wedding but Dante is too ancient and his life is too dangerous to be with this sweet, younger woman who is around the same age as his niece in her early twenties.  (I joke about the ancient part as while this is addressed multiple times the guy is younger than me at 40).  

After going their seperate ways a few months later Ruby gets a surprise in the mail... after a mix up at the wedding venue she has received a marriage certificate... she was recorded in Italy as married to her handsome older gentleman and when she goes to the address listed she interrupts a "mafia boss" meeting due to the danger she is now in from her declaration Dante quickly requests she stay with him to keep "safe" while they work on getting their marriage annulled... only he doesn't want that it was love at first sight for him and he might just have to keep her with him until she realizes that they were made for each other.

This book was cute with flirty banter in places and a quick read/listen I didn't dislike the lead characters but there is not enough time for an actual build up of any back story everything feels on the rushed side.  Dante calls her by her nick name or "My Wife" 700 times (I didn't really count this), a lot of corny/cheesy scenes (including in the bedroom).  The FMC also spends too much time worried about being a "Perfect little wife"... girl just be you he loved you the way you are 3 minutes after meeting you.  

While not a bad read this one just missed the mark for me in a lot of places we only really have story with the lead couple with occasional other characters showing up but it's only surface level for everyone and I just didn't feel like I could get invested with the story or the characters.  

I felt the narrators did a good job for the most part the MMC while he has a nice voice it felt like he was doing his sultry/steamy/breathy voice for the whole book... kind of took me out of it at times I've never heard someone talk like that all the time and it didn't feel like a natural speaking voice.  

Have you read/listened to this one?  what did you think?  Have you read this author before?  

RJ Steele: The Rake Who got turned into a Garden Gnome

 https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/247760444-the-rake-who-got-turned-into-a-garden-gnome

Book Blurb:

When spirited Claire Chiswick first encounters Matthew, he’s no charming gentleman. He’s a sharp-tongued gnome with a chip on his tiny shoulder. Once a notorious rake who broke too many hearts, Matthew was cursed by a witch and has been stuck in his miniature form for years. There's only one way to break the he must make a lady fall in hate with him.

What begins as an unlikely friendship, fueled by banter and barbed remarks, slowly blossoms into something neither of them expected. Beneath Matthew’s grumpy exterior, Claire glimpses a man worth caring for... even if he insists on hiding behind sarcasm and stubbornness.

*Enemies --> More  *no spice  *historical romance  *handsome Rake  *novella *rom-com  *no spice *close proximity *insta love *Indie author

Thoughts: 

Claire is returning to the city for the season with her parents her mother is complaining about her spinster status and even though Claire knows that one of her mother's goals is to get her married this season she's tired of all the guys she meets in the ball rooms who fall at her feet with praises and who knows if they are even telling the truth... what she needs is someone who wants to be real with her... while she was hoping for a charming noblemen what she finds is a garden gnome.

Matthew was once a handsome rake he could get any woman he wanted and frequently did... until he crosses the wrong one and he gets cursed he has now been stuck in this small form for several years with no luck reversing this and getting his regular body back... knowing he needs to get Claire to dispise him he gets to work right away.

This book was just what I wanted for a title like this it was funny and charming, I did feel that maybe some of the barbed remarks were too mean and I actually would actually would have liked for this to be a longer read.  But it was cute and I read it in about an hour.  

Blaire Lennox: Claimed by the Bilionaire

 https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/237812099-claimed-by-the-billionaire-an-age-gap-possessive-alpha-workplace-romanc

This is a fast paced quick read that I picked up from Book Sirens.

Sebastian Wolfe is a billionaire he is powerful and he knows how to get what he wants... and what he wants is to find true love he wants someone who wants more than what he can buy them working in technology he designs an AI system to help his friends (and hopefully one day himself) find true love, the system analyzes data over a large spectrum to rule out and find potential matches it's never been successful with finding a match for him... until now.

Elena Sutton is shy, sweet, and she also needs a job so when she gets invited to apply for an assistant position at a prestigious tech firm that almost seems too good to be true with all the benefits and the amount of money they are willing to pay... she jumps on this she's a hard worker and knows she is up for the job what she doesn't expect is Sebastian and how she feels immediately drawn to him... this is not good she needs this job she can't jeopardize her new position by getting involved with her boss.

Sebastian gives Elena opportunity to say no... and she wants to except for the need to say yes is stronger.  But what will happen when the truth comes out about how Sebastian never just wanted her to be his assistant he wanted so much more from the moment he learned of her existance.

If you enjoy short insta-love, billionaire romances this might be the one for you.  You get exactly what the blurb says on the back with really no surprises.  

*ARC Read  *Book Sirens  *Age Gap  *Billionaire  *possessive MMC  *Virgin FMC  *some spice  

*insta lust/love  *novella *dual POV  *boss/assistant