A Book Lover's Bookish Thoughts

Free Falling: An LA Rock Star Romance by Elle Greco My rating: 5 of 5 stars Note: I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Trigger Warnings: sexual assault, emotional abuse, mention of #MeToo This novel also deals with heavy subject matter, like Naked Hearts, and Broken Promises. Luckily the heroine was a bit too cocky and strong willed for me to ignore her and label her as wow, she dumb category. Reese was a simple breath of fresh air, that I could not resist being attached to, and be wholly involved in her story. Because trust me - this is her show running. Told only in one person first pov, Reese's entire life story is pulled out and shared, letting us know how her story begins in the middle so chaotically as now an adult singer, leaving her teen star image behind. I fell for her tenacity, strong willed personality, determination and soft at times heart too, but she didn't fall for anybody like that to cater to their demands, she lived...

Broken Promises by S.A. Thomas My rating: 3 of 5 stars Note: I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Note 2: This is a trilogy. Please read in order. Broken Promises is the first book. Broken Souls is the next one. Broken Hearts Healed is the third and final book in the trilogy. Trigger Warnings: Racism, drug abuse, bullying, child abuse, murder, assault, deceit, infidelity, kidnapping, domestic abuse. This novel was sure a heavy one. I mean sometimes it was so hard to wrap my head around everything going on. Too much going on, and intense feelings skyrocketing. It was definitely a storm and I did have to weather it. Nyah and Caleb both have dark pasts, and despite their relationship being rocky and the same time movin on up, secrets still threaten their very relationship and it's only a matter of time before shit hits the fan. And it did. Which will be explained in the next book - Broken Souls, already released. And sometimes the characte...

Naked Hearts by Valentina My rating: 5 of 5 stars Note: I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Trigger Warnings: extreme violence, assault, rape, suicide, depression, anxiety attacks This book was wow. Truly wow. I mean it was so realistic in portraying feelings of after being raped, and how victims deal with the trauma everyday - it's definitely not easy. Plus it's so hard to console your family, tell yourself you're okay, even though you're not. Definitely not easy being a rape victim. But Lorenzo and her sister, and her family was so caring and loving, and understanding about her circumstances. Though yes, there were difficult situations at times, still I saluted all of them for the way they handled it all. The writing was as smooth as can be, the characters were complex psychologically impossible to crack - stimulated my brain immensely, and just the emotional understanding, and epic steamy scenes were something I looked for...

The Sassy Nanny Dilemma by Elizabeth SaFleur My rating: 5 of 5 stars I loved this novel so much! Ashton and Adelaide were so different, but at the same time so perfect. Literally felt like this was a pride and prejudice retelling, I am telling you. I mean they both complemented each other in how they both behaved so differently yet their primary goal was to take care of his little girl, and I was so there for it. All the emotions slight angst, fade to black steamy scenes, and endless witty banter, was something I lived for. I mean holy shit, this book made my list of I wanna read this again and again, over and over. And I rarely have those, as you know. The writing, was so perfect, straightforward, delightful, and in their person main. The romance was believable and swoonworthy, the banter was intelligent, realistic and something I missed in other novels. My god this novel had me so bad, I think I swear I wouldn't mind being glued to it longer. Plus Ash...

My Husband's Fiancee by Wendy Owens My rating: 4 of 5 stars Note: I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.  Note 2: This is part of a duet. The first book is My Husband's Fiancee. The second is My Wife's Secrets. Please read in order.  Trigger Warnings: fertility issues, infidelity, murder, death of an infant, mental health issues, marriage issues, emotional abuse, child abuse.  This book was definitely on the dysfunctional side, as I started reading it. Captivating, thrilling and riveting, I was rooted to my spot for hours, trying to figure out how the story would go and end.  Liz, or Elizabeth as she is known, has been recently sent to prison, following suspicions of murder regarding her husband's mistress, for a life sentence.  She soon meets her husband's fiancee, despite the fact that they are not divorced yet, and tries to explain her side of the story to her.  Secrets unravel, trauma bleeds into her everyday prison li...

Small Town Big Rumors: The Tequila Rose Duet by Willow Winters My rating: 5 of 5 stars Note: I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Note 2: This is a duet. Please read in order. Wowowowowowow, this duet was fantabulous! Willow's writing has definitely improved as I read this duet this time around. I mean I could feel sparks again when I thought of spending time again with the MCs, they were just that damn cute and perfect for each other. Sure they both have problems, come from different worlds, and different ideas for the words "settling down" but still fate wants to get them together - and who can deny fate? The chemistry, the emotional bonding, the banter - hehe I always had a thing for the banter, and just how they tackle issues to get to where they are as a couple - breathtaking and mind-blowing. Plus the side characters were wonderful too - hope they get their stories someday too - they were just so sweet and caring towards t...

Saving Silver by Xavier Neal My rating: 5 of 5 stars Note: I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Note 2: This is a series. Saving Silver is the first book. Getting Gold is the second and final book for now. Please read in order. Trigger Warnings: Attempted murder, kidnaping, violence, mention of dead parents. This was such a fun and light- to some degree- paranormal romance. I automatically fell in love with Xavier's writing - so damn straightforward and downright hilarious, I wanted more already. The story is simple. Silver falls for a sleeper - human - and she for a dragon - aka Silver. Things speed up because this is a short novella - but some car chase scenes happen, steamy shit also happens, banter happens - because I loved all the side C's too and how supportive, kind and caring they were- and some unexpected plot twists also follow. All which I was so down for - the minute I read it - that I cannot wait for the next book. Gettin...

His Hollow Heart by Rachel Leigh My rating: 5 of 5 stars Note: I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Trigger warnings: alleged kidnapping, child abuse, emotional abuse, assault, night terrors, mental illness,  Hot damn this book. It felt like Dexter had entered the building of this book.  Freaky, mysterious and downright hot 🔥, I could not help but be drawn to this book even more. The cover had sold me on it, but the writing and intriguing clues left me like whoa... Specially cause this antihero was so -vastly so- different to other antiheroes that I’d ever read that I was left actually shooketh. I mean yes he had a terrible past, (know that most of the trigger warnings apply to him) but my god the way he carried his scars was just freaky but honestly even somewhat twistedly commendable. And his kinks too especially, slithering and hissing to protect him and every scar he ever held (that should tell you about what kinks exactly he h...

Irreplaceable by Jenna Hartley My rating: 5 of 5 stars Note: I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.  Trigger Warnings: Fertility Issues.  Harper and Enzo owned me body, soul and mind. I mean the way their fling started in the cliched ways, sure, but they had individually amazing personalities and were not afraid to stand up to obstacles. And that's what I loved about them.  Sure Harper was a struggling film scout with struggling fertility issues (so glad this was covered too), meanwhile Enzo was a huge football/soccer player (always get confused about those), and would never have really met if not for them taking a vacation at the same time.  Sparks fly, so do injuries (how do you think it all starts haha), and so does a rush of want me, want ya honeeeey lyrics too.  But miscommunication flies too and they separate. But time brings them back again and they work hard to solve their issues and grow as a couple - and I love...

Land of Horrors by Chelsii Klein My rating: 3 of 5 stars Note: I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Trigger Warnings: brutal violence, detailed violence, rape, assault. Honestly - I am not sure I am really a fan of this book. It was just I guess beyond my scope. I had this realisation after I finished it. I mean yes the title says what it says - but still I was so not prepared for what I was about to go through. One's a smoky trouble king, and the other is like Hunger games revamped, and they cross worlds, eager to take it all down. But plot twists come, betrayals come, weird as hell stuff comes and goes. And something about a candyland setting for upturning it all? Not even sure. Meanwhile, my head spins the entire time from not being able to process it all. That's all I can say. And honestly - I am not sure if I will be prepared for the second book at all. I definitely don't know if I want to continue, I just have no prop...

Who Wants to Marry a Cowboy? by Abigail Sharpe My rating: 1 of 5 stars Note: I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book just wasn’t that gripping or something I looked forward to. It was all way too nice and easy or the troubles or struggles seemed juvenile. Besides I never really enjoyed the bachelor so probably the wrong audience for this book. The characters fell flat for me, the chemistry fizzed out, and the family togetherness seemed like Brady bunch had developed a novel on their life. Which didn’t hold my undivided attention. So yeah - maybe better luck next time with any of her other novels. But honestly I’m not sure if I’ll read one again. -JB View all my reviews

The Joker by Ashley Munoz My rating: 5 of 5 stars Note: I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Note 2: This is an interconnected series - I wish the reviews and the book's summary had made that point actually clear. So please read in order. Wildcard is the first book. King of Hearts is the second book. The Joker is the third and final book in the series. Trigger warnings: death, murder, violence, assault, betrayal, sexual assault. Firstly let me tell you I hated one of this author's previous books. So naturally I was nervous about going into this one. How low can you keep your standards after all? But luckily I had nothing to be nervous about it. It was a dark mafia romance dream that I thoroughly enjoyed - but with a hitch of not knowing exactly what happened - probably should have read the other books in the series for that. Kyle and Rylie come from different worlds - one's a trained up mafia scout boy, the other is a holy ...

Soft Like Thunder by Julia Wolf My rating: 5 of 5 stars Note: I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Note 2: This is a series. Please read in order as previous characters do make cameos. Note 3: The Savage Crew series are the prequels to Helen's friends' stories. So read them before you read this. Will probably make more sense if you do. Trigger Warnings: death, assault, sexual assault, negative words for sexworkers strippers, drug abuse, mental illness, tragic backstories, stealing. Helen and Theo are an anomaly. I mean it. They're like the epitome of Romeo and Juliet, except with scheming for a girlfriend arrangement by parents, drug-abused mother, and terminal illness taken friend. Helen comes from the backwater part of the elite world, poor living, drug abused mother, rotten living conditions and her being a stripper and weed dealer by night, caring for her young sister and send to go to Savage U by her terminally ill friend. A...

Broken Boys Despise Deceit by J.B. Heller My rating: 4 of 5 stars Note: I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Note 2: These are all standalone novels. But please read in order, as previous characters do make cameos. Trigger Warnings: abuse, drug abuse, cancer, death, panic attacks, fights, love-triangles. Previous reviews: 1. Broken Boys Break Hearts: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... 2. Broken Boys Fight Harder: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... Well this novel did follow through with its title. There's a love triangle - it's not that simple for scout, Kass, and Mase or two of them to get their HEA. I have to start off by saying I hated Scout. Still resent her for her questionable decisions - how do you think the love triangle started? Note to self: That's why you don't ask for more from someone, because apparently they could end up f--king up someone else - the horror!-baloney honestly - also the reason for the ...

Broken Boys Fight Harder by J.B. Heller My rating: 5 of 5 stars Note: I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Note 2: These are all standalone novels in the series. But it would best to read in order as previous characters do make cameos. Trigger Warnings: Child abuse, drug abuse, alcoholism, drunk driving, death, assault, terminal illness, mental illness mentioned, triggers with the hero's choice of sport (the heroine has em) Previous Reviews: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... (Broken Boys Break Hearts). Right well...this novel. This novel was so contradictory to it's title - I mean yes it had all the trigger warnings mentioned above - but my god it was a whole lot sweeter and meaningful than I thought. Carter and Chance come from different worlds. One's a tough living boxer (hint to trigger warning above) who has issues and issues in his home he wants to get a handle of but can't, the girl is a sweetheart, and an...

Sinful Hands by T.L. Smith My rating: 5 of 5 stars View all my reviews

Caught by Elise Faber My rating: 5 of 5 stars View all my reviews

Shift by Lana Sky My rating: 5 of 5 stars Note: I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Note 2: Shift is the first book in the series. Howl is the sequel to Shift and follows the same couple. Please read in order. Trigger warnings: Assault, alcoholism, death, murder, domestic abuse, bullying, violence, animal cruelty, sexual assault This book got me all like whoooo wheee darling! A lot of action was involved in the book - and I MEAN A LOT. Chemistry was there, acknowledged but not really doing the you know what if you know what I mean. It was basically thrown on the backburner, because well the hero was mostly concerned about the heroine and how it would play in wolf politics. Yes wolf politics. Besides humans are like almost wolves in politics anyway, so is there much difference - probably not. Friendship - yes Sonia and Loren got along like all the best friends shown in movies - yes even though they didn't really know each other wel...

Scorching the Earth by Elise Faber My rating: 4 of 5 stars View all my reviews