Waking up from years of stasis on a ship in deep space only to find the rest of your crew dead... and when a stranger answers your distress call...what awaits you? Ami wakes up on her ship hoping to see her crew mates, yet when she finds them they are all dead. Now alone on her ship she sends out a distress call, not sure if anyone will respond... but when someone does she is surprised to discover a alien taking the form of a handsome man named Dorian. Dorian offers to help her, let her stay on her ship until the repairs are done, and let her study him... yet the moment she steps onto his ship things begin to get strange. She begins to see shadows moving, visions of her dead crew mates... and her memories are starting to clash. Ami doesn't know what is true or real but she feels like she's been on this ship before... something about Dorian calls to her and the thrum of the ship seeps into her being... what actually happened to her crew and who is Dorian to her? This was such a fun read, especially since its a bit of sci-fi horror, a touch of dark romance, and just all the fun of an unreliable narrator. I had so much fun reading this and trying to unravel the mystery with Ami. I loved the twist and turns and honestly this was the perfect book to read this week (right before I go see Alien Romulus). I am such a sucker for horrormance and this gothic space one just perfectly fit for me.

Release Date: August 13,2024

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Meg for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Check out some of my mood boards for this book:

She's just been crowned Miss Americana and now she's stuck with a very grumpy but very hot bodyguard for the next 3 months as she tours... can they keep their hands off of one another? Ava only entered into the pageant to help her friends, it was just something to do for fun... she never expected to take first place, but when another contestant makes a comment, Ava wins to spite her to prove that anybody can win. Yet now that she's crowned she has to go on a 3 month tour and the one rule is: no relationships. Ava hates rules and she can't resist a challenge... so when her new bodyguard turns out to be the same hot grumpy bodyguard she met at a bar a few days ago she's determined to crack his stern shell. Jaime is 3 years away from retirement, he takes his boy as a bodyguard seriously, and can't wait to retire to a cabin alone. Yet when he meets one particularly sassy gorgeous blonde, he can't seem to get her out of his mind or under his skin. To his great surprise he ends up assigned to her for the next three months and trying to remain professional seems impossible when all Ava wants to do is flirt and tempt him at every turn. Jaime is here to protect Ava because someone is gunning for her, and the threats and danger are only growing as the tour goes on... and the more time Jaime and Ava spend together the more it becomes impossible to resist the scorching chemistry between them. Can they find the person coming after Ava while hiding their chemistry from the paps who constantly follow her? This was a super fun and sexy bodyguard romance! I absolutely adore bodyguard romances and ones that feature grumpy x sunshine dynamics. This one absolutely hit the mark for me. I adored how strong and fun Ava was, she remained true to herself and constantly fought back. Jaime was a overprotective but supportive and cute love interest for her. He really was such a cute book boyfriend for Ava. This book was so adorable and absolutely one I would recommend. The romance was amazing, the spice was great, and honestly I will be reading more from this author for sure!!!

Release Date: August 16, 2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Valentine PR for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

A cozy sweet mothman romance with a touch of spice!! Lilith loves plants and works temporarily at a plant nursery in a spooky old college town. What Lilith does not like is feeling so lonely and out of place and she yearns to go home... until she meets Alastair, a sweet and shy mothman who is as passionate about plants as he is being kind. Lilith buys a magical apple tree from Alastair but she never expects to run into him again... as he turns out to be her neighbor! As they begin a sweet friendship and going to yoga classes together, going out, and more, Lilith finds herself falling for the cute mothman... but will she stay or will she go back home when given the chance? This was the perfect autumn read, it's so sweet and cozy and feels like a warm cup of tea and a knit sweater. The characters were really sweet and the romance was just adorable. I had fun with this story and loved getting to read more in this universe. I can't wait to read the author's other books but you can absolutely read this as a standalone. Pick up this cozy read today!!

Release Date: August 26,2024

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Elsie for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

A polyamorous omegaverse werewolf hockey romance! All Sloane Applegate ever wanted was her own pack, she's an Omega and yearns to find the perfect matches for herself. She is also the daughter of the hockey coach and that makes her completely off limits... but she's got her eyes on three men : the Alpha defenseman, the Mascot, and another Alpha hockey player. Sloane knows it's going to be hard trying to get these guys to even want to share but she's determined to have her own pack... but then there is also the rivalry between the guys and their own issues. Nobody said being in a poly relationship would be easy but if she wants the pack she's dreamed of she's going to have to find a way to make them all get along.... without sabotaging the hockey season. Sarah Blue just knows how to write a fun romance and this one definitely was such a fun easy read. It's part of the Pucked Up Omegaverse series but can absolutely be read as a standalone. The romance was sweet and fun and honestly I love getting to read a poly romance where all the individuals get to fall for each other and work to support one another. I love her writing style and how the romances grow throughout the story. It's definitely a fun read and one I'd recommend for anyone who enjoys poly/omegaverse paranormal romances!

Release Date: September 6, 2024

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Sarah Blue for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Callie has been looking for the right partner... and her new stalker just might be everything she could ever want. Callie is a dancer and fresh out of a job after leaving her last one, but an invitation to work at a highly elite club could be the opportunity she's been looking for. Callie has also been hoping to find someone who can match her, and all her previous partners definitely have not. Then she meets Nate, the new bartender at the exclusive club who might have nearly hit her car... and who is completely obsessed with her. Nate knows he is perfect for Callie, he just has to prove to her that he is the one for her. This was a easy to read intro into the series and definitely can be read as a standalone. It deals with a lot of topics of consent, exploring your preferred kinks, and choosing the right partner for yourself. I appreciated how much the author focuses on defining boundaries and setting hard rules for yourself and your partner, and how striving to have a safe and consensual relationship in such a work setting is important. Callie and Nate work really well together and overall I had fun reading this.

Release Date: September 13,2024

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Happily Booked PR for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

A unsolved murder of two girls years ago is reopened when one girl who is obsessed with the case begins seeing the ghost of one of the dead girls... and the new girl in town just happens to catch her attention as well as she might be the person to help her solve the case... that is, if the killer doesn't kill them. In Mount Orange, Florida, they are famous for two things: the beautiful freshwater springs perfect for free divers and the gruesome cold case murder of two best friends, Bailey and Celeste that occurred twenty years ago. The case was never solved and now twenty years after the murder Trulee "True" is obsessed with the murders. Tru wants to solve it, she feels connected to the case, and when a strange new girl named Rio comes into town also hellbent on solving the case, the two realize they have a connection that might be deeper than they could ever imagine. Rio is not only the perfect person to help her solve the case, there also happens to be the fact that Tru might also be falling for her. Yet the more they dig into the case the more the girls are realizing that the killer might be someone from town, someone who knows they are looking and will kill them if they get too close. This one was an odd one, it mixes mystery with a dash of sapphic romance and supernatural elements. It's definitely an interesting mystery read but the overall conclusion is what threw me off a bit. I was really intrigued by the mystery and the book starts really interesting. It's the ending that just kind of throws you off a bit. I would definitely recommend this for anyone looking for a unique sapphic murder mystery read!

*Thanks Netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group, G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

She's the new psychology professor at a university with a dark past and he's the thorny botanist professor... together their obsession with one another begins to spiral and the monsters on the campus will begin to follow them... good thing they're both monstrous themselves. Nora is the new psychology professor at St. Thorns, and after a dinner party that ends with three professors mysteriously murdered... she knows something is going on at her school. She doesn't believe in monsters yet something in the woods is watching her... following her, but it better watch out, Nora has thorns all of her own. Alec Briar is the thorny botanist and fellow professor on campus. He's as terrifying as he is obsessed with hunting down and killing monsters. Yet from the moment Nora and Alec meet, an instant obsession begins to brew between them, their volatile and monstrous natures calling to one another. It also doesn't help that there is an actual monster in the woods, a killer secret society, and the fact that both Nora and Alec's body counts are beginning to rise. This book was SO GOOD. It's perfect parts extremely unhinged couple part autumnal dark academia vibes. I loved just how unhinged both Nora and Alec were, they truly matched each other's freak. This was such a fun and delightful read and one I will be recommending for every monster lover out there!!!

Release Date: September 10,2024

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Luna Literary and Clio Evans for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Return back to Haven where new trouble arises for the new couple Rain and Freddie. Rain now a werewolf is finally settling into his new place and new relationship when suddenly, a group of European werewolves and weavers have arrived in town and demand Freddie breakup with Rain and honor the contract to mate with one of the European werewolves that had been chosen already, or be killed. With this new strain on his relationship and someone framing his friend Petra and dead revenants appearing, a conspiracy is afoot and now Rain must solve it before it is too late.

This one really focuses on the relationship between Freddie and Rain while also adding in the friendship between Rain and Petra. I absolutely adored Petra since I first met her and I loved her in this one too. The power struggles between the original elders and the new generation was an interesting to look at and how Rain has to figure out how to deal with these new problems was a nice read. Overall an interesting continuation of the story between Rain and Freddie.

*Thanks Netgalley and Entangled Publishing, LLC for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

A fun and sexy paranormal romance. Part of a series, but can definitely be read as a standalone! The story revolves around vampire hunter Joe and vampire Asher who both respond to an anonymous email bringing them together. From there, both their lives are at stake and a more dangerous mystery hangs over them. The story was fun and had a lot of action along with adventure. I definitely loved the fun banter between the two and their chemistry was great. I also really enjoyed all the side characters, which now has me purchasing the rest of the books as I can’t wait to read them all! Both Joe and Asher have had traumatizing pasts and scars but they learn to trust one another and open up to each other. Overall, this was a fun paranormal romance read and I definitely will read the rest of the series now!

* Thank you Netgalley and Entangled Publishing, LLC for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

**Trigger Warnings**: includes themes, imagery, and content that might be triggering for some readers. Discussions of religious-based eating disorders, and religious-based internalized homophobia appear throughout the novel.

A magical ability that causes flowers to spew forth and turning all your food into flowers... a looming death...and a mystical being who could fix your curse... and the problem? One kiss from her might not be enough. This was a wonderful retelling of the Portuguese legend. princess Yzabel is cursed with the ability to turn anything she touches into flowers, forcing her into the predicament in which she herself is forced to starve since she cannot eat anything. Meanwhile, there is a plague happening around her and the people are also starving. In order to reverse or even try to manage her powers she gets a beautiful enchanted Moura named Fatyan to help her. Yzabel is betrothed to the King of Portugal who continues to forbid her to give more food or money to the people... Yzabel must struggle with committing treason with her magical gifts and her looming feelings for Fatyan. Their love could spell destruction for both of them but will they fight for it? I immensely enjoyed reading this book. The struggles and issues that Yzabel faced not only with her religion but her internalized homophobia is very well depicted. The story was well told and wraps up wonderfully. I would definitely recommend this wonderful fantasy romance for anyone who enjoys a great story!

*Thank you so much to Netgalley and Entangled: Teen for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*