A woman left by her new husband immediately after their wedding sets out to seduce him eight ugh ears later disguised as a courtesan. She desperately needs a legitimate heir and it is time for the Duke to provide whether he realizes it or not.

Damn, I wasn't sure if I could get over all the crappy things these two do to each other, but I had a hell of a time letting Shupe convince me!

Homicide detective Troy Bennett, newly transferred to the NYPD after the death of his daredevil partner, finds himself illogically falling for a sexy pool hustler named Ruby. Ruby can't believe she's so attracted to a cop, but Troy's dirty talk and deliciously infuriating dominance makes her glad she's no longer involved with the criminals from her past. But, her past comes back to threaten their tenuous trust and both of their lives.

A novella length audio book that despite it's shorter length, has no problem establishing Troy and Ruby's lives and completing a super hot story arc. Man, these Tessa Bailey audio books are the best. Also, I'll never look at a pool cue the same way again! o.O

I needed a "non-fiction book about technology" for my Book Riot Read Harder Challenge and was hard pressed to find something modern I cared to learn about in this dumpster fire we call 2017, so I instead turned to the Victorians and the advent of the telegraph.

Super illuminating and refreshing to see that new technology causes greatness and horribleness no matter the era. I was not aware the first telegraphs were visual, using long arms to gesture codes atop large hills (creepy) nor realized how horrid it must have been to try and lay cable across the Atlantic. on a boat. Yikes.

A highly readable micro-history!

Definitely a situation where I feel almost bad for reading this book? So utterly ridiculous, what with the virgin yet sex-expert college girl and the super stalker, abusive, alpha Russian who is a walking cliche, but I still finished it. Basically all sex interspersed with very unbelievable (and lite) character development. Poor mafia hitman-millionaire. Puh-lease.

Upon re-reading The Professional and being able to listen to the Fated Mates podcast episode discussing it, I've rounded up my rating to three stars! I appreciate what Kresley was trying to do here, and the sex is H-O-T hot, but I'm still kind of bored when they aren't having the sex. What does Natalie do all day? More character development please!

I also learned this was a serialized novel, in three parts! May explain some of the pacing issues. That said, still a darn good time and introduced me to some THINGS. Phew.

*I received a free copy in exchange for a fair review*

I adore Naima Simone, and her books are without question brilliant. I did read the entire story and loved how the steamy hate between Isobel and Darius developed into steamy hate sex, then love. The premise of hooking up as "strangers" during a blackout is also super fun and sexy and I love a marriage of convenience, and Simone knocks it out of the park with heat, character development, and soapy good fun.

Darius believes his best friend's ex, Isobel, is a liar, a cheater, a horrible woman he helped bring about his friend's demise in a reckless car accident. Darius has been fed these feelings by friend and his friend's parents, the some people who helped raise him and helped launch his multi-billion dollar company.

But after the sexy and mysterious woman who helps him avoid a panic attack during a blackout at a gala turns out to be Isobel, Darius can't connect the two versions of the woman he thinks he knows, and he can't also help but fall in love with her son. A marriage of convenience seems the best way to make sure his friend's child is raised not in poverty, but convenience turns into so much more.

For all the excellent story-telling, this one, alas, just hit my top unforgiveable actions buzzer and I couldn't come back from it.

A mild spoiler -
What kept me from enjoying the story was when Darius threatened to take custody of Isobel's small toddler son away from her. I cannot forgive a hero who ever threatens to take children away from the heroine, especially when it is a case of him being a billioniare and her having nothing but her love for her child. Unforgiveable. Ultimately, they end up with an emotionally satisfying HEA for more readers, but for me there is no grovel big enough to make up for this huge mistake.

BUT, if that isn't a deal breaker for you, you can never go wrong with a Naima Simone!

I have been eagerly awaiting Trashed, as [b:Thirsty|36100022|Thirsty (Eastside Brewery, #1)|Mia Hopkins|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1503354665s/36100022.jpg|57684443] is a absolute and utter steamy delight. Like whoa, my face is red reading this in the break room and I need to take a moment.

Trashed does not disappoint.

After being released from his five year prison sentence, Eddie Rosas hooks up with a beautiful stranger in a public garden a few days after finally being released from prison. While Eddie wants to blame his forced celibacy for the fire between him and the woman he cannot forget, he knows there is more. Something about her twitches Eddie's memory.

When Eddie gets a dish washing job at a fancy Italian restaurant six months later, he is stunned to find out the beautiful woman he still dreams about is running the kitchen. Their chemistry is impossible to deny and when he and Carmen get caught making out in the cooler and they both lose their jobs.

Trying to be more for Carmen, to be more for his family, to be more for himself, Eddie must navigate his budding relationship and his fear of falling back into old habits, falling back in with the East Side Hallenbeck gang.

What follows is a story of working hard, of taking your chances, of trying to do what is best, even if it isn't quite right. Eddie's story is important, as Hopkins deftly shows how the Rosas brothers deserve their happily ever afters.

Gritty, angsty, and so utterly delicious, I love this series!

Also, I have to say I really enjoyed how Hopkins portrayed Eddie and Carmen's struggle to be alone. Eddie lives with a family friend in a trailer in the same public garden he and Carmen first met in. Carmen lives with her parents, despite being in her mid-twenties. Carmen could live on her own, but feels both obligated by her family to stay and the pressure to save money for a rainy day. Watching these two try to find a place to be together, alone, was super frustrating and SO hot because of it.

I feel like we barely see financial struggle in romance novels as usually the characters all have wonderful jobs, wonderful careers. Of course your small cupcake business is just fine, makes all the money.

This series banks on these struggles and feels all the more realistic for it. While I have huge hopes for Eddie and Sal's brewery business, I also feel their concerns, their difficulties, the realities of starting up a small business, especially for POC. The discussion of trying to keep their new business in "their neighborhood" before the white gentrify-ers show up was especially on point (Jackie Lau's newest series, Baldwin Village, also deftly deals with these small business worries).

Content warning for discussions of gun violence, gang violence, physical violence (fighting but never between the main couple), drug use.

I received a free copy in exchange for a fair review.

I am rooting so hard for this book to win a RITA award (problematic as those awards are), and absolutely have fallen in love with this author's work!

A deliciously explored polyamorous relationship between two men who own a brewery and the local sex-toy store owner that develops into feelings for all. Not only is this story hot as all get out, the emotional depth Winters brings to each of the characters and their journey to happily ever after is just *chef's kiss* perfection.

Absolutely will be diving in to Winters back-list!

Miss Mina Penny had it all planned out. Kiss the secret spy employed by her over-protective Uncle. Convince him to marry her, live exciting life of intrigue and travel, finally free of the walls that have held her confined her entire life.

What Mina's plan wasn't counting on was the spy's oldest brother being so handsome. So intriguing. So totally not for her but so totally the one she wants.

Reclusive Rafe Bentley only wanted to find a wife suitable to live with him on his remote estate. One who wouldn't blanch its' crumbling walls, its desolation. He wasn't planning on finding sunny Mina or falling for this woman who wants anything but the life he can offer.

As Mina and Rafe find they have more in common than they could ever hope, they also work to uncover who killed Mina's parents all those years ago.

Totally swoon-worthy with a perfect cover for the story, this is Bell at her finest since FOR THE DUKE'S EYES ONLY (you'll see some familiar characters but this story does stand-alone).

I received a free copy in exchange for a fair review!

Of all the IAD so far, Dark Skye has taken me the longest to get through, almost a week, which is about an eternity in romance-reading time! BUT, this is a meaty, engrossing story that deserves to be taken in slowly.

Lanthe and Thronos are two damaged souls who have A LOT to get through to get back to the love and respect they had for one another as children, when they first met. Thronos recognized Lanthe has his fated mate even in childhood, which is interesting to me, but at least they were both children and there was no sexual component to it (phew). Dark Skye has a sort of Romeo and Juliet vibe going on, as Lanthe and Thronos are from two Lorean groups that loathe and distrust one another, and the fact these become best friends is so adorable, and then so ultimately heartbreaking when Lanthe's family is killed, Sabine almost killed, and Thronos punished as being the cause.

Thronos was NOT my favorite in the beginning, I found his purity culture and attitude totally off putting, until I didn't. He still isn't one of my favorite heroes of the IAD world, but Lanthe IS. Her attitude toward her past, her sexuality, her history is just refreshing and delightful. She's funny, irreverent, and knows what she wants. She can also admit when she's made a mistake and is just divine.

Thronos and Lanthe's journy through the different realms, basically a wicked road trip to hell, the sea, and back, was super fun to read and I love when Kresley really drags out the sexual tension. So epic here.

Alright the rest of my thoughts are super spoilery, so they are hidden.

Spoiler

Finally another Lothaire mention! I was glad to see his name back on the page.
WE SEE MYST! She's drowning in the sea, and Lanthe knows where she is.
NYX IS BACK! She's trying to become an actual goddess. Gosh I love her and her meddling ways so hard.
Well, I thought horns during sexy-times was hot, now we have wings, wing talons, and FOUR HORNS. Dark Skye really leveled up the erotic "demon" stuff, and I'm here for it. *fans self*
There's a proto-sex planet! Read Robin Lovett if you haven't.
Sex sheet! OMG.
Using wings to create a soundproof room to muffle sounds, I die.
A bed of sea nymphs to have sex on. My lord.
Of all the IAD books, this one reminds me of Saga, my favorite Graphic Novel series, the most.

I received a free copy in exchange
Content warning: Fat Shaming, miscarriage, fertility issues, two characters with OCD

Remember, this story is Women's Fiction.

This review is full of spoilers

Spoiler

So, I'm a huge Jill Shalvis fan but I'm learning that I love her romances. This is not a romance, this is women's fiction. I knew that going in, and while I loved many parts of this story there were a few things that just made me angry. Full disclosure, both sisters have a HEA.

I adored Brooke and Garrett's second-chance love story. Brooke's journey was the story arc I cared the most about. She experienced huge tragedy, had a huge problem with internalizing her pain and trauma, and needed to learn how to process this and start living her life the way she wanted to instead of being afraid. The way Garrett is presented as not the solution for her problems but as the partner she could work on them with was beautifully done, as was how Garrett handled his own issues. They have big huge pain to work on and I felt their HEA was emotionally satisfying.

Brooke stepping in to care for her older sister's three children while her sister took a break from her life was the impetus to bringing Brooke back into Garrett's life. Garrett is Mindy's neighbor, and also a constant fixture in Mindy and her family's life. So much so Mindy admits to having been a little in love with Garrett herself, despite having married her high school sweetheart Linc years ago.

Hey, I'm a mom and I get Mindy's desire to run away from her life. Bully for her she has the money and wherewithal and a sister who can leave her job to help her do so. Bully for Mindy that she can hang out with her single sister's "sassy pansexual friend" who is willing to take her clubbing and let her live the idealized life Mindy believes her sister is living.

Mindy's story arc was hard for me. Mindy is the tightly wound Type-A perfectionist white mother who has everything she ever wanted, but is now unhappy with the hand she's played. I get this on a visceral level, but I'm personally over the fat-shaming (Mindy constantly thinks and talks about her weight, talks about her sister's weight, envies her sister being skinnier than her, worries her husband doesn't love her because she's "fat" (Mindy is not fat)). Mindy is also concerned her husband is cheating on her with the nanny who is "young and beautiful" but as soon as it is found out the nanny has a girlfriend, everything is just hunky dory. Sigh.

Mindy's family doesn't appreciate her, makes fun of her massive binder of rules, regulations, and family inner-workings, but also don't talk to her about it until she's "had a breakdown." Linc, her husband, is a physician who works massive amounts of hours and is totally checked out, but is then changed into being a "better dad" and "husband." I kind of wanted Mindy to tell him to hit the bricks, but at the same time I appreciated how Mindy did make him work for it. I don't know I'm so conflicted.

The children are between the ages of 3 and 8. They were depicted as kind of feral and allowed to rampage through the story as a point of contention between Brooke and Mindy (grass is always greener syndrome).

Brooke cannot bear her own children (but as we learn in the epilogue suddenly she CAN have biological children, just not carried by herself), so is jealous of Mindy, and Mindy has no idea Brooke had her uterus removed after the helicopter crash, so is constantly making comments to Mindy about not understanding what it is like to be a mother, etc. Very dramatic, but also could be very hard for a reader to get through if they didn't know this was coming in the story.

Another subplot is that Brooke and her niece both have OCD, but as someone who is not familiar with OCD or how it should be portrayed, I felt leery about the depiction. I'm not sure if the author has a personal connection, but I felt there was a lack of discussion of therapy. OCD just seems to be something Mindy kind of deals with, that Garrett kind of knows about, that Mindy may have had some therapy for but no longer (??), and that no one discusses medically about the child who has it. They just accept it and figure she's fine. So, not sure about the rep here but wanted to mention it.

Frankly, for the amount of trauma and drama the characters go through, I wish there was more discussion of therapy as a way to help or alleviate some of the issues. For someone. Even marriage counseling!