Hemdeep Singh and his brothers' legacy, their father's company Bharat, Inc., is under threat of an outsider takeover. While Hem had left the company to forge his own way, he is compelled to return home and team up with his brothers to ensure the company stays under family control.

Hem is only home from business, still smarting from the ending of his relationship with a white woman he thought was his forever. But Hem didn't truly know what forever meant until he sees Mina Kohli in the Bharat boardroom.

Mina herself is struggling between honoring her mother's legacy and law firm, even if it means she may need to agree to an arranged marriage. She doesn't have time for Hem, even if she's rapidly falling for the delicious man who's Punjabi heritage and business morals are a perfect match for her own.

But the heart wants what the heart wants, and these two forge an alliance to do what is right for both them and their values, even if it means maybe losing what they thought was most dear to them, their businesses.

A super debut from an author to watch! If you enjoy non-angsty romances with an emphasis on the career intrigue, this is one for you! What I missed a bit from this story was tension between Hem and Mina. I was hoping for a little fight between them before succumbing to their HEA. Their isn't a lot of tension in their romance, and most of the drama is about the business. There is also a lot of setup, so I'm very optimistic this author will grow as the series continues!

Thank you to Avon for the ARC!

Sam hasn't been one of my favorite Walshes throughout my binge read of the series, especially since I'm a Shannon-stan 100%. That said, I did enjoy his and Tiel's romance, especially in the beginning, and that was more because of Tiel than because of Sam.

But, as the story wore on I just wanted these two to TALK and say what they were feeling. The drama between them was the least convincing or fulfilling to me as a reader. Also, I didn't really like how Tiel called Sam a whore. Felt yucky.

But, this series as I come to the end of available books is just entirely compelling, written so beautifully, and just captivates my ears.

A fascinating glimpse into a woman's experience exploring her boundaries while learning the ins and outs of being a Switch in an LA dungeon.

I have a bit of a crush on Jenny Nordbak after hearing her speak on a variety of podcasts, and this was a super illuminating read.

I had some wide-eyed moments, and definitely learned about a new kink (or three). Definitely worth picking up!

Lily, twice-widowed and only in her mid-twenties, longs to understand her desires and why she yearns for carnal pleasure. It is sinful and not becoming a lady, as her last husband informed her before freezing her out of the marriage bed. She records her fantasies in a diary, pondering her passions as she serves as a Lady's companion.

Her desires become reality after encountering a mysterious stranger in a hidden passageway during a ball and what she thinks will only be one night of passion, turns into so much more.

With delightfully naughty scenes including voyeurism, this is a fantastically smutty historical that also explores what it means to love someone not of your class.

My only quibble is hidden behind the spoiler:

Lily is convinced she's barren as she's had two husbands and no children. Of course she and her Marquis end up pregnant with twins. I understand the importance of having the aristocracy having heirs, but I thought it would make for a bit more interesting of a twist if these two could have just lived HEA without children. But, still a great, fun story!

Free copy received in exchange for a fair review.

When chronically unlucky Olive is one of the only wedding guests not to fall victim to a bad seafood buffet (thank you shellfish allergy), her twin sister insists Olive go on her nonrefundable all-inclusive honeymoon. Alas, the only other wedding guest who also avoided food poisoning turns out to be Olive's greatest nemesis, her brand-new brother-in-law Ethan.

As much as Olive enjoys antagonizing the germaphobe who food-shamed her during their first meeting years ago, she can't help but think pretending to be newly-weds will be next to impossible.

But the siren call of the beaches of Hawaii prove to be irresistible, and who says they have to spend the entire vacation together anyway? But, as circumstances continue to push them together, maybe Ethan isn't as despicable as Olive has always thought, and maybe her luck is about to change.

Delightfully cute, snarky, and laugh out loud funny, this is a perfect read to pick up before the start of the endless grind of wedding season. Watching these two frenemies fall in love in a hard-won battle is just the swooniest.

Note to readers - Olive is Mexican-American (Ethan is White), and I appreciated the author call out to their sensitivity readers and editors. I loved the dynamic between Olive and her family, and loved that her twin sister was not an antagonist, but a true best friend and sister, fighting and all.

Free copy received in exchange for a fair review. Thank you to the publisher!

Content warning for struggles with infertility, miscarriage.

I'm not a huge Sam and Tiel fan, and if any of the couples would have received an extended post-HEA novella I'd want it to be Will and Shannon (because they're my favs) or Nick and Erin (as second favs), but definitely still worth a listen.

Sam and Tiel get engaged and get married, then try to navigate their newly wed status while trying to get Tiel pregnant. Tiel isn't really happy as a professor and Sam is waiting for her to realize it for herself. Sam is worried he will be the reason why they won't have a baby. Tiel still struggles with her abandonment issues, and often accuses Sam of infidelity, which grew tiresome.

As alluded to in the content warning, Tiel eventually does get pregnant and heartbreakingly loses the baby before the first trimester is over.

Eventually all works out, and Sam and Tiel get their second HEA.

What worked best for me in this novella was FINALLY getting Sam and Shannon in a room together to discuss why they are mad at each other, and coming to terms with the fact they were best friends who are now in different places in their lives and not codependent on each other. They are emotionally and mentally healthier and love each other and no longer will hold onto the hurt they both had over feeling left out.

I also adored the scene where Riley, Will, Sam, Matt, and Patrick go to rescue Magnolia's dog Gronk. Will is so hot.

Move over Naomi and Conrad, I have a new favorite IAD book! Sabine, immortal Sorceress of Illusions and Rydstrom, dethroned King of the Rage Demons are hot as hell and I loved every minute of this angsty, bananas, and fun romance.

Taking place concurrently with Rydstrom's brother Cadeon and Holly's story in [b:Dark Desires After Dusk|2003625|Dark Desires After Dusk (Immortals After Dark, #6)|Kresley Cole|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1327887013s/2003625.jpg|2007518], we pick up a bit before Sabine kidnaps Rydstrom and see the aftermath.

Sabine is so badass. She's a technical "virgin" but by choice and by troth because if she remains virgin no one can rape her or use her sexually without her permission, which keeps her safe from her perverted and evil half-brother, the sorcerer Omort and current ruler of Rothkalina. She wants to finally give it up to Rydstrom as she wants to be in control of his heir, the true heir to the throne of Rothkalina. She's a temptress, but a bit of an experienced one.

This book reminded me of a historical I found hidden under my mother's bed back in the day. Has anyone else read Johanna Lindsay's [b:Prisoner of My Desire|774060|Prisoner of My Desire|Johanna Lindsey|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1348501614s/774060.jpg|1299871]? It has a similar plot line where the female heroine traps a "stud" male in her room to force him to impregnate her, but then is flipped when he is able to do the same to her in revenge. Felt reminiscent in a fun way of a totally bananas book I read way too young.

I'm loving reading these stories along with the Immortals After Dark podcast, Fated Mates!

Cadeon Woede knows his fated mate is a human, thus he can never have her. As a demon, the claiming would kill her. But he looks after Holly Ashwin, tiny, beautiful, and whip-smart from afar while also continuing to try and fix the big mistake he made centuries ago, the mistake which lost his brother Rydstrom his crown and kingdom.

But, Holly the mathematician with OCD is way more than she seems. In fact, it turns out she may not be quite mortal after all and may be The Vessel, fated to give birth to a child of complete evil or complete good.

But while it now seems Cadeon CAN claim Holly for his own, it also turns out she is the one thing that he can trade to get the information he needs to finally gain back his brother's crown. And Holly has no idea.

A rollicking road trip paranormal that is just banana pants, I had so much fun being introduced to my first demon! There's a lot of debate about the sexiness of horns, but I think I'm kind of in to it. I imagined Cade as kind of a Tom Hardy with horns, so that works for me!

I felt I had to take a few more "leaps of faith" with some of plot points here, but whatever. Also super looking forward Rydstrom and Sabine's book (it is next) because Rydstrom totally gets kidnapped in this one.

Loving this Fated Mates podcast read-along!

Néomi Laress was a renowned ballerina in the 1920s. She lived life to the fullest until a spurned lover she refused to marry stabbed her in the heart. In her own New Orleans mansion.

Her desire to live left her spirit haunting her beloved mansion, a mansion that is sometimes full of life but now decades later is crumbling and empty. Empty until now, when a crazed vampire is brought in in chains.

Conrad Wroth, once a renowned Vampire hunter, was turned into the thing he hated most by his own brothers. Now centuries later Conrad is close to finally losing his mind forever, a victim of the memories of all those who's blood he's drained to kill and survive.

So, when he sees an enchanting woman no one else can see, he's sure it is just a remnant of his madness.

But Néomi is definitely not one of Conrad's memories, and she's determined to find out more about the sexy Vampire and convince him to stop destroying her home. Both are wildly attracted to the other, and Conrad begins to fear she may in fact be his Bride, a Bride he will never be able to become blooded with because well, she's dead.

This book kept me on bated breath as I had no clue how the author would make the HEA work. And let me tell you, Cole makes it work plus some. Also, this may be the sexiest shower scene I've ever read where the characters could not touch one another. Damn.

SPOILERS STOP HERE

Conrad is VIRGIN! That is my catnip. Devilish laugh. I was excited to see Néomi fully embrace her history, her elan for love making. She isn't sorry she's experienced and she delights in making Conrad wild. That's my kind of lady.

This is my favorite so far i the Immortals After Dark read-a-long with the Fated Mates Podcast!

Last we met Bowen MacRieve, the Lykae was having his butt kicked by Kaderin the Cold-Hearted and losing his chance to reunite with his long dead mate.

We meet back up with Bowen in the midst of this story and as he is tempted by Mariketa the Awaited, a witch he wants to hate but lusts after with a desire strong enough to finally make him unfaithful to the memory of Mariah.

For Mariketa, the brooding Lykae is hot as sin, but she knows she must protect herself from him, as she is prophesied to be the ultimate witch and has much she needs to learn. Only 23 and not yet ascended to her immortality, she competes for the same prize as Bowen, but finds herself trapped by him in a terrible cave.

After the events of the last book unfold, Bowen returns to free Mariketa from her imprisonment and so she can end what he thinks are enchantments on him, one to stop him from being able to regenerate, the other must be a love spell. But as Bowen and Mariketa struggle to get out of the jungle, it seems she may be the reincarnation of his long dead mate. Or is she?

For one who has been spurned before, by her parents and her first love, Mariketa doesn't trust that she will ever be Bowen's first choice.

Watching these two find their HEA was so much fun, if a bit bananas. Still lots of limbs being ripped off, lots of lusty sexy times, and overall a super fantastic romp. I found the ending to be a bit rushed, after all the build up, but I'm now firmly entrenched in this series.