I loved this one! For me it felt like the author took some criticisms that readers have been saying about her books and fixed them in this one. The main one being nicknames. The first book in the series the MMC called the FMC “Songbird” so many times it took me out of the book because it was so awkward. Fire Breathing Dragon? Used appropriately and only added to the moments. 
I LOVED this book. From start to finish. Loved it. For some reason I pictured Jasper Bratt for Rory, maybe blond hockey players? 
I can’t say enough how much I enjoyed this book. Rory’s growth was top notch and I loved Hazels love for her sister.

I initially read Butcher & Blackbird on Kindle Unlimited earlier this year.  I instantly loved it.  When it was available as an E-ARC via NetGalley from Zando Publishing I knew I wanted a re-read. 

I told my friends after reading this, that I just finished a Rom-Com that gave me Gilmore Girls and Dexter had a baby.  I envisioned Sloan and Rowan banter the way Rory and Logan banter.  That cocky self-assured male that just knows the quiet, shy girl is going to fall in love with him one day.  Add in a bit of serial killing, an annual competition, and some childhood trauma and you’ve got Butcher & Blackbird. 

The way Rowan fell first and hard?  Desperate not to lose contact with the woman of his dreams, he invents an annual competition. The result?  Best out of five wins the chance to go after an unknown, ghost of a serial killer.  Through the annual competitions, the MCs continue to fall for each other.  There are of course bumps along the way, with a few misunderstandings.  While I would say it was a “miscommunication trope” you didn’t get that awful never-ending pining that you get with some books. The miscommunication, or lack of communication, just made it that much better when they finally started figuring it out.  It was joyful watching them each enjoy the other in their element, even if that element is murder.  We don’t judge. I loved how Rowan not only fell instantly but was also very protective and territorial when it came to Sloane.  

Overall, 5 Stars. I did NOT stop laughing and kicking my feet.  The third act hurt my heart, but it was pieced right back together.  I think Brynne did a lot of foreshadowing for the second book in the series and I am so excited to learn more about Lark, about what Sloane did for her, and of course, another Kane brother. 

 

#ButcherBlackbird #NetGalley 

I've read Rosie Danan's The Roommate and fell head over heals in love.  I didn't read the second book in the duet as the character's didn't spark my interest from the first book.  So when everyone was talking about Rosie's "Do Your Worst" and kept saying, "It's nothing like her first two" I was a little hesitant going in.  But then I read it was a fantasy and said YES PLEASE because I know a lot trad debut author queens are "forced", so to speak, into writing contemporary romances because maybe their publishers don't think they can break into the fantasy world?  Nah, I'm going to support because we need more good Romantasy books in our lives written by women. 
Do Your Worst did not disappoint me in even the slightest.  I was thinking to myself that I was going to give it a solid 4.5 but then realized I couldn't find anything to take off that .5 for so FIVE STARS IT IS. 
I would call this "Fantasy light" because the magic, while being an integral part of the book, wasn't super in your face magic.  The FMC, Riley, is a Curse Breaker-Bartender (it's a hyphenate situation) that is trying to take her family's curse breaking talent from a hobby into a career that will actually pay the bills.  She takes a job in the magic soaked Scottish Highlands.  She is contracted to break a curse that has been around for hundreds of years.  She meets the shame filled, skeptical archaeologist, Clark, on her first night in town and immediately sparks fly.  Until she finds out that straight edge Clark is a non-believer who tries to get her fired.
Clark and Riley go through a lot of woe and antics to break the curse and turn Clark into a believer.  Fighting family trauma and past embarrassments.  
I know I said I would call this "Fantasy light" but it still leans heavily towards Rom-Com.  With the location of the Scottish Highlands, some magical happenings is to be expected, it is a deeply magical place rooted in Fae lore. 
Danan's spice DID NOT disappoint.  I won't lie, after the delicious spice from The Roommate, I was a little sad going in thinking we wouldn't get to see Danan's well written scenes.  I was wrong and I am SO glad to be wrong.  The first "spicy" scene with Clark, ahem, pleasuring himself, if you will.  Was so good.  I think it may be the best self pleasure scene I've read to date.  They can sometimes give the ick and I'll often feel some second hand embarrassment, but this absolutely melted panties. 

There is a part of the plot where Riley and Clark believe that having sex will break the curse, enemies to lovers, if you will.  I was really worried about this scene.  I find I don't personally like heavily pre-planned sex.  It's always awkward and uncomfortable.  But again, Danan did such a great job.  The scene flowed, there was no awkwardness, no ick, no second hand embarrassment, just hot spicy heat.  *chef's kiss*

After this book, Danan can do Rom-Com, she can do Fantasy.  I am adding her to my instant buy author list.  Can't wait to see what she has plotted next! 

This book was sweet. Rot all your teeth out of your mouth sickeningly sweet. Excellent spice. Overall very cute. I think a trigger warning would help at the beginning but I feel the trigger was handled carefully. I struggled to get past the age gap. The FMC did not act like a 22 year old, the maturity level was more at an 18 year old for me. So I struggled with the age gap with the 30 year old MMC. Other than that, it was sweet.
If I had a child and they wanted to start reading spicier romances, this would be the starting point. Introduce healthy relationships before introducing morally grey characters. These were all straight and narrow black and white. 
Overall, 3.5 stars.

This was a good one. I was curious what Elle would do after 8 books set in the Briar Universe to keep things fresh and she exceeded all of my expectations!

The FMC, Gigi Graham, is Garrett and Hannah Graham’s daughter from The Deal. I loved that Gigi was unique. Not a full mini clone of Hannah and Garrett. Sure she had Garrett’s superior cockiness in her abilities, but that’s where it started and ended. Gigi is a hockey player for Brian U and trying to make the USA Olympic Hockey team. 

The MMC, Luke Ryder, is a former Eastwood U hockey player. Eastwood went under and Briar absorbed the college and hockey team. Ryder is tasked with uniting these former rival team with his co-captain, who is also Gigi’s ex. In addition to uniting this team, Ryder wants a shot at coaching for Garrett’s hockey camp, but unfortunately impressing Garrett Graham is far from easy. All while dealing with a personal issue from his past. 

Gigi and Ryder enter a deal, he helps her improve her skill behind the net and she’ll put in a good word for him to her dad. Fun times ensue and they become friends with benefits that use each other to “relieve stress”.

I really really loved this book. I was worried Elle would recycle tropes or themes from past books. This felt fresh. I really enjoyed all the hockey talk in the book. Not all Briar books focused on the hockey and this really did. I wished we could have seen more of Gigi’s games, but it felt like most of this book focused on Ryder. The relationship felt very healthy. Boundaries were respected and apologies issued where appropriate. No THIRD ACT BREAK UP. Hallelujah! This was sweet from start to finish. The pair worked through their problems and built each other up.

I loved the twist in the last third, it was cliche but man hearing Ryder say, “My wife” phew, hot. </Spoiler> At the end, it was absolutely a HEA, but not perfectly. It wasn’t all golden. The MCs didn’t get everything they wanted. Again, I appreciated that because sometimes a book wraps up a little TOO well, you know?

I listened to the audiobook and it was so good! A few editing errors here and there but they didn’t take away from the story. CJ Bloom might be a new favorite. Some narrators give me the ick when narrating a spicy scene and CJ did such a top notch job. Sexy and steamy without an ounce of ick. Teddy is of course, wonderful as always. 

At first I thought mmm, 4.5 stars but I actually can’t find a fault. 5 stars from me! 

Nothing was wrong with this book.  The plot was intriguing and the story line seemed interesting.  Just couldn't get in the mood to read it.  Will pick it back up when my mood swings back that way! 

Why is Katee Robert not more well known for this mafia series?? It’s everything you want from a mafia romance and I am here for it.
Twisted Secrets is Cillian’s book. The family book keeper and known wild child. It also follows Olivia, who has a connection to a former acquaintance of the O’Malleys. This book features the single mom and he fell first and hard tropes. 
What I love about the O’Malleys, is that even though their father is a straight bastard, they all believe children are off the table. Hard stop limit. That belief propelled this book and I enjoyed watching Cillian go from wild bad boy to soft and sweet. 

I like how Katee is sprinkling in tidbits from other siblings and already building their story arcs while keeping it seamless to the story. It was jarring at first not realizing whose POV I was in when I first thought it was only dual, but I’m not upset with it in anyway. Once I realized it was multi-POV I was all in.  

The romance and spice were just right in this book. Hot and spicy right where you need it. 

I can’t wait to dive into the next book! Solid 4.5 stars for Twisted Secrets