This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review. Also my tags may have spoilers in them so be forewarned before checking out full review.

 Book Evaluation:
Plot: 🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️
World Building:🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎
Cover:📔📔📔📔📔
Hero: 🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻
Heroine:🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻🦸🏻‍♀️
Intimacy Level: 🔥🔥🔥
Relationship Building: 💒💒💒💒
Heart & Feels:💞💞💞💞
 Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: 😂😂😂
Page Turner Level:📖📖📖📖
Narration:🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧
Ending:🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧
 Overall View: ✨✨✨✨


First Impressions
Midnight's Kiss is the 8th book in the Elder Races series and I can't believe how close I am to finishing the series which is a bit bittersweet. I just love this world and Thea Harrison is one of my favorite paranormal romance authors. I have loved reconnecting with these books though. In Midnight's Kiss we take off after the previous book "Night's Honor" left off where Julian is hunting Justine who has betrayed her people after trying to kill one of his own. And this book will keep you on the edge of your seat, it features redemption and second chances and a power couple that just won my heart in every single way.

First Line
Something happened to Julian as he stood in the San Francisco alleyway, looking down at his progeny and longtime friend.

The Main Protagonists
 The Hero: Julian, Nightkind King
 The Heroine: Melisande-Daughter of Light Fae Queen

Summary
Julian and Melisande were once in love twenty years previous but when Julian is sent evidence that she had an affair, he couldn't bring himself to forgive her or even listen to her on it. Just abandoned her completely. Now Julian is on the hunt for Justine, who is part of the Nightkind council and has tried to kill one of his most devoted vampyre's. But before he can lash out his revenge, the woman he once loved has been kidnapped. Melly is shocked when a close friend in Justine, kidnaps her as she is bait for Julian. Julian and Melly are forced in close quarters and Justine is determined to torture and drive Julian mad mentally. But Melly is not going to lie down while the man whom she loves who hates her, is driven to the brink of insanity. Working together they seek an escape while at the same time reconnecting and learning to rise above the mistakes of the past...

What I Loved
Midnight's Kiss was a powerful story and I was utterly captivated by this one. I couldn't seem to get enough. From the very beginning I was instantly drawn into this story. I love a good redemption and healing story and Thea Harrison really captures the tones just right in this book. But I honestly had no doubt. No I pretty much went into this book completely blind. But I gobbled it up like a kid in a candy store. It had me on edge all the way through, delivers barrels of laughs from beginning to end, had sensual spice to curl my toes and left me swooning. There are some secrets to unravel, the world building has just the right enough detail without being overwhelming and it will hit you with the right spot on a emotional level. Its not a perfect book, I wish the ending had been a bit more satisfying but it was still solid. The plot building was just right both for the building of the plot but also for the couple and their issues. I enjoyed the angst between this couple, this author really knows how to write well developed angst between a couple without it being overhwhelming or toxic. It felt so relatable and resonates on a deep level. You can see why Julian is bitter against Melly but he also can't resist being protective of her. Melly is determined to fight for them and make him see the truth of the past and what they uncover with the truth made my heart break especially for Melly but I admired her inner strength so much. She isn't a fighter naturally, she can fight when needed, but that isn't her strength and I loved that about her. She had such great balance to her overall that I really resonated with it.

What I Struggled With
There was just some issues with the ending a little bit, but I really loved the story overall. I just would have wished for a bit more swoons in this story but kinda hard with the circumstances. But still well written.

Narration
AMAZINGLY done! I absolutely loved every single moment of it!

Overall View
Midnight's Kiss was a story that brings together the past and the present in such a brilliance to shock the core. Its a story that is enthralling, vividly rich and a sexy romance to capture hearts of its readers.

Book Details (also in my shelves)
Character Types: Vampires, Fae, Royalty, Alpha Male, Captive/Prisoner
Sub Genre: Paranormal Romance
Themes: Kick Ass, World Building a Focus, Power Couple, Mutual Saving, Pining Heroine
Tropes: Forced Proximity, Redemption, Second Chance, Unrequited Love

Book Perspective
3rd POV

Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict
A blend of both

If you like these authors, I recommend This Book
Patricia Briggs
Nalini Singh
Christine Feehan

Song This Book Inspires
I'll Be My Your Side by Patrick Droney

Recommendation For Reading Order
You could read as a standalone, but I recommend at least reading Night's Honor first before this one.

Steam/Spice Explanations

Simmering cup of tea---soft warm touches and light intimacy
Warmin' by the fire- a medium level of sexual tension, a balance of sexual and emotional intimacy, lighter on the details in the sexual moments.
 Steamin' up the room -the sexual content is more explicit in the language and tone, heavier amount of sexual scenes.
Blazing fire to the building-The prime focus is the sex scenes, scorching hot, and could burn one. Less focus on the emotional intimacy to the relationship.

Narrators:
Sophie Eastlake 

 Campfire Chaos is the third installment in the "Hood River Hoodlums" and in this installment we have our heroine, Charlotte, who we see at the end of book 2, get some new hope in her life after being brutally used and abused and just becoming a shell of who she used to be. We see her figure out her own strength, see the consequences of her actions, and move forward on becoming better and the woman she was meant to become. We see the trauma of what happens to Trey, and how it affects Cal and that he is determined to torment the one that put him in his position. But through a turn of events, Cal and Charlotte end up falling for each other in such a brilliant way. But there is still a evil that would like to destroy them. 

I really liked Campfire Chaos, it was so deep on the emotion and I adore the fabulous character struggle and strength that we see in the story. I loved the bantering that happens between Cal and Charlotte and while I wasn't a big fan of them still doing it in the end, it seems to work for what the author is trying to portray in this series so I didn't mind it too much, just would have loved to see a bit more softer moments between them. I found some things in this book to be so unbelieveable though. The teacher student aspect just seemed so watercoated, it wasn't portrayed as so forbidden. I mean students were catching them left and right and even the principal and it was just okay haha no way that happens in reality. I just wish those aspects were a bit stronger. 

I did love the ending though and the way in which this book wraps up. I wasn't a fan of Penny though so I am on the fence on whether I want to read Trey's book because I do not like spoiled brats lol but I might just skim through the parts I don't like, I am not sure how she becomes redeemable for me but I will probably wait a little while on it. We shall see. 

Overall I had a blast with Campfire Chaos and I am eager to see more of K. Webster in the future! 

 Little Hoodlum starts over a few years post the ending of the first book. We see Roan and his Rat living in their happily ever after. The sister, Roux, has really grown up and we see the way that she has matured and the moments in wish she wants more in her life. I love that she is willing to fight for what she wants. I was very curious how this romance would pan out become of the taboo's that are handled in this one, but in clever K. Webster fashion, they are done so brilliantly. I really adored these two together. Jordy and Roux had such a super relationship. It has to be hidden and the outer plot development really worked for me. I had a hard time putting this book down and it was interesting because I put this one out for so long, but the moment I started reading it, I literally would stay up late reading. 

Now it might now be for everyone. It does deal with age gap and teens, so it does touch base on some law ordinances being broken and this is something I am a bit more sensitive to but to be honest I was good with it. It didn't bother me a whole ton because of the close relationship these two had but also because the year difference isn't that huge. Its just a few years. So it ended up working for me in that regard. I kinda was hoping for a different reaction from the brother lol but it still worked. The danger and intrigue elements was fascinating to me. I honestly loved it. It kept me on the edge of my seat and I was so engaged by how it unraveled. And wow WHAT an ending. I am literally jumping into book 3 after this though because WHEW!!! I swear this author does this on purpose haha but I am not complaining too much 

Overall I fell hard for Little Hoodlum and looking forward to exploring more of this author! 

 First Strike is the novella that is a prequel to Striking Distance which I had already read but surprisingly I hadn't read First Strike. I think because when I first read Striking Distance which was years ago I wasn't very big into novellas at the time and I just couldn't get into it at all or very rarely and I think if I had read it years ago I wouldn't have liked it very much. But I do appreciate what the author was doing with this novella as we get to see their first meeting before Laura gets kidnapped when they originally meet in the middle east and have a forbidden fling of sorts. I found the premise very interesting, and when I say it being forbidden, I mean literally they could be killed its so forbidden lol I am not sure how sex is worth that to be honest. It was kinda unbelievable at times because I just couldn't get on board with how unlikely this would be to happen. 

Overall I found First Strike to be interesting and I did get drawn into seeing what connected them in the beginning and added depth to the series for me. 

 This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review. Also my tags may have spoilers in them so be forewarned before checking out full review.

 Book Evaluation:
Plot: 🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️
World Building:🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎
Cover:📔📔📔📔📔
Hero: 🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻
Heroine:🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️
Intimacy Level: 🔥🔥🔥
Relationship Building: 💒💒💒💒💒
Heart & Feels:💞💞💞💞💞
 Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: 😂😂😂😂😂
Page Turner Level:📖📖📖📖📖
Narration:🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧
Ending:🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧
 Overall View: ✨✨✨✨✨


First Impressions
Visions of Darkness is the first book in a fantasy themed series by AL Jackson. I knew the minute that this author came out with this that I would want to read this one and I have to say that I fell hard for the romance in this one. Now I don't think I would call this fantasy romance to be honest. As its still in our world, I would term this paranormal romance with magical realism elements in it. I did find what the author created here to be quite fascinating though. I wasn't sure how a contemporary romance author would do in a different sub genre, but I actually fell hard for this one here. The world building was beyond enthralling and it had her lyrical style of writing that I found beyond compelling and I didn't want to put this one down at all.

First Line
"Gather round, children."

The Main Protagonists
 The Hero: Pax
 The Heroine: Aria

Summary
Aria met a boy when she was a girl in her dreams when she drifters into a different world, the nightmare world of Faydor, she along with the others just like her fight the demons " the Kruen" and this is where she met Pax who has been her childhood friend. Growing up her family thought she was mentally harming herself and traumatized, they never truly tried to understand her or even believe her. She grew used to keeping the truth from them. But now she is a adult, but now she is in trouble, her waking world is giving her hallucinations and her parents have forced her into a mental institution but now her life is in danger from the Kruen as they are becoming a force in the waking world. Pas and Aria meeting in life is forbidden, but Pas refuses to let Aria go and be at risk because of warnings. He will protect her at all costs, but their adventures drift in the in between of the waking world and the hidden realm, will their love be enough to overcome the forbidden threshold?

What I Loved
Visions of Darkness was beyond captivating. From the first chapter, I was so quickly brought into this world that this author introduces and immediately you can sense the connection that Pax and Aria have together. They have a love that is bright and intense and beyond bold. We see such growth in our characters, more from Aria as we get more POV from her than we do Pax. I do kinda wish it had been more equal so we could have seen more from Pax's perspective. I was so drawn into their relationship. How they will do so much for each other, the needs they have attention for and don't neglect each other. I loved how Aria was constantly aware of Pax and his needs and not wanting to neglect him. I absolutely adored that in this heroine.

The plot of the story will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat. My heart broke for Aria in how she is betrayed by those that raised her and those she trusted. I loved how Pax saw her and was always her steady rock. We see their individual strength and how strong they are with their own powers and how capable they are in their fighting abilities and being so aware of the evils they have to face. You see how years have taught them self discipline and a inner determination and you can really sense that in the story in such a awe powering way.

What I Struggled With
I didn't really struggle with much in this book. It left with a bit of a teaser in the end, but thanksfully no cliffhanger for our couple. Loved how it resolved for them and I am eager to see what the author plans on for this series here.

Narration
POWERFUL!!!! It will literally sweep you off your feet. This pair is so well done and I adored how they really capitalized on the inner workings of emotional and development that grows throughout the story here.

Overall View
A.L. Jackson literally creates a work of literal art of a unique paranromal world of dream walking, embracing your magical inner talents and connecting through the acceptance of your duty and calling....it melted my heart in every way!

Book Details (also in my shelves)
Sub Genre: Paranormal Romance, Magical Realism
Character Types: Dream Walking, Alpha Mellow, Psychic Abilities, Warriors
Themes: Mutual Pining, Magical Realism, Friendships, One True Pairing
Tropes: Forbidden Love, Friends to Lovers, Childhood Sweethearts

Book Perspective
DUO POV

Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict
Plot Conflict

If you like these authors, I recommend This Book
Kristen Ashley
Thea Harrison
Sherrilyn Kenyon

Recommendation For Reading Order
Yes

Steam/Spice Explanations

Simmering cup of tea---soft warm touches and light intimacy
Warmin' by the fire- a medium level of sexual tension, a balance of sexual and emotional intimacy, lighter on the details in the sexual moments.
 Steamin' up the room -the sexual content is more explicit in the language and tone, heavier amount of sexual scenes.
Blazing fire to the building-The prime focus is the sex scenes, scorching hot, and could burn one. Less focus on the emotional intimacy to the relationship.

Narrators:
Teddy Hamilton, Victoria Mei 

 Sunday's Child was the most fascinating book. I honestly didn't expect this book in any way. Especially with Christmas having just occurred, I loved the CHRISTMAS theme. It was adorable, and the way that our couple finds each other was so unique and different. I love a story that leaves me delightfully surprised and this book definitely did that here. You can definitely see how much these two connect with each other. I loved how it starts off in a fantasy realm and ends up with some magical realism feels to it. Grace Draven truly delivered on this novella and the romance was short yet sweet. Seeing the hero give up his immortality for his lady, was so endearing. The only disappointment I had was the heroine not really know about who he is. But overall it was a satisfying quick read and I can't wait to explore more from this author. 

 This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review. Also my tags may have spoilers in them so be forewarned before checking out full review.

 Book Evaluation:
Plot: 🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️
World Building:🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎
Cover:📔📔📔📔📔
Hero: 🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻
Heroine:🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻🦸🏻‍♀️
Intimacy Level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Relationship Building: 💒💒💒💒💒
Heart & Feels:💞💞💞💞💞
 Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: 😂😂😂😂😂
Page Turner Level:📖📖📖📖📖
Narration:🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧
Ending:🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧
 Overall View: ✨✨✨✨✨

First Impressions
Whew this book was a WILD one and this was also my first time reading this book here and how crazy it was but at the same time I gobbled it up like it was CANDY! I honestly couldn't get enough of it. Even though this type of writing style doesn't always work for me, it definitely did in this case. And I do think the narration is much to blame for this haha sometimes a narration can make or break a book and in this case it definitely MADE the book for me. Now I will say that this won't be like most mafia books and quite frankly the "mafia" element wasn't what I expected. But I would put this as a edgy contemporary with dark romance elements to it. And I highly recommend if you like that style in your stories.

First Line
"Fiance swapping prick."

The Main Protagonists
 The Hero: Enzo
 The Heroine: Boston

Summary
Boston made the decision to take her future in control and she went to the one man that her family wouldn't ever want her to be with but he is the one man she would choose for herself and that is ....Enzo Fikile. Enzo is one of the most powerful mafia leaders in their circles, and when she offers him an offer, Enzo can't refuse. But through a turn of events that evolve in Tempting Little Bride, she agreed to a contractual arrangement of marriage with Enzo, and now he has her kept up like a Repunzel in her tower and she is determined to show him she isn't weak but he is also a man you are careful with and carefully choose your battles with. She isn't sure of his intentions, but she also can't resist the connection she feels with him or the love that is building but she wonders if that love will be one sided and what her future will be...

What I Loved
All I needed to know was that this was a contractual marriage and I knew that this was a book that I wanted and it was a added bonus that this is an author that I have been meaning to read for years at this point and now I know why so many people are loving this author because her writing is so entertaining and kinda crazy and honestly...I VIBED with it. I also want to do more of her books in audio...that is how good it is. 

Now the setup of this book was super fantastic. I love how it starts off with a kidnapping (and you need to read the first book to know why) and then he keeps her in his mansion and she is under guard and she is having to live with the choice that she made. I actually love that this heroine isn't like the other women in this circle. She is a bit different. She has a disability of sorts, but is also not as in your face kick ass as her sister is. She tends to be more wise in how she handles situations but also has a more subtle nature that is viewed sometimes weak in her world and she was never meant to fit in with the crowd but to stand out in her own style and in a way that Enzo is the perfect match for her. He sees who she truly is and only wants her to embrace it and not the woman her family would prefer that she be. I absolutely adored both of these characters because they just fit so right and especially once everything becomes revealed, the way that our couple just grows together was phenomenal in so many ways. Their growth as a couple worked just right and once understanding builds between them, they compliment each other just right.

What I Struggled With
The beginning. I beg of you to not read this one as a standalone. Read the first book. I was SO lost and normally I am pretty good at reading things out of order, but not this one. There are some major plot aspects, where it will make more sense to read the series in order. I do wish the blurb had clarified that more or a prologue that narrated previous events.

Narration
BRILLIANT and sexy in every single way! Its entertaining, relays the write vibe that the author conveys and the emotion and tension is so well tackled. And their voices were just so addictive and compelling that I didn't want to put it down.

Overall View
Bad Little Bride a an outlandish, wild and crazy romance that digs deep and entertains all at the same time. Its very unconventional in the writing, but will have you laughing and feeling energized from beginning to end. 

Book Details (also in my shelves)
Sub Genre: Contemporary Romance, Dark Romance
Character Types: Alpha Male, Mafia, Kick Ass, Dancer
Themes: Angsty, Marriage in Trouble, Secrets
Tropes: Marriage of Convenience, Enemies to Lovers

Book Perspective
Duo POV

Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict
Both

If you like these authors, I recommend This Book
Kristen Ashley
Rachel Ann Dyken
LJ Shen

Song This Book Inspires
All the good girls go to hell by Billie Eilish

Recommendation For Reading Order
Yes

Steam/Spice Explanations

Simmering cup of tea---soft warm touches and light intimacy
Warmin' by the fire- a medium level of sexual tension, a balance of sexual and emotional intimacy, lighter on the details in the sexual moments.
 Steamin' up the room -the sexual content is more explicit in the language and tone, heavier amount of sexual scenes.
Blazing fire to the building-The prime focus is the sex scenes, scorching hot, and could burn one. Less focus on the emotional intimacy to the relationship.

Narrators:
Alex Kydd, Kathryn Lynhurst 

 My Review: 

WHAT an amazing novella!!! I am so glad that I was able to grab up this shortie from Sierra Simone. If you want to read it, check her website and you can get it for free for your kindle! 

Gloria is a novella, which is bascially an extended epilogue that features the couple , Sean and Zinny, from Sinner and this is the book that features their wedding and its just so beautiful and so funny. So basically our couple gets snowed in the night before their wedding in the church and things get a little risque to keep warm from the big storm. We see them find ways to make their wedding beautiful, with only their siblings and those closest to them and Zinny learning the importance that its who you marry, and not the setting surrounding you. I loved how well Sean and Zinny take this conflict and embrace the moment together and let the other things go and make their small wedding their own even though the circumstances aren't the best. And the humor IS AMAZING in this book. Its just brilliant in this one. I couldn't stop laughing all over the place in this one here. I am beyond impressed with how this author wrote such a fun sexy novella and can't wait to get to the final book in the series. 

 

 I am marking this as a DNF for now. I will return to it but the narration was horrible especially from the female POV. Never been a fan of her work very much, it tends to be too distracting. So I will try this one a bit later but read it physically instead of through audio.