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 Evalution:
Plot: 🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️
World Building:🌎🌎🌎🌎
Cover:📔📔📔📔📔
Hero: 🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻
Heroine:🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️.5
Intimacy Level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Relationship Building: 💒💒💒.5
Heart & Feels:💞💞💞💞💞
 Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: 😂😂😂😂
Page Turner Level:📖📖📖📖
Ending:🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧
 Overall View: ✨✨✨✨


“We live this life because we love it, who we are because of it, and those who care about us despite it. Bitterroot Valley, Montana is where my heart lives.”


First Impressions
On the Wild Side is the latest release of the "Wilds of Montana" by Kristen Proby. This is a forced proximity, single mother on the run, hiding in a small Montana town who falls hard for a infamous bull rider. This book was super heartfelt and even though it wasn't a perfect book, its a book that will make you feel deeply and will captivate your emotions from the very beginning. If you are a fan of western romance, sexy cowboys or Kristen Proby, then this book is a must read for you.

 
“You look—” I begin, but he cuts me off, sweeping me up in his arms and kissing the breath out of me, right here in front of his family. When he finally sets me back on my feet, I realize that we’re surrounded by applause, and I can’t help but laugh. “You know how to make an entrance.” “You’re so fucking beautiful I can hardly breathe.”
 

First Line
"What am I supposed to do without you?" I can't stop the tears that fall onto my cheeks.

The Main Protagonists
 The Hero: Brady Wild
 The Heroine:Abbi Kastella

Summary
Brady Wild is a bull riding world champion and his life and focus has always been rodeos and bringing honor to his best friend who lost his life to the sport. And even though he knows he is at the end of his career, he is falling hard for single mom, Abbi, whom he can see himself wanting to sacrifice everything for and her beautiful charming daughter, Daisy, who has his heart wrapped around her finger. But Abbi is on the run, hiding a secret from everyone including the man she loves. Will her secret break everything she has built with Brady? Or will their love last through it all?

What I Loved
This book melted my heart so deeply. From the beginning you can sense their chemistry but you also see that both of them are holding back in the beginning and its truly Daisy that brings them together making Abbi and Brady wanting to risk everything for each other. Daisy held my heart from the beginning and she was such an adorable little girl and the reaction that Brady has to Daisy was endearing. Both Brady and Abbi have reservations about opening their heart completely. But what makes their relationship so unique is seeing them both take that leap of faith with each other. I loved how they just click when they open their hearts to one another. Seeing how Abbi is with his family was charming and how protective they get over her and Daisy when the truth comes out was so poignant, it just makes you want to hold onto this moment forever.

 
I am in love with her. If I could, I’d magically build a house—any house she wants—out here at the ranch and move us all in there tomorrow. I’d marry her, have more babies with her, and make a family. Daisy can have all the animals she wants. I want to make a life with this woman. She deserves that. She deserves everything.
 

What I Struggled With
How the secret from Abbi comes out. I was NOT a fan of how long she holds onto the secret and quite honestly, after everything becomes revealed, I didn't understand when they are talking marriage and building a home, she still didn't tell him, only when she has no choice does she actually tell him right before she plans on running away from him. Yeah I wasn't okay with that at all. Another aspect I didn't like is when Brady gets hurt and she doesn't come to him because of her career....like girl no job is worth not seeing to your man when he needs you. It was a bit cringe to be honest. So yeah while I would have loved giving this book a higher rating, the heroines in this series have been a bit cringe in their feminist ideals something that isn't as focused in her previous books. *shrugs*

Overall View
On The Wild Side is a story that takes you on a journey of letting go of fears and reservations and embracing the best part of love and what the heart is capable of.....a true masterpiece of swoons and depths!

 
“That’s my girl.” I brush my hand over Daisy’s hair. “My sweet princess. I want you to know that I would have followed you, and I would have found you. There is no world where you run from me, Abbi. You’re it for me. You are the love of my life, and I plan to make a home and a family with you out here. No crazy broad is going to ruin that for us. Not today or any other day.”
 

Book Details (also in my shelves)
Sub Genre: Contemporary Romance
Character Types: Single Mom, Bull Rider, Cowboy
Themes: Small Town, Tear Jerker, Kids/Teens, Heart/Touching, MC on the Run
Tropes: Single Parent

Book Perspective
Duo POV

Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict
Plot Conflict

If you like these authors, I recommend This Book
Catherine Cowles
Jennifer Ryan
Joan Johnston

Song This Book Inspires
Beautiful Crazy by Luke Combs

Recommendation For Reading Order
Yes but you can read as standalones if needed.

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. 

 

 My Review: 

Seduce Me was a continued novella between Damien and Nikki. These are one of my favorite couples I have ever read, and I just love getting this mini stories of them together in their HEA. In this novella, Nikki is invited to go on a trope with one of her close friends in Vegas, and both their men follow them and they do some roleplaying being "strangers in Vegas having a fling" and it was quite fun to see these two playing some fun roleplaying game with each other. We also see them work together to rescue a young woman being abused. Seduce Me was a blast of a read and if you have loved seeing this couple together and love a good extended epilogue novella then I recommend this one to you. You can't go wrong here. 

 

 his 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:📔📔📔📔
Intimacy Level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Relationship Building: 💒💒💒💒
Heart & Feels:💞💞💞💞💞
 Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: 😂😂😂😂
Page Turner Level:📖📖📖📖
Ending:🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧
 Overall View: ✨✨✨✨.5

 The hunger for love is much more difficult to remove than the hunger for bread.
 
First Impressions
Hook or also known as "Lost in Darkness" depending on the edition you prefer to use or read, is a story that has been on my TBR for years and I was really happy to choose this one while using this book for the romanceopoly prompt for "Rainbow Row". This was a easy book to choose from the books I had listed under it. And I am really happy that I decided to read this one. I love the way that this one developed in the way that it did. I would say that this book is a retelling of sorts, with just some more theme elements of Peter Pan, it does deal with some morally grey aspects to the story in a contemporary setting.

 You are exactly the man I thought you were. And that man is amazing.

First Line
I'm getting more kids.

 The man who thinks he’s the villain but is actually the hero. A beautiful, broken, battered hero. Even if no one else learns the truth, I’ll know it. And I’ll be here to worship him, on my knees and at his feet, offering my body, my heart, and my soul. He is my Captain. And for as long as he’ll have me, I am his.

Summary
"Hook" begins with James also known as "HooK" who is leader of the "lost boys" and enjoys being king of his castle, but he has a great motivation, to destroy the man who destroyed his innocence and the boy he once was and has sacrificed everything he is for his younger brother and the other kids that were at risk if he didn't stand strong against Crocs. Enter in Darling, who works for the FBI, who grew up in the home for a time with James and always pined for the broody pirate. But their lives have led them on different paths, but now they are on a colliding course when Darling goes undercover on Hook's team to bring down Crocs. But them being in such close proximity has forced them to come to terms with their feelings for each other and the passion they feel...

 I want to tell him that I’m not going anywhere. That after everything is over, I have no intention of giving him up. I’ve run the gamut of lovers the past decade—everything from one-night stands to long-term boyfriends—and none of them can hold a candle to this complex, impossible-to-label thing I have with him.

What I Loved
Hook was such a fascinating book and I am so glad that I picked this one up here. I adored it in every way. Despite the slower start, once it picks up I didn't want to put it down. I was so drawn into Hook and Darling's book. Their chemistry was off the charts, but you also see such delicious pining and so many HEARTS AND FEELS that I just feel so hard for. I couldn't seem to get enough of. The Peter Pan theme was fascinating and how its incorporated into this series was simply fascinating. Its not a strict retelling, but just with a theme of it that the author adapts into her own world.

 
I’d rather be ruined by James Hook than be safe with anyone else.
 

What was intriguing about Hook was the unrequited love theme, seeing how John Darling works through Hook's issues and convinces him to take a chance on love. This isn't a an easy feit lol Hook is stubborn and willful and has so much hurt and pain deep inside. I just adored Darling because of the way that he fights for Hook. I just go weak at the knees when I see a character fight for the other in such a brilliant way. He puts aside the ways that Hook wants to hurt him to push him away, and fights against him with his own stubborness and prove to Hook that love is worth fighting for.

 
No one’s gotten to me as much as this man has. And for the first time in my life, I wonder if it’s possible for my heart to emerge from this as something different…something alive and strong with a reason to keep beating long past this mission.
 

The plot was so well developed and kept me on the edge of my seat and especially what happens in the third act, I just couldn't keep still, it was so intense and wild and loved how these two fight for each other in the end and destroy their enemy. And that ENDING ......swoony worthy and left me feeling so satisfied. This is what romance is and I can't wait to read more of this author and this series!!!

 
There’s nothing hotter, nothing tighter, than Johnathan Darling, and he’s all mine, mine, mine. I want to lose myself in his body, I want to make it my home. I want to cover myself in his scent after every shower so I always smell like him. I want to brand him into my skin so he’s forever a part of me, even after I inevitably fuck things up and he walks out of my life.
 

What I Struggled With
The pacing was a bit slow at first, but it picks up quickly once you get into it. So just keep with it, if you struggle with it, switch to the audiobook.

Overall View
Hook is a tension filled romance that brings in some tough topics that are tackled just right. Its a love tale of fierce devotion, deep rooted pain and rising above the darkness to the bright light of love. A TRUE KEEPER OF A READ!

 
“You are the hero, and you deserve a happily ever after. I want to be the one to give it to you, to share it with you. But if you can’t let me in, then you’re dooming us before we even have a fighting chance.”
 

Book Details (also in my shelves)
Sub Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense
Character Types: Morally Grey, Law Enforcement, Bad Boy, Tortured Hero
Themes: Pining Hero, MM Love, Fairy Tale Retelling, BDSM
Tropes: Forced Proximity, Enemies to Lovers, Opposites Attract

 
“No, James,” I whisper, hope surging through me when he just barely stiffens. “I’m the man who loves you and knows how your heart works.”
 

Book Perspective
Duo POV

 
But what I can’t find is another heart that beats in time with mine. You’re it for me. I want to help you heal, and I want to spend the rest of my life loving you—even when you push me away.”
 

Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict
Both

 
“If you can’t come into the light, then I’ll live with you inside the dark. You don’t need to believe you can be saved, James. I’ll believe it enough for the both of us. You only need to let me love you.”
 

If you like these authors, I recommend This Book
Jay Crownover
Natasha Madison
LJ Shen

Song This Book Inspires
You Are A Memory by Message to Bears

 
This is the end of everything.
 

Recommendation For Reading Order
You can read as a standlone if needed

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.


 
“Thank you, Johnathan.” “For what?” “For everything. For being my happily ever after.” “Always, Captain. Always.” 

My Review:

This was quite an interesting story. It was a bit different than I was expecting, but it was still enjoyable and I liked the way that this story was setup. I just love a good auction romance, and even though the steam was a bit more than I would have liked, I did enjoy seeing how this romance evolved. I was a fan of how their relationship comes to light with the son. But I did find this a quick fun sexy read so if you don't mind taboo or erotic romance, then this book is a fun read to delve fully into. 

 My Review: 

So this book was a bit mediocre. The setup of the story was pretty good and I really liked the beginning of it, but then it goes downhill after the first third of the story. I really was curious about this one because I had found some neat trailers on Instagram for this author's books but to be honest I kinda felt a bit burned by this author. When I noticed how short this book was and on Amazon for a novella its like $6, that is WAY too much for a novella in my opinion. (so if you buy the series buy it in bulk otherwise its robbery *shrugs* I did have high hopes for this story but I was going into it expecting a full length story and it just felt flat for me. I will probably try her again, knowing what to expect but mostly because I bought the books in bulk and don't want to waste the money on it. But if you want to read this author, check your library first! 

 My Review: 

I really struggled with this one here, and I rarely find indie paranromal romance to be well written and this type of story just shows how much indie PNR needs to be edited and more polished. I was curious by the setup and see how the "secret baby" aspect was handled. And I have to say it was handled so badly. I wish it wasn't the case, but this is why this trope shouldn't be written by certain individuals. My main issues with this story is that that couple is hardly together throughout the story. They both treat each other pretty horribly and I battled with the heroine. Yes the hero did have a need to grovel. But the way she treated him was worse in my opinion. And how she treats her own child---Man I wanted to strangle her for it. . I just can't in good conscious recommend this book or this author even. The writing style really needed a good editor as well. Overall it had very little to recommend it other than enjoying the flashbacks of when they were kids together. 

 My Review: 

Nevermore was a delightful read! I was looking for a book to kick off the spooky season and this one just seemed just about perfect! I love her gothic historicals and this one is connected to her novella "Castle of Bones". This book wasn't as atmospheric as that one is, but still had a spooky vibe to it. 

Our heroine, is forced into a nunnery and practically abused and forced to serve the abbess, and forced into the nunnery by her father who didn't want her around him. For two years she has snuck away and been meeting with her love and knight, Atreus de Norville, who is powerful and connected to some highly respected families in England. But when she is caught and Atreus can't find her, he is determined to see where she was taken and protect her no matter what. 

What a intriguing novella. This is a fast fun read. I really enjoyed the setup and seeing how this all becomes resolved in the end. I wasn't a fan of the ending to be honest. Back then it would have been more authentic for the hero to be saving the day and I actually like that lol I have noticed a trend with this author which is probably why I am not sure I will continue with her cause her heroines are pretty much all the same. god forbid you let a man help you take down evil lol 

 My Review:

Vampire Fight Club is a novella in the "Demonica" world by this author. I was really in the mood to get back to her books but something that was a bit shorter and this novella fit my mood just right and wow it had a softer FMC. I LOVED that. While she will fight when she needs to, she isn't natural at it, but just out of self defense. The setup of the story was truly heartbreaking though. The heroine, is a shifter that can't shift and because of that she is dying. When her brother, the only one that protected her from their other brothers who look at her as if she is weak, is killed in a underground fighting ring, she is determined to see who is behind it and kill them herself. She poses as a nurse, and runs into the one in charge, a vampire, Nathan Sabine. Nathan, is looking for revenge one day for the man who murdered his late wife in front of him but currently is too powerful and waiting for the right moment. Then he runs into Vladlena, whom he has an instant attraction and connection to. He tries to fight off what he feels for her, but when he learns why she is truly at his club, he is determined to protect her no matter what. But their enemy is cunning and will put them through their paces.

I absolutely had a blast with this book and I couldn't put it down! It sucked me in right away and this just goes to show that novellas can be really fun to read when done right. Of course, Larissa Ione, is just one of those authors that you can trust right away and I definitely found myself captivated immediately. I couldn't get enough of this one here. And if you are a fan of this world or this author and just need a shorter book to relax with for an evening, this is perfect. Its short, shouldn't take more than an hour, and will keep you on the edge of your seat all the way through.

 Questions for my readers
Have you read Larissa Ione? What is your favorite book from her? Let me know in the comments below! 

 My Review

Play My Game is a novel part of the Stark saga and this book is part of the extended epilogue series that is done by this author to give us more insights into this couple after they have received their HEA. In Play My Game, its coming up on their anniversary on Valentines Day (those who have read this couple know how important this day is to them specifically) and Damien Stark, is wanting to do something special for his wife Nikki, and embarks on a challenge for her, a bit of a game, where she has to discover clues to get to the special gift he has for her. This is especially delightful to read if you have loved these books and especially this couple. And it does have some connections to the Stark International series as we do have a moment of running into Jackson.

I absolutely had such a BALL OF FUN with Damien and Nikki again. It was truly so wonderful to get back to this couple. so much so I am debating doing a re read of them lol They are most definitely one of my favorite couples for contemporary. Seeing them all in love with each other and just embracing the domestic lifestyle was beyond endearing. It kept me with a smile on my face and with a bit of mystery as they are being blackmailed.

Overall I had a blast with this novella and returning to this wonderful world that captured my heart years ago!

  Questions for my readers:
Have you read J. Kenner? If so who is your favorite couple? Let me know in the comments below!