Born To Be Wilde is the third in the series, and this was a success for me. I will have to admit after my experience with the first book, I was nervous to try this one especially when I lost track of time for the loan to the library for the ebook and so I switched to the audio format (and the first book I had to DNF due to listening to its audio and it so butchered the story for me--although one of these days I do want to read the book physically) So I think it is understandable how this book was one I was supremely nervous to pick up and I will tell you the "stepback" is what changed it all for me. I just saw this on one of the "stepback Saturday" features and it reminded me how much I wanted to return to these books and this author.
Born To Be Wilde is the story of Parth and Lavinia. Both Parth and Lavinia have held an attraction to each other even though they try to deny that it exists. For Lavinia, she has a scandalous past and to Parth she might seem to be frivolous but fashion matters to her and she wants to be seen than just more than her passion for hats and pelisses.
Only now was she cobbling together a sense of pride in herself and she could not allow that precious part of her heart to be trampled.
When she makes a daring proposal to Parth for his hand in marriage, he turns her down flat but then in return offers his help in finding a worthy suitor. But as she starts to explore other options, it becomes obvious that Parth wants Lavinia for his own. But Parth will need to learn to fight for the woman he loves and accept all the parts of her and be willing to show an endeavor to fight for her the way she deserves. However, Lavinia won't be easy to court or win her heart over, and Parth will be in the fight of his life, showing Lavinia how genuine and sincere he is.
"Parth Sterling, are you saying that you’re afraid to kiss me?”“Only if you’re going to break my heart.”
Born To Be Wilde is a fantastic read and I truly had a blast with this one here. Now while it didn't wow me to the extreme, I truly had a blast with this book here and the whole setup of the story was quite fun. I always love this trope, and it has such an unrequited love tale that is worth telling. Both Lavinia and Parth have sincere feelings for each other, the issue in their relationship is that they both won't admit it to each other. Now Lavinia sends some mixed signals that can be confusing for Parth so I get why he tends to get confused at times with her antics but also he doesn't have an honest openness regarding his feelings for her. Lavinia has loved Parth for quite a long time but she isn't willing to come clean about it. I did love seeing that and seeing them slowly come to terms with their feelings and admit to it. And I will admit that one of my favorite scenes when they start to really admit their feelings for each other, is the RAIN SCENE!!! This is a beautiful scene where they share a beautiful kiss and like really we need more kissing rain scenes in romance (just saying haha) But to get back to the review, I found their bantering and quirky sense of humor so lively at times and this is what kept me going with this story. There were times throughout the story that it slowed down a bit, but the narrator did a good job in conveying this story at the right pace it needed to be. There is also a wonderful groveling scene. Now granted, groveling scenes don't always do it for me. Sometimes it isn't quite enough, or it's way too much or overdone. However, I truly adored this moment between Parth and Lavinia. One she doesn't make it too easy for him. He really does hurt her here, and even though that wasn't his intention, it happens. But she doesn't just accept the grovel, Parth has to learn to be creative and show true sincerity on his depth of feeling for her because all deserve to have someone fight for them.
Overall I found Born To Be Wilde to be a fantastic read that I couldn't seem to get enough at all! Its a story that shows true depth perception in a romance, a book that gives you a ride of laughs, quirky characters that melt your heart and a story that will hook you line and sinker. You can't go wrong with an Eloisa James and this one here just melted my heart in such a manner that left me yearning for more.
Kill Switch is the third book in the “Devil’s Night” series and one of the most darkest of installments in the series. I was highly apprehensive in reading this one, but I was encourage by fellow romance readers I trust that it would be a winner. So I decided to take a chance upon this one here, and I will be honest in that I wasn’t sure how I would fare with this one here. And I will be honest that Kill Switch was a highly challenging read and it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. It involves certain aspects that are extremely difficult to read in some ways and probably why it took me so long to read it. Even though I adored the previous books in the series, I think this is the darkest of them so far. Now this series is so well written in how it crafts certain elements, and I truly admire the way that Penelope Douglas has written these books. But I struggled with the hero being married and while I don’t mind revenge sub plots, It was done differently than I expected. But there was also a higher focus on flashbacks and when I say flashbacks I mean a TON of them, that it was quite distracting and took away some of my enjoyment of the story. I will say that the latter half of the story was wonderful and so endearingly sweet. Once our pair got their issues out of the way, It truly was the sweetest fruit seeing them truly together.
Overall I found Kill Switch to be a thrilling, edgy romance that offers plenty of mystery and intrigue that will delights its readers.
Last Guard is the fifth installment in the Psy Changeling Trinity series, and it continually baffles me how long of a series this is becoming especially if you combine all the books in this marvelous series together. I was actually wanting to enjoy this so much but unfortunately, it didn't quite make it to the rating that I was expecting. This story just didn't engage me immediately like I was expecting it to, and it took a while to really become invested in the story. I think I have tried to read this over the past couple of months, but finally pulled myself together to get it read. And I am so relieved that I was able to do that. Because while it starts slow, once you become invested in this pairing, you won't be able to put it down. This is the talent of this author, that I just wanted to see how these two would find their HEA and overcome the conflict that is facing their people.
Last Guard features our two main leads:
Canto Mercant-Head of the family, Spinal Injury, Cardinal Empath and Anchor
Payal Rao- Anchor, Designation A, Cardinal Telekinetic, CEO, Indian Descent
Last Guard features two characters that once knew each other as children, where they were tortured among the unwanted at the time, until they were rescued and they never saw each other until now when they are to work together in the search of solving the problems involving the psy net, and now the net is dying, and only if the anchors work together will they be able to save it. But Canto recognizes Payal for the girl he always loved and never stopped, but he also needs her to help save the net. Payal, the girl he once knew, is hidden behind her cool exterior, but he is going to take a lesson from the courting handbook of the bears, and court his girl no matter how long it takes. He is dedicated to digging deep and finding that sweet strong girl who loved fiercely. Payal is not the girl that Canto used to know. Her father and brother are brutal psychopaths, who only use her for their own means, and as a means of survival, she protects herself behind a shield of ice. She doesn't truly know Canto, but there is a hidden part of her that trusts him completely. And with each day, she feels her shields against him, softening and slowly trusting him and desiring full on "skin privileges" and more with Canto. But they have enemies, and the whole psy's survival depending on them. Will Canto and Payal find their way fully together and saving their people?
Last Guard was such a brilliant story and I was so much in love with this one here. But it took a while to get to the "love" part of the story. I do struggle with books where you want to love it, but can't quite get on board all the way through. However, despite the struggles I had initially, I just knew that I would eventually fall for this book, and man Singh really worked her magic in this book. I just couldn't get enough of Payal and Canto. They were utterly brilliant together, and one aspect I have truly adored about this author, but most especially in this series, is seeing characters fight for each other in such a equal way. I truly appreciate the way that she shows the hero AND the heroine fighting for each other in the relationship. In most romance, you will see more fight from the hero than the heroine, but in this one, even though the fight begins with the hero at the beginning of the story, this heroine fought for the hero in the latter half defended him, and protected him. And this is my true catnip in a romance and will win my heart every time. This book also contains many of the tropes I adore: friends to lovers, childhood sweethearts, second chance romance, forced proximity. The secondary characters in this one (most specifically the BEARS) were hilarious, and I just wanted more of them. They are the true delight from this "trinity" series that Singh has implemented. Loved seeing members of the Mercant family and even some delights from our beloved favorite psy "Kaleb Krychek". I am very curious about what Nalini Singh has planned for the series next because I need more but she is an author worth waiting on.
Overall I found Last Guard to be a story that combines the beauty of two lost souls finding each other once again, to the intensity of the battle in the fighting for your people, a sweet yet sturdy courtship that wins your heart with each step in the dance, a romance that will strike a transcendent chord in your soul and leave you with a smile on your face.
Someone To Love is the first book of the Westcott series and I finally caved into starting this series. I had thought about working on her other previous series before beginning these books, but I realized I have been wanting to read these books so much. Mary Balogh is an author I have respected for so long and she was one of the first that introduced me to authentically real regency. I was thrilled to see that my local library carried this one in audio format. Sometimes this author writes more slow burn and it can be difficult to get fully into, but she has some wonderful narrators that portray the story so well in the way that it deserves.
Someone To Love is a story that begins with our heroine, who grew up in an orphanage. Anna Snow is now a teacher in the orphanage in which she grew up. She has very little memory of her time before the orphanage. But then she is brought to the Wescott family and delivered the startling news that she is the sole heir of the Westcott fortune and that the truth of her stepfamily was hidden from them as well. While she has been aching for a family all of her life, the moment she realizes she has one, many of them distrust her and don't want to be involved with her at all. It is heartbreaking for Anna to have her dream come true only for all the hope of it to have dwindled in such a way. But there is one person that gives her the light and hope she has been looking for....Avery Archer. He is distantly related to the family she has now become a part of (but they share no blood with each other) and he becomes a true friend to her in the time of need. He is steady and strong and when a scandal erupts, he shows up for her and offers her a marriage of convenience. While she expects a contented life with Avery, she doesn't expect passion and deep love to form with him. But will Avery be able to give her what she needs and hopes for?
“Why ask a question,” she said, “if one does not want a truthful answer?” Ah. Now he understood. He liked her. That was extraordinary enough, but it was easier to understand than sexual awareness.
Someone To Love is a story that I found to be a really beautifully sweet story that I was definitely in the mood for. I had such a fun time with this book. It was highly intriguing to see this setup and seeing the way that this author starts off the series involving this family. And color me intrigued, because I can't wait to get all the stories from all these family members and seeing them all find their HEA. I found it truly an interesting situation that this heroine finds herself in. The story is more focused surrounding her and her path. I loved her growth while at the same time standing her ground for her own values and integrity. My heart just ached for Anna especially her thirst for family connection and being pushed out the door out of a situation that is not her fault at all. While I could understand why her step-siblings were angry, I really couldn't stand how they treated her but since their father had passed and they couldn't be angry with him they wanted someone to pin the blame on. It should prove interesting to see how Mary Balogh writes their stories and what she has planned for the series as a whole. Now on the part of the hero, I really found Avery to be quite different from what you normally expect in regency. He isn't this big and brawny male at all but has his own reservoir of strength and solitude. He has had to fight for everything he has gained in his life. I loved the core of his character and seeing the aspects of what has built him into the man he has become. The romance that develops between Anna and Avery is quite interesting. It's so slow and sweet and has a power of strength and resilience hidden underneath the depths of it all. Seeing them having developed the seeds of friendship and with the blend of passion that builds into a powerful love story, I couldn't put this one down.
"You can be and may be and already are, Anna. My someone to love. My everything"
Overall I found Someone To Love to be a captivating story that was yearningly deep and sweet. it has a perfect blend of authenticity and realism that is balanced with a connecting romance to empower its reader.
Selkies are a Girl's Best Friend is the third installment in the Mystic Bayou series and I know I am so far beiind on this series but its honestly a series I just forget about completely. Mostly I think because it begins as an "audible original" and then goes into the other formats so I think it can be easily dismissed at times when it gets released. But I will also say that there are plenty of mixed reviews of this book so I was a bit apprehensive at reading this one but I am so happy that I decided to overlook that and just READ or rather LISTEN to this one. I was able to breeze right through this one. The narrators here are simply superb in showcasing these books and I am always able to get fully immersed in the books that they narrate.
Selkie's are a Girl's Best Friend is a story that features Will and Sonja. Now Sonja we have practically seen from the very beginning as she is the best friend of the heroine in book one" How To Date Your Dragon" and so I was really curious to see how Sonja's story would play out and I will admit it doesn't start exactly how I would imagine her meet-cute would be with her love interest. Dr. Will Camody. Now Sonja and Will get off to a bad start and false assumptions about each other, so there is some angst and bantering between the two and quite frankly neither of them are the injured party here as they both play a role in hurting each other. But they make amends to each other and become fast friends and build a solid trust with each other. But as they begin to start the courting process, there is a level of trust that definitely needs to be built between the two here. Will, is a doctor of all "creatures of the night" and has recently moved home from Seattle. He likes taking care of his brother but also doesn't trust women. His parents had a volatile relationship and he doesn't want that for himself and Sonja. But will Will's lack of trust ruin any chance of a future with Sonja?
I truly appreciated seeing their story unravel here and all the secrets that come out and the hidden villain that you don't see coming. Now there is an underlying mysterious plot that forms, but it's more in the background a bit from the romance, so when the climax hits, you least expect it. And I truly loved that Molly Harper took me to that point. I don't mind predictable plots since many of them are that way for me, so when an author can really make a story work in a way where I don't see the predictability I am always ready and eager for it. This book was a laugh-out-loud adventure that I couldn't get enough of. Honestly, I could have just relaxed on the couch or beach with this audiobook at only 1x the speed and be content. Now there was an aspect to this story that I deeply loved and it was the mermaid/selkie character we see. Our hero is a selkie shapeshifter which is like a mix of a seal/mermaid mix of a shifter while also having certain selkie psychic abilities. I actually loved seeing this come into play, we need more well-written mermaid style romances and this book totally worked for me. The bantering between Will and his brother is hilarious and I just wanted more and hope his brother gets a book down the road.
Overall I found this book to be a thrilling, engaging, and powerfully addicting read that had me only craving for more, and I can't wait to explore this series further and see how this author expands the plot of the series we have been seeing building so far.
Queen Takes Rose is the final installment in the Wicked Villains series, and I am so thrilled to have been able to finish this series (although I really need to read Sabine Valley soon--this book really teased that world for me) I will admit that this one took some courage to read, because even though this relationship has been teased throughout the whole series, I just wasn't sure if it was something I could do or I knew I needed to be in the right mood for this one. Revenge plots can work that way for me, and I wasn't sure how I felt about Malone to be honest. But I finally braved up and finally read this one and actually considering all the mixed reviews that come into play with this one, I was delighted to actually enjoy it as much as I did. Now its definitely not my favorite of the series, it still was a delightful addition to the series. Now these books aren't for the faint of heart, or if you specifically prefer monogomous relationships than this book or many of the others in the series are not going to be for you.
Queen Takes A Rose is a story that begins with one of our heroines, Aurora. She has two weeks left in her contract with Hades, but when Malone makes an offer for her for two weeks in her home, Aurora says yes to it. Malone and Aurora once had a scene together a long while back, but both of them have ignored each other since. But Aurora has another reason for agreeing to be with Malone for two weeks. Her mother was put in a vegetating state due to Malone's power grab of her mother's territory. Even though it was twenty years ago, she desires revenge against her Malone. But the more time they are together, the more that Aurora realizes she can't kill Malone. And it isn't until love enters the game, that Aurora has to reevaluate what she wants to do with Malone and if she is willing to let go of the past for a future with her.
She’s been wearing a mask since she started working at the Underworld, and I want to know what lies beneath it
I don't get a chance to read too much f/f romance, and quite frankly, its just not that common to find as one would hope, but these types of dynamics aren't always my thing. And to be honest, it really depends on who is writing these relationship dynamics. Katee Robert is queen when it comes to these type of relationships and I love how she really blends the kinky side of erotic romance with plenty of emotion and heart in the unsuspecting of times. I do wish that these books were longer than they are, its the only element I would truly change about them. But also I would have liked to have seen more heart and feels between these two. There were moments of it, but in comparison to some of the other books and how their relationship was teased, I was hoping for more.
Overall though I found Queen Takes Rose to be a delightful story that added the heights of sexual pleasure, safe exploration of the BDSM culture, an interracial romance that offers delights, heart and passion.
This review was originally posted on Addicted To RomanceI received this book for free from Sourcebooks Casablanca in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Left At The Altar is the first book in the "Match Made In Texas" trilogy by this author and this ARC is one of the backlogged books on Netgalley. I am super close to 100%, like 98% so I am trying to get through all fo those forgotten books that I didn't even download and do a review for them. Thankfully this author's book are at my library through the Libby app and I was able to find the audiobook for this title. I have been curious about this author's work, I simple adore western romances especially books set in the wild west. I love the pioneer feel to them, and the sense of crafting something new in a very wild and rugged atmosphere. I will first mention the heat in this book is low....its more on the level of inspirational romance style. So it is more fade to black and/or wholesome level. I do not mind this in books but I didn't realize this author wrote with this level of heat.
Left At The Altar is a story that literally begins with that setup. Our heroine, Meg Lockwood, is about to be married to the son of her father's enemy. This wedding will be a way to bridge the gap between the two fathers and mend some bridges and the brutal feud that causes so much splitting loyalties in the town. But then her fiancee breaks it off on the wedding day to pursue his dreams of traveling and admitting his feelings for her aren't what they should be. But her father is furious over it and files a lawsuit against her ex-fiancee and Meg is torn about it. Because while she feels humiliated by the experience, she also doesn't want to force him into a marriage he doesn't want and he is a friend and knows his family couldn't ever pay the 10,000 dollars demanded in the lawsuit. But what she doesn't expect is to attract the attention of a lawyer, Grant Garrison, who has been hired to defend the groom in the case. A match between them currently is forbidden and would force another scandal that Meg doesn't need currently as she is always fighting the current one of being ruined in the eyes of town. But there are secrets that are building this rivalry.....ones that could destroy people Meg care about. Will the secrets that become revealed destroy or unite the town? And will Grant and Meg find a way to be together in ways that will work with her family and the scandal?
Left At The Altar was actually a story I liked, and while I didn't love it like I was expecting to, it was a nice distraction. It didn't have the powerful sexual heat or chemistry I have become used to in westerns, so I had to re-adjust to it since its been a while since I have read a fade to black. But I did enjoy seeing their connection. I will say that there wasn't that much focus on their romance as I would have liked, so it's a mix of historical fiction and historical romance. I did quite enjoy the setup of the story, and there are many other factors that come into play other than the romance itself, there is such a quirky drama plot going about involving the feud and I found it so intriguing and I didn't expect the reason revealed to be the EXACT reason that is revealed. It was so low in my expectations but sometimes I guess we humans blow little things out of proportions but I did enjoy seeing the build-up to the reveal and see the after-effects of it. The romance itself was intriguing, soft and gentle, and not too much conflict despite it being a forbidden theme to their relationship. The angst felt low even though on the surface its not. Not sure if this is a product of the author's intention or just by happenstance, but it made it easy to cruise through this book without getting too involved emotionally.
Overall I found Left At The Altar to be a low steam, sweet romance with quirky moments, laughter, a town feud, and some unique surprises along the way to keep you invested..... A WARM SOLID ROMANCE TO BE ENDEARED TO.
True Love Cowboy is the most recent release and the moment that it became available I just knew that I had to pick it up and when I saw that it was on AnyPlay I just knew that it was one that I need to grab up and I haven't ever listened to this author in audio format, most of the time I get her ARC's but I decided to wait on this one here. And I was immediately pulled into the story after the first chapter. I will say that the first meeting between our two main protagonists isn't the most thrilling of meet-cutes, but it's a sweet scene and really sets the stage for their relationship. I am always impressed with this author and this story definitely pulled the type of emotion that always stuns me every time I pick her up.
True Love Cowboy is a story that features :
Jon Crawford-Entrepreneur, a single father, returning home to help his father and stabilize his family.
Trinity McGrath-Chef and a local business owner, dealing with PTSD, youngest sister of protective family
In this beloved story, we have two kind-hearted good people that have a solid attraction to each other, from their first meeting there is an attraction. Our heroine, Trinity, has been helping Jon's father get food but when she comes to deliver his meal, he is passed out on the floor and struggling to breathe and then Jon arrives on the scene, and then they take him to the hospital together. While Jon's father is in recovery, Trinity and Jon have a spark of attraction and find each other intriguing. Despite the fact that Jon has his ex and his daughter arriving soon, and Trinity suffering from panic attacks and flashbacks of her traumatic past, they are drawn to each other like bees to honey and forge ahead in a relationship. But Jon is driven and willing to do what it takes to care for his family even if his ex is toxic and manipulative, but feels he has no other option when she has primary custody over their daughter. But as tensions rise with him and his ex, the romance between this sweet good woman is worth fighting for, but he never imagined that the love of his life would be put in danger so close to home and will he be able to save those he loves or lose it all?
True Love Cowboy was a brilliant read and despite its imperfections, I truly had so many delights in reading this one. I am always so stunned at how this author truly writes her books. I fell so quickly for this couple, and honestly, this was a book I literally relaxed on the couch with just so I could listen to it more. Not all of Jennifer Ryan's books have stunned me but this one truly did. I never expected to experience the surge of emotion that this book evoked in me but only a few authors can have me sobbing through this and it certainly did. I had so many shock moments and I think if I had been listening to this in public, I think I would have been sent to the mental institution that is right down the road haha Its a story that just broke my heart but unfortunately I can see these type of cases being pretty common in many factors. I did like seeing the focus of how hard it can be for fathers that are unable to get primary custody of the children especially when the other party is manipulative in most situations and has money and power behind her and also how society and the law even tends to cater more towards mothers than fathers in many cases. Just seeing this man's heartache over his daughter was so heartwrenching. BUT I will say he did drive me nuts sometimes. In the beginning of the story he acts so blind to many of her actions thinking she will be better but when you see that she does the same habits previously, you would think he would have come to the truth of it. And it took real neglect and abuse of his daughter for him to actually act. I understand he was in a bad spot with little power here, but I feel like he could have done more. I do respect that the author took us there though and really showed the human side of these issues in such a relatable human way.
I truly adored this book though and it was such an honest good romance that I wanted to cheer to. Jon and Trinity have such a beautiful relationship and I loved seeing it blossom and so many positive elements enter their relationship. I love seeing how they lift and encourage each other, always fight for each other, and never lose faith in one another. It's an element that tends to go missing from romance at times, and I truly respect that this author went there for this pairing. Then we another element that added such sweetness and charm to the story....Jon's little girl "Emma" She was so darling and added the perfect cherry on the top for this book. You just want to cherish this little child and I couldn't get enough of seeing her in this book. I just love seeing children portrayed in romance when it's in this manner, and Jennifer Ryan really handled it so well.
Overall I found True Love Cowboy to be a stunning delight that delivered in the solid plot, touch your heart characters, and tear-jerking moments that will overcome its readers in the most real and vivid ways.
admit after my experience with the first book, I was nervous to try this one especially when I lost track of time for the loan to the library for the ebook and so I switched to the audio format (and the first book I had to DNF due to listening to its audio and it so butchered the story for me--although one of these days I do want to read the book physically) So I think it is understandable how this book was one I was supremely nervous to pick up and I will tell you the "stepback" is what changed it all for me. I just saw this on one of the "stepback Saturday" features and it reminded me how much I wanted to return to these books and this author. 
