I found this one to be such a fascinating read, but I definitely understand why ppl have really enjoyed this author's writing style. This book was so quick and easy to read, and for a historical that is highly impressive. I just quickly breezed through this story and it was so wonderful to see this author really delve into this one here. I absolutely adored the way that this author grew this story and the romance was so endearing. I found myself just wanting these two to find their way together in their marriage. I also enjoyed the set up of the heroine saving the hero from a mental hospital where the hero was struggling with a opiod addiction and my heart just broke for the hero and seeing him work his way through healing over the death of his family. The heroine was so talented but intelligent. She understood emotional trauma and how it can damage one's psyche. She was able to assist the hero in facing his fear so they he could get on the road to healing without having to tear him down. I respected the way that the hero wrote this hero. It was so well done. I can't wait to explore the previous books and seeing the author build the other books as this story just felt so right for me.

Desire The Night was a audiobook that I was highly looking forward to. I will be honest in that I adore Amanda Ashley as she writes highly atmospheric paranormal romance. This was the perfect listen for Halloween and I adored some elements to this story. The hero is a alphamellow, there is a villain of a mix of power hungry wolves and a witch, and then we have a forbidden theme to the romance. I absolutely adored the way that the plot developed in the story and there is a LOT that is packed into this story and I don't want to reveal to much to reveal too much of the plot here. I will say that my one major frustration with the story was the heroine. I have to say that she was extremely annoying. I just wanted to DNF this book and I almost did. In the first half I really liked her with the hero, I thought that they have a strong connection, the steam was solid and I felt like it was going to a good place. However the minute she gets back to her pack and culture, I just wanted to shake my head at her. She was so weak in the face of her father and fiancee. She just wouldn't stand up for herself at all and I just couldn't stand her. I have read plenty of heroines that aren't super strong in the traditional sense, or even doormat heroines. But this heroine was such a coward and just wouldn't say no. I mean she understood her pack, her father and their laws. So why again did she return to them when it was obvious she knew what would happen but just walks right into it. I just couldn't understand her character much and just about ruined the story for me. If it wasn't for the hero and having the desire to see him have his HEA, I wouldn't have stuck with the story.

This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance

This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.

First Impressions
Gothikana is a standalone that was written by author: RuNyx. I have to say that this book is one of the most popular gothic romances that I have ever seen. In fact, if you search for gothic romance anywhere, this book will be at the TOP of every single list (trust me I have looked) This is an author that I have seen all over bookstagram but hadn’t yet picked up. I had this one put on my list to read for Halloween because I knew that it would have the perfect Gothic-like vibes, I mean all you have to do is look at the cover and you can already sense the vibe. I have to say that when I picked this up, I was instantly sucked in the atmosphere of the story and the world-building, very quickly you will see why it’s known as such a great gothic-feeling romance. It has so many spook vibes within the story and I was so impressed with how this was written. I also enjoyed the style in which the story was written here.

Summary
The story sets off with our heroine, who was raised by a mother who homeschooled her, worked with the magical arts and tarot cards, and kept her isolated. Her father passed away when she was young. Corvina is twenty-one years old, her mother is now in a mental hospital, and she surprisingly receives a letter from a mysterious university of Verenmore. The University of Verenmore is a secluded university up high in the mountains, with much mystery surrounding it. When she arrives, she quickly makes friends, but there is a lot of intrigue and murder surrounding the mysterious deaths of past students and a professor that seems to have an aura of mystery and darkness itself. Corvina doesn’t expect to feel so drawn to Vad Deverell, but she knows that there is something more to him than meets the eye. Their relationship is considered to be forbidden, but their bond is magnetic, but with the darkness closing in around them, who can they trust and who is the one seeking to cause these disappearances and cultivating the fear and the mytery in the history of the university?

What I Loved
Gothikana is a story that you won’t expect, and it was just the right kind of book to read on Halloween. I can’t tell you how much I adored this book. It was also everything that I could have hoped for and more. Its also definitely worth ALL the hype surrounding it. I absolutely adored this book in all of its glory. I couldn’t seem to put this one down, and read it in one sitting. I have to say that its PURE GOTHIC ROMANCE. There aren’t many books that have such an atmospheric vibe, but this book emulates it in such a perfect way. I can guarantee that you won’t regret picking this one up. From the mysterious deaths, to the spooky forest, the fog like atmospere around the mountain where the University resides, and the never ending mystery surrounding the hero, you will eat this up like the best catnip. Gothic romance is one of my favorite loves in the genre, and unfortunately there isn’t that much of it. But Gothikana is the perfect representation of this theme and I was hooked so much within this story. I also was intrigued to see where the author was taking this story.

The romance itself was so addictive and so forbidden. It does have the professor and student type of forbidden feel to the story. It also has such fascinating characters that are brought into the relationship. I found the heroine so relatable, her character is unique and packed with spice. She has a softer vibe to her personality. She is more reserved, but also isn’t afraid to stand on her own when its needed. She has this vulnerability that is contagious and you are seemingly so drawn to her so quickly. Then we have our hero who has so many depths to his soul and you just hold your breath every single time that he enters the scene. I was so hooked in his character and wanted to know all of his secrets. But even when much of his past is revealed, I felt like we just scratched the surface on the scope of depth that his character is capable of. Then we have the overall relationship that is focused on between these two. I was so in tune with these two and wanted them to find their HEA but I knew that they would have to go on this journey together in discovering what their bond was capable of and the friendships they cultivate along the way. This story was simply stunning and kept my attention all the way through. I just didn’t want to put this grativating read down and just wanted more. It was so easy to be caught up in the details as the author so vividly portrayed every moment so well and in such a way that you yearned for it to never end.

What I Struggled With
There wasn’t much that I truly struggled with, I don’t think it’s quite a five-star read, but it’s more than a 4 star for me.

Overall View
Gothikana ended up being a gold star read of a romance, it was addicting, so craftily penned and beautifully pictured in the atmosphere that will only addict the reader instantly to it! AN SPOOKY GEM TO SAVOR!

The Lotus Palace was such an solid romance and I am so glad that I finally took a chance on this author. I have had this book and this author on my watchlist for almost a decade, but when I saw some book friends really enjoy it recently, I became in a mood for this one. I am glad that I finally picked this one up though, I have loved seeing the covers from this authors books, the publishers do so well with it. I love that this was set in historical tang dynasty of China. I feel like this is a setting we rarely see. (although my high school had some historical fiction romances set in China which was neat)

The Lotus Palace is a mystery romance and has a bit of a forbidden taste to it as well. The heroine, is a servant to her sister who is a concubine. But she falls for an Aristocrat's son and there relationship is forbidden where marriage is concerned. This is historical China, and we get quite a bit of historical culture and references which will be tough for some to see. But I am happy that this author chose this type of dynamic and to see this portion of the culture of the Tang Dynasty culture. It was so vividly portrayed.

The romance was very beautifully done and I was very intrigued by the mystery that they solve together. I was intrigued to see where the author was taking this one and how our pair would find a way to their HEA but yeah she made it work in a believable way. Now this one didn't quite make it to a five star read for me, to be honest I couldn't quite connect with the romance fully. I am not sure if it was a "me" thing or an element ot the writing style. I will read more of this authors work and maybe try it in audiobook to see what her other works are like.

Overall I fell deeply entrenched into this beautiful read and eager for more from this author!

Finding It was such a charming read, and I had such a fun time with this one. I will say that the narrator did a great job in really portraying the tone of the story so well. So I am glad that I read this one is audiobook. I loved the way that this story was written and the last thing that I expected was a road trip adventure. These two meet originally while traveling abroad and I found their beginning interactions to be so endearing and fun. They begin traveling Europe together and I really found it to be so much fun. Road Trips don't always work for me, but Cora Carmack did such an intriguing job with this one. Now this story while fun and likeable, didn't exactly wow me but it was a fun distraction to listen to!

I had so much hope for this installment, as the series as been building into this. I should have realized how much I really don't like this author's endings, they never satisfy me much. I had some issues with this one and most of it had to do with the ending, I really did NOT like it at all. I just really felt for Poe, her character just didn't seem fleshed with the other characters. I mean its technically a menage about three of them, but the focus is really more focused between the two males in the trio and not all three of them which I found disappointing. The chemistry and feels in the story are super solid which is what kept me going with this, because I wanted to see how things get resolved with the pairings. However, the ending is what I really did not like at all. I won't share what the ending is, but it's more of an unconventional HEA. And to be honest, the reason I read romance is NOT for unconventional HEA's haha while I appreciate what the author was trying to do here, it just didn't work for me and kinda made me angry haha I really should have read the ending first. (she did something similar with her other menage romance). But the one character out of the six friends, Beckett gets the short end of the stick. I wanted him to find something great and it just doesn't really happen for him much and felt unsatisfying. But in the future I will be reading the endings of this author's book so I am prepared.

Overall while I had high expectations, this book still left me with lots of feelings and an intense range of emotions. This author definitely knows how to write a story you can connect to, and I adored the gothic feel of the world-building. Definitely was quite a journey this series took me on and am glad that I picked them up.

Tattered Stars is the first book in the "Tattered and Torn" series. These books have been all over the romance community and so this author is definitely making the rounds. I was nervous because I didn't know if it was worth the hype. I know some people are comparing these books to Devney Perry, but honestly, I feel like these books are closer to Jennifer Ryan style. As this author tends to deal with some emotional and/or mental struggles mixed with small towns and suspense. Now these books are less western than Jennifer Ryan, and just small town like as its set in Eastern Oregon.

I was really intrigued by the set up of these books here. and it was so fascinating to see the set up of these books. In Tattered Stars it sets off pretty quickly and will instantly pull you into the story. Where our heroine as a child, took a risk and rescued a innocent little girl her father had kidnapped and could have died. When she reported it to the Sherrif, her family turned on her. Now she has returned to build a animal sanctuary on her family's property. The sherrif is the brother of the girl she saved, but still blames her and her family for what happened to his family. But soon he begins to see her perspective and becomes the protector when her life is put in danger.

I was so fascinated by this story here, and I quickly fell hard for this book. Now it quite didn't make it to a five star read, but I was really fascinated by this one and I can see why this author is being so well loved. I am eager to explore the other books in the series. Now is it my favorite suspense small town books? Nope, Jennifer Ryan still reigns supreme on that. However, I really like how this author implements certain struggles that most authors tend to steer away from. The romance that developed into this one was so interesting and had me in my emotions so quickly. The setting was so well described and atmospheric and made me want to do a road trip to Eastern Oregon.

Overall I was all in with this story, and I can't wait to see what the author delivers in future books.

Trojan Crown is the second book in her "Crown Brothers" series and I was so happy to get back to this series. I am such a strong fan of this author and definitely want to support her as best as I can. She is one of the few authors that stands up for what she believes and doesn't care what others think that are more traditional I should say. What I love about her writing is that its super easy to get into these. I definitely found so much fun with this one and liked it more than the first book. It just seemed to have a bit more focus on the relationship aspect that I really liked.

I really liked how she took more time building up the sexual chemistry, I really enjoyed seeing more emotional focus on the relationship a bit more. I loved the child set up with the hero being a single dad and the heroine being a nanny. I was so drawn into the relationship so quickly and just wanted these two to find their way together. I adored the way that the romance was built up, and we do have some serial plot development that are happening with this one here. I also enjoy the writing style of this author. It just seemed to work so well for me. I wouldn't call this dark per say, but its definitely more taboo and closer to erotic romance. Now I am not a fan of daddy kink, so these elements I just skimmed over, because this kink just personally doesn't do it for me. But I know it has an appeal to certain romance authors.

Overall I found this one to be an intriguing read and I can't wait to delve more into the family here.

The Hero is the first book in the "Sons of Texas" series by Donna Grant. I normally stick with this author's paranormal works but every time I pick up a contemporary or suspense, they always end up resonating with me more. I was delighted to have found an audiobook for this one here. I have to say that I adored this one, now it didn't make it to a five star read, however, it made for such a solid listen. If you love audiobooks, then I can't recommend this one enough for you. I was so pulled into this story and it really takes off quickly. You won't want to put this one down. I really enjoyed the way in which this author implemented this story here and the ways in which she developed the serial plot. I was so intrigued to see where this one would go. And man it left me on the edge of my seat all the way through. I just adored the writing style in which the author had ended up writing this one. I was so drawn into the danger side of the plot and how our characters would win the day. But they do and its done so brilliantly. I also really enjoyed the second chance element to the romance. This is one of my favorite tropes and even though the reason they broke up oroginally just didn't seem too realistic for me, I just took it for what it was in the story and the author seemed to make it work for me for the most part. I was mostly intrigued about the suspense side of the plot, the romance was good, but I was really wanting to know about the plot line with the Russians and their dad and like crossing my fingers that the author wouldn't kill him off haha But I found that the way this side of the story was built was really well done and I can't wait to grab up book 2!!!

Huckleberry Spring was such a solid installment and I had so much fun with this one here. I absolutely adored this book so much. Its one of my favorites of the series so far. These books are becoming such comfort reads for me. They are inspirational romance but I am just loving it and it makes me want to read more of this sub genre, I just haven't read that much of it but sometimes its refreshing to pick up a spiritually filled read. I really enjoyed the way that this one was implemented.

This story was quite interesting, because at first you wonder what really is driving this couple appart. There isn't a feeling on what is actually going on in why the hero broke off the engagement. Its been a year, the grandparents hatch a plan to bring these two together. And there is a lot of pain on both sides, but you know that there is more to it than what the hero originally reveals. And when its revealed why he broke things off, then you really understand his side of it all. There is plenty of tension between these two as they work through their unresolved issues. And when all is revealed then your heart just breaks for him. But seeing the way this heroine, is so devoted to this hero just is so humbling. The way she is willing to fight for their relationship just was amazing. And this author is convincing me how much Amish romance is really working for me!

Overall I found Huckleberry Spring to be such an endearing romance that won my heart deeply and captivated me!