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

Introduction
Unhinged is the first book in the "Necessary Evils" series. I actually read this as an impulse random read which I like to do every once in a while. And what a wild ride this one turned out to be. I will be honest in that I absolutely adored everything about this book. And I see why so many love this book. It was so different especially for a MM romance, there was just something more to it than I normally receive in a MM romance. And I was all in for this. It was so interesting to see how this author was developing this world. And I was completely hooked into this one here. And you also never see MM romance in a dark romance so I really enjoyed the set up that the author implemented into this one here. I can guarantee this won't be my last Onley James.

Summary
Unhinged is a story that begins with our two protagonists: Adam and Noah. We see the beginnings of the family where the father, took in 7 boys who had been traumatized and would eventually be psychopaths and he wanted to nurture these elements to do some good for the world where he would train the boys to kill the worst of the worst of society that the justice system fails in. Adam is the youngest of the pack and killed the father of Noah, when Noah confronts him, he learns the truth about his father and all the trauma that he suffered as a boy that his blocked from him memory now and when it becomes apparent that his father wasn't the only culprit, he and Noah work together to bring them down while also building their relationship that is instant and strong...

My Outlook
This book, just left me completely speechless and I completely understand why so many rave about it. I absolutely loved this in every way and in fact is going to be one of my top favorite MM romances even. There was something so deeper in this book that just resonated more with me just as a reader. I love seeing diversity being represented, but this author does it so flawlessly and I have so much respect for how certain elements were handled in this one here.

If you just love dark romance and some stalking or some assassin characters ,then I highly recommend this one to you. I guarantee that you will fall in love with this one as I did. And all the laughs, I was so entertained by the writing in this one. But man did I swoon too. I just adored how Adam is all in for Noah even though he doesn't comprehend love or romance or relationships at all, he just sees Noah as his and thats all that matters and he will fight for him. We are also introduced to all of his brothers and man they are a HOOT!! Loved his father too because I think he just accepts Noah in a way that takes longer for the other to but loved seeing him test the waters with Noah, it was pretty entertaining and you just know that is such a "parental thing" haha

The romance itself was so endearing. We also see elements of BDSM both in the relationship but also some healing aspects to it which I always love seeing in a romance. You definitely will get a kick out of this one if you are a MM lover. Definitely encourage you to pick this up if you like these aspects in a story, I promise you won't be able to put this one down!

Overall View
I found Unhinged to be a delectable read that I couldn't seem to get enough of and was so fascinating in all the details, and need more to indulge in and soon!

Rating Evaluation:
Plot: 5
World Building: 5
Cover:5
Hero: 5
Hero 2: 5
Steam: 4
Heart & Feels: 4
Ending: 4
Overall View: 4.5 

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

Introduction
Lies and Lullabies is the first book in the "Hush Note" trilogy. I just love a good rock star romance and I have been meaning to get to this trilogy for quite some time. I really enjoyed the last trilogy that this trio author team did together. I had been told that this one is the best of the series, so I literally jumped into this one, with no warning and no research haha and boy did I regret that so much in this one. I want to say that I loved this one but I really didn't. And if it wasn't for the other aspects of the story and for the way Sarina Bowen can just pull me into a story, I am not sure I would have kept with this one. But I don't think this is an author I could ever DNF if I am being honest. I just enjoy how she writes her stories even if its a trope I despise deeply lol


Summary
The set up of the story is that Jonas and Kiri first met in Maine over the lake in the summer and they quickly became friends which ended with one night of passion. But Jonas hadn't left his contact information with Kiri. Now its been years later since they were together, four years exactly and Jonas has brought his band to this summer lake and runs into Kiri and is also faced with the fact that he has a daughter that he didn't know about. As he and his band are on tour, Jonas is determined to reconnect with Kiri and build a relationship with his little girl, but sometimes life can make it tougher than it should be...

My Outlook
Lies and Lullabies was an endearing read and despite the trope that I hate being in it, I still enjoyed the story. However, I really need to point out if a book has this trope written in this way, no matter how good the story is I will never five star it. I can't condone a heroine doing this and I do feel like she should have done more groveling than she actually did. But what I did like is how well fleshed out the hero was in his reaction and his anger. I do think he forgave her a bit quicker than she actually deserved because she literally had zero reasons why she wouldn't go to him for the truth. She could have contacted him and didn't. So even though I enjoyed the romance as a whole, the hero was awesome, adored seeing him build a relationship with his daughter, but I can't give this book a higher rating because of the toxicity of the heroine. I really wish that authors would stop writing heroines like this and condoning it and if they betray the hero in this way, then I do think they need to do a good long grovel!!! Now granted the hero wasn't all perfect either and he made his share of mistakes but that doesn't make what the heroine does okay. And I do expect more from heroines because they are capable of it.

Overall View
Overall while I enjoyed the story as a whole, it had some toxic elements that took the joy out of the story. But its a solid rock star read and eager to continue it.

Rating Evaluation:
Plot: 4
World Building: 4
Cover: 5
Hero: 5
Heroine: 2.5
Steam: 4
Heart & Feels: 4
Ending: 4
Overall View: 3.5

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

Introduction
Bound by Dreams is the fifth installment in the "Cauld Ane" series and wow has it been a long while since I have read these books here. But it was so wonderful to return to this world that this author has created. Now I do want to clarify that these books are also under a different author name, I guess the author decided to switch fully to her other pen name, but I don't like the covers so I am sticking with these, they just seem to resonate better with the stories themselves if I am being honest. So this story was so wonderful. It did have a couple of plot holes in the romance itself so there were parts that felt a bit rushed but overall was a solid fated mates romance. Its also one of those PNR's that doesn't fully feel like a PNR. It has a more contemporary feel to it with slight supernatural elements mixed in.

Summary
Charlotte Whitmore is a aspiring actress, she has just left a bad relationship and ready to take on someone fresh and new. When she meets a fellow actor, it seems to just work and feel normal again. But when she starts to hear a voice in her dreams, which is of the infamous drummist in a Irish band that she has been fangirling most of her adult life she thinks he can't be real. Until he enters her life and claims that they are mates. Niall knows that Charlotte is his mate, but he must first woo her and convince her they are worth taking a chance on. What starts as a steady friendship turns into something more, but Charlotte's past will come to bite them and soon they will be caught up in a family drama and secrets that neither of them imagined...

My Outlook
This story was so fantastic and highly entertaining. I am so happy that a fellow blogger was able to introduce me to these books here. So thank you Sophia Rose if you are reading this :P So I really loved this one because its literally our couple finding each other from their dreams. I love a good dream walker romance and this author handled this element so well. I do want to address my main issue with the story first before we get to the really solid workings of the book here. What I really struggled with was the heroine, she was a bit flakey when it came to relationships. Yes she is starting to date this fellow actor, but there isn't much spark just a nice attraction. But then her fated mate comes into her life, and they have been sharing dreams and she knows that there is more between them so what does she do? FRIEND ZONE HIM like girl you have been fan girling this man all of your adult life, your dream man comes into your life and wants to be with you forever and you friendzone him. It was just weird and then suddenly she was like lets mate haha There were just some of these relationship plot holes that didn't quite match up with the story. But once they got into the relationship than the rest of the story was super solid which is why its a solid 4 star read. Because even with my issue with the heroine being a bit flakey in the beginning, she does make up for it throughout the rest of the story. Now the hero was just delectable, I just loved him all the way through. We also have a bit of a mystery being introduced into this one and I can't wait to get into the next book so we can see who the 3rd sister is. Definitely intrigued to see where the author is taking this one.

Rating Evaluation:
Plot: 4
World Building:4
Cover:4
Hero: 5
Heroine: 3
Steam: 3
Heart & Feels: 4
Ending: 4
Overall View: 4 

 

So, this was a small snippet of a prequel, where we see our heroine that will be in the upcoming release and how she escapes a cult. So its short, around 50 pages or so, but it will helps you see the heroine's background and her vulnerabilities but also her strength and courage.

 

 Blaze Erupting was such a wonderful read and I absolutely adored it! It was phenomenal getting this little snippet into this world again. I also was so intrigued by the set up of the story which looks like it takes place chronically at the beginning or towards the beginning when Scorpius was first released and they had to deal with the beginning fallout. i really enjoyed this novella and I definitely want to read more of these 1001 Dark Night books.

Fans of this author and most especially this series will get a kick out of this one here. I actually adored seeing it all come together. I was really fascinated in seeing this story. I have really loved this book and this whole world that this author has created actually. Its so fascinating and its one of my favorite dystopian worlds that I have ever created. There is a great level of suspense and mysterious intrigue that is layered throughout the story. Now the romance is steam packed and I adored it. If you are a fan of alpha males, then this hero is really going to work for you. He is so badass and I love how he is with the heroine and her friends. He is so easy going in certain scenarios and its pretty funny actually all the bantering that happens even when they think he is the enemy.

Overall I found Blaze Erupting to be a stunning addition to a action packed series that just delivers all the way! 

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

Introduction
In Your Arms Again was such a wonderful diversion of a read and honestly I do think that Kathryn Smith is so charming to read. If you are looking for endearing, fun, and adventurous, then you definitely need to pick this series up here. This was also another pick for my Romanceopoly reading challenge. I have been behind on it and working on catching up on it. In this one, it was the prompt for "Courtship Row" which is any book with a clinch cover and I would say that this cover makes the perfect clinch. I had such a fun sweet time reading this one, and it was so low angst in some ways, and higher angst in others as well. It also had the type of love triangle that I actually enjoy and had a HEA for all parties involved. If you want to get away from those modern historical's, then I would recommend this one, it was just FUN reading it and easy to relax into.

Summary
The setup of the story, is that our hero, North, is a Bow Street Runner, and has made his services to the Ton for quite some time in being able to solve mysteries and bring justice to those harming those in the upper classes. But he has kept himself apart from the one woman he has always loved but is determined to let her live her life as she deserves. Octavia made a promise to her grandfather before he died that she would marry the man that he wanted her to be with and so now she is engaged. Even though she doesn't love him, there is a level of respect or cordial affection between them. When there are letters arriving to her home, her fiancee hires North to get to the bottom of it just in case her life ends up in danger. As Octavia and North work together, their friendship and more builds between them. But there are vows that were made and now they will need to determine if their love is worth fighting for or resign themselves to letting each other go for duty and past promises...

My Outlook
In Your Arms Again was such a delightful read. I actually found myself so endeared by this story. I was easily drawn into it. Now I will say that the middle sometimes would move a bit slow, but overall the story itself had steady pacing. I really fell hard for North and Octavia. This was such a sweet romance. And no I don't mean closed door, not at all, it has some decent steam to it, although its light in comparison to what many authors write today. There is such a sense of adventure to this story that I really enjoyed. This aspect is what I feel is missing in modern historical's these days. Kathryn Smith really delivered on building such an entertaining plot. I absolutely adored the friends to lovers trope in this one. You see how much they care for each other but haven't had a true chance to see what they can be together without family interference and now they are free to explore what could have been and it was so precious to see this grow between them. I honestly didn't understand though their need to not be together ...together. Like other than North's brothers, their family's are mostly gone and those that didn't want them to be together aren't around, so I felt a bit frustrated at times with how stubborn they both were in this regard. But the ending was satisfying and left me with a smile on my face!

Overall View
In Your Arms Again is a satisfying, witty, well penned historical that will deliver the heart and adventure any historical romance lover is seeking...

Rating Evaluation:
Plot: 4
World Building: 4
Cover:5
Hero: 4
Heroine: 4
Steam: 3
Heart & Feels: 4
Ending:5
Overall View: 4 

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

Introduction
Collision Point is the first book in the "Brute Force" series, and this is also connected to her "Elite ops" series, so if you have read that series, you will recognize some of the characters that enter this story. This book was one of my romanceopoly picks and I have to say having read some Lora Leigh this past week, I am quickly remembering why I fell so hard for this author and yeah she has a massive backlist that I need to start working on. I really ADORED this one, it had me laughing all over the place and the OG alpha overtones were so delicious here. I really liked the way that this one was built and yeah it kept me on the edge of my seat and I just loved it all the way through.

Summary
The set up of Collision Point is where we see our characters being in a relationship. In the prologue we have an intense scene, where the heroine Amara, has been kidnapped. She is then rescued by her fathers team and her bodyguard and lover Riordan, but when he is shot and almost dies, their relationship is grounded to a halt. Amara doesn't know why suddenly Riordan drops off the face of the earth or why her father doesn't believe that her life is in danger but she knows that she still has a enemy even if she has lost many of her memories. But there are secrets that those that love her the most are keeping from her, but when her memory returns, will Amara be able to do what needs to be done to keep Riordan in her life?

My Outlook
Collision Point was such a heartbreaking book at times. We get this intense prologue and then it skips ahead six months and so we have to see this couple that loves each other but are so distant from each other and learning to reconnect and find their way back together again with the added bonus of Amara not remembering much of what they had before except some flashbacks. I have to say I adored both of these characters. There is something so addicting to how Lora Leigh writes her characters and I just couldn't get enough of these two here. Especially in how the hero is so alpha and all the STEAM. If you love a good level of spice in your romance, then Lora Leigh needs to be on your list!!! Her books are so wonderful in writing these elements and they just have such OG feels to them that just pulls you in. My only complaint on the story is the narration and how the hero's dialogue was handled, it was awful. But eventually I stopped noticing but yeah his voice tone wasn't done quite right. The plot of the story really keeps you on edge from beginning to end and its built so well throughout the story to keep you on edge and keep you guessing on who the true villain is and when its revealed oh boy its dramatic but AWESOME!! haha Lora Leigh really put some shockers in this book that seemed to really work so well for me.

Overall View
I found Collision Point to be such a delightful intense, keep yourself buckled in because this one will be one wild ride of thrills, sexual tensions, and love winning over all!!!

Rating Evaluation:
Plot: 5
World Building: 4
Cover:4
Hero: 5
Heroine: 5
Steam: 5
Heart & Feels: 5
Ending:5
Overall View: 4.5 

 This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance

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

First Impressions
Mile High is the first book in the “Windy City” series. And I absolutely adored this book. I haven’t seen in too much in the blogging sphere, but I have seen it quite a bit on instagram and booktube. So I thought if you aren’t aware of this book, to MAKE YOU AWARE!!! Because if you love contemporary sports romances, then this book needs to be on your bucket list! But I will warn you this book is LONG at over 600 pages. So just fair warning its a big tome here, however, if you like Mariana Zapata and how she handles length, then this one will definitely work for you. I think what really drew me to this one and just gave me what I needed was the character growth and most especially the relationship growth. At first I was like is this book going to be worth that length? I can definitely say that it most definitely is worth the length, once you read it, you will see why and why its needed and I feel like the author really fleshed all the aspects out fully which made it such a satisfying romance!

Summary
So the story begins when our main characters meet for the first time, which is on their first flight together. Our hero, is a professional hockey player for Chicago. He has been playing hockey for over 20 years and knows what he loves and embraces it. He and his best friend who is captain of the team, are the dynamic duo. His best friend plays the contented husband and father and family man. While Zander plays the playboy to the media, taking home a different girl every night type of man. Its mostly a prop, as Zander plays an image that isn’t even close to who he truly is and he is getting tired of hiding who he really is. Then enters our heroine, Stevie. Stevie is a curly haired curvy woman who will tell it like it is and isn’t afraid to be bold and daring with Zander and tell him like it is. She is the flight attendant for the team’s plane, so they will be in close proximity together for the season and also she is forbidden to even ‘touch’ any sport player. But bit by bit, Zander is intrigued by Stevie, and only wants to dig deeper into this beautiful woman that he can’t stop thinking about. But while Stevie is worried about her job and making sure she stays in Chicago so that she can stay close to her brother who is also a pro player, she also knows that whatever is building between herself and Zander is powerful and worth fighting for no matter the backlash, the key is Zander fighting for the woman he loves when it matters most…

What I Loved
Mile High was such an epic feeling romance! This story will always have my heart! I know that I won’t be able to express my true feelings on what this book delivered for me. It was just so endearing and beautiful and fully fleshed out in a way that delivered such a satisfying story of Zander and Stevie. I absolutely adored these two together. This is also a interracial romance (if you are wanting to go after diverse romance, then this will check off the book and I believe book 2 is a black romance so I can’t wait for that one and its BASKETBALL) But lets get back to my read of Mile High. Mile High is such a fascinating book because it has such beautiful pining especially from the hero. Now a pining hero isn’t what got me to this book, it honestly was the sports aspects of this. I haven’t read much sports romance if I am being honest, and I had heard this is one of the best ones that has ever been written. I can safely say that is completely true! This book will reign supreme for a sports romance read. What sometimes I miss in sports romances, is the lack of focus on the sport itself. Now I love a good romance, but the point of a sports romance, is to see the “sport” being focused on and Liz Tomforde handled this aspect so well. You really see the true honest side of being a professional sports player, with working with a agent especially one that clearly doesn’t have your interests in mind but also the battle with contracts and finding a team you just “click” with. I loved the bromance between Zander and his best friend. They were so wonderful together and you could see the found family aspects in this one. We also see how on the side of Stevie, she is learning to accept herself and who she is. Zander really kicks this in action the most, but you also see her own journey in setting healthy boundaries with her parents especially her mother who demeans her career and goals in life. And man I related to this so much. I saw so much of myself in Stevie in some ways. And I absolutely loved her twin, so I can’t wait for his book in “Right Move”.

The romance that develops between Stevie and Zee was so precious. The way that they just slowly see the deeper sides of each other and connect on a almost spiritual level in their most intimate moments was the kicker for me in this book. I just couldn’t get enough of their couple time on the page, and there is definitely plenty of that. And the way in which they slowly learn to fight for each other and just see the vulnerabilities and fight for each other within those vulnerable moments is what really makes this such a powerhouse of a romance. There is a sense of realism in how their relationship is built with each other. I absolutely adored their moments in how they see the good always in each other but never judge the bad but have such sole acceptance was so beautiful and poignant. This is a story that will deliver in all the feels and satisfy all your romantic needs for a story. I guarantee this one is worth it and can’t recommend it enough!

Overall View
I found Mile High to be a stunning portrayal of a sports romance that brings together the beauty of the sport and the depths of love and connection in a truly balanced intimate way that will take you high into the sky of learning the importance of family, self worth and your romantic mate!

Rating Evaluation:
Plot: 5
World Building: 5
Cover:3
Hero: 5
Heroine: 5
Steam:5
Heart & Feels:5
Ending:5
Overall View: 5
 

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

Introduction
Better When He's Brave is the final book in the "Welcome to the Point" trilogy. I absolutely loved this book so dearly and really the whole "Point" books are spectacular. I just couldn't get enough of this one here. There is something about how this author has written these books that just appeal to me so much! I love the way that these books are edgy contemporary romances. They are borderline dark romance, but I wouldn't necessarily call them straight out dark romance or even contemporary romance, its like the marvelous in between of the two sub genres. Better When He's Brave is a story of enemies to lover and forbidden love. Its not straight out enemies to lovers persay, more like they are on opposite sides of the tracks, and the heroine is needing to be redeemed and everyone around them doesn't want the hero and heroine together. But its so well done. But if you can, read these books in order.

Summary
Better When He's Brave is a story of Titus and Reeve. Who have building intimacy growing between them. But Reese has made some awful mistakes, that has caused harm to some innocents and she has come back to the point to redeem the past mistakes and bring the true villain of the story to justice if she can. Titus is a police detective and he is determined to bring down their enemy who also happens to be connected to his family who has a vow of vengeance. So he joins forces with Reeve to bring him down but as they work together, something more develops between them.

My Outlook
This book was so fantastic! I just love this book and how the romance was developed. Unlike most darker books, this does not feature a antihero, but a anti-heroine! I actually don't remember Reeves that much from the previous books, since I read the first two books quite a while ago. But as you read throughout this story, you get familiar with what happened in previous books. As she doesn't have too many friends, but we also see a connection to Honor and Nassir's book which was so much fun. As we see what drives Honor away from The Point. But the focus of the story is what is building and has been building between Reeves and Titus. I just loved seeing these two find their way together and especially in seeing our heroine go about redemption. Now I was a bit confused about the heroine. Because the first half of the story she keeps thinking about this secret plan she has but nothing really happens with the secret plan so that was a bit confusing and didn't make sense to me. I am definitely excited to explore more of this author because I have just loved everything I have read from this author!

Overall View
I found Better When He's Brave to be a fabulous installment that won my heart quickly! Its a story of personal redemption, rising above how others view you, and doing what is right when it counts the most.

Rating Evaluation:
Plot: 5
World Building: 5
Cover: 5
Hero: 5
Heroine: 4
Steam: 4
Heart & Feels: 4
Ending: 4.25
Overall View: 4.25 

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

Introduction
Darker After Midnight is the 10th installment in the "Midnight Breed" series. I really was so excited to get back to this series. This was part of a romanceopoly pick and I am so happy that I was able to get to this one. I had forgotten how much I loved the world of the Midnight Breeds. I really enjoyed how this one was built and oh boy it kept me on the edge of my seat all the way through. If you are a fan of vampires, then I can't recommend these books enough especially if you prefer higher amounts of steam. The author definitely writes these aspects so well here. I do recommend reading the series in order if you can.

Summary
Darker After Midnight brings together Sterling Chase and Tavia Fairchild. Sterling Chase is one of warriors for the Order, which is a cadre of Breed warriors that are determined to stop the plans of Dragos. But when he sacrifices himself to help his brothers when their location is found by the authorities, he then meets Tavia who is much more than she seems, but she also has ties to Dragos that she is unaware of. When Tavia finds herself kidnapped by Chase, who is determined to protect her but when truths are revealed about Tavia's true identity, their world will shift and the evil machinations of Dragos will be escalated and only by them working together can they work on bringing him down...

My Outlook
Darker After Midnight, is such a fantastic book! I absolutely had so much fun with this one. It definitely contained the best spooky paranormal vibes that I was looking for. It was also fun to get back to the series and all my favorite characters again and you can bet I will be returning to this series soon as I had forgotten how much I enjoyed the writing style of this author. It was so intriguing to see how the author built up the story. I just loved it so much. I also was so intrigued by the way the author built up the plot of the book. This book really escalated the evil plans of Dragos and I can tell you it gets INTENSE in this book! Whew boy! I absolutely loved how well the author wrote these elements and how much it raises the tension and climax in the story but the way that the story actually wraps up was just right! And I am intrigued to see what happens with the heroines in the next upcoming books. The author built this story just right to make me want to read more right away!

Overall View
Darker After Midnight
Rating Evaluation:
Plot: 5
World Building: 4
Cover:4
Hero: 4
Heroine: 4
Steam: 4
Heart & Feels: 4
Ending:4
Overall View: 4