theartsybookwitch's Reviews (393)

“He was my ruin. My reckoning. My utter destruction.”

Ok, but i am REELING from that ending, I am not okay.

I've been a fan of Beena's since I found her in 2020 with The Name of Red, and she just gets better and better with everything she writes.

Both Dahlia and Vlad go through hell, and when life forces them together, it creates something beautiful yet tragic.

Vlad does not deserve Dahlia at all. I felt he was a much better character overall, and more fleshed out. I fell in love with him from the first moment we meet him.

The background characters were what made Beauty So Cruel even better. I enjoyed meeting them and I hope we learn more about them all; Gabriele, Natalie and even Salvi.

I might be in the minority but i loved the differing point of views from Dahlia and Vlad's chapters; Vlad's in third person and Dahlia's in first. I enjoyed getting that kind of mysterious vibe from him even in his writing.

"I was his Doll, and he was my darkest fairytale."

An absolute must read for any dark romance, mafia reader

TW // rape, talks of foster care, abuse, abduction, language, assault, torture, bullying, mentions of sexual slavery, and violence.

"Two weeks; that's it. Just two weeks. Like a two-week one-night stand."

In the third installment to the Loves of Lakeside series, two complicated people who aren't looking for love fall into a sexy, steamy relationship. When feelings neither of them want to face come to the surface, which one of them will admit their feelings first?

I honestly just needed more of them! I absolutely loved the intrigue, the vulnerability and the love they have between them.

What starts off as a one night stand, turned into a two-week relationship that unbeknownst to themselves lasts a lot longer than forever.

Cecily is such a powerful women herself, and Lincoln is amazing. Their passion and vulnerability with each other was, I think, one of the best parts of their relationship. It was such a practice; they were that way with each other, only thinking it would be a short term thing. Little did they know, they were perfect for the other. They helped not only each other, but healed their hearts.

And Lawrence can just go away. He was such a jerk to Cecily, just the damage from him was enough to completely destroy her.

A quick, fast paced novella romance for any small town insta-love fan.

AND THE DOG IS OKAY.

" 'Do you often fly across the country to visit women you've only known for three months?' "

"He wasn't sure what or how it happened. Cecily wormed her way into his brain and took up permanent residence."

TW // sexual content, murder (off page), parental loss (past), emotional abuse, death (off page, referenced), divorce, fatphobia, dog gets hurt BUT IS OK (off page)

#katieandbrey #katieandbreypa #lovesoflakeside #mimifrancis #mimifrancisauthor #contemporary #romance #contemporaryromance #lovesoflakesideseries #standaloneseries #2022releases #2023reads #2023reviews

" 'You don't have to do this alone if you don't want to. Everything you've ever wanted is right in front of you. You just have to be brave enough to take it.' "

OUT DEC 31st.

Santa's Baby, a short and sweet novella in Bex's Carnal Expectations series, follows the relationship of Nico and Tinsley. Tinsley, a pregnant running away from the baby daddy, runs straight into a new town, full of charming and caring folks. That take care of her, that care about her, despite just a recent meeting. 

I am absolutely obsessed with their relationship, from the moment Nico sees Tinsley asleep on Candy's couch to the time jump a year later. My heart goes out to both of them, and seeing them heal together? It's truly a Christmas miracle, like Tinsley says. 

I think Nico is my favorite of the Carnal Expectations guys, followed closely by Logan. 

Do be wary of triggers going into this series. 

tropes // age gap (25 yrs), instalove

tw // sexual content, pregnancy, child abuse (past), sexual assault (past), alcoholics (mentioned), toxic family relationship, abandonment, emotional abuse (past), death (off page), parental death (past), foster care (talked about)

#bexdawn #bexdawnauthor #carnalexpectationsseries #romance #smut #holidayromance #2022releases #2022arcs #arcs. #arcreviews #smuttybooks #romancebooks #santasbaby 

"This is who I belong with, who I belong to, and who belonged to me."

Haley Tyler coming in hot with a Christmas novella that you will forever LOVE. Haley is my ride-or-die and I will love any book she writes. And Secret Santa is no exception. How anyone can pack that much into a novella is beyond me, but Haley does it so well.

Aiden and Danica work so well together, their dynamic is so well done. The way he knows from the start that he loves her, and is insta jealous of anyone else even looking at her. He takes care of her; despite her flaws, despite her inner monologue, despite everything. And when it comes to taking care of him? She comes in fast and saves the day.

I absolutely love Aiden and Dani, and I need more with them.

"Say the word and I'll give you the entire fucking world, Danica. Just tell me what I have to do."

tropes // daddy kink, age gap (20 yrs), office romance, virgin FMC, he falls first

tw // sexual content, emotional abuse, sexual harassment, self destructive behavior, self esteem / body image issues

#secretsanta #officeromance #authorhaleytyler #haleytyler #2022arcs #2022releases #christmasromance #smuttybooks #agegap #agegapromance #salvatorebrotherhoodmcseries #agegapromance #smut

"It's strange, being in the same vicinity as him, when all I can think about is that hot night we spent together."

Mix ugly christmas sweaters with cowboys and you get Snowed In.

Snowed In, a new Christmas romance novella, features Presley and Travis, both fresh off their respective divorces, meets at a bar and after a one-night-stand, finds themselves thrown into living together.

I absolutely loved their relationship from start to finish, and I need more of them.

"It's absolutely freezing, and all I want to do is go home and sit by the fire with my dog."

tropes // enemies to lovers, forced proximity, snowed in, insta-love

tw // sexual content, car accident (minor, no injuries), cheating (past)

#snowedin #mackenzyfox #dakotahfox #peachykeenas #peachykeen #holidayromance #romance #novellas #enemiestolovers #forcedproximity #blizzard #2022arcs #2022reads #2022releases