winecellarlibrary's Reviews (657)

I love the haunting, woodsy vibes of this monster shifter romance! Leena not only fears the Leshy, but she is certain that he is responsible for the disappearance of women and children from her village. Thrust into his world as a sacrifice, she can’t help but melt into his seduction. But not everything is as it appears, and their chemistry is exquisite. I really didn’t want this enemies-to-lovers romance to end! 

This review is also available on my blog: Wine Cellar Library

"Our eyes met, and the room descended into silence. It was as if time had come to a standstill, with neither of us able, or wanting, to break the intense connection we were feeling." (p. 80)

Spice Level:
🌶🌶

Tropes:
historical fantasy, MM romance, paranormal romance, vampires, Ancient Greece, Spartans, mentor/mentee romance, forbidden love, slow burn, LGBTQIA+

An impossible romance between a Spartan soldier and a vampire in ancient Greece

Set in ancient Greece in the 5th century BCE, Shadow & Ash: Bloodbound melds paranormal romance with historical fantasy. Amidst the growing threat of a Persian invasion, Kallian, a Spartan soldier, and his mentor, Aristion, must discreetly gather intel. When a kiss awakens a shared passion, Aristion pulls back. Despite their proximity, Kallian has not yet realized that Aristion is a century-old vrykolakas–an immortal Greek vampire. Aristion is hesitant to love a mortal, and while he could attempt to change Kallian, only one in fifty survive the transition from human to vrykolakas. With war looming and a forbidden and impossible romance growing, Aristion’s and Kallian’s lives and hearts hang in the balance.

Timoteu Montroig’s debut novel, Shadow & Ash: Bloodbound reimagines history with vampires living and working alongside mortals. Instead of being an ominous entity living in the shadows and enslaved to bloodlust, the vrykolakas are neutral, only striking against those who seek to destroy them. Focusing more on their superhuman abilities, the narrative casts vampires in a positive light. I appreciate that the fantasy aspect was understated, making the world-building feel more realistic. Everyone is familiar with the valor of Sparta, and the addition of vampiric fantasy to Spartan history is captivating. The historical setting and magical realism set this novel apart. I would love to see this book become a series! Shadow & Ash: Bloodbound is perfect for adult MM romance readers who savor a slow-burn, forbidden romance between a mentor and a mentee with a dash of the paranormal for flair. 

This review is also available on my blog: Wine Cellar Library

“What if…Markus or Elexus brought me back only to find that I was no longer the same person as before? It wouldn’t matter if it was something subtle or obvious. I still wouldn’t be me anymore, not really.” (p. 56)

A captivating, cerebral experience

Elodie’s husband, Markus, has a brilliant revelation following his wife’s car accident. Knowing he could have lost her that day, what if he could prevent that from happening? What if breaking-edge technology could facilitate immortality? Deeply religious, Elodie struggles to accept the implications of his research until tragedy strikes and she faces her own mortality. The Last Gods by Adam Brownlie follows Elodie’s journey through her groundbreaking entry into a science that will change humanity forever and explores the philosophical query of whether the soul continues when dying becomes a choice.

From the depths of grief, Elodie transforms not only emotionally, but physically–to the extent that one might argue that her humanity has been sacrificed in order to preserve her mind. Her flaws drive her actions, and even when the people she holds dear choose a different path, she struggles to let go. Although so much time passes in the course of the book, the logical progression keeps it from feeling too rushed. The Last Gods is an excellent fast-paced science fiction novel that will also appeal to fans of dystopian fiction. It is difficult to describe the book without giving spoilers–it really should be read knowing as little as possible about the plot for the best experience! 

This review is also available on my blog: Wine Cellar Library

First, I would like to thank the author and Torch Lit Ink for providing me with a free advanced review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

"Love. I love this little monster more than life itself. More than the sea of words in the dictionary could ever define. The reason for my life...is her. As peculiar as it sounds, I feel like Sleeping Beauty. Like, true love's kiss just woke me up. I'm Sleeping Daddy." (p. 117)

Spice Level:
🌶

Tropes:
literary fiction, psychological fiction, suspense, family, single dad, romance

An emotional story about a father’s love and healing the child within

Keith left home when it became clear that his mother would never leave his abusive father. Haunted by his past, he finally feels like life has turned for the better thanks to his wife Ella and the twin babies she carries. After a traumatic and devastating labor and delivery, Ella vanishes, leaving Keith a single parent. In order to heal, Keith must confront his tortured past and track down his mother, even if it means the demons of his childhood will be brought into the light.

This highly emotional story is a raw, intimate exploration of Keith’s thoughts and feelings. The reader experiences traumatic scenes in real time through the lens of anxiety, PTSD, and grief. Nicholas Westerfer’s debut novel, Sleeping Daddy is an intense rollercoaster of suspense and emotional turmoil, but at its heart, it is a story of a father’s enduring love. With a nod to Sleeping Beauty, a child’s love awakens her father from an eternal haze of depression, allowing him to embark on a journey to heal his heart and mind.

Please note: With many triggering subjects described in detail, the content warnings should be consulted before reading. 

This review is also available on my blog: Wine Cellar Library

First, I would like to thank the author and Hidden Gems for providing me with a free advanced review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

“I’m only going to kill one of them.” (p.127)

Lost in the wilderness–an entirely hopeless setting for this suspenseful thriller

What was supposed to be a refreshing backpacking trip in the wilderness of Montana turns into a nightmare. Under the threat of wild animals and rumors of a serial killer who preys on campers, little does Beth know that the real threat is in her own hiking group. When the GPS fails, the group realizes they are lost, and then her son and two other teenagers go missing. The brewing tensions boil over, and Beth’s secrets will take center stage in this suspenseful psychological thriller.

The sprawling Montana wilderness is the perfect backdrop for Robert W. Kirby’s The Breakdown. The absolute hopelessness of being lost and having no means of contacting outside help, compounded with teenagers who vanish and the fracturing peace among the hikers, makes for a desperately page-turning thriller. Beth’s anxiety attacks and the insertion of clips from a haunting interview with a depraved criminal add an additional layer of unsettling suspense, verging on horror. I read this novel in a single sitting. It is fast-paced, cleverly plotted, and nail-bitingly tense. 

This review is also available on my blog: Wine Cellar Library

First, I would like to thank the author, Grey's Promotions, Montlake, and NetGalley for providing me with a free advanced review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

“I’m intoxicated by him. Drunk. With every breath, I’m falling deeper into the spell he weaves.” (p. 184)

Spice Level:
🌶🌶🌶

Tropes:
romantic comedy, enemies-to-lovers, protective MMC, he falls first, slow burn, reverse grumpy sunshine, single mom, surprise pregnancy

He’s all in. He just needs to convince the matchmaker she’s met her match.

When Jane found out she was pregnant, the father left. She has raised her daughter, Londyn, alone, and hasn’t dated since. To get clients for her new venture, matchmaking, she goes out in a cupid costume, catching the attention of a playboy quarterback named Jasper. He proposes something she can’t refuse, even though she cannot stand him: he will try out her matchmaking service. The publicity her business would gain from his participation is too good to pass up. Jasper only has one match in mind, though, but Jane has Londyn–and her heart–to consider.

My Darling Jane by Ilsa Madden-Mills is a standalone within an interconnected series. It is a sweet romantic comedy, but unlike most rom-coms, this story is full of emotion. Both Jane and Jasper have severe abandonment issues, but Jane’s prevent her from considering a relationship. With Jasper’s estranged biological mother and Jane’s ex both trying to re-enter their lives, there is a lot of emotional turmoil. While Jasper is a star quarterback, I wouldn’t classify this as a sports romance; the book doesn’t explore his career. Instead, we meet the side of Jasper that the public doesn’t get to see: the man who stepped in to raise his twin teenage nieces. If the rest of this series has this much heart, I’d love to read them all!

Because the Audible audiobook of My Darling Jane is included with Kindle Unlimited, I was thrilled to listen to the book! I think it would have been better if it were performed as a duet, but the narrators did a good job varying their voices to reflect different genders when necessary.