Yes, things happen and stakes are raised every now and then, but overall, I was mildly struggling to keepFor a not so long book, this felt very long.
Yes, things happen and stakes are raised every now and then, but overall, I was mildly struggling to keep interested. The pacing of this was much slower than book one.
Thankfully, the bickering between FMC and MMC remains, and I really enjoy the absolute obsession MMC has for FMC. I wish there was more romance to substantiate the feelings FMC had for MMC (and I would've liked a LOT more groveling from the MMC), but I still enjoyed this for the most part!
Side note: this is breeding kink but as in actually get pregnant and have my babies. Cream pies with repercussions. ...more
There's just something about a sports omegaverse that brings joy to my cold, dead heart.
Add in a little bid of a forbidden flair, a bit of a rivalry,There's just something about a sports omegaverse that brings joy to my cold, dead heart.
Add in a little bid of a forbidden flair, a bit of a rivalry, and some mishaps and we're on the right track.
Main Characters round up: Sloane - LOVES being an omega and goes after what she wants. She's the coach's daughter and social media handler and is to be OFF LIMITS. But that doesn't stop her from pursuing the defenseman she's had her eye on for ages. And then the guys (from my fave to least fave): Ethan - I've said it before and I'll say it again, I love the Betas Sarah Blue writes. This one is the team mascot, has a shitty past but a heart of gold and a menace to everyone. He's the omega whisperer and the best. Max - Something about a sad playboy reformed makes me warm inside. I adore him, his insecurities, and the way he wants to belong SO bad. Bram - I am conflicted. Sure, he's a noble man, but I WANTED TO SHAKE HIM SO BAD. The way he refused to admit or work through his hangups was annoying. Sure it was in line with his character and pride, but doesn't make it less frustrating.
Storywise, I think the writing could've been more refined and that this was a touch more shallow than I would've liked. I personally would've liked more character depth, relationship development, and so on and so forth. It felt like the auxiliary plots were just floating in the background. I recall confusion as to who was who in the Applegate pack proper, the social media tasks were thrown to the wayside, what did Ethan end up doing at home outside of being a kept Beta? Family dynamics for the Alphas. Outside of Dave, and that Sloane had a pack family, I felt unfulfilled.
Smut wise, don't shoot me, but I think starting off hot and heavy so early didn't help the whole ~forbidden~ storyline. I think there were three scenes before the 30% mark and while that's on brand for OV, I would've enjoyed more tension. Things didn't really pick up for me regarding spice until the locker room scene and then ETHAN AND HAS HANDS. SHOOKETH.
Also I WANT MORE BRAM/MAX SCENES LOL. How did their sexual relationship evolve? Was there ever any bottoming? Curious minds like to know.
Overall, I was entertained but this does not beat out Don't Puck With My Heart. ...more
The way I read this in less than a day? I was HOOKED.
Rockstar meets omegaverse why choose meets slowburn goodness. Add in childhood friends to loversThe way I read this in less than a day? I was HOOKED.
Rockstar meets omegaverse why choose meets slowburn goodness. Add in childhood friends to lovers, second chance, and some possessive men? Ugh, fantastic.
Basically, FMC is a foster kid, grew up with three guys she ends up loving. They age out before her, leave to LA to pursue music, and promise to come back for her after she ages out. Two years go by. Radio silence. FMC runs away her 18th birthday, heart broken, and finds herself working at High Roller. She only has one client, a hunky alpha who's starting to get attached to her, but one day, the three alphas of her past are at her workplace. In comes a kidnapping and revealed relationships and shenanigans.
This was so freaking entertaining. I don't know what the author put in this but I couldn't put it down. There's MM/MMM action, two of the four guys are ACTUALLY HALF BROTHERS, and by the end they scheme with each other and it's great, and I genuinely enjoyed it so much.
My main gripe is the third act conflict and how there was just a touch too much yelling, but everything else was super fun. Would definitely recommend this one for a good time! ...more
That epilogue has my heart feeling so full! Saint is definitely my favorite from this whole cast of characters. This just proves that Betas are some oThat epilogue has my heart feeling so full! Saint is definitely my favorite from this whole cast of characters. This just proves that Betas are some of the best in OV haha.
Other than that, this was a step up from the first book, but still did not deliver where I wanted it to.
Why have a side plot if it's resolved in a few sentences? How unsatisfying. Then there's the chaotic way the story unfolds. I would've loved if this was streamlined more, if the characters had more conviction, and if the train was actually written out. (I'm a whore, bite me).
Smut makes up half of this and was alright. Double pen all day everyday in this one.
I just left this duet feeling unsatisfied :c The parts were all here, I like the type of characters, but the execution was not it. ...more
It's what I always wanted, what I always dreamed about. A rough biker who's only sweet for me but treats me like his property at the same time.
DidIt's what I always wanted, what I always dreamed about. A rough biker who's only sweet for me but treats me like his property at the same time.
Did I mention this is a stepbrother, MC (motorcycle club), why choose, angsty omegaverse?
This book didn't give me what I wanted, but what I NEEDED.
My heart feels full, I may or may not need to change my panties, and my obsession with this author has grown that much more.
Sarah Blue makes a note that this is much darker than her other works (still not dark romance though!) and I agree. The highs go high and the lows really swooped down there. The road to the HEA was turbulent but oh so rewarding.
Lily is an omega and cam girl, streaming in order to squirrel away funds for a safety net in case pack life treats her as poorly as it did her own mother. She lives in a MC and she loves it but her stepdad, aka the Prez of the MC, wants her to find a pack away from the club. But what if she's drawn to some club members? Like the flirty beta and new members that happen to include an alpha with a dark side and her very own broody stepbrother.
Secrets unravel, the heat gets turned on high, and shit honestly hits the fan.
I really enjoyed the way this story was told. There was time spent setting up the characters and club dynamics before building upon relationships and furthering the plot. Even after the climax, we get to wind down and actually see some of the aftermath and spend time with the pack as they do pack shit. It's an indulgent and rewarding reading experience.
The only drawbacks for me: I felt like some ends were left untied (Marielli's Mass fallout? what about Kurt's price on her? etc. I don't mind the unresolved friction between characters because I HOPE that means new books for them!) and I would've loved a touch more relationship building, but my concerns didn't affect my enjoyment all too much. Lily does end up freezing during the climax of this, which I don't LOVE, but her reaction is in line with her upbringing and the kind of omega/woman she is, so I will also not hold this against her.
Other than that, Sarah Blue's betas always end up being my favorite in her OVs, I don't know how she does it haha. And the DIRTY TALK HAD ME ON MY KNEES. Oh! And there's a cameo from Omega's Obsession in here!
Overall I adored this. Rating 4.5 rounded up to 5!
I received an arc of this book however all thoughts are my own...more
I cannot believe this was written by a debut author. This was so freaking good!
Sweet, charming, fun, and playful, I adored this so much! I thought itI cannot believe this was written by a debut author. This was so freaking good!
Sweet, charming, fun, and playful, I adored this so much! I thought it was well paced and written. Don't worry, horny OV lovers, the smut is doled out with a heavy hand, but not to the point where it's overwhelmingly gratuitous. I really appreciate that the author didn't feel the need to write out every sexual encounter that transpired between the characters. That allowed for consistent relationship development and when there WAS a smut scene, it helped further along the story.
The story starts off quite dark: the FMC was bonded to a pack against her will and we spend the first few chapters seeing the abuse before she thankfully gets herself out of that situation. We jump forward a couple years and the FMC's in recovery after dissolving her prior bonds. She's in school, not looking to get involved with any alphas or packs anytime soon, until her physician tells her her suppressants' efficacy is waning and her heat's coming.
Right from the get-go, I felt a kinship with Juno as well as the other characters. Her excitement for stationery? Her very relatable reaction to lactose? Julian regretting not paying attention to his Chinese classes? And those are just in the first few chapters.
Then there's a chance encounter with an alpha with a scent that's enticing like no other and the careful budding relationship between Juno and the members of Pack Rivera-Gunnarsson. What follows is the sweet mundane of casual dating and courtship. I feel like with a backstory as harrowing as Juno's, she deserved to have this slow introduction back to being intimate with alphas. The rest of the book is spent building this foundation. There is no external conflict working against them until an unfortunate reveal happens at the end of part two. I think (and hope) this means for The Scent of Us: Part Two, it'll be Juno+Pack Rivera-Gunnarsson VS external conflict, instead of Juno in conflict with the pack itself.
Speaking of Pack Rivera-Gunnarsson, I adore them all! Issac's dominating and firm (while we know he's a softy) disposition, Everett and his acquiescence to Juno in the kitchen, Oliver's support and care, and Mile's playful openness. Not to mention the (re)introduction of Julian and Ari. There are so many strands of this relationship to build upon that I CANNOT wait to read part two!
Lastly, and most importantly, REPRESENTATION MATTERS. I am a huge lover of omegaverse and I'm so glad the author reached out to me to share that she wrote OV featuring an Asian FMC and Asian love interests. As I've said before, I related to them all so hard in different ways. I am so thrilled that this book exists and that there's more coming.
I genuinely highly HIGHLY recommend this to anyone that'll listen.
I THINK THIS IS GOING IN MY HALL OF FAME FAVORITES
"I would kill for you, and I have. I would do it again, every damn day. I’d turn myself inside ouI THINK THIS IS GOING IN MY HALL OF FAME FAVORITES
"I would kill for you, and I have. I would do it again, every damn day. I’d turn myself inside out for you. I would die for you. I don’t just like you, Sloane, and you fucking know it.”
Excuse me as I scream into the void over how much I LOVED this book! Quippy, funny, unhinged shenanigans. I've loved every serial killer Brynne has written to date and Sloane and Rowan are no exception.
I might even say Rowan's a Top Ten Book Boyfriend. (I LOVE AN OBSESSED MAN WHO'S RAVENOUS FOR THE FMC).
I used to think I wasn't a rom-com lover, but it looks like all I needed was two serial killers and the murder and mayhem that comes with their annual game. This was slow burn but so freaking delightful because we got to see the two get to know each other over the years. We got to feel that tension build to a crescendo, the pining that yanked on our heartstrings, the flirting that made our cheeks burn. AND DON'T GET ME STARTED ON THE SMUT. It was perfect. Not overwritten but still enough to make me pant (some of my fave kinks were used hehe).
The only drawback I have, and that's if I'm being super nit-picky, is that the story lulled a bit in the middle for me, but everything else? PERFECTION.
I CANNOT WAIT FOR THE SEQUELS. THESE KANE BROTHERS WILL BE THE DEATH OF ME. ...more
I stray further and further from the light with every sentient object romance I read.
and that's okay.
This was bonkers in the best way!
FMC inherits a jI stray further and further from the light with every sentient object romance I read.
and that's okay.
This was bonkers in the best way!
FMC inherits a jack-in-the-box from her late grandma, but lo and behold, a demon is actually trapped in it. There's a ton of manipulations, dream orgasms turned real life orgasms, murder, weird peens, and great dark humor. It's gorey, wild, and so out of left field that I never want to be right.
Highlight: when he first gets a human body, his dick is a coil lmao. Then after a few more sacrifices, it becomes this red, minty ridged phallus with a knot. Obviously a fun time.
I honestly cannot wait to read more by this author....more
I adore the cozy fantasy vibes in the first half of this! The way Belinda does embroidery and also happens to see magic as threads? So clever.
And theI adore the cozy fantasy vibes in the first half of this! The way Belinda does embroidery and also happens to see magic as threads? So clever.
And then the second half with the monster smut~ This wasn't as fast burn as I expected a smutty monster fucking romance to be, but still quite solid.
I didn't care for the rejected mates storyline to be honest. Maybe it's because I barely knew Jack enough to really feel for him, but I do very much enjoy a jealous mate finally caves because she's about to go hook up with another guy.
There's also cameos from our beloved gargoyles so that's always delightful. :) I don't know what I'm going to do with myself once I exhaust all the books in the Monstrous Matches series. ...more
If Lillian Lark writes it, chances are I will adore it.
This was short, sweet, steamy and an absolute delight! The author says she wrote this for fun If Lillian Lark writes it, chances are I will adore it.
This was short, sweet, steamy and an absolute delight! The author says she wrote this for fun to combat burnout and I feel like you can tell with how easy this novella is to digest.
There's humor in how self-aware the FMC is, tenderness with the MMC's circumstance, and just good ol' monster fucking.
Plus this was my first time reading oviposition :) And the MMC's dick has ridges, a knot, can lengthen into a tentacle like thing for ~egg implanting~, and has aphrodisiac cum. If I were the heroine, I too would pretend to be the MMC's blind date....more
Oh my fucking gosh. Lilith Vincent really popped off with this one. If you love unhinged men who have a single minded obsession for the heroine, an inOh my fucking gosh. Lilith Vincent really popped off with this one. If you love unhinged men who have a single minded obsession for the heroine, an intense breeding kink, and no reservations about shedding blood, pick this up NOW.
"You love it when I’m cruel to you, angel,” he seethes in my ear. “You love me controlling every little thing about your life. I’m the only one who can protect you. I’m the only one who gives a damn about you. Feel my cock? Feel those ropes? You’re so fucking protected.”
I'm swooning and s/creaming over this man. He's so full of red flags, you could see him from space, but that's just the way I like 'em.
Vivienne and Tyrant's story was everything! I loved the way it was told: from both POVs and different time lines--primarily from the present with a section from the past. There was so much squeezed in less than 300 pages and I feel like it was done really well. The characters were fleshed out, there's some twist and turns (see what I did there RE: Labyrinth lol), and just and overall great time. My attention was stuck on this book, I was enraptured.
This was brutal, balls to the walls batshit crazy, and I loved it....more
"Are you going to be a good girl and let your stepbrother in between those perfect thighs, or are you going to make me beg for it?”
LORD.
“Tell "Are you going to be a good girl and let your stepbrother in between those perfect thighs, or are you going to make me beg for it?”
LORD.
“Tell me you’re mine. Tell me how badly you’ve wanted your older brother to fuck you, mark you, and make you mine.”
Hold on, another:
“Good, I want you needy and wet. I want to give you everything. You’ll never want for anything with me, Luna. You want to come? I’ll make you come so fucking hard you can’t walk. You want a pretty dress? I’ll buy you ten. You want a new hobby? It’s yours...I’m going to treat you so good, baby. Give you everything you deserve. Let me?”
I love omegaverse, but omegaverse where two of them are step siblings?
Girl, I am on my knees.
Ian's mouth was filthy as fuck, James was precious, and Ezra was an absolute delight.
MMFMM, 2 doting alphas and 2 spoiled omegas? Say no more, I'm in.
I do wish we spent more time with Luna working at Lavender Moon and saw any repercussions of Ian whisking her out of her cage at work because that'd be fun. Also some of the character's internal thoughts got a bit repetitive, and the ending was a little rushed, but overall I very much enjoyed the ride.
This was quick, playful, and smutty, AKA classic Sarah Blue <3. ...more
“This is mine. Everything you have belongs to me, and no one gets to touch or hurt you under my watch.”
Fucking Daddy Jonathan has me on my KNEES.“This is mine. Everything you have belongs to me, and no one gets to touch or hurt you under my watch.”
Fucking Daddy Jonathan has me on my KNEES. I love this possessive, controlling, domineering man.
Read this duet if you want to read about spankings, throat holding, big dick energy and big packages to match, and a man obsessed.
Outside of the smutty dealings, I adored reading about the RES Kings and their wives. You can really see that the apple does not fall far from the tree.
The mystery aspect and mild twists in this one weren't as compelling, but that doesn't mean I wasn't tearing up when Aurora was saying her goodbyes in the third act.
I love seeing an stoic man slowly start to melt because of his woman. The way he was on her like glue and was looking out for her nonstop?! They were darling. My heart is SO full.
This is my least favorite set of books in the RINAVERSE so far.
On the bright side, book two was much better than book one. I didn't spend the whole bThis is my least favorite set of books in the RINAVERSE so far.
On the bright side, book two was much better than book one. I didn't spend the whole book confused as fuck, so that's a win. :)
Things and ~mysteries~ are revealed and explained, so that was a relief.
However, I think this duet didn't know what it wanted to be so it chose all the above. It starts off with the amnesia plot. Cool. Then it's a college bully romance with cheerleading and cat fights and girl gang. And then its blackmailing sexcapades and revenge? And then there's mafia shit?
All in the span of 500 pages collectively.
Soooooo yeah. With all those plot threads packed in, this was shallow and messy. I do think it's a nice set up for other couples, but it's a travesty on its own.
Rating: 2.5 rounded to 3 stars because I did quite like Asher. Also AIDEN CAMEOOOO. He calls Asher and then threatens him because Elsa asks about him lol. ...more
This book was ridiculously massive, but I will say I didn't find any chapter to be superfluous.
BWhat. a. ride.
Smut, fire. Story, solid, Dicks, many.
This book was ridiculously massive, but I will say I didn't find any chapter to be superfluous.
Building a relationship between four people takes a hefty chunk of bookish real estate, especially if you're expanding on the relationships within the relationship.
So while my wrists are suffering the consequences of my bingeing a nearly 800 page book, my heart is full.
This is character driven: it's all internal plot and relationship development, individuals working on themselves and with each other. If you're looking for external plots and conflicts, this would be not for you.
My main issue is with Rachel as a character. I really liked how she was portrayed in That One Night, but in this one, she was just missing that edge and confidence she had initially. (Also her telling her boss, to his face, that she's the way she is because of her zodiac sign was a what the fuck moment for me lol.) Ultimately she was just ~there~.
Jake and Caleb though? I was THOROUGHLY invested in these two. I LOVED THESE TWO TOGETHER.
And Ilmari, the dear Finnish man. He was a delight.
Men round up: Jake -- the himbo. we meet him in That One Night. has a bi-awakening for his best friend and DLP. he's a golden retriever and we love him for that. Caleb -- grumpy and angsty man with trauma. And a Jacob's ladder. and a dog!!! :))) has a daddy dom/degradation side. Ilmari -- probably my fave in terms of kink because the man just wants to breed her and I'm here for it. Any man who cream pies a woman and then pushes the cum back into her gets a gold star from me.
Overall verdict: It was fun, edges on cheesy at times which can work depending on what mood you're in and/or reader you are. Some of my favorite kinks are explored in this and I love that for me, and the characters, but mostly me. Also for the love of all that's holy, read this on an e-reader or something.
This follow up is so much more engaging than the first book so that's saying something.
We get MMC's POV in this and I think I absolutely adore this tThis follow up is so much more engaging than the first book so that's saying something.
We get MMC's POV in this and I think I absolutely adore this tortured man. The man can't help his instincts but is trying his best ;_; His humanity is coming through a little more but thanks to the experiments, he's still feral and growly.
FMC is a little less annoying in this one, but barely so.
I'm so curious to see where this is going to go from here.
Grab a warm beverage and your fluffiest blanket, because this shifter romance brings all the cozy vibes.
This is book two in the Ardelean Bloodline seGrab a warm beverage and your fluffiest blanket, because this shifter romance brings all the cozy vibes.
This is book two in the Ardelean Bloodline series and follows Lena, Cade (from book one)'s sister and pack Alpha Female. She's aloof, studious, and keeps her heart and secrets close to her chest. Her determination to keep everyone at arm's length wavers when in enters Finn, the ex-enforcer for an Irish pack. And surprise surprise, he's her mate.
We follow the two after they meet and the back and forth of Finn trying his best to court and reassure Lena that he won't leave her for any reason and Lena's relentless self doubt. I do quite enjoy Finn as a hero, I'm a big fan of the soft dom with a firm hand. Lena on the other hand, I see where she's coming from and why she's the way she is, but I am desperate for some character development.
I thought their dom/sub play would aid in her healing, help her open up and be more trusting, but it feels like with every scene, Finn falls further while she's holding the story back with her hesitations. I'm not saying we should have a case of magic dick/orgasms suddenly cure her of issues, but the way this was, it got a touch repetitive. I still felt for her but I was ultimately frustrated with her.
Outside of that, it's clear that the author has put a lot of thought and care into this series. The politics on the domestic and international front have been nicely developed since the introduction; all the characters are distinct and have their own thing going on; the world is fully fleshed out and quite robust.
Overall, there's a lot going on in this installment but it serves to be a nice way to escape for a while. This ends in a cliffhanger and I'm excited where this goes next and to see the two develop their relationship further.
Rating 3.5 rounded up to 4.
I received a free copy of this book from the author, however all thoughts are my own....more
So going into this, we're warned that the MMC is OTT J/P, right? Yeah, sold.
Add in dragon riding, omegaverse, and I'MThis was...not what I expected.
So going into this, we're warned that the MMC is OTT J/P, right? Yeah, sold.
Add in dragon riding, omegaverse, and I'M HERE FOR IT.
What you actually get is a cinnamon roll MMC and a whiny af FMC that annoyed me more often than not.
The former, I don't entirely mind, the latter I most definitely did.
Zabriel has the patience of a thousand suns for sure, I just wanted him to be more aggressive and demanding. Granted he was indeed over the top jealous possessive, I expected more alphahole instead of sweet alpha.
Don't get me freaking started on her. This homegirl had the biggest case of FMC denial I've read, she's the "I don't want to wear these nice dresses, I want to wear a maid's smock" type of chick and all she does is complain. This book could've been a hundred pages shorter if her repetitive thoughts were cut out. Zabriel lauds her stubbornness, but it wasn't a strong FMC stubborn, just a stupid stubborn. And the way she'd ice out Zabriel and refuse help? I JUST WANTED TO SHAKE HER.
Dragons were neat, the plot is meh, some Zabriel's lines were top notch.
Ultimately, I'm intrigued enough to read the sequels, but I wouldn't HIGHLY recommend someone read this.
Jess | jadecanread
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