I am so bummed that I lost over 80% of the annotations I made in the e-ARC that contained things I wanted to share with you all for this review. I donI am so bummed that I lost over 80% of the annotations I made in the e-ARC that contained things I wanted to share with you all for this review. I don't even know why or how it happened... Kindle do better.
Ryder and Kira's love story is one of those that you cannot put down. I was captivated from the beginning. It makes me sad I lost my annotations BUT it's an excuse to re-read this book, isn't it?...more
Elara and Tynan are brought together by Brody, Tynan's little cousin, and his ward. Brody's parents were involved in an accident a year ago [image] 3.5
Elara and Tynan are brought together by Brody, Tynan's little cousin, and his ward. Brody's parents were involved in an accident a year ago that left Tynan as his legal guardian. Elara is a new teacher in Brody's school (I don't remember if she's a recurring staff member or a substitute in the school). Brody becomes attached to her and starts smiling around her after being mute after his parent's death.
Tynan Quinn is the eldest Quinn child who will take his father's seat in their Irish mafia family when his father decides to step down... BUT because Patrick is old school: Tynan must marry before taking the seat. In two months. Since he sees how good she is with Brody he asks her to become his tutor... then he propositions her with marriage. To which Elara said no. Miss girl is NOT about to marry anyone without love.
But Elara is not everything she seems to be. She holds a secret dark past that follows her everywhere she goes even with a new identity. When Tynan finds out, he uses this as his way to get her to marry him... and have his children.
Max and Zoe's story was quite good. They have good chemistry. ATON is the third book in the series, a standalone. I'd say read her sister's boo[image]
Max and Zoe's story was quite good. They have good chemistry. ATON is the third book in the series, a standalone. I'd say read her sister's book (I think it's Knot Really Engaged) if you want to know how they met because ATON only mentions it. I got the jist of how they met so... idk you do you.
The thing that I loved about this book was the boy-obsessed trope, which has many other tropes that I enjoy. Max is down bad for Zoe. You can tell from the moment he's introduced. His POV is filled with how much he loves her. This man waited until she was single to make a move on her. Even through their banter text messages, you can tell he likes her so much.
Obviously, Zoe's taking her time to settle into her new life after a breakup and having to be the one to move out of the apartment. She's apprehensive about what Max may want from her and the multiple "one night stands" they share. Who's even surprised? LOL not me. If wasn't already sweet and attentive towards her, he most definitely was after she told him they'd have a baby. He was more than willing to talk to her about her options AND be present when they shared the news with her family and his.
[image] The Heartbreaker features Lucas' (Caleb's twin brother) and Sadie's stories. Both of them had backstories that, in their own right, had trauma [image] The Heartbreaker features Lucas' (Caleb's twin brother) and Sadie's stories. Both of them had backstories that, in their own right, had trauma that had stuck with them.
Sadie is the manager of the sex club owned and managed by Adam and Sage. She's also attending college as a business major with the hopes that she'd get to open her own club in the future. Things take a 360 turn when she ends up pregnant after a one-night stand and Lucas comes into her life as one of her professors.
Lucas has strong opinions - he thinks Sadie is a mess. Her being late to his class cements this thought for him. Even with all that, Lucas agrees to take her under his wing to help her get her life on track, especially with a baby on the way.
It's not long before the lines blur and this forbidden romance begins to burn. Lucas' need to be in control and Sadie's bratty energy was the perfect match.
[image] I enjoyed the book, it was a decent addition to this universe. It was a bit fast-paced and not necessarily 100% focused on the couple it was su[image] I enjoyed the book, it was a decent addition to this universe. It was a bit fast-paced and not necessarily 100% focused on the couple it was supposed to be about. There was a bit of miscommunication in this as well.
I liked that Evrin wanted to protect Tallulah from becoming a pariah because of him. He's a Shade that was born without horns and they tend to be looked down upon. She didn't care about that nor did she care that he was a guard. They both had a consensual no-strings-attached relationship. I was expecting the accidental pregnancy to be more in the plot but it wasn't.
They both felt safe with the other. So I'm happy they ended up together.
You guys, you don't want to miss this release!! Alwaah has outdone herself again. Helia and Ambrose had me on a chokehold. Their banter ha[image]
★★★★☆
You guys, you don't want to miss this release!! Alwaah has outdone herself again. Helia and Ambrose had me on a chokehold. Their banter had me cracking up. The slowburn is good, too! Helia is such an a-hole, and Ambrose is a brat. But, God, you'll fall in love with them.
Ambrose has been undermined by Helia. He's taken over Glamorous, her father's company. Her right as the eldest daughter. Helia does fire her and tells her she'd be back begging for a job. And she kinda does. He hires her as his secretary, and she makes it her mission to figure out how to get her company back. Despite their hate foreach other and him threatening to fire her every 5 minutes, Ambrose pushes back because she's still the (minority) owner of Glamorous.
Ambrose has a scarred past and is trying to make up for her past mistakes. We also see her trying to build up her relationship with her sister, Aurora.
They've gotten closer and the game has got even more dangerous. Good and bad continue to cross while evil reigns. Sapphire Scare starts where E[image]
They've gotten closer and the game has got even more dangerous. Good and bad continue to cross while evil reigns. Sapphire Scare starts where Emerald Bruises left off. It kept me on the edge of my seat all the way through. Henry and Ily face off new challenges and their feeling towards one another.
Henry's battle between good and bad continues to confront him and he spirals. There's so much about him that he struggles with -- things from his past that affect him even now. Ily tries to find ways to help him. Together, they find ways to keep each other afloat. Henry has turned back to his original mission on Victor's island.
I saw someone mention that this book was like the calm before the storm and, God, I agree. I was NOT expecting that cliffhanger. All of Victor's games have somehow left me speechless.
I don't think I've ever read a cowboy romance that was more on the dark side. Everything I've read has been more on the lighter side. The autho[image]
I don't think I've ever read a cowboy romance that was more on the dark side. Everything I've read has been more on the lighter side. The author said this was a Yellowstone meets 50 Shades but I'd say it was Yellowstone meet dark romance because 50 Shades had nothing on this. I saw nothing 50 Shades related in this apart from their contract but even nothing.
Gerard Sovereign becomes completely obsessed with his enemies' wife, Keira Garrison. She, herself, has found herself with an attraction to him from the moment their eyes met. Gerard makes it his life's mission to have her at any means possible. I'm not even joking the very next day, her husband Clint becomes a stampede kill (haha get it? road kill, stampede kill? lol, anyway...).
With the death of her husband, Keira meets her own challenges -- her late husband's brothers who are trying to steal what her husband left her. Everything. Gerard steps in to help her when things go awry on her land in order to keep her safe and to keep her.
[image] Okayyyy, okayyyy.... Brady Spade. He is grumpy but very protective. From the moment he laid his eyes on Lily he wanted her and did anything to [image] Okayyyy, okayyyy.... Brady Spade. He is grumpy but very protective. From the moment he laid his eyes on Lily he wanted her and did anything to get her. They were quick to fall in love, even though Lily has reservations because of her past. Her ex is a crazy stalker that just won't leave her alone. He attacks anything and everyone near her. Brady always made sure she was safe and felt free enough to be herself. He's been by far the sweetest Spade brother, imo.
This book took a turn somewhere and I loved it! I took a recovering period after listening to the audiobook because oooff *fans self*
Graves beg[image]
This book took a turn somewhere and I loved it! I took a recovering period after listening to the audiobook because oooff *fans self*
Graves begins with Zayden - the unhinged twin with blue eyes - obsessing and stalking his "angel," Blake. Blake has recently moved to Seattle and has felt something off in her apartment come morning. But things go awry when Zayden follows her home one night and fights off her would-be-burglar, which she doesn't notice anything of because she blasts music in her ears walking home to and from work. This ordeal sends him to jail where he's sentenced to 5 years. He enlists the help of his twin brother, Dominic (the one with the brown eyes) to watch over his angel. Little did Zayden know this would also bite him in the bum.
Because Dominic and Blake fall in love. Zayden gets fed up with his brother's radio silence. He pulls strings and those strings get him out of jail at around the 2-month mark. What he finds on the outside makes him more unhinged than he already is. The strings he pulled come with repercussions that cause trouble, not only for the twins but for Blake as well.
*this review is for both books as a collective whole*
I loved Remo and Aurora's duet. Their dynamic as a couple was great. I'm a sucker for[image]
★★★★☆
*this review is for both books as a collective whole*
I loved Remo and Aurora's duet. Their dynamic as a couple was great. I'm a sucker for angsty, arranged marriages and these two went through it. Aurora is such an it-girl. She's truly in tune with what she wants out of her profession as an artist and now her marriage with Remo. She's so sweet and her family doesn't deserve her.
Remo is said to be a morally grey person, more towards dark. We do see a bit of that dark cloud in book 1, more so in book 2, since Aurora is dealing with a stalker. Remo will do anything to protect her and we read about that in book 2.
Book 1 is lighter than book 2. The roles of who is fighting to make the marriage work have flipped slightly. Remo fights more for his marriage with Aurora in book 2 (Aurora still is but does so more in book 1). You truly don't know - at some points - if you want them to stay together or divorce. Their relationship is just so complex and the plot twists bring everything into chaos to finally simmer at the end for their HEA.
*this review is for both books as a collective whole*
I loved Remo and Aurora's duet. Their dynamic as a couple was great. I'm a sucker for[image]
★★★★☆
*this review is for both books as a collective whole*
I loved Remo and Aurora's duet. Their dynamic as a couple was great. I'm a sucker for angsty, arranged marriages and these two went through it. Aurora is such an it-girl. She's truly in tune with what she wants out of her profession as an artist and now her marriage with Remo. She's so sweet and her family doesn't deserve her.
Remo is said to be a morally grey person, more towards dark. We do see a bit of that dark cloud in book 1, more so in book 2, since Aurora is dealing with a stalker. Remo will do anything to protect her and we read about that in book 2.
Book 1 is lighter than book 2. The roles of who is fighting to make the marriage work have flipped slightly. Remo fights more for his marriage with Aurora in book 2 (Aurora still is but does so more in book 1). You truly don't know - at some points - if you want them to stay together or divorce. Their relationship is just so complex and the plot twists bring everything into chaos to finally simmer at the end for their HEA.
How do I begin to tell you what an amazing read this is? After reading Transcendenceby Shay Savage, I have been looking for something [image]
4.5 stars
How do I begin to tell you what an amazing read this is? After reading Transcendenceby Shay Savage, I have been looking for something similar. The Wild Man is perfect for fans of Transcendence. Opposed to the book written by Shay Savage, The Wild Man does take place in modern times.
Everlee is a journalist who is out looking for her next big story and she has chosen the infamous "Wild Man" who allegedly lives in the forest. So without telling her dad and brothers until the last second, she embarks into the trip to find him. What she doesn't know is that this "Wild Man" is honed in with his instincts that he actually finds her first but makes her think she found him first. Once he lands his eyes on this beautiful female, his one thought is "Mine." In fact, those are his first words to her.
Things were going perfectly fine on this trip until it wasn't. The beginning of their relationship is harsh and very animalistic. As she learns more about his life, Ever finds herself changing her views of him and giving in to the life he's willing to offer her.
Grayson and Jovana meet at (*you guessed it*) a bar. Classic Marni Mann meet cute. Jovana actually works there so you can cry about it another [image]
Grayson and Jovana meet at (*you guessed it*) a bar. Classic Marni Mann meet cute. Jovana actually works there so you can cry about it another time. They flirt and hit it off. Grayson waits for her shift to be down to take her with him to his place (she lives further away). But once their smexy time is over he shuts down her invitations to breakfast AND dinner telling her that what they did was only a one time thing. Miss girl walked her broken heart out of there. As she should.
When Grayson is involved in a PR nightmare for Hooked and their users are leaving, his team comes up with a plan. Get married. While they consult at that same bar, their PR managment throws Jovana into the pool of potential candidates. Grayson is sure she'll turn them down and probably curse him out. Since Jovana is also a social media influencer, she can help in showing the world that Grayson does believe in the app and his company.
I loved the banter this book had and how their relationship continued to blossom. They did like each other from the beginning so there wasn't much change to that. Jovana was exactly the person he needed by his side. They grew a bit of a friendship before falling straight into love.
[image] There was a lot of back-and-forth between the two characters in this one. Fox, the MC, was adamant about his decision on whether or not he coul[image] There was a lot of back-and-forth between the two characters in this one. Fox, the MC, was adamant about his decision on whether or not he could pursue a relationship with Janie. He thought, because he worked for her dad before passing away, that he couldn't have anything with her. He wants her, he tells her she's his but turns around to say he's not her boyfriend and won't be. Which is fine, okay, but don't give her hope only to rip it away.
On the other side, Janie tends to be more cautious because he is a very popular influencer who's now inherited her dad's tattoo shop. She decides to work there with Fox and the other guys for a year because deciding if she'd keep it or give it to Fox. She doesn't like him walk over her either even when times are tough for her. Her father has just died, her "boyfriend" is creating drama on the internet, and on top of that she has a medical diagnosis she has to deal with privately.
Despite everything that may be bad for them, they do share a bond that can't be broken. Janie's dad is the one that brings them together one way or another. Their friends do too. They bicker and have banter. She stands up for herself. She found a family that she desperately needed because, even if she was popular, it was a lonely ordeal.
I just would like to say that I'm deceased. This series is starting to get good!! We saw Henri being the good guy in book one. He wanted to be accepteI just would like to say that I'm deceased. This series is starting to get good!! We saw Henri being the good guy in book one. He wanted to be accepted by his brother, Q. He wanted to do good for Ilyana because he was the reason why she was taken as a slave. Now, in book 2, we see him get corrupted by the actions he was to perform with Ily to be accepted into this macabre society. I love a good corruption arc and Pepper is delivering it!
On the opposite side, we see Ilyana struggling to keep up with all the secrets that get unfolded in this book. She must take in the man she thought she knew versus the man he is becoming on this island of wickedness. Despite all the bad things Henri does, she still manages to, somehow, look for the good in him. But we also see her struggle with the fact that she likes receiving what Henri gives her.
Henri and Ilyana have discovered that they fit. Henri has realized that he is a sadist and would like nothing more than for Ilyana to remain by his side forever. And well, Ilyana is still not 100% on accepting that she is a masochist. She does know that if things had gone differently, she would have explored a relationship with Henri. Maybe then they would have had a happily ever after. But here, not on this island that only causes pain to the ones stuck there.
[image] I waited patiently until my post day but this book? Agh, so good! It released yesterday and it's about Hudson and Olive... or as he calls her O[image] I waited patiently until my post day but this book? Agh, so good! It released yesterday and it's about Hudson and Olive... or as he calls her Opie because he "forgot" her name. He knows her name but likes to rile her up about it, just as she does about his age.
Liv works in his tattoo shop as the receptionist. She has a pretty good relationship with all the workers there, except for Hudson. He's more reserved than the rest of them. When Liv blurts out to her mother that she has a boyfriend - and that boyfriend is him - in front of him, Hudson shuts it down... or at least tries to. They form an agreement. Liv must "slave" herself for him if she wants him to agree to her demands. But his end of the bargain is short-lived when he realizes the horrible relationship Liv has with her mother and sister because they don't accept her daughter. But Hudson doesn't know why they don't have a good relationship and Liv doesn't open up much about it either.
The banter in this book is sooo goooood!! It was enjoyable through their actions, dialogue, and text messages. I also loved the guys from Raptured Ink. I join the bandwagon when saying that I hope we get books for them too because this universe has so much potential to grow. Oh, and Mia, Liv's best friend, with her grump of a single dad boss? Count me in!
[image] I love everything that Pepper writes. Though I have yet to read Q's books, I didn't feel lost when I read the prequel novella to The Jewelry Bo[image] I love everything that Pepper writes. Though I have yet to read Q's books, I didn't feel lost when I read the prequel novella to The Jewelry Box series, The Mercer Curse. I honestly didn't know where this was gonna go. Henri can either remain "innocent" or lean into the darkness. We already see him struggling with that in Ruby Tears as he infiltrates a sex trafficking ring and buys Ily at a nightclub. He craves Ily's submission and the reactions she gives him, but there's always that little voice in his head telling him it's wrong. Despite it all, his first instinct is to protect her because he blames himself for getting her into that mess. He makes it his mission to ensure she's only given to him.
Ily, herself, finds that it's difficult to play that part of the submissive to anyone but Henri. She thinks that he's a cop that'll get her out. She does find in inkling of light within all the dark in Peter, another slave at the compound. I felt wary of him because of everything that's happened so far in Ruby Tears. He was a little possessive of her -- just a bit. like barely there but it was there. Henri, of course, felt jealousy brewing within himself because he thinks Ily likes Peter in *that* way. All in all, I cannot wait to see what else happens. Ruby Tears does end in a cliffhanger.
✨️
Merged review:
[image] I love everything that Pepper writes. Though I have yet to read Q's books, I didn't feel lost when I read the prequel novella to The Jewelry Box series, The Mercer Curse. I honestly didn't know where this was gonna go. Henri can either remain "innocent" or lean into the darkness. We already see him struggling with that in Ruby Tears as he infiltrates a sex trafficking ring and buys Ily at a nightclub. He craves Ily's submission and the reactions she gives him, but there's always that little voice in his head telling him it's wrong. Despite it all, his first instinct is to protect her because he blames himself for getting her into that mess. He makes it his mission to ensure she's only given to him.
Ily, herself, finds that it's difficult to play that part of the submissive to anyone but Henri. She thinks that he's a cop that'll get her out. She does find in inkling of light within all the dark in Peter, another slave at the compound. I felt wary of him because of everything that's happened so far in Ruby Tears. He was a little possessive of her -- just a bit. like barely there but it was there. Henri, of course, felt jealousy brewing within himself because he thinks Ily likes Peter in *that* way. All in all, I cannot wait to see what else happens. Ruby Tears does end in a cliffhanger.
These Hardy brothers just keep getting more unhinged and hot. I was not expecting Dex to be so unhinged lmao... he was such a golde[image] OHMYGOD WHAT
These Hardy brothers just keep getting more unhinged and hot. I was not expecting Dex to be so unhinged lmao... he was such a golden retriever in the beginning. But, wow, heartbreak does change people (as he said). I have to agree with all the reviews I skimmed through on Goodreads saying he was Cade Armanelli-level obsessed. He was.
Dex and Keelani's love story is a bit of a slow burn, although they do have spicy scenes together. Keelani kept saying from the beginning that they couldn't be together because of the policies of her label management. She's been dating Ethan for the past ten years, per an agreement with her label. Both, Kee and Ethan, are in love... with other people. Kee was never truly over Dex. Although Dex told her he didn't love her in the past out of spite, he never stopped loving her either. When her record label has her engage in a PR stunt with Ethan at Dex's resort in celebration of the engagement, Dex is all too happy to stake his claim. He wants to be the one to marry Keelani.
Loading...
