Five Spicy Holiday Novellas: Why-choose Halloween, Neighbors to Lovers Christmas, Stalker Valentines, Bunny shifter Easter, Friends to Lover St. Patrick's

 Sizzling, spicy, seductive, salacious, scandalous, and absolutely STUNNING! If life were a box of sexy novellas, then these 5 would absolutely make my box! Lexi Davis holds true to her promise of a quickie, but a satisfying happy ending to boot, no complaints here.

Whether you hearts falls hard for a why choose with a blustery October setting in a haunted castle with monster, who play monopoly, of all things, then this cross love fest is absolutely for your reading pleasure! Tall, dark and handsome, protective, hot headed maniac and slender, silent and sensitive - they are all yours to keep!

If you heart prefers a silent obsession, a devotion to your every need and yet craves control and understanding, then follow our hacker as he finds his stalkee about to embark on a murderous valentine revenge, the strong and secure individual and the sunshine sparkler he's angling after, he knows her every move and is scared of love - absolutely cute and special!!!

Childhood friends who discover they are luckier together, as their story unfolds from childhood, with throw back after throwback, in a decidedly long list of lost opportunities, and an unrequited love built off teasing and comforting through a lifetime of defeats, specially for the one who got away, which left you wondering .. what if...

Discover a magical world, and find your soulmate accidentally in a cage by the side of the street, for the romantasy fans who crave a meeting of mates and a strong sense of self - Nora was my absolute favorite of the lot!! I mean easter bunny madness!!!

For the hot mamas out there, comes a hot, spicy and double entendre exchange over walki talkies, grab on to your leftover ribbons and join Amber on a rocky and rough night to delight your senses and bring out your inner femme fatale!

I mean - these tales were an absolute pleasure to devour! My gratitude to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and Netgalley for the ARC and to Lexi davis, you owe me a good night's sleep because this book did not get its claws off me till I finished it!

#NovemberReads #DarkRomance #ShortLoveBites

The Holiday Haters - Holiday Cuteness Overload

 Do you love romcom book tropes? Are complicated and deep connections your love language? Does a ridiculously cute meet cute appeal to your sense of happiness? Does a Viking book nerd toting a pink tote filled with romances appeal to your sense of suspended disbelief? Do dysfunctional family dynamics and misunderstandings make your inner Hallmark movie critic thrive? Then, darlings, this Holiday Homecoming is right up your alley!!!

Jessica Sherry masterfully weaves through characters, inheritance and health themes, with that good vibes only rose tinted view of perfection! It absolutely GOT me! From the almond joy stealing, wrecked journalist to an unapologetic mom taking time off, to a black sheep indecision fueled family feud, the sub plots are varied and engaging! I loved the exploration of various tropes and the secret code between the fake daters using the 12 days of Christmas as a wellness check when fake dating and dealing with pushy families.

Add in a strong sizzling connection between the protagonists and the throwback memories to Willow, its just perfect holiday magic in the making - family traditions, cousins connecting, accepting flaws, just being together, laughing at mistakes, the true essence of being together over the holidays, beyond photo shoots and competitions, just plain CUTE COMFORTING CONNECTIONS!!

My mistletoe thank yous to Jessica Sherry and Netgalley for the ARC. This was a surprisingly funny, sizzling and phenomenal holiday fake dating read!

#NovemberReads #TheHolidayHaters #JessicaSherry #HolidayCutenessOverload

Bones of Jade, Flesh like Ice - Moving, turbulent and effusive Jing retelling!

 If you enjoyed the conflux of narration, imagery and sadness imbibed in the Poet Empress, with the rags to riches and power, you will adore this gem! Ripped, shredded and doused in whimsical poetry! This marvelous novel from Gracie Marsden was just so - witty with deep insightful dialogue, reverberating with myths and storytelling, layered and complex in linearity and memory and resplendent with grief, worn like a necklace of a life well lived!

We embark on a journey through tales, reality, shame and regret, suffused with life and loves and duty that binds us as community. The dimensions of Yu'er are epic, nuanced and wonderfully wrought! There is a terrific grace to desolation and sadness that this tale bears a torch for, and I found myself moved! The tale of a girl who grew up to no hurtful thing, and then discovers how it still causes suffering, was crafted masterfully and the entire tome shimmers with the intent of reality suffusing through the best of intention and plans...

My effusive thank yous to Viking Penguin and Netgalley for the arc and my humble bow to Gracie Marsden for this stunning tale!

#BonesofjadeFleshlikeIce #Netgalley #EastAsian #WhimsicalPoetry

Fallen Beauty - Rapunzel X Picture of Dorian Gray

 You had me at the premise - tower locked damsel discovers ability to paint portraits a la Dorian Gray! Thorelea Winyard has been a prisoner her entire life, forced to paint dead animals pushed into her cell. She dreams of the world outside her tower and everything she’s been denied. When one of her subjects comes back to life, Thorelea is thrust into a royal court ruled by the immortal King and Queen, whose games are gory, violent and rest with her ability to paint her dead subjects back to life.

Prince Kelter is the sheltered prince, who discovers that their neighboring Kingdom is ravaged by the Fallen, and their kingdom is constantly under attack (think whitewalkers). He has outgrown being the selfish, playful prince, and wants a portrait to add his sword to the front line defenses, much to his parents chagrin....

What follows is a mystery, the unlearning of truths and the soft susurrations of romance and being seen and accepted for what you are, and not who you are. I truly enjoyed the premise but the characters didn't add up... I was left wanting more.... more closure around the hallowed twins, more clarity around the nature of the magic... 

My thank yous to St Martins Press and Wednesday Books and Netgalley for the Arc! 

#NovemberReads #RapunzelXDorianGray #FallenBeauty #StMartinsPress

Souls in Ruin - Richly seductive, bound dark fantasy

 Dark Fantasy Readers alert! This book by Jacqueline White is just that - sensual, dark, graphic with a seesaw between hurt and pleasure and a hurtling towards a hairpin bend of twists and POV surprises towards the end!

I ravished the book in 32 hours, the angst of Mireille reminded me of Robin Hobb's Assassin Fitz, a similar bastard who has little to no happiness in his life, and has to crave every crumb of his existence, the ruthlessness and ferocity of the Gods with complex interrelations and divine power, the hopelessness of an illegitimate princess' situation and her subsequent will to win at all costs, came through stunningly! The book shines if you crave pain versus pleasure power plays and an absolute God complex!

What didn't work was inconsistent pacing, repeated phrases and the casual dismissal of pain. On the other hand, the exploration of choice, acceptance of physical versus mental fortitude and the volte face in adversity and loss were all explored in gory detail. I cannot wait for the next book in the series and watch Mireille come into her own power and subjugate those that tormented her and unleash her wild side!

My bound and shackled thank yous to Scarlett Press and Netgalley for the ARC, and my star space gratitude to Jacqueline for dooming me with this venture!

#NovemberReads #SoulsinRuin #ScralettPress #DarkFantasy

Drown the Bones - A study of duality

 Dearest reader, if your heart thrums for a slow burn, immersive romance, your heart stutters to an enemies to lovers trope, your rebellion kindles at an insecure royal finally stepping into her own power, with myths, Goddesses and a murky mystery ties two kingdoms with beliefs based on justice and mercy, and magical powers stemming from a lake... if dark smirky and thoughtful heroes sing to you, and ghosts make their presence felt strongly, atmospheric vibes and a murder mystery to boot, sounds like a Saturday afternoon read, then this MUST be on your spooky Halloween TBR!

This book gave me mistborn vibes in the misinformation stemmed in beliefs, shades of iconoclast in the Princess Merridan and a sensitive, thoughtful Prince Phoenix, replete with misunderstandings, faux pas, and the ache of waiting to confess your feelings, it had a devastating effect whilst being read. The set of secondary characters were absolutely lust worthy - may i just say i have never felt a dead character more strongly in a tale - Von, with all the enigmatic charisma, hit me hard! Fayette and Eva were the femme fatale warriors, unapologetic and absolute in their opinions,  and the whole vibe of Lux and Nox / Roth and Nova, very well played indeed!

I LOVED this stunner from Alexandra Kennington and I polished this book off in 24 hours as I couldn't stand the wait!

My Lux and Nox thank yous to Berkley XO and Netgalley and my most ardent admiration to Alexandra Kennington for this moving, symphonic experience! 

#NovemberReads #DrowntheBones #enemiesxlovers #BerkleyXO

To all the Earls I've loved before - Second chance romance with Italian overtures

 Dearest Reader, should you tire of a season with the ton, amidst its doldrum affairs and smog covered streets, spilling with gossip and ever churning scandal, cast your eyes to Italy, loves, there lies a story.... 

Emma Orchard returns us to the Constantine sisters - the littlest, Bianca, an artist who wished to travel unchaperoned through a pilgrimage of Europe, seeking inspiration to paint, creates a persona of a recently widowed Italian (thank her roots), to escape the scrutiny a heiress and debutante would receive. Xan, a by the book, if you please, middle brother, and recent widower, with a child, finds himself entranced and infatuated with Signora Rossi, as they explore and savor their new fledgling lust (the pastry scene reminding me of Bridgerton's Simon moment in reverse)...

They part ways suddenly, until they meet again with Bianca as the artist booked to paint Xan's son.... what ensues is gossip most salacious, a slew of meddling sisters and aunts and two people who will wilfully misunderstand why they can't seem to fall out of love!

I loved this romp through the Venetian gondolas and revisited Viola and Sabrina, and Bianca was a force of nature, unique, unbridled and very very lucky! 

My curtsies to Boldwood Books and Netgalley and my renewed allegiance to Emma Orchard and her growing collections!

#octoberReads #RegencyRomance #SummerIntrigueXLondonReality