Book Review: Poisoned Ivy (Legacies #1) by Ava Rani

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: NA Contemporary Romance
Length: 398 pages
Author: Ava Rani
Publisher: Self published
Release Date: October 17th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Maxton Hall meets Rory Gilmore’s college years in this decadent college romance that equal parts passion, privilege and mystery.

Malena Amin is two people.

At home, she the respectable, rule-abiding daughter that her controlling family expects. At her prestigious Ivy-League University, she’s the risk-taking, adventurous woman that she wants to be. With parents who demand to know her location settings at all times, Malena uses a secret phone and secret bank account to make her double life possible.

But when her tutoring job falls through, she hits a snag in funding that double life. So, Malena sets her eyes on the prize money from a National feature-writing contest through the school paper. And when she intercepts an invitation to an ultra-exclusive secret society on campus-she has the perfect story.

She’ll attend, lay low, and get an inside look.

Unfortunately, she’s discovered early in the night by the notorious playboy and Hastings Media heir: Conrad Hastings.

The frustratingly attractive Conrad doesn’t aspire to anything other than a good time. But when his newspaper-magnate father discovers that he’s delinquent on work for the school paper, Conrad needs to complete it before his father can make good on an ultimatum. So, he agrees to let Malena into the secret society-temporarily- if she agrees to share a byline on the article they’ll write together. Conrad fulfils his obligations, and Malena gets the inside look she needs for the contest.

But, the two soon discover an art world mystery hidden between lavish parties and Gothic libraries. And more concerningly: a palpable spark between them. With new clues unraveling before them, mounting desire they can’t ignore and Malena’s web of lies threatening to collapse-their partnership becomes a lot more than a simple deal.

GO FOR THE AUDIO.

I’m a sucker if I see that an audiobook offers duet narration so here we are!! A new to me author and I totally think I’m going to read the next book in this series. I would love more college romance books so this hit the spot. I loved the yearning and the dash of mystery and that undeniable connection between Conrad and Malena.

I didn’t love a few innuendo based things about the book. It kind of felt forced and overdone. Same with the spice. Less is more for this story.

But I adored Conrad. He was just THERE in all the ways Malena needed. I really liked Malena’s friends too. What I wouldn’t do to have such a solid base like that. The setting with the amongst the wealthy with secret societies and such was different than my usual which made for a quick and enjoyable listen.

Overall audience notes:

  • New adult college romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 5ish open door
  • Violence: low
  • Content warnings: domestic abuse (Mom pinches and slaps FMC), mentions of infidelity (not between the main couple)

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Book Review: After We Fall (Shelter & Sky #2) by Deborah Clack

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 384 pages
Author: Deborah Clack
Publisher: Haven
Release Date: October 6th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Self-sufficient Penelope Reid has her life completely mapped out—a necessity after surviving foster care. Now she’s on a mission to prove that she’s capable of managing a halfway house at Twelve Bluebells Ranch. The last thing she needs is hindrance from the charming Luke Granger, who asked her to dance three years ago, then disappeared before the music began.

Luke lives a nomadic lifestyle as a security specialist. He’s never found a reason to put down roots until he’s reunited with the bossy brunette and her generous heart. When vandalism strikes the ranch neighboring Twelve Bluebells, securing the area is just another gig for him before he hits the road. But as Luke and Penelope work alongside each other and care for the ranch’s halfway house residents, his restless heart finds reasons to stay, and her careful walls begin to crack.

When crisis threatens everything Penelope has built and tragedy pulls at Luke’s wandering heart, they must decide if it’s worth the risk to lower their guards for a love that could give them the home they’ve always longed for.

Deborah Clack crafts a story with poignant emotions and witty banter in this no-spice romance about taking risks and finding belonging in unexpected places.

Thank you to Haven Books for a gifted copy.

I’D READ ANOTHER.

This is my first book from Deborah Clack and I liked it enough that I would read another. Maybe I’ll go back and read the first book in this series??

I felt the chemistry between Penelope and Luke. I liked their interactions and the way Luke took care of Penelope and his overall protective nature. I thought the medical/brain trauma aspects were well written and brought a lot of good themes to the forefront.

I struggled with the FMC at times because she kept knowingly overstepping? I understood she cared but I thought it caused the focus of the plot to be turned away from Pen & Luke and what Pen needed to work through. I desperately wish we had Luke’s POV because I think the cowboy vibes would have been stronger and I would have understood the third act more (which I also was annoyed about).

There’s good found family moments and Pen does start to work through much of her trauma. I liked that she gave therapy a chance and found somewhere to genuinely belong. I thought that everything came together well and the necessary plot points were tied off.

I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was okay. I think she hindered the characterization for Penelope though (she came off more whiney).

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: moderate
  • Content warnings: physical assault, traumatic brain injury, child abuse, domestic abuse, gun violence

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Book Review: I’m Gonna Get You Back by Elena Armas

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Rating: ★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance Novella
Length: ~5 hours
Author: Elena Armas
Publisher: Spotify
Release Date: October 14th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Haunted by a stalker and the ashes of her career, Frankie Rossi travels to Vermont hoping for one last chance—but instead collides with the man she’s never been able to forget.

Once a celebrated suspense novelist, Frankie arrives at a small book convention carrying more secrets than she can bear. The last person she expects to see is Turner Reece—her brother’s best friend, her first love, and the man who still owns her heart…even if he’s engaged to someone else. But Turner has secrets of his own, and their reunion is charged with everything they’ve left unsaid: longing, regret, and a chemistry that refuses to stay buried.

As anonymous gifts turn sinister and a blizzard snows them in with Frankie’s stalker, the fragile hope she’s building with Turner is pushed to the edge. Can they finally claim the love they’ve both been running from—or will the darkness shatter their second chance?

From the bestselling author of The Spanish Love Deception comes a gripping new novella—available only in audio.

NOT IT.

Well, as much as I was jumping to get to this, it let me down. It’s at least half spice and took over any form of a plot and I just got bored trying to skip to the actual story line.

And for this to be supposedly about a stalker? It is such a weak plot line and I think it had the potential for so much more.

I loved that it was duet narration, but that’s honestly about it.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance Novella
  • Language: mild
  • Romance: 5+ open door
  • Violence: mild
  • Content warnings: stalker

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Book Review: A Wraith Beneath the Tides (Beyond the Tides #1) by Emilia Jae

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Rating: ★★★★.25
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 584 pages
Author: Emilia Jae
Publisher: Em’s Bookish Realm Press
Release Date: July 17th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN MEETS ATLANTIS THE LOST EMPIRE. –>

Raised in secret by the sea’s most feared pirate, Esmyra Blackwood knows nothing of her past or the origins of her mysterious powers.

In the mortal kingdom, Draevyn Rowe is the second-born son of the tyrant king, and the only known fire-wielder of their realm.

Esmyra and Draevyn’s journeys collide when she kidnaps him to force a trade with the king for her captain’s life. But when her barter is refused, she is instead tasked with unearthing a kingdom lost a thousand years prior. Together, the two are forced to navigate a labyrinth of lies and secrets in search of the sunken kingdom.

The tides are shifting, and with scheming gods and ancient rivalries at play, alliances will be forged and shattered. The two must decide who to trust, and how far they’re willing to go for the ones they love.

Esmyra will face a choice: Does their world deserve salvation… or will she be its reckoning?

PRETTY GOOD.

This had been sitting on my KU line-up for a bit and I’ve been excited to get to it. And I think it held up pretty well. I’ll read the next book.

It had a plot line that I feel like I haven’t read recently so while, at times, frustrating, it was also nice to see? I am curious where it’s going to lead and how the fallout will occur.

The romance [gratefully] was enough of a slow burn for me. I do think there needed to be something higher on the swoony factor to really sell me but maybe that’s coming in the sequel. I think there was some good banter between Esmyra and Draevyn and it definitely had enemies to lovers vibes.

I’m curious about the addition of a third POV and where that will lead. I have ideas I’d love to see, which one again, leads me to being hopeful about book two. We shall see!!

Overall audience notes:

  • Romantasy
  • Language: strong
  • Romance: 1-2 open door
  • Violence: high

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