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Book Review: The Bones of Benevolence (Benevolence & Blood #2) by Lauren M. Leasure

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 455 pages
Author: Lauren M. Leasure
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: July 11th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Reckoning, Retribution and Ruin

Petra’s entire life has just fallen apart and come together all in a single breath. Against her will, she’s been promised to the Rebel King, head of a bloodthirsty army amassed by force. But now that her true bloodline has been revealed, not everyone is content to sit idly by while her powers are abused in the name of conquest.

Meanwhile, King Belin struggles to reconcile a twisted past — and the part he played in it. As he moves forward from unimaginable grief, he realizes the only future he’s interested in is one with the woman he’s forbidden from loving.
As Petra uncovers what it means to be the daughter of the two most powerful beings in existence, she must learn to balance the weight of a crown she never asked for while learning to accept her life had never been her own to begin with.
Amid the chaos, the time looms near when Petra must come face to face with the force behind her life’s destruction — Lord Evarius Castemont.

Uncertain of what the future holds, Petra continues her crusade for the truth, praying to the Saints that salvation is waiting in the wings.

Unmask the thrilling second installment of the Benevolence & Blood Series

AMAZING SEQUEL.

I just don’t have any big notes on this and I’m all for the vibes of a great fantasy. So here’s five stars, please check out this series ASAP.

I looooved the way this was set-up. Getting to see Petra really come into her own as a Queen. It’s a bit of a stumble, back pedaling, and pushing forward that I love seeing in characters. I love the ups and down. Petra is full of fire and resentment and I thought it progressed amazingly well to see how she worked through heavy emotions and betrayals.

The romance is another major slow burn and I LOVED the way the author handled it. I really appreciate when I feel like physicality isn’t used to add pages, but to bring a couple closer together and move the plot forward. This was that case and I smitten with how things are working out and I can’t wait to see how they continue.

Miles has my whole heart (and I can’t wait for his novella!!!). This whole side cast has my heart in fact. It’s a well built world, I think the magic system and meddling gods is intriguing. There’s flashback chapters that actually provide necessary information and aren’t a waste whatsoever. I flew through this. Give me more.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: heavy & strong
  • Romance: 2 open door; moderate explicit
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: sexual assault, kidnapping, murder, major loss of life, battle themes, blood/gore depiction

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Book Review: Landin’ in Trouble (Creekville Kisses Too) by Brittany Larsen

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Rating: ★★
Genre: Contemporary Romance 
Length: 313 pages
Author: Brittany Larsen
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: September 6th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

One woman is about to ruin everything.

They call me Landon-In-Trouble for a reason. I think it has something to do with my dimples and ability to charm my way out of anything. And if causing a little trouble grabs the attention of a beautiful woman, even better. The spotlight and I are old friends and perfect partners.

That is, until Brynn Foster dances her way into my life and my heart. She’s stunning and everything I never knew I wanted—grounded, down-to-earth, good with kids. She has this ability to see right through my usual crap to the dark secrets beneath. But that’s just the problem–although my charm may have won her over once, it won’t be enough to keep her. She already gave up a career in the spotlight. There’s no way she’s going to compete with my need to still be in it, whether I have dimples or not.

So it’s time for an impossible choice: the life I always craved or the woman who’s unexpectedly stolen my heart.

Landin’ in Trouble is a sweet and sizzling closed-door romcom that will have you laughing out loud. It also includes the sensitive topic of disordered eating. Please be aware should this be a triggering subject for you.

Thank you to the author for a copy of this book!

WARNING.

I firmly stand by the fact that books need trigger warnings and that they should be at the front of the book. This was much heavier and I even found myself triggered by some of the main themes here. I wish I had known prior so that I could have felt more prepared.

I don’t think this couple makes it past the book. I did NOT like the MMC, Landon. He betrayed Brynn’s trust, went behind her back, did not listen when she said no, and thought little of her for “just” being a yoga and pre-school teacher. That in no way made me think they would be good together. That’s a lot of red flags and strikes against him.

It also ended SUPER abruptly. I had to flip the pages back and forth and I’m sure anyone watching me on the treadmill while finishing this probably thought I was making the wildest faces. There needed to have been a longer epilogue that actually fleshed things about between them. They haven’t solved their issues [yet].

I’ve gotta stop myself. I will say I did like Brynn (though her choice in Landon is questionable) and the small town vibes with the meddling grandma were fine too.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: mentions of multiple miscarriages (side character), disordered eating (recounted and discussed often), themes surrounding weight control

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Book Review: Haley and the Yeti (Love Tuscon #1) by Laura Langa

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 357 pages
Author: Laura Langa
Publisher: West East Publishing
Release Date: January 17th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Her grumpy neighbor wasn’t part of the plan.

After her soul-crushing breakup, Haley Kineman is stepping out of her comfort zone, moving to sunny Tucson, Arizona, and shooting for the stars—literally. When she’s not working as a phlebotomist, Haley’s striving to meet her celebrity crush who’s filming locally.

Haley has even enlisted her grumpy next-door neighbor—affectionately nicknamed Yeti—to help her get onto the movie set. With his long enviable locks, masculine beard, and alpine mountain physique, he’s an obvious choice for an ally.

All Yeti wants is to quietly develop software in his home office, but Haley throws his protective nature into overdrive after being injured in an incident. Then Yeti has no choice but to accompany Haley on her sight-seeing, thrift-shopping, iguana-saving adventures.

But Haley’s bright demeanor keeps messing with his head, making him consider things that aren’t possible. Because with Yeti’s damaging past, no woman would want him.

As their friendship deepens, Haley’s not sure if she should stick to her star-studded plan, or if a real love story is closer to home.

GOOD READ.

I was seeking a quick contemporary in the midst of reading a big fantasy and stumbled upon this! I really enjoyed it and look forward to reading Laura Langa’s next book.

This concept was kind of quirky, but it worked. The fact that the Yeti was called Yeti for most of this book made me chuckle. And I think it played well into his back story and the things he was working to over come. This had an insta connection vibe that I actually really liked and I could feel the growing chemistry between Haley and the Yeti.

I was a little confused by one the plot aspects with the famous guy? It seemed kind of random and I don’t know that it helped any of the story that much. I did appreciate that when a silly third act break-up could have happened that it was worked out in a much more natural manner.

It was a good read and I liked the audiobook a lot. Look forward to the next!

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: litttle
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: past verbally abusive/gaslighting relationship, past fire accident and trauma, donating blood

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Book Review: Slaying the Vampire Conqueror (Mortal Enemies to Monster Lovers) by Carissa Broadbent

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 432 pages
Author: Carissa Broadbent
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: April 27th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

She was commanded to kill him with a single strike to the heart. She didn’t expect her own to betray her. Sylina has sacrificed everything for her goddess–her soul, her freedom, her eyes. Life in service to the Arachessen, a cult of the Goddess of Fate, has turned Sylina from orphaned street-rat to disciplined killer, determined to overthrow Glaea’s tyrannical king. But when a brutal vampire conqueror arrives on their shores, Sylina faces an even deadlier adversary. She’s tasked with a crucial mission: infiltrate his army, earn his trust… and kill him. Atrius is a terrifying warrior carving an unstoppable path through Glaea. Yet when Sylina becomes his seer, she glimpses a dark and shocking past–and a side of him that reminds her far too much of parts of herself she’d rather forget. Sylina’s orders are clear. The conqueror cannot live. But as the blood spilled by Glaea’s tyrant king runs thicker, her connection with Atrius only grows stronger. A connection forbidden by her vows. A connection that could cost her everything.

Slaying the Vampire Conqueror is a standalone fantasy romance set in the Crowns of Nyaxia world, full of heart-wrenching forbidden romance, dark curses, and epic battles – perfect for fans of The Bridge Kingdom and the From Blood and Ash series. It i s an installment of the heart-pounding fantasy romance series, Mortal Enemies to Monster Lovers . If you like forbidden romance, dark curses, bad*ss heroines, and morally-gray heroes, you’ll devour this sexy, addictive series.

I LOVE THIS WORLD.

After four books in this world I just love it. I love being back in it and seeing another couple and other parts of the land.

I really enjoyed this romance! I liked that the main vampire, Atrius had a different vibe than the previous love interests we’ve seen so far. He’s almost soft. He’s a warrior with a back story, and we love a backstory folks. I liked the slow burn build he had with Sylina. I wouldn’t flat out call it enemies to lovers, but there’s some tension from not knowing if you can trust another person and that worked well here.

Plot wise, there were a few slower moments. Especially initially it took me a second to feel invested. Once things got going I did enjoy the progression. The spice fits well into the story and the ending has some good reveals and I can easily see how this will work into future books in the Crowns of Nyaxia world.

Definitely recommend reading this because the author mentioned we’ll see Atrius and Sylina again (!!).

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: 2-3 open door
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: physical and magical altercations, loss of life, battle themes, creature attacks, weapons violence

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