Tag: spicy romance

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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ARC/ALC Book Review: Into the Fading Twilight (Starlight Grove #2) by Catherine Cowles

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Romantic Suspense
Length: 472 pages
Author: Catherine Cowles
Publisher: The PageSmith LLC
Release Date: July 7th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

She’s known nothing but darkness for 413 days…but he’ll burn down the world to save her.

After a year in captivity, Nova Monroe is back in Starlight Grove—but she’s not the same woman who vanished. She lives on the edge, chases adrenaline, and refuses to be caged again. Cliff diving. Mountain biking. Anything to feel alive and outrun the memories clawing at her.

But the single dad with shadows of his own won’t let her face it alone. Especially when she finds herself needing a place to stay.

Kol Archer has made it his mission to protect her. As a Forest Service investigator, he’s no stranger to rugged terrain or battling for control. But nothing prepared him for Nova—her fire, her fight, the way she makes him feel something he thought was lost.

The closer they get, the more dangerous things become. Someone doesn’t want Nova to move on. And Kol is determined to stop them—no matter the cost.

Because for the first time in forever, Nova’s not just surviving. She’s learning how to live, how to trust, and reminding Kol he can, too. But as darkness looms, the truth could destroy them both…

Thank you to Catherine Cowles for a gifted ALC/eARC.

LOVED.

I just love the way Catherine Cowles combines swoony romance with a suspenseful plot I can never put my finger on. I loved the slow burn between Kol and Nova!!! It’s a journey. Of love and healing and finding a new starting path in life. I loved Nova’s resilience and her courage. She made decisions that were best for her while creating boundaries and strengthening the relationships in her life. I loved that Kol met her where she was and didn’t push. I adore grumpy protective heroes. The soft banter and the way Kol finds ways to take care of Nova were incredibly romantic.

And the mystery plot?? I swore it was at least three other people before the reveal and was still shocked!! I’m in awe every time at how Catherine Cowles continues to deliver new and creative ways of incorporating the whodunnit. This one was delightfully unhinged and actually made me very curious for some future plot points too!!

The audiobook is a STUNNER. CC has gone to a multi-narrator format (each of the main characters has a separate narrator) and I’m OBSESSED. It brings incredible quality to the story. I did about half on audio half eyeball and you can’t go wrong either way.

Overall audience notes:

  • Romantic suspense
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 3ish open door
  • Violence: high
  • Content warnings: serial killer, attempted murder, murder, weapons violence, physical violence, mentions of child abuse

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Book Review: Broken Souls and Bones (Stonegate #1) by L.J. Andrews

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 480 pages
Author: L.J. Andrews
Publisher: Ace
Release Date: April 29th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Together they’ll restore a divided kingdom—or burn it down—in this new romantasy from USA Today bestselling author and TikTok sensation LJ Andrews.

Lyra Bien intended to live a quiet life to avoid the attention of the magic-obsessed king in the fortress of Stonegate. Until Roark Ashwood—the prince’s silent guard and rumored killer for the crown—invades her village and uncovers the truth behind the silver scars in her eyes. To save her best friend from death, she’s forced to reveal her abilities, and is immediately claimed by the crown as the next melder.

To be the King’s melder is to be revered and feared in equal measures, but above all it is a slow death sentence. Lyra is determined to find a way to free herself and her friends from bondage. But first she must get more information from the silent, brooding sentry who first took her captive: Roark.

As Lyra gets closer to Roark, she soon learns he’s nothing like she assumed—and in fact everything she needs. The more they work as allies, the harder it becomes to ignore the growing passion between them. After a sinister truth is revealed, Roark and Lyra must choose to stand against all they know, or accept their dark destiny.

GREAT START.

I have been looking forward to this book since its announcement and I loooved the audiobook. It was a great story with a true slow burn that had an ending making me neeeed book two.

I was most invested in the romance. Watching the genuine connection from enemies to lovers was top tier. This is a trope that LJ Andrews continues to write incredibly well. There’s not a rush to lust. Providing banter and those moments to see each other in another light sets the scene for off the charts chemistry.

My mind did wander a bit in the first half and I struggled to stay fully engaged, and I think that settled in the back half. The characters and found family are another strong aspect that I often see in Andrews books. I feel like this gave the air of the usual cadence I’ve read in romantasy with some unique things that I loved seeing too.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: strong
  • Romance: 3+ open door
  • Violence: high

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ALC Book Review: Jilted by Vi Keeland

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 266 pages
Author: Vi Keeland
Publisher: Bramble
Release Date: May 6th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

From #1 New York Times bestseller Vi Keeland comes a brand new slow burn, swooning romance where 27 Dresses meets The Hating Game.

Weddings. I spend every working minute talking and writing about them, when just the thought of one makes me want to scream. After my fiancé abandoned me at the altar last year, my dream job at Bride magazine has turned into a reoccurring nightmare.

To add insult to injury, the bridezilla at my latest assignment, somehow roped me into filling in for a missing bridesmaid. Of course, I had to get paired with the most gorgeous groomsman. Wilder Hayes is perfect—except when he opens his mouth and we end up bickering all evening. That is, until the coat closet incident.

At least I’ll never have to see him again. Or so I think… Until I walk into work on Monday and find out Wilder isn’t just a jerk, he’s also my boss’s son. And I’ll be spending the rest of the season working with him at every single wedding I cover this year.

Can the jilted bride and the man who is afraid of love find a way to heal each other?

Thank you to MacMillan Audio for the gifted audiobook.

THAT’S A NO FOR ME.

I had been warned before listening to this that it might not work for me. I went in level headed and admittedly did like it for the first 50%ish. The bones of the plot were good. The MMC was a rugby player and uber charming. I didn’t mind the FMC, all is hunky-dory.

But after the halfway mark things went downhill. So much so that I’m quite confident this is the only book I will read from this author. I’m good with that. I didn’t like the heaviness of the spice and the third act??? NOPE. One of my most frustrating tropes.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 4+ open door; high explicit
  • Content warnings: cheating (not the main characters), Parkinson’s disease, loss of a parent (recounted)

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