Vacation Situation By Jenny Alexandra | Love Wasn't On the Itinerary

 

Title: Vacation Situation
Author: Jenny Alexandra
Genre: Romance
Rating: 4⭐️
Book Links: Goodreads | Amazon


My initial thoughts:

I came for a quick vacation hookup, but stayed for a feel-good vacation romance.

The Vibe:
Forced proximity, he falls first, witty banter, slow burn


My Review:


This is the kind of story that sneaks up on you.

What starts as a fun meet-cute at a beach resort slowly turns into a romance that had me genuinely rooting for Frankie and Theo.

These two are complete opposites. Frankie is impulsive, unapologetically herself, and incredibly talented, even if she doesn’t always see it. Theo is steady, compassionate, and the kind of man who uses his success to lift up the people around him. On paper, they shouldn't work together, and at the same time, they fit perfectly.

Their banter kept me going. It was witty, playful, and never felt forced. Even when the story explored heavier topics, the humor kept everything balanced.

Both Frankie and Theo felt like real people. They each carried their own insecurities and baggage, but instead of trying to fix one another, they simply saw each other for who they were.

I went into this expecting a fun vacation fling filled with chemistry, but it turned out to be so much more. When you find someone who sees the parts of you that you've spent so long trying to hide, it's a win for me every time.

4⭐️

I received this ARC from the author in exchange for my honest review.



Synopsis:

What happens at the Evermore will change your life forever…

Frankie Sinclair doesn’t do relationships—only killer special effects makeup, horror movie marathons, and men she never sees twice. So when her best friend invites her on a last-minute getaway to the Evermore—a dreamy cliffside inn perched above the Pacific—Frankie happily takes the spare spot.

Her plan? One week of fun, zero attachments, and at least one very hot mistake.

Theo Beck is a workaholic and recovering relationship addict. Fresh off a brutal breakup and in the midst of a company acquisition, he's reluctantly sworn off work for a much-needed vacation—something he’s struggling to stick to until he collides with Frankie in a single, unforgettable night.

What starts as a steamy backseat hookup quickly turns into a week-long vacation situation, with three rules: stay (sexy) friends, no big feelings, no expectations.

Except Theo’s already imagining a future he didn’t see coming… and Frankie’s planning her exit before it can become something real.

Tropes:

- spicy
- opposites attract
- he falls first
- forced proximity
- vacation romance
- small town
- situationship

Just a little tease (in no particular order):

- a pirate-ship dance floor
- a high-heel mishap
- fogged-up car windows
- a beach bonfire gone wrong
- chocolate-covered strawberries
- bestie love, always
- “happy ending” massage
— on-again, off-again sexual tension that sizzles

Last Night Was Killer By Mary Pauline Lowry | A Killer night out ...Literally

Title: Last Night was Killer
Author: Mary Pauline Lowry
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Rating: 3 ⭐️
Book Links: Goodreads | Amazon


My initial thoughts:

This was giving Good Girls meets The Hangover, funnier

The Vibe:

Mystery & suspense, Romance, Humor

My Review:

Have you ever had a killer night out with your friends, drank way more than you probably should have, and then woke up the next morning only to find a dead body in your trunk? 🤭

I’m happy to say that has never happened to me. Unfortunately for our FMC, Tilly Turner, that is exactly how her morning begins.

Tilly is a struggling comedian and single mother of two young children who decides to take up pole-dancing classes. After a wild night out with her friends from class, she wakes up with almost no memory of what happened and a dead man in the trunk of her car.

Now, Tilly has one goal: figure out who killed him while desperately hoping it wasn’t her.

This story was hilarious. The situation was completely ridiculous, the characters were entertaining, and I was genuinely curious about what happened during their night out.

However, somewhere in the middle of Tilly’s ‘investigation’, the story started to lose my interest. A lot of the story is spent following her as she tries to retrace their steps and remember what happened that night. After a while, it began to feel repetitive, and the mystery wasn’t moving forward fast enough to keep me fully invested.

As Tilly and her friends attempt to piece together their missing memories while avoiding suspicion, the story gave me major ‘Good Girls’ vibes .. a group of ordinary women getting themselves tangled in a criminal situation that continues to spiral further out of control.

Overall, this was a funny and chaotic read with a great concept. I only wish the humor and momentum carried consistently throughout the rest of the story.

3⭐️

I received this ALC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review

Synopsis:

When Tilly Turner signed up for an introductory pole-dancing class, she was looking for a distraction. Reeling from her mother’s passing, and with her career as a stand-up comedian in ruins, Tilly has just moved back to the Idaho hometown she was desperate to leave, with her twin daughters in tow.
But Tilly gets more than she bargained for after a night out with her new pole-dancing pals. She wakes to a raging hangover, no memory of the evening before, and a dead body in the trunk of her car.

Who was the dead man? And more importantly, who killed him? Tilly has no alibi and needs answers. But investigating a murder is complicated, especially with an old frenemy circling, childcare plans falling through, and pole-dancing classes to attend. And don’t even mention the sexy ATF agent who she’s trying (and failing) to keep at arm’s length.

As Tilly races to solve the mystery before the police come knocking, she finds herself implicated in a larger plot that includes political subterfuge and arms dealing. But who knows—maybe busting a criminal enterprise will be just the shake-up she needs.

Balancing both heart and hilarity, and with a witty take on the struggles of modern motherhood, Last Night Was Killer is a charming introduction to the most unlikely—and likable—of sleuths.

Awkwardly Ever After by Lindsay Maple

Title: Awkwardly Ever After
Author: Lindsay Maple
Genre: Romantic comedy
Rating: 4.5 ⭐️
Book Links: Goodreads | Amazon


My initial thoughts:

I came for the witchy premise and stayed for the laughs. This was a charming rom-com that reminded me not everything in life needs a magical explanation.

The Vibe:

Romcom, friends to lovers, self discovery, lgbt

My Review:

Awkwardly Ever After immediately gave me The Craft vibes.

The story opens with a group of girls at a sleepover, trying out a spell for what feels like harmless fun. Fast forward years later, and one of them may still be paying the price for it.

Aubrey has been on what feels like a million first dates, and somehow every single one ends in complete disaster. After another failed attempt at finding love, she ends up confiding in Lex, the sister of one of her dates, convinced she's been cursed ever since that night years ago.

Lex, however, isn't buying it.

Determined to prove there's no such thing as a curse, Lex begins tagging along on Aubrey's dates. What follows is one hilarious disaster after another. I genuinely felt for Aubrey because no one should have that much bad luck... and I'll admit, there were moments where even I started wondering if maybe the curse was real.

What I loved most is that this story isn't really about whether a curse exists. It's about the stories we tell ourselves, the beliefs we hold onto, and how those beliefs can shape the way we see our lives.

By the end, I was left with my own interpretation of what had really been happening all along, and I love that the author leaves just enough room for readers to come to their own conclusions.

Overall, this was a funny, charming rom-com that had me laughing from beginning to end while still delivering a surprisingly heartfelt message underneath all the chaos.

4.5⭐️

Thank you, Harlequin Audio, NetGalley, & Lindsay Maple for providing this alc in exchange for my honest review




Synopsis:

You know what they say about hex appeal…

Aubrey is cursed. Literally. One spell gone awry in high school landed her with the most embarrassing love life ever, and now any time Aubrey is in a romantic situation everything ends up being terribly awkward. Sometimes the dates go so badly her would-be partners end up in the emergency room with... intimate injuries.

Aubrey had accepted her lonely lot in life until she meets skeptical data analyst Lex. The unlikely friends team up on a series of data-collecting dates to figure out what makes the curse tick, and what they can do to stop it… but what if that means facing the most awkward situation possible?

To break the curse, Aubrey is forced into her toughest decision date the safe, data-proven perfect candidate, or follow her heart into the unknown with the growing feelings she has for the one person she never imagined being with.

Will she ever get a shot at true love, or is she cursed beyond curing?

Blood Rising by Markus Redmond | The weight of freedom

Title: Blood Rising
Author: Markus Redmond
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 5 ⭐
Book Links: Goodreads | Amazon


My initial thoughts:

Some stories ask what it means to fight for freedom. Blood Rising asks the even harder question: what happens after you've won? This sequel challenged me in ways I wasn't expecting.

The Vibe:

Historical Fiction, Paranormal elements, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror 


My Review:

Blood Slaves was about fighting for freedom… Blood Rising is about what comes after.

I've always believed it's one thing to overthrow the people who've oppressed you. It's another thing entirely to build something better in its place. That's exactly what this story explores.

Kwadzo is no longer just fighting to survive... he's carrying the weight of an entire people on his shoulders. He wrestles with leadership, responsibility, and the kind of man he aims to become.

Freedom comes with impossible choices. Every decision carries consequences, every victory comes with a new challenge, and the line between justice and vengeance is never as simple as it appears.

Kwadzo never has to carry this story alone. The people around him continue to shape the journey in meaningful ways, each adding another layer to the story and reminding us that no battle is ever won alone.

The way Mr. Redmond blends history, horror, and fantasy continues to amaze me. Each element feels equally important to the story, and together they create something that feels incredibly unique.

The alliances that are formed and the cultural dynamics throughout the story are constant reminders that the Ramangans are still viewed as monsters. For me, that became a metaphor for the world we live in today. I couldn't help but relate it to the experiences of Black people. No matter how much progress is made, no matter how hard we fight for equality and justice, there will always be people who choose to see us through the lens of their own prejudice instead of our humanity.

If you're coming into Blood Rising expecting nonstop bloodshed, it's definitely here. But for me, the heart of this story was what happened after the battle was won.

In all my years of reading and reviewing, I don't think I've ever read a story quite like this. And I can't wait to see what Mr. Redmond has in store for us next.

5⭐


Thank you, Kensington Publishing, Dafina & Markus Redmond, for providing this arc in exchange for my honest review



Synopsis:


Kwadzo Okoro never believed the bloody legend of Ramanga was real. Now, he stands as the leader of a new Ramanga Tribe, one that sieged the Barrow plantation in a storm of righteous carnage, liberating its formerly enslaved Africans. Reclaimed as the Crimson Plantation, it is now also home to the wronged Natives who fearlessly aligned with the Ramangans.

But Kwadzo knows that freedom is not secure. Bartholomew and Constance Crabtree, the most influential slaveholders in the region since the demise of Big Jim Barrow, are galvanizing the Lakeside community to strike back—violently. The threat they pose pales in comparison to the insidious menace of Penelope Knudsen. Her white-hot hatred, now fueled by Ramangan blood, and an ability to survive the sunlight—a power Kwadzo doesn’t have—threatens to upend Kwadzo’s advancement of Ramangan might throughout the colonies, especially as she builds a white vampire army of her own and wages an all-out war against him.

But the gravest threat comes from Rafazi. His blood fathered the rebellion, but he will not take orders from his own creation. And when Rafazi makes a deadly deal with the Crabtrees, Kwadzo is forced into a battle with his maker that he may not survive, while the everlasting freedom of every enslaved person in the colonies hangs in the balance.

Still by Carmen Wilder | Learning to Be Still

 

Title: Still
Author: Carmen Wilder
Genre: MM Romance
Rating: 4⭐️
Book Links: Goodreads | Amazon


My initial thoughts:

I went into this expecting a hockey romance. I closed it thinking about resilience, healing, and the quiet courage it takes to let someone love you when every instinct tells you to run.

The Vibe:
Hockey Romance, Forced proximity, college romance, Emotional

My Review:
I went back and forth on how to write this review. No matter what I wrote, it never seemed to capture what this story left me feeling. So in the end, I decided to stop overthinking it and simply write what felt right.

Jamie Nash, captain of Hartwell University's hockey team, and Rhys, a transfer from Eldridge University, completely stole my heart.

From the very beginning, Jamie is hard on Rhys. It feels personal, and I kept wondering what Rhys had done to deserve it. But as the story unfolds, you begin to realize Jamie isn't really fighting Rhys... he's fighting parts of himself that he's spent years trying to keep buried.

Both Jamie and Rhys carry wounds that run far deeper than what you see on the surface. Their experiences have shaped the way they trust, the way they love, and the way they protect themselves. Watching those layers slowly unravel was, for me, the heart of this story.

"The things that hurt us don't care how much time's passed. … They just sit there and wait until it's easier to hurt us again, when we least expect it."

That quote perfectly captures the heart of this book. Trauma doesn't simply disappear because time passes. It waits. It whispers. It convinces you to run before someone has the chance to hurt you again.

What stayed with me most wasn't the romance itself—it was watching Jamie slowly unlearn everything his father taught him about love and about himself. Every time he pushed Rhys away, my heart broke a little more because I understood why he did it. He wasn't rejecting Rhys. He was protecting the only version of himself he'd ever known.

And Rhys... he never tried to fix Jamie. He simply kept showing up.

By the end, I realized this story wasn't just about falling in love. It was about learning to be still enough to let someone love you... and brave enough to stay when every part of you wants to run.

Maybe that's why this book is called Still.

Despite everything they'd been through...
They were still standing.
Still fighting.
Still choosing each other.
Still believing that love was worth the risk.

This isn't just a college hockey romance. It's a beautiful reminder that the things that happen to us may shape us, but they don't have to define us forever.

4⭐️

I received this arc from the author in exchange for my honest review

Synopsis:

Jamie Nash has spent his whole life learning control.

Control on the ice. Control over his body. Control over every thought, feeling, and weakness that could ruin everything he’s worked for. As captain of Harlow University’s hockey team, control is the only reason he survives the pressure.

Then Rhys Callahan transfers in from Eldridge.

Rhys is reckless where Jamie is rigid. Loud where Jamie is silent. Infuriatingly talented. Impossible to ignore. And from the moment they meet, every interaction between them feels less like rivalry and more like a dare neither of them knows how to walk away from.

What starts as tension turns into something neither of them can name. Meaner. Messier.
Wanting each other becomes its own kind of violence.

Because both of them have spent years standing still inside the wreckage of who they used to be — trapped by grief, anger, fear, and the things they survived long before they met each other.

And the closer they get, the more dangerous it becomes.

Because Rhys sees too much.

And Jamie has spent years making sure no one ever gets close enough to.

Still is an emotionally intense MM romance featuring obsessive tension, emotional repression, explosive chemistry, high heat, trauma, and two men finally forced to want something more than survival.

Still is the first novel in The Northbound Series.

Twisted Devotion by Lilith Vincent | Beautifully Toxic

 

Title: Twisted Devotion
Author: Lilith Vincent
Genre: Dark Romance
Rating: 5 ⭐️
Book Links: Goodreads | Amazon


My initial thoughts:

Some love stories make you swoon. Others make you question everything. Twisted Devotion lives somewhere in the middle, and I couldn't look away.

The Vibe:
Dark Mafia Romance, Unhinged MMC, secret baby

My Review:

Cristiano Montoni… whew. This man is the definition of beautifully broken.

After everything he endured as a child, it’s no surprise that his love comes out as obsession. He’s a tad more than a little unhinged. But underneath all of that is someone who’s been holding onto the same girl for years, never once letting her go.

Mina did the only thing she knew how to do… she ran. Yet even after all those years apart, neither of them truly moved on. The moment they’re thrown back into each other’s lives, all those buried emotions come crashing back, and from there this story never lets up.

This isn’t a light mafia romance. It’s dark, emotional, and filled with years of trauma and secrets. Their relationship constantly had me questioning whether what they shared was healing or destroying them… in the end, it was both.

“I would rather feel every cut of the knife while I hold your hand than sleep while you suffer alone.”

This perfectly sums up the kind of man Cristiano is. His love isn’t gentle or healthy by any means. But he would carry every ounce of pain himself if it meant protecting the woman he loves.

This is the third book in the Ruthless Arrangements series, and even though I haven’t read the first two books, this one completely stood on its own. I can’t wait to see what Ms. Vincent has in store next… but in the meantime, I’ve got some catching up to do. 🤭

5⭐️

I received this arc from the author in exchange for my honest review

Synopsis:

He’s waited five years to come home to her. She’s spent five years praying he never would.

Cristiano Montoni would crawl over broken glass for one touch, one kiss, one sweet word from me. He has the face of an avenging angel and a body to die for. Powerful. Rich. Dangerous. Deadly.

And heaven protect me, he’s back in Malus.

Five years ago, Cristiano worked his dark magic on me and ruined my life. Five years ago, I fell pregnant with his child. Then he vanished—and I was free.

I gave myself to a man I knew was twisted and terrifying. As the housekeeper’s daughter, I witnessed Cristiano’s brutal punishments at the hands of his father. I tried to put the pieces back together, but Agnello Montoni broke his son. Shattered his heart. Warped his mind.

Now I’m terrified that Cristiano will do the same to his son.

My son.

Our child.

I’ll protect Leon with my life. Cristiano can never know the child is his, or my son will be dragged into a violent underworld from which there’s no escape.

But Cristiano won’t stay away from me. Five years have passed, and he hasn’t changed. He’s still a monster of his father’s making. And I’ve never stopped wanting him.

A Very Good Bad Idea By Emma Chase | Winning Never Looked So Good

 

Title: A Very Good Bad Idea
Author: Emma Chase
Genre: Romantic Comedy 
Rating: 4⭐️
Book Links: Goodreads | Amazon


My initial thoughts:

This was my first Emma Chase book, and now I completely understand why so many readers love her writing. I laughed, I swooned, and before I knew it, I had finished this in one sitting

The Vibe:


Forced proximity, romantic comedy, Rivals to lovers

My Review:


First and foremost, I have heard so many good things about Emma Chase’s books ever since I first started reviewing, but I never got around to reading one. So when the opportunity came up, I jumped on it… and I’m so glad I did.

Both Damon and Jade inherited a valuable property from Clarabell Spicket, but it came with rules and limitations to determine who would become the sole owner. Break a rule… You lose points. Blank. Period.

Determined to win, they both went to great lengths to sabotage one another. Their antics to get ahead of each other had me laughing the entire time. But once they finally stopped fighting what they were feeling and admitted the attraction between them… things heated up fast.

I finished this in less than three hours, and it was such a great time. If you’re looking for a funny, steamy romance that’s perfect for a palate cleanser, I’d definitely recommend picking this one up.

4⭐️

I received the alc from Valentine PR in exchange for my honest review



Synopsis:

No loopholes. No backing out. No leaving for four months.

Damon Burke is intense, handsome and vengefully calculating—he's also certain he'll outlast his competitor.

Jade Buchanan is brilliant, ruthless, and absolutely not losing to him.

But the house seems to have a mind of its own. With faulty wiring, a leaking roof, drafty windows and the occasional wild-life infestation, it just might be trying to kill them. And the more Damon and Jade try to oust each other from the property, the more it brings them together.

Sparks fly, tempers clash—but eventually, all their walls come crumbling down.

It's a bad idea to get too close to your enemy. To care about them, need them, want them more than you've ever wanted anything.

But when rivalry becomes something more than they ever expected, Damon and Jade discover love can be a very good bad idea.