Always Mine By Laura Pavlov | The One Night That Changed Everything

Title: Always Mine
Author: Laura Pavlov
Genre: Romance
Rating: 4⭐️
Book Links: Goodreads | Amazon


My Initial Thoughts:

Having read a few of Laura Pavlov's books before, I went into this expecting a sweet Hallmark-type romance. But what I got was so much more than that

The Vibe:
Friends-to-lovers, firefighter, small-town, Grumpy sunshine

My Review:

Laura Pavlov knows how to do small-town romance, and Always Mine was such a romantic read.

Niko and Vivian have been best friends since kindergarten, so their relationship already has years of history behind it before anything romantic ever happens.

Honeybee has to be the cutest name ever. 🥺

Looking back on her past relationship, Vivian comes to the realization that there are quite a few things she never got to experience. So naturally, she turns to the one person she trusts completely… Niko.

Except Niko has absolutely no interest in risking the most important friendship in his life… Until she wears him down. 🤭

And once the heat is turned up… let’s just say the spice was definitely spicing. 🥵

There’s also so much more to Niko than he lets you see, particularly when it comes to his family and the things from his past that shaped the way he looks at relationships. That gave the story a little more weight without taking away from the cozy small-town romance feeling.

This was such a romantic and heartwarming read that had my emotions all over the place.

This one felt like I was watching a Hallmark movie..except this had a whole lot of spice.

Niko and Vivian were adorable, Honey Mountain completely charmed me, and I’m definitely looking forward to the next book in this series.

4⭐️

Synopsis: 

 He fights fires for a living, but the flames building between us may be too big to extinguish.
Niko West is the most beautiful man I’ve ever laid eyes on.
Six feet, four inches of broody, chiseled Greek god in a firefighter suit.
He’s also been my best friend since kindergarten.
He always says the only solid thing in his life is our friendship.
He’s Honey Mountain's favorite player and I’m what you’d call a relationship girl.
But when I find myself single for the first time since turning sixteen, I make Niko an offer he can’t refuse.
Who better to show me what I’ve been missing?


But now that we’ve crossed that line, I don’t know if friendship is enough for me.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Bossing my holiday By J. Saman | A Very Merry HR Violation

 

Title: Bossing My Holiday
Author: J. Saman
Genre: Romance
Rating: 4⭐️
Book Links: Goodreads | Amazon


My initial thoughts:

Christmas is one of my favorite time of the year so of course I love a good Christmas romance, so give me a grumpy billionaire boss, fake dating, Paris at Christmas, and a little workplace chaos and I’m already interested.


The Vibe:

Why choose, holiday romance, MFM, fake dating, billionaire romance

My Review:

Waverly is Tristan’s assistant, and their story starts with her showing up two hours late for work, crashing directly into him, spilling coffee all over both of them, and dumping the entire contents of her purse onto the floor in front of everyone.

Her contents are mortifying embarrassing to say the least.

Tristan already has a reputation around the office for turning into Scrooge every Christmas, and he seems especially irritated by Waverly. What she doesn’t realize is that there may be a little more behind all that irritation than she thinks.

Then there’s Braxton Hicks… yes, that is actually his name 😂 …Tristan’s best friend and also co-owner of the company, who adds an entirely different layer of chaos to an already questionable workplace situation.

a fake-dating arrangement sends them to Paris for Christmas, things escalate very quickly. And these pages are scorching 🥵

But at the same time, that was part of my issue with the story. There was more spice than plot.

Don’t get me wrong, I loved the dynamic between the characters, but I wanted more time watching the emotional side of their relationship develop.

The ending also felt rushed to me. There were a few things I really would have preferred to experience alongside the characters rather than being told afterward that they happened. This one could have benefited from another 50 or so pages

All in all, this was festive, chaotic, and so much fun to read. It had me laughing way more than I expected.

4⭐️

I received this Alc from Valentine PR in exchange for my honest review




Synopsis:

Things not on my Christmas wish list? Fake dating my billionaire Scrooge of a boss, Tristan Ouest.

But that's exactly what I'm doing and why I'm on a plane heading to Paris with him and my other boss, co-CEO Braxton Hicks.

According to Braxton, this is the perfect arrangement. I act as the doting girlfriend to get Tristan's matchmaking, old-money family off his back and he pays off the large debt I have from caring for my grandmother.

Except Braxton has other things in mind with this trip…like sharing me with Tristan.

And the things they want to do to me put them straight on the naughty list.

I should say no to all of this. After all, I need my job and sleeping with both of my bosses is a recipe for disaster. Especially when things start to get messy and complicated.
But they don't just want me as a holiday treat. They want more.

Now they're bossing my holiday. And before I know it, I'm in way over my head--falling for my grumpy fake boyfriend and his sinful best friend.

But I Hate Him by Page Powars | Probably.. Maybe

Title: But I Hate Him
Author: Page Powars
Genre: MM Romance
Rating: 3⭐️
Book Links: Goodreads | Amazon


My initial thoughts:

I went into this one expecting your typical enemies-to-lovers, but this was anything but.

The Vibe:

Competitive, Sports romance, rivals to lovers, lgbtq

My Review:

There’s a very thin line between love and hate… and my man Rory had to find this out in his own way. 😂

Rory really had me sitting here like… are you sure this man is your enemy? Because the amount of energy you spend thinking about Luca says otherwise.

After one mistake completely derails the future Rory has worked so hard for, he ends up at an elite summer camp trying to earn his way back into his parents’ good graces.

The last person he expects to find there is Luca Melendez.

And from that point on, things get messy.

Between the competition, ridiculous camp drama, pranks that definitely went a little too far, and Rory trying desperately to convince himself that Luca gets under his skin for all the reasons he thinks he does…

Meanwhile, I’m watching these two like… riiiiiight!! Lol

Once the walls started coming down between them, I enjoyed the story so much more. Rory finally stopped worrying about being exactly who everyone expected him to be, and we got to see a completely different side of him.

This was a cute, fun read, and underneath all the chaos was a story about finding yourself.

3⭐️

I received this alc from Macmillan audio and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review




Synopsis:

Rory is academic royalty.

As the heir to the most successful tutoring company in the world, he can be nothing less than perfect if he wants to gain his parents’ approval. So it's simple. Rory studies harder than anyone else. He does not make mistakes. And he never loses.

Except to Luca Melendez. The infuriatingly good-looking hockey player who wins every academic competition without even trying.

When Rory has a very public meltdown, throwing a smoothie at Luca and shattering his own public image in the process – it feels like one more thing Luca ruined.

To salvage his reputation, Rory has his sights set on winning the most cutthroat academic camp in the country, BRAIN. There is nothing standing between Rory and the final medal.

Until, Luca Melendez shows up.

This means war and Rory has the perfect plan: Make Luca fall in love with him.

And then break Luca’s heart right before the final competition.

Dangerous Haven By Luna Pierce | Where Secrets and Lies Never Stay Buried

 

Title: Dangerous Haven
Author: Luna Pierce
Genre: Dark Romance
Rating: 4⭐️
Book Links: Goodreads | Amazon


My initial thoughts:

I was pulled into this story very early on. I loved London and Archer almost immediately, and their banter definitely kept me going.

The Vibe:
Dark romance, Enemies to lovers, Forced proximity, Unhunged MMC, touch her and die


My Review:


A safe haven is supposed to be a place you go to when everything around you feels dangerous. Somewhere you can finally breathe, lower your guard, and feel protected.

But what happens when your safe haven is anything but...

When we meet London, she is on the run, injured, and sent to stay with Archer Sin for protection… initially he wants nothing to do with her, until he learns who she's running from. But even then he gives her a hard time..

Archer is a grumpy walking red flag you simply can't resist.

London, on the other hand, has been through absolute hell, and still she's a fighter through and through.

The dynamic, the banter between these two worked so well it was hard to look away.. and when things started to heat up..🔥

I can never hear the word bagel the same way ever again.. 🤭

My only problem with this story was the miscommunication between these two was beyond frustrating.

There were way too many moments where I was like, just say it!!

The plot twist on the other hand... You never see it coming!! 👌🏽

Despite the miscommunication driving me absolutely crazy, this story was such a good time.

Looking forward to what comes next in this series.

4⭐️

I received this ARC & ALC from NetGalley & Keeperton Audiobooks.



Synopsis:

London Gardella is running; broken, bruised, and desperate for safety. When she arrives in New York City, she’s clinging to the last hope she has left; finding sanctuary with a stranger who wants nothing to do with her.

Archer Sin is a reclusive billionaire hacker—tattooed, brooding, and razor-sharp— he thrives in the shadows. He reluctantly agrees to keep her safe, but only if she follows his two rules:

No touching his computers.

No falling in love.

Archer’s inked fingers rarely leave his keyboards, but his eyes never stop watching London… stalking her every move, sparking a fire neither can ignore. Then comes a reckless, forbidden kiss.

Rules shatter. Walls crumble. Desire ignites.

Trust is a risk neither can afford, but survival means facing the truth: sometimes, the safest haven is the most dangerous place of all.

Angels are Falling by Drethi A | Becareful what you wish for

 

Title: Angels are Falling
Author: Drethi A
Genre: Dark Romance
Rating: 6⭐️
Book Links: Goodreads | Amazon


My initial thoughts:

This story reeled me in from page 1. and it didn't let go even after the story ended

The Vibe:
Dark romance, dark fairtale retelling, obsession, stalker

Favorite Quote:
"Don't pretend you came here to change my mind. You came here to see if you could change your own."

My Review:
We all know the story of Aladdin…where the street rat gets the girl, the villain wants what he can’t have, and then a genie appears offering wishes.


But what if the street rat already had the girl…they’re living in poverty…and Jafar was the genie?

Except this Jafar has everything. Money. Power. Success. Charm. He’s the kind of man women throw themselves at and men only dream they could be…but the only woman he wants is already married.

So imagine a man like that comes to you and says: I can make all your dreams come true. Money would never be a problem ever again…

There’s only one thing he wants in return…Your Wife.

Would you do it?

Because I’m not even going to lie…I questioned myself while reading this. Like…if it were me…would I? Could I?…

I 1000% understand the temptation.. but at what cost?

While this was a fairytale retelling, it had some VERY dark moments…But that only made me keep reading!!

Kai is not secretly the misunderstood good guy. He is the villain, and this story allows him to be exactly that.

Despite his ruthless ways…I fell for the villain. 🫣

This was completely dark, unhinged and is now one of my favorite reads this year.

6⭐

I’m sooo very excited for book 2 in this series…cuz a Beauty and the Beast retelling?! 🥰🥰🥰 Im ready for it!!

In the words of this author…

KAREN’S ignore trigger warnings only to then complain about the trigger warnings…don’t be a KAREN!!!

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

Synopsis:


They tell you to marry the man who shows you the world. Nobody warns you about the one who'd burn it down for you.

AMELIE

Stefan promised me forever, a life held together with love and overdue bills. We were the couple that couldn't be broken.

Then the Prince of Darster invited us to dinner. Cold. Calculating. Beautiful enough to make you forget both. Kai Cavendish took one look at our drowning finances and offered my husband everything—the fortune, the dream career, the crown of this town.

The price was me.

A real marriage. His ring. His bed. His name.

And Stefan, who'd once sworn that not even God could separate us, asked where to sign.

Everyone gets the fairy tale wrong. They think the villain gives up when the story ends. But the villain has been watching me longer than I want to believe, and he never learned how to lose.

I married two men.

One sold me. One bought me.

Only one gets to keep me, and it won't be the one you're rooting for.

KAI

They cast me as the villain. Accurate.

I told her husband I could be his genie. Three wishes, anything he wanted.

But he never asked what my wish was.

Every man has a price. Her love was the only thing I couldn't buy.

So I bought him instead.

Be careful what you wish for…

*This book contains dubious scenes, stalking, manipulation, and issues such as mental health and drugs. Please read the author's note for a complete list of triggers. Depending on your comfort zone, the content might disturb you.

Behind Closed Doors by Shain Rose | What happens behind closed doors never stay there..

Title: Behind Closed Doors
Author: Shain Rose
Genre: Dark Romance
Rating: 4⭐️
Book Links: Goodreads| Amazon


My initial thoughts:
I love it when an author can turn my feelings around.. this one definitely did that..

The Vibe:
Dark romance, unhinged obsession, single dad. 


My Review:
I went into this book with my eyes wide open. I knew exactly what kind of story I was getting, I knew the tropes and honestly… dark, captive, unhinged MMC. These are literally all the things I love in a book so I was excited.

This one start off with a bang!! I see why everyone is raving about this one.
But then somewhere in the middle… it lost me.

The push and pull between Mia and Jameson went on for way too long for me. Normally I live for the banter and all that pent-up sexual tension, but here it started to feel like they were trying too hard to keep it going instead of just letting their relationship naturally move forward.

Jameson is absolutely unhinged, I didn’t buy it at first. It felt forced, like he was trying to convince me he was unhinged instead of it just feeling natural

Mia, though…I liked her pretty consistently. She stood her ground about what she wanted and what she didn’t want from the very beginning. There were definitely a couple of moments where I questioned some of her decisions, but I loved that she didn’t just fold because Jameson wanted her to.

And then….

🔥🔥🔥

I swear it felt like a switch was flipped on.

Because after that I was HOOKED.

And I don’t just mean because of the sexy time 😂. Their relationship finally started moving and I couldn’t devour those pages fast enough.

Mia and Jameson’s attraction to each other is absolutely unhinged. It’s brutal, obsessive and still incredibly sexy.

So while it took me longer than I would’ve liked to get there…the last half of this book was 🔥
I’m really looking forward to the next book.

4⭐




Synopsis:

He’s the forbidden enigma I wanted to ignore . . . but instead I’ll be forced to share a home with him.

Jameson Knight arrives at precisely the same time every day to pick up his young daughter from school, smiling as she runs into his open arms.

It’s the only time I see him smile.

I don’t ask questions because it’s not my place. I’m just his daughter’s favorite teacher, nothing more. . . . Until the first bullet flies by us at recess.

Suddenly, I’m risking my life to protect her. And then Jameson drags me back to his estate, claiming it’s a matter of life-or-death.

Now I’m in the most beautiful home I’ve ever seen, faced with an offer from a man who’s just as gorgeous: Be the temporary live-in nanny until he can ensure my safety and find a more permanent solution. It’ll be easy, he promises.

Yet, the arrangement is anything but simple.

Not when Jameson’s hungry stare is all consuming and his touch pulse racing.
And definitely not when I find that nothing in this neighborhood is as it seems, including Jameson.

He may be powerful, possessive, and protective. But he’s also dangerous, demanding, and calculating.

As more of his secrets come out, I should run but . . .

How do I escape the enigma of Jameson Knight if he’s already captured my heart?

The Santa Claus Con By Lauren Kung Jessen | Christmas chaos and a whole lot of chemistry

 

Title: The Santa Claus Con 

Author: Lauren Kung Jessen
Genre: Rom-com
Rating: 5⭐️
Book Links: Goodreads | Amazon


My initial thoughts:

I went into this expecting a cute, cozy Christmas romance with a little holiday magic and Hallmark vibes. But I got a lot more action than I could have ever imagined. I was here for every second of it.

The Vibe:

Romantic comedy, witty banter, second chance romance  


My Review:


When I signed up to read this, I was expecting a cute Christmas Hallmark/Lifetime movie... What I read was like straight out of an action packed movie with just a splash of romance!!

Scarlett Payne is on desk duty, gets a sketchy tip, and because apparently making reasonable decisions is not her thing, she finds herself caught up in something WAY bigger than she expected.

Nathan hates Christmas. He hates Scarlett, that’s what he tells himself, and he’s still bitter about the last time she went rogue on an operation.

So obviously, these two working together is going to go perfectly. 🤭

I feel it goes without saying their chemistry lights up this story. From their banter, their history, their stubbornness, and the whole I can’t stand you demeanor they both try to hide.

This might be a slight spoiler... but I had to look up what the lampshade costume from A Christmas Story would even look like... because I absolutely LOVE A Christmas Story!!! 😂 And I might have found my costume for Halloween.

By the time I got to the end...

👌🏽 Chef’s kiss.

If you don’t laugh at least once while reading this, you seriously need to check your pulse.

This was such a fun surprise.

5⭐️

I received this arc from NetGalley & Forever (Grand Central Publishing) aka Forever, in exchange for my honest review




Synopsis:

A swoonworthy and suspenseful holiday rom-com that will make fans of Ally Carter and Carlie Walker laugh out loud and fall completely in love this Christmas season.

It’s the hap-happiest con of the year …

Scarlett Payne and Nathan Lambros agree on exactly one thing: they both despise Christmas. But when Scarlett receives a cryptic letter—from someone claiming to be Santa and threatening to sabotage New York’s Santa Claus Con—they’re the only two FBI agents who can stop the holiday spectacle from turning into a national disaster. Unfortunately, the last time Scarlett saw her former rival, he was breaking her heart. So she’s not exactly eager to ask the grumpiest agent she knows for help, but he’s sadly great at going undercover.

After years of deep cover, Nathan was ready to hand over his badge ... until Scarlett pulls him into one last operation. He’s not sure which is worse—pretending to be Santa or working with the woman he loves but had to push away.

Beneath fake beards and forced cheer, old feelings refuse to stay buried. With one day, one Con, and one mysterious enemy closing in, these two self-proclaimed Grinches are about to find out what’s more difficult: saving Christmas … or risking their hearts all over again