The sinner By Sierra Simone

The Sinner is the second installment of the Priest Series. Unlike his brother, Sean Bell wants nothing to do with  God, the church, or any other part of it. Then, in true God fashion, he runs into Zanny. His best friend's little sister, who is not so little anymore. She is breathtakingly gorgeous. He insistently remind himself that he must stay away from her; she is too young for him, way too young.  Although he knows he should stay away, little Zany is practicing to become a nun; she has one final test she must pass, and that is to learn about sex. Who better to turn to than your brother's best friend? Someone you've known all your life and trust completely, what could possibly go wrong?

I’m a sinner with a dimpled smile and perfect hair, and I know how to make sin feel like heaven. 🫠🫠🫠

 These Bell Brothers are just built differently...

I'm late to the party, but good lord, I'm loving catching up!! What a ride this book was!! From start to finish, I was completely captivated by everything Sean Bell. Now I love love love Father Bell after reading the priest, I found it very hard to believe anyone else could top that. I'm so happy to report that Sean Bell definitely does.

“Well, I do feel like I should mention that I think virginity in general is an arbitrary construct designed by men as a system of control and fear. And it’s heteronormative. And limiting, because why do certain sexual acts preserve virginity and some destroy it? What if I fucked a dildo every night, but I hadn’t fucked a man? Why doesn’t anal sex count? And what if I was with someone and penetration wasn’t an option, for any number of biological or emotional or identity reasons—would that make our sex less somehow? I’d be a virgin forever?”

Excuse me while I pick my jaw up off the floor!! And have I ever thought of it that way? There were many moments throughout this book when I felt the author was speaking to me directly. 

This was for sure a 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ with a scorching spice level 🥵🥵. I simply cannot get enough

And with that, I'm off to read about the youngest brother, Aiden 😊

The Way I Used To Be by Amber Smith

 

The book starts off with 14-year-old Eden dealing with head-on trauma. With many failed attempts to tell her friends and family about said trauma. Eden decides she's just gonna keep it to herself, as many in her situation do; she believes no one will believe her. Barely coping, we watch as she handles this trauma the best way she knows how. 

“I feel these forbidden thoughts creep in sometimes without warning. Slow thoughts that always start quietly, like whispers you're not even sure you're hearing. And then they get louder and louder until they become every sound in the entire world. Thoughts that can't be undone.
Would anyone care?
Would anyone even fucking notice?
What if one day I just wasn't here anymore?
What if one day it all just stopped?”

For me, this book starts off slow. And after reading it in its entirety, I do understand why that is. I'm just impatient lol. Some of the events in this book were hard to read without crying because of how close to home this book hit. Personally, I think this book should be read by EVERYONE!! especially those who believe they are all alone. But more so for those whose loved ones have survived trauma of any kind.

This book also doesn't have a traditional HEA ending. However, it does have a holding on to hope vibe, which I felt was very fitting.

Now the question remains... do I continue this series? Have you read it? If so, is it gonna break my heart further? 😬

⭐⭐⭐.5

One killer Night By Trilina Pucci

So here's the thing… I usually go into a book blind right. Here's the down side to that. In the case of this book.. I was lost while reading this book in the beginning. I had no idea what genre this book was. This book and I had a rocky start, and I take full responsibility for that.

The meet-cute was good, but the pacing had me like, what's really happening here 🤔 I actually had to put the book down and come back to it later.

Good thing there was an audiobook, because I’m not sure I would’ve made it through otherwise.

Once the tension picked up, things started happening, and I literally couldn’t put it down.

“Because you scare the shit out of me, Goldie. You make me want shit I didn’t think I could have.”

I don’t read a ton of romantic suspense, but I am trying to branch out with my reading tastes, and this one ended up surprising me. A slow start, yes, but once it hits its stride, it becomes an addictive ride.

Overall, I ended up really liking it and would definitely recommend it.

⭐️ 3.5 stars

People Like Them By Carol Ann Eastman

People Like Them follows Cissy and her friends on their journey to fight for the right to love and live freely in the world of Eka. It’s a story about the courage to love freely, defiance, and refusing to let anyone dictate who you are.

I mentioned something similar in my review of the first book in this series, People Like Us: no one ... absolutely no one should have the power to decide who you can or cannot love. It doesn’t matter who they are or what authority they think they hold. Cissy and the friends drive that message home with incredible force.

This story is powerful and deeply relevant. It reminds us that no matter where we come from, no matter what we believe, every single one of us has a voice that deserves to be heard. In many ways, the struggles in this book mirror the world we’re living in today.

We also get glimpses into the backstories of several characters, which adds depth and helps us understand how they became the people we see now. Those moments made the story feel even more real and relatable.

By the end, I laughed, and I cheered when they stood up to authority.

If you’ve never read one of my reviews before, if you’ve never taken my recommendations seriously, let this be the one you trust. If you enjoy testing boundaries, forbidden romance, and a fiercely powerful FMC, I strongly urge you to read this book.

You can thank me later.

No Question 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Netflix, I hope you're paying attention 😉 😉

You Me and Forever by Laura Pavlov

 

Montana Kingsley is the best wedding planner in all of Alaska!

Her story immediately made me think of that iconic first line from The Wedding Planner: “Those who cannot wed, plan.” 😂 

" you are the CEO of romance aren't you"

Trying to move on from her ex, Montana heads out for a much-needed night of freedom with her friends and that’s when she meets the irresistibly charming Myles St. James. They both agree it’ll be a one night thing, nothing more… and let’s just say that one night is pure bliss. 

But of course, in perfect rom-com fashion, the next day brings the twist: the realtor who bought her family’s inn is none other than… Myles St. James himself! Cue the immediate shift from bliss to pure, fiery disdain.

Watching these two bicker and banter had me laughing out loud. Their denial of their own feelings? Hilarious. Their chemistry? Off the charts. And when they finally stop fighting it? Bring on the waterworks!

" I knew a diamond in the rough when i saw one. And Montana Kingsley was exactly that" 

I’ve been craving a solid 5-star romance, and I’m so happy to say… this was it. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
After reading so many billionaire romances that just didn’t hit the mark, this one absolutely delivered.

Title: Everbrook Christmas

Authors: Emily Krat and Calla Asher

Genre: A Small-town Holiday Romance Novella

Holiday Romance • Small-Town Romance • Second Chance Romance

TROPES

💔 Second-chance romance

🎄 Forced proximity (she’s staying at HIS inn)

🏡 Small-town magic & meddling neighbors

⏰ Right person, wrong time… twice

👵 Matchmaking grandmother

❤️ One bed-ish tension / emotional intimacy

🧣 Cozy holiday traditions (tree lighting, cocoa, snow nights)

WORD COUNT

Approx. 28,000 words (novella length)

Warning: Matchmaking grandma on the loose! This heart-warming Christmas romance will steal your heart and ruin your sleep schedule!

____________

Possible IG posts

📚🎄 NEW RELEASE SPOTLIGHT 🎄📚

Say hello to EVERBROOK CHRISTMAS — a cozy, heart-tugging second-chance holiday romance that just dropped on Kindle Unlimited! ❄️❤️

If you love:

🎄 Forced proximity (she’s staying at his inn)

🏘️ Small-town magic (where everyone knows your history)

👵 A meddling but adorable grandmother

🌟 Holiday traditions + all the cozy vibes

❤️‍🩹 Emotional depth + swoony moments

…then you need to visit Everbrook.

A dreamy innkeeper.

A big-city heroine returning home.

One unforgettable holiday season. ❄️✨

👉 Read now for free on Kindle Unlimited!

https://geni.us/B0cDlh

⸻

❄️✨ CHRISTMAS ROMANCE ALERT ✨❄️

I’m so excited to share today’s new release: EVERBROOK CHRISTMAS, a warm and emotional holiday novella that feels like a Hallmark movie with extra heart. 🎄💗

Inside you’ll find:

• Snowy Vermont charm

• A swoony innkeeper

• A second-chance love that refuses to fade

• A matchmaking grandmother (yes, she steals every scene)

• Cocoa, tree lightings & slow-burn longing

If you’re craving a story that feels like coming home, this is the one. 🤍

Available now in Kindle Unlimited!

https://geni.us/B0cDlh

#Bookstagram #HolidayReads #RomanceReaders

__________

Synopsis:

A second-chance romance filled with kisses, cozy inn charm and the irresistible pull of home.

Successful, composed and single Emily Walker has everything under control… until her grandmother’s “tiny accident” lures her back to Everbrook, the hometown she swore she’d outgrown.

But Grandma Rose has a plan. And it starts with Emily’s stay at The Sugar Maple Inn, owned by her first love, Michael Thompson.

Seventeen years apart haven’t dimmed their chemistry or the ache of what they lost.

Now, between family dinners, first snowfalls and fake dating fiascos, they'll discover whether some loves are worth any risk or if seventeen years is too long to bridge the gap.

A swoony second-chance romance featuring a matchmaking grandmother, a dreamy innkeeper hero, and the cozy Vermont town where Christmas miracles still happen.

Buy links:

Universal

https://geni.us/B0cDlh

https://amzn.to/47wt2PC

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FZ15VGJQ

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0FZ15VGJQ

https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0FZ15VGJQ

Goodreads link:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/243456403-everbrook-christmas

 

Social Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emilykratauthor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emily_krat_author/

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@emilykrat_author

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8311853.Emily_Krat

Twitter: https://twitter.com/EmilyKrat

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/emilykrat

Newsletter: 

People Like us By Carol Ann Eastman

This book… oh this book. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever read. Raw, daring, and achingly beautiful in ways I didn’t even know I needed. The world these characters live in feels terrifyingly close to our own… where power that be shapes the knowledge we learn, what we consume, where we work, how much we make, and, worst of all, who we’re allowed to love.🧐

“Do you ever feel like you’re just watching your life happen, but you’re not the one in charge of it?”

That line hit me like a punch to the soul.

What moved me the most wasn’t just the plot; it was Cissy and Riot characters as a whole. These characters, so young yet so brave, questioning everything they’ve been told, trusting their instincts, and stumbling into truths about themselves that cracked my heart wide open. Their hope, their fear, their desperate desire to simply be. I felt every bit of it.

I laughed with them. I cried for them. I rooted for them with every page, my chest tightening with that fierce, aching wish for them to reach their own finish line together. The love, the struggle, the courage… it all felt so real.

“It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.”

Carol Ann, if you ever read this… I am waiting..impatiently, desperately, lovingly for Part 2. My heart won’t rest until I know how this love story ends. 🙏🏽🫶🏽

5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ tear-stained, heart-aching stars