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

Beautiful Disaster By Courtney W. Dixon | The story I've been waiting for

 

Title: Beautiful Disaster
Author: Courtney W. Dixon
Genre: MM Romance
Rating: 5⭐️
Book Links: Goodreads | Amazon


My initial thoughts:

I’ve been waiting for Jinx’s story. But I was absolutely not prepared for how emotional this story would be.

The Vibe:
MM, Age gap, Dom/sub, brat

My Review:
Ms. Dixon, in all my years of reading, how is it I’ve only now just found your books?!
This is the third book I’ve read by this author, and I promise it won’t be the last!! Okay, enough about me…

Like many of us who’ve read Spitting Off the Edge of the World, I fell in love with Jinx and was so very excited to hear he was getting his own story.

Jinx has survived things no one should ever have to, and now he’s trying to figure out who he is outside of that trauma. Watching him struggle through his panic attacks, put on that flirtatious persona as a shield, and slowly learn what it actually feels like to be cared for absolutely wrecked me.

Mason is the complete opposite. He’s all about control, rules, structure, and discipline.

These two needed each other in ways I wasn’t prepared for.

Mason never tried to fix Jinx. He gave him choices. He gave him boundaries. He gave him patience. Most importantly, he showed Jinx that love could look completely different from what he had known before.

Meanwhile, Mason was struggling with his own wounds. Watching these two slowly become a safe place for each other was breathtakingly beautiful. There were so many moments where Jinx would break down, and Mason would simply be there to help him pick up the pieces… when it was called for without question Jinx did the same.

Some of Jinx’s experiences also touched on things that resonated with my own past, which made certain moments particularly emotional for me. I had to put everything down because the feelings were just too much at times.

But that ending… 🥹 …that’s all I’m saying.

Ms. Dixon, I really hope I get to tell you this one day in person. On behalf of all the Jinx’s in this world… thank you. Thank you for seeing us.

These stories you write are works of fiction, but sometimes we’re judged so harshly that we start to believe we’re unworthy of love. Your stories always prove otherwise.

And if you can’t tell by this review… yes… I cried. A LOT. 😭

5⭐️




Synopsis:


I swore off men, only to find someone who has set me free.

Mason Vitali

I’ve finally found my perfect sub, but he’s so much more than that.

What started as an accident turned into fate. Or was it fate that caused the accident? Those eyes of his, so full of fear and want. It’s been eight years since I had a sub, and the last one ended in disaster. I swore to myself: never again. Then here comes this young man, desperate to be seen, to be put in his place. He doesn’t realize it yet… but I do. Jinx is full of vinegar and defiance, but get him in the right mood, and he opens up like a beautiful flower in spring. He bends so easily for me, and in the end, I bend for him. He’s so much deeper and special than I ever imagined. I would give everything up for him.

Jinx

I promised myself no more men. Ever.

Mason Vitali scares me. I’m also intrigued. After being trafficked as an infant and sold into prostitution, I finally had my freedom, but I refused to be with another man. Now, following two years of trying to date women and failing miserably, I want to try something new. Mason is willing to give that to me. Little did I know that having him as my Dom had also given me my life back. My control. My autonomy. I was a prisoner in my body and mind. Mason set me free. But like all things in life, we’ve come to a crossroads. Now, I have to decide whether to let him go so he can thrive or stay and let him fail.

Across the Vanishing Sky by Catherine Cowles | A Grumpy Neighbor, a Missing Best Friend & Chemistry You Can’t Ignore

 

Title: Across the Vanishing Sky
Author: Catherine Cowles
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Rating: 4.5⭐️
Book Links: Goodreads| Amazon


My initial thoughts:

Everyone kept raving about this series, and of course I had to see what the big deal was. 😂 Let me just say… I get it now. I was NOT prepared for how invested I would become with this one. While it did take a minute, but once it hooked me, I was locked in for the long haul.

The Vibe:
Unhinged MMC, grumpy neighbor, emotional, Found family, slow burn


My Review:

I have a serious case of fomo.. and everyone I know who has read it has been raving about this series, so I just had to know for myself what the hype was about.

I almost DNF’d this one in the beginning. The slow burn was excruciatingly slow for me, and y’all already know patience is not exactly one of my strengths when reading..

But once this story starts to heat up chileeeee...It picked UP.

Brae refuses to give up on finding her best friend Nova, and I think that’s what really got me. No matter how many dead ends she hit or how many people tried to convince her to stop looking, she kept pushing forward. After a while, I was just as invested in finding answers as she was.

Dex was the Grumpy, neighbor she just kept running into, who everyone told her could help her. He didn't want to help, of course, but eventually couldn't resist her, or this case.
Underneath all that grumpy man was a loving, protective man, who's just a little unhinged when it comes to Brae, and was willing to ☠️ anyone who harmed her.
The suspense is what really locked me in. You think you know... but you have no idea.

Lord, those final chapters put my emotions through the wringer!! The way I was crying, you would have thought it was my sister/best friend with how emotionally invested I was in what was happening. 😭

And now I’m very curious to see where this series goes next.

4.5 ⭐️

Synopsis:

Braedyn Winslow never expected to return to Starlight Grove—the town that took everything from her. Not after her best friend, the one who’d sacrificed so much for her, vanished without a trace. But with a young son to raise and a past that won’t stay buried, Brae is back…and determined to uncover the truth.

She just didn’t count on the brooding, reclusive mountain man living next door.

Dex Archer is the stuff of local legend—silent, rugged, and surrounded by whispers of his and his brothers’ violent father. But Brae sees through the scowl and his parentage to the man beneath: fiercely loyal, unexpectedly kind…and just dangerous enough to protect her when someone starts warning her off her search.

The closer she gets to the truth, the harder it is to stay away from Dex. And as things get more perilous, Brae realizes the only person she can rely on is the one man who swore never to trust again.

Only someone isn’t happy that Brae has been digging, and they’ll do anything to stop her. But Dex? He’ll do anything to save her, even slip back into the dark…

Capicu Summer by Luna K Wicked | A Love Story Rooted in Home

 

Title: Capicu Summer
Author: Luna K Wicked
Genre: Romance
Rating: 5⭐️
Book Links: Goodreads | Amazon


My initial thoughts:

I went into this expecting a fun summertime romance, but instead I was wrapped in the warmth of the culture and the strength of the community. Before I knew it, I was completely caught up in the messy relationships, family drama, and so much more.

The Vibe:

second chance romance, badass fmc, possessive mmc, family legacy


My Review:

Adriana left Altura Heights years ago, believing she had to leave the barrio behind if she wanted something more for herself. But when the man she trusted shows his true colors…and reveals what he has planned for the community that raised her…going home becomes about so much more than returning to where she came from.

And waiting for her there is Yael Cruz.

Adriana and Yael have history. A messy, painful history. But the connection between them is still very much there. Yael is definitely possessive, but he’s also completely sure that Adriana is the woman he wants.

This was a short novella, but it was packed with so much more than just romance. It was about grief, family, community, and fighting for the place that will always be a part of you.

The culture was blended beautifully throughout the story. I could almost taste the food and hear the music. Altura Heights didn’t just feel like the setting…it felt alive, and I truly felt like I was part of the neighborhood while reading.

Prepare yourself to feel every emotion throughout this story. Ms. Wicked gave us an FMC who didn’t need someone else to save her. She just needed to remember who she was, what she was capable of, and where she truly belonged.

I started this book way past my bedtime and was determined to finished this knowing I had to be up very early to start my day, but this was so good there was no way I could put it down.

My only complaint is that I wanted more. 🤭 More of Adriana and Yael, more of the neighborhood, and more time inside this world. 🤗🥰


5⭐️

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



Synopsis:

“And just like that… the first domino falls.”
At Altura, summer brings the heat... and the past you thought you left behind.

Five years after she swore she’d never come back, Adriana Santos returns to the block that raised her and to the man who never left it. Yael Cruz still carries the weight of one choice that shattered them both. But when her dying grandfather forces them to work together, old wounds resurface demanding to felt. What starts off as simmer turns into a fire leaving them exposed to their truth.

Porque donde hubo fuego, las cenizas siempre quedan.

And as the summer heat rises, so do the stakes, because the last game has just begun.



Porque nadie termina hasta el último capicú.