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.

House of Sin By Brittnay J Sears | I need more of this

Title: House of Sin

Author: Brittnay J Sears
Genre: Dark Historical Fiction
Rating: 5⭐️
Book Links: Goodreads | Amazon


My initial thoughts:

This was completely different from what I normally read, but I was locked in from the very beginning.

The Vibe:
Unhinged FMC, Found Family, Feminine power

My Review:

Have you ever read a historical fiction with a DARK, unhinged FMC? No? Yeah, me either. Chile… this was such a good time.

As soon as I picked this book up, I was completely locked in. I’m talking stayed up until 3 a.m., knowing I had to be up by 6 to get ready for work. Then, when I got to work, I still managed to find time to finish the rest of it. And it was so worth it.

Set in the early 1900s, The Oily Cat is a brothel run by a femdom who is determined to protect her ladies by any means necessary. At The Oily Cat, beauty becomes bait, charm becomes a weapon, and when men cross the line, consequences will be paid.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

My girl Bernadette is unhinged to the highest power, and she has absolutely no qualms about it. But she has to be. She’s been through so much in her life that taking control is the only way she knows how to survive. And she teaches her girls to hold that same power for themselves.

Bernadette protects what is hers, and she does not hesitate when someone threatens the women under her care. She is dark, ruthless, and completely unapologetic, and I loved every minute of it.

This was the first book I’ve read by Brittany J. Sears, but it definitely won’t be the last. I cannot wait for the next installment in this series.

5⭐️

I received this ARC from The Author Agency in exchange for my honest review.



Synopsis:

Welcome to The Oily Cat, where desire is currency, and breaking the rules is a death sentence.

Bernadette runs her brothel with ruthless precision. Every woman under her roof is protected, every client knows the rules, and any man who crosses the line doesn’t leave.
For years, the system has worked.
Until a stranger arrives with sinister secrets and a past that refuses to stay buried.
As whispers spread and tensions rise, the careful balance Bernadette has built begins to crack. Old loyalties falter, dangerous truths surface, and the line between predator and prey begins to blur.
Now, with everything she’s fought to protect on the brink of collapse, Bernadette must decide how far she’s willing to go to keep control . . . and how much blood she’s willing to spill to do it.

Because inside The Oily Cat, power is taken, not given, and every sin demands its price.

Anything But love By A.E Jensen & Courtney W. Dixon | The Weight We Carry and the Love That Helps Us Let Go

Title: Anything But Love
Author: A.E Jensen & Courtney W. Dixon
Genre: MM Romance
Rating: 4.5 ⭐
Book Links: Goodreads | Amazon


My initial thoughts: 

Some books entertain you. Others quietly remind you that healing isn't always loud or dramatic..it can look like patience, vulnerability, and someone choosing to stay when life feels the heaviest.

This was one of those books for me.

The Vibe:
Mental health struggles, emotional, spicy, slow burn, Friends to lovers

My Review:
I seem to be drawn to these trauma-based romance stories. They all seem to have one thing in common: healing. Maybe that’s what keeps pulling me back to them. We could all use a little healing, couldn’t we? Anyway… I’m babbling. 🤭 Back to the review.

Jett and Wes’ story felt like I was watching two of my best friends find each other, fall in love, and show up for one another through every high and low. Every experience they endured made me feel like I was right there beside them. 🥹

Jett’s a former Olympic track runner crushed under the weight of his parents’ expectations; his struggles with mental health rang true. It was truly heartbreaking.

Wes is sunshine personified. He’s open-hearted, genuinely kind, and exactly the kind of person Jett needed. Watching him patiently love someone who struggled to believe he deserved it was beautiful.

The emotional connection between these two is where this story shines. Watching them go from idols to lovers felt natural. The romance was slow enough to be believable while still bringing plenty of chemistry that kept me turning the pages.

My only real issue was the pacing. I spent a good portion of the book waiting for the plot to start plotting, and by the time it did, the payoff didn’t have quite the emotional impact I was hoping for. Even so, it never took away from how invested I became in Jett and Wes or how much I wanted to see them find their way to each other.

This is a heavy story, but it never forgets to give you moments to breathe. Wes’ humor, the family gatherings, and watching a man slowly learn that he is worthy of being loved balanced the heavier themes beautifully.

Jett and Wes are going to stay with me for a long time. Their story hurt, healed, and reminded me that sometimes love really can meet you where you are.

4.5⭐️

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

Synopsis:
Let me in… or walk away before you ruin me.

Wes
I’ve spent my life chasing a good time; no strings, no complications, and no heartbreak. Now that I have a stable job as a physical therapist at the university, I’m ready to look for a deeper connection. Then in walks Jared “Jett” Cordier; former Olympic golden boy, track legend… and the guy I used to watch like he was untouchable. Turns out, he’s closed off, broody, and about as welcoming as a slammed door.

But somewhere between late nights and arguments that burn a little too hot, something shifts and lines blur. One heated moment turns into another, and suddenly we’re involved in something that looks a lot like friends-with-benefits. It’s supposed to stay easy, but nothing about Jett feels casual.

Jett

I had everything once. Then I lost it all—my athletic career, my relationship, my dad.

Starting over as an assistant coach is my do-over. It’s supposed to be simple: keep my head down and do my job. Then comes Wes; too loud, too charming… too much. I’m trying desperately not to be sucked in and to keep him at arm’s length. But in the end, I let him in just enough to get a taste and forget what it feels like to be falling apart.

The more time I spend with Wes, the harder it is to pretend this is nothing. I can feel my walls crumbling, and I’m afraid. I don’t know if I’m strong enough to risk everything again.

🦆 Hero Worship
🦆 Small Town Romance
🦆 Friends with Benefits
🦆 Grumpy/Sunshine
🦆 Mental Health Rep
🦆 Hurt/Comfort
🦆 Rough Start
🦆 Opposites Attract
🦆 Interracial
🦆 Pan Awakening
🦆 Sports Romance/Running
🦆 Workplace Romance

Bless This Hot Mess By Charlie David | More Than Just a Comedy

Title: Bless This Hot Mess
Author: Charlie David
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Rating: 4⭐️ 
Book Links: Goodreads | Amazon


My initial thoughts:

I picked this one up expecting a lighthearted comedy, and while it absolutely delivered on the laughs, I wasn't expecting how much heart it would have. Somewhere between all the chaos and hilarious banter, I found myself completely invested in these wonderfully imperfect characters.

The Vibe:

Chaotic
Feel-Good
Found Family
Laugh-Out-Loud
Heartwarming


My Review:

I went into this story expecting a fun comedy, but I wasn’t prepared for just how much this book would make me laugh. This is a story about friendship, acceptance, faith, and finding your people.

The real stars of this story are the characters.

Rebekkah is dramatic, outspoken, and deeply rooted in her faith. Japheth is the overthinker. Ronald is the confident, athletic guy with more layers than I expected.

Together, these three are absolute magic. Their banter was everything, their friendships felt real, and I found myself looking forward to every conversation because they genuinely sounded like friends who had known each other forever.

The second half shifts into more emotional territory, which surprised me. While it worked.. it also kinda caught me off guard.

Overall, Bless This Hot Mess is exactly what its title promises: a wonderfully messy, genuinely feel-good read that embraces its characters, celebrates their imperfections, and reminds us that sometimes the most dysfunctional families are the ones we choose.

4 ⭐️

I received this arc from Book Sirens in exchange for my honest review



Synopsis:

SOUNDTRACK. WAIT...IS THIS A BOOK? OR A MUSICAL?
It’s both! Make this story interactive! Find the Bless This Hot Mess soundtrack on all major music storefronts including Spotify, Apple, Amazon, YouTube and more. Read, listen and sing along. '90s nostalgia never sounded so good.

SYNOPSIS (Buckle-up Buttercup!)
Hilarious, campy, musical and moving, this book provokes you to ponder: If I steal a few hearts, can I still get into Heaven?

When a failing radio station’s morning show starts stealing, sampling and remixing ‘90s pop songs in a Hail Mary attempt at attracting an audience, virtuous virgin Japheth is forced to team up with Rino, a dangerously charming Italian car dealership heir with advertiser dollars to spend and maybe-mafia vibes, and their enemies-to-lovers romance threatens to become the station’s biggest scandal and its only salvation.

At WWJD Radio in Greater Napanee, salvation is off script. The phones are ringing off the hook, the fax machine is spitting out cease-and-desist letters from every boy band of the ’90s, and Trinity, the trio of accidental evangelists, are stealing pop songs “for the Lord.”

There’s Rebekkah; the breathless true believer who, though 30, still refers to herself as an ingénue. Her best friend Japheth; virtuous and still virginal. Ronald: poly, pan, and building an ark in his backyard.

Together with Carrington (part receptionist, part stylist, part chaos incarnate), Suwarna (HR, in charge of keeping her new station owner alive and not ‘disappeared’), and everyone's new boss, Emma-Lou (an heiress with a talent for panic and bangs that weren’t her idea) they’re keeping WWJD barely afloat.

Until it burns down. Literally.

Their only shot at salvation comes from Rino Ferrari: a devastatingly charming Italian car-dealership heir with too much money, too many secrets, and maybe a little mafia energy. Unfortunately for Japheth (romantic mess and professional overthinker), Rino is also the last person he wants to need… and the first person he can’t stop thinking about.

As scandal, suspicion, and undeniable chemistry collide, Japheth and Rino tumble from enemies to lovers in a rom-com where faith is flexible, temptation is tailored, and the guy you’re supposed to hate is the one who makes you feel alive.

Is local car dealer Rino Ferrari a mobster, or just a surprisingly generous Christian with body bags of money to give away? Why did Emma-Lou’s parents really “disappear” in the Bermuda Triangle? And will Trinity rebuild a new station on a floating ark, or sell out to dirty money for fame, tote bags, and a studio album?

Outrageously funny, shockingly tender, and just heretical enough, Bless This Hot Mess will jump-start your heart.

Count on me By Leigh Carron | Hooked from the very first chapter

Title: Count on Me
Author: Leigh Carron
Genre: Romance
Rating: 5⭐
Book Links: Goodreads | Amazon


My initial thoughts:
Before I begin, if you read any of my Reviews, you know I go into every new book completely blind.. If I pick up what you’re putting down while you’re promoting your book, I’m definitely gonna read it. For this book, my gut instinct was spot on!

The Vibe:
romance, emotional, spicy, secret relationship, self love

Favorite Quote:
"For the record, I'm not Home Depot. I'm DK's Bakery. Fresh baked bread served daily"


Review:

It’s stories like THIS that keep me coming back for more.

First of all, I knew from the very first chapter that this was gonna be a good time. The witty banter between DK and his brother, to Rayne aka Luna’s sassy internal monologues had me 😂😂

DK is absolutely everything. He’s confident but not arrogant, dominant but emotionally intelligent, and the way he supports Rayne without trying to fix her or diminish her power.. chefs kiss.. Now that’s a man.

The representation of self-love.. is very strong in this story..

Rayne learns to trust herself again, to own her body, her choices, and her worth. As a woman, seeing her struggle with self-acceptance and then watching her reclaim her power, especially in a world that constantly tells women to shrink, was deeply relatable. So many of us have been there, questioning if we’re too much or not enough. Rayne’s story speaks volumes as so many ppl are currently struggling with these same issues every single day.

The spice🔥🔥🔥.. Oh honey, this totally caught me off guard.. my man DK did NOT come to play.. I especially loved that he embraced HER sexuality.

The chemistry between them is absolutely scorching from jump!! These scenes weren’t just hot, every intimate moment felt earned and meaningful.

Rayne and DK are on opposite sides of their political campaign, both fighting for what they believe in. The way it all came together felt like I got behind the scenes look at an actual campaign.

Overall, this book is a must read. It’s beautifully written about 2 ppl from different backgrounds with different struggles fighting for what they believe in.. LOVE ❤️

After reading this, is what I found out that this was part of the series. 🤷🏽‍♀️ 🤦🏽‍♀️ Now I’m definitely gonna go back and read book one and the rest of her catalog cause yes!!!

5⭐

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