ARC Review - Mayhem & Minnie by Veronica Lancet

 Thank you so much Chaotic Creative Services for sending me this ARC!

Title: Mayhem & Minnie

Author: Veronica Lancet

Genre: Dark Romance, Romantic Comedy, Fantasy Romance

Series: Marlowe and Minnie (book #1)

Pages: 668

Synopsis:

He’s a neurotic serial killer. She’s the woman he cannot kill.

Marlowe Spencer-Astor is in a slump. He hasn’t killed a single soul in one hundred seventy four days. Not even therapy could solve his murderous problem, though he promised his mother he’d try.

But then he sees a homeless girl by the side of the road.

Minnie. 

She’s naked, dirty and smelly–everything that triggers his OCD.

Though he’s never killed a woman before, Marlowe sees this as an opportunity to get out of his slump.

She would be his greatest kill, his missing muse.

So he hires her as his maid while he plots the perfect murder.

But odd things start happening around her.

All the men who see her become bewitched by her. And as Marlowe slowly reconsiders his plan to kill her, he realizes she must have put a spell on him too.

Or did she? 

By the time Marlowe realizes who, or what Minnie is, he becomes embroiled in an ancient conflict between gods and demons that threatens the stability of the universe. And when his life is in danger, will Minnie be his friend, or his foe?

Review & thoughts:

Mayhem and Minnie is the first book in a new series from Veronica Lancet. It’s a dark romance with fantasy elements, many laugh out loud scenes, amazing characters and unique romance, I absolutely loved it and already can’t wait for the next part of Marlowe and Minnie’s story!

Marlowe is a serial killer with ADHD and OCD who kills only men and after half a year of no kills, he decides it’s time to find a new victim. When he saves a homeless woman from being abused and has no choice but to take her home, he makes a decision to make her his maid while he’s planning her murder. Minnie, who is messy, has no manners and is Marlowe’s polar opposite, should be the last person he might come to like, but when he realizes he can’t force himself to hurt her, let alone kill her, he thinks she might be the one for him, and with unexplainable things happening around Minnie, he must either finally kill her or pursue a true relationship with her. 

This book was completely different from what I expected but in the best way possible, it’s a long book with over 600 pages, but I was so hooked in on every word I didn’t realize how quickly I flew through the pages and wanted even more when I got to the end. The way the author set this story is so interesting, we have a modern world with some fascinating fantasy elements and while it’s a bit of dark romance, there was so much humor I was laughing out loud so many times with literal tears in my eyes, some scenes and Marlowe’s thoughts were just hilarious. 

Both Marlowe and Minnie are truly unique characters and I adored them, they grew a lot, both separately and as a couple, and I am so excited to see them again in the next book. This book is wholly from Marlowe’s POV and I loved seeing everything through his eyes, it was so interesting and his thoughts were so funny at times. The romance was a slow burn and there was definitely the case of ‚she fell first, he fell harder’, I loved all their scenes and conversations together, how possessive he was of her despite claiming to not like her and how amazing they were when they finally got together. I just love these two and already can’t wait to see them again, especially after that cliffhanger. 

Mayhem and Minnie is a really unique and incredible read that I definitely recommend to everyone. Book 2 can’t come soon enough!

Rating:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

ARC Review - City of Mirth and Malice by Alexis L. Menard

 Thank you so much Alexis L. Menard for sending me this ARC!

Title: City of Mirth and Malice

Author: Alexis L. Menard

Genre: Fantasy Romance

Series: Order and Chaos (book #2)

Pages: 495

Synopsis:

Some debts are not so easily repaid—or forgiven.

Nicolai Attano finally has everything he’s ever wanted: control over the Iron Saint Railway, safety for his family, and not a single rival syndicate to stand in his way. Never could he have imagined he’d want anything more than power—not until Camilla Marchese.

Six weeks have passed since the disaster on the train and his wife was kidnapped, but to get her back, he’ll need help. Nico struggles to work with a city poisoned against him and is instead forced to seek the aid of a disreputable black-market dealer. A simple deal to ensure her rescue, Nico doesn’t think twice. A bargain is struck, and the cost is higher than ever. The collateral? His life. 

Meanwhile, Camilla fights to gain control over her newfound powers as the alchemist in charge of her confinement puts her to the test. Forced to free what she’s held so close, the only light in this hellish prison is the hope to see her family again, and the husband who stole her heart. Three trials and three chances to find the source of her Chaos and use it to save herself, if it doesn’t destroy her first.

Cracks in the city draw lines between loyalties, and time is running out until everything comes crashing down. Return to Lynchaven in this action-packed and swoony conclusion of Nico and Milla’s story.

Review & thoughts:

City of Mirth and Malice is the second book in a Fantasy Romance duology with morally grey characters, beautiful and spicy romance, fascinating world and shocking plot twists and while I loved the first book when I read it half a year ago, I think I enjoyed this one even more, I love this duology!

City of Mirth and Malice begins not long after THAT ending of book one and after everything that happened there, we are thrown right in the middle of the action. This book was everything I was hoping for and more, we see all the amazing characters we were introduced to in the first book and I loved seeing everyone again. The stakes are much higher here and we got so many plot twists, shocking betrayals and so much action I read the whole book in one night because I couldn’t put it down, the author created a truly unique world with fascinating magic system and politics that had me hooked on every single page. 

Camilla is one of the strongest FMCs I know, she went through a lot in this book and came out even stronger and I love her character and how much she grew from the beginning of book 1. Nico is a perfect morally grey MMC and the way he was absolutely devoted to Camilla was so beautiful, I loved reading his POV and his thoughts about her. Camilla and Nico have gone a long way from how their relationship started and it was amazing to see them as a couple here, they always supported and took care of each other and I loved all their scenes together, they were a perfect couple despite their differences and the spicy scenes were *chief’s kiss*, I found myself blushing a few times, these two were a fire together and I already miss them. 

City of Mirth and Malice is the perfect conclusion to this fantasy romance duology, I laughed, I cried, I swooned and I already can’t wait for more books from this author and keep my fingers crossed we will get to see these characters again. Definitely recommend this duology to everyone!

Rating:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

ARC Review - You're the Boss by Emma Hart

 Thank you so much Emma Hart for sending me this ARC!

Title: You're the Boss

Author: Emma Hart

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Series: Standalone

Pages: 363

Synopsis:

A sexy, banter-filled romcom between the secretary trying to escape and the man who refuses to let her go... 

Current life hand in my resignation and get out from under the thumb of my cold, demanding boss that I’ve not-so-lovingly nicknamed The Bastard. After a month of trying and failing to get the infuriating man to accept it, his grandfather offers me the chance I’ve been waiting go on a trip up north for six weeks for a project that will solidify my boss’ position as the company Vice-President, and he’ll personally see to it that my resignation is processed on our return. The catch? I have to live with him for those six weeks. 

That’s exactly how I acquire a rich, handsome roommate who doesn’t seem to know what a shirt is, can’t operate a washing machine, and might actually set the kitchen on fire. They’re all sides of Theodore Black I’ve never seen before, but I still don’t know if I want to kick him or kiss him. Until I accidentally walk in on him doing some self-care in the shower. And maybe… the office isn’t the only place he’s the boss.

Review & thoughts:

You’re the Boss is the newest Romantic Comedy from Emma Hart and this author never disappoints, Chloe and Theo’s story was amazing and I laughed, swooned and absolutely loved it!

When Chloe’s overbearing boss once again refuses to accept her resignation, she has no choice but to agree to his grandfather’s plan: live with Theo, her boss, for a few months while they oversee a new company project and in exchange she will be able to find a new job. But the more time they spend together, the more Chloe realizes the man she thought to be cold-hearted man is actually a cinnamon roll and when they realize they might be more than just work associates, despite their constant bickering, they need to decide if they are willing to give in to their fiery attraction and give a relationship a try all the while trying not to kill each other and not to fall for each other. 

Let me just say that this book had me hooked in the first chapter and didn’t let me go until the very end. Chloe and Theo’s story was absolutely amazing and I had so much fun reading it, their thoughts and banter had me laughing out loud so many times, these two were everything. I liked how the first few chapters were from Chloe’s POV and we got to see Theo from her eyes and then how different everything seemed when we got to his POV, I couldn’t stop laughing at how oblivious Chloe was at times when it came to him. I really liked Chloe as the main character, she was smart and sassy and some of her thoughts and actions were pure gold but Theo… he was the true gem here, he was a cinnamon roll hero and I loved how cute he was at times and the way he was pining for Chloe was everything, I was rooting for him so much. Theo and Chloe were amazing together and despite her extreme dislike for him as her boss I loved how perfect they were for each other, they bickered a lot but always had each other’s back and when they finally gave in to their attraction, the spicy scenes had me blushing at times, they were fire together. And of course, I can’t forget about Theo’s father and grandfather and Chloe’s cousin, Harvey, they were amazing supporting characters and made me crack up with their antics. 

You’re the Boss is a really great romantic comedy with amazing characters, cute and spicy romance and laugh out loud banter, I absolutely loved it and already can’t wait for Emma’s next book!

Rating:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

ARC Review - What I Should've Said by Max Monroe

 Thank you so much Max Monroe for sending me this ARC!

Title: What I Should've Said

Author: Max Monroe

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Series: Standalone

Pages: 394

Synopsis:

When grumpy, muscled-up artist Bennett Bishop bothers to speak, it’s usually to say something you’re not ready to hear.

When he first speaks to Norah Ellis, a rambling runaway bride who hitchhikes a ride from him, it’s to tell her to get out of his truck and walk because she’s a pain in the a-s-s.

By appearance, Norah Ellis is a fancy fashionista who’s spent the last several years living the good life in the city—expensive apartments, highbrow events, and a fiancé with wealth and good looks. The only problem is that she didn’t choose any of it for herself.

On the day of her July wedding, thanks to a letter from a stranger, Norah’s world turns upside down. She runs for the hills of Vermont to start a new life, but what’s waiting for her, between her estranged sister, the townspeople, and bad-boy Bennett Bishop himself, is way more than she bargained for.

Enemies turn to lovers, strangers become friends, dark secrets bust open like cans of worms, and most of all…Summer will never be the same.

Review & thoughts:

What I Should’ve Said is the newest book from Max Monroe, my favorite rom-com authors, and so different than what I’ve come to expect from these authors but in such a good way, I absolutely loved it (despite the fact that my heart will never be the same) and can’t wait to see what Max and Monroe come up with next! 

After discovering her life in New York has been a lie, Norah moves to a small town to stay with her sister. Not used to this kind of life, she tries to find her place there which proves difficult, especially since Bennett, a local whose first meeting with her couldn’t go more wrong, seems to dislike her despite their obvious chemistry. But when she starts working for him as his assistant and meets his daughter, Norah knows it’s going to be easy to fall in love with both of them and with a tragedy waiting to happen, both Ben and Norah need to decide if spending time together and becoming more that work associates is worth the unavoidable heartbreak. 

This book was so unexpected and so freaking incredible I still cry whenever I think about it and when I see the cover ad remember what it means. Bennett, Norah and Summer, Bennett’s daughter, stole my heart and I absolutely loved reading their story, it broke my heart and then put it together again and OMG I just love it so much, I can’t remember when was the last time I cried so hard while reading a book. Norah and Bennett had beautiful enemies to lovers romance with the amazing banter I always love in Max Monroe books and they were so perfect together. Their scenes with Summer were my favorite and they made such a beautiful family, I loved this little girl and how she was a ray of sunshine in the whole book despite everything she went through. All of the characters were really well written and three dimensional and I already can’t wait to see more of them in the authors’s next books. 

What I Should’ve Said is an absolutely incredible and emotional story about family, love, grief and I definitely recommend it to everyone, trust me, this book is so good and you don’t want to miss it.

Rating:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

ARC Review - Until It Was Love by Pippa Grant

 Thank you so much Hambright PR for sending me this ARC!

Title: Until It Was Love

Author: Pippa Grant

Genre: Romantic Comedy, Sport Romance

Series: Standalone

Pages: 380

Synopsis:

There are a million reasons why I shouldn’t date Fletcher Huxley. 

He’s a growly-faced, stubborn-streaked, international rugby legend trying to revive his flailing career in the US after being canned by his team overseas. 

While he might have the good kind of thunder thighs, intriguing tattoos, and a booty of steel, he also holds the top position on my very short nemesis list thanks to what happened the first time we met. 

Plus, his mustache is as terrible as the reason he’s picked me to be the woman he wants to date. 

But he has one big checkmark in the why this date is a good idea he’s my brother’s new teammate. 

They already hate each other. 

And my brother has made an unfortunate habit of interfering with my love life recently. 

So a revenge date with Fletcher to make my brother mad? While letting Fletcher think this date is merely for the good of the team? 

Yep. 

I’m in. 

I’m moving to London for work in a month. And it’s just one date. What could possibly go wrong? 

Review & thoughts:

Until It Was Love is the newest Romantic Comedy from Pippa Grant and she never misses when it comes to rom-coms, I really enjoyed Goldie and Fletcher’s story and already can’t wait for Pippa’s next book! 

After her rugby playing brother ruined all of her dates in the last two years, Goldie can only do one thing: start dating Fletcher, her brother’s teammate and the man he extremely dislikes. Goldie and Fletcher are polar opposites, but the more time they spend together, the more they like and trust each other, and with Goldie leaving in three months, they need to decide whether they are willing to give in to their growing feelings and risk losing their hearts. 

I must admit I’m not really a fan of sport romance books but OMG this one was so freaking cute and I had so much fun reading it. Goldie and Fletcher are everything, I adored these two and their slow burn enemies to friends to lovers romance was absolutely amazing, I laughed, I swooned, I cried and I just loved them together. Their conversations and the way they supported each other was beautiful and their banter made me laugh out loud so many times, they were hilarious. And of course, I can’t forget to mention Fletcher’s mustache! It felt like it was a whole separate character, I was laughing so much at all the jokes and mentions about it and what happened to it was comical. I also really liked Goldie’s 3 elderly friends with the best life advices and funny ideas and of course Sweet Pea, Fletcher’s dog, was so adorable and I would love to have one just like her, I honestly loved all the characters in this book. 

Until It Was Love was an amazing romantic comedy with great characters, beautiful and spicy romance, laugh-out-loud humor and adorable dog that I absolutely loved and definitely recommend to everyone. 

Rating:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

ARC Review - Worthy of Fate by A. N. Caudle

 Thank you so much A. N. Caudle for sending me this ARC!

Title: Worthy of Fate

Author: A. N. Caudle

Genre: Fantasy Romance

Series: Realms in Peril (book #1)

Pages: 586

Synopsis:

The Gem

Marked by the Gods, Kya is forced to partake in a Trial for a chance to be deemed Worthy. If she succeeds, she’ll be gifted great powers. If she fails, she could lose her life or worse. But that’s only the start of her worries. Now, the same plague that took her home is spreading and threatening the fate of the realm. Can Kya survive the Trial of the Gods and gain the needed power to rid the world of the growing threat before it’s too late? Or will she be drawn to what awaits her in the shadows?

The Shadow

Ryker has waited a long time for her—his mate. Now he’s found her. He plans to claim what is rightfully his, but dark forces threaten to destroy his Nation should he embrace the bond he so desperately desires. Unable to escape the drive to be near her, he waits for his precious gem, lingering in her shadow.

Review & thoughts:

Worthy of Fate is the first book in a Fantasy Romance series and I can’t believe it’s a debut book, it’s so well-written and complex and just simply incredible, I couldn’t put it down and I absolutely loved it. 

I’m not going to say much about the plot because I think it’s best to go into this book blind, but believe me when I say it has everything we love in fantasy romance genre and more. There is a fascinating world and magic system, deadly competition, morally grey characters, forbidden fated mates with slow burn romance and so much action with many plot twists and heartbreaking cliffhanger that will leave you wanting more, this book was everything I was hoping for and I already can’t wait for the next one. 

I absolutely adored our main characters, Kya and Ryker. Kya was a really strong, complex and interesting FMC and it was amazing to see her grow in this book and explore her powers, she was a badass and I can’t wait to see her again. When it comes to Ryker… he was definitely a morally grey MMC and quickly joined the list of my favorite shadow daddies, but what I loved most about him was how gone he was for Kya since the first time he saw her (and probably even earlier lol). It was definitely a case of ‘he fell first’ and I loved reading his thoughts about her and how he always wanted to be there for her and support her and how proud of her he always was. These two were absolutely amazing together and I loved their slow burn forbidden romance, they were willing to do anything for each other and once they finally gave in to their attraction they were truly explosive. I loved them and already miss them, after THAT ending I’m desperate to know how their story continues ASAP! 

Worthy of Fate is an amazing fantasy romance book and a perfect debut from an author I already know will became one of my favorites. I absolutely loved it and definitely recommend it to everyone and can’t wait for book 2!

Rating:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

ARC Review - Queens of Mist and Madness by Lisette Marshall

 Thank you so much Lisette Marshall for sending me this ARC!

Title: Queens of Mist and Madness

Author: Lisette Marshall

Genre: Fantasy Romance

Series: Fae Isles (book #4)

Pages: 689

Synopsis:

"Fae wars don't end in surrender."

Emelin has finally found the bindings, the key to her victory. But to use them, she needs one last piece of the puzzle … and the only person who can give her that information is a stubbornly silent Thysandra.

And an uncooperative captive is the least of Em’s problems.

As the Mother prepares to strike, the magical world continues to squabble. Something ominous is plaguing Creon. And Em’s own newfound powers come with a dark side she did not expect, forcing her to decide just how much she’s willing to sacrifice for the fate of the world.

To find allies and gather the forces they need, Em and Creon have no choice but to face the shadows of their pasts. But when disastrous secrets are revealed and the Mother finally deals her devastating blow … will they still have a future?

Review & thoughts:

Queens of Mist and Madness is the fourth book in a Fantasy Romance series and the conclusion to Emelin and Creons story. To say I loved all books in this series would be an understatement, I’m obsessed with the books, the characters, the romance and honestly everything about them and I think QOMAM is my new favorite book in this series, I absolutely loved it! 

Queens of Mist and Madness picks up right where the previous book ended and if you’ve read it, you know the thing we’ve all been waiting for finally happened and OMG I loved reading those scenes, I was hooked since the very first page and finished the whole book in a day because I couldn’t put it down. There is so much action, clever politics, preparing for war in this book but also funny and moving moments with the amazing found family and so many beautiful (and spicy) scenes between Emelin and Creon and it was all in a perfect amount. I loved seeing all the characters again and we also got to see some familiar faces that I’ve been waiting to see since book 1 and honestly, this book was everything I’ve been hoping for and more. 

One of this series’s strongest points is the character development and I love it, both Emelin and Creon have come so far from who they were at the beginning of book 1 and it was amazing to see them here, Emelin is even stronger and capable of making difficult decisions and Creon opens up more to her and accepts all of his powers. I love these two as the main characters and when it comes to romance… I can’t even find words how much I love their romance and relationship, I have always loved how much they both support each other and can talk everything out, honestly, one they start communicating, they can figure out everything and it was amazing to see it also here, Creon was, in Em’s words, an idiot at times but their conversations and support of each other made their relationship stronger than ever. Ahh I just love these two so much, they are so perfect for each other and I already miss them, they are definitely one of my favorite bookish couples and I really hope we will get to see them again soon. 

Queens of Mist and Madness is a perfect conclusion to Em and Creon’s story, I loved everything about it and if you enjoy fantasy romance books and haven’t started this series yet, what are you waiting for? It’s absolutely amazing and I already can’t wait for more books from this author.

Rating:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5