ARC Review - At The End There Was You by Wendy Heiss

 Thank you so much Wendy Heiss for sending me this ARC!

Title: At The End There Was You

Author: Wendy Heiss

Genre: Fantasy Romance

Series: Blue Fairytales (book #1)

Pages: 141

Synopsis:

The world will end in seven days.

Winter is a Priestess, her life is simple and uncomplicated, but shortly takes a turn when she is appointed as an aide for a Mage who intends to stop the God of Death from spreading a plague that would end their world. Both of them begin searching the Urvalis library for answers and find more than they had bargained for.

And as the end approaches, the questions begin vaguing.

Review & thoughts:

I’ve been obsessed with everything Wendy writes ever since I first read the first book in her Auran Chronicles shortly after it was published and this short novella is no exception. This is a completely different read than what I came to expect from Wendy, but wow, it was so good I couldn’t stop reading once I started it and I absolutely loved this story! 

I don’t want to spoil anything but our main characters are Winter, a Priestess serving the God of Life and Azriel, a mage who came to the temple to find out how to save the the world from ending in 7 days. These two are forced to work together on Azriel’s task and I was shipping them since their first meeting, they have such a beautiful dynamics and their conversations always are so interesting and compelling, this is a very short story but I loved how their friendship and eventual romance were written. They are quintessential grumpy and sunshine and just so perfect for each other, I loved their every moment together and would love to read more about them. 

At the end there was you is a really fun fantasy romance novella with amazing characters, beautiful romance and interesting plot that I loved and I already can’t wait for Wendy’s next work.

Rating:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

ARC Review - The Rebound by L. Steele

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

Title: The Rebound

Author: L. Steele

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Series: Morally Grey Billionaires (book #4)

Pages: 420

Synopsis:

He was supposed to be my forever love
Until he becomes my personal hell...

Declan Beauchamp: he’s the super-hot, super-bad boy actor.
I’m the new voice, who has an overnight break-out single.
Together we are unbeatable.
A match-made-in-tabloid heaven.
Until he betrays me...

I put him behind and move on.
I even have a new boyfriend.
Except my career is in freefall...
Only consolation?
Declan isn’t faring better either.

With my future and his at stake.
Declan comes up with a plan.
One movie together,
And a fake relationship to catapult our futures back on track.

But when our chemistry detonates,
I know I can’t survive this encounter.
I tell him the deal is off,
Except it’s too late...

Review & thoughts:

The Rebound is a really great romance book with many of my favorite tropes that I really enjoyed and couldn’t put down!

After their first meeting in the past ended in disaster, Solene and Declan haven’t seen each other in 4 years. But when Declan suddenly appears in Solene’s life again and offers to save her from an arranged marriage and make her wishes of being a famous singer come true, she quickly accepts his offer and ends up is Los Angeles, living with the famous actor she never forgot. With their feelings for each other growing every day but their careers pulling them in different directions, Solene and Declan will have to decide if their relationship is worth fighting for and if they even want to be together after everything they went through. 

I must admit I had a little problem with Solene and Declan’s meetings in the past, but I am so happy I continued reading and quickly forgot about what was bothering me because I ended up really enjoying this book, it was amazing. While both Solene and Declan annoyed me at times with their decisions, they were by no means perfect and made mistakes and that made them really great and relatable characters. I loved their relationship and romance, the author showed perfectly that loved isn’t always enough and I loved seeing them both trying to overcome their troubles and fighting to be together despite many obstacles coming their way. They were incredible as a couple and I was swooning so many times, Declan is a great book boyfriend and the spice had me blushing, I was not expecting it when I saw the cover. 

The Rebound is a really great read and I recommend it to everyone who loves romance books with second chances, enemies to lovers, fake relationship and billionaire swoony MMC. I can’t wait to read more books by this author!

Rating:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

ARC Review - By Any Other Name by Kate King

 Thank you so much Kate King Quinn for sending me this ARC!

Title: By Any Other Name

Author: Kate King

Genre: Fantasy Romance

Series: Standalone

Pages: 374

Synopsis:

He’s seduced by the darkness, but she’s always been his sun. In the elite university town of Stratford, Massachusetts, a secret society of eight wealthy and influential families use occult witchcraft to maintain their power and privilege. The entire society is dangerous, but the bitter blood feud between rival families, the Capulets and the Montagues, makes them almost as infamous as Stratford itself. Etta Capulet has always been a good girl. Roman Montague is anything but good. But despite their differences, their vicious family rivalry, and years of curses, threats, and murders, Roman has secretly loved Etta as long as he can remember. So when he hears her moaning his name through her open bedroom window, he vows to make her his… Until death do they part.

Review & thoughts:

By Any Other Name is a Romeo and Juliet retelling with dark academia setting, a touch of paranormal and great enemies to lovers romance that I really enjoyed! 

Roman and Etta’s families have hated each other for as long as anyone can remember. When their feud reaches new levels and Roman and Etta are forced into arranged marriages neither of them wants, they decide to take matters into their own hands and end the feud once and for all with their own marriage of convenience… but when their long hidden feelings come to the light, they will realize their marriage might be more real than they thought. 

I was really excited when I first saw this book, a Romeo and Juliet retelling with dark academia, enemies to lovers romance, marriage of convenience and some spice? I had high expectations and definitely wasn’t disappointed, this book is really good. I loved Roman and Etta’s relationship, they were really great together and I liked that despite their families hating each other, they didn’t just accept this situation and wanted to end it. While Etta annoyed me a few times, Roman was a perfect book boyfriend, he loved reading and there was the case of ‘he falls first’ here which I loved! It was amazing to read his POV and realize how much he has always cared for Etta and what he was willing to do for her. I also liked the paranormal elements, I wasn’t expecting that but it made this story even more interesting. My only complaint is that this book could be a little longer so everything could be a bit more fleshed out and not rushed, but I still really liked this book, the plot was past-paced and interesting and the characters were amazing. 

By Any Other Name is a really fun and quick read for everyone who enjoys this genre. I already can’t wait for the next book in this series of standalones!

Rating:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

ARC Review - The Marriage Solution by Stephanie Rose

 Thank you so much Stephanie Rose for sending me this ARC!

Title: The Marriage Solution

Author: Stephanie Rose

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Series: Standalone

Pages: 283

Synopsis:

Julie
My hot, fiercely protective best friend Landon just dropped to one knee in the middle of the Bellagio with the perfect solution to all my problems.

After an unexpected diagnosis and a run of bad luck, I’m officially down and out. That is, until my best friend of two decades offers me his name… and his health insurance.

We’re in Vegas for someone else’s wedding. The last thing I ever expected was a proposal of my own—especially from Landon, my rock, my closest friend even when we’re miles apart. He’s always been gorgeous, but except for that drunken almost-kiss back in college, the only thing between us is friendship.

What’s a marriage of convenience between pals? Besides, Landon lives hundreds of miles away. Nothing has to change.

Right?

Landon

I popped the question, put a ring on it, and slapped Julie’s name on my health insurance policy. Problem solved.

It’s supposed to be a marriage of convenience. However, when my job relocates me to New York and I move in with my wife I find out there’s nothing convenient about our arrangement.
It all seemed so simple until the Elvis officiant said, “kiss the bride.” The second our lips touched, nothing was ever the same.

Review & thoughts:

The Marriage Solution is a standalone romance book that I really enjoyed! It has so many of my favorite tropes and I loved Landon and Julie’s story. 

Julie and Landon have been best friends for over 20 years. When they meet for their friends’ wedding and Landon finds out Julie has been diagnosed with a chronic illness and doesn’t have a medical insurance, he proposes a fake marriage to help her out. But after circumstances force them to live together for a few weeks and their long hidden feelings for each other come to light, these two will have to decide if they are willing to take a chance and make this fake marriage real. 

I loved how Landon always put Julie first and was willing to do anything for her, he was a perfect book boyfriend. Julie was a really strong and relatable FMC, she went through a lot with her ex and illness but she never gave up and was always fighting to be better. She and Landon were perfect for each other and it was great to see them finally realize their true feelings after so many years. They were so sweet together, both as best friends and when they finally decided to be something more, I loved all their scenes together. I also loved how well they communicated, it’s so rare in books for a couple to be so open and honest with each other and it made me love them even more. 

The Marriage Solution is a really sweet and feel good romance with no miscommunication or 3rd act breakup that I really enjoyed. Stephanie Rose is a new to me author and I can’t wait to read more of her books!

Rating:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

ARC Review - A Ship of Bones and Teeth by Karina Halle

 Thank you so much Karina Halle for sending me this ARC!

Title: A Ship of Bones and Teeth

Author: Karina Halle

Genre: Fantasy Romance

Series: Standalone

Pages: 466

Synopsis:

Princess Maren is a woman with a secret.

Ten years ago she sold her soul to the sea witch Edonia, giving up a life underwater in exchange for the love of Prince Aerik on land. But after a decade of abuse and misery inflicted by the cruel prince, Maren wants nothing more than to leave him and her royal role behind and find Edonia to reverse the spell.

An opportunity for escape presents itself when the prince and princess are traveling overseas and are taken hostage by a band of notorious pirates, led by the fearsome Captain Ramsay "Bones" Battista. Maren has heard the sordid stories about the infamous pirate--not only is his ship supposedly haunted and crewed by the damned, but that no prisoners ever survive.
 
Fortunately for Maren, she learns that the captain also has a score to settle with the sea witch. With any luck, Maren may be able to get her old life back, even if it's being held in the captain's wicked hands.

But Ramsay gets more than he bargained for when he learns who--and what --Maren is, and that her appetite for revenge, freedom, and bloodlust rivals his.

Meanwhile Maren finds herself falling for the pirate's dark nature, even as she discovers that Ramsay has a secret more deadly than her own.

When it comes to the high seas, not all monsters lurk beneath the surface.

Review & thoughts:

I’ve been obsessed with A Ship Of Bones & Teeth ever since I’ve first heard about it and I can honestly say it exceeded all my expectations, this book is incredible! It is a Dark Fantasy Romance retelling of Little Mermaid & Pirates of the Caribbean that I absolutely loved and I think this might be my new favorite of Karina’s books!

After making a desperate deal with a sea witch, exchanging her tail and voice for legs and the love of a prince, 16-years old Maren thought she would finally get everything she had ever dreamed about. But now, 10 years later, living with abusive husband and missing her underwater home, all Maren wants is revenge. When she and her husband get kidnapped by pirates Maren thinks it’s the end for her, but she soon realizes these pirates are not what they seem to be and her handsome kidnapper, captain Ramsay, might be the answer to all her problems.

This book was everything I hoped it would be and so much more. I loved our main characters, Maren and Ramsay, they were both written perfectly as morally grey characters with tragic pasts that I couldn’t help myself but root for. They went through so much and I loved their relationship, their enemies to lovers dark romance had me screaming and grinning quite a few times and I just loved these two together, they were each other’s true equals and I felt that Karina gave us a perfect balance of romantic scenes and spicy ones. Amazing characters and romance aside, I loved the plot, it was so interesting and kept me on the edge of my seat with a lot of action, mind-blowing plot twists and of course all the deaths! I didn’t see a lot of it coming and was left speechless a few times. 

A Ship Of Bones & Teeth is an amazing Dark Fantasy Romance with fascinating plot, interesting characters and beautiful, spicy romance that I absolutely loved, I really hope we will get to see these characters again because I already miss them! Can’t wait for next books by this author.

Rating:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

ARC Review - King's Bride by Beck Michaels

 Thank you so much Beck Michaels for sending me this ARC!

Title: King's Bride

Author: Beck Michaels

Genre: Fantasy Romance

Series: Chronicles of Urn (book #1)

Pages: 400

Synopsis:

He’s the God of Death. She’s the bride sent to kill him. Their union may be the end of them both.

The Everfrost is ruled by the King in his castle of ice. Some call him the Ice Phoenix, others the God of Death. The clans survive by one law alone: pay the King the homage he is due and never take what belongs to him. But when Sunnëva Morkhàn’s brother falls gravely ill, she will have to do exactly that.

Against every warning, she sneaks into the castle to steal the one thing that would save him—a magical rose. When the Ice Phoenix discovers her theft, the consequences leave her mourning and enraged. To spare the clan from his wrath, Sunnëva’s father offers her as a bride, and for a reason she cannot fathom, the King accepts.

Revenge is a delicate game Sunnëva is determined to play, even if killing the God of Death is no easy feat. But as secrets unfold around the alluring King, and dark threats emerge from the shadows, Sunnëva struggles to hold on to her hatred—and her heart.

Review & thoughts:

King’s Bride is a NA Dark Fantasy Romance and the first book in a series of standalones in a shared world. Having read Beck’s all other books I was really excited to read this one and it not only didn’t disappoint but exceeded all my expectations, it was just incredible. 

When Sunneva’s brother falls ill, she decides to take desperate measures and steal from the feared king, which leads to disastrous consequences. Forced to become the God of Death’s bride, Sunneva vows to kill her new husband and save her kingdom from everlasting winter. But the more time she spends in the castle and with her new husband, Jokull, the more she realizes that she was taught lies all her life and when she finds out that killing the God of Death might not be as easy as she thought, she must decide if that’s what she really wants to do as she slowly starts losing her heart to him. 

Let me begin by saying this is definitely the most adult and spicy book from Beck Michaels and she wrote it perfectly. I adored Sunneva and Jokull, they have a true enemies to lovers romance and while it took them a while to fully trust and love each other, I loved all the banter, dagger to throat scenes and honestly, all their scenes together, these two are amazing both individually and as a couple. I also really liked the world the author created, I knew some of it from her previous books, but it was great to see everything from different perspective, we learn so many new things and I can’t wait to see how it will impact Beck’s other books. The plot was really interesting and perfectly paced with many beautiful romantic scenes and quite a few jaw-dropping plot twists, I read the whole book in one sitting because I literally couldn’t put it down.

King’s Bride is a really great Dark Fantasy Romance book that I really recommend to everyone who enjoys this genre, you definitely won’t be disappointed because this book is simply amazing! I already can’t wait to read next books in this world.

Rating:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

New Release & ARC Review - Dead & Breakfast by Emma Hart

DEAD AND BREAKFAST, the first book in a new romcom mystery series by Emma Hart is NOW LIVE! Read for free in Kindle Unlimited: https://geni.is/DQIO

 

Blurb:

I remember the first time I ever saw Detective Inspector Noah George.

We were seven, stupid, and he threw sand in my eye. I’m pretty sure that’s when I fell in love with him. Hey—I did say I was stupid.

Summers in Fox Point, my grandfather’s seaside hometown, were all we had together. Then we turned eighteen, life happened, and he never spoke to me again.

Until my grandfather’s death calls me back to the small town, only for his lawyer to tell me he’s left me my family’s dilapidated bed and breakfast that was home to many things—my first sleepover party, where my grandma taught me to cross-stitch, my first kiss with Noah…

And apparently, my first dead body.

 

My name is Lottie O’Neil, and I’m on the hook for the murder of a man I’ve barely met.

And the one who’ll have to arrest me is the only man I’ve ever loved.

Unless I find the real killer first.

Review:

Dead & Breakfast is the first book on a new rom-com mystery series from Emma Hart and I really loved Lottie’s story and can’t wait to read more!

When her beloved grandfather dies, Charlotte inherits the Bed and Breakfast he always loved and is put in charge of its renovations. What she doesn’t expect is to find a dead body there and become a suspect in a case investigated by Noah, her childhood friend and first love who cut contact with her 10 years ago. With the help of her best friend and Noah’s sister, Lottie decides to investigate the murder herself, which proves difficult when she befriends one of her suspects and her feelings for Noah resurface. 

Dead & Breakfast was a completely different read than what I came to expect from Emma and I had so much fun reading this book. Lottie is an amazing FMC, she is strong and often talks before she thinks and I loved her as the main character. While there wasn’t a lot of romance in this book, I really liked the tension between Lottie and Noah and I was curious as to what exactly happened between them in the past. I must say I really like the direction the autor takes the romance in and I can’t wait to read more about them in the second book. That being said, the small amount of romance didn’t bother me because the plot was really interesting and I loved seeing Lottie and her friends trying to solve the murder with close to zero skills, I was laughing out loud in a few scenes, but this book also kept me on the edge of my seat in other scenes, I felt like there was a perfect balance between the mystery part of the book and the rom-com one, I can’t wait for more such books from Emma.

Dead & Breakfast is a really fun read that I absolutely recommend everyone, this book is so good! There is no cliffhanger at the end, but I loved the plot, the romance and the characters and already can’t wait to see what else Emma has in store for them.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

About the Author:

 

Bio:

New York Times & USA Today bestselling author, Emma Hart, has written more than seventy romance novels in the last decade. She loves writing snarky, swoony romcoms with a side of chaos, occasionally venturing into romantic mysteries. Which are exactly the same as her romcoms, just with a dead body or two. That’s the reason for her questionable Internet history—at least that’s the story she’s sticking to.

She lives on a smallholding in North Wales with her husband and their two children, a clowder of very fluffy cats, one giant German Shepherd, and an undisclosed number of chickens and ducks. Don’t ask her to count them. She will not, thank you very much.

When she’s not writing or chasing ducks in her pyjamas, you can find her creating cosy gaming content for her Youtube channel.

 

Find her online:

Amazon: https://emmahart.pub/books

Youtube: https://emmahart.pub/youtube

Facebook: https://emmahart.pub/Facebook

Instagram: https://emmahart.pub/Instagram

Tiktok: https://emmahart.pub/TikTok

Twitter: https://emmahart.pub/Twitter

Website: https://emmahart.pub/site