Are you a dark romance reader who wants some Christmas fun that feels almost appropriate enough to read in public? If so, Christmas Cheer and Their LiAre you a dark romance reader who wants some Christmas fun that feels almost appropriate enough to read in public? If so, Christmas Cheer and Their Little Reindeer is certainly the book for you. The story follows Salem as she starts to fall out of love with her childhood sweetheart and feels sparks fly with figures from her past. With Hallmark charm and dark romance tension, it’s easy to get lost in the story (I read it in 48 hours during an insanely busy week).
H.G. Johnston is a master at drawing out romantic tension and making characters work for the pay-off. While I am usually not a fan of cheating in any form, I was mostly okay with it in this context because of how the relationships were developed. Both male love interests were swoon worthy in different ways (and they each had different elements of a Hallmark hero). Salem balanced them well and I enjoyed getting to watch her come into her own.
If you liked The Great Gatsby but wished it had less commentary on the American dream, less complex characters, and filthy rich vampires, then this isIf you liked The Great Gatsby but wished it had less commentary on the American dream, less complex characters, and filthy rich vampires, then this is the book for you! ...more
It’s been ten years since Dakota and Callum broke each other’s hearts. The daughter of a prominent government official, Dakota has become an alchemistIt’s been ten years since Dakota and Callum broke each other’s hearts. The daughter of a prominent government official, Dakota has become an alchemist in a world where the blood of banished gods holds great power. After serving ten years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit, Callum now serves as the Vice of a motorcycle gang facing police scrutiny. As Dakota is drawn into a dangerous conspiracy and Callum searches for a new alchemist, the two are each other’s best bet at staying alive. But as new and old foes emerge from the shadows, the sparks between them reignite and they are left to wonder if their love may be the very thing that destroys them.
Vice and Void by Sadie Hewitt is one of the first second chance romances that I actually enjoyed. The author does an incredible job at crafting characters who seem real and placing them in a relationship that feels genuine despite the urban fantasy setting. I rooted for Callum and Dakota even when they hurt each other (especially when they hurt each other) because the author did an incredible job at making the dynamic real.
The urban fantasy setting was grounded enough in reality to feel familiar with a unique twist that still drew readers into another world. I loved the subtle ways the author built tension in the world itself, and I look forward to see how that tension explodes into conflict in later books. Speaking of conflict, the novel had a perfect balance of internal and external conflict. I am definitely a romance reader, but even I appreciated that the external plot was just as interesting as the character dynamics.
The side characters weren’t quite as well developed as our main couple, but they fulfilled their roles perfectly and weren’t interchangeable. My only issue with the novel is that it kept building and building to a moment of confrontation, only to skip the actual confrontation. I understand that it’s necessary to set things up for a sequel, but there can still be a climax in the first book. That being said, I definitely still recommended Vice and Void!
I received an e-ARC of this book from the author/publisher via Book Sirens. All thoughts and opinions remain my own.
Get ready enemies-to-lovers fans bI received an e-ARC of this book from the author/publisher via Book Sirens. All thoughts and opinions remain my own.
Get ready enemies-to-lovers fans because The Conqueror’s Princess by Jeanette Rose is out to steal your heart! Following a princess forced into marriage with the conqueror of her city, this novel features romance, politics, and most importantly, crazy good character development. Charlotte is the eldest daughter of the king, fiercely protective of her younger sisters, and stubborn to a fault. Evan is the warrior who surrounds her city, protective and loyal. The chemistry between these two was epic, as was the development they underwent because of each other.
The Conqueror’s Princess is primarily a romance, and it does not disappoint. The tension and chemistry between Charlotte and Evan was a living thing, especially considering the circumstances of their relationship. Despite rocky beginnings, consent was always made clear, highlighting that the relationship was wanted on both sides. One of the best parts of their dynamic was that they both improved because of it. Their character development was expertly crafted and felt natural, with enough conflict to prove that change did not come easily.
At the start of the novel, Charlotte seemed like every other fantasy heroine, a first impression that was quickly overturned. Despite the difficulty of her situation, she managed to fight through her fear and do what was best for her people, no matter what. I appreciated that her love for her sisters was a driving factor in all she did and that Charlotte always took the opportunity to be kind.
Evan also came across as a little stereotypical at first, but like Charlotte, his character depth was slowly revealed. His past was never glossed over, but the gory details were only shared when strictly necessary. His strong emotional shifts made sense with the storyline, and his belief that choice was important in a relationship banished a possible toxic dynamic.
Outside of the romance, the adventure side plot added positively to the story. I'm a fan of kingdom politics and battles, so I am glad they were included. The fight scenes flowed naturally and featured enough suspense for the audience to trust the danger of the conflict. The side characters were less well-defined than Charlotte and Evan, yet I find myself intrigued to read more about them in the future.
As for the writing, the casual prose made this book easy to fly through. The sister dynamic within the royal family was sweet, though I wish it could have been explored in more depth. That being said, I flew through this book and enjoyed most of my time spent reading it. If you are a fan of enemies-to-lovers, arranged marriages, and fantasy romance, then The Conqueror's Princess should definitely be your next read!
Merged review:
I received an e-ARC of this book from the author/publisher via Book Sirens. All thoughts and opinions remain my own.
Get ready enemies-to-lovers fans because The Conqueror’s Princess by Jeanette Rose is out to steal your heart! Following a princess forced into marriage with the conqueror of her city, this novel features romance, politics, and most importantly, crazy good character development. Charlotte is the eldest daughter of the king, fiercely protective of her younger sisters, and stubborn to a fault. Evan is the warrior who surrounds her city, protective and loyal. The chemistry between these two was epic, as was the development they underwent because of each other.
The Conqueror’s Princess is primarily a romance, and it does not disappoint. The tension and chemistry between Charlotte and Evan was a living thing, especially considering the circumstances of their relationship. Despite rocky beginnings, consent was always made clear, highlighting that the relationship was wanted on both sides. One of the best parts of their dynamic was that they both improved because of it. Their character development was expertly crafted and felt natural, with enough conflict to prove that change did not come easily.
At the start of the novel, Charlotte seemed like every other fantasy heroine, a first impression that was quickly overturned. Despite the difficulty of her situation, she managed to fight through her fear and do what was best for her people, no matter what. I appreciated that her love for her sisters was a driving factor in all she did and that Charlotte always took the opportunity to be kind.
Evan also came across as a little stereotypical at first, but like Charlotte, his character depth was slowly revealed. His past was never glossed over, but the gory details were only shared when strictly necessary. His strong emotional shifts made sense with the storyline, and his belief that choice was important in a relationship banished a possible toxic dynamic.
Outside of the romance, the adventure side plot added positively to the story. I'm a fan of kingdom politics and battles, so I am glad they were included. The fight scenes flowed naturally and featured enough suspense for the audience to trust the danger of the conflict. The side characters were less well-defined than Charlotte and Evan, yet I find myself intrigued to read more about them in the future.
As for the writing, the casual prose made this book easy to fly through. The sister dynamic within the royal family was sweet, though I wish it could have been explored in more depth. That being said, I flew through this book and enjoyed most of my time spent reading it. If you are a fan of enemies-to-lovers, arranged marriages, and fantasy romance, then The Conqueror's Princess should definitely be your next read!...more
Enemies-to-lovers fan, prepare to fall in love with your next obsession! Not in My Book by Katie Holt is sure to steal your heart, make you cry, and lEnemies-to-lovers fan, prepare to fall in love with your next obsession! Not in My Book by Katie Holt is sure to steal your heart, make you cry, and leave you laughing (and swooning) simultaneously!
Rosie and Aiden hate each other. As graduate students in NYU’s creative writing program, their bickering during workshops is infamous. Why? Aiden is a pretentious literary fiction writer and doesn’t believe in happy endings. Rosie writes romance and would rather die than see her favorite characters unhappy. The only thing they can agree on is their dislike for each other. When a disastrous argument almost gets them kicked out of the program, their advisor proposes a solution; write a novel together and they can stay. Rosie forces Aiden to write a romance based on their rivalry while Aiden ensures that their novel will have a tragic ending. But as the stakes ramp up on the page, the two are left wondering if their chemistry is anything but fictional.
Not in My Book has every trope romance readers have come to love done to perfection. One bed? Check. Enemies-to-friends-to-lovers-to-etc? Check. Grand gestures and adorable dates? Check. Sexually charged co-writing? CHECK. But more than that, this novel captures what it means to love writing and to yearn for love. Aiden and Rosie are far from perfect, yet being together makes them both better people. It was so easy to root for them (even when they weren’t) and the vulnerability they constantly exhibited made them feel real.
Strong female friendships and group dynamics elevated this novel above others in the genre. While Rosie was certainly swept off her feet (sometimes in a violent way and sometimes in a grand romantic gesture sort of way), she was grounded by her friends and her close bond with her sister. Family dynamics were also expertly explored throughout the story, as was Rosie’s Peruvian-Tennessee heritage. The romance was amazing (and certainly the central storyline), and I appreciated how layered the characters were. Rosie would have existed without Aiden and vice versa; their personalities didn’t rely on each other.
Not in My Book is a romance that staunchly defends romance readers and writers. Rosie is the writer in the room fighting for her romance books to be treated with the same literary merit as comedy, fantasy, or contemporary fiction, which I loved. Romance doesn’t get the respect it deserves as an art form. More stories like this one are crucial to redefining what the genre can do.
If you’re a romance fan (or even if you’re not), you will love Not in My Book. Katie Holst is certainly an author to watch and I look forward to seeing what else she has in store!
An e-ARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions remain my own....more
If you liked Haunting Adeleine or The Devil’s Night series, prepare to fall in love with a story that’s even better. The Masks She Wore by H.G. JohnstIf you liked Haunting Adeleine or The Devil’s Night series, prepare to fall in love with a story that’s even better. The Masks She Wore by H.G. Johnston's uses all of our favorite dark romance tropes and yet somehow manages to feel thoroughly original. When I say that every smut scene was done to perfection, I mean it. If you don’t mind your romance on the darker side and if you're a reader who will pick up a book based on the trigger warnings, this is the novel for you.
Rae is a party girl who loves nothing more than feeling beautiful. Eight months after her mother mysteriously passed away, she’s grappling with grief and filling the high society role she’s suddenly inherited. She has her life under control until Jack Ashrin is sent to kill her.
Jack has never failed an assignment. When a name shows up on his radar, that person dies, no questions asked. So when he starts to follow Rae with the intention of fulfilling his mission, he expects it to be easy. The only problem? He can’t get her out of his head.
Sounds intriguing? I promise you that the book itself is even better.
What really stood out to me about this novel is Rae’s unflinching girliness. It’s so exciting to read about a female romance heroine who is happy in her sexuality and sense of self worth. Rae enjoyed getting dressed up, feeling sexy, and showing off. I loved that she was unabashedly feminine and never allowed herself to be forced into any particular role. Romance (even dark romance) usually shows female characters who are just a little bit afraid to be feminine, so I loved that Rae could be girly without ever being seen as weak.
Jack is what most dark romance heroes think they are. Broody, hot, and unspeakably unhinged, it was both terrifying and fascinating to get a glimpse inside his head. Watching Rae interact with him was so much fun. Their dynamic developed naturally despite the fast timeline, and I could feel their tension steaming off the page.
My one issue with this book was that it felt a bit directionless. The plot was sometimes there and sometimes not, but then again, the internal conflict and romance mattered more than the external storyline. The ending feels rushed, which is fine since the series will continue (hopefully soon). All in all, I loved the time I spent reading this story and can’t wait to see what the rest of the series has in store.
I don't know what the author put in this book, but I was entranced and wanted to spend every second of my week reading instead of doing HOLY GOODNESS!
I don't know what the author put in this book, but I was entranced and wanted to spend every second of my week reading instead of doing the mountains of work before me. The characters were amazing, the pacing was phenomenal, and I seriously can't wait to see how everything continues to devolve in book two. Waiting until March is going to be a struggle. ...more
After reading this, I totally see why so many people love this series! It's a great way to introduce you to the characters (and I say that as someone After reading this, I totally see why so many people love this series! It's a great way to introduce you to the characters (and I say that as someone who has already read every book in this series that is out before reading this one). I adored the character complexity and development, and the pacing was perfectly done! There were so many swoon-worthy moments without the story feeling too cheesy.
Merged review:
After reading this, I totally see why so many people love this series! It's a great way to introduce you to the characters (and I say that as someone who has already read every book in this series that is out before reading this one). I adored the character complexity and development, and the pacing was perfectly done! There were so many swoon-worthy moments without the story feeling too cheesy.
Merged review:
After reading this, I totally see why so many people love this series! It's a great way to introduce you to the characters (and I say that as someone who has already read every book in this series that is out before reading this one). I adored the character complexity and development, and the pacing was perfectly done! There were so many swoon-worthy moments without the story feeling too cheesy.
Merged review:
After reading this, I totally see why so many people love this series! It's a great way to introduce you to the characters (and I say that as someone who has already read every book in this series that is out before reading this one). I adored the character complexity and development, and the pacing was perfectly done! There were so many swoon-worthy moments without the story feeling too cheesy.
Merged review:
After reading this, I totally see why so many people love this series! It's a great way to introduce you to the characters (and I say that as someone who has already read every book in this series that is out before reading this one). I adored the character complexity and development, and the pacing was perfectly done! There were so many swoon-worthy moments without the story feeling too cheesy.
Merged review:
After reading this, I totally see why so many people love this series! It's a great way to introduce you to the characters (and I say that as someone who has already read every book in this series that is out before reading this one). I adored the character complexity and development, and the pacing was perfectly done! There were so many swoon-worthy moments without the story feeling too cheesy.
Merged review:
After reading this, I totally see why so many people love this series! It's a great way to introduce you to the characters (and I say that as someone who has already read every book in this series that is out before reading this one). I adored the character complexity and development, and the pacing was perfectly done! There were so many swoon-worthy moments without the story feeling too cheesy.
Merged review:
After reading this, I totally see why so many people love this series! It's a great way to introduce you to the characters (and I say that as someone who has already read every book in this series that is out before reading this one). I adored the character complexity and development, and the pacing was perfectly done! There were so many swoon-worthy moments without the story feeling too cheesy.
Merged review:
After reading this, I totally see why so many people love this series! It's a great way to introduce you to the characters (and I say that as someone who has already read every book in this series that is out before reading this one). I adored the character complexity and development, and the pacing was perfectly done! There were so many swoon-worthy moments without the story feeling too cheesy.
Merged review:
After reading this, I totally see why so many people love this series! It's a great way to introduce you to the characters (and I say that as someone who has already read every book in this series that is out before reading this one). I adored the character complexity and development, and the pacing was perfectly done! There were so many swoon-worthy moments without the story feeling too cheesy.
Merged review:
After reading this, I totally see why so many people love this series! It's a great way to introduce you to the characters (and I say that as someone who has already read every book in this series that is out before reading this one). I adored the character complexity and development, and the pacing was perfectly done! There were so many swoon-worthy moments without the story feeling too cheesy.
Merged review:
After reading this, I totally see why so many people love this series! It's a great way to introduce you to the characters (and I say that as someone who has already read every book in this series that is out before reading this one). I adored the character complexity and development, and the pacing was perfectly done! There were so many swoon-worthy moments without the story feeling too cheesy.
Merged review:
After reading this, I totally see why so many people love this series! It's a great way to introduce you to the characters (and I say that as someone who has already read every book in this series that is out before reading this one). I adored the character complexity and development, and the pacing was perfectly done! There were so many swoon-worthy moments without the story feeling too cheesy.
Merged review:
After reading this, I totally see why so many people love this series! It's a great way to introduce you to the characters (and I say that as someone who has already read every book in this series that is out before reading this one). I adored the character complexity and development, and the pacing was perfectly done! There were so many swoon-worthy moments without the story feeling too cheesy.
Merged review:
After reading this, I totally see why so many people love this series! It's a great way to introduce you to the characters (and I say that as someone who has already read every book in this series that is out before reading this one). I adored the character complexity and development, and the pacing was perfectly done! There were so many swoon-worthy moments without the story feeling too cheesy.
Merged review:
After reading this, I totally see why so many people love this series! It's a great way to introduce you to the characters (and I say that as someone who has already read every book in this series that is out before reading this one). I adored the character complexity and development, and the pacing was perfectly done! There were so many swoon-worthy moments without the story feeling too cheesy.
Merged review:
After reading this, I totally see why so many people love this series! It's a great way to introduce you to the characters (and I say that as someone who has already read every book in this series that is out before reading this one). I adored the character complexity and development, and the pacing was perfectly done! There were so many swoon-worthy moments without the story feeling too cheesy.
Merged review:
After reading this, I totally see why so many people love this series! It's a great way to introduce you to the characters (and I say that as someone who has already read every book in this series that is out before reading this one). I adored the character complexity and development, and the pacing was perfectly done! There were so many swoon-worthy moments without the story feeling too cheesy.
Merged review:
After reading this, I totally see why so many people love this series! It's a great way to introduce you to the characters (and I say that as someone who has already read every book in this series that is out before reading this one). I adored the character complexity and development, and the pacing was perfectly done! There were so many swoon-worthy moments without the story feeling too cheesy.
Merged review:
After reading this, I totally see why so many people love this series! It's a great way to introduce you to the characters (and I say that as someone who has already read every book in this series that is out before reading this one). I adored the character complexity and development, and the pacing was perfectly done! There were so many swoon-worthy moments without the story feeling too cheesy....more
Enter into a world of opulent horror where guests compete in nine sinful trials to earn a single wish. Fail or fall in love? Death awaits.
Ophelia grewEnter into a world of opulent horror where guests compete in nine sinful trials to earn a single wish. Fail or fall in love? Death awaits.
Ophelia grew up with one rule. Never make a deal with a Devil. But then her sister disappears into the treacherous world of Phantasma. Desperate, Ophelia meets Blackwell, the mysterious and attractive ghost who may be her only chance of bringing her sister home. He’ll help her win the games and find her sister in exchange for setting him free. But if she fails? Ten years of her life will belong to him. As Ophelia and Blackwell grow closer to solving the mystery, dangers stalk them in the shadows. But most dangerous of all? The love they’re starting to feel for each other.
Phantasma has everything I look for in a book. The characters are incredible, the plot gripped me and didn’t let go, and the world was so beautifully horrifying that I couldn’t look away. Ophelia is an amazing main character because she’s strong without being perfect, cold without being heartless, and struggling without being redundant. When I tell you the romance in this novel is one for the record books… wow do I mean it. Blackwell and Ophelia were perfect together especially when they were fighting and I can’t wait for readers to fall in love with them as much as I have.
The story's pacing was great—fast without feeling rushed—and though the plot was predictable, I had so much fun reading that I almost didn’t care. The one thing that kept this book from being a five-star for me was the end. Everything felt too easy, especially after the incredible tension built earlier in the story, and I wanted just a little more.
That being said, Phantasma is incredible. It’s an immersive reading experience not for the faint of heart (please check the TWs) and a story I won’t soon forget. Read if you like…