Paige’s Picks: A Recap of the Books I Devoured This Week

Happy Friday!

I read a variety of genres this week.  I went from light and fluffy, to dark, to an exciting adventure.  I throughly enjoyed myself, and am looking forward to seeing what comes out next!

Did you read anything delicious this week? I’d love to know!

Have a fantastic weekend!
Paige

P.S. As always, all images and descriptions are from Amazon. As an Amazon Associate, I earn commission from qualifying purchases at no cost to you. 

Amazon Description

Growing up I had nothing but my good grades and them. The Vanguard brothers are the golden boys of our school, destined to be the alphas of our pack. They’re possessive, scaring away everyone else who might get close to me… until the night of their first shift.I’m been told over and over I can never be their mate, but the boy’s wolves have other ideas….
So, I’m whisked away, told to forget them and I do, right up until they walk in through my door, telling me all the things I’d secretly dreamed of.
That I’m their fated mate, and that they refuse to settle for anyone else. But I’m forced to push them away.
Why?
Because their parents were right to send me away. I’ll never be what they need me to be, but these guys?
Back then they never knew how to take no for an answer, and now they’re coming for me, whether I’m ready or not.

Paige's Perspective

Progress: Finished

Prospect: Will continue reading this author's books

Positives: AHHHH SO MUCH I want to say.  But I can't.  Because spoilers.  I'll just say that I liked the climax and resolution (referring to the story arc, get your mind outta the gutter)

Problems: OOF, the gaslighting was subtle in this one.  Although, I guess that is kinda the point. But I do wish it had been called out more.

P.S. The author produces a wide variety of books/sub-genres.  Some I like, some aren't my cuppa.  But this is an author I tend to like more than not.

Amazon Description

My name is Ana Baker… and I’m a goddess?
I still don’t believe it, but everyone keeps telling me it’s true.

And putting a name to all my strange powers still hasn’t helped me figure out who I am.

But, when my best friend discovers who my birth mother is, I start to hope I can begin to understand myself a bit better.

Not that I’m complaining, I have three sexy daemon princes who are madly in love with me. Grey, a pillar of order and sanity in my otherwise chaotic life. Ramsey, a sexy beast of a man who’ll always protect me. And Fen, my sweet-talking confidante with a miracle tongue. And what’s great is that they’ve finally started to get along!

But when a conclave of the gods draws all new celestials to town, things get complicated once again. Grey’s sister, Erini, is out for my blood, Fen’s father Loki is up to his old mischief, and Ramsey’s cousin Horus wants to claim me as his bride.

Luckily, I’m a goddess and I can take care of myself… probably…

Claiming Demons is the third and final book in the Secrets Gods Keep series, a paranormal romance featuring a sassy heroine who doesn’t have a clue who she is and powerful men who know how to share.

Paige's Perspective


Progress
: Finished

Prospect:  Final book in the series.  I will read more by these authors

Positives: I read this in one sitting.  It's such a pleasure to read it, it's a nice journey. I would just like to say that I wish every day pregnancy was like a fertility goddess's pregnancy. 

Problems: It seems so simple, and yet I continually get sucked in. There was definite growth, but I'm not sure our FMC changed all that much.  But I don't feel like that's a bad thing. There is also a fact/scene that I just couldn't think about too much, just accept it and move one. LOL

 

Amazon Description

Betrayed by the organization I vowed my life to.Imprisoned with the enemy I was supposed to kill.

One disobeyed order and I’m deemed a monster sympathizer and locked away with the very demons I’ve devoted my whole life to killing.

How could I murder my target when he just so happens to be my fated mate?

I fight the desire that builds, but I’m no match for the connection we share. And as if caring for one demon isn’t enough, I find myself unable to get the arrogant alpha and the kind phoenix out of my mind.

I went from hating them to fighting for their freedom and my own.

My entire life unravels as the beliefs I’d clung to from an early age begin to look less like truths and more like lies.

I’m no stranger to being tortured, but when my traitorous superior demands that I finish the job I was originally sent out on, I know it’s only a matter of time until one of us—or all of us—are dead.

How can I save them if I can’t even save myself?
Fighting for Monsters is the second book in the Falling for the Enemy series.

Paige's Perspective

Progress: Finished

Prospect: Started book 3

Positives: I am LOVING this series! It's fast paced, and I am thoroughly enjoying trying to figure out what the hell is going on.  I love that the author doesn't spoon feed us, it's up to us to determine the why, and figure out individual characters motivations.  I've already started the beginning.

Problems: I'm not quite feeling the romance between all the characters, but there's a good reason for it. 

 

Amazon Description

Surprise! I died… again.
Except this time, I’m dead-dead.
I’m told this is the type of death that not even a phoenix can come back from…
It’s a good thing I suck at following the rules.

Klutz: Phoenix Unleashed is a steamy, action-packed, fast-paced read. Follow our girl Ryls into death, where she continues to create chaos. Things get even more messy when she uses her power, and the power of the Queen of the Phoenix afterlife, to get back to Earth. No matter what goes wrong, there is nothing in heaven or hell that will stop Ryls from getting back to her mates.
This is the final book in the But Did You Die series and includes a HEA ending—I pinky promise!

Paige's Perspective

Progress: Finished

Prospect: Already pre-ordered the spin-off series

Positives: I LOVE LOVE LOVE this series.  The author is one of my favorites, and this book was everything I didn't know I wanted. 

Problems: I need to know more about...things. I don't want to spoil it for you.  But since there is a spin-off, I'm assuming I'll learn more about the...places...and people that are there or aren't there.

P.S. This is the final book in a series, and it's really hard to write without spoiling the entire thing.  This is one of my favorite series, and I ignored everybody when it was released so I could read it.

Amazon Description

The Four Horsemen are missing.
With the impending demise of a civilization approaching, Lucifer wastes no time declaring that their strongest next of kin will ride by his side.

As one of the many sired by War, I have no choice but to partake in the deadly competition known as the Apocalypse Trials.

If I want to live long enough to see the apocalypse, I’ll have to do whatever it takes to win. I can use all the help I can get. So, when sons of Famine, Pestilence, and Death suddenly show up at my doorstep, I agree to work together as a team.

No one warned us what would happen when the four bloodlines unite.

This story is for a mature audience 18+ years due to the violence, strong language, and heavily detailed adult activities between characters. This is book one and will be a part of a trilogy where the FMC doesn’t have to pick between love interests and ends with a HEA. This story contains M/M, M/M/F/M, M/FM

Paige's Perspective

Progress: Finished

Prospect: I don't know if I'll read the next one.

Positives: The premise of the book is great.  There is this overarching mystery, and I like the clues we get along the way.  I enjoyed learning your about our FMC and her harem, each character is very clearly defined. Their relationships seemed to progress in a believable fashion.

Problems:This is a book about children of the horsemen, so I was expecting some pretty gruesome stuff. Which I got. But I wanted to shake the characters. They all mentioned feeling that things weren't right. Well, come on then, speak up! There was too much that reminded me of soldiers' defense for war crimes, saying they were just doing it on orders. It's quite upsetting, and I may not be able to read the next one because of it. They are doing something they question, and then something they KNOW is wrong, and they do it anyway.  

Amazon Description

Cheat on me once? Shame on you.
In fact, let’s take it one step further.
I’ll take your car, your job, your friends…
But let’s focus on the job part.
I play drumkit better than I can speak most of the time, unless I’m singing.
I’ve made a name for myself as a singer, going viral everywhere. The thing is, no one knows my identity.
So when I steal my ex’s position in his band and the lead singer says he hates me, while simultaneously announcing that my alter ego is his dream girl? I can’t wait to see the expression on his face when he finds out who I really am.
Or when he finds out the rest of the band plus his manager are already in my bed and falling hard for me.
When everything comes to a point though, I might be the one that loses everything.
18+ y’all

Paige's Perspective

Progress: Finished

Prospect: Will read more by this author

Positives: I remember liking the book, I liked the FMC and her badass-ness

Problems: I can't tell you

P.S. Look, there is a LOT going on in this book. And I can't really say a word without spoiling the hell out of it.  I liked it, I'd read it again. But that's really all I can say.

Amazon Description

A fearless assassin, three of her enemies, and a truth she isn’t ready to accept.

Monsters.

I’ve routinely hunted them my entire life, wanting to wipe their kind from this realm.

My deadly accurate aim has kept me alive this long.

Until now.

I miss a shot for the first time and come face to face with my targets.

I should have died.

Instead, these creatures drag me back to their land and hold me captive.

Wes—the commanding demon in charge.
Bo—the sadistic alpha.
Dash—I don’t know what he is, but he’s too cheery for this realm.

After being marked by the alpha and with his venom coursing through my veins—I become a beacon that draws death closer to my doorstep every day.

The only way to survive is to stay close to these monsters.

I told myself I’d go along with their plan only because I had to. But then I realize my hatred has been replaced with…desire and intrigue.

This was never supposed to happen.

Stolen by Monsters is a fantasy/paranormal enemies-to-lovers romance featuring a ruthless heroine, a broody demon, an arrogant alpha, and a mysterious human who has yet to discover what he is.

This is book one of an entirely new series but is set in the same book universe as Luna’s prior series, the Harper Shadow Academy.

Note from the author: Previously titled Warrior Captive: The Demon Bringers (Book One)

Paige's Perspective

Progress: Finished

Prospect: Already read book 2

General Thoughts: Loved this book! Super fast paced.  I cannot wait to see what happens next.  I'm so grateful I don't have to wait! 

Amazon Description

When the very world you are fleeing from ends up on your doorstep…
Harmony Rhodes is in hiding. All her life, she has been mistreated, bullied, or neglected by her famous family. But with her new name and appearance, to stay safe, all she has to do is avoid anyone from the music industry.

That should be easy in the middle of central Oregon, in a remote cabin. Except the ranch next door now has a recording studio, and the hottest band of the decade, Mercury Rising, is in residence, working on their new album.

Harmony tries to keep a low profile, but the three band members are intrigued by their mysterious neighbor, and before long, the heat is rising.

Then Harmony disappears. The Mercury Rising men can’t find their girl—maybe they should look a little closer into their own world to find her…

This contemporary Why-Choose romance has multiple POVs and detailed high-steam scenes. Triggers for childhood bullying and neglect.

♥Together in Harmony is a standalone – Perfect for fans of Reese Rivers and Emily Rath!♥

 

Paige's Perspective

Progress: Finished

Prospect: Will read more by this author

Positives: I LOVED that the harem and the FMC (female main character) had honest discussions about feelings and the future. Their openness, honesty, and trust in each other was really amazing to read. I don't want to say too much and risk spoiling it.  This was a delightful read, a nice ROMCOM, RH style. 

Problems: There seemed to be some formatting issues, but I was switching between reading it on my kindle and my phone, so I don't know if that caused them. The font appeared in a different color for a few paragraphs, then want back to the regular color. 

P.S. At first, I hesitated to read this book right now because the author was featured on the blog earlier this week, and I'm always very careful that I don't cross any lines I've drawn for myself. In my real life day job, I work in an industry where quid-pro-quo is illegal and so I've imposed upon myself a rule not to accept ARCs or write reviews upon request. 

Since the author did not ask me to read/review the book, and our emails were focused entirely on the featured post, I feel quite confident that it's okay for me express my thoughts.
But I did want to let you all know of the interactions, because I'm anal like that.  You can thank my career in a highly regulated industry, haha. I guess I could have just said "These are my honest thoughts, I purchased the book myself". But that's not my style. Why be brief when you can be long winded? 🙂
P.P.S  Zoom in on that cover folks! It took me waaaaay too long to see the music notes. SMH

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