I receive a lot of inquiries about my favorite books, so it might be fun to do a weekly(ish) post about books I have tried over the previous week. Unfortunately, I can’t fit two theme posts a week reliably, but I can manage a theme post and just a brief post about what I’ve read.
These are not ‘reviews,’ and I’m not recommending any of these. I don’t accept ARCs, and I don’t do featured books. I work in an industry where kickbacks are a no-no, and I can’t get over it, even for a hobby. Not that there is an issue with it, but this isn’t a gig I’m trying to make money from, so I don’t need that network/connection, etc. I’ll stop now before I swallow my foot.
If these posts are wanted (drop me a line!), they will highlight books I have tried reading over the past week. So do with that what you will. 🙂
This post is going to be slightly longer due to the fact I can’t remember what I read this week only. I included the most recent books on my kindle.
As always, all descriptions and images are from Amazon. Aa an Amazon Associate, I earn commission from qualifying purchases.
Be well, and happy reading!
Paige
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She thought she had seen the world. She had no idea the fae have a world of their own…
Thirty-four-year-old Lana Chapman-Sawyer has an MBA, zero student loan debt, a successful travel blog, and curves for days.
What she doesn’t have is a family…
Lana’s mother vanished when she was only eight, her father was never in the picture, and her adoptive parents died in a car accident when she was thirty, leaving her orphaned once again.
When Lana receives a strange package with a magical key in the mail, she decides to take it to her cabin deep in the Northern woods of Minnesota, the very place where her mother abandoned her.
Little does she know, the neighborhood is not exactly as she remembers it…
Osgood “Oz” Finlandian is your average next-door multi-billionaire humanitarian and businessman. He just so happens to be a 5,500-year-old vampire.
And not just any vampire. He’s the first vampire ever created. The King of Vampires that rules over the royal court.
He’s also the one to tell Lana about Bedlam, the fae realm, and the locked witch powers she never knew she had.
But unbinding her powers is only the beginning…
Oz, who has a dark past of his own, promises to help Lana uncover the mystery behind her mother’s disappearance, and the two of them take on several quests, all the while facing ancient prophecies, recurring dreams, an obsessed witch, and an evil cult hot on Lana’s tail.
Too bad Lana also has to navigate her way through irresistible desire in the process…
This is a reverse harem, paranormal romance with witches, vampires, fae, and time travel. Other members of the harem will join in subsequent books of the series.
Paige's Perspective
Progress: Paused at 17%
Prospect: TBD. Sometimes I am just not feeling a certain trope or theme. I can't remember why I set this aside, but I haven't returned it so it still has hope of me reading it. Maybe. Someday.
Burn Butterfly Burn is book 2 of the Masked duet and continues from Dance Butterfly Dance
She gave them a second chance and they burned her with it. Everyone she loves leaves her and breaks her a little more. Determined to protect what’s left of her shattered heart, she leaves and starts over with a mask covering the pain she lives with. A mask so cold it burns anyone who tries to get behind it.
She’s writing her own story now and they won’t be a part of it, her book is closed to them.
No matter how hot they make her burn right back.
Paige's Perspective
Progress: Finished the book.
Prospect: Final book of series sob
Positives: I adored this series. I saw character growth; it wasn't just the tell, not see. You got to read about the characters growing and changing. I don't want to give anything away, but the author handled everything beautifully. I am so sad to say goodbye to these characters.
Problems: I wish this had been a trilogy instead of a duet. I would have liked a book focused on the things that happened in book one. BUT, I could see how that would have been a lot to slog through, which is why I have this exact same concept in the positives portion.
P.S. I can practically feel the teeing up happening for a spin off series here....
It all started on a date with a complete man-child, and it ended on the floor wedged between my three insanely hot older neighbors.
Did I mention one of them is my best friend’s dad?
I never thought I’d move back in with my father, but I didn’t intend on being dumped by my ex-fiancé either. Now that I’m home, I’ve been on dating apps trying to find a prince among crooked d*c pics and grown men obsessed with video games.
It hasn’t been easy.
Or at least it wasn’t, until I was rescued from a bad date by three silver-haired hotties, who also happen to be my next-door neighbors. Their proposition was innocent enough. They just wanted to show me what a real date with real men would be like. But their lessons were far too effective, and now I’m caught in a scandal….
There’s Holden, a spicy chef with silver temples and high cheekbones. He makes my mouth water with every kiss.
Dominic is a solid wall of muscles and the CEO of all silver foxes. I’ve always been a willful woman, but when he commands me, I am putty in his firm hands.
And then there’s Barrett who looks at me with an intensity that says anything but daughters’ best friend. He’s known me my whole life, and now he’s ready to claim me completely.
They should all be off-limits. Especially since I just started working with them, and both my father and my best friend would KILL me.
But would I let my life go up in flames to have the three of them touch me again? Abso-FN-lutely!
18+ Only. Daddy’s Next Door is an extra spicy laugh-out-loud why choose romance. HEA guaranteed!
Paige's Perspective
Progress: Finished
Prospect: Standalone, but I will continue to read the authors books.
Positives: Cute, read as advertised. Nice, sweet, happy read.
Problems: This book is what it is.It did exactly what it said it would. This isn't one that I'll probably be bursting to re-read, but I wouldn't avoid it either.
P.S. I like this author, she's an auto read for me now.
Twenty-two, and I haven’t felt more than a spark of magic. Which is more than a little awkward considering I’m leaving for The Academy of Magic in forty-eight hours. I’m a monster, or at least my fathers reassure me that I am. Though I’m not very monster-like if you believe the stereotypes. I spend most of my days curled up in my room with my nose buried in a good book. Despite preferring to hide away, my best friend Lexi is constantly encouraging me to step out of my comfort zone, but I’m okay the way I am. My life is going decently—if I do say so myself—until I step into my headmaster’s office and into a whirlwind of trouble. Not to mention the sweet troll who is insistent on being my friend, my mountain man of a runes partner and my shy new tutor, who have me questioning whether my lady bits are on the fritz. When my past and present collide, I can’t help but wonder if I’m going to make it through the term, let alone the next two years. I guess I’ll just have to roll with the crazy or go insane. Either way, at least I’ll have some eye candy along for the ride.
Monster Girl is the first book in a new series and is set in the shared Supernatural Realm that Willow and her men are part of. This book is a slow burn; why choose romance (which means the MFC will not have to choose between her love interests at the end of the book). Though there may be some bumps in the road, this series will end in a HEA (Happy Ever After). Sexual themes are suitable for +18.
Paige's Perspective
Progress: Finished
Prospect: Haven't started second book...planned??
Positives: Interesting plot, like the mystery.
Problems: I can't remember much about the individual characters. I think the mystery was pretty easy to solve, unless it's a red herring?
P.S. Because I apparently have the memory of a fish, I cannot remember why I didn't start book two right away. Was I waiting for book three to be published? I have no idea what I was thinking. Did I need to like it more to read on? Did I like it, but I needed more to read before the series was finished? What am I doing? Awesome job, self, awesome job.
Take a moment and step into the chaotic life of Cressida.
After accidentally texting a monster, Cressida seems to be dealing with a myriad of various problems.
Her father’s death has dangerous debt collectors breaking down her door, and she finds that the only safe place for her just might be with her new monster pen pal, Bastien, and his incredibly sexy friends.
Bastien, the shadow demon.
Set, the beast man Anubis.
Hinata, the Oni demon.
As it turns out though, being the bride of demons may just turn out to be the most dangerous thing yet.
This is the first book in the Monster’s Bride duet, a medium burn reverse harem paranormal romance. This book has an 18+ warning and is intended for mature audiences.
Paige's Perspective
Progress: I finished the book.
Prospect: I will read the next one
Positives: I liked the story idea and falling in love via text message. I liked the plot and seeing the FMC's character growth (kind of??)
Problems: I had to check the back cover to see if this was going to be a RH after all; it really didn't need to be one, IMO. blasophmy, you say. But one of the MMCs and FMC fell in love with each other over text messages. Just saying.
P.S. The author tried something new (to me, at least) and included both text messages AND images sent via text. Seeing the photos didn't work for me, but it was a brilliant thing to try. So bravo to the author for trying something new!
An omega wolf who can’t shift. Three delicious alpha wolves all drawn to my side. The only problem? I’m secretly carrying their brother’s baby. The brother who deserted them and their pack two years ago.
When I ended up on Desolation Island, running from the pack that hunts me, I could never have imagined the three brothers I meet are the three brothers my mate left behind. years ago. Maverick – destined to be pack alpha since my mate abandoned his destiny, Lucas, the dark and violent, but with such sadness in his eyes, and Asher, the sweetest, most caring man I have ever met, hurt beyond belief by Jaxon’s betrayal. They resent Jaxon for leaving, and they cannot find out I carry his child, or that I am the wolf the High Rocks pack are hunting for. Or my ultimate weakness – that I can’t shift. I’ve heard the stories – the Sea Wolves, accept weakness.
The problem? My wolf marked the alpha with her mate mark, meaning I cannot leave his side until it fades in a month’s time. I’m stuck here. At least it gives me time to search for the fabled Spanish gold my mate was so convinced is hidden here on the island. if I found that gold, even a little could solve all my problems and let me and my baby have a new start, safe from my pack and far away. That’s the plan.
Falling in love wasn’t.
This is a full-length reverse harem romance novel, full of sexy alpha males, a strong heroine, and steamy scenes. Triggers include SA, both on screen and off; pregnancy; PTSD; and violence.
Paige's Perspective
Progress: DNF
Prospect: Stopped reading at 51%
Positives: Great writing, was able to convey emotions well. I was sobbing at the beginning of the book, totally gut wrenching. Definitely keeping my eye on this author.
Problems: I couldn't get behind any of the characters. I wasn't feeling the FMC, definitely TSTL with some choices. And I HATE the miscommunication/lies trope. Can't stand it, and so I just couldn't get into this book.
P.S. I will try this author again, I really liked their writing style.
All monsters must belong to a house. Good thing I don’t play by the rules.
The monsters won’t break me. I’m going to find my sister, and if participating in the Week of Orash is my best chance of finding her, I’ll fight. I’ll face off against the newbloods and let the alphas from the monster houses think they can have me.
But I don’t belong to anyone. Not even the four terrifying monsters who hold me captive—Kade the wolf shifter, Asher the demon, Darian the siren, and Locke the vampire. Or at least, that’s what I used to think. Now I’m not so sure. Somehow these four males are melting through my defenses, and I’m starting to realize that I need them as much as they need me.
As the secrets of the Katakin continue to unravel, I find myself wondering who the true monsters are. Nightmarish creatures named the ‘outliers’ wreak havoc on the city, and enemies walk the cobbled streets, like whispers in the darkness. My sister isn’t the only one who needs saving, and I’ll have to decide if I’m willing to embrace the power inside myself, or if I let the monsters burn.
This is the second book in the Her Cursed Protectors series, and a fun reverse harem fantasy novel for audiences aged 18 years and older. **Language warning **Multiple POV
Paige's Perspective
Progress: Finished
Prospect: Already pre-ordered book 3
Positives: What the heck is happening?! I LOVE the mystery I this book. I don't want to spoil anything by posting my suspicions, but damn, this book was go go go.
Problems: I'm riding the high of finishing a book I enjoyed, so the only thing I can remember is disappointment that I have to wait for the next one.
