Hey everyone and welcome to another Throwback Thursday!

This post has been missing for a while, but it's back and today I'm sharing with you the first five Friends to Lovers stories I reviewed on the blog that won high marks from me. Oldies but goodies, maybe you've read them, maybe they're sitting on your TBR... maybe you even have a suggestion for me because I really enjoy this trope.

I hope I've reminded you of the love for a particular story, suggested a new read, or at least entertained you for a moment. Happy reading! xo

Normal by Danielle Pearl

This is a young adult romance that read like a new adult romance. It tackled issues that no youth should ever have to face. It had a relatable heroine and a fantastic hero. On top of everything going on with these characters, the author can write. I remember being completely absorbed by this story and the ones that followed in this series. From the blurb: a gritty story of trust and abuse, heartbreak and salvation, and if they're lucky - love. This is not a flowery romance - not for the faint of heart.

Sweetest Sorrow by J.M. Darhower

After falling in love with Matty in the first book (By Any Other Name), I knew I wanted to be back in this world and I got what I wanted with this book. I fell in love with Dante (although Matty is still my favourite) and I really enjoyed how the author mixed suspense, mafia hijinks, friendship, humour and romance all in one story. I was thoroughly entertained from beginning to end and knew that this wouldn't be the last book I'd fall in love with from this author.

27 Truths by M.J. Fields

This book right here... y'all this book taught me about angst! That tear-into-your-guts, feel-like-I-wanna-puke, how-could-you-do-that, why-am-I-still-reading, kind of angst. I didn't know a story could be so gut-wrenchingly good until I read this book. I didn't know I could love and hate a character with equal measure until I read this book. If you haven't read it, try it. If you have, you know EXACTLY what I'm talking about.

Beard Science by Penny Reid

For years, this author has been one of my go-tos for romantic comedy. There is such quirky humour and warmth in Penny Reid's stories that I've really come to appreciate. With her Winston Brothers series, I quickly realized who my favourite brother would be—Cletus. While I loved and appreciated all of them, there was something truly special about Cletus and I couldn't wait to see him appear in other books in the series. He was the light of my life LOL!!

Defying Her Mafioso by Terri Anne Browning

While I didn't get everything I was hoping for from this story, it introduced many points that I was interested in exploring. Did I explore them? No. However, with this post, I'm reminded about it and hopefully will get back to this author's writing and discover that something more I was looking for from it.

Vera was willing to show me her soft sides and her vulnerabilities.
She didn't hesitate to share her feelings with me, good or bad.
A Naga female would never do any of those things.

The Naga Outcast's Unwanted Mate by Robin O'Connor

Vera
My family maneuvered me like a worthless pawn, then cast me away. I was supposed to be executed but even that didn’t go right. When I wake up, my whole world is tilted on its axis when I lock eyes with a monster.

He’s half snake, half man and somehow he’s the most alluring thing I’ve ever seen. When he touches me I can understand him and he says I’m his mate. But how’s that possible? I’ve never belonged anywhere.

When more of his kind chase us, cast us out, and try to do everything they can to keep us apart. I must fight for what I want, fight to keep the one place where I’m wanted. In the arms of my mate.

Zathar
Cast out by my own Clan, by my very mother the Queen. I am left adrift until a skyship falls from the heavens, carrying with it my mate.

She is curvy and soft, everything I never knew I wanted. She’s perfect, and I will give up anything, climb any mountain, even crawl through the haunted ancestral caves if it means I can keep her. If only she’ll believe me when I swear she’s my heart.

Find it here: Goodreads * Amazon (FREE with KU)

Zathar, the first-born serpentine son of the Queen, was cast out of his tribe for not finding a mate. Vera had a family that didn't want her and she never found a place to belong... until now. Crash landing on a strange planet delivered everything both of them could ever want—a home, found family, and eternal love.

I really enjoyed this story. From the moment I was introduced to the language barrier between the aliens and humans and the unique method the author chose for them to communicate, I was intrigued by this story. I liked Vera and Zathar, the world building, and the secondary characters who I'm sure will get their own stories some day. Even the characters who caused SO MUCH DRAMA kept me entertained. There was such warmth to these characters... well, most of them anyway... I found them so endearing.

While there were several sensual moments between Zathar and Vera, they took a backseat to the plot and the developing intimate bond growing between these characters. I really liked how although there was plenty of instalove and instalust vibes to this story, the relationship never felt rushed. There was a learning curve for these characters, forcing them to find common ground and to build a solid foundation for their future.

I would definitely read more from this series.


Robin O’Connor is the pen-name of an author who loves to write about strong, super sexy, alien heroes and quirky heroines. She lives with her husband and four year old son along with a couple hundred books (hers, definitely hers) and probably just as many computer parts (her husband’s). Her house therefore resembles something like a mad-scientist’s lab on any given day.

She’s always working on at least a half dozen projects at the same time but is never without time to answer questions, write up funny extras, or post fun quotes and cover WIPs from her books on Instagram.

Hello hello! I'm back with some more books that didn't really work for me, but might be winners for you.

Born to be Bound by Addison Cain

BLURB - Every bit as ruthless as his reputation suggests…

Shepherd ravages both Claire and her conquered city, refusing to let either slip through his fingers. He steals Claire's innocence and future by forcing a pair-bond on the rare, unwilling Omega female. Violent, calculating, and incapable of remorse, he demands his new mate's adoration. Her attention. Her body.

The Best Years by Elena Monroe

SAINT
College. My one chance to escape. And I ran as far and fast as I could.
Straight into the arms of something more dangerous.
Oliver.
He thinks I’m a good girl. But he doesn’t know what I’m running from.
He thinks I should stay away from him. But I can’t.
I like his cruel words. And his intoxicating smile.
He’s a temptation I can’t resist.
Am I a sinner or saint?

SINNER
College. Second year.
There are bad decisions at every turn.
Including the new freshman, Layla.
Temptations I can’t fight. Shackles I can’t escape.
I’m only comfortable with the cruelty that slips from my lips.
Her innocent charm isn’t going to polish away my bad reputation.
This wasn’t going to end well.

We all have secrets. What’s your sin?

Swallow Me Whole by Gemma James

Sadie Sawyer wants to learn how to blow a guy.

She’s my sister’s best friend.
The girl I’ve known since grade school.
The girl I’ve always considered off-limits.

She’s the girl that crawled under a table in a bar one night and changed everything between us. Now the brain in my pants is more than willing to step up. The rules are simple.

No kissing.
No screwing.
No falling in love.

But the more I let her use my body in the name of experimentation, the more I know being friends isn’t enough. Is it too much to want it all with her?

The taste of her lips.
The sweetness of her innocence.
The chance to earn her love.

I might have a real shot with her…if her douchebag ex and my past don’t ruin everything.

Today's flashback is the Decadence After Dark series by M. Never. This is a dark erotic romance book so pay attention to the warning! It has intense sexual situations, a Master/slave relationship, mild abuse, and some violence. Reader discretion is advised.

Have you ever read this series? Interested in trying it?

Owned (book #1)

Ellie Stevens has lusted over Kayne Roberts since he first walked into the import/export company she works for a little over a year ago. As Expo’s most important client, Ellie has always kept a safe distance from the man with the majestic blue eyes — until temptation finally gets the better of her. Impulsively, Ellie invites Kayne to one of Expo's infamous company parties her flamboyant boss is notorious for throwing. Unbeknownst to Ellie, the god in the Armani suit isn’t just the suave entrepreneur he portrays himself to be. Underneath the professional exterior is a man with a secret life, dark desires, and nefarious contacts.

In a hidden corner of a trendy New York City lounge, the spark kindling between the two of them ignites. Unable to resist the sinful attraction, Ellie agrees to leave with Kayne, believing she is finally bedding the man of her dreams. Little does she know when she walks out the door, she’s about to be Owned.

Claimed (book #2)

With one look he consumed me.
With one touch he marked me.
With one kiss he owned me.
With one whisper he claimed me.

"No matter where you go or who you're with, you'll always be mine."

Ellie Stevens thought she had moved on from the domineering man who abducted her. Now living in Hawaii and following her dreams, no one is going to keep her down. But things aren't always as they seem.

Kayne Rivers reluctantly let Ellie go, but just because she's gone now, doesn't mean she'll be gone forever. She is his, and he won't stop until he's reclaimed her as his own.

Ruined (book #3)

Kayne Roberts.
Kayne Rivers.
Kayne Stevens.

No matter his name, one fact remains the same. He's the man who enslaved me, ensnared me, claimed me and ruined me... For all other men that is.

My life.
My love.
My happiness.
All belong to him.
I belong to no one but him.

He owns me.
And I own him.

Hello hello and welcome to another recap!

September wasn't too bad. I got my reading mojo back, my thoughts were staying positive, and everything seemed to be coming up Natalie. Then the last week in September, actually until today, I HAD NO INTERNET!! Can you imagine? I felt like I was living in the dark ages 😂😂 Which is absolutely ridiculous since I spent half my life with no such thing as internet. But the internet was down, my data was wonky (so no hotspot), and I was watching cable of all things during the night. I couldn't even sync my kindle so NO READING!! Life was so unfair this past week, but my internet is back, supposedly stronger than before, so here's to hoping things only go up from here.

Before my online life turned to shite, here's what my month looked like...




I found a couple of five-star worthy reads. They're from two of my favourite authors, so I'm not surprised :)

The other books I read and would recommend were:

I added the Campus Wallflowers series by Rebecca Jenshak because I was blown away by Deanna's reviews over at A Novel Glimpse. So I'm gonna give it a shot, hoping that I love it as much as she did.

I've also added The Summer series by Elizabeth O'Roark because the reviews I've seen from some of my favourite bloggers made me wanna do it :)


Aside from books I borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, I've bought nothing!! I'm doing so well with this DON'T YOU DARE BUY ANY MORE BOOKS, NATALIE goal I've set for myself :)

Today's flashback is the Monster in His Eyes series by J.M. Darhower. One of my first ever dark romance reads, these books let me know just how much I would love this subgenre. Dark romance quickly became my go-to.

Monster in His Eyes

Ignazio Vitale is not a good man.

I suspect it, the first time I see him, sense the air of danger that surrounds the man. He has a way of commanding attention, of taking control, of knowing what I'm thinking before I even do.

It's alarming and alluring. It's dark and deadly. It's everything I've ever wanted but the last thing I truly need. Obsession.

It doesn't take him long to draw me into his web, charming me into his bed and trapping me in his life, a life I know nothing about until it's too late. He has secrets, secrets I can't fathom, secrets that make it so I can't walk away, no matter how much I beg him to let me go. I see it sometimes in his eyes, a darkness that's both terrifying and thrilling. He's a monster, wrapped up in a pretty package, and what I find when I unmask him changes everything.

I want to hate him.

Sometimes, I do.

But it doesn't stop me from loving him, too.

Torture to Her Soul

Don't say it unless you mean it…

It's a simple concept, one I've said time and again, but something people don't seem to comprehend. You should choose every syllable carefully, because you never know when somebody will hold you to your word.

Somebody like me.

I'm not a good man. I'm not. I know. I have enough darkness inside of me to rid the world of every stitch of light. But there's one I could never harm, one light I couldn't bring myself to snuff out.

Karissa.

She thinks I'm a monster, and maybe I am. I taunt her with my touch, get a thrill out of torturing her soul. But I'm not the only one. The world is full of monsters, and I'm not the most dangerous one out there.

Not even close…

God help me, I love her.

I do.

And God help anyone who tries to take her from me.

Target on Our Backs

The best way to keep your word is never to give it. Not long ago, in a chapel in Vegas, I swore to love Karissa for the rest of my days. But nobody's promised an infinite number of tomorrows. Nobody's promised forever. Sometimes, all we have left is today.

Carpe Diem. Seize the day.

It should've been over, we should've been happy, but people are making it hard for me to live in peace. I've got so much blood on my hands they'll never be clean, and somebody out there seems to want me to pay for it. Happily Ever After always comes at a cost, one any real man would be willing to pay. But that doesn't mean I'm just going to roll over and accept these consequences. Because when it comes to the woman I love? The life I've fought for? Nobody is safe.

Life had gotten a whole lot sweeter since Slone had come into my life.

Freak Show by Lani Lynn Vale

Slone Day, defensive end for the Longview professional football team, has a lot on his plate.
He’s at the peak of his career, he’s a single father raising a girl that’s border line genius and can’t seem to find the time to date. Let alone see someone seriously.
He’s perfectly content living his life as it is.
Then he goes to a circus.
There, he meets a woman that literally takes his breath away.
And in one bold, crazy, this is probably going to backfire move, he not only asks the woman out. But he invites her to spend the next two weeks with him while she’s recovering from an incident.

***

There she is, a practical invalid who can’t go anywhere without being babysat, experiencing a crisis in the middle of a public setting, when she spots him.
The moment that Caristonia Singh meets Slone, she realizes her life is about to change.
Meeting men when you work in a circus is practically impossible. That’s why she’s the inexperienced girl that doesn’t know how to act around a hot guy.
A really big, really sexy, holy crap he could toss me over his head and make it look easy, guy.
From the moment he comes to her defense—family can be dicks sometimes—she starts falling.
But nothing good ever lasts when it comes to the circus life.
People come and go. No one ever stays.
But Slone is dead set on proving her wrong, but she’s learned firsthand that nothing good ever lasts.

Find it here: Goodreads * Amazon

When I read Banner's story in Somethin' About That Boy, I knew I wanted to learn more about Slone. I cannot even begin to tell you how thrilled I am for getting my hands on his book!

Slone was a professional juggler—single dad, professional athlete, and a truly decent guy. I'm so happy he was as sweet and thoughtful and kind as I remembered him to be. This man deserves all the happiness in the world and he finally found some more.

Ari was a beautiful mess and I really enjoyed getting to know her. The instant spark she shared with Slone had me bouncing in excitement and I lived for every moment that they shared.

Despite a creepy stalker and a callous sister, this story gave me all the feel-goods. There was such warmth and family and friendship in these words and I'm excited to continue this series.


Lani Lynn Vale is married to the love of her life that she met in high school. She fell in love with him because he was wearing baseball pants. Ten years later they have three perfectly crazy children and a cat named Demon who likes to wake her up at ungodly times in the night. They live in the greatest state in the world, Texas. She writes contemporary and romantic suspense, and has a love for all things romance. You can find Lani in front of her computer writing away in her fictional characters world...that is until her husband and kids demand sustenance in the form of food and drink.

Visit https://lanilynnvale.com for more information!

Today's flashback is the Broken Love series by B.B. Reid. It's how I found and fell in love with this author's writing and I've never regretted it. Please note that I didn't actually finish this series. Books 4 (Breaking Love) and 5 (Fearless) are still unread. Have you read this series? Should I read the last two books?

I rated each book with 5 stars and here were my thoughts...

Fear Me

I don't believe in fairy tales and Prince Charming.

I believe in fear.

He taught me how to be afraid.

We first met on a playground on a wonderful summer day. It was the first time he hurt me and it wouldn’t be the last. For ten years, he's been my tormentor and I've been his forbidden. But then he went away, and yet I was still afraid.

Now he's back and wants more than just my tears. You see...he thinks I sent him away so now he wants revenge...and he knows just how to get it.

Fear You

What happens when she’s had enough?

Lake Monroe has given in to her childhood tormentor too many times. She knows it, he knows it, and even their enemies know it. When he returned after being found guilty of a crime he didn't commit—a crime he thought she set him up for, he returned darker than ever, demanding her body and her submission. To survive him, she knew she had to give in to fear once more or suffer the deadly consequences...

But Lake experienced what it was like to submit to the dark and demanding boy who invaded her dreams. Now she’ll experience what it’s like to fight him.

What happens when he wants more?

Keiran Masters has a past that is both shocking and dark. Once enslaved, he now has demons he can’t escape—demons that have followed him for ten years, demons he blames his beautiful obsession for. He promised to make her pay. He promised to make her break...

But after Keiran had conquered her body and tasted her submission, he found a new addiction instead—one he has no intention of giving up.

Fear Us

KEENAN
It’s been four years since I ran away—from home, my brother, and my maybe father. I created a life free of expectations while pretending I wasn’t being hunted by all of the above. I managed to stay under the radar all this time… or so I thought. When big brother shows up and saves my ass, I’m forced to face everything I left behind, including her.

SHELDON
It’s been four years since I became another statistic. I made a lot of mistakes when it came to Keenan Masters. The first was loving him at all. He took something from me the night he left, and when I told him I still loved him, he told me he’d always hate me. After that, I learned how to be okay… until he came back. Gone was the boy who always knew how to make me laugh, and in his place was a cold, arrogant monster.

"No one will hurt you and not see the end of my blade."

A Kingdom of Stars and Shadows

Kindle Unlimited: https://amzn.to/3Lo0ddQ

Destiny or desire?

Where does your allegiance lie?

I am told my union to the crowned prince will determine the fate of the kingdom, but it isn’t my betrothed who haunts my dreams. It’s the half-breed prince who stands at his side.

He is darkness and sin, and when he whispers promises of wickedness in my ear, I crave a man who I can’t have.

Every thought I have is treasonous. The way my hands ache to touch him deceitful.

Even my dreams make me a traitor to the kingdom I am sworn to protect.

But when the kingdom is attacked, I am forced to make choices I’m not prepared for. Our lies and deception are entangled in the shadows and stars, and as they unravel so shall my fate. Betray a kingdom or betray my heart.

A Kingdom of Blood and Betrayal

Kindle Unlimited: https://amzn.to/3RmVa1h

My fate is bonded to two princes– one born of blood, the other of power— but my trust lies in neither.

My skin is cursed by the stars, my fate damned by desire.

But when the dark prince offers me a bargain that will save his people and my life, the cruel and intoxicating male gives me no choice.

Our union is his revenge, and I am his sacrifice.

His lies are unforgivable. His wicked touch still bathes me in sin.

He is my mate, and he is tortured by a curse to protect his people from his own family.

I could now see him for exactly who he was. So why can’t I get his alluring touch out of my head?

I am the key to saving his kingdom, but he alone has the power to ruin me.

A Kingdom of Venom and Vows

Kindle Unlimited: https://amzn.to/3Pc0emk

I entered into a bargain—choosing my mate over my freedom.

But I underestimated the crowned prince who took me. His touch like venom. His vengeance lethal.

He craves a power I no longer hold, and he’ll sacrifice every part of me until he gets it.

But I don’t belong to him. I belong to his brother.

His brother who will come for me, consequences be damned.

My fate is entangled between two princes—one who craves my power, the other who covets me—and I have more to lose than I ever imagined.

War rages in a game between queens, and I have become their pawn. But I will fight for my life, for my mate, and he will raze kingdoms to get me back.