What to Read Weekend (Jan.19)

January 19, 2024


Hello and Happy Friday!

Today was a great day. I got to see my sister, her husband, and most important of all, my new baby nephew!! He is sooo cute, and because I don't plan on having any more babies, he'll be giving me all my baby fixes for the foreseeable future.

I was just so thrilled to spend time with them because they live so far away and I can't wait to see them again.

Alright, below I'm sharing a week's worth of what I want to read, what I want to buy (or borrow), what I want to read, and several romance book bargains.

Hopefully you find something to enjoy here too!

New Releases of the Week


Tempted by Celia Kyle
Irresistibly Dangerous by J. Saman
Wayward Son by Jay Crownover
The Bright Spot by Jill Shalvis
Rock Steady by Kat Mizera
Midnight Ruin by Katee Robert
Saved by Love by Kelly Elliott
Boone by Laramie Briscoe
Loving Romeo by Laura Pavlov
Cluelessly Yours by Max Monroe
The Bride's Runaway Billionaire by Pippa Grant
Boone by Sawyer Bennett
What Happens at the Lake by Vi Keeland

Upcoming Releases of the Week



What I'm Reading Next


A Grave Robbery by Deanna Raybourn
Cluelessly Yours by Max Monroe — thanks for the rec, Deanna!
Frostbitten by Rebecca Zanetti

Romance Book Bargains


$1.99


Sunrise Cove #1
Genre: contemporary
Trope: fake relationship

$1.99


standalone
Genre: contemporary
Trope: opposites attract

99c


books #4-6
Genre: contemporary
Trope: various

FREE


Love in Bloom #1
Genre: contemporary
Trope: small town

FREE


The Ryders
Genre: contemporary
Trope: forced proximity

99c


standalone
Genre: dark
Trope: captive

FREE


Russian Guns #1
Genre: contemporary
Trope: mafia

FREE


anthology
Genre: dark
Trope: various

FREE


Trails of Sin #1
Genre: dark
Trope: second chance

FREE


Sin #1
Genre: contemporary
Trope: age gap

$1.99


The Enforcers #2
Genre: contemporary
Trope: organized crime

FREE


Gold Hockey #1
Genre: contemporary
Trope: sports

FREE


Dungeons & Doms #1
Genre: contemporary
Trope: second chance

FREE


boxed set
Genre: contemporary
Trope: instalove

FREE


Wright #1
Genre: contemporary
Trope: wealth

FREE


Dirty Billionaire #1
Genre: contemporary
Trope: wealth

$1.99


standalone
Genre: contemporary
Trope: friends to lovers

FREE


Billionaire's Club #1
Genre: contemporary
Trope: fling

FREE


Alaska Blizzard #1
Genre: contemporary
Trope: sports

$1.99


Immortals After Dark #3
Genre: paranormal
Trope: enemies to lovers

$1.99


standalone
Genre: suspense
Trope: time travel

Throwback Thursday // Apocalypse Romance

January 18, 2024


Hey everyone and welcome to another Throwback Thursday! Every week I'll be sharing my book recommendations within a romantic trope or theme.

Today I'm sharing the first five Apocalypse Romance stories I loved and reviewed on the blog. I'm still pretty new to this trope, but most of what I've found has been incredible. From the world-building to the drive to survive, I'm strangely fascinated by books that tackle what could happen to all of us.

If you happen to know of a book in this trope that you think I'd love, please let me know.



Praying For Rain by BB Easton


With only three days left until the predicted apocalypse, the small town of Franklin Springs, Georgia, has become a wasteland of abandoned cars, abandoned homes, abandoned businesses, and abandoned people. People like Rainbow Williams. This trilogy is incredible! Rainbow and Wes overcame so much, during a time of such uncertainty and fear. I freaking loved them so much!!

Find my review HERE



Juniper Unraveling by Keri Lake


Papa says everyone has a story that deserves to be told. Most begin years ago, after the second bomb hit, unearthing a deadly contagion that divided the population into the pure, the infected, and the Ragers. I'm a huge fan of Keri Lake and she did a phenomenal job with this series. Each book tackles a different couple, with an overarching plot. It's deadly, scary and steamily romantic. You know I loved these books because I had to buy physical copies :)

Find my review HERE



Mercury Striking by Rebecca Zanetti


The deadly Scorpius Syndrome has decimated North America. Now the few remaining survivors struggle to avoid infection and rebuild society. This series starter convinced me to read the rest of the books. There are zombies, people who are making the best choices they can under the circumstances, and those who find love. The heroine of this one wasn't my favourite, but the story had me hooked (mostly because of the hero) and I really need to get to the next book.

Find my review HERE



Nina is an information broker with a mission--she and her team of mercenary librarians use their knowledge to save the hopeless in a crumbling America. Knox is the bitter, battle-weary captain of the Silver Devils. His squad of supersoldiers went AWOL to avoid slaughtering innocents, and now he's fighting to survive. The battle for dominance between these characters was very entertaining. I still don't know who I enjoyed more—Nina or Knox. I guess I just loved them both so much it doesn't even matter. This was a great series starter and I will definitely be reading the rest!

Find my review HERE



Marcus by Anna Hackett


In a world gone to hell, Elle Milton—once the darling of the Sydney social scene—has carved a role for herself as the communications officer for the toughest commando team fighting for humanity’s survival—Hell Squad. It’s her chance to make a difference and make up for horrible past mistakes…despite the fact that its battle-hardened commander never wanted her on his team. Another great series starter. Marcus and Elle had an entertaining connection and with the world invaded by aliens, they still found time to forge a chemistry-filled bond. I really need to get to the other books.

Find my review HERE

Heavy Crown by Sophie Lark

January 17, 2024

Heavy Crown by Sophie Lark

Find it here: Goodreads * Amazon
FREE with Kindle Unlimited



Heavy Crown by Sophie Lark

Heavy Crown by Sophie Lark


Rating - 1/2
Standalone - Brutal Birthright #6
Release - January 6, 2021
Genre/Trope - Contemporary Romance / organized crime
POV - Dual 1st person
Heat - explicit scenes
Source - ebook provided by NetGalley
Length - 426 pages

A Temptation I Couldn’t Resist...

I saw her being stuffed in a trunk: Yelena Yenin, only daughter of the most vicious Bratva boss in Chicago.

The Bratva hate my family. They burned my uncle alive. I should have left Yelena to her fate...

But she fought like a Valkyrie. Gorgeous, ferocious, and unbreakable.

I saved her so I could make her mine.

She says she’ll never submit to a man. I guess we’ll see…

I’ll push her to the limit. And far beyond.

“It’s you and me now, Yelena.
I love you more than anyone.
I’ll love you and protect you and adore you all our lives.
I’ll never stop.”



For my first try with this author, Heavy Crown was a good one. It had found family, plenty of action, some dark and sad moments, and tons of chemistry between the main characters.

Unlike his siblings, Sebastian was footloose and fancy free. He was starting to think that maybe he wasn't as content with his life as he should be. When Yelena crosses his path, things start looking up. She's absolutely gorgeous, a fierce warrior, and everything he could want in a woman. Too bad her father was the leader of the Bratva, his family's enemy. But isn't forbidden fruit so much sweeter?

It was easy to like both characters. There wasn't a lot of depth to them, or to the story, but it worked for me. There was something light about this book that softened the blow of all of its dark moments.

This is the sixth standalone in the series and it did read like a story that could stand alone. However, it also gave me just enough of the side characters that I want to read more about them. So I'll be going back to the beginning.


Sophie lives with her husband, two boys, and baby girl in the Rocky Mountain West. She writes intense, intelligent romance, with heroines who are strong and capable, and men who will do anything to capture their hearts.

She has a slight obsession with hiking, bodybuilding, and live comedy shows. Her perfect day would be taking the kids to Harry Potter World, going dancing with Mr. Lark, then relaxing with a good book and a monster bag of salt and vinegar chips.

Visit https://sophielark.com for more information.