"If I'm yours, that must mean that you're mine." ~ Poppy

Standalone - Galactic Kings #2
Release - January 18, 2022
Genre - SciFi Romance
Dual POV - 3rd person
Heat - 3.5 out of 5 / several scenes
Format/Source - ebook borrowed from Kindle Unlimited
Length - 266 pages
Publisher - Indie

My Two Cents

The Author

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Good Trouble by Lani Lynn Vale

Other book(s) from the series: Nobody Cares Unless You're Pretty

Bain met Diana, a.k.a. Luce, the night before he was set to deploy to Afghanistan.

It’s not every day that you take your brother’s girlfriend to prom because he refuses to put out the effort.

That night was one of the best nights of his life and the next day, he leaves and doesn’t see her again.

But there are letters. Not many, but enough for them to form a connection.

Over the two-year deployment, they became great friends.

The best of friends—at least, as good of friends as you can be when it’s your brother’s wife.

Fast-forward six years and she still counts him as one of her greatest friends. Even going as far as to stick by him when he’s sent to prison because his own brother turned on him.

***

Luce had a crush on her then-boyfriend’s brother since way before she and Bain’s brother were married. From the moment he volunteered to take her to prom, she’d fallen.

Over the years, she’d tried to hide it. Tried to go on with her life and act like she loved her husband and only her husband. But as time went on and Braxton started to treat her more and more like crap, she realized the truth. Her husband wasn’t Bain. Her husband would never be him.

Hell, that’d been proven time and time again.

The smoking gun, though? The thing that made her realize it was time to leave?

When her husband stood by while she was assaulted, while the man she tried to act like was just a friend protected her. Then was sentenced to eight years in jail for it.

It was time to admit the truth.

Bain McDempsey was it for her. She just had to help him see it. Oh, and get him out of prison first.



I thought I was ready for this story.
I really wasn't.
Lani Lynn Vale did taboo so right!

Diana (Luce) was Bain's brother's girlfriend. She came into his orbit when his brother refused to take her to prom. After the best night of his life (it was all platonic), he went into the Navy and decided to always have her back.

And despite being madly in love with Bain... Luce married his brother instead.

While the author tried to make the reasons behind that something we could all stomach, it made me queasy. It just didn't make sense for me, but it did fit the story so I went with it.


The brother was the same jerk he always was. One day, when she was being attacked, he ran like a coward and Bain came to her defence. It was Bain who served time for her. It was Bain who owned her. Shoot... he owned me too.

I loved the way Bain interacted with all of the people in his life, even his villainous brother. The men of the unclaimed MC are such great heroes, always there for each other, newfound family with all of the perks. I'm so excited to read all of their books!

After a ton of hilarious drama, Bain and Luce were well on their way to happily ever after and I couldn't be more thrilled for them.

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My notes: I didn't like how hard to get she played with Bain. Here was a guy who had already proven that he would do anything for her. A man who has shown her that he knows her, inside and out. So why hurt him? Why deny them both the opportunity to be something special?

Thankfully, she didn't play this game for long and they were both able to have what they both wanted and needed.


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.

I'm back with three more books that didn't work for me, but they have amazing ratings so I know it's a 'me' problem.

Maybe you've read one. Maybe you plan to. Let me know!

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Wicked Fall by Sawyer Bennett

Genre - Erotic Romance

Never in your wildest dreams could you begin to imagine all the filthy and depraved things that go on inside The Wicked Horse. Step inside and Woolf Jennings will make every one of your dirty fantasies come true.

He's covered in a facade of deception. An enticing blend of multi-millionaire and hot-as-hell Wyoming rancher, those that think they know Woolf Jennings admire his abilities to preside as CEO of his family's cattle and oil empire. But only a privileged few truly understand what fuels the glitter of depravity in those gorgeous blue eyes. Only a few know he's opened up a sinfully erotic and private sex club named The Wicked Horse right at the base of the beautiful Teton Mountain range.

Sweet Callie Hayes has returned home to Wyoming and is looking forward to starting her life over again. After a night of impetuosity, she's managed to put herself right in Woolf's line of sight... the man who she foolishly offered up her virginity to years ago and was flatly turned down.

Now Woolf is seeing that Callie is all grown up and has a kinky side to her that leaves him as confused as it does turned on. Worse yet, both Callie's dirty desires and sweet heart are getting under his skin, and making Woolf question everything he's ever believed about himself.

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Hold My Breath by Ginger Scott

Genre - Contemporary Romance

Fractions of seconds can do lots of damage. One decision can ruin lives. A blink can be tragic. And loving a Hollister…can hurt like hell.

I would know.

They say the average person can hold their breath under water for two full minutes when pushed to the extremes. Will Hollister has been holding his for years. The oldest of two elite swimming brothers, Will was always a dominant force in the water. But in life, he preferred to let his younger brother Evan be the one to shine.

Evan got the girl, and Will…he got to bury all of the secrets. A brother’s burden, the weight of it all nearly left him to drown.

The daughter of two Olympians, my path was set the day my fingertips first touched water. My future was as crystal clear as the lane I dominated in the pool—swim hard, win big, love a Hollister.

My life with Evan burned bright. He gave me arms to come home to, and a smile that fooled the world into believing everything was perfect. But it was Will who pushed me. Will…who really knew me.

And when all of the pieces fell, it was Will who started to pick them up.

In the end, the only thing that matters are those few precious seconds—and what we decide to do while we still have them in our grasp.

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Awakened by Brenda K. Davies

Genre - Paranormal Romance

Traumatized by her past, and struggling to move on from it, Sera has spent the past three years of college hiding herself from the world and content to stay that way.

A chance encounter with Liam shatters her sheltered world, leaving her stunned and shaken by the strange feelings and emotions he arises in her, feelings she never thought she would experience and that frighten her in their intensity.

Harboring a dark and deadly secret of his own, Liam knows that he should stay away from Sera; that he will only bring her more hurt, but he is irresistibly drawn to her and unable to deny himself the pleasure that only she can bring to him.

But when their pasts collide with their present, and Liam’s true nature is revealed, will their love for each other be enough, or will they be torn apart forever?

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Heart of Dragons by Aja James

Other books in the series:

Every lore of every clan, across time and space, dreamed of dragons. Did you ever wonder why?

Benjamin D’Angelo has officially replaced Ere the Black Dragon in the Jade Emperor’s mysterious quests. This time, Ere insists upon tagging along, for next to his Phoenix Mate Sorin, Ben is the greatest love of his life, and he just doesn’t trust anyone else to take care of his boy.

As always, their success is limited by seemingly arbitrary rules and an even more arbitrary sandglass of time. The only things they can count on is that: 1) each of their quests takes them to a time in the past, 2) they will witness (and perhaps even enable) True Love along the way, and 3) the Universal Balance hangs in...well, the balance.

Their sixth task is to retrieve the Stone Heart.

Ben and Ere return to medieval Britain some years after Ere’s first quest, reuniting with old friends in the process.

Meanwhile, Merlin the red dragon has escaped from the Celestial Realm to present day New York City. By luck or fate, he meets Annie, a fire witch, in his human form, drawn to her unique light. The present and past collide in the discovery and recovery of the Stone Heart, old wounds heal, and new Bonds are forged.

The end of the world may be just around the corner. Along the way, enemies may become lovers, reluctant friendships may form, and lots of hot, desperate, this-may-be-the-last-time-we-have-sex sex will definitely be had.

And who knows, you too may help earn the…

Heart of Dragons.



The books of the Dragon Tails series have all been irresistible and Heart of Dragons was no exception!

Merlin was everything I love in a hero—loyal, devoted, honorable, sweet, deadly, and a little broken. Once, love made him do dangerous things. It made him sacrifice pieces of himself he didn't think he'd ever get back. It destroyed him, devasted him, left him bitter and alone.


He lacked purpose until a bright flame drew his eye and his heart started pumping to a new beat.

Annie was that flame. As Ben's best friend and the daughter to immortals, she was no stranger to the impossible. And from the start, there was something about the red dragon that drew her. She felt compelled to give her all to him. To offer him comfort, to shield him from pain, to fight by his side.


They were true mates... if only Red would get out of his own way.

With this story, this series, the author is showing us how love should be—unfettered and unconditional devotion.

And I'm not just talking about the romance, though it definitely deserves its own shine. The love these characters share with their loved ones, be them family or friends, is the stuff of dreams. The bonds they share, the way they stand for each other, how they work through their issues... it all has it's own beauty.

There was no doubt that Annie was meant for Merlin and he for her. The sparks that flew from their first meeting and how they fought through his old wounds and old hurts to find each other on the other side showed us how strong they will be. Destiny is a wondrous thing and it spoke so loudly for them.


There seems to be so much more to discover in this world of dragons and their immortal companions. With all of them coming together as they have, I can't even begin to imagine what the author has in store for us next. I just know that I'm all tingly and excited for whatever is to come.



Best-selling author, Aja James, just completed the Pure/ Dark Ones paranormal-fantasy romance series in 2020. If you want your heart battered, bruised, shattered and skewered, then put back together in the most glorious ways, check out the series below. Every couple gets an HEA, but they fight like hell for it on the way.

Aja is now working on her new series, Dragon Tails, because dragons are her favorite shifters of all!

Check out Aja's expanded distribution of the Pure/ Dark Ones series on Google, Apple, Kobo and Barnes & Noble Books.

Visit https://aja-james.blog for more information!

Standalone - Galactic Kings #1
Release - December 14, 2021
Genre Scifi Romance
Dual POV - 3rd person
Heat - 3.5 out of 5 / a few descriptive scenes
Format - ebook from Kindle Unlimited
Length - 302 pages
Publisher - Indie

My Two Cents

About the Author

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Set by Alessa Thorn

Set thinks it’s going to be another boring day in Egypt when he's asked to protect his boss's secret daughter. Then he sees Doctor Ayla Neilos in the flesh and the god inside of him wakes for the first time in centuries.

Before he was known as a god of war, Set had been a god of protection, and he isn’t going to let anything happen to Ayla, no matter the cost.

As a doctor used to working in war zones, Ayla thought she would be prepared for the worst kind of conflict. That is until she’s kidnapped and then saved by a massive mercenary determined to keep her safe.

Not only does Ayla learn her father isn’t dead, but she’s also being baby sat by a god of war. A god who isn’t exactly acting like the villain that the stories have made him out to be.

Trying to hide from bounty hunters is hard enough, but neither Ayla or Set is going to be prepared for what they awaken in each other. With half of Egypt wanting them dead, they will both pay the ultimate price to keep each other safe.



After reading and loving this author's The Court of the Underworld series, I knew I needed to get my hands on her other books. I fell in love with the way she created this world full of mythical beings, walking and talking and living among us, burdened with problems both familiar and alien to us all.

Being introduced to Set was like stepping into a piece of unheard of history. I thought it was hilarious that he knew there were stories about him and that so much of what humans thought they knew... they didn't have a clue. Here was a god who had lived and loved and suffered and triumphed. A god who knew how to feel, to hurt, to distance himself from those who cared for him. And all it took for everything to come to a head was his protection detail of Ayla.

Both of these characters held such warmth that it was easy to fall into heavy like with them right from the start. And aside from the fact that my fellow nubians were somewhat white-washed, I enjoyed the heck out of this story.

There's action and adventure. Secrets and betrayals. Otherworldliness unlike anything I've read before. And the love that grew between Ayla and Set was a magic all its own.

As much as I didn't want to let this story go, I'm excited to get started on the books to come. Thoth accomplished the impossible to help these two out and he seems to be in for a world of trouble on his way to finding love. And then there's Anubis, who's been missing for a very long time. Seeing these great beings fall in love is always fun!



Alessa Thorn believes that all monsters and villains deserve their happy endings. She prefers her clothes black, eyeliner winged and books full of hot romance. She thinks heroes are boring, so her first series 'The Court of the Underworld' centers around dark gods, monsters and villains from her favorite Greek Myths.

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The Darkest Half by J.A. Redmerski

Other books in the series: Killing Sarai * Reviving Izabel * The Swan & the Jackal * Seeds of Iniquity * Black Wolf * Behind the Hands That Kill * Spiders in the Grove

With the abandonment of Victor Faust and nowhere left to go, Izabel sets out on her own to continue the assassin’s life she has grown to become so intimate with. But she quickly learns the hard way that such a life cannot be survived alone. Within months, she is captured by The Order, with the true identity of the ever-elusive Vonnegut just a hair away. And to make matters worse—or better?—her cellmate is none other than Niklas Fleischer.

While Izabel and Niklas are being left to starve to death in hopes that their capture will result in Victor Faust’s surrender, Fredrik Gustavsson has also found himself in a predicament of his own. Willa, his childhood savior who became the most notorious female serial killer of the modern age, is keeping him imprisoned. But what does she want from him, a woman devoid of empathy or the faintest understanding of human emotion? And what will become of Fredrik if he fails to give her what she wants?

In the suspenseful conclusion of the In the Company of Killers series, Vonnegut will be revealed—to Izabel and Niklas’ shock and devastation—and the lives of the once thriving rogue Order led by Victor Faust will come full circle.

And not everyone will make it out alive.



After seven books that had me worrying over the fate of these characters, pulling my hair out, biting my nails anxiously... We're finally here.

It's the final book and yet, there's so much story that could still be told that I'm not holding my breath that this is the real end.

So where does this book leave those we've come to care about?

Izabel and Nick were taken captive and for those that always wanted them to be together... get those thoughts out of your head. It was torture to watch them devolve and slowly die together, all in an attempt to draw out the true target: Victor. And where was our illustrious anti-hero? You'll never guess. And I can't even tell you because with the amount of twists and turns this story took, anything I tell you will spoil it.

Know this... Izabel was still one of the most unaccomplished agents I've ever seen portrayed. Girl still couldn't catch a clue. Her thoughts were so simple. You're about to die... where's your mind at???

And then there's Fredrik. I don't even know how I feel about where his journey took him. I didn't like it and I'm hoping there will be a book out there one day to give his time with us a proper end.

Nora made an appearance, but she wasn't given the true shine she deserved. I'm not her biggest fan, but she played her part and she did it well and I don't think this book did her justice.

All I know is this: my mind was blown by some things that happened in this book; I'm still on the fence when it comes to Izabel; Nick deserves all the best the world has to offer; and I will never get enough of Victor Faust!



J.A. (Jessica) Redmerski is a New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and #1 Amazon best-selling author. She is also an international bestseller and award winner. Jessica is a hybrid author who began indie-publishing in 2012 and later signed several titles with a traditional publisher. Her works have been translated into over twenty languages and have been optioned for film and television.

In addition to writing books, she works with various programs to create her own cover art, interior art, design, formatting, and fantasy maps. Jessica loves The Golden Girls, Xena: Warrior Princess, nature, the universe, anime, manga, bookstores, and fantasizing about the apocalypse. She is from the United States but currently lives in Mexico with her husband.

Her Mad Hatter

Standalone - Kingdom #1
Release - July 7, 2012
Genre - Fantasy Romance
Multiple POV - 3rd person
Heat - 3 out of 5
Format/Source - ebook purchase from Amazon
Length - 123 pages

Alice is all grown up. Running the Mad Hatter's Cupcakery and Tea Shoppe is a delicious job, until fate--and a fairy godmother with a weakness for bad boys--throws her a curveball. Now, Alice is the newest resident of Wonderland, where the Mad Hatter fuels her fantasies and thrills her body with his dark touch.

The Mad Hatter may have a voice and a body made for sex, but he takes no lovers. Ever. But a determined fairy godmother has forced Alice into Wonderland--and his arms. Now, as desire and madness converge, the Hatter must decide if he will fight the fairy godmother's mating--or fight for Alice.

My Review: 3 stars
A new-to-me author just found a new fan! I loved the way she captured the Hatter, how she illustrated the madness of Kingdom and all of its creatures. This story was unlike anything else I've ever read before and I'm in love with the magic of it all. Alice was nothing like the Alice of storybooks. And the Hatter... he gave me the deliciousness that Johnny Depp gave this character. It's no wonder that Alice saw the same thing. He was a nut, but Alice was able to see beyond his mad utterings into the amazing man he truly was. There was some push and pull, some major resistance, but in the end this was an entertaining story.

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Gerard's Beauty

Standalone - Kingdom #2
Release - July 28, 2012
Genre - Fantasy Romance
Multiple POV - 3rd person
Heat - 3 out of 5
Format/Source - ebook purchase from Amazon
Length - 188 pages

Betty Hart has had it with men. Jilted in love, her life now consists of shelving books by day, watching too much Anime by night, and occasionally dressing up like a superhero on the weekends with her fellow ‘Bleeding Heart’ nerds. Men are not welcome and very much unwanted. Especially the sexy Frenchman who saunters into her library reeking of alcohol and looking like he went one too many rounds in the ring.

Gerard Caron is in trouble. Again. Caught with his pants down (literally) he’s forced to seek asylum on Earth while his fairy godmother tries to keep Prince Charming from going all ‘Off with his head’. Maybe, messing around with the King’s daughter hadn’t been such a great idea after all, not that Gerard knew the silly redhead was a princess. But his fairy godmother knows the only way to save his life is to finally pair Gerard with his perfect mate, whether he’s willing or not.

From the moment Gerard lays eyes on the nerdy librarian he knows he must have her, but Betty is unlike any woman he’s ever known. He thought Betty would come as willingly to his bed as every other woman before her, but she is a woman who demands respect and even… horror of all horrors… love. Is it possible for a self-proclaimed Casanova to change his ways?

My Review: 3 stars
Gerard was a manwhore extraordinaire. Aside from Belle, he never delved beneath the surface, never trusted that there was only one female for him. Misunderstood and bitter about it (I kinda felt bad for the guy), he acts out. Dude was immature and ridiculous. When he went a bit too far, he's punished by spending time on Earth and making his 'one true love' fall in love with him. But Betty isn't like the vapid or superficial ladies he's used to. His game doesn't work. I loved when he finally got real with her and with himself. There was so much more to the man hidden beneath the surface and the author did an amazing job with all of it.

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Red and Her Wolf

Standalone - Kingdom #3
Release - September 26, 2012
Genre - Fantasy Romance
Multiple POV - 3rd person
Heat - 3.5 out of 5
Format/Source - ebook purchase from Amazon
Length - 213 pages

Long ago there lived a beautiful child. Her name was Violet. Fair of skin, with blonde hair and large blue eyes. Born of wild magic, she was a woman with a child’s heart. Innocent and lovely, but not at all what she seemed--you see Violet went by another name: The Heartsong.

She was the child of fairy magic, the physical manifestation of all fae kinds unbridled power. Cosseted and pampered, she grew up in isolation, never knowing who she really was, or why there were those who’d seek to harm her.

Ewan of the Blackfoot Clan is a wolf with a problem. He’s been sent to kill the Heartsong, but the moment he lays eyes on the blonde beauty he knows he’ll defy the evil fae he works for to claim Violet as his own.

This is the tale of Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf, as it really happened...

My Review: 4 stars
This was my favorite story of the series so far. Where the other books were light and humorous, this one was dark and mysterious. Violet was pure magic. She was the result of dark magic being purged from the fairies and all dark emotions are what fueled her. Know the story of Little Red Riding Hood? Well, you've never heard it like this. What if the wolf didn't do the awful things that myth made up? What if he was meant to be with Red?

That's what this book was about... and so much more! Red hated Ewan for what she believed he had done. And when she learns the truth, she has to fight against everything she thought she knew and believed. Her story was all about turning that love into hate and destroying the darkness. It was such a beautiful and unique way of telling this fairytale and I was far too infatuated with Ewan. He was everything that was good and kind and sweet and sexy... he was yummy. And if you love retellings, you need to read this one!

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Jinni's Wish

Standalone - Kingdom #4
Release - November 26, 2012
Genre - Fantasy Romance
Multiple POV - 3rd person
Format/Source - ebook borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Length - 137 pages

A long, long time ago there lived a man. A Jinni, who had one wish. To know love. But the woman he thought he knew betrayed him and the love he thought they shared. Tortured for his crimes, he was cast out of Kingdom, stripped of all his powers, left to langour in pain and solitude, until eventually he becomes nothing but a ghost...

Paz Lopez is an artist with a dream. To buy a ridiculously large penthouse in the swankiest section of Chicago. But there's just one hitch, she has no man to share her dream with. A fateful visit to a carnival and Madam Pandora's tent sends Paz on a mission to find the love of her life before it's too late.

But the Madam forgot to tell Paz one very important detail... to meet him, Paz will have to die first.

My Review: 3.5 stars
This may have been the most magical book of the series thus far. The love that developed for both Jinni and Paz happened in the inbetween. She was hovering at death's door and he was slowly slipping away. Only what they felt for each other kept them tethered to our world. Their story was beautiful, painful, eerie, and lovely. I'm really enjoying myself with these books!

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Hook's Pan

Standalone - Kingdom #5
Release - April 23, 2013
Genre - Fantasy Romance
Multiple POV - 3rd person
Heat - 3.5 out of 5
Format/Source - ebook borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Length - 172 pages

Trishelle Page has known pain in her life, but instead of it making her weak, she's stronger. Confident. That is until the day a fairy kidnaps her during her staring role in Peter Pan's play and tells her not only do fairy tales exist, but that she's the soulmate of the pirate they call Hook, making her question everything she ever thought she knew.

Captain James Hook is a man at the end of his rope. He's not the villainous bastard tales have made him out to be. So when the curvaceous blonde drops, literally, at his feet he aims to prove it to her. If only to get her into his bed.

What neither one knows is that fate and magic are conspiring and they can deny the attraction all they want but the end is already written, it's just a matter of getting there.

My Review: 2 stars
This was my least favorite book of the bunch. I didn't like Trishelle when she was introduced in Gerard's Beauty and I liked her even less here. Which sucked because I was hoping this book would make me like her more. As pathetic and sad as she was, I figured I would feel an ounce of pity or compassion. I was just annoyed. The only thing that saved this book was the magic of Neverland and the wonder of James Hook. Dude was delicious!!

Hello hello!

I know this is late. I'm always late with these things and as many of you have noticed, I've been missing for the last couple of weeks. I had to take a mental health break. Sometimes, being online, communicating with people, posting stuff... it takes a toll. So I took a step back and now I'm here, better than before. I'm looking forward to finding and loving new posts, speaking with people, and reading again.

My October wasn't the best or worst. It was simply there. I can only hope November is better!








Aside from what I got from KU, I've bought nothing. Well, I did buy stuff, but I haven't received them in the mail yet. Can't wait to share them with you in the next recap post!

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My Rating: 3.5 stars

Goodreads Link: The Mermen Trilogy

Genre - Paranormal Romance
Primarily Dual POV - 3rd person
Heat - practically non-existent / they had sex one and a half times (maybe), however, there is plenty of sexy talk
Format/Source - ebook purchases from Amazon