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 Enemies to Lovers stories I loved and reviewed on the blog. This trope can be hit or miss for me, but I'm going to enjoy sharing my hits. There's just something so sweet about people who can't stand each other falling in love.

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

Vicious by L.J. Shen

This was one of the first books I read from this author and I can honestly say that I wish her other books were as enjoyable.
The hate game in this book was strong and fun and I loved every moment of it.

The Bartender by Piper Rayne

This was a one-night stand that turned into a heartfelt story. There were great friends, amazing relationship development, and a good time.
Honestly, it was one of the first times I realized that I didn't like single perspectives, but it still delivered a great story.

Sweet Rivalry by K. Bromberg

I absolutely love these novellas. They give you a chance to dive into books by authors you're not familiar with and although I had read from Bromberg before, I hadn't read much. This book made me want to read more. The characters were super competitive with each other, which made me laugh and then swoon when they fell hard for each other. Read it, you'll see.

Breaking the Seventh by Allie Gail

You know when a new-to-you author knocks your socks off? That's what this author did. This book is a dual pov romcom that hit all the right notes for me. It's one of those forced proximity neighbour stories with plenty of spice and humour. Loved it!

Hate 2 Lovers by K. Webster and J.D. Hollyfield

This is book two in an interconnected series of standalones. I didn't like the heroine in the previous book, but I found my love for her here. This couple (Andie and Roman) had me rolling with their banter. Gosh, give me great banter and I'm a freaking puddle.

One of the things I love about the bookish world is that one book can evoke different feelings in all sorts of readers. One book can be a five-star read for me and a DNF for someone else. We all see something different because we're all different and I love exploring those differences by reading reviews.

Full disclosure: I read these books years ago, but I do remember enjoying them. Have you read them? Are you interested?

Try by Ella Frank

Temptation #1
dual POV, LGBTQ+ romance

Try – verb: to make an attempt or effort to do something or in this case…someone.

Sex. Logan Mitchell loves it, and ever since he realized his raw sexual appeal at a young age, he has had no problem using it to his advantage. Men and women alike fall into his bed—after all, Logan is not one to discriminate. He lives by one motto—if something interests you, why not just take a chance and try?

And he wants to try Tate Morrison.

Just coming out of a four-year marriage with an ex-wife from hell, a relationship is the last thing on Tate’s mind. He’s starting fresh and trying to get back on his feet with a new job at an upscale bar in downtown Chicago.

The only problem is, Tate has caught the unwavering and unwelcome attention of Mr. Logan Mitchell – a regular at the bar and a man who always gets what he wants.

Night after night Tate fends off the persistent advances of the undeniably charismatic man, but after an explosive moment in the bar, all bets are off as he finds his body stirring with a different desire than his mind.

As arrogance, stubbornness and sexual tension sizzles between the two, it threatens to change the very course of their lives.

Logan doesn’t do relationships. Tate doesn’t do men. But what would happen if they both just gave in and…tried?

Seducing Cinderella by Gina L. Maxwell

Fighting for Love #1
dual POV, contemporary sports romance

He'll teach her the art of seduction... for a price.

Mixed martial arts fighter Reid Andrews’s chance to reclaim his title as light heavyweight champ is shattered when he’s injured only months before the rematch. To make sure he’s healed in time, his trainer sends him to recuperate under a professional’s care—Reid’s best friend’s little sister, all grown up.

Disorganized and bookish Lucie Miller needs some professional help of her own. She’d do anything to catch the eye of a doctor she’s crushed on for years, so when Reid offers seduction lessons in exchange for 24/7 conditioning for the biggest fight of his career, Lucie jumps at the chance.

Soon Reid finds himself in the fight of his life... winning Lucie's heart before she gives it to someone else.

Sweet Seduction Sacrifice by Nicola Claire

Sweet Seduction #1
heroine POV, contemporary instalove romance

"I'm going to give you memories to last a lifetime, Genevieve Cain. I promise you that."

With a loser ex-boyfriend threatening her dream business, Sweet Seduction, Genevieve Cain is forced to go to a lawyer to finalise things once and for all. Gen knows she's only good for one dream in her lifetime, so when she meets senior partner, Dominic Anscombe, in the foyer of the law firm's building, she dismisses any delusional ideas her mind creates involving his very fine body. But Dominic is intrigued by Gen's run-away mouth and if there's one thing to say about Dominic Anscombe, he knows what he wants and when he finds it, he sets out to take it, claim it and possess it - completely.

Kidnappings, shootings, dream-shattering moments, hot investigators and just as hot lawyers, everything comes to a head when Genevieve sacrifices something so precious for something even more so. And it wasn't the sacrifice she thought she'd make. The sweetest of sacrifices, the most worthy offering. But can she believe Dominic has fallen as hard for her as she has for him in such a short time? And can she allow herself a second dream in her life, by letting him in?

Find it here: Goodreads * Amazon

Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver

Rating -
The Ruinous Love Trilogy #1
Genre/Trope - Dark Romance / friends to lovers / killers
Release - October 23, 2023
POV - Dual 1st person
Heat - explicit scenes
Source - ebook from NetGalley
Length - 355 pages







Sweet baby geezus! Who knew a killing game among serial killers could be so hilarious, endearing, sexy, and ewww?

When you're a serial killer who kills serial killers, it's hard to develop a good romance with someone. What happens when you meet someone who is just. like. you? Who sees you? Who truly understands you?

You get the fun adventures of Butcher and Blackbird. Rowan was an absolute sweetheart and Sloane was a total darling. Togther, they were magnificent!!

I'm not going to rehash the story. I am going to tell you that if you don't mind a bit of gore, accidental cannibalism, and a connection that grows throughout years of pushing and pulling, with Rowan walking a delicate balance not to scare Sloane away, you're going to LOVE this story as much as I did. Five stars doesn't even begin to tell you how much I enjoyed this read.


Brynne is a fan of velociraptors, the Alien movies (well, most of them), red wine, and wild adventures.

She can relate nearly anything you say to a line from the movie Hot Fuzz. She has been trying unsuccessfully for years to convince her husband that they should acquire a pet mink to add to their menagerie of animals (what could possibly go wrong with that plan?!).

Brynne has been everything from an archaeologist to a waitress, a deep-sea core analyst to an advertising account executive. For the last several years, she has been working in the field of neuroscience clinical research. Brynne has been writing since childhood and has published a non-fiction book under her real name, but she won’t tell you what it is unless you provide a live, fully trained velociraptor.

When not busy at her day job or writing, Brynne can be found working with her husband and their son on their family farm in Nova Scotia, Canada, or enjoying her other passions which include riding horses, reading, and spending time with family and friends around a raclette and a bottle of wine.

Visit brynneweaverbooks.com for more information

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

Let me know if you've read any of these or plan to. I'd love to know your thoughts :)

Forever Kind of Guy by Khelsey Jackson

Gretchen Elliot wasn’t looking for love, she’d had enough of ‘love’ to last her a life time. All she wanted was a little fun and a good time, and she’d found it in one passionate night with Claus. Now with her divorce about to be final, Gretchen can’t help but think back to that amazing night with that amazing man. Too bad they’d promised never to contact each other again.

Stefan Romano never imagined that he would meet the woman who’d been haunting his dreams again, let alone arrest her for car theft. Now he can’t wait to get her beneath the sheets again. He just hopes he can keep her there this time, while fooling himself into believing he’s not a forever kind of guy.

Can two people not looking for love, avoid falling for each other and keep things on a no strings attached level? Gretchen and Stefan believe they can…

Obsessed with Him Boxed Set by Hannah Ford

COLT

I wanted to screw her from the moment I saw her.
I wanted to take her curvy body and full lips, wanted to pull her hair and bend her over and take what was mine.
I didn’t mind helping a damsel in distress, but she was going to have to give me something in return.
I didn’t want to shatter her heart. But she was just too damn tempting, with her soft skin, her long blond hair, her tight little…
She claims she hates me, but her body tells a different story.
I’ll just have to show her how good a bad boy can be.

OLIVIA

I hated him from the moment I saw him.
I hated his dark brooding eyes, his smartass mouth, and that cocky grin that always made it seem like he was in on some private joke I knew nothing about.
I hated his need to control me, his bossy attitude, his dominating stare, the way he could make women drop their panties just by looking at them.
But I was in deep trouble.
I had no family, no money, no one to save me.
So when he offered me a job and a place to stay, I had no choice but to say yes.
Now I’m around him all the time, and I can’t stop thinking about his rough hands on my bare skin, his kiss on my lips, my neck, my…
I’m too smart to think I’m the one who can convince him to change. Guys like him never change.
I know he’s going to break my heart into a million pieces. The problem is, I’m powerless to stop it.

His Naughty Maid by L.M. Roberts

Axel Hart is the big time CEO/Founder of Hart's Inc. He’s in the business to get people off. Literally. He owns one of the top sex toy companies in the world. He’s all of six foot and he puts the HO in Hottie. He's labeled as a wham, bam, thank ya ma'am kind of guy. Most would call him Mr. Ice, or my favorite Mr. Iron Buns. He has all the money in the world, yet no one to share it with. At the moment he's branching out with his new line, "Get Down and Dirty with Axel." Needing a spokesperson/model to head his line up, he is then informed of a stripper in the Miami area, Kandy Kane.

When Kandace Kross comes to work at his home in the outskirts of Miami as a house maid, he can’t help but be drawn to her. There's just something about her he can’t peg, she has a certain quality that begins to melt his icy heart. Looks however can be deceiving. She isn't just any girl, she is the Kandy Kane. One of the best Stripper's in Miami and she works at Club Inferno. She likes to keep her facade Kandy Kane a secret, reasons unknown. No one can put two and two together when it comes to Kandace and Kandy. She keeps both lives completely separate and for good reason.

Going through trials at work to get to see Kandy Kane, Axel decides to have a little fun with Kandace in the process. Which could only lead to one thing, and who knows how far their willing to go to get what they want.

Find it here: Goodreads * Amazon

Feral Guardian by Ember Holt

Rating:
Standalone - The Princesses of Ruin #2
Genre/Trope: Fantasy Romance / unrequited / protection / royalty
POV: Dual 1st person
Heat: - slow build, more than descriptive and less than explicit
Source: eARC provided by the author
Length: 312 pages







Now that's how you make me come back for more!

Lily is heir to the throne and Alastair is the man duty-bound to protect her. When she sent him away four years ago, he was at a loss. With his charge out of his reach, he bided his time until he would see her again. And when he did... he wasn't about to let her out of his sight ever again.

Lily has loved Alastair almost all of her life. Believing that they have no future, she sent him away to get past her feelings. However, when she sees him again, she quickly realizes how foolish and impossible it was to try to wish her feelings away.

I fell in love with everything that was brewing between these characters. I was curious about their secrets, their goals, their choices, and their end. What do the runes mean? Who are the individual gods that power these runes? Who are their true allies? Their foes? And would these two find a way to be together?

After everything the author gifted us with this book, from the danger to the romance to the utter hilarity that was Lily, I want more. I need to read the first book because Lily's older sister sounds like a hoot and I'm utterly fascinated by the unique magic all of these characters possess and wield.

If you love suspense, mystery, love and humour, you'll enjoy this story as much as I did.


Ember loves all things with heat! A glass of wine, a comfy, oversized sweater, and a spicy book next to a fireplace is her ideal night. She likes to read about powerful heroines and protective heroes, and write about them, too.

When she’s not writing, Ember is a fox in the henhouse, causing all kinds of hell. She enjoys making pasta while listening to big brass bands, taking long walks with her favorite audio books, playing D&D, and painting—but not very well.

Some of Ember’s favorite authors include Laura Thalassa, Shannon Mayer, and Raven Kennedy. Their powerful heroines inspire her daily to get out of bed and to do her best (or stay in it to keep reading!)

Visit emberholtwrites.com for more information.

Instagram | Facebook | Goodreads | BookBub

Today's flashback is The Burrows series by Tara Brown. I read this back in 2016 and back then it was titled The Single Lady Spy series. It's an exciting book series full of suspense, action, and one heck of a kickass heroine. Per the synopsis: Betrayed by her husband. Sold by the government. Owned by a mortal enemy. Underestimated by everyone. It’s been one hell of a week for Evie Evans. And it’s only getting worse.

Each book is told from Evie's perspective, but it's done so well that you get a feel for all of the characters involved.

Have you ever read these books? Are you interested?

Please Note: I only read the first 3.5 books of the series. For some reason, the fourth book eluded me, but I don't really feel like I'm missing anything. If you think I am, please let me know and I'll search for that book so I can read it :)

1. The End of Me

Twelve years ago Evie left behind a dangerous job to be a full-time mother and wife. Now widowed and left to raise her children alone, Evie is prepared for anything. Well, almost anything. There are actually two things she isn't prepared for at all. The first being a sexy young counter intelligence agent named Coop. The other is an arms dealer named Servario. But the world of espionage has changed and unfortunately, so has Evie. The minivan-driving mother of two couldn't be further from the woman she once was and doesn't have time to catch up. At every turn there seems to be a secret or betrayal awaiting the inexperienced spy.

2. The End of Games

See you at Christmas!

The words are still burning a hole in Evie Evans' mind and undergarments. Not that she really has time to think about it. Not with the world ending, as always, and the kids' school starting back up.

But when Evie and the team stumble upon something no one expected, her and Servario are reunited much sooner than anticipated. Only the reunion is not the one they had planned.

Once again she finds herself in the arms of the bad guy and making alliances with the wrong side.

2.5 The End of You

Evie Evans is a spy—she’s just not a very good one.
Years of soccer mom duties have softened her in all the wrong places.
But being thrust back into the spy world and forced to join an elite team of assassins has hardened her up in a hurry.
When the team is sent to Dubai to stop a trafficking ring, she isn’t sure she can stomach the life she is being forced to live.
Of course the affection from the sexy man in her life, Coop, her younger superior officer, should make it all just a little bit more bearable.
But Evie isn’t a girl anymore.
She’s a woman who’s smart enough to know her own heart. She just isn’t sure about the decisions it has been making as of late.
One in particular.

3. The End of Tomorrow

Just as things start to settle into a bit of a routine, a single phone call from a certain arms dealer halts everything. Evie's spy instincts kick into gear, putting being a parent on the back burner. But it's not the only thing taking a backseat to the mission. Evie's love life also takes a hit when Coop decides not to trust Servario's latest tip from the underworld, and accuses her of feelings Evie isn't sure she can deny.

But when Servario's information is confirmed by an attack on a major city, the team is once again swept up in the chaos that comes with protecting the Burrow.

Only this time the mission isn't saving the burrow from the usual suspects. This time it's saving the world from a young woman on the verge of creating something so deadly Evie isn't sure the Burrow should have it either.

But could you end an innocent's life to stop them from ending everything, including tomorrow?

Find it here: Goodreads * Amazon

Big Nick Energy by Lani Lynn Vale

Rating -
Not intended to be read as a standalone
Genre/Trope - Contemporary Romance / bonus collection of shorts
Release - December 19, 2023
POV - Multiple 1st person
Heat - none really
Source - eARC provided by the author
Length - 224 pages




I love when you adore a particular author's writing, fall in love with all of their characters, and want more. And when an author gifts you with that more? *chef's kiss*

That's what I got with Big Nick Energy. I got the chance to visit some of my favourite people EVER and I still want more. LLV creates such vibrant, warm, and amazing characters. People who feel as real as the people in our lives. They're full of heart and their emotions, good or bad, are genuinely felt as you read.

This was such an unexpected yet incredibly wanted gift for the holidays!



Lani Lynn Vale is an American author of humorous romantic suspense novels. Born in the Great State of Texas, she has lived the majority of her adult life in East Texas where most of her novels are based. She’s married to her high school sweetheart whom her readers refer to as “LLV’s Bearded Half.” She published her first novel, Boomtown. in the summer of 2013 after the birth of her third child. She’s gone on to publish over 100 novels, with most of them going on to become USA Today bestsellers.