Throwback Thursday // Sibling's Best Friend

May 16, 2024


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

Today I'm sharing the first five Brother's/Sister's Best Friend books I loved and reviewed on the blog. There's something special about this trope, maybe because of how seamless the relationships can be. It's almost organic in how they're in each other's sphere and it takes one great moment to light the spark between them. When they're done well, they're automatic winners for me.

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



Hollywood Prince by Kim Karr


This story had a love triangle vibe, which I typically avoid, but I really enjoyed the way the author laid everything out. This story is steamy with easy to like characters. It was just another example of why Kim Karr made it to me must-read list.

Find my review HERE



Tempt by K.I. Lynn


Tempt is short and sweet and smutty. I've loved this author's writing for years and she didn't disappoint with this little novella. A great palate cleanse for those who enjoy books with heat.

Find my review HERE



Hungry as a Wolf by Alma Black


I always meant to get back to this author's books because I vividly remember enjoying this paranormal series. This story had a forbidden quality to it along with a suspenseful element. It definitely entertained me right to the end.

Find my review HERE



The Room Mate by Kendall Ryan


The entire Roommates series is pretty much a win for me and this one still stood out. It could be because there was plenty to piss me off and I came out smiling in the end.

Find my review HERE



The Boss by J.L. Perry


It's light and easy with plenty of chemistry and some sexy times. The author delves into the emotions of the characters and we're along for the ride.

Find my review HERE

Books That Didn't Make the Cut Pt.23

May 14, 2024


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 :)


The Two Week Arrangement by Kendall Ryan


Dear Sexy AF Intern,

I know you don't particularly care that I'm the CEO of this company, and you're just an intern. I also know you're not impressed by my power or my wealth, and that's fine.

You think you've got me all figured out from working alongside me for two weeks, but you don't know me. Not really.

You don't know that I'm a single dad to twin toddlers, or that those two little girls matter more to me than this entire hotel chain.

I'm not interested in starting something deep and meaningful, but what I am interested in is the way your body reacts to mine when we're in the same room. You probably assume the concentration on my face is work-related, when in reality, I'm figuring out which I want more--to nail you against the wall, or to bend you over my desk.

While you're too disciplined to act on it, I'm not. And the night you stepped into my limo, all bets were off.

My Rating - DNF

It's my first DNF for Kendall Ryan. I've liked every book I've read from her until now. This story wasn't sexy to me yet it's advertised as sexy all over the place. I just didn't like it. I was okay with Dominic, not okay with Presley, and bored.

Contemporary, dual pov


Chasing Fate by J.R. Thorn


Every Thousand Years the Cycle of Death Returns

A young psychic named Renee inherits her grandmother’s terrifying powers and summons two hot (and very naked) angels to help her save the world. Paired up with her ex-boyfriend turned vampire, she’s in for a hell of a ride.

Every thousand years the cycle of death comes to claim the three major realms: Earth, heaven, and hell. It’s her turn to chase fate and stop the cycle from devouring her world, bringing heaven and hell down with it.

When the echoes of calamity begin to take form and destroy her beloved Fortune Street, she’ll have to race against the clock to stop her new vision from coming to fruition. Earth in ashes and heaven and hell collapsed in a ball of flames.

Edwin and Devon aren’t the kind of angels she’d expected to conjure with her new gifts for such a monumental task. With Devon’s constant flirting, Edwin’s sexy brooding, and Jeffery’s distracting fangs, she’ll have to hope they’re more useful than they are distracting in the game of chasing fate.

My Rating - DNF

A young psychic, her two protectors, and her dead (ex)boyfriend who is now a vampire. Sounds like a good time. Until I realized that this was shaping up to be a reverse harem story and I don't read those (anymore).


Kill or Be Killed by Bry Ann


Scarlett:
Love doesn’t make sense to me.
Like, what, your heart pitter-patters a few times and your brain loses all sense of reason.
It just joins in on the torture.
No thank you.
I'm hot. I f*ck. That’s ALL I do.
I'm not bitter. No one dumped me.
I’ll give you a hint what screwed me up so bad…
DEATH.
And that’s exactly what he is… death with muscles and enough physical scars to match my emotional ones.

Tobias:
I was tortured for years on end.
Beaten within an inch of my life more times than I can count.
I became a monster. A beast who craved to hurt people like I was hurt…
Until I meet sex on heels and all I want to do is hurt her. F*ck her. Use her.
Until I don’t.
...and that’s the part that scares me.

My Rating - DNF

Stopped at 51%

No connection to the characters, to the story, to the writing, etc.

Review // Fate of the Sun King by Nisha J. Tuli

May 13, 2024

Fate of the Sun King by Nisha J. Tuli

The highly anticipated third installment of the steamy Artefacts of Ouranos series journeys deeper into the glittering fae world as Lor puts both her life and her heart on the line in this enemies-to-lovers fantasy romance.

Find it here: Goodreads * Amazon


Fate of the Sun King by Nisha J. Tuli

Fate of the Sun King by Nisha J. Tuli


Book 3 of the Artefacts of Ouranos series
Rating - 1/2
Release - June 4, 2024
Genre - Fantasy Romance / enemies to lovers
POV - Multiple 1st person
Heat - descriptive
Source - eARC provided by the author
Length - 556 pages
Previous books in the series - Trial of the Sun Queen and Rule of the Aurora King

With the Heart Crown now in her possession, Lor must navigate the dangers of being an heir on the run, knowing more than one power-hungry ruler is after her blood. When she returns to Aphelion to unlock her magic and recover her family's legacy, it becomes clearer than ever that all that’s gold doesn’t sparkle. No stranger to battles, she continues to fight her attraction to the Aurora Prince, understanding this might be the one she finally loses.

As the past mixes with the present, Lor uncovers the truth about the Artefacts and their role in shaping her destiny. Now, her future hangs in the balance, leaving her closer than ever to getting everything she's ever wanted... or losing it all forever.



Seriously Nisha?! You're gonna do me like that???!!!

The entire entourage is hiding in plain sight and I was anxious for them. Who would find them first — Nadir's dad or the equally awful Sun King? While I waited to find out, I learned so much more about the history of the realms, the diabolical schemes of those in power, and what must happen to make things right. I think I know, but I need more details to be sure. Book four needs to appear in my hands pronto.

I can't begin to tell you how much I enjoyed getting other perspectives for this story. I could finally root for these characters, understanding their motives and emotions. All I wanted was for Lor to finally see Nadir and when she finally did, when she finally accepted that her anger wasn't truly with him, when she recognized everything they could be together, I was delirious with hope and happiness. All I want is to see this couple triumph over it all, knowing they are end game.

This was my favourite book of the series so far, even though it practically killed me in the end. While I'm tired of the heroines of fantasy books being the 'greatest person of all time', I do believe Lor and her siblings deserve all of the blessings that seem to be in store for them. They've suffered more than anyone should have to, especially when their suffering was due to their ancestor's transgressions. But it seems that there is so much more to the story and I'm loving how complicated everything is getting.

Kudos to the author for keeping all of these facts straight, tempting me with juicy morsels, leaving me begging for more. I'm sitting here absolutely devastated and excited for the next book.



Nisha J. Tuli is the bestselling author of Trial of the Sun Queen—the first in the Artefacts of Ouranos series—which became a BookTok hit thanks to her amazing fans. The originally self-published series was acquired by Forever Publishing and Orbit UK in 2023, and will soon be published in 15 other languages around the world.

She's also the author of Heart of Night and Fire, a South Asian-inspired fantasy romance and the first in a four-book series. Look for her rom-com debut in 2025 with NSFW (Not Suitable for Work), a workplace rivals to lovers rom-com publishing with Forever.

Nisha lives in Canada, where she spends most of her time reading and writing while enjoying travel, food, and camping with her partner, two kids, and their fluffy Samoyed, Mora.

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

Series Review // Red & Wolfe by Ella James


Hello and happy Monday! I'm back with a series of books I read back in the day, enjoyed, and wanted to share. Have you read these books? Hopefully my review inspires someone to give this series a try.


Book One


When Sarah "Red" Ryder loses her job as an art critic for a Boston newspaper, she's brokenhearted. Worse than that? She's broke. Her boyfriend recently left her, so she's stuck paying her hefty apartment rent alone. After two months unemployed, there's no money left. With no immediate family to turn to, Red reaches out to her estranged grandmother, a reclusive writer living on an island off the coast of Charleston. Several days later, Red receives $30,000 and an invitation to visit.

James Wolfe is not Red's grandmother - but he's the only person waiting for her at the boat dock. Red has something he needs. He won't take "no" for an answer, and he doesn't mind screwing her over to get it. He lost his conscience six years ago, when he went off the grid. Since then, life is about him - and the renowned oil paintings he does under the mysterious pseudonym "W."

Until the moment he sees her. Then Red is all he wants. And Wolfe will have her - any way he can.


I gave it 3 stars.
From what I've seen, I'm guessing this is a spin on Little Red Riding Hood? I'm not sure I really got that other than the characters names. I haven't quite connected to Red or Wolfe yet. Red annoyed me so it will take a bit to endear her to me. While she was busy selling her worldly possessions, I kept wondering why she doesn't move?! When I read that she had granite countertops, I was baffled. Surely the cheapest places in Boston don't have granite countertops! Wth was wrong with this picture?! So yeah, I had no sympathy for the character. However, I'm interested in finding out more about Wolfe so I'm going to keep reading.


Book Two


Return to Rabbit Island for the erotic second installment of Red & Wolfe, the sensual story of exiled playboy James Wolfe and writer Sarah "Red" Ryder.

This is an erotic fairy tale inspired by Little Red Riding Hood.


I gave it 4 stars.
Damn that Wolfe is one sexy as f**k dominant. I didn't expect that and I like the surprise.

In this book, Red finally acknowledges how alone she is now that she has no family left. She also starts realizing, with Wolfe's help, that she's a natural submissive, at least for him.

I'm really interested to find out how she figures out who he is (she calls him Race Hollister but we know he's James Wolfe).


Book Three


Return to Rabbit Island with Red & the illusive Rafe for the hottest serial installment so far.

I'd bring at least two pairs of extra panties if I were you.


I gave it 4 stars.
What I found funny about this installment was that even though it was less than 40 pages, so much was happening that it felt longer. I'm still very intrigued by the mysterious James Wolfe. There seems to be so many interesting points to his story, such as his relationship then marriage to Cookie, her subsequent death, his trial for her murder, his relationship with his father and brother, his cousin Bob, and his relationship with Red's grandmother Gertrude. Because of how short each part is, I'm guessing I won't see further development on these areas, which sucks because I would definitely read that. I think of Red as a side character, simply because she's not a strong enough character to carry the plot on her own. She offers very little IMO. I hope to get some answers and maybe the start of a relationship between these two because they're hot together (although that's mainly because of Wolfe).


Book Four


Return to Rabbit Island for the heart-pounding conclusion to Red and Wolfe's story.

Don't forget your extra panties - but this time, you might also want to bring your gun.


I gave it 4 stars.
This is a new author for me and I found her writing unique, different and refreshing. This book for instance had so much packed into so little. Sex, betrayal, sex, guns, sex, knives, sex, secrets revealed, sex. Wow there was a lot of sex lol. But I'm not complaining about that. Nosiree. However, I am complaining about the use of the term 'f**k doll'. I absolutely did not like it. I could have truly done without it. But I liked everything else about Wolfe so it didn't completely turn me off from him. I enjoyed this series and I'm sure I will enjoy other books from this author.