Happy weekend! I decided that since I hit 7 books this week I should just go ahead and push this out today. I will read at least one more today but you will see that review next week. I had a gap between ARCs! I went back and finished the Kings of Avalier series that I started in February 2024. SO GOOD! They are new adult, which is not my norm, but the fantasy realm made them un-put-down-able. I am thrilled to meet the author in Phoenix in a couple of weeks. I read the next book in the J. Saman series I am making my way through. Those Abbot-Fritz brothers are something else. I adore that whole family. I read four novellas with 2 of those being new-to-me authors. Coco Miller's book was a fun billionaire read, and Regine Abel's Prime Mating Agency was GOLD. You will see in my review that I loved this first in series book, and I am super excited to read the rest of them. I read a wonderful mafia novella by Lee Savino. He is truly obsessed with the girl without it being a terribly dark book. I loved it. Finally, I read a novella by Jess Bryant that I absolutely loved. Henry and Elliot are special and I am so glad I read their story.
Did you set reading goals this year? I did. I have a handful of favorite authors that I plan to complete reading their backlist this year. (Jess Bryant is one of those.) I have a few favorite authors that have huge backlists, so I set a goal to read one complete series by them. I am also doing the BANG book club challenge again this year, and that is going extremely well. I have already read 15 books for the challenge in January alone. I also set my Goodreads goal at 150 books.
Here is a copy of the BANG challenge for 2025:
Here are some of the other reading goals I set for myself:
- Read 3 paperback books.
- Read 4 historical fiction books
- Read 12 new-to-me authors
- Read 12 historical romances
- Read an asexual romance
- Read 2 non-fiction books
- Host a book club in my favorite reader group
- Listen to 6 audiobooks
They may not seem like much but I find that focusing my reading helps me when I am trying to decide what to read next. I set my reading goals up like a BINGO card and I have all year to cross things off. I am excited about it and I think it will really work for me. Here is a copy of the reading goals I set this year.
And now, onto the reviews for this week's reads. Until next week, happy reading.
Doctor Heartless (Boston’s Billionaire Bachelors #3)
by J. Saman
#Billionaire #GrumpySunshine #HealingLove #OneNightStand
#FamilySeries #ForcedProximity #SingleDad
Written in first person from an alternating dual POV, this
can be read as a standalone and ends with a HEA.
Elle (27) has just escaped a marriage filled with verbal and
psychological abuse. Landon (33) is a single dad who has a thirteen-year-old
daughter and has been swimming in guilt since his wife died 9 years ago.
Baggage? Yeah, they have it. But when they meet at a bar and share a
sheet-scorching night, neither one thought they would ever meet again. They
were wrong. Before long the city’s most famous billionaire cardiologist is
meeting his new neighbor, who happens to be his daughter’s teacher. They fight. They banter. They can’t stop
kissing each other. Neither one thinks they are ready for a relationship, but
fate has decidedly different plans.
I adored Elle. She is so much stronger than she believes. I
love how her teaching of middle schoolers helps her come to her own realizations
and growth. Even though she feels like she is in over her head, I wish we had
all been lucky enough to have a teacher like Elle. The “friendship +” that she
forms with Stella is beyond priceless. And I have to say I loved Stella beyond
compare. She reminds me of my niece, and I couldn’t get enough of her. Landon
has some growing to do and his desire and the undeniable draw he feels for Elle
force him to get there. He is a really
good dad. That always gets me. Growth is not easy for him, and I appreciated
that. But grow he does. I love his relationship with his family. I love that he
is not pretentious despite his wealth. OK! I just loved him.
Themes of forgiveness and healing are prominent in this
book. Family is not always by blood, sometimes it is found by chance, and I
love that Elle finds that with Landon’s family. I have loved every book in this
series, but this is by far my new favorite. A grump with a heart of gold wins
me every time.
Charmed by You by Jess Bryant
#AgeGap #MM #LGBTQIA+ #FairyTale #OneNightStand #Novella
Written in third person, this is a standalone novella that ends in a HEA. This fun and short read is a fantastic twist on the Cinderella tale we all know. I love that it is a MM twist with an age gap. I appreciated the creativity of the names of the characters and the modern twist in their lives. Henry Lord is the up-and-coming politician who is golden. At 34 he is starting to achieve his political career goals and the success he has been groomed to have. Elliot Cole (22) is the abused and rebellious young man who has been stifled by his wicked stepmother and stepbrothers. He is a tatted and pierced bad boy brat who really likes Henry’s bossiness and control. After a hot one-night stand Elliot leaves behind a cufflink instead of a shoe. Henry uses that to find him and give him his HEA. I loved everything about this story. There is a lot packed into less than 100 pages so make sure you read this one. You won’t be sorry.
Revenge is Sweet (Mafia Brides #1) by Lee Savino
#BWWM #Mafia #Obsessed #GrumpySunshine #Novella
Written in first person from an alternating dual POV, this
can be read as a standalone and ends with a HEA.
Leah (19) is a young woman who has been through a lot. She works for the local Italian bakery for a wonderful couple. Royal Regis is an Italian American man who was raised primarily by his aunt in the old country. He met Leah a year ago and knew she was the one. After watching her for a year, it is to make his move. He has prepared everything to make her his wife. When he takes her home with him on a cold and snowy day, it isn’t quite kidnapping, but he isn’t going to let her go either. I loved his possessive and protective nature. Leah is bright and shiny and smart. When trouble comes, she hatches a brilliant plan that makes it obvious to everyone that she too can be a little scary in a sweet and unexpected way. This was a very enjoyable, super-steamy read with wonderful characters and an interesting plot line.
Virgin Escort for Mr. Vaughn (Big City Billionaires #2)
by Coco Miller
#BWWM #Billionaire #FakeRelationship #Escort #Virgin
Written in first person from an alternating dual POV, this
can be read as a standalone and ends with a HEA.
Victor (28) is a self-made billionaire after creating a
spyware program in his early 20s. He wants to close a deal and needs some
leverage to get to the man to make the deal. His answer is an escort pretending
to be his fiancée. Normally consumed by work, he is very surprised by the
chemistry and the feelings he develops for Isabel.
Isabel (20) is the younger sister of Natalia who works as an
escort who has never had to provide the extra physical benefits of her job.
When Natalia gets sick, Isabel steps in to cover and get the paycheck they
desperately need. Unfortunately, she falls hard and fast for the driven
billionaire. The chemistry between them makes giving up her V-card an easy
decision.
I loved the chemistry between Isabel and Victor. There was a Pretty Woman-esque vibe to the story, and it was a quick read. I felt like there were a few inconsistencies that could have been fixed before publication and the ending felt a little rushed. Other than that, it was an enjoyable read with a likeable heroine.
The Ruthless Fae King (Kings of Avalier #3) by Leia Stone
#NewAdult #Royal #Fantasy #ArrangedMarriage #Virgin
Written in first person from Madelynn’s POV, this series
needs to be read in publication order due to overarching themes in the series.
This couple’s story is contained in this book. I strongly advise readers to
consider the author’s content warnings before reading this book which includes
kidnapping, forced marriage and r@pe of the FMC by a secondary character.
Lucien is 22 and the king of the fae and the Winter Realm.
He falls for Madelynn Windstrong (20), a princess in the Fall court. Madelynn is a fierce and powerful fae who has
excellent control of her powers over the air and wind. I adored her character.
I appreciated her logic and her ability to read the room. She is very good for
Lucien and helps him to be a better king as they travel the realm to announce
their betrothal. I loved her relationship with Piper, her best friend and her lady
in waiting. She faces some daunting circumstances on the page in this book. In
some ways, I wish the author would have addressed her trauma more thoroughly.
At the same time, I recognize these books may be geared to a younger audience
and appreciate the lack of more detail. The event in question does factor into
her rage later in the story, so I can understand why the author had those
events occur.
Though I feel there was less romance in this book than in the previous two, I did like it. I also liked how much the overall plot progresses in bringing things together for the war climax in book 4.
The Forbidden Wolf King (Kings of Avalier #4)
by Leia Stone
#NewAdult #Paranormal #Royal #Shifter #Fantasy #SecondChance
Written in first person, this book is primarily from Zara’s
POV, with a few parts interspersed from Axil’s POV. This series needs to be
read in publication order due to overarching themes of the series. Axil and
Zara’s romance is contained in this book.
Axil is the King of the Wolven. He must select his queen
from the winner of the Queen Trials. A-La “Hunger Games”, each pack must send its
strongest dominant female to compete to the death for his hand and to become
queen. Zara, as the most dominant female of the Mud Flats pack is invited. She
hesitates only a moment as she considers whether she really wants to compete
for the hand of the wolf who broke her heart at 15.
The first half of the book contains the trials. It allows
Zara to demonstrate both her strength and her kindness as she becomes
reacquainted with Axil. They finally achieve closure and understand that their
feelings for each other are alive and strong. The second half of the book, they
face numerous challenges both inside and outside of the realm of Fallenmoore. I appreciated the bond the four queens form as
they face the Nightfall Queen. I enjoyed how they worked with their husbands
and their armies to win the war. The sweet HEA and the plans they make for the
future were a heartwarming bonus.
I loved this series. High on action, creativity, and likeable main characters, I was on the edge of my seat. I also enjoyed how each book contains the story of an individual couple while driving the main plot with the Night Queen forward. Book four wraps it up perfectly.
I Married a Lizardman (Prime Mating Agency #1)
by Regine Abel
#Alien #ArrangedMarriage #SciFi #Virgin
Written in first person from an alternating dual POV, this
can be read as a standalone and ends with a HEA. This was my first book by this
author. I was intrigued by the cover, and I love an arranged marriage trope, so
I jumped on it. What I got was a steamy alien/human romance with some wonderful
world building.
Susan is a 25-year-old 3rd daughter who finds a
lizardman as her mate. She bravely marries him on sight and moves to his planet
to become immersed in his village, clan, and customs. I loved her sense of
adventure. I appreciated that she did as much research on her new people as she
could in a short timeframe. I loved how she teaches Olix to communicate in
their marriage. They build a relationship based on trust, communication and
friendship. It doesn’t hurt that they end up having some surprisingly amazing chemistry.
Olix is a clan leader, a skilled Hunter, and a good-hearted lizardman. He
really doesn’t know what to expect from his new wife. She surprises him at
every turn. He is really a bit of a cinnamon roll hero, and I adored him.
I really liked this book. I felt it was well-written and
well-developed for a book only 228 pages long. I am really excited to read more
from the Prime Mating Agency. I think I found my next palette cleanser series,
and I am excited that I will meet the author in Phoenix next month.
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