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Book reviews for books read August 1st - 17th

 


Hello! This has been a crazy month as the hubby has radiation appointments almost every day, multiple doctor appointments per week, and my paying job has required extra shifts this month. I still managed to read 6 books including 3 new to me authors so far this month. I also read 2 ARCs, which were both fantastic reads for me. Check out my reviews below and add some books to your TBR.
Until next time, happy reading!



Billionaire Romantic (New York Billionaires #4) 

by Julie Capulet

ARC: Release Date- 08/16/2025

#AgeGap #Billionaire #InstaLove #Virgin #ARC

Wildest Dreams. Say Yes.

I am voluntarily leaving this honest review after receiving an advance reader copy of the book. Written in first person from an alternating dual POV, this can be read as a standalone and ends with a HEA. Romantic Noah finally finds his HEA with Lucky. He falls for her so quickly and he can’t stand to be apart from her. Lucky can’t believe Noah is real as he treats her right with countless O’s over their first weekend together.

This author is the queen of billionaire insta-love romance with tons of heat. Super steamy scenes, a little bit of br33ding and c0ckw@rming kinks, and characters that fall hard and fast for each other made this a fun read. There is very little angst or drama and lots of heat. Noah will do ANYTHING to make sure Lucky is happy and all her wildest dreams come true.  Fans of steamy insta-love; this is your book.


Chasing Forever (Plain Daisy Ranch #4) by Piper Rayne

ARC: Release Date- 08/26/2025

#AccidentalMarriage #FirstResponder #Forbidden #SmallTown #ARC

I am voluntarily leaving this honest review after receiving an advance reader copy of the book. Written in first person from an alternating dual POV, this can be read as a standalone and ends with a HEA.

Brooks is a hero who has loved Lottie for a very long time. Since his brother is her ex-fiancé, things are a little complicated. I adore how he is so into her. I love that he will do anything for her. Lottie has some past hurts and a secret that she is afraid determines an unhappy future for her. She has buried her feelings for Brooks under banter and arguments. After waking up married in Las Vegas, Brooks goes all in to win the girl, and I loved everything about it. They have a little bit of a slow burn as they find their footing with their feelings. When they finally do get together, they combust. I love a man in uniform, and apparently Lottie does too. These two had a few obstacles to cross, some boundaries they needed to set, and to allow the trust and love they had for each other to take the lead.

This was a swoony, small town read with a big family on Lottie’s side, who helps the couple along. This Sheriff MMC pulled out all the stops to get the girl and I was so glad when she finally caved to him.


Black Ties & White Lies (Black Tie Billionaires #1) 

by Kat Singleton

#Billionaire #FakeRelationship #OneBed #OppositesAttract #ForcedProximity #Workplace

Written in first person from an alternating dual POV, this can be read as a standalone and ends with a HEA. I kept getting caught up by FB ads for this book and I finally read it.

Beck is OTT. He pursues Margo with a relentless plan that almost backfires on him. He is obsessed with her, and his actions all show it. I loved his filthy mouth and the tension and banter between the characters. They are HOT together. Margo is an interesting character. At times she seems strong, yet at other times she seems a bit whiny. She is always argumentative with Beck, which does get a little old at times. There are times it felt like she argued just to argue. As a young woman not too far out of college, I assume she is around 23 and I blamed her youth for the way she handled some things. Her ex, Beck’s brother, is a piece of work. I can see how he hurt Margo and made her question relationships.

I did love the swoony things that Beck says. He has some great quotes when it comes to how much he loves Margo. Real men could take a note or two. This was a very good read, and my first book by this author. I am especially enamored by her descriptions of Margo’s art at the end of the book. They sound amazing.  

Ne’er Duke Well (Belvoir’s Library #1)  by Alexandra Vasti

#Historical #Regency #FriendsToLovers

Written in third person from an alternating dual POV, the novel (set in 1815) can be ridden as a standalone and ends with an HEA. 

Selena, 23, is the sister of a Duke and a woman far ahead of her time. She is a businesswoman and she runs the Belvoir's library which deals with some scandalous material for the time. She has also had a hand in matchmaking many members of the ton. Peter, Duke of Stanhope,  is single,   29, and is an American Duke who is attempting to gain custody of his half- siblings Lu and Freddie, ages 12 and 10. 

This was a delightful read as Selena tried desperately to match-make Peter and make him the upstanding duke he needed to be to gain custody of his siblings. However, over the course of the matchmaking endeavor, she falls hard for the duke, and he falls for her. When the situation leads them to a fast marriage to each other, they need to make the best of it as she tries to make sure that her scandalous person does not affect him.

I enjoyed the chemistry between Peter and Selena. I also enjoyed the witty banter between them and the events that led them into complicated situations. This was a very fun read. The only thing I will say is that it seems like there are pieces in their story that I would've liked to have seen in this book.  I kept feeling like I was missing something even though this is the first book of the series. I love a rom-com historical, and with the interesting cast of characters this fits that bill. As this was my second book by this author, I will also say that I appreciate the diversity in her secondary characters and her progressive story telling for this period.


Earl Crush (Belvoir’s Library #2) by Alexandra Vasti

#Historical #Regency #FakeRelationship

Written in third person from an alternating dual POV, this can be read as a standalone and ends with a HEA. Each chapter begins with an excerpt from a character letter or a favorite book. The epilogue is a series of letters that take the characters several years into the future for a glimpse of their lives in the ever after.

I picked up this book as a way to meet the Buzzworthy kindle challenge this summer. The author is new to me, and I really enjoyed her writing style. There are some seriously swoony quotes that I forced my husband to hear as I read excerpts aloud. I also appreciated that the FMC has serious social anxiety, and it was depicted well. Lydia grows more confident in the course of the book. I believe in part that is due to Arthur’s unwavering support and admiration for her. Arthur is a little grumpy and very responsible. I appreciated the baggage he carried as a result of his father and his childhood. I loved that he was a big guy with a soft heart. I appreciated the humorous moments in the book. I have never had a zebra stampede in a romance before, and it was impressively handled. There is also a light suspense subplot that was interesting and created a little danger and drama. This was a very enjoyable read and my first historical romance of the year. I will certainly be reading more books by this author in the future.

For Whom the Belle Tolls (Hell's Belles #1) by Jaysea Lynn

#Debut #Fantasy

Written in third person from an alternating dual POV, this debut can be read as a standalone and ends with a HEA. This book was not on my radar until a co-worker recommended it as she was reading it. So, I added it to my TBR. These kinds of books work as excellent palette cleansers, and I love giving a debut author a try. Sensitive readers should consider the author’s content warnings before reading.

The book begins with Lily receiving her diagnosis and passing into the Afterlife. This afterlife world, in all its many realms, is the setting of the remainder of the book. Bel is the hunky demon prince who meets Lily and falls for her very quickly. Lily is a fiery mortal soul who decides she wants to continue to work and help out in Hell by forming a Hellp Desk. There are several funny moments, one-liners, and punny conversations throughout the book. There are also some steamy, explicit scenes after Bel and Lily finally get together (though they don’t move past third base until the 60% mark).  I found both characters to be likeable and fierce. There is a child mortal soul in the book that pretty much steals her scenes. I loved the relationships that little “Sharkie” forms with the adults around her.

This originally started as a serial, and it is most obvious in the way that the plot meanders and shifts throughout the story. There are consistent themes of recovery, boundaries, consent, and healing. Grief, death, and PTSD due to abuse, trauma, and war are all filtered through the many characters the reader meets. There is also the consistent theme of recovering from religion-induced trauma, which is Lily’s prime reason to need healing for herself. There is the romantic, smexy plot between Bel and Lily as well as the recurring theme of wanting children, found family, and parenthood. There is also a war plot where another universe attempts to invade the afterlife. All of that to say that there are parts of the book that really dragged and didn’t seem to move the story forward effectively. This was a long book at 640 pages, and I felt like it could have been at least a third shorter than it was.

One of things that the author did very well was world-building. She used vivid and detailed descriptions of the world and its characters. I could easily visualize it in my mind.  There is a funeral scene at one point that was incredibly moving in its description. Perhaps because of its more serial plot line, I could easily see this as a movie or a limited series at some point. There is plenty of material to work with if that ever happens. Overall, I enjoyed the read but I wish it had been shorter and more concise.


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