📚 Our Book Picks for the Week of Jan. 24th
👑 Ruled by Cari Silverwood
❣️ Diego: A Dark Mafia Hate Story by Ginger Talbot
🌄 Inheritance Adventures by Crystal Vranich
🧬 The Prince's Consort by Revella Hawthorne
🥀 Jasmine by Jennifer Bene
🐚 Aunt Ivy's Cottage by Kristin Harper
See all of our reviews and recommendations
Ruled by Cari SilverwoodDescription:
He’ll put this princess where she belongs. On her knees.
Calli’s father was king of this city. Drake has taken it now, and soon the little human princess will kneel at his feet and surrender not only her throne but her beautiful virgin body as well.
Though she does her best to hide her helpless arousal as the huge, battle-hardened beast tears her clothing to shreds and then spanks her soundly for daring to defy him, it isn’t long before Calli’s need has grown so intense that she can only beg for Drake to ravage her hard and thoroughly.
She will reign at his side, yet as Drake fits her with the leash and collar she is to wear as he claims her publicly as his mate, Calli is left in no doubt that she will be well and truly ruled.
Our Thoughts 💭:
I was not sure about this one in the beginning - I just had a hard time connecting to the story then as Calli was headed back to the castle everything seemed to fall into place and I was there and I was captivated - I really really hope that Cari makes this a series! Let us start with the world building. Here I am a bit biased I have always loved her universes - they are usually dystopian with a backward caste system. And let us not forget her gift for vastly creative cast members. Ruled has a mix of Humans, Mauleon, and Hauleons (you can guess the last).
Calli is pretty much the "princess" when we begin this story. It was never expected she was to become anything more. Her world was a gilded cage that fed her innate sense of curiosity while keeping her safe.
Drake was not my favorite in the first few chapters but he grows on you. He is the power behind so much that happens in their world as the leader of the Mauleon he has reason to hate the humans and Calli looks to be the sacrifice to appease his sense of injustice.
This is a dark dystopian with an innocent but strong and intelligent heroine (yes she is a virgin like you needed to ask 🙄), a dark anti-hero (that you are either going to hate or love ) and lots of deliciously dirty dub con all packed into a suspenseful HFN.
#ruled #darkromance #scifi #fantasy #carisilverwood #kindleunlimited
Amazon
Diego: A Dark Mafia Hate Story by Ginger Talbot
This is one of those reads that when it comes to the male lead you are either going to hate him or love him - I really really disliked him!
I do not want to give away any spoilers which make this really hard to write.
Diego is a straight up arse - Yes, he has plans that include the princess currently in his possession -Yes, he is looking for revenge (yeah wait for that part) - and, Yes, the opportunity does arise for him to redeem himself - Whether he does or not is still up for debate
Donata is every bit the naive little girl that her daddy raised until ... 😈
I was a bit shocked at this story progressed - Nothing was as it seemed and dang was there are some 'did not see that coming' plot twists
This is dark - its Talbot - it has a bit of dub con, a bit of violence and quite a few "Oh Hell No" moments
Would recommend for those who enjoy the deeper end of the dark romance genre
Diego: A Dark Mafia Hate Story by Ginger TalbotDescription:
A brutal mobster has taken me prisoner - but what if I no longer want to be free?
Compassion has no place in our world. Compassion will get you killed. Donata knew that, and yet she freed the man that I was sent to torture.
And delivered herself right into my hands.
I’m the enforcer for the Rosetti family. I’ve always wanted her. Watched her from afar. But she was protected, that little princess, the spoiled Versace-wrapped daughter of a made man. Now that she’s violated our code, though, her father has no choice but to deliver her right into my cruel hands.
Donata’s too innocent and good for a man like me – which is exactly why I want her. I want to put my hands on her and stain that pure soul, and make her see the world for the corrupt, filthy sewer it really is. Because how else will she survive?
She thinks that she’ll be able to change me. She thinks she can weaken me with kindness and decency. She’s about to find out that you can’t melt a man’s heart if he doesn’t have one, and darkness swallows light, every time.
Our Thoughts 💭:
I am a fan of Talbot and her dark romances - This is one of those reads that when it comes to the male lead you are either going to hate him or love him - I really really disliked him!
I do not want to give away any spoilers which make this really hard to write.
Diego is a straight up arse - Yes, he has plans that include the princess currently in his possession -Yes, he is looking for revenge (yeah wait for that part) - and, Yes, the opportunity does arise for him to redeem himself - Whether he does or not is still up for debate
Donata is every bit the naive little girl that her daddy raised until ... 😈
I was a bit shocked at this story progressed - Nothing was as it seemed and dang was there are some 'did not see that coming' plot twists
This is dark - its Talbot - it has a bit of dub con, a bit of violence and quite a few "Oh Hell No" moments
Would recommend for those who enjoy the deeper end of the dark romance genre
#diego #chicagocrimefamily #antihero #darkromance #mafiaromance #gingertalbot #kindleunlimited
Amazon
Inheritance Adventures by Crystal Vranich
Claira is done with big city life and no good wondering men! After her divorce is finalized she decides to resettle - the quiet life - lots of tall trees and fresh air - Yeah right - when has her life ever gone the easy route?
I do wish this had been a bit longer - Our main couple does suffer from instant love but it seems to work in this story quite well -
The story is fun and easy to follow - lots of laughter and romance touched with a bit of suspense -
This is not a complicated story line - it is meant to be light and fun and to transport the reader for a short time - which it definitely does.
I do have all kinds of questions for mom though 🤔
Amazon
Inheritance Adventures by Crystal VranichDescription:
After her last adventure, Claira Williams thought her life was finally going to settle down. An upcoming wedding to Matt, the town sheriff, and writing her father Sean’s life story, she really has no time for any extra adventures right now. When Claira realizes she has more blood relatives than just her mother and brother, the next adventure begins, whether she wants it or not. Life quickly spirals out of Claira’s control when not all of her relatives are happy to meet her. With help from her feisty mother and her best friend, Jaime, Claira embarks on her next adventure—surviving her new relatives. Writing stories has never been so dangerous or so fun.
Our Thoughts 💭:
This was one of those warm feel-good reads that is perfect for a lazy afternoonClaira is done with big city life and no good wondering men! After her divorce is finalized she decides to resettle - the quiet life - lots of tall trees and fresh air - Yeah right - when has her life ever gone the easy route?
I do wish this had been a bit longer - Our main couple does suffer from instant love but it seems to work in this story quite well -
The story is fun and easy to follow - lots of laughter and romance touched with a bit of suspense -
This is not a complicated story line - it is meant to be light and fun and to transport the reader for a short time - which it definitely does.
I do have all kinds of questions for mom though 🤔
#inheritance #smalltown #mystery #romance #crystalvranich
Amazon
The Prince's Consort by Revella Hawthorne
Percy was designed with a purpose. He was special, designed with a unique purpose. Yes, he was still a breeder, a slave but he was also so much more. He thought, hoped, after the death of his master that he had been forgotten, left alone to live in peace. Turns out he was far from forgotten.
Percy is such a sweetie. I think he was why I initially couldn't put the books down. He is so innocent and yet something about him also screamed at me that he held a hidden strength that needed to be recognized. I enjoyed watching him come out of his shell, dipping into the unknown and eventually finding his rightful place in the world.
Prince Edward doesn't have to marry to unite anything. He is nowhere near close to being crowned reigning king. He does want children and to settle down with a mate. He doesn't want the red tape and headaches that come with a traditional relationship though, so he decides to look into a breeder. What he finds is everything he wanted and everything he did not know he needed.
This was such a fun and at times pretty intense journey.
There are so many twists!
Some were enough to make me cringe others had me screaming (no, sadly I am not kidding) at the writer to just STOP!
The relationship between Edward and Percy ~Perfect~ They accented the other in such a way that both became better for it.
And Mason - just wait for it. Don't hate him yet 😉
Action, Romance, Suspense ~ This had it all
I devoured the first three in this series back to back in one sitting
This is a blend of fantasy and mpreg
The Prince's Consort by Revella HawthorneDescription:
In a world where humans are genetically designed, altered and sold for pleasure and breeding, a young prince of the powerful Cassian Dynasty decides to take a mate and sire heirs. Not wishing to saddle himself with royal and meddlesome in-laws, and a wife he would have no desire to bed, Prince Edward goes to Heritage Breeders, and finds far more than just a warm body to carry on his lineage.
Percy is the result of a master DNA architect designing himself his own personal slave and breeder. Yet when his creator and Master dies, leaving Percy alone at the mercy of the callous stable masters and the new owner of Heritage, he fears his future. Afraid he’ll be bought by a wretched old man or a deviant monster, Percy is terrified when he is dragged from his cell and presented to the most prestigious client Heritage has ever welcomed...a Cassian Royal.
Prince Edward is immediately infatuated with the shy, nervous and enchantingly beautiful Percy, and claims him for his own. Yet not everyone is pleased by a royal purchasing a breeder, especially one like Percy, and tensions rise both in Heritage and in the palace.
Torn between need, duty, a king’s command and the innermost desires of their hearts, Edward and Percy are set on path that is anything but easy. Can Percy trust Edward with his heart as he does his body? Can Edward keep an angry king and unseen enemies away from the young slave who is steadily stealing his heart?
And what happens when Nature takes its course, and Percy’s true purpose is fulfilled?
Our Thoughts 💭:
😍 this series Percy was designed with a purpose. He was special, designed with a unique purpose. Yes, he was still a breeder, a slave but he was also so much more. He thought, hoped, after the death of his master that he had been forgotten, left alone to live in peace. Turns out he was far from forgotten.
Percy is such a sweetie. I think he was why I initially couldn't put the books down. He is so innocent and yet something about him also screamed at me that he held a hidden strength that needed to be recognized. I enjoyed watching him come out of his shell, dipping into the unknown and eventually finding his rightful place in the world.
Prince Edward doesn't have to marry to unite anything. He is nowhere near close to being crowned reigning king. He does want children and to settle down with a mate. He doesn't want the red tape and headaches that come with a traditional relationship though, so he decides to look into a breeder. What he finds is everything he wanted and everything he did not know he needed.
This was such a fun and at times pretty intense journey.
There are so many twists!
Some were enough to make me cringe others had me screaming (no, sadly I am not kidding) at the writer to just STOP!
The relationship between Edward and Percy ~Perfect~ They accented the other in such a way that both became better for it.
And Mason - just wait for it. Don't hate him yet 😉
Action, Romance, Suspense ~ This had it all
I devoured the first three in this series back to back in one sitting
This is a blend of fantasy and mpreg
#theprincesconsort #bredforlove #mm #gay #erotic #romance #mpreg #revellahawthorne
Amazon
Jasmine by Jennifer Bene
I actually finished this last night
And now twelve hours and one serious book hangover
I'm still in shock
His side of the story is one of love 💘 hope a happily ever after
Her side of the story is one of fear 😱 pain and suffering
Mason believes it was over before it began
And the deputy? Sometimes it's the innocent, those yet to have they're vision jaded their perfection skewed who truly see the whole picture
Who is truly right? Innocent? Guilty?
Who assigns judgement?
#jasmine #dark #romance #thriller #antihero #kindleunlimited #jenniferbene
Jasmine by Jennifer BeneDescription:
I am his obsession. His property. His Jasmine.
And he will never let me go.
Trapped in the middle of nowhere, taken by a madman, I’m forced to be his wife. Obedient, meek, righteous in the eyes of God.
But I am none of these things, and I can’t give in. No matter what he does to me, no matter how much he hurts me, I have to get out of here.
I have to escape... before I forget who I was before him.
Our Thoughts 💭:
😱 Bene delivers once againI actually finished this last night
And now twelve hours and one serious book hangover
I'm still in shock
His side of the story is one of love 💘 hope a happily ever after
Her side of the story is one of fear 😱 pain and suffering
Mason believes it was over before it began
And the deputy? Sometimes it's the innocent, those yet to have they're vision jaded their perfection skewed who truly see the whole picture
Who is truly right? Innocent? Guilty?
Who assigns judgement?
#jasmine #dark #romance #thriller #antihero #kindleunlimited #jenniferbene
Up in the attic, with views across the sparkling bay, she opens the lid of the carved trunk. Carefully moving aside the delicate linen wedding dress once worn by her great-aunt, she unpacks all the smaller boxes inside until she finds the leather-bound diary. She knows this will change everything…All Zoey’s happiest childhood memories are of her great-aunt Ivy’s rickety cottage on Dune Island, being spoiled with cranberry ice cream and watching the tides change from the rooftop. Now, heartbroken from a recent breakup, Zoey can see her elderly aunt’s spark is fading, and decides to move to the island so they can care for each other.When she arrives to find her cousin, Mark, sitting at the solid oak kitchen table, she knows why Aunt Ivy hasn’t been herself. Because Mark—next in line to inherit the house—is pushing Ivy to move into a nursing home. With the cousins clashing over what’s best for Ivy, Zoey is surprised when the local carpenter who’s working on Ivy’s cottage takes her side. As he offers Zoey comfort, the two grow close. Together, they make a discovery in the attic that links the family to the mysterious and reclusive local lighthouse keeper, and throws doubt on Mark’s claim…Now Zoey has a heartbreaking choice to make. The discovery could keep Ivy in the house she’s loved her whole life… but can Zoey trust that the carpenter really has Ivy’s best interests at heart? And will dredging up an old secret destroy the peace and happiness of Ivy’s final years—and tear this family apart for good?
Our Thoughts 💭:
Zoey has her hands full!
Just coming out of a wretchedly bad relationship that left her with not only a broken heart but also just plain broke she decides to return to the one place that harbors so many happy childhood memories. Her Aunt Ivy's home. But things are not as rosy as she remembers.
She finds herself embroiled in a battle with her cousin Mark, caring for her aging Aunt, grieving her losses, protecting her niece, and...
The list is pretty long.
Zoey is feeling the hopelessness when an unexpected person steps up to her defense.
As the buried past unravels Zoey must decide who to trust if she wants to save that which holds her heart
This was a sweet read with a light romance and the strong tone of a cozy mystery.
I did feel it ended a bit abruptly and there were scenes I would have preferred a bit more "realism" to
Overall though wonderfully entertaining
Zoey has her hands full!
Just coming out of a wretchedly bad relationship that left her with not only a broken heart but also just plain broke she decides to return to the one place that harbors so many happy childhood memories. Her Aunt Ivy's home. But things are not as rosy as she remembers.
She finds herself embroiled in a battle with her cousin Mark, caring for her aging Aunt, grieving her losses, protecting her niece, and...
The list is pretty long.
Zoey is feeling the hopelessness when an unexpected person steps up to her defense.
As the buried past unravels Zoey must decide who to trust if she wants to save that which holds her heart
This was a sweet read with a light romance and the strong tone of a cozy mystery.
I did feel it ended a bit abruptly and there were scenes I would have preferred a bit more "realism" to
Overall though wonderfully entertaining
#auntivyscottage #cleanread #sisterfiction #kristinharper
Twitter:
@CariSilverwood @jbeneauthor
Instagram:
@carisilverwood @crystalvranich @jbeneauthor
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