Book Thoughts and Recommendations 🧐 Our Picks for the Week of Aug 15th

 📚 Our Book Thoughts and Recommendations

👑 Mafia King by Rachel Van Dyken 

🔥 Burn by Grahame Claire

🩸 Ruin of Fate by Kathryn Ann Kingsley

🐙 Kraken My Heart by K.L. Hiers

🖤 Little Lies by Elena M. Reyes

🪄  Midnight Fae Academy: Book Four by Lexi C. Foss

See all of our reviews and recommendations

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Mafia King by Rachel Van Dyken

Description:

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Rachel Van Dyken comes a new story in her Mafia Royals series…

One of the first rules they give you when you're undercover—never fall for the enemy.

I didn't just fall for the enemy.

I became what I was supposed to hate.

What's worse: I fell in love with one.

I live a double life, and both sides know it's only a matter of time before I'm forced to choose.

Rebirth through mafia blood.

Or death at the hands of the very government I swore to protect.

I have one more job before my time's up.

I just wish it was anything but babysitting a mafia princess who's half my size but knows how to pack such a brutal punch I worry about my ability to have children.

Tin's small but terrifying.

And I'm her new bodyguard while we all go on a much-needed vacation.

I just have to stick to the plan.

And remember rule number one.

And stop kissing her.

Our Thoughts 💭:

"We're all of us, a bit insane"
This is marketed as a standalone novella - part of the 1001 Dark Nights collection
But believe me when I say this is just a teaser,
A small taste of what the main course has to offer
It will leave you craving more...
More of the families
More of the friendships
More of the connections
More of the suspense,
More of the romance
More!
"One day, you'll have to decide if you're willing to burn 🔥the world for one person"
Tank knew he would have to decide between his job and his new family someday. When Tiny (wait till you meet this little terror) became a target his someday comes a lot sooner than he planned.
This is a novella-length HEA standalone that takes place in Van Dyken's Mafia Royal series - which is a must-read for those who enjoy the mafia romance genre.
Packed with tension, twists, and just the right amount of steam
#MaifaKing #1001DarkNights #mafia #romance #suspense #novella #rachelvandyken

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Burn by Grahame Claire

Description:

From USA Today bestselling author Grahame Claire comes the gripping conclusion to the Crash & Burn Duet.

For as long as I can remember I’ve wanted to fight fire.

There’s no high like rushing into a burning building knowing you could save a life.

Ever since I met Pepper, I’ve only put her in danger.

But even that knowledge can’t keep me away.

She’s everything I never knew I needed.

Kind, brave, and never hesitates to put me in my place.

But someone isn’t happy I’ve found a place with her.

As the threats close in around us, I have a choice make.

Give up everything I’ve dreamed or lose the woman who has made me whole.

The fires are closing in. Time is running out.

And we might both be burned to ashes.

Our Thoughts 💭:

What a ride!
I love a good plot twist.
I was so sure I had all the answers knew who was responsible for what and why
🤷‍♀️ I'm kind of glad I was wrong
There are a couple of questions I still have that are unanswered though they really aren't relevant to the overall mystery of who or why just my curiosity
Pepper was trying to balance so many things and the weight of making the right choice to protect everyone she loved was crushing her.
Yet, she never gave up.
Tegan is all heart - his devotion to Pepper, the guys he works with, his siblings - Nothing he would not sacrifice for those he called family
... sigh a girl can dream
Great mystery/suspense read that doesn't lean too heavily in one direction or the other. The author balanced the mystery with the romance IDK how to word it. It flowed so smoothly drew me in and kept me engaged
An easy to follow storyline that delivers lots of laughs, light angst, and the sweetest romance all shrouded in a bit of mystery
I'm hoping for Lincoln's story next not only because OMG the ending but also because he is such a stuffy penguin
LOL
#Burn #CrashBurn #Duet #NewAdult #Romance #Suspense #GrahameClaire

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Ruin of Fate by Kathryn Ann Kingsley

Description:

Ember is now forced to choose between her cruel new home and the tortured soul she has come to love…

Millions are dead, never to return. Hungry corpses have overtaken the cities of Under. The Ancients are silent as the fate of the world hovers on the edge of a knife.

Rxa continues his crusade to end the world, with only Ember to convince him to find another way. But as the true nature of Under reveals itself to her, she must force herself to answer the question that he has been asking her this entire time…

Is Under truly worth saving, or does it deserve to fall?

Our Thoughts 💭:

Truly Speechless - NO Spoilers
If I can give you any insight as you go forth in this final episode of Rxa and Ember's story
Please AVOID any spoilers if possible- and for those who choose to begin at the ending (yes, I know you exist) trust that all ends as it should
Now
Buckle Up and hold on tight - this is a bit of an emotional rollercoaster ride
"I was not thrust out into the cold winter’s night—I chose to linger in the storm.” Rxa
Kingsley wove such a magical take with Rxa and Ember's story
I didn't think anything in Under could surprise me
I was so wrong
"I don’t love you in spite of what this world has made out of you. I love you because of it" Little Dove
Remember there is no light without darkness

#RuinofFate #FallofUnder #Dark #Horror #Fantasy #Romance #KathrynAnnKingsley

Amazon

Kraken My Heart by K.L. Hiers

Description:

A Sucker For Love Mystery

It’s just Ted’s luck that he meets the love of his life while covered in the blood of a murder victim.

Funeral worker Ted Sturm has a foul mouth, a big heart, and a knack for communicating with the dead. Unfortunately the dead don’t make very good friends, and Ted’s only living pal, his roommate, just rescued a strange cat who’s determined to make his life even more miserable.  This cat is more than he seems, and soon Ted finds himself in an alternate dimension… and on top of a dead body.

When Ted is accused of murder, his only ally in a strange world full of powerful magical beings calling for his head is King Grell, a sarcastic, randy, catlike immortal with impressive abilities… and anatomy. The two soon find themselves at the center of a cosmic conspiracy and surrounded by dangerous enemies. But with Ted’s special skills and Grell’s magic, they have a chance to get to the bottom of the mystery and save Ted. There’s just one problem: Ted’s got to resist Grell’s aggressive advances… and he isn’t sure he wants to.

Our Thoughts 💭:

Ummmm no - I want more!!
I was having fun and I still have questions
This is one of those reads that is just plain entertaining fun!
You get mystery, smexy, raunchy, and laughter all together
The world-building is quite creative.
Fantasy that is at times a bit out there but ohhhh so fun
Ted is the sweetest, very rough around the edges, extremely colorful vocabulary (would make a sailor sound like a prude) body collector with a unique, and somewhat unwanted gift - he can talk to the dead.
After finding himself dropped (well pushed, but details smetails) onto the deceased 😳 Ted ends up having to prove his innocence - Guilty before innocent and all that jazz.
Grell being the stand-up guy he is offers to defend him.
Grell? I don't even know where to begin with him.
He is a bit of a jokester(?), definitely full of himself, and believe it or not a touch of a hopeless romantic who just happens to be a...?
Oh, and did I mention he was the King?
Let the smexy mystery-solving sleuthing hilarity begin
#krakenmyheart #suckerforlovemystery #MMRomance #Paranormal #Mystery #KLHiers

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Little Lies by Elena M. Reyes

Description:

I AM DARKNESS.

I AM SIN.

I AM YOURS.

A truth imprinted onto my skin—its sharp vines digging into my flesh as our bond strengthens with each shallow intake of breath my love takes. Her life is intertwined with the devil, a man who hungers for depravity and death, and yet, I bend my knee for her.

Only her. Always her.

She is mine and I will kill to protect. Kill to own her.

Gabriella Moore will never leave me. Not by choice or circumstance.

Our Thoughts 💭:

"But know this, just like I'll devour you, I'll never leave your side. You'll own me as irrevocably as I'll own you. "

I rarely suggest going in completely blind but I can practically promise - You will not be disappointed doing so here.
If the blurb has your attention then trust that the story?
The unknown that lies just out of reach?
The voices you swear you know but can't place?
The macabre mind games that leave you questioning is it the truth or that gentle slide right before insanity?
The combination will draw you in
Keep you on edge
Constantly guessing and asking
Flat out - One of the, best reads of 2021!
A spectacular mix of suspense, horror, and romance
Don't pass this one up!
#LittleLies #dark #paranormal #romance #suspense #ElenaMReyes
Amazon

Midnight Fae Academy: Book Four by Lexi C. Foss

Description:

Welcome to the Midnight Fae world.

It’s bloody.

Dark.

And led by an ancient vampire who needs to die.

My days as a pawn in this war are over. I’m taking over as queen on this board, and in my version of the game, everyone bows to the queen. Even Constantine Nacht.

He thinks he’s clever by roping me into these ascension trials, all meant to kill me and my mates.

But I’m going to prove him wrong.

We’re stronger than he thinks.

And we’re going to make him bleed.

Earth Fae are all about life.

Midnight Fae prefer death.

I’m a mixture of both.

So let’s see what happens when life marries death, shall we?

Hand over my crown, Constantine.

It’s time for you to kneel for your queen.

Our Thoughts 💭:

Blood - Fire - Desire
I don't want to go 😫
Aflora kicks a'rse !!
She has always had a quiet strength to her, but here, in these final moments - When she must decide the fate of so many
She shines in a way that left me with a bit of a girl crush
And watching her men learn to give and take amongst themselves - Yummy (yeah you might want to read this one in private lol)
Everything Shade has done comes to its conclusion
So many secrets - So much betrayal - and yet
Our little rose shines bright in the darkness
The perfect conclusion for this series -
The way Foss wrapped this series up -
The loss
The love
*sigh*
This is a must-own/read series for those who enjoy fantasy RH stories
#MidnightFaeAcademy #bookfour #complete #dark #fantasy #reverseharem #erotica #romance #LexiCFoss

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