Dirty by Kylie Scott

Synopsis

Love—on the rocks….
The last thing Vaughan Hewson expects to find when he returns to his childhood home is a broken hearted bride in his shower, let alone the drama and chaos that come with her.

Lydia Green doesn’t know whether to scream or cry in a corner. Discovering the love of your life is having an affair on your wedding day is bad enough. Finding out it’s with his best man is another thing all together.

Just when this runaway bride has nowhere left to turn, a handsome stranger offers her a broad, muscular shoulder to cry on. Vaughan is the exact opposite of the picture perfect, respected businessmen she’s normally drawn to. This former musician-turned-bartender is rough around the edges and is facing his own crossroads. But Lydia’s already tried Mr. Right and discovered he’s all wrong–maybe it’s time to give Mr. Right Now a chance.

After all, what’s wrong with getting dirty?

Dirty is the first book in the Dive Bar series from bestselling author Kylie Scott.

Review

⭐⭐⭐

So this one is totally light – I loved the beginning and it was totally funny but also sad. People can be dicks.

I liked Vaughn and Lydia… I think it works have been better with multiple povs but that’s something I love 😂

There wasn’t a whole lot of character development but it was fun none the less it was also a nice quick read. I liked reading about the town, not that we got much – i would have loved more description in what lifetime we heard about the town.

I liked the fact that Lydia stuck up for herself and took no crap from Vaughn she’d had a huge knock what with her ex fiancée, so i respected her for that. I didn’t think it was overly steamy.

The Air He Breathes by Serena Akeroyd

Quick note – I got this book for free however the title and cover had been changed but the above cover/title was all I could find on Storygraph so figured I’d show this too.

This is the cover and title version of the book that got from amazon

I will not be showing my review for this book as it’s simply 2 sentances so instead just showing how many stars I rated it

Rating ⭐⭐⭐

Synopsis

When a man like Finn O’Grady wants something, no one, not even God, will deny him his desires.
Finn’s a businessman like no other. His empire doesn’t consist of stocks and shares and isn’t founded on hard work. It’s based on blood. Sweat. Tears.

The tears of many.

His world is dark until a shining ray of light pierces that Stygian gloom and changes everything.

He wants her, so he’ll have her, whether she wants him or not.

While Aoife’s no saint, she’s pure, and for a man like Finn O’Grady, purity can’t be bought or traded… it’s to be worshipped.

But that doesn’t mean she’s in any less danger. Finn has dragged Aoife into a whole new world. He has enemies, enemies who’ll kill to get to him… In his arms, she’s safe… or is she?

The Bargainer Series by Laura Thalassa

So today I’m showing off this series. I have used the colourful covers so you can see them in all of their glory. However as much as I want to showcase this series I will only show the synopsis for book 1 and my general thoughts – so there will be no spoilers 😊

Synopsis

Callypso Lillis is a siren with a very big problem, one that stretches up her arm and far into her past. For the last seven years she’s been collecting a bracelet of black beads up her wrist, magical IOUs for favors she’s received. Only death or repayment will fulfill the obligations. Only then will the beads disappear.

Everyone knows that if you need a favor, you go to the Bargainer to make it happen. He’s a man who can get you anything you want… at a price. And everyone knows that sooner or later he always collects.

But for one of his clients, he’s never asked for repayment. Not until now. When Callie finds the fae king of the night in her room, a grin on his lips and a twinkle in his eye, she knows things are about to change. At first it’s just a chaste kiss—a single bead’s worth—and a promise for more.

For the Bargainer, it’s more than just a matter of rekindling an old romance. Something is happening in the Otherworld. Fae warriors are going missing one by one. Only the women are returned, each in a glass casket, a child clutched to their breast. And then there are the whispers among the slaves, whispers of an evil that’s been awoken.

If the Bargainer has any hope to save his people, he’ll need the help of the siren he spurned long ago. Only, his foe has a taste for exotic creatures, and Callie just happens to be one.

Thoughts 💭

So I’ve read this series multiple times and I love it… I love Fae and Desmond is fabulous, i love how fast paced the storyline is but we still get plenty of development, details and world building.

If you want something magical and romantic with a decent amount of smut and plot this is the series for you.

I definitely want to read her Four Horsemen series soon and can’t wait to compare the writing as well as general romance and world building themes 😊

Fugitive Mate by Anastsia Wilde

Synopsis

Book 1 in the Silverlake Shifters series.

A Fugitive Mate…
Emma Wilkes is on the run from her ex-boyfriend—with a stolen laptop containing evidence of his crimes. When she meets a hot guy in a truck stop bar, she pretends to be his date, hoping to throw her ex’s hit squad off her trail.

A Desperate Alpha…
Alpha wolf Jace Monroe has only weeks to find a true mate and bond with her, or he’ll lose his pack and his territory. To him, the stranger coming on to him is just a delectably curvy distraction from his troubles. But to his wolf, she’s the one.

One Wild Night
So when Emma steals Jace’s motorcycle and vanishes from his motel room in the middle of the night, Jace vows to track her down and find out who she really is—a conniving con woman, or the mate he’s been waiting for all his life.

But can he find her—and persuade her to trust him—before time runs out for both of them?

Silverlake Shifters
Smokin’ hot shifter men with hearts of gold; the strong, passionate women who love them; secrets, lies and danger; naughty, steamy love scenes—and happily ever afters.

Review

⭐⭐⭐

I really loved the synopsis for this one, i adore shifters and it seemed like it would have some decent suspense to the story.

Sadly this one fell short on the suspense front, it attempted it but it just didn’t hit the spot for me 🤷🏻‍♀️

I was not a fan of Emma, for me she needed a good slap, i understand what she was trying to do but she went about everything the totally wrong way – in my opinion at least.

I loved Jace but then again i adore all shifters, their possessiveness is something that is amazing. I love the fact that there was a lot going on with Jace with his pack it didn’t completely centre all on emma which would have been a drag.

Overall it’s a solid book, with likeable characters and some decent action

Alien Mate by Penelope Woods

Synopsis

Once they claim you, you become their territory.


I am Anna, a junior officer working under the command of Earth Federation. My job is to patrol the most dangerous regions of the planet. I should have planned for what happens next…


First, I lose power to my headset. My emergency lights cut out completely. Darkness surrounds the entire jungle.


And then I hear him. A sharp clicking noise comes from above my head.
His arms snake around my body. Hot breath tickles my ear, and a deep growl resonates near my neck. When the syringe hits, I know I’m done for.


I’m taken. Auctioned to the highest bidder. They vanish all trace of me. I no longer exist.


No one is coming to save me. And I know what happens to me next…


In darkness, he rises over me like a tidal wave.
I am abducted. I am lost to the world. But he saved me.
I am his mate.

Review

⭐⭐

Sadly this one just wasn’t for me, I didn’t really enjoy the writing, the characters had no depth and the story was rushed. The best thing I can say about the book is that it was short.

I am a huge fan of character development and honestly the MC Anna seemed to flip from scared to subimssive and haooy within seconds, this would have been fine if there were any indication as to why this happened. It is vaguely mentioned that she has never let go before and that she enjoys it – again that’s fine but where is any explanation as for her sudden turn of character? Where is her growth? I expected the memory to be something huge but it was just someone telling her about something she eventually endures herself… It seemed very anticlimactic to me.
Ax had zero personality I am a huge fan of the mates trope, paranormal romance and shifters so i understand and enjoy the possessiveness and one track mind but literally we see nothing else but that side of him, there is nothing else outside of this bubble, we get a small look into his past but its a couple pages in the whole book and it is not at all satisfying to me. Even in his chapters we see no thoughts other than Anna… At all… I would have liked to see more from him at the beggining and him actually needing to do something other than protect and mate Anna.

I know there will be people that love this and that it totally fine and if you’re in the mood for sexy aliens, kidnaoping, mating and some action, then you’ll probably enjoy it, I guess it jist wasn’t what I was expecting.

Wonder by R. J. Palacio

Synopsis

Kindness brings us together no matter how far apart we are. Millions of people have read the #1 New York Times bestseller WONDER and fallen in love with Auggie Pullman, an ordinary boy with an extraordinary face. A perfect read for back to school — no matter what that looks like
The book that inspired the Choose Kind movement, a major motion picture, and the critically acclaimed graphic novel White Bird.

I won’t describe what I look like. Whatever you’re thinking, it’s probably worse.

August Pullman was born with a facial difference that, up until now, has prevented him from going to a mainstream school. Starting 5th grade at Beecher Prep, he wants nothing more than to be treated as an ordinary kid–but his new classmates can’t get past Auggie’s extraordinary face. WONDER, now a #1 New York Times bestseller and included on the Texas Bluebonnet Award master list, begins from Auggie’s point of view, but soon switches to include his classmates, his sister, her boyfriend, and others. These perspectives converge in a portrait of one community’s struggle with empathy, compassion, and acceptance.

Wonder is the best kids’ book of the year, said Emily Bazelon, senior editor at Slate.com and author of Sticks and Stones: Defeating the Culture of Bullying and Rediscovering the Power of Character and Empathy. In a world where bullying among young people is an epidemic, this is a refreshing new narrative full of heart and hope. R.J. Palacio has called her debut novel “a meditation on kindness” –indeed, every reader will come away with a greater appreciation for the simple courage of friendship. Auggie is a hero to root for, a diamond in the rough who proves that you can’t blend in when you were born to stand out.

Review

⭐⭐⭐⭐

So this is one of those books I’ve avoided due to the fact that I know I will cry, because it’s heartbreaking that both kids and adults can be so, so mean. I know its a fact of life but that doesn’t mean I have to  like it. 

Anyway i had a hard time connecting with the characters because they’re all so very young (i found August and Via a little whiney – it’s justified and understandable but thats what inget for reasinh a book aimed at much younger people) and August is well a boy, i definitely connected better to the girls simply because I have that experience myself and as a sister. 

I really enjoyed seeing the different povs, it was very inclusive with the way it was written. I felt very sorry for Jack, I knew it had to be peer pressure that made him say those things… At least I really hoped so. I would have liked more foe their make up rather than just a couple of texts. 

We got to see August grow from an enternal baby to a more mature version of himself and I loved it – character growth is something I love to see 😊 

Beautiful Mistake by Nancy Corrigan

Synopsis

A tortured man…A fearless woman…A mistake that’ll change their lives forever.

Three centuries ago, Devin Moore sacrificed his sanity to save his sister. Every day since is spent in a constant battle of wills with the three crazed cats–lion, tiger and jaguar–he houses. Keeping his shattered mind together has taken its toll, destroying any hope of having a family, but he can’t turn his back on innocents in need.

When information on his pride’s missing child reaches him, he rushes to bring her home. But the rescue mission goes horribly wrong. Lena, the human female who turns herself into bait in order to protect the little girl, is wounded and struggling to survive.

In a desperate act, he saves Lena. But it doesn’t erase his past mistakes. And for a broken man who’s finally offered hope, there’s only one thing left to do–prove his worth. The only problem? He’ll never be whole. Or sane. But maybe…just maybe…even the damned can find peace.

Review

⭐⭐⭐

I enjoyed this one, just not as much as the first. We get to explore more about the world and meet more shifters. But i was not a fan of Devin’s self doubt and self loathing – I know why he feels that way but I would have liked to have seen him grow more worth Lena (I cannot read this name without thinking of Lena from Playing with Monsters by Amelia Hutchins) 

I liked how Lena grew by finally admitting she felt something beyond list for Devin. And i liked seeing her struggling with all of her emotions – even though they’re hard and it would have been nice to have been really dealt with rather than just mentioning and glossed over. 

There was plenty of action in the story to keep me entertained but i found that I skimmed the sec scenes, I just didn’t care about this this time round… Sometimes it happens 🤷🏻‍♀️ 

Treasured Find by Nancy Corrigan

Synopsis

A determined shifter. A protective mother. And a happily ever after…if they can survive long enough to claim their forever.

After five centuries, Rafe Alexander knows what to expect from life—boredom, broken by the occasional call from Shifter Affairs.

No matter what the job, he always accepts their plea for help. As a Royal shifter, he’s the strongest of his kind. And he knows firsthand the dangers of the shifter world. If there’s a chance he can save someone, he’ll take whatever risk is necessary.

But the task that leads him to West Virginia changes everything. A father is dead. A shifter child is missing. And the human female connected to both tragedies is hiding a secret.

Rafe must figure out what she knows, but his interest in Jasmine goes far beyond the case. She’s his true mate. But after the horrors she’s seen, she doesn’t trust shifters. That won’t stop him. Neither will the killer targeting her family. Nobody keeps a shifter from his mate.

Review

⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is my second time reading this book, I recently got the full set anthology for 99p so figured I’d get started with this reread – I don’t think I’ve read any of the others yet. 

I liked this one despite the fact that it seems rushed and only seems to span a week, it feels like longer. I like Rafe but I’ve always been a fan of alpha shifters – I am definitely excited to read the other books in the series. 
There isn’t a while lot of world building since its set modern day America. But we get a glimose into their traditions and beliefs which in hoping will be added to in the future books. 

There’s is mystery surrounding Nina – if i hadn’t already knew the books I wouldn’t have know what i did, but i was always confused about what Jon says, it implies she’s around but we don’t know anything about that. I’m hoping she comes back i think she’s an amazing character and would make an amazing story 😊

I wouldn’t say there is much character development but it only spans a week.. So there isn’t much time for it. I would have loved more development for Jazz, she changed so much within a shift time period, i also works have lived too have had povs for josh throughout the book. Because he’s a great character, lots of trials and uncovering of knowledge for him. It would have been nice to see his thoughts and feeling rather than Jazz’s interpretation of them. 

Gym Bunny by Brianna Hale

Synopsis

Livia’s back on her feet after a toxic dom/sub relationship that left her self-esteem in tatters. Now, Dom Fitness has opened on her street, reminding her of every terrible thing her ex made her believe about herself.

A place like Dom Fitness is dangerous, and especially dangerous is the gorgeous personal trainer Trey with his entrancing green eyes and luscious muscles.

Trey loves his job as a trainer at Dom Fitness, but he’s a daddy without a bunny and it hurts his heart. After meeting Livia, he can’t get the curvy blonde out of his head. The trouble is, Livia doesn’t trust any man who wants to tell her what to do, let alone change her body.

But Trey thinks Livia is perfect as she is. He just wants to make her sweat, inside the gym and out.

Even if he has to break every rule at Dom Fitness to make Livia his.

AUTHOR’S NOTE: This novella of 20,000 words was previously part of the Dirty Daddies 2020 Anniversary anthology. It’s been expanded with a new epilogue

Review

⭐⭐⭐

I originally read this story as the arc that got published in an anthology. I don’t remember when but it was at least last year… Possibly the year before… But i digress.

The author is going to release it as a standalone book with bonus epilogue content and she was kind enough to offer my an arc. Honestly I jumped at the chance!

I enjoyed it just as much second time around and I really lived the bonus epilogue content. Gives a reall look into Livia and Trey’s future without the rest of the story being rushed.

I really want to read the previous book – Dom Fitness – now, becase that too was an awesome book.

Breathless With Her by Carrie Ann Ryan

Synopsis

Devin Carr likes his life. He likes his job, his family, the outlook for his future. Then he meets her. Erin. As soon as he sees her, drunk and wearing a sequined dress as her world crashes down around her and she fights to put on a brave face, he knows what he’s been missing. Her.

When Erin Taborn finds her high school sweetheart and husband banging the former head cheerleader of their graduating class at their high school reunion, she tells herself she’ll be fine. She just needs to figure out what fine means. There’s only one problem. Devin. She didn’t plan on him. And for someone who thinks they have all their plans in place, that’s a problem.

One she’ll have to find an answer to if this whole friends-with-benefits thing is going to work.
If not, she’ll fail just like with everything else.

Review

⭐⭐

January’s book – I recieved this book for free as part of a virtual book club. I am incredibly greatful to be part of the group and receiving these books.

So I had high hopes for this book, hot tattooed guy on the cover seemed life a winner… But for me it was rushed. Barely a couple chapters in and there’s graphic sex scenes – now don’t get me wrong, I love these sex scenes but for someone whose literally weeks out of a long failed marriage or seems a little rushed. In fact the whole start of the book is a little too rushed for me. 

I didn’t like Erin, she had major issues with her self and all men, she really needed to work on herself. I get the need to be independent and not ask for help but I’ve also learned that it’s okay for people to help me, but I won’t ask for it unless I’m desperate. Erin doesn’t even do that. 

Devin is another story I get that he unexpectedly feel for Erin but he was a dick that never even thought to fight for her, which I find shitty. She tried to solve another guy in his face even when they both knew it wasn’t ,it he was so angry he couldn’t even talk to her?then pushed her away. And her constant monologues annoyed the crap out of me, yes we know your missing something (which never gets resolved) you have self esteem issues due to your dick ex, yes you also have trust issues because of said dick ex… We don’t need to hear it ever few pages 😔 

And then suddenly its the end and they can actually talk to each other – but there was no real growth for either of the characters. It was one day she couldn’t do it then all of a sudden she could… Why didn’t she do that to start with then. 

Sorry this book apparently angers me a lot… It was light,emotional and very angstySpoilernull