Monthly Wrap-Up, Post Series, Uncategorized

May Wrap-Up & Mini-Reviews

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(As always — Please keep in mind that heat level and ratings are based on my own personal opinion. It’s possible–and totally likely!–that you may disagree with me. Also, I try to include trigger warnings, but I may have missed some, so if you’re concerned, I would encourage you to check out Trigger Warning Database and/or Book Trigger Warnings.)

Traitor by Hattie Jude

I’ve lost my family, my wealth, and the place I called home for the past five years.

Now I’ve moved back to where it all began…

With the guys I thought I’d never see again.

Abel, Ronan, Wells, and Bishop were my friends at one time.

The only girl they would let into their inner circle.

Now they hate me.

They think I’m a traitor.

And I don’t know why.

But I am bound and determined to find out.

The problem is, there is a super fine line between hate and lust.

What happens when we all cross it?

*𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐦, 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞.*

Blurb from Goodreads.


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I loved this book. The things these poor characters went through as children were horrific, and unfortunately, these former friends think the heroine knew about it all along. To get the full story, you need to read this series, but there are a lot of misunderstandings and the perfect amount of angst.

Fantastic story with complex characters, and I’m so excited to continue the series!

Trigger warnings: child labor; abuse; bullying; attempted sexual assault; kidnapping; check TWs for more
Heat level: little to none
Rating: 5

Goodreads | StoryGraph | Amazon

The Never King by Nikki St. Crowe

The stories were all wrong — Hook was never the villain.

For two centuries, all of the Darling women have disappeared on their 18th birthday. Sometimes they’re gone for only a day, some a week or a month. But they always return broken.

Now, on the afternoon of my 18th birthday, my mother is running around the house making sure all the windows are barred and the doors locked.

But it’s pointless.

Because when night falls, he comes for me. And this time, the Never King and the Lost Boys aren’t willing to let me go.

The Never King is a dark retelling of Peter and Wendy. If you like your enemies to lovers romance with hot, ruthless, morally gray love interests, you’ll enjoy The Never King and the Lost Boys. You can expect hate kissing, fighting, bickering, and ‘touch her and I’ll unalive you’ vibes

Blurb from Goodreads.


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Why did I wait so long to read this book?? This was definitely a deliciously dark, twisted retelling of Peter Pan. It’s definitely quite different from the stereotypical Peter Pan story, but it worked. I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

Trigger warnings: dark themes; dub-con; abduction; mention of past abuse; mention of childhood abuse
Heat level:
Rating: 4

Goodreads | StoryGraph | Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop

Devious Little Liars by Elle Thorpe

“Everybody lies, Princess. Some of us are just better at not getting caught.”

He murdered my uncle then covered it with fire. A fire that should have killed me, too. Instead, he hauled me from the floor while flames licked the walls, strong arms holding me close.

He saved my life.

Now I want to know why. I never saw his face. All I know is the letters on his shirt. SVH.

Saint View High.

The worst school in a hundred miles. Full of drugs and despair. Breeding ground for future criminals. Armed security guards and weapon checks at every door.

A far cry from my privileged life of money, private school, and fancy vacations.

With the police doing nothing, I take matters into my own hands. I enroll in a school I have no business being at.

But the Untouchables are quick to let me know exactly how big a mistake I’ve made. They’re the group of boys even the teachers are scared of.

Colt. Banjo. Rafe.

Every teenage girl’s dream. Good looking. Popular. Powerful.

And determined to break me.

Thing is, I’m not that easily broken. And I’m coming for them, too.

Devious Little Liars is the story of three bad boys and a girl who knows how to stand her ground. It is a mature high school/new adult, reverse harem, #whychoose romance, meaning the main character has more than one love interest. This book contains enemies-to-lovers and bullying themes. It is the first book in an ongoing trilogy.

Blurb from Goodreads.


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This book was ssooo ggoooodddd. The enemies-to-lovers trope was, ah *chef’s kiss* and I adored Banjo’s sense of humor and undeniable sweet nature. This is another one where I can’t decide which guy is my favorite, which is great considering it’s an RH, lol.

There’s underlying darkness in this story that’s awful, but it definitely made for a great storyline.

Trigger warnings: mentions of sexual assault; bullying
Heat level:
Rating: 4.5

Goodreads | StoryGraph | Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop

Dangerous Little Secrets by Elle Thorpe

They betrayed me.

Three boys I thought I knew.

Leaving me with the one I thought I hated most.

It was him who carried my broken, beaten body. Him who cleaned my wounds and held me tight.

The prince to my princess.

Lies.

I won’t be that girl anymore. The one who fell for their smooth words and smoldering looks.

Colt is key to never being her again.

There’s still a killer on the loose.

Still a murder left unsolved.

Still three boys who own my heart.

But some dangerous little secrets are better left buried.

His is one of them.

Dangerous Little Secrets is the story of three bad boys and a girl who knows how to stand her ground. It is a mature high school/new adult, #whychoose romance, meaning the main character has more than one love interest. This book contains enemies-to-lovers and bullying themes. It is the second book in an ongoing trilogy and cannot be read as a standalone. Book 1 is Devious Little Liars. 

Blurb from Goodreads.


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Trigger warnings: mentions of sexual assault; bullying; slight dub-con
Heat level: 🌶🌶🌶
Rating: 4.5

Goodreads | StoryGraph | Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop

Twisted Little Truths by Elle Thorpe

They dragged the boy I loved from my arms and accused him of a murder I know he didn’t commit. Now all I want is revenge.

But with secrets from my past dredged up at every turn, I have no idea who to trust.

We’ve lived through the lies. It’s time for the truth to be revealed. No matter the cost.

They say the truth will set you free. But in Saint View, it might just kill you first.

The explosive conclusion to the Saint View High trilogy. Twisted Little Truths is the story of three bad boys and a girl who knows how to stand her ground. It is a mature high school/new adult, #whychoose romance, meaning the main character has more than one love interest. This book contains enemies-to-lovers and bullying themes and there may be triggers for some readers. It is the third and final book in an ongoing trilogy and cannot be read as a standalone.

Blurb from Goodreads.


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Trigger warnings:
Heat level:
Rating: 4.5

Goodreads | StoryGraph | Amazon | Book Depository

Save Me by S.A. Mackenzie

We were two kids lost in a system that didn’t care. He was my protector, my best friend, my first love. He kept the shadows away the best that he could. Now it’s my turn to return the favor. I found him finally, but I didn’t find him quickly enough. I’m lost again, but this time it’s without him by my side.

I’m broken.

My life is one mess after another and I can’t find which way is up. I don’t know how to navigate my feelings for the three broken, protective assholes that are breaking down my walls. I can’t fight the demons that haunt me in my dreams. Add in a stalker hell bent on showering me with gifts that bring back painful memories and there’s disaster looming on the horizon.

How can I save, not only myself, but the men that are starting to mean the world to me?

Maybe I’m still that little girl that needs someone to save me… or maybe, just maybe, I can finally save myself.

Save Me is the first book in The Broken Souls series. This book contains sexual scenes, violence, and coarse language. Must be 18+ to read. Please read the trigger warning at the beginning of the book, contains mentions of sexual abuse, suicide, and more.

Blurb from Goodreads.


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This was a super difficult read. I’m still not sure how I feel about it. It was written well, but at the same time, it moved so fast, particularly between the heroine and the heroes. I get that they’re all grieving and emotions are heightened, but it felt a little too rushed to me. Plus I just couldn’t get over how unfair it was that the boy/man she’d been in love with all her life was taken from her mere days before she could reconnect with him. I hated that.

Trigger warnings: sexual assault; abuse; suicide; suicidal ideation; self-harm; stalker
Heat level: 🌶🌶
Rating: 3

Goodreads | StoryGraph | Amazon

Corrupt Temptation by Melinda Terranova

My life was meant to change when we escaped our past.

New family. New town. New school.

I find myself living in a shinier version of hell, with a devil hell bent on crushing me. My new stepbrother, the heir to the Knight fortune and legacy, is also my senior year English teacher.

He doesn’t hold back on punishing me in class. Ensuring detention is always just the two of us where the sexual tension and forbidden desires run as hot as hades.

The three Kings that rule St Ivy and this town have also set their sights on me. Specifically, one who seems to have a personal vendetta against me. His callous gaze, wrathful mouth, and vengeful ways know no bounds.

His two devious best friends are no saints, with their irresistible smirks and flirty touches, some bordering on the line of possessive. Little do they know I made a promise to myself long ago that I would never again be a possession. They seem to think they can break me.

But these boys don’t know who they’re dealing with. I’ve faced monsters that would make them hide under their beds and piss in their pants. Monsters who taught me to put up impenetrable shields to keep me safe inside.

The irresistible torture of these manipulative Kings has me fighting my own demons.

I manage to resist the four of them until my walls slowly crack, my truths start spilling out, and I’m drawn into their secret world of lies and violence with no escape.


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Another great read! I think there’s more going on that I haven’t figured out yet–or that hasn’t been revealed–but what I’ve read so far has been pretty good. I’m super interested in how the story will unfold.

Trigger warnings: bullying; dub-con; self-harm
Heat level: 🌶 (iirc)
Rating: 4

Goodreads | StoryGraph | Amazon

Savage Lies by Melinda Terranova

Mors tua, vita mea.

The four words scrawled on a card. The four words inviting death.

When your past collides with your present and the monsters come out to play, you’re left with wounds so deep, you’re scared you’ll never heal.

I thought I’d left it all behind. I thought we got away.

How wrong was I?

Colton, Steele, Tyler, and Hawke. The four kings of St. Ivy are part of a sadistic society that is somehow entwined with my past.

I’m determined to find the link no matter the cost.

But when I start falling for their charms, the lines of betrayal seem to blur.

Lies and secrets.

They keep us connected, but how long until they tear us apart.

The temptation of savage lies has never seemed so sweet.

Blurb from Goodreads.


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Trigger warnings: bullying; dub-con; self-harm; cult; secret societies
Heat level: 🌶🌶🌶 (iirc)
Rating: 4

Goodreads | StoryGraph | Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop

Rogues of Regalia by Ruby Vincent

It’s a new semester at Regalia University, and by the end of it, five men will die.

My sister was good, kind, loving, and the Royals of Regalia bullied her till she killed herself.

I set foot on campus ready to right some wrongs when the most handsome bunch of stone-cold weirdos asked if I needed a little help…

Don’t get me started on Lucien. He fancies himself a vampire—complete with sharpened canines, cape, and a coffin, but if anyone knows how to make a man bleed, it’s him.

Wilder’s on another level, and you’re not allowed. He’s out to expose every conspiracy from Area 51’s alien relocation program to the trackers implanted in our brains. The man doesn’t kiss a woman without patting her down twice, but if you need to get your hands on an arsenal, his is unmatched.

My growling, snapping Cato escaped his last mental institution. Now he has a new obsession: ripping out the throat of anyone who looks at me sideways. Don’t worry, he can’t bite you through the muzzle.

Then, of course, there’s their leader, Rafael. The son of a hitman dances his way around campus, and only takes his headphones off to hear the obscene amount you’ll pay him to take care of your problems. Otherwise, stay out of his blissful world, or he’ll blow it up with you inside.

These four are as determined to make up for not protecting my sister as they are to protect… and keep… me.

They’re freaks. Weirdos. Psychos. But damned if they’re not taking my heart like they do everything else—without mercy or permission.

It’s the five of us against the most powerful and untouchable of Regalia. No one thinks we can win, but I like my chances.

To take down a Royal, you need a Rogue.

And I have four.

The Rogues of Regalia is a dark contemporary reverse harem romance and book one of the series. It gets wild in these pages, if you can handle that, dive in!

Blurb from Goodreads.


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Love, love, love this book! Ruby Vincent is one of my favorite authors and she hasn’t disappointed with this book. It’s so different from anything I’ve read and I’m super pumped to read the next book!

Trigger warnings: bullying; murder; abuse
Heat level: little to none
Rating: 5

Goodreads | StoryGraph | Amazon

Chosen by Villains by Eva Chase

Three brutal monsters came to my rescue. Now who’s going to save me from them?

Every beat of my heart is the tick of a time bomb, reminding me to squeeze as many thrills out of life as I can. Still, the last thing I expect is a horde of nightmarish monsters descending on me in the night, eager to tear me apart.

So when three more demonic figures leap out of the shadows to defend me, my choices are trust my unexpected champions… or die. Not exactly a tough decision.

The beastly men wrench me away from my home, claiming they’ll keep me safe. They say there’s something special about me—something the others want to devour and they mean to protect.

My monstrous saviors are just as brutal as the creatures they fought off, damaged in ways I’ll never understand. I can tell they’re hiding things from me. But the more we dig into the mysteries surrounding my existence, the more I catch glimpses of tenderness beneath their vicious exteriors.

And the touch of their fangs and tentacles makes me feel so shockingly alive, it’s hard to remember why I ever feared them…

Until I discover the real reason they’re protecting me.

Blurb from Goodreads.


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I greatly enjoyed this book! I love the way Eva Chase can put a unique spin on paranormal worlds. This was an awesome first book in this series, and I’m ecstatic to continue reading the next book(s) in the series. Though, I will say, after reading this one, it’s made me realize I need to read her Flirting with Monsters series!!

Trigger warnings:
Heat level: 🌶🌶
Rating: 4.5

Goodreads | StoryGraph | Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop

Ruthless Kingdom by Becca Steele & C. Lymari

The conclusion to the Boneyard Kings trilogy…

Bad things happened in threes, but they turned out to be a blessing in disguise. There was no escape from the Boneyard Kings, but now we’re on the same side.

Our enemies came, but we didn’t let them break us.

They thought they could take us down, but they underestimated our strength.

Now, three rivals stand against three kings and their queen, and they’re about to see just how ruthless our kingdom can be.

The game of chess is in play, and only one side can claim victory.

Who will be the one to call checkmate?

Blurb from Goodreads.


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Fantastic ending to this trilogy! I feel like we got closure and they finally get their HEA.

Trigger warnings:
Heat level:
Rating:

Goodreads | StoryGraph | Amazon

The Dark One by Nikki St. Crowe

I spent most of my life feeling dead inside — until I met Peter Pan and the Lost Boys.

It wasn’t until Pan and Neverland that I finally felt alive.

But things are not all full of magic and sunlight on the island. There’s something darker and more sinister haunting the forest.

And worse, the fae queen and Captain Hook are ready to fight for control of Neverland and they will stop at nothing to get what they want. Including using the one thing Pan never thought he wanted or needed — me. I’m a descendant of the Darling family and now I belong to him and the Lost Boys.

War is brewing — can the Never King get his shadow back and assume his rightful throne? And if he does, where will I fit?

Or will all of Neverland be in jeopardy right along with my dark, twisted heart?

Blurb from Goodreads.


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Just as I thought, Vane’s story was dark and perfectly angsty. Despite being a total asshole, I love him.

That cliffhanger, though… I can’t wait for book 3!!

Trigger warnings: dub-con; dark themes
Heat level: 🌶🌶🌶.5
Rating: 4

Goodreads | StoryGraph | Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop

Scarred for Life by Evelina Creek

Addy is one of the lucky ones. After a final brutal attack by her ex-boyfriend, she is alive and finally free of him for good. Or so she hopes. Now she is left to pick up the pieces of her life and her heart, but recovery takes time and the lingering nightmares of her abusive ex are keeping the wolf shifter in the apartment next door awake at night. When he takes it upon himself to investigate the source of his agitation, he finds more than just nightmares might be plaguing this timid yet fiery little female.

Features multiple POV, shifters, and jealous alpha males

Reverse harem supernatural slow burn romance intended for ages 18+

Trigger warning for implied domestic violence

HEA assured 

Blurb from Goodreads.


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I liked the story, but parts of it bothered me. Overall a good story and I’ll probably end up reading book 2.

Trigger warnings: talk of previous domestic abuse;
Heat level:
Rating: 3

Goodreads | StoryGraph | Amazon

Of Rain and Wrath by Katie May

I was born under the shadow of death, and my life since has been intricately entwined with that of the Grim Reaper.

They call me the Death Whisperer.

One hand fixes; the other breaks.

All I have ever known is a life full of pain and suffering, because what the legends don’t tell you about my power…is that there’s always a price.

And I’m the one who has to pay it.

My powers took my voice from me, and every day, I’m forced to experience unbearable agony. But my suffering doesn’t stop the fae of our realm from using me and my gifts, regardless of the consequences.

The princes who rule the various kingdoms are rumored to be cold-blooded and vicious, with no regard to fae life. They take what they want, when they want it, in the hopes of hurting each other in the process.

But what if the thing they all want…

Is me?

Some want to use me, others want to love me, and others still want to destroy me.

The problem is, there’s not a lot left of me to use, love, or destroy.

Death has whispered to me for years now, and I think it’s finally time I started listening.

This is book one of a series and will end on a minor cliffhanger. It is slow-burn and slow-build and has enemies-to-lovers themes (though no bullying). The men of this series are psychotic, possessive, and deranged antiheroes who take what they want, when they want it, regardless of the consequences. They care about absolutely no one…except for the FMC, though they’ll have to work hard to win her over.

Blurb from Goodreads.


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I absolutely adored this book! The premise is so different and I loved it. Can’t wait for book 2!

Trigger warnings: mentions of past assault; abuse; murder
Heat level:
Rating: 5

Goodreads | StoryGraph | Amazon

Thief by Hattie Jude

Just when I thought I was making progress with Ronan, Wells, Abel, and Bishop, all hell breaks loose.

I don’t know who to trust.

And the accusations flying around leave me wondering if I’m to blame for the chaos…

Or if I’m about to expose the truth once and for all.

More than my heart is at stake here.

Blurb from Goodreads.


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The sequel to Traitor did not disappoint. I love the relationships that are developing between her and the guys, even if a couple of them are suuuper complicated. Can’t wait for book 3!

Trigger warnings: bullying; mentions of past abuse
Heat level: 🌶🌶.5/🌶🌶🌶
Rating: 5

Goodreads | StoryGraph | Amazon

total read: 15

favorite read:

Thief by Hattie Jude

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