Ruthless Reign by Aleatha Romig {a review}

Nothing is as it appears. Reflections deceive.

I still consider myself relatively new to Aleatha Romig's writing. At this point I've read 6 of her books, and I've fully enjoyed each of them. So when I heard about a royal romance series, I knew I had to read it as soon as possible. I downloaded the prequel, but I didn't need to as that's included within Ruthless Reign. Should you choose to pick up Ruthless Reign, know two things: 1) there are twists and turns and you may find yourself a bit lost at times, and 2) THAT CLIFFHANGER!

My rating for Ruthless Reign:

If you follow me on Goodreads, chances are you saw my review pop up, and were confused. I literally wrote three sentences. Which if you've read any of my reviews, you know I am long winded. Don't take that brevity as me not liking the book. This book pulled me, confused a bit, and then knocked me upside the head with that revelation. Seriously, I was blown away. So I didn't know what to say in my review at the time.

Not only did I not know what to say in my review, I was also worried about divulging too much, or even potentially giving a spoiler. Here's what I can tell you...

• Lucille married Prince Roman, and moved to his country.
• Their marriage is basically in name only, and they spend little time together.
• Lucille is bored, and wants to help out more with matters of the state. Roman, the King, and the Firm all are against this.
• Roman has a temper, as well as anxiety, and he's not handling things very well.
• Oliver is an actor who has just been offered the role of a lifetime.
• There is something going on in the country, and the villagers are very unhappy.
• Attraction is building, and not acting upon it is getting difficult.
• Secrets are being kept by everyone, and some are about to spill.

Was I vague enough?

Ruthless Reign was such an interesting read. The way it ended has me cursing the fact that Resilient Reign isn't out until January 31, 2023. I don't want to wait that long. I need to know what is going to happen next, when this secret is going to get out, what else is happening, who can be trusted, all of it...I need to know. Now I sit and wait, and maybe pout a little.

If you are a fan of Aleatha's storytelling, then run and grab this book immediately. (or be smarter than I am, and wait for Resilient Reign to release so you don't have to deal with that cliffhanger for as long.) Prepare yourself for the twists and turns, the revelations, and to be watching every single character to see who is trustworthy.

Happy Reading,
Laura

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I have a secret. I’m not who you think.

In this world where gowns, castles, and crowns make for the perfect reflections, life isn’t always as it appears. Love is elusive, even when the most beautiful woman is right before you. Illusions distort visions, shadows lurk in the sunshine, and monsters tread behind smiles and chivalrous facades.

I, Roman Archibald Godfrey, swore an oath to Molave.

To the king.

And above all, to Princess Lucille.

Forget the fairytales you’ve heard. This world is ruthless.

Thank you Aleatha Romig, and Wildfire Marketing Solutions, for providing me with an advanced copy of Ruthless Reign.

Please note:

I participate in the Amazon Affiliates program.

Purchases made through links above allow me to earn a small commission.

Thank you!

December Anticipated Reads

“In the winter she curls up around a good book and dreams away the cold.”

–Ben Aaronovitch

The last month of the year is almost upon us! Can you believe that? I'm a little shocked. It feels as though I was just returning to my blog, catching up on things, and getting used to my kids being in school again. Then I blinked, and here we are. 

December brings a lot of fun happenings for my family, as well as Christmas and New Years Eve. I'm looking forward to it all.

What I'm also looking forward to are these new releases! I have 16 books on my anticipated reads list, and my goal is to read them all. You'll have to wait for my monthly wrap up (to be posted in January) to see what I actually read. Don't want to wait? Follow me on Goodreads!

Let's jump into the books.

Compassion by Xavier Neal {a review}

People are exactly like books. We all have stories. We all have chapters. We all have pages that some are interested in exploring while others miss out.

Compassion is the latest release from Xavier Neal. This slow burn, opposites attract, grumpy-sunshine romance is filled with banter, book discussions, humor, and the eventual falling of Jaye and Archer. Compassion is also filled with healing from past experiences. For Jaye that is finding herself after the death of her fiancee. For Archer it is healing from life itself. From his childhood to his time in the military to where he is now. It is a lot to adjust to, and he just needs someone in his corner.

My rating for Compassion:

Xavier Neal wrote yet another wonderful story. Book after book she pulls me in with her characters, the banter, the comedic moments, and has me falling for their stories.

Compassion was no different. By Jaye taking that brief moment to talk to Archer, she showed him compassion. She showed him that people do still see the good in him, and that he is worthy of interaction.

I absolutely loved Jane. I loved all the book references that she brought up. I loved her passion behind it all. She is one of my top 5 female characters that Xavier has brought to life.

Archer tugged on my heartstrings with his story, and I think that is why I fell for him so easily. To see all that this veteran has been dealing with, and the way he's been treated just gutted me. Then to meet Jane, and have someone finally in his corner, it was just spectacular.

The romance between these two was slow burn, and I am here for it. Slow burn romances are hit or miss with me, but this one was written wonderfully. They have a connection, they are building a friendship, and moving into a romantic relationship will happen. It's about building trust, and finding the courage to move forward.

In Compassion, Xavier Neal breaks the 4th wall, and the characters speak directly to the reader. Personally this isn't my jam. I looked at it a different way. Instead I chose to view those bolded sections as the internal dialogue of Jaye and Archer. That allowed me to move on easier, and still enjoy the story. 

I loved that Xavier Neal tackled the topic of PTSD, showed us what Archer is dealing with, and how he he works through it. Discussions of the mental health of our military members (current or former) are often overlooked, but it is important to bring up. Same goes with the lack of support that our veterans can receive after leaving the service. That too was something that Xavier brought up, and I appreciate it.

Jaye's mom...oh that woman. Didn't like her at all. She rubbed me the wrong way from the beginning. Jay's dad though, he was amazing. Definitely protective, but also his daughter's biggest fan.

Oh, and getting to see familiar faces pop up brought a smile to my face. Even just the reference of a couple had me reminiscing to those books.

I hope that you'll consider picking up a copy of this book. It truly was a good read, and you can find yourself escaping into the world that Xavier has created.

Happy Reading,
Laura

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From USA TODAY BESTSELLING author Xavier Neal comes an unconventional, contemporary romance featuring a grumpy, wounded veteran and a quirky librarian who proves all the world needs in it is a little more compassion...

Private Academy Librarian Jaye Jenkins isn't afraid of the green-eyed homeless man she finds digging in her trashcan one cold winter night.

He's starving.

Just trying to survive.

Could use a bit of kindness that she can't help but give.

And when that kindness leads to her saving him from some misplaced hatred, an unorthodox situation begins.

One that will change both of their lives.

Forever.
 

Thank you Xavier Neal for providing me with an advanced copy of Compassion.

Please note:

I participate in the Amazon Affiliates program.

Purchases made through links above allow me to earn a small commission.

Thank you!

The Endgame by Bianca Borell {a review}

One day, Levi Kingston will be a memory. A bitter memory, but a memory, nonetheless.

The Endgame is the latest release from Bianca Borell. This is a sports romance featuring the brother's best friend trope, as well as first love, and a virgin heroine. The Endgame also spans quite a bit of time. I hesitate to call it a slow burn, because in the steamy sense it's not, but in the HEA it is. If that makes sense. 

This was my introduction to Bianca Borell, and let me tell you, I will be back to read more. I felt all the emotions while reading, and was rooting for these two to get together. Of course I was also rooting for Ian to stop being the protective older brother, as well as the family dynamic shifting a bit.

My rating for The Endgame:

I loved this book! I mean it features one of my favorite tropes, plus it's a sports romance. That wasn't the only reason why I loved it though. This book was all about timing with our characters, and for the longest time they just couldn't get to their happily ever after. When it finally did happen though, I was celebrating. Levi and Amelie had gone through so much. So to see them finally getting to this moment had me smiling.

Is it instalovy? Well yeah, but at the same time no. Like I said above it's walking that fine line. If anything I would say it's more insta-lust, but you can't deny the connection that these two had from their first introduction.

I loved Amelie and Levi together. I felt their chemistry, their bond, and could not wait to see everything they were going to need to go through to get their happily ever after. And boy oh boy did they have to go through some stuff.

A little over half way through the book I thought this is it, they're getting their happily ever after now. But then I looked at the % of the book I read, and instantly knew the characters were about to go through something very difficult. I just wasn't expecting it to be what it was.

I did really like how Amelie was able to follow her dream, and how all of that happened. I was wondering who the investor was, and while in the back of my mind I knew, at the same time I was speculating a few different people. The passion that Amelie has for baking radiated off the pages. No matter the emotion, Amelie was able to calm herself, and her mind through baking. I loved that for her.

Some might get frustrated with all the back and forth with our couple. For me though it just added to the intensity of their story. It created these moments where you couldn't look away. It honestly was like watching a movie.

This book was filled with emotions, passion, heartache, separation, healing, and a great connection. It wasn't just regarding their relationship though. There were family dynamics at play that also caused hurt, frustration, anger. All of that required healing and forgiveness to move forward.

I hope that you'll pick up The Endgame. Maybe you'll fall for these two the way I did. Maybe you'll fall for some side characters. Maybe you'll find yourself hoping those side characters get their stories told. Or maybe that's just me.

Happy Reading,
Laura

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Every girl with a brother grows up with one fundamental rule: his best friend is off limits. That’s one rule she longs to break when he crashes into her life.

Amelie Weston has been taking the safe path for as long as she can remember. Not disappointing her parents by pursuing the career she wants. And not pursuing the guy she’s been crushing on.

But she’s tired of being the good girl.

Her brother’s best friend is pushing her to stop being a people pleaser and open the bakery of her dreams. Little does he know he’s also at the top of the list of her heart’s greatest desires... and he’s making himself impossible to resist.

Levi Kingston fully intends to become a legend on the field as one of the best players ever. He must stay focused and work relentlessly toward his goal. He doesn’t have time for distractions... until he meets his best friend’s sister, and his well-laid plan is challenged.

Bad timing, responsibilities, and loyalty to her brother keep them apart. But the connection between them only grows stronger. Their feelings become impossible to ignore, and the fight against them is pointless.

Will they take a chance on love? Or waste an opportunity for long-awaited happiness?

Thank you Bianca Borell, and Grey's Promotions, for providing me with an advanced copy of The Endgame.

Please note:

I participate in the Amazon Affiliates program.

Purchases made through links above allow me to earn a small commission.

Thank you!

All We Have by JH Croix {a review}

I'd never believed my breath could be stolen by nothing more than a look. Ian could do that effortlessly.

The time has come to return to Haven's Bay once again! This time we get to find out how Ian Tate and Jane Matthews find their happily ever after. Once again the family home is front and center, and of course Thea is involved.

My rating for All We Have:

I have mixed feelings about All We Have. On one hand it was a relatively cute romance. On the other it wasn't holiday related, nor was it what I was expecting. The blurb and the story don't really match up in my mind. Or at least not in my mind. Plus it says Jane is a librarian, and she's not, she's a science professor. So....

Having read the other books in the series, I wasn't 100% certain what to expect when it came to Ian's story. I will admit that I had some ideas in my head, but turns out I was completely off the mark. Part of me was expecting Ian to use his billionaire status in some over the top way. Maybe by purchasing Jane's family home or something like that. Or it having to do with Jane's career.

I did enjoy their meet cute at the family home. It seems to be a common theme for the Tate family. You'd think Thea would have given her brother a heads up that one of her good friends was staying there. Maybe it was Thea's way of playing matchmaker.

What Ian was going through was intense, and I can see how that stressed him out. Jane seemed excited about her new job in Boston, but we never really knew much about it, other than her being a professor. It was as though her job was second fiddle to everything Ian was dealing with.

The v-card aspect of the story...I don't know. The way that entire conversation came about was a bit odd in my mind. Even the setting for that conversation. I just can't wrap my head around it.

Also, I wanted more out of the situation Ian was dealing with. I feel that the suspense element could have really been played up and added something to the story. So I was a bit let down with that part. Plus I don't feel like that storyline is complete.

At the end of this third book, I still don't have a feeling for all that Haven's Bay has to offer. I try to picture the town, and it just isn't happening. That frustrates me a bit, as I'd like to have this visual in my mind. Plus honestly there wasn't enough time spent in that community.

When I started reading the Haven's Bay Holiday series, I seriously thought the stories were going to take place in that town, and the romances would be surrounded in the magic of the holidays. Instead it's as though both were after thoughts. I wanted a Hallmark or Lifetime type movie but in book form. If you've watched those movies, you know what I'm talking about. 

Now there is one book left in this series. Am I going to read it? ABSOLUTELY.  I am very curious to read All We Are! I cannot wait to read Thea's story, and see how this second chance romance plays out. I am crossing my fingers for that Hallmark-esque story that I've been craving.

Have you read the Haven's Bay Holiday series from JH Croix? What are your thoughts? At this point All I Need is my favorite.

Happy Reading,
Laura

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A swoony small town holiday romance from USA Today Bestselling Author J.H. Croix!

✔️ A broody billionaire
✔️ A whipsmart librarian
✔️ V-card request
✔️ Opposites attract in a big way
✔️ Swoony holiday romance
✔️ Small town shenanigans


She makes the rules. I break them.

I need a vacation more than I need air. A week by myself at my family’s vacation home in Maine is perfect.

Except Jane Matthews is there. I don’t recognize her at first because the smokin’ hot woman with a smexy librarian vibe is nothing like the Jane I remember. She’s one of my little sister’s friends, and I barely noticed her back in high school.

Now, it’s nigh impossible to ignore her. Sparks fly between us every time we’re near each other. When we get snowed in and Jane asks me a favor—a big favor—I don’t know if I can say no.

She says we just have the week. That we can’t tell anyone. That we’ll forget each other after it’s over. She’s wrong about everything.

Ian & Jane’s story is perfect for readers who love: friends to lovers, slow burn, broody billionaires, small town gossip, emotional romance with a dash of angst, plenty of swoon and all the feels, and a protective hero who never expects to fall.

Thank you JH Croix, and Wildfire Marketing Solutions, for providing me with an advanced copy of All We Have.

Please note:

I participate in the Amazon Affiliates program.

Purchases made through links above allow me to earn a small commission.

Thank you!