Splendid Spring Book Tag

My kids are on spring break this week! Therefore it is the perfect time to participate in a spring themed book tag. I stumbled upon the Splendid Spring book tag when I did a google search, and it lead me to Paperbacks and Planners blog post. After taking a peek at the questions, I decided that I would play along.

How would you answer these questions? Do any books come to mind immediately, or do you need to sit with it a little bit?

Happy Reading,
Laura

The Sky At Night by Samantha Lovelock {a review}

If you've been following me for a while now, you know that I adore Samantha Lovelock's writing. Her characters are some of my favorites, and I tend to devour each book she releases. Well, Samantha has a new book coming soon! The Sky at Night is a new adult, enemies to lovers, rockstar romance. I read an early copy, and it was AMAZING! Yes, The Sky At Night is an emotional read, but it's 100% worth it. It touches on some difficult situations, and the majority of the story takes place at The Overlook. Both of our main characters are headed there to work on themselves, and find a way to work through the traumas they have been living with.

Here's the description of the book:

 

He has women falling at his feet. I plan to bring him to his knees.

Heroin Heartbreak is the hottest band around, and Ty McInnis is the reason why. His blistering blend of smoldering sexiness, bad-boy charm, and killer voice makes him the perfect front man. But until I got here, he was just a faceless voice on the radio in my messed-up world.

The Overlook is supposed to be the place for me to heal the wounds left by my father. Instead, Ty has made it his mission to make my stay here pure hell. He has no idea who he's playing with, though. I give as good as I get—and then some. I've already survived the Devil personified, and this cocky rockstar has nothing on him. The trouble is, the more I learn about Ty, the more something in me craves what he's trying so desperately to hide.

It's all fun and games until somebody loses their heart. Why am I starting to think that somebody is going to be me?

 

Sounds good, I know!

Here's the thing I didn't know before going into the story, and I'll tell you now I wasn't sure I was ready for this person to get a redemption arc. If you've read the Folkestone Sins series, then you might know the name I'm about to say. It's Hali. Yes, Hali is getting a redemption arc. We know what she's done in the past, and while I screamed "NO" when her name appeared, I've since changed my tune. Hali has been through a lot in her 18 years. A LOT. Once she explains everything, you get a better understanding of her. You see the struggle, the uncertainty, the loneliness. Samantha Lovelock went and made my heartbreak for Hali. While Hali didn't want to spend 4 weeks at The Overlook, it's about to change her life. It was really interesting to see Hali outside of Folkestone, see her go through the work to deal with her past, find a good friend in Vann, and ultimately come out of this in a good place. 

Then there is Ty. He's coming back to The Overlook for a bit of "maintenance". He's just experienced a big shake up in his life, and wants to get on top of things before he spirals. So while there is a small break in the tour, he's taking care of business. Does he expect to meet the woman, that's going to change his life, while there? No, obviously not. Yet he cannot look away. First things first though, and that's working on himself.

The connection that Ty and Hali had was interesting. I loved the verbal volleys that went back and forth. I loved how he could see the person underneath the pain. I loved how they weren't afraid to speak about the hard things together. These two bonded through the things that hurt them, but they also grew stronger as they both healed. Now don't get me wrong, these two also had some humorous moments together, and I appreciated those. Especially when the more difficult moments of their pasts were discussed.

Vann and Kess were fantastic side kicks for our duo. Vann was right there with Hali throughout her time at The Overlook. Yes she was there for her own reasons, and I really think that this new found friendship benefitted them both. As for Kess, he's been Ty's "brother" for a long time. He knows what Ty has gone through, and he knows that Ty has been by his side for the issues of his past. Kess can also see when Ty is about to spiral, and gives him the needed push to get help. Then there is Mari, who was just amazing. She was able to see her clients for who they are underneath the mask. Mari knows how to get them to open up, shed some light on those dark spaces, and get them to a point of healing/grieving/moving forward. 

This book spoke on some very difficult topics, and as such there are trigger/content warnings. So please keep these in mind should you read The Sky At Night.

Even though I knew those harder topics were going to be discussed, a part of me was not anticipating tearing up while reading. Yet it happened twice. The way Samantha put these words to paper just hit me in the feelings just right. So here I was taking all that in, and tearing up for the characters. Honestly I think the tears were more so for the things that Hali had been through than that of Ty, but that doesn't mean his story isn't as heartbreaking.

There was so much in this story that had me looking at personal experiences. Not that I've experienced what either of these two have, but I have dealt with parental issues. So to read those scenes were touching. I think that's why I liked this quote from Mari: 

She was telling Hali that she could start anew. It was eye opening for Hali, adn it was also a quote that I thought would be beneficial for others. It is one of those lines that just stands out, and makes an impact. Mari was letting Hali know that she doesn't have to be that person she was back in Folkestone. This is her opportunity to be the person she truly is, that woman that is hidden deep but is her authentic self.

I don't think I can say it enough, but this book was so spectacular. Samantha Lovelock continues to impress me with her storytelling and character development. It's what keeps me coming back for more, and it's a reason she is an auto-buy author for me.

The epilogue of The Sky At Night had me SCREAMING! That last line just has me anticipating Wounded Things that much more, and I cannot wait to return to Folkestone. I am hoping that when we do return that everyone sees the work Hali has put in, and that they give her the chance to show her growth. I'm a bit worried that the group won't accept her, but thankfully she has Ty, Vann, and Kess in her corner.

You need to read The Sky At Night. You do. This story has just grabbed hold of my heart, and had me doing a 180 on my feelings for Hali. I hope you'll give it a chance also. Also, if the next book is not Kess and Vann's story I will be disappointed. I need their story, and to see how their relationship came to be.

Happy Reading,

Thank you Samantha for providing me with an advanced copy of The Sky At Night. 

Please note:

I participate in the Amazon Affiliates program.

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

Thank you!

What I Read Last Week

Another week in 2023 is complete. Hopefully you are making progress on your reading goals. I know I am. Since it is Monday, that means it's time for another What I Read Last Week post! I love writing these and reflecting back on what I read.

As per usual, it was a pretty good week of reading. Sports romance was involved, I also continued reading a series, and I'm just generally happy with my progress. When it comes to how many books I read, I finished 4 books! That's awesome. The breakdown was 3 ARCs and 1 from my ebook tbr.

Now you might be thinking that 4 books is pretty low as I typically read 6-7 per week. However if you look at the books I read, they were some heavy books. I'm not talking page counts either, but rather the topics discussed. So it makes sense that I didn't read as many. Plus I was able to sit with the books a bit, and digest what I read before putting my reviews together. I have dedicated posts here for three of the books, but my full review for Mikayla Christy's book is on Goodreads.

What did you read last week? Any specific tropes? Authors? Keep scrolling to see what I read, and read these little mini reviews. My kids are on spring break this week, so we'll see how much reading I accomplish. Hope you have a good week.

Happy Reading,
Laura

Devious Obsession by S Massery

S Massery has created these amazing characters and stories that I cannot turn away from. I'm hooked. My review has been posted, so go read it! (friendly warning: it's long winded. as per usual.)

Jagged Thorns by January James

Jagged Thorns is the start of a new series. Therefore the start of this book was building the world, introducing the characters (as well as their histories), and just the standard setting of the stage. That being said for the first 25% of this book I struggled. I did. After that though things picked up. I became more intrigued by the island, by the Thorn family, by the secrets that were clearly being held, and this relationship between Vivian and Rupert. I am not even kidding that once I made it past the 25% mark, things really picked up. We were in to the good stuff so to speak. The intensity ramped up, the connection between our characters deepened, and I had more questions than answers at this point. Before I knew it the book was over, and I got slapped with a cliffhanger. This wouldn't be a big deal, but I have NO CLUE when the second book is coming. I need a release date. My full review will be out on Wednesday!

The Sky At Night by Samantha Lovelock

I have my full review coming tomorrow, but OH MY WORD THIS BOOK! I loved the story. I loved the characters. Yes even our female main character. You see I've had a love to hate relationship with her in the Folkestone Sins series, so I had to warm up to her. As the story unfolded though, the reality of it all was laid out. This book tackles difficult topics, and it also shows these two working towards improving themselves. Falling in love was just a bonus. Samantha Lovelock continues to pull me in with her characters and stories.

Cross Check My Heart by Mikayla Christy

This was such a good debut book! I found myself captivated by the characters, as well as being invested in their stories. Both Lilly and Dom had been through some hard times, and I loved how they opened up to each other. There were some difficult moments discussed in the book, from the death of a family member, to the end of a relationship, to what truly happened during a divorce. What I appreciated about this book though was the found family that Dom discovered. His new team in Tampa was just that for him, and it proved that these unicorn teams do exist. Plus they were all there for Lilly when the situations with her ex occurred. While the relationship being kept secret wasn't my favorite thing, as per usual I can understand why it had to happen. The way it was revealed though had me chuckling. Definitely worth checking this book out if you've been on the fence. I found it through TikTok, and am happy I took the chance on it. 

Thank you January James, S Massery, and Samantha Lovelock for providing me with advanced copies of your books. I greatly appreciate it.

Please note:

I participate in the Amazon Affiliates program.

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

Thank you!

Book Recommendation Tag

As I was scrolling through booktube, I came across a video from Novel Life. They were doing a new book tag called Book Recommendations. As I watched the video I liked what I was seeing, and then went to watch the video from the person who originated the tag. Steph Bohrer's video was also really good. I loved all the different books both of these individuals recommended. Have I read a lot of those books? No, but I still wrote down some titles to check out.

After watching both of those videos, I decided to bring the tag here to my blog.  I'd love to know how you would answer these questions. Especially since I am always open to new books recommendations.

Happy Reading,
Laura

Devious Obsession by S Massery

Sara Massery has a new book coming out on March 23 called Devious Obsession! Back in November we met Greyson and Violet in Brutal Obsession, and in that book we were also introduced to Steele. When you think of Steele, you may recall one very memorable scene. If you were rooting for him to get a story, then prepare yourself for Devious Obsession. Also, if you thought Greyson was intense and an anti-hero, he has NOTHING on Steele. Steele takes it up a notch, or 10.

Now again, if you read Brutal Obsession then you know  what to expect. For the most part. Devious Obsession is a step, or two, above that. Some of it may make you uncomfortable. Some of it may have you questioning your decisions, and that is 100% okay. I just ask that if you don't like it for the things that occur between Steele and Aspen that you don't yuck on it as others may have no issues with the content. It's all about comfort zones and preferences. Curious as to what the content/trigger warnings are? Sara has them listed at the beginning of the book, but if you take a peek at this graphic, you'll know ahead of time.

Now let's discuss the tropes for Devious Obsession. This is a dark bully romance set in college. It is enemies to lovers, hate to love, forbidden (step-sibling), has a bit of suspense added in, and it's a hockey romance. Steele is very much an anti-hero, and goes to the extremes. 

Curious as to what the book is about? Here's the description:

"If you want to stay, you have to play the game…"

Steele O’Brien is everything I hate in hockey players. He’s cocky, brooding, antagonistic.

I played his game, learned his secrets, and got screwed over for it. But I never could’ve imagined I’d meet him again the next day.

 

The golden boy with hidden demons is my new step-brother. Now, the jerk is sleeping down the hall from me until we go back to college.

 

And oh, how I loathe the devious thoughts lurking under his smiling façade. It seems that, for him, the game isn’t over.

 

He says I'm his to play with. His to torment.

And he's determined to not only get under my skin, but carve his name into it.

After reading Steele and Aspen's story, I had to sit and think about the rating. Did I enjoy the story? Yes. Did I like the characters? Yes. Did I like the setting? Yes. Was there anything that I struggled with? Yes there was, and I'll get into that. Did those things affect my enjoyment of the story? No. Did I want this book to end? NO! So what did I rate Devious Obsession? 

4.5 Stars

Yes, I gave Devious Obsession 4.5 stars. I did not want to put this book down. I wanted to stay in this world with Steele and Aspen. I wanted to see what was going to happen next, and how it would affect their future together.

Even though I read Brutal Obsession I was not fully prepared for Steele. I wasn't. This man is determined, possessive, over the top, and intense. He isn't playing around with Aspen. He knows what he wants, how he wants it, and what the limits are for both of them. Aspen really is the perfect match for him. From the moment these two met, I knew their relationship would be all-consuming. These two just work together, and it is amazing to witness.

Now here are the things that kept me from giving this book 5 stars: 

1. Steele's online activities against Aspen
2. One specific scene that I cannot mention due to spoilers.

The steam in this book...OH MY WORD! Find yourself a safe word, as you might need it. There are so many scenes in this book that would fog up the windows. If you're someone who isn't big on steam in books, then this one is not for you. It isn't vanilla at all. There was at least two scenes that had me outside my comfort zone, but I just reminded myself that this is fiction. 

While their relationship was building the suspense storyline was kicking in. That suspense had me questioning EVERYONE. EVERYONE! I seriously have a list written down of who my potentials were. 

See ↓↓↓

That's right, even people who I thought would be safe went on my list. There was just too many coincidences. So if I felt they were being shady, they went on my list. I mean honestly there are some names not even listed, but I was keeping an eye on them. "Trust no one" was my motto at this point.

Now about that suspense situation. WOW! Just WOW! Even as I think back on everything that happened, I can't believe it all happened. From how it all started, to the big scene in motion, to the outcome of it, I was just blown away. Honestly that will probably be the major thing I remember from this book. I want to say so much about it, but am limited because I don't want to spoil things. Just hold on to your hats when you get to that point.

Let's talk a bit about the forbidden aspect of this relationship. Yes these two are step-siblings. But they met before all that. They already had an encounter at a party where they got to know certain things about the other. It was where their connection began. Honestly I forgot they were step siblings except for when it was mentioned. In my mind they are two consenting adults who are only connected by the marriage of their parents. Is it something I would do? No, no, absolutely not. But it does happen. So just keep an open mind about this work of fiction.

The last thing I want to touch on with Devious Obsession is Steele's Mom. In my mind I figured one thing had happened to her, so when it was something else I was caught off guard. I did like how that scene played out, and how it was all revealed. It was a nice curveball I wasn't expecting.

S Massery has created these amazing characters, and stories, that I cannot turn away from. I'm hooked. You could even say I have an obsession. I do know that I am excited for the next book. Miles is going to get his story, and I am 99% certain I figured out who his love interest is going to be. It's going to be another wild ride. I feel like Miles isn't going to be as extreme as Steele or Grey. Now watch me be wrong. 

Also that mention, toward the end, of a certain character had me screaming! I immediately shouted their name. I wasn't expecting that character to appear, but I loved the tie-in. Any chance that character has to appear, I will be here for it. The only way it could have been better was if other familiar faces were present.

Do you read bully romances? Dark romances? Forbidden? Do you think you'll read Devious Obsession? Let me know! Don't forget this book releases on March 23!

Happy Reading,
Laura

Thank you Sara Massery, and Grey's Promo, for providing me with an advanced copy of Devious Obsession.

Please note:

I participate in the Amazon Affiliates program.

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

Thank you!