BSG 2020, 4 Stars, Bookshelf, Paranormal Romance, Reverse Harem

Reaper’s Pack by Rhea Watson

 

I love Paranormal Romance, it’s my go-to comfort reading choice, throw in some Revere Harem goodness and I am a happy book nerd. I was trolling Amazon for my next read and stumbled onto Reaper’s Pack, with one-click and a curiosity that could kill a cat, I dove right into this novel and found myself pleasantly surprised.

Well written with multiple points of view from the heroine to the three men in her life, it was refreshing to be in all of their heads and feel out their intentions, their flaws, their awesome goodness. Right from the get-go I was intrigued by the world building and to the main character, Hazel. She is a delightful little badass with her femininity and her wicked scythe. A reaper on the search for her hellhound pack, she ends up falling head long into the tension and arms of her trio of hellhounds. These men will steal your heart just as much as they steal Hazel’s heart.

Reaper’s Pack is deliciously erotic when it wants to be, Rhea Watson doesn’t pull her punches as she pulls you along on the ride that is Hazel, Knox, Gunnar and Declan. From their first meeting, as the story skips along down a path of hate-to-love-you towards my favorite the you-are-a-balm-to-my-weary-bones love story, I couldn’t help but want more, more and more.

Each of them are so tragically broken in their own way and even as they fight it, hate it, can’t stand it. . .they can’t help but embrace that Fate has brought them together.

A little on the longer side, with a wonderfully well thought out happily ever after for now. I was appreciative of the stand-alone aspect of the story the wonderfully great writing, the attention to the detail of each individual relationship. In a sea of quickly written and tossed out into the ether RH novels, Reaper’s Pack was a delight. I’ll be grabbing this one for my shelf and will definitely be tagging along on the Rhea Watson book train.

Four Deadly Stars 

. . .

Synopsis:

One grim reaper. Three hellhounds who refuse to bow down to her. A monster hunting them in the shadows…

Ten years ago, I was judged worthy of life after death and returned to the mortal realm as a grim reaper. Scythe in hand, I guide souls to deliverance—and it’s time for a promotion.

My new territory is triple the size of any I’ve worked before. High death rates mean one busy reaper, and the only way to keep up is with a pack of hellhounds. Faithful. Strong. Merciless. Hellhound shifters are a reaper’s right hand in the field, shepherding and guarding souls until they can be reaped.

We get our pick of the litter from the best breeders in Hell, but for some reason, I’m drawn to the pack no one wants.

An alpha who refuses to yield.

A beta who doesn’t take me seriously.

A runt who flinches at every command.

I want them—even if they don’t want me.

Because the hunger in their eyes tells a different story. But the fact that they can’t decide whether to love me or hate me, fight me or screw me, is making our situation way too complicated.

Still, I refuse to give up. If this infuriatingly handsome trio can’t be trained, if we don’t pass the trials, they go back to a cage and a cruel demon master.

Yeah. Not happening.

Reapers and hellhounds are natural allies, and the sooner we secure our bond, the better, because as it turns out…

All our lives depend on it.

Reaper’s Pack is a standalone why-choose paranormal romance and is part of the ALL THE QUEEN’S MEN series. Each book in the series is a full-length standalone featuring layered heroes and a headstrong heroine who never has to settle for just one happily-ever-after. The books can be read in any order and are part of the same supernatural universe.

Amazon | Goodreads

 

BSG 2020, 5 Stars, Favorite, Review

A Five Minute Life by Emma Scott

Oh, be still my heart.

What a beautiful, stunning novel. Mesmerizing from the moment Jimmy and Thea lock eyes. With every reset and every conversation and every moment of music and pain and joy, this book stole my heart.

Told mostly from Jim’s point of view with just enough of Thea’s point of view, I’ve got goosebumps and tears after reading this.

Jim is one of the greatest men I’ve ever read. the sincerity and sweetness etched in this man is staggering. With every moment of his unwavering dedication to bringing Thea life, he just seals the deal to being truly wonderful. I loved Jim’s evolution as a character, from a man who’s never been loved or wanted, abused and made fun of for his stutter, this quiet completely unaware of how wonderfully good and kind and worth love he is person, to a man fighting for a woman others had given up on to find life and joy in the minutes. Swoon worthy. Truly.

Thea is a joy, an absolute unforgettable joy. I loved her character so much and it broke my heart as she wandered lost in her own mind. Her point of view was gorgeous and completely on point. These two are. . .so beautiful.

A Five Minute Life is one of the most gorgeous unforgettable stories I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. I stayed up until after 2am desperate to find out if Thea would remember, would Jim follow through with his promise, would these two beautiful wonderful characters get their HEA?

I recommend this book wholeheartedly, may you find love and joy and heartbreak.

Goodreads | Amazon

BSG 2020, Review

You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle

You Deserve Each Other is a wonderful enjoyable read. With a deceptively simple premise that manages to be way more than the simplicity of a hate to love you, second chance love story.

I’ll be honest, the beginning threw me for a tiny loop, as the heroine, Naomi, was strongly dislikable for the first almost half of the novel. Initially it felt as if I was reading a thriller, with the way her thought process worked.

And then Sarah Hogle flipped the script and did it so seamlessly that I slipped into a free-fall of hilarity that had me laughing so hard I was crying. Squeeing as I felt butterflies in my stomach and feeling ALL the feels.

Naomi and Nicholas, oh how I adore these two. Once I got over my initial feelings of dislike for Naomi and my irritation with Nicholas, I greatly enjoyed their shenanigans. The beginning made me want to reach in and shake them and then with the flip of a coin, I didn’t feel like shaking them anymore.

By the by, Nicholas’ Mother is C-R-A-Z-Y. Seriously. She’s also the reason for many a funny scene.

I’m so glad I didn’t give up on this book, because once these two began to fight dirty with each other, it just evolved into the most adorably sweet novel.

I had all the feels while reading, there were moments that intertwined throughout the hilarity and the makeup of a romantic comedy, that revealed the blooming of a wonderful friendship and oh-my-gosh, I felt it in the pit of my stomach as I free-fell in the best possible way.

Adorable, delightful, hilarious, sweet. This book will make you laugh, it’ll make you cringe through the flaws of these characters and it will make you smile with happiness.

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam for an advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

BSG 2020, 5 Stars, Favorite, Review, Series Love

Ruthless Gods by Emily A Duncan

Emily A Duncan’s Ruthless Gods is gorgeous gothic goodness, drenched in blood, and dripping in melancholic beauty. I adored this novel from the very first sentence to that brutal heart stopping epilogue.

I don’t know if Duncan sold her soul to a deity that blessed her with her gift for writing, but wow, she has an incredible talent. Lyrical, bloody, stunning, heart-breaking, savage, all-consuming. She’s a genius world-crafter with a stunning gift for penning words.

Ruthless Gods is the follow up to Wicked Saints, which was one of my favorite books last year, so much so that I have three copies of the book. I know, excessive, whatever. I love this series. I was heartbroken over the ending for book one and the end of book two just shattered me.

The characters of this diabolical tale are stellar. Nadya, Serefin and my absolute love, Malachiasz, are everything. It is so unendingly intriguing to be pulled apart and spliced back together by the flaws and motivations of these three. Told from their points of views, with some side characters that steal the show, it’s wonderful. Purely wonderful.

This is a dark YA novel, it’s entrancing, magical, bloody, stunning, creative, wonderfully addictive awesomeness. I can’t recommend the series enough, and this beautiful gem, Ruthless Gods just upped the ante. I can’t wait to see where Duncan takes the story next, will these beautifully doomed relationships survive or will I be left on the floor weeping with the conclusion in book three. I don’t know, I’m here for it though.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martins Press for the opportunity to read an ARC and review this beautiful novel.

FIVE GLORIOUSLY BLOODY STARS

“. . .he always made her feel like there were stars in her blood.”

BSG 2020, 5 Stars, Fantasy, Favorite, Review, SJM

House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J Maas

How do I pen a love letter to the epic awesomeness that I just read? Without a single doubt, House of Earth and Blood was my most anticipated novel of 2020. I have been waiting like an addict for her next fix. When it downloaded on my Kindle at 8pm the night before release – I freaked. Somewhere around 12 hours of reading later. . .’cuz this book is massive. . .

All that was left of me was that this book was and is EVERYTHING. EVERYTHING.

Sarah J Maas is a queen. A writing wizard. As a reader I am incredibly, tremendously proud to be a die-hard reader of hers, I am proud of her as a writer. This is her best book to date and honestly, I believe she has nowhere to go but up, up, up. I can’t wait to see what she does next.

This book, y’all. This. Book. It killed me. Gutted me. I laughed, I screamed – literally, I cried – ugly sobbing, I happy danced. When I finished this epically massive tome, I felt like I had been run over by a bus. . .but in the good way. I felt ALL the feelings and enjoyed every single moment of it.

House of Earth and Blood enthralled me from the moment it began to that epically intriguing epilogue. Stunning. Full to the brim of twists and turns, I had NO IDEA where SJ Maas was going with 90% of the story. Every revelation, every character, the relationships, the world building, everything – stuns and surprises.

I’m not going to go into the premise of the story, go read the synopsis – better yet, just go read the book. I don’t want to spoil this story on any level. I do want to talk a bit about the characters though.

Bryce. Danika. Connor. Ruhn. Hunt. ALL THE CHARACTERS.

Okay, never mind. I can’t even articulate my love for these characters. I’m overwhelmed with my love for these wonderful characters that SJM has penned onto paper and into the immortal world that is book world.

So many characters, so much happening, so much awesomeness.

If you are looking for a fantastic fantasy with a dollop of romance, friendship that will break your heart and then fix all the pieces, love that makes you sob ugly tears of utter pain and joy, world building with so much more to come, an unpredictable rollercoaster storyline, characters that defy the odds and pack a punch. . .read this book.

My favorite book of the year and it’s only March. One of my favorite books period. I can’t wait to see what happens next, I am so here for it.

Thank you sooooooo sooooooo soooooo much Sarah J Maas for this beautiful stunning creation. Thank you.

“Through love, all is possible.”

xx, BSG

#1 New York Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas launches her brand-new CRESCENT CITY series with House of Earth and Blood: the story of half-Fae and half-human Bryce Quinlan as she seeks revenge in a contemporary fantasy world of magic, danger, and searing romance.

Bryce Quinlan had the perfect life—working hard all day and partying all night—until a demon murdered her closest friends, leaving her bereft, wounded, and alone. When the accused is behind bars but the crimes start up again, Bryce finds herself at the heart of the investigation. She’ll do whatever it takes to avenge their deaths.

Hunt Athalar is a notorious Fallen angel, now enslaved to the Archangels he once attempted to overthrow. His brutal skills and incredible strength have been set to one purpose—to assassinate his boss’s enemies, no questions asked. But with a demon wreaking havoc in the city, he’s offered an irresistible deal: help Bryce find the murderer, and his freedom will be within reach.

As Bryce and Hunt dig deep into Crescent City’s underbelly, they discover a dark power that threatens everything and everyone they hold dear, and they find, in each other, a blazing passion—one that could set them both free, if they’d only let it.

With unforgettable characters, sizzling romance, and page-turning suspense, this richly inventive new fantasy series by #1 New York Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas delves into the heartache of loss, the price of freedom—and the power of love.