booksbyec's reviews
317 reviews

ARC Review - His Reluctant Savior by Courtney W. Dixon
The District Book 3

This is the 3rd book in the series but the first one I read and even if you would get more out of the story reading them in order. I followed along very well and in regards to Sid and Dalton, we got all the backstory we needed to enjoy the book. 

I am a low key lover of the suspense genre and/or the “good guy/bad guy” trope. I have always enjoyed books weaving mystery or crime solving together with romance and spice. And we get this in this book in spades. The fact that Dalton is FBI and Sid is an assassin, chefs kiss!

Sid and Dalton's past makes their quick connection work even if they haven't seen each other in over 20+ years. The small romantic connection they forged one night in High School blossoms into a fullfleged will they or won't they take the opportunity to fall in love. This together with the fact that they are on the run from both the “good guys” and the “bad guys” makes it even more high stakes than usual. 

This book series is about morally grey characters that all have a miserable past. But they all also have redeeming qualities that make you root for them. Some themes will be dark so as always reading the triggers beforehand is a good thing. 

Sid apprentice Easton is such an interesting character and I am happy he will get his own book. 

 

ARC Review Mammon by Maddison Devlin

This book is dark and twisted in the most delicious toxic sense. It’s not for the faint of heart and it will leave you reeling. 

But as much as it is toxic, it has a humanity to it that is hard to explain. All three of the main characters have traces of humanity but also traces of the utmost darkness in their souls. 

The relationship blossoming between Mammon, Bel and Gore is a give and take kinda deal. They push each other to the extreme. Bel and Gore are the instigators but they know what they want and they will not back down before getting it. Mammon “tries”, and I put that lightly, to resist them but he also wants them for himself so him giving in is kinda a done deal. But the journey they all take is lined with obstacles and we are thrust into a roller coaster of darkness and mayhem. 

Mammon is aware of his darkness & Bel is aware of his manipulation tendencies and Gore is aware of his sensitive nature. This awareness creates characters that are multidimensional and not just “dark” or “bad”. Against your better judgement you root for them, you want them to succeed and live as happily of a life that they can live. The fact that Gore and Bel go through a horrific experience together and that it does not shatter them beyond repair is a testament to how well the characters rally and take care of each other. Obviously the taking care part is darker than most of us will ever experience. But it works for them and the world that they live in.  

It needs to be praised that Maddison Devlin manages to find the balance in her characters without it becoming too much or too little. You want them to succeed and live happily ever after even if that HEA includes m*rder and mayhem. 

I read this as a stand alone but I should probably have started from the beginning with Leviathan. But I also felt like I got a good grasp on who they are as characters in the first chapters, so I didn't feel lost at all. Reading the warnings is a must and realising that the warnings are there for a reason is also key to enjoying this book. 

 

ARC review - Blush by Blake Avery

This was a spicy quick read with a lot of heart and lust. 

It has a bit of everything, a meet cute to d!e for, insta attraction/love, pra!se kink, and a sexy card game. 

This novella is about 57 pages long, but so much happens in such a short time. It's intense, funny but also so sweet. I won't spoil it for you but just know after reading it you will want more. I hope we will get just a little bit more soon. 

Blake manages to give us that frantic “I know we just met but let's get together and hook up” scenario, without it becoming too cliché. I think the fact that they met where they met, gave it another vibe than if they would have met at a club or bar. Beau is shy and precious and Shane is just so confident that together they create magic. 

It's a perfect appetizer to start off the Valentine's day celebrations. 

Rabbit Hole

This book is fire!

I don’t know how to express how this book makes me feel. It’s dirty and sweet, It’s endearing and scary, it is all the holidays wrapped up in one spicy delicious bite. 

This is one of the few books where I want to read just a little bit more. Obviously there are characters and pairs where I want to know a little bit more but usually I am satisfied with a good epilogue and maybe a bonus chapter or two. But in the case of Adair and Jack I want more full length books period! It’s kinda crazy how these two take over my brain. 

The dynamic they created in Jack Rabbit turns even more enhanced in Rabbit Hole. We see them realize that they aren't just compatible in their k!nk lifestyle but also in everyday life. It is not the smoothest of journeys to get to that elusive HEA but in the case of Adair and Jack, I don't think we would have liked it any other way.  

Mind you if you are a newbie to the world of pr!mal play and k!nk, tread with caution. But if you are curious, let me just tell you, you won’t be disappointed. This is not a stand alone, so reading Jack Rabbit first is a must before reading this one. Otherwise you won’t understand how Adair and Jack’s dynamic work.