koistyfishy's reviews
359 reviews

4 Mi Esposa Bunny Stars ⭐️
Spicy Level: 🌶️🌶️.5/5

This is two books so this might be LONG....
Book 1 follows Angel and Emma and Book 2 follows Omar (Angel's brother) and Lyse. The overall rating is the combination of the two.

This is my first Bella Ash book, and as I have not read many organized crime books, I was not sure what to expect. But I was looking for something drama-esque, and this definitely delivered.

The two books need to be read in order, as Omar's book follows directly from Angels and while the main couples shift focus, the overarching plot continues.

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝟭:
𝙎𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨:
Angel is the oldest son in the Castillo Cartel and one day at a bar he is saved by a messenger woman when a shootout breaks out. Given the shootout was conducted by a rival cartel she not only gained a "life debt" with Angel but a target from the rival cartel, given everything she saw. As payment for her service, Angel's father orders him to marry Emma so she is protected.

𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙁𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨:
I totally thought this was originally a MAFIA novel... not Cartel... BUT I DIDN'T HATE THAT! It was a pretty easy read, and I read it pretty quickly, but that’s very much a sign of the type of book that it is. Quick and Easy.

Angel and Emma feel very superficial or generic, almost like you’re reading fanfiction. The story doesn't go very deep into anything and it seemed a pretty predictable and run-of-the-mill situation. He’s a bad boy, she’s innocent, and he’s dominating and trying to make his place in the family with his father who doesn’t want to give up power and shows "love" through punishment.

Their relationship was basically just sex. There was no development between the two of them because the only times they’re really together is when she’s feeding him or when they’re having sex. And it’s pretty much standard "vanilla sex". I expected someone who’s basically the head of a cartel, to be more sexually adventurous, and I think the most scandalous thing he did was go down on her.

The story was trippy and predictable, and pretty much what you’d expect, which I’m not going to hate on too much, BECAUSE THAT IS THE KIND OF STORY I WANTED TO PICK UP! I picked it for the organised crime-forced-marriage trope, and I got exactly that!

What I do wish is that this had more development in the love area and for Angel and Emma to not annoy me as much as they did. Emma specifically annoyed me because it was constantly said and "implied" that she has a backbone, but as the reader you never really see it... she never makes Angel work for her love. The climax of the book was solved way too quickly, and it never really resolved any of the conflicts that hinted at growth in their relationship. They jumped right back into bed together.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝟮:
𝙎𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨:
After the events of Book 1, Omar (Angel's youngest brother) is ANGRY. He decides to take revenge on the rival family which caused everything and crashes an engagement party. He proceeds to go on a little killing spree and ends up taking the future bride hostage. Hoping her "groom" can help clean up the bloody mess, given his up-and-coming political career. But things start to turn messy when he realises the woman he kidnapped is Lyse Rojas, the only daughter of the rival family he hates. And the more time he spends with her, he starts falling for her and the idea of returning her to her future husband and family becomes more and more difficult.

𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙁𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨:
Lyse and Omar's story was much MORE enjoyable than Angel and Emma and that is why I gave this book the overall 4-star rating because they carried the story.

This gave me more in terms of tropes but that is what I LOVED. It offered more of that giddy feeling and I think it was because the tension between Omar and Lyse felt heavier. This had the characters needing to work their their history and rivalry, making this a a true enemies-to-lovers and how love can overcome animosity.

The issue with the relationship development was NON-EXISTANT in this... Omar and Lyse gradually got to the point where she initiated sex with him, and it felt much more believable how these two came together. There are similarities in the brother's stories, they both keep their women "Captive" and find love through some element of Stockholm syndrome... But it was still enjoyable.

Omar is a gooey, huge teddy bear cinnamon roll and while he may be deadly with a gun, he is still romantic and cute. He has that "vibe" where he is so big people think he must be dumb, but he is super observant, which makes you want to hug him.

I also LOVED that Lyse had a backbone. She was the total opposite of Emma. Lyse made Omar earn her love, but she stood up for him and was willing to fight for him, just as he was for her. Since she grew up in the "crime" world she knows what it is like to be in a Cartel Family and the expectations of that. She just seemed more at ease, and so she and Omar's relationship had more chemistry and a better foundation.

Also, my heart melts for any man who washes a girl’s hair, and the fact that Omar did this multiple times, being gooey, sappy, cute, and romantic in the simplest ways was just so sweet.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
𝘾𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▶ Forced Proximity
▶ CaptorXCaptive Romance
▶ Alpha Male
▶ Organised Crime
▶ Morally Grey MMC
▶ Virgin FMC
▶ Touch Her You Die
▶ Burn the World for You

and 𝘾𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙧𝙤 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▷ It Won't Fit
▷ Nicknames
▷ "Mine"
▷ Chin Lift

𝘽𝙤𝙤𝙠 1 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨::
▶ Forced Marriage
▶ Biting
▶ Strangers to Lovers

𝘽𝙤𝙤𝙠 2 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨::
▶ Enemies to Lovers
▶ Kidnapping

𝘽𝙤𝙤𝙠 2 𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙧𝙤 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▶ Washes Her Hair

All in all, I had a good time with this. It had a good vibe, was super easy to read, and was distracting in the best way!

Thank you to Relay Publishing, Netgalley and Bella Ash for the gifted copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own 

5 Stalker Grumpy Cat Stars ⭐️
Spicy Level:🌶️🌶️/5

Now this was an interesting read for me, and I stand by what I said for Sticks and Stones that these books (this Series) is basically the type of book you read if you’re looking for an intro to Dark Romance. While there are a couple of triggers, it’s not overbearing or overly hard to handle, and you’re still dealing with generally a green-flag MMC.

𝙎𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨:
Briar Hart, who used to be a hockey player. One night, while painting a commission in an abandoned building, the building was set on fire. Trapped and desperate to escape she jumps from the second-story window, shattering her knee and Hockey dreams. One day, she meets Cassius Thorne and something about her intrigues him; and life keeps putting them in the same place at the same time. It turns out Cassius Thorne has access to a state-of-the-art fitness centre that could help her rehabilitate her knee. In exchange, he needs someone to pretend to be his girlfriend to pacify his parents. It’s a win-win, but we all know that fake feelings don’t always stay fake.

𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙁𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨:
Briar is angry. She was angry before her accident channelling that rage into hockey. Now she’s furious that her entire future has been jeopardised, and she has no control over pursuing it. She’s in constant pain from her injury, and she hates showing weakness or vulnerability to anyone as she doesn’t want to become the laughingstock of the university or a pity case for what happened to her. So she hides her emotions, her pain, everything and doesn't open up very easily.

Cassius Thorne is, oh my god, a gooey cinnamon roll. Not only is he popular, a quarterback, and incredibly sexy! But he’s sweet and cute and flirty, with a smirk that can melt your panties. He’s the typical type of man written by women, because of course he’s rocking an eight-pack and is sexy as hell, BUT I AM ALL HERE FOR IT!

I really liked how their relationship developed. It never felt rushed or forced, these two were just comfortable with each other and you could see how much they enjoyed each other’s company and how simply being around each other calmed them down. The relationship just felt real, meaningful, and realistic. Their emotional connection, the way they help each other through low points, and are thrilled for the other during the high points, was sweet.

I need to commend these two authors for taking two of my FAVOURITE tropes (and one normally only seen in Fantasy) and finding a way to put them into this romance... They share a bath and SHE HOLDS A KNIFE TO HIS THROAT! It was perfection! It's the stuff that made me devour this in one sitting. Just the quick, fun, real, emotional read I needed... everything!

One of my main issues though is that I wanted a cameo from Wren or Stone, I wanted to revisit them for a moment. But there was no mention of them at all, so it almost felt like this wasn't even the same universe as the previous book, just a random book that had the same university. I would have believed it if I had been told this was a complete standalone. (Though...Evan is mentioned in passing)

On the bright side, I’ve seen too many authors stretch this kind of book into multiple books (S. Massery herself being one of them) and I think I prefer something like this. The fast-paced story concludes at the end with a nice Epilogue wrap-up.

𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▶ University Romance
▶ Sports Romance (Hockey and Football)
▶ She Falls First - He Falls Harder
▶ Tending to Injuries
▶ Fake Dating
▶ Poor Girl, Rich Boy
▶ Black Cat X Golden Retriever (Reverse Grumpy Sunshine)

and 𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙧𝙤 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▷ Nicknames
▷ Undressing Help
▷ Hand Necklaces
▷ Mine
▷ Spicy/Steamy Water Scene
▷ Share a Bath
▷ Beg Me
▷ Knife to the Throat
▷ "Hold on to the..."

All in all, while the twist at the end wasn’t hard to see coming, and the ending felt slightly rushed and I wanted a bit more scenes of them IN the REAL relationship once they went "all in" I still really enjoyed this!

So if you like a grumpy black cat with claws who falls for a sexy golden retriever, and want banter and spice, I definitely recommend picking this up!

Thank you to ValentinePR, S. Massey and S.J. Sylvis for the gifted copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own 

3.5 Zelda Stars ⭐️
Spicy Level: 🌶️.5/5

This was a nice little second chance delight and while it's not perfect... I still enjoyed it.

𝙎𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨:
Cora Newport is a masked bartender who’s pretty famous on social media. One day she is competing in a cocktail competition when she runs into the owner of an alcohol company who wants her help developing a new line of mocktails that his company is about to launch. The only problem is that this owner also happens to be her high school ex-boyfriend Aiden Callihan, who broke her heart years ago without giving her any explanation AND HE DOES NOT EVEN RECOGNISE HER IN HER MASK! (The Audacity). Aiden's basically the last person on earth she wants to work with, but his company’s offer is too good to refuse, so she agrees to partner up… and soon, their old high school feelings start resurfacing. The two need to navigate their past, figure out what went wrong, and see if there’s a future for them.

𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙁𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨:
I enjoyed this one a bit more than Perfect Mismatch, because I liked Aiden way more than Vincent. He wasn't as rude or dickish. He genuinely cares about his friends, company, and work, and he cares about Cora too. Since the series is called “Manhattan Boss Holes,” I expected him to be more of a jerk, but he wasn’t. Like Aiden's biggest red flag was that he’s scared of his temper and how others might see that.

Cora was pretty feisty and spunky. She knows what she wants, and she has the kind of personality that draws everyone in, making them want to know her, which makes sense for a social media personality. I love that she challenged Aiden and their chemistry was believable!

There are definitely similarities between this and Perfect Mismatch and its funny as they are commented on in the book as going through the same flow... which was awesome but also a little confusing in direction as I felt I had already seen this plot and story before.

𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨 and 𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙧𝙤 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨::
▶ Billionaire Romance
▶ Second Chance Romance
▶ Workplace Romance
▶ Age Gap (2 Years)
▶ Fake Dating
▶ Enemies to Lovers
▶ Loves their smile/laugh
▶ Rolled Sleeves/Forearms
▶ Third Act Breakup

Basically, this book shows that sometimes, you have to shake and stir a relationship before it fully comes together, and maybe the second time is the charm. If you didn’t get it right the first time, who’s to say you can’t perfect it on the second try?

Thank you to Netgalley, Relay Publishing and Leslie North for the gifted copy.
All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

3 Nerf Gun Stars ⭐️
Spicy Level: 🌶️🌶️/5

I mean it was cute and fluffy but that's all it was, cute and fluffy, nothing else.

𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙁𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨:
Natalie Archer is the girl who is always “the fun one.” She’s the person you go to for a good time, and her family doesn’t really take her seriously because they’re all doctors, lawyers, or accountants (something fancy like that) and she isn’t. Because of this, her mom doesn't really think she has succeeded in life. At the start of the book she’s in a long-term relationship with her boyfriend, and one day she surprises him at a coffee shop to discover he’s been having an emotional affair with a colleague. She breaks it off with him and moves out. Now Natalie finds herself homeless and single, but she has just gotten a job as their entertainment manager at the local resort.

Things get a little crazy because, similar to an adult version of The Inheritance Games, the family who owns the Hot Springs Eternal Resort, has a crazy deceased grandfather who in his will stated that "in order to claim your inheritance, you need to complete X and Y". It’s grumpy Preston Hott's turn to receive his "envelope" and he learns his challenge is to create a highly rated entertainment program at the resort. This could not come at a more inopportune time since he is just about to land the largest merger of his carrier which will guarantee his promotion.

On Natalies first day, Preston FIRES HER but is overruled by his sister (who actually manages the resort) and says the two will need to work together as Natalie has the experience Preston needs to succeed. So now the two have no choice BUT to work together and it makes you wonder if Natalie can add a little fun to Preston's life and if he will be able to overcome their differences and remove that stick-up-his-ass attitude.

Preston is a bit of a dick, he is super prideful and has this need to prove himself or more prove to his grandfather that he will succeed at life in NY when his grandfather always told him he would amount to nothing. He’s determined to make it big in New York, and now that he’s been sent back to his hometown, he’s questioning who he really is.

The more time he spends with Natalie, the more he realises that everything he’s been working toward might not align with what he truly wants. However, his stubborn nature makes it difficult to admit his grandfather could be right about a few things, and he struggles to accept that a bit of love, fun, and letting loose now and then might not be so bad after all.

I feel like this book fits that “perfect for a movie” vibe, where they fall for each other because they "spend so much time together", but you don’t see enough of that development, you see this quick montage of them hanging out, and in the book are just told, "they have hung out and spent time together". I wanted a bit more substance in watching them grow close.

𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▶ Workplace Romance
▶ Boss's Brother
▶ Forced Proximity
▶ GrumpyXSunshine

and 𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙧𝙤 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▷ Brings Her Drinks/Food
▷ Suit Daddy
▷ Loves their Smile/Laugh
▷ Rolled Sleeves/Forearms
▷ Spicy/Steamy Water Scene
▷ Cages her with his Arms
▷ Dirty Talk
▷ Sex in a public place

Overall this was a typical "Hallmark Movie" vibe book and if you are looking for that light and fluffy just relaxing read this is perfect for you!

Thank you to Netgalley, Jelsba Media Group and Serena Bell for the gifted copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own 

5 Pommes Frites Stars ⭐️
Spicy Level:🌶️.5/5

Critically, this book is not perfect. The romance is messy and rushed, sometimes leaving you wanting more. The characters have flaws and can be irritating, especially when they struggle or fail to communicate with each other, but even though it is not perfect, it was perfect for me.

𝙎𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨:
Clementine works for a small publishing company and has recently moved into her new inherited apartment, which previously belonged to her aunt. Clementine had an extremely close relationship with her aunt, travelling the world and feeling free to be her true self, so the loss is extra hard on her. The twist is that her aunt’s apartment is magic and can sometimes send the occupant seven years into the past by Clementine always thought that was just a story her aunt told her... until one day the Apartment sends her back and she meets a mysterious man standing in her kitchen. A man that no matter how perfect he seems, she cannot fall in love with... because he lives Seven Years in the past.

𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙁𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨:
As I have said, this book is messy. It is raw, emotional, poetic, and at times ugly in the honest ways it portrays grief... the loss of Clementine's aunt has left her with profound grief she has not properly dealt with. So a large part of the book is the emotional journey of her working through that grief and rediscovering who she is, including the possibility of new love.

This is a VERY character-focused story that, at times, feels purple in its prose and poetic in its emotion. I loved (and at times hated because of how true it was) how it explored avoiding grief, how grief can creep up and hold you tight until you have to choose to let go and, ironically, not live in the past. A major theme is Clementine learning that by literally going back in time, spending moments with Ewan, and realising that clinging to an idealised version of her life is part of her stagnation. She needs to move forward, confront her own truths, and stop burying herself in what she misses about her aunt.

The relationship with Ewan did leave me wanting a little more but besides this Ewan is sweet and romantic. I did have some struggle reconciling who he was in the past with who he becomes in the present. I wanted more insight into the "present" part of their romance, since their feelings develop quickly and most of their connection is shown in the past, yet Ewan’s goals and aspirations have changed over the seven years, and I hoped for more exploration of how Clementine and Ewan navigate that gap now that they have found each other again.

I have always said though that if a book manages to make me cry, it gets five stars. This one made me cry. I bawled my eyes out! It was sad and heartbreaking, yet ridiculously romantic and sweet. It was the thing I didn't know I needed and Brittany Pressley did such an amazing job of narrating the story and conveying all the emotion I felt!

𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨 and 𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙧𝙤 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▶ Roommates to Lovers
▶ Strangers to Lovers
▶ Slow Burn
▶ Written in the Stars
▶ Time Travel
▶ He makes her food
▶ Secret Pining
▶ Rolled Sleeves/Forearms
▶ Good Girl
▶ "More"

Overall this was the perfect book for me to finish 2024 with. 

5 Transcendence Stars ⭐️
Spicy Level: 🌶️🌶️.5/5

There are some books that need to grow on you...books that take a little longer, that extended moment in time before you connect, and you know the story is amazing. Wyatt is NOT one of those books. I knew from the very first page that I was going to love this.

This was my first Jessica Peterson book, and since I haven’t really read many Cowboy Romances, I wasn’t sure what to expect. That, on top of it being Friends to Lovers (which is not always my favourite trope)... I was cautiously optimistic... and in the end, a metaphorical lasso must have caught around my heart, and it was not letting go. I love this; it spoke to my soul and just gave me this utter emotional giddy bliss while reading.

𝙎𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨:
When Wyatt was 18, he lost his parents in a tragic accident. One person was there for him when he needed them: his best friend Sally. She was always there for the good, the bad, and the ugly. But something changed the day before the funeral, and Wyatt finally saw Sally as a little more than a friend, while unbeknownst to him, Sally grew even more in love with him than before. Now, 12 years later, Sally is a successful veterinary surgeon and is back in Texas for a few months before starting her dream job in New York. But before she leaves, she wants a little no-strings-attached fun with a cowboy. Given Wyatt is the king of No-Strings-Attached, Sally asks him to pretend to date her to make other men jealous. Of course, when you’re pretending to mask very real feelings, those lines become blurry, and both need to decide whether they are willing to test their friendship and turn it into something more.

𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙁𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨:
There must be something in the water of Lucky River Ranch, because DAMN, your girl is OBSESSED! The pining, the longing, the feelings of unrequited love, and the mesmerising emotion in the words... it was almost poetic with the rawness.

Now, as I mentioned, I do have frustrations with “Friends to Lovers,” especially when it is basically them already being in love with each other and just too afraid to tell each other. Like, be adults and JUST TELL EACH OTHER. But that just shows HOW GOOD THIS IS! Despite my not liking this type of Friends to Lovers, I was still completely and utterly enraptured by the words, these characters, and the romance, which was just so CUTE.

Wyatt is cocky and arrogant and sex on legs, but he uses this to hide that he is still grieving and feels completely lost and broken, scared to open his heart to love. He is also so charming in that “Southern Gentleman” way and is a really good cowboy. Sally is a bowl of sunshine and deeply cares for her friends, family, and those around her. She is smart, intelligent, and has the biggest heart of gold. She lights up every room she’s in, and her willingness to help everyone makes her so kind and sweet.

Their relationship was PERFECTION. Sally and Wyatt complement each other so well that their sexual chemistry legitimately oozes off the page. They are so comfortable with each other and so relaxed being themselves that you cannot help but root for them! What I also loved is that even though these two have been friends forever and have a long history, it never felt like the relationship change from friends to lovers was too rushed or too slow. It was just so gooooooood!

My god, the banter and the dirty talk will make you wish YOU WERE SALLY TO DADDY WYATT! I swear, my toes curled, all my tingle places tingled, and I think at one point my eyes rolled to the back of my head with the SWOON (AND JEALOUSY THAT I WASN’T SALLY).

𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▶ Childhood Best Friends to Lovers
▶ Cowboy Romance
▶ Fake Dating
▶ He Falls First
▶ Secret Pining
▶ Lessons in Seduction
▶ Bad Boy X Good Girl
▶ Jealous MMC
▶ Who Did This To You?
▶ Small Town Romance

and 𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙧𝙤 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▷ Nicknames
▷ Daddy
▷ Rolled Sleeves/Forearms
▷ "Look At Me"
▷ "You Taste Like..."
▷ Sexy Lasso Play (Rope Play)
▷ "It Wont Fit"

Overall all I wanna do is save a horse and ride this cowboy and if you love yourself ANY of these tropes, you're gonna wanna ride him too! BASICALLY JUST READ THIS!

Thank you to ValentinePR and Jessica Peterson for the gifted copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own 

4 Vibrator Stars ⭐️
Spicy Level:🌶️🌶️/5

THIS BOOK is the PERFECT type of book if you are looking for that "Intro to Dark Bully Romance," but you are also not too ready to question your morals too much. Then this is FOR YOU!!!

𝙎𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨:
Wren Davis grew up in an "on again, off again" relationship with the foster system as her dad did various stints in prison for being a notorious drug dealer. She found some stability and comfort with Evan and his family, and Evan became like a real brother to her. One day, to avoid destroying her life, she inadvertently ruins Stone Foster's possible prospects of joining the NHL. (Stone is Evan's best friend, and YES, I did roll my eyes at his surname being Foster and the fact that she is a foster child... and how I wish they had changed it to something else) Flash forward a couple of years, and Wren desperately needs a place to crash after breaking up with her boyfriend, so she moves into the "Hockey House" Evan shares with a few players. HOWEVER, Stone has just transferred to Shadow Valley University, and Evan just gave away his room to the woman he hates most in the world... SO LET THE WAR BEGIN!

𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙁𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨:
And I think this shows what a fantastic duo S. Massery and S.J. Sylvis make together because this book felt whole and so well-founded! There is an author's note at the beginning that it is not as "dark" as some of the books that S. Massery has written, and that is pretty true. This was a little lighter, but I think I liked that because it seemed a lot more real. Often, books (even contemporary ones) are more fantasy, but if someone told me this story happened, I would believe it... It just seems realistic. (I mean, looking past the fact that Wren's past is terrible.) It just had the elements that made you want to root for her and Stone.

Wren doesn't want to be a burden to anybody. She has been dealt a shit hand in life, and so many people have tried to take advantage of her, especially her father. He wins the awful "Dad of the Year" award for the things he forced her to do and what he wants her to do now. She finds it very difficult to stand up for herself, and needing to gives her anxiety... but the one person she can stand up to is Stone (even when he calls her Sticks).

Stone is not perfect, and he takes the words possessive and obsessive to the next level, and there is no way he's letting Wren go. He is a dick to her in the beginning, and she shows her teeth right back at him, but very soon she’s the only thing he can think about, and he can’t get her out of his head. That obsession festers in his mind until it blossoms into a cute and sweet relationship. It was so fun to see how the tension and hate between them built into the inevitable. These two are meant to be together, they are there for each other, and they are what each other needs to be the best version of themselves.

The writing is captivating and fast-paced, and you can devour the story very quickly. It's going to give you the tension that comes from the push and pull you'd see in a typical bully romance, but it’s also going to give you that sweet, gooey, gushy relief of when they come together. It is going to be explosive and spicy!

𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▶ University Romance
▶ Foster Brother's Best Friend and Teammate
▶ One Bed/Roommates
▶ Forced Proximity
▶ Bully Romance
▶ Hockey Romance
▶ Touch Her and Die
▶ Stalking
▶ Obsessive, Possessive and Jealous Alphamale

and 𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙧𝙤 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▷ Nicknames
▷ Carries her over his Shoulder
▷ Backwards Cap
▷ Chin Lifts
▷ Car Sex
▷ Cages her with his Arms
▷ Good Girl
▷ Hockey Jersey Heat (and she doesn't wear his Jersey)
▷ Hand Necklaces
▷ Mine

Overall, I love this duo and I cannot wait to see what they do in Heart of Thorns. 

3. 5 Belle Stars ⭐️
Spicy Level:🌶️🌶️/5

Do you ever wonder about how a book ends up on your TBR and you're just like, okay, let's go with it?

𝙎𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨:
Our book opens with Emilia Davis an orphaned governess who has just lost her job and is now trying to find another one. She meets Gavin Sinclair, a London barrister, at a Tavern like two passing ships in the night after an adorable little meet-cute based on a misunderstanding where he thinks she's a prostitute. The two strike up a friendship and conversation which leads to them almost having an exciting little "passionate evening". I’m sure if this was 2024, they probably would have had sex but Gavin being the "gentleman" they go their separate ways without learning each other’s names. BUT lo and behold, both are destined for the same location. You see, Emila has just been given the position of governess to a new family, and this family also happens to be the nieces and nephews of our barrister. So, the two end up in a close proximity situation where their massive feelings of attraction don’t disappear, and they need to juggle the reality of what a relationship would look like for them, given the society they live in and their positions within that society.

𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙁𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨:
I'm not gonna lie, I was apprehensive about jumping into this because I had no idea how a historical romance had ended up on my TBR. And it wasn't just on my "Goodreads TBR" or the one you say you're going to add books to, but never do. This was physically added to my official organizational tracking TBR and it was a historical romance.
I was pretty sure I was going insane because I hadn't read historical romance, like a proper Regency Romance, in years. I stay very much in my bubble of contemporary, fluffy, and cute; where they have cell phones to communicate and women are allowed to show their ankles without being called a whore.

ANYWAY, the fates aligned and I do not like to tempt fate. And I enjoyed this! So fate and luck were on my side. Emilia was brave and sweet and while she had a terrible hand in life dealt to her she is so determined and passionate and lovely. Gavin is so addicted to work that he lets nothing phase him and doesn't ever take the time to appreciate life until Emilia blows into his world and completely turns it upside down.

The relationship felt charming and special as these two had an amazing connection and chemistry that was adorable and just made you fill up with happy vibes! The only issue I had with this is being a novella it does rush quickly into "I love you" and I did have to push aside my dislike for instalove a bit.

𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨
▶ Dual Pov
▶ Forced Proximity
▶ Almost One Night Stand
▶ Christmas Novella
▶ Regency Romance
▶ He Falls First
▶ Cute Kids
▶ Virgin FMC

and 𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙧𝙤 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▷ Rolled Sleeves/Forearms
▷ Love's Their Smile/Laugh
▷ Cages Her With His Arms
▷ "Look at Me"
▷ "More"

Overall this was cute Christmassy vibes and just sweet and giving all the best warm vibes! 

3 Chocchip Pancake Stars ⭐️
Spicy Level:🌶️🌶️/5

If you love a Christmas Romance or are the type of person who will voraciously devour every Hallmark Christmas movie...you will love this...

𝙎𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨:
Josie loves Christmas... people in the town of Strawberry Hollow even call her the Queen of Christmas because her personality is the physical embodiment of the holiday and what it represents. She is also a primary school teacher and has the most adorable students in her class. One day, her newest student Lucy (who Josie has formed a sweet connection with) wants to introduce her to her dad. However, it turns out her dad is Wyatt Owens, the boy (AND NOW MAN) who 8 years ago broke her heart when he broke up with her and left town. Now he is back and he wants to try a second chance with Josie. Josie is apprehensive but when Lucy needs a third person to compete in the town's Christmas List competition to win a float ride with Santa...Josie cannot say no to help; meaning she and Wyatt will be spending a lot of time together.

𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙁𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨:
This was sweet, low angst and literally sings about the joy of Christmas. I enjoyed the plot and the vibes and the Christmas Romance gold because this story is heartwarming, cute, sweet, and adorable.

Josie is kind-hearted and generous and so big on family and Wyatt is just a gooey cinnamon roll. Their reconnection was cute and it was sweet. BUT One thing that bothered me, and it’s the reason I don’t typically enjoy second-chance romances, is that I need a valid reason for the breakup. In this case, their breakup felt pretty weak. Wyatt essentially left and abandoned her. I couldn’t help but think that, if he truly cared about her, long distance was an option they could have explored. Instead, he just walked away and never looked back. When they do reminisce, I expected more grovelling from him to make up for such a flimsy reason for leaving, but that never happened. They jumped back into love so quickly that it felt almost insta-lovey.

I understand that this is a Christmas novella, and the pace is supposed to be fast, with sweet and cosy vibes, but I wanted more redevelopment of their relationship. It felt like they just slipped back into love without working through the hurt or addressing what went wrong.

The only reason I’m willing to give it a pass is because this is a novella. There’s not always enough time for deeper character development. Honestly, if this had been a full-length novel, I think it would have worked better for me.

𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▶ Small Town Romance
▶ Forced Proximity
▶ Second Chance
▶ Single Dad
▶ Christmas Romance

and 𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙧𝙤 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▷ Under Table Touching
▷ "Hold on to the..."
▷ "Sit on my face..."
▷ "Fuck It"
▷ Throws her over his shoulder
▷ "More"

Overall this was Christmas vibes, it was a quick read, and it made me happy, so can I really complain?

Thank you to ValentinePR and Maren Moore for the gifted copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own 

4 Ginger Massage Oil Stars ⭐️
Spicy Level:🌶️🌶️.5/5

So this was much better than It Happened One Summer because Hannah isn't a vapid, self-absorbed princess like her sister and Fox is just an adorable simp...

Note: While this could essentially be read as a standalone, I wish that were possible because I did not enjoy It Happened One Summer. BUT that does give a lot of backstory into who Hannah and Fox are and what their friendship means and how their friendship started... and THIS BOOK MIGHT not be as impactful without that foundation.

𝙎𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨:
Hannah Bellinger moved back to LA to continue as a production assistant for her director Sergei (and crush). For the months she has been in LA, she and Fox Thornton have been secretly testing as friends. But when Sergei needs a remote historical location, Hannah recommends Westport. However, she cannot stay with her sister as Brendan's parents are visiting so she is forced to room with Fox and they are of course, "just friends". To make Sergei jealous she and Fox devise a plan to pretend to be "casually dating" but the more time she spends with Fox, and the more she learns about the man underneath the cocky smile the more the lines between friends start to get blurry... and the more Fox's feelings start becoming more real too...

𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙁𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨:
Okay, I used to think that I hated Tessa Bailey because as mentioned I did not "gel well" with "It Happened One Summer" and for me it was absolutely awful. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT I LOVE... When you give an author another chance and every book following that have made my heart smile and sing. I adored this SO MUCH!

Hannah, while being the younger sister felt miles and miles more mature than her sister. I think because she didn't come off as spoilt, wanting to work for herself and not use her name and clout to push her forward. She is tenacious and wants to achieve it on her own.

Fox was a broken little cinnamon roll. He's spent his whole life being told he is nothing but a player and good time, so it takes a long time to learn that he can be loved and appreciated and be accepted for who he is and not what he looks like.

Their relationship was beautiful, their chemistry was not as blatant and in your face as Piper and Brendan, but I think that's what I loved about it more, because of the SLOW BURN between these two. That chemistry blossomed into such a deep and meaningful connection! I do not always like Friends to Lovers romances, but this was cute and sweet and adorable, and the pining these two have for each other, and the longing, the banter, the adorable text relationship they have, and how they make each other better people was so heartwarming and gooey, and I ate it up.

I listened to this in Audio and Lauren Sweet did such an amazing job of portraying the emotion, character and story. I think this might also be why I have changed my mind a little about Tessa Bailey's books, because I liked her narration more than her sister's book...

𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▶ Small Town Romance
▶ Forced Proximity
▶ Friends to Lovers
▶ Slow Burn
▶ Sister's Boyfriend's Best Friend
▶ Third Act Breakup
▶ Nicknames

and 𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙧𝙤 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▷ Soup
▷ Undertable Touching
▷ Texting

I think there might be more but since I listened to this in Audio I probably missed a few obvious tropes

Overall a cute adorable heartwarming story that I think anyone who loves Friends to Lovers should read!