koistyfishy's reviews
362 reviews

3.5 Snowman Pancakes Stars ⭐️
Spicy Level: 🌶️🌶️/5

Talk about a book with a title that nails the theme on the head, because this type of romance ONLY exists in movies (and books, apparently).

𝙎𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨:
One year ago, Jules and Nate met on New Year’s Eve and shared two magical nights together. They believed they had found their soulmate... with one problem. Nate didn’t tell Jules about his daughter, so when Jules sees him in the supermarket with his “family,” she assumes he’s married and a cheating scumbag—so, brokenhearted, she ghosts him and swears off love completely. Cut to “present day,” with Nate pining after the woman who got away, when his daughter makes a Christmas wish that he should marry her doll (which will never come true, right?) WRONG... because, at this moment, Jules’s life is falling apart. She’s flooded her apartment and ballet studio, rendering herself homeless. While dealing with the drama and standing outside in a tutu, a little girl asks her to be her new Mommy and marry her Dad, and then she realises who her daddy is... and their whole history comes crashing back between them.

𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙁𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨:
This book knows what it’s offering, and it plays into this cliché SUPER WELL. There’s A LOT of “that would only happen in a movie,” and that’s a big theme IN THE BOOK. It’s overdramatic at times, full of unrealistic coincidences, corny and sweet—but that’s exactly what this book is going for, and because of that, you can’t help but be happy and smile. It doesn’t take itself too seriously. This book will make you squeal, and if you enjoy a good rom-com, you’ll love this because it’s rom-com GOLD. One line from the book sums it up perfectly:

It’s the kind of book that gives you the same vibes as watching all those Christmas rom-coms that might not be fully unique or unpredictable... BUT IT GIVES YOU THE BEST HEARTWARMING VIBES, and that’s all that matters!

Let me start with Nate... THIS MAN IS THE MAN OF YOUR DREAMS. He’s packed with green flags and is basically who you should imagine when you think of a perfect fictional boyfriend! He’s a caring father who loves and adores his daughter, wanting to give her everything her little heart desires. He’s so honest, open, and in tune with his feelings. He’s a complete family man, with the sweetest relationship with his parents and meddling sisters. MY GOSH, he’s sincere, generous, and OH SO THOUGHTFUL... THE MAN KEPT HER FAVOURITE COFFEE SYRUP FLAVOURS STOCKED IN HIS HOUSE after remembering she liked them, just in case she might one day be in his kitchen again!

Jules isn’t perfect, and at times she can be a bit annoying. She’s stubborn and insists on doing everything herself to prove she can, due to some childhood trauma, and struggles to accept help from Nate and his family. I did appreciate her independence and her ability to put her needs first. But she’s also a little damaged—a dreamer who was once so optimistic about love but became guarded after the misunderstanding with Nate. She builds very high walls, stubbornly refusing to take them down until Nate almost gives up on her...

I adored Sophie as she was an adorable little girl who just wanted her dad to be happy. I did think at times she sounded a little too "smart" to be 5 but I don't have kids so I have no way to know if her actions and dialogue were realistic for a child her age...

If you’re not a fan of miscommunication or instalove, you might find this challenging, as these elements set the scene for the book. Although the miscommunication is quickly cleared up, Nate’s instalove continues—he decided that New Year’s Eve that she was it for him and spends all his time trying to convince Jules to take a chance and love him back.

𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨
▶ Dual Pov
▶ One Night Stand
▶ He Fall First
▶ Forced Proximity
▶ Single Dad X Nanny Romance
▶ Roommates to Lovers
▶ Christmas Magic

and 𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙧𝙤 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▷ Good Girl
▷ "Show Me"
▷ Chin Lift
▷ Phone Sex
▷ Dirty Talk
▷ Rolled Sleeves/Forearms
▷ Forehead Kisses
▷ Makes Her Food

Even with its flaws, it’s a cute, sweet Christmas rom-com that’s going to give you exactly what you’re looking for. It’s predictable, funny, and ends in a Happily Ever After... just as it said in the book: the perfect kind of story!

Thank you to Morgan Elizabeth and Valentine PR for my gifted copy.
All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

3 My Love Stars ⭐️
Spicy Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

If you're expecting a literary masterpiece in a book whose title is "Guarded by a Spider", you're pretty deluded. But if you want something "fun" with a few legs or two... or eight... This will be a great pick!

𝙎𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨:
This is a Dual POV that follows Nia’n’an and Sloane. Sloane has been kidnapped by some mysterious organization and is presumed dead. Nia’n’an believes he's going to die because he hasn't found his mate; so as a last-ditch effort to return to the home of his ancestors while still seeing if he can be useful, he is hired by the Monster Bodyguard Company to retrieve Sloane's body.
However, when he gets close to where she's being kept, he smells his mate. It turns out that his mate is none other than this human Sloane and she is very much alive.

𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙁𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨:
I haven't read many monster romances. So, I'm not sure if this is exactly what to expect in a monster romance or if it's just what I have previously seen in like the only other monster romance I have read. Basically, once Nia’n’an finds his mate, his intelligence seems to disappear and he is lowered down to the basic primal needs of:
- She is now my love.
- I love her.
- I protect her.
- I make her happy.
- And I need to procreate with her and make her my mate.
Basically, he goes full cavemanspider on her...

I think what I liked about Sloane and the dynamic between the two is that Sloane has the mouth of a sailor and she's fucking petrified of this spider creature who has come to save her. But the two of them develop this cute little way of communicating and the two form a sweet little unusual friendship. BUT she also feels the effects of the mate bond, SO IS incredibly horny so the only release is humping a spider with two penises for some gratification. I love that Sloane was feisty and almost snappy and just babbled whatever she was thinking. It was also cute and sweet how caring and generous Nia’n’an was because all he wanted to do was take care of her.

This is not a very complex story. There are a lot of questions that I have unanswered that just get brushed past and I'm not sure if it's just because the world is already established, that they are not touched on... or if it's just the way this story is...

It is NEVER EXPLAINED:
Don't read these if you care about spoilers

- Why his mate is a human? Like this has never been heard of and the reason why is not actually explored.
- THAT IF monsters are so prevalent in this world, WHY is Sloane is so shocked to see a spider person??? Sure if you had never seen a monster before but they seem to be pretty integrated into the world soooo her reaction to their meeting was weird.
- Why HE DIES but then doesn't... Like there were the slight inferences he was shedding but was that REALLY IT?
- How they have babies besides this "special" formula but like... HOW IS THE BABY BORN, is it a spider? Like a hybrid human? WHAT CREATURE DO THEY MAKE?
- If her relationship with her Father is mended or not... Like giving you a potion for babies and seeing him once does not a mended relationship make...
- WHY if it took him like a day to find her in the cave, did it take like 3 weeks to exit?
- HOW is she happy living in a house that is 50% cobwebs? LIKE WHAT???? Ew.

It felt like Cassie Alexander left so many things open-ended and it didn't sit well for me. It was almost like she wanted to tell a story of a woman who has slight Stockholm syndrome and develops attraction to a Spiderman. They have kinky sex that at times I was moving my head "confused puppy style" to figure out how it happened. Like I still don't know how logistically they coupled together. I just accepted that they "came together" in some way and did things...

𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨 and 𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙧𝙤 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▶ Dual POV
▶ Forced Proximity
▶ Monster Romance
▶ Tending to Injuries
▶ Dressing Help - HE MAKES HER CLOTHING
▶ Bodyguard Romance
▶ Mine
▶ Fated Mates
▶ Instalust and Instalove
▶ More
▶ DVP and DP (He has two of them)
▶ Virgin MMC

Overall if you are looking for a quick monster read that seems to be what Monster Romances are like (at least the one other I have read), I think this is going to give you exactly the relief to that itch you want to scratch. 

2 Play House Stars ⭐️
Spicy Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

I should have DNFed this because this was UTTER BLOODY TORTURE!

𝙎𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨:
This is a dual POV that follows Anastasia and Nathan. Anastasia is a figure skater whose dream it is to go to the Olympics. Nathan is a Hockey player and of course, Anastasia immediately dislikes him. BUT then the world basically ends because the ice rink the hockey team uses is vandalised so now the two have to share the ice...and then they realise they like sharing other things too... like a bed and bodily fluid...

I will not write this review like I normally do... because I CANNOT... So instead have fun with this...

Why I should have DNFed:
1. Nathan does a lot of screaming into his pillow... Maybe since this book is so "pro-therapy" he should see one cause that behaviour needs professional help.

2. Of course he is "Just so big" that it can barely fit, she can hardly take it and can't close her fingers around it. CAN WE NORMALISE A NORMAL SIZED PENIS PLEASE?

3. Why is Henry such a HIMBO? he is cute and sweet and naive at times which I liked that he was so innocent but then at times it felt OVERLY stereotyped and so generalised - a PERSON LIKE THIS DOES NOT EXIST.

4. ON THE TOPIC OF A PERSON WHO DOES NOT EXIST... Nathan. He is too BLOOODY PERFECT. You have the most sweetest, caring and understanding man who is also gorgeous and cocky. He is basically perfect and asks for consent and WEARS GREY SWEATPANTS... There is even a JOKE in the text that He was written by a woman and YOU BETCHA because men like him DO NOT EXIST. He is also a total contradiction being so nice but also being smart and cocky... I know there are some unrealistic expectations of what men are like in romance novels... but he needs a little more "roughness" because without it he feels like a make-believe prince who lives in nothing BUT A FANTASY!

5. The Therapy chapters were unnecessary, they were boring to read and I didn't care.

6. WHY are they already in love at 30% of the book? There are still like 300 pages left in the story for what?

7. THERE WAS NO PLOT... or I didn't see the plot... Even though the romance is pretty fast-burn and instalovvie, there is a whole bunch of unnecessary drama and NOTHING HAPPENING, for no reason. The story goes nowhere SLOWLY (besides the sex because that is happening in spades)

8. Anastasia is such a bitch. She is a child, overdramatic and feels like a total stereotype of a "grumpy kitten" who tries to be vicious but people think it's cute. BUT IT IS NOT. She annoyed the crap out of me because she is bossy, shallow and mean for no reason and had two personality traits, being sassy or glaring.

9. WHY IS SHE ALWAYS CRYING?

10. How can someone who has been in therapy for over 9 years not see how emotionally abusive her friend is?

11. WHO ARE ALL THESE PEOPLE and they all have similar names I swear! Or have a nickname so on top of having to remember like 100 people, some have 2/3 names and it just got confusing and I could not care about who they were and what they added to the story.

12. What is the point of adding in Ryan to the plot? Sassie states multiple times that he is her best friend but she hangs out with the Hockey Boys more than him. He is only ever shown in the story for added drama. At some point in the story, he becomes inconsequential and is never mentioned again and just "forgotten about" because there isn't any more drama his presence can add any more to the story.

13. Surprising there is no miscommunication because NATHAN DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO COMMUNICATE HIS FEELINGS ABOUT HIS FAMILY... Yeah remember that mention of therapy - insert the same comment here...

My Reasons why I didn't DNF:
1. She likes Twilight.
2. Anastasia is a Virgo Sun, Cancer Moon and I am a Virgo Sun, Cancer Moon
3. I thought it would get better and it never did.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Am I late to the party reading this? Yes
Do I care? No…

I just bloody well hope it lives up to the hype because I DO NOT WANT TO START OCTOBER WITH A SHIT BOOK 

4 Reverse Cowgirl Stars ⭐️
Spicy Level: 🌶️.5/5

This is the second book I have read by Emma Rae and it is good. It's not amazing, but it's not bad. Given that it is related to movies, the best way to describe it would be to say it's not going to be a blockbuster or win any Oscars. But it's not going to get any Razzie Awards either. For those of you who don't know, those are the awards given to the worst of cinematic failures. It's a standard homework Christmas movie but without the Christmas. You know, a run-of-the-mill romcom that is sweet in the end and you're not going to regret reading it, but it's not going to rewrite your brain chemistry.

𝙎𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨:
Lexi Hart is an Oscar-winning documentary director who has been asked to step in to film a documentary about a boy band on their "Heartbeats" tour which is funded by the network that is funding her next project. The issue is Lexi would rather pull her teeth out without anaesthetic than do this, but she doesn't want to jeopardise her next project. So she acquiesces and she, her handy dandy cameraman (who also happens to be her ex) and her assistant fly halfway across the world to follow some men around. The issue is none of the men want anything to do with the film crew, especially Aidan McArthur, the band's UBL (unofficial band leader).

𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙁𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨:
Lexi was very relatable as a character. I enjoyed that she felt real because she didn't have her shit together and that she was trying to do the best of the situation. She compromises her well-being for others and has this innate ability and magic that makes people's lives better without releasing it. She has this charismatic personality that people cannot help but be drawn to. She has a way of fixing people's problems or giving advice that ends up making them happy. It was through these little acts and gestures that slowly persuaded the band to like her and accept her as one of their own.

Aidan is initially a dick. You think he's not a very nice person, but as Lexi spends more time with him you realise that he is just protective of his boys and take time to open up to new people. He is VERY SLOW to trust and it does take him a while to open up to Lexi. He is an actual sweetheart at times and down to earth even though he is so famous, he ACTUALLY CARES ABOUT PEOPLE. He wants the best for his bandmates in everything they do - personal and professional. He is one of their biggest cheerleaders, the literal daddy of the group, even though he's 25. And you can see that he's just trying his best in the situation that is thrust on him.

There was a small moment where I thought the book might be missing a few chapters because Aidan and Lexi went from hardly talking to being so in lust - it almost gave Insta-lust vibes. I honestly thought that I'd skipped a couple of chapters.

But putting that aside, I will say that the writing is pretty addictive and I couldn't put the book down. It was so entertaining to see how Lexi navigated everything and I was just sucked in. THIS BOOK MADE ME SQUIRREL, (which always makes me rate a book higher because it means that ANY FREE TIME I HAD, any moment, I was opening my Kindle or iPhone and squirrelling away reading). The writing had this way of drawing you in, it flowed and effortlessly conveyed the character's emotions. Considering this is told entirely from Lexi's POV, Emma Rae did a fantastic job of portraying Aidan.

This DOES have a third-act breakup so prepare for this...

but it allowed the book to take an interesting direction. I loved that Lexi reconciled with her father. It was sweet how he was there for her and dropped everything to take care of his daughter. In so many books, those types of relationships go in the direction of splitting further. And the fact that they were able to come together and she was able to find forgiveness, love and compassion with him was sweet.

I think a lot of this book is not just about Lexi finding love with Aidan. It's about Lexi finding love in herself. She is so quick to help other people find love, that she doesn't focus on it for herself, but in this she finds friends, she finds, family and she finds love and I think that message made this book really sweet, really cute and enjoyable.

𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨 and 𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙧𝙤 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▶ Celebrity Romance
▶ Enemies Hate to Lovers
▶ Forced Proximity
▶ Age Gap (Lexi 30, Aidan 24 - 5.5 Years)
▶ Backwards Cap
▶ Director X Boy Band Singer
▶ Rolled Sleeves

Overall, as mentioned, this was good. I enjoyed it and have sinched Emma Rae into my must-read author's list!

Thank you to Emma Rae, Netgalley and Hera Books for the gifted copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

3.5 Little Lamb Stars ⭐️
Spicy Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

I am starting to realize that a "high school" bully romances are very formulaic. Or maybe it's just the high school bully romances I have read. They follow the exact same formula, with the exact same plot. This makes them predictable... BUT THERE IS A REASON I READ THE SAME TROPES OVER AND OVER AGAIN... This book and the "formula plot" is basically crack... and I might be a little whore for it!

NOTE: This is the second book in Margo and Caleb's love story and cannot be read out of order. There might be spoilers for the previous book. If you don't want to see them, please stop reading. If you do it's either because you do not care about spoilers or you have already read Wicked Dreams.

𝙎𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨:
This kicks off directly after the events of Wicked Dreams. Margo overheard Caleb trying to ruin her relationship with her foster family and ran away. Needing to clear her head and face the likelihood that her foster family is most likely going to want to get rid of her because of her ties to their daughter's death. Caleb soon finds her because he is playing chess while Margo is playing checkers. Unfortunately for him, his plan to isolate Margo from her foster family backfires and they end up closer than ever before. Now Caleb needs to navigate this new world of not wanting to destroy Margo's life Margo needs to decide if she forgives Caleb.

Margo is determined to discover what's happened with her missing memories and who Unknown is. Both of these elements play a big part in the story and so she uses her tenacity to uncover as much as she can about her past. She has chosen to not let her fear dictate her life anymore, facing her demons and challenging Caleb at times.

Caleb is the exact same person he was in Book 1. He is cocky, arrogant, charming and a huge alphahole who is extremely possessive of Margo. But we see a different side of his story with a lot more elements of his fractured and broken home life. We have a front-row seat to his horrific abuse and you can start to understand why he is like he is. It's often difficult to read about his experiences, especially because you cannot jump into the pages and help him or hug him. You cannot help but feel sorry for him realising that the reason he is often so cold and why he has built up so many walls is because of the vicious treatment he receives from his family.

The spice frequency increases but it doesn't go too much higher in terms of kink. You should get comfortable with Caleb climbing through Margo's window and it ending in some steam...

The plot is left on a cliffhanger and will leave you reeling and while some things are revealed many questions carry through from book 1. BUT there are a lot of things that are not yet wrapped up. However if you have read book 1 and you loved it, you're gonna love this too. It gives you the vibes, the drama, the angst and is still exceptionally addictive. Like popcorn, you just want to shovel it into your mouth or like something harder - inject it into your veins. There's something in this writing and these characters that keep you hooked.

𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▶ Dual POV
▶ High School Romance
▶ Bully Romance
▶ Alphamale
▶ Obsessive, Possessive and Jealous MMC
▶ Touch Her You Die
▶ Dubious Consent
▶ Second Chance Romance
▶ Lost Memory

𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙧𝙤 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▷ Look At Me
▷ Chin Lift
▷ Cages Her With His Arms
▷ Mine
▷ Hand Necklaces
▷ More

Ultimately, if you like bully romances and want something that will scratch that itch... read this because it is going to give you exactly what you need!

Thank you to S. Massery and Valentine PR for my gifted copy.
All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

4 Dark Room Stars ⭐️
Spicy Level 🌶️.5/5

I enjoyed this way more than Grimstone, but I think Grimstone is almost to thank for that because I already knew about the town, I knew about the Monarch and I knew the vibes - so I didn't need that foundation and could just enjoy the vibes... AND BOY DID THIS BRING VIBES...

𝙎𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨:
Elena Zelenska is desperate to flee Ukraine, so when the opportunity arises for her to become a mail-order bride, she seizes it. At first, Lorne is everything she hopes and dreams of, a successful author and “devoted father” to his daughter. She expects the perfect American dream, but once she arrives and learns she’ll be staying at the Monarch while his house is being built, his actions and mannerisms start to change and become more sinister and manipulative. All her preconceived notions are questioned as Lorne’s lies start to unravel, shattering the picture he painted of their future life.

𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙁𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨:
I enjoyed Elena’s personality because of how much she grows, but it’s more about realising who she’s been all along as you spend more time in her mind. Initially, she comes off as simplistic, innocent, and naive, but that stems from living a cloistered and sheltered life, not from a lack of intelligence. She’s actually very clever; it just takes her a bit of time to arrive at the answer. I loved how curious and brave she was, standing up for little things with her small, rebellious FU actions towards Lorne were so feisty! She initially tries to be the perfect wife, but the more time she spends with Atlas Covett and the more freedom she gains to express herself, the more she opens up and comes into her own. That simplicity evaporates, revealing her complex character beneath.

Atlas is the classic surly, grumpy man in Grimstone, and in Monarch, he’s still surly and grumpy. But MY GOD, does he have a literal heart of gold. He’s so sweet, caring, and compassionate. While he doesn’t say much and keeps his grumpiness intact, he’s incredibly soft underneath. I initially expected him to be a bit darker because the overall vibes of the book are quite dark, but with Lorne being so awful, Atlas’s goodness balances it out. He’s the ultimate sweetheart and everything you could hope for in an MMC. LIKE A WALKING GREEN FLAG!

The writing is haunting and spooky as you try to piece together what’s happening. Although there’s dual POV, most of the story is from Elena’s perspective, and because she’s still figuring things out, you’re with her every step of the way, trying to discern what’s real and what’s not.

Sophie Lark has a compelling way of telling a story, and the more of her books I read, the more I appreciate how she puts together her narratives. She has a knack for getting into your head and messing with your mind. You don’t see the twists coming, and when they do, you’re left reeling, wondering how you missed them! Her writing draws you in, captivating your attention with spooky Halloween vibes.

There were a couple of aspects that kept this from being a full 5 stars for me...

1. I didn't necessarily understand Lorne's "villain narrative". It's never really explained why he is doing what he does and why he wants to torture and abuse Elena. His purpose is not explored as its glossed over and you just have to accept he is a "bad guy".
2. It's never explained why Mrs Cross (the nanny) is such a bitch and why she treats Ivy so badly. You can only guess she is jealous of Elena and Lorne's relationship or something but why she's basically The Trunchbull is never explained...
3. The ending WAS SO quick. I am a dark romance reader so I wanted to see a little bit more of the tension of the end and developments of her kidnapping being explored a bit more. It gets resolved very, very quickly, with an almost "Scooby Doo Villian Speech" and then it's wrapped up too neatly in a few pages.
4. It's also never really explained why Ivy doesn't speak. It's inferred it's due to some trauma relating to her mother's death and how she is coping with it, but it's not ever discussed. It's just something that you have to inherently guess based on part of the plot.
5. It's never explained why Lorne needed to marry her. Was he just looking for someone to murder or was there another reason?

Something that I do love in Sophie Lark's books is the embedded art in her chapters. It's always a special surprise when you turn the page and it's a picture of something that happened or something that is going to be happening. I love it and recommend opening the ebook on a colour Kindle App (on your phone, iPad or desktop) to see their magnificence in colour. It's not just like one or two character pictures but interwoven into the story. I wish more authors incorporated more art into their books.

𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▶ Dual POV
▶ Forced Proximity
▶ Strangers to Lovers
▶ Age Gap
▶ Virgin FMC
▶ Gothic Vibes
▶ Forbidden Romance
▶ Slow Burn
▶ Touch Her You Die

𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙧𝙤 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▷ He Brings Her Food
▷ Under Table Touching
▷ Cages Her With His Arms
▷ Suit Daddy
▷ Rolled Sleeves/Forearms
▷ Tending to Injuries

Overall, I had a really good time with Monarch. I love the vibes, I love the characters, and I love the story. If you're looking for a little bit of a lighter psychological romance, I would recommend picking this up.

Thank you to Netgalley, SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books and Sophie Lark for the gifted copy.
All thoughts and opinions are my own 

4.5 Astroglide Stars ⭐️
Spicy Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

I had such a good time with this! Oh my gosh! Just HAPPPY SQUEALS!

𝙎𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨:
Coral Triton (yes, I did roll my eyes a little at her name because it's REALLY FISHY) is a professional mermaid who has landed a job at a hotel in Las Vegas to star in and direct an upcoming Mermaid Extravaganza show. This is a critical make-or-break phase in her life, so she doesn’t want to mess it up. When she arrives in Vegas, she bumps into a stranger and has an embarrassingly adorable meet-cute involving a jumbo bottle of lube. Later, she runs into him again at a bar, and the two have a wonderful, steamy, glorious night together. BUT it turns out this man is Jamie Standard, her boss’s brother, who’s dealing with a PR nightmare that’s hindering his ability to close the biggest deal of his life. So, his baby sister suggests the two should fake date to improve his image after a video of them (with her as a mermaid) goes viral. And fake relationships always stay fake, right?

𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙁𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨:
What I loved about Coral is how incredibly genuine and straightforward she is. She’s super passionate about what she wants to achieve, and nothing will stand in her way. She’s brave, says what’s on her mind, and has this magnetic energy that draws people to her. She’s undeniably beautiful but not vain, and she has this wholesome, sweet, caring nature that makes you want to love her.

Jamie is the perfect example of what I love seeing in an MMC. Jamie is the perfect example of what I love in a male main character. He’s incredibly self-aware, speaks his mind, and doesn’t shy away from confrontation or awkward conversations. He’s obviously ridiculously handsome and confident in the boardroom, successful, but also an utter gentleman—sweet and generous. What makes him even better is that HE’S NOT PERFECT. He knows when he’s made a mistake, owns up to it, and if it’s his fault—HE APOLOGISES! You don’t always see that in men...

I absolutely ate up the banter in this book. It was epic. The connection and chemistry between these two are spectacular. Their interactions, their conversations, their quirky little exchanges—it all just kept me hooked. They make you wish that you were that smart to be able to respond like that, but not in a way that makes you feel stupid. It’s just two people with undeniable chemistry, and everyone around them can see it too.

I also loved that Jamie’s sister was supportive of the relationship. I didn’t want to see any “forbidden drama” related to that, and it made me happy that it never happened. She wanted Jamie and Coral to be happy and was so supportive of their relationship!

My one concern with this and why it wasn't a full five stars for me is that that initial first night went on a little bit long. I love smut. I read a lot of smut. I read a lot of different smut. And whilst the smut in this was refreshing and had some of the best micro tropes that I absolutely adore! It just felt like that first evening went on and on and on and on and on and I was skimming the smut. The story stagnated for a while before the big reveal of who Jamie was...

Other than that, this was such a wholesome story. It was just a cute and sweet romance that had elements of being fairytale-esque but still feeling real. There was really good representation of Coral's chronic illness, and I appreciated the way that Jamie respected and considered her celiac disease before eating certain foods. He was the MVP and he challenged those who thought it was no big deal. It's WHY HE IS JUST A STANDOUT GENTLEMAN AND PERFECT MC...

𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▶ Dual POV
▶ Forced Proximity
▶ Strangers to Lovers
▶ Boss's Brother
▶ Age Gap (She is 32, he is 39)
▶ One Night Stand
▶ Mermaids
▶ Rich Boy X Poor Girl
▶ Fake Dating

𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙧𝙤 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▷ Good Girl
▷ Under Table Touching
▷ Grey Sweatpants
▷ Suit Daddy
▷ Dirty Talk
▷ Mirror Sex
▷ "Out of our systems"
▷ Forehead Kisses

Overall, if you're looking for a cute little romance to do with a mermaid with two characters that have excellent banter and chemistry, I would highly recommend you pick this up.

Thank you to E.F. Dodd, NetGalley and Sugar Beaver Books for the gifted copy.
All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

2.5 If You Wish Stars ⭐️
Spicy Level: 0/5

I wanted to like this but just couldn’t get into it! I do think it might be a bit of a disservice to this book, having just come off an EPIC friends-to-lovers romance. I know I shouldn’t be comparing, but my brain is a crazy person and doesn’t want to listen to logic...

𝙎𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨:
Harlow has just broken up with her boyfriend, but she’s not that sad about it. She’s also quit her job because her boss is a total “bro” and takes advantage of her. At a work conference, she wins a romantic getaway where she can choose where to go. She asks her best friend, Teddy, to come along, and they choose Maple Falls—where Teddy has been asked to be part of a charity hockey team, as he’s a professional hockey player and ready to come back after healing from an ACL injury. The two start to realise that maybe they think of each other as more than friends, but don’t want to upset their friendship dynamic... or do they?

𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙁𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨:
I really, really, really want to find a Friends to Lovers where the characters are actual friends to lovers and not already in love with each other and just afraid to tell each other. I think that the problem with this is that both these characters are already irrevocably in love with each other and they need to try and save their friendship while exploring a "new" relationship. They are both scared to ruin what they have.

What I did like though was that even though Harlow has a little past trauma from an accidental almost drowning and some family issues that make it difficult to deal with certain situations, Teddy is absolutely adorable as he helps her deal with this!

It is very clear that these two are best friends, but it's because they were such good friends that I felt like I didn't like this that much. The whole time they're together they keep sharing these inside jokes that half the time I didn't get, and just ended up feeling like an awkward outside third wheel creepily watching their relationship. They would reference things or talk about things that happened in the past or say things that were funny to the two of them but made no sense to me. But besides this, the chemistry between them felt forced or just had to be believed because they had been friends for so long.

The writing also felt very chaotic, and it was very difficult at times to sometimes keep up with Harlow's sporadic thoughts because she 'squirrelled" in terms of ideas. It was very choppy to keep up with what was happening and at times I felt like the main character acted like a 12-year-old girl who'd never seen a boy before, not someone who was nearly 30 years old.

Something that also kinda weirded me out is this felt like Icebreaker Fan Fiction... The TOWN is called Maple Hills... which is the University where Icebreaker and the rest of the books are set. Also, the Charity Hockey Team is called the "Icebreakers" with the theme song "Ice Ice Baby". I know it might all be coincidental but it was a little fishy

𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨 and 𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙧𝙤 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▶ Dual POV
▶ Forced Proximity
▶ Friends to Lovers
▶ Hockey Romance
▶ GrumpyXSunshine but she's the grump
▶ Golden Retriever
▶ Nicknames

Ultimately this had all the formaic things that you would see in a "friend to lovers" but it just felt very cliché and there was no real depth and no real connection. I didn't like the fact that it was basically insta-love and I didn't see much development between the two characters taking place.

Thank you to Ellie Hall and Netgalley for the gifted copy.
All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

4 Beautiful Stars ⭐️
Spicy Level: 🌶️.5/5

I have a secret... I love Regency romance, BUT NOT the whole historical thing. I love the nobility system. So, the fact that this was a modern-day story about a Duke and an heiress legitimately gave me butterflies! It had elements of the aristocratic lifestyle but still gave me the contemporary fix that I adore.

𝙎𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨:
This is a dual POV story that follows Charles Marlborough and Elizabeth Kensington. They meet one day in a Hampton stable while Elizabeth is busy stroking a horse and connecting with it. While they (mostly she) pretend it doesn't make an impact, it actually has a significant effect on both of them. For the first time, neither of them has to pretend to live up to the facade of their titles—his as "Duke" and hers as "Billionaire Heiress." Given that both are considered "socialites," they often run into each other at similar events. Soon, this proximity starts to cause them to develop feelings. However, the Duke has a problem—he inherited a title with a mountain of debt.

𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙁𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨:
I liked Elizabeth. I felt she was incredibly honourable, standing up for what she wanted and what made her happy while navigating the perilous minefield that can be rich society. She’s pursuing a career she loves, even if it’s not what people would expect from a billionaire heiress. She’s sweet, she cares about her friends, she’s generous, and she’s nothing like the spoiled rich princess stereotype. Elizabeth felt incredibly real—the kind of person you’d want as a best friend, because she looks out for you, genuinely cares, and doesn’t let money define her opinion of people. Given that one of her biggest fears is being defined by money, it was sweet to see how she never let someone’s wealth or yearly earnings affect her judgment.

Charles is a wonderful take on a modern Duke. He has a strong sense of duty and responsibility for his role, but he also genuinely cares about his family and is very protective of his sister and grandmother. He’s been dealt a rough hand, sacrificing his dreams and aspirations to protect the duchy. He’s also dealing with other family issues, like the abandonment by his mother and now their rekindling relationship. My only issue with him is that he’s incredibly proud, and that pride often leads him to run away from his problems. He takes a long time to learn to ask for help or open up about his situation because he’s carrying the weight of the world (and the dukedom) on his shoulders. This had a big impact on someone as young as he is, but in the end, he didn’t let his pride rule him.

Their romance took time to develop, but that’s why it was so impactful. It was sweet and grew out of mutual attraction and like-mindedness. What made it so adorable was that both of them found someone who made them better. I love how Charles was always there for Elizabeth, caring for her and looking after her. That’s one of my favourite tropes, and coupled with “tending to her injuries”—SIGN ME UP for 100 of these men, please! He just played directly into my soul!

If you love rich people drama or adore Gossip Girl, you’ll love this. It has rich society, New York, rich kids spending lavish amounts of money, and living what I would call an ACTUAL DREAM! They’re spending weekends in the Hamptons for events, then flying across the world in a private jet to lie on beaches. It’s not a realm many people are privy to, so reading about it and living vicariously through it will definitely give you that fix!

𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▶ Dual POV
▶ Forced Proximity
▶ Strangers to Lovers
▶ British MMC
▶ Tending to Injuries
▶ Duke x Billionaire Heiress
▶ He Takes Care Of Her

𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙧𝙤 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▷ More
▷ Mine
▷ He does her hair
▷ Were you mauled by a bear?

Overall, I went into this with very little expectations and it gave me EVERYTHING I NEEDED!

Thank you to C.W. Farnsworth and Valentine PR for the gifted copy.
All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

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

The one benefit of this book was that I was able to have a conversation with an F1 fanatic and appeared like I knew what I was talking about...

𝙎𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨:
Camilla Morettiis the heir to Moretti Motors as the only daughter of the Moretti family. She wants nothing to do with motorsports, especially Formula One. However, her father is ill and wants to groom her to take over the racing side of the business. Now, Camilla finds herself in the racing world, trying to rebrand and revitalise Moretti Motors. Spencer Riggs is a racer whose dream is to succeed in Formula One. His father was also a racer who tragically died, so Spencer is fighting to uphold his father’s legacy and prove that he can be just as good as his dad. However, there is one small obstacle—Camilla Moretti.

𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙁𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨:
How can you love and dislike something at the same time? That’s exactly how I feel about this book. It had so much potential and a solid foundation to be epic, but it was missing something, which made it fall a little flat.

Camilla is very self-conscious and demeaning of her own skills. She’s almost afraid to embrace who she is, but this isn’t her fault. She’s haunted by a past instance of sexual assault that has left her feeling broken. As a result, she has closed herself off to men and romance to ensure she is never taken advantage of again.

Spencer Riggs is a cocky arsehole, but also charming. He knows he’s attractive, knows how to play the “game,” and oozes sex appeal. He’s the type of person who could sell ice to an Eskimo. However, that’s the reason I disliked him—he felt incredibly fake, overly arrogant, and sometimes his forwardness just came across as abrasive.

A BIG ISSUE I had with this book is that much of the relationship development happens off-page and is simply referenced through "time passing." We don’t get to see the actual progression of them spending time together.

The redeeming qualities are the banter and the attraction between the two. They are instantly drawn to each other, and the spark between them is sweet. The dirty talk, though, did feel a little cringe. what really stood out and redeemed Spencer’s character from being a cocky arsehole was how much he was willing to sacrifice and stand up for what had happened to Camilla. His protectiveness was the THE BEST MOMENTin the book, showcasing his love and his need to care for her no matter the implications.

The audio was spectacular—and not just because I got to listen to Shane East and his British accent. It was actually Carly Robbins. Carly Robbins (CJ Bloom) is my favourite female narrator. She has such a skill in transporting you into the story with her tones, dialects, and ability to convey emotion and character. She makes me fall in love with every book she narrates, and a large part of my enjoyment of this book was due to her.

This was also the first Formula 1 romance I’ve ever read, and I liked that aspect. You can tell a lot of research went into the F1 scenes, from the cars to the drivers to the overall vibe. It gave me enough ammo to chat with a friend who loves racing, soooooo BIG KUDOS!

𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▶ Dual POV
▶ Formula 1 Romance (Sports Romance)
▶ Forced Proximity
▶ Boss's Daughter
▶ Workplace Romance
▶ Touch Her You Die
▶ Instalust
▶ Neighbours
▶ Who Did This To You?

𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙧𝙤 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▷ Nicknames
▷ Mine
▷ View is Amazing (Looking at Her)
▷ Sex Coach

Overall, this was okay. I had fun. I enjoyed the racing elements, I enjoyed the fact that Camilla came into herself and found a passion in the racing community and that she found it with Spencer Riggs.

Thank you to K. Bromberg, Dreamscape Select and Netgalley for the gifted copy.
All thoughts and opinions are my own.