scoodle42's reviews
742 reviews

Toyin and Xander are mates and they both know it. But an ancient prophecy is keeping them from mixing their kinds together because Xander is a wolf, and Toyin is a witch. So Xander hits the road to journey on his own, but is summoned home for an urgent reason. And Toyin is still there.

This was one had a bit more drama and was emotionally charged throughout. Coming home to meet your child and the woman you abandoned is heavy. I understood why he left and why he felt like he couldn't trust Toyin anymore. That was sad. Because she didn't mean any harm, and things went horribly left. But I like the way they worked their way back, and how when Xander finally admitted what was holding him back, his family banded together to find a solution for him and Toyin. The two of them had great chemistry; you could feel their longing and the angst was really good. I love the way they loved on their son, and protected him together. And when the truth came out about the prophecy and Toyin's past, he didn't run. 

I will say that the lore got too be a little too much for me to track in such a short story, but I still enjoyed this thoroughly. And the third brother's mate being the woman they ran off gave much drama. Lol. I wonder if that one will ever come to fruition. Either way, I loved these.

Joelle is an alpha female, a lone wolf who is roaming alone because she doesn't want to be forced to marry the alpha of her former pack. But he's hot on her trail. Laz saves her, and knows who she is immediately. But he doesn't want to assume alpha duties and she wants to be alone. Will these stubborn mates get it together?

So KC Mills should write more paranormal because this pulled me right in. The fated mates who fight it are funny. You want to yell at them to fold, but you understand why they don't want to. I liked Laz and Joelle a lot. Laz was protective of his "little wolf" but Jo would not be left behind and wanted her turn to protect him too. I loved their dynamic, their push/pull gave for good plot but it didn't leave you hanging because they are fated. The pack business and the brother's relationship was a good touch. I love how Joelle leaned into not having to be alone anymore. And she took her place with the strength that only she could. I enjoyed this very much.

Denise and Hugh are coworkers and at a work event, things take a really sexy turn.

This short is the start of a series, with two others following this same couple. This was a very hot, good time. Denise and Hugh had passion for days and you could feel their chemistry. I like how they responded to each other, how connected they seemed to be. It was the best kind of heat, written descriptively and also very emotionally.

It is a cheating trope, which I don't like, so I don't think I'll continue, but this was good.

August Wells is a man with something to prove. He's on a journey to heal himself, to lift his guilt, to father his son. He doesn't want or need distractions. But then his pastor sends him to connect with Mary, an older woman on her own journey and he meets Mary's granddaughter, Anastasia. Asia is also on a journey, and the way seems blocked. But August makes her look up and pay attention, and she does the same for him.

Wow. This book was more emotionally charged than any of the Summer's books and it was well worth the wait. I love how August acknowledge every stage of his growth, how he made sure everyone around him knew he saw them, and heard them. August became a listener, which was the most important thing for him. He learned how to pay attention to who was in his corner. I love how the author played this out. How she weaved these lives together and showed August conquering everything that held him back before. It was very well-written and you could see his maturity in the pages. I loved the way he loved on Faith, the way he made amends with her through their son, and through his friendship, and his brotherhood with Jericho. How he encouraged her and made sure she knew she could call on him. I also love the way he and Kingston's bond grew deeper and they made the hard decisions together about their father. And even got some extra family out of it.

His slow and easy walk into love was a wonderful way to show his growth. The way he kept his eyes wide open with Asia, and did everything with intention. August didn't fall in love. He walked, fully aware, and fully on board. I knew the moment he lifted her in his arms and carried her out of that hospital that it was a wrap for Asia. Lol. He scooped her up, literally and figuratively and there was nowhere for her to go. But next to him. He made his presence known and felt and didn't let Asia run away from him, or her life. It was the best kind of protection and faith in her ability. Plus he reads!

Asia was the sweetest character. Trying to hold onto the one piece of love you have and can feel is a courageous mission and she did it, every day. I love her sense of humor and her spirit. Her too big glasses and her artistry. I loved the way she loved her Gran, and how she and Mary brought something back to August while helping him reconcile what was lost. It took her a while to lean into trust and having someone catch her when she fell, but when she learned, it was magic. She was written well. And she and August had real passion, palpable and tactile. You could tell how important touch became to her when she'd first had an aversion to it. 

Faith and Jericho provided a great side story. Faith's past had some solid emotional weight and I loved how Jericho was her man, even back then and always. His family didn't understand why he waited, but he did, and he never let anyone undermine that. Faith's bravery was the key, and I love the way she and August gave each other the push. 

I love the Summers series. Grey's intention, Blu's focus, Kingston's intensity, and August's protection is a top tier combination. 

Saadiq has too much baggage and heartbreak at the hands of women to trust them. But he's drawn to Samara and he can't help that so he vows to take what he wants and move on. Samara knows she doesn't have the capacity to deal with a man who won't heal, but she can't stop wanting to hold onto Saadiq as tightly as she can. Will they merge or combust?

Okay, so I was wrapped right up in this. Saadiq was almost too much for me--y'all know even though I'm a thug I cry easily, but his past and his pain kept me from thinking he was too much. Samara had my heart from the beginning and I wanted to protect her. I love that she brought that out of so many people in the book, from her brother to Saadiq. She was a light on all of them, and they sought to keep her shining, even though her dad refused to. I also love that Saadiq was opposed to love and happily ever after, but he treated Samara like someone he cared for and needed in his life. He didn't treat her like she was disposable, the way some people are with their casual partners. He took his emotions as far as they would go.

When Samara had enough I saw it coming and I rooted for her. She stood up for her heart, and demanded the protection she'd always given others. It was good to see. And the way the couple climbed over their hurdles and Saadiq conquered his demons made you happy when they came out on the other side. It was shaky for a minute but I made it and I'm glad I did.

Soraya is a nurse, trying to save money to sponsor her family and get them out of a war-torn area. Mase is a man, trying to hold on to the one bright spot left in his world--his beloved grandmother. The two of them collide when Mase's grandmother tells him that to get the trust she has for him, she needs him to marry her nurse, Soraya. And a arrangement was born.

I loved Mase's grandmother and their relationship. I also love that Mase immediately went into husband mode and was a provider and protector. He stumbled emotionally, but that was expected given his past and how he and Soraya ended up together. I enjoyed how their relationship grew. Soraya was such a good character to me. She was loyal to the people in her life, and loyal to her feelings for them, including Mase. I did like the cultural elements added to the story, although I wasn't all the way sure about the religious aspects of those cultural elements, and I think the expectations for marriage Soraya's father had was also a cultural element that maybe could have been explained better. Also, it was an arranged marriage but that wasn't really a fleshed out plot point. There was really nothing compelling Mase. He'd resisted his grandmother for this long and he didn't want or need the money. plus, she could have changed the conditions of the trust at any time. So I wish that piece of the story arc had been more solid. But this was still a good read.

Currency needs a wife. He has to get married. And it just so happens that his organization's accountant is in debt to them for a lot of money. The man offers his daughter, Koi, as a sacrificial lamb and Currency wants to accept. But what about what Koi wants?

So I love a crime family arranged marriage. It gives me mob movie vibes and those are my favorites. So I went into this feeling pretty positive about it. I felt for Koi's situation. Her dad made me angry. I like the way Currency was determined to make his marriage mutually satisfying and sought to keep Koi happy. Currency was a pretty good character, stood on business about his wife and her happiness. Watching them grow together was pretty good, even though Koi was so young it was hard for me to not feel weird about her being taken advantage of the way she was, whether Currency was a good guy or not. The family names got a little corny after a while, but she does say in the afterword that her son came up with them, so I guess. There were a lot of errors and some inconsistencies in the writing, and that took away from it a bit. Overall, entertaining enough.

Kia and Jrue meet and immediately rub each other the wrong way. But part of it is this physical attraction they can't shake. So they decide to work out their annoyance with a FWB arrangement, only it's not so easy keeping their emotions out of it.

I liked this story. Kia was a successful woman, who was simply trying to find someone to be vulnerable with and shielded herself when it proved to be too hurtful. Jrue was a man surrounded by love, but also the pain that humans inflict in the name of love and so he wanted no parts. Guarded meets nonchalant and the result is two people who couldn't stop being affected if they wanted to. It was a pretty well written fall from denial into love and I was interested almost the entire time. The book had a good supporting cast and the MCs really developed in a way that seemed realistic and grounded. I appreciated their arcs and the way they opened up from when the book started. Their rhythm was so easy and it felt good to be a part of it. I like the strides Jrue was able to make with his family and Kia's commitment to getting back to herself.

I will say that though the banter was nice, I wasn't sold on their chemistry the whole time. In some places, Jrue was a little too rude for me and Kia's animosity seemed misplaced and very jarring. The third act dragged a bit and by the time Kia was running scared I was expecting it. Also, the side plot with her ex went on entirely too long. I just didn't understand the author's need to have that hang on. But it rounded out okay. Good read.

Chelle and Remy were young lovers who imagined forever. But a misunderstanding tore them apart. Now their college friend group is getting together for a wedding, and it might be time for them to have it out, after all these years.

I love when stories connect to music. That was my favorite part of this. Taking that walk down memory lane with so much music that I knew was fun. Chelle and Remy were pretty cute. I like their chemistry, and their banter. I like the way they took care of each other. Their passion was pretty nice. And I love the way their story continued after the wedding weekend so you could see how they settled into life together. Dredging up the past was no fun but they did it, to get to something much better. The reunion was pretty nice. It was front loaded with flashbacks but it was enough to let you know what was going on, and then the present was the focus. That balance was key.

I will say the friend group felt awkward for me. I know there are going to be more hookups, but I didn't vibe with them like I thought I would. Also, the side story with Chelle's ex was a bit of confusion for me. She makes it clear she's not getting back with him, but also spends the weekend acting like she's considering it, and then seems to feel a way when his situation comes to light. but if this is a man you don't want, why do you care? That vexed me. Seemed unnecessary, like it was just for ego stroke. But mostly, I enjoyed this. See you in the next one.

 Erin is a bus driver, trying to raise her teenage brother after her parents die tragically in a murder-suicide. She doesn't have time for anything but making sure he's okay. But then she runs into a childhood love, and get swept away by his brother-in-law, Capone Delgato. And the rollercoaster begins.

So I'm going to hide this for spoilers because I'm putting the same review in all three installments of this book. I like Capone and his ways. He's tough, but still fair. Very self-aware and very together. But can get unhinged when he needs to. He's a good father and devoted to his brother and the business. I love how Erin makes a way. She was a nag, like older sisters can be, but in a good way. I like that she cared for her brother the way she did. The two of them together are funny and wild. Their passion is great and i love the way Capone made Erin's family his and rode for them. Erin had her stubborn moments but she couldn't deny where she was loved and protected and I like that too. I like the alopecia and chronic illness rep although it didn't seem to serve any real purpose in terms of the character development. Sometimes it felt like something just thrown in and you couldn't see where it contributed to their nuance as individuals or even how it affected their love and the way they performed love. It would have been nice to have more tie-in. Although the issues with the pregnancy and their baby having Down's Syndrome felt like something that gave the story solid emotional weight, and their feelings about it were written well.

Jaiden's loss of Joi and the baby was another solid storyline that added to the plt without taking too much attention away. Jaiden's growth as a character was pretty great as well. And the way things wrapped with him killing Timmy was a nicely done piece of the story arc. Ella's story started as something relevant and good addition, but just became an annoyance for me after a while. And between Ella and Tash's constant presence, Capone's insistence on not getting into women's business was a flimsy excuse for letting someone knowingly play your sister. That took him down in my estimation. Cappadonna too, for having Naheim's back and not his own sister's. That confused and annoyed me. It took away from who the author made the brothers out to be.

The war and the street shit they were fighting was enough drama to keep you on the edge of your seat and it rounded out in a nice way. There was a lot going on, but not so much you couldn't keep track and you knew who you were rooting for. I will say there got to be too many POVs for me after a while, but I like that I didn't see any of the cliffhangers coming. Also, while I know it made for great drama, Naheim and Capri's side story was boring and kinda predictable. They took up like a third of book three and after a while I didn't care, about them or Kincaid. They were all moving reckless and so sloppy and I gave them all the side eye mostly.

Overall, not a bad series. I don't know if I want to take the ride with Cappadonna though. This was a lot.