scoodle42's reviews
758 reviews

Isis invites her cousins over for their monthly gathering with plans to tell them she'd walked out o her husband, her Dom. But first, she has to get them to share their most recent passionate episodes with their husbands.

I liked the idea of the monthly gathering with family. The story sharing was pretty hot and for the most part I enjoyed that too. Each woman brought a different dynamic to the table and the encounters with their husbands were very sexy. Isis's premise was where it stumbled for me. Her leaving her husband because of his jealousy didn't match with the lightheartedness of the stories being told. It felt weird for her family to share their wild and fun tales and then for her to end it with that. But the end of the story did leave you anticipating something; I like that moment. I don't know how much I'm compelled to find out if it led anywhere, but it was good.

Naomi runs into her ex and his next on the exact cruise she took to get over him. She think she's going to be humiliated until Houston comes to her rescue, shielding her from embarrassment. Then she meets his twin brother, Harlem. Naomi decides to cut loose with the twins and have some real fu on the cruise, but when she gets home, all hell breaks loose.

Omg. I loved this story. Naomi got dealt a bad hand. And I loved how the author made it clear that it affected her more and worse because she was a woman. That aside, Houston and Harlem were sweet and nasty in every way possible. Naomi running right into their arms was the perfect solution. I understood her angst and her hesitation about resuming a relationship with them, but they calmed her fears every way they knew how, and they stood up for her in whatever way they could. I love the differences between Houston and Harlem and their synchronicity as well. I also loved how the passion between them manifested in different ways, and when it was all three of them, it was a new level. Very sexy. The story was short, but still layered. I love the complexity in the three characters, the way they were free with each other, but not oblivious and dealt with the world as it came. Good work.

Leerah and Cree have been friends since college, their limited flirtation never turning to more. But Cree was always there, even through her relationship and child with his godbrother. And now with him gone, both Leerah and Cree are feeling the stirrings of the attraction they've tried to tamp down for years. But is it wrong to be together now?

I loved this so much. BriAnn really wrote a gentle, but stirring love story, with amazing build and tension. Cree had all the boldness of a self-aware man, and while he was patient with Leerah, he also made it known he wasn't going to out up with running. He helped her remember not only who she was, but who she was to him and their chemistry was amazing. I love the rhythm of their push/ pull, the doubts making way for the truth, and the family tension that was perfectly balanced by family support. It was perfect pacing, and the passion was high, physically and emotionally. The book made you want to take the whole ride with Leerah and Cree; I would have hung on for more of their loves, tbh. That's how neatly the story pulled you in. I loved looking at forbidden love in a different way, and the past juxtaposed against the present to give you a clear picture of how Leerah and Cree arrived at this moment. Cree wasn't a rebound--he was a reward. Beautifully done.

Bliss is abused and left to die in the woods. Kellen is a lone wolf, trying to exorcise demons of the past. He finds Bliss, and uses his bite to save her. But he also knows she's his mate, and he has to convince Bliss to stay, and finally rebuild the pack as his legacy demands.

So, even though the book has some dark themes, there's something funny about an alpha who doesn't want to be an alpha, mated to a woman with no desire to be a mate. Their push/ pull was entertaining to read. The way Bliss couldn't control her wolf's reactions was amusing as well. The pack legacy and Maverick's reign of terror was a good plot vehicle, although the lore got muddled in places. It was good to see Kellen rise from the pain of his past, and Bliss become someone strong, who was willing to defend herself and others. I like their journeys. I wasn't always sold on their chemistry but it balanced out. There was a slight issue with pacing I thought--some of the story felt rushed while other parts seemed to drag. Also I would have liked to see their chemistry be the motivation for their first sexy encounter, rather than Bliss' uncontrollable urges. I would have liked to see her choose him in that way. I did enjoy the secondary cast in this. It was pretty good. I'm not compelled to continue the series right away though--maybe later.

Nikki and Jabari are old high school rivals who meet again while Nikki is serving free meals for Veteran's Day. But they're not in high school anymore.

This was a cute short. Nikki and Jabari had great chemistry and their banter was nice. The practical joking and the past reminiscing did seem to bog the story down for me, but it was their only connection, so I guess I understand it. I like that they didn't want to leave each other. That was nice. 

Seven goes out to have some Halloween fun with her friends and runs into Kenji, her ex-boyfriend's stepbrother. Kenji has been waiting to make his intentions known and on the scariest night of the year, he does it in an unconventional way.

Whew shit! This book made me rethink everything I knew about what I liked. First of all, Kenji was focused, and intentional. Protective and obsessed (why was you in that lady house, sir?), but still a safe place for Seven and her rebounding emotions. Being scared isn't something I enjoy so the storyline definitely had me thinking maybe I wouldn't make it, lol. But it balanced out. Kenji, Tryp, and Gael were rough and still gentle--it was a well-written juxtaposition. It was sexy, even with that layer of fear, and perfect for a Halloween story. I haven't seen primal play done in quite this way and I was intrigued by it. 

Contains elements of Primal Play and Stag/ Vixen kink.

Goldyn gets lost while hiking and stumbles onto a beautiful house. When she desperately needs a bathroom and a charge for her phone, and realizes no one is home, she breaks in, hoping to get what she needs, leave a note of apology for her intrusion, and find her way back to her van. But she ends up falling asleep instead, waking up to the owners of the house, and a gun to her head.

Let's start with the fact that I am iffy on fairy tale retellings. Not even iffy--they're just generally not my thing. But this book is a true testament to Shon's pen because I ate this up--TWICE. I loved this story so much. The way Shon crafted four complete and layered stories and somehow weaved them seamlessly together was nothing short of magic: The curiosity and daring of Goldyn's journey to discover a home in Bliss Peak; the steady pulse of Enzo and Sincere's delicious love, and how it brought them to open their hearts in different ways, first to Rome, and then Goldyn; the sweet and sexy fall of Goldyn into the pillow softness of Enzo and Sin, and the slow, but still powerful magic Goldyn weaved around Rome to penetrate his defenses. It was a blend for the ages and I enjoyed every piece separately, and together. The way Goldy was championed, spoiled and protected, and how she used the lift of their love and adoration to bolster Sin's confidence, accept Enzo's care, and push Rome to express himself was a natural give and take; their chemistry fell off the pages in spades and you didn't want to let them go. 

I also loved the way the sexy scenes changed depending on who she was with: the mutually excited, almost playful bliss of being with Sin, juxtaposed against the subtle, but still urgent passion of being with Enzo--and the primal, rapturous need of being with Rome. Goldyn was everything to them exactly as she was, and the writing showed how she learned to show up as herself, but still as whomever they needed at the same time. And it was hot all around, as was the added layer of Sin and Enzo. I love the way Goldyn's presence amplified the passion between the husbands, even when she was with Rome.

I had an absolutely lovely time in Bliss Peak, and with Shon's hypnotic cadence and the rhythm of her writing, it made for a wonderful journey that left me sad when I realized I'd read the last page. I could hold onto these people forever, which speaks to both her storytelling and the pacing of the plot. I was through 300 pages before I could even blink. What a great time this was.

Also, as a note: Enzo's soft dom energy was my very favorite, and when I get my paperback, I'll most likely read it again, lol.

Lucinda (Lucky) is working at the strip club run by the Harringtons, trying to make it through school. She doesn't have time for games, or for Carter Harrington and his arrogance. But when a late pickup and an offer of a ride home turns into Carter rescuing her from her boyfriend's anger, she moves in with him, and starts seeing him in a different light.

I enjoyed this so much. Carter was full of himself, but not too full and he wasn't a man who needed to manipulate to get what he wanted, which I loved. He simply gives Lucky what she wants, when she wants it, and he did it so quietly, so calmly, so smoothly. He was waiting for the chance to show her who he really was. I loved that. He was in a position to give and he gave. And he was very honest about his feelings, and also about his feelings changing. Loved that. Lucky was a great character--smart, and self-aware. She was wary of Carter for good reason, but she knew when to let her guard down and it turned into the best thing for the both of them. She was forthright and stood up for herself when it came to her confusion about Carter falling deeper; I was begging her not to go right along with him. Lol. Great story.

Keva is a woman battling PCOS and wanting a baby more than anything else. When another door closes, she goes to dinner with friends and it turns into a one night stand with an intriguing man at the bar. She thinks it's a one and done, but Zahir doesn't let go easily. Can she believe he really wants her, even with her body's limits?

I will be honest and say this book started off shaky for me. As a woman with PCOS, I was triggered in a way by the beginning--the medical piece giving Keva the impression pregnancy was a complete impossibility (which most of the time is not true. It's exponentially harder, but not completely impossible) and Keva's lack of a therapist, which pushed into the hopelessness of the first pages of the story. It felt off, and over dramatized. But it was Keva's experience and I pulled back so as not to project my own. Then my mind was in the right place. I do love that it explored so many of the things women with PCOS just don't talk about--the hair growth, the depression, the insomnia, the feelings of unattractiveness. It touched me to see it written so well and treated so delicately. 

As far as the love story, Zahir was unhinged in the best of ways, lol. I was wary at first because his internal monologue spoke something about Keva not looking like women he usually dated. I was scared the language and his attitude would fall into the degrading, fetishizing, "my first fat girl" rhetoric, but it balanced after that. His goal was having Keva and he didn't waver. He started out calling her his wife, and showed up to prove it. He dressed for the job he wanted, lol. And even though she wasn't all the way on board, he didn't give up because he knew. Charming her mother was smart and also diabolical. I loved that part, lol. He made way for all of her misgivings and pulled them apart one by one. He paid attention to her, in every way that mattered. He respected her body's changes, and her need for patience while she adjusted. Having someone want you wholly and completely when you consider yourself broken is a whole new world and Keva had to ease into it. She was a runner, but he knew how to chase and how to push away her evasive nature. And they were very very sexy. Great job. I enjoyed it. And this author was new to me so I would absolutely read her again.

Symone is over relationships and over Valentine's Day. But then her first love comes back to town and she wonders of things might be different. Meanwhile Ivan is determined that he's going to get Symone's heart back.

This was a cute story about renewing old love and rebuilding faith in love for Valentine's Day. Symone's disdain for the day took a backseat to her intrigue and lingering love for Ivan and it was nice to see him change her mind, and make the effort to do so. The story arc stumbled a bit in some places but it got the point across.