The Billionaires: The Stepbrothers by Calista Fox | Rating: ★★★☆☆

As a note, an e-galley of this novel was sent to me via NetGalley by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not effect my opinions in any way.

As a new reader of this particular author, I wasn't certain of what to expect from Calista Fox's third (standalone) installment of Lover's Triangle, The Billionaires: The Stepbrothers. I've been on a bit of a romantic kick since the end of 2017, thus making it my mission to explore the many (steamy) options out there. Calista Fox has created quite a name for herself out there in the genre and this was the perfect introduction to her as a new reader.

Although there were many elements of the story that I found less-than appealing to my personal preference, I will say one thing as clearly as possible: The Billionaires: The Stepbrothers was quite the sexy, entertaining romp that I needed to kick myself from a reading slump. It was not your typical erotic romance, instead, it toyed with many genres in between the steamy sexual tension and swoon worthy romance. Primarily, there was a bit of mystery involved in the story of Scarlet, Michael and Sam. And it proves how different matters of the heart can be when developed properly.

The House Mate (Roommates, #2) by Kendall Ryan | Rating: ★★★★☆

Kendall Ryan does it again! What do you get when you stir in sexual tension between two amazingly complex characters, a live-in situation, one cute kid and a whole lot of potential angst? A fantastic love story to wrap yourself up in. You know the drill with Kendall Ryan; this queen of romance knows how to keep readers feeling electric and compelled in her character's relationships and this book is no different.

In The House Mate, we meet a new kind of "bad boy" leading man--Max Alexander is a newfound father with a whole new lifestyle change and the soon-to-be object of his affection, Addison Lane. As per usual, the chemistry between the two leads sizzles right off the pages and as lines between them blur, the further a girl falls into their connection.

What I liked most about The House Mate was that it was so very different from the previous two installments in the Roommates series. Whereas the previous two novels followed an entirely different, and ultimately similar trope, Kendall Ryan steps out of the routine with the relationship between a single dad and his nanny. Ah, yes, this isn't exactly a fresh and new connection but Ryan, as usual, makes it her own and continues to revitalize a tired genre.

Wild Beauty by Anna-Marie McLemore | Rating: ★★★★☆

...that hearts that loved boys and girls were no more reckless or easily won than any other heart. They loved who they loved. They broke how they broke. And the way it happened depended less on what was under their lovers’ clothes and more on what was wrapped inside their spirits. What secret halls and trapdoors their souls held, and what each one hid and guarded.

This is my first experience with McLemore's writing but it will certainly not be my last. You know when you pick up a book and the writing is just so special, so artful, you want to just live in it? That's the best way to describe the way that Anna-Marie McLemore wields a pen.


Wild Beauty is one of the most wonderfully crafted YA reads in recent memory--it is descriptive, poetic, romantic and utterly whimsical in the way that not many authors are able to accomplish. When I say that there is something special about Anna-Marie McLemore's writing, I have no doubt that words could describe it otherwise but for me the first word that comes to mind about her writing is special.

Genuine Fraud by E. Lockhart | Rating: ★★★☆☆

She knew that women were rarely the centers of such stories. Instead, they were eye candy, arm candy, victims, or love interests. Mostly, they existed to help the great white hetero hero on his fucking epic journey. When there was a heroine, she weighed very little, wore very little, and had had her teeth fixed.

Based on the magnificence that is Lockhart's prose, with what we saw in We Were Liars, I wanted to love Genuine Fraud. My problem was that while the writing was utterly luscious, it just didn't compel me in the many ways that Lockhart's previous release had. Which is seemingly an unfair thing to say, surely, considering the stories are two very different ones--but it just didn't do it for me quite like it should have.

I enjoyed it but only just. Lockhart has that way with her words that makes her one of the most enjoyable writers of her time. You know the type. You dive into their tales and get lost in their prose. They could literally type up a little commentary along the sides of a phone book and you'd be right there with your highlighter, marking away at the good bits. Genuine Fraud had plenty of moments in the narration that were so smooth and easy to fall into, I had many tabs present.

I have some exciting news for you guys! 

 As of December 15th, Shanora Williams' latest novel, Crave, is officially available! Before we get into all the dirty details of this blog tour, I just want to give a massive shout-out of congratulations to Shanora on her latest release. She's definitely serving us some heat for the chilly winter months ahead! 

 Crave is a must-have for the romantic at heart and is bound to be a "devour in one sitting" read. So, get ready. Get cozy. Buy and read! Follow the cut for all the information you need.

The Play Mate by Kendall Ryan | Rating: ★★★★☆

Can I start by saying how much I genuinely love Kendall Ryan's work? All of the books I have read have been so outstanding. The Play Mate is the kind of novel that leaves you feel flushed and buzzed. Just a touch of this series and you're left glowing, breathless and maybe a little overwhelmed with emotions. In the case of The Play Mate, it contains all the things that make us love Kendall Ryan's novels: swoon-worthy alpha males and the bad ass women who love them, sizzling chemistry, classic banter exchanges and delicious backstories.

Best of all? The Play Mate primarily takes place in (one of the two cities*) the city I call  home--Chicago! Okay, okay, so maybe that's not the novels best side-note but it's just one of those little things that I appreciate in settings. If the book is set in New York City or Chicago, I'm there. Sprinkle in the beginning of the novel set in Paris and I'm already swooning.

Admittedly, I definitely think this one may be the weak link in the Roommates series. Does that mean it is a bad novel? Hell, no. It's just as appealing as you'd expect--a tantalizing relationship between two fantastic characters who have been friends since they were children, smoking chemistry and a whole lot of wit spicing up the dialogue. As per usual, Kendall Ryan writes a total smoke show of a novel and keeps readers on the edge of their seat, anticipating the--ahem--big bang and hoping for a happily-ever-after for a set of characters who truly deserve it.

Happy Tuesday, everybody! For those of you who are new to Top Ten Tuesday, it is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish and its title means exactly what you think it means. Every week, the book blogging community comes together to blog about one particular theme and this week, it is our top ten favourite books of 2017.

This year has been full of so many brilliant books.

Whether they were the kind that moved you emotionally, made you laugh or became something of a guilty pleasure, 2017 had so many hits. Picking only ten felt like a bit of a crime, but I narrowed it down the best I could. Fortunately for me, my end of the year countdown will feature the ones who got left behind for this week's Top Ten Tuesday.

Let's get started!

Honeybee by Trista Mateer | Rating: ★★★★☆

As a note, an e-galley of this novel was sent to me via Edelweiss by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not effect my opinions in any way.

We're just a few months away from the republication of Trista Mateer's collection of poetry, Honeybee. Yet so, so far away. Is it May, yet? It is very likely that you have seen her work as it originated, in various forms, but the truth is that this will be the book of poetry that people will talk about in 2018. Mateer perfectly captures the essence of growing into and out of love; the rise of romance and the fall into heartbreak.

What Trista writes is this--the dull ache of losing the person you love and the aftermath of both parties as they are trying to move forward with their lives. As she writes out her feelings, exploring the ups and downs, with a sort of frankness that is often difficult to convey in so few lines, you find yourself going through the motions with her. It's like falling in and out of love right with her. You're consumed instantly and her prose echoes within you. Honeybee is honest, complex and startlingly beautiful.

Through the years, I had only caught glimpses from Trista's works. Those bits and pieces are featured within Honeybee and all drawn together in a new light. This edition remains the same in tone but with a few key differences. Honeybee is not meant to be read alone; its pacing is so achingly real that you devour it within a small window of time. Longtime readers will recognize this trait instantly, as it carries us forward.

To learn more about the novel, the author and the series follow the cut! You'll find my review of Torrid Little Affair and all the dirty details.

The Room Mate by Kendall Ryan | Rating: ★★★★★

“Sometimes there are no second chances. Sometimes it’s now or never.”

I've come to the conclusion that, The-Actual-Queen-of-Romance, Kendall Ryan cannot write a bad book. It's just not possible. She will always, always, always create the sort of novels you dive head first into and grow feverish over when reading. In The Room Mate, you get two very pleasurable characters who have the most explosive level of chemistry imaginable. If you've read a Kendall Ryan book in the past, you know how teasing and seductive her prose is--she's a pro at the slow burn and this book is a definite hell-yes on that front. 

What do you get when you mix (1) A scorching hot med student, who has a romantic streak and beyond charming; who may or may not drive his conquests mad when he leaves them plus (2)  A young woman comfortable and secure in her life, with a great career and a lovable pup by the name of Enchilada, who is still looking for Mr. Right and (3) A shared childhood? Well, you get a hell of a lot of chemistry, tension and danger. 

They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera | Rating: ★★★★★

Maybe it's better to have gotten it right and been happy for one day instead of living a lifetime of wrongs.

Before I dive straight into all the emotions I felt whilst reading They Both Die at the End, I will say this: when I was little, I constantly read novels by Lurlene McDaniel. For most of my preteen and teen years, I was able to train myself to read these books in public and be moved but to never, ever cry visibly. So, when picking up this particular release, I thought I'd be prepared--between the title and my prior reads. I wasn't.

This year, about three books moved me to tears. The Hate U Give, Dear Martin and now They Both Die at the End. No matter how much you think you're prepared for some-thing, there's still that chance that you'll react in different ways. Adam Silvera has a prose that leaves you feeling both warm and fuzzy. Then, when you least expect it, his words cause your eyes to sting and before you know it, you're an emotional wreck. I have to be honest, I have never read anything like this book before and I probably never will. Truly, one of the most haunting releases in YA this year.

I feel... speechless.

Filthy Beautiful Forever by Kendall Ryan | Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.5)

Nothing says winter weekends like a glass of wine, a little makeup stalking, and a Kendall Ryan novel before embarking on late nights out with friends. I've binged the entirety of Kendall Ryan's blissfully addictive Filthy Beautiful Lies series over the last week. I'm fairly certain my friends are fed up with me babbling about the couples featured in the series--along with her Forbidden Desires lineup--but they're just so damn good. Truly, I'm flustered thinking about all the love and lust and smart-mouthed alphas in these books.

What a conclusion! While Filthy Beautiful Forever is, perhaps, my least favourite installment in the series, it is still intoxicating. There's this bubbly feeling one gets after reading a book by Kendall Ryan and this is no different. As it happens, I think my favourite of the Drake Brother's significant others is Mia--hell, I'd have probably proposed to her as a child, too.

Watch out, Collins. I'm here for your girl. I'm kidding. Mostly. But, for the record, I am positive that Mia is my favourite Ryan heroine and there's just so many good things to say about her. I really loved Collins, too, but Mia is my #1!

Attention, romance lovers! Teaser after teaser has finally paid off! The countdown is now over. And the latest release from the beloved USA Today Bestselling Author Kathy Coopmans is here. The Right Direction, is officially live! Follow the cut for all the details you need to know.

Filthy Beautiful Lust by Kendall Ryan | Rating: ★★★★★

"Who I was before became irrelevant the moment I met you." 

It's fairly obvious how shameless I am about my love of books penned by the incomparable Kendall Ryan. The third installment of the Filthy Beautiful Lies series, Filthy Beautiful Lust, is no exception to this rule. Just as slow of a burn (and that delicious ache of a good love story) as her impressive archive of books, there's no shortage of steamy scenes and fiery characters for readers to swoon over. Although readers were surely sad to close the story of Sophie and Colton in Filthy Beautiful Love, it's no doubt they will find themselves just as fond of Kylie and Pace.

Best of all, we do get glimpses of both Sophie and Colton in the duration of Filthy Beautiful Lust. Which should be  unsurprising--given that the series is about the delectable Drake brothers. Catch me, I'm swooning. I wasn't sure I would be down for these two--Pace was a great side character but I was skeptical of if I'd like him in his own narration--but holy crap, they are blazing through the pages at me.

Kendall Ryan drives her plots straight through your heart. The character of Kylie, for example, just might be my new-favourite Ryan heroine. She is easy to root for and not without flaws, aka the best kind of character. I loved the glimpses we got of her during Sophie and Colton's stories, but there is so much more of her to be explored in Filthy Beautiful Lust. I love how strong of a lead she is and how attentive she is to her young son, how determined she is to do what's best for him always--the number one thing a parent should do.

Dear Martin by Nic Stone | Rating: ★★★★★

"Last night changed me. I don't wanna walk around all pissed off and looking for problems, but I know I can't continue to pretend nothing's wrong. Yeah, there are no more "colored" water fountains, and it's supposed to be illegal to discriminate, but if I can be forced to sit on the concrete in too-tight cuffs when I've done nothing wrong, it's clear there's an issue. That things aren't as equal as folks say they are.

I need to pay more attention, Martin. Start really seeing stuff and writing it down. Figure out what to do with it. That's why I'm writing to you. You faced way worse shi--I mean stuff than sitting in handcuffs for a few hours, but you to stuck to your guns... well, your lack thereof, actually." 

It took a lot not to include the full, first letter that Dear Martin's Justyce writes. It took a lot not to include every few sentences.

The first thing you should know about Nic Stone's novel Dear Martin is that it is one of the most poignant stories you will read both this year and in your lifetime. If there is one thing for certain about Dear Martin, it's that the honesty in the story's examination of current events is so heart-wrenching and true-to-life, you're left feeling both moved and unsettled.

Filthy Beautiful Love by Kendall Ryan | Rating: ★★★★★

"Call me crazy, but I have a rule about dating men who are married: I don't."

Delectable and filthy in ways that grip tightly to the heart, Kendall Ryan's slowly seductive prose strikes all the right cords again and again with Filthy Beautiful Love. The (dazzling) conclusion to Sophie and Colton's love story is satisfying and enthralling. With all the events of the first book, Filthy Beautiful Lies, there are two hearts on the lines and a whole lot of questions.

Deeply romantic and tantalizing in its seduction, hearts will soar and shatter throughout the course of this book. There are many things a reader should keep on hand whilst reading Filthy Beautiful Love but most of all, I recommend applying waterproof mascara to your lashes because the journey we take is so emotionally charged. Kendall Ryan is the biggest talent in her genre and I knew that this novel would be beautifully crafted with steam and human complexities, but nothing can prepare you for reading it.

We already knew that Sophie and Colton's story was far from over. It just so happens that there is a big speed bump along their paths. Which is kind of ironic that their biggest cause of tension and heart-break isn't rooted in how they met, but in the fact that Colton is technically married still to his estranged wife, Stella. Filthy Beautiful Love picks up quickly where the previous book left off.