ARC Review of 'Poolside'

 Cute, witty and keeps you wondering what's gonna happen next. I absolutely love the time they both put into thinking of their relationship, though Dean maybe should have thought about something before Kat did haha. Definitely a slow burn but it still hits in all the right spots. I think Dean and Kat are what each other need, though, and the author does an amazing job of portraying that.

Honestly can't wait for Harris' book, assuming he gets one, as he seems hilarious.

Original review posted on Goodreads on February 20, 2023.

Book Review of 'Monsters Within Men'

 

'Monsters Within Men' by TJ Rose

Okay, how to even start this. Well, forewarning, this book is about love between two men. 

I have found that I really enjoy reading post-apocalyptic romance books for whatever reason. This book is definitely a top contender as a favorite for the category, though Lily Mayne's books are still holding #1. 

So, the apocalyptic part of this story comes from zombies, essentially, that are called either type a or type b. The difference between the two is how one is more animalistic in thinking and acting whereas the other seems to be able to think and do try to talk, though it's a garble mess that doesn't make sense. Not that you'd be able to actually talk to one before it ripped your face off. 

We start the book with Noah - Lieutenant of Squad E. He's still wrestling with grief from the loss of his partner over a year ago by a type, but is still doing his best to lead the squad. Something to know about Noah - he holds everything in. He is terrible about talking about what's going on inside his head. This will affect his relationship down the road.

Next, we get into Zeke's story. He's a researcher who has recently been fired from the lab he was working at because the lab closed. Lab closed because the head researched was doing illegal things. Anyways! Since he was out of a job, the military can apparently recruit him. He was essentially given two weeks to find a new job, and when he didn't, military personnel took him from his home in the middle of the night and was taken to the same base as Noah. 

Zeke and Frankie, another new recruit, join Squad E. Training is rough, but they get through it. 

No one should be surprised that Noah ends up starting to feel protective of Zeke. Zeke is not a violent man and has a hard time with even the thought of coming upon a type. Zeke ends up feeling grateful towards Noah for his patience and his ability to explain things in a way that he can understand. Thus, slowly, a relationship bloom between them.

But wait, there's more!

Noah comes from a military background and his uncle comes to him with information that ends up putting his uncle on the run from the military. Basically, time is running out for the military base in London. It's only a matter of time before either food runs out, or the types are able to get through the barrier. Noah doesn't want to believe this as no one has been told anything in the military. However, it's true, and eventually Squad E is thrown into the fight and ends up on the run too.

Noah and Zeke fall in love before the big fight, and go through some very harrowing experiences that I think make them stronger. 

The book ends with Squad E on the run to a different continent, with hope in their hearts.

Overall, this book was just amazing. It caught me up within the pages and I had a hard time putting it down. You will cry your eyes out and want to reach through the pages to hug the characters - I really wish that was possible sometimes. It will also leave you wanting more, to know what happens when they arrive at the continent and what happens to the world in the face of the types. 

I do love how the title can be taken to mean the zombies or the men in power who aren't telling people anything about what's happening with resources, money, number of people still alive, etc. I gave a very brief overview of what happens - there's so much more that I promise you'll love it. 

Spice Level: 3/5

Not overly spicy, but things do happen.

ARC Review of 'Horde Queen'

 

Two of the biggest things I took from this were to believe in people and that having closure for anything is super important to being able to heal completely. Of course, growth is also a huge factor for Thor as he has to finally realize he was being ridiculous and face those views head on.
I do kind of think that Addy should have had some kind of repercussion or even a meeting with Earth representative about her rap sheet. Something besides it being swept under the metaphorical rug. The Blood Singing also seems to have a compulsion that wasn't exactly addressed since it still seemed like Addy disliked Thor when they first fell into bed. I loved the scene! Just felt like there hadn't been a real growth between them at the time for them to fall into bed beyond the Blood Singing pulling them together. Fate will not be denied!
Overall, it's a wonderfully written book!!! Loved the storyline and the characters.

Original review posted on Goodreads on March 24, 2023.

Book Review of 'Claimed by the Barbarian Warlords'

This book was written by Charmaine Ross, and is the first book in the series.

I think this was a very interesting and different take on how a person may end up on a different planet. One of my favorites, too.

During a serious solar flare, medical scientist Adele is working in the lab, turning off electronics for safety, and ends up being surrounded by red when the solar flare hits. She's transported to the middle of a burning field, and chased by what look like demons. Honestly, the description of them would also make me think of demons, so that's fair.

The world she lands on has been strife with disease, killing off the species' omegas so they haven't been able to reproduce. It's not mentioned how long their lifespan is, but I'm assuming it's longer than humans. Anyways, turns out that in this new environment, Adele is an omega. And she's going to end up with not one, not two, but THREE alphas. Hot damn. 

Stef, Rhif, and Jet are all hot and I love that they are each a little different in their reaction/interactions with Adele. They all have similarities, of course, but the fact that the author managed to get in the little details about how they treat her is fantastic. Part of that is also being attentive during the chapters that are from their viewpoints. I also like the added part of them being fated to be together. I don't want to give any of that away, but it's very interesting how it appears for them.

I'm intrigued by how her body innately seems to recognize what she is in the new environment and sends her into the heat. Adele refers to the feeling as if it's a whole new person that is residing inside her body at the same time, but it's more like a nature of herself that she's never had before because Earth is not like that. The three men are also very hot and I love how they're protective of Adele. I'm glad that they do eventually start listening to her too, because she does have a name and story, just like they do.

The story was a bit rushed, but nothing too crazy since it was definitely hormone/pheromone driven. The way it unfolded made sense even if it did happen quickly. I kind of wish we would have had a chance to see Adele helping more in the lab on the planet and doing some healing things, but it was a great book.

3/5 spice scale
4/5 book scale

ARC Review of 'Savage Prize'

 

The start seemed slow for me, or I could have just had an off day, but it builds up to something you don't want to stop reading. The characters and world building are amazing, and the storyline is fantastic. I really enjoyed how the chapters would switch from how one character was experiencing things to the next chapter being the other character experiencing that same moment.

Carla is a delight, really, and I love her strong, sassy, feisty personality. It meshes well with Taborr's angry, lonely, sweet personality. They both needed someone, needed to be lifted out of the darkness that loneliness is, and they find that light within each other. I really appreciate that Taborr, despite being a he-man alien that wants to protect Carla, still let's her go on missions with him. I honestly thought he'd prefer to lock her in his room while he was gone!

It's the start of a really good series, I think, and I can't wait for Savage Pet to be released.

Original review posted on Goodreads on March 28, 2023.

ARC Review of 'Horde Bride'

 

A great sequel to the first book of the series.

You really get to know Rune and Norah's minds within the first chapters, and it isn't rushed between them. Their relationship feels more natural between them as they've talked and know each other at least a bit before falling into bed.

Rune telling his part of why he tried to sabotage Thor was a letdown, though. I wanted to really get his side of it, hear what he had to say when he was explaining it to another person. Not just his feelings. And I wanted Norah's reaction! We don't get even a little bit of what she thought about what she was told. It was glossed over and disappointing.

The storyline works up to the pinnacle moment when we figure out why the mobster wanted Earth coins. I will say that it did fall a little flat and rushed going through finding Lyle and the reason why the coins were so important. I didn't really get a clear picture of what was happening, and it was a bit confusing as I read it. It's treated like a small blip in the book rather than a huge part of the book. It's the whole reason Norah ended up there, so I feel it needed a bit more attention to detail there.

I wanted to also meet Norahs twin sisters and grandfather and get a bit more of their personalities. How did Grandpa get there, too? I thought he was on deaths door?

Also, what exactly happens to Yenk? That's just left up in the air, and I'm curious.

Overall, this book is good, and I enjoyed reading it.

Original review posted on Goodreads on April 6, 2023.

ARC Review of 'Cry For Me'

 

So, this is the first book I've read by this author, and I was automatically drawn in. The storyline and writing are absolutely fantastic. I had a hard time putting it down. But, it also starts and is focused on 2 seniors in high school. Their relationship is fast-paced, almost uncomfortably so, and as they're both virgins, their first time seemed very unrealistic. With this being fiction, I understand things are going to be exaggerated and that, but I feel we kind of missed out on what could have been a bigger fall between Reid and Paige. Lead up to it, have them get together slowly. Reid could still be 100% certain about Paige and still have taken it slower. At the same time, it was nice how Paige did finally have someone standing up for her.
Again, overall an absolutely wonderful nook that I had a hard time putting down. The mystery of the bad guy was interesting as well. I honestly figured out who it was before the author revealed it, but man. The suspense of knowing when they'd pop their head in was chilling.

Original review posted on Goodreads on April 21, 2023.