The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood ~ Review

Source: e-ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for a fair & honest review.

When a fake relationship between scientists meets the irresistible force of attraction, it throws one woman's carefully calculated theories on love into chaos.

As a third-year Ph.D. candidate, Olive Smith doesn't believe in lasting romantic relationships--but her best friend does, and that's what got her into this situation. Convincing Anh that Olive is dating and well on her way to a happily ever after was always going to take more than hand-wavy Jedi mind tricks: Scientists require proof. So, like any self-respecting biologist, Olive panics and kisses the first man she sees.

That man is none other than Adam Carlsen, a young hotshot professor--and well-known ass. Which is why Olive is positively floored when Stanford's reigning lab tyrant agrees to keep her charade a secret and be her fake boyfriend. But when a big science conference goes haywire, putting Olive's career on the Bunsen burner, Adam surprises her again with his unyielding support and even more unyielding...six-pack abs.

Suddenly their little experiment feels dangerously close to combustion. And Olive discovers that the only thing more complicated than a hypothesis on love is putting her own heart under the microscope.

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | IndieBound

I picked up an ARC of this on a whim. I knew I wanted to read it, but I was content to wait until the book's release to pick it up. But then I saw it on NG and thought "why not?" and requested it. And then I got approved the next day and gave it a glance. I then proceeded to let this book take over my life until I finished it. So suffice it to say, that this book was fantastic and I LOVED IT.

From the very beginning The Love Hypothesis hooked me. Olive's voice comes through loud, clear, and arresting from the start. And the humor, the banter, is present right away. I wasn't even a full chapter in and already laughing. So I suppose all of this is my way of making a case that Ali Hazelwood is an excellent writer.

The plot is everything I could think to want in a romance. The tropes alone are magnificent. Grumpy & sunshine! Fake dating! Slooooowww beautiful burn! Did I mention the grumpy hero??? And Ali Hazelwood executed all of these tropes in a way that was so perfect, my ever aching heart was so full.

And the romance. The. Romance! I could write an entire love letter about the romance alone. I was so invested. So satisfied. So happy. Olive and Adam are 100% OTP material and will live in my heart as one of my favorite couples.

The setting and side characters complemented the story so well also. I haven't read a lot of STEM based romance, but I will need to search some out because I loved it here. And Olive's best friends? Top tier. And Adam's best friend? Also the greatest. And everyone together was so funny and supportive and amazing and I loved them all.

Overall, The Love Hypothesis brought me so much joy, and will for sure be one of my top ten reads of 2021. I adored the romance with all its well done tropes, and will definitely be keeping my eyes peeled so I can pounce on whatever Ali Hazelwood has coming next. And if you're on the fence, please allow me to peer pressure you into picking this one up! You won't regret it!

(...Especially if you're a fan of Mariana Zapata. This book filled the MZ-shaped hole in my heart that I always have between her releases.)

5 stars - The grumpy + sunshine slow burn fake relationship romance of my dreams!

The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and Ash #3) by Jennifer L. Armentrout ~ Review

The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and Ash #3) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Source: ebook copy provided by the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.

She's been the victim and the survivor…

Poppy never dreamed she would find the love she’s found with Prince Casteel. She wants to revel in her happiness but first they must free his brother and find hers. It’s a dangerous mission and one with far-reaching consequences neither dreamed of. Because Poppy is the Chosen, the Blessed. The true ruler of Atlantia. She carries the blood of the King of Gods within her. By right the crown and the kingdom are hers.

The enemy and the warrior…

Poppy has only ever wanted to control her own life, not the lives of others, but now she must choose to either forsake her birthright or seize the gilded crown and become the Queen of Flesh and Fire. But as the kingdoms’ dark sins and blood-drenched secrets finally unravel, a long-forgotten power rises to pose a genuine threat. And they will stop at nothing to ensure that the crown never sits upon Poppy’s head.

A lover and heartmate…

But the greatest threat to them and to Atlantia is what awaits in the far west, where the Queen of Blood and Ash has her own plans, ones she has waited hundreds of years to carry out. Poppy and Casteel must consider the impossible—travel to the Lands of the Gods and wake the King himself. And as shocking secrets and the harshest betrayals come to light, and enemies emerge to threaten everything Poppy and Casteel have fought for, they will discover just how far they are willing to go for their people—and each other.

And now she will become Queen…

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

So I'm sitting here, trying to figure out how to start this review and I just don't have words. Obviously I was excited when this book landed on my Kindle for review. I loved From Blood & Ash, I loved A Kingdom of Flesh & Fire even more, and The Crown of Gilded Bones was one of my most anticipated books of 2021. But now I've read it and it was amazing and I don't know how to put it into words.

So I'll do what tends to help me in these situations and resort to bullet points:

- From the very beginning, this book is interesting. It doesn't take a few chapters to draw you in. It picks up right where book 2 left off and takes off running.

- The romance is, of course, extraordinary. Poppy and Cas are such a strong couple--literally the power couple of my dreams. They have their sweet moments, they have their steamy moments, they have their badass moments...they're everything and I love them.

- I was such a fan of the all-around character growth. Poppy has come such a long way. She's brave, she's clever, she's caring. And she's not afraid to speak up when she has something to say. 

- And in that vein, I ADORE the way Cas supports Poppy in all ways. If she speaks up about something, he backs up her word. If she feels a certain way, he's at her side for whatever she needs. She needs to be able to protect herself? He's all in to fight along side her as she does. It warms my heart.

- I also am in love with Kieran. His bond with both Cas and Poppy--the trust and respect between all of them--is *chef's kiss*. I want 500% more Kieran all the time. He's the greatest.

- The. Freaking. Ending. I'm not going to say anything in particular because I don't want to spoil, but in hindsight I should have seen it coming. And I am in dire need of book 4 now!!!!!!

I could probably go on much longer about this book and how obsessed I am with it and how much it hurt me in all the best ways. But I'll wrap it up here. The Crown of Gilded Bones is not only the best book in this series so far, but also one of the best books Jennifer L. Armentrout has written, period. If you're on the fence about picking this one up: do it. If you haven't even started the Blood & Ash series yet: DEFINITELY DO IT. 

5 stars - One of the best books JLA has ever written!

All Rhodes Lead Here by Mariana Zapata ~ Review

All Rhodes Lead Here by Mariana Zapata

Source: KindleUnlimimted.

Losing people you love is hard.

Aurora De La Torre knows moving back to a place that was once home isn’t going to be easy.

Starting your whole life over probably isn’t supposed to be.

But a small town in the mountains might be the perfect remedy for a broken heart.

Checking out her landlord across the driveway just might cure it too.

Goodreads | Amazon

*Available through KindleUnlimited!*

I am always excited for new Mariana Zapata books. She's one of my favorite authors. An auto-buy and an auto-read. So when All Rhodes Lead Here released the Friday before Easter, I spent the weekend savoring it. And let me tell you that I absolutely LOVED IT, I LOVED IT SO MUCH, Y'ALL.

I don't even know how to get my thoughts together to form sentences in paragraphs that are organized and make sense. It's why it's taken mem a couple weeks to even try writing this review. So instead I think I'm going to do a little list of specific things that made this book such perfection.

- The main character, Aurora. She's kind and laid back and self aware and she cries. She cries sometimes, not in a dramatic way or anything, but in a way that I thought was genuine and just made her sweet character all that much more realistic to me. I loved her.

- Amos. He's such a little sweetheart, and I think I enjoyed the bond and friendship he formed with Aurora somewhere around as much as I enjoyed the romance. It was the kind of thing that warmed my heart and put a smile on my face.

- Rhodes, of course. He's gruff and a bit of a grumpy hero, but as Aurora grows on him, he easily grew on me. And it was so natural. Like I blinked and BAM I was head over heels for Rhodes. I especially love how caring and sweet he could be for Aurora. Double especially because he had to learn gentler behavior because that was what Aurora needed.

- All the friends. Clara and Jackie. Yuki and her sister. Johnny. All of them. While Aurora, Rhodes, and Amos were the focus, their friends (and family) added to the world beautifully.

- Aurora's connection to her mother. The way she still deals with her grief so many years later. Just lovely.

- The ROMANCE. The way this book has my whole heart, I cannot even say. I mentioned Rhodes learning to be gentler, but he also learns to show affection regularly. He decided he was devoted and that was that, he was in and ready for the long haul. He said things and MEANT THEM. He proved he meant them. He backed them up. It's a slow burn, but that means they had a foundation built strong like a Taylor Swift bridge. 

I could probably gush about this book all day, but I need to stop somewhere. It's probably obvious at this point, but I adored All Rhodes Lead Here. As of right now, it is the best book I've read this year. Honestly, it just might be my new favorite MZ book...though I have to think about it because that's a big decision. But it's definitely up there with Wait For It for me! I'll just have to re-read the paperback I already bought until I know... :)

5 stars - A new all-time favorite!

Sanctum (Blackwater Pack #1) by Hannah McBride ~ Review

Source: eARC received in exchange for an honest review.

Sanctum (Blackwater Pack #1) by Hannah McBride

A survivor on the run

Barely escaping with her life, Skye Markham and her mother flee their sadistic pack and seek sanctuary within Blackwater. Against all odds, Skye tries to create a new life for herself. A life she thought only existed in dreams is now within reach.

An alpha with a pack to protect

Remy Holt has spent years guarding his pack - his family - from threats as the next alpha in line. When the Blackwater pack decides to help the Markhams, Skye becomes one of his own … In more ways than one, if his wolf has anything to say about it.

A bond unlike any other

As Skye and Remy’s lives collide, the shifter world starts to implode. Missing shifters, a dying population, and pack wars are causing their sanctuary to crumble around them. Skye thought she was finally safe … but maybe there’s no such thing.

Goodreads | Amazon 

*Available through Kindle Unlimited!*

I've been trying to think of what to say in this review for a while. I've read the book twice and I still have trouble finding good words. So instead of "writing a review" per se, I'm going to make a list of things I loved about this book--because I really did love Sanctum.

- I LOVE SHIFTERS. I love many paranormal creatures, but shifters have a special place in my heart for their possessiveness and tendency toward soulmates. And the shifters introduced in this series were *chef's kiss* exactly my kind of thing.

- It was so easy to get interested in the story. I'm always here for the romance, but even before Skye met Remy I was pulled into her life and what she was going through. I was all in to be here for her journey from page 1.

- Of course, the romance is lovely. Skye and Remy make the perfect couple. They are the cutest and complement each other endlessly well. Remy is patient and caring while Skye is strong and calming. Together, they can do anything and I'm excited to see that as the series continues.

- All of the characters. Their friends, families, and pack. So good. Even the villains were written in a way that I hated them just right. I especially loved Larkin and Katy--them two with Skye are the best friendship trio.

- I said it was easy to get interested in the story, and that was true. But it's also so easy for this world to feel like home. As I said, I've read this book twice and the second time around was so comforting. That's a sign of a GREAT read for me--when I can pick it up again and again and enjoy it all the same without getting bored. 

Overall, I truly loved Sanctum. It's a story of romance, strength, and finding your place when you least expect it. I'm looking forward to falling for the story even more as the series continues!

5 stars - Strong start to a series I cannot wait to devour!

Hands Down by Mariana Zapata ~ Review

Source: KindleUnlimited.

Hands Down by Mariana Zapata

Before he was Big Texas, he was Zac the Snack Pack.

Bianca Brannen knows time—mostly—heals all wounds. Including those your once loved ones might have unintentionally given you. (Those just take longer.)

She thinks she’s ready when a call has her walking back into her old friend’s life. Or at least as prepared as possible to see the starting quarterback in the National Football Organization. Before the lights, the fans, and the millions, he’d been a skinny kid with a heart of gold.

Waltzing out of Zac Travis’s life should be easy. Just as easy as he walked out of hers.

Goodreads | Amazon

*Available through KindleUnlimited!*

Mariana Zapata is one of those authors that, when she releases a book, I drop everything else on my TBR and read it. She's one of those authors where, when she announces a book, I don't even need to read the synopsis to know I'm going to read it. She has such a solid track record with me that I trust her to write books that will make me happy. And here she is, yet again, delivering a book that made me deliriously happy with Hands Down.

While I've read The Wall of Winnipeg and Me and did, in fact, adore Zac, I was not one of the people who felt he needed a book. Sometimes there are characters that I like to just leave as friends to the main characters. In Zac's case, it was mostly because I knew his habits and wasn't sold on him being a romantic lead. 

Allow me to lol as I remember how wrong I was...

Because y'all. I'm glad we ended up getting a story for Zac. He was so kind in Winnipeg, but in Hands Down we get to really know him and he's not just kind--he's golden. And he's matured--which is what he REALLY needed for me to enjoy him as a hero. It was perfect how he did while still keeping his strong sense of humor.

Bianca was also from another MZ book, The Best Thing. I didn't remember much about her but I do remember thinking we'd probably get a book about her. I just had a feeling. And she's another one I'm glad we got a book for, because I loved Bianca. She's awesome and nice and clever and has a humor to match Zac's. And she's a great friend, even when she's not sure of how that friendship will work out. 

The romance was of course one of MZ's spectacular slow burns. Friends to lovers. With a little sprinkle of second chance vibes--though I don't consider this one second chance because Bianca and Zac were never a couple when they knew each other before, just friends. It's in this where Zac really shined. He was an amazing friend. Proved himself as a solid partner. And I smiled so much reading these two together. They mesh to well. They're funny and cute and I love them.

The supporting characters were also enjoyable. Boogie was cool, and I loved that Bianca had his support. Connie was funny. That said, CJ was totally my fav. Like I said before, I'm okay with some characters staying friends to the MCs, but I wouldn't say no to seeing more CJ in the future.

Overall, Hands Down is for sure going to be on my list of favorite books of 2020. Mariana Zapata has given us another delicious slow burn that made me so happy. Now just to re-read this one as many times as necessary until the next MZ release... 

5 stars - A new favorite that made me so happy!

Get A Life, Chloe Brown (The Brown Sisters #1) by Talia Hibbert ~ Review

Source: Apollycon swag bag.

Get A Life, Chloe Brown (The Brown Sisters #1) by Talia Hibbert

Chloe Brown is a chronically ill computer geek with a goal, a plan, and a list. After almost—but not quite—dying, she’s come up with seven directives to help her “Get a Life”, and she’s already completed the first: finally moving out of her glamorous family’s mansion. The next items?

• Enjoy a drunken night out.
• Ride a motorcycle.
• Go camping.
• Have meaningless but thoroughly enjoyable sex.
• Travel the world with nothing but hand luggage.
• And... do something bad.

But it’s not easy being bad, even when you’ve written step-by-step guidelines on how to do it correctly. What Chloe needs is a teacher, and she knows just the man for the job.

Redford ‘Red’ Morgan is a handyman with tattoos, a motorcycle, and more sex appeal than ten-thousand Hollywood heartthrobs. He’s also an artist who paints at night and hides his work in the light of day, which Chloe knows because she spies on him occasionally. Just the teeniest, tiniest bit.

But when she enlists Red in her mission to rebel, she learns things about him that no spy session could teach her. Like why he clearly resents Chloe’s wealthy background. And why he never shows his art to anyone. And what really lies beneath his rough exterior…

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | IndieBound

I've had a copy of Get A Life, Chloe Brown for a couple of months now, but only just picked it up because 1) I was finally in the mood for it & 2) I've been seeing teasers for book 2 (Take A Hint, Dani Brown) and am beyond excited to read it. So I figured a good way to bide my time until I had the book in my hands was to read book 1. And I am so very glad I did because just thinking about this book still makes me smile.

I LOVED these characters. Loved. Them. Chloe is strong and stubborn and sassy and funny. She also has chronic pain. I appreciated how she was such a well rounded character--her health was a focus, but it wasn't everything about her. Red is kind and sweet and healing from his past relationship. Both Red and Chloe offered tender topics into the story, and they were handled by the author with such care. 

That care speaks to Talia Hibbert's talent because this book was so delightful. The romance was constructed to easily fall in love with the couple while at the same time juggling topics that could have been heavier but were instead integrated in the story in a way that didn't make it feel weighty. And man, do I love this romance. There's banter. There's maturity. I live for couples that grow together and handle building relationships maturely. Not perfectly, because obviously everyone makes mistakes, but learning from those mistakes and making the effort to act better? Beautiful.

Speaking of growth! Along with their relationship, these individual characters had lovely growth. Chloe stepping out of her comfort zone. Red going for his dreams again. Both of them taking a chance on being together. I loved them.

Overall, Get A Life, Chloe Brown was a delightful romance that made me so happy. I adored the characters and their relationship, and I'll be thinking about this book and smiling for a long while. Now I can't wait to read about Dani Brown!

5 stars - If you enjoy romance and haven't read this one yet, you absolutely must!

Alpha Night by Nalini Singh ~ Review

New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh returns to her breathtaking Psy-Changeling Trinity series with a mating that shouldn’t exist…
Alpha wolf Selenka Durev’s devotion to her pack is equaled only by her anger at anyone who would harm those under her care. That currently includes the empaths who’ve flowed into her city for a symposium that is a security nightmare, a powder keg just waiting for a match.

Ethan Night is an Arrow who isn’t an Arrow. Numb and disengaged from the world, he’s loyal only to himself. Assigned as part of the security force at a world-first symposium, he carries a dark agenda tied to the power-hungry and murderous Consortium. Then violence erupts and Ethan finds himself crashing into the heart and soul of an alpha wolf.

Mating at first sight is a myth, a fairytale. Yet Selenka’s wolf is resolute: Ethan Night, broken Arrow and a man capable of obsessive devotion, is the mate it has chosen. Even if the mating bond is full of static and not quite as it should be. Because Selenka’s new mate has a terrible secret, his mind surging with a power that is a creature of madness and death…

Goodreads

Amazon | B&N

Now Available from Berkley

There are a few books in the Psy-Changleing/Trinity that are my favorites.  This one has joined that list.

I admit to liking the TK's the best.  Judd, Kaleb and Vasic are all broken.  None of them think of themselves that way but it was true.  That is what drew me to them.  Ethan.  Ethan is unique.  He knows he is broken.  His childhood and the pain that he faced growing up was ugly.  And he is dedicated to Selenka.  He captured my heart quickly.  Then he adopted a stray dog.  Well adopted is a strong word but you get the idea.  I fell in love with this strange TK that is struggling with something inside his brain.  So I was also worried about him.  Yeah, this story is much more complicated than a mating at first site.

There are a few books that I turn to when I need comfort.  Both Psy-Changeling and the newer one Trinity are those books.  I turned to this series during the quarantine.  I started at the beginning and re-read every one before I finished with this one.  The world this series is built in is a world I would be happy to live in.  Despite the ongoing struggles this world has, it feels comfortable and hopeful. 

Selenka is a hard core wolf Alpha.  She defines the word tough.  Ever other time she has made an appearance in the series, she seems untouchable.  She is the last person you would expect to mate at first site.  I feel like she's the perfect one to navigate this strange experience.  Because the mating part of the story is set.  No dance.  No drama about that.  That means there's a lot more story around these two.  Oh, there is too. I was incredibility impressed with Selenka.  And her with Ethan.  Because Ethan needed her strength as much as Selenka needed Ethan.  

The story is a twisting ride between mates learning about each other, a pack being attacked, and the mess that is the Psy world.  Lots of things surprised me.  One in particular is stunning.  So many hints were given.  And while I was sure that death was not involved, I was surprised at the final answer.  And, as always, this book leaves me wanting more.  Thank goodness for re-reading.

If you haven't experienced the writing that is Nalini Signh, you really need to fix that.  It's such incredible urban fantasy and some of my favorite books.

                                             

Rage And Ruin by Jennifer L Armentrout ~ Review

Dangerous secrets and forbidden desires lead to shocking consequences… Don’t miss book two of the fantastical Harbinger trilogy from #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout.

Half-angel Trinity and her bonded gargoyle protector, Zayne, have been working with demons to stop the apocalypse while avoiding falling in love. The Harbinger is coming…but who or what is it? All of humankind may fall if Trinity and Zayne can’t win the race against time as dark forces gather.

As tensions rise, they must stay close together and patrol the DC streets at night, seeking signs of the Harbinger, an entity that is killing Wardens and demons with no seeming rhyme or reason. Forbidden to be with each other, Zayne and Trinity fight their feelings and turn to unusual sources for help—the demon Roth and his cohorts. But as deaths pile up and they uncover a sinister plot involving the local high school and endangering someone dear to Zayne, Trin realizes she is being led…herded…played for some unknown end. As anger builds and feelings spiral out of control, it becomes clear that rage may be the ruin of them all.

Goodreads

Amazon | B&N

Now Available from Inkyard Press

First, I loved this book.  Can't wait for the next one.  And let me clear up the issues I had with Storm and Fury.  I have always loved Zayne.  From the first book in the Dark Elements Series, he was my choice.  I had a lot of feeling tied up in the team Zayne, team Roth choice.  I was in the minority of those who were not team Roth and I cried hard tears for Zayne at the end of that series.  Those feeling came to an ugly head in the reading of Storm And Fury because I felt like he was being put right back in the same position he'd been in then.  As a result, I didn't like that book, at all.  But I have since re-read it after the purge of emotions that happened with the first reading.  I now enjoy that book and am excited for this Zayne to have his happy.  Of course, that's not certain at this point, not with the Harbinger in the way.

This book is the second book in the Harbinger series and shouldn't be read stand alone.  The author does a good job of recapping Storm and Fury with a ghost conversation but I'd still read Storm and Fury first.  Rage and Ruin picks up where the first one left off.  Trinity and Zayne are forbidden to be together as they try to stop the apocalypse. 

My favorite genre is urban fantasy, or whatever they are calling it these days.  I have always enjoyed the action between the kisses.  And I enjoy the parallels between our world and the fiction.  So many things can be seen clearly by looking at in a new light.  I feel like this author does a good job of pointing out issues in our world but letting them play out in an urban fantasy setting.  That was one of things that drew me to the her first series, Covenant.  She does it here too highlighting disabilities and how people should be allowed to be who they want to be.  I admire her ability to do that.

This author has a way of creating strong female characters.  Trinity has insecurities and struggles that make her so real but at the same time, she dives right in when the badies come around.  She reminds me so much of Alex from the covenant series.  It may be the fighting skills they have in common and the lack of a filter between their brains and their mouths.  I just love them both.  I may have gotten frustrated with Trinity a few times but I love her determination and willingness to get things done.

Zayne is not the perfect gargoyle that he was in the Dark Elements Series.  Following the rules hasn't got him anywhere in the past, so why continue?  That's Zayne's point.  I adore the banter between Zayne and Trinity.  I love that he stops something (which I will not tell you what) at a critical point because it wasn't right for him.  He doesn't need his heart smashed to pieces again like it was in the first series.  I was so happy with him.  He's grown and learned to be the man he is.  I've watched that through both series' and I love him all the more for it.  He is a good guy that will always be there for Trinity, no matter what.

I so love Zayne and Trinity together.  They have amazing chemistry and truly belong together.  There is so much to overcome and I don't have clue how that's going to work out but I do trust this author to find a happy for these two.

As for the Roth appearances?  Yeah, I know a lot of team Roth fans that was just so excited for every tidbit of him that they got but there was only one scene he was in that made me happy.  I guess I haven't really gotten over my issues with him.  But I was happy about Bambi.

As for the story, I was much happier with this book than I was with book one.  In the first book, I saw a lot of what was coming but that wasn't the case with this book.  Small things, I figured out but the big stuff?  No way.  And the ending?  Oh my, can I have book three NOW.  

I have questions and wondering that I wish I could go visit this author and pry out of her.  I wonder about Trinity's dad.  There's a moment where Trinity talks to him, not in person.  And I feel like it had something to do with how things played out.  I want to understand that relationship better.  I feel like the whole world has been put on it's axis and I wonder how things are going to change.  It's going to be an exciting ride and I just can't wait.  

Of course you need to read this one.  If you are a JLA fan, that's a no brainer.  But for those of you who haven't read her books, it's time to jump on the bandwagon.  Storm and Fury and then Rage and Ruin is a great place to start.  It's some of the best urban fantasy I know.  It's a mix between mature YA and NA with a whole lot of story around the kissing.  Check it out.