What Are You Currently Reading? (11)

Hi there, friends! It's been aboooout a month since I last did one of these posts, so I figured it was time for another. Since then, I've been my regular mood-reading self. Meaning, I mostly spent time reading whatever I could get to hold my attention as I waited for the next Mariana Zapata book because that was released a couple of weeks ago and her books are auto-reads for me.

So yeah. I think that kind of makes it obvious what I'm about to say I'm reading this weekend, hmm?

First up...

All Rhodes Lead Here by Mariana Zapata

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!*

How much I've read: nothing yet, lol

Thoughts: As I'm writing this, the book JUST released earlier today, so I haven't had the chance to start it yet. But I'm so excited!!! The perfect way to spend my long holiday weekend. It's on my Kindle, waiting to be started. And goodness knows this is going to be a good one, as pretty much all of MZ's books are!

I'm also reading...

Broke Down by Sharan Daire

My car broke down on an icy road in the middle of nowhere. I’ve got no money in the bank, no place to stay, and no food for my kids. Can it get any worse?

Sure. A police car pulls up.

The county sheriff calls his twin brother to tow my car for repairs that'll probably cost more than the beater is worth. They say don’t worry about it. They only want to help.

Sure they do.

These gorgeous guys just happen to have two friends who own a luxurious motel called Little Cypress Lodge. I walk into this incredible hotel and it's like I've entered a new fantasy world. It's warm, there's plenty of food for my kids, and they say I can stay. For free. As long as I need a place.

The four of them even want to hire me to do some modeling work for their new fashion line. Crazy, right?

Me. The broke down, homeless single mom.

If I can keep up the act long enough to make some deposits on a new place, I can start a new life for me and my kids. If I don't lose my heart first.

Goodreads | Amazon

*Available through KindleUnlimited!*

How much I've read: 101 pages / 32%

Thoughts: This is such a fun RH brain candy read. Which is exactly what I was looking for when I picked it up. Things are really just starting to get rolling, but I'm enjoying the characters so far, and I'm looking forward to finishing the story! I'll probably finish it after I read ARLH though... because idk if I can help myself long enough to finish this one first, even though I am really liking it...lol

That's what I'm reading this weekend! What do you think? And I'd love to know what y'all are reading?! :)

A StuckInBooks Giveaway ~ Lola and the Millionaires by Kathryn Moon

 

I'm in the midst of reading three books at the moment--A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire (yes, still, leave me alone I'm working on it...slowly), Penny's Protector (because of course), and I'm re-reading Lola and the Millionaires (there's 2 parts, but I'm on Part 2 now) by Kathryn Moon because I LOVE IT.

And since it brings me so much joy, I want to extend that joy to one of you. Hence, a giveaway! Read  more about this duology below (heads up: it is reverse harem, but it's one of the best, tbh), and enter to win! 

Lola and the Millionaires: Part One by Kathryn Moon

Lola Barnes only wants one thing, to get her life under control. No more chasing alphas who abuse and toss away betas like her. No more hiding in her cousin’s apartment licking wounds that won’t heal. Armed with her dream job and her less than dreamy apartment, Lola is ready to start a new chapter of her life without alphas. But that’s easier said than done when one stumbling incident after another leads Lola closer to an alluring pack of captivating men.

These alphas are everything Lola dreamed of, but they already have an omega—a playful male model who won’t stop flirting with her. And Lola is only a beta, one who comes with deep scars and an unshakeable aversion to alphas and their powerful presences. If only she could resist their perfect beta, Leo, whose patience and determination to see her heal breaks down one wall after another.

When the alpha who all but destroyed Lola tries to start a game of cat and mouse that’s all claws, the safest place for Lola may be the one she’s most terrified of, in the arms of an alpha pack.

Goodreads | Amazon

Lola and the Millionaires: Part Two by Kathryn Moon

Lola is being hunted by her past, stalked with every step she takes. Sheltered with the pack of her dreams, at first it seems like the hardest challenge isn’t even staying safe from Indy. Tensions at work are at a tipping point and after taking the role of management’s spy, Lola’s in the crossfire if anything goes wrong.

As romances between Lola and the pack members are developing left and right, the woman who swore she wanted nothing to do with alpha is turning to them like a bloom to the sun. If only it weren’t just one monstrous alpha that twisted her own thoughts. Lola is quickly realizing that her worst enemy is herself, and it’s like walking the tightrope to find a balance with the pack that gives her strength rather than sends her toppling to the ground.

But Indy won’t be ignored. One way or another, he’s determined to get his hands on her again. Lola needs more than a pack to shield her. She needs to be ready to fight.

Goodreads | Amazon

- ebook copies

- interntional

- enter through the Rafflecopter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Pack Heat Volumes 1-3 by Sam Hall ~ Review

Source: Downloaded through KindleUnlimited.

Pack Heat Volumes 1-3 by Sam Hall

What's a girl to do. Jules is down on her luck, desperate for work when she stumbles onto the little town of Sanctuary. They offer her work, a place to stay, a steady source of income and them: a legion of hot men all looking for their mate. She's given the green light, no, outright encouraged to select as many as tickle her fancy to create a harem from.
If you like super, super steamy reverse harem romance, sinfully hot werewolves who are ready to please, you'll like the Pack Heat series. 18+ only because these pages are scorching with frightening regularity!

Goodreads | Amazon

*Available through KindleUnlimited!*

I realize that this is three books in one, but since I read this omnibus version, the separation between books didn't mean much--I binged the whole thing. So I going to review this all together as one big book. I found this one in a thread on FB for recs of reverse harems where females were rare. The rest went down the way things normally do for me--I downloaded the sample, liked it enough to want more, and then grabbed the entire book. As a whole, I have very mixed feelings about Pack Heat.

This is one of those books that ended up in the middle of the road for me. There was stuff I LOVED, but there was other stuff that put me off. 

Let's start with the stuff I loved:

- The premise. This was the whole reason I picked up the book in the first place. It was a promising idea, and it did deliver in the ways I care about most. The RH romance was great. They were all devoted and loyal. The ultimate goal was happiness with their pack.

- The harem. These guys were so worth everything. Understanding, hot, caring, and protective all while letting Julie do whatever she needed to do to find her footing and figure things out. And there was such a variation of personalities that I think were displayed well throughout the entire trilogy. 

- The growth of the relationships. There is a whole heck of a lot of insta-lust (and just a lot of lust in general, which I'll mention later), but the rest of the important emotions took time to develop and I appreciated that. I also greatly respect that Julie had a mind to that as she selected her pack. 

- I especially love the evolution of things with Hawk and Jack. I'm not going to say too much because it's quite the experience to read, but that was my FAVORITE. 

- I appreciated that she didn't end up with everyone she was interested early on. *not saying anything more for the sake of not spoiling!*

Now for what didn't quite work for me:

- I feel like there was a lot I didn't care about. This is likely a personal preference, but a lot of what made up the ~big serious plot~ didn't entice me too much beyond how it affected Julie and her pack. I skimmed through a bunch to get to the stuff I cared about in the later portion of the trilogy (book 3).

- Sylvan...I wanted to like him especially, when we learned about what his bite meant but I got over that super quick. There was so much about him that turned me off. I felt for his situation, but...meh. Maybe in future books he'll be redeemed for me? idk. But in this trilogy I wasn't a fan.

- Okay. So. I am not afraid of steam or smut or straight up erotica. But in this series, I was here for the building of the relationships--like I said in the first half of this review. However, this trilogy is so heavily filled with sex. It wasn't bad. They were great, well written scenes. But once we got to the third book and important things are supposed to be happening and things were already hindered for me...it just got too repetitive. I'm conflicted about listing this, though, because this is entirely a mood thing. Like if I re-read I probably won't be too bothered because I won't have to wade through all the sex to get to the important emotional bits--and I also know how important a lot of those scenes are. But for my first read-through, particularly in the third book, it was only okay.

Overall, Pack Heat was like crack for me. I picked it up and couldn't put it down. I loved the premise and the evolution of the relationships. But I also had to skim more than I'd prefer to get through to the stuff I liked the best. I definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a super steamy, fast-burn RH read. I did like it a whole lot. And I'll most likely be picking up the next book in the series. But this was not a favorite for me. 

3.5 stars - Super steamy fast-burn RH that I liked but unfortunately didn't love

Baby & the Late Night Howlers (Sweet Omegaverse #1) by Kathryn Moon ~ Review

Source: Downloaded through KindleUnlimited.

Baby & the Late Night Howlers (Sweet Omegaverse #1) by Kathryn Moon

Baby’s heat is coming…

After years of assuming she was a beta, discovering her omega designation in a biker bar surrounded by alphas isn’t exactly fulfilling any fantasies for Baby. She only wanted to get laid, not get knotted, bitten, and bonded. Now Baby’s entire life is about to turn upside down.

With the sexual frenzy of her heat on its way, she needs to find a pack, a nest, and alphas she can trust.

The Late Night Howlers have given up hope…

After years of waiting for an omega to choose them, this motorcycle club of alphas is ready to move on with their lives. Until one sweet woman takes a chance on them.

A rundown bar and apartment building is no place to spoil a new omega but the Howlers are determined to do right by Baby when she needs them. All they have to do is keep her satisfied while resisting the mouthwatering temptation to bite and bond her, permanently.

When a rival MC comes sniffing after Baby, her safety is put at risk and the Howlers may be torn apart forever.

Goodreads | Amazon 

*Available through KindleUnlimited!*

I came across this one the way I do many books these days--I kept seeing it recommended in Facebook threads and finally it caught my attention enough that I downloaded a sample and took a peek. Then I downloaded the whole book and let it take over my life because reading this was SUCH A GOOD DECISION.

Before now, I hadn't really read much of anything centered in an omegaverse. I knew what it was and I had looked at a little, but I'd never sat down to actually read an entire book. From what I'd seen, it was always a toss up of whether I'd like it enough to read the whole thing because of certain aspects of the world. THIS ONE, however, this world Kathryn Moon has carved out of the idea of an omegaverse is everything I could ask for and more. It's exactly what the series title says--a sweet omegaverse. I kind of think about it as omegaverse-lite. It's perfect for anyone who may be new to reading this type of book or who maybe find themselves not quite sure about how they feel about a full-on omegaverse. 

All this to say, I loved the world. I love the packs. I love the alphas devoted to their omegas. I love the bonds and true relationships that grow through it all. It was all so easy for me to fall in love with.

The characters are *chef's kiss.* Baby was reasonable and kind in the midst of a surprise situation that changed the entire course of her life. Seth was a sweetheart. Jonah...also a sweetheart, but more of a hardheaded one. And I so enjoyed getting to know and love the rest of Baby's alphas as the story progressed. And the pack in general--it was just all so GOOD.

The storyline was exactly my kind of thing. So basically what I'm trying to say here is that when I said I let this book take over my life, I meant it. I could barely take my eyes off this book. I FLEW through, reading it in every spare moment. 

That said, there was one teeny-tiny thing that I totally saw coming from a mile away, which I would have forgiven, but it kind of took the characters too long to see it, considering at least half of them were suspicious in the first place. This didn't take away from reading for me (as I'm sure you can tell since I've basically been gushing) but it made this book just short of perfect.

Overall, Baby & the Late Night Howlers was a pleasant surprise. I loved the world and the characters and the easy to love reverse harem romance that developed. I am 100% for sure jumping into the next book (which is Baby's best friend Lola's story) next!

4.5 stars - A sweet, pleasant surprise!

Violet (Spell Library #1) by Mia Harlan ~ Review

Source: KindleUnlimited.

Violet (Spell Library #1) by Mia Harlan

Can I tell you a secret?

I'm a chameleon shifter...

...and I've spent the past year posing as my 80-year-old best friend.

No one can ever know what I really look like! Not even my three hot, fated mates:
- The sweetest bear shifter
- A seductive vampire mage
- And a hot troll cop who vows to protect me

If I can't keep my feelings for them hidden, my true identity will be discovered and I'll end up dead—or worse!

Violet is a paranormal reverse harem romance. It’s part of the Silver Springs shared universe.

Read this fun, quirky paranormal reverse harem romance today.

Goodreads | Amazon

*Available through KindleUnlimited!*

I passed approximately nine million ads for this book on Facebook and every single time, the cover caught my eye. How could it not? We don't see elderly women on the covers of romance novels every day. Especially reverse harem romance novels. Finally, the nine million and one time I saw the ad, I downloaded the sample because I was curious. And then I downloaded the whole book through KU because I was interested--and it ended up being super fun!

The best thing this book has going for it is the premise. I love it. She's on the run/in hiding and is disguising herself as her elderly friend in a small town. A small town where she works as the librarian. And where she just so happens to meet her three mates. Who all think she's an old woman. It's awesome! So much potential! And for the most part, the book did good with executing it in a way I enjoyed.

The second best thing about Violet was the characters. Violet herself was interesting and funny, though a bit stubborn. All three of her mates were wonderful. And the pure sweetness of them all?? Hi, I'm here for it. And back to the characters--I liked Violet's friends, and her mates' family, and the other members of the town we met. 

Another great thing about Violet was that it didn't take itself too seriously. It's a book that's here to be fun and entertaining and sweet and that's what it delivers. It's not going to be shocking or a tearjerker or anything super intense. But you'll laugh and smile while reading it, and I loved it.

That said, the book wasn't perfect or a favorite. Mostly because I really, really wish there had been more character and relationship development. I highly enjoyed what we got, but imagine how much better Violet could have been if it'd been longer and we got to know the characters better and there was more time for all their relationships to develop? As it is now, it's kind of like bam-bam-bam, things happen-happen-happen. Which is nice for pacing I guess, but I wanted to get even more invested. I can't do that if we have two seconds to realize the characters are really mates and then oh no, he's storming out because *reasons*, and then something bad happens at work and then and then and then... This is a personal preference, obviously. I'm more character and relationship driven as a reader.

Overall, Violet was a fun reverse harem read with an interesting premise. It was easy to fly through, and I had a great time reading it. I'd definitely recommend to anyone looking for a quick, light RH read with some paranormal flare and small town charm.

4 stars - A fun & charming RH read!

Jane's Team (Bizarro Universe Books #1) by Janie Marie ~ Review

Source: KindleUnlimited.

Jane's Team (Bizarro Universe Books #1) by Janie Marie

When you’re in love with your best friend, life is complicated.

When he’s also your stepbrother, it’s a nightmare.

Jane’s apparently a magnet for chaos.

Because now she’s agreed to tutor her stepbrother’s enemy, and that sexy bad boy might have a thing for her. She might also love that a tingle surrounds her soul whenever he’s close.

Throw his two brothers into the mix, dangerous rivals looking to destroy every one of them, and parents controlling her love life. It’s safe to say she’s wandered into the apocalypse.

At least being torn between four hot guys isn’t the end of the world.

Just kidding. It totally is.

But they’ll all realize something.

Jane’s the ruler of her life. No one else.

Long live the queen . . . and her kings.

*strong language, sexual assault, sex, stepbrother romance, reverse harem romance.
Guaranteed HEA. No Cliffhanger*

Jane's Team is an alternate reality for Janie Marie's Gods & Monsters trilogy. While this is a standalone, efforts were made to bring extra smiles for established G&M readers. If you'd like to meet the gang in their original reality, that series is available. Still, the Gods & Monsters trilogy is not a prerequisite to read and enjoy Jane's Team.

Goodreads | Amazon

*Available through KindleUnlimited!*

After reading the most recent installment in one of my favorite reverse harem series (Lost Star by Rebecca Royce--and if you haven't read the Wings of Artemis series, I very strongly recommend it), I was in a little bit of an RH mood. And then I came across the author of THIS book talking about the sequel (novella?) she's writing, and I was like hmmm. So I downloaded the sample of book 1, this book, Jane's Team. Then I downloaded the entire book. And what a wild ride it was.

Have you ever read a book, and you're aware that it's not good, and there's a lot you don't truly like about it, but you're so freaking entertained nonetheless that you can't put it down? That was me with this book. I lost sleep to read this book. I read it on my phone when I found some spare minutes at work. It was such fun brain candy, and that is my favorite thing about it.

I also tend to love the drama of it all. The girl who is *so conflicted.* The guys who want nothing more than for her to realize how amazing she is and be happy. It's all so dramatic and compulsively readable, even as it's kind of a trainwreck. But I was in the Mood for this one, and so I let it take over my life. No regrets.

My other favorite thing about this book was Ryder. He was definitely the best character. He was my favorite of the harem for Jane. And he was honestly the best one of the harem for Jane. Which the characters in the book seemed aware of...but I'll get to THAT in a moment. I was 100% here for his devotion to her. He was down for whatever she wanted as long as she was happy and actively tried to help to make it happen. And he said what he meant without lying or sounding insincere, which I have all the respect in the world for.

The things that weren't great about this story are many.
- The parents. How could David's father be so blind as to not see his son was in love with Jane before then? But also, why was he so insistent on them acting like siblings? And then, why was he so angry about the idea of what Jane was sorting out with the guys but then once Ryder has a talk with him...he kind of changed his mind? All of it put together made little to no sense.

- David. My least favorite character! He's the variety of "I've always loved you" while also sleeping with someone else and then being confused as to why Jane would be upset about it. Such garbage. Jane was *right there* the whole time. All he had to do was twitch a finger in her direction and she would have caved. But *he* pushed her away and then *he* acted like some rejected martyr and slept with someone else. I hate that so much. (That was not a spoiler, btw. It's something that comes to light early on in the story)

- While I do like Tercero and Luc...I'm kind of unsure as to why this one was RH. Because Ryder was clearly the best one for Jane. They could have been perfectly fine and happy together if their relationship had been left alone. These two kind of feel like after thoughts. Especially Luc. The story feels like it forced the four together into a harem just because. Just so it could be RH. Which is not something I ever say because I'm always here for reverse harems. But this one time...I think I would have been okay with just Jane and Ryder being the cutest couple. That said, maybe I feel this way because we barely get any page time with them all being in their RH relationship, settled and decided and working out? I'm totally going to read the sequel when it releases so we'll see how I feel then, I suppose!

- There's more that wasn't great about this story and that weren't handled in a way I liked, but for the sake of not going into actual spoiler territory and because I feel like I've nailed down the things that bothered me the most, I'll end this list here.

Overall, Jane's Team was total brain candy, and I will definitely be picking up the sequel. It's fun and dramatic and I really did love Ryder. I don't recommend this if you're looking for a genuinely good RH, but if you're looking for something that's just a dramatic good time I say give this book a shot and see how hooked you get! ;)

*Oh, and small note: I have not read Janie Marie's Gods & Monsters trilogy. I know this is like an AU of that, but I have no idea how that plays into the story or anything and it has no bearing on my thoughts. I can say that Jane's Team does standalone solidly, though!*

3.5 stars - Not the best, but super fun & entertaining!

What Are You Currently Reading? (4)

Hello, friends! I hope you're all doing well and staying healthy. I've been working a lot and writing a lot of fanfiction and *gaspgaspgasp* reading a whole bunch! I'm actually three books ahead on my Goodreads goal, which is a huge improvement over my however many books I was behind only a couple of weeks ago. This weekend I'm kind of at an impasse because I...have no idea what exactly I'm picking up next. 

But let me show you what I'm working with!

Lost Star by Rebecca Royce

Evander wants her…

Trapped in stasis, Sienna reaches out to her caretakers with her mind. Awakened to the war, she must confront not only why the remains of the distant corporation wants her but her own chances at survival with the viruses riddling her system. The new crew of the Artemis will do anything to keep her safe though they long to defeat the overlords who have wreaked so much havoc.

They will do anything to protect her…

Super Soldiers Blaze, Anders, Corbin, and Kellan tease her with their blunt attitudes and artless charm. Human doctor Wade figured out the solution to hold the viruses at bay and wake the siren whose voice sustains him. Trenton, the wickedly talented human pilot, will use every skill he has to keep Artemis in fighting form. The ancient ship has her work cut out for her when a seventh soul inserts himself into their crew, stealing Sienna and possibly her heart.

As the Wings of Artemis races to its epic conclusion, Sienna will have to trust her heart and these men to save the galaxy or die in the attempt.

Goodreads | Amazon

*Releases May 27th & will be available through KindleUnlimited!*

How much I've read: 255 pages (aka the entire book)

Thoughts: Okay, so I blew through this entire book last Sunday. It's the upcoming installment of one of my all-time favorite series, and once it landed in my inbox I really had no choice but to binge. So I did. And it was so freaking GOOD. It's reverse harem, and all the guys are amazing. I keep trying to pick a favorite and then change my mind...maybe someday I'll be able to definitively narrow it down. Only two chapters into it I was smiling my face off. It was everything I wanted. And if you enjoy reverse harem, I strongly recommend the Wings of Artemis series. 

After reading Lost Star, I read another reverse harem book called Jane's Team. It was entertaining but not amazing. After that, I re-read book 2 of the Veil Diaries series, which is also RH. I considered re-reading through book 5 so I could continue on to book 6 (which is where I left off back when I was reading this series in the first place) buuuut after looking at the sample of book 6 I'm not sure it's going to hit the spot the way I want it to and I'm terrified of being disappointed so I've shelved that idea for now.

Which leaves me here. I'm kind of in an RH mood but no RH books seem to be sticking out to me. Here's a few books I'm considering picking up next:

Angie's Gladiator: It is no secret I've been working my way through Ruby Dixon's books. First Bound to the Battle God, then Ice Planet Barbarians, then Sworn to the Shadow God, and now Icehome. While some of her books are better to me than others, all of them so far have been at least good. Most of them have been more than good. And the romance continues to be top notch. Especially Icehome--the first three books of the series were super strong. I think this is the highest contender for me because I know I'm going to get something that will warm my heart and it'll be a quick read that won't bog me down. Wins all around!

I Temporarily Do: This one was free so I grabbed it and it checks all my boxes. Fake relationship? Check. Fluff? Check. Humor? Check. I've read multiple reviews and I have high hopes that I'll enjoy this one. So I'm eyeing it up big time...but idk if it's exactly what I'm in the mood for at this moment. 

From Blood and Ash: I have this one in ebook and paperback and I keep looking at it and I kind of feel an urge to read it. And it's JLA so I KNOW it's going to be good. But. It's high fantasy. And high fantasy takes time to get into--because world building. Not sure I'm in a patient enough reading mindset quite yet. But hopefully soon? Or maybe I'll just take the plunge? We'll see, I suppose!

Crave: This has been compared to Twilight and that has me drooling. Literally the only reason I didn't read Crave the day I bought it was because I'm nervous to have to wait for the sequel. I'm here for vampires every day of my life, and I'm so here for something Twilight-esque. If the comparisons are even close, it'll be wonderful. But possible cliffhangers and waiting for sequels concern me, so we'll see how long I hold out before I just binge the f out of this beauty.

So that's what's going on for me, reading-wise. Now I'd love to know! What are you reading? And any guidance on the books I'm looking at to pick up next?? :)

Stroke the Flame (Her Elemental Dragons #1) by Elizabeth Briggs ~ Review

Source: KindleUnlimited.

Stroke the Flame (Her Elemental Dragons #1) by Elizabeth Briggs

Four sexy dragon shifters. A huntress with a dark past. A bond that could save the world.

I’ve spent my entire life running from my past and staying out of trouble. That’s how I’ve kept alive ever since my parents were killed by the Black Dragon, who’s ruled the world under her oppressive talons for as long as anyone can remember.

But it’s hard to keep a low profile when four handsome strangers turn up in your village claiming you’re destined to save the world. According to them, they’ve been chosen by the gods to become elemental dragons—and I’m their mate.

Which means one day I’ll be the most powerful dragon of all, able to control all four elements. Assuming I can unlock my powers first…by getting intimate with each of my sexy mates.

Auric, the clever prince. Jasin, the cocky soldier. Slade, the protective blacksmith. Reven, the mysterious assassin. And me. We’re the only ones who can bring balance to the world and overthrow the Black Dragon—if she doesn’t tear us to shreds first.

STROKE THE FLAME is the first book in a new steamy reverse harem fantasy series.

Goodreads | Amazon

I've been in a little bit of a reading slump lately. So of course I mentioned this when I was in DC for ALA, and one of my friends told me about a series she read that was reverse harem, with dragons, and a fully satisfying spectrum of love interests, and it was complete. Oh, and it was also on KU. I downloaded Stroke the Flame that night and started reading it. And now I can tell you that I am in the midst of binge reading the series, on book 3 now and having a great time.

What excited me the most about this book was the premise. Four men drawn to one woman so they can bond together, transform into dragons with magic powers, and ultimately take down the current ruling dragons? SIGN ME UP. I'm always head over heels for reverse harem, but throw in all the other aspects of this series and I was so easily hooked. And the execution did the premise total justice, thank goodness. I read Stroke the Flame more and more while I was in DC (which is a big deal since I rarely read when I travel/am away from home), until I finally had the time to sit down and finish it my first day home. 

The characters were also so great. The main character, Kira, is smart, capable, and realistic. And all the guys...well, as I said, there's a full spectrum of love interests here. The over-eager flirt. The charming virgin. The loyal man who was scorned by a past love. And the man with a dark past who doesn't want to be there and intends to find a way out. Each of these characters were fleshed out well and so interesting. I loved learning about them as individuals, but I REALLY loved  them all interacting. Finding out how to work together and become more than mere acquaintances. 

As a whole, I was satisfied with the book. That said, there were little things that took this from being perfect to instead being *nearly* perfect. Mostly these little things lie withing the pacing. While the fast pace of the book was great for holding my attention and maintaining my interest, there were some aspects that fell a little short because they were sped up. The most notable of these things is Kira's relationship with Jasin. Her feelings for him shifted faster than I thought her character warranted, especially considering how she was with the other men--Auric included.

That said, I am very much a fan of the slow burn nature the rest of the relationships are taking. I am here for every beautiful moment. And really, I just love these characters so I'm not even that mad about the Jasin thing. Just a little meh about that particular aspect of this first installment.

Overall, Stroke the Flame is a fun mix of magic and slow burn reverse harem romance. It was a nearly perfect read that was exactly what I needed right now. And as I mentioned in the beginning--this was the beginning of what is now a binge and I am having a great time!

4.5 stars - Magic, dragons, and reverse harem--a nearly perfect read!

Lost & Found by Serena Lindahl ~ Review

Source: KindleUnlimited.

Lost & Found by Serena Lindahl

As kids, they were inseparable. When tragedy struck and circumstances pulled them apart, Senya lost everyone who ever cared about her.

A group project brings the four guys and Senya together one last time, but it's clear they're not kids anymore...and it changes everything. Can she forgive them? Can they find what they've lost? When tragedy strikes again, will it ruin everything?

This is a full-length, standalone, young adult / new adult, reverse harem, contemporary story about love lost and found. Mature language, subject matter, and scenes. Trigger warning - one scene involving domestic violence, talks about past abuse.

Goodreads | Amazon 

I have a lot of threads saved on Facebook of people asking for very specific recs. Since I'm a mood reader, I like having them on hand to pull up and browse through when I was a book that's like X or Y or Z. In this case, I found Lost & Found on a thread for reverse harems that are wholly devoted to their girl. And thank goodness I found it because this one really did hit the spot.

One of the best things about this book is that it is a YA contemporary RH that does not have a bully theme. Not that there's anything wrong with those (I actually have one near the top of my TBR) but it's REALLY tough to find a YA contemp RH minus the bully element right now. Which makes it difficult to fulfill my very specific mood. But it needs to be said again--this is truly a book that was just what I wanted and needed and it was so good.

The characters were really well developed. I think it helped a lot that the book was written in multiple POVs so we got a view of each of the characters both from the inside and the outside. It also made their connections as friends and more that much deeper because we really got to see how much they all care--and DID care even when they had their issues. I loved how intertwined they were, and their big complex relationship.

As for the plot, I will say that it was just okay. It wasn't anything WOW. But it was the kind of okay that I was here for. Even though it wasn't groundbreaking, I was super here for it every step of the way. Partly because the characters were written so well, and partly because I just enjoy this type of book.

Overall, Lost & Found was a YA contemporary RH that really hit the spot. I had a great time reading it and it was exactly what I was in the mood for. I'll definitely be checking out more by this author.

4 stars - A YA contemporary RH that I was super into!

Three For Me by Sofia Clarke ~ Review

Source: KindleUnlimited.

Three For Me by Sofia Clarke

After going through a terrible breakup, Bailey is convinced that no man will ever want her. When she makes a wish to find love, however, everything changes. She meets three smoking-hot guys who want to show her just how desirable she is. She has to decide...will she run away from their affection or go for everything she wants?

Warning: In this sweet, steamy romance novel, her heroes are totally obsessed and eager to please. Sometimes wishes really do come true. This is a standalone story with an HEA or HFN guaranteed!

Goodreads | Amazon

I can't remember exactly where I came across this one, but I know it caught my eye because 1) it's reverse harem and 2) the warning in the description is what I wanted to read. So lucky for me that this book is exactly as described--a sweet, steamy romance with very devoted heroes. All of which I had a great time reading.

My personal favorite aspect of the novel was, of course, the harem: Riley, Stephen, and Felipe. They're all so kind and sweet and protective and make up the perfect harem. But another top notch aspect to them is that they know exactly what they want and don't act any differently. They thing Bailey is amazing--and tell her that from the start. And then they continue to tell her. They're so open and honest. And funny. I really enjoyed them.

Then there's Bailey who is a great character, but also made this story a step more than just an indulgent romantic read. She's very unsure of herself. Her self-esteem isn't the highest, and she has trouble trusting--both others and herself. She knows what she wants but needs to gain the courage to go for it. And so this is the story of her journey through all that. Where she meets these guys and they help her gain confidence and finally take what she wants for herself. By the end of the book, I really admired Bailey.

The romance was very much full of insta-love. Personally, I was here for it. Especially since between the insta-love and actual relationship development, there was time for Bailey and the guys to get to know each other. Things progressed in a pretty solid way--they started with strong feelings, but were friends before anything officially more. 

So the question now is: why not 5 stars? And I don't have much of an answer, because this book is what I wanted when I picked it up. It's exactly what it says it'll be. But it also didn't feel like a 5 star read to me. I liked it a lot but I didn't love it. I didn't feel super emotionally invested. It was a quick read that I had a good time reading and that was kind of that.

Overall, Three For Me is a light, fun RH romance. I'm glad I picked it up and would definitely recommend it if you're in the mood for something indulgent and sweet. 

3.5 stars - A sweet, fun RH story with super devoted heroes!