bookswithdes's reviews
408 reviews

The banter, the tension, the flirting, the back and forth between enemies and lovers in this book was utter perfection. I enjoyed this immensely more than powerless, that’s not to say I hated powerless but it took me a while to get into. I am so excited for the next books including whoever the next novella will be about 👏👏.  Is anyone else like me just excited to see how the plot will go in fearless rather than being devastated by the ending?? Also, I didn’t mind the Kitt chapters 🤷‍♀️. Like I hope we get more of his chapters in the next book. Anyway, if you thought Kai was good in powerless, SHEESH, he was absolutely phenomenal in this one 😩. Like there is no doubt this man is a poet. He is a lover boy, no doubt. Kai and Paedyn are soulmates and no one can convince me otherwise. 

*honestly there were so many good quotes/scenes so there will be an ungodly amount*

<b> <u>Favorite quotes/scenes:</b> </u>

“I used to welcome the idea of drowning in those blue eyes of hers .But now, seeing the disdain she stares me down with, I realize that drowning alone wasn't what I craved, but sinking together.”

“If she is Shadow, then I am Flame. This girl is the very thing I can't seem to escape- can't seem to go anywhere without the remnants of her following. Where I am, she is. Whether it's in the flesh or in the fragments of my mind. And where there is a flame, there is always a shadow. She is my inevitable.”

"You promised to be my undoing. So, prove it. Prove it. Ruin me."

“I want her to fight me. I want her to burn for me, even if it means with hatred.”

"I'd like to knock your teeth in."

"Oh, but then I wouldn't be able to smile in that way I know you like."

"Smile all you want. I don't like anything

about you."

"I recall you liking the one that was meant only for you."

“And then she smiles, bright and big like the night sky hanging above us. I fear she could rival the stars.”

“Your clumsy footwork will be the death of us, you know."

"Well, you're not exactly the most encouraging person to be tied up with."

"Under different circumstances, I promise you I'm much more fun tied up." Hello???? 🤭🤭

“She tastes like a piece of the heaven I won't be going to. Kissing her is relief. It's a delicate sort of demand.

"I hate you."

'I know.”

"I hate you

"Prove it to me, Gray. Hate me enough to use me.” 😩

"It was a mistake. This one and the one before."

“The only mistake was not making it sooner.”

“I…That’s…”

“No, the mistake was tasting you now that you likely won’t let me do it again.” 

“Jealousy looks good on you, Gray.”

“I’m not jealous.”

“Then you just look good.”

“He is a slippery slope that I am on the verge of tumbling down, a temptation that I know better to taste.”

“You going to kiss me, Gray or just continue admiring what you see?”

“Still contemplating drowning you, actually.”

“Oh, darling, I already am. And I am begging you to let me breathe you in.”

“I thought you never begged?”

“I’m getting used to it when it comes to you.”

“You’re not just a mission to me. You’re not just another enemy for me to find. You’re something even more terrifying.”

“And what is that?”

“A need.”

“I thought you had found your courage.”

“Maybe I’m fine with being a fool. So long as it’s for you.”

“Seeing her enjoy life makes surviving mike suddenly more worth it.”

It’s hard to believe something so beautiful would willingly stare at the likes of me.

“Don’t look at me like that.”

“Like what?”

“Like I’m worthy of being seen.”

“You don’t regret it?”

“No.”

“Good. Because I’ve always had a thing for short hair.”

“Oh, really?”

“It’s true. Among other things, of course. Short hair. Ocean-blue eyes. Twenty-eight freckles. And how tall are you?”

“Umm, about five and a half feet.”

“Five and a half feet. The terrifying ability to kick a man’s ass. Stunning smile. Ridiculously stunning. Hair like molten silver. Quick to threaten me with a dagger.”

“What’s next? A ballad in my name?”

“Are poets not just fools with fancy words? I think I qualify, darling.”

“Why won’t you fight me?”

“Because the next time I lay a hand on you, I only ever want it to be in a caress.”

“But I crave the sound of my name on his tongue. I want him to shout it from a rooftop, whisper it in my ear, trace it on my skin. I want my name to form a familiar shape in his mouth, tasting of my lips. I want him to own my name and still beg when he says it. Or maybe I just want him.”

“I can’t help but smile at the sight of her, so obliviously stunning.”

"Making me pretty, Pae?"

"As if you need help with that."

As soon as the words leave her mouth, she's pressing her lips together, regret coating her face. I smile at her in the way I know she likes, making her huff in annoyance.

"I always knew you thought I was pretty."

"Plagues.”

"Tell me, how is it that you've been able to resist me for this long?"

"Well, it hasn't been very difficult, Prince.”

"I find that hard to believe."

"Maybe cocky bastards just aren't my type."

"Then tell me who you want me to be for you."

"You."

"Me?"

"Yes, you. Something else I've always had a thing for. I had no choice in the matter. Do you think I could have stopped it if I tried?"

"Stop what?"

“Stop myself from falling in love with you!"

"Dammit, the minute you threw a dagger at my head, I knew I was done for. There was no longer a before you, only what I wanted with you.”

"I think I would fall on my sword if it meant you mourned me. And it's terrifying to think you hold that much power over me. You asked me what my favorite color was once. I'd never even pondered the answer to that question before you. And yet, I realized in that moment that it was blue. It is your eyes."

“Tell me you hate me, and I'll still count every heartbeat, every freckle, every shiver of your body, if only you say it with a smile. I may be a monster, but if you cut me, I'll bleed. And if you break my heart, Pae, you'll break me. So, if even a sliver of your soul longs for mine, I'll spend the rest of my life trying to deserve it."

"Maybe you really are a poet.”

"Or just a fool for you."

"Pretend?"

"Never."

"None of it?"

"Darling"-he smiles-"I have never had to pretend to want you."

"Oh, but you are my undoing. My. deliverance. My downfall disguised as a deity. You are my ruin. Call us even. Call me crazy. I don't care. Just…Just call me yours."

“He is my anchor, and I am willing to sink, so long as it is with him.”

"No, I'm sick of running. And I won't spend the rest of my life doing it unless it's you I'm running back to."

"Then I'll spend the rest of my life tracking you down. Glimpsing you in the shadows. Fighting you in the streets. Dancing with you in my dreams. Because living without you is only bearable when I know you are out there still living too."

"You are my proof of a paradise.”

“This will be the rest of my life. Forced to love her from a distance. Mourn the loss of her each day. But I will. I will smother every emotion but the one that belongs to her. I will love her until I am incapable of the feeling. She is the torture I may not survive. Eagerly, she is my undoing.” 

This is definitely one of the most beautiful but devastating books I’ve ever read. Like we all knew the ending going into this book, but I didn’t expect it to hurt this much. We got to see the most beautiful, sweet, kind, and bright human to ever exist, and to see her one love 😢. Even in death, her light never faded or dulled.  Mak was the epitome of a grumpy character, someone who was neglected as a child, made his way through the slums with his cousin and finally found the brightness in life. Adena and Mak were so perfect for each other. I’m so mad and sad to see their time was ripped away from them. I have never sobbed as much as did for these characters in my life. I thought I cried a lot reading Kingdom of ash, but it doesn’t compare to this. Like I cried so much, I have nothing left inside me. I’m literally numb. Like I’m pretty sure Adena’s fate is set in stone, but I am still holding hope that Lauren Roberts has something up her sleeve, because it’s so cruel to show us Adena’s shining soul and her blooming romance with Mak just to take it away. And I had read the last chapters before starting this, so all the references to the sun hurt my heart. But as soon as Adena and Mak had their first and last kiss, their last interaction, I started crying. Like chapter 18 and beyond, my eyes were filled with tears and more kept coming. I know for a fact I will never get over this book, these two beautiful characters, and this ending. I seriously hope Lauren Robert’s will heal my heart in some way. 

 

*major spoilers ahead* 

“If there is a God, this man is certainly proof that He has His favorites. He's breathtaking in the way I would imagine a stab wound to be, so handsome it's piercing. Like a blade, everything about him is sharp and cold.” 

 

“There is not a single cynical thought to deny the fact that she may be the most beautiful woman I've ever had the pleasure of laying eyes on. She's intimidatingly peaceful—a contradiction in itself. And I almost want to despise her for it. Because I fear there is a chance that I may begin to enjoy her.” 

 

“She is an intoxicating sort of exhausting, like running until you've lost your breath but enjoying the feeling all the while. And I feel as though I've been sprinting for days.” 

 

“You did the right thing. Run to me. Always run to me." 

 

“Even in the midst of crying, she manages to glow, as though each tear were a drop of sunlight.” 

 

“He makes me happy, for whatever absurdly odd reason. He's not exactly a ray of sunshine, but perhaps something. equivalent to a moonbeam. Mysterious and unnerving. Equally as beautiful, yet, soft enough to stare at.” 

 

“Because now there is her and every moment after her. I had never known happiness before her. But if there is to be an after in which she doesn’t exist, I know I never will again.” !!!! 😭😭 

 

“But you ... you're the embodiment of everything I am not. And yet, here I am, crawling back to you as though I've left a piece of myself behind. And it scares the shit out of me." 

 

"Well, I'm glad my work was convincing." 

"Yeah, it was perfect. And all for nothing. I'm sorry I wasted your time." 

"I was with you. How could that have been a waste of time?" 

 

“He stole your smile. No wonder you didn’t have one to give me.” 

“I’ll find one. Steal it back if I must. For you.” 

“And I’ll cherish it.” 

 

“This pile of garbage is all I’ve got.” 

“I thought you had me?” 

“Do I?” 

“So long as you’ll take me.” 

 

“If darkness is the absence of light, then that is what I am when she is not around. And I wonder how I've stumbled this long without her to guide me.” 

 

“I’m sorry that I’m the first to give you a gift.” 

“I’m not. I would have waited another nineteen years if it meant you were the first good memory I was gifted.” 

“But you deserve more than one good memory.” 

“Then it’s a good thing I’m planning on keeping you around.” 

 

"I'm quite sure that even the stars are envious of you." 

"What?" 

"You make even the stars envious. Because one day—far from now— you will be up there beside them, outshining every single one." 

"And will you be beside me up there?" 

"If I should be so lucky." 

"Promise me. I don't want to be alone." 😭😭😭😭 

"I promise, Dena." 

 

"You are the sweetest thing I have never tasted. And I doubt I've craved anything more." 

 

He does something then. Something far more intimate than any kiss or touch so far. No, he pulls back far enough to let me see him smile. It's big and bright and beautifully his. 

"For me?" 

"Every single one.” 

 

"I'm tripping into you, Mak." 

"Tripping into me?" 

"I don't fall for someone. I trip uncontrollably toward them before inevitably hitting the ground." 

"Well, I would catch you, Dena, but it seems we're going down together." 

 

"She will certainly be turning heads, though, that's no surprise." 

"So, you're okay with her not wearing green?" 

"Of course. I wouldn't want her to blend in." 

 

“And that's the terrible truth of it. I want her. What did she call it? Tripping into me? Because somewhere along the way, I started my trip into her. And now there is no stopping my violent careen.” 

 

And there she is, outshining everyone. In a way, she's always been the sun. Always the brightness that existed despite the presence of such darkness. 

"Thanks for picking the closest star, Dena. Looks like you'll be around to keep me company." 😭😭😭 

 

“In the end, it was all light and dark, loud and soft. I knew nothing but the memory of those I loved. One, a friend. The other, unfinished. And that alone is what I took with me into the next life. But I watched, warm and bright and high above. Just as he promised.” 

This was possibly one of the best things I’ve read, getting to see their HEAs throughout huge milestones in their life 🥹. It is seriously the perfect thing to read when you want to jump back into their books. I absolutely adored The Group section because we got to see all of their kids and it’s to surreal to have read their kids books already and then jump back to see when they were kids 😭😭. Like little Landon sat on Aiden’s lap and knowing how Landon is now, it’s unthinkable 🫣🤣. Seeing Remi and Ronans relationship was perfect, literally like father like son. This book was everything 😭😘. 

 

“And when I wake up in the morning with this face next to mine, I say a silent prayer to always wake up next to him. He might rock my world, but he’s also the only one who’s able to balance it. He’s my anchor and my peace.” (Astrid) 

 

“I’m happy. Thank you for existing, my king.” (Astrid) 

“Thank you for being mine, Princess.” 

 

“First, she engraved herself under my skin, then in my brain, and then into my heart. She made a cosy place for herself in there. Now, that damn thing only beats for her.” (Aiden) 

 

“For my whole life, I never actually understood what happiness meant and why people would crave to be happy. It felt like a high that would just eventually wear off. That is, until Ronan became a constant in my life. He’s happiness incarnate. He’s a high that will never wear off.” (Teal) 

 

“With every passing day, I fall harder and faster into him. With every day, he becomes my everything.” (Silver) 

 

“She’s always been mine, when we were eight and when I reunited with her again at sixteen and when I finally got her at eighteen. I was lucky to find her and I’ll spend the rest of my life making her feel like the queen she has always been. Now and forever.” (Aiden) 

 

“Kim used to tell me that souls are attracted to each other and that my soul completes hers. She’s wrong. My soul doesn’t complete hers. If it weren’t for her, my soul would’ve been non-existent.” 

 

“My favourite time of the day is when she crawls into my side and hugs me to sleep because it makes her feel safe. My favourite part is when she says my name with that softness that she shows to no one but me. My favourite meal is when she tries to cook something and makes me taste it first in case it’s rubbish. My favourite activity is when we run together and challenge each other on who gets to finish their lap first. My favourite person is her.” (Ronan) 

 

“I miss you.” (Astrid) 

“I’ve been here the entire time.” 

“I miss you, even when you’re close. That’s crazy isn’t it?” 

“I’m the same. I miss you when I can’t breathe you. When I can’t hear your voice or touch you. I miss you when I think I have to leave you.” 

 

“Do you know that I love you, Green?” 

“You kind of tell me every day.” 

“It’s not enough. Nothing is enough when I’m with you. Now say it.” 

“What?” 

“That you love me, too.” 

“What if I stopped?” 

“You won’t.” 

“Arrogant much, Xan?” 

“No, but I will fight for your love all over again if I have to.” 

“As if I would ever stop loving you. My heart and my soul are yours, Xan. They always were.” 

 

“You’re my world, Cole.” 

“I know.” 

“No, I mean it. You’re my entire world and I don’t know how I’d ever be able to live in it without you.” 

“You won’t have to, because you won’t be able to get rid of me, Butterfly. You’re my chaos, remember?” 

“And your calm?” 

“And my calm.” 

“And your love?” 

“And my love.” 

“I love you so much. Now and forever, husband.” 

“And I love you, wife.” 

 

“He’s become such a constant I can’t breathe without anymore. Forget love and adoration, Aiden is fucking air to me. He’s everything I want in life and more.” 

 

“I can’t get enough of the sound of her laughter, of how easily I can bring that out of her. It’s like I appear and she automatically smiles. I say anything and she looks at me as if I’m the wisest person alive. I’m not. But the fact that she looks at me that way, even after so many years, makes me the luckiest fucker on this planet.” (Ronan) 

 

“Where’s Mummy, Uncle?” (Landon 😭) 

“Making other babies.” 

“Other babies?” 

“Yeah. Hang in there, buddy. It’ll be wild.” 

“Stop terrorising the boy.” (Cole) 

I flip him off behind Landon’s back. Ava sees me, though, and although I think she doesn’t understand the gesture, she giggles. I wink at her and she laughs more. 

 

“Hey, Remi.” 

“Tell your mummy who loves her most in the world.” 

“Daddy and Remi.” 

“That’s right.” Ronan fist-bumps with him. 

“And Uncle Knox!” 

“And your Uncle Knox, when he’s not getting himself in trouble.” 

“You did well and will be rewarded by Lars later. Off you go, my second in command.” 

Remi stands upright and makes a salute. “Yes, sir.” Everyone laughs as he runs at full speed and crashes into Brandon and Eli. 😭😭🫶 

 

“It doesn’t matter how long we’ve been together. It doesn’t matter that she sleeps in my arms every night and wakes up wrapped all around me. Even as an old man, I will never get enough of this woman. I will never get enough of the brightness she brings to my life. She’s the calm to my storm. The light to my darkness. And I don’t take any of that for granted. I worship her every day so she knows how fucking grateful I am for finding her again. For having her. For breathing her in every night. For seeing her face every morning.” (Aiden) 

 

Xander: WHAT? You’re jealous of your own fucking son, King? 

Aiden: He takes her time and he’s being a little shit about it, making a face at me behind her back. 🤣🤣 

Cole: I hate him a little less now. 

Aiden: Why the hell do you hate him? What’s wrong with my son? 

Cole: The fact that he’s your son. And that he keeps roaming around my Ava like a shadow. I mean it, I’m breaking his legs before he comes near her. 

 

Elsa: Eli asked me today how long it took me to marry his daddy. 

Kimberly: Cecily asked where she can find someone like her daddy *laughing emoji* 

Astrid: Bran and Lan only ask why the hell we had Glyn. They think she’s spoilt and unnecessary. They called their sister unnecessary. 

Teal: And then there’s Remi, who keeps asking if he came out of me like the cub came from the lioness we watched in the documentary. He had an argument about it with Ronan and didn’t speak to him for an hour, thinking his daddy hurt me. 🥹🤣 

I definitely liked this book better because there was more angst and drama. 

 

Despite the fact there’s an age gap, I definitely feel like Aurora and Jonathan were meant for each other. Like they opened up each other in ways they never could before. Aurora helped mend Aiden and Jonathan’s relationship, and Jonathan helped Aurora feel in ways she never could before and he’s her number one protector. And I’m really happy Aiden is more receptive to Aurora in this book as it progresses 🥹. 

 

 I was so excited to see Kyle in this book, I did not expect it but I’m so excited to finally see Killian and Gareth's parents 👏👏. 

“Aurora is mine, and I’ll bring chaos to the world to protect what’s fucking mine.” 

 

“Jonathan, this is Kyle. An old associate of mine.”
“Associate? Stop the nonsense and tell him we used to kill together.”
“Kyle.” 

“What? I didn’t know it was a secret.” 

“It’s safe with me.” 

“It better be. Or else we’ll have to… you know… shut you up with other methods.” 

“You’re not allowed to threaten my guests, Kyle.” 

“I’m just putting it out there.” 

 

“Perfect. Looking forward to this. And here I thought England was boring.” 

“There’s a door.” 

“Doors are dull.” 

And with that, Kyle jumps from the balcony. (I see where Killian gets it 🤭🤣) 

 

“Johnny doesn’t get to chase me away, then call me over as if I’m his lap dog.” 

“What did you do, Lay?” 

“Relax. I only shuffled his cards with the one person he hates.” 

“You didn’t.” 

“Totes did. I brought my Daddy.” 

 

“Thank you so much for giving Aiden a chance to not only move on from Alicia, but to also find some middle ground with his father.” 

“I did nothing.” 

“Yeah, you did. Aiden had a weird relationship with Jonathan and, deep down, it’s because of Alicia’s death. The fact that you’re trying to mend it means a lot to him. He doesn’t know how to be grateful, so I’ll do that on his behalf.” 🥹 

 

“If you leave again, I won’t only chase you to Leeds or Oxford. I’ll flip the world upside down to find you.” 

“What if you can’t find me? What if I disappear?” 

“Then I’ll burn the world that forced you to disappear and resurrect you from its ashes.” 

 

“It’s so beautiful.” 

“Indeed.” 

“Right. You’ve probably seen this scenery like a thousand times.” 

“It feels like a first with you.” 

 

“I’m taking that woman to every corner of the world so she can live her life as she was always meant to.” 

 

“I’m not bored at all, mate. I get to be with Daddy. Besides, there’s also Agnus. And he’s, like, totally Daddy material, too. I’m going to collect them all.” 

“You need help, Lay.” 

 

“The world is at the tip of your fingers.” 

“It is not.” 

“It is now. I’ll bring the world to its knees in front of you. All you have to do is ask.” 

“Why?” 

“Why what?” 

“Why would you do that for me?” 

“Because the world needs to bend the knee for my queen.” 

 

“I’m not protecting you because you’re a woman. I’m protecting you because you’re my woman.” 

 

“It’s one of a kind, so you better like it. Or pretend to.No, don’t pretend. You have to like it.” 

“Are you going to mass-produce it for others?” 

“No, it’s specifically made for you. I mean, I only had you in mind when I was working on it.” 

“Then I’m not removing it for life.” 

 

“I love you, Jonathan.” 

“You do, huh?” 

“I do. I thought I was incapable of love after losing Dad and Alicia, but you wrenched it out of me so easily. In the beginning, it was frightening, but it soon became exciting. I’m so glad I met you—or more like, re-met you.” 

“And I’m glad I kept you, wild one. You flipped my world upside down and I enjoy every second of it. I don’t only love you, I’m obsessed with everything about you, and I’ll spend the rest of my life proving how much your presence means to me.” 

 

“My tyrant. My love. My life.” 

 

“From the beginning, Jonathan was never a fling. He was a beautiful disaster waiting to happen and I just fell into it.” 

 

“I don’t like anyone in Aurora’s vicinity. Full stop. Even Layla plays with fire when she steals her time from me. I waited so long for this woman, and now that I’ve found her, there’s no letting her go. Not now. Not ever.” 

 

“We can bring Eli, but not his parents.” 

“I have the perfect gift for him.” 

“How about me?” 

“Are you jealous of a toddler, Jonathan?” 

“I don’t like being left out.” 

“You’re my world.How can you be left out of it?” 

“And you are mine.” I pick her up and she squeals, holding on to me with all her might as I carry her to the ocean. Time to prove my words. 

While this wasn’t a terrible book, it wasn’t amazing. The only flaw I find with Rina Kent’s book is the lack of showing us what’s happening with the couple and she tells us instead. Like if there was more showing, I would 100% like her writing more. But anyway, I love her books either way. And lowkey I’m only reading this so I can continue with the RK universe chronologically. I’m liking the plot with her father as a serial killer 🫣. I really hope Aiden and Levi will try having a good relationship with Aurora, but I love seeing Astrid and Elsa being so sweet 😩. 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 stars. Just 12% into the book and I got emotional countless times. A few because of Nico’s response to his worsening eye condition and his fear of telling his father because he doesn’t want to take away from his happiness lately. And the other half is from Rafe’s self-deprecating thoughts and his feeling of inadequacy because I can relate to it on some level 😢. Plus, it makes me so sad for Rafe when he and Nico argue. But one of the best parts of this book was Rafael and and Nico 🥹. Especially Nico because is the sweetest little kid ever. 

This was one of the few books that I enjoy and care for the side characters and plot besides the romance. Like I love Ellie’s mom and stepdad, Rafael’s relationship with his family, the inclusion of Cole and Lorenzo, and the issues with nasty Ava. And y’all, Hillary pissed me the fuck off, Rafael is a hell of a man because that woman would’ve been instantly broke and cut off. But is it crazy to say I LOVED mental health and trauma rep more than the romance?? Like because those aspects were so detailed and significant to themselves it made me appreciate the romance between them. And I LOVED that they didn’t have spicy time until 80% in. This was easily the BEST Lauren Asher book I’ve read. 

The jealousy we saw from Rafe when Cole was around Ellie was amazing 😘👌. I loved when Rafael would get hibiscus flowers for Ellie and even went so far as to get a hibiscus plant so he would always be able to give her flowers. And I loved when he bought a ticket to London with her so he could be there for her and get through the flight 😭😭. And then he made a comfortable environment for her so she wouldn’t be ashamed of her scars. And y’all, she never felt weird when he would eat the leftover food if they had any AND she even helped eat some of the leftovers too 😭😭. 

This was literally an amazing book all around and I wish I could read it for the first time again. 

“Keep an eye on her while I go searching for my ax.”

“It’s in the garage. Bottom left shelf next to the paint cans.”

“Mom.”

“What’s going on?”

“I’ll tell you, but first you need to convince Burt not to murder Rafael.”

“I wasn’t going to murder him.”

“Or threaten bodily harm. What will my mom do if you end up in jail?”

“He’d wait until I found a way to end up in there with him.” “You two are hopeless.”

“Fortunately.”

“My son is the best part of my life, and I will slay every single one of my demons to make sure he doesn’t have any of his own.”

“You’re not allowed to leave again. You got it?”

“Never? What if you get sick of me?”

“No. Never. Right, Papi?”

“No te preocupes, mijo. If she runs, I’ll bring her back for you.”

Dahlia: I pity Ellie. I can’t believe she willingly puts up with nine animals.

Rafael: I only have eight.

Dahlia: You forgot to count yourself.

“Elle.”

“Oh. Elle! I like it.”

“I call her that.”

“So I can’t?”

“Glad you understand.”

“Rafael isn’t just rekindling the crush I had on him all those years ago. He is fanning the flames and making them burn stronger than ever before, and he has absolutely no idea.”

“Elle.”

“Yeah?”

“Shut up and kiss me already.”

“You may see a broken masterpiece, but I only see you.”

“I’m sad you were hurting that bad.”

“I’m better now. I promise.”

“Do you swear?”

“You don’t need to worry about me.”

“Papi told me it’s okay to worry about people we love because that means we care.”

“I love you too.”

“More than sour gummy worms?”

I nod. “And strawberry-lemon fizzy drinks.”

“I love you more than pianos, superheroes, and Duke Brass.”

“Wow. That’s a lot of love from such a little guy.”

“Papi says I have the biggest heart he knows.” Second-biggest heart to exist, right after his father’s.

“With her in my arms, I’m happy and hopeful. Like I’m no longer stuck in reverse because I found the brightest star to guide me out of the dark. Elle Sinclair.”

“He is an army of one, claiming every fragmented piece of my mind, body, and soul as his while I wave the white flag of surrender. Whatever he wants, he can have it, so long as he never stops kissing me like this.”

“All I see is someone who chose to live. Someone who chose to keep fighting, even when they had reasons to give up. Someone who turned their scars into shooting stars.”

“And what about the song I helped you with?”

“I’m glad you asked because it turns out Cole wants me to help him with a bunch of songs.”

“Really?”

“Yup. And he told me you could be listed on the credits.”

“No way!”

“Congratulations. You may be the youngest songwriter in history.”

“If you need more help, I’ll only charge you a gazillion dollars.”

“I’m helplessly falling in love with a man who could end up breaking my heart one day. Hopefully, he chooses to protect it instead, but it doesn’t matter. I’d willingly choose to repeat every single moment, so long as it may end with me spending forever in his arms.”

“You are the one I never knew I needed. I may not be the one you envisioned for yourself, but I won’t stop until I feel like I’m worthy of you.”

“You’re the one I was always meant to find.”

“Pleasuring her is my newest drug of choice. The high is unlike anything I’ve ever felt before, and I want to chase it for the rest of my life. Just like I would chase her to the end of the world and back because I love her.”

“If it wasn’t obvious, then let me make myself perfectly clear. You’re mine, Elle. In every sense of the word, from here on out, because I love you.”

“Again.”

“I love you. I love every single thing about you. Your mind. Your scars. But most of all, your heart.”

“What’s wrong? Does Rafael not know about the crush you had on him back in the day?”

“I had my suspicions.”

“But Ellie wouldn’t confirm them.”

“Oh.”

“I’m assuming you don’t know about ‘Prom King’ either then?”

“That’s it. I’m officially disowning myself and changing my last name.”

“Good thing you’ve been practicing ‘Ellie Lopez’ since high school then.”

“I never want to go a single day without him because he is the one who inspired the greatest unwritten love song of all. Ours.”

“You clean up nice, Prom King.”

“I can’t wait to swap that nickname out for a new one.”

“Like what?”

“Husband.”

This is the best Lauren Asher book I’ve read so far. Their banter was so good and realistic even when it’s their first time seeing each other in 10 years. Plus, it’s so funny their moms are best friends but they’ve been rivals since they were kids and they bicker so much. I loved the sweet and thoughtful acts Julian did for dahlia spanning the ten years they've been apart and especially when they’re reunited. One of my favorite things was Julian’s contact name in Dahlia's phone going from second best to first choice 😭. 

“Like the tide with the moon, I’m unable to resist Dahlia’s gravitational pull.”

“What were you thinking by trying to run Dahlia off the road?”

“That it’s a shame I failed.”🤣🤣

“So help me God, I will literally jump out of this car right now if you don’t pull over.”

“At least let me speed up first to make it worth the trouble of another police report.”

“Where are we going?”

“One of my construction sites.”

“I swear I’ll haunt you forever if I end up being buried beneath six feet of concrete tonight.”

“I’m flattered you want to hang around me for all eternity.”

“Out of curiosity, was today a special occasion, or do you typically moan my name while making yourself come?”

“Only when I’m thinking about you sitting on my face.”

“Dream about it often?”

“Enough to question my sanity.”

“When did we go from wanting to murder each other to wanting to murder for one another?”

“Since I found out how much he hurt you.”

“I’m enjoying the moment.”

“You tend to do that a lot lately.” 

“All because of you.”

“I don’t want you to be bored here.”

“Why?”

“Because I want to give you a hundred different reasons to stay.”

“I’m falling in love with you, Dahlia. I don’t expect you to say it back after everything you’ve been through this year, but I didn’t want to go another night without you knowing how I feel. Just like I can’t go another day with you thinking I’m okay with us keeping things casual. I missed out on a chance to make you mine before, but I don’t plan on making the same mistake again. We’re the real deal, sweetheart, and I’m done letting you believe anything else.”

“You’re falling in love with me.”

“I’m going to regret admitting that, aren’t I?”

“Never. Your precious little heart is safe with me.”

“Dahlia was made for me, and I won’t let another day go by where she doesn’t know it.”

“When we break the news to my mom about moving, do me a favor and tell her you’re in love with me. It’ll help soften the blow.”

“You can’t seriously be considering moving.”

“I am.”

“But what about your company?”

“Turns out I’d rather build a home with you than a thousand houses by myself.”

“Little by little, your cons annoyingly started making their way over to the pros column.”

“That’s ridiculous.”

“No, Dahlia, that’s love.”

“He is exactly what I want from a partner and more, and I can’t wait to see where this next stage of our life takes us.”

“Nothing in the world is more beautiful than Dahlia laughing up at the sky, standing in front of the house I plan on turning into a home with her.”

“I plan on making this woman mine in every sense of the word. Mine to love. Mine to marry. Mine to cherish for as long as we live.”

“Julian was and always will be my first choice, and I plan on spending the rest of our lives showing him that.”

I swear Katie May never misses!! I’ve missed her writing so much. This is the perfect stand-alone if you love Katie May but don’t want to start one of her incomplete series. As always, this book will have you laughing and have the best spicy scenes. I only wish there were more books because I did not want to stop reading about them. 

Of course, this is a paranormal RH/why choose. In this book, there are five men. Desmond–God of Combat, Helio–God of Karma, Avery–God of death,Tate–God of Deception and Arsin–God of Flames. Then there’s our fmc, Emily–Goddess of pain.

This plot was so cool, Emily survives three assassination attempts from her car blowing up, getting shot at, and attacked after work. On the day of the blood moon, she gets her memories restored and figures out the men who tried to kill her and her stalker are her mates. Now, she has to remember how she got to the human realm and who erased her memories. 

“I’m a nightmare embodied, and Emily Lopez is an unattainable daydream.”

“Why does everyone think I’ll hurt her? You blow up her car once, and that’s suddenly all people can focus on.”

“You…You’re the one who blew up her car?”

“Yes, we’ve been over this already. Let bygones be bygones. I rubbed one out in front of her, so I think we’re good now.”

Eyes glinting wickedly, he begins to wave the spoon in front of Avery’s shocked face.

“Rememberrrrrr.”

What the fuck are you doing, Sin?”

“Hypnotism. Now, shush. The magician is working.”

“Me? I’ve loved Emily forever, before I even understood what love truly was.”

“How long have you been watching us?”

“Avery’s just committing some murder.”

“Oh that’s nice… Wait what?!”

“You asswipe! Why did you have to say the m-word?”

“Mongolia?”

“Tate and I… we’ll never be perfect. We’ll never have a fairy tale love that you read about in books and see on television. But that’s okay. I know it is. Our relationship is as unique as our story—a clashing of two entirely separate beings that have somehow found each other. Found each other and never let go.”

“A love like ours can’t die, even with all of our memories wiped. Even in an entirely separate universe. We’ll always be the moon and the stars—the two things that appear almost every night. Monsters like us thrive in the darkness, but our combined lights are able to illuminate something beautiful, something ethereal, something distinctly ours.”

“Emily Lopez, Goddess of Pain, was made for me, there is no doubt about it. And I was made for her, eccentricities and all.”

“He stares at me as if I’m the only thing that exists in the universe. As if I’m the sun that rises every morning and the moon that speckles the night sky in brilliant gold light.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 stars. I’m so happy to have finally gotten Posey’s book 👏👏. Him and Wylie are MATCHED!! In almost every way. Like their banter is OFF the charts and she loves bologna too!! Like seriously match made in heaven. And then Wylie went OFF on his and nearly teased him to death and then she got the taste of her own medicine 🤭. Then when they finally get together 🥵🥵. It was like medium-slow burn with HIGH tension 😅. Once again, I loved the group chats with the guys again, and while I enjoyed the group chat with the girls I think that part was overdone a bit. Like that is my only critique. Because one minute I was enjoying the messages with the girls and the next I was like what is going on. But one thing that made me sad and happy was Wylie’s relationship with her dad. It made me sad because of the things he would say and would demean her passion, but happy because he finally communicated with her, apologized for everything, and now they’re forming a better healthier relationship. Plus, I LOVED getting her dads pov 🤭, like we’ve never gotten a third party pov but it was perfection. I can’t wait to see what Meghan Quinn has in order for OC 👏👏.

tropes: age gap, forbidden/off limits, coach’s daughter, forced proximity, found family, no third act breakup, boss x assistant,hockey romance

Favorite quotes/scenes:

“And most importantly, rule number five. Under no circumstances will you have any sort of physical contact with my daughter.” 
“What do you mean⁠—”
“Fucking her. You will not fuck her, Posey.”
“Ahh . . .Well, no worries there. Pretty sure if she looks anything like you, there will be no need for rule number five.” 🤦‍♀️🤣

“Trust me when I say nothing will be happening between us. First of all, she’s fucking young, like ten years younger.”
“Silas is ten years older than Ollie.”
“Yeah, and there are times when she calls him granddad. Do you really think I want that for my life?”
“No.”

“Wasn’t sure how many condoms you’d need. I figured one a night because I wasn’t sure how long you could go⁠—”
“All night. I can go all fucking night.”
“Oh, good for you. With your age, I wasn’t sure what your stamina was like.”
“I’m not that goddamn old.”

“You’re right. Something is going on. I have a serious case of blue balls. Think one of you can take care of it for me?”
“Jesus Christ.”
“Is that a no?” I call out as Eli and Pacey follow closely. They don’t bother looking back. And that’s how it’s done. Distract and deflect.

“You think this could be something?”
“I know it can be something. Don’t you feel it, Wylie? Doesn’t it feel right to you?”
“Almost too right.”
“No such thing.”

“Are you serious about this?”
“Never been more serious about anything. I want you, Wylie. All of you. I want to spoil you and show you that I’m the man you deserve. Let me do that. Give me a chance.”

“I’m . . . I’m exhausted.”
“Then let me take care of you. You’re all mine, Wylie, and I’ll do everything to make sure you’re protected and taken care of.”

“The entire time, I can’t help but think how lucky I am that my dad set this up. Little does he know, he set me up with the man of my dreams.”

She giggles and presses her head into the crook of my neck before squealing.
“What the hell is that?”
“A girly squeal because Levi Posey just said he loved me.”
“Oh, if that’s the case.”
I clear my throat, attempt a giggle, and then squeal as well.
“What the hell?”
“That’s my manly squeal because Wylie Wood just said she loved me.”
“God, you’re ridiculous.”
“But I’m all yours.” 

“What’s the inevitable?”
“You and I being together. I told you, I found you, and now you’re stuck with me. I meant everything I said when I gave these to you. It’s you and me, babe. You’re not going anywhere.”

“Fuck, I love seeing you here, waiting for me in my jersey. It feels like everything is right in the world.”
“Everything is right in the world.”

“You are the best thing to ever happen to me. You are my rock, my strength, my everything, and I’m so beyond grateful you have chosen me.”
“How could I have chosen anyone else? You were clearly made for me.”

After ditching him at a bar, never in a million years did I imagine I’d end up here—being loved and cherished by Levi Posey. I was looking for one night of fun, and he’s offering me an endless eternity of love.

This is definitely grumpy x sunshine and it’s amazing. I definitely can relate to Sofiya’s personality so I love her. And it made me cry when she was so nervous and scared in the beginning 😢 . I definitely need to read about more soft fmc’s like this. Plus, we have similar food tastes where we prefer simple things. Matteo is so cute, he is so reluctant to pursue a relationship with her but he can’t help but get jealous when her guard talks to her, and he’s always doing thoughtful things for her.  Speaking of her guard, Angelo is 🥵. I lowkey wish this was an RH book because I LOVED him like he called her Bella and principessa 🥹. Back to Matteo, one day she pushed her body too hard and had difficulty moving around so he ran a bath for her because she said that they usually help, and she said she always wanted a dog and basically the next day gets her a service dog 😭. And he calls her Tesoro which means treasure 🥹. And don’t get me wrong he was a little rude in the beginning but I think he just didn’t know how to react and be soft for someone. But this man will do anything that makes her happy. The only downside of this book was there was some cringey dialogue because the mmc was being possessive/obsessive or it was so predictable. Also, the book was a little too long or I feel like the chapters could’ve been combined so it wasn’t just dragging on. 

“You wanted a plain fucking hot dog with ketchup?”

“Yes.”

“I’m not sure I can allow that, tesoro. I’m pretty sure it’s the law that hot dogs must be served with mustard and relish.”

“Good thing my husband isn’t committed to following the law.”

“You are the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever set my eyes on.”

“Really?”

“Tesoro mio, how could you even ask that?”

“I’ll give you what you need. But one day, you’ll know that the safest place for you to be is in my arms.”

“What have you done to me?”

“Hopefully the same thing you do to me.”

“And what is that?”

“You make me feel.”

“A soft smile tugged at her lips and it was like the sun breaking through the clouds.”

“She had no idea how wrapped around her finger I was. The feeling was equally exhilarating and terrifying.”

“I swore our hearts were beating in sync, as if to declare how much they had missed each other.”

“Fuck, tesoro. You are the best thing in the entire universe.”

“Merry Christmas, tesoro. You’re the greatest gift of my life.”