readingwithfefe's reviews
745 reviews

Surrender by Brooklyn Cross

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dark emotional funny medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

 1st person/multi pov
Spice: 4/5

Kai absolutely OWNS me!! I loved him already in book one but book two just leveled those feelings up! šŸ« 

So this book picks up where book one ended. Raine is headed across the country hoping to sacrifice her happiness in order to keep all of the men she loves safe. Avro as you know from the end of the first book goes to Kai demanding that he finds Raine and fixes this whole situation so she can come back home to them. Of course, Kai is not going to let Raine go now that he's had her after all these years even if he wants her all to himself. I loved that when Kai finally gets to her they get the chance to lay everything out there in the open between them. You can really see the moment that things shift and they start to mend what has been broken.

Now Raine may have been someone who could be intimidated or easily frightened in Malice but in Surrender she has become a force to be reckoned with. Which Kai is getting to see firsthand. His love for her is put to the ultimate test when she refuses to back down over having Avro and Jace in her life as well as Kai. She is done sacrificing what she wants and what she wants is all of them. And I am so glad this new Raine has come to the surface because it truly made me love her character even more than I already did. It is evident that Avro and Jace have helped her heal in so many ways. Confronting Kai and their past is just the last step to finally living the life she wants.

This brings us to my favorite part of this duet - the group dynamic. Kai trying to navigate sharing Raine with Avro and Jace is the highlight of this whole story for me. He is constantly battling his knee-jerk reactions when it comes to the other guys and let me tell you the inner monologue he has over it is hysterical! I just love how murderous he gets and how easily he is riled up on the inside while also trying to reign it in so he doesn't lose her for good. Plus it makes for some killer tension when all three guys are in the same room together. šŸ˜‰

Another thing I really enjoyed is how each of the guys had their own obstacles or situations to work through. In the end, everything comes down to how it affects their relationship with Raine, but it made this book feel like it was putting more focus on what was going on with the guys. It may just be me but I felt like Malice had a lot of focus on Raine and her trauma/healing while anything happening with the guys beyond being with her sat more in the background of the story. So when it comes to Surrender we see Raine with this new confidence and fire, and while she's still the main focus of the book, the ins and outs of the guys' lives seemed to be brought to the forefront a little more. And I for one am never going to turn down getting to know more about these guys. šŸ˜†
Oh! Remember our pal Wilder from book one? Good thing I couldn't get enough of his quirky self because we get to see a lot more of him in book two and he brings just as much humor with him if not more.

Now the spice in this book had me positively drooling. It didn't matter if it was one on one or involving more than one of the guys it was all hot AF. I mean Jaceā€™s mouth is one thing but then you have Kai and his naughty self just taking what he wants - a bish cannot breathe! šŸ˜‚ There is this one moment in particular that will forever live rent-free in my head because not only was it super hot it had me so shocked it was actually happening. šŸ„µšŸ„µ It even had me giggling like a fool a few times. The spice is always really good in Brooklyn's books though so I'm happy to say this one didn't change that. And for the record, I am so looking forward to a possible bonus spicy scene that was hinted at. Because where it takes place and how it starts - umm I NEED to know how that all goes down like something serious. The things playing out in my imagination are not sufficient lol I need answers, Brooklyn! šŸ¤£šŸ˜©

Yeah, this whole duet is officially never leaving my brain. I've cleared out an entire corner in there just for Raine and her men to occupy. šŸ„°

*Make sure to check the content warnings before reading.*

Oh and #teamkai for life! šŸ™ŒšŸ» 
Court of Nightmares by K.A. Knight

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challenging dark funny mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

1st person/multi pov
Spice: 10/5 šŸ”„šŸ”„šŸ”„šŸ”„šŸ”„

WTAF DID I JUST READ? šŸ˜³

Another wild AF ride from KA Knight thatā€™s what! šŸ˜†
If you want vampires, if you want blood (and I mean LOTS of it), if you want revenge, if you want a fully thought-out storyline, and if you want loads of spice - this right here is your book! I will ā€œattemptā€ to explain without rambling on but you have to understand there is just so much packed into this story itā€™s hard not to!

So the plot is so different from any other vampire book Iā€™ve ever read. Itā€™s got some of your typical vampire elements in it of course but there are several unique additions to how the vampire world works and what their capabilities are. I found it refreshing to have all these vampires that are all their own and did not feel like a carbon copy of other books. You get a good bit of back story at the beginning and then things shift as we find our FMC in the present day dealing with the aftermath of the chain of events that led her there. Here we are introduced to seven new characters, seven vampire men who take this story from interesting to ā€˜did I just read what I think I didā€™ in a matter of minutes. And the spice that comes along with them is INSANE! šŸ™ˆ Haha in more ways than one. šŸ‘€

I have never in my life read any smut like thisā€¦ I mean for starters Iā€™m having difficulty recalling a vampire book that had this much bl00dplay in it and thatā€™s saying something all on its own right there haha. But I loved every drop of it so kudos Katie. Then thereā€™s the amount - whew lord! You might have almost 10% of the whole book that doesnā€™t have some sort of spicy scene in itā€¦ Maybe. Cause yea at a certain point itā€™s like every single chapter until practically the epilogue lol. But I will say the storyline does advance along with it so itā€™s not like it just leaves you hanging in the wind while the characters spend all their time getting it on. I am going to admit though that as I got closer to the end of the book I may have started skimming some of those scenes that seemed to be similar to others within the book. Some of the repetitiveness just didnā€™t hold my attention quite like it did the first time so I didnā€™t spend a lot of time focusing on what was going down in those handful of moments. None of that is important thoughā€¦ not compared to the level of, gah whatā€™s the word to even describe what Iā€™m trying to say here, deviant (maybe?) scenes that played out before my internal eyes. 

Look, while Iā€™m new to the monster smut world, I definitely donā€™t hate it. But this here haha this had me all up in my head trying to figure out how I felt about it. I just havenā€™t read something that made me cringe, pant, and question myself quite like a few of these scenes did. I have to give Katie props because thereā€™s no way in hell Iā€™d ever be brave enough to write some of the things she did in here. Of course, the whole time I was sitting there reading I was peeking through my fingers because I couldnā€™t physically read it any other way. šŸ«£ Do I regret it? Not even a little bit. To all those who can read smut with a poker face donā€™t be shocked if this book is your exception to that talent cause I honestly donā€™t know how someone could sit through the wilder spicy scenes with a straight face lol. šŸ¤£ 
Oh, and I canā€™t remember if it was ever mentioned in any of the teasers but there was a tad of MM action within the group and boy oh boy was I crossing my fingers for more of that up until the last page. So had there been, I possibly wouldnā€™t have skimmed those few scenes I did. Like I really would have loved to see more of it during group scenes because hot dayum it was fantastic when I got it! 

The characters however were the best part of this whole book. They were exceptional and all so different. Our FMC Althea starts off not necessarily weak but not in a great place. She turns down a dark path only to be saved by these seven men and once she is her whole personality explodes into her best self. She becomes so comfortable in her own skin and her confidence is steadily on the rise. Not to mention she turns out to be a complete bad @s$! Which if youā€™ve read any of Katieā€™s books before you already know to expect her FMC to be a bad MF - just saying. Which drives our guys wild with need. 
When it comes to them youā€™ve got all these different backstories that made them who they are now. Each one as tragic as the one before. Each guy played a role within the group dynamics perfectly and their unique powers as well as their individual pasts and knowledge played an important role at certain points within the story. It made the mystery behind them unfold quite well in my opinion. Like you got to know a little bit more about them along the way while your love for them grew with each new layer that was peeled back. Their love and loyalty to each other was just the icing on the cake because that intense bond of found family they brought with them is impossible to not gush over. And of course, you canā€™t expect to have a group of guys like that without some good banter and quite a few laughs. 

In the grand scheme of things, I enjoyed this book immensely. Could it have been a tad shorter? Yea, maybe just a little bit. Could some of the spice have been removed because it didnā€™t really have to be there? Possibly a few scenes. But the way it made me feel to read this, the laughs and joy and even a few tears here and there is what made it worth 5 stars in my book. The entertainment factor was just through the roof. If you have an open mind or are hardly bothered by some of the more out-of-the-box content out there then youā€™ll love this book. 

*If you have any triggers - I mean absolutely ANY at all you should not skip over the content warnings for this one trust me! I highly recommend going in blind but only if you think you can handle anything. Otherwise yea that list is a must-read first. 

So enjoy. 
Welcome to the Court of Nightmares. šŸ˜ˆ

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Fallen Foe by L.J. Shen

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emotional funny inspiring mysterious sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

 1st person/dual pov
Spice: 3.5/5

Oh, how Iā€™ve waited for this book! I just knew from the bits and pieces we saw of ArsĆØne in Ruthless Rival that his book would be full of snark and humor. I did not however see Winnie coming! I seriously couldnā€™t have asked for a better woman for this man! She has the sweetness in her that ArsĆØne needs so much in his life. Someone to show him real love and that caring for another person doesnā€™t always end in tragedy or disappointment. Someone who sees him for himself and not what he can offer them. Someone who can stand toe to toe with him as his equal while still feeling like home. Winnie is that person and then some. Cause this country ā€œbumpkinā€ as he likes to remind her, is packed full of wit and sass making her unafraid to verbally spar with him. Which Iā€™ll be honest is basically his favorite form of foreplay. šŸ˜†

As far as Winnie goes I think ArsĆØne is good for her. He pushes her out of her comfort zone and his mission (outside of their mutual exchange of information that is) has been to get her to put her wants and needs first for a change. Winnie is so used to trying to do the right thing or making everyone happy that she hardly ever does anything for herself. Little by little she begins to put herself first though. All the while opening up more and more to ArsĆØne who opens up to her in return more than he ever thought possible.

Somewhere along the way, their enemy status takes a shift into a reluctant companionship. Itā€™s there that ArsĆØne realizes Winnie is not who he originally thought she was and Winnie begins to see a softer side to ArsĆØne that no one else does. I think that is possibly my favorite part of their story is seeing how they open up parts of themselves and begin to put their trust in each other without even realizing it, especially ArsĆØne. For someone who doesnā€™t ā€œdo feelings,ā€ itā€™s positively adorable to see him wanting to comfort and care for this woman he claims he loathes. Itā€™s so blatantly obvious to everyone around him while heā€™s living in some serious denial lol.

Speaking of loathing can I just say that I loathe both of their significant others at the beginning of the book? Like they donā€™t even realize how awful their partners are. Well, ArsĆØne does for the most part but even he has some blinders on when it comes to Grace. The more the secrets unfold and they discover all these new things about the lives they thought there were living the more my heart ached for both of them.

They had quite a bumpy road to get to their happy ending but let me tell you that once they did I was a blubbering mess! ArsĆØne walked in and snatched my heart from my chest in a way I didnā€™t expect. While I do love his sarcasm and the amazing banter they have back and forth (which letā€™s face it LJ is a Queen when it comes to banter) ArsĆØne with feelings is a dangerous man. Because once he starts allowing himself to feel them the level of swooning he provokes is officially life threatening lol!

I do believe ArsĆØne and Winnie have secured their spot as the top couple from this series now. I love Christian and Arya donā€™t get me wrong but these two are just on a whole other level. I canā€™t wait to see what Riggsā€™ book will bring and what kind of growth his character will go through in the process. 
Revelations by Bella Higgin

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dark emotional mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

1st & 3rd person/dual pov
Spice: 2/5

Dare I say I enjoyed book two even more than I did book one? Finding out answers to some of the mysterious events that happened in Belle Morte gave me exactly what I was hoping for out of the sequel. In some ways, I feel like I got some closure that I didn't realize I was seeking until the end of the book. It grabbed me from the first chapter and held onto my attention until I was done. The plot was good, full of secrets and mystery leaving you to wonder who can truly be trusted. Old friendships were tested, some made stronger in the process, and some new potential friends were added along the way. There were even some passionate moments mixed in that I wasn't quite expecting but loved seeing. It was very well written at that. Nothing is described in great detail but detailed enough to paint the picture without turning away readers who may not enjoy spicier content in the books they consume. The switch between 1st and 3rd person didn't bother me at all and I feel like that is due to how the 3rd person chapters are written. It's in a way that almost feels like 1st person so it's not as much of a shift for my brain to process the going back and forth. I'm still not entirely sure what kind of difference it makes to the story by having some of it written in 3rd person but I enjoyed it regardless. That in itself is saying a lot since I usually do not enjoy books I've read in 3rd person. 

If you enjoyed book one then I have no doubt you will like book two even more. 
Don't forget to review any content warnings provided before reading as there are a few things that some readers could potentially find triggering. 
Soul Eater by Lily Mayne

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adventurous emotional funny slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

1st person/single pov
Spice: 4/5 

I finally took the plunge into monster romance and there will be no looking back from this point forward. I adored this book! The whole concept of monsters rising up and the world going into this post-apocalyptic state gives the perfect setting for a book like this. Wyn's character is so sarcastic and snarky that it makes his interactions with the kind and laid-back Danny so funny to read. He understands a lot about humans but at the same time, he still doesn't understand humans so it was quite entertaining as they navigated around some of that. Plus, Wyn has that overprotective nature I love to see in at least one of the MMCs because I'm a total sucker for a guy who is not afraid to get his hands dirty to keep his person safe. So try and come between Wyn and his human... hah! You'd be better off doing a swan dive into the Grand Canyon and hoping you live to see tomorrow. Oh and Michael Lesley - sir - that voice for Wyn?! *faints* I could not deal with the shivers that voice sent down my spine half the time lol! Like whoa... well done sir well done.

Danny is just the sweetest thing. At one point he is referred to as precious and I couldn't agree more. He has such a kind and gentle nature about him that will have you instantly wanting to protect him at all costs. It hurts my heart when he is so hard on himself. This poor guy is so alone in the world and constantly doubts himself but somehow he still seems to keep this sort of upbeat and hopeful attitude through the majority of the book. It totally fits with the way Michael narrates his character. With that unrushed southern drawl and his accent straight from the bayous of southern Louisianna he just goes with the flow only wanting the simplest of things from life. To be cared for and care for someone in return. To not be alone anymore. Gah, I'm getting choked up just thinking about all those moments I could have just reached in and given him a big hug. 
Also, inebriated Danny is hilarious!! Michael nailed that whole scene and I couldn't breathe I was laughing so hard!

If you can't imagine how off-the-charts the spice is, do yourself a favor and read and/or listen to it. (I highly recommend listening to it though - Wyn's growls and Danny's yelling during "seggsy" time make it so worth it lol!) Being new to monster romance I was prepared for things to be a tad... different... anatomy-wise. It was don't get me wrong but surprisingly it didn't take away from any of the spicy stuff. If anything it made it even hotter haha. It certainly offered up some very interesting visuals in the imagination while listening. 

So double-check any content warnings and go start this series like NOW. I've already got book two downloaded and waiting because I need more asap! 
April Renegade: The Bonus Chapters by B.G. Wolfe

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emotional lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

 Iā€™m not cryingā€¦ youā€™re not cryingā€¦ weā€™re not crying! šŸ˜­šŸ˜­

Weā€™re cryingā€¦ šŸ¤§

Not only was this some extra spicy content that I loved getting to see from younger Ash and Drew but it was the sweetest moment in their lives that I was dying to have a glimpse at! Iā€™m so glad that these bonus scenes were published because that whole wedding was just the missing ingredient to their happily ever after. Obviously I knew about the wedding from the epilogue but getting to see how it all played out and reading their vows to each other is just next level and makes it so much more special.
God Iā€™m so glad Ash found some sense and got his crap together! šŸ™ŒšŸ» 
April Renegade by B.G. Wolfe

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challenging emotional inspiring sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Rating: 4.5 
1st person/dual pov
Spice: 3.5/5

Ash... the way this man had me ready to jump into my phone and snap is wild! It didn't take long for me to get mad at him either. Staying mad at him - well that's another problem. Cause I wanted to stay mad at him the entire book! And I did... sort of. When we were in the present and witnessing the complicated mess he put himself and Drew in I was livid. I understand where his head was at for some of it I truly do but what it did to Drew I just couldn't get on board with it. Drew deserves the entire world in the palm of his hand and is a freaking SAINT for dealing with Ash all these years. But especially what he was being put through in the present time. Ash never said any truer words than when he said he didn't deserve Drew. 

But then a flashback chapter would come about and suddenly it's years ago right when they first met and their friendship began. You could sense their connection from that first encounter. As time went on Ash was brought into Drew's life with open arms and cared for like he was family. I loved seeing him get to experience what that life was like and to have people he could count on. As their friendship grew into something beyond just friends I cheered them on and squealed over how easily they both came to terms with these new feelings. Eager to explore this desire for each other with little hesitation had my heart racing with excitement for them and swooning over their intimate little moments where they opened up their souls to each other. 

Then we snap back to real time and suddenly I'm angry at Ash all over again... I'm telling you that man is lucky he is fictional! I even almost felt bad for him towards the end as his world was about to crush him under the weight of the life he was living - almost. But then I'd get a Drew chapter and all sympathy flew out the nearest window. When things finally look like they are taking a turn for the better I just kept waiting for the other shoe to drop as much as Drew was lol. But nothing made my heart break more than those songs of theirs. The ones played at their shows and the ones quietly sung in the silence had me just about wrecked. Knowing the origin of those lyrics, how no one truly knew the meaning behind them all, and the way they poked and prodded at open wounds every time they poured out into existence just strangled my heart in a vice. 

As for the spice, it was good. The scenes are passionate and even a little risque at times. Ash and Drew are undeniably smoking hot together as they are older and while their younger selves were steamy as well there is a sweetness in the way they come together. Now, I usually wouldn't turn down more spice in a book like this but at the same time, there is a good possibility it would have ruined the story a little. With the situation they were in I'm glad there wasn't more. I'm not sure I could have gotten past it and what it would do to Drew before the end of the book. So if I wanted more of it anywhere it would have been in the flashback chapters. But overall I feel like the quantity of spicy scenes was as it should have been, not too much and more than a little. 

I did listen to the audio for this as I followed along in the book and I'll be honest it wasn't a mind-blowing performance but it also wasn't a disaster either. The narrator is new to me so I went in with zero expectations. There were a few words that his pronunciation had me scratching my head a little and I do think there could have been more of a distinction or improvement between the way he voiced some of the characters. He absolutely pulled off the kind of attitude I was getting from Ash's character though. Towards the halfway point through the end of the book, it seemed like he got into the characters a little more and he did a good job delivering some of the heavier-hitting dialogue with feeling behind it. So while some minor improvements could have made it better I still liked it and would recommend the audio if you're preferred format is audiobooks. 

So did I forgive Ash before turning the final page of their story? Somewhat. I do feel like his actions at the very end soothed some of the anger I had and his grand gesture at the very end redeemed him a little bit. The epilogue was nice and wrapped up their happy ending well. But I still want to go back and knock some sense into Ash for the majority of the book haha so that may never change. As long as Drew is happy though I'm happy. Now to go check out this book of bonus chapters and see what other feelings they might bring out of me. 
Cirque des Masques by Becca Steele

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dark mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

1st person/dual pov
Spice: 4/5

I'll preface this by saying I did not read the shorter version of this story that appeared in an anthology before reading this version. I just never got around to it. Then I saw it was being expanded and released as its own book so I waited. The second I saw this was live I ran to download it. I read it that night in one sitting and was so wonderfully surprised. I've read almost all of Becca's MM books and a few of her MF books but this one here is nothing like any of those. It is so different from what I am used to seeing from her that I stopped at one point early on and flipped back to the cover to make sure I was reading the right book lol! All I have to say about that is we need MORE. 

Now I can't say that there hasn't been some darker content in Becca's books because there has been. What I will say is that to me it has never been quite this level of dark. The secrets that hide behind the curtains of this mysterious circus are highly protected and never to be seen by outsiders.  Until Ollie stumbles across the secret and the man he was never supposed to see again is right in the middle of it. Dima never meant to slip up and reveal himself to Ollie but when that mistake leads to Ollie seeing behind the mask he knows Ollie's life will never be the same. 

The pull these two have towards each other is intoxicating. Their connection is instant but it's not one of those romances where they throw caution to the wind and dive in head-first right away. There are a lot of things Ollie has to figure out and work through once he's privy to the secrets of the circus. He struggles with his feelings for Dima and his feelings about the circus while Dima struggles with making sure no harm comes to Ollie while he's there and doing what is best for Ollie regardless of how much he wants him to stay. One thing they don't have to figure out though is their chemistry together. They are scorching! Dima is dirty and commanding which has Ollie drunk on lust and hanging on for the ride. Dima takes Ollie by the hand and leads him down a road of depravity and pleasure that he never imagined before. It's hot, it's passionate, and it's bloody wicked!

Definitely check the warnings for this one before reading if you typically need to because like I said it has some darker content compared to other books by this author. However, I am a total sucker for darkness in my romance so I would absolutely love to see more books like this one from Becca in the future!

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The Last Rose by Kitt Lynn

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

1st person/multi pov
Spice: 4/5

Another great A/B/O read from this author! I love that this book shows our FMC overcoming some of her trauma and finding the love and acceptance that sheā€™s been searching for. This poor girl went through something terrible as a child and her past has been kept a secret for 14 years. After several attempts at being matched with a pack only to be rejected she finally finds a home with Finn, Van, Hartley, and their beta Noah. Thanks to some strict instructions by her doctor however settling into her new home is not going the way she expected. 

I guess you could chalk this up to the miscommunication trope a little bit. She is unaware of the doctorā€™s orders and they are unaware that Corie just wants to be treated like any other Omega instead of someone they see as ā€œbrokenā€. This of course leads to misunderstandings, unclear expectations, and a whole lot of frustration between all of the pack members at one point or another. But that does lead to some rather spicy moments to relieve said frustrations. šŸ˜

I love the pack dynamic here with Finn and Van being mated to Noah but not Hartley. I feel like Hartley has a special connection with Corie and if heā€™d been mated to anyone before her it wouldnā€™t have felt so special between the two of them. He really is a big teddy bear and I adore how sweet he is with Corie. I really liked the relationship that Finn has with Van as well. They seem to be almost on the same wavelength most of the time and the scene with just the two of them before the gala was SO hot!

But my favorite thing in the whole book is the connection between Noah and Corie. These two together run that pack and you canā€™t convince me otherwise! šŸ˜‚ Noah is a whole mood on his own and his character was instantly a favorite, but when you combine his feisty personality and rebellious flares with Corieā€™s sweetness and caring Omega nature itā€™s a pairing that you canā€™t help but love. Plus their loyalty to each other just warms my heart. They always have each others backs and Noah has made sure to be the one person she can always come to no matter what. The way he steps up in solidarity with Corie to make sure nothing gets in the way of Corie bonding and getting to stay just made me love him even more. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this story and Iā€™m very much looking forward to what else we will see in this series.
Greed by Brooklyn Cross

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dark emotional funny medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

1st & 3rd person/dual pov (don't let the 3rd person sway you away from this one!)
Spice: 5/5

"If I'm dreaming, never wake me up."

OBSESSED. I'm honestly upset with myself for taking so long to come across this book! Then again I am also kind of glad I didn't until the audiobook was out because I don't think there is a better way to experience this story other than the audio. I've listened to some good audiobooks but this one was stellar! You can tell these two narrators put their hearts and soul into these characters. But the range with which they played all the different characters is what had me floored. They both did such a good job of creating different voices and personalities to fit each one that I often forgot this wasn't a multicast recording. Especially P.J. - those demon voices were so perfectly creepy sometimes! And the emotions they put into this as well? They screamed they cried, they whispered, they laughed. It was as if I was there in the room with them while these conversations were happening and not listening to it all through a pair of headphones. Just amazing work all around. 

Now let's talk about the story itself. Set in a shared world with six other authors, Greed follows the story of the fallen angel who became the deadly sin of Greed. Going by the name of Riker since the fall he is an extremely wealthy businessman and the embodiment of greed as he should be. Still holding on to all of the anger and hatred from his banishment from Heaven he is pretty much a grade-A jerk to anyone in his path and seems to be a forever bachelor. My favorite thing about Riker's character is that even though he has been on Earth for centuries at this point he still has so much confusion about humans and the way they operate sometimes. I loved being inside his head and getting all of his snarky thoughts about the ins and outs of human lives and his opinions on the race as a whole. Some things he has figured out quite well and uses it to his benefit such as how to manipulate human predictability into making himself even more money. Then of course there are his Wednesdays... Trust me when I say you will laugh so hard it hurts once you realize what I'm talking about and you'll never look at a Wednesday the same way again! 

So Riker is living his best fallen angel life until he stumbles across a human woman by the name of Minetta. She looks almost identical to a woman he knew in heaven but quickly realizes she is not her. Not only is she human but she seems to have no greed or any of the other sins living in her heart. She's not like any other human he's met before and for some reason, he can't get her out of his head. And as much of a jerk as she thinks he is Minetta can't stop thinking about him either. Unfortunately, others have noticed they've met and are actively trying to remove Minetta from the picture right under Riker's nose, believing she is the key to stopping an ancient prophecy from coming true. 

Talk about a couple fighting to be in each other's lives. These two are literally fighting Heaven and Hell to find their happiness as well as each other. Riker is so set in his sinful ways and Minetta has such a pure heart that they often butt heads over a multitude of things. This right here is where the book really won me over. Minetta is bringing out parts of Riker that he hasn't seen since he spent his days behind those pearly gates. Pieces of him he once thought were broken are beginning to heal without taking away the things that make his character who he is. Minetta's eyes are opened up to a whole world of things she never knew existed or were possible while she remains courageous and kind. The way their story plays out was full of ups and downs but so fulfilling in the end and entirely worth everything it took to get there. 

Be ready for this book to bring out some emotions in you as well. It's full of dark humor and some of the wildest scenes I've ever read that had me gasping for air as I tried to reign in my laughter. It also had some super steamy spicy scenes that without a doubt will turn your insides to goo if you listen to it because of the way P.J. gets into character and delivers Riker's naughty words... that should be illegal! I can practically feel my insides melting just thinking about it lol. 
What I wasn't prepared for however was the tears. I cried several times in varying degrees of sobbing. Sometimes a moment just got me in my feelings and for others my heart was completely crushed. At one point I'm certain I stopped breathing and just sat against a wall letting it all out because there was no continuing on until I had processed what I read and there were no more tears left to cry. At least for the next couple of hours anyways cause Brooklyn got me again before it was all said and done lol. 

But even with all of the tears, this has to be one of the most entertaining books I've ever had the pleasure of consuming. At the moment it is sitting pretty at the top of my list for book of the year and it is going to be hard for a book to make me feel everything this one did and then some in order to beat it. It is dark and it is twisted at times, but you have to remember we are dealing with Hell, demons, and fallen angels here. Literal sin in the flesh. It would be a waste of time to go into this book expecting any different. With that said though still make sure to check the content warnings provided by the author before reading or listening. 


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