Book Review: Emma Barrie-Blair

Title - Vengeance  

Author - Emma Barrier-Blair 

Tropes - Dark Romance 

Series - 1st in Written in Sin Duet  

Format - eArc 

Publication date: March 6th 2026 

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Synopsis 

Love. Loss. Secrets.

They form a deadly concoction when mixed.

One that turns a soul destructive, the only thing keeping it alive is a heart corroded by vengeance.

Indie Kent faced two choices in life, try carry on and bear the weight of the events that changed her forever. Or she could become a living nightmare. Take the darkness and wield it like her own form of sorcery.

There’s risks when you conjure such a force, you can uncover more than you bargained for.

Your actions might summon the devil himself.

Though Indie’s no stranger to his wicked ways. She’s about to learn how hot the flames of his hell burn for her.

And together, they’ll scorch anyone that gets in their way.

My Review

I received Vengeance in return for an honest review from the author. 

Indie and Saint were in love till the night everything changed suddenly they are no longer talking and each of them has learned to cope with that night. Each going in different ways but both with the same agenda. When a mission sends Indie back into Saint's world sparks fly. Will they be able to repair what's lost? 

I love Indie and Regina they have turned what happened into changing the lives of those who are hurt. They are some tough girls and the fact that Indie takes care of the problems as they hunt those who hurt them I just love a female vigilante. Saint is kind of perfect for Indie he's a total good guy next door but also able to destroy anyone who hurts her. They have this undeniable chemistry that just works and even after years it's still sizzling. 

I'm a tad bit obsessed with the authors books this is my second book and each one just get's better and better. This is a cliffy and I was screaming at my kindle when it finished because wow what an ending. I was hooked right form the first page and almost stayed up all night reading but finished it first thing. I enjoyed every moment of the story and can't wait to get my hands on the next one. The author is a beautiful storyteller she's created a emotional right that left me dying for more. I loved every moment of the story, even though it ripped out my soul and left me shattered. Highly recommend if you enjoy dark romance. 

Happy Release Day!

 Happy Release Day!!!! 

Taste of Madness is live!!!! 

I loved the first one in the series and I'm almost done devouring this one. 

Taste of Madness by R.L. Caulder 

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Synopsis 

My choice is made on how to move forward after saying goodbye to the four men that each own a piece of my heart, but the earth doesn’t agree.

My connection with the planet and the threads of fate I was created to wield are gone. Only deafening silence remains.

So I do the only thing I can: I forge my own path, alone and determined.

A human stronghold waits at the edge of that path, a city the kings swore would never be worthy of me. There, in the shadows of their war, I hunt for answers and find ugly truths buried under patriotic oaths, whispered orders that stink of evil, and a human who ruins my careful resolve just by existing.

Colonel Ryoden Kane arrests me as a possible enemy, yet guards me like a treasure and believes in me even with the earth’s back turned. We strike a fake engagement—a careful lie we wear like armor so I can walk beside him into the heart of human power—but with every step we take hand in hand, pretending feels a little less simple. Somewhere between duty and desire, I forget this love is a lie.

Together we hunt for a way to save this world, but what we uncover is far worse than I imagined. The deeper we go, the clearer it becomes: If I want to save this world, I’ll have to put my faith in those I love more than ever.

Time is ticking and a choice must be made, yet I don’t know if I’ll be able to live with it.

Author note: This is book two in the "Woven in Time" trilogy. This book will end on a cliffhanger.

Stacking The Shelves

Stacking The Shelves 

It's been a fantastic week for books. 

I received a couple of my subscription books. 

From Cover to Cover I received 

War by Brittanee Nicole 

Possession by Brynne Asher

Each month they have a contemporary and dark romance.

My pre-order copy of Dire Bound by Sable Sorenson special edition arrived. 

I also received Half City by Kate Golden from my Romantasy Fairyloot box. 

For Review 

Beach Thriller by Jamie Day from St. Martin Press 

River of Bones and Other Stories by Rebecca Roanhorse - from Saga Press 

Her Sharp Embrace by Kate Koenig - from Wednesday Books

Seconds to Spare by Rachel Reiss from Wednesday Books

Toe to Toe by Falon Ballard from Putnam 

Worse Than Strangers by Kyleigh Leddy - from Gallery Books

Deadly Rodeo Threat by Sami A Abrams - from the author

The Debtor's Game by Isabelle Mongeau - Ballantine Books

Book Release & Review: Beast Becomes Her

Title - Beast Becomes Her 

Author - Crystal Seitz 

Tropes - 

Series - Standalone 

Format - Physical Arc

Publication date: Feb 24th 2026

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Synopsis 

Netflix’s Wednesday meets Norse mythology in this gorgeous dark contemporary fantasy following a teen berserkr sent to a secret magical academy where she must unmask the real killer behind the gruesome campus murders or risk becoming the next victim.

Edith has always been a good girl—she has to be, or her foster family might think she’s like her violent father. No matter how much anger simmers inside her, she keeps it buried, hidden…

Until the day she’s pushed a step too far, and that anger comes bursting out in the form of literal claws.

It’s then that Edith learns she’s a berserkr, a descendant of ancient Norse warriors with the ability to turn into animals. To avoid jail for attacking a student, Edith is shipped off to the mysterious Skallagrim Academy. The ancient school is supposedly a haven for people like her, a place where she can learn to control her powers and then push them down so deep that they’ll never come out again.

But someone—or something—is stalking the dark halls of Skallagrim.

On her second night, Edith stumbles upon a gruesome murder and is caught at the scene of the crime by Amund, who is tasked with hunting down wayward berserkir. Now, with Amund suspecting Edith as the killer, she’ll have to catch the real culprit to prove her innocence before she ends up in the hunter’s crosshairs—or becomes the killer’s next victim.

My Review

I received Beast Becomes Her in return for an honest review via NetGalley. 

Edith and her little sister have been living in foster care after the death of her parents and she's determined to no end up like them. When an altercation at school changes everything they are sent off to an Skallagrim Academy to learn to control the berserkr lingering under her skin. While her little sister embraces her new life Edith has spent her who life pushing down who she is and learning control is all that matters. 

I love Edith she's such a great character and I really felt that I was able to connect with her. She has two brothers after her affections but that's the least of her worries because after arriving bodies start turning up. Teaming up with Amund the brother tasked with finding the killer they form an unlikely bond. I loved the sweet connection between them and he's totally swoonworthy in every way as a hunter and monster. 

This is my first book by the author and after seeing some artwork on Insta I knew I needed to read it and I'm very glad that I did. The book is beautifully written it's an emotional coming of age story with just a sprinkle of romance. I was hooked right from the start and devoured this book in just one afternoon of reading. I loved every moment of the story and I'm obsessed with her storytelling. I'm planning on diving into her other book, and she's going on my autobuy list. 

Book Review: The Determined

Title - The Determined 

Author - Rachel Rueckert  

Tropes - Historical Fantasy Pirates 

Series - Standalone 

Format - Physical Arc

Publication date: Feb 24th 2026

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Synopsis 

A groundbreaking novel of historical fiction based on the real experiences of two of the Golden Age of Pirates’ most infamous women, Anne Bonny and Mary Read, who dared to subvert the rules and gender roles of their time.

1721, Spanish Town, Jamaica. Captured, convicted, and pregnant, 23-year-old Anne Bonny faces the gallows. When writer Captain Charles Johnson enters the garrison, she strikes a deal: she’ll tell this opportunistic fool her story if he sends a doctor to her friend, Mary Read, who’s battling prison fever.

Prior to their arrest, life at sea had offered Anne and Mary freedom that few women knew. Anne, born into scandal in Ireland, seeks home and elusive safety in South Carolina. Discovering the opposite, she makes a bitter bargain for emergency passage to the Bahamas.

Across the Atlantic in England, Mary confronts her own limitations as an illegitimate daughter. She sneaks into a merchant crew, disguised as a cabin boy. But when war sends Mary into the cavalry, she meets a challenge even she might not rival.

When their paths collide in Nassau, a notorious “pirate den,” Anne and Mary find kinship aboard the Revenge—the fastest ship in the Caribbean. With the governor out for blood, every raid brings more risk. From the high seas to the depths of a Jamaican prison, Anne and Mary must navigate impossible choices, each determined to taste freedom again.

My Review

I received The Determined in return for an honest review from the author. 

Anne and Mary have been captures and if not for being pregnant they would have never made it as long as they did. Anne is visited by a writer who's determined to write her story at any cost and strikes up a deal for it. The story bounced between her current situation and back in time as the two woman's lives are changed. They both grew up in different worlds but fate places them together. 

I loved Anne and Mary they both had to overcome so much but they didn't give up. I think I liked that fact that Mary pretended to be a man in order to survive even joining a war. I found them both easy to connect with and cheered them on through the whole story. I loved that this is an action packed adventure with just a little sweet romance. 

I devoured this in just one reading session I was hooked right from the start till the very last page. I've not read a lot of historical fiction but for this author she's on my auto-read list. This book is beautifully written it captivated my imagination and stole a place in my heart. This was a emotional read for me and it pulled at my heart strings. I loved every moment of the book it was such a fun read and I can't wait to see what the author come up with next. 

Happy Release Day & Book Review: Night Terrors

Title - Night Terror  

Author - Torri Heat  

Tropes - Dark Romance 

Series - Standalone 

Format - EArc 

Publication date: Feb 24th 2026

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Synopsis 

It was only a dream...

Every night, Blaire Barlow wakes up screaming. Her sticky hands are covered in blood from sins she barely remembers. Every morning, the light proves it was only a dream.

Real or not, the lack of sleep is tearing her life apart, threatening both her job and her sanity. Desperate, she turns to less than legal measures to cure her nightmares once and for all – the local drug dealer, Winder.

Winder denies her, until he is forced to shelter Blaire from a threat no longer contained to her dreams. With no other option, Winder offers protection and insight into the unsettling gaps in Blaire’s memory. The deeper they dig, the closer they come to the truth that could save them both, or damn them forever.

Bound by shared secrets, and a growing, forbidden desire, the two must work together to save Blaire’s life. But the truth can be twisted...and we all know how quickly a dream can turn into a nightmare.

My Review

I received Night Terrors in return for an honest review. 

Blaire is having nightmares she wakes up from dreams covered in blood and has no idea why. the dreams are keeping her up and sleep isn't an option. Plus she's up for a promotion and needs to sleep if she wants to insure she get's it. When a chance encounter at a coffee shop lands her in Winder's path things spiral out of control but the truth starts to come out. 

I love Blaire she's such a great character you can't help cheering her on as she learns the truth and why she's having these nightmares. At least she has swoon worthy bad boy Winder to save her a blast from her past. Winder hit's all the button's for the morally grey bad boy who's just what she needs. They have this sweet and steamy connection and I just loved that he dropped everything to help her. 

I'm a tad bit obsessed with the authors storytelling she always creates the most beautiful stories that capture my heart every time and characters to fall in love with. I was hooked from the first pages to the very last I couldn't put it down till the very last page. I loved Blaire and Winders story it had everything I wanted and my only complaint is I wasn't read for it to end. I've read every book by the author she's one of my all time favorites and every book of hers has been top tier. Highly recommend if you enjoy a dark romance. 

Book Review: Finding The Forward

Title - Finding The Forward 

Author - Jane Handler 

Tropes - Omegaverse 

Series - Duet 

Format - EArc 

Publication date: December 30th 2025

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Synopsis 

All I want is to live happily ever after.

I’ve spent my life dreaming of soulmates and storybook endings—of finding a pack, an omega, a place to belong. But that kind of ending? It was never meant for someone like me.

Pastel sweaters. Romance novels. Crying at weddings. No one sees the alpha inside me—not even me.

I’ve been raising my siblings since I was a teen, walking on eggshells around controlling parents who ruled with fear. They never let me grow into my instincts. And now? I’m terrified I’ll become just like them.

Then I meet Grif—a sexy, oversized forward who steals my airplane seat and completely upends my life. He’s a beta… but everything in me screams he’s mine. My omega. My match.

And Grif doesn’t come alone.

There’s Jonas—tattooed, sharp-tongued, and alpha to the bone. Dean—sweet, gentle, and a giant goalie. And AJ—the calculating businessman who sees right through me.

They don’t want a stereotype.

They want me.

But learning to become the alpha I need to be means facing everything that I was taught to fear.

And stepping into my power might mean burning everything down.

Finding the Forward, The Complete Duet a swoony, high-heat, why-choose, fated mates, omegaverse hockey romance duet featuring a soft-hearted alpha heroine, grumpy alphas, giant omega hockey players, found family, and explosive chemistry on and off the ice. This contains both Finding the Forward, Part One and Finding the Forward, Part Two. It's M/M/M/M/F with knotty complications. If you love fated mates, possessive alphas, and steamy omegaverse romance… this pack is waiting for you.

My Review

I received Finding the forward in return for an honest review. 

This is actually a re-read for me as I read the duet when it first came out in 2024. I've since read Into the Parallel Omegaverse which is Grace's story and we are introduced to Verity and Mercy. So upon re-reading Verity's story all the references to Grace and her pack made so much more sense this time around. 

I still think Verity and her pack may just be my favorite as I love the dynamic between them all so much. I really enjoyed the fact that Verity was the alpha but due to her life growing up she's just a sweetheart and fits in with Jonas and AJ so well. Add in adorable Griff she's just what they needed and they are just what she needed. It's hard to pick my favorite of her men as they all bring something unique to the pack. 

I devoured this duet in just under 24 hours as I couldn't put it down and was hooked on Verity's story right from the start. I loved her the first time I read it and just loved her even more the second time around. I love the authors every story has been beautifully written and I'm obsessed with her storytelling. The characters are easy to connect with you can't help falling in love with them. I highly recommend this series it's one of my favorites but all the authors books are fantastic.