Happy Release Day & Book Review: Phantom in the Flames

Title - Phantom in the Flames 

Author - R.K. Van Pelt 

Tropes - Epic Fantasy 

Format - eArc 

Series - Fulkonor Book 1 

Publication date: March 24th 2026 

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Synopsis 

On his 18th birthday, Edsel’s entire world gets turned upside down. He quickly finds himself locked into a race for survival as everything he was taught to believe about the world, magic, and other races turns out to be lies. Edsel finds himself blamed for magical attacks happening throughout the Empire, and is forced to leave his home behind, possibly forever. Finding the world enveloped in chaos, full of dragons, goblins, elves, and many other fantastic creatures, can he survive long enough to make it back to his family?

My Review

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

 Edsel's life was quiet living with his aunt until his 18th birthday decided to change everything. Suddenly he's on the run to stay safe and making friends along the way. I enjoyed the cast of characters that Edsel encounters on his adventure making friends and growing as the story progresses. 

I was hooked right from the very first page to the very last. I devoured this one in about four hours and finished it in two quick reading sessions. This is a epic fantasy with lots of world building and a whole cast of characters. I found Edsel very relatable and easy to connect with you can't help cheering him on as the story progresses. 

This is the first in an exciting new series from a new voice. The story is beautifully written it's captivating from start to finish and leaves the reader wanting more. I'm not a epic fantasy reader but that may have changed after enjoying this one so much. I'm excited to continue the series and see how Edsel grows as the story progresses. If you enjoy relatable characters with action packed adventure this is a must. It's one of my favorite reads of 2026 and I loved it. Highly recommend. 

Book Review: Mayhem and the Mortal

Title - Mayhem and the Mortal 

Author - Shanora Williams  

Tropes - Fantasy Romance  

Format - eArc 

Publication date: March 17th 2026 

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Synopsis 

One mission. One curse. No escape.

Zaira doesn’t want a hero. She needs a weapon.

To save her sister from a soul-devouring curse, she has to cross The Shallows—a nightmare landscape of ruined magic, shifting paths, and vicious creatures that eat people alive.

Her guide? Thane Valkor: sorcerer, assassin, walking red flag. His name clears rooms. His magic kills quietly. And whatever he’s really after, it’s not salvation.

He promises to help. He might even mean it.

But Zaira knows better than to trust a liar with a blade and ice in his veins.

She just doesn’t have a choice.

My Review

I received Mayhem and the Mortal in return for an honest review from Valentine PR. 

Zaira's sister has been cursed and without a way to break the curse she won't be able to save her. The only way she knows to break the curse is to set off to the dangerous Shallows to get a stone that will break the curse. She hires Thane to take her to the Shallows but he's got his own agenda. Along the way they bring together a rag tag group of friends on an adventure of a lifetime. 

 I loved Zaira she's such a great character and I really felt like I could connect with her. The whole cast of characters are perfect you can't help liking them all. I hope that if I was every cursed I had someone like her who was willing to risk everything to save me. Thane is just the right amount of grumpy hero and swoon-worthy with just a touch of morally grey.  

I was hooked from the very first page by Zaira's story till the very last page. I actually devoured this one in one sitting it was impossible to put down till the very last page. This is a fast paced action packed whirlwind adventure with just a little romance. The author has done a beautiful job creating a story to fall in love with. This is one of my most anticipated reads and it doesn't disappoint it's a must read if you enjoy Romantasy. I loved it! 

  

Book Review: Loch

Title - Loch

Author - Kelly Finley 

Tropes - Dark Mafia Romance 

Series -Belles & Bratva Beasts   

Format - eArc 

Publication date: March 16th 2026 

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Synopsis 

The Mafia doesn’t belong in the mountains, but I belong with Alena.

I was supposed to guard my best friend’s daughter.

The innocent mafia princess with dirt under her fingernails and no idea who she really is.

Or the danger she’s in.

To her, I’m Loch Waring.

A fellow forest ranger. Her hot, inked colleague. Her burly neighbor and goofy friend.

To me, Alena Allen is my obsession.

My forbidden love. My steamy inspiration for my online fans. She has no idea how long I've wanted her.

Until, secret by secret revealed, Alena discovers who I really
am.

A beautiful liar.

A beast.

A Bratva prince.

A man born to crack skulls for her.

So I'll make her feel more beautiful.

More desired.

More dark and dirty than she’s ever known.

I will make her mine.

Because the clock is ticking.

Brutal enemies emerge from the shadows.

Alena will discover who I am one day.

And who she is.

I may lose Alena.

But I will rip men and mountains apart to get her back.

What to Expect in LOCH

• Mountain Mafia Romance
• Bodyguard x Princess
• Best Friend’s Daughter
• Curvy Beauty x Tender Beast
• Hidden Identities
• Secret Society
• Band of Brothers

Author’s note: LOCH is a standalone, dark, not-mafia-mafia romance set in a world of morally grey heroes, hot banter, and taboo traditions in a band of brothers with some heavy themes, and very explicit scenes. This is an 18+, interconnected romance with a guaranteed HEA.

My Review

I received Loch in return for an honest review from Hambright PR. 

Alena works as a forest ranger and when a new ranger arrives she can't deny her attraction as there is just something about him. Loch has secrets he was sent to protect Alena but he's been in love with her forever. She doesn't know it but she's connected to his family and hopefully when the secrets come out he will forgive her and understand he did it to protect her. 

I loved Alena she's this amazing character who will jump across a raging river to save someone, and has no second thought about her own safety. She loves to read and I really felt that I was able to connect with her, I mean who doesn't love a MC who reads just like they do. Loch's story of being in love with he forever is sweet he's been in and out of her life and she had no idea. I loved every minute of their relationship. Plus a dog named mutt made me giggle so much but at least he was very well trained. 

I devoured this one in just one afternoon as I was hooked right from the start on Alena and Loch's story. While this is a standalone I haven't read any of the prior books and had no issues following along with the story. However, now that I have met the brothers I need to go back and read their stories because I enjoyed this one so much and seeing them so connected in the story I need more. The author did a beautiful job creating a captivating story that just hooked me till the very last page. The teaser for the next book has me dying to read it. Highly recommend if you like Mafia romance checking this series out. 

It's Monday! What am I reading?

Happy Monday! 

It's a new week with all new books on my TBR, bookmail and a tasty breakfast to start the morning. 

My TBR for the week 

The Start Ex by Mia Sosa 

Poison by Juniper Cole - This one was recommended to me.

How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates by Shailee Thompson 

Saint by Eva Simmons 

Mayhem and the Mortal by Shanora Williams

Garron Park by Nordika Night

Finding Beauty by Ann Penny

Lock by Kelly Finley 

Phantom in the Flames by R.K. Van Pelt

The Unbreakable Crown by Carina Finn 

I've currently reading 95 books this year with my goal of 300. I'm on a great start. 

Bookmail 

I received my Smut & Sip 

Leave Me Behind by K.M. Moronova 

I loved the story it's my first Military romance and it was fantastic.

It's spring break here so I'm attempting to get all these books read but I'm sure my teenager has plans.  

Book Review: Taste Of Madness

Title - Taste of Madness 

Author - R.L. Caulder 

Tropes - Fantasy Romance Romantasy 

Series - Woven in Time series   

Format - eArc 

Publication date: March 7th 2026 

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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.

My Review

I received Taste of Madness in return for an honest review. 

This is the second book in the Woven in Time series. Wren has left her four inhuman men in hopes of a chance to save the humans from this war that will destroy them all. She befriends a Ryoden a human who's doing what he can to save his people and will take the risk on the stranger. With her men agreeing to give her time to see this through she does what she can but soon they are pulled into a political plan within the humans where they may not make it out unscathed. 

I love Wren she's one of my favorite FMC because she's not weak and she's willing to risk it all to save them. I liked seeing her spending time without both sides and learning more about what she is and why she's here. Her men all swoonworthy and you can't help loving them all because why choose. I really feel like I can connect with Wren which is why I just enjoyed her story so much she's awesome and I loved her. 

This is a cliffy but it's so good I didn't mind the cliffy and i'm dying to read the next book in the series. I devoured this story in just one reading session as I was hooked right from the start. I'm a tiny bit obsessed with the authors storytelling as each one is beautiful written steals a little place in my heart. I truly enjoyed every moment of the story it captivated me from start to finish. Highly recommend if you enjoy why choose romantasy this is a must. To be honest every book by this author has been stunning. She's on my auto buy and I'm working my way through her backlist and have loved every one I've read so far. 

Happy Release Day & Review

Title - The Love Ship

Author - Annabelle Anders

Tropes - Contemporary Romance 

Series - The Love Series  

Format - eArc 

Publication date: March 12th 2026  

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Synopsis 

Somewhere between the grand gesture that totally backfires, and the way the makes up for it...

I start to wonder if maybe—just maybe—my marriage isn’t as sunk as I thought.

I was supposed to be getting divorced.

Instead, I’m fake-smiling my way through my sister’s cruise-ship wedding with my almost-ex husband.

We’re pretending to be happy.

Pretending to be in love.

Pretending I’m not still completely undone by his stupid smile.

But somewhere between the room mix-up, faking our way through more than I ever could have imagined,

and the way that man looks at me like I’m his whole world—

I realize I have a

Stay safe and let him go…

Or take one last leap of faith, and trust not just him... But also, myself.

The Love Ship is a standalone romance—perfect on its own, even better after The Love Bus.

Come aboard, escape the real world, and fall hard for a man you won’t want to leave behind.

My Review

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

While this is a standalone I highly recommend reading the prior book first as it's includes prior characters. Ashley's has enough going on with getting a divorce but she can't miss her baby sister's wedding. Nor is she going to let her divorce cause any issues on her special day so the only option is to pretend they aren't getting a divorce on the cruise. Beckett has some secrets he's been keeping for Ashely driving a wedge in their marriage but maybe the cruise is just what he needs to save it. 

I loved Ashley and Beckett even though they are in a rough patch they can't deny the attraction and it's sweet. I loved seeing Luna and Noah from the first book as well as the cast of characters from the first one. I admit I love Tay she's such a great supporting character in both novels and just brings so much to the story. I also loved Beckett's night with the guys it made me giggle so much. 

I devoured this one right after finishing the first book in the series and I'm a tad bit obsessed with this world. I loved the characters and might just love Ashley and Beckett a little more. The author has done a beautiful job creating a sweet captivating story that I couldn't put down till the very last page. I loved every moment of the story it kept me laughing and even had a few tears come to my eyes. I loved it so much and can't wait for the next book in the series. This has quickly become one of my favorites. I'm a huge fan of the author's storytelling and working my way through her backlist. 

Book Review: The Blood Between Us

 Title - The Blood Between Us 

Author - Mercy Jane Porquez Ballesteros 

Tropes - Contemporary Romance Mafia 

Format - eArc 

Publication date: January 11th 2026 

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Synopsis 

A child watched her parents die in the rain.

The man who pulled the trigger let her live.

Fourteen years ago, Grace was spared with one command: Disappear.

She did.

Now twenty-two, she’s determined to uncover the truth behind the crash that was erased from history—and the powerful men who buried it.

Then she meets Declan Moretti. Cold. Controlled. Untouchable. A billionaire built on blood and loyalty. He recognizes her instantly.

She has no idea who he is.

Their attraction is immediate—electric and dangerous.

Every glance lingers too long.

Every step closer blurs the line between desire and destruction.

Grace is hunting the man who killed her parents. Declan is the man she’s falling for.

When the truth comes out, love won’t just be forbidden— it will be lethal.

The Blood Between Us is a dark, high-stakes romance filled with revenge, buried secrets, and a dangerously irresistible connection between a morally gray hero and the woman he was never meant to see again.

Some promises are written in blood. Some love stories are too.

My Review

I received The Blood Between Us in return for an honest review from the author. 

At 8 Grace's life changed the night she watched her parents be murdered by a stranger. She is sent to live with her aunt but knows there is more about their deaths. Now 14 years later grown up it's time for her to get to the bottom of what happened. Declan knows who Grace is and when she shows up 14 years later in his office he giver her the job. They have this instant connection but her past and the truth is looming. What happens when things spiral out of control will they survive or will the truth keep them apart. 

I loved Grace and Declan they both have issues but together they find what they are both looking for. I loved the connection that they have it's sweet, steamy and impossible to deny the attraction. I loved the office romance with the darker Mafia elements. I love that Declan has grown from the young 21 year old who was forced into the life that he wasn't ready for. 

This is my first book by the author and I'm hooked I love a story that captures my attention and draws me in right from the start. I ended up devouring this one in just a few short hours as I was hooked on Grace and Declan's story. It's an emotional rollercoaster that keep me on the edge of my seat till the very last page. I'm in love and a tad bit obsessed it was such a beautifully written story.