Book Review: La Dolce Veto

Title -La Dolce Veto 

Author - Caitlin Alice Gilbert 

Tropes - Enemies to Lovers, Romcom, forced proximity 

Format - eArc

Publication date: April 7th 2026 

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Synopsis 

From debut author Caitlin Alice Gilbert comes a bold and emotionally resonant romance that flips the script on scandal, and shows the power of self-discovery, redemption, and a summer of love in a small Italian town.

Rising star US Congresswoman Isabella Rhodes was supposed to be making history—not headlines.

But when a devastating betrayal shatters her political career overnight, she flees to La Musa, a sleepy village in the heart of Umbria where the days are slow, the pasta is handmade, and no one knows her name.

At Villa Farentino, Izzy hopes to start fresh, far from politics and the relentless eyes of the world. But her plans unravel when she learns she’ll be sharing the villa with Benito Farentino, the brooding, newly elected mayor who is just as determined to save his crumbling hometown as he is unwilling to trust outsiders.

As tensions grow over a controversial hotel development, Izzy is pulled into the fight for La Musa’s future… and further into Benito’s world. And soon, what began as a quiet escape becomes a chance to rebuild, to believe again, and maybe even to fall in love.

Izzy now has a choice. Will she risk her second chance at happiness for the life she left behind, or stay and fight for the one she’s only just begun to imagine?

My Review

I received La Dolce Veto in return for an honest review from Keeperton. 

Izzy's life has spiraled out of control and she's forced to step back from her political career so a trip to Italy sounds like just what she needs. Upon arriving she has no plans other than to enjoy her time and she's not planning to return to the life she loved. It's while living in La Musa she meets Benito who's just returned home after his time in London. However, she can't escape her past and it's calling her back. 

I loved Izzy she's a sweetheart and the fact that she choose to run to Italy when her political career blew up was such a smart idea. I feel like sometimes we just all need a nice long vacation or just a change and this was a huge one. I love the relationship between Izzy and Benito it's this sweet and just a little spicy. I really felt like I was able to connect with Izzy she's just such a great character you can't help loving her story. 

I devoured this one in just one afternoon as I was hooked right from the start. I had the audiobook and I've listened to the narrator before she's one of my favorites. The author has done a beautiful job creating a captivating story that I fell in love with. I enjoyed the characters and loved the sweet romance. I'm excited to see what the author will write next as I'm a fan. Highly recommend if you are looking for a contemporary romance. 

Happy Release Day & Review: Enemies to Lovers

Title - Enemies to Lovers 

Author - Alisha Rai 

Tropes - Enemies to Lovers, Romcom, forced proximity 

Format - eArc

Publication date: April 7th 2026 

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Synopsis 

From the author of Partners in Crime, comes a sparkling new adventure rom-com where a con woman and a lawman team up on an epic cross-country road trip to save their families…and each other.

Sejal Chaudhary inherited her mama’s calculating brain, her daddy’s quick fingers, and the boatload of trauma that comes with being the eldest daughter of criminals. Although Sejal has never claimed to be a good girl, she’s spent the last couple years laying low and going (mostly) straight. That is, until a con gone wrong sends her into the arms of a handsome stranger who’s set on dragging her back into her messy family drama.

Krish Anand never mastered the fine art of being a bad boy…he would take a book over bullets any day. But when his FBI agent brother goes missing, he has no choice but to suit up for the adventure of a lifetime. Certain that someone in Sejal’s little crime family is behind the disappearance, a desperate Krish manages to convince the beautiful thief that his brother’s badge is actually his.

The deal is simple: help him find his brother, and Krish and the law will leave Sejal be. With an up-to-no-good ex also hot on her trail, Sejal reluctantly agrees. As they wind their way across the country on planes, buses, and automobiles, sparks ignite, and what began as a fragile temporary truce starts to look more and more like a partnership.

Falling for the enemy? So cliche, but so good…if only they can survive long enough to chance a happily ever after.

My Review

I received Enemies to Lovers in return for an honest review from Avon via NetGalley. 

Sejal is in hiding when she just happens to runs into Krish when she needs some help but has no idea he's also after her. When her rescuer needs something from her she's swept back into the family drama. Together they form an unlikely partnership that will benefit them both for their end goal. The more time they spend together the closer they get and together they may just find what they are looking for. 

I received the audio book for this one and listened to it in just one afternoon. I tend to speed up my audio books or I have a harder time focusing and the voices didn't loose the appeal sped up. I devoured the story and was hooked right from the start with Sejal and Krish's whirlwind adventure. This is a sweet rom-com that had me giggling with just the right amount of spice to story.

This is my first book by the author and I'm hooked on her storytelling. She's created this beautiful complex story that I just fell in love with. I really felt that I was able to connect with the characters and cheered them on through the whole story. This is a standalone so it's not required to read the prior book as they interconnected. I highly recommend reading this one it was cute and a perfect romcom for what I had been craving. This is my first book by the author but I plan to read her back list. 

Book Review: Kill The Puckers

Title - Kill The Puckers

Author - Sam Evans  

Tropes - Dark Hockey Romance   

Format - eArc 

Publication date: March 31st 2026 

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Synopsis 

Alyssa Reed has always been a problem solver and a fan of the long con. So, when the justice system fails her best friend, Alyssa takes it upon herself to set things right. And as far as Alyssa is concerned, setting things right means killing the hockey players who assaulted her friend.

There’s just a minor problem, and it’s not means or motive. It’s opportunity and access. But when Alyssa snags a date with the team’s head coach, Mark Eriksson—after stalking him for weeks, shh!—access to the team may no longer be a barrier to entry. At least, not if she can convince Mark she’s serious about him.

When hockey players start dropping like flies and Mark becomes increasingly suspicious, Alyssa has to decide if it’s just great sex that makes her want to trust Mark or if her feelings for him have outlived the long con and evolved into something more than a means to an end.

My Review

I received Kill The Puckers in return for an honest review from NetGalley. 

The justice system failed Alyssa's best friend so she's decided it's time for her to take matters into her own hands. She sets out to make the five hockey players pay for that assaulted her best friend. She sets out to date Mark the coach because he's in the perfect in to getting access to the hockey players. 

I enjoyed Alyssa she's such an awesome character you can't help cheering her on as she accomplishes her mission of getting justice. I'm a huge fan of female vigilante characters, and I think the author did a great job giving us a characters to love. I think Mark is such a perfect unexpected part to the plan she didn't account for. They have this spicy connection that just grows the more time they spend together. 

I was hooked right from the very first page and I devoured this one in just one afternoon. The author has done a lovely job creating a captivating story that sparked my heart as well as my imagination. This is my first book by the author but I'm obsessed by her storytelling. I'm a huge darker romance hockey fan so this one was a must and it doesn't disappoint and I loved everything about this story. Highly recommend if you enjoy darker hockey romance that will give you all the feels. 

Happy Release Day! & Review: Out of This World

Title - Out of the World 

Author - Ari Wright 

Tropes - Alien omegaverse 

Format - eArc 

Publication date: March 26th 2026 

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Synopsis 

Sofi didn't mean to get abducted by aliens.

But when one unfortunate t-shirt, a few test-tube shots, and an ill-advised nightclub choice land her on a transport pod, bound for another planet... Yeah. Maybe she should have stayed in.

As if being taken from her home and her two best friends wasn't bad enough, Sofi soon finds out she's been selected for a very special she's a perfect breeding vessel. Or as the aliens say, "an omega."

Sofi may not know what that is, but she soon finds out what it

She's been claimed.

By an alien king.

An alpha.

Which would be bad enough... But, turns out? On Khanos? Bad news comes in threes.

Literally.

Tropes matesWhy-choose/ MFMMAlien/monster romanceNew take on omegaverseSize difference Special peensBr**ding contractTouch her and d*eBroody, selfless warrior king Grumpy alien doctor Golden retriever alien warriorBlack cat FMCExhibitionismOmega awakeningOnly soft for herRitual s*xA whole new worldThis is an OV romance intended for readers 18 and older. No choosing and HEA guaranteed!

My Review

I received Out of This World in return for an honest review from Luna Literary. 

Sofi ends up abducted by aliens and far away unable to be returned because it's against the rules so her only choice is the aliens. She doesn't know what it is but she just happens to be an omega and she ends up picked by one of the aliens for the king. She wakes up to find three very different aliens all after her attention. What's a girl to do when she's the last hope to save the aliens. 

I loved Sofi because she's a tough strong female character who when she wakes up with aliens doesn't just roll over and take it. I love all three of her men they are perfect for her and each one brings a unique aspect to the relationship. I found all the characters easy to connect with you can't help cheering them on through the story. 

I devoured this one in just one sitting as I was hooked from start to finish on Sofi's adventure with her men. I loved the story it's a fast paced action romance with just the right balance of spice to plot. I'm obsessed with the authors storytelling as she's created another beautiful story to capture my heart. I've read most if not all of her books and this may be my favorite so far. I enjoyed every moment of Sofi's story and can't wait for the next in the series as I'm not ready to say goodbye to our aliens just yet. Highly recommend if you enjoy why choose romance. 

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!