His Empress (Empire of Royals #3) by Emilia Rossi

⭐️⭐️⭐️☆☆
📖 Story: 3/5
❤️‍🔥 Characters: 4/5
🌶️ Spice Level: 3.7/5
🔁 Re-read?: maybe
⏭️ Next book?: yes

Not a bad book, but certainly not as good as her other books. To be fair, I don't really like the tropes and sub-tropes in this book.

• Accidental Pregnancy
• Lead to Forced/Arranged Marriage
• MMC is experienced (though approx. 2 decade celibacy), FMC is a virgin

I particularly don't like the experience vs lack thereof trope, but I can still handle the pregnancy. However, I didn't like the way the pregnancy trope was written. It's hard to explain, but it sort of focused on the pregnancy, without doing so. I would say Rossi focused on the literal baby part of the pregnancy, but not on the effects of pregnancy on the FMC, Sienna. Also, having read her other books, and re-read His Tesoro especially, and being familiar with the characters, I do not agree with Sienna having to go through this trope. Honestly, her personality was diminished in this book, and she was victimized unnecessarily. However, Rossi's 3 books all victimize the woman, so I guess it's her cup of tea.

Another issue I have is with the MMC. Dimi was an asshole. Asshole. Red flag. Idiot. Podonok (courtesy of google translate for Russian for fucker). And again, considering her personality, she wouldn't have taken that shit. She barely put up a fight, and almost rolled over, but not completely.

Two other negative things, before I get to the positives.

• Typos in my version of the book (ePUB) and in the bonus scenes
• Overall, this wasn't as good as the other 2 books.

Okay! Good stuff coming right up!!

I THINK I SAW A HEATED RIVALRY REFERENCE!!!

Semi- spoiler/quote/thingy:

“And our inaugural film is actually a TV show.”

“Wait, you don’t mean⁠—”

Sergey wrapped an arm around my shoulders. “Yes, that gay Russian hockey one you’ve already watched a million times but for some inexplicable reason want to watch with us.”

Ok, it's done :))

Another thing, for fans of Neva Altaj, I see hints of Altaj's storyline in her books. Almost like Rossi took reference from Altaj, but no plagarism.

In all, this wasn't a bad book. I'd definitely give it a re-read, especially since the sex was goooood - what can i say, i like a man in control :P

Characters and story lines were good, I liked the plot, just not the tropes. Would still recommend, since the lower stars are influenced by my personal taste, obvi.

Ice Shy (Ottawa Otters Legends, #1) by K.M. Gillis

⭐⭐⭐⭐☆(3.5 technically)
📖 Story: 3.5/5
❤️‍🔥 Characters: 3.7/5
🌶️ Spice Level: 3/5
🔁 Re-read?: maybe
⏭️ Next book?: maybe

First of all - this book took WAY too long for me to finish. It wasn't the book itself, it's jsut that life got in the way.

BUT I have finished it and it was pretty good!

Slow burn, which I usually like, and this wasn't a disappointment. But, for readers who like fast slow burn - the spice doesn't reach till approx 60% into the book. By spice i mean actual fucking.

couple other things I would have liked:

- more pov from Sam (the kid)

- More reactions from the rest of the team - there was potential!!!!

I will say, this book didn't hook me, but that could be because I wasn't in the right mindset. But it was a nice slow read, pick up and put down when you feel like it type. 

Lord of the Flies by William Golding

⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
📖 Story: 4/5
❤️‍🔥 Characters: 4/5
🌶️ Spice Level: n/a
🔁 Re-read?: yes
⏭️ Next book?: n/a

So..

This isn't a usual read of mine. I had to do so for an assignment. Honestly, I wasn't in the right frame of mind for reading this book, just because I had a shit ton of tests/exams. However, I will absolutely reread this in the future.

One thing I will say is that: THIS BOOK SHOULD NEVER BE BANNED

• There is too much potential for real, and important discussions.
• Which I guess is why people banned it? BUT this shit is important!!!

I'll come back to this review when I do an actual reread where I can focus on the book. It is a really important read.

Hallowed Bones (Sons of Salem #1) by Lucy Smoke

ARC via NetGalley

⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
📖 Story: 3.5/5
❤️‍🔥 Characters: 3.7/5
🌶️ Spice Level: 2/5 (reduced because of quality)
🔁 Re-read?: maybe
⏭️ Next book?: maybe

Perfect for lovers of BM Clemton and Tessa Hale!


Ideally 3.5 stars, but on the higher end, so I gave it a 4.


This why choose was really interesting, but not necessarily captivating. The characters are interesting, but, at least for me, did not create personal attachements. For example, despite the cliffhanger, I am not anxiously waiting for Book 2, but rather I will try to remember to read it if/when it comes out. So unlike BM Clemton, I don't feel connected to the characters. This is partially because of the way they are written. I feel like the maturity levels of the characters, particularly Haven and Ezra kept fluctuating. They are all supposed to be around 18-20, but sometimes it felt as though they were 16 year olds, and sometimes 25.


The plot itself was somewhat interesting, but again I am not hooked the way I would be for other books. There was a lot of history, world and character building in this novel, which I believe could have been split over the first 2 books of a series.

Spice wise, it is not a yearning, nor a slow burn. However, there is only 1 full sex scene, which could have been written better. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't to the level of the other writing.

Overall, I don't regret reading it (not a waste of my time), and I will try to read book 2 if I remember. If the characters were more personal and relatable, and the plot was a little more engaging this would be 5 star.

Nabbed by the Bratva (London Mafia Bosses, #11) by Evie Rose

ARC via Net Galley

⭐☆☆☆☆

📖 Story: 1.5/5
❤️‍🔥 Characters: 1/5
🌶️ Spice Level: ?/5
🔁 Re-read?: no
⏭️ Next book?: no

DNF audiobook, wattpad-like

NOTE: I have not read the previous books!

I reached somewhere in chapter 9/24. Immediately, within the first 4 chapters, I got the sense that it was more like a wattpad or insta reel fic instead of an actual book. Also, the narrators sounded like AI. They don't appear to be since their names are listed, but (and I'm sorry) it's just sounds so bad.

Also, the dialogue felt really fake/stiff and I didn't particularly like any of the scene descriptions. Further, (and I will explain!), I didn't like what I saw of the FMC. The captor-captive part was so unrealistic. Like, she barely put up a fight. I KNOW it is a book where that is the main theme, but at least make it somewhat realistic imo. She pretty much rolled over. I'd say that even if a person is writing with that theme, don't jump right into the "omg its so hot, i want you" part.

Also, one more thing....
"unalived" - seriously? in a mafia book?


Anyway, didn't like it. won't bother trying again. But, I don't like wattpad type books, so maybe it's a me thing.

Warrior Princess Assassin by Brigid Kemmerer (Braided Fate #1)

⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ 
📖 Story: 4/5
❤️‍🔥 Characters: 4/5
🌶️ Spice Level: 2.7/5
🔁 Re-read?: yes
⏭️ Next book?: yes

I loved it!

It was addicting, as in I couldn't put it down and lost sleep over wanting to read the next chapter. Characters were great, and their relationships with each other were nuanced and personal. It didn't feel staged, if you know what I mean. Basically, I feel like some books put characters in a relationship just to add the romance. That didn't happen in this. At all. It didn't feel forced.

Not exactly spoilers, but details regarding character relationships ahead:

I also loved the way Asher and Ky interacted. Kemmerer really showed that as Asher was coming out of his shell, 'like a wolf emerging from a cave' (or something like that :DDD), Ky was the person he needed, instead of Jory.

Also, Kemmerer does a good job of balancing Jory's naiviety and bravery. She isn't a damsel in distress or a push over, but it's clear she's sheltered. I think that is exactly what most princesses, who actually give a damn, would be like.

I didn't give it 5 because:
1. Some dialogue felt awkward to read
2. I feel like we didn't get enough explanation for Ky's thoughts and opinions, even during his chapters.
3. I found the foreshadowing with V very obvious, so it kinda made reading those chapters boring. Also regarding her, I don't like the way she was introduced (I'm not talking about her condition). I mean the way she (and her condition) was described. Especially since she is a princess, so I think she needed a better introduction.

Overall, amazing! Really hoping to get the ARC lol. And I will probably, surely, definitely reread.

Goodreads link