hopemays_library's reviews
78 reviews

5.0

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🌶️🌶️🌶️

Okay after reading Luna Masons Beneath The Mask Series and meeting Jax I needed to read his story. And then Luna baited us and edged us sooo hard… but every second was worth it! Every single page of this book had me hooked. From the drama and the plot to the smexy scenes!I wonder if I can convince my hubs to get his tongue pierced. However he'd probably agree to chase me around and do some primal play long before a piercing. But ho|y h0t he|| Jax had this book scorching!

✨Thank you @authorlunamason for letting me ARC read! All thoughts and opinions are my own.✨

🖤@hopemays_library🖤

Vengeful Gods by Elliott Rose

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5.0

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Do yourself a favor and read this chonky book! Better yet add it to your trophy shelf because this cover is beyond gorgeous! I absolutely ate this book up! I couldn’t get enough of it. It has it all! MMFM to MMMF, reverse harem, over the top touch her and d!E vibes, and a secret society. If this book doesn’t make a best sellers list then the world is obviously ending!

✨Thank you @elliottroseauthor and @booksires for letting me ARC read! All thoughts and opinions are my own.✨

🖤@hopemays_library🖤

You're It by Cleo White

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5.0

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🌶️🌶️🌶️

Savvy, a walking tornado, inherits her dead father's failing laser tag business. As Savvy begins to cope with the fact that she is going to have to take care of all of the horrible financial decisions her father made in his business, she is also hit with the fact that she will have to see the man she had a crush on, kissed, and then never saw or spoke to again for 9 years. Darwin (Dar), who just so happens to be her dead dad's 45 year old best friend and business partner. Can their friendship be renewed or will the past repeat itself?

You’re It is a spicy laser tag, age gap, dads best friend, second chance romance. This book will have you giggling and swooning. I absolutely loved this story. Cleo White is a new to me author but has left me wanting to read more of her books. You’re It flows so well I read it in one day. I adored the characters so much! I really related to Savvy, not just by my history with ADHD but also by watching my husband with ADHD who has it worse than I do.

✨Thank you @authorcleowhite for allowing me the chance to ARC read! All thoughts and opinions are my own.✨

🖤@hopemays_library🖤

Not As Planned by Harlow James

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medium-paced

5.0

🎧 Audiobook

🎤 Narrated by Connor Crais & CJ Bloom

5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

3/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️

This audiobook was too good! I have loved every single audiobook in this series so far but Noelle's story is the one that I related to the most. She, more than any of her friends, the "Ladies Who Brunch", always wanted to find her special person and start a family. Unfortunately, her life plan doesn't go the way she had always wanted it to and she was the last single girl in the group. She finally decides to take matters into her own hands and starts her own family by getting pregnant via sperm donor. After having Scarlett, Noelle realizes that she wasn’t prepared for how hard life as a single mom could be.

When Noelle meets Grant the pilot at a local coffee shop in the most adorably embarrassing meet cute she thinks she may never see him again, that is until a stranger starts harassing her on her flight and Grant saves her yet again.

Noelles journey into motherhood perfectly portrays the struggle that women experience with their bodies changing and no longer being their own. And let me tell you the way that I swooned for Grant was next level. This man is all MAN! His love for Scarlette was beyond adorable.

Connor Crais and CJ Bloom did a wonderful job narrating this book. The two portrayed the characters so well I could feel all the emotions! CJ was a perfect casting for Noelle, capturing her quirky yet at times no nonsense personality. Connor definitely captured Grant's grown man swag lol. Grant's words being delivered by Connor was absolutely swoon worthy!!

I’m sad that this series is over with the ladies who brunch but am stoked to see that Jeffrey has a book of his own!

Produced by: @onenightstandstudios

✨Thank you @theauthor.agency and @harlowjamesauthor for giving me an ALC to listen to! All thoughts and opinions are my own.✨

🖤@hopemays_library🖤

Icing It by Emma Foxx

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5.0

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

🧁 Polyamourous MMFM

🧁 Bi-awakening

🧁 Hockey playing golden retriever boyfriend

🧁 Billionaire grump/tech nerd boyfriend

🧁 Single dad hockey coach boyfriend

🧁 Pure sunshine FMC

🧁 HEA

This book had me entertained the whole way through. We get plenty of spice and little plot. But the characters are so loveable that it more than makes up for it. I honestly commend Luna for putting up with Dani… if my business partner was that MIA I would honestly lose my mind. I love that Luna was finally able to learn how to lean on others (even her guys) for help. Alexsei is the ultimate golden retriever boyfriend. There is no other way to describe him other than that he is the type to make you grin and swoon. Cam is the perfect grumpy nerd to take the lead and he might just be my favorite. What can I say except that I like them grumpy. Now Owen, I was having trouble seeing him as part of the group and my heart shattered for him as he was trying to find his place. But I'm so glad he did. Once I got through the will they or won't they stage of the book it was smooth sailing and you could really see how all of the characters complemented each other. I loved the way the story read but I do wish there had been more to the ending….Ohh but wait there is because Emma wrote a bonus chapter and it is the cherry on top of the perfect cupcake!

Highly recommend this book — my first from this author — and can’t wait to read more of her stuff!

✨Thank you so much @good.girls.pr and @emmafoxxwrites for the opportunity to ARC read! All thoughts and opinions are my own.✨

🖤@hopemays_library🖤

Sucker Punch by Alta Hensley

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fast-paced

4.0

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

After her father died, Ari inherited his training gym, Smiley’s. Her long time friend and companion, Frankie (AKA Freakshow) helps her manage and run the gym. However, money has been tight and they just aren't bringing in the business the gym needs to stay running. Soon they find themselves deciding to delve into the world of illegal cage fights rather than boxing. They need a headline fighter, but the choice they are given isn’t exactly a sure thing.

Bones was disgraced. He made some bad decisions that had him blacklisted from the fighting world. When approached by the beautiful Ari, he can’t believe he’s being given a second chance. Along with his manager and best friend, Lotto, they sign a contract that will give him his second chance. But when the past starts to replay itself and his father falls sick again, can Bones learn to rely on others for their strength? Or will he fall into the same trap again?

I was able to read this in one sitting and I don’t regret a single minute of it. It’s fast paced and the relationships progress quickly. This story has a high smvt to plot ratio which is perfectly fine by me. Ari and Frankie have a professional and personal relationship. The latter being a tad bit toxic. But Frankie is so protective of Ari that it is insanely admirable, even if it drives her nuts and tends to make her feel like a small woman in a man's world. Bones and Lotto are a hot as heck couple who have seen the rougher side of life and have been there for each other through it all. I was not prepared to love them as much as I did. Now take these two separate couples and make one big poly relationship and you get fireworks. There are scenes with MM, MF, and an array of group scenes. We do get one MM scene that is NC/SA h8 s3x that did bother me just a smidge, however by the end of the book the character states they would have “given it”. Other than that scene we get some seedy underbelly of the fighting world with gambling, loan sharks, and mafia, along with some fighting scenes. I definitely class this as a dark romance, however, it's not terribly dark. I'd say it’s actually a great beginner book to dark romance. The only thing that kept me from giving it five stars is I felt like the relationship development between the group was a little lacking and the plot was just quickly dealt with in the end. But I'm giving it the benefit of the doubt because I do believe that is meant as an introduction to Alta’s God’s Among Men series or as just a small part of that universe. I understand that it can be taxing or take a good chunk of the book to give more details to relationship building and plot with a book that is just under 400 pages. Overall I Loved this book and fully recommend it.

✨Thank you so much @valentine_pr_ and @altahensley for the opportunity to ARC read! All thoughts and opinions are my own.✨

🖤@hopemays_library🖤

One Date by K.A. James

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5.0

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🌶️🌶️🌶️

K. A. James has done it yet again. This book had me swooning. I truly loved this story and getting to see Sutton find her HEA! My only complaint would be that this is a huge miscommunication trope… buttt if both characters just outright communicated then the book would have been over in 20 pages so i will have to live with the miscommunication. I mean K.A. more than makes up for it with all the swoon worthy romance she gives us. I mean the MMC follows the FMC to another country to ask for one date. Just one! And then we get not one but two dancing in the rain scenes!!! I know this was simply a novella but I would have loved a longer book! I simply couldn’t get enough!

✨Thank you so much @kajamesauthor for the opportunity to ARC read! All thoughts and opinions are my own.✨

🖤@hopemays_library🖤

Catching Feelings by Maren Moore

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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

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🌶️🌶️🌶️

I couldn’t get enough of this book. It’s sweet and spicy and really pulls on your heartstrings. I loved the characters so much! We get a black cat FMC and a golden retriever MMC who couldn’t be more perfect for eachother. Reese Landry is so patient and sweet, he checks all of the book boyfriend boxes. I mean catcher thighs and butt?!?! Yes please!!

Vivienne Brentwood is hardworking and completely overwhelmed with her mother’s undiagnosed depression. Maren poured so much of her own personal experience with loss and grief into this story and you could tell this book was written with so much love. This book has so much emotion in the words that you are taken on a raw and honest emotional journey.

I did it yet again and have read book two before book one. But with this book that's okay since it can be read as a standalone! And I will definitely be Reading homerun Proposal to get Hallie and Lanes story! I know everyone is in their “Hockey Era” however for me there is just something about baseball… i.e. the pants IYKYK….

✨Thank you so much @valentine_pr_ and @authormarenmoore for the opportunity to ARC read! All thoughts and opinions are my own.✨

🖤@hopemays_library🖤

Now's the Time by Harlow James

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adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense 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

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🌶️🌶️🌶️

I don’t know how she does it but Harlow James just drags you into her books so hard. Now take that and make it an audiobook with the perfect narrators, Jacob Morgan and Erin Mallon, and you're completely engrossed. This audiobook had me giggling and weeping, gasping and sweating. This audiobook is both hot and spicy but is also a sweet tear-jerker. There's even corny puns littered throughout the story. My heart shattered for Penelope and Maddox and then it was stitched back together again. Penelope and Maddox were meant for eachother and their angels led them to each other.

The narrators did such a wonderful job at bringing these characters to life. They took their roles and ran with them, setting the perfect tone for the story. They easily captured all of the emotions and really made me feel each and everyone. Erin Mallon did such a wonderful job as Penelope, her voice is sweet, sassy, and sultry. Jacob Morgan has a total dreamboat voice and captures Maddox in the best way.. I mean chapter 15..ohhh and I can’t forget to mention Maddox has a pierced 🍆He very well may be my favorite man so far in this series.

And we can't forget about the ladies who brunch. They truly are such a great support system and amazing friends. I'm loving getting to know each one of them and their men. If you want to hear more about this audiobook well you just have to listen for yourself and now’s the time.

✨Thank you so much @theauthor.agency and @harlowjamesauthor for the ALC to listen to! All thoughts and opinions are my own.✨

🖤@hopemays_library🖤

His Ruthless Queen by A.N. Stauber

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adventurous dark funny hopeful mysterious tense 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? No

5.0

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Saoirse Murphy is the youngest of her siblings and the princess. She has a tendency of giving her guards the slip, that is until a new guard is assigned to her. Enter Jameson Scott Burne aka Scotty. He has been Saoirse’s bodyguard and best friend for the last five years. Noone knows Saoirse the way that Scotty does. But when he’s shot by her family’s enemies, Saoirse is ready to confess her feelings. Scotty realizes that Saoirse is too good for the mafia lifestyle and pushes her as far away from him as possible by sending her across the country. Well, if Scotty won't appreciate what she is willing to give him, Saoirse will have her brother help her find someone who will. Even better, he can find her someone who can get her out of the mafia world once and for all.

Scotty’s not sure when it happened, but he fell hard for Soairse. However, his feelings and any potential involvement with her can not happen, she is off limits. While Scotty is a trusted member of the team and friend to her brothers, he believes the wrath that he would feel from Cal and the rest of her brothers wouldn’t be worth it. When Scotty returns to the mafia he finds Saoirse engaged to Corbin, the Governor and hopefully one day President. When a new threat hangs over her head Scotty has no choice but to start guarding her again. He will do anything to keep her safe, including telling her how he feels. Will it be enough or will the marriage contract keep them apart?

His Ruthless Queen is book 3 in the Black Hearts Series by A.N. Stauber. Although it can technically be read as a standalone, I would recommend reading the series in order. Some of the supporting characters got a little jumbled up in my head while listening. I had a little trouble connecting with them because I missed their story by starting with this book instead of at book one. Plus reading in order just means more Dark Mafia Romance, you can’t beat that!

I loved this audiobook so much! Saoirse and Scotty's romance is a combustible and seductive tale. Add in Jason Clarke and M. K. Blackwood as the narrators and you get an audiobook that captures your interest, steals your breath and makes your pulse race. M. K. Blackwood portrayed Saoirse’s personality so well, from her insecurities to her stubbornness. Jason Clarke knows how to voice a strong and possessive alpha male. He can tame my bratty attitude any day! Both narrators are so talented with their passion and accents. Even their male/female voices were wonderful. These two made such a wonderful team and I'd love to listen to another book narrated by them! This story was absolute perfection. This was my first book from A. N. Stauber and it definitely won’t be my last. She painted a wonderful dark Irish Maria story that is filled with angst, drama, suspense, and tension. I cannot wait to listen to the rest of this series!

✨Thank you so much @authoranstauber for the ALC to listen to! All thoughts and opinions are my own.✨

🖤@hopemays_library🖤

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hopemays_library's reviews 78 reviews

hopemays_library's reviews
78 reviews