REVIEW - ALL THE STARS - a dazzling romance

All the Stars by Duckie Mack

Date read: 6th February 2022

My rating: 4*
Genre I reckon: m/m friends to lovers

Buy link: Amazon 

A shiny ass gold star (or 4) for this sweet friends to lovers romance!

OMG Rider and Cameron are adorable!! There's no great surprise; they've been friends and become more. Cam/Camelot/Camembert (love the cute names!), has been dating girls - until a sudden revelation enfolds. A bit quick on the acceptance, if I'm being honest. But hey, it was hot so am rolling with it. 

The real beauty is in the journey of how they get there and what happens when they both finally go for it. 

The two guys are compassionate and caring, giving back what they once received. 

All the feels! 

Always in love and light,

TL

REVIEW - ORC-WARD ENCOUNTERS - Roaringly Good!

Orc-Ward Encounters by Sam Hall

Date read: 27th January 2022

My rating: 4*
Genre I reckon: Steamy Orcs Polyamorous

Buy link: Amazon 

I'm not gonna lie - I saw this on TikTok and totally bought it for the cover - like, yes please!!

I think this is my first orc romance.

So, we have a plus-size heroine (yay!). She's repeatedly dismissed as 'the fat friend' (boo!). But she stumbles (literally!) into another realm, at the olive green feet of some hulks, err... hunks... orcs!

Now, these are very lovely orcs - yummy on all levels. They've been raised to worship their mate. They are brothers-in-arms only (phew!). And wow, do they know how to worship?! Heat scale is scorchio! 

Now, there's some instant love here. Yet they all have to take their time over first courting, and figure out how they can work as a team (*coughs* one at a time). 

The characters are well-written, but I never felt the relationship beyond the physical.  And I wish Lay-la had been a bit stronger in protecting herself. We're given some beautiful insights into both worlds, including a town of fantasy beings. But let's face it, this isn't a book you read for deep, meaningful storylines - it's mostly about the hotness. 

A fun, steamy read with gorgeous orcs.

Always in love and light,

TL

REVIEW - A SCOURGE OF PLEASANTRIES - more than pleasant!

Scourge of Pleasantries by Kim Watt

Date read: 22nd January 2022

My rating: 5*
Genre I reckon: Cosy Paranormal Detective

Buy link: Amazon 

I was in dire need of a light-hearted book. Having read some of this author's Beaufort Mysteries, I was sure this would offer some relief. I wasn't wrong!

Gobbelino is a talking cat - what, like that's not normal, or something? This book is charmingly written from his POV. He's quite mercenary but ever so charming. 

His human, Callum, fortunately has better morals. 

Together, they are PIs. 

On this, the first of their adventures, they are set on a mission to locate a stolen book. Easy! Well, no. There's a lot more than meets the eye, or whisker. 

There's a whole host of marvellous characters. 

And a bunch of crazy. 

The misadventures crescendo into a frenzy, with laugh out loud moments as well as gasps of 'eek'! 

Wonderfully written, we get all the sights and smells of Leeds, and not always as you know it. 

The world-building is masterful. The humour delightfully dry and witty. The creatures fantastically outrageous.

A curious, quirky, cosy! 

A full 5* from me.

Always in love and light, 

TL

REVIEW - GOOD BOY - who's a good boy?!

Good Boy by Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy

Date read: 18th January 2022

My rating: 4.5*
Genre I reckon: WAGs Romance

Buy link: Amazon 

I was missing my favourite book boys from my 2021 reading!! (see my review of Him)

Happily, 'Wesmie' feature in this new series by the same authors. Enough to satisfy my craving, yet not so much they take over this story. 

This one's about Jess; Jamie's sister. It starts with her planning the Wesmie wedding. 

It also features Wesmie's boisterous friend, Blake Riley. But he starts to be less smiley. Aww! 

Now, Jess is a little bit self-absorbed. And Blake is a bit pushy. So, this doesn't get the 5* rating the other books did. 

HOWEVER, it's a really lovely story. 

Blake is a better man than anyone gave him credit for. 

Jess has a worthy destiny. 

They balance each other beautifully. Plus, the sizzling chemistry - cheezus!

Not many authors have the power to really draw me into their world, and make me feel like I'm there as a side-character. But I totally feel like I'm part of this one (despite not being a sports fan!).

Always in love and light,

TL

REVIEW - SLEEPWALK - ironically, kept me awake!

Sleepwalk by Anna Fury

Date read: 15th January 2022

My rating: 4.5*
Genre I reckon: Omegaverse

Buy link: Amazon 

A garbled, "Arrrgh!" followed by a stronger, "NOOOOO!" Then an expletive starting with f and ending in er! - and that was just me!!

Ah man, that twist punched me in the gut! Don't you love it when an author can shock you? Doesn't happen to me often these days, so I especially appreciate it. 

So, I was thrilled to see Griz and Jude finally got their own book.

I spent most of the book screaming at them, "Just talk!!" - LOL

Griz is all kinds of wonderful. A calm, measured man with Kenyan heritage. Big, strong yet compassionate. And of course, a great planner. Oh, and he cooks. (*swoons*)

Jude is all kinds of messed up. Her father is a douche! 

Watching those two desperately trying to get together yet distancing was excruciating pleasure. 

I laughed at his 'other arrangements' - fun to read a different spin on that (that's all I'm saying!).

There's also a new pack to contend with. 

And Jude's brother who's struggling to return to himself after The Task Force evilness. 

All kinds of exciting and emotional! 

I think this is my favourite in this series so far. 

I need the next one NOW! 

Always in love and light,

TL

REVIEW - CINDERS: NECESSARY EVIL - mwah ha ahhh!

Cinders: Necessary Evil by Sky Sommers

Date read: 8th January 2022

My rating: 4*
Genre I reckon: Fairytale Retelling 

Buy link: Amazon 

I would like to begin this review with a little whoop for challenging the evil stepmother stereotype!

Of course, as a part-time stepmother, this is pure self-indulgence. 

As it's new year, I thought this an appropriate read. Well, Cinderella is a panto. Oh, yes it is!

Let me just offer a word of caution that this does include teen pregnancy and abortion, just in case you find that upsetting. 

Because of that, I'd be inclined to say this is more NA (as opposed to YA) even though there's no detailed scenes of the act.

The book description itself says 18+ 

Teenaged Ella is a brat! Head-strong, gullible and determined to think the world's against her. Her POV is revealed via hilarious, ranting diary entries.

Whilst Grace takes her on along with the younger twins, and does her best to care for them and her own almost-three-year-old boy. Phew! 

There's a myriad of fairy tale characters, and the tales you knew are all turned on their heads - such fun! 

You do have to read to the end once you've started as there are some surprise revelations. 

The ending sets up the next book but not on a cliff-hanger. 

This is quite a shadowy, angst-filled yet fun read. 

A good 4* from me.

Always in love and light,

TL

REVIEWS - 2021 Book Recommendations Summary

 

Wow! What a year!! 

Whilst 2021 sucked donkey balls in almost every other way, my reading material was fantastic. Who says you can't find a silver lining, eh? 

I only review books on this blog that I would genuinely recommend to a friend, so you know these are all gems.

So, let's group these by genre and give you links to my reviews and therefore the books:

Fantasy/Paranormal

Hell's Teeth by James Fahy (GM Fantasy)

Buried Magic by TJ Green (Witchy)

Realm by Jessica Cantwell (YA)

The Alpha Awakens by Anna Fury (Dystopian Shifter)

Immortal Matchmakers Inc by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff (Deity Romance)

Rise of the Sparrows by Sarina Langer (YA)

Hades by Carly Spade (Greek God)

A Lady of Rooksgrave Manor by Kathryn Moon (Gothic Monster Porn)

Variant Lost by Kaydence Snow (NA)

Christmas

Spine of Winter by Angeline Trevena (Dystopian)

Toot Hansell Christmas by Kim Watt (Dragon Mayhem)

Christmas at Snowdrop Cottage by Helen J Rolfe (Quaint)

The Naughty List by Ellie Mae MacGregor (Saucy Santa)

Santa Daddy by Keira Andrews (m/m Lumberjack Mall Santa)

Christmas on Dragonback Mountain by Kimberly Forrest (Dragon Shifter)

Lumber Snack by Mae Harden (m/f Lumberjack)

Enthralled by AH Lee (m/m Yule Magick)

M/M (male/male) Romance

Watch And Learn by KC Wells (Erotic)

Incubus Seduction by Emma Jaye (Parnormal Erotica)

All The Cuts And Scars We Hide by Garry Michael (Healing)

Red, White And Royal Blue by Casey McQuistion (Royal)

Him by Sarina Bowen (Sweet Sports)

Ghost Hunted by BL Blackwell (Spooky)

Polyamorous

Looking For It by Allyson Lindt (m/m/f Friends to Lovers)

Inevitable by Briar Prescott (m/m/m incl. ACE)

Mystery

Crime Scenes, Cats and Killer Heels by Violet Schofield (Kitty)

Death at The Frost Fair by Karen Charlton (Regency)

The Dragon Sleeps by Ellen Read (Flapper)

Trafficked by Wendy Hewlett (Sex Crimes)

Random

The Princess Trap by Talia Hibbert (Royal)

This Changes Everything by Helen McGinn (Wistful)

Diary of a Shy Backpacker by Bruce Spydar

Morning Glory Milk Farm by CM Nacosta (err...Minotaur Romance?)

Prizes

If you push me, I'd say Him by Sarina Bowen was my favourite read of this year. I just think about it and this book gives me 'the feels'. Just so sweet!! Enough angst to keep it exciting. And masses of aww! I even loved the sequel too.

Morning Glory Milking Farm wins my award for weirdest read of the year! I'm almost lost for words still. You just gotta read it to understand why. I think every reader has been surprised by the sweet romance that lies within this erotic story.

So, there we have it, all my book recs of 2021. I really hope you find something to read from this list, and you enjoy it as much as I did. 

Always in love and light,

TL