March 2025 Reading List

What a way to kick off a new series…

This was my first Anya J Cosgrove novel and after reading it, I know it won’t be my last. This book was so good. It’s a great way to kick off a brand new series.

Penelope (Nell) is forced to live in the land of Faerie when her father makes a secret deal with the Shadow King Damian. Her time is torn between two worlds in an effort to fulfill the details of their bet. Only she’s not allowed to know exactly what that entails. She must learn to use her magic while navigating a drastically different world than where she comes from.

So many secrets and mysteries surround every element of the shadow court and the fae world as a whole. She must work her way up through training, learning about facing nightmares, dreams, and fantasies. Nell is torn between the world of the shadow court and the world where her sister still remains.

She grows closer to the other mortals with magic training in the fae world. That’s especially true for the dark knight One and his brothers. But she still struggles with what exactly the king wants with her and when things will take a turn. The action, detail, and chemistry was perfect.

This book was amazing. I absolutely loved it. The world building was so good with lots of twists and turns and well thought out facets. So much that I did not even see coming. I’m so excited to see where this series goes with the next book. I can’t wait.

AUDIOBOOK UPDATE: This was a re-read for me and I fell in love with this world all over again. The narrators did such a good job. Literally the only thing that could have made it even better would be if it was done in duet because that’s my favorite way to listen. But they did great with the dual style. Of course the voice of Anthony Palmini for Damian was perfect. And the soft British accent from Lilly Drake was exactly what was needed for Nell. Loved it!

Finding Peace and Freedom…

Liv and Killian are determined to get revenge on Rafael for all the wrongs he’s done and all the death and destruction he’s left in his path. They want peace, freedom, and a better future for their family and those around them. But they have to decide what path to take to achieve that. How can they fight for a better future without so much bloodshed? And they have to figure out who is really on their side and who will be standing in their way.

This was a heart-wrenching conclusion to this trilogy that had me wondering which way things were going to go over and over again. Liv and Killian’s epic story totally pulled on my heartstrings all the way to the very end. I loved these two even when things weren’t easy. They are so meant to be. Great series!

Primal Naughty Fun…

If you’re looking for a quick, super spicy read that includes a hot tatted priest, smooth talking stepbrother, and their sexy best friend, then this novella will be right up your alley. When a plumbing issue at her mother’s house ends up with Peyton temporarily rooming with all three of these guys next door, it’s the perfect storm for some interesting scenarios. She can’t help but to be drawn to all three.

Then her life heats up even more when she finds herself in the sights of three masked men. It seems they love chasing her through the woods behind the church just as much as she loves running from them. But the real fun begins when they catch her.

Now Peyton is torn between the roommates she getting closer with every day and the masked men who help her live out her darkest fantasies. She’ll have to figure out what she wants most in the time she has left before heading off to college.

This was fun and flirty as well as dark and spicy. Check those triggers first just to be safe. And be prepared because you might not look at Easter candy and rosary beads the same way again.

Age Gap Love with the Not-Mafia-Mafia…

This is the first book in a brand new series and it’s kicking things off with a good mix of love, loyalty, spice, mystery, and danger. It’s another great story from Kelly and a fantastic way to start off a new series while still being connected to the world she’s made us fall so in love with already.

Nash and Vale have secretly loved each other for years. Other than the age gap, the biggest thing standing in their way has been the fact that Nash is the father of Vale’s best friend. A friend she loves like a sister almost as much as her own twin. Neither of them could ever imagine hurting her by acting on the feelings they have for each other. And Nash also wants to protect Vale from the dark side of his life that he’s keeping secret.

Just imagine those Clark Kent vibes but if he was a sexy accountant and under those fake glasses and golf shirts he’s hiding a load of tattoos, muscles, and a gun. Yep that’s Nash. Then imagine the sexy, gothic, school girl aesthetic meets working on her degree in sexuality studies and you have Vale. They are opposites totally meant to be together with the perfect banter.

Nash is part of a “not-mafia-mafia” secret society type of thing with his found family of brothers ruled by the Queen in charge. Their lifestyle is dangerous and ultra protective with some steamy initiations involved. When danger gets a little too close to home, Nash is ready to step up and protect Vale no matter what.

I won’t give away all the juicy secrets. You’ll just have to read and discover them for yourselves. Then you’ll be hooked on this new twist in Kelly’s universe of steamy couples and more. The teasers for these two and the others involved had me craving this story and I was not disappointed. I’m so excited to see where this series is going to go.

Trauma & Sparkle Under the Vegas Lights…

Nova is a woman looking to escape her heartbreaking past. Under the Vegas lights of the strip club she’s now known as Glitter. But all that glitter is just a mask for the hurt she’s hiding inside.

The sexy bartender (and secret hacker) at her favorite dance club is ready to take his chance and do whatever it takes to break through her sparkly hardened exterior to get to know the girl underneath. But when she meets the renowned Magic Twins of the Vegas strip (the sexy mentalist and fun magician) things take a turn. They give her the opportunity to put her impressive pickpocket skills to work. In exchange they need her help to get close to the hotel heir and grab the evidence they need to take down his mother. There’s also the resident ex-con thief of the team who tests her to see if she’s really good enough to get the job done.

There are so many fun and unique personalities in this little found family dynamic. All their mismatched pieces fit perfectly together. Everyone has their own loss and trauma to work through but with them all together there’s hope for what’s next. I loved this story and these characters so much!

Be prepared for quite the cliffhanger that will leave you on the edge of your seat anxiously looking forward to the next book. So good!

Tortured & broken, but healing…

Just like with book two, this third and final book of the series picks up right where we left off. The identity of Mr. XO has finally been revealed and he has Avery all to himself. She puts up quite the fight to get back to her guys. He just wants to keep her safe from those out to get her, even if his methods are a little misguided.

She can only be apart from the others for so long before they are drawn back together. Loyalties are definitely being tested. And everyone in the group is fighting for what they feel is best.

When circumstances put them at a place to confront past trauma, everyone is tested in more ways than one. The lies, secrets, betrayal, and danger continues. But this group is strong no matter what is thrown at them.

It’s so hard not to just give away all the juicy details. You just have to experience it with this tortured crew that we love so much. They really are perfect for each other and complete each other. This was a great conclusion to their story. I can’t wait to see what comes next with some of the side characters from this series.

Fallen Prep School Princes turned Fighter…

Some might say Juliet was the princess, or better yet the Queen of her prep school. That was before her boyfriend and best friend betrayed her. And before her father was arrested for pretty much destroying the lives of the people around them with his greed and deceit. Let’s not forget this drastic turn of events that flips her life upside-down happens on her 18th birthday. Definitely not what she wished for.

Now she has no family, friends, money, or real place to go. She’s left to fend for herself and do whatever it takes to survive. She’s fresh out of f***s and won’t hesitate to stand up for herself. Juliet now has to make it through her senior year in the public school surrounded by those who were hurt worst by her father’s deceit. She’s been training in the gym and is not afraid to defend herself from those who want to put her in her new place.

The Scorpion Kings – Nolan, Gio, and Lex – rule the school. They’re also part of the darker side of town where drugs, protection money, death, and organized crime is their norm. They’re ready to test out Juliet to see what she’s made of now that she’s on their side of the tracks.

All four are ready to do their time and get out for a better life. They’re connected in ways Juliet doesn’t even know about yet. They may be enemies but the attraction and intense chemistry between them all can’t be denied. I have theories about things going on behind the scenes but I won’t spoil it. This is a great start to a new series and I can’t wait to see where it goes.

Check those triggers and be prepared for a cliffhanger.

I need more ASAP!!!

I was not prepared at all for how emotionally invested I was going to get into these characters and their story from just a prequel novella. But that’s exactly what happened. Now I can’t wait to read the full series when it comes out.

Maera is on a dangerous and important mission for the rebellion when she finds herself face to face with Aelric, the man she once loved and lost. Ten years may have gone by but their intense connection has not. They never should have been together with her being a lowly serf-born and him the son of an overlord. Now he is an elite warrior of the gods and she is a rebel.

All that time he believed her to be dead and mourned the love he lost. Meanwhile she believed him a traitor. Forces outside their control tore them apart years ago and Maera barely escaped with her life and that of her unborn child. Now they must face the truth of what happened and the secrets left unsaid.

This one short novella had me on a rollercoaster of emotions and left me craving more. If this prequel is any indicator for how this new romantasy series is going to go, then I’m already hooked and ready for more. I loved these characters and the world-building so far. So great! Fantastic start!