May 2025 Reading List

Spicy, Sweet Best Friends to Lovers…

Effie’s little innocent lie is all to bring a smile to her grandmother’s face in her final days. She wants to see Effie and her hot, footballer, billionaire best friend finally tie the knot. She lets Grams believe it because it makes her so happy. The only real problem is that she hasn’t told Kieran yet. And before she gets the chance to her grandmother’s nurse spills the secret to a tabloid and blows everything up. Kieran loves Grams too so he decides to play along.

In the face of Effie’s grief, Kieran’s kiss sparks the start of something new. One super spicy, sweet, and romantic extended weekend together before they have to face their real lives back in Chicago is what they agree to. But things never go as planned. Now they’re left with confusion, trust issues, and new feelings to mess with their previously perfect friend dynamic. As they figure out how to navigate this new situationship between them, they have to face their feelings and where they want their lives to go.

I absolutely loved these two together. I was rooting for them the whole way even when there were moments I wanted to smack some sense into Kieran. I loved their whole emotional, meant-to-be journey. I also hope we get to see more of Brax in the future somehow.

Sweet, Sapphic Small Town Romance…

While having a fun girls night out on Halloween at a gay bar with her cousins, Daisy shares a steamy kiss with a cute Dolly Parton look-alike. She gets a shock when that same woman shows up months later for a summer job alongside her at her aunt’s law firm. They’re both pleasantly surprised. And it turns out Dolly wasn’t a fake name Daisy got from her after all.

Daisy’s family brings Dolly in like she’s one of their own. She even goes along with them for the family camping trip. It’s obvious these two have chemistry but with second guessing and plenty of miscommunication, neither really knows where they stand with each other most of the time. But as they get closer, share their history, and find common ground their relationship grows.

This is a sweet, sapphic small town romance with those great found family elements. They’re cute together as they navigate their budding romance. It has that HEA / cliffhanger that has you curious about what could happen next for the family.

4221 Butcher & Bambi…

I loved the first two books in this series but this one might actually be my favorite. It was so good! Alex is so far past morally grey but just like Tatum, I’ll happily accept all sides of him.

Tatum has been doing her best to stay off Alexander “The Butcher” Denver’s radar but she is clearly in denial because he has no problem finding her. He’s convinced she holds the secrets of her brother’s whereabouts and he’s tired of waiting for answers. She may see her new-found brother as her hero because of one saving act, but that’s just another thing she’s in denial about. Her brother is the reason Alex’s innocent younger sister is dead and he’s out for revenge.

When she’s trapped with The Butcher and his crew she wants to find a way out. But she’s also so completely drawn to Alex and they can only hold out on their chemistry for so long. She gets to see the softer side that no one else does. Meanwhile, there’s an enemy working against them with more and more secrets lurking in the background. Tatum may be young but she’s sassy and fierce and ready to take on any challenge put in front of her. And Alex is a total beast.

I won’t give away any secrets but I will say this is a must read. It was so good!!! Check those triggers though! I want more from this world. I’d love to dive deeper into the lives of Alex’s crew, especially Omen. Just yes to this book.

An uphill battle for what’s right…

Book four picks up with Ayna trapped in her crow form feeling almost as if she’s on the outside looking in. With Myron and the rest of their found family, they work hard to bounce back after a hard fought battle. They work to figure out how to bring Ayna back to her human form and find peace in what’s left of their mate bond. Everyone must pull together to find a way to defeat Ephegos and King Erina as they work against them alongside the Flames. They discover some of Herinor’s buried memories that prove both helpful and detrimental to the group. Along the way more secrets of the past come to light that changes perspectives towards the gods playing games with their fates.

Betrayal, battles, loss, danger, love, and family. This story is full of ups and downs as the characters we’ve grown to love fight for what’s right and fight for their freedom and futures. Get ready for another cliffhanger that will leave you wanting more and looking forward to the next installment.

Lola and Hannibal…

This third book in the Raven Souls MC series follows along some of the same timeline from book two and then picks up after it. I can’t even call this Lola’s redemption story because that feels like a betrayal after all she went through. It’s more like her vindication story. We got to see a little bit of Lola’s story as Havoc’s ex in the previous book. But in this one we find out more of the abuse and neglect she suffered in his absence.

As Hannibal takes over as President of the MC chapter that did her wrong, she stands by his side as his old lady. He is fiercely protective of her and stays determined to get to the truth of what really happened. He believes there’s more to her and to the story. Hannibal refuses to sit by and let her be mistreated any longer.

With Lola pregnant and Hannibal taking over custody of his teenage daughter, they’re building their own found family. He may have stayed away before to protector her from himself, but he’s ready to step up now to keep her out of the foster system. He’s also ready to weed out any traitors from the club and take down her abuser once and for all.

I absolutely loved these two together and the family they’re building together. After everything Lola went through, she needed someone as fierce, crazy, and protective as Hannibal on her side. Their story was sweet and sad, dark and twist, and meant-to-be. So good!

Fantastic start to a new romantasy…

Be prepared to dive into this chunky fantasy novel and fall completely in love. And be prepared to collect Easter eggs along the way to support the many theories you’ll have. Oh and let’s not forget the cliffhanger that will leave you craving more.

Luce is at the end of her rope and ready to risk it all to participate in the Wishing Game. She’s one of many mortals competing for the ultimate prize of being granted their one true wish from the gods themselves as long as they’re willing to risk their immortal soul. Luce finds herself teaming up with a group of strangers in a chance to make it to the end.

Along the way through the deadly trials she learns bits and pieces about her new teammates and the world they’re really from. Her alliance is with Thea and Cer – the interesting sibling duo of bubby girl and stoic demon slayer – and Ze – the mightier than everyone, cocky solider. They face many challenges together across multiple worlds that push Luce to her limits.

The dynamic between Luce and Ze is the absolute best. He’s so full of himself while also having a sweet innocence about him while also being a deadly, highly protective, sometimes emotionless killer. Luce finds herself growing closer to him and becoming protective of him when those around them treat him terribly. Him and his desire to earn extra points from Luce is just adorably endearing.

This book was so good. It has all the action and adventure you want from a fantasy with all the sweet romantic moments mixed in. Even if one of those moments involves bringing a cow across worlds to provide for her. There’s plenty of mystery and twists too. I can’t wait for the next book.