Recent Reads: Throttled by Lauren Asher

Throttled by Lauren Asher 

Series: Dirty Air #1
Publisher: Bloom Books
Publication Date:   May 7, 202

 

Format: paperback
Source: Bought/ own

Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

Maya

Noah Slade is a Formula 1 legend in the making.

Focused. Unapproachable. Ruthless on and off the track.

A man with walls higher than the Grand Canyon.

And my brother's new teammate.

I want more of the prince who disguises himself as the villain.

My only issue? He's considered off-limits.

Noah

Maya Alatorre is a forbidden temptation.

An ambitious post-grad I should stay far away from.

And chaos wrapped with a bow.

We're a ticking time bomb about one wrong move away from exploding.

I want to trip the wire, detonating together in passion and pain.

Because in the end, all's fair in lust and war.

Throttled is a steamy standalone romance in the Dirty Air world. Recommended for mature audiences.

Review: 

So I guess my 'midlife crisis' is F1... I have been loving everything about it. Last Fall when in Vegas for a vacation we were there to watch some of the practice before leaving the city and it was so cool. Since I have been watching all the races and the Netflix show Drive to Survive ... and now there are books!

Throttled is an F1 romance that follows Noah a moody F1 driver and Maya, the sister of his teammate that he should not get involved with but just can't help it. 

This book is definitely not going to be for everyone. At times it was a little cringe, and I wouldn't necessarily say the writing was amazing. That said, I had a really good time with it and absolutely flew through the pages.

Noah is a total man-whore, and Maya is often treated like the innocent little sister because of her overbearing brother. The thing is, she's a grown woman capable of making her own decisions, which made some of the protective behavior around her a little frustrating at times. The brother felt a bit overbearing at times, and I think I needed a little more development from him for some of his actions to feel fully justified, but it came together well enough in the end.

What really worked for me was the tension and the he-falls-first dynamic, which is one of my favorite romance tropes. Watching Noah drive himself crazy over Maya while trying to figure himself out was fun and funny. The characters were entertaining, hilarious, and easy to root for. I also appreciated the setup for future romances within the friend group. 

Noah is cocky and charming, and it was satisfying to see Maya refuse to immediately fall for his usual tricks. Their chemistry carried the story, and despite its flaws, this was a fun, addictive romance that kept me turning pages. If you enjoy lots of tension, a MMC who falls first, and a group of characters you want to spend more time with, this one is worth picking up.

Recent Reads: Mate by Ali Hazelwood

Mate by Ali Hazelwood 

Series: Bride #2
Publisher:  Berkley
Publication Date:   October 7, 2025

 

Format: Audiobook
Source: Bought/Own

Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

A Human hybrid and an Alpha Were claw against the bonds of fate in the highly anticipated companion novel to the New York Times bestselling Bride.

Serena Paris is orphaned, pack-less, and one of a kind. Coming forward as the first Human-Were hybrid was supposed to heal a centuries-long rift between species. Instead, it made her a target, prey to the ruthless political machinations between Weres, Vampyres, and Humans. With her enemies closing in on her, she has only one option left—if he’ll have her.

As Alpha of the Northwest pack, Koen Alexander commands obedience. His authority is so absolute, only a fool would threaten his mate. It doesn’t matter if Serena doesn’t reciprocate his feelings, nothing will stop him from keeping her safe.

But power-hungry Vampyres and Weres are not the only threats chasing Serena. Sooner or later, her past is bound to catch up with her—and Koen might be the only thing standing between her and total annihilation…

Review: 

I needed to take a break from books on my review pile for a bit to make reading feel like less of a 'to do' and an Ali Hazelwood romance is seemingly always there for me to do this with. I love all of her books, there is just something about the way that she writes banter and builds tension that has me either not putting the book down OR thinking about it excessively until I can pick it up again. Mate was no different.

When I read Bride I was fully enthralled and I have since also re-read it, which I normally don't do. I loved it again the 2nd time. I was honestly dreading reading Mate because I didn't want to be disappointed... thank goodness it was good. It wasn't Bride good, but it scratched the itch in other ways good. 

One of my favorite things about this story was the dynamic between Serena and Koen. Their relationship develops in a way that feels both inevitable and frustrating. Serena, is unsure about being a hybrid and what that means for her and believing she may be running out of time, carries a vulnerability that makes it easy to root for her. Meanwhile, Koen's realization that he has a mate at all, and his attempts to keep his distance, creates an emotional push and pull that keeps the tension simmering and building through the book.

My other love.. the banter! Their conversations were funny, or had an awkwardness to the point of cringe, and but the genuine affection for each other was so cute. There were plenty of moments that made me laugh, mixed with just enough secondhand embarrassment to make the characters feel real and relatable. Beneath all of that was a constant undercurrent of longing, with both characters fighting feelings they never expected to have. The result is a romance that feels both earned and rushed.

As the story progresses, the tension only intensifies. Even once Serena and Koen finally begin giving in to their feelings, the emotional and physical chemistry continues to build rather than disappear. Ali does a great job of making every interaction feel charged, leading to a payoff that is equal parts romantic, emotional, and undeniably spicy. 

If you're looking for a paranormal romance that delivers plenty of steam without sacrificing character development or connection, this one absolutely delivers. The audiobook narration was also so well done, bringing both characters to life in a way that made it hard to put down/ turn off.

Recent Reads: Two Can Play by Ali Hazelwood

Two Can Play by Ali Hazelwood 

Publisher: Berkley
Publication Date: February 10, 2026

 

Format: Paperback
Source: Bought/ Own

Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

An enemies-to-lovers spicy novella set in the world of video gaming from the New York Times bestselling author of Problematic Summer Romance—now in print and ebook!

Viola Bowen has the chance of a lifetime: to design a video game based on her all-time favorite book series. The only problem? Her co-lead is Jesse F-ing Andrews, aka her archnemesis. Jesse has made it abundantly clear over the years that he wants nothing to do with her—and Viola has no idea why.

When their bosses insist a wintery retreat is the perfect team-building exercise, Viola can’t think of anything worse. Being freezing cold in a remote mountain lodge knowing Jesse is right next door? No, thank you.

But as the snow piles on, Viola discovers there’s more to Jesse than she knew, and heat builds in more ways than one.

Review: 

I really enjoy Ali Hazelwood's books and this one delivers exactly the kind of romance that I was looking to read. As someone who can never resist enemies-to-lovers, STEM romances, forced proximity, and communication breakdown tropes, this story felt like such a good fit. 

Despite its shorter length, the novella never felt rushed. The banter between Viola and Jesse was fantastic, and their dynamic kept me engaged. I enjoyed watching Viola gradually learn more about Jesse and uncover the reasons behind their complicated relationship. Their time together from reluctant co-leads to partners who genuinely support one another was so good. 

One of my favorite aspects of the story was that Viola and Jesse began coming together as teammates before their relationship turned romantic. Their shared passion for the project and commitment to their teams added depth to their relationship.

Viola was a good FMC. She is stubborn, emotionally honest, and unafraid to express how she feels, which made her easy to read and be frustrated alongside.  I appreciated that she was willing to confront difficult situations rather than avoid them.

I also loved how the novella added in some glimpses of Viola and Jesse's past interactions. Those moments added context to their connections and helped the story feel much larger than its page count. In many ways, it had the emotional depth and character development of a full-length novel packed into a novella.

Overall, this was such a great read, with perfectly balanced humor, romance, and heart. If you're a fan of Ali Hazelwood's STEM romances, enemies-to-lovers tension, and forced proximity stories with excellent banter, this novella is absolutely worth picking up.

Recent Reads: Wild Card by Elsie Silver

Wild Card by Elsie Silver  

Series: Rose Hill #4
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group 
Publication Date:  September 9, 2025

 

Format: Audiobook
Source:  Bought/ Own

Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

Sebastian Rousseau is a grumpy, hot as hell fire pilot who is too damn good with his hands.

It’s the perfect combination. But unfortunately for me, he’s also my ex-boyfriend’s dad.

A chance meeting brought us together and a missed connection has kept us apart.

One year later, a stroke of fate has us living under the same roof—which makes everything between us downright messy.

Because even after all this time, he’s still the man I think about when I fall asleep. The one I can’t get over no matter how hard I try.

He’s working on mending a fragile relationship with his son and we both know acting on these urges would be the ultimate betrayal.

But I see the heat in his eyes. That look of need that never fails to send a shiver down my spine.

The mutual longing is borderline unbearable and the simmering heat between us is downright palpable.

We both know there are rules when it comes to situations like this.

But then again…following the rules never has been my strong suit.

In this series (Click on Covers for Reviews): 

    

Review: 

I adore this series and these books, every one has been a highlight in my day to listen to. Elsie has this way of making you fall for all her characters as chaotic, frustrating, and emotional as they are. It is also so cool to see them all interconnect and characters re-appear. 

All the books follow a dad falling hard... in this case Bash finds out that he has an adult son and on his way to meet him for the first time gets caught in the airport overnight while a storm passes. He meets this quirky memorizing woman, Gwen, and they hit it off. At the end of their laughter filled evening he gets her number but nothing comes of it. Fast-forward, he visits his son for a party and Gwen is his girlfriend. Immediately feeling start flying and readers are swept up into this beautiful will -they/ won't they banter and miserable attempts to give each other space. 

This book had me laughing so much. Between Bash and Gwen figuring things out and the awkward flirting and Clyde... OH CLYDE... our scheming, cranky, father-figure I kept giggling. I loved the emotional turmoil between the characters, and the uncomfortable tension was absolutely perfect. The slow burn felt a bit more prolonged than I expected, while the resolution came together fairly quickly, but I still loved the book overall.

If you like grumpy/ sunshine, forced proximity, an age gap and the 'ex-boyfriend's dad' tropes - you will really enjoy this one. 

Blog Tour- Review: Between the Pages and the Rink by Meadow Thompson

Between the Pages and the Rink by Meadow Thompson

Publisher: Choc Lit 
Publication Date: March 31, 2026

 

Format: Ebook


About the Book:

If loving one hockey player is reckless . . . loving two is irresistible.

After enough heartache to last a lifetime, I made a rule:

No men.

No hookups.

No distractions.

Then I walked into the Ivywood Wolves’ ice rink.

 

Dylan Crawley is the golden-boy captain — cocky grin, effortless charisma, and used to winning on, and off, the ice.

Torin Anderson is the grumpy enforcer — dark eyes, rough edges, The kind of man who doesn’t smile . . . but makes you feel everything.

One is all swagger.

One is all silence.

Both are completely off-limits.

 

Until the night they step in to protect me — like it’s instinct. Like I’m already theirs.

Dylan makes me laugh.

Torin makes me burn.

And when they decide they’re not competing . . . but sharing?

The rules shatter.

Now I’m caught between two possessive hockey gods who don’t play fair — and don’t plan on letting me go.

 

Maybe I should choose.

Maybe I can’t.

Maybe I don’t want to.

I had a good time with this why-choose hockey romance. This isn't the first one I have read but if you liked the vibes of Pucking Around by Emily Rath, you will enjoy this one as well.

Fawn is a romance writer who is researching hockey for her next book when she meets Dylan and Torin, they all hit it off pretty quickly in this spicy romance. Fawn has been through a lot: a bad relationship, helping her grandfather through his dementia, and now trying to write a book that she knows nothing about yet.. so that she has money for her grandfather's care. 

Fawn’s growth was one of my favorite parts of the story. Her growth into herself and learning how to love who she is felt genuine. Dylan and Torin balanced her perfectly in that “two sides of the same coin” way: Dylan brings the chaos, charm, and lightness, while Torin is all quiet intensity and grounding presence. Together, they just work.

I also loved that we got all three POVs. Each voice felt distinct, which made it easy to stay immersed and connected to each character’s perspective. That said, Torin calls her 'baby' waaaaaay too frequently and it was kid of repetitive at times to the point of breaking me out of the story. 

The third-act inevitable break-up definitely delivered. I went in expecting something to shake things up between the three of them, but what actually happened caught me off guard... in a good way. It added just the right amount of tension without taking away from the romance. 

Speaking of romance… it was cute, but also very spicy. Fawn wasn't expecting to find one person that she would have strong feelings for, let alone two and things really start heating up around the 40% mark, so be ready for it.

Overall, this was a solid why-choose romance with strong character dynamics, good emotional payoff, and plenty of heat. If you are loving hockey romance right now, enjoy men that fall hard, and a heroine finding her strength, this one’s worth picking up.

About the Author: 

Meadow Thompson is an English author who writes adult contemporary romance, living in the west of England. When she’s not caring for a hedgehog or walking her two dogs, she’s happily writing swoon-worthy men.

Find the Author

Website | Instagram | TikTok

Early Reader Review: I'm Looking for a Man in Finance by Sabrina Waldorf

Source: From the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review. 

I'm Looking for a Man in Finance by Sabrina Waldorf 
Publisher: Alcove Press
Publication Date: February 10, 2026  

 

Format: Ebook

Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

THE ROMCOM OF THE YEAR HAS ARRIVED

He ticks every box…but is she ready to invest?

Enemies to lovers? Check!

Forced proximity? Check!

Men in finance? Check!

--

Journalist Hallie Woods has a new date the hottest guy on Wall Street and document every moment for the magazine she works for.

The only problem? Finance bros couldn’t be further from Hallie’s type.

But as Hallie reluctantly flirts her way through the Financial District, there's one annoyingly handsome 6’5, blue-eyed man who keeps getting in her way. . .

James Rossi is a typical finance bro on paper, but a hopeless romantic at heart. So, when he realizes the new regular at his favourite bar is flirting with his colleagues as fodder for an article, he decides to sabotage her plans.

Hallie and James clash at happy hour every week. But soon their dislike for each other turns into something unexpected, and Hallie questions whether she wants her personal life spread across the pages of a magazine.

Hallie might have found her man in finance, but she also has a choice to make. Will she publish the article, or risk her career and invest in true love?

Review: 

This was a super cute romance. Hallie is a journalist trying to take over the food-reviewer position at the publication she works with. Up to this point she has been writing a 'heard in NY'-esq column where she writes about convos from around the city. On the side, she does what she loves - reviews food and cool places to find it. When the food review position opens up, she applies and is tasked with a trial run piece documenting her experience dating the men of NY in finance. 

James is a man in finance, but he has been scorned by a money-hungry girl in the past and won't let that happen again. He and Hallie meet at a dinner and then just keep running into each other. 

The plot follows Hallie as she attempts to date the Finance bros and James' attempts to help his bros out and thwart her attempts. Inevitably they make a deal to help each other. 

This book features some of my favorite romance tropes - enemies to lovers, forced proximity, opposites attract, and he falls first. The banter was spot-on and the connections were tense in all the best ways. So much good tension between these two. I appreciated the dual POV, going back and forth between James and Hallie. I think this is always a good choice in the loathe to love situation. 

The plot overall was great. It was appreciated that there wasn't a miscommunication trope regarding her writing the article at the beginning. James knew what he was getting into and embraced it with all his heart, being the swoon-worthy guy she needed to write about. 

I thought this book was just so fun. If you are looking for a rom-com and keep singing the "looking for a man in finance" song... will certainly be up your alley.

Early Reader Review: A Vow in Vengeance by Jaclyn Rodriguez

Source: From the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review. 

A Vow in Vengeance by Jaclyn Rodriguez  

Series: Immortal Desires #1
Publisher: Slowburn
Publication Date:  January 13, 2026

 

Format: Paperback ARC


Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

Deadly tarot, wicked schemes, dangerous alliances . . . can you survive the Forge?

Sexy, action-packed, and brimming with magic, A Vow in Vengeance is an unputdownable romantasy debut.

Rune Ryker has nothing left to lose. Everything’s been stolen by the Immortals—her family, her home, her freedom. But she’s done playing by their rules.

Each year, humans are forced to journey into the Immortal Realms, but twenty-year-old Rune orchestrates her own selection, determined to find her family and destroy anyone who stands in her way. Rune is used to doing whatever it takes to survive, and now she must endure the Forge, a cutthroat college for the Immortal druids’ elusive tarot magic. When Rune’s magic reveals itself to be the rarest and most powerful, she must live with its only other wielder—Prince Draven. As arrogant as he is ruthlessly ambitious, he’s the last person she can trust.

Rune’s abilities also draw the eyes of the most dangerous druids in the realms. Some want to use her. More want her dead. Draven offers to train her . . . for a price. As Rune becomes ensnared in Draven’s dangerous games, she learns there are secrets at the heart of the kingdom that some will kill to protect.

And Rune and Draven’s growing attraction may be the spark to ignite a brewing war.

Tropes

Enemies to Lovers

Fake dating/ fake fated mates

Coming of rage

There’s only one bed

Review: 

This book... was... so... good. I read most of this book in 2 sittings and it was only because I had to force myself to put it down to go to bed. I learned about this book during a virtual author panel and have been thinking about it non-stop since August. I received a review copy and had to force myself not to read it immediately... because I knew that it was going to give me a book hangover and it wasn't out until now (January 2026)

I am so happy that it lived up to my expectations and I am thrilled to have read it. 

The book follows Rune, a mortal who is part of the Selection, a ceremony by the magical realms to claim mortals for their use. She is taken by the Druids and now has been transformed into an immortal being. Part of this race is their magic, a tarot card based system where you are attuned to a power/ Arcane Major and not surprisingly, Rune gets a very good one. She comes with a lot of hatred and rage for the immortals and now especially for the Prince that is always around her. 

This book packs a punch, it is action and adventure, and romance and swooning and the magic system is my new favorite thing for a book. 

Characters - 

Rune is determined, super stubborn, and consistently aggressive. She has had to pave her own way making her independent and high-strung. As she progresses through this story, she learns that she is able to find joy and love in things that she was scared to before. She seems like a force and I can only imagine the rage that will progress through this series. I am so excited for it. 

Draven, the princeling, is a World magic user and he is both feared and revered, but he is lonely and withdrawn until meeting Rune. Their banter and flirting is delicious and the lead up to their feelings is intense and so swoon-worthy. 

The side characters Ember, Wynter, Morgan, Kesper, etc were also SO well formed. Each had a distinct personality and something to add to the story. While there were a lot of them, I never found it hard to tell them apart or understand their motives. So very impressive. 

The magic system - this was the first sell. Magic based on the Tarot. Each Druid is attuned to one and each has a very interesting power. Immortals use the power for a variety of things that the book does a really good job of teaching Rune about the system, so as the reader you get that education as well. Between her classes and the practical uses of the magic in the plot, the build up here was wonderfully done. The other races - Seraphs and Elves also have magic but they operate differently. 

The world - this was such an interesting world-build. We start in the mortal realms and then head into the Druid lands of the immortal realms. I really appreciated having a map, but the author also did a fantastic job piecing it all together throughout the story. 

Overall, if you are looking to dive into a new romantasy series... this IS IT. 

Early Reader Review: Bed Chemistry by Elizabeth McKenzie

Source: From the publisher for review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

Bed Chemistry by Elizabeth McKenzie

Publisher: Alcove Press
Publication Date:  December 9, 2025 

 

Format: Ebook

Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

With a fun and steamy twist on the only-one-bed trope, this debut contemporary romance will delight fans of THE PARADISE PROBLEM and THE LOVE HYPOTHESIS

Chemistry teacher Ashleigh Hutchinson knows better than anyone that love and lust don’t mix. The feelings come from different hormones, they trigger different responses, and they demand different reactions. Which is why she doesn’t date. She hooks up. No catching feelings required.

When Ashleigh is fired from her job without notice, she signs up to participate in a month-long sleep study, which will pay her enough to cover rent while she job hunts. It seems easy enough—until she walks into the clinic and finds herself staring right into the gorgeous eyes of Xander Miller, the only man to have ever tempted her to abandon her no-relationships rule.

When Xander and Ashleigh realize the study is only looking for couples, they agree to pretend to be together—which means sleeping in the same bed every night for the next few weeks. How hard can it be to keep their cool under the covers?

You can expect...

- Fake dating (for science)

- Only one bed (every night)

- No feelings (allegedly)

- Second chance romance

- Golden retriever MMC

- Hot mess FMC

- Banter as a love language

- Undeniable chemistry!

Review: 

Ash is a teacher who, because of her one-night stand policy, has now lost her job. Looking for a way to make rent she comes across a sleep stuff that could be her meal ticket, the only problem is, they are only taking couples now. In a hilarious turn of events, there is a guy she has had one-night with, and he is also determined to do the study. They team up in a fake dating scheme to ensure they can both participate.

This was a quickly paced, hilarious romance. Ash was such a mess, she will not allow herself to have feelings or get attached to anyone, so she only allows for one-night stands. She is hung up on issues her mother has projected onto her after her own marriage failed. 

Xander gives golden retriever, he has feelings for Ash and has had them since they met and became friends. He also suffers from insomnia and so he is determined to get through the sleep study in hopes of helping him sleep. 

They are hilarious together and the banter is often playful and funny. Their relationship grows through the book as Ash starts to realize she might have doomed herself to feelings. I enjoyed the quick pace of the book overall. The dialogue was so funny and while there was character growth, I appreciated the realness of some of the hang ups both of them experiences in learning more about each other. 

Beyond the fun, playful banter, the story has themes of vulnerability that the characters must face. The sleep study allows Ash to open up a bit more than normal and for Xander he must learn about learning on others for help. They both have to be honest with each other in ways that certainly are not normal for Ash and Xander is coming to terms with still being hung up on her. 

Overall, this was a fun romance with a few fun spicy moments. If you like a fake dating trope and that he falls first (and acknowledges it) energy, this will be a good read for you. 

Recent Reads: Hot for Slayer by Ali Hazelwood

Hot for Slayer by Ali Hazelwood 

Series: Part of the Scared Sexy collection
Publisher: Amazon Original Stories
Publication Date:   September 23, 2025

 

Format: Ebook
Source: Kindle Unlimited (at time of posting)

Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

When a vampire slayer loses all his memories, the only person who can help him is the vampire he’s tried to kill for centuries in this unforgettable short story by #1 New York Times bestselling author Ali Hazelwood.

When Aethelthryth—“Ethel” to her modern-day Manhattan neighbors—finds her sworn nemesis Lazlo Enyedi with no memory of who or what they are, an ancient hunt becomes an unexpected chance at forbidden passion. He’s crashing on her couch, solving her sudoku puzzles, and looking at her like she’s his eternal flame (minus the whole bursting-into-ashes part). As his memories slowly return, Ethel realizes she might be in danger of losing more than just her head…

Ali Hazelwood’s Hot for Slayer is part of Scared Sexy, a deliciously dark collection of Halloween romance where things that go bump in the night might just steal your heart. These seductive stand-alone stories blend chills and heat in the perfect Halloween treat—each designed to be devoured in one sitting.

Review: 

Forever trying to keep up with Ali Hazelwood and read all of her books/stories. She has SO MUCH though. 

This was a novella of 94 pages, that follows a vampire and a vampire hunter. Ethel, the vampire has been running from Lazlo, the hunter, for centuries. However in a strange turn of events, they are forced together when he loses his memory and she feels obligated to take care of him. 

The story is told from Ethel's point of view and is a quick enemies to lovers romance. Ethel is oblivious and Lazlo has fallen first, it was so adorable and sometimes sad at times as they figure each other out. The forbidden longing that they are both going through it so swoon. 

I really enjoyed this from Ali Hazelwood - would love a longer version.

Recent Reads: Love & Other Killers by Brynne Weaver

Love & Other Killers by Brynne Weaver 

Series: The Ruinous Love Trilogy
Publisher: Amazon Original Stories
Publication Date:   August 12, 2025

 

Format: Ebook 
Source: Kindle Unlimited (at time of posting)

Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

Serial killers versus serial killer in a hot and twisted novella about family games, true love, and competitive carnage by the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Ruinous Love Trilogy.

It’s the annual hunt for Sloane and her vigilante family of serial killers. Track the most cold-blooded psychos imaginable and take them down. This summer’s prey is Allan Munster, a churchgoing chicken farmer who slaughters more than fowl. The rules of the hunt: divide into teams, devise a strategy, and make a move—the more cutthroat the better. May the best team win. The players are closing in. All eyes are on Munster. But there’s a hitch in the family sport this year. Someone might be watching them.

Review: 

Quick review for a quick read. This novella comes in at 61 pages and is an addition to the Ruinous Love Trilogy. To understand the overall dynamic, it is best to read the trilogy first.

This short story follows all three couples playing the serial killer game that takes place in book one. They are all competing with each other but to make it more playful make it boys versus girls. There are lots of references to the others books and the same fun and witty banter from the couples and and brothers. There is a fair amount of gore and some murder (obviously). 

The story is told from Sloan's point of view, which was great because she was my favorite across the couples. Overall, I think this was a fun and playful addition to the series and seeing them all together was entertaining. 

I am hoping that this also gives a peak into characters and series to come... we will see.

Recent Reads: Fall I Want by Lyra Parish

Fall I Want by Lyra Parish 
Series: Cozy Creek Collection #1
Publisher: Avon
Publication Date: January 21, 2025

 

Format: Ebook
Source: Kindle Unlimited (at the time of posting)

Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

Fall I Want is a feel-good, spicy small-town, romantic comedy with a billionaire who falls first and harder. Grab a pumpkin spice latte, a warm fuzzy blanket, and make your way down to Cozy Creek.

Autumn

The brokenhearted billionaire visits Cozy Creek to escape. I never expected to become his fake girlfriend or fall madly in love...but here we are.

My first impression of Zane Alexander isn't great. The second is worse, but when he uses his powers of persuasion to get me to hang out with him, I can’t say no. We quickly go from familiar strangers to flirty friends.

When my ex returns, Zane flawlessly pretends to be my boyfriend to protect me. He’s so damn good at it, I almost believe it.

I don’t know when our relationship moves from pretending to passionate, but I catch feelings. As our exes desperately crawl back into our lives like zombies, I realize there is only one man for me, and (f)all I want is him.

Zane

Everything changes the moment I see her. Autumn's enchanting gaze makes my heart race, so I push her away to protect myself. Immediately, I regret it. But when I find her standing in my haunted house, I convince her to be my friend. She begrudgingly agrees.

As the leaves transform and Cozy Creek's fall festivities come alive, our playful charade blossoms into something more.

The lines between real and pretend begin to blur, and I find myself falling under her spell.

I should keep my broken heart in check, but instead, I fight for love that feels like magic.

This woman is all I've ever needed and (f)all I want. 

Review: 

I went into this expecting a swoon-worthy, cozy fall romance, and while I definitely got that vibe, it was far spicier than I anticipated.

Autumn is in the market for love, or even a date, when the story begins. Zane, meanwhile, is running from family obligations and a truly unhinged ex. They end up meeting in a small town, Autumn's home and a location Zane has been avoiding for a while. The town even rings its own cozy charm to the overall story. When they spot each other in a coffee shop, the attraction is immediate, and neither can stop thinking about seeing the other again.

I really enjoyed this book, but if insta-love is not your thing, it may not work for you. There is some buildup, with Autumn regularly dreaming about a mysterious man and Zane feeling oddly familiar to her, but once they meet, their relationship develops very quickly.

Autumn is dealing with the fallout from a horrible ex and a bout of writer’s block that has left her drifting through life. She was witty, relatable, and genuinely fun to follow, especially as she becomes determined to uncover what is going on between her and Zane. Zane, on the other hand, is stubborn and occasionally frustrating, but his moody, broody personality worked for me.

This book leans hard into its tropes: insta-love, grumpy-sunshine, he-falls-first energy, fake dating that turns into something more, a fated-mates feel without the monsters, and just a touch of “he would burn the world down for her.” The pacing is fast, so even at 413 pages, it felt like a much shorter read. Just be prepared for plenty of spice once they get together.