Book Review: Field Guide for the Formerly Villainous by Autumn K. England

Title: Field Guide for the Formerly Villainous

Author: Autumn K. England

Series/Standalone: Everyday Magic Series (Book #1)

Genre: Cozy Fantasy, Adult, LGBT, Romance

Pages: 368

Publisher: Indie Published

Year Published: 2026

Format: Ebook (Own on Kindle)

"STARDEW VALLEY meets STUDIO GHIBLI in a charming cozy fantasy about healing, redemption, and the subtle magic of simple living. Perfect for fans of Can't Speel Treason Without Tea and The Spellshop. Welcome home, weary traveler.

When Oaklin Nettlewood accidentally joined an evil world-ending cult, mind control magic forced them to do unspeakable things. Years later, the realm's heroes have finally saved the day, defeated the villain, and shattered the last remnants of the spell... leaving destruction in their wake. And so, with a spell-damaged memory and whole bushel of trauma. Oaklin escapes to a small farm on the edge of Mossley's Rest and swears an oath: After all the things they were forced to do with their magic, they will never use it again. Ever.

The no-nonsense ghost granny who lives in Oaklin's house has other ideas. As she coaxes Oaklin ont of their shell and back into the world, they find companionship (a grumpy horse and a very good dog), friendship (a local bard and magical baker who should just kiss already), and tentative romance (a paladin-librarian who makes Oaklin's heart come alive for the first time in ages.) Magic even seems possible again- thought strictly for foraging magical mushrooms and protecting the farm from bugs.

Healing comes in gentle waves, and Oaklin doesn't have to do it alone. So what does it mean when an inquisitor comes to town to hunt former cultists just as Oaklin begins to think that maybe, just maybe, they deserve a happy ending after all?"

My Rating: 3/5

I love a cozy fantasy! This one was super fun. I really enjoyed the parallels that were drawn between Oaklin's trauma and the different phrases used to talk about healing. That being said, it was VERY heavy-handed. I also felt that there were moments where the writing seemed to change from cozy fantasy fantasy, to urban fantasy. It felt a little jarring. I look forward to reading more work from the author and seeing where this series takes us. 

Sidny

Book Review: Wild Eyes by Elsie Silver

Title: Wild Eyes

Author: Elsie Silver

Series/Standalone: Rose Hill Series (Book #2)

Genre: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Cowboy Romance, Adult Fiction

Pages: 464

Publisher: Indie Published

Year Published: 2024

Format: Ebook (Kindle Unlimited)

"A rugged mountain town seemed like the perfect escape from a life in shambles. But on day one, she ran full tilt into the world's hottest single dad, and now all her plans are ruined.

As a chart-topping country singer with a recent streak of bad press, it's hard for Skylar Stone to find any peace. But she finds it in Rose Hill. With a little boy and a little girl who steal her heart just as thoroughly as their dad. 

Weston Belmont.

 

The man is a shameless flirt. He oozes confidence and masculinity in a way that's downright distracting. And in bed? He's addictive.

Everything with him is wild and impulsive, and Skylar is desperate to regain some control. 

But no one has supported her like West does. And no one has ever made her feel as loved as he does either.

So, while Skylar's brain says settling down with a small-town horse trainer is impossible... her heart says she's right where she belongs.

Still, her life as a celebrity haunts her. It has the power to pull her and West apart. 

She can see in his eyes that he wants her to stay. And she wants that too. 

But she knows better than anyone that you don't always get what you want."

My Rating: 4.5/5

As per usual, I am impressed with Elsie Silver's ability to create a setting and characters that feel so real. I love them; they make me excited to continue with the series and see where each character goes and who they end up with etc. I also love that each series has characters who aren't going to have a story of their own. The town itself also seems so sweet. I can't wait to continue the series.

Sidny

Book Review: The Kraken's Sacrifice by Katee Robert

Title: The Kraken's Sacrifice

Author: Katee Robert

Series/Standalone: A Deal With a Demon (Book #2)

Genre: Monster Romance, Fantasy, Paranormal

Pages: 182

Publisher: Indie Published

Year Published: 2022

Format: Ebook (Kindle Unlimited)

"Catalina only made her deal with the demon because she had nowhere else to go. The world has kicked her every chance it got, so she's all too happy to leave the realm she knows behind. What's the worst that could happen?

She doesn't anticipate being auctioned away to a kraken. 

Thane is cold and distant... but he's not unkind. Isolated as they are, Catalina finds herself seeking his company again and again. And when she finally agrees to uphold her portion of the bargain?

That's when things get really interesting.

But she only gave the demon seven years, and when the time is up, she'll have no choice but to leave behind the kraken who's stolen her heart and return to the world that doesn't want her."

My Rating: 3/5

This book follows Catalina, a girl who has some of the lowest self-esteem I've read about who sells 7 years of her life to a bargaining demon in exchange for riches. She's then given to a kraken king who has trauma of his own. They become a couple who has issues to work through, and did a mention, he's mostly made of tentacles? Don't worry they place a role. I enjoyed this book more than the first book in the series, it felt more romantic, less smutty. I'm excited to try the next one which is about a gargoye.

Sidny

Book Review: Wild Love by Elsie Silver

Title: Wild Love

Author: Elsie Silver

Series/Standalone: Rose Hill Series (Book #1)

Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Adult Fiction, Billionaire Romance

Pages: 455

Publisher: Bloom Books

Year Published: 2024

Format: Ebook (Kindle Unlimited)

"She's been driving him wild for years.

The good kind of wild. The bad kind of wild.

But mostly, the kind of wild that comes with wanting your best friend's little sister and knowing you can't have her.

Forbes may have labelled Ford Grant the World's Hottest Billionaire, but all he cares about is escaping the press and opening a recording studio in gorgeous small town Rose Hill. Something that comes to a screeching halt when he ends up face-to-face with a young girl who claims he's her biological father. Now, he spends his days balancing business with parenting a sullen twelve-year-old, all while trying desperately to keep his hands the hell off his best friend's sister, Rosie Belmont.

After living in the city, Rosie came blasting back into town like a storm. Beautiful, messy, and chaotic. And one wide-eyed, desperate plea for a job is all it takes for Ford to hire her. He vows to keep her at arm's length. Tries to stick to scowls and grumpy one-liners. But with her, verbal sparring is a type of foreplay-friction that soon turns to blistering heat. 

For knows damn well he shouldn't cross this line. But shouldn't and can't are two very different things.

And the only thing he truly can't do is resist."

My Rating: 4.5/5

I haven't read anything by Elsie Silver for a while, but once again I'm being drawn in. I'm gonna need to read all of these immediately. The way that Elsie Silver builds a community/ found family. The tropes she uses in ways that are more than just a trope (the character backgrounds, the use of inner thoughts, etc.). The setting also lends itself so well to the series, and the way that characters from previous series. I can't wait to see West's character come to life. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Sins of a King by Emma Slate

Title: Sins of a King

Author: Emma Slate

Series/Standalone: Sins Series (Book #1)

Genre: Dark Romance, Mafia, Adult Fiction

Pages: 418

Publisher: Indie Published

Year Published: 2016

Format: Ebook (Hoopla)

"I can't breathe without him.

Playboy. Billionaire. Criminal.

I should hate him for what he's done to me, but I'm powerless to resist him.

His touch engulfs me.

His demands conquer me.

But Flynn Campbell isn't who I thought he was.

Suddenly, I'm thrust into a world of seduction and sin.

Ensnared by danger and power, foreign desires burn within me.

It's time to embrace the darkness...

And become a queen."

My Rating: 3/5

After reading books from another one of this author's series, I decided to read this one, since there is some character crossover. This one does have a different vibe to it as opposed to the Tarnished Angels Motorcycle Club series. Less diverse in character, personalities and more focused on the mafia element, which makes sense. There was a trope used in a way that I didn't enjoy, and that was why the book lost partial ratings. I look forward to continuing the series and seeing where things go. 

Sidny

Book Review: Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng by Kylie Lee

Title: Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng

Author: Kylie Lee Baker

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Horror, Thriller, Adult Fiction

Pages: 304

Publisher: MIRA

Year Published: 2025

Format: Ebook (Kindle Unlimited)

"Cora Zeng is a crime scene cleaner, washing away the remains of brutal murders and suicides in Chinatown. The bloody messes don't bother her, not when she's already witnessed the most horrific thing possible: her sister being pushed in front of a train.

Before fleeing the scene, the murderer whispered two words: bat eater.

Months pass, the killer is never caught, and Cora can barely keep herself together. She pushes away all feelings, disregards the bite marks that appear on her coffee table, and won't take her aunt's advice to prepare for the Hungry Ghost Festival, when the gates of hell open.

Cora tries to ignore the rising dread in her stomach, even when she and her weird coworkers begin finding bat carcasses at their crime scene clean-ups. But Cora can't ignore the fact that all their recent clean-ups have been the bodies of East Asian women.

Soon Cora will learn: you can't just ignore hungry ghosts."

My Rating: 4/5

I'm not sure exactly what I just read, but I liked it. I think the author did a great job of combining mystery, folklore and the everyday horror that were present during Covid. The racism, the hate crimes, and the death that surrounded New York (as someone who wasn't there and only saw the news). That being said, I didn't expect many of the twists, which were great, but also felt unsettling in a way that took me out of the story at some points. I would be curious to learn more about the folklore and beliefs in hungry ghosts in the future if anyone has recommendations for nonfiction works surrounding these beliefs. 

Thank you for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: This House Will Feed by Maria Tureaud

Title: This House Will Feed

Author: Maria Tureaud

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Horror, Historical Fiction, Adult

Pages: 368

Publisher: Indie Published

Year Published: 2026

Format: Ebook (Kindle Unlimited)

"Amidst the devastation of Ireland's Great Famine, a young woman is salvaged from certain death when offered a mysterious position at a remote manor house haunted by a strang epower and the horror of her own memories in this chillingly evocative historical novel braided with gothic horror and supernatural suspense for readers of Katherine Arden's The Warm Hands of Ghosts and The Silence Factory by Bridget Collins.

County Clare, 1848: In the scant few years since the potato blight first cast its foul shadow over Ireland, Maggie O'Shaughnessy has lost everything- her entire family and the man she trusted with her heart. Tolling in the Ennis Workhouse for paltry rations, she can see no future either within or outside its walls- until the mysterious Lady Catherine arrives to whisk her away to an old mansion in the stark limestone landscape of the Burren.

Lady Catherine wants Maggie to impersonate her late daughter, Wilhelmina and hoodwink solicitors into releasing Wilhelmina's widow's pension so that Lady Catherine can continue to provide for the villagers in her care. In exchange, Maggie will receive freedom from the workhouse, land of her own, and the one thing she wants more than a chance to fulfill the promise she made to her brother on his deathbed- to live to spite them all.

Launching herself into the daunting task, Maggie plays the role of Wilhelmina as best she can while ignoring the villagers' tales of ghostly figures and curses. But more worrying are the whispers that come from within. Something in Lady Catherine's house is reawakening long-buried memories in Maggie- of a foe more terrifying than hunger or greed, of power that calls for blood and vengeance, and of her own role in a nightmare that demands the darkest sacrifice..."

My Rating: 4/5

In an already horrific time, imagine a horror movie takes place that includes cannibalism, spirits, folklore and more. While this story took a bit of time to warm up after about the 30% mark, I was in and couldn't wait to pick it up each time I had the opportunity. I look forward to reading more from the author, who does a wonderful job at setting the atmosphere and expanding on an already dark time in history. Characters were flawed, but understandable, and the twists were interesting and kept me hooked.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman

Title: Dungeon Crawler Carl

Author: Matt Dinniman

Series/Standalone: Dungeon Crawler Carl Series (Book #1)

Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopia, Adult Fiction, Adventure, Humour

Pages: 464

Publisher: Indie Published

Year Published: 2020

Format: Ebook (Kindle Unlimited)

"The apocalypse will be televised!

A man. His ex-girlfriend's cat. A sadistic game show unlike anything in the universe: a dungeon crawl where survival depends on killing your prey in the most entertaining way possible.

In a flash, every human-erected construction on Earth- from Buckingham Palace to the tiniest of sheds- collapses in a heap, sinking into the ground.

The buildings and all the people inside have all been atomized and transformed into the dungeon: an 18-level labyrinth filled with traps, monsters, and loot. A dungeon so enormous, it circles the entire globe.

Only a few dare venture inside. But once you're in, you can't get out. And what's worse, each level has a time limit. You have but days to find a staircase to the next level down, or it's game over. In this game, it's not about your strength or your dexterity. It's about your followers, your views. Your clout. It's about building an audience and killing those goblins with style.

You can't just survive here. You gotta survive big.

You gotta fight with vigor, with excitement. You gotta make them stand up and cheer. And if you do have that 'it' factor, you may just find yourself with a following. That's the only way to truly survive the game- with the help of the loot boxes dropped upon you by the generous benefactors watching from across the galaxy."

My Rating: 4/5

My husband and I have decided to do buddy reads once every couple of months. It keeps us reading, inspires conversation and helps limit our blue light before bed. This was his pick for this one, and I had heard a lot of the series from friends. I'm gonna say really quick that this book is geared towards video game players, which makes a lot of sense due to the title, description, etc. I would also say that it has a cruder sense of humour, which I appreciate. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I would have liked to cut some of it back, maybe a little, but I did have fun reading it. We plan to read the next one as soon as we get a library hold in.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Tarnished Crown by Robin D. Mahle & Elle Madison

Title: Tarnished Crown

Author: Robin D. Mahle & Elle Madison

Series/Standalone: The Lochlann Feuds Series (Book #2)

Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult

Pages: 398

Publisher: Indie Published (Self-Published)

Year Published: 2021

Format: Ebook (Kindle Unlimited)

"Rowan was finally going to do something right.

Marry for love and for her kingdom. Keep her people safe. Until an archaic law enslaved her to the most feared man in all of  Socair, a man who treats her like a pawn and calls her his pet.

But when enemies emerge from unexpected places, she's forced to realize that being Evander's property might just be the only thing keeping her alive.

Can she fulfill her blood debt to Bear, even if it means losing Theo forever?

Even if it means sacrificing her heart?"

My Rating: 5/5

If you had told me a year ago that I would be loving a steamy but not spicy young adult romantasy series, I would have been shocked. Not that I've completely shied away from young adult fantasy, but I feel that I've leaned more into adult content in the past few years, so to revisit this area feels both nostalgic and brand new all at once. The authors of this series know exactly how to write angsty, longing and enemies-to-lovers. While some emotions are going fast (it's kinda par for the course in the genre), the banter, the plot, all of it is phenomenal. Don't worry, the next book in the series, she's downloaded!

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Scarlet Princess by Robin D. Mahle & Elle Madison

Title: Scarlet Princess

Author(s): Robin D. Mahle & Elle Madison

Series/Standalone: The Lochlann Feuds (Book #1)

Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult

Pages: 324

Publisher: Indie Published

Year Published: 2021

Format: Ebook (Kindle Unlimited)

"A reckless princess. An enemy kingdom. And a mistake that could cost her everything.

Rowan only wanted a bit of adventure. She never meant to start a war.

But when a vodka smuggling trip goes wrong and lands her in the hands of the people she was brought up to hate, the Loclannian princess is forced to put her life on the line for the sake of her cousin and her kingdom. Her only ally is one of her captors, a man who is turning out to be so different from the barbarian she expected him to be.

Now she's in over her head with ancient vendettas, blood debts and the dangerous political games she's never been good at playing. Even Theo's help may not be enough to save her when Socairans still blame her for her parents' war... and when she's tempting fate by falling for one of their own. 

Rowan will have to find a way to smooth things over without causing more chaos, before she accidentally kicks off a conflict that could forever alter the fate of two kingdoms."

My Rating: 4.5/5

This first instalment follows Princess Rowan as she enters and remains trapped in a kingdom she knows next to nothing about, other than how they were enemies in the past and have remained barely cordial in the current tense. After a trip to get vodka (something unavailable in her own kingdom), she is caught smuggling and is left to deal with the consequences and a trial that could lead to her death. The authors do an excellent job of writing a fantasy world that is familiar enough to visualize but different enough to keep you on your toes. It almost feels medieval in time frame. The key factor to my enjoyment is Rowan's spunk and personality. Even when backed against a wall, she remains strong. I look forward to seeing how this series continues on, and who knows maybe we'll be reading a lot more from these authors. 

Thanks for reading

Sidny

Book Review: The Housemaid by Freida McFadden

Title: The Housemaid

Author: Freida McFadden

Series/Standalone: The Housemaid Series (Book #1)

Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Adult Fiction

Pages: 329

Publisher: Indie Published

Year Published: 2022

Format: Ebook (Kindle Unlimited)

"Every day I clean the Winchesters' beautiful house top to bottom. I collect their daughter from school. And I cook a delicious meal for the whole family before heading up to eat alone in my tiny room on the top floor. 

I try to ignore how Nina makes a mess just to watch me clean it up. How she tells strange lie about her own daughter. And how her husband Andrew, seems more broken every day. But as I look into Andrew's handsome brown eyes, so full of pain, it's hard not to imagine what it would be like to live Nina's life. The walk-in closet, the fancy, the perfect husband. 

I only try on one of Nina's pristine white dresses once. Just to see what it's like. But she soon finds out... and by the time I realize my attic bedroom door only locks from the outside, it's far too late.

But I reassure myself: the Winchesters don't know who I really am.

They don't know what I'm capable of..."

My Rating: 4.5/5

I love a fast-paced thriller. There is something about a story that has twists and turns throughout the story, and the quick action scenes that make it so fun to me. This author did a great job of landing those turns, making them surprising, but not unbelievable. The book was a quick read, and I look forward to continuing on with the series to see how the author will continue on with some of our characters. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Trial of the Sun Queen by Nisha J. Tuli

Title: Trial of the Sun Queen

Author: Nisha J. Tuli

Series/Standalone: Artefacts of Ouranos Series (Book #1)

Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Adult

Pages: 400

Publisher: Indie Published

Year Published: 2023

Format: Ebook (Kindle Unlimited)

"The Bachelor meets the Hunger Games. Ten women. A deadly contest. Only one can win the Sun King's heart.

Lor has endured twelve long years of torment under the Aurora King's rule. her only desire is to get free and pay him back for every moment of misery.

When a surprise release finds her in the hands of the Sun King, Lor is thrust into the spotlight when she competes against nine other Tributes for the role of queen. If she wins his heart, she'll earn her freedom and finally get her revenge.

But Lor doesn't belong in the Sun Queen Trials. She doesn't understand why she was freed, and she isn't a citizen of the Sun King's court. The other Tributes resent her presence and will stop at nothing to ensure Lor is wiped off the gameboard, permanently.

Now Lor must win, because if she loses, she dies. Or worse, she'll be sent back into the hands of the Aurora King."

My Rating: 3.75/5

I was recommended this book by a friend and had a great time while reading it, it was fun, decently paced and quick. It wasn't the most unique tale I'd ever read, but it had a few turns in it that kept it fun. Some things were left a little heavy-handed, but the characterization of both the Aurorian Prince and Lor was excellent. I love a dual narration. I look forward to continuing the series and seeing where the tales go from here.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Losers: Part 1 by Harley Laroux

Title: Losers Part 1

Author: Harley Laroux

Series/Standalone: Losers Duet (Book #1)

Genre: Adult, Smut, Why Choose Romance, Dark

Pages: 594

Publisher: Indie Published

Year Published: 2022

Format: Ebook (Kindle Unlimited)

"I was supposed to have it all.

I'd been Prom Queen, Cheer Captain- high school's most savage Queen Bee. I could have everything I wanted. Except them. The freaks, the weirdos, the school's ultimate losers; Manson, Jason, Lucas, and Vincent. our hatred for each other couldn't keep us apart, not even when my own mistake got Manson expelled and made me the ultimate villain to the rest of them.

One night was supposed to be enough.

I couldn't resist forever. For one night I gave myself over to the men I wasn't supposed to want and satisfied the darkest parts of my soul. But some things are meant to stay in the dark. One night, and it was over.

Nothing more than a game.

Now, with college behind me, our worlds collide yet again. Four men, all willing to share me as their plaything until my debt to them is paid. Another game to satiate my dark cravings, the twisted rules of which bring us all even closer than before. but games aren't meant to last.

When the debt is paid and the game is done, what if I don't want to walk away?"

My Rating: 3.75/5

This was such a wild read. I've read some other dark romances, so I was somewhat prepared going into this, but I don't think that I had a clue what I was getting into. The smut is insane, the plot is fun, and the characters are all very unique. I'm curious to see where the rest of the series goes, and I look forward to reading more by the author. While the writing style isn't my favourite, it is entertaining.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Carnage by Shantel Tessier

Title: Carnage

Author: Shantel Tessier

Series/Standalone: L.O.R.D.S. (Book #5)

Genre: Dark Romance, Adult

Pages: 628

Publisher: Indie Published

Year Published: 2023

Format: Ebook (Kindle Unlimited)

"A PUPPET

The men in the secret society known as the Lords think they rule the world. And in a way, they do. Each has sold their soul to the devil at a young age in exchange for power and wealth. Like anything else, they have different levels of success. The more they're willing to serve, the more power they have.

Among them are the Spade brothers, who run Carnage. It's where the Lords who have not held up their oath go to live out the rest of their lives in shackles. Tucked away from the world as if they never existed.

I VOW. YOU VOW.  WE VOW.

I once belonged to a Lord- Saint Beckham Carter. Although nothing was holy about him, I still kneeled as if he could grant me eternity in a world where only evil existed.

At the time, I willingly vowed to be his and allowed him to share me with his "brothers." But things changed. And what I thought couldn't get any better got exceptionally worse. So I did the only thing I could and ran from him, knowing I could never return.

Now he's found me and dragged me back to his hell, where he will make me his pet. The world already thinks I'm dead, so no one will miss me. And I'm just another name on a long list of those who will never know freedom.

What he doesn't know is why I ran from him in the first place. A Lord doesn't listen to reason, so it's not like he'd care anyway. Saint was born a Lord, and he will die as one.

If life has taught me anything, it's that we all pay for our sins. And Saint will never let me forget that my place is at Carnage, serving him on my knees until death is granted."

My Rating:5/5

This was so over-the-top, crazy, and intense, as most of the books in this series are. But if you wanted to see Shantal Tessier take the series to a whole new level, I would highly recommend. Seeing what caused Saint to be the character we see in the first half of the series was super interesting, and then getting more context for the subplot that has run through all the other books so far. I'm looking forward to continuing the series soon.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: The Score by Elle Kennedy

Title: The Score

Author: Elle Kennedy

Series/Standalone: Off-Campus Series (Book #3)

Genre: Romance, Sports Romance,  Adult Fiction

Pages: 464

Publisher: Indie

Year Published: 2016

Format: Ebook (Kindle Unlimited)

"He knows how to score, on and off the ice...

Allie Hayes is in crisis mode. With graduation looming, she still doesn't have the first clue about what she's going to do after college. To make matters worse, she's nursing a broken heart thanks to the end of her longtime relationship. Wild rebound sex is definitely not the solution to her problems, but gorgeous hockey star Dean Di Laurentis is impossible to resist. Just once, though, because even if her future is uncertain, it sure as heck won't include the king of one-night stands.

It'll take more than flashy moves to win her over...

Dean always gets what he wants. Girls, grade, girls, recognition, girls.... he's a ladies man, all right, and he's yet to meet a woman who's immune to his charms. Until Allie. For one night, the feisty blonde rocked his entire world- and now she wants to be friends? Nope. It's not over until he says it's over. Dean is in full-on pursuit, but when life-rocking changes strike, he starts to wonder if maybe it's time to stop focusing on scoring... and shoot for love."

My Rating: 3.75/5

I enjoyed this volume, but there were a few things that were a miss for me. I find that Elle Kennedy's writing is really fun and great, but the third act conflict/breakup/whatever-the-fuck, is always cleared up too quickly. I feel that if that had happened earlier on by a little bit, then we could have more time to clear up the conflict before getting to the happily-ever-after part. Also, for a story to start out with "kinky" stuff, it seemed to settle down pretty fast (or maybe I've been reading too much dark romance again).

 I am super intrigued by the concept of the next book, and look forward to starting it soon.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny 

Book Review: The Mistake by Elle Kennedy

Title: The Mistake

Author: Elle Kennedy

Series/Standalone: Off-Campus Series (Book #2)

Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Adult Fiction, Sports Romance

Pages: 283

Publisher: Self-Published

Year Published: 2015

Format: Ebook (Kindle Unlimited)

"Get ready for another binge-worthy romance from international bestselling author and TikTok sensation Elle Kennedy. He's a player in more ways than one... College junior John Logan can get any girl he wants. For this hockey star, life is a parade of parties and hook-ups, but behind his killer grins and easygoing charm, he hides growing despair about the dead-end road he'll be forced to walk after graduation. A sexy encounter with freshman Grace Ivers is just the distraction he needs, but when a thoughtless mistake pushes her away, Logan plans to spend his final year proving to her that he's worth a second chance. Now he's going to need to up his game... After a less than stellar freshman year, Grace is back at Briar University, older, wiser, and so over the arrogant hockey player she nearly handed her V-card to. She's not a charity case, and she's not the quiet butterfly she was when they first hooked up. If Logan expects her to roll over and beg like all his other puck bunnies, he can think again. He wants her back? He'll have to work for it. This time around, she'll be the one in the driver's seat.... and she plans on driving him wild. "

My Rating: 4/5

This was a really fun instalment in the series. I'm glad that we got to Logan's book right away after the ending of the first book so it didn't draw out the jealousy factor we read about in book one. I was also grateful that it was about him winning her back and working for her to see him instead of the other way around (sometimes I find in hockey romance it's the women doing all the work). The backstory for Logan was detailed and interesting; my only problem was the way it all cleared up. I wish it had happened a little further from the end of the book, so we could have seen some more good family moments between Logan and his brother. Overall, a great read, and I've already started the next one. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: A False Start by Elsie Silver

Title: A False Start

Author: Elsie Silver

Series/Standalone: Gold Rush Ranch Series (Book #4)

Genre: Romance, Adult Fiction, Contemporary

Pages: 432

Publisher: Self-Published

Year Published: 2022

Format: Ebook (Kindle Unlimited)

"I kissed my best friend's little sister, and the world stood still.

That night we were two perfect strangers, the town's grumpy recluse and a gorgeous girl in the back of a bar. Until we weren't.

Because Nadia Dalca isn't just some girl. She's the girl I can't have. Fourteen years younger than me and completely off-limits.

My plan is to stay away, but the universe keeps pushing us together. It's like some sort of cosmic joke, to give me a taste of something so electric - so real- something that breathed life back into me.

Because I can look, but I can't touch.

Her sinful curves, her light-hearted laughter, her wild side... I'm addicted to every last bit of her.

And when she turns those sultry eyes on me-- the ones so full of longing and so free of judgement? I've always considered myself a strong man. But when she looks at me I'm weak.

To give in to our connection would be a betrayal. My life is beyond complicated, and she has the world at her fingertips. Her brother is the only family she has left, and sad as it sounds, he's also my only friend.

But I kissed her again anyway.

And now I can't stop."

My Rating: 5/5

This was once again Elsie Silver, just writing perfection. The tension between our main characters is excellent. The spicy scenes were wonderful, and the plot was fantastic. I was so grateful for the way the author chose to end this book. She has this way of making each character so unique that I feel like they are real people. This series isn't quite as good as Chestnut Springs in my opinion, but I can't wait to read the Rose Hill Series.

Thank you for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: The Deal by Elle Kennedy

Title: The Deal

Author: Elle Kennedy

Series/Standalone: Off-Campus Series (Book #1)

Genre: Contemporary Romance, New Adult, Sports Romance

Pages: 342

Publisher: Self-Published

Year Published: 2015

Format: Ebook (Kindle Unlimited)

"She's about to make a deal with the college bad boy...

Hannah Wells has finally found someone who turns her on. But while she might be confident in every other area of her life, she's carting around a full set of baggage when it comes to sex and seduction. If she wants to get her crush's attention, she'll have to step out of her comfort zone and make him take notice... even if it means tutoring the annoying, childish, cocky captain of the hockey team in exchange for a pretend date.

...and it's going to be oh so good.

All Garrett Graham has ever wanted is to play professional hockey after graduation, but his plummeting GPA is threatening everything he's worked so hard for. If helping a sarcastic brunette make another guy jealous will help him secure the position on the team, he's all for it. But when one unexpected kiss leads to the wildest sex of both their lives, it doesn't take long for Garrett to realize that pretend isn't going to cut it. Now he just has to convince Hannah that the man she wants looks a lot like him."

My Rating: 4/5

This was a really fun read. And while it was a little predictable, it was also unexpected in some of the turns. I look forward to continuing the series, especially since the author is a Canadian and reading some books from my fellow Canadians seems like the move to make right now. I will say it is a bit of a product of the time. It felt very 2015 if that makes any sense. Would recommend if you're looking for good banter, steamy scenes and a sports romance that isn't too too sports heavy. Trigger warning for mention of SA.

Thanks for reading.

Sidny

Book Review: Chasing The Wild by Elliott Rose

Title: Chasing the Wild

Author: Elliott Rose

Series/Standalone: Crimson Ridge Series (Book #1)

Genre: Romance, Westerns, Contemporary, Adult Fiction

Pages: 444

Publisher: Indie Published

Year Published: 2024

Format: Ebook (Kindle Unlimited)

"What happens when you're snowed in on a mountain ranch, with the one man you definitely should not be fantasizing about?

I've always done what was expected of me, Layla Birch, the good girl.

Forced to grow up too fast. To take care of everything myself. I had a plan.

Only I didn't count on him. Colton Wilder. The cowboy nearly twice my age. 

He's my dream man. One who takes care of me, gives me a job, and makes my pulse thud harder every time he comes near.

My ex-boyfriend's father.

The nights are long and cold on top of this mountain. As the snow grows thicker and the tension builds between us, we're both inching closer to a line we shouldn't cross. 

Each day, it grows harder to resist the man who looks at me with longing in his eyes. 

It's tempting to forget about being the good girl for once.

No one would find out. Would they?"

My Rating: 3.75/5

This book wasn't what I anticipated it to be. First off, calling this an ex-boyfriend dad book is a bit misleading, as the FMC calls it a situationship at best. I also don't think that this book needed to be this long. By the end, I felt like I had reread the same conversations or inner thoughts at least 10 times. Finally, the spicy scenes were fun, but the phrases used to describe genitals were off-putting, to say the least. That being said, the concept was fun, the relationship was interesting and the atmosphere was excellent. I look forward to trying the next one in the series. If it doesn't get any better than this one from the halfway point, I'm uncertain if I will continue.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: The Front Runner by Elsie Silver

Title: The Front Runner

Author: Elsie Silver

Series/Standalone: Gold Rush Ranch (Book #3)

Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Adult Fiction, Western

Pages: 356

Publisher: Indie 

Year Published: 2021

Format: Ebook (Kindle Unlimited)

"Stefan Dalca is infuriatingly handsome. And annoyingly persistent. We're supposed to hate each other. But apparently, he didn't get the memo, because he's been asking me out for years.

And I always say no. Until today.

Today he has something that I desperately need. Today he's a savior and I'm his prize.

Our time together starts out as a simple transaction. Three dates. No touching. No telling anyone. And definitely no falling in love.

But with ever intimate conversation, and each stolen glance, the tension between us builds.

The way he looks at me gives me butterflies. And when he finally touches me? We sizzle.

Stefan makes me feel seen in a way no other person has before. He cherishes my words as passionately as my body.

He makes me laugh. He makes me blush. He calls me kitten.

He's not the villain he's been made out to be.

And suddenly I find myself longing for him in a way the people closest to me wouldn't approve of or understand.

Giving in to Stefan Dalca is playing with fire.

But with him, I don't even mind the heat."

My Rating: 4/5

Elsie Silver has to be one of my favourite authors. If she writes it, I will read it! I loved the two characters that this book covered and I think that the longing was written so beautifully. Also while there was a miscommunication trope, I felt it wasn't the main plot of the story. I loved the way this story and Stefan tied it to the other characters in the story. I look forward to continuing on with the series and starting the next series soon. Although if anyone else uses the nickname kitten, I might have to knock it down a star as well. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny