Tag Archives: Sarah

Thorn Kiss (Whynot 2) by Clio Evans-review tour

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Thorn Kiss (Whynot 2) by Clio Evans-review tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date February 17, 2026

In the small West Texas town of Whynot, why not let love bloom in the most unlikely place?
After breaking up with my boyfriend, getting fired from my dream job, and escaping to a small town where no one knows me—I make two promises to myself.

No more hiding who I am. No more letting chances pass me by.

Those promises are the perfect way to ruin my life all over again.

Dallas Whynot. He’s the kind and muscled mechanic who has a little free library in his yard and a primal kink.

June Moore. She’s the tattooed, pink-haired florist who’s tougher than nails and sweeter than a rose.

Running off to Whynot for an artist residency is exactly what I need. What I don’t need is to start a new relationship with one person, let alone two.

With that in mind, the three of us strike a deal I can’t resist.

Six weeks. No attachments. No feelings. Just friends with benefits.

Which would be perfect if I weren’t already falling for them both…

••••••

REVIEW: 🪷💕 Why Not fall in love 💕🪷

Thorn Kiss is book two in the Why Not series by the ever talented Clio Evans. As always, I recommend reading the series in order, book one is so good and a great introduction to the characters in book two. Thorn Kiss is a why choose, MFF, small-town romance, no major trigger warnings, just goodness.

We are welcomed back to the small-town of Why Not, Texas and the residents that have made it their home. In book one we meet Dallas, Avery’s brother, and June, her best friend, these two have had feelings for one another for years, but even more so since their “accidental” New Years Eve kiss last year. Alas neither of them have had the courage to act on their feelings. However, when Madi rolls into their small-town, they both start to develop feelings for her, and maybe, just maybe this will give them the push they need. Madi is from LA and is in town for an art internship through Avery. After losing her dream job and breaking up with her long term boyfriend, she needs a change, and the small-town of Why Not may just yet be that change. When Dallas comes to Madi’s rescue not once, but on two different occasions, their relationship quickly sparks to life. They want each other, but when Madi meets June, she wants her too. What is a girl to do? When Madi learns that Dallas has a major crush on June, they agree to keep all roads open to all three of them and see what happens. June is a little more of a mystery, she keeps her feelings for Dallas under lock and key, but with Madi, she is more open and willing to try with her. When the trio agree to “friends with benefits” while Madi is in town, they think it will be a wild time of sex and kink, little did they know that everything is about to change for them.

((Happy Dance))

I love this series! I love the characters, I love the writing. There is a lot to unpack with Thorn Kiss and I am not one to spoil a good read. However, June had me very frustrated with so much of this book. She needs some deep therapy, her issues with her Mother and brother leak into her life and control her choices far too much. Towards the end of the book, the way she treats Dallas and Madi had me fuming! That and her lack of open communication with Dallas and Madi was completely frustrating, but in the end, things did work out. The spice in this book was outstanding, the primal play, (chefs kiss) the communication about boundaries, safe words and the like, just perfect. I think Dallas needs partners that are able to give him this type of outlet, allow him to feel safe to explore it with him, but also enjoy it as well. Madi had to be my favorite, she was able to be what Dallas and June both needed, but they were both able to give her what she needed as well. With Madi, she was able to find a place and people that finally felt like family, that felt like home. Not just with Dallas and June, but with the people of Why Not. The big grand gesture at the end of the book was by far the sweetest thing I have read, and it just made the ending that much better. I can not WAIT to see what Ms. Clio has in store for the oldest Why Not brother. Austin, we are coming for you next!

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Clio Evans is the author of the Creature Cafe Series, Warts & Claws Series, Three Fates Mafia Series, Galactic Gems Series, and more. A lover of myths, legends, BDSM, coffee, and the supernatural-Clio enjoys writing monsters that love harder than they bite. Clio also loves small town romance and is excited to be expanding genres. She’s from Austin, Texas, and living their best life creating art, drinking coffee, and writing kinky romance.

Connect with Clio

Website | https://clioevansauthor.com

Goodreads | https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21827137.Clio_Evans

Amazon | https://www.amazon.com/stores/Clio-Evans/author/B09FG93N8M

Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100072335004754

Facebook Group |  https://www.facebook.com/groups/226765112715615/

Instagram |  https://www.instagram.com/clioevansauthor

Bookbub |  https://www.bookbub.com/profile/clio-evans

Newsletter |  https://terrific-hill-233.myflodesk.com/tfmsignup

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On The Brink of Bliss (Moonlit Ridge 5) by AL Jackson-review tour

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💜On The Brink of Bliss (Moonlit Ridge 5) by AL Jackson-review tour💜

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date February 10, 2026

The last thing I expected when I found the trespasser bathing in my river was for it to be her…

Daisy Adair has always been my dream girl. From when we were best friends in high school to finding her now.
A gorgeous mother who shows up on my property with three kids in tow.
But I became a recluse for a reason.
The life I chose is full of wickedness and peril. The last thing I need is the object of my every fantasy invading my space and risking her life because of me.
Only when she tells me she’s on the run from her ex, I promise to do anything to keep them safe, even marry her to protect her kids.
That single kiss at the altar rips through every barrier, our passion unleashed.
Now, living under the same roof blurs the lines I’ve drawn.
Each glance of her down the hall and I am splintering.
Each brush of her hand and I am brought to my knees.
Our future—bright, hopeful, and almost within reach—hovers on the edge of becoming real…
Until we discover the threat surrounding her is grimmer than either of us imagined.
Now I’m fighting to save her and her children before our second chance at forever is burned to the ground…

•••••

REVIEW: Moonlit Ridge is forever going to hold a special place in my heart. This series ends with the final installment, On the Brink of Bliss, Cash’s story. While all of these books are intense and heartbreaking, Cash’s story is the most…well of everything. Each book is a standalone in an interconnected world, but truly they need to be read in order, there is far too much backstory that would be missed out on. Please check your trigger warnings before reading.

Cash and Daisy share a history together, a history that Cash tries (and fails) to forget. They met when they were young, found each other in high-school, but when you truly connect with someone, age is just a number. Torn apart by tragedy, Cash turns into himself, vowing to never let another innocent die in vain. Daisy tries to make the best of her life, even if it means moving on from Cash, even if it means keeping him alive in her mind when he isn’t there for her. Fast forward, Cash is a member of Sovereign Santium, a secret group that helps women and children when they need a way out from a world that would cause them harm. He and his brothers protect those that need it. Each of his brothers have found love, a woman, a family to call their own, Cash however is a grumpy recluse that likes to spend his time alone in his cabin. He loves his brothers and the family that have made, but Cash holds demons inside him that hold him back from life. After returning home one night however, Cash finds something on his land that changes his life forever.

Daisy is now a single mother on the run from her ex-husband hell bent on taking her out. She thought she would be safe, that she did the right thing, but all that matters now is that her children are safe. With no family, and no one else to go to, Daisy tracts down the one person who ever truly made her feel safe. Cash. Once she finds him, all she has to do is get him to agree to fake marry her, to keep her children safe, to love them. She just wasn’t expecting Cash to actually agree to her demand. Now that he has, things are different between them and Daisy isn’t sure she can go back to how things used to be.

Cash and Daisy broke my heart, then healed it all in one amazing book. The depth of their relationship together, how they started, how they loved each other, then lost each other, only to find each other again, but held back by fear and guilt. This book was everything. Daisy and her kids act as a bridge to bring Cash out of the self imposed hell island he placed himself on years ago. And Cash does what he does best, he protects. He acts as a shield to Daisy and her children, he keeps them safe, he cares for them, he loves them. The flash-backs from their early years are really meaningful, and I really enjoyed reading them, but my favorite moments for sure are the moments with Cash and the kids. He’s a stark, grumpy guy, but with those kids, he is soft and vulnerable, it rounds out his giant personality well. Of course with all of this author’s books there is spice, and boy oh boy…Cash has another level to him in this category. The spice was a great addition to the book, but Daisy and Cash’s relationship takes center stage, they have such a need for one another that it almost transcends time. It makes for a fabulous read. I’m so sad to see the series come to an end, but what an end it was. It may still be early in the year, but this is my favorite read so far. I can’t wait to see what this author has in store for us next

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sarah

A.L. Jackson is the New York Times & USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary romance. She writes emotional, sexy, heart-filled stories about boys who usually like to be a little bit bad.

If she’s not writing, you can find her hanging out by the pool with her family, sipping cocktails with her friends, or of course with her nose buried in a book.

Website: www.aljacksonauthor.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5784542.A_L_Jackson

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/A-L-Jackson/e/B007RK7ZOU/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/aljacksonauthor

Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/aljacksonreaderhangout

Instagram: www.instagram.com/aljacksonauthor

X/Twitter: www.twitter.com/aljacksonauthor

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aljackson_

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/a-l-jackson

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/aljacksonauthor

Verve: https://ververomance.com/app/aljackson

Text “ALJACKSON” to 33222

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Hushed Harmony (Charming Irish 5) by Kaylene Winter-review tour

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🍀Hushed Harmony (Charming Irish 5) by Kaylene Winter-review tour🍀

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Google Play / Indigo /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date February 9, 2026

Three chords can ruin a man if you hit them right.

I spend my life chasing sound. Grit, feedback, the moment a crowd holds its breath.

Fireball is the only thing I’ve built without it turning on me. Everything else stays locked tight.

Then Linus O’Donnell comes back.

My first real love.
The one man who knows exactly how I break.
The one I never stopped wanting.

Avonna doesn’t need an entrance.
She coaxes me past my defenses into truth.
Raw. Unfiltered. Impossible to ignore.

What starts as music turns carnal fast.
Late nights. Sweat-soaked rehearsals. Heat carrying into every chord.
Desire doesn’t divide. It multiplies.

I want them both.
Bodies. Loyalty. A future. The way we fit once the world goes quiet.

The problem?
It never does.

I lie. I stall. I pretend control is possible.

Some harmonies refuse to stay hushed.

••••••

REVIEW:Hushed Harmony is the fifth and final book in the Charming Irish series by Kaylene Winter. This is a MMF, second chance romance filled with angst, drama and heartbreak. As the final installment of the series, we finish off with Liam and his story with Avonna and Linus. Each book is a standalone in an interconnected world, so read as you will. Hushed is a beefy book, so strap in friends.

Liam, Avonna and Linus have history and trauma together, so much of their lives are interconnected, weaved together. As the story progresses we get more and more of their time together and their time apart, their music and the past. Avonna’s past was so heartbreaking, the loss for all of them, the denial, and then the courage to try again. There is so much to this triad, their relationship together and the struggles they go through to finally get to the palace they want their future to be. While each of the three play a key role in the book, I think Avonna is the glue that holds Liam and Linus together, she is the foundation. These three aren’t just in love, they are pieces of each other, they need each other to be whole.

I have to give it to Ms. Kaylene, this is the first MMF I have read by her, and it was very good. The structure of the book was needed with so much background, and then to bring it to the present where the plot continues. I think this really gave the character time to learn from their struggle, and then choose each other and the future they wanted. I’m sad to see the McGloughin brothers series come to an end, but each of the brothers’ stories were so good, I hope others will enjoy it just as much.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Social Media: Amazon Author / Goodreads / Website / Facebook /  Instagram /

Kaylene Winter is an Amazon best-selling author of steamy, contemporary romance.

Each character-driven novel is filled with snappy dialogue, pop-culture references and enough steam to make you fan yourself. Kaylene weaves authenticity, emotion and angst into a turbulent rollercoaster ride of love, passion and soul-searing romance always ending with a delicious HEA.

Kaylene lives in Seattle with her amazing Irish husband and gorgeous Siberian Husky. She loves creating art of all kinds.

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Faking It With the Mafia Protector by Willa Wilde-review

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Faking It With the Mafia Protector (Vegas Vows & Vendettas #4) by Willa Wilde-review

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I agreed to a fake marriage with a mafia enforcer.Falling for him was never supposed to happen.One spilled coffee turned my world upside down. Rushing to work, I collided with Matteo Rossi.

His strong, tattooed hands caught me before I fell. His gun caught my eye before I could breathe. I ran. But men like Matteo don’t let go that easily.

He noticed me. The bruises on my arm. The fear in my eyes. The mark left by my violent Bratva ex, his enemy.

That night he’s waiting at the bar where I work. And his solution is as ruthless as it is protective: marry him. Fake vows, real protection, and a way for him to get revenge on his rival.

Matteo’s hatred is cold and consuming. But the moment he touches me, it’s clear revenge isn’t the only thing he craves. His grip is possessive. His control is absolute. I should be terrified. Instead, I’m unraveling.

My Bratva ex won’t back down. What started as protection has painted a target on everyone I love. Now Matteo is ready to start a war. And once a man like him decides you’re his…

There’s no escape without blood.

••••••••

REVIEW: Mafia romances will always hold a special place in my heart, why? No idea, but when they are done right, they turn out like this book did. Faking it with the Mafia Protector by Willa Wilde is a steamy, dark(ish) romance with an anti-hero at the heart of it. Trigger warnings are posted, check before reading.

Matteo is an enforcer for the Mafia, he is hired muscle and he can keep a secret. Secrets are what keep the mafia world from falling into chaos. A chance encounter with Sierra, the ex to his and his boss number one enemy, literally crashes into him, he knows he must move fast. Sierra is just trying to live her life, get it back on track after leaving her abusive ex-boyfriend Viktor. Viktor who works for the Bratva. Sierra has sworn off men, especially men that have anything to do with the mafia, she learned her lessons in the form of hurtful words and bruises. Matteo is then ordered by his Don, Lorenzo to use Sierra, marry her and do whatever it takes to bring Viktor down.

The book starts off slow, but quickly builds in plot and drama as things progress. Sierra and Matteo slowly start to learn to trust one another, even though they both have trust issues. When Sierra first agrees to marry Matteo, I thought the book was going in a different direction, but I am happy to have been wrong. The more time the pair spend together the more they want their relationship to be real, even if it leads them to more danger in the long run. Matteo is everything you expect an alpha enforcer for the mafia to be, morally grey and willing to do just about anything for those he is loyal to. What more could you ask for in a mafia romance, there is drama there is spice, there are kidnappings and torture, but through it all Sierra and Matteo make it through to the end.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sarah

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His in the Dark / His in the Fire by Willow Winters-review tour

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His in the Dark / His in the Fire by Willow Winters-review tour

HIS IN THE DARK
by Willow Winters
Release Date: February 12, 2026
Genre: adult, contemporary, mythology, romance

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

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There are two things I’ve always known:
Magic is real.
The Gods have no mercy for women like me.

I was born into power although what little I have is dying. Nonetheless, I’ve been protected all my life. There are myths and tales that say one day I will come to a fork in a long, long path. Either the light will take me or the dark. I never paid any mind to the whispers and warnings…

Until he crept into my window late at night.

Cloaked in darkness, silent as death. Every inch of me felt terror and yet I also felt something else. Something I’d never known.

He tasted like sin … and I loved it.

In a single moment, my entire world went dark and I was nothing more than a captive in the Underworld.
Nothing but his and suddenly all the lore brought a chill to my bones… even if he did light a fire in the most secret depths of me.

•••••••

REVIEW:🥀 His in the Dark 🥀

His in the Dark is part one of the Hades & Persephone duology by Willow Winters. As a retelling there will of course be similarities with Greek mythology, but this is a dark retelling, so trigger warnings beware.

Persephone has known two things her entire life. One, magic is real and two the Gods of Old have not one single iota of mercy to give to her. Like all those born on Olympus, Persephone was born with power, but that power slowly dies within her every minute of everyday that passes. She is safe while she remains in Olympus, but nothing can stop her magic from draining away. Or so she thinks. When Hades crawls into her dreams there is more in the darkness than she has felt before, there is sin and passion. There is power. Hades wants to show her what real power is, what freedom is, what she can be outside the confines that have been placed on her. When Persephone journeys to the underworld with Hades, her power slowly starts to return, but what does that mean? Is Hades true in his affections? Is his claim to want her as his Queen true?

The author leans into the dark romance in this tasty morsel. I wouldn’t describe it as a dark romance, more of a dark re-telling. The vibe to the story is dark because of the things that Hades would do to those that came for his girl. He lives for the “touch her and die” trope, but he’s a King, so there is so much more weight behind it. Of course there is spice, and what fabulous spice it is, but the story is what really leads the reader. The suspense, the drama, the need for more. Hades is troubled by the possible world ending war that is on the horizon if he doesn’t return Persephone to her parents, but also can’t imagine giving her up. The book ends on a killer cliffhanger that had me ready to throw my kindle across the room. Be prepared for that one readers. Overall, I can’t wait to get my hands on part two!

Reviewed by Sarah

______

HIS IN THE FIRE
by Willow Winters
Genre: adult, contemporary, mythology, romance
Release Date: February 3, 2026

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Ripped away from Olympus to the Underworld was a hell of its own making, but so is returning.
Leaving behind Hades and my rightful place as Queen of the Underworld caused an agony I’ve never known before.

What’s worse is that the war has not come to an end and my place in Olympus is questioned by all because of Hades’ demands. My mother will stop at nothing to have me safe with her and neither will Hades.

I’m left torn between life, Olympus, my mother and the throne I was always meant to have beside my lover, the King of the Dead.
I miss him dearly, I crave his touch and I need the love I felt so strongly in his presence.

What brings me the most fear though, is my own thoughts and my own power. The threat of losing what I had is enough to make me question my sanity. My mother would starve the world for me, Hades would burn it. But myself… What I’m willing to do as the suffering intensifies is blasphemy and terrifies me to my core.
There’s no going back and in this place I must find peace and balance before it’s too late.

I know one thing for certain: after dark, there will always be light. If that wasn’t true, the dark would not have a name…
And I crave both.

•••••••

REVIEW: ❤️ His in the Fire ❤️

Part two in the Persephone and Hades Duet has finally arrived! Boo one His in the Dark is a required reading before diving into the next. Just as book one was, this too also has a darker vibe to it so check your trigger warnings if needed.

We jump right back into where book one left us with that awful cliffhanger. Persephone has been taken from the Underworld, ripped away from Hades and all that she has built. Hades is left in angry fury, his loss of his Queen breaks something in him that should have everyone much more scared than they are. He doesn’t just want Persephone back, he NEEDS her back. There is no other outcome than her returning to his side. Persephone too is feeling Hades’ loss, but she is also very conflicted. She lives in two worlds, one of responsibility and pressure and one with Hades where she feels so different about now. She isn’t the same person she was before meeting him, and she has no plans of returning to that person again. Now at the brink of having what she wants most, Persephone must choose between the wrath of Olympus or Hades, the man she can’t be without.

What a read, talk about intense. Hades has officially cracked the top ten of book boyfriends. The intensity of His in the Fire is off the charts, Hades is ready to not only burn to the ground Olympus but the entire universe to get his girl back. The chemistry between these two is volatile, nothing can stop it. When Hades finally gets Persephone back in his arms, I was swooning, throwing my legs back and forth, full girl moment breakdown. These two went through the fire for one another, through Gods, through Fate, through just about every and finally got the one thing they both wanted. Each other. The Author builds a beautiful, all-consuming world with characters that grab hold of you and don’t let go. There is drama, there is pain, there is loss, there is ruthlessness, there is simply everything and it is so intense! Just go read it!

Reviewed by Sarah

 

Meet Willow Winters:

I started writing after having my little girl, Evie, December of 2015. All during my pregnancy with her I read. I only wanted to read romance novels and I read everything I could get my hands on. I would read a book a day — sometimes two. In January I was staying up late with her and just thinking of all these stories. They came to me constantly. I finally sat down and just started writing. I always wanted to do it so I figured, why not?

I never thought I would reach this point of success to be honest. It’s insane to me that I have connected with so many readers.

And I love each and every one of them for all of their support. I’ll be honest, some days are HARD. I have my littles during the day and I write at night. Some days are just simply exhausting and then I hear from a reader and it motivates me to push through and keep writing.  I couldn’t be more grateful for this wonderful career. For more information, visit https://www.willowwinterswrites.com/

Keep up with Willow Winters and receive your FREE copy of one of her books when you subscribe to her newsletter:

https://bit.ly/3KmNQ13

Connect with Willow Winters:

wwinters@willowwinterswrites.com

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Levi (The Laurel Springs Fish & Wildlife 1) by Laramie Briscoe

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Levi (The Laurel Springs Fish & Wildlife 1) by Laramie Briscoe-review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 23, 2026

He’s been waiting for his chance. She’s finally ready to take it.

Levi Harrison

Being the youngest in a generational law enforcement family means everyone else is always up in my business. Instead of joining the police department, I decide to branch out. Fish and Wildlife is really where my heart is.

My mom loves it because she believes it’s safer.

My dad just appreciates that I’m continuing the legacy.

My sister enjoys telling people she pisses off that her dad and brother carry weapons.

What none of them know is that my partner, Dakota, and I are undercover on one of the most dangerous operations that Laurel Springs has ever seen. And in the midst of that, I’m protecting the one woman I’ve always wanted, Magnolia Grace, from her husband who has his hands in all of it.

Magnolia Grace Handler

Life should be perfect for me. My business as a treat maker for the town of Laurel Springs has taken off. I’ve finally decided to leave my husband, who hurt me in ways I’ve never been able to talk about publicly, and I’m coming into my own as a woman about to hit her thirties.

But just when I find my footing, my husband threatens to crush it all.

In steps my best friend’s little brother. I’ve always known Levi Harrison as Molly’s little brother, but when he offers protection I don’t want to ask for but desperately need, I start to see him as the man who could change my life forever.

•••••

REVIEW:The first book in a fantastic new series, Levi starts us out with the Laurel Springs Fish & Wildlife by Laramie Briscoe. No major trigger warnings, but as always check for your own mental well being.

This book is a kind of throwback as Levi is the son of Mason from the Moonshine Task Force series. The whole of the family are police in one manner or another, and Levi takes up the reins as well, just in a different branch. He is Fish & Wildlife, hence the name. And there the story begins. Levi and Magnolia are our main leads, they share a history together that makes their chemistry flow easy and their romance story almost feel foretold. Levi has had a crush on Magnolia since his early teen years, he’s spent time with her growing up as she is his sister’s best friend. Magnolia is in the throes of a horrible divorce from a man that isn’t worth her time, let alone her love. Here is where the story really starts to unfold. Levi and Magnolia slowly form a new bond of friendship and then love from their shared past and their new kindled love and protection of one another.

Levi and Magnolia were such a good read. As a long time fan of the author I enjoy the way her characters bond with one another and the growth they experience when they finally feel safe to do so. For fans of Laurel Springs and the characters we have come to love so much, this is a great addition to an ever growing world. I look forward to seeing what the author has in store for the rest of the series.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sarah

Social Media: Goodreads/Website/Facebook/Twitter/Pinterest/Instagram /Bookbub

Laramie Briscoe is the USA Today & Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author of over 30 books.

When she’s not writing alpha males who seriously love their women, she loves spending time with friends, reading, and marathoning shows on Netflix.

Laramie lives in Bowling Green, KY with her husband and an adorable dog named Gus.

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Devious Revenge (Vicious Sinners 5) by Measha Stone-review tour

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Devious Revenge (Vicious Sinners 5) by Measha Stone-review tour

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 16, 2026

The DeAngelos thought they could steal what was ours. I’ll cross every boundary to make Sienna mine. Piece by piece, I will devour her until there’s nothing left but me.

To the victor goes the spoils, and she is the finest prize I’ve ever claimed.

The moment the veil is lifted and I see my bride walking down the aisle toward me, her fate is sealed. There will be no mercy. No negotiations. No illusions of choice. She will make her vows, take her place at my side, and crawl willingly into the cage I built for her.

She’s temptation stitched into lace. The harder I fight the pull of her, the more fierce my obsession grips me. She’s the enemy. The spoils of a war she had no part in. Now she’s wearing my ring, warming my bed, and bound to my authority.

And I love to see her bound.

The war may be over, but the vultures continue to circle. I will burn the world to ash before I let them get their claws into her.

She’s mine.
And her complete, willing submission?
That’s the sweetest revenge of all.

•••••

REVIEW: Devious Revenge is the fifth and final book in the Vicious Sinners series by Measha Stone. This was a first time read for both the author and the series, but I didn’t have trouble getting into the book at all. For that reason I can safely say the series can be read as standalones in an interconnected storyline. This is Kaz and Sienna’s story. Like most of the series, there is a heavy hand in the mafia so check the trigger warnings that come with that.

Sienna is brutally thrown back into a world of control and chaos after finally thinking she escaped her abusive brothers, but fate has other plans for her. Manipulated by her family by the guise of protecting her nephew, she is married off to Kaz Volkov. Kaz is a play boy through and through, and has his own suspicions of her and their forced marriage. Slowly Kaz learns about his new wife, who she is and uncovers just how her family is blackmailing her. The more he learns about Sienna the more his need grows for her and the urge to protect her. Sienna isn’t a stranger to the work of mafia families, but the Volkovs teach her what true loyalty, love and family really mean.

For a book so fast paced, this book felt so much longer. I give the author major kudos for packing so much into a storyline. Kaz and Sienna have great chemistry and an even hotter connection to one another, the added element of suspense and drama was a great addition to the plot of the book. Both characters were engaging and interesting to read, the family drama between the families kept a level of danger and the spice kept everyone ready for the next page. Overall I enjoyed the book and would read the author again, curious to see what comes next.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sarah

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Fundamentals of Being a Good Girl by Sierra Simone & Julie Murphy

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Fundamentals of Being a Good Girl (Academic Affairs 1) by Sierra Simone & Julie Murphy

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Google Play / Indigo /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 13, 2026

Class is in session.

Maddie Kowalczk is ready to be a bad girl. When the rookie lecturer lands at Astra University, she’s looking to start fresh after a messy breakup. But her first night in town takes a twist when she bumps into Bram Loe—a reserved but incredibly handsome single dad she (not so accidentally) stole a parking spot from earlier that day. The unspoken chemistry as he locks eyes with her while she gets a birthday spanking at a local bar is hotter than a Bunsen burner at full flame.

Bram is looking for a break from his hectic life as an ecology professor and dad to rambunctious twins and a busy teenager. So when his college friend’s divorce celebration brings him face-to-face with the same delectable brat who stole his parking spot, he’s ready for a night to remember. But the next morning, Bram’s world turns upside down (and that’s not just the hangover talking). His new nanny? None other than Maddie, who also happens to be the new poli-sci adjunct at the university where he teaches.

Maddie is desperate and broke, so when Bram offers her a raise and the chance to set some ground rules, she can’t say no. As the two settle into their new roles, the normally unruffled Bram finds that no one riles him up like Maddie does, which is a problem when every argument feels like foreplay. Of course, Bram is an educator first and foremost, and he very quickly finds he can’t resist the temptation of instructing Maddie in the fundamentals of being a good girl.

And it turns out Maddie’s a hands-on learner…

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REVIEW:When Julie and Sierra write together, there are two things I know for sure are going to happen. One, the book is gonna be top tier, and two, pure chaos. Couldn’t have been more on the nose with this one. From the wild minds of Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone, Fundamentals of Being a Good Girl is a standalone, spicy academy, nanny romance that is filled with so much spice it should come with its own maturity rating.

Maddie is new to Kansas and just getting her professional career started as a Poli-Sci Professor, even if it is only adjunctly. She’s had a rough go of things lately from breaking up with her ex, to living out of her car, life is a mess, but she has a plan. That plan crashes pretty quickly after a one night stand with a smoking hot stranger, a stranger that just happens to be her boss at her part time nanny gig, oh and her co-worker and fellow Professor as well. Fudge.

There is so much to unpack with Fundamentals. Maddie is a plus size woman trying to make her way in an academic profession that is determined to keep her down. When she meets Bram, she’s at a low point in her life, but also more determined than ever to prove not only to others that she has what it takes to succeed but also to herself. Bram is another story, he has all the green flags. When his ex wife heads out of town, he needs additional help with his twins and oldest daughter, this brings Maddie to his door. (The kids are freaking adorbs!) Their relationship quickly changes once they realize who they are to another, but that doesn’t stop the lust and chemistry they share to bubble over. Now they have to learn to navigate this new relationship together.

Holy, holy holy! Maddie and Bram have to be the hottest couples I’ve read so far this year. Let’s get the spice outta the way. Yes, there is quite a bit of spice in this book, toss in a bratty Maddie and a Daddy Dom Bram and this is gonna knock your socks off. There is also so so much to the plot and growth to the story, and those parts kept me more engaged. (not that the spice isn’t good) Maddie and Bram both had so much going on in their lives before and during getting together, there were of course parts that they dealt with together, but each also had difficulties to overcome on their own. I don’t normally gravitate towards college/academy tropes, but Julie and Sierra have never let me down before. Maddie and Bram’s dynamic both in and out of the bedroom really works for them, even more so with the age gap. Bram taught things to Maddie and Maddie in turn taught Bram to loosen up a bit and to let things go. Maddie also goes through a lot of stereotypes in the book as a woman in a field that predominantly men, not to mention she is also a plus size woman. I love how this is represented as something real that she experiences and not just a filler for chapter length. There isn’t enough of this type of representation in books these days let alone romance so the fact that these authors can make it so, just adds to the girl power that they already knew they had. There is a particular character I would like to see have their own story, but I’m not a spoiler kinda girly. You’ll have to read to find out.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sarah

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