∴ Tempting Trade (Desolate Lands #1) by Skye Jones ∴

Synopsis:

In a world gone to hell,
I was taken, threatened,
Destroyed.

Or so I thought…

It was a tempting trade,
A deal made with danger.

They would protect me,
Keep me safe,
Be my sanctuary.

But I would give them my body,
Give up my inhibitions,
Give them everything.
Four men–and they all wanted me.

But everything has a catch,
And this was no exception.

It was a tempting trade, my body for their protection.

**A dystopian, paranormal, reverse harem romance, this book contains dark and adult themes, trigger warnings apply! Featuring a vampire, genetically altered warriors, and a dark and dangerous shifter, who doesn’t know what he is…yet**

4.5 🍁s

“You’re our very own Helen of Troy.”

SPOILERS THROUGHOUT:
I really liked this book. It was fast paced, the characters were great, and the world was unique. The plot had some twists and turns that surprised me at times as well.

Milly- I liked Milly. She was a kind soul with a brave heart. I loved her temper and how she stood up for herself. She wasn’t just going to let things happen to her and just watch. I’m really hoping that Milly takes her temper and breaks free of her mother’s hold in the next book.

Jackson- I love me a dark and brooding bad boy. Especially one that has been genetically enhanced with animal DNA. As soon as I saw him through Milly’s eyes, I was like “Yep, he’ll do”.

Doc & Ben- I need to see some more of them. Right now, their personalities are kind of blending together and neither one is standing out to me. I do like the werewolf spin on Ben’s character though.

Alex- Let me just say that I am not the biggest fan of vampires. In fact, they are probably at the bottom of my list as far as supernatural creatures goes. With that being said, I loved Alex! He was interesting and mysterious and I. JUST. WANT. MORE.

What I Liked- Definitely the characters which I pretty much loved them all. I also liked the world and I am interested in seeing more of it.

What I Didn’t Like- Info-dumping. This book had an unbelievable amount of info-dumping. At times, it would go on for four or five pages which was annoying as hell. Also, there were a few times where the author would repeat information that we were told already. This isn’t a large book so I don’t see how anyone could forget basic things so I didn’t see why the author felt the need to repeat some basic information over and over.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I am probably going to continue the series with the next book, Dangerous Deal which I am pretty excited to start.

Other Books in the Series:

∴ Hometown Dropout (Dropout Series #3) by Lux Carmine ∴

Synopsis:

We’re so lucky… but so doomed…

Cute little booties and knit caps, dramatic gender reveal parties, overdone baby showers, and foot rubs… I thought that’s what all pregnant women had to look forward to, but not me.

No, not me. What do I have to look forward to? Well I’m just hoping that my crazed aunt and distant father will embrace the news, and that the paparazzi will cut me and my up-and-coming lovers some slack so they can continue to shine in their new careers and soon, fatherhood. Unfortunately, I’m not holding out much hope on any of these fronts. Just like high school, I don’t know how we’re going to keep this relationship under wraps, especially with a baby on the way. This child is going to be so lucky to have so many dads, but will Hollywood or the world see it that way?
Warning: This book ends with a cliffhanger that might cause you to throw your Kindle angrily across the room. If you are prone to wanting to break things when shocked please take this warning into consideration before reading this book. Thank you.

2.75 🍁s

I liked this book for the most part. It wasn’t the best in the series, that’s for sure. There were a few cute scenes, but I was bored and really didn’t care about what was happening for the majority of the book.

I appreciate the fact that this author is writing a contemporary RH with real world problems and there is actual jealousy amongst the harem. I really do. But, I feel like this story is being dragged out a little. NOTHING happened in this book until the end and a large portion of it felt like a waste of my time. The cliffhanger was nothing that I wasn’t expecting since the epilogue of the last book and I am honestly mad that Ruby was gullible enough to fall for it in the first place. She doesn’t seem to think about the fact that any mistakes she makes affects her child and it infuriates me.

I don’t know if I will be reading the next book in the series or not. It seems like everything I loved about this series is being taken out and everything I hated has become a core part of the story. I don’t care about the Cora plot line. Robbie shouldn’t have even been a part of this series after book one. The guys being stars/the publicity issue was interesting for a lit bit but is now being drug out. Billy was basically nonexistent during this book. Do you see where I’m going with this? It’s just not as fun anymore. I can only read about the same repeating conflicts over and over for a certain amount of time before I can’t take it anymore. Honestly, if it wasn’t for the fact that Ruby is pregnant and I am interested in seeing the baby, I wouldn’t even consider reading the next book.

Other Books in the Series:

2.75 🍁s ~ Chess Club Dropout (Dropout Series #1) by Lux Carmine

3.75 🍁s ~ Damaged Dropout (Dropout Series #2) by Lux Carmine

∴ Damaged Dropout (Dropout Series #2) by Lux Carmine ∴

Synopsis:

The wait to be together is finally over! We are graduating high school and moving together across the country to Los Angeles, the place where dreams can come true… or be crushed.

Someone is stalking me again and I fear it’s someone from my past, but perhaps it’s someone else entirely, someone from one of my guys’s pasts. When things get serious and lies threaten to tear us apart I do everything I can to hold us together.

Until something big happens to me and I’m forced to keep a secret from my guys. When they find out what it is will they fight for me or pack their bags and run away as fast as they can?

Get ready for book 2 of Ruby’s polyamorous relationship with Jason, Steven, Kevin, Mike and Billy. Hold on tight, it’s going to be quite a ride.

3.75 🍁s

MAJOR SPOILERS THROUGHOUT:
I really liked this book. It was ten times better than the first one. The plot flowed better, there were minimal plot holes, and the pacing was pretty spot on. There was some more character development amongst each of the guys as well which I am all here for.

What I Liked- One of my FAVORITE tropes was introduced in this book and I am SO happy. The pregnancy trope. I know a lot of people don’t tend to like this one but I absolutely love whenever it is used. My excitement increased tenfold when I found out that Ruby was pregnant!

What I Didn’t Like- My biggest complaint would be the overuse of common tropes, especially the miscommunication trope. You would think that after that trope being the main conflict once or twice, the author would stop using it, but she doesn’t. Miscommunication is used as a conflict many different times throughout this book and it seems like the characters aren’t growing at all because they continue to make the same mistakes over and over again. It’s a little annoying.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I can’t wait to start reading the next book! I am not excited about the cliffhanger at the end of this book and its consequences though. Neither am I excited about Cora. I HATE HER!

Other Books in the Series:

2.75 🍁s ~ Chess Club Dropout (Dropout Series #1) by Lux Carmine

2.75 🍁s ~ Hometown Dropout (Dropout Series #3) by Lux Carmine

∴ Chess Club Dropout (Dropout Series #1) by Lux Carmine ∴

Synopsis:

Everyone deserves a happy ending…At least the “good guys” do. That’s what the fairy tales want you to believe. But not everyone wants to live in a fairy tale. Not everyone believes in a happy ending. I certainly didn’t.

With the tragic loss of my mother and my grandmother I was sent away to live with my evil Aunt Sara. I had a new home, a new school and a huge hole in my heart.

Trying to get back a piece of who I used to be before the tragedy, I decided to join the chess club. In my old school I was the geeky girl, the one who got straight A’s and never dared to break a rule. I was the girl who’d never been kissed and wondered if I ever would be. But when I was kicked out of chess club one fateful afternoon my life changed forever.

That’s when I met them…

The Lone Wolves scooped me up and took me under their wings. Jason, Kevin, Mike, Billy and Steven were playing the leads in the school’s production of Grease and that’s where they shared something about themselves that they hadn’t shared with anyone.

I felt I was in a fairy tale with them…but the secret we all shared had the ability to ruin my new life…

Would we be able to live happily ever after or were we the “villains?”

** Chess Club Dropout is a contemporary young adult reverse harem novel that touches on first loves, cyberbullying, and other social issues.**

2.75 🍁s

SPOILERS THROUGHOUT:
I liked this book. It was filled with a bunch of high school drama and teenage angst which I am pretty much always here for. A lot of common Young Adult tropes were used and, at times, it was a little much but I still highly enjoyed every moment of it.

My biggest complaint and why this book got such a low rating from me would be the numerous plot holes throughout the book. For example, towards the end of the book, Ruby gets kicked out of her house and goes over to the Lone Wolves’ foster dad to ask to stay for a couple days. He tells her no at first, but then tells her she can stay for as long as she needs. I repeat, AS LONG AS SHE NEEDS. The next morning however, Ruby talks about how she needs to find a place soon because she only has a week to stay… What? It makes absolutely no sense and this is only one example of many.

Another problem I had was just the awkwardness of things. Sometimes the characters would be joking around and then someone would bring up something completely non-related and serious in the middle of them laughing. It felt awkward to me and didn’t connect with the story. There were also plenty of times when they characters would talk about something and they would have reactions that made no sense at all. It left me going “huh?” constantly and I did not like it.

Overall, I did enjoy this book. Normally, I can look over a few plot holes if I am invested in the characters or the plot is drama filled, but I can only put up with so much before there is just no excuse to overlook it anymore. I will be continuing the series because I enjoy the drama between the characters, but I am not dismissing this series of its problems. I definitely see and agree with why this book has such low ratings because it honestly deserves it.

Other Books in the Series:

3.75 🍁s ~ Damaged Dropout (Dropout Series #2) by Lux Carmine

2.75 🍁s ~ Hometown Dropout (Dropout Series #3) by Lux Carmine

∴ All for One (The Reverse Harem Diaries #1) by Mia Moon ∴

Synopsis:

Can you get a second chance — with three men at once?
We’re all grown up, and we’re finally in one place again.
Rex, Shaun and Taylor. My three best friends from high school.
Gorgeous, successful, sexy as hell.
They all came back into my life when I needed them most.
I can’t believe I’m having these fantasies about all of them.
About having all of them at once.
Then one warm night, everything explodes.
They’re willing to indulge my fantasies…
And give me a happy-ever-after.
Together.
Warning: This is a sweet-hot reverse harem romance with three hot alpha males who will do anything to protect their woman. It will make you sigh — and a few other things we can’t print.

2.5 🍁s

I liked this book. The pacing didn’t drag and I was never bored. It was a quick and easy read that passed the time. I liked the childhood friends to lovers element and felt like that part of the story was done well.

The reason this book did not get a higher rating from me was because I felt the pacing was a little too fast. I never had time to adjust to the scenes or bond with the characters because they would change before I got the chance to. I had a detachment to the story and none of it grabbed me like I wanted it to.

I also feel like none of the characters except for Samantha were developed enough. None of the guys were special in any way and didn’t have distinctive personalities either. They were all cookie cutter versions of popular male tropes and I didn’t connect with them at all.

Overall, this book just wasn’t for me. I feel like there should have been more scenes that developed the characters as well as their relationship. Everything was rushed and there was no build up what so ever. I needed more than I got.

∴ New Year Surprises by Brandy Slaven ∴

Synopsis:

If there’s one thing Imogene loves more than donuts it’s her two best friends. When a planned trip for the three of them goes awry, never in a million years did she think that it would end with her in the arms of five sexy strangers. Men who are more than willing to prove that she’s more than her own opinion of herself. A week alone in a remote cabin in the mountains puts more at risk than they all realize. Will they be able to keep their hands, and more importantly, hearts to themselves? Especially as the New Year brings them a surprise none of them are expecting.

3.5 🍁s

“Hello, gutter. Meet brain.”

I really liked this book. It was fast paced and the plot didn’t drag at all. It was a cute, fun, quick read that was perfect for this time of year. I went into it wanting a heartwarming romance and that is exactly what I got. I laughed a lot and there were just so many things in it that made me smile. I would really like to see more of these characters in the future.

∴  A Kiss of Madness by K.B. Everly & Stacy Jones ∴

Synopsis:

Madness – A word defined as the state of insanity. Chaotic frenzy. Crazy.

It doesn’t matter how you define it. It only matters how you perceive it.

I’ve always known things I shouldn’t know. Seen things I shouldn’t see, things no one else sees. But one terrifying vision—and my reaction to it—lands me in Brocker’s Center for the Criminally Insane.
I’m convinced I can make it through my time here unscathed. After all, I’m not crazy. But after spending time with three guys—a schizophrenic with two personalities, a pathological liar who isn’t to be trusted, and a nymphomaniac with a penchant for knives—I’m beginning to doubt my sanity.

Can I separate the real from the mad, or will this place make me spiral further down into the dark recesses of my mind?

Am I crazy?
I’ll let you decide…

*This is a twisted romance novel that’ll leave you questioning if what you’re reading is true, or just a Kiss Of Madness*

**WARNING: This book contains themes and situations some readers may find sensitive including mental illness, assault, and attempted sexual assault.

2.5 🍁s

“I was ready to start living. And all it had taken was nearly dying.”

MAJOR SPOILERS THROUGHOUT:

I wanted to love this book. It had glowing reviews and as soon as I read the synopsis, I was ecstatic and dying to start reading it. It sounded right up my alley and I wanted something dark that would have me on the edge of my seat. Unfortunately, this book just didn’t do that for me.

Lydia- While she was an interesting character with an interesting ability, being in her head was disorienting and confusing. I don’t know if the authors meant it this way, but she came off very nonsensical and her thought process led her to do some things that I really don’t agree with. I felt like she made some stupid decisions that almost got her killed.

Pierce- I liked Pierce, but I felt like his nymphomania wasn’t shown enough. Neither was his “penchant for knives”. The only ever time him and a knife is brought up is when Lydia sees his tattoo and when they break into Dr. Ferrer’s office. I wouldn’t exactly call that a penchant for knives. I felt like the synopsis painted him in a light that he certainly was not supposed to be in. He came off as a wanna-be play boy. I did really enjoy his protective side when it came out though.

Mason/Jason- I felt like these two were the most shown. I could clearly tell which was which and their development was more thought out than the other two guys. However, I still felt like I didn’t get to see enough of them. The scenes with Mason/Jason felt a little rushed and I feel like there weren’t enough of them.

Emmett- I feel like Emmett was the least developed of the guys. He was supposed to be a pathological liar, but he never talked enough to tell any lies. The only time when his lying is even a factor is the first time he talks to Lydia, which she just shrugs off.

What I Liked- I liked the part of the epilogue where we find out that Pierce is a cook, Emmett is a method actor, and Mason and Jason are twins. I thought that that aspect of the story was interesting and well thought out. It was a pleasant surprise.

What I Didn’t Like- I knew right away that the guys were a figment of Lydia’s imagination. I believe that this obscured my views of them, because I knew they weren’t real and I didn’t want to connect with them when I knew Lydia would eventually lose them. Also, because I knew this, the “plot twist” at the end was lackluster and I spent the whole book just waiting for it to come out. It didn’t shock me at all and actually confused me more than I already was. That epilogue was just awkward and didn’t make a lot of sense either. I’m still not sure if the guys recognized Lydia at the end or if they didn’t.

Overall, this book just wasn’t for me. It had an interesting concept and I feel like if it would have been executed in a different way or maybe written by a different author, the story would have been a lot better.