Review: Sweet Retribution by Callie Rose

Sweet Retribution by Callie Rose

Series: Ruthless Games #2

Publication date: June 12th, 2020

Pages: 251

Spice Rating: 🔥

Synopsis:

I knew my shadows were hiding something, but I never expected this.

The game is over... for now. But once again, three simple gunshots have blown my world to pieces.

I came back from the darkness last time. I pulled my life back together. This time, though? I don't know how to do that.

Secrets are buried deep in Halston.

Alliances are formed in darkness.

And vengeance is the only balm for a broken heart.

But if they didn't want me to play, they should never have touched what was mine.

This is the second book in the Ruthless Games series, a new adult reverse harem romance. It contains sexual situations, violence, and dark subject matter. Please venture between these pages at your own discretion.

Available at:

Review:

The cliffhanger from the last book was terrible! Not knowing whether Marcus had been killed or not was torturous and being as the love connection was so fresh it could have gone either way. Then he disappears. Ayla is left reeling with his two friends and decides she will run herself into the ground if she has to in pursuit of finding out what happened to Marcus. However, as far as the story goes, Marcus disappearing was the best thing for the overall storyline. This gave Ayla a chance to explore her connections with Theo and Ryland without the obsessed man, Marcus, hanging over her head. 

I already said in the previous review that Ryland was my favorite. This book only helped me reaffirm that initial instinct. He is the strong, silent type that would die for the people he loves without question. He broods and scowls but Ayla can melt that stoic personality with a simple smile and turn him to putty. I loved watching them form their bond as well as seeing her forge one with Theo.

This installment was more so focused on the mystery of the games and trying to find Marcus. It did harken back to a bit of Ayla's past that hadn't been discussed previously, but the main focus was on finding Marcus and once found, finding a way to win the games. It was interesting to see a book where the main antagonist of the story was the storyline itself. The reason they are having to dull their relationships or keep their distance periodically is because of the dangers that come with the games as a whole; not a single entity itself.

I didn't find this book as enjoyable as the first book. I did like seeing Ayla grow closer with the other two guys but it felt like the romance was kinda shoved to the side to make room for all the other twists and turns of the plot. I like my books heavily laden with romance so that was a downfall just for me as a particular reader. If you like books that have spice but as an afterthought to the mystery in the plot this would be a favorite.

Release Blitz with Teasers: Atomic Angel by Laura Navarre @GiveMeBooksPR

Atomic Angel by Laura Navarre

Series: Astral Heat #3

Publication date: February 8th, 2022

Synopsis:

A rebel princess. A nuclear arsenal. And three galactic heroes hot enough to singe any cybergirl's circuits.

After seven days of danger and desire in a race through space against five hundred sexed-up suitors, a galactic mating contest is nearing its climax. Rebel princess-turned-cybergirl Kaia defies centuries of sacred ritual to choose not one mate, but three to bring peace to her war-torn galaxy. Together, the space pirates' hellraising head honcho, the ice-cold imperial enforcer who stalks him, and the galaxy's most lethal telepath will rule at her side--and consummate their blazing passion in her bed. But Kaia's tyrannical father, worshipped as a god by billions, views her unconventional choice as the ultimate betrayal.

In a universe where adversaries pretend to be allies and enemies transform into lovers, Kaia must defeat a cunning rival with a nuclear arsenal primed and pointed at her homeworld and enough atomic firepower to incinerate the galaxy she's sworn to protect. Will the fragile trust growing between Kaia, Dex, Zorin, and Nero prove strong enough to avert the ultimate apocalypse? Will their risky alliance expose the secret truth to defeat her vengeful father? Or will he command his faithful fanatics to obliterate Kaia and all three of the men she loves?

Atomic Angel is an epic, hyper-sexy, reverse harem space opera/sci fi romance and Book 3 in the Astral Heat universe, where Star Wars meets 50 Shades by way of The Hunger Games. Laura Navarre delivers turbocharged outer space action with a fearless heroine, a cliffhanger series that ends with a guaranteed happily-ever-after, and a whole lot of heat.

Discover Atomic Angel today and experience the adventure!

Available at:

Interstellar Angel by Laura Navarre (Astral Heat #1) -

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Apple Books | Google Play

Renegade Angel by Laura Navarre (Astral Heat #2) -

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Apple Books | Google Play

About the Author:

A long time ago in a galaxy far away, Laura Navarre was an award-winning dark historical romance author for Harlequin, while her diabolical twin Nikki Navarre wrote sexy spy romance for Affluent Press. In a daring bid to escape a global pandemic, armed only with an MFA in Writing Popular Fiction, Laura voyaged through a wormhole to an alternate universe where she crafts turbocharged, epic, hyper-erotic science fiction romance starring three super-sexy heroes, one seriously kickass heroine and plenty of sleek, sizzling outer space action.

Interstellar Angel is a sleek, steamy reverse harem space opera/sci fi romance and your gateway to the Astral Heat universe, where Star Wars meets 50 Shades by way of The Hunger Games. Laura Navarre delivers turbocharged outer space action with a fearless heroine, a cliffhanger series that ends with a guaranteed happily-ever-after, and a whole lot of heat.

WEBSITE | GOODREADS | BOOKBUB | TIKTOK

Hosted by:

Review: Sweet Obsession by Callie Rose

Sweet Obsession by Callie Rose

Series: Ruthless Games #1

Publication date: March 24th, 2020

Pages: 308

Spice Rating: 🔥🔥

Synopsis:

I saved his life.

Now he's invaded mine.

Two years ago, a split-second decision changed everything. I risked my life for a man I didn't even know and nearly died for it.

I've tried to forget him. To forget that whole night.

But he hasn't forgotten me.

He's been watching.

Obsessing.

Craving.

And when he crashes back into my life like a wrecking ball, accompanied by two dark shadows--men he calls his brothers--the life I've been trying to rebuild for myself shatters into a thousand sharp-edged pieces.

He believes our souls are bound by blood, and he's come back to claim what's his.

Two years ago, I saved Marcus Constantine's life.

Now I wish I hadn't.

This is the first book in the Ruthless Games series, a dark reverse harem romance. It contains sexual situations, violence, and dark subject matter.

Available at:

Review:

As far as books based on a male's absolute obsession with his the female protagonist at least this one was more than a scent (usually in paranormal romance) or just insta-love. Likely, if she hadn't saved his life he would have carried on in her life and not thought about her except perhaps in a missed connection sort of way. But seeing her almost die for him with no reason what-so-ever for it that he could ascertain but that she had a good soul, his obsession was born. Normally books like this give me the creeps. Men lurking in shadows waiting for the woman to fall into peril so they can swoop in and white knight her to safety? Pass. But some how the addition of two other men, one who hates everything about their mission to protect her and the other with crazy golden retriever energy, kind of balances it out perfectly. Inevitably they all admit they are obsessed with her to some degree, but the varying personalities make it more concise and enjoyable.

Ayla is the first female protagonist that I have read about who had a disability to the extend of an amputated limb. Usually the females I read about have internal scars, not external. But damn is she a warrior. She refuses to give into social pressure to wear her prosthetic if she is able to function better without it. She doesn't hide her scars, she embraces them, even placing tattoos on her amputated arm to make something she sees as unpleasant to look at beautiful. She entered her connection with Marcus and his men with a healthy dose of resistance and weariness which only made me love her more.

The author did a good job of making sure each of the men were different so they could stand out as their own characters while also maintaining that trio feel to them. I am always a sucker for a broody bastard so Ryland is by far my favorite of the three. He also tried to resist Ayla the most projecting a hateful aura towards her which poorly masked how he truly felt. 

I think that the first part of the series was stellar. It had an air of mystery in it which the games get mixed into the romance between the four. Sweet Obsession tackles dark pasts, selfless acts, danger, and love in a beautiful and unique way.

Review: Stolen Crush by C.M. Stunich

Stolen Crush by C.M. Stunich

Series: Lost Daughter of a Serial Killer #1

Publication date: July 14th, 2021

Pages: 595

Spice Rating: 🔥

Synopsis:

Finding out you're the daughter of a millionaire true crime novelist isn't all it's cracked up to be.

When I was two, I was kidnapped. Kidnapped by a loving family, sure, but still kidnapped.

Now, my biological mom wants me to live with her on the opposite side of the country.

Her... and my new stepdad and his jerk of a son: Parrish.

Wannabe tattoo artist, languorous rich boy, pouty mouth.

Starting a new life on the West Coast sucks, especially when there's no love lost between me and my new family.

Oh, and my biological father? Did I mention that he's a serial killer who wants me to play his games?

Find the right clues, follow the right trail, or someone I love gets hurt.

But what if he's just kidnapped someone I hate instead?

Parrish Vanguard is a royal asshole.

The question is: does he deserve to die?

With the help of Parrish's best friends--Maxx and Chasm--I have to risk everything to save a boy who considers himself my sworn enemy. Even if I save his ass, he'll never thank me.

Lucky for him that our love-hate relationship isn't a deal breaker.

I'll play, Dad.

Start the game.

STOLEN CRUSH is a 180,000 word love-hate/high school romance with suspense/thriller themes. Includes foul language and sexual scenes; any sex featured is consensual. This is a reverse harem novel, meaning the main character has more than one love interest.

Available at:

Review:

Stolen Crush was an enigma I hadn't encountered during my past reading experiences. The synopsis lays out the entirety of the book in a few short paragraphs, however, what the synopsis discusses only comes to pass in the last eighth of the book. The rest of it is a slow excursion into self discovery and a taboo romance. For me personally, I liked the bully-ish slow burn love story over the underlying mystery. 

I related extremely well with Dakota/Mia. I am a gamer girl who frequents Twitch on a regular basis. I also would much rather be comfortably me than dress to impress those around me. Dakota marched to her own drum and I loved that about her. Watching Dakota navigate the change from rural middle-class life to the upper crust rich girl experience was riveting. She handled it about the same as I would expect. She preferred the comfort of the mundane over the glitz and glamour. Dakota seemed to take hit after hit from her new family. A mother who seemed more into obtaining her because she owned her rather than wanting her, a stepfather that tolerated her, a stepbrother and half-sister who mocked and belittled her to the point of it being uncomfortably cruel, and little half-siblings who are just trying to understand who she is and how she relates to their family. Add to that some mystery surrounding her father, Dakota is managing the best she can and I applaud her for handling it better than I would have.

The boys in the book were not all that enticing to me. Parrish was a spoiled rich boy who bullied Dakota for no reason other than he can't face his own feelings for his new stepsister. Chasm has misguided loyalty to Parrish and so joins in on bullying her like the sidekick role he has been cast in. Maxx is trying to shed his rich boy stereotype and be a good guy but he still has a thing for his girlfriend's little sister, so is he really such a nice guy now? None of them really got my blood boiling. Add to it that any sex scenes were borderline fade-to-black and I was meh about 3/4th the way through the book. 

I think if there was more spice and more development of the male characters the way Dakota was would vastly improve the book overall.