Book Blitz with Teasers + Giveaway: Good Men Say Please by Rex Symone @XpressoTours

Good Men Say Please by Rex Symone

Publication date: May 2nd, 2026

Synopsis:

He's a preacher's son with everything to lose... and a temptress he can't resist.

Donovan "Donny" Rafte has a problem.

At twenty-something and painfully inexperienced, he can't get out of his own head long enough to lose his virginity. Being the son of his town's beloved pastor doesn't help. Every expectation, every judgment, every rule is stitched into his skin.

Then he meets Eve.

She's bold. Confident. Unapologetically sensual.

Everything the women in his small, suffocating town are not.

And she has her eyes set on him.

What starts as curiosity quickly turns into something far more dangerous. Lines blur. Boundaries crack. And Donny finds himself standing on the edge of a choice that could shattered everything he's ever known.

Is Eve his downfall...

or the one person who can finally set him free?

A steamy, forbidden attraction romance featuring:

• preacher's son/forbidden
• temptation, guilt, and release

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Review: The Wolf King by Lauren Palphreyman

The Wolf King by Lauren Palphreyman

Series: The Wolf King #1

Publication date: November 25th, 2025

Pages: 496

Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Synopsis:

When a princess is kidnapped by an alpha, war rages between the humans and the wolves. But soon, forbidden attraction starts to grow... 

Princess Aurora longs to escape the castle and the marriage that has been arranged for her.

But on the night before her wedding, at a dog fight where captured werewolves are made to fight for sport, she spares the life of a young wolf. It puts her on the radar of the powerful alpha who was going to kill him. And it changes everything.

That night, when the alpha escapes, he kidnaps her and takes her to the rugged lands north of the border--where the once warring werewolf clans are beginning to unite. He thinks that she is the key to winning the war against the humans.

Only, as they spend time around one another, forbidden attraction starts to grow. And as Aurora learns that not all wolves are bad, the alpha discovers that she is in danger from both his enemies, and those he once considered friends.

With monsters on both sides, a bloodthirsty war between humans and wolves raging, and undeniable passion growing between them--will their story end in love? Or tragedy?

And will Aurora ever get home?

Does she even want to?

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Story:

The thing I love about romantasy reads is that the worlds are always so vastly different. Within Lauren Palphreyman's we encounter a society where the humans and werewolves are vying races who want to win control of the country they live on but who have been divided between the Northern wolves and the Southern humans. Both sides have their good people and utterly evil. However for me personally I find the humans much harsher than their wolf counterparts. They don't just kill warrior wolves they capture them and subject them to things called "dog fights" where they must fight each other to stay alive another day in their captivity. The story winds around the two main characters, one human, one wolf, and shows the differing societies in drastic imagery. The human world that is a mask of superiority and decorum who hide their brutality behind a prim accent and haughty indifference. The wolves with their feral nature who have to take care to not let their wolves lead them down the road into neanderthal territory. Watching both Aurora and Callum adjust to Aurora being in the land of the wolves captured by Callum to be traded for something his people need was an interesting dynamic. Can a wolf be tamed or a lady be truly free?

Characters:

• Aurora - I will admit it here and now, Aurora annoyed me to no end. She was so determined to not see any other side of things that she would intentionally put herself in situations that warranted her being rescued. Callum ran himself ragged trying to keep her safe while he figured out if he wanted to use her as a pawn for trade or if he had other feelings for her. All the while, Princess was too busy looking down her nose at all of the wolves to really appreciate her front row seat in how the other side lives. I will say that at least she fought back if she was challenged, but even then she still needed someone to finish the job for her. I think the author made her far too delicate for my liking but I am willing to see if she grows in the sequel book.

• Callum - Callum, while charming and protective, was a bit too golden retriever to be seen as an alpha wolf. When I think of someone in that role they are respected, admired and bowed before. People who plot against them do not see the light of the next day once they are discovered. But with Callum he has such wide-eyed wonder when someone stabs him in the back. He lets his feelings for Aurora cloud his judgment and he makes me want to rip out my hair. I want him to grow a back bone. He was too soft to be an alpha. He needs some attitude.

• Blake - Blake made me curious. He had this dark and mysterious energy about him that made me really confused as to whether he was an enemy or a potential third edge to a love triangle. In one breath he is protecting Aurora (because god forbid she fight for herself) and the next he is all but betraying her for his own agenda. He seems like one of those characters who is always 3 steps ahead of whoever he is plotting against and with the conclusion of this book, that is very apparent. I kind of had a soft spot for Blake though. He is morally gray in all ways but I kind of want him to lighten as Callum darkens to make the male leads much more balanced.

Writing:

I liked the way Lauren Palphreyman wrote her story. I think that she weaved it very well and it did keep me guessing as to what would happen next. If the characters were a bit more likeable then I would have absolutely nothing to complain about. I think that the way she makes her characters speak, combining a Scottish feel to the wolves while having the humans seem more British in nature, was something borrowed from books like Outlander. Not a bad choice, but one that has been seen before by me countless times. 

Overall:

I liked the story and the world building. I liked the idea of a war between humans and wolves with humans not being entirely outdone by the preternatural creatures. I would have liked more from the characters. Aurora needs some grit, Callum needs a backbone, and Blake needs some heart. Accomplishing those things would make this a 5-star read for me.

Review: From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout

From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Series: Blood and Ash #1

Publication date: May 25th, 2021

Pages: 496

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Synopsis:

A Maiden...

Chosen from birth to usher in a new era, Poppy's life has never been her own. The life of the Maiden is solitary. Never to be touched. Never to be looked upon. Never to be spoken to. Never to experience pleasure. Waiting for the day of her Ascension, she would rather be with the guards, fighting back the evil that took her family, than preparing to be found worthy by the gods. But the choice has never been hers.

A Duty...

The entire kingdom's future rests on Poppy's shoulders, something she's not even quite sure she wants for herself. Because a Maiden has a heart. And a soul. And longing. And when Hawke, a golden-eyed guard honor bound to ensure her Ascension, enters her life, destiny and duty become tangled with desire and need. He incites her anger, makes her question everything she believes in, and tempts her with the forbidden.

A Kingdom...

Forsaken by the gods and feared by mortals, a fallen kingdom is rising once more, determined to take back what they believe is theirs through violence and vengeance. And the shadow of those cursed draws closer, the line between what is forbidden and what is right becomes blurred. Poppy is not only on the verge of losing her heart and being found unworthy by the gods, but also her life when every blood-soaked thread that holds her world together begins to unravel.

Available at:

Story:

This is one of those books that you get spoiled for you easily as time goes by. Luckily I didn't retain a lot of what I may have seen on TikTok since the book released so I was able to give the story a fair shake. I always like to find a comparison so that anyone who is curious about the book has a reference point but this one was unlike any that come to mind for me. You have a race war essentially set in a fantasy world where two groups have pushed the narrative that they are the right side and the other the wrong for so long that the truth becomes unknown entirely. Vampires are prevalent but what kind? The ones that burn in the sunlight? The ones who are ravenous blood fiends? Perhaps the ones who have the intoxicating bite that makes their victims experience pleasure over pain? Yes to all three but they are all different races instead of being one singular breed of vampire. That is what I found fascinating about the story. Blood seemed to be at the forefront of every single person's mind (except for the poor clueless humans) but at varying degrees. There were those lost to their bloodlust who were more animal than human, others who were ever thirsty to the point of bad decisions in need of hiding, and those who had a well established system of feeding that harmed very little. But which one fell into which category between the Ascended, the Craven, and the Atlantians? I found the plot and the setting of the story to be fascinating. Leaving the character's completely out of it, I think it was a story that unlike any I had read before and that is almost an impossibility for me these days. It is a romantasy rooted in war, love, and the pursuit of the truth at any costs. 

Character(s):

• Poppy - When she was first introduced as the Maiden and I saw how subservient she was with most of the Ascended, I was worried she was going to be another powderpuff character that was going to need to be saved at every turn. But that opinion evaporated the first time I saw Poppy fight. She was not a victim. She was not submissive. She was a force to be reckoned with and someone who could take care of herself if she needed to. She didn't want the future that had been laid out before her. She just wanted to live a life of pleasure and fun and substance. She was not permitted to have a life and that only made her crave it more. I loved her banter with Hawke and how she was willing to throw a punch at his face at the first chance she got. Hawke never failed to comment on how violent she was and I loved that about her. She was a feral tiger disguised as a house cat. I loved everything about her character.

• Hawke - The cocky attitude on this one! Hell's bells, he was so sure of himself to the point of driving me just as crazy as he did Poppy. There was always something about him that I didn't entirely trust but I liked how he treated Poppy and hoped for the best. The twist in this book that features his character makes all the sense in the world but it still broke my heart. I wanted to throw a punch at him alongside Poppy but at the same time I couldn't help but absolutely adore his character. I am rooting for him even as he continues to try to win Poppy over. But I have a feeling that we have only cracked the surface of who he is to become.

Writing:

I have read a number of Jennifer L. Armentrout's books and her writing never ceases to amaze me. She has a way of drawing her readers in and painting a world of fantasy that feels entirely immersive. In "From Blood and Ash" we see her creating a society of different races of vampires and how they battle for supremacy. Between the banter of the characters, the world building, and the uniquely individual world she created, I can't find a single thing to complain about with her writing.

Overall:

I am angry with myself for putting off reading this book for so long. It has sat on my shelf staring at me for a while. The world building was brilliant, the characters were charismatic, and the love story was sensational. I can't wait to read the next book in the series and become even more immersed in Poppy and Hawke's world even more.

Review: Princess of Blood by Sarah Hawley

Princess of Blood by Sarah Hawley

Series: The Shards of Magic #2

Publication date: September 30th, 2025

Pages: 512

Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Synopsis:

Once a servant, now a princess, a young woman thrust into power challenges everything about the underground Fae realm in the next installment of Sarah Hawley's new romantasy series.

Kenna Heron is still reeling from her lover's betrayal and the threat of an impending war. With only her two closest--and most powerless--friends by her side, she must navigate the treacherous politics of Mistei while coming to terms with her new identity as not just Fae, but princess of her own house.

With the king dead, three candidates are vying for the right to wear the crown next. A princess who claims the throne as her birthright and two rebel princes, both of whom are depending on the support of Blood House to break the stalemate between them. Old loyalties fray as new, dangerous alliances form, and Kenna finds herself caught in a web of violence, deceit, and unexpected passion. 

Kenna has the power to shape Mistei's future... but someone's willing to kill to make sure she never gets the chance.

Available at:

Story:

I was entranced by the world that Sarah Hawley created in her first book of the series Servant of Earth. So much so that when I was finished with it I had to jump immediately into the sequel even though the series is unfinished so far. The world of the fae being divided into houses that are lead by a singular prince or princess was a genius decision to go forward with. In this installment we got a crash course in what it meant to have either of the titles. As Kenna is now the Princess of Blood house she is now having to show what real leadership should look like. But everywhere she turns there are enemies. Some want her dead for personal reasons while others want her exterminated like vermin for having originally been human. The story combines aspects of political struggles with the ebb and flow of the laws of a new land. Kenna is learning and learning fast throughout the book but when she has to make a decision between an ex-lover and someone who may be better suited for the role of King, she is torn. I loved watching the indecision sit heavy on her shoulders while she also learned more about herself, her house, her friends, and who she could trust in the end. This story had me just as enthralled as the first book.

Character(s):

• Kenna - Kenna always had backbone but she was not allowed to show it when she was merely a servant of one of the houses in her new fae ruled existence. However, when she becomes the Princess of Blood house and suddenly has a say in who replaces the tyrannical king that she dethroned she suddenly has to appear to be made of steel. While her heart shows in the way she welcomes the unaffiliated, the discarded, and the fearful members of other houses and beyond she still goes toe-to-toe with some of the worst creatures she could ever encounter. Throughout all this she has to decide whether her ex-lover, Drustan, who showed the lengths at which he would go to win, or the leader of Void house with a bad reputation and Kallen's, her ex-blackmailer, brother, Hector. Both of them have their arguments to make for position but like most politics it is hard to know who to trust. Kenna had the perfect balance of vulnerability and strength that made her an idyllic main character.

• Drustan - I was rooting so hard for Drustan in the first book. I thought he was dangerous and volatile but in the best ways for Kenna. But after the circumstances of the previous book, Servant to Earth, I no longer feel that spark of appreciation for the character. Whether it be true or not, I feel like Drustan is a snake just waiting to strike. That if Kenna bears her throat to him again that he will crush her without a second thought. If it got him closer to his goal of being the King then he would stop at nothing. I want to believe he is redeemable but I worry he is not. 

• Kallen - I had a soft spot for Kallen from the beginning. When Kenna pursued Drustan I shrugged and thought it was an okay match but I secretly hoped that Kallen spoke up and said what he needed to say to win her over completely. Kallen's house was picked well. He is a shadow of a man who is the dark and brooding type. But underneath he felt like a character with heart that has been hurt too often along the span of his life. I loved getting to see a new side of him that I don't think I would have seen if he had remained Kenna's blackmailer.

Writing:

There is absolutely nothing negative I can say about Sarah Hawley's writing. She weaves world building with beatific depictions of each of the house elements. Her characters are gritty with teeth but also with a soft underbelly. At least the good ones are. She makes her characters likeable and that is a hard feat for a lot of authors to accomplish. There were moments of humor where I couldn't hold back the smile as I gobbled up every last word of her books. 

Overall:

If you have skipped all else of this review, here is where I will reiterate: Sarah Hawley is a seamstress of romantasy tales who weaves together a tapestry of wonder and excitement rooted in love, power, and the pursuit of equality that we are sorely lacking in today's world. Princess of Blood was the second book in a series that I am fast growing to love.