Review: Released by Rosa Lee

Released by Rosa Lee

Series: Highgate Preparatory Academy #3

Publication date: September 30th, 2022

Pages: 300

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Synopsis:

In our quest to vanquish the haunting monsters that plague us, we must abandon our morals, embrace the encroaching darkness, and transform into the deadliest creatures ourselves.

Life shattered my childhood dreams--no white picket fences, no dream job, and definitely no flawless husband...

Well, that last part isn't entirely true. I just didn't expect my husband's three friends to be my soulmates and lovers too, one of whom fathered the life growing inside me.

It all began with rivers of blood, and it ends the same. Drop by drop, we'll exorcise our demons, but I fear we'll lose too much along the way.

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Review:

Lilly seems to never get to catch a break. The minute she is blackmailed into marrying her darkest Knight she thought that her life was over. But her husband knew that to lose the rest of the men that owned her heart would mean the end of her entirely. As their wedding is coming to an end she is taken captive by a strange man that she knows nothing about. As she is drugged and kept confined within her room she starts to wonder if she had hallucinated her entire time with her Knights. Were they all a figment of her imagination? The evidence of their existence resided within her belly though. That is one thing she can hold onto as her life takes on a path all its own. It seems that no matter what Lilly and her Knights do they have enemies hounding their heels. So what are they to do? Eliminate the threat. But will this end up costing Lilly her men or them her?

Lilly seems to find herself in a mess of trouble at every turn. Even when she does nothing but exist she ends up in trouble. There were also scenes where she was punished in a BDSM capacity for things she should not have been punished for. For example, she is forced to do something that rocks the guys and makes them emotionally break down. It was for a good reason and was under the instruction of another person trying to protect her, but she ended up being punished for it? That is not how the BDSM world works. A sub is not punished simply for displeasing their Dom but because it is a learning tool for the sub to realize what they did was wrong and not the appropriate, healthy choice. That didn't sit well with me. Felt very 50 Shades of Abuse to me and that left a bad taste in my mouth.

I was really enjoying the series even with the incorporation of M/M romance which is not usually what I enjoy reading in my reverse harems. But there comes a time in books when there is too much of a good thing. The amount of sex that is in this book boggles my mind. It seems like as soon as a sex scene ends there is maybe 10 pages of plot then yet another sex scene. It got to the point where I couldn't even enjoy those scenes anymore because it was met with an eyeroll and a 'here we go again' mentality. There needs to be a good balance between smut and plot to make the book riveting for me otherwise I am just trying to slog through it to the end. I think if there was less sex and more twists and turns in the plot then it would have held my interest a lot more. I had hopes of bringing the series home with a bang but not that kind of bang.

I can't, in good faith, give this book less than three stars because while there were facets of it that I completely detested, there was still enough substance left behind to keep me reading. Even when I found what was happening to be something I was uncomfortable with as a reader. I think that reading this book is necessary to tie up the loose ends of the series, but go into it with the knowledge that it is 85% sex and 15% plot.

Book Blitz with Excerpt + Teaser + Giveaway: Same Place, Same Stars by Katey Taylor @XpressoTours

Same Place, Same Stars by Katey Taylor

Publication date: May 13th, 2025

Synopsis:

Twenty-one-year-old Natalia battles a rare parasomnia sleep disorder that propels her to act violently, experience night terrors, and put herself in dangerous situations--all while she's unconscious.

After waking up covered in unexplained bruises, she lands herself back in a mental facility. Making friends has never been easy, but at Awana, she quickly bonds with her fun-loving roommate Lindsay and falls for Gabriel, a handsome yet severely depressed resident she secretly meets at night.

As Natalia wrestles with the harsh side effects of her medication, her reality unravels, exposing disturbing truths about those she trusts most. Though romantic relationships are strictly forbidden at Awana, Gabriel becomes her lifeline amidst the chaos. To be with him, Natalia must risk everything--including her sanity, and she learns some choices carry devastating consequences.

Filled with shocking twists, Same Place, Same Stars, unpacks the many layers of what happens when you can no longer avoid dark secrets that refuse to be ignored.

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Excerpt

No sharp objects. Pack light.

My instinct is to run, but I don't know how far my sore limbs will carry me. Apathy is my last line of defense.

I reach for a baggy sweatshirt and leggings. This has become my uniform when I go away, not for any fashion statement but its functionality--it can be easily taken off before my body is searched by a nurse's gloved hands. The pressure from the fabric causes me to hiss in pain. I carefully step each leg in to cover the tender scrapes and deep purple bruises along my pale white shins and thighs. The bruises are a reminder that I've messed up again.

I drag my worn leather suitcase that's on its last leg away from our cottage and into the trunk of Olga's station wagon. She doesn't say a word as we head out of our driveway and onto the tree-dense highway. The branches are grayer than normal, though it could be my mood filtering the world in a cloud of indifference.

Olga rolls every window down even though it's a brisk fifty-two degrees. Long drives make her sweat. I think she would never leave our small town if it were up to her, but I remain her forcing agent.

My eyes wander from the pastures filled with cows and horses to Olga and her wild blowing hair that is unusually more silver than black for someone in their thirties.

"So, what's this ward like?" I ask, trying to break the tense silence.

"Don't call it that. That's not what it's called. This is a treatment center."

She turns up her classical piano playlist, the one she plays to calm her nerves, then hands me a folded piece of stock paper filled with smiling faces of young adults--those who, like me, are not teenagers anymore but not quite what I would consider adults either. Much like our mental state, we're something in between.

The brochure states this center isn't government funded. By the looks of it, it seems far out of the budget of Olga's ballet studio salary and my unemployed status, but it claims as part of their philosophy that they take on special cases free of charge. Just my luck, they happened to have room for a last-minute drop-in.

After the stunt I pulled last night, I'm sure Olga would be willing to pay any price.

KATEY TAYLOR is a San Francisco Bay Area-based author and published poet, with work featured in online magazines such as DarkWinter Lit, SWAAY, and Fauxmoir. She's recognized for her ability to address complex topics with sensitivity and depth. To find out more about her previous and upcoming novels, visit her website.

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Book Blitz with Excerpt + Giveaway: The Boy Upon Death: Reaper's Last Call by J. Robert Adams @XpressoTours

The Boy Upon Death: Reaper's Last Call by J. Robert Adams

Publication date: April 5th, 2025

Synopsis:

My existence was as cold as my birth. I was born with both knowledge and will--an inevitability for my kind. Drawn to the final moments of mortal life, we came into being. Some of us became Reapers, tasked solely with ferrying souls to their afterlife. Others craved the power of souls, calling themselves gods of Death--Shinigami. They believed that devouring or absorbing souls granted them greater might, but found that power only deepened their coldness and emptiness. Those gods of Death became husks, bored of their own immortality yet too frightened to end themselves. But being a Reaper can yield the same chill. Though I know the souls would be lost without our guidance, my own existence seems bound to a perpetual winter, drawn to the final beat of each mortal life.

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Excerpt

Prologue: The Cold Existence

My existence is as cold as my birth. I was born with both knowledge and will--in inevitability for my kind. Drawn to the final moments of moral life, we come into being. Some of us become Reapers, tasked solely with ferrying souls to their afterlife. Others crave the power of souls, calling themselves Gods of Death. They believe that devouring or absorbing souls grants them greater might, but such power only deepens their coldness and emptiness. The Veil--the great boundary between life and the afterlife--exists as the ultimate destination for souls. It does not judge or choose; it simply awaits those ready to cross. Souls unwilling to pass linger in the mortal world, their tether to the Veil slowly degrading. Once that connection is broken, they descend into madness, becoming fragmented and unstable, unable to find peace. For Reapers, our role is clear: guide the souls before they are lost. Yet even for us, there are choices. We are born as extensions of the Veil, to be reabsorbed into its vastness and find peace. But there is a second path--one far more dangerous and final. A Reaper may sever their tether to the Veil, abandoning their purpose and embracing free will. These fallen ones become what we call Gods of Death. Free from the Veil's guidance, they face a choice: help lost souls or exploit them for power. Many succumb to the hunger, consuming souls to strengthen themselves. These beings often destroy themselves, transforming into husks--twisted, empty shells driven mad by their own excesses. I have not chosen to rejoin the Veil, though the option tempts me in moments of despair. And I have not severed my tether, though I sometimes wonder what lies beyond that severance. Instead, I remain a Reaper. But the cold emptiness of my existence grows heavier with each passing year. I guide souls to the Veil, knowing that my own tether will never allow me rest. The souls need us, but who guides the Reapers? Who saves us from the weight of eternity? Perhaps the answer lies in the unknown. In the countless eons of existence, I have never questioned my role--until now. The faint stirrings of doubt creep into my thoughts, like cracks forming in the ice. The time will come when I must choose: to remain a servant of the Veil, to seek peace within it, or to become something greater--or perhaps something worse. This is the story of how I began to question eternity. Of how I--a guide to the lost--found myself on a path to becoming something entirely new.

J. ROBERT ADAMS has been building worlds in his imagination for as long as he can remember. What began as a childhood escape quickly grew into a lifelong passion for storytelling. By middle school, he was already scribbling down tales of heroes, haunted places, and fantastical realms--stories that refused to stay quiet.

Today, Adams continues that journey with The Boy Upon Death, a dark fantasy exploring the tension between duty and identity, power and purpose. His work blends introspective character arcs with immersive worldbuilding, often walking the line between light and shadow.

He writes not only to entertain, but to ask the quiet questions--about who we are, what we fear, and what we choose to fight for. Whether you're here for the eerie mystery or the emotional depth, his stories aim to stay with you long after the final page.

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Book Blitz with Excerpt + Giveaway: Legend of the Forest by Raquel Gabrielle @XpressoTours

Legend of the Forest by Raquel Gabrielle

Publication date: April 25th, 2025

Synopsis:

Mia has always been drawn to the unusual, a fascination that's made her an outcast. The world beyond their wall is shrouded in mystery, with few stories to go on--mostly fairy tales or fragments about the Old Ones. No one other than the guards dare to venture into the woods, and those who have don't return the same, if at all.

When a creature is captured in town, it sparks a chain of events that brings more dangers from the edges of the forest--some friendly, some not. As Mia helps the creature escape, she never expects to journey into the dark woods and unravel secrets beyond her wildest imagination.

There, she meets Haddox, a golden, irresistible man who offers passion and freedom like she's never known. Then there's Grey, his polar opposite--stoic, mysterious, and a constant thorn in her side. The tension between them boil over, until they can no longer ignore the undeniable connection between them.

🧚FernGully Retelling

🐉Blue Dragon Pet

❤️‍🔥Lots of Heat

🌶️Spicy Fantasy

🧵Main Character likes to sew

👣Thinks shoes are evil

🌳Standalone Fantasy

👿Toxic love

🦋Multiple POV's

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Excerpt

Mia scrunches up the paper in her fist. She stared at the beige wall. She could not believe what she had read. Thoughts raced through her mind, and her throat tightened with emotion. The urge to scream was so strong she took a huge bite of bread, stuffing her face. The bread tasting like burned ash. As she swallowed the bread, her stomach turned sour at the thought of taking another bite. She then turned the light down low, making it more difficult to read the letter. The letters on the paper blurred together as tears filled her eyes.

"She will never accept me. Never accept anything I try or do. She will force my hand into the pictures she has chosen for me." Tears fell down her cheeks, stifling her cry with her hands over her mouth.

A scratch at the back door caught her attention, stopping her hot tears and sniffles. Everything froze and was quiet for a moment before another scratch. The letter fell from her fingers as she went to the door. Giving the door a curious look, she loosened the tie to move the cloth and look out the window. The darkness made it hard to see what was out there. Cracking it open, icy rain pelted her bare hand. The water was cool against the heat that radiated from her.

A snout pushed hard against the opening. A body wiggled in and slid through before she could close it. Mia jumped back, surprised that the creature from earlier came barreling in, sniffling the ground. Electric blue fur with black stripes streak across the kitchen, heading back to her. Powerful limbs scrambled across the wood as his eyes feast on the hand still holding the bread. Pulling a chair out, she blocked the beast, guarding herself from being attacked.

"You hungry?" she questioned. Wanting to calm the creature long enough to settle down.

Jumping up, its hindquarters remained on the ground; its front paws landed on the chair seat. It used its front two paws to lift itself closer, reaching for the bread that was just out of grasp.

Lifting her hand up, she kept it away. "Food, you want?" She broke off a small piece, placing it right through the back bars of the chair furthest from its teeth. She pulled her hand back through the bars quickly, not wanting to get her fingers bitten off.

With a sniff of the food, a long tongue came out, licking it, and then gobbled it up. Its eyes were dark as it waited there patiently for more.

"Food?" It croaked out when neither one moved for a while.

Dropping the bread all together, Mia's eyes go wide. "Did you just talk?"

"Food!" it said louder, giving a happy howl of excitement as it jumped down, attacking the food that had rolled. The bread disappeared in a matter of minutes. "More?" The creature cocked its head to the side and gave sad eyes.

"Oh, umm. You want more?" Her eyes searched the kitchen. She had not seen any more bread. "Are you a boy or a girl?"

"Boy." He shuffled, coming up behind her.

"Do you have a name?"

"Bloo." He hopped up and down, his nails clicking on the floor.

"Blue, oh, because of your coloring?"

Shaking his head. "Bloooo," he enunciated.

"Bloo?" She shrugged her shoulders, going along with it. Opening a cabinet, she took out some plain cereal and grabbed a handful. She kneeled on the ground, holding her palm out to him. "Can I pet you? Don't eat me, okay?"

"Food?"

"No, I'm not food. But yes, food is here." She placed it on the ground beside her. Bloo's steps were unsure and wary of her movements.

RAQUEL GABRIELLE resides in Oklahoma with her husband, dogs and cat. She grew up loving stories so much that she even made up her own tales. Writing has helped her in many ways and continues to do so. Writing has always been there for her and something she will always fall back to when things get tough.

If she isn't writing or telling stories, you can find her hanging out with friends or traveling. She loves to see the world and all its wonders.

She mostly dabbles in Urban Fantasy but has been know to go outside the box from time to time.

Join her mailing list.

To follow her on social media and learn more about her books, visit her online!

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