A. Zavarelli is a USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of dark and contemporary romance.
She loves writing about tortured heroes and the strong heroines who love them. When she’s not putting her characters through hell, she can usually be found watching documentaries in the name of research.
She lives in the Northwest with her lumberjack and an entire brood of fur babies.
Before the world knew me as a rock god, I was just the angry boy who stole her heart.
She was a good girl.
The forbidden fruit I wasn’t meant to taste.
Our stars were crossed, and fate had doomed us from the start.
She was promised to someone else.
I had her secret smiles.
Moments stolen in dark corners.
But I couldn’t have her future.
Destiny tore us apart, and all that remained was the ghost of her memory.
When she died, I did too.
But when I catch a glimpse of her five years later, alive and well, that love turns to hate as the bitter truth emerges.
She left me.
She lied.
And now, I’m going to make her pay.
•••
• MY REVIEW •
“All I ever had to offer her was me.”
Phew. This was one behemoth of a romance story that’ll tear you apart only to put you back together again. It’s definitely not for the faint-hearted. It’s a contemporary romance but with strong dark themes included.
This book contains several romance sub-genres and tropes, as well as sensitive content that some readers may find triggering. Madden and Bianca’s story consists of the following:
Rockstar Romance
First Love
Star-Crossed Lovers
Ex-Military
Forbidden Romance
Secret Romance
Love Triangle
Friends-to-Lovers
Love-to-Hate-to-Love
MC Romance
Please note the dark themes are graphic. It deals with death, strong violence, blackmail, physical and mental abuse, and sexual assault. As well as horrific events resulting in psychological and emotional trauma, substance abuse, depression, and overall PTSD. It’s intended for readers 18+ only.
It’s a journey full of unbreakable bonds and honest friendships, but also brings about what seems like an endless amount of hopelessness. Be prepared for a lot of heaviness. Right from the very beginning you’re pulled into a sombre backdrop that sets the precedents of the entire book’s atmosphere.
Without giving away the storyline, Madden and Bianca’s lives are wrapped in half-truths, mystery, and constant roadblocks. Somebody upstairs certainly didn’t want them together. Although they do get their HEA, it was undoubtedly an uphill battle to get to their happiness. It was an emotional rollercoaster that evoked a mixture of heartbreak, frustration, and eventually contentment.
Zavarelli created two very complex MCs in a twisted character-driven narrative. It takes place in both the past and present day and interchanges chapter to chapter. To be honest, it felt like I was reading two books simultaneously— one the prequel, the other the main story. In my opinion, both timelines had their own pacing which disrupted the overall flow. The backstory was slower-paced and I felt it dragged somewhat in the middle of the story before it picked back up towards the end. The chapters with the present day were definitely my favourite parts of the book to read. They were faster-paced and had a lot of the interactions and developments that had me completely hooked.
Madden and Bianca are stuck in an infinite loop of push-and-pull and unresolved issues. On one hand it was frustrating to see the repetitiveness, but on the other, it was relatable seeing the difficulties they went through individually and with each other. On some level, I resonated with certain issues and easily sympathised with their situation.
I especially gravitated towards Madden and his painful journey of finding his place in the world and the love he deserved. With his raw character, vulnerability, fundamental strength, and most importantly his unwavering belief, he’s without a doubt my favourite MMC from this series.
“I don’t know how to love someone I can’t have.”
I like the initial premise. It’s one of my favourite elements but can be a bit of rare find, so discovering Zavarelli’s newest novel revolved around it had me excited to say the least. The mystery surrounding Bianca and needing to uncover the truth was ultimately what made this a page-turner. With the addition of lovable secondary characters that stole my attention from time to time added a level of dimension and injected genuine positivity to a mostly grim storytelling.
It’s a standalone within the Sin City Salvation series with character crossovers from the previous books. I recommend reading them first before starting this one to understand the relationships amongst the characters.
All in all, this third and final book was a beautiful conclusion to the series. It had a little bit of everything from the romantic elements, to the comradery and diverse familial dynamics, to the action and suspense. It’s a story of growth, loyalty, and loss.
I always find Zavarelli’s writing whilst intricate still effortless to follow, and this book was no different. It’s a real survival, “love conquers all” love story that’s so hearty and gut-wrenching, it’ll leave you feeling like you’ve been put through the wringer right alongside Madden and Bianca. And after having read their story, their HEA was well and truly deserving.
It has vivid world-building, complex characters, and multiple developing storylines. If you’re an avid fan of Zavarelli, you won’t want to miss out on reading this. Any dark and contemporary romance readers who enjoy any of the following sub-genres and tropes I mentioned should give this one a try. Just have tissues on hand.
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you Ashleigh Zavarelli for the opportunity to read an advance copy! 💜
A. Zavarelli is a USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of dark and contemporary romance.
She loves writing about tortured heroes and the strong heroines who love them. When she’s not putting her characters through hell, she can usually be found watching documentaries in the name of research.
She lives in the Northwest with her lumberjack and an entire brood of fur babies.
Jennifer Smith doesn’t believe in romance. Which is funny, because she is one of the country’s most popular romance authors. She’s suffered enough heartache to know true romance is pure fiction.
Motorcycles Mobsters & Mayhem is a popular book event in Houston, and Jen’s been looking forward to it all year. After a global pandemic, a relentless cyber stalker, and yet another failed relationship, this trip is exactly what she needs. Friends, drinks, excited readers, and most of all, a week of peace and quiet before everyone arrives.
But peace and quiet prove to be as elusive as true love when one minor accident puts her on a collision course with him.
Cash “Rage” Hudson would rather be anywhere but Houston this weekend, but his little sister’s getting married, and he’s giving her away. As Vice President of the Satan’s Descendant’s MC, he’s always been the black sheep of his conservative family, and he knows this trip is going to be a nightmare.
Running into the feisty romance author is a welcome distraction, but she’s determined to keep him at arm’s length. Then her cyber stalker crashes the event, and Rage is the only thing standing between Jen and a crazed keyboard warrior on a mission to destroy her.
Motorcycles, Mobsters, and Mayhem author event proudly presents The Mayhem Makers Series.
These standalone novels are brought to you by several bestselling authors specializing in writing twisted chaos. You’ll get all the bikers, mobsters, and dark romance your heart can handle.
•••
• MY REVIEW •
“Sometimes running is the only thing you can do to give yourself time to fight back. And believe me, we’re fighting back.”
Glenn has written some of my all-time favourite gripping, swoon-worthy MC romance books. She surprised me with this sweeter MC romance storyline. It’s a bit of a contrast from her Kings of Korruption MC series where there was a lot more heaviness, grit, and suspense. Leather & Lace was a nice change of pace and had a more contemporary setting focusing on Jen’s world rather than Rage’s motorcycle club.
It’d be an amazing book for readers dipping their toes into MC romances. It gives insight into the hero’s dangerous world without delving too much into the details. It’s also quite light-hearted, sweet, and has a great romantic build-up between its main characters. Although Jen and Rage’s relationship technically developed fairly quickly and one I consider to be “instalove”, as you progress through the story you encounter some great moments of vulnerability and depth shared that you tend to forget the pair have only just met.
It’s steady-paced storytelling and told from dual POVs. It’s part of the Motorcycles, Mobsters & Mayhem author collaboration series but has been advised that it can be read as a standalone novel. In saying that, in my opinion, this story was left with an open-ended conclusion. There were plot points I wanted answers to and I would’ve loved an epilogue. I’m unsure if Glenn plans to continue Jen and Rage’s story in the future or if they make an appearance in her next book from this world, but I’d like to hold out hope that this won’t be the last time we see these two lovebirds.
One of the main things that stood out for me was how Glenn has written her characters, in particular, Rage. He’s probably one of the most sweetest, most caring bikers I’ve read (especially from Glenn’s MC romance books).
These characters are imperfect but it’s what makes them relatable and down-right likable! Both Jen and Rage have personal struggles and dilemma’s that their dealing with in their lives but they’ve become each other’s support system. It’s an overall uplifting storyline, with tons of positivity weaved throughout from the solid (and hilarious) friendships, to the encouraging book community Jen is a part of, and let’s not forget Rage’s band of brothers from his MC.
It’s a quirky storyline. If you ever wondered what it would be like when fiction meets real-life, then this one will be an entertaining treat for you. Jen is a romance author who specializes in writing MC romance books. She unexpectedly meets Rage, a real-life member of a motorcycle club. Vice President to boot, and when their two worlds clash, zingy interactions and constant sparks ignite.
I did find some parts a little repetitive at times trying to put emphasise into the trouble Jen has found herself in, but it’s still very much an enjoyable read. The secondary cast of characters are a fun addition. Jen and Rage are down to earth and have such genuine chemistry. There’s no drama and no angst in their relationship, which is refreshing. It’s an adult relationship that I easily got behind.
This book honestly left me smiling. Jen and Rage have a few hurdles to overcome but their story definitely left me rooting for their relationship to last a lifetime. I’m looking forward to reading Glenn’s next book in the MMM world!
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you Geri Glenn and Enticing Journey Book Promotions for the opportunity to read an advance copy! 🧡
Yep, I’m doing another round-up of my favourite reads,. This will be my third year posting and it’s looking like it’ll be a yearly tradition. Wooo!
I had another rollercoaster year. I remember the first few months of 2022 wishing the year would roll by quick, and now that it’s finally time to ring in the new year, I have such a bittersweet feeling because the last two-to-three months elevated the year.
I say this every year because it really is true in my life… reading has and always will be my form of sanctuary and escapism from the daily grind. I’m your stereotypical introvert who prefers books to company. The older I get the more I’ve preferred a cosy night in with a swoon-worthy book, a favourite movie playing in the background, and tons of comfort food, and I don’t really see my preferences changing back to my younger years when I spent over an hour getting ready to go out and dance the night away (although on a rare occasion I might brush off the party dress and put on a friendly smile hehe).
Now! 👏 Are you ready to see the books I ended up loving the most from all the 100+ books I read this year? Even I surprised myself when I went back to compilate this list. 😲
Here is my compilation of favourite reads of 2022. Ooh man, it was hard! Like last year, I ideally wanted to pluck out one favourite book from each month but damn it was hard! Some months had multiple stellar reads, so I tried had to do a little bit of finessing… *cough* cheating *cough* 😜😁
But I will say this, I have a bunch of different authors in this list, some are new-to-me authors that have quickly been added to my auto-buy authors list. So if you’re wondering if I’d recommend any… HELL YES!
(Nanny/ Single Dad, Opposites Attract, Grumpy-Sunshine, Standalone in an Interconnected Series)
Hating The Player by Rebecca Jenshak
(Hate-to-Love, Second Chances, Next-Door Neighbours, College Sports Romance, Standalone in an Interconnected Series)
📖 Shattered And Salvaged Duet by Anna B. Doe
Kiss To Shatter & Kiss To Salvage
(Brother’s Best Friend, Secret Romance, College Sports Romance, New Adult Romance, Standalone in an Interconnected Series) *Trigger Warnings*
— ♥ —
Honorary Mention:
📖 Kiss To Belong by Anna B. Doe
(Best Friends-to-Lovers, Secret Crush, Close Proximity, Surprise Pregnancy, College Romance) *Trigger Warnings*
•••
• MC Romance •
Keeping The Throne by Nicole James
(MC Romance, Whirlwind Romance, Age-Gap Romance, Standalone in an Interconnected Series) *Trigger Warnings*
•••
• Mafia Romance •
Sinners Series by Michelle Heard
Taken By A Sinner (pictured)
Owned By A Sinner
Stolen By A Sinner
Chosen By A Sinner
Captured By A Sinner
(Dark Mafia, Suspense, Arranged Marriage, Enemies-to-Lovers, Hate-To-Love, Age-Gap, Standalones in an Interconnected Series) *Trigger Warnings*
Sins Of The Orchid by Eva Winners
(Age-Gap, Forbidden Romance, Best Friend’s Brother, Suspense, Standalone, Italian Mafia) *Trigger Warnings*
By Fate I Conquer by Cora Reilly
(Enemies-to-Lovers, Close Proximity, Forbidden Romance, Secret Romance, Suspense, Dark Romance, Standalone in an Interconnected Series) *Trigger Warnings*
•••
• Dark Romance •
The Devil’s Pawn Duet by Natasha Knight
Devil’s Pawn & Devil’s Redemption
(Dark, Beauty & The Beast Inspired, Suspense, Enemies-to-Lovers, Arranged Marriage, Close Proximity) *Trigger Warnings*
📖 The Rite Trilogy by A. Zavarelli & Natasha Knight
(Paranormal, Sci-Fi, Crime Thriller, Superhuman Abilities, Suspense, Small Town, New Adult Romance, Interconnected Series) *Trigger Warnings*
📖 Cruelest Oblivion Duet by M.A. Heard
Cruelest Oblivion & Sweetest Awareness
(Dystopian Romance, Survival of the Fittest, Suspense, Close Proximity, New Adult Romance) *Trigger Warnings*
•••
There you have it! 😊 As you can see I’ve added a handful of books not pictured, but they were either part of a series or duet and needed mentioning.
And as usual, if you want to see ALL my reads for the year, check out my Monthly Wrap-Ups with links to my reviews. Just note, I’m lazy lol, and I don’t have reviews up for all them but hopefully my star ratings will be enough.
Check out my December wrap-up that I just posted earlier too! It was my biggest month of reads— hey, what did I tell ya? This year really has ended on a positive.
I hope you’re all enjoying the Christmas/ End of year holidays! My thoughts go out to those who are working over this crazy, hectic time— don’t overwork and make sure you take time for yourself. Hope everyone is staying safe and wishing a beautiful New Year’s Eve/ Day! 😘🎉
Thank you for the support you’ve all given me for my reviews and my book blog in general! I’m in awe of the amazing people I’ve met through this complex bookish community, and the copious amounts of books I’ve discovered over time. I’m truly thankful for the friendships I’ve made, as well as the opportunities I’ve been fortunate enough to be a part of.
Fingers crossed 2023 will be a year of happy bliss, love, good health, and good fortune for us all!
Happy reading, and as always catch you in my next one! Xo
Bianca put Sandman under her spell. This December will they say I do?
Sandman knows she’s the one, so why is making a commitment so hard?
Given an ultimatum to pop the question or let her go, he has a choice to make.
This Christmas, will this royal bastard go the distance to give Bianca the wedding of her dreams or will his efforts prove too little too late?
Author’s Note: Royal Bastards MC: Charleston, WV is a read in order series. Bewitching The Biker should be read before Loving The Biker
•••
• MY REVIEW •
“He claims I put a curse on him, but I’m the one under his spell.”
If Maynard ever wants to write more stories on Bianca and Sandman, I’ll be one hundred percent for it! Following up on their introduction in Bewitching The Biker, this new holiday novella was not only full of spice and entertainingly quirky banter that I’ve come to associate with these two, but family, friendship, and brotherhood have been an unwavering source of support as they take the next step in their relationship.
A sweet and sassy Bianca and an overly protective, but highly adorable Sandman. These two will always be one of my favourite couples from Maynard’s RBMC chapter series. This book was short, punchy, and had me looking forward to seeing what else is in store for this series. It’s a fun little addition and a great holiday-themed MC romance.
Whilst Maynard doesn’t go into detail about the secondary characters from previous books, you’re still very much in the loop with the relationships and group dynamics. Although I thought there was choppiness alongside disjointed subplots in certain areas of the story, it’s the interactions between Bianca and Sandman that had me hooked and ultimately enjoying this book. Their romance had a mixture of raunchiness and sweetness, with a side of crazy dramatics that essentially made this a light-hearted, smile-inducing read!
It may be a novella but Bianca and Sandman go through significant developments in their relationship. All in all, a great mixture of romance and MC elements, with a huge cast of characters making an appearance. It’s definitely not to be missed if you’re following this series. Just note it contains profanity, violence, and sexual content intended for readers 18+ only.
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you Glenna Maynard for the opportunity to read an advance copy! ❤
🔔 Interested in reading Loving The Biker? Grab your copy here: Universal Link
🔔 Interested in starting the Royal Bastards MC: Charleston, WV? Grab the series here: Universal Link
I’m the president of the RBMC’s Durango Chapter.
My brothers call me Rock.
I’ve spent my life devoted to this MC.
I’ve built this chapter from the ground up and I’m not about to watch everything I worked so hard to build go down in flames, but keeping this throne may cost me everything I hold dear.
I lost the love of my life years ago, and since then no woman has come close to filling the emptiness that hole has left in my heart. I’ve pretty much given up on there ever being a second chance at a love like that again for me. I’ve accepted that it just isn’t in the cards.
Until I meet one very right woman in one very wrong place at one very wrong time.
I never saw this coming. Not in a million years.
•••
• MY REVIEW •
“I never planned this.”
“You came out of nowhere. I never expected to find someone. I thought those days were over for me. But then there you were when I least expected you.”
Loved me some Rock! ❤ The second I started this book, it was unputdownable. It did not disappoint. With an addictive storyline and gripping characters, it had a great balance of both MC and romance elements all throughout.
This is the third book in James’ RBMC Durango, CO series, and whilst all the books can be read as standalone novels, I still recommend that you read them in publishing order purely for the fact that the first two books helps build-up the anticipation of Rock’s story and of the lucky heroine who wins him over.
After having already read about twenty or so books by James, I pretty much know what I can expect when going into a new one. What I quickly discovered is that James writes older heroes and age-gap MC romance stories so damn well! There’s a genuine feel to her characters’ coupling. I loved the fact that the big age difference between Rock and Evelyn wasn’t even that much of a factor in the grand scheme of things in their relationship. There’s such a strong connection between them that you tend to forget there’s even a gap. It’s one of the reasons as to why I’ve loved (and continue to love) reading James’ books that include this romance trope.
Keeping The Throne has a commanding yet gentlemanly hero in Rock who’s had a well-lived life. There’s always going to be some concern going into a romance story where a leading character has lost their first love and wondering how the author will develop her character through a tragic past. I can tell you this book is emotional at times to the point where I really felt for Rock. I thought his story was emotionally complex but just as equally whole-hearted and sweet.
Evelyn, at times needed a slight attitude adjustment in my opinion but overall she’s a likable heroine who fitted well with the existing cast of characters and couples within their inner circle. What I liked about her most was the fact that she wasn’t trying to replace or forcefully fill the void in Rock’s life after the death of his wife, but understood his apprehension, was a positive impact, and in the end naturally filled that emptiness in him. Their story, and Rock’s more so was beautifully executed. There was a sense of respect, love, and loyalty when it came to Rock letting go, and as saddening as it was to witness, I’m glad there was a distinct closure to that chapter of his life.
This MC romance story was well-paced, told from multiple POVs, and as it progresses there’s a gradual build-up of suspense not only with Rock’s evolving relationship with Evelyn but within his club too. You’ll get your fill of steamy romance, a strong bond of brotherhood, and solid familial dynamics that all add to the overall enjoyment of reading this book. Besides the age-gap trope, Rock and Evelyn’s relationship can technically fall under the “instalove” umbrella as their relationship evolved pretty quickly, but just like what I found with their age-difference, their unplanned romantic interactions still had fairly organic development to it.
I found the overall atmosphere relatively on a light side, but it does contain gritty elements, some of which may be triggering for some readers such as, strong violence, domestic abuse, and kidnapping. Along with strong sexual content this book is intended for readers 18+ only.
But as with all of James’ other books, she knows when to add a little unsuspecting comic-relief to keep the overall vibe from going too sombre for too long, and she did just that with this one by adding giggle-inducing banter.
All in all, it’s another addictive as hell addition to the series, and in general another must-read book by James that I highly recommend! It’s an MC romance story that I can (and will) read again and again. Knowing that Rock gets his second chance at love will leave its readers in happy contentment, but at the same time with his backstory and having to let it all go leaves a bittersweet tinge too.
If you like any of the following romance tropes set within an MC romance world, then add this one to your TBR!
Age-Gap Romance
Instant Attraction
Hate-to-Love
Forced/ Close Proximity
Second Chance Romance
I read it easily in one sitting and honestly left me wanting more from this RBMC chapter. I can only hope we get to see more in the near future but if not, concluding this series with a bangin’ story of the club’s President is just fine by me! 😊
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
Thank you Nicole James and the RBMC team for the opportunity to read an advanced copy! 💜
A war is on the horizon. I’m no stranger to fighting.
Loyalty and respect are codes I live and die by.
My club means everything to me.
I’ll do whatever it takes to protect what’s mine.
The life we’ve built and the freedom we crave.
And her.
Especially Andrea.
I’ve watched her from afar.
A beauty in need of saving.
A woman I ache to behold.
When an enemy threatens to tarnish her beautiful soul, the beast inside me awakens.
For her…I’ll fight till death.
Andrea
I can’t stop thinking about him.
A biker I should stay far away from. An outlaw who lives outside of the law that sets my soul on fire. Claiming him for myself was never part of the plan. He’s got a hold on me. The more I deny my feelings the stronger they grow.
I’m fighting a losing battle, but nothing is ever fair in love and war.
Claiming The Biker is book Nine of the Royal Bastards MC: Charleston, WV chapter. Though able to be read as a standalone, for best enjoyment this series should be read in order.
Suggested reading order:
The Biker’s Kiss
Lady & The Biker
Tempting The Biker
Keeping The Biker
The Biker’s Lucky Charm
Taken by The Biker
Bewitching The Biker
The Biker’s Cherry
Claiming The Biker
Loving The Biker
•••
• MY REVIEW •
“She’s mine. Body. Mind. Soul.”
I’ve been following this series from the very beginning and the books have created such anticipation for Andi’s and Viking’s story. I know after reading Murder’s and Alexa’s story, these two were my next IT couple! 😊 The build-up towards their budding romance was one in particular that this series gave the biggest, most juiciest teasers to that their story was a long time coming.
This story is laid-out with time lapses along with a ton of character crossovers from the previous books in the series. Events and developments that occurred in those books are most certainly mentioned, but it doesn’t go into in-depth detail. I need to re-iterate the author’s recommendation for readers to read this series in the suggested reading order. Yes, you can technically read this book as a standalone but I can tell you now you won’t experience half of these characters’ existing world-building if you skip-out on the rest of the series.
It’s fast-paced storytelling and a relatively short read, having easily read it in one sitting. And partially because of this reason I did feel like it was somewhat rushed through. I would’ve loved to have seen a deeper development to their relationship and much further character growth from both protagonists. The timeframes also played a big role in a slightly choppy and abrupt narrative, and not as weighty as say previous books in the series, like Lady & the Biker and/or Tempting the Biker. I had hoped for a few more chapters to really emphasise Andi’s and Viking’s love story. Whilst there’s undoubtedly genuine chemistry and entertaining interactions between the two, they also go through an emotional life-changing event that I couldn’t help but think needed more time to develop and sink in (emotionally) before it all concluded.
Please note, this story contain sensitive subject matters that may be triggering for some readers such as, strong violence, sexual assault, and trauma resulting from certain events that occurred within this book. Intended for readers 18+ only.
But despite all that, I still very much enjoyed reading this book. It doesn’t disappoint in keeping suspense, having spicy romantic elements, and still feature plenty of the MC.
Andrea and Viking are a truly likable pair and a wonderful addition to an already existing cast of couples in the series. I look forward to seeing them make appearances in future books. Viking is one helluva catch! In my opinion, an ideal biker hero—a tough, alpha outer shell with an ooey-gooey affectionate filling! Andi is a relatable, warm-hearted heroine. I resonated with her as she struggled with her insecurities— which I’m sure a lot of other women could relate to too. She gave such authentic vibes as she navigated through her emotions and thoughts concerning Viking and the complex situation she’s found herself in.
Overall, an addictive and punchy MC romance read. As I mentioned earlier it’s a little on the shorter side for a full-length novel, but Andi and Viking brought on a level of swoon-worthiness that had me happy sighing! A much anticipated romance between a badass biker and the curvaceous woman that has him completely and utterly hooked. 😊😍 Not to be missed. Such a good guilty pleasure read!
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you Glenna Maynard and the RBMC crew for the opportunity to read an advanced copy! 💜
Guess who’s back with another favourite reads post!?
Yep. Last year I posted a round-up of my favourite reads, and this year I decided to do it again! Could it be the start of a new tradition… Who knows? 😊
Ha! I thought 2020 was a tough year to get through. Sheesh. If I knew how sucky 2021 ended up being, I wouldn’t welcomed it with open arms. Lol.
But like I said last year and every year I’ve been reading… it’s always been my form of sanctuary and escapism. I’m your stereotypical introvert who prefers books to company. Who prefers a cozy night in with a swoon-worthy book and comfort food over late-night partying with outfits that’s all-too binding, uncomfortable shoes, and the stench of sweat in the air. 😅
This year, I’ve compiled my top 12 favourite reads of the year. Ideally, I wanted one favourite book from every month but… some months had doubly amazing reads, whilst others had mediocre ones not completely worthy of this list.
Even though I had a few reading slumps along the way (nothing new), after compiling my top reads, I realized that the majority of the books were from new-to-me-authors, so despite a few hiccups along the road, this year introduced me to some incredible authors who’ve quickly become auto-buy authors!
Annnnnd… there you have it! Yes, I snuck in a few books that technically did not make it to my top 12 list but came a very close (hence the mentions)!
Like last year, if you want to see all my reads for the year, check out my Monthly Wrap-Ups. I posted my December one earlier and I wanna say I have reviews up for all the books I read this year… but sadly there’s some still waiting to be written. Sigh. But links are up for those available.
I hope you all had a relaxing Christmas (if you celebrate), and now enjoying the holidays (hopefully you have holidays)! I sincerely wish everyone a safe yet happy New Year’s Eve/ Day! 🎉
Thank you for the support you’ve all given me for my reviews and my book blog in general! I’m in awe of the amazing people I’ve met through this bookish community and the copious amounts of books I’ve discovered over time. I’m truly thankful for the friendships I’ve made. As well as the opportunities I’m fortunate enough to be a part of.
I truly hope 2021 will be a year of nothing but happiness, love, good health, and good fortune for us all!
Happy reading, and as always catch you in my next one! Xo
When an invitation shows up out of the blue, I’m reminded of a promise I made to a girl twenty years ago and suddenly my heart is pounding.
Do I dare keep it?
She’s the one girl that ever meant a damn to me, and the one girl that got away. She walked out of my life once and it devastated me. Now life is giving me another shot, but if she walks out on me a second time I don’t think I’ll survive it.
Second chances don’t come around very often. Not for a one-percent biker like me. There are no do-overs in the MC life. Not when you’re staring down the barrel of a gun. Not when you’re deciding whether to pull the trigger.
But love? Maybe for once the luck of the Irish will shine down on me and give me a second chance with the one girl I let slip through my fingers.
Living with regret is a hard pill to swallow.
Living with the same regret twice? Impossible.
Sometimes facing your past can be the scariest thing you’ll ever do.
•••
• MY REVIEW •
📎 Note: I originally read Green’s story in the Twisted Steel Anthology and this was my review. After the recent release of Green’s book (with the new content included), I reread it and have revised my review. 😊
I’m a huge fan of James’ Evil Dead MC series and this story was a much anticipated one from a very much loved character: Green!
And lemme tell you… it doesn’t disappoint in regards to making me swoon more-so over Green! His story was short and sweet, and shows a completely different side to him that I hadn’t expected (in a good way)! For those who aren’t familiar with this Evil Dead MC brother, Green is considered the guy who doesn’t really take himself or anything too seriously. He’s warm fuzzies and funny to boot but was never into wanting to settle down. Until of course… his story! 😉
He’s older now, most of his fellow MC brothers have settled down and started families of their own, and it’s made him really think about his future. Opportunities to get his life in order come through in the way of moving back into his childhood home, and receiving an invitation to his high school reunion. The possibility of seeing Sara, his old high school girlfriend in this reunion has him reminiscing their time together and how their relationship ended all those years ago. It’s given him the mindset that seeing her in this reunion and catching-up could be their second chance to reconnect romantically.
When I initially read Green’s story in the anthology, I was instantly hooked but felt it was too short and hoped that when the time came for James to release his own book that she would extend his story further. Well… wish granted! 🙏 James included extra scenes with Green and his fellow club brothers, making this MC-lite romance story just a smidge more balanced out with MC elements and romance. The scenes that take place also sets up future stories that I am giddy and raring to read!
It’s addictive and I couldn’t read it fast enough, but I also think there were certain developments between Green and Sara that could’ve been more in-depth. But knowing James’ characters tend to make appearances and crossovers throughout her books, I’m not too phased as there’s a high probability we’ll get to see more of Green and Sara in the future.
I’m not always a fan of flashbacks to the past in storylines as it can get a bit tedious and slow the pacing down but in this case the flashbacks provided in Green’s story elevated the moments and gave his relationship with Sara some complexity. Despite the length of the story being on the shorter side, James managed to get me effortlessly invested in Green’s and Sara’s relationship. I was already a big fan of Green but Sara’s a completely new character. In a short span, I already found myself liking her personality and overall presence.
I do adore the fact that they had history. It makes their relationship believable, especially with how quickly things progressed in the story. Although it’s been twenty years, I love that they were so in-sync with one another like no time had passed.
– MC Romance
– High School Sweethearts
– Second Chance Romance
This was more MC-lite in comparison to the previous books from James’ Evil Dead MC series. I didn’t necessarily mind it because it certainly sets it apart from the other brothers’ stories where theirs had more darker plotlines. Green’s and Sara’s definitely centred more on the romantic side of this MC romance story. I love the reconnecting/ second-chance aspect and that it was Green who ended up having this trope — it provided him with more dimension from his usual light-hearted, jokey side that I constantly saw throughout in the series. He was always the comic relief amongst the brothers in the MC and whenever he made an appearance in any of the books his scenes were instant LOL moments, so his story was much anticipated. Overall, I’m happy to say it lived up to what I hoped it would be. It’s swoon-worthy. We get to learn more about Green outside of the club, and we get to meet the chick who snagged Green’s heart. It held my complete attention from beginning to end! #TeamGreen #TeamIrish 🍀
A sweet and relatively short MC-lite romance story you can easily read in one sitting, and will have you happy sighing by the end. The world James has created and expanded never ceases to amaze me, and this story is a fab addition to her series! It’s a must-read for her fans, and more specifically avid fans of her Evil Dead MC series. It can technically be read as a standalone but your experience with Green and his club would be so much more heighted if you read the series from the beginning.
booksofthemuggleborn 
You must be logged in to post a comment.