By Virtue I Fall Teaser

The first look at Cora Reilly’s next book in the Sins of the Fathers series!

Coming Soon! #ByVirtueIFall 💛

Cover design: Hang Le | Photographer: Michelle Lancaster | Model: Chase Mattson

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— BLURB —

A standalone forbidden bodyguard romance!

Love is an inconvenience Anna Cavallaro doesn’t have time for.

She only has one goal: to become a fashion designer. Chicago’s elite already copies her style religiously, not least because she’s the daughter of the city’s notorious mafia boss.

When she’s accepted at a world-famous fashion institute in Paris, her father’s condition is to take her bodyguard along.

Anna definitely wouldn’t mind a few weeks of no-strings-attached fun with her brooding protector. Santino Bianchi became the Outfit’s enforcer because he liked the thrill of the hunt and kill.

Babysitting his capo’s daughter is an honorable assignment he can’t refuse. His thoughts about Anna?

Not so honorable.

Santino’s ignored Anna’s persistent flirting for years. Now, far away from home boundaries begin to blur. But Santino doesn’t have any intention to be the reason for a failed engagement and the ensuing scandal.

A summer fling in Paris.

Only two things stand in Anna’s way.

Santino’s iron will.

And…her fiancé.

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— TEASER —

•••

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— By Virtue I Fall by Cora Reilly —

Sins Of The Fathers (Book Two)

Release Date: June 28, 2022

Genre: Forbidden Mafia Romance

📚 Add to your TBR: Goodreads

🔔 Pre-order links coming soon!

🎁 Enter the Giveaway ➡ Facebook Giveaway

An e-ARC for one lucky winner (you’ll receive it some time in June like the ARC team!) Giveaway will be closed on Sunday!

📣 Join the promotions!

Enter here ➡ Blogger & Bookstagrammer Sign-Up

•••

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— ABOUT THE AUTHOR —

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Cora Reilly

Cora Reilly is the author of the Born in Blood Mafia Series, The Camorra Chronicles and many other books, most of them featuring dangerously sexy bad boys. Before she found her passion in romance books, she was a  traditionally published author of young adult literature.

Cora lives in Germany with a cute but crazy Bearded Collie, as well as the cute but crazy man at her side. When she doesn’t spend her days dreaming up sexy books, she plans her next travel adventure or cooks too spicy dishes from all over the world.

•••

Join Cora Reilly’s Facebook Group! Cora always post the latest news, teasers, and book covers in that group first! Lots of fun to be had with tons of bonus surprises!

→ Cora’s Flamingo Squad

Follow Cora Reilly on her social media!

• Website
• Facebook
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🔔 Don’t forget to sign up for Cora’s Newsletter! Cora Reilly’s Newsletter

•••

Cora Reilly has a MasterList!

If you’d like to help spread the word about future cover reveals, sales, teasers etc, then you won’t have to sign up separately anymore if you’re on said Master list. You’ll be emailed the images and info directly. So if you want to spread the Cora mafia love, please sign up here: Cora Reilly MasterList

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Kiss Me Forever Release Teaser

A Blairwood University Novella!

Now Live! #KissMeForever 💗

Cover Design: Qamber Designs

•••

— BLURB —

Life is changing fast for some of Blairwood’s hottest football players. With just two more months until the end of their junior year, Hayden, Nixon, and their friends decide to spend their spring break in Hawaii and enjoy the last moments they have as college students. Their lives might soon change forever, but the bond they made at Blairwood will last a lifetime and so will their love. But when one of the boys decides to propose on vacation, the group will find themselves organizing an impromptu wedding.

Kiss Me Forever is a novella in the Blairwood University series. Told from different points of view, you’ll get to see your favorite characters and find out what the future holds for them. To fully enjoy this novella, Kiss Me Forever has to be read in series order.

•••

— TEASER —

•••

•••

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— Kiss Me Forever by Anna B. Doe —

Blairwood University (Novella)

Release Date: May 6, 2022

Genre: NA/ Contemporary Romance

📚 Add to your TBR: Goodreads

🔔 Grab your copy now! Universal Link

Amazon US  |  Amazon UK  |  Amazon AU  |  Amazon CA

•••

🏈 Binge the Blairwood University series!

Kiss Me First: Universal Link

Kiss To Conquer: Universal Link

Kiss To Forget: Universal Link

•••

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— ABOUT THE AUTHOR —

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Anna B. Doe

Anna B. Doe is a young adult and new adult contemporary romance author. She writes real-life romance that is equal parts sweet and sexy. She’s a coffee and chocolate addict. Like her characters, she loves those two things dark, sweet and with little extra spice.

When she’s not working for a living or writing her newest book you can find her reading books or binge-watching TV shows. Originally from Croatia, she is always planning her next trip because wanderlust is in her blood.

She is currently working on various projects. Some more secret than others.

Follow Anna B. Doe on social media!

• FACEBOOK: http://bit.ly/ABDoeFB
• FACEBOOK GROUP: http://bit.ly/Bookmantic
• GOODREADS: http://bit.ly/ABDoeGR
• INSTAGRAM: http://bit.ly/ABDoeIG
• AMAZON: http://amzn.to/2v6Op7D
• PINTEREST: http://bit.ly/ABDoePint
• BOOKBUB: http://bit.ly/ABDoeBB
• TIKTOK: https://bit.ly/ABDoeTik
• AUDIO NEWSLETTER: http://bit.ly/ABDoeAudio
• WEBPAGE: https://www.annabdoe.com/

🔔 Get the latest news! Newsletter Sign Up

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Kiss Me Forever Teaser

Surprise! Take your first look at #KissMeForever

A Blairwood University Novella! 💐

Cover Design: Qamber Designs

•••

— BLURB —

Life is changing fast for some of Blairwood’s hottest football players. With just two more months until the end of their junior year, Hayden, Nixon, and their friends decide to spend their spring break in Hawaii and enjoy the last moments they have as college students. Their lives might soon change forever, but the bond they made at Blairwood will last a lifetime and so will their love. But when one of the boys decides to propose on vacation, the group will find themselves organizing an impromptu wedding.

Kiss Me Forever is a novella in the Blairwood University series. Told from different points of view, you’ll get to see your favorite characters and find out what the future holds for them. To fully enjoy this novella, Kiss Me Forever has to be read in series order.

•••

— TEASER —

•••

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— Kiss Me Forever by Anna B. Doe —

Blairwood University (Novella)

Release Date: May 6, 2022

Genre: NA/ Contemporary Romance

📚 Add to your TBR: Goodreads

🔔 Pre-order your copy now! Universal Link

Amazon US  |  Amazon UK  |  Amazon AU  |  Amazon CA

•••

Binge the Blairwood University series!

Kiss Me First: Universal Link

Kiss To Conquer: Universal Link

Kiss To Forget: Universal Link

•••

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— ABOUT THE AUTHOR —

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Anna B. Doe

Anna B. Doe is a young adult and new adult contemporary romance author. She writes real-life romance that is equal parts sweet and sexy. She’s a coffee and chocolate addict. Like her characters, she loves those two things dark, sweet and with little extra spice.

When she’s not working for a living or writing her newest book you can find her reading books or binge-watching TV shows. Originally from Croatia, she is always planning her next trip because wanderlust is in her blood.

She is currently working on various projects. Some more secret than others.

Follow Anna B. Doe on social media!

• FACEBOOK: http://bit.ly/ABDoeFB
• FACEBOOK GROUP: http://bit.ly/Bookmantic
• GOODREADS: http://bit.ly/ABDoeGR
• INSTAGRAM: http://bit.ly/ABDoeIG
• AMAZON: http://amzn.to/2v6Op7D
• PINTEREST: http://bit.ly/ABDoePint
• BOOKBUB: http://bit.ly/ABDoeBB
• TIKTOK: https://bit.ly/ABDoeTik
• AUDIO NEWSLETTER: http://bit.ly/ABDoeAudio
• WEBPAGE: https://www.annabdoe.com/

🔔 Get the latest news! Newsletter Sign Up

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Only Work, No Play by Cora Reilly

Original post from my IG @booksofthemuggleborn

•••

• BLURB •

After two years of taking care of her heartbroken father, Evie needs a new start. Leaving the States and following her sister to Australia to work as the personal assistant of rugby star Xavier – The Beast – Stevens seems like the right kind of distraction.

Tall, muscled and devilishly handsome, Xavier is the lov’ em and leav’ em kind of guy. He never forgets a girl’s name because he never bothers to remember it in the first place.

Evie soon realizes that being Xavier’s assistant is a 24/7 job; the man seems unwilling to even set an alarm for himself.

As she watches him move from one woman to the next, Evie is glad that her heart is safe from his attention. After all, she’s a far cry from the size zero models he usually takes to his bed.

But soon being around Xavier doesn’t feel like a job, and seeing him walk around his apartment half naked all the time isn’t helping either. Evie knows that giving in to her attraction will lead to heartbreak, but when Xavier starts treating her as more than just his assistant, resisting his charms seems like an impossible task.

•••

• MY REVIEW •

What a charming read. I laughed a few times and had a few lip-trembling-teary-eyed moments too from a few scenes of the book. It’s was a nice quick sports romance that you could easily devour in a day or read in-between books.

Oh man, I think I’m so used to the darker side of contemporary romances that I’m actually thinking this book was a pretty tame read in comparison. Haha. Although definitely not YA (there are lots of mature sexual content/ scenes intended for readers 18+ only)!

In my opinion the pace was a little on the slower side but didn’t drag on. I know this is the first book in the series so I’m hoping the world-building will grow more-so in the following book. I would’ve liked more of the “sports” aspect in this sports romance… a game or two, or maybe more interaction with the team..? 🤔

I was imagining Xavier to be more “bloke-y”, a little more rough around the edges— especially for a rugby player. He’s not the most charming of heroes and he does a lot of questionable things throughout that makes you think if he’s a worthy hero. But despite all that, it didn’t exactly stop me from liking him as character overall (even if he is a player). 😬🙈 But I saw some redeemable qualities in him. The way he cared for Evie and the things he says to her to snap her out of her insecurities… *cue in 3,2,1… SWOOOOOOON!*

I found Evie to be such a relatively relatable character. We have similar personality traits that I actually found myself connecting with her instantly. I liked that Evie has the ability to be strong when she needs to be but also has a vulnerable, insecure side to her that makes her a down-to-earth genuine person. In my opinion, Cora’s a pro at creating characters who grow throughout the book (or series).

The build-up to Evie and Xavier getting together had my stomach fluttering the entire time. Buuuuut… I felt after 2/3 of the way events that transpired left me a little underwhelmed. I was waiting for something big and angsty to happen before I reached the ending but it never really happened (again, after having read darker romance, this felt soo… hmm… mild haha).

There’s certain side characters who I absolutely adore (and secretly hoping would be in future books), and then there’s certain characters that had me 🙄🙄 and almost wanting to scream “shut up! shut up! shut up!” lol —sorry for the vagueness but no spoilers here. 🤐

I thought it was a refreshing change of pace from Cora, and all in all, I enjoyed reading Only Work, No Play. Yes, it’s nothing like Cora’s mafia romance books but I liked that it was a lighter contemporary romance. A few issues here and there with how the story developed but it didn’t diminish Cora’s writing style. Whether it’d be dark or contemporary romance, it’s effortless to follow, the atmosphere in place, and the characters are intriguing to get to know.

If you like reading contemporary sports romance stories with alpha-hole heroes, then you might want to give this one a try!

RATING: ⭐⭐⭐¾

📎 Please Note: Only Work, No Play was released back in February 2019 when this review was posted. It was originally only posted on my Goodreads page but have now included it here on my blog.

Thank you Cora Reilly and Emily Alice for the opportunity to read an advanced copy! 💙

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More Contemporary Romance from Cora Reilly!

Original post from my IG @booksofthemuggleborn

Not Meant To Be Broken by Cora Reilly

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•••

Happy reading, guys! Catch you in my next one! Xo

Kiss To Belong by Anna B. Doe

⚠ This review contains a minor teaser!

Original post from my IG @booksofthemuggleborn

•••

• BLURB •

𝐇𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞.

New Year has kicked off on a rough start for Alyssa Martinez. Pregnant, homeless, and alone, she has to figure out how to start over before her baby arrives.

Maddox Anderson has always been a brainiac. If only confessing to his best friend he has been in love with her his whole life would be as easy as coding.

𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐬𝐚𝐰 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝.

When Maddox finds out what’s going on with Alyssa, he demands that she move in with him. When sharing a bed turns into late-night snuggles, and movie nights end up with Alyssa straddling his lap, something will have to give.

But can Maddox prove to her they belong together when Alyssa is convinced that he deserves somebody better than her?

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• MY REVIEW •

1. Don’t judge a book by its cover!
2. Who says nerds can’t be hot!?
3. Find and and secure oneself a Maddox Anderson!

Doe has done it again with Kiss To Belong! The consistent perfection of books in the Blairwood University series is driving me nuts! This was amazing, in-depth storytelling with genuine characters and broaches on relatable real-life issues.

Like all the pairings who’ve come before them, Maddox and Alyssa are quite a couple.

• Childhood friends ✔
• One-sided secret crush ✔
• Complete opposites ✔
• Heroine pregnant with another guy’s baby ✔

A best-friends-to-lovers romance trope that had me utterly intrigued to see play out. If you love the cruel angst of a slow-burn romance, Kiss To Belong might be for you. With a contemporary college setting, the drama that these characters find themselves in will kick you right in the feels and have you emotionally invested in seeing them simply catch a break.

A lot of the time their journey was an uphill battle, with Maddox a pillar of strength, love, and support. Although I couldn’t help but find Alyssa frustrating at times, I could also sympathize with her vulnerability and indecisiveness. With all the things that she goes through in this book, I can only imagine how I would’ve handled things if I was in her shoes.

Despite Maddox and Alyssa going through some rough unchartered territory, there was still a beautiful lightness to balance out the gloomy atmosphere. The friendships included brought about a strong support system, light-heartedness, and at times comic relief. If you’re up-to-date with the series, then this eclectic group of characters will not only supply you with their usual band of witty banter, but their appearances will give you insight into their lives since their own books. 🤗

I thought it was a solid story, that’s very well-paced. Doe has a way of creating engaging characters that parallels friends and family we all seem to have in our lives, in one form or another. It was these characters that immediately caught my attention and made this book all the more authentic. The unpredictably and the gradual transformation of Maddox’s and Alyssa’s relationship is what kept me glued to the pages. And just when I thought I was going to reach the end unscathed, there was one last momentous event that had me bawling my eyes out! Yeah… I didn’t stand a chance! 🙈😅

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“Things might be changing, but there’s always going to be one constant in my life. Maddox.”

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What makes this hero a little different from those in the previous books of Blairwood University, is Maddox is no athlete. Preferring video games and being a homebody to playing sports and partying. Whilst all the books in the series, including this one is told from dual points of view, this is the first in the series where it felt like the majority of the storytelling was from the hero’s perspective as opposed to the heroine’s. You get a lot more of Maddox’s side of the story because he’s the one who’s been keeping his feelings a secret for so long.

Aly’s and Maddox’s story was one emotional rollercoaster that had me anxiously gripping the edge of my seat. A lifetime’s worth of memories, constant companionship and bonding— their friendship is full of layers that can only have been developed from spending years together, and as the story progresses, you see how it genuinely shows.

With how mature these protagonists are and the responsibilities they take on, you tend to forget at times that they’re just in the beginnings of their adulthood, with Alyssa being twenty-one and Maddox nineteen. Friendship and romance go hand in hand beautifully in this story and it honest-to-goodness left me happy sighing.

This is one of the most touching, heartfelt, and all-around soul-stirring book series’ I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. Kiss To Belong is the fifth book, and I’m honestly hoping there’s plenty more to follow. Doe’s writing is insightful and always seems to touch on subjects that a lot of readers can effortlessly connect with. I highly recommend this book and the entire series. There isn’t a single one I haven’t enjoyed reading. It’s a series of standalones but it’s best to read in publishing order to get the full experience as all the characters make appearances in each other’s books.

RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½

Thank you Anna B. Doe for the opportunity to read an advanced copy! 💙

🔔 Interested in reading Kiss To Belong? Grab your copy here: Universal Link

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🏈 More from Blairwood University!

Original post from my IG @booksofthemuggleborn

Original post from my IG @booksofthemuggleborn

Original post from my IG @booksofthemuggleborn

Original post from my IG @booksofthemuggleborn

Blairwood University Prequel: Kiss Me First by Anna B. Doe

Book One: Kiss To Conquer by Anna B. Doe

Book Two: Kiss To Forget by Anna B. Doe

Book Three: Kiss To Defy by Anna B. Doe

Book Four: Kiss To Remember by Anna B. Doe

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•••

Happy reading, guys! Catch you in my next one! Xo

Deceitful by C. Reilly

⚠ This review contains minor teasers!

Original post from my IG @booksofthemuggleborn

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• BLURB •

When a serial killer rocks a small town in Oregon, a young woman with special powers might be the only person able to stop him. As part of a secret branch of the FBI, Tessa is sent on a mission to impersonate Madison, a local teen and the last victim of the brutal attacker, to find the killer before he strikes again.

As if absorbing the DNA of someone else and pretending to be them wasn’t hard enough, Alec, the guy she’s been in love with for years, is joining her on the dangerous mission. Tessa knows she can’t let her feelings for him get in the way, especially as her crush seems hopeless. Not only is Alec her self-defence teacher but he’s also taken. If only the attraction between them would stop complicating everything!

Will Tessa find the killer before another person falls victim to him? Or will she lose herself in a life she’s always longed for but never had?

•••

• MY REVIEW •

For those who are only familiar with Cora Reilly’s work through her mafia romance books need to know that she’s an author who’s dabbled in other romance genres— dark, contemporary, sports romance… and now her latest? Supernatural fiction meets Crime Thriller. I can tell you after having read Deceitful, it went straight to my list of all-time fave Reilly books, and I am itching with anticipation to read the next book! 😍

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“She is the perfect spy—the ultimate weapon.”

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It took a little settling into but when I got into the groove, it was complete and utter smooth sailing with the storyline and getting to know these characters. Their special abilities and the purpose they’ve been given could easily have been overwhelming to learn about that you start to lose interest or focus, but Cora eases you into this new world she has created.

It’s effortless to follow, from the introductions of all the characters, to their backstories, to the relationships they have with one another. The storyline had a nice flow that keeps you in suspense from start to finish. There were three outstanding elements that stood out for me that ultimately made this a winning read:

• The strong friendships that provided such contrast and dynamic to the cast of characters.
• The excruciating love Tessa had for Alec, the bond they shared, and the rollercoaster of emotions they took me on.
• And finally, the plot’s constant unpredictability throughout the book. As a crime enthusiast (both true and fictional), it was a real treat feeling like you’re working this case right alongside Tessa. Being suspicious of anybody and everybody, but never quite figuring out who the culprit is before the big reveal. I was on tenterhooks and it was such a buzz! 😄

I couldn’t help but think that it gave me such X-Men vibes with these characters having their own unique abilities— Tessa in the forefront with her ability to shapeshift into anyone she touches. They’ve formed somewhat of a diverse substitute family unit, and seeing their interactions were just as fascinating as seeing them use their abilities.

Cora has introduced world-building that honestly has so many possibilities and potential for growth. It already has great bones with Deceitful setting the tone, not just what we can look forward to seeing from Tessa, but from the rest of the superhuman operatives under the FBI’s secret branch.

I initially would’ve liked dual POVs but I quickly discovered that Tessa as the sole narrator was more than enough as this is her story to tell, her experiences, her journey. Whilst I fell in love with a few other characters in this book, it’s hard to overlook Tessa. Her inexperience and lack of emotional control made her such a raw, genuine, and relatable character. You may not agree with all her decisions and actions, but with her history, you can’t quite hate her for them either.

But I’m not going to lie… I’m excited to see more of the secondary characters introduced. There’s already a couple of characters that caught my eye that I’m eager to see more of in future books. There were a few things that I felt needed to be elaborated on, but with how this book ended, I’m hoping to eventually get in-depth details later.

I should point out that it does contain graphic violence that may be triggering for some readers. Although the majority of the story takes place in a high school backdrop, it’s new adult fiction with mature content.

Overall, a relatively quick but punchy read! As I mentioned earlier, it’s become one of my favourite books Cora has written. I undoubtedly recommend it to readers who are fans of murder-mystery/ crime fiction with supernatural themes. There’s certainly romance, and despite Cora mentioning it being on the light side, I beg to differ. I thought there was just the right amount of romance weaved throughout that not only had me swooning, but it also had me craving to see more. It’s somewhat of a slow-burn but trust me when I say, there’s plenty of heat to keep the romance side of things nice and toasty! 😉

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“He might keep me safe from the killer, but who the hell would protect me from my feelings for him?”

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With how this book concluded, I’m actually hoping to see if another romantic bond forms. *whispers* Let’s just say this particular pairing is giving me vibes similar to Kiara/Remo but whilst theirs will never happen… I can only hope this one has a fighting chance… (For those who’ve read the book, I’m talking about a certain “brother”) *cough cough* 🤞🙏 I can’t be the only one who saw potential!

This is a high quality debut for Cora into the supernatural/ crime fiction genre! Action-packed. Thrilling. Complex. It’s a must read! You won’t be disappointed. I’m already counting the days until Renegade!

RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½

Thank you Cora Reilly and Emily Alice for the opportunity to read an advanced copy! 💚

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Happy reading, guys! Catch you in my next one! Xo

The Words by A. Jade

⚠ This review contains minor teasers!

Original post from my IG @booksofthemuggleborn

•••

— BLURB —

He was the talented bad boy everyone wanted.

I was the irrelevant geek everyone hated.

He was the sun…drawing all of us in.

I was a black hole…taking up space.

He was destined to be a star.

I was destined to remain an insignificant no one.

Until he made me believe I was special…

And then he destroyed me.

I never thought I’d see Phoenix Walker again after he broke my heart, but fate had other plans.

One tour. Eight weeks. Forty shows.

Countless opportunities to make him pay.

The world thought he was a God…

But I knew the truth.

•••

— MY REVIEW —

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“There’s no one in the world like Phoenix Walker.”

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It’s official… I am a groupie! 😍🤭 I loved the hell of out of this book. Love, love, love! And for that reason alone, The Words has been added to my list of all-time favourite romance reads!

Lennon and Phoenix had their hooks in me and was never going to let me walk away from their intense rollercoaster of a relationship (not that I wanted to, anyways). The ups and downs, the swooniness and suspense. I knew the minute I started their story that I was in for one mammoth of a reading experience, and I was right! Ashley Jade did not disappoint in delivering such a multi-dimensional, emotionally investing storyline alongside a winning cast of characters!

My gosh. I’m still reeling.

I’m going to say it now, if you enjoy rock star romance books, you have got to add this one to your TBR. If you’re new to the romance sub-genre, this is the book to get you hooked! Besides the strong musical backdrop, it had an amazing balance of romance, friendship, and family written-in that made Lennon’s and Phoenix’s stories immensely in-depth and full of heart.

It has a handful of elements, some of which I don’t necessarily openly look for in my books, but when they’re unexpectedly included, it certainly has me perking up. If you like any of the elements below in your romance reads, it’s a good reason to give this one a try:

• Rock star romance
• Second-chance romance
• Opposite sides of the tracks
• Friends-to-Lovers
• Hate-to-Love
• A bad boy hero
• A curvy, nerdy heroine
• New Adult

Fair warning, I found this to be one emotional read that constantly had me either in near tears or downright already bawling my eyes out. And what got me with these snot-inducing moments was the unpredictability of certain scenes that totally causes your heart to skip a couple beats.

Ashley Jade certainly knows how to write! Both Lennon’s and Phoenix’s individual life stories will just about give you chest pains with how realistic and relatable their situations are. They’re two opposites that somehow have plenty in common— which they gradually discover the more time they spend together. I thought the pacing was *chef’s kiss* perfect as it felt like you’re getting to know these two intriguing protagonists right along with them in real time. Having dual POVs made their story all the more fleshed-out as we experience events through both their eyes, and see reasonings behind their actions.

The Words is more than a simple love story. It’s heart-wrenching and thought-provoking. It touches on so many real-life topics, some of which I must say are sensitive subject matters. Please note this book may be triggering for some readers. It contains domestic abuse, child abuse, substance abuse, and violence. It also broaches on bullying and the psychological effects it has on one’s own health. It also contains mature sexual content intended for readers 18+ only.

Ashley Jade as put a lot of detail in her characters and their world that it was effortless to get invested in them. I found myself so wrapped up in their lives that the majority of the time I was mirroring their emotions. Whether they were giddy with excitement, dying from embarrassment, or seething with rage.

This book was unputdownable! The world-building was unbelievably vivid, and I adored the character development. Lennon’s and Phoenix’s story spans four years starting from their final year of high school. It’s within their final weeks of school where their lives alter and ends up catapulting Lennon and Phoenix in an angsty and complex second chance of a lifetime.

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“Lennon Michael is my biggest craving and my biggest regret.”

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Their story could easily have been overly heavy and depressing, but Ashley Jade has brilliantly added some much needed comic relief throughout to break up some of the tension and distress these characters go through. The supporting characters are quite a cast, all with huge personalities of their own. You’re bound to fall for at least one of them… if not more. 😉

I’m not going to lie, there were a few minor things that played out within the storyline that I wasn’t a big fan of. I won’t go into detail as this is one story I highly recommend you to experience for yourself, but when it came time to rate this book I realized in the grand scheme of things, it didn’t change the fact that as a whole I enjoyed reading it and legit did not want it to end.

(P.S. That sneaky peek was all too cruel, Ashley. It was barely a teaser. I needs more!) 🤤😭

I should also mention, whilst this is a standalone novel, the ending of this book is not your conventional HEA where everything is wrapped-up and there’s no need for second-guessing. In my opinion, it was more of an open-ended HEA. This book was only the beginning of Lennon’s and Phoenix’s story; an introduction of sorts to their new life. It’s not the type of ending I’m normally accustomed to with standalone novels, but their story is unlike anything I’ve read before, and the ending of this book was fitting, especially after everything that happened between them.

These characters are flawed, slightly broken, with insecurities that you may or may not relate to, but nevertheless sympathize with. You get to witness such growth, maturity, and over time, acceptance. It’s an utterly soul-stealing journey, one that I am so happy to have not missed out on. It’s a must read!

RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you Ashley Jade and Candi Kane PR for the opportunity to read an advance copy! 💙

🔔 Interested in reading The Words? Grab your copy here: Amazon  |  Apple Books  |  Kobo

•••

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Want more Rock Star Romance reads?

I recommend…

Original post from my IG @booksofthemuggleborn

🎙🎸 The Hate/ Love Duet

Book One: Falling Out Of Hate With You by Lauren Rowe

Book Two: Falling Into Love With You by Lauren Rowe

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Want more books by Ashley Jade?

I recommend…

Original post from my IG @booksofthemuggleborn

Standalone NA/ Highschool Romance

📖 Hate Me by A. Jade

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•••

Happy reading, guys! Catch you in my next one! Xo

Triple Threat by K. Webster

⚠ This review contains minor teasers!

Original post from my IG @booksofthemuggleborn

•••

• BLURB •

I’m a prisoner in a prestigious world.
A perfect princess locked in a tower.
My father will never let me go.

Not that I could leave. I would never abandon my little sister. Hope comes in the form of a devilishly handsome man with dark eyes and darker secrets.

With each encounter, I’m lured deeper into the labyrinth. The danger lurking beneath his surface calls to me, even as it warns me away.

Except there’s a new side of him every time we meet. A different danger each time we touch. It’s as if three different men want to devour me.

He’s not just one villain. He’s three.

•••

• MY REVIEW •

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“There’s just something about him that makes me want to tell him everything. He draws me to him. Even his secrets call to me. I want to know him. And that scares the hell out of me.”

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Dammit! I knew there was a probability that I could end up liking this book. But guess what? I ended up loving the hell out of it! 🖤 Webster has beautifully and masterfully made me feel for the terror triplets! The sickeningly cruel evil-stepbrothers from the Cinderella Trilogy went from your two-dimensional villains in “Cinderella’s fairy tale”, to complex three-dimensional anti-heroes who finally have their turn at sharing their POVs.

I, like many other readers who read the initial Cinderella Trilogy that introduced these brothers, felt the story pretty much cemented them as unredeemable characters and that was the end of that. Oh man… Triple Threat says otherwise.

🤔 Not going to lie, I went into this book with uncertainty. Firstly, wondering how Webster could possibly turn the triplets’ character arcs around so they weren’t complete assholes in our eyes, and secondly, questioning what my first ever reverse harem romance story experience would be like?

After having finished the book, I can happily (and safely) say it was a bangin’ start to my 2022 reads! The story is told through multiple POVs, each brother taking in turn to not only keep up the story development, but in sharing their own individual opinions and perspectives on certain matters. You quickly discover that although they’re identical in appearance (for the most part, anyways), they each have distinct differences in personality. And I can admit I do have a favourite triplet! *waggles brows* 🙈😅

It’s relatively fast-paced storytelling, that keeps you in suspense from beginning to end. Not only was I fascinated with getting to know more about each sibling, I was just as quick to get invested in their heroine; Landry, who has quite an unsettling story of her own to share.

I didn’t agree with a lot of Landry’s (or her sister’s) actions, but I am intrigued with how their story will play out, and they do provide contrast to the storyline and cast.

A big part of what had kept my attention was seeing how in-depth the story ended up becoming. It had layer upon layer of intense build-up, continuous character evolvement, and with each brother gradually developing their own relationship with Landry, the storyline became more intricate.

I was honestly stunned speechless with how fast I found Sparrow, Sully, and Scout to be such likable characters. After having read the Cinderella Trilogy, I went into this story with an idea of what these guys are capable of. They’re villainous, brutal, and tend to fly off the handle, but Webster has now given them a lot more dimension to their characters, and things from their perspective places them in a whole new light.

The brothers have a complex and what seems like an unbreakable bond with one another that I found understandable (as they are triplets), yet oddly a little… screwy? There’s a ton of game-playing and a sense of psychological warfare amongst them that has me wanting the full extent of their history to see how they’ve become so competitive.

The unpredictable elements showed both vulnerable moments and also resulted in some pretty saucy scenes, so you’re getting a nice balance of features and constantly keeps things interesting.

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“The thing with angels, though, is they’re easy to drag to the dark side.”

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The terror triplets have officially joined the ranks in the Midnight Dynasty and this book surprisingly ended up becoming one of my favourites from the ever-expanding world.

I would absolutely recommend it to fellow romance readers who love them a little darkish, a little cheeky, and a whole lot dramatic! For a reverse harem romance newbie, I personally think this is a great story to dip your toes into the trope because Webster has written these characters and their story in a way that gives you time to get know them and to get used to the idea that they’re all making a connection with the same woman, without it being too in-your-face and/or overly-filled with heavy sexual content.

If you haven’t read the Cinderella Trilogy, I do recommend reading those books first before starting this one to give you a better understanding of how the brothers came to be in their current situation.

Triple Threat is book one of the Deception Duet, and it concludes on a cliffhanger. It contains sensitive subject matters that may be triggering for some readers such as, child abuse, sexual assault, and violence. It is intended for readers 18+ only. 

I’m anticipating the next book to see if the brothers come full circle. Will these villains have redemption? Will they all have a happily ever after? Will they find their niche in a world full of Constantines and Morellis? And what about Landry? There’s so much to look forward to, and I can only hope Death Wish won’t be too far along. 🤞

RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½

Thank you K. Webster and Valentine PR for the opportunity to read an advanced copy! ❤

🔔 Interested in reading Triple Threat? Grab your copy here: Amazon  |  Apple Books  |  Nook  |  Kobo

•••

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More Midnight Dynasty reviews!

🥿 Cinderella Trilogy | Book One:

Stroke Of Midnight by K. Webster

🖤 Hearts Trilogy | Book One:

Stolen Hearts by M. O’Keefe

🌹 Beauty and the Beast Trilogy | Book One:

Secret Beast by Amelia Wilde

🔥 Hellfire Club | Book One:

Wicked Idol by Becker Gray

✝ Standalone Taboo Romance:

Lessons In Sin by Pam Godwin

🕊 Dark Dream Duet | Book One:

Dangerous Temptation by Giana Darling

🎨 The Collector Trilogy | Book One:

Dark Reign by Amelia Wilde

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•••

Happy reading, guys! Catch you in my next one! Xo

2021 Favourite Reads

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!

So here we go!

•••

Original post from my IG @booksofthemuggleborn

•••

• Contemporary Romance •

📖 Kiss Me First by Anna B. Doe

(Small Town, Coming of Age, Sweet New Adult Romance)

📖 Kiss To Remember by Anna B. Doe

(Second-Chance, Sports Romance, Love Triangle, New Adult Romance)

📖 The Hate Love Duet by Lauren Rowe

(Hate-to-Love, Rockstar, New Adult Romance)

— ♥ —

*Not Pictured* (Honorable Mention):

📚 The Reed Rivers Trilogy by Lauren Rowe

(Age-Gap Romance, Friends-with-Benefits, Workplace Romance)

— ♥ —

📖 Brutal Blueblood by Becker Gray

(New Adult, Enemies-to-Lovers, Bully Romance, Academia Setting)

📖 Sweet Devil by Becker Gray

(New Adult, Hate-to-Love, Secret Crush, Academia Setting)

📖 Till It Hurts by Cora Brent

(Second-Chance Romance, First Love, Fake Relationship Trope)

📖 Lessons In Sin by Pam Godwin

(Taboo Romance, Forbidden, Secret Romance, Age-Gap, Academia Setting)

•••

• MC Romance •

— ♥ —

*Not Pictured* (Honorable Mentions):

📖 Saint by Nicole James

(MC Romance, Suspense, Marriage of Convenience, Age-Gap Romance)

📖 Climbing The Ranks by Nicole James

(MC Romance, Suspense, Whirlwind Romance) *Trigger Warnings*

— ♥ —

•••

• Mafia Romance •

📖 With This Ring by Natasha Knight

(Dark Mafia, Suspense, Arranged Marriage, Enemies-to-Lovers)

📖 Kiss Of Death Duet by L.P. Lovell

(Suspense, Enemies-to-Lovers, Forbidden Romance, Russian Assassins/ Italian Mob)

📖 Tears of Salvation by Michelle Heard

(Enemies-to-Lovers, Suspense, Dark Romance) *Trigger Warnings*

— ♥ —

*Not Pictured* (Honorable Mention):

📚 The Saints Series by Michelle Heart

(Suspense, Marriage of Convenience, Arranged Marriage, Opposites Attract, Assassins, Dark Romance) *Trigger Warnings*

— ♥ —

📖 A Vow Of Lust & Fury by L.P. Lovell

(Dark Romance, Arranged Marriage, Age-Gap Romance, Enemies-to-Lovers) *Trigger Warnings*

•••

• Dark Romance •

📖 Secret Beast by Amelia Wilde

(Beauty & The Beast Retelling, Suspense, Enemies-to-Lovers, Forbidden Romance, Captor/Captive Romance)

•••

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

By Sin I Rise: Part Two by Cora Reilly

Original post from my IG @booksofthemuggleborn

•••

• BLURB •

By Sin I Rise Part 2 (Marcella & Maddox)

A fatal bond that was never meant to be.

Marcella gave Maddox the impossible choice, and he chose her.

Still, she wonders if Maddox is ready to commit to a relationship, or if he’s scared of losing the uninhibited freedom his biker lifestyle offered him.

All his life Maddox knew who his enemies were, but suddenly he’s at a loss whom to trust. Will he ever find a place in Marcella’s life and family, or will old companions give him a new home and purpose?

Can enemies ever truly become lovers if the odds are against them?

•••

• MY REVIEW •

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“Marcella is the queen I didn’t know I needed in my life. There’s no one I’d like to be led around by the balls by.”

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*singsong voice* Everybody! Take a shot every time Marcella is remotely mentioned as being a “Queen.” LOL 🙄🥃

Hmm. I have a lot of strong thoughts and emotions swirling in my head right now that I’m trying to unjumble and put into words. I’ve been reading Cora’s books consistently for a few years now and I found fairly early on that her writing is white-hot and all-consuming. With detailed world-building that practically transports you to her characters’ world, and the characters themselves stand-out effortlessly from a crowd. It’s a big reason as to why she’s easily an auto-buy author of mine. 

So, I really had trouble digesting that this book was written by the one and only Cora Reilly. When you have a much-loved OG series, it can be difficult to top or re-create the same likability in a spin-off or next generation series. The first book in this two-part story had potential, unfortunately I just think this conclusion missed the mark. It didn’t have the same vibe as the previous books set in this world. Other than the appearances from OG characters like Luca, Matteo, and Growl, it almost didn’t feel like a mafia-based backdrop, let alone one that had MC elements. 😐

The story is character-driven and focuses solely on Maddox and Marcella trying to navigate through their emotions about their relationship whilst figuring out how the Famiglia will accept Maddox into their fold—and for that reason, I found the book relatively repetitive.

I know I’m going to be in the minority here, and that’s fine. Not everyone is going to like the same books, or even the same characters— and I think that’s ultimately the reasoning behind this book being a miss for me. The characters. As I mentioned in my review for Part One, I am not a Marcella fan. As a child when her personality started to peek through, I knew when she would be of age, that either her “princess” personality would only grow tenfold, or Cora would revamp her character and show plenty of growth and maturity.

I found the preconceived notions the characters had of her in this book spot-on. She’s a spoilt, bratty princess who keeps insisting she can “rule” because she’s a Vitiello. Nope. Sorry. It’s one thing to say it, but it’s another to follow through and for people to believe it.

I couldn’t connect with either Marcella or Maddox, and I had trouble getting invested in their story. Their romance doesn’t seem genuine, and it was painful to easily see Maddox proclaim his “love” only for it to not be openly reciprocated by Marcella. The majority of the time it felt like Maddox was putting all the effort into their drama-filled “relationship”. It was not an equal partnership. Not even close. I almost pitied Maddox for being the one who constantly sacrificed a piece of himself whilst all Marcella did was take, take, take.

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“Marcella makes the rules and I’ll follow her, if necessary, to the gates of Hades.”

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*singsong voice* Everybody! Take a shot every time Maddox is willing to do anything and everything for Marcella! 🤦‍♀️🥃🥃

Is Marcella Vitiello really worth all this trouble? Ehhhhh. Not really.

They’re a pair of characters who I felt would’ve been fine and may have even done well all on their own. Their coupling lacked believability, visible connection, or even intensity that the past couples from this world had displayed time and time again.

The pace of the storytelling lagged, and lacked any in-depth development. In all honesty, the only positive aspects I found in this book is the fact that we get to see OG characters; more specifically Growl. 😍😍 I always hoped for another book for him just because I wanted to see how his life had turned out after he moved to New York and started working for Luca. (I know Growl and Cara have a novella in the Bound by Blood Anthology, but it wasn’t enough for me lol). This book actually shows a good number of snippets into what he’s been up to after all these years. All the parts that included Growl were by far my favourite scenes! I actually loved the contrast he brings in. There’s a cool dynamic between Growl and the Vitiello brothers.

I’m not crossing this entire series off, because that seems premature. I knew going into the Sins of the Fathers series that Marcella’s story would’ve been the book I probably would have liked the least. So now that hers is officially done, I am eager to see the next next-gen character in line. After reading this book, I have my eyes set on Amo’s story. He’s the only Vitiello offspring who I saw real potential in bringing back some of the old Mafioso flare that Luca Vitiello first ignited in Bound by Honor. He already has the vibe going for him, so I have my fingers crossed that his story ends up being an epic one!

I strongly recommend reading Cora’s Born In Blood series first before diving into Maddox’s and Marcella’s story, especially if you’re new to her books. This is not her strongest work, and it doesn’t provide enough world-building on its own. Reading the original series that started it all will not only give you the backstory behind the Vitiello family, but it explains the history behind the war between the New York Famiglia and Maddox’s MC (motorcycle club).

This may not have been my cup of tea but I have no doubt other readers will like it. Especially if they’re already a fan of Marcella. It’s light on both the Mafia and MC elements. It has more of a NA contemporary atmosphere to it.

RATING: ⭐⭐⭐

Thank you Cora Reilly and Emily Alice for the opportunity to read an advanced copy! ❤

🔔 Interested in reading By Sin I Rise: Part Two? Grab your copy here: Universal Link  |  Amazon US  |  Amazon UK  |  Amazon AU  |  Amazon CA  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Apple Books

•••

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🔥 Read my review for Part One!

Original post from my IG @booksofthemuggleborn

📕 By Sin I Rise: Part One by Cora Reilly

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•••

Happy reading, guys! Catch you in my next one! Xo