The Choice by A. Jade

⚠ This review contain minor teasers!

Original post from my IG @booksofthemuggleborn

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• BLURB •

He was the mysterious dark knight always swooping in to save me when I needed it most.

I was the troubled girl with scars and a bleeding heart.

He was the gifted guitarist destined for big things.

I was the small-town girl battling her demons.

He was my earth….always keeping me grounded.

And I was his sky…always just out of his reach.

Our love was everything I wished for.

Until I destroyed it.

I never thought I’d see Memphis Payne again after I broke his heart, but the stars had other plans.

Because here he is…needing me to clean up his mess this time.

Only problem is…

Doing so will break both our hearts.

They say only the strongest love can survive an apocalypse.

That if two people are meant to be, they’ll find their way back to each other.

I hope they’re right.

•••

• MY REVIEW •

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“The people you trust are the ones who hurt you the most.”

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Jade has written another fleshed-out, thought-provoking story that will undoubtedly stay with me. The follow-up story to The Words centres around Memphis, Skylar, and Josh, as we delve into each of their backstories in this first book from the Star-Crossed Lovers Duet.

The strongest and most drawn-out emotion that The Choice surprisingly evoked out of me was utter frustration. But trust me, that’s a good thing—I was wholly absorbed. This trio of characters each played a role in adding complexity and dimension to the storyline that not only grabbed my attention, but had me invested in seeing how their warped relationships would unfold.

Memphis is Memphis, and for me, his character has never wavered. I immediately took a liking to him in The Words, and after reading this book, it only reiterated how easily he drew me in. As much as I adored Skylar in The Words, I wasn’t her biggest fan in this book, but I’m not worried as I know her character growth will develop further, and I, for one am looking forward to seeing it in the second half of this duet. Although Josh played a minor role in The Words, his character left quite an impression that was magnified tenfold in this one. Nothing could have prepared me for what this book entailed.

• New Adult romance
• Rock star romance
• Next-door neighbours
• Love triangle
• Star-crossed lovers
• Small-town romance

The storytelling is very character-driven and had me completely on edge. It’s twisted, erratic, and emotionally-charged through and through. While I would happily recommend it to fellow romance readers, it’s not for the faint-hearted. There are sensitive subject matters within that some readers may find triggering or disturbing to read about. Please note it’s graphic and contains domestic violence, child abuse, sexual assault, drug and substance abuse. These characters are traumatized, troubled, and the experiences they’ve had to endure resulted in psychological scarring and PTSD. It’s intended for readers 18+ only.

This is an interconnected standalone. You don’t have to read The Words beforehand but I highly advise you do read it before The Consequence. This half of the duet is their history. The Words takes you to their present (only their story is secondary), but The Consequence will pick up where The Words ended, and where their story will in evidently conclude.

These characters have been put into some pretty dicey situations that no one should have to bear. I wish I could say I completely understood or sympathise with all of their actions and life-altering choices but unfortunately that wasn’t the case. Whilst some decisions were understandably made out of sheer desperation, other choices were fairly questionable. Like I said earlier, it’s thought-provoking and there’s a lot to absorb. It broaches on one’s moral compass, motivations, and ultimately questions one’s character. And I thoroughly enjoyed every minute getting to divulge into these characters’ innermost psyche.

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“It’s wrong. It’s reckless. It’s perfect.”

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I couldn’t have said it better than the quote above. I love Jade’s writing. It’s effortless to follow, pushes against the boundaries, and swallows you whole from the very beginning. It has a way of transporting you into the world that’s been so intricately created, and the world-building here is phenomenal. The overall atmosphere envelops you. Although I couldn’t relate to some of their experiences, I found Memphis and Skylar to be genuine, relatable characters I easily connected with—especially Memphis with his personality type.

The alternating POVs between Memphis and Skylar is what sets their small-town, young love story apart from other small-town romances I’ve read in the past. Their internal monologue, along with their heart-palpitating interactions is everything! I was left reeling at the events that took place, and by the time this book concluded, I was left just a smidge heartbroken.

The Choice is a contemporary star-crossed lovers romance story that packs one helluva punch! I’ll be twiddling my thumbs until I can get my hands on The Consequence because the ending in this book had my jaw dropping. I’m so glad Jade decided to return to this world and expanded it. It’s beautiful, soulful, and makes you wish only good things for these characters. This is definitely one of my favourite reads of year.

RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½

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

🔔 Interested in reading The Choice? Grab your copy here: Amazon US  |  Amazon INTL

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🎶 Introduction to Sharp Objects!

Meet the lead singer: Phoenix Walker

Original post from my IG @booksofthemuggleborn

🎤 Phoenix & Lennon’s Story

The Words by A. Jade

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•••

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

Till Next Time by Cora Brent

⚠ This review contains a minor teaser!

Original post from my IG @booksofthemuggleborn

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• BLURB •

I met Colt Malene when I was fourteen years old.

And it seems I’ve never recovered.

He became the headstrong star quarterback in a town that idolized high school football titles.

Meanwhile, I was the coach’s dutiful perfectionist daughter, never daring to step out of line.

We should have stayed far away from each other but we didn’t.

And the volatile fallout was unbearable.

More than a decade has passed and now my father is dying.

He wants to make amends.

He wants to be forgiven for the role he played in Colt’s ruinous downfall and my painful heartbreak.

To give a dying man some peace, Colt and I agree to a plan.

While Colt is here in town, we pretend to date.

We pretend to like each other.

We pretend that the past is buried and forgotten.

But with one reckless, passionate act we carve a new future.

Leading to a fate we never suspected.

In the middle of a storm we never saw coming.

And an ending no one could have predicted…

•••

• MY REVIEW •

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“I never meant to fall in love with Colt Malene. I wasn’t supposed to. I’ve done it anyway. Again. I couldn’t help it, then or now.”

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After reading Till It Hurts and loving the strong trio of characters, I knew I needed more. Till Next Time is utter perfection that completely transported me back to their small town of Arcana, and to the trio who’ve reconnected as adults.

This story centred around Colt Malene and his life story. I couldn’t put it down! Cora has executed in telling his story and getting me emotionally invested right from the first few pages. The writing is effortless and vivid. It’s exactly the type of drama-filled contemporary romance I love to read. Fleshed-out, heartbreaking, yet nevertheless, inspiring.

Memories of past events weaved in between the present day not only gave Colt’s and Susanna’s personal stories so much depth and dimension, but it provided insight to their perspective households, families, and their developing relationship through their POVs.

The characters are complex and their lives are more than your average teenage rebellion against their parents. You see how much certain events that took place in their past have impacted and influenced their adulthood in the present.

You can’t help but feel for Colt. He had very little positivity in his life growing up, and it’s saddening to see his parents failed him as his much needed support system.

Susanna has her own issues and it becomes evident as the story progresses how much her life hadn’t ended up as initially planned.

It’s well-paced storytelling and these protagonists’ lives are not only touching to learn about, but they deal with life-long insecurities, along with some very heavy, realistic, and quite relatable issues along the way. I love the realism that Cora has imbedded in their story (along with Till It Hurts), it’s why I easily felt an attachment to these characters, especially Colt. They’re a likable pair of people, genuine characters with strong polar-opposite personalities.

The world-building is extraordinary— from Arcana; the little town that’s gradually wearing out over time, to the different backdrops that holds so many memories for Colt and Susanna, to the diverse range of supporting characters who all played significant roles in shaping them into who they are now and bring about contrasting dynamics.

I loved their journey. The highs and lows. It had the right amount of angst, drama, and suspense to keep you reading with bated breath, but also had moments of lightheartedness to keep it from veering towards an overly depressing atmosphere. Colt and Susanna come full circle by the end of the book that leaves you not only happy sighing with complete contentment but a little bittersweet knowing that with Till It Hurts and now, Till Next Time, all three friends have had their story told and we bid adieu to their world.

This is only my second book of Cora Brent’s but after having back-to-back exceptionally quality storytelling, I’ll be looking into her backlist of books for sure. Till Next Time is a must read along with Till It Hurts. You can definitely read them as standalone books without missing a beat as events and relationships are well explained… but I do highly recommend reading the pair!

Colt’s and Susanna’s story was one big “Sliding Doors” moment full of missed chances and what-ifs? The road to their HEA wasn’t an easy feat, but it’s an epic second-chance romance that was a long time coming and well worth the wait!

RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you Cora Brent and Candi Kane PR for the opportunity to read an advanced copy! ❤

🔔 Interested in reading Till Next Time? Grab your copy here: Amazon US  |  Amazon UK  |  Amazon CA  |  Amazon AU

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🏈 Where it all started! Read my review!

Original post from my IG @booksofthemuggleborn

📘 Till It Hurts by Cora Brent

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•••

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

Bad Dream by Giana Darling

⚠ This review contains spoilers!

Original post from my IG @booksofthemuggleborn

•••

• BLURB •

Bianca is trying to survive in the small Texas town. Her only goal–to keep her younger brother healthy. Everything changes when Tiernan shows up at her mother’s door in a suit and tattoos.

His dark world is all-consuming, but she doesn’t want his money. Or his secrets.

Until her mother dies.

Then she has no choice but to turn to the only person who can help.

** Bad Dream: A Dark Dream Prologue to Giana Darling’s upcoming release Dangerous Temptation set in the Midnight Dynasty.

•••

• MY REVIEW •

*Ding! Ding! Ding!* 🎙 Let’s get ready to ruuuuuuuuuumble! 👊

My, my, my… Bianca and Tiernan both came out swinging! It’s not even the good type of banter. I’m talking all-out hate and spite between these two. So far, I can’t wrap my head around the thought that they’ll eventually become romantically linked— and there’s a few reasons why…

a) There’s quite an age-gap between these two protagonists. Tiernan is thirty, whilst Bianca is seventeen. Age-gap romances don’t put me off as much as they used to, and I’m sure Tiernan and Bianca won’t hook-up until she’s older (let’s hope), but I’m still a little iffy on the fact that Bianca is still in her teens. 😬

b) And there’s the matter of Bianca’s mum, Aida having dated Tiernan (before her untimely passing, that is). There’s also a particular scene that clearly implies the two having slept together (I’m putting it mildly, here), and well, it’s hard to wipe that little image clean from my mind. Hm.

c) After the death of Bianca’s mother and things become a little clearer on Tiernan’s real motive with her family, he amazingly enough ends up having legal guardianship over Bianca and her younger brother, Brandon. Yeah… that’s not random at all. 

But in saying all that, I have to admit I am weirdly curious to see how this will all play out between them. As of right now, Tiernan is a right prick… and Bianca is a frazzled, naïve teenager who looks to be in way over her head, but this novella planted an air of intrigue and thrill of the unknown that has me eager to jump straight onto Dangerous Temptation (especially with how this prologue concluded).

Is it weird to say that at the moment I’m more interested in knowing more about the secondary characters?? Well, one in particular. 😅 Ezra. Like… woah who is he?! It’s the quiet ones you gotta watch out for— and it’s never been more true with Tiernan’s right hand man. Do we know if he gets his own story? Anybody? Any news?

And on the opposite end of the spectrum is Bianca’s little brother, Brandon. It’s still early days but he seems like an upbeat, likable character. No signs of brattiness, so that’s already points in his favour! 😁

Overall, a nice little introduction to Giana Darling’s world within the Midnight Dynasty. The novella is told solely from Bianca’s POV but I’m hoping once we get to the main duet that, that changes to dual perspectives. If you love dark billionaire, taboo romance books, then check this one out. It’s quite a teaser for what’s to come in the Dark Dream duet. This story is certainly making Lucian and Leo look like small-fry, and only time will tell on how cruel, how cold-hearted, how villainous this Morelli really is in comparison.

Readers and fans of the Midnight Dynasty, dust off your gloves because it looks like we’re having another Morelli/ Constantine fight-off!

*Ding! Ding! Ding!* 🎙 Fighters! Back to your corners! 🥊😈

RATING: ⭐⭐⭐¾

🔔 Interested in reading Bad Dream? Grab your FREE copy here: Amazon  |  Amazon INTL  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Kobo  |  Apple Books  |  Google Play

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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

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

Soul Sisters: Charlotte by Nicole James

Original post from my IG @booksofthemuggleborn

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• BLURB •

Rocker Charlotte Justice longs to escape her hectic life. Her estranged twin sister, Scarlett, owns Badlands, a biker bar outside Vegas, and has always wanted a chance at the limelight she feels was stolen from her.

On a whim, they decide to switch places like they did when they were kids.

What harm could it do?

Charlotte had no idea that the escape she planned would leave her on the receiving end of creepy texts, phone calls and “gifts” left at her door. Flying blind in her new role, pretending to be someone she’s not, Charlotte learns more about her secretive sister than she ever imagined.

On top of all of that, she’s doing everything she can to escape the sexy-as-sin MC President demanding she pay back the debt she owes him–that or sell him the bar.

Could the person stalking her also be the President of the Evil Dead MC’s Las Vegas Chapter? An alpha male who’s come-on to her in a won’t-take-no-for-an-answer kind of way that has her wondering just how badly she wants to say no.

Does he want Badlands badly enough to scare her into selling out?

Or is he the only one who can save her from a madman?

Charlotte will have to solve the mystery if she’s going to save the bar, and possibly her very life.

•••

• MY REVIEW •

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“For a girl like you, I’m willin’ to put in the effort.”

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I’m flailing my arms in excitement and in desperation of the next book! Eeeep! Nicole James has smashed it again! See, this is why she is an auto-buy author of mine. She never fails at keeping her readers engaged with her stories and invested in her characters— and this little reader right here was hooked from the second Charlotte and her twin sister Scarlett started swapping clothes and spontaneously decided to temporarily trade lives!

Nicole has plenty of books under her belt and all the ones I’ve read so far have had some pretty amazing storylines. This one stood out with its intriguing premise. It’s a trading places storyline weaved into a light MC romance. It has a more contemporary romance feel in comparison to Nicole’s other MC romance books. With its small town setting, the world-building heavily revolves around the protagonists, Charlotte and Daytona. There was an immediate connection between the two that automatically had me sitting up in attention. Despite some serious tension and danger in the air, the story still had an overall light atmosphere to it.

Similarly to Nicole’s other books, this one had plenty of heated banter between its hero and heroine, alongside some lighthearted comic-relief ribbing courtesy of the secondary characters— who so happens to be the brothers from the bright and shiny new Evil Dead MC Las Vegas Chapter! 😍😍

If you’ve read her Evil Dead MC series, then the introduction of a brand, spankin’ new Chapter would make your eyes pop-out-of-its-socket giddy! It practically means new blood, and I for one, am all for it!

Daytona is the President of this chapter but right off the bat I discovered he’s different from the other Evil Dead MC Chapter Presidents. He may be a badass alpha biker, but he’s openly affectionate, straightforward, and doesn’t play games. He knows what he wants, and it’s evident when he first lays eyes on Charlotte.

Charlotte is rightfully skeptical of Daytona and his motives, especially considering she’s currently living life as her sister. I would’ve loved to have seen more character development from both (especially Charlotte) but with how the story played out and especially how this book concluded, I’m hoping there’s a lot more to reveal in the next book.

The story is told from first person, dual points of view, and progressed in a relatively fast-pacing. There’s a lot of things happening that’ll keep you on your toes. It’s insta-romance with a layer of crime thriller added. There’s lots of suspense and second-guessing that it was hard to predict where the story would lead.

Please note, there are certain sensitive subject matters within the story that may be triggering for some readers. Besides the mature sexual content, it also contains violence, stalking, and kidnapping. This book is for mature audiences 18+ only.

The romance elements are swoony and had just the perfect amount of sweetness. It might have been on the insta-love side as far as romantic relationships go but it wasn’t at all unconvincing. They may have gotten together relatively quickly but there’s genuine interest in getting to know each other in more depth. You get Daytona’s backstory and an understanding of his mentality and how he lives his life. And with the arrival of this new Evil Dead MC Chapter, I was instantly curious about all the new club members who were introduced right alongside Daytona in this book. They may have only had minor roles in this story but they definitely made quite an impression! 😊

It’s a relatively shorter full-length novel but it was jam-packed full of detail and dimension, and the story didn’t stray away from its initial narrative. Nicole created a vivid world that I was effortlessly transported to. These characters go through a whirlwind of emotions and a rollercoaster of drama that you can’t help but sympathize. Even though this is fictional and some of the plots are dramatized, the situations that Charlotte and Daytona find themselves in are real-life, relatable experiences. Their lives are complex and their feelings are understandable and seem realistic.

Overall, I found it to be a hearty story and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. There was constant buzz and build-up throughout that it was hard not to be gripped by it all. I was truly bummed to see it end and knowing I’d have to wait a little while for the release of book two. It ends on a cliffhanger but I’m relieved to see it concluded in a way where this particular part of Charlotte’s and Daytona’s story was somewhat settled…? Their relationship may be up in the air for the time being but the cat’s outta the bag and now we’ll just have to see how it all plays out from there. *dun dun duuuuun* Eeep.

If you enjoy reading about alpha heroes who have a gentlemanly side to them, and fiery heroines with backbone, then I recommend you give this one a try.

Definitely a must read for any Nicole James fan. I think this story is a great introduction for romance readers wanting to try MC romance books— whilst it certainly contains MC romance elements, it’s not completely MC heavy. It’s also technically an age-gap romance but it’s hardly noticeable, in my opinion.

RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

🔔 Interested in reading Charlotte? Grab your copy here: Amazon US  |  Amazon UK  |  Amazon CA  |  Amazon AU

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💀 Read more reviews for Nicole James’ books!

The Evil Dead MC Series

Evil Dead MC Series by Nicole James

Wicked by Nicole James

The Biker’s Second Chance by Nicole James

The Devil Kings MC Series

Dirty Deeds by Nicole James

Dirty Deals by Nicole James

Dirty Desires by Nicole James

Brothers Ink Tattoo Series

Brothers Ink Tattoo by Nicole James

Royal Bastards MC Series

Club Princess by Nicole James

Kings Of Carnage MC Series

Saint by Nicole James

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

Till It Hurts by Cora Brent

⚠ Warning: This review contains minor teasers

Original post from my IG @booksofthemuggleborn

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• BLURB •

No one would say that our story is pretty.

But we were in love before we hated each other.

And we were friends long before that.

Growing up, I saw Jace Zielinski every day.

He lived next door. I cheered him on at football games. I gave him advice on girls. He was my brother’s best friend and the three of us were always together.

 I didn’t realize I’d already fallen for Jace until the hot summer night when we kissed for the first time.

Our magical season felt like destiny.

And then came the disaster that tore us all to shreds.

I lost Jace. I lost my brother. In many ways I lost myself.

Ten years later, Jace is untouchable in a world of pro athlete fame and glory.

I never wanted to see him again and I’d definitely never pick him to be my hero.

Not even when I’m broke and terrified and running away from ruin.

But it seems I have no choice.

Somehow we’re both back in the same place where we started.

I have nowhere else to go and Jace refuses to leave.

We’re on this collision course together.

Fated to repeat our own turbulent history.

Both the parts that felt the best.

And the parts that hurt the most.

•••

• MY REVIEW •

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“And the truth was, I wanted the boy next door. My brother’s best friend. I wanted him bad.”

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Ay. Cora Brent… Why didn’t I discover your books sooner??! 😱😍 Till It Hurts was utterly addictive and I loved reading every page of it! The happy times, the heartbreaking moments, the past, the present… all of it! ❤

I couldn’t have lucked out any better by having Till It Hurts as my introduction to Cora Brent. This was an exceptional story. I knew right from the first chapter that Tori’s and Jace’s story would be an epic journey and it did not disappoint. I immediately liked Cora’s writing style, I thought it was effortless to follow and kept me engaged. I was instantly invested in getting to know more about these characters who had such a bond that was bound to break at some point, and I needed to know why.

Firstly — this story had quite a range of tropes that all played off of each other well:

• Brother’s Best Friend
• Friends to Lovers
• Love to Hate to Love
• Second Chance Romance
• Sports Romance
• Contemporary
• New Adult
• Small Town

I’ve only encountered a handful of the brother’s best friend trope in my romance reads but this was by far the most complex, cleverly written storyline I’ve read. It’s honestly now one of my favourite contemporary romance books. It was very-well paced that it read like I was watching a romantic drama play out in front of me. Just needed my popcorn.

It’s told from dual points of view and switches back and forth from past to present day. I find when stories involve flashbacks to the past, it can either be a little draining to read through (and no longer holds your attention), and/or it disturbs the flow and pacing of the overall story. With Till It Hurts I had neither of those issues. The back and forth was well executed and I found whenever the story went back to their past it only elevated the story in the present. I thought their history was just as intriguing as their present. And I honestly couldn’t favour one friend or relationship over the others. Tori, Colt, and Jace are all equally lovable characters and I quickly felt protective of them all.

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“If you’re not willing to push yourself till it hurts then you’re not doing life right.”

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Let’s start with Colt. He is Jace’s best friend and Tori’s younger brother. He’s the more thrill-seeking, carefree of the three, and despite being the youngest he’s protective and has such strong presence in their group dynamic. He’s literally the link between Tori and Jace.

Tori, is the oldest but the boys take care of her, just as equally as she cares for them. She’s the more sensible one and makes sure they keep out of trouble. When she loves, she loves whole-heartedly.

Jace, makes three. He’s the boy next door who quickly connected with Colt, and naturally Tori right after (as Tori and Colt were inseparable). He’s easy-going and tends to go with the flow. He’s always thoughtful—even when they were teens.

This trio rivals some of my all time favourite fictional friendships. I love their dynamics, it feels so genuine and down-right relatable seeing how their interact with one another— from their lighthearted ribbing, to their full-blown heart-to-hearts, to even their fiery arguments. As the story progresses and their lives slowly unravel before you, it’s evident how much these three are inseparable. They have such vivid history starting from their childhood, to their teens, to eventually reconnecting as adults and reminiscing. The way Cora has written their story and the way they share their memories, you almost have to remind yourself that this was a work of fiction.

The world-building not only was vast and detailed, but it totally set the entire atmosphere amongst these friends and the story being told. It had an air of drama and suspense, but also wistfulness and a sense of time truly passing by. Even with minor side stories occurring in the background alongside additional secondary characters, the story didn’t stray from its initial premise. If anything, it added more dimension to an already layered storyline.

The character development was steady and constant. Seeing Colt, Tori, and Jace grow and evolve depending on what life threw at them… I found it so engaging I had a hard time putting the book down until I finished.

If Cora hoped the friendship between these three would be believable to her readers, she no doubt succeeded. If she wanted to make her readers feel the strong, loving sibling relationship between Colt and Tori— yep, done! If she wanted readers to effortlessly see the love between Tori and Jace was pure goodness and a once-in-a-lifetime, she fucking well did that too! If she wanted her readers to authentically see the brotherhood that Colt and Jace had, she hit the nail! 👏👏👏

The friendships and relationships between the three were a complex rollercoaster. It made me feel nostalgic for the friendships I had growing up, to my first love, to all the teen drama that at the time felt like world-ending situations.

In the end they have their happily ever after, but I’m not going to lie, it was a rocky road ahead for each of them. They all had their situations, they all had their own paths to take, and they all needed time for wounds to heal.

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“People are flawed, Tori. We don’t always do what we should. All we can do is learn and try to be better than we were.”

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This was a story full of life, and with it comes love, hate, guilt, frustration, remorse, and a whole array of other emotions. Just like in reality, Colt, Tori, and Jace go through struggles, insecurities, and personal issues. Whilst there was one particular plot point I saw coming a mile away, it no way deterred me from continuing (if anything it made me more curious to see how it would affect the ending). In my opinion, Cora wrote a beautiful and hearty journey for each character that all intricately connected to tell one big story.

And speaking of endings… I’m truly giddy with excitement at the little tidbit that Cora revealed at the end of her book. Whilst I was near finishing reading it, I knew I wasn’t ready for it all to be completely over. If you do end up reading this book, I have no doubts that you would be just as thrilled with the news as I was. Thank you, Cora! 🙌

I should point out the sports element was a backdrop to this small town, contemporary romance story. Whilst it did add a layer to these characters’ story, it wasn’t the main focus (more a starting off point). There’s also some sensitive subject matter that may be triggering for some readers, such as loss, violence and addiction (resulting in grief and PTSD). It also contains sexual content, suitable for readers 18+ only.

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“You might have to keep pushing till it hurts in order to find your way home. But take heart. Because happily ever afters do exist.”

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Till It Hurts will transport you to a small town full of history, to a quaint neighbourhood, and to a trio with a bond that knows no bound. Overall, I couldn’t fault it, and for that, I highly recommend it to my friends and fellow romance readers to pick up too! You won’t be disappointed.

RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you Cora Brent and Candi Kane PR for the opportunity to read an advanced copy! 💙

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

Kiss Me First by Anna B. Doe

Original post from my IG @booksofthemuggleborn

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• BLURB •

Katherine Adams never thought she’d end up in a small town in Texas, but when things start to go south, it’s the perfect place to escape to.

Emmett Santiago, Bluebonnet’s golden boy, never imagined he’d fall so quickly, but one glance at Kate and he’s a goner.

Moving in with Katherine’s aunt her junior year of high school is the safest choice for her sister, and Katherine plans to do everything she can to make Bluebonnet their home. That most definitely doesn’t include flirting with a certain boy, no matter how charming his smile is.

Katherine might not believe in love, but Emmett is determined to win her over. When the sparks start to fly, who’ll be the one to make the first move?

•••

• MY REVIEW •

Lé siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh. 😍😍😍

This is just what I needed — a good ol’ wholesome and heart-filled romance story! This may be a prequel in the Blairwood University series and set in Bluebonnet but it gave just as much (if not more) feels as the other books already released. Ugh. I am officially calling Emmett my new favourite hero of this series! As much as I love a bad boy as the next chick, there’s something so special about a young well-mannered, sweet and caring gentleman!

I wholeheartedly believed Emmett whenever he set his mind to something or whenever he made a vow to Kate. He’s a straight-up good guy! There’s just nothing else to say. He’s one of those one in million guys any girl would kill to find… and it just so happens Kate managed to snag him without even trying! Dagnammit! 😄

What I truly love about this series is the groups of characters Doe creates to enhance her stories, and this book was no exception. I don’t think there was a single secondary character who wasn’t a friend or family member of Emmett’s who I didn’t like. They bring such contrast and dynamic to the group and their relationship with not only Emmett but Kate as well. I have to be honest there’s a couple of characters I’m actually hoping would one day get their own book, just so I can see what they’ve gotten up to since the time here. They’re just as developed as the protagonists with side stories of their own that I found just as entertaining to read through.

Whilst Emmett brings in the loyalty, openness, and trusty country boy charm to this story, Kate on the other hand is the new girl and comes off as someone who’s a little guarded and sceptical of trusting people (and rightfully so) — that is until Emmett (along with his best friends) brings her out of her shell and starts getting her to really open up and give Bluebonnet a chance.

There’s nothing to hate about either one of the lead characters. Kate may have her little hang ups but there’s a reason for it, but it no way makes her a disagreeable person. It’s the exact opposite, really, and it’s what makes her human and so relatable.

One thing that constantly popped into my head about this book is it has a lot of heart. I was almost taken aback by how much these characters are willing to go and beyond for those they love. Call it a cliché but this is definitely one of those “love conquers all” type of stories and I was digging it! ❤

It’s a coming of age, young adult romance that had me teary-eyed practically from start to finish. Doe has successfully gotten me invested in not only Emmett and Kate’s blossoming love story but their own personal stories as well. It evoked such emotion out of me. Ugh. I can’t say enough positive things about this book. I even reread it right after the first time because I was nowhere near ready to close the book (excuse the pun) on Bluebonnet.

Besides the slow-ish burn (but luckily not cruel) romance, you’ll find out the reasons behind Kate and her sister’s move to Bluebonnet. It’s unsuspecting, gave this story more dimension, and keeps you second-guessing the direction in which the story will head. Told from both Emmett and Kate’s points of view, the storytelling is very well-paced and had me hooked with the gradual development of their relationship. With high school drama, family struggles, secret crushes, and new friendships, it honestly gave me such nostalgia. Ahh youth. Hehe.

• Young Adult Fiction
• Small Town
• Sports Romance
• Contemporary
• Instant Attraction

There’s so many romance subgenres/ tropes within this storyline yet they all work so well together. Even if you’re not a huge fan of sports (football) in your romance reads, this will still hold your attention. All the relationships in this book whether they were purely platonic or romantic, were believable and in my opinion developed quite organically. It didn’t feel forced or written in to pad the story. There’s hilarious banter, a little fire between our hero/ heroine, and honest to goodness moments throughout that’ll have you happy sighing.

*singsong voice* Loved it! It’s one of those books you can read over and over again and not get tired of. One of the best small town, teen romances I’ve read in such a long time. I would absolutely recommend not only this book but the rest of the books in this series. Such a great insight to a couple who were not necessarily in the foreground of the Blairwood University series but were always a couple that held my interest because of how easy-going and happy they always seemed within the group. So chuffed we got to see Emmett and Kate’s story. Well deserved and beautifully told!

If you’re looking for a feel good, lighthearted read, you have got to add this one to your reading list. You’ll sure giggle, swoon, tear up, and possibly hold your breath on more than one occasion reading through it. Amazing world-building where you truly feel transported to small town living, a tightknit community, and fresh country air! 😉

RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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

🔔 Interested in reading Kiss Me First? Grab your copy here: Universal Link

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Read my reviews for the books in Blairwood University!

📔 Kiss To Conquer by Anna B. Doe

📔 Kiss To Forget by Anna B. Doe

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