A Lethal Game of Trust

Title: A Lethal Game of Trust
Author: Evelyne Sperring

Publisher: Evelyne Sperring Publishing

Rating: 5 *s

Description: Leonie

Dominic Belov.

To the world, he’s a ruthless mafia heir. To me, he was once everything.

The boy who looked under my bed for monsters, the teenager who taught me to fight and helped me study. The man I’d pictured marrying. My best friend.

But when I needed him most, he abandoned me, leaving me numb and hopeless.

So now, ten years later, when he wants to barge back into my life, he’s only a distraction I can’t afford. My only focus is making sure my father’s murderer isn’t released from prison. Legally.

Despite no longer being a part of the criminal world, both Dom and my need for vengeance are pulling me back in.

And I might just let them.

Dom
Leonie Castillo.

My sister’s best friend.

She’s infuriating. Intoxicating. Shackling.

And I was meant to be all her firsts. Her only.

But after her father’s murder, a rift formed between her and me. One we can’t repair.

I can never be more than her shadow, I’ll only hurt her. We can’t be together when she can never uncover the truth.

Because I’ve been lying to her since the night her dad died.


This book has the following tropes:

• Best friend's brother
• Friends to enemies to lovers
• Dual POV
• Murder mystery
• He falls first
• Revenge plot

My Review: The way I devoured this in one sitting! The storyline was beautiful, the steamy scenes were STEAMING!

Leonie is solely focused on avenging her father's death. Holding the man responsible for his actions. It's been ten years. She has changed. She isn't the innocent teenager she once was.

Then you have Dom. Whew! Dom is protective, possessive, caring, and loyal. But rough around the edges. Will he be able to let down his walls and tell the truth to Leonie?

I absolutely loved this story and enjoyed following Leonie and her mission to avenge her father's death. There were some twists I wasn't expecting and I loved that Sperring kept my attention. She kept me guessing and by the end I was ravaging this story!

Dear Vivian

 

Title: Dear Vivian 
Author: Eliza Black
Publisher: Self-Published

Rating: 5 *s

Description: What would you do if you felt free to act on your every sexual whim?

I never thought you would find me at a sex club, but embracing my sexual liberation led me places I'd only dreamed of. I promised Vivian that I wouldn't let anything hold me back from living my best life, and I intend to keep that promise. This journal is every dirty detail of my experiences with the people I've met since that tragic day. Nathan, Mark, Keith, Ace, Kendra, the list goes on and on.

Skinny dipping, public sex, BDSM, threesomes, exhibitionism, and more await you in this journal. One thing I never expected? That this would give me the confidence to embrace who I was always meant to be.

Dear Vivian was originally published on Kindle Vella. It is an erotic journal and contains explicit sexual content. It is intended for readers 18+

My Review: Dear Vivian is written as a journal documenting a journey of sexual exploration and healing in its own way. As we read we know our main character is writing to someone and that it is a private journal. It isn't until later in the entries that we find out who she is writing to.

The journal details explicit scenes of sexual exploration. Ranging from public indecency to dabbling into the BDSM community. Each entry gives us her feelings, desires, and the awakening of her desires.

As we get to the final entries the pieces of the puzzle start to come together. I really enjoyed this because at first you think you're just getting a glimpse of some smutty scenes but as you read you realize this is also a journey of pushing boundaries and healing.

This is a great, quick read sure to leave you fanning yourself and needing a cold shower after reading!

Every Other Thursday Night

 

Title: Every Other Thursday Night
Author: Marielle Snow
Publisher: Self-Published

Rating: 4 *s

Description: While Lyza longs to be the brazen, enchanting flirt she was before tragedy struck and she lost her beloved soulmate, she never dreamed that a mischievous match-making friend would drag her out to an epic Valentine's Day event.

Heather hoped to make up for exposing an explicit story Lyza wrote starring her family doctor, Carey Porter.

Little does Lyza know that this steamy event will start a tantalizing journey full of hurt and longing as she attempts to move on from the haunting memory of her devoted husband, Nate. Sparks fly between Carey and Lyza, tossingWhile Lyza longs to be the brazen, enchanting flirt she was before tragedy struck and she lost her beloved soulmate, she never dreamed that a mischievous match-making friend would drag her out to an epic Valentine's Day event.

Heather hoped to make up for exposing an explicit story Lyza wrote starring her family doctor, Carey Porter.

Little does Lyza know that this steamy event will start a tantalizing journey full of hurt and longing as she attempts to move on from the haunting memory of her devoted husband, Nate. Sparks fly between Carey and Lyza, tossing them both into unexpected realms.

Can Lyza leave it at the sultry one-night stand she came out for? Will Dr. Porter allow her to slip away?

With skeletons in their closets, Lyza and Carey are lonely in different ways but old enough to know better than to expose their hearts for mere desire.

But will those walls built up by past hurts keep them from taking a risk on something extraordinary?

If you enjoy passionate and suspenseful books about chasing the hope for lust, passion, and love later in life, then you'll surely enjoy Lyza's wanton journey in this provocative tale.them both into unexpected realms.

Can Lyza leave it at the sultry one-night stand she came out for? Will Dr. Porter allow her to slip away?

With skeletons in their closets, Lyza and Carey are lonely in different ways but old enough to know better than to expose their hearts for mere desire.

But will those walls built up by past hurts keep them from taking a risk on something extraordinary?

If you enjoy passionate and suspenseful books about chasing the hope for lust, passion, and love later in life, then you'll surely enjoy Lyza's wanton journey in this provocative tale.

My Review: Every Other Thursday starts off slow but the build up is so worth it. Lyza's best friend Heather invites her to an exclusive Valentine's Day event. Little does she know her best friend is up to no good and playing match maker.

What unfolds is something that even Lyza didn't see coming. The events to follow throw both her and Carey into a loop that neither saw coming.

Both have their own walls up for their protection. Will those walls prevent them from progressing into their relationship?

I absolutely adored this story. I would love to see a follow up into more of Lyza and Carey's adventures. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Lyza let go and just enjoy herself!

Black Swan

 

Tile: Black Swan
Author: Roxy Leigh
Publisher: Self-Published

Rating: 5 *s

Description: Growing up as the daughter of the renowned Liam Hendrix, I assumed that I was the sole heir to my fathers empire.

Right up until my father ripped the rug out from under my feet and demanded I marry a man of his choosing. A man he sees fit to rule over the Hendrix Mafia.

A role I've always coveted.

Dean Lawson is my childhood best friend, my protector, and the love of my life. After he hurt me when we were younger, I swore never to get too close and give him that chance again.

Now we are being forced to marry.

I refuse to be a broodmare, to marry someone so that they can take everything I've always wanted.

I've got to get away. Start fresh somewhere else.

It won’t be that easy…

It turns out my father isn’t the biggest monster I’ll have to face if I want my chance at freedom.

Octavia and Dean's story is a contemporary mafia Swan Princess retelling. It contains some steamy scenes and some darker themes. Please review the content warnings before proceeding.

My Review: This was a fast paced read! I loved reading Octavia's sorry and seeing the depths that Dean will go to in order to protect Octavia and the seat that rightfully belongs to her. She swears never to get too close to him and to remain focused on her rightful spot as next in line to the throne.

When the seat is taken from under her, she plans to run off and start fresh.

The journey to freedom proves that her father was the least of her worries.

This was a quick read but I loved every page of it. It had the perfect amount of spice and suspense!

Every Beautiful Mile

Title: Every Beautiful Mile
Author: Ashley Manley
Publisher: Wildflower Book LLC
Rating: 5 *s

Description: A widowed bartender, a summer road trip, the detour she never expected.

Penelope ‘Nel’ Crawford is stuck. At least that’s what her family tells her. A year after losing her husband of seventeen years, she’s still so deep in her grief that she’s barely hanging on, let alone living. She hardly recognizes her teenage kids and finds no joy in doing the things she once loved.

Her solution? An attempt to heal herself and the relationship with her kids with a summer road trip. From one destination to the next, Nel not only has to navigate life on the road, but the trials and tribulations of motherhood after loss.

When a detour leads her to a flirtatious restaurant owner she’s been emailing off and on for months, she starts to remember that life—no matter how unpredictable—is made for living. And the heart, even if broken, finds ways to love again.

Every Beautiful Mile will make readers laugh, cry, and remind them of the healing powers of nature, family, and love itself.

My Review: I don't even know where to begin this review. From the description I knew I was in for a heavy read but I didn't realize the depth of what I was reading until I dug in. From the first few pages I was wrecked and wanted more. I couldn't put it down and devoured it in one sitting.

Penelope (Nell) is stuck in grief. It's been over a year but it still feels like yesterday. She wants to move on but it feels wrong. Feels like she's leaving her husband behind. They were married for seventeen years after all. How do you move forward from that?

She decides on a family trip. She doesn't want to continue rotting in her grief. She wants to show up for her kids and find her path to healing. Along the way she builds memories and repairs her bonds with her children.

Reading Nell's story really touched my heart. I cried, laughed, and wept some more. I loved seeing how supportive Nell's children were as she tiptoed into the potential waters of the dating pool. They were many times I wish I could have held Nell in my arms and reassured her that she was going to be okay. 

Manley gives us the perfect blend of healing, spice, and the journey that is moving forward after loss. This is a perfect debut novel and it really excites me to see what Manley will give us next! This will be one of my top reads of the year!

I See You Charlotte

 

Title: I See You, Charlotte
Author: Coralee Taylor
Publisher: Self-Published

Rating: 5 *s

Description: I thought I had it all. At the end of my junior year, I met the love of my life - the dark boy with the secret notebook who saw me like no one else did.

But as secrets unravel and betrayals mount, my world was shattered.

With a new, mysterious southern boy vying for my heart and my best friend moving far away, I leapt into a downward spiral from which there's no return.

My inner demons have always haunted me, but this time... they may win.

In this gripping tale of love, betrayal, and personal demons, Charlotte's journey takes a dark turn that will leave you breathless.

My Review: I See You, Charlotte breaks you apart, puts you back together, and then breaks you apart again all while healing you. It vocalizes the daily struggle to be enough. I have loved seeing authors place more focus on books dealing with mental health in a relatable way. If I would have had stories like this when I was younger I wouldn't have felt so alone during my school years.

I read this in one sitting. I couldn't put it down. I cried for Charlotte and just wanted to wrap her in my arms and tell her it does get better. I See You, Charlotte will forever resonate with me and it is a series that I know I will want to buy physical copies of and have my own daughter read when she's old enough.

I can't wait for book two in this series. Coralee Taylor has gained a forever fan!