With a cover and premise like that, I've been meaning to get to this one for a while and I definitely think it delivered. EveryHow wonderfully unique!
With a cover and premise like that, I've been meaning to get to this one for a while and I definitely think it delivered. Everything about this is beautifully strange but very soft and sweet at the same time.
I can definitely tell that this volume acts as more of a set up for the remaining volumes but I adore our characters! I love the juxtaposition of Liam having the appearance of an innocent middle-aged man but really, he's horny as hell and clearly has a mysterious past and then Cavo is this scary-looking monster but he's really just adorably naive and sweet. A golden retriever demon if I ever saw one.
I always know I can depend on Karla Nikole to write a story that feels like wrapping yourself up in the coziest, snuggliestShe's done it again, folks.
I always know I can depend on Karla Nikole to write a story that feels like wrapping yourself up in the coziest, snuggliest blanket in the whole world; just a perpetual warm hug that makes reality dim and everything in your periphery go soft and hazy.
There is a certain atmosphere in Karla Nikole's writing that has become her signature and something that I have become exceedingly fond of. Oliver's story has all that same atmosphere & sweetness but with a uniqueness that stands apart from her previous works.
Oliver & Aries are everything that is good - the very definition of unconditional love. After an initial encounter that throws Oliver's sense of reality into a tailspin, their relationship grows slowly and beautifully; culminating into something absolutely magnificent. And the spice? Delicious.
I love the overall tone of freedom and artistry that's maintained in the story. I think I made a comparison in my review for Book 1 of Lore & Lust that Karla Nikole writes with a paintbrush - there's a visual aspect in her writing that is ever present and I continually find the most beautiful colors bursting in my imagination while the story progresses. It makes me want to paint. Nothing shows the value of art more than when a work of an artist in one medium inspires the work of another.
As far as plots go, I loved the way this story unfolded - especially Oliver's character development! While Aries was the conduit that sparked his fight for freedom, I really appreciate that he doesn't allow himself to become dependent on him in a way that may be unhealthy for either of them. They're just so careful with each other; it makes my heart melt. I also loved that while their romance was the focal point for the story, it didn't take away from Oliver's individual growth at all. Additionally, everything in the background and all the characters were still wonderfully complex.
Oh lord, and don't even get me started on Alexander. I am so absurdly excited to hear his story next. If I thought Oliver's character development was impressive, Alexander's was breathtaking. There were some subtle but not subtle hints, so I already have a theory on our love interest and I sincerely hope I'm right.
✧While I received a free ebook from the author, all thoughts are my own.✧...more
I really, reaaaally wanted to like this one. This is another one of those situations where the premise is really sweSadly, my bells were not jingled.
I really, reaaaally wanted to like this one. This is another one of those situations where the premise is really sweet and unique but the writing just doesn't do it justice.
Besides minor spelling/grammatical errors there was something about the writing that felt stunted. This is such a strange thing to even notice but the sentences were so short? It made the flow of the book feel jolty, like driving in stop-n-go traffic instead of it being a smooth ride.
Because of the writing style, it made it fairly difficult for me to enjoy the story itself which, unfortunately, had some minor issues of its own. Issues that I think wouldn't normally be a problem or even noticeable in this type of book if the writing was more fleshed out.
I'm usually an advocate for fun books that are just "here for a good time", but there was something about this one that just wasn't doing it for me. I'm a big highlighter, so I can tell that I'm not vibing with a book when I don't highlight a single line.
A good continuation of the series, but nooot my favorite.
Latif is indeed defiant but also stinkin' adorable and I love the moments in the story whereA good continuation of the series, but nooot my favorite.
Latif is indeed defiant but also stinkin' adorable and I love the moments in the story where he feels empowered by finding someone as likeminded as Blaine. I also really like that the plot behind Latif & Blaine's romance addresses the way unmated omegas are treated and how the nassa can work towards more equality between alphas and omegas.
Do I generally agree with everything Blaine was saying about how unmated omegas are mistreated? I mean, yeah. But fuck, there's just something about him that annoys the shit outta me. It's like when someone you hate is saying something that you actually totally agree with but because they're the ones saying? Oh, look at that, I've changed my mind cause you suck. He's just so fucking cocky about everything and DON'T even get me started on how he threatened to take Alex off-planet. Like bro, you're gonna spend this whole time bitching and moaning about how unmated omegas don't have choices and their voices aren't heard and then you're just gonna threaten to rip your friend away from the happiness that he's found (mind you, completely disregarding his thoughts & feelings) and LITERALLY KILL HIS MATE?? How very fucking alpha of you. Nice one, Blaine. *cough* hypocrite *cough*
Like I said, I still really liked the story but there was a certain point where I was kinda just over it and I just wanted more Alex & Saar. We get a bit at the end but it's not enoughhh. There was also some hinting at Latif's brother, Addy, getting a book next but I'm honestly not sure if I'll read it. If Alex & Saar get another novella, though? Yeah, fuck me up with that shit.
Smut was excellent, esp the library scene -goddamn....more
Call me biased but I want this whole series to just be focused on them; they're just so cute! I LOVED this sweet little novellYAY, more Alex & Saar!!
Call me biased but I want this whole series to just be focused on them; they're just so cute! I LOVED this sweet little novella. I really liked that the author used very realistic human emotions to develop their relationship. It makes perfect sense that Alex would be feeling objectified and alienated and I just wanted to hug him!
The entirety of this novella lines up with Book 2; there's even some scenes repeated word for word, but through Saar/Alex's POV. While it was enjoyable to hear their inner dialogues during those scenes, I don't think all of them were necessary - some could have just been summarized.
I ALSO really, really, really wish we got more of their story with Alex's pregnancy further developed. I will be soooo sad if they don't get another novella with late-stages of pregnancy/birth scenes. Or even them raising their child - ugh, I just want more! LOL Especially if we get some of it in the third book but not from their direct POVs. So, fingers crossed!
I'm interested to see how Blaine's story is going to go. I know he's Alex's friend or whatever but as of now, I'm totz on Saar's side with that whole thing. ...more
Three words, babe: Blood as lube. Yeah, I fuck with that heavy.
This was such a great time but I sooo wish it was a full-fledged novel; it has so muchThree words, babe: Blood as lube. Yeah, I fuck with that heavy.
This was such a great time but I sooo wish it was a full-fledged novel; it has so much potential! Even so, there's just enough backstory to get invested in the characters and I loved Seb & Tate - especially Tate's lifelong obsession with Sebastian that eclipses any moral compass he could have. Sebastian is his moral compass. Toxic? Absolutely. We love to see it.
Sidenote: I really like when authors create vampires in modern novels have attributes found in older folklore; having to claw out of a grave, bursting into a colony of bats, being completely nocturnal, etc. - sooo much better than glittering in the sunlight, if you ask me.
Also, sex scenes were hot & I am pro dick-biting. Don't @ me....more
In which Devin flips the Nassa's belief of what an omega should be on its head - and then literally flips Eisa on his head.
With how much of cocky alphIn which Devin flips the Nassa's belief of what an omega should be on its head - and then literally flips Eisa on his head.
With how much of cocky alpha Eisa seemed to be in the first book, I thoroughly enjoyed him getting his ass handed to him by Devin. This book was just as fun as the first, made more enjoyable because we got plenty of Saar & Alex in this story as well.
Maybe I just wanted more Saar & Alex but the romance didn't seem as believable as the first book. I know it's meant to be super insta-lovey, but Devin went from zero to a hundred real quick. I will say, though, I appreciated that the author at least gave inner dialogue explanations as to why he was falling for Eisa so quickly. And as much as I loved their romance, the whole "I am an alpha who just wants ANY omega, it doesn't matter whether it's you or not", while also present in the first book, was a little more grating in this one.
But overall, I still really enjoyed the story. I liked that the plot was given a little more depth than the first one with Devin's background/injury and I LOVED the scenes with Devin & Alex becoming friends; it was so sweet! Now I want more human-omega-besties-on-an-alien-planet scenes!
A sweet and exciting ending to the Luna Brothers series!
Finally, it's Arthur's turn to find love and it turns out he found it already - his best frienA sweet and exciting ending to the Luna Brothers series!
Finally, it's Arthur's turn to find love and it turns out he found it already - his best friend Perry from 13 years ago. When Perry comes back to town after running away from his horrible husband & marriage, the Luna Clan is more than ready open their arms to their newest member and his adorable little daughter Jupiter.
I really liked this one! I loved that these two already had a history because it gave valid excuse for the insta-love and the book was more about them staying together than getting together. On top of that, all the interactions between the Luna family and Perry & his daughter were stinkin' adorable! The pacing of this one was so much better than the previous books, too!
I got suuuper invested in the wolf-bike racing and the whole concept of it, really - it sounds fucking cool. I'm glad that the ending was predictable but not completely predictable.
As with the previous books, there are minor spelling/grammar issues and some plot holes here and there but overall, I had a really good time reading this one!...more
First 50%? Five stars. Slammin'. Bangin'. Last 50%? *big sigh* WE WERE SO CLOSE!
So, like I said, the first half of this book was fucking phenomenal. NFirst 50%? Five stars. Slammin'. Bangin'. Last 50%? *big sigh* WE WERE SO CLOSE!
So, like I said, the first half of this book was fucking phenomenal. Not only was the writing better (besides a few minor spelling/grammar mistakes), the pacing of the story was significantly slower and more well-rounded than the first two books in this series. It's also a much slower burn; our MCs don't even TOUCH each other until like 60% into the book, which was very refreshing and it allowed for a much more compelling build-up to Christophe & Mason's inevitable fated mates relationship.
At the halfway point, when our MCs finally get together, our slow-burn becomes a raging inferno and noooot necessarily in a good way. The story kind of just snowballs; all that lovely slower pacing that we were given in the first half is thrown out the fucking window and the remaining plot is just a sequence of summaries (some of which I wasn't a big fan of, especially those concerning Christophe's dad and that whole clusterfuck). It's as if halfway through the story, someone accidentally sat on the remote and fast-forwarded through the whole book.
As far as the actual characters, I loooved Christophe - especially in the first half, obvi. His character is given a little more depth than I expected and oh, I felt for him. He's so lonely and has nothing to really call his own and it broke my heart! And then Mason, that little spitfire - I adored how he was able to bring Christophe out of his shell, it was so sweet! Even though they're fated mates, I'm so glad that the beginning of their relationship was slow-going and entailed more of them actually getting to know one another. Obviously not a ton; they do still get together within the span of like a week but STILL.
Since I loved the first half and...tolerated the second half, I'm just going to put my rating smack dab in the middle to average it out....more
Looking for low-angst? Babe, look no further cause this is NO angst. It's sweet, it's simple, and it's just as insta-Angst? Who's she? Don't know her.
Looking for low-angst? Babe, look no further cause this is NO angst. It's sweet, it's simple, and it's just as insta-lovey as the first book. Not as much, though, because this isn't a fated mates scenario; Van & Pell's relationship actually has a pretty solid basis of attraction that was slightly lacking for me in the first book.
Also similar to the first book: things happen very fast. Issues are raised and solved quickly; sometimes within the same page. But I'm starting to realize that that might just be this author's writing style - and since I am a mood reader and this is what I was distinctly in the mood for, I'm not feeling as critical as I normally would be. The only things that I wish weren't so quick were the sex scenes. Those could've definitely be drawn out quite a bit more. They were very wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am when they should've been more indulgent.
I wanted an easy story - almost a palette cleanser of sorts to read between more complex books that require my brain to be actively engaged, and that's exactly what I got. Which isn't to say that I wasn't engaged in this story; it was adorable. But there are books that you mentally participate in and there are books that just happen to you. This book just happens to you and it's nice because you get to just sit back, relax, and enjoy the coziness of Van & Pell's love story.
Move aside IPB, there's a new sexy af adorably-confused alien male in town.
I've said it before, I'll say it again: NOTHING BEATS AN ALIEN CONFUSED BY Move aside IPB, there's a new sexy af adorably-confused alien male in town.
I've said it before, I'll say it again: NOTHING BEATS AN ALIEN CONFUSED BY MUNDANE HUMAN CONCEPTS. Saar freaking the fuck out about Alex getting a sunburn absolutely sent. me. Hilarious and so so so cute.
This book was so much fun to read! So much so that I read the first two books & novella in the series before stopping to write my reviews; I just had to keep going. While the concept of the story is not wholly original, it was done very well!
There were miscommunications galore and things that could have definitely been avoided if someone just said something, but I'm just going to lean into the whole *two very different species meeting for the first time and having no idea how to communicate with one another* thing, because fuck it; sometimes, we do it for the plot. And it makes for a great fucking time.
STUPID CARTER. STUPID GAVIN. STUPID BENNETTS. STUPID FUCKING SERIES that makes my heart so painfully full it makes me want to LaughCryScream into the STUPID CARTER. STUPID GAVIN. STUPID BENNETTS. STUPID FUCKING SERIES that makes my heart so painfully full it makes me want to LaughCryScream into the void.
I am broken. I am bereft. I am joyful. I am shattered. I am giddy. I am whole. I am MOTHERFUCKING wolf.
TJ Klune, if we were to ever meet, just know that I will be inexplicably torn between punching you right in the face and kissing you right on the mouth. I hate you. I love you. Thank you for this fucking masterpiece. ...more
It hurts SO good and it hurts SO bad and it's just pain pain pain and oh my god how do I still have tears left to cry DAMNIT I FUCKIn summary:
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It hurts SO good and it hurts SO bad and it's just pain pain pain and oh my god how do I still have tears left to cry DAMNIT I FUCKING LOVE THIS SERIES.
YES, I bought it for the cover - sue me. This thing is a work of art and I needed it on my shelf.
Thankfully, the story holds up most of my expectationYES, I bought it for the cover - sue me. This thing is a work of art and I needed it on my shelf.
Thankfully, the story holds up most of my expectations for the cover. I do have a few criticisms but overall, I really enjoyed this. It's a really quick read-it-in-a-day type of book and for the most part, was exactly what I was looking for.
Loch and Tresten are freakin' adorable. The story is very much insta-love/fated mates that goes from 0 to 100 in 0.2 seconds flat so if that's not your jam, this isn't for you. I'm glad, though, that even our MCs were bamboozled by how quickly they were falling for each other. It's a lot more intolerable when the MCs just immediately get on board after hardly any interaction; so that was a little refreshing, at least. I still would have liked soooome more dialogue that played into the actual emotional investment, but that's not what this book is so I'm not super mad about it.
What I thought the book was (MM A/B/O mpreg smutty smut) didn't quite meet my expectations either, though. The sex was just...good. Not bad, but not anything to write home about either (not that you would be writing home about OV smut, but I digress) I kind of expected a little more after all the buildup in the beginning of the book. Also, this might just be a personal preference, but when a book is advertised as being mpreg, I want the mpreg - not a quick "I'm pregnant" and then fast forward 5 years in the epilogue. I'm not counting that particular criticism in my rating because I do think that's more of a me thing than a book thing.
The book is wholly predictable but that is exactly what I wanted: something easy, quick, sweet, and a little dirty. Still very much recommend this for anyone who just wants to read something fun that doesn't require much brainpower (which I'd like to point out is a compliment in this case)....more
No one writes yearning, unconditional love quite like Sebastian Nothwell - this was an absolute masterpiece (arguably, his best yet).
Right off the cufNo one writes yearning, unconditional love quite like Sebastian Nothwell - this was an absolute masterpiece (arguably, his best yet).
Right off the cuff, Sebastian's resplendently lyrical prose throws us into a colorful world with even more colorful characters. The setting is beautiful and with every word I read I felt like I was being transported to a different realm all-together. Every new place we visit in the story had my jaw on the floor - what I wouldn't give to visit even one of these paintings-come-to-life. There were romantic little details and nods to history that I so appreciated. Nothing pleases me more than a writer who does their research - the medical accuracy alone left me delighted. Obviously, certain liberties are taken in a work of fiction, but the way that Nothwell interweaves those liberties with historical points of reference is seamless and is something that I've come to associate with his works specifically. Sometimes you can feel the author's enthusiasm through their writing and it just makes everything that much more enjoyable.
There is such sweetness in all of Nothwell's past characters and Fiore & Enzo are no different. I am in love with these two selfless, soft, sweet idiots. In every book he writes, there is a large emphasis on, rather than loving someone in spite of their faults, loving them faults and all. His characters are always so endearingly flawed (as is any person) and the unconditional love they have for each other makes my heart full to bursting.
Another similarity to previous works: Fiorenzo has some delicious bits of spice to balance out the sweetness that I ate up like a woman starved. There are BDSM elements in this one that are slightly more stark than his previous books and I am here for it. If Nothwell's books have taught me anything, it's that I need to invest in a proper sea chest (false bottom and all, iykyk).
NOT TO MENTION THE HURT/COMFORT. UGHHHH. Bury me with a copy of this book when I die because it's everything I could want and I must retain the ability to read it again and again until the end of time. I never wanted it to end. There are a few questions left unanswered but, if I know Nothwell's writing style like I think I do, we should hopefully be coming back to Fiore & Enzo's story and some of those questions will have answers.
The only thing that could eclipse my adoration for this book is Fiore & Enzo's adoration for each other, and I wouldn't have it any other way.
✧While I received a free ARC of this book from the author, all thoughts are my own.✧...more
Would 100% rather have Eric as a hot stalker-y vamp boyfriend, thank you very much. Chase, you lucky devil.
This boEdward Cullen, eat your heart out.
Would 100% rather have Eric as a hot stalker-y vamp boyfriend, thank you very much. Chase, you lucky devil.
This book is thiccccc and it shows. SO MUCH happens; like to the point that by the time I got to the end I was like "Wait, how did this book even start again?" It felt like a duology or even a series.
Especially because the first half of the book and the second had completely different vibes. The first half of the book is exactly what I expected: a deliciously slow slow burn where Eric and Chase slowly circled each other as we waited for their two worlds to eventually collide. Collide they did and it was yummy.
Once they get together, it's no holds bar - the slow burn turns into a raging inferno and suddenly it kind of starts to feel like a different book? Things start happening really quickly - almost too quickly. But it's not just the romance that takes off, it's the whole plot. In fact, the romance actually starts to get a little bit lost under the issues with Tiberius, the female vampires, Miguel (that fuckin prick), Chase's dad - there's just so much going on and the scenes are switching and colliding so quickly I started getting literary whiplash.
Don't get me wrong, I still very much enjoyed the whole story! But somewhere along the way, because of the way the second half of the book was written, my interest in the romance was starting to wane. Ashlyn is still as solid a writer as ever; I think it would have done the story more justice to draw out the scenes and just divide the story up into multiple books rather than try to cram it all into one. BUT I will say - I know this is story is one that she wrote before as an MF that was unfinished and picked it back up again. That may be way the book feels so different in the first and second halves? Not sure, but still something I took into consideration with my rating; I applaud the ability to go back to an unfinished work and re-vamp it (lol, see what I did there?) Overall, though, still really enjoyed this one!
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