Falling in Love with Books, One Story at a Time
Falling in Love with Books, One Story at a Time
I re-read this book (April 2026) and still loved it as much as the first time. Ash and Janvier’s love story is one of my favorites. It’s an emotional one, so have tissues. I love how Janvier never gave up on Ash and was there for her when she told him the truth of why she was afraid to give him forever. Her backstory is a tearjerker. Their love story is epic, though, and is definitely a must-read.
Okay, I finally understand the Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros hype. After finishing this book, I struggled to return to reality, especially after its intense ending. I’ve had this book on my shelf since its release, beckoning me each time I walked past, and I finally made time thanks to the Romanceopoly Challenge hosted by Under the Covers Book Blog. Now, it’s my goal to catch up with the series.
This was my second time reading this book (April 2026), and I loved it as much as before. Rereading showed me why Bluebell & Sparkle belong together, making their moments even more special. It also reminded me how much I couldn’t stand Lijuan. No one threatens Raphael & Elena.
Rise of a Queen concludes Jonathan and Aurora’s story, picking up where Reign of a King left off. Since starting Rina Kent’s books, I’ve noticed her skill in writing antiheroes, the MMCs you hate to love because they’re walking red flags. (Let me first say, in real life, I wouldn’t tolerate men with red flags. I only tolerate them in fictional books.) Once you learn their backgrounds and see how protective they are, you can’t help but fall for them. This is Jonathan’s case. I understood him much better in Kingdom Duet, even though I didn’t like him at first in Royal Elite.
Missing in Death is another novella in J.D. Robb’s In Death series, and it’s a quick read that packs just as much excitement as the full-length books. Even though it’s shorter, the story kept me interested from start to finish.
Nalini Singh has become one of my favorite authors after starting the Guild Hunter series. I love PNR books that have angels/archangels in the stories, and Nalini’s Guild Hunter series has become a favorite. I’m hoping to catch up on the series before she releases her next book later on. The fifth book in the series may only get four stars from me, but it had me in shock after finding out who was behind the murder of Neha’s consort. I also enjoyed the other mysteries that were uncovered in the book, too, with Jason and Mahiya. Nalini is an author who is a master of writing addicting PNR stories.
Despite the emotional toll this book put me through, it deserves five stars (ten stars really). When I was reading, it made it impossible to keep neutral expressions; my husband noticed my reactions, a sure sign of a fantastic read. I’m excited to read the rest of this series and the spin-off books.
If you enjoy Fantasy Romance with a human-turned-Fae navigating magic and politics, check out this trilogy. Fans of slow-burn romance with a morally grey MMC will also enjoy it.
(April 2026) Third Time reading Archangel’s Blade and I still love it. Dimitri & Honor’s story is an emotional one that needed to be told. If you didn’t like Dimitri in the first three books, you’ll understand him better in this book.
Our Italian Summer is the first book in Jennifer Probst’s Meet Me in Italy series. I wanted something different to read and knew this Women’s Fiction novel would be enjoyable. I enjoy Romance, but lately I wanted a change. This book has romantic subplots, but they are not the main focus. I wanted something that would evoke many emotions and relate to me. This book truly hit me in the feels, especially as a mother of two daughters, one adult and one teenager, who’s been keeping me on my toes. I related to these characters and understood their frustrations and happy moments through their POVs.
The Fire Bride is the third book in Gena Showalter and Jill Monroe’s King of Fury series. I’ve enjoyed each one of the books in this series because both Gena and Jill are the Queens of writing Paranormal Romance with strong heroines and heroes. They also excel at writing Fated Mates and Enemies to Lovers storylines, which are two of my favorite tropes to read in romance books.
This book had me hooked from the beginning, and I’m ready to start book two. I appreciate that the author Kathy Reichs is an anthropologist in real life, bringing authentic detail into the books. Overall, I give the first book 4-stars.
This book in the series will stay with me for years. It definitely earned five stars, even though it gave me nightmares. I’m glad I started the series in 2020 because I’m more than determined to catch up on this series. Each book gets better, and J.D. Robb has truly won me over as a dedicated fan.
Your Knife, My Heart is the first book in K.M. Moronova’s Dark Forces Duology, and this was the first book I’ve read from this author. It’s a Dark Military Romance, and it truly pushes boundaries. The prologue alone had me in shock when it came to being introduced to the hero of the story. He is not for the faint of heart, that’s for sure.
