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The Secret Humankind (The Discoveries of Julia Xero Book 1) by Gloria Oliver – Review by Katrina Evanochko

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The Secret Humankind: An Urban Fantasy Thriller (The Discoveries of Julia Xero Book 1)The Secret Humankind: An Urban Fantasy Thriller by Gloria Oliver
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book and didn’t want to put it down! It has great characters, a unique premise, and an interesting twist. Julia was relatable and her reactions to what was happening made sense. I adore Karamel and Stan, and even the main antagonist of this story was written in such a way that you have empathy for him in the end. I cannot wait for the next book in the series!

*Note – while the main conflict of this story is complete, there is still a significant overarching story that is definitely not complete and I suspect will continue for multiple books.

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Love Bites More (The Darkness & Light Duology, and the Love Bites World) by TL Clark – Review by Katrina Evanochko

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Love Bites MoreLove Bites More by T.L. Clark
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Elan and Arwyn have been best friends since childhood. Recently they both begin to feel more for the other, but in order to preserve their friendship, each keeps it a secret from the other. Enter Hassan.

I really enjoyed this book and the characters. Elan and Arwyn’s interactions had me laughing, and even though this is a fated-mates book, I liked that the characters still got to know each other before they realized they were fated, and then still made an effort afterwards to continue getting to know each other.

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Oathbreakers Anonymous by Scott Warren – Review by Katrina Evanochko

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Oathbreakers AnonymousOathbreakers Anonymous by Scott Warren
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Marluck was a paladin whose divine favour was taken away for reasons he doesn’t understand. He has become an Oathbreaker. He is found by a group of people in a similar position as him, and they form a guild. Rumours come of a way to be redeemed, so Marluck and some friends decide to go adventuring.

I really enjoyed this book! There is action, adventure, and so many laughs. The characters are unique and each has their own hilarious charm. The worldbuilding is very well done, and the plot was intriguing and kept me interested from the beginning. I definitely recommend this book and hope there are sequels coming!

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Twisted Eros (Modern Mythica Book 1) by Aria Skylar – Review by Katrina Evanochko

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Twisted Eros (Modern Mythica Book 1)Twisted Eros by Aria Skylar
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Twisted Eros lives up to its title – it is definitely a story with twists and turns. Kay is convinced to take a vacation by her sisters where she is abducted and held ‘captive’ for a month in order to completely unplug. This story is intriguing and twisted. I found it interesting to see the process of Kay detoxing from her phone and feel it is probably pretty accurate. I do feel the storyline about her sisters is not quite fleshed out – there was not quite enough information as to why their relationship was the way it was. Also, there is some mention of self-injury that could be triggering for some people. Overall, I enjoyed the mystery of why things we happening and who exactly all the players were. If you like your books a little dark and twisted, this is a good choice!

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Underneath The Whiskey by Chelsea Lauren – Review by Katrina Evanochko

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Underneath The WhiskeyUnderneath The Whiskey by Chelsea Lauren
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Underneath the Whiskey is a compelling, gut wrenching story about a man trying to be who he is expected to be by everyone in his life but it comes at the cost of his own sense of self. It contains things that can be triggering including addiction, attempted suicide, conversion therapy, and cheating.

I honestly didn’t want to like Ben. I am usually not interested in stories that include cheating, but this is a very well-written story that is honest and raw. The reason events happen makes sense. Ben goes through so much but doesn’t recognize the trauma as he was doing it for what he felt was the good of his family. Each of the characters starts out appearing one way, but as the layers get peeled away, their truth is revealed, sometimes for the better and sometimes not. Ben’s journey absolutely broke my heart and I am so glad there is a happy ending. Definitely well-worth the pain to experience this story.

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The Passion of 3 (The Perfect Number Book 2) by Ariella Talix – Review by Katrina Evanochko

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The Passion of 3The Passion of 3 by Ariella Talix
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book has interesting characters, an intriguing plot, and has both spicy and funny parts. I enjoyed the story and how Caro, Nash, and Grey’s relationship rekindled. I had a hard time fully connecting with the book and I’m not quite sure why… maybe some of the pacing or something didn’t quite jive with me, but overall it is a good book and worth the read.

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Afflicted Love (Rhythm & Heart Series) by Autumn Sand – Review by Katrina Evanochko

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Afflicted LoveAfflicted Love by Autumn Sand
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I both liked this book and struggled with parts of it. Kyle and Lyle have known each other since they were kids and support each other through some horrific things. Both are pretty damaged and deal with that damage in different ways. The story is compelling, but while I could see why Lyle made most of the decisions he made, I did not find him easy to connect with nor very likable. Kyle was a bit easier for me to connect within some ways. The cliffhanger ending was completely unexpected. I look forward to the continuation of their story.

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Foxy Tails by Natalina Reis – Review by Katrina Evanochko

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Foxy TailsFoxy Tails by Natalina Reis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Foxy Tails is an enjoyable fantasy romance. I enjoyed the characters, and the writing was well done – when Húlí and Xiăo Ying are first getting to know each other, Húlí’s frustration is palpable and I felt it too! The story starts out with Xiăo Ying saving Húlí from being hunted by soldiers but it takes some time for the romance to really heat up. Xiăo Ying’s character is interesting in that he is so quiet and stoic, until his mischievousness makes an appearance. The other two characters, Ling Ling and Yè Yǐng, are also interesting and add to the story.

The story itself is intriguing and made me want to keep reading to find out what was going on. This is the first book by this author that I have read and it will not be the last.

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The Crown of Stones: Magic-Borne (The Crown of Stones Book 3) by C.L. Schneider – Review by Katrina Evanochko

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Magic-Borne (The Crown of Stones, #3)Magic-Borne by C.L. Schneider
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the final book in Ian Troy’s journey. You definitely have to read the first 2 books to know what is happening.

The story is action-packed and deals with a lot of heavy topics. The writing was well done and there were times of laughter but also ones that made my heart hurt.

I’m not sure the conclusion was what I wanted, but it left me curious what the author will be doing next in this world!

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Return to Hoodoo (Boudin, Bourbon, and Barbecue, Book 1) by Reggi Dupree – Review by Katrina Evanochko

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Return to Hoodoo: A Paranormal Women's Fiction Novel (Boudin, Barbecue, and Hoodoo Book 1)Return to Hoodoo: A Paranormal Women’s Fiction Novel by Reggi Dupree
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I super enjoyed this book. I loved Gwen’s “give no f*cks” attitude. The characters were all interesting and different. I enjoyed Kyle and would love to know more about this character and his journey.

I cannot wait for the next book to be out!

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The Silent Road by S.N. McKibben – Review by Katrina Evanochko

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The Silent RoadThe Silent Road by S.N. McKibben
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I am not going to lie, based off the beginning, I wasn’t sure I would be able to get past the first few chapters. I did not like Dan, and my dislike was enough that I almost stopped reading. But based on a few interactions with Jake, I was just curious enough to keep reading, and I am so glad I did. I’m still not sure I like Dan, but he at least grows as a person and learns from his experiences. Jake was fun, though I am not quite sure what attracted him to Dan. I absolutely adore Mimi!

This story is not really about Dan and Jake’s relationship, it is more about Dan facing his prejudices and learning to be a better person. In the end, I enjoyed this book.

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The Challenger (The Hustlers Trilogy Book 2) by Rowan Rossler – Review by Katrina Evanochko

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The Challenger: A Sports Romance Saga (The Hustlers Trilogy Book 2)The Challenger: A Sports Romance Saga by Rowan Rossler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Challenger is a great age gap (if you consider 7 years an age gap 😉) romance. Flynn and Chavez have incredible chemistry. I’ll be honest that both characters did things that made me question my feelings about them, but in the end, they worked through the challenges and that they both grew as characters is my favorite part of the book. Both Flynn and Chavez are complex people and I enjoyed learning about them. This story has not only depth and intrigue, it has heat! Chavez’s ultimatum for the Australian tournament was almost as frustrating for me as it was for Flynn!

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Ale’s Fair in Love and War by Sylvie Stewart – Review by Katrina Evanochko

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Ale's Fair in Love and War (Love on Tap, #1)Ale’s Fair in Love and War by Sylvie Stewart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a laugh-out-loud story of 2 business owners who are enemies who use pranks to war with each other. The chemistry between Cash and Hollis is off the charts, and the level of sass and snark between Cash and Hollis is amazing! I very much enjoyed this story and cannot wait for Carter’s story!

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Hot For Me (The Balefire Series Book 4) by Tam DeRudder Jackson – Review by Katrina Evanochko

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Hot For Me (Balefire, #4)Hot For Me by Tam DeRudder Jackson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love rockstar romance, and this book delivers. Adam is the bassist for the rock band Balefire. Christy is the pop star who joins their tour. Adam and Christy have immediate chemistry and flirt up a storm. There are things from the past that appear and how each handles it will determine their future. I really liked Adam and Christy and enjoyed their story a lot.

This is the 4th book in the series, but you can read it as a standalone

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Shore Lodge by Susan Specht Oram – Review by Katrina Evanochko

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Shore Lodge: A high-stakes psychological thriller (The Millersville series)Shore Lodge: A high-stakes psychological thriller by Susan Specht Oram
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

While Jacklyn’s story is fiction, I truly believe situations like this happen to people, and that is a terrifying thought. The author did a great job showing Jacklyn’s thoughts and how easy it would be to give into despair. Her moments of questioning her own sanity were heartbreaking. I wish there were more consequences for the perpetrators, but that is also probably true to life as it is likely difficult to prove people are admitted unnecessarily.

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Married Blind (King of Screen Book 2) by Morgana Bevan – Review by Katrina Evanochko

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Married Blind (Kings of Screen, #2)Married Blind by Morgana Bevan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a great book. I loved both characters. Abi isn’t afraid to stand up for herself. Finn had legitimate trust issues and while I usually don’t enjoy stories where the conflict can easily be solved by a simple conversation, in this case it made sense to me what happened, the sequence of events, and why each reacted the way they did. It actually made sense. I was pulled into this story and had a hard time putting it down.

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Whispers in the Waters (Blood of the Fae) by Sarah Chilson – Review by Katrina Evanochko

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Whispers in the Waters (Blood of the Fae, #0.5)Whispers in the Waters by Sarah Chislon
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is the prequel to “Tattoo of Crimson” and it was an interesting look into Jessa’s character. She is struggling with concerns she is fae-touched which is a sentence to an asylum if anyone finds out. She accompanies her aunt to visit a friend and has to decide if the potential risk of using her abilities is worth the reward of helping the family of her aunt’s friend.

The story is a bit slow at times, but it allows for time to really get to know Jessa, and I enjoyed the mystery. I loved Jade as well.

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Taming Beckett (The Playmakers Series Hockey Romances Book 1) by G.K. Brady – Review by Katrina Evanochko

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Taming Beckett (The Playmakers, #1)Taming Beckett by G.K. Brady
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this book. Even with all of Beckett’s faults and mistakes, I still wanted to see him succeed. I felt for Paige and I was glad to see her and Beckett connect. The characters grow throughout the story, and I liked who they were at the end.

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Kamana Wanalaya by Susan Renee – Review by Katrina Evanochko

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Kamana Wanalaya for the Holidays: A Grinchy/Sunshine Holiday RomanceKamana Wanalaya for the Holidays: A Grinchy/Sunshine Holiday Romance by Susan Renee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Tenley is the host of a podcast on practical adult relationships, whose opinion is that love doesn’t conquer all, and people should be practical and realistic about life. Teagan is the Love Guru, and he (obviously) believes in love. A random comment on a radio show makes Tenley go to Hawaii to prove that she is right.

Tenley and Teagan’s banter is funny, and they have great chemistry. The pace of the story is good and I was pulled into their story. The “something happens so one person refuses to talk to the other” trope isn’t my favourite but it wasn’t terribly done and made sense for the character. I haven’t read Susan Renee’s other books, but it was clear that the supporting characters are cameos from other books, and it makes me want to go read their stories.

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The Sacrifice (Dragonpets Book 1) by R. L. S. Hoff – Review by Katrina Evanochko

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The Sacrifice (Dragonpets #1)The Sacrifice by R.L.S. Hoff
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was an interesting read with an original premise. I just wish it had a bit more depth to it. I liked Rilla and Vidar, and would have liked a bit more insight into their relationship developing. The conflict seemed to be resolved a bit too easily, both the purple dragon and later between Rilla and Vidar. I am intrigued by this series, and am curious about further stories

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The Final Bite by Naomi Valkyrie – Review by Katrina Evanochko

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The Final BiteThe Final Bite by Naomi Valkyrie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Final Bite is a cute story with an interesting plot. I liked that Quinnlan is not your stereotypical vampire. I also really enjoyed the way the story was told, as if Quinnlan was telling us the story and it was amusing when he talked directly to the reader. The plot was not complex, and things were resolved easily, but that did not take away from my enjoyment of the story.

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Dia’s Lure (Solstice Quartet Book 3) by Catherine Peace – Review by Katrina Evanochko

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Dia's LureDia’s Lure by Catherine Peace
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Dia’s Lure is a paranormal fantasy romance. It is the third book in a series. I didn’t read the first two books, and while I think I would have understood a few things a bit better, I think it was fine as a stand-alone.

Dia has been on the run for years. She has very few friends and does not stay in one place for too long in an effort to keep hunters from finding her or her family. She struggles to trust others, and this shows in her interactions with a group of people she stumbles across. Add in a person from her past showing up, and things get interesting.

Carver is a very interesting character. He has had to make some hard choices in his life and is willing to bear the consequences. He and Dia have history and chemistry, and when Milos gets added in, things get spicy.

All three characters have chemistry with each other and together. It was interesting to watch how things unfolded. There was an element of ‘fated mates’ even if that wasn’t overtly talked about, as they were all drawn to each other and were quick to succumb to it.

While the main plot of this story was told, I want to know more about some of the side characters and what else happens for the swans. I look forward to reading more in this world.

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We Blend (Falling for the Rockstar’s Daughter Book 1) by Willa Drew – Review by Katrina Evanochko

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WE Blend (Falling for the Rockstar's Daughter Series #1)WE Blend by Willa Drew
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wil and El are magic. I don’t usually like slow burn, but this was done right. Their chemistry is off the charts and the building of feelings each time they interact is perfect.

El is an interesting character. She is a bit self-centered, but at the same time does little things for people like Frank, and bringing food for Wil when they are rehearsing. Her story is heartbreaking and when we finally learn it her reactions to so many things make sense.

I really like Wil. He seems to be cocky and confident, and he can be those things, but it is also a mask to hide behind. His character growth throughout the book was interesting to see. I cannot wait to read the next book in the series to see where WE goes next.

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Grave Digger Academy II (Grave Digger Academy Book 2) by C.A. King – Review by Katrina Evanochko

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Grave Digger Academy IIGrave Digger Academy II by C.A. King
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is the second book in the Grave Digger Academy series, and you definitely need to read the first book to know what is happening in this one. It picks up where book 1 left off.

I enjoyed this story, but it felt rushed. The timeline was a a bit confusing as there are jumps in time that are not clearly explained, especially at the beginning. As it got closer to the end, it improved and things made more sense. I still wish we got more of a sense of the day-to-day routine of the school and got more insight into other characters.

I enjoyed the inter-academy games, and adored the squirrel antics!

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Tropical Date (Postscript Island Book 3) by R.S. Jonesee – Review by Katrina Evanochko

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Tropical Date (Postscript Island, #2)Tropical Date by R.S. Jonesee
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Marissa and Weston have been best friends since kindergarten, and fell in love. Five years ago, unexpected news rattled them and they broke up. Weston left the island they lived on and hadn’t returned to visit. That changes when his mom asks for his help. Their first time seeing each other… does not go well.

Marissa and Weston have obvious chemistry. I liked Weston and Marissa, though both seemed a bit naive to me. The entire cast of characters is interesting, but a few things fell flat. The story is a bit predictable, and some of the characters were odd and not quite realistic – like Weston’s staff’s over-the-top insistence on putting slippers on Marissa or feeding her. That being said, I enjoyed the story and there were many parts that were funny. It is the perfect beach read.

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Hard Lover (Houston After Dark Book 2) by Deborah Garland – Review by Katrina Evanochko

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Hard Lover (Houston After Dark #2)Hard Lover by Deborah Garland
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Callie Rose has had a crush on her brother’s best friend, Noah, for years. She decides to go to the sex club he frequents to see what happens, and sees more than she bargained for. Very soon after she is attacked heading into her dorm room, and her brother assigns Noah to guard her while they find the perpetrator. Noah tries not to give in to his desires for Callie, but quickly loses the battle with himself which leads to some spicy scenes!

I really liked Callie. She has had a rough life, raised by her brother, Grant, after both parents go to jail. She grew into a kind, but strong woman who takes no crap, and I loved seeing her stand up for herself and take what she wanted. Noah genuinely wants to do the right thing and struggles with what that is. I get why he didn’t want to tell Grant about what happened when he was in college, though I wish he had said something sooner.

Some of the things that happened with Erik and how some of the characters reacted to it didn’t fully make sense to me, but I was glad to see the resolution. Overall, this is a good book. It is the second in a series, but you do not have to read the first book to enjoy this book.

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Fairly Royal (The Fair Series Book 4) by Grace Grahme – Review by Katrina Evanochko

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Fairly Royal (Fair, #4)Fairly Royal by Grace Grahme
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book combines a few tropes into one great story. It is a best-friend’s-sister, fake relationship, and royal romance all rolled into one. Philip is the Earl of Arburne, and while he does not want a real relationship, giving the tabloids a romance to talk about could help take some pressure off him to find someone. His best-friend’s little sister, Anna, agrees to help him out, with a few rules in place.

Anna is confident, but has a hint of vulnerability that helps her feel real. Philip is a bit stuffy as a royal. Watching each of them learn to interact and move through the other’s typical territory is amusing and adds more to their dynamic. This truly is a fun modern fairy tale.

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Remember to Forget Me (Too Lost to Love Book 1) by Hazel Storm Review By Katrina Evanochko

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Remember to Forget Me (Too Lost To Love, #1)Remember to Forget Me by Hazel Storm
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Wesley and Addison are old schoolmates with a budding romance when a traumatic event changes everything. Wesley loses his memory of the previous 6 months – the entire time he knows Addison – and Addison is pushed out of his life. 10 years later, they cross paths again and Addison has to decide if she tells him the truth or not, and there is someone actively trying to prevent them from seeing each other again.

I enjoyed this sweet second chance romance. Addison and Wesley were interesting characters whose chemistry is off the charts. You don’t find out immediately what the traumatic event was. You see glimpses of it, and don’t get the full picture until well into the book, but it was well done. The cast of supporting characters was great as well, though I wish we learned more about Malcom, he intrigued me!

The one thing that I am still not sure how I feel about is what happens when everything comes to light and Wesley sees the cause of the event 10 years before. I feel like it was glossed over a bit, but I also don’t know what I would want to see happen.

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Key to His Heart by Kristina Beck – Review by Katrina Evanochko

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Key To His HeartKey To His Heart by Kristina Beck
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It took me a bit to get used to reading about a character with the same first name as me, but it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be 🙂

Katrina is starting over – she is divorced, pregnant, and hasn’t made any connections with anyone in the small town she moved to. Through a series of coincidences, she meets TJ twice in one day, and he helps her when she goes into early labor. Their connection is instant! What follows is a story that is heartwarming with a couple mysterious happenings. Like many stories, some of the conflict of this story could have been avoided if the characters communicated a bit better, but unlike many stories, the reason Katrina avoided telling TJ what was going on actually made perfect sense and I am not sure I would have said anything either. TJ is a wonderful person and is absolutely adorable with Toby. Everyone should have someone like TJ in their corner!

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Let It Be Love (A Mustang Prairie Romance Book 5) by N.D. Jackson – Review by Katrina Evanochko

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Let It Be Love (A Mustang Prairie Romance)Let It Be Love by N.D. Jackson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a super cute romance. It was interesting that this story doesn’t start at the very beginning of Eric and Kiki’s relationship. At first I wasn’t sure if I would like that – usually I want to know everything about how a relationship starts, but in this instance it really worked. I didn’t read the previous books in this series, so I suspect you see the beginning of their relationship in previous books, but it did not detract from this story at all.

Eric and Kiki are figuring out their relationship and trying to make it work. Eric may be the mayor of Mustang Prairie, but that kind of public figure is not quite the same as being a pop star, and it has made him a bit reluctant. But you can tell he truly cares for Kiki, and once he decided he was in, he didn’t waver.

Kiki is dealing with a lot. She is getting ready to tour, is dealing with a smarmy agent, and has been working on songs that are different from what she usually sings. She cares a lot for Eric, but has things in her past that make her hesitate.

The growth of both characters was great. You see them grow both individually and as a couple. The level of communication was better than a stereotypical romance – even if there was something Kiki wasn’t quite ready to share, she acknowledged it was actively looking for when to do so. If she made a mistake, she owned it. I really liked watching them get to their happily everything today.

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