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Breathless Love (The Bennetts of Langston Falls Book 3) by KG Fletcher – Review by Lucy Machard

Breathless Love (The Bennetts of Langston Falls, #3)Breathless Love by K.G. Fletcher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was an absolute addiction from the start. I fell in love with Hank and Ellie Mae so quick and so easily! It was so hard to put the book down! I don’t read a lot of honky-tonk romances, so this was a great change of pace for me. And that plot twist at the end had me absolutely floored! Y’all, to all my country lovin, sweet talkin’ adoring readers, this is a book you have GOT to read. I cannot recommend this enough! Go check it out!!

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Hero Complex (Bluestone Series Book 3) by Isobel Reed – Review by Lucy Machard

Hero Complex (Bluestone Series, #3)Hero Complex by Isobel Reed
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was an absolute addiction from the get go! Before I knew it, it was one in the morning and I still couldn’t put the dang thing down! It’s a great forced proximity/marriage of convenience romance, and the way the two main characters just connect with each other is amazing. I love this series, and I love this author so much. These books are high on my list of fantasticness, and I cannot recommend them enough! If you love a nice little cowboy romance, then this is the book and the series for you!!

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Consigliere’s Revenge (Sicilian Gods Book 3) by Via Mari – Review by Lucy Machard

Consigliere's Revenge (Sicilian Gods Book 3)Consigliere’s Revenge by Via Mari
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another riveting take in the story between the De Rosa and LaRussio families! I am so excited to see if there’s a next book, or what the next book will entail. The suspense, enemies to lovers with a HEA, everything about this book was phenomenal. Everything about this series so far is just absolute perfection! If you’re a Mafia lover, definitely check this book and the other books in the series out!

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Underboss’s Retaliation (Sicilian Gods Book 2) by Via Mari – Review by Lucy Machard

Underboss's Retaliation (Sicilian Gods Book 2)Underboss’s Retaliation by Via Mari
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is a huge storm of action, romance, mystery, and tenacity! I absolutely loved every second of it, and just devoured it! I don’t know if I was just so drawn in to the book that it took me such a short time to finish it, or if it is a shorter book, but either way it was a very quick read! I highly recommend this author and this series! Mafia lovers, don’t sleep on Sicilian God’s! You won’t regret it, because this author does not disappoint!

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Obedience (Ties That Bind Book 1) Audiobook by Liza Snow – Review by Lucy Machard

ObedienceObedience by Liza Snow
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow. The way the author just sucks the reader in right from the first page- Immaculate!! I was so enthralled with Cass and Chandler, that I couldn’t put the book down! The plot was absolutely amazing, and I found myself drawn so much to the characters. The writing style was so easy to get lost in, and made the book that much better. It’s a dual POV, age gap, slightly dark romance, and I am absolutely in love and ready for the next book!!

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Last King (Legacy of Riverfall Book 1) by Amabel Daniels – Review by Lucy Machard

Last King (Legacy of Riverfall Book 1)Last King by Amabel Daniels
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is my first book by this author,and after the way this one ended, I definitely need the second one. The author sucks you right in with Maren and Kane’s story, and it’s so packed with adventure and tenacity, that I couldn’t help but root for Maren every step of the way. It’s a great start to a new fantasy series, and I’ll be on pins and needles until I get to read the next one. I’m so excited to see where First Queen takes Maren and Kane’s story. Highly Recommend!!!

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Reaper (War Brothers MC Book 1) by Bianca Lee Ward – Review by Lucy Machard

Reaper (War Brothers MC, #1)Reaper by Bianca Lee Ward
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book sucked me in right from the start. I found myself enthralled with Ava’s journey as she starts her new life with the MC. Even though it’s a slow burn, the book is a super quick read and goes by fast! There are certain characters that have a special place in my heart, and if you’re someone who enjoys MC books, then I definitely recommend this one! Give it a shot!

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Ten Thousand Shells and Counting: A Memoir (Teenage War Survival Book 1) by Nadija Mujagic – Review by Lucy Machard

Ten Thousand Shells and Counting: A Memoir (Book 1) (Teenage War Survival series)Ten Thousand Shells and Counting: A Memoir (Book 1) by Nadija Mujagic
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I’ve read books about war. I’m a history buff, it’s my thing. But reading first hand accounts of what it was like to go through a war zone and deal with the aftermath of war always hits different.

This is an amazing book. The author is very detailed, and it’s like walking through a room of memories and watching as the author gingerly shows you pieces of her life. This is a book about resilience, strength, and overcoming some of the hardest things in life, and I highly reccomend!

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Operation Escape (Space Force Rejects Book 2) by Landra Graf – Review by Lucy Machard

Operation Escape (Space Force Rejects Book 2)Operation Escape by Landra Graf

I loved the first book, but I thunk I love this book even more!! A fantastic, thrilling, gorgeous sequel to Space Force Rejects! The budding attraction between Markus and Sera had me deep in the author’s clutches for the whole book. The book moves along very quickly, and it won’t take long to finish it! I just couldn’t put the book down! Highly recommend!

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Savage Truth (Hidden Valley Elite Book 2) by Isla Vaughn – Review by Lucy Machard

Savage Truth: A High School Bully Romance (Hidden Valley Elite Book 2)Savage Truth: A High School Bully Romance by Isla Vaughn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was on pins and needles the whole time with this book. I love a good enemies to lovers book, and this one perfectly flowed with the ending of the last book. There’s so much drama, mystery, and retribution in this book, and it’s 100% perfect. Riley and Cole are probably some of my favorite characters I’ve come across in a book like this! I highly recommend this series and this author! If you need me, I’ll be curled up with the next book!

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The Sweet Temptations Trilogy (Sinful Delights) by L.M. Mountford – Review by Lucy Machard

The Sweet Temptations Trilogy (Sinful Delights)The Sweet Temptations Trilogy by L.M. Mountford
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a collection of 3 short stories surrounding the same plot.

I definitely understand why the author is called the lord of lust, because these books are definitely full of it.

Richard is a man who ends up tempted by not one, but two women in the series and falls to their temptation. The book is marketed as a “Why Choose?” polyamorous relationship style erotica; but I’ll be honest, the book just wasn’t it for me. I really despised Richard and also Alice throughout the books, because even though everything was right in the end, the way they got there just wasn’t it. It could be your cup of tea, but the plot and story writing just wasn’t mine.

Happy reading!

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Savage Lies (Hidden Valley Elite Book 1) by Isla Vaughn – Review by Lucy Machard

Savage Lies: A High School Bully Romance (Hidden Valley Elite Book 1)Savage Lies: A High School Bully Romance by Isla Vaughn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is awesome. You’ve got a con-artist’s daughter and a playboy football star who hate each other from the get-go as they try to come to terms with everything that’s happening in their lives. Of course, they ignore each other, and try to make each other’s lives miserable while denying how they feel. I don’t think I’ve read anything else besides this series from the author, but she has me absolutely impressed and enthralled! I can’t wait to start the second book; definitely grab this one!

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Savage Start (Hidden Valley Elite Prequel) by Isla Vaughn – Review by Lucy Machard

Savage Start: A High School Bully Romance: Hidden Valley Elite PrequelSavage Start: A High School Bully Romance: Hidden Valley Elite Prequel by Isla Vaughn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love novellas, and I love prequels. This prequel was FANTASTIC! I made the (not so major) mistake of reading the first major installment of the series before the prequel, and lemme tell ya, things do make a bit more sense with the prequel. I absolutely love Riley- she’s a firecracker, and a force to be reckoned with. I definitely have an intrigue with Cole- I know he has major potential, and I’m sensing some serious enemies-to-lovers vibes with this series. The prequel definitely has a sadder ending- but it leaves it perfect for the next book!

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The Romanov Heiress by Jennifer Laam – Review by Lucy Machard

The Romanov HeiressThe Romanov Heiress by Jennifer Laam
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

There are so many books about the speculation of Anastasia’s survival through the Bolshevic captain of the Romanov dynasty during the Russian Civil War. There have been plays, movies, etc., made about Anastasia, yet we very rarely hear anything about the other sisters, the other siblings, the rest of the Romanov Dynasty. This particular time period in history has always fascinated me, and I love reading books about it.

Reading a book about not only the oldest Romanov heir, but all of the sisters combined, was a phenomenal take on this piece of history. I loved the way everything was written, the mystery of it all, the way Olga tried so hard to do what was right through her family and through her loyalty to Russia.

I love this book. It captured me from the first page. The writing style is amazing. The story is utterly captivating and keeps you wanting more and more. I don’t think I’ve read any other books by this author, but I definitely want to. If you love history, historical fiction, and a touch of mystery, I cannot recommend this book enough. It’s a must read, and I’ll definitely be reading it again!

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Ocean’s Three (Made In Heaven #2) by Elena Kincaid – Review by Lucy Machard

Ocean's Three (Made In Heaven, #2)Ocean’s Three by Elena Kincaid
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The spice? Amazing. The plot? Fantastic. It’s a bit of a paranormal RH book, which brought an interesting element into the story. Cam’s visions with Jocelyn in the beginning really set the stage for the whirlwind romance. It’s a short, quick read. I think I finished it in about 2 hours. This book can be read as a stand alone within the two books in the current series, and I’ll for sure be checking out the first!

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Shadow (Devil’s Handmaidens MC: Timber-Ghost, Montana Chapter Book 2) by D.M. Earl – Review by Lucy Machard

Shadow (Devil's Handmaidens MC-Book Two)Shadow by D.M. Earl
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a heavy book for me. There’s a lot of detailed scenes in this book, so please heed the content warnings. Shadow is definitely a complex character, and by the end of the book, I found myself applauding her from her character arc of survival to living. Those of us who have personally dealt with similar issues know what I mean by that. It’s a very fast paced book like the first, and the new characters introduced in the book are some of my favorites so far. If you’re into the MC books, with lots of tenacity, twists and turns then you would enjoy this one!

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Tink (Devil’s Handmaidens MC: Timber-Ghost, Montana Chapter Book 1) by D.M. Earl – Review by Lucy Machard

Tink (Devil's Handmaidens MC-Book One)Tink by D.M. Earl
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a very fast paced book! Loved the HEA, and the plot line. The writing style was different from what I’m used to, and it took me a bit to get used to it.It does have very heavy content material, so please proceed with caution and take breaks as needed. I normally don’t read a lot of MC books, but this one was pretty alright! Mafia still has my heart, but if you love gangs, justice, romance, and some kick-butt fighting, then I would definitely recommend this for you.

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How To Write A Historical Novel And Love It by TL Clark – Review by Lucy Machard

How To Write A Historical Novel And Love ItHow To Write A Historical Novel And Love It by T.L. Clark
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

So this book is PACKED with lots of amazing tidbits! Not only tidbits on writing, but also on history itself. I definitely learned a lot, and hopefully when the time comes I’ll be able to implement it in my own writing. Any new indie author looking for that extra bit of help and assistance from a seasoned author- this is definitely something you need to read! I highlighted and bookmarked so many helpful things, and they way it was put together made everything flow and easy to understand!

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Ruthless Hawke (The Hawke Family Second Generation Book 1) by Gwyn McNamee – Review by Lucy Machard

Ruthless Hawke (The Hawke Family Second Generation Book 1)Ruthless Hawke by Gwyn McNamee
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

So, I read the prequel to this a couple months ago, and lemme tell you, I was not expecting how this book started. The author does such a good job of keeping your attention! I couldn’t put the dang book down! I was so addicted to it! Also, Isaac? The best. Absolute chef’s kiss. “There is no god, only me.” I was swooning over this man and their chemistry for so much of the book. Definitely one of my top books of the year so far!!

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Manipulator’s War (Ruarnon Trilogy Book 1) by Elise Carlson – Review by Lucy Machard

Manipulator's War (Ruarnon Trilogy, #1)Manipulator’s War by Elise Carlson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Right off the bat, this book had my full attention. I loved seeing an LGBT+ main character for the series, especially one so well written! Honestly what really captivated me was the wit of Ruarnon’s personality. There’s a lot of world building in the first chunk of this book, which is to be expected with it being a fantasy trilogy. This is my first book by this author, and I’m really impressed with it! The writing style is very detailed, and reminds me almost of Tolkien’s work. It did take me some time to get through it all, but I really enjoyed it and I do recommend it!

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Deadly Intentions by Anise Storm – Review by Lucy Machard

Deadly IntentionsDeadly Intentions by Anise Storm
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

(Spoilers)
I’ve read a lot of other books by this author, and she’s an author I recommend to a lot of people. I was really excited to start on this book, and it hooked me right from the beginning. Make sure you look at the content warnings before reading this book, as it does have some graphic scenes regarding SH, suicidal ideation, as well as SA and conversations about terminating pregnancies.

As I said, this book had a really strong start- revenge plot, against the MMC’s dad, Mafia romance, dark romance, forced proximity, and instant attraction. However, as the story progressed, I honestly kept disliking the MMC. I’m a fan of red flags waving in the review mirror, but honestly the MMC of this book almost made it hard to enjoy. He treated the FMC like utter trash up until like 90% of the book. And the way he was going to force her to terminate her pregnancy? No ma’am, no ham, no turkey!

I’m not a stranger to dark romances, heck, I’ve read most of the major ones on BookTok, but the way he just kept treating her throughout the book just made me disinterested in the romance sub-plot. The spice is there, but the plot just wasn’t for me. It might be your cup of tea, once again just read the trigger warnings at the beginning of the book, but it wasn’t a book I overly loved. However, I do still recommend this author and her other works! Go check them out!

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Sessrumnir (Antipodes Series Book 5) by T.S. Simons – Review by Lucy Machard

Sessrumnir (Antipodes, #5)Sessrumnir by T.S. Simons
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Okay, the beginning of this book threw me. I even went back to book 4 to make sure I hadn’t missed anything, so right off the bat I was deeply invested. What a wild rid this book was! As always with this author, packed full of adventure and full of twists and turns! The ending was so sweet though, I can’t imagine what book 6 has in store for us.

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Caim (Antipodes Series Book 4) by T.S. Simons – Review by Lucy Machard

Caim (Antipodes, #4)Caim by T.S. Simons
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

(SPOILERS) (CONTENT WARNING: Self Harm/SA)

Honestly I’m waiting for the day this series gets a TV contract. This would make such a good show. Always full of twists and turns, and of course, the drama. It starts off I think 6 or 7 years from where the last book ends, with Cam and Frejya with a full brood of kids. There’s adventure, action, and even some mystery. And of course, there’s a moment in here where I try not to bawl my eyes out. I know books need to be dramatic for readers to keep reading, like movies, but Jesus Christ, can Cam and Frey finally catch a break? Like cmon… make someone else suffer for once! My heart can’t take it!

However, I do wish there had been a bit of a content warning at the beginning, because there is a graphic scene of self harm, as well as a graphic scene of a character being forced against her will.

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Ouroboros (Antipodes Series Book 3) by T.S. Simons – Review by Lucy Machard

Ouroboros (Antipodes, #3)Ouroboros by T.S. Simons
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book definitely held my attention better than the first two. It is a switch POV book, and we get a larger look into Freyja’s life since the Virus. There’s a lot of reconciliation and healing in the first part, which I absolutely adored. There’s a lot more about the other societies and (small spoiler) about the true plans the governments had for the communities around the world. I wonder what book 4 has to bring!

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The Liminal Space (Antipodes Series Book 2) by T.S. Simons – Review by Lucy Machard

The Liminal Space (Antipodes, #2)The Liminal Space by T.S. Simons
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Well, what a place to start after the end of Antipodes! This book was pretty good, once again it took a bit to get through all of it, but I liked it. It does have some plot twists that were executed very well, and had me on the edge of my seat. You definitely see a little more growth with Cam in this book, and let me say- it is so FULL of drama, and I liked it! The ending has you ready for the next adventure, which I’m ready to dive into!

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Antipodes (Antipodes Series Book 1) by T.S. Simons – Review by Lucy Machard

Antipodes (Antipodes, #1)Antipodes by T.S. Simons
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I’m not normally a sci-fi person, I lean more towards fantasy. But this was a good book. A little scary, considering the way the world has been with covid over the past couple of years, but still good.

It is a bit of a slower book. It took me a couple days to work through it, although that could be because I recently got promoted at work and I don’t have as much time I used to read. I really liked the writing style, and that the author put footnotes in the book for some Australian or Scottish phrases that as an American, I wouldn’t fully understand. On to book 2!

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The 45th Parallel (Antipodes Series Book 6) by T.S. Simons – Review by Lucy Machard

The 45th Parallel (Antipodes, #6)The 45th Parallel by T.S. Simons
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another new POV switch right from the get go! I was so excited to get a glimpse into the newest character view and to see where we left off from book 5. I loved the adventure that this book dived into, and I think it’s my favorite out of all 6 books! I loved seeing the new adventurers, and it was a nice installment after the ending of the last book. After reading all of them, if you’re someone who enjoys adventure, sci-fi, and a little romance, these are the books for you!

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Married Blind (King of Screen Book 2) by Morgana Bevan – Review by Lucy Machard

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

This is the first book by this author, and I DEVOURED it. It’s been snowing like crazy where I live, so what better time to pick up a steamy romance. It is a little lengthy, but the author is such a phenomenal writer and she sucks you in with every turn of the page.

I fell in love with Finn on page one. This man, yall. This man. Holy smokes. I love a good slow burn, but this one made me want to just throw some logs on the fire! It’s so perfect. Just watching the characters battle against each other and deny how they feel- chef’s kiss.

I’m in love with this book. Absolutely in love with it. I implore all of you romance readers to read it. Both books in the series can be read as a stand alone book, which is how I’m reading this one. Get yourself a copy, a cozy blanket, and some tea to curl up with because this book will not disappoint!!!

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Night Hawke (The Hawke Family Second Generation Prequel) by Gwyn McNamee – Review by Lucy Machard

Night Hawke (The Hawke Family Second Generation #0.5)Night Hawke by Gwyn McNamee
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is like a habanero pepper: short and full of spice. This was the first book I’ve read by this author, and as a novella, I liked it. It’s a quick read- I was getting my car fixed this morning and I had it done by the time they finished working on my tire. I’ll be looking forward to the actual first book in the series, and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for Jack and Hawke! The author does a fantastic job at pulling the reader in instantaneously, I do recommend!!

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Practically Pagan – An Alternative Guide to Magical Living by Maria DeBlassie – Review by Lucy Machard

Practically Pagan - An Alternative Guide to Magical LivingPractically Pagan – An Alternative Guide to Magical Living by Maria DeBlassie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I absolutely loved this book. One hundred percent, I recommend this to anyone trying to find their way back to internal happiness and internal peace. The tone of the book to me feels like a patient mother or teaching showing her daughters how to push back societal expectations of women to learn how to find what benefits happiness and peace. She talks about finding your inner Divine Feminine, as well as taking pleasure in simple things in the world, and decluttering your soul as well as your life. I don’t think I’ve highlighted a book so much. I know I’ll be getting a physical copy soon and re reading it over and over again, and trying my best to pull from it to let go of the things that hold me down. Every one should read this, even if you don’t believe in Paganism. There’s not a lot of theology or ideology in the book, it’s simply said, about living the best life you can in a world that doesn’t prioritize the individual or individual happiness.

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