Format: E-Book Read with: Kindle Oasis Length: Novel Genre: Contemporary Romance POV: First Person, FMC Series: Worthings, #1 Publisher: Self-Published Hero: Arthur Worthing Heroine: Scarlett Elizabeth Kingston Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥 Published On: August 25, 2023 Started On: July 30, 2025 Finished On: July 30, 2025
Recollection by Noelle Adams is one of those quiet, aching love stories that sneaks up on you and refuses to let go. Told entirely from Scarlett Kingston’s perspective, it opens with her waking up in a hospital after an accident that wiped out six months of her life—six months that changed everything. Her father is dead, her life is unrecognizable, and she finds herself living in the sprawling, centuries-old Worthing estate under the care of Arthur Worthing, a man who was once merely her father’s friend.
Arthur is forty-six, a brilliant, scarred, and reclusive man whose sense of control masks a heart that feels too deeply. Scarlett, at twenty-eight, is raw from grief and confusion, her amnesia leaving her trapped between two realities; the one she barely remembers and the one she is now living.
The dynamic between them is immediately loaded with tension: gratitude, dependence, attraction, and the unspoken history she cannot recall. What unfolds is both tender and devastating, a slow, deliberate exploration of love rediscovered under the strangest of circumstances.
The story moves fluidly between past and present, peeling back layers of their relationship with a kind of aching inevitability. Arthur is a quintessential Noelle Adams hero; quietly protective, honorable to a fault, and burdened by his own insecurities. His restraint is painful to witness at times, especially as he struggles to keep his distance while Scarlett unknowingly falls for him all over again. Scarlett’s journey, meanwhile, is one of piecing herself back together, of rediscovering not only her love for Arthur but also her strength and sense of self after trauma.
What makes this book unforgettable is how Adams captures intimacy beyond the physical. Every touch between them feels earned, charged with emotion and memory. The sex scenes are sensual, yes, but they are also suffused with tenderness and pain, the awareness of what was lost and what might be regained. Arthur’s fear that he is holding her back, his conviction that she deserves a future unshaped by his scars or her dependency, gives the story its most heartbreaking edge.
If I had one complaint, it is that I wanted an epilogue, a glimpse into the happily ever after they fought so hard to earn. After the emotional whirlwind of their separation and reunion, I longed for that final exhale. But perhaps it is fitting that the story ends where it does, leaving readers to imagine the rest, as Scarlett once had to imagine the missing months of her life.
Recommended for: readers who love emotionally charged age-gap romances, scarred heroes who love quietly and fiercely, and heroines who must rediscover both themselves and the man they love.
Final Verdict: Poignant, sensual, and beautifully written, Recollection is a love story that asks what it means to fall in love twice—and makes you believe it’s possible.
Format: E-Book Read with: Kindle Oasis Length: Novel Genre: Contemporary Romance POV: First Person, Dual Series: Chestnut Springs, #2 Publisher: Bloom Books Hero: Cade Eaton Heroine: Willa Grant Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥 Published On: October 14, 2022 Started On: July 25, 2025 Finished On: July 29, 2025
She smells like oranges and warm grass, refreshing and comforting all at once. She feels like heaven in my hands. And she looks just as wild as I’ve always known she is.
I can now understand why Heartless has been hyped so much by fellow romance readers, because this book was everything I want in a contemporary romance: funny, emotional, sexy, with characters who feel real. From the very first chapter, I was pulled into the story of Cade Eaton, the grumpy single dad rancher, and Willa Grant, the sassy, city-bred nanny who upends his carefully ordered life.
Cade is the kind of hero who makes me swoon; he is a man of contrasts. At thirty-eight, he is mature, responsible, and a little rough around the edges. Life has left him emotionally scarred and cynical, and his ex-wife only reinforced the belief that his best would never be enough. Yet beneath that hardened exterior lies a man who is tender, protective, and deeply loving, especially when it comes to his son, Luke. Watching Cade as both father and lover is an experience in itself, because the same hands that manage a ranch with rugged efficiency also know how to be devastatingly gentle.
Willa, at twenty-five, is the perfect foil to Cade’s grumpiness. She is bold, irreverent, and a little wild in all the ways that shake up his world. Sassy and yet commitment-phobic, she is used to running when things get too deep. Yet she is also fiercely loyal and brings a light into Cade’s life that he did not even know he was missing. Their banter is sharp and often laugh-out-loud funny, their text messages brimming with sexual tension and genuine affection, and when the slow burn finally explodes, let’s just say truth or dare has never been this hot.
The tension between them is beautifully balanced: Cade’s dirty talk and commanding presence paired with Willa’s playful defiance creates the kind of sexual angst that makes every scene sizzle. But what makes the book stand out is the softer moments; the way Cade takes care of her, the way Willa coaxes him into believing he is enough, and the way they both find in each other the family and love they did not think they could have. I also loved how fierce Willa was when it comes to Luke and Cade, which proves to be Cade’s undoing in the end.
I adored the secondary cast too, who added texture and warmth rather than being cardboard side characters. Luke was adorable. No two ways about it. Juggling a kid in the story line is sometimes a hit or a miss and I believe it was handled beautifully here. And while the epilogue with Willa giving birth was a lovely touch, I did wish to see more of her family and to watch Cade and Willa tie the knot. Still, the ending gave me everything I needed, and left me humming in the right places.
Recommended for: fans of grumpy/sunshine romances, single dad heroes, sassy heroines, and slow-burn heat that pays off in spades.
Final Verdict: Funny, sexy, and heartfelt, Heartless is the perfect blend of grit and tenderness—Cade and Willa are unforgettable.
Favorite Quotes
“You’re a good man, Cade Eaton. Quite possibly one of the best.” Her voice is so soft that I barely hear it. The hair on the back of my neck stands on end as I drop my head toward her. Everything around us fades away. I don’t know how she has this knack for telling me the things I crave. Tracing my insecurities the way she does. Soothing the hurt she doesn’t even know exists.
“Red,” I whisper-shout. Her head flips in my direction, her eyes twinkling. Because, if nothing else, Willa Grant is a shit disturber, waltzing into my life and complicating it without even trying. Looking all pleased with herself over it. With a wink over her shoulder, she shoots off, running from me. And something primal in me roars to life. I chase her.
If Willa is the playground, I want to fucking play. Period.
I pull a drawer open and rifle through it to busy my shaking hands. My fingers run up against something silky in the drawer full of scissors, elastics, clips, and Post-it notes. I grab and pull and peer down into my palm. The black panties I dropped in that coffee shop all those weeks ago. Turning back, I dangle them in my fingers. Cade doesn’t look surprised at all; he just regards me with his Annoyed Scowl. “You kept these?” I demand, sounding petulant even to myself. “You told me you threw them away.” “I lied,” he grits out. “Why?” “Because you’ve never been just the nanny, Willa.” My chest lurches as I look back at him, feeling suspended in time. “You’ve always been more. The woman I wanted but wouldn’t let myself have.”
We’re just energy, and heat, and breath. I’ve never been so thoroughly consumed in my life. Never had sex with such an edge to it. “Mine.” His growl is downright feral as he explodes inside of me, hands tracing my back reverently. A man of such dichotomies. Hard words laced with love. Rough hands filled with tenderness.
When I open my eyes, Luke is staring at me with a thoughtful expression on his face. “What did you wish for?” I ask him, needing something lighthearted. Thinking it will be something ridiculous. Something frivolous. Instead, he delivers a gut punch. One soft cheek hitches up, and he glances back down into the dark well. “I wished for Willa to come back.” My eyes burn when I pull him into me, feel his tiny arms clutching at my waist. And my voice cracks when I say, “Me too, pal. Me too.”
Format: E-Book Read with: Kindle Oasis Length: Novel Genre: Post Apocalyptic Romance POV: First Person, FMC Series: Kindled, #8 Publisher: Self-Published Hero: Malachi (Mack) Heroine: Anna Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥 Published On: October 11, 2024 Started On: July 20, 2025 Finished On: July 22, 2025
I just woke up one day and knew—I knew—that you were my resting place.
Nostalgia is the word that best describes how I felt reaching the end of Claire Kent’s Kindled series with Beacon. Throughout the series, on and off, Mack has been a towering presence in the background, the steady hand, the heart of the community, the man everyone leaned on when the world crumbled after the event known as Impact. His story has been one of the most anticipated of the series (which I am sure is a sentiment shared by many followers of the series), and while this installment may not have become my personal favorite, I can appreciate the way it brought his journey full circle.
Mack is a man who has carried the weight of countless battles, both physical and emotional. For ten years he has been the anchor in the storm, the one who kept order amidst chaos, and the one everyone else turned to for assistance. But even the strongest shoulders eventually give way and that is what happens when a certain chain of events becomes the final straw after years of loss and responsibility. Add to this, the loss of his dreams of a family with the woman who owns his heart, needless to say he withdraws completely, retreating into the wilderness to nurse wounds too deep to share.
When Mack fails to return back to the community even as months pass, it is Anna who finally sets out to bring him back, knowing that it may not be as easy as that. Mack who would rather nurse his wounds in private, is reluctant to let her in, both literally and figuratively, until he is forced into sharing his quarters with Anna, which serves to the start to the journey of shared healing for the two.
Though Anna is pivotal to the story, I often found myself struggling with her choices. At thirty-three, she is a survivor of an abusive marriage, determined never to lose her independence again. Her hesitancy to commit to Mack comes from a place of self-preservation, a belief that she cannot be the partner he deserves because she still has so much healing of her own to do. And yet, beneath all that, it is evident she has always loved him. She just could not let herself give in.
What I did admire was Anna’s decision to risk her life for Mack, both literally and figuratively. When she ventures into the dangerous forest to bring him back, it is as much about saving him physically as it is about proving her feelings at last. Mack’s need for reassurance, for proof that he is not alone and unloved, felt heartbreaking and necessary after all he has endured. It was only fair that she had to be the one to step forward and make that sacrifice, just as he has carried everyone else, including Anna, for so long.
The theme of positive masculinity runs strong here. Mack is written as a man of great strength, but also deep vulnerability. His willingness to shoulder responsibility, his devotion to community, and his steadfast love for Anna makes him a hero worth remembering.
Still, as much as I admired his character, I found myself less enamored with the romance than I expected. Perhaps it was the years of buildup between Anna and Mack throughout the series which Ms. Kent expected us to take notes of, or the way their relationship often simmered just below the surface, but when it finally took center stage, I did not connect with their love as deeply as I hoped.
That said, I do understand why the characters were written the way they were. Breanna, in her story, needed a gentler partner to help her heal, and while Mack’s trauma was different, he needed the space and solitude, time to grieve and recover privately before he could return whole. The conclusion between Anna and Mack perhaps makes sense for who they are, even if the emotional punch did not hit me with the same intensity as some of the earlier books in the series.
Now that the series has come to a close, I cannot help but feel a bittersweet ache. Beacon ties the threads together, but it also leaves me looking forward. Logan, who made only a small appearance here, completely stole my attention, and I am already anticipating his book with high hopes. Now there is a hero of the kind I identify with!
Recommended for: readers who love end-of-the-world survival romances, broken-but-steadfast heroes, and heroines learning to claim their own strength.
Final Verdict: A bittersweet finale; Mack’s story closes the series with quiet strength, even if the romance did not burn as brightly as I had hoped.
Format: E-Book Read with: Kindle Oasis Length: Novel Genre: Historical Romance POV: Third Person, Dual Series: Game of Dukes, #3 Publisher: Self-Published Hero: Adam Garrity Heroine: Gabriella Billings Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥 Published On: May 23, 2019 Started On: February 21, 2025 Finished On: April 11, 2025
“A sensible man guards his heart; a smart man knows when to yield it.”
Regarding the Duke by Grace Callaway was my very first book from this author, and what an introduction it turned out to be. The third installment in the Game of Dukes series that features protagonists who blur the lines when it comes to the “right” side of the law, this is a book (as evidenced by my sheer enjoyment), that can be read as a standalone. This is a sweeping, emotional, and evocative romance that had me laughing out loud one minute and crying the next, the kind of story that lingers long after the final page.
The book begins with Gabriella Billings, who at the age of twenty-two marries Adam Garrity, the infamous Duke of the City. On the surface, he is a wealthy, powerful man whose fortune and shadowy empire makes him both feared and respected. She marries him for love, but Adam, hardened by his past and intent on revenge, marries her for reasons entirely different.
By the time the story continues eight years later, Gabby is thirty, the mother of two children, and still deeply in love with her husband. Adam, now forty-three, is every bit as enigmatic and controlled as he was the day he wed her. Their seemingly perfect marriage unravels in the wake of an accident that leaves Adam with amnesia and Gabby with shattering revelations about the truth of their relationship.
Adam is the sort of hero that I cannot help but swoon over. Scarred inside and out, his childhood was one of abuse, betrayal, and even being sold by his own father into horrors no child should endure. Everything about the man he became is tied to that past, his drive for vengeance and his obsession with control born from trauma. When amnesia forces him to relearn everything, it also gives him the rare chance to see his life without the filter of bitterness. It is here that his relationship with Gabby transforms, as he finds himself falling deeply and passionately in love with the wife he had kept at arm’s length for years.
Gabby is a heroine who resonated deeply with me. She struggles with anxiety, self-image, and the kind of constant overthinking that makes her feel wholly human. Sweet, feminine, and unassuming, she is exactly the kind of woman who makes a man like Adam whole, not by changing him, but by balancing his darkness with her quiet strength. She adores him even when she fears she was never truly loved in return, and it is her unwavering heart that grounds their marriage through the upheaval of secrets, betrayals, and rediscovery.
The steamy scenes of passion were a delightful surprise, written with sheer eroticism that lives rent free in my head. Since my first foray into Ms. Callaway’s stories, I have come to identify Adam Garrity as one of a kind. He is the man who smolders and delivers so spectacularly, every single time.
What I loved most about this book was how brilliantly this is written. Ms. Callaway has a gift for weaving in humor at just the right moments, lightening up scenes that are otherwise weighted with pain and longing. The emotional depth of Adam’s journey, paired with Gabby’s quiet courage, made for a romance that was both heartbreaking and healing. And the cover? Absolutely glorious, perfectly capturing the passion and beauty of this story.
Recommended for: readers who enjoy historical romances with antiheroes, self-made men, long marriages tested by secrets, and heroines whose strength lies in their femininity.
Final Verdict: Evocative, emotional, scorching hot, and utterly unforgettable; Regarding the Duke is everything I want in a historical romance.
Favorite Quotes
With a wave of his hand, Mr. Garrity sent the guards and widow retreating back to a discreet distance. Then he offered Gabby his arm. “You have my word that this will be a short, perfectly respectable interlude. Shall we?” “You think of everything, don’t you?” Gabby asked, bemused. “I want you to know that your reputation is safe with me.” The stars reflected in his eyes, which were darker than the sky and so deep that she had the sensation of losing herself in everlasting midnight. “That you, Miss Billings, will always be safe with me.”
“You need hide nothing from me, Miss Billings,” he said. “If we are to further our acquaintance, it would be best for us to be honest with one another.” Stunned, she came to a halt. “You wish to further your acquaintance with me?” His brows lifted. “Why does that surprise you?” “Because you’re…” Handsome as a prince. And rich and powerful. Why would you want to get to know me? “You’re my father’s business associate,” she finished lamely. He studied her. “Do you find me old, Miss Billings? Too old to be your friend?” The idea was laughable. He radiated virile energy, the essence of a man in his prime. “No,” she blurted. “Definitely not.” His lips gave a faint twitch.
“You’re mine. You belong to me,” he growled. “Say it.” “I…belong to you,” she moaned. “Then take me. All of me.”
“I want all of you.” The words welled up, unstoppable as her tears. “I want a marriage of hearts and minds and bodies, too. I want nothing between us. Nothing.” “Then we are in accord, my sweet wife.” In a lightning-fast move, he was by her side, thumbing away her tears. Then he scooped her up in his arms. Her hands landing on his rock-hard chest, she was captivated by the ferocity of his expression. “Because when it comes to our marriage, I won’t settle for less than everything.”
Format: E-Book Read with: Kindle Oasis Length: Novel Genre: Sci-Fi Romance POV: Third Person, FMC Series: Hold, #1 Publisher: Self-Published Hero: Cain Heroine: Riana Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥 Published On: November 02, 2007 Started On: February 16, 2025 Finished On: February 21, 2025
“Tell me you’re mine.”“I’m yours,” she gasped, meaning it—far more than in body. “Just yours.”
Hold is a novel that I reviewed way back in 2010 when it was first published under the pen-name Zannie Adams through Ellora’s Cave. Revisiting it now feels almost like stepping into a time capsule of dark, gritty sci-fi romance with that touch and flair that is unique to Kent in her romances.
The story follows Riana, an archaeologist whose life takes a devastating turn when she is unjustly convicted and sent to Genus V, a brutal prison planet where survival hinges on the law of the strongest. With no hope of release, no possibility of escape, and surrounded by chaos and violence, her only chance lies in Cain, the brooding, solitary prisoner who has carved out his territory through intelligence and sheer force. Their relationship begins as one of necessity, Riana bartering the only thing she can offer for protection, but it evolves into something rawer, darker, and far more emotional than either of them expect.
Cain is the epitome of the dangerous hero; stoic, fierce, and with a predator’s strength that makes him both terrifying and magnetic. He is a man of few words, but every action speaks volumes. He shields Riana, but he also makes her face truths about herself she would rather avoid. Riana, on the other hand, is not the delicate damsel one might expect in such dire circumstances. She is resourceful, determined, and unwilling to let the horrors of the Hold break her spirit, even when the odds are stacked impossibly high.
What struck me the most in this reread is how the book balances its relentless brutality with moments of startling tenderness. Cain is not gentle, not by any stretch, but there are flashes of protectiveness and even affection that feel monumental because of who he is and where they are. The intimacy between him and Riana is primal, often public, and utterly unapologetic, yet layered with a vulnerability that sneaks up on you. This dynamic makes their connection both uncomfortable and deeply compelling.
I loved the way the story explored power dynamics, survival, and the question of what humanity means in a place designed to strip it away. Cain’s possessiveness and Riana’s stubborn grit made them unforgettable, even as some of the violence and voyeuristic elements of the Hold made me squirm. The setting is a world that is bleak and merciless, what makes their relationship stand out as something worth clinging to.
Recommended for: readers who enjoy dark, intense romances with a sci-fi twist, survival themes, and heroes who are anything but conventional.
Final Verdict: Dark, raw & unapologetic; Hold turns survival into a love story that lingers long after the last page.
Format: E-Book Read with: Kindle Oasis Length: Novel Genre: Contemporary Mafia Romance POV: Third Person, Dual Series: Crime Lord Series Publisher: Standalone Hero: Gavin Pyre Heroine: Lyla Dalton Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥 Published On: December 12, 2017 Started On: January 16, 2025 Finished On: February 16, 2025
“You belong to me,” he stated without emotion, as if she was an inanimate object he was claiming ownership of. “You try to leave me again, I’ll hunt you down and make you watch as I slaughter everyone you love. Then, I’ll make you pay.”
It was Lydia’s review on Goodreads that drew me to Mia Knight’s Crime Lord Series, and as I read along, I began to understand how Gavin Pyre became one of her favorite book boyfriends. This trilogy is raw, gritty, and unapologetically dark, pulling the reader deep into a world where love is as dangerous as the underworld that Gavin rules. The trilogy follows Lyla Dalton, a woman who once fled Las Vegas and the ruthless man who claimed her heart, only to be dragged back into Gavin’s grip when he comes to reclaim what he considers his.
Lyla is a heroine who embodies contradictions. Shaped by a loveless childhood and the toxic choices of her parents, her vulnerability makes sense. What originally draws her into the life of Gavin is because of her need to escape the toxicity that is her home life. Even though she spends years trying to build a normal life away from Gavin, he is not a man to be trifled with, especially when Lyla is his to love, claim, and possess.
Gavin Pyre, on the other hand, is the archetypal antihero; dark, ruthless, unyielding, yet deeply in love with the one woman who both humanizes him and drives him mad. His brand of love is obsessive, jealous, and terrifyingly possessive, but beneath the brutality is a man who would burn the world down for Lyla and later, for their daughter Nora.
The heart of this story lies in the clash between Lyla’s desperate yearning for normalcy and Gavin’s refusal to ever let her go. Their relationship is a battlefield of wills, one moment tender, the next violent, always charged with intensity. Theirs is not a romance painted in soft hues; it is jagged, bloody, and unrelenting, where the line between love and destruction blurs constantly. It is in this tension that Mia Knight thrives, giving readers a story that is addictive, unsettling, and unforgettable.
What I loved most was how unapologetically complex Gavin is. He is not softened or redeemed in the way most romance heroes are. He is who he is, and yet his devotion to Lyla and later to their daughter Nora makes him magnetic. It is no wonder readers call him unforgettable. Still, the constant glorification of violence did sometimes weigh heavy, and there were moments when I felt overwhelmed by the blood-soaked choices that defined their world. But at the same time, that is what makes this series stand out perhaps; it does not flinch from the brutality that comes with loving a man like Gavin.
Recommended for: readers who love dark romance, possessive antiheroes, second chances that come at a high cost, and stories where love is both the ultimate salvation and the deepest damnation.
Final Verdict: A dark, twisted, unforgettable saga of love and obsession in the underworld of Las Vegas. Gavin Pyre isn’t just a hero—he is a monster you cannot help, but fall for.
Format: E-Book Read with: Kindle Oasis Length: Novel Genre: Fantasy Romance POV: Third Person, Single Series: Standalone Publisher: Self-Published Hero: Azrael the Eternal Heroine: Lanachee Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥 Published On: October 29, 2015 Started On: November 23, 2024 Finished On: December 09, 2024
I am almost afraid to even attempt putting into words what this book made me feel, because Land of the Beautiful Dead is exactly what I mean when I say I want a villainous hero, one who is ruthless, irredeemable, and yet someone you fall for hopelessly and helplessly. The amazing thing about this 500+ paged novel is that you dive in and lose yourself in the story. No two ways about it.
R. Lee Smith is the kind of writer who makes you feel at home from the very first page; there is no easing in, no slow build to trust; her prose simply takes you in, surrounds you, and refuses to let go. She writes with such richness and evocative beauty that you find yourself in this delicious tug-of-war, wishing you could devour the story faster while desperately wanting to linger and savor every line.
This is perhaps one of the longest books I have ever read, and yet not a single page felt wasted. Most romances fit neatly into a certain length, or are broken into installments, but Smith dares to go where few would; into the depths of truly dark romance, giving readers something substantial, immersive, and unapologetically intense to sink their teeth into. Perhaps I am only now dipping my toes into the romantasy genre so many rave about, but no author has ever tempted me into it quite like this one.
Land of the Beautiful Dead is an epic, hauntingly beautiful romance that defies genre boundaries and lingers in the mind long after the last page. Set in a post-apocalyptic world reduced to ruins under the rule of Azrael the Eternal, the story blends dark fantasy, dystopia, and romance into a narrative that is as unsettling as it is breathtaking. The world outside the walled city of Haven is plagued by the Eaters, undead creatures that devour human life, and while humans eke out a brutal existence, Azrael and his favored Children reign supreme behind the city walls.
Lanachee, or Lan, has only known this harsh existence, but she refuses to surrender to despair. Driven by the belief that the Eaters must be destroyed if humanity is to survive, she undertakes a journey straight into the heart of enemy territory, i.e., Azrael’s stronghold. Expecting death, she instead finds herself offered a bargain; convince the most feared being on earth to end the Eaters, and in the meantime submit herself to his chilling embrace. This is no light courtship; Lan is insignificant in the face of his power, a human among an immortal race that despises her kind. Yet her brashness, stubbornness, and refusal to bow to him catches Azrael off guard.
Azrael is embodies the very essence of a villainous hero; ruthless, irredeemable, and yet impossible not to love. Lonely despite being surrounded by his own kind, he has lived for centuries in a cycle of mistrust, violence, and cold survival. His Children are malicious and vindictive, but the deeper the reader ventures into their psyche, the more the reasons behind their cruelty come into focus.
With Azrael himself, Smith crafts a figure as magnetic as he is monstrous, a man who hires a tutor to refine Lan’s manners, who is undone by the simple fact that she kisses him without revulsion, who cannot decide whether to let her go or chain her to his side for eternity. His obsession with her wars constantly with the demons that have shaped him into what he is.
The dynamic between them is fraught with power imbalance. Lan is uncultured, brash, and at times infuriatingly shortsighted, yet she becomes the one person capable of offering Azrael comfort, even when she does not understand why she is compelled to do so. He likes her rebellious nature, her refusal to simply submit.
Their kisses alone tell a story of need and vulnerability, and as the narrative unfolds, they become each other’s solace in a way neither could have foreseen. There are moments when Lan frustrated me deeply, and yet she is exactly what this lonely, scarred man, reviled by all, needs.
This is not a romance of grand gestures alone; it is a slow, grinding evolution of two souls learning to navigate each other’s darkness. Azrael’s centuries of regrets over what he has done to protect his undead, Lan’s unwavering yet flawed mission to destroy the Eaters, and the impossible choice between their loyalties form the core of the tension.
Told entirely from Lan’s perspective, the depth of Azrael’s emotions must be pieced together from her observations, which makes his moments of vulnerability all the more shattering. The sheer scope of the novel allows this relationship to breathe and evolve, and a shorter work could never have done justice to its complexity.
By the time the ending comes, it feels not just fitting, but inevitable. Azrael, the scarred and feared monster no woman would touch, finds in Lan a passionate, protective love that is unconditional. And Lan, in turn, finds her place beside him, not as a pet or pawn, but as his equal in a way no one else could be.
This book deserves all the stars in the world!
Recommended for: readers who crave truly dark, villainous heroes; sprawling, immersive world-building; and romances that challenge the very concept of love and morality.
Final Verdict: A masterwork of dark romantic fantasy; unflinching, immersive, and unforgettable; Land of the Beautiful Dead is easily one of the best romances I have ever read.
Favorite Quotes
“Humans are such a contradiction in their very essence that I find I can neither wholly hate nor envy them, even after all these years and all the cause I have been given. Your capacity for destruction, terrible as it is, is as evenly matched by your ability to create and to imagine. I could never have built such a hall.” – Azrael
“How many have you got?” He looked at her in some surprise. “Swans?” “Dollygirls, I meant.” “Presently?’ Lan braced herself. “Yeah.” “Twelve, apart from you.” She supposed she should feel relieved it wasn’t more. She didn’t. But he was watching and even if she didn’t know what she was feeling, she was somehow sure he did. To hide it, whatever ‘it’ was, she tossed off a shrug and said, “Unlucky number, thirteen.” “Mm. There’s also Chloe, although we’ve not entered a true contract yet.” Yet. Dicky word, that. Yet. “Why not?” His smile twisted inward and became bitter. “Were I you, I would say you’d ruined me.” “Me?” “You. The mark by which I have come to measure the living.” He glanced at her. His eyes lingered, dimming, before they turned away. “And find them wanting.”
“I can’t help but feel you’re trying to get rid of me,” she said, trying to pretend she was joking. “No.” His eyes flickered. “No, Lan. I’m trying to keep you.”
Sometimes, Azrael would be there already when she returned to the just-a-house, but more often, she went to sleep alone in the overlarge bed that was hers for so long as she was here and he woke her as he slipped beneath the covers and took her silently into his chill embrace. He always tensed when she kissed him, but allowed it, even on those nights he did nothing but let it happen. He was more comfortable with sex than kisses. So was she, if the truth be known, but the kissing came naturally when she was with him. The fucking was almost an afterthought for her, the full stop at the end of a long and complicated sentence, but for him, it was everything—reward and punishment both.
He lifted her like it was easy, lay her down like it was natural and right. He hid nothing from her—not the chill of his flesh or the points of his claws, not ten thousand years and more of memories, or even the ghost of the girl she knew was still standing somewhere in his mind with her shirt open and her small body ready to be bought. He gave her all he was and she embraced him gladly and brought him home. It was too naked to be fucking, too desperate to be lovemaking. Sex was supposed to be something someone did to someone else, but whatever this was, they did it together. He hurt and she hurt with him. She was lost and he was with her in the dark. It was terrible and beautiful, shining with pleasure and clouded with pain, and that was how she came, torn open and full of light.
Format: E-Book Read with: Kindle Oasis Length: Novel Genre: Contemporary Romance POV: Third Person, Dual Series: Standalone Publisher: Harlequin Hero: Rafael Cavaliere Flynn Heroine: Harriet Carmichael Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥 Published On: January 09, 2007 Started On: September 15, 2024 Finished On: September 16, 2024
Emerald Mistress by Lynne Graham is a slower-burn romance that trades her trademark whirlwind passion for a richer, more layered storytelling style, yet still delivers the emotional pull and satisfying chemistry she is well known for.
Harriet Carmichael’s glamorous London life implodes in spectacular fashion when her career crashes and her fiancé betrays her. Picking up the pieces, she seizes the chance to start fresh in rural Ireland, where an unexpected inheritance gives her a cottage and stables to rebuild her life.
But peace proves elusive when she comes face-to-face with Rafael Cavaliere Flynn, her new neighbour and the man indirectly responsible for her professional downfall. Tall, magnetic, and infuriatingly self-assured, Rafael is exactly the type of man Harriet wants to avoid. Still, his brooding charm and flashes of unexpected kindness chip away at her resolve. Harriet, at twenty-eight, is determined to guard her heart, but she cannot ignore the pull between them, especially when Rafael’s own past reveals a man far more complex than his confident exterior suggests.
Rafael is a hero marked by betrayal, his jaded outlook on relationships rooted in a failed engagement that left him wary of trust. His interactions with Harriet are laced with challenge and curiosity, his attraction complicated by their rocky first impressions. The dynamic between them unfolds gradually, the tension simmering rather than erupting, giving more space for character growth and emotional connection before the romance takes center stage.
This is not the kind of Lynne Graham romance where passion explodes from the first chapter. Instead, it is a longer, more measured build, allowing for deeper exploration of Harriet’s reinvention and Rafael’s guarded nature. While the sexual tension is present, it is more subtle than her usual fare, but no less effective in keeping the reader invested. Watching Harriet fall first, and Rafael slowly catch up, gives their romance a quiet charm that feels earned.
What I loved most was the way the Irish village setting added warmth and texture to the story, with secondary characters, especially Una, playing meaningful roles. In fact, Una’s journey was so engaging that I found myself wishing for an epilogue that showed her happy ending alongside Harriet and Rafael’s life years down the line. The absence of such a glimpse was my only real regret in an otherwise absorbing read.
Recommended for: readers who enjoy slower-burn romances with strong character arcs, small-town charm, and heroes whose emotional walls take time to crumble.
Final Verdict: Warm, heartfelt, and quietly compelling, Emerald Mistress shows a different but deeply satisfying side of Lynne Graham’s stupendous writing.
Format: E-Book Read with: Kindle Oasis Length: Novel Genre: Contemporary Romance POV: Third Person, Dual Series: Standalone Publisher: Harlequin Hero: Luciano Vitale Heroine: Jemima Barber Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥 Published On: April 01, 2016 Started On: September 08, 2024 Finished On: September 11, 2024
He knew he wasn’t fully in control and it made him feel outrageously free of his rigid rules to do as he liked. She would be his for as long as he wanted her and that was all that currently mattered to him.
The Sicilian’s Stolen Son by Lynne Graham delivers all the passion, tension, and emotional depth you would expect from one of her signature Mediterranean romances. Jemima Barber’s life is turned upside down when Luciano Vitale storms in to her life to reclaim his young son, the child carried by Jemima’s late twin sister as part of a surrogacy arrangement gone terribly wrong. In a bid to protect her nephew, Jemima allows Luciano to believe she is her sister, a deception that immediately puts her in the crosshairs of a man known for his ruthless control and scorching intensity.
Luciano is every inch the classic alpha hero; smouldering, sexy, and devastatingly commanding. A widower still haunted by his past, his marriage to a beautiful but faithless woman has left him jaded and mistrustful. Yet, even when he believes Jemima to be the unscrupulous woman who withheld his child, his attraction to her is undeniable. Beneath the arrogance and edge lies a man who is fiercely protective of his son and, as the story unfolds, surprisingly vulnerable when it comes to love.
Jemima was an absolute delight as a heroine. At twenty-four, she is curvy, down-to-earth, and refreshingly warm, a stark contrast to the sophisticated, manipulative sister whose identity she is temporarily forced to assume. Her genuine care for her nephew and her quiet strength make her deeply relatable, and her helpless attraction to Luciano only complicates the precarious situation she is in. Watching her navigate the minefield of his mistrust while trying to hold her own in their increasingly combustible relationship is a large part of the book’s appeal.
The dynamic between them is electric from the start, fueled by a combustible mix of mistrust, desire, and emotional wounds. The turning point, when Luciano discovers the truth about Jemima’s innocence, does not dim the intensity, but rather shifts it into a marriage of convenience that brims with sexual tension and emotional push and pull. Their journey to trust and love is laced with tender moments, sharp exchanges, and just enough vulnerability from Luciano to make his eventual surrender to his feelings truly satisfying.
What I loved most was how Graham managed to make Luciano’s moments of openness enhance rather than weaken his potent, alpha nature. He remains smouldering and authoritative, but with flashes of raw honesty that deepen the romance. The epilogue is especially rewarding, offering a warm, joyful glimpse of their life together that ties the story together beautifully.
Recommended for: fans of marriage of convenience romances, tortured widower heroes, and curvy, relatable heroines who can hold their own against a powerful alpha male.
Final Verdict: Smouldering, heartfelt, and irresistibly romantic, The Sicilian’s Stolen Son delivers in every way you would expect a Graham novel to.
Favorite Quotes
‘If we’d had more time together, things would have turned out very differently,’ Jemima declared with a bitterness that she struggled to hide. ‘She ripped off your parents, stole your identity and your boyfriend and landed you with a baby,’ Ellie reminded her drily. ‘What could she have done as an encore? Murdered you all in your beds?’
Format: E-Book Read with: Kindle Oasis Length: Novel Genre: Contemporary Romance POV: Third Person, Dual Series: From Here to Paternity, #1 Publisher: Harlequin Hero: Ryan Kincaid Heroine: Devon Franklin Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥 Published On: August 01, 1996 Started On: August 17, 2024 Finished On: August 22, 2024
Sandra Marton’s A Proper Wife is a heady mix of passion, pride, and the irresistible pull of two people who, on paper, should never have worked. As the opening novel of the From Here to Paternity series, it sweeps readers into a tale of family meddling, reluctant vows, and a relationship that begins in sparks and keeps burning right through.
Ryan Kincaid, a man Time magazine dubbed “The Lone Raider,” is wealthy, commanding, and absolutely unwilling to be dictated to, especially by his grandfather. Devon Franklin, on the other hand, is fiery, independent, and saddled with a mother whose ambitions extend far beyond her own. Their paths collide in the most unexpected (and explosive) of ways, and what begins as a clash of wills evolves into a marriage neither truly wanted, but both can’t walk away from.
Ryan is very much the quintessential alpha hero: virile, confident, with a streak of arrogance that makes him fascinating. However, there is a vulnerability that he hides beneath that confident façade stemming from his deep-seated issues with abandonment.
Devon, at only twenty-three, is no meek heroine. She has strength, courage, and a sharp tongue, and while she initially appears overwhelmed by the larger-than-life Ryan, she proves more than capable of holding her ground. Together, their chemistry is combustible, with every encounter threatening to set off fireworks.
The heart of the novel lies in the conflict that stems from their forced marriage, a union orchestrated by Ryan’s grandfather and Devon’s mother, each with very different motivations. Both Ryan and Devon enter this marriage unwillingly, determined not to bend to the will of meddling family members.
Yet the irony lies in how deeply they affect each other, even as they try to maintain distance. The push and pull between them and their reluctance to admit what they truly feel fuels the narrative, making their separation and misunderstandings as compelling as their moments of intimacy.
What I particularly enjoyed was the earthy, raw quality of Ryan as a hero. Sandra Marton has always excelled at creating men who are magnetic and unapologetically masculine, and Ryan is no exception. His refusal to fall into the cliché of a lovesick husband was as fascinating as it was believable.
Devon’s strength was equally appealing; she is no doormat, and her fire balances Ryan’s dominance beautifully. That said, I did miss some of the banter I had hoped for as the couple spend a surprising amount of their marriage leading separate lives, and while their union is fiery, more moments of verbal sparring would have elevated the connection even further.
Still, Marton knows how to deliver intensity. The sensuality here is high, with scenes that simmer with desire and crackle with tension. And woven throughout is the poignant reality that both characters, scarred by imperfect childhoods, don’t quite know how to accept love when it is on the table.
Recommended for: Readers who love classic Harlequin Presents-style romances filled with fiery chemistry, reluctant vulnerability, and a marriage-of-convenience trope that turns deliciously real.
Final Verdict: A Proper Wife delivers passion, sizzling tension, and a hero and heroine who do not want to be married, as they fight against the very love that could heal them both.
A Maldivian's Passion for Romance 