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The Curse That Binds by Laura Thalassa ⋆ LitBuzz
My anxiety kept building throughout The Curse that Binds so much that when I approached the ending I wanted to break my kindle! I’ve read Bewitched and Bespelled, so I knew the ending of this prequel, and yet I still wasn’t prepared for my feelings. New readers can read The Curse that Binds first in The Bewitched Series and still enjoy each subsequent book. Laura Thalassa wrote this as its own important building block for Roxilana and Memnon, rather than a quick novella. Told from Roxi’s perspective starting in her childhood, we follow her struggles to survive under Roman rule. Years pass before she and Memnon meet, but being fated soulmates means they’ve seemingly known each other forever. This obviously isn’t a fairy tale romance. The Curse that Binds tells of a beautiful and ancient love and also their missteps along the way. A sweet and kind-hearted character like Roxi struggles with the brutality that Memnon’s position requires. War is constantly at their doorstep, and while she can’t stand it, Roxi takes on the burden alongside her husband. Even when she’d rather live a simpler and more humble lifestyle. Memnon is on a quest to give Roxi everything which ultimately […]
One Dark Kiss by Rebecca Zanetti ⋆ LitBuzz
One Dark Kiss puts a very naughty remix on the familiar story of Snow White. Our heroine Rosalie does indeed live with seven men, but they are referenced as her boarders in a Victorian home she inherited. She may contribute to their overall care and wellbeing, but she is not sweeping under their beds and whistling while she works. This is the second book in a series by Rebecca Zanetti that is retelling classic love stories. Each book revolves around a social media company that is operated through generations of families that still hold affinities to gemstones. Each media company specializes with a different stone, and provides a different style of consumer interaction. The general public doesn’t know about the connection of the family bloodlines to the jewels, and they definitely don’t know the secret wars internally amongst them to remain in power. What can you expect from One Dark Kiss? Forced Proximity Implied Consent Stalker behavior Explicit romance This was a quick and enjoyable read for me. I found it to be more to my liking than One Cursed Rose, which is kind of surprising because Alexei is a bit of a stalker and quite demanding. It’s not one […]
Embrace the Serpent by Sunya Mara ⋆ LitBuzz
Embrace the Serpent was a magical journey of a young woman trying to remain hidden from her oppressor. It’s her talent as a jewelsmith that makes it practically impossible to hide in plain sight. Her talent imbues her jewelry with magical gifts. Saphira couldn’t avoid creating these pieces even to save her life. Her need to create is like the need to breathe air or drink water. Saphira ends up on the run with the Serpent King, as his future bride! He’s mysterious and intimidating with some serious powers. Even so, he needs her help to keep his people safe. Without options, she finds herself allying with the King in hopes of remaining free from the evil that took away her entire family and forced her into hiding. I enjoyed Embrace the Serpent for all of its close calls, and narrow escapes while on the run. It was adventurous and exciting, while also giving the characters enough time to learn each other. It was a sweet YA romance that is perfect fantasy readers. KristinKristin lives in the PNW with her husband, and three kids. She loves to read YA fiction, fantasy, and romance. She enjoys a few side-hustles, including creating […]
All Superheroes Need PR by Elizabeth Stephens ⋆ LitBuzz
All Superheroes Need PR by Elizabeth Stephens All Super Heroes need PR by Elizabeth Stephens sweeps in and razzle dazzles in a much needed Superhero romance book! Elizabeth surely must be anointed by the creative romance gods, surely as I am thoroughly satiated after closing her newest novel. The Premise Some years ago there was this mass deposits of alien babies. Think like, Superman. This was a monumental movement on humanity as there are now, years later, laws related to these unique beings. There are also government associations dedicated to these aliens/beings and even now have public relations representation. There is a need to faction the unique beings as Heroes and Villains. Insert Vanessa the PR company CEO that is going to rep Pyro or Roland. Pyro and Vanessa’s bristly and intense meet-cute will be more than enough to capture your attention. You are instantly and just as intensely invested in their dynamic. You are going to want to know how we get arranged-fake dating to arranged-fake marriage. Plus Pyro is so down BAD for Vanessa. Good grief does that scratch that ” I need an obsessed MMC book” itch. There is a plot twist with him of MONSTROUS proportions. […]
Along Came Amor by Alexis Daria ⋆ LitBuzz
Along Came Amor by Alexis Daria Along Came Amor is Alexis Daria’s EXTRAORDINARY final installment of the Primas of Power series. This book had me sitting with my deep feelings DAYS after completing. The romance was definitely in the room with us! I must admit that I am reviewing this book with bittersweet sentiment. Book 1, You Had Me at Hola was my gateway into Latinx Romance, this series holds a special place in my whole identity online, please excuse my sappy review. The plot Whether you read Book 1 or Book 2, A lot Like Adios, you are very aware of Ava. The eldest prima, the confidant, the one everyone relies on. We counted on her advice for over two novels so readers are more than ready to invest in her HEA. We are all aware that Ava is recently divorced and as we get exposed to her internal workings, we get an inside scoop of how deeply hurt she is. As Ava tunes in to her maid of honor duties she must balance toxic family scrutiny and not falling for the PAPI CHULO Roman. Roman is the best man, best friend to Ashton, successful hotelier businessman, last guy […]
The Missing Half by Ashley Flowers ⋆ LitBuzz
“Hey! I have just read an amazing book by Ashley Flowers called the Missing Half and you might be familiar with Ashley.She is a famous podcaster for Crime Junkie.It’s her second book and I was really excited to get my hands on it because her first one really threw me for a loop.I really thought I could, you know, do what I usually do and predict what was coming next in a thriller based on the little hints they leave behind.But she’s really good at surprises.That stems from how much true crime is just rattling around in her brain. The Missing Half is about two women who basically become friends simply because they both lost their sister. And one of the women thinks that the cases are connected.And so they begin to work together to try to find out what happened to their missing sisters.One was recognized by the media and one wasn’t really.And so they do a lot of connecting and re interviewing people and the stories start to come together.And ultimately I found it to be a good suspenseful thriller, but also just kind of a wow factor for how far a, you know, a person would go for their […]
Wild and Wrangled by Lyla Sage ⋆ LitBuzz
Second Chance Romance Finally, we’re here! “Wild and Wrangled” by Lyla Sage will be on shelves and dropping into readers’ ereaders any second! By now, I think all of Lyla Sage’s readers know that Cam and Dusty are end game. Sage has been edging us with teases and glimmers of their history since “Swift and Saddled”. Reading between the lines, I knew something serious had to have gone down between them. Cam’s walls were so high they could compete with the Great Wall of China. I love a strong, determined woman, no doubt about it, but I never forget that there must have been something to push her into being that way. “Wild and Wrangled” is the fourth (and supposedly last, but I’ll never shut the gate on hopes for more from Rebel Blue) stand alone set in Meadowlark. It sure lives up to its name, too. While it builds on the series and we get cameos from our previous favorites, “Wild and Wrangled” doesn’t seem to follow the rules that the previous novels had. For example, some of our other couples (Emmy & Brooks and Teddy & Gus) have some type of history. They knew each other. Meadowlark is […]
"Sweet Obsession" by Katee Robert ⋆ LitBuzz
Welcome Back to Dark Olympus Readers have been on the Dark Olympus rollercoaster for some time now. “Sweet Obsession”, the most recent release from Katee Robert, builds on the power struggles and corruption of Olympus view through the eyes of Icarus and Poseidon. If you are new to the Dark Olympus series, I would recommend going back and starting from the beginning with “Neon Gods”. While each book focuses on one set of characters, each new novel advances the overall plot enough that you’ll feel the missed details starting in the middle. If you’re already a series reader but need a bit of a refresh, you can read my review of “Midnight Ruin” and Jes’ review of “Radiant Sin” at www.thelitbuzz.com. Let’s Get Into It One of the most enjoyable items in the new releases is the ‘catch up’ notes from Muse Watch at the beginning of the story. They’re super helpful “news items” from the fictional gossip media outlet that covers the shenanigans occurring all over town. Titles like “Olympus Under Attack!” and “New Blood in Town!” share details of plot advancement, while other scandalous headlines like “Apollo Finds Love at Last?” fan the relationship rumor mill and the […]
Enchantra by Kaylie Smith ⋆ LitBuzz
Enchantra by Kaylie Smith was a glorious follow up to Phantasma! I wasn’t sure if it would be able to keep up against Ophelia and Salem’s story, but Genevieve and Rowin were next level. Whenever the two of them would let go and just be physical, it was a spectacle. This is especially true of Genevieve. She has no issue with being straight forward about her desires. She is a confident woman, and no one will shame her for being vivacious. What Makes Genevieve Special? Genevieve Grimm is a bad @ss, smart-mouthed, spit fire of trouble. She’s the younger sister in a family with a legacy to uphold. Feeling like the “spare child” she was somewhat neglected growing up. Which causes her to make some risky choices in order to find answers about her specter nature. She was naive when she found Enchantra, looking to find someone who would be just like her. It’s undeniable that she finds precisely what she needs. Another devil, another game. Much like Phantasma, Enchantra is an evil game with dire consequences for Genevieve. The deadly game is orchestrated by a different demon with his own sickening motives. In Enchantra, she finds herself much more […]
Flirting Lessons by Jasmine Guillory ⋆ LitBuzz
Flirting Lessons by Jasmine Guillory was a light-hearted, friends-to-lovers romance. Avery is a structured woman who knows how to have fun when it’s organized, and planned well in advance. Whereas Taylor is more of a live-in-the-moment type of woman when it comes to her social and dating life. This made for a sweet opposites attract story between friends that slowly realize its their differences that make them a solid match. Taylor agrees to mentor Avery through her launch into the queer social scene. Having been in a long and unfulfilling relationship with a man, Avery shyly admits to Taylor that she is interested in dating women but has zero experience to lean on. Taylor is known in Napa for being the non-commitment type, and a magnet for attractive women. Taylor liked Avery enough as an acquaintance to help her gain confidence in her own skin, and feel at ease talking to people outside of her normal comfort zone. I appreciated that none of the “flirting lessons” felt like a cheesy rom-com. This wasn’t a story of an ugly nerd suddenly changing her wardrobe, wearing makeup, and now she’s worthy of a second look. Avery was already a beautiful and successful […]
The Big Fix by Holly James ⋆ LitBuzz
The Big Fix was a low-level thriller with a twist of humor at the expense of our female MC. Penny is a young university professor hoping to make tenure, and she falls into a messy situation during an estate sale. In reading the synopsis of this book, I had assumed that the adventure would begin immediately upon the shocking discovery during the estate sale. I was a little taken back that “action” would be a slow-burn before it eventually sizzled up. There were a few days of strange occurrences and awkward exchanges between her and him, which kind of fell a little flat for me. This story was entertaining, it just didn’t provide what I expected from a story of two people on the run. Perhaps I was expecting to be a little more like Jason Bourne? In this case, Anthony, our male MC is a little more average. It can be charming at times and fits into the fade-to-black romance storyline. Their chemistry is sweet and believable. Ultimately their survival is based on near-misses and overall luck rather than an action hero save-the-day story. I’d recommend The Big Fix to friends who enjoy light-action with a dash of cozy […]
Breaking the Dark by Lisa Jewel ⋆ LitBuzz
I may be a Marvel fan myself; however, anyone who enjoys a supernatural mystery will enjoy this book. Jessica Jones, a former superhero in the Marvel universe, is a private detective investigating a cult-like disease that spreads across continents. She is hired to uncover why two upper class teenagers in New York are suddenly behaving like robots with bizarre “AI” qualities. Jessica’s Marvel backstory is sprinkled throughout “Breaking the Dark” and ties in nicely with the main plot. Teenagers are a natural target for selling “perfection”. One of the strange behaviors of the teenagers is their constant use of the word perfect. Everything they feel is perfect, their mood is perfect, the atmosphere is perfect, and their skin is literally perfect. Their faces appear to be practically airbrushed like they’re wearing a snapchat filter. Clearly, that seems to be impossible, which is why Jessica ends up in a small England town to investigate what happened to them while spending the summer with their father. Throughout the book, we are transported between present time, and another timeline in the past of another family. The other family’s backstory is very mysterious at first, but soon we come to realize what makes them […]
The Scorpion and the Night Blossom (The Three Realms) by Amélie Wen Zhao ⋆ LitBuzz
“But meeting the right person at the wrong time, the right love in the wrong life, is a tragedy written from the start.” Amélie Wen Zhao’s, The Three Realms, duology commences with the epic and beautiful story of Àn’yīng’s quest to save her family in The Scorpion and the Night Blossom. From its opening lines this richly written and eloquently told dark fantasy transports you to an ancient world where humans are the pawns in a supernatural battle between immortals and demons and magic is the only way to navigate the conflict. With its high-intensity action, forbidden romance, otherworldly location, and extraordinary creatures this saga is reminiscent of the best of chinese period fantasy. Yet within all the grandness is an intimate encounter with an unassuming girl who does exceptional things because of her desire to take care of the people she loves. The trials and challenges she faces in her competition to achieve the pill of immortality pushes her farther than she ever thought possible yet she never imagined that the prospect of a forbidden love would be her biggest obstacle. “I often wonder if it is possible to love someone you’ve never met, someone you aren’t even sure […]
The Paris Gown by Christine Wells ⋆ LitBuzz
“Lifting her chin and straightening her shoulders, Margot looked at herself in the mirror. The young woman staring back was no Cinderella. Her belief in fairy-tale princes had shattered long ago. But that didn’t mean she needed to deny herself happiness where she found it.” Christine Wells threads themes of friendship, self-discovery, and love around an exquisite Dior gown in her novel, The Paris Gown. In the 1950’s a Christian Dior dress was the epitome of class and fashion and the dream of many women of the day, yet very few were fortunate enough wear, let alone own one of these distinctive beauties. Yet, it is a last season Dior gown that becomes the very thing that reunites three friends separated by time and distance and reinvigorates the dreams of their youth. The native Parisan – Claire, American – Gina, and Australian – Margot, became fast friends in their early twenties as they set out to experience life in bustling Paris. Even with such varied backgrounds their inquisitiveness and fondness for each other helped meld their personality differences into a tight-knit friendship. But life responsibilities took them down separate paths leading them to loose track of each other. Unitl years […]