Swoon Worthy Spotlights!

Welcome to Swoon Worthy Spotlights hosted by KJ's Book Nook! 

Once a month I'll feature 1-4 of my favorite books that I have read during the month. I'll share the cover(s) and my review(s).

For this month I'm going to choose... 

Inspired by Mindy by Remi Carrington

The Planner by Jess Mastorakos

Fate Rising by Lindsay Grace

Pretending I Love Lucy by Julie Christianson

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What are some of your favorite reads from February? 

Fated by K. M. Shea

 

Synopsis:

I thought I hated not fitting in. Turns out I hate having a target on my back even more.

Someone wants me taken out. To accomplish that, they leaked the secret of my magic to all the Packs in the Midwest. Now, almost every Alpha in the region has traveled to my hometown in hopes of convincing me to join their Pack.

And some of them don’t seem to think I should have a choice.

Greyson won’t stand for that—something he makes deadly clear to the other Alphas. What they don’t know is that I’m his long missing mate. But wolves and hunters are enemies, and my hunter magic blocks me from accepting the bond…even though I’m starting to wish I could.

Our incomplete mate bond is a constant drain on Greyson. Its existence puts him in danger—something he stubbornly ignores.

But as risky as our bond is, I have to stay focused on the biggest threat at the moment.

Whoever shared the secret of my powers wants to destroy our Pack. And we’re about to find out how far they’ll go to make that happen.

My Review: 3 Stars

Confession. I am probably going to be in the minority for this one but y'all. I struggled with getting through this book. I really, really wanted to love this book but I just ended up liking it. 

I hate to say it, but Pip went right back to being the annoying, frustrating heroine that she was through the majority the first book. However, just like in the first book, towards the end of this one, she started to redeem herself. But it felt like too little, too late for me. I had a hard time getting behind her when she was playing the "woe is me" character. It was depressing and wasn't a good look for her. 

And just like in the first book, Greyson is the only thing that kept me reading until the very end. There may or may not have been a few times that I was begging him to break the bond with Pip and move on. But alas. The heart wants what the heart wants. All I can say is the man is a freaking saint.

Other than Pip, there were a few reasons I struggled with this book. The first being, I called who the "bad guy" was before I even finished reading book 2. That whole storyline was a bit weak and kinda came out of nowhere. The second reason I struggled is because of all the repetitiveness throughout the entire series. I got so frustrated reading the same thing over and over and over again. It kinda felt like I was being beat over the head with the various aspects of the story. And finally the romance, or lack there of. Since this was the final book in the series, I was really hoping the romance would be there for the majority of the book. But nope. I feel gypped again. 

Like I said, I really wanted to love this book and love this series, but it just fell flat for me. And I know it's just my personal preferences. There's a reason Ms. Shea is so popular and successful. I would recommend her to all my bookish friends who love G rated romances. 

I am still loving these two for Pip and Greyson... *dreamy sigh*

Pretending I Love Lucy by Julie Christianson

 

Synopsis:

The first rule of being a winner? Never lose your heart …

People think it’s easy being Felix Dodd III. And sure the fortune, legacy, and inheritance aren’t exactly terrible. But the name comes with so many strings, my hands feel permanently tied.

Like I’m stuck following in my father’s footsteps. Like I can’t trust people’s intentions. Like my grandmother wants me settled down before my thirtieth birthday.

I’ve got less than zero interest in marriage, ever since my one attempt at love crashed and burned. But Grams won’t let me access my trust until I’m engaged. Which means I need a fiancée.

Someone who’s looking for quick cash and a quicker getaway.

Someone like Lucy Devlin.

She’s got less than zero interest in me. But if I can get her to play along—just long enough to fool my grandmother—Lucy will be a whole lot richer, Grams will be none the wiser, and I’ll stay heartbreak free.

Just as long as I remember the new rule: Don’t love Lucy for real.

My Review: 5 Stars

Y'all. I have been dying to get my hands on this book for months! For five very long months! That's 13,046,400 seconds! And boy was it worth the wait! 😍

The moment I picked up this book, I was transported back to Apple Valley where I sat with Grams and immersed myself in all things Lucy and Fix. 

There's no pretending about it... I loved Lucy! She has got the kindest heart and is always putting others needs before her own. She has the hardest time telling anyone no and feels it's her responsibility to make sure her loved ones dreams come true. Even if that means keeping her dreams on the backburner. 

Fix was just as great as Lucy. He noticed right away how Lucy would do anything and everything for the people she loves. She was constantly taking care of them. But who was taking care of her? Y'all. This man is freaking amazing! He's what heroes are made of! 

I absolutely loved watching the relationship between Lucy and Fix develop from friends into something more. I'm not going to lie, it was painful at times and I wanted to shake some sense into both of them, but it was beautiful! I'm not afraid to admit that I cried some big, fat, happy tears! 

I seriously adore this series! It's definitely one of my favorites and one I'll be reading over and over again. If you guys haven't given this one a try yet, I highly recommend that you do! It's full of love and happiness with the perfect side of swooniness. 😍

There's a reason why Ms. Christianson is one of my favorite authors and this book is a perfect example. I can always count on her to make me laugh out loud, get teary-eyed, and let out little dreamy sighs while read her books. I'm in awe of her talent and I cannot wait to see what she has in store for us next! 

As for my casting... *dreamy sigh* I love these two! What do you think?!

The Planner by Jess Mastorakos

Synopsis:

She’s my best friend’s sister, which makes her off-limits. So why can’t I stay away?

I’m a master at hiding my true feelings for Aria Bristol. Well, except for that one time. That one kiss. She almost figured me out then, and I vowed to never let it happen again.

The fact that we were separated by thousands of miles helped a lot. But now that I’m back, all I can think about is recreating that kiss from high school. And that’s bad, because if I know anything, I know she deserves so much better than me.

But she’s fierce. Feisty. And she knows me better than anyone. I don’t know how much longer I can keep up this act. And the scariest part of all? I’m not sure I want to.

My Review: 5 Stars!

Y’all. I. Just. Can’t. Even. Right. Now! Oh holy swooniness Batman! This! This right here is JUST what I needed! I love love! 😍

Aria and Will have known each other forever and have been in love with each other for just as long. But the fear of ruining the only family Will has, had him holding back his feelings for Aria. That is until he’s stationed back in his hometown where Aria currently resides. Watch out world!

Aria knows what she wants and is tired of waiting around for Will to open his eyes to see what’s standing right in front of him. She is definitely a force to be reckoned with and I loved that about her! She made it her mission to help Will see who he really is on the inside and that if anyone deserves a HEA, it’s him.

I couldn’t get enough of Aria and Will! These two are absolutely perfect for each other! I loved every single second of their journey and found myself sneaking in reading time whenever I could. I had the hardest time putting this book down because I just HAD to know how their story would end! 😍

I am loving this series! I cannot wait to get my hands on Layla’s and He Who Must Not Be Named’s book. Y'all. I see another rollercoaster of a ride coming my way! And I just know I’m going to love every minute of it! *dreamy sigh*

Just when I think I have found my favorite book by Ms. Mastorakos, she releases another one. I can always count on her to kidnap me and then make the world around me disappear. I’ve finally realized that, when it comes to her books, absolutely nothing is getting down until I see the words “The End”. Adulting is overrated, right? 😉

As for my casting…. *dreamy sigh* Y’all. I just can’t with these two! I love them! What do you think?

Magic Unleashed by K.M. Shea

Synopsis:

Ever had ex-housemates you can’t get rid of?

When Killian and the rest of the Drake vampires kicked me out of their mansion without any explanation, I felt beyond betrayed…

I was livid!

But I refused to waste my energy thinking about them. Thanks to all the free training I got while living with vampires, I had the skills I needed to finally free my family. I even got my house back! Best yet, I can pass on the magic techniques and fighting skills I’ve learned to all the wizards in our group.

As long as I ignore the rotating vampires standing watch on the corner across the street, life is normal again…until the fae risk injuring hundreds of supernaturals just to stage a surprise attack on Killian.

There’s no way I’m going to let the fae get away with this. I may be furious with Killian, but I hate bullies even more.

But, big surprise, my good deed won’t go unpunished. I knew I’d face a fallout for saving the most feared and lethal vampire in the Midwest—I just never imaged the lengths Killian would go through to protect me and win me back…

Magic Unleashed is the final book in the Hall of Blood and Mercy trilogy, which features vampires, wizards, fae, and werewolves. It's packed with humor, adventure, and a sweet, slow burn romance between a vertically challenged wizard and the deadliest vampire in town.

My Review: 4 Stars

It's no secret that I've been devouring this series. It has kept my attention from beginning to end, which is saying something since I don't do trilogies. I couldn't wait to dive into the final installment.

Hazel and Killian were amazing. I really enjoyed getting to know them even better and watching their relationship develop. With Hazel being a wizard and Killian being a vampire, these two shouldn't work. But they do and they're actually pretty perfect together.

Another fast-paced, action-packed book. A great ending to a fun series. I'm not going to lie, I figured out what was going to happen pretty early on in the book. But that didn't stop me from enjoying the book.   

While I really, really wanted to love this book, but I just ended up liking it. The series definitely gave me the break from reality I love but it was lacking when it came to the romance. Yes, there were some swoony moments and a few kisses throughout the series but for me? There just wasn't enough. I kinda feel a little gypped. Lol.

This is the second series of Ms. Shea's that I have read and I have another one on my TBR list. I'm looking forward to reading more books by her. 

As for my casting... I still really love these two! What do you think?

Magic Redeemed by K.M. Shea

 

Synopsis:

I thought life would be easier after I unsealed my magic.
Spoiler: it’s not.

I want to free my family from my traitorous cousin, but with all the allies he’s got guarding his back, even my new powers won’t be enough to beat him. My best bet is to use my parents’ signet ring to prove my claim of leadership.

There’s just one problem…

I can’t find it!

Things aren’t looking so good for my vampire housemates, either. As Killian Drake’s conflicts with the fae get worse, it's clear that war will break out soon if something doesn’t change.

Plus, Killian has gotten really weird about smelling me and invading my personal space. Every time he comes near my heart almost pops out of my chest, but I’m sure that’s just terror caused by being so close to the most feared vampire in the region.

At least that’s what I keep telling myself.

So, I’m a wizard searching for a ring while trying to survive living with a bunch of vampires and their deadly and suddenly touchy-feely leader. Yeah, life is definitely not easier.

My Review: 4.5 Stars

Y'all. What. The. Crap. Just. Happened?! Like for reals! What just happened?! I don't even know where to start with my review because I do not want to give anything away! 

Hazel is still freaking fantastic! I love a heroine who is not afraid to hold her own. Her sass and snark are in full swing in this one and I loved every minute of it! She's quickly becoming one of my favorite heroines. 

As for Killian. *le sigh* You remember me saying that I don't want to give anything away? Well. I can't really tell you what I think of Killian right now. All I can say is... that man. 

This is another fast-paced and action-packed book that I had an extremely hard time putting down. I may or may not have missed church while reading this book. Oops!

Ms. Shea did another phenomenal job sucking me in from the very beginning and not letting me go until the very end. Although, she still hasn't let me go because I really don't want to be writing this review right now. I just have to dive right back in to see how the series end! 

So before I go... I gotta throw in my casting. I still love these two! What do you think?!

Magic Forged by K.M. Shea

 

Synopsis:

I'm one scrappy wizard. As someone with barely a flicker of magic, I've spent my life being mocked and surviving fights with bullies. But when my parents die in an accident, and I find myself responsible for our whole wizard house and family, I know my usual tactics aren't going to cut it.

The situation veers from bad to catastrophic when my backstabbing cousin stages a coup and takes my family hostage. I barely manage to flee, but the only supernatural willing to help me is Killian Drake - the most feared vampire in the region, and a far more deadly villain than the jerk threatening my family.

Is Killian sexy and charismatic? Heck yeah.

He's also so powerful that my flight or fight instincts kick in every time our eyes meet. And he's definitely using me as his personal magic detector in his feud against the local fae.

But Killian is also the first person to believe I might have more than just a scrap of magic. And if I can convince him to train me, I might get strong enough to free my family and get my house back.

I'm not sure what happens when a scrappy wizard is taught how to fight by a hall of deadly vampires, but I'm about to find out.

My Review: 4 Stars

Confession. My readers soul has been so deprived of urban fantasy books that it's not ready to stop reading them! Although I am definitely missing the romance in these books! Lol.

From the moment I picked up this book, I had a hard time putting it down. I was quickly transported to Drake Hall where I was immersed into the mystery that was dogging the heels of the Drake Family.

Y'all. Hazel is fantastic! I love that she was full of sass and snark and could definitely hold her own against Killian. She's definitely an underdog and has been thrown some cheap shots her entire life, but that doesn't stop her from being a straight up good person who will always do what she feels is right. 

Killian isn't quite sure what to think of Hazel but she definitely intrigues him. She brings out a side in him that no one has seen in a long time, if ever. I will admit that I had a hard time connecting to Killian at first, but the more Hazel wormed her way into his life, the more I started to like him. These two definitely make a unique pair, but they work. 

It's been an extremely crazy and stressful week so immersing myself into the phenomenal world K.M. Shea has created is just what the doctor ordered. She definitely has me hooked. I can't wait to dive into book 2 in this series.

And of course we can't forget my casting, what do you think?

Hidden Gems

Welcome to Hidden Gems hosted by KJ's Book Nook! Once a month I'll feature a new to me author that I've discovered and fell in love with their books. I'll share the author's bio, one of my favorite books of theirs and a review.

For this month's Hidden Gems I am going to choose...

Remi Carrington

Remi Carrington is the figment of Pamela Humphrey's imagination. She loves romance & chocolate, enjoys disappearing into a delicious book, and considers people-watching a sport. She was born in the pages of the novel Just You and then grew into an alter ego.

She writes sweet romance set in Texas. Her books are part of the Phrey Press imprint.

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Anyone want to take a guess on how I discovered Remi Carrington? If you guessed I found her while searching for small town romances then you are correct! I adore small town romances! I will live in a small town one day. 😉

The moment I saw the cover of Three Things I'd Never Do, I just had to check it out. I hadn't even finished the first chapter before I was downloading the rest of the books in the Never Say Never series. I absolutely ADORE this series! I had the hardest time choosing which book to feature but finally decided on Two Risks I'd Never Take Again. Y'all. This series is a MUST read!

Picking up a stranger off the side of the road is risky. Falling in love with him is . . . not going to happen. Probably.

My life is all doughnuts and sprinkles, and I can’t lie to save my life.

None of that is a problem until I find a man beaten up on the side of the road. In the dark. In the rain. And even though I promised I’d never again pick up a stranger, I load him into my car—not an easy task—and drive him to a hospital. I couldn’t just leave him there.

That’s how I end up spending a week in a luxurious house, soaking in a hot tub, gazing at the stars, and playing nurse to Garrett. Besides the bandages and bruises, it’s a recipe for romance.

Except I want no part in anything romantic. Dating will land my heart on the butchering slab, and I refuse be hurt again.

He’s interested. I wish I could lie and say I’m not.

Instead, I suggest we just stay friends. What’s the risk in that?

You can check out my review here.

Happy reading my fellow Book Dragons!

United by K.M. Shea

Synopsis:

A wolf is attacking the humans of Timber Ridge and changing them into werewolves—against their will.

The change process is extremely dangerous and involves bloodshed. It isn’t something that happens by accident, which can only mean one thing.

Someone is doing this on purpose.

I’m going to find the rampaging sicko responsible for this outbreak, even if it means I have to master my new magic to stop them.

Thankfully, Greyson—the Pack Alpha and the most powerful wolf in the Midwest—is always down for a hunt. The only problem is that I’m starting to find him attractive—which is the worst thing I could do. He’s got an incomplete mate bond, and since I’m a hunter, I could never be a wolf’s mate.

That’s okay. I’m used to being alone. I'm a werewolf hunter, not part of the Pack. But that’s an awfully dangerous place to be when there is a rogue wolf on the loose.

My Review: 4 Stars

Y'all. I wish this would've been my first introduction to Pip. In the first book, I barely tolerated her and the only thing that kept me reading was Greyson. My opinion of her did a complete 180° in this book.

Pip was awesome. I loved seeing her find her place and realizing who she is to the Pack. Granted, there were times she was a bit annoying and acted like a teenager instead of a 24 year old, but I definitely see me being Team Pip by the end of this series.

Once again, Greyson was fantastic! He's definitely one of my favorite Alphas. I loved all his interactions with Pip. You can see these two making the best team for the Pack once they finally get their acts together. I really enjoyed watching their relationship grow more in this book.

While there still wasn't as much romance as I like in the books I read, it had a little more than the first. I'm really, really hoping the romance amps up in book three! After all this waiting we deserve lots and lots of swoony kisses dang it! 😂

PSA for all those who do not like cliffhangers. Do NOT read this series until the final book is released. You'll find yourself extremely frustrated that you can't just grab the next book and dive right in. Trust me on this one. I wish I would've waited. 😝

I've only read a few books by K.M. Shea, but I plan on reading more by her. Some of my bookish friends have convinced to read the other two series set in this world. While both are slow burn, and I really dislike that kind of romance, I'm still looking forward to giving them a try.

And of course the casting is the same. I still love these two!  

Hunted by K.M. Shea

 

Synopsis:

Ever feel like you don’t belong?

Try being a hunter living with werewolves. I’m the definition of “doesn’t fit in”. I’m not Pack, but I’m not the enemy, either.

I struggle to survive among werewolves who are stronger and faster than me, and are competitive enough to break a bone or two for the sake of “fun.”

Greyson, their alpha, is the worst of them all.

Blatantly relentless and twice as deadly, Greyson rules the Pack and expands its territory even though it’s already the largest in the region. I just wish he’d stop interfering with my life. He’s got enough trouble of his own with his incomplete mate bond, but he’s made it his hobby to tease and test me at every opportunity.

Doesn’t my life sound fun?

When wolves from surrounding packs start mindlessly attacking the innocent humans in our city, Timber Ridge, everything changes.

Werewolves don’t turn feral without reason. Which means someone is making this happen, and they’re targeting our Pack.

I don’t like where this is going, but how am I supposed to stop a feral wolf outbreak when I’m just one hunter? Can Greyson and I set aside our differences to see the Pack through this?

My Review: 3.5 Stars

Confession. I absolutely love werewolf books! Like LOVE them! Sadly it's so hard to find good clean ones and that frustrates me. So much so, that I may or may not have asked authors in the past if they would ever consider writing one because I need werewolf books! 😂

I have a bookish friend who loves them just as much as I do! So when she reached out telling that I had to read a certain werewolf book, it was a no brainer! I had to read it!

Pip is a Hunter who was orphaned at the age of 12. When none of the other Hunter families would take her in, she was adopted into the Northern Lakes Pack. As she grew older, she didn't feel like she belonged. Not that the Pack wasn't welcoming, because they were. She just couldn't find her place.

It's no secret that Pip doesn't like Greyson. She's a bit bitter when he was brought in to replace the original Alpha who welcomed her into their Pack. While she doesn't go out of her way to be rude and disrespectful to Greyson, she has no qualms in needling him whenever she can. It was kinda funny at times. 

I’m not going to lie, I struggled getting into the book. I had the hardest time connecting to Pip. While she did grow on me, I wasn't her biggest fan. Greyson, on the other hand, I loved from the beginning. It was clear he didn't feel the same way about her that she did about him. He was always there whenever she, or any of the Pack, needed him. He was the best!

PSA for all of those who are all about the romance. I honestly wouldn't consider this a romance. Some readers may disagree with me but there was like zero romance. I may or may not be a bit bitter that we didn't get any kissing. Y'all know how much I love me some swoony kisses! I don't have any hope that there will be kisses in book 2 but I'm still going to read it anyway. Lol.

As for my casting, I'm loving these two! What do you think?

Inspired by Mindy by Remi Carrington

Synopsis:

My landlord is the hot Cowboy Chef. But I don’t care what he’s cooking up because I’m not interested.

Mindy
Jeffrey Carpenter might make other women swoon with a wink and a smile, but not me. I set boundaries from our very first meeting. He’s nicer than I expected, but heartaches after forty hurt worse, and I’m not going to risk opening my heart to a man with his reputation.

Renting his guest house makes things interesting and not just because I have a view of his pool where he swims almost every morning. Even in December.

When I try to prove how uninterested I am, I end up putting my foot in my mouth.
I’m pretty sure he hates me now.

Jeffrey
Shaking my bad boy image hasn’t been easy, but a man has to grow up sometime. And while I’ve earned many of the snide comments ladies have lobbed at me, insults about my cooking are undeserved.

Mindy can have her opinions, but they won’t change the way I do things.

Avoiding each other when possible, we settle in as frenemies, and all is well until we’re trapped together. Then things really get complicated.

Now more than my reputation as a chef is on the line.

My Review: 5 Stars

Y'all. I have been dying for this book to be released! Had it not been a work night, I would've started it the moment it hit my Kindle and stayed up all night reading it. But alas, I had to be responsible and get some sleep. 😂

Jeffrey has intrigued me from the moment he was introduced in the series. I knew there was more to him than meets the eye. I also knew that it would have to be someone pretty amazing to capture his heart.

Enter Mindy. Y'all. The moment these two met, I knew Jeffrey was going to have to work for his HEA... and I was not disappointed! Mindy not only challenged him, but she inspired him and made him want to not only do better, but be better.

I loved watching these two go from "enemies", to friends, to something more. Their path to HEA was beautiful and I couldn't keep that goofy grin off my face. These two are amazing! And definitely one of my favorite couples in this series. They're absolutely perfect for each other.

While I loved seeing and catching up with old friends, I loved meeting new ones! Stephanie is seriously the best! I cannot wait to get my hands on hers and Blake's story! 😍

As stated in other reviews of Ms. Carrington's books, the bonus epilogues are my absolute favorite! I think it should be a thing for all authors.. 😉 But I digress. Out of all the bonus epilogues in this series, I think this one is my absolute favorite! I've been dying for this to happen! 💗

If you guys haven't read any of Ms. Carrington's books, then you are seriously missing out! I can always count on her to make me bust out laughing, let out all the little dreamy sighs, and wanting to spend the day reading rather than adulting. Her books are the perfect breaks from reality.

As for my casting... *dreamy sigh*. I absolutely adore these two! What do you think?