Tarnished Crown - Caitlyn Dare

Ruminations of an Insomniac..

Once again, I found myself at the edge of my seat. In her continuation of the world of the Gravestone Elite, Caitlyn Dare spared no detail. There is a few points that I will admit definitely need the warning provided in the synopsis, but I felt they were critical to the tone of the story. Starcrossed feels like incomplete terminology for Bexley and Mia. But in this world, where decisions are rarely their own, it fits better than anything else I can come up with. 

This second book shows us more of Mia's capacity but also had me shaking my head at her, like a parent witnessing the antics of a child with misplaced confidence. That said, she has progressed from fickle to calculated; weighing her decisions, following her gut more than her heart. And Bexley, dear Bexley. I have to say that he disappointed me in parts of this book. I understand his choices, but that doesn't mean they weren't unfortunate. But fear not, I sincerely feel that he was merely biding time, through those choices.

"We are but pawns in his game, and as I'm learning, the price of dissension is sometimes far greater than the price of submission." - Mia Thompson

The cliffhanger on this one left my heart racing, for many reasons. I'm so deeply grateful to Caitlyn for releasing Gravestone in the manner that she has. Because absolutely cannot wait to read the conclusion of this trilogy soon. If Shattered Legacy was the foundation, Tarnished Crown is the framing. And I can't wait to see this house completed, in all it's glory. In the meantime I'll be over here, mulling over the countless possibilities of the conclusion. Granted, I'm not sure anything will actually prepare me for what's to come. 

Rating:

Book Boyfriend: 8/10

Flow: 10/10

Plot: 9/10 

Overall: 9/10

Currently available on Kindle (and Kindle Unlimited).

Synopsis

Waking up the morning after the night before, Bexley soon realizes his life will never be the same.

He’s Electi now.

One of them.

Everything that Mia despises.

She says she’s done, that his betrayal is too much of a burden to bear, but Bexley refuses to let her go.

When Mia wakes up the morning after the night before, she realizes she has two choices: accept her fate or fight.

She’s stronger now.

Unwilling to submit.

Determined to uncover the truth.

But to defeat the devil sometimes you have to walk through hell. Even if you risk losing the one person you really care about.

As the lies and secrets pile up around them, will Bexley be able to protect the girl he’s falling for...

Or will he lose himself and Mia to Gravestone’s dark history for good?

Tarnished Crown is the second book in the Gravestone Elite trilogy. It contains mature content that some readers may find disturbing. You have been warned. 

Paper Hearts - Brittany Taylor

Ramblings of a Bookworm...

Once again, Brittany Taylor has captured my heart with her beautifully written words and dynamic characters. 

Experiencing the ups and downs that are Asher and Charleigh was both heart breaking and heart warming. Between their flashbacks and barely concealed insecurities, both characters were relatable and expressive in their own right.

He is tattooed on my past, forever influencing the kind of people we have become. I attempted to move on after he left, but I was foolish to think I could erase him from my heart. Tattoos are permanent after all.

The overall theme and reasoning behind the title had my entire being fan-girling, complete with tears at the cuteness of the whole thing. But no good story is complete without a gut-wrenching back story that makes you feel, and Paper Hearts had that in spades.

*Available on Kindle and Kindle Unlimited*

Rating

Book Boyfriend: 9/10

Flow: 9/10

Plot: 9/10

Asher Owens. 

Gorgeous. Arrogant. Liar. 

It’s been ten years since Asher left me with nothing but the remains of our shattered dreams.  

The last place I expected to see him was at a small bar in a city of over eight million. 

With my heart set on expanding my business, I needed one of New York City’s best real estate executives. Little did I know it would be the same man who had torn my heart like a piece of paper before setting it on fire.  

Once my gaze lands on his, I know Asher is no longer the boy I loved when I was eighteen. No, this Asher treated me like a stranger. All for the sake of not wanting to sift through the ashes of our past.  

Yet Asher’s arrogance rivaled any sort of rejection, even mine. Using his own selfish ambition, he needed me to claw his way to the top. 

Despite his true motives, I had foolishly let him back in.  

I’d fallen in love with Asher Owens once before and this time I would try my best not to make the same mistake twice. 

Glass Heart Hero - Lindsey Iler

Ruminations of an Insomniac..

I'm going to be honest with you, I've been WAITING for our boy Breaker's story since the first chapter of Glass Heart Savage. Since the very moment we were introduced to the boys from the glass house. Lindsey has this innate ability to create characters that feel like I've known them forever. And every time I doubt that I can become more enchanted with them, she peels back a new layer, further embedding them in my heart.

“Broken is beautiful. A guy like him may not see it, but the rest of us do, Delaney. When you’re ready for us to show you, you know where to find us.” - Breaker Davenport 

Breaker and Delaney were shattering for me. Their love story is everything and completely heart breaking, simultaneously. Delaney Chambers, the girl from a family steeped in expectation. Who holds me in awe of her strength and self awareness. And Breaker Davenport, the boy with a heart, living among monsters. A golden heart and a haunted soul. Together, they are a nearing thunderstorm. Flashes of lightning and crashing thunder, tumbling across the sky out of sync with one another. Until they are directly overhead and finally convene into a masterpiece. One that you can't look away from.

“I’ve looked in the eyes of true evil. Don’t think for a second that you scare me.” - Delaney Chambers

It's no secret that I absolutely adore Lindsey's writing. It moves me in unexpected ways. This one, maybe more than any others have. But that could just be because there is little I love more than a deeply misunderstood book boy. I can't wait to wrap my head around the remaining two Glass House Boys. And any future worlds she grants us the opportunity to fall in love with. 

Rating:

Book Boyfriend: 10/10

Flow: 10/10

Plot: 10/10 

Overall: 10/10

Currently available on Kindle (and Kindle Unlimited).

Synopsis:

Loyalty. Corruption. Family.

A gauntlet rooted in love and jealousy may be the destruction of the students at Glass Heart Academy.

Delaney

Parts of me were stolen in the confines of a dark room. No matter how hard I fought, I got nowhere. The damage has already been done.

Now I find myself in the arms of an unexpected boy. He catches me in the darkness, where I’m too afraid to face the cruel world I now know exists.

He wants every piece of my heart. But how far is he willing to go when it already belongs to another?

After everything, Breaker Davenport haunts my dreams and loving me quickly becomes his own worst nightmare.

Breaker

I have always been certain of a few things in life. Birth doesn’t make a family and when you find someone worth dying for, you fight until you bleed.

Delaney Chambers is worthy of painting the world red.

Fighting for her hadn’t been something I expected to do. Little did I know, he wasn’t the only one trying to take her away from me.

They won’t whisper her name, but I’ll make sure they curse mine.

The monster inside of me won’t stop until they’re buried amongst all their skeletons.

Carnal Pleasures series - Summer Stanton

Ramblings of a Bookworm...

Bane

Never before have I read such a beautifully written BDSM book, involving petplay at that. Combine that with my love of supernatural, and I don't think anything could have been more perfect.

There are a lot of misconceptions about the BDSM community, but Summer Stanton hit the target of what it really is like.

Reading about an Alpha wolf divulging in puppy play was one of the best things I've ever read. Pair him with a stoic dominant vampire, and it makes for a truly magical story.

Layla

A mermaid and a dragon... what could possibly go wrong? 

One thing I loved about this series were the different types of mythical creatures; typically, when you read supernatural, they stick to the three "modernized" species - vampires, witches, and werewolves, but Summer Stanton pushed the boundaries and brought to life all types of creatures from some of my favourite fairy tales.

Beautifully written, with such diverse and eccentric characters in all three books, Carnal Pleasures is a must read in my opinion for anyone who is even remotely curious about BDSM, and also loves worlds containing mythical creatures.

Caleb

A wolf, a vampire, an elf, and a witch walk into a bar... and you have the start of Caleb's story. 

A beautiful depiction of something a lot of people don't fully understand - polyamory. I've read poly books before, but I have yet to come across one that can show the true nature and beauty behind these relationships. 

4 vastly different men discovering how to love one another, each coming from various upbringings, was a truly remarkable journey to witness. Their chemistry was unmistakable, and reading this take on fated/bonded relationships was inspiring. 

*Available on Kindle 

Synopsis

Carnal Pleasures is the most exclusive BDSM club in the supernatural world. Renowned for their specialized Dominant and submissive training, people from all over to explore what the club has to offer.

Cold and commanding, Adam Archer is the club manager. Though he hasn’t taken on a submissive in years, he agrees to see to the newest member of the club.

After surviving a horrific attack, Bane is left broken. The lost wolf is sent to Carnal Pleasures at the bidding of his Pack Alpha. Wrapped in pain and self-doubt he doesn’t want to be there. After all, who would help a damaged beast?

Their attraction is instant, but Bane is distrustful of the demanding vampire. Not used to following the orders of anyone but his Alpha, he fights against his temporary Master at every turn.

Determined to make him let go, Adam submerges Bane in a world he never thought to dream of. A place where trust and submission go hand in hand.

Both men are stubborn and fight tooth and nail to make their arrangement work. When they do figure it out, they find they have more in common than mutual attraction. Together, they might heal more than just Bane's broken confidence.

Thomas Harrow is new to Carnal Pleasures. Though an accomplished Dominant, not everyone is impressed with him at first sight. In an effort to prove that he belongs, he sets up a public demonstration that has a disastrous end.

Layla Marks is a dreamer who works behind the scenes at the club. Night after night she watches the playing, secretly longing to be apart of the lifestyle.

The pair couldn't be more different: Thomas is demanding with little patience for Layla's naiveté. With a rocky start already between them, they enter into a tentative D/s relationship, hoping that the other can be what they need.

But Thomas is not the only one who covets the shy beauty, and Layla soon finds herself caught in a deadly game of cat and mouse.

Caleb Knightly is a Professional submissive at Carnal Pleasures. After escaping a dangerous situation and reluctantly being turned into a Vampire, he is finally happy with his life. He doesn't need, or want, anything else. Until fate decides to turn his world upside down—again.

Callum Rutters and Eli Dran have been together for an amazing sixty years. They love the time they spend playing together at Carnal Pleasures. Their complex relationship keeps things interesting and they couldn't be happier. Until fate throws them into the path of someone they never knew they needed. Now, they have to convince Caleb that being bonded doesn't mean he'll lose his autonomy. Instead, he'll gain a family, something he thought he lost a long time ago.

Just as the three men are beginning to find their footing and learning how they work as a three, Eli's past returns to haunt him, and fate steps in once more. This time in the form of Lucian Drake, local Pack Alpha. Lucian doesn't know what to make of the threesome, he just knows he wants more with them all, in whatever capacity they'll allow.

However, Eli isn't the only one facing danger and Lucian will have to fight, not just for the three men he is growing to love, but for the Pack he's spent his life building and protecting.

Separately, the four men are vastly different, but together they have something extraordinary. It may not be conventional but it can be all theirs—if they can survive.

Shattered Legacy - Caitlyn Dare

 

Ruminations of an Insomniac..

I have read a few of Caitlyn's books, to date. And every single one held my attention for a very different reason. Our introduction into the world of the Gravestone Elite followed suit, keeping me completely intoxicated by every detail. Caitlyn handed us a world that felt almost tangible on a silver platter. A world filled with all sorts of unexpected. 

"The need to rebel burns through my veins like acid, as if my soul knows it’s wrong." - Mia Thompson 

Mia Thompson is a heroine I had a hard time connecting with. Not because of her foundation but because she felt fickle in the beginning. She is strong, smart and determined. But she's also so conflicted that it almost gave her rubber legs. Torn between her destined world and the one she actually wants, the girl has so much going on. I don't quite fully understand her yet, but I am dying to learn more about her as her story unfolds. As for her counterpart? It was again unexpected, but I am so here for it! Bexley fills out the story like I don't think any other could quite accomplish. With every page, he grows in some way or another.

By the end of this book, Bexley is larger than life and Mia is frantically seeking the connection that only he can give her. I lost track of the number of times I gasped or whispered "nooooooo" while reading Shattered Legacy. And I was straight up panicking at 95% when I realized this was going to have a cliffhanger. But thankfully, more of the story is coming very soon! When I tell you that I'm counting down the days until Tarnished Crown?? Is it April yet?

Rating:

Book Boyfriend: 9/10
Flow: 10/10
Plot: 9/10 

Overall: 9/10

Currently available on Kindle (and Kindle Unlimited).

Synopsis

Mia Thompson wants only one thing: to survive Gravestone University, graduate, and get far far away from her hometown and its archaic traditions.

But she’s about to become a pawn in a game she doesn’t understand.

Bexley Danforth wants only one thing: to keep his head down, survive four years at college, and get far far away from his past and the mistakes that haunt him.

But he’s about to become an initiate in a test he might not survive.

One fateful night entwined their lives on a path neither of them saw coming... and now she can’t forget about the guy who made her feel worthy, and he can’t forget about the girl who can never be his.

But the things about rules?

They’re made to be broken.


Shattered Lies is the first book in the Gravestone Elite trilogy. It contains mature content that some readers may find disturbing. You have been warned.

Change My Game - Kelsey Clayton

Ruminations of an Insomniac.. 

Change My Game was a LOT. I really can't put it any other way. I loved the character growth and the story tugged at my heart. But there was just so much to unpack in the process. History. Pushback. Resentment. Trauma responses all over. Loss. And at the center of it all are 3 lifetime best friends, treading water.

Jace is a disaster. Like epically so. But the synopsis could tell you that much. His character development was the one that I loved the most. He hurts a lot of people through the course of his growth, but love is a fickle thing. It's all too common for someone to lash out at those who love them most when they get backed into a corner. And Jace is no exception. Most of all he hurts his cradle to grave best friend, Carter. And the one and only Paige. She also has a lot going on. I found myself questioning her a lot, but also deeply understanding some bits of her fiber. She was infuriatingly frustrating at times, but I also broke and cried with her at others.

"Trust me, baby. I don't want anything to do with me either." - Jace London

All in all, I had to finish this book. I absolutely needed to see these characters through. I got so wrapped up in them that unpacking ALL that was Change My Game felt worth it. Like I said, it was a lot. The pages were filled with hard hitting things, so I will leave my fair warning. Kelsey Clayton made so much of it feel real. Would I respond to anything in this story how the characters did? I don't believe so. But I also remember how it felt, especially emotionally, to be 20-21 and that recollection is what made this prose work for me.  

Rating:

Book Boyfriend: 8/10

Flow: 7/10

Plot: 8/10 

Overall: 8/10

Please note that there are several potential trigger subjects in Jace and Paige's story. 

Currently available on Kindle (and Kindle Unlimited).

Synopsis:

My name is Jace London,

And I may have screwed up.

I’ve always been the guy who had it all.

Privilege, entitlement, and a life of luxury.

But after one college night gone tragically wrong,

Nothing has ever been the same.

Everyone thinks I should be happy.

With a trust fund like mine, who could be sad?

But no one knows what’s going on with me,

Or the nightmares that keep me awake at night.

I finally found salvation in a parent’s worst nightmare.

The only thing to ease the pain just enough to breathe.

My friends are worried I’m going to ruin myself.

What they don’t realize, is I’m already dead inside.

Now they’re ready to pull out all the stops,

Including a therapist that gets paid an ungodly price.

No amount of money can bring back the guy I was,

But the girl that got away might be enough to try.

Gorgeous, strong, and confident to a fault.

If anyone can save me from myself, it’s her.

Change My Game is a standalone and part of the North Haven University series. It deals with sensitive topics that may be triggering for some readers.

Damien, Forever - Tempest Phan

Ramblings of a Bookworm...

I don't even know where to begin... Damien James Mortensen stole my heart from page 1. Halfway through chapter 1, I knew I wouldn't make it out of this novel tear-free, and boy was I right... I have a soft spot for the damaged bad boys, and the more ink and piercings, the better - both of which he had in spades.

Tempest Phan sent me on a rollercoaster ride of emotions - the good, the bad, and the ugly. Just when things start looking up, everything comes crashing down again to start at square one.

There is so much more to my boy of whispers, all of it carefully layered and hidden from the world. - Mirabella Davenport

Soft spoken, dark, and brooding, Damien is every girl's secret fantasy and every dad's worst nightmare. With demons that I could never even begin to fathom coupled with a heart of gold, paired with Bella's kind soul and the patience of a saint, they are a force to be reckoned with.

She deserved so much better than a boy from the wrong side of the tracks. She deserved caviar and champagne and luxurious getaways. Not a run-down shack and nights filled with nightmares and demons. - Damien Mortensen

This slow burn friends to lovers masterpiece put me through the wringer, and easily soared to my top 5 of 2020 - a book I will happily read again and again.

Rating:

Book Boyfriend: 10/10

Plot: 10/10

Flow: 10/10

Overall: 10/10

*Available on Kindle and Kindle Unlimited*

Synopsis 

An angsty, friends-to-lovers, second-chance romance with a dash of new adult and a twist of rockstar.

Damien

She's everyone's favorite princess. Gorgeous girl next door. Homecoming queen. But to me, she'll always be so much more. The light in my dark, my best friend, my everything. But there's one thing she can't ever be. And that's mine. Because I'll make damn sure to keep my filthy hands off her. Even if it kills me.

Bella

He's the boy of broken whispers. The one dripping ink. The one sowing fear. But to me, he'll always be so much more. The music in my soul, my best friend, my everything. And pretty soon, he'll be between my sheets, too. Because what baby girl wants, she gets. Just watch.