Book Review: Tasty Pickle by JJ Knight (Everything Tasty Book 2)

     Calypso is running from her family and their expectations. The best place to do that is in some Podunk town in a castle. Except no one told her that she would need to go hiking. In the woods. When she got separated from her group and decided to go pee the last thing she expected was to get stung by nettles. Or to have her humiliation witnessed by a naked, albeit sexy, hiker. Now Axel keeps showing up everywhere and it is extremely awkward and she has definitively sworn off men. And money. Hard no. 

    While this is book 2 in a series and you do get some minor spoilers from background characters I had not read book one in the series and didn't feel like I was missing integral plot points in order to enjoy this book. It seems that while Axel may have been in book 1 Calypso wasn't. 

    I absolutely love Calypso's name. Greek mythos and all that. Then there is who she is as a person. She is trying to figure that out for the most part. What she knows is she doesn't want to be some rich man's arm candy. In fact, she has sworn off anyone with excessive money, like her parents and ex boyfriend. Better to stay to herself. And maybe enjoy a naked hiker. 

    Axel is a reclusive billionaire after building an app and cashing in on it. It was a way to use his love of hiking and translate it into money, but that money changed those around him. He couldn't trust who his friends were, for the most part. But, when he meets an obviously lost girl walking on his property and pulling cactus thorns from her nether regions he is intrigued and intent on getting to know her more. 

    This book is adorable and so funny. Absolutely loved it and I do have more of the Everything Tasty series in my TBR. Great introduction to an obviously great author. 

    This book is available on Kindle Unlimited or buy it on Amazon for $4.99 by clicking here. 

Book Review: 21 Dares by Stephen Barnard

     When a teacher retires due to the "bullying" of 4 teenage boys the punishment is for them to clean out his classroom hoarders closet. Inside they find a game of 21 dares stretching back into the towns dark history. If anyone completes the 21 dares they will bring back the loathsome serial killer, Black Jack McKenzie, and allow him to finish his spree. Can these 4 boys complete these increasingly disturbing and destructive pranks or will one be willing to throw in the towel?

    I got this book around Halloween last year and surprisingly enough read it shortly thereafter. A plausible horror novel that includes an autistic kid, a rich kid with serious psychotic tendencies, and two "bad boys". Each must put in something that they deeply care about and whoever completed the last task wins and keeps everything unless the dares are all completed.  

    I enjoyed how deep the speculation went as to the mystery behind the game as well as the progression of pranks. These are all things that could have been executed, although I don't suggest it. Then there was Black Jack which the power of suggestion. Love all of that. I will say that the book takes a minute to get into. It starts out with the dares pretty quickly, but it took me a while to actually get interested. 

    I liked the fact that all of the pranks had to be done at school during school hours, although the fact that the school didn't have cameras for most of the book seemed a bit of a stretch. That being said they couldn't have achieved most of this if they had. 

    This book is available on Kindle Unlimited or buy it on Amazon for $3.79 by clicking here. 

Book Review: All About the Bear by Bianca D'Arc (Grizzly Cove Book 1)

     Nell and her two sisters moved to a sleepy town called Grizzly Cove, Washington and started their business. Everything was going great until she abruptly realized that they were the only humans in a town of shifters. Now, the sheriff who she has had a thing for since she moved in is pursuing her and no longer has a reason to hold back. Can she keep the secret and possibly gain so much more? 

    This is a book I downloaded for free during a promo and I am glad I did. It is a cute, fast paced, little read. Emphasis on little. The entire story is 80 pages long. As cute as the story is it isn't long enough or exciting enough to justify a $5 price tag. Free worked well as a snippet into the series. I really liked the characters and the setting. I am trying not to give everything within the book away as it is very short. 

    Brody has wanted Nell since she first came to town, but since she was a human there was nothing that could be done. Until a drunk came to town and shifted right in front of her. Now that the secret is out she is fair game. As long as she can keep the secret that is. But Brody has no doubts that she can keep their secret and hopefully his bed warm. 

    I am sure Nell's sisters will be getting their own books in this series and that would also be a fun read. I am hoping for a bit more girth to them, however. And maybe a bigger arc than if she's going to accept him or not. 

    This book is available on Amazon for $4.99 by clicking here. 

Book Review: The Coven by Harper L Woods (Coven of Bones Book 1)

     Willow has been raised her entire life to join the coven and tear it down from the inside. Her father made sure of it. Male witches must choose between keeping their powers and reproducing, but since he was hidden by his sister instead of being reported to the council he lived. She however, never survived the academy. Willow is the only product of two powered witches and she must keep that heritage a secret if she is to fulfil her goal. Protect her own little brother and destroy the Coven. But, Alaric is throwing a wrench in her plans. 

    This book was in one of my smut groups as a "hey I could not finish this book because of all the satanic elements". Well that resulted in me needing to read it and downloading it immediately as my TBR mourned the loss of actually being touched. I regret nothing. 

    Reading this book quickly spiraled into downloading and reading book 2 because this book ends on one hell of a cliff-hanger. I loved it. All of the main elements were wrapped up and then bam. Right in your face with something that you needed to keep reading. I loved Willow and I loved Alaric. I have to say that if you told me who he was at the very beginning of the book I wouldn't have believed it, but by midway through? Absolutely. 

    After the initial forest scene I was beyond hooked on this book and it's sassy main character. I made my best work friend and aunt both download it. Well Tina technically bought the physical copy, but I think that was solely for the purpose of annoying her very Christian wife. I love that about and for her. They both also absolutely adored this book and I have yet to hear anything from Tina's wife about me being a bad influence over it so I think I'm safe. 

    This is action, adventure, smut, and so many feels. He is the epitome of morally grey and you have no idea just how much until book 2. I genuinely hated one of the characters in this book, Iban. Second book did not disappoint in that regard, but you'll have to read that yourself after you finish this book. Although, literally anyone on the Council is also fair game for that title. 

    I can't say for certain which type of power Willow had that I loved the most, although it is probably the Earth magic just because of the aforementioned forest scene and she is pretty amazing at it. Then there is Alaric Throne. Gods I love a touch her and die book and I already cannot wait till book 3 comes out. I will be adding these books to my shelves as they are amazing, and have sprayed edges. 

    This book is available on Kindle Unlimited or buy it on Amazon for $12.99 by clicking here. 

Book Review: Psycho Shifters by Jasmine Mas (Cruel Shifterverse Book 1)

     Sadie is a null in a land of shifters. Actually, she is less than that. She is a null servant. The barkeeper that has "raised" her and her younger sister has beat her every day until she is covered in scars, but his name is literally Dick so what did she expect? At least he wasn't hurting her sister. When her sister was away at school for the semester Sadie's psychotic "numb" kicked in and told her just what to do to kill Dick. She would have too if some cloaked guy hadn't shown up, demanded she get tested, and dragged her away. She woke up in a barracks being told she is an Alpha and has to fight in a war. She has 3 roommates that are the Sun God's gift to women, but she will never survive being their roommates let alone the queen's attacks. 

    I found this book in my smut group and I am going to do my absolute best to stick with only what happened in this book because I am on book 6 of this series now. I am afraid my life will end when this series does. I love this book so much that I cannot put it into words. I am convinced my best friend received 90% worth of this book in screenshots and highlights while I was reading it and every book since of this series. 

    Sadie is a spirit animal. She is an absolute beast...in her other form. As a human....well she is pathetic, but she is very loved. By me. She can eviscerate giant spiders, but can't run to save her life. And the mouth on that woman. Moon Goddess help us. 

    In this book we get to meet Archer, Jax, and Cobra and find out all the fun little things on Sadie's past. Oh and we meet Aran. He is pretty great too in a best friend kinda way. Big love for that character. Cobra's murdery ass is my favorite. I am not joking. He is a homicidal maniac, but it is part of his charm. Jax is the teddy bear and Archer....well he is a little unhinged. I ended this book with feels about Archer, but you get to learn all about that on your own. 

    Book 1 in this series is VERY low spice. I am talking 1 oral scene in 700 pages.  I promise this series gets spicier. Until the spice soak up that plot, because there is so much that happens and you are going to love every single second of it. 700 pages seems like a lot until you are reading this book then BEGGING for more when it is over. I have never downloaded a book 2 as fast as I did Psycho Fae. That review will be coming at some point soon because I loved that book as well. Like I said completely on book 6 and over halfway through it. 

    Seriously though this is my favorite series that I have come across in a very long time. There is spice, action, and so much attitude. There is a lot of polytheism and realms in the book and it is very firmly in the paranormal category of smut between the shifters, fae, and everything else you will meet later. I will warn you that there are an absolute ton of remarks about death to the patriarchy and that theme will continue. Very pro women. And pro sluttiness. Which is more of a goal than a truth considering she is a virgin, but whatever. 

    Every single book in this series will be being bought and added to my physical shelf for shelf trophies that I will be reading again and again when I am in a slump. I will also force it upon my friends. This will be a hostage situation. My husband has already been held hostage on it multiple times, but he will live. 

    This book is 100% available on Kindle Unlimited or BUY it on Amazon for $2.99 by clicking here. 

Book Review: I've Found Her by Joy Mullett (The Found Series Book 1)

    Bella just got out of a bad relationship and decided it was time for a change. She put in for a job at a salon in a hotel in London and actually got it. Now that she has gotten there she is determined to make a great life for herself.  Damien was just making a stop into one of his hotels when he sees her. Now she seems to be everywhere and she is soon like an addiction. 

    This is another book I impulse downloaded because of one of my smut groups. Those groups get me into a lot of trouble with my TBR, but their suggestions are always so great. This book is no exception to that rule. 

    This is a touch her and die contemporary billionaire romance. Lots of tropes, but all ones I love. It is absolutely open door, another plus on my side, and the characters are wonderful. All of them from those in the foreground to those in the background.

    I loved Damien as he tries to keep his feelings out of it until that is no longer an option for him. Meanwhile, Bella is cautious because of the relationship she just got out of. Then her ex starts stalking her and things just get worse. This book ends on a bit of a cliff-hanger, but not enough where you absolutely have to read the next book in order to get closure. I likely will end up reading the next book just because I liked this one so much. 

    I hope for great things for Damien and Bella in the next book as well as hopefully Bella's best friend. I hope this series is one of the ones where it grabs characters from the last book for at least one character for the next book. Keeps them interconnected and gives little updates on the other characters. 

    This book is available on Kindle Unlimited or buy it on Amazon for $3.88 by clicking here.