Hans (Alliance #4) by S.J. Tilly, M/F, 4/5 stars, 4/5 spice, Contemporary Dark Suspense, 2 PoV, (mostly) 1st person. 2024. Narrators: Jack Callihan and Chloe Ryan.

Cassie has a crush on her neighbor across the street and it turns out Hans is obsessed with her enough to eat the terrible cookies she bakes for him. This book starts out acting like an old noir story where the guy is oh so tough, has a tragic backstory, and a growly voice. As the parody gets more and more over the top the characters come into their own. There is character growth!

This is the 4th book in a series. I started here because I only ever hear people talk about this one. I don’t think I missed much. The leads from the previous three books get a PoV scene towards the end. Each scene is its own chapter meaning there are over 100 of them though some are quite short.

Dark stories aren’t usually my thing but the violence was so ridiculous, so cartoon-like it didn’t set off my aversion to body horror. I could really go for some Skittles right now.

Content notes: violence, gun violence, torture, traffiking, house fire, emesis, so many dead bodies, death of family members (off page). Chekov’s sword.

Heart's Prisoner (Dark World Mates #1) by Olivia Riley M/F, 5/5 stars, 3/5 spice, SFR alien, 1 PoV, 3rd person. 2021. Narrator: Maxine Mitchell.

After successfully learning to communicate with one alien species Lana is brought to Lazris base to figure out what is up with Agent X. His kind has not been seen before: scally, huge, and a spiked tail. Can she get him to talk before the mysterious illness makes everyone sick?

I love this kind of science fiction romance. No kidnapping. No breeding. The FMC is a respected professional. There is some thought as to how the various aliens evolved. It is almost like Xerus knows how monsters are perceived in our culture and plays into it.

Content notes: body horror, inprisonment, torture, injury

The Lust Crusade (Raiders of the Lost Heart #3) by Jo Segura, MF, 3/5 stars, 3/5 spice, Contemporary adventure, 2 PoV, 3rd person, 2026. Narrator: Kyla Garcia

Dani travels to Greece to the last place her brother’s best friend Theo was last seen alive. She’s there to say goodbye and get on with her life. Theo has been held captive by antiquities traffickers to find an ancient Eye of the Minotaur.

I feel like I can’t do a good review of this book. I loved the series thus far but had a hard time getting into this one. Maybe it was because the dumpster fire of the world was extra crispy this week. Fuck ICE. Fuck Trump. Fuck Operation Epic Fury. Sorry Jo.

Content notes: kidnapping, gun violence, grief.

Ex Games by Stella Rhys. M/F, 3/5 stars, 3/5 spice, Contemporary, 1 PoV, 1st person. 2016. Narrator: Carly Robins

Taylor is still reeling from being ghosted by her fiance Aaron, when his brother Mason shows up with a wedding invitation from his Ex and Aaron. They concoct a scheme to be each other’s plus one and make the new couple uncomfortable.

This is one of the last few books I have access to on my list of brother love triangles. Often the first bro bows out early but this one has some great brother angst throughout the book. What I can’t understand is why both of these men are in love with the cardboard cutout of a FMC.

Content notes: Discussion of a miscarriage, classism, body shaming

This short book has received many reviews and many stars so I’m not sure what I can add except that I appreciate that the audiobook includes the further reading section.