My Initial Thoughts This cover is beautiful and I loved the sound of this! Gargolye romance, count me in! I did realise quite quickly that I was not overly a fan of the male narrator and I think I may have enjoyed this more if I eyeballed it. Plot This plot is great, its not drawn out and I loved the elements of danger that Evolette finds herself stuck in throughout! Poor human, gargoyles aren’t kind. BUT her growth is so strong and empowering and I loved that for her, showing them she’s not just a “poor little human.” Characters Jett is the perfect cinnamon roll mmc! He cares for her, notices the small things and that just filled my heart with love. Evolette finally experiencing some kind of life, also made me smile. Her wonder at the smallest things. Recommend If you enjoy monster romance then you might well enjoy this one. Narrating I think personally for me, the narrating just didn’t work. It took me so long to get though because I wasn’t compelled to pick it up. The voices just didn’t call to me. Overall Wrap up Please remember that I reviewed this on the audiobook so while I’ll struggled, it may have been different if I eyeballed it because I generally enjoyed the pace and plot of this. But my gosh was they bonking like rabbits towards the end! Stars & Spice – 3 stars and 3.5 chilli’s.

Book Information – Bound By Hearts And Stone by Lauren Sanatra.

Narrators – Narrated by James Cassidy and Claudia Rivera Tinsley

Genre – Gargoyle romance.

Length of audiobook – 12 hours and 52 minutes – which is 436 pages.

Tropes – Found family. Chosen mates. Gargolye x human. He falls first. Slow burn.

Available on Kindle Unlimited – This is available on kindle unlimited.

Available Formats – Available on kindle, audiobook and paperback.

Publishing Information – The audiobook was published on 25th February 2026.

Format in Which I Read – I earballed this one A.K.A audiobook.

Where my copy come From – The author.

POVs – Dual POV – Evolette and Jett.

Single/Dual/Multiple Timelines – This is written on a single timeline.

1st or 3rd Person – This is written in first person.

HEA, HFN or Cliff hanger – This ends in a HEA.

Series or Standalone – This is a standalone.

Trigger Warnings – Please check content warnings before reading if necessary and please always remember that your mental health matters.

My Initial Thoughts Firstly the fact that you can read this without spice or with, is an awesome concept! I didn’t know authors did this but I loved the option to choose, with that being said this is my review of the open door The Ringmaster’s Revenge. The dedication straight away. “For the kids who realized Nancy Drew was too good and the Hardy Boys were too clean. To those who wanted to see the detectives cross the line, trade their flashlights for darkness, and find a mystery worth losing themselves in.” Plot This plot is very content heavy and there was a part in this that really broke me, so please check the content warnings right at the beginning on the book before you dive into this world. I really enjoyed the underlying suspense throughout the novel and it really makes you feel all the emotions. Andrino is the no nonsense rival ringmasters and Rosalie wants the power of being a ring master to, so the rivals to lovers is throughout, but let me tell you the heat between these two! Characters There is so much to unpack with these characters and I loved how that was dripped feed into the plot, including characters that I had linked right at the beginning. I honestly love that Andrino is this ruthless no nonsense ringmaster but he melts for her and vice versa. Recommend YES, Yes, YES!!!!! BUT remember this is a very dark romance so please check before diving into this world. Favourite Quote/s “My little bird isn’t just watching anymore; she’s inviting the storm.” “Who hurt you, cher? Tell me, and you’ll never have to worry about them again.” “Good girl, now open wide, let me ruin these lips.”

Favourite Chapter/s My favourite chapters were 21, 22, 25 and 28. Spicy chapter/s There is spicy in chapters 5, 23,25,26,29,33 and the epilogue. Summed up in one sentence Emotional roller-coaster, but I loved it! Overall Wrap up This was a 5 star read for me, at one point I even messaged the author to ask me how broken I was going to end up! I enjoyed this so much and I just didn’t want to put it down. There was parts that absolutely destroyed me, parts that made me giggle and others that made me swoon and full of love! I cant wait for book 2 to be released and be back in the world of Cirque Du Noir! Stars & spice – 5 stars and 3.5 chilli’s. Dates read – started on 10th May 26 and finished on 16th May 26. Book Information – The Ringmaster’s Revenge by Sara Cook.

Genre – Dark romance suspense.

Pages – 333 pages.

Tropes – Touch her/him be unalived. Circus centred. Morally Gray.

Available on Kindle Unlimited – This is available on kindle unlimited.

Available Formats – Available on kindle, paperback and hardcover.

Publishing Information – Published on 17th January 2026.

Format in Which I Read – My copy was on kindle.

Where my copy come From – My copy came from the author.

POVs – This is written in dual POV – Andriano and Rosalie.

Single/Dual/Multiple Timelines – This is written on a single timeline. With flashbacks to the past.

1st, 2nd or 3rd person – This is written in first person.

HEA, HFN or Cliff hanger – This ends with a HFN.

Series or Standalone – This is book one in the Cirque Du Noir series.

Trigger Warnings – Please check content warnings before reading if necessary and please always remember that your mental health matters.

My Initial Thoughts This is my first book by Portia, and I was drawn straight in by the cover. The book starts straight away with humour, that had me giggling from the start, not to mention how Whitney meets Jake. Again this is a perfect mix of roles, Whitney is a ghost writer wanting to branch out and be an author and Jake is well Jake… hot cowboy alert! Plot I enjoyed the plot so much! The perfect mix of yearning for each other and the fake dating! Third-act breakup made me cry, I was not a fan of that, but gosh did it draw all the emotions up! The plot flows lovely, and at first Whitney, well I was not a fan of her and what was occurring but I loved Jake so much! Perfect gentleman! Characters I enjoyed Jake’s character throughout the book, he was always making me swoon and by gosh does that man have a full heart! Whitney took me a while to warm to but then I really enjoyed her character and who she was. Recommend Fake dating lovers? Cowboys? Yep I’d recommend this! Favourite Quote/s “Jesus, his jeans are tight… That’s like vasectomy by denim.” “Someone who feels like he’s been ripped from the pages of a romcom, a walking, talking trope of a man.” “But with Jake, he doesn’t feel like a life jacket, he feels like a life.” “Maybe sometimes love stories start with the fireworks, rather than ending with them.”

Favourite Chapter/s My favourite chapters were 5, 9, 13, 24 and 30. Romance status.. This is a fade to black romance. Summed up in one sentence The perfect mix of tropes! Overall Wrap up I really enjoyed this, the trope of a walking man, the author hoping to be seen. And their meet cute! They just had me swooning and giggling. I certainly want to read more written by Portia! Stars & spice. 4.75 stars and fade to black romance. Dates read – started on 2nd May 26 and finished on 9th May 26. Book Information – Wed Or Alive by Portia MacIntosh.

Genre – Rom-com.

Pages – 298 pages.

Tropes – Forced proximity. Fake dating. Cowboy x author. Meet – cute.

Available on Kindle Unlimited – This is available on kindle unlimited.

Available Formats – Available on kindle and audiobook, paperback and hardback.

Publishing Information – Published on 28th April 2026 by Boldwood Books.

Format in Which I Read – My copy was on kindle.

Where my copy come From – My copy came from Netgallery.

POVs – This is written in single POV – Whitney.

Single/Dual/Multiple Timelines – This is written on a single timeline.

1st, 2nd or 3rd person – This is written in first person.

HEA, HFN or Cliff hanger – This ends with a HEA.

Series or Standalone – This is a standalone.

Trigger Warnings – Please check content warnings before reading if necessary and please always remember that your mental health matters.

My Initial Thoughts Isn’t the cover beautiful, those colours are stunning. Straight away seeing the dedication, (we all know I’m a goner for them.) “For anyone who’s ever stood in the exact same place, beside the exact same person, while feeling homesick for the memory of both.” This is my fourth book by Lily and I was excited for a new series! Bailey Jones is an author, so straight away we are on author scene that I was excited for, because I love a book that has some part bookish about it! And the “accidental” back to each other that happens to….. swoon. Plot I enjoyed the plot, the danger element that Bailey faces because of her stalk er. Rhett is extremely overprotective, and given what we learn about his history throughout the story, it makes sense. I really enjoyed the fact that it was second chance, in a place that meant so much to the pair of them. The danger was well plotted and you could feel the tension and most certainly the tension between Bailey and Rhett. That being said I cannot wait for the next book! Characters Bailey is a published author who picks up a stalk er. Luckily Rhett is a force to be reckoned with. I enjoyed the moments they shared together and the waterfall scene was hot! I enjoyed the side characters as well and loved the small town of Cedar Shores. Recommend If you enjoy second chance, small town romance suspense, this should be on your tbr. Favourite Quote/s “Rhett has always been the calm in a storm, even before any of us were old enough to realize what that meant.” “Honey, you look happier out here, driving this damn Jeep though the woods than you’ve looked since I got to your apartment last week. I think you’re half forest animal at heart.” “Step away from the lumberjack, Bailey.”

Favourite Chapter/s My favourite chapters were 17, 18, 21, 22, 25, 27 and 38. Spicy chapter/s There is spice in chapters 26, 33,38 and 39. Summed up in one sentence Cute small town, second chance romance. Overall Wrap up The grumpy x sunshine mixed with best friend’s brother or brother’s best friend depending on the way you look at it works so well for both Bailey and Rhett. The lumberjack scene had me biting my own lips so much, damn that was a hot part and there was no spice involved in that! I enjoyed the trips down memory lane and just had a good time reading this. Stars & spice. 4 stars and 2.5 chilli’s. Dates read – started on 27th April and finished on 3rd May 2026. Book Information – Safe Haven by Lily Parker.

Genre – Romance suspense.

Pages – 348 pages.

Tropes – Best friends brother/brothers’ best friend. Small town. Friends to lovers. Second chance. Forced proximity. Slow burn.

Available on Kindle Unlimited – This is available on kindle unlimited.

Available Formats – Available on kindle and paperback.

Publishing Information – Published on 23rd April 2026 by Choc Lit.

Format in Which I Read – My copy was on kindle.

Where my copy come From – My copy came from Zooloo’s Book Tours.

POVs – This is written in dual POV – Rhett and Bailey.

Single/Dual/Multiple Timelines – This is written on a single timeline, with flashbacks to their past together.

1st, 2nd or 3rd person – This is written in first person.

HEA, HFN or Cliff hanger – This ends with a HEA.

Series or Standalone – This is book one in the Cedar Shores series.

Trigger Warnings – Please check content warnings before reading if necessary and please always remember that your mental health matters.

My Initial Thoughts I enjoyed the way this started, with opening of a book group. The cover is eye catching and I was looking forward to the promise of this series. Straight away there was a lot of booktok talk and cliques. At first that made me smile thinking, this is exactly what I was expecting, until it carried on endlessly and become to much. The dual POV really worked well however and adding the tension between both Kate and August. Plot The pacing for the plot was really off, I think this would have been more enjoyable if it was condensed down and the filler was removed. I found it frustrating that August kept the identity mystery going on for so long, even when there was perfect moments to reveal this. The ending and the danger that ramped up, had me invested and I couldn’t put it down then. There was elements that had me fully invested and I did enjoy that. Characters Kate and August work well together, but Kate and her booktok cliques got frustrating at times and her always letting August of everything because her fascination with masked follower is something. August is just the walking red flag until the truth about everything comes out then maybe he is a orange flag ? Recommend I personally wouldn’t recommend this. Favourite Quote/s “Don’t worry, baby. I’ll keep watch and unalive the monsters in your nightmares.” “No more bedtimes stories with benefits when you’re a brat” “I will f…ing burn the world for her to shine brighter. Let my face be the only one they see as the flames surround them and raze their empire to the ground.” “I’m a sunshine gremlin.” Favourite Chapter/s My favourite chapters were 3, 9, 11, 21, 22, 23 and 39. Spicy chapter/s There is spicy in chapters 10, 13, 19, 22, 25, 30 and 36. Summed up in one sentence A booktok heavy romance. Overall Wrap up “For every book girlie who thinks morally gray cinnamon rolls make the best book boyfriends. Get out those highlighters and colour-code those obsessed, protective moments!” I was looking forward to this after that dedication, and there was moments that I really enjoyed, especially the danger that both August and Kate went though. The daddy moments. The nicknames. I enjoyed them. I just generally feel the pacing was off. I’m not sure if I’ll carry on the series unfortunately.
I really enjoyed the scene set at the arcade and that would have been the perfect moment for a reveal. Stars & spice. 2 stars and 4 chilli’s. Dates read – started on 15th April and finished on 25th April 26. Book Information – Painted Scars by Caitlyn Sky.

Genre – Dark romance.

Pages – 500 pages.

Tropes – Masked Stalk er. Morally gray. Motorbike scene. Booktok. Grumpy x sunshine.

Available on Kindle Unlimited – This is available on kindle unlimited.

Available Formats – Available on kindle and paperback.

Publishing Information – Published on 30th November 2025.

Format in Which I Read – My copy was on my own e-book.

Where my copy come From – My copy came from the kindle store.

POVs – This is written in dual POV – Kate and August.

Single/Dual/Multiple Timelines – This is written on a single timeline.

1st, 2nd or 3rd person – This is written in first person.

HEA, HFN or Cliff hanger – This ends with a HEA.

Series or Standalone – This is book one in Shadow Lake Stalk ers.

Trigger Warnings – Please check content warnings before reading if necessary and please always remember that your mental health matters.