ARC Review: Die for Me by Shirlene Obuobi

 

“I'm obsessed.” —Ali Hazelwood

"I never wanted [it] to end...Stunning." —Lyla Sage

What my eyes are showing me can’t be possible. Can’t be real. Because if they are, then I have to accept that Julian Conrad has been alive for a very long time.

Too long to be human.

A stay-up-all-night, smart, spicy romance following a doctor who finds herself falling for an alluring, much-younger man with a deadly secret

Sean’s not in the market for love. The only female, let alone Black, interventional cardiologist at her hospital, she’s watched too many of her male colleagues divorce their first wives to marry younger models—and then there’s the abusive relationship she’s spent the better part of her early 30s healing from. Her passions are reserved for her best friend, her goddaughter, and her job.

Then she meets Julian. Brooding, beautiful and eleven years her junior. In short: A bad idea.

Julian pursues her in a way that sets off alarm bells in her mind, but she finds herself unable to resist their undeniable chemistry—even starts fantasizing about him in dreams that feel altogether too real. They also have a lot in common despite their age gap. So, to hell with it: If men can date younger, why can’t she? But the more Sean gets to know him, the more impossible Julian seems: He has a depth and sorrow to him that’s beyond his years, and sometimes there’s a look in his eyes that’s less than human, and leaves her feeling more like prey. Plus, Sean herself has been exhibiting odd symptoms—memory lapses, a lack of restraint that's unlike her, persistent exhaustion—that all trace back to Julian, making Sean feeling more than a little afraid. Who—or what—is she falling, irrevocably, in love with?

Extraordinarily transfixing, suspenseful, and addictive, Die for Me is nothing short of a seduction.

Title: Die for Me

Author: Shirlene Obuobi

Publisher: Viking Penguin

Publication Date: July 14, 2026

Review:

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Viking for providing me with a copy of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed her are my own.

I'll be honest, I took the widget for this one simply because Ali Hazelwood blurbed it and had it featured in her newsletter. I love Hazelwood and figured I could not go wrong with a title she enjoyed. I didn't even read the blurb for this, so I really had no idea what I was getting into. And boy was I pleasantly surprised. I was not expecting a paranormal romance. Nor was I expecting what the paranormal creatures actually were. This is actually the first time I've read a book with this type of supernatural being as the main "monster." I do not know much about this type of creature, except from what I kind of learned through the show Supernatural, so I was totally engrossed in trying to figure out what was going on.

Sean is a cardiologist who has spent her life making sure those around her know she is just as talented as anyone else who might be in her position. Her fight as not only a woman but a black woman is at the forefront of this book from the beginning. The opening chapter totally makes it clear she has had to claw her way to the top and fight to stay there. Her dedication to this is evident in her life choices of not having settled down, gotten married, or had kids. It has not been her priority to fit romance into her life. When she meets Julian at her best friend's ex's wedding, she is surprised by their instant connection despite their age gap. But as their relationship progresses, she notices things are not quite how they seem and takes a deep dive into finding out what Julian and his sisters, Rose and Leila, truly are. But this deep dive comes at an expense: her relationship with Julian and possibly her life.

I love that Sean is a such strong character. She can very much take care of herself. She has formed a found family with her best friend and her daughter. She lives the life she has set for herself and doesn't let anyone else dictate things for her. She's completely settled in her self. Strong and undeniably independent. Her letting Julian into her life is unusual. Her falling for him so quickly is even more so. I also enjoyed that Obuobi chose to write this book from just one perspective: Sean's. Everything we see, everything we feel, everything we know is because this truly capable woman shows it to us. It was refreshing and I was kind of surprised I was ok with is (I normally like dual POV for romances).

Julian is this sexy, broody man who knows what he wants and he wants Sean. His whole persona is a mystery. He is also single minded in getting Sean's attention and having her as his. To the point that he seems utterly obsessed with Sean. He moves so quickly, which was a red flag for me, to be honest. But given what he is, it's understandable Sean had very little control in her attraction to him.

On top of the romance is a mystery of what Julian and his siblings are. Slowly Sean reveals what she finds. Along the way we get to know her best friend, Winona, Winnys' daughter Sophie, their ex-husband/best friend Brandon, and her adorable dog Onix. All the supporting characters in this book brought something special to the story. There were no extraneous characters who made you wonder why they were there. 

Finally, the pacing of this book was great. I would have finished it in one day had I not been on vacation and exhausted from a boating trip we took. I didn't want to put this one down. I had to know what was actually happening and once it was revealed I was definitely a bit shocked. Like I said above, I haven't really read books with this kind of monster in it so it was very new to me. By the 75% mark when all is finally truly revealed, the book really takes off. There is action and more mystery and some gore (nothing horrible but horrible enough). I was so worried Obuobi would leave me with heartbreak and had no idea how she would actually wrap it up so I'd be happy but she managed to do it! This book solidified that I will be reading Obuobi's future works and going back to see what her other books are about. 

Author:

Shirlene Obuobi is a Ghanaian-American physician, cartoonist, and author who grew up in Chicago, Illinois, Hot Springs, Arkansas and The Woodlands, Texas. When she’s not in the hospital (and let’s be honest, even when she’s in it), she can be found drawing comics, writing on her phone, and obsessing over her three cats. She currently lives in Chicago, where she is completing her cardiology fellowship.

BLOG TOUR SPOTLIGHT: Muscles & Monsters (Leviathan Fitness #1) by Ashley Bennett

 Happy publication day to Muscles & Monsters!

ABOUT MUSCLES & MONSTERS

A gym-owning wolven and a headstrong baker discover howl real their connection is in the first book of the beloved Leviathan Fitness series.

After a wedding cake catastrophe on the street, local baker Tegan lands in the most unexpected place—a solid wall of fur and fangs named Atlas. She’s never met anyone like him and finds herself enamored by his wolfish charm. After their sweet encounter, Atlas invites her to his gym anytime she needs his cake-lifting services.

However, Tegan is through with being a damsel in distress. She signs up for a membership with Leviathan Fitness, determined to build her strength…and if she sees the handsome wolven again, it’s a win-win scenario.

Atlas can’t believe his eyes when Tegan walks through the doors of his gym, and nearly goes snout-over-paw to offer her personal training. Shared glances over the barbell and accidental touches at the water fountain set Atlas’s heart racing in a way he swore it couldn’t again.

Primal desires emerge as Atlas and Tegan test just how much their new love can lift. Could Tegan be the unexpected mate of Atlas’s dreams?

Title: Muscles & Monsters (Leviathan Fitness #1)

Author: Ashley Bennett

Publisher: Berkley

Publication Date: 2/10/2026

How cute does this book look! I'm loving the theme and I cannot wait to jump in and devour it. Have you heard of this one? Will you be putting it on your TBR? DO IT!

A little about the author, Ashley Bennett:

Ashley Bennett is a small-town paranormal and monster romance author from Baltimore, Maryland. She writes stories that are equal parts spice and swoon. When she's not writing, you can find her reading webtoons, playing cozy video games, and taking care of her houseful of rescue animals.

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ARC Review: The Mating Game by Lana Ferguson

 

Two wolf shifters reluctant to love discover there’s no fighting the call of the wild in this steamy romance by USA Today bestselling author Lana Ferguson.

Contractor Tess Covington has spent her entire life as a regular non-shifter human, so after she lands in the Denver ER with flu-like symptoms, it comes as a complete shock to be told that, no, she’s not sick—she’s actually a late-presenting omega wolf shifter. With her family in dire financial straits and a contract for her own television show on the line, she can’t afford not to complete the renovation job she came for. And given that her newly emerged wolf is in danger of going into heat, she’ll just have to do her best to follow the doctor’s advice to keep away from alpha shifters.

Alpha wolf Hunter Barrett has spent most of his adult life living by a routine, and a big part of that involves staying clear of omegas after having one stomp on his heart. So when the tiny contractor shows up at his place smelling like the one thing he’s determined to avoid, he thinks it must be some sort of cosmic joke. But with his lodge on the verge of failing and this sweet-smelling omega his only hope to turn things around . . . he’s left with few other options than to grin and bear it.

Set on avoiding each other as much as possible, they find things unexpectedly starting to heat up between them enough to thaw even the frostiest of hearts. Though even with the pair going head over paws for each other, there’s no changing that their fling has an expiration date. The more time they spend together, the more they realize they’re playing a dangerous game—one where the only thing on the line is their hearts.

Title: The Mating Game

Author: Lana Ferguson

Publisher: Berkley

Expected Publication Date: December 2, 2025

Review:

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and Net Galley for providing me with a copy of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I love me some paranormal romance. And my new love is shifters. I read The Fake Mate and adored it so I could not wait to read this one. I was excited for Hunter's story. And it was just as great as I expected it would be. Lana Ferfuson is an auto-read author for me. I don't think there's anything she can write I won't love.

Hunter Barrett is a guy that sticks to his routines and doesn't put himself out there. He's a grumpy alpha (though he has some amazing golden retriever and cinnamon bun sides come out in this book). When Tess Covington is shoved into his life, he's not expecting to warm up to her, or even fall for her. And Tess has spent her life believing she's a beta when she's suddenly showing late presentation as an Omega. So when she takes the renovation job for Hunter's family's lodge she doesn't expect to present while on the job. Of course she goes into heat and the only one around to help her is Hunter.

I absolutely adored both these characters. Their connection was quite instant though I didn't feel like it was insta-love. They were drawn together because of who they are as shifters, but they easily warmed up to one another and opened up. Hunter presents as a grump but he truly warms up. And his support of Tess is amazing. He never makes her feel like she's alone in what she's experiencing. And he realizes that his self-isolation has not  been what he's needed in his life. When he finally opens up to let others in, he's amazed to find the support there for himself.

The side characters in this book are also fabulous. I loved Hunter's aunt and Tess's brothers. I hope we get to see more of them along the way. And it was great to see the appearances of the characters from The Fake Mate in this book, though you can easily read this one as a stand alone without having to be introduced to that couple.

And Lana gives such great spice in this book. Who knew I'd love knotting and all it brings? Plus she knows just how to pace a book to bring you along through the story and keep you turning the pages for more. The plot for this one was similar to the first book in this series, I will say. I wasn't sure how Ferguson would really make this one different since heats are a big thing with shifters. But she made it just different enough that it was fun to read and see what happened to these characters.

If you enjoy shifters, grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity/snowed in, and omegaverse romance, this one is for. I will run to any book Lana chooses to write, especially the paranormal. 

Author:

Lana Ferguson is a USA Today bestselling author and sex-positive nerd whose works never shy from spice or sass. A faded Fabio cover found its way into her hands at fifteen, and she’s never been the same since. When she isn’t writing, you can find her randomly singing show tunes, arguing over which Batman is superior, and subjecting her friends to the extended editions of The Lord of the Rings. Lana lives mostly in her own head but can sometimes be found chasing her corgi through the coppice of the great American outdoors.

ARC Review: The Last Vampire by Romina Garber

 

Pride & Prejudice meets Crave when Austen-loving Lorena Navarro attends a new boarding school expecting to find her own Mr. Darcy, but accidentally finds the world’s last vampire instead!

Pride comes before the fall.


When a boarding school opens in a once-condemned Victorian manor buried in the woods of New Hampshire, Austen-loving Lorena Navarro enrolls in hopes of finding her own Mr. Darcy. Instead, she stumbles across a coffin and accidentally awakens the world’s last vampire.

After hibernating for nearly three centuries, William Pride is desperate to find his family—and clueless about the modern world. Relying on Lorena for more than just blood, he enrolls at the school to catch up on all he’s missed.

Soon, William uncovers a chilling truth: He is the last hope for his kind’s return to power. Torn between protecting the humans around him and fulfilling his fate, William must make a choice that could change everything. Will he sacrifice his species for love . . . or will he embrace his dark destiny at last?

Title: The Last Vampire

Author: Romina Garber

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Expected Publication Date: December 2, 2025

Review:

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

It's been a while since I've read a paranormal vampire book. I will admit, my expectations for such books are high considering what I've read in the past. And given my penchant for loving dark academia, I had a certain picture of how things would play out in my mind. I was excited to jump into this one and see what the author had to offer.

The book had a fairly strong start. The writing was a bit more juvenile than I would have expected. But the book is YA so I know that writing for that age group can fluctuate. However, this book definitely comes off more middle grade than YA for me. I believe older teens or teens who have a larger vocabulary will not enjoy this title because of how simple the writing is. For this reason it's hard to really pinpoint who exactly should be reading this book.

But the story started off fairly quickly. I will admit I would have liked to have seen more character development to begin with but I figured I could get that later on in the book. Unfortunately, that never happened. The characters lacked depth. I didn't believe in any of the relationships be they friendships or romantic. There was nothing that had me believing how quickly all these kids became friends and decided to do bad things together. And there was nothing that made me believe in the romance, other than being told it was there. Not a lick of chemistry between the FMC and MMC which made it terribly hard for me to buy into their connection and romance.

Unfortunately, the book did not take off as I expected. It devolved into kids I didn't know (poor character development) and kids jumping into breaking the rules right away without any real background (see poor character development). The plot kind of slogs along with reveals that just make no sense considering the genre. So many of the ideas we know associated with vampires are challenged in this book. And, while I appreciate the idea of this, I just could not suspend my disbelief enough to believe in those changes.

I've seen other reviewers say if you like Twighlight you'll enjoy this. I do not agree with that assessment at all. For me, this story was a Twighlight wannabe. Add to this the pacing (SLOW) and the plot inconsistencies (many, even from one chapter to the next) and this book just did not hit me right.  The plot definitely has potential and perhaps a bit more editing would have done this book wonders since most of the dialogue and plot felt choppy and underdeveloped. Overall the story was just not well executed. I'm sure someone will enjoy it but that someone just was not me. The ending seems like there may be more to the story in the future but I will be passing on reading it if it does happen.

Author:

Romina Garber is a NYT/International Bestselling YA author who also writes under pen name Romina Russell. Born in Buenos Aires and raised in Miami, Romina landed her first writing gig as a teen—“College She Wrote,” a weekly Sunday column for the Miami Herald that was later picked up for national syndication—and she hasn’t stopped writing since. She is a graduate of Harvard College and a Virgo to the core. For more information about her books, visit www.rominagarber.com

Review: Good Spirits (Ghosted #1) by B.K. Borison

 

The New York Times bestselling author of First-Time Caller, B.K. Borison is back with a whimsical new holiday romance—this time with a magical twist—that will have everyone falling in love with the Ghost of Christmas Past.

He’s the Ghost of Christmas Past. She’s not exactly Scrooge.

Ghost of Christmas Past Nolan Callahan intends to spend this holiday haunting like every other—get in, get out, return to his otherwise aimless existence as a ghost awaiting the afterlife. But when he’s faced with Harriet York, the sweetest assignment he’s ever had, he suddenly finds himself wishing for a future.

Harriet York has no idea why she’s being haunted. She’s a good person—or, at least, she tries to be. A people pleaser to her core, she always does what’s expected of her. But as she and Nolan begin to examine her past, they discover there are threads that bind them together— and realize there might be more to moving on than expected.

With the deadline of Christmas Eve fast approaching, will they find the key to their futures in each other’s pasts? Or will they stay firmly in the present, indulging in their unexpected, spirited connection?

Filled with magic, mayhem, and cozy holiday charm, this swoony romance is B.K. Borison’s best yet!

TItle: Good Spirits (Ghosted #1)

Author: B.K. Borison

Publisher: Avon

Publication Date: October 21, 2025

Review:

THIS BOOK!

I absolutely adore Borison so I knew, I KNEW, I would love this story and I was right.

Give me all the ghosts and the romance and the magic. Borison rolled that all into a fabulously fun tale of a ghost trying to move forward. And to top it off, she wrote it based on A Christmas Carol. How fun, right? I'm so happy Borison jumped into paranormal romance because she nailed it!

I absoltey adored these characters.

Harriet York, not interested in her family or anything to do with them. They have never treated her right and all she's ever wanted was their love. I felt for this character so much. It was hard to watch her be treated so poorly. Hard to watch her take it all, absorb it all, and still try to be ok. Who can be ok when your family doesn't believe in you? when your family treats you like you aren't good enough no matter how hard you try. But she grows. And that's thanks to her new relationship with a certain ghost: Noah Callahan.

Noah is tasked with ensuring people right their wrongs. He's the ghost of Christmas Past. He helps people find their past trepasses and then hands them off to the other ghosts for further redemption. But he gets stuck on Harriet and he cannot figure out why. When they both realize it's because Harriet is meant to help him move forward, they focus on that. But along the way they feelings grow and neither one really wants to let go.

The BANTER and fun times in this book are top notch. I loved the side characters so much. I loved the world building. I loved the flow.

I don't think there's anything Borison writes I will not love. Her stories are INTENSE. Every book I read, my heart is in my throat. My chest literally clenches because I just don't see a good outcome for the characters. But Borison makes it work, every time. I should know by now. Her pacing is on point; I never want to put her stories down. And once I'm finished, I want to dive right in. I literally put the audio on hold as soon as I finished the Kindle version. Then I ordered a hard copy so I could have the trophy on my self (plus it's just so freaking pretty - see below).

I cannot wait for more stories in this world. I heard the next book involves a certain Reaper! I know Borison will make it just as fabulous as all her other stories. If you love magic, Christmas, found family, romance, and witty banter, jump into this story and let it's magic take you away!

Author:

New York Times, Sunday Times, and USA Today Bestselling author B.K. Borison is the author of cozy, contemporary romances featuring emotionally vulnerable characters and swoon-worthy settings. When she’s not daydreaming about fictional characters doing fictional things, she’s at home with her family, more than likely buying books she doesn’t have room for.

ARC Review: ZomRomCom by Olivia Dade

 

Teaming up with your neighbor during a zombie outbreak is a no-brainer, but if it turns out he’s a vampire . . . the stakes couldn’t be higher, in this infectious new paranormal romance from the USA Today bestselling author of Spoiler Alert.

When Edie Brandstrup attempts to save her sweet, seemingly harmless human neighbor from the first major zombie breach in two decades, she’s stunned to be saved by him—and his ridiculously large sword—instead. As it turns out, he's actually a super-old, super-surly vampire. But for all her neighbor's newly revealed cynicism and lethality, Gaston "Max" Boucher (yes, Gaston) is unexpectedly protective. He wants her to stay in his safety bunker until the breach is resolved. Edie can’t risk more innocent people getting killed, though—and Max won’t let her save them alone.

As they unravel a sinister conspiracy to set zombies loose on the world (again), the duo meet a host of lovable allies and discover they're not the only ones willing to fight for the future of humanity. Despite the awful timing, Edie finds herself falling for the vampire who’s helping her save the world . . . but all their dangerous plans could end their future before it even begins. As she and Max battle side by side, Edie must decide whether having a love worth living for also means having a love you'd die for—and, in a world that grows deadlier by the minute, whether that’s a risk she’s willing to take.

Title: ZomRomCom

Author: Olivia Dade

Publisher: Berkley

Expected Publication Date: September 5, 2025

Review:

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group/Berkley and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

This was my first full length book by this author. I did read a novella by her and remember enjoying it so I wanted to see what she would do with a full story. I was not disappointed. This book was so much fun. Was it a bit full of cheese? It sure was. Paranormal romance with every type of paranormal create and zombies plus lots of laughs. It also challenged what I know of those paranormal creatures from past books I've read.

Edie Brandstrup lives in the containment zone. A place where zombies are the norm, rather than not. But the zombies were originally created for a purpose. Unfortunately, that purpose took a turn and the zomibes got out of control. Edie just wants to live her life and make her artisnal soaps without being bothered. But when she encounters a zombie and realizes the containment zone has been breached, she knows she needs to warm everyone, including her neighbor Chad. But Chad is not who she thought he was since he moved in three years ago. Together they team up to combat the zombie problem and find each other along the way.

This book is full of so many different tropes. I loved each and every one. Grumpy/sunshine vibes, in a dystopian world, full of the paranormal? Why yes, sign me it. Dade took these elements and totally made them work. On top of that, she infused so much comedy into the book. There were pop culture references that were spot on. And the pacing was great. I kept wanting to turn the page to see what happened next. There is a lot of world building in this book. I am thankful for the map and explanations at the beginning as a guide to understand how the containment zones were set up.

Edie was a fun character. I loved that she was older, 38, and not some typically beautiful romance heroine. She's quirky and fun and keeps to herself. And Chad (Max), well, he's a character in and of himself. I loved his grumpy vampire vibes and how they complemented Edie's sunshine. Of course Max has his secrets, which he keeps well hidden. But Edie cracks his icy exterior and eventually gets down to the core of him.

This book is definitely a romcom but there are also a ton of emotional elements woven in. Self worth, post traumatic stress, 

And the final chapter being from a different POV! YES! That sets the scene for the next installment in this series. I didn't even know it was going to be a series so that chapter made me extremely happy. This book was an absolute blast to read. I can't wait to see what happens next!

Author:

Olivia Dade grew up an undeniable nerd, prone to ignoring the world around her as she read any book she could find. Her favorites, though, were always, always romances. As an adult, she earned an M.A. in American history and worked in a variety of jobs that required the donning of actual pants: Colonial Williamsburg interpreter, high school teacher, academic tutor, and (of course) librarian. Now, however, she has finally achieved her lifelong goal of wearing pajamas all day as a hermit-like writer and enthusiastic hag. She currently lives outside Stockholm with her delightful family and their ever-burgeoning collection of books.

Review: Six Scorched Roses (Crowns of Nyaxia #1.5) by Carrissa Broadbent

 

Six roses. Six vials of blood. Six visits to a vampire who could be her salvation… or her damnation.

Lilith has been dying since the day she was born. But while she long ago came to terms with her own imminent death, the deaths of everyone she loves is an entirely different matter. As her town slowly withers in the clutches of a mysterious god-cursed illness, she takes matters into her own hands.

Desperate to find a cure, Lilith strikes a bargain with the only thing the gods hate even more than her village: a vampire, Vale. She offers him six roses in exchange for six vials of vampire blood–the one hope for her town’s salvation.

But when what begins as a simple transaction gradually becomes something more, Lilith is faced with a terrifying realization: It’s dangerous to wander into the clutches of a vampire… and in a place already suffering a god’s wrath, more dangerous still to fall in love with one.

Six Scorched Roses is a standalone fantasy romance novella set in the world of the Crowns of Nyaxia series, perfect for those who love dark, romantic tales with bite and fans of Sarah J. Maas or Jennifer L. Armentrout.

Title: Six Scorched Roses (Crowns of Nyaxia #1.5)

Author: Carissa Broadbent

Publisher: Indie

Publication Date: March 21, 2023

Review:

Really enjoyed this story. Not 100% sure how it fits with the the others. It says #1.5 but kind of ends like it should go into book #1, so more like a prequel. I don't recall seeing these characters in the first book but perhaps we will meet them in book #2?

***ETA and indeed it looks like I'll understand this better when I read book #2...runs off to do that***

What can I even say about this story. Did I enjoy the first book in this series, I did. But this book? OH BOY! This book was absolutely phenomenal. And, while you can see I didn't really understand how it initially fit into the story line, I was not deterred in the least from devouring it.

First, I have to say if you didn't read The Serpent & The Wings of Night, this book kind of can stand alone. BUT, if you want to truly understand the world building, make sure you read that one first or you may be a bit lost as the world building doesn't happen as you might think it needs to for a stand alone story.

Did I love the characters in this book? That's an understatement. Broadbent just knows how to endear you to each and every one, be they evil or not. When you want to hate them, you just can't. And when you want to love them, your heart bursts with it because they are that well developed. Plus it's enemies to lovers AND grumpy-sunshine which just makes for the most fun, comical, and intense interactions between the FMC and MMC.

Overall the plot to this novella is romance but there is definitely a story line/plot that helps you see why the main characters form a relationship. There are other elements that are important to the world of Nyaxia, but this story is a background to an ousted vampire living in seclusion whose life is interrupted by a docile and innocent human.

Don't be fooled by the title of novella because you get a full length story here. It's short but so well developed both with the characters and the plot line. It doesn't really feel like a short story at all. The pacing, the plot, the character progression, all of it culminates in something that is fantastic and almost overwhelming to the heart. Not to mention the total Beauty and the Beast vibes you get from this (one of my all time favorite Disney stories!). 

Vale is a loner. He's set himself up far away from the world he knows to be alone in his sorrow. He's ornery and reclusive, but his interest in Lilith is great. I love the letters he writes and how he slowly opens up and gives her information about himself. The wager he makes with her is totally for his benefit as he wants to keep her coming back. He is my favorite of all of Broadbent's characters so far. He's grumpy, intense, and charismatic all rolled into this mountain of a man with the ability to love endlessly.

Lilith is a bit of a mouse in this story. She's very innocent and a little stupid (who goes sneaking around a known vampire's house without any way to protect themselves?). But she's desperate and doesn't care if she lives or dies trying to save herself and those she loves. At the same time, she's book smart (hello Belle!) and uses her knowledge of science to get what she wants.

AND THE WRITING! I really enjoyed the first book in this series. And I thought the writing was good, but the author really stepped it up and honed her craft with this one. I could see it in the sentence structure and the dialogue of the characters. I am super impressed with that shift.

Did this make me want to continue with the next book, you betcha! I am interested to see how these characters are important to that story line. I love this world!

Author:

I've been concerning teachers and parents with mercilessly grim tales since I was roughly nine years old. Since then, my stories have gotten (slightly) less depressing and (hopefully a lot?) more readable. Today, I write fantasy novels with a heaping dose of badass ladies and a big pinch of romance.

When I'm not writing, I'm working at my day job in cybersecurity marketing, watching too many movies, or drawing. I live with my fiance, one very well behaved rabbit, one very poorly behaved rabbit, and one perpetually skeptical cat in Rhode Island.

 

ARC Review: Bride by Ali Hazelwood

A dangerous alliance between a Vampyre bride and an Alpha Werewolf becomes a love deep enough to sink your teeth into in this new paranormal romance from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Love, Theoretically and The Love Hypothesis.

Misery Lark, the only daughter of the most powerful Vampyre councilman of the Southwest, is an outcast—again. Her days of living in anonymity among the Humans are over: she has been called upon to uphold a historic peacekeeping alliance between the Vampyres and their mortal enemies, the Weres, and she sees little choice but to surrender herself in the exchange—again...

Weres are ruthless and unpredictable, and their Alpha, Lowe Moreland, is no exception. He rules his pack with absolute authority, but not without justice. And, unlike the Vampyre Council, not without feeling. It’s clear from the way he tracks Misery’s every movement that he doesn’t trust her. If only he knew how right he was….

Because Misery has her own reasons to agree to this marriage of convenience, reasons that have nothing to do with politics or alliances, and everything to do with the only thing she's ever cared about. And she is willing to do whatever it takes to get back what’s hers, even if it means a life alone in Were territory…alone with the wolf.

Title: Bride

Author: Ali Hazelwood

Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group

Expected Publication Date: February 6, 2024

Review:

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for supplying me with an egalley of this book to read and review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

What happens when a vampyre and a wearwolf get throw together for a marriage of convenience and alliance? Not only do sparks fly but the lies that have kept their two cultures fighting for years come to the surface and put everyone's lives at risk. 

Ali Hazelwood is the queen of writing quirky, nerdy, and fun characters. So sinking my teeth into this one was a no brainer. I will say, I was worried about the paranormal aspect. I love some good paranormal characters but I wasn't sure how Hazelwood would work that into her romance writing. Let me tell you, she did a fabulous job. This book is her best romance yet. Close proximity, forced companionship, enemies to lovers, and forbidden love turn into sexy, melt your heart attraction and a fabulous plot line to boot!

I love the world building Hazelwood has given us: Vampyres, Wearwolves, and Humans living on the brim of constant war. She easily creates their territories and then the tension that accompanies these groups as enemies. This tension leaves you wondering how there will ever be any romance in the book when these cultures have lived with hate for each other all their lives.

I don't want to compare this to Twilight, but I just have to do it because it definitely has a bit of that feel. And I loved every minute of it. Hazelwood creates that same type of atmosphere flawlessly. There is the tension between the different groups, the fear of a clash that will end in someone dying, and also the forbidden romance that you cheer on! But there's also the theme of having a mate or being linked to another being in some way that cannot be broken. Think Jacob and Renesme. At the same time, this is so much more grown up. And there is zero love triangle!

The chapter headings! Hazelwood didn't make this book dual POV BUT the chapters headings give you all you need to know about the male main character., Lowe Moreland I don't know how the author was able to choose just the right words to introduce the chapters in just a sentence or two, but boy did they help build the relationship and tension between the MMC and the FMC.

Lowe Moreland, oh Lowe! He is powerful and protective. I love this Alpha who takes his job so seriously he is willing to sacrifice himself for anyone in his pack. His pull to Misery is unmistakable. I love how Hazelwood created this strong, confident, loyal character that, despite being forced to be in the presence of Misery, is determined to keep her safe. Oh and can I mention that his personality just makes him all the more sexy? He's super perceptive and this allows him to really see people and know who they are without having to ask a lot of questions.

Misery Lark truly fits Hazelwood's quirky female character theme. Misery, who chooses to live apart from the other vampyres, with the humans, because she just is not like her counterparts. But she's also a character who refuses to truly let anyone in because of her past experiences with being a pawn for her father and the vampyre community. And she's a character who doesn't feel she is worthy of ever having anyone love her or lean on her. I love her character arc in this book. She's not a typical vampyre, though, which you can tell right off the bat. She even alludes to it, that her culture is stoic and does not have any emotion or true connections between each other beyond keeping their race gong. She cares, which is not typical for her people. So you know from the very beginning there will be some rebellion from her. 

And the side characters really gave so much to the story and were also well thought out. Anna is adorable and her relationship with Misery is so much fun to watch. Alex makes me laugh with his fear of Misery but at the same time his want to be her friend. Misery's brother Owen is fearless and I love how his character arc happened. Serena, her best and only friend, is just as fun and quirky as Misery, it's no wonder they get along so well. And there are so many more I could name but then we'd be here forever. So you'll just need to read this one to meet them all!

I will say, I kind of figured out how things would play out between Lowe and Misery from the wedding scene at the very beginning of the book where he backs her into a wall asking why she smells like she does. I won't get into more on this except to say I knew exactly where that particular sentence was going to lead us (despite Misery's interpretation) and I was very down with finding out how the story would take me there!

Aside from the romance, there is so much more happening in this story. I love a good romance but I'm a stickler for there being some kind of story that goes along with how that romance proceeds, not just scenes where the characters are all over each other. I love the political plot Hazelwood weaves into this one. There's a of underhanded and scheming things as well as betrayal that happens which create some twists and turns you will not expect! There are many areas of action, which really picks the pacing up and creates amazing tension between the complex characters she develops. 

If you are looking for sexy, this is Hazelwood's sexiest book yet! She truly incorporates what we have been taught about Vampyres (teeth, sucking blood, hearing heart beats) and Wears (changing and morphing into wolves, scenting) and throws that into all the tense, sexy scenes for the characters. Those details make the romance even more amazing and had me squirming in my seat at times! It was delicious!

And that ending? I'm excited to see where the next story will go because that epilogue definitely shows us there will be more books in this paranormal romance series! I can see so many characters that are worthy of their own stories: Kiran, Owen, Serena, Alex, and many more. I need to read all their stories!

Overall, this is definitely in my top 5 reads this year. I flew through it and really didn't want to put it down. I may have stayed up way too late finishing it and been exhausted the next day, but in the best way! Give me all the Ali Hazelwood as she has quickly been elevated into my favorite romance author! 

Author:

I’m originally from Italy, lived in Japan and Germany, and eventually moved to the US to pursue a Ph.D. in Neuroscience. I recently became a professor, which absolutely terrifies me. When I’m not at work you can find me binge-watching shows with my three feline overlords (and my slightly less feline husband), running, or eating candy.

I’m represented by the amazing Thao Le of the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency.