Looking for a new read?  

Here are a few Short & Sweets on my recent finds from new to me authors! While I enjoyed some more than others, a few of these might just be what you’re looking for!

~ Manik by Amo Jones ~

Release Date ~ September 29, 2018

I’m Beatrice Kennedy, but everyone calls me Beat. I live a low-key life, fresh out of college and drifting from town to town until I find my home.

I love music, and how it stirs even the deepest and untouched parts of your soul. Depending on what you choose to listen to, would depend on what it touches. It’s the drug we all damper in, only different strains. My strain is Jazz. The smooth instrumental strums that take over me. The sound of cigar smoke, bourbon, and an old dusty fedora hat. My strain wasn’t rap, and it sure wasn’t laced with some A-class shit like murky blue eyes casted down from the Lord and the Devil’s handcrafted smile. I knew who he was—the whole world did. One fateful night set off a chain of events, events that no one was coming back from. You can’t save people who don’t want to be saved. You can’t pull them up from the ocean when they’ve latched themselves to an anchor. Love was my anchor, destruction was the water that was drowning me, and the rope that was so tightly clamped around my ankles, was woven with the lyrics of Aeron Romanov-Reed, also known as, ‘Manik. He steals hearts from all around the world, but one night, he stole something that wasn’t his to steal.
Me.

This is a full length standalone.

Manik grabbed my attention from the get-go with the combined mafia and music storyline in the synopsis, and man, I was completely sucked into this dark and suspenseful romance!

Aeron Romanov-Reed, otherwise known as ‘Manik’ is definitely a pretty effed up dude! I was a little worried if he would be able to win me over or not with his major alpha awfulness. As a heroine, I was also a little torn on Beatrice Kennedy or ‘Beat’ and whether she had a backbone or not. Their characters really grew on me as I understood them better, and once Manik stepped up and Beat got herself sorted out, I was good to go!

As I mentioned, this is a dark romance and one twisted story, so consider yourself warned. The plot was very interesting and so intricately woven that sometimes I wondered if I missed some details, but I loved the mafia and music storyline. The design graphics at the start of each chapter were very pretty, and it also had a unique playlist, which enhanced the emotion and mystery in the story as well.

Manik is actually my first read by Amo Jones, and I’ve also now devoured The Elite King’s Club Series too. I’m just so drawn to her unique writing style and the way she completely captures me in such crazy and exciting worlds. If you’re looking to take a walk on the dark side with a suspenseful, dark, and twisted romance, this is definitely one to check out!

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~ Hollywood Playboy (Hollywood Royalty Series #1) by Natasha Madison ~

Release Date ~ January 29, 2018

Behind the “lights, camera, action” of Hollywood lies a world of deception, love, and seduction. 

Are you ready for Hollywood Royalty?

Jessica

An entertainment journalist was the last thing I thought I would be doing.
I thought once I got my degree, I would be reporting on stories that made a difference, but now all I do is report on who broke up with who and who is dating who.
I was over it.
Then I got my next assignment.

He’s Hollywood’s bad boy.
He works hard, and he plays even harder.
He’s rude, he’s condescending, and he’s made it known he doesn’t want me on the tour.

With one month on the road with him, two things might happen
One, I may never work in this industry again.
Two, I may just be like everyone else and fall for Hollywood’s Playboy.

Hollywood Playboy is my first read by Natasha Madison, as well as the first standalone in her new Hollywood Royalty Series, and what a cute and enjoyable read!

Tyler and Jessica’s characters were both really endearing and relatable! I loved their witty personalities, and the buildup of passion between them was definitely tangible and very sweet. Although I wouldn’t say it was particularly complex, I thought the movie star combined with press tour storyline was refreshing and engaging. The only thing that threw me off a little bit was that Madison writes very detailed descriptions, which I don’t really mind, but it did make the flow of the story seem a little choppy at times.

Hollywood romances are always a favorite trope of mine, and if you’re looking for a good enemies-to-lovers Hollywood romance, this is definitely one to grab up. I also look forward to reading the next books in the series, which are Kellie’s story in Hollywood Princess, and Carter’s story in Hollywood Prince!

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~ Blood Angels’ (Guild Hunter Series #1) by Nalini Singh ~

Release Date ~ March 3, 2009

Nalini Singh introduces readers to a world of beauty and bloodlust, where angels hold sway over vampires.

Vampire hunter Elena Deveraux is hired by the dangerously beautiful Archangel Raphael. But this time, it’s not a wayward vamp she has to track. It’s an archangel gone bad.

The job will put Elena in the midst of a killing spree like no other—and pull her to the razor’s edge of passion. Even if the hunt doesn’t destroy her, succumbing to Raphael’s seductive touch just may. For when archangels play, mortals break.

So March’s Ultimate Reading Challenge was for me to read a ‘Fantasy’. Honestly, I don’t really read this genre very much and really struggle with finding them relatable, and only picked it up because I was taking part in the challenge. I hear so much praise for everything by Nalini Singh, so I started with the first book in her Guild Hunter Series, Angels’ Blood. While at first, I thought it might be interesting, I then realized that I just didn’t care – apparently, even sexy gods with wings can’t hold my attention in this genre.  Singh’s books are wildly popular, so if you’re into paranormal fantasy, you would probably want to check it out!

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~ The Red (The Red #1) by Tiffany Reisz ~

Release Date ~ July 11, 2017

Mona Lisa St. James made a deathbed promise that she would do anything to save her mother’s art gallery. Unfortunately, not only is The Red painted red, but it’s in the red.

Just as she realizes she has no choice but to sell it, a mysterious man comes in after closing time and makes her an offer: He will save The Red if she agrees to submit to him for the period of one year.

The man is handsome, English, and terribly tempting…but surely her mother didn’t mean for Mona to sell herself to a stranger. Then again, she did promise to do anything to save The Red…

The Red is a standalone novel of erotic fantasy from Tiffany Reisz, international bestselling author of The Bourbon Thief and the Original Sinners series.

I’ve read a few of Reisz’s books now and for some reason have the hardest time getting into them. I was really excited going into The Red because so many readers have praised it as one of their favorite books of 2017, and since her next book in the series is releasing soon in The Rose I decided to give her books another try. The characters didn’t wow me, and maybe I’ve just lost my sense of imagination, but parts of the story just seemed outlandish and silly. This was definitely a steamy read, and I would like to note that I did enjoy the ending. I know I’m in the minority, but overall, The Red was just an okay read for me.

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Purchase Manik by Amo Jones! 

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Start the Hollywood Royalty Series with Hollywood Playboy by Natasha Madison!

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Start the Guild Hunter Series with Angels’ Blood by Nalini Singh!

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Purchase The Red by Tiffany Reisz!

Have you read any of these romances before, or did you find a favorite read to share for April?

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