Naomi's Reading Palace

Review ~ Taken By A Sinner by Michelle Heard

Taken By A Sinner by Michelle Heard
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed meeting Tess and Nikolas - they had chemistry right from the beginning. Tess began as a quiet young woman, who had been quite sheltered and she grew stronger throughout the story. Nikolas had no plans to be tied to one woman, but he was drawn to Tess, regardless of their parents getting married. Tess didn't bend to Nikolas' demands immediately, despite how much he wanted her to. It wasn't smooth sailing for Nik and Tess, there were some intense moments, but at times I felt this story was rushed. However, for my first Michelle Heard read, I quite enjoyed it and look forward to more stories from this world.

Title: Taken By A Sinner

Author: Michelle Heard

Series: Sinners #1

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Published: March 28, 2022

From USA Today & Wall Street Journal bestselling author Michelle Heard comes a new standalone, full-length Greek Mafia Romance novel.

Drowning in the murky waters of the mafia, I’m determined to find a way out. I have my sights set on becoming a film producer and won’t let anything or anyone stand in my way.

Then my mother marries a retired Godfather, and I get the head of the Greek mafia as a stepbrother.
Nikolas Stathoulis is set on ruining my well-laid plans. His ruthless reputation has me running for the safety of my apartment.

But he’s always there. On campus. In my apartment. Expecting me to play by his rules.
If only I can ignore his godlike features and stop my heart from doing cartwheels at the sight of him.

Greek God? Pretty much.
But he’s rude, demanding, and hell-bent on making my life a misery.

Two can play this game… Right?

STANDALONE: A Greek Mafia Romance full-length novel. WARNING: 18+ only. Please read responsibly. THIS NOVEL CONTAINS TRIGGERING CONTENT.

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Review ~ Beautifully Cruel series by J.T. Geissinger

Beautifully Cruel (Beautifully Cruel, #1)

Beautifully Cruel by J.T. Geissinger
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I found Beautifully Cruel to be quite a good, solid read however it didn’t blow me away. Tru and Liam had a long connection, before either of acted on their connection. Liam silently watched Tru over many months, but didn’t want to cross that line due to the situation he was in. Tru was a quiet girl, but when cornered was quick witted and would stand up for herself. She got herself into a situation and Liam was determined to get in to help her.

It was sweet watching these two fall deeply for one another, despite the dangerous life Liam lived, and how hard they tried to deny their feelings. I could see how protective Liam was of Tru and that he wanted to respect her above everything. I felt that these two fell for each other a little too easily. I would’ve enjoyed a bit more danger and suspense. Towards the end there was some drama and some sweet moments between them. I’m looking forward to reading the next book, to see how much bigger this world can get.

Title: Beautifully Cruel

Author: J.T. Geissinger

Series: Beautifully Cruel #1

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Published: May 15, 2020

Alpha (noun):
1) Having the highest rank in a dominance hierarchy
2) The most powerful man in a group
3) Liam Black

He was a stranger to me, a dark and dangerous presence who materialized from the shadows one rainy night to save me from a vicious attack. I didn’t know his name or where he was from. All I knew was that the only place I’d ever felt safe was in his arms.

But safety is an illusion.
And not every savior is a hero.
And—as I’d soon find out—having an alpha save your life comes with a price.

Liam Black wanted something from me in return.

Cruel Paradise by J.T. Geissinger
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

After reading Beautifully Cruel, I was really looking forward to reading Killians book, to see who would be able to tame him and I was secretly surprised on who was able to do it. I think that as Juliet had a background in the similar area, she understood Killian well. She was quite the quick-witted thief with a heart of gold. She found it hard to let people in and had a small group of people that she trusted. Her and her friends tried to do good deeds, by robbing the people who could afford it.

Killian was drawn to Juliet as soon as he found her. He wanted to know more and was determined to earn her trust. The banter between Juliet and Killian was its own kind of foreplay. I felt that there was a lot of push and pull, and that Liam’s story revealed more background information. I would’ve liked more in this read, and to cross over storyline’s a bit more. The suspense in the end was good, but I felt like it lacked a little bit of storyline and depth. Overall it has been a good series to get swept away in.

Title: Cruel Paradise

Author: J.T. Geissinger

Series: Beautifully Cruel #2

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Published: October 1, 2020

Anti-hero (noun):
1) A powerful and charismatic man lacking moral character
2) A magnificent bastard
3) Killian Black

You don’t know me.
You think you do, but you don’t.
The only thing you know is my name, and even that’s a lie.

I’m king of Boston, lord of criminals, ruler of an underworld empire. Or am I?

Only one thing’s for sure: I operate alone.

Until I cross paths with a brazen little thief who sets my whole kingdom on fire.

Just as two wrongs don’t make a right, two villains don’t belong together. Especially since she’s the daughter of my most deadly enemy.

Taking her would start a war.
Keeping her would be suicide.
Making her mine would break every code of honor and defy all common sense.

Then again, where’s the fun in following the rules?

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Review ~ One Percent of You by Michelle Gross

One Percent of You by Michelle Gross
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This certainly was a slow burn read as Hadley and Elijah got to know one another. Hadley being a single mum was quite wary of Elijah, especially as how their first meeting didn’t go so well. However I could see the connection grow after each interaction, even though they didn’t understand it. My heart ached for Hadley and how she worked so hard to support her little family. I loved the change in Elijah. He gravitated toward this little family and was very protective of them all. He was keen to step out of his comfort zone so Hadley knew that he was serious. I adored Lucy! She seemed wise for her age and loved her mother and Elijah fiercely! My only complaint would that it wrapped up too quickly! I wanted more of this sweet family!

Title: One Percent of You

Author: Michelle Gross

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Published: May 5, 2019

Make no mistakes about it. I know what I look like to others. Young, government-aided, pregnant mom. They see Lucy on my hip, and they see a mistake. I mean, why else would someone have a child so young, right? They couldn’t be more wrong. I’m too busy most days between parenting, work, and finishing up my last year of nursing school to let their judging gaze tear me down until he moves in the vacant house next to the apartments I live in.

His cold, blunt observation of us doesn’t differ from any other stranger. He doesn’t know me, but he’s already painting a picture of who he thinks I am in his mind. He judges my very round belly, Lucy’s inability to leave him alone, the bags under my eyes, and the fact that I could not care less what I look like anymore.

He’s a rude guy. Stays that way for months too. Then something happens, I’m not even sure what. Judgmental Guy decides Lucy and me — as well as baby Eli — are worth his friendship.

Turns out, Judgmental Guy isn’t too mean — okay, he kind of still is. But he graduates to Elijah. I build an unlikely friendship with him which deems it necessary for him to start smiling around me and my kids.

I’m wrong again. Elijah isn’t rude. He’s terrifying. His strange acts of kindness are unraveling me. Elijah is only my friend.

Right?

Oh, fudge. I think I’m wrong. Again.

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Review ~ Blind Side by Kandi Steiner

Blind Side by Kandi Steiner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the first book in the Red Zone Rivals series that I’ve read and I found it to be quite the enjoyable read. Clay was a confident and thoughtful guy, who put those he loved first. He came from a broken home where his mother struggled a lot and he felt the need to help her constantly.

Giana was a quiet girl, with her own fashion sense. She felt like the forgotten middle child in her family and was growing on her own in college. She was outside of her comfort zone as she organised the football players to face the press.

Clay and Giana were total opposites but found that they could help each other out with people that they wanted. What they didn’t expect was for their feelings to grow as they explored each other’s minds and bodies. Together these two were sweet and I enjoyed watching them grow. I enjoyed meeting the part of team as well.

Title: Blind Side

Author: Kandi Steiner

Series: Red Zone Rivals #2

Genre: Sports Romance

Published: June 15, 2022

The hottest college football safety in the nation just asked me to be his fake girlfriend.

And I just asked him to take my virginity.

Clay Johnson has the abs of Adonis and the deadly smirk of the devil, himself. There’s hardly a day he’s not headline material during football season, and never a day he isn’t a bullseye target for every girl on campus.

He used to be the easiest of all the players for me to wrangle as the Public Relations Coordinator, but after a nasty breakup with his high school sweetheart, he’s a mess.

And a complete pain in my ass.

We meet to discuss his behavior and review media relations standards. But when he witnesses how I fall to pieces in front of my guitar-toting crush, his wheels start turning. And he cooks up this absurd plan.

He helps me get noticed.
I help him make his ex jealous.
All by pretending to be in a relationship.

What he doesn’t realize is that this bookworm is a virgin, and far from versed in seducing a musician. So, to sweeten the deal, I convince him to help me — not just to get my crush’s attention, but to knock his socks off once I have it.

But the more I come unraveled at the hands of Clay Johnson, the more trouble I have discerning what’s fake and what’s undoubtedly real — particularly, the way my heart flutters every time that breathtaking man touches me.

We set the rules. We put the safeguards in place.

But they say rules are meant to be broken.
They probably should have added that hearts are, too.
Blind Side is a fake dating college sports romance with "lessons" and opposites attract. It is a complete stand-alone.

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Review ~ Between Hello and Goodbye by Emma Scott

Between Hello and Goodbye by Emma Scott
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4.5 Stars

Between Hello and Goodbye was the kind of read that drew me in, and I wanted to know more about the characters. I liked the character growth of both Asher and Faith. Faith thought she was doing ok, but decided a reset was needed, even though it ended up to be quite challenging. Asher never dated girls - he had more one night stands - but there was something about Faith that drew him to her. It was sweet watching their attraction grow.

However, there was a twist thrown in and that left me gobsmacked! I couldn’t believe how much it would turn their lives upside down! Between Hello and Goodbye was a pretty intense read at times, and my heart ached for both Asher and Faith, as the timing never appeared right for them. Faith lacked comfort when growing up, and Asher always had Mason and the responsibilities. I loved Asher’s family and how supportive they were of one another. I had hope that Asher and Faith would find their time, as they were perfect for one another.

Title: Between Hello and Goodbye

Author: Emma Scott

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Published: June 26, 2022

She’s a city girl in Seattle. He’s a firefighter in a rainforest. This is never going to work…

Faith Benson isn’t your emergency contact, she’s the party-girl friend you call for a good time. The gal-pal who loves mimosas at brunch and martinis at Happy Hour. But her carefree lifestyle threatens her job at a top Seattle ad agency. There’s no one better at landing big accounts (when she shows up) but her boss demands she take a leave of absence to get her head on straight.

Faith heads to the remote Hawaiian island of Kauai, far away from the vices that get her in trouble. But a twisted ankle on Day One requires rescuing by a man who is vice personified—a gorgeous firefighter who awakens feelings in her heart she never knew existed.

Asher Mackey doesn’t get involved with beautiful tourists beyond taking them to bed and then watching them leave his tiny island. He’s devoted his life to the safety and care of everyone around him…except himself. Until he meets Faith Benson, the city girl whose vibrant, inner beauty shines a light on the dark corners of his life, showing him how safe—but empty—it truly is.

Despite their best efforts to keep their distance, Faith and Asher fall hard and fast, but there’s an ocean between them. Both are building their lives on opposite sides of the Pacific while their feelings for each other grow more profound and undeniable by the day.

Something has to give.

When Asher receives devastating news, he and Faith have to decide once and for all to entrust their hearts fully to the other or return to their safe—but separate—worlds. Because neither can endure much longer, living somewhere between hello and goodbye.

Between Hello and Goodbye is a contemporary romance about love, loss, and experiencing life in all its facets. It deals with sensitive topics that may be triggering for some readers.

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Review ~ June First by Jennifer Hartmann

June First by Jennifer Hartmann
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Through the first part of June First, the opening chapters broke my heart and brought tears to my eyes. Seeing such a tragedy at such a young age was such an overwhelming experience. I enjoyed watching Brant, Theo and June grow throughout the years, but my heart shattered once again further into the read. It brought on a lot of tears and my heart was aching for the family that I’ve come to love. I didn’t know how they are going to pull themselves back together.

The last half of this book was challenging for not only Brant and June but also June's parents. They had suffered so much and had to learn to live again. The attraction between them continued to burn and when lines were blurred, it was extremely hard to go back. It was a difficult time for all and I understood each side. It was hard for them all to find the right path. Overall there was no denying the love they all had for each other. This was such an emotionally charged read.

Title: June First

Author: Jennifer Hartmann

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Published: May 17, 2022

Want to know what happens to a man who barely claws his way out of a tragedy, only to fall right into the arms of the one girl in the world he can never have?

Another tragedy, that’s what.

When I was six years old, my father made a choice that altered the course of my entire life.
Because of what he did, the only girl I ever loved became the only girl I couldn’t have.

In a lot of ways, I did have her…
I had her first steps, her first words, her first smile. I had her milestones, her heartbreaks, her dreams. I had her heart so woven in with mine, I didn’t know where she ended, and I began.
Only, as the years pressed on, lines became blurred—and the blurrier the line, the easier it is to cross.

They say tragedy comes in threes.
For me, that was true.
The first one changed me, the second one broke me, and the third one healed me.

But at the center of all that tragedy… there is a love story.
And at the center of that love story,
There is June.

** Forbidden/taboo relationship, please read with caution **

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Review ~ Thorne Princess by L.J. Shen

Thorne Princess by L.J. Shen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thorne Princess started strong, where I met two characters who weren't as they appeared. Hallie was portrayed as an air head who couldn’t do anything right, but in reality she was a smart girl that had personal issues that held her back. Her family didn’t really show her the attention that she needed growing up, and she was forced to carve her own path that was far from ideal. When her family hire Ransom to put her on the straight and narrow, nothing prepared her for the change to her life.

I liked that Ransom pushed Hallie the way that he did. He forced her to look inside herself for things she was passionate about. They bickered constantly, and it was amusing to watch. They had strong chemistry between them and the more time they spent together I could see the growth in Hallie. I liked how strong and dominate Ransom was to begin with, but at a stage there, he softened so completely that I felt was out of character for him. The suspense element was good and the ending gave me good closure between Hallie and Randsom.

I generally enjoy books by L.J. Shen. She creates worlds that you can get lost in and characters that show a lot of growth and chemistry. Thorne Princess was a good read, but I've read some books of hers that were unforgettable. This one was a little below par for me, but I will certainly pick up more books of hers in the future!

Title: L.J. Shen

Author: Thorne Princess

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Published: January 12, 2023

An addictive standalone about a Hollywood princess who is desperate to self-destruct…and the grumpy bodyguard who saves her.

I landed in hot water with the tabloids one too many times.
What can I say? My nipple wanted to come out and say hi to the paparazzi.
After that, my father presented me with an ultimatum—either he cuts off the gravy train and stops paying for my lavish lifestyle or I agree to have a live-in bodyguard.
And by bodyguard, I mean a sexy, formidable, out-of-this-world babysitter who just happens to be good at breaking spines.
Ransom Lockwood, ladies and gentlemen.
Now he is forcing me to try all kinds of weird stuff. Stop partying, clean up my act, get a job…
A part of me wants to tell him to get lost. I’m past saving.
But the other part? The other part wants to save him.

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Review ~ Jersey Six by Jewel E. Ann

Jersey Six by Jewel E. Ann
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Jewel E. Ann has become a favourite author of mine, and I was enthralled by Jersey Six. I enjoyed the connection between Jersey and Ian, but was unsure of the direction it was going to go. I liked that Ian wanted to look out for her, but between Jersey and her friend Chris, they had their own agenda. I liked the support crew that Ian had, and the growth of Jersey. She had a lot to deal with in her past. The back story was heartbreaking for both Jersey and Ian, and getting more from each of them made my heart ache for them both.

Title: Jersey Six

Author: Jewel E. Ann

Genre: Dark Contemporary Romance

Published: June 13, 2019

How far would you go for revenge?

A hit-and-run accident leaves Jersey Six orphaned and homeless on the streets of Newark, shattering her dreams of school dances, pink nail polish, and a diploma.

Eight years later, a burn victim with amnesia wanders into Jersey’s barely-existent life. She resists his efforts to form a friendship until he reveals knowledge of the person responsible for derailing her future. Through their unusual friendship, she discovers a way to avenge the deaths of her foster parents.

All she has to do is destroy the world’s biggest rock star.

In the ultimate game of sex, lies, and manipulation, can Jersey discover the truth? Or will she be blinded by attraction, deceived by love, and destroyed by her past?

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Audiobook Review ~ Wicked Fall by Sawyer Bennett

Wicked Fall by Sawyer Bennett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Wicked Fall was a good book to listen to; I really enjoyed the narration by Kirsten Leigh and Lee Samuels. Sawyer Bennett's writing was superb, drawing me into the storyline. Woolf was such a strong and calculating character, knowing what he wanted and how to get it… including Callie. Having her back in town was just what he needed. She wasn’t the timid girl that he knew anymore. She wanted a piece of his world, despite him wanting to keep her out. They were so hot together, and some scenes were sizzling! I loved meeting Bridger and am excited to see more of him, as well as other characters that we were introduced to… with the next book being Cains!

Title: Wicked Fall

Author: The Sawyer Bennett

Series: Wicked Horse #1

Genre: Erotic Romance

Published: First published July 28, 2015

Never in your wildest dreams could you begin to imagine all the filthy and depraved things that go on inside The Wicked Horse. Step inside and Woolf Jennings will make every one of your dirty fantasies come true.

He’s covered in a facade of deception. An enticing blend of multi-millionaire and hot-as-hell Wyoming rancher, those that think they know Woolf Jennings admire his abilities to preside as CEO of his family’s cattle and oil empire. But only a privileged few truly understand what fuels the glitter of depravity in those gorgeous blue eyes. Only a few know he’s opened up a sinfully erotic and private sex club named The Wicked Horse right at the base of the beautiful Teton Mountain range.

Sweet Callie Hayes has returned home to Wyoming and is looking forward to starting her life over again. After a night of impetuosity, she’s managed to put herself right in Woolf’s line of sight… the man who she foolishly offered up her virginity to years ago and was flatly turned down.

Now Woolf is seeing that Callie is all grown up and has a kinky side to her that leaves him as confused as it does turned on. Worse yet, both Callie’s dirty desires and sweet heart are getting under his skin, and making Woolf question everything he’s ever believed about himself.

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Review ~ A Million Kisses in Your Lifetime by Monica Murphy

A Million Kisses in Your Lifetime by Monica Murphy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A Million Kisses in Your Lifetime was a nice read. I liked getting to know both Wren and Crew. Wren was quite polished and followed her beliefs, Crew was a bit of a badboy and came from a wealthy family. They didn't interact, until they had to work on a project together. Wren wasn't comfortable about it, but Crew showed her a softer side, which drew them together. I felt that part of the side story was wrapped up a little too easily. The million Kisses element was perfect... so beautiful. Wren and Crew were super sweet together.

Title: A Million Kisses in Your Lifetime

Author: Monica Murphy

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Published: March 10, 2022

Wren Beaumont is many things.

Beautiful.
Smart.
Sweet.
Innocent.

At Lancaster Prep, the girls love her. They all want to be her friend. Only I see Wren for who she really is.

A repressed little virgin who keeps her feelings locked up so tight she’s probably close to bursting. She thinks she’s above us all.

Even me.

I shouldn’t be drawn to her. She’s not my type.

Until we’re forced to work together in class and realize we might have more things in common than we originally thought. Soon enough I find myself completely obsessed. I will do anything for this girl to make her fall in love with me.

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