Helloooo April!
We are... still here. In this hellscape of a world. Anyway! Books!
I read 17 books in April. 7 of them were ARCs. And one of them was on the sapphic TBR I made. So basically, I killed it. I rated four books at 5 stars. I had one 2 star read and everything else was a 3 or higher for me. In this house, 3 stars is a good rating!
5 Star Reads
Hidden Roots - Clio Evans
I truly didn't think I was a small town romance girly until I picked up the Citrus Cove series. Last year I got the chance to ARC read Nocturnal. And that sent me down the Clio Evans rabbit hole. I saw the form go up for Stolen Chances and was so intrigued, since my prior knowledge of Clio was monster romances. I took the chance (heh) and signed up. I read the first one, Broken Beginnings and was HOOKED! You meet Hunter and Emma in this book. And they HATE each other. That's when I knew. I knew they were getting a book and I was already foaming at the mouth! Maybe I'll do a whole post about the series one day, but for now I'm gonna keep this just to Hidden Roots. We immediately learn that Hunter does not in fact hate Emma, he is capital O Obsessed with her! For good reason! Emma has been my fave since book one. She ropes Hunter into a fake dating scenario in hopes of warding off her ex. And Hunter being the simp he is, one-ups her and turns it into an engagement. Hijinks and mishaps ensue. When I tell you I eat up fake dating scenarios like Thanksgiving dinner. Exquisite *chef's kiss* I love seeing how Clio throws the suspense element into these books. ALSO! There are two characters in this that I immediately clocked and side-eyed. GOod news! Clio's writing a story for them. I'm seated. I'm sat. I cannot wait.
Quicksilver - Callie Hart
Kingfisher. King. Fisher. The mouth on this man. "I'm about to introduce you to all 7 gods. When you meet them, tell them I'm the one you worship on your knees." I read this via audiobook and when I tell you I SCREAMED! I love him, Your Honor! I love a book with banter. And it's so good in this! I know people complain about the will they/won't they aspect of this slow burn, but it gives us such good moments between Fisher and Saeris. UGH! I LOVE IT!! Unpopular opinion, I didn't really care for Carrion. But I am very excited for Brimstone AKA Boys Trip. I'm upset there won't be a cover to match this book. I am not a fan of the deluxe editions that just dropped. I'll have to wait and see what the hidden covers look like. I do want to physically own these books one day. I may have to hold out for a special edition.
Oathbound - Tracy Deonn
It took me 6 days to read this book. Why? Because I was scared. In case you can't tell based on how many books I read in a month, I read very quickly. I can pack a 600 page book away in 24 hours or less. I stopped at chapter 40-something and then just let the book sit on my desk. Too much was going on and I was very scared. When I finally picked it back up, it was like I never put it down and I sped right to the end. Well. Not right to the end. I took another pause cause Tracy did something absolutely DIABOLICAL AND I WAS IN TEARS! If the book had ended that way MY GODS! I would have needed at least a month to recover. But it didn't end that way and instead left me with a cliffhanger like Onyx Storm and now I have to impatiently wait who knows how long for the next one! The way Tracy writes is incredible. She's a multiple POV hater, but damn did she do it masterfully. I went in thinking I knew who the POVs would be for. WRONG! I didn't know I would need some of the POVs she gave, but now I can't see the story without them. SO MUCH HAPPENED IN THIS BOOK! It's crazy cause this was intended to be a trilogy. And I truly don't know how miss ma'am was going to manage that. This is in no way a filler book, and I'll smack anyone that says that it is. This is not an anime beach episode, besties.
Blood & Betrayals - Alexis Rune & Jeanette Rose
Now remember when I said I read quickly? That's important to know because this book on Kindle is 1000+ pages. And I devoured it in, I think, 18 hours. I quite literally did not put this book down. I've been obsessed with these characters just based on ARC reader reactions. Then they let us read the first few chapters and I got a taste of them for myself. I. Love. Alice. I would do anything for this murderous vampire queen. It's a shame that I am also cursed with heterosexuality. But it's fine, cause ENTER THE HOTTEST HEADMASTER KNOWN TO MAN! Headmaster Emrys!? Good gods! Grumpy. Powerful. Protective. I never stood a chance. But wait. There's more! The way these authors have us simping over a man whose physical form has not been described. He's a stalker. Incredibly possessive. Powerful. And a hacker? Look, I don't know what's wrong with us either. I do also adore the Morningstar clan. But if you've been paying attention, I am very clearly a Rafe girly. Sorry, Connor. I have so many questions about where this series is going to go. I couldn't imagine this book any shorter. I think it needed to be this long. We needed to get through all the intros to this massive amount of characters. We needed to be lulled into a false sense of security. That being said, I cried multiple times reading this. It's honestly rude how Alex and Jeanette ripped my heart out, laughed at me, and then gave my heart back. Only to rip it out again and then stomp on it and walk away cackling. Like what do I do now?
Honorable Mentions that you should absolutely check out
Once Upon a Pack - Ari Wright This is a Cinderella-esque re-imagining. And it's an omegaverse :smile: It's also so so so cute!
Scythe & Sparrow - Brynne Weaver This is the final book in the Ruinous Love trilogy. It follows Fionn and Rose. It is a dark romantic comedy. Highly recommend you read the content warnings cause it's part of the whole experience. And also... you know... to make sure you don't get triggered. I recommend the audiobooks for this series!
Falling Overboard - Sariah Wilson I received this as a physical ARC. A physical. ARC. Can you believe it!? My first one! This is a forbidden workplace romance with a little bit of secret identity as a treat. I made a little post with the tropes that I'm very proud of. Yeah, it's simple, but I did that!
Your Play to Call - Rachel Laberge This was such a nice surprise after the fantasy hangover I've put myself in. Love a good sports romance. I also have a weakness for rockstar/musican romances. And guess what! This is both! I loved these characters so much and I'm so excited to continue with the rest of the series.