My Bookish Life

  THE LORD IS BACK! What a ride! And it's out now!  I finished this book last night around midnight and I'm still overwhelmed. I can't actually put into words how excited I first was when the This Woman Series was announced. And I also can't put into words how eternally grateful I am for Jodie that she actually gave us Jesse's POV in three amazing and chunky books!  You're an estate agent. - Which makes me one of the best salesmen on the planet. I could sell condoms to a convent of nuns. I finally had time after a few very stressful weeks of work and this beauty only sitting in my kindle because I worked, showered and fell into bed. But now, with my holiday here and having a few days of calm, I got this baby done in 3 days. And I absolutely adored every page! Jesse was the first of Jodies men I had the pleasure to meet. And he'll forever by my favourite probably. As I said before, I am eternally grateful to her for writing this. Book 4 in the This Man ser...

  Another ARC review since I received one and the story is out since a few days!  Thanks to Greer Rivers for the opportunity to read her novella "Bully Sunshine" from the Bad For Me Anthology . A book that has only Dark and Forbidden Romance stories in it. I read it in two nights and to say that I was a bit shocked and also in love, is probably the most honest answer. Like usual, let's start with the blurb: 𝘈 29𝘬 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥, (𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘦) 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬, 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘱𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘰𝘳-𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘨𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘤 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘢𝘤𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘤 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘯 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘺. As a former Order assassin, I had everything I could ever want right at my fingertips thanks to the Crows. Money. Women. Power. And my dream career as a professor at the prestigious Graveston University. But then 𝘴𝘩𝘦 walked in. My student. Pure sunshine that brightened my world. I was obsessed with her as soon as she sat down. Then I called h...

The American... I finished this book last night at 1am. I have been wanting to read this book since it was announced in The Rising . And now it is over with makes me incredibly happy because I absolutely adored it (even more than the last if that's possible) and also a wee bit sad because it is over.  But let me start at the beginning. I got the ARC on Monday night, too late to start so I didn't because stupid work *laughs* Then TUE something was happening that really got me down so no reading either, but when I stated this book on WED morning before work (dumb me) I immediately was captured in the first few sentences.  "My love," he whispers, kissing my shoulder. "Forever." All readers of her knew what this book will be about so there's no secret in that but let me give you the official blurb like I usually do in my posts... Temptation has never been so dangerous. A domineering force in Miami’s volatile criminal underworld, Brad Black is respected. Fear...

  One of my most anticipated releases this year! (But then all of Jodie's books are.) Sadly it took me quite some time due to continuing hospital visits and sickness to finish this so big shout out to the team of Valentine PR for their patience.  "Mate, don't ever do that to me again. I swear to fucking God, I'll kill you myself. You won't need vodka."  Now let's look into the synopsis before we dive into my own spoiler-free review. The Manor—the heartbeat of hedonism and pleasure, the place where Jesse Ward lost himself for years in women and alcohol, escaping his past—was his life. His everything. Until the day Ava O’Shea walked through the doors and Jesse discovered something else to live for. Her. Their love affair was passionate, intense, and all-consuming. She became his heaven. His escape. And eventually, his downfall. When Ava walked away from him, he was destroyed, even more broken than before. But she’s come back, and Jesse vows never to lose her...

  I finally had time to start this wonderful series by Ana Huang and I've been devouring the first two books in a few days (about to start book 3 in the series).  I heard a lot about it on Booktok and Bookstagram because it's all over social media and first I was wondering what's so special about this, that everybody loves it. Then last winter I brought book one - Twisted Love - soon joined by the rest of the series when I was waiting at Heathrow Airport in January. To my shame I haven't had the time or wanted to read since March but now I finally picked it up - after a good friend of mine read the series in less than a week.  I have to admit the whole hype about it, the vids, quotes etc are all worth it! I couldn't put it down!  “She felt like heaven to my hell, the closest I’d ever get to salvation, and yet I still wanted to drag her into the depths of Hades with me.” The story starts with a young woman Ava Chen - stranded at a bus stop in a storm. She calls her ...

  I'm finally starting to write this review (altho I'm not fully through yet bc life) so I won't forget stuff while listening to the audiobook.  To be honest I'm still massively excited that Jesses POV is finally out in the world! I have to admit that I love Jodies Original Man a lot! But to my shame I have to admit, that I only fell really hard for him in With This Woman (book 4 and his POV) *hides behind sofa*  Yes I know! I know y'all loved him way before that probably. And i did too, don't get me wrong, but is POV just made me fall hard and without going back.  I started this audiobook when it came out but since I'm always so busy and like to concentrate on my books I listen to, it often takes me a while to get there and finish it. So now... Life is kinda busy atm with being sick and planning a holiday we just came back from. We were in London during the Coronation and it was rather busy but also a lot of fun! But back now to the book... “Just tell me on...

 Today's the day!  14th Feburary 2023 and book 4 of Jodie's Unlawful Men Series is out called The Rising ! Happy Release Day!  "Next to killing, Beau, worrying about us is what our husbands do best." As usual here's the summary.... You can't rise from the ashes if you've never been burned. When notorious mafia boss Danny Black and lethal assassin James Kelly join forces to hunt down a mutual, elusive nemesis that threatens to destroy them both and take control of their city, they know they will be entering a deadly game. A game they must win if they are ever going to live in peace with the women they love away from crime, corruption, and death. But peace is an illusion, love is a daily torment, and death will always follow them. As power starts to slip from their grasp, enemies re-emerge, and old, personal demons return to haunt them both, they finally accept they can never leave their world if they want to stay alive. So they need to protect it at all cos...

  Loving is painful, Eliza. I've been excited for "One Night With The Duke" since Jodie announced it on her social media.  And once more the queen of steamy romance did not disappoint me. I'm still baffled that she managed to not make this a cheap copy for all Bridgerton fans but gave it her own voice and wonderful protagonists and ending.  A woman with her own mind is a dangerous creature, sweet Eliza. The story is written from Eliza's POV, a young girl who moved from the countryside to London and the famous Belmore Square after her father - head of a newspaper - makes some money.  Eliza is rather displeased with the new life because for her it's just a golden cage. Before she wrote for her father's newspaper and everyone - her brother, her sister, her mother and her father - seemed happy and carefree. But now, with the new money and status, there are lots of challenges for the family. And for Eliza it's simply a cage. One she can't dare to escap...

The Enigma. Another book by Jodie Ellen Malpas that absolutely made me fell in love with the main characters, the story and the music in it and book two in the Unlawful Men Serie s. Never fight the bond. Here's the official synopsis: A fatal blend of revenge and desire. After leaving her fiancé at the altar and quitting her job as a Miami cop, Beau Hayley stumbles through life, feeling only resentment. Injustice. Loss. Her mom’s death was called an accident. She’s not convinced. Grieving, she becomes numb to everything except the constant, biting pain of heartbreak and hate. She can see no light. Until she meets James Kelly, a man who seems as damaged as she is, inside and out. And yet despite his twisted, cold façade, he stimulates feelings. Pleasure. He is a respite from her own flaws. A complete mystery. And impossible to resist. James Kelly has only one objective. Find the men who murdered his family and kill them all very slowly. But the web of crime and deceit leads h...

 I'm a huge fan of Jodie Ellen Malpas!  I got her first book series "This Man" last year and started it with a bit of a struggle but soon got to love her characters. Since then I couldn't stop reading her books.  This year, she released something different from her other books with 'The Brit' . A dark romance - you could say.  No second chances. Here's the official synopsis: Rose Cassidy doesn’t truly live; she just exists. Numbing herself to fear and pain is the only way she can survive in this cruel world. So when she’s taken as collateral by the notorious Danny Black in a deadly game of power, she’s thrown by the deep fear she feels rising within her. And, worse than fear, a profound desire. She’s heard tales of The Brit. He’s callous. Coldblooded. But no one ever said he was wickedly beautiful and darkly captivating. He sees past her mask, giving her a cruel sense of hope. But she must fight their twisted attraction or risk losing the one ...