My Bookish Life

  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...

  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...

Once more this book is one I purchased ages ago in Summer, I think, and I didn't come around to read it because I got distracted by some many other beautiful and amazing books. I got physiotherapy regularly again and somehow picked this one up since I didn't want to continue ' Song of Achilles' because of the pain it inflicts right now. I started it and with going back to work after my holiday and being quite busy, I barely read it at first. But 'A Touch of Darkness' gripped me right from the first page! Then two days ago, I read until 2am and finished half the book in one sitting. I could barely put it down and go to sleep because it was so amazing, gripping and touching. Last night I finished all of it and it left me emotional, raw, in love and crying.  Here's the official synopsis to book one in a series I yet have to devour: Persephone is the Goddess of Spring by title only. The truth is, since she was a little girl, flowers have shriveled ...

I brought this book after I watched a video by Laura Thalassa who promoted it on her Instagram. I was immediately intrigued by the plot and had to get it. Then a few weeks ago, I did. I had started Song of Achilles and Empire of the Vampire by that time so I wanted to keep it for some other time but then - when I went to physiotherapy - I simply grabbed it, because it was so small and perfect for my purse. I started it while waiting for my appointment and fell in love immediately.  Well, you have magic, and I have my own superpower. It’s called anxiety. And here's the synopsis:  I never thought I'd be singing happy birthday to myself in a dungeon. And yet when a sinfully sexy demon crashes happy hour, that's exactly what happens. He’s known as the Lord of Chaos, he’s mistaken me for my succubus doppelgänger.  Happy birthday to me.  When he tastes my blood, he finally understands I’m mortal. And I realize we have something in common: we both crave revenge. So we...

  After finishing Fable I was eager to get book two. Thankfully I ordered it when I started book one so it arrived earlier than expected and only about a week after I had finished the first book in the duology by Adrienne Young. Because you and I have cursed ourselves, Fable. We will always have something to lose. I knew it that day in Tempest Snare when I kissed you. I knew it in Dern when I told you that I loved you. Here's the official synopsis and then tell me that it doesn't sound good and you don't want to grab it and read it. With the Marigold ship free of her father, Fable and the rest of the crew were set to start over. That freedom is short-lived when Fable becomes a pawn in a notorious thug’s scheme. In order to get to her intended destination, she must help him to secure a partnership with Holland, a powerful gem trader who is more than she seems. As Fable descends deeper into a world of betrayal and deception, she learns that the secrets her mother took to he...

  “The stars incline us, they do not bind us.” I finished this book about an hour ago and I'm once more ruined. My feelings are ruined by a book. Probably my fav so far this year.  Definitely 5/5 stars!  But let me tell you how it came to this...  I brought this book last November for myself as a birthday present (yes I do that). It sat in my shelve for ages, never coming around to read it, although I just heard good things and the cover is just stunning, it sat there and waited. Waited for the moment I'd pick it up. The moment was this Tuesday, shortly before my parents arrived for lunch. I didn't really get around to read it that day, only the prologue and it intrigued me. Since I had a massive headache on Wednesday, I didn't even picked it up for two days an the madness started on Friday when I finally picked it up again. And I couldn't put it down! It took me a few chapters to get into Chloe Gong's writing style but I absolutely loved it! She's really go...

Why not think that sometimes—just sometimes—you can overcome evil with silence? And let people hear their hatefulness in their own ears, without distraction. Maybe goodness is enough to expose evil for what it really is, sometimes. Today I want to talk about a book, that made me fall deeply in love with reading again. A book I read in a day. A book that's full of love, thoughts about life and one of the most wonderful love stories I have ever read. Today I'm talking about "Gabriel's Inferno" by Sylvain Reynard. I first read it in March 2020. I found it due to Twitter. A trailer on the movie was released by a wonderful site called Passionflix. I was immediately hooked and went to check out the book. I found it, ordered book 1 & 4 and started as soon as it arrived. Damn, what a good read! I had some time off on my second job by that time so I had the whole weekend to read. Managed in a day though.  I’m going to be thrown out of Paradise tomorrow, Beatrice. Our ...