What We Read | January 2020

Started 2020 off with some pretty good reads, which is always a good sign. We weren't able to review every book we read this month, so we'll share a monthly compilation of books we read and rated. We've either linked to our posts or the books respective Goodreads page.

   

   

On Call by Aria Cole + Mila Crawford | ★★★☆☆

Gettin' Lucky by Tory Baker | ★★★☆☆

Just One Kiss by Tory Baker | ★★★☆☆

The Billionaire's Christmas Bride by L. Nicole | ★★☆☆☆

Secret Baby by Ella Goode | ★★★★☆

King's Castle by Ella Goode | ★★★★☆

His Virgin Queen by MINK | ★★★★★

Love Forever by Lucy Darling | ★★★☆☆

♥ What books did y'all read this month?

What were your favorites? ♥

{Review} His Virgin Queen by Mink

Title: His Virgin Queen
Author: Mink
Release Date: January 13, 2020
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Mafia Romance, Novella

I knew I was going to be sold by my father. A bride offered to forge an alliance or seal a deal. Even so, I still held onto the hope of living free of the families. But when I’m given to Antonio Tuscani, I realize my thin dreams of escaping this life were just that—dreams. Giving up, I accept my fate … Until a fierce-eyed boss, Nick DaVinci, shows up on my wedding day to exact lethal vengeance.

I came for Tuscani blood, and I took it. The doe-eyed bride in her white dress and veil of innocence doesn’t bat an eyelash when I do what I was born to do. I’m the head of the most powerful mafia family in the city, and I didn’t get here by sparing enemies. But Sophia’s demeanor intrigues me, and soon I realize she is far more than a mafia princess. She is a queen, and I will stop at nothing to keep her by my side.

Mink's Note: Curl up with your fave feline for this safe, sweet, steamy, a lil dark, and a lot dreamy HEA.

**CW/TW: murder; violence; guns; blood; explicit sex**

What We Liked

♥ Mafia. Families. Rivalries. Weddings (yes, plural). Romance.

♥ Virgin mafia princess who mustn't be underestimated.

♥ The kinship and close-knit bond the h (Sophia) has with her younger brother, Marco, despite the kind of family they grew up and were raised in.

♥ Two weddings in the same day. The first one was a mistake so a re-do with a new, upgraded, better husband was needed.

♥ The ribbing the H's (Nick) men does toward Nick was pretty funny and surprising to see it not end in punishment or worse from the mafia king.

♥ Dirty talk and shower sex.

♥ A good ol' action-packed mafia war. Expect lots of bodies dropping, blood, and a big ass machine gun that mowed the other family and their soldiers down in 10 seconds.

♥ This is probably not your average mob story. Things are run a little differently in the Davinci family/household, and believe us that's for the better.

What We Didn't

• It wasn't long or fleshed out enough! We want more! More war, more mafia business, more bloodshed, more sex, more Nick, more character growth for Sophia, more babies, more brother/sister moments. Just... More.
• Not enough female characters.

The Ladies

Sophia // Daughter of the Scalingi mafia family. Fierce and devoted, protective older sister. Mafia princess turned queen. Despite growing up under the thumb of her father and grandfather, she has a good head on her shoulders, strength in the face of adversity, fierce, protective and headstrong.

Carlotta // Nick's housemaid/cook/house caretaker/mother-figure, who can go from cooking one minute to cocking a big ass gun the next.

The Guys

Nick // The head and king of the Davinci family. Can kill without hesitation (at a wedding, no less) but has a soft spot only for Sophia. He has a strong hunger for Sophia that confused him at first but he goes with it because he knows what he wants and he goes after it. He'll lay down his life for Sophia. He was an alpha without being overwhelming, overdone, OTT or raising orange/red flags, which after the last few reads, was absolutely refreshing. Might be our first book boyfriend of 2020. Well done with Nick, Mink.

Gio + Dante // Nick's most trusted and loyal men, who has his back and fights alongside him as well as rib at Nick while they're not killing with/for him. Their dynamic seemed to be of friendship as much as associates.

Marco // Sophia's younger brother. Fiercely devoted and equally protective of his big sister, Sophia. He's got tact, courage, and we can see a future mob boss in him once he become more well-rounded as he gets older and wiser.

Lust Factor

  

{Review} King's Castle by Ella Goode

Title: King's Castle
Author: Ella Goode
Release Date: January 15, 2020
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Novella

King built his fortress to keep people out, not in. After his abusive old man kicked the bucket, King took the family fortune and built a haven for women and children who needed protection. He has one rule and that is the women decide when they get to leave. When Hayden shows up, all his self-discipline goes out the window. He’s ready to risk it all to keep her…even against her will.

**CW/TW: mentions of past abuse **

What We Liked

♥ The H (King) built a safe haven community for women and girls looking to lay low or escape from abusive relationships/households.

♥ The banter between King and the h (Hayden) upon their standoff/meet cute was pretty entertaining.

♥ Alternating POVs between our two leads gave readers insights into their contrasting thoughts and personalities but similar in their instant attraction toward each other. Being in both of their heads was fun but also introspective of their depths once they let themselves open up.

♥ The epilogue is all too real and way too funny. Anyone whose been through childbirth or been their partners stress ball in the delivery room would relate and feel nostalgic (maybe? lol). After reading Secret Baby just before reading this was a refresher -- a reminder that bringing a baby into the world isn't always peachy keen and, uh, pain-free.

What We Didn't

• King's "Castle" is a bit misleading but King's Cabin doesn't exactly roll off the tongue. Once you find out what King's first name it all makes sense.
• They didn't tell us what they named their kid! That's almost akin to a cliffhanger!
• A dude from the h' (Hayden) and her sisters (Danny) hometown showed up at the cabin (more like he tracked and followed her there) at the same time that two other people showed up at the gate struggling between finding solace there; there was so many things that were happening and being said in that scene that what happens to that guy (Ethan) wasn't clear or handled well. It was just vague by the non-answer that King gave Hayden when she asked about it.
• Speaking of the two other people that showed up at the gate, once they decided to seek solace at the cabin and got settled in, they kind of just got pushed aside. 

The Ladies

Hayden // A no-nonsense, take no shit, take the bull by its horns, sarcastic kind of girl. She's got some fire in her that can light King up like no other, which is exactly what King didn't know he needed. She is pretty devoted to the farm at her home where she grew up at, but she is even more devoted to protecting her sister by having her sisters best interest at heart, even though it was a hard pill for her to swallow at first.

Cyn // King's cousin and assistant/basically co-owner that helps him run the cabin. She is a survivor, so this safehaven they've built to help women is close to her heart. The way she ribs at King and goes off about/at Jake is so hilarious. We wonder what their story is.

Danny // Hayden's sister, or Dr. Danielle Weston as the folks at the cabin knows her. As implied in Hayden's POV chapters - albeit very vague - Danny went through things with an ex or stalker that may or may not have prompted her to move out of the countryside of her hometown to the city to become a doctor, lay low and help others.

The Guys

King // Coming from an abusive household himself, King committed to providing safespaces for women from similar walks of life, a place that his mother needed but wasn't able to have. The instant he first encounters Hayden when she came-a-knockin', he knows that she's the one for him.

Jake // We get to know and hear a lot about Jake before we even meet him. Wish he was in more than a couple scenes after how much he was mentioned and talked about. And, again, we are curious about what's going on between him and Cyn.

Lust Factor

3.5 flames

{Review} Secret Baby by Ella Goode

Title: Secret Baby
Author: Ella Goode
Release Date: December 31, 2019
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Novella

Madeleine has a secret. Five months ago, she met an irresistible man and made a very dumb mistake. She knows that a random hookup won’t want to be saddled with a baby and she’s way too vulnerable in this state to be rejected. Keeping a baby from the daddy might seem wrong, but it’s the best way to protect herself and her child for now.

Oliver wants answers. Five months ago, he met the woman of his dreams, took her up to his hotel room, made love to her until they both passed out only to wake up alone. He’s hired private investigators but with no last name or photographs, his hookup has remained a mystery. And he doesn’t like mysteries. Or surprises.

Oliver knows the Madeleine is the one for him. When he finally finds her, he’s determined to keep her...even if the father of the child isn’t him.

What We Liked

♥ What was thought to be a one-night-stand (to the h and maybe readers) between the h (Madeline) and H (Oliver) turns out that neither (unbeknownst to either) wanted just one night together.

♥ (Not so) secret baby trope.

♥ Oliver spent 5 months trying to find Madeline with just her first name to no avail, until his sister showed him a paparazzi photo of her favorite and pregnant supermodel, which happens to be Madeline.

♥ Once Oliver and Madeline finds each other, they navigate through the pregnancy journey together while simultaneously trying to get to know each other and find a place to settle and nest in.

What We Didn't

• Manhandling. And not in a sexy alpha way that some romances are able to pull off either.
• The handcuffs? Really dude? The way the H used them on the h was not sexy, rational or mature. I don't know if this action was meant to be a romantic gesture we're supposed to find cute, but it wasn't executed that way. Leave the cuffs in the bedroom, my guy, not to literally chain your girl to you wherever you or she goes.
• We thought this was going to be a more wholesome and sweet read that we're used to from Ella Goode considering the title and plot, it fell a little short to our expectations.

The Gals

♥ Madeline // Exhausted virgin model, looking for more out of life. Spontaneously gave her v-card to Oliver after their chemistry upon meeting at the hotel bar, which ended up giving her a cute little blessing bundle. Things happen in an unconventional order but she persevered like a girlboss and she found more meaning and goals in life.

♥ Danielle // Madeline's friend. We love how supportive, protective and confronting she is. But we hate how she was basically pushed aside. I mean she's only a secondary character, not the main one, but still.

♥ Blossom // Oliver's sister and thorn in his side. Also his assistant which you can imagine how fun that is. When she's not poking fun at her brothers, she's serving truths, advice, jokes and dream house inspo's. She'll make one great auntie and sister in law.

The Guys

♥ Oliver // He's a hardworking, pretty impatient, impulsive, demanding and growly (and not in the sexy alpha way we all love). Definitely different than the Oliver we met in the prologue where he and Maddie met and hooked up. But at least he's a good person for the most part.

Lust Factor

  

{Review} The Billionaire's Christmas Bride by L. Nicole

Title: The Billionaire's Christmas Bride
Author: L. Nicole
Release Date: December 10, 2019
Genre: Contemporary Romance

All he wants for Christmas is her.

Nikolai Serepova took one look at Gabriella and knew he had to have her. He was too old for her, but it was like lightning struck him when she smiled and there was no way he could walk away. He’s been biding his time and finally, the moment is right. He has Gabriella right where he wants her. He’s going to claim her and nothing will stand in his way.

Billionaire Bad Boys are just what the series title implies. They’re filthy rich, and well, just plain filthy in general. They know what they want and when it comes to women, once they find ‘the one’ there’s no way they will walk away. If you like safe reads with insta-love, Alpha men, and a definite happily ever after, then you’re in luck, because that’s exactly what’s inside a L. Nicole book.

*Please note this book was previously published as The Billionaire's PYT, but contains some all new content.*

What We Liked

♥ We love a woman who doesn't conform to men with money and entitlement and treats women like property (looking at you, stepdaddy George), and our heroine, Gabriella, is that kind of woman.

♥ The pace seems to be fast considering the length of the book and the H and h's first encounter, giving the illusion of "instalove" but the H had his eye on the h for a while, biding his time until the opportunity struck.

♥ Escaping the posh, fancy, rich and snooty life and its controlling, lecherous clutches.

♥ Acknowledgement of the dark side of money and how it changes a person, coming from the perspective of someone who grew up in that lifestyle.

♥ No protection, but more than that -- making sure both parties wanted that.

What We Didn't

• Aren't we over the whole women are property thing and thinking it's romantic in this day and age, or do I expect too much progress(iveness/-ion) in modern romances now?
• "My hand wraps in her hair, as I use the hold to pull her back to me. She hisses from the sting of pain, but I don't soften my hold." Was that supposed to be sexy? Because if it was then it wasn't executed that way. Try again.
• We couldn't tell if the h traded one prison for another when the H rescued her from her evil, rich stepdad.

The Ladies

Gabriella // We love how she never fell into the rich and glam lifestyle hole when her mom married a rich dude. She'll play the part to protect her mom but doesn't want anything to do with her stepdad's riches or business arrangements. Gabriella is no one's property. She is a human being who belongs to herself first and we stan.

The Guys

Nikolai // You can tell by his name that he has a sexy Russian accent. However, he lost us when he told Gabriella "I'm claiming you as my property, Gabriella." (There's a sexy way to write something akin to that, that is not chauvinistic, but that was not it). Other than that, he is pretty clever in his businesses and dry sense of humor.

Lust Factor

2.5 flames

{Review} Gettin' Lucky by Tory Baker

Title: Gettin' Lucky
Author: Tory Baker
Release Date: March 24, 2019
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Novella

Zack is in town for a game.

He’s got more money than he’ll ever need and gambling relaxes him—the higher the stakes the better.

He enjoys the thrill.

There’s only one thing he doesn’t gamble on.

Love.

One look at Natalie and he knows he’s going to claim her for his own.

Suddenly Gettin’ Lucky takes on a whole new meaning for him—and it has nothing to do with cards.

Natalie doesn’t realize it yet, but Zack’s about to show her what happens when a high stakes gambler really hits the jackpot in Vegas.

This book contains an over the top alpha, with a guaranteed safe, happily ever after.

What We Liked

♥ Vegas. You know we just love the city of sin.

♥ Tory Baker's signature lust at first page sight that we love.

♥ Virgin heroine trope. Also, the fact that the H doesn't take the h's virginity right away, so there's plenty of foreplay and anticipation beforehand.

♥ Surrounds the world of poker tournament without it overwhelming or infodumping all over the story or overshadowing the romance aspect. It is so Vegas, but hardly ever present in books set in the city, so we loved that.

♥ Friendships. It's not a complete Vegas getaway without your BFF (well, other than getting laid/drunk or finding your forever person).

♥ A proposal after the H wins a poker tournament on live TV.

♥ Oopsie pregnancy.

♥ TWO epilogues. Thank you, Tory.

♥ A little back door action if ya know what we mean *wink wink* for those who like that explored in their books.

What We Didn't

• The H is a smoker, which is a turn-off for us in both real life, movies and books. For others it's a turn-on or readers don't mind/care, so to each their own.
• While we liked the friendship between the h and her BFF especially during their vacation in Vegas, we didn't like how their friendship then the BFF as a character just got pushed aside.
• Not to sound nitpicky but the way how the H sometimes doesn't say "I" in the beginning of his sentences. For example, he tells the h "Want you" completely forgetting to say "I" before that statement. It's such a small thing that happened only a few times but for some reason it bothered us.
• The wedding ceremony didn't happen on-page.
• PSA: Just know that if you, a woman/uterus-owning person, are unable to have (more) children, doesn't mean you are a "failure of a woman." It shouldn't have to be said in this day and age, but here we are.

The Ladies

Natalie (aka "Sunshine") // Biggest supportive friend and girlfriend who will stick by your side and be your biggest cheerleader. Curvy, virgin heroine. We stan.

Sophia // Natalie's BFF. We hope she's okay and that she finds a man (or woman/partner) who treats her right, and that we get to read about it someday.

The Guys

Zack // Older, top shelf (like his choice of drink) poker player gentleman, with some gray's on the sides to make him more distinguished and refined. Ready to meet his forever lady and settle some roots, retiring from all the poker and traveling. Luckily he sees Natalie in the audience, which changes the course of their lives forever at the right time in their lives.

Lust Factor

2020 Bingo Romance Reading Challenge

Happy New Year and new decade, everybody! I wanted to join a reading challenge this year and came across the 2020 Romance Bingo challenge, hosted by Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell and Carole Rae's Random Ramblings, and thought it sounds like a lot of fun and was the perfect reading challenge to join this year.

The rules (as seen on the hosts posts):

•  It HAS to be a romance novel.
• One bingo box per book (if your book meets a couple of these you have to pick just one)
• You can try and read all of them or just do one BINGO line.
• There is one FREE SPACE
• Bingo Starts 1/1/2020 and ends 12/30/2020
• Join whenever

♥ Wish me luck! Are you participating

in the bingo challenge? Or joining other fun

reading challenges/bingo this year? Share below! ♥