Tuesday Reviews: Hell House by Dakota Wilde

The Seven Deadly Sins want to come out to play...

Salem and Skye are two freshman roommates at Kildale Academy, when a fire destroys their dorm room. Left with no other options, they are forced to move into the only rooms available- which just happens to be at the fraternity known as Hell House.

Little do they know their new housemates have been possessed by the Seven Deadly Sins, and they're in the mood for something downright sinful.

Join Salem and Skye at Hell House for a bit of chaos, a bunch of steamy scenes, and a touch of danger.

Hell House had a really interesting premise that kept me reading, even when a few things made the experience more challenging than I expected.

The concept of a fraternity whose members are possessed by the Seven Deadly Sins immediately grabbed my attention. Add in demons, supernatural secrets, and a dark academic atmosphere, and it sounded like exactly the kind of paranormal romance I enjoy. The story itself was intriguing, and I genuinely wanted to know where everything was heading.

Unfortunately, the biggest issue for me was the editing. There were frequent grammatical errors, incorrect word choices, and typos throughout the book. Normally, I can overlook a few mistakes, but there were enough that they regularly pulled me out of the story. It became distracting at times and definitely impacted my overall enjoyment.

I also struggled with the number of points of view. I enjoy multiple POVs, but there were so many characters sharing page time that it occasionally became difficult to keep track of who was narrating and what was happening. The story felt a bit scattered because of it.

That said, there were still plenty of positives. The romance was a slow burn, which I appreciated, and when the chemistry finally started developing, it felt worth the wait. The spice was well-written and felt natural to the story rather than being included simply for shock value. I was also intrigued by the hints of a why-choose romance developing and would be interested in seeing how those relationships evolve in future books.

The ending took a slightly unexpected turn, and while some aspects felt a little over-the-top, I was still entertained enough to finish the book and consider continuing the series.

Overall, Hell House has a creative premise, plenty of supernatural intrigue, and some promising character dynamics. With stronger editing and a more streamlined approach to the multiple POVs, it could have been a much stronger read for me. As it stands, it was an enjoyable but imperfect start to the series.

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Tuesday Reviews: Shattered Vow by Eva Chase

 

We vowed to escape together. I broke that promise. Now the men I loved just might break me.

There were six of us. Caged, turned into monsters, and tormented with brutal tests of our horrific emerging abilities.

We had only each other to count on... until our escape attempt ended with one dead, the others recaptured, and me dragged away into a different nightmare.

Now I've finally fought my way back to rescue them. Except the men I set free are hardened, beastly versions of the devoted boys I remember.

They see me as a traitor and a murderer—but they refuse to let me go now that they have me back.

They have no idea that the greatest threat may be the new darkness that’s woken up inside me.

I don’t know how to control it. And if these men break me, I could destroy us all.

Shattered Vow was a strong start to a new paranormal romance series that immediately grabbed my attention and refused to let go. If Suicide Squad, X-Men, and The Bonds That Tie somehow combined into one story, this would be the result—and honestly, I was here for it.

The story wastes no time throwing readers into the action, and I appreciated how quickly I became invested. The pacing is one of the book's strongest qualities. There's always something happening, and I never found myself wanting to skim ahead or put the book down.

One thing I especially enjoyed was the structure of the story. Seeing the group's dynamic both before and after everything fell apart added a lot of depth to the characters and their relationships. The differing perspectives on what happened made the tension between Riva and the guys feel more believable, and it was interesting to watch those layers unfold.

The emotional aspect of the story was surprisingly powerful. Eva Chase did an excellent job portraying Riva's feelings of rejection, loneliness, and betrayal. There were several moments where I genuinely felt her heartbreak and self-doubt, which made it easy to connect with her character and root for her despite everything she was going through.

My biggest struggle was keeping track of the guys, especially early on. While they each have distinct personalities, I occasionally found myself mixing them up and wishing for a few more reminders about their appearances or individual traits. Once I got further into the book, this became less of an issue, but it did take some time.

I also felt like one of the major plot developments came together a little too easily. The search for answers didn't always feel as challenging or complicated as I expected, which made certain moments less believable than they could have been.

Overall, Shattered Vow delivers exactly what I look for in a paranormal why choose romance: action, emotional angst, complicated relationships, and a compelling mystery. The friends-to-enemies-to-lovers dynamic had me completely invested, and I'm excited to see where the series goes next.

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Tuesday Reviews: Her Soul To Take by Harley Laroux

 

Leon I earned my reputation among magicians for a reason: one wrong move and you're dead. Killer, they called me, and killing is what I'm best at. Except her. The one I was supposed to take, the one I should have killed - I didn't. The cult that once controlled me wants her, and I'm not about to lose my new toy to them.

Rae I've always believed in the supernatural. Hunting for ghosts is my passion, but summoning a demon was never part of the plan. Monsters are roaming the woods, and something ancient - something evil - is waking up and calling my name. I don't know who I can trust, or how deep this darkness goes. All I know is my one shot at survival is the demon stalking me, and he doesn't just want my body - he wants my soul.

Her Soul to Take is book 1 in the Souls Trilogy. Each book within the Souls Trilogy is interconnected, following a different couple through a similar timeline in the fictional world of Abelaum.

I went into this book not knowing exactly what to expect, but Harley Laroux completely pulled me in. Between the paranormal mystery, demon romance, humor, and suspense, I found myself flying through the pages.

The story follows Raelynn, who returns to her hometown for college and accidentally finds herself caught up in something much darker than a simple ghost hunt. When she crosses paths with Leon, a demon tasked with bringing her to a dangerous fate, everything spirals into a thrilling mix of supernatural chaos, mystery, and romance.

One of my favorite things about this book was Leon. He's sarcastic, protective, intimidating, and surprisingly sweet when it comes to Rae. His dry humor and constant teasing had me laughing more than I expected, and I loved watching his relationship with Rae develop throughout the story. Their chemistry was undeniable from the start, and their connection felt natural despite the paranormal circumstances.

Rae was a character I had mixed feelings about at times. I admired her curiosity and determination, but there were definitely moments where I wanted to shake her for ignoring obvious warnings and putting herself directly in danger. Thankfully, her flaws also made her feel more realistic and helped her character grow over the course of the story.

The side characters were another highlight. Some were easy to hate, while others immediately made me excited for future books in the series. The small glimpses we get of certain characters left me eager to learn more about them.

The pacing was solid, balancing the romance, supernatural elements, and mystery well. While there were a few things that didn't completely work for me, they weren't enough to take away from how much fun I had reading this. The ending packed an emotional punch and left me desperate to continue the series.

Overall, Her Soul to Take is a fun and addictive paranormal romance with great chemistry, creepy small-town vibes, memorable characters, and plenty of suspense. If you enjoy demon romances, supernatural mysteries, and protective love interests, this one is definitely worth picking up.

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Tuesday Reviews: Harvest Season by Brynne Weaver

 

 It’s time to reap what you sow.

Cape Carnage is blooming with secrets, and they’re ready to harvest. But every time Nolan Rhodes digs one up, another grows in its place. Harper isn’t who he thought she was. Arthur might be more sinister than he first thought. And Sheriff Yates? The man is everywhere he turns.

When true crime fanatics descend on the town looking for answers about the death of their leader, Nolan finds himself at the center of a search and rescue operation for missing people he knows are already dead. Cape Carnage teeters on the brink of chaos. And the harder Nolan tries to keep it together, the closer Harper comes to unraveling.

Harper Starling has risked everything to bury her trauma in Cape Carnage. But now that Nolan has unearthed her past, her whole life seems ready to break apart. And who can she trust? The enigmatic man she’s falling in love with? He came to kill her. The serial killer mentor she’s vowed to protect? He’s become an unpredictable menace. The woman in the mirror? She might be the most dangerous of all.

Loyalties are tested. Bonds are bent to a breaking point. And love? That might be the deadliest trap of all.

Harvest Season is a dark romance with mature themes. Please check content warnings at the beginning of the book.

Harvest Season was even more intense, chaotic, and addictive than the first book, and I absolutely loved every second of it.

Harper and Nolan continue to be one of the most fascinating couples I've read in a long time. Their relationship is equal parts dark, complicated, and oddly sweet. Nolan may be terrifying to everyone else, but when it comes to Harper, he's completely devoted. Watching him try to navigate her new reality while dealing with his own guilt and fears added so much emotional depth to the story.

What I love most about these two is that they truly embrace each other's darkness. Their connection is unconventional, messy, and often unhinged, but somehow it works perfectly for them. Beneath all the chaos, there's a genuine love story that kept me invested from beginning to end.

The plot was absolutely plotting in this one. The stakes are higher, the danger feels more immediate, and the tension never lets up. Once the true villain's plans start unfolding, I found myself completely glued to the pages. I kept wanting to warn the characters while simultaneously being unable to stop reading.

Brynne Weaver has a talent for balancing suspense, dark humor, romance, and absolute mayhem. Every twist had me questioning what would happen next, and the pacing made this an incredibly fast read despite everything going on.

And that ending? I am still not over it. The cliffhanger left me staring at the page in disbelief and immediately desperate for the next book. Somehow the stakes feel even bigger than they did in the first installment, and I have no idea how I'm supposed to wait for what comes next.

If you loved the first book, Harvest Season delivers everything you could want: higher stakes, more danger, more emotional depth, and a relationship that's as chaotic as it is compelling. Another five-star read from Brynne Weaver.

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Tuesday Reviews: Brimstone by Callie Hart

Saeris Fane doesn't want power. The very last thing she needs is her name whispered on an entire court's lips, but now that she's been crowned queen of the Blood Court, she's discovering that a queen's life is not her own. A heavy weight rests upon her shoulders.

Her ward - and her brother - need her back in her homeland . . . but the changes that have strengthened Saeris have also made her weak. Born under blazing suns, Saeris will surely die if she makes her way home through the Quicksilver. Which means that, once again, she must send someone else in her stead . . .

'Keep your mouth shut. Stick to the shadows. And for the love of all seven Gods, do NOT crack any jokes.'

Kingfisher of the Ajun Gate has defeated armies and survived all manner of horrors, but traveling back to Zilvaren with Carrion Swift might just be the death of him. The male just will not shut up. Hidden dangers await them down the narrow alleyways of the Silver City. Unfolding secrets pose impossible threats. Fisher must wrangle the smuggler and accomplish his goals quickly if he wants to see his mate again.

Brimstone absolutely blew me away. I loved Quicksilver, but somehow Callie Hart managed to take everything that worked in the first book and elevate it to an entirely new level. The characters, the world-building, the romance, the action—everything felt bigger, deeper, and more emotionally satisfying.

I went into this book expecting to take my time and savor it, but that plan lasted about five minutes. Once I started reading, I couldn't stop. Every chapter pulled me deeper into the story, and the pacing was so perfectly balanced that I never wanted to put it down.

Kingfisher continues to cement his place as one of my all-time favorite book boyfriends. Getting more insight into his thoughts and emotions made me love him even more. His loyalty, devotion, and unwavering love for Saeris were enough to completely wreck me. Every scene between them was packed with emotion, chemistry, and heart. Their relationship felt earned, and the way it developed throughout the story was everything I want from a romantasy romance.

And Saeris? I am obsessed with her. Watching her embrace her power, grow into herself, and lower her walls was one of my favorite parts of the book. She's strong, flawed, resilient, and impossible not to root for.

The found family remains one of the strongest aspects of this series. The friendships, banter, and group dynamics add so much warmth and humor to an otherwise intense story. Every side character felt important, and several of them completely stole the show. I already desperately need future books focused on some of them.

The ending deserves its own paragraph because WOW. I won't spoil anything, but the final reveal left me staring at the page in shock. It's one of those twists that makes you immediately want to go back and rethink everything. At the same time, I appreciated that the book delivered a satisfying emotional payoff rather than ending on a completely devastating cliffhanger.

Brimstone is everything I want from romantasy: unforgettable characters, incredible world-building, high stakes, found family, epic romance, and twists that leave you speechless. This series just keeps getting better, and I already know the wait for the next book is going to feel impossibly long.

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Tuesday Reviews: The Book of Azrael by Amber Nicole

 

For a thousand years, the Etherworld has known peace.Until now.

Many centuries ago, desperate to save her dying sister, Dianna made a deal with Kaden, a monster far worse than any nightmare. Locked in servitude to him, she is forced to hunt down an ancient relic held by her most dangerous enemies: an army led by Samkiel, the World Ender.

After the Gods War, Samkiel hid from everything, denying his crown and deserting his people. Now, an attack on those he loves sends him back to the realm he never wished to return to, and into the sights of an enemy he had hoped to forget.

With every world at stake, Dianna and Samkiel are forced to set aside their animosity and work together, before all is lost . . .

This book was everything I want in a fantasy romance and more. From the incredible world-building to the addictive slow-burn romance, I was completely hooked from beginning to end.

The enemies-to-lovers romance was executed perfectly. The tension between Liam and Dianna was off the charts, and every interaction had me wanting more. Liam quickly became one of my favorite book boyfriends. Beneath his intimidating reputation as the World Ender is a deeply loyal, surprisingly romantic man who would do absolutely anything for the woman he loves. Watching his feelings develop throughout the story was one of my favorite parts of the book.

Dianna is a fierce and capable heroine who isn't afraid to fight for what she believes in. I loved that she wasn't a perfect character. She makes mistakes, has flaws, and grows significantly throughout the story. Her journey felt authentic, and by the end I was completely invested in her future.

The world-building was rich and immersive without ever feeling overwhelming. The author reveals information at just the right pace, allowing the story to unfold naturally. There was never a moment where I felt lost or bogged down by unnecessary exposition. Instead, every chapter seemed to reveal another layer of the world and its characters.

I also have to mention Kaden. For a character who should be easy to hate, he was surprisingly compelling. There's something about him that keeps you intrigued, and I can't wait to see what role he'll play moving forward.

Add in forced proximity, only one bed, forbidden romance, intense action scenes, and a cliffhanger that completely shattered me, and this book was an absolute winner. The chemistry, the emotional moments, the character growth, and the epic fantasy setting all came together beautifully.

That ending left me desperate for the next book. If you love fantasy romance with unforgettable characters, slow-burn tension, and high stakes, this is one I highly recommend.

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