Review: Once Written in Gilded Blood by K.M. Moronova

Once Written in Gilded Blood by K.M. Moronova
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Meh. I really enjoyed book one and was excited to read the final installment but it to me forever to get through and now that I'm done, I'm not really impressed with it. I feel like this book was a bit bipolar with how much it jerked us around from one scene to another. 

First Alira essentially became a trapped housewife. The Alira twin book one would never allow that to happen. She's too strong willed and proactive for a life like that. 

The secrets Kalel was keeping were basically brushed aside and not dealt with as much as they should have been. Those were serious secrets and needed a lot more unpacking than the reader got. 

The whole sacrifice and death part? One it's a bit fuzzy because it's how rushed it is but two, it just doesn't make sense one bit. Was the author rushed to finish this book? Because that's the feeling I get. 

I'm a bit disappointed i read this series just to end up feeling this way. I'm glad I finally read it so I know but overall Im definitely underwhelmed with how this got wrapped up. 

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Review: Once Upon a Demon's Heart by K.M. Moronova

Once Upon a Demon's Heart by K.M. Moronova
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I decided to reread this since I have book 2 to dive into and I'm glad I did because I forgot a lot of details. I do really enjoy this story and these characters and I hope the communication gets better in book 2, though I doubt it with their history so far. 

Original review from March 1, 2026:

This book has a pretty slow pace but enough to keep me intrigued and find out what happens on the next page. I loved the revealed secrets at the end even though I guessed most of them. Alira has been through a lot in her life so far and the amount of guilt she has is a insane. I don't think her life will get any better, especially since it seems like her husband and everyone she lives with in her new home hates her. Kalel is full of secrets and mixed feelings about everything it seems. I'll be curious to see how these two pan out after his devious secrets are revealed. 

I definitely enjoyed this book and I'm glad I decided to read it!

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Review: Fated to the Frozen Prince by Ciara Hartford

Fated to the Frozen Prince by Ciara Hartford
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another new to me author and an entertaining story that I enjoyed! I liked Wrenora and wish we could have gotten more of her backstory because she had been through a lot of insane situations! And Callan is the typical broody, misunderstood prince that I love so much. 

I also connect well with Wrenora that being cold is the worst torture ever and living in a frozen palace made of ice? Yeah that would be my nightmare and I would rather live anywhere else. 

I liked seeing both of them learn more about each other and grow their feelings, and also liked the twists and mystery in the novel. Glad i got the chance to read it! 

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Review: Fated to the Cursed Captain by Dawn Darling

Fated to the Cursed Captain by Dawn Darling
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A pirate themed Beauty and the Beast? I had to investigate further because I love both of those things! I adored Corynne's determination and pure love for her work with the stars. She got denied so many times to study her passion but she NEVER let that stop her from trying over and over again. And good for her for running away from August who would have trapped her in a future that would have tortured her. 

She also fought tooth and nail against Silas when he caged her on his boat. Corynne isn't a girl to mess with because she is a fighter! 

Silas is such a broody, ruthless pirate and I loved every second of it. He was no match against my girl Corynne but it was entertaining to see him try to resist the temptation. 

Loved the reveal of the curse and how it started. I would have enjoyed seeing more about what their lives looked like after but I'll let my imagination run wild with ideas on my own. Glad I took a chance to read this new to me author! 

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Review: Chase Me If You Can by Heather Frances

Chase Me If You Can by Heather Frances
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I reread this for book club and still loved it just as much as the first read! Will definitely be grabbing all the books by Heather Frances!

Review from May 2026:

I can't express how much I LOVED this book!!! And it being a debut novel? Fantastic! Stormchaser romance genre is quickly become one of my favorites and I hope many more will be created so I can obsess over all of them! 

I loved this storyline of photographers racing after storms to get the perfect photo for a nature magazine. There's the risk of being near the storm but an artistic aspect of taking the perfect photo. The blend was amazing and I couldn't get enough of it! 

Sloane is such a lovable character. She's a bit too serious, but that's from years of taking care of her entire family her whole life. But to see and feel her love for storm season was beautiful. I felt her love so much i wanted to join her (and I have no photography talent nor any love for tornados...). 

Wes is such a risk taker, chaotic mess, but anyone can see he loves what he does and really gets in the zone when chasing storms. Wes and Sloane are such opposites, but their attraction is undeniable. Even in the beginning stages when they are bickering at each other, there are definitely under currents of attraction that EVERYONE can see except Sloane. 

I absolutely loved this book and I'm so glad I got to read it! I'll be grabbing a physical copy to own because I'm also obsessed over this cover! Will definitely be on the lookout for more books by this debut author!

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Review: The Love That Broke Us by Maya Hughes

The Love That Broke Us by Maya Hughes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I've missed Maya Hughes novels! So happy I got to read this early and experience all the angst and emotions that come packed in her stories! 

Lilah and Mason's story is a roller coaster of events, so be ready to go in the ride with them! I feel so much for both characters. Lilah is in this limbo of loneliness that no one can seem to get through to her. She has one year of being through miserableness before she can escape and start her future. Being with stepsisters who don't like her. An absent minded father who just focuses on work and not on any of his daughters. And a boy she thought she liked only for him to target her and make school just as unbearable as it is at home. 

Mason is a jerk, plain and simple. He has a sole tunnel vision and whatever he thinks or is told to think is the only thing he does without thought. He's in a tough spot to protect his little sister Zoe and his mother, he needs to perform perfectly for his mentally and physically abusive dad. Hockey is number one and if Mason strays, he gets punished. So when he decides Lilah is going to be his number one focus, a series of punishments come knocking on his door. 

Ryker, Lilahs friend, it's also a jerk. I really didn't like him. He is living is life and is Lilahs closest friend, but it seems he's only using her to get an advantage on things. Plus he 100% has a crush on Lilah and got so nasty when she was with Mason. A true friend would have her back and not always find ways to talk her away from who she was with. 

Zoe was my favorite person in this series. Such a sweetheart full of love and hours. I hope that doesn't get squashed from her the longer she loves with Mason's dad.

So glad I got to read this! Can't wait for the continuation after that tension filled ending! 

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Review: Total Shutdown by Ruth Stilling

Total Shutdown by Ruth Stilling
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Not gonna lie, the cover grabbed my attention and made me buy this book. Along with the blurb, but the cover is fantastic. 

And overall I enjoyed this book. It's a very quick read - finished it in one sitting. Collins is a feisty character who knows exactly what she wants and isn't (normally) afraid to tell anyone what's on her mind. Anyone that isn't Sawyer apparently. With him she's more on guard because she can tell things with him could get intense quickly and she's not ready for that. 

I also love her connection with Sawyer's son Ezra. 12 year olds are tricky to connect with and seeing her bond with him so quickly was great. Especially since Collins doesn't think she does well with kids. 

Sawyer stole the show for me. He's extremely intense and he fell first so hardcore for Collins. He knew what he wanted and could tell Collins felt the same even though she was hesitant. He didn't give up and was persistent with his communication with Collins. 

I did think the friend circle and the hockey world was a bit confusing. Im guessing because this is book 2 in a series and most would have met the rest of the characters it would click better, but as a new reader into this series with this book it was all a bit blurry and hard to keep up. 

Overall I thought it was a good story and I'm glad I finally got around to reading it. 

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