LAST YEAR I WAS READING…(June 16, 2021)

This meme was created by Reading Marie. It’s a great meme because it’s nice and easy to do.

Here are the rules:

Take your current read and compare it to what you reading this exact time last year. Which one do you like better? What is different about the books? Any special facts/things you want to make note of or bring attention to

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This Year I Am Reading…

I adore all the Variks but Bel and his wolves went straight to my kokoro. I just finished this 3rd book of Lords of Discords and holy heck was it good! Review soonish.

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Last Year I Was Reading…

Maks is my favorite Cabrini and his story was as delicious as promised. Val is a hero and a sweetheart and deserved all the hugs in the world. Yeah, I really loved this book.

My 4.5-star review here.

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Today we have a vampire paranormal and a contemporary romantic suspense. Very different books but both with the same suspenseful elements, slow burning love story, sweet hurt comfort and compelling characters you’ll lay down your life for.

Waking Bel follows directly from the aftermath of Saving Rafe when the Variks defeated another vampire clan and Bel is left with two wolves on his property. The wolves turned out to be shifters who begged for his protection in return for their servitude. Of course Bel would have none of that and proceeds to feed and house Wyatt and River as guests. Feelings ensued.

A huge chunk of the story takes place in Bel’s super cool house. It chronicles his daily life with the wolves and how they gradually become an integral part of each other’s lives. Wyatt and River are two cinnamon rolls (River especially because he’s the baby) who have gone through years of abuse because of being exiled from their pack. They are still under threat from yet another pack who found their relationship an abomination. How they found a home in the heart a mad scientist vampire and his crazy family is pure magic.

Murder Aforethought is how the cold, distant, high-powered corporate lawyer Maksim Kovalenko found his person in ex-soldier and hitman Valentine Rivetti. They were on the run from the mob right after Maks got Val released from the police station. Bullets started flying as soon as they step out.

This is a fast-paced, action-packed book. The romance developed over the week but I loved that the author made it feel slow burn and organic to the plot. Val has PTSD. I loved that his character was both strong and vulnerable. There was something about the young man that appealed to Maks at a core level. Val saw right through Maks’ walls, right through the golden heart that lay beneath. I was swept away by the adrenaline, the sweet hurt/comfort story and the delicious slow-burn-but-not-really romance.

Between a sweet vampire and his adorable wolves and a golden-heart lawyer and his brave soldier? I love them all!

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I’m ending the post with a book I’m looking forward to reading.

Soren Jorgensen is the newest Piedras Island transplant. He was introduced in Black Moon, the latest book in Veiled Intentions. Super curious how the deputy navigates small town life and unwanted feelings for a man on the opposite side of the law.

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What were you reading this time last year?

(I hope it’s as riveting as Morticia’s book)

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