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BOOK TOUR: We Could Be Anyone by Anna-Marie McLemore
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REVIEW: How to Fake It in Society by K.J. Charles
How to Fake It in Society – K.J. Charles
It is 1821 and Nicolas-Marc, Comte de Valois de La Motte is making a splash in London Society. The son of Jeanne de Valois de La Motte, infamous for stealing a priceless diamond necklace meant for Marie Antoinette, Nico hopes to restore his wronged mother’s reputation, if only he can raise the funds. But he must operate with great secrecy, because the Bourbon dynasty murdered his mother, and he fears for his life.
At least, that’s what he tells Titus Pilcrow. Titus was a simple shopkeeper, making and selling artists’ paints, when he found himself suddenly married to an immensely wealthy woman who wanted to disinherit her nephew on her deathbed. As word spreads of his fortune, Titus finds himself a target of every scammer and beggar in London . . . including one Nicolas-Marc, Comte de Valois de La Motte.
Nico is on his last legs, out of money, and on the run from some terrifying gangsters. When Titus offers Nico a space in his household, it’s the perfect chance for him to exploit London’s newest golden purse – until he falls in love with the man he needs to cheat. Still, Nico is sure they can have a happy ending together. If he can just find his way out of his own web of lies . . .
How To Fake It In Society is another brilliant historical romance from my all-time favorite MM author, K.J. Charles.
Nicolas-Marc, Comte de Valois de La Motte, befriends Titus Pilcrow, a newly rich colourman who inherited his fortune in the most unusual way, through a deathbed marriage to a wealthy old woman, with strict instructions not to share the money with her greedy relatives.
Unsure how to navigate high society, Titus turns to Nico, who sees him as a ticket out of his own debts. But instead of fleecing his mark, Nico finds himself falling in love.
I loved Titus! He’s kind-hearted, generous, awkward, and naive about aristocratic life yet sharp, resourceful, and passionately devoted to his craft. Bullies try to dim his light, but with Nico’s support he learns to live on his own terms.
He started his friendship with Nico with open eyes, aware that the comte might just be after his money. Knowing that, he still invited him to live in his house. Their friendship is my favorite part of the story. Titus and Nico enjoyed each other’s company and that joy leapt off the page!
One of the most charming touches is Titus entertaining the comte with trivia about colors, such as a certain shade of green is made of arsenic or a yellow named after a queen’s unwashed clothes. It made him want to burn his green jacket, still Nico was utterly smittened. Couldn’t blame him, Titus’s enthusiasm is contagious.
These details, along with K.J. Charles’s immersive historical texture, make the novel sparkle. I especially love that her romances spotlight not just dukes but working-class characters with fascinating period-specific jobs, here a paint maker, other books a pornographer (Unfit to Print), taxidermist (An Unseen Attraction), a handwriting analysis expert (Copper Script), even a waste man (Rag and Bone).
Though Nico intended to exploit Titus, he ends up giving him everything he needs, confidence, colorful clothes, and unwavering support. His delight in making Titus happy is balm to the soul. Their romance is ridiculously endearing, and the cover perfectly captures their sweet hand-holding moments. And they really love holding hands!
The supporting cast was equally wonderful. Mr. Thorpe the loyal butler, Mrs . Thorpe the housekeeper and their daughter Alma the maid make a cozy found family for Titus who’s estranged from his brothers. Eve a.k.a. Poirot the valet is Nico’s cousin and a dashing lover for Alma.
The big reveal hit Titus and Nico hard. The author deftly unraveled the secrets and emotional fallout, throwing in some menacing bad guys who were caricatures, and the most hilarious villain takedown scene to give us a spectacular resolution worthy of Marie Antoinette!
How To Fake It In Society is a story about bringing out the best in people by seeing the good in them. Overall, wrong thoughts, right words, right actions and a romance that’s pure joy!
Rating:
4.5 Stars – perfection is only half a step awaySoundtrack: Give You The World
Artist: Yello feat. Malia
Album: Toy
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HOW TO FAKE IT IN SOCIETY: Amazon UK | Audiobook
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REVIEW: Vigilant by Cora Rose & Lark Taylor
The Firm: Vigilant – Cora Rose & Lark Taylor
As the eldest brother and leader of The Firm, I take my responsibilities very seriously. There’s nothing I won’t do to keep my family safe. Staying vigilant, always thinking ten steps ahead, and holding the pieces of my life together with steady hands. Control is everything, because if I loosen my grip for even a moment, the darkness I’ve buried inside will claw its way free.
Everything is stable. Predictable. Safe.
Until Neo.
He’s a distraction I can’t afford but a temptation I can’t seem to ignore. My darkness is drawn to him; it wants to be set free.
And as our enemies close in, Neo becomes the one variable I can’t control… and the one risk I find myself wanting to take. Because for the first time, surrendering to the dark doesn’t feel like weakness.It feels a lot like love.
Vigilant is the third book of the dark billionaire romance series, The Firm by Cora Rose and Lark Taylor. This is my most anticipated installment, starring my favorite Buckingham brother, Wylder.
The Buckinghams were molded into killers by their ruthless father. As the eldest, Wylder endured the worst abuses while shielding his younger brothers. Now leader of The Firm, he shoulders every responsibility, holding the family together with iron control.
He didn’t count upon a bratty, blue-haired hacker to test that control. Neo is the bestfriend of Ancel (Deviant) and they are both living in the Buckingham mansion because of the threat from Umbra.
Neo lived to annoy Wylder, pranking, pushing and sassing him just to see how far he could. Wylder’s PA was on leave and he declares Neo take the position seeing the hacker was already neck-deep in Buckingham business. Neo lost no time upping his game and this time, Wylder’s walls are starting to crack.
Wylder totally made the book for me! He’s not a grump with a soft center. He’s a grump with a monster inside, and when it’s unleashed, it’s glorious! My favorite part about Wylder is that beneath the scowl, he’s a secret do-gooder: funding scholarships, protecting his family, and quietly helping those in need without expecting recognition.
Also, the megane moe slays!!!
Neo nearly ruined the book for me. More bully than brat, he was too pushy, too desperate for attention, his pranks felt more infuriating than humorous. He harrassed and manipulated Wylder for fun, just to see him fall apart. Then he sulks whenever Wylder pushes back.
And everyone would be on Wylder’s ass because he hurt Neo’s feelings. I hated how everyone made it appear that it’s Wylder’s fault and he had to do the groveling every time when really, it was Neo who started it.
Another thing that annoyed me to no end was how Neo would be all concerned about how exhausted Wylder looks and how he had too much responsibilties. Then proceeds to disrupt his sleep every night and pull pranks that added to Wylder’s burdens. He was even glad he made Wylder lose sleep because it means he’s getting under his skin.
One time, his fucked up prank even caused Wylder to pay millions of dollars for a settlement. Neo promised to repay him in blowjobs. Meh. His sob story of being a foster kid didn’t make up for his poor behavior.
My heart went out to Wylder at that scene when everything was too much, he crawled into his secret hidey-hole closet and just be. Seriously, the man needs peace, quiet and uninterrupted sleep more than he needs a blowjob. He’s really trying, damn it, even if emotions are something he struggles to understands.
Neo became somewhat tolerable when he got what he wanted, a.k.a. Wylder’s monster a.k.a. primal play in the woods. Still, not the guy for Wylder. I’d even go for Brennan, their head of security. At least, he always got Wylder’s back.
The rest of the Umbra mission was crammed in the last parts. I missed seeing the Buckinghams in action and I wished the plot was more mission-focused.
Vigilant is a story of control versus chaos. Despite being saddled with the totally wrong guy, Wylder endeared himself and charmed me to no end. I rooted so hard for him every step. Overall, it lies somewhere between like and love but Wylder completely made it worth the ride!
Rating:
3.5 Stars – that place between like and loveSoundtrack: Wild Child
Artist: The Black Keys
Album: Dropout BoogieP.S.
The Firm is best read in order.
Watch a Buckingham arranged his marriage to his enemy in Covenant.
Witness a Buckingham happily guide his own kidnapper in the how-tos of abduction in Deviant.
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VIGILANT: Amazon UK | Audiobook
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AUDIOBOK TOUR: Little Harbor by Sophia Soames
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REVIEW: End It All by Brea Alepou & Skyler Snow
Vitale Brothers: End It All by Brea Alepou & Skyler Snow
What do you do when your only way out is to join a family you never knew existed?
I’m not well behaved, that’s a given. But meeting the Vitale’s puts my life into perspective. They’re everything I’ve longed for; rich, adventurous, fearless, and close. Really close.
This is supposed to be my family too.
So why do I feel like an outsider?
I have no choice except to fit in because I can’t go back home. Not when I’m on the run…
Amidst the chaos of a cooling war, a family struggle, and the law nipping at my heels, I meet Quincy. Bold, crazy, and hot as a five alarm fire.This man is the grand red flag of all red flags, but then again so am I.
And I’ve always loved to play with fire.
The fifth book in the Vitale Brothers series. Each book can be read as a standalone but is best read in order. HEA guaranteed. Make sure to check out the TWs.
End It All is the fifth book in the gritty, addictive Vitale Brothers mafia romance series by Brea Alepou & Skyler Snow. The Vitale clan may be a chaotic mix of half-brothers, but under Benito’s leadership, they remain fiercely loyal and endlessly entertaining.
The 5th Vitale brother is Blake Moreno, who only recently discovered he’s a Vitale after a botched bank heist turned him into a fugitive. Sent to New York to his father Cesare for protection, Blake meets his brothers for the first time, who were just as surprised to learn about his identity.
Not yet trusting Blake but still willing to protect his youngest brother, Benito (Say I Do) assigns Quincy Adachi, Harlow’s best friend and former bodyguard, to keep Blake in line. Blake and Quincy immediately got off on the wrong foot.
Blake kept trying to run away, and Quincy unerringly tracks his ass wherever he goes. Forced proximity did its magic because they might hate each other, but it didn’t stop them from jumping each other’s bones.
Blake is a semi-wild spitfire, not yet full-on Vitale like Gin, Enzo, or even Paolo. He’s street-smart but really naive. He has a stupid tendency to run away from the person protecting him when he’s supposed to be in New York for his protection.
Quincy is a dominant, alpha-as-hell power bottom who matches Blake’s arson-loving ferocity with his own daredevil antics. Quincy is Harlow’s best friend after all, and only someone as bloodthirsty as him could keep up with a psycho like Harlow.
Together, Blake and Quincy’s chemistry is equal parts volatile and magnetic. Blake’s rebellious streak and Quincy’s relentless dominance make for a fiery clash. Their dynamic was entertaining, with lots of sharp banter, flirty provocations, and cute nicknames. Quincy calling Blake “baby girl” tickled me pink every time because Blake is so precious and bratty, even if he tops.
The best part of the book is the Vitale family themselves, their outrageous antics, dark humor, and twisted brand of love. From Gin’s absurd schemes and his possessive devotion to Ash to Benito and Harlow’s stab-happy foreplay, the brothers never fail to entertain. Paolo and York got parenthood down to a science, and Enzo and Tex are joined at the hips. Loved seeing the Vitale “wives” joining forces and welcoming Quincy to the fold.
I thought the series would end with Paolo and York’s book, Never Say Never. Half of me thinks Blake and Quincy’s story was unnecessary, the plot not really bringing anything new to the table, and the romance is less intense as the previous books. While still dark and humorous enough for a Vitale, this is the weakest installment of the series.
It did give us a lead-up to Cesare’s book, which I also have mixed feelings about. Cesare welcomes Blake with open arms, but the brothers frequently warn Blake that the old man cannot be trusted. Blake agrees, runs away, then foolishly returns to Cesare.
Daddy Vitale’s motives are suspect throughout the entire series, so redeeming him in the 6th book might be a stretch. I’m not sure if I could root for Cesare, given how villainous he was. Also, it’s going to be an age gap romance. We have enough of that already. Give us old men yaoi instead!
End It All is a story of family ties and baby criminals. While not hitting the same highs as the rest of the series, overall, it sets the stage for biggest battle ahead. In the Vitale world, loyalty is blood-deep, betrayal is inevitable—and sometimes, ending it all is the only way to begin again.
Rating:
3 Stars – not exactly setting my world on fire but I liked itSoundtrack: Alive In New Light
Artist: IAMX
Album: Alive In New LightP.S.
Vitale Brothers can be read as standalone but each brother is a force of nature.
Take Me Apart is the raw intensity of Enzo.
Paid In Full is the wild insatiability of Gin
Say I Do is the nuclear explosion of Benito.
Never Say Never is the chaotic mayhem of Paolo.
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END IT ALL: Amazon UK | Audiobook
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BOOK BLITZ: The Memories We Made by Cara Dee (Excerpt & Giveaway)
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RELEASE BLITZ: Be My Monster by Davidson King
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BLOG TOUR: All You Need Is Love by Meg Macy (Excerpt)
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REVIEW: Deviant by Cora Rose & Lark Taylor
The Firm: Deviant – Cora Rose & Lark Taylor
In my defense, this is all Brad’s fault.
I had one very important job: kidnap Brad.
I’ve never kidnapped someone before but how hard could it be? Find Brad. Snatch Brad. Deliver Brad to the very scary people who hold my fate in their hands.So when a handsome, flirty stranger at the bar drops his name, I think my luck has finally turned. No chase. No fight. The man practically throws himself in my trunk, smiling like it’s a treat to be taken, like he wants me to have him.
The only problem? “Brad,” the charming and slightly unhinged man I’ve been keeping hostage for days, may be the most dangerous man of all.
Now I’m knee-deep in a life of crime I never signed up for. Tangled up with a man I never meant to take—and definitely never meant to fall for. And I’m staring down the barrel of a gun for mistakes I never should’ve made.
Because everyone knows The Firm never forgives a debt… and they always collect in blood.
Deviant is the second book in the secret society/billionaire romance series, The Firm, by Cora Rose and Lark Taylor. The billionaires are the Buckingham brothers. Trained since birth by their ruthless father, they uphold the secret family business, The Firm. Here, people make desperate requests in exchange for whatever The Firm asks of them.
Today’s Buckingham is Cade, the psychopathic brother, who was cruising a bar under the alias “Brad.” First-time kidnapper Ansel was blackmailed to abduct someone named “Brad.” And so mistaking Cade for the “Brad” he’s supposed to kidnap, he lured Cade to the woods.
Intrigued by the cute twink who was obviously the worst kidnapper Cade has met, he happily let himself be abducted, even instructing Ansel how to do it properly, and be taken to a remote cabin. Cade then proceeded to seduce his hapless abductor.
This is the most fun anyone has ever had while being kidnapped! This part was pretty humorous and bursting with delicious sexual tension. Cade, no stranger to kidnappings, whether as the one abducted or the one tying people to a chair, easily lured the anxious yet still sassy Ansel to share a bed.
The fun only ended because Cade’s brothers crashed the party a.k.a. staged an unsolicited rescue. By then, Cade is obsessed with Ansel, and Ansel couldn’t help but fall for his infuriating but lovable captive. Cade lost no time whisking Ansel away to the Buckingham mansion.
The second half still retained the irreverent humor but had significantly darker vibes when Ansel’s blackmailers became even more insidious, and the self-sacrificing Ansel took it upon himself to shoulder all the world’s burdens. It was frustrating how he didn’t communicate with Cade and even with his best friend, Neo, keeping everything bottled up.
The bad guys were threatening Cade and the rest of the Buckinghams. It was chilling that they had snipers trained on the unsuspecting brothers, whom only Ansel was aware of. Only he could see the tell-tale red dots on Cade and his brothers.
Ansel couldn’t openly talk to them, given that not only the mansion was bugged and watched, they were followed outside too. I thought he could have been cleverer about it and perhaps use a secret signal, such as drawing signs on Cade’s palm while holding his hand. I was expecting something more from Ansel instead of him pushing people away to protect them,
Secret signals aside, the authors really did a great job portraying Ansel’s dilemma. His despair and heartbreak, then later his gut-wrenching sacrifice, all these vivid emotions squeezed my heart and made the story that much more alive and poignant.
The Buckingham brothers were a riot with their ridiculous antics and silly banters. My favorite brother is still Wylder, the eldest and the most stoic. I must admit, I’m not so thrilled he’s paired with the bratty Neo because it’s not my favorite dynamic. We’ll see.
Overall, Deviant is about unlikely connections and the sacrifices made for love. It’s a compelling blend of silly and suspenseful, humor and emotional depth, found family magic, and darker, heart-wrenching moments that left me a captive audience.
Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bitsSoundtrack: Beautiful Mistake
Artist: Billy Howerdel
Album: What Normal WasP.S.
Each Buckingham book can be read as standalone but The Firm demands your attention:
Covenant is Matthias wooing his man, Wyatt, with a forced marriage and the world at his feet.
Wylder – his book is gonna be fire only because it’s him
Samson – thought he’d be paired with Neo but alas
Dalton – our klepto baby should open his eyes because Wyatt’s brother Jackson is right there
Harley – cute and pining for the Chef and I can’t wait when he’s come of age
If you like my content, please consider using my Amazon affiliate links below to buy your copy of Deviant. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying Amazon purchases at no additional cost to you.
If you like my content, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi or PayPal. Your donations will help keep this website going. Thank you so much!
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NEW RELEASE BLITZ: Moon’s Shadow by Shannon Blair (Excerpt)
