Hello, hello, hello my lovely reader friends!!! How are we doing this month?? How is the reading going??

 

I don’t know about you but this month went by WAY too fast!? Where did the time GO?!? 

 

If your like me then this month has been nothing but reading and work *sigh* but that being said I managed to read some amazing books!??! And I reconnected with one of my favorite authors of all time and I can’t wait to continue to read more from her (I’m also highly tempted to buy all of her books… someone please take my wallet away from me).

 

On to the books *claps*…..

 

What I Read This Month:

The Resolution of Callie and Kayden by Jessica Sorensen – 5 stars –

THIS SERIES. It is a gem. A piece of my heart. I just love how layered and complex both Callie and Kayden are. I also adore how they continue to struggle through their traumas throughout the books, and you get to see their internal and external struggles, the differences in family dynamics, and the way they love each other so completley throughout. One of my favorite series of all time. I love these books. 

Rule by Jay Crownover – 5 stars – my review 

I LOVED this book!!!! Rule is one of my favorite types of characters. He is honest, he is raw, talented, not afraid to speak his mind and I loved how the relationship grew between him and Shaw. Throw in a tattoo parlor, artistic breakthroughs, a suspenseful plot line and I’m in. So good. 

Devils Daughter by Lisa Kleypas – 4 stars – 

I really like Lisa Kleypas and this book was no exception. Really strong romance. I loved how she was a widow with a little boy and how well he treated her son and the relationship/ family they grow between the three of them. I also really enjoyed how this included elements about farming and how to properly tend her estate. I thought it added another layer to the storyline and I really enjoyed the slow burn that unfolded between these two!!

Queen of Myth and Monsters by Scarlett St.Clair – 4 stars –

This was good. I liked the first book in this series and am intrigued to see where this goes. I liked Adrian and Isolde but I don’t know, this one doesn’t stand out too much for me. However I probably will read the last one in this series. I need closure.  

For the Wolf by Hannah Whitten – 5 stars –

This was GOOD. I really enjoyed this. Kind of a red riding hood meets beauty and the beast retelling. Loved the romance between Red and Eammon!! Eammon is one of my favorite characters I’ve read in a fantasy romance and I loved how patient and protective he was over Red. I also adored the forest magic in this book and was really intrigued with the dual POV of Red and her twin sister. Solid fantasy romance debut. 

Jet by Jay Crownover – 4 stars –

Ahhhhh I love this series!!!! This series is just bad boy goodness wrapped into one and I cannot get enough. Jet is a heavy metal rockstar and Ayden is trying to runaway from her past self and become someone worth loving. She’s ashamed of her dirty country roots and wants to become someone she can be proud starting back at in the mirror. They’re romance is great. Sexy, fun, angsty, and addicting I could not get enough!!! I already ordered the rest of the series lol. 

 

Punk 57 by Penelope Douglas – 5 stars –

I love this book. This book broke me apart before super gluing me back together. It tested my limits and touched me in way that made my heart bleed. I loved how the two were pen pals and they’re friendship grew from having someone to turn to where they could be the versions of themselves they were afraid would be destroyed in their realities. They’re romance is electric and I love how he pushes her to become the version of her she wanted to be in her letter in real life. Amazing book. 

Little Lies by H. Hunting – 4 stars –

I love Helena Hunting! I adored, adored, adored this romance. I love how this story touched on both Lavender and Kodiak struggles with anxiety and how they both struggled with it in different ways. Hers stemming from childhood trauma whereas his stemmed from academic pressure, family, and personal pressure he puts on himself. They both break, both rely on each other in unhealthy ways, and have to learn to mature and deal with their pasts in a way that is healthy enough for the both of them to overcome their obstacles – could not put this book down!!! Amazing. 

Sparrow by LJ Shen – 5 stars –

AHHHHH THIS. BOOK. I LOVED IT. Just want a Troy Brennan in my life. That is all. Thats the review. 

 

What about you all? Read any of the books above? Read anything really good this month? Let me know in the comments below!

-BubblyBooks

 

Rule (A Marked Men novel #1)

By: Jay Crownover

Rating: 5/5 stars

My Review:

This book hit me like a train wreck and I am not complaining. I thought I would like this book going in, but I didn’t think I would ADORE it the way I do.

This book is raw, emotional, and fully developed in a way that will have you so immersed you can’t see straight. It’s like your drowning in the characters emotions and feeling their pain as if it were your own. 

“I know I messed up but I’m here for real now. We’re going to do this and I promise I’ll take care of you as best I can. You’re going to have to be patient with me because I’m flying blind.”

Rule is complicated. He’s not a a fluffy flower on the outside. He’s rude, he’s shameless. He doesn’t care what other people think and he’s not afraid to tell them what he thinks. He’s passionate in a way only broken characters can be – with emotions bleeding out in the most destructive and open way possible without regard or thought to those around to witness the emotional drenched explosion. 

Not to mention he is also a tattoo artist. 

Enter Shaw. She’s his twin brothers bff. The girl he thought belonged to his brother. Not to mention she’s also his perfect match in every way. If only he would let himself see her as anything other than his brothers property. 

Shaw is mad for Rule. Crazy about him. Only she knows he would/ has not ever looked at her that way before. She’s passionate and accepting and stands up for Rule in a way no one ever had before. 

“You’ve never wanted to be easy to love Rule and you make damn sure that nobody can ever forget it.”

Also the level of FAMILY DRAMA in this book is crazy. I love the broken family dynamics and how the author wove the story of the grieving family unable to shoulder the weight of the pain of losing someone. Theres a lot of push and pull between family members and I love how Rule is still unabashedly himself despite the criticism from his family and I love how Shaw appreciates him and sees the light inside of him despite his parents repeated attempts to drown out that part of him. 

“I’ve never trusted anyone all the time. It’s the people I care about the most that always seem to do the most damage.”

PLUS……The romance in this book is just so good. I love the easiness between the two of them – like they were just halves of a whole and didn’t need to try. The connection between them was effortless. The kind of connection you get from knowing one another intimately for their whole lives. I loved how Rule was impatient, and reckless, and vocal about his possessiveness of her. Rule is the kind of guy who does not like to share and doesn’t give two shits who knows it. 

“Opposites don’t just attract they freaking catch fire and burn the entire city down”

 I love, love, loved the tattoo elements in this book and getting to see Rule’s creative process!! Both Shaw and Rules friends were also so fun to read about and I CANNOT WAIT to read their stories in the next books!!!! I need them all imediently!! 

This was just such a good, classic, full bodied bad boy romance and I loved every part of it – so well done I need more!!! Please read this book I am begging you!!!

5 stars 

What do you all think? Adding this one to your TBR? Already read it? LMK your thought below!

-BubblyBooks

Hello hello hello my lovely reading friends!!! How are we this month?? How has the reading been? If your January was anything like mine then you were busy, busy, BUSY. Like seriously I feel like January was simultaneously the slowest and the fastest month… were did the time GO???? (and also can I have it back please and thank you). 

 

That being said by some magical gift of the universe I was actually able to squeeze in some reading time??? and I READ. (who is this person staring back at me in the mirror bc I don’t know her). I was also blessed by the reading gods this month because the books I managed to squeeze in the schedule were gold plated and shimmering with fantasticalness. It seemed like every book I picked up was like an automatic 100% on a test and we didn’t even have to pull out quiz-let or partner it with its BFF Cheg. #firebooks

 

That being said lets get on to the books I read this month!!!

 

What I Read:

Darling Beast by Elizabeth Hoyt – 4 stars – 

This series is fabulous. I love everything Elizabeth Hoyt writes, her stories are so full bodied and multilayered that I never know what I am going to get but I know I am going to be entertained. Apollo was attacked in prison and lost his voice because of it and Lily is an homeless actress currently living at the theater with her son. I love how tender and slow burn the romance unfolds. Both have been damaged in the past, they’re slow to trust but the romance that blooms is even more tender and addicting all the more so for it. SO so good!

Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood – 5 stars –

THIS BOOK AHAHSHSJSHDJD. I AM ADDICTED. OBSESSED. DECEASED. This book blew me out of the water with its fabulousness. I read Love Hypothesis and remember liking it but this book. This. Book. The romance is just so good in this book I couldn’t stop laughing (this book is so funny I could not hold in the laugher here. I was dying.) Not to mention I loved how the whole thing took place at NASA and we got an insight into the team bonding/work that took place on the newly developing scientific projects. Also the straight ANGST and soul mate hints sprinkled throughout this cupcake of a book was *chefs kiss*. Just had every ingredient needed to make an epic romance book. One of my new favorite reads of all time!!!

Bitter Sweet Heart by H. Hunting – 5 stars –

WOW. This book took me by surprise. I jumped into this one not knowing what it was about. I had heard of the author but never read anything by her and BOY was I flabbergasted. This book is everything. Maverick is wildly mature for his age. His ability to communicate his needs and protect those of others blew me away. Not to mention I loved how this was a teacher/student romance but it didn’t come across as taboo. Both were scared. Both listened to one another doubts/reservations and came up with solutions together, as a team.  Despite the age gap the two felt like equals and the CHEMISTRY was amazing. Pair that with amazingly well developed family aspects and this book was a solid win. Super good!

Pucked by Helena Hunting – 3 stars –

After finishing off Bitter Sweet Heart I wanted to read more of Helena Hunting an picked up the Pucked series ASAP!!! This first book was something. Wildly addicting, over the top fun, hilarious characters. I loved how easy and quick this one was to read and I was INVESTED in the future couples to come. 

Pucked Up by Helena Hunting – 4 stars –

AHHHH this book was SOOOO much better than book one!!! Buck is straight up hilarious and even though the whole book was his POV I wasn’t bored for one second. Him and Sunny are great together and I love how sweet he is towards her. I was laughing so hard at some points in this book, Buck is so straight forward and unabashedly himself that I could not get enough. SO FREAKIN GOOD. 

Puked Over by Helena Hunting – 4 stars –

This book was SPICE. Randall and Lily had instant chemistry and I loved how they both could not stop the attraction from growing amongst one another. Randall is much more grounded than the other Pucked men so far and absolutely worships Lily with every fiber of his being. Fast plot line, addicting drama, hockey, and more this series is so much fun and I can not get enough!!!

The Marquess Makes His Move by Diana Quincy – 5 stars –

This book is amazing. I went into this one not expecting much and then ended up completely devouring it in two days. I loved how Rose is an artist and draws intricate maps for a living and I adored how Brandon supported her and urged her to pursue her talents despite what society might think of her. Not to mention Brandon had secrets of his own and I loved getting a glimpse into his family and how accepting and genuinely interested Rose is in his background/life. The two are connected in a way that is fascinating to watch unfold and I ADORED the passion the two had for one another. This author is really good and I cannot wait to read more from her! 

Duke Most Wicked by Lenora Bell – 5 stars –

OMG THIS BOOK IS A SOFT CUSHION OF LOVE THAT I WANT TO FALL INTO. I am a puddle. I am drowning in the sheer affection of wonderfulness that is this book. First off I am in love with Brandan. Second of all I am in love with Brandan Duke of Westbury. This book is just ahasdhkdkd so good. I love how Viola is his sisters music teacher, the elements of composing music and the passion behind her playing was fascinating and beautiful to watch unfold. Not to mention I was a sobbing disaster at Brandan’s hidden passion for her and I LOVED how brash, and straightforward, and reckless he was. The romance in this is AMAZING and I ADORED the plot. One of my new favorite historical’s of all time!!!

Forever Pucked by Helena Hunting – 5 stars –

DANGGGGGGG. THIS BOOK WAS A SLICE OF SWEET PIE I COULD NOT RESIST. Let me tell you my expectations going into this one were low. staggeringly low. I wasn’t the biggest fan of Alex and Violet in Pucked but this book was SPICY cinnamon cake and I love every piece of it. I thought this was going to be a short little cute wedding novella but then BAM enter a dramatic plot line that had me straight up sobbing and I was mistaken. I loved every direction this plot took and I loved how we got to see all the characters together again and check in with the different couple from the Pucked world. This book was just something you never want to end and want to keep reading while ignoring all your problems and/or responsibilities. So GOOD!!

Pucked Under by Helena Hunting – 4 stars- 

We go more of Lily and Randall!!!! This was a super short and super steamy novella but the plot still felt very well developed. I loved getting to see more of Randalls family and how he and Lily were able to overcome obstacles in their relationship. Very good! I enjoyed it!

Tv Shows I Watched:

• Emily in Paris (season 3) – I finally got around to watching the most recent season of Emily in Paris and really enjoyed it! I love the fashion in this show and the glimpse into the marketing world. Not to mention I am INVESTED to see where Emily and Gabriels relationship goes. I need answers!!!!
• Peaky Blinders (season 6) – The final season FINALLY dropped. Thomas Shelby is my love and I just love this series with every part of me. SO so good. I’m depressed to see this series end. 
• The Fate: Winx (season 1/2)- This series was surprisingly really good!!! So of course I binged the whole thing in a week only to find out there will never be another season again and it was cancelled??!?!?! Get it together Netflix. 
• Alexa and Katie (season 1-4) – This series is extremely cheesy and the jokes are border line cringeworthy. So of course I binge watched the whole thing. The final season is the best and I wish there was more. *cries*

Well thats about all for this month! What about you all?? Read anything good this month??? Read any of the books above? Lets chat in the comments below!

-BubblyBooks