Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.

Today I’m going through my TBR and listing some of the books that I’m most interested in reading, that were written by author’s I’ve never read before. A lot of these books are by debut authors or authors who are indie-published and may not be big household names…. yet.

Eoin Grant hasn’t encountered a female of his race in decades, and this crazy person’s scent declares her unmated. Fate set her in his path, and he won’t let this opportunity slip through his claws. No matter how wary she is of him. After all, how many chances does a dragon have at finding love? But fate can be a crueler mistress than his perfect mate. Of all things, she thinks she’s human.

Business is taking off for Angie Weldon. She put her freakishly sharp nails to good use when she opened her back-scratching spa in downtown New Porter City. The local shifter community pounced on her skills and she’s knee-deep in shed fur. By the end of the year, if lucky, she could afford to move out of her crappy apartment.

Dollar signs flash before Angie’s eyes when a dark, brooding stranger books her solid for a week but she notices the possessive fury in his glare. She’s been around enough shifters to know the look, and she won’t go down that road again. Angie is literally swept off her feet by the intense shifter and he wants more from her than she’s willing to give. She figures it’s best to avoid eye contact and back away slowly. Until he changes her life by insisting she’s a dragon.

My thoughts…

This sounded like such an amazing story. It had dragon shifters, were-shifters, vampires, and a dragon shifter that was raised to think she was human. This should have checked all my boxes, but it just missed the mark for me.

It could have been the timeline. This book takes place in a matter of days… not even a week passes before these two are in love with each other and ready to mate for life. Mind you, Angie has thought she was a human her entire life. So, the fact that she is in love so quickly with a guy she just meets threw me off. I get that she IS a dragon shifter deep down, but she should not be having this immediate urge to mate. Especially when she felt like the werewolf she had been dating was pushing her past her comfort zone with how quickly he was moving and how possessive he was being. As if Eoin (dragon) wasn’t 10x worse.

I honestly wish there was a bit more meat to the story. It just felt like a typical “independent female” who fights hard to hold the mega alpha male at bay, but randomly gives in. Don’t even get me started on the side characters that pop up for really no real reason. Maybe as a foreshadow to them getting their own HEA? Either way, this was a bit too light for me and left me wishing there was more to the story.

I thought my fated mate would cherish me. Mine kills me in cold blood.

After a decade of bullying me, the Alpha Heir discovers I’m his predestined mate. But just because he rejects me in front of the whole pack doesn’t mean he’s going to let me go.

When I flee my fated mate, he gives chase. The Alpha Heir would sooner murder me than let me live out of his reach.

Only death isn’t the end for me. The afterlife is a bit more fiery than I pictured, but that’s fine. I’m used to fighting to survive, and literal Hell just might be a step up from what I’ve been dealing with.

Even if that means facing off against minotaurs and murderous mermaids.

Even if, when I find refuge in a seemingly abandoned castle, I find the most dangerous creature in the underworld.

The good news: He agrees to train me, so I’ll never be left weak and at the mercy of another.

The bad news: His training methods involve a variety of unconventional methods, such as infiltrating my dreams and pinning me beneath him when we spar.

The worst news: He’s never going to let me leave his castle.

My thoughts…

I love a good shifter romance, so when I saw that this one mixed shifters with Greek mythology, consider me intrigued.

Since Avery is considered the weakest of her pack, she’s bullied and ostracized on a daily basis. Her hope is that when it’s time for her to go into the mating ritual, she will find a mate that is outside of her pack. However, that’s not what happens and soon she finds herself waking up in hell… literal hell. Now, I wasn’t sure what to expect with this one. When it comes to hell, so many author’s have their own interpretations of it, and sometimes the complete chaos of it all is hard for me to follow. However, with this story, hell is pretty much just a realm of supernatural creatures that would sooner kill you than invite you over for dinner. So, I was able to wrap my head around where Avery was since it wasn’t all that different from other supernatural books that I have read. With that said, a very small portion of the book, and I mean very small, actually covers the realm. The majority of the story takes place in a castle where Avery trains with another wolf shifter to become stronger.

I do have to admit that I skimmed a bit of the book. I’m not sure what it was about the writing style, but I just was not interested to be in Avery’s head. I was more drawn to the actual scenes than her inner monologue. She seemed rather fixated on Cole’s body and I found it odd given that she’s a shifter, and being naked is second nature to them due to shifting. I get that she was the outcast, but it’s still part of her upbringing and culture. So, the shyness seemed random and like the author was putting that on her.

I honestly thought I was going to like this book a lot more. When it first started I was really into it. However, as the story progressed, I found myself getting a bit bored at the repetitiveness of Avery ogling Cole, Cole being ornery with innuendoes, and them training with Avery ending up all hot and bothered. I wish there was a bit more grit of the afterlife in this one, and maybe that comes later in the series, but I don’t think I will be signing up to read the next book in the series.

When my stepmother sold me at auction, I thought I’d experienced the cruelest fate. I was wrong.

Because now I belong to the Iron King, a fae with a heart as cold and unyielding as the cursed iron that encases it. To keep his throne, he needs a queen–his fated mate. And I’m supposed to use my ability to protect him, to see through deception… by posing as one of his potential brides.

Assuming I can survive.

The Iron King’s Bridal Trials are a glittering nightmare of cutthroat fae and deadly secrets. His kingdom is on the brink of rebellion, and every fae lady is willing to kill for the crown.

But when the clock strikes midnight during my first dance with the Iron King, everything changes. Because maybe, just maybe the man I loathe might also become the man I love…if two hearts can break a curse of glass and iron.

My thoughts…

I hate comparing books, but this reminded me a LOT of The Selection but with a fae twist. I honestly didn’t see much of “Cinderella” in here other than having a father who dies, a step-mother who is not as nurturing as everyone thinks towards her late-husband’s offspring, and the rags to riches story. Other than that, she is cast out of her family home, sold in a auction, put in service at the palace to keep the king of the Midnight Court safe, all while under the disguise of being a contestant in the trials to become the king’s bride. So, I would say this is probably less of a Cinderella retelling and more of a “What if everyone from The Selection weren’t human, but fae instead?” kind of story.

I did enjoy the world the author built. I liked the the dynamics of the Midnight Court, the main characters, some of the side characters, and the trials. There was a lot going on in this story. Alette is kind of the outcast and has a target on her back the majority of the time when it comes to the other contestants. So, not only is she navigating the other women who would gladly stab her in the back… literally, but she also has to survive the trials which can be deadly on their own. On top of that, she’s magic bound to use her rare ability to see through glamours and ensure the King’s safety, without anyone knowing she has this ability, including the King. 

This book is a dual POV told both in the King’s POV and Alette’s. So we see her going through the trials and navigating everything, but also get behind-the-scenes of what it’s like for the King to have to rule a kingdom he doesn’t want, while putting on this front for the masses while he hosts this competition for their new queen. Honestly, I kind of felt bad for the guy. Now, I didn’t know this was part of a series, and it’s evident that we a missing a few key things. The author does a good job in filling you in, but I still felt like I was missing a few pieces of the King and who he was leading up to this point. Like he was a predominant character in the previous story. I suppose, in the end, we were in the same boat as Alette when it came to knowing his backstory.

I did find this story to be enjoyable. I liked the magical elements, the slow-building romance, the competitions, and just the overall feel of this book.

Waking up next to a stranger wearing a wedding ring was not on the itinerary.

I came to Las Vegas for a quick girl’s trip, but somehow ended up a married woman. What I thought would stay in Vegas followed me back to my small town of Sunrise Bay, Alaska.

Of course, my new husband—MMA champion fighter, Logan Stone—couldn’t find me alone at my house to tell me he wants to give our impromptu nuptials a shot. He has to tell me in front of my entire family and half the town.

The two of us couldn’t be more opposite, but he offers me a deal I can’t refuse which involves me pretending we’re happily married for three months. Yeah, a lot of things can change in that short amount of time, most importantly catching feelings for a man whose lifestyle I despise.

My thoughts…

This was a cute romance revolving around a small-town-girl and a MMA champion fighter. This story is told in both Logan and Nikki’s point of view. We follow them both as they navigate this new part of their life. I honestly preferred reading from Logan’s POV because not only was his life a bit more interesting (sorry, Nikki), but he uproots his life to settle in her small hometown, and flies his entire training crew up to Alaska to prepare for the big fight in a few months. So, I felt like he had more of an adjustment to this than Nikki did. Not only with location change, but going from Vegas to a small town, AND being surrounded by your new bride’s family all the time. Oh my word, and that scene in the woods when the young survivalists walk up on them having morning fun time, and Logan slides off the tree trunk and ends up with splinters in his butt. That poor guy had to deal with a lot!

It’s been a lot time since I read this series, and I honestly forgot about it. So with that said, you could totally read this book as a stand alone if it’s the only one that interests you. I never felt like I was missing something with all the secondary characters that pop up. So, if you are looking for a cute contemporary romance with a bit of open door spice, this book/series may be worth checking out.

Previous reviews from The Greene Family
My Beautiful Neighbor
My Almost Ex

I did a deep dive into my Goodreads TBR list this month, to go through all the books and delete ones I don’t plan to read. I have had books sitting on my TBR for over a decade. A DECADE!!! Books that I saw and thought, “That looks like a good book” but then never actually purchased it or read it. It’s safe to say that some of those books are no longer of interest to me. Most were YA, and while I still enjoy reading YA, it’s not my primary genre anymore.

So, I went through my list, and any books that I immediately went “meh” over, got the boot. Books that are not available on KU or at my library, that I was not willing to pay money for, got the the boot. I was able to knock out almost half of the books on my TBR. What was once a TBR of over 200 books is now a list of 109 books. It’s still a bit overwhelming, but I feel like it’s more manageable… as long as I don’t go crazy adding books to it again.

Therefor, I have decided that I will spend this summer going through and reading my TBR one book at a time. I won’t push myself to read anything that I’m not feeling, but I do feel like I need to give these books a chance. So many of these books have so few reviews and ratings, and I want to give them a chance to find readers. The book I’m currently reading only has 4,000 ratings on Goodreads.

So, it’s time to brush off my TBR and start giving these books a chance in the spotlight.

Currently reading…

Up Next

For Review

Are there any books you are excited to read this week?

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.

This summer, I actually have a few reading projects going on. Every year, I join a summer reading program challenge with my friend and her family. They come up with a cool theme each year (this year is space and planets) and we have to read books for specific categories. It’s usually things like suspense, romance, books with certain colored covers, books set in a particular place, or books released in a specific year. For the last handful of years, I did terribly at the challenge because I was exploring Japan and finishing school. Well, I finally graduated, and it looks like we may be in for a very active typhoon season with no summer traveling. So, I should have nothing but time on my hands to read!

The other thing I have going on is that I joined and became an admin for a local romantasy book club here in Japan. So, that has been pushing me to read more books. I’ve read a lot of books that haven’t been on my radar, but that I really enjoyed. It’s kind of helped me get back into the groove of reading again.

The other bookish project I’m doing is trying to go through my Goodreads TBR. I have had books sitting on that list for over a decade, and it’s overwhelming to look at. So, I recently went through and knocked out a bunch of books that no longer interest me, and I am now going through the list, dusting off the books, and giving them a chance in the spotlight. So far…. it’s not going great. HOWEVER, I’m sure there are some winners in there.

So yeah, this summer is going to be a mix of book club reads, dusty TBR books, and my summer reading challenge.

The beloved dog rescue advocate and star of Animal Planet’s hit show Pit Bulls & Parolees chronicles her life in this heartwarming memoir told through the stories of eleven of her best-loved dogs, capturing the spirit and heart of these beautiful, intelligent, and loving canines.

Tia Torres has devoted her life to shattering the stereotype that pit bulls are dangerous, vicious animals prone to bad behavior. Through her hit show Pit Bulls & Parolees she has shown the world that these wonderful animals have nothing but love to give. As the owner of the Villalobos Rescue Center in New Orleans, the largest pit bull rescue facility in the United States, Tia knows firsthand that pit bulls’ easygoing, adaptable, and vulnerable nature allows them to be used and abused, giving them a bad rep.

In My Life Among the Underdogs, she combines never-before-told rescue tales with select stories from Pitbulls & Parolees, introducing such amazing, affectionate dogs as Tatanka, Joe, LA, Duke, Moose, Monster, Lucky, Bluie, and Taz, who overcame abuse, trauma, and neglect to become forgiving and adoring friends and helpmates. A sweet and stirring gallery of unforgettable canines, My Life Among the Underdogs captures the hearts of dog lovers everywhere and is a testament to the loyalty, love, and devotion these dogs have to offer—if they’re only given the chance.

My thoughts…

I’m a big fan of the show. So much so that when I was doing a cross country drive, I made Villalobos one of the stops. I am a huge animal person, and the amount that Tia and her team take on is admirable. So, when I saw this audiobook at my library I was excited to dive in.

I really liked that this book featured a specific dog and their timeline with Tia. Whether it was her first dog that she had her father watch which she was in boot-camp, or a dog that one of her kids took on as their own, each dog got their time in the spotlight. I really enjoyed the stories of her trained movie dogs who would perform in music videos and Hollywood movies. The story of J-Lo and “Moosey” had be chuckling a lot. With that said, my one major issue is that these stories do not line up as a whole. I thought the book would sort of follow a chronological timeline, but that wasn’t the case. One story we are following a dog in New Orleans, the next story we are following Tia before she had the kids (or when they were tiny babies). I wish the book kind of followed a timeline so I had a better understanding of the overall pictured.

I will say that these dogs, and the humans have been through a lot. There were so many stories of these dogs not only persevering,  but showing the world that they were much more than just a dog. While the timeline of the chapters was a bit jarring, the message still rang through.

I was trained to be a pawn, but I will rise as a queen.

My life has never been my own. After the death of my parents, I was saved by my grandfather, with the promise that he would turn me over to the Brotherhood on my twenty-first birthday.

I was kept away from the outside world so I could one day be sold to the highest bidder—pure and unsullied. Penance for my parents’ alleged crimes.

That’s how I come to be sold at an auction.

And who buys me but the reclusive billionaire, Lincoln Knight?

Some say that he’s a monster, more dangerous than any of the evil men from the Brotherhood. That he wears a mask to cover his scars. But I believe he’s hiding more than just his face behind his mask.

My fate is sealed when he takes me to his crumbling mansion deep in the woods. I’m trapped. Entirely at his mercy.

I have to escape.

But something here isn’t what it seems.

Lincoln isn’t what he seems. Maybe he’s not a monster at all. I’m drawn to him in a way that I can’t explain. Until I discover that his secrets go far beyond his mask.

My Thoughts…

I’m not quite sure what the purpose of this book was. I thought I was getting a dark mafia romance, but what I got was book porn, with a scratch of substance of a story line.

You see, when Lincoln purchases Imogen at a human trafficking auction for the “Brotherhood”, you know things are messed up. Imogen has been groomed since she was three years old, to be sold in this auction. She’s the daughter of the traitor to the Brotherhood, and her flesh is payment for those sins. So, when she’s purchased, I was happy to see that Lincoln wasn’t a total perv and was there to save her from going to another buying where she would be abused. Then we realize that Lincoln has spent the last 18 years (the same years that she’s been groomed for) hunting down Brotherhood members, rescuing the woman sold, and trying his hardest to demolish the Brotherhood. That right there is when I took more notice and got excited. I already knew Lincoln wasn’t buying her for nefarious reasons, and I was excited to see the other girls be rescued and get some nitty gritty when it came to the fight scenes. However, we only get two of those moments. The rest is of these two rutting away “in love” with each other. Mind you, he’s in his 40’s, is her god father, her deceased father’s best-friend, and he purchased her. She has no clue he’s trying to take down the Brotherhood, or that he was besties with her father. All she knows is this billionaire bought her; and yet in stead of keeping her walls up, she falls in love with him and tries to live a happy life locked away in his house.

I just expected more from this book. I wanted to see more of Lincoln going after the Brotherhood. I wanted to see more of Imogen piecing her new life together compared to what she’s been conditioned for. I wanted to see the story unfold. What I didn’t want to see is them going at it, page after page, while the other girls are out there suffering and dying.

The God War is over. An empire built on suffering, slavery, and betrayal remains.

In the fractured lands of the Salvian Empire, the Great Houses rule through blood and fear. For years, Alandra Phoenyka has hunted powerful Sonomancers in the empire’s name, paid in empty promises that her stolen daughter would be returned.
Each step forward demands another compromise. Another betrayal. Another piece of herself lost.

When those promises turn to treachery, she is forced to take matters into her own hands and risk everything to reclaim her child.

In the empire’s mining camps, Bez Windstrider has endured years of torture and brutal experimentation. Broken but unyielding, he clings to one purpose: vengeance. The men who murdered his parents will pay, and their deaths will complete the ritual needed to free his parents’ souls from damnation.

But the deeper his grief cuts, the more he becomes something far more dangerous, for himself, and for the empire.

As their paths draw closer, the buried truths of the God War begin to surface. What begins as two personal vendettas threatens to unravel something far greater than either of them can control.

Because empires do not fall quietly.

And the gods that shaped them are not as dead as they seem.

Excerpt

Meet the author…

Daymon Ashcord was born in Gdańsk, Poland, in frosty December and grew up in New York, for better or worse. He spent much of his misspent youth causing mayhem, but in his saner moments, read a lot of science fiction and fantasy, dreaming of causing mayhem in other worlds. It was his grandfather’s made-up stories at nap time that must have hooked him.

He went on to university to study accounting and then public policy, as proper citizens do. The mayhem and fun stopped, but the reading continued. After college, he had a few false starts writing in the fantasy genre until he quit his job to travel the world, as improper folk do, and created a documentary film. Storytelling stopped being a dream and became a necessity.

After years of a slow grind, with personal setbacks, he finished his first epic dark fantasy novel, Makerborn (2026). It is a story shaped by trauma, endurance, pain, and the uncomfortable truths people tell themselves to survive. And what folk wouldn’t do for those they love.

Daymon lives in North Carolina, hiking mountains by day and trekking into darker worlds by night, writing stories meant to keep you company through life’s mayhem—especially the painful parts.

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