Caffeinated Crystal's book reviews

The third book in the Peaches series, Sinful Nights, is the CUTEST & squishiest no angst romance I have read in a long time. Oakley and Cole are best friends, and have been since they were 5. They've done everything together, and everything is perfect. Y'all these dummies are in love, and don't even know. They are so oblivious, that when they finally kiss... it's electric. The cast of characters was, as always, entertaining. The plot of this one is basically: will these dummies figure it out? And then they do! Very very very cute. Very sweet. Feel good, childhood besties to lovers. Did I mention it was sweet? So. Damn. Sweet. ● best friends to lovers ● they think they're straight ● maybe that's why dating doesn't work out ● because you two ARE IN LOVE ● dancer (stripper)/call center worker ● they were roommates ● even their moms ship them ● lingerie ● demisexual rep ● found family (the boys that work at Peaches)

I loved Maya's Sweet Southern series and the blurb for AFTER EVERY SUNRISE caught my attention faster than a lightning strike. This book was GORGEOUS. A slow and atmospheric story filled with the feeling of home and heartbreak and healing. Tucker James is one hell of a character and of course his HEA is held in the extremely large but devastatingly gentle hands of Charlie. These two were something else. And while I loved their romance, my favorite part of this story was the feeling of coming home after heartbreak and the realizations of self worth and being worthy of happiness. The joy in remembering who you are after someone, and the world, has tried to shape you into someone else. There were so many beautiful moments pushed in between little snippets of a slow moving life on a little island in South Carolina. The imagery of sunrises and lanterns and wishes. Oooooof. Simply beautiful in it's truth. I loved this story. 4.5⭐️

I am hesitant to say the slump is over, but I DID just devour a 532 page hetero bratva novel with Heated Rivalry shoutouts... so... If you enjoy MF stories, I highly recommend this series. This little mafia/bratva universe is spectacular, and book three did not disappoint. • mafia princess/Bratva Pakhan • secret identities (throughout the story) • hacker/soldier.• lots of violence • accidental pregnancy • Heated Rivalry references • pretty severe PTSD • a wolf • grumpy/sunshine Dimi was infuriating, but as his backstory was exposed I totally get why. Sienna had my heart breaking over and over. Vovk and all the other Bratva folks made me so happy, and so did seeing the entire cast of characters from the other two books. The Cozy game and the nemesis reveal was hilarious. I was surprised but also not, if you can believe it. Also, we need so much from the Irish, I am telling you. His Empress was engaging as hell. I was dialed in pretty quickly. Sienna and Dimitri were both stubborn, but b...

"Hurt me again, Lark Taylor. I'll be here waiting. Waiting for Dom and Ryan to get their forever." This is what I wrote right after I finished book one. I enjoyed this book so much, how it starts, the bulk of the story, and how she leaves us right there with Ryan and Dom at the bar. They're wondering what will happen next and so are we!!! Shadows Never Lie is marketed as enemies to lovers, but I don't think so. They're teens in book one, and teens are SO DUMB. Their brains aren't fully developed. So mistakes happen, and they don't have the language to actually communicate. All that to say, Lark puts us THROUGH IT with this one and since it's a duet, she leaves us at an understandable cliffhanger.  I am lucky enough to have read book 2 and I know how it ends. Y'all, it's a treasure. ● twin brother's best friend ● bully vibes, but not really ● angst & yearning ● family drama ● first times ● first time with a man ● second chance ● clif...

Eve Holmes is incredible. The atmospheric slow burn vibes hit so hard every time. She has a way of spinning the story so you feel right there, and I am always invested. And while these are romances with happily ever afters, they always have me so sad while reading them. But the good kind of sad, the painful kind, where you see something beautiful and everything just resonates. If you ever asked if I would care about the goings on of a potato farm I would have side eyed you. But damn if I wasn't dragged right into the farming problem, and when he cut into that potato. I cried y'all. This is childhood best friends. I LOVE THIS TROPE. • childhood besties • farm life • small town • first time with a man (for both mmcs) • past trauma & abandonment • S L O W B U R N • light spice, but we earned it Like, the slowest of slow burns, and I mean that in the best way. It makes the first kiss feel like a gift. This was a 5⭐️ read for me. This entire series is a 5⭐️ read. The moodiness ...

Oh my 🫠🫠🫠 First of all: thank you @beckireadsromance  (on IG) for recommending this to me. When I say I was locked in this barbarian situation. CALGON, TAKE ME AWAY. This was such a great story. I loved Finn and Rath. Like, Rath, can I please come to your barbarian tent. Holy shit. • fantasy adjacent (I think?) • barbarian hunter/tribute • virgin mc • barbarian clan life (they're nomads!) • they speak different languages • nicknames • biggest softie at the campsite • first times CW: homophobia & internalized shame around queerness. Violence (not between the mcs) I don't want to give too much of this story away. Rath was a fur clad dreamboat. The author really put Finn through IT, but our guy persevered. This book wasn't super spicy, but the scenes were enjoyable and the storyline tugged me right along so I didn't even miss the smut!  4.5 ⭐️