indie romance – Crystal's Bookish Life

Marry Me By Midnight by Felicia Grossman

4/5 stars, New release review

This was a super unique and really well researched historical romance with a fun reverse Cinderella spin on it!

I have never read a historical romance with Jewish main characters before, and I think the author did a great job of giving the reader enough insight and history to how Jewish people lived and were treated in England at the time to help us understand the stakes of the characters.

I loved our hero and heroine, I thought they were really well fleshed out and unique. A fiery, determined heroine who hires the hero (a custodian) to dig up dirt on potential future husband’s so she always has something to hold over their heads if they decide to mess around with her father’s business she’s running. And the hero had a heart of gold and just the right amount of self-loathing.

The romance had great chemistry, the plot was unique, and the characters were solid.

The swoon in the romance was hit or miss at times, and I think the writing style was a bit overly descriptive for me.

But it was definitely fun, well thought out, and creative.

I received an ARC for review.

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Forged In Fire by Juliette Cross

February 4, 2022 crystalsbookishlife

Juliette Cross is one of my favorite authors, I LOVE her Stay A Spell series that is all about paranormal creatures living in New Orleans. Her writing is so engaging, swoony, steamy, and funny. I always anticipate a new book from her. I recently had the chance to review her debut book that was getting an updated cover and re releasing on Feb 1.

Here are my thoughts on this new adult paranormal romance with demons and demon hunters!

I really enjoyed this! What a treat to read one of my favorite authors debut book. I definitely read this through the lens if my 2014 year old self who THOROUGHLY enjoyed new adult paranormal romances. I loved the world building here, loved the concept of our heroine as a vessel who had the possibility to be corrupted for evil. Loved the demon slaying hero too.

The banter and comedy landed perfectly and I just overall had a great time reading this. It reminds me of the feeling I get when watching Vampire Diaries except less broody but just as sexy. Very, very fun, lots of nostalgia for this book. Reminiscent of early JLA books but better!!

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Twisted Games by Ana Huang

July 28, 2021 crystalsbookishlife

*ARC provided by the author for an honest review*
6 out of 5 stars! This was PERFECTION in every way! We have a broody, protective, alpha AF, bodyguard hero (Rhys) and a princess who is kind, loves animals, but has nerves of steel when it’s required (Bridget). Bridget recently learns that she must now prepare for the role of Queen since her brother abdicated the crown and she is reluctant and unprepared to do so.

For living a life of near constantly being in the spotlight she has taken pleasure where she can find it, quiet moments of anonymity with her college friends and at the animal shelter she volunteers at.

That all changes when Rhys takes over as her new bodyguard. Cold, deadly, arrogant, and always telling her what to do and how to live the two butt heads repeatedly at first. But the attraction between them always simmers just under the surface, and the more time they spend together the more they realize what lies beneath the surface of each other is a soul made for them.

This book was a RIDE. Simultaneous romantic, swoony, SCORCHING HOT, and mysterious. Every single page was a delight to read and I was completely immersed in this story from the first to the last page.

This is the ultimate bodyguard romance, brimming with sexual tension and forbidden romance. I loved it even more than the first and that’s saying something because I ADORED Alex and Ava’s story.

If you like alpha heroes, forbidden romance, and the princess and her guard tropes pick this up ASAP!