Ruthless Obsession (Crecent City Sins #1) by Rayna James

 

The masquerade gala was full of secrets, lies, and bloodstained power plays. It was also the beginning of my doom. When I stumbled into something I was never meant to see, the masks come off-and the danger becomes real. The mayor's men want my silence. My boyfriend's lies are unraveling. And the only person who seems to care whether I live or die is a stranger with murder in his eyes and a smile on his lips. Ruthless Obsession by Rayna James was published on April 23rd, 2025. This is the first book in the Crescent City Sins series. 

I was given this book for my honest review by Literally Yours PR and Rayna James. This was such a quick read that had me laughing at the antics of the characters. I fell in love with Kate in this book with her history that you get to know through the book and how strong she gets through the book.  Then there is Bastian who acts like this tough guy and you find out that in reality he is a giant teddy bear in the book. I still feel like the story is missing some history between the two characters. I felt like Bastian has known about Kate way before the book started. The plot in this book made me giggle and could not put the book down at all. There are minor errors throughout the book but the book was so well created that it's easy to overlook. The smut in this book is light but the romance gets you through the book. I highly recommend checking out this book. I know I want to read the next book in the series. 

Quotes that I Loved 

"This is where you pressure me. Say something like, 'Oh, the gentle giant groping your friend? He wouldn't hurt a fly." 

"Warning bells are clanging in my head."
"Because I called you beautiful?"
"No. This. All of this. Including you. It screams danger. And yet, I don't feel threatened. Maybe you're like a Venus flytrap, daring people to get close, charming them into safety...and then boom!" 

"Perhaps, I'm just marking my territory."
"First you say things like 'belong,' now 'territory." I'm not a remote island that needs to be colonized, you know."
"Either way, I'm planting my flag." 

Crescent City Sins series 

1. Ruthless Obsession 

2. Crowning Temptation 

Tropes

Mafia 

Dark Romance 

forced Proximity 

Billionaire 

Stalking 

Brat Christmas (Holiday Heat #1) by Melody Tyden

 

Getting drunk after finding out your boyfriend of 4 years cheated? Totally normal. Keying his new girlfriend's car? Understandable. Finding out that car actually belongs to someone else? A nightmare. Now, Maxine finds herself working for Reid to payoff the repairs. He's not all the kind of man she thought she wanted, but the more time she spends under his watchful eye, the harder it is to ignore the sparks between them or the heat simmering beneath his controlled exterior. With Reid as the reward, being naughty has never felt so nice. Brat Christmas by Melody Tyden was published October 31st, 2025. This is book one of the Holiday Heat series. 

I was given this book for my honest review from Melody Tyden and The Smuthood. This book had me laughing through the whole thing. It reminds me a little bit like a Hallmark movie if it was a comedy and had lots of smut. The characters were amazing even though they felt like they needed more personality in some parts of the book. The relationship is fast paced and they rarely fought in the book. When they do fight in the book it's quick and no one is really upset. The plot of this book is simple but a really quick read. You know what you are expecting but it didn't take away from the book. The plot is great and and I really loved reading this. This book is a great palette cleanser between some dark books or a book that can get you into the Christmas feelings. I recommend checking this book out as you won't be disappointed through the book. 

Quotes that I Loved 

Besides, there's a twisted kind of logic at work. She took my boyfriend? Fine. I'll fuck her dad. 

"Every time you pass my office, I get a craving for something wet. Must be a coincidence." 

"You might want to pace yourself. You wouldn't want to be up all night."
"You're playing with fire."
"Maybe it's worth getting a little burned." 

"Good girl." 

Tropes 

Holiday

Age-Gap

Single Parent 

Workplace 

BDSM 

Sneak Play (The Playbook #3) by L.A. Shaw

 

I may be known as the campus flirt. But the truth is I've only ever wanted one thing more than hockey...and that's her. Shay Moore. Not only is she my hockey coach's daughter, but she's also the star point guard on the women's basketball team here at Mountain Ridge University. My draw to her is unlike anything I've ever experienced before, but there's one huge problem...her boyfriend. The one who doesn't deserve her. So I've stayed in my lane, admired from a distance, and accepted residency in the friend zone. Patiently hoping for my chance to tell her what I should have told her years ago. Until this summer...Sneak Play by L.A. Shaw was published on December 4th, 2025. This is the third book in The Playbook series. 

I was given this book for my honest review from L.A. Shaw and The Smuthood. So, I am not much a fan of slow burns as other tropes. But then tend to find me and I give them my honest effort to get through them. I have to say though this book surprised me with the slow burn. Though, I think I was rooting for the wrong couple in the book. I absolutely loved the characters in this book especially Mav in the book. He made me laugh at his antics but also fall in love with him. As a mom of a child with autism the author portrayed that aspect in the book correctly. I absolutely loved the characters and wish that I too can hang out with them at the college house. Now, the romance I struggled with. I could see the characters having a friendship but felt like it was really one sided when they took it further. It didn't make me squeal or anything. There is not very much smut in this book except near the end of the book. So if you want some smut and lots of it then this book is not for you. It's a sweet book and it's a feel good book. A good palate cleanser when you have been in the dark romance section. 

Quotes That I Loved 

Sometimes, I want to forget about the fact that she has a boyfriend and pretend she's mine. 

"A morning grope is a great way to kick off my Monday." 

The Playbook Series

1. Replay

2. Trick Play

3. Sneak Play

Tropes

Sports - Hockey/Basketball 

Friends to Lovers 

Slow Burn

New Age / College 

Savage Obsession (Savage Sins #2) by Kate Oliver

 

I'm drowning in grief, anger, and whiskey. Haunted by my father's murder and what could have been. No matter what I do, my demons never stop pulling me under. Then I meet Quinn Summers, a beautiful ray of sweet sunshine. Her innocence ignites an obsession I can't control. She's everything I should stay away from. The last thing I want is to tarnish one of the only good things left in this world. But the more I fight it, the more she becomes my reason to breathe...my reason to live. Savage Obsession by Kate Oliver was published November 25th, 2025. This is the second book in the Savage Sins series. 

I was given this ARC for my honest review from Kate Oliver and The Smuthood. Now that's been said, I absolutely loved this book. So much that I really want to go read book one as I did not read it before I read this one. Though, you didn't need anything from book one I don't think so it's a-okay. Anyways, back to this book. This book has such an amazing plot that it was hard to put down the book to function in the real world. I mean who needs to feed their children and make sure they don't kill each other or sleep. The book had such an amazing plot that it was easy to see the characters Xander and Quinn falling for each other. Though, it cracks me that Quinn knows some of Xander's stalking behaviors that he thinks she doesn't know. I absolutely loved how Quinn brings out the best in Xander but yet doesn't destroy who he is. Both of the characters have so much background that you could imagine how their background created who each of them are. They have a lot of baggage but it was not overwhelming for the reader to understand what was going on. Also it was not taking over the whole plot (a huge plus in my book). Like I said, I fell in love with this book and I can't wait to read more books by Kate Oliver. She just made the top of my favorites list of authors. 

Quotes that I Loved 

"Sorry, Lassie. I prefer pit bulls over golden retrievers." 

"I'll never lie to you, Sunshine, so make sure you really want the answers to your questions." 

"No, asshole. I'm just trying to figure out in my head. I happen to have one of the highest IQs in the world, by the way, so I'd like to think I understand most things. But what I can't figure out is why you, the COO of Savage Entertainment, need me to hack your own system for employee information. Dude, if you're too dumb to use a computer, I can send you some videos. I think they're usually for preschool kids, but that's cool. I'm not judging." 

Savage Sins Series 

1. Savage Revenge 

2. Savage Obsession 

Tropes 

Dark Romance

Age Gap 

Billionaire

Boss/Employee 

Stalking 

Mafia Romance

Grumpy Sunshine

BDSM 

Mountain Grump (Mountain Men #3) by S.J. Tilly

 

I have a new house: Well, new to me. Just like living in my own place on top of a mountain, rather than in a city apartment, is new to me. But it's mine now because my Great Uncle Jack passed away, and he left me his freaking house. In Colorado. On the border of Lonely Peak State Park. But that's not all he did. He also left a series of letters. A scavenger hunt of clues that leads me back to Vegas. To his lawyer's office. To the reading of his will. Where I learn I must marry in order to keep my sudden inheritance out of the greedy hands of my family. and since they're the worst, I only have one option. Ask the grumpy park ranger I just met to be my husband. Mountain Grump by S.J. Tilly was published on November 20th, 2025. This is book three of the Mountain Men series. 

I have absolutely loved all the books that S.J. Tilly has produced so far. I am so happy that she is still writing and creating these amazing books of art. This book is the third in the Mountain series and I believe the last book in the series. I absolutely loved the characters in this book. Though, I think Ethan's name really doesn't fit him so like Tilda, I want to call him Ranger. I loved the personalities of the two main characters. Their personality while opposites fit so well together. It made total sense how the two of them fell in love. I love how their love is shaped and both make mistakes throughout the book. This plot is top tier and while I am sad that this series is ending. I cannot wait to read the next series that S.J. Tilly has in her brain. 

Quotes that I Loved 

"You gonna take it?"
"You gonna admit your butthole looks like an asshole?" 

"Tilda, this is Fisher. Fisher, this woman is none of your business." 

"Are you my Good Boy?" 

"I've provided my lawyer with a whistle. Please don't embarrass me in death and make him use it." 

Mountain Men Series 

1. Mountain Boss 

2. Mountain Daddy 

3. Mountain Grump  

Tropes 

Small Town 

Marriage of Convenience 

Grumpy Sunshine

Forced Proximity 

Men in Uniform - Park Ranger 

Kiss of Deceit by Kay Riley

 

When snow falls, Winterlake is cut off from the world once the mountain road becomes impassable. With no high-speed internet or cell phone service, life is slow and peaceful. At least it used to be. Danger lurks in the shadows of Winterlake. It started with someone chasing me in the woods. Now a masked killer is terrorizing this town. The mysterious murderer isn't the only problem in this secluded place. The longer I'm here, the more I realize this mountain town isn't what it seems. The locals guard their secrets, looking at us interns with distrust. Except Kole. The bar owner who is determined to learn all about me. What's worse is I think I'm falling for him. Which is something I can't let happen. I'm hiding my own skeletons. Dark secrets I will do anything to protect - secrets the masked killer already seems to know. Winterlake was supposed to be my fresh start. Now I'm not sure I'll make it out alive. Kiss of Deceit by Kay Riley was published on November 15th, 2025. 

I was given this book for my honest review from Kay Riley and The Smuthood. I absolutely fell in love with this book and was so into this book that I read it in one day. I fell in love with the two main characters that you met right away in the book Dani and Kole. Within a few minutes you know there were secrets that both of the characters are hiding even from the readers. Though, not the secrets that I thought was going to come out of it. I loved how their relationship from the get go started and then just kept growing from a quickie to something more towards the end. There is not a lot of smut scenes through the book but the cliff hangers and the secrets keep you hooked through the whole book. I loved the plot as it had a perfect flow throughout the story. I loved how the author made sure even the reader had no clue what all the secrets are throughout the book. We slowly found out with the characters. Though some secrets I figured out but the big ones I had no clue about. I highly recommend checking out this book. I know for me I will be checking out more books by Kay Riley. 

Tropes 

Enemies to Lovers 

Slow Burn 

Thriller 

Small Town

Forced Proximity 

Troublemaker: A Dark College Hockey Romance (Tabb U #2) by Jo Brenner

Lucy Braverman might be eighteen, but she's my ward. Half my age, and completely off limits. I haven't seen her since she was an awkward, lonely orphan being shipped off to boarding school. Now she's brilliant, beautiful, and reckless. Every rebellious word that passes those lips makes me want to do dark and depraved things. So when she enrolls at the University where I'm the head hockey coach, I do everything in my power to stay away. But the hot little spitfire is determined to get under my skin. Control means everything to me...and if I have to exert dominance to protect her, I will. If I have to do illegal, immoral things to have her, I will. If I have to embrace the darkest parts of both of us to keep her, I will. Because Lucy may be completely off limits. But she's mine. Troublemaker by Jo Brenner was published November 15th, 2025. 

I was given this book for my honest review from Jo Brenner and The Smuthood. The characters in this book had me so into it that I needed more. They both had many many faults and a lot of strengths. They both grow through the book together and separate. While I enjoyed the book and its plot I still had the heebie jeebies knowing that Coach was also the guardian who was supposed to be like a father figure to Lucy. I was able to overlook the relationship knowing that Coach was able to send Lucy to a boarding school for most of the time. The story had some great ups and downs throughout the book. They had some massive build-up to some of the scenes that make you squeal. I highly recommend that you check it out. 

Quotes that I Loved 

"Well, as fun as it would be to desecrate something that's important to Coach, I don't think I want to come all over his whistle. Although....No, I'll find better ways to torture him." 

"You touch her?....Tell me. Did. You. Touch. Her?" 

"Yeah, he's hard for you, troublemaker. And I promise you're going to become intimately acquainted with him. But for now, daddy wants to eat." 

"Don't tell me I can't. Don't tell me anything right now. Daddy's eating, and he doesn't want any interruptions." 

Tabb U Series 

1. Butterfly: A Dark College Hockey Romance

2. Troublemaker: A Dark College Hockey Romance 

Tropes 

Age-Gap

Dark Romance 

Hockey 

Grumpy/Sunshine 

Forbidden Romance 

BDSM