Category: Fantasy

Fantasy, New Adult Romance, Romance

My Review: A Kingdom of Stars and Shadows (Stars and Shadows #1): by Holly Renee

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Publish Date: July 11th, 2022
Number of Pages: 290 Pages
Publisher: Holly Renee Publishing
Genre(s): Fantasy, Romance

Total Star Rating: 3.25 Stars

It doesn’t matter that you are destined to be his. Every part of you is begging to be mine.”

— Holly Renee, “A Kingdom Of Stars and Shadows”

What It’s About:

The official synopsis:

Destiny or desire?

Where does your allegiance lie?

I am told my union to the crowned prince will determine the fate of the kingdom, but it isn’t my betrothed who haunts my dreams. It’s the half-breed prince who stands at his side.

He is darkness and sin, and when he whispers promises of wickedness in my ear, I crave a man who I can’t have.

Every thought I have is treasonous. The way my hands ache to touch him deceitful.

Even my dreams make me a traitor to the kingdom I am sworn to protect.

But when the kingdom is attacked, I am forced to make choices I’m not prepared for. Our lies and deception are entangled in the shadows and stars, and as they unravel so shall my fate. Betray a kingdom or betray my heart.

~~~

This is a great option if you want something more on the fantasy side but you either are not a fan of intensely dense worldbuilding or you just want something quick and almost mindless to read with some good spice…but with fantasy! Basically, it’s a great romantasy guilty pleasure option that’s also a super short and quick read.

Compared to what I’ve read and enjoyed in the past, the vibe of this book felt very much like the spicy, underdeveloped child of A Court of Thorns and Roses and From Blood and Ash, where it definitely is able to stand on its own as a story, but the comparisons between even just these two is very apparent.

It wasn’t bad by any means, in fact the spicy scenes were pretty good I’ll admit, it just felt like the world wasn’t very unique or original…I mean, we don’t even get a map of the world, and that’s like an unofficial requirement for me with fantasy books!

The story revolves around Adara, who’s this thing called “Starblessed” where she has markings across her body and she’s prophesized to save the kingdom. She’s brought before the royal family and becomes betrothed to the Prince, Gavril, but also shares a secret and (very tempting) attraction to his half brother, Evren.

Evren is WHERE IT’S AT, by the way…add him to your list of shadow daddy’s is all I can say!

Most of this book revolves around Adara and Evren, who kind of sneak around and it’s pretty hot and forbidden, and luckily it’s not cheating because Adara has absolutely NO romantic feelings for Gavril whatsoever…but his mother, Queen Kaida, is not about to have whatever plan she clearly has underfoot to be ruined just because the STARBLESSED doesn’t love her betrothed…then all the while there’s a growing threat of Vampyres (yes that’s spelled correctly) on the edge of the kingdom that we may need to worry about later on…

Like I said, this wasn’t bad by any means, but I wouldn’t call it great either…It feels like those stories that mix in a ton of the popular tropes from other books, blends it together, and is presented as something else. The plot is fairly predictable, the characters are pretty generic, BUT the forbidden romance and the spicy scenes are what kept my attention grabbed, so I’ll say I was entertained nonetheless.

~~~

Why not? Because you are betrothed to my brother or because your thighs just tightened around mine as you imagined it yourself.” I opened my mouth to argue, but he wasn’t finished. “It doesn’t matter that you are destined to be his. Every part of you is begging to be mine.”

— Holly Renee, “A Kingdom of Stars and Shadows”

~~~

What I Liked:

  1. The Romance/Spice! I mean, this is what drew me into the story to begin with. I was promised some good spicy time, and I will say that this book definitely delivers in that.
  2. How Quick It Is! This one is actually a toss-up, because I like how quick it was, but I also critique the lack of worldbuilding, so the lack of it obviously has to do with how short and sweet this book is…I guess it falls under the like category more because the shorter pace of this story was actually a nice change of pace from the other Romantasy stories that are heavy and dense in the worldbuilding and history and lore.
  3. Evren! Like I said before, add this man to your book boyfriend or shadow daddy list, because DAYUMMMMMM! I also love a dirty talking bastard, and he defs doesn’t hold back on that either.

What I Didn’t Like:

  1. Adara Is Whiny…Kind of like how I don’t like Frodo in a lot of parts of LOTR, Adara was very whiny and kind of bratty in some parts of the story that made me not like her as much as other Romantasy FMC’s. Like I get it, you’re taken against your will and then betrothed to a fae prince whom you have no feelings for…but being a whiny brat to everyone isn’t going to make your situation any better.
  2. Too Predictable…The plot does feel very predictable in this, and that has to do with the familiar tropes we see in Romantasy in general and the lack of uniqueness this story gives us compared to others.
  3. No Map…YES, my petty ass will continue to stay on this small tidbit as I have with plenty of other books on my website…it really bugs me when a fantasy book doesn’t have a map to reference of this fantasy world we explore.

~~~

Conclusion:

Overall, a good option to have as a quick guilty pleasure read and that can scratch that Romantasy itch without having to make a big and heavy commitment. If the other books are as short as this one, I feel like I can say you could easily get this whole series under your belt while you’re waiting for that bigger, badder book to be published from that other series you’re reading!

*looks over at Rebecca Yarros and a certain Dragon Riding series she writes…

It was decent enough to keep my attention, and hey, I’ll admit that I definitely want to keep going with these books. I’ve found that the story usually becomes more it’s own thing as it develops in later books, and usually the first book is filled with the most cliché’s and familiar tropes so here’s hoping that the story manages to surprise me and keep me engaged as it goes on in the next book!

Thanks For Reading!

— Nick Goodsell

Erotica, Fantasy, New Adult, New Adult Romance, Paranormal

My Review: The Dark One (Vicious Lost Boys #2): by Nikki St. Crowe

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Publish Date: April 24th, 2022
Number of Pages: 228 Pages
Publisher: Independently Published
Genre(s): Dark Romance, Fantasy, Erotica, Reverse Harem

***Warning! This review contains spoilers from the previous book in the series, so continue reading at your own risk! You have been warned!***

To see my review of book 1 – The Never King – Click HERE

Total Star Rating: 4.25 Stars

I’m a china cup that has been broken so many times that I’m never sure if I’m a cup or just separate pieces held together by glue and sheer determination, molded into a cup-like shape. I know how to crack and I know how to mend.”

— Nikki St. Crowe, “The Dark One”

What It’s About:

The official synopsis:

I spent most of my life feeling dead inside — until I met Peter Pan and the Lost Boys…

It wasn’t until Pan and Neverland that I finally felt alive.

But things are not all full of magic and sunlight on the island. There’s something darker and more sinister haunting the forest.

And worse, the fae queen and Captain Hook are ready to fight for control of Neverland and they will stop at nothing to get what they want. Including using the one thing Pan never thought he wanted or needed — me. I’m a descendant of the Darling family and now I belong to him and the Lost Boys.

War is brewing — can the Never King get his shadow back and assume his rightful throne? And if he does, where will I fit?

Or will all of Neverland be in jeopardy right along with my dark, twisted heart?

NOTE: The Dark One is book two in the Vicious Lost Boys series. It is a dark reimagining of Peter and Wendy. If you like your enemies to lovers romance with hot, ruthless, morally gray love interests, you’ll enjoy The Dark One and the Lost Boys. You can expect hate kissing, fighting, bickering, and ‘touch her and I’ll unalive you’ vibes.

Please check the author’s website for CWs

~~~

Okay, but this was a vast improvement from the previous book in my opinion! The previous book, The Never King, definitely felt like a setting placer and merely showed us the world with a basic premise but not much more than that in terms of storytelling….

That’s not to say it wasn’t hot! It just felt like nothing happened at the same time if that makes sense?

…Anyways, this second book just felt like much more was going on and was much faster paced, like it rolled much further along this time around with finding Pan’s shadow and the lengths people will go to acquire it.

The biggest highlight for this installment for me was the inclusion of Captain Hook, who we all know is the arch nemesis of Peter Pan…it was only a matter of time until he showed up in this Peter Pan retelling. BUT I appreciate how he wasn’t just a simple black/white Disney Villain, he definitely has some shades of grey to him here. Those honestly make the best villains in my opinion.

The spice was perfection like I expected in this story! I love the use of magic and fantasy elements to enhance these scenes too, it really makes the series stand out. And all I can say is that those who wanted more Vane are going to be very pleased.

…And I loved that cliffhanger as well too! Super well done!

~~~

He is an unholy sight. And I will never stop sinning for him.”

— Nikki St. Crowe, “The Dark One”

~~~

What I Liked:

  1. That Ending! Holy cliffhangers, Batman! This one was a doozy and I loved it! Made me have to go to the next book immediately.
  2. Captain Hook Showing Up! Captain James Hook definitely added a LOT to the story now that he’s shown up! Pun intended, he got me hooked these books?
  3. There Was More Plot/Conflict! This book just felt more enhanced than the previous one for me, and I think it had to do with the fact that it felt like there was more plot/conflict happening this time around.

What I Didn’t Like:

  1. …Is It REALLY love though?…Sometimes Winnie’s relationship with Peter Pan and the lost boys feels off to me, or that it shifted way to quickly? Like they refer to her as their whore and have turns having a lot of sex with her, but then it’s like instantly like they’re all in love with her too? Maybe call it another case of instalove, but that dynamic feels off to me with these characters when half the time Winnie seems like she’s just a walking, talking sex toy to the male characters. But at the same time, I’m not reading this story expecting a Disney Princess happily ever after.

~~~

Conclusion:

Overall, this sequel was much better for me than the previous book in this series. Everything felt enhanced for me; the plot, the spice, the pacing, the characters, EVERYTHING! I enjoyed this one more, and that cliffhanger ending had me grabbing for the next book ASAP!

Thanks for Reading!

— Nick Goodsell

Fantasy, New Adult, New Adult Romance

My Review: House of Flame and Shadow (Crescent City #3): by Sarah J. Maas

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Publish Date: January 30th, 2024
Number of Pages: 838 Pages
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Genre(s): Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance

***Warning!! This review contains spoilers for this book and for previous books in the series, so continue reading at your own risk! You’ve officially been warned!!***

To see my review of book 1 – House of Earth and Blood – Click HERE

To see my review of book 2 – House of Sky and Breath – Click HERE

Total Star Rating: 4.25 Stars

The gods know what would happen if all us females were unsupervised. Absolute anarchy. Cities would crumble.”

– Sarah J. Maas, “House of Flame and Shadow”

What It’s About:

The official synopsis:

The stunning third book in the sexy, action-packed Crescent City series, following the global bestsellers House of Earth and Blood and House of Sky and Breath.

Bryce Quinlan never expected to see a world other than Midgard, but now that she has, all she wants is to get back. Everything she loves is in Midgard: her family, her friends, her mate. Stranded in a strange new world, she’s going to need all her wits about her to get home again. And that’s no easy feat when she has no idea who to trust.

Hunt Athalar has found himself in some deep holes in his life, but this one might be the deepest of all. After a few brief months with everything he ever wanted, he’s in the Asteri’s dungeons again, stripped of his freedom and without a clue as to Bryce’s fate. He’s desperate to help her, but until he can escape the Asteri’s leash, his hands are quite literally tied.

In this sexy, breathtaking sequel to the #1 bestsellers House of Earth and Blood and House of Sky and Breath, Sarah J. Maas’s Crescent City series reaches new heights as Bryce and Hunt’s world is brought to the brink of collapse-with its future resting on their shoulders.

~~~

The wait was finally over….but then I had to put off making this book review for months and months because I put off typing up reviews for a long time too….I guess I was on a hiatus *shrugs*

Thinking back to this third installment when I read it, I’ll admit that while I absolutely loved it like I usually love an SJM novel, there was something about this one that fell short for me…like it didn’t quite meet all the expectations I had. And maybe that partially had to do with me (and plenty of others) hyping this book up way up too much in our own heads to the point that nothing the author would’ve written would’ve met our expectations. But either way, it can be agreed that this wasn’t her best book…it was still incredible, but defs not her best.

I think for me, it was partially because we all expected more that crossover tease we got from the end of book 2, and then we (or at least me) was expecting an MCU Avengers: Endgame level epic showdown where all the characters from the other series (ACOTAR and possibly TOG) come through portals to help Bryce and Hunt and the others battle it out with the Asteri.

Not to knock what we DID get…it was still awesome! The Princes of Hel were a major highlight for me in this one and become more prominent much to my relief. and the battle we witnessed was still absolutely incredible.

The worldbuilding and mythology/lore was OF COURSE absolutely mindblowing…I commend SJM with how she weaved it all together, and even amongst her different series too. Like how does one do that?! I can’t even describe how it was all done, you just have to read the book yourself and experience it for yourself. It’s just so awe-inspiring and shows the skill she truly has as an author, whether you like her books or not.

~~~

‘Okay, let’s do a head count. If you’re disowned, disgraced, or both, raise your hand.’ Tharion, Baxian, Lidia, Hunt, and Ruhn raised their hands.”

– Sarah J. Maas, “House of Flame and Shadow”

What I Liked:

  1. The Mythology/Lore Mixed Together From TWO Series! When I learned the things that you do that involves the history of both the lore of Crescent City AND ACOTAR, I was in complete awe. The way she mixed TWO mythologies together the way it unraveled and weaved together was legit chef’s kiss.
  2. WE GET CROSSOVER INTERACTION! So this is of course a BIG spoiler if you haven’t read the previous book, but there’s crossover interaction with Bryce and characters from ACOTAR and its AWESOME!!
  3. Lidia.Freakin.Cervos! The Hind gets a major character MVP award in this book because she was by far the most complex and most interesting character! I was totally hoping for this too with it being revealed in HOSAB that she was Agent Day and a rebel spy…and this book we get to see her in a whole new light and she was incredible! Absolutely loved her! She was kind of like the Manon Blackbeak of this series it feels like in my opinion.
  4. We See Princes of Hel! We get WAY more Aidas, which was a big improvement over what we got in HOSAB, but we also keep getting more and more interactions with the other princes too: Thanatos and Apollion. I love the dark and creepy mystique and aura around them and all the questions surrounding them of whether they’re friends or foes in this epic battle that’s on our way!

What I Didn’t Like:

  1. I Wish We Got More ACOTAR Interaction…While I was ecstatic with what we did get, I of course wish we got more along with it. Like I wanted it to be like Avengers: Endgame with everyone reappearing through the portals and coming to fight Thanos in the final battle, but SJM characters instead. It would’ve been epic, but hey, I hyped myself up too much there and so the disappointment is on me, and I think anyone else who was disappointed by this aspect also hyped themselves up wayyyyy too much.
  2. Ithan and Tharion’s Decision Making Skills…I swear these two were in a competition amongst themselves to see who could fuck up their lives even further…SO many issues popped up in this book (and even continuing from the last book too) with the choices these two characters specifically make. And while I LOVE the characters themselves, these issues they created for themselves I also found to be the least interesting parts of the story in this book.
  3. Change of POV Several Times Mid-Chapter…So I actually did this same thing on a writing project a few years ago and didn’t see a problem with it back then, but now I totally see what beta readers were saying, it’s very jarring and very jumpy with how within each chapters, we jump from character to character who are all over the place in Midgard (or elsewhere) and if SJM’s writing is like that….Oh lord I KNOW my amateurish writing was like that back then too.

Conclusion:

Overall, another EPIC installment by the queen herself… SJM always delivers, and this book was about as epic as you could imagine in terms of action and excitement. Did you get EVERYTHING you wanted? probably not….but that’s also because it’s CRESCENT CITY and not the next ACOTAR book, and that does make a huge difference in what to expect for this book.

It wasn’t perfect, but we all know hardly any book ever is, and I know I was blown away by this book like I usually am whenever it comes to queen Maas!

Thanks for reading!

— Nick Goodsell

Erotica, Fantasy, Romance

My Review: The Never King (Vicious Lost Boys #1): by Nikki St. Crowe

nicholasjgoodsell
Publish Date: February 20th, 2022
Number of Pages: 204 Pages
Publisher: Independently Published
Genre(s): Reverse Harem, Erotica, Romance, Fantasy

Total Star Rating: 3 Stars

‘Open up, darling.’ He orders. I part my lips. He gets in close and spits in my mouth. ‘That’s all you’ll get from me.’“

– Nikki St. Crowe, “The Never King”

What It’s About:

The official synopsis:

The stories were all wrong — Hook was never the villain.

For two centuries, all of the Darling women have disappeared on their 18th birthday. Sometimes they’re gone for only a day, some a week or a month. But they always return broken.

Now, on the afternoon of my 18th birthday, my mother is running around the house making sure all the windows are barred and the doors locked. But it’s pointless. Because when night falls, he comes for me . And this time, the Never King and the Lost Boys aren’t willing to let me go.

NOTE: The Never King is a reimagining of Peter and Wendy . Characters have been aged up for this darker, grittier version. If you like your enemies to lovers romance with hot, ruthless, morally gray love interests, you’ll enjoy The Never King and the Lost Boys. You can expect hate kissing, fighting, bickering, and ‘touch her and I’ll unalive you’ vibes. Book one ends on a cliff.

~~Please check the author’s website for CWs.~~

~~~

Talk about short and sweet and to the point!

This was a dark and sexy retelling of Peter Pan, but with a reverse harem twist. I’ll admit it wasn’t the GREATEST retelling one could probably read on this story, but it’s definitely one to check out. It’s one of those books that’s not entirely there plot-wise or character development wise, but more for the vibes and the spice.

With the lack of character development, I’m mainly hoping it’s just because it’s book 1 and that much more of it will happen with the other books in the series. It’s a book that will definitely leave you with more questions than answers, so that’s why I seriously think reading the whole series is how you see the plot and character development as a whole.

This book was very short, so if it was longer I’m sure there would be more development in these regards. But this book can definitely be considered if you’re just looking for something quick and mindless and smutty.

~~~

Maybe we’re all mad, in our own way.”

– Nikki St. Crowe, “The Never King”

~~~

What I Liked:

  1. How the Author Reimagined This Classic Fairytale! I’m very picky when it comes to retellings—I couldn’t tell you why—but this one was a story that really drew me in because of its promise to be dark and smutty. I find it fascinating when authors are able to turn what used to simply be a Disney animated movie and give it such a grittier and sexier makeover for the grown-up version of me!
  2. The Anticipation of More to Come! With this book being so short, I can definitely tell that I’ve only cracked the surface of this story and with three other books in the series, there’s plenty more to come!

What I Didn’t Like:

  1. The Book is Too Short…While part of me enjoyed that this was such a fast and easy read, I felt like so much got glossed over because of how short it was. Like I feel like literally everything would benefit if more was put into this book: the worldbuilding, the descriptions, the backstories, the side characters. When I finished the book, I felt like it was too short and sweet and too the point and there could’ve been a LITTLE bit more fun exploration of this twisted new version of Neverland.
  2. Not Enough Story/Character Development…There’s some very subtle hints with some of the characters, so there’s hope for more later on in the series, but there was just such minimal development amongst the cast, it felt like they weren’t entirely fleshed out. I could be totally wrong about this with it only being one book, but if you want to see character growth, this isn’t something you should expect a whole lot of in this book.

Conclusion:

Overall, It was hot and steamy and definitely lives up to the hype in those regards…BUT as far as retellings go, this one left more to be desired than I’d hoped.

I’ll admit I’m curious enough to want to keep going and see what possibly happens next because there’s some brewing tension with that Fae Queen at the end that definitely has some interest with me, but it really will depend how book 2 goes to see if I see this series being worth continuing

Thanks for reading!

— Nick Goodsell

Erotica, Fantasy, New Adult, New Adult Romance, Romance

My Review: Rise of the Cinder Fae: by Whitney Dean

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Publish Date: February 26th, 2024
Number of Pages: 680 Pages
Publisher: Independently Published
Genre(s): Fantasy, New Adult Romance

Total Star Rating: 4 Stars

So, I became the marionette. I moved when told, spoke when spoken to, and harbored guilt any time I needed to cry. Over time, I learned to be grateful for my strings because they meant I was still valuable. And if I was helpful, I had a reason to survive.“

– Whitney Dean, “Rise of the Cinder Fae”

What It’s About:

The official synopsis:

Born and raised in the forgotten and broken kingdom of Ashbury, Elora has spent years resenting the royals of Pumpkin Hollow, the kingdom that forced the fall of Ashbury and procured the town as its own. Separated by a mysterious glass bridge, Ashbury is treated as the orphan kingdom, left to squander and starve with only the promise of protection from King Jasper, preventing anyone outside their realm from coming to search for the magic that lay within the ashy valleys and red skies of Ashbury. Because twenty-five years ago, the Cinder Fae arrived.

As mysterious as the magic encompassing Ashbury, the Cinder Fae bargained for their lives by promising to keep the entire realm warm with their ability to mine mountainsides into coal. But Elora and the Cinder Fae hold a secret that could bring death to Ashbury and the mysterious winged creatures, who, despite Elora’s best efforts to pry, refuse to share where they came from or why they can’t return.

In her desperation to prevent the downfall of her kingdom and the death of her Fae friends, Elora drinks from an enchanted spring, convinced she can make the prince of Pumpkin Hollow fall in love with her and guarantee their safety.

But magic takes to give.

And Elora didn’t realize her heart would be the sacrifice.

~~~

First and foremost, I want to thank Whitney Dean for the E-ARC she sent me of this book in exchange for an honest review!

So this was my first Whitney Dean novel, and now I MUST read her other books because it’s obvious she’s got the writer’s gift! Girl can freakin’ write!

This story is a retelling of the classic fairytale of Cinderella, but honestly, this has so many new things added to it that it doesn’t even feel like a retelling most of the time! Only in the most basic sense of the idea and with the character arc’s of most of the cast. But I can’t stress enough how much it branches off from the original story and becomes its own entity of a romantasy/adventure story that the author weaved together!

As it being a romantasy title, the romance was a major highlight to point out! The slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers development between Finnian and Elora was excellently done in my opinion! Both were great characters on their own, but together they absolutely made sparks, stars, and just about every celestial thing you can think of fly. So so good! I loved how flawed they were and how flawed their relationship was and how we got to see it all grow as the plot thickened. I had to absolutely keep reading to see what would happen next, and most importantly, when they would FINALLY KISS!

When they finally did, it was great! When things got taken further, even better! There is some great spice in this book I will add! Fin sure knows what he’s doing *wink*wink*

~~~

With her life already at stake, I can’t imagine what I would do to protect her if I fell in love with her.“

– Whitney Dean, “Rise of the Cinder Fae”

What I Liked:

  1. Finnian! He is just total book boyfriend material…He’s kind of cold, aloof, and arrogant at first but ohhhhh man does he get good as the story progresses!
  2. All The Shocking Reveals! I was surprised at how many shocking reveals the author was able to put into this story! Like EVERY character it felt like had some sort of twist or reveal to Elora at some point, even a few character introductions were shocking reveals themselves!
  3. The Two MC’s Character Growth! Elora and Fin really grow and develop as individuals and as a couple in this story. The author does a wonderful job of showing their personalities and watching them bloom as a couple, and the relationship is FAR from perfect, which actually made it feel more relatable and even more realistic than a lot of other book romances.
  4. Some Great Side Characters! I especially want to shine a light on Fin’s sister, Irina, and his mother, Honora. Both are freakin’ QUEENS in their own rights and are just total comfort characters that remind you that there are still good people in this world when you feel at your lowest and when you feel all alone in this crazy world!

What I Didn’t Like:

  1. Possibly Overwhelmed at 75%…This might be a ME problem with this one, but I was getting a little overwhelmed around the 70-75% with all that was going on at this point and I will admit some of the twists maybe felt a little excessive or maybe even unnecessary by that point? Like maybe this area of the book could’ve been condensed a little bit where I think it didn’t necessarily need to be as long of a book as it was. The added spice was great though!
  2. There’s Not A Lot Revealed About the Cinder Fae…I wanted to know more about the history of the Cinder Fae because it’s pretty clear there’s a lot more there that isn’t told to us in the actual book…and I WANT ANSWERS!! I want them like NOW!!
  3. No Map…I’m not sure if this is because I was reading an ARC or not, but there wasn’t a map to be able to see the world at a bird’s eye view, and hopefully there is in the actual book when it releases!

Conclusion:

Overall, a fantastic Cinderella retelling that got changed up so much that it almost didn’t even feel like a retelling at most parts! So much new and original material was added to the story, it felt like an entirely new story all together!

Romantasy fans will immensely enjoy this tale I think! I think especially fans of Throne of Glass or the Falling Kingdoms series or other series similar to these but also wanted a little more UMMMPH in the romance/spice department, if you know what I mean…

Thanks for Reading!

— Nick Goodsell