Books ~ Reviews ~ Characters ~ Writing
I think the title speaks for itself!
I made a new page to show the process of new writing project I want to get working on! It’s still very much in development, and all that’s posted is a mood board of viuals of how I picture the world and the story looking like, be sure to go check it out!
‘. . . there are team superstitions. The traditional shoulder check line or locker room song.‘ He pauses, and I force myself to look up at him, his blue eyes piercing me in a way that makes me squirm in my seat. ‘You, Macey, are a team superstition.’”
– Ella Market, “Hat Trick Heart”
The official synopsis:
When your agent calls and tells you that your publisher wants “something new,” you do the only thing you can do:
Draw from real life experience.
Successful romance writer Macey Veronica’s life has revolved around hockey for as long as she can remember. When a blast from the past is forced in to her life again, six year old secrets are uncovered, and Macey V finds herself wondering how to fit feelings for three alpha hockey players into her one heart.
Max, Rafe, and Andy were the closest that three people could be without sharing blood while playing hockey together in college. Macey was their center, their grounding point, and they would have given her the world if asked. One fateful graduation party forced a rift between two that irrevocably changed everything…. Until years later when they find themselves all playing for the Tampa Thunder.
Macey loves them all, and always has. But is that enough to get them through this next chapter? Or will their pride prove to be too much to overcome?
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Hat Trick Heart is a standalone reverse harem romance where the main character gets a guaranteed HEA with multiple love interests. It is intended for audiences 18+ for explicit language and sexual content, including MM, MMF, and MMFM scenes.
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Okay, here is me trying to get caught up on book reviews that are LONG overdue….whoops! what ‘cha gonna do? Sometimes they just fall through the cracks when you get into a certain reading groove, BUT here I am trying to make up for it!
So I actually read this book back in November–again, whoops–but better late than never!
Do you like Hockey?
Do you like Hockey PLAYERS?
Do you like Hockey Players who are up for sharing the main character?
Do you like reverse harems/why choose romances?
Do you like Philipino representation?
Do you like second chance, found family, and/or friends-to-lovers tropes?
…If you said YES to all of these, or even most of them, then I definitely say you need to give this debut novel a shot! Pun slightly intended there….you know, shooting a puck? a shot at goal? okay…….
It was a lighter toned, equally fun and sexy romance novel that anyone who’s a fan of multiple love interests or Hockey in general can easily get into! It’s also an easy read to pick up and get into whenever and wherever without getting lost; whether you’re reading at the beach, or in the waiting room at the doctor’s office, on your lunch break, or literally just whenever you can squeeze in some quick reading time!
The story revolves around Macey Veronica, a romance author on the cusp of writing her next big hit, and it just so happens to be somewhat replicating her very REAL life romance that’s developing between her and her three best friends: Max, Rafe, and Andy.
The three of them just so happen to ALL be professional hockey players, and Rafe was actually out of the picture for a few years and there’s a mystery as to why exactly. There’s definitely some history that gets rehashed and comes to a boil with three alpha personalities.
There was also a nice balance of history with Max and Macey, who’ve been best friends since they were 8 years old, who then met Rafe and Andy in college, and I’m personally glad there wasn’t a whole lot of time wasted with them all being awkward and second guessing the whole “can we be more than friends? Will this ruin our relationship? Do I view them as someone other than a friend?” I mean, those thoughts all make sense and are entirely valid, but when the book is advertised as an RH romance that’s defs going to have some spice, we ain’t looking for that uncertainty, we want to see things freakin HAPPEN! I’d say the author did just the right amount of time of them being just friends and them making the jump to take things horizontally and even further.
The book is told in four perspectives and is also told in just the right amount of balance between the four of them too in my opinion. Each character besides Andy has their own little subplot that they’re dealing with while the romantic relationship between them all develops, but honestly that’s okay in my opinion. He’s the more easy going of them all, and I don’t think he needed to add more drama to the story, there was plenty already going on. He felt like the bridge and/or mediator between them all, and I think maybe why so many others who’ve read this book consider him their favorite! I’m totally speculating on how friends and some strangers read this book, but you know…I could see it!
Besides these four, there’s also a few side characters who catch some of the spotlight–and reader’s hearts–like Macey’s gal pals and the hot young head coach, so it definitely gives you the idea that the story here isn’t entirely done and there’s more to be explored besides just Macey’s little line of men that have her heart! If the author herself says the coach looks like model Chase Mattson, I’m all for getting a closer look into his love life!!
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Overall, this was a fun, easy, and defs sexy reverse harem/why choose Hockey romance that I think anyone could get into if they love sports romance and RH’s in general! It’s mainly a lighter, sweet tone of a book too, so I’d say it’s even a good one for someone who’s never gone down the RH rabbit-hole and is curious to give it a try.
I’d say it’s an impressive debut novel, and Ella Market is for sure an author to keep an eye on because things can only go up from here, and there’s also an X-mas novella with all these characters if you can’t get enough of them in this fabulous book that’s called Hat Trick Holiday, PLUS the sequel coming out later this year: Power Play Pieces!
Much Excite!
— Nick Goodsell
Love isn’t a decision. It arrives unannounced, breeds madness, and leaves a sea of ruin in its wake. Hate him or love him. Either way, he’s in certain hell.”
– Pam Godwin, “Sea of Ruin”
The official synopsis:
Bennett Sharp is on the run.
Wanted for piracy, she fears neither God nor death nor man.
Except Priest Farrell.
The unfaithful, stormy-eyed libertine hunts her with terrifying possessiveness. Nothing will stop him from coming for her. Not his unforgivable betrayal. Not when she’s captured by the ice-cold pirate hunter, Lord Ashley Cutler.
She must escape Ashley’s prison and Priest’s deceit. But can she walk away from their twisted desires?
Two gorgeous captains stand on opposite sides of the law. When they collide in a battle to protect her, the lines blur between enemies and lovers.
Passion heats, secrets unravel, and hearts entangle until they break.
Can love prevail in the sea of ruin?
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First posted book review of 2023!! And it’s also one of the top books of 2022 for me too!
This book actually really surprised me with how much I really enjoyed it, Pam Godwin really sucked me in with her writing and the story that she put together here. This was my first book by her, but it’s also the first book of hers that really intrigued me enough to really want to dive in–pun slightly intended–and read what this book was all about. It gave me Pirates of the Caribbean-meets-Outlander kind of vibes a little bit, just without the fantasy aspects that go with the epic, swashbuckling Disney adventure series. Don’t let that draw you away from this book though, the story is still quite an adventure.
The story is about Bennett Sharp, a high society darling turned woman pirate captain–think very much Elizabeth Swan vibes–who’s currently on the run not only from the King’s Navy, but also her Pirate Husband! Well, soon to be ex-husband? He was caught cheating in an affair, she’s devastated, and was like “Peace out, Bitch,” and sailed off into the sunset, but not necessarily with a happily ever after… Priest Farrell, the accused cheater, isn’t just letting her go without a fight though.
At about 25% into the story, she’s captured by a feared Commodore, Ashley Cutler, and is taken aboard his ship as prisoner. And that is where I’ll cut off my recap of this experience of a book, so definitely give it a read if you want to see what possibly happens next!
This is a book that’s better going in as blind as possible, which is of course ironic with the many trigger warnings that go with this story too, but I say do your research and if this is still a story that sounds like one you’d enjoy, hopefully you don’t see spoilers because how you discover how things come to be is truly part of what makes this such a fun read! I mean, you can kind of guess some based off the synopsis, BUT there’s still plenty more to find out!
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Love prevailed, not in the windless calm of life, but in the ruin.“
– Pam Godwin, “Sea of Ruin”
Overall, this was quite an adventure filled with dark perils and forbidden seduction that absolutely rivets you to keep on steering forward at a purposeful pace. I really enjoyed it, I loved the danger and how I actually worried about the well-being of the main characters, and Pam Godwin’s writing felt so smooth and natural and flowed so extremely well, she’s definitely a pro at the craft.
If you like the following: Pirates of the Caribbean, Outlander, the New Camelot Trilogy by Sierra Simone, or something that’s kind of a mix between all three of them: definitely give this book a whirl and see what you think!
— Nick Goodsell
Hey readers!
Once again another year draws to a close and that means it’s also time to come out with the annual list of the top books that have been read over here on this blog too!
2022 has been a strange year to say the least when it comes to books, and part of it feel like it’s because towards the end here I’m feeling kind of burnt out with Fantasy-genre titles…but the thing is I don’t WANT to be! It feels like a breakup that you’re trying everything in your power to not have happen, but part of you also just feels like maybe you need to take a break and recoup later on?…Just try and pretend that makes sense for my sanity.
Despite my seemingly falling out with whimsical tales of fae and magical realms, one thing that will always remain is my appreciation for those SPICY romance titles! I love some extra flavoring in my books, and I can confirm that most if not all my reading choices this year definitely included some of that, some more than others!
Without further ado, below is the list of my top reads of 2022, and they are in no particular order.
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What a steamy trilogy this was! By far the best MM romance books I’ve read this year, and Neve Wilder definitely gained a fan in me with these! They’re a quick, hot and totally sexy college romance trilogy if you’re at all interested! And trust me, you should be.
To see my review of book #1 – Want Me – Click HERE
To see my review of book #2 – Try Me – Click HERE
To see my review of book #3 – Show Me – Click HERE
To see my Fancast/Dreamcast for the whole trilogy – Click HERE
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Flock was pretty good, but oh man is Exodus a wake up call, like WOW does a whole lot happen in that book and it takes you on a whirlwind of a ride! I was warned, and while I wasn’t a weeping mess I definitely was in a major book hangover after all that after reading…which is ironic considering I read these to try and get over another book hangover!
To see my review of book #1 – Flock – Click HERE
To see my review of book #2 – Exodus – Click HERE
To see my review of book #3 – Finish Line – Coming Soon!
This is a fun and steamy paranormal romance series that’s come out recently, and it’s been really fun to get to know the author on #bookstagram too! The plot feels more of a character-driven story, but a major highlight are the steamier scenes, and the author does an incredible job of adding some paranormal flair to them as well. See for yourself why the MMC is referred to as “Shadow Daddy.”
To see my review of book #1 – Tricky Magic – Click HERE
To see my review of book #2 – Tricky Princess – Click HERE
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This was a great sequel to “It Happened One Summer” that I read in a single day! It didn’t have as much of a “Schitts Creek” feel to it, but the romance so easily swept me away and I couldn’t put it down until I finished it! Tessa Bailey definitely gained a fan in me over these books! And I also really like how they appear sweet and innocent with these covers, but have some steam to them too!
To see my review of Hook, Line, & Sinker – Click HERE
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This was an impressive debut novel from an author I’ve gotten to know on #bookstagram as well, and while she herself is a total sweetheart, her book definitely shows a darker tone full of twists and turns and questioning of who to trust…It’s a lush, exotic island setting with soul stealing magic, and with how this book ends, PLENTY of sexy thrills!
To see my review of These Wicked Lies – Click HERE
To see my Fancast/Dreamcast of the series so far – Click HERE
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Absolutely zero surprise that an SJM book is on my list…I mean, do I really need to explain why on this one?
To see my review of House of Sky and Breath – Click HERE
To see my Fancast/Dreamcast of the series so far – Click HERE
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This book is the fourth installment in the popular “From Blood and Ash” series, but upon its release received some MAJOR controversy…I go more into the specifics in my review that you can click and see below, but I can say this was still a thrilling addition to this hot and addicting series!
To see my review of The War of Two Queens – Click HERE
To see my Fancast/Dreamcast of the series so far – Click HERE
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This book gave me total “Outlander-meets-Pirates of the Caribbean” vibes and it was a nicely paced adventure from start to finish! Definitely a dark romance that might not be for everyone, but I will admit that Pam Godwin has totally convinced me that she is a great writer with this book alone! I’ll definitely be checking out her other stuff thanks to how I enjoyed this!
To see my review Sea of Ruin – Coming soon!
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If you like pirates and mermaids and fae and found family and slow burn romance and the close proximity/there’s only one bed trope, you definitely have to check this book out! It starts off slow, but once things really take off, the adventure really begins! It also really makes you want to re-watch the Pirates of the Caribbean movies too!
To see my review of On These Black Sands – Coming soon!
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I started 2022 with this title because there is so much hype surrounding this series, and so many of my bookstagram friends love them, so I thought I’d give it a try and see what all the fuss is about. It’s slower paced than I liked, and there’s absolutely no romance in book 1, but the scene is definitely set with this first installment in the ever-popular King Midas Retelling series.
To see my review of Gild – Click HERE
To see my Fancast/Dreamcast of the series so far – Click HERE
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— Nick Goodsell
Whaddup readers, it’s time for another Fancast/Dreamcast post, and this time it’s for what has to be the spiciest, steamiest, sexiest set of books I’ve read this year! Neve Wilder totally gained a fan in me with how hot these books got, they’re seriously some of the best MM new adult romance I’ve read out there, not that my list is incredibly extensive in this regards, but someday!
BEWARE OF SPOILERS IF YOU HAVENT READ THESE YET
Each book featured a different couple, and book 1 actually started off as a collection of short stories in a newsletter that gained major popularity before being brought together and published as one full length novel. Nate and Eric star in book 1, Chet and Mark star in book 2, and Sam and Jesse star in book 3!
If you want some spicy MM romance action, I can’t recommend these books enough!
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To see my review of book #1 – Want Me – Click HERE
To see my review of book #2 – Try Me – Click HERE
To see my review of book #3 – Show Me – Click HERE
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Ryan is a model that is total eye candy on Instagram, and exactly how I imagine the down to earth and slightly awkward Nate to look like in book 1. If he looked like this, I can see why Eric became so into him!
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Eric is described as being dark haired with green eyes and a hot build even if he’s on the slimmer side, so this model Charlie Matthews is immediately who I thought of to play Eric!
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I’ve recently discovered Zane Phillips, and I’m obsessed…He might be the only reason I have to check out The Legacies on the CW network, even though I believe The Vampire Diaries DID NOT need a second spin-off show! It also helps that he’s gay in real life too, so he’d be perfect for a role in these books if they were to make it into a film/show!
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I’m basically making this fancast into a men’s appreciation catalogue, but honestly who’s complaining??? I don’t remember much of what Chet is described as, but I’m obsessed with Eric over on Instagram, so I honestly just pictured him as Chet in my head. This one may or may not be all that accurate, but hey, I’m good with using Eric to my imagination with these books!
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Sam is basically described LITERALLY as a human golden retriever/yellow lab, and whoever would play him needs to look the part! Matt is guy I found on social media who I imagine Sam looking like, BUT there’s also a new hottie named Ivan on the Spanish Netflix drama, Elite, who’s played by Andre, and I get serious heart-eyes whenever he smiles, just like how I’d imagine I would for Sam!
Jesse is a sassy skinny ginger who was also really hard to cast! No one came to mind right away for me as to who I could picture playing him! This male model has an adorable look to him that I could see Jesse as, but consider this a place holder until I find someone who I deem more perfect!
— Nick Goodsell
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