MAY TBR Final Results

 In Filthy Rich Fae by Geneva Lee 

Quote: “Worrying is expensive. It costs you the one thing you can’t get back. Time.”

 

Goodreads synopsis: A dark urban fantasy romance set in New Orleans; Cate Holloway knows the unspoken rule of New Orleans: avoid the powerful Gage crime family at all costs. Of course, that was before her brother got caught in their chaos. Now Cate has no choice but to confront the dark prince of New Orleans himself and beg for her brother’s life.  But Lachlan Gage is as lethal as he is beautiful…and the only currency he’s interested in is her soul.  Lachlan is not merely a ruthless criminal. He’s fae. And he has his secret reasons for binding her to him.  Tricked and desperate, Cate is torn between the Realworld and the Otherworld. A place filled with shadows and secrets, with members of each fae court plotting against her, just as her captor’s motives for trapping her become more mysterious.  And if she can’t break this sinister bargain in the next thirty days, she’ll be bound to the inscrutable yet infuriatingly tempting fae prince and his deadly world…forever.

My view: I have read the first three books of The Filthy Rich Vampire series and still need to read the final book. I enjoyed this palette cleanser. It was the month's first book after completing “A Sky Beyond the Storm.”  There is an attraction between the two characters, but I am unsure if I am as invested in the vampire series. I will decide after I officially read book two.  Some areas seem rushed or forced.  I am not sure that I fully feel their passion or connection to one another.  Also, the story is set in New Orleans, and you get little to no New Orleans atmosphere.  I feel like this is missing.  New Orleans has that witchy…vampire…Fae vibe already as you stroll through the French Quarter.  I still recommend the read and gave it four stars because I did not hate the story, and was still invested in it.

Book Started: 02 May 2025 / Book Completed: 12 May 2025

Rating: 4.0 Stars / Total Listening Time: 14 Hours: 27 Minutes

Total Pages Read: 353 pages / Format: Libby (own the physical book)

 

Mile High by Liz Tomforde

Quote: "Stevie,” Zanders says. “You following me?"

Quote: "You don’t have to love your body every single day. That’s unrealistic to expect, but I’ll be here loving it for the days you can’t."

 

Goodreads synopsis: EVAN ZANDERS: The Chicago Raptors hockey squad isn't complete without me - everyone's favorite player to hate. I know my role, and I play it well. I thoroughly enjoy spending most of my game time in the penalty box before leaving the arena with a new girl on my arm each night.  I don't like the latest flight attendant on our team's private plane. She works for me, not the other way around. But I'll be sure to remind her of that, and I can guarantee that by the end of the season, she'll be begging to quit her job.  But every road trip blurs the lines, and I can't quite figure out if I keep pushing that flight attendant call button to push her buttons, or if it's more than that.

STEVIE SHAY: I've been a flight attendant for years.  She has a twin brother named Ryan (he will be the MMC in book two).  Ryan is a professional basketball player in Chicago.  Stevie lives with her brother in his penthouse.   I thought I'd seen it all, but I second-guess everything when my new job lands me onboard working for the most egotistical and self-righteous diva in the NHL. Including my promise never to hook up with an athlete again, no matter how annoyingly tempting he may be.  Evan Zanders is unfiltered, unapologetic, and too attractive for his good. He loves his image, but I hate everything about it.  Everything but him.

My view: This is book one in a five-book series (Windy City).  I know some people have differing opinions on book one.  I love this book because Stevie (Vee) is like me.  Not tiny, small, and not all too confident.  Outwardly she exudes confidence but internally she is very self-conscious of her body due to an ex-boyfriend and her mom and her shitty so-called friends.  Stevie’s relationship with Zanders helps her to embrace her true self and to reclaim her voice. With Zanders, Stevie doesn’t feel insecure or unworthy, as Zanders values Stevie for her gentle heart and her fierce spirit. His belief in her and his investment in her life helped her to believe in herself again. Stevie also proves capable of change even when Zanders isn’t around. 

Zander (Zee) to the outside world is the bad boy on the ice.  But his best friends (Eli and Logan Maddison) know better.  Their daughter, Ella, thinks Zanders walks on water, and she is 6 years old.  Eli and Zander co-founded “Active Minds of Chicago: but people only see that to Eli. While Stevie deals with her trauma, so does Zander.  His mom abandoned him, his Dad, and his sister to go off and marry a rich guy. This forced Zander’s dad to work a lot to pay for everything, including Zander’s hockey. This left Zander home alone a lot, which caused a rift between him and his Dad.  Zander’s relationship with Stevie gradually teaches him that he is worthy of love and capable of embracing his true self. Stevie sees, understands, and respects Zanders for the first time. Stevie isn’t interested in Zanders’s money or professional success; instead, she devotes herself to Zanders because she sees his heart.

I was invested in their love story and felt the characters had instant chemistry. I love how they helped each other with their emotional and personal baggage, both knowingly and unknowingly. I am looking forward to completing the series.

 Book Started: 13 May 2025 / Book Completed: 21 May 2025

Rating: 4.0 Stars / Total Listening Time: 13 Hours: 39 Minutes

Total Pages Read: 473 pages / Format: Libby (own the physical book)

  

The Deal by Elle Kennedy

Quote: "Just out of curiosity,” she says, “after you wake up in the morning, do you admire yourself in the mirror for one hour or two?”

“Two,” I reply cheerfully.

“Do you high-five yourself?”

“Of course not,” I smirk. “I kiss each of my biceps and then point to the ceiling and thank the big man upstairs for creating such a perfect male specimen."

 

Goodreads synopsis: (Trigger Warnings) She's about to make a deal with the college bad boy... Hannah Wells has finally found someone who turns her on. But while she might be confident in every other area of her life, she's carrying around a complete set of baggage when it comes to sex and seduction. If she wants to get her crush's attention, she'll have to step out of her comfort zone and make him take notice...even if it means tutoring the annoying, childish, cocky captain of the hockey team in exchange for a pretend date. ...and it's going to be oh so good!

All Garrett Graham has ever wanted is to play professional hockey after graduation, but his plummeting GPA threatens everything he's worked so hard for. If helping a sarcastic brunette make another guy jealous will help him secure his position on the team, he's all for it. But when one unexpected kiss leads to the wildest sex of both their lives, it doesn't take long for Garrett to realize that pretending isn't going to cut it. Now he must convince Hannah that the man she wants looks like him.

A college sports hockey romance where Hannah Wells tutors hockey player Garrett Graham in exchange for a fake date. Their relationship evolves into something real, with humor, emotional depth, and sizzling chemistry. The book is widely loved for its engaging characters and intense romance. A modern classic in college romance! Garrett Graham is the charismatic hockey player who needs tutoring, and Hannah Wells is the no-nonsense student helping him. Their fake dating trope quickly turns into real feelings, featuring humorous interactions and genuine emotional depth.

My view: I was reading this book at the same time I was listening to “Onyx Storm”. I laughed quite a few times reading their story. I also loved how, even though they were both broken, they could help each other heal. This book reminded me a little of “Mile High.” There are several trigger warnings for this book, so look it up before reading. This is book one in a five-book series. The Off-Campus series by Elle Kennedy is a popular new adult romance series that follows the romantic and personal lives of a group of college students at Briar University. The series primarily focuses on male members of a fictional hockey team at the university as they develop romances with female love interests. Each installment alternates between the first-person perspectives of the male and female love interests. Known for its humor, emotional depth, and steamy romance, the series features four standalone stories with interconnected characters and a final novel with a plot that encompasses all four couples.  This book features some hockey but not much. It skips ahead at the end, so I felt rushed, especially since this series has five books. The last book, Legacy, covers all four couples. I own the entire series, so I will continue it. You must read the books in order since items from this book will appear in the other couple’s story.

Book Started: 15 May 2025 / Book Completed: 31 May 2025

Rating: 4.0 Stars / Total Listening Time: N/A

Total Pages Read: 360 pages / Format: Read the physical book I own

 

Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros

 

Quote: "To the ones who don’t run with the popular crowd, the ones who get caught reading under their desks, the ones who feel like they never get invited, included, or represented. Get your leathers. We have dragons to ride."

 

Goodreads synopsis: (Trigger Warnings) The third installment in The Empyrean series follows Violet Sorrengail as she navigates war, alliances, and secrets. This book expands the world significantly, offering adventure, political intrigue, and deep character development. Many readers consider it the best in the series so far.  After nearly eighteen months at Basgiath War College, Violet Sorrengail knows there’s no more time for lessons. No more time for uncertainty. Because the battle has truly begun, and with enemies closing in from outside their walls and within their ranks, it’s impossible to know who to trust.  Now, Violet must journey beyond the failing Aretian wards to seek allies from unfamiliar lands to stand with Navarre. The trip will test every bit of her wit, luck, and strength, but she will do anything to save what she loves—her dragons, her family, her home, and him.  It could destroy everything, even if it means keeping a secret so big. They need an army. They need power. They need magic. And they need the one thing only Violet can find—the truth. But a storm is coming...and not everyone can survive its wrath.

My view: Damn…. I cried. I screamed…and now I am pissed.  That ending was INSANE and now I must wait…it’s SO unfair.  The best series so far.  It’s up there with The Ember in the Ashes series and ACOTAR.  As the third book in The Empyrean series, it takes readers deeper into war-torn alliances, political intrigue, and the evolving magic system. Violet Sorrengail faces new dangers, unexpected betrayals, and heartbreaking twists that thrillingly expand the world. Fans of epic fantasy and strong-willed heroes will find this installment riveting. The third installment in the Empyrean series continues Violet Sorrengail's journey as she navigates alliances and battles against the venin threat.  It’s like Hunger Games meets Game of Thrones (plus sex but not too much sex)," highlighting its blend of fantasy and romance. Yes, there will be a book four and I am so pissed that I have to wait over a year for the conclusion to Xaden, Violet, Imogen, Aaric, Brennan, etc…  This book was emotional for me and the writing had me fully engaged.  Rebecca Yarros' writing is intense.  Because of it, I had to start my June TBR with a romance palate cleanser.  After completing the story, I had to sit with it for a few hours before making my June TBR reading list.  This is a top series for me, and I highly recommend it.  This is why Onyx Storm was my best read of May.

 Book Started: 21 May 2025 / Book Completed: 31 May 2025

Rating: 5.0 Stars / Total Listening Time: 23 Hours: 52 Minutes

Total Pages Read: 527 pages / Format: Libby (own the physical book)