The Good Girl Effect by Sara Cate

 The Good Girl Effect 

By Sara Cate

His praise is forbidden―his touch irresistible

Jack St. Claire is desperate. A grieving single father, he buries himself in his work―running a brand-new kink club in Paris. Instead of handling his grief, he's built a fortress around his heart, and it's time he hired someone to help him take care for his daughter before things get worse.

Camille Aubert wasn't looking for a new job. She just wanted to return a lost love letter she'd found within the pages of a book. But when she's mistaken for a job candidate and hired as Jack's live-in nanny, something tells her this is exactly where she needs to be.

Shortly after arriving, Camille discovers a strange room in the apartment that sparks her curiosity―and hints at a dark, mysterious side to Jack that she's desperate to uncover. The lines between professional and personal blur dangerously as the heat between them becomes impossible to ignore. She's drawn to the broken man who hides his grief in ropes and bondage, and she challenges him in ways he never thought possible.

Caught between her growing feelings for Jack and the ghosts of his past, Camille must decide: can love heal a heart still grieving, or will their passion destroy them both?

Amazon

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Cover Art: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

In The Good Girl Effect, Sara Cate introduces a deeply emotional and steamy romance set in Paris. Jack St. Claire, a grieving single father, runs a new kink club while trying to shield himself from his pain. When Camille Aubert turns up — initially just to return a love letter — she’s mistakenly hired as his live-in nanny for his daughter. 

As Camille and Jack grow closer, the story explores grief, trust, and intimacy in a very raw way. Jack’s sorrow for his late wife makes him emotionally distant, and Camille’s curiosity and openness challenge him to reconcile his past. 

 Their relationship is layered with BDSM elements — particularly rope bondage — but Cate doesn’t just play this for heat: it becomes a vehicle for vulnerability and healing. 

That said, some readers feel the emotional threads are underexplored. According to a review, there’s a lot of setup (family drama, business pressures, grief) that doesn’t fully pay off in this book, leaving things feeling a little fragmented. 

 On the flipside, Cate’s fans appreciate the tension and the chemistry, particularly when the more tender, caring side of Jack starts to come through.

My thoughts on Bonds of Hercules: A Dark Romantasy Enemies to Lovers Spicy Romance Novel Inspired by Greek Mythology (Villains of Lore Book 2) By Jasmine Mas

 Bonds of Hercules: A Dark Romantasy Enemies to Lovers Spicy Romance Novel Inspired by Greek Mythology (Villains of Lore Book 2) 

By Jasmine Mas

I'm Hercules, but my powers are not what they seem.

I'm trapped in a marriage with my two enemies and I've accidentally joined a cult. To make matters worse, Augustus and Kharon are trying to seduce me. It doesn't help that my mentors, Achilles and Patro, are acting really strange.

Now, a dangerous prisoner has escaped from the Underworld, and things are spiraling out of control.

Men are fighting over me.

Mysteries are unfolding left and right.

And I’ve had enough.

Everybody better beware because I’m fighting in the Gladiator Competition and seizing my power.

Things are about to get very messy.

For Sparta.

Amazon

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Cover Art: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Bonds of Hercules picks up where Blood of Hercules left off — Alexis (our version of “Hercules”) is deeper in danger than ever. She’s trapped in a marriage with her two enemies, Kharon and Augustus, and on top of that, she’s joined a cult and entered a brutal Gladiator Competition. 

The stakes are higher in this book: someone is killing Olympians, shadowy powers are stirring, and Titans are mutating. 

 Alexis’s journey is more about power now — not just survival, but control, vengeance, and self-discovery. 

One of the strengths here is the emotional complexity of the relationships. The “enemies to lovers” (or maybe “allies by necessity”) romance is darker and more fraught: Kharon and Augustus vie for power, but there’s also genuine loyalty, sacrifice, and moral ambiguity. 

 Alexis has to navigate not just her own growing power, but the secrets and betrayals of those closest to her.

There’s also more world-building: the politics of Olympus, the Chthonic houses, and the growing war between gods and immortals feel more dangerous and layered than before. 

 The gladiator competition is brutal, and the way Alexis uses her powers (which are dangerous in more ways than one) adds both action and intensity.

If you liked Blood of Hercules and are into dark romantasy with Greek-myth reinventions, morally grey alpha characters, and high emotional stakes — this sequel is likely to satisfy. Just be aware: the romance might not be the straightforward “many lovers” setup some expected, and the book leans hard into its darker, more political threads.

My thoughts on Nobody's Girl: A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justice By Virginia Roberts Giuffre

 Nobody's Girl: A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justice

By Virginia Roberts Giuffre

In 2011, Virginia Roberts Giuffre hit the headlines as Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell’s most outspoken victim: the woman whose decision to speak out helped send both serial abusers to prison and whose photograph with Prince Andrew catalysed his fall from grace.

But first and foremost, she became known as a voice of courage and resilience for women everywhere.

Giuffre’s story demonstrates with extraordinary power that victims are made, not born. And that once you come to truly understand the horrifying impact of abuse, you will never again question why a victim stays, or returns over and over again.

In April 2025, Giuffre took her own life. She left behind a memoir written in the years preceding her death and stated unequivocally that she wanted it published.

This is the powerful story of an ordinary girl who would grow up to confront adversity and trauma of the darkest form, yet found the strength to move forwards, reclaim her voice and shine a light on evil – advocating for others and fighting for a safer, fairer world.

Nobody’s Girl is a remarkable recounting of one woman’s fortitude in the face of depravity and despair, and the legacy she leaves behind.

Amazon

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Cover Art: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Virginia Roberts Giuffre offers a harrowing, deeply personal account of her life in Nobody’s Girl. From childhood abuse to being trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, Giuffre spares no detail about the mechanisms of power, manipulation, and grooming that trapped her in a cycle of exploitation. 

Yet the memoir is more than a testimony: it’s a declaration of survival and activism. She doesn’t just recount her suffering — she shows how she used her voice in public and in court to demand accountability and to protect others, even at great personal cost. 

 Her writing is resolute, clear-eyed, and enraged — a powerful reminder of the human toll of abuse and the resilience required to fight it. 

This is an essential, difficult read. If you want an insider’s perspective on the Epstein/Maxwell abuse network and the strength it takes to speak out — especially against very powerful people — this memoir is both important and deeply affecting.

My thoughts on The Lost Kings (The Royals of Rake Forge Book 1) By Ashley Munoz

 The Lost Kings (The Royals of Rake Forge Book 1)

By Ashley Munoz

From the creator of the bestselling Stone Riders series comes an all-new romantic suspense described as "John Wick meets The Summer I turned Pretty," with an angsty love triangle between twin brothers.

I was always told people grew roots where they were planted.

But mine developed between the hearts of two brothers.

For as long as I could remember, they were my protectors, living on the opposite end of the manor.

It was when I turned eight that I realized the truth. The twins were never supposed to protect me. It was the other way around and I would grow up to be the one that kept our family safe.

As time went on, they were forced to watch while I was broken and reshaped into the weapon needed to break us free from the cage our family had been forced into.

I always assumed the twins understood.

But when I became old enough to accept my fate, they slapped it away and tried to show me a different choice.

Even with my heart in their hands, I tried to make them see that there was no other path for me to walk.

They left, abandoning the family and destroying those roots that had kept us together.

Without them, we were forced to align with a powerful enemy.

But the twins returned when it was discovered how close I became with our rival.

I assumed it was to reclaim my heart, but it was to declare war.

We stood on opposite sides, but somewhere in the middle was my broken heart, still held between two lost kings.

Amazon

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Cover Art: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

In The Lost Kings, Ashley Muñoz returns to her Rake Forge universe with a gripping, emotionally charged trilogy opener. The story centers on Presley, who was raised with twin brothers — Gio and Kingston — by a family full of secrets, power, and danger. 

 Presley’s childhood was defined by protection and sacrifice; she was molded into a weapon, not a victim, and her bond with the twins is deep, complicated, and rooted in years of shared history. 

The novel weaves between past and present timelines and uses multiple POVs (Presley, Gio, Kingston), giving readers a rich, layered understanding of how their childhood shaped who they are now — and how their secrets threaten to tear them apart. 

 The romance is intense and forbidden: Presley, the twins, and the love triangle between them create constant tension, made even more dangerous by their mafia-family background. 

One of the strongest elements is the found-family feel, paired with real stakes. Presley isn’t just caught in a love triangle — she’s fighting for her identity, her legacy, and her freedom. Meanwhile, Gio and Kingston are fiercely protective, and their loyalty (and rivalry) toward each other and Presley adds emotional weight and complexity. 

 The writing balances gritty danger with tender, heartfelt moments, making the world feel real and the characters’ pain and passion deeply felt.

The Lost Kings is a stellar start to Muñoz’s Royals of Rake Forge series. If you love dark, high-stakes romance — especially with mafia dynamics, twin brothers, and a heroine who’s more than she appears — this book will pull you in and hold you tight.

My thoughts on Rebel Unicorn: An Urban Fantasy Novel (Rebel of the Otherworld Book 1) by Brogan Thomas

 Rebel Unicorn: An Urban Fantasy Novel (Rebel of the Otherworld Book 1) 

By Brogan Thomas

Set in the same world as the Creatures of the Otherworld series, Rebel Unicorn can be read on its own or as a continuation.

Her heart is broken, and her wrath is boiling over.

Will she atone for her violence or fall to darkness?

Tru Dennison is tired of being treated like a freak. Sick of monstrous villains wreaking havoc and mayhem on her city, the half-unicorn, half-vampire shifter channels her energy into an undercover role as a black-ops assassin.

But when her angel mentor—an infuriatingly attractive man she secretly adores—finds her standing over a pile of bodies, he assumes the worst. Branded a rogue killer and dragged before the Grand Creature Council, Tru must fight to prove her innocence… and survive their judgement.

As trust crumbles and enemies close in, Tru’s fury only grows.

They wanted obedience. Instead, they got rebellion.

Rebel Unicorn is the explosive first book in the Rebel of the Otherworld urban fantasy duology. If you love underestimated heroines, forbidden power, and edge-of-your-seat supernatural suspense, you’ll be gripped by Brogan Thomas’s thrilling adventure.

Amazon

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Cover Art: ⭐⭐⭐

Rebel Unicorn introduces Tru Dennison, a half-unicorn, half-vampire shapeshifter who works as a black-ops assassin in a ruthless magical society. 

 Her heart is broken, and she’s furious — when she’s found standing over a pile of bodies, her angel mentor assumes she’s gone rogue. 

 Branded a “rogue killer,” Tru is dragged in front of the Grand Creature Council, where she must fight to prove her innocence and reclaim control. 

This is a strong choice for fans of urban fantasy who like morally grey characters, supernatural politics, and action. If you enjoy reading about outcasts fighting for justice, Rebel Unicorn delivers a powerful, emotionally charged start to a duology.

My thoughts on First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston

 First Lie Wins

By Ashley Elston

Evie Porter has everything a nice Southern girl could want: a doting boyfriend, a house with a white picket fence, a tight group of friends. The only catch: Evie Porter doesn’t exist.

The identity comes first: Evie Porter. Once she’s given a name and location by her mysterious boss, Mr. Smith, she learns everything there is to know about the town and the people in it. Then the mark: Ryan Sumner. The last piece of the puzzle is the job.

Evie isn’t privy to Mr. Smith’s real identity, but she knows this job isn't like the others. Ryan has gotten under her skin, and she’s starting to envision a different sort of life for herself. But Evie can’t make any mistakes—especially after what happened last time.

Evie Porter must stay one step ahead of her past while making sure there's still a future in front of her. The stakes couldn't be higher—but then, Evie has always liked a challenge. . . .

Amazon

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Cover Art: ⭐⭐⭐

First Lie Wins is a sharp, twist-filled psychological thriller that follows Evie Porter, a woman living a life built entirely on lies. Her charming suburban world — the perfect boyfriend, the perfect routine, the perfect mask — is all part of a job assigned by her enigmatic handler, Mr. Smith. As Evie embeds herself deeper into her target’s life, the façade begins to crack, and she finds herself torn between the identity she has been given and the person she might want to be. Elston builds a tight, tense narrative that moves between Evie’s present assignment and glimpses of her past, revealing just enough at each turn to keep you questioning who can be trusted, what is real, and how far Evie is willing to go to survive.

What makes the novel especially gripping is Evie herself — she’s morally grey, vulnerable, and fiercely intelligent, a protagonist who feels both dangerous and deeply human. The web of deception she navigates is intricate and compelling, and Elston’s pacing keeps the story humming with constant unease. While the number of twists and shifting identities can feel dizzying at times, they ultimately add to the book’s addictive sense of unpredictability. The result is a stylish, suspenseful thriller that pulls you into its layers of lies and doesn’t let go until the final reveal.

 

My thoughts on Found by Erin Kinsley

 Found

By Erin Kinsley

When 11 year old Evan vanishes without trace, his parents are plunged into their worst nightmare.

Especially as the police, under massive pressure, have no answers. But months later Evan is unexpectedly found, frightened and refusing to speak. His loving family realise life will never be the same again.

DI Naylor knows that unless those who took Evan are caught, other children are in danger. And with Evan silent, she must race against time to find those responsible...

A gripping, heart-wrenching thriller with the emotional power of series like BROADCHURCH and THE MISSING, this is the perfect read for fans of Cara Hunter, Heidi Perks, Claire Douglas, Fiona Barton, Susan Lewis and Nuala Ellwood.

Amazon

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Cover Art: ⭐⭐⭐

Found is a deeply emotional and haunting thriller about the disappearance and shocking return of 11-year-old Evan. When Evan vanishes without a trace, his parents, Claire and Matt, are thrown into agony and desperation — but the nightmare doesn’t end when he’s found. He comes home terrified, silent, and profoundly changed. 

Erin Kinsley doesn’t just focus on the mystery of who took Evan; she’s equally invested in how his absence and return shatter the lives of everyone around him. The novel explores grief, trauma, and the complicated road to recovery with sensitivity and realism. 

 DI Naylor, the detective on the case, is determined to catch the perpetrators — but Evan’s silence and the lack of clear leads make the investigation agonising and emotionally fraught. 

One of the book’s biggest strengths is its character work. Evan’s parents feel raw and genuine as they struggle to understand how to support him while dealing with their own guilt and pain. 

 Meanwhile, the police procedural elements are believable without overshadowing the human cost of Evan’s ordeal

If you like crime novels that balance mystery with deep emotional resonance, Found is a gripping, heartbreaking read that stays with you long after the last page.