MANCHINEEL BY JESSICA CARRASQUILLO

The Manchineel by Jessica Carrasquillo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Let me take you on a moonlit journey through the pages of Manchineel by Jessica Carrasquillo—a tale that weaves together desire, danger, and the haunting allure of forbidden love.

The Dark Side: Within the lush foliage of Miami, where the air is thick with secrets, Elyse Santiago harbors a past stained by trauma. Her childhood nightmare—the man who abused her—met his end at her hands, poisoned by the toxic sap of the manchineel plant. Now, as an adult, Elyse shares her fascination with all things botanical on Instagram, cultivating an online persona that conceals her darker impulses. But when she meets Ben Deluca, a talent acquisition lawyer, the spark between them ignites a chain of events that will test the limits of desire and morality. Ben’s cruel wife, Ana, stands in their way—a woman who wields power like a weapon, threatening to destroy everything Elyse and Ben hold dear.

The beauty of Manchineel lies in its unflinching exploration of human nature. Carrasquillo delves into the shadows, revealing the primal instincts that drive us—the hunger for survival, the need for connection, and the willingness to cross boundaries. The Spanish moss-draped setting becomes a character, whispering ancient secrets and binding Elyse and Ben in a web of fate.

The Beauty: Carrasquillo’s prose blooms like the titular manchineel tree—deceptively beautiful, yet deadly. She paints Miami’s landscape with vivid strokes, evoking the scent of saltwater, the hum of cicadas, and the allure of forbidden fruit. Elyse’s affinity for plants mirrors her own nurturing and lethal complexity. And Ben? His struggle to break free from Ana’s grip resonates with anyone who has faced a toxic relationship.

The heart of this novel lies in its exploration of power dynamics. Carrasquillo flips the script, exposing the darkness within Ana—the cartoon villainess who wields her privilege with cruelty. As Elyse grapples with her demons, we witness the collision of desire and destruction.

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MYSTERIES OF THE SOUTHERN GOTHIC

Mysteries of the Southern Gothic by Jessica Carrasquillo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Let me take you on a moonlit journey through the pages of "Mysteries of the Southern Gothic" by Jessica Carrasquillo. This tale weaves magic, romance, and secrets into an intoxicating blend.

In the haunting shadows of the South, where Spanish moss drapes ancient oaks and whispers of forgotten tragedies linger, we meet Ulysses Katsaros—a mental health counselor grappling with his demons. But the unexplained disappearance of his sister, Calliope, sets the stage for this dark and beguiling mystery. Enter Rosario Martinez, co-host of the popular "Mysteries of the Southern Gothic" true crime podcast. Rosario is daring, relentless, and drawn to the sinister Church of the Ninth Order, where shadows deepen and secrets fester. As their paths intersect, Ulysses and Rosario embark on a quest for truth, unraveling threads of betrayal, loss, and forbidden love. This isn't just a mystery—it's a reckoning with the past, a dance with darkness, and a love story that blooms like a blood-red rose.

As I turned the pages, I felt the oppressive heat of the South, heard the mournful notes of a blues guitar, and glimpsed the flicker of candlelight in a crumbling plantation house. Carrasquillo's prose is like a spell—a conjuring of emotions that lingers long after the final chapter. Ulysses and Rosario are flawed, magnetic, and achingly real. Their chemistry sizzles, but it's the secrets they keep that truly ignite the pages.

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The dream of roses

Dreams of Roses: A Romantasy Beauty and the Beast Re-telling by Kenzie Skye
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Allow me to share my thoughts on Dream of Roses by Kenzie Sky—a novella that blooms with secrets, passion, and a touch of enchantment.

The Premise: In the heart of Thornfield Manor, where shadows whisper and roses hold ancient secrets, a florist with an affinity for blooms, stumbles upon a grand mansion that defies reality. But this is no ordinary manor. Her curiosity leads her into the arms of a darkly handsome man—a captor with secrets as thorny as the roses that haunt her dreams. As she unravels the mysteries of Thornfield, she discovers that love and danger entwine like ivy.

Why You’ll Love It:

🌹 Dream of Roses is a bite-sized escape—a tantalizing blend of romance and mystery.
🌹 The Beauty's vulnerability and the Beast's enigmatic allure create a magnetic pull.
🌹 The dreamlike quality of the prose mirrors the elusive beauty of roses.

My Take: Kenzie Sky’s writing is like a whispered promise—a delicate balance of tension and tenderness. As our heroine navigates the labyrinthine corridors, I felt the weight of secrets pressing against my skin. The scent of roses lingered, and I wondered if love could bloom even in captivity.

So, dear readers, if you seek a brief escape into a world where roses conceal more than petals, let Dream of Roses unfurl its petals in your imagination. May it leave you with a lingering fragrance of mystery and longing.

Happy reading!

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THE MISTRESS OF HOURS

Mistress of Hours by Emma Elizabeth
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Allow me to whisk you away to a world where magic pulses beneath the surface, secrets unravel like spun silk and love blooms against the backdrop of danger. Welcome to the enchanting realm of The Mistress of Hours by Emma Elizabeth.

Within the gilded walls of Ichorna, blood mages weave their spells, and ancient mysteries lie dormant. Evienne, the highest-ranking blood mage, is living her dream—until two unexpected visitors arrive from the elusive northern neighbor of shifters, Beitar. Among them is Orion, a striking academic with piercing green eyes. His purpose? To uncover answers about his people’s dwindling magic. But as Evienne and Orion delve into secrets, an even greater magic awakens—one that binds their fates and threatens nations.

Why You’ll Love It:

🌟 The Mistress of Hours blends fantasy and romance seamlessly. Blood magic crackles, and the allure of forbidden love simmers.
🌟 Evienne, a powerful blood mage, defies conventions. Orion, with his own secrets, is equally captivating.
🌟 The lush world-building and LGBTQIA+ representation add depth to this tale.

Emma Elizabeth’s debut weaves a spell of intrigue and unexpected love. Evienne’s journey—from curious dalliance to unraveling ancient secrets—is both thrilling and heartwrenching. Orion’s quest for answers mirrors our own hunger for magic. As war looms, they must choose between loyalty and integrity. The stakes are high, and the pages turn swiftly.

So, dear readers, if you seek a fantasy romance that dances on the edge of danger, embrace The Mistress of Hours. Let its magic seep into your soul, and may you find unexpected love in the most dangerous of times.

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RAVAGE

This week, we're celebrating the release of Ravage! The first book in Raegan of Ruin series by A.L. Rook!

Ravage (Raegan of Ruin Book 1)

Publication Date: September 1, 2024

• Strong heroine
• Found family
• He falls first
• Enemies to lovers (childhood friends > enemies > lovers)
• Touch her and d!3
• Stalker MMC
• Possessive MMCs
• Morally gray MCs

We promised to stick together. And then they betrayed me.

In a world where more children are being born with special abilities, we were six of the ones kidnapped and hidden away for testing and training.

We banded together and became a family…until one of us was killed.

The others turned on me and left me for dead.

Five years later, and I’m on a hunt for vengeance against the organization that’s still stealing and brainwashing gifted kids in secret. It’s all I have left; to rid the world of this evil. Until I realize that they are in this city with the same goal.

Aiden. Kellan. Jackson. Dane.

Now I need to decide. Do I work with the ones who abandoned me five years ago, or walk away from this city and finish the war by myself?

But once they discover I’m here, I learn they have their own plans for me.

Ravage is a full length why choose dark paranormal romance novel that ends on a cliffhanger. It is book 1 in the Raegan of Ruin series that will be completed in 2025. If you like plot, banter, steam, a strong heroine, and multiple alpha-holes that you don't have to choose between, then this is for you. It is recommended for 18+ due to language and sexual situations.

GET IT ON AMAZON

Triggers included but not limited to:

• Explicit sex
• Violence
• Frequent language
• Mention of prior physical/mental abuse (age 16)
• Mention of prior SA (not on page)
• Physical / mental /emotional abuse (not by MCs) in future books in the series

Other Notes:

• Paranormal romance (gifted humans)
• Why choose (4 MMCs)
• Medium burn (varies by MMC)
• Dark themes
• Multi POV (primarily FMC)
• Cliffhanger in Book 1 (not terrible)
• No MM
• Plot-heavy storyline
• Banter

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