Book Reviews Archives

Wild and Wranged by Lyla Sage | ARC Book Review

Aug 7, 2025

It’s been a while, but hey, I’m still here. Life has just gotten in the way. But it’s time to catch up, so expect to see a few ARC reviews coming in the coming weeks. First up is one I read back in March, but I loved it so much I had to share. I love this whole series, honestly, and this was the perfect end. So, let’s get into it. Here is what I thought about Wild and Wrangled by Lyla Sage.

Wild and Wrangled (Rebel Blue Ranch, #4) by Lyla Sage

Pages: 368
Publish date: April 15, 2025
Publisher: Quercus
ISBN: 9781529436754
Purchase: Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU – QBD

Camille Ashwood had always loved a plan. Her latest was her best yet. She was going to get married so she could secure her daughter’s future, get her overbearing parents off her back, and finally start building her own life in small town Meadowlark, Wyoming. Easy, right?

But when her groom doesn’t show up to the wedding, Cam’s life is turned upside down—she doesn’t even have a place to live. That is, until she finds out the house she’s loved since high school is available to rent. There’s only one problem: the neighbor.

Dusty Tucker has spent nearly all of his adult life running. Running from what, though? More like who: Cam Ashwood. But ever since he returned home last year, the girl who was his first, well, everything has become a woman seemingly determined to keep him at arm’s length. And he was okay with that—at least, that’s what he kept telling himself. She was getting married, after all. But now she’s single and living next door. Dusty wants to show her that they can be friends, and that he can stay put.

Despite her best attempts to stay far away from Dusty Tucker, Cam realizes that being close to him is like slipping on her favorite jeans. Easy. Comfortable. That is until past wounds start to open and feelings—both old and new—wreak havoc. Nearly ten years after they first met, Dusty and Cam begin to wonder if their first love can also be their last. And this time, will it be forever?

Wild and Wrangled:

I received an earc of Wild and Wrangled by Lyla Sage for review in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way influenced my thoughts and feelings.

I’ve been waiting to read this one since I finished the rest of the series last year, and it was worth the wait. Camille and Dusty belong together; they are fire. It took them a while, and I feel like they both needed to experience life and everything that it throws at them. But now it’s their turn.

Camille had just been left at the altar, and while she wasn’t exactly marrying for love, she thought she would have the safety of a marriage. Now, she has to face her friends, her family, and that is the last thing that she wants to do. But she is going to have to do it because most of them want to be there for her, including Dusty. Ever since Dusty returned home, he hasn’t seen much of Cam. They are both pretty good at avoiding each other. But then Cam and her daughter practically become neighbours with Dusty, and well, they can’t hide as much anymore.

I loved Cam as our FMC. I’ve come to really love her through the series, but she stands out in Wild and Wrangled. I adore the way she co-parents with Gus, and even Teddy. It honestly shows her character in such an easy way. But Cam has a lot of doubts, and they seep through throughout the novel. We see her struggle quite a bit in Wild and Wrangled, and well it was hard to see, Cam’s character development was spot on.

Dusty, Dusty, Dusty. May I please have him? He is soft and mushy but also so manly. How does that even make sense? But it works for him. From the start, we can see how much Dusty cares about and even loves Cam. But we can also see that there is something else between the two of them, and as the book goes on, we find out exactly what.

The romance in this one was so hot and cold. Cam and Dusty clearly love each other, but the history between the two of them is thick and heavy. I’m not a massive fan of dual timelines and flashbacks, but they worked here really well. I liked seeing baby Cam and Dusty, and a messy first love.

And that’s what the romance in this book is like- messy and not in a bad way. Cam and Dusty had a lot of firsts together. They both made a lot of mistakes, and a lot of things worked out exactly how I think they should have. They both hurt each other, and they needed to work it all out. And it wasn’t a quick and easy fix.

Overall, I loved how complicated Wild and Wrangled was. It made perfect sense for Cam and Dusty, and in the end, well, it was pretty messy and perfect. I adore the found family, the second chances and all the love that both Cam and Dusty have for one another and that others have for them. This was a fantastic ending to this series, and I am so excited to see what Lyla Sage has next.

ARC Book Review | Just Drive by Devyn Sinclair

Mar 30, 2025

Just Drive by Devyn Sinclair

Pages: 630
Publish date: 28, March 2025
Publisher: –
ISBN: 9798889650751
Purchase: Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU

Being the first female Formula 1 driver in the sport’s history is like being struck by lightning. Powerful, electrifying, and dangerous. Don’t get me wrong, it’s incredible. Plenty of racing fans are celebrating. Plenty more are enraged, hoping I either quit or crash.

They can hope all they want. I’ll never quit.

But there’s more than Formula 1 fans to worry about. Like shaking hands with my Team Principal for the first time and his scent turning my entire world upside down. Like the rest of his pack—including the current Formula 1 champion—matching with me too. One breath, and we belong to each other, body and soul.

In their arms I’m more than just a racer. I’m an Omega. I’m safe with them. For the first time, I can be what my designation craves instead of what my sport demands. Soft, spoiled, pleasured, and loved. Their fierce desire to win is only matched by one thing—their passion for me.

But the rookie Omega in a pack with her boss, the champion, and her crew is a PR disaster of global proportions, and I won’t be the only one with a target on my back. If the five us want to make it through the racing season? No one can ever know.

Just Drive:

I received a copy of Just Drive by Devyn Sinclair for review in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way influenced my thoughts and feelings about the book.

So, I’m a massive F1 fan. Add to that an omegaverse with a female driver and a why choose, yer I was gone from the start. I think this is one of my favourite Devyn Sinclair books to date. I was hooked, and I could not stop reading.

Just Drive follows Vanessa, who is about to become the first female F1 driver to have a full seat. She is so ready for it; it’s all she has ever wanted, but Vanessa also knows that it’s not going to be an easy ride. What she doesn’t expect is that her new Team Principal is one of scent matches. And he just happens to have a pack. And things are about to get a whole lot more interesting. Especially since one of the pack members just so happens to be another driver.

From the start, I knew I was going to love this book. I had everything that I loved, and as I kept on reading, I just kept on wanting more. Being an omega, Vanessa has found it a little tough, but being a female driver is, I would say, a little harder. In a male-dominated sport, Vanessa really has to stand her ground and has to show everyone that she can drive with the best. Because she is, I adored Vanessa as the FMC. She is strong and tough, but she also has these emotions that pulled at my heart.

Now, let’s get into her pack. First, we have Team Principal Grayson and the leader of the pack. He falls for Vanessa so quickly, I loved it. This manly man just crumbles for her. Yes please. River is the current F1 world champion and is racing for another team. His always had a little crush on Vanessa, so this is like Christmas for him. Then we have Beck, who is her Race Engineer and who has a smooth voice. The last one to round up this pack is Elias, Mechanic for the team and oh so sweet. The only Beta of the back, but he falls for Vanessa all the same.

I adored the romance in Just Drive. It’s that perfect combination of being sweet and steamy. Each man helped Vanessa and was there for her in different ways. And together, they are the perfect team. I do wish the start was a little slower. Maybe if they wait just a few more days. I feel like they jumped into it a little too quickly. Other than that, I loved the romance a lot, I think this has to be one of the hottest of Devyn Sinclair’s books I’ve read!

There were parts of this book that were intense, and I loved it. We were left enough bread crumbs to figure out what was happening, and it was satisfying when things started to come together. The romantic suspense elements of Just Drive weren’t the focus, but they drove the book along and were a nice touch.

I really enjoyed the F1 elements of this book a lot. It was all pretty accurate, there was enough in it that there was driving, and all the behind-the-scenes stuff wasn’t glossed over. It wasn’t just the glitz and the glamour. We were able to see all the hard work as well. I’ve read a few F1 romances now, and this has to be one of my favourites.

Overall, I loved Just Drive. It was hot and steamy but also sweet and felt like a warm hug. It was full of emotional and amazing representations of women in fields that are heavily male-dominated. If you are looking for a new omegaverse that is a little different plus has an empowering female lead, a found family and a little romantic suspense, then pick Just Drive up. You will not be disappointed.

Have you read Just Drive yet? What did you think of it? Are you planning on picking it up? Are you an omegaverse reader? So, let’s chat!

ARC Review: Wild Side by Elsie Silver

Mar 4, 2025

Wild Side (Rose Hill, #3) by Elsie Silver

Pages: 464
Publish date: 4 March, 2025
Publisher: Bloom Books
ISBN: 9781464237522
Purchase: Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU – QBD

I’d always dreamed of my wedding day. But not like this. Not looking into the eyes of the man who betrayed me.

But when my nephew’s guardianship is contested, I decide I’ll do whatever it takes to keep him in Rose Hill. Even if it means marrying the enemy.

Rhys Dupris.

A man who is secretive, broody, and completely infuriating. A man whose work takes him away for weeks on end and brings him back covered in mysterious bruises—ones he won’t talk about. In fact, we barely talk at all.

Which would be fine, except when he’s not talking, he’s staring. And the way he looks at me is borderline indecent.

The tension between us has always been palpable. But living under the same roof is a dangerous temptation.

I swore I would never forgive him. But that was before I knew the man behind the mask. The one who’s fierce and protective. The one who’s gentle and patient, The one who shows up for us when we need him most.

He’s not at all who I thought he was.

And that makes hating my husband so much harder… and loving him just a little too easy.

Wild Side:

I received an earc of Wild Side by Elsie Silver in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way influenced my thoughts and feelings about the book. I tried to limit the spoilers in this review as much as I could, but a few minor ones might slip in.

You know that author? The one that you know before you even pick the book that you are going to love the book? That is Elsie Silver for me. This is now the 10th Elsie Silver book I’ve read, and I have pretty much loved every single one. She is an autobuy author, an autolove author, and I cannot wait for everyone else to get to read Wild Side.

Wild Side is the third book in the Rose Hill series and follows Tabitha as she goes from being just an aunt to her nephew to having custody of him. And Rhys, the secretive next door neighbour of her sister and someone who is pretty much going to change her life. However, let’s just say they don’t particularly get along, so when the only option for Tabitha and Rhys is to marry, well, things are about to get a whole lot of interesting. And I was so here for it.

Tabitha is a strong, independent woman, and I loved her as a lead. She brought this spark to the page that I adored. I loved that she had a job that she loved and that made her happy. But there is one more thing she loves more than her job, and that is Milo. Her nephew is now the person who relies on her the most. After the passing of her sister, she knows and believes that it’s her job to look after him and give him everything that he needs. But she isn’t the only one who believes that.

Rhys is an emgina. We don’t know too much about him from the other books in the series, only that there is a lot of tension between him and Tabitha, and this is immediately explored in Wild Side. And even though it’s dual pov, we don’t truly see what Rhys thinks about Tabitha for some time. He has gone through a lot himself, and all he wants for Milo is for him to feel safe and loved. Because of what he thought was true, he believe that Tabitha isn’t the best person for Milo at first, but soon relaised that she loves and cares for him so damn much.

Now, this book has one of my favourite tropes ever! And when the guardianship of Milo is brought up, things get very interesting. And what better way to remedy a situation like this? Well, we must get married, of course. Ahhh! This marriage of convenience is hot and steamy without any action. The tension and angst are oh so high, and it made for the best scenes between Tabitha and Rhys. There are also some big setbacks between these two because not only is this a marriage of convenience but dislike to love. There is no real hate between these two, it is more of a miscommunication. And this leads to a lot of animosity

I loved seeing them fall for one another without even realising it. They cared for each other when they needed it, they were there for Milo, and oh my, the smut! Yer Elsie Silver just knows how to write it! Elsie Silver knows how to write that great balance between smutting and spicy. They get you all hot and bothered, but the love between Tabitha and Rhys is there the whole time. What I also love about Wild Side is that we get to see the domestic life of these two. Of Tabitha cooking and making sure Rhys is eating, to him making sure she is cared for and looked after when she needs a little break.

Milo is the light of this book. My heart broke for him so much throughout the book. He had just lost his mother. He has moved house, and his life is a little different now. But his is so pure and full of love. He loves his aunty, and Rhys is like a hero to him. And that shines through.

Rhys’s job and why he is so secretive isn’t something I was really expecting. It took me off guard a little, and I did find it a little, strange, isn’t the right word. But not something that I know a lot about. So it did take me a little away from the book, just a little. Honestly, it wasn’t a massive deal.

One of the things that stood out for me in Wild Side is the healing that this book explores. The healing between Tabitha and Rhys, the healing from grief for her sister. The healing for Tabitha, Rhys and Milo and having their lives changed so much. Wild Side was just like a warm hug.

I love that we get to see our bowling crew once again and all the characters we have come to love from the rest of the series. It made me feel warm, not only how they cared for Tabitha but also Rhys and Milo as well. They just surrounded them with all the love. There is also a little insight into what Wild Card might be, and I’m so excited.

Overall, Wild Side by Elsie Silver is exactly what I wanted. This marriage of convenience between Tabitha and Rhys is hot, steamy and full of healing. Tabitha is a strong, independent woman who made me want to keep on cheering her on. I adored her love for Milo and his love for her. Rhys is a fantastic bookish boyfriend and knows exactly what to say. If you haven’t started this series yet, please do!

Have you read any of this series yet? What have you thought of them? Are you excited about Wild Side? Or have you read it already? I want to know what you think. Let’s chat!