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Kinsmen Billionaires #2
Lodged
Her memories are lost, but he won’t leave the past behind…
All I ever wanted was to get my degree, live life in a big city, then return home to my small town.
That was the dream, and it was on the horizon.
Until I met him—my hot, unassuming lab instructor, Gio Bianchi.
As labs go by, I grow more curious about him and the possibility of us being more.
When we finally move past hiding and sneaking around in fortuitous encounters, the holidays are upon us. We decide to spend them with our families before sharing our happy news— that love has lodged itself in our hearts.
But our luck runs out, and an accident separates us, wiping away the last four years of my life. Making me forget so many painful memories and the man who now stands before me…
Still, life has a few more tricks up its sleeve. The future may not be so grim ,because Gio remembers what we shared and won’t give up so easily—even if it means making me fall in love with him again.
Lodged is book two in the Kinsmen Billionaires Series. Each book is a standalone with an HEA, and the books should be read in order. Please see inside for the content warning.
All I ever wanted was to get my degree, live life in a big city, then return home to my small town.
That was the dream, and it was on the horizon.
Until I met him—my hot, unassuming lab instructor, Gio Bianchi.
As labs go by, I grow more curious about him and the possibility of us being more.
When we finally move past hiding and sneaking around in fortuitous encounters, the holidays are upon us. We decide to spend them with our families before sharing our happy news— that love has lodged itself in our hearts.
But our luck runs out, and an accident separates us, wiping away the last four years of my life. Making me forget so many painful memories and the man who now stands before me…
Still, life has a few more tricks up its sleeve. The future may not be so grim ,because Gio remembers what we shared and won’t give up so easily—even if it means making me fall in love with him again.
Lodged is book two in the Kinsmen Billionaires Series. Each book is a standalone with an HEA, and the books should be read in order. Please see inside for the content warning.
359 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 18, 2024
43 people are currently reading
410 people want to read
About the author
Liss Montoya
15 books144 followersLiss Montoya is an author of Contemporary Romance with Latine/Hispanic characters sprinkled throughout her heartfelt and spicy stories.
Liss was born and raised in Colombia, South America and moved to the United States in her early twenties to pursue a PhD degree. She later became a biology teacher and currently works in the early childhood development field.
When she’s not working or writing, you can find her playing personal assistant to her kids, catching up on tv shows with her husband, or reading saucy books.
Liss Montoya lives in Maryland, United States, with her husband, their two kids, and their dog Luna.
Liss was born and raised in Colombia, South America and moved to the United States in her early twenties to pursue a PhD degree. She later became a biology teacher and currently works in the early childhood development field.
When she’s not working or writing, you can find her playing personal assistant to her kids, catching up on tv shows with her husband, or reading saucy books.
Liss Montoya lives in Maryland, United States, with her husband, their two kids, and their dog Luna.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 168 reviews
November 26, 2024
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
SPICE 🔥🔥💥
Ruin and Gio had my heart all a flutter. They were absolutely adorable together and this story had me all up in my feels. Also can I say, can we please have more of the amnesia trope… I eat it up every time and this was no exception.
✨ Billionaire Romance
✨ Professor x Student
✨ He Falls First
✨ Memory Loss
✨ Inexperienced MMC
When billionaire grad student Gio meets Ruin in his class, he cannot help but feel an immediate connection with her. They try and keep it professional, but feelings win out and the two fall for each other. Just when they think they have happiness, Ruin suffers a terrible accident and loses all her recent memories. Gio, doesn’t give up, but instead finds a way to make her fall in love with him a second time!
This was swoony and cute in all the best ways, Gio is a fantastic book boyfriend and absolutely spoils and doted on Ruin. I loved how he loved her. Ruin is so strong to rebuild her life after she loses her memories and I was so happy to see that in any circumstance these two belonged together.
Also let me just add bonus points for a v*thin MMC because it hits every single time.
SPICE 🔥🔥💥
Ruin and Gio had my heart all a flutter. They were absolutely adorable together and this story had me all up in my feels. Also can I say, can we please have more of the amnesia trope… I eat it up every time and this was no exception.
✨ Billionaire Romance
✨ Professor x Student
✨ He Falls First
✨ Memory Loss
✨ Inexperienced MMC
When billionaire grad student Gio meets Ruin in his class, he cannot help but feel an immediate connection with her. They try and keep it professional, but feelings win out and the two fall for each other. Just when they think they have happiness, Ruin suffers a terrible accident and loses all her recent memories. Gio, doesn’t give up, but instead finds a way to make her fall in love with him a second time!
This was swoony and cute in all the best ways, Gio is a fantastic book boyfriend and absolutely spoils and doted on Ruin. I loved how he loved her. Ruin is so strong to rebuild her life after she loses her memories and I was so happy to see that in any circumstance these two belonged together.
Also let me just add bonus points for a v*thin MMC because it hits every single time.
November 20, 2024
4.75⭐️ | 3.5🌶
this was so refreshing! everything about this book made me giddy (except for alyssa, iykyk). the storyline was so captivating and it tugged at my heartstrings. her nickname for him, the acts of service, the emotions, the found family. Ugh just the everything. definitely check TW for this one but it's one of those books that'll stay with you for a while. thank you to truly yours pr for the arc
this was so refreshing! everything about this book made me giddy (except for alyssa, iykyk). the storyline was so captivating and it tugged at my heartstrings. her nickname for him, the acts of service, the emotions, the found family. Ugh just the everything. definitely check TW for this one but it's one of those books that'll stay with you for a while. thank you to truly yours pr for the arc
November 26, 2024
First I want to preface that I could never write a book. I don’t like writing, so props to this author for doing that and putting their work out there. That’s an amazing accomplishment.
However, this book was not good, at least for my taste.
First, it was toothachingly sweet, like it might have given me a cavity sweet. I glossed over parts, skipped some, and missed some because I rolled my eyes so hard. I’ve never seen a hallmark movie but I’m sure this is what it’s like. There was no angst, no tension, no actual conflict. The “forbidden romance” trope was so glossed over and never actually elaborated on a lot and it was solved super quickly, let professor b heard a rumor that you’re dating a student? Totally cool. Know you wouldn’t actually do anything wrong and we’ve all done it anyway :) hehe, just keep it in your pants in class? Kthanksbye .” The memory loss thing could have been exciting, but it wasn’t. It fell flat and our golden hero used his money and made everything else better.
Second, syntactically this was bad. The tone was the same throughout, grammar, spelling, homophone mistakes, and it read super bubbly- like Ellen Woods told the whole story pre law school. There were five ish points of view through this and there was no distinction in tone at all. It was boring and fell flat. And I swear to all that’s holy if he would have called her “baby girl” one more time I’d have thrown my kindle. She’s 24, that’s weird. I call my own, actual little girl, that.
Third, there were SO many different tropes thrown into this book and none of them really worked for me. Maybe the small town- but we had that, billionaire, 29 year old virgin who was too busy with schooling and life to get some, small town girl who is so beautiful the billionaire falls for her- but wait! He’s her teacher! There’s a 5 year age gap between them. Then she gets amnesia and he helps her get her memory back. Granny predicted the whole thing. Everyone loves everyone and it’s all wrapped together with a pretty bow nobody really left conflicted in their beautiful lives.
Last, there was spice but it was like a one pepper situation. There, and it was ok, but I had no reason to read over it again. Or ever read this book again because it wasn’t my style. If you love a romance where there’s no real stakes or conflict and everyone lives happily ever after, then this is for you. You’ll love it. Especially if the style of the writing doesn’t bother you. It’s sweet, happy, and an easy read- it may be the palette cleanser you need after a harder, More intense book. For me, this was a huge miss.
However, this book was not good, at least for my taste.
First, it was toothachingly sweet, like it might have given me a cavity sweet. I glossed over parts, skipped some, and missed some because I rolled my eyes so hard. I’ve never seen a hallmark movie but I’m sure this is what it’s like. There was no angst, no tension, no actual conflict. The “forbidden romance” trope was so glossed over and never actually elaborated on a lot and it was solved super quickly, let professor b heard a rumor that you’re dating a student? Totally cool. Know you wouldn’t actually do anything wrong and we’ve all done it anyway :) hehe, just keep it in your pants in class? Kthanksbye .” The memory loss thing could have been exciting, but it wasn’t. It fell flat and our golden hero used his money and made everything else better.
Second, syntactically this was bad. The tone was the same throughout, grammar, spelling, homophone mistakes, and it read super bubbly- like Ellen Woods told the whole story pre law school. There were five ish points of view through this and there was no distinction in tone at all. It was boring and fell flat. And I swear to all that’s holy if he would have called her “baby girl” one more time I’d have thrown my kindle. She’s 24, that’s weird. I call my own, actual little girl, that.
Third, there were SO many different tropes thrown into this book and none of them really worked for me. Maybe the small town- but we had that, billionaire, 29 year old virgin who was too busy with schooling and life to get some, small town girl who is so beautiful the billionaire falls for her- but wait! He’s her teacher! There’s a 5 year age gap between them. Then she gets amnesia and he helps her get her memory back. Granny predicted the whole thing. Everyone loves everyone and it’s all wrapped together with a pretty bow nobody really left conflicted in their beautiful lives.
Last, there was spice but it was like a one pepper situation. There, and it was ok, but I had no reason to read over it again. Or ever read this book again because it wasn’t my style. If you love a romance where there’s no real stakes or conflict and everyone lives happily ever after, then this is for you. You’ll love it. Especially if the style of the writing doesn’t bother you. It’s sweet, happy, and an easy read- it may be the palette cleanser you need after a harder, More intense book. For me, this was a huge miss.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 12, 2025
Lodged by Liss Montoya tells the story of Ruin, an environmental student, and Gio, her lab instructor, who experience love at first sight. The narrative follows their journey from that initial meeting all the way to marriage.
One aspect I didn’t enjoy was the seemingly insta-love dynamic, and I wish more time was spent on the progression of their feelings. It would have been nice to see more meaningful events that could provide a clearer understanding of why they fell in love. Most of the characters here were likable, and the dates between Gio and Ruin were quite interesting. Despite being a billionaire, Gio remains humble and treats Ruin with great respect, which I appreciated.
The story possesses a unique angle, particularly with the amnesia subplot which is something I haven’t encountered before. However, the execution could have been improved. The sequence of how Ruin's memory returned was quite comical and a bit random, especially considering how quickly everyone accepted it and moved on, including Ruin herself. There were many opportunities for drama given the array of events and characters introduced, but the story leaned more toward a slice-of-life small town romance.
Also, it felt like the book could have benefited from being split into two parts. Their relationship developed too quickly, especially considering how Ruin fell in love with Gio again during her memory loss. Gio’s whirlwind gestures - getting her a dog, moving her in with him, buying her a car, and proposing - made it feel like everything happened back-to-back without the necessary buildup.
All in all, with proper pacing and development of the romance, this book would have the potential to be a more engaging story with it's unique premise and richer exploration of love and memory.
One aspect I didn’t enjoy was the seemingly insta-love dynamic, and I wish more time was spent on the progression of their feelings. It would have been nice to see more meaningful events that could provide a clearer understanding of why they fell in love. Most of the characters here were likable, and the dates between Gio and Ruin were quite interesting. Despite being a billionaire, Gio remains humble and treats Ruin with great respect, which I appreciated.
The story possesses a unique angle, particularly with the amnesia subplot which is something I haven’t encountered before. However, the execution could have been improved. The sequence of how Ruin's memory returned was quite comical and a bit random, especially considering how quickly everyone accepted it and moved on, including Ruin herself. There were many opportunities for drama given the array of events and characters introduced, but the story leaned more toward a slice-of-life small town romance.
Also, it felt like the book could have benefited from being split into two parts. Their relationship developed too quickly, especially considering how Ruin fell in love with Gio again during her memory loss. Gio’s whirlwind gestures - getting her a dog, moving her in with him, buying her a car, and proposing - made it feel like everything happened back-to-back without the necessary buildup.
All in all, with proper pacing and development of the romance, this book would have the potential to be a more engaging story with it's unique premise and richer exploration of love and memory.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 20, 2024
Lodged is book two in the Kinsmen Billionaires Series. Each book is a standalone with an HEA, and the books should be read in order. There are content warnings
I adore Ruin and Gio...they are so perfect together and captured my heart... this story had all my emotions in order . First time reading Trope with annemisa... I ate this book up ..
Gio is a billionaire grad student that meets Ruin in his class but he can't help his immediate connection that he has with Ruin . They both try and keep in professional but that was hard to do when they fall for each other.
When they think they have happiness that nothing would happen to that until Ruin suffered a terrible accident and lost all her recent memories..
Gio never gives up as he finds a way to make her fall inlove with him all over again for the second time .. Soo stinking cute !
Gio is a amazing book boyfriend ! He just spoils and doted on Ruin.
Ruin is an incredible woman that is so strong to rebuild her life again after losing her memories.
Despite the circumstances that happen but these two belong together .
I adore Ruin and Gio...they are so perfect together and captured my heart... this story had all my emotions in order . First time reading Trope with annemisa... I ate this book up ..
Gio is a billionaire grad student that meets Ruin in his class but he can't help his immediate connection that he has with Ruin . They both try and keep in professional but that was hard to do when they fall for each other.
When they think they have happiness that nothing would happen to that until Ruin suffered a terrible accident and lost all her recent memories..
Gio never gives up as he finds a way to make her fall inlove with him all over again for the second time .. Soo stinking cute !
Gio is a amazing book boyfriend ! He just spoils and doted on Ruin.
Ruin is an incredible woman that is so strong to rebuild her life again after losing her memories.
Despite the circumstances that happen but these two belong together .
November 18, 2024
“She’s gone and has taken my heart with her.”
Loved it
This is such a cute read and a perfect hallmark romance. I loved Gio, the way he loves, his loyalty and how much he is willing to do for Ruin. He is the perfect golden retriever that loves hard and fast. Ruin loses her memory after a car accident leaving any thoughts of her boyfriend behind. Gio has no idea why his girlfriend disappeared and won’t stop at nothing until she is back in his arms. He is willing to do anything for her and it’s just so beautiful the way he loves her. This is a palate cleanser and I loved every second of it. I can’t wait to see more of her family.
Thank you for the opportunity to beta read this beautiful story 💕
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
Loved it
This is such a cute read and a perfect hallmark romance. I loved Gio, the way he loves, his loyalty and how much he is willing to do for Ruin. He is the perfect golden retriever that loves hard and fast. Ruin loses her memory after a car accident leaving any thoughts of her boyfriend behind. Gio has no idea why his girlfriend disappeared and won’t stop at nothing until she is back in his arms. He is willing to do anything for her and it’s just so beautiful the way he loves her. This is a palate cleanser and I loved every second of it. I can’t wait to see more of her family.
Thank you for the opportunity to beta read this beautiful story 💕
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
November 18, 2024
I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this book, so firstly thank you to the author Liss Montoya and also to Happily Booked PR.
5/5 stars for romance
5/5 stars in general
3/5 chili peppers
"I'm too far gone to think about anything else that isn't Gio and all the things he's making me feel" -Ruin
"And I would spend every single penny I own to see that smile on your face, every single day of our lives" - Gio
Honestly if I didnt have to sleep I wouldnt have. This book was so good. Everything about it was just perfectly sweet, even the spicy parts. I blushed, I giggled, I kicked my feet. This book made me have the butterflies of falling in love.
I fell in love with Gio and Ruins love like right away (page 37) Every little thing that they did for each other was so adorable. He is like the perfect little spicy cinnamon roll of a man. The way he does everything to make her happy and he doesnt think about it as a sacrifice but as a way to bring himself happiness. When I read romance books I usually find that there is at least one part of the book where I find myself cringing at something, the writing of a scene or something the character has said but I never found that in this book. Everything made me smitten. Gio Bianchi is the epitome of the perfect man. Yes he has so much money and that obviously makes it easier for him to do whatever he wants to make things so extra special BUT I truly feel like if he didnt have the money he would still do everything in his power to make everything and anything perfect and special for Ruin.
I have nothing but good things to say about this book and honestly think that it will turn into one of my comfort reads. This is definitely in my "Must recommend" and "100% will re-read" piles.
5/5 stars for romance
5/5 stars in general
3/5 chili peppers
"I'm too far gone to think about anything else that isn't Gio and all the things he's making me feel" -Ruin
"And I would spend every single penny I own to see that smile on your face, every single day of our lives" - Gio
Honestly if I didnt have to sleep I wouldnt have. This book was so good. Everything about it was just perfectly sweet, even the spicy parts. I blushed, I giggled, I kicked my feet. This book made me have the butterflies of falling in love.
I fell in love with Gio and Ruins love like right away (page 37) Every little thing that they did for each other was so adorable. He is like the perfect little spicy cinnamon roll of a man. The way he does everything to make her happy and he doesnt think about it as a sacrifice but as a way to bring himself happiness. When I read romance books I usually find that there is at least one part of the book where I find myself cringing at something, the writing of a scene or something the character has said but I never found that in this book. Everything made me smitten. Gio Bianchi is the epitome of the perfect man. Yes he has so much money and that obviously makes it easier for him to do whatever he wants to make things so extra special BUT I truly feel like if he didnt have the money he would still do everything in his power to make everything and anything perfect and special for Ruin.
I have nothing but good things to say about this book and honestly think that it will turn into one of my comfort reads. This is definitely in my "Must recommend" and "100% will re-read" piles.
November 18, 2024
With tropes like these, there is no way I wasn’t going to love this book! I am completely obsessed and think this one of the best from the author! Gio & Ruin stole my heart! Liss is known for her books that take you to these really exciting locations but for this one we are going to the mountains of North Carolina. We have Gio who is a TA at Wolffe University and Ruin is in one of his classes. The two have an instant attraction to each other, but as Gio helps Ruin out of different situations they really grow to like each other.
I loved this part and how there was this balance of them being forbidden and doing what they want vs trying to do what they think is right. I loved that we actually got to see them dating. Their dates were some of the cutest and sweetest parts of the story. Gio’s love for Ruin shines in every little thing he does for her. Just when it seems like they are navigating their way through their situation when an accident changes everything.
Ruin has lost her memories of her time with Gio and Gio is told that he cannot tell her about their past. I loved the way that Gio was like ya know what, I am just going to make her fall in love with me again! They meet again, and we get more dates, and more getting to know each other. And the moment where you can tell she is starting to remember had me tearing up.
If you love a good forbidden romance, or one with really cute dates, or the amnesia trope, then I highly recommend this one because their love story is just beautiful.
I loved this part and how there was this balance of them being forbidden and doing what they want vs trying to do what they think is right. I loved that we actually got to see them dating. Their dates were some of the cutest and sweetest parts of the story. Gio’s love for Ruin shines in every little thing he does for her. Just when it seems like they are navigating their way through their situation when an accident changes everything.
Ruin has lost her memories of her time with Gio and Gio is told that he cannot tell her about their past. I loved the way that Gio was like ya know what, I am just going to make her fall in love with me again! They meet again, and we get more dates, and more getting to know each other. And the moment where you can tell she is starting to remember had me tearing up.
If you love a good forbidden romance, or one with really cute dates, or the amnesia trope, then I highly recommend this one because their love story is just beautiful.
November 22, 2024
Liss Montoya is officially 2 for 2 for me!
5 STARRRSSZZZZ 📣
I absolutely loved everything about this! The writing is so bingable and relatable! I absolutely adore how Liss writes! Her characters are down to Earth and relatable and that makes you love them and root for them so much!
This particular story was so riveting and kept you on the edge of your seat throughout due to the context! Book 1’s plot was more action based and you were constantly waiting to see what would happen, while this one was more love drawn and edge of your seat romance.
I really enjoyed the plot! You’ll find:
-Inexperienced MMC
-Brief Secret Dating
-Professor / Student
-Amnesia
-He Falls First
-Billionaire
I really enjoyed the scene where she got her memory back! It was so wholesome. I was worried we were setting up to have a third act conflict of her getting mad no one told her about him in her past, but she didn’t give us that and i LOVED that.
Overall another really enjoyable plot, characters and story from Liss! I would absolutely recommend to my peers & will definitely be continuing to read this author!
5 STARRRSSZZZZ 📣
I absolutely loved everything about this! The writing is so bingable and relatable! I absolutely adore how Liss writes! Her characters are down to Earth and relatable and that makes you love them and root for them so much!
This particular story was so riveting and kept you on the edge of your seat throughout due to the context! Book 1’s plot was more action based and you were constantly waiting to see what would happen, while this one was more love drawn and edge of your seat romance.
I really enjoyed the plot! You’ll find:
-Inexperienced MMC
-Brief Secret Dating
-Professor / Student
-Amnesia
-He Falls First
-Billionaire
I really enjoyed the scene where she got her memory back! It was so wholesome. I was worried we were setting up to have a third act conflict of her getting mad no one told her about him in her past, but she didn’t give us that and i LOVED that.
Overall another really enjoyable plot, characters and story from Liss! I would absolutely recommend to my peers & will definitely be continuing to read this author!
November 8, 2024
They had an attraction at first sight but it started slow as they couldn’t date publicly. I love their chemistry and their non-dates date. They both are meant for each other. I love how thoughtful each gift and surprise. He is rich but instead just taking her to any fancy restaurant, he thoughtfully planned each date for her, I love it so much. He was her own fan and cheerleader.
But then she got in an accident , lost memories of 4 years of her life. I knew it was coming, i was heartbroken when it did. I felt so bad for Gio during that time. But i love how patient he was and all things he did to remind her of him again. This guy would go anything for her and i love him for that. I love the ending, it was perfect.
Apart from these two , i love how both of them are so close to their family and how loving it is.
I knew it would be a 5 star before i even completed the book. Now where can i find my own Gio Bianchi. He is officially my favourite book boyfriend. He defiantly gets an A+ as boyfriend. 😤😂
But then she got in an accident , lost memories of 4 years of her life. I knew it was coming, i was heartbroken when it did. I felt so bad for Gio during that time. But i love how patient he was and all things he did to remind her of him again. This guy would go anything for her and i love him for that. I love the ending, it was perfect.
Apart from these two , i love how both of them are so close to their family and how loving it is.
I knew it would be a 5 star before i even completed the book. Now where can i find my own Gio Bianchi. He is officially my favourite book boyfriend. He defiantly gets an A+ as boyfriend. 😤😂
November 20, 2024
I have been looking forward to Gio’s story since Luca’s book Going the Distance With You and has been curious about Ruin since (Un)Bounded. @lissmontoyawrites is just an amazing storyteller that you get sucked into the story. You love the main characters but at the same time want to learn about the side characters. I kind of hope we get an another spin off series for Ruin’s siblings. I am so here for that to happen 😉
I really liked the connection between Gio and Ruin. It was an instant attraction but the chemisty slowly built until they couldn’t ignore it anymore. Their love was so strong that after her accdient he made her fall in love with him all over again. The accident caused amnesia and she couldn’t remember the last 4 years which meant she didn’t remember Gio.
I just absoutely loved Lodged. Thank you @lissmontoyawrites for allowing me to be part of you ARC team
I really liked the connection between Gio and Ruin. It was an instant attraction but the chemisty slowly built until they couldn’t ignore it anymore. Their love was so strong that after her accdient he made her fall in love with him all over again. The accident caused amnesia and she couldn’t remember the last 4 years which meant she didn’t remember Gio.
I just absoutely loved Lodged. Thank you @lissmontoyawrites for allowing me to be part of you ARC team
November 22, 2024
This was a very sweet love story between a billionaire MMC and a small town FMC. I was intrigued by the amnesia storyline and I think it helped add something different to this story.
I thought both of the MCs were very sweet and seemed like a great pair. They also had good chemistry. I also enjoyed the family dynamics, especially with Ruin's family. They are very tight knit so it was sweet to see how her brothers wanted to protect her.
There were some places in the book that I wish the author would've elaborated more on instead of just a passing comment. Overall I would recommend it to anyone looking for a cinnamon roll billionaire MMC. It was nice that he wasn't a jerk of a rich guy and very laid back.
I thought both of the MCs were very sweet and seemed like a great pair. They also had good chemistry. I also enjoyed the family dynamics, especially with Ruin's family. They are very tight knit so it was sweet to see how her brothers wanted to protect her.
There were some places in the book that I wish the author would've elaborated more on instead of just a passing comment. Overall I would recommend it to anyone looking for a cinnamon roll billionaire MMC. It was nice that he wasn't a jerk of a rich guy and very laid back.
November 26, 2024
Ruin & Gio were so beautiful, they had my heart from the first page. I absolutely loved them together, they are chemistry the love that they shared, the way that he was so detail oriented and attentive and thoughtful, and just everything that he was to her was so beautiful.
I absolutely loved the storyline, the Amnesia trope really just made the story so much more impactful and emotional, and I found myself captivated by them and also sobbing my heart out for everything they had to go through to find each other again. It definitely started out slow and quickly grew into such a beautiful love story, and though there were some twists and turns, there was no doubt that Ruin & Gio were made for each other and that they were destined to be together.
I absolutely loved the storyline, the Amnesia trope really just made the story so much more impactful and emotional, and I found myself captivated by them and also sobbing my heart out for everything they had to go through to find each other again. It definitely started out slow and quickly grew into such a beautiful love story, and though there were some twists and turns, there was no doubt that Ruin & Gio were made for each other and that they were destined to be together.
December 3, 2024
⭐️:5 of 5 📚: 358 pages 🌶️: 3.5 of 5
Read it if you like:
✔️ Billionaire romance
✔️ Small town, cozy vibes
✔️ FMC has memory loss
✔️ Professor X Student
✔️ Latin characters
✔️ He Falls First
Blurb: ''All I ever wanted was to get my degree, live life in a big city, then return home to my small town. That was the dream, and it was on the horizon. Until I met him—my hot, unassuming lab instructor, Gio Bianchi. When we finally move past hiding and sneaking around in fortuitous encounters, the holidays are upon us. We decide to spend them with our families before sharing our happy news— that love has lodged itself in our hearts. But our luck runs out, and an accident separates us, wiping away the last four years of my life. Making me forget so many painful memories and the man who now stands before me…''
My thoughts: Liss does it again! This book is a standalone but I ALWAYS love to hear about what’s going on with the other characters! I love how this book felt different from the others, it’s a bit more mature, more calm, cozy and it felt like a delicate thing to keep and enjoy… the unexpected curveballs were keeping me anxious but in the best way lol I loved Gio and Ruin’s relationship and their growth through the story is beautiful to see! Another master piece from my girl Liss and i hope to read more in the future about these two
Read it if you like:
✔️ Billionaire romance
✔️ Small town, cozy vibes
✔️ FMC has memory loss
✔️ Professor X Student
✔️ Latin characters
✔️ He Falls First
Blurb: ''All I ever wanted was to get my degree, live life in a big city, then return home to my small town. That was the dream, and it was on the horizon. Until I met him—my hot, unassuming lab instructor, Gio Bianchi. When we finally move past hiding and sneaking around in fortuitous encounters, the holidays are upon us. We decide to spend them with our families before sharing our happy news— that love has lodged itself in our hearts. But our luck runs out, and an accident separates us, wiping away the last four years of my life. Making me forget so many painful memories and the man who now stands before me…''
My thoughts: Liss does it again! This book is a standalone but I ALWAYS love to hear about what’s going on with the other characters! I love how this book felt different from the others, it’s a bit more mature, more calm, cozy and it felt like a delicate thing to keep and enjoy… the unexpected curveballs were keeping me anxious but in the best way lol I loved Gio and Ruin’s relationship and their growth through the story is beautiful to see! Another master piece from my girl Liss and i hope to read more in the future about these two
Read
November 30, 2024DNF
While there wasn’t anything outright wrong with Lodged, it just didn’t work for me. This one just wasn’t for me. The writing and dialogue didn’t really click, and it felt like the author tried to cram in every trope imaginable, which made the story feel kind of all over the place.
I can see how some readers might enjoy it, especially if you love tropey stories, but I couldn’t get into it. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC, though—I appreciate the chance to give it a try!
While there wasn’t anything outright wrong with Lodged, it just didn’t work for me. This one just wasn’t for me. The writing and dialogue didn’t really click, and it felt like the author tried to cram in every trope imaginable, which made the story feel kind of all over the place.
I can see how some readers might enjoy it, especially if you love tropey stories, but I couldn’t get into it. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC, though—I appreciate the chance to give it a try!
November 19, 2024
✨Review✨
4.85⭐️
Lodged by @lissmontoyawrites
I loved this book. It’s cute and a perfect fall read. I love the name Ruin. Ruin and Gio are adorable. I love that Ruin was the first girl to ever make him feel anything. Their dates are adorable and I just couldn’t get enough of them.
4.85⭐️
Lodged by @lissmontoyawrites
I loved this book. It’s cute and a perfect fall read. I love the name Ruin. Ruin and Gio are adorable. I love that Ruin was the first girl to ever make him feel anything. Their dates are adorable and I just couldn’t get enough of them.
November 22, 2024
** ARC review**
this is the 2nd book in the Kinsmen billionare series.
This book had me in all my feels, then broke my heart, then gave me feelings again. I absolutely love Ruin and Gio.
Thank you Liss for allowing me to read this before it's released. I'm so excited to keep reading!
this is the 2nd book in the Kinsmen billionare series.
This book had me in all my feels, then broke my heart, then gave me feelings again. I absolutely love Ruin and Gio.
Thank you Liss for allowing me to read this before it's released. I'm so excited to keep reading!
December 1, 2024
Cute forbidden (doctoral student x majoring student), billionaire, memory loss romance.
November 19, 2024
Where to start?! This book was so good! It had so many good tropes in it: forbidden romance, small town, billionaire, spice lessons, virgin mmc, amnesia, he’s her professor, second chance at love, cinnamon roll hero- a lengthy list! Gio and Ruin are immediately attracted to one another and the slow burn is 🔥. He is absolutely swoonworthy👏👏👏 their love story, even though it starts out so well, endures a tragedy that literally breaks your heart for them. Eventually it gets put back together again, but it has you rooting for them the whole time leading up it. Once their HEA comes back around it just keeps you smiling while reading the whole time. Such a great second chance and ending to their book!
November 30, 2024
ARC kindly provided for the author in exchange for an honest review
Lodged is my favorite book of November! And what makes me the happiest is that Liss Montoya gave me the most adorable and unexpected moments with Gio & Ruin's story, she even made me enjoy the amnesia trope, one that I hate because it always comes at the most inopportune moments, BUT I think that being something that the author had already warned us about made it much more interesting and also helped me see the depth of these characters' feelings. And if that wasn't enough, Liss introduces us in this book to Ruin's siblings, charming, VERY interesting characters, who I'm already madly in love with and who I'm dying to read (including Merlin).
Gio became one of my favorite characters of all time! He's a man who took care of his siblings when they were abandoned by their parents and had to put his own dreams on hold. He's a kind, fair man with a big heart who ALWAYS shows the people around him how important they are to him. I loved reading how he struggles to win back Ruin's love. My heart also melted when I saw Gio's moments with his family, with Ruin's family, and everything Liss wrote about this beautiful man.
Ruin is a VERY interesting girl. At first she seems to be a shy, quiet girl, totally focused on her studies, but she is much more than that. I was surprised and enamored by reading her daring and flirtatious side. I really liked reading how her feelings for Gio began, the doubts she had, and how she turned to Rain whenever she needed advice of any kind. Also, I LOVED reading their family dynamic, even though it broke my heart to read their story, they were adorably funny.
Gio & Ruin have one of the best stories I've read this year! They meet as teacher and student and I love that from the first time they see each other the sparks fly between them, plus I think Liss handled the forbidden element of their relationship and all the twists that this part of their plot had super well. Another trope that the author gave the best twist possible was the one where one of the main characters is inexperienced and the other gives them lessons, it was one of my favorite parts of the whole book and something I didn't expect. I also have to say that Liss made me love the amnesia plot in this book, even though there were moments that broke my heart, I really enjoyed reading Gio & Ruin connecting again like the first time, trusting each other again and finding their way back to each other.
🍂Gio: 5/5
🍁Ruin: 5/5
🍂Plot: 5/5
🍁Love story: 5/5
🍂Secondary characters: 5/5
🍁Universe: 5/5
🍂Cover: 5/5
🌶️: 3/5
ARC amablemente proporcionada por la autora a cambio de una reseña honesta
Lodged es mi libro favorito de noviembre! Y lo que más me hace feliz es que Liss Montoya me lo momentos más adorables e inesperados con la historia de Gio & Ruin, incluso me hizo disfrutar del trope de la amnesia, uno que odio porque siempre llega en los momentos más inoportunos, PERO creo que al ser algo de lo que la autora ya nos había advertido lo hizo mucho más interesante y también me ayudó a ver la profundidad de los sentimientos de estos personajes. Y por si eso no fuera poco, Liss nos presenta en este libro a los hermanos de Ruin, personajes encantadores, MUY interesantes, de los que ya estoy perdidamente enamorada y que me muero por leer (incluido Merlin).
Gio se convirtió en uno de mis personajes favoritos de todos los tiempos! Es un hombre que asumió el cuidado de sus hermanos cuando fueron abandonados por sus padres y tuvo que poner en pausa sus propios sueños, es hombre amable, justo, con un gran corazón y que SIEMPRE le demuestra a las personas que tiene a su alrededor lo importantes que son para él. Me encantó leer lo luchas por recuperar el amor de Ruin, también me derritieron el corazón los momentos de Gio con su familia, con la familia de Ruin y todo lo que Liss escribió sobre este hermoso hombre.
Ruin es una chica MUY interesante, al principio parece ser una chica tímida, callada y totalmente concentrada en sus estudios, pero es mucho más que eso: me sorprendió, y enamoró, leer su lado atrevido y coqueto, me gustó mucho leer cómo empezaron sus sentimientos por Gio, las dudas que ella tuvo y como recurrió a Rain siempre que necesitó consejo de cualquier tipo. Además, ME ENCANTÓ leer su dinámica familiar, aún cuando me rompió el corazón leer su historia, fueron adorablemente divertidos.
Gio & Ruin tienen una de las mejores historias que he leído este año! Se conocen como profesor y alumna y me encanta que desde la primera vez que se ven las chispas vuelen entre ellos, además creo que Liss manejó súper bien el elemento prohibido de su relación y todos los giros que esta parte de su trama tuvo. Otro trope al que la autora le dio el mejor giro posible fue ese en el que uno de los personajes principales es inexperto y el otro le da lecciones, fue una de mis partes favoritas de todo el libro y algo que no me esperaba. También tengo que decir que Liss me hizo amar la trama de la amnesia en este libro, aún cuando hubo momentos que me rompieron el corazón, me gustó mucho leer a Gio & Ruin conectando de nuevo como la primera vez, confiando de nuevo en el otro y encontrando el camino de regreso al otro.
🍂Gio: 5/5
🍁Ruin: 5/5
🍂Trama: 5/5
🍁Historia de amor: 5/5
🍂Personajes secundarios: 5/5
🍁Universo: 5/5
🍂Portada: 5/5
🌶️: 3/5
Lodged is my favorite book of November! And what makes me the happiest is that Liss Montoya gave me the most adorable and unexpected moments with Gio & Ruin's story, she even made me enjoy the amnesia trope, one that I hate because it always comes at the most inopportune moments, BUT I think that being something that the author had already warned us about made it much more interesting and also helped me see the depth of these characters' feelings. And if that wasn't enough, Liss introduces us in this book to Ruin's siblings, charming, VERY interesting characters, who I'm already madly in love with and who I'm dying to read (including Merlin).
Gio became one of my favorite characters of all time! He's a man who took care of his siblings when they were abandoned by their parents and had to put his own dreams on hold. He's a kind, fair man with a big heart who ALWAYS shows the people around him how important they are to him. I loved reading how he struggles to win back Ruin's love. My heart also melted when I saw Gio's moments with his family, with Ruin's family, and everything Liss wrote about this beautiful man.
Ruin is a VERY interesting girl. At first she seems to be a shy, quiet girl, totally focused on her studies, but she is much more than that. I was surprised and enamored by reading her daring and flirtatious side. I really liked reading how her feelings for Gio began, the doubts she had, and how she turned to Rain whenever she needed advice of any kind. Also, I LOVED reading their family dynamic, even though it broke my heart to read their story, they were adorably funny.
Gio & Ruin have one of the best stories I've read this year! They meet as teacher and student and I love that from the first time they see each other the sparks fly between them, plus I think Liss handled the forbidden element of their relationship and all the twists that this part of their plot had super well. Another trope that the author gave the best twist possible was the one where one of the main characters is inexperienced and the other gives them lessons, it was one of my favorite parts of the whole book and something I didn't expect. I also have to say that Liss made me love the amnesia plot in this book, even though there were moments that broke my heart, I really enjoyed reading Gio & Ruin connecting again like the first time, trusting each other again and finding their way back to each other.
🍂Gio: 5/5
🍁Ruin: 5/5
🍂Plot: 5/5
🍁Love story: 5/5
🍂Secondary characters: 5/5
🍁Universe: 5/5
🍂Cover: 5/5
🌶️: 3/5
ARC amablemente proporcionada por la autora a cambio de una reseña honesta
Lodged es mi libro favorito de noviembre! Y lo que más me hace feliz es que Liss Montoya me lo momentos más adorables e inesperados con la historia de Gio & Ruin, incluso me hizo disfrutar del trope de la amnesia, uno que odio porque siempre llega en los momentos más inoportunos, PERO creo que al ser algo de lo que la autora ya nos había advertido lo hizo mucho más interesante y también me ayudó a ver la profundidad de los sentimientos de estos personajes. Y por si eso no fuera poco, Liss nos presenta en este libro a los hermanos de Ruin, personajes encantadores, MUY interesantes, de los que ya estoy perdidamente enamorada y que me muero por leer (incluido Merlin).
Gio se convirtió en uno de mis personajes favoritos de todos los tiempos! Es un hombre que asumió el cuidado de sus hermanos cuando fueron abandonados por sus padres y tuvo que poner en pausa sus propios sueños, es hombre amable, justo, con un gran corazón y que SIEMPRE le demuestra a las personas que tiene a su alrededor lo importantes que son para él. Me encantó leer lo luchas por recuperar el amor de Ruin, también me derritieron el corazón los momentos de Gio con su familia, con la familia de Ruin y todo lo que Liss escribió sobre este hermoso hombre.
Ruin es una chica MUY interesante, al principio parece ser una chica tímida, callada y totalmente concentrada en sus estudios, pero es mucho más que eso: me sorprendió, y enamoró, leer su lado atrevido y coqueto, me gustó mucho leer cómo empezaron sus sentimientos por Gio, las dudas que ella tuvo y como recurrió a Rain siempre que necesitó consejo de cualquier tipo. Además, ME ENCANTÓ leer su dinámica familiar, aún cuando me rompió el corazón leer su historia, fueron adorablemente divertidos.
Gio & Ruin tienen una de las mejores historias que he leído este año! Se conocen como profesor y alumna y me encanta que desde la primera vez que se ven las chispas vuelen entre ellos, además creo que Liss manejó súper bien el elemento prohibido de su relación y todos los giros que esta parte de su trama tuvo. Otro trope al que la autora le dio el mejor giro posible fue ese en el que uno de los personajes principales es inexperto y el otro le da lecciones, fue una de mis partes favoritas de todo el libro y algo que no me esperaba. También tengo que decir que Liss me hizo amar la trama de la amnesia en este libro, aún cuando hubo momentos que me rompieron el corazón, me gustó mucho leer a Gio & Ruin conectando de nuevo como la primera vez, confiando de nuevo en el otro y encontrando el camino de regreso al otro.
🍂Gio: 5/5
🍁Ruin: 5/5
🍂Trama: 5/5
🍁Historia de amor: 5/5
🍂Personajes secundarios: 5/5
🍁Universo: 5/5
🍂Portada: 5/5
🌶️: 3/5
March 9, 2025
After reading Unbounded I was so excited for this story. I enjoyed the "forbidden" romance of teacher/student and appreciated that they were close in age so in my mind it didn't matter. The characters were both wonderful and I love their families. There was a feel of 50 first dates for the second half of the book. A few spots were slow or had too much going on for me but all in all a good read and I look forward to the next in the series.
Thank you Liss for an ARC copy!
Thank you Liss for an ARC copy!
December 2, 2024
1.5 ⭐
This was a good small town romance book, but it just wasn't for me.
⭐ Rating Criteria ⭐
🧡 Plot:
This read started off really slow, and it's divided into two parts. Unfortunately, the writing style just wasn't for me. As mentioned, the book is essentially divided into two: before and after the major event. If it were structured better, the two parts would've been able to transition smoothly. However, with how it was written, it just felt like it was supposedly two books mushed into one. I understand why it was divided, but the way it was written and plotted just didn't flow right.
Oh, and in the middle of the story, Ruin's brother suddenly got his own POV, and I was so confused.
Aside from the plot, I personally think the tropes in this book were not executed as well as I would've hoped.
First, the forbidden romance trope (professor x student) just felt like the author set it aside even though it's supposed to be a major thing. It's not like Ruin is in another class that doesn't directly concern Gio. The fact that she (and her grades) is under Gio's responsibility means that it's supposed to matter much more than the author made it out to be in this book, and that just fell short for me.
Second, the billionaire trope just wasn't it for me, and that trope is one of my favorites. I felt that it was set up awkwardly - the fact that Gio literally had to say, "I'm a billionaire," killed me with cringe. Also the fact that the author really wanted to emphasize how rich Gio was by explicitly stating certain actions/activities, was just too much for me. At one point, they even mentioned an amount - I'm pretty sure that was from the first half if I'm not mistaken, and it felt so random - and I just could not stand that.
The amnesia trope was also not as good in my opinion. Just a little disclaimer, I'm not a fan of the amnesia trope, but I do acknowledge a well-written trope even if it's not my preference.
🧡 Characters:
The characters were okay, but they seemed one-dimensional. There were emotional moments with the characters, and while they were written as so, I couldn't feel an ounce of emotion for or from them.
🧡 Overall:
I really wanted to like this, but it just didn't work for me. I felt detached from everything - both the characters and the plot felt unrelatable and flat. Even though this was written from a first-person POV, I felt like I was someone from the outside looking in. I could not connect with anyone, and I couldn't imagine any of it realistically. Honestly, I stopped annotating at chapter 6 because I couldn't even focus on the whole thing, and then I just skimmed through most of the book.
Although it felt monotonous throughout the book, I will acknowledge the ending. I'm glad it got better towards the end, and that it had a satisfying conclusion.
Thank you to Happily Booked PR and the author for providing me with the ARC in exchange for my honest review ❤️
This was a good small town romance book, but it just wasn't for me.
⭐ Rating Criteria ⭐
🧡 Plot:
This read started off really slow, and it's divided into two parts. Unfortunately, the writing style just wasn't for me. As mentioned, the book is essentially divided into two: before and after the major event. If it were structured better, the two parts would've been able to transition smoothly. However, with how it was written, it just felt like it was supposedly two books mushed into one. I understand why it was divided, but the way it was written and plotted just didn't flow right.
Oh, and in the middle of the story, Ruin's brother suddenly got his own POV, and I was so confused.
Aside from the plot, I personally think the tropes in this book were not executed as well as I would've hoped.
First, the forbidden romance trope (professor x student) just felt like the author set it aside even though it's supposed to be a major thing. It's not like Ruin is in another class that doesn't directly concern Gio. The fact that she (and her grades) is under Gio's responsibility means that it's supposed to matter much more than the author made it out to be in this book, and that just fell short for me.
Second, the billionaire trope just wasn't it for me, and that trope is one of my favorites. I felt that it was set up awkwardly - the fact that Gio literally had to say, "I'm a billionaire," killed me with cringe. Also the fact that the author really wanted to emphasize how rich Gio was by explicitly stating certain actions/activities, was just too much for me. At one point, they even mentioned an amount - I'm pretty sure that was from the first half if I'm not mistaken, and it felt so random - and I just could not stand that.
The amnesia trope was also not as good in my opinion. Just a little disclaimer, I'm not a fan of the amnesia trope, but I do acknowledge a well-written trope even if it's not my preference.
🧡 Characters:
The characters were okay, but they seemed one-dimensional. There were emotional moments with the characters, and while they were written as so, I couldn't feel an ounce of emotion for or from them.
🧡 Overall:
I really wanted to like this, but it just didn't work for me. I felt detached from everything - both the characters and the plot felt unrelatable and flat. Even though this was written from a first-person POV, I felt like I was someone from the outside looking in. I could not connect with anyone, and I couldn't imagine any of it realistically. Honestly, I stopped annotating at chapter 6 because I couldn't even focus on the whole thing, and then I just skimmed through most of the book.
Although it felt monotonous throughout the book, I will acknowledge the ending. I'm glad it got better towards the end, and that it had a satisfying conclusion.
Thank you to Happily Booked PR and the author for providing me with the ARC in exchange for my honest review ❤️
November 28, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐⭐️⭐️/ 🌶️🌶️🌶️
This story broke my heart, but put it back together again! Liss never fails to provide stories that are packed with so much goodness. She handles the hard topics so graciously and puts energy into making sure they are represented properly. The second chance trope has a small twist within this book and I loved how she approached it. Reminding readers the power love truly has and not to give up when things get hard. It’s the hard that makes it great! Yes, League of Their Own quote.
When Gio and Ruin meet, they share an instant connection. Her being his student, the relationship isn’t easy to make work. However, as hard as they try, they cannot deny the feelings they have for each other. They fall hard for each other and life is good. However, a tragic accident causes Ruin memory loss, not remembering her relationship with Gio. He is determined to remind her of their love, even if it means starting over with her and making her fall in love with him again.
Gio is all the good things about a book boyfriend! He refuses to give up on their love, knowing the connection they share can transcend her memory loss. He shows up for her, dotes on her, and romances her in ways that had me tearing up, laughing, and smiling. He proves his worth by not walking away when things become hard. He is humble, although wealthy, but the money definitely doesn’t make the man.
Ruin is so strong as she goes through life not remembering some of it. She is surrounded by people who support her and want the best for her. At times, yes that was misguided, but the love her circle shares is evident. I loved watching the journey she went on to fall back in love with Gio.
All in all, this is a must read! The story is beautiful, well written, and paced perfectly. Our MMC is determined, but also willing to be taught (in the bedroom). Our FMC never gives up and fights for a life that she wants. Liss gives us passion, romance, resiliency, and determination in spades throughout this book!
As always, review any author notes before reading.
Tropes:
🌲 Billionaire
🍁Forbidden Romance
🌲 Amnesia
🍁Second Chance
🌲 Small Town
🍁He Never Gives Up on Her
🌲 Teacher x Student
🍁Spice Lessons
🌲 Latino Representation
This story broke my heart, but put it back together again! Liss never fails to provide stories that are packed with so much goodness. She handles the hard topics so graciously and puts energy into making sure they are represented properly. The second chance trope has a small twist within this book and I loved how she approached it. Reminding readers the power love truly has and not to give up when things get hard. It’s the hard that makes it great! Yes, League of Their Own quote.
When Gio and Ruin meet, they share an instant connection. Her being his student, the relationship isn’t easy to make work. However, as hard as they try, they cannot deny the feelings they have for each other. They fall hard for each other and life is good. However, a tragic accident causes Ruin memory loss, not remembering her relationship with Gio. He is determined to remind her of their love, even if it means starting over with her and making her fall in love with him again.
Gio is all the good things about a book boyfriend! He refuses to give up on their love, knowing the connection they share can transcend her memory loss. He shows up for her, dotes on her, and romances her in ways that had me tearing up, laughing, and smiling. He proves his worth by not walking away when things become hard. He is humble, although wealthy, but the money definitely doesn’t make the man.
Ruin is so strong as she goes through life not remembering some of it. She is surrounded by people who support her and want the best for her. At times, yes that was misguided, but the love her circle shares is evident. I loved watching the journey she went on to fall back in love with Gio.
All in all, this is a must read! The story is beautiful, well written, and paced perfectly. Our MMC is determined, but also willing to be taught (in the bedroom). Our FMC never gives up and fights for a life that she wants. Liss gives us passion, romance, resiliency, and determination in spades throughout this book!
As always, review any author notes before reading.
Tropes:
🌲 Billionaire
🍁Forbidden Romance
🌲 Amnesia
🍁Second Chance
🌲 Small Town
🍁He Never Gives Up on Her
🌲 Teacher x Student
🍁Spice Lessons
🌲 Latino Representation
November 27, 2024
Arc review'
Rating:3.8 stars
spice level 2
Tropes:
Billionaire
Forbidden romance
student/teacher
Second chance
Latinx rep
She falls first/he falls harder
From the minute I was able to read the second book to this series I was so excited to read from this author again. The angsty, the true fall vibes, and the forbidden romance was done well in this book. I loved being able to actually feel the season vibes from this book and the true second chance that was given from both of these characters.
Ruin MacAllister is courageous, creative, and has big dreams for herself. Being at Wolfe University she has one set goal: to complete her achievements to reach her future career. Little did she know being at this university was going to change her whole entire plans. Not only does she have a hot professor, but she also not only falls for this hot professor, who shows her the world when she is asked of wanting it. As she fights are feelings on this strong connection between what her heart wants and what her mind wants. It was so getting to see how this played out between a student and a professor, it was so sneaky and such perfection.
Gio Bianchi is a quiet, hot, and driven professor who wants nothing but to see success going for himself within his ongoing career. As he navigates these goals and achievements, he is met with a dilemma, his student. The feelings and connections were a roller coaster to see for a professor who has to choose between two things he loves in this world, his job and Ruin. Gio is such a professional gentleman that it makes you sworn over him. He has such a unique charm to him that is overwhelmingly hot. I loved being able to see Gio as his own character from reading about him in the first book of the series.
I want to a HUGE thank you to Mrs. Liss Montoya for allowing me yet again to read another book from her. I liked being able to be a part of her world again. I was introduced to a new trope that I didn't think I would really really enjoy now, which is student x teacher trope. I'm more than excited to see yet to come from this author in the future.
Rating:3.8 stars
spice level 2
Tropes:
Billionaire
Forbidden romance
student/teacher
Second chance
Latinx rep
She falls first/he falls harder
From the minute I was able to read the second book to this series I was so excited to read from this author again. The angsty, the true fall vibes, and the forbidden romance was done well in this book. I loved being able to actually feel the season vibes from this book and the true second chance that was given from both of these characters.
Ruin MacAllister is courageous, creative, and has big dreams for herself. Being at Wolfe University she has one set goal: to complete her achievements to reach her future career. Little did she know being at this university was going to change her whole entire plans. Not only does she have a hot professor, but she also not only falls for this hot professor, who shows her the world when she is asked of wanting it. As she fights are feelings on this strong connection between what her heart wants and what her mind wants. It was so getting to see how this played out between a student and a professor, it was so sneaky and such perfection.
Gio Bianchi is a quiet, hot, and driven professor who wants nothing but to see success going for himself within his ongoing career. As he navigates these goals and achievements, he is met with a dilemma, his student. The feelings and connections were a roller coaster to see for a professor who has to choose between two things he loves in this world, his job and Ruin. Gio is such a professional gentleman that it makes you sworn over him. He has such a unique charm to him that is overwhelmingly hot. I loved being able to see Gio as his own character from reading about him in the first book of the series.
I want to a HUGE thank you to Mrs. Liss Montoya for allowing me yet again to read another book from her. I liked being able to be a part of her world again. I was introduced to a new trope that I didn't think I would really really enjoy now, which is student x teacher trope. I'm more than excited to see yet to come from this author in the future.
March 10, 2025
Lodged is the second book in Montoya's Kinsmen Billionaires series. This book features Giorgio (Gio) Bianchi (29), a doctoral student at Wolfe University in Raleigh, North Carolina, and Ruin Josephine MacAllister (24), his new student in an Environmental Tech Lab.
After Ruin's father passed away unexpectedly, she decided to pursue her dream of attending Wolfe University and left her beloved family and home behind in Azalea Creek. She plans to get her degree in environmental management and then return home after graduating to work for the Blue Ridge Mountains forestry department. Gio, originally from Argentina, has been working as a teaching assistant for the past 4 years as he completes his doctorate degree. When he sees Ruin for the first time, there appears to be an undeniable mutual attraction.
The two bump into each a few times, and as much as Gio tries to keep his distance, he cannot resist when Ruin asks him out. They adorably arrange to coincidentally meet in order to go on a date. As they spend more time together, they both fall deeper and harder.
Over the winter break, they each return home to visit their respective families, and see each other once they return to school, but the unthinkable happens. Ruin is involved in a terrible accident which injures both her body and her brain, and she loses all memory of the past four years, including the man who stole her heart.
This is a beautiful love story of two soulmates who find each other, and then fight to find their way back to one another. Their love is a thing of beauty. Gio is definitely on the list of best book boyfriends. He treasures Ruin and treats her like the queen she is. As for Ruin, she is a force. Her strength in fighting her way back both physically and mentally, is awe inspiring. They are a perfect couple.
The next book in this series is Resolute which is now out. If you have not yet read anything in this series, I encourage you to start from the beginning. The stories, while standalone, are interconnected and are best read in order. Happy reading!
After Ruin's father passed away unexpectedly, she decided to pursue her dream of attending Wolfe University and left her beloved family and home behind in Azalea Creek. She plans to get her degree in environmental management and then return home after graduating to work for the Blue Ridge Mountains forestry department. Gio, originally from Argentina, has been working as a teaching assistant for the past 4 years as he completes his doctorate degree. When he sees Ruin for the first time, there appears to be an undeniable mutual attraction.
The two bump into each a few times, and as much as Gio tries to keep his distance, he cannot resist when Ruin asks him out. They adorably arrange to coincidentally meet in order to go on a date. As they spend more time together, they both fall deeper and harder.
Over the winter break, they each return home to visit their respective families, and see each other once they return to school, but the unthinkable happens. Ruin is involved in a terrible accident which injures both her body and her brain, and she loses all memory of the past four years, including the man who stole her heart.
This is a beautiful love story of two soulmates who find each other, and then fight to find their way back to one another. Their love is a thing of beauty. Gio is definitely on the list of best book boyfriends. He treasures Ruin and treats her like the queen she is. As for Ruin, she is a force. Her strength in fighting her way back both physically and mentally, is awe inspiring. They are a perfect couple.
The next book in this series is Resolute which is now out. If you have not yet read anything in this series, I encourage you to start from the beginning. The stories, while standalone, are interconnected and are best read in order. Happy reading!
November 12, 2024
Cozy, swoon worthy romance we all need right now.
Ruin’s carefully planned life unravels after a traumatic accident robs her of her memories, including her passionate relationship with Gio, her once-secretive lab instructor. What was supposed to be a love-filled future, built on a shared dream of returning to her small town, now seems lost. Despite her amnesia, Gio is determined to remind her of their love and make her fall for him all over again. As they navigate the challenge of rebuilding their bond, Gio refuses to let the past—and their future—slip away. The question remains: Can their love survive the weight of forgotten memories, or will a single moment in time change everything?
From the very first page, I couldn't put it down, devouring it in just two sittings. The chemistry between Ruin and Gio is undeniable, but it’s the heartwarming, small-town atmosphere that really drew me in. Ruin’s deep connection to her family and hometown is humbling, and I absolutely adored the depiction of the MacAllister family. Their unwavering support during Ruin's recovery after the accident is the kind of love and selflessness that makes you believe in the goodness of people. And let’s not forget Granny—she’s the quirky matriarch every family needs, offering wisdom and comic relief in equal measure.
Gio, though, is the real standout here. Boyfriend goals, anyone?! Not only is he brilliant, driven, and kind, but his thoughtful gestures and acts of love—especially in his effort to make Ruin fall in love with him again—had me swooning. Even the fact that he's secretly a billionaire doesn’t compare to how genuinely caring and attentive he is. His dates and gifts are so heartfelt and creative, you can’t help but root for him to win Ruin’s heart all over again.
Lodged delivers on every front—romantic, emotional, and feel-good—and it's the perfect escape for anyone craving a story full of warmth, love, and second chances.
Ruin’s carefully planned life unravels after a traumatic accident robs her of her memories, including her passionate relationship with Gio, her once-secretive lab instructor. What was supposed to be a love-filled future, built on a shared dream of returning to her small town, now seems lost. Despite her amnesia, Gio is determined to remind her of their love and make her fall for him all over again. As they navigate the challenge of rebuilding their bond, Gio refuses to let the past—and their future—slip away. The question remains: Can their love survive the weight of forgotten memories, or will a single moment in time change everything?
From the very first page, I couldn't put it down, devouring it in just two sittings. The chemistry between Ruin and Gio is undeniable, but it’s the heartwarming, small-town atmosphere that really drew me in. Ruin’s deep connection to her family and hometown is humbling, and I absolutely adored the depiction of the MacAllister family. Their unwavering support during Ruin's recovery after the accident is the kind of love and selflessness that makes you believe in the goodness of people. And let’s not forget Granny—she’s the quirky matriarch every family needs, offering wisdom and comic relief in equal measure.
Gio, though, is the real standout here. Boyfriend goals, anyone?! Not only is he brilliant, driven, and kind, but his thoughtful gestures and acts of love—especially in his effort to make Ruin fall in love with him again—had me swooning. Even the fact that he's secretly a billionaire doesn’t compare to how genuinely caring and attentive he is. His dates and gifts are so heartfelt and creative, you can’t help but root for him to win Ruin’s heart all over again.
Lodged delivers on every front—romantic, emotional, and feel-good—and it's the perfect escape for anyone craving a story full of warmth, love, and second chances.
May 17, 2025
Rating: 4.5⭐️/5 (rounded up!)
Ruin MacAllister is a small-town girl with a unique name, striking red hair, and big dreams of earning her degree and making a life in the city before eventually returning home. Then she met Gio Bianchi—her incredibly handsome and down-to-earth lab instructor and grad student. Sparks fly instantly, and their chemistry is undeniable. Just as everything seems perfect, Ruin suffers an accident that wipes out her memory—including Gio. But he’s not giving up that easily. Determined to make her fall in love with him all over again, Gio shows up with unwavering love, charm, and patience. This is a heartfelt story of resilience, second chances, and finding your way back to the person your heart never forgot.
This swoony billionaire romance hit all the right notes! Gio is the ultimate cinnamon roll book boyfriend—thoughtful, caring, and completely smitten with Ruin. Despite the professor-student age gap, it never felt awkward. Equal parts heartwarming and butterflies. Off the charts in both sweet and spicy ways. There wasn’t a single cringe moment—just pure joy, giggles, and all the “falling in love” feels. The memory loss twist is done beautifully, but what really made this story shine were the surprising layers—like her twin sister Rain, their brother River (yes, Ruin, Rain, and River—how adorable!), and the strong family bonds on both sides. From giggling over scenes where Gio wasn’t even present in his Range Rover, private festival, and healing after loss/accident—still, no drama overload, just a beautifully written love story with some unexpected twists that came out of nowhere—stuff I never even saw coming. I’m sold. This book is amazing! *chef’s kiss*
It’s a love story… (insert Taylor Swift’s voice). It certainly is!
A big thanks to Happily Booked PR and Liss Montoya for the digital ARC—looking forward to reading more from the author!
—
#lateARCreview
Ruin MacAllister is a small-town girl with a unique name, striking red hair, and big dreams of earning her degree and making a life in the city before eventually returning home. Then she met Gio Bianchi—her incredibly handsome and down-to-earth lab instructor and grad student. Sparks fly instantly, and their chemistry is undeniable. Just as everything seems perfect, Ruin suffers an accident that wipes out her memory—including Gio. But he’s not giving up that easily. Determined to make her fall in love with him all over again, Gio shows up with unwavering love, charm, and patience. This is a heartfelt story of resilience, second chances, and finding your way back to the person your heart never forgot.
This swoony billionaire romance hit all the right notes! Gio is the ultimate cinnamon roll book boyfriend—thoughtful, caring, and completely smitten with Ruin. Despite the professor-student age gap, it never felt awkward. Equal parts heartwarming and butterflies. Off the charts in both sweet and spicy ways. There wasn’t a single cringe moment—just pure joy, giggles, and all the “falling in love” feels. The memory loss twist is done beautifully, but what really made this story shine were the surprising layers—like her twin sister Rain, their brother River (yes, Ruin, Rain, and River—how adorable!), and the strong family bonds on both sides. From giggling over scenes where Gio wasn’t even present in his Range Rover, private festival, and healing after loss/accident—still, no drama overload, just a beautifully written love story with some unexpected twists that came out of nowhere—stuff I never even saw coming. I’m sold. This book is amazing! *chef’s kiss*
It’s a love story… (insert Taylor Swift’s voice). It certainly is!
A big thanks to Happily Booked PR and Liss Montoya for the digital ARC—looking forward to reading more from the author!
—
#lateARCreview
November 10, 2024
🌟Small Town
🌟Billionaire
🌟Forbidden Love
🌟Amnesia
🌟Instructor/Student
🌟Virgin MMC
🌟HEA
🌟Dual POV
🌟🌶️🌶️🌶️
The love story between Gio and Ruin is hands down one of the sweetest romances I’ve ever had the pleasure to read. These two are so precious and dreamy together; their love just shines. From the start, they captured my heart, and by the end, I was totally enchanted.
Despite coming from different backgrounds and having vastly different life experiences, Gio and Ruin share this undeniable, almost magnetic harmony. They both radiate kindness, generosity, and thoughtfulness in a way that makes them not only incredible partners but also the kind of people anyone would be lucky to know and love. The way they fall in love not just once, but twice, left me swooning—it’s a love that feels destined, tested, and unbreakable.
When tragedy strikes, the heartbreak that follows is gut-wrenching. The accident that Ruin endures throws them into a whirlwind of pain and loss, and it broke me to see Gio fully aware of all that had been taken from them. But, oh, the lengths a man in love will go! Even in his grief, Gio’s unwavering love drives him forward. He refuses to let go, and his resilience moved me to tears. The way he fights for Ruin, even in moments when it seems hope is all he has left, was one of the most beautiful, selfless displays of love I've read.
When Ruin’s memories return, it was an emotional crescendo that hit me with all the feels—I couldn’t stop the happy tears. This couple is something so special, and their journey is unforgettable. Their HEA was the perfect, joyful end they deserved, and I loved every minute of it.
Thanks to the author, Liss, for the gifted eARC 🍁
🌟Billionaire
🌟Forbidden Love
🌟Amnesia
🌟Instructor/Student
🌟Virgin MMC
🌟HEA
🌟Dual POV
🌟🌶️🌶️🌶️
The love story between Gio and Ruin is hands down one of the sweetest romances I’ve ever had the pleasure to read. These two are so precious and dreamy together; their love just shines. From the start, they captured my heart, and by the end, I was totally enchanted.
Despite coming from different backgrounds and having vastly different life experiences, Gio and Ruin share this undeniable, almost magnetic harmony. They both radiate kindness, generosity, and thoughtfulness in a way that makes them not only incredible partners but also the kind of people anyone would be lucky to know and love. The way they fall in love not just once, but twice, left me swooning—it’s a love that feels destined, tested, and unbreakable.
When tragedy strikes, the heartbreak that follows is gut-wrenching. The accident that Ruin endures throws them into a whirlwind of pain and loss, and it broke me to see Gio fully aware of all that had been taken from them. But, oh, the lengths a man in love will go! Even in his grief, Gio’s unwavering love drives him forward. He refuses to let go, and his resilience moved me to tears. The way he fights for Ruin, even in moments when it seems hope is all he has left, was one of the most beautiful, selfless displays of love I've read.
When Ruin’s memories return, it was an emotional crescendo that hit me with all the feels—I couldn’t stop the happy tears. This couple is something so special, and their journey is unforgettable. Their HEA was the perfect, joyful end they deserved, and I loved every minute of it.
Thanks to the author, Liss, for the gifted eARC 🍁
November 17, 2024
Thank you to the author @lissmontoyawrites for the eARC copy in exchange for my honest review.
I did not hesitate for even a second to give this one a 5⭐
First off, Gio is NOT your average billionaire. He will most definitely leave you in tears. His heart, is so big and the love he carries for others is evident in all his actions.
Ruin? Well she's the headstrong, fierce FMC I think many of us look for, hope to read, and aspire to be. She is strong, on so many levels.
From the blurb, we know our FMC gets amnesia, and even though I knew it was coming, I still was not prepared for it. Nothing would have prepared me for how hard this pulled on my heart strings.
I got to a point in this book and I started crying and all I could think was "this is beautiful" and "after all the tragedy, this is absolutely beautiful."
Please, do me a favor (& support this talented author) and head over and pre-order this book. You won't have to wait long to start it either, this book is set to release Tomorrow, 11/18!
This is book two in the Kinsmen Billionaire Series, but it works as a standalone and you won't feel lost reading it if you haven't read book 1.
Tropes:
🍂Billionaire
🍁Forbidden Romance
🍂Amnesia
🍁Student/Teacher
🍂Second Chance
🍁She Falls First/He Falls Harder
🍂Spicy Lessons
🍁Second Chance
#reader #readersofinstagram #books #bookish #bookishcontent #bookishaccount #bookishvibes #romancereader #fantasyreader #arc #arcreader #arcteams #bookdragon #tropes #readmorebooks #billionaireromance #shefallsfirst #hefallsharder #secondchance #forbiddenromance #teacherromance #releasingsoon #hypeteam #amazingbooks
I did not hesitate for even a second to give this one a 5⭐
First off, Gio is NOT your average billionaire. He will most definitely leave you in tears. His heart, is so big and the love he carries for others is evident in all his actions.
Ruin? Well she's the headstrong, fierce FMC I think many of us look for, hope to read, and aspire to be. She is strong, on so many levels.
From the blurb, we know our FMC gets amnesia, and even though I knew it was coming, I still was not prepared for it. Nothing would have prepared me for how hard this pulled on my heart strings.
I got to a point in this book and I started crying and all I could think was "this is beautiful" and "after all the tragedy, this is absolutely beautiful."
Please, do me a favor (& support this talented author) and head over and pre-order this book. You won't have to wait long to start it either, this book is set to release Tomorrow, 11/18!
This is book two in the Kinsmen Billionaire Series, but it works as a standalone and you won't feel lost reading it if you haven't read book 1.
Tropes:
🍂Billionaire
🍁Forbidden Romance
🍂Amnesia
🍁Student/Teacher
🍂Second Chance
🍁She Falls First/He Falls Harder
🍂Spicy Lessons
🍁Second Chance
#reader #readersofinstagram #books #bookish #bookishcontent #bookishaccount #bookishvibes #romancereader #fantasyreader #arc #arcreader #arcteams #bookdragon #tropes #readmorebooks #billionaireromance #shefallsfirst #hefallsharder #secondchance #forbiddenromance #teacherromance #releasingsoon #hypeteam #amazingbooks
November 18, 2024
Ruin is finally away from her small town and starting at her dream college after loss derailed her life and made her take a chance on her future. The last thing she expects is to have it bad for her lab instructor, Gio, and she’s even more surprised when the attraction is mutual. But with an entire semester together and scandal to avoid they decide to narrowly skate the rules until they can officially be together. Just when everything is finally going right tragedy strikes. Now Gio has to face giving up his dream girl or face the daunting task of making her fall in love with him for the second time.
I feel like I say this every book I read of Liss’ but they just keep getting better and better. This book was hands down my favorite. I am a sucker for boy obsessed and you would be hard pressed to find a hero who embodies this trope more than Gio. He is the definition of a swoon worthy hero and honestly Ruin is a lucky girl.
Ruin’s family is a delight especially her grandmother! They rallied around Ruin and eventually Gio to help make their HEA a reality without impeding her healing process. I feel like this book really opened up Liss’ universe and there’s so many side characters I would love to read about next.
If you’re a fan of college romance, student/teacher forbidden romance, boy obsessed, small town, found family vibes with an absolutely swoony hero and an entire family you’ll fall for then you’ll love this one. If you haven’t taken a chance on Liss’ books yet let this be the one! You won’t regret it.
Thanks as always to Liss for providing me with an early copy to review.
I feel like I say this every book I read of Liss’ but they just keep getting better and better. This book was hands down my favorite. I am a sucker for boy obsessed and you would be hard pressed to find a hero who embodies this trope more than Gio. He is the definition of a swoon worthy hero and honestly Ruin is a lucky girl.
Ruin’s family is a delight especially her grandmother! They rallied around Ruin and eventually Gio to help make their HEA a reality without impeding her healing process. I feel like this book really opened up Liss’ universe and there’s so many side characters I would love to read about next.
If you’re a fan of college romance, student/teacher forbidden romance, boy obsessed, small town, found family vibes with an absolutely swoony hero and an entire family you’ll fall for then you’ll love this one. If you haven’t taken a chance on Liss’ books yet let this be the one! You won’t regret it.
Thanks as always to Liss for providing me with an early copy to review.
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