Cyn > Recent Status Updates

Starting a favorite re-read and re-listen.

Just reread the blur. No mention of her trying to be a social media influencer. That focus in the first 40% has cooled my interest. Also some inconsistencies and the characters and their behaviors.

Was I in the wrong mood starting this? Maybe DNF, or try later. Hard connecting especially FMC. Her mom, a senator who values image, cut her off (this is confusing) & she's struggling financially. FMC went to college, didn't get a degree or it won't get her work. Her main work is struggling social media influencer (not my jam, yes it can pay well.).Wants MMC to be her date so she can land a contract in front of Ex.

“Would it be wrong for me to ask about your past partners and put itching powder in their underwear?” His chest moved, and then he burst out laughing. Little did he know, I was being completely serious.

Micah pursued me in ways that defy normal behavior. I get that. But I needed it. The little girl who was never chosen needed it. That doesn’t change the fact that I might have to switch therapists now, since this one thinks I clearly can’t see the red flags. Oh, I see them. I see them, and I’m gripping them with an iron fist.

Callum knew the details. Every one. Which hand I led with. Which direction I turned. Which dreams I'd mentioned and which I'd shouted. He'd built rooms around them.

Four stars until about 60%. Started skimming. Yay for endometriosis awareness. Irritating how FMC is determined to have intercourse with every guy she dates but has never googled painful intercourse or ways to be intimate that don't involve intercourse. Story takes place now, not the 80s and she had no access to information. Some gaming info cool...pages of step by step play=skimming.

My first book by Hoyt. Re-read/listened a number of times. Ashford McNabb is so good at doing different voices and inflections.
Love how long he schemed to get Silence. These books don't shy away from the seedy side of life during this time period.

Cassandra is such a lovely heroine because of her upbringing she's got opinions and a sense of self but she also longs to belong and feel love/accepted. And I like seeing Tom develop another feeling. There was a lot of things I forgot from my first time reading this.
I strongly dislike the slimy lord Langford and his father.

I love watching these two reminisce about being kids and you can see how protective he was of her even at such a young age.

I love his friends. They went and found him and are managing his life and return to society.

I love listening to Alex Wyndham's narration. It is nice to hear mention of some of the characters from her Rockcliffe series.

Love this author, Two Brides for Ewan de Buchan, is one of my fave books. Looking forward to this one. She has such great characters and the steam is perfect for the story.

He's accompanying her to her college classes and the professor tries to stop by the door. “Where she goes, I go,” Elio says smoothly. “I’m her emotional support monster.”

Just realized this is by the author of another dragon shifter book I liked because the MMC mentions death as the penalty for breaking oath and the leader of their ppl was willing to die for his human mate in her place. I was enjoying this but I like this author so I'm looking forward to it more now.

Now this is how you raise a Mafia Princess to be the wife of a Capo/Don.

Oh I love that her nonno saw her, and arranged that for her. "Luca is a good man. And I wanted him for you."

Good so far. I like both the H and the h. She is an overprotected young english lass and he's protective of her. He had to fight a sadictic fellow warrior who was trying to assault her. She stuggles with her attraction. The clan nearby was trying to force him to marry one of their daughters and the daughter snuck into his room. He removed her from his room. Now his brother's teasing him about protecting his virtue.

Ok so the OW drama didn't really happen. They became friends, which I usually don't like but in the case it really works.

Wasn't sure before I started this. But I love the set to marry someone else trope and potentional OW/OM drama.

This has nothing to do with you, Lakewood. In another life, you would have made a great choice for her, but not this one. Not while I walk this earth.

Like this couple. They talk things through and she tries to get over the age gap and ex trauma and not let it drag. Love his relationship with her family.

“You were a wonderful child, and look at how far you’ve come. The wife of a general! You don’t need me anymore. Dana does.”
I had needed her every day since she handed me over to the academy on my fifth birthday. “I’m not his wife. I’m his mate. And unlike you, he can’t ever throw me away.”
“Lorieyn, please. My children have to come first.”
What did that make me? “Goodbye, Jae. Don’t send me any more cakes.”

“You are ordering me from your home, when this… hateful fraud is welcome to sit at your table?”..At the threshold of her pretty gate, my birthmother whispered a hasty apology, as if being overheard by any nearby humans might cause real harm. “He could keep me from my grandchild; you must understand that. I don’t agree with his rhetoric, but my daughter will need me.” My daughter.As if I hadn’t clung to the same title

She visited her mom 1st time in 10 yrs. 17yr sis preggers, married to a closed minded, discriminatory ass."My mother interposed before Johan might respond to my baiting, “Lorieyn, it’s been nice seeing you, but I’m afraid tea is out of the question. I think you should leave now.” I recoiled as if she slapped me."

So good! Can hardly wait to start the next book. "It was a dangerous warning. Every choice I made had power to contain the insatiable general—or to unleash him. Every mistake would have a consequence.
So much as a single wrong glance or a troubled sigh might inspire my doting, possessive mate to overreact. That he might threaten the annihilation of an entire species if he had the inkling it would be best for me."

Interesting world building, different concept on mates. I like the two MCs. Emotions and growth that the FMC does is realistic and relatable. I feel her her frustration of women being kept ignorant of their bodies, development and mating.“You want me to trust you, when you have misled and deceived me my whole life? I don’t know anything about you. I don’t know anything about myself. Right now, I feel very unsafe."

I really like Tom, and well if think that is not going to work out with Tommy kind of wish it would. I wish this would be one of those stories where is my shoes she is attracted to her ex, the solid guy who has cared her and believed in her is the one that wins. But only I'm only a few pages in, maybe by the middle I'll be rooting for anthony. Their story so far is setup to be a miscommunication scenario.

Each time he kisses my forehead and sends me off to bed alone, the flame of hope in my heart sputters, but I feel the same as I did when I first came here.
I’m willing to fight for my place here, but I won’t beg for someone to love me.

Steamy times at the Bathhouse featured in the first book.
"He is my home.
I don’t care that we aren’t heart-fated like he was with the mate he lost. I’ll tear the fabric of our souls and make knots in it to capture this moment for keeping. He’s mine by my demand alone, and I will not forfeit any ground."