Hello,
I cannot believe that March is over and with it is the end of my second month month of Romanceopoly! I completed all the books on my TBR. I’m on track to be able to fulfil all the Moon challenges.
Like the name suggests, it’s romanced themed Monopoly game which is designed to get you to explore a range of different sub genres. Each neighbourhood has been replaced by a genre and each street has a unique challenge within that genre. Although, some neighbourhoods are a little more diverse and offer a melting pot of different genres to delve into.
The challenge is hosted by the ladies over at PeaceLoveBooksxo and Under the Covers Book Blog. For all the information about the challenge and recommendations can be found at the Romanceopoly website.
On to the books and prompts I completed!
Read a friends to lovers new adult romance
Him by Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy
★★★★1/2
I’m so glad that I got to this book and loved it especially since I wasn’t a big fan of Good Boy. This story is exactly why I love the friends to lovers trope.
Childhood friends, Jamie Canning and Ryan Wesley, haven’t spoken since their last night of hockey camp the summer they were eighteen. Jamie has never been able to figure out why. The pair meet up four years later when their college teams set to face off at the national championship. Wes regrets coaxing his very straight friend into a bet that pushed the boundaries of their relationship but now he finally has the chance to apologise.
I adore both Jamie and Wes and I just want good things to happen for both of them. The story unfolds as they pair head back to the hockey camp as coaches and try and navigate their rekindled friendship. We also get flashbacks from different points in their relationship and also that fateful night. The romance was slow burn with the right amount of angst.
Jamie has to be one of the chillest character I’ve read. He was pretty open with his feelings towards Wes and he’s exploration of his sexuality. On the other hand, Wes doesn’t cope all too well with their developing relationship. He’s worried he’s pushing Jamie into this. Ultimately Wes wants the best of Jamie, unfortunately he has a habit of thinking he know what Jamie wants and running when things get tough.
I’m excited to get to the sequel, Us because these two have become favourite characters of mine. Also I love Jamie’s family and hope we get to see more of them.
Free choice
The Rich Boy by Kylie Scott
★★★★1/2
I love Kylie Scott. I’ve love everything of her’s I’ve read and The Rich Boy was no exception.
Alice is working as a waitress in a dive bar when the new hot busboy, Beck, starts flirting with her and ask to marry her. She’s not really sure what to make of it but the pair become fast friends. After a few dates, it’s clear the pair and enamoured with each other. She doesn’t know much about Beck. He’s a bit of a free sprits, a nomad who’s traveling to find himself. Things get a little weird when Beck is call back to Boston to attend his father’s funeral.
Beck knows he has to go back to Boston and take is place in the family’s billion dollar business. But he doesn’t want to leave Alice behind so he ask her to come with him. Alice doesn’t want to left go of this connection so she agrees to move to Boston and join the upper class.
The whole rich guy meet poor girl, is a pretty popular tropes but there’s always seem to have an element of insta-love but not this case. Alice is very aware of how weird this whole situation is and that why she has strong feeling and power connection to Beck she’s doesn’t love him right away. Despite the premise this is slow burn romances and a heavy dose of miscommunication and one I loved watching unfold.
Beck is so swoony. He is the sweetest and softest hero and I love him. He adores everything about Alice and accepts every part of her despite pressure from his family. While he doesn’t always go about things in the right away, all he wants is to provide the best life for Alice.
I love Scott’s writing style and her characters always make me laugh. It would be interesting to see if she write another book set in this world. I would love to see more from this dysfunction family. Highly recommend if you’re in the mood for a plus-size modern day cinderella retelling.
Read an epistolary romance
Written on His Skin by Simone Stark
★★★★
I picked this book up from the recommendations from the Romanceopoly website and I am so glad I did. I adored this book so much so that I stay up really late one night to finish it.
This book follows Abigail Trent when she agreed to write a letter to a soldier deployed overseas. When signing up for the program she expected it to be a fleeting exchanged. A friendly back-and-forth that ended barely after it began. She didn’t expect Theodore LaRoux.
Roux has to be one of the sexiest men I had read, not sure if it’s the tattoos or the whole Cajun accent, but the man stole my heart. Roux adored Abigail’s body type which is something she is self conscious about. Abigail is plus size — yay for plus size rep. I really related to her body image issues and concerns that Roux may not be interesting in her.
The letters was one of my favourite elements. I adored that we got to read the letters but also interjected was their reactions and thoughts to the letter.
The only down side to this book is that it’s novella and I loved this characters and wanted the story to be longer. In saying that I don’t think the story is missing anything or passing is off, it’s just me being selfish and wanted to read more from this couple.
Read a fated mates paranormal romance
Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs
★★★★
Patrica Briggs is one fo my favourite urban fantasy authors and I was so excited to be back in this world. This series along side the timeline of the Mercy Thompson series.
Anna never knew werewolves existed, until the night she survived a violent attack and became one herself. She’d learned to never trust dominant males. Then Charles Cornick, the enforcer—and son—of the leader of the North American werewolves, came into her life.
Charles insists that not only is Anna his mate, but she is also a rare and valued Omega wolf. And it is Anna’s inner strength and calming presence that will prove invaluable as she and Charles go on the hunt in search of a rogue werewolf.
I didn’t read the novella that’s set before this so I did feel like I was thrown into the middle of the story. But in saying that Briggs included enough background so I wasn’t confused or feel like I was missing anything.
Both Anna and Charles’ wolves recognise that they are mates right away but they still have to get to know each other which I love because we all know the fated mates is my favourite trope. I loved watching them get to know each other. Charles is quite reserved and closed off so it wonderful to see he opening up to Anna.
With this book we got a deeper look at the werewolves packs and dynamics. I loved the addition of the Omegas and how we slowly learn more about them as they characters do as they are rare and not many exist.
I’m excited to get to the next book, Hunting Grounds, and see how Anna and Charles’ relationship unfolds.
Read a LGBT romance which isn’t a contemporary
Ravensong by TJ Klune
★★★★1/2
I read Wolfsong last year and was excited to get to Ravensong as Gordo and Mark’s relationship was mentioned a few time and couldn’t wait to see it unfold.
Gordo Livingstone never forgot the lessons carved into his skin. Hardened by the betrayal of a pack who left him behind, he sought solace in his garage and vowed never again to involve himself with wolves. It was enough, until the wolves came back, and with them, Mark Bennett. In the end, they faced the beast together as a pack and won.
Now, a year later, Gordo has found himself once again the witch of the Bennett pack. Green Creek has settled after the death of Richard Collins, and Gordo constantly struggles to ignore Mark and the bond between them.
This is a second chance romance and there is so much angst. It broke my heart but also mended back together. We see the whole history of Mark and Gordo’s relationship. There is a world of hurt and pain that they have inflicted on each other that it’s hard to see how they can get past it.
TJ Klune has the beautiful and lyrical writing. You can’t help but get sucked into this world. When the pack talk to each there is this wonderful stream of consciousness element to the writing style.
I love this world. In this book we got to learn more witches and why they are important to a pack. It was also interesting to see how Gordo’s tattoos are connected to this magic. I haven’t seen that before and I really loved that.
Also, this might be weird to say, but I adore that fact that Gordo and Mark being in a same sex relationship isn’t the whole plot on the novel. In fact it’s an urban fantasy with werewolves and the two main character happen to be gay. I think we need more books like this.
This is magical read and if you love werewolves books and lyrical writing then you need to read this series!
My Romanceopoly Board Progress
One of my favourite parts of the this challenge is colouring in a square after I have finished a book. I’m proud that I’ve been able to stick to my TBR since I tend to be a mood reader and have a habit of abandoning my TBR.
I’m on track to have this challenge finished in August. At this stage not sure if I am going to try and complete the Sun Challenges as well.
That’s all for me. Comment down below and let me know if you’re taking part in the Romanceopoly and which books you read and challenges you have complete for March.
Until next time, happy reading!
Dearna
Words of the Roses 