First quarter of the year is over!
This month was an interesting reading month. Except for one book, I enjoyed everything I read, but it seemed monotonous. Travis Baldree and Keri Lake may have transported me to other realms, thankfully; other than that I wasn’t a huge participant in anything I read. I know that sounds weird.
Seven out of the nine books I finished in March are 4-stars and above. Great stories, strong characters, engaging plotlines, all the things. Maybe it’s just life outside of reading that was detracting from full-on falling into each book. Which I feel is a disservice to some of these. I still tried to be objective when rating and reviewing. Just because adulting is kicking my ass, isn’t the fault of these authors. I refuse to take it out on them – I hope.
Let me know what you think. Do you think these reviews are fair?
Brigands & Breadknives by: Travis Baldree
In depth review coming 4/15/2026
Detailed plot summary coming 4/15/2026
Travis Bladree has become my comfort author. I was skeptical when Legends & Lattes came out only because I covet action-packed fantasy and romance.
All his books, so far, have such a great balance of action and mundane life. Each character is forged from their own cloth and living their own lives that just happen to fit within the story. Strong plots lines and great world building. Everything about it pulls you into this world.
Following Fern’s journey is no exception. I did wish that we got a bit more Viv and Tandri just because I missed them too.
Another exceptional read!
Anathema by: Keri Lake
This landed on my TBR without even knowing anything about it.
This dark romance is amazing. The beginning did take me a minute to get into, but pretty sure it was just me.
I love that the first part of the book is like reading two different stories that you know will eventually intertwine somewhere along the line.
Maevyth is living her cursed human life just trying to keep her head down, survive, and hope for the best.
Zevander is also cursed, living in a different realm, surrounded by magic and betrayal. A deadly assassin trying to break his curse and not get too caught up in the political chaos around him.
Both have an abusive background shrouded in mystery. When they come together, it’s a slow-burning journey.
It almost starts off as an enemies-to-lovers but never really comes to fruition. It’s more like a misunderstanding. Maevyth and Zevander are so focused on their own personal journeys and prejudices, they initially clash. The chemistry is there, mostly, but doesn’t really manifest until much later. Once it does, it’s not quite balanced between the two.
Maevyth is obsessed with finding her sister; Zavander is not at the top of her priorities list. In theory, Maevyth isn’t his most pressing priority either, but that’s not how it comes off. Ends on a mild cliffhanger that will keep me reading.
Secrets by: Aleatha Romig
Mafia, but make it contradictory and borderline cruel.
Kennedy knows there is some big secret looming in her past. Adopted and chased away from her life and family at a young age. As she is shipped away, her adoptive mother gives her one clue before saying goodbye. A warning about the Sparrow family.
Now, as an adult, she’s a successful businesswoman with her best friend as her partner. Her past catches up with her and then it’s a whirlwind.
Sterling is supposed to be portrayed as this all powerful mob boss that is cold and calculating. And for the most part, he is. But not when it comes to Araneae (Kennedy’s real name). I get that he has loved her from a distance for a long time, and wants to pull the whole possessive-I’ll-protect-you-from-the-world thing.
And that he is supposed to have a soft spot for his woman. But it doesn’t work very well. There is such a disconnect between his two personalities. Same with Araneae. She is a strong, independent woman who gets all befuddled by a hot man demanding her to change her entire life in the blink of an eye. There’s head strong, and then there’s stubbornly stupid. Unfortunately, Araneae falls into the latter category.
Fortunately, the story is strong. Even though I have some issues (personal preference) with the characters, I still fell in love with them. There is a lot thrown at us in this story. As the first in a series, I feel the foundation for the rest has been laid well. Nothing is overly complicated while leaving some mystery for the other books in the series to reveal. I can’t wait to read the rest. Ending on a cliffhanger just big enough to pull a gasp from your throat and dive into the next.
Firestorm by: Donna Grant
This is easily one of my favorites so far.
One thing Donna has done a great job at is keeping things varied even though it’s a rinse-and-repeat situation. Since book #1, the romance premise is the same: reluctant dragon falls for a female he shouldn’t and the female is not exactly jumping headfirst on command.
There are two things about this series that has kept me turning the pages and reaching for the next book. One is that the romance formula may remain the same, but the characters are all different and unique enough to keep it interesting. The circumstances vary just enough that each story is its own.
The second is the main plotline. Every installment to the series has dragged us just a bit deeper into the mess of this war.
This book is no exception.
I love the premise of an archeological dig finding dragon bones. Faith, the brain behind the dig, hardly seems phased by finding the bones of a mythological creature. She is, however, phased when Dimitri appears on the site to basically serve and protect.
Dimitri is a dragon king, and the bones are one of his dragons. He need to know how it got there and why he didn’t know he had missed one when they were evacuating. Thus, leading us farther into down the dark rabbit hole. So many things are gearing up to explode. So much so that Con and Rhi put their differences aside to tackle the newest development together!
There is no huge drama as Dimitri and Faith get together. Maybe a few minor misunderstandings that are promptly resolved. I hate it when the small petty things are dragged out. None of that here!
I\m getting closer and closer to the end!
Your Dad Will Do by: Katee Robert
Exactly what you expect from a Katee Robert stand-alone romance. 99.9% kinky spice.
This may be a daddy kink, but the age gap was hardly a thing. Shane’s age is only mentioned once. It was more focused on ‘daddy’, revenge sex on her cheating ex, and I am totally here for it. In fact, I encourage this type of behavior.
The tiny bit of plot that this book does have is really well done. There’s heartbreak, revenge, betrayal, and justice. Honestly, I don’t know what anyone expected, given the title of the book, the length (of the book, of course), and the name of the series. All those are like a promise from Katee, and she delivered.
Dungeon Crawl by: Allyson Lindt
After reading Seduction Games by Allyson, I thought I’d give another of her books a try. I was not disappointed. This was not a quicky like Seduction Games.
Elliot is the hardass hiding behind years of walls and trauma. Link is the teddy bear who just wants every one to get along and live happily ever after without stepping on anyone’s toes. Fallyn, the game streamer who wants to keep her personal life completely separate from her online persona, is stuck behind her own issues. She a beautiful woman who puts herself online with complete vulnerability.
The thing that usually pricks my pickle reading these stories is that there are so many unrealistic scenarios and feelings that are mostly explained away as ’because of plot.’
These three are drawn together in such a believable way. As if hearing a story of how your best fried ended up with two of the most successful game developers and lived happily ever after. That\s not to say there are surges of drama and heartbreak while waiting for one or more of the characters to pull their heads from their asses.
Random Encounter by: Allyson Lindt
I realize I started this series with the last book in the series. But when I see a series like this, I don’t imagine the reading order has a serious impact on anything. In hindsight, I was right.
Sure, reading this I did get some back story on some characters who made appearances in the last book. Not knowing the origins of these characters in the last book didn’t have much of an impact.
This did set the stage for the rest of the series since it revolves in and around this game development company.
I do like how all the characters are a tight knit group. It’s always fun to have past characters appear in the remained of the series.
Adrienne, the FMC, is cute if not a little inconsistent. There is a toxic ex in the mix that has helped to shape her insecurities. Dustin and Philip are polar opposites. One comes from money and hides behind glacial walls. The other is all about taking care of others and making sure they are comfortable. Not that Philip is completely uncaring, he’s just doesn’t want to put himself in a vulnerable position.
The whole title event is underwhelming. Too many things about this is underwhelming and ‘because of plot’. Regardless, this is a quick, sweet read. I don’t read these types of books looking for literary gold. It’s simple and kept me engaged. The spice isn’t anything new or exciting. Adrienne and Philip aren’t the best written characters either. Dustin is the only one I really liked and cared about. Altogether this worked well enough for me to enjoy it.
Running Scared by: Shannon K.Butcher
I am so glad I have stuck around and powered through the first two books in the series to get to this.
I had wanted to get to Lexi’s story and was skeptical to learn she was so indoctrinated in the Defenders and their cult-like mentality. She is more likeable than the last two FMCs.
Zach is a bit too self-sacrificing for my taste, but it all worked out, for the most part.
Mostly, I am getting drawn in by the main plot line growing as we get deeper.
Lexi was one big ball of redundancy most of the time. Trying to break her out of her brainwashed mentality took entirely too long. And it was the same thoughts over and over and over. Working through all the information was the exact same process each time.
The headway Shannon wrote for the other characters we’ve yet to focus on is promising. Definitely planning to continue. With 11 books, I didn’t know if I would even make it this far.
Half His Age by: Jennette McCurdy
From the publisher’s blurb, I got the impression that this was meant to be some deep look into the psyche of a teenager trying to cope with life and her maturing hormones, and the concept of love. Um, no.
Waldo, yes that’s her name, is just some horny, misguided teen that seduces her teacher. Her excuse is that her mother’s priority is keeping a man rather than being a parent to her only child. She confuses physical love with actual love the way most immature teens do.
Not that Mr. Korgy is blameless. And yes, even as they are neck deep in their affair, she continues to call him Mr. Korgy. That is so wrong on both ends. Their relationship is toxic from the beginning.
Waldo is seventeen, for the most part, her inner workings reflect that, at least in her thought process, logic, and petulance.
But there is an inconsistency in Waldo’s inner voice. If it is intentionally trying to showcase the many levels of a teen mind, it failed. It did not seem deliberate as the tone changed at odd and, occasionally inappropriate times.
While I loved Jeanette’s memoir, fictional writing may not be her thing. There is no finesse to this. A book steeped in emotions has a raw element to it, but this is the wrong type of raw. It feels like Jeanette is banking on her name to be successful and not relying on the work itself.
Waldo is not relatable. You shouldn’t have to have experienced the exact same set of circumstances to relate to a character. I didn’t know what I was supposed to feel toward her. There were so many different excuses she spouted. Are we, as readers, supposed to pity her, empathize, sympathize, root for her, see her as a victim? Personally, I didn’t like her much. She was victimized as much as she instigated. Selfish, emotionally unstable, and extremely judgmental. The only consistent attribute Waldo possessed is the ability to run away when the chiz gets too deep.
Not to mention the ending. I won’t spoil it, but I think it is supposed to give the impression of a full-circle moment. Not quite a HEA, but a happy, self-satisfied moment of clarity.
Missed last month’s reviews? Check out February’s books HERE.
Top 26 reads of 2026 – March Update.
