THE RISK: MINDF*CK SERIES

I’ve been sitting on this series for ages, paralyzed by indecision, then a friend practically shoved it down my throat to drag me out of my reading slump. So here I am, diving into it. The series is split into smaller books, but honestly, I think it would pack a bigger punch as one cohesive novel. The first installment left me hanging, bursting with more questions than answers. The plot centers on Lana, a serial killer with just fleeting glimpses of her troubled psyche, and Logan, an FBI Agent who is totally oblivious to her dark side. Talk about a forbidden love story that practically crackles with tension. And guess what? In this book, he has no clue who she truly is. I’m on the edge of my seat, dying to see how this drama unfolds. A little side note: I’m juggling the eBook and the audiobook, and let me tell you, the narrators can either elevate or tank a story. Right now, Logan’s narrator is falling flatโ€”so underwhelming. Fingers crossed he steps it up soon!

BOOK 156 OF 2025๐Ÿ“š

THE RISK: MINDF*CK SERIES #1

By: S.T. Abby

STAR RATING: โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ

#2025readingchallenge #goodreads #readingwithrese

HONEYMOON PHASE

Amy Daws is rapidly climbing the ranks as one of my most tantalizing author obsessions. Honeymoon Phase is undeniably the standout gem of her works that I’ve devoured. The sizzling chemistry between Luke and Roe had me hooked! Itโ€™s an irresistible feel-good read thatโ€™ll have you fervently cheering for their love story. A true friends-to-lovers narrative where he fell first? Yes, please! And can we talk about the allure of a rugged mountain man turned lumberjack? Absolutely irresistible!

BOOK 155 OF 2025๐Ÿ“š

Honeymoon Phase

By: Amy Daws

STAR RATING: โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ

#2025readingchallenge #goodreads #readingwithrese

RESTITUTION

Restitution by Leigh River shattered me into a million pieces. In truth, the entire Edge of Darkness Trilogy left me breathless, but this particular installment had me weeping uncontrollably. My heart was mercilessly torn apart for Kade, and I felt an overwhelming ache for Stacey. And let’s not even get started on Lucille and Bash, or Jasonโ€”oh my goodness!!! Never in my life has a book, let alone a series, brought me to my knees like this one. It’s astonishing that more people aren’t raving about this masterpiece. Leigh Rivers is an absolute genius! I cannot recommend this enough. I could only award it 5 stars, but if they allowed for more, I would give it a hundred! Itโ€™s sheer perfection!! Iโ€™m beyond eager to dive into Tobias and Aria’s story in Psychotic Obsession next. I wholeheartedly recommend the audiobook as wellโ€”it’s incredibly good!

BOOK 154 OF 2025๐Ÿ“š

RESTITUTION

By: Leigh Rivers

STAR RATING: โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ

#2025readingchallenge #goodreads #readingwithrese

VORACIOUS

Words fail to capture the overwhelming intensity with which this book enraptured me. It plunges even deeper than Insatiable, leaving me in a relentless struggle between longing for the story’s conclusion and an insatiable craving for more. Leigh Rivers is an absolute virtuoso. She masterfully navigates the harrowing depths of various forms of abuse, laying bare the chilling reality of it all, while also revealing that at times, the assailant is, heartbreakingly, the victim. I was glued to the edge of my seat from beginning to end. And that cliffhanger she left us withโ€”my goodness! Itโ€™s an undeniable work of art.

BOOK 153 OF 2025๐Ÿ“š

VORACIOUS

By: Leigh Rivers

STAR RATING: โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ

#2025readingchallenge #goodreads #readingwithrese

INSATIABLE

Wow! Insatiable by Leigh Rivers absolutely captivated me, leaving me utterly speechless. I experienced a whirlwind of emotionsโ€”I laughed, I cried, and I found myself on the edge of my seat, questioning my own sanity for diving into such an intense read. Yet, my goodness, this book is a masterpiece! And Kadeโ€”oh, how you canโ€™t help but fall head over heels for him. I wholeheartedly recommend this book, but do take heed of the trigger warnings; there are moments that can be profoundly challenging to process. Itโ€™s undeniably dark and not for the faint of heart.

BOOK 152 OF 2025๐Ÿ“š

INSATIABLE

By: Leigh Rivers

STAR RATING: โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ

#2025readingchallenge #goodreads #readingwithrese

WEYWARD

My cousin passionately urged me to dive into Weyward by Emilia Hart, a hauntingly beautiful tale that I had held off reading until the Halloween season, believing it to be a witchy narrative. While the elements of witchcraft do weave through the tale, the heart of the story pulses with the lives of three remarkable women and their complex relationships with men. Altha in 1619, Violet in 1942, and Kate in 2019โ€”these women are intricately linked across time, their stories beautifully unfolding. Though I grappled with the shifting timelines and the constant back and forth due to my stroke, the exquisite prose and emotional depth resonated with me. By the end, I was exhilarated by how their lives converged, and I would wholeheartedly recommend this stunning book!

BOOK 151 OF 2025๐Ÿ“š

WEYWARD

By: Emilia Hart

STAR RATING: โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ

#2025readingchallenge #goodreads #readingwithrese

SPELLCASTER

Spellcaster was my very first encounter with Jaymin Eveโ€™s mesmerizing storytelling, and I completely fell head over heels for her enchanting writing style. This tale flowed effortlessly, and she refrained from overloading us with excessive descriptions, allowing readers like me to unleash our imagination in the most delightful ways. I was utterly captivated, finding it nearly impossible to tear myself away from its pages, which is why I devoured it in just two days. If I couldโ€™ve rated it higher, I absolutely would have! Set in a spellbinding world of witches and warlocks navigating the thrilling realms of academia, where they strive to master their formidable powers, this book unveils an irresistibly captivating enemies-to-lovers narrative, replete with a twist that truly blindsides you. I was left yearning for more of Paisley and Loganโ€™s journey, and that cliffhanger? Oh, it blew my mind! The only downside is the agonizing wait until June 2026 to dive into the next installment. In the meantime, I am beyond excited to explore more of Jaymin Eveโ€™s incredible literary creations!

BOOK 150 OF 2025๐Ÿ“š

SPELLCASTER

By: Jaymin Eve

STAR RATING: โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ

#2025readingchallenge #goodreads #readingwithrese

SCARED SEXY SERIES

I was thrilled to dive into the Scared Sexy Series, especially with a mix of beloved authors alongside intriguing new voices that I had yet to discover. The enchanting Halloween vibes were irresistible! Each book is an Amazon original, so youโ€™ll need to venture there to immerse yourself in these tales. I found myself fully absorbed in each short story, taking just over an hour to savor them; even though some posed a challenge, they kept me entertained. Overall, Iโ€™d rate the series a solid 3, or maybe just a tad below, but why not round up?

๐‘ฏ๐‘ถ๐‘ป ๐‘ญ๐‘ถ๐‘น ๐‘บ๐‘ณ๐‘จ๐’€๐‘ฌ๐‘น ๐›๐ฒ ๐€๐ฅ๐ข ๐‡๐š๐ณ๐ž๐ฅ๐ฐ๐จ๐จ๐ย โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ

Anything by Ali Hazelwood ignites my passion! This short story brimmed with incredible potential, and I found myself yearning for more depth and intricacy. Yet, it was an utterly delightful tale of a vampire and a vampire slayer whose hearts entwine in an enchanting romance.

๐‘ญ๐‘จ๐‘ณ๐‘ณ๐‘ฐ๐‘ต๐‘ฎ ๐›๐ฒ ๐‚๐ก๐ซ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐š ๐‹๐š๐ฎ๐ซ๐ž๐งย โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ

This was an enchanting short story by Christina Lauren, and as always, she captivated me entirely. I canโ€™t help but yearn for more, as I sensed there was so much depth to the characters just waiting to be explored. So many tantalizing questions linger, begging for answers that could elevate this tale to even greater heights.

๐‘บ๐‘ท๐‘ฐ๐‘ช๐’€ ๐‘ณ๐‘ฐ๐‘ป๐‘ป๐‘ณ๐‘ฌ ๐‘ช๐‘ผ๐‘น๐‘บ๐‘ฌ๐‘บ ๐›๐ฒ ๐‰.๐“. ๐†๐ž๐ข๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ž๐ซ โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ

I was absolutely thrilled to read this book, as I had never experienced her writing before. Now, I am wholeheartedly a fan and can hardly wait to delve into her other works. She masterfully packed an incredible amount into just a few pages. The story of Petra and Dax blew me awayโ€”Iโ€™m craving more! It was rich with character development, adventure, passion, and so much more. Just think about what she could create with over 90 pages!

๐‘บ๐‘ท๐‘จ๐‘ช๐‘ฌ ๐‘ฝ๐‘จ๐‘ด๐‘ท๐‘ฐ๐‘น๐‘ฌ ๐›๐ฒ ๐‘๐ฎ๐›๐ฒ ๐ƒ๐ข๐ฑ๐จ๐ง โญ๏ธโญ๏ธ

For me, the concept of this story was deeply disappointing. Set on a desolate space station where all have abandoned ship except for a cloned vampire and a solitary human, it offered a tantalizing premise. Yet, it utterly failed to deliver depth and resonance. It felt as if I were holding a hefty 500-page tome, yet only fragments of its essence were revealed. The writing simply didnโ€™t resonate with me.

๐‘ฉ๐‘ฌ๐‘จ๐‘ผ๐‘ป๐‘ฐ๐‘ญ๐‘ผ๐‘ณ ๐‘ต๐‘ฐ๐‘ฎ๐‘ฏ๐‘ป๐‘ด๐‘จ๐‘น๐‘ฌ ๐›๐ฒ ๐Š๐š๐ญ๐ž๐ž ๐‘๐จ๐›๐ž๐ซ๐ญ โญ๏ธโญ๏ธ

Iโ€™m torn about this short story by Katee Robertโ€”it evokes a peculiar blend of excitement and unease. It feels like a tantalizingly mature retelling of Monsters, Inc., where the โ€œdemonโ€ unearths the intoxicating power of feeding off lust. Yet, all I could envision were Sully and Mike Wazowski, and this constant association dimmed my ability to fully immerse myself in the experience.

๐‘ด๐’€ ๐‘ฉ๐‘ถ๐’€๐‘ญ๐‘น๐‘ฐ๐‘ฌ๐‘ต๐‘ซ๐‘บ ๐‘จ๐‘น๐‘ฌ ๐‘จ๐‘ณ๐‘ณ ๐‘ด๐‘ถ๐‘ต๐‘บ๐‘ป๐‘ฌ๐‘น๐‘บ ๐›๐ฒ ๐Š๐ข๐ฆ๐›๐ž๐ซ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐‹๐ž๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ข๐ง๐  โญ๏ธโญ๏ธ

I dove into this story with the anticipation of exploring intriguing relationships with multiple partners, so I must admit I felt a twinge of disappointment. Furthermore, the FMCโ€™s swift willingness to trust came across as a bit implausible. Yes, I understand this was a short story and the author had to rush the narrative along, but it left me longing for more depth. It felt rather like a fleeting encounterโ€”wham, bam, thank you maโ€™am. Yet, I canโ€™t shake off the exhilarating bam! Kimberly Lemming truly unleashed her imagination in that moment, and wow, it left quite an impression!

BOOK 144 TO 149 OF 2025๐Ÿ“š

SCARED SEXY SERIES

By: Ali Hazelwood, Christina Lauren, J.T. Geissinger, Ruby Dixon, Katee Robert and Kimberly Lemming

STAR RATING: โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ

#2025readingchallenge #goodreads #readingwithrese

THE ENCHANTED GREENHOUSE

I just finished The Enchanted Greenhouse by Sarah Beth Durst, and my heart is flooded with emotions! This might ignite a bit of controversy, but I absolutely adore it even more than I did The Spellshop! The story weaves itself into a breathtaking tapestry around Terlu, the librarian who bravely conjured Caz, a sentient talking spider plant, from The Spellshop yet was tragically cursed to become a statue as punishment. Then, she finds herself on an extraordinary island teeming with magical greenhouses, where Yarrow, a remarkable gardener, has cast a spell to bring her back to life! I wonโ€™t reveal any more, as I want you to uncover this treasure on your own, but trust meโ€”itโ€™s a captivating tale that dives into themes of forgiveness, empathy, and what we can accomplish when we unite. You canโ€™t help but emerge from its pages feeling empowered and inspired. This story is a true gem that lifts your spirit and resonates profoundly within your soul!

BOOK 143 OF 2025๐Ÿ“š

THE ENCHANTED GREENHOUSE

By: Sarah Beth Durst

STAR RATING: โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ

#2025readingchallenge #goodreads #readingwithrese

THE SPELLSHOP

I was completely captivated by Sarah Beth Durstโ€™s exquisite writing and her enchanting book, The Spellshop. It was an awe-inspiring journey that left me breathless. Her words crafted stunning imagery that came alive before my very eyes. The landscapes, the vibrant characters, the mesmerizing array of magical beingsโ€”they all whisked me away to a wondrous realm of pure imagination with each turn of the page. Itโ€™s a delightful and whimsical tale that fills the heart with a radiant warmth and uncontainable joy. I am bursting with excitement to dive into the next installment of this enchanting series!

BOOK 142 OF 2025๐Ÿ“š

THE SPELLSHOP

By: Sarah Beth Durst

STAR RATING: โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ

#2025readingchallenge #goodreads #readingwithrese