My March reading has been all over the place.
I made a big dent in my spring TBR already. I checked off two of the series on that reading list. One I fell in love with and one was an unfortunate miss.
I also had my first 6-star read of the year!
We read a popular romance for A Dose of Romance Book Club that made a bunch of people’s best of lists for last year. I was not expecting that wild of a ride or the amount of times that book made me blush!
Here’s what I’ve read so far in March.
Mid March Reading Recap:
Long Shot by Kennedy Ryan
Rating: 6 stars
Steam Level: 3
Kennedy Ryan is a favorite author and after loving This Could Be Us (4 stars) which just released this month, I couldn’t wait to check out more from her backlist! I put her Hoops series on my spring TBR.
I have previously loved and reviewed The Kingmaker and The Rebel King duet (5 stars) as well as the first book in her new Skyland series, Before I Let Go (4.5 stars).
Her entire Hoops series is currently available on Kindle Unlimited.
Book Blurb:
“A Standalone FORBIDDEN LOVE SET IN THE EXPLOSIVE WORLD OF THE NBA…
Think you know what it’s like being a baller’s girl?
You don’t.
My fairy tale is upside down.
A happily never after.
I kissed the prince and he turned into a fraud.
I was a fool, and his love – fool’s gold.
Now there’s a new player in the game, August West.
One of the NBA’s brightest stars.
Fine. Forbidden.
He wants me. I want him.
But my past, my fraudulent prince, just won’t let me go.
*Contains domestic/sexual abuse not involving the hero. Read reviews for further guidance.”
My Thoughts
I started this book on audio thanks to Hoopla, but then had to switch to the ebook because it was just so intense! That was the theme for this series – I wound up tandem reading all the epic finishes.
I knew this book had domestic violence in it. It’s in the synopsis and other reviews have touched on it. I still wasn’t prepared for the amount of violence that is on page.
If you pick this one up, go in knowing that there are multiple detailed scenes of domestic abuse and rape of the heroine on page for the first half of the book.
While this book was incredibly hard to read, I felt Kennedy Ryan delivered a powerful message about women suffering domestic violence.
Many people pass judgment and say victims should just leave but Ryan really shined a light on how it isn’t that “easy”. How victims are often in even more danger when they do leave. What power dynamics might be involved and the way society fails these women.
She also explored the shame and trauma that continue even if they’re “lucky” enough to get away. Even if they know it wasn’t their fault. Ryan portrays that it’s beyond complicated in this devastating and beautiful story. This is a story that will stay with me for a long long time.
The connection between August and Iris was amazing! This was some of the best most intense spice I’ve read on page in a long time. It displayed the couple’s deep love and respect for one another.
While this book was so powerful and ultimately beautiful, I was excited to see that the follow up stories were said to be less intense.
Other Books in the Series that I Read this Month:
- Block Shot (4 stars)
- Hook Shot (5 stars)
- Full-Court Press (4.5 stars)
- Fast Break (4 stars)
General Thoughts on the Series
This series took top spot as my favorite of Kennedy Ryan’s work.
These characters are driven and feel real. The romances are intense with combustible chemistry and deep feelings. Each story deals with heavy themes and their messages are powerful!
They all hit a point around 60-70% where they’re impossible to put down.
All are at least a 3 on steam and this is top notch KR spice!
Block Shot
Block Shot was my least favorite but still a love at 4 stars. There is cheating in this one.
I fell in love with Banner from the beginning and then had mixed feelings on all the mentions of dieting and weight loss throughout the rest of the book. Jared was ruthless which matched his character and he had yet to win me over by the halfway mark.
But I did not see the turn coming for the last third of the book and it tore me apart in the best way! This also ranked the spiciest of the books coming in at a 4 on my steam scale.
Hook Shot
Hook Shot was another amazing read. I was so excited for Lotus’s story and curious to get to know Kenan better.
I loved the spirituality throughout this book and the healing journey that Lotus goes on. The way Kenan and Lotus get to know each other and support one another was everything!
As the final book, I loved how it brought the series full circle with the connection between Lotus and Iris. The shoutout to Ryan’s Grip series was really fun too.
Hoops Shorts
Hoops Shorts features two novellas for the series.
Full-Court Press tells Avery and Deck’s story, side characters we’ve seen throughout the series. I loved getting to know these two better. Again Avery had a tragic backstory but the message shared as she grew and recovered was powerful as is Deck’s support as she puts herself back together.
In Fast Break, we get to know Banner’s best friend, Quinn, better whom we met earlier in the series along with Waves’s head coach Ean. That novella focused almost entirely on Quinn’s backstory and her struggle to be vulnerable with a partner again. Ean was the perfect patient, yet slightly obsessed, man for the job.
I’m going to miss this world!
Questions to Consider for Your Own Reading Life: Do you rank the work of your favorite authors? This is something I’d like to explore more because I think it’s really fun and a little bit nerdy. Share your top series or top book from one of your favorite authors in the comments. Can you pinpoint why it’s a favorite?
Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver
Rating: 3.5 stars
Steam Level: 5
This was March’s pick for A Dose of Romance Book Club.
Book Blurb:
“Every serial killer needs a friend.
Every game must have a winner.
When a chance encounter sparks an unlikely bond between rival murderers Sloane and Rowan, the two find something elusive—the friendship of a like-minded, pitch-black soul. From small town West Virginia to upscale California, from downtown Boston to rural Texas, the two hunters collide in an annual game of blood and suffering, one that pits them against the most dangerous monsters in the country. But as their friendship develops into something more, the restless ghosts left in their wake are only a few steps behind, ready to claim more than just their newfound love. Can Rowan and Sloane dig themselves out of a game of graves? Or have they finally met their match?”
My Thoughts
This set up is definitely different and it was a quick read.
It’s also the spiciest book we’ve read yet for book club. There’s a thorough list of content warnings at the beginning. From those I was like what did I get myself into here.
While some of the kinks weren’t for me, I really loved the way Weaver tied together the steam with emotional and relationship development.
The many sweet moments were a unique juxtaposition to all the gore. It made it so the horror elements didn’t bother me as much as I worried they might.
I also enjoyed the humor and the side characters.
Ultimately, I wanted more backstory and development of both Sloane and Rowan – their pasts are hinted at but never explained. It left me with many questions. How did they get to this point? How do all these serial killers know one another? And how have they not been caught? I wanted a little more than the quick references to how stupid the FBI is.
There’s a lot of potential in Weaver’s writing. Especially after seeing how she wrote the romance, I think the initial character development could be way better.
I’m a little bit intrigued for the next one after the direction the epilogue went and the dislike between Lark and Lachlan, but I’m not sure if I’ll continue the series.
Questions to Consider for Your Own Reading Life: What’s the last book that made you blush? Do you have a spice level preference for books you read with others?
Knot My Type by Evie Mitchell
Rating: 2.5 stars
Steam Level: 3
This is the first book in Evie Mitchell’s All Access series. The series is on my spring TBR.
I listened to the audio on Hoopla.
Book Blurb:
“He doesn’t do relationships.
She doesn’t do flings.
Everything they thought is about to unravel…
Frankie
When you say you’re a sexologist, people imagine Marilyn Monroe. They don’t expect a woman who uses a wheelchair. As the host of the All Access Podcast, I’m breaking barriers, crushing stigmas, and creating sexual connections that are fulfilling for my fans. I’m like cupid, but with pink hair and fewer diapers.
Only, I’ve hit a snag. A lovely listener wants some advice about accessible rope play and I’m drawing a big fat blank. Which leaves me with no option but to get out there and give it a go.
Which is how I meet Jay Wood—rigger, carpenter, and all-round hottie.
I’d be open to letting him wine and dine me—only Jay isn’t my type. He’s not a one-girl kind of guy. Monogamy isn’t even in his vocab, and I’m not a woman who’ll settle for being second choice.
But the closer we get, the more Jay has me tied up in knots.
And it’s making me think, maybe I could compromise and accept a little Wood in my life. Even if it’s only temporary.
Jay
Frankie’s funny, intelligent, and ridiculously sexy. This should be a no-brainer. A little fun in the sheets, and a little romp with some ropes—simple.
Only the infuriating woman is asking for more. I’m not that kind of guy. I wouldn’t even know how to be that kind of guy. I’m the definition of easy.
It’ll be fine. We’ll be friends. Just friends.
So, why does my heart feel frayed? And why is it I can’t help but consider taking the ultimate leap of faith—tying myself to Frankie. Permanently.”
My Thoughts
I wish I’d enjoyed this one more. The best thing about it was Jacob Morgan as the audiobook narrator for Jay’s POV.
It started out so interesting with the podcast element, Frankie’s career, and Jay’s rope classes. Things quickly became muddled for me with too many side characters, the odd pacing for their relationship, and too many storylines going on at once.
There was way too much happening for such a short book. Sadly as a result, neither the plot nor the characters felt very developed.
I picked this one up because I was excited to read a book that featured a main character using a wheelchair. With the exception of one scene where Jay’s bathroom isn’t wheelchair accessible that aspect felt totally glossed over in this story.
I don’t know – maybe that was the author’s point? But I would have liked to learn more about Frankie’s experience and everyday life as a wheelchair user.
This book is marketed as having BDSM elements and there was rope play obviously, but most of the spice was just a lot of Jay dirty talking. The steam didn’t work for me – it felt instant, random, and not at all tied into their relationship.
Other Books in the Series that I Read this Month:
- Love Flushed (3 stars)
A Quick Review of Love Flushed
I continued the series with the second book, Love Flushed, because second chance is one of my favorite tropes, Teddy Hamilton is a favorite audiobook narrator, and it was an even shorter read than the first book.
Annie, our heroine in Love Flushed, has Crohn’s disease and I appreciated that there was more representation of that in this book. We saw Annie deal with a flare up through several scenes. We were in her POV experiencing how she felt and the way her illness impacted her life.
I loved the ways the Lincoln found to support her during these times. Those were the strongest parts of this story. I believe this book was own voices for Crohn’s disease and that showed in the thoroughness of Annie’s experience.
However the conflict was pretty dumb.
This book was a 4 on my steam scale. The spice wasn’t as instant as the first book but it still felt abrupt. Again I found the character and relationship development lacking.
Sadly I don’t think this author is for me.
Questions to Consider for Your Own Reading Life: Do you have favorite audiobook narrators? After some of my favorites popped up in this series as well as Kennedy Ryan’s Hoops series, that’s something I want to start tracking.
What’s on your mid March reading recap?
