Unexpected by Elizabeth Aton

“I’m a waitress. He’s a Rockstar.

It was supposed to be simple.
He was the gorgeous mystery occupying a stool at the bar.
An anonymous one-night stand.
No names, no numbers, no regrets.

A temporary escape for us.
Mine from the brutality of my life, his from a life in the spotlight.
Both of us trying to ease the pain of unimaginable loss.

Unfortunately, nothing good ever stays secret for long,
and the consequences of our tryst send our lives toppling over a cliff so steep,
we may never be able to climb out.

Everything that happens after is unexpected.”

I’m keeping this review short and sweet because otherwise I will go on and on and end up spoiling it. This was a ROLLERCOASTER! Like seriously there were so many twists and turns and shocks and OMFG moments. I cried, I sighed, I wanted to put the book in the freezer, and then there were the moments that were just so sweet and blissful. So much heartache and hope in one book, it was intense.

Elizabeth Aton knocked her debut out of the park. Unexpected was unexpectedly incredible. Do not hesitate to give this a read. You won’t regret it.

Unexpected will be releasing on July 1, 2022.

Owned by Magic by Zara J. Black

I’ll be safe in the prince’s bed, from everyone but him.

“I stole from a brutal street gang, and now they want me dead. There’s only one place they can’t touch me. The palace. But safety comes at the cost of my freedom. I’ll sell myself as a courtesan, serve for five years, and leave with enough money to pay my debt. Crown Prince Adante wields his power like a knife, and when his gaze turns my way, I know he could destroy me. An innocent mistake earns his attention—along with bruised knees and a painful punishment.

I should listen to the others. I shouldn’t catch his eye again. But I’ve always courted danger, and in the prince, I see a chance at power and revenge. He loves to gamble—sadistic games of pleasure and pain.

All I can wager are my body, mind, and soul. And I play to win.”

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Owned by Magic is the sequel to Ruled by Magic, my review of which an be found here. While this book follows a different set of main characters, the series does need to be read in order. Which also means if you have not read book one, please proceed with caution as this will not be a spoiler free review.

We first met Prince Adante in book 1 and I will not lie, I HATED him. But seeing him in a more intimate setting with our main character Talia gives more insight into why he is the way he is. And while understanding him makes him a much more attractive and appealing character, it doesn’t diminish the awful things he does. Just makes it hotter.

Talia is a fantastic character. Strong willed, fierce, independent, and unafraid to do whatever it takes to secure a good future for herself and her sister. In that endeavor she not only endears herself (after a fashion) to the prince, but earns his trust and respect in a way that I found so great. She broke through gender stereotypes in their world and showed him that a magicless woman can still be brilliant and intelligent. She surprises him.

This series is continuing to shape up to be an absolute favor. Zara J. Black has a way of portraying the bonds between characters, be it emotional or sexual, that is beautiful and raw. Real is the best way.

Poison Ivy by Steffanie Holmes

I’ll do anything to get in. I’ll even become theirs.

This was fantastic. Unsurprising, since Steffanie Holmes has a way with her characters that is wholly unique. Each of them is distinct and fascinating in their own way.

Poison Ivy is the story of Fergie, a girl who went through something tragic enough to warrant a whole new identity and a move across the country to live with her dad’s new wife. At her new school, full of the rich and elite’s children, she learns about the Poison Ivy Club, a group of privileged kids who use their connections and their cunning to help get other students into the dream Ivy League college. Fergie had once been Harvard bound, but now all her hard work is gone. The question now is will she seek out the Poison Ivy club to get her future back?

There are a handful of very specific reasons I loved this book. First, Fergie is blind. Like, has a bit of light perception but otherwise can’t see a thing. And while I felt the way Fergie described the world around her didn’t always feel like it was being experienced by someone visually impaired, that was intriguing enough. Second, we had some queer rep, which will always make me happy. And last but not least, autistic rep. One of the three boys that Fergie finds herself inexplicably drawn to very clearly has undiagnosed autism. The way his friends love him and work with him and the way he and Fergie connect and communicate was nothing short of beautiful. I loved it so so so much.

This story was dark and twisted and full of characters deeply flawed and damaged. The conflict was gripping and heart wrenching, and the twist at the end nothing short of devastating.

TW: violence, murder, sexual assault, mentions of drug use.