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The synopsis

Shannon’s life has been beaten black and blue. Tommen is supposed to be her clean slate, but when she takes a rugby ball to the head, and the entire team gets an eyeful of her knickers, she’s sure her fresh start is already ruined. And she would’ve been—if not for Johnny Kavanagh.

Johnny manages to give Shannon a concussion on her very first day. (Big yikes, Jono, my boy.) After hours stuck in the nurse’s office together, he realises there’s something different about her. What starts as a reluctant friendship slowly shifts into something more.

As Shannon tries to find herself, Johnny is pulled between rugby, family expectations, and the growing urge to protect the girl who’s quickly becoming the centre of his world. They can’t be together—she’s too young, he’s leaving in a year, and her father simply won’t have it. But Johnny is a bit of a bulldozer, and he just can’t fight the pull between them.

Still, with Shannon’s past and father threatening to catch up to her and Johnny’s future hanging in the balance, the question is whether they can have it all without breaking each other’s hearts.

My thoughts and feelings

If you want to read this book, please know that I intend to keep this review as spoiler-free as I can!

So that was easily one of the best romance novels I’ve ever read—and I say that as a self‑proclaimed expert. Feel free to check my credentials, good sir. I’m a Wattpad whore, so yes, I have a soft spot for the abused‑heroine trope. (Sue me). There’s just something intoxicating about a man who would do everything and anything to keep those blue marks off his girl’s face. And that’s exactly what makes Johnny Kavanagh unforgettable.

As a South African (from the country that’s won the Rugby World Cup the past two seasons), diving into a rugby romance felt refreshingly different from the endless stream of American football romances I’ve read.

I’ll admit, I hesitated at first because of the age gap (16 and 18), but Chloe Walsh handled it so well. The pace was just how I like it, slow, but they were pining after each other the whole time, so it was worth it. Walsh built their story slowly, developed their feelings naturally, and made me fall head over heels for these characters. The friendships feel genuine, the stakes are high, the dialogue is hilarious, and the romance between Johnny and Shannon was toothache-sweet.

I loved seeing Shannon come out of her shell and finally start trusting someone. Both characters experienced growth, but she did so most of all. She went from a shy, scared girl to someone who isn’t afraid of poking fun or being a bit too loud. Johnny, someone who is so obsessed with succeeding, also started to slow down and realise that you can’t just keep pushing when things aren’t right.

As I grow as a reader, I like seeing body diversity and just diversity overall. I think it’s imperative to include this in romance books because every reader deserves to see themselves falling in love. So the “I am so small, look! I only weigh 38kg as a 16-year-old. I am so tiny!” was a bit of an eyeroll. That said, Binding 13 is a work of its time and holds up fairly well a decade after it was written.

If you haven’t read this book yet, I implore you to do so; it’s sweet, funny and like most men with an accent—addictive. A jolly good show!

My final star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Find it on Goodreads: Binding 13 by Chloe Walsh
For my South Africans, find it here: Amazon.co.za, Takealot
For my across-the-worlders, find it here: Amazon.com

If you like this one, check out some of my other stuff!

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If you’re into sprawling fantastical worlds brimming with magic, dark fae princes, and a kingdom ruled by a ruthless temple that clings to power through fear, then this series has to be your next read.

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The synopsis

Morgana was born without magic, her body weak and constantly fighting against itself, kept alive only by a specially brewed medicine. She has been trapped within Mallawing for as long as she can remember, abandoned by the parents who forsook her long ago. The walls have been closing in for years, but when a guard grows bold enough to take what was never offered, Morgana realises she can no longer stay.

Determined to escape, she finally sets her plan in motion. One last stop at the inn to say goodbye to her best friend and gather supplies for the journey ahead should have been simple. But when a group of fae disrupts the fragile calm of the inn and her guards’ footsteps are right outside the door, Morgana begs a dark fae stranger to help her escape. Instead, he turns his back on her, leaving her exposed and dragged back to her prison. When her reason for escape becomes all too real, Morgana makes a terrifying discovery:

She does have magic. Magic, the ruling temple sees as wicked blasphemy.

In the chaos that follows, Morgana learns the truth her entire life was built to hide. Her parents were the King and Queen, and they have now been murdered by none other than the infamous Nightmare Prince—the same man she met at the inn, the same man who walked away from her.

But as the forces responsible for her parents’ deaths begin hunting her down, Morgana realises the Nightmare Prince may not be her greatest enemy after all. He might be the only one capable of teaching her how to harness her magic and help her save the entire realm.

My thoughts and feelings

If you want to read this series, please know that I intend to keep this review as spoiler-free as I can!

Romance and Fantasy are two of my most read and favourite genres. This series was exactly what I needed: it had stakes, magic, steam, and the perfect fairytale-esque setting. I just felt so immersed in this world — I could picture every city, castle, and character so well. Zara Storm did such an incredible job of making you feel like another rebel tagging along.

Morgana has been told her whole life that she’s sick, weak, and incapable of wielding magic, but she is such a strong character with a fiery spirit, regardless. Even though she’s choking down vile medicine that supposedly keeps her alive, she fights—she keeps fighting and keeps trying to do the right thing.

Leon is the typical dark fae prince with a nightmarish history. He’s arrogant, egotistical, and feared by everyone in the realm—except her. I liked the relationship between our two main characters; I could feel the chemistry between them, and it just made me want to keep reading. It was complex, forbidden and definitely something Morgana didn’t want to feel for the man who supposedly murdered her parents.

Now, I know what I like, and I will mention that their relationship dynamic is really similar to those in other romantasy books I've read before, but I’m not complaining. This push-and-pull, enemies-to-lovers, dark fae x princess dynamic is truly a winner every time.

The world this story is set in is so interesting, including the magical system and the politics that accompany it. In this world, we have a church that decides what’s wicked, what’s not, and how to rid the kingdom of its wickedness, and if you have read many stories about tyrannical theocracies before, you know that what the church deems “wicked” doesn’t really have much merit.

This has fast become one of my new favourite fantasy series, and I feel so empty without it already. Zara Storm did such an incredible job of taking me out of this Trump-ridden world and transporting me to the land of fae, magic, and scorching romance.

Thanks so much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read and review this series! All opinions here are mine alone.

My final star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Find it on Goodreads: Fated to the Sun and Stars Series by Zara Storm
For my South Africans, find it here: Amazon.com
For my across-the-worlders, find it here: Amazon.com

If you like this one, check out some of my other stuff!

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As we approach the release of the new Prime adaptation of Elle Kennedy’s Off-Campus series, I decided to reread the first book in the pentology, The Deal.

What a good decision it was to re‑read the first book in the Off‑Campus series. The Deal is still exactly as I remember—fun, hilarious, and hot. I do believe, in my heart of hearts, that every hockey romance book that came after The Deal is still trying to live up to it.

Elle Kennedy has such an easy writing style to fall into, and the story progresses at a great pace. None of it felt rushed, forced, or—god forbid—boring. The banter between Garrett and Hannah is delicious, and I found myself kicking my feet like a schoolgirl.

Reading this book on a cosy Saturday afternoon, knowing I didn’t have work the next day, made the experience even sweeter. The air was chilly, the wind crisp, and the vibe perfect for getting lost again. When I finished The Deal, I couldn’t contain my excitement—I immediately wanted to pick up the sequel. This cheesy hockey romance reminded me what life is all about: joy, friendship, and love.

If you haven’t read the Off‑Campus series, or its spin‑off, Briar‑U, I would highly encourage giving it a read before the adaptation starts streaming later this month.

My final star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Find it on Goodreads: The Deal by Elle Kennedy
For my South Africans, find it here: Amazon.co.za, Takealot
For my across-the-worlders, find it here: Amazon.com

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Who knew that delivering a pizza to the house of a borderline cult could get you a hot boyfriend?

If you’re craving a dark academia, secret-society romance with blood, robes, and a love story so intoxicating it leaves you dizzy, this is the one. I devoured Lexi Davis’s writing—she has a way of pulling me in and refusing to let me go.

Our two main characters, both haunted by their own demons, complement each other beautifully. Laurel is exactly the kind of heroine I love: she starts traumatised, meek, and scared, but Carrson sees her strength and pushes her to fight. Watching her step into her own power was incredible. And Laurel, in turn, cuts straight to Carrson’s core—she sees past the brutality and sharp edges to the man who craves trust, love and something softer.

To make things better, the book also includes gorgeous character art, which makes the story feel even more alive. Dark romance, secret societies, and a relationship that makes me feel personally invested in? Say no more. Honestly, I’m already counting down the days until book two—I’m on the edge of my seat.

Thanks so much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read and review this book! All opinions here are mine alone.

My final star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Find it on Goodreads: Pretty Vicious by Lexi Davis
For my South Africans, find it here: Amazon.co.za
For my across-the-worlders, find it here: Amazon.com

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Now this was a cowboy romance: toxic, addicting, and oh so steamy. Jackson is the personification of the type of man I love to read about but would never step a foot near in real life. I can’t help but love it when a cold, unfeeling man suddenly grows a heart and falls in love. Like most small-town romances, it had its own weirdly criminal shenanigans, ranging from kidnapping and blackmail to murder.

That being said, this book reads more like a dark romance than a fluffy small-town one, and I’d like you to keep that in mind when picking it up.

Shiloh was steadfast and truly a fun character to read about; her love of horses shone through so vividly that I found myself forgetting she wasn’t real. I liked that it was darker and grittier, but if you’re looking for something similar to Elsie Silver, you won’t find that type of cowboy here.

If all of this sounds like a rainy Tuesday, I can’t recommend Leather and Lies by Delilah Grant enough, just make sure you hold onto your hat.

My final star rating: ⭐⭐⭐.75
Find it on Goodreads: Leather and Lies by Delilah Grant
For my South Africans, find it here: Amazon.com
For my across-the-worlders, find it here: Amazon.com

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What a sweet palate cleanser this was. First Comes Love is a baseball romance featuring a hunky baseball player and his best friend, a nurse he has been crushing on since they were children. I enjoyed the pining between our main characters—I mean, they are both in love with each other, but each thinks the other will never feel the same way. Immediately obsessed.

Even though there were unique elements like Birdie’s struggle with conceiving and the hero’s struggle with his own health, the book read similarly to other sports romances I’ve read; it wasn’t really special. I am partial to a bit of brooding angst, and that was something this book lacked for me.

That said, Siobhan truly has a way of writing chemistry. I could feel the heat between Silas and Birdie. The absolute fluff—this book was very fun to read. I liked the soft and gentle moments they shared just as much as the steamy and spicy ones.

As a debut romance novel, I think Siobhan really has something special, and I can’t wait to read more from her in the future.

Thanks so much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read and review this book! All opinions here are mine alone. This book is set to be published on the 1st of May 2026!

My final star rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Find it on Goodreads: First Comes Love by Penny Siobhan
For my South Africans, find it here: Amazon.com
For my across-the-worlders, find it here: Amazon.com

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I love a good biker romance, and when I spotted this series on Netgalley, I knew I had to give it a read. This series consists of 4 books, each following a different rider and the woman who steals their hearts.

Vicious Cycle by Katie Ashley

What a (motorcycle) ride—this book has everything an MC romance should have: stakes, grit, and of course a ton of hot, tattooed bikers. Deacon is definitely a man who’s hard to love, but I couldn’t help wanting to read more and more of his and Alex’s story.

I usually dislike when young children are written into romance novels, because authors hardly ever get it right. But Willow was just the sweetest, and I loved watching her and Deacon grow closer together.

A fantastic start to this series, I can’t wait to dive deeper into this world.

My final star rating: ⭐⭐⭐.75
Find it on Goodreads: Vicious Cycle by Katie Ashley
For my South Africans, find it here: Amazon.com
For my across-the-worlders, find it here: Amazon.com

Redemption Road by Katie Ashley

It got better; this book was so much darker and deeper than the first one. I absolutely loved Annabel and Rev’s story. Katie Ashley did such a good job at writing an MMC that is soft and also hard when he needs to be. The author also doesn’t rush the development of these characters and their relationships either; it all builds and flows so naturally.

Just like the first book, this book had grit and stakes. I felt like I was on the edge of my seat while I was reading. Katie Ashley has this way of hooking you right at the first sentence, whether that be the crassness of her biker men, or the fact that it all feels so real.

Thanks so much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read and review this book! All opinions here are mine alone.

My final star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Find it on Goodreads: Redemption Road by Katie Ashley
For my South Africans, find it here: Amazon.com
For my across-the-worlders, find it here: Amazon.com

Last Mile by Katie Ashley

The last book of the series was my least favourite. Bishop is much nicer than his brothers, and I felt we lost some of the grit I loved in the previous books. Bishop, I would describe as easygoing, so when he starts being mean or hard, it feels very forced. Sam, I felt, was very inconsistent—she hates bikers and MC clubs, but is almost immediately taken by a man she claims to hate.

This book didn’t have the same suspense or stakes as the other two novels, and I really struggled to finish it. The spice and intimacy also fell flat for me, and I found myself skipping the spicy scenes.

The ending of the book was rather sweet, and it served as a good conclusion to the series—all wrapped up in a nice pink bow.

My final star rating: ⭐⭐
Find it on Goodreads: Last Mile by Katie Ashley
For my South Africans, find it here: Amazon.com
For my across-the-worlders, find it here: Amazon.com

What a great introduction to Katie Ashley this series was. I can’t wait to read some of her other works, and I hope the men are just as wicked and obsessed. I think this series is a great first read if you want to dip your toes into the world of tattooed men, motorcycles and have loads of fun.

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I loved Skeet Ulrich in Scream as much as the next girl, but we have lost the plot.

Navessa Allen has somehow written a stalker romance worse than Haunting Adeline. The writing tries so hard not to fall into that “using Gen‑Z slang, because I’m definitely not a millennial writer” trap, but alas, here I am, staring down into a trap‑sized hole—with the book lying at the bottom.

Both characters, Josh and Aly, were annoying and hard to connect with, trying far too hard to appeal to women who might thirst over Ghost and König edits. And that’s what this book is: a try‑hard. The dialogue is cringeworthy and so painfully obvious that it was written to go viral on TikTok. The stakes… unfortunately, not there. It’s mentioned in the first few chapters that Josh’s father is a renowned serial killer, and the blurb promised someone would be threatening Aly, but Allen, for some reason, decided not to go that route.

I know I sound like a negative Nelly and maybe a bit of a Nancy, but there were, however, some scenes I genuinely enjoyed. I liked the moments where Aly and Josh simply shared conversations, or when we got to read about Aly’s mother and what happened to her. The book promises humour, but most of it fell flat, and the jokes that did land were few and far between.

There are far better, darker, and steamier romances to read. Do not waste your time. I wished my lights were out when I read this book.

As a treat, here are some of my favourite quotes (Ranked, of course).

1. “Alpha, huh? Is that something out of your porno books?”

2. “I am Batman.”

3. “I prefer the couple who slays together, stays together.”

4. “He was like a soft dom - sweet in the streets and mean in the sheets”

5. “Mwah ha ha ha ha. My evil plan was working. Step one: get Aly to drop her guard. Step two: fuck her on this couch.”

My final star rating: ⭐⭐
Find it on Goodreads: Lights Out by Navessa Allen
For my South Africans, find it here: Amazon, Takealot
For my across-the-worlders, find it here: Amazon.com

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CBS shows like Criminal Minds, NCIS, Fire Country, Blue Bloods, and Tracker do many things right, except for the one thing they always get wrong: the romance.

I know I’m not the only one who wants to see more of the intimate relationships in these high-stakes scenarios between my favourite characters. Dr Rebecca Sharp shares this sentiment and decided to fuck it and write the romances we’ve all been wanting on our screens.

Tracked by Dr Rebecca Sharp has done it again. I’ve read and loved several of Sharp’s books, and this one was no different. If you’re looking for an action-packed love story, then this is definitely the book for you. Sharp herself describes her books as “NCIS with more romance and steamy smut.” And if that doesn’t sell you, I don’t know what will.

The pace, the banter, and the sheer danger of the book were addictive—I just could not put it down. Calder and Lara are a match made in heaven. I loved the absolute trust and fire between these two characters. I could go on and on about the swoon-worthy man that Calder is, but I’ll refrain; he’s broody, protective, and has the best pair of gluteus maximus Lara has ever seen.

And if there’s one thing I know for certain, it’s that we’ll be seeing the whole gaggle of Stone brothers’ romances. Tracked is expected to hit shelves on July 28, 2026. Make sure to say hi to Lara and Calder for me!

My final star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Find it on Goodreads: Tracked by Dr Rebecca Sharp
For my South Africans, find it here: Amazon.com
For my across-the-worlders, find it here: Amazon.com

Thanks so much to the author and publisher for the chance to read and review this book! All opinions here are mine alone.

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It’s 2014. Shake It Off is playing on the radio, your wired earphones shoved uncomfortably in your ears, hair in a messy bun, sipping an overpriced Starbucks drink and pinning faction tattoo inspo to your Pinterest board.

Is it derogatory to say that B. Shytle really captured the essence of 2014-Divergent-Wattpad fanfiction in her novel? Because it doesn’t have to be. Worshipped In Ash would’ve done more for me then than it does now; it reads much like the free Wattpad romances I read into the early hours of the morning in grade 8, and not like a new adult suspense novel should.

I’m at odds with this novel. The writing seems juvenile, and yet the book is filled with graphic adult content. The premise of this book is intriguing, but not new. Like an American Thanksgiving turkey, the story felt overstuffed, as if the author couldn’t decide where each idea belonged or which ones to scrap. That’s how we ended up with a more mature story than Divergent, which clashes with immature writing, and somehow a devil‑worshipping cult. What a mess.

The character relationships were also lacking—no real vulnerability or connection. Everything felt hard (literally) and forced. When anything traumatising or painful happened, they would immediately hit the sack. Don’t misunderstand me, I love a good spicy scene, but good lord, would it hurt these two to just have a conversation? To sit in each other’s company?

This was a good idea, but it lacked execution, and I couldn’t connect with the characters or their stories. Much like those horrid faction tattoos of 2014, it was juvenile, and the storytelling reeked of Wattpad melodrama.

My final star rating: ⭐⭐ (🪦 at 55%)
Find it on Goodreads: Worshipped in Ash by B.Shytle
For my South Africans, find it here: Amazon.com
For my across-the-worlders, find it here: Amazon.com

Thanks so much to the author and publisher for the chance to read and review this book! All opinions here are mine alone.

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I’m no stranger to MC romances; I’ve read the Sam Crescents, the C.R. Janes and Tilly Coles, but nothing compares to this book.

Paisley Hope has a way of grabbing you by the ears and pulling you straight into a world of bars, Harleys, and an epic love story you can’t look away from. The story is fast-paced, and you wish it weren’t over the moment you start reading. Wolfe, the president of the Hounds of Hell MC, is everything a morally grey MMC should be—ruthless and mean, yet protective and unexpectedly soft when it comes to Brinley. I also truly enjoyed Brinley’s journey as she discovers just how strong and fierce a woman she really is—and if that means shooting a man in the arm, well then, maybe you should.

This was such a fun read, and I can’t wait to continue with the series and explore more of Paisley Hope’s work. If you’re looking for men who can handle their Jack and women who have them wrapped around their finger, I can’t recommend this book enough. After finishing, I found myself comparing every next read to it—and all that they weren’t. Be forewarned: this book, much like its namesake, is unforgettable.

My final star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Find it on Goodreads: Wolf.e by Paisley Hope
For my South Africans, find it here: Amazon.co.za, Takealot
For my across-the-worlders, find it here: Amazon.com

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