ARCs of the Week! 09/01-09/07

Wowza, September is going to be a month full of ARCs! I have a lot more to come for you. Below are three ARCs I have reviewed this week, that you should check out!

I'll try my best to start including the purchase links as well (title will be the link), as some are only available on Amazon.

First up, Body Check by Teagan Hunter (see header photo)

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

“I’m superstitious as hell, and right now, it seems like you might be my good luck charm.”

Y’all this was it— my first hockey romance. And it did NOT disappoint. I think I’m a fan now. I was hooked from the first chapter. Also I love how independent the main characters were—like they didn’t necessarily need each other. They were both successful in their own regards. But they just wanted each other 🥹 As someone who knows zip about hockey, I thought it was going to throw me off but I actually found it quite fascinating!

I can’t wait for Lawson’s story next! I can already tell the banter will be immaculate. There were also little hints dropped in the book of possible future pairings.

Tropes:

🥅Hockey Romance

🥅Dual POV

🥅Grumpy sunshine

🥅Female billionaire

🥅One Night Stand

🥅Workplace Romance

BLURB (from Goodreads)

I have two goals

 1. Be named captain of the Seattle Serpents.

 2. Stay single.

I'm right on track...until she happens. Auden Sinclair. We're stuck together for a night when our plane is forced to make an emergency landing, and that's all the promise we make-one night, then we go our separate ways. Except she pops up again. Then again. Suddenly, she's everywhere. In my head and in my bed, completely taking over my life and ruining all my plans with her quippy comebacks, her smarts, and a body that fits against mine just perfectly.

The problem? Auden is off limits. Forbidden. Strictly in the DO NOT TOUCH zone. She goes against all the rules, but never have I wanted to bend them as badly as I do when it comes to her. This might be one battle I'm not going to win…

 BODY CHECK is a standalone hockey romance novel. It contains a one-night stand, a billionaire heroine, a hot hockey player, obnoxious yet loveable teammates, goofy text threads, wit, plenty of steam, and a happy ending. This book does reference the death of a parent off the page.

Thank you to Valentine PR for this early copy!

Next up, The Grave Robber: A Charley Davidson Novella by Darynda Jones

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice: 🌶️

I really enjoyed this short, fast-paced, supernatural novella! It gave me a glimpse into the Charley Davidson world, which I had never read before. The quotes at the beginning of each chapter, followed by the comedic commentary always had me cracking up. Even though the plot was rather dark— evading death (nudge at “The Grave Robber” title— the dialogue and snarky humor kept it a little light.

Eric Vause has the ability to see ghosts and the scene of a person’s death but he’s done with it. He’s ready for a break, and is off to visit his friend. Unfortunately, the visit is not all vacation as his friend needs help—- or rather a friend of his does. One look at Halle—and her future— and Eric knows that he has no choice but to help. Can he solve the mystery of who is haunting her and how to get rid of them?

For those who have not read a 1001 Dark Nights novella before, they are all standalone and are typically an introduction to an already existing world from the author. Think of it like a “bonus book”. For new readers to the world, it’s definitely a teaser taste to an author’s series!

Thank you to 1001 Dark Nights/Blue Box Press for the early copy.

And lastly, A Dagger Through the Heart by B.D. May

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

I’m not usually a historical romance reader but I was intrigued by this one as it has an element of mystery to it, with the detective trying to solve a murder. It took me a minute to get into the language, as it is set in the 1800s and very much written that way (probably why I struggle with historical romance sometimes LOL), but once I got used to it, I found myself enjoying the flow of the words and getting into the story, especially the detective side of it. This one was a rather short read as well, and I finished in one sitting!  This read is perfect if you like some BDSM with your mystery.

“We are all trying to survive, just survive. Anything else is a bonus.”

Blurb:

The Crimes of Passion series.

Introducing the insatiable Reuben Keene. Victorian detective and master of desire.

Meet the hardest detective the Victorian streets of London's Whitechapel have ever seen.

Feared by men and a curio to women, he has a secret. It's private, but rumours abound. Only his two domestic servants and their boss Mrs Clements, a former servant herself, know Reuben's 'special' demands to which all three of them willingly comply when instructed. 

While the detective is investigating the brutal murder of a police officer, Mrs Clements recruits a new domestic servant different to any other he has known. In reality, she is part of the aristocracy; Lady Victoria Farrah, but her unspoken desire drives her to secretly be in his service. She needs to be submissive to a real man. A filthy, obscene, monster of a man. A man like Detective Reuben Keene. It's not a want. It's a need.

As the murder investigation unfolds, Lady Victoria finds herself in terrible danger, with only one man capable of saving her: the insatiable Reuben Keene.

 —All thoughts and opinions are my own

Thank you to Love Books Tours for this early copy!

More to come soon!!

Titles include:

The Glass Palace

The Quiet Dead

Killing Me Softly

The Widow Queen and Her Lover

Fighting the Pull

Tender Hearts

Heart of Night and Fire

Fractured Are the Pieces