NatashaReadsBooks

Tuesday, July 29, 2025

Review: Hide and Sneak

Title: Hide and Sneak

Series: Happy Haven

Author: S.M. Shade

Release Date: July 31, 2025

This is the year that all my hard work and saving is going to pay off. My goals are clear, to quit my job at the daycare center, start a business, and move out of Happy Haven Trailer Park, It isn't a bad place, and I love most of my crazy neighbors, but it was always meant to be a stepping stone.

I'm a woman with a plan. A plan that doesn't include living with my brother and his best friend, Sutton, but here we are. They need a place to stay for a few months, and I can't say no.

No good deed goes unpunished.

Sutton Yates is not one of my favorite people, and he wastes no time throwing my peaceful life into chaos. It's just my luck that his road construction job has him working the same hours that I do. I'm stuck with him every evening.

He's infuriating. He thinks he's hilarious and nothing entertains him more than getting under my skin.

In high school he was the troublemaker we all had a crush on, but at twenty-six years old, I know better than to be taken in by a few muscles and tattoos. He's insufferable, and I've matured.

So it would be great if I could stop ending up in his bed.

Goodreads | Amazon

So I've had the worst book slump for months now. I have had multiple books that I end up DNF'ing (or at least NRN'ing) bc I just haven't been able to read anything in sooo long. Between summer break (& daughter being home from school) & just stress of everything I haven't been able to get into a book or more than a handful of chapters in forever. So when S.M. Shade's new book went live, I jumped at the chance to read it!

I love SM Shade's books. Her romcoms already make me feel giddy & swoon over the characters and lol. And this was no different.

Hide and Sneak is the last book in the Happy Havens series & about Lila - one of the residents. When her brother is evicted she lets him move into her trailer at Happy Haven with her. The day he shows up to move in, his best friend Sutton is in tow as well. Lila gives in, now having two roommates instead of one, one of which she isn't exactly fond of. Sutton was a bad influence on her brother when they were teens, and they weren't exactly friends. But things heat up between them when they start a FWB situation & sneaking around behind Lila's brothers back, surely nothing could go wrong?

This book was definitely a cute fun read. It was light and filled with humor and steam. I love the Happy Haven crew and was sad to see it coming to an end. I love seeing the shenanigans that the characters got up to & did enjoy this book, and can't wait to see what is next from SM Shade.

4 ⭐ out of 5⭐

3🌶️ out of 5🌶️.

Tropes:

• rom-com

• brothers best friend

• hate to love

• childless by choice

About the Author:

S.M. Shade writes spicy romantic comedies and steamy contemporary romances with relatable characters. Whether it's a good laugh or a good cry, she likes to grab you by your emotions and make you feel. An unashamed Croc enthusiast and poetry nerd, she can usually be found listening to Indie Rock and watching birds.

Friday, June 20, 2025

Review: Caught Up

Title: Caught Up

Series: Into Darkness

Author: Navessa Allen

Release Date: June 10

From the viral TikTok author of the stalker romcom, Lights Out, comes Navessa Allen’s second book in bestselling The Into Darkness Trilogy, upping the ante with voyeurism and play club kink.

“I wanted this woman, and I was a man who always got what he wanted.”

Nico “Junior” Trocci knows Lauren Marchetti is off limits. She is sweetness and laughter, whereas Junior exists in a world of violence and depravity. Men like him don’t get to have women like her. It’s why he pushed her away back in high school and kept his distance ever since.

But when Junior looks Lauren up online, he discovers the shy, bookish girl he remembers is gone. In her place is a strikingly beautiful woman whose social media is filled with scantily clad pictures of herself and a connection to a nearby play club. Junior’s innocent curiosity quickly turns into a dark obsession. Watching Lauren from a distance isn’t enough; he needs to make her his.

“He’s ruthless; a walking red flag. Good thing red is my favorite color.”

Lauren is intrigued by the mystery man who keeps showing up at her club, who tempts her white-hot desires. But as their flirty online messages stir up a deeper form of connection, Lauren worries she’s developing real feelings for this brooding stranger. As their combined desire ratchets up to a breaking point, who will seduce who?

Goodreads | Amazon

So I have been looking forward to Caught Up for months. I loved Lights Out & was excited to dive back into the dark rom-com world that was set up.

Junior Trocci exist in a world of violence and depravity. He stuck to the shadows and darkness his only light being Lauren - the first girl he ever loved back when they were kids. He kept away for ten years, to keep her safe. But now he wanted nothing more than to get out from under his father's thumb and have a shot with Lauren.

So, I loved Lights Out but honestly I forgot who Junior was at first, since it's been awhile since I read book one. But I was glad to be back in the into darkness world.

Junior was ruthless and dangerous. He was part of the mob and was a man who always got what he wanted and after stalking Lauren from a distance - he wanted to finally make her his.

Lauren's first love in school was Junior - but when he hurt her she becomes more closed off, not giving anyone else the chance to do so. Now she was working as a cam girl and at a members only club.

This two had baggage to get through. Between past hurts and current secrets these two were explosive in more ways than one. - They instantly had a connection that attended from when they were younger but only seemed more amplified now as adults. It was deeper than lust but neither was ready for more than something casual - at least not right off.

I loved the book, the dynamic between the characters and the world. I loved the friendships and found families too. But I didn't love it as much as book 1. The book was good & it made me laugh some. It had some steamy scenes and I couldn't wait to see how Junior and Lauren's relationship played out. But it wasn't as funny as the first. But with how it ended - I'm excited to see if there will be more in the future from other characters.

Overall it was a good steamy read.

4 ⭐ out of 5 ⭐

3 🌶️ out of 5 🌶️.

Tropes:

- dark romance

- rom-com

- Mafia romance

- second chance

- stalker

-cam girl

- touch her & 💀

Trigger Warnings:

• violence

• injury

• blood

• stalking

• choking

• appendage removal

• threats

• taser

• primal play (chase)

• voyeurism

• bondage

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Navessa Allen lives in the shores of Chesapeake Bay with her husband and their spoiled cats. She posts her books in serial format to her website via Patreon. To catch up on her latest work in progress, read exclusive bonus scenes, and feast your eyes on NSFW character art, please visit: patreon.com/navessaallen

Friday, June 6, 2025

Review: Trust Me Always

Title: Trust Me Always

Series: Boys of Avix

Author: Meagan Brandy

Release Date: June 17

Fake dating one football player while his teammate tries to win me back? Yeah, probably not the best idea, yet here we are.

Talk about complicated…

I loathe the day I ran smack dab into the hard chest of Alister Howl, Avix University’s second-string quarterback. The moment he smiled my way I should’ve run. And, well, I did … straight into his bed.

That was before I learned he was nothing but a liar. He ruined everything before it even began.

Unfortunately for me, he takes my dismissal as a challenge and comes back twice as hard.

I didn’t think it would work, but the man’s relentless, and now I’m wavering when I’m not so sure I should.

How can I be with him if I can’t trust him?

And that right there is exactly how I end up at a party, locking lips with the campus playboy and ultimate bachelor, Brady freaking Lancaster.

One second, I’m hiding from Alister in some sorority house and the next … I’m “Brady’s girl”.

I have no idea how it happened or where things go from here.

But one thing is for sure, fake dating one football player while his teammate tries to win me back is going to be one hell of a ride…

This is the third standalone set in the universe of Say You Swear from USA Today bestselling author Meagan Brandy. This is Cameron's book.

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookish Modesto |

So if you didn't know, I have been in a huge reading slump for MONTHS, & struggling even longer. I haven't found much to really pull me into a story. And on top of that I got sick AND my eyes have been bothering me for DAYS - whether that's my allergies or because of the smoke from the wildfires - either way it's been super annoying & hard to even read, or do much of anything for that matter.

But let me just say Trust Me Always was definitely one of my most anticipated reads for the YEAR & I wasn't going to let my horrible eyes, a cold, a kid on her last month of school & all the craziness that brings or a reading slump stop me from diving into this book!

And boy did it deliver.

Cameron's third year in college is off to a rocky start. Alister - the guy who broke her trust last year is trying to win her back. And part of Cameron wants to let him - but she needs time to untangle her feelings and figure out what she wants. Brady - one of her best friends since they were in diapers and notorious playboy - offers up a solution. They will fake date until she gets her head together. He's protective and sweet and always looks out for her - so the transition is easy.

But Alister doesn't quit.

Which football player will win Cameron over, and which one will be sidelined?

I loved everything about this book - the push and pull between the characters & wondering who will get the girl. I loved the sass and banter, the friendships and loved being back in the Avix world again. I loved the angst and drama this book brought and ate everything right up. It was such a fun read - and was the perfect first read for the summer. I love Meagan's books & couldn't wait to read Cameron's story since I first read about Cam in Say You Swear. She is fun and feisty, sassy and a bit bratty. She tells it like it is but loves her friends and family something fierce.

Brady & Alister play on the same team - but are sooo different from each other.

Alister didn't mean to hurt Cameron and break her trust, but he did because he was hurt himself. But he is persistent and charming and dedicated.

Brady has always been apart of Cameron's life. He's one of her best friends. He's protective and funny, a flirt, sweet and smart.

So when Cam needs his help, he is there for her. But why can't she get Alister out of her head when he hurt her?

Like I said this book brings on the Angst and Drama and banter and I loved every second of it. I had no idea what to expect going into this book but it had me giddy & kicking my feet one minute, and swooning the next. It was everything I didn't know I needed.

5⭐ out of 5⭐.

2🌶️ out of 5🌶️.

Tropes:

• NA romance (college)

• sports romance (football)

• love triangle

• fake dating

• friends to lovers

• who will she choose?

• he falls first

• emotion & angst

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Meagan Brandy writes New Adult romance novels with a twist. She is a candy crazed, jukebox junkie who tends to speak in lyrics. Born and raised in California, she is a married mother of three crazy boys who keep her bouncing from one sports field to another, depending on the season, and she wouldn't have it any other way. Starbucks is her best friend and words are her sanity.

Thursday, May 1, 2025

Review: Sunrise on the Reaping

Title: Sunrise on the Reaping

Series: The Hunger Games

Author: Suzanne Collins

Release Date: March 18, 2025

When you’ve been set up to lose everything you love, what is there left to fight for?

As the day dawns on the fiftieth annual Hunger Games, fear grips the districts of Panem. This year, in honor of the Quarter Quell, twice as many tributes will be taken from their homes.

Back in District 12, Haymitch Abernathy is trying not to think too hard about his chances. All he cares about is making it through the day and being with the girl he loves.

When Haymitch’s name is called, he can feel all his dreams break. He’s torn from his family and his love, shuttled to the Capitol with the three other District 12 tributes: a young friend who’s nearly a sister to him, a compulsive oddsmaker, and the most stuck-up girl in town. As the Games begin, Haymitch understands he’s been set up to fail. But there’s something in him that wants to fight . . . and have that fight reverberate far beyond the deadly arena.

So I have been in a huge book slump lately & have been picking up and putting down a ton of books without finishing much, and just being slow at reading without much holding my interest unfortunately, not to mention having less time reading since daughter was on spring break & just had issues & stress.

But I made sure not only to grab but read Sunrise of the Reaping which is a prequel to the Hunger Games & is Haymitch's story.

This book was peak Hunger Games - Haymitch was thrown into a quarter quell with double the amount of tributes - and it was a battle in and out of the arena. Not only was he fighting for his life in the arena against other tributes - other kids much like himself, and learning about those around him - but he was battling against Snow and the corrupt government that ruled them. He may have won the games, but he lost everything in the process.

This book had me feeling all the emotions. I felt for Haymitch & what he has had to endure, and learning about some of the other tributes too, and I hated Snow.

If you enjoyed the Hunger Games, and wanted Haymitch's heartbreaking backstory then I recommend this book.

4⭐ out of 5⭐.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Suzanne Collins is the internationally bestselling author of the Hunger Games series, which also includes the novels The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, Mockingjay, and the Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Together, the books have sold over 100 million copies and were the basis for five popular films. Her other books include the acclaimed Underland Chronicles series, which begins with Gregor the Overlander, and the picture book Year of the Judge, illustrated by James Proimos. To date, her books have been published in fifty-three languages around the world.

Website | Amazon |