talknerdybookblog's reviews
2607 reviews

The Taming of a Scandal by Kathleen Ayers

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

No strong representation of diverse characters or minority identities.

Safety Rating: Safe

• No cheating
• Does have OM drama
- Heroine goes on a date with the (unknown to her) Hero's guardian's brother, which hurts the Hero's feelings
• Does have OW drama
- There's a rumour the Hero is to wed a business partner's daughter, and the Hero confirms the partner favours the alliance. But the Hero doesn't even contemplate it because he's so gone for the Heroine. 
• Does have the Heroine pushing the Hero away
• Does have a brief separation
- Both celibate

Possible Triggers: Yes

• Sexual harassment
• SO MUCH benevolent sexism (the Heroine's brothers to her UGGH)
• Knife violence
• Physical violence
• Attempted murder
• Kidnapping
• Classism
• Recounting of child abuse (including whippings, starvation)
• Murder of the Hero's guardian recounted
• Grief (see above)
• Infidelity (between side characters)

Ending:

HEA

Before We Fall by Aurora Rose Reynolds

emotional hopeful lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

No strong representation of diverse characters or minority identities. 

Safety Rating: Safe with Exception

• Does have cheating
– MCs' spouses were cheating on the MCs with each other 
• Does have OW/OM drama
– Both the MCs' spouses wanted them back
– Plus, the Hero's ex-wife pretends to be pregnant (which is impossible since the Hero's hasn't slept with her in eight months) 
• Does have the Hero briefly pushing the Heroine away
• No separation

Possible Trigger: Yes

• Discussion of: 
- murder
- r@pe
- gun violence
• Infidelity (see Safety Rating spoiler)

Ending:

HEA with Epilogue

Before This Ends by Aurora Rose Reynolds

emotional hopeful lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

No strong representation of diverse characters or minority identities.

Safety Rating: Safe with Exceptions

• No cheating
• Does have OW drama
- Hero was casually seeing someone when Heroine just broke up with her boyfriend 
- Hero's ex / daughter's mom is jealous of the family they're creating and goes out of her way to undermine the Heroine's place in the Hero and daughter's life (it was WEIRD since she's happily married???)
• Does have slight OM drama at the very start of the book
- Heroine was dating OM at start of the story / when she first met the Hero and his daughter. They end up breaking up cuz he doesn't want kids. 
• Does have the MCs pushing each other away
• No separation

Possible Triggers: Yes

• Murder
• Gun violence
• Murder of Hero's mom recounted

Ending:

HEA

The Last Love Note by Emma Grey

emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

No strong representation of diverse characters or minority identities.

Mature Themes:

• Swearing
• Sexual content is non-descriptive

Possible Triggers: Yes

• Death of spouse from early onset Alzheimer's 
• Death of spouse recounted
• Grief
• Miscarriage (on-page)
• Car accident

Ending:

HEA. Thriving in their careers, married, created a blended family with their kids from separate relationships, and had a kid together.

The First Ladies by Marie Benedict, Victoria Christopher Murray

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Representation: Black main character, Bisexual main character, Black supporting characters, Black side characters, Lesbian side characters, Saphhic main relationship, Sapphic side relationship

Mature Themes:

• Minimal swearing
• Sexual content is non-descriptive

Possible Triggers: Yes

• Racism
• Infidelity
• Classism
• Discussion and recounting of lynchings
• Sexism
• Misogynoir 
• Fatphobia
• Homophobia
• Lesbophobia
• Racial slurs

Ending:

HFN

Wild for You by Kristen Proby

hopeful lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.25

No strong representation of diverse characters or minority identities.

Safety Rating: Safe

• No cheating
• No OW/OM drama
- Hero's wife dies giving birth to their second child in the prologue. They got married cuz they accidentally got pregnant with their first child.
• No pushing away
• No separation

Possible Triggers: Yes

• Hero's wife dies in childbirth in the prologue
• Heroine has a stalker
• Abduction
• Physical assault

Ending:

HFN

The Annoyed Eminence by K.M. Shea

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

No strong representation of diverse characters or minority identities.

Mature Themes: None

• No sexual content
• No swearing

Possible Triggers: Yes

• Medical trauma

Ending:

HFN

The Games of Enemies and Allies by K.M. Shea

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Representation: Main character with social anxiety

Mature Themes: None

• No swearing
• No sexual content

Possible Triggers: Yes

• Gun violence
• Physical assault 
• Blood drinking 
• Grief

Ending:

HFN

The Lies of Vampires and Slayers by K.M. Shea

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Representation: Main character with social anxiety

Mature Themes: None

• No swearing
• No sexual content

Possible Triggers: Yes

• Gun violence
• Physical assault 
• Blood drinking 
• Grief

Ending:

HFN

The Wickedness of a Highlander by Elisa Braden

emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

No strong representation of diverse characters or minority identities.

Safety Rating: Safe

• No cheating
• No OW/OM drama
- Although, the Hero was under the impression that the Heroine had a romantic relationship with the detective from the previous books and was JEALOUS (they actually had a father-daughter relationship). 
• Does have the MCs pushing each other away
• No separation

Possible Triggers: Yes

• Recounting of abusive relationship between Heroine and her older brother (physical, emotional and psychological)
• Hero says some shitty things that reinforce the emotional abuse she suffered (she's useless)
• Physical assault
• Suicidal ideation
• Discussion with a side character where they recount being a victim of pedophilia and sexual assault
• Difficult childbirth

Ending:

HEA