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_better_off_read's Reviews (50)
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
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:
Complicated
I have zero words! Sike, that’s a lie! I’m not a fantasy girl by nature. I’ve read exactly TWO fantasy books that I can say that I’ve enjoyed - so take that into consideration lol
I intentionally put off reading Fourth Wing for SO long because honestly I thought it was all hype and would leave me disappointed (hey, I’m just walking in my truth). But DAMN!! I don’t know if it’s because I went in with such low expectations but Becky did her big one!
Now for the specifics.
I did almost DNF at ch. 5 because Violet’s inner dialogue was aggy AF! BUT when it picks up?? IT PICKS UP!!..and I couldn’t put it down! I still connect more with MFC who are brazen and bold out the gate but I gotta give Vi her flowers. She grew on me.
Xaden Riorson aka “Big Daddy Xa” is everything I love in a dark, morally grey MMC!
DAIN!!! OMG!!!!
Tairn, Andarna & Sgaeyl!?!? The dragons!!! Baby, THE DRAGONS!?!? Best minor characters!!
The romance portion? Great! But I’m not a big fan of slow burns!
Very well written and very easy to ingest as a fantasy newbie.
I intentionally put off reading Fourth Wing for SO long because honestly I thought it was all hype and would leave me disappointed (hey, I’m just walking in my truth). But DAMN!! I don’t know if it’s because I went in with such low expectations but Becky did her big one!
Now for the specifics.
I did almost DNF at ch. 5 because Violet’s inner dialogue was aggy AF! BUT when it picks up?? IT PICKS UP!!..and I couldn’t put it down! I still connect more with MFC who are brazen and bold out the gate but I gotta give Vi her flowers. She grew on me.
Xaden Riorson aka “Big Daddy Xa” is everything I love in a dark, morally grey MMC!
DAIN!!! OMG!!!!
Tairn, Andarna & Sgaeyl!?!? The dragons!!! Baby, THE DRAGONS!?!? Best minor characters!!
The romance portion? Great! But I’m not a big fan of slow burns!
Very well written and very easy to ingest as a fantasy newbie.
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Innocent Intent is my 2nd K.C. Mills novel (my first being a holiday romance) and this is my favorite so far.
Davis and Cassidy have an undeniable sexual tension from the start that threatens to jeopardize the integrity of Davis’ active investigation. I loved the character dynamics and their backstories.
As a thriller girl this one had more romance than I anticipated from a thriller. For me, the romance outweighed the thriller aspect until ~60%. Did I enjoy this one? Absolutely! Is it my favorite thriller? Unfortunately, no. I look for being on the edge of my seat throughout a thriller and this read more like a slow burn romance.
Davis and Cassidy have an undeniable sexual tension from the start that threatens to jeopardize the integrity of Davis’ active investigation. I loved the character dynamics and their backstories.
As a thriller girl this one had more romance than I anticipated from a thriller. For me, the romance outweighed the thriller aspect until ~60%. Did I enjoy this one? Absolutely! Is it my favorite thriller? Unfortunately, no. I look for being on the edge of my seat throughout a thriller and this read more like a slow burn romance.
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape, Murder, Abandonment
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Initially I wasn’t planning to read this book but I’m glad I did! I wasn’t as interested in reading more bout King/Asha but loved getting more insight into Jackson/Camille & Trei/Zora.
King/Asha felt more like an epilogue that I didn’t necessarily need.
Jackson/Camille was a cute story that gave all the warm and fuzzies.
Trei/Zora was SPICY! Love it!!
This was almost 5 ⭐️but I finished feeling cheated by not having a full length book for Jackson/Camille & Trei/Zora! I got a lil taste and now I’m left hanging lol I need more from these couples CCJ. Please and thank you 🥹
King/Asha felt more like an epilogue that I didn’t necessarily need.
Jackson/Camille was a cute story that gave all the warm and fuzzies.
Trei/Zora was SPICY! Love it!!
This was almost 5 ⭐️but I finished feeling cheated by not having a full length book for Jackson/Camille & Trei/Zora! I got a lil taste and now I’m left hanging lol I need more from these couples CCJ. Please and thank you 🥹
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Charlie, Charlie, Charlie. I genuinely did enjoy reading this book. It started off slower than I would’ve wanted to, but in true fashion, the plot twist were twisting.
The part that impacted my experience with this book the most is the plots itself (therefore without it there is no book). Charlie got in the car, in the middle of the night with a literal stranger. She provided no information or context for this journey to anybody she knew to ensure her safety! That alone made me want to throw the book at the wall because hoo does this NOT go wrong for you in so many ways? Again, understanding that this set up is the premise of how the book unfolds it just irked the hell out of me.
One of the main things that I enjoyed the most was the added layer of Charlie’s mental movies, making it hard even for me as a reader to know truth from fiction. there were so many times when I was gasping or cheering just to find out that it wasn’t really happening, but again it made for a more emotional roller coaster of a reading experience. But clearly the moral of today’s story friends don’t get in cars with strangers.
The part that impacted my experience with this book the most is the plots itself (therefore without it there is no book). Charlie got in the car, in the middle of the night with a literal stranger. She provided no information or context for this journey to anybody she knew to ensure her safety! That alone made me want to throw the book at the wall because hoo does this NOT go wrong for you in so many ways? Again, understanding that this set up is the premise of how the book unfolds it just irked the hell out of me.
One of the main things that I enjoyed the most was the added layer of Charlie’s mental movies, making it hard even for me as a reader to know truth from fiction. there were so many times when I was gasping or cheering just to find out that it wasn’t really happening, but again it made for a more emotional roller coaster of a reading experience. But clearly the moral of today’s story friends don’t get in cars with strangers.
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
So I was a little hesitant about this book mainly because book 1 was not my favorite however CCJ did a great job with book 2 of the Connecticut King series. I definitely connected with Cole and Jordan more then I did with Trent and Jade‘s characters from book 1.
Cole and Jordan‘s relationship was fun, lighthearted and relatable. However, I was anticipating the entire time for the miscommunication to show up and it didn’t disappoint. Although miscommunication is one of my least favorite tropes, I am a big fan of FMC who are confident, successful, beautiful and make room to fall in love. All in all I enjoyed the book.
Cole and Jordan‘s relationship was fun, lighthearted and relatable. However, I was anticipating the entire time for the miscommunication to show up and it didn’t disappoint. Although miscommunication is one of my least favorite tropes, I am a big fan of FMC who are confident, successful, beautiful and make room to fall in love. All in all I enjoyed the book.
funny
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Tempest and Tristan story almost feels like fated mates as both are trying to recover from a past that haunts them while desperately working this future worth fighting for. This book had just the right about of humor and reality mixed with lovable characters HOWEVER I wanted Tempest to 👏🏾 get 👏🏾 in 👏🏾 Nya 👏🏾 A$$!!! 😡
One thing I’m loving about these Rose & Thorn books is seeing them regain their lives and fight to find normalcy.
One thing I’m loving about these Rose & Thorn books is seeing them regain their lives and fight to find normalcy.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
“Alicia… I know this isn’t the case for very many people in the world, but let’s make something clear – I’m not fucking scared of you.” what man says that to a known killer?! Cre!!!!! 😮💨 That’s my man!!!
One thing CCJ does exceptionally well is spicy espionage. The If You Can Series has been my favorite for a while now but I’m gonna have to do some soul searching because the High Stakes series is giving it a run for its money! 🤩
One thing CCJ does exceptionally well is spicy espionage. The If You Can Series has been my favorite for a while now but I’m gonna have to do some soul searching because the High Stakes series is giving it a run for its money! 🤩
I fell in love with MC, Ace, in Ante Up and was excited to see book 3 to dive into the tension between her and Cre and boy did it deliver! 😏
Ace is a bad ass and Cre’s energy matched hers perfectly! When she pushed he pulled and it was perfection 🤌🏾🤌🏾
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
CCJ is one that I won’t take no arguments about and that remains after reading Ante Up (my 30th title!!). Sis don’t miss!
Not usually a fan of insta love, but King and Asha had that smoking hot chemistry. I loved that she wasn’t sitting and waiting to be saved but also that King was ready and willing to save her.
The high-stakes poker/black Vegas royalty was a unique setting. I love that they were running a legitimate business successfully but also weren’t afraid to get their hands dirty when needed.
I had no issues with any of the main or supporting characters - even the villain was done well.
Just another top tier story by the one and only CCJ! 🙌🏾
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I’ll admit, I went into this one full of skepticism. I typically go into books blind but (for whatever reason) I read the synopsis first so I was hesitant to even read it.
This book follows ELEVIN characters through their experience during a reality tv competition. For me, too many MCs tend to cause unnecessary clunky confusion but this was done very well. I experienced this book via audio and the full production made all the difference in my experience with it.
Im still surprised that I enjoyed it as Im not a fan of futuristic storytelling but this one was near future and incredibly feasible. Each family wasn’t what it appeared to be and (as per usual) Marrs tosses in the plot twist that make you question everyone involved.
This book follows ELEVIN characters through their experience during a reality tv competition. For me, too many MCs tend to cause unnecessary clunky confusion but this was done very well. I experienced this book via audio and the full production made all the difference in my experience with it.
Im still surprised that I enjoyed it as Im not a fan of futuristic storytelling but this one was near future and incredibly feasible. Each family wasn’t what it appeared to be and (as per usual) Marrs tosses in the plot twist that make you question everyone involved.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Trafficking
Minor: Addiction, Murder
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Good storyline with promise but I was truly hoping for more shock value and jump scares. Unfortunately my tolerance for self deprecating MFC is at an all time low - Amy was all over the place. I will say that in true fashion Frieda does hit us with a good plot twist before the end which I’ve come to love. So while not my favorite McFadden novel I can say that I was intrigued enough to finish it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Murder
Minor: Child abuse