alexreviewsit's reviews
295 reviews

Tempting Auzed by Victoria Aveline

adventurous funny tense 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? Yes

4.5

This felt really refreshingly unique for the series. I was super happy with the story all around. 

 

Both Auzed and Alex had really vibrant personalities. I loved that Alex was impulsive and funny. In a world of men in husbandry school, Auzed being out of practice was actually really refreshing for the series. Auzed not being desperate for a wife was nice to see and added tension to the plot. 

 

I really liked the plot and found the story really interesting. The story was a slow burn romance with a marriage of convenience. The tension for the main conflict made sense and I was even a little worried at a point to see how there would be a happy ending. 

Saving Verakko by Victoria Aveline

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted 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? Yes

3.5

The series feels like you could read most books as their own standalone, but this book had a lot of Lily’s start of her story in books 2-3 if you want the full context. 

About 65% of the book is more survival focused with Verrako and Lily together in nature trying to survive. I feel like this book is for the Ice Planet Barbarians girlies who love the survival trope. I really needed that after the second book let me down a little. But this book really brought my interest back. 

I really liked that Lily was self-sufficient and could take care of herself. Verrako was fun but I just didn’t feel that much connection to his character. He didn’t seem to have too much depth other than being super into Lily.

The main conflict near the end of the book makes sense, but is a little flimsy to hold up the story. It really didn’t feel like that big of a deal since both Verrako and Lily have feelings for each other by the time they end up back in civilization. As if Lily would ever let Verrako go off to another planet for years as punishment to avoid having their mate bond known for them to be forced to be together. It just felt like the solution was so obvious that the ending didn’t feel that tense as the final conflict was resolved. I probably would have liked it more if Verrako didn’t get his mating marks so early since that took away from how tense the final conflict could be of Verrako breaking his contract.

Freeing Luka by Victoria Aveline

emotional funny tense slow-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? Yes

3.0

I had a hard time rating this because I just was so surprised it didn't live up to how much I loved the first book in the series which is disappointing. It still has a lot of the elements that I loved for the world building of how the Clecanians live. 

I was pretty frustrated that the FMC and MMC don't really interact for SO LONG into the book. I got a little bored while I was waiting for them to just have one conversation. 

Choosing Theo by Victoria Aveline

adventurous dark emotional funny tense 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? Yes

4.75

I loved this one SO MUCH. It was funny, and the characters had big personalities. There was a bit of actual plot. It was everything I was hoping it would be. I loved basically every aspect of this book. 

“You could betray me a hundred times over, and I fear I’d still fall at your feet.” !!!!!!!

I’m giggling just at the concept of this book. Men in husbandry school!!! This is wild. The world setup is just perfect for the plot and adds some tension to the story. 

This was giving me the best Ice Planet Barbarians vibes, except having a way more human MMC. It also seems a little more developed plot-wise, but not as much on the character development side. I knew I would binge the rest of the books by about 20% in. 

I also love that there is a legitimate seeming plot for the conflict in the relationship as part of the story. Theo doesn’t necessarily believe Jade was abducted by aliens as a reason that she ended up with the Clecanians. The big mystery is finding out how Jade ended up on the planet. 

The character motivations made sense for Theo being hesitant about the relationship in the beginning. Jade is snarky and fun and serves as a kind of opposite to Theo’s grouchiness. 

The Heir Apparent's Rejected Mate by Cate C. Wells

emotional sad tense slow-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? Yes

4.5

4.5/5 stars. I liked this one even more than the first. This was such a great angsty slow burn of a romance book. 

 

I like that this felt like it added so much more to the backstory of several of the packs. I really liked the addition of the scavengers as a group of people like the ferals which gives the world some more depth. It 

 

I’m not sure if Abertha will get a book, but I am so incredibly excited if that would ever happen. That would be the ultimate second chance story after rejection. I didn’t expect to love her so much  as a side character, but I do. Darragh and Mari also have a super intriguing dynamic, so I’m ready to start the third book already. 

 

Rosie actually stands up for herself for how terrible Cadoc treats her. There is actual grovel after Cadoc rejects and ignores her. I felt like the pacing was great, but the ending was a little too quick for how much buildup it received. I wish there were a few more pages of wrap up because I was almost surprised it ended where it did before the epilogue. It almost felt anticlimactic. 

 

This didn’t impact my rating at all, but the chapters are SO LONG. It makes it hard to find a stopping point. 

The Tyrant Alpha's Rejected Mate by Cate C. Wells

dark emotional sad 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? Yes

3.75

The description pretty much tells you that Una is rejected by Killian almost right off the bat at the beginning of the book and the rest of the book is essentially a realization/grovel while they spend more time together. 

I don’t know what Cate C. Wells does to her writing but I love every book she writes. She does an absolutely incredible job describing Una’s feelings of rejection. It felt so real and raw! 

Besides being each other’s mate, it didn’t really feel like Una and Killian had that much chemistry. It sort of felt like it came out of nowhere, and they barely knew each other before though that does end up being explained later. I didn’t really feel that much of a connection between them except for their inner wolves wanting to be around each other. 

I didn’t feel like Killian had much to his personality and kind of wish there was a little more there. Una was strong, independent, and really held her ground with Killian in arguments. 

Una has a disability with her leg, but I kind of hated how Killian would talk about it. It just seemed really degrading even though it came out of ignorance rather than malice. Like at one point he says something mean to her knowingly just to distract Una from something else she was mad at. I get that it is a dog eat dog world (haha get it?) but maybe he could have been a little more sensitive to that? Yet it does make sense within the world building put in place, but still a little hard to read. 

I do like that Killian does so many things to get the pack out of their backwards thinking as alpha. The super misogynistic world that gets described did really help to make the plot more believable and really set a good base for the story. I’m interested to see the other stories, especially the other packs to see if they are a little more forward thinking. 

For plot, nothing felt dragged out and everything does come back around to make sense for the plot or character building. Even the side characters had a lot of character building setting up later books in the series. I can’t wait to hopefully see Kennedy’s book later on because I’m super intrigued by her story so far.

I usually don’t love the

amnesia

trope, but it was done pretty well here with a lot of hints and flashbacks. It actually really brought the story together well and made everything that happened as backstory make a lot more sense.

Owned By The Mountain Man by Gemma Weir

dark lighthearted fast-paced

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

3.0

Other than a different job setting, this felt a little like the first book in the series. Same outrageous, over-the-top possessive MMC. I will say there is a slightly different dynamic for Cora/Huck since she is a lot more lively and stubborn than Bonnie. Both books had them being together super quickly and the MMC obsessed first. Bonnie definitely fought it a lot more than Cora.

It was pretty insta-love since the book picks up right after the night out at the bar covered in Bonnie’s book. I’d say there was enough of that night that it would make sense to read the first book before starting this one even if they could be read as a complete standalone. There are a good amount of Beau/Bonnie cameos, too. 

There is birth control tampering in this one which some people have as a big content warning. Definitely check the content warnings if that is your thing. I will say that I appreciate the author’s note at the start to really drill in that the book leans heavily on the possessive man stereotype and that really sets the tone for the book. She is not playing around with that warning. It definitely won’t be for everyone, but I still had a good time reading. The relationship seems incredibly toxic, but the author tells you about that before you start.

The ending felt a little rushed for the severity of the conflict. I wish he did even a little groveling or at least felt a little sorry. I think that would have made me rate higher.

Mountain Boss by S.J. Tilly

emotional lighthearted sad 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? Yes

3.25

This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year. SJ Tilly expanding her writing into mountain men fits her style of obsessive men so well. This book is primarily focused on the relationship and doesn’t have much other outside plot. The main emotional conflict was not really that much of a conflict, but there was a little action thrown in. 

I started the book knowing I love SJ Tilly’s writing and was not disappointed. Sterling was possessive and had a few unhinged thoughts, but it wasn’t over the top like some of Tilly’s other books like The Alliance series. It did feel like the book was missing a little bit of the spark her other books have in terms of very vibrant and interesting characters. I liked Sterling and Courtney, but I’m not sure if this is going to be a book I think about much after. Could just be my super high expectations, but it was still a really fun read overall. 

There are a lot of small miscommunications that keep them from getting together at first. Sterling seemed pretty up front with his feelings and actions, but Courtney is a little oblivious for a while. 

The book got into a little of Courtney’s background, but it felt like Sterling’s was just breezed by. One part mentions them talking all night instead of having them have conversations learning things about each other. I will give it that the book is a little on the longer side, but I would have enjoyed a little more of that to make a deeper connection to the characters. I really liked how strong Courtney is even though she has an incredibly difficult time standing up for herself and asking for things. I found that really relatable, even if she took it to an extreme.

Charge by Cate C. Wells

dark emotional hopeful sad tense fast-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? Yes

4.25

My god Kayla’s background and family situation is heartbreaking. Definitely check the trigger warnings because it gets a little dark. 

I just loved the relationship between Kayla and Charge. I think their personalities matched well, but I feel like Charge didn’t have much of a personality outside of being a biker who has a criminal history. 

I also love that Kayla had such a solid support system around her, especially Sue. Also, Charge was great around Jimmy which was so heartwarming to read. I absolutely LOVED what was done with Harper to have her introduced so poorly but get a redemption later. 

The plot itself felt well rounded with some tense and sad moments thrown in. I cried at one point and the story got real emotional on Kayla’s side. 

I will say for a motorcycle club romance, it didn’t showcase much of the motorcycle club business yet. It felt like just the right amount in balance with the building relationship of Kayla and Charge. From the snippet at the end for book 2, I'm thinking there will be a lot more motorcycle club drama involved.

Property Of The Mountain Man by Gemma Weir

funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

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

3.25

This was one of the most outrageous books with the most unhinged main characters. Truly was flabbergasted at some of the internal monologue and dialogue. The main characters have a mantra that really sets the mood: “No space. No distance.”

This book isn’t playing by the name. This man literally thinks Bonnie belongs to him. He does not let up once during the book and it is impressive. It really keeps up the momentum of the story throughout the book and Beau continually says the most over the top things.

They both start out immediately obsessed with each other from page 1. There is a large age gap with Bonnie being 21 and Beau being 43. At least he realizes he needs to stop calling her “little Bonnie Willliams” if he's into her. Even though there is a large age difference which they both talk about and address, it didn’t come off as creepy. 

I didn’t really get the logic of Bonnie deciding to go on a date with Dan immediately after she makes out with Beau. It just doesn’t make sense to have Bonnie talking nonstop about Beau in her internal monologue but then immediately deny him at first chance? Thank god this book was so outrageous that I just let it happen and didn’t think too hard on it. 

I definitely think you have to go into the book with a mindset of wanting to purely be entertained and not think too deep. I had a really fun time reading and had moments where the book shocked me at the audacity of the dialogue.