amberisalwaysreading86's reviews
1092 reviews

The Dragon Queen by Penelope Barsetti

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-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

5.0

This was an emotional, and fitting end to a fantastic series!
I didn’t think I could love and enjoy these characters more than I did in the first three installments of this saga, but I was an emotional wreck the entire time I was reading the conclusion.

While we received a hard-won ending,everything about it was perfectly executed, and I highly recommend this series to fantasy and romance readers alike.
Well done!

If You Need Me by Helena Hunting

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.0

Oh Dallas, you sweet lil’ softie….I love you, so! 

Having secretly pined for,and devotedly jumped through hoops to gain the admiration and attention of Hemi for years, Dallas finally shoots his shot.

After a few missteps in years past, Dallas and Wilhemina rely on each other to get through what is sure to be a brutally uncomfortable, High School reunion. 
Hemi’s high school frenemy-turned-nemesis is back to her old antics of jealousy, and pettiness.
All Hemi wants is to show up and DAZZLE her former tormentors with how amazing her career, and love-life is…hopefully with a hot date in tow.
Enter: Dallas

Despite knowing one another for their entire lives, these two have always allowed hurt feelings and miscommunications to drive a wedge between them. When Dallas sees an opportunity to come to Hemi’s rescue, He jumps at the chance to right past wrongs, and hopes to finally allow her to see just how much he adores and admires her….

Fake boyfriend/fiancé to the rescue!

Dallas is such a lovable, affable character, and I enjoyed all of his hilarious antics immensely.
Hemi took a little bit of warming up to for me.
Even though she is a Spitfire and capable boss-babe (which I loved), at times she seemed unnecessarily mean to Dallas.
At their age, it seems like high school party fouls would be long forgiven and forgotten, but since that is the entire premise of this book, I looked past my prejudice at her immaturity and tried to understand that it was still negatively affecting her.

I loved how patient Dallas was with her, and that he went the extra mile with her friends and each individual family member of hers, to show just how special she was to him, and how much regretted his past decisions.
Moving forward with love and respect was at the forefront of his mind, and that was conveyed perfectly.

The friendships between the Toronto Terror hockey team, and their respective ladies, will always be the best part of this series. I love their family and team camaraderie.
Overall, this was such a feel-good book, and a welcome addition to the collection. I am looking forward to the next in the series!

From Air by Jewel E. Ann

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This is, easily, one of the best stories I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading.
Tragic, Compelling, full of angst and heartache
But beautiful, nonetheless.

I fell so hard for these characters and their complicated pasts. Each step forward for them felt like an immediate victory for me, the reader.
I have long adored Jewel’s writing,but this story and the feelings it evoked in me is on a new plain of emotion .
If you’re looking for a book which explores optimism, connection, the human condition, and are of the opinion that sometimes beauty means pain, dive wholeheartedly into this gorgeous love story. It’s one I will never forget.

5 resounding stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Elevator Pitch by L.B. Dunbar

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced

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

5.0

I’ve truly been looking forward to reading this story,after immediately being sold on its “older main character” aspect…I was NOT disappointed! Phew 😮‍💨 let me tell you,there is something so incredibly refreshing about reading entire pages of dialogue, featuring conversations in which emotional maturity reigns supreme.

Ross Davis is a former all-star pitcher,turned coach.
A 47 year old widower,father of two college aged sons,
and straight up burnt out on the grind of travel and vapid supermodel situationships.

Verona Huxley is a 45 year old widow,with two grown daughters and a career writing romance novels…atleast, when she isn’t experiencing writer’s block. 

After an adorably embarrassing elevator meet-cute,these two find out happenstance leads to second chances and a new outlook on luck and love.

There was a lot of anticipation,but very little angst and tension in this love story. It felt natural,and the progression of their developing friendship and romance wasn’t rushed.
 The story flowed seamlessly,and I found myself endlessly smiling at how wonderful this characters were,each in their own right.
I wish there were more books exactly like this. 
Written by women who have experienced a bit of life,love and the ensuing heartache it can bring. I want to be friends with the women in this book. I want to have a beer and watch a baseball game with the guys. It’s just a feel good novel that reminds me why I take true pleasure in reading,and I enjoyed it immensely.
Well Done

Blood of Dragons by Penelope Barsetti

adventurous emotional inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Whew! What a wild ride this series is turning out to be!
The twists and surprises joining the fray by additional side characters has me on the edge of my seat.
Just when I thought I could pinpoint the exact motivations behind each character’s need for revenge,I’m sent into a tailspin.
As is usually the case, this story ended with a bloody cliffhanger! I can’t wait for the next book and to get some answers for my muddled brain.
5⭐️ for creativity 
5⭐️ for action and battle sequences 
5⭐️ for passion and sheer depth of feeling between our main characters

Madness by Shantel Tessier

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

4.0

✅Secret Society
✅Dark Secrets
✅Spice and Depravity
✅OTT~Possessive Hero
✅Shocking Twists

Madness is book 6 in the L.O.R.D.S world, and like the rest of the series there are key seekers and components of Haidyn’s story which answer some burning questions… and in true Shantel style,leave you with others.
There’s steam,and boundary pushing.
The testing of friendship, teamwork and camaraderie.
And build up that will meet a Crescendo in what *I believe* will be the final book in this series Where we will finally get the big reveals. We’ve been waiting for.


Pros-If you like mindbenders, and theorizing for days, then this is the book series for you! 
One is never able to grasp what’s real, or which situation is leading up to a stomach plummeting moment which leaves you scratching your head, & questioning everything you thought you’d previously known about these characters.

Cons- This book is long. Unnecessarily so, in my opinion. I think the author wants to give each character enough time to shine, but six books and several connected stories later, this one being a little over 800 pages long had my attention waning a bit by the end.

Overall, I’ve been invested in this storyline and these characters/world for quite some time, and I am definitely looking forward to seeing the final result and big “Aha!” Moments to come.

Truly, Madly, Deeply by L.J. Shen

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

The story featured a couple who were imperfect, insecure, and damaged… But their all consuming love was nothing short of perfection.
I laughed. 
I cried.
I snorted and chuckled through banter and genius bouts of sarcasm from side characters who embodied the perfect layers of snark, and wit.
I may have thrown my hands up in the air and screamed at the main character’s stubbornness a few dozen times, but by the end of this book, I was openly weeping and grinning from ear to ear,because their happy ending gives hope to all humans who feel unworthy and too damaged to deserve an epic love.
Watching Ambrose not only embrace Calla’s quirkiness,unique personality,and style, but push her so far past her fears that she for once in her life, was able to love herself and see her perfection through his eyes, was extremely moving.
The author did a fantastic job with keeping the characters true to their authentic selves, so much so, that I fell in love with them myself. 

(…and as a child who grew up in the late 80s and early 90s I couldn’t possibly appreciate the playlist and the pop culture references more)

I’m greatly looking forward to book 2 in this series, and can’t recommend this one highly enough!

The Death King by Penelope Barsetti

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious fast-paced

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

5.0

This is high fantasy at its finest!
I was invested in both the characters, and their plight from the very first page. Their individual storylines have just the right amount of suspense, everything about The Feath King’s, former life shrouded in mystery, and compelling enough to illicit sympathy for our villain.
Calista is a force, with a quiet strength and no nonsense attitude, which I love in female main characters .

Now for the fun part..the DRAGONS!🐉
Both Khasmuda and Inferno reminded me of wise old men, sitting on a front porch, doling out wisdom to younger generations. Their calm nature, and fortitude immediately endeared them to me.

No one does enemies~ to~lovers quite like Penelope.
I could feel the burning hatred and tension fueled angst between Talon and Calista.

Their chemistry was so intense I had chills ..
Having read their entire story in one sitting, the brutal cliffhanger had me raging, but I know this fantastic author will pull through for us readers in the end!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Hard Hat Hottie by L.M. Fox

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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? N/A

5.0

Wicked Scandal by Rachel Leigh

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0