archivesofjina's reviews
842 reviews

Alliance by Etta Pierce

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious reflective 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

5.0

 As with every other book by Etta, I loved it so much. It becomes increasingly difficult to pick a favorite. This one just felt so deep and really made you think, in my opinion. The FMC, Roz, is a "doll" but she isn't like other dolls because while she was plugged in something happens to her that causes her to break I guess you could say. By "breaking" she has free will, wants, thoughts, and desires of her own. At the same time she has memories from the human she was made from. She spends a lot of the book going through the emotions of the woman she was made from and her own. What she was made for and what she wants. What her true feelings are and what she was programmed to do. I found it to be incredibly emotional and impactful.

The MMC, Fás, was a dreamboat and really helped Roz understand who she is. He was so incredibly supportive and never once questioned or doubted her in anyway. He was constantly thinking of HER feelings, HER wants before his own, all while protecting his daughters. He was a delicious cinnamon roll. The slow burn, as per usual was so incredibly worth it and the chase scenes made me scream into a pillow. If you didn't know Fás is very much an Alien inspired by Hyenas. How unique is that?

The ending wrapped up in a beautiful little bow and I truly didn't want it to end. Waiting for book 7 is going to make me lose my mind. 

Snapdragons by January Rayne

dark emotional sad tense 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

 MASTERPIECE OF MADNESS 

Isle of seduction by C.J. Lucci, C.J. Lucci

adventurous dark emotional 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

5.0

 Another amazing book by C.J. Lucci. Isle of Seduction is book two in The Moretti Chronicles and while each is a standalone, they are interconnected. So I highly recommend reading them in order.

This one is a marriage of convenience between Andrea and Guilia. Both have bred in the Mafia world but Andrea is trying to make his appearance seem “cleaner” by having a wife and seeming like a family man while he runs for a political seat. Guilia gets something out of this arrangement from the get go but that’s a spoiler from the first book so you’ll just have to read both.

Guilia is plus sized which I LOVED and makes Andrea WORK for it because as we all know a marriage or convenience always leads to pining for one another. I would definitely consider this a he falls fast and enemies to lovers but it’s one sided? 

I found Andrea the most delicious MMC, he’s strong, determined and willing to do anything for Guilia. I especially loved seeing his relationship with his brother Nico and his Mom. We all love a man who loves his Mom don’t we? 

The smut was 🔥, the story was compelling and gotta say I didn’t expect the bad guy to be who they were at all. I think this would be the perfect book for someone trying to get into mafia romances, and dark romances. The story and romance were perfectly balanced.

Can’t wait for book three Justine!! 

Married to my Grumpy Minotaur Boss by Ami Wright

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted

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

4.0

 I like an alphahole, sue me. Like most billionaire romances the MMC (Ronan) is a huge alphahole but this time he’s a monster as well. Like honestly Ronan is truly a major a$$hole who doesn’t deserve Justine (FMC) and he knows it. He’s given one too many chances but I always enjoy watching the MMCs of these type of books struggle with their feelings and coming to terms with it.

The reality show was a great aspect for me and felt like I was watching a rom-com. 
This book was fast paced, and an amazing palette cleanser. If you like an alphahole and are in a reading slump this would be a great choice as well. Listed tropes below ❤️ 

It has:
-Spanking
-Squirting
-One Bed
-Fake Marriage
-Office Romance
-Forced Proximity 
-Mate Bond
-Size Difference 
-A LOT of fluids.
-Dirty Talk
-Grumpy/Sunshine 

Love Letters and Thirst Tonics by Hailey Blackwood

funny lighthearted relaxing 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? No

5.0

 One, thank you so much for giving me an ARC of your book Hailey, I’m so grateful.

Two, I think this might be my new favorite book ever. I can’t believe this is your debut.

It’s warm, it’s cozy, and the slow burn hits just right. It’s truly such a perfect book, it feels like a warm hug. It made me laugh, it made me smile, it made me swoon and the steamy bits had me STEAMING.

I loved Fiella, she was so sassy and I found her incredibly relatable. Redd is so Luke Danes coded, god, he needed a backwards baseball cap. I love a grumpy man turned into a complete mush for the one he falls for her.

I can’t wait to 

The Demon's Pet: A Monster Romance (Monster Pets) by Kassandra Cross

dark fast-paced

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

4.0

 Weird, dark, twisted, smutty, and I’m into it. 

Honeysuckles by January Rayne

challenging dark tense fast-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? Yes

5.0

 What on earth did I just read? Am I well? I think my brain needs checking. 

The Reaper by RuNyx

dark emotional 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

5.0

The Predator by RuNyx

dark emotional mysterious tense

• 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

 Tristan & Morana make me FERAL. The grip this man and woman have on me. SEND ME A LIFE RAFT. I’m obsessing over a man who screams I AM TOXIC. Morana ain’t no cupcake either, the mouth on her is truly top tier and together? They’re explosive. Queue screeching: 🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅

I’m currently reading The Reaper and the chokehold continues 😫😫😫. Tristan 👏🏽is 👏🏽Daddy 👏🏽and 👏🏽Morana 👏🏽is 👏🏽Mommy. 

I Vote You, Mr. Mayor by Isabella Renee

0.0

I wish I could delete this from my brain. The worst, the WORST Puerto Rican rep I have seen in a long time. It’s extremely clear there wasn’t one single sensitivity reader for this book. The author blocked me when I suggested she get some because the book is filled to the brim with problematic themes, stereotypes and just WRONG everything. Things a Puerto Rican would never say, do. Let’s add that the character’s name is Duncan Thatcher? Excuse me, ma’am but whose white baby is that? The author couldn’t even manage to put an ambiguous man on the cover but a straight up white bread man made in the mountains of caucasus. 

“Hispanic Cary Grant” GAG.

Throw the whole book away.
PS: the words “Puerto Rico” were said 16 times. Abuela was said 31 times. THIRTY ONE. Abuela would like to go to bed now. This book deserves to be stomped out by a chancla.