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arcs_mama_reads's reviews
618 reviews
Nyx by Serena Akeroyd
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The Reason I Married Him by Meghan Quinn
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ผ๐ป ๐ ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ถ๐บ ๐ฏ๐ Meghan Quinn
๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐: Audiobook (Duet Narration by Aaron Shedlock & Stella Hunter)
๐ฆ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 5/5 โญ๏ธ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ: 3/5 ๐ฅ
๐ก๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: 5/5 ๐๏ธ (Duet)
๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Small Town RomCom Romance
๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Dislike to lovers, Reverse grumpy/sunshine, Marriage of Convenience, One bed, Inheritance drama
This is the second book in the "Almond Bay" series. The Way I Hate him was actually my first Meghan Quinn book - which I loved - so I was super excited to jump back into this series. I love an enemies to lovers trope but haven't read one that's also a reverse grumpy/sunshine. Not going to lie, I was ready to strangle Wyatt! As a VERY independent woman who has trouble asking for help and wants things done a certain way - he definitely did NOT rub me the right way early on BUT he grew on me and won me over in the end.
Side note - those are the instances when a narrator can make or break it for me - Aaron Shedlock made waiting for Wyatt to get it together worth it. I loved Aubree's snark as much as her vulnerability and Stella Hunter was *chef's kiss*!!
As the oldest of three siblings I also relate to the dynamic of the Rawleys (even though they're technically 4).
This was such a fun read with plenty of emotion and vulnerability. Can't wait for Rhyland's book!
๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐: Audiobook (Duet Narration by Aaron Shedlock & Stella Hunter)
๐ฆ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 5/5 โญ๏ธ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ: 3/5 ๐ฅ
๐ก๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: 5/5 ๐๏ธ (Duet)
๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Small Town RomCom Romance
๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Dislike to lovers, Reverse grumpy/sunshine, Marriage of Convenience, One bed, Inheritance drama
This is the second book in the "Almond Bay" series. The Way I Hate him was actually my first Meghan Quinn book - which I loved - so I was super excited to jump back into this series. I love an enemies to lovers trope but haven't read one that's also a reverse grumpy/sunshine. Not going to lie, I was ready to strangle Wyatt! As a VERY independent woman who has trouble asking for help and wants things done a certain way - he definitely did NOT rub me the right way early on BUT he grew on me and won me over in the end.
Side note - those are the instances when a narrator can make or break it for me - Aaron Shedlock made waiting for Wyatt to get it together worth it. I loved Aubree's snark as much as her vulnerability and Stella Hunter was *chef's kiss*!!
As the oldest of three siblings I also relate to the dynamic of the Rawleys (even though they're technically 4).
This was such a fun read with plenty of emotion and vulnerability. Can't wait for Rhyland's book!
Don't Kiss the Bride by Carian Cole
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Format: Audiobook
Spice: 3/5 ๐ฅ
Narration: 5/5 ๐๏ธ (Dual)
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Tropes: Marriage of convenience, Age Gap
This is my first Carian Cole read and really enjoyed this story. It was a well developed plot that went beyond just having the MMC and FMC get together for an HEA. I liked the different approach on the marriage of convenience trope as well. A few surprises, twists and turns kept me engaged. The narration was excellent! Overall I loved this story and have added her rockstar series to my TBR!
Spice: 3/5 ๐ฅ
Narration: 5/5 ๐๏ธ (Dual)
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Tropes: Marriage of convenience, Age Gap
This is my first Carian Cole read and really enjoyed this story. It was a well developed plot that went beyond just having the MMC and FMC get together for an HEA. I liked the different approach on the marriage of convenience trope as well. A few surprises, twists and turns kept me engaged. The narration was excellent! Overall I loved this story and have added her rockstar series to my TBR!
The Rule of Always by Kennedy Ryan
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? No
5.0
The Rule of Always by Kennedy Ryan
๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐: FREE Audiobook (Dual narration by Jakobi Diem & Kit Swann)
๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: The Grip Series - Connected Novella
๐ฆ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 5/5โญ๏ธ
๐ก๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: 5/5โญ๏ธ (Dual)
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ: 3/5 ๐ถ๏ธ
๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐:
Professor/Former Student
Second Chance
I was so excited to find this follow-up novella to get a little taste of Iz and Cassieโs story in The Grip Series and if you havenโt read that then I donโt know what youโre doing with your life. When you meet Iz and Cassie (sheโs the TA for his class) and you feel like thereโs more happening off screen between them and I was disappointed when I couldnโt find their book. BUT, when I posted about The Grip Series, Kennedy messaged me and pointed me to all her free bonus content including this audiobook! This novella picks up after Cassie has graduated and she gets to see Iz for the first time since she left school. We get a quick glimpse back of the off-screen happenings and their HEA. When he finally breaks?!? ๐ฅต And who gives FREE audiobooks?!? Listen to The Grip Series - Maxine Mitchell & Jakobi Diem left no crumbs with that recording - (Iโm still not over it) and then enjoy this novella! To download, visit kennedyryanwrites.com and click on Bonus Content. Then select the format you want for the BookFunnel link to download.
๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐: FREE Audiobook (Dual narration by Jakobi Diem & Kit Swann)
๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: The Grip Series - Connected Novella
๐ฆ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 5/5โญ๏ธ
๐ก๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: 5/5โญ๏ธ (Dual)
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ: 3/5 ๐ถ๏ธ
๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐:
Professor/Former Student
Second Chance
I was so excited to find this follow-up novella to get a little taste of Iz and Cassieโs story in The Grip Series and if you havenโt read that then I donโt know what youโre doing with your life. When you meet Iz and Cassie (sheโs the TA for his class) and you feel like thereโs more happening off screen between them and I was disappointed when I couldnโt find their book. BUT, when I posted about The Grip Series, Kennedy messaged me and pointed me to all her free bonus content including this audiobook! This novella picks up after Cassie has graduated and she gets to see Iz for the first time since she left school. We get a quick glimpse back of the off-screen happenings and their HEA. When he finally breaks?!? ๐ฅต And who gives FREE audiobooks?!? Listen to The Grip Series - Maxine Mitchell & Jakobi Diem left no crumbs with that recording - (Iโm still not over it) and then enjoy this novella! To download, visit kennedyryanwrites.com and click on Bonus Content. Then select the format you want for the BookFunnel link to download.
Starry-Eyed Love by Helena Hunting
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Revelry by Kandi Steiner
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Hunting Adeline by H.D. Carlton
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0