beckyray14's reviews
93 reviews

Bloodless Ties by Katie Wismer

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated

4.0

Yes. This entire series is a little rough. I mean the main character Valerie literally is going through it- as is the nature of her job. But the cliffhanger of book 2 brings here into some rough situations in this installment.

I enjoyed the dual POV and advancement of Valerie's relationship with Reid, but there also seems to be a lot of boy drama in this one. Reid, Cam, Lief, Connor- non of that is important considering all of the Windego Psychosis problem! I just wasn't as interested in the romantic subplot when so much else is going on directly. 

The pacing of this book was really good and I got through 70% of it in one sitting. I hate that we have a to wait for book 4.

Power of Five by Alex Lidell

medium-paced

3.5

This book was surprisingly interesting and enjoyable. The only thing is that it ends on a cliffhanger- not even it just sort of ends.. It feels like the first half of a book in someways. But the way its progressing is really good. i love the ground work the author has laid and am excited to see the quint re-approach training together.

They seem so well matched and so far each of the male characters is likeable. Which can be difficult in a reverse haram/ why choose romance. I will definitely read book 2.

Bad Princess by N.E. Henderson

adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

3.75

I cannot decide how I feel about this book. The story in general was good. Great even- BUT I think Sienna's character could've been more or slightly different somehow. I REALLY HATED that she was almost like a creepy stalker werido to Matteo in high school that he acknowledged and thought she was a creep. I didn't like that he basically ignored her for so long - for good reason [i.e. being obsessed with him] only to suddenly realize she was the love of her life because shes not now that they're adults?!

I've decided I don't like Matteo's particular brand of possessiveness either. Like the way he speaks to her father- a man that she loves and respects. Like would he accept a son in law who spoke to him that way? He has a daughter. Would he let her date someone who would walked to him the way he talks to Tony?

I dont think Matteo ever truely contemplates what being a part of the Caputo Crime Family means. For him or for his daughter. He, as a character never reall has a moment of introspection, where it seemed he understood the seriousness of what he was agreeing to or ho wit could/would affect his and Brooklyn's lives. Especially if he knows how Sienna's mom was killed.

I have no deisre to read Ren and Sasha's story. But I am very intrigued to explore more with Dominic and Krishna [book 3].

To me Sienna as a daddy's girl came across more like being a brat. Not just to her dad but also her brothers. She never seemed to empathize or anticipate their choices. Parts of her I loved, but parts of her I hated and that is what made is difficult to give a full 4 stars.

The Four Leaf by Lee Jacquot

emotional fast-paced

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

5.0

Gah! What a delightful listen this was. Super spicy and bite sized. I was surprised at how much I liked this. At 1.6 speed on audible it only took a few hours to finish, but I wished there was more more. I would've loved more of their friendship and later relationship. V.O. Eros is a marvelous narrator. Such a sultry voice, and I loved the dual POV also had dual voice actors.

One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London
Did not finish book. Stopped at 50%.

I didn't finish this book, i put it down at around 50% so take that into consideration when reading this review and spoilers will follow.

So the problem with this book I felt like Bea was not a person I would want to get to know. So much of this book is her projecting confidence about her body and how it doesnt define her. Which i wholeheartedly agree with. I love a plus size positive book. But then she participates in cheating with her friend. Like who sleeps with someone who is already engaged?! That for me was strike 1. 

Then she joins the Bachelorette TV show and the entire time is like 'no one will like me because I'm fat." Which was so annoying. Like the whole point is that she is a fashionable, confident, gorgeous woman. but then for the majority of 50% of the book shes woe is me, i'm plus sized and no one will love me because of it. 

As a fellow plus sized girl this is just something that I have no desire to read. And it was this that really put me off the book. Any one who does show interest in her on the dating show she assumes their being rude to her or making fun of her and its just exhausting.

Blind Side by Kandi Steiner

hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

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

4.0

This was a palette cleanser for me.. Exactly what I needed when I needed it. It was a cute sports football romance. I really liked both main characters. Especially Gianna. She reminds me of myself in a lot of ways. She felt like someone I'd know in real life. I liked how much growth both characters got to experience in the course of the novel. Though Clay probably could've moved into learning to not take on other people's burdens.

Midlife Witch Hunter by Shannon Mayer

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

This was the 2nd book in this series I think that I haven't given 4 stars. It's just in this installment it felt like the character was much younger than she is- maturity wise. All this boy stuff is irritating me. She makes decisions without any forethought or consideration to potential consequences. This isn't something I feel a woman this age, with this sort of experience would do.

Maybe Bri still has an immense amount of nievete, but she almost never takes advice or heeds the warnings of her friends in this book. And instead throws herself headlong into dangerous situations. i dont like that. i also didnt like ow much time she spent agonizing over the men in her life. This doesn't seem she should or would do. At least not to this extent. Or maybe its just been built to this degree in this book. Regardless I want back the Brina of books 1 and 2.

On a positive note I really enjoyed our change of scenery. I personally loved Paris, and was intrigued to learn about its paranormal beasties.

King of Wrath by Ana Huang

emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

This was everything you want in a marriage of convenience/ billionaire romance. It was a really fast paced, light read for me surprisingly I really enjoyed reading it. I'm looking forward to the 2nd book being released later this year.

It wove Chinese /American culture and high society very well. Vivians biggest hurdles involved both the blending and overcoming of cultural expectations and issues. I really liked this.

Midlife Zombie Hunter by Shannon Mayer

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

I admit that I got somewhat frustrated with this book. Her choices at the end seemed to make no logical sense to me. The option presented to her from the fae queen just seems like one only a stupid person would succumb to.

This installment should have had a little more sense of urgency- and didnt deliver that. I reached a point in this book where I was unsure if I wanted to listen to it anymore. This is the first of the series I've felt unsure of. The back and forth between her and Crash is no longer intriguing but instead exhausting. It's been literally 5 books of will they or wont they. I get slow burn but at this point I'm tired.

Ship Wrecked by Olivia Dade

hopeful medium-paced

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

4.0

This book was so cute and fun...for the first 90% of the book. I thought for sure it was going to be a 5 star read. And then the last 10% happened.

Things I loved in this book include the communication. Also both of the main characters are plus sized! love that.  The TV show and world in which this story takes place seems so fun and well developed. I wish I could watch the show theyre on in real life. I appreciate Peter's introspection. He felt like a real character to me and someone I'd like to know and be friends with.

 I feel there is a fundamental difference in the core values of each of these characters and that needed some time to be fully explored and dealt with before the two characters came together in my opinion.

In some ways it felt like putting together ill fitting puzzle pieces at the end. Just forcing them to work. Of course there is love between the two main characters as well as much chemistry and sexual attraction. If they both had gone away and therapized their core value in contrast to the other it might have worked better.

In some places it felt like the MC does this, but it also feels like he ends up sacrificing his wants for her. It felt like her concession was smaller and maybe less detailed.