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beyondevak's reviews
6023 reviews
Blitzed by Alexa Martin
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
3.0
The characters in the sisterhood circle made this book. They were funny and supportive. They really made for an interesting time.
Done and Dusted by Lyla Sage
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Quick Summary: A finding home romance
My Review: Done and Dusted by Lyla Sage is book #1 in the Rebel Blue Ranch. It was released in 2023.
About the Book: "She’s off-limits, but he’s never been good at following the rules."
In My Own Words: A cowgirl and a former rebel bad boy reconnect after years and a lifetime apart. As they continue to support each other, they find a forever love together.
My Final Say: This was a surprisingly nice story. I liked the Ryder family and the community and friend group that surrounded them.
Reasons I enjoyed this book:
Romantic
Wonderful characters
Easy-to-read
Other: Readers who enjoy the following romance tropes will like this book.
Brother's best friend
Enemies to lovers
Small town
Forbidden romance
Cowboy culture
Rating: 4.25/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Re-read: Yes
Status/Level: 💖
#recommendedread
My Review: Done and Dusted by Lyla Sage is book #1 in the Rebel Blue Ranch. It was released in 2023.
About the Book: "She’s off-limits, but he’s never been good at following the rules."
In My Own Words: A cowgirl and a former rebel bad boy reconnect after years and a lifetime apart. As they continue to support each other, they find a forever love together.
My Final Say: This was a surprisingly nice story. I liked the Ryder family and the community and friend group that surrounded them.
Reasons I enjoyed this book:
Romantic
Wonderful characters
Easy-to-read
Other: Readers who enjoy the following romance tropes will like this book.
Brother's best friend
Enemies to lovers
Small town
Forbidden romance
Cowboy culture
Rating: 4.25/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Re-read: Yes
Status/Level: 💖
#recommendedread
The Women by Kristin Hannah
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
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
Quick Summary: Historical fiction and a very necessary representation of what was
My Review: The Women by Kristin Hannah is a 2024 release.
About the Book: "The journey of their lifetime . . ."
In My Own Words: A truth. A history. A reality.
Favorite Quote: "Remembrance matters."
My Final Say: "Welcome home and thank you."
Salute.
Reasons I enjoyed this book:
Page-turner
Haunting
Tear-jerker
Realistic
Tragic
Unpredictable
Scary
Original
Other: I am so appreciative to all veterans. You are the heroes. Thank you for your sacrifice and for your service. I will always be grateful to the women and to the men who gave and are still giving. It was truly my honor to be able to serve you during my career at the VAMC. Salute.
*** A very special and heartfelt thank you is extended to the service members from the Vietnam War. I know you, and I still pray for you. You taught me so much, and I am still learning decades later. I have not forgotten any of you and I promise that I will never forget. Mr. B., Mr. H., and all of the countless seen and unseen who check in and check out, I see you. Stay strong and keep fighting. You are the real survivors. God bless you all.
*** Thank you for telling this story, Ms. Hannah.
Rating: 5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Re-read: Yes
Keeper: Yes
Favorites Shelf: Yes
Besties-of-All-Time: Yes
Status/Level: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Audiobook: Yes
Narration: +
Book Club Recommendation: Yes
My Review: The Women by Kristin Hannah is a 2024 release.
About the Book: "The journey of their lifetime . . ."
In My Own Words: A truth. A history. A reality.
Favorite Quote: "Remembrance matters."
My Final Say: "Welcome home and thank you."
Salute.
Reasons I enjoyed this book:
Page-turner
Haunting
Tear-jerker
Realistic
Tragic
Unpredictable
Scary
Original
Other: I am so appreciative to all veterans. You are the heroes. Thank you for your sacrifice and for your service. I will always be grateful to the women and to the men who gave and are still giving. It was truly my honor to be able to serve you during my career at the VAMC. Salute.
*** A very special and heartfelt thank you is extended to the service members from the Vietnam War. I know you, and I still pray for you. You taught me so much, and I am still learning decades later. I have not forgotten any of you and I promise that I will never forget. Mr. B., Mr. H., and all of the countless seen and unseen who check in and check out, I see you. Stay strong and keep fighting. You are the real survivors. God bless you all.
*** Thank you for telling this story, Ms. Hannah.
Rating: 5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Re-read: Yes
Keeper: Yes
Favorites Shelf: Yes
Besties-of-All-Time: Yes
Status/Level: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Audiobook: Yes
Narration: +
Book Club Recommendation: Yes
Window Shopping by Tessa Bailey
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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? Yes
4.5
This fast paced contemporary novel was totally entertaining. It was insanely funny, especially the fascinating way the bubble butt came into play. It was also super sweet. I loved the leads and their stories of overcoming relationship challenges. In the end, I am just so happy that they found something special individually and together.
Reasons I enjoyed this book:
Reasons I enjoyed this book:
Funny
Steamy
Happily Ever After
Easy-to-read
Witty
Entertaining
Wonderful characters
Romantic
The New Couple in 5B by Lisa Unger
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Quick Summary: A dark thriller with haunting tones
My Review: The New Couple in 5B by Lisa Unger is a 2024 mystery/thriller.
About the Book: "A couple inherits an apartment with a spine-tingling past in this unputdownable thriller..."
In My Own Words: Secrets, lies, and psychopaths are connected in this spine tingling thriller, where the past and the present produce chilling results.
My Final Say: Oh my darn!!! That was incredible. I was glued to my seat. I could not look away from this terrifying story. It kept building and building, keeping me guessing until the very end. Even then, my mind was still reeling. Bravo!
Other: Based on this book alone, I can easily say that my TBR will immediately include:
Under My Skin
The Stranger Inside
Confessions on the 7:45
Last Girl Ghosted
Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six
Rating: 5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Favorites Shelf: Yes
Status/Level: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My Review: The New Couple in 5B by Lisa Unger is a 2024 mystery/thriller.
About the Book: "A couple inherits an apartment with a spine-tingling past in this unputdownable thriller..."
In My Own Words: Secrets, lies, and psychopaths are connected in this spine tingling thriller, where the past and the present produce chilling results.
My Final Say: Oh my darn!!! That was incredible. I was glued to my seat. I could not look away from this terrifying story. It kept building and building, keeping me guessing until the very end. Even then, my mind was still reeling. Bravo!
Other: Based on this book alone, I can easily say that my TBR will immediately include:
Under My Skin
The Stranger Inside
Confessions on the 7:45
Last Girl Ghosted
Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six
Rating: 5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Favorites Shelf: Yes
Status/Level: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
This story was a masterpiece.
Things I Wanted To Say (but never did) by Monica Murphy
challenging
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Quick Summary: A dark love marked T/NA and M
My Review: Things I Wanted to Say by Monica Murphy is book #1 in the Lancaster Prep series.
About the Book: "[a] dark and twisted bully romance full of secrets and lies..."
In My Own Words: Two damaged people fall hard, fall out, and ultimately fall in love.
Question: Is it possible for the depraved, the disconnected, the damaged, the discouraged or the disillusioned to find love?
About the Characters: The whole cast had issues. Were there any well intentioned people? Unselfish people? Innocent people?
Each character seemingly had a dark side, a dark challenge, and/or a dark ulterior motive.
About the Conflict: There were so many. They all propelled the story forward at a breakneck pace.
My Final Say: This is such a tragic story with heartbreak after heartbreak. It is not the kind of story that is warm and fluffy. It's not easy. It is dark. It is disturbing. It is even disgusting. It is a bully romance, to be sure, but it is also harder than that. With that said, the story of Whit and Summer's coming together is paved with ugliness and in a way a strange beauty.
As difficult as some of the events and choices in the story were, I am of the mindset that they were entirely (and sadly) realistic.
Even imperfect stories can birth necessary transformations.
Other: This has a lot of triggers. It gets a red light warning, without hesitation.
Victims, survivors, abusers, enablers, betrayers, MDKers, etc. are a part of this story.
Rating: 4.5/5
Recommend: 💬
Audience: 💬
Status: 🚨
Level: M
Triggers: Yes
Series: Yes
Audiobook: Yes
Narration: +
#libraryfind
My Review: Things I Wanted to Say by Monica Murphy is book #1 in the Lancaster Prep series.
About the Book: "[a] dark and twisted bully romance full of secrets and lies..."
In My Own Words: Two damaged people fall hard, fall out, and ultimately fall in love.
Question: Is it possible for the depraved, the disconnected, the damaged, the discouraged or the disillusioned to find love?
About the Characters: The whole cast had issues. Were there any well intentioned people? Unselfish people? Innocent people?
Each character seemingly had a dark side, a dark challenge, and/or a dark ulterior motive.
About the Conflict: There were so many. They all propelled the story forward at a breakneck pace.
My Final Say: This is such a tragic story with heartbreak after heartbreak. It is not the kind of story that is warm and fluffy. It's not easy. It is dark. It is disturbing. It is even disgusting. It is a bully romance, to be sure, but it is also harder than that. With that said, the story of Whit and Summer's coming together is paved with ugliness and in a way a strange beauty.
As difficult as some of the events and choices in the story were, I am of the mindset that they were entirely (and sadly) realistic.
Even imperfect stories can birth necessary transformations.
Other: This has a lot of triggers. It gets a red light warning, without hesitation.
Victims, survivors, abusers, enablers, betrayers, MDKers, etc. are a part of this story.
Rating: 4.5/5
Recommend: 💬
Audience: 💬
Status: 🚨
Level: M
Triggers: Yes
Series: Yes
Audiobook: Yes
Narration: +
#libraryfind
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Stalking, Murder, Sexual harassment
Fumbled by Alexa Martin
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
tense
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? Yes
5.0
This story! It had me. The love and emotional connection between TK and Poppy - I felt it coming off the pages. Even after all the years they lost, their love stood the test of time. It was beautiful and real. And that sweet young man, Ace, was a darling. The three of them were great as a family unit.
The issue of CTE was presented so well. The whole matter was serious and concerning. I really liked how the author addressed it.
The friend group...YASS!!! Those ladies were ride or die.
I felt this book in my toes. It gutted me. The third act break up and Ace's reaction to his dad's injury did me in; I was outright weeping.
The issue of CTE was presented so well. The whole matter was serious and concerning. I really liked how the author addressed it.
The friend group...YASS!!! Those ladies were ride or die.
I felt this book in my toes. It gutted me. The third act break up and Ace's reaction to his dad's injury did me in; I was outright weeping.
Stranger by Cecilia Campos
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Quick Summary: A twisted stranger romance
My Review: Stranger by Cecilia Campos is book #1 in the Fear Not series.
About the Book: "One day, a stranger appeared at my door... And, strangely enough, he knew my desires before I even recognized them myself... he claimed me as his own... I got lost in that game... But this adventure? Believe me, it grew wilder and stranger than I could ever have imagined."
In My Own Words: Love, loss, and unexplained secrets lead a solitary young woman into living a life off the grid. Hiding away from everything she has ever known, she soon finds herself as savior to a dark stranger with a vague account of who he is. Together, they unleash intensely passionate feelings in each other. Unfortunately, things are not what they seem and what might have been is interrupted by what truly is.
My First Reaction (at the end): 🤔🕸💬
My Second Reaction (after thinking about what's to come in book 2): 👍
My Final Say: This was an interesting story. I found it to be twisted, entertaining, and very much unpredictable, yet strangely predictable at the same time.
The beginning got my attention, then it became somewhat peculiar. The unsaid dominated, and suddenly, the "feral, animalistic" interactions took over.
The scene play in two particular scenarios mirrored Pretty Woman, as well as Pride and Prejudice. The wording was notably familiar.
This story lightly resembled A Midsummer Night's Dream. (I can't go further, but I would love to discuss that with other readers.)
I couldn't tell if this story was supernatural in the sense of angels, the pantheon, the undead, or what. The mention of famous, departed entertainers, the classic songs mixed with pop and hip-hop, the royalty angle, the otherworldly hints, the military forces oft mentioned, the presence of AI at critical moments, and other such things confused me; I was unable to tell where the story was going.
I did like the way the dark tones were presented. I could clearly tell the obvious antagonists. The main conflict, which became blatantly evident at the cliffhanger ending, was fantastic. That had a dark shadow element to it. Although I was not surprised, it still captured my interest and caused me to wonder why. (I won't say more than that, as I don't want to spoil anything for other readers.)
What was up with all of the nicknames? I got it, but I did not always care for it. It detracted after a point and I needed it to stop.
All in all, I would certainly read book two. The direction the story takes should prove to be riveting. I definitely want to know what happens next for Angelina.
Other: Potential readers are advised to refer to the author's notes to review content warnings.
Rating: 3/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Status/Level: 😮💬👍
Triggers: Yes
My Review: Stranger by Cecilia Campos is book #1 in the Fear Not series.
About the Book: "One day, a stranger appeared at my door... And, strangely enough, he knew my desires before I even recognized them myself... he claimed me as his own... I got lost in that game... But this adventure? Believe me, it grew wilder and stranger than I could ever have imagined."
In My Own Words: Love, loss, and unexplained secrets lead a solitary young woman into living a life off the grid. Hiding away from everything she has ever known, she soon finds herself as savior to a dark stranger with a vague account of who he is. Together, they unleash intensely passionate feelings in each other. Unfortunately, things are not what they seem and what might have been is interrupted by what truly is.
My First Reaction (at the end): 🤔🕸💬
My Second Reaction (after thinking about what's to come in book 2): 👍
My Final Say: This was an interesting story. I found it to be twisted, entertaining, and very much unpredictable, yet strangely predictable at the same time.
The beginning got my attention, then it became somewhat peculiar. The unsaid dominated, and suddenly, the "feral, animalistic" interactions took over.
The scene play in two particular scenarios mirrored Pretty Woman, as well as Pride and Prejudice. The wording was notably familiar.
This story lightly resembled A Midsummer Night's Dream. (I can't go further, but I would love to discuss that with other readers.)
I couldn't tell if this story was supernatural in the sense of angels, the pantheon, the undead, or what. The mention of famous, departed entertainers, the classic songs mixed with pop and hip-hop, the royalty angle, the otherworldly hints, the military forces oft mentioned, the presence of AI at critical moments, and other such things confused me; I was unable to tell where the story was going.
I did like the way the dark tones were presented. I could clearly tell the obvious antagonists. The main conflict, which became blatantly evident at the cliffhanger ending, was fantastic. That had a dark shadow element to it. Although I was not surprised, it still captured my interest and caused me to wonder why. (I won't say more than that, as I don't want to spoil anything for other readers.)
What was up with all of the nicknames? I got it, but I did not always care for it. It detracted after a point and I needed it to stop.
All in all, I would certainly read book two. The direction the story takes should prove to be riveting. I definitely want to know what happens next for Angelina.
Other: Potential readers are advised to refer to the author's notes to review content warnings.
Rating: 3/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Status/Level: 😮💬👍
Triggers: Yes
When Sparks Fly by Helena Hunting
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Quick Summary: A love with the whole heart romance
My Review: When Sparks Fly by Helena Hunting is book #1 in the Spark House series.
About the Book: "Avery Spark is living her best life. She’d rather hang out with her best friend and roommate, Declan McCormick, than deal with the dating scene. But everything changes when she is in a car accident and needs someone to care for her as she heals. ...the attraction they’ve been refusing to acknowledge becomes impossible to ignore."
In My Own Words: Two roommates/best friends cross over the friendship line and enter into a FWB relationship. Serious feelings become all too real. When a misstep occurs, it brings up all the insecurities and unresolved issues from their pasts.
My Final Say: Declan and Avery were the coolest friends. Their relationship was sweet. It was evident that they shared something special. I really liked that the author showed how the events from their lives impacted them so greatly. I also really liked the way she showed the healthy and unhealthy reactions to conflict. The nod to therapeutic intervention was golden.
Rating: 4.25/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Status/Level: 🍬💛
Series: Yes
Audiobook: Yes
Narration: +
#libraryread
My Review: When Sparks Fly by Helena Hunting is book #1 in the Spark House series.
About the Book: "Avery Spark is living her best life. She’d rather hang out with her best friend and roommate, Declan McCormick, than deal with the dating scene. But everything changes when she is in a car accident and needs someone to care for her as she heals. ...the attraction they’ve been refusing to acknowledge becomes impossible to ignore."
In My Own Words: Two roommates/best friends cross over the friendship line and enter into a FWB relationship. Serious feelings become all too real. When a misstep occurs, it brings up all the insecurities and unresolved issues from their pasts.
My Final Say: Declan and Avery were the coolest friends. Their relationship was sweet. It was evident that they shared something special. I really liked that the author showed how the events from their lives impacted them so greatly. I also really liked the way she showed the healthy and unhealthy reactions to conflict. The nod to therapeutic intervention was golden.
Rating: 4.25/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Status/Level: 🍬💛
Series: Yes
Audiobook: Yes
Narration: +
#libraryread