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book_lover_irl's reviews
456 reviews
White Knuckles by Autumn Jones Lake
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Gritty, dark, emotional, overwhelming at times. Trinity and Wrath's story has been a long time coming and if you've read the earlier books in the series, you know it wasn't going to be pretty. Neither the FMC or the MMC have many soft edges left after they trials they've endured in their life journeys. Thankfully they found each other and are just trying to hang on to each other as they move forward. Check the TW and CWs. This is one of the darkest books in this MC series so far.
Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
POV: Dual
HEA: Yes
Cliffhanger:
Tropes: Past trauma, alpha male, bad@ss FMC, very SPICY
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GOODREADS: Book_Lover_IRL
GOODREADS: Book_Lover_IRL
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I loved this book
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I really liked this book
⭐️⭐️⭐️ I liked this book
⭐️⭐️ Meh… bored or annoyed
⭐️ Seriously? Not worth it
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ INFERNO. P@nty melting
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ Blazing hot
🌶️🌶️🌶️ Now we’re talking
🌶️🌶️ Meh… uninspired missionary
🌶️ Does weak foreplay count?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Kidnapping
Backstage Pass by Olivia Cunning
adventurous
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Story was enjoyable yet predictable. Started out strong but kinda fizzled. It’s got a TON of spice, which I enjoy, but lacked any type of depth or feeling due to a weak and highly predictable plot. I’ll give another book in the series a whirl but if it again lacks all semblance of a plot or character depth, I will quit the series.
Normally I prefer dual narrators so I was slightly thrown off by the single narrator. She had a good voice from the female MC but was awkward during the concert scenes and downright cringy during the spicy scenes. It appears the entire series has the same narrator and that may end up being reason enough for a DNF for me at a later time
Normally I prefer dual narrators so I was slightly thrown off by the single narrator. She had a good voice from the female MC but was awkward during the concert scenes and downright cringy during the spicy scenes. It appears the entire series has the same narrator and that may end up being reason enough for a DNF for me at a later time
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, Stalking, Gaslighting, Alcohol
Still Beating by Jennifer Hartmann
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
3.75
Heart wrenching, intense, dark, complicated. Check the trigger warnings. They’re no joke. This novel is NOT for the faint of heart.
Folks seem to either love or hate this novel. I swear reviewers either give it 5 stars or 1 star. I’m really torn. Unsure how I feel about it. It started so strong (but extremely hard to read) and from there… the character development was convoluted and messy and erratic. I think that follows with the excessive trauma the characters had to deal with. For me I think it just felt a little too contrived and not quite authentic enough.
It’s a good book with awful topics. The authors writing style is smooth and easy to follow. Something about it just left me wanting but I don’t know what I want …
Folks seem to either love or hate this novel. I swear reviewers either give it 5 stars or 1 star. I’m really torn. Unsure how I feel about it. It started so strong (but extremely hard to read) and from there… the character development was convoluted and messy and erratic. I think that follows with the excessive trauma the characters had to deal with. For me I think it just felt a little too contrived and not quite authentic enough.
It’s a good book with awful topics. The authors writing style is smooth and easy to follow. Something about it just left me wanting but I don’t know what I want …
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Dementia, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy
More Than Miles by Autumn Jones Lake
emotional
sad
tense
medium-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
3.5
I am not a big fan of big age gaps when the one of the characters is barely legal. I always worry about the power differentials and lack of life experience. If you can put that aside, it is good to read about Heidi, Axel and Murphy’s journey. Make sure you check trigger warnings.
After loving the narrators of the first few books, I was extremely disappointed with the new narrators. The female narrator sounded whiny and sooo irritating. The male narrator was straight up awful when he tried to do any voice other than the MMC. When speaking male side characters, he occasionally randomly gave them Southern accents. It was strange and didn’t fit with a motorcycle club based in the Northeast.
I suggest reading this story, instead of listening to it.
After loving the narrators of the first few books, I was extremely disappointed with the new narrators. The female narrator sounded whiny and sooo irritating. The male narrator was straight up awful when he tried to do any voice other than the MMC. When speaking male side characters, he occasionally randomly gave them Southern accents. It was strange and didn’t fit with a motorcycle club based in the Northeast.
I suggest reading this story, instead of listening to it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Drug abuse, Sexual content, Grief, Pregnancy, Alcohol
White Heat by Autumn Jones Lake
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.75
Now that I’ve read FIVE books in a row about the Lost Kings MC, I feel like the main characters are old friends from a soap opera that I love to follow. The story was good. I still adore Rock, Hope, Wrath and Trinity and can’t wait to see where their stories go from here. Troy Duran and Noelle are some of my favorite narrators. <br /><br />I’ll admit to getting slightly bored with this novel but only because I think I need to learn more about the side characters in their own books for a breath of fresh air.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Gun violence, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Police brutality
Minor: Rape, Trafficking
Scarred by Emily McIntire
Did not finish book. Stopped at 35%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 35%.
A month ago I tried to read Twisted but couldn’t make my way through it. I decided to give the series another go with Scarred but it just isn’t for me. The writing is soooooo repetitive! I was bored out of my mind. I liked some of the world building and enjoyed how the author planted parts of the original Lion King world into the story’s narrative but it was so repetitive that I just couldn’t force myself to continue reading.
Maybe I’m the anomaly because others rate this book (and others in the series) as magnificent. However I’ll respectfully pass and move on to new endeavors.
Maybe I’m the anomaly because others rate this book (and others in the series) as magnificent. However I’ll respectfully pass and move on to new endeavors.
Tattered on My Sleeve by Autumn Jones Lake
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-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
3.5
Lots of drama, revenge, spice and miscommunication. I enjoyed learning about Trinity’s and Wrath’s stories but hated how awful they were to each other for years. I never would’ve been able to get past how they treated each other. Lots of hot spice included. Looking forward to learning more about their future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Alcohol
Strength From Loyalty by Autumn Jones Lake
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Solid 4 stars for me. Lots of drama and miscommunication. I really like Hope and Rock (obviously since I’ve stuck through 3 novels so far). Looking forward to learning more about other characters and how Hope and Rocks story continues to unfold.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Gun violence, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Sexual content, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Murder
Corrupting Cinderella by Autumn Jones Lake
3.0
I enjoyed the drama of the second novel more than the first book in this series. Looking forward to the third novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Sexual content, Violence
Slow Burn by Autumn Jones Lake
emotional
sad
slow-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? No
3.0
I have mixed feelings about the motorcycle club trope in general. Kinda love the whole don’t touch my woman, overly protective alpha male vibe but despise the way “club wh*res” are used by an MC and deemed as “less than” and never seen as good enough to be respectable partners for the MC members.
If you can get past that, this is a decent story with a “realistic” timeline that isn’t 100% focused on instalove from both main characters. I really liked Rock as a main character and LOVED that he was voiced by Troy Duran (probably my favorite male narrator for this genre).
Biggest con was I felt like the story was just getting good when it suddenly ended. The ending was soooo abrupt and I was truly expecting another few chapters
If you can get past that, this is a decent story with a “realistic” timeline that isn’t 100% focused on instalove from both main characters. I really liked Rock as a main character and LOVED that he was voiced by Troy Duran (probably my favorite male narrator for this genre).
Biggest con was I felt like the story was just getting good when it suddenly ended. The ending was soooo abrupt and I was truly expecting another few chapters
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Drug use, Sexual content, Violence, Grief