booked_deafkailyn's reviews
63 reviews

When Heroes Fall by Giana Darling

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

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

5.0

Ssd is great romantic book with dual POVs book. This book was 4 years in the making!! And I'm so glad Tijan deckided to share it with us!! With this author I don't even have to read the blurb before I jump in, just her as a writer is enough for me to jump all in, blind and all. I do not regret to do this blind. I was pulled in straight away. Our heroine is so unique and up there with her quirkiness, is socially awkward and a semi recluse who has a unique bond with her chickens. 

THEN: At the age of twelve Billie went through something truly horrific, a life changing event that impacted her adult years she's still dealing with the aftershocks of being the soul survivor of a brutal home invasion where the serial killer murdered her best friend and parents who the media called murderer the Midwest Butcher which with her testimony helped towards apprehending him. 

A week later she lost two another family members which resulted with her being placed into foster care. Living on a farm yunder the loving care of an amazing couple and their daughter who love Billie like she was their own. 

NOW: She decides to do a media interview and tell her side of the story of the events about what happen on that day, it's here where she meets Brett Broudou after geek fangirling she literally fell into his arms.

Brett's life wasn't a sweet smelling bouquet of “roses either, he'd gone through some things, and still had that baggage tying him down. Sports was his saviour, otherwise he would've gone down a dark path. 

On the outside he was all big and rough, intimidating, like a big grizzly bear, but with her he was like a marshmallow, protective and always strived to make her stay in the light with him.

If you have not read any of a Tijan books yet you are missing out!!!! She has the innate ability to spellbind you into her books with the power of her story telling! The whole storyline is so unique, addicting, mysterious, thrilling and entertaining!! It was a rollercoaster of a journey that had me emotional, on the edge of my seat, and also falling in love with Billie and Brett during all of it! I cannot explain just how AMAZING this story is! If you’re looking for a football romance mixed with a tragic past and a murder mystery then this is the story for you! 

Thank you for let me read this great book for the honest reviews. 

Serpentine Valentine by Giana Darling

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-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

5.0

Words can’t even begin to describe the experience of reading Serpentine Valentine by Giana Darling. Ok never read her books before and I found this interesting to read book.  She is having absolutely beautiful writing and how she creates a love story, and this book is no difference. Dark academia was made for her and I was so into very deep in the world of Acheron University and Lex’s quest against men who have wronged women and everyone who had wronged her. 

Luna’s self discovery and choice to explore her identity in a life that didn’t want her to was empowering and inspiring. The romance was everything I wanted try to read in a sapphic romance style and I loved the push and pull of the relationship. There was definitely fear and spicy and I loved watching them fall for each other. 

And can we talk about Giana's writing?? It was so beautiful and, as someone who loves literature like me, I loved how her characters discussed their love and connection to literature as well. Everything was so poetic and fit the vibes of this story so perfectly. Also Giana Darling blended dark academia with female rage in this sapphic Medusa-inspired romance that was beautifully tragic. 

Again remember that this is a dark romance, so there is a lot explored here with trigger warnings about assault and getting revenge on men who take advantage of women and never see any repercussion for their actions.

Thank you for let me read this great book for the honest reviews. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual content, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Grief and Death of parent

Light Behind The Lies by M.J. Huxley

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing 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

As a 3 year old, Mason's mom left him and his dad and so since then he does not trust women at all. Women, however, seem to flock to him despite his indifference and fear of commitment. He's had zero emotions around any of them, except for his best friend's sister.

Bailey came to be a single mother in a way that she didn't see coming, so becoming a flight attendant seemed like the perfect way to be free. Even though her huge love for her son Luca, she is able to get that little break that's needed from being a single mom.

I fell in love with this story pretty quickly. The beginning just really drew me in with the back stories for both Mason and Bailey. Both experienced very different life changes times, but both carry major traumas with them now. Bailey is so strong to not only overcome the relationship she had with Tyler, but also to turn her life around with her love for Luca and love for her career as a flight attendant. There were times throughout that Mason just drove me so crazy, despite my for love him from so many of his actions. His experience with his mother abandoning him at such a young age dug such a deep trauma it was hard for him to ever feel that he could give his heart away to be loved.

I'm so thankful this was a dual POV as I could understand how Mason's heart was beginning to thaw the more he was around Luca and Bailey. Luca reminded me of my own little 5 year old twins niece/nephew. Mason could honestly melt any frozen heart. Lastly, I loved Bailey's group of friends and support system from job, whom are also flight attendants. They are there for each other and give Bailey advice even if she doesn't like it. I cannot wait to see whose love story is next in Book 2.

This book kept me non stop reading. I couldn’t stop. It was so good. I was nervous at first with the prologue but the farther I got into it I couldn’t stop. I haven’t read an MJ Huxley book before and now I want to read more. The relationship that develops is so good and the banter that still continues. Highly suggest this read!

Thank you to M.J. Huxley and The Author Agency for an advanced copy of this book.

That's Not The Pointe by Kelsey Woods

funny inspiring lighthearted relaxing 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

I have so many words to describe this wonderful novella. It’s about woman who teach young girls about ballet. It’s so beautiful way to capture the story. Lettie is woman who teaching young girls and how rewarding it is to her. Andrew is very supportive to Lettie’s career. He did fall in love and fall hard! It’s one of several tropes to describe about the book. I personally really liked characters separate but when they are together, it’s fairy tale love. There’s some plots in book made me giggling like little girl. The book is short book which is perfect if you want quick read! 

You're so Vain: An Enemies-to-Lovers, Marriage of Convenience, Brother's Best Friend Romantic Comedy by Angela Casella

adventurous challenging emotional funny inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing 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? No

5.0

This book is so cute romance book. I loved it so much. You’re So Vain is last book for Finding You even it can be standalone book too. Shane and Ruthie are my favorite couple by far with books I read already! They had a love/hate relationship since they were kids, Ruthie is Shane's best friend Danny's little sister. She would tag along when they were kids and she feel like she is third wheel in this boys’ hang outs. Ruthie dislike Shane for years because he was mean and ruined his legacy grow up. She let that crush go and held a grudge against Shane (Vain) for years. Shane, a lawyer who quit his job after he found out his firm would be representing his friend's (horrible) parents in their trial and Ruthie. Shane has been rejected from all firms in his town and only one firm in the town would hire him for a job. The problem is that one of the partners at firm who saw Shane with Ruthie and her daughter and the partner assumed they were family before asking. Only Shane and Ruthie are constantly at arguing to each other all the time. 

This enemies-to-lovers story had two main characters made up of so many layers who truly have always belonged together. Ruthie and Shane are wonderful with their snarky banter and chemistry. 

However, Ruthie's not making enough money and has her daughter to think about. She does not have money to give her daughter Izzy the medical attention she needs. Ruthie is a single mom to little Izzy and struggles to make ends meet. She's a very good mom and smart woman. Shane and Ruthie decided to get married so Shane can land a job he needs and Izzy can get on his insurance for a small medical procedure. The main characters realized they fell in love each other after got married and they can enjoy married life together and raising Izzy together. 

I cannot say enough about how much I loved this book. There was romance and steam but it all seemed reasonable. I loved that they didn't fight their feelings for too long and genuinely wanted to be together almost right away. The small plots were great. The whole feel of the book is very relax and very enjoyable to read. 

The Fake Wedding Date: A Friends to Lovers Romantic Comedy by Bella Leigh Michaels

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful relaxing tense fast-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

It is romcom book which is one of my favorite in romantic genre. The tropes are included but not limited to Friends to Lovers, Fake Dating, Boss FMC, and Workplace Romance. Those tropes are my favorites out of hundreds of tropes. Combine all tropes I shared are my dream come true to see it all in one book which is very rare to find! The novella is so beautiful and loved the story. The spicy is very high than I thought but I look at book as overall great book. Great way to fast read and it’s short to read since novella is not novel but shorter than novel. I loved the environment of the story and loved how Mark stand up for Quinn. 

I would read this in full novel length but the novella story did tell me everything author can bring in novella that’s satisfied me. It was so cute, assistant-boss relationship vibe type book and I was all for it. I highly recommend this novella from an up and coming indie author, Bella Leigh Michaels. Can’t wait to read more of her books!!

Irresistible Revenge by Amanda Bentley

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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

It is novella which means it’s short story but not novel long enough. But perfect for quick read and get similar feelings as novel books. This book involved with cheating which I’m not fond of but the blurb of book made me want to read it. I am glad I did read because I ended up loved it after finish read. It does have spicy but too much for me but I liked story overall. I loved all but one characters in the book. The storyline is well written. I hate that it’s norm for some people but I hoped all books have turned out this way. It is very important to check the trigger warnings before start read book to make sure you can handle the novella. 

The tropes are included but not limited to:

• Revenge cheating
• One bed
• “Who did this to you”
• Co-workers to lovers 

In the end, the book made me hooked to read it and want know what happens next. Like I mentioned that I love all characters but one - it’s very challenge to love this many in very short novella story. I’m applaud the author for do a great job to pull us into novella and wanted more out of this. I’m highly recommend you to read this. 

A Sign of Her Own by Sarah Marsh

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective tense slow-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? It's complicated

4.0

It is very interesting and personal book to me. I am deaf from the birth. I was very excited to asked to read the book to share my thoughts as deaf person. Of course I couldn’t denied it! It is historical fiction novel with a lot of complication situations to think about. 

Ellen Lark became deaf at age of 4 from fever. She learned sign language so she can communicate with her older sister. As Ellen gets older, her grandma forced her to go to get education of Visible Speech (oral speech) with Alexander Graham Bell who was professor at college during this time in Boston. Bell did a lot of works for deaf community but he was against the belief in the sign language. He is strongly believe oral speech. Ellen had been struggled at Visible Speech due she had to learn written marks to teach her how to say it. She will never learn this way without can hear the sounds. She is profoundly deaf and can’t hear the sound at all. 

As Ellen work hard with Mr. Bell, she became very loyalty to deaf community and she’s struggling to please both worlds of Mr. Bell and the community. She met one deaf guy from deaf community and the love between them two led to love in the air. 

The book have two separate timelines that go forward and back which is ok but easier if we can keep it from beginning to end through without jump around in book. I can understand deaf community and culture. I personally am not support Mr. Bell’s theory of no sign language and must learn how to speak fluent without have “deaf accents”. 

Mr. Bell is real person that happen in past and he was invented telephone by accidentally. Today we have phones thanks to him. But I do not support his thoughts on deaf community and use of sign language. But other than this, everything is fiction and historical. I do highly recommend this books to deaf community to read and share their thoughts about this and Mr. Bell since we the deaf community have always been big taboo discussion for years and years. I am definitely am curious about their thoughts. 

Thank you for great book!!

Protect You by Ashley Rayne

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring sad 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

4.5

This book is second book of Ashley Poitras’s Beaumount University series. However the book Protect you can consider as standalone book too. 

Asher and Noah are roommates who are very opposite in their personalities. There’s banter, bossiness, and more. Noah have to work few jobs to afford school and Asher is quickly feel love with him. Both started realized that they have feelings for each other. It’s from roommates to partners pretty quickly and their talks have much more meaningful and more respect each other.

Sadly Noah have to fight with his struggle with substance abuse and addiction. With the challenge rise, Asher want to protect Noah so much but Noah push him away. Noah want do his things on his own and being independent guy instead being protected by Asher or others. 

The book is very emotionally and powerful. It is very worth to read this book. Thank you Ashley for wonderful book! Can’t wait to see your books in the future! 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, and Addiction

Shared By The Highest Bidder by Tori Chase

adventurous emotional funny inspiring lighthearted reflective 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? Yes

5.0

Bernie is curvy fashion designer and her ex boyfriend blackmail her by stole her designs. So Bernie was searching for lawyer in New York to help her to get her designs back. She found the lawyer but she can’t afford the fees so the lawyer (Ford) decided to do the case in the favor to ask in return by auction herself at party. She has sanity about her body shape and being a plus size woman. After auctioning herself she have to share 3 men for month in the return for win the case she’s desperate to get back in her hands. In the end who win Bernie’s heart? Ash, her ex boyfriend? Emery, Ash’s friend? Ford, the lawyer Bernie found? The spice level is perfect amount for people who don’t like spice very much. I would give this book level 2 spice. Go and read to find out which guy got Bernie’s heart!