bookedwithbay's reviews
145 reviews

Powerless by Lauren Roberts

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful mysterious tense 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

4.0

𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐛𝐲 𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐧 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐬

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25

“𝙄𝙛 𝙄 𝙖𝙢 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙢𝙮, 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙞𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙨 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚.”

I haven’t read a YA book in a very long time, but I’m glad I picked this one up. 

My favorite thing about the book? THE BANTER. The banter is so so so good and it fuels the tension between them. There is an instant attraction between the MC’s, but throughout the book the burn burns slowly. I love it! 

I started this book with the audio, but ran out of hours about halfway through. Luckily I had the physical copy on my shelf and was able to pick up where I left off quickly. I was curious to find out how the ending of book 1 would play out, and I was shocked.. with the ending of the book, I had an idea that that was going to happen, but after the final trial? Not who I was expecting. 

I‘ll definitely be reading the next book to get some much needed answers, as well as the novella that will be releasing soon. I’m curious to find out more about certain characters. 

My one complaint about this book is the over use of the word “𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘺.” It’s said so many times throughout the book to describe food, bl00d, clothing, sweat, etc.

Shadowlands Omega by Elizabeth Stephens

adventurous funny hopeful mysterious tense 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

𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐎𝐦𝐞𝐠𝐚 𝐛𝐲 𝐄𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐬

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

𝙄’𝙢 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙧, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙄’𝙢 𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙗𝙚.

This is book 2 in the Beasts of Gatamora series, and while I believe you can read them as standalones, I recommend starting with 𝘋𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘊𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘖𝘮𝘦𝘨𝘢 to have the best understanding of the story. 

The plot is so intriguing, it has you hooked from start to finish. There’s strong character development, plot twists and spice. The spice happens pretty early on in this book but it’s done in a way that doesn’t take away from but rather enhances the storyline.

In this book, we get a FMC who is loving and selfless, but can and will strongly voice her desires with our MMC, Yaron. And while Kiandah is strong, she still struggles with insecurities that I’m sure all of us can relate to. Overall, her whole character is refreshing. 

Yaron gives burnt cinnamon roll vibes. He is so obsessed with Kiandah, he would let the world burn to ashes to have her. She is his sunshine, and with her around he’s..happy. 

They say the second book is better when it comes to a series, and for Beasts of Gatamora, I agree! I also can’t wait to see what’s in store next because that ending of Shadowlands Omega… 👀.

𝘽𝙪𝙧𝙣 𝙊𝙢𝙚𝙜𝙖, 𝙗𝙪𝙧𝙣.

I received this book as an ARC. 

A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle L. Jensen

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Once You're Mine by Morgan Bridges

dark mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Icebound by Meredith Trapp

emotional funny hopeful inspiring sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

𝐈𝐜𝐞𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐌𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐩

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“𝘿𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙨𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙩 𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢𝙨. 𝙃𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙙 𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨.”

I went into this book thinking it was just going to be your typical hockey romance. I was wrong. 

The mental health representation in this book is written perfectly. I have struggled with anxiety in the past, and this book (with Nina, specifically) was very relatable for me. 

Rhode & Nina have a push and pull relationship, and the age gap between them is a huge reason for that. They want different things. But the chemistry between them is undeniable, and it shows right away with how they meet. They’re honest and supportive of each others dreams, and are always there to have “big ears” and listen. 

I definitely wasn’t expecting to cry while reading, but as soon as the Japanese Whisky bottle (IYKYK) was mentioned.. a few tears were shed. 🥹 The friend group Rhode has is so supportive and it absolutely hit me right in the feels. 

TROPES: A cross stitching hero, specific tattoos, fake dating, mental health rep, age gap, slow burn(ish) and found family. 

Our Immortal Hearts by Lara Buckheit

adventurous emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad tense 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

𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐈𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐛𝐲 𝐋𝐚𝐫𝐚 𝐁𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐭

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙡𝙮 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙙𝙞𝙚.

As soon as I saw the cover and character art for Our Immortal Hearts, I was intrigued. And then I read the blurb and knew I had to hop on the arc list ASAP. I’m so glad I did! 

This book isn’t just your regular ole spicy vampire book (though it IS spicy). It’s got a great plot thrown in there too. I was hooked from start to finish and loved how everything played out. I was not expecting the plot twist there at the end, but I honestly can’t see the book going any other way now that I’ve read it. 

Quill & Rory are drawn to each other from the moment they meet. They’ve got fun banter, an adorable yet spicy romance and moments where their pain/trauma is described. Lara’s writing in those moments is executed well. Please check the trigger/content warnings before diving into this book. 

I can’t wait to see whose story we get to dive into next, though I do have an idea of who they might be already! 

I received this book as an ARC. 

When He Dares by Suzanne Wright

adventurous emotional funny hopeful mysterious tense 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

Swift and Saddled by Lyla Sage

emotional funny hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

𝐒𝐰𝐢𝐟𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐋𝐲𝐥𝐚 𝐒𝐚𝐠𝐞

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

𝙄 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙄 𝙢𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙘𝙠 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙍𝙚𝙗𝙚𝙡 𝘽𝙡𝙪𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙄 𝙠𝙣𝙚𝙬 𝙞𝙩 𝙚𝙭𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙙.

I’M feeling homesick now that I’ve finished Swift and Saddled. There’s just something about Lyla’s writing that draws you in and makes you feel all warm and cozy. Rebel Blue really does make you think of 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦. 

“𝙄 𝙨𝙚𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝘼𝙙𝙖. 𝙄 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙨𝙚𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙖𝙩 𝙢𝙚.”

❧❦ꫂ ၴႅၴ☾❦❧ 

𝙄𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨𝙣’𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙜𝙤𝙩 𝙢𝙚 — 𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙚𝙮𝙚𝙨. 𝙁𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙩 𝙢𝙚 𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙡 𝙣𝙤𝙬, 𝙄 𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙩 𝙒𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙣𝙍𝙮𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙖𝙬 𝙢𝙚, 𝙣𝙤 𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙄 𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙞𝙙𝙚.

Their individual struggles are so relatable, and I love that they communicate openly about them to each other throughout the book. Because of this, their love story felt authentic. 

This book had me laughing and swooning. The golden retriever x black cat vibes fit Wes & Ada perfectly and I will definitely be thinking about them for awhile. Can I book a reservation to stay at Baby Blue? 

Welcome home to Rebel Blue. 

Two Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

What Did You Do? by Jeneane O'Riley

adventurous emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5