bookishluvinjunkie's reviews
184 reviews

How We Loved by Lauren Runow

emotional funny hopeful inspiring sad tense 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? No

4.5

I loved Ben and Maya's story! This book is a roller coaster ride of emotions and discovering that your forever may be right where you least expect them to be. I was excited to see how Natalie and Dalton's relationship has progressed and more into Eli's story, which I can't wait to read. This was another amazing story by Lauren, and I can't wait to continue this series.

Ben and Maya have been best friends since they were little, and they were never anything more until someone came between them and their friendship. They both dated other people and they were always there for each other no matter what but when Maya decides to get serious with a guy that isn't from their town Ben starts to realize that he doesn't like Maya dating someone he doesn't know. As time goes by and their friendship is tested, they both find out how they really feel about each other, but it may be too late. 

If you love friends to lovers, small town, sports romance then you don't want to miss out on this amazing read. If you want to connect with all of the characters in this story start with Natalie & Dalton's book, How We Hated.

Euro Dreams by Kate Stewart

adventurous emotional funny hopeful sad tense slow-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

3.5

I love Kate Stewart's books, but this one fell a bit short for me. This book was a wild ride of chaos, laughs, and a roller coaster of emotions. I loved Jane and Lucian's story but felt that it was way to long for the story that needed to be told. The enemies to friends to lovers was amazing to experience and I loved the banter and connection that they had for each other. 

Jane was head of heels for the new surgeon that she worked for, and she had an amazing opportunity to travel with him to England and Paris for 6 weeks. She was nervous that she would embarrass herself in front of the handsome Dr. and she was not wrong. Everything that could go wrong did, and everything that could go right didn't, but Jane held her head up high and continued to be the positive person she was to make the best of a bad situation. She was determined to get the grump of a Dr. to smile and have a great time during their business trip. 

Lucian is a renowned grumpy surgeon that no one he worked with liked because Nurse Jane labeling him Dr. Prick. Lucian had one mission and that was to go on this trip, stay away from his family, and perform this groundbreaking surgery to save someone's life. But when Nurse Jane makes it her life's mission to poke him at every turn, he starts to realize that maybe he is too uptight and needs to relax just a little bit.

The banter between these two are amazing and the chemistry is off the charts! I couldn't believe that most of this story was based on true events and I'm not sure I would have made it home after all that happened on that trip. If you love enemies to friends to lovers, laughs, age gap, and long reads then you don't want to miss out on this book. 

If Only You Fell by Stefanie Castro

emotional hopeful inspiring 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? No

3.5

This is my first book by this author. Elody and Wyatt's story was a roller coaster of emotions of love, loss, and self-discovery. 

Elody had the perfect life with her husband that she shared all of her firsts with and her beautiful children. When tragedy strikes and her life changes forever, she has to pick up the pieces and move forward with the promise of never loving another and taking care of her children. 

Wyatt is a grumpy retired NHL star turned coach due to his daughter being diagnosed with an illness that takes a lot of his focus. He went from a playboy to a committed father very quickly and takes the care of his daughter very seriously. 

When these two meet in a crowded bar, the sparks fly, and they are captivated, but when Elody feels like she has betrayed her love, she runs as far and as fast as she can. Come to find out Elody is Wyatt's daughters teacher, and when they meet again, fate has its hand in what happens next. 

I really enjoyed Elody and Wyatt's story. I cried, I laughed, and I swooned at the relationship that they built from the heartbreak, the love, and the loss. They learned from each other and didn't give up even when it felt like there were too many obstacles in their way. I didn't care for so much inner monolog and wanted to see more interactions between  the characters, but it was a heartfelt and beautiful story. 

Castle of Nevers and Nightmares by Lana Pecherczyk

adventurous challenging emotional 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

4.5

This book was phenomenal! I've read the wolves story in her Fae Guardians series and fell in love with the world building and characters that Lana creates. This story is a spinoff of that series but can be read without reading those books. 

There is so much going on within this story that I don't want to spoil anything or get too long with the review. I'll keep it short, but know that if you love fantasy, slow burn, and enemies to lovers, then you don't want to miss out on this amazing story. 

Willow has been through so much since she was a child with being kidnapped and trained to be a killer to losing her power and ability to shift into her wolf. She is hell-bent on revenge for the men who rejected her and ruined her life that it has consumed her and prevented her from moving on with her life. She finally decided to exact her revenge and hunt down the Six and end them, but she never expected the turn of events that happened once she found them. 

She travels to another realm of Nevers and Nightmares, and Willow quickly learns that everything is not as it seems and she has to navigate an unfamiliar world along with the six that she thought were pure evil. The secrets and truths that she learns are not at all what she expected, but can she trust what she has discovered or will the deceit bury her beneath the weight. 

This book ends on a cliffhanger, and I can't wait to find out what happens with Willow and her Six!!

Hold Me by Red Phoenix

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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? Yes

4.5

I loved the continued journey of Brie and Sir but also the depth in which all of the other characters are included. It makes the story so much more satisfying when so many lives are connected in such a deep way. 

Protect Me by Red Phoenix

emotional funny hopeful sad 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

4.0

Brie is still learning to navigate aspects of her submissive lifestyle with Sir but she has come learn some deep secrets about Sir that have made their connection stronger. Brie makes the decision to bind her relationship closer by branding herself with Sirs mark but when Brie defies Sir and goes behind his back thinking she is helping she is left devastated. 

What Happens at the Lake by Vi Keeland

funny hopeful inspiring sad tense 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

5.0

Come Here and Kiss Me by Willow Winters

challenging sad 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

3.5 stars 

This was a good read, but it didn't pull me in like I expected from these two authors. 

Ronan and Brooklyn are from rival families, but when the temptation becomes too much, they indulge in one night of passion only to find out there was someone watching. When the secret is out, they quickly come up with a plan, but will that plan be enough to keep the wolves at bay while they navigate a relationship that both of them thought they never wanted. 

How does it feel? by Jeneane O'Riley

adventurous challenging dark hopeful mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

Matefinder by Leia Stone

adventurous challenging hopeful inspiring 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? Yes

3.5

This is my first book by this author, and I'm intrigued enough with this storyline that I'm going to continue with Kai and Aurora's story. There were some weird spots throughout the book, but all in all, I liked the premise of the story and the characters. 

Aurora is human and is saved after a car accident by a stranger. When she comes to, she finds out she isn't a human anymore. This sets Aurora on a path to finding out her true self. 

Kai is a wolf pack alpha who turns Aurora after he finds her almost dead after an accident. When she walked up after he turned her, he immediately knew she was special. 

The vampires are trying to eliminate the wolf packs and enslave the humans, but if Kai and Aurora have anything to say about it, they will fight till the end to stop this from happening. The humans, witches, and wolves have to set aside their differences and work together to destroy the vampires before its too late. 

If you like paranormal, fated mates, and action-packed battles, then you don't want to miss out on this read.