booksbyec's reviews
165 reviews

Something Unprofessional by Rory Maxwell

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted sad 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? N/A

4.5

This is the first book of Rory Maxwell's I've read. It's part of a series but you could read it as a standalone. 

I do think though that you would enjoy this book more if you had read the others beforehand.  I feel like have lost some of Everett and Gabriel's backstory and that I am missing the nuances in their relationship with each other and their friends. So I will go back and read the other books to get the story from the beginning.

I enjoyed this book and feel like I may have found a new favourite Daddy.  But we all know this changes every week.

I both like and do not like the pacing of the book. Some parts felt a little bit rushed, I for one would have loved a more fleshed-out beginning of the book. Especially with what happens in the prologue, mostly because that part of the book made me giggle like hell and I knew I would enjoy Everett as a character. Though mind you, I don't know if what happens in the prologue is in one of the other books and we get more answers there.

Everett and Gabriel play off each other very well. Everett with his sassiness and his middle mindset is coming to life in the hands of Gabriel's daddy-ness. The fact we have hard conversations about their relationship and how they should navigate their dynamic makes me happy. This is because most of the time in books like this you get a glossed over conversation and that is that. 

The spice is spicy and even if they are veterans in the daddy/boy kink scene, they still learn new things about themselves and that is refreshing. 

Looking forward to reading Owen's and maybe Max's story. Also, Archer and Remy are intriguing... 

Forbidden by Ashlynn Mills

challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

The book was good and all I was expecting but something didn't work fully out because I couldn't keep focus when reading it. 

I like the premise of Enrico and Ferdinand's story but I needed something more from it, what I can't tell you right now. Maybe if I sit with it for a bit I can tell you more. 
But I like this universe Ashlynn has created and I want to keep reading so that is a good thing. 

Conflicted by Ashlynn Mills

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

This book is agitating, dark, suspenseful and twisted but at the same time a love story. A love story that is not for the faint of heart. 

Zacharias is the perfect mafia DADDY, dark, brooding and all around crazy. Andres is the perfect little/boy for Zach. He just happens to in the right place and the wrong place at the right time. The way that the story twisted and turned had me in the edge of my seat and I am looking forward to start Forbidden. This is Enrico and Ferdinands story and it is a spin off Conflicted and it is the start of Ashlynn Mills series The Herrera Cartel. 

I will also say that my dislike for the ladies in the family meets no bounds. You just have to read the book to see what I mean. If you are going to be a b*tch then be a good one and not a weak one, please.Be sure to read the TW and proced with caution. Even I that don't usually get squeamish, got a bit queasy when certain scenes played out. 

The Navy SEAL's Christmas Bride by Cora Seton

tense fast-paced

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

2.0

I thought this would be a fast cleanse and break for my brain but nope. Dan the MMC just got on my nerves. He has that attitude I detest in people and nothing could make him likeable. So a nope from me. 

Never Say Never by Brea Alepoú, Skyler Snow

dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

For me it is hard to beat Benito and Harlows story but this one got close. 

I have been curious on how they would bring Paul or Gianpaolo back into the main storyline, and how they did it worked really well. His nemesis or rather his obsession of York, ties well into what we know about the Vitale brothers. 

When they love they love with all of themselves.

The fact that York is a single dad but also Paolos boss made me appreciate him and his hesitations more. It is not just an slamdunk, yes I will join you on the dark side but rather we have to co-exist some how. 

I look forward to the next book/books in this universe, let it be Hitters MC or Vitale Brothers, I don't care just give me it now pretty please. 

Dad Next Door by Willow Dixon

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

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

4.5

 I am usually not the biggest fan of friends to lovers but this book is something else. I have waited for Quinns story and it did not disappoint. I just fell in love with Tristan and his family of chaos aka the gang of animals and his adorable son. 

I loved the effortless nature of their friendship and later on relationship. And the fact that Quinns ADHD was not glossed over in terms of how his mind works in relationships and in se*ual/physical situations. They actually communicated and really talked about stuff, which I like very much.  

We also meet some interesting side characters that I can't wait to get to know more, Jesse and Jett amongst others. 

 

Just a Bit Dirty by Alessandra Hazard

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad fast-paced

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

3.5

It is a bit all over the place, but as an fast read just to get myself going it work well. 

Just a Bit Bossy by Alessandra Hazard

dark funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious fast-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? N/A

4.0

This was a fun read and my first by this author and I will read more for sure. It had a bit of everything I like and enjoy in this kind of books. 

Slow Hand by Nora Phoenix

challenging emotional hopeful sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

This book starts of pretty dark and I will admit that it was a bit of an though read at times. But slow it turns lighter but not brightly so, but lighter and we get characters that evolve and work hard through the though times and in the end we get that HEA.

I love that it was a push and pull situation, that it didn't solve it self instantly but showcased that trauma takes work and it looks different for everybody. 

Jathan and Thierry made my heart break but also it mad me so happy to see their process of healing. Ford "meeting" just made sense and to see his journey was beautiful.

Damaged by Sloane Kennedy

challenging dark emotional hopeful 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? N/A

4.0

It was nice to finally have Silver and Daltons story. The book is a heavy one with alot of tuff and graphic scenes. When it comes to the Protectors universe I don't expect anything else, but it also makes the hard earned HEA so much more satisfying. 

Silver's back to life arc is hard earned and I love that Sloane doesn't gloss over the fact that this is something he has to work on for a long time if not forever. The same with Dalton, expect he has it a bit easier, if you are allowed to say that. 

As a part of the Protectors universe this was an excellent book and story and I can't wait to see where we are going next and who we will meet then.