bribreez's reviews
559 reviews

Fall of Ruin and Wrath by Jennifer L. Armentrout

mysterious tense medium-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

4.0

4⭐️/ 3-4🌶️

A new fantasy story set in a world with magical beings that had immense power, as well as a young woman with the ability I couldn’t even begin to fully comprehend. This story followed, Calista “Lis”, a young twenty-two year old woman who lived in Archwood, and had a special ability. Lis had what was described as a special intuition that allowed her to know the future, hear people’s thoughts, and tap into their true intentions as well. This story was a whole new set of world building that was unique but also took me a bit to fully understand. Regardless, when it comes to JLA’s stories, I’m always up to see what she comes up with next.

I had this book on my tbr for quite some time, so I decided to finally tackle it on! Like most fantasy books, the beginning took me a while to get into from the world building, the different types of characters set within the story, and even the characters themselves such as, Lis. I’m going to be completely honest and say, based off of the first one hundred chapters I was kind of confused haha. At some parts I was even questioning, “wait, what’s the female lead character’s name??” But I just checked the synopsis and learned her name is, Calista but mostly goes by Lis. Lis was an interesting character from her ability of intuition (that’s what I’m going with since that’s what she refers to it in the book) to her circumstances that brought her to Archwood. Even while at Archerwood, I could tell that Lis was there for the sake of safety and having a roof over her head and for her friend, Grady. Even early on, I could tell that Lis kept her ability a secret only known to a select few, and if her powers were found out, it could be potentially bad. All in all, first impressions from the beginning half of the story, I was intrigued, but also still unsure of what the plot was, and what Lis was going to have to deal with.

For sure, the majority of the story was all about setting up Lis and Thorne’s stories, but once their intimate moments happened, the romance kicked into full gear. I found it fascinating how Lis went from meeting this seemingly random Hyhborn lord who turned out to be the Prince of Vytrus as well as the same man that she knew many years prior. Lis and Thorne had a mysterious connection to each other. From the moment they met, both Lis and Thorne gravitated towards each other and not just by the way Lis was able to sense Thorne whenever he was near her, but also they instantly connected. I also found it funny how Thorne was blunt most of the time, and that resulted in Lis either getting annoyed, mad, or downright surprised at the things he said. While things got pretty hot and heavy between Thorne and Lis, there were some really tender moments they shared that highlighted the deep connection they formed, and also hinted that there was more to them just being physically with each other. On top of that, the thing I really appreciated was seeing how Thorne tried to accommodate and respect Lis’s wishes despite how Hyhborns usually behaved such as, Thorne giving Lis the choice in what she wanted to do, trying to ask her things, and saying “please”. The things I mentioned may not sound like a big deal, by trust me when reading the book it makes a whole lot more sense! 

Overall, this book ended up being the complete opposite from what I imagined. At first, I assumed this book had something to do with angels? Or something along those lines, but who knows with the way the world was created in this book. To be honest, a good chunk of the book I was often trying to figure out, “what’s the overall purpose/ intent that’s driving Calista’s story?”. Maybe it was just me, but I felt like majority of this book was just Lis and Thorne little by little interacting, and spicy moments. That being said, the real action came into fruition once the climax happened. Unfortunately, towards the end was when things actually started to make somewhat sense and why Calista was actually of importance than she could have ever imagined. As a whole, I liked the romance between Lis and Thorne, the ending half of the story was a mix of suspense and lots of gore. Not to mention, a new twist that I wasn’t expecting which proved to be fascinating. My only hope is that with the next book, there’s more detail in explaining/ exploring both Thorne’s backstory as a Hyhborn Prince and Lis’s heritage. Might just be the first book syndrome in how this is just establishing aspects of the story, but hopefully it’ll prove to be better. Still enjoyed the story and I’m hopeful for the next one. 

Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout

adventurous mysterious 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

4.5

4.5⭐️

In a world where Pure Bloods ruled, half bloods were considered dispensable, and Daimons lurked the shadows waiting to drain the aether out of them, that was the kind of things Alex had to deal with especially when she found herself back in the Covenant. With Greek mythology elements sprinkled throughout this story, it tackled the issues that Alex found herself immersed in all over again, but also faced with new obstacles she had to overcome. With Jennifer L Armentrout’s writing, she brought Alex’s world to life that had me hooked from the beginning even in the novella before this one. Alex was headstrong, stubborn, and did things how she wanted…in other words, she was a bit of a troublemaker at times. Needless to say, this new book was the start of a new obsession in which I was immersed in Alex’s world and all things pertaining to Gods, powers, and Daimons that I was fascinated to learn more about. 

Being back in the Covenant was a strange homecoming for Alex. Between the tragic loss of her mom, to fighting off Daimons, now Alex was back in the Covenant, and she had a lot to catch up on. Seeing Alex back in the Covenant gave me the chance to see a bit more of what the dynamics were like within the school, but also getting to meet people Alex knew as well. People like, Caleb, Alex’s best friend stuck me as the fun, mischievous type of person who usually got into all kinds of trouble with Alex. I was glad to see Alex back with some friends she knew, but I was also worried about her. Without a doubt, Alex had the potential to become a greater fighter. Sure, Alex knew how to fight, but when it came to the fighting techniques and lessons learned within the Covenant, unfortunately my sassy, fierce friend was behind all her other peers. On the bright side, Alex had an instructor of sorts to help with her training, ahem, a certain SOMEBODY SHE HAD A CRUSH ON by the name of AIDEN ST.DELPHI!!!! 

This story kept getting better with each chapter! Omg! Obviously this first book was setting the stage for all the things Alex would have to face as well as meeting other characters. Aiden was an interesting character who I initially assumed would be the grumpy type, but he was more of the silent, serious, deadly kind instead. Aiden was also patient with Alex which surprised me, but that didn’t deter him from laying down the law on Alex when she wouldn’t listen. Aside from Aiden, the more I learned about Alex, the more I was curious about what was happening especially when it came to her. 

Omg! The way this book just evolved into a slew of new discoveries when it came to Alex was intriguing to say the least. While the truth about what Alex was and essentially what she was destined for was revealed, I couldn’t help but feel awed and also a bit worried for her. Alex definitely didn’t have the easiest time being back in the Covenant, but when things came to light about her mom, the ever changing situation with the Daimons, and SURPRISE ALEX BEING THE NEXT APOLLYON! (Sigh) my goodness, Alex couldn’t catch a break! There was a lot going on, but it didn’t feel overwhelming which was great for me, and left me feel fully immersed in the story. The fact that Alex was faced with a set of new circumstances changed her entire life, but at least she had AIDEN IN HER CORNER AS SUPPORT….also a little bit of romance development between the two! 

This being the first book in the series, it was filled with action, training sequences, strong, sassy, and stubborn moments from Alex and the budding romance building between her and Aiden. I think as the series continues, more of the Greek mythology elements will play an even bigger role which I’m excited to see, as well as Seth’s mysterious (The First Apollyon) connection to Alex. This was just the beginning to Alex’s story, and I’m looking forward to see how her story will change. Alex and Aiden’s romance had little glimpse here and there throughout this book, but alas, with Alex being a half blood and Aiden being a pure blood, it was forbidden and their relationship could never happen…for now. I think if you like stories with Greek mythology mixed into storylines as well as action, plot twists, fantasy elements mixed into a contemporary story, you’ll like this book. Also, definitely loved the addition of the novella and the bonus chapters included in this book, they were a little treat for me to read. 

Daimon by Jennifer L. Armentrout

adventurous emotional 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

4.25

4.25⭐️

I wasn’t sure whether or not this novella was actually necessary to read, but it was in fact  right. This novella briefly introduced the main character, Alexandria Andros, or more accurately Alex. Alex’s life wasn’t the normal kind you would imagine for a seventeen year old. Being a half blood, she wasn’t considered someone important in her world, but more so dispensable to carry out the needs and protection of the Pure bloods. This story had elements of Greek mythology, danger, action, and a journey in which Alex was put to the test in order to survive.

For this being just a novella, I enjoyed it. I liked the way the story jumped right into the thick of Alex and her mom living their lives, and giving some details on what’s being going on since she left the Covenant. While I’m still unfamiliar with the world of the Covenant, I got the gist that Alex and her mom were on the run from something, but according to Alex she wasn’t fully aware as to why, only her mom knew. The events that occurred in this novella pushed Alex back into the world she thought she left behind, and ironically found herself going back to it after what happened to her mom. There was some action, danger, and Alex dealing with a whole new set of obstacles. 

The novella was great, I got a glimpse into who Alex was, and I’m sure with the first book, “Half Blood”, it’ll actually make a bit more sense as to Alex’s backstory, why her mom made her leave the Covenant, and what will happen being back there where she initially grew up. I have high hopes for this series as I’m a huge fan of Jennifer L Armentrout’s writing, and her stories. First impression with this story alone, I could see myself throughly enjoying each of the books, and getting to know about Alex. Plus, with some action mixed in with the fantasy of Greek mythology, this sounds like the series for me. 

The Sharpest Edges by Anna Callaway

emotional funny hopeful reflective sad fast-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

4.25

*Thank you to Love Notes PR for providing me an ARC of this story. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

*Please check trigger warnings before reading.

4.25⭐️/ 3🌶️

I have read quite a few books, and surprisingly I haven’t read a book such as this one. This story followed, Ava who was a nurse working at prison, and Dean who was the newest inmate to arrive. Ava and Dean couldn’t be any more different aside from the obvious of Ava not being in prison and Dean was. Despite the initial meeting of these two characters, Ava and Dean formed a connection in the time that Dean came to the infirmary to see Ava for his injuries. This was a slow burn romance with angst, the comforting trope, and eventually down the line things got spicy between Ava and Dean. 

I have heard of some people having read romances that were set within a prison, but for this being my first time reading this kind of storyline, I was really curious to see how Ava and Dean’s story would be. Within the first couple chapters, I got a sense that both Ava and Dean were no strangers to dealing with hardships in their lives. Based off of what was mentioned of Ava’s life and her past, I got the gist that she suffered loss, and a painful experience before that still left its mark on her both in a physical and emotional sense. Dean also had a hard childhood, and dealt with struggles within his family that would later play a role into how he ended up in prison in the first place. Both, Ava and Dean were familiar with different kinds of pain, but somehow they met in the last place you would expect..prison.

I have mentioned in the past, I love a good slow burn romance, and I loved the way this romance evolved. Honestly, while I was curious to see how Ava and Dean’s story would play out, I wondered how their romance would proceed especially since Dean was in prison. Suffice it to say, the way the romance progressed was surprisingly natural and the chemistry between Ava and Dean was sweet, kind, and later revealed a deep layer of desire they had for one another. The slow burn in this story was good especially from the way it was written in how Ava and Dean had their “firsts” together. The way Ava and Dean held hands together, hugged, or even the first kiss was sweet, and meaningful. For Dean, being in prison obviously meant dealing with a lot on top of being incarcerated, but also being unable to touch or hold Ava as he wished. The first time Ava and Dean had small physical contact was met with both of them feeling very close to each other, as well as a strong affection Dean had for Ava. Dean wasn’t an affectionate person by any means, and even before prison he wasn’t the kind of man who went out of his way to seek relationships or instigate physical touch. With Ava, Dean wanted to embrace all the things he normally never wanted, and more importantly wanted to spend any time he could with her (*even more when he was released). 

This was such an interesting story that I hadn’t read before. With the premise of Ava being a prison nurse and Dean being the newest inmate in prison, it wasn’t the typical romance I was use to reading. Nonetheless, the way this story was written made me follow along Ava and Dean’s story in a seamless way that made sense to me. Obviously, realistically speaking I don’t know if I could see this happening, but for this to happen to Ava and Dean, I was more than happy to cheer for them! The slow burn romance was done perfectly in a way that made me excited to see Ava and Dean share their first hug and be like, “OMG THIS IS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL MOMENT!” The chemistry was natural, palpable, and I could feel the sparks flying between Ava and Dean. There was also the added angst in both Ava and Dean’s backstories that was heartbreaking, but allowed them to see that they each understood the level of pain and loss they experienced in different points in their lives. For all the horrible things both Ava and Dean had endured in their lives, they got their chance at happiness with each other, and it was so satisfying to see them get their happing ending. I also loved that there wasn’t a third act breakup! Woo! Slow burn romance, angst, hurt/comfort trope, and spice was all great in this story. Highly recommend if you’re looking to read a unique romance, fairly short read, but not rushed, and an overall enjoyable read with dashes of angst to tug on your heartstrings. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Death, and Child death

Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious 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

4.5⭐️

We’re all familiar with fairytales right? There’s always the good and the bad, the hero and the villain, but never before have I ever heard of someone being an assistant to the villain. Evangelina Sage or more commonly known as, Evie was a young woman who was in desperate need of a new job. A job that would support her family and continue helping them however she could, even when it meant being offered the position of becoming the villain’s assistant. This story had all the elements of a fairytale, but with a twist. A morally gray man who literally was the bad guy, a sunshine young woman who ironically found enjoyment in her new job, and a bunch of shenanigans that took place in Evie’s new employment. 

I had heard a lot about this book for quite some time, and I was eager to read it for myself! This story was written with elements of magic, magical creatures, knights, heroes, villains, and much more. I quickly found myself enjoying Evie and the Villain’s (a.k.a. Trystan) dynamic. For every villain, there’s an assistant at his side as seen with Evie. I feel like if you’re a fan of fairytales, stories with magic, or the well beloved trope of grumpy/sunshine, I think you’ll like this story since I enjoyed it. I was in the mood for something along the lines of a fantasy, and this book not only piqued my interest, but also gave me what I was hoping for and more.

When meeting Evie at the beginning of the story, she immediately struck me as the last person you would imagine working for a villain, but looks can be deceiving after all. 

I don’t know where I heard this, but someone had mentioned there was barely any romance at all in this book, and I disagreed with that. While this story didn’t overtly show the kind of romance most people had hoped for, it was more understated in the way Evie and Trystan were around each other. The way Evie was literal sunshine who wholeheartedly enjoyed her job in being Trystan’s assistant was great, but also she couldn’t help the attraction she had for him. At first I thought it was more of a one sided thing on Evie’s part, but when it came to Trystan’s chapters (*told in 3rd p.o.v.) the little ways he reacted to her or even the subtle ways he behaved around her spoke volumes to me about how much Trystan truly cared for Evie. Here we had a morally gray villain, but was secretly a softie for the girl a.k.a. Evie. There were a couple of moments that made me giggle in the way Trystan was towards Evie or even how this man was LITERALLY THINKING ABOUT CHOPPING A MAN’S HAND FOR GREETING EVIE IN A CHARMING WAY!!! OMG! Talk about lowkey obsessed/ possessive about Evie! Phew! Suffice it to say, at least in this first book, the relationship Evie and Trystan had was subtle, but I was literally enjoying every single moment they had together. 

Evie and Trystan not only had their hands full with maintaining the day to day works of the evil business, but there was also a subplot of mystery and deceit that played a role in the story. You can imagine that Trystan being a villain not only entailed him doing lots of evil things from torture, maiming, stealing, etc. Although, at the root of Trystan’s plans it came back to King Benedict. For most of the book, not much was revealed as to why Trystan was so dead set on taking revenge against King Benedict and ensuring that he took everything from him. All the while, Trystan and Evie come to find out that there was a traitor amongst them at Massacre Manor. I liked the bit of mystery that was included in the story as it created a bit of drama as to who the person was that was giving King Benedict information, but also in the small excursions that Trystan and Evie would go on in order to piece the clues together. Plus, there was some interesting things that were revealed like meeting Trystan’s siblings and more hints to Trystan’s backstory. 

THIS WAS SUCH AN AMAZING BOOK! I grew up reading and loving fairytales so, to read this book that had an interesting take from the villain’s perspective or more accurately the assistant to the villain, I really enjoyed it. Evie did what was necessary for the sake of her family, but along the way she became stronger, and defied the rules she normally would have adhered to. There was a lot of magic, intrigue, plot twists, and the occasional bloody gore that surrounded Evie’s line of work. I personally loved the subtle hints of romance between Trystan and Evie. I have a feeling with the next book (*fingers crossed) Evie and Trystan’s romance will become a bit more pronounced and hopefully some romantic confessions will happen! I loved the protective nature of Trystan, but in his way that resulted in unhinged mayhem when it came to Evie. Again, the romance wasn’t a big plot point in this book specifically but in the small moments between Evie and Trystan, I was loving every second of it. I was never bored while reading, I was constantly on my toes, eagerly waiting to get to the next part of the story! Towards the end of the story, things ramped up even more with the plot twists, reveals, and betrayal I wasn’t expecting! For this being Hannah’s debut novel, I think she did a wonderful job writing the elements of fairytales we’re familiar with, but putting a new spin on it. I want to read the book a.s.a.p. ESPECIALLY WITH THAT ENDING?! COME ON! I NEED MORE OF EVIE AND TRYSTAN! I don’t know about others who have had mixed reviews about this book, but I personally enjoyed it, had fun, and loved it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood and Death

Fall With Me by Brooke Montgomery

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective 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

*Thank you to Love Notes PR for sending me an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

4.5⭐️/ 3🌶️

If there’s one fictional place that I’ve come to love and adore it’s, Sugarland Creek and all the characters part of this interconnected series. With more of that cowboy aesthetic vibes, rugged, loving, and passionate male characters such as, Landen Hollis, this story continues to show more amazing characters, a tight knit family, and a wide variety of tropes! This story centered around, Landen Hollis and Ellie Donovan and how the two started off on rocky terms, but then years later something happened to Ellie that changed their entire dynamic. With tropes ranging from age gap romance, she can’t stand him, he falls first and HARD TO even a subplot of suspense, Brooke Montgomery always knows how to steal my heart with her stories. 

Ellie was a headstrong, motivated barrel racer, and her life revolved around it. With the best trainer, Noah Hollis taking her under her wing, Ellie’s skills became better and kept winning more competitions. Even though Ellie didn’t like Landen, he proved to be a helpful trainer as well by pointing out certain things she could work on. Regardless of all the help, Ellie was determined to make sure Landen would never be her friend or anything because, he was the main reason why she lost the person she was closest to. 

I think the way Ellie and Landen’s dynamic was interesting especially with Ellie being the grumpy one, and Landen being a mix of a golden retriever and a flirt. At first, I wasn’t sure why Ellie didn’t like Landen or why she couldn’t get along with him, but later on specific details came to light that made me see WHY Ellie had such a dislike towards Landen. Meanwhile, Landen wasn’t sure why Ellie kept him at a distance, didn’t like him period so, I felt bad for him. Landen was a genuinely nice man who cared for those close to him, and always tried to be nice to Ellie, even when he constantly enjoyed pushing her buttons just for fun. Now, even with the not so friendly attitude Ellie had with Landen, I did really enjoy their banter with each other. The way Ellie would always try to insult Landen wouldn’t always work because then Landen being himself would find a way to twist it into him thinking it was them flirting haha. Landen obviously knew Ellie wasn’t his biggest fan, but that didn’t stop him from inevitably falling for her and HARD!

The beginning half of the story really set the stage for how Ellie and Landen met, their relationship, and unknowingly the thing that connected them. Between snarky banter, the subplot of suspense, and that good old Hollis family appearing once again, there was more to Landen and Ellie’s story. Both, Landen and Ellie were dealing with something behind the scenes of the story that unbeknownst to Landen connected them. I really liked how Brooke gave us a bit more background on Landen and Ellie, as well as seeing the journey they went on from the moment they met all the way leading up to Ellie’s accident. *BTW it is not a spoiler since it is mentioned this story deals with the amnesia trope. 

I haven’t read a lot of books with the amnesia trope, but the way Brooke Montgomery wrote it was well written. In my opinion, I think the way Ellie’s amnesia was written was honest and open minded. Before Ellie’s accident, she made it clear that she wanted nothing to do with Landen, but through her temporary memory loss, all those previous judgments and hatred for Landen disappeared and she was able to see Landen for the man he was point blank. I also loved seeing Landen getting a genuine chance to be around Ellie as her kindhearted self as opposed to the “mean” version she usually had around him previously. For me, the amnesia trope in this story served it previous, albeit it was hard for Ellie, it allowed her to shed her inner walls, and experience life as she should have being carefree, having fun, making friends, and finding love like any twenty something year old. Ellie’s growth in this story really transformed and by the end of the story I was really happy both for her and herself.

Overall, this story was great, I had fun reading Landen and Ellie’s story, and of course seeing more of the rest of the Hollis family. Brooke Montgomery continues to bring the joy in her small town romance, mixed with cowboys, amazing characters, and subplots that add a level of intrigue to the main plot line. Landen and Ellie started off on rocky terms, but over the course of the story they learned more about each other, and had a shot at becoming more together. Landen was flirtatious, charming, and a southern gentleman who could sweep you off your feet while also making you feel weak in the knees with the things he said. Ellie was a motivated, strong woman who put all her effort into winning competitions she competed in. Ellie had great character growth, and I adored seeing her in a more lighthearted manner, as I’m sure Landen also loved as well. I’m excited to read the next book in this interconnected series especially with the way the story ended off. Not to mention, other little crumbs I got for an entirely new series Brooke will be writing! All in all, great story, Brooke just knows how to hook me in each time with her wonderful stories! 

The Hundred Loves of Juliet by Evelyn Skye

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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

4.5⭐️

The story of, “Romeo and Juliet”, has always been a favorite of mine. I still remember being thirteen, and constantly rereading the book because, something about the way Romeo and Juliet fought to be together made my hopeless romantic heart wish for a love like that. The tragedy, heartbreak, and loss of Romeo and Juliet’s story is one we all know of, but what if their story never truly ended. This story had an interesting twist to Romeo and Juliet’s story in which Juliet was reincarnated each time, whereas Romeo was forced immortal. Through years, decades, each time Romeo and Juliet were different people, but still always found their way back to each other. This was a story that defied the things we knew of Romeo and Juliet. With different time periods, Romeo and Juliet were forced to live different lives, and yet still be faced with the same ending, one that ended in death and sorrow.

I knew before reading this was obviously going to revolve around Romeo and Juliet, but it still didn’t take away my surprise from the beginning of the story! Simply WOW! I really loved the premise of this story! Romeo and Juliet’s story is iconic, but also filled with sadness. I had always wished for a different outcome whenever I thought of Romeo and Juliet so, to read this book and see how their story still continued was interesting. As if that wasn’t cool enough, the fact that Helene (Juliet) was reincarnated each time forever destined to meet Sebastien (Romeo) in each lifetime was so fascinating, but also sad since I knew it was bound to end in a tragic way. Having Helene feel this sense of unexplained connection to Sebastien was intriguing, but also as a reader I KNEW THE TRUTH BEHIND WHY SHE FELT THAT WAY! Meanwhile, Sebastien dealt with the grief and memories from all the past lives he and Helene had shared over the course of many lifetimes that inevitably ended in her demise. Sebastien was conflicted because, as much as his love for Helene (Juliet) was ever present, he believed as long as he stayed away then he could protect her. (Sigh) just the beginning chapters alone had me feeling the sadness and longing between Sebastien and Helene ESPECIALLY IN THOSE FLASHBACKS FROM DIFFERENT TIME PERIODS! OMG! 

This contemporary romance wasn’t just your typical story. Having the story flash back to different time periods was not only an intriguing part of Sebastien and Helene’s past lives together, but it also added this historical context to the story. In a way, this story was a mix between a historical and contemporary romance which I really enjoyed! The more I read this book, the more I was fully enthralled by Sebastien and Helene’s connection together. The whole premise of Romeo and Juliet’s story being not the one we truly, but instead this one was eye opening and again filled with heartache. Once it came down to Sebastien revealing the truth to Helene, it spiraled into a new level of Helene coming to terms that all her stories and imagination of this dream man she had always thought about turned out to be real! I couldn’t even begin to imagine how Helene must have felt learning the truth behind essentially her whole live(s) being connected to Sebastien (Romeo). This was a story that definitely didn’t shy away from the emotional punches, and I often found myself feeling sad for both Sebastien and Helene in what they experienced. 

This was the kind of story that not only tugged on my heartstrings, but also spoke to my inner hopeless romantic heart. Despite Sebastien’s initial plan of acting like a rude jerk in order to get Helene to leave town, he was still an utter softie when it came to her. Slowly but surely, Sebastien’s softer, kindhearted nature was revealed to Helene over the course of the story and it just made me happy to see him open himself up to her in that way. The beginning half showed Sebastien acting in a way that wasn’t his typical style, (I.e. being rude) but regardless he later showed his affections and admiration for Helene in a way that was so heartwarming especially considering the emotional rollercoaster this story was. 

Speaking as a hopeless romantic, I can wholeheartedly say that you will adore this book not only for the intriguing twist on a well known story, but also the things this story expanded on. From learning to sieze the day, take advantage of the time you have positively instead of negatively, it also made me appreciate Sebastien and Helene’s romance even more. This story was truly beautiful, romantic, heartbreaking, and intriguing. The more I read, I was immersed in different time periods, getting to see different iterations of Romeo and Juliet always finding their way back to each other. This was honestly such a fascinating story with the way Sebastien and Helene’s relationship came to be, even before they met. From the way this story was written, I could see the love that emanated from Sebastien and Helene’s to the heartbreak that Sebastien unfortunately experienced in each life time of his immortal life. The ending left me feeling hopeful and again, the importance that we never truly know when our last day will be, but it’s better to focus on living your life for however long you have. I think I can confidently say this book made me reflect on my own life in terms of taking the time I do have as well. While I don’t have a love like Sebastien, I’m still holding out hope for a man that can treat me wholeheartedly like Sebastien did for Helene. Beautifully written story, loved the way the story ended, and dang this was a magical experience to read, highly recommend. 

Ruthless Vows by Rebecca Ross

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious reflective 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

4.75

*POTENTIAL SPOILERS AHEAD! DON’T READ IF YOU HAVEN’T READ THE FIRST BOOK!

4.75⭐️

In a world filled with magic, Gods, war, and lovers being torn apart by the chaos that had ensued, Roman and Iris were once again caught in the middle of a dangerous situation that could mean the end for everyone. The last time Iris saw Roman, it was in the midst of a battle that unfortunately resulted in Roman being taken by Dacre. Now, Iris being back home in Oath was still trying to figure out where Roman was, and still trying to find a way towards preventing more people from getting hurt in the war between the Gods, Dacre and Enva. This story picked up following the events of the first book so, I was quickly immersed in the storyline, and wanting to see how Roman and Iris would find their way back to each other. 

Once again I was thrust back into the world of magic, Gods, and Iris and Roman’s story. Reading this book quickly reminded me why I enjoyed the first book, but also how much I was eager to find out what happened since I last saw Iris and Roman. With the way the first book ended, I was quite surprised to see how Roman was fairing especially since he temporarily had no recollection of who he was or any memories of his life. Iris meanwhile was still trying to figure out where Roman was. This book really showed that the war was only getting closer to Iris’s home, and even with her and Attie’s articles, it seemed like there were Dacre sympathizers among the high society, etc. Not only was I shocked to find out what happened to Roman, but I was sad to see how he LITERALLY HAD NO IDEA WHO IRIS WAS! Nooooooo! Once again, I found Iris and Roman to be the epitome of star crossed lovers being separated, having to deal with wars, and not knowing how the other was…except with the help of those magic typewriters it seemed there was still some hope for them. 

In the midst of all that was happening, the power of the typewriters remained a significant part of the story. The letters that Roman and Iris continued to write to each other showed the power that even with Roman’s memory being temporarily lost, there was still a connection between them. Also, the fact that I momentarily forgot Iris and Roman were married made me realize, my girl Iris not only was separated from the love of her life, but her newly wedded husband!!! Talk about a heartbreaking part of Iris’s story (sigh) got me feeling sad on her part too. 

With each page, each chapter, and each part of the story, I was more invested and at the edge of my seat!!!! Say what you will, but this book was really magical, dangerous, fantastical, and had a deep love. Each part of the story illustrated different aspects of the story from, Iris going back to report in the field (a.k.a. near the front lines), Roman being in Dacre’s forces, and more parts of Dacre’s evil plans coming out. Even the way Dacre and Enva’s past was all coming together really highlighted the important details that would inevitably help Iris and Roman take down Dacre. When in doubt, it’s always up to the young adults to save the world when no one else can. 

Wow…I knew I was going to enjoy this book, but like…it really caught me off guard how much I genuinely became emotional, and cried like a baby especially towards the end! Rebecca Ross’s writing was once again beautifully written, and highlighted the beauty in Iris and Roman’s romance. Truly, nothing could get in the way of Roman and Iris being together, even when battling an evil God, facing imminent danger, and more! Iris and Roman’s romance wasn’t just beautiful, but also heart wrenching especially when they were temporarily separated. I loved seeing more of Attie, and the introduction of Tobias! While the romance still played a role in the story, I felt like the story managed to bring more light to the danger all the characters were faced with when it came to Dacre and his forces. I was truly captivated, immersed, and on edge multiple times hoping Iris, and Roman would manage to stay alive! Phew! This was such a great way to end off Iris and Roman’s story, all that heartbreak, loss, and again danger, Roman and Iris finally managed to have their happy ending! I will say that the climax of the story seemed a bit anti climactic when it came to taking down Dacre, but oh well Iris literally slayed Dacre so that’s all that matters. I would recommend this book if you’re looking for an immersive fantasy book with romance, beautiful writing, lovable characters, magic, danger, friendship, and more! 

The Rule Book by Sarah Adams

funny hopeful lighthearted reflective 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

4.25

4.25⭐️/ 1🌶️

Sarah Adams books are always lighthearted, funny, and entertaining so, obviously with this newest release, I was looking forward to diving into more of the lovable characters Sarah knows how to write. This story was a continuation within the team, Nathan Donelson was part of, the L.A. Sharks, but this time the story focused on his teammate and friend, Derek Pender. After suffering a big injury, Derek was ready to make his return to the football field, but when his former sports agent needed to retire due to health issues, he needed a new agent as soon as possible. Nora Mackenzie was an avid fan of fans, and when her chance came to officially become a sports agent, she was ready to tackle her newest assignment, even if it meant becoming the sports agent to her ex boyfriend/ college sweetheart, Derek. This story had second chance romance, enemies to lovers, sports romance, humor, lovable characters, and an endearing story. 

After reading, “The Cheat Sheet”, I enjoyed that book so, to see a new book set within the world of that storyline, I was really looking forward to see how Derek and Nora’s story would be. Before reading this book, I pictured Nora being a bit more cutthroat and sassy considering the field she worked in, as well as having to deal with majority of men who didn’t treat her as kindly in the work place. Despite that initial assumption, I actually liked how bright and kindhearted Nora was. Nora was likable right away and I could see just how much effort she put into everything she did, even when it came to dealing with Derek’s demands as her first client. Derek was different this time around compared to the first book. From what I remember, Derek was more of a playboy and carefree, but with his injury it seemed like he was more withdrawn from his friends and certain insecurities came up more for him. Both, Derek and Nora were in an uncomfortable situation having to work together especially after the way they ended things on a not so nice ending. 

Like most Sarah Adams, there was a lot of humor, quirkiness from her female lead, a man who falls hard, HARDER, and a bit of shenanigans. Derek and Nora found themselves working together even with their history of once being college sweethearts. I could tell that Derek was still very much affected by the breakup, and while I felt bad for him, at times I didn’t necessarily agree with him taunting Nora to quit by making her to errands or other things for him. That being said, even our little sunshine Nora decided enough was enough and took control which I loved by the way, and yet again Derek was reminded of another thing he loved about Nora, her unwillingness to back down. 

Ok, so even with the tropes of second chance romance, and this being a sports romance, I completely forgot about the fact that this also had. ACCIDENTAL MARRIAGE TROPE! OMG! Just when things started to settle between Nora and Derek, a drunken night in Las Vegas turned their lives upside when they woke up MARRIED! I love the accidental marriage trope, I feel like I haven’t really read a lot of books that have that trope, but the way Sarah Adams wrote it was great! Nora and Derek weren’t strangers, they had a past relationship and that added a bit more depth to the marriage they found themselves in. Once Derek and Nora agreed to staying married for the sake of helping each other out, I liked the way Derek started to take charge in his feelings for Nora. Even Nora who felt frazzled and a bit nervous with everything that was happening with Derek, I liked seeing her curl up with Derek, and basically seeing both of them very much still in love with one another despite the years they spent apart. 

I really enjoyed this book! I love Sarah Adams books because, they are always so lighthearted, sweet, funny, and easy to make me feel good. Compared to Sarah’s other books, this was the first time there was actual spice (only one scene) and even without the spice scene, I could see the sexual tension building more and more between Nora and Derek which was equally enticing. Nora and Derek were college sweethearts and despite the rocky start to them working together, they naturally found themselves falling into place with their romance again. The romance was steamy, sexy, loving, and heartfelt. I really enjoyed the second chance romance, and overall just seeing Nora and Derek finally getting their happy ending together! Even seeing familiar faces like, Nathan and Bree was a great part of the story! The sports element of the story highlighted each of what Derek and Nora had to deal with in their respective careers which I found interesting. The accidental marriage trope was a complete surprise for me, but OMG IT WAS GOOD! I was eagerly waiting for the iconic moment when Derek would call Nora his, “wife”, and OMG IT WAS SO SATISFYING TO READ THAT SCENE IYKYK!!! I loved getting to see a more vulnerable side to Derek compared to how he was initially introduced in the first book as being a playboy, carefree type of man. Derek wasn’t perfect and had struggles of his own he was constantly working on throughout the story. Nora was literal sunshine, she had me feeling joyful and smiling with her catchphrases and unique outlook on life. All in all, both Derek and Nora were wonderful characters, I loved their romance, the other characters were lovable (love you Nathan & Bree!), and it was a satisfying take on accidental marriage plus a second chance romance. 

Better Left Unsent by Lia Louis

funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.0

*Thank you to Atria for sending me and ARC, I appreciate it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

3⭐️

There have been things we wished we could to say to others. From telling your boss that you didn’t appreciate the rude way he spoke to you, or how a colleague from work talked about your body in a way that was highly inappropriate, to wanting to tell your crush how much you liked them. For Millie Chandler, she had a lot to say, but instead she just relied on writing drafts of emails to let it all out. Until one day, the unthinkable happened…all those emails that Millie wrote ended up being sent out to each and every person she wrote to. Suddenly, Millie found herself in hot waters, and faced with the reality that everyone knew what she really wanted to say. Lia Louis wrote an interesting plot line that showed just what happens when our deepest, most inner thoughts of others are revealed without our say. 

Literally everything that happened to Millie was the worst thing I could ever imagine or at least on some level. Having everything Millie has ever wanted to say to coworkers, family, and even her ex boyfriend unraveled into a bit of a mess for her. At the same time, I think it ended up being a good thing for Millie too. Millie seemed like the type of woman who, usually let things build up in her as opposed to speaking her mind. Majority of the book showed Millie feeling a bit guiltily at the aftermath that ensued with her emails being sent out, but also gradually showing her that maybe it was a good thing certain individuals knew what she really thought. Even outside of work, Millie’s life changed with secrets being discovered within her own family, and subsequently changing the dynamics between her parents. As far as the beginning half of this book went, it was a lot of Millie working through obstacles and bettering herself.

One thing I will say that I enjoy about Lia Louis’s writing is how light, and relaxing I find it to be. I’ve also read, “The Key To My Heart”, also written by, Lia Louis, and I actually enjoyed that book as well if not more than this story. Lia Louis has a way of focusing her stories being more character driven with some plot. Millie was the main character, but alongside her friends, coworkers, and family there was other story lines that branched off the main one of Millie’s main dilemma. 

Initially, this book seemed like it would be good, but towards the halfway mark I started to lose interest. I do think this story had good parts to it from the way Millie grew and learned that speaking her mind wasn’t necessarily a bad thing despite how it began at the beginning. Another thing I liked about this story was Jack. Jack was a likable character and I love the way Lia Louis writes her fictional male characters. Towards the end, I found myself skimming the pages, and looking for major plot points instead of feeling fully invested in the characters. Like I said, this book had good points to it, but unfortunately it didn’t hit its mark for me. Maybe for other readers they’ll enjoy this book with the unique plot line of Millie’s story, but yeah this just ended up not being much of a story for me.