claranagbabasa's reviews
69 reviews

How To Marry A Marble Marquis by C.M. Nascosta

emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

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

3.75

There is, I recently found of myself, a limit to how many times a singular metaphor (especially of the sexual variety) could be reuse before I need to wrestle my own imagination to the ground to just. Make it stop.

To be fair, I came into this book open-minded and intrigue by the prospects. Monsters and Historical Romance. Who knew? I was excited. And in the start, I was enjoying it. The introduction to our characters, the situation, and the world-building was wondrous. I was enjoying myself very much.

Eleanor, for the positive notes, was one of my favourite FMCs. I am always in favour of eldest daughters doing the most for their siblings, in sacrifice and love. Silas on the other... truthfully speaking, I don't mind a rake. I enjoy, in my own time, a rake or two. But by god,

I get that he was emotionally stunted and he is a rake, but Jesus. The amount of pussy this man gets is inhuman. And to use another woman— even one willing, still. Seriously

. I started to care less for our winged marble man by the end.

Now, there are few technical errors, I didn't mind. There was also just a heinous amount of thought-provoking choice of vocabulary that threw me off once in a while, but the writing is wonderful if a little choppy. How the writer structures the paragraphs and sentences were gorgeous, and I ate it all up to be honest.

Now the smut. We gotta talk about the amount of it. Mid to end, it was just. A lot. And intense. The plot gave way, I think, too much for it that it shaved off points for me.

All in all, it was a decent read and I had many laugh out loud moments. The chemistry was there, and the banter was outrageously fun. I enjoyed it. I guess, I just wanted more in the end.

Done and Dusted by Lyla Sage
Did not finish book. Stopped at 30%.

I have to call time of death when its due— it was a struggle to care what happens to characters you just cant find in yourself to give two cents and rubbing about.

Persuasion by Jane Austen

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.75

At some point, very nearly toward the end, the little notes on the margins resembled me actively talking to Jane. Begging for her to end it nicely, seeing so much past ink on paper. Seeing beyond Anne's hope, Wentworth's desperation, the love that glows and burns and keeps. And my heart ached for Jane. There are whispered truths underneath words and glances and love, and the yearning is alive, even when the author has long been dead.

There is yearning, and there is fear, and sadness and pride and anger— but there is happiness. And there is love.

Very nearly talaga naduduwal na ko sa emosyon na wala naman right maka chokehold sakin ng ganon, langhiya. Legit, mahigpit talaga yung tiyan 'ko. There are only a few books that have ever made me feel that way.
 

Pero sa totoo lang, kung hindi talaga 'to HEA, eto na thirteenth reason ko shutangina ka, Jane. May pa birit ka pa sa huli eh gagu 😭

Chasing Cassandra by Lisa Kleypas

hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

An adorable story about two opposites.

I expected more from it, tbh.

Tom Severin's character from the previous book really peaked my interest. There was a cavalier ruthlessness to him that seemed fun. Only this book shifted a lot. We got him sappy, and quite honestly, lacking. I guess I expected the thrill of slowburn between them, instead I got what's close to insta love. I still adored Cassandra's character, she was entirely adorable.

It just felt like it had so much pontential, especially for more tension and conflict. Instead it felt lukewarm. Nevertheless, a good romantic read.

Barbarian Lover by Ruby Dixon
Did not finish book. Stopped at 21%.

It's been too long, have forgotten half the plot. Will probably return

Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver

dark funny tense fast-paced

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

3.25

I enjoyed it for what it was, truly. Pacing was a little off, but I guess I just went into it thinking it was more thriller/horror gore than romance, but I still liked it well enough.

Both characters were loveable in their own way. Again, thinking more that this was horror gore fest at first, really threw me off to the sex scenes, but I pushed through.  All in all, a fun read.

Devil's Daughter by Lisa Kleypas

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing 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

4.5

The characters, the writing, the plot— I've been on an intense binge of historical romance books like a madwoman griped with a consuming illness, and this felt like a breath of fresh air.

For one, you could see how much Lisa Kleypas improved from Devil in Winter writing wise. I devoured the fragrant sentences and wonderfully structured paragraphs. It didn't feel heavy or too light. It was descriptive but not burdensome.

And the characters, holy god— Phoebe was wonderful. The remark her brother made about how they were raised in a loving family made such a difference in their persons was a point well made. She was fierce, loyal, and loving, and rooting for her happiness went forefront in my mind.

And West. Yes, his past is wonky, but by god. Charming, funny, intentional, and so sincere— I was swooning at 2 in the morning. Giggling, kicking my feet kind of swooning. And it's been a while since a character has done that for me.

The hints of Evie and Sebastian's marriage in this was quite a sweet bonus.

Truly, the only gripe I had with this book is that I felt it had gone too fast. The conflict was so quickly tied up with a pretty bow, and the final chapter felt too open. If we could literally have a novella of just their married life, I would tattoo the words to my forehead.

There was no exhale of relief with the ending— which I guess the recent books I finished, most had a defined HEA that quenched — this one left me with hunger for more.

Verity by Colleen Hoover
Did not finish book. Stopped at 23%.

The lord knows I tried.

At some point, I just didn't know if the character was intentionally sounding out to be... an absolute weirdo for the plot or that was just her character.

And if it was the plot, then I've either read too many thrillers or it was just a badly written/thought out plot.

And I dunno, I just couldn't find an inch to care to continue.

Haunting Adeline by H.D. Carlton
Did not finish book. Stopped at 71%.

I've read published dark romances. I also stalk the fringes of fics with tags that could send a grown woman silly.

I wouldn't initially minded the more 'disturbing' stuff if I cared enough about the characters. But I didn't. I might still pick this up though so who knows 🤷🏽‍♀️.

A Rogue's Rules for Seduction by Eva Leigh

emotional funny fast-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

3.0

Decent. I enjoyed the comedic aspects. The pet name threw me off though, and the hints of modern language.