courtneyreads_x's reviews
775 reviews

Quicksilver by Callie Hart

adventurous challenging funny 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

4.75

wow... this was definitely worth the hype! I wish we had some Kingfisher chapters tho ! 

Kingfisher ! 🥵🥵 yes please... yum! The tension he has with Saeris was palpable and intoxicating! and it's been a while since I read a great slow burn fantasy romance.

💙slow burn
💙fated mates
💙enemies to allies to lovers

Loved Carrion and Saeris banter... even though they were together 👀 there was no chemistry and no drama, thank goodness ! And he's such an interesting character too !

Bring on book 2 !

Academically Yours by Jennifer Chipman

emotional funny lighthearted slow-paced

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

3.0

You can tell that this was debut novel as her writing seems so different now. And I don't know why I thought this was a workplace rivalry romance but no.

It was sweet and heartfelt in places. I adored the bonds of friendship between Noelle and her girls.

And hello! a samoyed named Snowball 🥰🐕

🤎insta connection 
🤎workplace 
🤎grad student x professor 

I will continue with the series though!

Under Loch and Key by Lana Ferguson

adventurous funny 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? It's complicated

4.5

omg ! this was so much fun! and I am obsessed with Scotland and their folklore ! And how the title just makes sense after reading.🤭

would you class this as a monster romance ? I usually am not into them, but this I liked. 

This didn't go how I thought it would but I was still pleasantly surprised. And how Key bonded with her new family, so adorable.

Lachlan was just 🥵 ( I have a thing for Scottish men okay!) 

💚allies to lovers
💚family secrets 
💚curses !
💚grumpy scotsman🥵

Souls and Sorrows by Sav R. Miller

challenging dark emotional inspiring 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

4.25

4.25⭐️ audio reread Feb 25..

while I agree with everything I said before, I don't know, Adrianna just holds a lot of middle child syndrome issues and resentment to her sisters.. and while I believe she has a lot more backbone than some other fmcs , I wished she confided in her sisters. 

and I forgot Cash grazed the driver just out of jealously.

.................
(listened to the audiobook) 5⭐️ 4🌶

loved one despite the slow beginning! the characters are just so gripping, and their chemistry was just explosive, and the plot with twists and turns just kept me interested.

🔥Marriage of convenience 
🔥Mafia princess/ ballerina x Lawyer
🔥slow burn
🔥Eros x Psyche re telling
🔥Forced Proximity 
🔥Auction
🔥Revenge Plot 

I liked how we've slowly circled back to the Ricci family (book 1 was elena, book 5 is her sibling). And everything has come full circle. 

Arianna is probably the strongest FMC in this series. She did what she had to to survive! She remained strong and resilient despite the traumas she went through. And may I add...shes morally grey.. with a drive for revenge ! BADASS QUEEN! And ballet was her saving grace. Her escape from the life she was brought up in.

and then we have Cash... an inexperienced workaholic, the silent type of Alpha who EXUDES POWER AND DANGER 🥵🥵 He treats Arianna as an equal! He is so possessive, I swoon! and the way he says "husband" is soooo dirty!

In this house we love THE PRIMROSES ! 🔥❤️😈

and a certain character from book 1 gets their comeuppance...

Arrows and Apologies by Sav R. Miller

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

AUDIO REREAD FEB 2025
 Still standby 4.5 rating and I very nearly forgot the dog🐕🥹


.......................

4.5⭐️   3.5🌶 (audiobook)

This is by far my favourite out of this series! 
🌸Insta lust (not a fav trope, but it works)
🌸DOG!
🌸Bi Rep (both MCs)
🌸Obsessed and protective hero !
🌸Touch her and I unalive you
🌸Work place romance
🌸Praise/ breeding kinks
🌸KAL X ELENA , JONAS X LENNY APPEARS!
🌸Quality dirty talk !
🌸 AGE GAP 🥵🥵🥵

I loved the Twists and turns in this one! And I can see the Apollo X Daphne vibes pouring through!

You could just tell that Alistair had big dick energy and I'm here for it ! And Cora with blue hair and tattoo...yes queen !! 

Only reason for 4.5 rating, one scene grossed me out ..Hint🩸... Not my.thing
There are TW, so please check !

Speeding Into Overdrive by Kanitha P.

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

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

5.0

Oaths and Omissions by Sav R. Miller

dark emotional 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

AUDIOBOOK REREAD FEB 2025 

Safe to say I still enjoyed this and I stand by my 4⭐️ rating.

we love morally grey characters!
.............
Listened to the audio !
This is defo my fab out of the series so far! far superior to Vipers and Virtuosos.

I'm not sure how I felt about the British accent in the audiobook, but Jonas... that man is BE A UTIFUL 🥵🔥 So swoon worthy 

✨️Tropes✨️
🌷Age Gap
🌷Morally Grey MCs
🌷Fake dating (always a fav)
🌷Mafia Romance 
🌷engagement of convenience 
🌷HE FALLS FIRST
🌷Spicy revenge!

Lenny Primrose... sweet baby... you need to be protected, but she knew how to get revenge.. She' s strong and independent and an artist... a girl after my own heart.

These two just had explosive chemistry, and I'm here for it.

⚠️TW⚠️
SA (Off page)
Parental trauma

Promises and Pomegranates by Sav R. Miller

dark emotional 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

4 star- AUDIOBOOK Feb 2025 Re-read

I still enjoy this, and even on the 3rd time rereading, I give this a full 4 star rating.

Kal is just smitten with Elena and I am here for it.

-marriage of convenience
-close proximity
-age gap
-morally grey mmc
-mafia romance

...............................................................
3.5⭐️ 🌶🌶🌶.5

This is the 2nd time reading this but I listened to the audio.

I loved the Hades x Persephone retelling, and a bit of Mafia Romance.. loved the spice and the bond Elena has with her sisters.

but I don't know..  some of the husband/ wife titles were over used. Maybe it was the narrators that put me off??

But I will love Kallum x Elena, both together and as individuals. and I'd like to see Kallums siblings..I think it would be nice to see how their dynamic would work

Keep Me by Sara Cate

mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

3.75

3🌶 I won't lie, there were some scenes that me question this book and the storyline.

Like Killian's group of friends...hells no. 

But overall I liked this. I mean I binged it in one evening.

Sylvie really stood her ground against the grumpy hermit that is Killian.  He took a while to like but really he's broken, and suffering from his parents' death that accused 2 decades prior. 

Once the sweet side romance kicked in, I was all for it.

I adored Killian's character development..wanting to be better, ope ING himself up to more opportunities.

💜Scottish ! Billionaire 
💜age gal (25/38)
💜forced proximity 
💜marriage of convenience 
💜grumpy x grumpy 
💜nicknames 🥰
💜they look after each other.

thank you sourcebooks for sending me a copy

Wicked Serve by Grace Reilly

challenging emotional funny inspiring lighthearted 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? It's complicated

4.5

3.5🌶

omg I adored this ! I loved their build up, and how Nik x Izzy were there for each other.

I just wanted to hug Nik. He was such a great character.

Izzy has her dreams in order bc hugging a Koalo is everything.

and THE SPICE OMG! I feel like REALLY upped the game on the one.

🏐friends with benefits 
🏒summer fling
🏐broken hero
🏒she's a volleyball player and I need more of this sport
🏐russian mmc
🏒cute nicknames!
🏐found family