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darcynewtonn's reviews
69 reviews
Dust Storm by Maggie C. Gates
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
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
5.0
Well, well, well, we meet again Christian.
Christian you sexy single dad cowboy who lives in a small town, yes please.
Single dad trope is going to do it for me every single time and when you make him a cowboy too I'm on my knees before I've even opened the damn book.
The characters in Dust Storm are iconic and I'm so glad we get to see them more throughout the Griffith brothers books.
Cassandra you... you... I don't even know what, I just love her so much I could scream.
"I wanted to be the wizard behind the curtain. But one empty-headed scarlet decided to rip the curtain down, strangle me with it, light the fabric on fire, then throw me off a cliff. Now I was in cowboy hell." She's a city girl through and through, Christian Louboutin's on a dirt road, living on a ranch. Cass pissed me off to begin with but I let it slide given the circumstances in which she found herself, girl just wanted a good coffee and some concrete to walk on.
What I love so much about these books is the insight we go to the others lives, obviously cowboy romances are usually tight circled because of the whole family living on one ranch, but we never see much of them. Dust Storm, instead of having chapters and chapters of the characters blabbing their emotions in their mind, we were able to see the other family members perspectives and personality through out MC's talking to them about the situation and just generally having conversations and doing things with the rest of the Griffith crew.
Cristian ~ you know when a character is so perfectly crafted it's as if you're having a conversation with them rather than reading a book? Impeccable. He was protective, he was soft (and definitely hard), he knew all the right things to say, he wore Cass on his shoulder, showing her off and not being ashamed.
"If you so much as look at her wrong and she wants you gone, you're gone. Have I Ade myself clear?" WOOF.
Cassandra definitely hated her new situation to begin with, but she warmed up, agreeing to work on family ranch when you hate kids, hate animals, hate dirt, hate early mornings and need a good latte, probably wasn't her smartest move. She's the hot headed one, coming in as a 'manager' she defiantly managed the crew, or maybe manhandled is a better term on this occasion... She basically hates Chris to begin with but he swooned her eventually, "I know you like to lean into the whole grizzled cowboy thing, but please go take a shower before the paint starts peeling off the walls. You smell like cows."
Not only was Cassandra and Christians story hilarious, cute and sad all in one, so many quotes touched me on a level I thought impossible.
Obsessed, read these books immediately.
Christian you sexy single dad cowboy who lives in a small town, yes please.
Single dad trope is going to do it for me every single time and when you make him a cowboy too I'm on my knees before I've even opened the damn book.
The characters in Dust Storm are iconic and I'm so glad we get to see them more throughout the Griffith brothers books.
Cassandra you... you... I don't even know what, I just love her so much I could scream.
"I wanted to be the wizard behind the curtain. But one empty-headed scarlet decided to rip the curtain down, strangle me with it, light the fabric on fire, then throw me off a cliff. Now I was in cowboy hell." She's a city girl through and through, Christian Louboutin's on a dirt road, living on a ranch. Cass pissed me off to begin with but I let it slide given the circumstances in which she found herself, girl just wanted a good coffee and some concrete to walk on.
What I love so much about these books is the insight we go to the others lives, obviously cowboy romances are usually tight circled because of the whole family living on one ranch, but we never see much of them. Dust Storm, instead of having chapters and chapters of the characters blabbing their emotions in their mind, we were able to see the other family members perspectives and personality through out MC's talking to them about the situation and just generally having conversations and doing things with the rest of the Griffith crew.
Cristian ~ you know when a character is so perfectly crafted it's as if you're having a conversation with them rather than reading a book? Impeccable. He was protective, he was soft (and definitely hard), he knew all the right things to say, he wore Cass on his shoulder, showing her off and not being ashamed.
"If you so much as look at her wrong and she wants you gone, you're gone. Have I Ade myself clear?" WOOF.
Cassandra definitely hated her new situation to begin with, but she warmed up, agreeing to work on family ranch when you hate kids, hate animals, hate dirt, hate early mornings and need a good latte, probably wasn't her smartest move. She's the hot headed one, coming in as a 'manager' she defiantly managed the crew, or maybe manhandled is a better term on this occasion... She basically hates Chris to begin with but he swooned her eventually, "I know you like to lean into the whole grizzled cowboy thing, but please go take a shower before the paint starts peeling off the walls. You smell like cows."
Not only was Cassandra and Christians story hilarious, cute and sad all in one, so many quotes touched me on a level I thought impossible.
Obsessed, read these books immediately.
Christmas in Chestnut Springs by Elsie Silver
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Hopeless by Elsie Silver
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
sad
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
5.0
Reckless by Elsie Silver
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
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
4.75
The Teacher by Freida McFadden
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Welcome to Whitlock by Alaska Angelini, A.A. Dark
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.0
Holy shit balls dude. Alaskas books are something I can never get enough of. Not only am I in love with the characters but her world is incredible. The ability to take a story from one secluded building buried in the heart of a mountain and have the imagination to expand it to the rest of the world, dropping our Whitlock experience into different countries - words cant describe it.
Everleigh remains to be one of my favourite FMC's of all time. Her revenge arc, but also her mental growth is truly admirable. It's far too funny when she outsmarts the main master considering he's convinced he's the smartest person on the face of the earth. I love that while she's fighting for her freedom she still wants to support the place she calls home no matter how bad it may be. Her aim is to make it as habitual as possible rather than allowing the community within Whitlock walls to dehumanise the lost souls trapped in the cells. She's owning her past and taking control of her future - admittedly she does kill and skin the Whitlock guards but fuck she's so smart.
Main Master is a funny sausage, I'm not sure he knows where his heads at or what he's actually trying to do. Sure he knows his main goal but he really has no idea how he's planning on getting there - which is why Ev comes to save the day. He's reluctant at first as he doesn't believe she knows anything about within the walls given her new location, but when she begins to tell stories of his followers plotting to kill him and the lies he's being fed by his most trusted employees; he realises that he's been sat twiddling his thumbs and rubbing his eyes for far to long and its time to get his finger out his ass.
The A.A. Dark universe continues to be one of my favourites and if you need a real slap round the face I 100% recommend jumping into the 24690 world.
I cant lie to you, this shit is dark and may have ruined me emotionally, there is almost no point in checking your triggers, take my word for it - it includes all of them. Yes, all. This is easily the darkest world I have ever entered, please do not underestimate the depth of these books or you will be unpleasantly surprised.
Welcome to Whitlock - book 3 of the 24690 series.
Everleigh remains to be one of my favourite FMC's of all time. Her revenge arc, but also her mental growth is truly admirable. It's far too funny when she outsmarts the main master considering he's convinced he's the smartest person on the face of the earth. I love that while she's fighting for her freedom she still wants to support the place she calls home no matter how bad it may be. Her aim is to make it as habitual as possible rather than allowing the community within Whitlock walls to dehumanise the lost souls trapped in the cells. She's owning her past and taking control of her future - admittedly she does kill and skin the Whitlock guards but fuck she's so smart.
Main Master is a funny sausage, I'm not sure he knows where his heads at or what he's actually trying to do. Sure he knows his main goal but he really has no idea how he's planning on getting there - which is why Ev comes to save the day. He's reluctant at first as he doesn't believe she knows anything about within the walls given her new location, but when she begins to tell stories of his followers plotting to kill him and the lies he's being fed by his most trusted employees; he realises that he's been sat twiddling his thumbs and rubbing his eyes for far to long and its time to get his finger out his ass.
The A.A. Dark universe continues to be one of my favourites and if you need a real slap round the face I 100% recommend jumping into the 24690 world.
I cant lie to you, this shit is dark and may have ruined me emotionally, there is almost no point in checking your triggers, take my word for it - it includes all of them. Yes, all. This is easily the darkest world I have ever entered, please do not underestimate the depth of these books or you will be unpleasantly surprised.
Welcome to Whitlock - book 3 of the 24690 series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Incest, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Deportation
Conclave by Penelope Douglas
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? It's complicated
4.0
The Inmate by Freida McFadden
dark
emotional
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
5.0
Powerless by Elsie Silver
emotional
funny
reflective
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
4.25
See, I- ahhhhh. Hmm, it’s a hard one.
I really enjoyed the book; childhood crush is easily one of my favourite tropes. All the need, the betrayal, the hurt - I’ll eat up a childhood best friend to lovers every fucking time.
What made this iffy is the fact they wouldn’t properly talk… but it wasn’t miscommunication. Both characters have been hurt in the past but that quickly became an excuse that was used through out the book: ‘he can’t tell me how he feels but that’s okay because he’s been hurt before’ - like I get it, but at the same time if you truly love someone you'll be willing to dig deep and bring those feelings up… you get me? Rant over…
Both characters are very loveable. Sloane is a ballerina who gets pushed into a marriage that she doesn’t want to be in, causing her childhood best-friend, Jasper’s jealousy to spike.
Sloane is great honestly, she’s defensive, she’s loyal, she’s a proper sass bucket. And she’s addicted to crappy beer.
I’m not entirely sure how to feel about Jasper actually. Sure he’s cute and he does some loving things that turned me to mush. But… he annoyed me for literally no reason. Yeahhh, he didn’t exactly know that Sloane never got over her crush for him, but how fucking blind can you be dude?
… to be continued
I really enjoyed the book; childhood crush is easily one of my favourite tropes. All the need, the betrayal, the hurt - I’ll eat up a childhood best friend to lovers every fucking time.
What made this iffy is the fact they wouldn’t properly talk… but it wasn’t miscommunication. Both characters have been hurt in the past but that quickly became an excuse that was used through out the book: ‘he can’t tell me how he feels but that’s okay because he’s been hurt before’ - like I get it, but at the same time if you truly love someone you'll be willing to dig deep and bring those feelings up… you get me? Rant over…
Both characters are very loveable. Sloane is a ballerina who gets pushed into a marriage that she doesn’t want to be in, causing her childhood best-friend, Jasper’s jealousy to spike.
Sloane is great honestly, she’s defensive, she’s loyal, she’s a proper sass bucket. And she’s addicted to crappy beer.
I’m not entirely sure how to feel about Jasper actually. Sure he’s cute and he does some loving things that turned me to mush. But… he annoyed me for literally no reason. Yeahhh, he didn’t exactly know that Sloane never got over her crush for him, but how fucking blind can you be dude?
… to be continued