Twisted is book #4 in Emily Mcintire's Never After series; a forced marriage, age gap and enemies-to-lovers romance, and a fractured Aladdin fairytale-inspired novel.

I'm sure it was me, I haven't been in the right headspace for a while now. It took me more than a few chapters to be fully captived. But when it happened, there was no turning back. I was hooked!

Even if it's just a tiny bit, you will always find something, (e.g. a trait or an experience) to relate to Emily's characters.

Emily has a talent: making you fall in love with her morally grey characters, her villains so effortlessly. I admire the work she puts into her characters' arc/backstories.

Yasmin is the heiress to her family's/father's business: Sultans diamonds. And Julian is Yasmin's father's business partner/righthand-man.

Born with a silver spoon in her mouth, Yasmin lives a lavishing, sheltered life. Yet, Yasmin is not your typical "pampered princess"; she's not (too) spoiled or ignorant. She's well aware of what's happening in her family business, no matter how hard her father tries to keep her away. Yasmin can be seen as a people pleaser; more than anything, she wants to honour her father's wishes. Yasmin loves her father, and she would do anything for him, even sacrificing her own happiness. After all, she's a "daddy's girl".

Julian had a rough childhood; at a young age, he made a vow to become a successful, wealthy businessman, no matter the cost. Julian is ambitious and a master manipulator with careful planning (or more, like scheming) he made his way up through the ranks. Even though he doesn't like to admit it, Ali (Yasmin's father) is like a second father to Julian, a man he looks up to and a mentor.

I love how Yasmin's character truly shone when she was with Julian. She found her true self, she didn't have to put on a mask, a facade or conceal her emotions; Yasmin easily expressed herself. And Julian loved her fire, he immensely enjoyed pushing her, testing Yasmin's limits (because he simply can). The push and pull between them is amazing! The confusion they felt when it came to their emotions, realising that their marriage isn't "fake" anymore.

Julian had an internal war going on; his plans slowly shifted, and he started to care about Yasmin, yearning for her to choose him. And Yasmin, she was so torn between wanting her freedom or Julian, the man who is responsible for the situation she is in the first place.

Julian's dangerous nature and vulnerability and Yasmin's fieriness and loyalty, they a perfect combination, so right for each other. Overall, another great read!! Cannot wait for Crossed!!

**I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review

Content Warnings

Something Wilder by Christina Lauren

Go to review page

adventurous challenging emotional funny 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? No

5.0

My first Christina Lauren book and it most certainly won't be the last! I'm officially obsessed with their work! Until I read this book, I had no idea that Christina Lauren is an author duo. Although Something Wilder is a second chance romance, it's not your typical romance novel. It has a twist of adventure and treasure hunting, ranch girl/city boy and close proximity romance. Personally, sometimes I find it difficult to read from a third person's POV. However, reading this book, I didn't really notice it at all; I found it enjoyable to read. This book provided the escapism that I desperately needed.

The side characters though! I couldn't stop myself; some scenes were so, so funny! And when I reached a certain chapter, I was stunned by the turn of events! Some chapters were action-packed, and I felt an adrenaline rush when I read them; it kept me on edge. Personally, I would love to see Something Wilder adapted into a movie. Lily and Leo are similar and so different at the same time, they are perfect for each other. Neither of them couldn't commit to a serious relationship; it is hard to forget about your first and only love. For most of her life, Lily had a strained relationship with her father. And it was great to see Lily making peace with her past and father. Leo is such a sweetheart! He made his intentions to Lily clear: he wasn't going to make the same mistake twice; he wasn't going to leave Lily.

I don't want to give too many spoilers away. Lily is a tour guide; using her father's map (a well-known treasure hunter and archaeologist), with her best friend Nicole (as her only employee, she organizes "fake" treasure hunts. Leo is living a hectic life in Manhattan, New York; he's basically a workaholic. With his friends, they went on a quick getaway. And when they arrive at their destination, Leo is shocked to see a ghost from his past: Lily. A decade ago, Lily and Leo met at Lily's father's ranch: "The Wilder Ranch". Their relationship wasn't a "summer/holiday fling" Lily and Leo had hopes and dreams for their future, wanting to build a life together. However, life doesn't always go to plan.

Wretched by Emily McIntire

Go to review page

dark fast-paced

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

5.0

Emily never fails to deliver; I continue to fall in love with her characters and work every time I read her books! (It's so hard to decide my favourite characters or book(s)!) She's one of the few author's works where I can effortlessly finish reading in one sitting. And if there's an author who can successfully create and execute a storyline featuring a "female villain/villainess", of course, Emily Mcintire would be at the top of my list! But the steam and spice! I did not expect to see it happen so early on in the book. The Sugarlake series is one of my favourite series, but Emily's dark romances are something else!

I love the uniqueness of each book in this series. An enthralling storyline and "The Wizard of Oz" inspired fractured fairytale; I adore how smoothly Emily incorporates these references throughout the book. Wretched is a twist of bad girl/good boy, grumpy/sunshine; enemies with benefits, secret identity/undercover agent, organized crime and forbidden romance.

Our female MC, Eveline/Evie, is a complex, bold and badass character, yet, she's also loyal, fragile and has a vulnerable side. But make no mistake, you do not want to mess with her (she does have a *slight* temper). She is wickedly smart and intelligent, after all, Evie is the "brains" in her family. Her family's business wouldn't thrive or survive without her sharp intelligence. However, Evie doesn't get the recognition she deserves then again, she prefers to go unnoticed; she doesn't mind being in the shadows.

Nicholas/Nick's career is his life; he's the best in his field. However, Nick's latest assignment will test him by pushing him to the limits. Evie and Nick shouldn't be attracted to each other, especially when they easily aggravate each other. She has a "bleeding heart", and Nick is "heartless". Evie wants to be in control, and he willingly surrenders, well, sometimes.

Evie and Nick cannot deny the fact that they want each other desperately; the chemistry and intense tension between them is off the charts! Their banter, dialogues and innuendos, I enjoyed every second of it! And their tender moments... ahh... Nick might be "heartless", but he was such a romantic in those scenes. (The poetry he recited to Evie did it for me *swoon*)

**I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review

Content Warnings

Killing Sarai by J.A. Redmerski

Go to review page

adventurous dark medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

In the midst of criminals and assassins/killers without any qualms or morals, a twist of organized crime and suspense, there's Sarai. At the age of 14, Sarai's life drastically changed; her mother uprooted her life: moving from the US to live in Mexico. For 9 years, Sarai has been held captive by a ruthless, notorious drug lord. He claims "he loves her", but it's a sick, twisted obsession. One evening, Sarai discovered a way to escape; her saviour is not a "knight in shining armour" but a cold-blooded assassin. Sarai is aware of how dangerous Victor is: he is a killer. But she's desperate; after all, "desperate times calls for desperate measures".

A compelling, action-packed, and suspenseful story; the intensity of events was absolutely amazing! Sarai witnessed a lot of bloodshed, violence and criminal activity. She's desensitised to the atrocities committed in her environment; she adapted to her surroundings throughout the years. And she hates how she feels so numb and guilty about it.

Our (anti)hero, Victor, is a man of very few words, but you should never underestimate him. He is an intimidating, cold and calculating character. Victor has a lot of blood on his hands; he has no remorse or conscience. Or does he?

Despite living in fear amongst criminals for most of her life, Sarai surprisingly feels safe with Victor. She needs Victor's help; he is using Sarai as leverage. But somewhere along the way, it's not about escaping from her terrible situation or a mission for him anymore. Victor wants to help Sarai (even though he hates to admit it to himself), and she can't seem to help herself, Sarai is drawn to him, and she wants to stay and be with him. And deep down, she knows that she will never have a normal life again.

Although Victor's chapters are brief, I immensely enjoyed seeing his internal dialogues. His past is vague, I mean, there are little snippets but not enough to reveal his whole backstory. With her traumatic past, Sarai is like a ticking time bomb waiting to explode at any minute. Lurking beneath the surface, Sarai has a certain darkness; it's dormant, waiting to be unleashed. It's not "Stockholm syndrome" per se, yet under this unusual circumstance, Sarai and Victor's "unexpected relationship" begins to flourish, or more like a unique alliance is formed. Overall, I enjoyed the pace of this book. And yes, it does end on a cliffhanger. Bring on book #2!

Oceans of Us by Vanessa Luisa

Go to review page

emotional funny slow-paced

5.0

Oceans of Us is a standalone; angsty, steamy father's best friend, age gap and forbidden romance. There's also a combination of other elements: grumpy/sunshine, "good girl/bad boy", forced proximity/next-door neighbour and slow burn. The prologue begins in the future, however, the first few chapters are set in the past. I enjoyed reading Merciful Vows, but I *think* it's safe to say that Oceans of Us is my favorite (so far) from the lovely Vanessa Luisa's work.

This book is an epic masterpiece, and it blew me away how I instantly fell in love with the storyline. Oceans of Us is a beautifully written, bittersweet, emotional and touching read. An unputdownable read, and as the storyline started to unfold, I became obsessed with this book. I was overwhelmed with emotions: I laughed, and from time to time I was a bit teary; my heart soared and broke at the same time. Vanessa Luisa is the queen of angst and emotional romances. It's definitely a must-read!

It's a story about two people who carry a heavy load on their shoulders: dealing with guilt, grief, loneliness and their demons in their own unique ways; looking for someone to lean on, a person who will understand them without any judgements. A person who will truly see them; see through the cracks of their facades. Where they can be raw, open, and free to be their "true self"; by showing their invisible wounds and vulnerable side. Paisley and Saint are two lost, broken souls recognizing one another, finding solace in each others' arms, creating a strong connection emotionally. They brought out the very best in each other; they uplifted and motivated one another when things got tough or when they needed it the most.

Usually, it's difficult for me to relate to a character, yet, I couldn't believe how easily I found myself relating to some aspects of the heroine, Paisley's character so early on. And Vanessa, I applauded you thank you, for creating a lovely, relatable character. And Saint! I sure do love a tattooed, grumpy "bad boy"! Saint is dangerously alluring and mysterious, and he's a character where you *desperately* want to know more about. And beneath his unbreakable rough, bad boy exterior lies a flawed, broken, compassionate, gentle and caring person; Saint has a big heart, and he's a romantic *swoon*. I loved seeing their relationship evolve from hate to love. Despite getting on the wrong foot, Paisley and Saint slowly started to see each other in a new light. And as I turned each page, Saint's and Paisley's character unravelled a bit more, and their characters developed outstandingly. And their interactions! It was heartwarming, heart-clenching and downright steamy; the intense tension between them was palpable.

Ever since their first "not so friendly" encounter: Saint stepping on Paisley's flowers ignited a never-ending standoff and war between them. Hence, they *sort of* became each others' nemesis, rubbing each other the wrong way. Saint may be her father's best friend, but he easily got on her nerves. And Paisley's positive, caring and nurturing nature annoyed the hell out of Saint. They are completely opposite each other: Paisley, the "quiet good girl" who lives by and follow the rules, and Saint, the "broody bad boy" who hates rules but immensely enjoys breaking them. Paisley is mature for her age: she's self-conscious, shy and reversed; Paisley doesn't easily express her emotions and she can be seen as a loner. Paisley has two passions: poetry and flower gardening; she enjoys tending her flowers. But, whenever Saint was around, she turned into a different person; he brought out her feisty, bold side; Paisley wasn't afraid to speak her mind, voicing her concerns and opinions as well as asking questions. And her feelings of hate for Saint changed, developing into a crush. Each day she became more curious about him, wanting to know his deepest, darkest secrets, to find out what Saint is hiding. The feeling is mutual; Saint is aware that Paisley is "off-limits", but he can't help himself, he wants to unravel Paisley.

Content Warnings

Collide by Piper Lawson

Go to review page

adventurous dark medium-paced

5.0

Collide is book #2 in the Off the Limits trilogy. From the very beginning up until the very end, it was a raw emotional bumpy ride. As Olivia navigated her forbidden relationship with Sawyer, she was also trying to find her footing in the world, making her own way. Olivia is a determined, bright and driven female MC; she's passionate about her field of study. And Sawyer encouraged and motivated her every step of the way, he boosted her confidence and cheered her on.

Ahh!! I was so happy to see, Harrison and Rae are one of my favourite fictional couples (The Enemies series' main characters) making a cameo appearance. Phew! The steam in this book hit the roof! I mean, Sawyer did continue on with his "private lessons" with Olivia. He pushed Olivia to the limits pushing her outside of her comfort zone, and this terrified and excited her at the same time. Sawyer, Sawyer! He slowly opened up to Olivia; he finally told her that he wanted so much more, revealing his feelings for her. He truly cares about her and wants Olivia to succeed, to reach for the stars. Olivia has strong feelings for Sawyer, but she was scared to acknowledge them or more like to say them out loud. Piper!! The ending! My gosh! It was so unexpected!! Can't wait to read the final installment "Crave".

A shocking revelation from Sawyer's past tore their relationship apart. Feeling hurt and confused, Olivia doesn't know what to believe or do. She's conflicted, and despite everything, she still wants Sawyer, but he won't let his guard down and let her in. Sawyer realized the *big* mistake he made, and he wants Olivia's forgiveness; he misses what they had; he misses Olivia. So, Olivia and Sawyer decided on a different approach to their "secret relationship": "no feelings" involved for Olivia and "exclusive" for Sawyer. Olivia's family/home life is a constant battle. And she turns to the one person who can ease her pain: Sawyer. Sawyer is the only person who understands her; he believes in her. Just as everything started going in the right direction, it took a wrong turn. Now, Olivia's and Sawyer's future hangs in the balance.

Jaime's Vengeance by Elizabella Baker

Go to review page

challenging funny tense fast-paced

5.0

"Jaime's Vengeance" is book #5 in the Charlie Team series; this book is Jaime and Kade's story. Kade is the "last remaining bachelor"; while his teammates found their significant others, he has yet to find his "partner in crime". Kade doesn't mind the single life, however, seeing his friends' happiness (even though he doesn't like to admit it) made him realize that he wants to settle down. Jaime is on a path of destruction, and she has one thing on her mind: vengeance. And unfortunately, indirectly, Kade is a part of her plan. I love how the book title of Elizabella's work plays a major role in her novels tying into the story so well. I enjoyed the pace of this novel; from the very first page, it was action-packed, and this pace continued on throughout the book. A combination of forced proximity/stuck together, romantic suspense and action. And as always, I loved the team's friendly banter! And Wes!! Ahh... I'm so curious about the big grumpy teddy bear boss; I'm dying to know his backstory! And I cannot wait to read his book!

Despite the course of action she took, (yes, it was wrong, but she had her reasons), Jaime is a likeable character. Just like the colour of her hair colour, Jaime is a feisty, independent and sassy red headed female MC. And like a moth to a flame, Kade loves the way she burns, unable to stay away despite getting burned. They did hit it off on their first encounter, but afterwards, it sort of went downhill. Kade was kidnapped, and Jaime was one of the people behind his kidnapping. Kade shouldn't be attracted to her; Jaime challenged him in so many ways. The feeling is mutual; it's not one-sided. For years, Jaime has been carefully setting her plan, and with Kade coming into the picture, she's about the risk of all the progress she made so far. And somehow, they both managed to break down each others' defences. Jaime's plan intertwines with Kade's team's mission: they have a common enemy they want to bring down.

Content Warnings

More...

em_thebookish_girl's reviews 225 reviews

em_thebookish_girl's reviews
225 reviews