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enchantingreads_rosyreviews's reviews
85 reviews
Written By A Woman by Andrea Andersen
Andrea back at it again with another winner! Her romances are simple, easy to enjoy, filled with hilariously quirky moments & her characters are wonderfully authentic. This one is a true slow burn (there's so much pining... and a little bit of family meddling), but trust me the waiting pays off... big time.š
And can we talk about Zaid for a second? Because this man is swoony with a capital āSā (plus he has some very surprising interests that are guaranteed to make you chuckle). He does research to make himself more appealing to his work crush with door leans, forearms, a mask, & sweatpants.
There are so many moments in this book that are amazing, itās impossible to express how entertaining this workplace romance is in just a few sentences. So I will say: Zaid is a swoon-worthy MMC & Signe is a confidently hilarious FMC (plus the side characters are fan-freaking-tastic). Such a great story!
funny
lighthearted
reflective
slow-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
4.5
Ok, so the shock value of finding out the employee you have a crush on is writing a romance novel is one thing, but then to find out her male lead looks exactly like you? What a story concept & Andrea delivered on every embarrassing, yet hilarious, moment.
"I had no words. Signe Lange, the woman who starred in an embarrassing number of my late-night fantasies, wrote a romance novel about me. My brain felt like it was short-circuiting."
Andrea back at it again with another winner! Her romances are simple, easy to enjoy, filled with hilariously quirky moments & her characters are wonderfully authentic. This one is a true slow burn (there's so much pining... and a little bit of family meddling), but trust me the waiting pays off... big time.š
"'Iām just a girl,' I whined, 'Iām not meant for so much walking.'
'Next time weāll bring a little red wagon to drag you around in. Iām sure Zeki wouldnāt mind if you borrowed his,' Zaid winked, and the action made my heart skip a beat. Perhaps it was also due to the grey sweatpants he was wearing, but I had a feeling I would react viscerally any time Zaid Ansara winked at me."
And can we talk about Zaid for a second? Because this man is swoony with a capital āSā (plus he has some very surprising interests that are guaranteed to make you chuckle). He does research to make himself more appealing to his work crush with door leans, forearms, a mask, & sweatpants.
"I then glanced around my desk space, realizing that I couldnāt do the type of casual doorframe lean that I also read about online. I could use the back of my chair, but that had wheels, and knowing me I would likely slip and land on my ass. I decided I would simply stand tall with my arms crossed casually... Plus, this brought attention to my exposed forearms again. I glanced down and flexed them a little, hoping that they looked as good as women on the internet claimed about good forearms."
There are so many moments in this book that are amazing, itās impossible to express how entertaining this workplace romance is in just a few sentences. So I will say: Zaid is a swoon-worthy MMC & Signe is a confidently hilarious FMC (plus the side characters are fan-freaking-tastic). Such a great story!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Cursing
Whispers of Deception: Marriage of Convenience Dark Romance by K.T. Maddan
Who knew our baby boy Ethan was so bad?! Who else gets *pew pew-ed* & immediately after healing goes in search of the woman who caused his injury to marry her? Ethan MFāing Thornwood, thatās who. Honestly, I was hesitant to read this because we didnāt like the FMC {I mean, she hurt our baby boy Ethan}, but Katie gives Lila some redemption so weāre shipping the newest Thornwood wife. This story includes many common dark romance themes, so please check your warnings & if youāre a fan of this genre, youāll love this too. I think my favorite part of this story is how complete it felt. Weāve spent 2 books with these characters & in this world, so this truly felt like tying a bow on this seriesā¦ a true conclusion. The doors remain open for more stories, but this story is guaranteed to leave the reader satisfied.
I felt like Katie did a great job tying off this series while still creating yet another unique story in the Whispers Trilogy. There are still more stories to tell (& I'm super excited to see how other characters we've met will develop as we expand this world), but this ending is sure to leave you satisfied.
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Not gonna lie, it's very difficult to pick quotes from this book that don't spoil the story and are "community guidelines" compliant. Which, in my book, means the story is that much more entertaining. Profanity and darkness and juicy story detail? Yes, please! That being said, this story is much darker than the others, in my opinion, & completely falls in line with more traditional dark romance themes. In fact I would say book 1 is a small town/ranch romance with darker themes, book 2 is a darker romcom with "underworld/family organizations" & heist themes, so book 3 is a dark romance that brings the series conclusion.
"'Five hundred and seventy-nine days since you tried to stop my beating heart. But having you here, itās pounding just trying to get out; to bleed again for you.'ā
Who knew our baby boy Ethan was so bad?! Who else gets *pew pew-ed* & immediately after healing goes in search of the woman who caused his injury to marry her? Ethan MFāing Thornwood, thatās who. Honestly, I was hesitant to read this because we didnāt like the FMC {I mean, she hurt our baby boy Ethan}, but Katie gives Lila some redemption so weāre shipping the newest Thornwood wife. This story includes many common dark romance themes, so please check your warnings & if youāre a fan of this genre, youāll love this too. I think my favorite part of this story is how complete it felt. Weāve spent 2 books with these characters & in this world, so this truly felt like tying a bow on this seriesā¦ a true conclusion. The doors remain open for more stories, but this story is guaranteed to leave the reader satisfied.
"She deserves to know that she is the only person for me, the only one I truly desire. My past with Aria and Matt is special in its own way, but itās nothing compared to the euphoria her existence brings to mine. She revived me. When my darkness wanted to swallow me whole, she showed me her delicate light, and I devoured it whole so she could shine brightly inside of me. I donāt believe in soulmates, never have, but I do believe that Lila is the vessel in which my soul lives."
I felt like Katie did a great job tying off this series while still creating yet another unique story in the Whispers Trilogy. There are still more stories to tell (& I'm super excited to see how other characters we've met will develop as we expand this world), but this ending is sure to leave you satisfied.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Stalking
Moderate: Cursing, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Blood, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, and Pregnancy
Minor: Animal death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Grief, and Alcohol
This is a dark romance, true to its genre. So the spice? Dark. The plot? Dark. The characters? Dark and carrying a bunch of red flags. Please make sure this story is suitable for you.
Arranged Vacancy by Irene Bahrd
This is such a surprising story from Irene since it departs from her usual āparodyā style, but I really liked it! When she told us her newest series would be a contemporary romance with a political twist, I genuinely didnāt know what to expect. So consider me pleasantly shocked when the story began to mirror the current political election in the U.S. Whether Irene can predict the future or not, I always appreciate a MMC who admires the FMC so much, heās genuinely supportive of her having more political power than him. Itās the ultimate definition of an equal partner & we LOVE THAT!
But even if you arenāt a huge political nerd like I am, youāre sure to like this story between its plethora of āmy wifeā statements or the mysterious āfamily donationsā to campaigns (hint, hint; wink, wink) in an effort to sway candidates.
This book feels inspired by women like Hillary Clinton with a dash of Shonda Rimes' Scandal (but not as dramatic... yet) & somewhat mirroring the current political climate. However, underneath all of these outside influences, this is a fun contemporary romance story & an entertaining read.
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
"'Your only flaw is that you were born for greatness but are settling for less than you deserve.'"
This is such a surprising story from Irene since it departs from her usual āparodyā style, but I really liked it! When she told us her newest series would be a contemporary romance with a political twist, I genuinely didnāt know what to expect. So consider me pleasantly shocked when the story began to mirror the current political election in the U.S. Whether Irene can predict the future or not, I always appreciate a MMC who admires the FMC so much, heās genuinely supportive of her having more political power than him. Itās the ultimate definition of an equal partner & we LOVE THAT!
"'The game has changed, my little wife; this isn't pretend anymore. I know you feel this between us. You're mine as much as I'm yours. I'm not going to stand by and be happy that you're on my brother's arm. Because in the end, you know it'll be you and me.'"
But even if you arenāt a huge political nerd like I am, youāre sure to like this story between its plethora of āmy wifeā statements or the mysterious āfamily donationsā to campaigns (hint, hint; wink, wink) in an effort to sway candidates.
"We've all been meticulous about out public personas to ensure we'd be the picturesque wives to Senators and Governors. Educated, but not opinionated. Feminine, but not too delicate. Social, but always keeping secrets guarded."
This book feels inspired by women like Hillary Clinton with a dash of Shonda Rimes' Scandal (but not as dramatic... yet) & somewhat mirroring the current political climate. However, underneath all of these outside influences, this is a fun contemporary romance story & an entertaining read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing and Sexual content
That Sik Luv by Jescie Hall
I didnāt know much about this story going into it. I read Hawke by the author & everyone raved about this one, so I picked it up. The duet audio performance was incredible in bringing these words to life! This is a dark one, like with a capital "D" but itās also a beautiful one. Heartbreaking at times, edge-of-your-seat suspenseful at others, and always well-written. Fans of dark romance with a splash of crazy, some effed-up misogyny & an unhinged kind of āsikā love, then this is definitely the read for you!
This was my darkest romance read thus far, but I knew I could trust Jescieās beautiful writing. On the surface, this is a book about exploring desire, escaping oppression (mainly religious), and getting revenge. Thatās completely true, this book contains the dark versions of all those themes. I mean it, this book is dark and true to its genre. But what I loved about Jescieās writing were the layers of storytelling she gave us. There was mystery, a heist of sorts, assassin/hitman-style of revenge, a twisted love story, and discovering oneself.
And I have to say: if Chapters 54/55 of ACOMAF are the āultimate, drop the micā chapters for romantasy fans, then That Sik Luvās Chapters 43/44 are the dark romance equivalent. Seriously! āWorthā and āAbstract Loveā are poetic, tragic, emotional, beautiful, and unfortunately a representative experience for too many people. The audio performance during these chapters was incredible. And Jescie Hall's words are spectacular. Bravo!
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-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
4.0
"Her understanding of love is entirely different from mine. Her lens, through which she sees the world around her is warped, in my opinion. But to her, my lens is a direct reflection of the pain Iāve yet to surrender. 'Some would call me broken... but Iāve never known anything other than the comfort of my pieces.'ā
I didnāt know much about this story going into it. I read Hawke by the author & everyone raved about this one, so I picked it up. The duet audio performance was incredible in bringing these words to life! This is a dark one, like with a capital "D" but itās also a beautiful one. Heartbreaking at times, edge-of-your-seat suspenseful at others, and always well-written. Fans of dark romance with a splash of crazy, some effed-up misogyny & an unhinged kind of āsikā love, then this is definitely the read for you!
āI donāt expect a simplistic love with Aero. It will never be normal, just as it shouldnāt. Itās complicated. Itās an abstract piece thatās painted with harsh strokes of pain, jarring splashes of deception, and obscene colors that scream in the face of injustice. I shouldnāt need to change him, and honestly, I donāt want to. But what I desire more than anything is an alignment of souls set in our own unbreakable bond.ā
This was my darkest romance read thus far, but I knew I could trust Jescieās beautiful writing. On the surface, this is a book about exploring desire, escaping oppression (mainly religious), and getting revenge. Thatās completely true, this book contains the dark versions of all those themes. I mean it, this book is dark and true to its genre. But what I loved about Jescieās writing were the layers of storytelling she gave us. There was mystery, a heist of sorts, assassin/hitman-style of revenge, a twisted love story, and discovering oneself.
And I have to say: if Chapters 54/55 of ACOMAF are the āultimate, drop the micā chapters for romantasy fans, then That Sik Luvās Chapters 43/44 are the dark romance equivalent. Seriously! āWorthā and āAbstract Loveā are poetic, tragic, emotional, beautiful, and unfortunately a representative experience for too many people. The audio performance during these chapters was incredible. And Jescie Hall's words are spectacular. Bravo!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Kidnapping, and Stalking
Minor: Bullying, Drug use, Hate crime, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Abandonment
This is a DARK book about taking down a religious cult society using dark methods. Please read the content warnings on the author's website or in the book itself.
The Hookup Type by Brittany Wilson
Any millennial who thrived in the mid-2010s must read this book. The music references from 2015/2016 alone are guaranteed to have you in your feels. But really, if one of your favorite shows was Greek, then this is totally the book for you (even though it's not centered on college greek life).
THIS. BOOK. IS. SO. FUN! I genuinely didnāt know what to expect since this was my first experience with Brittany, but I am so happy to have found her! Thereās so much in this story that youāre guaranteed to fall in love with the characters sheās created for us. This book is college romance at its finest: small college town, bar crawls, celebrating minor holidays in big ways, drunken confessions, attending class & doing homework (yeah, yāall are at school after all), characters running on coffee & booze, going home after semester finals & spring break. Brittany really transports her readers to the stereotypical college world but offers us a fresh story with interesting characters.
There will be times when Jaxon & Maci will make you mad because theyāre acting foolish, but stick with them, because theyāre so lovable. Sometimes you might want to smack them upside their heads, but isnāt that the mark of a great story? When you are so invested you're literally sitting up & shaking your head in frustration because these fools canāt see whatās right in front of their faces? No? Just me? Well, I really liked this story.
Overall, this book is a fun time, will leave you unable to see Fun Dip the same way & youāll be eager to see how the story continues in book 2 (this is a multi-arc series, so there isnāt a cliffhanger ending, but the story isnāt completeā¦ yet). (And do yourself a favor & read Brittanyās acknowledgements at the end of the book because youāll get an idea about her plan for this series... and youāll love her even more.)
funny
lighthearted
slow-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
4.25
"Who needed caffeine when you had a half-naked Jaxon Hayes to hug you from behind? Fuck Folgers. I would take this every morning from here on out."
Any millennial who thrived in the mid-2010s must read this book. The music references from 2015/2016 alone are guaranteed to have you in your feels. But really, if one of your favorite shows was Greek, then this is totally the book for you (even though it's not centered on college greek life).
"It was hard not to get turned on when Maci challenged me. She never hesitated to call me out, which was something I wasnāt used to unless it was coming from one of the guys. Sure, broads had called me names, screamed in my face, and even threatened to run me over with their car. But when words left Maciās mouth, they held a different meaning."
THIS. BOOK. IS. SO. FUN! I genuinely didnāt know what to expect since this was my first experience with Brittany, but I am so happy to have found her! Thereās so much in this story that youāre guaranteed to fall in love with the characters sheās created for us. This book is college romance at its finest: small college town, bar crawls, celebrating minor holidays in big ways, drunken confessions, attending class & doing homework (yeah, yāall are at school after all), characters running on coffee & booze, going home after semester finals & spring break. Brittany really transports her readers to the stereotypical college world but offers us a fresh story with interesting characters.
"All the time I spent away from him made it clear how much I depended on him to show up for me. I needed him in a way that scared me and overwhelmed me with the fear of losing him."
There will be times when Jaxon & Maci will make you mad because theyāre acting foolish, but stick with them, because theyāre so lovable. Sometimes you might want to smack them upside their heads, but isnāt that the mark of a great story? When you are so invested you're literally sitting up & shaking your head in frustration because these fools canāt see whatās right in front of their faces? No? Just me? Well, I really liked this story.
"I wasnāt sure how to be anything other than a one-night-stand kind of guy. I had worked through so many girls that I had no idea what number I was even on. I didnāt even know if I could be loyal to just one person for an extended period of time. But I knew if there was one girl I would try it for, it was the one I had thought about every single day since she sat next to me in class."
Overall, this book is a fun time, will leave you unable to see Fun Dip the same way & youāll be eager to see how the story continues in book 2 (this is a multi-arc series, so there isnāt a cliffhanger ending, but the story isnāt completeā¦ yet). (And do yourself a favor & read Brittanyās acknowledgements at the end of the book because youāll get an idea about her plan for this series... and youāll love her even more.)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Alcohol
Moderate: Cursing
Minor: Infidelity and Sexual assault
The story focuses on a male main character & his friend who are "hookup" guys (i.e., they sleep around without commitment). While that's not infidelity per se, it's not not cheating either. And, a side character talks about an instance when she didn't want to be intimate with partner after they had already started, but no one stopped. While this is not described on page, the instance makes her uncomfortable when she tells other characters about it.
Kuxtal Academy: The Beginning by Mikayla D. Hornedo
Thereās either too much I wanna say about how much I love this book (which would spoil it) or there arenāt words to accurately describe how much I love it (because itās too epic for mere words). In any case, this book is pure magic and Iām obsessed with the world Nelle and Mikayla have created for us! Firstly, I super appreciate the nonchalant diversity in a couple of regards: the diverse use of mythology inspiration (we really donāt read a lot of Mayan-inspired stories) and the diversity of the characters (yes, theyāre diverse, but itās so not a big deal, itās just life in Inechaā¦ which is kinda beautiful in an āidealistic worldā kind of way). And the characters are beautifully complex, deliciously morally grey, and wonderfully representative of so many. Thereās a bit of mystery in this story, an in-depth introduction of the world (without being overwhelming by info-dumping all over us), two unique budding love stories, an intriguing criminal underworld element, and cinematic elements that will have you petitioning studios to make this into a series! This book is justā¦ WOW. Simply Amazing!
And, I want to quickly rave about the authors. I genuinely don't know how you go about writing a book with another person, but these ladies did it beautifully because there wasn't any point that tripped me up while reading. Nelle is an author I've already been a fan of (her State of the Union series is seriously every single thing I love in movies/shows) & I've been obsessing over her world & gently threatening her in her DMs to not "unalive" my babies. Plus, I've lovingly harassed her with my theories & it really bothers me that my last attempt was "ice cold," because I'm usually not so far off... I'm working on it, girl, I swear. š¤ But this was my first experience reading & interacting with Mikayla & I love her so much too! (Girl, I can't believe you don't visualize the scenes you read because they literally play like a movie in my head. But maybe that's why your writing is so descriptive, you literally have to build the scene with words.) Thank you for writing Mira so beautifully. As a fellow anxious girlie, her experience felt authentic, even though mine differs from hers in some ways.
After growing up in and around Hispanic communities & taking a couple of Latin American history courses in college, Mayan culture has always captivated my attention, but there isn't a lot of representation in the entertainment world, so I haven't kept up with it. Nelle & Mikayla take a lesser-known mythology, place it in the modern era, & introduce us to their inspired version. Well done ladies! Y'all already know how much I loved (& needed) escaping into this world, so thanks! You're great. š
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
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? It's complicated
5.0
"'I believe that by pretending our history doesn't exist, we're asking for it to be repeated. No one, government officials or otherwise, should have that power.'"
Thereās either too much I wanna say about how much I love this book (which would spoil it) or there arenāt words to accurately describe how much I love it (because itās too epic for mere words). In any case, this book is pure magic and Iām obsessed with the world Nelle and Mikayla have created for us! Firstly, I super appreciate the nonchalant diversity in a couple of regards: the diverse use of mythology inspiration (we really donāt read a lot of Mayan-inspired stories) and the diversity of the characters (yes, theyāre diverse, but itās so not a big deal, itās just life in Inechaā¦ which is kinda beautiful in an āidealistic worldā kind of way). And the characters are beautifully complex, deliciously morally grey, and wonderfully representative of so many. Thereās a bit of mystery in this story, an in-depth introduction of the world (without being overwhelming by info-dumping all over us), two unique budding love stories, an intriguing criminal underworld element, and cinematic elements that will have you petitioning studios to make this into a series! This book is justā¦ WOW. Simply Amazing!
"When I ran my gaze over him this time, I saw so much more. Someone who could pull me back when I was about to spiral, someone who didn't care that my mental health was less than average on a good day. A man who embraced my imperfections and helped me when I needed it. I wanted to give him everything. I wanted to let him fill every empty space in my being. But I just... couldn't. Even when he said things like that. How could I give him such a broken gift?
'Thank you,' I whispered."
And, I want to quickly rave about the authors. I genuinely don't know how you go about writing a book with another person, but these ladies did it beautifully because there wasn't any point that tripped me up while reading. Nelle is an author I've already been a fan of (her State of the Union series is seriously every single thing I love in movies/shows) & I've been obsessing over her world & gently threatening her in her DMs to not "unalive" my babies. Plus, I've lovingly harassed her with my theories & it really bothers me that my last attempt was "ice cold," because I'm usually not so far off... I'm working on it, girl, I swear. š¤ But this was my first experience reading & interacting with Mikayla & I love her so much too! (Girl, I can't believe you don't visualize the scenes you read because they literally play like a movie in my head. But maybe that's why your writing is so descriptive, you literally have to build the scene with words.) Thank you for writing Mira so beautifully. As a fellow anxious girlie, her experience felt authentic, even though mine differs from hers in some ways.
"Koa's jaw ticked, and I tried to stop laughing at my brother's jealousy but failed... Sienna raised her hand as Koa moved toward her. 'Do you know how many people have let me know they've fucked you since seeing us together? There are at least fifty people coming to me as a woman in my DMs right now. Please calm down.'"
After growing up in and around Hispanic communities & taking a couple of Latin American history courses in college, Mayan culture has always captivated my attention, but there isn't a lot of representation in the entertainment world, so I haven't kept up with it. Nelle & Mikayla take a lesser-known mythology, place it in the modern era, & introduce us to their inspired version. Well done ladies! Y'all already know how much I loved (& needed) escaping into this world, so thanks! You're great. š
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Grief, Alcohol, and Classism
Moderate: Death, Drug use, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Torture, Kidnapping, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment
This story follows morally grey MMCs running in the same circles as organizations operating in the criminal underworld... so it gets sketchy. But the majority of the book focuses on other areas, so it's not a full "dark" read.
What Happens in Paris by Ally Williams
Ally delivers another fantastic romance with her newest addition to the Love & City Lights series. This one brings us first to Costa Rica and then to the "city of love" itself, Paris. There were times when I was so angry at Ollie for being such a blind fool and other times when Steph's questioning of her self-worth made me want to say "oh, honey." But throw in hilariously inappropriate jokes, a character that I'm naming "Termite Tour Guide Brandon," French language fails & furniture building frustrations and this book is sure to keep you entertained. Each of the stories in this series are completely unique, but it's easy to root for the couples Ally creates for us. I really liked Ollie & Steph's story!
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-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
"We were friends before, nothing more, nothing less. But since then, we've become closer in baby steps, from only speaking during parties, to trading the occasional meme, to hanging out intentionally, to confiding in each other. I thought we were both clear on that night. It was her birthday, and I was available. But now she likes it when I call her Wildflower. And I kind of want to keep calling her that."
If youāre looking for a realistic romance with a touch of Parisian magic, then Ollie & Stephās story is for you. But this story is so much more than navigating the murky waters of removing the benefits option from a āfriends with benefitsā dynamic. Ally always delivers a little extra heart in her romance stories and this one respectfully tackles ADHD representation from the POV of someone with a childhood diagnosis & someone with an adult diagnosis. Our FMC also goes on a journey to discover her self-worth, which is inspiring. Thereās also inappropriate jokes, sketches of her through his eyes, a lovable cat, spicy times, Costa Rican forests (including sloths), Parisian sunrises AND sunsets, margs with the girls & so much more. This is a wonderful story about finding the ābig loveā of your life.
"I'm once again floored at the man sitting in front of me. When I'm too tired, he reads me the menu. When I have to work, he has no qualms entertaining himself. When he knows I'll be hungry, he brings snacks. And he draws a version of me that's so obviously me, yet so much more beautiful than I am in real life. He sees the version of me I've always wanted to be."
Ally delivers another fantastic romance with her newest addition to the Love & City Lights series. This one brings us first to Costa Rica and then to the "city of love" itself, Paris. There were times when I was so angry at Ollie for being such a blind fool and other times when Steph's questioning of her self-worth made me want to say "oh, honey." But throw in hilariously inappropriate jokes, a character that I'm naming "Termite Tour Guide Brandon," French language fails & furniture building frustrations and this book is sure to keep you entertained. Each of the stories in this series are completely unique, but it's easy to root for the couples Ally creates for us. I really liked Ollie & Steph's story!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Alcohol
A Wrecking of Salt and Fire by E.K Condos
This truly felt like if Pirates of the Caribbean (with a dash of Killian āHookā Jones from Once Upon a Time & Damon Salvatoreās dreamy self) mixed with Greek Gods & Mythology. Itās an extremely fast-paced magical romantasy that will reel you in from the beginning. I was yelling at characters, swooning over others, & audibly gasped in several places. Emilyās writing, mainly her descriptive detail, on-point theming to the region, & complex character profiles, is exemplary! When she writes about someone feeling anguish, I can feel it. When she describes someone awaking from nightmares that continue to plague their mind, I feel like Iām reliving that traumatic experience. Her strong female leads are ones to admire & her male leads are equally strong & swoony. Plus, all of her characters are so emotionally complex that peeling back the layers & diving into their motivations & backgrounds is guaranteed to keep you reading. I absolutely loved this incredible journey across the seas, inspired by Greek mythology, & showcasing inner-strength after trauma.
There's so much I want to say, but I know I'll spoil something in this richly complex story & I definitely don't want to do that. But I will say this. If you like Damon Salvatore and Killian "Hook" Jones? You'll like a certain pirate in this book. If you like Homer's Illiad & The Odyssey tales or Greek mythology in general? Then you'll love this high seas adventure. If you love an unrequited love story, complex characters, overcoming trauma, romantasy themes, twists & turns, swoony male characters (and a few disgusting men too), strong AF female characters, an adorable (yet deadly) fluffy white cat & an action-packed story? Then you MUST read this book. Emily knocked it out of the park with her debut & this is a FANTASTIC read.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
āNo one should ever feel shame over the pain others inflict on them. The person who did thisā¦ they were small. They needed to see pain in others to ease their own. That is never acceptable. Never the answerā¦ Donāt cry, Princessā¦ The ones who cause us the most pain are rarely ever worth our tears.ā
This truly felt like if Pirates of the Caribbean (with a dash of Killian āHookā Jones from Once Upon a Time & Damon Salvatoreās dreamy self) mixed with Greek Gods & Mythology. Itās an extremely fast-paced magical romantasy that will reel you in from the beginning. I was yelling at characters, swooning over others, & audibly gasped in several places. Emilyās writing, mainly her descriptive detail, on-point theming to the region, & complex character profiles, is exemplary! When she writes about someone feeling anguish, I can feel it. When she describes someone awaking from nightmares that continue to plague their mind, I feel like Iām reliving that traumatic experience. Her strong female leads are ones to admire & her male leads are equally strong & swoony. Plus, all of her characters are so emotionally complex that peeling back the layers & diving into their motivations & backgrounds is guaranteed to keep you reading. I absolutely loved this incredible journey across the seas, inspired by Greek mythology, & showcasing inner-strength after trauma.
"'...I look at you and my world disappears into nothing but the damning echo of your heartbeatāhow it calls to me even in a dreamless sleep... You say you can't say no to me. I can't hear no from you.'"
There's so much I want to say, but I know I'll spoil something in this richly complex story & I definitely don't want to do that. But I will say this. If you like Damon Salvatore and Killian "Hook" Jones? You'll like a certain pirate in this book. If you like Homer's Illiad & The Odyssey tales or Greek mythology in general? Then you'll love this high seas adventure. If you love an unrequited love story, complex characters, overcoming trauma, romantasy themes, twists & turns, swoony male characters (and a few disgusting men too), strong AF female characters, an adorable (yet deadly) fluffy white cat & an action-packed story? Then you MUST read this book. Emily knocked it out of the park with her debut & this is a FANTASTIC read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Rape
Moderate: Confinement, Cursing, Drug use, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Torture, and Alcohol
Minor: Death, Sexual assault, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Murder, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
The FMC was abducted, raped & her and a few other characters talk about being tortured. While the descriptions aren't too graphic, they continue to haunt these characters throughout the story.
Undecided Heiress by Irene Bahrd
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
"'You literally just told me that youād ruin the author's work to be with me. While I appreciate the book boyfriend energy, this isnāt a dark romance, James. Itās a cosy Regency drama where they fall in love after pretending to be together in a fake relationship.'
'Then, pretend to be with me. If thatās what it takes to get us out of this nightmare, Iāll take it.'ā
š
After that criminal cliffhanger, I have been waiting to dive back into this world again and Act 2 did not disappoint! When you realize you & a hot gentleman have been having the same spicy Regency ādreamā about one another, you simply must jump back into the book to find the proper Happily Ever Afterā¦ right? Irene took us on a creative ride with this second act & I was absolutely here for it! Thereās so much packed in this novella & you may rethink story outline when you pick up your next favorite bookā¦ who knows you just might wake up one day having fallen into its pages as the main character?
š
After that criminal cliffhanger, I have been waiting to dive back into this world again and Act 2 did not disappoint! When you realize you & a hot gentleman have been having the same spicy Regency ādreamā about one another, you simply must jump back into the book to find the proper Happily Ever Afterā¦ right? Irene took us on a creative ride with this second act & I was absolutely here for it! Thereās so much packed in this novella & you may rethink story outline when you pick up your next favorite bookā¦ who knows you just might wake up one day having fallen into its pages as the main character?
š
āāDream or not,ā her voice pulls my attention from the phone, āheās real and wants to see you. Whatās the worst that could happen? He murders you? You could always go to his place and send me the location. If I donāt hear from you in a few hours, Iāll send the police. If he comes by your place, you donāt have an exit. He may eat your face off if heās a cannibal.ā
Itās not the worst idea going to him. āAt least I wouldnāt have to clean my flat.ā
āAttagirl! Thereās the spirit!āā
š
I guarantee, youāve never read something quite like this before. Irene puts her own classic spin on the āoh no, Iāve suddenly become a part of my favorite fictional story!ā And itās fantastic.
š
āāAnna, this is all make believe; a fantasy. When we wake up, I need to be sure youāre still in our world. Story be damnedā¦ It may be a dream, but I canāt lose you.ā ... We may not be real, but I refuse to believe this is the end. Sheās mine.ā
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing and Sexual content
The Highland Escape by Emily Silver
From the very beginning, I was reeled into this story. Kirby & Callum start off down on their luck; literally everything in their lives has fallen apart & both are looking for new purpose or a fresh start. The banter between them is fantastic & there will be many scenes that will make you smile. If that wasnāt enough, his mum humbles Callum in hilarious ways, thereās weird animals, & small-town vibes where everyone is in your business because theyāre your adoptive aunts & uncles. The relationship in this romance is borderline cinematic & this story is a beautiful love letter to Scotland & its culture.
I loved everything about The Highland Escape! The small-town Scottish setting, the Scots English writing in his POV chapters, the quirky animals that make you laugh, the feisty Scottish mum who both strikes fear & obedience into her burly son while also being the gentle adoptive mum to anyone who needs it, the nosy residents who always catch you in a conversation no matter where you were previously heading, the picturesque scenes that are worthy of a movie, and banter you're guaranteed to love. My favorite thing about Callum & Kirby is their ability to call each other out, support one another whole heartedly, & somehow continue to prove their unconditional acceptance of the other. Their relationship grows organically & this story feels like a realistic romance; a true contemporary fairytale.
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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
5.0
"If Iām not with her, I want to be with her. When I am with her, I cannae stop touching her. Itās like my body craves her with a need Iāve never felt in my life before."
From the very beginning, I was reeled into this story. Kirby & Callum start off down on their luck; literally everything in their lives has fallen apart & both are looking for new purpose or a fresh start. The banter between them is fantastic & there will be many scenes that will make you smile. If that wasnāt enough, his mum humbles Callum in hilarious ways, thereās weird animals, & small-town vibes where everyone is in your business because theyāre your adoptive aunts & uncles. The relationship in this romance is borderline cinematic & this story is a beautiful love letter to Scotland & its culture.
"Even if what Callum said wasnāt true, it still hurts. None of this was just a way to pass the time. I didnāt mean to fall in love with this place. Or him. But it happened anyway."
I loved everything about The Highland Escape! The small-town Scottish setting, the Scots English writing in his POV chapters, the quirky animals that make you laugh, the feisty Scottish mum who both strikes fear & obedience into her burly son while also being the gentle adoptive mum to anyone who needs it, the nosy residents who always catch you in a conversation no matter where you were previously heading, the picturesque scenes that are worthy of a movie, and banter you're guaranteed to love. My favorite thing about Callum & Kirby is their ability to call each other out, support one another whole heartedly, & somehow continue to prove their unconditional acceptance of the other. Their relationship grows organically & this story feels like a realistic romance; a true contemporary fairytale.
"Scotland has woven her way into my soul and is a part of me. It was always a part of me; I just didnāt know it."
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing and Sexual content
Minor: Alcohol