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filosophicfoton's reviews
77 reviews
Help Me, I'm Here: Poems to Myself by Anastasia Helena Fenald
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness
Owen by Elle M. Drew
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Fantastic spice. MMC is too much in his head and FMC is a person of action. This bear shifter story is sexy and angsty and cute!
Needed in Garoureve by Elle M. Drew
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
She has her life together. Like, really. She attended college, graduated to become a Nurse, then further trained to become a Nurse Practitioner. And then the American dream - she worked long hours at a steady, challenging job to chisel away at her student loan debt. She’s always had her feet firmly on the ground, she’s just that type of person - good in a crisis.
The day arrived when all her discipline and effort came to fruition: her educational and financial goals were accomplished. Thus, Scarlett began looking in a different direction. Why not leave behind the hectic, stressful, high-paced, anonymous patient care of the urban ER and find a rural, private practice, where she could learn patient names and faces? Where she could establish relationships with patients to ensure their long-term health and wellness? Isn’t that why she wanted to become a NP in the first place?
You know what they say, Scarlett? Be careful what you wish for.
She comes across an advertisement. The opportunity to take over a retiring physician’s clinic seems perfect: she accepts, gives her two weeks’ notice, and starts packing. There is the tiny matter of Garoureve not existing on any map that she could find, but - it’s a small town. She’s sure plenty of small towns have been misplaced. Right? … She finds the town - somehow - and is immediately enamored with its quaint appearance. It’s night, and she heads over to the bakery, where the lights are still on.
Their chemistry is instant; they make silent eye contact.
The air bubbles of a soufflé could expand in the vacuum stillness of the moment, of their stares. Their souls collide and slide past one another, like oil and water - smooth and slippery contact, all of one surrounding all of the other. They converse, they drink, they eat. That is, until the temperature rises and they explode into effervescent electricity, all baking soda and vinegar.
The air bubbles of a soufflé could expand in the vacuum stillness of the moment, of their stares. Their souls collide and slide past one another, like oil and water - smooth and slippery contact, all of one surrounding all of the other. They converse, they drink, they eat. That is, until the temperature rises and they explode into effervescent electricity, all baking soda and vinegar.
They soon learn that chemistry and passion, when left to sauté on high, can and will combust into flames, changing the compounds, charring them.
Elle M Drew’s sophomoric publication brings new and returning characters to life in the town of Garoureve. Along the course of Scarlett and Mardoc’s developing relationship, more of the town’s magic is unveiled to the reader. Beyond its nonexistence on a map and the apparent sentience of its boundaries (blocking those who wish to exit and issuing entrance to newcomers), the reader learns more about the town, its abilities, the townsfolk, and the shifters.
Through Scarlett’s eyes, we are reintroduced to Ari, Cole, and Mardoc. What kind of mate will make Mardoc as soft and sweet as his signature brownies? A no-nonsense, logical, disciplined woman of science who knows what she wants, will pursue it, and can withstand taste-testing New Relationship Recipes while exploring the balance between his bitter and her sweet. They complement each other well; Mardoc quiets her mental monologue, blending her thoughts until smooth and Scarlett, in turn, melts Mardoc’s hardened exterior into softened butter. However, when conflict occurs, they discover that “soulmate” is not synonymous with “inevitable HEA.”
Drew takes the clichéd trope and writes it into a realistic, messy relationship (complete with some organic, high-end spices, if you catch my meaning) of two complex characters figuring out how to navigate one another. We all have scars. Some of us can count more scars on the outside, some only on the inside. Scars have sealed over, but past trauma and the fear of loss can drive us to act in ways of fight, flight, or freeze. Will Scarlett and Mardoc be able to move past their issues? Or will they dice each other’s hearts? What is the binding ingredient their recipe needs? Will they learn how to keep the vinegar and baking soda in the bedroom and bring the eggs and milk - or rather - the lemons and lavender, to their interpersonal communication?
I admire Scarlett: her strength, her level-headedness, her drive, her compassion. I’m excited to see how her role in the village changes over the next few books in this series, because she is definitely “Needed” in Garoureve.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Death and Fire/Fire injury
kink: Daddy kink
One Night in Garoureve by Elle M. Drew
4.0
(I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Spoilers contained below; CW: body image, sex, mild cursing)
She had crossed the milestones for her age. Friends? Check. Business degree? Check. Apartment with her Boyfriend? Corporate job? Check check. Except, it had all crumbled to nothing.
Ariana is driving away from one place and towards another - neither of which she calls home - and stumbles upon a small town. After deciding to spend the night and checking into her hotel room, she heads over to the local bar. The bartender looks like he could make her forget all her problems for this one night, but really, isn’t he out of her league? Blinded by her poor self-esteem, she finds his desperation to touch her perplexing, but as she will learn, she can trust him. Well - his intentions, at least. Because he is definitely hiding something. Or, maybe more than one thing.
Elle M. Drew’s debut publication puts the reader into the life of a woman who has hit rock bottom, and discovers that she needs to only look inward to find out where to go next.
Ariana’s perception of herself leads to some uncomfortable conversations and thoughts, during which any reader who struggles with self-esteem or body image will relate to the emotional pain. The internal conflict and dissonance are worth it, though, to experience Ariana weaving her way to a resolution. Away from everyone in her life, in the town of Garoureve, she sees the differences between how they treated her - and how Colburn treats her. This comparison sparks a change in how she views herself. The removal of toxic people and spaces leave her voice alone the only one to listen to, rather than absorbing and reflecting the opinions of others. She changes for no one; instead, the evolution of her mental health isn’t for anyone but herself. This newfound clarity is reaffirmed by Colburn’s respect, care, and passion for helping her climax in a myriad of positions and methods.
“Her skin burned each place he touched, drawing little gasps with each kiss.”
Colburn will indeed, light you aflame. If you have any self-conscious thoughts about your body, he will fuck them from your mind. Repeatedly. With your most enthusiastic consent. Via the many, many, heated, explicitly intimate scenes, Drew addresses several common insecurities and through the characters, simultaneously puts the reader at ease and roasts them in a sexual fire.
The only things left to figure out are: Why isn’t Garoureve on any map? And- What is with the giant pack of dogs - or wolves - roaming the town? And why does Colburn like to go for jogs in the middle of the night? Why do the townsfolk call him boss? Where are all the women?
What is he hiding?
Drew’s writing is clear, simple, and fluid - the kind of writing where a reader forgets they are reading because the words smoothly sail into the movie in one’s mind. This book is the perfect evening treat, or perhaps a bathtub read for a night of escape. This story is driven by dialogue and action, and still Drew managed to make the character development - Ariana’s mental health - feel impactful, not dramatically forced, but like the natural reaction of a woman facing and processing the events in her life. While the story carried me away into a place of sexual tension, release, angst, and at times, mental anguish for the protagonist - it caught me off guard when bits of humor snuck up on me. I found myself laughing aloud a number of times.
I’m sorry to see this story end, but excited to meet the next couple in the town of Garoureve.
She had crossed the milestones for her age. Friends? Check. Business degree? Check. Apartment with her Boyfriend? Corporate job? Check check. Except, it had all crumbled to nothing.
Ariana is driving away from one place and towards another - neither of which she calls home - and stumbles upon a small town. After deciding to spend the night and checking into her hotel room, she heads over to the local bar. The bartender looks like he could make her forget all her problems for this one night, but really, isn’t he out of her league? Blinded by her poor self-esteem, she finds his desperation to touch her perplexing, but as she will learn, she can trust him. Well - his intentions, at least. Because he is definitely hiding something. Or, maybe more than one thing.
Elle M. Drew’s debut publication puts the reader into the life of a woman who has hit rock bottom, and discovers that she needs to only look inward to find out where to go next.
Ariana’s perception of herself leads to some uncomfortable conversations and thoughts, during which any reader who struggles with self-esteem or body image will relate to the emotional pain. The internal conflict and dissonance are worth it, though, to experience Ariana weaving her way to a resolution. Away from everyone in her life, in the town of Garoureve, she sees the differences between how they treated her - and how Colburn treats her. This comparison sparks a change in how she views herself. The removal of toxic people and spaces leave her voice alone the only one to listen to, rather than absorbing and reflecting the opinions of others. She changes for no one; instead, the evolution of her mental health isn’t for anyone but herself. This newfound clarity is reaffirmed by Colburn’s respect, care, and passion for helping her climax in a myriad of positions and methods.
“Her skin burned each place he touched, drawing little gasps with each kiss.”
Colburn will indeed, light you aflame. If you have any self-conscious thoughts about your body, he will fuck them from your mind. Repeatedly. With your most enthusiastic consent. Via the many, many, heated, explicitly intimate scenes, Drew addresses several common insecurities and through the characters, simultaneously puts the reader at ease and roasts them in a sexual fire.
The only things left to figure out are: Why isn’t Garoureve on any map? And- What is with the giant pack of dogs - or wolves - roaming the town? And why does Colburn like to go for jogs in the middle of the night? Why do the townsfolk call him boss? Where are all the women?
What is he hiding?
Drew’s writing is clear, simple, and fluid - the kind of writing where a reader forgets they are reading because the words smoothly sail into the movie in one’s mind. This book is the perfect evening treat, or perhaps a bathtub read for a night of escape. This story is driven by dialogue and action, and still Drew managed to make the character development - Ariana’s mental health - feel impactful, not dramatically forced, but like the natural reaction of a woman facing and processing the events in her life. While the story carried me away into a place of sexual tension, release, angst, and at times, mental anguish for the protagonist - it caught me off guard when bits of humor snuck up on me. I found myself laughing aloud a number of times.
I’m sorry to see this story end, but excited to meet the next couple in the town of Garoureve.