gnomepatronus's reviews
306 reviews

Through A Mirror Darkly by Roxie Cohen

emotional funny mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

⭐️Overall 5/5

🌶️ Spice 2/5

🖤Dark 1.5/5

WOW, this book was put together so well, the story line and mystery was woven together so intricately, that like a spider web, every time you moved you just became more wrapped up in the story.  This book was so much better than what I anticipated. 

The book starts with a wedding gone wrong, Chloe, a bride and widow before the cake was cut is forced back to a town that she left behind along with her secrets. 

Chloe is forced to face what she left behind to be there for her only living family who is fighting for their life after an accident, or was it an accident. Be ready for twists, turns, and a delicious romance along the way. While the amount of spice is much smaller quantity then the books I have been reading lately, it was NOT short on quality. 

The writing is so well done right out the start. There is a wonderful balance of description, emotional pull and intrigue that I wanted to be done with the book within chapter 3 to know what is going on, but I knew it will be the kind of book that was done too quickly. I was right, I hated that it is over once was I was finished.

If you like the “WHO DID IT” in romance books, you love the tension and the spice, but want the intricate details to keep you questioning and the book to be a STAND ALONE!! Then you need to give this book a read. It is on KU (always a plus).

Buried Lies by Octavia C Penn

adventurous emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

5.0

⭐️5/5
🌶️3/5
🖤 2.75/5

The twists, the secrets, the lies, the  deception, the heartbreak and the tension. Buried Lies delivers in so many different levels and will put you through the emotional ringer.
 I went in blind, not even confident in the genre, and I am so glad I did. It really made the twists that much more jaw dropping!
If you like mystery, crime, murder, seeing the story through multiple POVs, side by side timelines, mob, family, strong female lead, who done it, who IS doing it, tension (emotionally, sexually, and criminally) then Buried Lies needs to be your next read!

His Holiday Pact by Ayla Asher

funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

⭐️Overall 4.5/5

🎧Narration 5/5

🌶️ Spice 4/5

🖤Dark 0/5

“I’m not really a threat to his heart or whatever. One day, he’ll bring home one of the perfect tens he seems to gravitate to and then you’ll get a real girlfriend. I guess I can say that I’m his practice run. At least I serve a purpose.”

If you are looking for a book with Hallmarkish Holiday feels, with amazing narration, believable character, fun banter, sexual tension, laugh out loud moments, second hand embarrassment, realistic times where you wanting to smack the main character and some “HECK YEAH” spice. Then just stop reading this and go get this book!!  

Neighbors for 3 years Kayla has seen Carter bring home more models than she can count. With the walls not being soundproof, Kayla also knows…well, you know.  

Kayla is a curvy lawyer with a mom who wants her to lose weight and get a man. Carter is a playboy who likes he lifestyle but his mom is dying with cancer and wants her son to settle down. With the holidays around the corner Kayla and Carter make a pact. No sex, fake dating, and make the holidays bearable. With the fun banter mixed in with the friends, and the character development is delivered in a way that makes this book stick out amongst the rest of the Christmas Fake Dating books. The tension that leads up to the steamy parts are well written. The emotional parts of the book flow well and do not feel forced (from happy, sad, spunky, confused, all the emotions given.)

Gnome Sweet Gnome by Elva Birch

fast-paced

3.0

⭐️Overall 3/5

🌶️ Spice 2/5

🖤Dark 0/5

If you have wanted to read a steamy cozy book about a millionaire gnome, a high end thief that is an owl shifter, cupcake adversaries, and a few shake your head gnome puns….Yep, that about sums it up, grab some hot cocoa, and enjoy this quick read.

Captured by Lauren Biel

challenging dark mysterious tense

5.0

⭐️Overall 5/5

🌶️ Spice 5/5

🖤Dark 5/5

“Patience is a virtue, but I’m not a virtuous man.”

Lauren Biel, Taboo, Dark, Questionably and jaw dropping amazing is what this book delivers. I was not able to put this book down once I started. If you like to push the limits of your dark romance, if you like to see if you can handle the Taboo, if you want to find out what everyone is talking about with the Mayo. Then you need to grab this book. (It is not available on KU due to the graphic nature, so yeah, a book that is too much for KU, you know you want to push your limits and see if you can handle being Captured)

The Echoist by Eliza Anne

challenging emotional sad tense

5.0

⭐️Overall 5/5

🌶️ Spice 1/5

🖤Dark 2/5 

“You don’t stop loving someone when love fails to persevere.”

The Echoist is devastatingly, heartbreakingly, painfully, and beautifully written.  This is a story that does not shy away from the way it truly feels to fall in love and be in a relationship with someone who is abusive. From the back and forth you get in the FMC POV, it is accurately heart wrenching and not over dramatized.  While chapter 20 & 21 are known to break your heart, chapter 5 is an eye opener on how it feels to be in her shoes. 

Liam by Nyssa Kathryn

fast-paced

5.0

⭐️Overall 5/5

🎧Narration 5/5

🌶️ Spice 3/5

🖤Dark 1/5

What a perfect way to end a series. The twists were unexpected, the book was jammed packed with action and keeping you at the edge of your seat. The cameos from all the men from the prior books was a great addition. (No fear, you can read this as a stand-alone and not feel like you’re missing out). The narration of the book was terrific! Emma Wilder did a great job of performing the strong independent Nylah while still having that tinge of softness needed without any whining to her voice! Jason Clarke, I am starting to believe he is one of the Blue Halo men because there is no other narrator who could have done Liam justice! 

Prince of Darkness by Amber Thoma

5.0

⭐️Overall 5/5

🌶️ Spice 3/5

🖤Dark 1/5

WOW, I didn’t know what I wanted in a Fae until Prince of Darkness. A twist on the Night Court but at the same time it is exactly what it is expected to be. There are so many books with day court and night court in a Fae World that read the same, well Prince Of Darkness is not that book. Prince of Darkness follows the story of 4 characters, 2 males from the Night Court and 2 Female Characters, both from different courts/worlds.  The characters are each so different but all work together for great banter, character growth, some Fae politics, internal struggle, and more. Kidnapping, Forced Proximity, enemies-to-lovers, instant love, fated mates, bonds, family, magic, self-discovery and more.  

The book is written in an easy to follow format and the world building is given a needed so there is no a huge info dump. (Which I prefer it this way, written into the story and not a page worth of info just so you understand). There is so many questions you are left with and THE CLIFFHANGER!!! I need the next book!

Unmasking the Curse by Chelle Cypress

5.0

⭐️Overall 5/5

🌶️ Spice 4/5

🖤Dark 1/5

From the moment you start this book you are transported into a world that you don’t want to leave The subtle nods to beauty and the beast, pride and prejudice, a sprinkle of Cinderella, and subtle hints of other stories that make this book feel familiar. BUT the familiar feel is temporary, you can read this book and get a surface level story that has you wanting more or take your time and dive deep as there are drops of information from chapter one that lays the foundation of foreshadowing for this book and books yet to come. All of the characters are so well written that you either love or hate them all, not one will you have luke-warm feelings for.  I have read the story once and I am ready to read it again. It feels like a story that is already a classic and if you mention it, everyone should know it.

The writing style with the flourish words is done so well that it flows with the story and does not throw you out, but at the same time, if you do not know the word the context of the story allows you to grasp it without being thrown out. The world building is built into the story and at no time are you given an info dump. 

I am so excited for book 2 and the rest of the story!

Still Hung Up On You by Liz Maverick

fast-paced

5.0

⭐️Overall 5/5
🎧Narration 5/5
🌶️ Spice 0/5
🖤Dark 0/5

Such a cute read. The story is told through phone conversations of former high school sweethearts. Hannah needs her sweater that she thinks is at Ethans house who is not in town. This is a wholesome, cute, quick little romcom. This is a perfect listen to cleanse your pallet, listen in your car, or just an overall fun book. right at 2.5 hours this was so well written, narrated and produced that you get the full story and ending. I will be looking for more books by the author and narrators for future reads.