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gnomepatronus's reviews
306 reviews
Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross
4.0
⭐️Overall 4/5
🎧Narration 4/5
🌶️ Spice 1/5
🖤Dark 1/5
“because sometimes strength isn’t swords and steel and fire, as we are so often made to believe. Sometimes it’s found in quiet, gentle places.”
I have strong mixed feelings on this book. The layer of fantasy feels very unnecessary unneeded until the very end. The entire feel of the book gave me very much World War II vibes, and the fantasy elements that were thrown in, felt forced. With the title stating Divine Rivals, I assumed the book would be rivals to lovers. But in all reality, it was very much a hidden Insta love story to me.
I initially thought this book was a three star and barely hanging on as a three star read, but the last chapter and epilogue finally tied in the rest of the story elements. It is definitely worth keep reading if you enjoy a low fantasy. Easy read.
The narration was well done. While I prefer to listen to my book at 2.25, the female narrator was more enjoyable to me at a slower speed. Both narrators did a great job of balancing storytelling with emotions. At no point in the story did it feel over acted or forced.
So once I slowed the book down and got to the end, I enjoyed it.
Flynn by Nyssa Kathryn
3.5
⭐️Overall 3.5/5
🎧Narration 4/5
🌶️ Spice 1.75ish/5
🖤Dark 0/5
“I would choose you again. Without thought. Without hesitation. Every time.”
This story is an easy read.
While it was part of a series, you do not need to read any of the prior to understand what is going on.
The FMC left her town for a fresh start, just to find out that fresh start wouldn’t be as easy as she thought. Is it ever as easy to leave your troubles behind? But, will Flynn believe her, and will he trust her?
The Narration by Connor Crias was amazing. The cadence, tone and inflection really brought the story to life. His “female” voice was a good balance without feeling too unnatural. My only wish was more of the story narrated in his voice.
This was my first book narrated by CJ Bloom, and I was thankful for the tone of the voice sounding like an adult and not a barely 18 year old.
The sound quality did have an hollowness to it. (I was provided an ALC and listened through BookFunnel; this may have been the reason)
The story had a good start, the middle felt rushed and then ended strong with a good lead in to the next book.
Settle Up by Allison Speka
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
5.0
⭐️Overall 5/5
🌶️Spice 1.5/5 (more tension then spice)
🖤Dark 0/5 (Rom-Com all the way)
Super cute story. Girl with a past she is running away from by never settling down has a last minute change of plans. BUT, she isn’t going to a small town, she is going to Chicago to crash with her cousin till it is time for her to trace around the world.
She gets roped into helping out her cousins friends band, who of course has a sexy lead singer. But, nothing can come out of it, right? She is leaving soon, he is focused on his career….they are just “friends”
Anastasia by Sophie Lark
4.0
4 star overall
4 star narration
2 peppers
The reimagining of Anastasia was done extremely well. The factual information about the Romanovs and the fantasy were woven so well together that when a fantasy element was brough it, it did not pull you from the storyline. This is not the typical fantasy, or historical fiction, or romance, but all merged into all the bright, dark, and emotional moments that come Ansatasia’s way.
I did go into the book thinking there would be more spice due to being written by Sophie Lark.
4 star narration
2 peppers
The reimagining of Anastasia was done extremely well. The factual information about the Romanovs and the fantasy were woven so well together that when a fantasy element was brough it, it did not pull you from the storyline. This is not the typical fantasy, or historical fiction, or romance, but all merged into all the bright, dark, and emotional moments that come Ansatasia’s way.
I did go into the book thinking there would be more spice due to being written by Sophie Lark.
Seduced by the Pumpkin Spice Latte by Evelyn Cloves
5.0
13 page Novella about PSL and well…🫣 I was laughing so hard. Yes this is a 🌶️ book, yes this is short, but it is NOT short on flavor! Go on and take a sip and enjoy this quick read! (You know you want to)
Birthday Girl by Penelope Douglas
4.25
⭐️Overall 4/5
🎙️Narration 4/5
🌶️Spice 3/5
🖤Dark 1/5
I went into this book knowing the relationship and was ready for all the taboo spicy goodness. Everyone in this book is toxic and the feelings are a chaotic mess. BUT, the MMC, Pike Lawson, had me wishing I was 19 with a jar of dreams and a candle to make a wish on.
🎙️Narration 4/5
🌶️Spice 3/5
🖤Dark 1/5
I went into this book knowing the relationship and was ready for all the taboo spicy goodness. Everyone in this book is toxic and the feelings are a chaotic mess. BUT, the MMC, Pike Lawson, had me wishing I was 19 with a jar of dreams and a candle to make a wish on.
The Sunday Girl by Pip Drysdale
4.5
⭐️Overall 4/5
🎙️Narration 5/5 (Anthea Greco)
🌶️Spice 🫑 2/5 (not spicy)
🖤Dark 1/5
Think lifetime movie.
Love, cheating, revenge, murder, and a few dark twists along the way. Overall I enjoyed the book, it had a bit slow start for me but once chapter 3 hit, the pacing was perfect and I couldn’t put it down. The story is told from the FMC POV as she recounts the events that lead you to her present time. Well written and well executed.
The narration was GREAT! The cadence of her voice for so well with the character and the change in emotions was perfect for the format of the story. I will be searching out more books by the narrator!
🎙️Narration 5/5 (Anthea Greco)
🌶️Spice 🫑 2/5 (not spicy)
🖤Dark 1/5
Think lifetime movie.
Love, cheating, revenge, murder, and a few dark twists along the way. Overall I enjoyed the book, it had a bit slow start for me but once chapter 3 hit, the pacing was perfect and I couldn’t put it down. The story is told from the FMC POV as she recounts the events that lead you to her present time. Well written and well executed.
The narration was GREAT! The cadence of her voice for so well with the character and the change in emotions was perfect for the format of the story. I will be searching out more books by the narrator!
Bones by Yolanda Olson
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
5.0
This was my first Yolanda Olson book. I was expecting the unexpected but WOW this one made me pause after 30 seconds and ask myself if I really heard what I thought I heard...and yes, yes I did. I felt a bit uncomfortable one sentence, the next had my laughing out loud and then I related to a clearly psychotic man. (No worries, he is not a serial killer!) Yeah, my mentaly stability is unclear at this moment, please check back at a later date. (Which, considering I will now be reading more Yolanda Olson, please make that a much MUCH later date!)
OH, and the NARRATOR!!! AH-MAZ-ING!!!! I need more books by this man! I do not recognize the voice, but I need so many more by him.
All over GREAT ear read!!!
OH, and the NARRATOR!!! AH-MAZ-ING!!!! I need more books by this man! I do not recognize the voice, but I need so many more by him.
All over GREAT ear read!!!
Hate by Tate James
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
4.0
"Madison Kate Danvers was murdered tonight. They were wrong of course, I'm not dead, but I was set up. I'm back with one thing on my mind....HATE"
Favorite Things about the book
Duet Narration and Lucas Webley did an AMAZING job on the different inflections for each MMC
The Banter between the FMC and MMCs was well written
I was not anticipating the Who did it element when it came into play
My not so favorite things
The Characters lacked depth. What we got in chapter one was what we got for the entire book
The amount of times they stated Madison Kate could have been a drinking game
Overall I did enjoy the book and will be picking up the rest of the series
Favorite Things about the book
Duet Narration and Lucas Webley did an AMAZING job on the different inflections for each MMC
The Banter between the FMC and MMCs was well written
I was not anticipating the Who did it element when it came into play
My not so favorite things
The Characters lacked depth. What we got in chapter one was what we got for the entire book
The amount of times they stated Madison Kate could have been a drinking game
Overall I did enjoy the book and will be picking up the rest of the series
That Sik Luv by Jescie Hall
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
4.25
“They took away your voice, but remember I’m the one to make you scream”
Let me start be saying I have no triggers, but if you do, check before you hit play! I ear read this book and the production was one of my all time favorites. I love the choice of a “unclean recording” The extra breaths, the slight noise of movement and mouth helped with the grit of the storyline.
BUT, if you are going into this story thinking it has a similar feel to Zade and Adeline, you are mistaken. This book is a totally different direction. If you are wanting a trigger full stalker book, then you have come to the right place. Aero is a damaged, possessive, obsessed, beyond the realms of reality stalker MMC and Briony is the FMC who has always had a bit of a darker streak in her. While Briony has a bit of the typical FMC trait of wanting to lean into the dark side but is weary of it. She does seem to flow a bit more with the embracing it. The book was not so fixated on just the sexual scenes to make the book a dark romance, but the full theme of the book, which I for one, am thankful for.
Let me start be saying I have no triggers, but if you do, check before you hit play! I ear read this book and the production was one of my all time favorites. I love the choice of a “unclean recording” The extra breaths, the slight noise of movement and mouth helped with the grit of the storyline.
BUT, if you are going into this story thinking it has a similar feel to Zade and Adeline, you are mistaken. This book is a totally different direction. If you are wanting a trigger full stalker book, then you have come to the right place. Aero is a damaged, possessive, obsessed, beyond the realms of reality stalker MMC and Briony is the FMC who has always had a bit of a darker streak in her. While Briony has a bit of the typical FMC trait of wanting to lean into the dark side but is weary of it. She does seem to flow a bit more with the embracing it. The book was not so fixated on just the sexual scenes to make the book a dark romance, but the full theme of the book, which I for one, am thankful for.