hollielovesromance's reviews
598 reviews

A Broken Blade by Melissa Blair

adventurous dark emotional funny 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? Yes

4.0

A twisty, fun adventure exploring ideas of colonialism, loyalty, and the prices we pay to tyrannical systems. I ended this book real mad and ready to pick up book two. All I’ll say is trust no one. 

Broken Horses by Brandi Carlile

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced

5.0

An honest, reflective, generous memoir. Carlile isn’t afraid to own up to her faults and doesn’t hold others against them in this raw memoir. Listen to it on audio for a truly wonderful experience. Carlile reads the book and sings songs acoustically from each chapter. 

Bloodmarked by Tracy Deonn

adventurous dark emotional hopeful 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? Yes

5.0

Oh my god. This book got going and did not stop. There was never a moment where I was wishing we’d get back to the action because it never ended! It was so twisty turny. I spent the last 20 minutes trying not to scream because WTF. Now I’ll wait for book 3. The narrator’s performance was spectacular and I will be back to listen to book 3 just for them. 

The Husbands by Holly Gramazio
Did not finish book. Stopped at 22%.

Okay I kept meaning to come back to this but didn’t feel drawn to it. It felt very repetitive and I wasn’t having fun. Sorry friends

Dark Restraint by Katee Robert

dark emotional 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? Yes

5.0

Just when you think things in Olympus couldn’t get more dire, Ariadne finds herself a pawn of the thirteen as they wait to see what plot her father, Minos, is crafting up. Ariadne doesn’t want to feel bad about fleeing but part of her knows it was wrong to leave The Minatour, Asterion, as if he doesn’t mean everything to him. When Asterion discovers Ariadne is gone, he decides to make it his mission to hunt her down but matters get complicated when Minos orders him to kill Ariadne for her betrayal. Will Asterion be able to kill the person he’s wanted for most of his life? 

Holy smokes Katee Robert!! This series just keeps ramping up. The levels of political scheming happening in this book is wild. You never fully know who to trust or what their intentions are. This book was probably the darkest in the series. I’m normally not a big “you’re mine and I’ll hunt you down” girl but baby Asterion had me reconsidering my position on that. I’m glad that these two got to have a book together even if at first I wasn’t wild about the pairing. Together they’re so caring and thoughtful about the other. I can’t wait to see what happens next in this series. 

Heavy Hitter by Katie Cotugno

fast-paced

4.0

Superstar Lacey Logan can do it with a broken heart but touring following finding out her long term boyfriend was cheating on her is starting to take its toll. On a rare night out in New York she runs into baseball star Jimmy Hodges and sparks fly. A secret relationship quickly ensues but despite their best effort it can’t remain a secret for long. Can this new relationship survive the intense media pressure?

Okay. This was basically what if Travis Kielce was an aging baseball player and Taylor Swift was from Ohio. I enjoyed the book but felt like it was essentially legally written Taylor Swift fanfic. If that’s your jam then this is your book!

The Rich People Have Gone Away by Regina Porter

3.0

Holy fever dream Batman. This novel told through short vignettes of various interconnected characters explores race, history, family, and friendship during the pandemic. When Theo and his wife Darla get into a fight out on the trails in upstate New York, a fight ensures leaving Darla frightened and fleeing into the woods. Her disappearance brings interrogation and eyes onto what has been happening. 

This book tried to do a lot of things all at once. We had 9/11, racism, COVID, upward mobility, polyamory, and a whole lore more in one novel. While I felt like there was a lot happening that kept me in the book it felt disjointed and I found myself asking why all of these different moments were necessary to tell the story. 

Jumping the Shark by Ash Raven

fast-paced

4.0

A dating app that is really a mating program?!  Shark daddy that swoops you up to go back to his planet? Unique anatomy that is built for her pleasure? Sign me up. 

The Gargoyle from General Management by Kate Prior

fast-paced

4.0

A siren and a gargoyle on a company retreat where awkward but also steamy moments happen? Count me in. Love that this book also centered on self acceptance. 

Love, Laugh, Lich by Kate Prior

fast-paced

4.0

Normally I frown at boss assistant relationships but how can I be mad at this one where she thinks he’s using her firsts to power spells but he’s really saving them because he looovvvveeees her. Also the anatomy on Soven is wiiilllddd