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hookedbythatbook's reviews
3098 reviews
Fangirl Down by Tessa Bailey
5.0
This book was immensely fun from Josephine's painted toes all the way to Wells' grumpiness. Their chemistry and lively banter kept me glued to the pages and I couldn't put it down. I am not about to become a golf fan, but I enjoyed the passion both of them had for the sport and their appreciation for each other's skills.
Mind Games by Nora Roberts
5.0
Mind Games is an electric thriller underpinned by the power of family and an exquisitely sweet romance.
I’ve probably said this before, but Nora Roberts has this uncanny ability to weave a clever and very detailed story so that you feel completely immersed in it, with a pace that is never too slow or tedious. Every word and event have a place and a meaning.
Just like Thea, I squealed quietly inside when she met Ty and they got to know each other. Their relationship developed gradually, but they had a palpable and real connection right from the start. Every character had so much dimension and heart. I loved all of them.
This story took us on a wild ride of harrowing experiences and a wide range of emotions. I felt wrung out by the end, but with a goofy smile on my face. The “Mind Games” element to it was truly well done, providing most of the nail-biting suspense.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Pulse by Adriana Locke
4.0
With some very familiar and beloved tropes, this spicy hot romance hits all the right spots.
Oh, Troy. I wanted to shake him, hug him, then shake him again. He went awfully fast from “we should keep this professional” to “all in, don’t even think about another man”. But then, he and Dahlia had been circling each other for a very long time. That fuse was more than ready to be lit.
While the story centered mostly around Dahlia and Troy and their time alone at the secure hide-away, there was enough interaction with the investigative team to keep a pulse on what was happening with Dahlia’s stalker.
I enjoyed these two a lot and can highly recommend this if you like steamy romance with some action and intrigue.
Thank you to Valentine PR & Literary Management for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Only and Forever by Chloe Liese
4.0
Viggo and his conflicted feelings around his siblings' happiness just about broke my heart right from the start. He had such big dreams for his own romance and I really wanted that to come true for him. Tallulah was a tough nut to crack. She presented as very standoffish, but inside she was just vulnerable and scared. Viggo was the perfect person to bring her out of her shell. I loved how their relationship unfolded in ways that neither of them expected. I've enjoyed this entire series and I'm feeling a bit sad that it's over now. Each book can be read on its own.
Rising Sun by Donna Grant
4.0
An elf and a human have to put their mutual animosity aside and face the horrors of their past in this magical tale.
Rising Sun is the first book in a new series about the elves on Zora that we first met in Dragon Lover (book 5 of the Dragon Kings series). I don’t know why I’m still surprised by the way that Donna Grant can create new characters and new plot lines in this super extensive universe that is already teeming with so many interesting characters and events.
Yasmin had a very traumatic past that was revealed in bits and pieces and showed her phenomenal fortitude. Ravi was an intriguing mixture of hard and soft. He had to be hard because of his job as spy, but he was very solicitous of Yasmin almost right from the start. Both had to let go of their race-based preconceived notions about each other.
Ravi and Yasmin’s journey to stop a war was fraught with nail-biting danger interspersed with moments of exquisite beauty and tenderness.
The elven world and culture seemed multi-faceted and interesting and I am excited to read more about them. And, as usual, the author very cleverly sprinkled subtle hints around at the end about what may be coming next.
I can highly recommend this entire universe of books if you like shifters, fae, elves, magic, thrilling action, and steamy romance. You can start with this book and this series, or go back and discover the magic of Donna Grant’s Dark World.
Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Callum by Cameron Allie
4.0
Vivian had been bullied by her father into a cowed, scared woman who believed that she only had a limited usefulness to her future mate. And it was this viewpoint that Callum had to deal with when he met Vivian and realized she was the mate he'd been searching so desperately for. He tried very hard to show her that she could have so much more with him. I found Thatcher, the alpha of the pack, a very confounding character. He was so cruel and selfish in some ways and somewhat kind and understanding in others. I would be very interested in seeing where his story will lead. This is the second book in the series, but can be read as a stand-alone.
Start Us Up by Lexi Blake
4.0
It was difficult seeing Ivy struggle to build herself up again after her company failed, mostly through the fault of her ex. But it was also super inspiring to see her so passionate about helping Heath take his idea and his AI to the next level. Heath was this quiet, geeky guy who just wanted to somehow honour his grandmother with his project. He let Ivy do her thing, even though he didn't always agree with her 100%, and he was there to support her, never asking for more than she was willing to give. Ivy had an enormous amount of baggage that made it even harder for her to climb back to the top. The writing style had just the right amount of playfulness to prevent all these serious issues from becoming too heavy. I really rooted for Ivy and Heath to succeed, as a couple and professionally.
Happily Never After by Lynn Painter
4.0
Max and Sophie's super unusual meet-cute started us off on this fun adventure into teaching Sophie that love is absolutely real. There were so many light-hearted moments between Sophie's unconventional roommates and the ensuing consequences after they've voiced their objections at a wedding. And then it was inevitable that their chemistry and camaraderie would draw them closer and closer to falling in love. I thoroughly enjoyed this steamy strangers-t0-friends-to-lovers, sort of fake dating romance.
Disturbing the Dead by Kelley Armstrong
4.0
This excellent and thrilling historical crime mystery delivered plenty of twists, one of which forced Mallory to make life-changing decisions.
Mallory had been promoted to full-time assistant to Dr. Duncan Gray and the household was looking for a suitable person to take over her housemaid duties. These two remarkable individuals were becoming more and more comfortable with each other, and I loved their interactions. They made an excellent team. As for the secondary characters, I so enjoyed Annis’s no-nonsense personality and the housekeeper’s surprise involvement.
The investigation kicked off at a mummy unwrapping party when a body was discovered underneath all the wrappings, instead of the expected mummy. Mallory and Gray had a whole host of suspects to consider, and they vacillated quite a bit between the options as they gathered more information. Secret tunnels and an underground market all contributed further to the excitement.
Don’t expect a romance, though. There were plenty of heated looks and thoughts, which neither Mallory nor Gray acted upon, for various very valid reasons.
I can highly recommend this series if you like time travel, historical fiction, and crime-solving all in one place. It is definitely best to read the books in order.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.