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jessbeyondthepages's reviews
250 reviews
The Night We Met by Elleese Black
emotional
slow-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
4.5
Rating 4.5/5
Plot 4,5/5
Writing 4.5/5
Spice 3/5
Character Development 5/5
[I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book]
The Night We Met is the first in Elleese Black's Healing in Cincy series and tells the story of Kamryn Rawlins, Mason Brooks, and Liam Taylor. This book has two timelines. Kamryn and Liam have known each other since they were seven, and Kamryn and Mason met in college through her roommate, Sarah. This is an MF college romance with friends-to-lovers, second-chance romance, and so many other tropes that I love.
Elleese’s debut was packed with emotion (there is a list of trigger warnings, so if you’re one to read those beforehand, make sure to do so before diving into the book). The characters were loveable and had my full attention from the beginning. The back and forth between the main characters made the story feel real and raw. I loved seeing these characters develop and grow throughout the book. There’s a good balance between spice and plot, and it’s very angsty and emotional, but we get out HEA, which I love! I’m excited for book 2 and to read more of Elleese’s work!
Plot 4,5/5
Writing 4.5/5
Spice 3/5
Character Development 5/5
[I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book]
The Night We Met is the first in Elleese Black's Healing in Cincy series and tells the story of Kamryn Rawlins, Mason Brooks, and Liam Taylor. This book has two timelines. Kamryn and Liam have known each other since they were seven, and Kamryn and Mason met in college through her roommate, Sarah. This is an MF college romance with friends-to-lovers, second-chance romance, and so many other tropes that I love.
Elleese’s debut was packed with emotion (there is a list of trigger warnings, so if you’re one to read those beforehand, make sure to do so before diving into the book). The characters were loveable and had my full attention from the beginning. The back and forth between the main characters made the story feel real and raw. I loved seeing these characters develop and grow throughout the book. There’s a good balance between spice and plot, and it’s very angsty and emotional, but we get out HEA, which I love! I’m excited for book 2 and to read more of Elleese’s work!
Love Redesigned by Lauren Asher
emotional
reflective
medium-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
Rating 5/5
Plot 5/5
Writing 5/5
Spice 3/5
Character Development 5/5
[I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.]
“Love Redesigned” is the first book in Lauren Asher’s Lakefront Billionaires series. This small-town romance tells the story of Dahlia Muñoz and Julian Lopez who once were childhood family friends and now have become rivals. The best way to describe the book is “right person wrong time and a second chance to get things right.”
We all know how much I love Lauren Asher and I’m so proud of her and this new release. Love Designed is such an amazing story and I loved every moment of reading it. This is a true standalone but I’d highly recommend reading Lauren’s books in order of publication for the full experience (she does such a great job incorporating easter eggs from past books). I look forward to reading more from Lauren!
Plot 5/5
Writing 5/5
Spice 3/5
Character Development 5/5
[I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.]
“Love Redesigned” is the first book in Lauren Asher’s Lakefront Billionaires series. This small-town romance tells the story of Dahlia Muñoz and Julian Lopez who once were childhood family friends and now have become rivals. The best way to describe the book is “right person wrong time and a second chance to get things right.”
We all know how much I love Lauren Asher and I’m so proud of her and this new release. Love Designed is such an amazing story and I loved every moment of reading it. This is a true standalone but I’d highly recommend reading Lauren’s books in order of publication for the full experience (she does such a great job incorporating easter eggs from past books). I look forward to reading more from Lauren!
Insatiable Hunger by Ashley James
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-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
4.5
Rating 4.5/5
Plot 4/5
Writing 4/5
Spice 4/5
Character Development 5/5
[I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book]
Insatiable Hunger is the third book in Ashley James’ Hidden Affairs series. This book tells the story of Zeke, and his stepson, Elias. Four years ago, Elias and Zeke have a one-night stand. At the time, the two didn’t know each other, and their anonymous hookup was intense and fiery. Now that they are in each other’s lives due to Zeke marrying Elias’ mom, the two have a difficult time keeping their relationship platonic.
This book was soo freaking good! The storyline was amazing, and the characters were unique! I loved the intense push and pull between Zeke and Elias. Zeke's possessiveness and Elias’ pushback were written really well, and the spice was off the charts! The two played such a risky game, and I loved seeing both of the characters grow throughout the story.
Storm Clouds and Devastation by Ashley James
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-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
Rating 5/5
Plot 5/5
Spice 4.5/5
Writing 5/5
Character Development 5/5
[I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book]
Storm Clouds and Devastation is the second book in Ashley James’ Hidden Affairs interconnected series. This book tells the story of Jules and Bodhi. It’s an MM, age-gap romance with heavy discussions of mental illness.
I’m so grateful Ashley James shared this story with us booklovers. Bodhi’s story has given me such comfort and peace, and love. The book overall has given me hope. I relate a lot to Bodhi’s personality, and I love seeing his growth throughout the novel. Jules is one sexy mofo LOL and the chemistry between the two is explosive. If you’re one to read trigger warnings, make sure to do so before jumping into this book.
Too Tempting by Sarah Blue
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
Rating 5/5
Plot 5/5
Spice 5/5
Writing 5/5
Character Development 5/5
[I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book]
“Too Tempting” by Sarah Blue is the fourth book in her Heat Haven Omegaverse series. This book tells the story of Kelsey who is trying to move on from a traumatic breakup. Kelsey has her eyes on two unbonded couples however with trying to build her pack, she realizes that she’s run into a few problems. From two Alphas who don’t get along, to a male Omega who has his own idea about a pack life, and a Beta who’s just “there for the ride” (lol me too fam). There’s a lot that needs to be resolved in order for Kelsey to have her dream pack, but she’ll do whatever it takes to make it work. This is a poly FFMMM Romance and part of an interconnected series!
This book… THIS BOOK!!! Sarah’s Heat Haven Omegaverse series is one of my favourites! I absolutely loved this story. I will admit, I was a bit intimidated by how big the pack is and how many characters there are, however, Sarah did a phenomenal job creating unique personalities for all of the characters. This book was also SO hot! The chemistry between the characters is off the charts and I loved the plot. I loved the sweet and spicy moments and I really enjoyed the more serious and emotional moments too! I cannot wait to read more of Sarah Blue’s work.
Plot 5/5
Spice 5/5
Writing 5/5
Character Development 5/5
[I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book]
“Too Tempting” by Sarah Blue is the fourth book in her Heat Haven Omegaverse series. This book tells the story of Kelsey who is trying to move on from a traumatic breakup. Kelsey has her eyes on two unbonded couples however with trying to build her pack, she realizes that she’s run into a few problems. From two Alphas who don’t get along, to a male Omega who has his own idea about a pack life, and a Beta who’s just “there for the ride” (lol me too fam). There’s a lot that needs to be resolved in order for Kelsey to have her dream pack, but she’ll do whatever it takes to make it work. This is a poly FFMMM Romance and part of an interconnected series!
This book… THIS BOOK!!! Sarah’s Heat Haven Omegaverse series is one of my favourites! I absolutely loved this story. I will admit, I was a bit intimidated by how big the pack is and how many characters there are, however, Sarah did a phenomenal job creating unique personalities for all of the characters. This book was also SO hot! The chemistry between the characters is off the charts and I loved the plot. I loved the sweet and spicy moments and I really enjoyed the more serious and emotional moments too! I cannot wait to read more of Sarah Blue’s work.
Hollows Grove by Lee Jacquot
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Rating 4/5
Plot 4/5
Spice 4.5/5
Writing 4/5
Character Development 4/5
[I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book]
“Hollow’s Grove” by Lee Jacquot tells the story of Dorian and Evelyn. Evelyn helps her best friend co-host a Halloween work party. Her best friend’s brother also happens to be helping out at the party and Evelyn despises him. Since they were young, Dorian has only been trouble, teasing and taunting Evelyn. Although Dorian is still his mischievous self, a spark ignites between the two and it turns out their hate for each other is actually something more.
This book was hot! I loved Dorian’s personality and he has a way of saying things that makes me have butterflies. I need more pleasure dom recs because that was hottt. Although the plot was a bit predictable, the banter between the two main characters was really good and I loved the soup scene. I gave the book a 4/5 because the dedication mentioned a “twist on the best murder mystery game out there,” but the Clue re-telling/ game of Clue theme wasn’t as present as I would’ve hoped. The revealing of the murderer in the game was predictable and I would’ve enjoyed seeing more of the actual party because the characters and the plot didn’t really connect for me. Overall, this was a short and spicy read and perfect for spooky szn!
Plot 4/5
Spice 4.5/5
Writing 4/5
Character Development 4/5
[I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book]
“Hollow’s Grove” by Lee Jacquot tells the story of Dorian and Evelyn. Evelyn helps her best friend co-host a Halloween work party. Her best friend’s brother also happens to be helping out at the party and Evelyn despises him. Since they were young, Dorian has only been trouble, teasing and taunting Evelyn. Although Dorian is still his mischievous self, a spark ignites between the two and it turns out their hate for each other is actually something more.
This book was hot! I loved Dorian’s personality and he has a way of saying things that makes me have butterflies. I need more pleasure dom recs because that was hottt. Although the plot was a bit predictable, the banter between the two main characters was really good and I loved the soup scene. I gave the book a 4/5 because the dedication mentioned a “twist on the best murder mystery game out there,” but the Clue re-telling/ game of Clue theme wasn’t as present as I would’ve hoped. The revealing of the murderer in the game was predictable and I would’ve enjoyed seeing more of the actual party because the characters and the plot didn’t really connect for me. Overall, this was a short and spicy read and perfect for spooky szn!
Obstacles We Overcame by Alexandra Christine
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
3.5
Rating 3.5/5
Plot 3/5
Spice 3/5
Character Development 3.5/5
[I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book]
“Obstacles We Overcame” is the second book in Alexandra Christine’s Season of Shifters series. This novella tells the story of Dex, Killian, and Hunter in an MMM Fantasy Ménage. When Dex stumbles upon a bookstore owned by Killian, Dex isn’t interested in the books as much as he’s interested in Killian. Although he feels an immediate connection with Killian, he has difficulty expressing his feelings. Hunter is a silver fox who dreams of settling down. He notices Dex constantly visiting Killian’s bookstore and understands why as he too is attracted to Killian. Hunter is not only attracted to Killian but also Dex. Hunter brings Dex and Killian together and the three of them begin a relationship, however, Dex has some past trauma and fears that he must overcome first before he can fully commit to these men.
This was a good story with an interesting plot! Although I didn’t enjoy Dex constantly running away (I felt it to be repetitive and a bit of the miscommunication trope) the storyline was still good and I really enjoyed the interactions between the characters during the bookstore scenes. Although I didn’t enjoy Hunter’s nicknames (e.g. “baby love” could’ve just been cut down to “baby” or “love”), I still found Hunter to be such a sweetheart and I love how caring he was towards both Dex and Killian. I read book 2 first, however, this is an interconnected series so if you want to read about all of the characters and their stories, definitely start from book one!
Plot 3/5
Spice 3/5
Character Development 3.5/5
[I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book]
“Obstacles We Overcame” is the second book in Alexandra Christine’s Season of Shifters series. This novella tells the story of Dex, Killian, and Hunter in an MMM Fantasy Ménage. When Dex stumbles upon a bookstore owned by Killian, Dex isn’t interested in the books as much as he’s interested in Killian. Although he feels an immediate connection with Killian, he has difficulty expressing his feelings. Hunter is a silver fox who dreams of settling down. He notices Dex constantly visiting Killian’s bookstore and understands why as he too is attracted to Killian. Hunter is not only attracted to Killian but also Dex. Hunter brings Dex and Killian together and the three of them begin a relationship, however, Dex has some past trauma and fears that he must overcome first before he can fully commit to these men.
This was a good story with an interesting plot! Although I didn’t enjoy Dex constantly running away (I felt it to be repetitive and a bit of the miscommunication trope) the storyline was still good and I really enjoyed the interactions between the characters during the bookstore scenes. Although I didn’t enjoy Hunter’s nicknames (e.g. “baby love” could’ve just been cut down to “baby” or “love”), I still found Hunter to be such a sweetheart and I love how caring he was towards both Dex and Killian. I read book 2 first, however, this is an interconnected series so if you want to read about all of the characters and their stories, definitely start from book one!
The Girl Who Jumped by Matilda Swinney
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Rating 3/5
Plot 3/5
Spice 3/5
Character Development 3/5
[I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book]
“The Girl Who Jumped” by Matilda Swinney tells the story of Tilly and Sir. Tilly has experienced several failed relationships and decides to try something different. Rather than using a traditional dating site, Tilly takes her best friend’s advice and uses a site to find a more dominating type of relationship. This is where Tilly meets Sir. As Tilly and Sir go through this sub/dom relationship, Tilly questions her inner feminist and if she can continue pleasing Sir.
If you read this book, I recommend starting with the prequel, “The Texts Before We Met” because it gives a bit more context. I didn’t know the prequel existed until after reading “The Girl Who Jumped” but I think it would’ve been beneficial to read the prequel first. Although the spice didn’t hit the mark for me, I still enjoyed the plot. This is a good read for those who enjoy rom-coms, age gaps, and light BDSM.
Plot 3/5
Spice 3/5
Character Development 3/5
[I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book]
“The Girl Who Jumped” by Matilda Swinney tells the story of Tilly and Sir. Tilly has experienced several failed relationships and decides to try something different. Rather than using a traditional dating site, Tilly takes her best friend’s advice and uses a site to find a more dominating type of relationship. This is where Tilly meets Sir. As Tilly and Sir go through this sub/dom relationship, Tilly questions her inner feminist and if she can continue pleasing Sir.
If you read this book, I recommend starting with the prequel, “The Texts Before We Met” because it gives a bit more context. I didn’t know the prequel existed until after reading “The Girl Who Jumped” but I think it would’ve been beneficial to read the prequel first. Although the spice didn’t hit the mark for me, I still enjoyed the plot. This is a good read for those who enjoy rom-coms, age gaps, and light BDSM.
Becca's Bonded Christmas by Sarah Blue, Ashley Bennett
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
5.0
Rating 5/5
Plot 5/5
Spice 4/5
Character Development 5/5
[I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book]
Becca’s Bonded Christmas by Sarah Blue and Ashley Bennett is a short novel that tells the story of Becca and her Baltimore Bonds (Marcus, Reed, and Alex). In this book, Becca and the Baltimore Bonds spend their first Christmas together at her childhood home. Being newly bonded, Becca and the men face challenges controlling themselves while celebrating Christmas with Becca’s twin brother, Beckett, and Becca’s parents.
This story was short, sweet, and spicy! I love the relationship Becca has with her men and I love how Marcus, Reed, and Alex have distinguished personalities! This book is part of the Vera and the Vegas / Heat Haven universe and I love how it’s part of this interconnected series. I cannot wait to read more from Sarah and Ashley!
Crossed Lines by Lana Sky
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Rating 5/5
Plot 5/5
Spice 3/5
Character Development 5/5
[I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book]
“Crossed Lines” by Lana Sky is a dark romance that tells the story of Maryanne Mayweather, Elaine, and Elaine’s husband James Thorne. Maryanne is a rebellious 17-year-old who after being expelled from her 12th boarding school, is sent to live with her aunt Elaine and Elaine’s husband James. James was once a successful author, however, this has since changed. His marriage is falling apart, and the last thing he wants to do is care for his wife's bratty niece. Maryanne's next rebellious act is planning to defame and destroy James, however, their relationship goes down a path filled with risks, consequences, and moments where lines should never be crossed.
This book… THIS BOOK!!! Lana Sky’s books fall under a very specific and unique category. Her writing is amazing and this book was such a page-turner for me. It’s filled with incredible twists and turns and has a ton of suspense! I’ve re-read the epilogue too many times to count and the last line makes me wish that this standalone had a sequel! This book is dark and covers serious topics so make sure to read content warnings before jumping in.
Plot 5/5
Spice 3/5
Character Development 5/5
[I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book]
“Crossed Lines” by Lana Sky is a dark romance that tells the story of Maryanne Mayweather, Elaine, and Elaine’s husband James Thorne. Maryanne is a rebellious 17-year-old who after being expelled from her 12th boarding school, is sent to live with her aunt Elaine and Elaine’s husband James. James was once a successful author, however, this has since changed. His marriage is falling apart, and the last thing he wants to do is care for his wife's bratty niece. Maryanne's next rebellious act is planning to defame and destroy James, however, their relationship goes down a path filled with risks, consequences, and moments where lines should never be crossed.
This book… THIS BOOK!!! Lana Sky’s books fall under a very specific and unique category. Her writing is amazing and this book was such a page-turner for me. It’s filled with incredible twists and turns and has a ton of suspense! I’ve re-read the epilogue too many times to count and the last line makes me wish that this standalone had a sequel! This book is dark and covers serious topics so make sure to read content warnings before jumping in.