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justabooktrovert's reviews
1094 reviews
Finding Lord Landry by Lucy Lennox
4.0
Landry and Kenji’s story was everything I wanted and more! This was my favorite book in the series. I loved seeing them finally drop the miscommunication, talk about what they truly wanted, and come together. Their dynamic frustating as well as satisfying to watch unfold. Lucy Lennox delivered a charming, heartfelt, and entertaining read once again!
Hush by Tal Bauer
5.0
Tal Bauer never misses, and Hush is no exception! This kind of political thriller isn’t my usual go-to, but I’m so glad I took a chance because it completely hooked me from start to finish. The tension, the stakes, the romance; it was all so well done. Bauer has a way of making every moment feel cinematic, and I couldn’t put it down. If all thrillers were like this, I’d read them way more often! Now I can’t wait to dive into more of his mystery/suspense books. Highly recommend!
A Lady for a Duke by Alexis Hall
4.0
I absolutely love historical romance, and A Lady for a Duke was everything I could have wanted; beautiful, emotional, and utterly captivating. Viola and Gracewood’s story is full of longing, second chances, and healing, and I was hooked from the start.
Alexis Hall’s writing is stunning, balancing deep emotion with wit and charm. The slow-burn romance between these two was so beautifully done, and watching them find their way back to each other felt like pure magic. This book was an absolute joy to read; heartfelt, romantic, and completely unforgettable.
Alexis Hall’s writing is stunning, balancing deep emotion with wit and charm. The slow-burn romance between these two was so beautifully done, and watching them find their way back to each other felt like pure magic. This book was an absolute joy to read; heartfelt, romantic, and completely unforgettable.
Kiss the Villain by Rina Kent
One:
I'm not the biggest fan of Kayden. His so-called belief system is completely inconsistent with his actions. For years, he’s been hunting down and killing those who raped and murdered his wife. And yet, in his very first encounter with Gareth, he rapes him at gun point. He ends up having two more non-consensual sexual encounters with Gareth.
In chapter 10, when Gareth calls him out over text, saying, ‘You raped me three times.’ Kayden’s excuse is, ‘You shouldn’t throw stones when your house is made of glass. You started the rape thing first. I only let you get a taste of being on the receiving end instead.’ Seriously!? He despises rapists, yet he becomes one!? Just to clarify, Gareth didn’t actually rape anyone. Did he have dubious intentions with Yulian? Yes, but Kayen caught him before he could act on his plans. What Gareth intended wasn’t rape, but Kayen assumed it was; and his apparent thought process was, Ah well, I’ll just rape you to teach you a lesson? Please, make it make sense.
To be clear, it's not the non-con that bothers me. That's to be expected in darker books. And as a Dark Romance reader, that doesn't trigger or upset me. My issue is the complete inconsistency between what Kayden supposedly stands for and his own actions. At one point in Chapter 7 he makes a comment to Gareth, "But that repulsive rapist habit of yours can't go unpunished." He even has his Criminal Law class hold a mock trial for a rape case and gets upset when Gareth does a good job as the defense lawyer, arguing that he should have shown more "empathy toward the victim." For someone so sanctimonious, he has no problem disregarding his own so-called principles.
Nothing says ‘I stand against injustice’ quite like committing the very injustices you claim to hate. I get it, he’s the Villain, but that logic is so flawed, especially for someone supposedly so intelligent. The mental gymnastics required to justify it are absolutely wild.
Two:
I'm such a sucker for the term of endearment baby, but this book went overboard with it. It felt like every other sentence out of Kayden’s mouth was baby this, baby that. Literally 159 times! I usually love it, but after this, I think I need a break from it for a while.
Three:
I love the feminization kink in MM books, but the wording in this one felt off. Instead of enhancing the scene, the phrasing was so odd that it pulled me out of the moment. I just ended up rolling my eyes. I’m all for the ‘who do you belong to’ or ‘who does this <insert body part> belong to’ dynamic, but when the act itself is described in such an awkward way, it just doesn’t hit right. Example: 'You'll take my c*ck in my p*ssy and thank me for it.' Every instance of the feminization kink is like this, it's such an odd way to word it.
3.0
Please check the trigger warnings before reading this book, especially if you’re new to the Dark Romance genre.
If God of Fury was your introduction to MM Romance, be aware that this book is NOTHING like God of Fury. This story is significantly darker, and what you may have enjoyed in that book isn’t present here. The two aren’t comparable.
Now, onto my review. I really wanted to rate this 4 stars or higher, but I just couldn’t. There were a few things that distracted from my overall enjoyment of the book.
I'm not the biggest fan of Kayden. His so-called belief system is completely inconsistent with his actions. For years, he’s been hunting down and killing those who raped and murdered his wife. And yet, in his very first encounter with Gareth, he rapes him at gun point. He ends up having two more non-consensual sexual encounters with Gareth.
In chapter 10, when Gareth calls him out over text, saying, ‘You raped me three times.’ Kayden’s excuse is, ‘You shouldn’t throw stones when your house is made of glass. You started the rape thing first. I only let you get a taste of being on the receiving end instead.’ Seriously!? He despises rapists, yet he becomes one!? Just to clarify, Gareth didn’t actually rape anyone. Did he have dubious intentions with Yulian? Yes, but Kayen caught him before he could act on his plans. What Gareth intended wasn’t rape, but Kayen assumed it was; and his apparent thought process was, Ah well, I’ll just rape you to teach you a lesson? Please, make it make sense.
To be clear, it's not the non-con that bothers me. That's to be expected in darker books. And as a Dark Romance reader, that doesn't trigger or upset me. My issue is the complete inconsistency between what Kayden supposedly stands for and his own actions. At one point in Chapter 7 he makes a comment to Gareth, "But that repulsive rapist habit of yours can't go unpunished." He even has his Criminal Law class hold a mock trial for a rape case and gets upset when Gareth does a good job as the defense lawyer, arguing that he should have shown more "empathy toward the victim." For someone so sanctimonious, he has no problem disregarding his own so-called principles.
Nothing says ‘I stand against injustice’ quite like committing the very injustices you claim to hate. I get it, he’s the Villain, but that logic is so flawed, especially for someone supposedly so intelligent. The mental gymnastics required to justify it are absolutely wild.
Two:
I'm such a sucker for the term of endearment baby, but this book went overboard with it. It felt like every other sentence out of Kayden’s mouth was baby this, baby that. Literally 159 times! I usually love it, but after this, I think I need a break from it for a while.
Three:
I love the feminization kink in MM books, but the wording in this one felt off. Instead of enhancing the scene, the phrasing was so odd that it pulled me out of the moment. I just ended up rolling my eyes. I’m all for the ‘who do you belong to’ or ‘who does this <insert body part> belong to’ dynamic, but when the act itself is described in such an awkward way, it just doesn’t hit right. Example: 'You'll take my c*ck in my p*ssy and thank me for it.' Every instance of the feminization kink is like this, it's such an odd way to word it.
Okay, all that aside, it was a decent read, but what really enhanced the experience was listening to the audiobook while reading along. The audiobook made it so much more enjoyable, the full cast narration did an absolutely amazing job.
I loved getting to see more of who Gareth was, as well as his relationships with his father, grandfather, and Killian. What I eventually came to appreciate about his dynamic with Kayden was how Kayden had a way of reining in Gareth’s wayward thoughts, guiding him toward more positive outlets while still fully supporting who he is. I also loved seeing Gareth come to accept his sexual identity and explore his submissive side with Kayden’s help.
Speaking of terms of endearment, I absolutely adored Kayden’s nickname for him; "little monster". It was just so stinking cute!
Finally I was thrilled to see Niko and Bran again! I can never get enough of them! I also really enjoyed the messages between Gareth and Vaughn; it was great to see Gareth have someone to confide in while trying to make sense of everything. Now, I’m definitely interested in reading Vaughn and Yulian’s story!
Speaking of terms of endearment, I absolutely adored Kayden’s nickname for him; "little monster". It was just so stinking cute!
Finally I was thrilled to see Niko and Bran again! I can never get enough of them! I also really enjoyed the messages between Gareth and Vaughn; it was great to see Gareth have someone to confide in while trying to make sense of everything. Now, I’m definitely interested in reading Vaughn and Yulian’s story!
What to expect:
💚dark romance
🖤villain/monster
💚professor/student
🖤hate to love
💚age gap (11 years)
🖤bi & gay awakening
💚mutual obsession
🖤forbidden romance
💚dom/sub vibes
Crossing Arizona by Bree Wiley
5.0
"Sometimes we don't see what's right in front of us until it's no longer there."
I’m a sucker for a good Second Chance romance, and this one hit just right. Bree knows how to write characters who feel real, flawed, messy, but so full of growth. Xed and Matty put me through it, and my heart ached for everything they went through. Their journey was emotional, frustrating, beautiful, and completely worth it.
I absolutely devoured Xed and Matty’s story, finishing it in a day. We first met these two characters in Finding Delaware, and I was so excited to see them get their own book. And wow, what a ride!
If you love angst, redemption, and characters you can’t help but root for, Crossing Arizona is a must-read. Highly, highly recommend!
What you can expect:
💛 Second chances
🖤 Hurt/Comfort
💛 First times
🖤 Pinky holding
💛 Found family
🖤 All. The. Pining.
💛 Road signs as a love language
**I received a free, advanced copy of this book from the author and this is my voluntary, honest review.**
I’m a sucker for a good Second Chance romance, and this one hit just right. Bree knows how to write characters who feel real, flawed, messy, but so full of growth. Xed and Matty put me through it, and my heart ached for everything they went through. Their journey was emotional, frustrating, beautiful, and completely worth it.
I absolutely devoured Xed and Matty’s story, finishing it in a day. We first met these two characters in Finding Delaware, and I was so excited to see them get their own book. And wow, what a ride!
If you love angst, redemption, and characters you can’t help but root for, Crossing Arizona is a must-read. Highly, highly recommend!
What you can expect:
💛 Second chances
🖤 Hurt/Comfort
💛 First times
🖤 Pinky holding
💛 Found family
🖤 All. The. Pining.
💛 Road signs as a love language
**I received a free, advanced copy of this book from the author and this is my voluntary, honest review.**
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
5.0
A Love Story for the Ages. I don’t even know where to start because The Song of Achilles isn’t just a book…it’s an experience. One that reaches into your chest, grabs your heart, and doesn’t let go. Madeline Miller takes the well-known myth of Achilles and Patroclus and transforms it into something deeply human, intimate, and utterly devastating.
I laughed, I cried, I mourned. And in the end, I was left with that rare, bittersweet feeling of having read something truly special. If you haven’t picked this up yet, do yourself a favor and let it ruin you in the best way possible.
I laughed, I cried, I mourned. And in the end, I was left with that rare, bittersweet feeling of having read something truly special. If you haven’t picked this up yet, do yourself a favor and let it ruin you in the best way possible.
The Liar's Reckoning by August Jones
4.0
If you’ve been following the Doormen of The Upper East Side series, then you already know that Silas and Graham’s story has been simmering in the background, waiting to explode.
And let me tell you, this book delivers on all the angst, heartbreak, and frustration you could possibly ask for.
Silas, our openly gay, fiercely independent doorman/personal trainer/escort, is tangled up in a secret relationship with Graham, a closeted Republican senator. What could possibly go wrong? (Spoiler: Everything.)
We already knew of their story from the previous books, especially from The Sinners’ Sanctuary. But seeing it unfold through Silas’ perspective instead of Gibson’s? That was a gut punch. If I was mad at Graham for being a coward, the let me assure you I was livid at Gibson. Everyone drags Graham for his lack of courage, and don’t get me wrong, he absolutely deserves it. But Gibson’s actions? Just as cowardly, if not worse. He let Marianne manipulate him to the point of completely destroying Silas’ life, and I don’t think I’ll ever be over it. Did Gibson or Graham truly suffer? Nah, they’ve got money and connections. But my poor Silas’ life was ruined.
The first half of the book gives us the foundation of Silas and Graham’s relationship; how they met, how they fell into each other, how they became something more. It’s easy to see why Silas loved him, even though we, could already sense the disaster looming on the horizon.
And then the second half? Pure emotional devastation. Frustration. Anger. Watching Silas get his heart ripped to shreds over and over and watching how his life was destroyed made me want to throw my Kindle across the room. Because the truth is, Silas deserved so much better.
And yet, he forgives too easily. That was the hardest pill to swallow. After everything, after all the pain, after all the ways Graham failed him… Silas still gives in. And while I get it, while I understand love doesn’t always make sense, it still left me raw and aching.
So, if you’re looking for something light and fluffy…this is not it. But if you want a book that will wring you out emotionally, make you scream in frustration, and still leave you with that small, painful hope? The Liar’s Reckoning delivers. Just… maybe have some comfort snacks and a stress ball nearby.
And let me tell you, this book delivers on all the angst, heartbreak, and frustration you could possibly ask for.
Silas, our openly gay, fiercely independent doorman/personal trainer/escort, is tangled up in a secret relationship with Graham, a closeted Republican senator. What could possibly go wrong? (Spoiler: Everything.)
We already knew of their story from the previous books, especially from The Sinners’ Sanctuary. But seeing it unfold through Silas’ perspective instead of Gibson’s? That was a gut punch. If I was mad at Graham for being a coward, the let me assure you I was livid at Gibson. Everyone drags Graham for his lack of courage, and don’t get me wrong, he absolutely deserves it. But Gibson’s actions? Just as cowardly, if not worse. He let Marianne manipulate him to the point of completely destroying Silas’ life, and I don’t think I’ll ever be over it. Did Gibson or Graham truly suffer? Nah, they’ve got money and connections. But my poor Silas’ life was ruined.
The first half of the book gives us the foundation of Silas and Graham’s relationship; how they met, how they fell into each other, how they became something more. It’s easy to see why Silas loved him, even though we, could already sense the disaster looming on the horizon.
And then the second half? Pure emotional devastation. Frustration. Anger. Watching Silas get his heart ripped to shreds over and over and watching how his life was destroyed made me want to throw my Kindle across the room. Because the truth is, Silas deserved so much better.
And yet, he forgives too easily. That was the hardest pill to swallow. After everything, after all the pain, after all the ways Graham failed him… Silas still gives in. And while I get it, while I understand love doesn’t always make sense, it still left me raw and aching.
So, if you’re looking for something light and fluffy…this is not it. But if you want a book that will wring you out emotionally, make you scream in frustration, and still leave you with that small, painful hope? The Liar’s Reckoning delivers. Just… maybe have some comfort snacks and a stress ball nearby.
Forbidden Titan by E.V. Olsen
3.5
This dark MM stepbrother romance is packed with angst, tension, and unresolved emotions.
After a devastating accident jeopardizes Zach’s hockey career, his stepbrother Merci vanishes, convinced everyone is better off without him. Zach agrees; he hates Merci and wants him gone for good. But when Zach tracks him down five years later, seeking revenge, he realizes the line between hate and something much deeper is razor-thin.
The setup is intense and messy, but the story moves too fast, making the shift from enemies to lovers feel rushed. It had all the right elements, just not quite enough depth. Still, if you love high-drama, fast-paced forbidden romance, this one delivers the angst and heat in spades! 🔥
After a devastating accident jeopardizes Zach’s hockey career, his stepbrother Merci vanishes, convinced everyone is better off without him. Zach agrees; he hates Merci and wants him gone for good. But when Zach tracks him down five years later, seeking revenge, he realizes the line between hate and something much deeper is razor-thin.
The setup is intense and messy, but the story moves too fast, making the shift from enemies to lovers feel rushed. It had all the right elements, just not quite enough depth. Still, if you love high-drama, fast-paced forbidden romance, this one delivers the angst and heat in spades! 🔥
Stalking Daddy by Ashlynn Mills
3.5
I sat on this review for a week, trying to figure out exactly why I landed on this rating, and honestly? I’m still not entirely sure.
The setup is definitely intriguing; Everett, the so-called stepfather Iggy has been crushing on, isn’t who he claims to be. He’s actually working to take down Iggy’s father, which leads to Iggy getting caught in the crossfire. When the truth comes out, Iggy is furious and sets out for revenge, while Everett, drowning in guilt, lets it happen because he blames himself for everything Iggy went through.
It had all the makings of a dark, intense read, but something about the execution felt… off. The dynamic between Everett and Iggy was compelling, but for a book called Stalking Daddy, there wasn’t much actual stalking, and the daddy kink was barely there. Not necessarily a deal-breaker, but definitely not what you’d expect from the title.
Overall, it’s a fast-paced, revenge-fueled "romance" with an interesting premise, but if you’re picking it up expecting a heavy dose of stalking and daddy kink, you might be left wanting more.
The setup is definitely intriguing; Everett, the so-called stepfather Iggy has been crushing on, isn’t who he claims to be. He’s actually working to take down Iggy’s father, which leads to Iggy getting caught in the crossfire. When the truth comes out, Iggy is furious and sets out for revenge, while Everett, drowning in guilt, lets it happen because he blames himself for everything Iggy went through.
It had all the makings of a dark, intense read, but something about the execution felt… off. The dynamic between Everett and Iggy was compelling, but for a book called Stalking Daddy, there wasn’t much actual stalking, and the daddy kink was barely there. Not necessarily a deal-breaker, but definitely not what you’d expect from the title.
Overall, it’s a fast-paced, revenge-fueled "romance" with an interesting premise, but if you’re picking it up expecting a heavy dose of stalking and daddy kink, you might be left wanting more.
The Step Dare by Devon McCormack, Riley Hart
4.0
The Peach State Step Bros series comes to a close with The Step Dare, and I have to say this book was so much fun!
Brenner and Taylor have been best friends for years and even live together as roommates on campus. Brenner is a confident and flirty bi-sexual man while his best friend Taylor is more reserved, but is curious. Brenner, ever the best friend, offers to help him explore his feelings. What starts as casual friends-with-benefits fun quickly turns into something a lot more complicated, especially when they realize their parents are in love and planning a wedding.
They try to shut things down, but yeah… that does not go well. Not when they live together, not when they’re ridiculously drawn to each other, and definitely not when their banter and connection just make too much sense.
But neither of them wants to do anything that could risk the love and stability their parents have finally found so there’s a bit of internal struggle that adds a nice emotional layer beneath all the flirting, tension, and seriously hot moments.
Overall, this book is sweet, sexy, and just ridiculously cute. If you love best friends-to-lovers, bi-awakening, forced proximity (hello, roommates!), and lots of spice, you’ll have a great time with this one. A perfect way to wrap up the series! 😊🔥
Brenner and Taylor have been best friends for years and even live together as roommates on campus. Brenner is a confident and flirty bi-sexual man while his best friend Taylor is more reserved, but is curious. Brenner, ever the best friend, offers to help him explore his feelings. What starts as casual friends-with-benefits fun quickly turns into something a lot more complicated, especially when they realize their parents are in love and planning a wedding.
They try to shut things down, but yeah… that does not go well. Not when they live together, not when they’re ridiculously drawn to each other, and definitely not when their banter and connection just make too much sense.
But neither of them wants to do anything that could risk the love and stability their parents have finally found so there’s a bit of internal struggle that adds a nice emotional layer beneath all the flirting, tension, and seriously hot moments.
Overall, this book is sweet, sexy, and just ridiculously cute. If you love best friends-to-lovers, bi-awakening, forced proximity (hello, roommates!), and lots of spice, you’ll have a great time with this one. A perfect way to wrap up the series! 😊🔥