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k_cao_xai's reviews
37 reviews
Chemistry Lessons by Jae
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
A cozy best-friends-to-lovers story.
Character Impressions:
Kylie
Hot lesbian lunch lady. I don’t know why, but she reminds me of a teddy bear; protective and caring towards her best friend but also a complete softy.
Normally, it’s maddening when characters don’t open their mouths to say what’s on their minds—which leads to misunderstandings that could be resolved in five seconds if they had communicated—but the author established early on that Ky is reserved and has a habit of not saying what she feels, so it makes sense when she holds back on outright confessing her feelings. That also makes it all the more rewarding when she finally does push pass her comfort zone to tell Regan how she feels.
Regan
Cute bisexual chemistry teacher. I love how confident she is that she and Kylie won’t make a good couple if they were dating, but she ends up being floored the most when she realizes just how good they fit together.
Hot lesbian lunch lady. I don’t know why, but she reminds me of a teddy bear; protective and caring towards her best friend but also a complete softy.
Normally, it’s maddening when characters don’t open their mouths to say what’s on their minds—which leads to misunderstandings that could be resolved in five seconds if they had communicated—but the author established early on that Ky is reserved and has a habit of not saying what she feels, so it makes sense when she holds back on outright confessing her feelings. That also makes it all the more rewarding when she finally does push pass her comfort zone to tell Regan how she feels.
Regan
Cute bisexual chemistry teacher. I love how confident she is that she and Kylie won’t make a good couple if they were dating, but she ends up being floored the most when she realizes just how good they fit together.
Minor Characters:
- Regan and Ky’s friends: They knew! They knew all along!
- Regan’s family: Adorable. Supportive. Love them, especially the parents.
Story Impressions:
I find the premise adorable: two best friends date just to prove they have no romantic chemistry, only to realize they’ve been compatible all along.
What I like is that the author doesn’t sacrifice scenes showing friendship for scenes showing sexy time. The main heroines don’t develop the hots for each other out of the blue, there’s a build up to it, and until they realize they want to jump each other’s bones, they still do things for one another that best friends would do.
One of my pet peeves does pop up in this story but it’s a very, very minor thing.
Saying that a character looks like a certain real-life celebrity is a very rickety thing to do for two reasons:
1) I would rather picture the character rather than a real-life celebrity.
2) There’s a very big risk of naming a celebrity who may turn out to be a horrible person down the line. Not saying the two real-life celebrities named in this story are bad people, but I wouldn’t want authors to immortalize a celebrity in their novel if an accusation or trial involving that celebrity comes up in the future.
This doesn’t factor into my rating at all. It’s just a personal gripe.
Still, this is a sweet and cozy story you can read in one sitting. No unnecessary drama, just two friends figuring out what they really mean to each other.
What I like is that the author doesn’t sacrifice scenes showing friendship for scenes showing sexy time. The main heroines don’t develop the hots for each other out of the blue, there’s a build up to it, and until they realize they want to jump each other’s bones, they still do things for one another that best friends would do.
One of my pet peeves does pop up in this story but it’s a very, very minor thing.
Saying that a character looks like a certain real-life celebrity is a very rickety thing to do for two reasons:
1) I would rather picture the character rather than a real-life celebrity.
2) There’s a very big risk of naming a celebrity who may turn out to be a horrible person down the line. Not saying the two real-life celebrities named in this story are bad people, but I wouldn’t want authors to immortalize a celebrity in their novel if an accusation or trial involving that celebrity comes up in the future.
This doesn’t factor into my rating at all. It’s just a personal gripe.
Still, this is a sweet and cozy story you can read in one sitting. No unnecessary drama, just two friends figuring out what they really mean to each other.
Highlights:
- Highlight 1: Solid first kiss scene.
- Highlight 2: Family knew they were in love before they did themselves.
- Highlight 3: Friends knew they were in love before they did themselves.
- Highlight 4: Solid sex scene that hits different because they’re best friends.
- Highlight 5: “Spoon me.”
- Highlight 6: Treehouse confessions.
- Highlight 7: “I want your toothbrush in my cupholder.” And yes, that declaration is more wholesome with context.
- Highlight 8: Regan and Kylie’s height difference.
My Personal Tags About the Book:
- Lesbian protagonist
- Bisexual protagonist
- Best friends to lovers
- Butch/femme pairing
- Happily ever after
- Slow burn romance
- Low angst/low drama
Blood Bound by Idella Breen
Knowing what the genre was, I had no issue with semi-possessiveness, fated mates, or alpha/omega and alpha/beta dynamics. I expect those in this kind of story. But the biggest issue was the non-consensual attempted sex. No matter how hot someone is, no means no.
Despite my criticisms, I do believe the author has a lot of potential. There’s interesting worldbuilding scattered throughout, some of the lore is different from what I’ve read in similar genres, and there are moments you can tell the author put a lot of heart into writing it.
So that being said, I’ll be keeping an eye on Idella Breen for future books because I think she has a lot of potential to write great things. I have high hopes for the author and for the stories she wants to write in the future.
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
So much potential.
Character Impressions:
Snow Bennett
I mean this with the most compassion, but I can’t point out any distinct features about Snow’s personality. I searched and reread passages to try and understand if there were specific traits about her. Is she reserved? Headstrong? Shy? Sarcastic? I can’t pinpoint anything significant.
I guess ‘naïve’ would be the closest thing I can figure out about her personality, but I would like to have seen more sides of her. Since she has no idea about the society Cait is from, being curious would have played nicely into one of her characteristics, but people often gave her information without her asking.
As the main character, it feels like a setback because she wasn’t moving the story forward. I think the story would have benefited if it wasn’t set in a high school since most of the story doesn’t involve the school anyway. Snow could have been an eighteen-year-old who graduated and is getting into college, or getting a job, and it still would have worked.
Cait Fallon
Cait has more going for her. She’s got a tragic backstory, struggles with her alpha, and has some pretty tense conflict with other characters. Yet, as someone who’s been alive and alone for over a few hundred years, I expected her to be resistant about her sudden pull towards Snow.
I do like that she struggles against her alpha but if she had resisted the urge to throw herself on Snow, without Snow’s consent the moment they were alone, this struggle would have been more endearing to see her overcome.
I mean this with the most compassion, but I can’t point out any distinct features about Snow’s personality. I searched and reread passages to try and understand if there were specific traits about her. Is she reserved? Headstrong? Shy? Sarcastic? I can’t pinpoint anything significant.
I guess ‘naïve’ would be the closest thing I can figure out about her personality, but I would like to have seen more sides of her. Since she has no idea about the society Cait is from, being curious would have played nicely into one of her characteristics, but people often gave her information without her asking.
As the main character, it feels like a setback because she wasn’t moving the story forward. I think the story would have benefited if it wasn’t set in a high school since most of the story doesn’t involve the school anyway. Snow could have been an eighteen-year-old who graduated and is getting into college, or getting a job, and it still would have worked.
Cait Fallon
Cait has more going for her. She’s got a tragic backstory, struggles with her alpha, and has some pretty tense conflict with other characters. Yet, as someone who’s been alive and alone for over a few hundred years, I expected her to be resistant about her sudden pull towards Snow.
I do like that she struggles against her alpha but if she had resisted the urge to throw herself on Snow, without Snow’s consent the moment they were alone, this struggle would have been more endearing to see her overcome.
Minor Characters:
There are a handful of minor characters in the story—from the school principal to Snow’s parents to different clans/species—but there’s a lot of missed potential to distinguish them from one another, especially when some of them hold powerful positions.
The most prominent minor character is Gwen, who at times sounds like an older woman who has years of wisdom but at other times, sounds like a teenager when she speaks. She does sort of fit the role of a mentor for Snow, but she doesn’t offer anything other than telling Snow how wolf clans function.
The most prominent minor character is Gwen, who at times sounds like an older woman who has years of wisdom but at other times, sounds like a teenager when she speaks. She does sort of fit the role of a mentor for Snow, but she doesn’t offer anything other than telling Snow how wolf clans function.
Story Impressions:
There’s a couple things I like about the story, such as the idea of a wolf song or how when wolves howl, they’re singing the song of a historical event or about a person. And I like the different species, some of which I’ve never seen in other books before.
There were quite a few things I was confused about.
There were quite a few things I was confused about.
- Shouldn’t vampire teens who have been alive for hundreds of years go to a different school with other vampire teens, since they’re not learning at the same level as mortal teens? Or maybe they don’t even go to school and you can see teenage-looking vampires hold high positions because they’ve been around longer than humans.
- Why did Snow make the fight with her parents seem more serious than it was, because when she returned home to get their help, they were completely fine, even joking as if the fight didn’t matter at all?
- What are the rules surrounding Snow’s ice powers? Will it be explored in the next books?
- I do wish the story was told either strictly from Snow’s point-of-view, or from Snow and Cait’s alternating perspectives, because for the most part, it was told from side characters, head hopping between different ones, sometimes within the same sentence, making things hard to understand. Most of them had the same manner of speech as well, so I couldn’t tell who was saying what without names in the dialogue tag.
- That first kiss scene felt awkward with the amount of strangers watching. Not to mention the neck cramp from face sucking at that angle.
- That first official mating or sex scene was...unexpected in various ways.
Cait shifting in the middle of sex to mark Snow and Gwen having to be in the other room while they do the devil's tango was certainly something I've never seen in this genre before.
Knowing what the genre was, I had no issue with semi-possessiveness, fated mates, or alpha/omega and alpha/beta dynamics. I expect those in this kind of story. But the biggest issue was the non-consensual attempted sex. No matter how hot someone is, no means no.
Despite my criticisms, I do believe the author has a lot of potential. There’s interesting worldbuilding scattered throughout, some of the lore is different from what I’ve read in similar genres, and there are moments you can tell the author put a lot of heart into writing it.
So that being said, I’ll be keeping an eye on Idella Breen for future books because I think she has a lot of potential to write great things. I have high hopes for the author and for the stories she wants to write in the future.
Highlights:
- Highlight 1: Cait Fallon.
- Highlight 2: The way the main villain was handled towards the end.
My Personal Tags About the Book:
- Lesbian protagonists
- Happily ever after
- Fated mates
Commanded by Night by Zelda Knight
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
I’m not sure I can summarize what this story is about.
Character Impressions:
Veronica
The scientist looking for a cure to a dangerous virus.
She's trying to save her best friend, but seeing her ex-girlfriend often prevents her from thinking about the right things. I thought her research into TV3 and what she does to help omegas at the heat clinic was interesting, but for most of the story, she simply has the hots for her asshole ex.
Jasmine
Catching the love interest in the aftermath of an orgy does not make a good first impression.
It’s hard writing likeable characters who are also players. There should be something to contrast this: an endearing character trait or something so I know sleeping with people isn’t the only thing on her mind. I guess the only redeeming factor is that Jasmine points out she messes around to try and fill in the hole left behind by Veronica, but again, these moments didn’t feel like an inner struggle, but rather another Tuesday. I think she was more ashamed she was caught post-orgy by Veronica rather than ashamed she resorted to sex to try and forget her ex-girlfriend.
The scientist looking for a cure to a dangerous virus.
She's trying to save her best friend, but seeing her ex-girlfriend often prevents her from thinking about the right things. I thought her research into TV3 and what she does to help omegas at the heat clinic was interesting, but for most of the story, she simply has the hots for her asshole ex.
Jasmine
Catching the love interest in the aftermath of an orgy does not make a good first impression.
It’s hard writing likeable characters who are also players. There should be something to contrast this: an endearing character trait or something so I know sleeping with people isn’t the only thing on her mind. I guess the only redeeming factor is that Jasmine points out she messes around to try and fill in the hole left behind by Veronica, but again, these moments didn’t feel like an inner struggle, but rather another Tuesday. I think she was more ashamed she was caught post-orgy by Veronica rather than ashamed she resorted to sex to try and forget her ex-girlfriend.
Minor Characters:
There are a handful of minor characters, some of who play important roles in getting the story to move forward. I’m not sure how old some of these characters are supposed to be. Some vampires who have been alive for years speak or text like teenagers, so it’s a bit jarring since they’re written to be distinguished or royalty-like.
Story Impressions:
The worldbuilding has a lot of potential to be explored. I hope the author builds on it in other books set in the same universe. Things like the Otherside or what researchers do at Eclipse Heat Clinic are interesting.
The world map looks like a fantasy map, but I believe this is set in a contemporary city, so it took me a while to imagine what kind of setting this is supposed to look like.
That entire scene with Veronica…displaying herself…thinking it was for Jasmine…was…unexpected.
Given more time and research, I think the author can write great things with what she brings into this genre.
The world map looks like a fantasy map, but I believe this is set in a contemporary city, so it took me a while to imagine what kind of setting this is supposed to look like.
That entire scene with Veronica…displaying herself…thinking it was for Jasmine…was…unexpected.
Given more time and research, I think the author can write great things with what she brings into this genre.
Highlights:
- Highlight 1: Must-go-save-the-future-wife scene.
My Personal Tags About the Book:
- Lesbian protagonists
- f/f omegaverse
- Happily ever after
- FemPreg? Not really. It’s a passing remark at the end.
- Class difference
- Interracial couple
Under a Falling Star by Jae
lighthearted
medium-paced
- 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? No
4.0
Who knew a head injury could result in happily-ever-after?
Character Impressions:
Austen Brooks
The balls on this woman to kiss a total stranger because her gaydar is pinging up to eleven…
Austen is a sweetheart. My favorite thing about her is that she’s honest with her feelings. She doesn’t tell Dee what she’s feeling to make Dee feel bad, but to make sure Dee understands her. Unlike everyone else at the company who’s either afraid of Dee or trying to kiss ass, Austen doesn’t know Dee, so she treats her like she would anyone else. She’s kind and caring, but doesn’t let Dee order her around like other employees.
Danielle “Dee” Saunders
Tough, tall workaholic ice queen who is more of a sweetheart than even she herself realizes.
Dee works way too hard for people who care too little about her, so it’s a little jarring when she encounters Austen who shows her nothing but tenderness and care. I absolutely adore Dee’s banter with Austen and how she welcomes the fact that Austen doesn’t let Dee tell her what to do without saying “please” first.
The balls on this woman to kiss a total stranger because her gaydar is pinging up to eleven…
Austen is a sweetheart. My favorite thing about her is that she’s honest with her feelings. She doesn’t tell Dee what she’s feeling to make Dee feel bad, but to make sure Dee understands her. Unlike everyone else at the company who’s either afraid of Dee or trying to kiss ass, Austen doesn’t know Dee, so she treats her like she would anyone else. She’s kind and caring, but doesn’t let Dee order her around like other employees.
Danielle “Dee” Saunders
Tough, tall workaholic ice queen who is more of a sweetheart than even she herself realizes.
Dee works way too hard for people who care too little about her, so it’s a little jarring when she encounters Austen who shows her nothing but tenderness and care. I absolutely adore Dee’s banter with Austen and how she welcomes the fact that Austen doesn’t let Dee tell her what to do without saying “please” first.
Minor Characters:
Toby: Austen’s cockatoo. Always has good timing.
Dawn & Aiden: Austen’s closest friends. They watch out for Austen and only want the best for her.
Austen’s Family: Compared to Dee, Austen’s family are great. They’re close and I’m glad to see the healthy family dynamic.
Dee’s Family: Dee’s family suck. It’s no wonder she’s the way she is because of how they treat her. At least Tim is a decent brother.
Kudos Entertainment Employees: All the people who gossip and spread lies in this company suck.
Dawn & Aiden: Austen’s closest friends. They watch out for Austen and only want the best for her.
Austen’s Family: Compared to Dee, Austen’s family are great. They’re close and I’m glad to see the healthy family dynamic.
Dee’s Family: Dee’s family suck. It’s no wonder she’s the way she is because of how they treat her. At least Tim is a decent brother.
Kudos Entertainment Employees: All the people who gossip and spread lies in this company suck.
Story Impressions:
I was surprised to find out that most of the story isn’t a buildup to the two women finally being together, but rather them navigating the issues of secretly dating as a boss-employee couple. They start dating halfway through the book and the other half is them trying to be together without anyone at work finding out. It does add a different kind of conflict for their relationship.
I would have liked to see more of their romance on the page rather than have it be summed up, like see one of their first dates, rather than be told they’ve been on dates, but again, the story was more about the struggles of dating in secret rather than the steps they took to finally be a couple.
One thing I appreciate is that whenever Austen jumped to conclusions about Dee’s feelings, Dee cleared things up within record time. This was great because I was dreading unnecessary drama if one of them were to pretend everything’s okay when it’s not. Luckily, they act like adults and talk things out.
One of the early chapters was frustrating when Austen wouldn’t let Dee explain why Dee didn’t tell Austen that she was technically her boss. But they both had a reason for their actions and I’m glad it was resolved fairly quickly.
I only have one gripe about the plot.
It was a little too convenient when Dee’s brother, Tim, visited Austen’s house to check on her after she got hurt, just so he can catch them together. It’s a little weird to have your boss come over to your house, isn’t it? A phone call would have sufficed. But I understand it was a scene that had to happen so the two women can solidify their relationship in front of someone other than each other.
It doesn’t take away from the story however.
There were two things I did wish would have happened in the story.
1) I sort of wished it was only one of the company employees spreading lies about how evil Dee is, rather than it being most of the employees. The rest of the employees can believe this character’s lies, but I think it would have been better if there was only one person as the source. That way, when Austen finally stands up to them in the end to dispute those lies, she does it to a character I can hate rather than a random employee who happened to talk shit when she walked by.
2) Uncle Wade obviously knows Dee is the backbone of the company because without her, everything would fall apart. He knows this because when he thought she was going to quit in Chapter 12, he stumbled over his words and almost shat his pants. I would have loved to see one sentence of him regretting how he treated her. Maybe a phone call to say he needs her help once again and she finally just hangs up on him.
But that’s just my personal preferences.
Overall, I did enjoy the domestic blissful scenes the two women shared together, such as going on a hiking trip, furniture shopping, or spending time together at each other’s houses. I absolutely loved the climax and epilogue.
I would have liked to see more of their romance on the page rather than have it be summed up, like see one of their first dates, rather than be told they’ve been on dates, but again, the story was more about the struggles of dating in secret rather than the steps they took to finally be a couple.
One thing I appreciate is that whenever Austen jumped to conclusions about Dee’s feelings, Dee cleared things up within record time. This was great because I was dreading unnecessary drama if one of them were to pretend everything’s okay when it’s not. Luckily, they act like adults and talk things out.
One of the early chapters was frustrating when Austen wouldn’t let Dee explain why Dee didn’t tell Austen that she was technically her boss. But they both had a reason for their actions and I’m glad it was resolved fairly quickly.
I only have one gripe about the plot.
It was a little too convenient when Dee’s brother, Tim, visited Austen’s house to check on her after she got hurt, just so he can catch them together. It’s a little weird to have your boss come over to your house, isn’t it? A phone call would have sufficed. But I understand it was a scene that had to happen so the two women can solidify their relationship in front of someone other than each other.
It doesn’t take away from the story however.
There were two things I did wish would have happened in the story.
2) Uncle Wade obviously knows Dee is the backbone of the company because without her, everything would fall apart. He knows this because when he thought she was going to quit in Chapter 12, he stumbled over his words and almost shat his pants. I would have loved to see one sentence of him regretting how he treated her. Maybe a phone call to say he needs her help once again and she finally just hangs up on him.
But that’s just my personal preferences.
Overall, I did enjoy the domestic blissful scenes the two women shared together, such as going on a hiking trip, furniture shopping, or spending time together at each other’s houses. I absolutely loved the climax and epilogue.
Highlights:
- Highlight 1: The audiobook. Abby Craden uses certain tone inflections for Dee’s voice and I can’t--.
- Highlight 2: Austen being relentless at taking care of Dee after Dee gets hit by the tree topper.
- Highlight 3: Dee trying her best not to be seen with Austen the first time they pull up in a car together, and Austen just casually waves at another employee to say good morning.
- Highlight 4: Accurate fortune cookies.
- Highlight 5: Both women acting on their feelings when they realize who they want.
- Highlight 6: Austen and Dee’s height difference.
- Highlight 7: The story of how Austen’s mother reacted when Austen came out to her years ago.
- Highlight 8: Austen’s father being protective of her when Dee meets him for the first time.
- Highlight 9: Austen being understanding whenever Dee is held up at work, but Dee coming to realize she needs to prioritize Austen too.
- Highlight 10: I did nothing but clap at Page 356. Finally, the moment I was waiting for.
My Personal Tags About the Book:
- Lesbian protagonists
- Boss/employee pairing
- Workplace romance
- Sex was there but very tamed
- Meet cute
- Happily-ever-after
- Little to low angst
- Little to low drama
- Narrative cohesion
A Purrfect Gift by Jae
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
We useless lesbians should adopt a ginger cat like Scully to help us find our soulmates.
Character Impressions:
Lena
I get the impression she’s the one everyone goes to for help at work.
A sweetheart who moved into the right apartment. There are some women who know they’re actively flirting, and then others who are flirting subconsciously. Lena is the latter.
Caroline
I get the impression she’s the fun one at company parties.
I adore her sense of humor and how quickly she’s also adopted by Scully to be her temporary cat mom whenever Lena is busy.
I get the impression she’s the one everyone goes to for help at work.
A sweetheart who moved into the right apartment. There are some women who know they’re actively flirting, and then others who are flirting subconsciously. Lena is the latter.
Caroline
I get the impression she’s the fun one at company parties.
I adore her sense of humor and how quickly she’s also adopted by Scully to be her temporary cat mom whenever Lena is busy.
Minor Characters:
Scully: Lena’s cat. Perfect in every way. It’s always the gingers who have the best intentions by doing nothing good. The audacity she has to correctly assume she owns everything that not only belongs to Caroline, but Lena as well, is the reason these two women meet and I’m grateful for the feline’s burglary. She should charge for her matchmaking skills.
Story Impressions:
A quick read and it’s super cute. I love the women’s banter. Being a novella, it’s focused specifically on their relationship, so it’s filled with nothing but wholesome interactions.
Highlights:
- Highlight 1: Caroline’s tea rex.
- Highlight 2: I was so happy and surprised to see two characters from another book appear in this short story.
Susanne and Anja from Paper Love are now living together and still making origamis. It felt like the epilogue I needed to conclude their story. - Highlight 3: Of all the items that Lena owns, I was not expecting Scully to take that and give it to Caroline, but I welcome it all the same and applaud her boldness.
- Highlight 4: Scully acting like she hasn’t been fed for over a week as soon as Lena comes home from work.
- Highlight 5: Caroline cooking for Lena and the way Lena absently ate that morsel.
- Highlight 6: The premise is cute.
My Personal Tags About the Book:
- Lesbian protagonists
- Lesbian neighbors
- Christmas romance
Paper Love by Jae
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
4.0
Send me to Freiburg so I can step in all the Bächle.
Character Impressions:
Susanne Wolff
Stationery grump. IKEA lesbian. Moves to Freiburg to help her uncle’s business.
Whoever caused Susanne to take herself out of the dating pool should be hunted down, because this woman has no right to be this smooth when she flirts. All business, no fun; a true ice queen until Anja gets Susanne’s rough exterior to slip. I love how enamored she is when she sees Anja in her element, whether it’s Anja running the store, talking about pens, or making origami. Yes, Miss Wolff, there is something attractive about a woman in her element, even if you have no idea what she’s doing.
Anja Lamm
Stationery junkie. Bisexual origami expert. Would most likely spend money on a new journal rather than ice cream.
Because she’s usually quiet and soft-spoken, it’s super cute seeing her be overly excited about something that seems so simple like a pen. I’m glad her misunderstanding about why Susanne is at Paper Love is cleared up early in the story. When she’s dedicated to something, she goes all in with her whole heart so her passion is contagious. I think it’s hilarious that she’s the one who starts flirting with Susanne first, but without missing a beat, Susanne always manages to out-flirt her and make Anja flustered.
Stationery grump. IKEA lesbian. Moves to Freiburg to help her uncle’s business.
Whoever caused Susanne to take herself out of the dating pool should be hunted down, because this woman has no right to be this smooth when she flirts. All business, no fun; a true ice queen until Anja gets Susanne’s rough exterior to slip. I love how enamored she is when she sees Anja in her element, whether it’s Anja running the store, talking about pens, or making origami. Yes, Miss Wolff, there is something attractive about a woman in her element, even if you have no idea what she’s doing.
Anja Lamm
Stationery junkie. Bisexual origami expert. Would most likely spend money on a new journal rather than ice cream.
Because she’s usually quiet and soft-spoken, it’s super cute seeing her be overly excited about something that seems so simple like a pen. I’m glad her misunderstanding about why Susanne is at Paper Love is cleared up early in the story. When she’s dedicated to something, she goes all in with her whole heart so her passion is contagious. I think it’s hilarious that she’s the one who starts flirting with Susanne first, but without missing a beat, Susanne always manages to out-flirt her and make Anja flustered.
Minor Characters:
Nobby: Susanne’s uncle. Anja’s boss. Owner of Paper Love. He’s like that family member who treats you like his favorite person even if you haven’t seen each other in years. I love his friendship with Anja and I’m glad he and Susanne got to reconcile near the end.
Muesli: Apartment cat who didn’t hesitate to adopt Susanne. I’m pretty sure he owns the entire building, rightly so.
Miri: Anja’s best friend. I’m glad she kicked Anja’s butt and pushed Anja to realize she should take a risk even if it scares her.
Franzi: Susanne’s younger twin sister. Compared to Susanne, Franzi is more carefree. I love how supportive she is of Susanne despite being the one who pokes fun at her sister the most.
Muesli: Apartment cat who didn’t hesitate to adopt Susanne. I’m pretty sure he owns the entire building, rightly so.
Miri: Anja’s best friend. I’m glad she kicked Anja’s butt and pushed Anja to realize she should take a risk even if it scares her.
Franzi: Susanne’s younger twin sister. Compared to Susanne, Franzi is more carefree. I love how supportive she is of Susanne despite being the one who pokes fun at her sister the most.
Story Impressions:
I adore how it doesn’t matter that these two women are adults, because they still get nervous and giddy when they crush on one another. Once their differences are set aside and they are forced to spend more time together, they always end up in situations that draw them closer together emotionally before the sexual tension hits.
Even though Susanne was adamant about leaving after three months, she ended up being attentive about things and people she told herself not to care about, especially when it came to Anja. I nearly squealed when she bought that item for Anja’s birthday present, because it meant Susanne was paying attention to Anja way earlier than even she herself realized.
I only wish the story didn’t end so soon after the grand confessions of love. I was expecting another chapter or an epilogue. I wanted to linger with them a little longer and see the outcome of the stationery with its new direction.
All in all, it was a sweet story.
Even though Susanne was adamant about leaving after three months, she ended up being attentive about things and people she told herself not to care about, especially when it came to Anja. I nearly squealed when she bought that item for Anja’s birthday present, because it meant Susanne was paying attention to Anja way earlier than even she herself realized.
I only wish the story didn’t end so soon after the grand confessions of love. I was expecting another chapter or an epilogue. I wanted to linger with them a little longer and see the outcome of the stationery with its new direction.
All in all, it was a sweet story.
Highlights:
- Highlight 1: The audiobook. Oh my lord, sometimes Abby Craden does this husky tone thing with Anja’s inflection and I can’t--.
- Highlight 2: The way Susanne asked Anja out to dinner was so smooth.
- Highlight 3: Susanne being an animal magnet despite not wanting anything to do with pets.
- Highlight 4: Susanne and Anja’s height difference.
- Highlight 5: The way Anja instructed Susanne on how to refill a fountain pen.
- Highlight 6: That train ride.
- Highlight 7: “Then come home with me.”
- Highlight 8: Heroine’s are together for 90% of the story.
- Highlight 9: Grand confessions of love.
- Highlight 10: This has absolutely nothing to do with anything, but around page 81 when Susanne’s stomach growled from hunger, mine did at the exact same time when I read that sentence and I’ve never laughed so hard in my life.
My Personal Tags About the Book:
- Lesbian protagonist
- Bisexual protagonist
- Narrative cohesion
- Explicit sex scene
- Forced proximity
- Workplace romance
- Slow burn romance
Red Tide at Heron Bay by Gerri Hill
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Detective, your future girlfriend was scared out of her mind after her home was broken into. Now is not the time to ogle her half naked form. Comfort her first before you check her out, please.
Character Impressions:
Lauren Voss
Owner of the Heron Bay Resort.
Harley reminds Lauren of her ex-girlfriend, but I’m glad Lauren didn’t hold this against Harley for the majority of the story. She realizes Harley is nothing like her ex about one-third into the book, which I liked because then she stopped comparing the hot detective to her old lover. My favorite scenes with Lauren were when she let her guard down and flirted back with Harley.
Harley Shepherd
The detective assigned to handle the crimes taking place at Lauren’s resort.
I like the way she flirts when the time is appropriate. Despite how unserious she seems when she’s first assigned to the case, she’s actually good at her job. Her love for Hawaiian shirts and the reason for it was touching. Because she usually has a happy-go-lucky attitude, my favorite scenes with Harley were when she had moments of vulnerability and found comfort in Lauren.
Owner of the Heron Bay Resort.
Harley reminds Lauren of her ex-girlfriend, but I’m glad Lauren didn’t hold this against Harley for the majority of the story. She realizes Harley is nothing like her ex about one-third into the book, which I liked because then she stopped comparing the hot detective to her old lover. My favorite scenes with Lauren were when she let her guard down and flirted back with Harley.
Harley Shepherd
The detective assigned to handle the crimes taking place at Lauren’s resort.
I like the way she flirts when the time is appropriate. Despite how unserious she seems when she’s first assigned to the case, she’s actually good at her job. Her love for Hawaiian shirts and the reason for it was touching. Because she usually has a happy-go-lucky attitude, my favorite scenes with Harley were when she had moments of vulnerability and found comfort in Lauren.
Minor Characters:
Nana: Lauren’s grandmother. She’s an adorable old lady who approves of Harley before even meeting her. The entire scene where she meets Harley for the first time and ignores Lauren to give Harley attention was hilarious.
Marsha and Brian: Harley’s friends. An older couple. Brian is Harley’s boss. I love how supportive Marsha is about Harley and Lauren’s developing relationship. Brian is all business but you can tell he cares about Harley like a close friend.
Marsha and Brian: Harley’s friends. An older couple. Brian is Harley’s boss. I love how supportive Marsha is about Harley and Lauren’s developing relationship. Brian is all business but you can tell he cares about Harley like a close friend.
Story Impressions:
Both Lauren and Harley have their own reasons for not wanting to get into a relationship—being stuck in the middle of a dangerous murder case being one of them—but I’m glad they figured out their feelings for one another earlier than expected and didn’t dance around each other too much. I do sort of wish they had a bit more chemistry before their official first kiss, but all in all, I think they make a cute couple.
They do often go from talking about killers to flirting within the same breath and I can’t figure out if I find that delightful or jarring. On one hand, it feels like whiplash. On the other, I understand that flirting can also be a coping mechanism to ease tension.
I prefer explicit sex scenes and I know Gerri Hill can write some top-notch sex based on other books I’ve read from her, but those scenes were quite tamed here. This isn’t a criticism and doesn’t factor into my rating, I understand this genre and type of story doesn’t really need that kind of action but I do prefer getting the details rather than a summary.
As for the crime aspect of the story, I’m glad the killer was handled fairly quickly near the end. Figuring out who was committing crimes at the resort was balanced well with the romance and neither of the plots overshadowed the other.
They do often go from talking about killers to flirting within the same breath and I can’t figure out if I find that delightful or jarring. On one hand, it feels like whiplash. On the other, I understand that flirting can also be a coping mechanism to ease tension.
I prefer explicit sex scenes and I know Gerri Hill can write some top-notch sex based on other books I’ve read from her, but those scenes were quite tamed here. This isn’t a criticism and doesn’t factor into my rating, I understand this genre and type of story doesn’t really need that kind of action but I do prefer getting the details rather than a summary.
As for the crime aspect of the story, I’m glad the killer was handled fairly quickly near the end. Figuring out who was committing crimes at the resort was balanced well with the romance and neither of the plots overshadowed the other.
Highlights:
- Highlight 1: The audiobook.
- Highlight 2: I really like the title, but I’m pretty sure “red tide” is supposed to refer to blood in the water rather than what it means in the urban dictionary.
- Highlight 3: Harley pretending to be Lauren’s girlfriend to get a douchebag to stop hitting on Lauren.
- Highlight 4: That scene where Harley let her cheerful disposition drop when she was alone and Lauren came to check on her.
- Highlight 5: Harley’s Hawaiian shirts.
- Highlight 6: Heroines are together for 90% of the story.
- Highlight 7: Water hose.
My Personal Tags About the Book:
- Lesbian protagonists
- Competent protagonists
- Happily-ever-after
- Cop/resort owner
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape
Of Wulf and Wynd, Part 4: The Sword of White Sommer by Lexa Luthor
emotional
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? It's complicated
5.0
I wish I could reexperience this entire tetralogy all over again.
Character Impressions:
Tharon Blakesley
Tharon is at her peak in this story. Her commitment, protectiveness, and love for Roswynd come to the forefront in every interaction she has with her wife. I love how unapologetic she is about showing affection towards Roswynd even if other people are around. Yet despite her being the tough alpha, she does have moments where she falters and doubts herself, which result in the most wholesome moments of her finding comfort in Roswynd.
She finally learns the truth about mother’s death and what led to her father’s untimely passing as well, and it was so satisfying to see her seek justice for her parents. I enjoyed how she had this commanding persona in front of everyone, but in front of Roswynd, she’s a loving and vulnerable woman.
Roswynd Arrington
Still the best girl. Still deserves everything. She and Tharon belong to one another until the end of their days.
I love how the author doesn’t gloss over Roswynd’s trauma and actually spends some time at the beginning of the story addressing it.Roswynd’s always been scared of small spaces since Saxon locked her in a wardrobe when they were younger, so when she was immured at the end of Book 3, time is spent getting her to recover. Every step of the way, Tharon was with her but she was the one who took on the difficulty of facing her fears herself. That river scene where she almost broke had me in tears, but I loved how Tharon helped her.
And then we get to the second half of the book and I was ecstatic from how everything played out. Seeing Roswynd at her best, working through things with Tharon, was an absolute joy to read. These two wives are always facing something new in each story but the one constant thing that doesn’t change is their devotion to one another, which often result in them supporting each other when the other person isn’t sure what to do.
Tharon is at her peak in this story. Her commitment, protectiveness, and love for Roswynd come to the forefront in every interaction she has with her wife. I love how unapologetic she is about showing affection towards Roswynd even if other people are around. Yet despite her being the tough alpha, she does have moments where she falters and doubts herself, which result in the most wholesome moments of her finding comfort in Roswynd.
She finally learns the truth about mother’s death and what led to her father’s untimely passing as well, and it was so satisfying to see her seek justice for her parents. I enjoyed how she had this commanding persona in front of everyone, but in front of Roswynd, she’s a loving and vulnerable woman.
Roswynd Arrington
Still the best girl. Still deserves everything. She and Tharon belong to one another until the end of their days.
I love how the author doesn’t gloss over Roswynd’s trauma and actually spends some time at the beginning of the story addressing it.
And then we get to the second half of the book and I was ecstatic from how everything played out. Seeing Roswynd at her best, working through things with Tharon, was an absolute joy to read. These two wives are always facing something new in each story but the one constant thing that doesn’t change is their devotion to one another, which often result in them supporting each other when the other person isn’t sure what to do.
Minor Characters:
A handful of new characters are introduced and old characters return for the final story. It was a joy to see them all.
Pol and Murray: Best knights ever. They deserve a raise.
The Guards of Monales Castle: I’ve never rooted for so many new characters in my life. The moment some of them showed who they were loyal to, I almost spat out my drink and cheered.
The Arrington Family: I was overjoyed to see Roswynd’s family return. King Garret is still the best father. I’m happy Roswynd’s mother is more of herself in this story. Her siblings are all lovable as well. Their closeness and love for one another is a testament to why Roswynd is such a kind and caring woman.
The Blakesley Family: Edeva’s spirit is always a constant and I love how much she’s impacted other characters. Her memory will live on. In the end, Eustace was more of a king than a father but I’m glad he realized how wrong he was to treat Tharon the way he did when she was younger.
Saxon Blakesley: Coward, narcissist, dickhead. Made my blood boil. I wanted him to suffer more but what happened to him was fitting for his character. Of course, he would go out the way he did, that insolent pig.
Melanie and Radford: I didn’t trust Melanie in the previous books but I was surprised at how things turned out for her. Her son, Radford, is just an innocent bystander and I’m glad some attention was given to chart out his future. It’s all thanks to Tharon of course, who would never separate a child from his mother since she knows what that feels like.
Verity: Who is this woman? I want to know more. Why introduce her in the final book and spark so many questions? I want moar! Will she be in another standalone story? I must know!
Pol and Murray: Best knights ever. They deserve a raise.
The Guards of Monales Castle: I’ve never rooted for so many new characters in my life. The moment some of them showed who they were loyal to, I almost spat out my drink and cheered.
The Arrington Family: I was overjoyed to see Roswynd’s family return. King Garret is still the best father. I’m happy Roswynd’s mother is more of herself in this story. Her siblings are all lovable as well. Their closeness and love for one another is a testament to why Roswynd is such a kind and caring woman.
The Blakesley Family: Edeva’s spirit is always a constant and I love how much she’s impacted other characters. Her memory will live on. In the end, Eustace was more of a king than a father but I’m glad he realized how wrong he was to treat Tharon the way he did when she was younger.
Saxon Blakesley: Coward, narcissist, dickhead. Made my blood boil. I wanted him to suffer more but what happened to him was fitting for his character. Of course, he would go out the way he did, that insolent pig.
Melanie and Radford: I didn’t trust Melanie in the previous books but I was surprised at how things turned out for her. Her son, Radford, is just an innocent bystander and I’m glad some attention was given to chart out his future. It’s all thanks to Tharon of course, who would never separate a child from his mother since she knows what that feels like.
Verity: Who is this woman? I want to know more. Why introduce her in the final book and spark so many questions? I want moar! Will she be in another standalone story? I must know!
Story Impressions:
I loved how even though there’s some political strife in the story, the main conflict is between family. Enemies are harder to fight when they share the same blood, but I’m also grateful that found family is just as important in this story.
It was epic to see how things that were set up in previous books come into play for this final installment. Tharon knowing how to catch arrows, Roswynd learning to use a bow and arrow, all make certain scenes believable and impressive. I relished that scene when Roswynd told Tharon to keep running after their target while she dropped everything to ready her bow and arrow to fire a shot to slow this person down.
Tharon and Roswynd were fire in this story.I was a little disappointed Roswynd wasn’t pregnant in the epilogue. I think having them become mothers would bring the story full circle since all of this started with Tharon’s mother being murdered. To have Roswynd tell Tharon she’s carrying their child would’ve brought me so much joy, because I know Tharon would be overjoyed and a devoted mother who would shower her child with love that her own mother showed her. But their decision to not have one was understandable and the more mature choice since they need to heal Tharon’s broken kingdom first.
That bonus scene after the epilogue left me with so many questions about the mysterious character who was introduced. I must know more about her.
Overall, this entire tetralogy was an amazing experience. Everything and everyone has a satisfying conclusion. 10 out of 10, I’ll be rereading this again.
It was epic to see how things that were set up in previous books come into play for this final installment. Tharon knowing how to catch arrows, Roswynd learning to use a bow and arrow, all make certain scenes believable and impressive. I relished that scene when Roswynd told Tharon to keep running after their target while she dropped everything to ready her bow and arrow to fire a shot to slow this person down.
Tharon and Roswynd were fire in this story.
That bonus scene after the epilogue left me with so many questions about the mysterious character who was introduced. I must know more about her.
Overall, this entire tetralogy was an amazing experience. Everything and everyone has a satisfying conclusion. 10 out of 10, I’ll be rereading this again.
Highlights:
- Highlight 1: Tharon taking care of Roswynd during the first few chapters.
- Highlight 2: Roswynd being horny and possessive over Tharon.
- Highlight 3: Tharon’s constant hunger for food (and Roswynd).
- Highlight 4: “You are my kingdom.”
- Highlight 5:
Tharon rutting for the first time because Roswynd finally went into heat. - Highlight 6: Finally got to see Tharon catch an arrow!
- Highlight 7:
Roswynd shooting a certain dickhead with an arrow! - Highlight 8: How cute Tharon is when she complains about not wanting to go on a ship.
- Highlight 9: The entirety of Chapter 13.
- Highlight 10: Beautiful book cover.
- Highlight 11: Characters from another book make an off-screen cameo.
- Highlight 12: Roswynd blatantly asking Tharon, “Are we fucking tonight?”
- Highlight 13: “I will worship you until the end of our days.”
- Highlight 14: Edeva’s spirit always being present through people’s memories.
- Highlight 15: Tharon and Roswynd finally being able to dance in front of everyone, which they never had the chance to do when they were younger.
My Personal Tags About the Book:
- Omegaverse
- Narrative cohesion
- Explicit sex scenes
- She-alpha/omega
- G!P
- Sapphic protagonists
- Competent protagonists
- Low angst
- Wives
- Royalty romance
- Happily-ever-after
Of Wulf and Wynd, Part 3: The Journals of Eustace Blakesley by Lexa Luthor
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Please let these two wives rule as queens one day.
Character Impressions:
Tharon Blakesley
With the roles reversed and Roswynd being away from home this time, it’s up to Tharon to protect her while they’re in Tharon’s kingdom. In order to prevent Saxon from knowing their plans, Tharon has to pretend to be an ass to Roswynd again, but I’m glad it never crossed any lines or lasted longer than necessary. My heart can only take so much turmoil.
Seeing Tharon’s protective side is always a charm. Since the first book, I gleefully enjoy every moment Tharon makes her shitty brother submit to her even if he’s king. I love how he’s afraid of her, but cleverer in contrast to her brute strength. In the final scene these two siblings share, I wanted Tharon to give his ass a beat down for what he did but she’s more restrained than me, so I hope it happens in the final book.
Roswynd Arrington
Nothing will change how I feel about this woman. She and Tharon deserve one another.
She’s always been known to be clever, so it’s great to see her use intelligence in this story. I love her bond with Tharon’s younger twin sisters, Daisy and Holly. Even though Roswynd and Tharon have plenty going on, they still make time to spend with family.
I’m glad Roswynd and Tharon still make time to be close with one another, despite having to pretend to be indifferent in front of others. And I absolutely love how there was no miscommunication between them even when a certain character was trying so desperately to make it so. By now, Roswynd and Tharon know each other well enough not to believe in lies that someone else tells about them, so I nearly applauded when a certain asshole tried to lie about Roswynd, only for Tharon to go, “No, my wife wouldn’t do that.” Ha!
With the roles reversed and Roswynd being away from home this time, it’s up to Tharon to protect her while they’re in Tharon’s kingdom. In order to prevent Saxon from knowing their plans, Tharon has to pretend to be an ass to Roswynd again, but I’m glad it never crossed any lines or lasted longer than necessary. My heart can only take so much turmoil.
Seeing Tharon’s protective side is always a charm. Since the first book, I gleefully enjoy every moment Tharon makes her shitty brother submit to her even if he’s king. I love how he’s afraid of her, but cleverer in contrast to her brute strength. In the final scene these two siblings share, I wanted Tharon to give his ass a beat down for what he did but she’s more restrained than me, so I hope it happens in the final book.
Roswynd Arrington
Nothing will change how I feel about this woman. She and Tharon deserve one another.
She’s always been known to be clever, so it’s great to see her use intelligence in this story. I love her bond with Tharon’s younger twin sisters, Daisy and Holly. Even though Roswynd and Tharon have plenty going on, they still make time to spend with family.
I’m glad Roswynd and Tharon still make time to be close with one another, despite having to pretend to be indifferent in front of others. And I absolutely love how there was no miscommunication between them even when a certain character was trying so desperately to make it so. By now, Roswynd and Tharon know each other well enough not to believe in lies that someone else tells about them, so I nearly applauded when a certain asshole tried to lie about Roswynd, only for Tharon to go, “No, my wife wouldn’t do that.” Ha!
Minor Characters:
Erland: One of the lords of White Sommer and Tharon’s faithful friend. He comes through as an ally and has Tharon’s back.
Pol and Murray: Two trusted knights Tharon assigns as Roswynd’s protectors whenever she has to leave Roswynd’s side. I was worried about Murray’s loyalty for a second, but both these knights are devoted to Tharon.
Daisy and Holly: Tharon’s younger twin sisters. Lovable sweethearts. I adore how they adore Roswynd.
Kymber Monet: Tharon’s friend. I love her friendship with Tharon.
Ite: Head of the kitchen staff at Monales Castle. I hope to see more of her in the next book.
Melanie: Tharon’s stepmother. She doesn’t seem significant, but there’s quite a few clues about her past from Book 2, so I don’t trust her. I bet she’s up to something that will be revealed in the next book.
Saxon Blakesley: Forgive me Gyldr but I want him dead, especially during that final act. I will relish the moment he gets his karma and I hope it will be glorious.
Pol and Murray: Two trusted knights Tharon assigns as Roswynd’s protectors whenever she has to leave Roswynd’s side. I was worried about Murray’s loyalty for a second, but both these knights are devoted to Tharon.
Daisy and Holly: Tharon’s younger twin sisters. Lovable sweethearts. I adore how they adore Roswynd.
Kymber Monet: Tharon’s friend. I love her friendship with Tharon.
Ite: Head of the kitchen staff at Monales Castle. I hope to see more of her in the next book.
Melanie: Tharon’s stepmother. She doesn’t seem significant, but there’s quite a few clues about her past from Book 2, so I don’t trust her. I bet she’s up to something that will be revealed in the next book.
Saxon Blakesley: Forgive me Gyldr but I want him dead, especially during that final act. I will relish the moment he gets his karma and I hope it will be glorious.
Story Impressions:
I knew there was going to be a new layer of anxiety because Tharon and Roswynd are now in Wulfbite, which means they’re going to be around Tharon’s ass of a brother, Saxon, but I wasn’t prepared for those final chapters. I was so afraid for Roswynd, yelling at Tharon to hurry up, and cursing Saxon all the way until the end.
I enjoyed every moment of this story. Can’t wait to read the final book.
I enjoyed every moment of this story. Can’t wait to read the final book.
Highlights:
- Highlight 1: The scene where Tharon and Roswynd are talking about potentially having children together followed by Tharon’s immediate reaction, which is to strategize how to handle them like the Lord Commander she is.
- Highlight 2: Ladies, the hallway is not meant for that kind of activity, but hot damn.
- Highlight 3: The third act had me on my seat but it felt like forever until Tharon could finally do what she needed to do.
- Highlight 4: The amount of times Tharon carries Roswynd in her arms.
- Highlight 5: Roswynd being clever about those journal pages.
- Highlight 6: Heroines are together for 90% of the time.
- Highlight 7: With how hot the sex scenes were, I could roast an entire deer.
- Highlight 8: Roswynd being Roswynd.
- Highlight 9: Tharon coming to the rescue.
- Highlight 10: Beautiful book cover.
My Personal Tags About the Book:
- Omegaverse
- Narrative cohesion
- Explicit sex scenes
- She-alpha/omega
- G!P
- Sapphic protagonists
- Competent protagonists
- Emotional turmoil
- Mid-level angst
- Political strife
- Wives
- Royalty romance
- Rip my heart out but promise me a happy ending
Of Wulf and Wynd, Part 2: The Bracelets of Ælfwynn by Lexa Luthor
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Tharon, you beautiful broken bastard.
Character Impressions:
Tharon Blakesley
It was so wonderful to see Tharon finally becoming more of herself in this story. After that intense opening and what Roswynd did as a last ditch effort to help Tharon become herself again, it was wonderful to see Tharon open up. When she and Roswynd make amends and agree to start over, it was amazing to see how well they work together.
Tharon teasing, joking, and flirting with Roswynd is a nice contrast to when she’s being protective or sexually dominant towards her wife. And by sexually dominant, I don't mean she gets possessive in bed without Roswynd's consent. Roswynd consents and encourages Tharon to be rough, which is different from simply letting a partner have their way. I love her banter with Roswynd and how much they differ in personality or methods, but always find a way to work with each other to solve an issue. She has so much conflicting emotions within herself but it’s sweet when Roswynd is there for her.
Roswynd Arrington
Still the best girl. Still deserves everything.
Roswynd can finally take action and find the truth about Edeva’s murder with Tharon working with her. She may be a princess but she’s not shy about bending the rules to get to the truth. I love how she and Tharon still reaffirm their feelings for one another when one person is in doubt or unsure of things. The constant support is always nice to see.
Usually when it comes to explicit sex scenes, I just enjoy seeing the characters be physically and emotionally connected, but here, there’s another layer because Roswynd is still learning about sex and becoming confident in it. I love how Tharon guides her or encourages her during their lovemaking, because it adds an extra layer to Roswynd’s character; how she’s getting comfortable with herself, how she’s learning about Tharon’s body, and how it connects her to Tharon on a new level. Sex is hot, but damn, it’s also romantic here.
It was so wonderful to see Tharon finally becoming more of herself in this story. After that intense opening and what Roswynd did as a last ditch effort to help Tharon become herself again, it was wonderful to see Tharon open up. When she and Roswynd make amends and agree to start over, it was amazing to see how well they work together.
Tharon teasing, joking, and flirting with Roswynd is a nice contrast to when she’s being protective or sexually dominant towards her wife. And by sexually dominant, I don't mean she gets possessive in bed without Roswynd's consent. Roswynd consents and encourages Tharon to be rough, which is different from simply letting a partner have their way. I love her banter with Roswynd and how much they differ in personality or methods, but always find a way to work with each other to solve an issue. She has so much conflicting emotions within herself but it’s sweet when Roswynd is there for her.
Roswynd Arrington
Still the best girl. Still deserves everything.
Roswynd can finally take action and find the truth about Edeva’s murder with Tharon working with her. She may be a princess but she’s not shy about bending the rules to get to the truth. I love how she and Tharon still reaffirm their feelings for one another when one person is in doubt or unsure of things. The constant support is always nice to see.
Usually when it comes to explicit sex scenes, I just enjoy seeing the characters be physically and emotionally connected, but here, there’s another layer because Roswynd is still learning about sex and becoming confident in it. I love how Tharon guides her or encourages her during their lovemaking, because it adds an extra layer to Roswynd’s character; how she’s getting comfortable with herself, how she’s learning about Tharon’s body, and how it connects her to Tharon on a new level. Sex is hot, but damn, it’s also romantic here.
Minor Characters:
Once again, there are a handful of minor characters, and once again, I wasn’t confused as to who was who. Below are the side characters I found to be more prominent.
Queen Edeva: Tharon’s mother. She was too good for this world.
Queen Layla: Roswynd’s mother. Sweetheart. I would love to see more of her. I love how she always knew Tharon and Roswynd were meant to be together.
King Garret: Roswynd’s father. Father of the year. I love how supportive he is of Tharon and Roswynd’s relationship, both before and after their marriage.
King Eustace: Tharon’s father. He was doing his best but he had his flaws.
Saxon Blakesley: Hate him. Hate him. Hate him.
Queen Edeva: Tharon’s mother. She was too good for this world.
Queen Layla: Roswynd’s mother. Sweetheart. I would love to see more of her. I love how she always knew Tharon and Roswynd were meant to be together.
King Garret: Roswynd’s father. Father of the year. I love how supportive he is of Tharon and Roswynd’s relationship, both before and after their marriage.
King Eustace: Tharon’s father. He was doing his best but he had his flaws.
Saxon Blakesley: Hate him. Hate him. Hate him.
Story Impressions:
I love the family elements in this story. Roswynd’s family is close and so loving compared to Tharon’s family after Tharon’s mother died. To see Tharon realize that the people she once wanted to kill are the very people who accept her for who she is made my heart soar.
I love how even though Tharon and Roswynd grew up together and are now married, they still are learning more things about each other. In between investigating Edeva’s death, they share the most heartwarming moments. The sex between them is fire, but it’s also romantic when they simply lay down to read a book together.
The ending for this story didn’t tear out my heart as much as the first one, which I’m grateful for, but it still made me buy the next book immediately to see what happens next.
I love how even though Tharon and Roswynd grew up together and are now married, they still are learning more things about each other. In between investigating Edeva’s death, they share the most heartwarming moments. The sex between them is fire, but it’s also romantic when they simply lay down to read a book together.
The ending for this story didn’t tear out my heart as much as the first one, which I’m grateful for, but it still made me buy the next book immediately to see what happens next.
Highlights:
- Highlight 1: Tharon refused to say Roswynd’s name for the entirety of Book 1, but the first time she said it in this story, oh my frickin heart!
- Highlight 2: Those sex scenes gave me a heart attack in the best way.
- Highlight 3: These two cuddle so much it makes my heart melt.
- Highlight 4: Roswynd taking charge in bed.
- Highlight 5: Tharon doing her best to make amends and work with Roswynd instead of against her.
- Highlight 6: Wives reaffirming their love for one another.
- Highlight 7: Tharon and Roswynd’s height difference.
- Highlight 8: “Beg me.”
- Highlight 9: Wives supporting each other emotionally.
- Highlight 10: The amount of skinship these two have with one another.
- Highlight 11: King Garrett calling Roswynd by her full name because of how shocked he was at what she did
to a runaway assassin. - Highlight 12: Heroines are together for 95% of the story.
- Highlight 13: Beautiful book cover.
My Personal Tags About the Book:
- Omegaverse
- Explicit sex scenes
- She-alpha/omega
- G!P
- Sapphic protagonists
- Competent protagonists
- Emotional turmoil
- Mid-high angst
- Political strife
- Wives
- Royalty romance
- Rip my heart out but promise me a happy ending