kayetaz's reviews
449 reviews

End It All by Skyler Snow, Brea Alepoú

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful 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

5 ⭐️

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5/5

Format: ebook

"’You go, baby, I go. If I'm dying, I will take you with me.’ My hand wrapped around his cock, stroking slowly, tracing every vein that lined his length. ‘I can't live without you, and now, I can't die without you either.’"

Blake. Motherfucking. Vitale. That’s it. That’s the review.

Just kidding. But seriously, when I heard there was a secret fifth Vitale brother, I was skeptical. I liked who we had, I was content with the close-knit group and wasn’t really ready to let anyone invade that.

And then beautiful Blake with his blue eyes and daddy issues and sad boy persona and his love of fire just barreled his way into my heart and climbed to the very top. Sorry, Enzo, but you’ve been replaced.

And Quincy! Don’t cancel me for this, but when Benito was pissing me off in Say I Do, I was lowkey rooting for Quincy and Harlow. But I am so, so excited Quincy held out because he got the best of the best, as he deserves. I’ve always had the biggest soft spot for him, so finding out he was getting a HEA made me so happy.

The spice in this book was the hottest of the series. The relationship was the swooniest and most romantic. Their dynamic was everything. The forced proximity, the one-bed, them sneaking out to take care of each other’s problems, their matching obsession with each other and protectiveness. I just love them so much.

Also the way Blake and Harlow—my two absolute favorite characters of this series—kinda became best friends? OBSESSED.

Please, please, please let the next book be Cesare and Rafael. I need a villain redemption story, even if he really doesn’t deserve it. Give it to me anyway.

*I received a free, advanced copy of this book from the authors and this is my voluntary, honest review.

Don't Mess with the Ex by DJ Jamison

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

3.5

3.5 ⭐️

Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5/5

Format: audiobook

Narration: 🎤🎤🎤🎤/5

This was another fun story in the quirky town of Granville.

I really liked the plot. Second chance romance doesn’t always work for me, but I liked the backstory of how they were broken up by Laurie’s family. Very Romeo and Juliet of them.

Laurie and Tucker were very sweet characters. They had chemistry from the very beginning and I enjoyed seeing their feelings grow for each other for the second time. I loved how much Laurie came to love Tucker’s hometown and how he just fit in so well.

I’ll be honest though, I did get bored around the 60% mark. Things were drawn out for quite awhile. The “suspenseful” moments just didn’t do it for me. I think we could’ve cut out some of all that.

But overall, another fun story and the setup for the next book with Wes and Beck got me super excited. Really living for this town and the found family vibes.

Don't Date a DILF by DJ Jamison

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

4 ⭐️

Spice: 🌶️🌶️/5

Format: audiobook

Narration: 🎤🎤🎤🎤/5

This was so cute! This was my first DJ Jamison book and I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it very much gives Sadenverse vibes - without the unnecessary forced conflict and third act breakups.

Clark and Hunter were great characters. They were fleshed out super well and had tons of background and personality. I didn’t totally buy the fake dating plot, and all the women’s actions towards Hunter were very OTT and odd. And Clark really should’ve just told his grandmother to shove it. But I did feel their chemistry and really liked the bi-awakening aspect. Those parts felt very believable.

I also loved the parts with Toby. I love when one MMC slowly falls for both the other MMC and also their child(ren). Gets me every time.

The thing with the wife at the end kinda made me feel meh. Again, glad there wasn’t a third act, but it still didn’t make me feel great. But I did feel like Hunter had really good character development afterwards.

It was cute, and I actually really started to vibe with the small town vibes and the fun neighbors and side characters. It’ll be a nice place to visit in future books.

Just Bromantically Invested by Saxon James

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.25

2.2 ⭐️

Spice: 🌶️🌶️/5

Format: audiobook

Narration: 🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤/5

I’m gonna be so honest, I don’t even want to think about this book anymore, enough to write a review on it.

Because tell me why Madden and Penn are best friends and don’t know how to talk to each other at all. Every other chapter was a miscommunication. Them even getting together came out of nowhere and was awkward. 

The nudist aspects were a lot. I’m glad there’s representation for people who live that lifestyle, but Madden droning on and on about naturalism and nudism and everything else he preached about had me constantly rolling my eyes.

Again, them being together was AWKWARD. It was weird. I got the ick a lot. The two stars are for Teddy Hamilton and the other Bertha boys.

Give me Xander and Derek though, I’m frothing at the mouth for them.

Healed Hearts by Morgan Sloan

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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

5 ⭐️

Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5/5

Format: ebook

“‘Are you trying not to touch me?’ I ask, watching the way his hands are flexing like he’s fighting the urge to let go. He shakes his head. 

‘No, darlin’. Your boundaries are easy to respect. I’m trying not to touch me. If I do, I’m going to come in my jeans.’”

If there are two people in this world who deserve absolute love and happiness, it’s Holden and Julian. Their instant chemistry and affection is so palpable and never ceases throughout the story.

So thrilled our favorite CT got his own book. The way I fell in love with Hold within a single page in Stitched Hearts. And if you loved his friendship with Ro and Beck in that book, you’re going to love it even more in this one.

Julian is just… the perfect man. Single dad, widower, consent king, sweet and loving and anxious and a little insecure, but such a rock for his darlin’, Hold. Wren was also the most lovely addition to this story. The way those two came into Hold’s life and gave him a new and more meaningful purpose was everything. I absolutely adored watching Holden fall for both of them.

I’ll never get over the found family aspects of both this book and the previous in the series. Beck and Roman stay a permanent fixture in Hold’s life, and they welcome Julian and Wren in with open arms and hearts. Absolutely no questions asked.

Check triggers for this book. There are some dark and sad themes. Everything works out in the end and the HEA is beautiful.

I’m literally never moving on from these characters. I refuse. I hope we get even more of them.

Healed Hearts releases March 19 and is now available for pre-order on Amazon.

*I beta read this book, and this review is based off of the draft I received and not the final product.

Echoes of Us by Alex Cross

challenging emotional hopeful sad tense 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

5 ⭐️

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5/5

Format: ebook

I’m ruined. This book has ruined me.

You know how little things in a book give you hints that it will be absolutely devastating? Like it being a second chance romance. Like a single POV which guarantees that there’s something the other MMC will know that you’re not privy to until the right moment. Like a dual timeline where the present is sad and gut-wrenching and the past slowly changes from happy to crippling. 

But you read on anyway and then can’t be shocked when it all blows up into something that has you sobbing.

I loved both Atty and Noah so much. I know Noah was a walking red flag, but he pulled me in just as easily as he did with Atticus. I just wanted him to be happy and okay. And Atticus was so sweet and patient and loving.

The addiction aspects of this book were heartbreaking but so brutally honest. The codependency, the love bombing, the mood swings. This book was honestly super triggering and traumatizing but I loved every second of it.

While I wish we got a longer taste of the super hard fought HEA, I’m just so relieved we did get one. This couple just felt inevitable. I loved them together, even at their worst, and I rooted for them the entire time.

Also I would be remiss if I didn’t talk about the FANTASTIC side characters we got. Holly was an amazing best friend to Noah and everything she did for him at the end had me bawling my eyes out. Colin and Ezra were also such great friends to Atticus. They supported Atty so much and were always there to step in when he needed them. I was kind of obsessed with how much Ezra hated Noah, and how blunt he could be with Atticus, because he truly needed it. And Colin was just always someone to lean on and eager to lend an ear.

Perfect characters, perfect story, perfect angst and groveling. This is going on a list of books I will hold on a pedestal and think about forever but will never, ever reread because it hurts too fucking much.

Poetry On Ice by Jesse H Reign

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

5.0

5 ⭐️

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

Format: ebook

Fans of Brianna Flores’s Pretty Boy - I have great new: We have another novel with feminization kink and all the spice!

Jesse H. Reign literally never misses, and this is another great example. Hockey, low-angst, so much kink and filth, and another pair of amazing characters.

I loved both Robbie and Ant so much. I loved how obsessed they were with each other while trying to write it off as hate. I loved the way they were constantly antagonizing each other and getting themselves in trouble over and over again because of it. I loved the little bit of slow burn until it became a whole inferno.

The way their addiction to each other shifted after their first time together and they literally couldn’t keep their hands off each other. How Robbie just decided they were a thing and how Ant couldn’t deny him anything. Ugh, absolute perfection.

This for sure will be a constant reread. I cannot wait for more of this series. The little glimpse we got at the end of this book already has me so sat.

*I received a free, advanced copy of this book from the author and this is my voluntary, honest review.

A Series of Rooms by A.J. Barlowe

challenging dark sad tense 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

4.5 ⭐️
Spice: 0/🌶️ 
Format: audiobook
Narration: 🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤/5

Raw. Gripping. Devastating.

Absolutely beautiful.

I cannot believe this was a debut novel. As soon as I got one chapter into the audiobook, I knew I was in trouble. I finished this in a few hours because I couldn’t put it down.

Liam and Jonah were phenomenal main characters. Cannot say a bad word about either of them. When the title of the book finally hit me, I was nearly crushed from the weight of it.

Jonah, God, my heart just broke for him the whole time and never stopped. Even at the end, he was full of so much forgiveness and strength that I can’t handle it. To the point where I’m still simmering in anger at everyone who ever hurt him. And Liam was such a supportive and loving friend. I felt both of their pain so viscerally.

This story just tore me to absolute shreds. I just wish we got more of the happy ending that would’ve helped put me back together. We just got nothing of their HEA and I’m really sad about it. I also feel some type of way about the fact that no justice seemed to be served? Only one guy really faced any repercussions - although it was a huge repercussion. But everyone else just…moved on? Not me. I’m still so angry and hurt at everyone who didn’t help Jonah.

I would also call this more a love story than a romance, because we don’t see them actually together at all, which was disappointing. I wanted the best for both of them but unfortunately we didn’t get to see it. It’s alluded to that they are boyfriends in the end, but after all the buildup and sadness, I really wanted to see it.

This is a story that’ll stay with me forever. Cannot wait to see what else this author has in store for us.

The audio for this story was amazing. Both narrators were new to me but did the story such justice.

Unloved by Marley Valentine

challenging emotional hopeful 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

4.25

4.4 ⭐️

Spice: 🌶️🌶️/5

Format: audiobook

Narration: 🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤/5

Just like with Unwanted, I really wish this was longer.

I did feel like this was fleshed out a little better than book one. I really did connect with Lennox, Samuel and Rhys. I think maybe the relationship moved a little too quickly than I would’ve liked but I did love them together.

I felt a lot more devastation from this story. I knew what was coming with Rhys, but it still hurt a lot. I loved the support they all had for each other throughout. It was quite a lot to handle for a new relationship, especially a poly one, but I did feel like their dynamic worked well.

I just wanted more. When it was over, I felt like it truly didn’t feel finished yet. I did love the little full-circle moment of all of their “one Mississippi’s” at the end. Hit me right in the feels.

Ultimately though, it just wasn’t enough. I’m still waiting for a Marley Valentine to break me like I always hear about. Still gonna keep trying.

The audiobook was amazing. Zachary Johnson is already a favorite of mine, but the two other narrators were new to me and really knocked it out of the park.

Unwanted by Marley Valentine

challenging emotional 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

3.75

3.8 ⭐️

Spice: 🌶️🌶️/5

Format: audiobook

Narration: 🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤/5

Why, why, why isn’t this at least another 150-200 pages long?! It’s just not enough.

Listen, I wanted to love this because there were so many aspects that I did love. Arlo and Frankie were both so beautifully broken and sweet. I felt for Arlo and his struggles with addiction. And I felt for Frankie and having to make the hard choice to put Arlo’s sobriety above their relationship.

I just feel like we didn’t get quite enough of them, before, during or after their break. I never fully got to know either of them. I honestly felt like this book was more a setup to Unloved than its own story. The side characters took up most of the screen time.

The fact that they made up so quickly kind of made the break seem unnecessary. And I just struggled to fully connect with either character.  It was cute and sad, but it just didn’t devastate me the way I wanted it to.

The audio though? Zachary Johnson and Jacob Morgan is an insane combo and I thank them for their service.