ljamison01's reviews
1104 reviews

What's Left of Us by B. Celeste

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

4.5

This story focuses on Lincoln and Georgia and its told using multiple timelines. The book starts in the present and then goes into the past and goes full circle. This is not a favorite writing technique I enjoy. Going back and forth sometimes makes me the reader confused but it was used well and I liked how the chapter titles told us the time frame and whose point of view was being shown. Lincoln is a police officer who is now divorced from his wife but he was involved in a bad shootout that left him injured and a friend and coworker deceased. His ex wife knew about the situation he was about to enter and told him not to go. Georgia’s father is involved in some shady dealings. Her father’s business was in direct contrast with Lincoln’s job. Lincoln because of this incident must attend counseling so they can clear him to return to work. At first he is very reluctant to open to his therapist but as time goes on we learn a great deal about his relationship with Georgia and his career. Lincoln is a very tough guy, dominant, aggressive and strong willed. Georgia was harder to label, she was very submissive to Lincoln and their intimate moments are very steamy. Great story with lots of little surprises to keep the reader engaged. I enjoyed watching this story unfold. 

Protecting the Witness by Kimberly Knight

emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0

This is the fifth book in the Forbidden series. I have read 3 of the books and each book does provide information for each book. The characters are usually present in all the books in one way or another. In these books there are relatives and friends that cross books. In this book we have Court who is a police officer going undercover in a club to see if he can catch the owner Donnie performing nefarious deeds. Donnie is dating Morgan and one night her brother comes to the club with her and meets Court. Court and Ryan date for a while and then begin to change when Ryan is an eyewitness to a crime. Since Court is working undercover he wants to protect Ryan yet still protect his anonymity. This was a great book with a mystery. Great characters with a wonderful connection and chemistry. This was a great book not my favorite in the series but an enjoyable book nonetheless. 

No Longer Safe by Alora Kai

emotional mysterious slow-paced

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

3.5

This is the first book in the Rags & Riches series. Audrey has been with Brian a long time. She sees everyone getting what they want but she thinks her time has passed. She no longer believes that she will have what she wants. When her friend becomes engaged to a very wealthy man and asks her to travel with her she agrees and meets her friend’s future brother in law Alexei and she is drawn to him. But this book was a slow burn. It was so slow sometimes and the writing didn’t have the smoothest flow. I enjoyed the plot and the characters. When Alexei and Audrey got together the book became better because there was a true focus on the main characters. 

Platinum Promises by Jessa Nevins

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

3.75

This is the second book in the Star Maker series. This book focuses more on Kit and Sully. There is more of the music of the 80’s along with all the struggles and complications.  This music world is rough and it’s hard to keep healthy balance of work and love (relationships). I love the glimpse into the background of this scene of the 80’s because I grew up during this time. This book is big on miscommunication issues, lots of secrets and the incredible drive of the people trying to survive and make it in the music industry.  This book shows how the characters are evolving from the first book as well as and adding additional pressures to their relationship. However, Kit was so forgiving and willing to accept less than she deserved. Many times I was angry and frustrated with the characters. This book has a cliffhanger at the end.

All Our Next Times by Jennilynn Wyer

emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

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

5.0

This is the first book of the new Fallen Brook series. It features Liz and her guys (Jayson, Ryland and Julien). The book follows them from the age of eight and on. These three friends stick together and do everything together. Their families even vacation together. Until as they get older 2 of the boys decide they can no longer be just Liz’s friend. Liz loves them both but she doesn’t want to choose and wants the choice to be made for her. This choice does cause a split in the friendship although they patch it up. Now this story is told in multiple pov’s which is great because we get to know how each character feels about the changing friendship of these 4 people. This story ends with a cliffhanger so please be aware of that. It features different sports such as swimming and car racing. These was some angst in this book. It moved at a pretty good pace as each chapter featured a new age/grade of our characters so we saw them evolving. This book was very emotional the characters experienced love, betrayal, anger, rivalry, fighting and forgiveness. I am eagerly awaiting the next book. 

Sometimes You Fall by Harlow James

emotional funny inspiring medium-paced

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

5.0

This is the third book in the Carrington Cove series. I read the second book and loved it and this one is just as good. Grady and Scottie have known each other since high school. They were good friends both very athletic and sports oriented. Grady wanted to play major league baseball and Scottie wanted to play softball. They followed each other’s careers and supported and encouraged each other. They went to different colleges and send random texts to each other. Years later Scottie comes back home and her and Grady have an amazing night together. Scottie decides to move back home and discovers she pregnant, however she also has a teenage son. Grady is all in. He wants to raise his child and live with Scottie. Scottie is afraid to commit since her last relationship with her son’s father was not a great experience. I loved Grady’s persistence and patience. Loved this amazing friend group of people who supported and helped one another. A great steamy small town romance. 

My Plus One = You by Angela Haas

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.75

It’s wedding season and if you’ve been a bridesmaid more than five times you’re thinking when is it my time. Well this is Rachel she owns a store that brides like to register at and it the beginning of wedding season and she just wants her guy, but she’s having a hard time finding him. Now Cam is the same but he’s a baker and he dislikes working with engaged couples. These two meet at a wedding where she’s a bridesmaid and he’s a fill in for the groomsman who injured himself. They meet they like each other but they leave with other people. So in the heart of wedding season it’s horrible to be single. So these two agree to be each other’s plus one. Now this book is a slow burn because as they start to enjoy each others company, they get visitors and realize they need to do some self reflection and work on themselves. This is a new author to me. I enjoyed the sunshine grumpy trope. I like the interesting plot and there was some good banter between them. But some parts of the book were slow moving but overall a cute, lighthearted book about finding love. 

From Now On by C.W. Farnsworth

emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

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

4.0

This is the third book in the Holt Hockey series but, it’s the first book I have read in this series.  Eve and Hunter are in their senior year of college. They aren’t friends but their best friends are dating. Eve is making plans to move to NY with her boyfriend and they are going to live this idealistic life until he tells her that he’s not moving to NY with her. Eve is beyond upset feeling as if she wasted her all college years (41 months) on him. So her friends encourage her to go on their last spring break trip she doesn’t want to be a third wheel and luckily she won’t since along with 2 couples both her and Hunter are going. Now these two had a meeting in their freshman year that really made an impact on both of them since neither could forget it. Hunter felt as if Eve was the one. Eve was attracted to Hunter but didn’t think he remembered her. Now because of classes Hunter and Eve must make the trip separate from their friends. This forced proximity, college, hockey romance was cute. But definitely a slow burn. I enjoyed the dual point of views and their discussion on topics that shaped them into the adults they were becoming. 

Stealing Hearts by Lex Martin

emotional funny inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

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

5.0

This is the first book in the Wild at Heart series. Paige has been in love with Rhett since she was a child. He was her brother’s best friend. Rhett is ten years older than Paige. Rhett was about to marry a girl that Paige knew was cheating on him. So she told him hoping he would not marry her. Rhett did not believe her and he got married. Now years later Paige has had a series of issues and currently she has no job, no money, an injured ankle and no health insurance. Rhett is divorced with two young sons and a ex wife from hell. But he is about to lose his family’s ranch. His sons, and his brothers depend on him to keep the ranch. Rhett desperately needs a loan to keep the ranch afloat, but in order to get the loan he needs a wife. So Paige and Rhett  decide to get married to help each other out but it’s a temporary 6 month deal. Paige unfortunately has been neglected all her life and as much as she wants to be with Rhett she’s afraid that he will reject her and her love. There is also a mystery about who is try to sabotage Rhett’s family ranch. This was a very angsty, steamy book. Truly enjoyed the characters and all of Rhett’s brothers. Especially that weird relationship between Maverick and Paige’s best friend. I’m eagerly looking forward to the upcoming books in this series. 

Untamed by Jane Henry

dark emotional funny mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0

I absolutely loved the premise of this book. Ember is a woman who loves romance books, especially dark romance books. So she writes about the books she reads, discussing her fantasies and desires. Talking about her desire for a mafia man to capture her and force her to bend to his will. We’ll be careful what you wish for. Rodion is in California to take care of business for his older brother. He is hunting down and eliminating trouble. He notices a table of women being harassed by an over eager man and he intervenes. Suddenly he’s curious about what these women are reading and he stumbles across Ember’s post and suddenly they are connected and interacting. At first she doesn’t believe he is really a part of the Bratva and believes he playing a role to get women. However, as attracted as she is to him she has a lot of previous baggage that she needs to deal with. Rodion was such a great character. He read all her posts and noted all her fantasies. He wanted to fulfill them all. He was drawn to her and wanted to please her. Now doing this was truly against what he should be doing. When he involves her in his life more than he should will she be willing to live in his Bratva world? Fast paced, steamy romance with a small stalker vibe.