lostcoffeemug's reviews
150 reviews

Tempting Levi by Jules Barnard

lighthearted fast-paced

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

2.5

Spice Level  🌶️🌶️ 

Under The Ice by Jaqueline Snowe

lighthearted 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? Yes

2.5

Spice Level:  🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Stars: ⭐⭐1/2

I really wanted to like 'Under the Ice', but there was something about it that felt so off, and it started right away and didn't go away. But not everything in the book was bad. I really did enjoy the character growth and development throughout the book. Jaqueline Snowe was able to catch all of these emotions and growth very well, and you could feel it through the pages.

This is a book where Logan and Quentin are in a fake relationship for most of it. For them wanting to convince a lot of people they were dating and it was real they sure did mention a lot in public where people could hear that they were fake boyfriend and girlfriend. To me, this seems like something you would not want to say out loud and more so anywhere near campus where news about something like that could spread pretty fast and wide since Quentin is on the hockey team.

I do have to say the banter and chemistry between Logan and Quentin was really good. And they both brought out the best of each other and helped each other grow into the best person they could be. I do get that they are young and have high chemistry, but I feel like the spice scenes could have been not so much. I felt like they didn't help add to the story, and it was just there.

I would give this book 2 1/2 stars, and with all of the spice, it's 4 Chili Peppers. Now, just because I thought and felt like this doesn't mean this isn't the perfect book for you. 'Under the Ice' is available wherever you get your books. If you are a member of Kindle Unlimited, 'Under the Ice' is part of your membership.

Death by Dumpling by Vivien Chien

funny mysterious 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? No

4.5

Spice Level 🚫

The Plot Twist by Victoria Walters

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

3.5

Spice Level 🌶️🌶️

Shiver by Giuliana Victoria

emotional funny lighthearted reflective 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

4.0

Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 

Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

 

Giuliana Victoria was able to hit it out of the park with 'Shiver'.  'Shiver' is the fourth and last book in the Philia Players series and tells the story about Samara Perez-Allen and Luca De Laurentiis.  This story right from the start has everything anyone could ever want.  If you have read past books from Giuliana Victoria you will already know that each book she has is always filled with emotion and the tidal wave emotion will just keeping you from the moment you pick up the book.  Well if that is what you are looking for with brilliant writing and emotion 'Shiver' is that book for you.  This book was a great way to say good-bye to the characters we have grown to love with each book in this series.  But like all good things everything has to end at some point. 

 

Each book that Giuliana has written for the Philia Players series deals with some sort of hard issue that either we have all dealt with or know someone who has dealt with it.  ‘Shiver’ is no exception to this and just like her past books she has dealt with these medical issues with so much respect along with respect for the culture that the characters are from.  Having an author pay attention to detail like this is great to see and really helps add to the feeling of the story to another level. 

 

Since ‘Shiver’ is the last book in the Philia Players series it was nice to see that Giuliana was able to write herself in the book towards the end.  The way she did it was so perfect and made a lot of sense and it was great to see her self being included in the story.  With this being the last book in this series that means a new one is going to be coming along.  While reading ‘Shiver’ you will read excerpts of the new book. So really this is one book that is wanting to leave you wanting more. 

 

‘Shiver’ is a solid Four star read and I can’t wait to read this book again.  It also wouldn’t be a Giuliana book if there wasn’t spice and boy did she deliver with this one.  The Spice Level is a total of Four Chili Peppers. 

 

Don’t waste any more time getting this book.  It is available wherever you get your books and if you are a Kindle Unlimited member ‘Shiver’ is included in your membership.

Books and Bribes by Lucinda Race

mysterious fast-paced

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

3.0

Spice Level 🚫

My Book Boyfriend by Kathy Strobos

lighthearted fast-paced

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

2.0

Spice Level 🌶

Cheddar Off Dead: A Cheese Shop Mystery by Korina Moss

funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

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

4.5

Spice Level 🚫

Unmasking Love by Erin Marie Bassett

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

2.0

Spice Level: ❤️‍🔥

Stars: ⭐⭐

I was excited to pick up ‘Unmasking Love’ by Erin Marie Bassett.  This book sounded like there was a lot of heart and character development throughout the story.  At first I was really enjoying the story and learning about Harper and Aiden.  But then once I stopped enjoying it I found other things that were not enjoyable and just ended up skipping over.

At the start of ‘Unmasking Love’ you really get to know the background to Aiden and Harper.  This is actually really great information to have as the past has really affected both of them in how they manage and deal with life and situations they are put in.  But Harper doesn’t seem to learn or move on so well from her issues and they happen over and over again. Towards halfway and three quarters of the way through the book I felt like I was just on a hamster wheel and reading the same thing over.

The other thing I felt was a bit too much was the spice scenes.  I am all for spice in a book but I like it when the spice is meant to help improve the story and move it along.  I felt like these were not in there to do that and there were a lot of them. I felt like well over half the book was just spice and when I got over half way through the book I actually just ended up passing over the scenes because I was like oh great here we go again.

As much as I wanted to like ‘Unmasking Love’ it just ended up being an okay book for me.  The book is getting 2 stars and on the Spice Level it’s a Burning Heart since over half of the book had spice scenes.

Now remember what I thought of the book might not be the same as what you all would think when reading the book.  I am here to just say what I thought. If you are wanting to give ‘Unmasking Love’ a try it is part of Kindle Unlimited so if you are a member that means the book is included in your membership.

Love to Hate You by Camilla Isley

funny lighthearted 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

4.0

Spice Level 🌶