loveleighreading's reviews
245 reviews

emotional hopeful fast-paced

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

4.0

Title: Grim and Bear It
Series: Stay a Spell
# in series: 6
Author: Juliette Cross
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Tropes/Keywords: Fated Mates, Friends to Lovers, Grumpy Sunshine, Powers, Wings, Witches, accidental pregnancy
Rep: MMC has panic attacks
Pages: 368
Steam: Open Door
Spice: 🌶🌶/5
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Synopsis: In the comments

Review:

I have been patiently waiting for the release of this title since we were first introduced to Henry and Clara in book 1. We have gotten to see them grow together as friends throughout the other books and I can see why Juliette made us wait so long for them. I loved everything about the 1st half of the book, Clara was so determined to finally get Henry to be with her and he happily followed along so they became a couple within the first 2/3rds of the story. Henry is just so sweet even though he can appear intimidating due to the emo way that he dresses and is covered in tattoos. However, we got some dark and shocking reveals about his past that make their relationship more meaningful, and just proves that they are meant to be together.

The reason that I only gave the book 4 stars is that I had a very hard time when it came to the main outside conflict of the story, and how the book was finally resolved. I personally feel that it wasn't the best choice considering the current US climate
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CW/TW: Mentions of past trauma MMC suffered as a child , panic attack on page, death mentioned and on page, crime scene cleanup, gun violence

Quotes:

-“It’s sweet and creamy, Henry. I promise. Don’t you want to lick my cupcake?” “Yeah, Clara. I wanna lick your cupcake.”

-"Please hold me.” For fuck’s sake. Hold her? I’d burn the world for her.

-“I’m no Prince Charming. But if your Prince Charming ever did come, Clara, I’d have to fucking kill him.”

Found by the Lake Monster by Lillian Lark

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adventurous hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

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

5.0

Title: Found by the Lake Monster
Series: Monstrous Matches
# in series: 1.5
Author: Lillian Lark
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Tropes: Monster Romance, Breeding including knotting, Mistaken Identity, One Night Stand turned to more, Heat cycle, Insta-Love
Steam: Open Door
Spice: 🌶🌶🌶🌶/5
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Review:

This was the perfect break in case of emergency book for when I truly needed a fun sexy read. Our FMC Amy aspires to be a MonsterFuckerTM, though she doesn't know they actually exist. She got dragged into looking for the Lake Monster by a group of paranormal mystery hunters, and inevitably gets lost. MMC Adrien a Lake Monster/Nix happens to find her lost in the forest and thinks she is his date arrived early. He is going into heat and asked the Matchmaker to find him a partner for his heat cycle.

Hilarity ensues because she is stoked to get the chance to hook up with a Monster, but she does feel really bad about lying to him. This turns into a sweet and steamy good time.

CW/TW: Lying, discussions of fertility, impregnation via egg insertion.

Fix Her Up by Tessa Bailey

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lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.0

Content Warnings

The Good Girl's Guide to Rakes by Eva Leigh

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adventurous lighthearted 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? Yes

3.5

I really wanted to love this, but unfortunately I feel it's going to be pretty forgettable. Tropes were great, I appreciated the focus on consent, and the attempts at diversity, but this just really fell flat for me. Definitely don't go into this one expecting historical accuracy, which isn't an issue for me but for others to be aware. The high points for me were the spunkiness of the heroine, and the amount of times our poet hero says F**k.

**Free copy of this title provided by publisher, all thoughts are my own*

Content Warnings

Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo

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emotional reflective fast-paced

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

5.0

Content Warnings

My Demon Romance by Aurora Ascher

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fast-paced

5.0

Firefrost by Camille Longley

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adventurous slow-paced

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

3.0

I really enjoyed the first 40ish%, then the repetitiveness of the storyline started to irritate me. There is a decent Enemies to Lovers plot between the MCs in the beginning. But once the tension of that wears off the story really starts to drag. I honestly think this would have worked much better as a novella, that way the good part would have been highlighted stronger.

Overall, it was just an okay read, but I do not think that I would be continuing the series.

**A free copy of this book was provided to me for review. All thoughts are my own**

Content Warnings