markita_reads's reviews
67 reviews

Deja Brew by Celestine Martin

lighthearted slow-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

3.5 ☆
-
If you're wanting a cozy, fall, witchy vibe with a dash of romance, this book is for you! Deja Brew is book three in the Elemental Love series and can be read as a standalone, which is a major plus. Now, I didn't rate this one as high because I felt like the other two in the series had a Disney retelling theme or vibe, and this book didn't have that. This is definitely a slow-paced, slow-burn romance.
𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬:
•Slow-Burn
•Black Romance 
•Cozy | Fall Vibes 
•Witchy Romance 
𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 Oct.1
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Thank you, Netgalley, and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the eBook on exchange for my honest review. 

Church Girl by Naima Simone

emotional funny lighthearted relaxing 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 ☆
-
She’s a preacher’s daughter, a runaway bride and now the (not quite) qualified nanny for a sexy tattoo artist with a beautiful daughter—and a dirty mouth.

I went into this book completely blind. I was expecting a church-based book with all the holy, rolly stuff, and what I got was a pleasant surprise! This book pulled me out of a reading slump—a reading slump! I devoured this book in one day; it held my attention the entire time. As of now, this book is my favorite book of the year. Von, my man, my man!

I can’t wait for the second book!

𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬:
•church Girl vs Tattoo Artist (Man)
•Single Father
•Black Romance
𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 Nov.26
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Thank you, Netgalley, and Harlequin for the eBook in exchange for my honest review. 

Every Black Girl Dances by Candice Y. Johnson
Did not finish book. Stopped at 35%.

The premise of this story sounded highly interesting: "A searing exploration of femininity and womanhood, Every Black Girl Dances is for women of color who shrink to be heard and sacrifice to be seen." Unfortunately, I wasn't getting those vibes at all. At the 40% mark of the book took a turn that I didn't like. This is a trauma bond book, and I just can't do it.

Twisted Knight by K. Bromberg

emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.25

4.2🌟
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The banter was delicious! I love a STRONG female lead, and Rowan is definitely that! I enjoy how even after she gets the D, she still is a strong female lead. Most women lose their strong personality after getting the D; they become pushovers and soft, blah, blah, but not ROWAN! And I LOVE IT. The cliffhanger . . . . I can't wait for book two!
The narrators did a good job. It was a little hard for me to listen to the male narrator's voice, but his female voice is good, lol.
𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 Sept.24 
Thank you, Netgalley, and MacmillanAudio for the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Somebody I Used to Love by Eve Ainsworth

sad slow-paced

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

3.0

𝐀𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐨𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
3🌟
-
*Random Thought* The song 🎵 Somebody I Used To Know by Gotye played in my head while reading this book because this story was giving me those vibes. With the push and pull of Gem and Will's relationship.
This story is about Will and Gem, who were childhood sweethearts and had a very bad breakup. Will was in a car accident and lost three years of his memories. Will believes he is still in a relationship with Gem. Gem is trying to move on from her breakup with Will.
Meh! It was okay, but I'm not a fan of the "cheating" trope, so yeah.
The audiobook is great; the narrator did a good job bringing these characters to life.
𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬:
•Dual POV'S
•Dual Timeline (Past and present)
•Second chance romance 
𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 : 
•Cheating 
𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 Sept.1 
Thank you, Netgalley, and Bolinda Audio for the audiobook in exchange for my honest review. 

God of Malice by Rina Kent

dark medium-paced

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

4.25

Mister Teacher by B. Love

emotional 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

4.5

G o o d ! That's the review. 

A Darker Mischief by Derek Milman

adventurous dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

𝐀𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐨𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
3 🌟
-
The cover art and the premise of this story is what caught my attention. I wish the storyline held my attention but it didn't. I don't know what to say about this book. I think it just wasn't for me.
The narrator I can say, did a good job with this audiobook. 
𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬:
•M|M Relationship 
•Dark Academic 
•Secret Society 
𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 Sept.10
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Thank you, Netgalley, and Dreamscape Media for the audiobook in exchange for my honest review. 

Forewarned by Chantal Fernando

adventurous medium-paced

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

4.25

The cliffhanger.....

Her Exception 3: A Fake Relationship Romance by B. Love

emotional 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

4.0