mkm_bookloverarchivistreader's reviews
122 reviews

Crushing It by Thea Lawrence

challenging emotional hopeful informative 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? It's complicated

4.75

Thea Lawrence writes a stellar and brilliant character driven narrative in Crushing it. It takes place in present day and past Canada telling the road to HEA of MMC Logan and FMA Abi. Duel points of you can be told from the chapter heading which are under chapter titles. This is one of those romance where the plot supports the character drive. Narrative and growth of both main characters. I highly recommend Crushing It by thea Lawerence. Keep and eye out of the April 8th release of this novel.

Perfectly Wedded by Grace Worthington

adventurous emotional mysterious slow-paced

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

4.0

I highly recommend perfectly wed by grace Worthington for those who want a quick romance read. Available on KU this character driven narrative
Focuses on MMC Vale and FMC Sloan. Trope to be found in this novel are marriage of convenience, closed door, friends to lovers, my wife, fake honeymoon and hockey. It is a novel which also falls into a small town romance romcom. 

Strike the Match by Madison Myers

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Strike the Match is by Madison Myers’s is tremendous and heartfelt Romance. This 3.75 read is easier a round up to four starts.  The MMC Weston is a golden retriever guy who save the FMC Amelia. The plot is complex and character driven elements and plot match at about 50/50 when it comes to describing the writing. Author Madison Myers is brilliant with how she mixes tropes with little elements of plot. The character driven elements blend superbly with the plot elements. Tiny hints on what to expect are fun on a motorcycle, he can’t have her and emotional trauma to name a few. While the authors tropes are golden retriever, former playboy, man obsessed, he orders her fave toy to learn what she likes, dark humor, true crime fanatic, optimistic pessimist, and heroine in hiding. How these elements come together read to find out. I highly recommend Strike the Match be Madison Myer which release April 1st. Check it out.

Spring Break with a Bass Player by Alexandra Hale

emotional funny hopeful relaxing slow-paced

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

4.75

Spring Break with a Bass player by Alexandra hale is a stellar and complex novella. The MMC Bridger  

is lovable yet stubborn. While the FMC Saige who is his love interest is stubborn but in the sense of being strong willed. This character driven narrative based novella has a prefect plot which supports the narrative. Alexandra Hale’s brilliant writing is fast making her one of my favorite authors to read. This book dives into the tropes of small town romance, neighbors to lovers, slow burn, open door romance and beach read. I highly recommend picking up spring break with a bass player by Alexandra Hale, it releases march 20th. 

Coming Home Country: A Country Romance by Siena Trap

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective slow-paced

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

4.75

Siena Trap writes a brilliant romance novel releasing March 25th. Coming home country is a magnificent title for Siena Trap soon to be released novel. This is a second chance novel for MMC Tucker and FMC Bex. Both are stubborn in very different ways. The superb plot helps move this character driven  narrative forwards in this duel pov as we get both Bex and Tucker’s point of views. For plot read the blurb, as I don’t want to give anything away. The tropes found in the 4.75 star read are FMC returns to hometown, sweet home Alabama vibes, second chance romance, small town, found family, forced proximity, she’s engaged to another man, soulmates, country doctor MMC, and he never stopped loving her. Tucker knows that Bex is his soulmate but what does Bex know? She a Chicago lawyer while Tucker’s a country doctor.  I highly recommend coming home country by Siena trap as this complex gives views of Bex and tuckers past as well as the present and trucker fighting for a second chance with his soulmate Bex. 

Taming You by Alex Taylor

adventurous challenging emotional funny sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.25

Taming you was a solid romance read of 4.25 by author Alex Taylor. The plot was interesting and complex as main MMC is  unexpectedly as single father. The main MMC Matt learns he’s a parent in this novel, while supported by friend and FMC Zoey. This was a quick and magnificent read. Zoey and Matt’s path towards love is an intricate part of the plot. Tropes in Alex Taylor’s taming you are secret baby, reformed play boy, friends to lovers, hockey, found family and childhood nicknames. Alex Taylor’s brilliant writing makes me want to check out her back list. Taming you is a highly recommended read. Matt’s a kids hockey coach was relays on friends and family with Jayden who’s an infant. For deeper plot details pick up the book when it releases March 20th.

Always a Fake Bridesmaid by Carrie Ann Ryan

adventurous emotional funny relaxing fast-paced

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

4.0

Always the fake bridesmaid was a solid four star read. The complex start to this 186 pgs or so store leaves MMC and FMC unclear until the end of chapter four. This strategy how was well employed by author Carrie Ann Ryan. This was around a five hour read on a quiet day due to its shorter length. The MMC of the story is Ewan and FMC is Livy. Not much can be summarized without giving away plot but it surrounds wedding as the title suggests. I highly recommend Always a fake bridesmaid by Carrie Ann Ryan. I’ve read other Carrie Ann Ryan novels so recommend checking out her back list. Micro tropes this novel focuses on that help develop the plot are small town romance, single mom, enemies to lovers, fake dating and wedding shenanigans. This romance and character development is faster paced due to shorter length of the novel. This is a read I highly enjoyed.  Carrie Ann Ryan is a wonderful writer with brilliant story ideas.

Sweet Dreams by Kellie Storm, Kellie Storm

4.5

Sweet Dreams by Kellie Storms is a fast read which is friends to lovers essentially. MMC Brisa is a musician and FMC Jace writes music. The plot is exceptional in this character driven narrative. A summary for the plot best I can suggest is read the plot proved on Goodreads or this site. Summarize would give a bit of the short novel away. I would highly recommend this for those who want a quick write from a stellar write. Kellie Storm is an author I’d recommend beyond this single book.

Play Pretend by Claire Brooks

dark emotional funny lighthearted mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

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

5.0

The FMC Willow is a baker while the MMC Ronan her neighbor is a small town sheriff. To Willow the small Maine town feels like home. The development of the FMC and MMC drive this story. This is a character driven narrative with a strong plot which dives into the micro tropes. Willow and Ronan have separate reasons they single. The micro-tropes used to help develop the plot of this character driven narrative are faking dating, he falls first and harder, sheriff vs baker, mental health rep, small town romance, and more.  I highly recommend Claire Brooke’s Debut novel Playing pretend that releases March 14th. The writing of this authors excellent and made this a book I struggled to put down. (More review to come)

High School Reunion by Mallory Kane

adventurous challenging emotional inspiring mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.75

This book is a rounded up 3.75 review, this is my first traditionally published read book in two years. What I like is the author, she develops the plot successfully. Are main male character and female main character are well developed and lovable. Cade and laurel’s story make this book worth the read. The balance between character driven narrative and plot driven is harder. Both laurel and Cade work in law enforcement. If you don’t care about traditional published with lack of romantic tropes or subplots found in most indie published book you’ll love this book. The authors a stellar writer that a laurel and Cade being lovable characters made this 3.75 star read easy to round up to 4 stars!