monika_is_booked's reviews
309 reviews

Roughing It by Albany Archer

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted tense 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? No

5.0

Blakely Bradshaw needs a change. Working hard as a social media influencer, she feels more and more lonely every day. When a comment hits her hard, she decides to prove everyone what she's really made of. Thirty days in a small cabin in the woods with a grumpy, but handsome outdoorsman, who'll teach her everything she needs to know about surviving in the wilderness. What could possibly go wrong?
H€// to the yes!! Albany did it again!! I. LOVE. THIS. GORGEOUS. STORY!! Insta-attraction between a sassy AF city girl and a grumpy bear of an outdoorsman? Now THAT'S a bear I'll definitely choose 😁. Their dynamic is FANTASTIC (sorry, not sorry for yelling so much!!)! I had so much fun with these two!! There are so many laugh-out-loud, as well as tender moments between Blakely and Hudson. The sp!ce is amazing!! And I would have read another 400 pages with delight. Thank you SO MUCH for writing their story, Albany! All the love and stars and whatnots for you, Blakely and Hudson 💕

If you like your FMCs sassy, your MMCs grumpy, amazing banter and 🌶️, forced proximity, hurt/comfort, fun and feelings, put "Roughing It" on your TBR!! 🥰

Gotten By The Gator by Lizzie Strong

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

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

4.75

Aurora has just gotten otlut of a bad marriage. Fleeing back home to her mother, getting black out drunk is a completely reasonable reaction, right? 
Waking up the next morning, with no shoes and twigs in her hair, she sets out to find her phone, which, upon retrieval, suddenly has a mystery app on it, sending her on a scavenger hunt for her lost things. And to set her up with a handsome gator as it seems...
Funny, cozy, flipping hot, with a bit of drama related to Aurora's ex-husband, set in a magical forest, this is the perfect fall read for monster lovers. 

Jockstraps&Newspapers by Lizzie Strong

emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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? No

4.75

Cassiopeia Darling has always felt invisible. Being the middle child out of five sisters she had a tough time growing up. When the chance arises to finally get her dream job and make a name for herself, she has to make it count. What she didn't count on, was being sent to write about the local Sportsball team and it's captain's last season before he'll become a coach. 
Elliot Bonesaw is everybody's darling and the local sports hero. Captivated by the fiery temperament of the newsie on the team, he has a hard time to keep his eyes off of her and his c**k has his own plans, as it seems.....

Funny, fluffy minotaur sports himbos? H€ll to the yes to that. Determined, headstrong, fierce elf reporters? Double yes!! This book is REALLY fun. I had such a good time with Cass, Elliot and their families. There's no third act break up, but they have to work through some stuff to become better for each other. There's some additional drama, that keeps you wanting to turn the pages and to throw your kindle at a certain slimeball. There's fun, fluff, feelings, fantastic spice, lots of family drama, and most importantly lots of heart to find in this gorgeous story.

Enchanting the Elf: A Monster Romance by Elle Sterling

emotional funny inspiring lighthearted sad slow-paced

5.0

We're back with Alberad's monsters. Adelbert is determined to find a solution for the fates bonds which have tied the human women to him and his friends. Therefore he needs to return to the Black Forest to search Alberad's library. Florence in tow, because they can't be separated due to the bond and it's distance limit, he tries his best to help everyone around him If he could only the perpetually sunshiny, gorgeous woman fated to him out of his head, everything could soon be back to normal....maybe.
When the dedication of the book already alhas you in goosebumps because Florence is basically me, you can probably tell how much I loved this story. Although Adelbert has A LOT to work through on his end (and I was very frustrated with him at times, even if he had his reasons), Florence is one to just go with the flow. She's there, happy with whatever he's willing to give her, waiting for him to finally realise that maybe the fates had very good reasons to bond them together. 
With a bit of a push from his best friend and lots of unconditional thereness (sorry there's no better way to describe it, Florence is just there, understanding, waiting, without knowing if he'll ever get through his feelings of not being enough for the people in his life), from Florence he finally, FINALLY realises, that the path he thought his life was leading to might not be set in stone.
I. LOVE. THIS. BOOK. And I'll, definitely revisit Florence and Adelbert in the future. If you like fated bonds, but the fated mates actually have a choice, forced proximity, thickheaded grumpy elfs, amazing gentle, but strong FMCs, fun magical surprises and a beautiful story, pick up "Enchanting the Elf". 

This is book 2 in the "Monster's of Alberad"-Series which can be read as standalones. However, I'd recommend starting with book 1 for maximum enjoyment of the series. 

Iris by Sofia Rose

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

4.0

Nereus has known that Maddox is his fated mate for years, yet he never acted on it, knowing how reluctant the minotaur feels to accept an alpha. 
When Flora's two gorgeous human dancers join the monsters of Sebastian's band on their tour, things suddenly start to change for the males. And Nereus recognises that both Cleo and Daisy could be their fated mates too.
This was such a fun, cozy read. Four kind and caring characters all I to each other. Lots of spice, forced proximity on a not-so-tiny tour bus, tentacles, tiny dance outfits and a heat coming for the omegas...
The perfect book to warm up on a cool fall afternoon. Pair it with your favourite hot beverage, a cozy blanket and you're all set for an amazing time 🥰

Dragon Prince of New York by Thea Masen

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted tense 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? No

5.0

Cyrus has been biding his time for six years until his fated mate is finally 23 and his to claim. But when he needs to look after her two weeks before then, his resolve to stay away until her birthday is crumbling all around him. Her fiery temperament testing him at every turn. Will he be able to keep his hands off her to not break the law and to keep them both safe?
Dragons and mates and temptations...oh my!! Thea Masen has done it again. Cyrus is so freaking 🥵!! If you liked Midas you'll definitely love his little brother. And Finley? She's fierce and fiery, she's determined and bratty. The banter and the tension between these two? 🔥!! She knows how to keep him on his toes, that's for sure. 
If you like fated mates, høt dragon shifters, a bit of action, a lot of "other" action *winkwink. Smart and sassy FMCs, possessive and growly MMCs, found family and an unexpected ending, put "Dragon Prince of New York" on your TBR!!

Dead Rinker by Ruth Stilling

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted sad tense 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? No

5.0

Jensen Jones has his eyes set on the one woman who doesn't want him back. But he can be a very patient man and when the opportunity arises to finally have her, he doesn't hesitate for one second. 
Kate has tried to ignore her attraction to Jensen for a long time but after a hot night together, she's suddenly confronted with a positive pregnancy test and having to deal with the one man, she's tried to keep her distance from.
Can Jensen prove himself to be everything she's ever needed and will Kate be able to let him in and let go of the wall she's so carefully built around her heart?
Holy Hockey gods. These two had me on my toes and sweating and tearing up. Their story is gorgeous and Jensen Jones is one top tier possessive, totally obsessed with his woman book boyfriend 🥰 
Kate slowly opening up to him, showing him every part of herself she kept hidden carefully was AMAZING. He's patient, kind and one hundred percent sure she'll be his one day, so he just keeps showing up for her and in the end he FINALLY gets the happz ending he always wanted. 
I've been waiting for Jensen's and Kate's story from book 1 and it didn't disappoint!! If you love a man obsessed, a black cat woman, a baby surprise, found family and lots of banter and heart, start reading "Dead Rinker" on September 19th 

Wicked & Wildflower by Sarah A. Bailey

emotional funny hopeful inspiring sad tense 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? No

5.0

Dahlia is trying to start her life over after having moved to Pacific Shores. One night of letting herself go and enjoying herself leads to a one night stand with a handsome stranger. What she didn't expect is that said stranger happens to be her new boss and the brother of her soon to be brother-in-law. 
Everett was never one to care about much, but his family and his business. When Dahlia breezes into his life like a hurricane, making him feel more alive than he had in years, can he be the one to climb the walls she built around her heart?
Holy. Flipping. Surfboard. These two....I can't get over how beautiful their story is. Everett is very much all in after his one time with Dahlia. Accepting her, her past, her daughter, the way she sometimes need things to be for her to open up and let him in had me swooning SO hard. He's determined to don't let her self-doubts get the best of her and to win her over even if it takes forever. His family is so supportive and fun, taking Dahlia, Lou and Darby into their midst, no questions asked, no conditions needed. Dahlia finally finding her place in the world, finally giving herself the chance to open up and let Everett in was EVERYTHING. I usually read pretty fast but I didn't with this book. I wanted to savour every beautiful moment between these characters. And there were A LOT of them. 
Thank you so much, Sarah, for giving us this gorgeous story full of heartbreak and healing, of troubled pasts and finding your people. Of Dahlia and Everett who'll have a place in my heart forever next to Darby and Leo 🩷

Infinite stars but make it 5 because they won't let me give more 😂

A Yulean Sisters Guide to Getting Married by L.E. Eldridge

adventurous emotional mysterious fast-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

4.0

Zarios has a problem. The last shipments of prescious magestones went missing. To investigate he visits the neighbouring kingdom. What he didn't count on was meeting the feisty princess Sorcha. Intrigued by her fiery personality and in need of help to solve his problems, they both decide to fake an engagement. 
Sorcha always wanted to be a knight. She's been training hard her entire life but never did she think she'd have the chance to prove herself until she meets Zarios. Can he help her finally getting accepted as a worrier?
Ha! This was sooooo fun. Medieval fantasy setting with lots of creatures I'm sure we'll meet more of as the series continues. Zarios and Sorcha are so perfect for each other. He's the level headed one, balancing out her fiery temperament and supportive of her dream of becoming a knight. Add a healthy dose of forced proximity, small carriages and only one beds will do that for ya, and you get a fast paced, fun, spicy novel with a mistery and a plot twist on top. I absolutely love the world created in this books and can't wait to return in the future ☺️

A Minor Inconvenience: Oakwood Falls Book 1 by Chelsea Jean, Chelsea Jean

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted slow-paced

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

4.0

Murpie thinks she's got everything sorted out in her life at 30 years old. A steady job, a handsome boyfriend and the best friend a girl could ask for. But when her boyfriend becomes more and more distant and it becomes more and more obvious, that her cute co-worker might have a thing for her, how long will it take before she realises that she might be with the wrong man?
This is such a cute, quick read. All the cozy fall vibes, feelings and a tension filled slow burn, taking off at the end 🔥. If you're looking for a small town romance to read while being wrapped up in a soft blanket and drinking a cup of your favourite hot beverage, "A Minor Inconvenience" would be a really good pick.