monika_is_booked's reviews
309 reviews

My Bear to Heal by E.M. Sauber

emotional funny hopeful 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

Addie's life has been in a bit of a standstill for the last years. Taking care of her father, didn't leave much to persue her own dream of becoming a vet. Now she's waiting for a position at the local vet to be near her father AND to finally make her dreams come true. 
In the meantime, the shifters of Cypress Valley asked for her help taking care of a bunch of chickens to get more self-sustaining. But being in Cypress Valley also means being near Tyler. Her best friend and the man she's had a crush on for a long time. Will she be able to finally make a move and will Tyler even want her? 
Tyler has known that Addie's his fated mate for years now. But after a bad break up with his first love, he feels broken and doesn't trust easily. Will he be able to let Addie in and finally be happy with her?
Wow!! I was really looking forward to Tyler's and Addie's story and it didn't disappoint 🥰 
The tension between the two before they finally snap? ❤️‍🔥 Tyler finally deciding he's done running from his fears and Addie realising she didn't ruin everything for them years ago when she rejected his kiss 👩‍🍳💋
Read if you like: friends to lovers with amazing tension, fated mates, fantastic 🌶️, found family and adorable furry, côçk blocking sidekicks named Gertie 🥰

Adjusting Focus by Ella Larson

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

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

5.0

Cathy and her friends are on holiday in Norway. Freshly dumped by her now ex-boyfriend, Cathy is also set out to start her new career as a photographer. None of the girls thought they would need to be rescued from certain death by a bunch of mystical creatures. And hot ones at that.
“Adjusting Focus” takes you on a beautiful journey following Cathy and Ærlen. There's action, a mate bond, swoon, magic and 🌶️. All wrapped up in under 200 pages!! Cathy and Ærlen's story is perfect for cozy season. Reading about snowy adventures in Norway while being wrapped up in a cozy blanket. What could be better?? Not much!! Ærlen is really sweet, asking for consent every step of the way, trying not to pressure Cathy into a decision, that's hers to make, even if it's hard on him. I really loved the book and can't wait for more stories from the Hidden Folk 🥰

By the Blood Moon by A. Knightley

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

5.0

I just love these two 🥰

Rabble: End Game by C. Rochelle

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted mysterious 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

So!! Much!! Fun!!!! I love this series

Moth Manager by Luna Cantrip

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.75

Piper has just been dumped by her boyfriend. On a girls'night out on Halloween, she decides to have one night of fun, no strings attached. What she doesn't know is, that the handsome mothman she's set her eyes on, is her fated mate, who's been waiting for an opportunity to finally claim her.
This is a very cute and 🌶️🌶️ story. Ant is trying so hard to finally find someone who loves him despite his many differences and Piper wants basically the same from her partner as she's often been too much in her previous relationships. 
If you like nerdy characters, fated mates, adorable monsters and fantastic 🌶️, put "Moth Manager on your TBR.

Allured by Van R. Som

emotional funny hopeful 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

When burlesque dancer Alek gets rope into catering for his friendy he never thought a man he'd be immediately infatuated with would run into his kitchen. But when the hottie professor doesn't call after their one time encounter, he's devastated. By chance, Ezekiel shows up in Alek's club one evening. Will the two men finally get a chance to get to know each other and explore this strange connection between them?
These two are just the cutest patooties!! Both feel drawn to each other from the first moment, but it's Ezekiel's first encounter in being attracted to a man. Alek's and Ezekiel's isn't a slow burn, it's insta-attraction which takes a bit of time to unfold but their dynamic is 🔥!!
If you like cinnamon roll MMCs, cinnadoms, found family, fantastic banter and 🌶️, adorable fluffy cats and characters who really work for making their relationship an understanding, open and successful one, go pick up "Allured"!!

Axon's Anguish by Crystal Rose

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective 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

Axon has all but lost hope in ever having a relationship with the one woman he's infatuated with. Every time she touches him it just gets too much for him. Will there ever be a way for them to be together?
Ashley has had enough of Axon flinching away from her touch. He's the one guy she's interested in but he apparently there's no hope for them to become mates. In addition she's just coming to terms with her being ace and everything that comes with it. Will she ever have a fulfilling relationship without feeling pressured?
These two are just so adorable. After getting caught in a storm, they share Axon's cave (oh no! Only one cave 🙃) for shelter and start to open up towards one another. 
Once they start talking and the initial issues are addressed, both are so sweet and understanding of one another's needs and boundaries. I loved seeing how their relationships slowly grows always within their own pace and abilities. I was smiling and swooning throughout most of the book and it's definitely a couple I'll revisit in the future. 
This is book 5 in the series, which needs to be read in order.

Sinful Crimes For The Artistically Inclined by W.H. Lockwood

adventurous dark funny mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Joe has had a thing for the sexy demon killing, art historian Percy for months. One problem: He's a catholic priest. One faithful night, Joe sees his chances slip through his fingers and he's forced to show his feelings towards Percy or lose him forever.
This book is so wild! And fun! And unhinged! I loved it!! One disaster follows the other as Percy is determined to not let Joe in on his double life. But he's struggling to keep up with his facade while crime, blood and zombies keep getting in their way. 
If you like fast paced, action packed, hilarious and steamy stories, topped with theft, murder and zombies, you should definitely put "Sinful Crimes for the Artistically Inclined" on your TBR. I can't wait for part 2!!

Glory Troll by Rhea Fox

emotional funny 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

5.0

Bo always believed that his grandmother"s tales of true mates were exactly that. But when he and his hockey team get off the bus for their training camp in Scotland, he's about to be proven wrong.
Oliver loves romance novels. But love at first sight is not something he ever thought to be a possibility. But when the green hunk of a forest troll sets foot into the hotel he works in, things are about to change. And fast.
These two are just the cutest!! This novella is full of all the fantastic fluff and spice, Bo and Ollie fall hard and fast for each other and just have to work through some stuff to finally be together for good. They had me swooning and grinning the whole time reading. If you're looking for a cozy monster romance with all the feels, jump into the "Fangs on Ice"-Series!!

Borrowed Spoons by Jenni Peck

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious tense fast-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? No

5.0

Elle Sideris is living a really good life with her loving husband and her four teenage kids. When she gets visited by a familiar omen, everything is about to change With the lives of their family at stake, Elle and Mack must do what they swore to never do again. Bend time itself....
This was a wild journey!! And I loved every second of it. We're traveling through time and space, get to know a younger version of Elle and Mack and watch them fall in love. Learn about the threats that are about to destroy their happiness in the presence and are left with a cliffhanger that makes you want to know more right now 😅
If you like strong FMCs, protective MMCs, older MCs (big love from me for that!!), wild adventures through space and time, then put "Borrowed Spoons" on your TBR!!