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nicolem_young's reviews
165 reviews
Coram House by Bailey Seybolt
Pros
- Bailey Seybold’s writing is lovely. It has an easy flow and is very engaging. It’s entertaining without being over the top. The author perfectly sets the scene of the story, being descriptive without being overwordy. You felt like you were battling the cold with Alex Kelley (FMC) at the Coram House next to the lake. You will definitely get sucked into the eerie theme.
- I think the main character being a true crime writer investigating events that have occurred at an orphanage was an interesting concept.
- I enjoyed how the story was told in different formats. Audio transcripts of police interviews (I wish there were more of them) from children from Coram House (now adults) giving their testimony of things that had happened to and around them while at the orphanage, and the day-to-day perspective and investigating of the main character.
- Flashbacks were sprinkled in nicely without disrupting the flow of the book. We were taken back in time at just the right moments. It was very nicely done.
- I found MOST of the characters to be enjoyable and interesting.
-I didn’t see the end twist coming. As I think back, all the clues were there; I just didn’t piece things together. That was very well done. I ended up giving this book an additional half star solely based on that.
Cons
- One of my only qualms with Seybold's writing was that at times it did get rather repetitive. Alex was constantly going over the facts of the case, which we as the readers didn’t need to hear about. There were some scenes that didn’t do anything to progress the story; they were just sort of there. This unfortunately did slow things down a bit. There’s a lot to unpack with this case, sometimes too much.
Sidenote : This particular sentence both disgusted and humored me. “The air is damp and stale, like walking into a cloud of someone else’s breath.”- I’m sorry, WHAT!?
- The story builds slowly (and I do mean SLOWLY), so if you are looking for a fast burn, this is not the book for you. This is not a fast-paced thriller by any means. I wouldn’t even classify it as a thriller; more like a mystery.
- If you are also a fan of short chapters, this is not the book for you. Most of the chapters in the first part of this book are LONG. That, paired with the pace of the plot, made this very hard for me to get through.
- This just felt very drawn out and could have honestly been at least fifty pages shorter. The point of the book still would have gotten across, and we wouldn’t be missing out on anything.
- The romance storyline didn’t mesh with the rest of the plot. It felt very forced and didn’t unfold organically. It just wasn’t believable. I also wasn’t aware that it was something that would be happening, as it wasn’t even hinted at in the synopsis. Honestly, it should have/could have been left out entirely. It just wasn’t needed. Seybolt was trying to add something to the story that was unnecessary.
- I just couldn’t get behind Alex as a main character. Something about her drove me crazy; perhaps I found her to be a bit pretentious, or maybe it’s because I found her to be rather flat. She was just sharing the story with us rather than living it. Was she too nosy? Was she just too bland? Did she come off as a know-it-all? I don’t know. There was just something about her I didn’t like.
With that being said, I really enjoyed the fact that Alex was someone who had real-life problems that she was dealing with but was still level-headed and relatively responsible. Despite not being able to get behind her, I did find her to be reliable and, in certain ways, easy to relate to. More often than not in thriller books, FMCs are unreliable, confused, and easily manipulated. This was a great change of pace. I do wish all of the characters had more development and background information given to us.
I wasn’t 100% sure whether to put this in the pros or cons sections, so I just shoved it here.
- The last 25% moved way too fast. The entire book built so slowly until about 75%, and then we just hit the ground running. I wasn’t a big fan of the ending of this one. It wasn’t terrible per se, but I didn’t leave the story feeling completely satisfied.
Overall, this was a good debut novel. I believe Bailey Seybold has a lot of potential and a promising future as an author.
P.S I wouldn’t bill this as a thriller but more of a mystery. There wasn’t anything really thrilling about it.
TLDR: AN INTERESTING SLOW BURN MYSTERY BASED OFF TRUE BUT SAD EVENTS!
As always, please remember that reading is subjective, and that’s what makes it so great. 😊
I would like to thank Atria Books and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book.
This is my voluntary, unbiased, and honest review.
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Book/Story: ⭐️⭐⭐
Book Cover: ⭐️⭐️⭐
Trigger Warning(s): Child Abuse (Physical, Emotional, Sexual)
Religion
Loss Of Spouse
Loss Of Child (mentioned)
Alcoholism (mentioned)
Pedophilia (mentioned)
POV: First Person
Series/Standalone: Standalone
First In Series: N/A
Trope(s): None
Spice: ️None
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
Burn: Slow
Safe or Dark: Dark
Release Date: April 15, 2025
Please note that this book touches on some very sensitive subjects. I strongly recommend checking the trigger warning before diving into this.
If you enjoyed Netflix’s docuseries, The Keepers, I think you will definitely enjoy this book. Both these stories give off similar vibes. If you are a true crime junkie, I think you will enjoy this book since it’s based on the true stories of St. Joseph's Orphanage.
Book Cover: ⭐️⭐️⭐
Trigger Warning(s): Child Abuse (Physical, Emotional, Sexual)
Religion
Loss Of Spouse
Loss Of Child (mentioned)
Alcoholism (mentioned)
Pedophilia (mentioned)
POV: First Person
Series/Standalone: Standalone
First In Series: N/A
Trope(s): None
Spice: ️None
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
Burn: Slow
Safe or Dark: Dark
Release Date: April 15, 2025
Please note that this book touches on some very sensitive subjects. I strongly recommend checking the trigger warning before diving into this.
If you enjoyed Netflix’s docuseries, The Keepers, I think you will definitely enjoy this book. Both these stories give off similar vibes. If you are a true crime junkie, I think you will enjoy this book since it’s based on the true stories of St. Joseph's Orphanage.
“It’s more like tearing off a hangnail. Painful, yes, to sever that thread of flesh. But also, a relief.”
Pros
- Bailey Seybold’s writing is lovely. It has an easy flow and is very engaging. It’s entertaining without being over the top. The author perfectly sets the scene of the story, being descriptive without being overwordy. You felt like you were battling the cold with Alex Kelley (FMC) at the Coram House next to the lake. You will definitely get sucked into the eerie theme.
- I think the main character being a true crime writer investigating events that have occurred at an orphanage was an interesting concept.
- I enjoyed how the story was told in different formats. Audio transcripts of police interviews (I wish there were more of them) from children from Coram House (now adults) giving their testimony of things that had happened to and around them while at the orphanage, and the day-to-day perspective and investigating of the main character.
“It’s like, once you’re broken, no one ever really believes that you can be whole again.”
- Flashbacks were sprinkled in nicely without disrupting the flow of the book. We were taken back in time at just the right moments. It was very nicely done.
- I found MOST of the characters to be enjoyable and interesting.
-I didn’t see the end twist coming. As I think back, all the clues were there; I just didn’t piece things together. That was very well done. I ended up giving this book an additional half star solely based on that.
Cons
- One of my only qualms with Seybold's writing was that at times it did get rather repetitive. Alex was constantly going over the facts of the case, which we as the readers didn’t need to hear about. There were some scenes that didn’t do anything to progress the story; they were just sort of there. This unfortunately did slow things down a bit. There’s a lot to unpack with this case, sometimes too much.
Sidenote : This particular sentence both disgusted and humored me. “The air is damp and stale, like walking into a cloud of someone else’s breath.”- I’m sorry, WHAT!?
- The story builds slowly (and I do mean SLOWLY), so if you are looking for a fast burn, this is not the book for you. This is not a fast-paced thriller by any means. I wouldn’t even classify it as a thriller; more like a mystery.
- If you are also a fan of short chapters, this is not the book for you. Most of the chapters in the first part of this book are LONG. That, paired with the pace of the plot, made this very hard for me to get through.
- This just felt very drawn out and could have honestly been at least fifty pages shorter. The point of the book still would have gotten across, and we wouldn’t be missing out on anything.
“I’m just saying, plenty of us have good and bad in us. Just depends which way the balance tips that day.”
- The romance storyline didn’t mesh with the rest of the plot. It felt very forced and didn’t unfold organically. It just wasn’t believable. I also wasn’t aware that it was something that would be happening, as it wasn’t even hinted at in the synopsis. Honestly, it should have/could have been left out entirely. It just wasn’t needed. Seybolt was trying to add something to the story that was unnecessary.
- I just couldn’t get behind Alex as a main character. Something about her drove me crazy; perhaps I found her to be a bit pretentious, or maybe it’s because I found her to be rather flat. She was just sharing the story with us rather than living it. Was she too nosy? Was she just too bland? Did she come off as a know-it-all? I don’t know. There was just something about her I didn’t like.
With that being said, I really enjoyed the fact that Alex was someone who had real-life problems that she was dealing with but was still level-headed and relatively responsible. Despite not being able to get behind her, I did find her to be reliable and, in certain ways, easy to relate to. More often than not in thriller books, FMCs are unreliable, confused, and easily manipulated. This was a great change of pace. I do wish all of the characters had more development and background information given to us.
I wasn’t 100% sure whether to put this in the pros or cons sections, so I just shoved it here.
- The last 25% moved way too fast. The entire book built so slowly until about 75%, and then we just hit the ground running. I wasn’t a big fan of the ending of this one. It wasn’t terrible per se, but I didn’t leave the story feeling completely satisfied.
“That’s the thing with anger— you have to figure out what to do with it. You control it or it will control you.”
Overall, this was a good debut novel. I believe Bailey Seybold has a lot of potential and a promising future as an author.
P.S I wouldn’t bill this as a thriller but more of a mystery. There wasn’t anything really thrilling about it.
TLDR: AN INTERESTING SLOW BURN MYSTERY BASED OFF TRUE BUT SAD EVENTS!
“Sometimes too late is the best we can do.”
As always, please remember that reading is subjective, and that’s what makes it so great. 😊
I would like to thank Atria Books and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book.
This is my voluntary, unbiased, and honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Pedophilia, and Death of parent
Dinner for Vampires: Life on a Cult TV Show by Bethany Joy Lenz
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Book/Story: ⭐️⭐⭐️⭐
Book Cover: ⭐️⭐️⭐.5
Trigger Warning(s): Cult Activity
Domestic Abuse
Misogyny
Emotional Abuse
Religion
POV: First Person
Series/Standalone: Standalone
First In Series: N/A
Trope(s): None
Spice: ️None
Genre: Memoir
Burn: Medium
Safe or Dark: Safe
Release Date: October 22, 2024
I haven't watched One Tree Hill, so I'm not familiar with this actress or the character she portrays on the show. However, I am very into stories about cults/people who were involved in them. Bethany Joy Lenz's story sounded fascinating based on the synopsis, so when Book of the Month offered this as one of their selections, I snatched it. I'm happy to announce that the synopsis didn’t lie this time.
First and foremost, I would like it to be known that I never judge people who have been part of a cult or an organization with cult-like behaviors. We don’t know what a person was dealing with at a particular time in their life to make them get “sucked” in by the leader of the group or why their certain lifestyle appealed to them. I sympathize with what these people go through and the abuse that they have endured while being misled by all those fake prophets out there.
We all know about the mainstream cults out there, the ones that often have documentaries made about them and discussed on the news.
E.G.: The Peoples Temple, The Manson Family, Heaven’s Gate, Children of God, and NXIVM. Just to name a few.
We don’t often think about all the cults out there that operate on a smaller scale. The ones that fly under the radar and get no public recognition. The ones that can slowly pull a person in without them even realizing it. That’s exactly what happened to Joy Lenz. She was a victim of a cult that the general public didn’t even know about.
This is a story about failure, courage, finding yourself, strength, and taking back your life.
This isn’t a memoir solely about Lenz's time on One Tree Hill but an overall story of her life. So, if you’re a OTH fan who was looking forward to reading about the show, turn back now. However, the story about her time in the cult (The Big House Family) and her time on One Tree Hill do coincide. So, if that’s what you’re looking for, then stick around.
I’m not a huge memoir reader. I have only read a handful. I often find the writing to be dense and, at times, clunky. Not this one; the writing flowed nicely and was easy to follow, albeit at times repetitive. The timeline was nice and cohesive; it didn’t jump around like it does sometimes in other memoirs. You were able to know exactly what Lenz was going through at any given point in the story. The writing was very detailed without being flowery. The picture that’s painted really had me sympathizing with all the people involved.
Don’t get me wrong. The first part of the memoir is a bit slow-moving as everything is getting set up, but once we get to the meat of things, we really get moving. There was no huge moment that occurred to make Lenz join the cult. There was no big bang. (So, again, if you’re looking for something like that, turn back now.) It just happened, and we learn about that through her. I myself am not a religious person, but this memoir made me understand the allure of it and how when religion is followed properly, it can be a beautiful lifeline for some people and how if it’s used as a weapon, it can be devastating and destructive.
Not only do you learn about Joy Lenz's time in her cult and the double life she so desperately tried to balance, but also about the operations of Hollywood. How hard it can be to break onto the scene. How you have hundreds of rejections before someone takes a chance on you. How roles start to slow down for actresses as they start to age and all the double standards that come from growing older in Hollywood (“Actors get older; actresses get old.”). I found that to be fascinating.
Bethany Joy Lenz tells a passionate, infuriating, and at times sweet story. It shows that any of us can fall prey to these kinds of groups no matter how fiercely we believe that we wouldn’t. It shows that you don’t necessarily have to be down on your luck, weak, or in a bad place to fall for propaganda that’s dangled in front of us. Some studies even try to show that fans of sports teams partake in cult-like behavior. Which, when you think about the grand scheme of things, might be true. The fact that what happened to Joy Lenz could happen to any one of us is scary. Just like I’m sure sharing her experience was too.
I love how Lenz found the strength to get out of the cult and move on with her life as well as with her faith. I love how she was able to find the good things that had happened to her and came out of her experience. She’s very resilient.
Despite all the good things I found about this book, it did have its negative moments for me, mainly Joy’s time spent on OTH.
I didn’t like how she interacted with and treated some of her fellow cast members. At times, she almost came off as seeming like she was better than some/most of the people she worked with. She often used her religious beliefs to give off this air of superiority while working on the show.
She would say things about really liking Sophia Bush but being unable to form a friendship with her because of X, Y, & Z (which would end up being some sort of shallow reason).
She pushed back a lot against what the creators/directors/producers of the show wanted her to do, then would turn around and get upset when her manager informed her that she was getting calls about how difficult Joy was to work with. What did she expect?
I found it incredibly unfair that she compared creators of shows/movies to cult leaders. More or less suggesting that they both operate the same way. That really left a sour taste in my mouth.
While I try my best not to judge people in cults, I'm only human. A lot of times Lenz would question something she was going to do based on what people around her were telling her, would admit that she wasn’t sure it was the right choice to make, and did it anyway. So, that took me back a bit. Usually when people are brainwashed to the point of believing anything a leader tells them to, they don’t question it. This led me to believe that Lenz held on to some of her own free will but so badly wanted to belong somewhere that she did things she didn’t want to do anyway, which is sad in its own right.
I also found it interesting that Lenz just woke up one day, realized this cult and the people in it were bad for her, and decided to just up and leave, despite the years of indoctrination that she suffered.
At the end of the day, I’m glad I picked this one up. I am thankful that Lenz shared her story and is making her voice heard. It brings awareness to a taboo part of life. I hope this memoir helps someone who might be going through the same thing as she did.
TLDR:A RIVETING, PASSIONATE, INFURIATING, AND BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN MEMOIR! A GREAT READ!
As always, please remember that reading is subjective, and that’s what makes it so great. 😊
Book Cover: ⭐️⭐️⭐.5
Trigger Warning(s): Cult Activity
Domestic Abuse
Misogyny
Emotional Abuse
Religion
POV: First Person
Series/Standalone: Standalone
First In Series: N/A
Trope(s): None
Spice: ️None
Genre: Memoir
Burn: Medium
Safe or Dark: Safe
Release Date: October 22, 2024
I haven't watched One Tree Hill, so I'm not familiar with this actress or the character she portrays on the show. However, I am very into stories about cults/people who were involved in them. Bethany Joy Lenz's story sounded fascinating based on the synopsis, so when Book of the Month offered this as one of their selections, I snatched it. I'm happy to announce that the synopsis didn’t lie this time.
First and foremost, I would like it to be known that I never judge people who have been part of a cult or an organization with cult-like behaviors. We don’t know what a person was dealing with at a particular time in their life to make them get “sucked” in by the leader of the group or why their certain lifestyle appealed to them. I sympathize with what these people go through and the abuse that they have endured while being misled by all those fake prophets out there.
We all know about the mainstream cults out there, the ones that often have documentaries made about them and discussed on the news.
E.G.: The Peoples Temple, The Manson Family, Heaven’s Gate, Children of God, and NXIVM. Just to name a few.
We don’t often think about all the cults out there that operate on a smaller scale. The ones that fly under the radar and get no public recognition. The ones that can slowly pull a person in without them even realizing it. That’s exactly what happened to Joy Lenz. She was a victim of a cult that the general public didn’t even know about.
This is a story about failure, courage, finding yourself, strength, and taking back your life.
This isn’t a memoir solely about Lenz's time on One Tree Hill but an overall story of her life. So, if you’re a OTH fan who was looking forward to reading about the show, turn back now. However, the story about her time in the cult (The Big House Family) and her time on One Tree Hill do coincide. So, if that’s what you’re looking for, then stick around.
I’m not a huge memoir reader. I have only read a handful. I often find the writing to be dense and, at times, clunky. Not this one; the writing flowed nicely and was easy to follow, albeit at times repetitive. The timeline was nice and cohesive; it didn’t jump around like it does sometimes in other memoirs. You were able to know exactly what Lenz was going through at any given point in the story. The writing was very detailed without being flowery. The picture that’s painted really had me sympathizing with all the people involved.
Don’t get me wrong. The first part of the memoir is a bit slow-moving as everything is getting set up, but once we get to the meat of things, we really get moving. There was no huge moment that occurred to make Lenz join the cult. There was no big bang. (So, again, if you’re looking for something like that, turn back now.) It just happened, and we learn about that through her. I myself am not a religious person, but this memoir made me understand the allure of it and how when religion is followed properly, it can be a beautiful lifeline for some people and how if it’s used as a weapon, it can be devastating and destructive.
Not only do you learn about Joy Lenz's time in her cult and the double life she so desperately tried to balance, but also about the operations of Hollywood. How hard it can be to break onto the scene. How you have hundreds of rejections before someone takes a chance on you. How roles start to slow down for actresses as they start to age and all the double standards that come from growing older in Hollywood (“Actors get older; actresses get old.”). I found that to be fascinating.
Bethany Joy Lenz tells a passionate, infuriating, and at times sweet story. It shows that any of us can fall prey to these kinds of groups no matter how fiercely we believe that we wouldn’t. It shows that you don’t necessarily have to be down on your luck, weak, or in a bad place to fall for propaganda that’s dangled in front of us. Some studies even try to show that fans of sports teams partake in cult-like behavior. Which, when you think about the grand scheme of things, might be true. The fact that what happened to Joy Lenz could happen to any one of us is scary. Just like I’m sure sharing her experience was too.
I love how Lenz found the strength to get out of the cult and move on with her life as well as with her faith. I love how she was able to find the good things that had happened to her and came out of her experience. She’s very resilient.
Despite all the good things I found about this book, it did have its negative moments for me, mainly Joy’s time spent on OTH.
I didn’t like how she interacted with and treated some of her fellow cast members. At times, she almost came off as seeming like she was better than some/most of the people she worked with. She often used her religious beliefs to give off this air of superiority while working on the show.
She would say things about really liking Sophia Bush but being unable to form a friendship with her because of X, Y, & Z (which would end up being some sort of shallow reason).
She pushed back a lot against what the creators/directors/producers of the show wanted her to do, then would turn around and get upset when her manager informed her that she was getting calls about how difficult Joy was to work with. What did she expect?
I found it incredibly unfair that she compared creators of shows/movies to cult leaders. More or less suggesting that they both operate the same way. That really left a sour taste in my mouth.
While I try my best not to judge people in cults, I'm only human. A lot of times Lenz would question something she was going to do based on what people around her were telling her, would admit that she wasn’t sure it was the right choice to make, and did it anyway. So, that took me back a bit. Usually when people are brainwashed to the point of believing anything a leader tells them to, they don’t question it. This led me to believe that Lenz held on to some of her own free will but so badly wanted to belong somewhere that she did things she didn’t want to do anyway, which is sad in its own right.
I also found it interesting that Lenz just woke up one day, realized this cult and the people in it were bad for her, and decided to just up and leave, despite the years of indoctrination that she suffered.
At the end of the day, I’m glad I picked this one up. I am thankful that Lenz shared her story and is making her voice heard. It brings awareness to a taboo part of life. I hope this memoir helps someone who might be going through the same thing as she did.
TLDR:A RIVETING, PASSIONATE, INFURIATING, AND BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN MEMOIR! A GREAT READ!
As always, please remember that reading is subjective, and that’s what makes it so great. 😊
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Emotional abuse
Tempting Secrets by Michelle Windsor
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Book/Story:⭐️⭐️.5
Book Cover: ⭐️⭐️
Trigger Warning(s): Infidelity (kind of)
Death Of Parent (briefly mentioned)
PTSD (briefly mentioned)
Military Combat (mentioned)
Domestic Abuse (briefly mentioned)
POV: First Person (Third Person?)
Series/Standalone: Interconnected Series
First In Series: Yes
Trope(s):
Male Escort
Surprise Pregnancy
Instalust
Double Life
Workplace Romance
Spice: ️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Genre: Fiction, Contemporary Romance
Burn: Fast
Safe or Dark: Safe
Release Date: September 11, 2018
Maybe I’ve been living under a rock, but this is the first romance book I’ve read where one of the characters is a male escort, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I wouldn’t call it my new favorite trope or anything, but I did like it.
This book did have my least favorite trope in it, surprise pregnancy, but I did my best not to hold that against the story.
Plot:
The plot was very predictable, so there weren’t really any “Oh my God” moments while reading. I always felt like I sort of knew what was going to happen. It didn’t take away any enjoyment from the story, though.
This was a fast-paced read that gets right into the action from the very first page. We follow Trey and Charlotte’s relationship from the moment they meet. We get a glimpse into how everything between them develops. The good, the bad, and the ugly.
We see how their initial connection starts, learn about all of Trey’s secrets and the inevitable fallout that occurs once they are revealed, and the possibility of the couple moving forward together after.
It was a wild ride, to say the least. It was entertaining, albeit at times over the top and hard to believe.
Writing Style:
Michelle Windsor's writing was very simple and easy to follow. Not overly descriptive and flowery but not lacking either. It did get very repetitive at times, so that was upsetting.
Example: “I think he’s going to kiss me. I blink up at him and hope he’s going to kiss me.”
The constant reminder of how “tiny” and “petite” Charlie was also got old fast. It was so cringy and didn’t need to be mentioned every fifteen or so pages. I swear her size was mentioned as much as possible. Trey just loved Charlie’s “small frame.”.
The point of view often confused me. Sometimes the story is being told in first person before abruptly changing to third person and vice versa. I'm not sure if this was intentional or not, but it was somewhat jarring.
Even though I was entertained by the book and the flow of the writing, there were some lines that were so bad they made me laugh/cringe:
“Then kiss me again, kiss me like you’ve been in the desert for a month and I’m a glass of water.” - That’s not it, fam. 😂
“She’s like a little pixie but with the heart of a minx.” - WHAT!? 😂
“I grab a clean towel off a shelf in my closet and walk naked back through the living room to the bathroom, my dick bobbing against my stomach the whole time.” - The picture I painted in my head regarding this was comical. 😂
“I do maintain some composure and manage to keep my hands from reaching out and to run over his bumpy abdomen.” - What an odd way to describe a six-pack. Does he have boils or something? 😂
“His lips follow the direction of the material, stopping when he reaches one of my swollen peaks.” - Charlie was talking about her boobs. 😂
“My lips have become so swollen that they aren’t even covered by the fabric anymore.” - Charlie isn’t talking about the lips on her face. 😂
I forgot to grab the quote, but at one time Charlie was giving Trey a handy and mentioned how big his banana is, and he tells her something like, “It’s not big; it’s just because your hands are so small.” Or some icky thing along those lines.
Characters:
Charlotte “Charlie” Harvey: Charlie was just an alright character for me. She wasn’t my favorite main character in a book. I didn’t particularly like her or not like her. She was just sort of there for me. Nothing about her personality stood out. She did seem to slut-shame Gabby at times, and I didn’t care for that.
She was a bit of a pushover. She finds out that Trey lied to her not only about his name but also about the circumstances under which they met. She’s steaming mad (rightfully so) yet turns around and forgives him like it’s nothing. He’s like, “Yeah, sorry about that,” and she’s just like, “You’re hot, and I want to jump your bones, so I forgive you. LOL”. Come on Charlie, grow a backbone!
Sidenote: This woman bites her bottom lip A LOT. I'm surprised there's any skin left on it.
Trey Riley/Maddox Stone: I liked Trey. I thought his character was more complex than we are initially led to believe. He did what he had to in order to survive, and that’s understandable. Did he make mistakes? Sure. But don’t we all? I think he eventually just found himself between a rock and a hard place. He could have been a bit more sympathetic towards Trick and his struggle with PTSD. Since both Trey & Trick were in the Army, PTSD is something that Trey should be more understanding about.
Sidenote: Can someone get this man a glass of water? Because it seems like he is constantly dehydrated.
Gabrielle “Gabby” Reed (Charlie’s best friend): I did not care for Gabby at all. I felt like she was very childish and immature for her age. I know she gets her own story later on in the series, so maybe all that will change.
Patrick “Trick” Connors (Trey’s best friend): I didn’t mind Trick. He was rather stereotypical in his representation of a man, in the sense that he just wanted to sleep around with women and have a good time. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. He just seemed very flat. We didn’t get a good look at him as a person/man. However, this is not his story, and he is a side character, so that’s fine.
Karen Perry (Trey’s client turned friend): I LOVED Karen. She is the eighty-something-year-old woman we all strive to be. She was blunt while still being classy. She calls it like she sees it, and that is amazing. Hats off to Karen.
Spice:
The spice was spicing. There was just enough in there to not damage the overall plot of the story. The smut was generous but not overbearing. I was actually surprised since going into this I thought it was a purely smut-based book. I don’t mind that at all if I know that’s what I’m getting myself into; I was just pleasantly surprised with this one. That’s all.
The chemistry between Trey and Charlie was instantaneous and off the charts. It was so hot and fun. Very well done. It was definitely an instalust situation, which I don’t mind since it’s more believable for me than the instalove trope.
Other Thoughts:
I just want to mention that Charlie and Gabby giggle way too often for two grown women in their twenties. They giggle at almost everything they talk about. They also stick their tongues out in a teasing fashion at each other multiple times. Come on, they aren’t seven years old.
Gabby calls her dad “daddy.” Something about an adult female referring to her father as “daddy” just gives me the serious ick.
Trey and Charlie always getting it on and making out at work was so disturbing. Since it’s highly unprofessional. If they got caught, they would both get fired without question. Also, they work in the ER at a hospital, so doing it in the rooms is so unhygienic. Especially on a hospital bed.
They also get it on in the family bathroom at a zoo! I’m no prude, but that’s disgusting. I can’t imagine that the bathroom was very clean. They are both adults; can’t they keep their hands off each other for five minutes!?
Can we please get one female character in a book that actually knows about and likes sports just because they do? Charlie being a New England Patriots fan just because “Tom Brady is hot” nearly killed me. Women who enjoy sports already aren’t taken seriously enough without the author adding to the overall stereotype. Come on, Michelle Windsor, don’t make your fellow females look bad!
After asking Charlie about being a Patriots fan, Trey tells her that he’s a Philadelphia Eagles fan. He then proceeds to tell her that their Sundays spent together will be interesting since they will be fighting about their respective teams.
1) The NFL is split into two conferences, the AFC and the NFC. The New England Patriots are in the AFC, and the Philadelphia Eagles are in the NFC.
2) Outside of the yearly Super Bowl, AFC and NFC teams only play each other in the regular season once every four years, with the occasional preseason game sprinkled in. The last time the Patriots played the Eagles was on September 10, 2023, and the time before that was in 2019. So, outside of a Super Bowl matchup, there is no reason for Trey and Charlie’s Sundays to get “scrappy.”.
I’m a Dallas Cowboys fan, and my husband is a Philadelphia Eagles fan. Those teams are not only in the same conference but are in the same division. So, our Sundays can get very interesting, to say the least. Especially since teams in the same division play each other twice during the regular season.
I’m sorry; I know it’s such a stupid detail, but I’m just very passionate about sports.
Overall, this is an alright start to this new series. I might check out the other books but am not 100% sure yet. I guess we will just have to see where this reading year takes me.
TLDR: A DECENT START TO A NEW SERIES! JUST DON’T EXPECT A WHOLE LOT GOING INTO IT!
As always, please remember that reading is subjective, and that’s what makes it so great. 😊
Book Cover: ⭐️⭐️
Trigger Warning(s): Infidelity (kind of)
Death Of Parent (briefly mentioned)
PTSD (briefly mentioned)
Military Combat (mentioned)
Domestic Abuse (briefly mentioned)
POV: First Person (Third Person?)
Series/Standalone: Interconnected Series
First In Series: Yes
Trope(s):
Male Escort
Surprise Pregnancy
Instalust
Double Life
Workplace Romance
Spice: ️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Genre: Fiction, Contemporary Romance
Burn: Fast
Safe or Dark: Safe
Release Date: September 11, 2018
Maybe I’ve been living under a rock, but this is the first romance book I’ve read where one of the characters is a male escort, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I wouldn’t call it my new favorite trope or anything, but I did like it.
This book did have my least favorite trope in it, surprise pregnancy, but I did my best not to hold that against the story.
Plot:
The plot was very predictable, so there weren’t really any “Oh my God” moments while reading. I always felt like I sort of knew what was going to happen. It didn’t take away any enjoyment from the story, though.
This was a fast-paced read that gets right into the action from the very first page. We follow Trey and Charlotte’s relationship from the moment they meet. We get a glimpse into how everything between them develops. The good, the bad, and the ugly.
We see how their initial connection starts, learn about all of Trey’s secrets and the inevitable fallout that occurs once they are revealed, and the possibility of the couple moving forward together after.
It was a wild ride, to say the least. It was entertaining, albeit at times over the top and hard to believe.
Writing Style:
Michelle Windsor's writing was very simple and easy to follow. Not overly descriptive and flowery but not lacking either. It did get very repetitive at times, so that was upsetting.
Example: “I think he’s going to kiss me. I blink up at him and hope he’s going to kiss me.”
The constant reminder of how “tiny” and “petite” Charlie was also got old fast. It was so cringy and didn’t need to be mentioned every fifteen or so pages. I swear her size was mentioned as much as possible. Trey just loved Charlie’s “small frame.”.
The point of view often confused me. Sometimes the story is being told in first person before abruptly changing to third person and vice versa. I'm not sure if this was intentional or not, but it was somewhat jarring.
Even though I was entertained by the book and the flow of the writing, there were some lines that were so bad they made me laugh/cringe:
“Then kiss me again, kiss me like you’ve been in the desert for a month and I’m a glass of water.” - That’s not it, fam. 😂
“She’s like a little pixie but with the heart of a minx.” - WHAT!? 😂
“I grab a clean towel off a shelf in my closet and walk naked back through the living room to the bathroom, my dick bobbing against my stomach the whole time.” - The picture I painted in my head regarding this was comical. 😂
“I do maintain some composure and manage to keep my hands from reaching out and to run over his bumpy abdomen.” - What an odd way to describe a six-pack. Does he have boils or something? 😂
“His lips follow the direction of the material, stopping when he reaches one of my swollen peaks.” - Charlie was talking about her boobs. 😂
“My lips have become so swollen that they aren’t even covered by the fabric anymore.” - Charlie isn’t talking about the lips on her face. 😂
I forgot to grab the quote, but at one time Charlie was giving Trey a handy and mentioned how big his banana is, and he tells her something like, “It’s not big; it’s just because your hands are so small.” Or some icky thing along those lines.
Characters:
Charlotte “Charlie” Harvey: Charlie was just an alright character for me. She wasn’t my favorite main character in a book. I didn’t particularly like her or not like her. She was just sort of there for me. Nothing about her personality stood out. She did seem to slut-shame Gabby at times, and I didn’t care for that.
She was a bit of a pushover. She finds out that Trey lied to her not only about his name but also about the circumstances under which they met. She’s steaming mad (rightfully so) yet turns around and forgives him like it’s nothing. He’s like, “Yeah, sorry about that,” and she’s just like, “You’re hot, and I want to jump your bones, so I forgive you. LOL”. Come on Charlie, grow a backbone!
Sidenote: This woman bites her bottom lip A LOT. I'm surprised there's any skin left on it.
Trey Riley/Maddox Stone: I liked Trey. I thought his character was more complex than we are initially led to believe. He did what he had to in order to survive, and that’s understandable. Did he make mistakes? Sure. But don’t we all? I think he eventually just found himself between a rock and a hard place. He could have been a bit more sympathetic towards Trick and his struggle with PTSD. Since both Trey & Trick were in the Army, PTSD is something that Trey should be more understanding about.
Sidenote: Can someone get this man a glass of water? Because it seems like he is constantly dehydrated.
Gabrielle “Gabby” Reed (Charlie’s best friend): I did not care for Gabby at all. I felt like she was very childish and immature for her age. I know she gets her own story later on in the series, so maybe all that will change.
Patrick “Trick” Connors (Trey’s best friend): I didn’t mind Trick. He was rather stereotypical in his representation of a man, in the sense that he just wanted to sleep around with women and have a good time. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. He just seemed very flat. We didn’t get a good look at him as a person/man. However, this is not his story, and he is a side character, so that’s fine.
Karen Perry (Trey’s client turned friend): I LOVED Karen. She is the eighty-something-year-old woman we all strive to be. She was blunt while still being classy. She calls it like she sees it, and that is amazing. Hats off to Karen.
Spice:
The spice was spicing. There was just enough in there to not damage the overall plot of the story. The smut was generous but not overbearing. I was actually surprised since going into this I thought it was a purely smut-based book. I don’t mind that at all if I know that’s what I’m getting myself into; I was just pleasantly surprised with this one. That’s all.
The chemistry between Trey and Charlie was instantaneous and off the charts. It was so hot and fun. Very well done. It was definitely an instalust situation, which I don’t mind since it’s more believable for me than the instalove trope.
Other Thoughts:
I just want to mention that Charlie and Gabby giggle way too often for two grown women in their twenties. They giggle at almost everything they talk about. They also stick their tongues out in a teasing fashion at each other multiple times. Come on, they aren’t seven years old.
Gabby calls her dad “daddy.” Something about an adult female referring to her father as “daddy” just gives me the serious ick.
Trey and Charlie always getting it on and making out at work was so disturbing. Since it’s highly unprofessional. If they got caught, they would both get fired without question. Also, they work in the ER at a hospital, so doing it in the rooms is so unhygienic. Especially on a hospital bed.
They also get it on in the family bathroom at a zoo! I’m no prude, but that’s disgusting. I can’t imagine that the bathroom was very clean. They are both adults; can’t they keep their hands off each other for five minutes!?
Can we please get one female character in a book that actually knows about and likes sports just because they do? Charlie being a New England Patriots fan just because “Tom Brady is hot” nearly killed me. Women who enjoy sports already aren’t taken seriously enough without the author adding to the overall stereotype. Come on, Michelle Windsor, don’t make your fellow females look bad!
After asking Charlie about being a Patriots fan, Trey tells her that he’s a Philadelphia Eagles fan. He then proceeds to tell her that their Sundays spent together will be interesting since they will be fighting about their respective teams.
1) The NFL is split into two conferences, the AFC and the NFC. The New England Patriots are in the AFC, and the Philadelphia Eagles are in the NFC.
2) Outside of the yearly Super Bowl, AFC and NFC teams only play each other in the regular season once every four years, with the occasional preseason game sprinkled in. The last time the Patriots played the Eagles was on September 10, 2023, and the time before that was in 2019. So, outside of a Super Bowl matchup, there is no reason for Trey and Charlie’s Sundays to get “scrappy.”.
I’m a Dallas Cowboys fan, and my husband is a Philadelphia Eagles fan. Those teams are not only in the same conference but are in the same division. So, our Sundays can get very interesting, to say the least. Especially since teams in the same division play each other twice during the regular season.
I’m sorry; I know it’s such a stupid detail, but I’m just very passionate about sports.
Overall, this is an alright start to this new series. I might check out the other books but am not 100% sure yet. I guess we will just have to see where this reading year takes me.
TLDR: A DECENT START TO A NEW SERIES! JUST DON’T EXPECT A WHOLE LOT GOING INTO IT!
As always, please remember that reading is subjective, and that’s what makes it so great. 😊
Content Warnings
Minor: Domestic abuse, Infidelity, and Death of parent
The Auschwitz Escape by Joel C. Rosenberg
5.0
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A book that I loved, an absolute must read, and now a favorite of mine. It’s a book that will live on my shelves forever and I would re-read in the future. I would pick up anything else by this author without question. This book is now one of my all-time favorites,
This book is excellent. I could not put it down. I wanted to read it morning, noon, and night. An emotional journey. If I could give it 10 starts; I would.
A book that I loved, an absolute must read, and now a favorite of mine. It’s a book that will live on my shelves forever and I would re-read in the future. I would pick up anything else by this author without question. This book is now one of my all-time favorites,
This book is excellent. I could not put it down. I wanted to read it morning, noon, and night. An emotional journey. If I could give it 10 starts; I would.
Misery by Stephen King
5.0
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A book that I loved, an absolute must read, and now a favorite of mine. It’s a book that will live on my shelves forever and I would re-read in the future. I would pick up anything else by this author without question. This book is now one of my all-time favorites.
This is the second book I’ve read by Stephen King and I loved them book. I was invested in the characters from the very start. More so Paul than Annie. I rooted for him to come out of his downward spiral of insanity as he was held captive by Annie.
I even got invested in the story within the story. Misery’s story.
I’m very happy that I finally picked this one up. I’m starting to see why King is my husband’s favorite author.
A book that I loved, an absolute must read, and now a favorite of mine. It’s a book that will live on my shelves forever and I would re-read in the future. I would pick up anything else by this author without question. This book is now one of my all-time favorites.
This is the second book I’ve read by Stephen King and I loved them book. I was invested in the characters from the very start. More so Paul than Annie. I rooted for him to come out of his downward spiral of insanity as he was held captive by Annie.
I even got invested in the story within the story. Misery’s story.
I’m very happy that I finally picked this one up. I’m starting to see why King is my husband’s favorite author.
The BFG by Roald Dahl
5.0
⭐⭐⭐⭐
I really like this book . It’s a very enjoyable story, but just short of epic. Certain areas may not be as fulfilling as they could have been. I’m not quite as captivated or blown away, but still had a great experience. I’d recommend this book to others and continue reading from this author. I would probably re-read it.
I really like this book . It’s a very enjoyable story, but just short of epic. Certain areas may not be as fulfilling as they could have been. I’m not quite as captivated or blown away, but still had a great experience. I’d recommend this book to others and continue reading from this author. I would probably re-read it.
Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman
5.0
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A book that I loved, an absolute must read, and now a favorite of mine. It’s a book that will live on my shelves forever and I would re-read in the future. I would pick up anything else by this author without question. This book is now one of my all-time favorites.
A book that I loved, an absolute must read, and now a favorite of mine. It’s a book that will live on my shelves forever and I would re-read in the future. I would pick up anything else by this author without question. This book is now one of my all-time favorites.
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
5.0
I loved this book when I had to read it in school as a 16 year old and love it now after reading it again as a 33 year old.
It is one of those books that will be loved throughout the years because your perception and understanding of it changes each time you read it. The story grows as you do.
The characters always made me feel many different emotions towards them including anger, sympathy, pity, understanding, and disgust.
The story touches on real things that happen in life. Death, broken marriage, affairs, greed, lost love, wanting to reinvent yourself, and so much more.
The only thing I don’t think I will ever understand is why Jordan, Nick, Tom, Daisy, and Gatsby didn’t just drive into the city that fateful night in their own cars. It will never make sense to me.
This book also shows how the acts of one or two people can destroy so many lives.
It is one of those books that will be loved throughout the years because your perception and understanding of it changes each time you read it. The story grows as you do.
The characters always made me feel many different emotions towards them including anger, sympathy, pity, understanding, and disgust.
The story touches on real things that happen in life. Death, broken marriage, affairs, greed, lost love, wanting to reinvent yourself, and so much more.
The only thing I don’t think I will ever understand is why Jordan, Nick, Tom, Daisy, and Gatsby didn’t just drive into the city that fateful night in their own cars. It will never make sense to me.
This book also shows how the acts of one or two people can destroy so many lives.
The First Wife by Erica Spindler
DID NOT FINISH — I will not rate a book that I shelf as “did not finish.” I don’t believe it’s fair to put a rating on books I didn’t read from beginning to end.
DNF on page 215
DNF on page 215
The Butcher by Jennifer Hillier
DID NOT FINISH — I will not rate a book that I shelf as “did not finish.” I don’t believe it’s fair to put a rating on books I didn’t read from beginning to end.