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ratetheromance's Reviews (659)
Whoooooo-Wheee! I need a British footballer with abs. Geez. Why is life not fair?
Karla Sorensen is a sure bet for me. Pretty sure every book I've read of her has been either 4 or 5 stars and FLOORED is no exception.
Lia and Jude are FIRE. I loved that their first meeting was filled with sparks and verbal sparring. Their banter was hot and their steamy scenes were hotter. I loved Lia as a strong, but sometimes unsure, heroine. She is smart and funny and real in her vulnerability and baggage. Jude is so sweet and swoony and complex. Both of these characters are flawed but so bloody lovable. Classic Karla Sorensen writing.
I adored this couples journey, as rocky as it was. You will laugh and swoon and cheer them along. This book had a great amount of obstacles and conflict without feeling depressing or too emotionally heavy..
I took a star off my rating because there were a few times when the story happening to each of the characters individually got a bit long. I like back story beyond the romance, but it was a bit more than usual and slowed the pace if the book in some parts.
SIDE NOTE: This is a Rated R book with multiple descriptive sex scenes, but the scenes were oddly vague.
FLOORED is part of the Ward Family series, but is a great standalone. You could read just this one and not feel lost. But read the whole series because the Ward family are chaotically wonderful.
This is a great read that will make your heart happy!
RATING:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
STEAM: Rated R
TRIGGERS: Death of parent, parent abandonment
Karla Sorensen is a sure bet for me. Pretty sure every book I've read of her has been either 4 or 5 stars and FLOORED is no exception.
Lia and Jude are FIRE. I loved that their first meeting was filled with sparks and verbal sparring. Their banter was hot and their steamy scenes were hotter. I loved Lia as a strong, but sometimes unsure, heroine. She is smart and funny and real in her vulnerability and baggage. Jude is so sweet and swoony and complex. Both of these characters are flawed but so bloody lovable. Classic Karla Sorensen writing.
I adored this couples journey, as rocky as it was. You will laugh and swoon and cheer them along. This book had a great amount of obstacles and conflict without feeling depressing or too emotionally heavy..
I took a star off my rating because there were a few times when the story happening to each of the characters individually got a bit long. I like back story beyond the romance, but it was a bit more than usual and slowed the pace if the book in some parts.
SIDE NOTE: This is a Rated R book with multiple descriptive sex scenes, but the scenes were oddly vague.
FLOORED is part of the Ward Family series, but is a great standalone. You could read just this one and not feel lost. But read the whole series because the Ward family are chaotically wonderful.
This is a great read that will make your heart happy!
RATING:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
STEAM: Rated R
TRIGGERS: Death of parent, parent abandonment
I read the other books in the series that precedes this and I liked them a lot. As that series progressed I felt the books getting lighter on emotional connection and heavier on sexual connection. STUPID LOVE seems to continue this trend.
The best part of Friends To Lovers (for me, anyway) is the glimpses of shared history. Peeks at a long-standing and deeply important friendship BEFORE sex was a factor. That is what makes the sexual connection that eventually happens that much better.
My issue with this book is that we get almost nothing by way of glimpses of the TEN YEAR LONG friendship between Lauren and Theo. No inside jokes. No stories of old adventures during the ridiculous college years when they met. No views into a deep caring beyond these two holding back hair while the other vomits. The history is the best part of Friends to Lovers and the history is kissing from this book.
Having said that, these two have some seriously sweet scenes that will melt your heart. Swoon-worthy moments. And HOT steamy scenes with dirty talk for dayyyys.
I so wish two of those steamy scenes had been cut (there are plenty of them) in favor of their shared history and the moments of friendship we never get a glimpse of.
RATING:⭐️⭐️⭐️
STEAM LEVEL: Rated NC-17
Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The best part of Friends To Lovers (for me, anyway) is the glimpses of shared history. Peeks at a long-standing and deeply important friendship BEFORE sex was a factor. That is what makes the sexual connection that eventually happens that much better.
My issue with this book is that we get almost nothing by way of glimpses of the TEN YEAR LONG friendship between Lauren and Theo. No inside jokes. No stories of old adventures during the ridiculous college years when they met. No views into a deep caring beyond these two holding back hair while the other vomits. The history is the best part of Friends to Lovers and the history is kissing from this book.
Having said that, these two have some seriously sweet scenes that will melt your heart. Swoon-worthy moments. And HOT steamy scenes with dirty talk for dayyyys.
I so wish two of those steamy scenes had been cut (there are plenty of them) in favor of their shared history and the moments of friendship we never get a glimpse of.
RATING:⭐️⭐️⭐️
STEAM LEVEL: Rated NC-17
Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
4 1/2 STARS
*FANS MYSELF WITH MY HAND*
Woooo-weeeee! Was this book ever steamy! I loved the complexity of the characters. The female lead, Indie, battled against her colleagues dismissing her for her youth and her cold upbringing. While the male lead, Camden, tried to find himself and what he is without the sport that has defined him and his family for decades.
These two have freaking amazing chemistry and heat, but there is also a sweetness to their romance that is an important part of the story and will melt your heart. The female friendship between Indie and her best friend is the perfect friendship: caring, nonjudgmental, and able to withstand a conflict. And the LAUGHS you get from these two friends is fantastic!
I had a bit of a difficulty with the way the lead and his brothers spoke about women and their bodies. I guess I can chalk it up to the author accurately portraying the verbiage that professional athletes likely use when there is a revolving door of women throwing themselves at them, but it's still hard to root for a male lead that would consistently objectify women and their bodies and also have his brother ask him what color Indie's nipples are after he learns that his brother and Indie have had sex. It's a real turn off.
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
STEAM LEVEL: Rated R
TRIGGERS: fatal cancer, death of parent, emotionally distant parents
*FANS MYSELF WITH MY HAND*
Woooo-weeeee! Was this book ever steamy! I loved the complexity of the characters. The female lead, Indie, battled against her colleagues dismissing her for her youth and her cold upbringing. While the male lead, Camden, tried to find himself and what he is without the sport that has defined him and his family for decades.
These two have freaking amazing chemistry and heat, but there is also a sweetness to their romance that is an important part of the story and will melt your heart. The female friendship between Indie and her best friend is the perfect friendship: caring, nonjudgmental, and able to withstand a conflict. And the LAUGHS you get from these two friends is fantastic!
I had a bit of a difficulty with the way the lead and his brothers spoke about women and their bodies. I guess I can chalk it up to the author accurately portraying the verbiage that professional athletes likely use when there is a revolving door of women throwing themselves at them, but it's still hard to root for a male lead that would consistently objectify women and their bodies and also have his brother ask him what color Indie's nipples are after he learns that his brother and Indie have had sex. It's a real turn off.
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
STEAM LEVEL: Rated R
TRIGGERS: fatal cancer, death of parent, emotionally distant parents
I recently re-read this book to see if it was as good as I remembered it being and the answer is HELL YES! Oh, this story!
First and foremost, I absolutely LOVED that the lead female in this book is kind of a sugar-baby. That decision is so completely maligned in society (and for good reason, generally), but Samantha Young makes that situation complex and comes at it with compassionate understanding. I loved this heroine, which really says something. As her back story unfolds not only do you like her, but you can really empathize with her and see exactly why she only dates wealthy men.
Our hero is a real judgmental dick when he meets Johanna, but the reader understands exactly why. She looks like nothing more than a gold-digger. But, as the book goes on we see his awareness and his compassion grow and he steps in as a very supportive and wonderful man.
This book is definitely not a light, frothy, beach-read. It's heavy and emotional and steamy and beautiful. And after you read this one you'll absolutely want to continue reading this series until you get to Echoes of Scotland Street where you get to read the story of the 14yo boy from THIS book, all grown up and finding his HEA.
RATING:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
STEAM LEVEL: Rated R
CERTIFIED: Hottest Wall-Sex scene of all time.
First and foremost, I absolutely LOVED that the lead female in this book is kind of a sugar-baby. That decision is so completely maligned in society (and for good reason, generally), but Samantha Young makes that situation complex and comes at it with compassionate understanding. I loved this heroine, which really says something. As her back story unfolds not only do you like her, but you can really empathize with her and see exactly why she only dates wealthy men.
Our hero is a real judgmental dick when he meets Johanna, but the reader understands exactly why. She looks like nothing more than a gold-digger. But, as the book goes on we see his awareness and his compassion grow and he steps in as a very supportive and wonderful man.
This book is definitely not a light, frothy, beach-read. It's heavy and emotional and steamy and beautiful. And after you read this one you'll absolutely want to continue reading this series until you get to Echoes of Scotland Street where you get to read the story of the 14yo boy from THIS book, all grown up and finding his HEA.
RATING:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
STEAM LEVEL: Rated R
CERTIFIED: Hottest Wall-Sex scene of all time.
This book just wasn't for me. It seems that the author is young herself, but writes her teen characters as 50 year olds. I work with teens and they simply don't speak this way. I have never heard a 16 yo say "Way to bury the lead".
The pacing was also quite slow. And I just cannot express how tired I am of books shaming "Social Media Influencers". It feels very of the moment to make everyone who makes money from Instagram a vapid, self obsessed, shallow, idiot.
It seems I just struggle to connect with this author's writing. Yes, there is an interesting storyline here and a sweet love story, but it just wasn't for me.
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The pacing was also quite slow. And I just cannot express how tired I am of books shaming "Social Media Influencers". It feels very of the moment to make everyone who makes money from Instagram a vapid, self obsessed, shallow, idiot.
It seems I just struggle to connect with this author's writing. Yes, there is an interesting storyline here and a sweet love story, but it just wasn't for me.
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 STARS
I love a tatted hero, but a tatted HEROINE is even better!!!
Jax and Frankie work side-by-side in their friend's tattoo parlor. The sparks between these enemies are off the charts and their teasing and banter is hot!
The group of friends in this series are the best part. They love and support each other while still being real and knowing each other's flaws.
This book has quite a bit of drama. There is drug-addicted ex that is a continual threat throughout the book. I felt the depiction of him wasn't as complex as I would have liked. He is just "the bad guy" and nothing else. I also had a qualm (like I always do) with the kid in this story. Smart, precocious, passing out smiles and hugs. Never a tantrum. No eye-rolling. Zero actual kid behavior. I just need authors to write a single parent romance with AN ACTUAL HUMAN CHILD in it!
Overall, this is a pretty good read.
RATING:⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
STEAM LEVEL: Rated R
TRIGGERS: domestic violence, divorce, foster care, parent abandonment, drug addiction.
I love a tatted hero, but a tatted HEROINE is even better!!!
Jax and Frankie work side-by-side in their friend's tattoo parlor. The sparks between these enemies are off the charts and their teasing and banter is hot!
The group of friends in this series are the best part. They love and support each other while still being real and knowing each other's flaws.
This book has quite a bit of drama. There is drug-addicted ex that is a continual threat throughout the book. I felt the depiction of him wasn't as complex as I would have liked. He is just "the bad guy" and nothing else. I also had a qualm (like I always do) with the kid in this story. Smart, precocious, passing out smiles and hugs. Never a tantrum. No eye-rolling. Zero actual kid behavior. I just need authors to write a single parent romance with AN ACTUAL HUMAN CHILD in it!
Overall, this is a pretty good read.
RATING:⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
STEAM LEVEL: Rated R
TRIGGERS: domestic violence, divorce, foster care, parent abandonment, drug addiction.
I finally read this after hearing so much about it! This book has everything I like:
- Enemies to Lovers
- Mixed race couple
- Forced proximity
But, somehow, it fell flat for me. I didn't feel a lot of connection between Lina and Max. Chemistry? Yes. Connection? No.
There seemed to be a lot of misguided anger here. Lina gets left at the alter and she spends the entirely of this book being mad at her ex's...brother...? Your ex is RIGHT THERE. Unleash your fury, humiliation, and hurt on him.
The main conflict in this story is the jilting at the alter and the UNKNOWN reasons for the jilting and I just kept thinking, "Seriously? NO ONE just ASKED what happened? It's been YEARS. Just ask already!"
Overall, not my favorite read.
- Enemies to Lovers
- Mixed race couple
- Forced proximity
But, somehow, it fell flat for me. I didn't feel a lot of connection between Lina and Max. Chemistry? Yes. Connection? No.
There seemed to be a lot of misguided anger here. Lina gets left at the alter and she spends the entirely of this book being mad at her ex's...brother...? Your ex is RIGHT THERE. Unleash your fury, humiliation, and hurt on him.
The main conflict in this story is the jilting at the alter and the UNKNOWN reasons for the jilting and I just kept thinking, "Seriously? NO ONE just ASKED what happened? It's been YEARS. Just ask already!"
Overall, not my favorite read.
3.5 STARS
Am I broken? Why do I not LOVE these books that everyone else loves?!!
There was so much going for this book! Enemies to Lovers, a mixed race couple, POC author, a lead with a disability/illness. I'm not sure why I couldn't quite connect. I loved both of the main characters, but I didn't feel like there was a lot ic falling in love.
Chloe is funny and grumpy and fiercely strong. I loved her wit and her sarcasm. And Red was soooo sweet! I loved his care and understanding of Chloe's illness.
This book seemed like a lot of events strung together, but somehow it didn't feel highly romantic to me. It felt FRIENDLY with a some sexual tension. Did I miss something? I just can't put my finger on the issue.
Somehow, it just didn't work for me.
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
STEAM LEVEL: Rated R
TRIGGERS: Chronic illness, racism, emotional abuse, perceived classism/wealth imbalance.
Am I broken? Why do I not LOVE these books that everyone else loves?!!
There was so much going for this book! Enemies to Lovers, a mixed race couple, POC author, a lead with a disability/illness. I'm not sure why I couldn't quite connect. I loved both of the main characters, but I didn't feel like there was a lot ic falling in love.
Chloe is funny and grumpy and fiercely strong. I loved her wit and her sarcasm. And Red was soooo sweet! I loved his care and understanding of Chloe's illness.
This book seemed like a lot of events strung together, but somehow it didn't feel highly romantic to me. It felt FRIENDLY with a some sexual tension. Did I miss something? I just can't put my finger on the issue.
Somehow, it just didn't work for me.
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
STEAM LEVEL: Rated R
TRIGGERS: Chronic illness, racism, emotional abuse, perceived classism/wealth imbalance.