roksyreads's reviews
379 reviews

Bait by Jade West

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

It’s only supposed to be one night—rough, dirty, and dangerous—to sate Abigail’s deepest, darkest desires and make her forget. A primal game in the darkness, where he’s the hunter, and she’s the bait… if only life were that simple.

Based on the blurb and what little I could find online regarding tropes (which was, essentially, nothing), I was not expecting this to be such an intensely emotional read.  Beneath the obvious spice—which is incredibly well written—is a detailed, captivating, suspenseful, narrative that follows both the FMC Abigail and MMC Phoenix (Leo) as they navigate their complex individual experiences of trauma. The very fact that I read and sympathised with the characters through plot points/tropes that I try to avoid and which put me off a novel entirely if I'm unaware of them prior to reading (

anything related to parenting/pregnancy

) speaks to the quality of the writing and the story overall. 

Hans by S.J. Tilly

adventurous challenging dark tense fast-paced

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

3.75

Cassie wants nothing more than for her handsome, brooding neighbour across the street to notice her. She’s doing everything she can to get his attention, whilst he’s doing everything he can to resist her. Hans knows that he shouldn’t follow Cassie, that he shouldn’t watch her, because doing so will only put her in danger. And no number of cookies on his doorstep will change the fact that love isn’t an option for him anymore—all he has left is violence.

Although I was interested in Hans’ story, this one didn’t live up to the previous books. There’s plenty of action and spice, but the storytelling wasn’t as compelling as the previous novels. That being said, it’s still a solid end to a fantastic series. The overarching plot is wrapped up in a satisfying manner and all the series’ characters get their HEAs. I will absolutely be revisiting this series again and again.

Dom by S.J. Tilly

adventurous challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

4.0

Val wants one thing in life: to belong. Her father was a cheat, and her mother an abuser. Her half-sister is indifferent, and her half-brother—leader of The Alliance—makes sure she’s protected, but is just as distant as everyone else. No one knows her, and no one loves her, but a chance meeting at the airport that crackles with intense chemistry gives her hope that her lonely existence is about to change. She doesn’t know that her mystery man is in the middle of a war. He needs The Alliance, and intends to become a member—by any means necessary.

Full of angst and action, this was a great addition to the series. I felt a solid connection to Valentine, and her emotional journey was especially poignant. I was also pleasantly surprised by the romance; even though I didn’t vibe with some aspects, it had a lot of heart. I especially loved seeing all the characters from the three novels so far come together. Having all of the MMCs —Nero, King, and Dom—interact made for epic banter and some seriously funny moments. 

King by S.J. Tilly

adventurous challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

4.5

After running into her date’s wife, Savannah just wants to get her car keys from his apartment and wipe her hands of the lying, cheating prick. She’ll be in and out, quick as can be—or so she hopes. Out of a thousand possible outcomes for an already dreadful day, witnessing his murder, being kidnapped by his killer, and then being forced to marry the attractive but clearly deranged crime lord was not on her Bingo card. And yet, it turns out that’s only the beginning of the wild ride that is about to be her life. 

I want my very own King. I don’t care if he's an overbearing, bullheaded, madman. I want one. Because beneath that hardcore exterior and the iron around his heart, he’s a big f*cking softy who loves hard, and who would literally do anything for those he cares about. Savannah is the perfect match for King, and I loved seeing them both grow as individuals and together, even if their start was... *ahem* unconventional. I never expected dark romances to tug so hard at the heartstrings, especially because I'm not generally an emotional reader—I very, very rarely cry over any sort of media—but this one got me right in the feels, just like Nero.

Nero by S.J. Tilly

challenging dark tense 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? It's complicated

4.0

At seventeen, Payton ran to save her life. Ten years later, she’s scraping by: living under the radar, staying out of sight, and out of mind. So, when a dangerous man walks through her open patio door, she knows she should be frightened. Terrified. Yet, broken as she is, she’s none of those things. Instead, she’s intrigued. And she can’t help but wonder if the way to take control of her life is to give it to him.

This was a blast. A bit rushed at times, and the insta-love vibes aren’t really my thing, but for a walking red flag, Nero is actually weirdly sweet. He’s the exact right kind of crazy that Payton needs, and they make a great pair. As someone who isn’t generally an emotional reader, I was not expecting my first legit dark romance to make me cry, and yet it absolutely did. There’s great laugh-out-loud banter, and a great cast of characters that I look forward to seeing and learning more about through the rest of the series.

Pucking Ever After: Volume 1 by Emily Rath

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing 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? It's complicated

4.0

I loved reading more about these characters and this world. Even though most of the stories were centred on themes/tropes that doesn't particularly interest me and which have in fact put me off novels in the past, I still found myself enjoying each short because all of the elements I adored in Pucking Around weren't overhauled for the sake of forcing in those tropes. I especially loved seeing how Rachel's, Ilmari's, Jake's, and Caleb's relationship grows over the years. So pucking adorable!

Praise by Sara Cate

adventurous emotional hopeful informative medium-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? Yes

5.0

Broken down by an emotionally neglectful ex, Charlie just wants someone to tell her she’s good enough. There are a million reasons why she should stay away from her new job as the secretary for the owner of the Salacious Players’ Club; he’s her boss, he’s twice her age, and he’s her ex’s father, just to name a few. But Emerson Grant knows what he wants. He knows that Charlie is more than good enough. He knows that she’s worthy of his praise and so, so much more.

I loved the characters, the story, the spice, the romance. All of it. So much care and thought has been put into each aspect. Charlie and Emerson are such intense, fascinating characters, and following their individual and romantic journeys was genuinely emotional. I really was not expecting to get teary over their story, especially because I'm not generally a crier when I read, yet Praise absolutely hit me in the feels. It's one of my favourite reads of the year so far, and I have no doubt that I'll be reading it again in the future.

Inside Job by Alexis Knightly

emotional lighthearted mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.75

Hannah's ex-'s handsome older brother is the king of Silicon Avenue, and the dirty-talking, possessive tech-mogul needs a new personal assistant. The position just comes with one small caveat: she also needs to be his fake fiancée. 

An interesting, quick read, with plenty of tension and spice. Hannah and Damien had their ups and downs, but as they grew within the story, they came to make a great couple. The mystery plot in the background felt rushed and somewhat awkward, but the resolution was very satisfying.   

Pucking Around (includes That One Night) by Emily Rath

emotional funny hopeful medium-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? Yes

5.0

Two months ago, Rachel Price walked away from the perfect man. He was sweet, funny, and gorgeous, and they shared one magical night. No names, no strings, and no future. Or, so she thought. Upon starting her fellowship as a physical therapist for the NHL’s hottest new ice hockey team, she finds out that Mr Perfect is the Jacksonville Rays’ playboy grinder, and Mr Perfect Mistake will do anything to get back on her good side. But that’s only the start of her problems: his best friend, the surly new equipment manager, is always riding her case, and she’s got an uncooperative, ice-cold goalie trying to hide an injury. Rachel is determined to prove herself, but after one unexpected night—and one secret revealed—all three men are ready to test her. She can’t fall for a player, let alone three—but if love is a game, these men are eager to play, and they’re playing to win. 

Holy skates, this was AMAZING. I was sceptical after reading the prequel, but I did what I always try to do and approached this novel with an open mind, and I am so glad I gave it a chance. I loved everything about this novel: characters, writing, plot, subplots, romance, smut. EVERYTHING. Not only is this the hottest story I’ve ever read, it’s also quite possibly the sweetest, most sincere. There was so much depth and thought put into each character and developing them as individuals, as well in developing their multifaceted and complex relationships with love interests and side characters. The backdrop of professional hockey was genuinely fascinating, and as a former field-hockey player, I enjoyed learning more about the sport and the lifestyle as a whole. This is a story I’ll visit again and again in future, falling in love with it more each time.

Ghost Road Blues by Jonathan Maberry

challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

4.0

Pine Deep, a cosy and quiet Pennsylvaia town, buried the horrors of its past a long time ago. Thirty years have passed since the Black Harvest began, when blighted crops and a ruthless serial killer terrorised the town. Now, "The Spookiest Town in America" is preparing for the country's largest Halloween Celebration, replacing the evil that once shrouded the town with cheerful tourists looking for a thrill. But in the month before Halloween begins, the evil of the past returns, corrupting those ready to fall to their own demons and seeking to fracture the very soul of the fragile community that the Black Harvest left in its wake. 

Well, that was decidedly unsettling. Dark and intensely violent, Ghost Road Blues is a suspenseful horror/thriller that sets nerves jangling. Maberry builds a slow, dread-filled, and tense story with an obscure, otherworldly antagonist that is supported by a variety of corrupt but entirely human characters. The first in a trilogy, this novel lays the foundation for an epic battle between good versus evil, dark versus light—and the people of Pine Deep have everything to lose.