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romancingthereader's Reviews (1.65k)
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I sat down to right this review, and Iโm not quite sure how to verbalize my thoughts hereโฆ but let me give it a try.
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: Crash Test by Amy James
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Standalone
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book on ARC Kindle. Courtesy of NetGalley.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: LGBTQIA+ Romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Opposites attract, bi-awakening, secret relationship, all of the angst, second chance.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: After Jacob is in a devastating crash and left broken, his secret relationship with Travis takes a backseat to his recovery.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: There are some books that are hard to rate, and this falls into that category. I finished the book, and on just vibes alone I would have given it a four-star rating. But when I put my thinking cap on, I had to lower it a bit.
And thatโs tough, because I think this book had a lot of potential. It just missed the mark a few too many times. The way it was told - in three parts - was interesting, but ultimately left Travisโ character a little more one dimensional than Iโd like.
The romance ratio also felt weird, and when I dissected itโฆ it was completely off. The book immediately starts with Jacobโs crash and their โromanceโ is told through Travisโ perspectiveโฆ so itโs almost like you have to take his word for it. Post-breakup, most of the book is about Jacob getting his life together. The resolution between the pair takes all of two pages, after spending 75% of the book apart.
I liked the writing. I thought there were some absolutely gut wrenching emotions. But the bones werenโt there, and it killed the momentum for me.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 3/5 โญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 2.5/5 ๐ถ๐ถ
๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐จ๐น๐ช ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐.
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: Crash Test by Amy James
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Standalone
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book on ARC Kindle. Courtesy of NetGalley.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: LGBTQIA+ Romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Opposites attract, bi-awakening, secret relationship, all of the angst, second chance.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: After Jacob is in a devastating crash and left broken, his secret relationship with Travis takes a backseat to his recovery.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: There are some books that are hard to rate, and this falls into that category. I finished the book, and on just vibes alone I would have given it a four-star rating. But when I put my thinking cap on, I had to lower it a bit.
And thatโs tough, because I think this book had a lot of potential. It just missed the mark a few too many times. The way it was told - in three parts - was interesting, but ultimately left Travisโ character a little more one dimensional than Iโd like.
The romance ratio also felt weird, and when I dissected itโฆ it was completely off. The book immediately starts with Jacobโs crash and their โromanceโ is told through Travisโ perspectiveโฆ so itโs almost like you have to take his word for it. Post-breakup, most of the book is about Jacob getting his life together. The resolution between the pair takes all of two pages, after spending 75% of the book apart.
I liked the writing. I thought there were some absolutely gut wrenching emotions. But the bones werenโt there, and it killed the momentum for me.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 3/5 โญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 2.5/5 ๐ถ๐ถ
๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐จ๐น๐ช ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐.
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
When I walked past Gemma Vossโs table at Monsterotica, I stopped short. This series quite literally caught my eye. And man, the first book in this series was GOOD.
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: Alien from Nowhere by Gemma Voss
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Deviant Warriors of the KarโKal character series. Book 1.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book on Kindle. ๐ on KU.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Sci-fi romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Enemies-to-lovers, fish out of water, banter for days, fated mates.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Niko is an alien pirate raiding a lost cargo hold when he finds Raina, his fated mate. Sheโs on a mission to find her friends, who were abducted from their home planet - and doesnโt have time for love.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Iโm always on the hunt for a new bingeable sci-fi series. Sometimes I feel like I could cut my entire account and just dedicate it to sci-fi novels. And thisโฆ whhhhew this is my new obsession.
Niko was hysterical, and every bit of the alien MMC I crave. He was protective and bossy, but completely enthralled with Raina from the start. He played the long game, and let her be her chaotic self. Raina was all fiery passion, and I loved how she slow-burned her way to Niko.
I canโt wait to read more in this world!
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 4.5/5 โญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 3/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: Alien from Nowhere by Gemma Voss
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Deviant Warriors of the KarโKal character series. Book 1.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book on Kindle. ๐ on KU.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Sci-fi romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Enemies-to-lovers, fish out of water, banter for days, fated mates.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Niko is an alien pirate raiding a lost cargo hold when he finds Raina, his fated mate. Sheโs on a mission to find her friends, who were abducted from their home planet - and doesnโt have time for love.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Iโm always on the hunt for a new bingeable sci-fi series. Sometimes I feel like I could cut my entire account and just dedicate it to sci-fi novels. And thisโฆ whhhhew this is my new obsession.
Niko was hysterical, and every bit of the alien MMC I crave. He was protective and bossy, but completely enthralled with Raina from the start. He played the long game, and let her be her chaotic self. Raina was all fiery passion, and I loved how she slow-burned her way to Niko.
I canโt wait to read more in this world!
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 4.5/5 โญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 3/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
Honestly, Iโve read JTG forever. And I have heard the discourse, but most of the time I find myself able to gloss over some of the issues. But when youโre openly criticized for fatphobia, and then the first chapter of this book was mostly centered on the FMCs weight with the same negative connotationsโฆ idk. I just put it down.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
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:
Complicated
Beautiful cover, but absolute gut-wrenching romance inside.
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: Swept Away by Beth OโLeary
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Standalone
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book on Kindle. Borrowed from Libby.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Contemporary romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: ONS, reverse age gap, survival, golden retriever MMC, reformed bad boy.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Zeke and Lexi have a one night stand, and wake up on a houseboat adrift in the sea. They have to work together to survive, while coming to terms with the circumstances that landed them in the middle of the ocean.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: I didnโt expect this book. Three separate times, I audibly gasped - thrown off by a twist or turn. I was so pleasantly surprised at the journey Beth OโLeary had me on.
What can you expect? Not sunshine and rainbows. You might even cry a little. Tension? Both the โwill they surviveโ kind and the โwill they boinkโ kind. And I donโt knowโฆ maybe expect a few tears.
I loved how it turned out, and Iโd love to pick up more Beth OโLeary in the future.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 5/5 โญโญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 2.5/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๏ธ
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: Swept Away by Beth OโLeary
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Standalone
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book on Kindle. Borrowed from Libby.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Contemporary romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: ONS, reverse age gap, survival, golden retriever MMC, reformed bad boy.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Zeke and Lexi have a one night stand, and wake up on a houseboat adrift in the sea. They have to work together to survive, while coming to terms with the circumstances that landed them in the middle of the ocean.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: I didnโt expect this book. Three separate times, I audibly gasped - thrown off by a twist or turn. I was so pleasantly surprised at the journey Beth OโLeary had me on.
What can you expect? Not sunshine and rainbows. You might even cry a little. Tension? Both the โwill they surviveโ kind and the โwill they boinkโ kind. And I donโt knowโฆ maybe expect a few tears.
I loved how it turned out, and Iโd love to pick up more Beth OโLeary in the future.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 5/5 โญโญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 2.5/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๏ธ
dark
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I really, really wished I liked this more. I triedโฆdespite how I felt about Lights Out, I tried. But it definitely wasnโt my jam.
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: Caught Up by Navessa Allen
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Into Darkness character series. Book 2.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: Audiobook on Hoopla. E-book is ๐ on KU.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Mafia romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Dark romance, stalking, BDSM vibes.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Junior has been obsessed with Lauren since high school. Now, with her father out of the way, he can finally make his move.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: If you asked me how I felt about Lights Out at the 50% mark, I would have raved and told you it was one of my favorite books of the year. Then it fell off the rails. I can definitely see how people who only listened to the incredible audio felt differently, but I was kind of shaken from the experience.
I wasnโt going to read Caught Up. But I got FOMO. And I didnโt leave this one feeling angry, but it was just kind of flat.
It lacked the humor of the first book. In fact, the funniest parts were Josh and Allie. It definitely had good spice. But I didnโt really love Junior. And Lauren was a little whiny.
Iโm definitely not going to let the third book get me.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 3.5/5 โญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 3.5/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: Caught Up by Navessa Allen
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Into Darkness character series. Book 2.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: Audiobook on Hoopla. E-book is ๐ on KU.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Mafia romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Dark romance, stalking, BDSM vibes.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Junior has been obsessed with Lauren since high school. Now, with her father out of the way, he can finally make his move.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: If you asked me how I felt about Lights Out at the 50% mark, I would have raved and told you it was one of my favorite books of the year. Then it fell off the rails. I can definitely see how people who only listened to the incredible audio felt differently, but I was kind of shaken from the experience.
I wasnโt going to read Caught Up. But I got FOMO. And I didnโt leave this one feeling angry, but it was just kind of flat.
It lacked the humor of the first book. In fact, the funniest parts were Josh and Allie. It definitely had good spice. But I didnโt really love Junior. And Lauren was a little whiny.
Iโm definitely not going to let the third book get me.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 3.5/5 โญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 3.5/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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:
No
Iโve been so down with this series. But this one wasnโt my favorite.
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: The Jackass in Class by Amy Award
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: The Cocky Kingmans character series. Book 5.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book ARC on Kindle. ๐ on KU.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: College romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Opposites attract, reformed playboy, sports romance (football), romance author.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Flynn Kingman wants to send his college years off in style, until he meets Tempest. Then the plans change - and all he can think about is landing his dream girl.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: I guess the issue with a 7 book series is that you have to keep it fresh, and this one felt a little too much like the others. I loved the first two and liked the third and fourth, but thereโs clearly a playbook here now and I didnโt love the predictability.
I did like the cast of characters (the glimpses at last couples were fun, too), and the hi-jinx (especially Tempestโs foster donkey).
I laughed a bit, for sure, too. I didnโt love the fact that Tempest was a senior in college and had never been kissed, and that the โPR scandalโ has been repeated at 80% in three of the first five books.
Depending on the premise of the next round, Iโll definitely decide if Iโm continuing with this series.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 3/5 โญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 3/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐จ๐น๐ช ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐.
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: The Jackass in Class by Amy Award
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: The Cocky Kingmans character series. Book 5.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book ARC on Kindle. ๐ on KU.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: College romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Opposites attract, reformed playboy, sports romance (football), romance author.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Flynn Kingman wants to send his college years off in style, until he meets Tempest. Then the plans change - and all he can think about is landing his dream girl.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: I guess the issue with a 7 book series is that you have to keep it fresh, and this one felt a little too much like the others. I loved the first two and liked the third and fourth, but thereโs clearly a playbook here now and I didnโt love the predictability.
I did like the cast of characters (the glimpses at last couples were fun, too), and the hi-jinx (especially Tempestโs foster donkey).
I laughed a bit, for sure, too. I didnโt love the fact that Tempest was a senior in college and had never been kissed, and that the โPR scandalโ has been repeated at 80% in three of the first five books.
Depending on the premise of the next round, Iโll definitely decide if Iโm continuing with this series.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 3/5 โญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 3/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐จ๐น๐ช ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐.
dark
emotional
tense
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:
Complicated
I think from this point on, Iโm just going to blindly trust Laura Thalassa. She will give me what I never knew I needed. My patience will be rewarded. I think The Curse That Binds is just proof of that.
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: The Curse That Blinds by Laura Thalassa
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Bewitched. Book 2.5 of 3.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book ARC on Kindle. ๐ on KU.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Romantasy
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Fated mates, instalove, antihero.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: The Curse That Binds is a prequel novel to the first two books of the Bewitched series, following Selene, a witch in training, and Memnom, the thousand year old warlord sorcerer who believes she is his mate. The prequel follows their origin story in ancient Roman times.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Honestly, when I read The Bargainer series I was convinced I didnโt need need to read Emperor of the Evening Stars. But itโs one of my favorite books of the series. And The Curse That Binds is the same situation.
I didnโt think I needed a prequel. But itโs very clear that even though I thought I โgot it,โ I definitely didnโt. Memnom and Roxi have a connection so soul deep, I couldnโt comprehend. In the previous books, Memnom explained it and told it. In The Curse That Binds, he didnโt have to - it was right there on the page as their connection grew. I was absolutely gutted when it ended, even if I knew what was coming.
Laura Thalassa writes the deepest, most soul wrenching love. She creates worlds that I can see in my minds eye, and relationships that arenโt always picture perfect. This book was full of strife and I felt it so intensely.
As always, this series is dark. Not morally grayโฆ dark. Thereโs triggers to read, especially on this one. The end of this series is going to be incredible, and Iโll come back here then to say I told you so.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 5/5 โญโญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 3.5/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐จ๐น๐ช ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐.
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: The Curse That Blinds by Laura Thalassa
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Bewitched. Book 2.5 of 3.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book ARC on Kindle. ๐ on KU.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Romantasy
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Fated mates, instalove, antihero.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: The Curse That Binds is a prequel novel to the first two books of the Bewitched series, following Selene, a witch in training, and Memnom, the thousand year old warlord sorcerer who believes she is his mate. The prequel follows their origin story in ancient Roman times.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Honestly, when I read The Bargainer series I was convinced I didnโt need need to read Emperor of the Evening Stars. But itโs one of my favorite books of the series. And The Curse That Binds is the same situation.
I didnโt think I needed a prequel. But itโs very clear that even though I thought I โgot it,โ I definitely didnโt. Memnom and Roxi have a connection so soul deep, I couldnโt comprehend. In the previous books, Memnom explained it and told it. In The Curse That Binds, he didnโt have to - it was right there on the page as their connection grew. I was absolutely gutted when it ended, even if I knew what was coming.
Laura Thalassa writes the deepest, most soul wrenching love. She creates worlds that I can see in my minds eye, and relationships that arenโt always picture perfect. This book was full of strife and I felt it so intensely.
As always, this series is dark. Not morally grayโฆ dark. Thereโs triggers to read, especially on this one. The end of this series is going to be incredible, and Iโll come back here then to say I told you so.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 5/5 โญโญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 3.5/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐จ๐น๐ช ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐.
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Iโm not going to lie to you guys. I bought this book and then listened to it because it was pretty. I had no idea who T. Kingfisher was. And I donโt regret it.
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: Swordheart by T. Kingfisher
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: Swordheart by T. Kingfisher
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Swordheart character series. Book 1.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: Audiobook on Hoopla.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Fantasy romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Opposites attract, magical journey, one bed.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Halla's uncle dies and she is left his estate - much to the chagrin of his family. In a tense moment, she attempts to use an antique sword and meets Sarkis, an immortal swordsman trapped inside the enchanted metal.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: This book was out of bounds. I can see how you either love it or hate it. I, for the record, had a great time.
The story was great - fun even. The romance was solid, and it was a great ratio between actual story, character growth and romance. Halla was clinically insane. I literally was cackling - but very much in a "who writes this" and "what the actual eff" sort of way. But I stuck with the book, because I quite literally couldn't look away.
I laughed so hard sometimes I had to stop the audio. It was completely unhinged - and honestly, I know this was released in 2018 (so well before) but it had very close to the same vibes as Assistant to the Villian. Just this out of bounds, zany FMC and her broody, magical MMC. I was here for it.
Imagine my surprise in hearing that after 7 years, there's a second book in this series coming out next year. While I am definitely not going back into T. Kingfisher's extensive backlog, I am excited to pick that one up next!
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 4/5 โญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 2.5/5 ๐ถ๐ถ
dark
emotional
tense
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:
Complicated
This series is going to go down as one of my all-time favorite romance series, because Rebecca Quinn is THAT good.
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: The Brutes of Bristlebrook continuous series. Book 3 (final).
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book ARC on Kindle. ๐๏ธ on KU.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Post-apocalyptic romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Why choose, enemies-to-lovers, romantic suspence.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Librarian Eden is struggling to survive in the "after" of the world, about to be caught by rebels when she meets five former Army Rangers who agree to take her in - for a price.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: So many of you refused to pick this up because it was an open series - one that ended on a heck of a cliffhanger in each book - but now that it's finished, I am reviewing the series as a whole if only to shout it from the rooftops.
Not to flex, but two years ago a new indie author dropped into my DMs and asked if I would read her book. I took a chance. And I was absolutely floored by Ensnared. Rebecca Quinn is the absolute real deal. She wrote the rare unicorn - a five star for plot and a level five spice rating. She individualized each of the six characters in this series, and then created a plot that was action packed, full of tough decisions, and in a world that felt so real sometimes I had to turn my house lights on.
You may get intimidated by the length, but I am here to say I literally saw value in every word, especially of Entwined. Each character had an incredible arc over the three books, and Rebecca Quinn not only gave individual relationships with Eden their due time, but the friendships and family relationship between all of the guys got its page time as well. It was expert work, and I will read anything Rebecca Quinn puts out just based on this series.
I also can't just let the spice slide. It's so out of bounds. Inventive is a good word for it. Sometimes I was like OH WOW.
If you have an option, I also have to say the audio is incredible. Full cast, and so hot it will ignite your ear pods.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 5/5 โญโญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 5/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐จ๐น๐ช ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐.
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: The Brutes of Bristlebrook continuous series. Book 3 (final).
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book ARC on Kindle. ๐๏ธ on KU.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Post-apocalyptic romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Why choose, enemies-to-lovers, romantic suspence.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Librarian Eden is struggling to survive in the "after" of the world, about to be caught by rebels when she meets five former Army Rangers who agree to take her in - for a price.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: So many of you refused to pick this up because it was an open series - one that ended on a heck of a cliffhanger in each book - but now that it's finished, I am reviewing the series as a whole if only to shout it from the rooftops.
Not to flex, but two years ago a new indie author dropped into my DMs and asked if I would read her book. I took a chance. And I was absolutely floored by Ensnared. Rebecca Quinn is the absolute real deal. She wrote the rare unicorn - a five star for plot and a level five spice rating. She individualized each of the six characters in this series, and then created a plot that was action packed, full of tough decisions, and in a world that felt so real sometimes I had to turn my house lights on.
You may get intimidated by the length, but I am here to say I literally saw value in every word, especially of Entwined. Each character had an incredible arc over the three books, and Rebecca Quinn not only gave individual relationships with Eden their due time, but the friendships and family relationship between all of the guys got its page time as well. It was expert work, and I will read anything Rebecca Quinn puts out just based on this series.
I also can't just let the spice slide. It's so out of bounds. Inventive is a good word for it. Sometimes I was like OH WOW.
If you have an option, I also have to say the audio is incredible. Full cast, and so hot it will ignite your ear pods.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 5/5 โญโญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 5/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐จ๐น๐ช ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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:
Complicated
Sometimes you run across something that really is just a good book. A solid book, with damn good writing and a plot that makes you gitty. And this was it.
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: 500 First Editions by Maggie Gates
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: The Romantics character series. Book 3.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book ARC on Kindle. ๐๏ธ on KU.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Contemporary romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Dare gone wrong, enemies-to-lovers, banter for days, she's a runner, golden retriever MMC, dating lessons, he falls first.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Whitney is a romance novelist, on a panel with relationship guru Ryan Ford. When she calls his bluff, he dares her to date him - and if she doesn't fall in love, he will call it quits.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: If I feel the whole spectrum of emotions when I am reading a book, it's getting a good rating and a recommendation from me. And that's what 500 First Editions was. I cackled. I quite literally swooned as Ryan tried to woo Whitney. I cried a few times at plot points I can't spoil for you. And at the end, the one gripe I had with the plot was solved so gorgeously, I threw a literal chef's kiss into the air.
One thing I was extremely impressed by was the Ford Method. Interspersed into the book is Ryan's 12-week method for falling in love. And honestly, it was SOLID reading... just that alone. I was floored at the wisdom in those excerpts. I highlighted half of them. It was so much about being intentional with your partner and putting effort in... I honestly wanted to copy the pages out and send it around. Married, single, whatever... I bet you'd find Maggie Gates' writing in those areas so enlightening. I usually speed read or skip that sort of stuff, but this begged to be read.
In all honesty, this is my first of the series that I have read. And the characters were SO good I am definitely going back to the beginning and reading the rest through.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 4.5/5 โญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 3.5/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐จ๐น๐ช ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐.
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: 500 First Editions by Maggie Gates
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: The Romantics character series. Book 3.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book ARC on Kindle. ๐๏ธ on KU.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Contemporary romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Dare gone wrong, enemies-to-lovers, banter for days, she's a runner, golden retriever MMC, dating lessons, he falls first.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Whitney is a romance novelist, on a panel with relationship guru Ryan Ford. When she calls his bluff, he dares her to date him - and if she doesn't fall in love, he will call it quits.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: If I feel the whole spectrum of emotions when I am reading a book, it's getting a good rating and a recommendation from me. And that's what 500 First Editions was. I cackled. I quite literally swooned as Ryan tried to woo Whitney. I cried a few times at plot points I can't spoil for you. And at the end, the one gripe I had with the plot was solved so gorgeously, I threw a literal chef's kiss into the air.
One thing I was extremely impressed by was the Ford Method. Interspersed into the book is Ryan's 12-week method for falling in love. And honestly, it was SOLID reading... just that alone. I was floored at the wisdom in those excerpts. I highlighted half of them. It was so much about being intentional with your partner and putting effort in... I honestly wanted to copy the pages out and send it around. Married, single, whatever... I bet you'd find Maggie Gates' writing in those areas so enlightening. I usually speed read or skip that sort of stuff, but this begged to be read.
In all honesty, this is my first of the series that I have read. And the characters were SO good I am definitely going back to the beginning and reading the rest through.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 4.5/5 โญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 3.5/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐จ๐น๐ช ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐.