romancingthereader's reviews
1323 reviews

Animus by Ophelia Bell

fast-paced

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

2.5

I’m just mind boggled. 

📕 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Animus by Ophelia Bell

📙 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀: Sleeping Dragons continuous series.

📗 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀: E-book on Kindle. Borrowed from
 Libby.

📘 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: Sci-fi romance

📔 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀: Shifters, fated mates, (shivers) uh… women in STEM.

📖 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀: Erika and her team are on a hunt for a secret dragon lair - and they find it has been calling to them the entire time.

🌟 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄: How does one come up with the idea to write about an expedition team finding a dragon lair… and then those dragons luring the team into an orgy so they can all awaken and become true mates?

Like, congratulations for writing this. Full stop. It’s unique.

But it felt way more complicated than it needed to be. And the spice was spicing enough to mix up the plot. Usually when I start a series I can’t leave it unfinished, but I’m not really attached to this series and I’m going to leave this where it is.

𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 2.5/5 ⭐⭐

𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹: 3.5/5 🌶🌶🌶

Rake by Nicole Parker

lighthearted fast-paced

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

3.0

Lights Out by Navessa Allen

dark slow-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

3.0

I get more frustrated with a book when it could have been pretty good than when it’s super bad. And this could have been really, really good.

📕 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Lights Out by Navessa Allen

📙 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀: Into the Darkness Trilogy

📗 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀: E-book on Kindle

📘 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: Dark romance

📔 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀: Stalker, golden retriever MMC.

📖 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀: Aly is an ER nurse who is overworked and exhausted. Her mindless scrolling takes her to The Faceless Man, a thirst trap account of a masked man. Little does she know… he’s watching her right back.

🌟 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄: Let me get right to it. This book is a shining example of why having a content editor is valuable. 

This book had an interesting plot. It had a couple twists and turns. It had fun characters with laugh-out-loud banter. But it was 200 pages too long. TWO HUNDRED.

I only stayed because by the time I wanted to DNF it I had read 300 pages and to me, that will not go wasted *shakes fist*… but jeeze. Endless inner monologues and recounting entire scenes we JUST read, it was exhausting and took all of the fun out of it. 

I’m bummed, because I really liked Josh and the concept of the book. It’s frustrating that it didn’t pan out.

𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 3/5 ⭐⭐⭐

𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹: 4/5 🌶🌶🌶🌶

Devourer of Men by Nikki St. Crowe

dark 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

5.0

Imagine me fist pumping into the air. I’m love this world Nikki St. Crowe has created and I’m so freaking excited to be back.

📕 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Devourer of Men by Nikki St. Crowe

📙 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀: 

📗 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀: E-book ARC on Kindle. 🆓️ on KU.

📘 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: Fantasy romance 

📔 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀: Dark romance, MMF, all the banter, kick butt FMC, second chance.

📖 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀: Captain James Hook and his nemesis, The Crocodile, team up to find Wendy Darling once they learn she’s still alive. But when they arrive in Everland, things are more more complicated than they thought - including their feelings for each other. 

🌟 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄:  I loved everything about the Vicious Lost Boys series - and when it ended it definitely felt like a loss. But here I am back in this world and engrossed in Nikki St. Crow’s writing, and it feels like home.

I loved everything about this book - and I have to be honest… it kicked off with some a bang I’m convinced this is going to be better than VLB.  Roc is such a fun character, and Hook is like an onion of idiosyncrasies. Then we finally meet Wendy, and she’s such a powerful character already.

The world building, the lore, the plot… it’s all there. Along with that spicy spice. I love how much she got into 225 pages, while at the same time hating how I flew through it.

Fair warning - she did it again. This ends on a heck of a cliffhanger. But I think we all need to get in the boat and head to Neverland together again.

🪄 𝗙𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘀𝘆 𝗘𝗮𝘀𝗲: Easy. Nikki St. Crow’s writing feels understandable, and the world is magical yet completely understandable, even for a fantasy n00b like me.

𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐  

𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹: 3.5/5 🌶🌶🌶

📝 𝗔 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲… The synopsis says it’s a standalone. I don’t think so - you’re best off reading VLB first.

𝑰 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒏 𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒊𝒏 𝒆𝒙𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏 𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘.   

Fragile Sanctuary by Catherine Cowles

dark emotional 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? It's complicated

4.5

Ahhhh a fresh Catherine Cowles series… all of the possibilities!

📕 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Fragile Sanctuary by Catherine Cowles

📙 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀: Sparrow Falls character series. Book 1.

📗 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀: E-book ARC on Kindle. 🆓️ on KU 

📘 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: Romantic Suspense

📔 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀: Grumpy/sunshine, brother’s best friend, age gap, small town, touch her and die, found family.

📖 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀: Rho is finally returning to her family’s property, determined to rehab the old Victorian after the fire that killed her parents and sister. While she fights the shadows of her past, she’s also at odds with the broody fire restoration specialist - former FBI profiler Anson, who has a damaging past of his own.

🌟 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄: I first picked up Catherine Cowles in her Lost & Found series, which I absolutely flew through. She hit my sweet spot - about 350 pages, suspense plot that keeps me moving, solid spice and heroes that are always a tad big possessive. So when I saw she was starting a fresh series, you better believe I was in it.

Fragile Sanctuary was the first in the Sparrow Falls series - and beyond just being a solid book, it set up a series that I am absolutely chomping at the bit for. Found family centered around a group of foster family, each with tragic stories? Yea I’m definitely in.

Anson and Rhodes kicked it off perfectly. It was an emotional read as each dealt with their grief and trauma, but one that made you root for them to be happy with each other. I don’t know about you, but if someone said “broody ex-profiler who is broken and hiding in a small town,” I’m running to pick it up. 

𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 4.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹: 3/5 🌶🌶🌶

𝑰 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒏 𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒊𝒏 𝒆𝒙𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏 𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘.   

That Secret Crush by Meghan Quinn

funny hopeful 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? It's complicated

4.0

Meghan Quinn books are always solid reads, and I’m never disappointed.

📕 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: That Secret Crush by Meghan Quinn

📙 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀: Getting Lucky character series. Book 3.

📗 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀: Audiobook on Kindle. 🆓️ on KU to read & listen.

📘 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: Contemporary romance

📔 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀: Brother’s best friend, small town, grumpy/sunshine, friends-to-lovers.

📖 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀: Reid lives a solitary life after losing his restaurant and business partner, who also happened to be his best friend. His only companion is Eve, his best friend’s sister. One crazy night makes them more than friends, but when an opportunity to run a restaurant again arises, Reid has to make tough choices.

🌟 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄: This has all of the greatest hits. A chef who can’t chef anymore. Grumpy/sunshine where she was literally the only person who could make him smile. And tons and tons of feels.

I think what I liked most, though, is that it wasn’t formulaic. There were a lot of ups and downs for this couple, and they went THROUGH IT to get their happy ending. 

This series and this family have been solid reads and a lot of laughs all the way through - classic Meghan Quinn.

𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹: 3/5 🌶🌶🌶

Ashes of You by Catherine Cowles

dark emotional 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? No

4.0

Catherine Cowles certainly ended the Lost & Found series with a bang.

📕 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Ashes of You by Catherine Cowles  

📙 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀: Lost & Found character series. Book 5. Series is now complete.  

📗 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀: E-book on Kindle. 🆓️ on KU

📘 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: Contemporary romance

📔 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀: Single dad, man in uniform, suspense, age gap, small town.

📖 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀: Hallie is trying to start over after being abducted. She takes a nanny job for three boys in a small town without knowing the father is the man who rescued her all of those years ago. Their connection is instant, but both have shadows in their heart that keep them from starting anything new.

🌟 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄: I loved this book.

There's something about a character you spend five books feeling horrible for. The series finale finally gives Lawson his happy ending - one he's worked hard for and deserves, and as a reader, you can't help but be really happy for him. 

Hallie was a great character too. I loved how all three of Lawson's children required a different approach, and watching her not only fall in love with Law, but work her butt off to give the boys some warmth and comfort was so great. 

The suspense aspect to this series has been a little hit or miss to me, but in this book specifically I liked the subplot and how it played out. A perfect end to a solid series - but I continue to think if all of this happened in one town, I definitely would have moved by now.

𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹: 3/5 🌶🌶🌶 

Wristlocked: A Dark College Sports Romance by AK Blythe

dark emotional medium-paced

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

4.0

I didn't know I needed dark, smutty circus love triangle romance in my life... but now that I have it, I need more.

📕 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Wristlocked by AK Blythe

📙 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀: Tortured Boys of the Cirque series. Book 1.

📗 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀: E-book ARC on Kindle. 🆓️ on KU 

📘 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲:  Contemporary romance

📔 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀: College, sports romance (acrobatics), love triangle, why choose, bi-awakening, MMF, all the feels.

📖 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀: Gia and Lyot head to one of Vegas's premiere circus school, prepared to take on the world. But they're both drawn to the mysterious Gale, who is a powerhouse performer and a key to their success.

🌟 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄: I want to preface this with the fact that I had absolutely  no clue what I was getting into with this book. I understand gymnastics, but not acrobatics very well, so I went in completely blind and pretty subject-dumb. And I read the blurb, but it was as mysterious as the book.

What I ended up with was a wonderfully dark love story with so much solid spice. I usually steer clear of college romance, but this felt more mature since it was set in the cirque world. I also learned an absolute ton about the circus and performing straps. What I am going to do with that knowledge, I don't know... but it was intriguing nonetheless.

If you loved Losers or any of Tate James' work, this one is for you. I'm shocked this is AK Blythe's first book. Of course there were little things that could have made it better, but overall I was locked in from the start and can't wait to read more from her in the future.

 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹: 4/5 🌶🌶🌶🌶

𝑰 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒏 𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒊𝒏 𝒆𝒙𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏 𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘. 

Knot A Trace by Liliana Carlisle

emotional medium-paced

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

4.25

I read this series off of an unhinged reel that described one very specific scene… and to be honest I went into it not expecting it to be THAT good. But I flew through this duet and really enjoyed it.

📕 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: The Knot a Trace Duet by Liliana Carlisle

📙 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀: Two-part duet.

📗 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀: E-book on Kindle. 🆓️ on KU 

📘 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: Omegaverse romance

📔 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀: Why choose, grumpy/sunshine, men in uniform, romantic suspense, ultra spicy.

📖 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀: When Skylar’s best friend goes missing and the authorities won’t help, she seeks out the elusive Alpha detectives to help her. The brooding men try to refuse, but soon find they can’t turn Skylar down.

🌟 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄: You guys know I love the omegaverse. But reading this set based off a joke had me assuming it wouldn’t be great - and the Goodreads ratings didn’t help.

But I actually loved it! Both books are bingeable - I finished the duet in two days and couldn’t put it down. The three alphas were so perfectly different, and I loved Skylar’s vulnerability. It had everything I want in an omegaverse book - heats, knots, possessiveness, mating bonds…

Add on the subplot of the missing omegas and a lot of really solid spice, and I’m definitely recommending this one.

I’m glad it defied my expectations, and I’ll be picking up more Liliana Carlisle in the future. 

𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐  

𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹: 3.5/5 🌶🌶🌶

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀: This set really reminded me of Lola and the Millionaires by Kathryn Moon - if you haven’t read that duet, get on it!

Funny Story by Emily Henry

emotional funny hopeful medium-paced

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

5.0

Emily Henry writes some of the most beautiful books I’ve ever read. 

📕 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Funny Story by Emily Henry

📙 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀: Standalone

📗 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀: E-book on Kindle. Borrowed from Libby

📘 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: Contemporary romance

📔 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀: Opposites attract, forced proximity, slow burn, fake dating, found family.

📖 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀: Miles and Daphne meet when they’re both unceremoniously dumped and their exes run off together. Daphne needs a place to stay… Miles has an extra bedroom. But as Daphne makes a plan to leave town, and Miles comes up with ideas to make her stay, they both realize their growing feelings could change everything.

🌟 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄:  Well THAT was an emotional roller coaster.

Emily Henry’s writing is what I expect from all trad published writers and rarely get. She’s the kind of author you read and thing “I get it… I get what the hype is all about.”

She writes so beautifully. Words and sentence structure and the way she describes things and makes inside jokes with her readers… it’s all perfect.

Daphne and Miles had a great love story. And like the rest of Emily Henry’s books… this was much more than romance for me. It was heading for a four-star rating and then in the last 25%, this book broke me apart and put me back together. It really needed a trigger warning for girls with daddy issues, but alas… I cried and then smiled through my tears.

𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐  

𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹: 2.5/5 🌶🌶

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀: My favorite Emily Henry book is Book Lovers. Everyone should pick it up.