sarahyjackson's reviews
174 reviews

Sleet Princess by S.J. Tilly

emotional funny fast-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

A perfect hug of conclusion to the Sleet series with bonus furry play. 💕💕💕

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Alcohol

The Professional by Kresley Cole

dark emotional 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

4.0

Love a bodyguard mafia moment. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Death, and Sexual content

Moderate: Kidnapping, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Minor: Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Alcoholism

The Devil's Bargain by Carin Hart

dark emotional fast-paced

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

2.0

Mafia vibes but fairly undercooked. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Sexual content, Death, and Kidnapping

How You Get The Girl by Anita Kelly

emotional funny 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? No

5.0

“But that when it came to identity, when it came to queerness, the whole point was that there were no tryouts. If you were even thinking about it, you were already on the team. That labels weren't meant to confine, only to bring comfort to those for whom they were useful. 

That Julie didn't need to ascribe to any of them if she didn't want to. 

Elle wanted to say that, label or no label, hearing Julie just describe relationships and sexuality in sports metaphors was the gayest thing that had ever happened to her. And she had spent half her life dedicated to women's basketball.”

Lemme tell you what I normally like my romance fairly kink/smut forward with enough plot to sort of hold the thing together but this Tennessee set story of two folks navigating care (personal and systemic) and queerness and BASKETBALL done gone and challenged that notion for real. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Sexual content, Chronic illness, and Mental illness

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Homophobia

The Great Divide by Cristina Henríquez

emotional informative medium-paced

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

3.5

Made me want to learn more about the construction of the Panama Canal - and I appreciated having, even fictional, a different lens into this history. 

Largely though, the characters and their journeys felt kind of meh and forgettable to me? 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Grief, Miscarriage, Death, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Violence and War

Minor: Sexual content and Slavery

Desperate Measures by Katee Robert

dark emotional fast-paced

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

4.0

CNC not my fave but Jasmine is a baddie!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Sexual content

Moderate: Physical abuse

A Worthy Opponent by Katee Robert

dark emotional tense 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? Yes

5.0

Now why did I absolutely devour this hook/tinkerbell smut and explain BDSM scene play to my husband over peel and eat shrimp?

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Gun violence, Death, and Sexual content

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Emotional abuse

The Au Pair Affair by Tessa Bailey

emotional funny lighthearted 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

4.25

The third/fourth act was a little bit uneven to me but I LOVED the spectrum of sexual activity/tension/foreplay. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail and Sexual content

Moderate: Confinement, Emotional abuse, and Stalking

A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle L. Jensen

adventurous emotional 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? Yes

4.75

Eager to see where this story goes! It had the disadvantage of my reading it after The Weaver and the Witch Queen BUT still a wonderful (and spicy!) Nordic fantasy. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Violence, Death, Sexual content, and War

Moderate: Pregnancy and Child death

The Game Changer by Lana Ferguson

emotional funny lighthearted 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? No

4.0

Not my favorite Lana but a damn good time at the theatre regardless!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Infidelity