shanaepraystoo's reviews
911 reviews

MACEO (THE DILLINGER CHRONICLES BOOK 2) by Kimberly Brown

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adventurous challenging dark funny 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? No

3.5

I was super excited for Kimberly Brown's The Dillinger Chronicles series and book 1, Deuce, started the series off with a BANG! I thoroughly enjoyed it. So when I found out that book 2, Maceo, about Deuce's brother and second-in-command of The Dillinger Family's crime organization, of course I wanted to read it. Maceo picks up where Deuce left off and we get to learn more about Maceo and his girlfriend, Sharina, who's the best friend of the FMC from Deuce, Salima.

There are many similarities between Maceo and Deuce and Sharina and Salima, so I wasn't completely enamored by the characters or their story.
I found having a kidnapping story again, especially so close to the plot in book 1, a bit...lazy. However, Charity/Quinn is a much better villain than Councilman Hayes was in my opinion.


All in all, the book only really got me excited for the books coming about Jaeda and Mia/Titan. It's my understanding Smoke's story is next. Ugh. I'm going to keep reading the series because I am a fan of Kimberly Brown's books and there's always a possibility that she'll change things up in a way that I find super impressive, plus I really want to know more about the Dillinger sisters.

I recommend Maceo to anyone who likes crime family fiction and is OK with a smidge of romance and spice. 
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She's Elite Cutz by Charity Shane'

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challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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? No

5.0

I've spent quite a but of time in Crescent Falls with Charity Shane' and her wonderful characters. I know so much about the world that I am always interested in learning about new characters in her books. I'm trying to make my way through Charity Shane's entire catalog, even if I am going out of order lol...so that brought me to She's Elite Cutz. I wasn't sure what I'd get from the book besides a great love story and to be honest, that's all I really needed. However, I got so much more from Nyla and Aarick. On the surface, She's Elite Cutz is about two people who seem like complete opposites acting on an attraction. However, the character development, storytelling, and pace of the book give us so much more. She's Elite Cutz is a story about abuse, addiction, family ties, identity, and self-worth. I quickly fell in love with the MMC Aarick and I could relate to the FMC Nyla. I highly recommend She's Elite Cutz to anyone loking for an emotionally charged, well-written romance story with a strong female lead and a lovable male lead.
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Sundae & Taavon by Charity Shane'

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funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing 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? No

4.5

I really enjoyed Sundae & Taavon: Recipe for Love 1 by Charity Shane'. The characters were lovable and interesting. Despite the short length, I thought that the characters were well developed and engaging, so much that I would've loved a full length novel. I recommend this novella to any fan of cozy Black romances. This one fits the bill perfectly.
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Psalm by Tatum James

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

2.0

Terribly boring. I wasn't invested in the characters or their story. The FMC is so aloof that it's pretty offensive. The MMC is kinda bland and forgettable. I felt no connection between the two characters. I wouldn't recommend this book and that's unfortunate because the others in the series, Secure In The Arms Of A Thug 1 & 2 and Promised to a Street King were really good. Seems like the author phoned this one in. 
Promised to a Street King by Tatum James

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challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious 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

4.5

Well written and entertaining, I could not put Promised to a Street King down. I absolutely loved Bishop and after reading Secured In the Arms of a Thug, books 1 and 2 of the Dark Reign Dynasty series, I definitely wanted to know more about Bishop. The story is so engaging with lots of twists and turns. I appreciated that the book really focused on Bishop's story, which I think is oftentimes lacking in romance novels - even the ones named after the MMCs in the books. Lol. 

If you like urban romance books with entertaining characters, you can't go wrong with Promised to a Street King by Tatum James. 
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In the Meantime by Love Belvin

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense 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? No

5.0

I'm a fan of Love Belvin. Her books are wrought with emotion, sometimes painful, and they always reveal something to myself. It's not every day that you read a romance novel that challenges your way of thinking and your expectations. But every single time I read a Love Belvin novel, I walk away from it changed. In The Meantime... is no different.

The characters are well written, fully developed, and so complex that they're relatable. I love that the characters aren't flat because their dilemmas certainly are. The pacing of the story is great as well. I never found myself bored or disinterested in the story - Love Belvin keeps you hooked from the very beginning. I oftentimes found myself really disagreeing with the actions of the FMC, Hayden, it made me realize just how invested I was in the story and I haven't been like that in a long time. 

I highly recommend In The Meantime... to everyone, but especially to anyone who enjoys a slow burn with complicated characters and to anyone looking to expand their understanding of the contemporary romance genre (with dark elements). The book does end on a cliffhanger, and it definitely left me wanting more. I didn't expect In The Meantime... to be one of my favorite books for the month of January, it's definitely a contender for my favorite books of the year, and I had no idea that the second book in this series would be so high on my list of anticipated reads. 
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AT WAR WITH LOVE by Mya

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lighthearted 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? No

3.5

I'm still getting used to Mya and her writing style. There's something unique about At War with Love because the author is building a new world with new characters in Cade's Cove, a fictitious small country town in Texas. There are lots of characters introduced, there's significant character development, but based on the story, I'm not sure that the main characters, Harmoni and Warren, were the best characters to launch this new world with, but what do I know? Really. Also, if Mya sees this:
am I supposed to hate Harmoni's friend Gabrielle because I do and I hope her mean behind doesn't get a book lol
. The story is engaging and I enjoyed escaping to Cade's Cove with Harmoni and Warren. I'm excited to read more of Mya's books in Cade's Cove, too, since the small town romance trope is my jam. I recommend At War with Love to anyone who likes small town or second chance romances and to fans of Mya's books.
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One Chill Millionaire 2: Quest by Black Lavish

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dark tense fast-paced

3.0

One Chill Millionaire started off so strong in my opinion. Book 1 was fast paced with an engaging storyline. I'm not sure what happened with One Chill Millionaire 2: Quest. I've totally divested from the characters, book 2 doesn't pick up where book 1 left off and now there's a huge focus on Quest and Nicki with very little character development for Quest. It's unfortunate because, even though I am not really into this type of urban fiction, I was hoping for a more engaging story with deeper characters. I will not be reading book 3. However, if you're someone who enjoys urban fiction and you don't require much character development and, instead prefer drama filled books, then One Chill Millionaire 2: Quest is definitely for you!
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One Chill Millionaire by Black Lavish

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lighthearted relaxing fast-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? It's complicated

3.75

One Chill Millionaire is unlike most urban fiction that I've read...I'm not sure how to articulate it but I can say that the author, Black Lavish, has a unique writing style. It took some getting used to but about 30% into the book, I liked the writing. The ladies in One Chill Millionaire are a complete and utter mess! The men in the book are just as bad. I really didn't want to leave this review because the book ends with such a huge cliffhanger that I felt that the review could be incomplete. However, the story unfolds in such an interesting way that I am eager to read book 2 because I want to see how these characters redeem themselves! I definitely recommend One Chill Millionaire, but particularly to individuals who like urban fiction. 
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Fated Breed by Charity Shane'

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adventurous emotional lighthearted 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? No

4.0

Paranormal fiction is not my speed but I’ve read a few from some of my favorite authors. I picked up Fated Breed because I like Charity Shane’s books. In Fated Breed, we meet Keyshauna and Lobo at a time where Keyshauna learns a big secret about her family and herself. I wish the story was a little longer, so that readers could understand more about Keyshauna, her family
and her powers
. A bit spicy, quick paced and engaging, I definitely recommend Fated Breed to fans of paranormal stories, short stories and Charity Shane’.
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