sleepy_bookworm's reviews
186 reviews

Click by Briana Michaels

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

4.0

I enjoyed this book! It definitely opened my mind to the primal kink more, which I wasn't expecting. Even though this is a fictional book some of the things discussed and practiced are true to the real-life BDSM community. However, as the author notes in the beginning, and as always, this is obviously not a guide on how to do kink. It's a spicy work of fiction. It was a fun read with instalove plenty of spice. Onto the next one! 
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Dante by Sadie Kincaid

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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? Yes

4.5

I love love love Dante and Kat! I am a sucker for an alpha mafia man and Dante is just that. I loved Kat's character development from a timid woman to a badass "I don't care who you killed" woman. She was great and I especially loved that she would call Dante out on his b.s. The twist at the end of the book was one I didn't see coming and was much appreciated, it definitely felt like a full story with a beginning, middle, and end. I can't wait to read Joey and Maximo's story. 
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Dropping the Mitts by Lasairiona McMaster

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emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This book didn't hit for me like Lasairiona's books usually do. I found myself getting annoyed with Penelope - I feel like she didn't really have that much character development at all. Other than going from hating Tate to loving him. I honestly think it's because she wasn't the romantic I'm used to reading about. She's tough as nails through and through which is great! I'm glad there are variety in the characters! The only thing that resonated with me about Penelope was being fat, living through fat-shaming, and standing up for herself. I'm glad that was talked about and included in this book. But her being sassy during sex scenes? I don't know, it didn't come of as playful to me as intended, which is honestly probably just a me thing. I am glad that laughter was included in some of those scenes though, because sometimes funny stuff happens. 

Tate went through so much in this book, and honestly had so much character development I'm wondering if that's why we see less from Penelope. I was happy to see mental health be a discussion among his hockey brothers. The found family aspect of this series will always give me the warm fuzzies. I love that we are seeing the side characters incorporated throughout this series too. 

Overall this was a good book, it took me forever to get through because Penelope's sass was too much for me at times and I just wanted to say, "girl, chill" so I had to take breaks. I'm looking forward to Artemis's story to see how the subplot with the de la Peña family plays out. 
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Friends in Napa by Sheila Yasmin Marikar

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 30%.
I really tried to get into this book. I DNF at 30% because the descriptions were so much. Like wayyy too many unnecessary details. There is a scene in a Michelin star restaurant and we get 1-2 pages on the backstory of the chef who isn't even a main character. I was hoping for more of a mystery vibe based on the description. Instead it was a lot of 30-somethings with dysfunctional relationships for several chapters. 
His Tesoro by Emilia Rossi

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dark emotional 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

Oh my gosh. If I could give this book a higher rating I so would. I already know it's going to live rent free in my head forever. 

I loved that we were given Sofiya, a badass main character who happens to have EDS and a not great home life. I felt like the author did really well highlighting how EDS or any chronic illness can impact one's life and relationships, but it was by far not what defined Sofiya. I especially appreciated the wheelchair scene with Mateo and Angelo (even though Mateo was kind of a butthead about it). I have heard that is an issue that those who use mobility aids, especially wheelchairs, have to deal with a lot and I'm glad it was included in this book. 

I love, love, loved the progression of Sofiya and Mateo's relationship, and I enjoyed how involved the side characters were as well. I thought all the main and side characters were fleshed out really well, and I appreciated that Sofiya and Mateo were not the only ones we ever saw interacting. I feel like sometimes Mafia books only focus on the two MCs forgetting that the characters likely have friends and others in their lives who influence them. 

100/5 stars, I am so happy I heard about this book. I am looking forward to the rest of this series. I will also be checking out the author's other works under her penname, Emilia Emerson.
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Flip by Briana Michaels

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lighthearted 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? Yes

4.5

This book was such a fun read! Trey's dirty talk was exquisite. Despite this being a relatively short read with a ton of spice, we did see Erin's character develop from single mom with the world on her shoulders to her understanding that it's okay to let others help. Given the way this book started, I was expecting it to be heavier on the kink exploration, but that mostly stayed pretty stagnant throughout the book. It did not make the explicit scenes any less spicy though. Sidenote: Erin likes to be called certain names during spicy times that some readers may find offensive. 
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Lighting the Lamp by Lasairiona McMaster

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emotional hopeful 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

4.5

This book hit me right in the feels so many times. There was no miscommunication, no third act break up, no petty fights. It was all so real. I so appreciate Lasairiona McMaster for writing a book like this. I feel like sports injuries and the toll they take on those who have them are not discussed very much. Also, the PCOS rep was great! I loved so many things about this book. There were also time when Raffi's dirty talk made me feel like that Blanche Devereaux meme lol. If you're a fan of single parent, second chance, and found family romances, this one's for you. 
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Little Sunshine by Layla Frost

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dark emotional 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

4.0

I am so so happy that Little Dove did not end up being a standalone. I really enjoyed getting glimpses of Juliet and Maximo. 

I felt for Mila. My upbringing was not at all the same (fortunately) but I do suffer from hyper independence at times. Ash seemed a bit gruffer than I remember Maximo being, but it has been some time since I read Little Dove so maybe I'm not remembering everything. Mila's character development was wonderfully written and I really enjoyed watching her gain the strength she needed to come out of her shell and just be. Ash was a possessive alpha-hole we all love (or maybe you don't, in which case, this book is not for you). The dirty talk in this book was fantastic. 

This was a great story and I can't wait to read Little Goddess. 
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Crashing the Net by Lasairona McMaster

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emotional 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

4.5

This book was so good!! Low angst, no miscommunication trope, and no third act break up! Lasairiona has done it again! Im glad Apollo's book followed Ares's story. I dont think I could have read about someone else while worrying about Apollo. This is probably  the best friends to lovers story I haver ead thus far. Howver, thefr were a few things  that took me out of the story. Tori being described as Savannah's best friend even though we were introduced to Tori in Ares and Eloise's book and she is canonically Eloise's best friend. Also the name Lincoln Scott appearing really threw me off when the Raccoons weren't even plsying the Snow Pirates. If the continuity errors were cleaned up this would easily be a five star read.
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Icebreaker by Hannah Grace

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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? Yes

5.0

Nate is like the perfect book boyfriend. The way he supported Anastasia through everything, and their whole relationship 🥺 I loved that there was no third act break up and no miscommunication trope. This book was everything I didn't know I needed in a romance novel. 
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