sm_mccoy's reviews
50 reviews

Iroth by Tamsin Ley

adventurous lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Misunderstood and betrayed but a sweet kindness from his fated mate brings hope of a better future and renewed trust.

Loved this quick alien romance with a trusting human dog trainer and an alien on the run to avoid being wrongly accused of an assassination. You get nursed to health trope, abduction to keep his faked death a secret, and a love to risk your life for.

I enjoy the blue gelatin aliens that take on the form of their mate's preference. Such a fun concept and the world building adds to the enjoyment. 

Zhiruto by Tamsin Ley

adventurous lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Such a great alien romance series with each book layering and unraveling the world plot as you go. Definitely read from the beginning with book 1. Blue blobs of alien gelatin that forms the perfect mate! Loving the series.

My only complaint is that this particular romance didn't feel complete. It felt like it cut off before things were resolved with Lora and Zhiruto. I get that it stopped where it did so as not to spoil the plot of book 3 but it left this book feeling stunted and unsatisfying for an ending.

I'll continue onto book 3 to reserve my thoughts on if it redeems how book 2 ends/ gives enough information about Lora and Zhiruto for closure. Perhaps, the two girls talk to each other and it all feels more complete then. We'll see.

Edit: read book three, enjoyed book 3 much more and it was more complete, but did not solve the issues I had with book 2 feeling like Lora and Zhiruto's story is unfinished. 

Catering to the Alien by Ava Ross

adventurous lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Being an interstellar chef is deadly business on a reality show for credits and a job catering for the prince's wedding, but running into the one that got away wasn't in the plans. No fraternization allowed between chefs but perhaps that's only a hard rule if you get caught and when you meet your true life mate... Rules are meant to be broken.

Fun alien romance.

My only complaint is it's a lot of food and cooking talk, but it was done well and the alien vocab for ingredients was fun.

I did start this book last year Sep 2023 and stopped around 60% and it took a long time for me to pick it up again, but I'm happy I came back to finish. I love Ava Ross' alien romances, I think the food focus just wasn't my preference, and I was more in the mood for darker/less light hearted.

We're All Mad Here by Leann Belle

dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Love this dark rh. Alice is put through the ringer but she still forgives and makes the psychos around her stronger to save Wonderland. Loved it! Definitely see trigger warnings before indulging. 

Stalking Cinderella by Leann Belle

dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I think I found a new favorite author! Definitely a dark kink romance and I'm here for it. Don't mind me as I literally add every book from this series on my TBR. I've had a step brother kink since the manga Sanctuary and this book hit all the feels. Please do read the trigger warnings, but if you have none and link exhibitionism this will fit the bill

Beautiful Villain by Rebecca F. Kenney

medium-paced

4.5

vampires, romantasy, retelling

The Finish Line by Kate Stewart

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

 This books lives rent free in my mind and Joe Arden is just chef's kiss narrating this! It gave me all the feels and I look forward to when I choose to relisten to this one. This is the perfect touch her and die vibes, I would sacrifice the world for you vibes, and you don't have to I'm the queen of this m-fker vibes. Loved it. 

Find Me by Brien Feathers

adventurous slow-paced

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

5.0

Mythology, warlords, emperors, magic gates of power, political maneuvers in ancient times, and of course, romance. This mystical dark fantasy will have you flipping those pages well into the twilight hours, and you'll be begging for the final installment. I was hooked with book one, and book two was just as enchanting. The storm goddess is without her divine power in a time of war and blood, and she'll travel the ravaged lands to be by her warlord's side whether that is in the mortal realm or the inbetween. She will follow, and I can't wait to read book three! This author has a way of sucking a reader right into the heart of the story, and I don't normally read third person limited, but I loved every second of it, and I'm rooting for the storm goddess all the way!

This is not a standalone, quick grab book one immediately! 

The Alien's Bite by Ella Blake

5.0

Oh No, I Got Myself Abducted And Kissed An Alien Pirate by Kate Sinner

lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A fun alien romance escape with shared bed, fated mates feel, horns, tail, and an impossibly large peen. I loved it, and it was the perfect read to enjoy before bed, because I finished in 2.5 hours and will still get my beauty sleep. Definitely excited to see what the rest of the series has in store!