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spicycronereads's reviews
209 reviews
This Could Be Us by Kennedy Ryan
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
Another beautiful book by Kennedy Ryan. The second in the Skyland series, this one focuses on homemaker extraordinaire, Soledad. In the first book we definitely see the way that Edward, Soledad’s husband, neglects her and seems uninvolved in the lives of their three daughters.
This book starts with a closer look at their relationship, while we also meet Judah, divorced father of two ND boys. Judah has a mature and loving coparenting relationship with his ex-wife and it is a joy to see them remain friends and prioritize the well-being of their kids.
I won’t spoil anything here except to say I felt really seen and validated in Soledad’s journey to loving herself. I recognize that as a white woman I haven’t had to face the racism, structural barriers, and microagressions that Soledad has. Nor experienced the cruelty and duplicity she has. But her experience of feeling invisible and starved for touch…well, let’s just say those resonated.
One of the most powerful quotes I have read lately: “I’ve come to realize that a woman who wants more and realizes she deserves it is a dangerous thing.”
This book has also inspired me to return to a book that was really pivotal to my thinking twenty years ago - bell hooks’ All About Love. I can’t wait to see how it echoes differently across my life now.
And I think I may get a tattoo of one of the chapter epilogues: “I am out with lanterns looking for myself” - Emily Dickinson 💕
Like Before I Let Go, this is a slow burn. But once the spice hits, it is joyful. 🌶️🌶️
And it is a gorgeously diverse book - racial diversity, sexual diversity, neurodiversity.
Overall, a beautiful read. I am so glad that I picked up a copy at SteamyLitCon and got it signed by Kennedy Ryan. Who was so nice and blew me away when she told me that it is actually her on social media. She’s always out liking posts and commenting! 👑
Six out of five stars! I *CANNOT WAIT* for Hendrix’s book.
This book starts with a closer look at their relationship, while we also meet Judah, divorced father of two ND boys. Judah has a mature and loving coparenting relationship with his ex-wife and it is a joy to see them remain friends and prioritize the well-being of their kids.
I won’t spoil anything here except to say I felt really seen and validated in Soledad’s journey to loving herself. I recognize that as a white woman I haven’t had to face the racism, structural barriers, and microagressions that Soledad has. Nor experienced the cruelty and duplicity she has. But her experience of feeling invisible and starved for touch…well, let’s just say those resonated.
One of the most powerful quotes I have read lately: “I’ve come to realize that a woman who wants more and realizes she deserves it is a dangerous thing.”
This book has also inspired me to return to a book that was really pivotal to my thinking twenty years ago - bell hooks’ All About Love. I can’t wait to see how it echoes differently across my life now.
And I think I may get a tattoo of one of the chapter epilogues: “I am out with lanterns looking for myself” - Emily Dickinson 💕
Like Before I Let Go, this is a slow burn. But once the spice hits, it is joyful. 🌶️🌶️
And it is a gorgeously diverse book - racial diversity, sexual diversity, neurodiversity.
Overall, a beautiful read. I am so glad that I picked up a copy at SteamyLitCon and got it signed by Kennedy Ryan. Who was so nice and blew me away when she told me that it is actually her on social media. She’s always out liking posts and commenting! 👑
Six out of five stars! I *CANNOT WAIT* for Hendrix’s book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Priest by Sierra Simone
challenging
dark
hopeful
reflective
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
4.0
Wow this was 🔥🔥🔥. A former Dom who is now a priest and a former stripper who enters his confessional. I am sure you can imagine where this is going…
Obviously the taboo romance elements and spice are 👩🏻🍳💋. I give it 4 1/2 🌶️. Though I almost DNF’d because the self recrimination at the beginning was…a lot.
But that is not the most interesting thing about this book.
I was baptized Catholic though never practiced, and later baptized again in a non-denominational Christian church. I do not currently identify as Christian and though I recognize certain spiritual elements to my life, they are more tied to nature and community.
And we all know there are plenty of bad things about the Catholic Church, many of which figure into the plot of this novel. But I have to say that the way that the author writes about Catholicism, reconciliation, ritual, and the presence of capital G God, is really quite beautiful.
Obviously the taboo romance elements and spice are 👩🏻🍳💋. I give it 4 1/2 🌶️. Though I almost DNF’d because the self recrimination at the beginning was…a lot.
But that is not the most interesting thing about this book.
I was baptized Catholic though never practiced, and later baptized again in a non-denominational Christian church. I do not currently identify as Christian and though I recognize certain spiritual elements to my life, they are more tied to nature and community.
And we all know there are plenty of bad things about the Catholic Church, many of which figure into the plot of this novel. But I have to say that the way that the author writes about Catholicism, reconciliation, ritual, and the presence of capital G God, is really quite beautiful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide and Alcohol
Moderate: Child abuse, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault
Minor: Toxic relationship and Stalking
A Caribbean Heiress in Paris by Adriana Herrera
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Luz and Evan 😍 Their chemistry and banter were so much fun! Fake marriage - one of my favorite tropes. And there is more than one my woman / my wife moment. 🫠
Luz is a firecracker and I want to hang out with her and the other Leonas. Evan is so swoony in the way he supports her but also lets her shine. He was such a goner from the moment they met ☺️
It is an open door romance though the spicy scenes are not super detailed. And there are many swoony moments. 🌶️🌶️🌶️
I love the world established by this book and can’t wait to read about the other Leonas finding love. Herrera wove in a love letter to Latine art, music, and fashion in the book.
And there are multiple kinds of diverse representation- racial and sexual and body type.
Overall this was a fast and fun read and I look forward to reading the rest of the series. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Luz is a firecracker and I want to hang out with her and the other Leonas. Evan is so swoony in the way he supports her but also lets her shine. He was such a goner from the moment they met ☺️
It is an open door romance though the spicy scenes are not super detailed. And there are many swoony moments. 🌶️🌶️🌶️
I love the world established by this book and can’t wait to read about the other Leonas finding love. Herrera wove in a love letter to Latine art, music, and fashion in the book.
And there are multiple kinds of diverse representation- racial and sexual and body type.
Overall this was a fast and fun read and I look forward to reading the rest of the series. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Cursed Wolf by Angelica Aquiles
Did not finish book. Stopped at 30%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 30%.
The FMC lost all common sense between book 1 and 2. I just cannot.
Five Broken Blades by Mai Corland
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
5.0
Loved this book. There are a lot of characters to start out and it takes a while to learn to tell them apart. Lots of twists I did not see coming. Sooooooo swoony. 6 out of 5 sparkling hearts 💖 Racial diversity is complicated because all characters are presumably Korean so not racially diverse per se but underrepresented in fantasy and the Korean American author is also underrepresented- so in the spirit of the question that challenges normative representation- yes, it is diverse. There is also an MM queer couple.
Marked Wolf by Angelica Aquiles
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
A fun and fast paranormal why choose read, featuring a Latina FMC. The pacing is good and the writing is fairly fluid. Not much in the way of world building. Too much telling instead of showing, so the spicy scenes fall a bit flat. Ends on a huge cliffhanger. I will start the next book immediately. 🌶️🌶️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Violence, Kidnapping, and Gaslighting
Sinner's Isle by Angela Montoya
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Totally cute YA fantasy read, with diverse characters and swoony romance. Will read the next in the series. 💖💖💖
Seducing Charlotte by Diana Quincy
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
🌶️🌶️
“His prodigious male appendage” 😂
“His prodigious male appendage” 😂
Wrath's Daughter: A Dark Urban Fantasy by Anissa Cosby, A.E. Cosby
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
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
4.5
This is the follow up to The Chaos Wielder, book two out of four in the chaos series.
In Wrath’s Daughter, we return to characters from the first book, learn more about characters who were secondary in the first book, and meet some new characters as well. It starts to feel less like Xavia is the main character and more like this is an ensemble cast. With the ensemble split across three different locations, it takes a while for the plot to get moving. But when it does, both the action and the spice are plentiful! There are twists and turns and surprise reveals that definitely kept me on my toes.
Of course, I still love Xavia, Aurelio, and Quade. But Tristan and Styx are my new favorites. Especially Tristan. 🥶🐺🥵🤟🏻🎸 He is so sweet with Styx. And I do love a golden retriever who can get a bit k-!nky!They had me going with that wolf death at the end. So glad my Tris made it out alive!
The author writes some really dynamic spicy scenes, especially when more than two people are involved. Consent and safe 🐝DSM practices are foregrounded, which elevates the heat IMO. 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
As with book one, there is a lot of diverse representation. Most of the characters are people of the global majority (i.e. not white). The sexual diversity and gender diversity from the first book are amplified, as is the disability representation. The way Xavia’s DID and Tristan’s deafness are portrayed reflects the research and care that the author puts into her work.
As with her other works, Cosby weaves her playlist throughout the novel, footnoting song selections to go with certain scenes. The reading experience becomes that much more immersive with the soundtrack to accompany the action and spice!
Overall, it took a little while to lay all of the groundwork, so it felt a little slow to start. But the second half really takes off and the entire book is full of spicy and action goodness. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 / 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
In Wrath’s Daughter, we return to characters from the first book, learn more about characters who were secondary in the first book, and meet some new characters as well. It starts to feel less like Xavia is the main character and more like this is an ensemble cast. With the ensemble split across three different locations, it takes a while for the plot to get moving. But when it does, both the action and the spice are plentiful! There are twists and turns and surprise reveals that definitely kept me on my toes.
Of course, I still love Xavia, Aurelio, and Quade. But Tristan and Styx are my new favorites. Especially Tristan. 🥶🐺🥵🤟🏻🎸 He is so sweet with Styx. And I do love a golden retriever who can get a bit k-!nky!
The author writes some really dynamic spicy scenes, especially when more than two people are involved. Consent and safe 🐝DSM practices are foregrounded, which elevates the heat IMO. 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
As with book one, there is a lot of diverse representation. Most of the characters are people of the global majority (i.e. not white). The sexual diversity and gender diversity from the first book are amplified, as is the disability representation. The way Xavia’s DID and Tristan’s deafness are portrayed reflects the research and care that the author puts into her work.
As with her other works, Cosby weaves her playlist throughout the novel, footnoting song selections to go with certain scenes. The reading experience becomes that much more immersive with the soundtrack to accompany the action and spice!
Overall, it took a little while to lay all of the groundwork, so it felt a little slow to start. But the second half really takes off and the entire book is full of spicy and action goodness. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 / 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️