steca2's reviews
136 reviews

Fire & Frenzy by Emma Slate

dark funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I really enjoyed this one! I was a little worried because of the trigger warnings for attempted rape and violence against women - especially since I don’t believe the other books had TW when I read them — but honestly the way the author wrote it was fairly and not triggering, especially compared to the violence in Linden/Boxer’s book. I felt like she could have explored Knox’s domestic abuse and violence a little bit more, it felt like the author was maybe a little scared to dive into and explore the psychological impacts of Logan leaving a DV relationship. BUT I much rather her write something a little too surface level than end up writing something that poorly portrays a victimized group. 

I will say I really enjoyed Logan and Smokes love story because it felt fairly realistic. They addressed the instalove, the age difference, and the potential repercussions of which I liked. The only parts I didn’t love is that that the overarching timeline feels really off (like seriously, how long is Brooklyn going to be pregnant??) and I ended up just having to ignore all of it.

And the story kept referencing Sutton and Viper trying to get pregnant and I have NO recollection of that plot point in their book… it kept pulling me out of the story bc I kept being reminded how little I remembered from that book.

Also it’s important to note that while there were a lot of spicy scenes, the scenes were written fairly mild all things considered. I really loved Smoke and Logan — and Logan’s family and Tavy! - and I hope we see more of them in future books. Would love to see maybe a novella of Chase and Rachel reuniting, a second chance romance maybe? I can’t wait to read the next book in May and see what’s in store for Bones! 
I do worry how many more books will be in this series — and tbh I hope she never stops writing in this world bc I’m kind of obsessed (and with so many kids, she can easily do a next gen spin off)  — but now without the cartel, I wonder what the overarching conflict/“Big Bad” will be in the series? 
 

Pucking Ever After: Volume 1 by Emily Rath

funny lighthearted fast-paced

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

4.0

Such a cute, fluffy and spicy HEA novella!

Pucking Around by Emily Rath

funny 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

4.25

I was not expecting to love this book as much as I did but wow, so good! Literally found myself giggling and kicking my feet at times. I was surprisingly ok with the  instalove for Jake and Rachel — probably because I read the prequel and got it — but Mars

proposing felt a little too instalove and that’s where the need for longer timelines really came into play.

My only complaint are timelines and ages. I definitely aged Rachel up to 29/early 30s to make it more realistic. And timeline wise,

I made like her time with Mars between cincy and the beach trip to be like 2 weeks instead of 6 days and her time in LA without the boys 2 weeks and not 4 days… bc everything the men did was not feasible in that short of time. 

 

That One Night by Emily Rath

funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

3.0

(Very) spicy and fun little novella! 

Dead Lift by Kris Butler

medium-paced

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

2.0

Snow Place Like LA by Julie Murphy, Sierra Simone

lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.0

Such a sweet (and spicy) Christmas novella! I definitely aged them both up in my head but other than that, such a a cute book!

Shadow Princess by Susanne Valenti, Caroline Peckham

emotional funny mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.75

This could have been my favorite of the series but there were WAY too much going on and too many overlapping plot points. It really should have been two books.

Like this book could have focused on the phoenix and discovering the darkness stuff and then the next could have been more focused on Clara and the Seth’s blackmail + twins’ estrangement.

The other books took me 2-3 days but this one took me a full week and I even considered reading something else at the 85% mark because I was just sick of what I thought was the conflict.

And Darius and Tory’s Devine Moment happening in this book was WAY too rushed. It should have been in later books.

The Reckoning by Susanne Valenti, Caroline Peckham

funny tense 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? Yes

4.0

The entire book takes place over the course of a week… and wow, was that one hell of a week! 

Ruthless Fae by Susanne Valenti, Caroline Peckham

funny 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? No

4.0

Significantly better than the first book! I appreciated having Darius POV. Very confused by Pittball but I understand the magic system now for sure. 

The Awakening by Susanne Valenti, Caroline Peckham

funny mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.75

I really enjoyed the plot and the characters but the editing errors were BEYOND frustrating. Grammar was all over the place (if I have to read one more “Darcy and I” when it should be “Darcy and me” I may scream) and it’s so clear that the authors are British and have never been to Chicago.