taliabasma's reviews
843 reviews

Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night by Kresley Cole

adventurous funny mysterious reflective relaxing 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

4.0

Mari is amazing and I loved how much Bowen shoved his foot in his mouth but because we get his POV we know he doesn’t mean the things he says the way he says them (can’t get that in real life with a man 🥲) 

That said I almost gave this book a 3.75 because the ending

with her self-enthrallment and some of the other witch stuff was just straight up confusing? I think more context/explaining would have been a tad helpful.

 

I will say it took *finishing* the book to retroactively piece together some of the magic logic. But the way Nix’s predictions played out were 10000% delicious

and made Bower’s grief so much more understandable. Eff Mariah for enchanting him just to run away from him 😭

so that is why I ended up giving 4 stars. 

Cross the Line by Simone Soltani

hopeful lighthearted relaxing medium-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

3.75

The FML was cute and fiery. The ML is swoony sweet. 

I really liked how the brothers reaction played out in terms of the drama. It was a four until the very odd choice of epilogue lol theoretically this epilogue is “realistic” and HEA but why the eff did three people need to be hospitalized WITH less than 5% of the book left 😩 truly a poor choice for a romance I got whiplash pun intended

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual content, Car accident, and Gaslighting

Ruthless Creatures by J.T. Geissinger

2.5

I just don’t know how or why but this has been the worst one of the series so far so it’s good I didn’t read it first. It was just soooo boring? I only read it for the “mystery” of her ex-fiancé but I was tapped out probably 30-40% in and just sped it up and skipped the very ridiculous to read spice scenes lol

The Viscount Made Me Do It by Diana Quincy

inspiring lighthearted mysterious relaxing 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? Yes

4.0

I KNEW HOW IT WOULD END but that said I was HOOKED and literally stayed up until 4 am to finish it lool 

It was really entertaining but I think some parts or it read a bit awkwardly? Idk how to describe it but again super good read and I think I’m officially a Quincy reader/fan but I wouldn’t reread this probably. 

No Rest for the Wicked by Kresley Cole

adventurous 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

4.0

ML was lovable and FL was a solid mix of boss and softie. I did like how he would flit around after her and “save her” but she is still her own savior in her own right. 

The ending was kinddda predictable but I did like the way it played out. I am glad Bowen has his own book bc I was feeling maddddd sad for him honestly lol

Idk if Cole really meant this but the book does pose an interesting question around how many people have experienced loss they wish to reverse and is it right for only one or two people to “reverse” their loss? 

The Au Pair Affair by Tessa Bailey

hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-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

3.0

Eh I like them as a couple but also wasn’t invested as much as I could have been I think the climax really didn’t do this couple / story justice 

The Marquess Makes His Move by Diana Quincy

funny lighthearted reflective relaxing 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

My first official Diana Quincy and ahhhhh wow 

The little Arab references (not the insults) were soooo cute and made me feel so seen. 

I also loved Rose’s general story and personality. I was HOOKED once she visited the shop on a not Wednesday (iykyk).

Roger can rot and Brandon/Alex was a stellar 10/10 book boyfriend. 

The Pussy Next Door by Amy Award

hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing slow-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

2.75

I really liked Willow and I also think Hayes is a great partner for her. That being said, I think around the 70% mark I was very disappointed by the very dragged out ending. Without spoilers, I will say the plot just went from being a small town romance to eat pray, love energy.

For those of you that don’t mind spoilers I just feel like the trip to Japan while conceptually I understood the messaging around. It was unnecessary and felt very random. It completely skewed the pacing all for the café to not even matter within a couple chapters and we went from Willow being someone who is a spirited person, but in the town for the most part, not really mentioning wanting to leave as much to it being this whole conversation group oiler>
 about what they need to do as a couple to be happy and who needs to sacrifice their dreams or their goals and I don’t understand why it was such a Dramatic presentation. I feel like the message was true. I agree with the concept that a  partner shouldn’t sacrifice for the other but rather come to a healthy compromise — but the Socratic seminar set up of the scene, just felt very preachy as opposed to part of the novel’s plot and honestly, I think everything just went down downhill after the trip to Japan. It just felt very, very specific to what the author wanted as opposed to what felt natural to the scenes and energy of the books, starting set up.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse and Gaslighting

Cocoa Kisses by Melanie Jacobson
Did not finish book. Stopped at 38%.

Hmm it’s a novella and it’s not bad but it’s dragging to me rn lol

The Ex Vows by Jessica Joyce

4.0

I was really into it but I reached the climax and it was GOOD but the *after* of the climax dragged a bit for me with all these “time jumps”. 

I think the way the ML loves the FL and the way the FL has to become more willing to be vulnerable was all beautiful and realistic 🩵