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the_rabble's reviews
137 reviews
A Jingle Bell Mingle by Sierra Simone, Julie Murphy
4.75
Jotting notes before I forget -
First person past tense, 2 POVs, book ended with 3rd person past tense Teddy chapters, very spicy, characters in their 30s
Super cute
Deals with mourning, death, change, grief in the most realistic way I've seen in a long time.
Plot ruled. There was no character back tracking and Sunny remained an emotionally intelligent wildcard.
Angel Throuples, ftw - I want that screenplay in the world
Cameos from the other books were cute and felt appropriately full circle
Shout out for realistic adult sibling drama and resolution
Narrators slapped. Joy Reid is reliably fucking awesome. Zachary Webber embodies sad boy Isaac perfectly. His prose reads killed.
First person past tense, 2 POVs, book ended with 3rd person past tense Teddy chapters, very spicy, characters in their 30s
Super cute
Deals with mourning, death, change, grief in the most realistic way I've seen in a long time.
Plot ruled. There was no character back tracking and Sunny remained an emotionally intelligent wildcard.
Cameos from the other books were cute and felt appropriately full circle
Shout out for realistic adult sibling drama and resolution
Narrators slapped. Joy Reid is reliably fucking awesome. Zachary Webber embodies sad boy Isaac perfectly. His prose reads killed.
The Scot Beds His Wife by Kerrigan Byrne
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
An American gunslinger and a Scottish rake fight over land- shootouts and smooches ensue.
Easily the best Kerrigan Byrne book I've picked up. Our boy Gavin St. James from The Highlander is not chill and we do get a lot of that internal "I'm a sociopathic bastard who can't love" stuff Byrne always adds to her men. However, it feels more textured and less habitual in this one.
Our other protagonist, Sam, rules. I haven't had a great time with American love interests in historic UK settings, but Sam broke the streak. Something about a gunslinging, train robbing wrangler really played in this setting. [~30% in]Also, she adopts two gay dads and a hermit almost immediately and that fucking ruled.
Her personality may also just be the type it feels more rewarding to put up against the type of men Byrne likes to write.
Pacing isn't perfect, but the plot stays interesting all the way through.
2 main POVs, 1 side character vignette that may be the best romance scene of Byrne's I've read, MCs are 24 and ambiguously in his 30s, spicy, 3rd person past tense, 1880s, Scotland & briefly Wyoming, rivals to lovers, found family
Narrator: Derek Perkins' performanc is good. I had a littlw trepidation about the western American accent alongside the British, Scottish, and Irish accents and it was pretty great. No random twang (would have been wild for a Nevadan) or mispronounced words (with one exception we all knew was coming bc Americans also fuck it up- le sigh to "Oregon.")
Worth noting he's a bassy masc performer with a solid femme range.
Easily the best Kerrigan Byrne book I've picked up. Our boy Gavin St. James from The Highlander is not chill and we do get a lot of that internal "I'm a sociopathic bastard who can't love" stuff Byrne always adds to her men. However, it feels more textured and less habitual in this one.
Our other protagonist, Sam, rules. I haven't had a great time with American love interests in historic UK settings, but Sam broke the streak. Something about a gunslinging, train robbing wrangler really played in this setting. [~30% in]
Her personality may also just be the type it feels more rewarding to put up against the type of men Byrne likes to write.
Pacing isn't perfect, but the plot stays interesting all the way through.
2 main POVs, 1 side character vignette that may be the best romance scene of Byrne's I've read, MCs are 24 and ambiguously in his 30s, spicy, 3rd person past tense, 1880s, Scotland & briefly Wyoming, rivals to lovers, found family
Narrator: Derek Perkins' performanc is good. I had a littlw trepidation about the western American accent alongside the British, Scottish, and Irish accents and it was pretty great. No random twang (would have been wild for a Nevadan) or mispronounced words (with one exception we all knew was coming bc Americans also fuck it up- le sigh to "Oregon.")
Worth noting he's a bassy masc performer with a solid femme range.
Aurelia by Minerva Spencer
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Science artist is employed by interesting looking naturalist to live in a island castle and draw Florida Man's natural habitat.
2 POV, 3rd person past tense, some mid scene hand offs, romance, spicy, MCs are 25 & 40 (he's "almost 1 and 40" for like 8 months.) Story over the course of 5-9 months. Employer-employee, Scotland, 1800s, age gap.
Minerva Spencer is a good writer, so the prose is solid, but the plot on this one was a bit of a grind and the pacing was wonky.
I don't know if this didn't hit for me bc the age gap was both awkward (25 vs 40 with a 24 yo son) and like Spencer wrote them as the same age despite the gap ([70% in]Our dude gets jealous Aurelia has seen naked bodies before and 40 seems like an age to be over that in an SO.)
Both main characters are likeable and interesting- their relationship interacting with big plot developments on the back half of the book is where the pacing starts causing structure and vibe issues.
Narrator: Gabrielle Baker delivers consistent performances- while she isn't my flavor all the time, you know what you're getting. Her accent work in this is well done.
Overall, this is a fine mid series book, if not as fun as Hyacinth or Selina.
2 POV, 3rd person past tense, some mid scene hand offs, romance, spicy, MCs are 25 & 40 (he's "almost 1 and 40" for like 8 months.) Story over the course of 5-9 months. Employer-employee, Scotland, 1800s, age gap.
Minerva Spencer is a good writer, so the prose is solid, but the plot on this one was a bit of a grind and the pacing was wonky.
I don't know if this didn't hit for me bc the age gap was both awkward (25 vs 40 with a 24 yo son) and like Spencer wrote them as the same age despite the gap ([70% in]
Both main characters are likeable and interesting- their relationship interacting with big plot developments on the back half of the book is where the pacing starts causing structure and vibe issues.
Narrator: Gabrielle Baker delivers consistent performances- while she isn't my flavor all the time, you know what you're getting. Her accent work in this is well done.
Overall, this is a fine mid series book, if not as fun as Hyacinth or Selina.
Bloody Jack: Being an Account of the Curious Adventures of Mary "Jacky" Faber, Ship's Boy by L.A. Meyer
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Working class kid ends up on the streets then ends up on a boat. Crossdressing naval coming of age adventure!
Prose style is vernacular of the time and Jackie's class. 1st person past tense (though venacular includes present tense as past e.g. "I says to Liam...") single POV. Narrator is a kid. Plot driven coming of age.
Gets dark and pretty vivid about said dark things you would expect in extreme poverty in London and a child working in a naval military setting. (This might be more graphic than Master and Commander. Though, the nautical language is easier to pick up.)
Mary/Jackie is very likeable. And in between dark stuff she is just being a kid on a boat and gets into shenanigans. (Mad props for Meyers' writing onfirst periods and crushes. )
I laughed, I cried, and I have no idea how to categorize this book or who should read it.
Narrator: Katherine Kellgren is why I picked this book up and this is another great performance. She has some "Jackie is panicked" moments than can be a little rowdy, but I immediately checked out the next book.
Prose style is vernacular of the time and Jackie's class. 1st person past tense (though venacular includes present tense as past e.g. "I says to Liam...") single POV. Narrator is a kid. Plot driven coming of age.
Gets dark and pretty vivid about said dark things you would expect in extreme poverty in London and a child working in a naval military setting. (This might be more graphic than Master and Commander. Though, the nautical language is easier to pick up.)
Mary/Jackie is very likeable. And in between dark stuff she is just being a kid on a boat and gets into shenanigans. (Mad props for Meyers' writing on
I laughed, I cried, and I have no idea how to categorize this book or who should read it.
Narrator: Katherine Kellgren is why I picked this book up and this is another great performance. She has some "Jackie is panicked" moments than can be a little rowdy, but I immediately checked out the next book.
Maggie Moves On by Lucy Score
Did not finish book. Stopped at 51%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 51%.
Just didn't grab me. I'd give it another shot if I was looking for something particularly chill.
Scandal Wears Satin by Loretta Chase
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
She handles the dress shop's publicity and sales, he's an earl and a bit of a hot mess.
4 POVs- the 2 MCs and 2 subplot characters, MCs are 23 & 27, light spice, 1830s London, part roadtrip, part running a con
I really liked this one. It has one of my favorite ramp ups to a sex scene and my new favorite "I love you" declaration.
Sophie has a lot of Locke Lamora energy re: pretending to be other people. And Harry is just a guy stopping himself from punching things while helping his sister. He also very refreshingly owns his feelings and then acts kinda irrationally while calling out why. It's an excellent one-two punch.
4 POVs- the 2 MCs and 2 subplot characters, MCs are 23 & 27, light spice, 1830s London, part roadtrip, part running a con
I really liked this one. It has one of my favorite ramp ups to a sex scene and my new favorite "I love you" declaration.
Sophie has a lot of Locke Lamora energy re: pretending to be other people. And Harry is just a guy stopping himself from punching things while helping his sister. He also very refreshingly owns his feelings and then acts kinda irrationally while calling out why. It's an excellent one-two punch.
Silk Is for Seduction by Loretta Chase
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
Dress designer raised by scam artists pursues man-of-leisure duke to give him a hard pitch on dressing his long distance kinda sorta fiancé-to-be. He unexpectedly pursues her back.
3 POVs, 3rd person past tense, 1830s high society/fashion romance, Paris & London, medium-low spice, mole mystery subplot, MCs mid to late 20s.
Pacing can lag in the back half, but I burned through the first half. It has similar pacing vibes to Chase's A Duke in Shining Armor.
Our girl has some business boy energy- she's doing things "for business" because "it's just business" a lot. This usually rings true to character, but there's a few moments it's a little much.
Her background is super interesting and her relationship with her family is an excellent push-pull internal motivator.
Idk why I thought the Dressmakers series wouldn't be super fashiony, but for what it's worth, this book is super fashiony.
Our duke is pretty chill and Chase does a good job of showing someone's feelings and point of view without him necessarily having both hands around why he just did that thing.
Sex scenes - if you have an outfit kink or love an undressing scene, this is the one for you.
Narrator - it's a Kate Reading performance and she's so consistently solid you know what you're in for.
3 POVs, 3rd person past tense, 1830s high society/fashion romance, Paris & London, medium-low spice, mole mystery subplot, MCs mid to late 20s.
Pacing can lag in the back half, but I burned through the first half. It has similar pacing vibes to Chase's A Duke in Shining Armor.
Our girl has some business boy energy- she's doing things "for business" because "it's just business" a lot. This usually rings true to character, but there's a few moments it's a little much.
Her background is super interesting and her relationship with her family is an excellent push-pull internal motivator.
Idk why I thought the Dressmakers series wouldn't be super fashiony, but for what it's worth, this book is super fashiony.
Our duke is pretty chill and Chase does a good job of showing someone's feelings and point of view without him necessarily having both hands around why he just did that thing.
Sex scenes - if you have an outfit kink or love an undressing scene, this is the one for you.
Narrator - it's a Kate Reading performance and she's so consistently solid you know what you're in for.
The Devil in Her Bed by Kerrigan Byrne
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Love and vengeance! Spy vs vigilante.
This has a lot of "secret society from Maiden Lane's Duke of Sin" energy.
Byrne fucking nails a plot, but her style and pacing is rough. There's also a lot of "MAN IS JUST AN ANIMAL"/predatorpredatorpredator vibes. Emotional beats are there, but idk if she sticks the landing (ending is abrupt.)
Frank/Francesca rules. All of the Red Rogues have been compelling protagonists (with meh-ish dudes.) She is super cool and interesting... but with some unexpected yandere vibes. She has a fun relationship with the men her buddies love and I didn't expect that and would like to see more of it.
Kind of a backdoor redemption for Ramsey.
Chandler starts strong and gets a little muddled. My dude interupts like a sonuvabitch.
Byrne's been trying to write fight scenes for a while and finally nails some hand-to-hand scenes in this one.
2 POVs, 3rd person past tense, 1890s London, MCs are late 20s early 30s, spicy, action romance conspiracy
This has a lot of "secret society from Maiden Lane's Duke of Sin" energy.
Byrne fucking nails a plot, but her style and pacing is rough. There's also a lot of "MAN IS JUST AN ANIMAL"/predatorpredatorpredator vibes. Emotional beats are there, but idk if she sticks the landing (ending is abrupt.)
Frank/Francesca rules. All of the Red Rogues have been compelling protagonists (with meh-ish dudes.) She is super cool and interesting... but with some unexpected yandere vibes. She has a fun relationship with the men her buddies love and I didn't expect that and would like to see more of it.
Kind of a backdoor redemption for Ramsey.
Chandler starts strong and gets a little muddled. My dude interupts like a sonuvabitch.
Byrne's been trying to write fight scenes for a while and finally nails some hand-to-hand scenes in this one.
2 POVs, 3rd person past tense, 1890s London, MCs are late 20s early 30s, spicy, action romance conspiracy
Gentlemen Prefer Heiresses by Lorraine Heath
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
Man of leisure meets pretty heiress - he's a softboy, she's more than a pretty face.
Siblings of the main characters in the last book. I may have had more fun with this story.
Fun plot, lots of good emotional beats. Gina was a very fun POV in Scandalous Heiress and I'm glad she got her own story.
2 POVs, 3rd person past tense, novella, MCs are 19 and 21. Spicy.
Sex Scenes - really interesting and good use of sex scenes in this one. I forgot how rock solid Heath is for a sex scene, especially when it's a little different.
Siblings of the main characters in the last book. I may have had more fun with this story.
Fun plot, lots of good emotional beats. Gina was a very fun POV in Scandalous Heiress and I'm glad she got her own story.
2 POVs, 3rd person past tense, novella, MCs are 19 and 21. Spicy.
Sex Scenes - really interesting and good use of sex scenes in this one. I forgot how rock solid Heath is for a sex scene, especially when it's a little different.
All Scot and Bothered by Kerrigan Byrne
2.75
Mathematician inherits property that immediately puts her at odds with the judge who's spent the last year thirsting after her.
This is a tough one. One protagonist is the type of woman I want to spend a lot of time reading about (smart, kind, owns being soft, gets upset but stands her ground - total cinnamon roll) and the other - after being introduced as pretty normal in other parts of the series - just fully hates women and the poors. It's a real hot and cold experience.
Interesting plot, romance beats are well paced- it's really just hard to believe this guy wouldn't go full incel. He's got so many red flags. 🤣 [ending]Including "You're not like other women," and "well now that I have a daughter I support women's education." He's likeable when he's not monologuing like a member of the Proud Boys who just saw someone knitting something pink. It can be a lot.
On the other hand the plot includes code breaking, mole hunting, and murder attempts. So there's stuff to get interested in.
Sex Scenes - these felt a little weird. The action beats were fine and pretty basic, but there was a lot of "savage warrior Scot" language that felt very fetishizing of someone's heritage in a way that came out of nowhere. I kinda spaced out until it became less "predator" "savage" "brut" "Scottish warrior."
Narrator - Derek Perkins has a solid performance. There's a lot of accent switching in this one- including an American- and he does a good job.
This is a tough one. One protagonist is the type of woman I want to spend a lot of time reading about (smart, kind, owns being soft, gets upset but stands her ground - total cinnamon roll) and the other - after being introduced as pretty normal in other parts of the series - just fully hates women and the poors. It's a real hot and cold experience.
Interesting plot, romance beats are well paced- it's really just hard to believe this guy wouldn't go full incel. He's got so many red flags. 🤣 [ending]
On the other hand the plot includes code breaking, mole hunting, and murder attempts. So there's stuff to get interested in.
Sex Scenes - these felt a little weird. The action beats were fine and pretty basic, but there was a lot of "savage warrior Scot" language that felt very fetishizing of someone's heritage in a way that came out of nowhere. I kinda spaced out until it became less "predator" "savage" "brut" "Scottish warrior."
Narrator - Derek Perkins has a solid performance. There's a lot of accent switching in this one- including an American- and he does a good job.