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theaclaire's reviews
105 reviews
Ensnared by Rebecca Quinn
5.0
This book had no business being this fabulous as a debut novel, but Rebecca Quinn đź‘Ź brought đź‘Ź it.
RH/Why choose is not for everyone, but even my friends who don’t read RH are loving the character dynamic between Eden and the Brutes of Bristlebrook.
This author spends her time letting you get to know each of these men, with how vastly different they are, while still allowing our FMC to shine.
Thankful that she also handled some of the more complicated spicy scenes with correct information and healthy boundaries, which isn’t always the case.
10/10 recommend, can’t wait for book 2!
*Thanks to this author for sharing this book with me for free in exchange for my honest review.*
RH/Why choose is not for everyone, but even my friends who don’t read RH are loving the character dynamic between Eden and the Brutes of Bristlebrook.
This author spends her time letting you get to know each of these men, with how vastly different they are, while still allowing our FMC to shine.
Thankful that she also handled some of the more complicated spicy scenes with correct information and healthy boundaries, which isn’t always the case.
10/10 recommend, can’t wait for book 2!
*Thanks to this author for sharing this book with me for free in exchange for my honest review.*
Where Broken Wings Fly by J. Rose
4.0
This book has a little bit of everything:
- Small town charm
- Found family
- Single mom
- Hot mountain men
- Grumpy sunshine
- Twins
- Why choose?
I was absolutely not expecting to love t this small town romance but the second I read Wales and Killian’s grump - SOLD.
This book is not for those easily triggered by DV, SA or any other physical hurting experiences. It is chock-full of detailed depictions of those in the first few chapters and I highly recommend anyone with those triggers avoid reading this.
If you’ve made it through those - welcome to trauma recovery, party of Willow and Micah. And the way this author handled those experiences with such understanding and deep honesty was truly refreshing.
The spice in this was oh so sweet, and if it weren’t for the occasional multi partner scenes, the spice level would read more like a typical small town romance. The abnormality that typically comes with why choose is very quickly discarded as acceptable in Briar Valley.
If you’re looking for a juicy read with drama, great characters and dudes stepping in to be a father figure to a sassy little girl - this is your book.
Thanks to this author for sharing a free copy in exchange for my honest review.
- Small town charm
- Found family
- Single mom
- Hot mountain men
- Grumpy sunshine
- Twins
- Why choose?
I was absolutely not expecting to love t this small town romance but the second I read Wales and Killian’s grump - SOLD.
This book is not for those easily triggered by DV, SA or any other physical hurting experiences. It is chock-full of detailed depictions of those in the first few chapters and I highly recommend anyone with those triggers avoid reading this.
If you’ve made it through those - welcome to trauma recovery, party of Willow and Micah. And the way this author handled those experiences with such understanding and deep honesty was truly refreshing.
The spice in this was oh so sweet, and if it weren’t for the occasional multi partner scenes, the spice level would read more like a typical small town romance. The abnormality that typically comes with why choose is very quickly discarded as acceptable in Briar Valley.
If you’re looking for a juicy read with drama, great characters and dudes stepping in to be a father figure to a sassy little girl - this is your book.
Thanks to this author for sharing a free copy in exchange for my honest review.
The Modern Girl's Guide to Magic by Linsey Hall
3.5
Very cute start to this new series from Linsey Hall! This book screams Ready Player One meets Sabrina the Teenage Witch (the O.G., not the dark Netflix version).
We all love a bumbling, uncomfy-in-her-own-skin FMC, and that’s definitely what this book gave us in the first few pages, no questions asked. Aria was funny, self-deprecating and aware of her limitations, sometimes to the reader’s detriment.
On the flip side, I felt like I barely knew Callan, our MMC, outside of his ambition and attempts to live up to the expectations/dreams of his father, a ruthless businessman.
Aria and Callan’s relationship formed super quickly for my taste, and I struggled rooting for them when it felt like they didn’t know each other at all.
Is one full star for Boris the Badger? Yes, yes it is. Overall, I enjoyed reading this, but am unlikely to pick up further books in this series.
Thank you, Netgalley, Linsey Hall, and Bonnie Doon Press for the ARC
We all love a bumbling, uncomfy-in-her-own-skin FMC, and that’s definitely what this book gave us in the first few pages, no questions asked. Aria was funny, self-deprecating and aware of her limitations, sometimes to the reader’s detriment.
On the flip side, I felt like I barely knew Callan, our MMC, outside of his ambition and attempts to live up to the expectations/dreams of his father, a ruthless businessman.
Aria and Callan’s relationship formed super quickly for my taste, and I struggled rooting for them when it felt like they didn’t know each other at all.
Is one full star for Boris the Badger? Yes, yes it is. Overall, I enjoyed reading this, but am unlikely to pick up further books in this series.
Thank you, Netgalley, Linsey Hall, and Bonnie Doon Press for the ARC
Stinger by Mia Sheridan
dark
emotional
fast-paced
4.5
If you’d seen the texts I sent during the first half of this book, you would probably assume that I’d DNF’ed. But at about 50% my commentary went from eek to EEK.
I was 100% down for this plot line - male adult film performer finds love with an uptight(ish) woman while in Vegas for a weekend? Sold. But the thing that kept this from being a 5 star read for me, even after it all, was the writing.
It’s been ten years since this was written, and somehow there are moments of the writing that still made me cringe. Maybe I’m just being particular. But truly, it was a little distracting.
This book was filled with plot twist after plot twist that had me screaming, snorting, lots of other feels that had my dogs concerned. And the steamy scenes were just as dazzling as the rest of the storyline. I was reminded of the actual plot parts of Haunting Adeline that were, IMHO, the only redeeming moments in that book. This one had them in spades, with a character I didn’t want to see behind bars.
I’m thankful I stuck it out to see Carson and Grace’s story through, because they are adorable.
Thank you, Netgalley, Mia Sheridan, and Bloom Books for the ARC
I was 100% down for this plot line - male adult film performer finds love with an uptight(ish) woman while in Vegas for a weekend? Sold. But the thing that kept this from being a 5 star read for me, even after it all, was the writing.
It’s been ten years since this was written, and somehow there are moments of the writing that still made me cringe. Maybe I’m just being particular. But truly, it was a little distracting.
This book was filled with plot twist after plot twist that had me screaming, snorting, lots of other feels that had my dogs concerned. And the steamy scenes were just as dazzling as the rest of the storyline. I was reminded of the actual plot parts of Haunting Adeline that were, IMHO, the only redeeming moments in that book. This one had them in spades, with a character I didn’t want to see behind bars.
I’m thankful I stuck it out to see Carson and Grace’s story through, because they are adorable.
Thank you, Netgalley, Mia Sheridan, and Bloom Books for the ARC
Love ad Lib by Evie Alexander
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
5.0
The way this book made my heart soar. Y’all. I can’t.
I’ve been looking forward to this ARC for so long and the wait absolutely paid off. EXTREME grumpy sunshine? ✅ Jane Austen references out the wazoo? ✅ One bed trope and inevitable steam that comes with it? ✅✅✅
This is not a cutesy closed-door bookish FMC read. This is “I effing hate this guy but also I really want them to make beautiful beautiful babies together.” Read at your own risk. (Spoiler - worth it.)
FMC was so fun, as someone with an improv background I loved how being so quick on her toes helped in all of the sticky situations they ended up in. MMC was a lug that made me want to throw things but in a Darcy kind of way.
So so so enjoyed this fun read!
Thank you to Evie for an advanced copy of this book!
I’ve been looking forward to this ARC for so long and the wait absolutely paid off. EXTREME grumpy sunshine? ✅ Jane Austen references out the wazoo? ✅ One bed trope and inevitable steam that comes with it? ✅✅✅
This is not a cutesy closed-door bookish FMC read. This is “I effing hate this guy but also I really want them to make beautiful beautiful babies together.” Read at your own risk. (Spoiler - worth it.)
FMC was so fun, as someone with an improv background I loved how being so quick on her toes helped in all of the sticky situations they ended up in. MMC was a lug that made me want to throw things but in a Darcy kind of way.
So so so enjoyed this fun read!
Thank you to Evie for an advanced copy of this book!
Garden of the Cursed by Katy Rose Pool
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
4.0
Had so much fun with this YA fantasy!
Pool does an incredible job worldbuilding, and while it was a little much to get through the first few chapters, the rest was a blast and so well paced.
Our two leads have beautiful chemistry, despite the FMC's hesitation towards our MMC, but I'm a sucker for enemies-to-lovers.
The curse breaking/fantasy aspect of this gave some ACOTAR vibes that I was totally here for.
Overall, a fun read, looking forward to book 2!
Pool does an incredible job worldbuilding, and while it was a little much to get through the first few chapters, the rest was a blast and so well paced.
Our two leads have beautiful chemistry, despite the FMC's hesitation towards our MMC, but I'm a sucker for enemies-to-lovers.
The curse breaking/fantasy aspect of this gave some ACOTAR vibes that I was totally here for.
Overall, a fun read, looking forward to book 2!
Crushes, Friends, & Us by Willa Drew
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
5.0
A Gorgeous Villain by Saffron A. Kent
dark
emotional
medium-paced
4.0
As the second book in this series, this read still brings all the heat of Book 1 with characters already familiar to us.
Our leading couple go through so many different phases of their relationship and each one is handled with depth and caring.
Callie is a fun, relatable FMC, and I enjoyed seeing this from the other perspective rather than Callie’s from the prequel.
Our leading couple go through so many different phases of their relationship and each one is handled with depth and caring.
Callie is a fun, relatable FMC, and I enjoyed seeing this from the other perspective rather than Callie’s from the prequel.
Twisted Hate by Ana Huang
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0