Scan barcode
thebritishbibliophile's reviews
711 reviews
Broken Playboy by Laura Lee
4.0
A youthful tale of loss, heartache/heartbreak, addiction and a battle of wilful inner and emotional strength
Thank you to Grey's Promotions for the advanced readers ebook copy for me to read and review. This is my first time reading Laura Lee, so I'm leaving this review in full honesty for the author and her work here in this novel.
*Warning* - This review will contain subtle spoilers. I have purposely left it until release day (today) to leave an honest review which might contain minor spoilers. If you have yet to read The Broken Playboy and wish to not have anything revealed, please turn away from this review now :)
--------------------------
Broken Playboy centred around Bentley 'Bent' Fitzgerald, and the issues he is now living wit based on past decisions, actions and their lingering mental consequences. Bentley's character is one that reflects many a young person in today's society, as well as those who are struggling who are not young. His character is one that showed to myself at least, for young men and men in general, that it is okay to show and express vulnerability and to seek help if needed. This is seen in the latter end of the novel and I applaud Laura for writing a character where this shift in perspective--away from the typical alpha-male written in novels--, giving us a relatable, realistic character that we can champion in the hopes that all will finally workout for them. Someone we can cheer on.
Broken Playboy focuses on many difficult topics in which we have either been through ourselves, have known someone to go through or are aware of. We will all respond and feel differently towards each topic, as I myself have done. Light bullying is a theme woven throughout the novel--usually towards the heroine, Sydney--, something I can relate to having been bullied in school myself. This is usually a sensitive topic for me, but I was happy with how Laura has broached this area and how it has been executed in the story. Namely, how in the end how Sydney is not beaten down by the bullies and how she has risen above their antics to display a show of inner and outer strength, while not letting the trauma of the bullying rule her life. I truly loved this part!
Bentley and Sydney aside, we journey through this novel with a plethora of supporting characters which for a novel based in and around a school environment, was not unexpected. Laura has managed to capture the essence of the kinds of people we went to school with and knew of. Quite literally, the school hierarchy and everyone around it. It has been almost a decade since I left school, and I was surprised to see so many familiar personalty types I used to be so familiar with. It seems that no matter where we are in the world, each school has someone like Cameron, Jazz, Kingston, Ainsley, Zach, Reed and the gang.
If I had to pick fault among the amazingly written 'light dark romance' and second chance romance of the overall story, it would be the heavy use of drugs and various other substances. I feel that the same story could have been told and the trauma and addiction in it, through other means. I'm fully aware that this is often seen in society today among young people, but it was so heavy in this book that it almost felt like it was the central theme rather than the trauma Bentley carries with him. Having said that, the positive for me that comes out of this being used, is that there is a positive recovery and outcome. That isn't often shown or talked about, so I'm glad the recovery and help sought for it was written about.
Overall for my first Laura Lee read and read of this series, I enjoyed diving back into a genre that I haven't touched for almost ten years. I would certainly not object to reading more about Bentley and Sydney if there should happen to be a follow-up novel, or novella, in the future. I would love to see where the future takes these two on the next leg of their life together as a couple.
4/5 stars!
Thank you to Grey's Promotions for the advanced readers ebook copy for me to read and review. This is my first time reading Laura Lee, so I'm leaving this review in full honesty for the author and her work here in this novel.
*Warning* - This review will contain subtle spoilers. I have purposely left it until release day (today) to leave an honest review which might contain minor spoilers. If you have yet to read The Broken Playboy and wish to not have anything revealed, please turn away from this review now :)
--------------------------
Broken Playboy centred around Bentley 'Bent' Fitzgerald, and the issues he is now living wit based on past decisions, actions and their lingering mental consequences. Bentley's character is one that reflects many a young person in today's society, as well as those who are struggling who are not young. His character is one that showed to myself at least, for young men and men in general, that it is okay to show and express vulnerability and to seek help if needed. This is seen in the latter end of the novel and I applaud Laura for writing a character where this shift in perspective--away from the typical alpha-male written in novels--, giving us a relatable, realistic character that we can champion in the hopes that all will finally workout for them. Someone we can cheer on.
Broken Playboy focuses on many difficult topics in which we have either been through ourselves, have known someone to go through or are aware of. We will all respond and feel differently towards each topic, as I myself have done. Light bullying is a theme woven throughout the novel--usually towards the heroine, Sydney--, something I can relate to having been bullied in school myself. This is usually a sensitive topic for me, but I was happy with how Laura has broached this area and how it has been executed in the story. Namely, how in the end how Sydney is not beaten down by the bullies and how she has risen above their antics to display a show of inner and outer strength, while not letting the trauma of the bullying rule her life. I truly loved this part!
Bentley and Sydney aside, we journey through this novel with a plethora of supporting characters which for a novel based in and around a school environment, was not unexpected. Laura has managed to capture the essence of the kinds of people we went to school with and knew of. Quite literally, the school hierarchy and everyone around it. It has been almost a decade since I left school, and I was surprised to see so many familiar personalty types I used to be so familiar with. It seems that no matter where we are in the world, each school has someone like Cameron, Jazz, Kingston, Ainsley, Zach, Reed and the gang.
If I had to pick fault among the amazingly written 'light dark romance' and second chance romance of the overall story, it would be the heavy use of drugs and various other substances. I feel that the same story could have been told and the trauma and addiction in it, through other means. I'm fully aware that this is often seen in society today among young people, but it was so heavy in this book that it almost felt like it was the central theme rather than the trauma Bentley carries with him. Having said that, the positive for me that comes out of this being used, is that there is a positive recovery and outcome. That isn't often shown or talked about, so I'm glad the recovery and help sought for it was written about.
Overall for my first Laura Lee read and read of this series, I enjoyed diving back into a genre that I haven't touched for almost ten years. I would certainly not object to reading more about Bentley and Sydney if there should happen to be a follow-up novel, or novella, in the future. I would love to see where the future takes these two on the next leg of their life together as a couple.
4/5 stars!
Winning Mr. Wrong by C.W. Farnsworth
4.0
An interesting take on the modern-day concept of televisual dating, crossed with plenty of angst, time between the sheets and a promise at a happily ever after
Thank you to Greys Promotions for sending me an ebook Advanced Readers Copy for me to read and leave an honest review of.
---------------------------------------------------------------
As someone who is not a fan of any tv dating shows--specifically Love Island--I signed up to see just how C.W.Farnsworth could potentially change my mind in giving one of the many shows a chance after reading her story about two self-same people, who also share the same distain for reality dating shows. This novel promised so much via the blurbs and trope alone, it was time to dive in head first. Can Winning Mr. Wrong win me over? Read on to find out.
Considering how as a person--stepping out of my reader shoes for a second--I loathe dating shows for their lack of picking realistic female body types and shapes of different kinds, I have to give C.W. a pat on the back for simply including by description, women of said different types and kinds. I honestly wish this was the case for shows in the real world, where women of more than one bodyshape/type can be included on the same show, so the mere fact that inclusion was written into this story is a huge thumbs up from me. Two, if I have to be perfectly honest. It might have been only a brief mention, but I appreciate it and it has left a lasting impression on me for sure.
Another element I was grateful C.W. included in Winning Mr. Wrong, was the dashes of hilarious comedic moments scattered throughout. I found the moments that had me laughing out lout, snickering or snorting (so unladylike, I know!), helped me enjoy the story more than I would have done say if it was more entered to how I imagine the real life counterpart shows (Love Island-meets-The Bachelor, I'm assuming) is. These moments provided light relief from the angst, tension and sometimes difficultly emotive scenes usually centred around Embry and her life. I love when authors include and inject some kind of comedy or comedic moments into their books even if its not the main or one of the main tropes. Thank you for the giggles and laughs, C.W!
If I had to make a criticism, which I'm not all too sure this really is, is that for me this would make it a five-star read if the heat was turned up just that little bit more. Sure there were moments when things got so good you had to bite your lip, but that's as far as it would get. Granted, this is a story more centred around two people who are complete polar opposites slowly pulling and getting attracted to one another, I still would have loved a wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am moment that would have my cheeks flaming. So, not a criticism but definitely something I would love to see in my next C.W. read to make it a five star novel.
All in all, I'm glad that I took a chance, like Embry and Ryan, and journeyed along the characters in this novel from beginning to end. As my first C.W.Farnsworth read I'm very impressed at how despite the subject matter (tv dating shows) not being something of my own interest, I was still captured and enthralled about how things would play out for these fictional characters. I was not tempted to put down the book at any point and declare it a DNF, I was committed to the very end and you will be too.
4.5/5 stars for C.W.Farnsworth & Winning Mr. Wrong!
Thank you to Greys Promotions for sending me an ebook Advanced Readers Copy for me to read and leave an honest review of.
---------------------------------------------------------------
As someone who is not a fan of any tv dating shows--specifically Love Island--I signed up to see just how C.W.Farnsworth could potentially change my mind in giving one of the many shows a chance after reading her story about two self-same people, who also share the same distain for reality dating shows. This novel promised so much via the blurbs and trope alone, it was time to dive in head first. Can Winning Mr. Wrong win me over? Read on to find out.
Considering how as a person--stepping out of my reader shoes for a second--I loathe dating shows for their lack of picking realistic female body types and shapes of different kinds, I have to give C.W. a pat on the back for simply including by description, women of said different types and kinds. I honestly wish this was the case for shows in the real world, where women of more than one bodyshape/type can be included on the same show, so the mere fact that inclusion was written into this story is a huge thumbs up from me. Two, if I have to be perfectly honest. It might have been only a brief mention, but I appreciate it and it has left a lasting impression on me for sure.
Another element I was grateful C.W. included in Winning Mr. Wrong, was the dashes of hilarious comedic moments scattered throughout. I found the moments that had me laughing out lout, snickering or snorting (so unladylike, I know!), helped me enjoy the story more than I would have done say if it was more entered to how I imagine the real life counterpart shows (Love Island-meets-The Bachelor, I'm assuming) is. These moments provided light relief from the angst, tension and sometimes difficultly emotive scenes usually centred around Embry and her life. I love when authors include and inject some kind of comedy or comedic moments into their books even if its not the main or one of the main tropes. Thank you for the giggles and laughs, C.W!
If I had to make a criticism, which I'm not all too sure this really is, is that for me this would make it a five-star read if the heat was turned up just that little bit more. Sure there were moments when things got so good you had to bite your lip, but that's as far as it would get. Granted, this is a story more centred around two people who are complete polar opposites slowly pulling and getting attracted to one another, I still would have loved a wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am moment that would have my cheeks flaming. So, not a criticism but definitely something I would love to see in my next C.W. read to make it a five star novel.
All in all, I'm glad that I took a chance, like Embry and Ryan, and journeyed along the characters in this novel from beginning to end. As my first C.W.Farnsworth read I'm very impressed at how despite the subject matter (tv dating shows) not being something of my own interest, I was still captured and enthralled about how things would play out for these fictional characters. I was not tempted to put down the book at any point and declare it a DNF, I was committed to the very end and you will be too.
4.5/5 stars for C.W.Farnsworth & Winning Mr. Wrong!
Shades of Lust by E.M. Lindsey
5.0
'Forgive me fellow readers, for I have sinned. And it was oh so pleasurable.'
Thank you to Grey's Promotions for sending me an ebook Advanced Readers Copy for me to read and review. This is an honest and spoiler-free review of Shades of Lust by E.M.Lindsey.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This was the first book I've had the pleasure of reading from E.M.Lindsey, so aside from the subject matters, tropes and blurb of the book, as always with when I read an author for the first time I like to see how I vibe and read an author's works. Especially if an author has had quite a few, or even just a few, releases before I pick up one of their novels.
Before I review the book, I'm going to skip to the end and something that was a surprise to me as a first-time reader. Having simply dived into reading Shades of Lust, I did no know that E.M.Lindsey identifies as a non-binary author. As a reader and as an individual, I read by the content and comment on it rather than take note as to an authors' sexual identity. I was surprised to read this only because this is the first time I've come across a non-binary author, and I was blown away--in a good way--at how amazing their book was. Reading the 'about the author' made the book's content make so much more sense and I have SO much to say!
Huge respect for E.M.Lindsey for putting this out there for those readers like myself, who did not know about an author's sexual identity and I hope that in my first review leaving a review for a non-heterosexual author, I can address the author as their chosen pronouns respectfully and from here on out continue to do so for other authors.
Now, to the review!
I'm a reader of several steamy/spicy novels of many kinds, so this book immediately caught my eye right off the bat. And before seeing the cover too! What piqued my interest more than anything, was leaning that this book would have a LGBT theme running through it. I don't get to read as many LGBT novels as I'd like, and the last one I took a chance on was my first DNF of last year, so Shades of Lust was going to be a ride-or-die read and I'm pleased to say, I stayed for the ride and boy was it a good one!
There's so much that I want to say about this book, but most of it would contain spoilers so I'm going to be good and gush about the parts that aren't spoilers. Such as the main characters of 'Lust', aka Stone, and August Ashley. Stone was written to portray one of the seven deadly sins, Lust, and it was clear why almost immediately! He oozes raw power, control, desire and, well, lust from the page. Though his name is stone, underneath thanks to the kind, caring, innocent nature of August, he soon softens and the pair are a true match made in heaven. Pun intended. I loved these two so much, and I'm happy that I've stared reading a series from the beginning, because I'm looking forward to appearances by these two in the rest of the books in the series.
Shades of Lust was as it said on the cover, there was lust in all shades possible. Carnal Lust in the Carnal Tower. What made it hotter, other than the teachings of Stone as the physical representation of lust, was the emotional connection between him and August, who from the start had a giant metaphorical label that read 'forbidden to touch'. Well, we all know about the forbidden fruits we aren't allowed to touch. The taste is all the sweeter when we cave in and as Stone's walls caved and August learned the ways of a world he hasn't ever been in before, the two's slow burn emotional connection made the fires burn hotter than hell. Pun again, intended.
Lust satisfied my reading desires, but I'm still hungry for more. I look forward to reading each follow-up book in this series, because I am far than done with The Carnal Tower and its inhabitants.
Well done, E.M.Lindsey. You've got yourself--and the Shades--five sinful stars!
Thank you to Grey's Promotions for sending me an ebook Advanced Readers Copy for me to read and review. This is an honest and spoiler-free review of Shades of Lust by E.M.Lindsey.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This was the first book I've had the pleasure of reading from E.M.Lindsey, so aside from the subject matters, tropes and blurb of the book, as always with when I read an author for the first time I like to see how I vibe and read an author's works. Especially if an author has had quite a few, or even just a few, releases before I pick up one of their novels.
Before I review the book, I'm going to skip to the end and something that was a surprise to me as a first-time reader. Having simply dived into reading Shades of Lust, I did no know that E.M.Lindsey identifies as a non-binary author. As a reader and as an individual, I read by the content and comment on it rather than take note as to an authors' sexual identity. I was surprised to read this only because this is the first time I've come across a non-binary author, and I was blown away--in a good way--at how amazing their book was. Reading the 'about the author' made the book's content make so much more sense and I have SO much to say!
Huge respect for E.M.Lindsey for putting this out there for those readers like myself, who did not know about an author's sexual identity and I hope that in my first review leaving a review for a non-heterosexual author, I can address the author as their chosen pronouns respectfully and from here on out continue to do so for other authors.
Now, to the review!
I'm a reader of several steamy/spicy novels of many kinds, so this book immediately caught my eye right off the bat. And before seeing the cover too! What piqued my interest more than anything, was leaning that this book would have a LGBT theme running through it. I don't get to read as many LGBT novels as I'd like, and the last one I took a chance on was my first DNF of last year, so Shades of Lust was going to be a ride-or-die read and I'm pleased to say, I stayed for the ride and boy was it a good one!
There's so much that I want to say about this book, but most of it would contain spoilers so I'm going to be good and gush about the parts that aren't spoilers. Such as the main characters of 'Lust', aka Stone, and August Ashley. Stone was written to portray one of the seven deadly sins, Lust, and it was clear why almost immediately! He oozes raw power, control, desire and, well, lust from the page. Though his name is stone, underneath thanks to the kind, caring, innocent nature of August, he soon softens and the pair are a true match made in heaven. Pun intended. I loved these two so much, and I'm happy that I've stared reading a series from the beginning, because I'm looking forward to appearances by these two in the rest of the books in the series.
Shades of Lust was as it said on the cover, there was lust in all shades possible. Carnal Lust in the Carnal Tower. What made it hotter, other than the teachings of Stone as the physical representation of lust, was the emotional connection between him and August, who from the start had a giant metaphorical label that read 'forbidden to touch'. Well, we all know about the forbidden fruits we aren't allowed to touch. The taste is all the sweeter when we cave in and as Stone's walls caved and August learned the ways of a world he hasn't ever been in before, the two's slow burn emotional connection made the fires burn hotter than hell. Pun again, intended.
Lust satisfied my reading desires, but I'm still hungry for more. I look forward to reading each follow-up book in this series, because I am far than done with The Carnal Tower and its inhabitants.
Well done, E.M.Lindsey. You've got yourself--and the Shades--five sinful stars!