winter_is_reading's reviews
540 reviews

Mason's Regret by Liam Kingsley

hopeful lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

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

4.0

Found Among Wolves by Magen Cubed

4.0

The First and the Last by Jesse H Reign

adventurous hopeful relaxing 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? No

4.5

<strong>4.4 stars </strong>

This scratched that childhood best friends to lovers itch I’ve had lately. So far it’s my second favorite book by this author (after Rent: Paid in Full) and I hope she writes more paranormal/fantasy and A/B/O stuff.

I heard her mention that a sequel to this book was gonna drop last year. Hopefully we’ll get it later this year soon!

Spice: 4/5
Angst: 2/5

Beautiful & Terrible Things by Riley Hart

dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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? It's complicated

4.75

I recommend not reading the synopsis, just knowing it’s childhood best-friends-to-lovers contemporary with higher angst, and starting it. I’ll include TWs at the bottom if you want some warnings. 

If you’re familiar with Riley Hart’s other work, it’s pretty similar to Broken Pieces but with an m/m story instead of m/m/m. Please someone give hugs to all these characters, I love them. 

There’s some nice dyslexia rep featured too! 

Spice: 4/5
Angst: 5/5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, and Homophobia

Love in a Truck Stop Bathroom by Sebastian O'Connor

funny lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

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

4.5

4.4 stars. High school teachers romance meets… truck stop bathroom. Self explanatory. Super cute novella, even cuter than you’d think. Great guilty pleasure read. 

Spice: 5/5
Angst: 0/5

A Doctor's Touch by A.A. Fairview

hopeful lighthearted relaxing medium-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? No

4.75

Monster Manor is doing a February “Date with a Novella” reading challenge, and this was my first pick: a vampire doctor/werewolf patient romance in a cabin in the woods. Loved the transmasc rep and cozy vibes. I’m a sucker for Fairview’s writing, and can’t wait for the sequel on Valentine’s Day.

4-5/5 spice
1/5 angst 

4.75 stars

Triple Trouble by Jesse H Reign

hopeful relaxing fast-paced

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

4.0

Cute and hot. Not as good as Rent: Paid in Full, but still good. I wish it wasn’t so much *Trouble’s* book, since Mat was the real star and would’ve made a more compelling focus. He was the one falling for a stranger as well as his best friend while having a bi awakening. 

In some ways, Trouble reminds me of those pet dogs that won’t let their owners kiss or hug without jumping in the middle and interrupting and demanding to recognized. While his part in the romance was beautiful, I would’ve loved more of Will and Mat privately falling for each other. 

Spice: 5/5
Angst: 1/5

Rent: Paid in Full by Jesse H Reign

emotional funny hopeful fast-paced

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

4.75

What the hell, this was so good. How was this so good. Why is Miller such a good character. Why am I crying. 

When ATWT book club made this an unofficial buddy read, I didn’t think this would become one of our faves.

Honestly Miller deserves to be dropped into a crime syndicate romance or something, he is too good of a sociopathic antihero to only be used for an ivy league story. Miller if you ever wanna ditch Ryan, I’m right h—

(Spice: 5/5
Angst: 2-3/5)

The Alien Bodyguard by Eryn Ivers

adventurous hopeful 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? Yes

4.25

<strong>4.25 stars</strong>

I expected these to be cute low-angst standalone stories, and now I’m invested in a space opera that’s a little too relevant right now. 🍉 

This book is a bodyguard romance with age gap, hurt/comfort, and a sexy space orc. Come for the spice (lol) stay for the series plot line kicking off. Even though they’re different couples per book, they’re not standalones. 

Spice: 4/5
Angst: 3-4/5

The Alien Emissary by Eryn Ivers

hopeful fast-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

3.25

<strong>It’s nice. </strong>

I was warned that the prequel to the series isn’t as good as the rest. But the nice thing is that the alien MMC is kinda like Stolas from Helluva Boss, and I love that. 

Still a fun read, and I’ll keep giving the series a try. 

Spice: 5/5
Angst: 2/5