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wordsofclover's reviews
2043 reviews
Soldier Sailor by Claire Kilroy
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
Brisingr by Christopher Paolini
adventurous
informative
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Sleet Princess by S.J. Tilly
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Luke Anders feels left out as all of his best friends and teammates have found their life partners. He's not sure if it will ever happen for him when he ends up meeting Natalie during a cousin's wedding in Mexico, and the two hit it off immediately striking up a long distance romantic connection. A wild night in Vegas ends up with rings on the their fingers and as they try to figure out what to do next, PR needs come first and is it weird to date your wife?
This was thoroughly enjoyable. Luke was always a bit of a background character in the other Sleet books but I'm so glad he got his own book and his own love story. Going into this I actually thought that Luke's romantic interest was going to be Steph, Jackson's sister, and we would have the trope of 'brother's best friend' but instead we got 'accidental marriage' and I was here for it.
I really like the relationship and connection between Luke and Natalie. It felt very real, nothing was forced and I also like the maturity in their relationship and how with many things, they took it in their stride. I believed in them and I rooted for them and I loved how Luke was always so in the relationship, as was Natalie. I'm not sure if we could make the blip at the end a third act breakup as it wasn't a very long separation - a matter of a couple of hours- but i actually think we didn't even need it. And the scene in the board meeting was a bit dramatic and farcical for me, as there is no way that something like that would ever prove you are able to run a company (your actual work does that?!).
I do think you can see a big improvement in the quality and control of SJ Tilly's writing in Sleet Princess in comparison to the other Sleet books published several years ago. The flow of the story was so much betetr as we jumped between each character with Luke and natalie continuing where we left off instead of backtracking and repeating moments in ways I had seen in other books. The sexy scenes were hot and passionate, with also some added humour with the Blizz element (IYKYK).
And just to add I really appreciate the female friendship at the core of this series and how even Natalie who was a brand new character for readers and the other characters was accepted into the flow by the girls, and made to feel welcome. I think moments like this are just so important especially as in some romance books there can be a women Vs women vibes where this series is the compete opposite and I've always loved it.
I'm sad this series is over as I've really enjoyed my time with the Sleet team (lowkey want a jersey) and now I just have to decide what my next SJ Tilly series will be.
This was thoroughly enjoyable. Luke was always a bit of a background character in the other Sleet books but I'm so glad he got his own book and his own love story. Going into this I actually thought that Luke's romantic interest was going to be Steph, Jackson's sister, and we would have the trope of 'brother's best friend' but instead we got 'accidental marriage' and I was here for it.
I really like the relationship and connection between Luke and Natalie. It felt very real, nothing was forced and I also like the maturity in their relationship and how with many things, they took it in their stride. I believed in them and I rooted for them and I loved how Luke was always so in the relationship, as was Natalie. I'm not sure if we could make the blip at the end a third act breakup as it wasn't a very long separation - a matter of a couple of hours- but i actually think we didn't even need it. And the scene in the board meeting was a bit dramatic and farcical for me, as there is no way that something like that would ever prove you are able to run a company (your actual work does that?!).
I do think you can see a big improvement in the quality and control of SJ Tilly's writing in Sleet Princess in comparison to the other Sleet books published several years ago. The flow of the story was so much betetr as we jumped between each character with Luke and natalie continuing where we left off instead of backtracking and repeating moments in ways I had seen in other books. The sexy scenes were hot and passionate, with also some added humour with the Blizz element (IYKYK).
And just to add I really appreciate the female friendship at the core of this series and how even Natalie who was a brand new character for readers and the other characters was accepted into the flow by the girls, and made to feel welcome. I think moments like this are just so important especially as in some romance books there can be a women Vs women vibes where this series is the compete opposite and I've always loved it.
I'm sad this series is over as I've really enjoyed my time with the Sleet team (lowkey want a jersey) and now I just have to decide what my next SJ Tilly series will be.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
The Lilac Bus by Maeve Binchy
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcoholism and Eating disorder
Sleet Banshee by S.J. Tilly
lighthearted
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? No
3.5
Meghan has always been the feistiest out of all her friends, and is quite happy livcing life by herself as an independent woman. Until she meets Sebastian LeBlanc, the goalie of the Minnesota Sleet hockey team. There is an immediate sexual connection between the two but Meghan is fcusing on her friends getting their happy ever after to worry too much about hers, and when her friend gets hurt while she's distracted by Sebastian, she can't forgive herself.
This was fun and a bit more daring and out there in some ways than the other books as we are dealing with characters who both a little bit extra than other romantic couplings we have followed in this series. There is a definite chemistry between Meghan and Sebastian that is so palpable, it practically drips of the page and I didn't mind the nickname Banshee as it definitely suits Meghan a lot (I just don't think I'll ever be over how overused Kitten was in Sleet Kitten).
As in other books, this is fun and enjoyable for a quick read with a hot romance but the writing/editing in it isn't always the greatest. I do often find some parts are overwritten, characters over explain themselves or just talk too much at times in a way I feel identifies a self-published novel from a traditionally published one but once you know to expect some of these things, you can ignore them and focus on the story. I would have completely scrapped Meghan's diary entries as they feel they gave nothing to the story and could have just been usual POV chapters.
I did find the first act break up in this book a bit much and over dramatic from Meghan and there are times when there is miscommunication among several of the characters that could be easily solved. I also feel the 'don't want a relationship' is sometimes an easy thing to use in a romance as a blocker and I just never believed this from Sebastian as every single action of his contradicted his words so I would have liked to have seen a better obstacle in the way between these two and really, there wasn't really anything there - they were just being stubborn.
Looking forward to the final book in this series!
This was fun and a bit more daring and out there in some ways than the other books as we are dealing with characters who both a little bit extra than other romantic couplings we have followed in this series. There is a definite chemistry between Meghan and Sebastian that is so palpable, it practically drips of the page and I didn't mind the nickname Banshee as it definitely suits Meghan a lot (I just don't think I'll ever be over how overused Kitten was in Sleet Kitten).
As in other books, this is fun and enjoyable for a quick read with a hot romance but the writing/editing in it isn't always the greatest. I do often find some parts are overwritten, characters over explain themselves or just talk too much at times in a way I feel identifies a self-published novel from a traditionally published one but once you know to expect some of these things, you can ignore them and focus on the story. I would have completely scrapped Meghan's diary entries as they feel they gave nothing to the story and could have just been usual POV chapters.
I did find the first act break up in this book a bit much and over dramatic from Meghan and there are times when there is miscommunication among several of the characters that could be easily solved. I also feel the 'don't want a relationship' is sometimes an easy thing to use in a romance as a blocker and I just never believed this from Sebastian as every single action of his contradicted his words so I would have liked to have seen a better obstacle in the way between these two and really, there wasn't really anything there - they were just being stubborn.
Looking forward to the final book in this series!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
The Queen of Dirt Island by Donal Ryan
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-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
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Suicide, Death of parent, and Infertility
The Butcher of the Forest by Premee Mohamed
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Blackberry and Wild Rose: A gripping and emotional read by Sonia Velton
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infertility
Minor: Death, Sexual content, Miscarriage, and Sexual assault
The Siren of Sussex by Mimi Matthews
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
It's the 1860s, and Evelyn Maltravers has arrived to London for her first season at the grand old age of three abd twenty, ready to salvage her family's reputation and her younger sisters' futures following a reckless decision made by another sibling. Evie must marry rich, and for this she needs the help of an expert habit maker as she knows her beauty lies not in the ballroom but on the back of her horse. Enter Ahmad Malik, whose skill with needle and thread is only bested by how handsome he is. Immediately there is an attraction between the two but with the opinions of high society in the way, what can they do to make it work.
I listened to this on audiobook and really enjoyed it. While there isn't necessarily insta-love in this book, there is insta-attraction. I would have liked the slow burn to have been built up even more than it was between the two and for it to have taken a bit longer for the two to realise how deeply attracted they were to each other. The historical elements in this book were very good and I appreciated how the author dealt with Ahmad being a POC, half Indian and half British, how he was treated by people as a POC but also as a tradesman, and then his opinions about colonisation and the general wrong ideas Brits had about India and its peoples - and then how Evelyn strived to learn more herself from those affected by British rule, not the colonizers themselves.
As a horse girl I loved the horse element in this book, and really loved the friendship between Evelyn and the Furies and I really look forward to reading the next book which I think was set up really nicely in this one.
I listened to this on audiobook and really enjoyed it. While there isn't necessarily insta-love in this book, there is insta-attraction. I would have liked the slow burn to have been built up even more than it was between the two and for it to have taken a bit longer for the two to realise how deeply attracted they were to each other. The historical elements in this book were very good and I appreciated how the author dealt with Ahmad being a POC, half Indian and half British, how he was treated by people as a POC but also as a tradesman, and then his opinions about colonisation and the general wrong ideas Brits had about India and its peoples - and then how Evelyn strived to learn more herself from those affected by British rule, not the colonizers themselves.
As a horse girl I loved the horse element in this book, and really loved the friendship between Evelyn and the Furies and I really look forward to reading the next book which I think was set up really nicely in this one.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Misogyny
Minor: Death of parent