xtinexby's reviews
438 reviews

The Tiger's Ambush by Tate James

adventurous mysterious 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

4.0

Another solid edition to this series. Tate James is so great about balancing the action, romance, emotions of a book and keeping you engaged. Like the first two of this series, the plot may be a bit simplistic at times but it's so enjoyable I don't mind. This book expands on the first two of the series by adding depth to the men and complicating Kit's understanding of her life. 
Looking forward to continuing the series but not dying to pick up the next one. 

Fear the Flames by Olivia Rose Darling

adventurous hopeful 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

This book is a great fit for fans of Powerless by Lauren Roberts. Or if you tried to read When the Moon Hatched and couldn't get through the world building. There is limited world building and in many ways it's modern day superimposed on a medieval setting. Phrases, ways of acting, and thought processes are very now. So if you're the type who loves intricate worlds or gets annoyed by anachronisms, this book is not for you. 

The romance is a bigger focus in this book then the world or the plot. If you love popular romance tropes and don't mind being hit over the head with them, you'll enjoy this book. Especially the "touch her and die" trope....just be prepared for people to actually die. 

Personally I think I would have been annoyed with this book if I was reading a physical copy. But I listened to it and could easily tune parts out and not worry I missed any important details. The romance was fun and hot and I ended up enjoying more then I thought I would at the beginning. 

The Dragon's Wing by Tate James

adventurous funny 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

4.0

This sequel was a great continuation from the first book. The world and the plot are expanded in this book which gave the book a bit more depth. I wasn't sure at the start if I was enjoy the direction it took but luckily things moved along quickly which I appreciated. Trigger warning that there is depictions of human trafficking and a slave auction in this book. 

Tate James writes RH romance relationships so well and I enjoyed how the relationships progressed in this book. I also love when there is a "reason" for them to be together and this book delivered on this. 

Still not the best writing in the world but I'm having a good time. 😂

The Vixen's Lead by Tate James

adventurous funny 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

4.0

I was looking to fill a hole after I read Forced Proximity by Tate James and Jaymin Eve and realized there was no sign of a sequel. I could tell this was an earlier work of Tate's - the writing is a little more simple and undeveloped. But I still had a good time. I prefer a little magic/supernatural and action thrown in with my RH and this delivered on this. 

It was short but enjoyable. I wasn't left desperate for the next book but enjoyed enough to continue the series. 

In summary - fun, a lighthearted good time but nothing mind-blowing. 

Savor It by Tarah DeWitt

hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.75

This is a hard one for me to review - there is nothing wrong with this romance. It checks all the boxes I usually enjoy - mental health addressed and handled well, spicy scenes, and quirkiness. But I just wasn't connecting with this book. After much thought I decided that what the book lacked was tension. I hate the "miscommunication trope" as much as the next person but it CAN serve a really important role in contemporary rom coms. In this book, the MCs spoke to each other like adults and communicated how they were feeling and understood how each other were feeling - exactly what we all want in real life, but not the most interesting thing to read. The main tension of the book - the MMC is only temporararily there - doesn't hold enough weight to drive the story. 

If you're a "cozy" genre reader and hate any tension in your book - this might be the book for you. 

If you hate when the title of the book is used over and over again in the book - this is not the book for you. (we get it, they are savoring things 🤣)

Poison Roses by Jaymin Eve, Tate James

emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

After reading "Forced Proximity" by these two authors I was trying to fill the void in my life by the 2nd book in that series not being out yet and decided to give this a try. I have to admit, I wasn't in love with the premise - I've never been drawn to the "rockstar" persona and a book revolving around a band isn't for me (and that's a personal opinion). I was hoping my enjoyment of these two authors would outweigh being less eager about the premise, but unfortunately it didn't quite get there for me. This book ended up being more dramatic and emotional then I prefer. Again, this is just my personal preference. I don't think I'll be continuing the series. 

Forced Proximity by Jaymin Eve, Tate James

adventurous medium-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

Oh man - this book hit my sweet spot and I'm so sad there is no sequel yet. I knew going into it that it was recently published and would end leaving me unsatisfied and I don't regret it because I really enjoyed it. Do you like any of Tate James or Jaymine Eve's other books? Do you like RH? Then you'll like this book. No? Then this book is probably not for you and you can leave it for us who eat it up 😂. I discovered Tate James last year and this year stumbled upon Jaymine Eve's so finding them writing together was an instant read for me. I'm also a sucker for a RH where the men don't hate each other, their is an academic setting, and mysteries surround the FMC. This combined all of those into a well-written bundle of goodness, right up my alley. 

Since reading this I've started a couple of the author's other series by these two authors and found this one more well written (unsurprising since they have more experience).  

Dirty by Callie Hart

adventurous 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

3.75

This was not exactly what I was expecting. This is my 2nd Callie Hart book after Quicksilver so I really didn't know what to expect. I happened to have a special edition so I dived in and for some reason thought it was a standalone (fully admit this was my mistake and colors my reading). I didn't realize till the end where there is clearly things left hanging that it was the first of a series. It is VERY short. The characters are well written and the spice was smoking. I appreciated the depth of the MCs' backstories for how short it was. 
On the negative  - it felt rushed. The relationship between the two MCs doesn't feel truly believable to me based on the little bit of time they spent together and the little bit of time we as readers had with them. I haven't read the 2nd book but I wish the two had been combined and the story had time to be developed a bit more. Unfortunately, I'm not sure I'm interested enough in what I've read to continue the series. 

Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez

emotional hopeful medium-paced

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

5.0

My 2nd Abby Jimenez book and I'm beginning to understand why she is so loved. This was an engaging and heartfelt contemporary romance. Like the first book in the series, I really appreciate that she isn't afraid to mix the harder topics of mental health and it's affect on relationships into her stories. The MMC has severe anxiety (honestly it's refreshing to read about a man struggling with this and the women being the more confident one) and I found it to be an authentic and realistic portrayal. Along with this, the mental toll of a severe illness of a family member,  and the lasting impact of feeling abandoned were all handled with nuance and grace. Despite these deep themes, the book was not dark or heavy. 
I was engaged from the start - it's rare that I can't stop listening to an audiobook and I binged this is 2 days. 

In writing this review I think I've talked myself into a higher rating. I was going to rate it 4.5 but one week later and I can't think of a single negative. So I highly recommend! 

Amid Clouds and Bones by Ella Fields

adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

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

3.75

This book was very close to being great. It had all the elements but something about how they were all put together felt off. This book attempts to be a true enemies-to-lovers with arranged marriage. The two MCs seem to truly hate each other and are mean to each other.....or at least we are told they are. The didn't quite manage to fully demonstrate the love/hate between them and I had trouble connecting with the book because I felt a bit adrift in trying to understand feelings and motivations. The book also suffered some from being disjointed into different sections when the FMC is with completely different people for the middle of the book.
Once the third act came along and we were able to understand the MMC a bit more, I did enjoy the romance and how the story ended.

In summary - Is it well written? Not really Will you enjoy? Probably if you don't think too hard about it. Would I recommend it? I wouldn't say don't read it, but I wouldn't recommend going out of your way.