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yazthebookish's reviews
1017 reviews
The Look of Love by Dragonblade Publishing, Meara Platt
3.0
3 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Look of Love is the first installment in the Book of Love series. A series of books combining swoon-worthy romances and lighthearted humor.
I won't keep this review long since there isn't much to say about it and the story is very simple.
Lady Olivia Gosling finds or let's say is hit in the head twice by an old book titled The Book of Love in a musty bookshop. She believes that this book may have the answers to attract other suitors than the one her awful guardian is planning to marry her off to.
And who is a better target to experiment on than her childhood friend, the handsome Alexander Beastling, the Duke of Hartford.
For surely if she managed to make a Duke fall in love with her, she can make any man she chooses do the same.
It's a cute read of two friends although there is some sort of an age gap between them but their friendship is sweet.
What I adore about Meara Platt's books is the humor she twines with the romance. I always know I'll have a good laugh while reading any of her books.
Unfortunately, the humor was not colorful enough to hide the dullness of the characters. I liked them but I did not find them interesting nor was I invested in their romance.
I look forward to reading the rest of the series. I read book 4 (I know I started the series out of order) but I liked that one enough to give this series a chance and I also adored the Farthingales.
The Look of Love is the first installment in the Book of Love series. A series of books combining swoon-worthy romances and lighthearted humor.
I won't keep this review long since there isn't much to say about it and the story is very simple.
Lady Olivia Gosling finds or let's say is hit in the head twice by an old book titled The Book of Love in a musty bookshop. She believes that this book may have the answers to attract other suitors than the one her awful guardian is planning to marry her off to.
And who is a better target to experiment on than her childhood friend, the handsome Alexander Beastling, the Duke of Hartford.
For surely if she managed to make a Duke fall in love with her, she can make any man she chooses do the same.
It's a cute read of two friends although there is some sort of an age gap between them but their friendship is sweet.
What I adore about Meara Platt's books is the humor she twines with the romance. I always know I'll have a good laugh while reading any of her books.
Unfortunately, the humor was not colorful enough to hide the dullness of the characters. I liked them but I did not find them interesting nor was I invested in their romance.
I look forward to reading the rest of the series. I read book 4 (I know I started the series out of order) but I liked that one enough to give this series a chance and I also adored the Farthingales.
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
4.0
4 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
'Between life and death there is a library,' she said. 'And within that library, the shelves go on for ever. Every book provides a chance to try another life you could have loved. To see how things would be if you had made other choices . . .Would you have done anything different, if you had the chance to undo your regrets?'
I think I should address this but The Midnight Library is not a book that is strictly focused on establishing a plot or indulges in fantasy as much as it is led by its narrative which revolves around what it means to live.
That factor should not deter you from reading this book because I found it to be such an exhilarating experience.
So, what is it about the Midnight Library that strikes it to be such a fascinating and impactful book?
In many instances in our lives, the Infinite number of "could have beens" must've crossed our minds.
You pick a choice among many, one out of millions of choices, yet the restlessness that gnaws at you pushes you to believe that there could have been a better choice that led to a better outcome.
We always believe that the choices and decisions we make will always have better alternatives and it kills us because we are always haunted by it!
In this story, we follow Nora Seed, a woman haunted by past mistakes and ridden with regrets. She believes that her life is destined to be miserable. Somehow, she holds on to the last thread connecting her to life but rather than find herself in oblivion, she is transported to a mysterious terrain with a building in the size of the church perched in the middle of it.
Imagine if you found shelves full of books that tell the story of the lives you could have lived. The chance to experience each life you could've had; the one where you have picked what you thought was the better choice, or the one where you picked a different occupation, or the one you where you had become a happier person.
That is the magic of the Midnight Library.
Along with the heroine, we discover the vastness of life and its endless possibilities.
It's a book that prompts us to reflect on our life and gives us a different lens to help us have a better look at the choices we make and how we view them.
What is inevitable, you have no choice in changing it, and that is a difficult pill to swallow.
You didn't have to enjoy every aspect of each life to keep having the option of experiencing them. You just had to never give up on the idea that there would be a life somewhere that could be enjoyed. Equally, enjoying a life didn't mean you stayed in that life. You only stayed in a life forever if you couldn't imagine a better one, and yet, paradoxically, the more lives you've tried the easier it became to think of something better, as the imagination broadened a bit more with every new life she sampled.
It's a contemporary that coexists in a fantastical setting and it is tinted with a philosophical undertone that indirectly delivers the life lessons the author sought to gift the reader.
Fortunately, the author managed to keep the story at good pacing with its poetic flow while smoothly weaving the important themes into the story without making the dialogue heavy nor dragging the progression of the story.
It is a story that touched my sentiments because I've often been a person that drowned in my misery.
This book felt like a soft breeze that gently caressed my soul.
We only need to be one person.
We only need to feel one existence.
We don't have to do everything in order to be everything, because we are already infinite. While we are alive we always contain a future of multifarious possibility.
Trigger Warning: mentions of suicide, death, depression and grief.
'Between life and death there is a library,' she said. 'And within that library, the shelves go on for ever. Every book provides a chance to try another life you could have loved. To see how things would be if you had made other choices . . .Would you have done anything different, if you had the chance to undo your regrets?'
I think I should address this but The Midnight Library is not a book that is strictly focused on establishing a plot or indulges in fantasy as much as it is led by its narrative which revolves around what it means to live.
That factor should not deter you from reading this book because I found it to be such an exhilarating experience.
So, what is it about the Midnight Library that strikes it to be such a fascinating and impactful book?
In many instances in our lives, the Infinite number of "could have beens" must've crossed our minds.
You pick a choice among many, one out of millions of choices, yet the restlessness that gnaws at you pushes you to believe that there could have been a better choice that led to a better outcome.
We always believe that the choices and decisions we make will always have better alternatives and it kills us because we are always haunted by it!
In this story, we follow Nora Seed, a woman haunted by past mistakes and ridden with regrets. She believes that her life is destined to be miserable. Somehow, she holds on to the last thread connecting her to life but rather than find herself in oblivion, she is transported to a mysterious terrain with a building in the size of the church perched in the middle of it.
Imagine if you found shelves full of books that tell the story of the lives you could have lived. The chance to experience each life you could've had; the one where you have picked what you thought was the better choice, or the one where you picked a different occupation, or the one you where you had become a happier person.
That is the magic of the Midnight Library.
Along with the heroine, we discover the vastness of life and its endless possibilities.
It's a book that prompts us to reflect on our life and gives us a different lens to help us have a better look at the choices we make and how we view them.
What is inevitable, you have no choice in changing it, and that is a difficult pill to swallow.
You didn't have to enjoy every aspect of each life to keep having the option of experiencing them. You just had to never give up on the idea that there would be a life somewhere that could be enjoyed. Equally, enjoying a life didn't mean you stayed in that life. You only stayed in a life forever if you couldn't imagine a better one, and yet, paradoxically, the more lives you've tried the easier it became to think of something better, as the imagination broadened a bit more with every new life she sampled.
It's a contemporary that coexists in a fantastical setting and it is tinted with a philosophical undertone that indirectly delivers the life lessons the author sought to gift the reader.
Fortunately, the author managed to keep the story at good pacing with its poetic flow while smoothly weaving the important themes into the story without making the dialogue heavy nor dragging the progression of the story.
It is a story that touched my sentiments because I've often been a person that drowned in my misery.
This book felt like a soft breeze that gently caressed my soul.
We only need to be one person.
We only need to feel one existence.
We don't have to do everything in order to be everything, because we are already infinite. While we are alive we always contain a future of multifarious possibility.
Trigger Warning: mentions of suicide, death, depression and grief.
White Hot Kiss by Jennifer L. Armentrout
4.0
4 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“I lost myself the moment I found you.”
Hot White Kiss welcomes you to the world of Demons and Wardens. It's the first installment of the Dark Elements promising a solid plot and an action-packed adventure sprinkled with spicy romance.
Intorducing Layla. A 17-year-old in a peculiar situation for she is neither human, nor a whole Demon or a whole Gargoyle/Warden. What marks her uniqueness is the fact that she is half Demon and half Gargoyle.
Due to being different from everyone else, she feels inferior especially considering the fact that she was raised among Wardens, a race of Gargoyles with a pure soul, whose job is to hunt Demons and ensure humanity's safety.
Layla actively pursues demons in hopes of fitting in with the Wardens. However, Layla's demonic bloodline is brimming within her to the point she cannot always hide the darkest side of her. Layla's kiss would kill anything with a soul.
Zayne, a 21-year-old Warden and Layla's dearest childhood friend is the subject of her attraction until a mysterious and wicked demon called Roth comes into the picture.
Layla is thrust into a web of schemes involving a demonic rebellion and plans to set the Apocalypse in motion and that she may be the key to all of it.
For most of her life, Layla was led by one belief planted by the Wardens in her that all demons deserve to be punished without question.
Roth helps Layla view demons in a different light and she is torn between fulfilling her role as a Warden or embrace the powerful bloodlines coursing through her.
I was looking for a book that will keep me entertained throughout the entirety of it, and White Hot Kiss did exactly that!
I've experienced a story that had little bits of everything and it stays true to its genre, the YA tropes used were fitting for the nature of the story. The unique assortment of engaging storytelling, gripping action scenes, swoon-worthy romance, and the dash of comedy made it out to be a strong introduction to the trilogy.
The characters were likable and I enjoyed all of their scenes because they all had their moment of spotlight.
Layla is a teenager and acted as such. She is someone with a strong wel yet a carries vulnerable heart. Her inferiority makes her want to gain the recognition that she is indeed a good enough of a Warden and wipe any traces of her demonic heritage.
Roth is the star of the book. He is delightfully wicked and has many iconic lines and moments in the book. I totally understand why he is such a popular character and love interest.
Zayne may get on my nerves at times but he is such a likable character and his sweetness just makes my heart melt. I love how he is dotting on Layla.
Let's speak of the spicy Romance that is the highlight of the book for me. Despite it being YA, the level of spice in the romance is good and it's so fitting for the couple because Layla is the curious sort and led by what she desires and Roth holds nothing back. The chemistry between them was instantly boiling and my oh my. His banter with Layla is the cherry on top, I live for it.
I'm excited to see what will unfold in the sequel because if the first book offered this much then I know the sequels will give me more and more!
“I lost myself the moment I found you.”
Hot White Kiss welcomes you to the world of Demons and Wardens. It's the first installment of the Dark Elements promising a solid plot and an action-packed adventure sprinkled with spicy romance.
Intorducing Layla. A 17-year-old in a peculiar situation for she is neither human, nor a whole Demon or a whole Gargoyle/Warden. What marks her uniqueness is the fact that she is half Demon and half Gargoyle.
Due to being different from everyone else, she feels inferior especially considering the fact that she was raised among Wardens, a race of Gargoyles with a pure soul, whose job is to hunt Demons and ensure humanity's safety.
Layla actively pursues demons in hopes of fitting in with the Wardens. However, Layla's demonic bloodline is brimming within her to the point she cannot always hide the darkest side of her. Layla's kiss would kill anything with a soul.
Zayne, a 21-year-old Warden and Layla's dearest childhood friend is the subject of her attraction until a mysterious and wicked demon called Roth comes into the picture.
Layla is thrust into a web of schemes involving a demonic rebellion and plans to set the Apocalypse in motion and that she may be the key to all of it.
For most of her life, Layla was led by one belief planted by the Wardens in her that all demons deserve to be punished without question.
Roth helps Layla view demons in a different light and she is torn between fulfilling her role as a Warden or embrace the powerful bloodlines coursing through her.
I was looking for a book that will keep me entertained throughout the entirety of it, and White Hot Kiss did exactly that!
I've experienced a story that had little bits of everything and it stays true to its genre, the YA tropes used were fitting for the nature of the story. The unique assortment of engaging storytelling, gripping action scenes, swoon-worthy romance, and the dash of comedy made it out to be a strong introduction to the trilogy.
The characters were likable and I enjoyed all of their scenes because they all had their moment of spotlight.
Layla is a teenager and acted as such. She is someone with a strong wel yet a carries vulnerable heart. Her inferiority makes her want to gain the recognition that she is indeed a good enough of a Warden and wipe any traces of her demonic heritage.
Roth is the star of the book. He is delightfully wicked and has many iconic lines and moments in the book. I totally understand why he is such a popular character and love interest.
Zayne may get on my nerves at times but he is such a likable character and his sweetness just makes my heart melt. I love how he is dotting on Layla.
Let's speak of the spicy Romance that is the highlight of the book for me. Despite it being YA, the level of spice in the romance is good and it's so fitting for the couple because Layla is the curious sort and led by what she desires and Roth holds nothing back. The chemistry between them was instantly boiling and my oh my. His banter with Layla is the cherry on top, I live for it.
I'm excited to see what will unfold in the sequel because if the first book offered this much then I know the sequels will give me more and more!
Stone Cold Touch by Jennifer L. Armentrout
4.0
4 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
"I love you, Layla. Do you hear me? I’ve loved you since the first moment I heard your voice and I will continue to love you. No matter what. I love you.”
Cold Stone Touch is the second installment in the Dark Elements trilogy and oh boy did it end with a wtf cliffhanger!
The second book picks up a few weeks after where the first book ended. It does a pretty good job at recapping the important details from the first book within the first chapter.
I find that the sequel added more depth to the characters especially if we are talking about Layla. I could feel how conflicted she is when it comes to the matters of her identity and the matters of her heart.
She acts and thinks like a typical teenager yet she does not come off as infuriatingly annoying. I feel for her a lot.
The story focuses on the increasing strange occurrences that may be connected to demonic activities or to the Lilin. It's up to Layla, Zayn and Roth to investigate the root cause of all of it.
Lilin are responsible for creating Wraiths. They create and control nasty demented spirits that inhabit a human after they lose their soul.
Layla's unique ability is to see the auras of people's soul and draw them out of any creature. What she considers a curse is her demonic bloodline that amplifies the need to take out a soul.
This book is loaded with amazing tension-building with gripping paranormal action and angsty romance.
The sexual tension between the charcaters was off the roof. Yes, as much as I'm not a fan of Love Triangles, there is one in this book that may have annoyed me a little but I'm also torn between Roth and Zayn because I really like both of them.
I like the chemistry that exists between them and Layla. Roth's banter and teasing is delightful and Zayn's sweetness is just heart-fluttering.
JLA's writing style just keeps you invested in the story she is telling, knowing that if you stay for the whole ride you'll earn a scrumptious treat by the end of it and I love that.
After that cliffhanger I'm thrilled to get to the final book in the trilogy Every Last Breath.
"I love you, Layla. Do you hear me? I’ve loved you since the first moment I heard your voice and I will continue to love you. No matter what. I love you.”
Cold Stone Touch is the second installment in the Dark Elements trilogy and oh boy did it end with a wtf cliffhanger!
The second book picks up a few weeks after where the first book ended. It does a pretty good job at recapping the important details from the first book within the first chapter.
I find that the sequel added more depth to the characters especially if we are talking about Layla. I could feel how conflicted she is when it comes to the matters of her identity and the matters of her heart.
She acts and thinks like a typical teenager yet she does not come off as infuriatingly annoying. I feel for her a lot.
The story focuses on the increasing strange occurrences that may be connected to demonic activities or to the Lilin. It's up to Layla, Zayn and Roth to investigate the root cause of all of it.
Lilin are responsible for creating Wraiths. They create and control nasty demented spirits that inhabit a human after they lose their soul.
Layla's unique ability is to see the auras of people's soul and draw them out of any creature. What she considers a curse is her demonic bloodline that amplifies the need to take out a soul.
This book is loaded with amazing tension-building with gripping paranormal action and angsty romance.
The sexual tension between the charcaters was off the roof. Yes, as much as I'm not a fan of Love Triangles, there is one in this book that may have annoyed me a little but I'm also torn between Roth and Zayn because I really like both of them.
I like the chemistry that exists between them and Layla. Roth's banter and teasing is delightful and Zayn's sweetness is just heart-fluttering.
JLA's writing style just keeps you invested in the story she is telling, knowing that if you stay for the whole ride you'll earn a scrumptious treat by the end of it and I love that.
After that cliffhanger I'm thrilled to get to the final book in the trilogy Every Last Breath.
Every Last Breath by Jennifer L. Armentrout
4.0
4 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“You make me wish I had a soul so that I could be worthy of you.”
Every Last Breath proved to be a fantastic conclusion to the Dark Elements trilogy!
How I will miss all of the wonderful charcaters I met! Layla, Roth, Zayne, Bambi, Stacey and I'm even more thrilled that there is a spin off series starring Zayne called The Harbringer trilogy.
In this book, all hell breaks loose... almost.
While the plot is not that complex but what JLA excels at is writing such memorable characters.
I was always entertained by the characters' interactions if not much was going on plot-wise.
There were many gripping moments through this book that turned my nerves into knots and gave me many oh shit moments.
“You are so beautiful, Layla. And if I could pick one thing I could stare at for the rest of eternity, it would be you.”
I'm interested in a demon love interest if he is anything similar to Roth. I'm ready to sign up for hell if it's guaranteed that I'll be gifted my own Roth.
Yeah, I'm kidding. I'm too much of a chicken to go through hell but the fact that the idea is floating my head shows how appealing I'm finding Roth to be.
This trilogy has been a fun ride, I wish it had a little more action but I'm glad I've read it nonetheless!
“You make me wish I had a soul so that I could be worthy of you.”
Every Last Breath proved to be a fantastic conclusion to the Dark Elements trilogy!
How I will miss all of the wonderful charcaters I met! Layla, Roth, Zayne, Bambi, Stacey and I'm even more thrilled that there is a spin off series starring Zayne called The Harbringer trilogy.
In this book, all hell breaks loose... almost.
While the plot is not that complex but what JLA excels at is writing such memorable characters.
I was always entertained by the characters' interactions if not much was going on plot-wise.
There were many gripping moments through this book that turned my nerves into knots and gave me many oh shit moments.
“You are so beautiful, Layla. And if I could pick one thing I could stare at for the rest of eternity, it would be you.”
I'm interested in a demon love interest if he is anything similar to Roth. I'm ready to sign up for hell if it's guaranteed that I'll be gifted my own Roth.
Yeah, I'm kidding. I'm too much of a chicken to go through hell but the fact that the idea is floating my head shows how appealing I'm finding Roth to be.
This trilogy has been a fun ride, I wish it had a little more action but I'm glad I've read it nonetheless!
Kiss the Fae by Natalia Jaster
3.0
3 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Friend. Villain. Lover. All four guises converge into a smirk that doesn’t reach his irises. Is he tormenting himself or toying with me? Is he being real or not?
Kiss the Fae is the first installment in the Vicious Faeries series. A promising story of Faeries and steamy romance but did not quite hit the jackpot for me.
The overall setting of the book was unique. I liked the strong connection of the Fae with nature (the fauna and flora).
We live on a continent called The Dark Fables. It’s separated into three countries of grim enchantment—The Northern Frosts, The Southern Seas, and Middle Country. Elves, dragons, and an array of mystical wildlife fill these lands to the brim. Being of otherworldly origins, Magic Folk fancy themselves too good for us human peons.
The author does not hold back from adding every mythical creature to the world and it could either be a good thing or a bad thing but the focus does not stray from the Fae.
As for the Fae, we have the Seelie and Unseelie courts but the main story follows the monarchs of the Solitary Wild, the infamous trio: Ruler of the Sky, Ruler of the Woodland, and Ruler of the River.
For your trespass, be our sacrifice—to surrender, to serve, and to satisfy. Under the vicious stars, three sisters must play three games.
Escaping the trade poachers, three sisters cross the forbidden border into Faerie. Lark is captured by ruler of the sky, Cerulean, and her sisters Juniper and Cove are then swept into a devious game that they should not reveal each game to each other and all must win or none win.
Each one will enter one of the Solitary landscapes: Lark to the mountain, Juniper to the Forest, and Cove to the water.
Lark must win to save her sisters and her trial involves going through a labyrinth in the mountain, home of the trickster and ruler of the sky she so despises. Yet, there is a powerful attraction drawing her to Cerulean that she is determined to fight.. for how can she fall for a devious creature like a Fae?
"Mutinous Lark, your task is painfully simple. Don’t look down. Watch your step. Fear the wind. Follow the wind. Lose your path. Find your way. Welcome to The Solitary Mountain."
I had a problem following the story because of the world-building. It feels like the more info-dump the author adds, the more it's hard for me to digest it. While it was very interesting but it was a real struggle.
The writing wasn't the best and the language and tone used by the charcaters just... made it seem like they were living in the 21st century and not in a fantastical world.
The romance had bits that I enjoyed but I would've been more invested if the issues I've highlighted before did not ruin the experience for me.
"You’re worth…” He sucks in a tremulous breath. “…every crack in my soul. You’re worth the loss and longing.”
I found myself skipping through a few pages because there wasn't much that was going on or just to skip the state of confusion I was in for most of the book.
It had a great concept but it wasn't executed in the best way.
It felt that the book, as with most Fae books, draw its inspiration from ACOTAR especially Under the Mountain part.
Will I pick up the next book? nope.
Friend. Villain. Lover. All four guises converge into a smirk that doesn’t reach his irises. Is he tormenting himself or toying with me? Is he being real or not?
Kiss the Fae is the first installment in the Vicious Faeries series. A promising story of Faeries and steamy romance but did not quite hit the jackpot for me.
The overall setting of the book was unique. I liked the strong connection of the Fae with nature (the fauna and flora).
We live on a continent called The Dark Fables. It’s separated into three countries of grim enchantment—The Northern Frosts, The Southern Seas, and Middle Country. Elves, dragons, and an array of mystical wildlife fill these lands to the brim. Being of otherworldly origins, Magic Folk fancy themselves too good for us human peons.
The author does not hold back from adding every mythical creature to the world and it could either be a good thing or a bad thing but the focus does not stray from the Fae.
As for the Fae, we have the Seelie and Unseelie courts but the main story follows the monarchs of the Solitary Wild, the infamous trio: Ruler of the Sky, Ruler of the Woodland, and Ruler of the River.
For your trespass, be our sacrifice—to surrender, to serve, and to satisfy. Under the vicious stars, three sisters must play three games.
Escaping the trade poachers, three sisters cross the forbidden border into Faerie. Lark is captured by ruler of the sky, Cerulean, and her sisters Juniper and Cove are then swept into a devious game that they should not reveal each game to each other and all must win or none win.
Each one will enter one of the Solitary landscapes: Lark to the mountain, Juniper to the Forest, and Cove to the water.
Lark must win to save her sisters and her trial involves going through a labyrinth in the mountain, home of the trickster and ruler of the sky she so despises. Yet, there is a powerful attraction drawing her to Cerulean that she is determined to fight.. for how can she fall for a devious creature like a Fae?
"Mutinous Lark, your task is painfully simple. Don’t look down. Watch your step. Fear the wind. Follow the wind. Lose your path. Find your way. Welcome to The Solitary Mountain."
I had a problem following the story because of the world-building. It feels like the more info-dump the author adds, the more it's hard for me to digest it. While it was very interesting but it was a real struggle.
The writing wasn't the best and the language and tone used by the charcaters just... made it seem like they were living in the 21st century and not in a fantastical world.
The romance had bits that I enjoyed but I would've been more invested if the issues I've highlighted before did not ruin the experience for me.
"You’re worth…” He sucks in a tremulous breath. “…every crack in my soul. You’re worth the loss and longing.”
I found myself skipping through a few pages because there wasn't much that was going on or just to skip the state of confusion I was in for most of the book.
It had a great concept but it wasn't executed in the best way.
It felt that the book, as with most Fae books, draw its inspiration from ACOTAR especially Under the Mountain part.
Will I pick up the next book? nope.
Where the Blame Lies by Mia Sheridan
4.0
4 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
She’d looked like a warrior, being wheeled into that hospital. Half dead. Still fighting. Josie. Josie Stratton. Her eyes had been large and dark. Haunted. He wondered if they still were. How could they not be?
Where The Blame Lies is not a read that is for the faint-hearted. It's a spine-chilling story that kept me on edge.
It gripped me from the very first page until the end. My brain was tossed around more than I can count with every plot twist that made me jump from my spot.
If you think you can sit still while reading this book, yeah... that's not gonna happen.
This book is disturbing and unsettling yet quite addictive.
The suspense made me want to find some relief by biting my own nails because I felt a sense of temporary paralysis creeping through my body.
On the other hand, it was an emotional wreck.
The mystery surrounding the heinous crimes targeting specific women for specific reasons was done brilliantly and the little clues and evidence tracing the perpetrator made my nerves tie themselves up into knots to lessen the rapid beating of my heart.
But... the riveting account of what Josie Stratton suffered during her 10-month captivity was utterly heartbreaking.
The book shifts between the past beginning with an prologue of when Josie was kidnapped and the present-day cases of a copycat killer mimicking the same crime Josie suffered through targeting different young women.
Kidnapped
Shackled to a wall
Sexually assaulted
Starved
The only difference is: they are found dead while Josie managed to escape and survive.
It does not escape Cincinnati Police Detective Zach Copeland that these crimes are done in a similar fashion of the Stratton case years ago.. but.. as far as they know, Josie's kidnapper, Marshall Landish, was found dead by suicide. He remembers the traumatized woman whom he stood guard to her hospital's room when he was a 25-year-old rookie.
If Marshall Landish is dead then.. who is the copycat?
Will this copycat be a threat to Josie Stratton?
What is the motive behind these sinister crimes?
Zach still remembers the haunting eyes of Josie Stratton and he vows to keep her safe.
People always said things like, “Everything will work out,” or, “That won’t happen.” But what about when things didn’t work out? Or when the unthinkable did happen? You had to walk around with the knowledge that life could sweep the rug out from under you at any moment. It could, because it had.
Josie's past chapters during the time of her captivity is told from 3rd person POV. Even though I would've preferred it was told from first-person but it did not dilute the enormity of the suffering and the trauma Josie had lived through. It shredded my heart and I marveled at her perseverance. I don't think any person can survive this and can preserve their sanity.
Mia Sheridan did not shy from detailing the horrific and highly disturbing occurrences in Josie's past chapters and it did the job at hitting me hard with the grief and devastation I felt for Josie.
What I even liked more was that Josie wasn't an entirely innocent person. She is deeply flawed and she is a person carrying the weight of her sins and mistakes. Mia did not create this perfectly innocent character, you had to question which choices sentenced Josie to live through during that horrific period of her life.
But the fact remains is that: Josie is innocent and she did not deserve one ounce of the torture she had suffered under the hands of a depraved psychopath.
I would've loved to explored more of Zach's background. I adored him very much but I wanted to see more of the man behind the police badge and although Mia sprinkled some details of his personal life but I was eager for more.
Nevertheless, the romance was a balm to the wounds cut open by the other scenes in this book. It took its sweet time to develop especially that the romance involves a victim that had been sexually assaulted and abused years ago. Zach was so sweet and patient with Josie and Josie overcame her shame and allowed herself to have a shot at love.
And yet… she’d discovered that she could still feel pleasure. That she wasn’t ruined as she’d once thought. In that way too, she was no longer a victim. And yes, she’d have to learn to fully trust again, but the relief that filled her that morning at the knowledge that she wasn’t permanently and irrevocably broken, could hardly be described. To her, the reawakening of her body filled her with a glorious sense of hope.
The conclusion was satisfying and unsatisfying at the same time. I'm torn between what I'm happy with while I still feel outraged by how it concluded.
Mia Sheridan proves to be a brilliant writer, I believe this is the 5th book I read by her and I always find her books to be quite addictive.
I'm surprised to find that this book has a follow-up book called Where The Truth Lives and finding out who the hero of that book is was a pleasant surprise.
I look forward to reading that one in the near future.
Trigger warnings: death, graphic crime scenes, rape, physical abuse, trauma, abduction.
She’d looked like a warrior, being wheeled into that hospital. Half dead. Still fighting. Josie. Josie Stratton. Her eyes had been large and dark. Haunted. He wondered if they still were. How could they not be?
Where The Blame Lies is not a read that is for the faint-hearted. It's a spine-chilling story that kept me on edge.
It gripped me from the very first page until the end. My brain was tossed around more than I can count with every plot twist that made me jump from my spot.
If you think you can sit still while reading this book, yeah... that's not gonna happen.
This book is disturbing and unsettling yet quite addictive.
The suspense made me want to find some relief by biting my own nails because I felt a sense of temporary paralysis creeping through my body.
On the other hand, it was an emotional wreck.
The mystery surrounding the heinous crimes targeting specific women for specific reasons was done brilliantly and the little clues and evidence tracing the perpetrator made my nerves tie themselves up into knots to lessen the rapid beating of my heart.
But... the riveting account of what Josie Stratton suffered during her 10-month captivity was utterly heartbreaking.
The book shifts between the past beginning with an prologue of when Josie was kidnapped and the present-day cases of a copycat killer mimicking the same crime Josie suffered through targeting different young women.
Kidnapped
Shackled to a wall
Sexually assaulted
Starved
The only difference is: they are found dead while Josie managed to escape and survive.
It does not escape Cincinnati Police Detective Zach Copeland that these crimes are done in a similar fashion of the Stratton case years ago.. but.. as far as they know, Josie's kidnapper, Marshall Landish, was found dead by suicide. He remembers the traumatized woman whom he stood guard to her hospital's room when he was a 25-year-old rookie.
If Marshall Landish is dead then.. who is the copycat?
Will this copycat be a threat to Josie Stratton?
What is the motive behind these sinister crimes?
Zach still remembers the haunting eyes of Josie Stratton and he vows to keep her safe.
People always said things like, “Everything will work out,” or, “That won’t happen.” But what about when things didn’t work out? Or when the unthinkable did happen? You had to walk around with the knowledge that life could sweep the rug out from under you at any moment. It could, because it had.
Josie's past chapters during the time of her captivity is told from 3rd person POV. Even though I would've preferred it was told from first-person but it did not dilute the enormity of the suffering and the trauma Josie had lived through. It shredded my heart and I marveled at her perseverance. I don't think any person can survive this and can preserve their sanity.
Mia Sheridan did not shy from detailing the horrific and highly disturbing occurrences in Josie's past chapters and it did the job at hitting me hard with the grief and devastation I felt for Josie.
What I even liked more was that Josie wasn't an entirely innocent person. She is deeply flawed and she is a person carrying the weight of her sins and mistakes. Mia did not create this perfectly innocent character, you had to question which choices sentenced Josie to live through during that horrific period of her life.
But the fact remains is that: Josie is innocent and she did not deserve one ounce of the torture she had suffered under the hands of a depraved psychopath.
I would've loved to explored more of Zach's background. I adored him very much but I wanted to see more of the man behind the police badge and although Mia sprinkled some details of his personal life but I was eager for more.
Nevertheless, the romance was a balm to the wounds cut open by the other scenes in this book. It took its sweet time to develop especially that the romance involves a victim that had been sexually assaulted and abused years ago. Zach was so sweet and patient with Josie and Josie overcame her shame and allowed herself to have a shot at love.
And yet… she’d discovered that she could still feel pleasure. That she wasn’t ruined as she’d once thought. In that way too, she was no longer a victim. And yes, she’d have to learn to fully trust again, but the relief that filled her that morning at the knowledge that she wasn’t permanently and irrevocably broken, could hardly be described. To her, the reawakening of her body filled her with a glorious sense of hope.
The conclusion was satisfying and unsatisfying at the same time. I'm torn between what I'm happy with while I still feel outraged by how it concluded.
Mia Sheridan proves to be a brilliant writer, I believe this is the 5th book I read by her and I always find her books to be quite addictive.
I'm surprised to find that this book has a follow-up book called Where The Truth Lives and finding out who the hero of that book is was a pleasant surprise.
I look forward to reading that one in the near future.
Trigger warnings: death, graphic crime scenes, rape, physical abuse, trauma, abduction.
The Roommate by Rosie Danan
3.0
3 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️
"Loving you is like sinking into a warm bath after a lifetime of feeling cold down to my bones.”
The Roommate is a rom-com following Clara Wheaton and her pursuit of her 14-year-old unrequited crush on her childhood friend, Everett Bloom.
You may think this is a romance involving two childhood friends turned lovers, but bear with me.
Everett invites Clara to move across the country, Clara's hope surges and she is eager to spend more time with Everett... however, as soon as she arrives, Everett leaves off to join a band tour and Clara finds that not only is she left all alone but worse.. she is sharing the lease with a guy named Josh.
Clara barely knows Josh but cares little about his background, that is until she finds out he is the Josh Darling, one of the bright stars in the entertainment industry.
Josh may be the gateway to a whole new world that Clara have never dared to step into before.
“You think everything’s romantic. You tried to convince me that The Mummy was a love story.”
“Of course The Mummy is a love story.” Clara thrust her hands on her hips. “You’re off your gourd.”
There were parts in this book that I enjoyed, I think it's fast-paced and the writing is good.
My main issue were the charcaters and the story.
I didn't connect with the story and there wasn't much to it honestly, it felt very simplistic.
Clara I found to be a very flat character
Josh was okay, I think I enjoyed his scenes more.
The romance was built on physical attraction, while that is a totally normal thing but it didn't feel like the romance got a proper build-up.
I can't pin-point where the couple actually fell for one another? All I know is that they had the hots for each other.
The humor in this book is what kept me entertained but there wasn't much of that either.
I kind of expected an enemies-to-lovers kind of situation going on, I think that would've been more fun.
Well.. it wasn't really bad but it doesn't get higher than 3-stars from me.
"Loving you is like sinking into a warm bath after a lifetime of feeling cold down to my bones.”
The Roommate is a rom-com following Clara Wheaton and her pursuit of her 14-year-old unrequited crush on her childhood friend, Everett Bloom.
You may think this is a romance involving two childhood friends turned lovers, but bear with me.
Everett invites Clara to move across the country, Clara's hope surges and she is eager to spend more time with Everett... however, as soon as she arrives, Everett leaves off to join a band tour and Clara finds that not only is she left all alone but worse.. she is sharing the lease with a guy named Josh.
Clara barely knows Josh but cares little about his background, that is until she finds out he is the Josh Darling, one of the bright stars in the entertainment industry.
Josh may be the gateway to a whole new world that Clara have never dared to step into before.
“You think everything’s romantic. You tried to convince me that The Mummy was a love story.”
“Of course The Mummy is a love story.” Clara thrust her hands on her hips. “You’re off your gourd.”
There were parts in this book that I enjoyed, I think it's fast-paced and the writing is good.
My main issue were the charcaters and the story.
I didn't connect with the story and there wasn't much to it honestly, it felt very simplistic.
Clara I found to be a very flat character
Josh was okay, I think I enjoyed his scenes more.
The romance was built on physical attraction, while that is a totally normal thing but it didn't feel like the romance got a proper build-up.
I can't pin-point where the couple actually fell for one another? All I know is that they had the hots for each other.
The humor in this book is what kept me entertained but there wasn't much of that either.
I kind of expected an enemies-to-lovers kind of situation going on, I think that would've been more fun.
Well.. it wasn't really bad but it doesn't get higher than 3-stars from me.