Ok, well written and competent story. The Dark elements felt more like "don't threaten me with a good time" style situation You're the One That I Want
Ok, well written and competent story. The Dark elements felt more like "don't threaten me with a good time" style situation as tye storybeats felt no different from a regular Billionaire romance vs the crime and violence of a Mafia-centered Romance. The most disappointing turn comes at the 3rd act break up. I know how it was spun as a moment of growth for the FMC but it truly did not feel that way. Backing it all up:
Story deets #ProtectiveMMC who happens to be the 3rd son in a Russian Mafia that feels itchy and achily like an Italian Mafia. The MMC was sweet in his way with sizzling dominant scenes...not in a forceful BDSM way just in a hot "do as you're told and ve a good girl for me" way. He's measured, sensible and falls for Charlie without realizing it's love. Not a lot of internal conflict here.
#SaucyCompetentFMC like Charlie is why I stuck the story out. She's not bratty or annoyingly dumb. She really tries to do what makes sense in the moment but push when she can a little. Most of all she knows when Nikolai needs her to push versus listen.
#spanking #anal #fingerlicking after #beanflicking #pantiesstuffedinmouth all make for some well done spicy scenes. Nikolai has a good filthy mouth and he knows how to use it.
The blurb makes it sound like a marriage of convenience or fake dating is in the cards. It isn't. So be prepared. It's your standard. I'm paying a debt to the Mafia Boss with my body to protector . It wasn't a bad romance at all just personally wanted it to be darker....more
The biggest drawback is that the FMC doesnt feel real. She feels a little bit cartoony levels of naive. There also wasntCheating Fantasy About Regrets
The biggest drawback is that the FMC doesnt feel real. She feels a little bit cartoony levels of naive. There also wasnt naunce to her actions and desperation which made it easy to be distracted in the story. Some of the things felt OTT to paint her as the Big Silly Bad and Mike as the Saint. The total disregard for how communal property in divorces are handled, childrens' response, and divsion of child custody was bonkers. Smh at the type of karma revenge she received. It was really tasteless. The way the job unfolded was just...sigh...fantasy. by the time the ending it came it felt just so. ...more
The FMC is the "OW". In love with her boss longer than he's been with his GF. His reWoah Baby on a Hammercy Sandwich
Cheating is in the title, so yay!
The FMC is the "OW". In love with her boss longer than he's been with his GF. His reaction to the FMC wising up & quitting is "just shut up, you can't quit because I'm putting a baby in you." ...more
A decent 4 star read that dropped a star due to the unnecessarily cruel epilogue. Told from Tiffany's pov, we had a Bitter Ending to Lighthearted Tale
A decent 4 star read that dropped a star due to the unnecessarily cruel epilogue. Told from Tiffany's pov, we had a glimpse into a sad, depressing outcome that overtakes the entire good vibes of the book. Especially don't like the implication that form of trauma can be a form of karmatic revenge against a woman for misdeeds. We didn't even get Rex's pov as the last hooray.
Backing it up to the plot: Willow has grown up in the toxic shadow of her step sister. So she looks to find a man for her step sis/ ex-boyfriend's upcoming wedding. Stumbling upon the insanely hot Rex, unknowing who he is, she "pays" for his participation. So we have the cute tropes: fake boyfriend at wedding as a get back to cheating ex." This trope usually has secret identity but from the guests not from the other main. Around 50%, everything with the wedding comes to a screeching halt, and we are introduced to a whole new trope that wasn't advertised for the book. That's where things got dicey for me personally.
At first, I was happy that the usually fake dating/secret identity at wedding plot points didn't happen. It appeared that a refreshing plot change would occur, and I was relieved. Except I had to reread the wedding scene several times to get how anticlimactic it all was and how it peters out for Willow.
Writing: The writing was quick and clipped. There was spice, but it felt randomly done in how the scenes were raunchy. The spice was at least there, but in a way, we lacked a lot of Rex's pov to balance out the romance and some heart was missing from the intimacy scenes. The smex read as without adoration. At times it feels a little bit like the story was written to only have Willow's singular pov, but then the author decided to give us Rex, and the story is better for it.
Pacing: But after the initial trope, the conflicts feel a little drawn out. The story feels a little long, but we didn't get the payoff either. Instead, we get their HEA glossed over and the end with Tiffany's truly sad and defeating outcome. Please listen to the reviews that tell you to skip the epilogue. It doesn't pull into Willow/Rex HEA, so the skip won't change any aspect of their romance...more
Octavia Grant knows how to spin an erotic horror yarn. The story within a story device used here was so brilliantly set-up. TGrisly Tale of Seduction
Octavia Grant knows how to spin an erotic horror yarn. The story within a story device used here was so brilliantly set-up. The horror was on display boldly but with purpose. Nothing felt grotesque just to be grotesque or checklist. No each scene just ratchet up the terror with full exquisite details. Herr we have Ivory the TV journalist catching her big break. An opportunity to interview an murderess seductress, Amalia. A southern beauty in prison for unspeakable crimes. The story held firm and the short pages were used smartly. Octavia has a knack and talent for writing the macabre in shortform...more
I was a little hesitant to read this one. I'm not a huge fan of toys. However, I was pleasantly surprised. This story had aJust a Hooka With a Beanie
I was a little hesitant to read this one. I'm not a huge fan of toys. However, I was pleasantly surprised. This story had a warm depth to it than the others. The hot, steamy sex was still there, but the quiet character moments of silent yearning were thoughtful and sweet. I had never heard of these books before, but I love how each curiosity finds a mate perfect for who they are. Here we have Cecil, the titular carnival manho and Destiny, the toy maker of special peens. Their story is a breath of fresh air for this series....more
From beginning to the end you will be going through the quick, fun and sexy twists. If the banging on thKeep your head on Swivel
...and Never Say Never
From beginning to the end you will be going through the quick, fun and sexy twists. If the banging on the kitchen table and rune signs in c)m juices don't make you want to savor eat the delicious immaculate taste of this treat, surely the sexy-fun tit for tatt banter will. Christina C Jones is really gifted with writing these paranormal stories. The mythos is always on point, the characters are genuinely Othered in an eternal sense, but their African Diaspora-ness shines through. These little bite-size morsels are never quite enough. Come for the juicy Mile High Club-body-turning-into-jello handling but stay for the great witchy mystery. I really love how Riv asked the age-old question about fated mates: "I want someone who wants me for me, not out of obligation. Someone who wants to love me." Parris, our vamp boy, has to catch up and realize that bringing fuckboi energy with an equal is not going to cut it. "..I don't need you to be anything. I just need you to be you." And just like that, just when we think Riv is going to keep never-ing the never out of that never ever, we get some intriguing plot beats and tender moments from Parris. The biggest thumbs-down is for the abrupt end. It's clear that more pieces of the story are left to be told. Now the team is assembled we have to wait and see how they will be used. ...more
Picture Perfect I decided to read a book that had the trope I love seeing in a dark romance, but now as a horror. How does it look when stalking, peepiPicture Perfect I decided to read a book that had the trope I love seeing in a dark romance, but now as a horror. How does it look when stalking, peeping Tom action, MINE psychosis presents itself into a horror book... an intriguing look at violence towards women. The figure held up on a pedestal, Samantha, is controlled in some part by the toxic masculinity surrounding her. Stuck in a horrible marriage and adored by the agoraphobic neighbor. Chandler is a lot to take in. You can't help but feel for him. His social anxiety was described to the T. His mental breakdown was believable, and through it all, I was rooting for him. With his first murder until his last, I just wanted the sad, lonely little boy inside him to be loved and heal. When the big twist came, whew, I felt like "great, I truly want him to have happiness." Chandler was a lost bird from jump due to the heartless way his mother talked down to him. Lacking respect and love for himself, his social anxiety reared an ugly head. As we watch the story spiral alongside his slip from sanity, Chandler is the star of the show....more
A short novella that has a love story and redemption story rolled into one; the characters do a great job of pulling you inGhost Story for the Wycked
A short novella that has a love story and redemption story rolled into one; the characters do a great job of pulling you in and making you get all the spooky feels. The flow of the story was so smooth. Even though this was my first foray into Kyeate's world, I got settled in to see how this spooky tale would unfold. Tempest was a good person with a tragic Halloween backstory, something many women could probably identify with. Does she deserve to be forgiven for the sins she trespassed upon others? Wycked popped up a little late in the story, but his chemistry with Tempest was so instantaneous that it was nice to get the backdrop to who Tempest was. One thing that fell off was the good ole smex. It didn't really exist, which is fine. There was a scene that served basically as a teaser and from there we get our HEA conclusion but it would have been nice to have more. I understand this is a novella but getting more "couple" time or "romantic" time with Tempest and Wycked together would have knocked this story out of the park. ...more
Hoping for some Spooky Season chills and thrills with a bloodthirsty fairy; instead, it was an uneven-paced storyHorror Promises but Sweet Execution ?
Hoping for some Spooky Season chills and thrills with a bloodthirsty fairy; instead, it was an uneven-paced story with an odd mix of modern elements like texting and references to pew ...more
Decent story arc that meets its tagline. A Final Girl trapped in a scare house and a masked murker. It had full story beats that Final Girl Love Story
Decent story arc that meets its tagline. A Final Girl trapped in a scare house and a masked murker. It had full story beats that made sense and the MMC was masked until the end. The scares fit the theme nothing too gory or over the top. The steam was delicious. A lot of "Good Girl"s and " you're doing so well"s. ...more
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