Hooked is another romance that's been on my radar for a while. I'm a huge fan of fractured fairytales. While this wasn't the best that I read, it did Hooked is another romance that's been on my radar for a while. I'm a huge fan of fractured fairytales. While this wasn't the best that I read, it did have some cute moments that made aspects of the reading experience enjoyable. CW: violence, gore, breath play (I don't know if this should technically be considered a content warning; it's more so a notation of a kink), alluding to childhood sexual abuse, physical abuse, psychological abuse
Hooked is the first in Emily McIntire's Never After series that explores well known fairy-tales and more from a very adult perspective. This first one follows heroine Wendy as she moves to a new town with her father Peter and brother John. There she meets the infamous Hook who appears to be a shady businessman. While Wendy meets Hook with curiosity, he plans to use her to exact his revenge on Peter who he believes to have ruined his entire life.
What Worked: I immediately root for any book that makes Peter the villain. I read the original story last year and was intensely disgusted by him as a character. While McIntire doesn't necessarily do the best job crafting well developed characters, she does an excellent job in writing a story that is not only easy to digest, but also includes some very beautiful lines. There was a particular moment where Hook states, "I'll hand you the match, and stand at your back, watching you become queen of the ashes.” Not only did I find this to be incredibly worded, but it also was a way for McIntire to illustrate that Hook saw Wendy as his equal and not someone who was subservient or beneath him. There was another quote where Hook tells John, “Just remember that whenever things feel bleak, all situations are temporary. It’s not your circumstance that determines your worth, it’s how you rise from the ashes after everything burns.” This, in my opinion, was Hook not only demonstrating the more human/heartfelt side of his character, but also his willingness to connect with John because he knew how important it was for Wendy.
What Didn't Work: This tried too hard to be a dark romance without actually being a dark romance? I'm not sure that makes sense and this could a bias at play since I just finished The Ritual, but the darkness of the book felt very surface level. It was almost as if McIntire was tip toeing around her ability to really make Hook a dark and twisted character. It stifled him in some ways and made his entire persona feel cartoonish. I also felt as though there were some pretty significant issues with pacing that changed the overall tone of the book. The first half and second half of the book felt like two entirely different things.
Overall, this was a solid read. Regardless of it's weaknesses, it did enough to peak my interest in checking out the rest of the series....more
Spicy one-night stand. I really enjoyed the characters; however there were some elements of their interactions that were slightly cringe. Not in a proSpicy one-night stand. I really enjoyed the characters; however there were some elements of their interactions that were slightly cringe. Not in a problematic way, but it read as slightly corny. This is a prequel to the Jacksonville Rays series and seems to provide some insight to the first book. While it wasn't my favorite, I am intrigued and excited to really dive into the series as a whole. ...more
Please please please check the content warnings before reading this book! There is nonc0n, dubcon, breath play, extreme violence, stalking, degradatioPlease please please check the content warnings before reading this book! There is nonc0n, dubcon, breath play, extreme violence, stalking, degradation, irresponsible BDSM, branding, sex in front of corpse, drowning, murder, somnophilia, drugging of characters, abuse etc. 2.5 stars
The Ritual has been making its way across the bookish interwebs for a while now and has grabbed the attention of those who are into dark romance. While I've read dark romance before, this is probably one of the darkest that I've read in a while. Although I found some of the content to be intriguing, the overall writing and character development fell flat creating a narrative that became a chore to work through.
What Worked: Before diving into this one, I made sure to actively seek out all of the possible content warnings to determine whether I would be able to handle content. Surprisingly, there wasn't much that shocked/scared/triggered me. While this isn't a book that I would recommend for everyone, it did show me what I can and cannot handle when it comes to dark romance. One of the things that stood out to me as a reader was Tessier's conversation about the normalization of kinks. While I do not think that Blake and Ryat exhibited safe behaviors in their kinks, it was rewarding to see Ryat support Blake in her explorations. Though I didn't rate this book highly, there was something about it that kept me reading.
What Didn't Work: Oh man...the writing in this wasn't great. I think it's the perfect example of what happens when you make a book longer that what it needs to be. The plot was cyclical and, to be quite fair, didn't always make sense. By the time I reached the end of novel, I wasn't sure why our "villain" was so obsessed with the heroine. There wasn't enough information established for full investment into his vengeance. Additionally, there were parts of this book that were completely absurd and wildly out there that it became hard for me to suspend my disbelief. While some people are into obsession (and it can work in certain novels), I don't know if it was necessarily executed well in this novel. Ryat is a complete asshole obsessed character in the beginning, but does a whiplash 180 into an "in love" obsessed character. It happened so quickly with little to no justification/explanation. While I wasn't always into the dynamics of their relationship (Blake was just a little to naïve for my taste), I did think that the epilogue was cute and that Black and Ryat were able to cultivate their relationship into something that was meaningful.
Overall, I must say that this was an interesting read. Not a favorite for the year, but I'm glad that I did finish it. I'm not sure that I'll pick up anymore in the series going forward, but we'll see....more
Great Sapphic romance and I thoroughly enjoyed the emphasis on postive representation of sex workers! It's needed! 3.5 Stars. CW: (view spoiler)[attemGreat Sapphic romance and I thoroughly enjoyed the emphasis on postive representation of sex workers! It's needed! 3.5 Stars. CW: (view spoiler)[attempted suicide (hide spoiler)]
Treasure is a book that I decided to read for Blackathon. It focuses on two characters, Alexis and Trisha and their budding romance after the two meet at a bachelorette party where Trisha strips. The two end up meeting again at the local college when they are both enrolled in a computer science class. One of the most endearing things about this romance was the innocence of their relationship. Neither character had been in a relationship so it was fun watching them figure out their own emotions and their definitions of what it meant to be in the relationship. While this book does not necessarily focus on either character coming out, there are some familial dynamics that are hard for Alexis to get past in regard to her sexuality and gender expression. Weatherspoon did an excellent job illustrating a positive perspective of sex work. There was a conflict involved; however, there was constant positive reinforcement and respect regarding those involved in sex work. There was a level of respect for those involved in sex work. This is definitely something I would love to see more of in romance books or I need to find more romance books that do this.
There were two aspects of this book that I didn't completely enjoy. The first involved some light petting that occurred between the two main characters while they were babysitting. Though it took place out of the sight of the children and no sexual climax was reached it still technically occurred while the children were in the same room. It was just a little awkward for me as a reader. Secondly, I did not enjoy the conflict resolution at all. Trisha had every right to handle the situation the way that she did. I thought it was fairly interesting the way that Alexis attempted to confront her parents. It didn't match the intense rift that was described earlier in the book between Alexis and her father so it felt weird when he simply moved on from the situation. I'm not saying that Alexis or Trisha shouldn't have gotten their happy ending, but I think there could be some misleading aspects regarding how bad the relationship is between Alexis and her father. I also wish that there could have been more exploration of Black women in computer science. It was a small, side conflict; however, I would have loved to see this developed more.
Overall, I thought that this book was sweet, endearing, and HOT (closets, bathrooms, oh my). This is my first Weatherspoon book so I'm definitely looking forward to reading more from her.
Merged review:
Great Sapphic romance and I thoroughly enjoyed the emphasis on postive representation of sex workers! It's needed! 3.5 Stars. CW: (view spoiler)[attempted suicide (hide spoiler)]
Treasure is a book that I decided to read for Blackathon. It focuses on two characters, Alexis and Trisha and their budding romance after the two meet at a bachelorette party where Trisha strips. The two end up meeting again at the local college when they are both enrolled in a computer science class. One of the most endearing things about this romance was the innocence of their relationship. Neither character had been in a relationship so it was fun watching them figure out their own emotions and their definitions of what it meant to be in the relationship. While this book does not necessarily focus on either character coming out, there are some familial dynamics that are hard for Alexis to get past in regard to her sexuality and gender expression. Weatherspoon did an excellent job illustrating a positive perspective of sex work. There was a conflict involved; however, there was constant positive reinforcement and respect regarding those involved in sex work. There was a level of respect for those involved in sex work. This is definitely something I would love to see more of in romance books or I need to find more romance books that do this.
There were two aspects of this book that I didn't completely enjoy. The first involved some light petting that occurred between the two main characters while they were babysitting. Though it took place out of the sight of the children and no sexual climax was reached it still technically occurred while the children were in the same room. It was just a little awkward for me as a reader. Secondly, I did not enjoy the conflict resolution at all. Trisha had every right to handle the situation the way that she did. I thought it was fairly interesting the way that Alexis attempted to confront her parents. It didn't match the intense rift that was described earlier in the book between Alexis and her father so it felt weird when he simply moved on from the situation. I'm not saying that Alexis or Trisha shouldn't have gotten their happy ending, but I think there could be some misleading aspects regarding how bad the relationship is between Alexis and her father. I also wish that there could have been more exploration of Black women in computer science. It was a small, side conflict; however, I would have loved to see this developed more.
Overall, I thought that this book was sweet, endearing, and HOT (closets, bathrooms, oh my). This is my first Weatherspoon book so I'm definitely looking forward to reading more from her....more
Read for the HHR (Historical Romance Readathon 2021). This was everything! And proof that there are historical romances that exists outside of Europe Read for the HHR (Historical Romance Readathon 2021). This was everything! And proof that there are historical romances that exists outside of Europe that feature romance between Black characters
This was really good! I've heard about the Men of Valor books on a couple of blogs so I thought that I would read it for the historical romance readathon. It focuses on a woman named Adaku who is completely and totally against her arranged marriage to Obinna. However, they've been married for ayear and she hasn't had any children yet which looks bad within her community. Little does she know, Obinna is attracted to her and really wants them to live together as husband and wife, but patiently waits for her to fall in love with him.
This book was hot! Hotter than I expected it to be because Adaku is initially against any form of a relationship with Obinna. However, he had so much respect for her and no matter how much he desired her he waited until she wanted to be with him or until she fell in love with him. I commend him because after a year I would have given up, but something in his heart/soul told him to wait and be patient for her. And their journey in getting to that point is absolutely beautiful. To be so short I was so connected to their partnership and was rooting for Adaku to get out her feelings and see what a good man Obinna was being to her. I took off a star because I think that the drama at the end was a bit unrealistic and could have been developed in a more affective way. I understood where the author was going with it but I almost felt like it didn't need to happen. I was content as a reader with the book solely focusing on the relationship. Neverthless, the story was great and I enjoyed Taye's writing. I'm definitely looking forward to reading the rest of the books in the series.
Merged review:
Read for the HHR (Historical Romance Readathon 2021). This was everything! And proof that there are historical romances that exists outside of Europe that feature romance between Black characters
This was really good! I've heard about the Men of Valor books on a couple of blogs so I thought that I would read it for the historical romance readathon. It focuses on a woman named Adaku who is completely and totally against her arranged marriage to Obinna. However, they've been married for ayear and she hasn't had any children yet which looks bad within her community. Little does she know, Obinna is attracted to her and really wants them to live together as husband and wife, but patiently waits for her to fall in love with him.
This book was hot! Hotter than I expected it to be because Adaku is initially against any form of a relationship with Obinna. However, he had so much respect for her and no matter how much he desired her he waited until she wanted to be with him or until she fell in love with him. I commend him because after a year I would have given up, but something in his heart/soul told him to wait and be patient for her. And their journey in getting to that point is absolutely beautiful. To be so short I was so connected to their partnership and was rooting for Adaku to get out her feelings and see what a good man Obinna was being to her. I took off a star because I think that the drama at the end was a bit unrealistic and could have been developed in a more affective way. I understood where the author was going with it but I almost felt like it didn't need to happen. I was content as a reader with the book solely focusing on the relationship. Neverthless, the story was great and I enjoyed Taye's writing. I'm definitely looking forward to reading the rest of the books in the series....more
Whomp, whomp, whomp.....I didn't like this one ya'll. Not one bit. CW: attempted sexual assault, death of family on & off page, PTSD, ableism, attemptWhomp, whomp, whomp.....I didn't like this one ya'll. Not one bit. CW: attempted sexual assault, death of family on & off page, PTSD, ableism, attempted murder, abuse.
I have this urge to keep up with the books that are trending and popular for a plethora of reasons, but primarily it helps me become better at the work that I do. However, I've been finding that I'm not connecting with nor enjoying the majority of the books that seem to perform the best via social media. Archer's Voice isn't a new title; in fact, it was originally published in 2014. However, with the creation and explosion of social media platforms like Booktok, there has been a resurgence in it's popularity. I would like to say that there were elements of this book that I enjoyed, but I found it to be problematic from being to end. Here are some of my issues:
-The disability rep did not sit well with my spirit. Yes, Archer experienced a great deal of abuse at the hands of a family member that kept him sheltered; however, Sheridan wrote his character in a way that infantilizes him. He reads as inept and unable to function which, in my opinion, is a gross stereotype that many people have regarding disabled people. I didn't like the way Bree addressed him as "my sweet mute boy." It was gross and showed more disrespect than adoration.
-PTSD is not handled well in this book. Clearly both Archer and Bree experience great amounts of trauma that impact the manner in which they interact with others. Not once is therapy or general assistance mentioned. These two just magically heal themselves through love and running away from their problems. It's elements like this that are romanticized and normalized for younger audiences. Archer has some SERIOUS issues that need to be worked out with a professional, but instead Sheridan has him run off to go "find" himself.
-Both Bree and Archer are disgustingly naïve especially when it comes to a specific secondary character.
-I felt nothing in regard to their "romance." I'm not sure what attracted the two of them to each other and quite frankly, I'm not sure why they were in a relationship.
-That ending was a gross sack of shit. It was a way to bait readers into feeling something emotionally that was never going to happen.
This book is definitely going to be one of my worst books of 2024. It's been a while since I've been this disgusted by a book, but here we are. I won't be picking up anything else in this series....more
Ya'll out here giving this book 5 stars? HOWWWWWWWWWW?!?
Reading this was worse than my experience reading Fourth Wing. How do you start a plot and theYa'll out here giving this book 5 stars? HOWWWWWWWWWW?!?
Reading this was worse than my experience reading Fourth Wing. How do you start a plot and then completely ignore it and drop it!? Shit apparently anything that goes viral on TikTok is deemed worthy of being a good book! LIESSSSSSSS!
How does one write such cringe sex scenes? How does one create such flat and one dimensional characters?
Listen, I gave it a chance. I read it and I'm glad it's over. If you love this book then more power you too, but hell to the nah nah nah. Ain't no way ya'll will catch me saying this shit was even remotely entertaining or romantic....more
If there's anything certain in life, it's that Abby Jimenez is going to make you cry! What a beautifully crafted novella. Because this is so short theIf there's anything certain in life, it's that Abby Jimenez is going to make you cry! What a beautifully crafted novella. Because this is so short there isn't much that I would like to reveal in regard to the plot, but this was great. I connected with this in a way that was unexpected and part of me wishes that Abby would have considered making this a full length novel. Definitely check this one out if you have the time!...more
I'm typically not a huge fan of Christina Lauren, but I actually enjoyed this one!
The Exception to the Rule is part of the Amazon Improbable Meet CutI'm typically not a huge fan of Christina Lauren, but I actually enjoyed this one!
The Exception to the Rule is part of the Amazon Improbable Meet Cute series. This specific installment follows two main characters who meet via their school district email when the hero accidentally emails the heroine instead of a teacher. The two begin to email each other every Valentine's Day as a way to check in with each other. This goes on for years and as the novella progresses, readers begin to figure out who the two characters are and whether they've ever crossed paths. For a novella, I found this to be short, sweet, and engaging. The romance between the two characters was actually believable. Their interactions were authentic and somehow Christina Lauren was able to create beautiful pacing around the years that passed between the two characters. I'm not sure if the rest of the series will be this good, but this was a strong way to start off the collection....more
I must admit that this one definitely felt a little similar to book #2. I think I understand where people are coming from where they feel like HazelwoI must admit that this one definitely felt a little similar to book #2. I think I understand where people are coming from where they feel like Hazelwood uses a blueprint for a lot of her books. Granted, this still has it's charming moments and as someone who's not into science or math, I find those specific elements to be intriguing. However, her characters could use more personality. They feel like carbon copies of each other with name changes. It'll be interesting once I transition into reading her longer books....more
This wasn’t as strong as the first one, but I liked the style of this and how it was told in flashbacks. I’m not a fan of miscommunication so if that’This wasn’t as strong as the first one, but I liked the style of this and how it was told in flashbacks. I’m not a fan of miscommunication so if that’s an issue for you as well then I would keep that in mind before diving into this one. ...more
I’m a fan of forced proximity so when the two main characters were forced to share the same house, I kMy first Ali Hazelwood and it wasn’t a bad read!
I’m a fan of forced proximity so when the two main characters were forced to share the same house, I knew it would make for an interesting story. I wouldn’t go into this expecting much because it is a novella; however, I think it would have been nice for the end to be a little more flushed out. It felt extremely abrupt and didn’t give me the satisfaction I was looking for....more
This wasn't my first time reading Jessa Kane but I'm always surprised by her storylines. This is queen and plus sized bodyguard roThis was interesting
This wasn't my first time reading Jessa Kane but I'm always surprised by her storylines. This is queen and plus sized bodyguard romance that has a historical romance vibe to it. While the plot moved quickly, there were some sections that felt a tad underdeveloped. The sex scenes were well done and it was clear how much the two really cared for each other. I wouldn't expect much world development with this one because it's short like Kane's other works but I thought it was a solid read. 3.5 Stars. ...more
I'm not going to lie to you. I'm usually opposed to contemporary romance books being this long, but my friends this worked for me!
Apparently, In a JamI'm not going to lie to you. I'm usually opposed to contemporary romance books being this long, but my friends this worked for me!
Apparently, In a Jam received a lot of buzz last year and I wasn't around for any of it. Hyped books and I are like water and oil. We typically don't work, but I'm happy to say that Kate Canterbary stuck her foot in this one and wrote the hell out of these characters and this story. It follows main characters, Shay and Noah who find themselves in a marriage of convenience after Shay moves to the small town after inheriting her step-grandmothers farm. The two were close in high school, but find themselves having to get to know each other again as adults. Shay has trust issues and is constantly stuck in her head after being left at the alter by her asshole ex fiancé. Noah is not only attempting to manage his business, but he's also left raising his fun, charming niece Gennie. What develops between these two is one of the most well-written romances I've read this year.
What Worked: Everything. This book was so well done! From the character development to the pacing of the romance, it was clear that Caterbary knew what she was doing. Shay and Noah have a prior relationship due to their friendship in high school, but I was happy to see a certain level of unfamiliarity exist between the two. It meant that they had to work towards making their relationship work. Preconceived notions that came from the past, insecurities that came from the past all had to be worked through in order for them to find their HEA. And the journey these two went through felt REAL. One of my biggest gripes with romance books is when the relationship doesn't feel real and I feel disconnected to the characters. I was fully connected to both Shay and Noah. And to be quite honest, if I don't have man love me like Noah, I don't want it at all. His love for Shay literally came off of every single page. Canterbary also did a great job developing Gennie. It's hard to write children if it's not what you normally do and it's even more difficult to incorporate them into a romance. Gennie's back story is sad and heartbreaking, but the interactions she shared with Shay made her future feel so hopeful and reminded readers that Gennie would be constantly adored and cared for regardless of the romance that was developing between Shay and Noah. While most of the book is spent on the relationship between the main characters, it was great to get more insight to the town (i.e. the farmers market) and other side characters. It made for a well rounded reading experience.
Overall, I absolutely adored this book and I'm definitely looking forward to checking out more by Kate in the future....more
See, I need more romances with older characters. The maturity speaks to me on a completely different level. CW: pan/biphobia, distressing family dynamSee, I need more romances with older characters. The maturity speaks to me on a completely different level. CW: pan/biphobia, distressing family dynamics. 4.5 Stars
Role Playing is everything that I need in my adult romances. It follows two main characters, Maggie and Aiden, who are older, each dealing with troubles in their interpersonal relationships. Maggie's son has left home and she's determined to remain a hermit until her son forces her not to. Aiden's ex-fiancé is now engaged to his brother and he is left to take care of his aging mother as she attempts to meddle in his romantic life. Both Aiden and Maggie end up joining an online gaming community to get away from the troubles of their life while also finding new ways to socialize with others. What starts as a cute, realistic friendship ends up turning into a mature, grown romance.
What Worked: Cathy Yardley can write her ass off! It's been a while since I've read a romance with older characters, but Maggie and Aiden feel so real. I'm not in my 40's yet; however, this urge to keep to myself and be a hermit was relatable. The struggles that Aiden faces with his family is something that I've experienced first hand. The way in which Yardley captures the emotional toil and impact on Aiden is spot on. I also appreciated the geekiness and the dynamics of their relationship. I used to game a lot more when I was younger and I must say reading about their gaming escapades was fun and gave me a sense of nostalgia. While I don't want to completely spoil the nature of their relationship, I will say that they are a sounding board for each other. They support each other in all facets of their experiences including sexual identity. There is a specific scene in the book where Maggie reads Aiden's family and his ex-fiancé for fucking filth and I appreciated every single moment. Although it took them to a while to process their feelings for each other, their romance developed in a way that was mature and grown and as someone who is close to their mid 30's, I'm learning that I prefer to have those elements in my romance than those meant for younger audiences. This book was a breeze and easy to read and beautifully written.
What Didn't Work: Their romance was a little to slow burn for me, but I understand the intentions that Yardley had for their development.
Overall, this was an amazing read. I enjoyed every second of reading it and I'm looking forward to checking out more books by Cathy Yardley in the future....more
This is my second book by Tuesday Harper! She is my go to when I'm interested in reading more Black sapphic romances. While this wasn't the most actioThis is my second book by Tuesday Harper! She is my go to when I'm interested in reading more Black sapphic romances. While this wasn't the most action packed read, I found it to be hot and steamy and a quick read. It follows two characters Simone and Kenya who meet in a coffee shop. Their attraction to each other is immediate and they begin what might be a world wind romance. There isn't much to this, but if you're looking for fun characters and good voyeuristic sex then I would definitely check this out....more
Bookishrealm
>
Books:
adult-romance
(287)
Loading...
