A romance between bodyguard Walker and housekeeper Sloane. Sloane has a mysterious past, but has been able to hide in Scotland employed at a private cA romance between bodyguard Walker and housekeeper Sloane. Sloane has a mysterious past, but has been able to hide in Scotland employed at a private club retreat for the rich and famous. Walker is a guard that works at the estate. Sparks fly between the two, but Walker is wary of getting serious with the sweet, single mother.
Maybe it's just me, but as I've been reading the Adair series by Samantha Young, and now this spinoff series... these books have become a little bit too formulaic for me. I'll still read anything Young writes as she's one of my favorite authors, but this book felt overly long and I predicted just about every major event that happened. I'm curious about North and Aria's story, so hopefully that one will be good....more
It's not the fault of this book that I don't care for novellas but even though books 1 and 2 of this series were five star reads for me, th 3.5 stars
It's not the fault of this book that I don't care for novellas but even though books 1 and 2 of this series were five star reads for me, this one was too short for me to be invested/love it. Taking place between books 2 and 3, this novella follows Mallory as she follows a housemaid into an underground crime ring.
I mostly read this so I wouldn't be confused reading book 3. Lots of little tidbits and new characters thrown in here that I think will become important. I wish this book was in audio as I think I would have enjoyed it much more in that format....more
There's a reason I'll read anything Samantha Young writes, because every once in a while she will write a book that's so deliciously angsty 5 stars!
There's a reason I'll read anything Samantha Young writes, because every once in a while she will write a book that's so deliciously angsty and perfect and it just hits you in the feels. This is the fifth book in a series and can be read as a standalone but obviously you get more if you read the four books before this one. After books 3 and 4 were three star reads, I wasn't as excited to read this one but read lots of reviews loving it so I gave it a chance and I am so glad I did.
Only You is the second chance romance between Monroe and Brodan. The two pined for each other as teenagers, but when Monroe made a mistake, they were separated for almost twenty years. Now, Monroe and Brodan have moved back to their small Scottish village, and the two cannot seem to forgive one another for past mistakes.
When I tell you this hit my angsty spot, I am not exaggerating. I devoured this book and was genuinely sad it was over even though it's almost 400 pages. If there's one thing Samantha Young does well, it's angst and pining. I wish more of her recent books were like this one. One of my favorites of 2024 and I will be reading the spinoff series asap!...more
A fun and spicy queer hockey romance, MUCH better than the first book. Not a complete 5 star read because of some issues with it (view spoiler)[ casuaA fun and spicy queer hockey romance, MUCH better than the first book. Not a complete 5 star read because of some issues with it (view spoiler)[ casual racism in descriptions of a character (hide spoiler)] and this is definitely like, a fantasy hockey league that does not follow real life rules (for obvious plot reasons).
Not sure if I would read the rest of the series though....more
Alright, I guess once again I do not understand the hype. This book is a viral sensation and lots of my friends loved it. I personally thought it was Alright, I guess once again I do not understand the hype. This book is a viral sensation and lots of my friends loved it. I personally thought it was cliché and overly long. I've also noticed I don't love this new indie romance trend of massively long books with no plots, my preferences just don't align with what's popular right now.
In general, I don't mind long books IF and only IF it furthers the plot in a meaningful way. That was not the case with this book. By about 60% I started skimming just to get through the dang book. I just thought it was repetitive and not a lot of things were moving the story forward until the very end. The best parts of this book were when the main characters were dealing with their family trauma, and those bits were glossed over at the end....more
I am absolute garbage for Samantha Young and will read anything this woman writes.
I don't have too much to say about this one except it fe 3.5 stars
I am absolute garbage for Samantha Young and will read anything this woman writes.
I don't have too much to say about this one except it felt like a watered down On Dublin Street with more suspense/mystery thrown in. Some parts I enjoyed, but it was mostly predictable and was honestly a little bit too sweet/cheesy for my reading tastes.
Regardless of how I felt about this book, Samantha Young will always be a "shut up and take my money" author....more
An odd little short story that would have worked better as a full length novel for me. I heard this started out as a screenplay, which makes a lot of An odd little short story that would have worked better as a full length novel for me. I heard this started out as a screenplay, which makes a lot of sense. I think had some of the beginning been less confusing as to when portals came into play, I would have liked it more. I didn't really love either main character.
Definitely a "liked it" three star read. Not really interested in more of this universe....more
Novella between Hallowed and Boundless about Clara and Angela's summer in Italy together. I never read it the first time I read the series and that waNovella between Hallowed and Boundless about Clara and Angela's summer in Italy together. I never read it the first time I read the series and that was dumb of me because there's some important information in this. Plus it was great to see Angela's perspective on some things. Now it's time to reread Boundless!...more
Is this book a complete rip off of Throne of Glass? Yes
Is this book poorly written? Yes
Did I still enjoy reading it? Somewhat yes
So I 2.5 stars
Is this book a complete rip off of Throne of Glass? Yes
Is this book poorly written? Yes
Did I still enjoy reading it? Somewhat yes
So I finished the book and didn't DNF it, that says a lot. I actually mostly enjoyed the first 70% of this book, but overall it was just okay. It felt simultaneously a rip off of multiple famous books (Throne of Glass, The Hunger Games, Divergent, Harry Potter 4) with weird "easter eggs" thrown in that really took me out of the book more than anything. I think the author tried but there were too many things with this book that didn't work for me in the end. Not sure I'd be willing to read more in this series....more
A human adopted by the King of Vampires, Oraya has spent her life in survival mode. When the Kejari tournament is coming, Oraya signs up for 4 stars
A human adopted by the King of Vampires, Oraya has spent her life in survival mode. When the Kejari tournament is coming, Oraya signs up for a fight to the death in order to be granted a wish from the goddess herself. During the tournament she meets the vampire Raihn, who is dangerous, but the two strike up an alliance to make it to the end of the Kejari.
This book started out really slow and I almost called it quits, but I pushed through and right at the right time it picked up. It's not the most unique or original, but it has a compulsive reading quality to it and the last 30% of the book I couldn't put it down. I liked both of the main characters a lot, Oraya is an interesting heroine who always has to be on guard. Raihn was the vampire we didn't expect, who behaves almost human. The romance was very well done and I enjoyed being along for the ride while reading this book. I must dive into book two asap!...more
Scarred is a retelling of The Lion King (already a retelling of Hamlet) where Scar the villain, is actually notI'm not sure if dark romance is for me.
Scarred is a retelling of The Lion King (already a retelling of Hamlet) where Scar the villain, is actually not the bad buy. Well, he's still a bad guy, but in this he's the good, bad guy? Honestly it wasn't clear. And I would have gladly taken this book seriously if not for the bad renaming of characters and just an overall incoherent plot. Like the family name was Faasa? Michael Faasa? Mmmm-fasa? I had a physical reaction every time I saw that name in writing.
And like what redeeming quality was there to Tristan? He was still a bad ruler, like he tortured and murdered people in graphic ways on the page but then I am supposed to be rooting for him to become king? And same with Sara like, her whole personality was revenge and once that was gone what did we have? I don't know, maybe I am overthinking this....more
A really sweet grumpy sunshine romance that takes place in the summer of 1960. After graduating college, Caleb needs a ride to Los Angeles for a new jA really sweet grumpy sunshine romance that takes place in the summer of 1960. After graduating college, Caleb needs a ride to Los Angeles for a new job. When Caleb can't afford the bus ticket, his classmate Peter Cabot offers to give him a ride. At first the two men seem to have nothing in common, but after long days spent together in cars and motel rooms, something more begins to develop.
This short novel was such a breath of fresh air. Grump sunshine dynamic with a dusting of them both being adorably blind at some points, I loved following along with these two on their road trips. Even though they are driving through the south during the 1960's, the car and enclosed motel rooms created safe spaces so these characters could be themselves without fear overwhelming the story. I really enjoyed reading this and now need to read way more of Cat Sebastian's backlist....more
Honestly this book would have had a 4 or 4.5 rating if it wasn’t over 500 pages. Because oh my god this took me FOREVER to finish reading.
R 3.5 stars
Honestly this book would have had a 4 or 4.5 rating if it wasn’t over 500 pages. Because oh my god this took me FOREVER to finish reading.
Runaway bride Naomi drops everything to help her evil sister when she asks for help. What that means is, Naomi is soon robbed of her cash and her car, and dumped with the niece she never knew she had in a small town in the middle of nowhere. There, local businessman Knox helps her get back on her feet (but he grumbles as he does it). Know may be a moody viking, but he sure seems to have a thing for Naomi.
I really enjoyed the first half of this book despite the immaturity of the two main characters (who are in their 30’s and 40’s I’d like to add). The book and its many characters does have some charm to it. But it was too long and trying to finish this book began to feel like a chore. Did I enjoy it? Mostly. Waylay was my favorite character. But as much as Knox did for Naomi and Waylay, I really wish this man had done more to get his crap together than just a mad dash of it in the last 10% of the book.
This was my first Lucy Score book and even though I liked but didn’t love this book, I’d be willing to try more by her in the future. Also I do love that this romance cover didn't have cartoons on it. I appreciate that more than you can know....more
I was really excited for this book and I thought I would love it, but it really didn’t work for me. The writing style was difficult for me to 2 stars
I was really excited for this book and I thought I would love it, but it really didn’t work for me. The writing style was difficult for me to get into and the story was so incredibly slow (and yet nothing seemed to be happening at the same time). Maybe I’ll try another one of Dade’s books in an audiobook format in the future, but not anytime soon....more
Slave to Sensation has been on my tbr shelf as a paperback and ebook for YEARS. I always meant to get to it and never did. And then it became a book cSlave to Sensation has been on my tbr shelf as a paperback and ebook for YEARS. I always meant to get to it and never did. And then it became a book club book and I got so dang excited for an excuse to bump this one up.
I’ve read a few Nalini Singh books throughout the years and she truly is one of the best writers we have in the romance genre, especially paranormal romance. Her worldbuilding is top tier and reading this book I was full engrossed in the psy-changeling world.
Slave to Sensation is about Sascha, a Psy who is assigned to work with a Hunter changeling on a business project. Sascha has been hiding from the entire Psy community her entire life what she truly is: broken. For if they found out she could feel, she would be eliminated. Lucas is drawn to her right away, but most importantly he needs her to help track a Psy serial killer.
I really enjoyed this book and I am glad there are already so many books in this series because I can just dive into all of them if I want to. I love in shifter romance when we get a possessive yet loving hero and Lucas was just perfect. Mostly I loved Sascha’s journey of discovering what her life could be and letting go of her toxic community and background. I think a lot of this book was a metaphor for leaving toxic home situations and a new life with a found family. I absolutely loved it and I am excited to read more....more
A cute little novella with a lot of promise. I'm excited to read the next book!A cute little novella with a lot of promise. I'm excited to read the next book!...more
Bartender Abby doesn’t date. After a very rough first relationship, and then hearing her bar patrons’ woes for years she is convinced she doe 4 stars
Bartender Abby doesn’t date. After a very rough first relationship, and then hearing her bar patrons’ woes for years she is convinced she doesn’t want to be in a romantic relationship. But then Rex, her childhood/teen crush walks into her bar after she hasn’t seen him for over a decade. Rex got the nickname training wheels because every woman he ever dated ended up marrying the man they dated after Rex. And so now Rex has a proposition for Abby.
I’m not sure what I expected from this book, but it was unexpected in the best possible way. I went in mostly blind and enjoyed it a lot. Marriage of convenience is one of my favorite romance tropes and this was such a fun take on that. This book was a great mixture of plot and dialogue, I loved when Abby and Rex were together, but I also enjoyed the book when they weren’t.
There’s something really sweet about a romance where your high school crush finally sees you for the person you are. I’m not one for the whole “fantasy” thing that played out in the book but it did really work for this story. Also I think Penny Reid has a thing for limos because this is the second book of hers with a spicy limo scene....more
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