Billionaire Protector: A Grumpy Single Dad Romance by Emma BlakeMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
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NetGalley Reviewer
Wednesday, August 31, 2022
Review: Billionaire Protector: A Grumpy Single Dad Romance
Billionaire Protector: A Grumpy Single Dad Romance by Emma BlakeMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
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Tuesday, August 30, 2022
Review: Unexpected
Unexpected by Elizabeth AtonMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Note: I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Trigger Warnings: overdose mention, fatal drug use mention, infidelity, poverty, childbirth issues, young child death, asbestos death, abandonment, grief, survivors guilt, trauma (various).
Damn what, what was this novel? I ended up loving it so much more than I thought!
For a debut novel..it sure was emotional chaotic, messy in a good way, and giving me all the serious feels and fangirling swoony moments I could get from Whit and Ava.
Plus this book was incredibly heavy on topics - see above trigger warnings. The situation and the various traumas Ava has to deal with...seriously she's like some kind of a saint to have to tolerate it all and still forge her path through them...despite having almost little to no help to help her heal and and progress.
As for our yummy and hot damn rock god, Whit, he's also gone through his own set of traumas - neglectful parents..and then a crappy partner (crappy is understated), and now raising his own child while still being so young and dealing with fame and fortune. But as we all know, never trust someone who may claim to always be there for you. But Whit was smart luckily.
But of course, sometimes we just want to drown our troubles in something, anything we can find. So one night we succumb to the passion and the tempting nature to forget. But of course, sometimes we want another taste. - the first half of the novel basically.
And then things get more complicated. Unexpected circumstances indeed, haha. But the way they pull through along with their friends..was just so...damn my heart could've died from the mush feelings altogether.
I honestly don't believe my words capture enough of my feelings, thoughts and notes on this novel overall - it was just so very very real and heartwrenching.
I loved it so much - the characters development, the honest to god circumstances depicted of poverty, mental health decline (could've detailed it more), the health issues that were depicted, people of color actually depicted right for once (thank you Elizabeth - we feel seen!), and the romance, the steam, and the angst, and the damn there was just so much...UGH I CANNOT SAY MORE MY HEART MAY BURST FROM FEELINGS! IT WAS SO GLORIOUS AND MADE ME AN ABSOLUTE WRECK - LOVE IT!
But anyway...to summarise...I am definitely looking forward to Undaunted! You've captured my heart Elizabeth. And I hope you continue to treat us to more of your books too.
Until the next read,
-TMR
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Monday, August 29, 2022
Thursday, August 25, 2022
Review: Dad's Best Friend: An Age Gap, Surprise Pregnancy Romance
Dad's Best Friend: An Age Gap, Surprise Pregnancy Romance by Lisa RyanMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
Note: I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a conventional but also unconventional at the same time.
I mean - both the MCs didn’t give a…about their ages and the difference between them. They thoroughly embraced it and just flowed along with it because..who cares. I guess I wish more people embraced age gap romances instead of feeling ashamed of why they loved in real life.
Enough rambling though…
Secondly the steam was on point - I felt midway jealous about not having that same for myself - but then I told myself books do it better haha.
Thirdly the romance - could’ve been fleshed out more - ya know the hearty confessions and such. But meh I was just enjoying myself so much I forgot to care.
Until the next read,
-TMR
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Wednesday, August 24, 2022
Review: The Hidden Love
The Hidden Love by R.J. GrayMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Note: I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Trigger warnings: ptsd, domestic violence (not by MCs), drunk driving death, depression, infidelity (maybe?)
So we have a grieving friend who's suddenly a guardian of a secret her dead friend gave her in clause to her death. Who now has to report back to the dead friend's ex, because the secret is closely connected to the ex.
The ex..meanwhile is living his grit and hard life in the military battling wars, and combat zones (By the way I didn't enjoy the mention of my home country PAK in such a negative context...we've already got problems..don't need more by this publicising), and well lost in the memories of his ex. But when he gets a phone call about the secret...everything changes.
Sparks later fly, after much much dancing around emotions (the headaches I endured while it all happened), but complications arise. But they all battle through it well..and with a lot of confessions and honest discussions. And we get a HEA, yay.
I honestly enjoyed this story a lot. Truly. After the winedown, I didn't think I'd have a very touching book to look to. But here I have, The Hidden Love.
It touched on so many important themes of family, betrayal, ptsd, domestic violence, coming together after grief, and dealing with a child who's having difficulty dealing with death.
And the fun fact - he is getting treatment for his PTSD, so even if it is a part of him, he does know how to deal with it better.
For all these reasons and more - such as superb writing, well developed and likeable characters (even with a bit of whinnying from the FMC), the romance and chemistry playing well, as the meet cute book club girls (gah I loved seeing Brandi - my first favorite girl), it was all done so well, damn.
I'm in honest to god love, and can't think of anything else, but to tell you, to read it, READ IT, READ IT NOW!
That's all.
Until the next read,
-JB
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Monday, August 15, 2022
Review: Ruins of Temptation
Ruins of Temptation by C. HallmanMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
Note: I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Note 2: This is a series. Although the first three books feature a different couple from this book, they are all interconnected. King of Corium, Drop Dead Queen, Broken Kingdom - are Quinton and Aspen's trilogy. Ruins Of Temptation and Reign Of Freedom (Coming August 26th 2022) are Lucas and Delilah's duet. PLEASE READ IN ORDER - THEY ARE ALL CONNECTED.
Trigger warnings:sex trafficking, abandonment, drug use, alcohol use, rape, assault.
To catch yourself up to speed and what my reviews said, here are the reviews for the first three books.
1. King Of Corium: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
2. Drop Dead Queen: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
3. Broken Kingdom: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
To summarise the past stories - Delilah and a few other people in her gang (in the past it used to be Quinton as well) all aspire to torture kill, rape, you know the usual to Aspen due to her father's very heinous crimes and behaviour that affected them, and since she was brought to this school, they thought it would be a perfect way to get their revenge.
But in a very f-ed way, Quinton falls for Aspen, and they communicate about what's really going on (if only they'd try and do it in the past, oh well), which brings a plot twist about her life...but the plot twist also brings a few murders, realisations, and anger and betrayal at the forefront - which then leads to this book.
And a few more punishments as well, to reap for the sins committed to Aspen. Hence why we come to this book.
Now in this book:
Delilah is brought to be tortured, r**ped, any method to bring everyone who tried to hurt Aspen down. But you know..she's a bit different to our past doormat heroines, so she refuses to say anything. And then the torturing begins and well etc.
Lucas is the one - the antihero- the one to bring justice and bring punishment for hurting Aspen (He's a real key figure in Aspen's life).
But you know some things lead to another even while torturing..and they crave well...you know what they crave. I don't have to spell it out for you.
But in the end she runs...takes her chance thanks to kindness, but well the point at the end...cliffhanger to if she makes it or not...sheesh I almost died at that.
So yeah, I did enjoy this book to a certain degree. I probably ended up liking Lucas and Delilah more than the previous couple. Sue me.
At least she had a backbone up to a certain point, that's when the stars fell for me. Regardless, a decent, f-ed up novel, based on revenge and vengeance...and doing whatever it takes to keep your loved ones safe. Also the writing was okay, as well - the novel wasn't too long. The characters had decent f-ed physical chemistry (I know, I can't believe it either), and the side characters were few, but okay I guess in terms of pushing the plot forward.
I just think the book didn't do enough justice to the actual plot. But oh well, maybe Reign of Freedom will calm my qualms.
Until the next read,
-JB
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Thursday, August 11, 2022
Wednesday, August 10, 2022
Sunday, August 7, 2022
Thursday, August 4, 2022
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