Review: Suddenly Us

Suddenly Us by Claudia Y. Burgoa
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Note: I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Note 2: This is a duet. Please read in order. Suddenly Broken is the first book, and ends on a cliffhanger. Suddenly Us is the final book in the duet.

Triggers: death, divorce, emotional abuse, toxic relationships, drug abuse, brief violence, miscarriage mention.

My previous review for Suddenly Broken: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Wow this book was one hell of a scorching and banger read!

I truly enjoyed this conclusion.

The same emotions and plot line follow us as Mason and Ainsley figure out who they are to each other, while battling the same demons holding them back from living life, but with the help of side characters and a few enemies to push them along to realise who they truly are to each other and live life to the fullest.

As always I loved the emotions behind it all, the chemistry, the emotions the development they all go through as they age and learn a lot more about themselves and the people, and their own traumas. I loved how the side characters supported them too and all, it was wonderful. The enemies and drama did tend to get on my nerves since I feel the novel could've been shorter. The steam was supreme in this one, and the romance too was damn cute and sweet, I fell in love immediately.

And I even forgive Mason's antics at the end. Because damn it the hero was just so worth it.

And I loved them together so much.

Thanks Claudia for making me wanna fall in love and snatch Mason away hahah!

Loved it.

Until the next read,

-TMR

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Review: Suddenly Broken

Suddenly Broken by Claudia Y. Burgoa
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Note: This is a duet. Please read in order, as book 1 ends on a cliffhanger. Suddenly Us is the next and final book in the duet.

Trigger Warnings: infidelity, drug abuse, emotional abuse, infant death, divorce, separation, abusive relationship, alcoholism, abandonment.

Damn this book tore me apart, made me cry bloody tears (well almost), and made me wanna sing to the rooftops above my home!

Yeah it was that much of a surreal, emotional, personal and realistic as it can be novel. Loved it so much!

Nine and Mason made me wanna fall in love, and not just anyone, but a best friend. Cause honestly, who knows you better than your best friend.
Yet were so different in many ways.

Nine came from music royalty and was a daughter to two closeted gay famous fellas, and her brothers were rock royalty on their own too. While she was the pretty but very much duckling in this whole shebang.

Mason came from his own set of problems - his parents were difficult people as promised - and his father turned him into some sort of a clark kent ubergenius with war weapons kinda man, and I was digging it.

Obviously the parents knew each other hence the friendship blossoming.

Then a curiosity of wanting to explore between Nine and Mason, coupled with dealing with their own demons as always, familial problems, achieving dreams and just being their real honest self when everyone wants to quash that part of you so bad.

I loved the realism of it all, the emotions, the confessions, the groveling, the connection between them, the banter, the relatability of how they both get through their problems, the side characters - no the parents were sh**y people - everything was just so damn deep and discomforting, and truthful and emotional and aaaaah what else can I say, it was perfection!

Only problem - was that Nine was a bit too stupid and it carried on for a bit longer than I wanted, plus the parents behaviour made me wanna hurl something - cause the drama was just too long I felt.

But whatever, I still loved this novel to pieces and so.

Can't wait for the next and final part! It's gonna answer so many questions and finally get the HEA for this loved up fucked up couple haha.

PLus the next part is already out, so have fun too, like me while reading it haha! Just loved this one so much haha.

Until the next read,

-TMR

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Review: Always You

Always You by Claudia Y. Burgoa
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Note: I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Trigger Warnings: suicide, infidelity, found family, financial settlement issues, breast cancer death.

I loved Nando and Brianna! Though Brianna was a bit forgettable towards the end, but Nando was truly one of a kind.

I loved his approach on love and how to make couples stay together, despite him having his own tragic childhood and difficult parents with their own difficult marriage.

And Brianna was...I've honestly forgotten what her life was all about, something to do with bed and breakfasts, and her father not being able to manage on his own since her mother died. Something something.

And nando and her became friends after her going to new york and getting a tour guide/friend in him.

Then a friendship develops, coupled with their own demons, familial problems, and life.

But then chemistry develops and well the rest is history.

I loved being around them, the development was done well, the connection was definitely deep between them, the adventures and the hilarious communication between them was epic, and just how everyone meshed together so well, including some familiar faces playing cameos in here (here's looking at ya Beacon).

I loved it all so much. But then Claudia writes so brilliantly, so how could I not?

She made me want to believe in love, oh, what a feat to achieve for sure haha.

But I am glad I met this couple, and honestly I never want to let them go from my heart.

Sigh...

Until the next read,

-TMR

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Review: Wounded Kiss

Wounded Kiss by Willow Winters
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



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Review: Gentle Scars

Gentle Scars by Willow Winters
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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Review: Reckless Hands

Reckless Hands by T.L. Smith
My rating: 1 of 5 stars



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Review: To Want You

To Want You by N. Isabelle Blanco
My rating: 1 of 5 stars



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Review: The Dragon's Pledge

The Dragon's Pledge by Marie Johnston
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



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Review: Bewitched

Bewitched by Elise Faber
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Note: I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Trigger Warnings: child abuse, domestic violence, abandonment, reproductive issues, ptsd, trauma, surrogacy, survivor's guilt

Beth and Raph are soooo unexpected!

Honestly...I mean they're both different in a lot of ways.

I mean Beth has no trouble being a surrogate for friends Pru and Marcel...after Pru's unfortunate life circumstances. And just being a happy go lucky, charismatic person.

Raph is a bit drawn-in, after been dealt a harsh card of nonexistent two liners, and now stays away from relationships for fear of being made a fool again.

Unlikely people...meeting in the most likely of circumstances..blame it on the friends honestly haha.

And then sparks fly essentially..we have a little drama too, and some heartfelt confessions, but the rest is awesome history for sure.

Now as usual, I enjoy Elise's writing, as it was just so smooth, relatable, casual, heartfelt and tons of fun to read.

I mean the character development from that writing was just so well crafted, the demons accosting both my poor MCs, the romantic and steamy confessions, the friends, the breakers hockey family, everything was just done so well and all. Even the most difficult issues, such as mental health issue (PTSD), child abuse, survivor's guilt, trauma, grief of a parent, was truly covered beautifully and heart-warmingly without triggering anyone I believe in any way. And I am glad I got to read about a hero who was willing to support his woman through those difficult battles and come fighting on the other side. It was beautiful and my heart never felt so full.

I also connected with all the characters so much, even loved seeing the cameos from previous characters, and just loved being with all of them again.

Truly, I enjoyed being with all of them again. But I will especially enjoy it more when Cas and Jules's story is up next. Gah, I cannot wait!

Until the next read,

-TMR

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Review: Lie to Me (The Layla Duet Complete): Book 1 and 2

Lie to Me (The Layla Duet Complete): Book 1 and 2 by L Aquila
My rating: 1 of 5 stars
Note: I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review

Note 2: This is a complete duet. So please read in order.

Trigger Warnings: sex trafficking, assault, murder, kidnapping, drugging, torture, infidelity, depression, death, grief.

I don't know what to say about this novel, honestly.

I hated the characters with a heartfelt passion. The romance felt rushed. The steam felt way overdone and unoriginal. The plot was crammed with too many things. The side characters..they were never given a chance to help the novel develop in a more positive direction. And the villains...I think they were the only ones I could tolerate, believe me or not.

Sigh. Such a gorgeous cover, yet the story failed to live up to it. And I mean both parts of this duet.

I couldn't stomach the story enough to finish it properly unfortunately. So I am giving a review of what I did read. Damn, can't believe this will be my first DNF in 2022. But here, we are, I guess a novel does have to be this despicable to be a DNF.

I won't spoil and say exactly what else got on my nerves, but you've got the gist of it.

But if you still want a full-on review, here is a review I found that goes into more detail: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Now I am left unsure if I even want to try a novel again by this author. So disappointed.

Sigh.

Anyway.

Until the next read,

-TMR


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