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charliauthor's reviews
524 reviews
The Ritual by Shantel Tessier
dark
medium-paced
3.5
The MMC is called Ryat and with a name like that he really had to be doing a lot and i loved that he did.
There was a much better of the understanding of the LORDS set up as id mistakenly read book 3 before this one and was super confused.
But once I got my head around it I did like the idea of a secret society of men that literally run the world, simply because this is not so far-fetched.
I did like the unapologetic darkness of this book. It did not pull any punches and the MMC didn’t hold back so it was dark as dark could be and I really appreciated that. I could’ve dealt with less aggressive lovemaking on occasion to break it up but then completely understand why this was in relation to the genre.
The FMC wasnt annoying and more forthright than most which i liked and which helped their relationship have more depth. Defo one for the super dark girlies
There was a much better of the understanding of the LORDS set up as id mistakenly read book 3 before this one and was super confused.
But once I got my head around it I did like the idea of a secret society of men that literally run the world, simply because this is not so far-fetched.
I did like the unapologetic darkness of this book. It did not pull any punches and the MMC didn’t hold back so it was dark as dark could be and I really appreciated that. I could’ve dealt with less aggressive lovemaking on occasion to break it up but then completely understand why this was in relation to the genre.
The FMC wasnt annoying and more forthright than most which i liked and which helped their relationship have more depth. Defo one for the super dark girlies
Sinner by Sierra Simone
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This was decent. I had a great time at the start as i found MMC Sean absolutely hilarious. I was pleasantly surprised by this being an IR couple without the description of the woman made to feel like some kind of fetish. I would have preferred there to be no racial element in this whatsoever but the part that did include this was handled well which i appreciated.
Ive rounded up because i enjoyed more of it then i didnt but considering its called Sinner, i did expect Sean to be a little bit more depraved then he was. Being hedonistic didnt really make him bad in my eyes so i wouldve like the book to have leaned into that a bit more. I also wasnt a fine of the teacher element of their coupling. I didnt need him explaining everything he was doing which made it really clinical rather than sexy.
This was also the case for FMC Zenny. Not a huge fan of a Black girl named Zenobia lol but aside from that she didnt have that much personality. Where Sean had it in spades, Zenny felt rigid with her intelligence and faith so i didnt really know her as much as i did Sean.
It actually gets quite emotional at times but overall i did enjoy just wouldve liked it darker i think
Ive rounded up because i enjoyed more of it then i didnt but considering its called Sinner, i did expect Sean to be a little bit more depraved then he was. Being hedonistic didnt really make him bad in my eyes so i wouldve like the book to have leaned into that a bit more. I also wasnt a fine of the teacher element of their coupling. I didnt need him explaining everything he was doing which made it really clinical rather than sexy.
This was also the case for FMC Zenny. Not a huge fan of a Black girl named Zenobia lol but aside from that she didnt have that much personality. Where Sean had it in spades, Zenny felt rigid with her intelligence and faith so i didnt really know her as much as i did Sean.
It actually gets quite emotional at times but overall i did enjoy just wouldve liked it darker i think
Twenty-Four Seconds From Now by Jason Reynolds
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.25
I really enjoyed the start, i struggled a bit with the middle but loved the end. This was super cute and to read about such a vulnerable time in a young boys life and all the moments that built up to it was really sweet. I struggled mostly with the speech because even though i knew it was indicative of the characters and the culture, i found myself having to re read things because my brain kept telling me id read it wrong when really thats just how they speak lol i did get a little frustrated with the time jumps at the start because when they got to a significant part, it would rewind which got a little frustrating. But as i said, it all comes together in the end and is super cute and sweet and heartfelt and i ended up really enjoying it
Lights Out by Navessa Allen
3.75
Haha this was really good! This was recommended by a friend and i practically devoured it. Let down I felt by the dragged out ending that turned into some bonnie and clyde mafia detective thing when it started out more kink fest. Either way, it was really funny and actually had a lot of heart. A cinnamon roll son of a serial unaliver wasnt something i thought i would ever need lol Josh is the sweetest little weirdo i've read in a long time and i had a thoroughly good time. the smut was smutting even though it felt quite congested at the end.
I respected how honest it was about kinks and the realistic nature of how one would deal with this stalker nature and i found it quite clever. a good FMC with common sense and good banter throughout, i thought it was good.
I respected how honest it was about kinks and the realistic nature of how one would deal with this stalker nature and i found it quite clever. a good FMC with common sense and good banter throughout, i thought it was good.
Christmas With the Wrights by Christina C. Jones
2.25
Even though it was a quick novella with much of the same, it felt too rushed for me and came a little out of left field. I did like the sexy times as usual but it just didnt have the same heart as the full novels
One Week in Paradise by Anise Starre
3.0
I enjoyed this well enough and mostly because it was a surprise that it was set in London. I wasnt a great fan of the influencer element simply because i find their existence so grating lol but other than that, it was a cute love story even if a little obvious.
I didnt understand how Bailey didnt catch on quick enough that Caspian liked her. It was so obvious that it felt silly to have drawn it out for so long.
I didnt understand how Bailey didnt catch on quick enough that Caspian liked her. It was so obvious that it felt silly to have drawn it out for so long.
One Last Job by Anise Starre
2.75
I didnt love this one as much as the others because again it felt too drawn out for no real reason. I liked the dynamic of Amber and Finn. The grumpy sunshine trope is always a good one and there was some added emotion with Amber's parents which i liked. However, where this was let down for me was the lack of spice. Simply for my tastes, it was too drawn out for not enough pay off
Dario by Olivia Thorn
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Bending The Rules by Christina C. Jones
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
The reasons this series is enjoyable continue to run throughout. The family dynamic, the hot brothers, the good smut, the strong and beautiful Black women, its all great. What I didnt love so much about this one was the back and forth between Justin and Toni when they knew full well they wanted to be together. The miscommunication or in this case just straight up not talking got really annoying by the fiftieth time they did it and i just wanted it to get to the reconciliation!
once it did however, it was super cutesy and i loved the epilogue seeing all the brothers getting their happily ever afters.
This is positive Black love in abundance and i really enjoy them. I'd happily pick up more from this author because she is also extremely funny and i love the dialogue and the banter!
once it did however, it was super cutesy and i loved the epilogue seeing all the brothers getting their happily ever afters.
This is positive Black love in abundance and i really enjoy them. I'd happily pick up more from this author because she is also extremely funny and i love the dialogue and the banter!
Pulling Doubles by Christina C. Jones
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I really enjoyed this. I loved the family dynamic of the Wright brothers and how they interact with their women and their father. Theyre so respectful and sweet but when they start getting at each other and having banter its really funny which i appreciate because its so relatable.
I loved that the AAVE was in the dialogue but that the book was still written standardly so it didnt start to read confusing in parts.
The smut is good from this author and will always be top tier because it features Black love which Im always a fan of. The men are hot hot hot and the addition of Joseph being a doctor was even hotter.
I loved that the AAVE was in the dialogue but that the book was still written standardly so it didnt start to read confusing in parts.
The smut is good from this author and will always be top tier because it features Black love which Im always a fan of. The men are hot hot hot and the addition of Joseph being a doctor was even hotter.