Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.61k reviews by:
loverofromance
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
First Impressions
Parting Gifts is a story that just really struck close to the heart for me on this. This book was also a random pick. I so DIDNT plan on reading this one, but you know what, it ended up being such a wonderful experience in being able to pick this one up. It was also a story I just found through the Hoopla catalog and was a treasure. I am not sure why, but I haven’t read much of the standalones in her backlist and as a plus they are all westerns, or American set historicals and we definitely need more of those. I was so intrigued by this story, but I knew from the first page of reading this one that I would be immediately hooked into it. And yeah Lorraine Heath definitely wrote a treasure in this one. Now fair warning that this one will not work for everyone. It does have a original plot, but it has aspects to it that won’t be for everyone.
Summary
When Maddie ends up where her only chance for survival is working in a brothel, she knows that she has no choice in it. But as she is on the auction block for her viriginity, she and everyone else is shocked when widower Charles Lawson, bids on her for a $1000. But what she doesn’t expect is for Charles to offer her marriage and a life and home. She knows that she has little choice but also realizes the kindness that is being offered to her. Charles brings her to his home, introduces her to his children and she begins to form a bond. Then we have third protagonist, which is Jesse, who is the brother to Charles. Jesse has always been a protector and looked out for Charles. He knows that Charles is sick, and is shocked and angry that Charles spent his money on a wife instead of cattle which has been his dream of running a cattle ranch. Even though Jesse and Maddie clash with each other, Jesse tries to be understanding as he knows his brother is dying and will not last very last. But there is a chemistry that slowly builds between Jesse and Maddie, and even though Maddie is married to his brother, there is more happening between them and a destiny that awaits them.
What I Loved
Parting Gifts was a book that really tore me up inside! Now I first want to cover the very apparent issue that may keep some of you from reading this book: cheating. There is some slight cheating. But technically they only kiss a couple of times while Maddie is still married to Charles. Also keep in mind that there is more to WHY Charles marries Maddie in the first place. There isn’t really a romantic love between Charles and Maddie. In their relationship, its strong but its more of a friendship between siblings than what it would be between a husband and wife. Charles has never lost his love for his late wife, who was his soulmate. So while this is a very complex romance, I do think it was highly well nuanced and had such powerful development of the relationships involved here. It does deliver on the emotional overtones, so you definitely will want a box of tissues for this. Another aspect to the story that I thoroughly enjoyed was seeing the kids in this one. I just loved the way in which they connect with Maddie, you can just tell they need that feminine influence on them. It was just beautiful seeing how Maddie made such a powerful impact on the story. There was an aspect to the plot that was….interesting. I wasn’t a big fan of seeing the side plot with Maddie’s background, it just was different as there is no sign of it all from her in the beginning so it was just there suddenly and you are like what lol But I still enjoyed it and honestly I truly loved it because of how well the author delivered the emotion and the heart of the story.
Overall View
Parting Gifts is a powerful impactful story that will resonate deeply with the reader. Its a story of finding one’s self, embrace the good parts of life and learning to accept life’s gifts!
Rating Evaluation:
Plot: 5
World Building:5
Cover: 4
Hero: 5
Heroine: 5
Steam: 3
Heart & Feels: 5
Ending: 5
Parting Gifts is a story that just really struck close to the heart for me on this. This book was also a random pick. I so DIDNT plan on reading this one, but you know what, it ended up being such a wonderful experience in being able to pick this one up. It was also a story I just found through the Hoopla catalog and was a treasure. I am not sure why, but I haven’t read much of the standalones in her backlist and as a plus they are all westerns, or American set historicals and we definitely need more of those. I was so intrigued by this story, but I knew from the first page of reading this one that I would be immediately hooked into it. And yeah Lorraine Heath definitely wrote a treasure in this one. Now fair warning that this one will not work for everyone. It does have a original plot, but it has aspects to it that won’t be for everyone.
Summary
When Maddie ends up where her only chance for survival is working in a brothel, she knows that she has no choice in it. But as she is on the auction block for her viriginity, she and everyone else is shocked when widower Charles Lawson, bids on her for a $1000. But what she doesn’t expect is for Charles to offer her marriage and a life and home. She knows that she has little choice but also realizes the kindness that is being offered to her. Charles brings her to his home, introduces her to his children and she begins to form a bond. Then we have third protagonist, which is Jesse, who is the brother to Charles. Jesse has always been a protector and looked out for Charles. He knows that Charles is sick, and is shocked and angry that Charles spent his money on a wife instead of cattle which has been his dream of running a cattle ranch. Even though Jesse and Maddie clash with each other, Jesse tries to be understanding as he knows his brother is dying and will not last very last. But there is a chemistry that slowly builds between Jesse and Maddie, and even though Maddie is married to his brother, there is more happening between them and a destiny that awaits them.
What I Loved
Parting Gifts was a book that really tore me up inside! Now I first want to cover the very apparent issue that may keep some of you from reading this book: cheating. There is some slight cheating. But technically they only kiss a couple of times while Maddie is still married to Charles. Also keep in mind that there is more to WHY Charles marries Maddie in the first place. There isn’t really a romantic love between Charles and Maddie. In their relationship, its strong but its more of a friendship between siblings than what it would be between a husband and wife. Charles has never lost his love for his late wife, who was his soulmate. So while this is a very complex romance, I do think it was highly well nuanced and had such powerful development of the relationships involved here. It does deliver on the emotional overtones, so you definitely will want a box of tissues for this. Another aspect to the story that I thoroughly enjoyed was seeing the kids in this one. I just loved the way in which they connect with Maddie, you can just tell they need that feminine influence on them. It was just beautiful seeing how Maddie made such a powerful impact on the story. There was an aspect to the plot that was….interesting. I wasn’t a big fan of seeing the side plot with Maddie’s background, it just was different as there is no sign of it all from her in the beginning so it was just there suddenly and you are like what lol But I still enjoyed it and honestly I truly loved it because of how well the author delivered the emotion and the heart of the story.
Overall View
Parting Gifts is a powerful impactful story that will resonate deeply with the reader. Its a story of finding one’s self, embrace the good parts of life and learning to accept life’s gifts!
Rating Evaluation:
Plot: 5
World Building:5
Cover: 4
Hero: 5
Heroine: 5
Steam: 3
Heart & Feels: 5
Ending: 5
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.
Introduction
I was able to receive the ARC for this one from Sourcebooks Casablanca, and I got this in Audiobook. I will be honest in that I switched this one back in forth between the audiobook and ebook. And both formats worked so well. I do recommend, if you are doing this in audio, the accent is thick, so you might need to slow down the speed of the narration. Curled Up With An Earl surprised me in how much I loved it. I haven't been able to five star many historical romances of late, but this one BLEW me away. Its a story that will literally charm your socks off in every way. From the plot, to the meet cute, to the character development, to the essence of the romance, you will become so endeared to this one.
Summary
Curled Up With An Earl begins with the heroine and hero meeting in which our hero saves the heroine from a truly embarassing situation. But she later finds out that he has been hired to work for her father. There is an instant chemistry between this English lass and the Scottish spy who is working undercover, to hunt down a murderer and Lucy Betram's father is his top suspect. But as he works his way through his suspicions, there is a fiery passion that builds between himself and Lucy. He also comes to the terms of having to be fully honest with Lucy and proving to her that he is worth trusting in. But as they work together in helping each other in their goals, they find a love worth fighting for...
My Outlook
Curled Up With An Earl was such a magnificent story and I fell so hard for it! There was something so touching about this author's writing. She is a very new to me author, I have been seeing so many in the community rave about her books and I am not sure why it took me so long to read her, but this one worked so well for me. From the very charming meet cute between Lucy and William, I was completely head over in heels in love with this couple. Their chemistry is so palpable and inherently written into the story in such a flawless manner. There is also plenty of steam in this story, but not overkill. I really felt like Amy Rose Bennett really balances it out so well. The characters that we become introduced to were so fascinating. We first have our delectable hero, William Lockart, who is the Earl of Kyle. He was born and raised as a Scot, determined to fight against his family when a tragedy affected him. Now he works as a spy for the crown, and is really good at his job. But he also has such a sincerity about his character, and a strong determination to do what is right. Then we have our heroine, Lucy Bertram. Who is kind, passionate and intelligent. She works for her father as his assistant, and knows the ins and outs of poisons and plants. But she also has such a shy tender hearted nature. She is honest about her intentions with William, and even though she has no willingness to be married, the love that she feels for William, begins to make her realize what marriage can be with him and seeing this alteration in her character was so beautiful in what marriage can be for William and Lucy.
This couple were so in tune with each other. I loved the way in which that they build each other up in all the best of ways. I loved how William just accepted Lucy immediately, and encouraged her abilities. It was so well balanced in how this was implemented. And on Lucy's end, the way in which she accepts William, and his covert lifestyle and his secrets, was so endearing. She wasn't a heroine that spurned him for his secrets, but understood his position and accepted it and didn't become a harpy on him for it. She just readily trusts him knowing his affection for her is genuine.
The plot of the story was so well done in this one here. There is something about how it was built that she was so well crafted and developed so well. I truly enjoyed every aspect of this story and was such a perfectly swoony read that had me in my feels!
Overall View
Curled Up With An Earl is a superb romance that will capture you attention from the very beginning. Its a story that will stun you in silence, gravitate you instantly, and have you falling madly in love!
Introduction
I was able to receive the ARC for this one from Sourcebooks Casablanca, and I got this in Audiobook. I will be honest in that I switched this one back in forth between the audiobook and ebook. And both formats worked so well. I do recommend, if you are doing this in audio, the accent is thick, so you might need to slow down the speed of the narration. Curled Up With An Earl surprised me in how much I loved it. I haven't been able to five star many historical romances of late, but this one BLEW me away. Its a story that will literally charm your socks off in every way. From the plot, to the meet cute, to the character development, to the essence of the romance, you will become so endeared to this one.
Summary
Curled Up With An Earl begins with the heroine and hero meeting in which our hero saves the heroine from a truly embarassing situation. But she later finds out that he has been hired to work for her father. There is an instant chemistry between this English lass and the Scottish spy who is working undercover, to hunt down a murderer and Lucy Betram's father is his top suspect. But as he works his way through his suspicions, there is a fiery passion that builds between himself and Lucy. He also comes to the terms of having to be fully honest with Lucy and proving to her that he is worth trusting in. But as they work together in helping each other in their goals, they find a love worth fighting for...
My Outlook
Curled Up With An Earl was such a magnificent story and I fell so hard for it! There was something so touching about this author's writing. She is a very new to me author, I have been seeing so many in the community rave about her books and I am not sure why it took me so long to read her, but this one worked so well for me. From the very charming meet cute between Lucy and William, I was completely head over in heels in love with this couple. Their chemistry is so palpable and inherently written into the story in such a flawless manner. There is also plenty of steam in this story, but not overkill. I really felt like Amy Rose Bennett really balances it out so well. The characters that we become introduced to were so fascinating. We first have our delectable hero, William Lockart, who is the Earl of Kyle. He was born and raised as a Scot, determined to fight against his family when a tragedy affected him. Now he works as a spy for the crown, and is really good at his job. But he also has such a sincerity about his character, and a strong determination to do what is right. Then we have our heroine, Lucy Bertram. Who is kind, passionate and intelligent. She works for her father as his assistant, and knows the ins and outs of poisons and plants. But she also has such a shy tender hearted nature. She is honest about her intentions with William, and even though she has no willingness to be married, the love that she feels for William, begins to make her realize what marriage can be with him and seeing this alteration in her character was so beautiful in what marriage can be for William and Lucy.
This couple were so in tune with each other. I loved the way in which that they build each other up in all the best of ways. I loved how William just accepted Lucy immediately, and encouraged her abilities. It was so well balanced in how this was implemented. And on Lucy's end, the way in which she accepts William, and his covert lifestyle and his secrets, was so endearing. She wasn't a heroine that spurned him for his secrets, but understood his position and accepted it and didn't become a harpy on him for it. She just readily trusts him knowing his affection for her is genuine.
The plot of the story was so well done in this one here. There is something about how it was built that she was so well crafted and developed so well. I truly enjoyed every aspect of this story and was such a perfectly swoony read that had me in my feels!
Overall View
Curled Up With An Earl is a superb romance that will capture you attention from the very beginning. Its a story that will stun you in silence, gravitate you instantly, and have you falling madly in love!
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Rocky Mountain Miracle is a standlone by Christine Feehan. This is a story about healing and finding love in the Christmas season. The setup of the story is that the hero, Cole Steele, his father was murdered, and he was left his estate and his younger brother. Both Cole and his brother were both abused by their father, and while they are both innocent, they are still working on trying to live a normal life. Then Cole meets a young woman at a bar, who is different from anyone else that he has ever met before. Our heroine, Maia, is a Vet but also has the ability to speak to animals. I really just love these two together. There is such great family bonds in this one. There is a bit of a mystery. There is some animal abuse, so keep that in mind going into this one here. I really enjoyed the Christmas aspects and especially in seeing them find the magic of Christmas especially as both males just need that feminine influence. The romance itself is a bit lacking in this one, I just couldn't seem to connect to this one.
Overall I found Rocky Mountain Miracle to be an enjoyable read, and while not my favorite Feehan, it was a fascinating one and I would have loved to see the brother get a book.
Overall I found Rocky Mountain Miracle to be an enjoyable read, and while not my favorite Feehan, it was a fascinating one and I would have loved to see the brother get a book.
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.
Introduction
Powerless is the third installment in the Chestnut Srings series and in this one we have Jasper's book and this is the sibling that was adopted when he was a young teenager. There was a budding friendship with him and one of the cousins in the family, Sloane. They were the best of friends and always had a intense connection. This was such a heartwarming story and honestly if it wasn't for the icky family tone of the story, this would have most likely been a 4.5 rating. I was really hoping that I would get close to a five star read from this author, but to be honest, I do think she is overrated. Her books are enjoyable, but there are plenty of great westerns out there. And my other isssue is the cover on this one, most of the book is them in WINTER time haha but it is gorgeous I just wish it reflected the season of the story more. I think fans of this author will really enjoy this one here.
The Main Protagonists
The Hero: Jasper
-Hockey Player
-Adopted
-Cinnamon Roll/Alpha
-Protective
The Heroine: Sloane
-Ballerina Dancer
-Character Growth
-Sassy
-Funny
-Pining after the hero
Summary
Powerless is a story that begins with our hero and heroine. The heroine is engaged but on her wedding day, she learns that her fiancee ended up having sex with a stripper on the eve before their wedding, and finds the strength to leave him at the altar and Jasper assists her in running away. But when a tragedy hits the family, and Jasper has to take a break from Hockey, he and Sloane go on a bit of a road trip together and find that there is more happening than just mere friendship and they begin to embrace each other in a more romantic sexy way. But Jasper and Sloane will learn about themselves on this journey together, including learning to fight for each other, no matter the risk.
My Outlook
Powerless is a powerpacked book that really packs that heart so well. I really felt the emotion deep to the heart in this one. I do this is the best of the series. So for fans of the previous two books, you definitely will enjoy this romance so deeply. I wouldn't say its a favorite for me, I am not sure if its the hype surrounding this book or the author's writing style, but these never feel very western for me, except for the first book. So I was hoping for a more western feel, and it was just missing. And another aspect that may turn some readers off of the story is the element of the family connection between these two.
In this story, they are cousins. Yes I know the hero is adopted, and he does come into the family later, its not like they grew up together from babies to adults or anything, BUT there is still that family connection and it just rubbed me a bit the wrong way. It kinda gave out the messaging that adoption isn't true family, or that is how it came off. I get that there was a light taboo here, BUT it just didn't quite work for me. And of course the author had to throw in some toxic feminism in here making it seem like Jasper wasn't good enough for Sloane just because he happened to be male haha like what??!! Thankfully, that happened at the end of the book and I didn't have to think about it too much. But I did love seeing the hero fight for the heroine at the end and learn to overcome his fears.
In fact, what really worked so well for me in this one was seeing the way in which both Sloane and Jasper learn to overcome their fears and find a endearing happy ending together. I do think that readers will really fall in love with the hero. He is such a healthy representation of masculinity. He is a cinnamon roll but had some alpha tendancies in wanting to protect Sloane but in a healthy way. He appreciates and value her but also wants to make sure she is safe and happy.
Now I do want to end with talking about the level of the sexy times. There is a LOT of it. And if that's your jam, that is great, you will definitely enjoy the amounts of sexy times that is delivered. But I did feel for a small-town romance feel story, there was a bit too much. It just felt like in the middle of the story it was just about them banging and not building a relationship at times.
Overall View
I found Powerless to be a heart stopper of a read, that just brought together such enigmatic character growth, solid family bonds, and all the heart which packs quite a punch!
Rating Evaluation:
Plot: 4
World Building: 4
Cover: 5
Hero: 5
Heroine: 5
Steam: 4
Heart & Feels: 4
Ending: 4
Overall View: 4.25
Introduction
Powerless is the third installment in the Chestnut Srings series and in this one we have Jasper's book and this is the sibling that was adopted when he was a young teenager. There was a budding friendship with him and one of the cousins in the family, Sloane. They were the best of friends and always had a intense connection. This was such a heartwarming story and honestly if it wasn't for the icky family tone of the story, this would have most likely been a 4.5 rating. I was really hoping that I would get close to a five star read from this author, but to be honest, I do think she is overrated. Her books are enjoyable, but there are plenty of great westerns out there. And my other isssue is the cover on this one, most of the book is them in WINTER time haha but it is gorgeous I just wish it reflected the season of the story more. I think fans of this author will really enjoy this one here.
The Main Protagonists
The Hero: Jasper
-Hockey Player
-Adopted
-Cinnamon Roll/Alpha
-Protective
The Heroine: Sloane
-Ballerina Dancer
-Character Growth
-Sassy
-Funny
-Pining after the hero
Summary
Powerless is a story that begins with our hero and heroine. The heroine is engaged but on her wedding day, she learns that her fiancee ended up having sex with a stripper on the eve before their wedding, and finds the strength to leave him at the altar and Jasper assists her in running away. But when a tragedy hits the family, and Jasper has to take a break from Hockey, he and Sloane go on a bit of a road trip together and find that there is more happening than just mere friendship and they begin to embrace each other in a more romantic sexy way. But Jasper and Sloane will learn about themselves on this journey together, including learning to fight for each other, no matter the risk.
My Outlook
Powerless is a powerpacked book that really packs that heart so well. I really felt the emotion deep to the heart in this one. I do this is the best of the series. So for fans of the previous two books, you definitely will enjoy this romance so deeply. I wouldn't say its a favorite for me, I am not sure if its the hype surrounding this book or the author's writing style, but these never feel very western for me, except for the first book. So I was hoping for a more western feel, and it was just missing. And another aspect that may turn some readers off of the story is the element of the family connection between these two.
In this story, they are cousins. Yes I know the hero is adopted, and he does come into the family later, its not like they grew up together from babies to adults or anything, BUT there is still that family connection and it just rubbed me a bit the wrong way. It kinda gave out the messaging that adoption isn't true family, or that is how it came off. I get that there was a light taboo here, BUT it just didn't quite work for me. And of course the author had to throw in some toxic feminism in here making it seem like Jasper wasn't good enough for Sloane just because he happened to be male haha like what??!! Thankfully, that happened at the end of the book and I didn't have to think about it too much. But I did love seeing the hero fight for the heroine at the end and learn to overcome his fears.
In fact, what really worked so well for me in this one was seeing the way in which both Sloane and Jasper learn to overcome their fears and find a endearing happy ending together. I do think that readers will really fall in love with the hero. He is such a healthy representation of masculinity. He is a cinnamon roll but had some alpha tendancies in wanting to protect Sloane but in a healthy way. He appreciates and value her but also wants to make sure she is safe and happy.
Now I do want to end with talking about the level of the sexy times. There is a LOT of it. And if that's your jam, that is great, you will definitely enjoy the amounts of sexy times that is delivered. But I did feel for a small-town romance feel story, there was a bit too much. It just felt like in the middle of the story it was just about them banging and not building a relationship at times.
Overall View
I found Powerless to be a heart stopper of a read, that just brought together such enigmatic character growth, solid family bonds, and all the heart which packs quite a punch!
Rating Evaluation:
Plot: 4
World Building: 4
Cover: 5
Hero: 5
Heroine: 5
Steam: 4
Heart & Feels: 4
Ending: 4
Overall View: 4.25
challenging
dark
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.
Introduction
Ruined Secrets is the 4th installment in the "Perfectly Imperfect" series and in this one we have a story about an unrequited love arranged marriage set up. There is something magical about the manner in which this author writes mafia romance. In this one we have a story that delivers in all the ways that matter. If you have a preference for more tradional mafia romance, then you definitely need to pick this one up. This ended up being the most satisfying read and I definitely feel like there needs to be more of this here. I really was interested in seeing how Neva Alta J would implement this one and I have to say that this is my favorite of the series so far. It was utterly delightful.
The Main Protagonists
The Hero: Luca
-Alpha
-Leader (1 daughter who is 7 years old)
The Heroine: Isabella
-Raised in the Mafia
-Intelligent
-Sassy
-Cunning
-Pining after the hero
Summary
Ruined Secrets begins with our heroine being in love with the hero since he rescued her as a child from drowning. But he has been forbidden to her all these years since he is married and they have a age difference. But now she is nineteen years old, her grandfather, the capo, is dying, and with Luca's being divorce, their marriage is now arranged. Luca having just gotten away from his wife who was cheating on him and now he must take on another wife who is practically out of high school in his eyes but there is a connection between them, but when tragedy hits them, they will be forced to unite in a way they never imagined and find a love so majestic underneath the adversity they will face.
My Outlook
Ruined Secrets was such a powerful book and I am in awe of this author here. I just love every single moment that was delivered on this one. It was also so interesting seeing the way in which this author wrote this story especially in the aspects of "Amnesia". The actual set up of the Arranged Marriage was delicious. the way that these two banter was such so entertaining and lively and the heroine is NOT a shy wallflower. She is sassy and strong and has a cunning mind. She truly understands the mafia world and how to survive in it. I do think that even if you aren't a big fan of the amnesia trope that this one will work for you! The way that the author handled it was handled just right and it seemed to really balance in with the story overall.
The ending was perfectly played out! The author really built in the intesnity up to the climax and man that reveal and ending was STUNNING! I was so caught up in the machinations of the story, the build up of the relationship, that I was completely hooked into this one here.
Rating Evaluation:
Plot: 5
World Building: 5
Cover: 5
Hero: 5
Heroine: 5
Steam: 5
Heart & Feels:5
Ending:5
Overall View: 5
Introduction
Ruined Secrets is the 4th installment in the "Perfectly Imperfect" series and in this one we have a story about an unrequited love arranged marriage set up. There is something magical about the manner in which this author writes mafia romance. In this one we have a story that delivers in all the ways that matter. If you have a preference for more tradional mafia romance, then you definitely need to pick this one up. This ended up being the most satisfying read and I definitely feel like there needs to be more of this here. I really was interested in seeing how Neva Alta J would implement this one and I have to say that this is my favorite of the series so far. It was utterly delightful.
The Main Protagonists
The Hero: Luca
-Alpha
-Leader (1 daughter who is 7 years old)
The Heroine: Isabella
-Raised in the Mafia
-Intelligent
-Sassy
-Cunning
-Pining after the hero
Summary
Ruined Secrets begins with our heroine being in love with the hero since he rescued her as a child from drowning. But he has been forbidden to her all these years since he is married and they have a age difference. But now she is nineteen years old, her grandfather, the capo, is dying, and with Luca's being divorce, their marriage is now arranged. Luca having just gotten away from his wife who was cheating on him and now he must take on another wife who is practically out of high school in his eyes but there is a connection between them, but when tragedy hits them, they will be forced to unite in a way they never imagined and find a love so majestic underneath the adversity they will face.
My Outlook
Ruined Secrets was such a powerful book and I am in awe of this author here. I just love every single moment that was delivered on this one. It was also so interesting seeing the way in which this author wrote this story especially in the aspects of "Amnesia". The actual set up of the Arranged Marriage was delicious. the way that these two banter was such so entertaining and lively and the heroine is NOT a shy wallflower. She is sassy and strong and has a cunning mind. She truly understands the mafia world and how to survive in it. I do think that even if you aren't a big fan of the amnesia trope that this one will work for you! The way that the author handled it was handled just right and it seemed to really balance in with the story overall.
The ending was perfectly played out! The author really built in the intesnity up to the climax and man that reveal and ending was STUNNING! I was so caught up in the machinations of the story, the build up of the relationship, that I was completely hooked into this one here.
Rating Evaluation:
Plot: 5
World Building: 5
Cover: 5
Hero: 5
Heroine: 5
Steam: 5
Heart & Feels:5
Ending:5
Overall View: 5
adventurous
challenging
tense
slow-paced
This was an interesting installment, its been so long since I read this author and I think I just wasn't in the mood for this writing style and I do think that I might want to do audiobook for these as I remember those being good. I found the world building to be intense and dangerous and really well done, the biggest issue that I ended up having with this one was the pacing. I just couldn't fully get into this one, so its probably a "me" issue as the story itself was solid and I was really into these characters. I definitely would like to get back to these books but going to see if the audio does a better turnout for me.
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Twisted is the 4th installment from the Never After series. I absolutely adored this one, and while "Hooked" still reigns supreme of the series, this one I enjoyed so much more than the 3rd book "Wretched", so this was such a win for me and plus I adore that this is a retelling of Aladdin. And for fans of Aladdin, I can't recommend this one as it has so many tiny details that connects it to the tale of Aladdin. I just adored how this story was implemented and it had some fun tropes that are delivered on this one.
Its definitely a dark romance though, so make sure you are aware of the content warning if you happen to get triggered, as it might be rough for some readers. I actually loved the darker aspects of this one and I really enjoyed the way that this author wrote out the love triangle. And I always love a forced marriage and boy this hero is such a badass haha but he is a dark one and such a anti hero. I do think he was well written though. I found the steam in this one to be really well done and balanced with the story. This author knows how to implement decent steam and still deliver a strong plot and storyline.
Overall I found Twisted to be a addictive read that I couldn't put down and I just immersed myself so easily into this one. Definitely a keeper for dark romance lovers.
Its definitely a dark romance though, so make sure you are aware of the content warning if you happen to get triggered, as it might be rough for some readers. I actually loved the darker aspects of this one and I really enjoyed the way that this author wrote out the love triangle. And I always love a forced marriage and boy this hero is such a badass haha but he is a dark one and such a anti hero. I do think he was well written though. I found the steam in this one to be really well done and balanced with the story. This author knows how to implement decent steam and still deliver a strong plot and storyline.
Overall I found Twisted to be a addictive read that I couldn't put down and I just immersed myself so easily into this one. Definitely a keeper for dark romance lovers.
challenging
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.
Introduction
Whispers of You is the 1st book in the newest series by Catherine Cowles. It was so exciting to get to a new series by this author, I do plan on reading her backlisted books too. But I was stoked to see how quickly she has this series put together. Already the next two books have release dates. So I guarantee that these will pop out quickly. I was able to grab this one in audiobook, and the narrators are such a good team, so if you haven’t listened to them before and enjoy audiobooks, I definitely recommend this one the most in audio format if you can afford the credit, Its a super long wait in the library and I just didn’t want to have to wait on that. So Whispers of You is such a wonderful romantic suspense, in fact, in comparison to her previous series, I think this had more suspense flair to it but is still well balanced with the romance. This type of storytelling for romantic suspense, always delivers! Catherine Cowles is a heartwarming author to read, its so magnificent seeing the way she has the characters wrapped around your finger so quickly.
Summary
The story sets off with our hero and heroine, who were once childhood sweethearts. They grew up together with each other’s families, but then when they were 18 years old, Holt and Wren. Wrench was targeted by a group of boys they had gone to school with and Wren barely survived the attack and then Holt left her to pick up the pieces. Now its been nine years, and Holt has returned when his father has a heart attack, but Holt is also ready to reconnect with his family and most especially Wren. Wren is still suffering from PTS from the attack, and she has never fully recovered from losing Holt. But as Holt and Wren are forced back into each other’s bubbles, they realize that what they have is precious and worth fighting for. But as they work to discover who is attacking their neighbors, their past will come back and it will take them working together to defeat this enemy they would never suspect….
My Outlook
This was such a powerful romance and it had me hooked from the very star. I do blame part of this on the narrators, they just made the story come alive. However, what I was really impressed by was the way in which Catherine Cowles put much more focus on the suspense. It felt more romantic suspense than contemporary and I really think that suspense is this author’s talent and I enjoyed seeing her put more focus on this. I am curious to see what this series will truly be revolving around though, if its about the attack, or if it will be a different scenario in each book or if they will connect together. Definitely on board to find out what this author has in store for us. I did love the way that this author implemented the romance and seeing Holt and Wren learn to reconnect with each other. They definitely don’t have a easy time of it that is for sure. The biggest issue that stands in the way of their HEA, is the trust that needs to be rebuilt between them. For Wren she comes to the realization that Holt was just a kid and always loved her but didn’t know how to face that type of trauma. Then we have Holt that has to learn to fight for his girl and do what he can to show her he is there for the long haul. Then another aspect that I truly enjoyed was seeing the way in which these two were all in for each other. The poignant emotion, the raw chemistry and the tender character growth that is so gradually built and only has you wanting more of this type of romance. We also some fun bantering among Holt’s siblings, and I am hoping the series is about this family! I just love and adore them!
Narration
So for this book the narrator team that we were able to indulge in was Andi Arndt and Zachary Webber, and these two are the BEST duo POV team for audio narration that I have ever had the pleasure to read. they just fit so well together and their voices enhance each other. There is a such a way about these talented narrators in the way that they are able to make the characters come alive for the listener. And their narration style is guaranteed to immediately have you hooked into the story and you won’t want to put it down. I know if these two are narrating a story, then the book will at least be a 4 star read, THAT is how talented they are. The way in which they were able to work this book was so superb, I was all over the place in my emotions and they definitely delivered on the authenticity of the story.
Overall View
I found Whispers of You to be an incredible read that I felt deep to the core. Its a story of healing, renewal and overcoming adversity and reconnecting with your soul mate along the way! A delicious romance to SAVOR!
Rating Evaluation:
Plot: 5
World Building: 4
Cover: 5
Hero: 4
Heroine: 4
Steam: 5
Heart & Feels: 5
Ending: 5
Overall View: 4.5
Introduction
Whispers of You is the 1st book in the newest series by Catherine Cowles. It was so exciting to get to a new series by this author, I do plan on reading her backlisted books too. But I was stoked to see how quickly she has this series put together. Already the next two books have release dates. So I guarantee that these will pop out quickly. I was able to grab this one in audiobook, and the narrators are such a good team, so if you haven’t listened to them before and enjoy audiobooks, I definitely recommend this one the most in audio format if you can afford the credit, Its a super long wait in the library and I just didn’t want to have to wait on that. So Whispers of You is such a wonderful romantic suspense, in fact, in comparison to her previous series, I think this had more suspense flair to it but is still well balanced with the romance. This type of storytelling for romantic suspense, always delivers! Catherine Cowles is a heartwarming author to read, its so magnificent seeing the way she has the characters wrapped around your finger so quickly.
Summary
The story sets off with our hero and heroine, who were once childhood sweethearts. They grew up together with each other’s families, but then when they were 18 years old, Holt and Wren. Wrench was targeted by a group of boys they had gone to school with and Wren barely survived the attack and then Holt left her to pick up the pieces. Now its been nine years, and Holt has returned when his father has a heart attack, but Holt is also ready to reconnect with his family and most especially Wren. Wren is still suffering from PTS from the attack, and she has never fully recovered from losing Holt. But as Holt and Wren are forced back into each other’s bubbles, they realize that what they have is precious and worth fighting for. But as they work to discover who is attacking their neighbors, their past will come back and it will take them working together to defeat this enemy they would never suspect….
My Outlook
This was such a powerful romance and it had me hooked from the very star. I do blame part of this on the narrators, they just made the story come alive. However, what I was really impressed by was the way in which Catherine Cowles put much more focus on the suspense. It felt more romantic suspense than contemporary and I really think that suspense is this author’s talent and I enjoyed seeing her put more focus on this. I am curious to see what this series will truly be revolving around though, if its about the attack, or if it will be a different scenario in each book or if they will connect together. Definitely on board to find out what this author has in store for us. I did love the way that this author implemented the romance and seeing Holt and Wren learn to reconnect with each other. They definitely don’t have a easy time of it that is for sure. The biggest issue that stands in the way of their HEA, is the trust that needs to be rebuilt between them. For Wren she comes to the realization that Holt was just a kid and always loved her but didn’t know how to face that type of trauma. Then we have Holt that has to learn to fight for his girl and do what he can to show her he is there for the long haul. Then another aspect that I truly enjoyed was seeing the way in which these two were all in for each other. The poignant emotion, the raw chemistry and the tender character growth that is so gradually built and only has you wanting more of this type of romance. We also some fun bantering among Holt’s siblings, and I am hoping the series is about this family! I just love and adore them!
Narration
So for this book the narrator team that we were able to indulge in was Andi Arndt and Zachary Webber, and these two are the BEST duo POV team for audio narration that I have ever had the pleasure to read. they just fit so well together and their voices enhance each other. There is a such a way about these talented narrators in the way that they are able to make the characters come alive for the listener. And their narration style is guaranteed to immediately have you hooked into the story and you won’t want to put it down. I know if these two are narrating a story, then the book will at least be a 4 star read, THAT is how talented they are. The way in which they were able to work this book was so superb, I was all over the place in my emotions and they definitely delivered on the authenticity of the story.
Overall View
I found Whispers of You to be an incredible read that I felt deep to the core. Its a story of healing, renewal and overcoming adversity and reconnecting with your soul mate along the way! A delicious romance to SAVOR!
Rating Evaluation:
Plot: 5
World Building: 4
Cover: 5
Hero: 4
Heroine: 4
Steam: 5
Heart & Feels: 5
Ending: 5
Overall View: 4.5
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A Farewell to Charms is the finale in the "Mystic Bayou" series. Now I am not sure this is the last book or if Molly Harper will have a connecting series because I want to know what happens to some of the characters as not everything was wrapped up fully, so I am curious if there is more to come or not. But I finally caught up and I absolutely adored this book and this whole series. There is something so precious about these books that immediately pull you into the story and the charm of this small town and the unique mix of characters that have various types of personalities.
I found the romance here to be so different but still fun. I really liked the heroine being a unique shfiter. I really enjoy that this author handles some unique set ups as the heroine is a gnome haha It was so different and I really enjoyed it.
Overall I found this to be an endearing read that just turned out to be a charming finale to a superb series that wormed its way into my heart!
I found the romance here to be so different but still fun. I really liked the heroine being a unique shfiter. I really enjoy that this author handles some unique set ups as the heroine is a gnome haha It was so different and I really enjoyed it.
Overall I found this to be an endearing read that just turned out to be a charming finale to a superb series that wormed its way into my heart!
challenging
reflective
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:
Complicated
Sugar Daddies is a standalone by Jade West. I don't get a chance to read too many standalones these days. I grabbed this up for my Romanceopoly pick, because I have heard the best things about this book and its been a long while since I have picked up a menage romance and this was also a new to me author and I absolutely had a great time with this one. It took a bit longer than I expected to get through it but its also 450 pages, so its a bit of a chunker but I had so much fun all the way through this one. It definitely had some aspects that I wasn't expecting of it, but I enjoyed the way that this author developed the story.
Sugar Daddies is basically what the title portrays. It begins with our male protagonists: Carl and Rick who are both bi sexual and have been together for years, but there is something more that they want, they want a woman to share their lives with but this is their last chance to find the happy ever after that they have both been searching for. Then comes into the party: Katie. Katie is searching for her dreams, she wants to run a horse school ranch of sorts. But in order to start her dream, she needs money and a lot of it. But she also has desires that she wants to explore with Carl and Rick. At first its a simple arrangement, but then it becomes clear that there is so much more building between them. What she doesn't expect is that love would filter its way into their heart and bring them together in ways they would least expect...
Sugar Daddies is a story that is about a menage romance. Now I will be frank that this didn't feel like a true menage. I was a bit disappointed with how Rick was more of a background character. In the first 1/3 we do see quite a bit of him. But then mostly the rest of the story, his character tends to fade into the backgroud, and the focus is on Carl and Katie. Now don't get me wrong, I absolutely loved seeing Carl and Katie together and seeing them grow and I do think that due to some character development that is needed with Katie, it was necessary in some ways. But I do wish that the author had maybe put this into a duet to focus on Katie and Rick together a bit more.
Now as for the heroine. She was a bit of a battle to enjoy as a character. She is a bit prickly and at first it was turning me off a bit from her. Eventually, I grew to really enjoy her character though. But she can be prickly and there is quite a bit of swearing in this one, so keep that in mind and be prepared for some crude language at times. The heroine can be hard to like at times, she is very bitter towards her family, so that was hard to see. But she goes through this transition and coming to terms with her past, the secrets of her family and with the assistance of Carl is able to find healing in that regard. Jade West did a superb job in writing her character though.
The romance itself was a solid win for me. The steam of the story is BLAZING, so keep that in mind depending on the steam level you are going for. I did enjoy the way that Jade West wrote these scenes and I am definitely looking forward to more books from her. Such captivating writing that sucked me into the story so quickly.
Overall, I found Sugar Daddies to be a charming, sexy as hell romance that will curl your toes with tingles and deep riveting emotion and leaving you itching for more delights from this author!
Sugar Daddies is basically what the title portrays. It begins with our male protagonists: Carl and Rick who are both bi sexual and have been together for years, but there is something more that they want, they want a woman to share their lives with but this is their last chance to find the happy ever after that they have both been searching for. Then comes into the party: Katie. Katie is searching for her dreams, she wants to run a horse school ranch of sorts. But in order to start her dream, she needs money and a lot of it. But she also has desires that she wants to explore with Carl and Rick. At first its a simple arrangement, but then it becomes clear that there is so much more building between them. What she doesn't expect is that love would filter its way into their heart and bring them together in ways they would least expect...
Sugar Daddies is a story that is about a menage romance. Now I will be frank that this didn't feel like a true menage. I was a bit disappointed with how Rick was more of a background character. In the first 1/3 we do see quite a bit of him. But then mostly the rest of the story, his character tends to fade into the backgroud, and the focus is on Carl and Katie. Now don't get me wrong, I absolutely loved seeing Carl and Katie together and seeing them grow and I do think that due to some character development that is needed with Katie, it was necessary in some ways. But I do wish that the author had maybe put this into a duet to focus on Katie and Rick together a bit more.
Now as for the heroine. She was a bit of a battle to enjoy as a character. She is a bit prickly and at first it was turning me off a bit from her. Eventually, I grew to really enjoy her character though. But she can be prickly and there is quite a bit of swearing in this one, so keep that in mind and be prepared for some crude language at times. The heroine can be hard to like at times, she is very bitter towards her family, so that was hard to see. But she goes through this transition and coming to terms with her past, the secrets of her family and with the assistance of Carl is able to find healing in that regard. Jade West did a superb job in writing her character though.
The romance itself was a solid win for me. The steam of the story is BLAZING, so keep that in mind depending on the steam level you are going for. I did enjoy the way that Jade West wrote these scenes and I am definitely looking forward to more books from her. Such captivating writing that sucked me into the story so quickly.
Overall, I found Sugar Daddies to be a charming, sexy as hell romance that will curl your toes with tingles and deep riveting emotion and leaving you itching for more delights from this author!