shanaepraystoo's Reviews (925)

Keep Giving Me Love

BriAnn Danae

4.25

emotional funny hopeful inspiring sad medium-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

I wasn't sure what to expect from BriAnn Danae's Keep Giving Me Love (Unorthodox Love Book 2). And I wasn't quite certain that we needed this novella after Book 1, which was intense and really enjoyable. Book 2 expands on the story of Synovi, a young man on a healing journey who is thrust into a fatherhood role to his two younger siblings. I think BriAnn Danae does a good job at illustrating Synovi's journey and she is respectful the entire time. Torin is one of my favorite FMC's. Many in the urban romance community are in love with Synovi, he's not a MMC I'm completely taken with, but he's certainly not the worst. I recommend the Unorthodox Love series because the characters are developed strongly and the storyline is engaging and inspiring.

Content Warnings

Nothin' Like You

Kimberly Brown

5.0

emotional funny hopeful sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

I really liked Nothin Like You by Kimberly Brown. I've thoroughly enjoyed the Jareau Family. Brown has done such a good job with weaving the story of the Jareau family together with lovable and unique characters, which should be hard to do with so many storylines and characters to develop. However, Brown makes it seem easy. Nothin Like You is one of my favorite books in the series and I believe this is the conclusion. If so, Brown ended on a high note with Reese and Corelli. What a fun and uplifting book series celebrating love between all different types of people? I love that Kimberly Brown does not rely on stereotypes and handles triggering subjects with lots of respect (especially in books 1, 2, 4, and 5). I've read many of her books and her writing and storytelling are just getting better and better. I can't say enough good things about Brown as an author or the Jareau Family series.

My ranking of the Jareau Family books:
Strip Me Bare - Book #4
Nothin Like You - Book #5
The Burial of a Player - Book #3
Where Love Blooms - Book #1
Deep In My Soul - Book #2

Content Warnings

Tethered Love

Kimberly Brown

5.0

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious sad tense 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: Yes

I have read so many books from Kimberly Brown and Tethered Love is by far one of my absolute favorites. Brown really put her foot into this one! The characters are unique and diverse in a way that I long for when reading. The story, though dark, emotional and challenging, is beautifully written and one that I'd immediately recommend to anyone.

The happily ever after was also very welcome, though not even necessary because Brown did such a good job with the characters Malachi, Eliana, and Violet.

My only wish is that this book was longer. Many of Brown's contemporaries would've easily made this book 500 or 600 pages. That's not Brown's style, but for Tethered Love, an emotionally charged dark romance, I think it would've been not only acceptable but beneficial.

Content Warnings

The Color Purple

Alice Walker

4.25

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: N/A

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

Thank you for Cumming

M.L. Sexton

3.0

lighthearted fast-paced

Content Warnings

Spiked Hot Chocolate

Rilzy Adams

4.0

funny lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: N/A

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: N/A

I really enjoyed Cosima and Tristan. I wish the story was full length because I enjoyed them so much. The characters were interesting and the writing was very good.

Content Warnings

Fake It Till You Bake It

Jamie Wesley

DID NOT FINISH: 13%

I don’t think this could be any more boring if Jamie Wesley tried. And the female narrator is awful!

Strip Me Bare

Kimberly Brown

4.75

emotional funny inspiring lighthearted sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

"The difference a good man could have on your entire psyche..."

That quote sums up just about all that Strip Me Bare by Kimberly Brown is really about. In Book 4 of the A Jareau Family series, we get to learn more about Alaina, the bougie, elusive and mysterious only daughter of the Jareau family.

Alaina is running from an abusive past and lots of guilt, the result of youth, bad decisions, and an even worse relationship. Throughout Strip Me Bare, she is thrown curveball after curveball and is forced to make some very difficult decisions about her identity and the woman she wants to be.

While Roosevelt is dealing with past hurt, the result of being born to an addict, raised by grandparents he lost in his adulthood, and being a single father after his ex-wife succumbed to an alcohol addiction, he sees something in Alaina that gives him the space to be vulnerable and weak - showing his true strength.

Alaina meets working class loner Roosevelt, the Jareau family's gardener, and the two build a relationship built on vulnerability, love, and admiration for one another. Together they're able to overcome their individual weaknesses and be the best versions of themselves for one another and those in their orbit.

The relationship between Alaina and Roosevelt is organic and gentle. It is easy to respect and admire as a reader. Kimberly Brown really makes you care about both of them. She writes engaging, entertaining and really funny characters. I am excited for Book 5 of the A Jareau Family Series.

Content Warnings

The Burial of a Player

Kimberly Brown

5.0

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I've grown to be a huge fan of Kimberly Brown. Her books are well-written and engaging with likable characters. The Jareau Family books were my first introduction to her and, since I started reading Book 1, I've explored other books from her, like For His Virgin Pleasure (which is freaking AMAZING and you NEED to read it).

Anyway, The Burial of a Player is Book 3 of the Jaraeu Family series and it is a welcome reprieve from Book 2 about Cartel and Adina - that one was superrrr stressful. In Book 2, we meet go behind the scenes of the relationship between Walker and Jorja, which begins in Book 1. It is great to learn more about Walker and Jorja, seeing them grow up and grow together alongside the other members of the Sandifer and Jareau families.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Burial of a Player and appreciated the way Kimberly Brown showcased the rollercoaster of emotions Jorja and Walker endured in their individual paths to love and happiness, separately and together.

Content Warnings

Crave Part 2

Shae Sanders

3.5

emotional funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Crave Part 2 is a solid 3.5 star read for me. When I finished Crave Part 1, I was eager for the second installment because author Shae Sanders left us with what could be described as a cliffhanger. But Part 2 doesn't investigate that cliffhanger further (as a matter of fact it seems like the Sanders wanted to show readers that Skye (FMC) has grown, so there's absolutely NO exploration of her problems with her ex-husband Dante). The result? I'm left wondering why Sanders didn't just write one book.

I've given these stars mostly for the writing. The passage below really sums up what would be the premise of the book, if Shae Sanders explored it a bit more: "I don't know why I ever thought this could work out for me. What the hell was I thinking?" "You were thinking men do this shit all the time. You just got caught up and forgot that the rules are different for us. The world just ain't ready for brother-husbands."

Spice: 🥵🥵🥵

Content Warnings

More...