simonlorden's Reviews (1.38k)

I received an advance reader's copy for free in exchange for an honest review.

A haunted house rich in history, where the house might not be the only danger around. 

This book was wonderfully creepy. From the moment Beatriz arrives at her new husband's house, it is clear something is wrong, but nobody at the hacienda will talk to her or tell her what is going on. She desperately wants to make this place into a home so that she can take care of her mother, but the house seems to be against her.

I spent this whole book wondering what Juana's deal is, and I couldn't predict what the ghost wanted or what she was going to be like. Juana and Beatriz are both women in a men-dominated world, and they are both fighting for their own freedom and independence in different ways, and they are both fascinating characters.

And Andrés is simply the best. I loved the exploration of his abilities, and his conflict of trying to keep both his duties balanced, even as everyone seems to be against him.

Not gonna lie, the ending made me a cry a little. Overall, this was a pretty creepy read with loveable and interesting characters, and I recommend it if you like gothic horror or historical mysteries.

I received an advance reader's copy for free in exchange for an honest review.

One sentence review: A fast-paced mystery, not the best I've read, but worth reading once.

I read this book in one sitting. It is a fast-paced, quick read, and I can definitely say I enjoyed reading it. Micah was a great character, and I liked his relationship with Anna, and getting to see into his head - seeing how he's a broken child who is a little too attached to his new family.

Now, the problem is... I just wasn't buying it. The blurb already sets Micah up as the killer, so I knew it was a possibility, but at the beginning of the book it felt like Zoe was freaking out about perfectly normal and understandable things. Oh, the neglected and traumatized boy longing for a family gets attached to your kid because he always wanted a little sister? Yeah, girl, that's like, normal.

So even later when actual creepy things started happening, it just felt like Zoe overreacting because of the beginning. Micah felt like an obvious red herring instead of the actual killer throughout the book, so there was no tension.

Now, whether he still ended up being the killer or not... You'll just have to read and see for that. But either way, the build-up wasn't there for me.

I received an advance reader's copy for free in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately, I feel like this book was misrepresented by the tags. First of all, I didn't even get halfway, but in the parts I read there is absolutely no horror, except maybe the prologue. Also, I had to check several times that this wasn't labelled as YA anywhere, because it definitely reads like a YA fantasy romance. There is nothing wrong with YA fantasy romances, but that is not what this book was advertised as, and not what I thought I was signing up for.

I'm disappointed because I really liked the concept, but the book itself just isn't holding my attention. I would have expected it to pick up more by now, or just be generally creepier for something that is tagged mainly as Horror.

One compliment: I do appreciate the inclusion of content warnings in the book, which I hope becomes common practice. This book also does it in my preferred way, with a more general note at the beginning and a detailed note at the end of the book.

This was a super lighthearted, funny and romantic read! Every character got their own happy ending, even if it looks different from what they thought it would be. I ended up growing fond of everyone, even Aaron and Percy.

I was intrigued by the worldbuilding when it comes to the Afterlife (Trademark 6CS) - the rules and the point systems and the "affectionate" criticisms all made a very interesting (and kind of unbearable) world. I loved Amara's personality and her struggle with her family, and her relationship with her sister especially.

Overall, this is a sweet and funny paranormal romance.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

A romantic and sizzling hot, slowburn paranormal romance, with a good dose of father/daughter incest.

Ghostly sex scenes, Dom/sub dynamics, and some sweet romance. I liked that while Idris and Ila are bound together, Idris still wanted to give her a way out, and would have let her go if she had wished. Despite the taboo topics, the romance really was sweet and focused a lot on consent. (Except for poor mortal guy.)

I loved Ila as a character, including her unusual hobbies with book restoration and bones. I laughed at her coworker saying he didn't know girls were into taxidermy, and immediately sent it to my friend (girl) who likes to collect dead animals and bones :) 

It was interesting because the author's note at the beginning tells you that this is a father/daughter romance, but Ila actually doesn't find out until much later in, and she has another man she calls father. So I spent most of the book wondering how that's going to fit together, and it didn't disappoint.

The book definitely ends on a sort of cliffhanger, and I'm excited to read the sequel.

THIS BOOK WAS SO MESSY. GOD.

The romance and the sex is still super hot, but I'm increasingly side-eyeing Kova for stringing both Katja and Ria along. Make up your mind, dude.

Ria is an incredibly selfish friend to Avery, and Avery deserves better.

Joy makes my skin crawl, and finding out the reason why she's been so horrible to Ria is horrifying. Like, wow. 

Kova and Ria are still very, very bad at hiding their secret relationship. I mean, how many people have walked in on them at this point? And I'm still only on book 2?

I really want Ria and Reagan to get over the rivalry and become friends, and I loved Reagan's behaviour towards the end.

I think I'll need a break after this book because they are just so long, but I'll definitely continue later. 

Bit of a letdown. I support Grace's quest, but I didn't like her much as a character, and the book felt pretty slow-paced. I did like the twist ending a lot, though.

I love Marc and I want him to be safe.

That husband is a dick. I hope the girls will be okay.

Amity is a beautifully clever girl and I love her. But man, I could have lived without Falkirk's POV. It was just so much misery.