sunshinestark's Reviews (376)

From the school filled with horrific monsters trying to kill the students at any given chance to the dynamic between Orion and El, this fast paced story hooked me and had me wanting more when the last line came - and what a last line it was! I need the next book as soon as possible so I get answers and can dive back into that deadly world alongside El.

This opposites attract romance will delight anyone who has already read (and loved) Tessa Dare, as well as those brand new to her. When Gabriel Duke moves in to the home next door to Lady Penelope Campion his sole intention is to sell the home he's purchased. Upon discovering Lady Penelope isn't quite the perfect lady he'd expected throws a wrench in that plan. Why? Because Penelope collects animals and she has no intention of parting ways with them. Among the pack are a foul mouthed parrot who used to live in a brothel and a two legged dog who uses a wheeled cart to get around. From their first meeting Penelope is far from what Duke imagined she'd be, and he is sure he'll lose value on his home when he sells. But as time passes he realizes Penelope is so much more than he'd ever expected, and he doesn't hate her (or her animals) as much as he thought he would.  

Perfect for fans of You Should See Me in a Crown who are looking for another queer story set in a small town with compelling characters trying to find their true voices and where they belong in the world. 

Silver in the Wood unfolds like a fairytale, with a forest that shifts around a great tree and a cottage where Tobias, the Wild Man of Greenhollow, has lived for centuries. He's content with his life away from humans, his constant companions being a cat and the dryads who live within the woods of Greenhollow. Then one day Henry Silver makes his presence known and never quite leaves. The more time this inquisitive human man spends with Tobias, the more the Wild Man of Greenhollow must confront his growing attachment to Silver and what exactly he is willing to risk losing in order to keep him when his past catches up to them. For anyone who loves to lose themselves in fairy worlds, this is a perfect, satisfying match. 

One to Watch is a perfect match for anyone who enjoys watching the Bachelor or other reality tv dating shows. 

Bea, our plus size fashion blogger heroine, is one such person. Though she’s a fan of Main Squeeze, she’s also critical of it for lacking diversity. After a drunken blog post of hers goes viral, Bea is asked to star on the show and have dozens of men compete for her hand. She agrees, fully intending to not fall for any of them. It seems like an easy job when her weight is often used against her, but the longer the show goes on (and more of the more vile men are eliminated) Bea begins to find herself falling for a handful of genuinely wonderful men. 

Bea’s blossoming romance with these few gems was at times sweet but also frustrating because I wasn’t sure who she’d pick — thankfully she chose my favorite! Bea’s weight also features strongly the entire time, both negatively and positively, when it comes to those around her but the lasting message is body positive and left me feeling good when the last page came. Bea is beautiful and fat. She’s confident and insecure. She’s imperfect and real. That’s why I liked her and this story so much. 

House of Shadows is perfect for fans of Crimson Peak who are looking for a delightfully creepy Gothic romance to dive into. Horrors abound in the haunted house Sophie moves into after her family is ruined financially and she marries Mr. Argenton in order to stop them from becoming paupers.  As she tries to survive, she also must accept that though they don't know each other yet, she's coming to love her seemingly cold and distant husband.

Can dislike at first sight turn into something more? Especially when one of you is a princess and the other a commoner? That's the question Millie Quint explores after landing Flora, Princess of Scotland, as her roommate at her new boarding school. Dislike slowly becomes friendship until finally an endearing romance begins to blossom between the two girls. 

Every story was boring.

Mexican Gothic is a haunting, atmospheric horror story about Noemí, a young woman desperate to save her cousin from the evil residing in her husband's family home, High Place. But Noemí feels ill suited to the task from the start. She's far more used to parties and glamour than trying to navigate this gloomy gothic mansion in the Mexican countryside she's temporarily forced to call home. And the longer she spends at High Place, the more she questions whether the evil is the men who live there, or the house itself. Filled with twists and disturbing revelations about the house and family's past, this is a dark tale you won't want to put down until the end.

Scottie Zajac and Irene Abraham aren't friends, they're enemies. So when Scottie accidentally hits Irene's car in the school parking lot and the two are forced to carpool together, she can't think of anything worse that could happen. Until she realizes her ex is jealous of her spending time with Irene. Concocting a plan that will benefit both her and Irene, Scottie proposes they pretend to date one another. The more time they spend together, the more Scottie sees Irene isn't as meanspirited and cruel as she's always seen. Catching feelings wasn't in the plans, but when Irene seems to reciprocate, Scottie needs to take a good hard look at her lingering feelings for her ex before she can truly move on. 

She Drives Me Crazy is a lighthearted jock falling for a cheerleader romance that will leave you smiling and rooting for Scottie and Irene to get the happily ever after they both deserve. Not only that, but it's also filled with references to 80s and 90s rom-coms any lover of the genre will recognize.