Oh god, what a ride! The twists and turns, the shocking reveals, the persistent suspense… It all had me in a constant chokehold! I don’|| 4.5 stars ||
Oh god, what a ride! The twists and turns, the shocking reveals, the persistent suspense… It all had me in a constant chokehold! I don’t want to go into the specifics of the plot since I feel like it would give too much away, but I can honestly say I was insanely engrossed with this entire book! The narration flowed so easily while the story itself was mind-blowing enough to keep me on my toes throughout! This book definitely had me in its grip from beginning to end.
Jeez, this girl seriously had about twenty different love interests so it was pretty much impossible to keep track of them all. Moreove|| 3.0 stars ||
Jeez, this girl seriously had about twenty different love interests so it was pretty much impossible to keep track of them all. Moreover, it was also very hard to take any of those feelings seriously considering she had them for so many different people. I mean, she claims to be in love with Christian (and even hates Magnolia for being the girl he loves), but then she also goes on and on about how much she loves Romeo and how she always will?? Like, girl, PICK A SIDE! I honestly don’t understand why the author chose to include Romeo in this book at all; there was no need for it and it only made Daisy seem unfaithful, superficial and insanely hypocritical. It was a weird choice. And a bad one.
Honestly, I just feel bad for Christian at this point. He keeps falling in love with girls who have this toxic, insane love connection with boys from their childhood. This guy can’t ever catch a break and I want him to find someone who truly loves him, and only him. Of course it could be said that he wasn’t faithful to Daisy at the start either, and sure that’s true, but at least he didn’t claim to be in love with her at that point. First he was in love with Magnolia, then he started to slowly and unconsciously develop feelings for Daisy, until he eventually fell in love with Daisy completely and moved on from Magnolia. That’s a normal and valid trajectory. Daisy, on the other hand, claims to fully and completely love Christian from the start but also feels the same about Romeo, and also has very intense feelings and attractions to a million other men. That’s not normal and not valid. She’s giving exactly the type of behavior Christian hates Magnolia for, but Daisy is actually much worse since she isn’t honest about her feelings to anyone and also doesn’t have a single valid reason for stringing all these people along. She uses people and doesn’t even acknowledge how evil some of her actions are. I think the thing that annoyed me the most about her was her hypocrisy; she was so hurt and so angry about Christian’s unresolved feelings for Magnolia, but she’d been having so many more worse feelings for Romeo the whole time. This girl was exasperating! And Christian really deserved better. He really did. (And Romeo too, actually).
As might be quite clear by now, I genuinely couldn’t stand Daisy. But my dislike for her turned into full-on hatred towards the end when she broke up with Christian for the dumbest reason and just completely fell of the wagon. She became a giant mess who didn’t care who she hurt in the process of her own little mini-drama. She was selfish, mean, cruel, embarrassing, self-absorbed and insanely slutty; she turned into the absolute worst, and I was completely done with her by then. She didn’t have a single redeeming quality left to her. And it killed me to see Christian still pining away for her, willing to give her a million more chances, and even acting like he was the one who had to make things right. SHE was in the wrong. SHE should be begging. Ugh.
Honestly, I think there is only one couple I’m actually interested in right now: Henry and Taura. They’re both such decent people, and I love how they seem to have a little more of a slow-burn with actual development. I’d love to get a book about them. Probably won’t get it though.
Lastly, I want to talk a bit about Julian: I’m not sure why we got his POV considering he never really gets his own story and he only really exists to narrate about Daisy’s life and feelings, yet I still found him to be the most intriguing and meaningful character (perhaps that should tell you something about the lack of overall depth in this book, but I digress). I definitely think there could have been a lot more to this character if only the author cared enough to give him his own voice, relationships and feelings outside of Daisy. That said, his unconditional and deep-rooted love for Daisy was kind of exactly why I was intrigued by his character so much. A cold mobster who hates everyone but his baby sister? Yea, love that. And when these two had their falling-out it was the only time I actually felt sad while reading this book. Their relationship was so gentle and truly loving; it broke my heart a bit to see that shatter. And I’m very curious to find out how Julian will react to it after he’s had a minute to calm down. I imagine he’ll be absolutely devastated…
All in all though, this book gave me yet another awful romance where I do not want the couple to get together in the end because one of them deserves better (Christian in this case, Magnolia in the other), yet I still really enjoyed this book due to all the addictive drama and high-paced angst. I just have such a weird relationships with these books where I kind of hate and love them at the same time.
'Magnolia Parks Universe': 1. Magnolia Parks - 3.5 stars 2. Daisy Haites - 3.0 stars...more
Oh, this was such a pleasant surprise! It wasn’t what I expected it to be at all, but that actually turned out to be good thing.
This w|| 3.5 stars ||
Oh, this was such a pleasant surprise! It wasn’t what I expected it to be at all, but that actually turned out to be good thing.
This was about a romance between a motorcycle club member and a tattoo-artist, but their relationship was super gentle and sweet. Of course, their interactions could also get rough when they fought, but their relationship was extremely soft and delicate under normal circumstances. It was oddly endearing.
“I want to be everything to you.”
I also really liked both of the main characters. They were both strong and independent, but also surprisingly vulnerable. Both of them managed to stood their ground when it came to their boundaries, yet they were willing to change for the other as much as possible.
I do want to give a quick warning that this book was pretty smutty, which, if you know my tastes at all, is not something I enjoy reading, but it was actually not so bothersome to me in this case. I think it’s because all of their intimate scenes held a lot of emotion and depth; it wasn’t just sex, it was them opening up to each other in the most vulnerable way. These scenes were always very gentle and meaningful, which took the crassness out of it for me.
P.S. I wish everyone in that motorcycle club had died a fiery and painful death, and it actually makes me sick to my stomach that they got away with everything they did.
'SEX & MAYHEM' UNIVERSE:
Hounds of Valhalla MC: 1. Road of No Return - 3.5 stars
This was very unlike what I expected it to be, or at least, parts of it were. The book is divided into two parts, and the first part di|| 3.5 stars ||
This was very unlike what I expected it to be, or at least, parts of it were. The book is divided into two parts, and the first part did fit exactly what I thought the whole book would be like. We see Dr. Watson and Mr. Holmes meet, we see Watson being in awe and wonder at Holmes’ peculiar and genius personality, we see Holmes get involved in a mysterious and strange murder-case, and finally we see him easily solve the case with his own brand of deduction skills. Opposingly, the second part completely abandons these two characters and dives into the past to give a detailed, intricate and tense backstory of the murderer and why he has decided to commit his crimes. It is only at the very end that everything is tied back together again and we find out the full story at the same time as Dr. Watson.
Personally, I thought the first part was a little simplistic and nowhere near as smart or distinctive as I thought it would be. I wished we could have seen more of Sherlock’s actual deduction work, but considering the story is narrated by Watson, and he only gets short and simplified summaries of Sherlock’s deductions after the fact it has already taken place, this wasn’t the case at all. It was still fun and easy to read, but not as special as I was hoping it to be.
When I got around to the second part of this book I was honestly quite mystified and confused. At first, I didn’t have a clue as to what was happening or what I was even reading. However, once I started to realise that I was reading the backstory to the crime of the first part, I became more interested and eventually found myself very intrigued. It was actually a really good story that tug on my heartstrings more than once. I especially found myself feeling the highest respect for John Ferrier and his perseverance in wanting to protect his adoptive daughter against the horrors of Mormon culture and against having to become one of the many brides in a polygamous harem. He would rather die than have his little girl be tied to these monsters, and it was admirable to say the least. Jefferson Hope, of course, also acquired my respect for all that he did and I honestly couldn’t help but feel that the men who were murdered didn’t quite get enough compared to all that they were guilty of. I’d have wished to see them die more gruesomely if it were up to me. All in all, it was actually quite a tragic story with no happy ending for any of the good people involved.
All this said, I do think it is important to note that I believe this is one of those very rare cases where the tv adaptation is far better than the original text. I mean, the BBC’s Sherlock is seriously one of my favourite tv series of all time, while this was certainly not one of the best books I’ve ever read. Sure, it was still really good, and all the credits for the premise of the story and the idea of the characters should go completely to this, so I am glad I have read it, but still, the BBC’s adaptation just does it so much better. Therefore, if you’re only interested in exploring one version of Sherlock’s adventures, I’d recommend watching that instead. For die-hard fans (like me), however, this felt like an extra little bonus to read!...more
Oh my god, this was so good! I liked the first two books a lot, but this was truly a million times better!
We’ve left the silly romance|| 4.5 stars ||
Oh my god, this was so good! I liked the first two books a lot, but this was truly a million times better!
We’ve left the silly romance plot behind entirely, and instead, this book only focused on giving us an intricate, well thought-out, and intriguing murder mystery that gets solved in the most tension-filled way! I love that each little piece gets revealed slowly and surprisingly, but that every single reveal still made so much sense afterwards. I was shocked by a lot of them, but nothing felt random or forced; there were always clues that could be pointed at, even if you didn’t see them at first!
P.S. When it comes to Sloane, I feel like a mother hen protecting her chick. I want to wrap her up in a warm blanket, tell her everything will be okay, and snarl at anyone who dares to come too close.
The plot here was definitely an improvement from the first book. It was much more hands-on; we actually got to see The Naturals in acti|| 3.5 stars ||
The plot here was definitely an improvement from the first book. It was much more hands-on; we actually got to see The Naturals in action rather than them just sitting in a house, babbling about how special they are.
The murder mystery was actually very intriguing and I felt super curious from the very beginning about what truly happened. The resolution and reveals were good too; I didn’t feel disappointed or underwhelmed at any time.
Furthermore, I was also very intrigued to find out more about some of the characters’s histories. Especially Dean. That guy has been an enigma from the start, but his past was clearly very dark, disturbing and haunted. I was hooked on every little scrap we got about him. I honestly feel like he would have been a much more interesting main character than Cassie… His past, his coping mechanisms, his fear, his repressed anger, but also the way people around him seem to care so deeply about him and want to do anything to protect him; it’s all so much more complex and meaningful than anything Cassie has to offer as a main character.
Nonetheless, despite the positives this book had to offer I still can’t get past that horrendous love triangle. Seriously, the love triangle was still as stupid as ever. There was just zero reason for either boy to be obsessively in love with this random girl, but somehow they still are. It was also obvious from the start which of the two boys Cassie would choose, so it wasn’t particularly exciting to watch the development in that department.
Also, am I the only one who was actually insanely curious about the reason why Michael and Dean hated each other so much? Deep down they clearly did care about each other, but for some reason they choose to mask it by a lot of animosity and mistrust. Why? They’re both nice guys, so it’s not like either of them really had a reason to be enemies with the other based on principle, so something must have happened in the past. But what is it? Is it truly just that dumb reason Michael gave; about Dean repressing his anger? That would be such a silly reason to me…
Sloane is probably the most likable person in the group to me. She’s the most socially inept but obviously has the best intentions. There’s nothing more endearing to me than a socially awkward genius trying to make sense of other people’s emotions through statistics and logic. She’s always trying to help and comfort, but just isn’t very skilled at doing it right.
I genuinely think all of the members of The Naturals are sweet people in their own way, but the only exception to that is Lia for me. She is just so freaking annoying and entitled. Her relationship with Dean and Michael are both so weird and I hate the way she takes all of her frustrations out on Cassie whenever something goes wrong with either of them, especially when it comes to Dean. Like, calm down, girl. That boy is not some sort of precious china doll you need to protect at all costs. Get a hobby or something and stop obsessing about a guy like your whole life depends on it. It’s even more embarrassing and pathetic since Dean clearly doesn’t care that much about her in return; he’s more interested in Cassie’s well-being and it’s painfully obvious. I’m not sure whether the book will ever try to make Michael and Lia a thing, but I sure hope not. Lia’s priority has always been Dean, and Michael deserves better. Just like it’s also obvious that Michael would never look twice at Lia if Cassie gave him a shot. Putting these two together in the end would thus be supremely unsatisfying.
Anyway, long story short, this was a very fun, engaging, suspenseful and mysterious story that managed to have me hooked from start to finish! The silly love triangle is dumb, but the plot itself was actually surprisingly good.
This was a simple story with not much meat to it, but it was still pretty fun and entertaining. People say it’s kind of like a YA Crim|| 3.0 stars ||
This was a simple story with not much meat to it, but it was still pretty fun and entertaining. People say it’s kind of like a YA Criminal Minds, but I really think it wasn’t anywhere near that quality to be even remotely compared to it. The actual profiling the characters do here isn’t particularly extensive or cleverly put together, but I am willing to give credits for the effort. I mean, the execution really isn’t anything special, but I like the idea.
The main mystery plot was pretty interesting and kept me hooked at trying to figure it out. The reveal was a little awkward, though. I get why the author chose to go this route because it was shocking and impactful, but it was also very dumb since it seriously made me question all of “The Natural” kids’ abilities. The whole point is that these kids can perfectly read people and catch serial killers, but none of them noticed anything off about the killer living right under their noses? They’re clearly not very good at something they’re supposed to be super talented at… It’s a little embarrassing. Truthfully, all this book did with that was show their complete and utter incompetence.
Of course, there’s also an instant love triangle that comes straight out of nowhere. Cassie doesn’t truly know either boy, but she’s inexplicably drawn to one of them and the other is inexplicably drawn to her. In the end, she has two boys fighting over her even though she has the non-existent personality of a cardboard box. It’s the same old, same old. It’s very clear that Michael is just an obstacle, though; I’m willing to bet Cassie is going to end up with Dean. Michael is fun and flirty and actually shows interest in her, but Cassie doesn’t think or care about him like she does Dean, who is broody and self-loathing and tries to fight his attraction to her at all costs. Michael would be the obvious choice for any well-functioning, normal person, but it’s always the Dean-types who get the girl in books, so I am pretty sure this series won’t be any different. That said, I really don’t dislike either of the boys, and I kind of just want both of them to be happy, so I hope the author will find a way to make them happen.
This was bad. And so boring. I don’t even want to write a review for it, because I simply don’t have the energy left to complain about || 1.5 stars ||
This was bad. And so boring. I don’t even want to write a review for it, because I simply don’t have the energy left to complain about this series. It’s definitely time to throw in the towel. There have been good installments, but the enjoyment has just completely dried up and almost all the characters and relationships have turned insufferable. Not to mention, the plot is so repetitive and mind-numbingly tedious, I can’t help but skim most of it. I wish this series had ended ages ago, because the authors have ruined everything by dragging it out too long. Dom and Seth’s relationship was thrown to pieces a while ago, and Griff and Mark shouldn’t have gotten this second book.
Nope. This was so bad. I’m starting to feel like I should just give up on this author. Whatever charm and spark her writing used to have|| 1.0 star ||
Nope. This was so bad. I’m starting to feel like I should just give up on this author. Whatever charm and spark her writing used to have, her books no longer got it. She’s had a lot of misses lately, a few mediocre ones, and literally no gems at all.
Anyway, back to the book at hand. First of all, the relationship was very uncomfortable and extremely superficial; Callie literally did nothing but objectify Zeus and seemed to only be obsessed with how good-looking the guy was (even when he literally thought Zeus was there to KILL him). Meanwhile, Zeus just seemed to see Callie as a project for him to fix. Like Callie was a way for him to redeem his past mistakes. There was nothing romantic about it. It was sort of like trauma-bonding but without any real feelings. These two had less than zero chemistry and they had no connection between them whatsoever. It was all completely meaningless and without any emotion or depth.
Furthermore, I know this book desperately tried to make me feel sorry for Callie and think he’s innocent in everything he’s done, but I don’t believe that at all. Callie is awful for what he did, and there are no excuses. I honestly got so sick and tired of his self-pity.
I really did not expect to get another book in this series, but this fit as a surprisingly perfect addition. It’s about two entirely ne|| 3.0 stars ||
I really did not expect to get another book in this series, but this fit as a surprisingly perfect addition. It’s about two entirely new characters and I initially wondered how they would fit in at the junkyard, but I shouldn’t have worried, because they matched perfectly. The way Knox and Liv found a new family with these crazy, oddly lovable people just warmed my heart.
Of course, the main focus of the book is the romance between Knox and Liv, and it was honestly pretty great. It’s about two best friends, who truly never thought they would be anything more than that, but who are, due to circumstances, forced to see each other in a new light. I thought the sexual discoveries for both of them were very well done: Each had a very different journey, but neither was less valid and it was interesting to see their contrast. I personally had the biggest soft spot for Knox though, and I absolutely loved seeing the way he blossomed into his best self by finally accepting his sexuality but also his own vulnerability.
The dynamic between Knox and Liv was complete ride-or-die. These two would have done absolutely anything for the other and they were each other’s whole entire world. The love between them ran very deep, and their interactions were so sweet and authentic. Their relationship started out with a lot of banter, teasing and the occasional hostility (just like a regular close “bro” friendship), but it eventually became incredibly soft and gentle. They were constantly giving each other comfort through touch, actions and words, and I just kept swooning at how adorable they were together. They were truly enamored and it was beautiful to see them both discover how completely obsessed and in love they were with each other.
'Wrong Side of the Tracks' series: 1. Scum - 3.0 stars 2. Primal - 4.5 stars 3. D!ckhead - dnf 4. Grind - 3.5 stars 5. Wanted - 3.0 stars...more
Nah, I’m so completely over the way everyone treats Seth. I just can’t stand the constant disrespect and condescending behaviour he rec|| 1.5 stars ||
Nah, I’m so completely over the way everyone treats Seth. I just can’t stand the constant disrespect and condescending behaviour he receives. He is such a sweet ball of sunshine by nature but Mark and Dom keep turning him into a broody, moody, and depressed person with all their harsh words and inconsiderate treatment.
Domenico is honestly just the worst partner to have as he’s emotionally, financially and physically abusive: he doesn’t listen to Seth, he doesn’t let him leave the house, he refuses for Seth to have any money of is own or to access the internet, Dom basically does not let him live any kind of life, but worst of all; he is literally physically violent to him time and time again! He will never learn… He says he’s sorry each time at the end of the book, but then he just does it all again in the next one. Of course, Mark is terrible as an adoptive son too: He looks down on Seth for being loving and sweet, and he isn’t grateful at all for everything Seth has done for him. They’re both completely underserving of Seth’s love, and I honestly just want Seth to leave their abusive asses behind and never look back.
Also, this whole series is insanely repetitive and it’s getting beyond boring.
I’m going to be honest here: I really skimmed the hell out of this book. I was just so damn bored, I couldn’t be bothered to read most || 2.0 stars ||
I’m going to be honest here: I really skimmed the hell out of this book. I was just so damn bored, I couldn’t be bothered to read most of it. I think it’s mostly because the book was so plot-driven with the whole mafia/cartel business (which I did not care about whatsoever), and because we hardly got any romantic interaction between Dom and Seth. It was just really really really boring.
Furthermore, I really didn’t like the fact that Dom suddenly forced Seth to be coldblooded and cruel. I would have assumed that Dom wants to protect Seth from stuff like that, but apparently not. Which was unfortunate because I truly like it much more when Dom is being protective and possessive of Seth and desperately wants to keep him safe… not force him to be a killer like Dom. It kinda ruined their relationship dynamic for me. It’s also just such a shame because the reason I love Seth so much is because he is sweet and naive (despite living in such a harsh world), so it kind of sucked that his character wasn’t anything like that now…
P.S. I still can’t STAND Mark. He’s such an ungrateful brat!!
The writing here was trying very hard to be witty but was ultimately just empty. The plot obviously prioritized action over any kind of || 1.0 star ||
The writing here was trying very hard to be witty but was ultimately just empty. The plot obviously prioritized action over any kind of depth, emotional value or actual story, and I’m simply not a fan of that. I need more than just heists or car chases. I was bored out of my mind.
The characters were also very one-dimensional and actually just flat-out annoying. The guy was egotistical and full of himself while the girl was uptight and perpetually scowling; these were their sole personality traits, and it didn’t go further than that.
All in all, this was just not fun and not good. I wanted to finish reading this almost immediately after I started, and when I finally hit the halfway point I just couldn’t help but skim over the rest anymore. Unsurprisingly, nothing interesting happened during any of those pages, and I’m glad I didn’t waste any more time on this....more
Well, okay, I don’t think I really have much of an opinion on this. I thought this would be a little more interesting than it was. I ex|| 2.5 stars ||
Well, okay, I don’t think I really have much of an opinion on this. I thought this would be a little more interesting than it was. I expected more from Nick and Kate’s first meeting, but it was honestly pretty dull and bland. We don’t see them interact at all, and even though we know they had a “work dinner” together, we actually skip over the actual dinner completely, and we have no clue what happened there or what they talked about. It’s all pretty shallow.
Nonetheless, whereas the first meeting between Nick and Kate was disappointing and lacklustre, the actual plot where Nick was stealing a bunch of artefacts under Kate’s (and everyone else’s) nose was pretty okay and decently thought-out. Nothing mind-blowing or anything, but it wasn’t boring either....more
This book is about Ezra and Frank, who are polar opposites in a lot of ways. Ezra is beautiful, pampered, sunny and delicate with a lot|| 3.5 stars ||
This book is about Ezra and Frank, who are polar opposites in a lot of ways. Ezra is beautiful, pampered, sunny and delicate with a lot of body-image issues while Frank is big, strong, grumpy and dangerous with a secret heart of gold.
“I love you, Frank,” Ezra whispered straight into his ear. “I love you too. I love you so much. You’re my treasure.”
They meet in an escort/client situation and Frank is pretty much smitten from the beginning. Ezra isn’t sold on him for a long time though, because he already has other plans for his future; namely, snagging himself a rich husband after earning as much money as an escort as he can. Meanwhile, Frank literally lives at a junkyard, so he is not exactly what Ezra pictured for himself.
Frank chuckled, closing his eyes, but when Ezra’s breath steadied after a while, he opened them again to take in the treasure in his arms. Ezra didn’t know it yet, but after tonight, all bets were off. Frank would fight to keep him.
However, when Ezra is threatened by one of his former clients after witnessing something he shouldn’t, he decides to seek refugee with the one man he feels can protect him and keep him safe: Frank. And Frank is all too willing to take care of Ezra in any way the beautiful man will let him. In the meantime, Frank just hopes Ezra won’t find out that he is just as involved in criminal activity as the man Ezra is running from (or at least not before he can make Ezra fall in love with him too).
This man was the most precious person he’d ever met, and he’d bend over backwards to make him happy.
The reason I think I enjoyed this book the most was because Frank was just so in love with Ezra. He adored him in every single way, and he would have done anything for him. It was very swoony.
P.S. Jag was, once again, literally the cutest person ever and his little friendship with Ezra was super adorable.
'Wrong Side of the Tracks' series: 1. Scum - 3.0 stars 2. Primal - 4.5 stars 3. D!ckhead - dnf 4. Grind - 3.5 stars 5. Wanted - 3.0 stars...more
I have to admit that I am honestly quite baffled by this book’s popularity. I mean, it wasn’t super bad, but it surely wasn’t great eit|| 2.5 stars ||
I have to admit that I am honestly quite baffled by this book’s popularity. I mean, it wasn’t super bad, but it surely wasn’t great either. I was all just very... mweh.
First of all, the mystery itself is quite preposterous and far-fetched. In fact, the actual reveal of the murder is so convoluted that the book basically needs to shove aside all the facts it has stated before to make it make sense. It is revealed in the end that basically everything was a misdirection and that every single witness was lying. Like, okay?? I guess I’m supposed to be shocked by that, but all it really did was make me feel like the whole book was a waste. After all, there was no real mystery in the book, because there was no way you could have figured it out. All the evidence seemed to point towards an impossible crime, because, it turns out, it really was impossible! The crime simply did not happen that way. So, we spend all this time trying to figure out a mystery that was never going to be solved! Instead, we got a big “SIKE!” moment where we’re told everything isn’t as we thought it was. I don’t like ‘mysteries’ that end like that; it feels like a major cop-out, and basically absolves the author from actually having the explain the murder in a smart way. Honestly, I prefer a well thought out murder mystery over a silly plot-twist any day.
Now, when it comes to the writing, I have to say I’m having mixed feelings. On the one hand the writing was simple and straight-forward, which made it very easy to follow along with. On the other hand, however, the book was structured in a way that I found very repetitive and monotonous. The characters lacked any depth whatsoever, and everything had a very cold or sterile feeling to it. There is also no action or even a hint of suspense going on here, and instead the whole thing took on a very methodical note. It was a giant listing of evidence after evidence, only for it to later be revealed that all the “evidence” was nothing but lies and misdirection! What on earth have I spent all this time reading it for then??
The main character, Hercule Poirot, also got on my nerves for some reason. He was a very pretentious little man, who was thriving on his so called ‘intellect’, willing every person to acknowledge how smart he was. He didn’t do or say anything interesting, and was painfully unhelpful the whole way through, but did keep on asking people things like “isn’t it obvious”, when in reality, it really was NOT obvious, because the whole thing was frustratingly ridiculous and insanely coincidental!
Also, I was kind of surprised by all the casual racism and sexism displayed in this book. It was even more frustrating since these prejudices were actually used as evidence to either condemn or absolve suspects in the whole murder investigation. Like, how can I take this mystery seriously when racism/sexism is used as a serious investigative method? They called their prejudices “the Psychology” to give it an air of being scientific, when in reality, it was nothing but offensive rubbish. For example: They reason that the murderer must be a woman because no man would be hysterical enough to stab a man twelve times. They also reason that the murderer cannot be an Englishman because they are not crass enough to stab people. Instead, the Italian man is suspected because he has the temperament and vulgarity for it! Like, really??? I’m supposed to take this investigation seriously in any way?? I think not....more
At the start of this book, I honestly felt really disappointed because I just wasn’t enjoying it much. For me, it dragged a little and || 3.5 stars ||
At the start of this book, I honestly felt really disappointed because I just wasn’t enjoying it much. For me, it dragged a little and the plot just didn’t grip me. I was a bit bored and it also didn’t help that the writing for these books just isn’t that great.
Before Seth, Domenico had sometimes found himself wondering if he could ever feel the way other people seemed to when they were in love, but now he understood that what he’d needed was a very special man. Someone who could accept Domenico the way he was without being hard as a block of marble himself.
However, after a little while, the story definitely picked up, and most importantly, so did Seth and Dom’s relationship. The moment the drama between them started happening again, was the moment I was once again enjoying the hell out of this book. I know these two are so toxic together and their relationship is beyond crazy, but I just love the tumultuous and angsty energy between them. Even though they fight all the damn time, they can also be so sweet and gentle with each other, and I love how they combine those two things in their relationship.
“You both fucking betrayed me, so cut the bullshit. We’re stuck together anyway, but that doesn’t mean anything’s changed since yesterday.” Mark gasped. “I’m sorry! It’s my fault. I should have said something, but you told me I shouldn’t get in between you two if anything happened. I panicked!” Seth slammed his fist against the table so hard each of their cups bled coffee. “He cuffed me to the fucking bed, Mark!” Domenico bit into his lip, and his mouth filled with a metallic taste. He clutched at his shirt. It’d been less than a day without Seth’s affection, and it was already taking such toll on his mind he’d agree to anything Seth wanted. “I made a mistake.” Seth’s eyes met his, and Dom had never seen those brows eyes so cold. “Fuck you. You’re just doing damage control because shit didn’t go your way. You’d do it all over again given half the chance.” Domenico swallowed hard. “What do you want me to do?” “I want nothing from you. I can’t even deal with you being here right now.” Seth took a deep breath and curled his shoulders. “You’ve broken me so bad I don’t even know where to go from here.” Domenico stood up and grabbed the back of Seth’s chair. “What is it that you want, damn it? I love you! I would do anything for you. Being away from you makes me physically sick! Haven’t we been through worse times and survived?” Seth nodded, and quickly got up to avoid touching Dom. “Maybe we shouldn’t have.” What seemed like a bad dream before was now becoming a nightmare. Seth truly was questioning their relationship. Domenico had assumed that yesterday’s argument was one of Seth’s typical, rash decisions, yet after so many hours apart, Seth was only more bitter. Domenico took a deep breath, resisting the sting of pain deep in his chest. “You can’t mean that. We will always be together. You know this.” “Do I?” Seth whispered.
My favourite part will forever be how insanely obsessed Dom is with Seth; I never would have guessed things would turn out this way between them from how everything started in the first book in the series, but somehow the previously cold and cruel Dom has just become so utterly whipped for his man, and I love that. Every time Dom gets jealous, possessive or insecure about Seth’s affection just has me in a chokehold. It’s so damn good.
P.S. I really don’t like Mark. I know he’s supposed to be their adopted son or whatever, but it doesn’t feel that way. The age-gap between them isn’t big enough, and Mark only really seems to respect Dom. I think I could get behind Mark’s addition to the family more of he also developed an actual bond with Seth, but unfortunately I don’t see that happening anytime soon… As it is right now, I mostly just find Mark annoying.
This book was the literal definition of the “he falls first, and he falls harder” trope, and damnnn if I don’t love the hell out of tha|| 4.0 stars ||
This book was the literal definition of the “he falls first, and he falls harder” trope, and damnnn if I don’t love the hell out of that!
She was so goddamn beautiful I couldn’t even stand to look at her some days.
Christian was usually cold, controlled and heartless in all aspects of life, but he literally made himself go to therapy because of his out of control obsession with Gianna. He also casually wore her hairband around his wrist for years before they even got together, even when they weren’t even talking or living in the same state. This man was whipped from the minute he saw her and couldn’t stop thinking about her for years and years. She consumed his every thought, dictated his every action, and basically just made his world spin.
His jaw tightened. “You left.” “Of course, I left. I knew this wouldn’t work out from the beginning, and tonight just confirmed it.” “This?” My throat felt tight. “Us.” Tension gripped him tight. Rain collected on his eyelashes. Something torturous flickered through his gaze. “What are you saying?” The words were accented, and somehow, it tore my chest down the middle. “You know what I’m saying.” I swallowed. “We knew this would come to an end eventually.” His teeth clenched. “This might come to an end for you, but it will never be over for me.”
Meanwhile, Gianna was so unbothered, she literally forgot this man’s name after already knowing him for three years. At the same time that he was going to therapy because of his obsession with her, she couldn’t even remember something as easy as his name. I swear, I cackled so hard when they just had sex for the first time and Christian probably felt over the moon about that, only for her to casually reveal she didn’t know his damn name. I mean, it was definitely brutal, but I loved it.
“Allister,” I begged. “I just had my tongue inside you,” he said, annoyed. “You can start by calling me by my first name.” I opened my mouth. Closed it. His eyes darkened as he took in my expression. “You forgot my name.”
I really liked that Gianna was strong-willed and fiery, and never backed down. She always stood her ground and gave everything back as hard as she got. Nonetheless, she wasn't jaded or bitter or rude; no, she was bubbly and sweet and charming. She also wasn't afraid to be vulnerable from time to time. She was the complete opposite of Christian in every way, whose emotions were locked up tighter than the best-secured vault in the world, and who could only be described as the grumpiest, coldest, most stoic and most uptight man alive. He did have a soft side hidden somewhere very very deep, but it only came out once in a blue moon, and only for Gianna.
“What are you afraid of?” “Everything,” I whispered, trailing my finger across the starched collar of his dress shirt. “You’re not afraid of me.” We were so close his cheek brushed my tear-streaked one when he rasped, “And, baby, I’m worse than the dark.”
My one big complaint with this book is that they were both just too freaking horny all the time. I really wish more of their interactions could have resulted in emotional intimacy rather than only sexual tension. Don’t get me wrong, I felt all hot and bothered about the latter, but I would have truly loved to get more of the emotional intimacy too.
Aww, this was pretty cute! It wasn’t amazing or anything, but it was definitely fun and sweet. I have to say I especially liked the fir|| 3.0 stars ||
Aww, this was pretty cute! It wasn’t amazing or anything, but it was definitely fun and sweet. I have to say I especially liked the first half though, as the relationship started to bore me a little bit after Lemon and Atlas really got together.
The build-up was so good and they had amazing chemistry. They didn’t fall into bed with each other immediately, which I appreciated, but I still wish the “getting to know each other” stage could have gone on for even longer; I just loved that part so much that I wanted a lot more from it still.
I think something that really helped my enjoyment here was the fact that Lemon and Atlas were both very likable. Atlas had that gentle giant vibe going on, while Lemon was a precious little spitfire; they were opposites in some ways, but they were extremely similair in the way they always want to take care of everyone.
I really felt they fit together well, and I especially adored their banter and the admiration they had between them. They were just so good for one another, and it made me feel happy to see them find each other. They had a very lighthearted and teasing relationship, which was just right for them.
If you read the blurb for this one, I think you’ll immediately know it this will be for you or not, because it tells you exactly what to expect and delivers exactly that! Also, the side-plots and the mystery were actually pretty decent too (without taking up too much page-time), so that was a nice bonus!
All in all, this wasn’t anything profound or deeply emotional, but I wouldn’t call it superficial either. It had the exact right vibe for what you’re looking for when you pick up a book like this!
Okay, so this wasn’t amazing or anything, but it definitely wasn’t bad either. It was extremely toxic, and it was insta-love with a con|| 3.0 stars ||
Okay, so this wasn’t amazing or anything, but it definitely wasn’t bad either. It was extremely toxic, and it was insta-love with a connection mostly build on lust: those are things I usually don’t really appreciate. Nonetheless, I really enjoyed reading this and it was just... fun!
The book is about Rosen and Shane, who couldn’t possibly be any more different. Rosen is gentle and angelic, while Shane is rough around the edges. Rosen goes to college as an art student, while Shane just came out of prison and is already back to his usual criminal activity. These two would have normally never met or connected, but Shane has different plans. After all, it was Rosen’s father who falsely accused Shane of a crime he did not commit, which led to his 10 years in jail. Shane is out for revenge. And he wants to get it through Rosen. What he didn’t account for, however, was to fall in love with the boy in the process.
Ros was so cute it was impossible not to notice. Like a Disney Princess, he was sweet, and wished everyone well, and if he started singing in the woods, birds and rodents would flock to him as if he were made of grain. Shane shouldn’t have liked it. But he did. He just couldn’t understand what a guy like that saw in him.
What I loved about this book is the fact that Shane was so adoring when it came to Rosen. He really thought the sun shone right out of his arse, which is just adorable. Nonetheless, Shane still treated Rosen badly from time to time, which annoyed me. Rosen was definitely a push-over and I would have liked him to be a little less naive. Then again, I found his trusting nature also quite endearing, so it wasn’t all bad.
“You’re my first, my only, and I love you so much.” “Me too, baby. You’re the only one who ever counted.”
There is a big betrayal in this book, obviously, so we do get some good groveling from Shane. I personally would have never forgiven him for what he did (I won’t spoil what it was, but it was truly bad), and I find it a little hard to believe that Rosen would either, but it was what it was. I did like that Shane was truly apologetic and he would have done anything to earn Rosen's forgiveness; he would have literally walked through fire to get Rosen’s trust and affections back.
All in all, I thought this book was very entertaining and it had some tropes I really like. Was it executed in the most hard-hitting way possible? No. But it was decent at what it tried to do, and the writing was addictive enough to have me enjoy this book quite a lot.
'Wrong Side of the Tracks' series: 1. Scum - 3.0 stars 2. Primal - 4.5 stars 3. D!ckhead - dnf 4. Grind - 3.5 stars 5. Wanted - 3.0 stars...more
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