This is a fun little read about a wronged wife (Callie) getting revenge on her cheating husband (Justin) and the manipulative skank (Daisy AKA The BitThis is a fun little read about a wronged wife (Callie) getting revenge on her cheating husband (Justin) and the manipulative skank (Daisy AKA The Bitch) that tempted him. The tone isn’t serious, and the book starts after the divorce and cheating, so this isn’t an emotional/angsty read. It’s OTT trashy soap.
Callie and Justin had been married for years when she learned he was having an affair. She decided to get her man back while making them both pay for YEARS.
Bottom Line- The characters aren’t realistic. The relationships aren’t healthy. Nothing resembles real-life. It’s a nonsensical entertaining read. I liked getting all three POV’s and LOVED that she made him work for it. ...more
This was just ok, sort of drab soapy read. It started out pretty good, but then fizzled. Vitale wants revenge on Zara’s father, so he sets out to stop This was just ok, sort of drab soapy read. It started out pretty good, but then fizzled. Vitale wants revenge on Zara’s father, so he sets out to stop a future merger by ruining a possible engagement. This part was pretty juicy, but the aftermath fell off.
Bottom Line- Not bad – not great. It was short enough that I didn’t get bored, but there weren’t any real feels or angst. I liked both the mc’s… I really liked that he followed up after his lack of protection. I just needed more… maybe a wannabe OW could’ve spruced it up. ...more
This brings us a standard revenge plot with amnesia and a twist I didn’t see coming. The book opens with a bitter Talos learning that Eve his traitoroThis brings us a standard revenge plot with amnesia and a twist I didn’t see coming. The book opens with a bitter Talos learning that Eve his traitorous ex-lover is pregnant with amnesia. The story was entertaining, it was just missing something for me.
I found both characters likable, but I struggled with Eve at times. I felt like both her and her mom used the sweet stepdad, and I didn’t understand her actions after retrieving her memories. (and don’t get me started on his magical healing love club)
Bottom Line- I liked it… I just didn’t LOVE it, but several of my GR friends loved it… so keep that in mind. It has a complex plot with twists that I haven’t seen in HP before, but I read HP for the OTT soapy bits, and this one is more serious. ...more
3.5-4 ⭐ This is a historical, revenge, slow-drip romance between Grey and Serena. The blurb sets it up, Grey obtains Serena’s dad’s debts and forces hi3.5-4 ⭐ This is a historical, revenge, slow-drip romance between Grey and Serena. The blurb sets it up, Grey obtains Serena’s dad’s debts and forces him to trade his daughter to be his mistress. I know I read a similar book where the H forced the dad to approve a marriage (between H & h) so he couldn’t sell his daughter off to marry an old pervy dude… I think that scenario worked better. I never really understood how disgracing his daughter (that he didn’t care about) hurt the father. ...more
**This will have spoilers/recap of the prior books**
I’m not gonna lie… I’m bummed with the way she tied this up. The fourth and 2.5 Disappointing ⭐’s
**This will have spoilers/recap of the prior books**
I’m not gonna lie… I’m bummed with the way she tied this up. The fourth and final book picks up where we left off, Gia is MIA hiding out in Alaska, and Gabe has finally decided to avenge his mom. The problem (for me) was that it moved super-fast throwing TONS of new characters into the mix with very little information making it difficult to keep up… especially after how slowly books 1-3 progressed. It was whiplash.
I was already struggling with all the new Sicily characters (Sal, Alonzo, Felice, Teresa, Antonio, Luna, Natalia, JJ, Sofia’s missing dad)… but then things went completely off the rails when a smorgasbord of crossover characters (Memnon/Track, Lyon, Mancini, Tyler, Nia, Catalina, Devin, Arianna, Kat, Mengele, Mouth, Vanessa, Zak, Roxy) just dropped in with no real explanation, and I had no clue what was going on. Maybe if I had read the Lyon and Seal Team Seven series, I could've kept up... but I didn't, and it's written in a way that it's assumed you have.
Also, so many things are repeated over and over… and over again. Argh! For example, this is within the same internal monologue…. But in thinking that way, I realized that Gabriel is always the one fighting other people’s demons. And… “Isn’t it sad that Gabriel’s always the one fighting everyone else’s battles for them? And… I think I see something that no one else seems aware of, and that is the fact that Gabriel has always been carrying everyone else’s load on his shoulders. And… He takes care of everyone, whether they need him to or not. It was so annoying!! I mean I’ve hated Sofia since the beginning and even I got tired of replaying the same conversation/thoughts about how much she sucked as a mom while she blinked and acted innocent cuz nothing ever came from it. The person would justify her actions, then bring it up again, but none of them ever had a serious convo about it. I can't remember her ever apologizing.
Bottom Line- This felt rushed and less polished compared to the previous books. I was confused for most of the book. There’re a TON of new characters, a TON of POV’s, a TON of crossover characters that I wasn’t familiar with, a TON of smut in the last ½ with not a lot of plot, and a TON of repeated conversation/musings....more
** This will have some recapping from the previous books and a loose outline of plot and characters**
Book 3 picks up wh Still on the scenic route ⭐’s
** This will have some recapping from the previous books and a loose outline of plot and characters**
Book 3 picks up where we left off… Gabe is still cracking down on the evil mom-daughter duo (Becky, Victoria) for making Gia’s life hell. This takes up the majority of the plot, but we FINALLY get to the stuff teased in the blurb (avenging his mother and pushing Gia away) around 76%... and maybe it was because it took nearly 1000 pages to get there, but I found it very anticlimactic.
My biggest grump with the series is that it’s SUPER repetitive. Her writing is stronger than what I’ve read in the past… there’s not much smut and more of a plot… but it’s just STRETCHED out way too long. The same thoughts/happenings are repeated over and over, sometimes within the same internal musing monologue. There’s also backtracking like (view spoiler)[ Felix coming to terms that his wife and adopted daughter are evil when that already happened in the second book… when he compared their bedrooms. (hide spoiler)]
Hands down my favorite part of the book was someone FINALLY calling out Sofia for that BS she did WAY back in the first 10% of book 1. The “his mother made sure of it” part which made me dislike her immediately. (view spoiler)[ (telling him at 13 that he was a product of rape and saddling him with avenging her) (hide spoiler)]
Bottom Line- The bones of this story are good, but the execution needs work. IMHO there’s too much in her book sandwich and this thing has grown too big to manage. The conflict stagnates and recycles rather than developing/adapting making things stale and redundant. There’re too many POV’s. (Gabe, Gia, Draco, Becky, Victoria, Lance, Felix, Jimmy) It felt rushed and a smidge sloppy like (view spoiler)[ them taking Victoria’s tongue, then her talking at the end. (hide spoiler)] I also felt the Cinderella-ish storyline was resolved quite quickly and was underwhelming. ...more
A solid H out for revenge historical romance that started out slow, but picks up midway. The book opens with James demanding David (h’s bro) to marry A solid H out for revenge historical romance that started out slow, but picks up midway. The book opens with James demanding David (h’s bro) to marry his little sister (Gloriana) after knocking her up. He refuses, so James sets out to deflower/ruin his little sister like he has down to Gloriana. **The plot reminded me a lot of HH’s Highland Knight which had the same bones, but that h was aware what the deal was and Gloriana wasn’t as much of a spoiled cow as Katherine.
Like I said, things take a while to get going. Jillian isn’t open to getting married after being humiliated by her ex-fiancé. So… it takes some serious page time to get to any relationship/revenge parts. Revenge aside, James isn’t a bad guy, and he has guilt/second thoughts the entire time.
There’re several chapters dedicated to groveling after the fallout. My only complaint is that most of it was done with them separated (James miserably respecting Jilly’s wish to stay away) while his/her friends aid the mending. I prefer face-to-face groveling and wish she would’ve stayed put.
Bottom Line- I enjoyed it, but was pretty bored the first half. I liked both mc’s and really liked the secondary characters. (Nick & David) I wondered if maybe they might have their own books but I don’t see any attached. It’s free to read with KU. **Edit- David’s book is His Reluctant Lady and I think Nick’s is His Improper Proposal
This one’s safe. The OW drama comes from Lady Beatrice who wanted James for herself (he never did) she’s rude to Jilly a couple of times. ...more
Good bones, but the separation was too long (IMHO) and the pacing/execution was a bit off. I really enjoyed some parts, was bored during others, and cGood bones, but the separation was too long (IMHO) and the pacing/execution was a bit off. I really enjoyed some parts, was bored during others, and confused at times by their behavior/actions.
The book opens with Strider cruelly rejecting Pen, so she’ll stop sneaking out and stay with her new guardians. The 10-yr-olds have been living on the streets for a year and are barely staying alive. Then, we FFW five years later to a brief encounter where they don’t even talk. Then another 12-yr FFW to a desperate Pen tracking Strider down for help.
I had a few issues. The separation was so long that it made their “connection” feel fabricated. They spent WAY more time separated than together… spent those ten in a brother/sister dynamic then instantly lusted each other seventeen years later. (??) Not to mention 27 felt really old for her to have never been claimed by the family’s son.
Bottom Line- Ok, not bad- not fantastic. I gobbled certain parts up and skimmed through others. There’s some angst from the H treating the h cruelly at the beginning… although I wasn’t so sure why he was so angry at her initially. And some drama/danger parts. It’s free to read with KU.
Safety- h is a virgin. H owns a brothel and comments are made that he’s sampled the lady buffet, but there isn’t any OW drama/ex-hookups around. ...more
I was apprehensive to read this because I didn’t have the best reading experience with her Fae Chronicles universe, but this was marketed as a standalI was apprehensive to read this because I didn’t have the best reading experience with her Fae Chronicles universe, but this was marketed as a standalone (my biggest complaint was how long/confusing/unorganized it got) and I’m always open to seeing how an author’s writing style changes over time. I think this author is hella creative, but I don’t think our styles are super compatible. Some spoilery info, please stop if you want to go in blind.
Alpha’s Claim is Saint and Braelyn’s story and VERY similar to Claiming the Dragon King (which I enjoyed more- I think because that h was really strong and Blane wasn’t quite as cruel. I was also immersed into that world, so I felt a better connection). Both books have angry H’s that hate the h for crimes her father committed and looking for revenge. Both h’s are accused of being whores until a dub-con virginity reveal and have been tortured/abused by their insane fathers. They’re even both called princess in a derogatory way.
So, like I said in that review… This is amazing if you like a cruel H unfairly blaming an innocent h and being a total ASSHOLE…. But… not so much if that’s not your thing or you’re looking for some romance. Without going into spoiler-y details, I can’t recall him straight out physically abusing her in a hit, kick, punch, sort of way … BUT… He's super hateful... AND... He puts her in situations where she is hurt… AND… there’re a couple dub-con situations… AND… there’re some violent scenes, so if you’re squeamish beware.
My issues were more writing specific. These are all ongoing things I’ve noticed in her previous books, so I think it’s just her style... and it probably either works for you or it doesn’t. I will say, I thought the preachy speachy long winding info dump monologues and repetitive info was MUCH better this time around, so props for that. My only obstacle was the lack of worldbuilding.
⭕ Worldbuilding is vital to PNR because they don’t live in the real world, so we need rules/guidelines to navigate it. This is part of a series, but I’ve read a few of them and haven’t seen any plot, setting, or character crossover, so it should stand on its own. In the opening chapter we’re dropped into a battle with hunter’s, shifters, witches, demons, and a lycan, but not given any information on how they relate or interconnect. I was confused, I didn’t even understand the main characters because we’re told they’re not shifters because they don’t shift, but they all have wolves… and later they're referred to as shifters, and then there’s the Fenir god concept thrown in. ...more
2.5-ish Stars This was just ok for me, but I want to add the disclaimer that I did not read the rest of the series… in my defense, the blurb does say t2.5-ish Stars This was just ok for me, but I want to add the disclaimer that I did not read the rest of the series… in my defense, the blurb does say that it can be read as a standalone, and I never felt lost, but I can acknowledge that I probably would’ve enjoyed it more had I been invested in the family.
This is Gabby and Brandon’s story. Even coming in blind, I quickly caught up that Gabby is the coddled baby of the family, and that Brandon used to be Michael’s best bud before they had a falling out. He’s struggling with addictions and some childhood abuse. (physical from his dad and sexual from a family friend- I’m assuming this was introduced in Michael’s book) He’s also hell bent on revenge because he blames Michael for the death of his lady love Anna.
Most of the plot revolves around Gabby and Brandon’s friendship that is frowned upon by her family, and his master plan for vengeance… which I found lacking… and puzzling. Basically, his strategic plan of attack for making Michael pay is to woo Gabby into loving him, so he can deflower and dump her… cuz that’s going to make her hate her brother.
Gabby was awesome. She’s mature and independent, and I respected how she pushed back to go her own way. Brandon wasn’t all that bad. Stupid revenge plan aside, he never treated her cruelly, and I had sympathy for what he went through. The actual growing of the relationship was sweet. I would’ve rated this higher had the climax been developed instead of skipping over all the potential angsty goodness.
SPOILERS
When Brandon finally decides to wrap up his revenge, he sets up a scenario for Gabby to witness something that should’ve generated hella drama…. And I was on edge, full stomach drop, waiting for the fallout… but it doesn’t come… because Gabby takes the high road, and she’s not dying inside. Then we have a time jump with her SEEKING BRANDON OUT, and letting him off the hook with no groveling, explaining, arguing, guilting, nothing. And for someone that reads for feels… this was an EPIC LETDOWN. ...more
** This will all have spoilers from the previous books (Fae Chronicles 1-5) and some spoiler-y stuff. I’ll try to be vague but proceed with caution an** This will all have spoilers from the previous books (Fae Chronicles 1-5) and some spoiler-y stuff. I’ll try to be vague but proceed with caution and ...more
I loved this book, but your mood will probably influence your enjoyment. Are you looking for a historical soap opera or a historical romance?
This is I loved this book, but your mood will probably influence your enjoyment. Are you looking for a historical soap opera or a historical romance?
This is a solid angsty, soapy, revenge read. I say soapy because character actions/reactions are OTT producing buckets of drama-llama. It’s an easy read and quite entertaining, but it doesn’t generate deep emotional feels. Their actions aren’t always logical, so you’ll have go with some stuff.
The blurb sets this up, and everything is explained in the first chapter. Reanna is madly in love with her fiancé Killian, but he is looking for revenge against her father. This sets up Reanna’s heartbreak and Killian’s bastardly ways.
I don’t want to give spoilers so I’ll just say that Killian is a total jerkface for most of the book. About the only real positive thing I can say is that some of the “hurt” comes about indirectly from his decisions (like I don’t think he ever wanted her physically hurt), but his actions still put Reanna through a world of hurt. Reanna starts out a smidge pathetic, but IMO she does grow a little backbone.
Bottom Line- If you can stomach a cruel H, enjoy soap operas, and want to ride the angsty drama-llama waves, give this a shot… but if you want a swoony romance then keep looking. The couple gets their HEA, but we don’t get much of an epilogue because each book flows into the next couple. I gobbled it up, but I LOVE soapy/harlequin reads, and didn't take it seriously/personally. I’ve never watched Downton Abbey, but I might need to binge sometime soon. ...more
October 2022- Reread via audiobook. The audio is pretty good… I liked the male narrator better than the female which honestly could’ve been because MiOctober 2022- Reread via audiobook. The audio is pretty good… I liked the male narrator better than the female which honestly could’ve been because Mia got on my nerves this time around. I could overlook the TSTL/ I grew up under a rock thing because she’s 20, but IMO the whole cliché vegan/hippie/consumer warrior was oversold… to a point that it became obnoxious. I understand the image the author was going for… I just think she went too hard… and like in real life when I run across someone with strong opinions/passions that judge, preach, and ram their ideals down my throat… I find it off-putting rather than inspiring. And distracting because I ended up getting sidetracked with ethical honey harvesting, and conflict free lab created stones, and McD’s French fries not being vegan because they’re fried in animal fat, and that she refused to wear silk but wore leather boots… like I say… I have issues. ...more
This one’s for the readers that love a jerky H, cuz Guido is an ass for much of the book. The couple were married 10-ish years earlier when they were This one’s for the readers that love a jerky H, cuz Guido is an ass for much of the book. The couple were married 10-ish years earlier when they were broken up because of his shitty family. I read it a couple weeks back, so I’m just going to leave it as a 3 ⭐… I liked it, but can’t remember loving it, BUT it has high reviews from several reviewers I respect, so don’t let this crappy/lazy write-up discourage you. ...more
I picked this up as a freebie way back in 2018. (my TBR is HUGE) I’m going through a bit of a mafia kick at the moment, so I decided to finally take tI picked this up as a freebie way back in 2018. (my TBR is HUGE) I’m going through a bit of a mafia kick at the moment, so I decided to finally take the plunge. Coincidentally, I found it similar (feel-not plot) to my last read Cruel Saints. Dark Mafia Prince is not PG rated, there’s actually a decent amount of sexytime… although it’s the “you’re a dirty whore” kink variety, so fyi if that isn’t your thing. But, it's not really gritty eaither.
My issues were similar to the last book, I just like my mafia reads to be grittier/darker. Aleksio is not really an anti-H. He starts out pretty kick-ass, but mellows out quite a lot early on after the couple reunites. Mira isn’t as prudish as Elena, but she does have that violence and guns are bad attitude, which (for me) was a total bummer. I like my mafia h's to roll up their sleeves, and wade through the carnage. They also have an insta-love thing going on.
Part of my issue is that I just felt like their actions/reactions didn’t make sense. For example, (view spoiler)[ Mira asks for the “bad guy” to be spared after she knows he did HORRIBLE things. I believe the author was trying to show us how forgiving she is (fixer not a breaker,) but it just made her look weak. Add in the fact that Aleksio actually listens to her was dumb. Add in that he leaves the second bad guy alive when he’s actively trying to kill him and his brothers was so unbelievable, and pretty damn stupid. Let him escape, don’t make our mob leader a pussy. Rising above has no place in mobster books. (hide spoiler)]...more
My GR friends are all over the place with this one which I understand, because I could rate different aspects anywhere from 1-5. I agree with many of My GR friends are all over the place with this one which I understand, because I could rate different aspects anywhere from 1-5. I agree with many of the issues fellow reviewers had, but I did enjoy it (mostly) so I’m sticking with 3 ⭐’s. I really think reader mood/expectation will probably determine your enjoyment, so here’re a few tidbits that will hopefully be helpful.
I knew I had to read this when I heard the h’s amnesia was a result of stumbling away from a car accident and getting ran over by a wild pony… if thatI knew I had to read this when I heard the h’s amnesia was a result of stumbling away from a car accident and getting ran over by a wild pony… if that doesn’t sound whacktastic to you… then I’d pass, but if this sounds like your cuppa… then jump in cuz this one’s good. The Devil’s Arms is a perfect example of the OTT, trainwrecky HP’s that I love when I’m in the mood for something light. It has all my favorite tropes… revenge, amnesia, evil-twin, and MOC to name a few.
Published in 1978, it does have some content that could be offensive to readers. Jake isn’t overly cruel, but he does manhandle her a lot, and there’s a non-con scene. It’s fade to black, but she protests; he’s not listening. It’s not a forced seduction as she plays dead, and doesn’t enjoy it, but this was written in the BR heyday, and it's brushed away quickly. It’s also very predictable if you are fluent in HP.
Bottom Line- If you like the whacky early 90’s style telenovela (cuz General Hospital’s got nothing on María Mercedes ) then give it a shot. But if soap operas on steroids aren’t your thing…pass. The only thing that could have made it more delicious would’ve been an OW in the mix. *This might be confusing, because I just dinged an HP last week for being OTT. The difference is the character’s personalities. In a nutshell, I like OTT situations with the mc’s adulting… not adults acting OTT/crazy. (yelling, stomping, etc.) unless it’s a wannabe OW; she can do whatever she wants. ...more
3 Grumpy Jac Stars I didn’t love this one… I didn’t hate it… it was just kinda blah. I have three theories for this.
1️⃣ I’m in a mood. It’s an off-wee3 Grumpy Jac Stars I didn’t love this one… I didn’t hate it… it was just kinda blah. I have three theories for this.
1️⃣ I’m in a mood. It’s an off-week, and where I ate up the second-chance romances earlier this week while I was in my emotional/ chocolate phase… I’ve moved onto my grumpy phase, and according to my hubby… I’m currently hard to please. ...more
2.5-3ish Stars I’m always interested when an author steps out of their lane, and dips a toe into another genre. I’ve read a few of C.C.’s book, but not2.5-3ish Stars I’m always interested when an author steps out of their lane, and dips a toe into another genre. I’ve read a few of C.C.’s book, but nothing like this. It’s been quite a while since I read anything gothic or ghosty, so I jumped in.
Fables & Other Lies tells the story of Penelope Guzman and River Caliban. The two are from feuding founding families of Pan island, a place that believes in the supernatural and curses. The Calibans are rich hermits that only open their part of the island once a year during a carnival week. We open with P returning after being away for several years. It has a unique “feel”; it almost felt like she was inspired by several genres. It had that black magic/superstition feel we usually see in Louisiana settings. I picked up an American Horror Story season 1 (the one w/ the haunted house) vibe. It even had a bit of a Rebecca feel to it, which I guess makes sense because that was also a gothic novel.
I feel like a bit of a hypocrite, because I’m always complaining about books starting off so slow, and now I’m going to complain about the complete opposite. This book follows the concept of throwing us in the pool, and then slowing revealing layers of understanding. Although, it wasn’t boring; it was confusing, and I struggled a hunk to figure out what the hell was going on. I feel like it took most of my brain power trying to keep up, and I lacked the time (and details) to really connect to the characters.
Bottom Line- As a spooky mystery, this was pretty entertaining. (Once I found my legs within the plot) As a romance, it’s not great. There’s just not enough development or information to make it believable. Plus, IMO, slow-burns don’t always work with short reads. (225-ish) My guess is your enjoyment will depend upon which aspect you’re hankering for. And, if you’re the type of reader who just enjoys the ride without dissecting the details. For me, I needed about 75 more pages of River’s backstory (or family history in general) and curse details… and some answers. In a nutshell, I enjoyed it, but it could have been so much better....more
This one was tough for me to rate, I think it’ll be a 3 to 5⭐'s for most readers, so I’m just going to mark as a 3 with notes. This one was tough for me to rate, I think it’ll be a 3 to 5⭐'s for most readers, so I’m just going to mark as a 3 with notes. ...more
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