_isabel_'s reviews
1026 reviews

Classic Alessandra Hazard: lots of delicious pining, lots of delicious steam, lots of delicious chemistry.

I admit, this wasn't my favourite of hers, because there was a LOT of stuff I skimmed (especially Harry's interludes on his own planet; I also admit I got kinda lost with the world-building at times), but all in all, Adam and Harry were freaking sweet and freaking hot: all the neediness, the co-dependency, the cuddling, the touching, the pining, everything about that was fantastic.
Also, I'm ALREADY obsessed with Ksar and Seyn. I can't wait to dive into book two!

"Dragon's Dusk" is the second installment in Sam Burns and W.M. Fawkes' latest, high fantasy series, and like its predecessor, it's packed with action and romance, dragons and magic, steam and found family and just the right amount of darkness and angst.
I loved book one, and I was so very excited for Kostya's story: he was a fascinating character, sweet and mysterious, and his reveal at the end of book one left me quite a bit shocked. So yes, of course I was looking forward to his story!
Unfortunately, it didn't always work for me.

I think, after book one and its absolutely bonkers (and murderous and cunning and darkly hilarious) main characters, I was expecting something similar to that. Or at least, something that had the same wickedly crazy and darkly fun vibe. So Kirian and Kostya's romance, with its sweetness and wholesomeness, threw me off a bit.
Don't get me wrong, this book is still packed with angst (quite a bit too, with all the hurt/comfort my heart could wish for; so that was definitely a positive) and conflict, betrayals and violence, but I don't know, the romance felt a bit lacking (or at least, it lacked what made Misha and Genya's romance so explosive). Plus, it featured one of my least liked tropes, The Secret and/or Hidden Identity: that one always makes me feel ridiculously stressed out and frustrated, even though the deception was unintentional on Kirian's part.

But yeah, even though I wasn't totally sold on the romance, I still enjoyed it! I loved the world-building, with its high-fantasy vibes and the political scheming and intrigues going on, and the cast of characters, both side and main, good and evil, were unforgettable: Zoya and Dasha stole the show, as usual, Misha and Genya still have my heart, and Kirian and Kostya, despite my complaints, are lovely and sweet protagonists. Dima though? Now that is a character I'd kill to know more about. I really, really, really hope book three will be about him, or I won't be held responsible for my actions. Something bad has clearly happened to him to make him so unstable and murderous, and I'm so curious to discover more.

Despite some niggles, I still wholly recommend this series if you're a fan of high fantasy, high-stakes romances, ones that are packed with magic (and dragons!), steam and action, and just the right amount of darkness and sweet, sweet angst.

TWs/CWs: violence, torture, murder.

Thank you Sam Burns and W.M. Fawkes for the ARC. I received it in exchange for an honest review. 

DNF at 35%, then skimmed to the end.

That's it, I give up. It's time to declare time of death on this book and this series.
The CU hockey series was damned enjoyable, because there were so many different character types and it had that lovely coming-of-age feeling. This one though? It's become carbon copies of the same overgrown men-children, the same banter, the same shenanigans, the same steam.
Asher was by far the best bit (and yes, he's from the CU series, so of course he's the one thing I could stomach 😂), because he at least has a sort of personality that isn't just banter and fun times.
Anyway, it was fun at first, but after five books of more of the same, I'm done. And I think I'm officially done with both these authors.

"10 Things That Never Happened" was an absolute pleasure to read.
Alexis Hall's latest work stole my heart, and it has, unexpectedly, become one of my favourite reads of the year; or, at least, one I'll remember with joy, and a full, satisfied heart.

It was unexpected.
Because yes, I'm loath to admit it, especially in an arc review, but Hall's latest release in this literary universe of British wit, messy meet-cutes and chaotic disaster characters, "Husband Material" was not my favourite; actually, despite the fact that I did rate it somewhat favourably, every time I think about those last few chapters I still get angry.
So, obviously, I was a bit worried about this novel. Scratch that, I was VERY scared: the blurb sounded too amazing to be true, the cover was *chef's kiss* gorgeous, and Jonathan, in his brief appearance in HM, had already stolen my interest with his grumpiness. I'd been crossing my fingers and toes since then that I'd be able to love this book.

So yes, I was very surprised and damned pleased about the fact that I managed to absolutely adore "10 Things That Never Happened". I devoured this book: I never wanted to leave Sam and Jonathan, and I never wanted to leave Sam's traitorous cat Gollum, and Jonathan's chaotic family, and their shared lives in Jonathan's mansion-like house, their hilarious, heart-warming banter, their unbelievable, unforgettable chemistry.

Both protagonists were damned lovable, and complex and peculiar and felt so, so real.
Sam, god. He's got a bit of Luc's messy, disastrous tendencies, and his witty humour, but none of Luc's most hateful qualities. Sam's generous and a bit (ehm, more like a lot?) naive, he's kind and funny, and also pretty much a bit of an interfering git. He's physically incapable of staying out of things, and he's also convinced that people aren't physically able to do stuff, and grow and save themselves, without his help/interference. And he's also a tiiiiny bit judgemental.
Yes, I know, those don't sound like good qualities, and they're not (I wanted to kick him quite a few times, I admit), BUT they are realistic traits. Real, complex, contradictory traits that make a character feel like a real person, and make them relatable too.

And Jonathan! He's an absolute dick. He's bossy and angry, grumpy and self-involved; he doesn't think before he speaks, he seemingly cares more about his business than actual people, and yes, his cold, hard façade is an acquired taste. And I loved him too.
Angry grumps are my weakness, I admit, so I would have adored him regardless, but Jonathan goes through an amazing character development that left both clutching my heart and applauding Alexis Hall.

< “What,” asks Jonathan Forest with a layer concern hastily dropped over a deep well of contempt, “are you doing?”
“What’s it look like I’m doing?”
“I dread to think.” >


< “What are your thoughts on parsnips?”
"I thought they went downhill after their third album. What do you mean, what are my thoughts on parsnips? I don’t have thoughts on parsnips. Who has thoughts on parsnips? Who has time to have thoughts on parsnips?” >

And oh god, I loved their relationship.
It's built upon quite a lot of assumptions, and lies, and anger and dislike, but it also slowly morphs into something lovely, and true and heartwarming. Their chemistry was unbelievable, and their banter was so hilarious it left me cackling out loud; and their most quiet, intimate and vulnerable moments left me reeling. I loved them together so, so much, and I'm absolutely crushed that my time with them has come to an end.

The world of vibrant, witty characters around them, from Jonathan's chaotic family to traitorous, adorable Gollum and Sam's quirky colleagues, are also completely unforgettable.
I admit, at times they became a bit too much; and also, while I do love quirky characters, snarky banter and witty humour, Alexis Hall's brand of those things doesn't always work for me because at times the line between funny and mean gets quite a bit blurred (re: Luc and his abominable behaviour in regards to Oliver in "Husband Material") (yes, I'm still bitter about that!)

Despite that, I still loved this book and I had such a great time with it. It left me with a full heart, a huge smile, and it's ending left me for once, fully satisfied (even though it's still a quintessential Hall ending, AKA quite brief, it features an unexpected epilogue!).
I can't wait to re-read this book, and I can't wait to see what my fellow reviewers think of it

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. 

James and Levi are the best, and I love them so damn much.

This was a perfect way to say goodbye to this wonderful, kinky, heartfelt, found-family-galore, series; it has been a wild ride, with some ups and downs, I admit, but I'm still going to miss every single one of the Motel brothers and their significant others.
I can't wait to devour more of Kate Hawthorne's wonderful books, and I seriously can't wait to re-read "Heartless" too.

Lovely, hilarious, steamy and absolutely heartwarming.
Cherry Creek is what my found family dreams are made of, and I can't believe I'm nearly at the end of this series. This short novella was absolutely perfect.

Ah gosh, this was absolutely gorgeous.

"Best Supporting Actor" has become, unexpectedly, one of my favourite reads of the year, and it's also my favourite of this, (already fantastic) series. I loved it so damn much.
I inhaled this lovely, emotional book start to finish and I think I'll remain completely obsessed with it for the next two months, at a minimum.

Jay and Tag STOLE my heart and my soul.
I was obsessed with their dynamic from the start: it was electric and realistic and emotionally packed, and their chemistry was truly fabulous.
NOW, that is how you do a proper rivals to lovers arc.

Both of them started off with hating each other's guts for no other reason than an inconvenient attraction and a whole lot of misunderstandings and assumptions, but their journey towards friendship and then, finally, love, isn't immediate and it isn't easy.
Both of them have to let go of quite a lot of their initial assumptions and attitudes; they have put aside their pride and actually listen and apologize and grow before they reach that stage; and oh god, it was so beautiful and so satisfying to witness.

The way their relationship was portrayed was absolutely beautiful, and when they did finally reach that stage of mutual understanding and trust and respect and affection, oh god, I was absolutely mesmerized.

And both of them are fantastic protagonists! Flawed and complex and real, and absolutely lovable. Tag, with his pride and his sizzling charisma, his fierce protectiveness and steadfastness, and Jay, with his patience and his generosity and his absolutely gut-wrenching (and highly relatable) vulnerabilities... both of them are unforgettable characters, so vividly constructed and their arcs so realistically portrayed, I still can't believe they aren't actually real people. My mind won't accept that.

I'm not usually a fan of showbiz/celebrities romances, but I loved the fact that Tag and Jay got to know each other, properly and for real this time, thanks to the play they both star in; again, I'm utterly devastated about the fact that "Let Us Go Back" isn't a real play I can actually go and see. It seemed so beautiful.

So yes, Tag and Jay are forced into close proximity through luck, meddlesome mothers and their obvious talent, but that initial, childish antagonism soon morphs into a dynamic that's deeply caring and packed with trust and understanding.
They learn how to take care of each other, how to lean on the other in times of need, and while they still makes mistakes (and yes, both of them are still flawed: Tag's quick to anger and assumptions, whereas Jay's scarred past makes him very reluctant to trust anybody, not even the people he loves the most), they still learn from them and grow into better, happier people.

I swear I could talk about these two for hours; their dynamic was just so damned special. And the steam! It was gorgeous, and hot, and also very, very human. Some contemporary romance novels nowadays have a tendency to overlook the difficult, complex bits of a relationship, the anxiety and the vulnerability, the fear of not being enough, the ugliness and the uncertainty, both inside and outside the bedroom, and I really must thank Sally and Joanna for including it all.

Jay's anxiety and fears, in particular, were very, very relatable, and he made me tear up more than once. God, that man deserves all the happiness in the world. And we definitely deserve more, much more, mental health rep in this genre.

The writing was majestic: I really, really hope these two authors will write more books together because *chef's kiss* it was just so beautiful. Emotional, and witty and so, so vivid. I felt like I was in the actual book, and all the side characters felt like real-life people too, even the minor ones.

"Best Supporting Actor" was incredible, a gem of a book I really can't wait to re-read a few more dozen times. Sally Malcolm and Joanna Chambers saved their best for last, and I can't recommend it enough.
It could pretty much standalone, but I highly recommend the two previous books as well.

This trilogy has been an absolute joy to read, and I really can't wait for more magic, more romance, more deeply emotional journeys and fantastically vivid characters, from both, or either one, of these two authors.

Also, p.s.: I'd sell my soul to have a "Leeches" show.


Thank you GRR and the authors for the ARC. I received it in exchange for an honest review.

Well, this was kinda cute at times, but I mainly skimmed. A bummer, since I was hoping Andy's story would win me over unexpectedly like Brad's did, but no joy.
I don't think I'm a fan of the we-met-on-holiday trope; the long-distance, and the forced separation it entails, always frustrates me (and bores me quite a bit too: too much sight-seeing, not enough plot).
I wasn't a big fan of either protagonists: Andy remains a huge mystery, and Leonidas was the male book version of the manic pixie dream girl (my most despised character stereotype ever), and I also couldn't relate to either one of them. You're both rich, you're traveling around the globe, you're not working, you have big, healthy loving families...how am I supposed to relate to them being all moody and restless, and being dicks to their respective families, just for the vibes? *shakes head* 

Anyway.
I probably should have skipped this, but I wanted to see more of the Motel brothers' and their group interactions. There isn't a huge amount of that unfortunately, but we do get a few memorable scenes with them: as always Cherry Creek's wacky and extremely queer population stole my heart, and I'm already dreading the day I'll be done with this series.

I didn't love this, but I do love this series, and I love Kate Hawthorne's way with words (and with kink!) 

 Absolutely freaking delicious. I adored this lovely little filthy book to bits.

"Stealing the Silver Fox" is fun, so so so fun, and so hilarious I cackled out loud, so damn enjoyable and gripping I managed to devour it in one sitting. It also might be the hottest book I've read in a long, long time: I think I blushed from start to finish.
This was my first Daniel May, but I'm pretty sure it won't be my last because I loved his writing: it's witty, it's hot, it's fresh, it's hilarious, and his protagonist, Tony, is certainly one of a kind. He's loud and immature, filthy and arrogant and overbearing, and his thoughts had me either in stitches (or in a state of perpetual blush).

< “There’s this guy I’m into,” he said, playing it up, going all puppy-dog eyes. “But I can’t get him to look twice at me.”
“You?” Goff’s dry voice was only half-mocking; he was aware of Tony’s propensity for working his way through a population of DILFs like an invasive predator. “Say it isn’t so. Have you tried subtly banging out a set of clap push-ups when he walks by?” >

I wouldn't call what he and Fontaine have a romance because their journey towards a happy ending is pure, non-stop erotica (plus, a few absolutely hilarious scenes between Tony and his Don-like cousin Goff; and some very OTT, but fun nonetheless, dream scenarios featuring hot, and vaguely non-con, dragon/human shenanigans), and also because it's fairly non-typical. I still freaking loved it though, and their (happy, filthy) ending leaves the reader with the certainty that their relationship will one of pure, unadulterated bliss.

We don't get Fontaine's POV, which I thought was a pity because I wanted to see Tony through his eyes, but their scenes together were fantastic and they featured some of my favourite tropes and kinks: opposites attract, reverse age gap with a much younger Dom and an older sub, degradation kink that was *chef's kiss*, and my absolute favourite trope of these past few months, AKA stuffy, high-strung, used-to-getting-what-he-wants CEO being utterly undone by a scruffy, commanding man half his age, with the filthiest mouth. It also featured a fair dose of dub-con, and badly negotiated kink; BUT oh god, I'm obsessed.

Anyway, I absolutely adored this novel, and I'm excited to read more of Daniel May's backlist. I wonder if Goff has a novel already? He definitely left an impression, and I'd be very, very excited to read more of him. In the meantime, I'm already looking forward to re-reading this.
Wholly recommended.

Thank you GRR for the ARC. I received it in exchange for an honest review. 

 I loved this book so much.

I admit, when I first started this series, Brad's story wasn't one I was particularly keen on reading because I was afraid it wouldn't hold my interest as much, but BOY HOW WRONG WAS I.
Brad's the most precious human being ever, and he deserves to protected AT ALL COSTS. I loved him so freaking much: I knew he was hiding stuff, scary and painful secrets, but actually reading about what he went through, how he's managed to keep himself afloat after a horrible trauma in college, broke my heart to bits. I was cheering for him from the very start, and I loved that he finally got to have his HEA with such a well-deserving sweetheart like Theo.

I devoured this book in less than a day, and I still can't believe I did that! I've been in a slump since June-ish, and I thought my binge-reading days were over, but Kate Hawthorne proved me wrong <3
I loved Brad, and Theo was freaking great too. Their romance was beyond sweet, hopeful and romantic, and seeing Brad finally overcome some stuff and beginning to heal was absolutely wonderful to witness. He blossomed thanks to Theo's patience and affection, and their romantic arc in general was very, very satisfying.

Surprisingly, I wasn't too keen on the steam this time around; I liked it, don't get me wrong, but I was more interested in the emotional aspect and I kinda kept wishing there were more scenes where the brothers interacted.
Anyway, I adored this.
I'm not sure what to expect from Andy's story, but I'm very much looking forward to reading it (and after that, going back to my beloved James and Levi <3 <3 )