bigbuttandabook's reviews
1121 reviews

All I Want for Christmas by Lily S. Flowers

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emotional inspiring fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Fated Frenzy by Gigi Zarbi

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adventurous challenging emotional funny mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

Where do I begin?!? This was such a fun read from start to almost finish, since ish hits the fan at the end. So let’s start with what kept this from being five stars, 1. a few times I was to confused with all the emotional upheaval to understand what information the characters were trying to impart and about like how the visions and Sight played into things and where there different versions? 2. The way Nala went from all in emotionally to hesitant about fate and mates when like the whole basis for her handling things so well was that her fantasy/smut reading had prepared her for being in the position she was in. It just didn’t feel like a logical character development. And 3. The subspecies and creature differences felt a little distracting? Or like unnecessarily complicated, idk. I just feel like if I would have understood a little better the things happening with Nala would have made more sense, maybe?!? But we are still seating at a solid 4/4.25 here! 

This was a solid and enjoyable read. It feels very fast paced but the plot builds a touch slower and balances things out nicely. Also point of fact…I fucking knew it, when it comes to a certain someone who was not passing the vibe check!! 

Anyway moving along. This is a book for reader girls but not in the cheesy way!! Nala is such a lovable character. The FMCS are well developed and all very different in personalities and the clashes were so enjoyable. I like when things don’t go completely smooth when the harem is being built from “scratch.” The world building was fun and painted vividly but not overly complicated so I could picture everything for the most part. I’m so happy to have received this ARC and I’m beyond excited about book 2. This ends in a cliffhanger but you kinda see it coming a mile away.
Human Resources: A Happy Holiday Short by Aria Daze

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funny lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

I love when a book just makes me happy. Like I can barely get through reading it cause I’m trying to talk to everyone about it. That’s an Aria Daze’s book every time!! Her stories are such fun, engaging, and entertaining reads. This book was just yummy holiday vibes goodness. It is mutual obsession meets workplace romance, and I swear she wrote this to spite me cause I was talking shit about not liking them. But I jumped at the chance to ARC read this book because the teasers were to good! Pacing wise it would have been a quick read but I highlighted every other paragraph, laughed out loud and reread the scene, and ran to socials to share just how much I was enjoying myself. Dimi is definitely book bae and Brit was relatable annoying but still endearing. And once again Daze’s writing style is one of my favorites.
Vanessa is Not a Victim by Gabrielle S. Clarke

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This was such a wild, fun, and creepy ride. I’m not a horror person, I scare to easily but I’m a hard core Scream fan and this was definitely giving Scream 4 vibes. Vanessa and her dry, dark humor, and Asperger’s like personality was such and an amazing character. Her development narrated mostly through Kian’s POV was phenomenal. And just that little hint of a bond between her and Kian was an absolute delight. About halfway in this goes from scary to funny, suspenseful, and thrilling. I can’t help but hope Little Sistah Clarke makes this at least a 3 part series. I will be present and accounted for either way. The Clarke’s have a forever loyal reader in me. 
Kayland and Ora This Is Forever by Rene Wolfe

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emotional fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

See it just wasn’t enough groveling for me. Book me is petty and you gonna have to buy me the moon or cry me a river, but love wins again or whatever lol. Proof that even in fiction being fine with a big stick covers a multitude of sins. This was still an enjoyable read and Kayland and Ora’s energy could be easily felt. I’m just greedy and I wanted it to be longer.
For Puck's Sake: A Second Chance Hockey Romance by D. Sparks

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emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This was such a sweet and almost cozy read. Even with the heaviness of why the couple parted ways in the beginning this was still the type of story that kept me smiling from beginning to end. It was that good, soft kind of cheesy romance goodness. Dev was the best comedic relief and Lark Bay was a picturesque town. But holy smokes didn’t she stoke my fire with the possibility of Derrick of Bash, yes please and thank you! Second chance romance is usually not my jam but this was done in a way that was “realistic” like the reasoning didn’t feel contrite. It’s heavy on the internal monologue and while that got a touch repetitive at times, it was still a well paced book. Lower on the spice meter for sure more hallmark than Cinemax but super enjoyable.
More Than This by Krystal Marquis

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emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This was everything I hoped it would be. The character arcs coming to fruition in all the ways I hoped they would. I definitely could have used something more definitive between Olivia and her choice. The win for Amy-Rose was so sweet. Helen was again the most entertaining character. But it was Ruby’s character growth that I enjoyed most of all, seeing her fully step in the shelf assured young women she had the potential to be and living for herself was incredibly satisfying. The pacing in this book was much better and even the slower moments were engaging and entertaining. I enjoyed this read from start to finish!
The Davenports by Krystal Marquis

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challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

The pacing of this book almost drove me nuts it felt like everything took to long to develop. It was a beautiful look at a moment in time, a reflection of Black success and resilience. But it is still very much a YA story where the entire crux of the plot is, I don’t want to disappoint my parents and I personally don’t enjoy that particular theme. But what will the Davenport siblings do next and what is in story for them was enough to make me endure this story and will have me moving on to the next.  
Loyal by Natisha Raynor

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challenging emotional funny sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I love me some twins but baby triplets now that’s really it. It something about how the brothers all kind of feel for each of the fmcs like it was fated mates situation that does it for me. Raynor has a really fun and easy to read writing style. I appreciated how she adds heavier stuff into a story without making it so graphic and triggering. This is a really good series.
Taming Kane by Tessa Stone

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adventurous emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This is a new to me author and I think the writing style, especially the internal monologue was really repetitive which made it a little hard to stick with. The lore and world building is what kept me going and brought me back after a break. I’m looking forward to reading the next book, I’m hoping that as the subplot progresses it’ll help smooth out the writing and there won’t be as much filler.