bookphenomena_micky's reviews
4691 reviews

Headlines:
Radio show
Uncertain and hopeful
Audio heaven

This was a joy of an audio that was definitely accentuated by the fact that the setting was a radio show and so the scenes from that felt so authentic narrated back and forth. This was a fun set up with a romance radio show host (MMC) who had lost any kind of belief in love had a daughter call in for her mom. What ensued was the FMC becoming a regular co-host on the show trying to find love.

I liked the step outside of stereotypes for this story. Lucie was a mechanic and Aiden was the romance show host. Those differences weren't laboured but this something I appreciated in the plot and characterisation.

Over time, Lucie and Aiden slowly built a tentative chemisty but it was full of uncertainty. All the while, the search was supposed to be on for Lucie's big love with dating being reported back on the show. I loved their hopeful and gentle flirting that developed from a strong friendship and how that played out into their eventual intimacy; it was a sweet story with humps in the road.

The narration was dual POV with duet dialogue and it worked so well. The characters were truly brought to life.

Thank you Panmacmillan for the review copy. 

Headlines:
Second chance
Careers and families
Anxiety representation

I sunk neck-deep into this story that captured my heart and mind within pages of starting. This return to On Dublin Street characters and context was highly anticipated to me and I found a fresh feeling in this second generation and all the goodness of Braden and Joss in the background.

The main characters in Callan and Beth clashed from the off with Callan moving into Beth's apartment building. There was a slow reveal about why these two had complications from the past that was all a bit sad.

Beth was a sparky character and she made me laugh in the way she befriended Callan's mates and one night companions. I loved seeing Callan irritated by this. Callan took a little longer to get to know and there were things about his character I was unsure of but I was brought around by small behaviours that grew him into eventual good guy territory. The football game was strong in this sports romance and Beth's career got equal air time.

Talking of Beth and her career, she had anxiety and this felt really well represented. The writing of this conveyed the depth of impact and feelings in the acute moments. This was where Callan shone for me.

Joss and Braden were in this enough for me to be satisfied without overtaking the MCs. I loved reconnecting with these two, their dynamic, banter and seeing them of parents of adults. What a treat!

This was a 24 hour read for me, difficult to put down, easy to turn the pages and it left me wanting more (of Baird). I have a lot of needful thoughts about he's doing. I cannot wait to read more from this series that has started oh so well!

Thank you to the author for the review copy which has not affected my honest opinion. 

 

A solid insight into Paige and Warden. I preferred Paris context to Oxford.

 

Headlines:
Paige Mahoney top FMC
Underground and travelling
Megalomaniacs in charge

When I think back to this installment it feels like so much happened and I really enjoyed seeing Paige outside of London even though the risk seemed to increase exponentially. Senshield and Sen-everything was the strongest theme and I felt the second-hand fear of this a lot (a lot).

The plot and relationships felt full of uncertainty. Paige as Underqueen was still having to defend her position, allegiances seemed incredibly fragile but some connections remained unshakeable. The two men in her life are the secondary characters I love, Warden and Nick, both for different connections and different reasons.

Paige continued to have a somewhat foolhardy sense of decision-making but she was selfless and that last quarter of the book felt like difficult but avid reading. The resillience we have previously seen in Paige was nothing compared to her ability to continue under the worse adversity yet.

I'm even more interested and in fandom with this series than I was after book one. Quality plotting, writing and characterisation throughout. 

I don't tend to read blurbs just before entering in and it bit me in the behind in this case.

This book has the most difficult content you can read...
It is a very well written book but the subject matter will be difficult for most people and incredibly triggering for some. I did not realise what the heck I was getting myself into and I have regrets about having the content now lurking in my head.

I thought Sally was a fantastic character. But Lindy's story broke me and made me exceptionally angry. Connor and Peter were heinous individuals and I hated where Peter's story ended.

I will aim to expunge this from my brain. 

Headlines:
City dystopia
Relational power
Freedom

This story landed the reader in a futuristic city, full of power plays, control while giving the illusion of freedom. Jess was a partner to palace officials as her job and she was socialised into seeing this as a good career; and it would be if not for the potential for abuse. She was chosen by Gabriel, new to the city and unused to their culture.

This was a very relationship-focused story, delving into the dynamic of power and connection between these two. It had a lot (a lot) of spice but that was bourne out of a forming intimate connection and friendship.

I enjoyed the new world Kent created and the later reveal in the last portion of the book gave me a lot of joy. Suffice it to say, city life was not all it was cracked up to be.

There were a lot of layers beyond the intimacy that had me thinking about preconceptions of sex work, power dynamics in those relationships, dictatorships masquerading as democracies and integrity. I really enjoyed this mix of relationship with deeper themes.

I look forward to seeing where this series goes and if book one is anything to go by, it'll be good from here.

Thank you to the author for the eARC. 

 

Enjoyable fun with a Nessie context in the highlands. I liked but didn't love.
The monster romance isn't for me in this instance but the family and romantic emotional connections were great.

 

 

A really tragic story from start to finish. It focused on a group of friends with Carl and Sarah at the centre but they weren't a couple. The military setting was core to this tale, with past (Afghanistan) and present (UK) narrative style.

I know I should have felt moved by this story and the heaps of tragedy but I just didn't connect with the characters or the plot. I don't think the writing was the kind of style that appeals to me in this type of fiction. I couldn't get down with the romance.

Thank you to Michael Joseph books for the review copy.