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booksjenrecs's reviews
298 reviews
Breaking Away by Sookh Kaur
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
4.75
Breaking Away might just be my favorite romance from Sookh Kaur yet. I loved the dynamic between Dmitri and Kavi, and I really enjoyed watching them both work through their situations with each other's help.
Dmitri was such a lovable grump; with plenty of personal baggage keeping him from ever branching out, his character arc was so satisfying to watch as he eventually began opening up, first to Kavi and then the rest of his team. Both Kavi and Dmitri had some awesome character growth throughout the story, and I really enjoyed seeing them grow both personally and professionally. Kavi had to overcome so much gaslighting, both from her (former) fiancé and her own parents, and it was heartbreaking at times. Breaking away from the cage that everyone had put her in was the most satisfying part of Kavi's character development.
Watching both Dmitri and Kavi break free of the boxes they had mentally put themselves in because of the way people treated them was probably the most exciting part of this romance for me. Both main characters did make things quite spicy when they finally got together, but their chemistry was written so well and really turned up the heat. This did seem like Kaur's steamiest romance to date, and Kavi and Dmitri were hot enough to melt the ice.
Breaking Away was a steamy rivals-to-lovers romance that was only made better by the emotional journeys that Kaur crafted for both characters outside of the bedroom. From their personal dilemmas, to all the hockey action on the ice and in the locker room, to the romance itself, Breaking Away was a well-written story perfect for any hockey romance fans.
Bull Moon Rising by Ruby Dixon
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.25
Arran's Obsession by Jolie Vines
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I Saw Her First by Jen Morris
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.75
If you are looking for an age gap romance with the perfect blend of steamy protector and nurturing caregiver, look no further than I Saw Her First. Weston is everything I look for in an age gap romance, and both Daisy and Wes had such fulfilling journeys to go on to get to their happily ever after.
I can't remember the last time I read an age gap romance that kept me this invested in their emotional journey, not just their physical relationship. For Daisy, that journey meant finally getting closure on her relationship with her parents. For Wes, it took the form of accepting that his wife was gone; not moving on and removing her from his life, but acknowledging that that part of his life could no longer be the same. And both Daisy and Wes's journeys involved Wes's son, Jesse, and helping him get to a good place in his life as well. There was a lot for all the main characters to unpack, and Morris did an excellent job at moving both the romance and the life events along at the perfect pace.
I loved these characters. They were realistic, facing some very hard decisions and coming out even better on the other side. I was never taken out of the story because of some choice that was made, and I Saw Her First was even more enjoyable for it. Wes was definitely the kind of book boyfriend I love to see. He was protective and caring, but maybe his best characteristic was the fact that he was supportive. Even when he wasn't with Daisy, he wanted to see her follow her passion and supported that one hundred percent.
I Saw Her First was fun, steamy, and an all around enjoyable romance. The plot had more than enough substance, the characters were dynamic, and Morris's love for New York continues to shine through with every story she writes.
[A huge thank you to the author for providing a review copy of this title. All opinions are my own.]
The Wrong Bride by Gena Showalter, Jill Monroe
Pros:
•Unexpected, extended vacation
•No more pet allergies
•Your new husband will buy you as many pairs of comfy leggings and sweatpants as you want.
Cons:
•No one trusts you, including your new husband
•You're stuck in a foreign country away from your family
•It's 100% your responsibility to make sure your husband doesn't go into a berserker rage and 💀 people. No pressure.
The Wrong Bride was such a good read. Showalter and Monroe hit it out of the park with this first book in their Kings of Fury series. Elizabeth and Callen had amazing chemistry, and I truly loved the whole lore that was given to this series. Callen and Elizabeth were a fun ride from start to finish, and this book only made me that much more excited for the rest of the series.
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
If you've ever dreamed of waking up in someone else's life, complete with a sexy, protective Berserker king by your side, well, I have news for you. Elizabeth Darcy did it, and she has some pros and cons.
Pros:
•Unexpected, extended vacation
•No more pet allergies
•Your new husband will buy you as many pairs of comfy leggings and sweatpants as you want.
Cons:
•No one trusts you, including your new husband
•You're stuck in a foreign country away from your family
•It's 100% your responsibility to make sure your husband doesn't go into a berserker rage and 💀 people. No pressure.
The Wrong Bride was such a good read. Showalter and Monroe hit it out of the park with this first book in their Kings of Fury series. Elizabeth and Callen had amazing chemistry, and I truly loved the whole lore that was given to this series. Callen and Elizabeth were a fun ride from start to finish, and this book only made me that much more excited for the rest of the series.
As with all their previous collaborations, these two authors crafted a story that was not only well done in terms of the plot and character development, but also well done regarding the writing itself. It's so easy to pick up and get lost in the story Showalter and Monroe wrote. From start to finish, I absolutely loved Elizabeth and was, at times, both jealous and empathetic of Elle and the situation she found herself in. But it wasn't just Elle who ended up being a fully realized character. Everyone in this story, including the characters we aren't supposed to care for, were multi-faceted and intriguing in their own way.
If you love your paranormal ripe with a bit of magic and your alpha male complete with a sexy accent, then you cannot pass up The Wrong Bride.
Oh, and definitely keeps an eye out for a few Jane Ladling references along the way....
Oh, and definitely keeps an eye out for a few Jane Ladling references along the way....
Final Girls and F*ck Boys: A Murder Game Prequel by Salem Sinclair
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
This prequel novella might just be a taste of what we can expect in Sinclair's Murder Game series, but I loved every bit of this story and can't wait to see how the larger story plays out. This novella had me enthralled from start to finish, loving everything from the characters to the positions they found themselves in. This prequel novella is definitely coded for fans of both horror and masked encounters, and anyone who loves those elements will find Final Girls and F*ck Boys hard to put down.
This novella follows Priestly as she searches for the next adrenaline high. But whether she's seeking it in public, in front of a camera, or at wild parties, Priestly was such a fun character to tag along with. She was unabashedly herself, despite having a rougher childhood, and I loved watching her character come to life through her every action.
Sinclair created a cast of main characters worthy of a horror movie. Priestly's story wouldn't even exist without her adopted brother, Chamberlain, and his two - really close - friends, Camber and Atley. Yes, these characters have names to match their Southern breeding and money, but readers can't let these three fool them into thinking they have manners when the lights go out. Between being masked up and the things they do and say to Priestly, these three crossed many lines and kept me turning those pages.
If you're looking for a dark romance that features masked men, horror vibes, and multiple partners, this novella gives you all that and more. The epilogue set up the rest of the series so well, and I can't wait to see what future horrors await the students at West Windsor University.
All the Dangerous Things by Jenika Snow
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.75
Equal parts darkly seductive and tense, All the Dangerous Things by Jenika Snow is a great addition to the Underworld Kings series and gives us the romance of a much-needed pairing: Gio and Tatianna.
I loved these two as a pairing. Gio runs the west coast branch of the Italian Mafia, so there wasn't ever a chance that him falling for a Russian Mafia Princess wasn't going to cause drama. But between Gio’s status, his family, and his unconventional hobbies, he has to face danger around every corner. When Tati comes into his life, though, he knows he has to have her - no matter what her overprotective brothers have to say about it. I loved the way Gio risked so much just to be with Tati. He is the very definition of physically domineering, and knows exactly what it takes to get what he wants.
Gio was able to awaken so much within Tati, and my favorite part of this dark romance was watching Tati bloom outside of her brothers’ watchful eyes and tap into her true wants and desires. Gio might have had brute strength, but Tati had the mental and emotional stamina to pursue exactly what she wanted in a world where that's not easy to do.
Whether it's mafia or taboo, I always enjoy reading Jenika Snow's romances, and All the Dangerous Things was no exception. There was a great balance between plot and character development, furthering the problems and unknowns found within the Underworld Kings world. Gio and Tatianna are great as a standalone dark romance, but everything going on around them shines that much brighter with the context of the other Underworld Kings stories. And the way Snow set up what's coming next for men like Gio, Dmitry, and Nikolai? I can't wait to see how everything goes down.
[A huge thank you to the author for providing an advanced copy of this book for review! All opinions are my own.]
The Calling by Zeke Jarvis
adventurous
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
In what could easily pass as a missing episode from The Outer Limits, Zeke Jarvis brings readers a perfect blend of absurd humor and thought-provoking situations that leaves both the characters and the reader wondering what, if anything, is real.
Compelled by an unidentifiable calling to head north, a group of ten strangers, all with unique forms of magic, find themselves under the guidance and training of a man known only as "the boss." One of the first things I loved about The Calling was the way Jarvis dropped readers into the middle of each characters' journey; just as the characters themselves can't deny the urge to travel north, readers won't be able to deny their urge to binge read this story and discover more about each character.
None of the characters, the boss especially, are fully fleshed out. We end the story without knowing a single last name, any hometown, or anyone's job status or source of motivation. But in truth, a full character backstory isn't needed here. The heart of The Calling comes from the way each character responds to their current situation. As their time with the boss gets weirder and weirder, each character stands apart and stands on their own by the way each responds to the various internal and external stimuli. Some of the most memorable parts of the story come from the way the characters respond when faced with the impossible or improbable or unknown. Jarvis kept each response on point, making it easy to keep track of the larger cast of characters even when we don't have many other distinguishing features to use.
The Calling kept me on my toes from start to finish. Jarvis takes readers on a whirlwind adventure where it's not clear to either the reader or the characters what is real and what is all just in their heads. This story left me with a lot of questions, but the journey was well worth the unknowns.
A Grim Reaper's Guide to Catching a Killer by Maxie Dara
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
My Vampire Plus-One by Jenna Levine
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0