bookswithjax's reviews
725 reviews

This is a retelling of Cocky Bastard which I should mention is a book I’ve never read! I tend to really enjoy Annabelle Anders books though, so that’s why I read this one.

This started out a little slow for me in the beginning aka the first couple of pages. We meet Aubrey and she’s staring out the window rather salaciously at Chance as he’s taking care of his horse. I was prepared for her to be very forward and on the fast side and I was prepared not to like it. After a few more pages I was quickly proven wrong and I couldn’t be happier about it. I actually really fell in love with Aubrey as a character. She was so vulnerable, open, and honest. So much so I found her to be one of the most relatable characters. Chance was not as open, but he seemed to be a pretty good man (I realize the title is Cocky Duke, but honestly I didn’t find him that cocky lol). There was something about Aubrey I really connected with though and I really would love to read more about her!

The book is broken out into two sections... the first from Aubrey’s POV and the second from Chance’s. I found myself wishing the whole book was from Aubrey’s POV. I did love the insights into Chance and his thoughts/feelings and backstory. However, I had gotten so invested in Aubrey that I really wanted to know how she was thinking and feeling etc. during the second half, more than I cared about him. Pretty sure I’ll be in the minority here, but that’s okay I’m used to it

Truly Wicked Love!!

I freaking loved this book!! This is one of those books that you start and then get lost in. There’s no moments to pause and reflect on errors or plot devices, etc. This is a book you fall into the world and live it until the very end!

Alessandra is a true badass woman and I love the message she brings. Even though she’s technically kind of a baddy (not a spoiler that’s apparent from page 1), I love her! She doesn’t take crap from anyone, she knows what she wants and goes after it, and she empowers women as she goes rather than tearing them down. She is definitely a Slytherin but in all the best ways!!

Kallias is a tragic hero but not in an annoying way. The journey of their relationship felt real and believable to me. Even though not a lot of time goes by during the course of the story, I didn’t mind because they were spending literally every day together, living together, and surviving together. I loved that they matched each other morally. So when he finds out about her past he’s like good for you and not phased. Listen I’m not crazy, in real life you don’t do what she did, but don’t tell me you haven’t fantasized about it

More Questions than Answers

Well this book was a hot mess of back and forth anxiety!! Not because it was bad but because I was on the edge of my seat every time it switched points of view lol.

I’m honestly glad I’m reading this now versus having to wait for the next installment but I’ll be sad when I catch up.

These are characters that stay with you long after you’ve finished reading. Especially loads of questions and theories yet answered!

I’m here for this 100%

Okay I’m hooked on this series!! It’s everything I want in a fantasy series currently. It’s Fast paced, quippy, full of snark and sexual tension, and it’s fun!!

Mac is kind of a badass yet she doesn’t even know it. One second she’s all in pink worried about her nails and the next she’s all in black kicking unseelie butt!

I’m not sure if our secondary characters are good or bad yet but I’m enjoying the ride!

One other think I love how she kind of breaks that fourth wall and talks to the reader throughout the book as if she’s reading her journal to the audience. It’s really neat and a lot of fun!

Hard to put down!

I won’t lie I was confused for a good portion of this book!! I mean are they human or are they fairies?!?? It says they’re human and even said the queen was 6ft tall but their cities are built into the trees. I mean those have to be some MASSIVE trees haha.

I started this book last night and made it halfway. I didn’t want to stop and if I didn’t have to work I wouldn’t have!! I am so intrigued and swept away into this weird and horrible land and I’m not sure what I want from this series. Usually I know what I want to happen but this time I’m just interested in seeing where it goes and I don’t even care where that is!

I have no vested interest in the romance going on and it seems very secondary (if that) to the story. I’m actually kind of glad about that to be honest. It’s more about Deleina and her journey and growth.

Highly recommend this to anyone who like YA Fantasy!!

A cute quick read

So there’s not as much depth to this novel compared to what I normally prefer, but that didn’t bother me this time because I was looking for something rather sweet and diverting. This fit the bill perfectly in the end and I enjoyed it.

If you’re looking for a fun quick read that sets up what promises to be a whole series of fun quick reads then I highly recommend.

I’m enjoying the characters a lot and it’s definitely insta love happening in these books. The romantic portions are definitely more than fade to black but they also aren’t super explicit either. I’m a fan of that balance.

I think the depth I would normally be looking for will be there in the series as a whole just not in the individual books. As I plan to continue the series I’m okay with that.

An enjoyable read

There have been a few of these types of books floating around. I as usual am late to the game, but I’m enjoying it anyways.

This series seems a bit more Elementary than Sherlock which could just be because it’s set in America like Elementary is. There’s quite a lot of details true to a Sherlokian POV, which is nice. The mystery was simple yet convoluted as any good Sherlock story should be. That said there’s nothing really new in all of it. There’s obviously extra characters and sub plots but none of it feels never before seen. I don’t mind that though, I’d rather it be true to Sherlock.

Trigger warnings: drug use (heavily), rape, murder, parental issues (aka daddy issues)... if I think of any more I will add them.

It’s no secret that I love Jane Austen. Although I didn’t fully respect Persuasion for the nuanced story that it is until I entered my mid to late twenties, it is now probably permanently cemented as my favorite Austen novel.

While lacks a lot of the comedy and witty banter you find in her other finished works, there is more sense of feeling and maturity to this story. This is the OG second chance love story and I’m here for all of it. Second chances are the hope everyone needs in life!

I’ve just finished my re-read tonight, and I’ve never felt so in sync with Anne Elliot as I do today. She was a young woman in love, pretty and full of life. Someone interferes and she loses her love and over the course of the next eight years finds herself disappearing from life. She retreats, she quietens, and she blends into the background. She lives for her family and cares for them with a goodness of heart and spirit and yet no one thinks to care for her. As I was reading this portion of the story I couldn’t help but compare her to myself. While I don’t think I could ever be called overly “good,” or quietly retiring as she is, I relate so much to her lot in life. I sometimes find myself disappearing and retreating from life after a unfortunately similar circumstance. It’s downright maudlin, but there you have it.

Anne however, has a happy ending as Captain Wentworth returns!! He returns a little bitter and prideful, but a man still in love. *Swoon people... we start swooning here!!* I who have always been a super fan of the Darcy’s, Thornton’s, and Sydney’s of classic literature find myself giddy at the thought of Wentworth. He’s book bae material on par with Gilbert Blythe book bae! There’s no artifice or witty banter, but just beautiful love and devotion. Well there’s a little witty banter but not on the same level! Then... then ladies and gents we come to his letter. His letter so distractedly written and nervously given... it speaks to my very soul! Any man who wrote me a letter like that would find himself in front of the justice of peace before the ink dried. Seriously imagine the letter he could right when not distracted

Sexual Tension at DEFCON 1!!

I didn’t know exactly what to expect when reading this... apparently I say this a lot but it’s because I don’t really read synopsis of books. I’ve been burned by spoilers too many times. Anyways I didn’t know what I was getting into but this is probably one of the most beautiful contemporary love stories I’ve read in a long time.

Willa is so feisty, determined, stubborn, wounded, yet so damn resilient. If I had a sporty bone in my body we’d be twins!! Soooo yeah I’m just over here waiting for my feisty, kind, patient, resilient lumberjack to come my way!!


This is the kind of romance that builds and builds and then spoiler alert... everyone lives happily ever after! I’m here for it all day every day, and I can’t wait to read the next one

A fun time was had by all

So I loved this book. It’s a great Fantasy/ steamy-ish story and while semi predictable it wasn’t 100% without twists. I don’t mind a good formulaic fantasy read