cluckieduck's reviews
300 reviews

 Oh man, I am having a hard time reviewing this one because it is so obviously fan-service - filled with soooo much Rozander smut, but also touching on some really heavy issues surrounding depression, trauma, and stress which would have been better handled (I think) if there was more focus on the plot > porn. So, on the one hand I loved it - inject as much Ilya ❤ Shane content into my veins as possible, please. On the other hand, the writing felt a bit rushed with all the forced conflict to progress the story, which I felt was a disservice.

I loved how the story overlapped with some of the timeline in Role Model, especially surrounding a particular incident.

This go-round is very Ilya-centric and he does a lot of the heavy lifting plot-wise. A lot of the reviews shit on Shane, and yeah, he was a bit oblivious, but stress manifests differently in every one. Shane very obviously exhibited signs of disordered eating, but it was only brought up in a joking manner with an eye-roll at his expense. He also, IMO, showed signs of dissociation. Neither of these were really dealt/written about beyond the surface. Perhaps if he was given as much depth as Ilya was, maybe he could have been a bit more sympathetic of a character.

Before Ilya sought out his therapy, Shane directly asked him if he was ok, and that he would be there for him whether Ilya wanted to talk to him or not. Being in a relationship is hard enough (not even counting the fact that it's a secret one), but being in a relationship with a depressed partner presents it's own challenges. Especially when said partner keeps trying to push you away because they don't think they're good enough and deserving of happiness.

On a lighter note, there were so many cute moments in this one - I mean...Uncle Ilya & painting nails!?! Major swoon. And their talks about a future with children?? I just can't. I feel greedy in saying this, but I think they need another book (at least a novella) without any angst where they can just be settled, grounded, and happy in their relationship.

I have an idea about who the next book will be about (perhaps a certain Centaur rookie), so I look forward to seeing more of our past couples pop up in the future! 

Don't be fooled by the cute blurb - this deals with some pretty heavy stuff.

I had originally rated this as 3⭐ but think it deserves to be rounded up to 4⭐ because as I've had some time to collect my thoughts, I have to say, it's been niggling at me for a couple of weeks now. Something Wild & Wonderful is the loveliest of slow burns as you journey with Alexei as he trek along the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). For Alexei, this is "a chance to say good-bye to his old life...to find a bit of peace before he started over." Unfortunately (or not), a chance encounter with the enigmatic Ben throws his plans off the cliff and Alexei finds much more than peace during his months-long journey on the PCT.

While the narrative shifts POVs between the two male leads, this is very much Alexei's story, and it is a story fraught with homophobia, abandonment, grief, & insecurities. I found the trauma of his religious upbringing was handled exceedingly well and it was heartbreaking.

"You raised me to believe that family and faith were everything. How can you take that away from me and not expect me to crumble?

[Y]ou might have been the one to bring me to church, Dad. But I got to know faith on my own. And your interpretation of God is a tragedy."

Each mile gained along the PCT expands Alexei's character and it was lovely to journey alongside him as he developed a tender, sweet relationship with Ben. "Alexei was a butterfly, just emerging from his chrysalis, and he was showing Ben his wings. Ben couldn't turn away from that." That's not to say that Ben is overlooked - he's also on the PCT for personal reasons as he closes in on 30 and is looking to become a more grounded, responsible person.

The setting itself is like another character and I loved the details about the PCT, the hiking community, and birding - things I'm completely unaware of but found really interesting based on the level of detail and care as they were presented with. It was a perfect backdrop to the tumultuous lived experiences & growth that both Alexei & Ben go through.

The last 20% was really unique for a romance novel. It's not a typical third-act conflict, but I don't want to get too spoilery in my review, so I'll just say that it's a heartbreaking and realistic turn of events and adding the epistolary choice of narrative was a deft touch.

All in all, if you love a slow-burn, feelings-filled romance with found family elements - this is the book for you.

Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. 

Cute overall but a tad dull. Also, the non-linear narrative style was…a choice.

It’s a good palate cleanser - quick, light & fluffy. 

Ay yi yi, what has this series turned into?!?

Many will agree that there's been an obvious dip in quality from the OG group of 6, but I've enjoyed a number of the in-between books with the ever-expanding cast of characters and, yes, I did enjoy a handful of snippets from this latest one but it's just becoming too much - too many pop culture references, too many POVs (seriously, there were 9 here), too much exposition (and non-pertinent stuff - where was the backstory on Balthazar? We learn absolutely nothing about him), too many CW: 

rape scenes

  rather than love scenes.

I'm really only sticking this out for Lassiter's book, because he's been done dirty at this point and deserves a character resuscitation from what he's been made into.

Disappointingly, it's just a whole lot of nothing. 

Well this was a wonderfully delightful surprise, though I don't think I've ever read a *ahem* wetter book than this one. Seriously...So. Much. Slick! And smells and…trails.

Loved, loved, loved Ophelia as a FMC - she's hilarious and knows exactly what she wants.

I'm not usually a fan of overdrawn miscommunication, but Ophelia brought the right amount of comedic flair to deal with Allerick's miscues, and the way it all unfolded was really fun to read. 

If anyone's been tempted to dip their toe into the monster romance genre, I think this is a great one to start with. Really looking forward to book 2 with Astrid & Soren's romance 🔥🔥

I feel bad for Holden Rhodes because Wyatt Rhodes was such a dreamboat in The Wrong Mr. Right - he's a hard act to follow! Good thing they're such opposites, so it's not too much of a side-by-side comparison. Instead of a golden retriever, this go-round we're treated to a broody, tortured MMC who's a secret romantic. YES. PLEASE.

Holden & Sadie have great chemistry. If you enjoy a slow burn fraught with amazing sexual tension, this is the read for you. I love the small-town antics that Queen's Cove provides - like Sadie keeps mentioning, "this town is ridiculous." Some reviewers cringed at the escapades of the alien dildo, but I found it funny in it's ridiculousness!

The third act breakup was a bit rushed. I was almost lulled into thinking one wasn't going to happen but, alas, the stubbornness of both Holden & Sadie won (or lost??) out in order to provide some angst.

Stephanie Archer crafts a good rom-com - she writes great banter filled with laugh-out-loud moments, but still manages to slot in real life anxieties & insecurities that are so relatable. She's a new author that I'll be keeping an eye on (and the fact that she's from, and writes about, my neck of the woods is a boon) with great interest. Very excited to see what's been going on with Finn & Olivia once book 4 gets here.

"Nothing is as good as my life with you." 

 Well this was a quick, spicy insta-lust-apalooza! High on the heat, low on the plot but overall was a very enjoyable read. Love reading about a confident plus-size FMC with a MMC who can’t stay away.

I enjoyed how the “strange” and their magic were represented and am keen to read other works. 

A bit of a swing and a miss for me, I'm afraid. It reads very Hallmark-movie-of-the-week because it was engaging but very surface-level...it's hard to explain. Yes, the premise was cute and the nostalgia trip through Rom-Com Land was decidedly fun, but there's a level of immaturity to the characters and plot progression that prevented me from engaging with the story. The 2 ⭐ rating is entirely for all the B.S. that poor Leah gets subjected to throughout this novel.

Like, seriously...for 75% our MMC, Eli, is hung up on his ex and his obsession with her is very cringy, creating this OW love-triangle with a woman who has already told him 'no' in very clear terms. The fact that he really only realizes that he wants to be with Leah once

Victoria tells him she's in a relationship

did not sit well with me, especially since when he was asked to explain why he wanted to be with Victoria and could only say that she was 'beautiful'...Come. On. Leah deserves better.

Leah was a semi-strong MFC, but could have also benefit from a bit more fleshing out. A lot of weight was placed on her feelings of neglect and being invisible, but it was underdeveloped and rushed. I don't understand the inclusion of her foster-brother foe, Patrick. Outside of showing briefly that he didn't acknowledge Leah as family, his plot was more or less filler and threw off the pacing/final 25% of the story.

Overall, this was just an ok read for me.

Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.