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cluckieduck's reviews
295 reviews
Luxuria by Colette Rhodes
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 🔥🔥
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
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.
Loved, loved, loved Ophelia as a FMC - she's hilarious and knows exactly what she wants.
I'd been promised monster fucking, and I wasn't getting any damn monster fucking.
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 🔥🔥
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Sexual content
Minor: Bullying, Confinement, Violence, Abandonment, and Alcohol
In Your Dreams, Holden Rhodes by Stephanie Archer
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
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."
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."
Blood Moon by Jillian Graves
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
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.
I enjoyed how the “strange” and their magic were represented and am keen to read other works.
The Rom-Com Agenda by Jayne Denker
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
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 onceVictoria 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.
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
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.
Deceived by the Gargoyles by Lillian Lark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Sorry friends, but I found this one highly disappointing. And there was so much going for it too - a poly monster romance with a body-positive FMC should not have left me feeling so bored and underwhelmed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Stalking, and Abandonment
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Kidnapping
Minor: Hate crime
Moonstruck by Onley James
I loved the discourse around whether Atticus was a true psychopath or not, and I really loved that he gravitated towards Noah & Lucas to talk about his "problems" which makes me gravitate towards the non-psycho vote. He's definitely got some peculiarities and Jericho was the perfect partner for him, swooping in and taking charge of everything while Atticus redefines his personality and discovers his newfound sexuality.
Outside of their relationship, there were a lot of fun scenes with the extended (and expanding) family, as well as little tidbits setting up the remainder of the series. Whatever her formula, it works and I am hooked!
dark
funny
tense
fast-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
5.0
Yes - these books are cheesy with OTT, fantastical plots. Yes - the story lines & HEAs follow very similar structures in each book. I find them highly entertaining and (oddly) comforting and this one is my favourite of the series so far!
This is the quickest into an insta-love/lust relationship, literally their first meeting in the first chapter:
This is the quickest into an insta-love/lust relationship, literally their first meeting in the first chapter:
"Atticus was flustered. He had no idea what had just happened or how things had gone so wrong, but he'd just given a hand job to a man three feet away from a fingerless corpse. There was no way he was telling his father that."
I loved the discourse around whether Atticus was a true psychopath or not, and I really loved that he gravitated towards Noah & Lucas to talk about his "problems" which makes me gravitate towards the non-psycho vote. He's definitely got some peculiarities and Jericho was the perfect partner for him, swooping in and taking charge of everything while Atticus redefines his personality and discovers his newfound sexuality.
Atticus hated how easily he yielded, mouth opening beneath Jericho's so he could sweep his tongue inside. He hated the way his cock leaked the moment Jericho took charge. He hated how much neither of those statements were true.
Outside of their relationship, there were a lot of fun scenes with the extended (and expanding) family, as well as little tidbits setting up the remainder of the series. Whatever her formula, it works and I am hooked!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Mental illness, Excrement, Vomit, Alcohol, and Classism
Lor by Lily Mayne
adventurous
emotional
sad
slow-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
5.0
Another amazing read from Lily Mayne - queen of the monsters.
How, Lily? How?? How do you keep coming up with new and inventive ways to rip our hearts out and piece them together so amazingly?
The fact that this was supposed to be a cute little novella and turned into this behemoth of a story, yet none of it felt drawn out without purpose - bravo.
RTC
How, Lily? How?? How do you keep coming up with new and inventive ways to rip our hearts out and piece them together so amazingly?
The fact that this was supposed to be a cute little novella and turned into this behemoth of a story, yet none of it felt drawn out without purpose - bravo.
RTC
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Medical content, and Grief
Moderate: Confinement, Cursing, Gun violence, Terminal illness, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, and War
Psycho by Onley James
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-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? Yes
4.0
Ok, I know they’re all psychopaths but safe words exist for a reason, people!! Especially once knife play is in the mix…
That little note aside, these are great fun reads for when you want to turn your brain off for a bit. And considering the harsh subject matter, that’s quite a feat!
Also, this epilogue is everything.
That little note aside, these are great fun reads for when you want to turn your brain off for a bit. And considering the harsh subject matter, that’s quite a feat!
Also, this epilogue is everything.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Stalking, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Trafficking
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Vomit, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Alcohol
Murder at Haven's Rock by Kelley Armstrong
Yes, it wouldn't be a Rockton (Haven's Rock) book without including multiple dead bodies for Casey to investigate. The structure and speed is very familiar, plot-wise, but now Casey & Eric must deal with a new cast of unfamiliar characters making up the construction crew at Haven's Rock. Unfortunately, a few members of the crew didn't heed the warnings of "stay out of the forest." The mystery was exciting and twisty - just when you think you've solved it more clues pop up. It was engaging and flowed nicely. While I missed some of the Rockton regulars (Mathias & Sebastian, in particular) the new cast of supporting characters brought an interesting element to the mix. It's hinted that some may pop up again in future books and I'm not unhappy about that!
All told, this is a great combination of call-backs & new beginnings for Casey & Eric, and I'm excited to see where it goes from here.
Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
As a fan of the Rockton series and all things Kelley Armstrong, I was very excited to get the chance to read and review book 1 of the spin-off series at Haven's Rock early. Especially because I felt that Rockton's final entry, The Deepest of Secrets, didn't end in the most satisfactory way. While new readers may be at a disadvantage because of some call-backs to the first series, if you've been following Casey & Eric from the beginning, Murder at Haven's Rock is a great spin-off of their story as they break ground on their new community.
"The town is...well, perfect. Except for the unexpectedly early arrival of dead bodies."
"Worst welcoming-committee gift ever."
Yes, it wouldn't be a Rockton (Haven's Rock) book without including multiple dead bodies for Casey to investigate. The structure and speed is very familiar, plot-wise, but now Casey & Eric must deal with a new cast of unfamiliar characters making up the construction crew at Haven's Rock. Unfortunately, a few members of the crew didn't heed the warnings of "stay out of the forest." The mystery was exciting and twisty - just when you think you've solved it more clues pop up. It was engaging and flowed nicely. While I missed some of the Rockton regulars (Mathias & Sebastian, in particular) the new cast of supporting characters brought an interesting element to the mix. It's hinted that some may pop up again in future books and I'm not unhappy about that!
All told, this is a great combination of call-backs & new beginnings for Casey & Eric, and I'm excited to see where it goes from here.
Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Gun violence, and Violence
Minor: Ableism, Chronic illness, Confinement, Misogyny, Racism, and Alcohol