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cluckieduck's reviews
289 reviews
Pleasure Unbound by Larissa Ione
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Interesting world & characters, but compared to other PNRs from the mid-2000s (BDB, IAD, Midnight Breed, etc) it’s not my favourite. I’ll still continue with the series the series, at least the next 2 books to see how the brothers fare, so we’ll see how it progresses from here!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Trafficking, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury
Found by the Lake Monster by Lillian Lark
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
2.0
Cute insta-love story that was just lacking…something.
Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Well, this was an absolutely delightful trilogy and ended with my favourite read (and couple!) of the bunch.
Eve & Jacob are two absolutely tender-hearted souls hiding deliciously dirty sides. Their sexy times are absolutely 🔥🌶🔥, I wish there were more than the 2 scenes because they were smokin' hot!
Eve & Jacob are two absolutely tender-hearted souls hiding deliciously dirty sides. Their sexy times are absolutely 🔥🌶🔥, I wish there were more than the 2 scenes because they were smokin' hot!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Ableism, Cursing, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Alcohol, and Classism
The Beast of Beswick by Amalie Howard
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Sometimes a girl doesn’t need a hero to save her. Sometimes she needs the opposite.
I so wanted to like this one - a Beauty & the Beast retelling with a tortured, scarred hero falling for a shunned, take-charge heroine with trust issues - but overall it felt like a whole lot of...nothing. The same conflict between the two, recycled over & over & over. I also felt the tone was decidedly modern. Granted, I don't have much experience reading HR, but this lent to it just feeling a bit off.
Overall, dull & forgettable.
I so wanted to like this one - a Beauty & the Beast retelling with a tortured, scarred hero falling for a shunned, take-charge heroine with trust issues - but overall it felt like a whole lot of...nothing. The same conflict between the two, recycled over & over & over. I also felt the tone was decidedly modern. Granted, I don't have much experience reading HR, but this lent to it just feeling a bit off.
Overall, dull & forgettable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming and Sexual content
Moderate: Misogyny, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Minor: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Violence, Death of parent, War, and Classism
You. Me. Bed. Now. by Olivia T. Turner
lighthearted
fast-paced
1.0
He puts the moan in Somoan
Look. I don't mind OTT, suspend your disbelief scenarios, but this was sooo OTT bad across multiple levels. This man jumps the fence DURING a match TWICE to go kiss his beloved. And let's not even mention the SA masquerading as instalove. Ay yi yi...
Oh yeah, also...there's not one, not two, but THREE epilogues - this is an 80-page novella people!!
Look. I don't mind OTT, suspend your disbelief scenarios, but this was sooo OTT bad across multiple levels. This man jumps the fence DURING a match TWICE to go kiss his beloved. And let's not even mention the SA masquerading as instalove. Ay yi yi...
Oh yeah, also...there's not one, not two, but THREE epilogues - this is an 80-page novella people!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Cursing and Sexual assault
The Lone Wolf's Rejected Mate by Cate C. Wells
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I can't say that I had high expectations going into this one but...YES, FINALLY!!
This had everything I was missing from the first two books in the series. I blew through it in one sitting and enjoyed it so much that I'm even contemplating going back to re-reading the first two.
I think the main thing, for me, is that the previous MMCs were gigantic assholes while Darragh is just tortured. I'm not too well-versed with the rejected-mates trope, but this one seems more rejected-adjacent...a pause, if you will, while Darragh got his shit together. Not that that's any better for Mari and her insecurities, but I felt attached to Darragh much more quickly than I did with Killian or Cadoc.
“You want me,” I whisper.
“Yes.”
“A lot.”
“Like air,” he says.
Mari is another great FMC - she's spunky, funny, caring, and tough. I do wish we could have gotten a bit more time with Darragh & Mari exploring their new relationship as mates without them being under duress. It's wrapped up rather abruptly and left me wanting more - that would have made it a 5 ⭐ read for me.
This had everything I was missing from the first two books in the series. I blew through it in one sitting and enjoyed it so much that I'm even contemplating going back to re-reading the first two.
I think the main thing, for me, is that the previous MMCs were gigantic assholes while Darragh is just tortured. I'm not too well-versed with the rejected-mates trope, but this one seems more rejected-adjacent...a pause, if you will, while Darragh got his shit together. Not that that's any better for Mari and her insecurities, but I felt attached to Darragh much more quickly than I did with Killian or Cadoc.
“You want me,” I whisper.
“Yes.”
“A lot.”
“Like air,” he says.
Mari is another great FMC - she's spunky, funny, caring, and tough. I do wish we could have gotten a bit more time with Darragh & Mari exploring their new relationship as mates without them being under duress. It's wrapped up rather abruptly and left me wanting more - that would have made it a 5 ⭐ read for me.
The Wrong Mr. Right by Stephanie Archer
funny
lighthearted
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Utterly delightful. Wyatt is a total dream.
A Monstrous Christmas in the Camp by Lily Mayne
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Lily - this is the best Christmas gift. I mean, what’s not to love??
*hos for everyone!
*Wyn fawning over Danny
*pimple popping
*Edin’s special brew
*a very short skirt
*jingle balls
*drunk beasties
*drunk humans
*heart-wrenching gift-giving
*smutty gift giving
*finally something that scares Wyn
It’s a great romp with POVs from every pairing. Absolutely delightful!
*hos for everyone!
*Wyn fawning over Danny
*pimple popping
*Edin’s special brew
*a very short skirt
*jingle balls
*drunk beasties
*drunk humans
*heart-wrenching gift-giving
*smutty gift giving
*finally something that scares Wyn
It’s a great romp with POVs from every pairing. Absolutely delightful!
Nanny for the Neighbors by Lily Gold
3.0
I wasn't as enamoured with this one as I was with Faking with Benefits or Three Swedish Mountain Men. Even though each of the MCs came from trauma-filled, intriguing backgrounds, they all just felt flat and I didn't quite feel their relationship was as solid as the other harem she's written.
Some of the story was cute, and the addition of the baby brought an interesting dynamic to the mix, but overall it was just an ok read for me.
Some of the story was cute, and the addition of the baby brought an interesting dynamic to the mix, but overall it was just an ok read for me.