elle_laine's reviews
113 reviews

Dragon Den by Kriss Dean

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adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

Dragons. School. A mystery. Second-chances. Markus is a student at a school that teaches their students how to train dragons and cultivate the bond between dragon and dragon rider. When it is time for Markus to capture a dragon to make his own, he fails. Miserably. But before he can leave in defeat, he is offered a riderless dragon in return for completing a mission. Simple, right? But the mission is anything but, and Markus finds himself wrapped up in intrigue, lies, and maybe even love.

This was a fun read at times, but at other times, I was a little confused by the plot. I loved the unique names that the characters got, and the whole idea behind the book was captivating, just not brought out enough in the short 180 pages of this book. The ending did leave the reader on a cliff-hanger, meaning that there is room for a sequel, but I don’t think I will be reading it if it does come out. This story was not developed enough to draw me in fully.

For anyone who loves How to Train Your Dragon and other dragon-focused books, definitely check this one out! It just wasn’t for me.

Thank you Yggdrasil Press for an ebook version of this book in exchange for a review! All thoughts here are my own.
Sadie by Courtney Summers

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dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

•Sadie is on a journey of revenge. She is looking for answers about her sister’s murder, and nothing will stop her from getting what she wants. 🔪 🩸 

•This was not for me. I listened to the audiobook and really appreciated the performance, but I didn’t care much for the story. It lacked the shocking element that I look for in thrillers. It’s definitely a quick read though, if that’s something you’re looking for!
The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-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

4.75

Emma is a writer who has passed up opportunities to further her career because she is her father’s primary caretaker. But when a friend calls her and describes a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to re-write a romantic comedy script with one of the most famous screenwriters of today, Charlie Yates, Emma can’t say no. And after her dad and sister hear about the opportunity, they make it impossible for her to not go. Unfortunately, Emma finds out too late what Charlie Yates thinks about romance and love, and the journey she sets out on to prove to him that love is not “an emotional Ponzi scheme” turns out to be something she never bargained for. 
 
I simply ADORE this book and storyline! Katherine Center never fails to deliver a truly heart-warming and slightly heart-breaking story about love, the realities of life, and truly comedic moments. I fell in love with Emma and Charlie, their stories, and all the other characters that made this story so incredibly special. Not a single character was presented as one-sided, but rather each character was presented with their flaws as well as their strengths, making the story complete and realistic. I felt like I could relate to the characters. 
 
THANK YOU Macmillan Audio for providing me with the audiobook version of this book through NetGalley. All opinions listed here are only mine. The audiobook made it that much more special. The narrator was excellent and brought life to the story that took it up a notch. For each character, she created a distinct voice which greatly helped in the reader experience. Personally, I typically opt to read the physical copy of books, but this was a wonderful audiobook production. My recommendation is the audiobook, as it gave the story a fullness that I do not think I would’ve gotten from an ebook or physical copy. The overall experience with the audiobook was all-around enjoyable. 
 
This is the perfect spring/summer read for lovers of Katherine Center’s other books, lovers of happily-ever-afters, and even for those who do not really “believe” in love. Let this book surprise you. Open up your world to a genre you may not generally lean toward. 
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What You Wish For by Katherine Center

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted sad medium-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

•Sam is finally feeling settled in her life with her new and dearly beloved “family.” As the school librarian, Sam finds joy in helping children discover the love of books. Life is going well. That is, until a tragedy changes everything for Sam and everyone that works at the school. Enter Duncan Carpenter. Sam never thought she would hear that name again. But here he is, hired as the new principal. And chaos ensues. 📚 🏫💘

•This was such a hilarious book full of entirely lovable characters! I knew that I would like it since @katherinecenter wrote it, but I wasn’t prepared for all the laugh-out-loud moments and deeply moving navigations through grief, sorrow, and love. This is an amazing read, and I recommend it to EVERYONE!
Death by Miss Adventure: A Slow Burn Urban Fantasy Romance by S.G. Tasz

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adventurous dark mysterious medium-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

4.0

•Wow! This book really takes you on an adventure! Adina is no typical girl. She has unique abilities and a specific goal in mind when she works. Then suddenly her world is rocked when she is accused of a murder. Enter Chief Inquisitor Breitling. His job is to prove Adina’s guilt. To do that, he has to follow her every move. ⛓️🌌🖤

•This was such a fun book to read! I don’t typically read books of this genre, but this one was captivating. I loved all the concepts of the world and found it very unique while still being easy to follow.
The Locked Door by Freida McFadden

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dark mysterious tense fast-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

3.0

•Dr. Davis is a respected surgeon with a hidden past. No one knows, or, at least, no one knew, her dark past until two deaths open up some secrets of those secrets that threaten to ruin the life Dr. Davis made for herself. 

•I’m not a huge fan of this book. I listened to the audiobook version and I really didn’t care for the narrator’s voice. I also guessed a lot of the twists, which was disappointing because usually I’m way off when guessing twists in books! I was entertained and finished the book quickly, but I can’t give it more than 3⭐️s. 
The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

•Emma is a struggling artist who can’t pass up the opportunity to be an art instructor at a girls’ camp during the summer. Even though she herself was a camper there years before when tragedy struck and mysterious circumstances shut down the camp. But it’s open now, and Emma hesitantly becomes a crew member. She needs to uncover some secrets, but at what cost? 🤫 🩸 🪨 

•This book was slow to start, but it really picked up in the second half. Although some parts were predictable, I enjoyed the ending. Would definitely recommend, especially for someone looking for creepy camp vibes!
Powerless by Lauren Roberts

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adventurous dark tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

•Paedyn is selected to be in the special “games” put on by the king. But these are no ordinary games. Pain and even death is involved. And unlike everyone else competing, Paedyn is powerless. Being powerless is banned and will result in death, so Paedyn is careful to keep her secret quiet. 
Kai is the king’s youngest son, seen as a monster by many. Also competing in the king’s games, Kai can’t help but notice Paedyn. 

•I flew through this book! It’s over 500 pages, but it definitely did not feel like it. I loved the MCs and the world building. It was also super cool reading about all the super powers that (nearly) everyone possesses. Can’t wait for book #2!
Kill For Me Kill For You by Steve Cavanagh

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

The Honey-Don't List by Christina Lauren

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funny lighthearted medium-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

2.75