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fiction_and_friction's reviews
394 reviews
Make You Mine: Make You Series Book 4 by L.A. Shaw, L.A. Shaw
4.0
MAKE YOU MINE follows twenty-somethings Ashley and Trent as they struggle to hide their forbidden love after Ashley is promised to another man—the head of a prominent crime family. As secrets unravel, their relationship grows increasingly dangerous, yet they can’t stay away from each other. First introduced in MAKE YOU MISS ME, Ashley and Trent’s explosive chemistry continues in MAKE YOU MINE.
This book was absolutely captivating! The intentional vagueness of the first chapter instantly hooked me and left me craving more. And seriously, why does a simple “baby” make me swoon so hard?
Also, I’m still holding out hope for an entire series exploring Trent’s mysterious reason for going to Europe. Pretty please?
The writing was engaging and seamless, with no moments where the story dragged. The twists were thrilling, and the ending was incredibly satisfying.
CHECK YOUR CONTENT WARNINGS!
Sexual assault
Cheating
Violence
This book was absolutely captivating! The intentional vagueness of the first chapter instantly hooked me and left me craving more. And seriously, why does a simple “baby” make me swoon so hard?
Also, I’m still holding out hope for an entire series exploring Trent’s mysterious reason for going to Europe. Pretty please?
The writing was engaging and seamless, with no moments where the story dragged. The twists were thrilling, and the ending was incredibly satisfying.
CHECK YOUR CONTENT WARNINGS!
Sexual assault
Cheating
Violence
Wyatt by Jessica Peterson
5.0
I still have a [b:Wyatt|214037675|Wyatt (Lucky River Ranch #2)|Jessica Peterson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1729630629l/214037675._SY75_.jpg|220309258] hangover and won’t be able to form a full, coherent review. So I’ll just say this -
If you love a hot cowboy who…
…has a daddy kink
…isn’t afraid to cry
…comes in his pants
…shamelessly flirts with his crush
…has a secret slutty thigh tattoo
…knows how to work a lasso
…wants to see his girl reach the stars
…loves making a grand gesture
Then you’re going to absolutely fall in love with Wyatt Benjamin Rivers.
If these Rivers boys keep getting better as the series continues, I’m in big f*cking trouble trying to choose a favorite.
If you love a hot cowboy who…
…has a daddy kink
…isn’t afraid to cry
…comes in his pants
…shamelessly flirts with his crush
…has a secret slutty thigh tattoo
…knows how to work a lasso
…wants to see his girl reach the stars
…loves making a grand gesture
Then you’re going to absolutely fall in love with Wyatt Benjamin Rivers.
If these Rivers boys keep getting better as the series continues, I’m in big f*cking trouble trying to choose a favorite.
Ruthless Guardian by Sienna Cross
2.0
I love a mafia man.
I love forbidden romance.
I love hot, dirty smut.
I did not love this book.
I did not vibe with this book. It had so much potential but was very predictable. There were some little moments that were fantastic, and some that were outrageous (how many sh00tings does one book need?) The good parts were not enough to outweigh the bad for me.
The FMC was a brat, and not the sexy kind. She had zero personality aside from being a mafia princess. Raf, the MMC, was awfully cocky for a bodyguard who lets his charge get sh0t at four different times. I can understand the instalust but there was no other depth between them beyond that.
I love forbidden romance.
I love hot, dirty smut.
I did not love this book.
I did not vibe with this book. It had so much potential but was very predictable. There were some little moments that were fantastic, and some that were outrageous (how many sh00tings does one book need?) The good parts were not enough to outweigh the bad for me.
The FMC was a brat, and not the sexy kind. She had zero personality aside from being a mafia princess. Raf, the MMC, was awfully cocky for a bodyguard who lets his charge get sh0t at four different times. I can understand the instalust but there was no other depth between them beyond that.
The Throwback: A Boston Blizzard Novella by C.L. Rose
4.0
Jett and Bailey were childhood best friends who lost touch after Jett’s life changed in the blink of an eye. They have a serendipitous reconnection after Bailey is hired as an esthetician for the WAGs of Jett’s football teammates. One thing leads to another and their meet-cute begins to heat up. This short novella packs some serious heat!
The Throwback is the final story in the Boston Blizzard series. The whole crew makes a reappearance and immediately welcomes Bailey into their tight knit group.
Jett might be one of the biggest alpha-roll, pleasure dom, swoon worthy MMCs I’ve read in a while - and he comes in his pants! Twice! Ugh. I love it. He is very good at making sure Bailey is taken care of, in every way
The Throwback is the final story in the Boston Blizzard series. The whole crew makes a reappearance and immediately welcomes Bailey into their tight knit group.
Jett might be one of the biggest alpha-roll, pleasure dom, swoon worthy MMCs I’ve read in a while - and he comes in his pants! Twice! Ugh. I love it. He is very good at making sure Bailey is taken care of, in every way
A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage by Asia Mackay
4.0
Haze and Fox are two retired serial killers turned suburbanites, navigating the monotonous world of parenthood and marriage. Haze, feeling restless in her role as a stay-at-home mom, starts yearning for her old life, much to Fox’s dismay. And then, things take a turn…
As promised, this book delivers a blend of 'Mr. and Mrs. Smith' meets 'Butcher & Blackbird', with a dash of 'Santa Clarita Diet' dark humor. While the opening hooked me right away, the pacing lagged a bit in the middle, taking its time to truly find its footing. There was more “telling” than “showing,” which initially made it hard for me to fully engage with the story. But once all the pieces started falling into place, I couldn’t put it down. Every seemingly questionable moment from earlier chapters was revealed and and the whole final third of the book was mind blowing when all was revealed. So many bombshells!
Surprisingly, the book also offers relatable and honest reflections on motherhood and marriage (hence the title). Haze’s candid take on becoming a mother felt real and raw, something I imagine many parents would connect with deeply.
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC.
As promised, this book delivers a blend of 'Mr. and Mrs. Smith' meets 'Butcher & Blackbird', with a dash of 'Santa Clarita Diet' dark humor. While the opening hooked me right away, the pacing lagged a bit in the middle, taking its time to truly find its footing. There was more “telling” than “showing,” which initially made it hard for me to fully engage with the story. But once all the pieces started falling into place, I couldn’t put it down. Every seemingly questionable moment from earlier chapters was revealed and and the whole final third of the book was mind blowing when all was revealed. So many bombshells!
Surprisingly, the book also offers relatable and honest reflections on motherhood and marriage (hence the title). Haze’s candid take on becoming a mother felt real and raw, something I imagine many parents would connect with deeply.
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC.
Our Broken Pieces by Ashley Warren
3.0
In Our Broken Pieces, Marcus is blindsided by his father’s ultimatum: he must marry before taking over the family’s lucrative contracting business. Enter Gigi, fresh out of a terrible long-term relationship with a soggy puddin’ head of a man, who proposes a mutually beneficial marriage arrangement. But with two troubled pasts, meddling friends, and undeniable chemistry, Marcus and Gigi quickly realize that pretending to be in love might just lead to something real.
I absolutely loved the premise of this book, and the characters were genuinely lovable, too. However, I struggled with the storytelling. The writing felt choppy, almost as if it was sticking to a predefined outline, which messed with the natural flow for me.
As for the big twist at the end, I didn’t love it. It felt forced and unnatural, detracting from what could have been a more satisfying conclusion.