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juliereadsromance's reviews
517 reviews
Again the Magic by Lisa Kleypas
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
REVIEW:
𝗔𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗰
𝘓𝘪𝘴𝘢 𝘒𝘭𝘦𝘺𝘱𝘢𝘴
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
(4.5 out of 5 stars)
👩🎓 There are a lot of Kleypas PhD’s out there, and I am but a humble student. So, I will just say that this was, surprisingly, my favorite Kleypas book to date. While it has less external plot than some of her other books, I found it possibly even more engaging. Kleypas does a masterful job bringing us along the characters’ journey as they navigate love lost and found, through their emotional turmoil, without ever weighing the book down with too much angst. (I did not die a Sherry Thomas death here, if you know what I mean.)
🙋🏻♀️ I wonder what other Kleypas fans think of this standalone? It feels very different than The Wallflowers.
..
..
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Miscarriage and Vomit
Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4.25 out of 5 stars
Micro tropes I’m a sucker for: gambling den, kid from the rookery turned wealthy businessman, closed off hero, and bookish heroine. So this was basically cat nip for me.
This is a classic for a reason. Like most Kleypas books, it’s well written, the characters feel fully fleshed out, and the hero is swoon worthy. (Cue readers’ Derek Craven obsession) .
This book is a solid, very-good-read-four stars. Maybe more of a 4.25.
And yes there is adult breastfeeding 🐄 in the epilogue 😳
(Also- I don’t think Derek Craven is my favorite of Kleypas’s leading men. I’ll cover my face while people throw tomatoes at me.)
Content Warnings
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Blood, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Classism
Where Demons Hide by Delaney Foster
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
~~ REVIEW ~~
⭐⭐⭐.5
3.5 out of 5 stars
City of Sins trilogy
by Delaney Foster
Book One: Where Angels Fall
Book Two: Where Souls Collide
Book Three: Where Demons Hide
I have never before said, "No more sex scenes. Please." And yet, here we are.
The trilogy is essentially one book split up into three parts. It takes all 3 books to bring it all together and give you your HEA.
Book three has SO many sex scenes, and they're all basically the same. These two are really into P in V, and I can't say they diversify the choreography too much. Moreover, eventually, the scenes stop advancing the plot and relationship.
The city of New Orleans is the best character in this story. I don't know much about New Orleans, but Foster really brought it to life for me.
For me, this book fell short. I found it redundant and the FMC didn't deeply evolve IMO. She continued to feel dependent and not fully self-realized.
I think alot of other readers of dark romance, mafia trope books will like this book more than I did.
@juliereadsromance
⭐⭐⭐.5
3.5 out of 5 stars
City of Sins trilogy
by Delaney Foster
Book One: Where Angels Fall
Book Two: Where Souls Collide
Book Three: Where Demons Hide
I have never before said, "No more sex scenes. Please." And yet, here we are.
The trilogy is essentially one book split up into three parts. It takes all 3 books to bring it all together and give you your HEA.
Book three has SO many sex scenes, and they're all basically the same. These two are really into P in V, and I can't say they diversify the choreography too much. Moreover, eventually, the scenes stop advancing the plot and relationship.
The city of New Orleans is the best character in this story. I don't know much about New Orleans, but Foster really brought it to life for me.
For me, this book fell short. I found it redundant and the FMC didn't deeply evolve IMO. She continued to feel dependent and not fully self-realized.
I think alot of other readers of dark romance, mafia trope books will like this book more than I did.
@juliereadsromance
Where Souls Collide by Delaney Foster
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
~~ REVIEW ~~
⭐⭐⭐.5
3.5 out of 5 stars
City of Sins trilogy
by Delaney Foster
Book One: Where Angels Fall
Book Two: Where Souls Collide
Book Three: Where Demons Hide
I have never before said, "No more sex scenes. Please." And yet, here we are.
The trilogy is essentially one book split up into three parts. It takes all 3 books to bring it all together and give you your HEA.
Book three has SO many sex scenes, and they're all basically the same. These two are really into P in V, and I can't say they diversify the choreography too much. Moreover, eventually, the scenes stop advancing the plot and relationship.
The city of New Orleans is the best character in this story. I don't know much about New Orleans, but Foster really brought it to life for me.
For me, this book fell short. I found it redundant and the FMC didn't deeply evolve IMO. She continued to feel dependent and not fully self-realized.
I think alot of other readers of dark romance, mafia trope books will like this book more than I did.
@juliereadsromance
⭐⭐⭐.5
3.5 out of 5 stars
City of Sins trilogy
by Delaney Foster
Book One: Where Angels Fall
Book Two: Where Souls Collide
Book Three: Where Demons Hide
I have never before said, "No more sex scenes. Please." And yet, here we are.
The trilogy is essentially one book split up into three parts. It takes all 3 books to bring it all together and give you your HEA.
Book three has SO many sex scenes, and they're all basically the same. These two are really into P in V, and I can't say they diversify the choreography too much. Moreover, eventually, the scenes stop advancing the plot and relationship.
The city of New Orleans is the best character in this story. I don't know much about New Orleans, but Foster really brought it to life for me.
For me, this book fell short. I found it redundant and the FMC didn't deeply evolve IMO. She continued to feel dependent and not fully self-realized.
I think alot of other readers of dark romance, mafia trope books will like this book more than I did.
@juliereadsromance
Where Angels Fall by Delaney Foster
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
~~ REVIEW ~~
⭐⭐⭐.5
3.5 out of 5 stars
City of Sins trilogy
by Delaney Foster
Book One: Where Angels Fall
Book Two: Where Souls Collide
Book Three: Where Demons Hide
I have never before said, "No more sex scenes. Please." And yet, here we are.
The trilogy is essentially one book split up into three parts. It takes all 3 books to bring it all together and give you your HEA.
Book three has SO many sex scenes, and they're all basically the same. These two are really into P in V, and I can't say they diversify the choreography too much. Moreover, eventually, the scenes stop advancing the plot and relationship.
The city of New Orleans is the best character in this story. I don't know much about New Orleans, but Foster really brought it to life for me.
For me, this book fell short. I found it redundant and the FMC didn't deeply evolve IMO. She continued to feel dependent and not fully self-realized.
I think alot of other readers of dark romance, mafia trope books will like this book more than I did.
@juliereadsromance
⭐⭐⭐.5
3.5 out of 5 stars
City of Sins trilogy
by Delaney Foster
Book One: Where Angels Fall
Book Two: Where Souls Collide
Book Three: Where Demons Hide
I have never before said, "No more sex scenes. Please." And yet, here we are.
The trilogy is essentially one book split up into three parts. It takes all 3 books to bring it all together and give you your HEA.
Book three has SO many sex scenes, and they're all basically the same. These two are really into P in V, and I can't say they diversify the choreography too much. Moreover, eventually, the scenes stop advancing the plot and relationship.
The city of New Orleans is the best character in this story. I don't know much about New Orleans, but Foster really brought it to life for me.
For me, this book fell short. I found it redundant and the FMC didn't deeply evolve IMO. She continued to feel dependent and not fully self-realized.
I think alot of other readers of dark romance, mafia trope books will like this book more than I did.
@juliereadsromance
Come As You Are by Jess K. Hardy
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction and Cursing
Minor: Drug use, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, and Death of parent
Mischief Night by Delaney Foster
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Dark romance. Secret society (am I being indoctrinated into a secret society and that’s why I keep finding myself reading about secret societies?). Gossip Girl vibes. Very billionaire NYC if you like that vibe. A little Hamptons fairy dust thrown in (And some nice local NYC street references for the New Yorkers among us!)
And a dash of BDSM thrown in for good measure.
To cut to the chase. This is the brussel sprouts with bacon and honey of Dark Romance noveldom. By that, I mean, yeah it’s a solid dish, a little spicy, but also a pretty predictable part of a Dark Romance menu.
No really original flavors popping out at me here.
That said , this book grew on me. Favorable parts: I really liked Caspian and Tatum, the main characters. 2. The author writes well.
What I didn’t like so much- parts of it felt cliche and predictable. It didn’t reach the adrenaline pitch that I think the author was looking for it to.
But it’s a solid book overall. Not sure I’ll continue with other books in the series. If you like dark romance, rich competing families, you should give it a try.
@juliereadsromance
And a dash of BDSM thrown in for good measure.
To cut to the chase. This is the brussel sprouts with bacon and honey of Dark Romance noveldom. By that, I mean, yeah it’s a solid dish, a little spicy, but also a pretty predictable part of a Dark Romance menu.
No really original flavors popping out at me here.
That said , this book grew on me. Favorable parts: I really liked Caspian and Tatum, the main characters. 2. The author writes well.
What I didn’t like so much- parts of it felt cliche and predictable. It didn’t reach the adrenaline pitch that I think the author was looking for it to.
But it’s a solid book overall. Not sure I’ll continue with other books in the series. If you like dark romance, rich competing families, you should give it a try.
@juliereadsromance
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Death, Drug use, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Flock by Kate Stewart
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
What the F just happened? Some people love this book, so PLEASE PLEASE read it if it interests you. HOWEVER, FOR ME, this read as if someone put in to ChatGPT: secret society, small mountain town, polyamory, boss’s daughter, gaslighting.
Like it all just felt kind of thrown into a mixer. It felt all over the place to me. Like one minute there’s fast cars and the next minute Sean is explaining the nature of time. Meanwhile, poor girl is just getting gas lighted left and right.
There will be no book number two for me.
Like it all just felt kind of thrown into a mixer. It felt all over the place to me. Like one minute there’s fast cars and the next minute Sean is explaining the nature of time. Meanwhile, poor girl is just getting gas lighted left and right.
There will be no book number two for me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gaslighting
Minor: Bullying, Chronic illness, Cursing, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Dysphoria
Ravishing the Heiress by Sherry Thomas
emotional
tense
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
3.25
Ok so here’s the thing. This book is about extramarital relationships. I don’t feel that’s a spoiler and am actually shocked it’s not in the book description. It feels less like a trigger warning and more like a road sign: caution- this book’s premise is unrequited love with a man with extra marital relations.
Had I known this, I wouldn’t have read the book.
But I did read the book.
Without going into spoilers, angst filled about 90% of this novel. Things get tied up in the last 10%, and there’s not nearly enough groveling.
Sherry Thomas is a great writer, but this is not one of my favorites.
Had I known this, I wouldn’t have read the book.
But I did read the book.
Without going into spoilers, angst filled about 90% of this novel. Things get tied up in the last 10%, and there’s not nearly enough groveling.
Sherry Thomas is a great writer, but this is not one of my favorites.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Infidelity is the premise of this book.