katerzjoy's reviews
144 reviews

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective 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? No

4.5

Impractical Magic by Emily Grimoire was a delightful read. I really hope this becomes a series, maybe even a family saga! The banter between the sisters was fun, and there was a great spark between Scarlett and Nate. I loved how the book explores the town’s history and made me feel like I had walked through it many times. The story is open and inclusive, and while there aren’t many surprises since the plot is hinted at throughout, I found the ending very satisfying. It tied everything together beautifully and stirred up strong emotions while addressing even the smallest problems.

The main character does tend to worry a lot and often blames herself, but her thought process was clear. I didn’t care much for the mother character, as she seemed pretty unlikable. Overall, I give it 4.5 stars. I enjoyed the story a lot and will definitely read the next one if there is one, but it didn’t fully capture my heart.

Thank you Avon Books via NetGalley for the opportunity to share my honest and free thoughts on this ARC.

Content Warnings

Illicit Temptations by Katee Robert

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective 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

3.75

Illicit Temptations by Katee Roberts is a collection of short stories that can be enjoyed on their own. Katee’s writing is always enjoyable, and this collection was no different. The stories are quick reads that mix some steamy moments with solid character growth. While the plots aren’t very complex, they focus more on everyday situations and decisions. The characters feel real, with believable thoughts and reactions. Although the stories are a bit predictable, they are still fun to read, and the spicy scenes are appropriate for all adult readers.

Thank you Harlequin-Romance via NetGalley for the opportunity to provide an honest and authentic review of this ARC.

Make Me Need by Katee Robert

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adventurous hopeful lighthearted reflective 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? Yes

3.5

A fast pace steamy domestic novella. Domestic despite half of it being out of town. Double yearning but thinking the other wants something else.

While the insta love went hard and an unrealistic happily ever after were a stretch I did enjoy the difference of perspectives. The FMC being the sister of the previous novella illustrated the difference in family dynamics between children, ages and genders.

Thank you Harlequin-Romance via NetGalley for the opportunity to provide an honest and full opinion of this ARC

Make Me Yours by Katee Robert

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emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective fast-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

3.75

A short and quick domestic novella. While circumstances are extreme the history and behaviours are realistic and relatable.
Plot is predictable in a way that I didn’t get excited about anything because you already knew what happened next. Not terrible when you want a quick comfort read.
Spice was a nice moderate amount and flavour.
Thank you Harlequin-Romance via NetGalley for this free ARC and allowing a free and honest review.

Content Warnings

The False Pawn by A. E. Asavi

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adventurous challenging dark tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.75

Asavi's first book didn't hit the mark for me. I really wanted to like it because it had things I enjoy—fantasy, new worlds, and a strong main character.

At first, I wasn't sure if the author meant for readers to dislike the main character because she comes off as really angry and harsh for no good reason. When she enters this new world, I thought she’d shine with her cleverness and skills, but instead, she felt like a totally different person who wasn't even using her talents! Throughout the book, she often forgets about the unique abilities that could help her in the tricky world of court politics and instead makes some really bad choices.

The main character’s anger comes from seeing how badly everyone is treated, but it’s shown in a pretty straightforward way without much complexity. There’s a clear difference between being oppressed and having a voice. I found it confusing how she ended up falling for some of the characters, the ones who actively subjected her to harm and manipulated her. It bothered me that the male characters often took the spotlight, needing to come to her rescue instead of her being strong on her own. Honestly, I was hoping the main character would outsmart everyone and shake up the whole system.

I even started to wonder if the author was a man because the relationships felt off-balance, with her ignoring bad behavior from friends or romantic interests. The intimate scenes felt overly focused on just penetration and made me question if she really would enjoy those moments.

I won't give it a one-star rating because the world-building was interesting, with different courts and landscapes. The flow was good most of the time, too. But the plot was pretty weak, with noticeable gaps and plenty of grammar and spelling mistakes. There were repetitive storylines and thoughts. If the author had spent more time on the fantasy parts and less on the questionable relationships, it could have been a much better read. I see some potential for the series, but I don’t think I’ll be reading the next books anytime soon. By the end, I was just ready to be done with it.

Thank you A.E Asavi via NetGalley for providing the ARC to allow a honest and free review

Content Warnings