ljamison01's reviews
1076 reviews

Wild Goose Chase by Kilby Blades

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emotional slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

This is my absolute favorite troupe. (I’m not actually sure it is a troupe) But, I love when the best friend or brother falls in love with a widow, especially when children are involved. There is something about the emotional ties to the deceased and the widow trying to move on and the brother or friend being a pseudo dad to the children. Ugh be still my heart. The angst gets me every single time. All of my favorite books are this. I want my heartstrings pulled, I want to cry and I want to anticipate you two realizing that you were meant to be together. So when I read the blurb I knew this book was meant for me. Now Chase is the original nice guy or cinnamon roll. He is so sweet, kind, he’s a great cook, he’s the whole package so why isn’t Violet jumping on him? Violet’s husband died almost 8 years ago in a fire, he worked along side Chase and he feels responsible for her husband’s death. I wanted to love this book so much but it lacked the angst I needed. It was good story and there is a mystery all tied up in the fire and a court case. The story was a slow burn but it just didn’t hit me where I wanted it too. The story focuses on mental health and getting over a loss and it does a great job discussing how people adjust after a loss. This is a slow burn with little spice, but maybe more spice would have given me more angst. Its a good small town romance book. 
Dear Rosie, by S.J. Tilly

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

5.0

Rosie and Nathan grew up in the same neighborhood and they use to meet in the woods, they were friends. One day Nathan announced he was moving and Rosie was devastated. Nathan was her only friend. So Nathan moved and went on to become a great football star and later the owner of a tech company. Almost twenty five years later they meet when Rosie is catering a wedding for one of his former teammates. Rosie is devastated that Nathan doesn’t remember her. Although he doesn't remember her, he is instantly attracted to her and he wants to get to know her. Thus begins the story of Rosie and Nathan. Nathan is such a great guy, he feels horrible that he didn’t remember his friend. However, he is all in with pursuing her and getting to know the woman she is now.  Rosie wants to be with Nathan but her life hasn’t been as easy and glamorous as Nathan’s, and she’s not really willing to let him in. This was a wonderfully sweet, tender, sad, emotional story. I love when people reconnect and especially when the man is the one so open and welcoming and it’s the woman who is pushing him away. I’m a new fan of S. J. Tilly and I have to say so far every book I have read have been spicy, with sexy characters and amazing possessive and devoted men who will do anything for their woman. Great book a must read. 
Bound by J.L. Quick

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emotional medium-paced

4.0

This is the second book in the Men of Club Triskelion. I read have read both books and I’m enjoying the Irish mafia and its takes a while to get use to some of the words and vocabulary used by the characters but it probably makes it seem more authentic. In this book we have Declan and Quinn who have known each other since they were young. Declan was good friends with her brothers. In fact Declan saved her when she was almost brutally attacked. After that incident they began a secretive relationship. Quinn wanted him to tell her brothers she was tired of hiding it but Declan refused. So Quinn went to Dublin and Declan went on and eventually married and had a daughter. It is now years later and Quinn is living in Declan’s house as a nanny for his daughter and it’s not long before feelings begin to grow between these two again. There are a great deal of BDSM aspects in this series and some issues that may be sensitive to others so please check the trigger warnings before reading. Can Quinn get over Declan moving on and having a family and is Declan willing to commit to her this time? In the midst of this relationship they are involved in a bitter war with the Bratva and there have been threats made against Quinn. Great story with some violence and suspense. 
Filthy Mogul by M. Robinson

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

5.0

This is the third book in the Billionaire Dollar Men series. This book focuses on Luke the original bad boy. Luke is dark, aloof, possessive and he walks a thin line between honest and nefarious means to make money. He owns a club where he sees a woman DJ who is pumping up the crowd and has them dancing and enjoying themselves and he wants to meet her. Duchess although attracted to Luke has no intention of telling him her real name. Luke becomes a little obsessed because they keep meeting but he refuses to pursue anything unless he knows exactly who she is. I love when a woman can hold her own against a man and challenge him, and she certainly does that. This book has spice, romance, suspense and a little mystery. An enjoyable read you don’t want to miss.
Text Appeal by Kylie Scott

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

3.75

I love books that have long, funny, witty text conversations because frankly this is the day and age we live in. I think I have more conversations with my husband over text than we do in person. So with the title “Text Appeal” I expected a lot of texts. There were some, but not enough. This story focuses on Riley a writer who moves to a small town to reside by the water and write. Well after some problems with her phone she requests another number and gets a local number that use to belong to Connor a very popular guy. Suddenly Riley’s is getting lots of texts from Connor’ friends and especially his ex girlfriend. The town wants these two to get back together. When Riley and Connor meet and he realizes that she has his old number, he feels as if it is fate that they pretend to date. He wants to move on from Ava (his ex) and hopes that by being with Riley the town will realize this and move on. The book moves fast, it’s a great small town, fake romance. I have read other books by Kylie Scott and I expected this one to be as angsty as the others and it wasn’t. A good book but not my favorite book by this author. 
Reclaimed by A.M. Wilson

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

4.0

In the book “Reclaimed” the fifth book in the Powell Sanctuary series we now have the youngest brother Aiden who was shot while rescuing a family member. Aiden has retreated into himself, all his siblings have found love and their person. He feels lost and without direction. Suddenly Isla has returned home and is dancing in a club that Aiden visits every night to watch and tip her. One night he overhears men talking about crossing the line with her in a private dance and he quickly buys all her private dances and they cross a line. Aiden is very attracted to her and although he wants to get to know her, Isla has secrets. Until Isla finds out that there is a serial killer attacking strippers. So Aiden and Isla agree to a fake relationship that turns very real when it is revealed that she’s pregnant. Now Aiden is a virgin and I’m sure most woman like myself will find this to be cute and adorable because he relies on Isla to teach and guide him during intimate moments, and he isn’t upset or repulsed by her experience he looks at it favorably. Those spicy moments are really good. Now this book is a slow burn so the good stuff doesn’t happen until much later. I have only read one other book in this series and I may need to spend some time reading the other three books. This was an enjoyable story of a man finding love and himself after struggling with the meaning of life and his place in it. 
Born to Make You Smile by Annella Savo

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

5.0

This is an age gap romance. It’s also being labeled as forbidden I’m assuming because Grace works for Gavin and his wife and her mother were good friends. Grace is twenty-three years old and she works as a dental assistant to Gavin (46) in his dental office. Grace also lives next door to Gavin so he drives her to and from work. These two have a very friendly relationship. Grace watches his daughters and takes them trick or treating, she is an extended member of his family. They have a secret handshake. They like the same 70’s music which they listen and sing to in the car. After Grace witness Gavin kissing and dating a women suddenly her feelings for him begin to change. Now Grace is very naive and has no sexual experience but her mind starts to grow and expand when money troubles force her to work at a sex club as a bartender. Grace and Gavin have a few moments where things could have happened but it takes a long time for these two to open up their minds to the possibility of something occurring. Once a relationship begins Grace is almost all in but Gavin is a little more reluctant. This story is only told from Grace’s pov so we never get to know how Gavin feels. This book is a slow burn but there are some spicy moments. I loved the friendship aspects that these two shared for years before a relationship developed. This was a very enjoyable book Gavin to me is the ideal cinnamon roll character he is sweet, kind, understanding, warm, considerate and thoughtful. I truly loved him. 
Emperor of Rage by Jagger Cole

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

5.0

This book is a standalone book among a connected set of books, however Jagger Cole does a great job of filling you in if you missed any of the previous (but you really shouldn’t because these books are so good). This book is about Freya who has been mentioned in previous books as a goth like Morticia dressed always in black in really outlandish clothes and she’s been Annika’s ride or die. We finally get to learn her story and as always it’s a tragic one. Her father was an awful man and his past deeds are currently affecting Freya’s current life. Now that Annika is married into the Yakuza family and Freya has met his siblings and his cousin who she has tried to avoid, things start to spiral quickly. Unfortunately Mal, is Kenzo’s (Annikak’s husband) cousin and him and Freya share a history. Now both Mal and Freya are damaged and because of this their desires are different. Freya is into total submission and Mal is into total domination so things should be great, but their past makes things difficult. Freya has a medical condition that affects her life, and a lot of secrets and unfortunately secrets get exposed and cause trouble. The plot is complex and involved and there is a lot going on and sometimes the explanations of the history stop the story from moving forward. However, it’s a great story with two incredibly deep faceted characters who have some intense spicy moments. It’s great to see broken characters fall in love and begin to mend and heal, love makes all things possible. I enjoy how this story has the Bratva and the Yakuza enmeshed in each other’s life. If you enjoy mafia stories you will love this book. This was another great Jagger Cole book I cannot wait for the next book. 
Trouble by Brittanée Nicole

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

5.0

This was such a great book. Now it is a MMF book but, it’s a very thoughtful books. Our MFC Melina has a stalker who is terrorizing her. So she is currently hiding in a small town at Declan the fire chief’s house where his friend Cade a hockey coach also resides. Declan is immediately attracted to Melina but Cade beats him to it and the first night Cade and Melina are intimate. Now all along there are hints that Cade is definitely attracted to Declan but Declan doesn’t like to be touched and he’s grumpy, and stand-offish and he rarely will text anyone back. Cade as a hockey coach must travel for the games and while he is gone Declan and Melina get closer but Declan refuses to make a move on his friend’s girl. Now not only is Cade open about his sexuality but he also encourages Declan to join him and Melina while he is on the road and invites them both to share his bed. Cade and Melina were so open about their feelings but they had to drag them out of Declan. Declan’s past made him very wary of people and certain situations. I loved how patient these two were with Declan and how this relationship naturally began to unfold as desire and attraction developed into love. Great story, loved the characters and the spice. 
Shattered Dreams by Natasha Madison

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

5.0

This story was so sad and emotional. A few friends go out and enjoy a good evening and unfortunately tragedy ensues on the car ride home. Charlie loses his girlfriend Jennifer and blames the loss on Autumn. Autumn was dating the driver and Charlie believes she shouldn’t have let him drive. The town and Charlie shunned Autumn and made her feel so bad she left the town. Now eight years later she is back because her father is sick and the family whisky business is suffering because the town has decided to side with the other family involved in the tragedy and refuse to give business to Autumn’s. Charlie is one grumpy, mean, angry man at the beginning of this book it was hard to imagine him getting over his pain and anger. I don’t usually talk about spicy moments in a book but, that first intimate scene between Charlie and Autumn was so freaking hot. OMG!! This was such an emotionally charged book with me feeling all the emotions of the characters and the way they were wrestling with their feelings and emotions. This book really deals with grief and how we must learn to move on and keep living and hopefully find love and happiness. Once I started this book I didn’t stop reading until it ended. Truly loved this first book in this Dream Series and  cannot wait to read the future books. I wish I could have given this book six stars it was just that good.