shanaepraystoo's reviews
895 reviews

KING by Ayelle Burke

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adventurous relaxing 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? No

3.75

Ayelle Burke's KING is a well-written and engaging erotic friends to lovers romance. The book is spicy, there's chemistry between the characters, and KING is one of the only friends to lovers books I liked. I recommend this story to anyone looking for something quick, entertaining, and spicy. 
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Nobody Loves Me Like You Do by Tacarra

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lighthearted 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? No

3.0

Nobody Loves Me Like You Do by Tacarra is a fast-paced character driven forced proximity strangers to lovers urban romance. While I felt that the book started off pretty slow, all in all I think the pacing was decent and, while I'm able to suspend reality for the sake of the story, I have to admit that the story of Eve and Saint unfolded in a mostly believable way. While I found the story entertaining, there was very little character development and I didn't find the main characters Eve and Saint that likable. Saint had a pretty nasty attitude and Eve came across as judgmental, which was weird because she was in a longterm relationship with a cheating man who wasn't committed to her. 

I wish Tacarra told us more about Kona, her background, and her relationship with Saint. I think this background would explain why the two were at odds and also would've been good character development for Saint, who is a pretty grumpy, angry character. 

I also think more insight into Eve's relationship with Adrian would've benefited the story, too. The main characters don't even meet until about 30% in the book. All the chapters before the Friendsgiving, a crucial point in this story, could've been dedicated to character development. 

To me, Nobody Loves Me Like You Do by Tacarra is a decent story and I recommend it to fans of urban romance who prefer drama, problematic characters and a HEA. 
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10,000 Hours With A Rich Menace by Jahquel J.

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

3.0

I found 10,000 Hours with a Rich Menace by Jahquel J. to be a pretty middle of the road urban romance. While I think the story is intriguing, the storytelling wasn't enjoyable for me as a reader. I skipped much of Jahquel J.'s 'Delgato' series because I wasn't a fan of the writing style. But I've read other books from the author that I really enjoyed, so when I learned that she had a new series, I decided to give that one a try and that's how I ended up reading about the Caselli clan.

The author's note makes it clear that you don't have to have read the Delgato series or The Infernos series to read and follow the Caselli clan. That is not true, in my opinion.

While reading the book, I took notes asking the following questions:
Chapter 5 "Menace" - Who is Corleon to Skyler?
Chapter 5 "Menace" - How does Landon know Stevie and Skyler?
Chapter 7 "Stevie" - Finally we learn the Corleon-Skyler/Stevie-Landon connection.
Chapter 14 "Menace" - Is Corleon dating Jeffie and Skyler?

It's frustrating reading a story and you feel like you've been plopped right in the middle of it, especially when the author said that you wouldn't need additional context from their previous books to understand the story.

In chapter 30 of the book, Stevie reveals, in response to a conversation with Zoya, Kora, and Skyler, "I was never in on these inside jokes, or knew if they were inside jokes or not." And as a reader, I'm like, "None of us are in on these jokes!" It doesn't make sense to me as a reader to write the book this way, unless there's some omniscient narrator telling the story. It's particularly bad because Stevie is desperate for friends, it's how she ended up in this awful situation with Menace, and these new women, who she wants to befriend, have some relationship that she's on the outside of - and she doesn't want to be an outsider. One of the things I expected to see in the book was the character development that took Stevie from someone who's overly trusting with little discernment to someone who's more confident in herself and can scope the scene...then she becomes attached to a family where she doesn't quite fit in...ugh.

All in all, I might be done with Jahquel J.'s books. I know she has a huge fan base and I really like her early books, but this writing style is just way too confusing for me. However, I can't deny that she has great stories that are intriguing and engaging. If you like fast-paced stories with problematic figures and a little spice, then I recommend 10,000 Hours with a Rich Menace. 
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Losin Control: Half on a baby or two by Ladii Nesha

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emotional funny hopeful reflective sad 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? No

5.0

At this point I'm wondering if Ladii Nesha is capable of writing a bad story! Everything she writes taps into all of my emotions - I'm laughing, I'm shaking my head, I'm getting angry alongside the characters...she really has me tapped into these stories. Losin' Control was one of the best books I read last year, a true 5-star urban romance with incredible character development, a really good plot, and it was well-written - like really well-written. I wasn't expecting a follow up on the main characters Marley and Czar, but when a friend told me about Losin Control: Half On A Baby Or Two, I quit everything else I was reading and quickly downloaded the novella. 

That was the right call. 

Losin Control: Half On A Baby Or Two is just so good! I have no criticism and highly recommend it to fans of Losin Control. 
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MACEO (THE DILLINGER CHRONICLES BOOK 2) by Kimberly Brown

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adventurous challenging dark funny mysterious tense 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? No

3.5

I was super excited for Kimberly Brown's The Dillinger Chronicles series and book 1, Deuce, started the series off with a BANG! I thoroughly enjoyed it. So when I found out that book 2, Maceo, about Deuce's brother and second-in-command of The Dillinger Family's crime organization, of course I wanted to read it. Maceo picks up where Deuce left off and we get to learn more about Maceo and his girlfriend, Sharina, who's the best friend of the FMC from Deuce, Salima.

There are many similarities between Maceo and Deuce and Sharina and Salima, so I wasn't completely enamored by the characters or their story.
I found having a kidnapping story again, especially so close to the plot in book 1, a bit...lazy. However, Charity/Quinn is a much better villain than Councilman Hayes was in my opinion.


All in all, the book only really got me excited for the books coming about Jaeda and Mia/Titan. It's my understanding Smoke's story is next. Ugh. I'm going to keep reading the series because I am a fan of Kimberly Brown's books and there's always a possibility that she'll change things up in a way that I find super impressive, plus I really want to know more about the Dillinger sisters.

I recommend Maceo to anyone who likes crime family fiction and is OK with a smidge of romance and spice. 
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She's Elite Cutz by Charity Shane

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challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense 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? No

5.0

I've spent quite a but of time in Crescent Falls with Charity Shane' and her wonderful characters. I know so much about the world that I am always interested in learning about new characters in her books. I'm trying to make my way through Charity Shane's entire catalog, even if I am going out of order lol...so that brought me to She's Elite Cutz. I wasn't sure what I'd get from the book besides a great love story and to be honest, that's all I really needed. However, I got so much more from Nyla and Aarick. On the surface, She's Elite Cutz is about two people who seem like complete opposites acting on an attraction. However, the character development, storytelling, and pace of the book give us so much more. She's Elite Cutz is a story about abuse, addiction, family ties, identity, and self-worth. I quickly fell in love with the MMC Aarick and I could relate to the FMC Nyla. I highly recommend She's Elite Cutz to anyone loking for an emotionally charged, well-written romance story with a strong female lead and a lovable male lead.
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Sundae & Taavon by Charity Shane

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funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing 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? No

4.5

I really enjoyed Sundae & Taavon: Recipe for Love 1 by Charity Shane'. The characters were lovable and interesting. Despite the short length, I thought that the characters were well developed and engaging, so much that I would've loved a full length novel. I recommend this novella to any fan of cozy Black romances. This one fits the bill perfectly.
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Psalm by Tatum James

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

2.0

Terribly boring. I wasn't invested in the characters or their story. The FMC is so aloof that it's pretty offensive. The MMC is kinda bland and forgettable. I felt no connection between the two characters. I wouldn't recommend this book and that's unfortunate because the others in the series, Secure In The Arms Of A Thug 1 & 2 and Promised to a Street King were really good. Seems like the author phoned this one in. 
Promised to a Street King by Tatum James

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challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious 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? Yes

4.5

Well written and entertaining, I could not put Promised to a Street King down. I absolutely loved Bishop and after reading Secured In the Arms of a Thug, books 1 and 2 of the Dark Reign Dynasty series, I definitely wanted to know more about Bishop. The story is so engaging with lots of twists and turns. I appreciated that the book really focused on Bishop's story, which I think is oftentimes lacking in romance novels - even the ones named after the MMCs in the books. Lol. 

If you like urban romance books with entertaining characters, you can't go wrong with Promised to a Street King by Tatum James. 
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In the Meantime by Love Belvin

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense slow-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

5.0

I'm a fan of Love Belvin. Her books are wrought with emotion, sometimes painful, and they always reveal something to myself. It's not every day that you read a romance novel that challenges your way of thinking and your expectations. But every single time I read a Love Belvin novel, I walk away from it changed. In The Meantime... is no different.

The characters are well written, fully developed, and so complex that they're relatable. I love that the characters aren't flat because their dilemmas certainly are. The pacing of the story is great as well. I never found myself bored or disinterested in the story - Love Belvin keeps you hooked from the very beginning. I oftentimes found myself really disagreeing with the actions of the FMC, Hayden, it made me realize just how invested I was in the story and I haven't been like that in a long time. 

I highly recommend In The Meantime... to everyone, but especially to anyone who enjoys a slow burn with complicated characters and to anyone looking to expand their understanding of the contemporary romance genre (with dark elements). The book does end on a cliffhanger, and it definitely left me wanting more. I didn't expect In The Meantime... to be one of my favorite books for the month of January, it's definitely a contender for my favorite books of the year, and I had no idea that the second book in this series would be so high on my list of anticipated reads. 
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