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thebookishmonarch's reviews
475 reviews
The Dirty Duet by Laurelin Paige
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Donavan needed to take a hint lol
Not gonna lie, I wanted to jump into this duet and smack some sense into Donovan. SHE WANTS YOU!! But everything is fine. Everyone is fine. I can breathe and I've calmed down lmao
Donovan and Sabrina met in college. She was 17 and he, 22. They were teacher's aid and student. Sabrina, though, she wasn't originally interested in him. Weston is who she has laid her eyes on - another student in the class and Donovan's friend. Weston was everything she wanted to escape her own life. Good looking and rich.
Her attention is soon changed to Donovan when he saves her from being sexually assaulted. She begins to see him as her hero and her thoughts are filled with him... in more ways than one. Weston is now back thought but he begins to notice her. This conflicts Sabrina because now she doesn't know who she wants and has to make her decision. Ultimately, Donovan makes it for her - he pushes her towards Weston.
Even 10 years later, after leaving Havard because of a family emergency, Sabrina is still pining after Donovan. With the help of a friend, she's reunited with Weston. Now she finds out what could have been with him. Although she believes she could have a life with him, things change when Sabrina gets offered a new job at Weston's company - 3 months after their hookup - and Donovan comes back. With this the revelation that Weston is engaged to someone else for business and Donovan holding secrets of his own.
Not gonna lie, I wanted to jump into this duet and smack some sense into Donovan. SHE WANTS YOU!! But everything is fine. Everyone is fine. I can breathe and I've calmed down lmao
Donovan and Sabrina met in college. She was 17 and he, 22. They were teacher's aid and student. Sabrina, though, she wasn't originally interested in him. Weston is who she has laid her eyes on - another student in the class and Donovan's friend. Weston was everything she wanted to escape her own life. Good looking and rich.
Her attention is soon changed to Donovan when he saves her from being sexually assaulted. She begins to see him as her hero and her thoughts are filled with him... in more ways than one. Weston is now back thought but he begins to notice her. This conflicts Sabrina because now she doesn't know who she wants and has to make her decision. Ultimately, Donovan makes it for her - he pushes her towards Weston.
Even 10 years later, after leaving Havard because of a family emergency, Sabrina is still pining after Donovan. With the help of a friend, she's reunited with Weston. Now she finds out what could have been with him. Although she believes she could have a life with him, things change when Sabrina gets offered a new job at Weston's company - 3 months after their hookup - and Donovan comes back. With this the revelation that Weston is engaged to someone else for business and Donovan holding secrets of his own.
❈•≫────≪•◦ 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕 ◦•≫────≪•❈
• light bdsm
• billionaire romance
• boy + girl obsessed
• light bully romance
• college (teacher's aid x student)
• dark and broody mmc
• dub con
• forced proximity
• grumpy x sunshine
• ha falls first
• light love triangle
• morally grey mmc
• one night stand
• ✨️praise and consent✨️
• second chance
• stalker romance
• virgin heroine
• workplace romance (w/ 10-year time jump)
• light bdsm
• billionaire romance
• boy + girl obsessed
• light bully romance
• college (teacher's aid x student)
• dark and broody mmc
• dub con
• forced proximity
• grumpy x sunshine
• ha falls first
• light love triangle
• morally grey mmc
• one night stand
• ✨️praise and consent✨️
• second chance
• stalker romance
• virgin heroine
• workplace romance (w/ 10-year time jump)
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual assault
Hunted By Them by Jo McCall
Did not finish book. Stopped at 15%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 15%.
My attention span has not been great
Pretty Little Thief by Ashlee M. Edmonds
Did not finish book. Stopped at 10%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 10%.
My attention has not been great lately
When a Moth Loved a Bee by Pepper Winters
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.0
This book was different then Pepper Winters' usual dark romance. It is a high fantasy romance. But it is her usual, beautiful writing that grips you almost the way through. I did get the original ARC sent but I reached out to Winters for the updated version - it has 10k less words. I wanted to keep my review true to the version she was releasing.
Runa and Darro's love story is beautiful and in ways a raw perspective into losing someone and finding them again. Yes, they don't remember each other but they feel that connection either way. They are polar opposites. She is the light and he the darkness. Even though they are opposites, they are attracted to one another. Their love is forbidden. There are people - and forces - trying to keep them apart. They're willingly to fight for what they feel.
❈•≫────≪•◦ 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕 ◦•≫────≪•❈
• boy + girl obsessed
• fantasy romance
• fated to find each other
• forbidden romance
• morally grey mmc
• they both have powers
Runa and Darro's love story is beautiful and in ways a raw perspective into losing someone and finding them again. Yes, they don't remember each other but they feel that connection either way. They are polar opposites. She is the light and he the darkness. Even though they are opposites, they are attracted to one another. Their love is forbidden. There are people - and forces - trying to keep them apart. They're willingly to fight for what they feel.
❈•≫────≪•◦ 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕 ◦•≫────≪•❈
• boy + girl obsessed
• fantasy romance
• fated to find each other
• forbidden romance
• morally grey mmc
• they both have powers
Little Valentine by Eva Marks
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Hudson and his Little Blue are back! The married couple is now exploring their life together and working together. They're still just as kinky as they were from the beginning. Every Valentine's gift comes with a little surprise... and sometimes it's shocking lol
I already had a feeling of what was gonna happen, like what the surprise was. It funny to see their reactions and how it interacted with everything else.
❈•≫────≪•◦ 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕 ◦•≫────≪•❈
• age gap
• bdsm
• billionaire romance
• boy + girl obsessed
• br33ding kink
• consent king
• impact play
• married couple
I already had a feeling of what was gonna happen, like what the surprise was. It funny to see their reactions and how it interacted with everything else.
❈•≫────≪•◦ 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕 ◦•≫────≪•❈
• age gap
• bdsm
• billionaire romance
• boy + girl obsessed
• br33ding kink
• consent king
• impact play
• married couple
Beauty So Golden by Lilith Vincent
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
tense
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? No
4.0
*praying a hail mary*
Oh, wait. I'm not that kind of Christian. Lmao. Never mind... but we do need some holy water 🙈
I can not begin to tell you how difficult it was to pinpoint Dexer's aesthetic even though he's the first one to be introduced. Originally, I thought he was giving off the "bad boy" vibe, but then his brother Blaize arrived with his muscle car, jeans and t-shirt, and leather jacket. Blaize is the one who dressed what I thought Dexer would.
But Dexer? What was Dexer? So, I started thinking, and that got me into the grumpy, boxer vibe. Dexer is a fighter, heart, and soul. His upbringing with his dad wasn't the best, compared to his two brothers. And so the grumpy, boxer/fighter aesthetic he is. Of course, he can have a similar aesthetic to his brother, so bad boy wasn't completely off the table. It would just have to be different. Then I found out he rides motorcycles??? Sir----please.
Then Keenan... Keenan was easy. There were bits and pieces in the beginning that told me already he was the pastor of their town. Then his introduction scene was him riding in on a horse. ✨️cowboy pastor aesthetic✨️ GOD, I LOVED HIM SO MUCH! I have a thing for cowboys, so falling for Keenan was immediate.
But all of that aside, this book was 🔥🔥🔥🔥 Lilith Vincent writes amazing group scenes🥲 Everything about their dynamics together and individually worked well. I literally wanted to meet all the boys. I was curious to know more about them with the crumbs I was given from the beginning.
❈•≫────≪•◦ 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕 ◦•≫────≪•❈
• post apocalyptic
• dystopia romance
• boy(s) + girl obsessed
• breeding kink (Dexer)
• consent & praise kings
• dark and broody MMCs
• dark romance
• enemies to lovers/hate to love elements (Blaize)
• fairytale retelling with a twist: Rapunzel
• forced proximity
• grumpy x sunshine
• morally grey
• mutal pining
• taboo romance
• unrequited love... or so they thought
• why choose
Oh, wait. I'm not that kind of Christian. Lmao. Never mind... but we do need some holy water 🙈
I can not begin to tell you how difficult it was to pinpoint Dexer's aesthetic even though he's the first one to be introduced. Originally, I thought he was giving off the "bad boy" vibe, but then his brother Blaize arrived with his muscle car, jeans and t-shirt, and leather jacket. Blaize is the one who dressed what I thought Dexer would.
But Dexer? What was Dexer? So, I started thinking, and that got me into the grumpy, boxer vibe. Dexer is a fighter, heart, and soul. His upbringing with his dad wasn't the best, compared to his two brothers. And so the grumpy, boxer/fighter aesthetic he is. Of course, he can have a similar aesthetic to his brother, so bad boy wasn't completely off the table. It would just have to be different. Then I found out he rides motorcycles??? Sir----please.
Then Keenan... Keenan was easy. There were bits and pieces in the beginning that told me already he was the pastor of their town. Then his introduction scene was him riding in on a horse. ✨️cowboy pastor aesthetic✨️ GOD, I LOVED HIM SO MUCH! I have a thing for cowboys, so falling for Keenan was immediate.
But all of that aside, this book was 🔥🔥🔥🔥 Lilith Vincent writes amazing group scenes🥲 Everything about their dynamics together and individually worked well. I literally wanted to meet all the boys. I was curious to know more about them with the crumbs I was given from the beginning.
❈•≫────≪•◦ 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕 ◦•≫────≪•❈
• post apocalyptic
• dystopia romance
• boy(s) + girl obsessed
• breeding kink (Dexer)
• consent & praise kings
• dark and broody MMCs
• dark romance
• enemies to lovers/hate to love elements (Blaize)
• fairytale retelling with a twist: Rapunzel
• forced proximity
• grumpy x sunshine
• morally grey
• mutal pining
• taboo romance
• unrequited love... or so they thought
• why choose
Content Warnings
Why choose involving 3 brothers and their female love interest
The Courtesan Queen by Anna Triss
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.0
If you are a Game of Thrones - and/or a Daenerys Targeryan and Khal Drogo fan - I wholeheartedly recommend that you read this book. Alena - or Enola, as we later find out her real name is - and Sylvan delivered major Daeny and Drogo vibes from the very beginning. Both of them are born in enemy clans. Enola is described a woman with pale skin and silver hair, whereas Sylvan is the opposite: dark hair and brown eyes. The epitome of Daenerys and Khal Drogo.
In their world of Symbiosis, there also used to be dragons. These have been long gone for quite some time. Though this book does not have dragons in it, it does have several mentions of them. Sylvan being from the Fuegis clan and their king, he processes the power of the Fuegis: fire.
Being from enemy clans, Enola is taken from her clan - the Glaces - as a war slave and forced to marry Sylvan. She would also be executed the very next day. Mind you, he already has two previous wives from the other two clans (who are also enemies to the Fuegis and were taken from their respective clans as revenge). What happened to them? Read and find out ;)
But Enola manages to convince Sylvan to let her live another day... and then another... until ultimately she has to reveal to him who she truly is to stay alive. Yet, there's still a little white lie that she tells him about her connection to Queen Alena which turned out to be not a complete lie. With that discovery came a plot twist that I was not expecting. Like I expected some of it but not everything. Oh, and a prophecy that was also wild. I was flabbergasted.
❈•≫────≪•◦ 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕 ◦•≫────≪•❈
• age gap
• boy + girl obsessed
• captive romance
• dark and broody mmc
• enemies to lovers
• fantasy romance
• fated to be
• forced marriage
• grumpy x sunshine elements
• hate to love
• he falls first
• hidden identity
• morally grey mmc
• royalty romance
• virgin heroine + pierced hero
In their world of Symbiosis, there also used to be dragons. These have been long gone for quite some time. Though this book does not have dragons in it, it does have several mentions of them. Sylvan being from the Fuegis clan and their king, he processes the power of the Fuegis: fire.
Being from enemy clans, Enola is taken from her clan - the Glaces - as a war slave and forced to marry Sylvan. She would also be executed the very next day. Mind you, he already has two previous wives from the other two clans (who are also enemies to the Fuegis and were taken from their respective clans as revenge). What happened to them? Read and find out ;)
But Enola manages to convince Sylvan to let her live another day... and then another... until ultimately she has to reveal to him who she truly is to stay alive. Yet, there's still a little white lie that she tells him about her connection to Queen Alena which turned out to be not a complete lie. With that discovery came a plot twist that I was not expecting. Like I expected some of it but not everything. Oh, and a prophecy that was also wild. I was flabbergasted.
❈•≫────≪•◦ 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕 ◦•≫────≪•❈
• age gap
• boy + girl obsessed
• captive romance
• dark and broody mmc
• enemies to lovers
• fantasy romance
• fated to be
• forced marriage
• grumpy x sunshine elements
• hate to love
• he falls first
• hidden identity
• morally grey mmc
• royalty romance
• virgin heroine + pierced hero
Mafia And Angel Marchiano Mafia Romance: Book 1 by Isa Oliver
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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
I loved this so much! Please do correct me if I'm wrong but I think this is a debut novel? I honestly couldn't tell but couldn't find anything else from this author so I'm guessing it is.
It was so good!!
Our FMC Anni knows how to protect herself. Her parents have always encouraged her to now how to. She is obsessed with her cat and even has a matching cat costume. It drives Lorenzo crazyyyy. He finds it so infuriating. Especially so when she gets his daughter obsessed with her cat too and getting a costume of her own LOL... If she could have gotten his son to be obsessed too, she probably could have manager that too
Marrying Lorenzo and moving to Chicago from Staten Island wasn't an easy transition for her. She was used to be being independent and now she had to have people guarding her whenever she went out. Despite their frustrations over several things, they managed together as a small little family.
❈•≫────≪•◦ 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕 ◦•≫────≪•❈
• age gap
• arranged marriage
• forced proximity
• grumpy x sunshine
• single dad
• mafia romance
It was so good!!
Our FMC Anni knows how to protect herself. Her parents have always encouraged her to now how to. She is obsessed with her cat and even has a matching cat costume. It drives Lorenzo crazyyyy. He finds it so infuriating. Especially so when she gets his daughter obsessed with her cat too and getting a costume of her own LOL... If she could have gotten his son to be obsessed too, she probably could have manager that too
Marrying Lorenzo and moving to Chicago from Staten Island wasn't an easy transition for her. She was used to be being independent and now she had to have people guarding her whenever she went out. Despite their frustrations over several things, they managed together as a small little family.
❈•≫────≪•◦ 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕 ◦•≫────≪•❈
• age gap
• arranged marriage
• forced proximity
• grumpy x sunshine
• single dad
• mafia romance
The Intern by Marni Mann
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
❈•≫────≪•◦ 𝒂𝒖𝒅𝒊𝒐 ◦•≫────≪•❈
krjbgwudf eworg weothrgjkefbf rwfj
no words.
s
p
e
e
c
h
l
e
s
s
is how I feel. I loved them so much. Oh my gosh. I love Marni Mann's writing. Though I heard this as an audiobook instead of reading it, I still felt everything. It was so good. I have to read the rest of the series because I skipped to ARC listen to this one.
Despite looking up to each other for different reasons - Hannah to Declan as a mentor and Declan to Hannah as an excellent student - they did give off a bit of a hate-to-love vibe after their one-night stand. Hannah resented that Declan had gone off with someone else. Declan thought his own web of stories too. Neither of them was truly correct about what happened lmao. They managed though, in the end. It wasn't wasy.
❈•≫────≪•◦ 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕 ◦•≫────≪•❈
• age gap
• attorney romance
• billionaire romance
• boss x intern
• boy + girl obsessed
• forbidden elements
• forced proximity
• hate to love
• impact play
• office/workplace romance
• one night stand
• contemporary romance
krjbgwudf eworg weothrgjkefbf rwfj
no words.
s
p
e
e
c
h
l
e
s
s
is how I feel. I loved them so much. Oh my gosh. I love Marni Mann's writing. Though I heard this as an audiobook instead of reading it, I still felt everything. It was so good. I have to read the rest of the series because I skipped to ARC listen to this one.
Despite looking up to each other for different reasons - Hannah to Declan as a mentor and Declan to Hannah as an excellent student - they did give off a bit of a hate-to-love vibe after their one-night stand. Hannah resented that Declan had gone off with someone else. Declan thought his own web of stories too. Neither of them was truly correct about what happened lmao. They managed though, in the end. It wasn't wasy.
❈•≫────≪•◦ 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕 ◦•≫────≪•❈
• age gap
• attorney romance
• billionaire romance
• boss x intern
• boy + girl obsessed
• forbidden elements
• forced proximity
• hate to love
• impact play
• office/workplace romance
• one night stand
• contemporary romance
Little Halloween by Eva Marks
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This one was still a bit on the fast paced side but not as much as Little Blue. It was much easier for me to digest what was happening. Avery and Hudson continue to explore their bdsm lifestyle together. She’s more willingly to explore what he wants with her. And their engaged so their loving their life to the fullest.
❈•≫────≪•◦ 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕 ◦•≫────≪•❈
• age gap
• engaged mmc and fmc
• bdsm elements (sex club, role play, dom x sub)
• ✨️the holy smvt trinity: consent, praise, and degradation✨️
❈•≫────≪•◦ 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕 ◦•≫────≪•❈
• age gap
• engaged mmc and fmc
• bdsm elements (sex club, role play, dom x sub)
• ✨️the holy smvt trinity: consent, praise, and degradation✨️
Content Warnings
Role play - pet and leashes