By taking my bloody hand, she stepped into my world and left her own behind
It kinda feels like I was expecting more but I was given an ok
By taking my bloody hand, she stepped into my world and left her own behind
It kinda feels like I was expecting more but I was given an okay, it's passable book especially with a revenge plotline.
In the mafia world, no crime is too dark and no stone is unturned. So, I was surprised to read about this plotline mildly. Our FMC, Skylar, post-kidney transplant goes from finally healthy to immediately kidnapped which is a plot twist most people would file under unpleasant surprises. At least she did.
The book excels at creating that delicious, forbidden attraction. The push-and-pull between Renzo and Skylar is undeniably compelling even if it's built on a foundation of questionable consent and thinly veiled threats. I admit, I really wanted them to stop the salsa at some point and just do it already.
But, the plot felt like a rollercoaster with a few too many loop-de-loops. The pacing was uneven and some of the character motivations are as murky as a mafia backroom deal. The whole "avenge the death" premise is a well-worn trope and while her own signature intensity was added, it didn't always feel entirely fresh. Skylar's sudden shift from terrified captive to secretly smitten just because of a dining table felt a little rushed. She could have thanked him for an orgasm and left it be, right?
It's a nice, if somewhat predictable, escape into a world of mafia mayhem and forbidden desires. I just felt it could have been better.
I was up till 3AM reading this in one sitting, work and uni the next day be damned. And I am writing this with burning eyes right now.
This book is onI was up till 3AM reading this in one sitting, work and uni the next day be damned. And I am writing this with burning eyes right now.
This book is on the darker side of the content that has been written. Please do read the content warning to know what you are signing up for.
Stacey finds a fragile safety net with Kade's team but her deranged abuser, Chris isn't finished. Meanwhile, Kade wrestles with his own demons. Seeing Stacey once was a blow, but knowing what actually happened is a disaster. Despite his rage, Stacey remains his anchor a flickering reminder of a happier past. But this fragile balance shatters as the truth about their devastating separation explodes to the surface.
This was definitely better than book 1, there was more growth in the characters, there was more plot to the story and definitely more angst overall. It's a rare occurrence where the 2nd book in a series is better than the 1st book because I've only had experience vice versa. I like the "even if he hurt me I want him to be well" and "even if she hurt me I want her to be well" thinking both of them had for each other that was repeated many times in the book as the pain got tougher on them. I honestly had so much rage in this book, if I could jump into the book and hurt some really bad assholes I would have. Without any spoilers: you'll need incredible patience to read through this book and you definitely need to read the first so you aren't lost.
I already started the last book as I'm writing this and I hope sweet, sweet revenge is in it....more
I can’t remember what I lived for before I met you
I should have just not been curious about what happens next, it just ruins the good sta
I can’t remember what I lived for before I met you
I should have just not been curious about what happens next, it just ruins the good stars of the previous book.
Continuing from the previous book, Briar finds herself whisked away to a secluded Gothic manor by her stalker slash murderer, Saint. He claims it's a writing retreat but Briar knows better. Saint sees her as his muse, his soulmate and intends to keep her there forever. As Briar grapples with the reality of her imprisonment, a dark secret emerges. Saint might not be the only one watching her every move. Trapped between a delusional captor and an unknown stalker, Briar must decide what to do for herself.
(view spoiler)[I can forgive repetition of plots but what I can't forgive is the prediction of the plot. It's like when you're solving at thriller and there's only five characters, you'd know who it is eventually because they've been around the whole time. The other stalker was not a surprise to me and neither was his motive which took off the fun off the book. Maybe if it was a mystery and it emerged suddenly I would have been more surprised. This book had more plot for sure but the execution of it wasn't done well enough to make it enjoyable beyond 2 stars for me. If the other stalker was present throughout the book but remained subtly hidden, the reveal could have been a genuine surprise. But their presence was hinted at too strongly throughout and their motive was easily inferred.
In this book, of course, the rabbits went at it as usual. But, they certainly spoke more than just their body parts. In this, Briar showed her vulnerability to deception and Saint showed his vulnerability to losing her even if both only lasted for two chapters. It makes them feel more human and relatable even if their actions are questionable or the plot is predictable. If the entire story had explored these vulnerabilities more deeply, it could have been much more interesting. (hide spoiler)]
I'm rating it 2 stars for that vulnerability and the weak plot....more
no thoughts just provider men and how much they want to keep their woman away when it's snowing outsideno thoughts just provider men and how much they want to keep their woman away when it's snowing outside...more
could be a really sexy thing a stalking man says on top of you if you're into that.
This book wa
You’re everything I never knew to dream of
could be a really sexy thing a stalking man says on top of you if you're into that.
This book was a good dark romance. It was kink galore, filled with many of my shelf names. The thing about dark romance is- it is fictional and you enjoy them but they don't necessarily translate into the real world (or does it?)
Briar believes her student, Saint de Haas is stalking her: showing up wherever she goes and insisting she's his "muse." When her date turns up dead, her suspicions intensify and she's determined to prove his guilt and put him behind bars. Meanwhile, Saint sees things very differently. He believes he's protecting Briar, eliminating the negative influences in her life like her date and keeping her away from her overbearing boss. He's convinced he's doing what's best for her and that she'll eventually come to appreciate his "help." This book focuses on the occasional mental struggle Briar has fighting to escape Saint's twisted idea of love and protection.
(view spoiler)[And I say occasional because woman gives in almost every damn time too fast. It's a short book, the obsession and stalking could only go so far. If I'm honest, I feel like Saint carried this book because Briar was just "should I indulge in him" vs "nah, I'll just give in this one time" whereas he had actual thoughts about the people around Briar. If she was going to be horny for him, this book would have been a lot more shorter and straight to the point. But, I do think that this was more smut focused or at least intended to be a light read without much plot to it which it did attain. And I enjoyed the dual POV because you can see the overthinking in Briar's head whereas Saint is just cruising around while obsessed with her. The student-teacher dynamic adds another layer of complexity to the power imbalance between them because to her it seems wrong and to him it's oh so right. I loved the cat and mouse aspect to them with Briar trying to outsmart her stalker and Saint trying to stay one step ahead. The short parts of those were exciting to read. (hide spoiler)]
Overall, I'm just giving three stars because the smut was well written if I'm being objective. I'm just grading what was given to me!...more
get me a man who'd wear a mask and rail me like josh, my ovaries are not doing okayget me a man who'd wear a mask and rail me like josh, my ovaries are not doing okay...more
(Thank you J.M.Elliott for the eARC in exchange for a spoiler free review)
This review is for Ravenous by J.M.Elliott.
I was so happy after reading an e(Thank you J.M.Elliott for the eARC in exchange for a spoiler free review)
This review is for Ravenous by J.M.Elliott.
I was so happy after reading an excerpt of another book Elliot is working on because it was right up my alley. I’m grateful to be in her ARC team!
It was straight to the point which I loved, how raw and honest Erin was. All is fun until something bad happens and these few chapters kept me on my toes, that cliff hanger though?! It really isn’t enough. And the twins? *gulps*. Yeah, didn’t have enough of them.
I can’t wait to see them in Scythe!
**** Decided to read the rest of the book since I've got Covid and I should be resting my mind and eyes (finished after recovering from C+ on 21/11)
Bad Heir - too long and uninteresting. I was barely swiping the pages on my e-book. 2/10
Wish You Hell - nice start, bad end. 5/10
A Monstrous Deal by M Bonnett- was interesting, will look out for it in 2024. 8/10
Actus Reus by YD La Mar - 9/10, a must read thriller of this anthology
Debts Owed by Teegan Wylde - a good mafia break, 7/10
His Inception - skipped because it was not interesting at all
Ensnare by Kristina Brown - stockholm syndrome gone wrong, 2/10
Heist by Haley Tayler - masked men and a bank heist? hot. will look out for the The Marauders in 2024, 7/10
Mine to Break by Victoria Ellis - a better buildup would have been more impactful. 5/10
Monsters We Crave - skipped, couldn't get into it past the first chapter
My Darkest Knights - would love to see this as a full length book. 8/10
Northland by Loren Hart - skipped, setting is not something i'd read
Primal Games by Bex Dawn - interesting kind of erotica I've never read of before but god that's something I'd never do. 5/10
Six Feet Dark - skipped, blurb wasn't interesting
Skin - good start, weird end. 3/10
The Sons and Daughters of Sin- the names though, Lower Princess of Lust had me cracking up, 2/10
This Haunting Obsession - 5/10
Through the Wringer by Weli Sane - what the hell was that, such a great buildup just for it to end abruptly. UGH, this better come out as a full length book. 8/10
To Dimitri with Hatred - skipped
Trickster by Simran - the last story and clearly a good end to the anthology. Simran, please make this a full length novel! 9/10...more
(Thank you Peachy Keen and the author R.A. Smyth for the eARC in exchange for a spoiler free review)
Please check trigger and content warnings before r(Thank you Peachy Keen and the author R.A. Smyth for the eARC in exchange for a spoiler free review)
Please check trigger and content warnings before reading.
I have to say I’m so fortunate and appreciative that I received all three arcs for this entire series. Thank you Rachel!
I think the best way to end a series is by having all the questions answered and that was addressed in this book! It was a neat end to Emilia and her boys, with good plot and character development.
Can’t say much without spoiling so please do read this series! It has stalker, secret society and bodyguard tropes. ...more
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