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alxisrae's reviews
107 reviews
The Day Burns Bright by Amber Palmer
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Blood
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Emotional abuse, Gun violence, and Murder
Living for Truth by Daisy Wren
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
fast-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
4.5
I loved this just as much as book 1 if not a little more. There was something about Hannah and Morgan I loved a smidge bit more. I like how this book is in the same world as book 1 but was separate to where you didn’t have to have read the first. Perfect stand alone romance.
Now…I thought Wes was the ideal book boyfriend, but Morgan knocks that boy right out of the way. Devoted single father that is completely feral and in love with his “fake” girlfriend. But keeps boundaries and moves at the pace that she wants so that he doesn’t scare her? Holy fucking hell. Get me a Morgan Fowler please - the scene in the bookstore had me swooning and jealous.
Hannah as a character is so easy to relate to. I love how she works to becoming this strong person that able to come out on the other end of trauma. It’s really admirable. I love the relationship she builds with Aly and how she was able to naturally join into the family.
This story is beautifully written. You get your happy, you’re sad. You fall in love with these character so easily. I couldn’t finish this book fast enough. I read through 60% on my day off and just wanted to get back to it as soon as I could!!
Now…I thought Wes was the ideal book boyfriend, but Morgan knocks that boy right out of the way. Devoted single father that is completely feral and in love with his “fake” girlfriend. But keeps boundaries and moves at the pace that she wants so that he doesn’t scare her? Holy fucking hell. Get me a Morgan Fowler please - the scene in the bookstore had me swooning and jealous.
Hannah as a character is so easy to relate to. I love how she works to becoming this strong person that able to come out on the other end of trauma. It’s really admirable. I love the relationship she builds with Aly and how she was able to naturally join into the family.
This story is beautifully written. You get your happy, you’re sad. You fall in love with these character so easily. I couldn’t finish this book fast enough. I read through 60% on my day off and just wanted to get back to it as soon as I could!!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Sexual content, and Religious bigotry
Lights Out by Navessa Allen
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Stalking, and Death of parent
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment
Minor: Blood, Vomit, Cannibalism, and Murder
The Night Runs Red by Amber Palmer
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Violence, Blood, and Car accident
A Cruel Thirst by Angela Montoya
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
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
3.75
From Blood and Ash (2 of 2) [Dramatized Adaptation] by Jennifer L. Armentrout
adventurous
challenging
inspiring
relaxing
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
From Blood and Ash (1 of 2) [Dramatized Adaptation] by Jennifer L. Armentrout
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
My Best Friend's Exorcism by Grady Hendrix
dark
emotional
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
4.5
When Hearts Surrender by Victoria Lum
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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? Yes
4.0
This next standalone romance is now focusing on the older brother Maxwell Anderson who is the definition of brooding and angsty. This story starts off with a bang with the opening scene and PLEASE….read the trigger warnings. It’s heavy. But that moment on I was hooked to this story. I could tell it was gonna be moody, it was gonna be angsty, and it was gonna bring on the pain!
I really enjoyed Annabelle, a LOT, and thought she was so witty and so strong and funny but was still vulnerable at the same time. When she was going through it and was in pain - as a reader I really felt that. I like how Victoria was able to write these characters together. It was this constant tug and pull between the two of them. Though it is a marriage of convenience the chemistry between Annabelle and Maxwell is HAWT 🔥
And the hot chemistry made the smutty scenes even hotter. Holy fuck these two had me setting the book down and taking a break a couple of times. Essentially…porn with a plot. Also Maxwell with his bre*ding kink…sir sit down and calm down please.
Outside of that I think Victoria did the topic of mental health beautifully here. The portrait of Maxwell and his anxiety was very, very relatable. You can’t help but connect with these characters and feel for them. And anxiety being at the forefront how it is with Maxwell was tone so good.
I really enjoyed Annabelle, a LOT, and thought she was so witty and so strong and funny but was still vulnerable at the same time. When she was going through it and was in pain - as a reader I really felt that. I like how Victoria was able to write these characters together. It was this constant tug and pull between the two of them. Though it is a marriage of convenience the chemistry between Annabelle and Maxwell is HAWT 🔥
And the hot chemistry made the smutty scenes even hotter. Holy fuck these two had me setting the book down and taking a break a couple of times. Essentially…porn with a plot. Also Maxwell with his bre*ding kink…sir sit down and calm down please.
Outside of that I think Victoria did the topic of mental health beautifully here. The portrait of Maxwell and his anxiety was very, very relatable. You can’t help but connect with these characters and feel for them. And anxiety being at the forefront how it is with Maxwell was tone so good.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Sexual content
Moderate: Death, Suicide, and Death of parent
Minor: Miscarriage and Car accident
If I Stopped Haunting You by Colby Wilkens
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
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
4.0
I am so happy I signed up for this on NetGalley! This book was truly a treat. The first thing that caught my attention about this book was it
A. Was a romance with Native representation
B. Super spooky haunted castle in the middle of Scotland?!? Sign me the fuck up 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
C. Enemies to Lovers - Author Rivals
Colby really gave me everything I loved with this one. Not only do we get the enemies to lovers romance but there is also the mystery that comes with the castle they go on a retreat from.
I really related to Pen. Off more than also being Native - the time we meet her and Neil at the authors panel I could feel and relate to her so hard. Like homegirl we have all made rash decisions we later regret. But that perfectly sets up the tension with her and Nick. I even related to Nick which I wasn’t expecting but I adored his character. Also how OBSESSED and damn near feral this man becomes for Pen…*chefs kiss*.
But the part that really hit me was how Pen talked about not feeling like she fit in due to being mixed and I have struggled with that too. Like you’re not “Native enough” cause of XYZ. And how Neil validated her in that moment really hit me in a good way.
”𝒀𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝑵𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒐 𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘, 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕’𝒔 𝒆𝒏𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉” -Neil Storm (like fuck 🥹)
When it came to the romance I liked how the two MCs were forced to talk it out and come together despite the “hate” and rivalry going on. And how it didn’t take long from that to crumble with the forced proximity. Cause deep down they don’t hate each other - just misunderstood. Even the secondary romance was a joy and I loved learning the truth at the end. So sad but still so good!
A. Was a romance with Native representation
B. Super spooky haunted castle in the middle of Scotland?!? Sign me the fuck up 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
C. Enemies to Lovers - Author Rivals
Colby really gave me everything I loved with this one. Not only do we get the enemies to lovers romance but there is also the mystery that comes with the castle they go on a retreat from.
I really related to Pen. Off more than also being Native - the time we meet her and Neil at the authors panel I could feel and relate to her so hard. Like homegirl we have all made rash decisions we later regret. But that perfectly sets up the tension with her and Nick. I even related to Nick which I wasn’t expecting but I adored his character. Also how OBSESSED and damn near feral this man becomes for Pen…*chefs kiss*.
But the part that really hit me was how Pen talked about not feeling like she fit in due to being mixed and I have struggled with that too. Like you’re not “Native enough” cause of XYZ. And how Neil validated her in that moment really hit me in a good way.
”𝒀𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝑵𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒐 𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘, 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕’𝒔 𝒆𝒏𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉” -Neil Storm (like fuck 🥹)
When it came to the romance I liked how the two MCs were forced to talk it out and come together despite the “hate” and rivalry going on. And how it didn’t take long from that to crumble with the forced proximity. Cause deep down they don’t hate each other - just misunderstood. Even the secondary romance was a joy and I loved learning the truth at the end. So sad but still so good!