book_lover_irl's reviews
422 reviews

Kingston by Leila James

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

4.0

Whoa! So much tension and anticipation. Keeps you guessing. You love to hate one of the MCs who can’t seem to get their head out of their arse.  There is hot, smutty spice but I struggled with some parts because it’s consensual / non-consensual. 

Story leaves off on a cliffhanger since it is book one of a trilogy. Can’t wait to read Cannon’s story next. 

Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
POV: Quad
HEA: Not yet?
Cliffhanger: Yes
Tropes: instalove, university brotherhood, emotionally damaged MCs

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I loved this book
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I really liked this book
⭐️⭐️⭐️ I liked this book
⭐️⭐️ Meh…  bored or annoyed
⭐️ Seriously? Not worth it

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ INFERNO. P@nty melting
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ Blazing hot
🌶️🌶️🌶️ Now we’re talking
🌶️🌶️ Meh… uninspired missionary
🌶️ Does weak foreplay count?
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No Place to Run by Maya Banks

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dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

4.0

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Down Shift by K. Bromberg

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dark emotional funny reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Almost perfection. I adored the emotional, sweet, funny, reflective story. Both MCs had traumatic pasts that they were trying to work out separately. By opening up to each other they are hoping to find some peace of mind. The narrators were fabulous. 

My only teensiest complaint was sometimes we were stuck in the FMCs head and inner dialogue a bit too much. It got repetitive every once in a while. 

This was my first book by this author and first read of this series. I thoroughly enjoyed both. I now intend to go back and start the Driven series from the beginning. 

Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
POV: Duet, Dual
HEA: Yes
Cliffhanger: No
Tropes: Protective MMC, insta-lust
 
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I loved this book 
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I really liked this book 
⭐️⭐️⭐️ I liked this book 
⭐️⭐️ Meh…  bored or annoyed 
⭐️ Seriously? Not worth it 
 
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ INFERNO. P@nty melting 
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ Blazing hot 
🌶️🌶️🌶️ Now we’re talking 
🌶️🌶️ Meh… uninspired missionary 
🌶️ Does weak foreplay count? 

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The Actress and the Aristocrat by Katie Ashley

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emotional funny lighthearted slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

3.0

Solid rom-com. Narrators were okay. Female narrator kept switching between accents for the FMC and didn’t seem to know how to stay in character which made the story sound slightly disjointed. Enjoyable. Glad I listened to it for free through the Audible Plus catalog and didn’t use a credit for it. 

Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
POV: Duet / dual
HEA: Yes
Cliffhanger: No
Tropes: Royal and a commoner, enemies to lovers
 
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I loved this book 
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I really liked this book 
⭐️⭐️⭐️ I liked this book 
⭐️⭐️ Meh…  bored or annoyed 
⭐️ Seriously? Not worth it 
 
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ INFERNO. P@nty melting 
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ Blazing hot 
🌶️🌶️🌶️ Now we’re talking 
🌶️🌶️ Meh… uninspired missionary 
🌶️ Does weak foreplay count? 

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Playboy Pilot by Penelope Ward, Vi Keeland

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

4.0

I enjoyed this emotional and hot drama. The angst was on par. Plot a bit far fetched but then again I read to escape so prefer spectacular vacations from reality. 

Narrators did a great job. The MMC was a manwhore that I found pretty gross. However, he became more lovable as he changed his ways. 

Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
POV: Dual / duet
HEA: Yes
Cliffhanger: No
Tropes: Instalove?

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I loved this book
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I really liked this book
⭐️⭐️⭐️ I liked this book
⭐️⭐️ Meh…  bored or annoyed
⭐️ Seriously? Not worth it

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ INFERNO. P@nty melting
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ Blazing hot
🌶️🌶️🌶️ Now we’re talking
🌶️🌶️ Meh… uninspired missionary
🌶️ Does weak foreplay count?
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The Darkest Hour by Maya Banks

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medium-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? Yes

5.0

The Darkest Hour by Maya Banks is an emotionally tumultuous drama with lots of chaotic action. The plot kept me engaged and the pacing was great. The spice was a slow burn (necessary given the plot) and when it happened, it was deliciously sweet and emotional. Given what the FMC went through I was happy that the author didn't instantly make her "better" when she was stateside. The MMC was alpha male all the way, along with his amazing brothers whose stories I cannot wait to read next. His guilt and protectiveness could be overwhelming but made him an empathetic character. 

Main pet peeve is the constant lying or omissions of the full truth by the MMC. He kept borrowing more and more trouble the longer he waited to be honest with the FMC. I hate when stories are centered on lies but I understand it's a commonly used plot driver / catalyst used by some authors.

My only suggestion for improvement to the audiobook would be to add a female narrator, so it is read by two narrators, instead of one. However, that is just a personal preference and I wouldn't let that deter you from enjoying the story.

I love the Kelly brothers and cannot wait to read more of their stories as I continue the KGI series. 

Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
POV: Multi-narrative (single narrator in audiobook)
HEA: Yes
Cliffhanger: No
Tropes: Ex-military, MMC rescues FMC, touch her & ☠️, strong family ties

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I loved this book
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I really liked this book
⭐️⭐️⭐️ I liked this book
⭐️⭐️ Meh…  bored or annoyed
⭐️ Seriously? Not worth it

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ INFERNO. P@nty melting
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ Blazing hot
🌶️🌶️🌶️ Now we’re talking
🌶️🌶️ Meh… uninspired missionary
🌶️ Does weak foreplay count? 
Hidden Away by Maya Banks

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adventurous emotional sad tense
  • 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

5.0

Loved the slow burn. Garrett’s patience and sweetness with Sarah… Insta-love stories aren’t my favorite but this one made my heart happy. This is the first book of the KGI series that I’ve read. Now I’ll be going back to read book 1 & 2 , then continue on with the series. These brothers and this family — LOOOOOVVEEEEE! 

Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
POV: Third person
HEA: Yes
Cliffhanger: Kind of
Tropes: I’m bad at picking out tropes. Ex military, innocent girl over her head

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I loved this book
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I really liked this book
⭐️⭐️⭐️ I liked this book
⭐️⭐️ Meh…  bored or annoyed
⭐️ Seriously? Not worth it

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ INFERNO. P@nty melting
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ Blazing hot
🌶️🌶️🌶️ Now we’re talking
🌶️🌶️ Meh… uninspired missionary
🌶️ Does weak foreplay count?

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Bound Together by Nikki Ash, K Webster

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adventurous emotional funny tense medium-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? Yes

5.0

Loved both books in this duet. First book (Torn Apart) was semi-light on the steam but the second book more than made up for it. Wowsers! Good plot, lovable characters, great spice and a HEA. What more could you ask for?<br /><br />Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️<br />Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️<br />POV: Quad<br />HEA: Yes<br />Cliffhanger: No<br />Tropes: reverse harem, why choose, nerd / jock, college romance<br /><br />⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I loved this book<br />⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I really liked this book<br />⭐️⭐️⭐️ I liked this book<br />⭐️⭐️ Meh…  bored or annoyed<br />⭐️ Seriously? Not worth it<br /><br />🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ INFERNO. P@nty melting<br />🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ Blazing hot<br />🌶️🌶️🌶️ Now we’re talking<br />🌶️🌶️ Meh… uninspired missionary<br />🌶️ Does weak foreplay count?<br />
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Torn Apart by Nikki Ash, K Webster

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emotional funny reflective tense medium-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? Yes

5.0

I love the characters. Ever when you want to hate them, you end up rooting for them. Can’t wait to read book 2 since book 1 ends on a cliffhanger. 

Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️. (very little spice but it’s good when it’s there)
POV: Lots — Quad?
HEA: Not yet?
Cliffhanger: Yep
Tropes: gay BFF, rich kids with crappy parents, poorer kids with great parents, college kids, sports guy & nerd girl
 
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I loved this book 
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I really liked this book 
⭐️⭐️⭐️ I liked this book 
⭐️⭐️ Meh…  bored or annoyed 
⭐️ Seriously? Not worth it 
 
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ INFERNO. P@nty melting 
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ Blazing hot 
🌶️🌶️🌶️ Now we’re talking 
🌶️🌶️ Meh… uninspired missionary 
🌶️ Does weak foreplay count? 

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Forget Me Not by Q.B. Tyler

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

5.0

The most angsty of angst-filled stories and I am here for it. 

Normally I hate cheating tropes. They don’t do it for me and are generally a huge turn off buuuut there was something about Bennett that got to me. As much as I wanted to hate him, I just couldn’t. I mean the fact that he
continued to sleep with the a$$-hat he cheated on Livi with after she left him and all while supposedly fighting to get her back
was a bitter pill to swallow. It quite literally made me throw up in my mouth a bit. Yet… I forgave the b@stard. 

Great read if you love emotional drama, knee deep angst and a FMC who doesn’t roll over and take crap from a man. 

Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
POV: Duel
HEA: Yes
Cliffhanger:  No
Tropes: Cheating, age gap
TWs: Infidelity, infertility 
 
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I loved this book 
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I really liked this book 
⭐️⭐️⭐️ I liked this book 
⭐️⭐️ Meh…  bored or annoyed 
⭐️ Seriously? Not worth it 
 
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ INFERNO. P@nty melting 
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ Blazing hot 
🌶️🌶️🌶️ Now we’re talking 
🌶️🌶️ Meh… uninspired missionary 
🌶️ Does weak foreplay count? 

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