Aspen has lust at first sight when she meets Orlando, but the way their situation is written adds depth and makes you feel like they’ve known each other longer than they actually have. I guess the other characters were meant to be Easter eggs from another one of the author’s series, but they were distracting.
During a night out, “Elle” lucks up on her biggest lick yet–getting paid handsomely to be sexed well. “Key” is a big boss with big bands and BDE who just might have the juice to hustle the hustler out of her heart. Think of it as a reimagining of Pretty Woman but much better. The pacing, plot, and character development was on point, but the humor also kept my attention. Their chemistry and banter was rock solid.
Kayland’s genuine and lingering desire for Ora has him down bad terribly after the previous stunt he pulled on her months ago. Remorse, Jodeci-begging, a plot twist, and a HEA made this one of the loveliest romances I’ve read this year. It didn’t even feel like I was reading a short story/novella.
Temptation from a family enemy in a sex club has the black sheep of the family going baa all night long. Call Kayland “Petty Crocker” for how he pulled Ora in as a pawn in their family feud, but it was hot.
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Xander’s family thought he was just being an ass about denying Toyin, but it turns out that he has legitimate concerns with far-reaching implications for their pack…and baby Rafe. At some points there was more telling than showing, but it was a well-done forbidden romance that incorporated more fantasy elements than the first book.
This was cute with the perfect pacing for an instalove story, but Joelle’s stubbornness towards Lazar slightly dampened the good vibes for me. Still, it’s one of the better shifter romances I’ve read this year. The found family aspect and epilogue were a treat.
Kassan “stole” Keira’s celibacy and her panties, but the concept (and his boldness) was only cute because he was fine. The author did a good job though with writing a short story that felt complete.
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Once I reach a point in the plot where the correct or easy choice is apparent and the main character doesn’t take that route, I lose interest and am basically just hate reading the rest of the book. The writing wasn’t bad, save for Jemma being pitiful behind that family of uppity negroes when she didn’t have to be. The mystery was good. The Duchons were terrible. So sorry they didn’t suffer more. Jemma’s better than me.
Harry Potter meets sad-girl lit as this taps into an adult’s innermost (but childlike) desire that they matter and are secretly powerful and unique. The FMC was especially likeable, so I found myself rooting for Lennon’s fight to maintain her moral compass in this gray environment. To complicate matters, everyone is unusually attractive, including her faculty advisor (Dante)–who may have a soft spot for her. This was such an intense and interesting, but odd, dark academia book. The weirdness and dreariness of Drayton’s campus reminded me a lot of Immortal Dark and Where Sleeping Girls Lie. Slow start but my awe of the well-crafted layers of mystery reveals secured this book a place as one of my best reads this year.