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kayetaz's reviews
381 reviews
Kiss, Kill, Thrill Me, Daddy by Lance Lansdale
Did not finish book. Stopped at 76%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 76%.
The Happy List by Briar Prescott
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
3.2 ⭐️
Spice: 🌶️.5/5
Format: audiobook
Narration: 🎤🎤/5
This started out cute and promising, but then just kinda lost me around the 50% mark.
First of all, I did enjoy the premise of this book. Friends to lovers isn’t one of my top tropes but I liked the idea of the happy list along with the forced proximity and the queer awakening/mmc realizing their feelings weren’t actually platonic.
And I really liked Gray and Kai’s friendship and banter, but I feel like as soon as they got together it all disappeared and then they didn’t know how to be around each other anymore. And then the book just kinda dragged from there and felt unnecessarily long.
And, sorry, but the fake Boston accent from the one narrator actually made me irrationally angry at all times.
Just overall a miss for me, unfortunately.
Say It Again by Tessa Hatfield
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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? Yes
5.0
5 ⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️/5
Format: ebook
“Promises all made in earnest, raw with imperfections. All real. All unified by three simple words. ‘Say it again.’”
I don’t usually ever feel the need to justify my ratings, but I feel like this is a book that might call for it. And I’m going to try to keep this as spoiler-free as possible.
This is a book that made me kind of sit and ponder, and come to a conclusion that I can vehemently disagree with a lot of the actions of a main character and still rate it five stars. Because the emotions that this book pulled out of me, even if some of them were decidedly very negative, don’t allow me to rate this anything lower.
And the thing is, the author did such a great job writing these characters and making them so layered and multi-dimensional that I could understand where both Aaron and Daniel were coming from.
Firstly, I absolutely adored the comedic aspects of this book. It had me laughing my ass off from the first page to the last. I don’t think I’d necessarily classify this book as a romcom, because it became very angsty and I wasn’t expecting it based on that classification. But I did enjoy all the laughs and humor, and appreciated that there were still a lot of lighthearted moments even in the midst of the rougher times.
I loved both Daniel and Aaron. Daniel was sweet and funny and so unapologetically himself. He had so much heart and I wouldn’t change a single thing about him. Aaron had so much love to give and his sweetness and his caring towards Daniel were everything. I loved his need to take care of Daniel, especially when we learn where it stems from.
Aaron made a lot of mistakes that hurt Daniel, but I also feel like I totally get why he feels the need to bury himself in piles and piles of financial security. And I don’t believe at all he would ever do it maliciously. It just took him a bit of time to rearrange his priorities. We also have to remember the timeline of the book, and that even though Aaron and Daniel move very fast, they’re not actually together very long - about two months if I’m recalling correctly. So I think Aaron taking two months to map out a new life in his head when he wasn’t planning to isn’t that crazy.
If you can’t tell, I feel very deeply for these characters and would go to war for them. I hate some of the things they did and said—that one scene made me physically ill—but I do believe they complement each other well and deserved the HEA they fought hard for.
Again, just because things happened in this book I didn’t agree with, I still think it deserves the rating I gave it. I love when a book is written well enough to make me feel such strong emotions, even if they’re sometimes negative.
I also want to commend this author for writing a book I’ve truly never read before. This plot, these characters, the choices they made… all were new and exciting to me. I never knew what was going to happen next and I loved the way I didn’t ever want to put this book down. I was immersed and addicted.
This is for sure going to be a book I reread many times. I just had so much fun with them.
*I received a free copy of this book from the author and this is my voluntary, honest review.
Class Act by Gianni Holmes
emotional
hopeful
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? Yes
5.0
5 ⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Format: ebook
“I glanced over my shoulder at this man—this married man and my best friend’s dad—slipping his tongue inside my hole and moaning while he did it.”
What I was expecting: forbidden filth, angst, and secret rendezvous. What we got: that, but also such a beautiful and sweet romance with lots of hurt/comfort aspects.
I loved the equal power exchange between the mmc’s, which you don’t always get in an age gap trope. Abe provided a lot of support for Emery, but Emery also became Abe’s safe space in turn. It didn’t feel like Abe was holding all the cards in the relationship just because he was older. Emery was also very independent and grounded. They didn’t necessarily need each other but they complemented one another well.
The spice was nuclear. They did the forbidden trope justice. Their moments hidden away were so hot. And, please, the role-playing. I was obsessed.
The angst was not part of the relationship at all, but the moments where we did get it, it was rough. This book had me sobbing around 80%. I just love these characters so much and their HEA was hard-fought and deserved.
Tell me which Gianni Holmes book to read next!
Stitched Hearts by Morgan Sloan
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? Yes
5.0
5 ⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Format: ebook
“I thought I’d have to live the rest of my life with a hole in my chest. I had no idea that the day I stitched up your hand would be the day you’d start to stitch my heart back together.”
As someone who really isn’t a huge fan of second chance romance, this book was absolutely everything and more. Roman and Beck are the epitome of “right person, wrong time”.
I love a good hurt/comfort story but I love even more when it’s realistic. Love can’t fix all things, as we see in this book. Sometimes you can be cared for and adored and made the center of someone’s entire world, and it’s still not enough.
But ten years have passed and is a two-month whirlwind romance a decade ago worth trying to revive?
It’s not even funny how quickly I devoured this book. The push and pull kept me on the edge of my seat and the sweet moments kept my chest full to bursting. The spice was also consistently hot and drool-worthy.
The two mmc’s were such beautifully dynamic characters. Beck with his need to take care of and reassure Roman, and Roman with his sweet but broken soul. But then we also have great side characters in Holden and Riley, and also Beck’s parents. Everyone added so much to the plot.
And a big shout out to the author for letting me scream at her in her DMs while I lost my mind over this book. It is such a wonderful debut novel and I know we can expect great things to come from her.
*I beta read this book, and this review is based off of the draft I received and not the final product.
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Format: ebook
“I thought I’d have to live the rest of my life with a hole in my chest. I had no idea that the day I stitched up your hand would be the day you’d start to stitch my heart back together.”
As someone who really isn’t a huge fan of second chance romance, this book was absolutely everything and more. Roman and Beck are the epitome of “right person, wrong time”.
I love a good hurt/comfort story but I love even more when it’s realistic. Love can’t fix all things, as we see in this book. Sometimes you can be cared for and adored and made the center of someone’s entire world, and it’s still not enough.
But ten years have passed and is a two-month whirlwind romance a decade ago worth trying to revive?
It’s not even funny how quickly I devoured this book. The push and pull kept me on the edge of my seat and the sweet moments kept my chest full to bursting. The spice was also consistently hot and drool-worthy.
The two mmc’s were such beautifully dynamic characters. Beck with his need to take care of and reassure Roman, and Roman with his sweet but broken soul. But then we also have great side characters in Holden and Riley, and also Beck’s parents. Everyone added so much to the plot.
And a big shout out to the author for letting me scream at her in her DMs while I lost my mind over this book. It is such a wonderful debut novel and I know we can expect great things to come from her.
*I beta read this book, and this review is based off of the draft I received and not the final product.
Choose Me by Beck Grey
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
3.6 ⭐️
Spice: 🌶️.5/5
Format: audiobook
Narration: 🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤/5
This was a sweet and romantic, low-angst story between two very unproblematic characters who deeply cared about each other.
Ultimately, I was pretty bored the entire time. I don’t need angst to enjoy a book, but I need something to keep my interest, and I just found the plot kind of bland. And other than being anxious, Jules really didn’t seem any other kind of personality trait.
The “forbidden” aspects of this book both seemed to matter too much and not at all? I was kind of confused by it. It’s like they fought their feelings for each other until they randomly decided to not anymore.
As a person who suffers from anxiety, I always love seeing representation in books. However I felt it wasn’t realistic in this case. I wish we all had Eriks in our lives to stand up for us in every. single. social. situation. But the reality is most of us don’t. And the fact that Jules had a panic attack pretty much every chapter and needed Erik to constantly save him and speak up for him just didn’t feel like good representation. It kind of bordered on infantilization and gave me the ick, to be honest.
I also didn’t really like any of the side characters. Jules’s and Erik’s brothers all pissed me off. And I didn’t like that no one really seemed to care about Jules’s anxiety except for Erik.
I try not to let spice, or lack-there-of, dictate my ratings, but come on—this was a brother’s best friend trope! I need more. I needed hot. I needed forbidden. It was disappointing.
So this was unfortunately a miss for me but I did enjoy the authors’s writing style mostly so I’ll try another book in the future. Also, I’m glad I did the audiobook because the narrator was perfection. Gonna look into more of his work as well.
Secret Letters by Wolfe Productions
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
5 ⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Format: ebook
“The depravity in him was the same that lived in me. I'd known it, even through all of his denial, that we would be the same. That he was the only one that would ever be able to understand me.”
No plot, no character development, no romance. Just absolute taboo debauchery and perfection.
Theo has a stalker that’s been sending him sexy and obsessive letters for years. The contents of the letters not only have him questioning his own sexuality, but his entire life. He’s a celebrity because he craves the adoration and attention of his fans, but maybe “G” is the one whose sole focus it is he actually needs.
What he doesn’t know, is that “G” is the son he didn’t even know he had. But “G” is finally ready for them to meet.
I hate how much I loved this. It was disgusting and nasty and made me uncomfortable, in all the best ways. Do I condone the actions of the characters in this book? No. Would I read a hundred more chapters of this? I plead the fifth.
Honestly, despite how short this novella was, I really enjoyed the pace at which everything developed. I loved Theo’s short drive into insanity after their night together and how he comes to the conclusion that he needs his son in his life. Godfrey was actually a really fun character. I so wish we got a bit more background into him.
Read. The. Triggers. I cannot emphasize this enough. If you don’t like taboo or dubcon or BDSM, there is less than zero reason for you to read this.
*I received a free advanced copy of this book from the authors and this is my voluntary, honest review.
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Format: ebook
“The depravity in him was the same that lived in me. I'd known it, even through all of his denial, that we would be the same. That he was the only one that would ever be able to understand me.”
No plot, no character development, no romance. Just absolute taboo debauchery and perfection.
Theo has a stalker that’s been sending him sexy and obsessive letters for years. The contents of the letters not only have him questioning his own sexuality, but his entire life. He’s a celebrity because he craves the adoration and attention of his fans, but maybe “G” is the one whose sole focus it is he actually needs.
What he doesn’t know, is that “G” is the son he didn’t even know he had. But “G” is finally ready for them to meet.
I hate how much I loved this. It was disgusting and nasty and made me uncomfortable, in all the best ways. Do I condone the actions of the characters in this book? No. Would I read a hundred more chapters of this? I plead the fifth.
Honestly, despite how short this novella was, I really enjoyed the pace at which everything developed. I loved Theo’s short drive into insanity after their night together and how he comes to the conclusion that he needs his son in his life. Godfrey was actually a really fun character. I so wish we got a bit more background into him.
Read. The. Triggers. I cannot emphasize this enough. If you don’t like taboo or dubcon or BDSM, there is less than zero reason for you to read this.
*I received a free advanced copy of this book from the authors and this is my voluntary, honest review.
Dirty Martini by Addison Beck
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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? Yes
5.0
5 ⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Format: ebook
“He taps his temple with his free hand. ‘It’s just you in there. Too much, if you ask me.’”
Okay, well this is awkward. How am I going to choose a favorite between this and Whiskey Sour? (Yes, I read Whiskey Sour first because I’m silly.) Elton and Knox were perfect but Rhys and Everest are everything. I love all my babies so much.
I had my issues with Everest for a large portion of this book. He’s very selfish and oblivious, and honestly part of me still feels like he doesn’t 100% deserve Rhys, who is honestly the most perfect boyfriend in the world. The way that man loved Everest even despite everything was beautiful. Honestly though, by the end I’d forgiven Everest and was really just rooting for them.
The spice was hot as usual for Addison Beck’s books. I love how they’re never repetitive. Each couple has their own things that just work for them and it’s always so hot. Loved Everest’s hidden exhibition kink. Loved the way Rhys explored Everest’s body as he came to terms with his sexuality. It was all just amazing.
Also what is it about hurricane/bad storm scenes in books that just D O. I T. for me? Exiled and Where There’s a Will anyone? The hurricane chapters were everything. Getting caught in storms is becoming a favorite microtrope of mine.
I’ve said this before and I’ll never stop saying it—there is just something about Addison Beck’s writing that is so comforting to me. Her characters and plots just always drag me into their embrace and make me feel warm and safe. I will stan this author until my dying breath.
I need Skylar and Cassius’s story. Like yesterday. I need my precious, sweet angel boy to have a boyfriend who treats him like the king he is. Please and thank you.
The Christmas Switch by Briar Prescott
adventurous
challenging
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
slow-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? Yes
5.0
5 ⭐️
Spice: 🌶️/5
Format: ebook
“He kisses me like we’ve been kept apart by lifetimes and catastrophes and circumstances beyond our control and finally, finally we can see each other again.”
Freaky Friday meets gay Hallmark in this lighthearted Christmas romcom where mild intolerance turns into reluctant affection.
Josh and Gabriel have been competing against one another over everything since their early teens and it’s come to a head when they’re both picked to intern at a law firm. Josh is used to being handed things on a silver platter due to his family name, but Gabriel has to fight tooth and nail for even the chance to receive the same opportunities.
They’re paired up to decorate for the office Christmas party when something insane happens and they switch bodies. Now Gabriel has to go to his family’s house for Christmas in Josh’s body. He gets Josh to agree to come along and pretend to be him, and so ensues a fake dating plot with sides of forced proximity and one bed tropes.
I absolutely devoured this book. It was such a light and fun read, with the banter we all know and love from Briar Prescott, but also lots of cute moments and shifting feelings. A nice little slowburn, so that when they finally get together, it feels 100% inevitable and unavoidable.
The Christmas Switch is the perfect short novel to get you in the mood for the holidays. Prepare for laughs, contented sighing, and quite a few jaw-dropping moments.
*I received a free advanced copy of this book from the author and this is my voluntary, honest review.
Spice: 🌶️/5
Format: ebook
“He kisses me like we’ve been kept apart by lifetimes and catastrophes and circumstances beyond our control and finally, finally we can see each other again.”
Freaky Friday meets gay Hallmark in this lighthearted Christmas romcom where mild intolerance turns into reluctant affection.
Josh and Gabriel have been competing against one another over everything since their early teens and it’s come to a head when they’re both picked to intern at a law firm. Josh is used to being handed things on a silver platter due to his family name, but Gabriel has to fight tooth and nail for even the chance to receive the same opportunities.
They’re paired up to decorate for the office Christmas party when something insane happens and they switch bodies. Now Gabriel has to go to his family’s house for Christmas in Josh’s body. He gets Josh to agree to come along and pretend to be him, and so ensues a fake dating plot with sides of forced proximity and one bed tropes.
I absolutely devoured this book. It was such a light and fun read, with the banter we all know and love from Briar Prescott, but also lots of cute moments and shifting feelings. A nice little slowburn, so that when they finally get together, it feels 100% inevitable and unavoidable.
The Christmas Switch is the perfect short novel to get you in the mood for the holidays. Prepare for laughs, contented sighing, and quite a few jaw-dropping moments.
*I received a free advanced copy of this book from the author and this is my voluntary, honest review.
Asher's Answer by Anna Sparrows
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
2 ⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5/5
Format: audiobook
Narration: 🎤/5
So, for future reference: I absolutely cannot listen to an audiobook with age regression. Probably just a me problem but I got the ick so bad and it ruined the entire reading experience for me.
As for the story… It was okay but I felt like there wasn’t a lot of depth to the main characters. We got little glimpses of Asher’s abuse from his dad but I feel like it wasn’t enough to really understand him. Or even more about his cheating ex. He was just very one-dimensional. Charlie fell even more flat for me. I knew absolutely nothing about him and I couldn’t connect with him due to it.
The story moved a little too fast, but then tended to have many areas where nothing was happening and I was bored. I did like that this couple was vers, which is rare for daddy kink, but otherwise the spice was just meh.
I was actually way more interested in the side characters. Might come back for Ted’s and Josh’s stories. Scenes they were in were pretty much the only ones I enjoyed.