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shanaepraystoo's reviews
871 reviews
Frosty Beginnings: A Holiday Romance by Lesanda Moore
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Lesanda Moore's Frosty Beginnings is a low angst, fast-paced forced proximity strangers to lovers HFN holiday-themed romance novella. Though the story is short, there's a decent amount of character development that helps get you invested in the characters. I think I would've appreciated a full length novel about Shatori, the FMC, and Ralph, the MMC. Lesanda Moore is a "new to me" author, but I'd check her catalog out for more low angst cozy romances.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Abandonment
A Church Girl's Guide to Courting Danger: A Forced Proximity Love Triangle Romance by Brittney True
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
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? No
5.0
I found A Church Girl's Guide to Courting Danger on Everand. The cover art was vibrant and the synopsis was intriguing - I quickly downloaded the book so that I could listen to it. I went to Storygraph and GoodReads to read reviews, but imagine my surprise to learn that there are actually very few reviews about the book. Now that I've finished the audio version of A Church Girl's Guide to Courting Danger, I'm even more confused...why don't more people know about this book?
The story is cohesive and well-written with dynamic, complex, realistic and relatable characters. There's romance, there's suspense, there's mystery...A Church Girl's Guide to Courting Danger has everything and is quite genre-bending as far as Christian romances go. There are gangs, gang violence, knife fights, undercover agents, escaped convicts, and more lol.
The FMC, Cassandra, is Haitian American, so there are these wonderful cultural additions from Brittney True that make the story even more interesting. The character development of Harmel Preston, the MMC, is some of the best I've read this year (and A Church Girl's Guide to Courting Danger is my 117th book!).
I highly recommend A Church Girl's Guide to Courting Danger if you like slow burns and cozy mysteries. I also recommend the book if you're looking for Christian romances, books with Christian themes, and books with zero spice. It is well worth the read and the audio, read by Trei Taylor and Chance Smolders, is great as both narrators really make the story come to life.
The story is cohesive and well-written with dynamic, complex, realistic and relatable characters. There's romance, there's suspense, there's mystery...A Church Girl's Guide to Courting Danger has everything and is quite genre-bending as far as Christian romances go. There are gangs, gang violence, knife fights, undercover agents, escaped convicts, and more lol.
The FMC, Cassandra, is Haitian American, so there are these wonderful cultural additions from Brittney True that make the story even more interesting. The character development of Harmel Preston, the MMC, is some of the best I've read this year (and A Church Girl's Guide to Courting Danger is my 117th book!).
I highly recommend A Church Girl's Guide to Courting Danger if you like slow burns and cozy mysteries. I also recommend the book if you're looking for Christian romances, books with Christian themes, and books with zero spice. It is well worth the read and the audio, read by Trei Taylor and Chance Smolders, is great as both narrators really make the story come to life.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Abandonment
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death, Blood, Trafficking, and Death of parent
Love, at Christmas: The Martin Brothers by Nina High
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I am a big Nina High fan, so when I saw that Love, At Christmas was coming out with updates on the Martin Brothers, I was sooo excited. I really loved each of these characters in their individual books, which came out in the past year or so. I quickly read the series, finding each book even better than the last. Unfortunately, I don't think Love, At Christmas gave me that excitement. I understand there are 3 novellas, but I would've preferred if they were combined into one story, so that the timeline was much more cohesive. Dru and Charisse's story was the best, but the portrayal of Porsche made her generally unlikable and Amaya came off as kind of boring, which she was not in her story with Draymond. Also, I don't understand why Lily's love life continues to be an underlying story when we haven't gotten a book about her. As a matter of fact, Nina High has seemingly moved onto a completely different storyline with The Teachers of Hardwood High (which is so damn good). All in all, Love, At Christmas is a decent follow up but it didn't do much for opinion of the characters I had previously really enjoyed.
Deuce (The Dillinger Chronicles Book 1) by Kimberly Brown
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
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
5.0
Yet another 5 star read from the very talented Kimberly Brown. She writes fast-paced, highly engaging stories that draw you in. With relatable characters and funny banter, it's easy to fall in love with the characters and want the best for each of them. Deuce (The Dillinger Chronicles Book 1) is just as good as every other Kimberly Brown book. Salima Navarro, the FMC, might be one of my favorite female characters that she has ever written, while the MMC, Deuce/Stanley is 100% a certified book bae...I need him IRL NOW! Lol. I highly recommend Deuce to anyone who appreciates a true crime family book. I am looking forward to the next book in The Dillinger Chronicles series.
Note: I listened to the audiobook and the narration is superb. Ja'Air Bush is great as usual, but in my Black narration spaces, the male narrator Myles Washington, gets a ton of flack (unnecessarily in my opinion), however, in Deuce he is *perfection.* He was perfect for this role and I hope he is the narrator for the rest of the The Dillinger Chronicles series.
Note: I listened to the audiobook and the narration is superb. Ja'Air Bush is great as usual, but in my Black narration spaces, the male narrator Myles Washington, gets a ton of flack (unnecessarily in my opinion), however, in Deuce he is *perfection.* He was perfect for this role and I hope he is the narrator for the rest of the The Dillinger Chronicles series.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Sexual content, Violence, Kidnapping, and Pregnancy
Minor: Drug use, Sexual violence, Abortion, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Secure in the Arms of a Thug 2 by Tatum James
dark
emotional
funny
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
The Secure In The Arms of a Thug books by Tatum James are fast-paced engaging urban romances with two dynamic, albeit stereotypical, characters. The MMC, Syre Reign, is everything you want in a book bae, especially when you're reading dark or urban fiction. The FMC, Royelle Jacobs, is irritating but I think that's what every FMC is - she's stubborn, jumps to conclusions, and simply refuses to let a rich man take care of her lol. In book 1 a little bit of ground work is laid about Syre and Royelle's relationship, but you really see it bloom in Secure In The Arms Of A Thug Book 2 as the two overcome secrets, grief, and loss. The result? A different kind of urban romance where the topics of grief, forgiveness, and mental health are intertwined so closely in what would 100% be a toxic relationship in real life, but is totally ideal in the land of urban fiction. I was thoroughly impressed by Tatum James's storytelling, though there were some grammatical errors and some repetition, I thought the story flowed nicely and the writer kept me engaged. I want to read the rest of the Dark Reigns Dynasty series, which includes Promised To A Street King about Syre's older brother Bishop. There's also a spinoff (?) not included in the Dark Reigns Dynasty about Syre's younger brother Psalm called Psalm. I look forward to catching up with the rest of the Reign family.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Minor: Gun violence, Infidelity, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and Abandonment
Secure in the Arms of a Thug by Tatum James
adventurous
emotional
funny
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? It's complicated
4.0
I thoroughly enjoyed Secure In The Arms Of A Thug Book 1 of the Dark Reign Dynasty Series by Tatum James. I haven't read an urban fiction book that grabbed my attention this way in quite a while. I'm not a big fan of a series, but this one had such great reviews that I had to give it a read. The characters aren't particularly diverse, but there's something unique about them all that keeps you reading. I'm ready for book 2.
I took one star off because I don't think the wedding, the catalyst for much of what happens in the book, should've been written as a flashback.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Cursing, Gun violence, Infidelity, Medical content, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death, Drug use, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Ho! Ho! Ho!: A Christmas Short by Rilzy Adams
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
As far as erotic shorts go, Ho! Ho! Ho! by Rilzy Adams might be one of the best - lovable characters, character development, and an engaging story that, despite being erotica, doesn’t compromise on storytelling for sexual appeal.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Infidelity
Promised to the Snowman by Kami Holt
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
Promised To The Snowman is a fast paced arranged marriage mob story with a grumpy sunshine trope — everything I love in a romance novel. Add in the Christmas element and I was sat. I quickly read this engaging story with lovable characters. This is a solid 4 star read. hig recommend Promised To The Snowman.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Sexual content, Medical content, Grief, and Pregnancy
Minor: Alcoholism, Death, Gun violence, Violence, and Blood
Gideon & Rhian: A One Eighty Christmas by Charity Shane
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Decent follow up to the One Eighty book. I wish we also learned more about Brie and Amon in this Christmas novella. I recommend it to anyone who enjoyed One Eighty.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Pregnancy