shanaepraystoo's reviews
873 reviews

Hate Our Love by Kay Shanee

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funny inspiring lighthearted 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

3.75

Hate Our Love by Kay Shanee is my first read for the author and it was a pretty decent story. There's very good character development and good storytelling that leads to a heartwarming ending. Unfortunately, the book is not a 5 star read for me because I found the FMC, Jahzara Franklin very immature and irresponsible, especially for an older and pregnant character, and I think this type of messaging isn't what we need for those who are more likely to read this type of book. Dakari Bentley, the MMC, is the ideal book bae, but I found his short temper, inability to manage his anger, and communication issues problematic, so for every likable trait he had, there was a negative one that canceled it out. 

I listened to Hate Our Love on audiobook and I think Winston James and Anna Lynn Wright did a pretty good job, so I'd listen to another book narrated by either of them in the future for sure. 

I recommend Hate Our Love to anyone who likes an engaging story with good pacing and a heartwarming ending. 

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Saved by A Billionaire 2 by Miss J.

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challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Saved By A Billionaire 2 is a solid book with serious dark themes. I wasn't expecting this urban fiction novel to be dark romance, but here we are. The MMC, Amos Duke, is still strong, sensitive, and protective - everything you expect in an urban fiction's MMC. His character changes significantly from Stolen By A Billionaire and Saved By A Billionaire 1 - the result of love, I suppose.
For me, however, it became harder and harder to picture him as a hardened assassin as the book went one.


The story takes a really dark turn
as the FMC reveals that she's an addict, relapses, and then enters rehab
. It switches in some ways from dark urban romance to dark urban fiction with a women's fiction twist. Though it was unexpected, the story itself was well written with strong character development. 

The FMC and the MMC go through a lot to get to the HFN ending and as a reader, there's nothing in the book that reveals that this will happen and I valued that in Miss J.'s writing. 

I recommend the entire Duke Family Series from Miss J. Make sure you're in a healthy mental space for the books, however, as they can be really triggering. However, they're well written and engaging from start to finish.
I hope there's an additional story about the potential double wedding for Urvi/Val and Ananias and Christina and Amos.
I look forward to reading future books written by Miss J. 

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Saved by A Billionaire by Miss J.

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dark emotional mysterious reflective 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

4.5

At times I felt that Saved By A Billionaire dragged on and I wondered how the story would end. OMG. I did NOT expect this ending or this cliffhanger. Christina Chase is a dynamic and complicated FMC, while the MMC, Amos Duke, has had a complex childhood that makes him the ideal partner for a FMC like Christina. Challenging, dark, and sad at times, Saved By A Billionaire is none of what I expected, honestly. But the engaging, medium paced story was exactly what I needed. 

The audiobook is pretty good. Even though I'm not a huge fan of Morae Brehon, the female narrator, the story is engaging enough that it is easy to ignore. 

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Stolen by A Billionaire 2 by Miss J.

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

5.0

The Stolen By A Billionaire series is a wild, drama filled ride that is engaging from beginning til end! I was actually a bit sad when the story ended because I wanted so more. Miss J did a great job crafting these characters and writing this story. I love Ananias Duke! My goodness. I am so ready for the second part of the series, Saved By A Billionaire, because I want to learn more about the Duke Family. 

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Capone by Jahquel J.

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dark emotional mysterious sad 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? Yes

5.0

Everyone on Black BookTok has been talking about Jahquel J. and her Delgato Family series, which features a trilogy of books for the MMC Capone and another set of 3 books for a different MMC, Cappadonna. When I found out that Jahquel J. had released book 3 of the Cappadonna series and I hadn't even started on the first book of the first series Capone, I quickly moved the books up on my TBR.

And it was 100% worth it.

OMG.

These books are full of drama with some really well written characters. I thoroughly enjoyed book 1 of the Capone series and am eager to start book 2. I hope that Jahquel keeps the same energy with book 2. I highly recommend Capone to anyone who enjoys urban fiction, urban romance, the billionaire trope, and action packed stories. 

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Stolen by A Billionaire by Miss J.

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dark 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? Yes

5.0

OMGGGG. Stolen By A Billionaire is what a dark kidnapped to lovers story is supposed to be! There is so much drama and the book keeps you engaged. With POVs from the FMC, MMC, and the FMC's husband, you get a real page turner that is difficult to put down.

The characters, though not entirely diverse, are dynamic and well-written with enough background to give readers insight into the minds/personalities of the characters. The MMC, Ananias Duke, is everything you want in a billionaire romance. I also loooovvveee the grumpy-sunshine trope and he's just the right amount of grumpy for me. 

The FMC, Urvi Valentine Samuels/Warren, is a smart, loyal spitfire who readers will be able to identify with and want to root for. Though challenging to read at some points, the villain of the entire story, who just so happens to be the FMC's husband, Kamani Warren, has his POV shared...it's enough to make you want to jump through the book, ok?

I highly recommend Stolen By A Billionaire to anyone who likes dark romances, the kidnapping trope, or engaging stories with multiple POVs. I did not know what to expect from Stolen By A Billionaire, to be honest it isn't my typical read, however, I like the author, so I went out on a limb to read it and I wasn't disappointed at all. I'm ready to start reading book 2 because the cliffhanger in this book is intense!

Note: I listened to Stolen By A Billionaire on audiobook. The narrators, Morae Brehon, Leon Nixon and Benjamin Charles, do a pretty good job with the story and it's easy to get lost in the book thanks to them. 

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The Matrimony by D. Rose

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funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I expected The Matrimony to be a complex story about the aftermath of a marriage of convenience. I got that somewhat but not as much as I expected. I think the author relied heavily on spicy scenes but didn’t explore why the couple from The Vow relied on sex to solve problems instead of talking about them. The story is good, though repetitive at times.

Note: I listened to the audiobook and these narrators are much better than the ones from The Vow

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The Vow by D. Rose

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funny inspiring lighthearted 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? N/A

4.25

The Vow is my second read from D. Rose and she is quickly becoming a favorite! I think The Vow was engaging with diverse and well developed characters - even though it is a fairly short book. I am excited to read book 2 in the series and highly recommend the story to anyone looking for a light hearted story with a FMC who is being properly loved. 

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Mega Man by Mel Dau

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funny fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Mega Man by Mel Dau is none of what I thought it was. In some ways it appears to be the author’s commentary on religion and how it can stifle people’s growth, but in other ways it’s a crazy urban fiction ride. 

The book itself is fast paced and engaging with interesting characters. It is full of soooo much drama, there’s a new revelation on every single page. 

If you don’t mind urban fiction with a religious trigger annd unhinged male characters, I recommend Mega Man - the MMC in this book has to be the craziest I’ve ever read about. 

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Bound by A Gangsta's Love 2 by Miss J.

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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

I wanted to like Bound By A Gangsta’s Love 2 way more than I did. The story about Makani and Gino was engaging and fun with the best spicy scenes,  but I quickly grew bored with the POVs from Eric Carter/Sergio Blackwell and Piper. I wanted to hear more from Reed, Saylor, and Blair. Book 1 was about Makani but Book 2 of the series was more about Gio and I didn’t like that. All in all, though, the story is solid and well written, some of the dialogue was shippable, but for the most part ok. I recommend this series to anyone who likes urban literature and dark romance.

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