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shanaepraystoo's reviews
874 reviews
Blindsided by Love by Monica Walters
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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? Yes
3.75
I didn't have plans to read Monica Walters' series, The Henderson Family Saga, but a mutual on social media has been encouraging me to read her books and I finally took the plunge. With book 22 of The Henderson Family Saga coming out in August 2024, I said to myself, "Self, these books have to be good...you should read them." So, I decided to commit to this series and started with book 1 Blindsided by Love.
The characters are likable for the most part. The true star of Blindsided by Love is Seven "Storm" Henderson, the MMC, and I wish the book was more so from his perspective as opposed to having alternate POVs between him and the FMC, Aspen St. Andrews. Storm experiences the most character development throughout the novel and biggest changes. Surprisingly I really enjoyed learning about him, considering that this is a romance novel.
The writing in Blindsided by Love is just ok, but I am confident that the writing gets better, so I will continue with the series. Blindsided by Love is an engaging quick read with likable characters and just enough drama to keep you turning the pages. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys series.
The characters are likable for the most part. The true star of Blindsided by Love is Seven "Storm" Henderson, the MMC, and I wish the book was more so from his perspective as opposed to having alternate POVs between him and the FMC, Aspen St. Andrews. Storm experiences the most character development throughout the novel and biggest changes. Surprisingly I really enjoyed learning about him, considering that this is a romance novel.
The writing in Blindsided by Love is just ok, but I am confident that the writing gets better, so I will continue with the series. Blindsided by Love is an engaging quick read with likable characters and just enough drama to keep you turning the pages. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Sexual content
Moderate: Body shaming and Toxic relationship
Minor: Animal death, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
The Other Side of Fame by D. Rose
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
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
4.25
The Other Side of Fame by D. Rose was such a fun read for me. I love urban romance novels with a lot of good character development. The sub-genre gets so much hate that when I see authors, like D. Rose, writing diverse, complex characters in engaging stories, I have to include it in my book review.
This is my first book from D. Rose, but it won't be the last. In The Other Side of Fame, we meet Fame and Heaven, two musicians grappling with family drama, self-love, and relationships all in the public eye. D. Rose writes two characters that we want the absolute best for! I give The Other Side of Fame 4 stars because it is an engaging and interesting slow burn with likable and dynamic characters. I didn't think that I was a "slow burn" reader but D. Rose may have changed that for me.
This is my first book from D. Rose, but it won't be the last. In The Other Side of Fame, we meet Fame and Heaven, two musicians grappling with family drama, self-love, and relationships all in the public eye. D. Rose writes two characters that we want the absolute best for! I give The Other Side of Fame 4 stars because it is an engaging and interesting slow burn with likable and dynamic characters. I didn't think that I was a "slow burn" reader but D. Rose may have changed that for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Abandonment
Moderate: Cursing, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting
Minor: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, and Alcohol
A Month Of Sundays by Jade Olivia
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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
For so much of A Month of Sundays by Jade Olivia, I was veryyyy frustrated. I felt that the story dragged on and it wasn't interesting to me until about 45% in...after that, I was hooked and I finished the book in 2 days. In A Month of Sundays we're introduced to two of the most complex characters I've ever read about and we don't get the full depth of their complications until we get to the very end of the book.
That said, I just knew that I was going to rate A Month of Sundays 3 stars, maybe 3.5. Then outta nowhere it became this incredible 5 star read that had me rethinking my thoughts about womanhood, love, compassion, and forgiveness. Jade Olivia does such a great job developing the characters Imani and DeAndre. I am so glad that I stuck with the book, even though I wanted to bail on it many many times.
A Month of Sundays is a well written and beautiful story about self-love, found family, managing expectations, setting boundaries, and being true to oneself, especially when it comes to achieving goals and self-expression. A must-read for anyone who has the patience to enjoy a slow burn with powerful, hard hitting themes and a thought provoking storyline.
That said, I just knew that I was going to rate A Month of Sundays 3 stars, maybe 3.5. Then outta nowhere it became this incredible 5 star read that had me rethinking my thoughts about womanhood, love, compassion, and forgiveness. Jade Olivia does such a great job developing the characters Imani and DeAndre. I am so glad that I stuck with the book, even though I wanted to bail on it many many times.
A Month of Sundays is a well written and beautiful story about self-love, found family, managing expectations, setting boundaries, and being true to oneself, especially when it comes to achieving goals and self-expression. A must-read for anyone who has the patience to enjoy a slow burn with powerful, hard hitting themes and a thought provoking storyline.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Abandonment
Minor: Addiction, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infertility, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Sugar-Coated Kisses by Lady Marie
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I don't know why Sugar-Coated Kisses wasn't good to me. I have enjoyed the other books in the series, but Arthur and Trini just didn't do it for me. And by the time it got interesting, author Lady Marie ended the book with a really weird cliffhanger that did nothing for me or the story.
I understand that Arthur is seeking a sugar baby but we really don't know why. Trini goes on and on about how good looking he is, he's painted as this really reasonable and sensitive guy...why does he need a sugar baby? Especially when he doesn't feel comfortable with his friends' lifestyles, which we learn from the other books in the series)?
Anyway, if you're a big fan of Lady Marie or the Sugared and Spiced series, then maybe this is for you, but otherwise, I recommend skipping it.
I understand that Arthur is seeking a sugar baby but we really don't know why. Trini goes on and on about how good looking he is, he's painted as this really reasonable and sensitive guy...why does he need a sugar baby? Especially when he doesn't feel comfortable with his friends' lifestyles, which we learn from the other books in the series)?
Anyway, if you're a big fan of Lady Marie or the Sugared and Spiced series, then maybe this is for you, but otherwise, I recommend skipping it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing and Sexual content
Minor: Grief, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Stroke of Luck by Phoenix Collins
If you like romance novels with a friends with benefits, workplace, forced proximity, or the billionaire romance tropes, then you're going to absolutely love Stroke of Luck.
Thanks to Phoenix Collins for the ARC.
funny
hopeful
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
4.5
In Stroke of Luck by Phoenix Collins, we meet Lucky and Carter. Life has thrown Lucky a curveball. She moves to Atlanta to attend Georgia Institute of Technology on an athletic scholarship, but an injury results in the loss of her scholarship. Determined to graduate with a degree in Civil Engineering, Lucky begins working as a dancer at Nirvana to pay her way through school. She is also grateful for her boyfriend Donovan, who lets her move in to his apartment AND he pays all the bills. Even though, with their schedules, Lucky and Donovan rarely see one another, and they haven't been intimate in months, and Donovan never wines and dines, Lucky is a hopeless romantic and she believes that everything will turn around once she graduates. Nirvana is the hottest and most exclusive lounge in Atlanta and Carter is part owner. Carter has always been enamored by Lucky, but she's kinda mean and won't give him the time of day. But when Donovan breaks up with Lucky and kicks her out of his apartment, leaving her with no place to go, Carter has a chance to make his true intentions with Lucky known.
Stroke of Luck is my first book from Phoenix Collins and it was sooooo good! I really appreciated the storytelling, writing, and character development. Lucky is a quick-witted girl making the most out of challenging circumstances, so I found myself rooting for her. Carter is wealthy, generous, attentive, and sexy af - I want my very own Carter right now. I really liked the forced proximity trope in the book and I think Phoenix Collins really hit the mark with the spicy scenes.
Stroke of Luck is my first book from Phoenix Collins and it was sooooo good! I really appreciated the storytelling, writing, and character development. Lucky is a quick-witted girl making the most out of challenging circumstances, so I found myself rooting for her. Carter is wealthy, generous, attentive, and sexy af - I want my very own Carter right now. I really liked the forced proximity trope in the book and I think Phoenix Collins really hit the mark with the spicy scenes.
"You're a beautiful woman, Lucky Cormier." Carter finally lays back down between my legs with his face right above mine. "But you'll look even more gorgeous when you're screaming my name."
If you like romance novels with a friends with benefits, workplace, forced proximity, or the billionaire romance tropes, then you're going to absolutely love Stroke of Luck.
Thanks to Phoenix Collins for the ARC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Infidelity, Violence, Stalking, and Abandonment
Jaiden, The King Who Got Me by Miss Jenesequa
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-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
3.75
We’ve reached the end of ‘The Evans Brothers’ Series from Miss Jenesequa. The series is about a family of intelligent, strong-willed Black men and their relationship with self, family, their partners and their community.
I enjoyed the story of Jaiden and Dionne. It was great to see Jaiden develop and the author did a good job handling the topic of mental health, specifically depression.
I also liked that the FMC was a smart and powerful businesswoman. It’s great to see authors write that women who “have it all” deserve a positive and healthy intimate relationship.
My main criticism of Miss Jenesequa’s writing is that she is wayyyy too wordy and I find myself skipping large chunks of inner monologue that really don’t add anything to the story.
Jaiden: The King Who Got Me is an engaging story with likable characters that you want the best for. I recommend it to Miss Jenesequa fans for sure.
I enjoyed the story of Jaiden and Dionne. It was great to see Jaiden develop and the author did a good job handling the topic of mental health, specifically depression.
I also liked that the FMC was a smart and powerful businesswoman. It’s great to see authors write that women who “have it all” deserve a positive and healthy intimate relationship.
My main criticism of Miss Jenesequa’s writing is that she is wayyyy too wordy and I find myself skipping large chunks of inner monologue that really don’t add anything to the story.
Jaiden: The King Who Got Me is an engaging story with likable characters that you want the best for. I recommend it to Miss Jenesequa fans for sure.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Sexual content
Moderate: Body shaming, Cursing, Infidelity, Misogyny, and Death of parent
Minor: Toxic relationship, Violence, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Intrigued by Danger by Endiya Carter
emotional
funny
lighthearted
tense
medium-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
4.75
Endiya Carter is an amazing writer. Carter's erotic romance novels have been some of the most entertaining books I've ever read, but The Danger Family series is some of her best work ever.
In Intrigued By Danger, we get to know more about the elusive Declan Danger, who makes quick appearances in Tempted By Danger and Captivated By Danger, and Della Mae "Elle" Thomas, who we meet in Captivated By Danger.
These characters are dynamic, lovable with a story that is highly engaging. I loved learning more about Declan and Elle together and apart. Intrigued By Danger is a story about self-love, seeking discomfort, and opening oneself up to the possibility as well as the existence of true love.
Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
In Intrigued By Danger, we get to know more about the elusive Declan Danger, who makes quick appearances in Tempted By Danger and Captivated By Danger, and Della Mae "Elle" Thomas, who we meet in Captivated By Danger.
These characters are dynamic, lovable with a story that is highly engaging. I loved learning more about Declan and Elle together and apart. Intrigued By Danger is a story about self-love, seeking discomfort, and opening oneself up to the possibility as well as the existence of true love.
Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Homophobia and Alcohol
Minor: Confinement, Mental illness, Violence, Medical content, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Love, Undercover by Nina High
But I really enjoyed how vulnerable the Drummond was with Porsche. While talking about her hopes for the future, Drummond gets lost planning their future and admits:
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
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? No
5.0
Nina High is a "new-to-me" author. Though I don't know how I discovered her Martin Series, I'm sooo glad that I did. From Love, Under Contract to Love, From Scratch to Love, Undercover, I have absolutely loved learning about the Martin brothers, a group of successful billionaire brothers who come from hard working parents. I thought book 1, Love, Under Contract was good, so I read book 2, Love, From Scratch and I thought it was even better than book 1. I didn't know how Nina High could top book 2 but she definitely did with Love, Undercover.
Love, Undercover is my first enemies-to-lovers romance book and I didn't know if I would like it - I am not a fan of the friends-to-lovers trope but I was committed to finishing the series, so I picked this one up. The trope was fun and I appreciate the forced proximity layer that was added by Nina High.
In Love, Undercover, we meet Drummond Martin, billionaire basketball team owner and playboy. He has a different woman every week and isn't looking for a relationship at all. But his twin Draymond is engaged and his younger brother Dru is married. He doesn't admit to himself that he's a little jealous or that he wants what his brothers have, but the truth is he wants that life for himself. And who better than his sister-in-law's best friend and beauty Porsche Brown, who has all the fire and spice he wants in a woman. The story is all about how Drummond will be able to convince Porsche that he's worth the time of day beyond anything purely physical.
The characters are dynamic and diverse, the story is engaging and it even made me laugh a time or two.
Full of powerful insights on love and relationships, Nina High really did a great job with Love, Undercover, crafting a beautiful love story with the perfect HFN ending.
I did a lot of highlighting in Love, Undercover, but here are two of my favorite quotes:
Love, Undercover is my first enemies-to-lovers romance book and I didn't know if I would like it - I am not a fan of the friends-to-lovers trope but I was committed to finishing the series, so I picked this one up. The trope was fun and I appreciate the forced proximity layer that was added by Nina High.
In Love, Undercover, we meet Drummond Martin, billionaire basketball team owner and playboy. He has a different woman every week and isn't looking for a relationship at all. But his twin Draymond is engaged and his younger brother Dru is married. He doesn't admit to himself that he's a little jealous or that he wants what his brothers have, but the truth is he wants that life for himself. And who better than his sister-in-law's best friend and beauty Porsche Brown, who has all the fire and spice he wants in a woman. The story is all about how Drummond will be able to convince Porsche that he's worth the time of day beyond anything purely physical.
The characters are dynamic and diverse, the story is engaging and it even made me laugh a time or two.
Full of powerful insights on love and relationships, Nina High really did a great job with Love, Undercover, crafting a beautiful love story with the perfect HFN ending.
I did a lot of highlighting in Love, Undercover, but here are two of my favorite quotes:
Dru and Draymond, they don't just love -- they craft a world where the woman they love is a queen.
Love isn't something we plan, it's something we allow.
But I really enjoyed how vulnerable the Drummond was with Porsche. While talking about her hopes for the future, Drummond gets lost planning their future and admits:
I was planning our whole life together, and I got lost in the fantasy.
Isn't that beautiful?
A wholesome and drama free romance novel, this is the perfect conclusion to the Martin series. I look forward to reading future books from Nina High - she crafts romance stories with the perfect amount of spice.
A wholesome and drama free romance novel, this is the perfect conclusion to the Martin series. I look forward to reading future books from Nina High - she crafts romance stories with the perfect amount of spice.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Pregnancy, and Abandonment
Minor: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Violence, and Alcohol
Pardon My Frenchie by Farrah Rochon
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
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? No
5.0
I am a huge fan of Farrah Rochon's books and Pardon My Frenchie is a great example of why. These characters are diverse, lovable, dynamic, and just...so well written. I was rooting so hard for Ashanti and so excited for her future with Thad. I wanted Thad (and Vaughn) to open their bar and for it to be a huge success. As a Black woman and a dog lover and a dog owner and a business owner, I felt so connected to Ashanti. It felt good to be represented in the book. The love story between Ashanti and Thad was slow to unfold but I appreciate the journey Farrah Rochon takes readers on while it is happening. I look forward to reading more about these characters and hope we get a book about Ridley and Vaughan soon.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Sexual content, Grief, and Death of parent
Finding My Bodyguard by A. Blossom
dark
fast-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
3.75
This was my first book from A. Blossom and, outside of a few errors, Finding My Bodyguard was pretty good. I thoroughly enjoyed the love story of Monroe Iris and Dr. Royale London. Unfortunately, I don't think the chemistry was as strong as it could've been with just a little more time - the book is so fast paced that the attraction between Monroe and Royale wasn't developed enough to me. Outside of that, the story is strong and very engaging! I finished it quickly. If you like mafia romances, this one is pretty good and I recommend it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Misogyny, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Body shaming, Confinement, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Terminal illness, Violence, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Alcohol