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shanaepraystoo's reviews
874 reviews
5.0
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Death and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement and Cursing
Minor: Gore, Gun violence, Sexual content, and Alcohol
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Grief
Moderate: Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Addiction, Death, Domestic abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Abortion, and Alcohol
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Pros: The story is engaging and easy to follow. In the world of urban fiction, you can never downplay how significant that is.
Cons: There were too many twists and turns in the story that were largely unexplained.
This will be my last read from Jade Jones, her books have wayyyy too much drama for me - there were fight scenes and everything! That's too much for my romance-loving heart. I do recommend When A Gangsta Wants You for any diehard urban lit readers.
Graphic: Cursing, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Medical content, Pregnancy, and Abandonment
Minor: Addiction, Homophobia, Infertility, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Stalking, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
- 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
4.75
I really enjoyed Nina High's book Love, Under Contract. The book wasn't perfect but the story was engaging enough that I was eager to read book 2, Love, From Scratch. Nina High did even better with Book 2 of the Martin Brothers Series. If you're looking for a feel good romance story with the perfect MMC and an engaging storyline, I highly recommend Love, From Scratch - it is the perfect summer read.
Spice: 🌶️🌶️ 🌶️
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
In Love, Under Contract, we meet Charisse a struggling school teacher Charisse and Dru, a workaholic whose mother has promised him the family business if he settles down. A mutual attraction and shared needs, leads Dru to propose a marriage of convenience to Charisse - she'll no longer struggle because he'll pay her to be his wife - and he'll get the family business because he'll get the wife he needs.
The FMC, Charisse, is relatable and down-to-earth...just what you want in a female lead in a marriage of convenience romance. While the MMC, Dru, is sexy, smart, rich, and generous...everyone's dream. My favorite interaction between Charisse and Dru happens when flies Charisse to her dream vacation in Puerto Rico, then surprises her by flying out her two best friends Porsche and Lily:
"You didn't have to do this." I tell Dru when we're alone.
"I know," he tells me. "But I wanted to. And I can. So I did."
I want to hear a man say that to me right now.
Though the pacing and storytelling felt a bit off at times for me, the book grabbed my attention right from the first page and it's pretty fast paced. I couldn't put it down, so I finished in about 2 days. 🤭
With Love, Under Contract we get a dual POV book about mother-daughter relationships; finding balance in life and relationships; and found family.
The characters are lovable and the story is very engaging for the most part. And I am really excited to read the other 2 books in the series. If you're looking for a lighthearted marriage of convenience romance and you enjoy the found family trope, you'll really enjoy Love, Under Contract.
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Moderate: Cursing, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Abandonment
Minor: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, and Alcohol
- 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
Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, Dementia, and Alcohol
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Infidelity
Minor: Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The story is entertaining for a quick read. Author Monique Fisher kept me engaged from the very first page. And even got some chuckles out of me...some parts of She a Baddie were really funny. Chris is the perfect MMC, smart, rich, and supportive - I'm looking for my Chris Rossmore right now! Isobel is a great FMC, too, she's smart, quick witted, self-confident, and fashionable, just an all around great female character.
I've only read one other book by Monique Fisher, Hot for Teacher, and it was so good that I decided to read her other books whenever I could: enter She a Baddie. I was expecting a full length novel, but I think this is more of a novelette at just 129 pages. It was an enjoyable quick read and I will read more of Monique Fisher's books for sure!
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Abandonment
- 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
3.0
Courtesy of Duval County is mostly engaging with likable characters. The book is relaxing, occasionally funny, and it offers an escape. I recommend this short story to established fans of Tacarra.
Moderate: Cursing, Sexual content, and Pregnancy
Minor: Infidelity, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
- 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
In Jamaal The IT Guy, we meet Winnie and Jamaal. Winnie is a creative extrovert who comes from a family of tumblers and contortionists. Winnie is in California, looking to establish roots for herself after separating from her family's way of life - looking for something more stable, something that doesn't require travel, living out of an RV, and performing. She's climbing her way to the top at Codeability, the startup everyone's talking about, looking to pursue her passions in communications and marketing, but until then she spends her days as a gofer/assistant to the assistant of the guy who runs the Codeability and pining after Jamaal - the IT guy. Jamaal is smart, funny, and fine as hell! He's grappling with confidence issues, he's risk adverse, and he wants Winnie just as bad as she wants him.
When the two finally get on the same page, the sparks fly and readers get to experience a beautiful, relaxing love story about two diverse characters navigating love of self and setting boundaries; intimacy and vulnerability in relationships; family issues; and achieving goals.
One of my favorite romantic quotes comes from Jamaal The IT Guy, below where Jamaal expounds upon his love for Winnie:
Happiness hides in your smile. In the way you look at me. In our heated debates...in the freckles that dot your nose. In the feel ofyour hand in mine...Happiness is the text messages laced with emojis and GIFs that perfectly encapsulate our conversations. It's the way you say my name after we kiss...it's softer, richer, and filled with so much meaning. You are happiness. Being with you and the life we're creating is my happiness.
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing, Toxic friendship, and Classism
Minor: Bullying, Violence, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail