Oh, this was such a pleasant surprise! It wasn’t what I expected it to be at all, but that actually turned out to be good thing.
This w|| 3.5 stars ||
Oh, this was such a pleasant surprise! It wasn’t what I expected it to be at all, but that actually turned out to be good thing.
This was about a romance between a motorcycle club member and a tattoo-artist, but their relationship was super gentle and sweet. Of course, their interactions could also get rough when they fought, but their relationship was extremely soft and delicate under normal circumstances. It was oddly endearing.
“I want to be everything to you.”
I also really liked both of the main characters. They were both strong and independent, but also surprisingly vulnerable. Both of them managed to stood their ground when it came to their boundaries, yet they were willing to change for the other as much as possible.
I do want to give a quick warning that this book was pretty smutty, which, if you know my tastes at all, is not something I enjoy reading, but it was actually not so bothersome to me in this case. I think it’s because all of their intimate scenes held a lot of emotion and depth; it wasn’t just sex, it was them opening up to each other in the most vulnerable way. These scenes were always very gentle and meaningful, which took the crassness out of it for me.
P.S. I wish everyone in that motorcycle club had died a fiery and painful death, and it actually makes me sick to my stomach that they got away with everything they did.
'SEX & MAYHEM' UNIVERSE:
Hounds of Valhalla MC: 1. Road of No Return - 3.5 stars
Oh my god, this was awful. It felt like it was written by a 14-year old girl who didn’t even bother to check whether any of her writing || 1.0 star ||
Oh my god, this was awful. It felt like it was written by a 14-year old girl who didn’t even bother to check whether any of her writing made a lick of sense before publishing it. The sentences had no structure whatsoever, the plot gave me whiplash, and the characters were as ridiculously unbelievable as possible. The romance had to be the most random and underdeveloped thing I’ve ever encountered; it’s a bully romance, but the book starts with the bully being halfway in love with his victim from the get-go, so the very first time we see them interact he says “sorry”, they hook up, and start a relationship. This all happened in the first damn pages, and it was simply insane.
Anyway, after I’d read about 20% of this book I knew it was utter trash, so I decided to skim the rest of it. I’ll just recap the gist of the plot, because wow, it was so dumb and I feel like people need to know just how dumb it is before choosing to waste their time on it: Okay, so the book starts with the arsehole bully having an epiphany about lusting after the guy he’s tormented for years, so he decides to have some sort of hate make-out session with him (which the victim was totally okay with for some reason?), and then they immediately start dating and talking about love. It was super random and had no build-up. However, it gets worse, because some big “misunderstanding” happens that has the victim running away for five years, which leads to the bully being all pissy and angry at him (hypocrisy is a foreign concept for him, I guess). Anyway, this means that after the victim comes back he spends the whole rest of the book groveling and trying to win the bully back. Like… excuse me!? You’re telling me the bully gave his victim severe anxiety, OCD and dissociative disorder with his abuse, but the book decides to focus on the grovel the VICTIM gives to the bully? A grovel we NEVER got from the bully in the first place?? And the victim has to grovel for leaving for very valid reasons, because who can blame the guy for not assuming the best about his abusive bully when everyone tells him horrible lies about what the bully was planning to do to him?? I’d have left too! Well, I’d never have forgiven the bully in the first place, so the whole point is moot, but still. Just… What a mess. So frustrating.
P.S. The victim’s dad casually ended up dating and impregnating his recently legal son’s closest friend, which was totally accepted by everyone and the dad was considered the good guy in this story. I feel like that should tell you all you need to know about the quality of this book and the decency of the characters....more
I really did not expect to get another book in this series, but this fit as a surprisingly perfect addition. It’s about two entirely ne|| 3.0 stars ||
I really did not expect to get another book in this series, but this fit as a surprisingly perfect addition. It’s about two entirely new characters and I initially wondered how they would fit in at the junkyard, but I shouldn’t have worried, because they matched perfectly. The way Knox and Liv found a new family with these crazy, oddly lovable people just warmed my heart.
Of course, the main focus of the book is the romance between Knox and Liv, and it was honestly pretty great. It’s about two best friends, who truly never thought they would be anything more than that, but who are, due to circumstances, forced to see each other in a new light. I thought the sexual discoveries for both of them were very well done: Each had a very different journey, but neither was less valid and it was interesting to see their contrast. I personally had the biggest soft spot for Knox though, and I absolutely loved seeing the way he blossomed into his best self by finally accepting his sexuality but also his own vulnerability.
The dynamic between Knox and Liv was complete ride-or-die. These two would have done absolutely anything for the other and they were each other’s whole entire world. The love between them ran very deep, and their interactions were so sweet and authentic. Their relationship started out with a lot of banter, teasing and the occasional hostility (just like a regular close “bro” friendship), but it eventually became incredibly soft and gentle. They were constantly giving each other comfort through touch, actions and words, and I just kept swooning at how adorable they were together. They were truly enamored and it was beautiful to see them both discover how completely obsessed and in love they were with each other.
'Wrong Side of the Tracks' series: 1. Scum - 3.0 stars 2. Primal - 4.5 stars 3. D!ckhead - dnf 4. Grind - 3.5 stars 5. Wanted - 3.0 stars...more
I definitely liked this more than I thought I would. It’s been a while since I enjoyed anything in this series and I was really getting|| 3.0 stars ||
I definitely liked this more than I thought I would. It’s been a while since I enjoyed anything in this series and I was really getting sick and tired of Domenico, so I guess it’s not surprising that I liked this book better now that it was finally about a different couple!
Mark and Griffith were incredibly different from Seth and Domenico, and it really did feel like a breath of fresh air (or innocence, I guess). There was no toxicity and they were actually very cute. There was a sweet build-up with a lot of tenderness. I didn’t expect Mark to be so gentle, but he was. And Griffith was just a complete sweetheart, who deserved the absolute best.
I really liked the first half of this book the most, and got a little bored in the second half. I lost quite a lot of interest in them after they had sex for the first time since I enjoyed the build-up much more and the book became more smutty than I would have liked after that as well. I also didn’t appreciate Mark dumping Griff for the son he didn’t know he had. Sure, he eventually changed his mind pretty quickly but it irked me that he even entertained the idea of shoving Griff to the side like that. Especially since he is supposed to adore Griff completely!
The idea behind this was good, the premise had a lot of potential and the characters had the kind of dynamic that I normally love, but,|| 2.0 stars ||
The idea behind this was good, the premise had a lot of potential and the characters had the kind of dynamic that I normally love, but, unfortunately, the right execution was just not there. It’s supposed to be a hurt/comfort romance, but everything was just based on lust. There was no emotional depth and no true comfort.
Lucas never really showed empathy or sympathy towards Sage’s pitiful situation, and he was only ever focused on how horny Sage made him. Whenever Sage cried, which was a lot of times, Lucas didn’t even feel that bad or really tried to make him feel better; no, it only ever turned him on. So, all he ever thought about in every situation and all he ever suggested as help was sex, sex, sex, sex. Meanwhile, Sage remained an absolute mess throughout the entire story, and Lucas didn’t really care.
This relationship was just very smutty and even a bit dirty; it was definitely not sweet. The only thing that connected these two was their lust for each other. Which is honestly just not what I’m looking for, especially not in a hurt/comfort romance....more
➛First read: January 2024 | ★4.5 stars ➛Second read: April 2024 | ★3.5 stars
EDIT after my re-read: I didn’t like it as much as I did|| 3.5 stars ||
➛First read: January 2024 | ★4.5 stars ➛Second read: April 2024 | ★3.5 stars
EDIT after my re-read: I didn’t like it as much as I did the first time. It could be because I reread this way too soon and still remembered everything to a point that it became a little boring, but it could also be because I started to notice a few things that annoyed me. The most obvious thing being how often Nikolai dropped or ghosted Bran. He “dumped” him more times than I can count, and that’s not really the behaviour I expect or want from someone who’s supposedly obsessed. Furthermore, Bran always took Niko back immediately after Niko abandoned him or did some other shitty thing, and he was never angry about it. I really wanted him to make Niko grovel more, but I also just needed Niko to never ever give up on Bran in the first place. But nope, that’s not what happened. And that’s what made this book less enjoyable for me this time around.
Original Review: Wow. Just wow. I’m in love. Just utterly, irrevocably in love. Brandon and Nikolai were complete perfection and everything I wanted them to be. I just love them so much, it physically hurts my heart to know that it’s over. I miss them already.
“You’re a fucking nightmare,” he mutters, his throat working beneath my fingers. “Your nightmare.” “I hate you.” “I don’t.” “You’re fucking crazy.” “About you,” I whisper against his lips and claim them with a guttural moan.
This was my first Rina Kent book, and I’m truly so happy that I decided to skip ahead in the series to these two beautiful souls (after all, this book works perfectly as a standalone). I really wouldn’t have wanted to miss their story for the world!
I’m struggling a little bit to find the right words to describe the beauty and sublimity of this romance. But I’ll try my best. I think I should probably begin by explaining the two amazing main characters, because they’re both so complex and beautiful that you need to understand them to appreciate how epic their love story is:
First I’ll talk about beautiful, self-loathing Brandon. He was the kind of person who would always be kind and patient with the people around him. He wore a carefully constructed mask of pleasantries and politeness; all day, every day. He never lost control of himself; actually, he couldn’t lose control, or he would completely spiral. Thus, he managed to keep his breakdowns perfectly in check through a strict routine, until the day that he met Nikolai. Niko saw the true man behind the mask and he awakened a passion and rage inside of Brandon that he had tried to push deep down inside of him for many years. He believed he had to be perfect, that he had to be in control, because if he wasn’t, he’d be afraid everyone would see him as the weakling and waste of space he himself thought he was.
“You cut yourself?” My words are low, but they’re so loud in the silence. “Why?” “Because I’m fucked up.” His voice sounds like death’s lullaby, anguished and shattered. “Because I look at myself in the mirror and get the urge to shatter it to pieces. Because I’ve been haunted by the bitter taste of nausea and self-loathing for so long, I don’t know how to live without them. I was doing fine, pretending and putting on a façade, so why the fuck did you ruin that? Why did you come into my life and destroy every wall I built and ruin every lie I told myself? Why do you touch me like I’m beautiful? Why don’t you hate me when I can’t stand my-fucking-self?”
Then we have Nikolai. Oh, what a beautiful soul he was. It might sound a little strange to say this about a man whose favourite hobby was inflicting violence and chaos (before he met the love of his life), but he truly was beautiful to me. Yes, he was insane, but never in a sadistic way. The way he explained the violence was more like he needed a way to get rid of all the energy stuck inside of him; like he desperately needed an outlet he couldn’t find anywhere else (again, before he met the love of his life). But this violent part of him was not all there was to him. He was also incredibly caring, observant, funny, hyper, sweet and kind. And Brandon was the one who always brought out that side of him. Niko couldn’t be anything else around him, because he was always just so damn happy to be around the guy he adored with all his being. He actually reminded me of an over-eager puppy most of the time. And it was absolutely adorable.
“I love him and I want to be with him. Despite his violent exterior, he’s really a teddy bear deep down, you know. A golden retriever through and through. He’s extremely affectionate and respectful and makes sure I’m comfortable and happy.” “What type of voodoo did he use on my control-freak brother? More importantly, why did it have to be him? You’re allergic to violence and I’m pretty sure he’s illiterate.” “Lan! I’ll have you know he has a 4.15 GPA. Don’t make fun of his intelligence again or I’ll be really cross with you.” “Jesus Christ. You’re defending him?” “Get used to it. I won’t allow you or anyone else to insult him.”
Now, let’s continue with the romance:
At the beginning of their relationship there was of course lot of push-and-pull from Brandon because he was so very afraid of this man who brought out all these intense emotions inside of him. He didn’t want those. He wanted a simple, lifeless existence, not the fire that Niko lit inside him. But Niko would never take no for an answer. He knew Bran was the man he wanted and he would have fought tooth and nail to finally win this wonderfully infuriating man for himself.
I'm done for. Finished. Absolutely jumping off a cliff, rolling and cracking a few bones and not giving a flying fuck, because I have my prize at the bottom. Him.
Niko’s devotion and pure dedication to Bran was a gorgeous sight to behold from beginning to end; I’m not sure I have ever seen a man as whipped for anyone as Niko was for Bran. He was obsessed in the most literal sense of the word. From the moment he met Bran, it was like nothing else in the world existed besides this beautifully complex man. Bran was obviously a little later on the uptake, but it didn’t take too long for his defences to crumble under the incessant pursuit and courtship or the contagious hurricane of Niko’s feelings.
He can’t possibly expect me to stay away. It’s true that I last saw him this morning, but I’ve been going through withdrawals. My mood is dangerously dependent on him and that’s not even funny anymore, but I’m done trying to figure it out. I’m just obsessed with this man and everything about him. Some would argue it’s something a lot more dire than obsession. He consumes me, but he also grounds me. I’ve never felt as mentally strong as when I’m with him. Even the most mundane things we do together—having meals, watching movies, listening to him read the boring morning newspapers—bring a huge smile to my face. Brandon King is ravaging me alive.
I loved that Niko and Bran both had their own issues, but that the other person was always the one who quieted those demons for them. Niko always felt restless and Bran always felt empty, but when they were together Niko was calmer and able to focus on one thing (namely, his love for Bran), while Bran was finally able to feel anything and let go of his control. They both made each other a much better person, and their unwavering support for each other brought the comfort they both desperately craved. They finally found peace and happiness. Which was made even more exceptional by the fact that they found it in an epically complex and hard-fought romance, and with a person so much their opposite that they (or, more likely, Bran, since Niko was smitten from the very beginning) would have never expected it to work out. But it did. And it was beautiful and stunning and gorgeous.
“And, baby?” He kisses the top of my head and his next words nearly give me a heart attack. “Even if you hate yourself, I’ll love you for the both of us.”
Lastly, I want to give a shoutout to the relationship Brandon had with his identical twin, Landon. There were so many hidden emotions and deeper layers within their bond, I genuinely would read a whole book only about them! Alas, there isn’t one, but I would have given an arm and a leg for more of these two. It honestly broke my heart to see the inferiority complex Brandon had because he saw how easy everything seemed to be for his (supposedly) superior brother; how everyone flocked to him and admired his genius and brash personality. It especially hurt Bran so much when he compared all of that glitter and shine to how hard it was for him to simply find the will to live. He really felt so very small and insignificant next to his mighty brother, and thus, he began pushing him away around the time they hit puberty. He thought Landon didn’t care about him, and even when he did, that it was only because of the way Brandon’s flaws would reflect on Lan’s own reputation. Landon was, after all, a narcissistic sociopath, so those thoughts weren’t entirely without root. However, Bran couldn’t be more wrong because if there was anything in the world Landon cared most about it was him; his sweet brother who pushed him away without him ever understanding why. They truly both loved each other so much, and they would always do anything to help or save their other half. It really was beautiful to see them find their way back to each other:
“Come here.” I open my arms and I suspect he’ll push me away since he’s allergic to showing affection. However, my brother slides right between my arms and hugs me for the first time since that night eight years ago. “I love you, little bro,” he whispers. “I need you to know that. I need you to know you’re the first person I loved unconditionally and always will. I might annoy you, might act like a dick to get your attention, but that’s only because the thought of losing you scares the living fuck out of me.” “Love you, too, Lan.” I exhale against his neck, my chest nearly bursting with emotions.
All in all, I think it’s safe to say I am in love with this book. The characters completely captured my heart and the romance had me swooning uncontrollably. I am in love. Truly.
I actually really like a well-developed “enemies to lovers” trope, but I definitely do not like the “I hate you but I’m going to lust af|| 1.0 star ||
I actually really like a well-developed “enemies to lovers” trope, but I definitely do not like the “I hate you but I’m going to lust after you anyway” trope. It’s so shallow and annoying. This trope also makes every character seem beyond stupid and like their brains are just completely lust-addled. Besides, the protagonists here just had absolutely awful personalities and were just flat-out impossible to like. Jazz was even worse than Ant though; he was literally just the worst and most self-absorbed arsehole alive. Lastly, this was simply not a love story; it was lust. Truly nothing more than lust. They had no connection whatsoever and were somehow sexually drawn to each other for no reason, while still hating each other. I’m really not interested in that. It was so boring, I eventually just couldn’t help but start skimming.
A romance between the Heir to the British Throne and the British Prime Minister apparently results in the sweetest, yet most impossible|| 4.0 stars ||
A romance between the Heir to the British Throne and the British Prime Minister apparently results in the sweetest, yet most impossible, forbidden love story imaginable!
I think what mostly made this book stand out for me was the fact that the love between Callum and Oliver felt so incredibly genuine. They truly connected on a deeper level, and their chemistry was palpable from beginning to end. The dynamic between these two was insanely cute and they were crazy compatible together. I honestly just loved seeing their bond grow stronger and stronger over time.
I really liked Oliver and Callum as characters. They were both very sweet, clever and loveable, but Callum definitely stole the show for me. He was geeky, clumsy and awkward, but in the absolutely best way possible. He was just utterly endearing, and I adored the hell out of him. It melted my heart to see Oliver adore him in every possible way as well; he cherished every odd quirk about Callum, and treasured every single thing about him. It was so lovely to see, and Callum honestly deserved someone who loves him like that.
I do have to say that, even though I thought this story, the characters and their romance were all incredibly charming, the writing itself wasn’t my favourite. It dragged a lot. Sometimes it felt more like I was reading an informational textbook than a cute contemporary, which was a bit jarring considering the fluffy and unrealistic nature of this book. I mean, the ending, for example, was absolutely batshit crazy, so I don’t think this book was really trying too hard to take itself seriously, which makes it odd to choose such an informational writing style. But oh well.
All in all, this book gave me a lot of happy vibes and Callum and Oliver were an amazingly sweet couple to read about....more
Okay, so this wasn’t amazing or anything, but it definitely wasn’t bad either. It was extremely toxic, and it was insta-love with a con|| 3.0 stars ||
Okay, so this wasn’t amazing or anything, but it definitely wasn’t bad either. It was extremely toxic, and it was insta-love with a connection mostly build on lust: those are things I usually don’t really appreciate. Nonetheless, I really enjoyed reading this and it was just... fun!
The book is about Rosen and Shane, who couldn’t possibly be any more different. Rosen is gentle and angelic, while Shane is rough around the edges. Rosen goes to college as an art student, while Shane just came out of prison and is already back to his usual criminal activity. These two would have normally never met or connected, but Shane has different plans. After all, it was Rosen’s father who falsely accused Shane of a crime he did not commit, which led to his 10 years in jail. Shane is out for revenge. And he wants to get it through Rosen. What he didn’t account for, however, was to fall in love with the boy in the process.
Ros was so cute it was impossible not to notice. Like a Disney Princess, he was sweet, and wished everyone well, and if he started singing in the woods, birds and rodents would flock to him as if he were made of grain. Shane shouldn’t have liked it. But he did. He just couldn’t understand what a guy like that saw in him.
What I loved about this book is the fact that Shane was so adoring when it came to Rosen. He really thought the sun shone right out of his arse, which is just adorable. Nonetheless, Shane still treated Rosen badly from time to time, which annoyed me. Rosen was definitely a push-over and I would have liked him to be a little less naive. Then again, I found his trusting nature also quite endearing, so it wasn’t all bad.
“You’re my first, my only, and I love you so much.” “Me too, baby. You’re the only one who ever counted.”
There is a big betrayal in this book, obviously, so we do get some good groveling from Shane. I personally would have never forgiven him for what he did (I won’t spoil what it was, but it was truly bad), and I find it a little hard to believe that Rosen would either, but it was what it was. I did like that Shane was truly apologetic and he would have done anything to earn Rosen's forgiveness; he would have literally walked through fire to get Rosen’s trust and affections back.
All in all, I thought this book was very entertaining and it had some tropes I really like. Was it executed in the most hard-hitting way possible? No. But it was decent at what it tried to do, and the writing was addictive enough to have me enjoy this book quite a lot.
'Wrong Side of the Tracks' series: 1. Scum - 3.0 stars 2. Primal - 4.5 stars 3. D!ckhead - dnf 4. Grind - 3.5 stars 5. Wanted - 3.0 stars...more
Oh my god. This was so good, I’m honestly shocked! I did not expect to like this as much as I did, and this far exceeded any of my expe|| 4.5 stars ||
Oh my god. This was so good, I’m honestly shocked! I did not expect to like this as much as I did, and this far exceeded any of my expectations.
“I’m like... stupidly in love with you.” “Baby... I’m fucking moronically in love with you.”
I mean, I’m normally not much of a fan when it comes to smut, and this is literally a romance where the two main characters create an OnlyFans together: That does not exactly sound like a match made in heaven for me, does it? But wow, did this surprise me! In a really really good way. Sure, it does have a lot of sex scenes, but they were somehow just... different. Not only were they one of the hottest sex scenes I have ever read, they were also meaningful. When they were being physical with each other, it did not feel like lust to me. Instead, it felt incredibly intimate, emotional and deep. Each time these two got together, it felt like they grew closer and closer, and I was completely enraptured. I was convinced I would grow bored with all the sex, especially since this book is incredibly long, but I simply didn’t. Not at all! And that’s coming from someone who literally does not like sex scenes whatsoever. So, if you are a smut reader? Damn, you will love this book with all your might!!
Each time we’re together, it gets deeper. More intense, more staggering, more... beautiful. More terrifying.
I also really appreciated the connection these two had with each other. It was a slow burn enemies-to-lovers romance between step brothers, and the build-up was FANTASTIC! I don’t want to get in to anything too much, but the way these two truly could not stand each other at first, they way they slowly grew towards each other, the way they slowly let their walls down, the way they kept denying their true feelings, the way they both supported each other like no one else had before: I LOVED IT!
Kyran Harbor is the love of my life. That’s it. I’ve fallen. Hook, line, and sinker, he has my whole heart.
Also, the role-reversal between these two was amazing! The character who’s popular and seemingly more confident, Kyran, becomes more submissive(-ish) and needy, while the geeky one, Avi, is more of a leader in bed with a dirty mouth and a gentle touch.
“Tell me you think I’m beautiful.” “Baby... You are so goddamn beautiful. I don’t think, I know.”
Still, Avi is so obsessed with Kyran he would do anything for him. He is patient beyond words, and he would have done anything to be with Kyran, or even be close to him. He would never do anything to hurt or upset him. It was so well done and their dynamic felt super authentic for them.
“I just thought you might like to know that Zeb found your OnlyFans.” “He what!?” Kyran barks, eyes widening in terror. “Kyran, will you please just go eat your food?” I hiss at him. “I’m handling this.” He pins me with a glare, and I gulp, instantly backpedalling. “I’m sorry, baby.” I try to rub his shoulder, but he rips away from me. “That was rude... I didn’t mean it. I just don’t want you to worry, okay?”
The hurt-comfort trope was also really strong here, especially since one of the main characters has a deeply traumatic history, which I will not reveal, but it was devastating, and his character had so many layers. His trauma truly felt like it was part of him from beginning to end and it was just beautiful as well as heartbreaking. His character was truly so well developed, and it once again showed the depth this story was able to portray. I was so happy that he got someone who was there for him unconditionally. These two were honestly so dependant on each other and they truly became each other’s world. They were each other’s comfort and one remaining light in the darkness.
“Every single thing I did... I did for you. To have you.”
Honestly, I loved both of these characters so much and I’m genuinely obsessed with their love story. I couldn’t get enough of them! I'm not sure what else I can say about this book other than: wow....more
I don’t even want to say too much about it, honestly. This book was just awful. Plain and simple.
The plot was ridicu|| 1.0 star ||
This. Was. So. Bad.
I don’t even want to say too much about it, honestly. This book was just awful. Plain and simple.
The plot was ridiculous, the characters were embarrassing, the writing made me cringe, and the romance was boring to say the least.
Also, absolutely nothing interesting happens in this book. What’s the point of writing a super over-the-top insane bad boy story if you’re going to make is so dull? Nothing lived up to its potential, and I’m not sure I have a better word to describe this book other than “ridiculous”.
I never would have made it through the book if I didn’t skim like crazy. It’s absolutely dreadful to get through the whole thing and I don’t recommend doing it. Honestly, if you, for some reason, do want to give this book a chance, at least just DNF when you’re not vibing with it early on. Trust me: It does not get better. I would say it possibly only gets worse.
'The Loyal Boys' series: 1. Cali Boy - 3.5 stars 2. Bad Boy - 1.0 star...more
This wasn’t really what I expected it to be, and I mean that in a good as well as in a bad way: The writing was a lot more flowery and || 3.5 stars ||
This wasn’t really what I expected it to be, and I mean that in a good as well as in a bad way: The writing was a lot more flowery and dragged-out than I was expecting (bad), but it did make their love story feel more pure than I thought it would be (good). The whole thing was also quite over-the-top, but that was actually something I was already expecting.
The idea of Max and Wes intrigued me immediately. The fact that Max was not only super protective and possessive, but he was also Wes’s pseudo-brother resulted in a great mix: It gave their relationship a swoon-worthy dynamic, but it also made it filled with plenty of angst and depth. Max would literally drop everything at the drop of a hat if Wes so much as made a peep; he would do anything for him because Wes was his whole damn universe. He would snarl and bark at everyone else, but for Wes he could be incredibly soft.
However, I did get a little bit annoyed at how much Max kept denying his feelings at the start. At least he never denied he cared deeply, but I wish he didn’t so steadfastly refuse to give in to his romantic feelings or that at least Wes would have pushed back against him some more. Later on, when they did get together, the love-bombing actually became a bit too much though. It was cute, do not get me wrong, but it was also slightly repetitive and eventually I was kind of over it. Keep in mind, this book is really really long, so the romance does drag quite a bit. I also wasn’t a big fan of their sexual dynamic; Max was too bossy and the praise kink wasn’t for me. I’m sure a lot of people would like this though. The scenes were just too long for me personally and also not really my style. Then again, I’m not much of a smut fan in general, so take my opinion with a pinch of salt here.
Now, I want to take a little moment to talk about the side characters because I LOVED THEM! Ryan and Jamie were such amazing friends and the way they always had Wes’ back made my heart so happy! Jamie was generally just hilarious and he cracked me up on multiple occasions. Rory and Madison were honestly just sweethearts and I loved how these girls always showed up for Wes. I thought their own relationships with their boyfriends (Ryan and Jamie) were also very cute! I almost want to go back and read the previous books! Win was an awesome brother to Wes and Max, and he constantly put a smile on my face. He fit in effortlessly with everyone and he was always there for his baby bro. I definitely might check out his book with Lars when it comes out. Anyway, all these characters had so many hilarious or sweet interactions with either Wes, Max or each other, and I adored it each time. This is definitely one of those found family series that really succeeds in making you see that the group cares about and loves each other deeply, but also seems like they would be so much fun to be around....more
Hmm. This was decent, but not great. It was honestly kind of funny, and I did love some of the pining we got here. However, something w|| 3.0 stars ||
Hmm. This was decent, but not great. It was honestly kind of funny, and I did love some of the pining we got here. However, something was just missing for it to truly be a hit for me.
The story is about a famous rockstar, Henry, who has a crippling fear of flying and a pilot, Evan: obviously they do not seem like a match made in heaven, but their encounters and chemistry soon proof that assumption to be wrong. Henry, for some insecurity reasons, only ever dates straight men, and after meeting Evan, he assumes the man to be only into women, and he soon sets his sights on him in high pursuit. Evan, however, has sworn off men completely after being burned by one 10 years ago, so it takes a little while for him to give in to Henry’s advances. Nonetheless, Evan never really stood a chance as he was immediately charmed by the slightly neurotic but extremely humorous rock-god.
“Goddammit, Henry, you have to give me a fucking chance. I can make you feel loved. I can do it—I swear on my life I can. You are my exception. Never in my life have I been so sure about something.” I paused then corrected myself. “Someone.” Dropping my forehead to his, I whispered, “I’ll be the best damn King Kong you’ve ever seen.” A strangled laugh escaped his throat even as the tear rolled down his cheek. Using my thumb to swipe it away, I pleaded, “Just let me try.”
All in all, I enjoyed the banter these two had and I liked Henry’s vibe. What I didn’t like was the whole “I’m only into straight guys” thing as it was honestly ridiculous. When the whole conflict happened surrounding this “straight” problem, I was genuinely frustrated and could not help but roll my eyes repeatedly. It didn’t make any sense and it made Henry seem a lot less likable. I understand he was insecure, but still. Anyway, aside from this particular issue I had, I did like these two together and overall, this was a pretty fun read....more
I’m sorry, but this was super bland and honestly just plain boring. I especially got very annoyed at Winston’s reluctance to come out. I|| 2.0 stars ||
I’m sorry, but this was super bland and honestly just plain boring. I especially got very annoyed at Winston’s reluctance to come out. It didn’t really make any kind of sense, and worst of all, it seemed like Winston didn’t even care about how much them hiding their relationship was hurting Rhys. But honestly, not only was Winston a bit of a selfish prick, their relationship also lacked any chemistry or depth in general. This just wasn’t it for me.
'Lionheart Academy' series: 1. Betting You - 3.0 stars 2. Omitting You - 2.0 stars...more
I’m going to be honest here and start this out by saying that I skimmed a lot of this book. I noticed early on that the writing was juv|| 2.0 stars ||
I’m going to be honest here and start this out by saying that I skimmed a lot of this book. I noticed early on that the writing was juvenile and that I did not feel very interested in the overall story. Thus, I decided I wasn’t going to get very caught up in the details and only tried to read the parts that featured Arthur and Merlin’s romance. Unfortunately, not even their relationship could make me very happy. It was too simple and too… mweh. It was nothing to write home about.
I watched the BBC show years ago and I never really thought about Merlin and Arthur as a romantic ‘ship’ while watching. However, their bromance was always amazing. I’m definitely thinking about re-watching the show now with this new perspective: I’m sure it could be very lovely and swoon-worthy. After all, their chemistry has always been insane and their dynamic is filled with potential.
Anyway, this was the first fan-fiction I have ever read, and I really like the idea of trying more. I mean, reading a story with characters I already know and love sounds awesome! But… This one unfortunately did not really work for me. It felt a bit empty and surface-level to me. I’m hoping I’ll have better luck the next time I might try some fan-fiction. Fingers crossed!...more
Oh my god, why!? Why did this need to be such a disappointment? Again! It’s really starting to become a running theme with this author,|| 2.0 stars ||
Oh my god, why!? Why did this need to be such a disappointment? Again! It’s really starting to become a running theme with this author, and I’m getting kind of sick of it. No matter how much I loved Sem and Emery, I think I will be parting ways with this author from now on. She’s just lost her spark for me. Whereas her characters used to be endearing and funny, now they’re just annoying and ridiculous. Whereas the romance used to be all-consuming and devoted, now it’s just silly and frustrating. Her latest books just feel empty and I don’t like much about them.
The worst part is that I was genuinely so excited for this book. Finn and Landon seemed like the perfect pairing to write a book about, and I could not wait to see it all play out! Unfortunately, it played out like the biggest disappointment imaginable and all potential was completely lost.
I knew this would have the best friends-to-lovers trope with a heavy dose of pining and unrequited love; I was sooo ready for that! I mean, I love that dynamic! So colour me surprised when Finn, who’s supposed to be pining for Landon and doting on him hand and foot, has the personality of a cold dead fish. If I didn’t already know he was in love with Landon, I would have never guessed it from the way he acted. He literally did nothing but exist with a stoic face, pretending like every time Landon touched him was the biggest hardship imaginable. Dude honestly did not do anything remotely interesting and he never showed an ounce of emotion or personality! The only thing Finn did passionately was continuously text with this other guy, Archer, even though he knew how much it was bothering Landon and he knew that it was driving a wedge between them. I mean, call me crazy, but if the man that I have been in love with for EIGHT WHOLE YEARS is finally giving me the time of day, you will not see me texting another man 24/7. Like, why? I understand he was supposedly talking about Landon the entire time, but it was still freaking stupid. Finn just sucked as a love interest. Plain and simple. And that honestly came as a shock to me because based on the previous book I thought he would be amazing…
And honestly, do not even get me started on Landon, because this man drove me absolutely mad! He had such a terribly infuriating personality and I wanted to smack him repeatedly. He did nothing but whine and be stupid. Literally, that’s all he did. Nothing else. Just whine. Be stupid. Whine. Be stupid. Repeat that over and over again and you have this book.
Also, just to be clear, the premise of this book was utterly insane and did not make any sense whatsoever. Supposedly Finn wants nothing more than to be with Landon, but he does everything in his power for that not to happen. He never made any kind of effort to win Landon over and he never attempted to make Landon see him in a romantic light. If anything, it seemed like he was working hard to achieve the exact opposite. He was working against himself so hard, sometimes I couldn’t even be sure if he really did want to be with Landon or if maybe he changed his mind. It was just too crazy to think that he would act this way if he did want him. And you know, maybe it could have all been more understandable inside Finn’s head, but we don’t get to know that because we only get his POV during the chapters when they were young! Everything in the present is narrated by Landon, and I’m certain this dragged the book down further. We definitely needed to know what Finn was thinking in the present because it just wasn’t working this way.
Oh, and the worst part about it all might be that this relationship was entirely build on sex. They didn’t have a genuine connection and there was absolutely no chemistry between them. They didn’t do anything together other than touch and hump each other; no depth to be found anywhere. I’d be surprised if they had a heartfelt conversation even once.
But anyway, not only was everything lacking in the emotional or romantic department, this book was also super boring. It was repetitive like you can’t even imagine, and I was over it after only a few chapters. Nothing interesting happens; it’s constantly the same thing. I mean, okay, that’s not entirely true; something does happen at the very end... but honestly, I wish it hadn’t. Because holy hell that situation was such nonsense, I can’t even. I’m not going to “spoil” it but just know that it was utterly ridiculous, over-the-top and resolved way too fast for something so randomly enormous. It was just such… bullshit. I’m sorry but it was. And honestly, so was this whole book. No offense, but I’m just so disappointed; I’m almost a bit mad that a couple that had so much easy potential was still ruined so spectacularly. What a waste.
I know this has been a rather harsh review, and I apologize if I offended anyone, but for some reason I simply couldn’t find the will to sugar-coat it. Maybe the huge disappointment I’m feeling is making me feel more intensely about the whole thing or something. I don’t know.
'Inevitable' series: 1. Until Him - 2.5 stars 2. Always Him - 2.0 stars...more
I’m just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to piss the hell off. I swear to god, I wanted to slap Sam so hard, I’m not eve|| 2.5 stars ||
I’m just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to piss the hell off. I swear to god, I wanted to slap Sam so hard, I’m not even joking. This man tested my patience to no end, and I was just so angry.
I could at least be happy about the fact that Jory seemed to have grown a minor spine here, and did not ever truly give in to Sam until the very end. He might have still been in love with Sam this entire time (which I wish he wasn’t, and which I will also never understand as to why), but it was clear he was trying to fight his feelings and use his brain instead. He said no, and genuinely seemed to want to put Sam behind him. Of course, Sam does not actually understand what the word “no” means, so he pushes and pushes and pushes until eventually (and unfortunately) Jory does give in. *sigh* If only Jory could just push him away forever… What a beautiful thing that would be.
It’s becoming clearer and clearer that I would 100% love these books if it weren’t for the fact that Sam exists. The main romance here is just truly bugging me, which is such a shame because the rest of the series works well for me: I like Jory and I like the glimpses we get of his life and the people he interacts with. Although I have to admit that in this particular book almost every single person he met was a bit of an arsehole, so… That could have been better as well.
This was quite similar to the first book, minus the fact that Rory’s relationship with both Dane and Sam has changed drastically. Rory || 3.5 stars ||
This was quite similar to the first book, minus the fact that Rory’s relationship with both Dane and Sam has changed drastically. Rory is no longer working for Dane, and has, instead, been adopted by him as a little brother. I have to admit it all felt slightly over-the-top, but it was also quite cute. I definitely really like their dynamic and relationship. At first I thought it might turn into something romantic, but it is quite clear now that it won’t. And I’m okay with that, even though it’s a shame. When it comes to Sam, the change in their relationship is that they basically do not have one anymore. Sam barely even grovelled for his fuck-up in the previous book, and after Rory takes him back, it does not take him long to fuck up again. He then takes freaking months to try to get Rory back, and he does so in a way that exuded entitlement and arrogance. He just assumed Rory would take him back, no questions asked, and unfortunately, it turned out he was right. Rory forgave him, and henceforth began their biting relationship once more in which they mostly just argue and Sam is a bit of an arsehole. I was resigned to the fact that apparently Rory wanted to be in a relationship with a dickhead, and at least, I thought, Sam is all-in now. He does truly adore Rory, so much so, he is basically obsessed. No way is he going to fuck up again, right? WRONG. This book ends with Sam leaving Rory AGAIN. I legit felt like screaming. This man deserves to drown in dirt, he is the absolute worst. And I need Rory to stand his ground from now on and not take him back. Or at least make him reaaaally work for it. Because I am getting so pissed off with this Sam guy. Seriously.
“Promise me you won’t go anywhere,” he said, my face in his hands as he stared into my eyes. “I promise.” I smiled slowly. “Don’t leave me. I’ll hurt you if you try and leave me.” I smiled down into his eyes. “Yeah? You’ll hurt me?” “Jory,” his voice cracked. “Please, baby, I—” But my mouth on his cut him off as I kissed the worry right out of him.
Anyway, aside from Dane and Sam, we also see Rory interact with plenty of other people and, just like the previous book, I adored most of these scenes. Rory was so well-loved; it was very pleasant and engaging to read about him meeting all these people that instantly adored him.
The plot itself is still pretty insane, and although I genuinely do like Rory, I have to admit that it is utterly ridiculous how he treats all the many threats to his life. He genuinely does not seem to take it seriously in any way, and I don’t understand why, since he most certainly does not have a death wish, and it’s not like he’s stupid… So why?
I have mixed feelings on this one, and even now, I’m still not really sure what to think of it. There was something about this that jus|| 3.0 stars ||
I have mixed feelings on this one, and even now, I’m still not really sure what to think of it. There was something about this that just worked for me, despite the execution of the story being quite lacklustre and superficial. The writing itself also wasn’t very good. So, really, why did I like this? I don’t know, but I did somehow enjoy it. So… That’s that.
The story itself is about Tyler, a sarcastic and moody biology major, who was shunned by his family for being gay, and is now working 24/7 to pay for college and housing. One night, at work, he meets a pretty athlete, who he has a rather unpleasant encounter with. Turns out, this athlete, Carson, is the most famous football player on campus and has secretly been obsessing over Tyler from afar for over a year. From there on out, everything goes super-fast: Carson confesses his feelings, and Tyler is immediately wary but also recipient of his feelings.
It’s very insta-love, and does not make a ton of sense. Maybe it would have been easier to understand if we had gotten Carson's POV as well, but I guess we’ll never know. The writing was also a bit clunky and could at times be quite hard to follow. Then again, I found most of it to be very entertaining and seeing someone be adored and get completely obsessed over has always been a secret weakness of mine. So yea, make of all that what you will....more
This was a truly lovely second-chance romance story. It managed to exude warmth while also serving an expected dose of heartbreak. The || 3.5 stars ||
This was a truly lovely second-chance romance story. It managed to exude warmth while also serving an expected dose of heartbreak. The writing was charming and heartfelt, and the characters continually pulled on multiple of my heartstrings. Something about this just felt so pure and authentic.
“I love you.” Everett reached across the table and took Tommy’s hand. “I love you too.” And then, God fucking damn it, Tommy’s eyes started to water. “Sorry,” he said. “There’s nothing to apologize for.” With his thumb, Everett swept a tear off Tommy’s cheekbone. “I think it’s sweet.” Tommy wrinkled his nose. “Fuck you.” “I think you’re sweet. You’re adorable.” “Oh my God.” Tommy tried to cover his face with the hand Everett wasn’t holding, but Everett grabbed that wrist too and used it to haul Tommy to his feet. “When did you get so cute? I could eat you up.” “I’m going to sink into the earth,” Tommy lamented. “I just like you so much, Tommy Cabot.” He put a knuckle under Tommy’s chin, tilting his face up. “I’m really smitten with the person you turned into, even with the crying and the blushing.” “I’m blushing? Oh, fuck me.” “I mean, I could. I would. I think I’d do whatever you wanted at this point.” Tommy groaned. “Wait until you see me sobbing over old picture albums. You’ll be overcome with lust.”
This might have been a moderately short read, but it still got me rooting for and swooning over the relationship. It was sweet....more
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