This month was a bit of a disappointment reading wise. I read three books on glowing BookTok recommendations. None of them are horrible books, they aren’t even bad. But the recommendations made them sound much more…more than they turned out to be.
But then all that got balanced out with some really great reads. Check out all the books below!
24690 By: A.A. Dark
24690 #1
Definitely not for the faint of heart. As far as dark romances go, this is the most depraved. Highlighting the darkest desires conceived. The story had me hooked in the beginning. Ive never read a romance centered around human slavery.
As soon as Everleigh (slave 24690) experiences her tragic day – trying to avoid any spoilers – it was all downhill for me. The romance part of it completely dissipated. It turned into a gore novel relying on shock value. A great horror novel, but still.
I loved watching Everleigh evolve into a pillar of strength. Never truly breaking. That being said, I have no desire to continue the series. Reading the synopsis gave me enough.
The Arrangement By: S.E. Lund
Unrestrained #1
There is only one thing I liked about this book. Okay, like might be a bit strong. Appreciate is more appropriate.
I appreciate that it seems the author did a deep dive into D/s relationships. Highlighting common stigmata surrounding the lifestyle. Almost clinically. There was more talk than actually practice.
When Drake and Kate are together, there is very little in the way of a D/s relationship. Mostly just Drake reminding Kate of what she agreed to. Then Kate continuing to question everything.
Then there’s Dawn. Kate’s so-called best friend and representation f all those who will simply never understand and always condemn. She was just plain annoying.
The characters reference a certain series that brought BDSM to light for many. Several times. While I wasn’t a huge fan of Mr. Grey and his story, it was still substantially more kinky and had an actual story. I think that young billionaire would have been disappointed in Drake and Kate’s story.
Creation’s Captive By: Melody Joanne
Broken Souls Triolgy #1
The only thing I knew about this book before reading it was it’s dedication. That’s right, I read a book solely because of it’s dedication. It sucked me in a gave me such promise. What a disappointment.
Don’t get me wrong, the first third of the book is great. Vivian’s snark is awesome. Since I didn’t read the synopsis, or anything else, before dicing in, the supernatural element was a surprise.
Vivian seeing ghosts does have inconsistencies as the story goes on.
Then Leon enters the story and everything goes downhill. Now, I’m all for a well-written alpha-hole. Leon is just a Grade A jerk with an ego problem. It’s one things to have a dominant personality. It’s another to be domineering and condescending.
There isn’t one thing I like about him. And other than the bond pulling Vivian and him together, I don’t think she likes anything about him other than the way he looks.
Leon claims he will protect her and keep her from harm. He does, but there is nothing I trust about him. He acts more cult-minded and patriarchal. Keep sweet and obey style (just without the pedo side of things. It’s not that kind of book, thank goodness). That is what he wants from Vivian, while he does whatever he wants. Interpreting their bond, their destiny, as entitled ownership of her.
He goes to great lengths to prove that she belongs to him. And now we won’t know how that turns out for him until April 2025!
The Damned By: Renee Ahdieh
The Beautiful #2
To be honest, I didn’t have the highest of hopes. Only continuing the series because of curiosity. The style of writing, really placing you in the time period. But it’s just too much inner struggle redundancy.
Celine struggles to find her place in the world after her ‘ordeal’. Bastien struggles to accept his new role in life. And all the other characters struggle with this or that, blah, blah. So much inner turmoil it’s a turn off. It’s one thing to have characters with depth. It’s another to make them broken records of endless angst.
Too many POVs, too many chapters of nothing happening to move the story along.
And when the plot finally advances, it’s incredibly underwhelming.
Driving My Obsession By: Lauren Biel
This was a recommendation since I read both Haunting and Hunting Adeline. A few inluencers claimed this was so much more than a dark romance. After reading H.D. Carlton, this wasn’t was dark as I was expecting.
Ambrose, seriously, that’s his name, is scarred both physically and mentally. He needs revenge for what was done to him. Oaklyn has scars of her own. But he doesn’t understand that when he pegs her as a stereotypical stripper and chooses her as his revenge victim.
Yes, there is a whole lot that happens without consent. But neither seem particularly upset about it. More annoyed. It became redundant and cheesy.
Ambrose doesn’t come off as the mysterious bad guy I think the author was going for. He’s more a guy with a violent chip on his shoulder who wants someone to pay for his unfortunate, unfair, past.
Oaklyn, well, she’s not a believable character. Her dream of becoming a professional dancer is dashed so she strips? Not to impugn exotic dancers, but her logic is ridiculous. The way she reacts to, well, everything? Either write a broken character or make her inwardly strong as she hides her strength from the world. Not someone who teeters between the two never landing on either. There is not even a tiny spark of curiosity to read another stand alone from this series.
The Genesis Code By: John Case
A great library book sale find. Written in the late 90s. Like Crichton, Case marries fact and fiction so well, sometimes it’s difficult to know where one stops and the other begins. That’s the whole story – seamless.
A thrilling mystery that keeps you guessing.
Joe Lassiter is on a mission to discover why his sister and nephew were murdered. His investigation leads him into a darkness where science and religion will never co-exist.
Action, intrigue, and several twists kept me excited about turning the page.
While I absolutely loved the ending, there were a few loose ends (characters) I would have liked to have seen Lassiter pay some last grateful nods to. But given the circumstances, it would not have fit well. I’m very pleased with the typical open-ended HEA most thriller novels such as this have.
The House at the End of Hope Street By: Meena Van Praag
A house that can only be found by the women who are called to it. Summoned because they need some guidance in their lives.
By entering and living in the house for a predetermined amount of time, they find themselves mentored by the resident ghosts of the house. Ghosts of women who have been some of the most influential trailblazers throughout history. All pioneers in their own time and rights. Spanning from the 18th to the 20th centuries.
From Agatha Christie, George Elliot, Sylvia Plath, Liv Tyler, Florence Nightingale, and Beatrix Potter. Suffragettes, literary geniuses, nurses, astronomers, activists, and actresses.
The fictional characters, portions of the house, and some books that occupy he space are not there by coincidence.
The house calls to women who are in need. Not of earthly possessions but guidance. Some in a direction they were not expecting.
The house passes down from one matriarch to another. Kind of acting as a den mother. The story follows several women who have been called. Each woman’s past is slowly revealed as they reconcile what their future can actually become. Overall a heartwarming story of women finding their feet again.
Pucking Around By: Emily Rath
Jacksonville Rays #1
This is long. Like battling an epic fantasy long. My copy was even longer because it had a novella attached to the beginning. Which I loved! But was confused at the same time.
This is advertised as a reverse harem story. The novella is basically about finding and denying your soulmate. The one and only person that can complete you.
Yes, the actual book is super long. But considering you’re dealing with multiple partners, a career change, emotional baggage from the past (with ALL the characters), your own fear, and a whole lot of sex, it kinda has to be lengthy. Honestly, I could have done without about half the book.
The MMCs are great, Each has a distinct personality, their own quirks, and flaws. They are relatable and yummy.
Rachel I could have done without. She’s whiny and beyond manipulative. Telling one guy that she belongs to him; he has her whole heart. Then turns to the next guy and says the exact same thing!
The men pine for her but it all boils down to one thing: lust. There was no cosmic connection bringing them all together. Just sex.
Am I going to read the next in the series? Yes. (Spoiler, I already finished the next installment – much, much better!)
The Savior By: J.R. Ward
Black Dagger Brotherhood #17
This many books into a series can be tricky. Some were great; others were not the best. This one, however, was one of my favorites starring a brother that has been mentioned or eluded to in almost every book.
Murhder finally gets his HEA. Not a spoiler, HEAs are literally in every installment. One thing I really like about this series is the ongoing plot line. There have been several up to this point. This fairly new one with a fresh villain has me itching for the next book.
But because there is so much going on, there wasn’t much time to really get into many of the other characters as there usually is. But let’s face it, the cast is expanding.
I hate that most of these reviews sound like an annoyed rant. But the majority of what I read I will not be reaching for again – ever. The books I did like I would recommend in a heartbeat. Enthusiastically.
Let me know if you’ve picked up any of these or are planning to!
