If you watch the reel above, or saw it on my Instagram or TikTok (shameless plug), you’ll notice I have rated the books with stars this time. I’m not the biggest fan of the star rating system. Everything seems to be succumbing to the stars. So, take my rating with a grain of salt.
Not all three-star books are created equal and so on. I am also really hesitant giving books five stars. Once that bar is set, it’s there. From me, because I am ridiculously critical, probably to the point of annoyance, four stars is still a pretty big winner.
Angel’s Target By: Aimee Robinson
A Stuff Your Kindle grab I’m really glad I picked. I liked it. Plain and simple. A different take on angels without a religious foundation.
Rose’s twin was taken six months ago. Titan, the angel, feels responsible. Both independently on a mission to rectify their guilt and the situation. But there is more than Tammy, Rose’s twin, bringing these two together.
The world that we are brought into is complicated just enough to be intriguing. Light versus dark. Good versus evil. Magic. Love.
Titan and all his angelic brothers each have different and distinct personalities. The banter is endearing and just what you would expect from a band of warrior brothers.
While I really liked this introductory novel, I only want to
continue reading to get to the novel that focuses on one angel in particular that caught my attention. Of course it is not the next in the series. Also, the main plot is well done for this book, but I can see it getting redundant and losing my interest quickly. It if doesn’t evolve or escalate it is not strong enough to carry through three book let alone all seven that are in the series.
Dark Restraint By: Katee Robert
Gives a look into the Minotaur, someone we previously only perceived as a large gun-for-hire simply doing the bidding of his employer. Love how we finally get to know the man himself.
I honestly could have done without the relationship between him and Ariadne. As usual, Katee can write her spice. But the two of them, even though they worked together, wasn’t a great addition to the story line for me.
What I really liked was the continuation of the main plot: impending danger to Olympus and its precious barrier. Last book we discovered who is really behind trying to bring down the barrier. Now we see how this knowledge is being handled by multiple sides thickening the plot.
Plus getting to know Dionysus, Hermes, Icarus, Hera, and a few other players better.
Great twists as we get closer to the end of the series!
Entice By: Stacey Lynn
Stuff Your Kindle find. I picked this up for what I thought it was – a quick, spicy read. And it is, but so much more.
Laurie was cheated on by her husband with her best friend. Her boss sells the company Laurie has worked with for so long she is practically family without warning to a man she revenge f@&ked only hours before the big announcement.
Liam initially propositioned Laurie for a one-night stand. But the two quickly became addicted to each other. Not even working for him deters her.
James, the cheating husband, wants her back and is willing to fight. Too little too late? Laurie has reconciled the end of her marriage until one final betrayal throws everything up in arms again.
This book is full of heat, deception, betrayal, lies, and lust. It’s relatively short but gives you all the emotions in rapid succession. Racing to read the next in the series.
Embrace B: Stacey Lynn
This doesn’t directly have spoilers. But it alludes to them, maybe? You can probably guess the ending by reading this, so proceed with caution.
I really dislike the fact that I spent money on this book. A book that should have been the second half of Entice.
As you read above, I really liked Entice and was excited to finish Laurie’s story. It reminded me of Netflix’s Sex/Life series and I was all here for it. Loved the way they ended the series.
By the end of the first chapter in this book, I was over it already. Through sheer will power I forced myself to continue.
In the first book, Laurie ran away a lot. Literally. Things got overwhelming and she bolted. It was annoying but she was going through an awful lot, so that got her a pass.
This time it was ridiculous. She ran within the first few pages. I really wanted her to grow a pair and take off her running shoes.
Liam is essentially written off in this book. Liam, whom she had such chemistry and strong feelings. Laurie never really gave him a chance to tell his side of things. Didn’t seem interested in reconciling or evens closure. Just ran away from it all – shocking. This is all about James and Laurie working tings out – ew. She may have history with James, but even their future, and present, fell flat for me. There is a bit more to it but it just seems like useless page filler at this point.
This whole book was a huge disappointment. (POSSIBLE SPOILER: DON’T PROCEED IT YOU DON’T WANT TO KNOW)
I started reading it telling myself she better nor take back the cheater who didn’t realize what he had till he lost it and will most likely forget about again. And yet, here we are. Ahhhhhhh!
The Girl From the Well By: Rin Chupeco
I found this in the library as part of their ‘date with a book’ program. Check out a wrapped book based only on a few clues to what the book is about. So happy I took a chance on this.
YA horror based around the Japanese legend that sparked movies such as The Ring.
When I say YA, I mean middle school and older. There is gore, but it doesn’t go into extended detail. Gives enough to get the imagination flowing like blood.
Tarquin, a 15yo, has had a rough life. His supposed insane mother tattooed him at five and continually tries to kill him every time he visits her in the loony bin. Is she really crazy though? More importantly, is her son following in her footsteps?
Oh, and he has a shadowy spirit attached to him. The thing I loved most about this story is it is told from the POV of Okiku, a ghost that has been hanging around for about 300 years. Initially attracted to Tarquin by the darkness clinging to him.
While extremely dangerous in nature, Okiku wants to protect Tarquin. There is somewhat of a disconnect to the story, but it’s intentional. Adding to the chaotic feeling of hearing a story through a supernatural being.
The one criticism I have is: I wish there as more about those, mostly children, that could see the supernatural around them. I love creepy kids that see too much and pass it off as the facts of life. That may just be me. I have already started reading the sequel.
Hiding Him By: Adam Hattan
If you don’t know who Adam Hattan is, he is a YouTuber that primarily does Disney and travel content. I have followed him for years. That was how I heard about his first fictional novel. He has self-published a few unofficial Disney travel guides before this so was no stranger to the process.
As a YouTuber, he chronicled his journey to publish this. First trying to go the traditional route. All the publishers had the same feedback that he didn’t quite understand. Having read it, I get it. They all said it was a good story but not for them. Hence his self-publishing (good for him).
Yes, it is a very good story. The characters are diverse and relatable. There were times I read parts in Adam’s voice. Picturing him sitting there writing this and being totally amused. He really put himself into this which made it all the better.
But. I think the only reason it has any real traction is because he has such a following on YouTube. Were he completely unknown to social media, any publishing company would have been hard pressed to really get the book out there. It is well written and a lovely read. So are the many, many others like it. There is nothing groundbreaking or unique about this coming-or-age LGBTQ+ story. I have read several just like it by many other authors. I think that was the hesitation to secure a book deal.
Like I said, the story is fine. The emotional aspect of Finn and Cam’s relationship just doesn’t seem realistic though. Even considering teenage hormones. Read more like a romance novel fantasy. Deleting that magical area of really getting to know someone other than their physical attractiveness. He’s hot; I’m in love with him. Wait, what?
The best part of the book, in all honesty, was the last chapter. Present day Adam wrote a letter to school-aged Adam essentially telling him that life gets better, hang in there. It brought tears to my eyes. His words showed how much of himself he truly put into this story.
Then there’s the acknowledgements which I don’t usually read. But knowing who Adam is and having been brought into his life through YT, I was curious. If you know YT Adam, you are also familiar with Gary C. Their friendship makes my heart sing. Still, I think this book is worth the read if you are looking for a cute, heartfelt YA romance.
Shade By: Shayne Ford
Stuff Your Kindle.
I don’t know what just happened. Shade, the only son to a billionaire couple, wants nothing to do with the family’s company. Bitter about his childhood, which just ended – he turns 21 during this story.
Shockingly (enter sarcasm here) he’s been a player until he meets Tara, this poor, weak soul who has sex with him, a stranger, at a work function without even knowing his name, on the balcony. She has been with a manipulative a$$hat for years, knows he’s been unfaithful, but still clings to him through all his gaslighting.
Her boss is a scornful woman who takes it out on Tara.
Shade’s mother, who just took over the company Tara works for, is also gunning for Tara because she wants her son to be with someone who has breeding. Then there is the 21-year-old playboy who gives her the best sex ever. That’s all he gives her.
The story is a bit disjointed and prone to make you want to roll you eyes until they are lost rolling around your skull somewhere.
Shade is an absolute jerk to his mother. She was a teen mom and made the decision lots of privileged parents make. More interested in her appearance and ‘rich life’ than nurturing her son. Still, he is awful. The next book seems too predicable to waste my time. From what I get from the back copy, more complications standing between Tara and Shade from being together because he wants to change his ways and settle down with her. Him having to prove he is serious about her. Tara trying to find what she wants and coming to terms with her feelings.
Sure, all romance novels follow that formula in some way, but this doesn’t do it in a way I care about at all.
Sinner By: Sierra Simone
If you read my review on Priest, from April of this year, you know I wasn’t the biggest fan. This one was better, but not good. It wasn’t bad, but it doesn’t feel right calling it a good read.
I’ve never had a problem with age-gap tropes. Zenny is 21 and Sean is 36. To me, that’s not horrible. the author seemed to really want to drive home the point that their age difference is cringey and on the verge of indecent and borderline illegal. It’s really not though. But the author tried really hard, often, to remind the reader that that is how their relationship needs to be perceived.
Sean has known Zenny since she was born but now she’s a beautiful woman hellbent on becoming a nun. Since she is so young, the Mother Superior fears she hasn’t experienced enough of the world yet to make an informed decision. So, Zenny needs to go out and have lots of sex. Yup, that’s really what the old nun ordered her to do.
For one month Zenny and Sean play house and spend as as much time as they can naked while avoiding the inevitable feelings that follow to such intimate relations. There is a bit more to it, but that is the story in a nutshell.
The aspect of the story that didn’t involve Sean teaching Zenny about all aspects of pleasure were actually great. Sean is the eldest brother (Tyler from Priest being one of his brothers) and takes on all the responsibilities. Especially since their mother is sick. Family comes first.
There is just something off about his relationship with Zenny that didn’t quite hit right and not for the reasons the author was trying to push. More like Sean finally convinced Zenny he was what she wanted and she conceded, but not all on her own. It that makes any sense.
Am I going to read the last book, Saint, in this series? Of course. I have to finish this now….
The Truth About Stacey By: Ann M Martin
First, I think the title is somewhat misleading. Her friends, in Stoneybrook at least, know that Stacey is diabetic. While part of the story is Stacey dealing with her parent’s inability to accept there is no curing diabetes, only managing it, it’s not the main plot.
A group of older girls have formed The Baby-Sitters Agency. Because they are older they are allowed to sit later and most parents trust them with younger babies. They are really giving TBSC a run for it.
Since Stacey is the newest addition to Stoneybrook, she will be devastated if the club breaks up. She’s being torn in several different directions while trying to keep everything together.
I’m really enjoying re-reading this series. Did anyone else
watch the original TV series that aired in the early 90s? (Not to date myself or anything.)
Let me know your thoughts on any of these reads. Have you read them? Would you? Most importantly, what have you read lately that left an impression, good or bad?
