ashley_webb13's reviews
120 reviews

Coil of Boughs by Penny Moss

adventurous funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

I absolutely loved this book! I’m in a paranormal/fantasy phase and this was perfect. Initially the blurb caught my attention, but the story really sucked me in from the very beginning.

Ruri is quite the character, a bit accident prone in my opinion. I loved his attitude, though. His witty banter with the witch, who is a side character we see quite a bit of, is hilarious. 

Awi is Demon. Though, he’s like a gentle giant but if you mess with Ruri he’ll jack you up, and that’s putting it lightly. Ruri and Awi were so cute together. It’s kind of a slow burn, but not sloooooowwww burn. The spice is good and not too over the top that it detracts from the story. 

It was quite the adventurous book! If you love fantastic side characters, witches, demons, skin crawlers and other creatures you’ll enjoy this book. I can’t wait for the next book! 

Too Hostile by Nicole Dykes

hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

How I love a profesor/student romance! This was so good. Fletcher and Ronan were on fire. Fletcher is one of Ronan’s students in the beginning of the story, however the relationship doesn’t start until summer break when Fletcher is technically not Ronan’s student anymore. 

Fletcher is adorable. After all he’s been through he’s still able to be a happy, kind and gentle person. Ronan is more reserved having been through a similar situation as Fletcher, he doesn’t want to risk his stability for a “fling.”

It’s a pretty short read, but definitely worth it. The chemistry was off the charts and the side characters were amazing (especially Blair). 

Under Your Skin by Lee McCormick

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Another awesome story by Lee McCormick! Check the trigger warnings as there are some heavy topics. 

Levi and Jonah are fascinating. They’re a morbidly intriguing couple, complimenting each other well. I don’t want to give the story away with too much detail. 

This story captured my attention from the very beginning. There are twists and turns that keep you sucked into the book. That ending though! I honestly didn’t see that coming. Loved this book. Definitely recommend if you love dark MM romance.

Earth Boys Are Easy by C. Rochelle

adventurous funny 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? It's complicated

4.0

Space Daddy and Babygirl for the win! 

How I loved this story. I loved the Villainous Things series and this was just as good. 

Micah is so sweet and kinda sensitive. His family doesn’t seem to see how amazing he is. Ziggy is a bit aloof at first, we’ve met him in past books. Being around Micah helps opens Ziggy up, allows him to trust others, and to love. 

Like the books in the Villainous Things series, Earth Boys Are Easy had me cackling throughout the entire book. We also have the sweet and cutesy moments between the characters, and of course the jealousy, as our boys make their way through galaxy on their space adventure. 

Then towards the end, I really thought all hope was lost for Ziggy and Micah, I maybe even shed a tear, but our boy Ziggy was pretty genius. 

This is an amazing book with wonderful characters. The side characters (aliens) are awesome and I hope we get to see more of them if there are future books. 

Temperance by Lark Taylor

emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The way I have been waiting for Toby and Blaise, omg! I devoured this book, much like the rest of the series. During Harlow’s book Devil May Care (my favorite🩶), I didn’t think I could like Blaise to be honest, but throughout the series and then the connection series we see a lot more of Blaise and he started to peak my interest along with Toby the tiny vampire. 

Toby and Blaise are hot together, they have Dom/Sub relationship at first, plot twist, Toby being the Dom. These two are both broken in different ways. Toby tries to help Blaise find happiness in life again but what about him? I loved seeing them navigate through their feelings and to be honest stubbornness.  

This book is a must read. 

Outplayed by Courtney W. Dixon

funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Aspen and Cooper were adorable to be honest. Cooper moves in with Aspen, at that point they’re strangers but quickly become friends. 

Aspen has this happy go lucky, live life to the fullest attitude. I loved Aspen from the very beginning. Cooper was a bit more reserved, a little shy and timid. He basically lives his life to please everyone but himself. 

Aspen and Cooper hear a story about “bro-jobs” at a small get together and that sparks the idea with Aspen so he propositions Cooper who agrees, no strings attached, no feelings. We all know how the “no feelings” thing goes and they both develop feelings. 

This was a great read to me, probably one of my faves by Courtney so far and I typically like the grittier books. Not to say this book didn’t have all the emotions. My poor baby Aspen went through it. I defiantly recommend this book, it’s fun, spicy, emotional, and we get our HEA. 

Restless by Willow Thomas

funny hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Omg this book! I loved it so much. This is the first book I’ve read by Willow Thomas and now I need to go back and read Lexi’s story because I gotta know what happened there. 

Giovanni (Gio) is a cheerleader and Tucker is a football player at the same college. Sort of in the same friend group. Tuckers ex cheated on him so when he approaches Gio with the idea of them going out Gio thinks he’ll be a rebound so is constantly turning Tucker down. Finally he gives in but says it’s just sex but Tucker is determined to make Gio his.

I absolutely loved Tucker! The things he said and his inner monologue had me cackling. Gio is a little more broody but had a big heart. These two have great chemistry and are just adorable. Gio’s family is amazing. I loved the entire friend group. That epilogue was perfect! I’m so glad they got their HEA. I’m looking forward to more books in the series. 
*arc review*

Shutter Bug by Vari Scott

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I devoured this book omg! This is my first book by this author and it did not disappoint. Bowie and Mason are everything!

Now this isn’t the typical billionaire romance because I’ll be honest that’s not my favorite trope. Usually it’s a slightly older, grumpy, douche of a billionaire that meets their golden retriever, sunshine partner. However in Shutter Bug we get Mason, a young (24), rambling, golden retriever/sunshine type billionaire and Bowie, a slightly older (30), grumpy photographer (he’s very successful as well but no billionaire).

These two meet when Mason is doing the 30 under 30 shoot for a magazine. 

Bowie is grumpy and  jaded because of a bad breakup but deep down he has a very sweet side. Mason was so sweet, and embraced his newfound sexuality, he even went as far as to go to a gay bar to see if he was attracted to men or if it was just Bowie. That’s when things get really interesting as Bowie happens to be there thinking he may be able to stop thinking about Mason if he can find someone else BUT he sees Mason dancing with two men and gets crazy jealous, even though there’s nothing between them at the time. 

Bowie and Mason start as a friends with benefits type thing, under the rouse of protecting Mason from being taken advantage of. They agree only sex, no feelings but they catch feelings and only Mason seems to be able to own it, as Bowie is still hung up on being hurt by his ex. These two had some amazing chemistry. I also really loved the side characters, both MCs had a great support group and I really loved that. 

There were a lot of times I wanted to punch Bowie in the throat for the way he jerked Mason around, hot and cold, afraid of his feelings. And the whole mess with Cara towards the end, he was a straight up douche and that’s the only thing I had an issue with, Bowie should have had to freaking grovel on his hands and knees to have Mason back. 

I’ve read strictly MM for over a year now but I kinda want to go back and read Teddy’s story and Wyatt’s when it comes out. I definitely recommend this book. 
*arc review*

Jaxon by Ruby Raynes

funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Hello Daddy Jaxon! Whew. This is my first book by Ruby Raynes and it did not disappoint. 

Alex and Jaxon are already… sort of friends? They’re in a friend circle so they know each other. Alex is crushing on Jaxon so hard and tbh I don’t blame him at all. The characters inner monologuing is hilarious.

Our poor Alex literally has his world falling apart around him and Jaxon offers for Alex to stay in his home as long as he needs. Jaxon for the win! 

Jaxon fights his attraction for Alex having been hurt before, it’s an age thing. He quickly realizes that it’s no use fighting what they both want and Alex is nothing like the man who hurt him. 

Both characters have trauma they work through throughout the story but I love the support group they have in their friends. 

Now I need to go back and read Finn because I need to know what happened there. Totally looking forward to the next book.

This Is My Church by Sasha Avice

emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

This book was interesting. We’ve met Lacy in previous books but I didn’t realize his extracurriculars were so….extreme. Then we have Thad who is super religious. There’s a pretty heavy religious aspect to this book, so just know that going in. 

The story as a whole wasn’t bad at all. I did enjoy their friendship build up during practice, and hanging out and then the inevitable relationship. Both characters had a lot of issues, Lacy with his drug usage and sex parties and Thad with his religious hang ups to the point where he wasn’t really living life in my opinion. 

One thing I didn’t realize was that even once Lacy and Thad were together, Lacy still wanted to participate in these “parties” even though Thad would be there…..watching. I didn’t quite understand his NEED for these parties, it was a lot. I don’t want to yuck anyone’s yum, I can handle reading about sex parties and multiple partners at once, however I expected that to stop once the main MCs were together but Thad just went along and let other men use Lacy and that was that, he felt like Lacy was safer as long as he was there and could tell them to stop. 

There is a breakup in the book so there’s a bit of time jumping. That was kinda difficult for me because Lacy claimed to love Thad but still slept with others soon after their breakup. They do, however, eventually get their HEA.
*arc review*