beckyyreadss's reviews
739 reviews

emotional hopeful lighthearted sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I read this because I enjoyed the Twisted series and liked the introduction of Davenports in King of Wrath. I was intrigued with how Ana was going to do this story with a broken love and a divorce, but besides the couple already being together at the start of the book, nothing was different. It was all copy and paste again.

This book has two points of view. The first is Dominic Davenport and he is powerful, brilliant and ambitious. He has clawed his way up from nothing to become the King of Wall Street. He has everything – a beautiful home, a beautiful wife, and more money than he could spend in a lifetime. But no matter how much he accumulates, he’s never satisfied. In his endless quest for more, he drives away the only person who saw him as enough. It isn’t until she's gone that he realizes there may be more to life than riches and glory, but by then, it may be too late. The second point of view is Alessandra Davenport, and she is kind, intelligent, thoughtful and has played the role of a trophy wife for years. She has stood by her husband while he has built an empire, but now that they’ve reached the top, she realises he’s no longer than man she fell in love with. When it becomes clear that she will always come second to his work, she finally takes charge of her life and puts herself first – even if it means leaving the only man she’s ever loved. But what she didn’t count on was his refusal to let her go or for him to fight for their marriage, no matter what it takes.

I enjoyed the characters in the book, and I love that they introduce the next book with Sloane and Xavier, and you can see the tension building between themselves. I liked the friendship groups that are forming with the ladies and the men like with the twisted series. I loved the ladies supporting each other and you can see the fact that they care about each other especially with them trying not to tell the men their secrets, but they end up doing it and then the men finding out. I liked that went Dante went AWOL again, Isabella, Sloane and Vivian turned to the men and was like where the hell is he?

The issues that are arising is that this story felt very generic and bland and predictable. I just wanted something to different to be done and to stop the petty third-act breakup and the miscommunication, it’s not needed. These men run businesses and deal with the mafia, yet they cannot communication with their “love of their lives”. These stories are starting to blend together, and nothing is separating the characters and it’s just getting a bit meh. This story just reminded me of Twisted Love because just like Twisted Love, he gets in major trouble, tries to grovel for his wife, screws up again, but it wasn’t his fault, finds something to get her to forgive him, and the bad guy is gone but not gone. I felt like Roman came into the book too late, and was gone too quickly without an actual ending? Is he dead? Is he safe? Where the hell is he?

The only different with this book is that Christian Harper didn’t fix the main issue in this book, he just updated his security system at the end. I fear how the next book is going but we shall see.

Content Warnings

Home Body by Rupi Kaur

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emotional inspiring reflective fast-paced

5.0

I wanted to read this book because I’ve read a couple of Rupi’s books, and I loved each of them individually. The author has a way of getting in your brain and just mixing up your thoughts like it’s a mixing bowl.

This collection of poetry is about embraces growth and she walks readers through a reflective and intimate journey visiting the past, the present and the potential of the self. Home Body is a collection of raw, honest conversations with oneself which reminds readers to fill up on love, acceptance, community, family and embracing change. This book is beautifully illustrated by the author with themes of nature and nurture, light and dark.

I loved everything about this book. Some poems made me smile, some poems made me stop and think, some poems made me feel seen and some poems made me want to cry. These poems are a mixture of brutal truth and compassion. The illustrations are gorgeous and add so much more to these poems. These poems cover a lot of topics that should be discussed more – child abuse, rape, genocide and feminism. This book was inspiring and took you on a journey of growth and I related to parts of this book and wanted to hug the author for the words she wrote on the pages.

Rupi has a beautiful way to express her thoughts and feelings. I didn’t have anything to hate about this book, it was amazing, and I will cherish this book and will go back to it often.

Content Warnings

Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover

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emotional sad medium-paced

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

I’m not going to lie; I got this book because it was the last Colleen Hoover book on my TBR. Everyone raves about this on Booktok and I've learnt not to trust a lot of Booktok’s predictions especially when it comes to Colleen Hoover, and I think this is the end of me reading Colleen’s work.

When Tate Collins and when she finds airline pilot Miles Archer passed out in front of her apartment door, it is not love at first sight. In fact, they wouldn’t even consider themselves friends. But what they do have is an undeniable mutual attraction. He doesn’t want love, and she doesn’t have time for a relationship, but their chemistry cannot be ignored. Once their desires are out in the open, they realise they have the perfect set-up, if Tate can stick to two rules – never ask about the past and don’t expect a future. Tate convinces herself she’s okay with it, but soon realises that it’s harder than she thought. Will she be able to say no to her sexy pilot when he lives just next door?

Cap, Corbin and Ian saved this book from being two stars. They are the only ones that acted like actual adults. Like why are you freaking out over someone you haven’t spent time expect for when you are having sex with each other? Corbin had every right to punch the shit out of Miles for being a scumbag, he stopped one of Corbin’s friends hitting on her and then was being a hypocritic. Cap was the comedy relief in this book and I'm so glad he wasn’t just some wise old man, and he knew Miles.

I don’t understand why there has to be something “different” with Colleen’s books, can we not just get a normal dual POV. The weird poetic, half-ass, chapters from Miles weren’t needed. The only chapter I liked from Miles was the last one where it was more than 3 pages long and wasn’t a poem. I hate the insta-love trope, and this is what Tate and Miles had. That and just sex for 300 pages. They literally went out on a date when they were got together, and he proposed. Like no wonder everyone lost their shit and was questioning everything. Miles is also a massive red-flag and the fact that young girls are reading this and thinking it’s normal and romantic, like no it’s disgusting and I get he is grieving and that child-loss is a massive thing, but if you can’t form a bond because you are terrified to lose them, don’t lead them on and then push them away. Girls aren’t yo-yos. I didn’t like the back and forth between six years ago and now, it was giving me a headache. I just wanted to know why Miles was a complete prat.

This is one of those books where if there was a sequel, they would be co-parenting their child because they would be divorced within a year.

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The Fake Mate by Lana Ferguson

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emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I wanted to read this book because Lana’s books have been all over the book community. I got this book and The Nanny in the 3 for £6 deal at the Works and I decided to jump right in. This book was sweet and sexy and adorable.

This book has two points of view. The first is Mackenzie and she hasn’t had a successful date in months. She's only a year out of residency, and her grandmother’s obsession with finding the perfect mate threatens to drive her insane, so it should be a small thing when she lies about meeting someone . . . until she blurts out the name of the last man she would ever date: Noah “The Big Bad Wolf of Denver General” Taylor. The second point of view is Noah, and he is an interventional cardiologist and all-round grump, and he has spent his entire life hiding what he is – an unmated alpha. But when an anonymous tip brings everything to light, he’s left with two choices: come clean to the board and risk his career or find himself a mate. So, when the chatty, overly friendly ER doctor asks him to be her fake boyfriend the same day he’s called to meet the board, it must be kismet, right? Mackenzie gets her grandmother off her back, and Noah gets the chance to prove he can continue to work without a real mate – it's a mutually beneficial business transaction. But when the fake-mate act turns to very real friends-with-benefits arrangement, lines start to blur, and they quickly realise love is a whole different kind of animal.

I loved the fake relationship storyline, and the fake relationship storyline with doctors and wolves. Like if you’ve watched Grey’s Anatomy, you know how much sex there is within doctors, adding wolf hormones and Christ, this is what you get. I love that you could see them both trying to not get attached and failing completely. This book was very cheesy and adorable and very spicy. I loved the adorable moments with them in the hospital and trying to act completely normal, sniffing each other in a cupboard and then her passing out. It was a very easy read; you didn’t really need to think or pay attention. I think Noah is hilarious and how he was trying to prove that he is different and then messed up completely.

The third act break up ruined this. I swear to God, I hate third act break ups. I would have liked more of a revenge against Dennis. As it was kind of wrapped up in one chapter, they get back together, they go to the board and then Dennis is hopefully sacked? I would have loved like public humiliation, the whole hospital to know what a piece of shit he is. I would have loved for Noah to grow some balls and tell Mackenzie what was said. Mackenzie did drive me nuts at times and I found myself skimming over the thoughts of hers because they were so repetitive of “I can’t fall for Noah, it’s just sex, but I love him, but he is leaving.”

This was the second book of Lana’s that I've read, and it won’t be the last. Hopefully the third act breakups will stop, and I can enjoy them even more. Also, I still don’t understand the whole knot thing with wolves' sex thing.

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By the Book by Jasmine Guillory

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funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I wanted to carry on with this series because I enjoyed the first book by Julie Murphy. I liked that even though it was a re-telling of a fairy tale, it didn’t feel like it. Unlike the first book in this series, I was struggling with the re-telling side and connecting with the series.

This book is based on Isabelle, and she is completely lost. When she first began her career in publishing after college, she did not expect to be twenty-five, still living at home with her parents, and one of the few Black employees at her publishing house. Overworked and underpaid, she is constantly torn between speaking up or stifling herself, Izzy thinks there must be more to this publishing life. So, when she overhears her boss complaining about a high-profile author who has failed to deliver his long-awaited manuscript, Isabelle sees an opportunity to prove her worth and finally get the recognition she deserves. All she has to do is go to Beau’s mansion in Santa Barbara and give him a quick pep talk or three. How hard could it be? But Izzy quickly finds out she is in over her head. Beau towers is not some celebrity lightweight writing a tell-all memoir. He is jaded and withdrawn and – it turns out – just as lost as Izzy. But despite his standoffishness, Izzy needs Beau to deliver, and with her encouragement, his story beings to spill onto the page. They soon discover they have more in common than either of them expected, and as their deadline nears, Izzy and Beau begin to realize there may be something there that wasn’t there before.

I struggled so much with this book and I think it’s because we don’t find out why the rooms/floors were forbidden unlike in the original beauty and the beast, the west wing is forbidden because that’s where the rose is. In this book, we never actually get an answer as to why it’s forbidden, and it’s just brushed over. I know that Beau is supposed to be the beast and this big asshole, but he just rolled over way too quickly and became the loveable snowman way too early in this book for my liking. And again, Gavin being Gaston, and he wasn’t villainised enough, and he was defeated quite quickly, I wanted more from him and trying to knock down Isabelle. Also, these two main characters lacked chemistry, Beau was trying to have banter with Isabelle, and she took it the wrong way and a screaming match would start. For then, Beau having to do the apologising and blaming it on his past.

I liked Priya, I wanted more of her. I wanted her to tell Isabelle to grow a pair and to meet Beau and to like help get them together. I liked the publishing aspect and how the business works, and it sort of sounded a bit non-fictional with the writing tips. I would have loved more of what happened after she had moved publishing houses. I loved the aspects that come from beauty and the beast – the library, the rose garden and the Wi-Fi password.

This book fell below standards from the first book, but I will be carrying on with the series and I can’t wait to see the next book.

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Apprentice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

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adventurous emotional funny lighthearted mysterious 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? Yes

3.0

I wanted to read this book because I enjoyed the first and debut book of Hannah’s and loved her videos long before. I loved the idea of a bad guy having a fluffy assistant and how the bad buy was getting feelings for her even though he shouldn’t be. I was wondering how she was going to carry on with this book and I enjoyed it but felt like it was a bit more slow-paced than the last book.

This book has two points of view. The first is Evie Sage and she has never been happier to be the assistant to The Villain. Who would have thought that working for an outrageously handsome evil overlord would be so rewarding? Still. The business of being bad is demanding. The forces of good are annoyingly persistent and said forbidding boss is somewhat out-of-office. The second point of view is The Villain, AKA Trystan and he has been captured by the King Benedict and has no hope of getting out and now Evie is apparently dead and now Rennedawn is in grave trouble, and all signs – Kingsley's included – point to catastrophe. Something peculiar is happening with the kingdom’s magic, and it’s made The Villain’s manor vulnerable to their enemies. Now it’s time for Evie to face her great challenge: protecting The Villain’s lair, all of his nefarious work, and maybe the entire kingdom. It's time to step out of her comfort zone and learn new skills. Like treason. Dagger work. Conspiring with the enemy. But what happens when the assistant to The Villain is ready to become his apprentice?

This book is still a cute and funny read. I was still squealing and kicking my feet at Trystan and Evie. I love that the whole office knew that there was tension between them and just let them play out their moments. I loved the character development of Becky and why she liked control and order. I liked that Becky and Evie are now showing support for each other and actually becoming friends. Especially when Becky told Evie that there was no assistant job that was needed but he just hired her. I love how Evie is becoming so confident and how she is wanting to become an apprentice and not just an assistant.

The thing I struggled with the book compared to the first one is the repeated information. I lot of things we already knew was stated again and again. The first bit comes out with all guns blazing and you are in the driver's seat, and you know it’s about to be a fast-paced book with a lot of action and then it just lost its momentum. I was just sort of skimming over the repeated information and the slow bits in the book because I was getting bored. Then within the last five pages, it went up a notch so that it ended on a cliffhanger. It just felt like a filler book at times – introduce the brother that we can’t trust, build the ever-growing tension between Evie and Trystan, some fight scenes and then done.

I have a feeling that the next book in the series is going to be better because of the cliffhanger and how everything has led up to this book. Hopefully we get Evie and Trystan skipping off into the sunset, but I have a feeling it’s going to take a while to get to that point. Also, I don’t trust Evie’s family like any of them besides Evie.

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The Roommate Risk by Talia Hibbert

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I wanted to read this book because I am patiently waiting to hear about any of Talia’s new work. I decided to try and read some of her old work in the meantime and saw The Princess Trap all over the book community and it was released as part of a series even though the characters don’t interact with each other. I was interested to see if I can finish this series on a high and it didn’t live up to my standards. The Brown Sisters are just unbeatable.

This book has two points of view. The first is Jasmine Allen and she believes in bad luck, great wine and the seductive power of a stiletto heel. What she doesn’t believe in is love. Her life is great without all that romance rubbish, until a plumbing disaster screws everything up and leaves Jasmine homeless. Lucky she has someone to turn to: her best friend Rahul. The second point of view is Rahul Khan and for the last seven years, he has followed three simple rules. 1. Don’t touch Jasmine if you can help it. 2. Don’t look at her arse in that skirt. 3. Don’t ever – ever – tell Jasmine that you love her. He should’ve added another rule: do not, under any circumstances, let Jas move into your house. Now Rahul is living with the friend that he can’t have, and it’s decimating his control. He knows their shared dinners aren’t dates, the late-night kisses as a mistake, and the tenderness in Jasmine’s gaze is only temporary. One wrong word could send his skittish best friend running. So why is he tempted to risk it all?

As always with Talia’s book, I love how she manages to write diverse characters, serious subjects, sexuality and mental health. I love her for it. In this book we have a son who is grieving over his father and trying to be the head of the household and definitely some form of mental health issue with the control aspect. Then you have a daughter who had been abandoned by his mother, which in turns makes her not be able to trust anyone and she struggles to form friendships or relationships that she only uses people for sex and that sex is a transactional thing. I liked the fact that Jasmine wasn’t ashamed about the fact that she likes hook up and that sex is a healthy thing. I liked the character development that happened individually and the fact that Rahul was learning to ease control and to speak his mind and that Jasmine learned how to trust people and to also speak her mind.

Just like the other books in this series, I felt like it was a bit rushed compared to the Brown Sisters Series and I felt like Jasmine's attraction suddenly came out of nowhere once she slept with Rahul. I would like a bit more of a slow-burn especially with them living together. I would have loved for some jealously to be a part of it. Like Rahul is seen with someone and Jasmine gets jealous. But it’s all just came from Rahul being jealous over a bartender talking to Jasmine.

I will carry on reading Talia’s work old or new no matter what and hopefully I will enjoy the next series or book that I will read of hers.

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Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney

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challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I wanted to read this book because I read my first Alice Feeney book this year and I was instantly hooked; she was on the list of my insta-buy authors. His and Hers creeped me out and I thought I couldn’t be more creeped out and I was wrong.

This book follows Mr and Mrs Wright, and things have been going wrong between them for a long time. When Adam and Amelia win a weekend to Scotland, it might be just what their marriage needs. Self-confessed workaholic and screenwriter Adam Wright has lived with face blindness his whole life. He can’t recognize friends or family, or even his own wife. Every anniversary the couple exchange traditional gifts – paper, cotton, pottery, tin – and each year Adam’s wife writes him a letter that she never lets him read. Until now. They both know this weekend will make or break their marriage, but they didn’t randomly win this trip. One of them is lying, and someone doesn’t want them to live happily ever after. Ten years of marriage, ten years of secrets and an anniversary they will never forget.

Just like His and Hers, this book kept you hooked, from the suspense and the psychological plot twists, Alice Feeney makes me miss physically books, because again I nearly threw my kindle at the twists. I loved the split POVs from the letter, Amelia, Adam and Robin, it made it so much more interesting, and the chapters would change just as it was getting to the plot twists. The storyline is interesting and intriguing. My favourite chapter is the one where the penny finally drops which didn’t happen until the very end which drove me a bit nuts – I just wanted to know who was messing with Adam and Amelia.

I would have loved to see more of a showdown between Robin and Amelia. I felt like after all the build-up between who was the good wife and the bad wife, there wasn’t really a showdown. I was also terrified that the dog was going to die. Thank God, Bob didn’t die otherwise I would have rioted. I would have liked more of a history showing between Henry and his wife, rather than the little snippets that we get towards the end.

You think that all the plot twists have been given and then Alice ends up throwing a little curveball towards the end. My jaw was on the floor. I cannot wait to read more of Alice’s work and the choice is just which one do I read now.

Content Warnings

The Nanny by Lana Ferguson

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I wanted to read this book because Lana’s books have been all over the book community. I got this book and the Fake Mate in the 3 for £6 at the Works and decided to jump right in. This book was hot and adorable, but also infuriating.

This book has two points of view. The first is Cassie Evans, and after losing her job and being on the brink of eviction she finds herself with two choices: get a new job (and fast) or fire up her long-untouched OnlyFans accounts. But there are no jobs to be found, and as for OnlyFans . . . Well, there are reasons she can’t go back. Just when all hope seems lost, an ad for a live-in nanny position seems to be the solution to all her problems. It's almost too perfect – until she meets her would-be employer. The second point of view is Aiden Reid, and he is an executive chef and DILF extraordinaire and is far from the stuffy single dad Cassie was imagining. Aiden is shocked that she is most qualified applicant he has met in weeks, and now Aiden is practically begging her to take the job. Aiden cannot understand his obsession with Cassie, but it’s all he ends up thinking about. Cassie feels like living under the same roof as Aiden will be dangerous, but with no other option, she decides to stay with him and his adorably daughter, Sophie. However, Cassie soon realises that Aiden is not a stranger at all, but instead someone who is very familiar with her – or at least, her body. She finds herself at a loss for what to do, given that he doesn’t remember her. As their relationship heats to temperatures hotter than any kitchen Aiden has ever worked in, Cassie struggles with telling Aiden the truth, and the more terrifying possibility – losing the best chance at happiness she’s ever had.

I liked the storyline and that it shows that connections can be made online, even if it was OnlyFans. I liked that they showed the connection at the start of every chapter, and you could see how the connection grew. This book was very cheesy and adorable but also spicy. I loved the adorable moments of like Aiden and Cassie’s first date and how Aiden wanted to dress her up and show her off to his employees and that his boss was joking and laughing with Cassie. It was an easy read; you didn’t really need to think or pay attention. I think Aiden was hilarious and how he wanted to say all his feelings about Cassie but just couldn’t and even though he was this big-shot chef and yet he was fumbling in front of his in-house nanny.

Sophie and Wanda saved this book from being a three-star read. Wanda was a straight-talking old woman which felt like Cassie’s inner voice just telling her to grow a pair. Sophie shouldn’t have been the solution to all the problems. Like she went to Wanda’s house to get Cassie, she told her that Aiden loved her and told Aiden that Cassie loved her. Like if I ten-year-old knows, why aren’t the two adults in the book having a normal conversation between them. The miscommunication did drive me nuts and I don’t think the third act breakup was really needed. Everyone just needed to take a breath after Wanda had her heart attack and then have a conversation and I'm also certain Aiden would have won against a judge knowing that Sophie loved her dad and Cassie and there was plenty of people who would have helped them against Iris. I felt like she got left off the hook a bit and that she needed some form of grovelling and apologising to Aiden and Cassie.

This was the first book of Lana’s that I've read, and it won’t be the last. Hopefully the third act breakups will stop, and I can enjoy them even more.

Content Warnings

The Fall of Bradley Reed by Morgan Elizabeth

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I wanted to read this book because I read the first book in book club and when there is a series, I will carry on with it even if I didn’t enjoy one in the series. However, this hadn’t happened so far until now. This book was mid and so slow. Olivia was a character I liked in Cruel Summer, but this book was missing something.

As stated, this book is based on Olivia Anderson and she has just been left at the alter, and she decides to do what all modern women do – hit up Google. When a couple of searches land her in a support group for jilted brides, she immediately takes the reins and decides they all deserve to get revenge on their exes. She is tired of being a people pleaser and wants to do something for her and her alone, and that is to get revenge on Bradley Reed and to stand up against her mother’s wishes of getting back together with Bradley. The second point of view is Andre Valenti, and he is an FBI agent that has been watching Olivia’s every move online and in person for over a year and he is tired of it, she is a spoiled brat, but his career depends on putting Bradley Reed behind bars. He's managed to stay off her radar until one day he realises that her search history is peppered with revenge that will land her in prison and ruin her status as a reliable witness. As Andre gets more involved in Olivia’s schemes, will he be able to keep it professional? Or will the subject of his work assignment become something more.

Unlike the other books in this series, I struggled with this one. It was very slow and all over the place. Andre just seemed selfish about the perfect witness and instead of being honest, he lied about being a bodyguard instead of just telling her the truth. I’m sure she would have been more than happy to help the FBI to put her ex in prison and instead he let it build and build until it exploded. Multiple times during this book, I wanted to slap both main characters, they did drive me a bit up the wall. Like Olivia was using Andre to get back at her ex and to keep the paps away and got pissed when Andre had a motive for using her like it’s the exact same thing. I felt like there needed to be more kicking and screaming at Olivia’s mother. She has been a nightmare for 2 books, and she got off the hook way too easy for my liking. I usually like spice within books, but this was just the same thing repeatedly and then I found myself skimming over the smut especially after all the drama, like you both need to cool off and talk, not have make up sex.

I liked how the friendship was growing, and the Halloween party is still a thing and that we got to see all three men be overprotective of their girls and the group. I liked Olivia’s character growth and how she was determined to stand up for herself and I would have liked her to stand up to Andre at times. I liked the autumn vibes and how it's based on pumpkin picking and Halloween and thanksgiving.

This book could have been 200 pages and had most of the smut and most of the plot, but it was just a lot of repeated information and dialogue at times, and I wanted more of the revenge of Bradley not the lying and deception between the pair of them.

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beckyyreadss's reviews 739 reviews

beckyyreadss's reviews
739 reviews