jenngrandreads's reviews
504 reviews

What We Keep by Jennifer Millikin

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective 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? No

5.0

This book was SO good. I’m not always drawn to 2nd chance romances, but I couldn’t turn down one about a firefighter who married the woman he saved from a burning building, and I’m so glad I didn’t!! 

This book will break your heart in 2 and put it back together again. It’s so so good, I can’t even!

The Shadow of Polaris by D.L. Houpt, D.L. Houpt

adventurous dark emotional inspiring tense 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? No

5.0

"The Shadow of Polaris" is a dark, gritty fantasy that has everything you'd want in an epic adventure. The book starts out with our FMC, Elpis, imprisoned for a crime she didn't commit. You slowly learn about her past, and the painful things that tried to break her. 

Once I got into it, I was absolutely absorbed in the story. The twists, the tension between our MCs, the unique magic system, and the most amazing pet companion ever: Arcturus the wolf!!
I enjoyed this fantasy immensely!! 

Read if you like:
- Friends to Lovers to Enemies to Lovers
- Animal companion
- Morally gray FMC
- Immortal gods
- Mythology
- Secret Identity
- Bada$$ FMC

Since We're Here by Chrissy Hopewell

funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing fast-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? No

5.0

This book was super cute!! From the way they meet, to the way they fall for each other, their story is one that had me HOOKED. Both MCs have guarded hearts due to past hurts when they meet. But they’re so drawn to each other, they can’t stay away, and end up being exactly what the other needs to heal their hurting hearts.

In the Details by Julia Wolf

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

This book was super cute!! From the way they meet, to the way they fall for each other, their story is one that had me HOOKED. Both MCs have guarded hearts due to past hurts when they meet. But they’re so drawn to each other, they can’t stay away, and end up being exactly what the other needs to heal their hurting hearts.

The One Who Got Away by K.L. Shannon

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

This debut novel was a delight to read! The characters were relatable, the description of the location was dreamy, and the MCs being a musician and a songwriter was a unique twist!

Our FMC, Hannah, was strong-willed and stopped at nothing to achieve her dreams. Our MMC, Rory, definitely had some growing to do throughout the book, but Shannon achieved this in such a vulnerable, compelling way, it made me endear his character greatly!

There were some unanswered questions in my mind, which is why it's 4 stars and not 5, but over all this was a great debut, very enjoyable and sweet.

The Trail Often Crossed by Ambar Cordova

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective fast-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? No

5.0

I absolutely ADORED this book. I LOVED the first book, The Truth Never Spoken, so much that I didn't know how Ambar was going to be able to top it, but this one was also amazing. 

The characters Ambar creates are just so real and relatable, not to mention beautiful and soooooo loveable! Roe and Santiago both experienced deep hurt and grief in their childhood/growing up, and the way they overlapped was just so awesome. 

I loved the immediate chemistry that sizzled between them, and the tension that continued to follow them throughout the book. Roe's background is filled with trauma, so the grief and pain he carries around with her every moment was just so raw and real, and the way Santiago is patient with her, waiting for her to be ready to open up to him made me absolutely fall in love with him!! 

And let's not forget the nicknames. Princesa?? Muñeca?? (IYKYK) And her nickname of Saint for him is just more perfect than even she realizes when she first calls him that. They are just so incredibly perfect for each other, and I loved them so much!!

It's so hard to say "goodbye" to each set of characters when each book ends, even knowing there is crossover between the books in the series, but I cannot WAIT to see what Ambar writes for us next!!!! She has become an auto-buy author for me, and I will literally read ANYTHING she writes forever and ever.

Falling Too Late by Dae Graves

dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious tense 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? No

4.0

Falling Too Late was a heavy, heart-wrenching, dark, book. But it also showed what it looks like to have resilience and perseverance in the face of intense hardship. 

Alex and Wren were two characters you'll find yourself rooting for, growing angry for, and remembering long after finishing the book. 

This was such a rollercoaster of a novel, it has crazy twists and turns, fantastic character development, and a plot unlike anything else I've read.

Highly recommended, and I can't wait to see what else Dae writes!

A Curse of Breath and Blood by K.W. Foster

adventurous emotional inspiring mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

This book was a RIDE!! It was fast paced, emotional, heartwarming, devastating, and one that will stay with me for a longgggggg time.

Our FMC, Aelia, is feisty, brave, and a force to behold. She has trauma in her past that she had to work hard to overcome, and a love for her sister that takes her on an adventure with a past love in order to find her. The book has some super fun magical elements, including mermaids and a kraken, and our FMC is basically a psychic with the power to break people's minds. (Slightly scary! lol)

This book is also a love triangle, so there are two MMCs. I'm not a huge fan of love triangles or why choose, but this book found me loving the emotions both MMCs brought with them. And let me just warn you: THE. EPILOGUE. That's it. That's all I'm gonna say. Just prepare yourself!

Read if you like:
- Enemies to lovers
- Who did this to you?
- Second chance love
- Love triangle
- Epic quest
- Forced proximity
- Multi POV
- Forbidden love

Spice level: 🌶️🌶️
Make sure you read the TWs before reading.

Branded Hearts by Elle Mariah

emotional hopeful inspiring 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? No

5.0

I loved this book. It’s everything wanted from a small town romance where the MMC is a broody police officer and the MFC is a shy teacher. 

I loved how Amelia grew in confidence around Bradley, and he showed his soft side only to her. 

This was such a cute read and I look forward to continuing to read this series!

The Legacies of Traitors by C.M. Leyva, C.M. Leyva

adventurous emotional tense fast-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? No

5.0

I absolutely LOVED this book. I can't believe it's C. M. Leyva's debut novel!! There's beautiful world-building, a gripping heist, and characters that will stay with you for a longgggg time. Not to mention secrets, twists and a forbidden love story that you will root for.

This book was a wild ride, and I already can't wait for book 2!!