jessanicolesingh's reviews
94 reviews

Home Is Where the Bodies Are by Jeneva Rose

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

4.0

I went into this book essentially blind; I knew it had been trending lately but had not read the synopsis before starting it. It definitely helped build up the suspense and thrill factor for me, so if you plan on doing the same then stop reading now!

In a small town, we find three estranged siblings that come together after the death of their mother, with the last time they had all been together having been when their father disappeared 7 years ago. While preparing for the funeral and going through her old belongings, they find an old VHS tape incriminating their parents in the murder of their childhood friend and neighbor, or at the very least in the hiding of her corpse. From there they have to decide what to do with this information and how to investigate further. The story is told through multiple POV, the majority being the present day experiences of the siblings, but also flashback chapters to 1999 from the mother, rounding out the timeline of events.

Though the book moved a little slow for my taste, the tension and final reveal were well worth it!
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Triple Sec by TJ Alexander

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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? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This was a cute lighthearted read featuring a queer polycule, with a slightly deeper lesson on learning how to love again after heartbreak and believing in yourself. Between these pages we see two love stories unfold, the first being the initial meet-cute between Mel, a jaded bartender in NYC, and Bebe, a confident and bubbly lawyer who is already married but in an open relationship. As the two get acquainted, date and grow closer together, Mel also finds herself connecting with B’s partner, Kade (they/them), ultimately bringing the trio together as a single unit. I personally felt the later pairing didn't feel as organic as the first; it seemed more of a convenience to the story than anything, but was still enjoyable.

I appreciated how the author illustrated the relationship dynamics, making the learning process for Mel, as well as the reader, part of the story rather than homework to do beforehand. Its inclusivity makes for a much wider audience than just those who are within this community.
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Losers: Part II by Harley Laroux

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dark emotional tense 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

4.0

For a categorically dark/taboo romance duet, these books were much more emotional than I had anticipated them being. I always love a good reverse harem, especially when the men play together too 😉

The series depicts a group of town outcasts in a polyamorous relationship that find themselves reconnecting with their old high school bully, Jess, whom they have all been obsessed with for years. After a chance encounter and car trouble, the guys propose a deal of sorts; if she agrees to join their quad for the time being they would fix her car in their shop. From there you can unsurprisingly expect a copious amount of spicy scenes, very heavy on the BDSM.

I absolutely LOVED these boys; Manson, the unofficial leader of the house and most forward towards bringing the FMC into the mix, Lucas, the hotheaded racer with a soft spot for cats, Vincent, the drug dealer turned romantic goofball, and finally Jason, abandoned by his religious parents that refused to accept him. Jessica on the other hand, I didn’t find myself all that crazy for, I felt like her plight was deeper than her personality at times.

I wouldn't really say there was too much of a plot outside of the payment arrangement that ultimately, and obviously, leads to Jess joining their “family.” There were some ghosts from their collective pasts slowly creeping in on them, namely Manson’s deadbeat father, Reagan, and a few stray bullies from high school still targeting them. From the first book to the second there was a fairly non-climaxal cliffhanger where the group was planning to take a vacation with just a touch of anxiety over the looming threats. Although the main antagonistic force wove in and out rather than a continuous buildup, this actually made the story more realistic.
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Losers: Part I by Harley Laroux

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dark emotional tense 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

4.0

For a categorically dark/taboo romance duet, these books were much more emotional than I had anticipated them being. I always love a good reverse harem, especially when the men play together too 😉

The series depicts a group of town outcasts in a polyamorous relationship that find themselves reconnecting with their old high school bully, Jess, whom they have all been obsessed with for years. After a chance encounter and car trouble, the guys propose a deal of sorts; if she agrees to join their quad for the time being they would fix her car in their shop. From there you can unsurprisingly expect a copious amount of spicy scenes, very heavy on the BDSM.

I absolutely LOVED these boys; Manson, the unofficial leader of the house and most forward towards bringing the FMC into the mix, Lucas, the hotheaded racer with a soft spot for cats, Vincent, the drug dealer turned romantic goofball, and finally Jason, abandoned by his religious parents that refused to accept him. Jessica on the other hand, I didn’t find myself all that crazy for, I felt like her plight was deeper than her personality at times.

I wouldn't really say there was too much of a plot outside of the payment arrangement that ultimately, and obviously, leads to Jess joining their “family.” There were some ghosts from their collective pasts slowly creeping in on them, namely Manson’s deadbeat father, Reagan, and a few stray bullies from high school still targeting them. From the first book to the second there was a fairly non-climaxal cliffhanger where the group was planning to take a vacation with just a touch of anxiety over the looming threats. Although the main antagonistic force wove in and out rather than a continuous buildup, this actually made the story more realistic.
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Green Light by Jescie Hall

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dark emotional 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? Yes

5.0

You guys, she did it again! Jescie Hall’s writing style is always top tier; if she writes it I am automatically going to read it, and can almost guarantee a 5 ⭐️ ride.

This is a dark, taboo romance with PLENTY of trigger warnings to check. It is NOT a beginners guide to the genre, with a very toxic relationship between the main characters. If you are however, a seasoned vet in this reading category, I strongly advise going into this book blind 🫣 At no point could I guess where the story was going to go, though there was one small part of the climax reveal that I took a wild guess on towards the beginning that ended up being right on.

Keep it up Jescie, I will continue to devour every work you decide to grace us with!
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Five Brothers by Penelope Douglas

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emotional mysterious tense 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

4.5

I knew right from the first chapter that this book was going to be a hit, though why should I be surprised, it’s Penelope Douglas after all! Five Brothers is a HOT taboo read, spicy in all the right places.  

Krisjen is probably one of my favorite FMCs to date. Fresh out of high school and already raising her younger siblings, she is strong, quick witted, and full of angst towards her absentee parents who are arranging her marriage to a rich and arrogant prick.

Across the tracks live the five brothers of her best friend's girlfriend, one of which she had a friends-with-benefits situationship. One night after a party at their house, she ends up hooking up with another one of the brothers, but she doesn't know who. Throughout the book, she forms both friendly and intimate relationships with the guys, and weaves through the mystery of who her one night stand was with. We also see an ongoing rivalry between the posh and poor sides of town, waging war in the background of the story.

Though I am partial to reverse harem over multiple love interests with a closing choice, I was happy with the final couple at the end. The rest of the brother’s had fairly open endings, so maybe we will see them again in another interconnected standalone. The Jaeger brothers were already heavily featured in a previous book by Douglas, Tryst Six Venom, which is officially on my TBR, so anything is possible!
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Crossed by Emily McIntire

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dark emotional 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? Yes

4.5

Fifth in the Never After series, Crossed is a loose reimagination of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, a story that I am less familiar with than the others. Father Cade Frédéric has just moved to a French inspired town in Vermont to become the new priest. While he is devout to Him, he battles an internal bloodlusting monster, snuffing out the evil in the world by killing those with “demons” in them (it’s giving Dexter Morgan’s “dark passenger”). Amaya on the other hand is an exotic dancer (stage name: Esmeralda) and town outcast, solely raising her young brother, Quin, who is on the spectrum. The two meet by chance and Cade becomes OBSESSED with her, stalking her and ultimately killing in her honor. In an unfortunate turn of events, Amaya becomes the murder suspect, forcing her hand to marry Parker, the sleazebag ex of her runaway mother, who alsosexually assaulted her and has been harassing her for years. I find myself rather glad I didn’t know much about the original storyline while reading this one, as I got to enjoy some of the twists that might have otherwise been not as surprising. 
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Twisted by Emily McIntire

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dark emotional 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? Yes

4.5

Fourth in the Never After series, Twisted is a loose reimagination of Aladdin. Set in modern day NY, we find Yasmine, the daughter of a sick billionaire, who's dying wish is to marry her off and leave the legacy of his jewel empire to her husband-to-be, all the while she is already engaged in a secret relationship with her childhood friend, Aidan. Julian is her father’s right hand man and  COO of Sultans, who has murdered his way to the top and has his eye on the fortune to be left by the mogul. He devises a plan to force Yas's hand in marriage to him, while also getting the boy, Aidan, out of the way by sending him on a wild goose chase for an ancient lamp artifact in Egypt. The two had great banter and a true enemies to lovers blossoming, and I loved seeing the transition of him wanting to own her for power, to owning her for love. 

I'm so torn because although I thoroughly LOVED this book, I felt the plot was predictable the whole way through, so I never really felt at the edge of my seat. 
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Wretched by Emily McIntire

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dark emotional tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

 Third in the Never After series, Wretched is a loose reimagination of The Wizard of Oz, featuring Evelina, the “wicked witch” coded daughter of an Irish mobster, and Nick, an undercover DEA agent who scoffs in the face of love (one might say he is heartless). The story is set in modern day Chicago, centering on Evie's family's growing drug empire, and the formerly mentioned DEA agent on the hunt for their supplier. This book held a great pace, had great characters with a lot of depth, and wove through a very entertaining plot with a final twist that actually caught me off guard 👏👏👏 As always with this series, I love looking for all of the tie-ins to the original story and figuring out the who’s who as far as reworked characters goes. 
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Scarred by Emily McIntire

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dark emotional 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? Yes

4.5

Second in the Never After series, Scarred is a loose reimagination of The Lion King, featuring Tristan (the SCARred prince) and King Michael Faasa, and fiancé of the latter, Sara. In an early 1900s royal court, the King is honestly doing a terrible job and revolution is on the horizon, with none other than his brother leading the rebellion. Simultaneously, his betrothed only agreed to be his bride as a means to plot revenge for the murder of her father. Both of these secret rivals are fighting the same fight, unbeknownst to each other, while also building a slow burn forbidden love.

The story and “twists” were predictable at times, but overall it was still a great read. There were some clever tie-ins to the original tale, but also a lot of cheesy parallels (like are you kidding me with Paul Wartheg 🤣)
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