kn_cozy_bookworm's reviews
386 reviews

Redeeming Logan by Loralai Blake

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

4.0

“Relax, Little Monster, let me show you just how good it feels to live in the darkness with me.”

I’ve been looking forward to seeing how Logan’s character development would progress after Finding Vanessa. He really is not redeemable at all, and I wasn’t sure if I was going to like his story. 

But I did. All he needed was his equal.  He was looking for his little lamb, but instead he found his little monster. His partner in crime. 

Taliah gives Logan a run for his money. Once she lets go and steps into her darkness, she becomes Logan’s equal in all ways. They work. And they work together in tandem on their extra curricular activities. 

He is in awe of her and it was fun to read him coming to terms with how he feels about Taliah. He almost doesn’t continue his interactions with her because she confuses him. His realization that he actually doesn’t want to un alive her was priceless given his history. 

They are a perfect match. I really enjoyed the epilogue where we see them two years later. It was a great peak into where they fell in their dynamic. 

Can’t wait to see what next from Loralai Blake!

The Backup Plan by Eden Finley

emotional funny inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

Ahhhh! New series to love! 

I loved the representation in this book with Kelley. The anxiety, intrusive thoughts. It’s a real thing that is very hard to control and cope with and have a healthy relationship. I think many people will relate to Kelley and his struggles. 

Luckily, Theo has some great character development at the beginning and becomes Kelley’s safe space. I loved how Thad just let Kelley be himself and understood what would seem like overkill to others. They really complement each other. 

Their relationship progresses unconventionally and is mostly long distance with their schedules. I actually kinda enjoyed this. They knew they liked each other, they made the time for each other. Even when it was inconvenient. 

This book was a little more on the serious side than what we are used to seeing from Eden but still had fun humor and great introduction to the upcoming characters. 

This was a great start to the King series! 

Jump Start by Kate Louise
Did not finish book. Stopped at 37%.

I ended up DNFing at about 37%. I liked the premise. I think the author was going for a dislike to lovers trope. I just couldn’t get behind the relationship progression of Harper and Thomas. I found it to be quick and disjointed  from their initial meeting to their first date. I think adding some more in depth backstory to the why Thomas is the way he is toward journalists in the beginning and adding more angsty interactions before they fell into like would have greatly added to the story. I also didn’t feel like their conversations flowed well. I had trouble with the authors writing style. This premise was a great potential for a dislike to lovers trope but just didn’t hit the mark for me.  

Reckless Faith by Nyssa Kathryn

emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

How do two best friends who have been in love with each other their whole lives but also friend zoned each other so hard finally come together? 

How do you trust the feelings that are being said and felt when you yourself have felt unworthy? Not good enough? Not pretty enough? Just not…enough.

Reckless Faith answers these questions and more with Elle and Jace’s story. This book had my emotions running high. I feel every woman who reads this book would resonate with Elle in some way. 

Elle broke my heart. She is every young girl with intrusive thoughts and feelings of inadequacy. 

With Jace also feeling not enough, like he has to prove himself worthy of his family’s pride and Elle’s love, this story became a beautiful second chance romance. 

The development of Elle and Jace’s relationship was perfectly paced and the angst level was on point. The slow build of trust until they both realize they are each other’s other half, that they are enough, that they were forever, was sweet, spicy, and perfectly written. 

And of course they had some help getting there with Aunt Jewel, Sadie,

and the other Walker brothers. It wouldn’t be Misty Peak without them! 

It also wouldn’t be a Nyssa Kathryn book without the mystery and suspense. Elle and Jace have to face a blast from their past and a ghost from Jace’s past, all while navigating their feelings that have always been there simmering under the surface. I loved that aspect of the story. 

The glimpse we get into Lock and Callie has me looking forward to the final book of the series! 

Guarded by the Phantom by Layla Fae

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

4.0

Firstly, how gorgeous is this cover! I love the pink, and after reading this book I adore it even more as it’s the color of loooooove! Haha! 

Phantom is such a baddie and probably one of, if not the most, tough monster out there and he ends up being a total marshmallow! I ate it up. The color changes in his vision based on his feelings made his thoughts so entertaining.

Ohhh these two! They were two peas in a perfectly paired pod. 

I loved their story and the progression of their relationship. It brought the feels, the smiles, and the laughs. And the heartbreak! All I have to say is thank goodness for Nat! He is the true hero of this story as Phantom’s deep seated insecurity and Barbara’s superb snooty upbringing almost bring them to ruin. That turn of events was so devastating to read. So harsh. Bravo Layla, that chapter was very well written and I love to be devastated, lol. 

I also have to mention Barbara’s character development. She went from a yes ma’am girl, living 100% under her parents rule, to really becoming her own strong, independent woman and I loved to see  it! Especially at the end, get it girl! 

Sins Of Her Sister by Talia Lane

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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

3.0

Sins of Her Sister ended up being a very apt title for this book! 

So bully romances are hit or miss for me. The story needs to provide me a reason to like the bully. Unfortunately I could not get into Ryan (the bully)and I could not get into Ryan and Layla as a couple. I did not feel there was enough of a transition of their feelings from hate to love. I found it abrupt and just did not really like them together. They just didn’t gel for me. 

BUT, I have a few howevers for this book which elevated my rating. 

One, I loved Kali. I loved all the scenes and chapters with her. She was unapologetically brut@ and un hinged and I loved every minute of it. 

Two, I enjoyed Blaze. And I enjoyed Blaze and Ryan together. And Blaze, Ryan and Aaron together, lol. I wanted more of this and a why choose situation with these three! 

Three, the ending of this book, literally the last chapter and the epilogue redeemed this book a bit for me. I found the ending so satisfying, it was perfect, especially given how I was feeling about Ryan and Layla. And knowing what’s to come and with who?? Despite this being a rocky book for me, I am down to see what comes next from this author.

Take Me by Ella Jacobs

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

I love Ella Jacobs writing. This was a great read. Julie’s journey does not have a happy ending and my body rev0lted at the extended epilogue. But that is what I love about Ella’s books. While they take you to the brink and beyond, pushing your limits, her writing is so good, it just immerses you into the characters world, making you understand where each one is coming from. What makes them tick. Why they feel and want as they do. Her books are challenging and that is what I like about them. 

One thing I’m seeing in some other reviews is mention of a lack of background on Julie and Nikolai and feeling of a lack of connection between the two. I just want to touch on that. I don’t feel the same and I think it’s because that is not the story to me. While deep feelings are involved, the story revolves around Julie’s training to get her ready for her master. She is bought and paid for, for very specific purposes. Her training is hard and brutal and meant to break her down and mold her into exactly what her master wants. Her life before means nothing and has no bearing on what is happening or her future. 

The glimpse we get into her life with her master is not a happy one by most standards. It’s down right humiliating and degrading. But again, what I love about Ella’s writing is she takes us straight into the mind of Julie and we see how this dynamic works. Even if Julie had the opportunity to leave, I don’t think she would. And that is a testament to Mikhail and Dax. They are good at what they do. 

Proceed with caution if you are new to black romance and heed the authors note. This book will not be for everyone, but for those who love great writing and stories that are not all hearts and roses with a happy ending? You may find a new favorite author. 

Absentia Mori by M. Violet

challenging dark emotional mysterious 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? Yes

4.0

Sometimes the worst thing that happens to you changes you in the best way. And you wouldn’t change a thing. 

“Don’t tempt the devil unless you’re ready to surrender your soul to him.”

This is Libra’s story. This girl goes through hell and comes out the other side reborn, with her devoted unhinged men by her side. 

Waking up a prisoner in an asylum, being gaslit into not believing who she is? Well, this is Libra Thorn bi!ches, and while she may bend, she does not break. I loved her strength and tenacity throughout this book. Especially when you find out more about what she has been through, her self discovery, self awareness and her commitment to being better is admirable. Well, being better to those she loves anyway, haha! Cause yeah, she’s a little p$ych0 fr3ak and she wears it well. 

This is a true hate to love, enemies to lovers story when Fabien, Raithe, and Mordecai come into the picture. They harbor serious resentment toward Libra and they are determined to make her pay. They are demanding and brut@l. And Libra is not only here for it, she gets hers. My favorite part of the book is when the tables are turned. It’s a turning point for them all, their relationship is solidified, and the true mayhem begins. 

This is a great reverse harem dark romance for those who love enemies to lovers, forced proximity, love to hate, found family, revenge, and just general unhinged craziness that at the same time makes total sense. Heed content warnings and enjoy the ride! 

The Bratva's Bride by Rose Chase

medium-paced

4.0

I was privileged to revive a code to listen to The Bratva’s Bride. Written by Rose Chase and narrated by Molly Briar and Cole Robert Eubanks. 

I found the narrators to be very engaging. 

Molly Briar voices Angel and she really brings her to life. The way she spoke was like she was sitting right next to me and we were engaging in conversation. She really nails the personality of Angel and nuances of her voice. The annoyance, the anger, the teasing, the…breathlessness, lol

Cole nailed a Russian accent IMO. It was strong but fluid and he enunciated his words well. He has a great growly voice when the occasion calls for it and he had me ready to say “Yes Sir”! Haha. 

The story itself was a pleasant surprise. I went into it only knowing about a forced marriage and I found it a really refreshing take on it as while yes, it was forced, Angel and Nikolai had briefly met previously and the marriage quickly became more of an alliance against Angel’s stepmom and grew from there. Their relationship found trust and love quickly. The story focused on Angel’s plotting of taking down her evil stepmother. 

The dynamic between Angel and Nikolai was fun, the banter was great and Nikolai’s respect for is bad booty wife, amazing. While he is protective, he doesn’t hold her back as she does not sit on the sidelines and let others do the dirty work. The story has a great combination of plot, action and spice. 

Allured by Van R. Som

funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

This was such a sweet and spicy read!

Van did such a great job describing Alek and Ezekiel. They came alive for me as I was reading. Alek the hot bodied Adonis with the perfect abs and Ezekiel, the low key Clark Kent hottie. I have to speak to the spice in this book first cause I found it top notch with Ezekiel reading MM romances(I loved that so much), coming out as a Dom and Alek 100% down for it. The scenes were smoking! 

The progression of their relationship is real, sweet, patient and kind. The banter was great and I love a book with an ensemble cast. The family and friends we meet throughout the story elevate the read, pull you in, wanting to know more. 

I liked how the reveal of what Ezekiel was holding back from Alek was handled. Their relationship was already rock solid and the trust was there. It was talked through and resolved without a huge angsty third act breakup. 

This book made me smile and laugh and I am looking forward to the next Love and Burlesque book!