loveleighreading's reviews
297 reviews

Sea Creatures Prefer Redheads by Brianne Gillen

funny lighthearted fast-paced

4.0

Title: Sea Creatures Prefer Redheads

Series: Phoenix Pictures Vault

# in series: 1

Author: Brianne Gillen

Genre: Paranormal Monster Romance 

Tropes/Keywords: Makeup artist FMC, Celebrity MMC, Cinnamon Roll MMC, Cursed MMC, Fairytale retelling: The Little Mermaid, Fated Mates, Friends to Lovers, Historical Romance, Magic, Sea Monster MMC, Office Romance between Coworkers, Protective MMC

Pages: 154

Steam: Open door

Spice: 🌶🌶/5

Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Review: This is the second book I've read from this author and I've learned she loves her feisty FMCs and cinnamon roll MMCs. This book was such a delight, they were both so sweet to each other, but also so dirty in the bedroom, it was fantastic. It's a novella so I don't want to give away too much, but I highly recommend it.

Quotes: 

• The second her gaze landed on him, her face brightened into a dazzling smile. And Adrian’s insides melted into a bigger pool of liquid than what he’d just emerged from.

• “Come to think of it, shouldn’t you be scared of me, too?” She scoffed, her deep brown eyes twinkling. “Please. Why should I be scared? You’re my monster.”

• She drew in a sharp breath. Here he stood, her knight in iridescent, scaly armor. Her sea monster.

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CW: Toxic boss/work situation. Parental estrangement.

Pregnancy?: No

Babies/Children?: No

 

Bull Moon Rising by Ruby Dixon

adventurous lighthearted slow-paced

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

4.0

Title: Bull Moon Rising

Series: Royal Artifactual Guild

# in series: 1

Author: Ruby Dixon

Genre: Fantasy Monster Romance

Tropes/Keywords: Breeding, Grumpy/Sunshine, Close Proximity, Horns, Magic, Marriage of Convenience, Protective MMC, Teacher Student, Work Relations, Secret Identity, Spinster, Sex lessons

Rep: Fat FMC

Pages: 432

Steam: Open Door 

Spice: 🌶🌶🌶🌶/5

Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Audiobook: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐️/5

Review: This was a really fun and entertaining read, but it felt so long. I went in thinking it was going to be in space given the stars on the cover, and was pleasantly surprised that it is actually Romantasy that also feels like a Historical Romance, very similar to The Half-Orc's Maiden Bride. I really liked the gruff hero, and the intelligence and determination of the FMC (even if she felt TSTL at times). At one point I wanted to be an archeologist, so I completely got her shock at realizing it's just legitimized grave robbing. Overall a really great read, and I am excited to see who the next couple might be!  

Audiobook Review: The duet narration was fantastic.

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CW: Parental neglect. Dead bodies on page. Cave in where they get trapped. Alcoholism.

Pregnancy?: No

Babies/Children?: No

 

The Librarian of Souls by Ash Raven
Did not finish book.

This writing just did not work for me, I wanted more dialogue between the characters than just listening to them think about each other. I was also going to scream if I saw the word "sand" one more time. 

 CW: Dubious consent. Blood/Fluid play. Gaslighting. Death. Physical assault (on page). Death of a parent(s) (past). Mentions of foster care (past). Humans of a food source. 

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

adventurous 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? No

4.0

Title: The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches

Series: Standalone 

Author: Sangu Mandanna

Genre: Paranormal Romance/Cozy Fantasy

Tropes/Keywords: Found Family, Grumpy/Sunshine, Magic Powers, Roommates, Witches

Rep: Indian author and FMC

Pages: 334

Steam: Open door

Spice: 🌶/5

Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Audiobook: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Synopsis: In the comments

Review: This was a beautiful found family story about a very lonely witch and the people she comes to love. I loved her dynamic with the grumpy librarian, they both just wanted to take care of these children and came to care for each other along the way.

Audiobook: The accents and atmosphere of this audiobook was such a relaxing experience.

Quotes: 

• Her eyes very round, seven-year-old Altamira said, with perfect gravity, “That was some excellent Mary Poppins shit right there.”

• “That’s good! That means you already know that the first thing any good spell needs is intent. You want something, so you figure out a way to make it happen. In your case, you wanted the plum, but it wouldn’t have been enough to just look at the plum and think I want it. A spell needs the how as well as the what. You had to figure out how you might get the plum. Which is what you did. You asked for it to fall into your hand.”

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CW: Mentions of past Death of a parent(s)/caregiver. Threats of children being removed from caregivers. Mentions of bullying of a child in the past.

Pregnancy?: No

Babies/Children?: The 3 children wards are very prominent in the story.

 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Bullying and Death of parent

The Hookup by Kristen Ashley

medium-paced

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

4.0

Title: The Hookup

Series: Moonlight and Motor Oil

# in series: 1

Author: Kristen Ashley

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Tropes/Keywords: One Night Stand, Protective MMC, Bubbly FMC, Horse Girl FMC,

Pages: 360

Steam: Open door

Spice: 🌶🌶🌶/5

Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Audiobook: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Synopsis: In the comments

Review: I really enjoyed the couple in this book, but that final conflict came out of left field.

Audiobook: Duel narration. I really enjoyed both narrators.

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CW: Past abusive parent. Mentions past death of a parent(s). Kidnapping of a child. Mentions of past stalker ex.

Pregnancy?: No

Babies/Children?: We see the FMC's baby nephew 

The Half-Orc's Maiden Bride by Ruby Dixon

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? No

5.0

Title: The Half-Orc's Maiden Bride

Series: Aspect and Anchor

# in series: 3.5

Author: Ruby Dixon

Genre: Fantasy Monster Romance

Tropes/Keywords: Arranged marriage, breeding, cinnamon roll MMC, forced proximity, marriage of convenience, monster Romance, Primal, Protective MMC, Romantasy, Spinster, Tall FMC

Pages: 190

Steam: Open door

Spice: 🌶🌶🌶🌶/5

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Audiobook: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Synopsis: In the comments

Review: 

Tall FMC is a spinster who thinks they will never get to have a family of their own because she is so unattractive. Come to find out someone has shown interest in her because of her height, but he happens to be a half-orc. I have never reread a book so quickly, the MMC is OBSESSED with the FMC and wants to do whatever he can to make her happy. It’s low angst with no third act breakup

Audiobook: Duel narration, both voices were great for these characters.

Quotes: 

- "I see. Then…I do not need to apologize?" Those gorgeous eyes meet mine again. "Or beg you to marry me?"

- "Oh, sweet lady, you can beg me all you like," I purr. "But we are marrying regardless."

- "You mean like kissing?" "I mean my tongue on your cunt, Iolanthe."

- But Iolanthe is a revelation. Her beautiful, dark eyes watch me undress with eagerness. Her soft skin begs to be touched, and she looks…excited. She is beyond innocent if our conversation is to be believed, but there's no fear in her eyes, and this is the same female that begged me earlier to marry her, and that worried her father had oversold her value as a bride. To say that I am pleased with her is an understatement.

- "My lady, he is a fool. He might have a wagon full of gold, but I have the true treasure."

- He emerges from the shadows, his craggy face ghoulish in the candlelight. He grins down at me, and even though he's hideous, my heart melts.

- "We are to be husband and wife. If you came to me every day and asked me to lick your pretty cunt until you came, I would gladly do so. Not only is it my duty as your husband, but it is a pleasure."

- I'm definitely going to spank her the moment we're alone. That little gasp and the wiggle she gave in my lap indicated she was titillated by the idea. So she's definitely getting spanked…but only if she wants

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CW: Mentions of past abuse from a parent. Parental abandonment.

Pregnancy?: Yes, FMC is pregnant in the epilogue

Babies/Children?: No

 

Swordheart by T. Kingfisher

adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

5.0

Title: Swordheart

Series: The World of the White Rat

# in series: 1

Author: T. Kingfisher

Genre: Cozy Fantasy Romance

Tropes/Keywords: Bodyguard, Employer/Employee, Magic, Protective MMC, Romantasy, Spinster, Traveling, Warrior, Widow FMC

Pages: 426

Steam: Cracked door

Spice: 🌶/5

Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Audiobook: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Synopsis: In the comments

Review: This was such a fun time, I was giggling so much at the banter and wacky hijinks.

Audiobook: That narration was fantastic

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CW: Parental abandonment recounted. Suicide. Suicidal ideation. Death of a sister during childbirth recounted. Death of an uncle recounted. Death of a husband from fever recounted. Murder & attempted murder. Sword violence. Imprisonment. Kidnapping. Attempted mugging. Animal death.

Pregnancy?: No

Babies/Children?: No

 

Quiet Man by Kristen Ashley

fast-paced

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

2.0

Title: Quiet Man

Series: Dream Team

# in series: 0.5

Author: Kristen Ashley

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Tropes/Keywords: Bodyguard, Grumpy/Sunshine, Insta love, Protective MMC, Sex Worker Stripper FMC, Work relations

Pages: 256

Steam: Open door

Spice: 🌶🌶🌶/5

Star Rating: ⭐⭐/5

Synopsis: In the comments

Review: I love the beginning of this one, thus the 2 stars, but as we got past the threat I wasn't as invested with the story. The copaganda made me uncomfortable in regards to how they handled the bad guy.

Quotes: 

• “Good boy,” she murmured, opening a cover and grabbing a big clear bowl filled with pods. He didn’t want to be her good boy. He wanted to be her good boy.

• Well, shit. Just shit. He knew it before. He knew it right then for certain. He was fucked. Because he could totally fall in love with this woman. Yeah. Shit.

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CW: Stalker. Threats of kidnapping.

Pregnancy?: Talks about wanting to get pregnant in the future

Babies/Children?: Some of the prior series kids 

 

My Minotaur Husband by Lyonne Riley

lighthearted fast-paced

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

4.0

Title: My Minotaur Husband

Series: Standalone

Author: Lyonne Riley

Genre: Paranormal Monster Romance

Tropes/Keywords: Breeding, Toys, Cinnamon Roll MMC, Marriage of Convenience, Monster Romance, Fat FMC, Spanking, Size Difference

Pages: 150

Steam: Open door

Spice: 🌶🌶🌶🌶/5

Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Synopsis: In the comments

Review: This was sweet and domestic. I loved watching these characters get to know each other and see how much Theo just wanted to pamper the FMC.

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CW: Attempted kidnapping and assault of FMC.

Pregnancy?: No

Babies/Children?: No

 

Gentleman Seeks Bride by Megan Frampton

4.0

Title: Gentleman Seeks Bride
Series: Hazards of Dukes
# in series: 4
Author: Megan Frampton
Genre: Historical Romance
Tropes/Keywords: Banter, Cinnamon Roll MMC, Sex Lessons, Brother's best friend, Spinster FMC
Pages: 360
Steam: Open door
Spice: 🌶🌶/5
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Audiobook: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
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Pregnancy?: No
Babies/Children?: Baby in the epilogue