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mjladow's reviews
88 reviews
Consider Me by Becka Mack
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
3.75
I picked up Becka Mack's Consider Me after seeing it recommended. With hockey romances all the rage, I had to check it out.
Carter Beckett is a hockey star and notorious playboy with a reputation—and an apartment downtown just for his hookups. Olivia, on the other hand, is a PE teacher and girls' hockey coach whose best friend, Cara, is marrying a teammate of Carter’s. Cara gives Olivia one piece of advice: steer clear of Carter.
But the chemistry between Carter and Olivia is off the charts. Half the novel is Olivia doubting Carter’s intentions while Carter works overtime to prove himself. The other half? Pure passion.
Overall, the book is a bit long, but I still enjoyed it. Carter’s determination to win Olivia back was charming, and I loved their dynamic on the page, along with their circle of friends. I never fully understood the popularity of hockey romances, but I have to admit, these guys are big, strong, handsome teddy bears. Plus, the high school scenes and Olivia’s interactions with her students were a great touch—really well done.
In terms of plot, I’d give Consider Me a 3.75. It was fine, if slightly repetitive at times. But the heat level? Scorching. This book is doused in so much kerosene it practically bursts into flames—five out of five on that front!
https://yarmandnerual.blogspot.com/
Carter Beckett is a hockey star and notorious playboy with a reputation—and an apartment downtown just for his hookups. Olivia, on the other hand, is a PE teacher and girls' hockey coach whose best friend, Cara, is marrying a teammate of Carter’s. Cara gives Olivia one piece of advice: steer clear of Carter.
But the chemistry between Carter and Olivia is off the charts. Half the novel is Olivia doubting Carter’s intentions while Carter works overtime to prove himself. The other half? Pure passion.
Overall, the book is a bit long, but I still enjoyed it. Carter’s determination to win Olivia back was charming, and I loved their dynamic on the page, along with their circle of friends. I never fully understood the popularity of hockey romances, but I have to admit, these guys are big, strong, handsome teddy bears. Plus, the high school scenes and Olivia’s interactions with her students were a great touch—really well done.
In terms of plot, I’d give Consider Me a 3.75. It was fine, if slightly repetitive at times. But the heat level? Scorching. This book is doused in so much kerosene it practically bursts into flames—five out of five on that front!
https://yarmandnerual.blogspot.com/
Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The epic journey of Violet Sorrengail and Xaden Riorson continues as Xaden graduates, and Violet steps into her second year as a cadet. Just when they finally find some stability in their relationship, they're thrown into the challenges of long-distance love.
Meanwhile, Basigath College faces a major shake-up. The new administration, led by Major Varrish, openly despises Violet and Xaden, making life even more difficult. Violet feels increasingly isolated as she tries to protect her friends while confronting chilling reminders of the dangers beyond the school's walls.
As she struggles to find understanding, Violet begins searching for a new path beyond Navvare. Haunted by guilt over losing her friend Liam and the heavy weight of her growing reputation as a legendary rider, she and Xaden must hold steady as their world shifts around them.
Overall, Iron Flame was a fantastic read. The fantasy elements were immersive, and the battle scenes were vivid and action-packed. The dragons? Absolutely incredible. Though the romance was there, it came with more angst than I wanted—Xaden and Violet are each hiding secrets, and Varrish exploits their relationship to torment them.
I gave this novel a solid 4.5 out of 5 for both Hot Tea and Hot Tamales. While the plot dragged a bit and felt repetitive in places, I still loved the experience.
With Onyx Storm coming out on January 21, I’m excited to see what’s next. I’m fully invested in these characters and their unfolding story!
https://yarmandnerual.blogspot.com/
Meanwhile, Basigath College faces a major shake-up. The new administration, led by Major Varrish, openly despises Violet and Xaden, making life even more difficult. Violet feels increasingly isolated as she tries to protect her friends while confronting chilling reminders of the dangers beyond the school's walls.
As she struggles to find understanding, Violet begins searching for a new path beyond Navvare. Haunted by guilt over losing her friend Liam and the heavy weight of her growing reputation as a legendary rider, she and Xaden must hold steady as their world shifts around them.
Overall, Iron Flame was a fantastic read. The fantasy elements were immersive, and the battle scenes were vivid and action-packed. The dragons? Absolutely incredible. Though the romance was there, it came with more angst than I wanted—Xaden and Violet are each hiding secrets, and Varrish exploits their relationship to torment them.
I gave this novel a solid 4.5 out of 5 for both Hot Tea and Hot Tamales. While the plot dragged a bit and felt repetitive in places, I still loved the experience.
With Onyx Storm coming out on January 21, I’m excited to see what’s next. I’m fully invested in these characters and their unfolding story!
https://yarmandnerual.blogspot.com/
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
If Sarah J. Maas opened a hole in your soul that only long, dark, and twisty fantasy romances can fill, Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros is a must-read. It might not have fae smut, but it stands strong on its own merits.
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-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
4.75
If Sarah J. Maas opened a hole in your soul that only long, dark, and twisty fantasy romances can fill, Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros is a must-read. It might not have fae smut, but it stands strong on its own merits.
Looking for a book that captures The Hunger Games vibe but replaces the YA drama with steamy, intense romance? Then Fourth Wing is for you.
Violet Sorrengail always believed she’d become a scribe, but her mother had other plans. Born with a congenital muscle and joint disease and a small frame, Violet’s pretty sure she won’t survive the brutal riders quadrant of Basgiath War College—if she even makes it to see a dragon, let alone ride one.
Enter Xaden Riorson. Marked by his father’s execution as a traitor, Xaden is powerful, rides a rare and massive dragon, and is the sexiest man Violet’s ever laid eyes on. He also wants to kill her. But as Violet defies the odds and rises in the deadly world of dragon riders, she finds herself dangerously close to Xaden in ways she never expected.
The violence in Fourth Wing is extreme—bloody, brutal, and relentless. The competition is a high-stakes fight for survival, which raises questions about the kind of society that would willingly send its children to almost certain death. We couldn’t help but wish for a deeper dive into that world.
As for the spice level, it’s off the charts. Xaden and Violet’s chemistry burns hotter than what we saw in the Crescent City series and the frequency and intensity of their connection easily surpasses ACOTAR.
Overall, we gave Fourth Wing 4.7 out of 5 ☕, with a steam rating of ❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥. The -.3? Let’s just say I threw my phone at the end and cried. If you know, you know.
https://yarmandnerual.blogspot.com/
Fix Her Up by Tessa Bailey
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
After finishing the epic Crescent City series and laughing through the Sex Ed novels, I found myself deep in the dreaded book hangover. I’d felt all the feels and desperately needed a book to pull me out of my stupor. Naturally, I turned to Tessa Bailey, hoping her Hot and Hammered series would do the trick.
Sadly, it didn’t. Fix Her Up sounds like a cute idiom when talking about a house, but not so much when it’s referring to a person. Tessa Bailey’s light and cheerful writing style pulled me in, but the Alpha/Daddy hero? That turned me right off.
In Fix Her Up, Georgie is the youngest in a large, old-fashioned family. The men run a contracting business, and none of them think the women are capable of being breadwinners. Georgie has it the worst—she’s also a professional clown.
Travis, on the other hand, had a promising professional baseball career. He was living the dream, his popularity with the ladies was off the charts, until an injury sent him back to his hometown. Now, he’s in need of a personality overhaul, and Georgie just might be the girl to help him clean up his image.
I loved that Georgie had a solid business plan and was helping others pursue their dreams. She had strong female friendships, and she stayed steady on her mission to bring her family around. But I just couldn’t get past Travis calling her “Baby Girl” when she was clearly a strong woman. The Alpha/Daddy dynamic in the spicy, open-door scenes wasn’t for me, though it might hit the spot for someone else.
I ended up giving Fix Her Up 2.5 out of 5 Cups of Hot Tea. Maybe my low rating is a reflection of my book hangover, or maybe the story just wasn’t what I needed at the time. Would I have liked it more at a different point in my life? The jury’s still out...
https://yarmandnerual.blogspot.com/
Sadly, it didn’t. Fix Her Up sounds like a cute idiom when talking about a house, but not so much when it’s referring to a person. Tessa Bailey’s light and cheerful writing style pulled me in, but the Alpha/Daddy hero? That turned me right off.
In Fix Her Up, Georgie is the youngest in a large, old-fashioned family. The men run a contracting business, and none of them think the women are capable of being breadwinners. Georgie has it the worst—she’s also a professional clown.
Travis, on the other hand, had a promising professional baseball career. He was living the dream, his popularity with the ladies was off the charts, until an injury sent him back to his hometown. Now, he’s in need of a personality overhaul, and Georgie just might be the girl to help him clean up his image.
I loved that Georgie had a solid business plan and was helping others pursue their dreams. She had strong female friendships, and she stayed steady on her mission to bring her family around. But I just couldn’t get past Travis calling her “Baby Girl” when she was clearly a strong woman. The Alpha/Daddy dynamic in the spicy, open-door scenes wasn’t for me, though it might hit the spot for someone else.
I ended up giving Fix Her Up 2.5 out of 5 Cups of Hot Tea. Maybe my low rating is a reflection of my book hangover, or maybe the story just wasn’t what I needed at the time. Would I have liked it more at a different point in my life? The jury’s still out...
https://yarmandnerual.blogspot.com/
Sex Ed by Kristen Bailey
I'm always down to read romance in a school setting. Teachers falling in love is my jam! In Sex Ed, Mia teaches eleventh-grade English. She is an excellent teacher, but she's looking for more in her personal life. She thinks Tinder is the way to go, hooking up with men always gives her a hilarious story to tell in the teacher's lounge.
Ed is the opposite. He's the Biology teacher at Mia's school and her best friend. He makes her sandwiches and she makes him laugh. But at twenty-eight, he's never had sex, and he's getting quite desperate. Mia agrees to help Ed, and becomes his sexual tutor, and the hijinks are hilarious. Ed is awkward, innocent, and adorable. Mia is brusk, forward, and always funny.
This novel is a hundred percent British, so the slang might get ya, You may have to refer to the Urban Dictionary or Wikipedia, but it is worth it. I laughed like a loon through this novel. Sex Ed is definitely a contender for the Book of the Year because every box on my rubric was checked.
I gave Sex Ed an enthusiastic 5 Cups of Hot Tea! If I could give it 6 without peeing our pants, I would!
https://yarmandnerual.blogspot.com/
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-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
5.0
I needed something funny. I wanted something spicy. Sex Ed by Kristen Bailey delivered.
I'm always down to read romance in a school setting. Teachers falling in love is my jam! In Sex Ed, Mia teaches eleventh-grade English. She is an excellent teacher, but she's looking for more in her personal life. She thinks Tinder is the way to go, hooking up with men always gives her a hilarious story to tell in the teacher's lounge.
Ed is the opposite. He's the Biology teacher at Mia's school and her best friend. He makes her sandwiches and she makes him laugh. But at twenty-eight, he's never had sex, and he's getting quite desperate. Mia agrees to help Ed, and becomes his sexual tutor, and the hijinks are hilarious. Ed is awkward, innocent, and adorable. Mia is brusk, forward, and always funny.
This novel is a hundred percent British, so the slang might get ya, You may have to refer to the Urban Dictionary or Wikipedia, but it is worth it. I laughed like a loon through this novel. Sex Ed is definitely a contender for the Book of the Year because every box on my rubric was checked.
I gave Sex Ed an enthusiastic 5 Cups of Hot Tea! If I could give it 6 without peeing our pants, I would!
https://yarmandnerual.blogspot.com/
House of Sky and Breath by Sarah J. Maas
adventurous
dark
emotional
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? Yes
4.75
I was hesitant. After reading book one in the series, I was curious if I wanted to dive into this novel. Sure. the last one hundred pages of The House of Sky and Breath were tremendous. Sure, I love Hunt and Bryce. Sure, I was intrigued, but did I want to slog through another book, confused and bewildered?
Yes!
And I'm so glad I did. The House of Sky and Breath is SO MUCH better than Book 1. It is solidly packed with action scenes and more fantasy-based than mystery. Bryce is so much more than she was in Book 1, She's learning, coming into her power, and delivering the snark better than ever.
And there is SEX. Actual steamy sex scenes... eventually
The House of Sky and Breath starts with Bryce and Hunt living together without having sex. They decide to wait, get to know each other, date, you know, all the things except sex. But it's killing both of them. Hunt is enjoying his freedom, helping out the 34th. Bryce has a new job in the Fae library. They are laying low, staying under the radar.
Of course, that doesn't last. A new pack of friends joins together to save a young, lost boy who might have the power to change the world and destroy the Asteri. It's a race to find the boy and keep him safe. Ithan, Rhun, Tharion, Flynn, and Declan are all back, and Danika still has secrets to share from the grave.
I couldn't put it down, and when the dust settled at the end of the book, I picked up the last one, The House of Flame and Shadow, and did my own drop.
I gave this book 4.7 out of 5 Cups of Hot Tea because we had to wait so long for Bryce and Hunt to figure themselves out and get on with it. Other than that... perfection.
https://yarmandnerual.blogspot.com/