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nose_in_a_book's reviews
241 reviews
I Married an Incubus by Regine Abel
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
🌶️🌶️
There were a couple of borderline transphobic moments, including when talking about an androgynous species, the FMC said she’d have to look under the alien’s clothes to see the genitals they had to know the gender. No overt transphobia.
Let me preface by saying this is my first book in the series so maybe all of them suffer from similar issues or maybe it’s just this one. I don’t know.
The bones of this book have a lot of potential. An interesting and compelling problem, conflict between the love interests that makes sense, and chemistry that is strong enough I want them to overcome both. But the pacing of this book kind of ruins all three. Things are either solved instantaneously or drawn out for so long that I’m bored with little in between. The main conflict that the entire book has been talking about is seemingly solved in a time lapsed montage. Rather than committing to insta-love, they refuse the label while still acting like they’ve already said it.
Additionally, the dialog suffers from tonal inconsistencies. Half of it leans formal but then there will be these random overly casual words thrown in that don’t feel like words the characters would use.
Overall, it’s fun and I didn’t have a hard time following along even though other book plots were clearly being referenced but I wish the book had been workshopped more.
There were a couple of borderline transphobic moments, including when talking about an androgynous species, the FMC said she’d have to look under the alien’s clothes to see the genitals they had to know the gender. No overt transphobia.
Let me preface by saying this is my first book in the series so maybe all of them suffer from similar issues or maybe it’s just this one. I don’t know.
The bones of this book have a lot of potential. An interesting and compelling problem, conflict between the love interests that makes sense, and chemistry that is strong enough I want them to overcome both. But the pacing of this book kind of ruins all three. Things are either solved instantaneously or drawn out for so long that I’m bored with little in between. The main conflict that the entire book has been talking about is seemingly solved in a time lapsed montage. Rather than committing to insta-love, they refuse the label while still acting like they’ve already said it.
Additionally, the dialog suffers from tonal inconsistencies. Half of it leans formal but then there will be these random overly casual words thrown in that don’t feel like words the characters would use.
Overall, it’s fun and I didn’t have a hard time following along even though other book plots were clearly being referenced but I wish the book had been workshopped more.
They Came from the Walls: A Monster Erotica by R.S. Griffith
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
2.0
🌶️
I thought this was a goofy silly time. This feels more like an outline than an actual novella. It honestly feels like she took the same chapter and copy pasted a couple of times but it’s still a quick palette cleanser with a fun premise. Heads up the whole thing is dub con.
I thought this was a goofy silly time. This feels more like an outline than an actual novella. It honestly feels like she took the same chapter and copy pasted a couple of times but it’s still a quick palette cleanser with a fun premise. Heads up the whole thing is dub con.
Snowed In With The Mountain Monster: A Monster Romance by Winter Randall
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
🌶️
The Dragon's Bride by Katee Robert
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.5
🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️
This book was delightful in so many ways but since this is the first in the series, let me talk about them as a whole first. The bodice ripper covers fits this series so well because all of them feel like opening a well-worn copy of a cozy fantasy that I find myself constantly wanting to re-read. For as comforting as each of these books are, they also take heavy topics like loss, rejection, and helplessness and makes them digestable without softening the truth of them. Each couple has growth they do together and seperately, forming these beautifully healthy partnerships that are not always a given in romance.
Outside of the relationships, the world and magic aren't focal points but they're never so vague that the systems feel under-developed. I, personally, prefer magic systems that are background characters rather than focal points so it worked great for me.
Now for The Dragon's Bride. I was on a cruise when I started reading this book and the first port we got to, I gleefully used expensive data to download every other book in the series so I could spend the rest of the cruise binging them by the pool. The couple in this book is baby girl to me. I would throw fists for anyone that hurt either of them. I like how Briar is both strong/assertive/self-reliant and sensitive/unsure/introverted depending on the scenario as that feels more truthful to how actual people are. I like that Sol is set on making space for her to be complex and healing. I like that their relationship progression feels genuine. Additionally, Robert's spice always hits the spot and that's no different in this one although don't look for DP in this one even though the dragon has two d's (try book two). It's a great intro to the series.
This book was delightful in so many ways but since this is the first in the series, let me talk about them as a whole first. The bodice ripper covers fits this series so well because all of them feel like opening a well-worn copy of a cozy fantasy that I find myself constantly wanting to re-read. For as comforting as each of these books are, they also take heavy topics like loss, rejection, and helplessness and makes them digestable without softening the truth of them. Each couple has growth they do together and seperately, forming these beautifully healthy partnerships that are not always a given in romance.
Outside of the relationships, the world and magic aren't focal points but they're never so vague that the systems feel under-developed. I, personally, prefer magic systems that are background characters rather than focal points so it worked great for me.
Now for The Dragon's Bride. I was on a cruise when I started reading this book and the first port we got to, I gleefully used expensive data to download every other book in the series so I could spend the rest of the cruise binging them by the pool. The couple in this book is baby girl to me. I would throw fists for anyone that hurt either of them. I like how Briar is both strong/assertive/self-reliant and sensitive/unsure/introverted depending on the scenario as that feels more truthful to how actual people are. I like that Sol is set on making space for her to be complex and healing. I like that their relationship progression feels genuine. Additionally, Robert's spice always hits the spot and that's no different in this one although don't look for DP in this one even though the dragon has two d's (try book two). It's a great intro to the series.
Content Warnings
Minor: Domestic abuse
Wild North by J.B. Salsbury
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
🌶️ 🌶️
This book was two separate novels in one and while I found the first half compelling enough (despite how petulant the MMC was being for seemingly no reason), I didn't find the second half of the book to be good at all. The mystery reason that the MMC was being such an asshole did not bridge the gap into understanding/empathizing with why he is the way he is. Instead, I was left internally screaming at the FMC to get the f out of that relationship.
This book was two separate novels in one and while I found the first half compelling enough (despite how petulant the MMC was being for seemingly no reason), I didn't find the second half of the book to be good at all. The mystery reason that the MMC was being such an asshole did not bridge the gap into understanding/empathizing with why he is the way he is. Instead, I was left internally screaming at the FMC to get the f out of that relationship.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Gaslighting
Minor: Abandonment
Mistlefoe: A Mead Realm Tale by Kimberly Lemming
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
What's A Girl Gotta Do To Get On The Naughty List? by Kimberly Lemming
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
A Very Krampus Holiday by Katee Robert
hopeful
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
🌶️🌶️
From Snowball Fights to Hot Summer Nights by Wren K. Morris
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.5
From Cocktails to Sleigh Bells by Wren K. Morris
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.5