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romancingthereader's reviews
1416 reviews
Defending Morgan by Susan Stoker
emotional
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.0
Chasing The Wild by Elliott Rose
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
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? It's complicated
4.5
A few weeks ago I saw character art for a book by an author Iโd never read that made me perk up immediately. I got excited, but wanted to make sure I liked her writing first before I got all gitty over a new release. All I can say now is let the countdown to book 2 begin!
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: Chasing the Wild by Elliot Rose
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Crimson Ridge character series. Book 1.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book on Kindle. ๐ on KU.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Cowboy romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Small town, age gap, forbidden, tension for days, daddy vibes.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Layla is trying to get rid of her dead beat ex boyfriend and find a way to make ends meet during vet school. A chance encounter with Colt makes her feel something more than the misery sheโs been dealing with - until she finds out heโs her exโs father.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: When I say I wanted to read this to vet if I liked Elliot Roseโs writing, it was for a few reasons. Forbidden romance is an acquired taste - as is a giant age gap. But I really enjoyed how this was done, and canโt wait for the next one.
Colt was alllllll daddy vibes. Heโs in his 40s and a complete loner on the mountain at his ranch. I loved how Layla got under his skin immediately. His POV from the start was all brute longing, and I was here for it.
There was a tinge of darkness to this one - danger and tense moments, and the spice was really spicing. If youโre a fan of dirty talkโฆ Colt could win a medal. The whole remote mountain winter setting really added to the vibe here.
Bottom line, Iโm sticking around for the second book - happily.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 4.5/5 โญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 3.5/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: Chasing the Wild by Elliot Rose
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Crimson Ridge character series. Book 1.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book on Kindle. ๐ on KU.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Cowboy romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Small town, age gap, forbidden, tension for days, daddy vibes.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Layla is trying to get rid of her dead beat ex boyfriend and find a way to make ends meet during vet school. A chance encounter with Colt makes her feel something more than the misery sheโs been dealing with - until she finds out heโs her exโs father.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: When I say I wanted to read this to vet if I liked Elliot Roseโs writing, it was for a few reasons. Forbidden romance is an acquired taste - as is a giant age gap. But I really enjoyed how this was done, and canโt wait for the next one.
Colt was alllllll daddy vibes. Heโs in his 40s and a complete loner on the mountain at his ranch. I loved how Layla got under his skin immediately. His POV from the start was all brute longing, and I was here for it.
There was a tinge of darkness to this one - danger and tense moments, and the spice was really spicing. If youโre a fan of dirty talkโฆ Colt could win a medal. The whole remote mountain winter setting really added to the vibe here.
Bottom line, Iโm sticking around for the second book - happily.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 4.5/5 โญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 3.5/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
Give Me Butterflies by Jillian Meadows
emotional
funny
reflective
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? No
5.0
This might have been the sweetest book Iโve read in 2024. It made me want to give the characters a great big hug.
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: Give Me Butterflies by Jillian Meadows
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: The Oaks Sisters character series. Book 1.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book on Kindle. ๐ on KU.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Contemporary romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Women in STEM, office romance, opposites attract, grumpy/sunshine, single dad.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Millie thought Finn hated her - mostly because he was broody and rude every time they interacted. But after getting to know him, his moody exterior proves to be just a facade to hide a man struggling with parenting his nieces and letting people close.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: This year is definitely the year of the nerdy, quiet MMC who steals my heart.
I have to say, I was pushed toward this book by its beautiful cover, and it didnโt disappoint. I loved every page - from the embarrassing meet cutes and continual run-ins to the way Finn fell so hard. I especially loved Finnโs nieces and their personalities.
The way this book was written felt real. Like two normal people falling in love. It was real and a little messy and overall felt like a great big hug.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 5/5 โญโญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 3/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: Give Me Butterflies by Jillian Meadows
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: The Oaks Sisters character series. Book 1.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book on Kindle. ๐ on KU.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Contemporary romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Women in STEM, office romance, opposites attract, grumpy/sunshine, single dad.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Millie thought Finn hated her - mostly because he was broody and rude every time they interacted. But after getting to know him, his moody exterior proves to be just a facade to hide a man struggling with parenting his nieces and letting people close.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: This year is definitely the year of the nerdy, quiet MMC who steals my heart.
I have to say, I was pushed toward this book by its beautiful cover, and it didnโt disappoint. I loved every page - from the embarrassing meet cutes and continual run-ins to the way Finn fell so hard. I especially loved Finnโs nieces and their personalities.
The way this book was written felt real. Like two normal people falling in love. It was real and a little messy and overall felt like a great big hug.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 5/5 โญโญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 3/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
The Marriage Hex by Sarah Blue
funny
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? It's complicated
5.0
Every time I pick up a Sarah Blue book, I know Iโm in for a great read. This is the first time I read something non-omegaverse from herโฆ and honestly, it might be my favorite yet.
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: The Marriage Hex by Sarah Blue
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Celestial Witches character series. Book 1.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book on Kindle. ๐ on KU.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Paranormal romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Witches & wolves, second chance, enemies-to-lovers, fates mates, warring families, knotting.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Violet and Silas are on warring sides of a feud between witches and wolf shifters. A curse set in place when they were young comes to fruition on Violetโs 30th birthday, forcing them to marry while they try to calm tensions that could explode into violence.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: These two. They were just *chefโs kiss* perfection.
Silas as a broody Alpha who deep down had been pining for Violet for years. And Violet was self-assured and independent, but with this underlying connection she couldnโt seem to shake. I loved every bit of banter and playfulness.
Iโm also always a sucker for shifter books where the inner wolf talks back, and Thorin was hysterical at times (and made me actually tear up a couple times too).
The book had some twists and turns I enjoyed, settings that I couldnโt get enough of, and some super swoony moments. The world Sarah Blue created just left me wanting more, and I canโt wait for the next one.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 5/5 โญโญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 3/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: The Marriage Hex by Sarah Blue
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Celestial Witches character series. Book 1.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book on Kindle. ๐ on KU.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Paranormal romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Witches & wolves, second chance, enemies-to-lovers, fates mates, warring families, knotting.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Violet and Silas are on warring sides of a feud between witches and wolf shifters. A curse set in place when they were young comes to fruition on Violetโs 30th birthday, forcing them to marry while they try to calm tensions that could explode into violence.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: These two. They were just *chefโs kiss* perfection.
Silas as a broody Alpha who deep down had been pining for Violet for years. And Violet was self-assured and independent, but with this underlying connection she couldnโt seem to shake. I loved every bit of banter and playfulness.
Iโm also always a sucker for shifter books where the inner wolf talks back, and Thorin was hysterical at times (and made me actually tear up a couple times too).
The book had some twists and turns I enjoyed, settings that I couldnโt get enough of, and some super swoony moments. The world Sarah Blue created just left me wanting more, and I canโt wait for the next one.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 5/5 โญโญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 3/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
The Striker by Ana Huang
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
When I read Ana Huang was getting into sports romance I was pumped to get outside of the billionaire bubble and try something different. But it was kind of the same, and Iโm a little bummed about that.
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: The Striker by Ana Huang
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Gods of the Game character series. Book 1.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book on Kindle. ๐ on KU.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Sports romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Forbidden, reformed playboy, he falls first.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Asher is one of the best soccer players in the world, with the money and fame and reckless behavior to show for it. But heโs got a rivalry with Vincent Dubois thatโs ruining his future. The pair are forced to cross train together over the summer, but their trainer - Scarlett, Vincentโs sister - is too hard to resist.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: I know Iโve said this a thousand times, but I always have this gut check for ratings. Three stars is that it gave you exactly what you thought you would get. And this book definitely landed there.
Just in my opinion, it was about 100 pages too long. There was a lot of drama that made me roll my eyes. And when I finished, I kind of just shrugged.
I like Ana Huangโs writing in general, but after 5+ books it feels like Iโm getting the same story over and over again. Iโm not going to remember this a month from now - there wasnโt any moment I felt like shocked or emotional. I stopped picking up her Kings of Sin series because of the same feelingโฆ so I donโt know if Iโll continue to dive into this one.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 3/5 โญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 3/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: The Striker by Ana Huang
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Gods of the Game character series. Book 1.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book on Kindle. ๐ on KU.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Sports romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Forbidden, reformed playboy, he falls first.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Asher is one of the best soccer players in the world, with the money and fame and reckless behavior to show for it. But heโs got a rivalry with Vincent Dubois thatโs ruining his future. The pair are forced to cross train together over the summer, but their trainer - Scarlett, Vincentโs sister - is too hard to resist.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: I know Iโve said this a thousand times, but I always have this gut check for ratings. Three stars is that it gave you exactly what you thought you would get. And this book definitely landed there.
Just in my opinion, it was about 100 pages too long. There was a lot of drama that made me roll my eyes. And when I finished, I kind of just shrugged.
I like Ana Huangโs writing in general, but after 5+ books it feels like Iโm getting the same story over and over again. Iโm not going to remember this a month from now - there wasnโt any moment I felt like shocked or emotional. I stopped picking up her Kings of Sin series because of the same feelingโฆ so I donโt know if Iโll continue to dive into this one.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 3/5 โญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 3/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ