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slmbooks's reviews
210 reviews
The protectors: Forever allies Mafia Series by L.M. Payson
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
0.25
I feel like I’m not even reading the same ARC as everyone else that is reviewing this novella.
The Characters
To start the review, we have two best friends, Damien and Derek. They turn into two separate couples, fairly quickly; and both sets are extremely insta love. Damien and Amanda especially - before they even meet it’s all love sign-offs on emails, and “Mi amor” (my love).
I wasn’t really vibing with how the characters spoke sometimes. It didn’t feel like a contemporary way of speaking, and this is certainly not a fantasy novel. A lot of the dialogue was bland. The “spice” felt immature - like it was written by someone lacking experience or knowledge.
The Writing
There was a lot of repetition in the book. I read the same email twice within 5 pages. How one scene ended, started another scene 5 pages later, in a different POV, but with the same lines. “I have never felt so strongly” is used by BOTH MMC’s by 50% of the very short novella. I found other full sentences used between both male characters in different parts of the book.
There were still a couple of errors that the editors missed. One being in the epilogue (3 years later). The first two sentences didn’t actually line up with the story: “It has been three years since we lost everything. My baby girl would be almost 3.” Actually, she’d be almost 4, as she was alive when she was kidnapped.
There were also some things that needed more clarification, such as when Amanda claims it’s her first time giving oral, and then it’s stated it was her first orgasm - was she a virgin, or just sexually inexperienced? When the baby was “removed” was he alive and didn’t make it, or was he already dead? (This is the difference between miscarriage and infant death).
Content Warnings
The book comes with the following content warnings:
- Dark themes
- Mentions of abuse
- Violence
- Kidnapping
- Miscarriage
I’d like to add the following:
- death of MC as well as secondary characters
- lactation/adult breastfeeding
- sex during pregnancy
- unplanned pregnancy
- accident caused by drunk driver
- fertility issues (cannot have more children due to accident)
- brief mention of alcoholism
- Unresolved grief
Other Comments
I did start reading my e-ARC copy the day after it was released (January 17, 2023) and quickly switched over to Kindle Unlimited so I could read/review the edited version instead.
I believe this author (and story) has a lot of potential however I do not think it’s ready for public consumption just yet. My biggest suggestion is to get a small team of unbiased beta readers.
While I’m not here to ick another persons yum, I do not think the reviews written before me are unbiased OR honest. One review is written by someone who worked closely with the story. This book took me less than 30 minutes to read, despite another review stating it would be good for a long drive. After a bit of a deep dive, it appears that everyone in the ARC chat on Instagram is a friend or family member (I have left the group).
I will not be reading the next book(s) in this series.
Thank you to the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. These opinions are my own.
The Characters
To start the review, we have two best friends, Damien and Derek. They turn into two separate couples, fairly quickly; and both sets are extremely insta love. Damien and Amanda especially - before they even meet it’s all love sign-offs on emails, and “Mi amor” (my love).
I wasn’t really vibing with how the characters spoke sometimes. It didn’t feel like a contemporary way of speaking, and this is certainly not a fantasy novel. A lot of the dialogue was bland. The “spice” felt immature - like it was written by someone lacking experience or knowledge.
The Writing
There was a lot of repetition in the book. I read the same email twice within 5 pages. How one scene ended, started another scene 5 pages later, in a different POV, but with the same lines. “I have never felt so strongly” is used by BOTH MMC’s by 50% of the very short novella. I found other full sentences used between both male characters in different parts of the book.
There were still a couple of errors that the editors missed. One being in the epilogue (3 years later). The first two sentences didn’t actually line up with the story: “It has been three years since we lost everything. My baby girl would be almost 3.” Actually, she’d be almost 4, as she was alive when she was kidnapped.
There were also some things that needed more clarification, such as when Amanda claims it’s her first time giving oral, and then it’s stated it was her first orgasm - was she a virgin, or just sexually inexperienced? When the baby was “removed” was he alive and didn’t make it, or was he already dead? (This is the difference between miscarriage and infant death).
Content Warnings
The book comes with the following content warnings:
- Dark themes
- Mentions of abuse
- Violence
- Kidnapping
- Miscarriage
I’d like to add the following:
- death of MC as well as secondary characters
- lactation/adult breastfeeding
- sex during pregnancy
- unplanned pregnancy
- accident caused by drunk driver
- fertility issues (cannot have more children due to accident)
- brief mention of alcoholism
- Unresolved grief
Other Comments
I did start reading my e-ARC copy the day after it was released (January 17, 2023) and quickly switched over to Kindle Unlimited so I could read/review the edited version instead.
I believe this author (and story) has a lot of potential however I do not think it’s ready for public consumption just yet. My biggest suggestion is to get a small team of unbiased beta readers.
While I’m not here to ick another persons yum, I do not think the reviews written before me are unbiased OR honest. One review is written by someone who worked closely with the story. This book took me less than 30 minutes to read, despite another review stating it would be good for a long drive. After a bit of a deep dive, it appears that everyone in the ARC chat on Instagram is a friend or family member (I have left the group).
I will not be reading the next book(s) in this series.
Thank you to the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. These opinions are my own.
Heartless by Marissa Meyer
Did not finish book. Stopped at 10%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 10%.
DNF @ 10%
This book was so ridiculously BORING. We made it to chapter 6, via audiobook, and it was NOT holding my attention or my 12 year olds.
Basically the whole time they talked about food (lemon tarts!) and being fat/ugly. Like whaaaaat?
Maybe it would have been better later on but I HIGHLY doubt it.
This book was so ridiculously BORING. We made it to chapter 6, via audiobook, and it was NOT holding my attention or my 12 year olds.
Basically the whole time they talked about food (lemon tarts!) and being fat/ugly. Like whaaaaat?
Maybe it would have been better later on but I HIGHLY doubt it.
Perfect Strangers by J.T. Geissinger
Did not finish book. Stopped at 0%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 0%.
After seeing a spoiler for this, I’m so glad I never actually read it… I would have been PISSED at the “twist”.
The Never King by Nikki St. Crowe
Did not finish book. Stopped at 1%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 1%.
DNF @ 1%. What the fuck!?
Opens to a semi-graphic sex scene.. then, you find out it’s her 18th birthday. So… she was a child, the day before. I mean… IMO 18 is still a child, so there’s that.
Won’t be reading this series.
Opens to a semi-graphic sex scene.. then, you find out it’s her 18th birthday. So… she was a child, the day before. I mean… IMO 18 is still a child, so there’s that.
Won’t be reading this series.
Strangers of the Night by C.L. Easton
Did not finish book. Stopped at 9%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 9%.
DNF @ 9%
This book is in serious need of editing.
From what I gathered: Imagine the Purge, but with non-consensual “s3x” instead of murder, grave robbing, and terrible grammar.
Wish this was properly edited… then I definitely would have read more.
This book is in serious need of editing.
From what I gathered: Imagine the Purge, but with non-consensual “s3x” instead of murder, grave robbing, and terrible grammar.
Wish this was properly edited… then I definitely would have read more.
American Queen by Sierra Simone
Did not finish book. Stopped at 14%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 14%.
Alright so, I DNF’d this at 14%. It gave me the ICK.
Prologue: Greer is clearly walking down the aisle to meet Ash, the President.
A few chapters later: at her 16th birthday party she is fondled, groped, and kissed by a man who is 10 years older than her, knowing full well she is underage. Guess who it is? Ash.
When a story shows that an adult, knowingly, gets sexual with a minor, I cannot continue. Because it doesn’t matter the rest of their story. The fact he looked the other way at her age… ick! Not to mention, it was her first kiss and makes it clear she was a virgin, but was willing to do “anything”… no thank you. This just sounds like a toxic relationship, and to my knowledge this isn’t meant to be a DARK romance.
And I’m so pissed about this because I REALLY wanted to like this book. I’m even more pissed knowing that I’ve been recommending it because of the plot - not even knowing that the relationship starts while she is underage.
Prologue: Greer is clearly walking down the aisle to meet Ash, the President.
A few chapters later: at her 16th birthday party she is fondled, groped, and kissed by a man who is 10 years older than her, knowing full well she is underage. Guess who it is? Ash.
When a story shows that an adult, knowingly, gets sexual with a minor, I cannot continue. Because it doesn’t matter the rest of their story. The fact he looked the other way at her age… ick! Not to mention, it was her first kiss and makes it clear she was a virgin, but was willing to do “anything”… no thank you. This just sounds like a toxic relationship, and to my knowledge this isn’t meant to be a DARK romance.
And I’m so pissed about this because I REALLY wanted to like this book. I’m even more pissed knowing that I’ve been recommending it because of the plot - not even knowing that the relationship starts while she is underage.
A Deal with the Elf King by Elise Kova
Did not finish book. Stopped at 23%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 23%.
I couldn’t get through this one - I think it’s because it’s a cookie cutter version of almost every other fae fantasy novel on trend right now. I didn’t feel like this author was bringing anything new to the table.
May try and finish another time.
May try and finish another time.
Tampa by Alissa Nutting
Did not finish book. Stopped at 1%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 1%.
I will absolutely not read this, ever. I’ve looked into it enough to be able to write the following:
The blurb itself says it is “satirical” which, in my opinion, means it was written for fun, jokes, etc
This woman is a young, mid-twenties, sociopathic, middle school teacher who lusts after 13-14 year old boys. She claims she is no longer interested in her husband because he is “too old”, which is ridiculous because they are the same age.
This story is about the seduction of a boy in her class and includes highly graphic sexual scenes with a minor.
Not for me, and really shouldn’t be for anyone, honestly.
The blurb itself says it is “satirical” which, in my opinion, means it was written for fun, jokes, etc
This woman is a young, mid-twenties, sociopathic, middle school teacher who lusts after 13-14 year old boys. She claims she is no longer interested in her husband because he is “too old”, which is ridiculous because they are the same age.
This story is about the seduction of a boy in her class and includes highly graphic sexual scenes with a minor.
Not for me, and really shouldn’t be for anyone, honestly.