sydnees's reviews
122 reviews

Monarch by Sophie Lark

dark emotional tense slow-paced

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

5.0

OOHHH my gooddd. Wow. I seriously love romantic thrillers so much. Nothing pulls you in and keeps you turning page after page than an incredible gothic romance with a thriller take. 

Thank you so incredibly much to the amazing Hambright PR & the beautiful Sophie Lark for an earc copy of Monarch. 

Monarch is such a beautifully tragic story between Elena, Lorne and and Atlas. While Elena and Atlas are the FMC & MMC of this story, Lorne's character does play a significant part in the plot. I fell head over heels in love between the relationship between Elena and Lorne's daughter Ivy, it gave me the warm fuzzies that Ivy became Elena's little shadow and was able to become her advocate and protector. 

One of my favorite things getting to read Sophie's books is the stunning art that comes with the stories. I feel like I am able to get so pulled into the storyline being able to physically imagine her characters. 

I am so thrilled to read the rest of this series and the characters around Grimstone. I am loving this new gothic romance tropes of Sophie's writing.

The Student by Skye Warren

dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Thank you so incredible much to the amazing Valentine PR team and to Skye Warren for an arc copy of this book 🖤 

When I tell you I was hooked immediately after reading The Professor, I mean it. It felt like I was checking my calendar daily waiting for release day. I am an absolute sucker for age gap romances. Throw a little secret society and a professor involved? I am SOLD. 

I absolutely loved this second installment of Tanglewood University and am already counting down the days until the final book releases. This series is deliciously spicy and the chemistry between Anne and William (aka Professor Stratford aka Daddy lmao) only gets more intense in this second book.

The second book in this series is definitely a bit darker than the first, make sure to always check TW 🖤 

Tropes:
Secret Society 
Age Gap 
Professor x Student
Ex boyfriends dad 
Dark academia

The Devil Himself by BB Easton

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

The way my jaw was actually dropped for this entire book was crazy. Thank you SO incredible much to Valentine PR & BB Easton for an arc copy of this book. 

I am an absolute suuucker for Irish folklore romances, but what I absolutely LOVE even more is the slight fantasy element that BB Easton is able to throw into this series. I swear I did not put this book down because I was so enthralled with what was going to happen next. I don’t think I’ve ever read a romance novel that took place during wartimes either, BUT I actually really loved the setting in which it took place. It’s not often times an author keeps the reader in the dark as much as the readers but I completely loved that little element of surprise once everything started unraveling 🖤 

I read the Devil in Dublin when I start started my reading journey again so as soon as I saw The Devil Himself releasing I absolutely ran to read it as fast as I could. Bb Easton is truly able to pull the readers in and suck them into the story, I seriously felt like I was there with the fmc at the beginning of the story because of how exceptionally well it was written. 

Tropes:
Irish folklore 
Soulmates 
War Setting
Mafia 
Touch her and die 
Enemies to Lovers

Still Beating by Jennifer Hartmann

dark emotional sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

10/5 stars omg 

What Lies Beyond The Veil - Bonus POV by Harper L. Woods

adventurous dark emotional mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

Yearly re-read of my favorite fantasy series 🖤🫶🏼

Until Retribution Burns by Adelaide Forrest

dark

5.0

Mr. Wicked by Marni Mann

funny lighthearted fast-paced

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

4.0

Firstly, I want to say a huge massive thank you to Valentine PR & Marni Mann for the ARC copy of Mr. Wicked 🖤

Marni’s books are always a good time, always binge worthy, and always have me giddy as all get out. Jovana was the sweetest little firecracker and by the end of the book I was rooting for her and Grayson. 

Grayson is a total playboy and after having a one night stand with Jovana that ended badly a huge media scandal hits which leads Grayson into needing to marry fast to save his company. Enter scene with Jovana again and you get the picture.

I loved the characters banter with each other, Marni truly knows how to keep readers thoroughly entertained throughout her books. We love a reformed playboy who doesn’t understand love except when it comes to his woman. 

Tropes:
Age gap
Fake marriage 
Grumpy x sunshine 
Billionaire 
Forced Proximity

Until Tomorrow Comes by Adelaide Forrest

dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

Freaking love Adelaide so much 

Fox: Hel's Ink Book One by DJ Krimmer

emotional funny inspiring lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

First a huge massive thank you to Literally Yours PR & DJ Krimmer for an arc copy of the Fox: Hels Ink audiobook 🖤 These narrators were absolutely top notch and I absolutely fell in love with Fox and Janie. 

I don’t think I realized how much I needed to read a tattoo shop romance until I actually read one and omg I am absolutely flipping obsessed with this micro trope. I love finding new to me authors and falling in love with their stories, writing styles and characters and that’s exactly what happened while listening to Fox 🖤 

I loved being able to put myself somewhat into Janie’s shoes as someone’s who’s covered in tattoos and loves the community and environment. I absolutely didn’t know I needed to read tattoo shop books but it totally makes sense honestly, I cannot wait for the rest of the books in this series. I already know their stories are going to be incredible *cough* *cough* atlas lol 

Fox: Hels Ink was beyond engaging and had me hooked from the get go. I fell in love with the characters and with their love story, I could have listened to this audiobook forever honestly. 

Tropes:
Tattoo shop 
Tattooed mmc 
Age gap (17 years)
Fathers best friend 
Forbidden 
Amazing banter 
Grumpy x sunshine 

Older by Jennifer Hartmann

dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I’m literally writing this with swollen red puffy cheeks. Jennifer I’ll be sending you my therapy bill for absolutely wrecking me with that ending 😂

First an a massive thank you to Jennifer Hartmann and Valentine PR for the ARC copy of Older. 

Jennifer Hartmann is a new to me author, though I’ve had her books on my TBR for ages I’m definitely reading all those asap after finishing this story. Halley and Reed, I don’t even have words that could compare to the beautiful story Jennifer wrote for them. It was gut wrenching, earth shattering and an absolute pleasure to have read. I haven’t cried that hard over a book in a while, so thank you for that 

Please protect your mental health and read any and all TW before reading this story 🖤 your mental health matters. I found peace in this book and I know it will forever live rent free in my brain and I will continue to come back to it for years.