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tj9390's reviews
713 reviews
Heavy Petting by Elena Dawne
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
A Tribute of Fire by Sariah Wilson
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
I was excited to read this book and the beginning held such promise.
But my interest waived at just over the halfway mark.
I realised nothing had happened except world building and introducing characters. Everything about this book was surface, no tension, no emotion and no depth. Just matter or factor description.
Plus the MMC and FMC interactions felt forced and tired.
In my opinion, this book could have avoided all these problems with multiple POV with the major players in the story.
But my interest waived at just over the halfway mark.
I realised nothing had happened except world building and introducing characters. Everything about this book was surface, no tension, no emotion and no depth. Just matter or factor description.
Plus the MMC and FMC interactions felt forced and tired.
In my opinion, this book could have avoided all these problems with multiple POV with the major players in the story.
Dominate by Pam Godwin
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
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
4.0
Pam Godwin can do no wrong in my eyes.
Her writing is tight and flows very well for the dark/mysterious/thriller vibes her Deliver series aim for.
For a series set among the depravity of human trafficking, I have felt real warmth and positiv emotional connections from our main characters than I thought the subject matter would allow.
Tommy and Rylee had a rough start full of mistrust, deception and lies. But Pam Godwin allows both characters the space to explore their darker emotions while dealing their the demons.
With one last book to go in this 9 book series, I will be sad to say goodbye to all the complex and amazin characters Pam Godwin has brought to life.
Her writing is tight and flows very well for the dark/mysterious/thriller vibes her Deliver series aim for.
For a series set among the depravity of human trafficking, I have felt real warmth and positiv emotional connections from our main characters than I thought the subject matter would allow.
Tommy and Rylee had a rough start full of mistrust, deception and lies. But Pam Godwin allows both characters the space to explore their darker emotions while dealing their the demons.
With one last book to go in this 9 book series, I will be sad to say goodbye to all the complex and amazin characters Pam Godwin has brought to life.
Intensity by Dean Koontz
Did not finish book. Stopped at 71%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 71%.
This was my first Dean Koontz novel and it came so highly recommended.
I did NOT like this at all.
This book takes the cake for the most overly descriptive, over written book I have ever read.
There is a scene in which our heroine is trying to free herself from being chained to a table and it goes on for 50 pages.
I started skimming to get to the main storyline. To top things off we learn nothing about the killer! Even when you find out who he is at the very end it just leaves more questions than answers.
Hard Pass.
I did NOT like this at all.
This book takes the cake for the most overly descriptive, over written book I have ever read.
There is a scene in which our heroine is trying to free herself from being chained to a table and it goes on for 50 pages.
I started skimming to get to the main storyline. To top things off we learn nothing about the killer! Even when you find out who he is at the very end it just leaves more questions than answers.
Hard Pass.
Snapshot by Kay Cove
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
One of my favourite books this year was Camera Shy.
But unfortunately, Kay Coves sophomore effort left me cold.
The writing was engaging but the friends to lovers relationship between Lennox and Dex felt very luke warm all the way through. Plus office/business type settings in a romnace book make me yawn.
But unfortunately, Kay Coves sophomore effort left me cold.
The writing was engaging but the friends to lovers relationship between Lennox and Dex felt very luke warm all the way through. Plus office/business type settings in a romnace book make me yawn.
The Striker by Ana Huang
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
I was so disappointed in this book.
It was so long winded for a contemporary sports romance.
I felt like the first 200 pages were just meandering and pointless to the plot.
If I didn't love Ana Huang's Twisted series so much, and know how well she can craft a story, I would have DNFed before I hit halfway - which was how long it took for the actual story to move along at a faster pace.
I didn't feel any chemistry between Scarlett and Asher. Their relationship was held together by the 'enemies little sister' trope and their supposed shared star athlete trauma and expectations.
Long story short, it was boring.
It was so long winded for a contemporary sports romance.
I felt like the first 200 pages were just meandering and pointless to the plot.
If I didn't love Ana Huang's Twisted series so much, and know how well she can craft a story, I would have DNFed before I hit halfway - which was how long it took for the actual story to move along at a faster pace.
I didn't feel any chemistry between Scarlett and Asher. Their relationship was held together by the 'enemies little sister' trope and their supposed shared star athlete trauma and expectations.
Long story short, it was boring.
Barbarian's Redemption by Ruby Dixon
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Bad Duke by Lilah Raine
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
I struggled to like anything about this book. I gave it one star because I managed to finish it.
The writing and layout of the ebook was very poorly done - no paragraph spaces for dialogue which was weird.
The plot sounded interesting. Peer of the Realm shunning his Dukdome to run his own nightclub and drug empire - I was hoping for something like The Gentleman.
Sadly, it fell flat.
No more Lilah Raine books for me.
The writing and layout of the ebook was very poorly done - no paragraph spaces for dialogue which was weird.
The plot sounded interesting. Peer of the Realm shunning his Dukdome to run his own nightclub and drug empire - I was hoping for something like The Gentleman.
Sadly, it fell flat.
No more Lilah Raine books for me.
Iron Flame (2 of 2) [Dramatized Adaptation] by Rebecca Yarros
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
I need to hide from the world and stare at the wall to process that ending - and I read this book last November. The graphic audio just broke my heart all over again, that ending 💔
January 21 2025 can not come soon enough.
January 21 2025 can not come soon enough.
Iron Flame (Part 1 & 2) [Dramatized Adaptation] by Rebecca Yarros
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
If I could give the Dramatised audio version of Iron Flame infinity stars, I would.
It was masterful - the sound effects, the voice acting, the soundtrack.. it was amazing to listen to.
Rebecca Yarros had me on the edge of my car seat - the threats and stakes felt dramatic but so believable. My main gripe with Romantasy books is how low the stakes feel in comparison to the characters reactions. Rebecca Yarros keeps the right ballance of adventure, plot and romance at all times.
It was masterful - the sound effects, the voice acting, the soundtrack.. it was amazing to listen to.
Rebecca Yarros had me on the edge of my car seat - the threats and stakes felt dramatic but so believable. My main gripe with Romantasy books is how low the stakes feel in comparison to the characters reactions. Rebecca Yarros keeps the right ballance of adventure, plot and romance at all times.