Quick Take: An adventurous fantasy that follows Kyla’s journey to fulfilling her destiny as a warrior, but suffers from repetitiveness and lack of character growth.
(more…)Kings and Sorcerers, A Series by Morgan Rice
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Londyn Falls by Jennifer Domenico
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Series: Standalone
Release Date: November 15th, 2014
<strong>Synopsis:</strong>
He makes me want to ease his sorrow. To know what broke his heart. To help him heal. When he’s near, my breath catches, my heart races, my body sings. His very presence ignites my soul with desire.
All I want is to love him.
I just wish he knew it. ~ Londyn Harper
She makes me want to open my heart. Ask her to love me. Tell her my secrets. She makes me want to try again. When she’s near, my heart begins to heal, my body yearns to touch her, the darkness disappears.
All I want is to love her. I just need to tell her. ~ Luca Di Roma
Londyn thinks she could never get a man like him. Luca fears if she learns his secret, she will run. Does he have what it takes to love her? Could she love him back?
<strong>Ending</strong>
HEA
<strong>Representation</strong>
No strong representations of the following:
• BIPOC characters
• LGBTQIA+ characters
• characters with a disability
And doesn’t address fatphobia
• BIPOC characters
• LGBTQIA+ characters
• characters with a disability
And doesn’t address fatphobia
<strong>Possible Triggers</strong>
• Death of a loved one
• Grief
• Grief
<strong>Safety Rating:</strong> Safe with Exceptions
• No cheating
• Does have OW drama
– The Hero for a majority of the book is still hung up on his dead fiancée/wife
• No descriptive sex scene with OW/OM
• Does have the Hero and Heroine pushing away
• Does not have a separation between the Hero and Heroine
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.
• Does have OW drama
– The Hero for a majority of the book is still hung up on his dead fiancée/wife
• No descriptive sex scene with OW/OM
• Does have the Hero and Heroine pushing away
• Does not have a separation between the Hero and Heroine
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
(more…)He Said, She Said by Kwame Alexander
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Series: Standalone
Release Date: November 19th, 2013
<strong>Synopsis:</strong>
Insert Here
<strong>Ending</strong>
HFN
<strong>Representation</strong>
• Black main and supporting characters
<strong>Possible Triggers</strong>
• Gun violence
<strong>Safety Rating:</strong> Not Safe
• Does have cheating
– The Heroine finds out from someone else that the Hero cheated on her
• Does have a descriptive sex scene with OW
• Does have the Hero and Heroine pushing away
• Does have a separation between the Hero and Heroine
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.
– The Heroine finds out from someone else that the Hero cheated on her
• Does have a descriptive sex scene with OW
• Does have the Hero and Heroine pushing away
• Does have a separation between the Hero and Heroine
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
(more…)The Selection, A Series by Kiera Cass
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About the Series
The Selection series has been an awesome adventure and started out as a girl already in love being forced to participate in a competition she wanted nothing with. But throughout these three books, we’ve witnessed America stand her ground for what she believes in, fight for those who cannot fight for themselves, and truly find herself.
The Selection is a series to read again, and lucky us, Kiera Cass is releasing a companion series, continuing America’s story through her daughter in The Heir.
The review of the series includes reviews on each of the following books (listed in order of release):
Note: The review of the second and third books may discuss spoilers from the first (and second) book(s).
(more…)The Promise of Amazing by Robin Constantine
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Series: Standalone
Release Date: December 31st, 2013
<strong>Synopsis:</strong>
Wren’s Caswell is average. Ranked in the middle of her class at Sacred Heart, she’s not popular, but not a social misfit. Wren is the quiet, “good” girl who’s always done what she’s supposed to – only now in her junior year, this passive strategy is backfiring. She wants to change, but doesn’t know how.
Grayson Barrett was the king of St. Gabe’s. Star of the lacrosse team, top of his class, on a fast track to a brilliant future – until he was expelled for being a “term paper pimp”. Now Gray is in a downward spiral and needs to change, but doesn’t know how.
One fateful night their paths cross when Wren, working at her family’s Arthurian-themed catering hall, performs the Heimlich on Gray as he chokes on a cocktail weenie, saving his life literally and figuratively. What follows is the complicated, awkward, hilarious, and tender tale of two teens shedding their past, figuring out who they are – and falling in love.
<strong>Ending</strong>
HFN
<strong>Representation</strong>
No strong representations of the following:
• BIPOC characters
• LGBTQIA+ characters
• characters with a disability
And doesn’t address fatphobia
• BIPOC characters
• LGBTQIA+ characters
• characters with a disability
And doesn’t address fatphobia
<strong>Possible Triggers</strong>
• Blackmail
• Threatening behaviour
• Criminality (including theft and plagiarism)
– The Hero and his friends had been conning girls romantically and then robbing them
• Threatening behaviour
• Criminality (including theft and plagiarism)
– The Hero and his friends had been conning girls romantically and then robbing them
<strong>Mature Themes</strong>
• (Kind of) cheating (Heroine kisses a different guy twice and the Hero attempts to pull another girl while the Hero and Heroine were dating)
• Cursing
• Implied sex
• Underage drinking
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.
• Cursing
• Implied sex
• Underage drinking
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
(more…)Taste (Take It Off, #9) by Cambria Hebert
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Series: Take It Off*
Release Date: July 25th, 2014
Synopsis
One taste is never enough …
Spencer Waller’s main purpose in life is to protect and serve. After spending years in the military, he gets a coveted spot on the Secret Service detail protecting the president. Spence doesn’t have time for women or all the work having a relationship with one requires. But just because he isn’t looking for a lady doesn’t mean he can’t appreciate a beautiful one when he sees her.
And he makes it a point to see one, in particular, every single day.
Elle Bond has literally chopped and fried her way to the top of the food chain. Earning a coveted position in the White House as the president’s personal chef, she figures her professional life can only get better. her personal life, on the other hand, could use a little bit of an overhaul, and because of that, she tries to ignore the charm-dripping cookie thief every time he comes into her kitchen. After all, she knows better than anyone that just one taste of something good is never enough.
One night after work, Elle is assaulted, threatened, and given an ultimatum. She can’t go to the police, and she sure as hell can’t do what she was ordered.
But she has to. Or else.
Pale, shaken, and scared to death, Elle confides in Spence, and his protective instincts take over. Together, Elle and Spencer have to uncover a sinister plot and stop it before someone ends up dead.
Ending
HEA
Representation
No strong representations of the following:
• BIPOC characters
• LGBTQIA+ characters
• characters with a disability
And doesn’t address fatphobia
• BIPOC characters
• LGBTQIA+ characters
• characters with a disability
And doesn’t address fatphobia
Possible Triggers
• Heroine is assaulted and threatened (on page)
• Someone is threatening the life of the Heroine and her son
• Near death situations
• Someone is threatening the life of the Heroine and her son
• Near death situations
Safety Rating: Safe
• No cheating
• No descriptive sex scene with OW/OM
• Does have the Hero and Heroine pushing away
• Does Not have a separation between the Heroine and Hero
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.
• No descriptive sex scene with OW/OM
• Does have the Hero and Heroine pushing away
• Does Not have a separation between the Heroine and Hero
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.
Rating: 3.25/5 stars
*Each novel in the series is Standalone
(more…)Romancing the Bookworm by Kate Evangelista
R
Series: Standalone
Release Date: July 9th, 2013
<strong>Synopsis:</strong>
Sometimes, even the best-laid plans can unravel.
It’s spring break, and Tamara Winters would rather stay on campus and read romance novels than flaunt her size-fourteen body on a beach. But her best friend, Ronni, has other ideas.
Against her wishes, Tamara is whisked away to picturesque Maverick Bay, where she’s wrangled into waiting tables with Ronni at the Shore Shack for its busy week leading to Maverick’s Surf Invitational. There she meets fellow schoolmate Xavier Solomon, the Invitational’s organizer and campus womanizer by reputation. From the moment Tamara sees him emerging from the waves like a hero in of one of her romance novels, all she wants to do is run away from the feelings he inspires in her.
Little does she know Xavier has been watching her for weeks now. In fact, after failed attempts at asking her out on campus, he’s concocted a crazy plan: fabricating romantic situations straight out of her favorite books. Xavier quickly realizes that if Tamara gets a whiff of his designs, he might as well spell CREEPER across his forehead. Yet as they grow closer, he’s convinced it’s a risk worth taking. What he hasn’t planned on, of course, is his drug-addicted, alcoholic stepbrother, who decides to join the fun and put a wrench in Xavier’s scheme.
Spring break is proving hotter than Tamara expected. Will her romance novels be able to compete?
<strong>Ending</strong>
HFN
<strong>Representation</strong>
No strong representations of the following:
• BIPOC characters
• LGBTQIA+ characters
• characters with a disability
And doesn’t address fatphobia
• BIPOC characters
• LGBTQIA+ characters
• characters with a disability
And doesn’t address fatphobia
<strong>Possible Triggers</strong>
• Drug addiction
• Alcoholism
• Alcoholism
<strong>Safety Rating:</strong> Safe
• No cheating
• No descriptive sex scene with OW/OM
• Does have the Heroine pushing away
• Does Not have a separation between the Hero and Heroine
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.
• No descriptive sex scene with OW/OM
• Does have the Heroine pushing away
• Does Not have a separation between the Hero and Heroine
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.
Rating: 3.75/5 stars
(more…)A Girl Named Digit (Digit, #1) by Annabel Monaghan
A
Series: Digit
Release Date: June 5th, 2012
<strong>Synopsis:</strong>
“A first novel that combines adventure, mystery, love, and humour.” ~ Booklist
Farrah “Digit” Higgins has left her geek self behind in another school district so she can blend in with the popular crowd at Santa Monica High and actually enjoy her senior year.
But when Farrah, the daughter of a UCLA math professor, unknowingly cracks a terrorist group’s number sequence, her laid-back senior year gets a lot more interesting.
Soon she is personally investigating the case, on the run from terrorists, and faking her own kidnapping – all while trying to convince a young, hot FBI agent to take her seriously.
<strong>Ending</strong>
Cliffhanger
<strong>Representation</strong>
No strong representations of the following:
• BIPOC characters
• LGBTQIA+ characters
• characters with a disability
And doesn’t address fatphobia
• BIPOC characters
• LGBTQIA+ characters
• characters with a disability
And doesn’t address fatphobia
<strong>Possible Triggers</strong>
• Allusion to violence
• No OTT sad parts
• No OTT sad parts
<strong>Mature Themes</strong>
• Some kissing
• Alcohol use
• There’s an age difference between Heroine and love interest:
– Hero is 23
– Heroine is 17-going-on-18
• Hero is waiting until she’s 18, which she turns in a few months, to go any further.
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.
• Alcohol use
• There’s an age difference between Heroine and love interest:
– Hero is 23
– Heroine is 17-going-on-18
• Hero is waiting until she’s 18, which she turns in a few months, to go any further.
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
(more…)Searching for Someday (Searching For, #1) by Jennifer Probst
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Series: Searching For*
Release Date: November 26th, 2013
<strong>Synopsis:</strong>
From “one of the most exciting breakout novelists” (USA TODAY) comes the first in an irresistible new series – a spin-off series of the bestselling Marriage to a Billionaire series – featuring a matchmaker who falls for a man who doesn’t believe in love. ~ jenniferprobst.com
Kate has given up on love – at least for herself. She is both blessed and cursed with the ability to sense a romantic connection between two people – a gift that her family passed down for generations. When Kate launches her own matchmaking company, Kinnection, with her two best friends in a cozy New York town, she has to put aside her own romantic disasters to make her business a success.
But when a furious man stalks into her office and accuses her business of being a scam, Kate is given the ultimate challenge to prove herself. Slade puts himself in her hands and asks Kate to find him love. Enraged at his arrogance but stubbornly eager to prove herself, Kate agrees, dedicating herself to the journey of finding him love … only to find herself falling for him along the way.
<strong>Ending</strong>
HEA
<strong>Representation</strong>
No strong representations of the following:
• BIPOC characters
• LGBTQIA+ characters
• characters with a disability
And doesn’t address fatphobia
• BIPOC characters
• LGBTQIA+ characters
• characters with a disability
And doesn’t address fatphobia
<strong>Possible Triggers</strong>
• No OTT sad parts
• No abuse
• No abuse
<strong>Safety Rating:</strong> Safe with Exceptions
• Heroine is a virgin
• No cheating
• No descriptive sex scene with OW/OM (Heroine is setting the Hero up on dates with OW, and he kisses one of them.)
• Does have the Hero and Heroine pushing away (The Hero is set upon many dates by the Heroine.)
• Does Not have a separation between the Heroine and Hero
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.
• No cheating
• No descriptive sex scene with OW/OM (Heroine is setting the Hero up on dates with OW, and he kisses one of them.)
• Does have the Hero and Heroine pushing away (The Hero is set upon many dates by the Heroine.)
• Does Not have a separation between the Heroine and Hero
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
*Each novel in the series is Standalone
(more…)
