Book Review: Losers: Part 1 by Harley Laroux

Title: Losers Part 1

Author: Harley Laroux

Series/Standalone: Losers Duet (Book #1)

Genre: Adult, Smut, Why Choose Romance, Dark

Pages: 594

Publisher: Indie Published

Year Published: 2022

Format: Ebook (Kindle Unlimited)

"I was supposed to have it all.

I'd been Prom Queen, Cheer Captain- high school's most savage Queen Bee. I could have everything I wanted. Except them. The freaks, the weirdos, the school's ultimate losers; Manson, Jason, Lucas, and Vincent. our hatred for each other couldn't keep us apart, not even when my own mistake got Manson expelled and made me the ultimate villain to the rest of them.

One night was supposed to be enough.

I couldn't resist forever. For one night I gave myself over to the men I wasn't supposed to want and satisfied the darkest parts of my soul. But some things are meant to stay in the dark. One night, and it was over.

Nothing more than a game.

Now, with college behind me, our worlds collide yet again. Four men, all willing to share me as their plaything until my debt to them is paid. Another game to satiate my dark cravings, the twisted rules of which bring us all even closer than before. but games aren't meant to last.

When the debt is paid and the game is done, what if I don't want to walk away?"

My Rating: 3.75/5

This was such a wild read. I've read some other dark romances, so I was somewhat prepared going into this, but I don't think that I had a clue what I was getting into. The smut is insane, the plot is fun, and the characters are all very unique. I'm curious to see where the rest of the series goes, and I look forward to reading more by the author. While the writing style isn't my favourite, it is entertaining.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: A False Start by Elsie Silver

Title: A False Start

Author: Elsie Silver

Series/Standalone: Gold Rush Ranch Series (Book #4)

Genre: Romance, Adult Fiction, Contemporary

Pages: 432

Publisher: Self-Published

Year Published: 2022

Format: Ebook (Kindle Unlimited)

"I kissed my best friend's little sister, and the world stood still.

That night we were two perfect strangers, the town's grumpy recluse and a gorgeous girl in the back of a bar. Until we weren't.

Because Nadia Dalca isn't just some girl. She's the girl I can't have. Fourteen years younger than me and completely off-limits.

My plan is to stay away, but the universe keeps pushing us together. It's like some sort of cosmic joke, to give me a taste of something so electric - so real- something that breathed life back into me.

Because I can look, but I can't touch.

Her sinful curves, her light-hearted laughter, her wild side... I'm addicted to every last bit of her.

And when she turns those sultry eyes on me-- the ones so full of longing and so free of judgement? I've always considered myself a strong man. But when she looks at me I'm weak.

To give in to our connection would be a betrayal. My life is beyond complicated, and she has the world at her fingertips. Her brother is the only family she has left, and sad as it sounds, he's also my only friend.

But I kissed her again anyway.

And now I can't stop."

My Rating: 5/5

This was once again Elsie Silver, just writing perfection. The tension between our main characters is excellent. The spicy scenes were wonderful, and the plot was fantastic. I was so grateful for the way the author chose to end this book. She has this way of making each character so unique that I feel like they are real people. This series isn't quite as good as Chestnut Springs in my opinion, but I can't wait to read the Rose Hill Series.

Thank you for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez

Title: Take My Hand

Author: Dolen Perkins-Valdez

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Historical Fiction, Adult

Pages: 359

Publisher: Berkley

Year Published: 2022

Format: Audiobook

"Inspired by true events that rocked the nation, a profoundly moving novel about a Black nurse in post-segregation Alabama who blows the whistle on a terrible wrong done to her patients, from the New York Times bestselling author of Wench.

Montgomery, Alabama 1973. Fresh out of nursy school, Civil Townsend has big plans to make a difference, especially in her African American community. At the Montgomery Family Planning Clinic, she intends to help women make their own choices for their lives and bodies.

But when her first week on the job takes her down a dusty country road to a worn down one-room cabin, she's shocked to learn that her new patients are children, just 11 and 13 years old. Neither of the Williams sisters has even kissed a boy, but they are poor and Black and for those handling the family's welfare benefits, that's reason enough to have the girls on birth control. As Civil grapples with her role, she takes India, Erica and their family into her heart. Until one day, she arrives at the door to learn the unthinkable has happened and nothing will ever be the same for any of them.

Decades later, with her daughter grown and a long career in her wake, Dr. Civil Townsend is ready to retire, to find her peace and to leave the past behind. But there are people and stories that refuse to be forgotten. That must not be forgotten.

Because history repeats what we don't remember."

My Rating: 5/5

The audiobook of this story was truly fantastic. Reading about such horrors and blatant racism, obviously, isn't comfortable, but it's important to remember our past as a society to make sure we don't repeat it. I had read a bit about the Tuskegee case, but for whatever reason hadn't heard much about this case. It's uncomfortable to read about, but the way the author tells the story helps paint the picture of how someone could be involved in something like this, how blowing the whistle (while obviously the right thing to do) can cause such a landslide of events on not just her, but the family involved and society as a whole. Tremendously written, and incredibly important would recommend for fans of historical fiction.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: The Dragon's Bride by Katee Robert

Title: The Dragon's Bride

Author: Katee Robert

Series/Standalone: A Deal With A Demon (Book #1)

Genre: Fantasy, Monster Romance, Adult Fiction

Pages: 190

Publisher: Indie Published

Year Published: 2022

Format: Ebook (Kindle Unlimited)\

"Briar Rose might have a name out of a storybook, but she learned at a very young age that no prince was coming to save her. She'll have to save herself. Unfortunately, even that is an impossible task in her current situation- trapped in a terrifying marriage to a dangerous man.

Desperate times call for desperate measures, which is how she finds herself making a deal with a demon. Freedom from her husband... in return for seven years of service. 

She expects the service to be backbreaking and harsh. She doesn't expect to be put on an auction block in a room full of literal monsters and sold to the highest bidder.

To Sol.

A dragon.

He might seem kinder than his fearsome looks imply, but she knows better than to trust the way he wants to take care of her, or how invested he is in her pleasure. In her experience, if something seems too good to be true, it certainly is.

Falling for Sol is out of the question. She's suffered enough, and she has no intention of staying in this realm... even if she leaves her heart behind when she returns to normal life."

My Rating: 2/5

This was maybe my first foray into monster romance, and I really need someone who is a fan of the genre to tell me if this book is good for the genre or a bad example of the genre. It wasn't for me, it was a little too out of the realm of my comfort zone. Now was I entertained? Yes. Did I get the ick multiple times? Yes. Would I reread it? No, but I might try another one in the series. Anywho all that to say two stars for the two penises. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Review: How War Begins by Igort

Title: How War Begins: Dispatches from the Ukrainian Invasion

Author: Igort

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Graphic Novel, Nonfiction

Pages:172

Publisher: Fantagraphics Books

Year Published: 2022

Format: Paperback (Library Copy)

"In 2022, Igort, an acclaimed Italian cartoonist, began taking down the testimonies of Ukrainians during the Russian invasion. He turned them into online comics journalism, collected here for the first time in English. "The collapsing bodies look like marionettes. The clouds of dust captured by drones have a surreal beauty. The crumpling buildings look like houses of cards. Even so, It's upsetting, panic-inducing. How can you not think about the human lives, just like your own, buried under that rubble?" In this real-time work of graphic journalism (posted serially on Facebook), the cartoonist Igort uses the medium of comics to depict the telephone testimonies of Ukrainians as Russia invaded in 2022. In vignettes that grow ever more horrifying- infiltrating spies, bombed cities, recorded accounts of children whose parents were murdered in front of their eyes, and more- Igort also relays the events that led up to the invasion, such as the torture and killing of human rights activists. He tells stories of individual struggle and suffering with no resolutions because they are still Of Tetiana, who fled in the middle of the night with her children and whose car broke down on the steppe. And Maksim, who lived in Belgium and went for a five-day family visit and who could not return home when his mother died of COVID due to martial law. In art styles that veer from cartoon simplicity to photorealism, depending on what the moment demands, Igort paints portraits and scenes of ordinary people trying to survive among almost 10,000 civilian deaths. how War Begins is an important document of the past, the present and the future. Full-color illustrations throughout."

Unrated

This is an extremely important read. The way the war in Ukraine has gone is something we can't even imagine the atrocities that are happening. And to have these documented for historical facts. I would recommend giving it a read.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Sabotage by Shantel Tessier

Title: Sabotage

Author: Shantel Tessier

Series/Standalone: L.O.R.D.S (Book #4)
Genre: Dark Romance, New Adult, 

Pages: 229

Publisher: Self-Published

Year Published: 2022

Format: Ebook (Kindle Unlimited)

"COLTON

Raylee Lexington Adams is my stepsister and the one woman in the world who can make my blood boil.

She's vindictive, a lot of crazy and absolutely stunning.

I hate everything about her except for when she's on her knees begging me to use her as my own personal toy. 

We've been playing a game of cat and mouse for far too long. We have used each other for our own sick pleasure.

I've ruined every relationship my little princess has ever had. A sure way that she'll come crawling back to me, begging me for what only I can give her when another man fails her.

But I'm tired of watching others get a piece of what is mine. So, I did what any rational man would do- I staked my claims, showed the world that she belonged to me, and I'm going to do whatever it take to make her believe it too.

RAYLEE

Colton Remington Knox is a man I despise but can't say no to.

He's what any girl would call a walking red flag. But I've never claimed to be a smart woman when it comes to men. Why should he be any different?

I've always managed to hold my own against him. But this time, he's gone too far. Posting a video of me on my knees for him, for what? To brag? Embarrass me? He's acting like he doesn't know me very well.

Colt wants to play a game? I'll do whatever it takes to make sure I win. No matter what it costs me.

People already think I have no dignity, so why let them down?"

My Rating: 2/5

After realising the starting plot points, I wanted the start of this, but there was something about how certain things were handled at the end that just disappointed me. I wanted a little more thoughtfulness towards a certain trigger warning, but that's why trigger warnings exist right? It wasn't my favourite in the series, but I look forward to the next one.

Sidny

Book Review: The Last Housewife by Ashley Winstead

Title: The Last Housewife

Author: Ashley Winstead

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Adult

Pages: 385

Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark

Year Published: 2022

Format: Audiobook (Own Paperback Copy)

"From the author of the acclaimed In My Dreams I Hold a Knife comes a pitch-black thriller about a woman determined to destroy a powerful cult and avenge the deaths of the women taken in by it, no matter the cost.

While in college in upstate New York, Shay Evans and her best friends met a captivating man who seduced them with a web of lies about the way the world works, bringing them under his thrall. By senior year, Shay and her friend Laurel were the only ones who managed to escape. Now, eight years later, Shay's built a new life in a tiny Texas suburb. But when she hears the horrifying news of Laurel's death- delivered, of all ways, by her favorite true-crime podcast crusader- she begins to suspect that the past she ]thought she buried is still very much alive, and the predators more dangerous than ever.

Recruiting the help of the podcast host, Shay goes back to the place she vowed never to return to in search of answers. As she follows the threads of her friend's life, she's pulled into a dark, seductive world, where wealth and privilege shield brutal philosophies that feel all too familiar. When Shay's obsession with uncovering the truth becomes also consuming she can no longer separate her desire for justice from darker desires newly reawakened, she must confront the depths of her own complicity and conditioning. But in a world built for men to rule it- both inside the cult and outside of it- is justice even possible, and if so, how far will Shay go to get it?"

My Rating: 5/5

This was such a great audiobook! I would highly recommend the audiobook if you're interested in the content matter as it helps the podcast feel alive. This book contained a lot of subject matter that I find interesting. Interesting in the way i find true crime interesting. I know that it's probably not a healthy thing to be curious about but it's just one of those things for me. I am always curious about how cults start, how they end up where they do and what makes people start them or even join them along the way. This delivered on the mystery aspect of these ideas and the use of a podcast to link it together was perfect! I would highly recommend it!

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Court by Tracy Wolff

Title: Court

Author: Tracy Wolff

Series/Standalone: Crave Series (Book #4)

Genre: Young Adult, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal

Pages: 720

Publisher: Entangled Teen

Year Published: 2022

Format: Audiobook

"No one survived the last battle unscathed. Flint is angry at the world, Jaxon is turning into something I don't recognize, and Hudson has put up a wall I'm not sure I'll ever break through.

Now war is coming, and we're not ready. We're going to need an army to have any hope of winning. But first, there are questions about my ancestors that need answers. Answers that might just reveal who the real monster is among us.

And that's saying something in a world filled with bloodthirsty vampires, immortal gargoyles and an ancient battle between two gods.

There's no guarantee that anyone will be left standing when the dust settles, but if we want to save this world, I have no choice. I'll have to embrace every part of me... even the parts I fear the most."

My Rating: 2/5

I was really enjoying this series, but this one seemed to drag so much that I actually had to return it and come back to it to be able to finish it. The whole series has always been pretty over the top, but this one felt as though the author was trying really hard to be serious. That is not what I want from the series and I'm unsure if I will be continuing on.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Coven by Jennifer Dugan

Title: Coven

Author: Jennifer Dugan

Illustrator: Kit Seaton

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Graphic Novels, Urban Fantasy, YA

Pages: 288

Publisher: GP Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers

Year Published: 2022

Format: Hardcover (Library Copy)

"Emsy has always lived in sunny California, and she'd much rather spend her days surfing with her friends or hanging out with her girlfriend than honing her powers as a fire elemental. But when members of her family's coven back east are murdered under mysterious circumstances that can only be the result of powerful witchcraft, her family must suddenly return to dreary upstate New York. There, Emsy will have to master her neglected craft in order to find the killer... before her family becomes their next target."

My Rating: 1.5/5

This was not for me and I'm beginning to wonder if I'm missing some other lore or information. Is this part of a series? A spin-off of a famous show or a retelling of some kind? I really wanted to like it but I just found that I was bored throughout the entirety and it felt as though at some points I was in the middle of a series that I hadn't started at the beginning of. Does anyone out there know?

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Lore Olympus Vol. 3

Title: Lore Olympus Vol. 3

Author: Rachel Smythe

Series/Standalone: Lore Olympus (Volume 3)

Genre: Graphic Novel, Mythology, Romance, Adult

Pages: 384

Publisher: Del Ray

Year Published: 2022

Format: Paperback (Library Copy)

"Witness what gods do after dark in the third volume of stylish and contemporary reimagining of one of the best-known stories in Greek mythology, featuring a brand-new, exclusive short story from creator Rachel Smythe.

'It is natural for a King to be curious about his future Queen....'

All of Olympus- and the Underworld- are talking about the God of the Dead and the sprightly daughter of Demeter. But despite the rumors of their romance, Hades and Persephone have plenty to navigate on their own.

Since coming to Olympus, Persephone has struggled to be the perfect maiden goddess. Her attraction to Hades has only complicated the intense burden of the gods' expectations. And after Apollo's assault, Persephone fears she can no longer bury the intense feelings of hurt and love that she's worked so hard to hide. 

As Persephone contemplates her future, Hades struggles with his past, falling back into toxic habits in Minthe's easy embrace. With all the mounting pressure and expectations- of their family, friends, and enemies- both Hades and Persephone tell themselves to deny their deepest desires, but the pull between them is too tempting, too magnetic. It's fate."

My Rating:5/5

I am so glad that these are being physically published! I absolutely love the art style and the storytelling. The way the story is laid out keeps me coming back for more without being too much overall. I would highly recommend it to fans who want a cute retelling with a slow burn!

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney

Title: Daisy Darker

Author: Alice Feeney

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Thriller, Adult, Fiction

Pages: 338

Publisher: Flatiron Books

Year Published: 2022

Format: Audiobook

"After years of avoiding each other, Daisy Darker's entire family is assembling for Nana's 80th birthday party in Nana's crumbling gothic house on a tiny tidal island. Finally back together one last time, when the tide comes in, they will be cut off from the rest of the world for eight hours.

The family arrives, each of them harbouring secrets. Then at the stroke of midnight, as a storm rages, Nana is found dead. And an hour later, the next family member follows....

Trapped on an island where someone is killing them one by one, the Darkers must reckon with their present mystery as well as their past secrets, before the tide comes in and all is revealed."

My Rating: 4.5/5

I was thoroughly impressed with this thriller. I think if you haven't read many classic thrillers/mysteries this is a great read, but if you've read what it is based on it may hinder your enjoyment. The twists and turns were impressive, it was unsettling in the best possible way and the pacing was excellent. Did I see through some of the twists and turns? Yes but honestly, not as many as I thought I did and it kept me guessing until the end. I would highly recommend and will be picking up more work from the author.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: The Sinner by Shantel Tessier

Title: The Sinner

Author: Shantel Tessier

Series/Standalone: The L.O.R.D.S (Book #2)

Genre: Dark Romance, Adult Fiction, 

Pages: 640

Publisher: Self-Published 

Year Published: 2022

Format: Ebook (Kindle Unlimited)

"LITTLE DEMON

I was raised in a world where money and power are at your fingertips. My father is a LORD, a very respected member of a secret society that knows no bounds. When tragedy struck my family, we discovered we weren't untouchable. Just when I thought life couldn't get any worse, I was shown what hell is really like. Then he came and saved me. The devil disguised as my personal hero. But of course, nothing is for free. Not when a soul is up for grabs.

I VOW. YOU VOW. WE VOW.

Easton Bardley Sinnett- Sin- uses his power for his own sick pleasure. Like a typical Lord, he never thought about the consequences of his actions. I grew up with him, obsessed over him, craved him. He was who I pictured when I imagined doing things my body shouldn't want.

One day, I realized he was not who I thought he was. It didn't change anything, though, because I was already too far gone. If anything, I fell for him harder.

Every now and then, someone enters your life who flips it upside down. Sin wrecked me in the worst way, and I thanked him for it by serving on my knees.

As they say, nothing lasts forever. Men like him never stay with a woman like me. I'm what they use, not keep. So when he threw me away, I shouldn't have been all that surprised.

My body had always craved the darker side of love. The kind that left bruises and scars. I was what most would call unholy. And when the devil whispered in my ear that he loved me, I was more than determined to show him just how devoted I could be.

My Rating: 4/5

These books are not for the faint of heart. You definitely have to know what you're getting into if you're picking up a dark romance of any kind please check the trigger warnings. For me, this was fun and shocking but it did what it set out to do. The plot twists were outrageous in the best way and I can't even count how many times I said, "What the fuck?" I am excited to see where the series goes from here, now that the author has expanded the universe. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Lore Olympus Volume 2

Title: Lore Olympus Vol. 2

Author: Rachel Smythe

Series/Standalone: Lore Olympus (Volume 2)

Genre: Graphic Novel, Fantasy, Romance, Mythology, 

Pages:368

Publisher: Inklore

Year Published: 2022

Format: Paperback (Library Copy)

"Persephone was ready to start a new life when she left the mortal realm for Olympus. However, she quickly discovered the dark side of her glamorous new home- from the relatively minor gossip threatening her reputation to a realm-shattering violation of her safety by the conceited Apollo- and she's struggling to find her footing in the fast moving realm of the gods. Hades is also off-balance, fighting against his burgeoning feelings for the young goddess of spring while maintaining his lonely rule of the Underworld. As the pair are drawn even closer, they must untangle the twisted webs of their past and present to build toward a new future."

My Rating: 5/5

I want to preface this by saying that I had read some of this series through webtoons before the physical copies had started to be published. And I loved them then, and I continue to love them now. Rachel Smythe's merging of mythology and current world technology leads to fun story telling and excellent art. I loved this instalment and look forward to reading more soon. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny 

Book Review: All Things Aside by Iliza Shlesinger

Title: All Things Aside

Author: Iliza Shlesinger

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Nonfiction, Memoir, Comedy

Pages: 256

Publisher: Harry N. Abrams

Year Published: 2022

Format: Audiobook

"All Things Aside is a punch, honest, incisive book that shares a view of the world through the eyes of the inimitable Iliza Shlesinger. From the macro to micro, Shlesinger tackles it all with her no-bullshit comedic style.

Throughout the book, Shlesinger dives from one subject into the next, making her hilarious asides the meat of her stories, much like she does in her stand-up comedy. Topics range from dissecting social expectations to the notion that products marketed specifically to women are scams, and all manner of things in between. She even dares to ask herself the all-important question that every woman is forced to consider at some point- Am I actually an annoying person? Shlesinger also shares intimate moments, including a devastating miscarriage, which she manages to navigate with not only grace but somehow with side-splitting humor."

My Rating: 5/5

I usually have a hard time rating memoirs and autobiographies but this one was a 5/5. I have loved Iliza's comedy for a while, most of my adult life and having a chance to listen to this book on audio narrated by her was phenomenal. I recommend it to anyone who has enjoyed her work before. The overarching tones, similar to her comedy specials have deeper tones which was perfect. I could gush about this to great lengths. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: The Family Remains by Lisa Jewell

Title: The Family Remains

Author: Lisa Jewell

Series/Standalone: The Family Upstairs Duology (Book #2)

Genre: Thriller, Adult Fiction

Pages: 452

Publisher: Atria

Year Published: 2022 

Format: Audiobook

"Early one morning on the shore of the Thames, DCI Samuel Owusu is called to the scene of a gruesome discovery. When Owusu sends the evidence for examination, she learns the bones are connected to a cold case that left three people dead on the kitchen floor in a Chelsea mansion thirty years ago.

Rachel Rimmer has also received a shock- new that her husband, Michael, has been found dead in the cellar of his house in France. All signs point to an intruder, and the French police need her to come urgently to answer questions about Michael and his past that she very much doesn't want to answer.

After fleeing London thirty years ago in the wake of a horrific tragedy, Lucy Lamb is finally coming home. While she settles in with her children and is just about to purchase their first-ever house, her brother takes off to find the boy from their shared past whose memory haunts their present. 

As they all race to discover answers to these convoluted mysteries, they will come to find that they're connected in ways they could have never imagined."

My Rating: 2.5/5

This was fine, it was enjoyable. It was fast-paced. Was it necessary? I'm not sure about that. I think that the first book could have been a standalone and I wouldn't have been mad about that. I will read more from the author. It is very much a fun traditional thriller. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Stay Awake by Megan Goldin

Title: Stay Awake

Author: Megan Goldin

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Adult Fiction, Thriller

Pages: 352

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Year Published: 2022

Format: Audiobook

"Liv Reese wakes up in the back of a taxi with no idea where she is or how she got there. When she's dropped off at the door of her brownstone, a stranger answers- a stranger who now lives in her apartment and forces her out in the cold. She reaches for her phone to call for help, only to discover it's missing, and in its place is a bloodstained knife. That's when she sees that her hands are covered in black pen, scribbled messages like graffiti on her skin: STAY AWAKE.

Two years ago,  Liv was living with her best friend, dating a new man, and thriving as a successful writer for a trendy magazine. Now, she's lost and disoriented in a New York City that looks nothing like what she remembers. Catching a glimpse of the local news, she's horrified to see reports of a crime scene where the victim's blood has been used to scrawl a message across a window, the same message that's inked on her hands. What did she do last night?? And why does she remember nothing from the past two years? Liv finds herself on the run for a crime she doesn't remember nothing from the past two years? Liv finds herself on the run for a crime she doesn't remember committing as she tries to piece together the fragments of her life. But there's someone who does know exactly what she did, and they'll be anything to make her forget- permanently."

My Rating: 1.5/5

I had previously read a book by the author and really enjoyed it. So picking up this I thought I would also enjoy it, but it read like a basic cop show. While I was curious where it was going, i was hoping for a wild twist, but it went in a way where I shrugged and just said it made sense. Finishing the book I don't know if I felt anything profound. It was fine, but I wanted so much more. I would give this author one more shot. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: You've Lost a Lot of Blood by Eric LaRocca

Title: You've Lost a Lot of Blood 

Author: Eric LaRocca

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Horror, Adult

Pages: 236

Publisher: Self-Published

Year Published: 2022

Format: Paperback (Library Copy)

"A disturbing new vision of terror from the author of Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke.

'Each precious thing I show you in this book is a holy relic from the night we both perished- the night when I combed you from my hair and watered the moon with your blood.

You've lost a lot of blood..."

My Rating: 2/5

This book was disturbing for me. The use of insects and the way the story is told is excellent. But I felt like either I was missing something or the book was. While it was uncomfortable, it wasn't exactly what I thought I was getting into. I would really enjoy reading more from the author and seeing if there is something I would enjoy more from this author.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: 11 Hours by Octavia Jensen

Title: 11 Hours

Author: Octavia Jensen

Series/Standalone: Eleven Series (Book #1)

Genre: Novella, Smut

Pages: 53

Publisher: Self-Published

Year Published: 2022

Format: Kindle Unlimited

"A lawyer and a paralegal get trapped in an elevator- it sounds like the beginning of a bad joke, but it's not a joke.

It's my life.

It's been hours with no sign of rescue, and the only thing I know for sure is that if I don't manage to either get out of here or under him soon, I'm going to go insane."

My Rating: 4/5

This is such a short little smutty novella that is fun. It has some plot, but it's mostly just people getting ready to get down and dirty. My only reason for it not checking all the boxes of the expectations I want it to be. There were a few things that moved a bit to out of left field, even for what it was.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: The Winners by Fredrik Backman

Title: The Winners

Author: Fredrik Backman

Series/Standalone: Beartown Series (Book #3)

Genre: Literary Fiction, Contemporary, Adult

Pages: 671

Publisher: Atria Books

Year Published: 2022

Format: Audiobook

"Two years have passed since the events that no one wants to think about. Everyone has tried to move on, but there's something about this place that prevents it. The residents continue to grapple with life's big questions: What is a family? What is a community? And what, if anything, are we willing to sacrifice in order to protect them?

As the locals of Beartown struggle to overcome the past, great change is on the horizon. Someone is coming home after a long time away. Someone will be laid to rest. Someone will fall in love, someone will try to fix their marriage, and someone will do anything to save their children. Someone will submit to hate, someone will fight, and someone will grab a gun and walk towards the ice rink.

So what are the residents of Beartown willing to sacrifice for their home?"

My Rating: 5/5

I can't recommend the audiobooks enough for this series.  The way the author's story lends itself so well to audio narration is fantastic and the characters seem to jump off the page or the earbuds....? You get it. I have felt so deeply throughout this series. The pain, joy, fear and overall strength that the main characters in this series exhibit. The setting lends itself perfectly to the story and I would highly recommend anyone interested in picking up the books.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Heartless by Elsie Silver

Title: Heartless

Author: Elsie Silver

Series/Standalone: Chestnut Spring Series (Book #2)

Genre: Adult, Romance, Smut, Contemporary

Pages: 476

Publisher: Self-Published

Year Published: 2022

Format: Ebook (Kindle Unlimited)

First Line:  "Lucy Reid's eyes flutter my way."

"Working as a nanny for the world's grumpiest single dad should have been simple. Except I can't keep my eyes off him. And he can't keep his hands off of me.

Cade Eaton is thirteen years older than i am and barely looks my way. Until I get him into the hot tub one night for a game of truth or dare. Then all bets are off- and so are our clothes.

He's gruff, a little rough around the edges. But broad-shoulder ranchers with calloused hands and filthy mouths are this city girl's kryptonite. So who am I to resist?

But it's in our quiet moments together that he softens. It's when he takes care of me that I realize his hardened exterior is just a facade. It's when I watch him go all sweet with his little boy that I really fall for him. 

Someone convinced him once that his best wasn't good enough. But I've never felt more cherished than I do in his arms.

My contract may say this arrangement is only for two months.

But my heart says this is forever."

My Rating: 5/5

I loved this second book. There were a few kinks that weren't necessarily for me but overall this book proved that certain tropes aren't ones I hate, they just need to be done well. I loved the smut, it was fun. The lusting after each other was great. The atmosphere was excellently written and the characters were fantastic. I also love the way the author introduces the next characters in the series so organically. It was excellent. I would highly recommend it!

Thanks for reading,

Sidny