cwrose's reviews
396 reviews

Ensnaring the Siren by Desirée M. Niccoli

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

5.0

I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC from the author (thank you Desiree!) and was so excited to dive in, after loving the first two books in the Haven Cove series.

Ensnaring the Siren did not disappoint. This follows Coast Guard rescue swimmer Reid and mermaid Nireed, who was a secondary character in books 1 & 2. This has the sweet and spicy human-mermaid romance that I loved with Lorelei and Killian in the previous books, and has an added layer of real-world issues involving corporations and the damage they can cause, which I appreciated. 

I also loved getting to know a softer, cuter side of Nireed, and I also loved getting to know Reid. I was really rooting for them to get their HEA, especially after everything Nireed went through. The small town setting is as always, described immmaculately. 

Without spoiling anything, this is a wonderful addition to the Haven Cove series and I recommend it for anyone who loves small town setting, spicy romance, and merfolk lore.
Foiled Stars by Jennifer Ascienzo

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adventurous mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Of Song and Scepter by Liesl West

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adventurous dark tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

The Sea King by Mariella Hunt

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emotional lighthearted reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

An exciting continuation of Rose and Peter, and Meredith’s story from book 1! And we’re introduced to a new character, the Ocean Prince, who’s imprisoned and provides a fourth POV. 

I enjoyed reading about Rose and Peter’s continued relationship and their search for the Ocean Prince. The unrelenting storms and its effects on the land made for some great tension. 

And most of all, I enjoyed watching Meredith come into her own and finally find her happiness. It ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, and I’m looking forward to book 3! 
The Devil and Mrs. Davenport by Paulette Kennedy

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

5.0

The Musician and The Monster by Megan Van Dyke

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

5.0

Until the Last Page by Chantal Gadoury

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adventurous emotional lighthearted medium-paced

5.0

I had the privilege of reading an ARC of Until the Last Page…and I absolutely loved this sweet romantasy. It’s been a long time since I haven’t wanted a book to end. 

Jo and Aneurin stole my heart, and found their banter and chemistry to be top notch. I was definitely rooting for them to get together! Jo was an active protagonist and easy to root for. I also loved her relationship with her family. Our frog prince, Aneurin, was so sassy and high and mighty. It was a pleasure watching them grow as characters and slowly realizing they’re in love. 

Fairytales that they travel through included The Princess and the Frog, Snow White, Hansel and Gretel, Rumpelstiltskin, and Cinderella. I adored watching the fairytales I loved as a young girl come to life, but with a modern twist. 

This is told in first person POV, from Jo’s perspective throughout. 

It ends with a HEA but on a bit of a cliffhanger that I feel leads nicely in book 2…which I cannot wait for. 
Moon Dust in My Hairnet by JR Creaden

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

5.0

A sweet, fun cozy lunar sci-fi romp! This tells the story of 20-year old Lane, whose big sister established the first colony on the moon. 

I related to Lane a lot, in being the overlooked sibling and never feeling like I could measure up. I loved the little tidbits that were at the start of each chapter, whether it was a menu (Lane is a lunch lady) or email messages and it made me feel more immersed in the world. Lane’s friendships and relationships were fun to watch unfold, as well. 

There’s ND, LGBTQ+ and polyam rep here. The ending was sweet and definitely made me smile. 
Born of Starlight by Mariet Kay

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adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced

5.0

This is a lush fantasy romance with fabulous worldbuilding, a fun cast of characters to follow, beautiful prose, and a sweet and spicy romance between an enchantress and a warlock. Add the fact that it’s a loose Rapunzel retelling, and I was sold! 

And did I mention that gorgeous cover?! Looking forward to part 2 of this series, which will focus on the queen’s adventures.
Does Love Always Win? by Diane Billas

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challenging hopeful reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5