jmcclelland17's reviews
233 reviews

Elemental Affections by Jaime Ryanne

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inspiring fast-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? Yes

4.5

📚 Element Affections by Jaime Ryanne📚

Overall Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
Spice Rating:🌶️🌶️🌶️

✨Tropes✨
🔥Second Chance Romance
🌊Magic
🔥Academic Setting
🌊Forced Proximity
🔥Top tier spice
🌊Intelligent, capable FMC

✨Initial Thoughts✨
I enjoyed this book so much! I especially loved how the author combines magic and science. As a woman in STEM, I found this so unique and refreshing. Our FMC, Anadae, turns 30 during this story and it’s so wonderful to see a mature, intelligent, capable woman who finds her voice and pursues her passions. While this book has excellent, top tier spice, there’s also so much substance to this story. Our MMC, Ezzyn, while I don’t love all of the choices he makes throughout the book, I do love how obsessed he is with Dae. He really was lovable despite the questionable choices he makes. 

What makes this story stand out is not only the magic being tied to science, but the characters. On the surface, this could just be a cute, spice romantasy. However, at the core of this story is the characters, specifically Anadae. Anadae is finally breaking away from her family’s lofty and unfair expectations of her. She was persuaded to enter into an arranged engagement with a man who belittled her and emotionally abused her. Anadae breaks away from the comfort and familiarity at 29 years old to go back to school for magic so she can do some good for the world. She wants to find and grow her potential even if it means being disowned by her influential family. She shows a strength of character that is inspiring. Dae constantly insists she does not need to be rescued and proves it. Despite her misgivings and old insecurities, Dae carves out a path in magic and becomes successful in her own right. 

✨Pros✨
  • Smart, capable, lovable FMC.
  • MMC who is obsessed with the FMC in the most delicious way.
  • No cringey nicknames!!
  • Fantastic spice scenes.
  • Magic combined with science.
  • I love the forced proximity!
  • The way the second chance romance was done reminded me of Jane Austen’s Persuasions and I LOVED it!

✨Cons✨
  • I don’t love the third act break up, but I understand the intent behind it.

Thank you to The NerdFam for the gifted copy and the opportunity to review this book.
Once the Skies Fade by Vanessa Rasanen

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adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

📚Once the Skies Fade by Vanessa Rasanen📚

Overall Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Rating:🌶️🌶️

✨Tropes✨
⚔️Fated Mates
⚔️Banter
⚔️Trials
⚔️Shadow Mama 
⚔️Feminine Rage
⚔️Touch him & 💀
⚔️Morally gray FMC
⚔️Political Intrigue 
⚔️Golden Retriever MMC
⚔️Bargains

✨Initial Thoughts✨
Oh. My. Goodness! This book! This book is phenomenal! There is no other way to describe it. I loved the first book in this interconnected series, but this book is a masterpiece. Truly. The character development that is done in this book is incredible. I went on a wild journey of liking Calla, our female main character, to hating her decisions and being frustrated with her, to loving her. As far as our male main character, Matthias, I loved him in book one, but I have fallen completely in love with him in this book. I never thought I would love a golden retriever type of MMC, but Matthias has proven me wrong (or is at least the greatest exception to this rule). Matthias has laugh out loud lines, fantastic banter, and is just so lovable overall. When I had heard this book would focus on Matthias, I was excited. Little did I know that he would be my new obsession.

✨Below contains spoilers, beware✨

I went into reading this book a bit blind. I knew it would be about Matthias and Calla but that was all I knew. I’m genuinely so happy I didn’t know anything else beyond that, because chapter one was a total shock. From book one, I knew that Connor’s brother, Brennan, was to marry Calla and they were content to do their political duty. I wanted Brennan to find his mate, so in my mind I thought that he would do just that which would make way for Calla and Matthias. That theory was short lived. Brennan dies in chapter one (I may have shed a tear, because I did want the best for him), which sets off a cascade of events for Calla and Matthias to see each other more than just in passing. 

Calla has lost both of her parents (making her queen) and her husband, who she did truly care for, within a matter of months. Grief does different things to people (as Matthias points out later in the book) and for Calla, it makes her rage. She enters into a bargain with a witch who is able to tell her who was behind Brennan’s death and curse them. The cost of this magic is that Calla cannot tell anyone about the killer (the magic physically prevents her from speaking). Calla finds out that humans are behind Brennan’s murder. In her grief, she banishes all humans from her kingdom and does some very questionable things to those who dare to disobey her orders. Calla reveals that she is a Shadow Keeper (aka, hot shadow mama), who is particularly powerful. Unfortunately, she must answer, if only a small amount, to her council, The Assembly. They inform Calla that she must choose another husband. Calla is still reeling from losing her entire family, and therefore decides to hold a tournament for the next king. She wants to be as detached as possible from caring about anyone else.

Rumors begin to swirl throughout the kingdom and make it back to Connor and Lieke that Calla killed Brennan. They decide to send their general, Matthias, to compete in the tournament so that he may find out the truth. Matthias goes and performs in the deadly trials. He spends time with Calla and soon realizes that even though she has done so many terrible things, it is because she is hurting and is lashing out. While he does not condone the things Calla has done, and continues to do, he at least has empathy for her. He sees beyond her grief and sees that she is a product of the awful circumstances she has endured. 

Calla and Matthias are constantly tested in their fortitude and they do come out so much strong on the other side. Plus, they achieve it together.

✨Pros✨
  • Morally gray FMC. She does so many awful and questionable things. It challenges society’s standards for women to be ‘perfect’, meek, and mild.
  • So much feminine rage!
  • An extremely lovable golden retriever MMC.
  • Fun new characters - I’m looking at you Asher (and his dragon shapeshifting brothers).
  • World building.
  • Expert level character development.
  • Trials!! I’m a huge fan of anything with trials or competitions. This was particularly fun.
  • Twists and turns.
  • Adventure and tense moments.

✨Cons✨
  • I’m sad Brennan had to die (though I understand why) because I really wanted a happier ending for him.

Thank you to Vanessa Rasanen for the gifted copy and the opportunity to review this book.
Sing Me Awake by R.A. Raine

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adventurous emotional inspiring fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

📚Sing Me Awake by R.A. Raine📚

Overall Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
Spice Rating:🌶️

✨Tropes✨
🐉Fated Mates
🐉Why Choose
🐉Mental Health Rep
🐉Feminine Rage
🐉Animal Companions/Familiars
🐉Bargains
🐉Fae x Shifters x Humans x gods
🐉”She’s Mine”

✨Initial Thoughts✨
Wow, I enjoyed this book so much! It was such a wild ride that I didn’t want to end. I’m already anticipating the second book! This was such a fun, unique take on a ‘why choose’ romantasy. 
Dove is such a great FMC. She’s been beaten and abused by the people who have taken her in since she was a child. Dove escapes when she kills the head priestess (and her main abuser). While Dove doesn’t remember the murder itself, it does give her a way to escape, physically and emotionally.
In Dove’s escape, she’s found by Gideon, a wolf shifter. She’s also found her bonded mate, Rivern, a fae prince hellbent on finding her and dissolving their bond by any means necessary.
Dove and Rivern set off to the fae kingdom. Once there, everything changes for Dove. Her life takes an unexpected path that will send her down a wild trajectory. I did not see the second half of this book coming and I cannot wait for the next one. I, in no uncertain terms, need the next book. Immediately!

✨Pros✨
  • Unexpected twists and turns.
  • Likable FMC.
  • Pure feminine rage- love to see it.
  • Multiple POVs.
  • Swoon worthy MMCs.
  • Fury (I did not see him factoring into this story and I’m so happy he exists).
  • Dragons!

✨Cons✨
  • Chapter 33!!!- ma’am, I need an explanation right now. WTF! This is why I have blonde haired men trust issues! Chapter 33 made me want to throw my Kindle against the wall. Not cool! (Though I’m interested in seeing where that dynamic goes).

Thank you to Haus of Fables and the author, R.A. Raine for the gifted copy and the opportunity to review this book.
Palace of Disorder by Seeley Lynde

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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? No

4.75

📚 Palace of Disorder by Seeley Lynde📚

Overall Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️3/4
Spice Rating: None

✨Tropes✨
🔧High Fantasy
🔧Political intrigue 
🔧Found family
🔧Banter
🔧Diverse characters 
🔧World building 
🔧Laugh out loud moments
🔧Likable FMC

✨Initial Thoughts✨
This book was phenomenal!! When I read the description I had a feeling I would enjoy this book. Little did I know, I would love this book. So much so, I read it in 1 day. Like 8 hours. I couldn’t put it down. The world the author has created is so immersive that it was difficult to pull myself out of it. The cast of characters in this are interesting, diverse in their own way, and the story is so compelling. 
The female main character, Sage, is just so likable. It’s rare to find an FMC who is as likable as Sage. 
The world and character building, while a lot, is well done. The world building is woven into the story in such a way that feels natural and not clunky like other books. The multiple POVs assist with this world building in a masterful way. 
Not to mention there are some excellent lines in this book. There is modern language which usually annoys me, but the lines and the banter at the end was just so enjoyable!
There’s one line in particular that had me cackling to myself: “I didn’t recommend it. Zero thumbs up. Negative reviews all around.” 
My only complaint and the reason I didn’t give this a full 5 stars, is that I just wish there was a tiny bit more romance. I don’t need smut, or anything explicit, just a tiny bit more romance. This is a me issue, because this is so clearly a high fantasy novel with just a hint of romance. Nevertheless, just one more page with a little more detail, please! I’m very hopeful for the next book though. This book could be setting something up in the romance department. I’m excited to continue and find out.

Thank you to the NerdFam and  Seeley Lynde for the gifted copy and the opportunity to review this book.
The Mistletoe Mystery by Nita Prose

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

3.0

It was cute, but did we really need this?
The Maid by Nita Prose

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adventurous emotional inspiring mysterious reflective 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? Yes

4.5

I really enjoyed this book. I found a couple of things unrealistic, but overall, an enjoyable story with a good message.
My Feral Romance by Tessonja Odette

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funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing 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? Yes

5.0

📚My Feral Romance by Tessonja Odette📚

Overall Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Rating:🌶️🌶️

✨Tropes✨
🔥Fae Bargins
🔥”Teach Me”
🔥Commitment Phobe
🔥Neurodivergent FMC
🔥Mental Health Rep 
🔥Character Development/Growth
🔥Great Banter
🔥Secrets Revealed
🔥Bridgerton-Meets-Fantasy

✨Initial Thoughts✨
Tessonja Odette does it again!! I read the first book, A Rivalry of Hearts, in this interconnected standalone series, Fae Flings and Corset Strings, and fell in love with this world. While you don’t need to read the first book in this series, it’s helpful to do so for context of these characters’ history together. 
This book is a joy. It’s a cozy romantasy that’s just plain fun to read. I read this book in 2 days and the only reason I didn’t finish earlier was due to pesky prior commitments- trust me I did consider canceling to read this book. 
There are some fantastic themes of finding one’s place in the world and becoming comfortable with oneself. There’s a theme of commitment phobia and the psychology behind it. The character development in this single book is expert level. I liked the characters at the start, but I felt like I knew them and loved them that much more by the end.
Monty and Daphne are endearing. I especially love that Daphne is neurodivergent. As someone who is also neurodivergent, I enjoyed seeing myself and seeing many of the traits that I have, displayed in Daphne. 
Monty has the best banter. I enjoyed him in A Rivalry of Hearts, but getting more of his excellent banter in My Feral Romance was so much fun. Monty has so many layers and I loved how the author delves deep into each of them, peeling back each defense mechanism to reveal an incredibly complex yet sweet and kind man. 

Thank you to Tessonja Odette for the gifted copy and the opportunity to review this book.
Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell

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emotional hopeful reflective sad 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? Yes

5.0

The North Wind by Alexandria Warwick

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

One Day in December by Josie Silver

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emotional hopeful inspiring sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0