lady_snuffy's reviews
151 reviews

Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional 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? It's complicated

5.0

Wow! 
Deeply Personal by Suzanne Collier

Go to review page

funny hopeful lighthearted slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Deeply Personal

This is a dual POV story of Jessica and Paul. I had high hopes for this book and for Jessica and Paul to find what they need. From meeting Paul at the Turkey Trot race and having a medical emergency that saw her getting whisked off her feet by the very handsome Paul. We go into a maze of confusion, self sabotage and scheming, but in the end it was an enjoyable read. They realise that their professions could mutually benefit each other and the scheme of fake dating eventually turns into more then what it was supposed to be. As the characters develop feelings for one another it can seem a little disjointed at times, but in real life it can be that way at times too. 

Suzanne Collier has tried to bring these characters to life and dealing with issues that are not normally touched upon in romance stories or stories in general. There were some hilarious moments in the book but the tenderness of affection for even a slow burn was lacking that intensity. 

There is are minor characters that can lead you astray from the real journey of the book but in the end it is a happy ending and we love that for Jessica and Paul. 
 
Deeply Personal has some great scenes that redeem the characters, however they just lack a bit of chemistry to make their love story believable. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Credence by Penelope Douglas

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional tense 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

Forget about the taboo topic of step uncle and step cousins, they aren’t related by blood. Uncle Jake, is to die for. A strong, brooding family man that has been blaming himself for years for someone elses faults. The two cousins, Noah and Kaleb, both strong, both viril young men, one talkative and one mute. Tiernan, decides to make home with her other family after the death of her parents. Tiernan got to experience love of a family, that wanted to talk to her, be in her life and to restore the bonds that is broken in all of them. 
Penelope Douglas has written a great book, with lively, loveable characters, a beautiful cabin in Chapel Peak, snow, and lots of snow. So much snow that you coudl feel the cool drops of the snowflakes on your skin whilst reading it. 
This book is not for the faint hearted, it is definitely for 18+ with open minds and happy to explore a taboo subject. 
There is violence, death, loneliness, self harm talk, spicy content, and love. This book is a coming to age story that all happens over a short period of time whilst adjusting to womanhood, parential loss and awakening sexuality. 
There is also a cute horse or 3 in the story, and how doesn’t like riding a horse, or sharing one when your emotions and feelings are heightened. 

This book is on my to be read again list. I loved it. What can I say, it is beautifully written, the characters are relatable, the scenery is spectacular and the spicy pages were done to perfection.

#penelopedouglass #credence #spicybook #read #readingchallenge2024 #booktok #bookgram #books #booksbooksbooks #romancebook #taboobook #mustread #tbr 


The Christmas Baking Cookbook: 'Tis the Season for 100+ Festive Treats by Editors of Cider Mill Press

Go to review page

informative

5.0

The Christmas Baking Cookbook 

Nothing beats the smell of baked goodies, The Christmas Baking Cookbook is filled with over 100 delicious baking recipes, beautiful photograghs of finished goods, and the recipes are easy to follow.

The cookbook is broken down in six categories, plus an Appendix that has all the necessary recipes from Royal Icing to the perfect crust all with easy to follow directions to achieve perfection.

The categories: Cookies, Cakes, Breads & Breakfast treats, Pastries, Pies & Tarts, Custards & other Decadent confections. Eash recipe choosen embodies an element of the Christmas spirit that is inhabited by all of us. 

The first recipe to try, the Classic Gingerbread Cookies, the recipe is written in easy to follow steps that are not complicated. Measurements are easily identified next to the ingredients and written in such a manner that you cannot miss a step or ingredient as you work through the steps. There is a clear indication on the yield of the recipe, time preparing and total cooking time are listed just under the recipe name. Nothing beats making Gingerbread men and women and decorating them with children or even as a couples activity. 

For the more traditional recipes, there is the Stollen, which is the only recipe that takes 4 days to complete. The steps are easy to follow again and you wouldn’t know that it has taken you that long to make it. The most pressing time consuming part of the recipe is soaking the dried fruits overnight and then letting the dough rest and rise a few times before baking in the oven. Although, I would immediately bypass a recipe that is very time consuming, I will be tackling this recipe during the holidays, it yields 2 loaves, so that means there will be plenty to share at Christmas. 

There is a conversion chart at the back of the book before the index, so those who don’t use oz or F in their everyday cooking can easily convert of grams and C. 

This book is really an essential book to have in your library. Start a new family tradition with baking goodies with the family or as part of a couples activity. 

#TheChristmasBakingCookbook #NetGalley #recipebook #christmasrecipesbook #christmascookbook #booktok #bookgram #bakingrecipes #Delicioustreats #reading #ebook #arc 


Would You Rather by Maggie Alderson

Go to review page

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

4.0

Would you rather - Maggie Alderson

An interesting story looking at the lives of two women, Sophie and Juliet. One the widower and the other the mistress. They meet at Matt’s funeral, Sophie believing her marriage of 30 years was solid only to have Matt tell her he is leaving her before he died. Juliet, is not the typical mistress, she didn’t want Matt, she wanted to be a mother. The story follows along their journey, as they navigate the hurt and betrayal and the love of their family. 

Would You Rather, looks at death of loved ones, how people react and how to reclaim yourself from the ashes of heartbreak and disappointment. 

Would You Rather is a very interesting read and the plot twists make it very enjoyable to read. The message from the story is great, would you rather hate or love? Reclaiming your life back and accepting forgiveness and love is something that I would rather have in life.

Maggie Alderson’s writing style is easy to read, she is able to paint pictures with her words and her characters are likeable, if not loveable. 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#WouldYouRather #NetGalley #bookgram #romance #booktok #books #fyp
Secret Sex: An Anthology by Russell Smith

Go to review page

hopeful lighthearted reflective
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.0

A collection of stories by redacted authors. The hype unfortunately did not live up the expectation of an erotic collection of short stories. The stories were really tame in comparison to some of our current romance authors. 
 
I can see what Russell Smith was trying to do with the collection and with a little more finesse and authors who really want to let loose from dipping their toes in PG-13 style of writing, and letting their inhibition let go, it would be great. There is a market for this style of book with people who don't read dark romance and morally grey books on a daily basis. 
 
Secret Sex (limited) explores different sexual appetites from bondage to sadism without causing the novice reader to blush to much. 
 
Favourite story of the collection is Portrait of a Lady and the most erotic story was Mirror Mirror. 
 
Will keep an eye for other collaborations from Russell Smith. 
 
#erotica #book #books #booktok #SecretSexAnthology #NetGalley #bookgram #anthology 
Impact Winter by Travis Beacham

Go to review page

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

4.0

Audiobook 
 
Full cast narration of a post-apocalyptic dystopian world where vampires have risen after the impact of a comet placed the world into a deep winter. 
 
The book centres on a group of people who are fighting to overcome the hardship that the new environment brings and the new dangers of the walking dead amongst them. With food shortages, the lust of blood and the need to survive. You are either the prey or predator. 
 
There are morally challenging situations that the characters have to face and the fallout from decisions and realisation of the grim situation that they face. 
 
I almost DNF'd this audiobook, as I am currently in the dark romance era, but I am glad that I gave it a go and I did enjoy the full cast of narrators, the sound effects were on point and the story moved at a great pace. 
 
This is the first part of a 3 part series and I most likely will be looking at finishing off the series in the near future. 
 
Travis Beacham has a great writing style that is expressive, very visual and really well written. 
Shades of Red by Willow Prescott

Go to review page

adventurous dark inspiring mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0



Words are escaping me, but what I can say is this is not what I expected and damn, it was hot, depraved and I cannot wait for the next book in the series in 2025. 

Grey, is so dark and depraved that you know you don't want to get on the wrong side of him or to get his attention. He will destroy you whilst giving you unimaginable pleasure at the same time. 

Page one is hot, heavy and organismic, just like biting into your favourite pie. 

Shades of Red, has you following Grey, going on a full circle on how he ended up where he is. From learning about French cooking to savouring the sweetest cherry he has even sliced and eaten. 

Read the trigger warnings as there is a few things that are disturbing. 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Lenore's Last Funeral by J.M. Donellan

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny informative lighthearted mysterious reflective sad 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

3.5

A very quirky storyline with humorous moments and a group of eccentric people. Lenore a witty and some what cynical woman makes a living as a professional mourner and attends funerals. 
 
One of her unique abilities is to glimpse into the future when someone is dying, So hanging out at funerals seems to make her feel more alive, when she pretends to be a grieving family or friend of the deceased. 
 
Her world gets thrown upside down when she inherits the estate of a wealthy businessman, Elliott Brindle, and Lenore has to deal with what he has left behind. 
 
Her last funeral as a professional mourner, leads to her on a mysterious adventure to find out about a missing daughter, why there is a corpse frozen in the shed and other sinister happenings. 
 
The book is full of witty dialogue, that will have you laughing out loud or gasping with shock. 
 
Not everything is what it appears in this rollercoaster of a story as we look at death and life from a very unique perspective. 
 
Lenore's Last Funeral, is an enjoyable read and it will leave you questioning your views on death, funerals and life, and the journey of the mystery from the last funeral. 
Wild Love by Elsie Silver

Go to review page

adventurous challenging emotional funny 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? It's complicated

5.0

I love this story! Ford and Rosie have great banter and the attraction is magnetic! The spice level was perfect! 

Small town romance, billionaire, frenemies, brother’s best friend tropes. 

This book has some very touching scenes that are so relatable and endearing. 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️