rachelisathomas22's reviews
362 reviews

Double Pucked by Lauren Blakely

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

3.25

Listen, this book is exactly what you think it is when you pick it up and read the description. And if you like a MFM hockey romance, you will like this one. 
By the Book by Jasmine Guillory

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emotional hopeful 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? It's complicated

5.0

Jasmine Guillory does it again! I love Belle and the Beauty and the Beast story, so I was excited to see one of my favorite Romance authors modernize this story. And I was not disappointed! The love story between frustrated editorial assistant Isabelle and grizzly recluse Beau Towers was heartwarming, enchanting, and fun. It succeeded in bringing to life Beauty and the Beast while still giving readers a modern love story to treasure. 
First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston

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

4.5

Everything is working great for Evie Porter-her boyfriend just asked her to move in with him, his friends are starting to trust her, and she's extremely into her boyfriend. 

That's exactly as she's orchestrated it to look like.

Because Evie Porter has a secret...she's not Evie Porter at all. 

A tale of twists and turns, First Lie Wins takes readers through a journey as Evie Porter tries to navigate a dangerous game. 

I can truly say, I didn't expect the ending. I had a feeling about one of the reveals at the end, but the identity you are trying to solve throughout was one I didn't fully expect. You're kept in suspense the entire time trying to figure out how the chips will fall. 

The only reason this isn't a 5 star book for me is there is a relationship decision made at the very end that I wish had more build up as to why she would choose this. Not that it felt out of left-field, it didn't, but I wish there was a bit more yearning involved to sell it. This is personal preference that I felt would have made the character growth stronger, but does not take away from the great parts of the book. 

Overall, a wonderful read for mystery thriller lovers. 
Tangled Up In You by Christina Lauren

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

4.25

Christina Lauren could write a restaurant menu and I would read it. To translate the world of Tangled into a modern day romance was tricky, much darker than I expected, and still filled with the magic that comes from a romance and Disney fairytale. I was moved, I was intrigued, and I couldn't put it down. My biggest wish is that it would have been a little longer so we had more time after the biggest conflict resolution but I am happy with what I got. Now I have to go back and read the other books in the Meant To Be series!!
Blood & Steel by Helen Scheuerer

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

3.5

Althea Zoltaire knows two things: 1. she wants to be a warrior. 2. The laws forbid her to do it. 

As she embarks on a journey with the prickly warsword Wilder Hawthorne, the journey begins to unfold much differently than she ever imagined. Now she must do everything in her power to stay alive. 

Blood & Steel fits in the romantasy genre well. It's full of action, friendship, broody love, and untold destiny. Anyone who is a frequent reader of the genre will find the book to be par for the course. 

I rated this book a 3.5 stars. While I enjoyed this book enough to want to continue the series, I found the first book to be a little on the nose. It often felt like the tropes and some of the dialogue took me out of the story. It felt obvious or heavy handed, when I wanted to just be immersed in the story. I'm hoping this is just the first book and the others will improve on this as the story progresses, because I see a lot of potential for Althea's character arc. 
The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

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

4.0

Oathbound by Tracy Deonn

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adventurous emotional slow-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

4.5

There are books you wish you could never stop reading, never leave this world, and for me Oathbound and the Legendborn Series is one of them. Tracey Deonn's latest installment dives deeper into the exploration of Bree's powers and other side of this war she has inherited. Deonn furthers the readers interest in the characters surrounding Bree's life and deepens the lore and world building. The twist at the very end was unexpected and shocking, and I can't wait to see what happens next. 
The Charlie Method by Elle Kennedy

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adventurous emotional slow-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

4.0

This tantalizing and enjoyable newest installment in the Campus Diaries series leaves readers blushing and joyful. 

To everyone else, Charlotte is a put together perfect student in a demanding field. She wears the right clothes, says the right things, and is nothing short of upstanding in the eyes of her sorority sisters and family. But away from that world there's Charlie, who loves a thrill and has more than one secret hookup under her belt. When she starts talking to two guys who share a profile on an app, consider her interest piqued. That is until these two guys go from anonymous to real and could threaten the image she has carefully crafted. But that doesn't stop the temptation Will and Beckett, two Briar hockey players and best friends, pose. 

This was a sexy and fun romance that got surprisingly serious with one of Charlie's B plots. The chemistry between the characters was definitely there, and for someone who has read the other Campus Diaries books it was fun to see Beckett and Will get a chance to have a romance. Elle Kennedy delivers again, and honestly I would read almost any book in the Briar universe. 
Given by Amy Pennza

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dark emotional mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

Every Summer After by Carley Fortune

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

4.75