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rachelisathomas22's reviews
349 reviews
Fake It Till You Bake It by Jamie Wesley
emotional
lighthearted
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? Yes
3.5
Just A Little Love by Kerry Kilpatrick
lighthearted
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
3.0
A Promise of Lies by Clare Sager
adventurous
emotional
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
This Could Be Us by Kennedy Ryan
emotional
inspiring
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
5.0
Osgood As Dead by Cooper S. Beckett
dark
mysterious
slow-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? Yes
3.75
The next installment of the Spectral Inspectors series brings the mystery, horror, and cynical sarcasm readers know and love from Osgood and co. After almost dying, Osgood finds herself face-to-face with another malevolent entity seeking to use her to bring evil into the world. The Spectral Inspectors once again must figure out a way to stop this evil taking hold into the world-by any means necessary. The real question is, how far is Os willing to go?
This is my second Spectral Inspector novel, and the author does a great job recapping the previous books in case you’re coming to this for the first time. If you enjoyed the previous books or enjoy a detective paranormal horror read that is dark and mysterious with a touch of humor, this will be a great read for you.
This isn’t my usual genre, I usually stay in a lighter fantasy/romance area, but still find myself engaged and interested in the characters and the story. Beckett is an extremely detailed and thorough author, which showcases his imagination and skill as an author. Please read the trigger warnings and know that Beckett delivers what he says he does in those trigger warnings.
I rated this 3.5 stars because while I enjoyed the characters and the overall journey, I was not a fan of the pace for this story and did not like the particular cliffhanger the story ended on. I wished there were some more moments of levity for Osgood and co without self-depricating humor, and while I think Osgood is an incredibly realistic character I want her to have two seconds where she isn’t the one who feels she has to sacrifice. These elements are all well executed, and are a matter of personal preference rather than what I feel like is Beckett’s skill as an author.
A big thank you to Cooper Beckett for providing an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
This is my second Spectral Inspector novel, and the author does a great job recapping the previous books in case you’re coming to this for the first time. If you enjoyed the previous books or enjoy a detective paranormal horror read that is dark and mysterious with a touch of humor, this will be a great read for you.
This isn’t my usual genre, I usually stay in a lighter fantasy/romance area, but still find myself engaged and interested in the characters and the story. Beckett is an extremely detailed and thorough author, which showcases his imagination and skill as an author. Please read the trigger warnings and know that Beckett delivers what he says he does in those trigger warnings.
I rated this 3.5 stars because while I enjoyed the characters and the overall journey, I was not a fan of the pace for this story and did not like the particular cliffhanger the story ended on. I wished there were some more moments of levity for Osgood and co without self-depricating humor, and while I think Osgood is an incredibly realistic character I want her to have two seconds where she isn’t the one who feels she has to sacrifice. These elements are all well executed, and are a matter of personal preference rather than what I feel like is Beckett’s skill as an author.
A big thank you to Cooper Beckett for providing an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Come as You Are: The Surprising New Science That Will Transform Your Sex Life by Emily Nagoski
informative
slow-paced
4.75
The Paris Bookshop for the Broken-hearted by Rebecca Raisin
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
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? Yes
3.5
The Paris Bookshop for the Broken Hearted by Rebecca Raisin is a whimsical and cozy romance perfect for bibliophiles who are looking for a lighthearted read.
Coco is at the end of her rope. In the midst of relocating back to Paris with her angsty 13 year old daughter after a messy scandal that cost Coco her business and her long-term partner, Coco finds herself just trying to keep her and her daughter as together as possible. She stumbles on The Paris Bookshop for the Broken Hearted and is taken aback by the earnest and optimistic owner Valerie. Coming in as a sceptic that this place is a beacon for the broken-hearted, she begins to spend more and more time at the bookstore with its customers and starts to believe there may be something more to this place than she originally thought.
The setting of this story is the star of the story. The bookstore and the city feel real as you read the story. You can visualize lounging at the bookstore and walking the streets of Paris. The magic of the bookstore couldn't come to life if the author didn't spend so much time making the setting feel as immersive as it is.
While I enjoyed the story, I did feel that the climax of the story felt too late so the resolution felt rushed. The romance of the story for the longest time felt like a slowburn , which I was okay with, but the romance felt like a B story compared to another storyline that began to take place. While those two storylines intertwine, it wasn't until the apex of the story that the reader could understand how both were connected. I wanted more-more romance, more bookstore characters, and more insight into the main character's personal healing story.
I still think this is an enjoying read for those looking to escape and enjoy something lighthearted and easy. Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the early copy in exchange for an honest review. I rated this 3.5/5 stars.
Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros
adventurous
emotional
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
4.5
The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic by Breanne Randall
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Deja Brew by Celestine Martin
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
3.75