readsbyti's reviews
174 reviews

Crimson River by Devney Perry

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emotional reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

5.0

I really enjoyed that. The suspense really had me at the edge of my seat throwing around all sorts of accusations, I thought it would be a
gone girl situation where Cormacs wife (Norah) framed him for the murder of her and her children with the help of their eldest
but nope completely different and an interesting “ending” to that situation maybe it will be explored & explained more in Sable Peak?

Loved Eloise and Vance together, usually not a love at first sight girly but this just had me all giggling and kicking my feet, especially reading from Vance’s POV and how he spoke about her and their instant connect.

Also of course the addition of the other Eden family members and them instantly accepting Vance
and Vera at the end
as part of the family, I just love it. Devney Perry has made me love found family & interconnected Sibling stories 
Marriage for One by Ella Maise

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funny inspiring lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0

This was a cute feel good read. I love characters like Rose, especially how she interacted with Mr Grump Jack. I don’t know why but I LATCHED onto her counting the times he smiled, idek it just had me cheesing.

The start felt quite slow to me but eventually Rose’s bubbly personality showing  and Jacks POV are what kept me going, that man was whipped and I love that for Rose. Also, could have used a bit more grovelling because Jack
paid Rose’s boyfriend to leave her
WHAT?! thats… wild, for me that should’ve enlisted a bit more grovelling on Jacks part, that being said I think Rose’s reaction was a liiiittle over the top, the only deception was how they meant and his initial intentions which changed very wuickly, at some point she says she realised Jack loved her following her health scare stuff but then when the conflict happens she is suddenly like “So this was all fake” Girl?.

Can we talk about the Epilogue and their traditions and exceptions? Thats such a cute concept I think more people should do, so cute🥹
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The Edens - A Legacy Short Story by Devney Perry

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lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

3.75

This was a satis enough little novella focusing in Harrison and Anne.

Usually parents in books/series I care little for but having read the first 4 books of the Eden series, I always loved their cameo’s in each so decides to read this one.

Its nothing to scream home about but its was a good little read before I continue the series.

Minus points for Harrison talking his and Anne’s business 6 years ago but then plus points at the fact
the minute they got back together my man was planning for the 6 kids🥹
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Free Me by Ashley N. Rostek

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dark emotional tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

3.0

This was very anticlimactic end to a  a four book series. I’m lucky that I only really waited a few months between reading books 1, 2 &3 and the release of book 4 (started this series late July 2023, a few months before book 4 came out). I’m sure those who had to wait over a year between book 3 & book 4 were disappointed by this

Free Me felt like it was mostly just sex and unnecessary chatter that having any proactiveness to catch Mr. X/make a plan.
Sheriff McAllister, Cassey  Gabe and whatsherface’s deaths
felt shoe horned for the sake of it and
the defeat of Mr X
was just… Meh. Even the after math felt rushed, Would have been compelling to see how Isabelle & Ethan processed what happened and their friendship with Shiloh and the Boys following the events. Additionally, what happened following
Sheriff McAllister and Cassy, Gabe and whatsherface’s death?
How did that mess get cleaned up? Shilohs face was essentially connected to them when they went missing so what happened after? It kind just was glosses over.

This would have been better as a trilogy series or even a duology, four books was not necessary when things just dragged.
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Lovelight Farms by B.K. Borison

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

2.5

I had hope for this one but it felt lacking and Miss Stella was not a great FMC, she was very annoying and very woe est me. I felt that the plot of the whole influencer contest was lost in the unnecessary chatter of Stella's whole existence. I swear there was a whole two pages where Stella was just describing the kind of texts Luka sent her after he left her house, like who tf cares, get to the hijinx of trying to fake a relationship with your best friend because an influencer thinks you founded the farm together as a couple. Honestly, it was like 200 pages of who knows what and woe est me and like 100 pages of the actual fake dating. It would've been great if we at least explored Stella's relationship with her father and stepfamily and how that's impacted her outlook on relationships but it wasn't even that. 

I think it's high time some women grovel in books because how did Luka confess after multiple private moments of affection and intimacy and this girl is gonna be like "lol no" BITCH?¿ I am only continuing this series because of Beckett one of the only characters with sense (ok Beckett, Layla & Luka are, I'm just a Stella hater)
Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert

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emotional funny lighthearted 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

5.0

Another great end to a series, Eve was so relatable and hilarious to read and I also loved her journey of self-discovery, self-worth & self-confidence  (every other relevant "self" words) Jacob was also a great character and did not expect the laughs I got from him but also the heavy emotion from our moment of meeting him, I'm glad he has a good support system in Aunt Lucy, his Cousin, Mont and the twins because his mum and dad are huge dickheads for how they left him like that.

Both were so fun to read in the plot and like mentioned before I loved Eve's growth but also how despite initially not liking her, Jacob still had faith in her in his own way and never really questioned her abilities (once proven she had them and that was only after a day anyway). Jacob is also the perfect grump because he is an adorable grump not an asshole grump.
Final Offer by Lauren Asher

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emotional inspiring reflective 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

4.0

What a bittersweet end to the series. I won't lie and say I enjoyed this series from the start I was not team Cal for a small part of the book because like everyone's in-story I felt Cal wasn't truly holding himself accountable and trying to get sober and he wasn't the Cal I remembered in the previous books but again reading his pov helped see... his pov lol enjoyed d watching his growth to get better for himself, not anyone else (although low key he defo did it for cami and Lana) Did feel sorry for him being ostracised by the town like mind your business, that's probably when I started to switch teams like some of them did too much, especially the dude who told him to go to hell... No, You!!

Loved Lana for the most part her drive and love for Cami being one but for someone who loved Cal she didn't feel as supportive as she claimed, constantly jumping to conclusions and judging instead of doing something to support him, like on you don't drink now? tf that gonna do for Cal? Cami was the glue that held this book until it got better for me, soo damn cute and such a little con-artist lol

did this need to be nearly 600 pages? NO god no I think a lot could've been cut / vS replaced ie where tf did Antonella go? And Seth's ending was not as satisfying...

despite my above comments, I did eventually enjoy the boo K, it would've been 5 stars if shorter/ diff consequences for Seth
P.S uncle Rowan & un cle Declan in the epilogue had my heart T.T
Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert

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emotional funny

5.0

Eastern Lights by Brittainy C. Cherry

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emotional hopeful inspiring slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

Beautiful, truly beautiful. I laughed, I cried, I gasped and I felt every emotion under the sun. Brittainy knows how to write captivating, multi-dimensional characters.

As a black FMC Aaliyah is what I wish black women could be portrayed as more often, delicate, vulnerable, lovable and a joy to be in the shoes of even though she went through a lot I was happy as a reader to go through this journey with her and watch her develop to love herself. I do wish she didn't completely forget all the promises she made on Halloween night to Cap to never settle, although 1 understand she was in a very vulnerable situation not long after and Marie (yes, I blame her for that) took advantage of that.

Cap, Mr Connor Ethan Roe, my dream man, oh was this man a dream and a half, he was so inspirational and a goddamn golden retriever! I loved the support he provided our girl Aaliyah from day dot although that third act had me judging a bit, I get you're scared but would it not have been better to have had Aaliyah's love than lose Aaliyah and forever wish you had spent those last few moments with her? He is lucky things worked out!!! Also, I realised waayyy too late that Jax was Jax from Southern Storms
Love Me by Ashley N. Rostek

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dark emotional tense
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No

3.0

This felt like it could have been combined into the last book, very much building, but not, on Knox and Shiloh's relationship as Knox is the last of the brothers to really confess his feelings for her, and even then he did but he didn't, he confessed but then nothing came of it because he decided to be standoffish for some reason, I don't think I understand the reason but I think it's because he is scared she isn't over her trauma when in reality the Stone brothers are helping her with it.

Also ending on yet another cliffhanger but also FUCKING ISABELLE IS DEAD?!?! Like stfu how are you going to kill Shiloh's only girlfriend?! Nah she better be alive by some miracle in the final book because then Shiloh has no one but the brothers which I hate in a book, when the FMC has no one outside her love interest(s) and (not in Shiloh case) family