scoodle42's reviews
758 reviews

2.5 to 3

Navee gets released from prison, where she did time taking the fall for her ex who moved on. Now she's ready to get her life back on track, with the help of her brother and closest friends. Then she meets Dream, a street racing king and his brothers, and things turn up a notch.

So I have to say that the premise and the cover caught me, and I liked Navee and her toughness. I liked her brother and I like what Dream represented for her, and how good they were together, even though her past experience made her not want to take him seriously. I liked how he showed her he was serious. But I have to say this book had way too many competing storylines for me. Her two friends' connection to Dream's brother and the one friend's triangle situation with Navee's brother and Dream's brother was a distraction I didn't need, and although I have no qualms with Navee being a dancer, the book painted it like something she did because she was out of options, when she never even explored what her other options were. She looked for a job for like a week. Also, the author explored too many contradictions within the characters lives. First, they're all young people trying to find their way, then they're experienced partiers who have been experimenting with sex and street life for years and years. You never knew from chapter to chapter which version would appear.

Also, the secret between her ex and her friend??? Not a good plot twist. She was present and knew how it happened, and it wasn't a situation where somebody went behind her back. They had a right to keep that private. And while we're there, I didn't like the way the book presented the idea of the women being bisexual. If they are, it's fine and if it has some significance to the way they navigate relationships even better. But it seemed like something thrown in that didn't mean anything. Sexuality is not shock value. They are who they are. 

Anyway, the love story part wasn't too bad. 

The Other Side of Fame is a beautiful love story, set against the backdrop of a complicated music industry and two people’s desire to give their legacy more meaning than it ever had before. Heaven and Fame want to leave their mark on the world. Their mark on each other’s lives and hearts will be much more permanent.

Heaven and Fame are casual acquaintances, label mates who share management and then suddenly they lock eyes in a studio session and something feels different. Heaven knows he’s for the streets and having almost derailed her career over a man like that once before, she knows it can’t go anywhere. But he is fun to be around, and she can use his celebrity to get hers back on track, so she asks him to be her fake boyfriend for a year. 

Okay, so let me tell you this book burned slow, but still burned. I could feel every bit of the heat between Heaven and Fame. Their chemistry did stumble for me in some places, but in all, I thought it was legit. The two of them knew it was more from the beginning but were afraid for valid reasons. Fame was intentional and backed up his words with action the entire book and I loved that as well. It was obvious he fell first and it was adorable. I liked the way Fame acknowledged that he had no practice or experience with relationships, but he knew Heaven was different. His family history gave him so many needed layers and I liked seeing him as a provider, not just a playboy. I was happy he and his mom came to an understanding, but I still felt like she owed him more.
Heaven’s hesitance was well founded and her drive and work ethic made her a great character, plus her commitment to family. I wish she hadn’t judged Fame for so much of the book--he showed and proved, plus he didn’t have to agree in the first place. I thought after a while he deserved a little more grace. But I could see why that was hard for her. The past with her ex was rough and I was happy to see her push through. She was the quiet Fame sought, and he was the romance she needed. Very well done.

Thanks to D. Rose for the ARC!

Rule and Shirina have been fighting their attraction for as long as they could. Now, it's time to stop.

This was a nice short about longing for someone you think is off-limits. Rule has been standing down out of respect for his sister but it's time for Shirina to be his, no matter what anyone else thinks. I liked this a lot. 

Honor takes an innocent trip to the grocery store, and his child walks right up to him. Problem is, he didn't even know he had children. The secret's out now and there's only one person to confront. His ex, Aster--who he thinks set him up and left him to die. Aster didn't want Honor to find out this way, but now it's too late. Can these two get back on track?

I was at a crossroads with this book. The indelicate way it handled poly relationships is not something I'm used to and it was obvious from the beginning Honor only wanted to cheat in peace. It left me unsurprised that Aster left, but I couldn't get with her keeping his kids from him. I just wasn't with her on that. Finding out the truth took entirely too long and the story was extremely convoluted and sometimes had too many players. But when Honor wasn't being a possessive jerk he handled business and I respected that. I just hate that his character didn't grow. At all. He wanted his family back but was the same manipulative person who lost them in the first place. It didn't sit right that he wasn't even honest with himself about it. The characters didn't seem to develop in any sort of way. But I did like his family, and Aster's family and the way things wrapped up.

Teague is a sports agent who recommends his building to his best friend's younger sister Vanessa, not knowing just how grown up she is now and how much he'll like it. One night, on a work pilgrimage to a strip club, he runs right into her and knows he'll never look at her the same. Little does he know, it, his new look is exactly what Van wants.

I love when a woman can say what she wants and get it. Van was wonderful and her and Teague together were scorching hot. I loved them and thought they were so sexy. The chemistry leaped off the page with them. Teague stumbled and almost leaned into judgement but he caught himself and acknowledged Van was exactly what he wanted and needed. I was a little annoyed at the older brother and his drama--and his insistence on thinking he was running somebody's life, but Teague checked him, and jumped in front of that anger to protect Van from it. It made me swoon. This was really good.

Asylum is raising his stepdaughter and providing security and shelter for others when his wife in name only disappears. But he barely has time to process that when he hears that his first love is in trouble. He runs to the rescue, just in time to save Dauterive's life. The love is still there, but with her fresh out of a bad marriage and his wife in the wind, can they really make it work again?

Okay, so I think this author shine brightest when she writes a straight up love story, with the relationship twists and turns we love. This was a wonderful story. I love to see first loves get a second chance and it was refreshing to see both Doe and Sy take accountability and own their dormant feelings for one another. The way they moved into family mode was lovely and Asylum's honesty with True was admirable. I love the way he took care of her, fought for her, stood in front of her. He battled the monsters gladly, for Doe and True and it made him sexier. Dauterive's fight and courage set a great undertone for the book; she was able to support Asylum the way he did her, and that balanced their relationship. Supporting cast was great. I loved it.

Yazmine finds herself needing to rebuild her life after her husband leaves her with nothing. Then she meets mysterious woman who offers her a nanny job for her two grandchildren. Yazmine is skeptical but she accepts and tries to find some normalcy in her new life. The surprise? Finding out that the children's father is a famous rapper named Hero, suspicious and antisocial, and not happy that care for his children was farmed out to a stranger.

I love the way Hero loved his kids. You could tell he was a good father. I did like the connection he had with Yazmine when it all was said and done and I love the mental health rep. His mom was a piece of work and that plot point was entertaining and pulled you in. I will say I would have enjoyed more of the softer side of Hero. He seemed so unemotional in the book, even during his depressive episodes. The subplot with his kids mom was a bit much and I thought the ending dragged. I understood Yazmine being hurt, and even unforgiving, but her introspection constantly revisiting Hero's betrayal like we didn't know what happened was grating. I found myself wondering when she was going to stop bringing it up. It was still good for what it was.

Ella walks into her home to find her husband has his mistress in their bed. And she makes a decision that changes everything. She takes her two children and leaves. She won't forgive, forget, or back down. But how will she survive now?

This book was a funny, irreverent journey of a single mother who puts her life and her children’s lives back together with the support of friends and the excitement of love. It was an adorable walk through rebuilding and finding new things to look forward to. Ella's drive to make a new life and keep it as healthy as possible for her children was inspiring. And then enter Julian. Proof that sometimes your next move really is your best move. I love the way Ella and Julian couldn’t fight the feeling and didn’t spend too much time trying. Julian was as intentional and focused as Ella was determined and it made for remarkable chemistry. The two of them were magical, and when they agreed to wait for one another it was the most romantic moment in the story. The way Julian backed up his words with actions is the kind of swoon worthy action we love to see in romantic stories. He was mindful of his intent, but also of his impact and it spoke to his maturity. Plus he and Ella were very hot together. The passion between them leapt off the pages. Parts of this were very hot. It was a sexy, romantic romp through taking your life back with both hands, and lips, and... other things. Lol. 

The children were funny and precocious and Ella’s family and friends came through in the clutch. There were a few spots that dragged to me; I thought the ending was drawn out a bit too much and at times there felt like too many characters to keep track of, but I managed. The scandal with the exes felt a little muddled, maybe a bit too many twists and turns but it was shocking enough. I enjoyed this. Very much.

Countess and Hansum meet at a party when he catches her in a interesting position. Countess doesn't think more will come of their one night, but Hansum is determine to prove her wrong.

Okay so let me say I like the interactions between the main characters. I love their conversations, their care and concern for each other. I loved how sexy they were and how protective Hansum was. Countess needed someone who could protect her for once. Their relationship was nice. 

I found myself more than a little bothered that someone as intelligent and intuitive as Countess had so many people around her who were fake and she did nothing about it. She didn't cut off her sister or family--just took their abuse and awful fatphobia. The book was supposed to convey that she stood up for herself because she fought her sister or cussed her parents out, but that's not standing up for yourself because she did everything but protect her peace. It was... hard to read, tbh. She didn't come across as confident as the author wanted her to seem. And her ex-boyfriend was a terrible boyfriend, and just as terrible of a friend, but she kept giving him chances too. She was supposed to be an independent woman who knew she was the prize but most of the book didn't convey that.

Sigh. I liked a bit of this. I did. I'll try something else by the author.

Demi has been picking up the pieces of her life and childhood after her mom's death. The one thing she can count on? Marco. Her best friend who is also a lion shifter, head of his family, and completely in love with her. Will their friendship finally become something more? And if so, what happens when Demi wants to be like Marco... in every way?

This was my first Dria Andersen and I immediately went to her website to make a purchase because I am hooked. Paranormal isn't my regular genre and I've only tiptoed in a couple of times, but this was the right move. I love Dria's writing. Her rhythm and her emotion when Demi and Marco are in each other's space. It felt romantic and intentional. Their bond felt real and solidified and when she became fully his, and his mate in every way it was so passionate and loving at the same time. Their playfulness and banter, and the rest of his family were also great additions. the conflict wasn't overdone and seemed like something actually of this world. I love the different animal groups and their traits and alliances. And I loved the way Demi stepped into her own, but Marco still was able to protect and care for her the way he'd always done. Very well done. Damn near perfect for my reading tastes.