shanaepraystoo's reviews
886 reviews

In the Meantime by Love Belvin

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense 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? No

5.0

I'm a fan of Love Belvin. Her books are wrought with emotion, sometimes painful, and they always reveal something to myself. It's not every day that you read a romance novel that challenges your way of thinking and your expectations. But every single time I read a Love Belvin novel, I walk away from it changed. In The Meantime... is no different.

The characters are well written, fully developed, and so complex that they're relatable. I love that the characters aren't flat because their dilemmas certainly are. The pacing of the story is great as well. I never found myself bored or disinterested in the story - Love Belvin keeps you hooked from the very beginning. I oftentimes found myself really disagreeing with the actions of the FMC, Hayden, it made me realize just how invested I was in the story and I haven't been like that in a long time. 

I highly recommend In The Meantime... to everyone, but especially to anyone who enjoys a slow burn with complicated characters and to anyone looking to expand their understanding of the contemporary romance genre (with dark elements). The book does end on a cliffhanger, and it definitely left me wanting more. I didn't expect In The Meantime... to be one of my favorite books for the month of January, it's definitely a contender for my favorite books of the year, and I had no idea that the second book in this series would be so high on my list of anticipated reads. 
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AT WAR WITH LOVE by Mya

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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? No

3.5

I'm still getting used to Mya and her writing style. There's something unique about At War with Love because the author is building a new world with new characters in Cade's Cove, a fictitious small country town in Texas. There are lots of characters introduced, there's significant character development, but based on the story, I'm not sure that the main characters, Harmoni and Warren, were the best characters to launch this new world with, but what do I know? Really. Also, if Mya sees this:
am I supposed to hate Harmoni's friend Gabrielle because I do and I hope her mean behind doesn't get a book lol
. The story is engaging and I enjoyed escaping to Cade's Cove with Harmoni and Warren. I'm excited to read more of Mya's books in Cade's Cove, too, since the small town romance trope is my jam. I recommend At War with Love to anyone who likes small town or second chance romances and to fans of Mya's books.
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One Chill Millionaire 2: Quest by Black Lavish

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dark tense fast-paced

3.0

One Chill Millionaire started off so strong in my opinion. Book 1 was fast paced with an engaging storyline. I'm not sure what happened with One Chill Millionaire 2: Quest. I've totally divested from the characters, book 2 doesn't pick up where book 1 left off and now there's a huge focus on Quest and Nicki with very little character development for Quest. It's unfortunate because, even though I am not really into this type of urban fiction, I was hoping for a more engaging story with deeper characters. I will not be reading book 3. However, if you're someone who enjoys urban fiction and you don't require much character development and, instead prefer drama filled books, then One Chill Millionaire 2: Quest is definitely for you!
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One Chill Millionaire by Black Lavish

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

3.75

One Chill Millionaire is unlike most urban fiction that I've read...I'm not sure how to articulate it but I can say that the author, Black Lavish, has a unique writing style. It took some getting used to but about 30% into the book, I liked the writing. The ladies in One Chill Millionaire are a complete and utter mess! The men in the book are just as bad. I really didn't want to leave this review because the book ends with such a huge cliffhanger that I felt that the review could be incomplete. However, the story unfolds in such an interesting way that I am eager to read book 2 because I want to see how these characters redeem themselves! I definitely recommend One Chill Millionaire, but particularly to individuals who like urban fiction. 
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Fated Breed by Charity Shane

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adventurous emotional 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? No

4.0

Paranormal fiction is not my speed but I’ve read a few from some of my favorite authors. I picked up Fated Breed because I like Charity Shane’s books. In Fated Breed, we meet Keyshauna and Lobo at a time where Keyshauna learns a big secret about her family and herself. I wish the story was a little longer, so that readers could understand more about Keyshauna, her family
and her powers
. A bit spicy, quick paced and engaging, I definitely recommend Fated Breed to fans of paranormal stories, short stories and Charity Shane’.
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Count On You by Kami Holt

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challenging dark emotional funny hopeful sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Count On You was nothing like I expected, but now that I’ve read 3 of the author’s books, I know her style and will be prepared for the heaviness in her romance novels. The story unfolds beautifully and is well written, I was engaged from beginning to end! The characters are dynamic and common, even with all of their drama. In Count On You, Kami Holt discusses family dysfunction, mother-child abuse, infidelity, fertility, and betrayal, it’s more than just your regular romance novel and I think that’s a good thing.
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Jabari: The Crescent Falls Royals by Charity Shane

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challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad 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? No

4.5

Out of nowhere Charity Shane' has become one of my favorite romance writers. I thoroughly enjoyed her One Eighty series that released in 2024 and then she ended the year at the top of my mind with her beautiful Christmas novel A Christmas Novel. I've been wondering what she'd release in 2025, knowing that I need to explore the rest of her catalog. I certainly didn't expect her to release Jabari: The Crescent Falls Royals and I didn't expect her to release the book so early in the year! I just knew I'd have time to explore her catalog before her next release. Nonetheless, Charity Shane' dropped Jabari and I was eager to read it because the cover was beautiful, the synopsis sounded so good, and she wrote it - that's all I needed to know that the book was going to jump to the top of my TBR. 

Jabari was 100% worth putting to the top of my TBR. I immediately dropped plans to read other books and found myself engrossed in Jabari. I didn't want to do work, I read the e-book every chance I could get - I was even reading while walking on the treadmill at the gym lol. You're immediately sucked into the story, which unfolds so well (especially at the beginning), and the characters are lovable. Jabari is the ideal book bae - generous, rich, funny, sexy. The FMC, Kinnidi, is optimistic, talented, and full of light, despite her circumstances, so you want the best for her. 

Exploring mother-child dynamics, the struggle of dementia, self-worth, and family ties, Jabari is more than your typical romance novel. I highly recommend it.
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The Millionaire Boys Club: Beau by Natisha Raynor

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emotional funny lighthearted 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? No

5.0

I loved everything about The Millionaire Boys Club: Beau by Natisha Raynor. The age gap trope in Beau is everythingggg. The story is engaging and well written with a clear plot that's easy to follow and grips you. I had so much fun listening to the audiobook, too. I think the narrators did a really good job. I highly recommend the The Millionaire Boys Club series. 
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Seduce Me With Your Lies II by Penny Blacwrite

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced

3.0

The Millionaire Boys Club: Koda by Natisha Raynor, Natisha Raynor

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emotional funny 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? Yes

5.0

I really loved The Millionaire Boys Club: Koda. It is emotionally challenging with dynamic and relatable characters. Koda might make my 2025 list of book baes. I want my own version of him NOW.
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