sixelad03's reviews
450 reviews

Rut Bar by Alexis B. Osborne

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emotional hopeful inspiring 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

4.5

After reading Heat Clinic a few weeks ago—which I loved—I decided it was time to pick up the next book in the Heatverse and read Rut Bar. 
 
I don’t necessarily like to rank books in a series that I’ve enjoyed, but I think I liked Rut Bar a little more. I think the fact that Vee has a dominant streak was the thing that won me over. I have a soft spot for books where the FMCs are domme and/or switch, and the fact that there was some sort of role reversal in the story made it even more interesting. An Omega with domme tendencies and an Alpha with sub tendencies… it’s not every day you find that kind of situation in the Omegaverse. 
 
The two Alphas in the pack—yes, two Alphas in the same pack—Jamie and Brendan were very interesting characters. Where we think of Alphas as big, confident ‘beasts’, we see from their point of view that they also live with insecurities, Jamie about his intelligence and his place as a sub-Alpha, and Brendan about his age and his physical condition. Furthermore, if we look more closely at Vee and Anthony—respectively the Omega and Beta of the pack—we see that they also face their own insecurities linked to the fact that they are not the perfect example of what society expects of their ‘role’. 
 
Just as in Heat Clinic, the smut scenes written by Alexis B. Osborne are absolutely incredible. My only problem with this book was the times when the lines of consent were blurred—especially with the secret ingredient Anthony puts in Vee and Brendan’s drinks. 
 
I’m not going to let several weeks go by this time and will now immerse myself in Donation Clinic. 
Wicked Billionaire by Stephanie Harrell

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dark emotional mysterious tense medium-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

I have to say that I have slightly mixed feelings about this book. 
 
When I started reading Wicked Billionaire, I felt like I was picking up the story after not reading the first few chapters. I was given character names as if I was supposed to know them, but as this was the first book I had read by Stephanie Harrell, I had no idea who was who. Only afterwards did I see that the author had written a previous series in which you were supposed to have already discovered the characters, but as it didn’t seem to be a prerequisite for discovering the Wicked series, I have to admit that I wasn’t necessarily expecting that. 
 
In itself, I thought the writing was good and the story was promising, but I think the feeling of being lost from the start prevented me from really getting 100% into the book, even though it has a lot of elements that I generally like—a plus size FMC, a morally grey MMC and a revenge plot. To be honest, it seemed like a good mix for my tastes, but I think it just wasn’t the right book for me. 
 
As I don’t want to be left with a mixed opinion, I already know that I will be checking out Stephanie Harrell’s other books in the future. I sincerely believe that this author’s novels can suit my tastes, it was just this one that wasn’t for me. 
Sven by Mary Warren

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

The first word that comes to mind after reading this book is ‘swoon’. Honestly, although the book deals with some very important and sometimes difficult topics, my heart kept beating to the rhythm of the story between Natalie and Sven as I read it. I think I fell as much in love with the characters in the book as I did with their love story. So, I can safely say that I loved reading Sven. 
 
Of course, even though Sven and Natalie have found a special place in my heart, no one will ever be able to compete with Winnie. This baby is absolutely perfect—no, I’m not exaggerating. I admire the way Sven has accepted and embraced his role as a father so quickly. Overnight he goes from being a playboy to a father whose world revolves around his daughter’s life, and it’s really good to see that kind of change, especially as it feels more like the exception than the norm. 
 
I also admire Natalie. Although she could have complied with the rules imposed by the board at the school where she worked, she chose to act in the best interests of her students and to fight against the bigotry of a few. Even though this book is a work of fiction, this event resonates strongly with what is happening in the United States today, and I pay tribute to Mary Warren for tackling this issue in this book. Coming back to Natalie—our Southern belle—we really feel that the bond she formed with Winnie was very natural. Initially hired as her nanny, she very quickly takes on a much more important role in the infant’s life. 
 
I loved seeing how Natalie and Sven were there for each other. They take turns supporting each other through the difficult times they face. I also feel a deep contempt for Sven’s father. I abhor that kind of character, and I think the author has done a very good job of showing how despicable he is. 
 
I’m really proud to have had the chance to discover Sven a few weeks early, even though I would have read it the day it came out if I hadn’t been fortunate enough to get an ARC. 
 
Thanks to Mary Warren for giving me the opportunity to receive an ARC of Sven. This review is my own. All opinions expressed are mine. 
My Date With Caps Lock by Thea Masen

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

5.0

I really enjoyed this story. I thought it was both funny and unexpected. I have to admit that I didn’t know what to expect from the use of caps lock, but I wasn’t disappointed by Thea Masen’s creativity. 
 
I found the dichotomy between the writing rules and the content of the chapters very funny. I’m also a fan of chapter 4 and its clever use of letters at the beginning of sentences—I try to be vague so as not to spoil it. 
 
As someone who loves the colour teal and dreams of owning a typewriter, if I see one in that colour one day, I won’t be able to help but wonder 😂 
 
I have definitely not been disappointed by a single book in The Sentient Object Holiday series and I can’t wait to discover the next one. 
Threads That Bind Us by Rae Douglas

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dark emotional hopeful tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

I’m the kind of person who never reads the synopsis of a book, but jumps straight in almost blindly, if only based on some information I’ve seen on a post recommending it. Here I saw the words ‘femmedomme’ and ‘pegging’ and that’s all I needed to know that I wanted to read this story. I thank my instincts because I really enjoyed this book! 
 
I was quickly drawn into the story, whether through the characters or the lore surrounding The Syndicate. I loved the bond between Gwen and her sister Ana. We don’t know what we would do in Gwen’s place, but we can totally understand the choices she makes for Ana—and the choices that lead her to Charlie are ultimately very good ones for everyone. 
 
Gwen and Charlie form a beautiful partnership and then a beautiful couple as their feelings evolve. I loved that Charlie felt comfortable enough with Gwen to finally tell her about his own desires and fantasies—and Gwen is totally invested in her role. 
 
Now that I’ve finished Threads That Bind Us, I can’t wait to read Lies That Break Us, which focuses on Clara—Charlie’s twin sister—and Deniz. 
Choosing You by Taylor Wilson-West

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challenging emotional hopeful tense 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

4.5

I had already grown fond of Banks and Henry in the previous books—and especially of Henry, who is a total sweetheart—so I was looking forward to reading their story. It wasn’t all plain sailing for my emotions, but I have absolutely no regrets about having read this book. I didn’t mind the tears, it was worth it in the end. Choosing You is a book I really enjoyed reading. 
 
I won’t lie, I was extremely frustrated by Banks’ behaviour. I understand his point of view and why he decided to make certain choices, but damn it, I can’t count the number of times I wanted to smack him in the back of the head to knock some sense into him—even if it meant using violence. It was extremely hard to see Henry suffer—especially as I have a soft spot for him. Henry really is a sweet boy and it’s sometimes hard to believe that he’s part of the found family we’ve known since the beginning of the Gravity Hill series, were it not for the presence of Fern and Cin in that family. 
 
As I’ve mentioned before, there were quite a few times when tears were shed. It was hard to watch Henry and Banks’ hearts break. I was proud of Tal for standing up for Henry when everyone else was silent. With Cin in his life now, the young man is really moving in the right direction. This book also introduces us to new characters, including Charlie. Once you get to know her through her interactions with Banks, it’s hard not to like the witty young woman. Finally, as for Toby, I’m really looking forward to reading the book that will focus on his story. There are a lot of mysteries surrounding him that I want to understand. 
 
Through this story, I found that grief was evoked in a fairly accurate way. Losing your mother is a really difficult ordeal and it explains a lot about Banks’ personality. The binge eating topic is also addressed in this book through Henry and I hope for his comfort that this is something he can work on in the future as I know only too well the toll a crisis can take on your mental health. 
 
I wanted to thank Taylor Wilson-West for writing a story in which one of the two MMCs is plus size. While more books are being written with plus size FMCs than before—though still not enough for my opinion—it really is much rarer to find ones with plus size MMCs. Yet all sizes deserve to be loved. 
 
I’m now looking forward to the release of Keeping You. 
 
Thanks to Taylor Wilson-West and Nisha’s Books and Coffee PR for giving me the opportunity to receive an ARC of Choosing You. This review is my own. All opinions expressed are mine. 
By The Letter by Julia Wolf

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emotional hopeful medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I expected to like By The Letter by Julia Wolf, but I didn’t expect to like it this much. 
 
Of course, the book started with a slight advantage, as I’m a fan of the unexpected pregnancy trope. From that perspective, I already knew I was going to like the story, but I also started with a small—or maybe big—a priori on Roman Wells. The billionaire we met in In The Details, the first book in the Mile High Billionaires series, hadn’t made a very good impression on me, so I have to admit I was both curious and nervous to see how his relationship with the sweet Shira would turn out. 
 
Shira is a young woman who is one of a trio of friends with Clara and Bea—the heroines of the first and third books in the series—and whom we met in The Harder They Fall series as the very young and cold-looking wife of Frank Goldman. Here we find her at the head of her late husband’s faltering business. For one night only, she will indulge in one thing: an evening in a sex club with Wim, a stranger she met on a dating app. 
Roman Wells is known for getting involved in the affairs of companies in trouble. GoldMed, the company of his mentor, the late Frank Goldman, is on the brink of bankruptcy. He will have to deal with Shira Goldman, Frank’s widow, who is now in charge of the company. Roman has not heard good things about Shira. The young woman is perceived as a gold digger with a cold heart. At least that’s what her stepdaughter Francesca has told him. 
Of course, while we know Shira’s ‘secret’ identity as Goldie, we quickly learn that Wim is none other than Roman, and that their date at the Mile High Club is going to result in a positive pregnancy test and a baby on the way. 
 
At the beginning of the book, Roman Wells only confirmed the impression I had of him in In The Details, I didn’t like the way he judged Shira through Francesca’s words without even trying to understand or know her. I’ve lost count of the number of times I wanted to smack him in the back of the head, to get it through his thick skull that he needed to see further than the end of his nose. Luckily for him—and for us—Roman has one redeeming quality: he knows how to grovel! 
 
Shira is a character I wanted to get to know better from the moment she first appeared in Sincerely, Your Inconvenient Wife. I suspected there was more to her than people wanted to see. Delving into her psyche through this book really made me like the young woman even more. You realise that she’s been through a lot in her past and that underneath her cold exterior hides social anxiety—and I know all too well the misjudgments associated with social anxiety, as I suffer from it myself. 
 
The story between Roman and Shira doesn’t seem obvious from the start, but as we read on we realise that the former rugby player really is the right man for her, because yes, once you get to know Roman you change your opinion of him—he’s not the only one who bases his opinion of someone on prejudices. 
 
Seeing Kit and Elliot, as well as Clara and Bea, again is very nice, especially if you’ve followed these characters from the beginning. I also really enjoyed getting to know Nate, Ben and Adrian, Roman’s brothers—and honestly, if Julia Wolf wants to write a series about them, I’m not at all against it. 
 
Now that I have read By The Letter, all I want to do is discover the third book in the series, the one about Bea. 
 
Thanks to Julia Wolf and Valentine PR for giving me the opportunity to receive an ARC of By The Letter. This review is my own. All opinions expressed are mine. 
Never Really Mine by Alice Daniels

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emotional hopeful reflective medium-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? Yes

4.5

Did somebody say unexpected pregnancy? Say no more, you can count on me to read this book. 
 
That said, even if this book wasn’t about the unexpected pregnancy trope, I would have read it anyway, because after discovering Marley and Beau in Flowers in Your Hair, I would have had to be paid a huge amount of money not to read the book about them in the Ivy Ridge series. 
 
Never Really Mine made me feel a lot of emotions. You can feel Marley and Beau’s inner struggles through the writing. Although everyone knows that the two best friends are made for each other, they are far too afraid of losing their friendship to admit it to each other. A few dances and glasses of alcohol later—alcohol to be consumed in moderation, of course—the two best friends give in to temptation. Eight weeks later, the consequences of their night together appear as two pink lines on a pregnancy test. 
 
I don’t know about other readers, but I for one wish I had been there to reassure Marley about both her pregnancy and her relationship with Beau. The young woman has long struggled with her mental health and has built a huge wall around her heart to protect herself. This wall is preventing her from seeing that something is changing in Beau. The young man, whom I almost wanted to shake in Flowers in Your Hair for the way he behaved and hurt Marley, finally admits his feelings for his friend, but Marley is not ready to see that this is not a mirage, but reality. 
 
I really enjoyed the book and loved seeing Marley and Beau’s relationship develop as Marley’s pregnancy progressed. I really needed to read this HEA. 
 
I can’t wait to continue my discovery of the Ivy Ridge series when Can’t Let You Go comes out. 
Flowers in Your Hair: A Small Town Romance by Alice Daniels

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

4.0

I’m not going to lie, reading Flowers in Your Hair did me a world of good. I think the fact that there’s no angst in the relationship between the two MCs played a big part. Sure, things aren’t always a bed of roses in the book, but their relationship is beautiful and doesn’t suffer from a thousand complications. 
 
Josie and Andrew are just as sweet. You can tell from the beginning that Cupid has used his bow and arrow to bring them together in a strong relationship. One thing I really liked was that after their first steamy date, Andrew wanted to take his time with Josie to prove to her that he wanted a serious relationship with her and that it wasn’t just about their irresistible physical attraction. 
 
I’m not much of a family-oriented person, but the Cunninghams almost made me want to have brunch with them every Sunday. They’re an incredible family, the kind of family most people can only dream of having. Not to mention Travis and Velma, because who doesn’t love MCs with pets? 
 
If I had one small criticism, it’s that I was often more invested in Beau and Marley’s tumultuous relationship than Josie and Andrew’s smooth one. That’s why I’m going to read Never Really Mine straight away. 
Seduced by the Werewolves by Lyonne Riley

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emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-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? Yes

3.5

Monster romance books will always have a special place in my heart, especially books where the FMC lives happily ever after with more than one partner—my discovery of monster romance is intrinsically linked to my discovery of RH/Why Choose romance. Needless to say, I enjoyed reading Seduced by the Werewolves by Lyonne Riley. 
 
As much as I liked Tiff, I would have liked her more if she had stood up to her boss and her mother sooner. However, watching her assert herself was a very satisfying experience. I also liked the four brothers—Leon, Jace, Eli and Quinn—with a slight preference for the two youngest. The funny thing is, I liked Eli’s slightly reserved side as much as I liked Quinn’s golden retriever energy. 
 
The smut is truly incredible, whether the MMCs are in human or lupine form, Lyonne Riley really takes great care to describe the spicy scenes in detail. 
 
There’s only one thing that bothered me a little about the whole book, and that’s that all four MMCs are brothers and share Tiff at the same time. I guess from a werewolf pack’s point of view it’s easier to rationalise, but from my human point of view it was a bit harder to do. 
 
Anyway, this is the first Lyonne Riley book I’ve read, but given the quality of her writing, I’m sure it won’t be the last.