smalltown_smutlover's reviews
281 reviews

My Vampire Plus-One by Jenna Levine

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

4.5

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
🌶️🌶️

𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘺, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘫𝘶𝘮𝘱. 

I absolutely loved 𝘔𝘺 𝘙𝘰𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘝𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘦 when I read it last fall, so when Reggie’s book was announced I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it. Reggie was everything I hoped he’d be. Silly, earnest, sweet, chaotic…what’s not to love? As an accountant myself, I related to the FMC, Amelia, and her need for order…and also her inability to resist a vampire boyfriend. 

This book is funny and sweet, and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to see a more vulnerable side of the mysterious Reginald Cleaves. Both books in this series are perfect for vampire girlies looking for a swoony good time. 

“𝘠𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘰 𝘩𝘰𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘬 𝘵𝘢𝘹𝘦𝘴.”
A Major Puck Up by Brittanée Nicole

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emotional funny hopeful medium-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? Yes

5.0

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

“𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘐’𝘷𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘸.”

I’m not entirely sure how the Revenge Games ended up on my radar, but I am so grateful because they gave me Gavin Langfield. 

YOUR HONOR I LOVE HIM. 

I didn’t expect that a revenge-motivated forbidden romance could be this sweet, but I love Gavin and Millie’s story SO much. I read the e-book earlier this year and the audiobook in November, and I still think about it so often it is probably unhealthy. Gavin is so sweet and bossy and sexy, and watching him become the proudest girl dad ever to Vivi is delightful. Millie is a bit immature at first, and watching her find herself and rebuild her relationship with her dad is rewarding and angsty. 

This is easily one of my favorite contemporary romance reads this year, and I can’t wait to read more Boston Bolts stories soon. 

𝘚𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘎𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘬𝘳𝘺𝘱𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘦, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘺 𝘎𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯, 𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘳𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘎𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯? 𝘏𝘦’𝘴 𝘮𝘺 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨.
Christmas by Design by Allie Samberts

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funny hopeful lighthearted 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? Yes

5.0

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

“𝘈𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘭𝘪𝘳𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶?”
“𝘐’𝘮 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘶𝘱 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘏𝘙.”

Allie has done it again with another fun, sweet, and spicy holiday novella! She set the bar very high with 𝘗𝘶𝘮𝘱𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘛𝘢𝘭𝘬 𝘈𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵, and while I am firmly Team Mike, I must say that Beckett Camdon has given him a run for his money 🥵

Beckett is delightfully grumpy, and Gemma is wonderfully tough and vulnerable. Their interactions are funny, tender, and HOT. This novella was such a fun kickoff of the Christmas season for me, and I can’t recommend it enough if you’re in need of some Christmas cheer!

“𝘐 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯 𝘢 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘮𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘧 𝘐 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘥.”

Bloom in Darkness by Noelle Upton

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emotional hopeful fast-paced

4.5

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

“𝙔𝙤𝙪’𝙡𝙡 𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙢𝙚 ‘𝙎𝙞𝙧’ 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚, 𝙤𝙧 𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝙤𝙪𝙩. 𝙉𝙤𝙬, 𝙠𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙡.”

We got a little taste of Delaney and Tyler’s relationship during Scars of the Sun, and I immediately wanted to know more. Thankfully, @noelleuptonauthor was more than happy to oblige. 

Delaney is the sweetest himbo to ever exist. He’s so earnest and kind; just the biggest golden retriever. Tyler is a short king who knows what he wants, but is often afraid to really take it as he is a secret cinnamon roll. This combo makes for the sweetest, hottest, angstiest duo to ever exist. Your honor, I love them. 

This was a delightfully sweet and spicy novella, and I enjoyed getting to return to Antler Pointe again and see old friends. Is it too soon for a reread already orrr..?

𝙄’𝙙 𝙢𝙖𝙙𝙚 𝙞𝙩 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚. 𝙏𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙝𝙞𝙢.
A Dawn of Onyx by Kate Golden

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adventurous emotional mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
🌶️🌶️

“𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘳. 𝘐’𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶. 𝘔𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦, 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯’𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘮 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘭𝘴𝘦.”

This book has been on my TBR forever and was part of my “10 Before the End” so I dove right in! It was a fun read, and I really liked the MCs and key side characters, but overall it was pretty rote as far as Romantasy goes. It checked all the boxes: shadow daddy MMC, forced proximity, dragons, unique magic, interesting world building…but it wasn’t particularly original. Overall I enjoyed it and will be continuing the series, but I am definitely hoping for some additional pizazz in the next two books. 

“𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶. 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘦𝘭𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥.”

The Lost God by Sheila Masterson

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adventurous challenging emotional funny reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Lost and Lassoed by Lyla Sage

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-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? Yes

5.0

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘸𝘢𝘴, 𝘐’𝘥 𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘛𝘦𝘥𝘥𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘦𝘭𝘴𝘦. 

Like anyone with a pulse, I’ve been dying for Geddy since Done & Dusted. I couldn’t wait to get my grubby little paws on this book, and couldn’t put it down once I did. 

Gus and Teddy’s story is funny, sweet, angsty, and just plain delicious. It shows just how thin the line between love and hate is, and how easy it is to blur that line. It’s also full of cameos from my favorite Rebel Blue friends, sweet and funny moments with Riley, and lots of angst and pining.  I adored this book as much as I knew I would, and am equal parts sad and excited for the final Rebel Blue book, Wild & Wrangled, to come out next spring. 

“𝘏𝘦𝘺, 𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦. 𝘕𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘫𝘰𝘪𝘯 𝘶𝘴.”
Phantasma by Kaylie Smith

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dark emotional mysterious 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

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
🌶️🌶️🌶️.5

“𝒞’𝓂𝑜𝓃, 𝒶𝓃𝑔𝑒𝓁, 𝓈𝒽𝑜𝓌 𝓂𝑒 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝓉𝑒𝑒𝓉𝒽.”

Ya know how we say “if not friend why friend shaped?” Well, for the first couple of chapters I asked myself “if invisible why hot?!” A true Hear Me Out situation. 

Like most of you, I’d seen this book all over the place and was super excited when the group chat chose it as our November Buddy Read. I absolutely loved Blackwell (even when he was invisible he was hot) and he can haunt me any time. The way Kaylie treats Ophelia’s OCD and intrusive thoughts was spot on from my personal experience. Ophelia’s struggles with her “Shadow Voice” and tics show a side of OCD that isn’t often talked about publicly, and it was very well done. I also listened to the audio and the narration was incredible. Laura Horowitz absolutely knocks it out of the park and I will definitely be looking for more of her audiobooks. 

The world building and trials were complex and interesting, the villain was truly disgusting and hate-able, and the chemistry between the MCs was 🔥 I was gasping, swooning, and laughing aloud the whole time. I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait for the next installment!

“𝐼 𝒸𝒶𝓃 𝑜𝓃𝓁𝓎 𝒾𝓂𝒶𝑔𝒾𝓃𝑒 𝒹𝑒𝒶𝓉𝒽 𝒾𝓈 𝓂𝑜𝓇𝑒 𝓀𝒾𝓃𝒹 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓃 𝓎𝑜𝓊.”
If This Was a Movie by Morgan Elizabeth

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-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? Yes

4.0

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

“𝐼𝓉’𝓈 𝓎𝑜𝓊! 𝐼 𝓉𝑜𝓁𝒹 𝓂𝓎 𝒹𝒶𝒹 𝒾𝓉 𝓌𝑜𝓊𝓁𝒹 𝒷𝑒 𝒶 𝒞𝒽𝓇𝒾𝓈𝓉𝓂𝒶𝓈 𝓂𝒾𝓇𝒶𝒸𝓁𝑒!”

Tis the season for sweet and swoony holiday romances! The second in a series of interconnected standalones, 𝘐𝘧 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘞𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘔𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘦 follows dance teacher Jules and single dad Nate as they try to figure out the magic between them. Nate’s daughter, Sophie, is adorable and hilarious as she tries to make her Christmas dream come true and get her “real life Ashlyn doll”, aka Jules, to marry her dad. It’s a heartwarming, funny, and sexy second chance romance full of Christmas magic, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I can’t wait to see what is next for Evergreen Park!

“𝒴𝑜𝓊 𝒹𝑒𝓈𝑒𝓇𝓋𝑒 𝓂𝒶𝑔𝒾𝒸.”

How To Woo A Warrior Orc by January Bell

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funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5