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smalltown_smutlover's reviews
286 reviews
Given to the Gargoyle by Ami Wright
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
The Game Changer by Lana Ferguson
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
4.5
Song of the Dark Wood by Sheila Masterson
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
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
5.0
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️♾️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
ARC Review
Release Date: 9/20/2024
“𝘐’𝘮 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘰 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺, 𝘙𝘰𝘸𝘢𝘯.”
“𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸. 𝘐 𝘢𝘮.”
I’ve been sitting here for an alarming amount of time trying to put into words how much I love this book. It’s like Sheila wrote it just for me: a sassy, angry FMC and the saddest, gooiest cinnamon roll MMC? YES PLEASE. I couldn’t put this book down. I wanted to call off a date just so I could finish it.
Rowan’s story may be fantasy, but there are so many elements that are all too real that pulled me apart and put me back together again. We all know I love angst, and SotDW has it in spades. It also has fear, hope, loss, love, feminine rage, a demon BFF, scheming gods, sisterhood, and YEARNING. I really can’t express how thoroughly I enjoyed Rowan’s journey. It hurt so good, and that is a compliment of the highest order.
Now, be a good lass for me and add this phenomenal book to your fall TBR🌲🐺👻♥️🎶
𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘢 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘮𝘦.
Wilds of Wonder: A Steamy Fantasy Romance by Tee Harlowe
adventurous
funny
hopeful
mysterious
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
𝓦𝓲𝓵𝓭𝓼 𝓸𝓯 𝓦𝓸𝓷𝓭𝓮𝓻 by Tee Harlowe
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
ARC Review
Release Date: 9/12/2024
𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒉𝒊𝒎. 𝑨𝒍𝒍 𝒐𝒇 𝒉𝒊𝒎. 𝑰𝒏 𝒂 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝑰 𝒉𝒂𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆.
When we were introduced to Emory Growley and the Bone Collector at the end of 𝘛𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘛𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘴𝘵, I was immediately intrigued. This book was full of banter, excitement, and dare I say…wonder.
Emory and Maverick are an absolute delight together, and the cast of side characters is impeccable as always where Tee Harlowe is concerned. The flashbacks of the annual treasure hunting competitions added a layer of tension to the MCs’ relationship that I loved. I had such a fun time with this story and the layers of mystery within it. I’m equal parts scared and excited for the next Stolen Crowns book!
“𝑬𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔. 𝑰 𝒕𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒉𝒆’𝒔 𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒐𝒃𝒔𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒚𝒐𝒖.”
Leather & Lark by Brynne Weaver
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
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
Daydream by Hannah Grace
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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’𝘮 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘺 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘷𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥.”
From the moment he appeared on the page in Icebreaker, I was deeply obsessed with Henry Turner. When his book was announced, I couldn’t wait to get my grubby little hands on it and I was NOT disappointed. Daydream is easily one of my favorite contemporary romances I’ve read this year. Henry and Halle are so adorable, hilarious, and hot together. I was basically squealing and kicking my feet for the entire book. Halle’s Type A eldest daughter struggles are so real, and Hannah handled Henry’s neurodivergence with empathy and honesty.
If this were the last Maple Hills book, I’d be satisfied because I got all the Henry action I hoped for and then some. HE is the daydream ☁️
“𝘌𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦: 𝘐 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘰 𝘩0𝘳𝘯𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦.”
🌶️🌶️🌶️
“𝘐’𝘮 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘺 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘷𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥.”
From the moment he appeared on the page in Icebreaker, I was deeply obsessed with Henry Turner. When his book was announced, I couldn’t wait to get my grubby little hands on it and I was NOT disappointed. Daydream is easily one of my favorite contemporary romances I’ve read this year. Henry and Halle are so adorable, hilarious, and hot together. I was basically squealing and kicking my feet for the entire book. Halle’s Type A eldest daughter struggles are so real, and Hannah handled Henry’s neurodivergence with empathy and honesty.
If this were the last Maple Hills book, I’d be satisfied because I got all the Henry action I hoped for and then some. HE is the daydream ☁️
“𝘌𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦: 𝘐 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘰 𝘩0𝘳𝘯𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦.”
Ophelia's Vampire by Leigh Miller
adventurous
funny
mysterious
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
4.0
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🍆🍆
🌶️🌶️🌶️
ARC Review
Release Date: 9/3/2024
“𝘓𝘦𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘖𝘱𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘢?”
It’s no secret that I am a sucker for a vampire (pun intended), so I leapt on this ARC opportunity.
Ophelia is a human surrounded by immortal supernatural beings. After an embarrassing failure at romance with a very sexy vampire, she flees Boston and begins a life roaming the country as a private investigator.
Seven years into her career, she is paired up with said sexy vampire, Casimir, to solve a string of rogue vampire attacks in her old stomping grounds. Cas and Ophelia are apprehensive of one another due to their past, but all that forced proximity has them wondering what went wrong in the first place.
Ophelia and Cas’s second chance is sweet, funny, and 🔥hot🔥, and this was such a fun read!
…𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘢 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦, 𝘐’𝘮 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘥𝘢𝘮𝘯 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘪𝘵 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯.
🍆🍆
🌶️🌶️🌶️
ARC Review
Release Date: 9/3/2024
“𝘓𝘦𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘖𝘱𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘢?”
It’s no secret that I am a sucker for a vampire (pun intended), so I leapt on this ARC opportunity.
Ophelia is a human surrounded by immortal supernatural beings. After an embarrassing failure at romance with a very sexy vampire, she flees Boston and begins a life roaming the country as a private investigator.
Seven years into her career, she is paired up with said sexy vampire, Casimir, to solve a string of rogue vampire attacks in her old stomping grounds. Cas and Ophelia are apprehensive of one another due to their past, but all that forced proximity has them wondering what went wrong in the first place.
Ophelia and Cas’s second chance is sweet, funny, and 🔥hot🔥, and this was such a fun read!
…𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘢 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦, 𝘐’𝘮 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘥𝘢𝘮𝘯 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘪𝘵 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯.
Scars of the Sun by Noelle Upton
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
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
ARC Review
Release Date: 9/12/2024
“𝙔𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙗𝙖𝙙 𝙝𝙖𝙗𝙞𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚.”
As someone who grew up in the age of Avril Lavigne’s iconic Sk8er Boi, I deeply relate to Ramona’s inability to stay away from Río, even though he is a menace and a drifter and a certified f*ckboy.
Ramona is fresh off a grippy-sock vacation, and girl just wants to have fun. Which may or may not mean fooling around with complete stranger, then becoming mutually obsessed with him. Honestly, it’s an ideal situation. Río and Ramona are hilarious, sweet, and super hot together. He’s keeping some pretty gnarly secrets, but that’s fine. We love a mysterious, broody man!
If you like mystery, shifters, sex in trees, sassy FMCs, and tattooed skater boys…this is the book for you. I loved it and can’t wait for the next book in this universe! 🛹🛼
“𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩? 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙨𝙢𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙢𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣, 𝙋𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙨𝙨.”
🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
ARC Review
Release Date: 9/12/2024
“𝙔𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙗𝙖𝙙 𝙝𝙖𝙗𝙞𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚.”
As someone who grew up in the age of Avril Lavigne’s iconic Sk8er Boi, I deeply relate to Ramona’s inability to stay away from Río, even though he is a menace and a drifter and a certified f*ckboy.
Ramona is fresh off a grippy-sock vacation, and girl just wants to have fun. Which may or may not mean fooling around with complete stranger, then becoming mutually obsessed with him. Honestly, it’s an ideal situation. Río and Ramona are hilarious, sweet, and super hot together. He’s keeping some pretty gnarly secrets, but that’s fine. We love a mysterious, broody man!
If you like mystery, shifters, sex in trees, sassy FMCs, and tattooed skater boys…this is the book for you. I loved it and can’t wait for the next book in this universe! 🛹🛼
“𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩? 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙨𝙢𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙢𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣, 𝙋𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙨𝙨.”
Summoning My Grumpy Demon Boss by Ami Wright
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Blood & Steel by Helen Scheuerer
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
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
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
“𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶. 𝘠𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘢 𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴.”
I need everyone to appreciate the restraint I have exercised in not letting this series completely derail my life, because it is a struggle. I absolutely love Thea, Wilder, Wren, Torj, Kipp, Cal, and Malik. It is honestly a bit embarrassing.
Thea is stabby and sassy, just like I like my FMCs. Wilder is broody, grumpy, and smells like a tree, just like I like my MMCs. Thea’s mission to become a legend in the brief amount of time her fate stone allows is inspiring…and stressful. The tension between her and Warsword Hawthorne? Immaculate. The silliness and camaraderie of her found family? Elite. The mystery surrounding the threat to the Veil? Fascinating. I honestly couldn’t put it down, and can’t wait to see where Thea’s journey takes her.
𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘬𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴, 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘩, 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘺 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦.
🌶️🌶️
“𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶. 𝘠𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘢 𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴.”
I need everyone to appreciate the restraint I have exercised in not letting this series completely derail my life, because it is a struggle. I absolutely love Thea, Wilder, Wren, Torj, Kipp, Cal, and Malik. It is honestly a bit embarrassing.
Thea is stabby and sassy, just like I like my FMCs. Wilder is broody, grumpy, and smells like a tree, just like I like my MMCs. Thea’s mission to become a legend in the brief amount of time her fate stone allows is inspiring…and stressful. The tension between her and Warsword Hawthorne? Immaculate. The silliness and camaraderie of her found family? Elite. The mystery surrounding the threat to the Veil? Fascinating. I honestly couldn’t put it down, and can’t wait to see where Thea’s journey takes her.
𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘬𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴, 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘩, 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘺 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦.