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Out of My Head by Dillon Bancroft – Review

Out of My Head by Dillon Bancroft – Review

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS!!!! 

This post may contain affiliate links for products and services I recommend. If you make a purchase through these links, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission. 

Hello sassy people! Today’s post is about Out Of My Head by Dillon Bancroft! Thank you, Dillon Bancroft and RMWB for providing this copy in exchange for an honest review!

This was really good, it had all the dept I’ve come to expect from a Dillon Bancroft book, with a cool mystery background plot and a great couple who have great, individual, journeys and stories.

Escaping Christmas by Marie Landry

Out of My Head

My dirty little secret is my brother’s best friend.
I’ve loved Jay Parker my entire life. And we’re ready to stop hiding our two-and-a-half-year relationship. Our only problem is that my family and the entire town we grew up in views us as siblings.
But we can’t hide our love forever. When Jay is honorably discharged from the Marine Corps to finally live our dream life together, life as we know it starts caving in. Unaligned dreams. Skeletons in the closet. Jay’s inevitable post-war identity crisis. And if that wasn’t enough, a strange man is following us and threatening my family.
Were we right to think love conquers all? Or will the realities of life tear us apart?
*Out of My Head is the first part in the Jay and Annie Duet.

Author

Dillon Bancroft

Series

Sage Creek Series #2

Genre

ARC Romance

Publisher

Indie

Year

2022

Is it on KU?

Yes!!!!!

Subgenres

Contemporary Romance

Dark

Suspense

Tropes

Brother’s Best Friend

Military Romance

Relationship in trouble

Second Chance

Secret Relationship 

Small Town Romance

Smut factor

🔥 🔥 🔥 3/5 (sex on the page)

Spice Scale

3/5 🌶🌶🌶

POP (%) – Put Out Percentage

15%

Trigger Warnings

The author provides them with the book

Main characters

Annie and Jay

Heroine

The Female Messiah

– Fights for your cause, and meets her commitments. She is the stubborn sister or friend who is determined, quick-tempered, and says it like it is. She will tell you what you need to do in no uncertain terms. 

Hero

Alpha

– “Love interest who has a dominating personality or behavior, especially concerning socially aggressive, hypermasculine men.”

These heroes often have jealousy and possessiveness issues. 

Pacing

Medium

Mood

Deep, Heavy, Important, Sweet

Plot or Character Driven

Mixed

POV

Double P.O.V.

Character Development

Deep

Read in

2022

My rate

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5

I was not expecting all of this from this book, but it did not disappoint!

I loved the first book in this series, with all its romance and suspense and intensity, along with a good dose of heavy topics! But the author managed to match these elements while creating a completely new dynamic. This couple is very different from Aria and Derek, but they communicate the same level of dept the other couple did, they both have very personal journeys and inner struggles that were amazing to read, and this felt completely new, maintaining all the good stuff from book 1.

I also loved the interactions with not only the rest of the family but the whole small town. A really cool part of this couple’s dynamic is that they have known each other their entire lives, there is familiarity and inner jokes and shared experiences, that were related in the book in a very natural manner, where we didn’t feel lost, but we got all the information we needed and also the humor from the banter of a family.

For this book to be perfect, I would like a bit more from the mystery plot, I understand that it is a duet, and there is more to come, but I feel I didn’t get enough information or action to really understand or be engaged with that plot line.

 

Equality rate

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5

The book didn’t get 5 equality stars because I felt that Jay could be a bit sexist at times (I honestly didn’t see much offense in “carrying the sandals”, women have done that for centuries). And their ability to solve conflict is extremely limited.

And last but not least, I loved the dept of Jay’s story, not only as an ex-military and all the trauma and confusion going back to civilization comes with, but also being an abuse survivor. Dillon does a great job at respectfully relating trauma, but showing us realities that, unfortunately, many people go through, so I love reading these perspectives.

 

Recommend this?

Yes

Well, that is all for today, I hope you like this post, hope you enjoy this book as much as I did. Feel free to leave your opinion about it in the comments and I will see you next time! 

Bye sassy people! 

 

  • I know that some comments I make about decent guys on my posts are the bare minimum a guy should do, so no, they don’t deserve to be treated like gods for doing the minimum, but at the same time, I’ve read a lot of sexist books and I appreciate authors who make characters that can serve as role models and examples of how a decent guy acts and what a loving and respectful relationship looks like. I believe we should always encourage these authors and bring attention to the ones that still write sexist characters and stories. 
  • I make a lot of comments about sexism and healthy role models in books, but a lot of times these characteristics don’t make the book a bad book and definitely don’t make the author a bad author. Please never shame these authors and these books for these comments, I simply feel that we need to have awareness of the less than ideal situations some books bring us, and not use the romanticized problem as examples of what a relationship should be. Most of these authors are still amazing, and the content they write doesn’t reflect directly with their personal views and opinions. Always make sure to respect and be kind to everyone, even while criticizing their content. 

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Brazilian architecture student and book lover

One of my goals in analysing my readings was to talk about important topics, like feminist and consent, because literature, art and culture influence us, and I believe we should always encorage authors who talk about this topics.

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April Wrap Up 2022

April Wrap Up 2022

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS!!!! 

This post may contain affiliate links for products and services I recommend. If you make a purchase through these links, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission. 

Hello sassy people! Today I’m going to tell you guys about all the books I read in April! It was an amazing month, I read a lot and I have some new favorite books!

Cease Fire

(Blackbridge Security #9)

by Marie James

 

Making something off-limits will always make that thing more appealing.
Jules Warren, my sister’s best friend, was no different.
She has been the leading lady in every fantasy I’ve had since I was a teenager.
There was no way I was turning her down when she invited me to her room.
Those fantasies? They had nothing on the real thing.
I was given the weekend to make my dreams come true.
The ramifications, however, will last a lifetime.
Keeping a secret is one thing.
Living with the lies is impossible.

 

𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬: Military Romance, Second Chance, Sibling’s Best Friend
𝐒𝐦𝐮𝐭 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫: 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 4/5 (steamy)
𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐞: 5/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
𝐈𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐊𝐔? Yes!!!!!
𝐌𝐲 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5
𝐌𝐲 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5
𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬? Absolutely

This book was amazing, really well written, with a hot and interesting story, in terms of Equality, it had some AMAZING points, but I disagree with a lot of Jules’s actions, and that took some points out.

Thank you, Marie James and Wildfire Marketing Solutions for providing this copy in exchange for an honest review!

You Had Me at Hola

(Primas of Power #1)

by Alexis Daria

 

RITA® Award Winning author Alexis Daria brings readers an unforgettable, hilarious rom-com set in the drama-filled world of telenovelas—perfect for fans of Jane the Virgin and The Kiss Quotient.
Leading Ladies do not end up on tabloid covers. 
After a messy public breakup, soap opera darling Jasmine Lin Rodriguez finds her face splashed across the tabloids. When she returns to her hometown of New York City to film the starring role in a bilingual romantic comedy for the number one streaming service in the country, Jasmine figures her new “Leading Lady Plan” should be easy enough to follow—until a casting shake-up pairs her with telenovela hunk Ashton Suárez. 
Leading Ladies don’t need a man to be happy
After his last telenovela character was killed off, Ashton is worried his career is dead as well. Joining this new cast as a last-minute addition will give him the chance to show off his acting chops to American audiences and ping the radar of Hollywood casting agents. To make it work, he’ll need to generate smoking-hot on-screen chemistry with Jasmine. Easier said than done, especially when a disastrous first impression smothers the embers of whatever sexual heat they might have had. 
Leading Ladies do not rebound with their new costars. 
With their careers on the line, Jasmine and Ashton agree to rehearse in private. But rehearsal leads to kissing, and kissing leads to a behind-the-scenes romance worthy of a soap opera. While their on-screen performance improves, the media spotlight on Jasmine soon threatens to destroy her new image and expose Ashton’s most closely guarded secret.

 

𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬: Secret Relationship, Single Parent, Latinx Characters, Movie Star/Actress-Actor

𝐒𝐦𝐮𝐭 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫: 🔥 🔥 🔥 3/5 (sex on the page)

𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐞: 3/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️

𝐈𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐊𝐔? Nope

𝐌𝐲 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5

𝐌𝐲 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5

𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬? Absolutely

 

I loved this book, I loved learning more about the other Latino cultures (as a Latina, it’s just amazing reading/listening to books with these characters), especially in the moments where they speak Spanish (I speak Portuguese, so it was awesome to understand 70% of it 😂. Loved how the hero was very emotional and had anxiety and mental issues, love seeing that in male characters and again, the cherry on top is the Latinx representation. 

 

Sacked: A Football Romcom

(Chesapeake Commanders #2)

by Lizzi Stone

 

Revenge is a dish served in pairs… so when Chase and I use each other to get back at our cheating exes, will we find love instead?
When I find my boyfriend cheating on me with another guy’s girlfriend, the last thing I want is to get him back. Instead, I reach out to the boyfriend of the girl that he was cheating with. Chase is a star football player, and I can’t quite wrap my head around the fact that someone would be dumb enough to cheat on him. Together, we hatch a plan: We’ll pretend to date so that our exes can see what they’ve been missing.
As the two of us get closer and thoughts of my ex start to drift away, things begin to heat up, and we both get scared. Feelings were not part of the bargain, but it looks like it’s not going to matter. Are the wounds from our exes too fresh for us to overcome? Will we be able to leave the lie that we have been living in, or will admitting our true feelings so that it was the truth all along?

 

𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬: Sports Romance, Fake Relationship
𝐒𝐦𝐮𝐭 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫: 🔥 🔥 🔥 3/5 (steamy)
𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐞: 2/5 🌶️🌶️
𝐈𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐊𝐔? Yes!!!!!
𝐌𝐲 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞: ⭐⭐ 2/5
𝐌𝐲 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞: ⭐⭐ 2/5
𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬? Nope

Had a good premise, but the execution wasn’t good enough.

Thank you Lizzi Stone and RMWB for providing this copy in exchange for an honest review!

Huddled: A Football RomCom 

(A Chesapeake Commanders Novel Book 4)

by Lizzi Stone

Every relationship is built on trust…but when it’s built on lies, will it crumble before it ever truly begins?

Football has been everywhere I looked, basically since I was born. Which makes sense, considering that my dad owns one of the best teams in the country, and he would love nothing more than to see me take over the team someday. And I would love to be able to help him with that, but I’m an influencer, best known as Rubie, and I would much rather spend my time focusing on fashion and the social media that I’m actually passionate about. The less I have to hear about football, the better.

I’m Ollie, and the opposite is true for me. Football in my life, but when I meet Rubie at a department store and she wants to talk about anything but football, I’m more than happy to oblige. Sparks fly and our relationship starts off with a bang, literally, but I expect it to be a one-night stand and to never see Rubie again. Instead, she is the daughter of the man that I work for, and I can’t believe I screwed up this bad.

Can we figure out our differences, or is football just the first on a long list of things that we don’t agree on?

 

𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬: RomCom, Sports Romance
𝐒𝐦𝐮𝐭 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫: 🔥 🔥 🔥 3/5 (steamy)
𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐞: 1/5 🌶️
𝐈𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐊𝐔? Yes!!!!!
𝐌𝐲 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞: ⭐⭐⭐ 3/5
𝐌𝐲 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞: ⭐⭐⭐ 3/5
𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬? Nope

The premise was very cool, and the execution itself had some small issues, but this was the best I’ve read by Lizzi so far.

Thank you, Lizzi Stone and RMWB for providing this copy in exchange for an honest review!

Only When It’s Us

(Bergman Brothers #1)

by Chloe Liese

 

Prepare for an emotional rollercoaster brimming with laughter, tears, and slow-burn sexiness in this new adult romance that tackles the vulnerability of love with humor and heart.
Ryder
Ever since she sat next to me in class and gave me death eyes, Willa Sutter’s been on my shit list. Why she hates me, I don’t know. What I do know is that Willa is the kind of chaos I don’t need in my tidy life. She’s the next generation of women’s soccer. Wild hair, wilder eyes. Bee-stung lips that should be illegal. And a temper that makes the devil seem friendly.
She’s a thorn in my side, a menacing, cantankerous, pain-in-the-ass who’s turned our Business Mathematics course into a goddamn gladiator arena. I’ll leave this war zone unscathed, coming out on top…And if I have my way with that crazy-haired, ball-busting hellion, that will be in more than one sense of the word. 
Willa
Rather than give me the lecture notes I missed like every other instructor I’ve had, my asshole professor tells me to get them from the silent, surly flannel-wearing mountain man sitting next to me in class. Well, I tried. And what did I get from Ryder Bergman? Ignored. What a complete lumbersexual neanderthal. Mangy beard and mangier hair. Frayed ball cap that hides his eyes. And a stubborn refusal to acknowledge my existence.
I’ve battled men before, but with Ryder, it’s war. I’ll get those notes and crack that Sasquatch nut if it’s the last thing I do, then I’ll have him at my mercy. Victory will have never tasted so sweet.
Only When It’s Us is a frenemies-to-lovers, college sports romance about a women’s soccer star and her surly lumberjack lookalike classmate, complete with a matchmaking professor, juvenile pranks, and a smoking slow burn. This standalone is the first in a series of new novels about a Swedish-American family of five brothers, two sisters, and their wild adventures as they each find happily ever after.

 

𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬: Disability rep, Enemies to Lovers, Soccer Romance

𝐒𝐦𝐮𝐭 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫: 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 4/5 (steamy)

𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐞: 3/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️

𝐈𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐊𝐔? Nope

𝐌𝐲 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5

𝐌𝐲 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5

𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬? Absolutely

 

Loved this. I wanted to read this one for so long, I was afraid of being disappointed, but I was not! This was delicious, with disability rep and so much dept but also the cuteness and hotness of frenemies to lovers. Just delicious, with everything I want in a book!

Igniting Ivy

(Men on Fire #1)

by Samantha Christy

 

They call me a hero.
I save people. It’s what I do.
It’s the only thing I’ve ever wanted to do.
Then I meet her — the girl with the sad eyes.
She’s lost everything. Twice.
And I know she’s using me to forget her past.
Just when things seem perfect, that past threatens with the unimaginable.
They may call me a hero.
But she’s the one person I can’t save.
Igniting Ivy can be read as a standalone romance. It is book one in a series that follows a group of firefighters.

 

𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬: Firefighter Romance, Vacation Romance

𝐒𝐦𝐮𝐭 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫: 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 4/5 (steamy)

𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐞: 3/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️

𝐈𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐊𝐔? Yes!!!!!

𝐌𝐲 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5

𝐌𝐲 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5

𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬? Yes

 

This was very very heavy, very deep, and ultimately a very intense and interesting read. I loved the firefighter part and I live for the heavier and deeper plots so this was awesome. I had some small problems with some behaviors from both leads and also some problem solving that felt too quick, while other parts felt too long. But overall an amazing book, not sure I would read it again since it was so heavy and intense. 

Show Me Forever 

(The Maxwell Brothers)

by Layla Hagen

 

I moved to Chicago six months ago, determined to finally open my own bakery. My landlady was this sweet woman who treated me like her granddaughter.
Then she sold the house. Now the devil himself is my landlord and neighbor since I live in the guesthouse on his property. Declan Maxwell is moody, unreasonable, and takes himself far too seriously. Unfortunately for me, he’s also damn sexy.
When he shows up on my doorstep in the middle of the night ordering me to turn down the music, I give him hell. Secretly, I’m also checking him out. We go toe to toe like this almost every night.
The man is impossible. But here’s the thing. I need a place to stay while I save for my business and this place is a steal. So, I need to put up with this handsome devil, though from a distance—because he’s far too gorgeous.
Then one day I come home injured from work and he surprises me by taking care of me.
And kissing me.
And just like that, all my best intentions go up in smoke.

 

DNFed this!

 

13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do

Take Back Your Power, Embrace Change, Face Your Fears, and Train Your Brain for Happiness and Success

by Amy Morin

 

Expanding on her viral post that has become an international phenomenon, a psychotherapist offers simple yet effective solutions for increasing mental strength and finding happiness and success in life.
As a licensed clinical social worker, college psychology instructor, and psychotherapist, Amy Morin has seen countless people choose to succeed despite facing enormous challenges. That resilience inspired her to write 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do, a web post that instantly went viral, and was picked up by the Forbes website.
Morin’s post focused on the concept of mental strength, how mentally strong people avoid negative behaviors–feeling sorry for themselves, resenting other people’s success, and dwelling on the past. Instead, they focus on the positive to help them overcome challenges and become their best.
In this inspirational, affirmative book, Morin expands upon her original message, providing practical strategies to help readers avoid the thirteen common habits that can hold them back from success. Combining compelling anecdotal stories with the latest psychological research, she offers strategies for avoiding destructive thoughts, emotions, and behaviors common to everyone.
Like physical strength, mental strength requires healthy habits, exercise, and hard work. Morin teaches you how to embrace a happier outlook and arms you to emotionally deal with life’s inevitable hardships, setbacks, and heartbreaks–sharing for the first time her own poignant story of tragedy, and how she summoned the mental strength to move on. As she makes clear, mental strength isn’t about acting tough; it’s about feeling empowered to overcome life’s challenges.

 

𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Mental Health, Nonfiction, Self Help

𝐈𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐊𝐔?: Nope

𝐌𝐲 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5 

𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬? Absolutely

 

This book was life-changing to me. It took me months to read it because each chapter made me enter a whole change and inner analysis period. I will probably read this again and again forever, using each chapter for different moments. 

Always Only You

(Bergman Brothers #2)

by Chloe Liese

 

Get ready for an emotional ride filled with laughter, longing, and a sweet slow-burn in this sports romance about love’s power not in spite of difference, but because of it.
Ren
The moment I met her, I knew Frankie Zeferino was someone worth waiting for. Deadpan delivery, secret heart of gold, and a rare one-dimpled smile that makes my knees weak, Frankie has been forbidden since the day she and I became coworkers, meaning waiting has been the name of my game—besides, hockey, that is.
I’m a player on the team, she’s on staff, and as long as we work together, dating is off-limits. But patience has always been my virtue. Frankie won’t be here forever—she’s headed for bigger, better things. I just hope that when she leaves the team and I tell her how I feel, she won’t want to leave me behind, too.
Frankie
I’ve had a problem at work since the day Ren Bergman joined the team: a six foot three hunk of happy with a sunshine smile. I’m a grumbly grump and his ridiculously good nature drives me nuts, but even I can’t entirely ignore that hot tamale of a ginger with icy eyes, the perfect playoff beard, and a body built for sin that he’s annoyingly modest about.
Before I got wise, I would have tripped over myself to get a guy like Ren, but with my diagnosis, I’ve learned what I am to most people in my life—a problem, not a person. Now, opening my heart to anyone, no matter how sweet, is the last thing I’m prepared to do.
Always Only You is an opposites-attract, forbidden love sports romance about a nerdy, late-blooming hockey star, and his tough cookie coworker who keeps both her soft side and her autism diagnosis* to herself. Complete with a meddling secretary, tantric yoga torture, and a scorching slow burn, this standalone is the second in a series of novels about a Swedish-American family of five brothers, two sisters, and their wild adventures as they each find happily ever after.
*This is an #OwnVoices story for its portrayal of autism by an autistic author.

 

𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬: Disability rep, Frenemies to lovers, Own Voices, Reverse Grumpy and Sunshine

𝐒𝐦𝐮𝐭 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫: 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 4/5 (steamy)

𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐞: 3/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️

𝐈𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐊𝐔? Nope

𝐌𝐲 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5

𝐌𝐲 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5

𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬? Absolutely

 

This book was amazing! I love anything diverse and this had everything, it had the cuteness, diversity, the reverse grumpy and sunshine (which is one of my all-time favorite tropes), the spice, the information, the dept, and my newest book boyfriend. 

The Legacy

(Off-Campus #5)

by Elle Kennedy

 

Four stories. Four couples. Three years of real life after graduation…
A wedding.
A proposal.
An elopement.
And a surprise pregnancy.
Life after college for Garrett and Hannah, Logan and Grace, Dean and Allie, and Tucker and Sabrina, isn’t quite what they imagined it would be. Sure, they have each other, but they also have real-life problems that four years at Briar U didn’t exactly prepare them for. As it turns out, for these four couples, love is the easy part. Growing up is a whole lot harder.
Come for the drama, stay for the laughs! Catch up with your favorite Off-Campus characters as they navigate the changes that come with growing up and discover that big decisions can have big consequences…and big rewards.

 

𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬: Short stories, Elopement, Female lawyer, Proposal, Surprise Pregnancy, Wedding

𝐒𝐦𝐮𝐭 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫: 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 4/5 (steamy)

𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐞: 2/5 🌶️🌶️

𝐈𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐊𝐔? Nope

𝐌𝐲 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5

𝐌𝐲 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5

𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬? Yes

 

This book was really cool, it made me miss these characters and their books, but it ended with me wanting more of them. I loved how the author didn’t just give us a simple short story like “look, they are happy, in their happy ever after”. I liked that she showed us the difficulties they go through, it made them feel even more real. 

Dial A for Aunties

(Aunties #1)

by Jesse Q. Sutanto

 

What happens when you mix 1 (accidental) murder with 2 thousand wedding guests, and then toss in a possible curse on 3 generations of an immigrant Chinese-Indonesian family?
You get 4 meddling Asian aunties coming to the rescue!
When Meddelin Chan ends up accidentally killing her blind date, her meddlesome mother calls for her even more meddlesome aunties to help get rid of the body. Unfortunately, a dead body proves to be a lot more challenging to dispose of than one might anticipate, especially when it is inadvertently shipped in a cake cooler to the over-the-top billionaire wedding Meddy, her Ma, and aunties are working at an island resort on the California coastline. It’s the biggest job yet for the family wedding business—”Don’t leave your big day to chance, leave it to the Chans!“—and nothing, not even an unsavory corpse, will get in the way of her auntie’s perfect buttercream flowers.
But things go from inconvenient to downright torturous when Meddy’s great college love—and biggest heartbreak—makes a surprise appearance amid the wedding chaos. Is it possible to escape murder charges, charm her ex back into her life, and pull off a stunning wedding all in one weekend?

 

𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Audiobook, Fiction, Romance, Thriller, Women’s Fiction

𝐈𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐊𝐔?: Nope

𝐌𝐲 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5 

𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬? Absolutely

 

I loved this book, it had the perfect combination of action, mystery, and romance, with amazing cultural references. I loved the writing and the whole plot, and the ending was cute and unpredictable, which I really enjoyed!

Ever After Always

(Bergman Brothers #3)

by Chloe Liese

 

Buckle up for an emotional journey of hijinks, heartache, and a hot slow-burn in this marriage-in-crisis romance about going the distance to make love last.
Aiden
I’ve spent twelve years loving Freya Bergman and twelve lifetimes won’t be enough to give her everything she deserves. She’s my passionate, tender-hearted wife, my best friend, and all I want is to make her happy. But the one thing that will make her happiest is the one thing I’m not sure I can give her: a baby.
With the pressure of providing and planning for a family, my anxiety’s at an all-time high, and I find myself pulling away, terrified to tell my wife how I’m struggling. But when Freya kicks me out, I realize that pulling back has turned into pushing too far. Now it’s the fight of a lifetime to save our marriage.
Freya
I love my cautious, hard-working husband. He’s my partner and best friend, the person I know I can count on most. Until one day I realize the man I married is nowhere to be found. Now Aiden is quiet and withdrawn, and as the months wear on, the pain of our growing distance becomes too much. 
As if weathering marriage counseling wasn’t enough, we’re thrown together for an island getaway to celebrate my parents’ many years of perfect marriage while ours is on the brink of collapse. Despite my meddling siblings and a week in each other’s constant company, this trip somehow gets us working through the trouble in paradise. I just can’t help worrying, when we leave paradise and return to the real world, will trouble find us again?
Ever After Always is a marriage-in-crisis, opposites-attract romance about a sensitive, fierce-loving woman and her resilient husband who has anxiety disorder. Complete with island vacation antics, a sibling prank gone wrong, and a steamy slow burn, this standalone is the third in a series of novels about a Swedish-American family of five brothers, two sisters, and their wild adventures as they each find happily ever after.

 

𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬: Marriage in Trouble Romance, Relationship in trouble, Romance Family, Vacation Romance

𝐒𝐦𝐮𝐭 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫: 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 4/5 (steamy)

𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐞: 2/5 🌶️🌶️

𝐈𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐊𝐔? Nope

𝐌𝐲 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5

𝐌𝐲 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5

𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬? Absolutely

 

This book was beyond anything I wished for, it had a relationship in trouble, which is one of my favorite tropes (even being underrated the way it is), an anxious male main character and a strong female main character, while also bringing that amazing family and the brotherhood these men created. 

With You Forever

(Bergman Brothers #4)

by Chloe Liese

 

Cozy up for a heartfelt, humorous, sizzling slow-burn in this marriage of convenience romance about finding love—and home—in the most unlikely of places.
Axel
Rooney Sullivan is sunshine incarnate. Warm, bright, always smiling, she’s everything I’m not and the last person I have any business desiring. Desperate to hide a hopeless attraction, I’ve done everything possible to keep my distance…until a charades game gone wrong brought that to a grinding halt. 
Since then, steering clear of Rooney has been impossible. In a matter of months, she’s kissed me speechless, commandeered my art career, and infiltrated not only my dreams but my home. The woman who was once avoidable has become the last thing I needed: temptingly within reach.
Rooney
Axel Bergman is a gorgeous grump who doesn’t have the time of day for me. Thankfully, I’ve kept my crush under wraps…well, until I kissed him. Charades got away from me, okay? It was an accident! I haven’t seen him since, which is for the best. My life is a mess, and the last thing I need is to embarrass myself further with the man who avoids me like that’s his job rather than painting modern masterpieces.
It seems the universe, however, has a different plan. When Axel and I unexpectedly find our paths—and problems—converging, a marriage of convenience proves the perfect solution. At least, until I’m facing my most serious problem yet: a once-loveless marriage of convenience that’s inconveniently become a love match, after all.
With You Forever is a sunshine and grump, marriage of convenience romance about a shy artist on the autism spectrum*, and a smiley smartypants who has a chronic IBD. Complete with combustible cooking lessons, interfering family and friends, and a steamy slow burn, this standalone is the fourth in a series of novels about a Swedish-American family of five brothers, two sisters, and their wild adventures as they each find happily ever after.
*This is an #OwnVoices story for its portrayal of autism by an autistic author.

 

𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬: Disability rep, Fake Relationship, Grumpy-Sunshine, Marriage of convenience, Mountain Man, Own Voices, Romance Family, Women in Science

𝐒𝐦𝐮𝐭 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫: 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 4/5 (steamy)

𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐞: 3/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️

𝐈𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐊𝐔? Nope

𝐌𝐲 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5 

𝐌𝐲 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5

𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬? Absolutely

 

I loved this, both characters are so unique and the whole book is just so cute and delicious and then hot. I love the diversity and also learning about a condition I have never heard about, about a subject that most people would find embarrassing, I just loved that this author decided to talk about it. And Axel is just the cutest!

The Bromance Book Club

(Bromance Book Club #1)

by Lyssa Kay Adams

 

The first rule of book club: You don’t talk about book club.
Nashville Legends second baseman Gavin Scott’s marriage is in major-league trouble. He’s recently discovered a humiliating secret: his wife Thea has always faked the Big O. When he loses his cool at the revelation, it’s the final straw on their already strained relationship. Thea asks for a divorce, and Gavin realizes he’s let his pride and fear get the better of him.
Welcome to the Bromance Book Club.
Distraught and desperate, Gavin finds help from an unlikely source: a secret romance book club made up of Nashville’s top alpha men. With the help of their current read, a steamy Regency titled Courting the Countess, the guys coach Gavin on saving his marriage. But it’ll take a lot more than flowery words and grand gestures for this hapless Romeo to find his inner hero and win back the trust of his wife.

 

𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬: Baseball Romance, Disability rep, Marriage in Trouble Romance, Relationship in trouble
𝐒𝐦𝐮𝐭 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫: 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 4/5 (steamy)
𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐞: 2/5 🌶️🌶️
𝐈𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐊𝐔? Nope
𝐌𝐲 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5
𝐌𝐲 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5
𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬? Absolutely

This book was surprising in a lot of ways, it disappointed me on some points (I believe that I did have really high expectations) but it also pleased me in surprising ways. I love a good marriage in trouble book and I’ve been dreaming with the whole bromance bookclub thing, men talking about romance books, who wouldn’t love that? I also loved why their marriage was in trouble, the fact that he has a disability, and how strong the female main character is, talking about being a baseball wife.

Shall We Dance?

(Seasons of Love, #2)

by Caroline Frank

 

A former child actress and a grump partner up and fake-date in this hilarious enemies-to-lovers romance.
I’ve hit rock-bottom, and it is not fun.
My financial planner disappeared with all my money, forcing me to take the first job that’s offered to me: a spot in the popular reality show Celebrity Dance Battle for the chance to win a massive cash prize.
I pretty much have all my eggs in this one basket, and when I’m partnered up with the world’s biggest jerk, I know I’m in big trouble.
When I find out he needs this win just as much as I do, I suggest we convince the audience that we’re in love to increase our chances to win. We desperately need fan votes and the show is basically just a popularity contest, right?
What could go wrong?
If you’re a fan of Tessa Bailey’s Tools of Engagement or Christina Lauren’s Beautiful Bastard, you’ll love this book!
Shall We Dance? Is a steamy, laugh-out-loud, enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy with an epic dance competition and mystery, where a grump and an optimist find each other when they need it the most. HEA guaranteed!

 

𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬: Celebrity Romance, Disability rep, Enemies to Lovers, Fake Relationship, Forced Proximity, Grumpy-Sunshine, Workplace Romance
𝐒𝐦𝐮𝐭 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫: 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 4/5 (steamy)
𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐞: 4/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
𝐈𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐊𝐔? Yes!!!!!
𝐌𝐲 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5
𝐌𝐲 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5
𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬? Absolutely

This book surprised me with how good it was! It had everything I need, diversity, steam, cuteness, and powerful real characters.

Thank you, Caroline Frank and RMWB for providing this copy in exchange for an honest review!

Undercover Bromance

(Bromance Book Club #2)

by Lyssa Kay Adams

 

Braden Mack thinks reading romance novels makes him an expert in love, but he’ll soon discover that real life is better than fiction. 
Liv Papandreas has a dream job as a pastry chef at Nashville’s hottest restaurant. Too bad the celebrity chef owner is less than charming behind kitchen doors. After she catches him harassing a young hostess, she confronts him and gets fired. Liv vows revenge, but she’ll need assistance to take on the powerful chef.
Unfortunately, that means turning to Braden Mack. When Liv’s blackballed from the restaurant scene, the charismatic nightclub entrepreneur offers to help expose her ex-boss, but she is suspicious of his motives. He’ll need to call in reinforcements: the Bromance Book Club.
Inspired by the romantic suspense novel they’re reading, the book club assists Liv in setting up a sting operation to take down the chef. But they’re just as eager to help Mack figure out the way to Liv’s heart… even though she’s determined to squelch the sparks between them before she gets burned.

 

𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬: Foodie Romance, Frenemies to lovers, Reverse Grumpy and Sunshine

𝐒𝐦𝐮𝐭 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫: 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 4/5 (steamy)

𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐞: 2/5 🌶️🌶️

𝐈𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐊𝐔? Nope

𝐌𝐲 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5

𝐌𝐲 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5

𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬? Absolutely

 

This book was very surprising, it talks about important topics like domestic violence and sexual harassment, with characters that are the exact opposite of their stereotypes, it was fun and cute, with an amazing background plot. 

The Kiss Quotient

(The Kiss Quotient #1)

by Helen Hoang

 

A heartwarming and refreshing debut novel that proves one thing: there’s not enough data in the world to predict what will make your heart tick.
Stella Lane thinks math is the only thing that unites the universe. She comes up with algorithms to predict customer purchases—a job that has given her more money than she knows what to do with, and way less experience in the dating department than the average thirty-year-old.
It doesn’t help that Stella has Asperger’s and French kissing reminds her of a shark getting its teeth cleaned by pilot fish. Her conclusion: she needs lots of practice—with a professional. Which is why she hires escort Michael Phan. The Vietnamese and Swedish stunner can’t afford to turn down Stella’s offer, and agrees to help her check off all the boxes on her lesson plan—from foreplay to more-than-missionary position…
Before long, Stella not only learns to appreciate his kisses, but to crave all the other things he’s making her feel. Soon, their no-nonsense partnership starts making a strange kind of sense. And the pattern that emerges will convince Stella that love is the best kind of logic…

 

𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬: Disability rep, Escort Romance, Fake Relationship, Lady Billionaire, Women in Science

𝐒𝐦𝐮𝐭 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫: 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 4/5 (steamy) 

𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐞: 4/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

𝐈𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐊𝐔? Nope

𝐌𝐲 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5

𝐌𝐲 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5

𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬? Absolutely

 

This is now one of my favorite books ever. This has been on my TBR was so long I was afraid of not liking it because my expectations were sky high. But not only did it reach my expectations, it also surpassed them. I absolutely loved Stela, loved how she is, how she accepts her ways and her disability and I LOVED Michael, he is just the perfect book boyfriend and their story is just perfect. I don’t have much more to say besides, that this book is amazing, as of now one of my all-time favorites. 

It Happened One Summer

(Bellinger Sisters #1)

by Tessa Bailey

 

Piper Bellinger is fashionable, influential, and her reputation as a wild child means the paparazzi are constantly on her heels. When too much champagne and an out-of-control rooftop party lands Piper in the slammer, her stepfather decides enough is enough. So he cuts her off, and sends Piper and her sister to learn some responsibility running their late father’s dive bar… in Washington.
Piper hasn’t even been in Westport for five minutes when she meets big, bearded sea captain Brendan, who thinks she won’t last a week outside of Beverly Hills. So what if Piper can’t do math, and the idea of sleeping in a shabby apartment with bunk beds gives her hives. How bad could it really be? She’s determined to show her stepfather—and the hot, grumpy local—that she’s more than a pretty face.
Except it’s a small town and everywhere she turns, she bumps into Brendan. The fun-loving socialite and the gruff fisherman are polar opposites, but there’s an undeniable attraction simmering between them. Piper doesn’t want any distractions, especially feelings for a man who sails off into the sunset for weeks at a time. Yet as she reconnects with her past and begins to feel at home in Westport, Piper starts to wonder if the cold, glamorous life she knew is what she truly wants. LA is calling her name, but Brendan—and this town full of memories—may have already caught her heart. 
Tessa Bailey is back with a Schitt’s Creek-inspired rom-com about a Hollywood “It Girl” who is cut off from her wealthy family and exiled to a small Pacific Northwest beach town… where she butts heads with a surly, sexy local who thinks she doesn’t belong.

 

𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬: Celebrity Romance, Enemies to Lovers, Grumpy-Sunshine, Small Town Romance, Widow Romance

𝐒𝐦𝐮𝐭 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫: 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 4/5 (steamy)

𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐞: 3/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️

𝐈𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐊𝐔? Nope

𝐌𝐲 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5

𝐌𝐲 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5

𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬? Absolutely

 

This was surprising, I got into this book blindly, didn’t know anything, not even the tropes, only that it was by an author I love. And that paid off because this was so so good! I loved both of their journeys and also their conflicts. It was cute, in a cute town, with a cute hero and an amazing arc for the heroine. Just the cutest.

Neon Gods

(Dark Olympus #1)

by Katee Robert

 

He was supposed to be a myth.
But from the moment I crossed the River Styx and fell under his dark spell… he was, quite simply, mine.
Society darling Persephone Dimitriou plans to flee the ultra-modern city of Olympus and start over far from the backstabbing politics of the Thirteen Houses. But all that’s ripped away when her mother ambushes her with an engagement to Zeus, the dangerous power behind their glittering city’s dark facade.
With no options left, Persephone flees to the forbidden undercity and makes a devil’s bargain with a man she once believed a myth… a man who awakens her to a world she never knew existed.
Hades has spent his life in the shadows, and he has no intention of stepping into the light. But when he finds that Persephone can offer a little slice of the revenge he’s spent years craving, it’s all the excuse he needs to help her—for a price. Yet every breathless night spent tangled together has given Hades a taste for Persephone, and he’ll go to war with Olympus itself to keep her close…
A modern retelling of Hades and Persephone that’s as sinful as it is sweet.

 

𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬: BDSM, Fake Relationship, Forced Proximity, Grumpy-Sunshine, Revenge

𝐒𝐦𝐮𝐭 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 5/5 (Sierra Simone level)

𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐞: 4/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

𝐈𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐊𝐔? Nope

𝐌𝐲 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5

𝐌𝐲 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5

𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬? Absolutely

 

I absolutely loved this. I love greek mythology and this had everything I love, a nice story, a nice spin on well-known characters, and amazing heat levels. 

Girl Up

by Laura Bates

 

They told you you need to be thin and beautiful. They told you to wear longer skirts, avoid going out late at night and move in groups – never accept drinks from a stranger, and wear shoes you can run in more easily than heels. They told you to wear just enough make-up to look presentable but not enough to be a slut; to dress to flatter your apple, pear, hourglass figure, but not to be too tarty. They warned you that if you try to be strong, or take control, you’ll be shrill, bossy, a ballbreaker. Of course it’s fine for the boys, but you should know your place. They told you ‘that’s not for girls’ – ‘take it as a compliment’ – ‘don’t rock the boat’ – ‘that’ll go straight to your hips’. They told you ‘beauty is on the inside’, but you knew they didn’t really mean it. Well screw that. I’m here to tell you something else. Hilarious, jaunty, and bold, GIRL UP exposes the truth about the pressures surrounding body image, the false representations in media, the complexities of a sex and relationships, the trials of social media and all the other lies they told us. ‘Bates takes a myth-busting approach to body image, food, sex and advertising, and is particularly good at boiling down feminist language into a snappy, everyday vernacular without diluting its power.’ Metro ‘Essential reading for young women and girls, Girl Up is set to become a key guiding text for the next generation like The Beauty Myth and The Feminine Mystique have for preceding generations. Morning Star Online It’s hardly headline news that feminism can be funny. But, heavens, is it refreshing to see it done as well as it is [in this book]. Telegraph ‘Girl Up is something between a self-help book and a bracing love letter to today’s teenage girls…I wish I’d had Girl Up when I was growing up. I could have used such no-nonsense survival

 

𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Audiobook, Feminism, Gender, Humor, Nonfiction, Politics, Self Help

𝐈𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐊𝐔?: Nope

𝐌𝐲 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5 

𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬? Absolutely

 

Loved this! It was so funny and informative, I wish I had read this when I was a teen because I would have learned a lot. 

Flirt

by Adriana Locke

 

WANTED: A SITUATION-SHIP
I’m a single female that’s tired of relationships ruining my life. However, there are times when a date would be helpful. If you’re a single man, preferably mid-twenties to late-thirties, and are in a similar situation, we might be a match.
Candidate must be handsome, charming, and willing to pretend to have feelings for me (on a sliding scale, as the event requires). Ability to discuss a wide variety of topics is a plus. Must have your own transportation and a (legal) job.
This will be a symbiotic agreement. In exchange for your time, I will give you mine. Need someone to flirt with you at a football party? Go, team! Want a woman to make you look good in front of your boss? Let me find my heels. Would you love for someone to be obsessed with you in front of your ex? I’m applying my red lipstick now.
If interested, please email me. Time is of the essence.

 

𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬: Fake Relationship, Friends to Lovers, Workplace Romance, “Fake Boyfriend Wanted Add”
𝐒𝐦𝐮𝐭 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫: 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 4/5 (steamy)
𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐞: 3/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️
𝐈𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐊𝐔? Yes!!!!!
𝐌𝐲 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5
𝐌𝐲 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5
𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬? Absolutely

Funny, delicious, and cute. Deep and hot at the same time, some of my, now, favorite scenes are here. Well written, with one or another point that felt unnecessary, but overall a great book.

Thank you, Adriana Locke and Candi Kane PR for providing this copy in exchange for an honest review!

Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men

by Caroline Criado Pérez

 

Data is fundamental to the modern world. From economic development, to healthcare, to education and public policy, we rely on numbers to allocate resources and make crucial decisions. But because so much data fails to take into account gender, because it treats men as the default and women as atypical, bias and discrimination are baked into our systems. And women pay tremendous costs for this bias, in time, money, and often with their lives.
Celebrated feminist advocate Caroline Criado Perez investigates the shocking root cause of gender inequality and research in Invisible Women​, diving into women’s lives at home, the workplace, the public square, the doctor’s office, and more. Built on hundreds of studies in the US, the UK, and around the world, and written with energy, wit, and sparkling intelligence, this is a groundbreaking, unforgettable exposé that will change the way you look at the world.

 

𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Audiobook, Feminism, Gender, Humor, Nonfiction, Politics, Self Help
𝐈𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐊𝐔?: Nope
𝐌𝐲 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5
𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬? Absolutely

So incredible, it made me change my academic research, to study urban planning related to gender and diversity. This was incredible, the amount of information is eye-opening, I started seeing the data bias EVERYWHERE, especially because I study architecture. And also I talked about this book so much, that my friends and family are tired of listening about how the world is designed for men.

These are all the books I read in April 2022! Have you read any of them? Let me know the books you’ve read and what you thought about them! 

Well, that is all for today, I hope you like this post, hope you enjoy these books if you decide to read them. Feel free to leave your opinion about it in the comments and I will see you next time! 

Bye sassy people! 

 

  • I know that some comments I make about decent guys on my posts are the bare minimum a guy should do, so no, they don’t deserve to be treated like gods for doing the minimum, but at the same time, I’ve read a lot of sexist books and I appreciate authors who make characters that can serve as role models and examples of how a decent guy acts and what a loving and respectful relationship looks like. I believe we should always encourage these authors and bring attention to the ones that still write sexist characters and stories. 
  • I make a lot of comments about sexism and healthy role models in books, but a lot of times these characteristics don’t make the book a bad book and definitely don’t make the author a bad author. Please never shame these authors and these books for these comments, I simply feel that we need to have awareness of the less than ideal situations some books bring us, and not use the romanticized problem as examples of what a relationship should be. Most of these authors are still amazing, and the content they write doesn’t reflect directly with their personal views and opinions. Always make sure to respect and be kind to everyone, even while criticizing their content. 

Find Me In 

Meet Me

Meet Me

Brazilian architecture student and book lover

One of my goals in analysing my readings was to talk about important topics, like feminist and consent, because literature, art and culture influence us, and I believe we should always encorage authors who talk about this topics.

Refusing Compulsory Sexuality by Sherronda J. Brown – Review

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Top books of 2023!!

These are the best books I read in 2023!
It was an amazing year, full of amazing books and I hope 2024 is even better!

2023 Wrap Up

These are the stats for all the books I read in 2023!I post stats every month, but these are the ones I’m always most excited to analyze! It’s so cool to look back at the year and see how much you read, the different genres, authors, tropes, spice levels…These are all...

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Vile Intuition by Em Torrey – Review

Vile Intuition by Em Torrey – Review

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS!!!! 

This post may contain affiliate links for products and services I recommend. If you make a purchase through these links, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission. 

Hello sassy people! Today’s post is about Vile Intuition by Em Torrey! Thank you, Em Torrey and RMWB for providing this copy in exchange for an honest review!

Escaping Christmas by Marie Landry

Vile Intuition 

(Chicago Venom Book 2)

by Em Torrey

 

Intuition, noun; a thing that one knows or considers likely from instinctive feeling rather than conscious reasoning.
Instincts are fickle, the world will tell you to trust your gut and go with whatever it tells you. Jaxson Reid has been following his instincts in the stock market for a decade, he’s made millions off his keen intuition. When one of the companies he’s invested in goes belly up, instincts are no longer an issue. The Federal Government calls it insider trading, he calls it a hunch. We started as friends and after a week long fling in Mexico, I have to question my morals and the oath I’ve taken as a lawyer. I’ve defended some of the most heinous murders of the last decade, I’m the top defense attorney in the state. A green eyed man who makes my knees weak should not be the reason I’m questioning my morals. My own rules.
Do I follow my instincts or my heart?

Genre: Romance, ARC

Publisher: Indie

Year: 2022

Nº of pages: 155

Is it on KU?: Yes!!!!!

Subgenres: Contemporary Romance

Tropes: Friends to Lovers, Lady Billionaire, Vacation Romance

Smut factor: 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 4/5 (steamy)

Spice scale: 3/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️

POP (Put Out Percentage): 40%

TRIGGER WARNINGS (Based on StoryGraphs): This book is not added to Story Graphs

 

Main characters: Jaxson and Kristin

Hero: Beta

Heroine: The Amazon

Pacing: Medium

Mood: Cute, Deep, Different and interesting, Hot and complicated, Sweet

Plot or character-driven: Mixed

P.O.V.: Double P.O.V.

Character development: Deep

Diverse Cast: Nope

Read in: 2022

 

My Rate: ⭐⭐⭐ 3/5

This book had some of my favorite themes: female badass lawyer, who is a billionaire, and speaks her mind, she is just powerful all the way. Also, a cute hero, who wants a relationship and someone to cuddle with. And a background plot that keeps you interested. Now, there were a few things that bothered me.

The chapters were too small, it felt rushed or unfinished at times. Also, the background plot could use more development, it felt kinda hollow at some moments and the resolution of the problem just made me disappointed and angry. Also, the whole Cara thing felt rushed and too serious to be used without the necessary development.

 

Equality rate: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5

This gets a good Equality rate because it gives us a powerful woman, in a male-dominated field, fighting her way up, tooth and nail. She is also a b*llbuster, she fights, she banters and she can be “one of the guys”, which is sometimes necessary to survive in a field like hers. All of this made me really happy.

However, I didn’t like the bar scene where she slut-shames the waitress. I get that she was jealous, but I don’t like the author’s choice, of condoning rivalry between women over a man.

I don’t love when the first steamy scene is penetrative sex. Also, he put his fingers somewhere he did not ask for consent. No communication about preferences. And last but not least, too little too fast in the first steamy scene.

Overall, really enjoyed it, and will probably read the rest of the series.

 

Adjectives and general thoughts: This book had everything to be perfect, a badass woman, who is just amazing in all the ways, a cute hero, and a nice background plot. There were just some things missing or needing development. 

 

Thank you, Em Torrey and RMWB for providing this copy in exchange for an honest review!

 

Authors Links

Book Tour Page – https://www.rmwbooks.com/emtorreyvi
Books2read –  https://books2read.com/u/bxQ2jo

Well, that is all for today, I hope you like this post, hope you enjoy this book as much as I did. Feel free to leave your opinion about it in the comments and I will see you next time! 

Bye sassy people! 

 

  • I know that some comments I make about decent guys on my posts are the bare minimum a guy should do, so no, they don’t deserve to be treated like gods for doing the minimum, but at the same time, I’ve read a lot of sexist books and I appreciate authors who make characters that can serve as role models and examples of how a decent guy acts and what a loving and respectful relationship looks like. I believe we should always encourage these authors and bring attention to the ones that still write sexist characters and stories. 
  • I make a lot of comments about sexism and healthy role models in books, but a lot of times these characteristics don’t make the book a bad book and definitely don’t make the author a bad author. Please never shame these authors and these books for these comments, I simply feel that we need to have awareness of the less than ideal situations some books bring us, and not use the romanticized problem as examples of what a relationship should be. Most of these authors are still amazing, and the content they write doesn’t reflect directly with their personal views and opinions. Always make sure to respect and be kind to everyone, even while criticizing their content. 

Find Me In 

Meet Me

Meet Me

Brazilian architecture student and book lover

One of my goals in analysing my readings was to talk about important topics, like feminist and consent, because literature, art and culture influence us, and I believe we should always encorage authors who talk about this topics.

Refusing Compulsory Sexuality by Sherronda J. Brown – Review

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The Cock Down the Block by Amy Award – Review

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Catch and Cradle by Katia Rose – Review

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Her Royal Highness by Rachel Hawkins – Review

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The Irresponsible Puckboy by Eden Finley and Saxon James – Review

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Icebreaker by Hannah Grace – Review

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Only One Coffin by A.J. Truman – Review

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Top books of 2023!!

These are the best books I read in 2023!
It was an amazing year, full of amazing books and I hope 2024 is even better!

2023 Wrap Up

These are the stats for all the books I read in 2023!I post stats every month, but these are the ones I’m always most excited to analyze! It’s so cool to look back at the year and see how much you read, the different genres, authors, tropes, spice levels…These are all...

My Better Life by Sarah Ready and Non-Toxic Masculinity

Hello sassy people! Today we are talking about Non Toxic Masculinity.

Come check out my Goodreads Reading Challenge!

Goodreads Reading Challenge 2020

I read 148 books in 2020, come see them!

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The Twisted Roads Home by K.B. Barrett – Review

The Twisted Roads Home by K.B. Barrett – Review

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS!!!! 

This post may contain affiliate links for products and services I recommend. If you make a purchase through these links, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission. 

Hello sassy people! Today’s post is about The Twisted Roads Home by K.B. Barrett! Thank you, K.B. Barrett and RMWB for providing this copy in exchange for an honest review!

Escaping Christmas by Marie Landry

The Twisted Roads Home

by K.B. Barrett

 

She grew up in the perfect American family.
He’s from the wrong side of the tracks.
She’s just starting out in life.
He’s got baggage from his past dragging him down.
She believes marriage is a joke.
He’s been waiting for someone like her his whole life.
She needs someone to help her believe in love.
He needs someone who will never give up.
Can two people finally let their guard down enough to grab ahold of what is in front of them, and learn to never let go? And what happens when forces outside their control try to rip them apart?

 

Genre: Romance, ARC

Publisher: Indie

Year: 2022

Nº of pages: 304

Is it on KU?: Nope

Subgenres: Contemporary Romance

Tropes: Marriage of convenience, Mountain Man, Small Town Romance, Tenant

Smut factor: 🔥 🔥 🔥 3/5 (sex on the page)

Spice scale: 2/5 🌶️🌶️

POP (Put Out Percentage): 33%

TRIGGER WARNINGS (Based on StoryGraphs): Addiction, Cursing, Death of a parent, Drug Abuse, Emotional Abuse, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual Content, Stalking, Toxic relationship

 

Main characters: Branson and Emma

Hero: Asshole Hero

Heroine: Father’s Daughter

Pacing: Medium

Mood: Blah, Unorganized

Plot or character-driven: Character Driven

P.O.V.: Third person

Character development: Deep

Diverse Cast: Nope

Read in: 2022

 

My Rate: ⭐⭐ 2/5 

I started this book liking it very much. The tropes in it appealed to me: Mountain Man, Redemption story, a cute kid, the tenant of a cabin in the mountains, it seemed like an awesome book. But then came the insta love. After that, came the super quick and honestly very blah sex scenes. Then the hero became aggressive, yelling and cursing and being an absolute a-hole, that alone is a huge red flag for me. He apologized but then he did it again so that to me is a HUGE sign of a toxic and abusive relationship. Then there was the solution to the whole adoption thing, that for me felt weak and kinda bonkers/nonrealistic. Then the scene with the waitress, the sexist and honestly disgusting way he humiliated that woman, in front of the whole town. And after that, the attempt at an action plot, which to me just felt weak and pointless. Adding this all up, even though I read the entire book and did like a few parts of it, my rate is 2 stars.

 

Equality rate: ⭐⭐ 2/5 

Like I said above, this book not only portrays but romanticizes very toxic, very abusive behaviors (this list is inspired by the negative behaviors on the (USA) National Domestic Violence Hotline and other resources for abusive relationships) like:

Aggressive behavior, Controlling issues, Dangerous power dynamics, Dominating decision-making process, Emotional violence, Insta love, Insult or humiliation of the love interest in front of friends and colleagues, Love interest believes in rigid gender roles, No Communication, Possessiveness, Sexism, Sexist Language, Slut-shaming, Unprotected sex (consensual or non-consensual)

I couldn’t find one positive behavior on my list, but lots of negative ones. And this just took out all the enjoyment I was having. I came out of this hating the hero and not liking the heroine, and disappointed because I liked the book in the beginning.

 

Adjectives and general thoughts: This book had a lot of potential, but the lack of structure and also the very sexist, misogynistic, violent, and honestly disgusting language here made me rate it down. 

 

Well, that is all for today, I hope you like this post, hope you enjoy this book as much as I did. Feel free to leave your opinion about it in the comments and I will see you next time! 

Bye sassy people! 

 

  • I know that some comments I make about decent guys on my posts are the bare minimum a guy should do, so no, they don’t deserve to be treated like gods for doing the minimum, but at the same time, I’ve read a lot of sexist books and I appreciate authors who make characters that can serve as role models and examples of how a decent guy acts and what a loving and respectful relationship looks like. I believe we should always encourage these authors and bring attention to the ones that still write sexist characters and stories. 
  • I make a lot of comments about sexism and healthy role models in books, but a lot of times these characteristics don’t make the book a bad book and definitely don’t make the author a bad author. Please never shame these authors and these books for these comments, I simply feel that we need to have awareness of the less than ideal situations some books bring us, and not use the romanticized problem as examples of what a relationship should be. Most of these authors are still amazing, and the content they write doesn’t reflect directly with their personal views and opinions. Always make sure to respect and be kind to everyone, even while criticizing their content. 

Find Me In 

Meet Me

Meet Me

Brazilian architecture student and book lover

One of my goals in analysing my readings was to talk about important topics, like feminist and consent, because literature, art and culture influence us, and I believe we should always encorage authors who talk about this topics.

Refusing Compulsory Sexuality by Sherronda J. Brown – Review

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The Cock Down the Block by Amy Award – Review

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Catch and Cradle by Katia Rose – Review

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Her Royal Highness by Rachel Hawkins – Review

Today’s post is about Her Royal Highness by Rachel Hawkins!

The Irresponsible Puckboy by Eden Finley and Saxon James – Review

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Icebreaker by Hannah Grace – Review

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Only One Coffin by A.J. Truman – Review

Hello sassy people! Today’s post is about Only One Coffin by A.J. Truman!

Top books of 2023!!

These are the best books I read in 2023!
It was an amazing year, full of amazing books and I hope 2024 is even better!

2023 Wrap Up

These are the stats for all the books I read in 2023!I post stats every month, but these are the ones I’m always most excited to analyze! It’s so cool to look back at the year and see how much you read, the different genres, authors, tropes, spice levels…These are all...

My Better Life by Sarah Ready and Non-Toxic Masculinity

Hello sassy people! Today we are talking about Non Toxic Masculinity.

Come check out my Goodreads Reading Challenge!

Goodreads Reading Challenge 2020

I read 148 books in 2020, come see them!

Ana en Noir is currently-reading

The Fourth Time Charm



Ana en Noir's favorite books »

2021 Reading Challenge

2021 Reading Challenge

Ana en Noir has read 18 books toward her goal of 100 books.

hide

2022 Reading Challenge

2022 Reading Challenge

Ana en Noir has read 5 books toward her goal of 100 books.

hide

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Books Ana en Noir read

The Fourth Time Charm

The Third Best Thing

The Second We Met

The Perfect First

Sidebarred

Appealed

Sustained

Overruled

Master Baker



Ana en Noir's favorite books »

Big Hose by Jasinda Wilder – Review

Big Hose by Jasinda Wilder – Review

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS!!!! 

This post may contain affiliate links for products and services I recommend. If you make a purchase through these links, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission. 

Hello sassy people! Today’s post is about Big Hose by Jasinda Wilder! Thank you, Jasinda Wilder and Social Butterfly PR for providing this copy in exchange for an honest review!

Escaping Christmas by Marie Landry

Big Hose

by Jasinda Wilder

 

Putting out fires is more than just a job, it’s my passion in life. There’s no time for anything else but the job…until I meet her. And now I’m on fire for her, only there’s no hose big enough to extinguish these flames.
She’s too hot to handle, and I’m about to get burned.
* * *
Saving lives is what I do. As a career paramedic married to the job, I’ve never thought much about my love life—or my lack of one, if I’m being honest—until it’s his life I’m worried about saving. Now I’ve got a scorching hot firefighter burning up my life and setting my body on fire. No matter how hot he is or how hot things are between us, however, there’s one rule in my life which I refuse to break: Never date a fireman.
* * *
Will we find each other in the flames of this romance, or will we simply add another scar to the collection?

 

Genre: Romance, ARC

Publisher: Indie

Year: 2022

Nº of pages: 300

Is it on KU?: Nope

Subgenres: Contemporary Romance

Tropes: Firefighter Romance, Workplace Romance

Smut factor: 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 4/5 (steamy)

Spice scale: 4/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

POP (Put Out Percentage): 51%

TRIGGER WARNINGS (Based on StoryGraphs): No TW (According to StoryGraphs)

 

Main characters: Jake and Jovie

Hero: Almost Asshole, Cinnamon Roll

Heroine: The Seducer

Pacing: Medium

Mood: Cringy, Cute, Fun, Hot

Plot or character-driven: Character Driven

P.O.V.: Double P.O.V.

Character development: Deep

Diverse Cast: Nope

Read in: 2022

 

My Rate: ⭐⭐⭐ 3/5 

This book had a LOT of potential. The themes were on point for me, a firefighter and a paramedic, a lot of steam, but at the same time a lot of cuteness and care, plus the reality about the job (not exactly how the job works, I had some doubts about the level of realism there, but about how demanding and tiering the job is), the scenes where one takes care of the other were my absolute favorite (besides some steamy scenes, because my God, they were on point), but overall, it had everything to be an amazing book and get 5 stars from me. However… there were a lot of cringy dialogues that just didn’t work for me, partly because I believe/hope that this is not the way most friends talk (I talk about sex with my friends all the time, but I don’t use phrases like “I know for a fact you love gobbling cock. You can’t get enough. In fact, when you go too long without a cock in your mouth, you get cranky. Which means you need cock. In your mouth, in your hands, in your tight little hoo-ha.” to my best friends.) It was just too much.

Equality rate: ⭐⭐⭐ 3/5 

Also, the amount of sexist phrasing, the amount of comparison to porn stars, and mentions of how her breasts were almost ripping her shirt, it was too much, I felt like I was inside the head of a horny teenager, with honestly not much respect for women. The book makes up for it at a lot of points, it had a lot of positive sides, like:

Books that relay trauma respectfully

Female as the dominant in intimate scenes

Female who initiates intimate scenes

Healthy sexuality (toys, kink, free sexuality)

Independence

Powerful and strong female main characters

Women in male-dominated jobs/fields

These were all very positive sides, but I just couldn’t let go of the language and the cringy conversations.

Adjectives and general thoughts: This book had everything to be amazing if it wasn’t for the (sometimes) sexist language and cringy conversations. I loved the themes and the steam and a lot of scenes, but the cringiness was too much at times, for me. 

Recommend this? Yes, if you are not bothered by the language, the book is great. 

Fall in love today!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3JCsee4 
Amazon Worldwide: https://mybook.to/BigHose 
Applebooks: https://apple.co/3Mdcdgt 
Nook: https://bit.ly/3rvTJ2O

Kobo: https://bit.ly/3uL63y5 
Google Play: https://bit.ly/3ruMhom

Add BIG HOSE to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/35UPAhh 

Meet Jasinda

NEW YORK TIMES, USA TODAY, WALL STREET JOURNAL and international
bestselling author Jasinda Wilder is a Michigan native with a penchant for titillating tales
about sexy men and strong women. Her bestselling titles include ALPHA, STRIPPED,
WOUNDED, and the #1 Amazon and international bestseller FALLING INTO YOU. You can find her on her farm in Northern Michigan with her husband, author Jack Wilder, her six children and menagerie of animals.

Connect with Jasinda
Facebook: https://bit.ly/31cJT8P 
Instagram: https://bit.ly/31gWJTj 
Twitter: https://bit.ly/31gWJTj 
Join her newsletter: https://bit.ly/3dz9mhu 
Website: https://bit.ly/2IJv9YN 

Well, that is all for today, I hope you like this post, hope you enjoy this book as much as I did. Feel free to leave your opinion about it in the comments and I will see you next time! 

Bye sassy people! 

 

  • I know that some comments I make about decent guys on my posts are the bare minimum a guy should do, so no, they don’t deserve to be treated like gods for doing the minimum, but at the same time, I’ve read a lot of sexist books and I appreciate authors who make characters that can serve as role models and examples of how a decent guy acts and what a loving and respectful relationship looks like. I believe we should always encourage these authors and bring attention to the ones that still write sexist characters and stories. 
  • I make a lot of comments about sexism and healthy role models in books, but a lot of times these characteristics don’t make the book a bad book and definitely don’t make the author a bad author. Please never shame these authors and these books for these comments, I simply feel that we need to have awareness of the less than ideal situations some books bring us, and not use the romanticized problem as examples of what a relationship should be. Most of these authors are still amazing, and the content they write doesn’t reflect directly with their personal views and opinions. Always make sure to respect and be kind to everyone, even while criticizing their content. 

Find Me In 

Meet Me

Meet Me

Brazilian architecture student and book lover

One of my goals in analysing my readings was to talk about important topics, like feminist and consent, because literature, art and culture influence us, and I believe we should always encorage authors who talk about this topics.

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Shall We Dance by Caroline Frank – Review

Shall We Dance by Caroline Frank – Review

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS!!!! 

This post may contain affiliate links for products and services I recommend. If you make a purchase through these links, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission. 

Hello sassy people! Today’s post is about Shall We Dance by Caroline Frank! Thank you, Caroline Frank and RMWB for providing this copy in exchange for an honest review!

Escaping Christmas by Marie Landry

Shall We Dance? 

(Seasons of Love, #2)

by Caroline Frank

 

A former child actress and a grump partner up and fake-date in this hilarious enemies-to-lovers romance.
I’ve hit rock-bottom, and it is not fun.
My financial planner disappeared with all my money, forcing me to take the first job that’s offered to me: a spot in the popular reality show Celebrity Dance Battle for the chance to win a massive cash prize.
I pretty much have all my eggs in this one basket, and when I’m partnered up with the world’s biggest jerk, I know I’m in big trouble.
When I find out he needs this win just as much as I do, I suggest we convince the audience that we’re in love to increase our chances to win. We desperately need fan votes and the show is basically just a popularity contest, right?
What could go wrong?
If you’re a fan of Tessa Bailey’s Tools of Engagement or Christina Lauren’s Beautiful Bastard, you’ll love this book!
Shall We Dance? Is a steamy, laugh-out-loud, enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy with an epic dance competition and mystery, where a grump and an optimist find each other when they need it the most. HEA guaranteed!

 

Genre: Romance, ARC

Publisher: Indie

Year: 2022

Nº of pages: 344

Is it on KU?: Nope

Subgenres: Contemporary Romance

Tropes: Celebrity Romance, Disability rep, Enemies to Lovers, Fake Relationship, Forced Proximity, Grumpy-Sunshine, Workplace Romance

Smut factor: 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 4/5 (steamy)

Spice scale: 4/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

POP (Put Out Percentage): 57%

TRIGGER WARNINGS (Based on StoryGraphs): No TW (According to StoryGraphs)

 

Main characters: Barbara and Theo

Hero: Grumpy

Heroine: Father’s Daughter

Pacing: Medium

Mood: Cute, Deep, Delicious, Hot, Sweet

Plot or character-driven: Character Driven

P.O.V.: Double P.O.V.

Character development: Deep

Diverse Cast: Yes!!!!!

Read in: 2022

 

My Rate: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5 

I have to be honest, I didn’t have huge expectations about this book, I liked the cover, it seemed cute, but a few pages in, I realized I was mistaken, and this book was gonna be incredible.

I loved the writing, it kept me entertained, it had the right balance of background story and conflict, with a very compelling couple and real characters, I just loved everything.

 

Equality rate: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5 

Now, the Equality rate is where the most surprises came from, and this went from a good book to an amazing one. This book had a disability rep, which is enough to make me love it. Then we have the steam, and Oh My God, I did not expect that, but I LOVED IT! We had a couple who was honest with each other, they reached good communication (except for the conflict part) and overall it was just amazing and delicious and I loved it.

 

Adjectives and general thoughts: This book surprised me with how good it was! It had everything I need, diversity, steam, cuteness, and powerful real characters. 

 

Well, that is all for today, I hope you like this post, hope you enjoy this book as much as I did. Feel free to leave your opinion about it in the comments and I will see you next time! 

Bye sassy people! 

 

  • I know that some comments I make about decent guys on my posts are the bare minimum a guy should do, so no, they don’t deserve to be treated like gods for doing the minimum, but at the same time, I’ve read a lot of sexist books and I appreciate authors who make characters that can serve as role models and examples of how a decent guy acts and what a loving and respectful relationship looks like. I believe we should always encourage these authors and bring attention to the ones that still write sexist characters and stories. 
  • I make a lot of comments about sexism and healthy role models in books, but a lot of times these characteristics don’t make the book a bad book and definitely don’t make the author a bad author. Please never shame these authors and these books for these comments, I simply feel that we need to have awareness of the less than ideal situations some books bring us, and not use the romanticized problem as examples of what a relationship should be. Most of these authors are still amazing, and the content they write doesn’t reflect directly with their personal views and opinions. Always make sure to respect and be kind to everyone, even while criticizing their content. 

Find Me In 

Meet Me

Meet Me

Brazilian architecture student and book lover

One of my goals in analysing my readings was to talk about important topics, like feminist and consent, because literature, art and culture influence us, and I believe we should always encorage authors who talk about this topics.

Refusing Compulsory Sexuality by Sherronda J. Brown – Review

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Top books of 2023!!

These are the best books I read in 2023!
It was an amazing year, full of amazing books and I hope 2024 is even better!

2023 Wrap Up

These are the stats for all the books I read in 2023!I post stats every month, but these are the ones I’m always most excited to analyze! It’s so cool to look back at the year and see how much you read, the different genres, authors, tropes, spice levels…These are all...

My Better Life by Sarah Ready and Non-Toxic Masculinity

Hello sassy people! Today we are talking about Non Toxic Masculinity.

Come check out my Goodreads Reading Challenge!

Goodreads Reading Challenge 2020

I read 148 books in 2020, come see them!

Ana en Noir is currently-reading

The Fourth Time Charm



Ana en Noir's favorite books »

2021 Reading Challenge

2021 Reading Challenge

Ana en Noir has read 18 books toward her goal of 100 books.

hide

2022 Reading Challenge

2022 Reading Challenge

Ana en Noir has read 5 books toward her goal of 100 books.

hide

Adsense

Books Ana en Noir read

The Fourth Time Charm

The Third Best Thing

The Second We Met

The Perfect First

Sidebarred

Appealed

Sustained

Overruled

Master Baker



Ana en Noir's favorite books »