As with the first book, much of the suspense plot didn’t make sense. In fact, I started thinking much less of Chris’s detective skills. (view spoiler)As with the first book, much of the suspense plot didn’t make sense. In fact, I started thinking much less of Chris’s detective skills. (view spoiler)[He never once considered Hawe’s could have killed his partner before this?! That defied all belief. (hide spoiler)] It was interesting to be in Chris’s head this time and to learn more of his true backstory, especially the reason he’s so determined to find Isabelle’s killer. But there were a few developments where I would have preferred sticking with Hawes’s POV.
The hard part of romantic suspense for me is whether the suspense and romance are balanced. Because of the short timeframe (only a week and a half has passed!) and the sheer amount of thwarted murder attempts on their lives, on top of neither being sure they can trust each other, it was hard for me to buy the declarations of love at the end. Lust, sure. But I’m going to need more time to go by where they’re 100% sure they’re on each other’s side before I’ll trust it. That said, I think Chris and Hawes make a good team and it’ll be interesting to see what they can do when they’re no longer being betrayed by one another or people in Hawes’s organization.
This was more of a novella than a book and there were a few things that should have been more developed, such as Chris’s sister experiencing intimate partner violence. I’m assuming that will get more TLC in the next installment but it deserved more follow through here. There was an interesting development about who is really behind the takedown on Hawes and I’m eager to see if I’m right.
Character notes: Hawes is a 33 year old gay white CEO of Madigan Cold Storage and leader of an assassin organization. He has a black Bombay cat named Iris, who barely appeared in this novella, unfortunately. Dante is a 35 year old bisexual white ATF agent. This is set in San Francisco.
Content notes: violence, attempted murder of MC, bombing, murder, past death of 7 year old daughter (run over by drunk driver 10 years ago), MMC was teen father with sole custody, past suicidal ideation (after death of daughter), intimate partner violence (secondary character), recent death of grandfather, on page sex, alcohol, ableist language, reference to white supremacist involved in domestic terrorism, reference to human trafficker, reference to case where girl was held captive by a cult
Merged review:
As with the first book, much of the suspense plot didn’t make sense. In fact, I started thinking much less of Chris’s detective skills. (view spoiler)[He never once considered Hawe’s could have killed his partner before this?! That defied all belief. (hide spoiler)] It was interesting to be in Chris’s head this time and to learn more of his true backstory, especially the reason he’s so determined to find Isabelle’s killer. But there were a few developments where I would have preferred sticking with Hawes’s POV.
The hard part of romantic suspense for me is whether the suspense and romance are balanced. Because of the short timeframe (only a week and a half has passed!) and the sheer amount of thwarted murder attempts on their lives, on top of neither being sure they can trust each other, it was hard for me to buy the declarations of love at the end. Lust, sure. But I’m going to need more time to go by where they’re 100% sure they’re on each other’s side before I’ll trust it. That said, I think Chris and Hawes make a good team and it’ll be interesting to see what they can do when they’re no longer being betrayed by one another or people in Hawes’s organization.
This was more of a novella than a book and there were a few things that should have been more developed, such as Chris’s sister experiencing intimate partner violence. I’m assuming that will get more TLC in the next installment but it deserved more follow through here. There was an interesting development about who is really behind the takedown on Hawes and I’m eager to see if I’m right.
Character notes: Hawes is a 33 year old gay white CEO of Madigan Cold Storage and leader of an assassin organization. He has a black Bombay cat named Iris, who barely appeared in this novella, unfortunately. Dante is a 35 year old bisexual white ATF agent. This is set in San Francisco.
Content notes: violence, attempted murder of MC, bombing, murder, past death of 7 year old daughter (run over by drunk driver 10 years ago), MMC was teen father with sole custody, past suicidal ideation (after death of daughter), intimate partner violence (secondary character), recent death of grandfather, on page sex, alcohol, ableist language, reference to white supremacist involved in domestic terrorism, reference to human trafficker, reference to case where girl was held captive by a cult...more
This whole erotic romance series has been so hot! You’ll get the most out of this short story if you read The Other Book first—although it’s funny to This whole erotic romance series has been so hot! You’ll get the most out of this short story if you read The Other Book first—although it’s funny to say that because technically the events in Adam Again happen first, even though that’s the second book in the series. Anyway, I loved this glimpse of Christoffer and Adam inviting Tyler into their bed for the night and how utterly rocked Tyler is by the whole experience.
CW: brief references to past abusive relationship which are more fully explained in book 2 Adam Only
Merged review:
This whole erotic romance series has been so hot! You’ll get the most out of this short story if you read The Other Book first—although it’s funny to say that because technically the events in Adam Again happen first, even though that’s the second book in the series. Anyway, I loved this glimpse of Christoffer and Adam inviting Tyler into their bed for the night and how utterly rocked Tyler is by the whole experience.
CW: brief references to past abusive relationship which are more fully explained in book 2 Adam Only...more
While I was not contracted for this novella, I won’t be rating or reviewing as I typically sensitivity read for the author.
Characters: Holly is a whiWhile I was not contracted for this novella, I won’t be rating or reviewing as I typically sensitivity read for the author.
Characters: Holly is a white hospice nurse. John is a white maintenance man. He rescues a dog named Doobie. This is set in LA.
Content notes: past intimate partner violence (view spoiler)[FMC’s grandmother killed her abusive alcoholic husband in self-defense and then she and her sister covered up his death (hide spoiler)], FMC’s grandmother is dying on hospice (view spoiler)[she dies peacefully toward the end of the novella (hide spoiler)], animal neglect and abandonment by tenant, past infidelity (both MC’s exes cheated), past death of FMC’s grandfather (dementia), past death of tenant, morphine for pain (secondary character)...more
Great premise, perplexing execution. I didn’t understand why Amy was fighting Owen on giving her seven orgasms just because she hates to lose. That’s Great premise, perplexing execution. I didn’t understand why Amy was fighting Owen on giving her seven orgasms just because she hates to lose. That’s the kind of bet where everyone wins!
Characters: Amy is a 28 year old white dentist. Owen is a 34 year old white British corporate finance executive. This is set in Baltimore.
Content notes: on page sex, edging, sex toy, ageist joke, “manhood” as euphemism, gender essentialism, ableist language...more
I don’t know whether this was the author’s intention but this MM paranormal romance reminded me of The Screwtape Letters by CS Lewis. Except in this cI don’t know whether this was the author’s intention but this MM paranormal romance reminded me of The Screwtape Letters by CS Lewis. Except in this case the book is completely on the side of the demon. Gremory the demon addresses the reader throughout, pointing out what we’ve gotten wrong about Hell and what’s propaganda from Heaven. While this is very much a contemporary paranormal, it has a similar old world feel of Heart of Stone by Johannes T. Evans.
Gremory is inadvertently called to earth by Scotty, a grieving antiquarian who worries his brother and father will take the store away from him. Gremory agrees to aid him. I really enjoyed seeing what this aid entailed and how working together brought the two closer together. Where the plot faltered for me was the way it handled Scotty’s brother Ryan and his scheming lover Coral. Since Gremory isn’t allowed to respond to their nefarious plans demon-style…they just kind of forget that there’s a very real threat against the antique store. And then toward the end, there’s an over the top response from the villains and yet (view spoiler)[Scotty still prevents Gremory from taking any revenge on Ryan and Coral, not even outing them for their infidelity. What the hell?! (hide spoiler)] Scotty was too perfect and angelic to be real. I wanted more of Gremory being unleashed and more demon meta-commentary. The soul sex was interesting at least!
Characters: Scotty is a 26 year old gay white antiquarian and redhead. Gremory is a 1000+ year old demon duke. (Gremory assumes the form of a man while he’s on earth but it’s not clear if demons have a specific gender or sexuality.)This is set in Mystic Cove, somewhere on the East Coast.
Content notes:(view spoiler)[epilogue reveals Scotty died in his sleep 60 years later and they both go live in Hell for an eternal HEA (hide spoiler)], arson fire, toxic brother, homophobia, infidelity (secondary characters), recent death of Scotty’s grandmother (heart attack), consensual possession, body dysmorphia, past death of Scotty’s mom, on page sex, edging, soul sex, alcohol, inebriation (secondary character), casual ableism, casual acephobia, gender essentialism, ableist language...more
McNally’s brand of contemporary romance is utterly compelling to me. Her writing is reminiscent of Kate Clayborn and Ruthie Knox and the characters arMcNally’s brand of contemporary romance is utterly compelling to me. Her writing is reminiscent of Kate Clayborn and Ruthie Knox and the characters are complex and well-drawn. This didn’t have quite the same strong sense of Western Massachusetts as the first book in this series but it’s there nonetheless.
Addie and Eli are firefighters on the same engine. They have a one-night stand following the funeral of a fellow firefighter that turns into another and another. She doesn’t take him seriously but his feelings quickly become more real, though he has trouble articulating that to her. They get caught up in this dynamic of hooking up and staying in some sort of limbo where neither has to risk true emotional intimacy or pay attention to things like professional regulations.
That can only last so long. Eli’s avoidance of dealing with his past trauma has put him on a path of alcoholism or alcohol dependency post-divorce, while Addie is realizing how messed up her family is toward her cousin Jenn, who their grandma kicked out as a teen because she was caught making out with a girl. Addie maintained ties with Jenn but hasn’t reckoned with her family until now, since she was a teen when it all went down. Meanwhile, they’re battling arson fires at work.
This is tackling a lot of issues, all of which could and should have been developed further. Instead, deeper conversations get neatly pushed aside in favor of external conflict. The arson subplot almost seemed tertiary until the end when it kicked into high gear and provided a loophole for Addie and Eli to profess their feelings. Given the concerns about Eli’s use of alcohol, I really needed those conversations to happen and to see more about how he was going to move forward. It’s not enough to see him think about wanting a drink and not taking one. I also wish Addie had called out her aunt and grandma over their mistreatment of Jenn but at least (view spoiler)[she talked to her dad and he came to Jenn’s wedding. It’s not nearly enough but hopefully it’s a start. (hide spoiler)]
There’s a lot I loved about Addie and Eli. Their dynamic started out as brash and playful but evolved into something real. Addie has had difficulty orgasming in the past and while Eli, like his romance predecessors, immediately has the magic touch, I did appreciate how Addie eventually had to risk vulnerability and have a conversation about it and together they figured out what would work. Eli still struggles to open up to Addie but he tells her more than most, even if he waits too long to tell her everything. They have the start of something good. Hopefully he’ll get the support and treatment he needs to stay on that path.
Characters: Addie is a 24 year old white Catholic firefighter. She has a stray cat named Chicken Cat. Eli is a white firefighter. His ex-wife has custody of their dog Hester. This is set in Berkshire County, MA.
Content notes: concern of alcoholism/alcohol dependency (MMC), MMC drives drunk (no one is hurt), arson fires and one casualty, first degree burns on hands, smoke inhalation, recent death of fellow firefighter, past death of MMC’s brother (arson fire), past death of MMC’s father (suicide), MMC’s dog is hit by a car (recovers after surgery), past divorce (ex-wife left MMC for someone else), familial homophobia (FMC’s grandmother kicked out FMC’s lesbian cousin in high school and the extended family won’t go to Jenn’s wedding), violation of professional regulations (coworkers on the same engine are forbidden from dating), sexism, burn scars, past sexual shaming by ex for difficulty orgasming, FMC slut-shames MMC, pregnant secondary character, vomit, past death of FMC’s uncle (motorcycle accident), unsafe sex practices (no condom for penetrative sex without discussion of STI or pregnancy prevention beyond FMC telling MMC to pull out, which he does. She’s not on birth control.), on page sex, workplace sex, sex toy, masturbation, alcohol, inebriation, excessive drinking, hangover, casual misogyny (e.g. “bitch” seat), STI stigma, casual acephobia, gendered pejoratives, gender essentialist language, ableist language, hyperbolic language around suicide, mention of post-divorce weight gain...more
Perfectly fine MMF monster romance. I did a lot of skimming toward the end. Aunt Odelia’s story would have been much more interesting.
Characters: RosePerfectly fine MMF monster romance. I did a lot of skimming toward the end. Aunt Odelia’s story would have been much more interesting.
Characters: Rose is a 23 year old witch and ticket booth attendant. Renwick is a demon with horns and a tail. Silas is a Shade. Ren and Silas are bisexual or pansexual; they’re both employees at Edgar’s Acres (haunted manor, corn maze, and market).
Content notes: past and present workplace sexual harassment, past death of FMC’s father (car accident; hit by a drunk driver), past accidental arson (magickal power gone awry), FMC’s mother wouldn’t let her practice magick after her father died, misogynist slur, fire magick, unsafe sex practices (no condom for penetrative sex without discussion of STI prevention; FMC has a birth control implant), on page sex, MMF menage, DP, primal play, tail sex, edging, inebriation (customer), ableist language...more
It’s been a while since I’ve read Rilzy and the hot chef premise sounded like just the ticket. Unfortunately for me, it includes food play, which is nIt’s been a while since I’ve read Rilzy and the hot chef premise sounded like just the ticket. Unfortunately for me, it includes food play, which is not my thing. But outside of that, I enjoyed watching Russ cook for Tempest and the different kinds of eating that occurred LOL.
Characters: Tempest is a 35 year old Black natural hair care product line creator. She has a dog named Scooby. Russ is a Black restaurant owner and private chef. This is set in DC.
Content notes: past death of FMC’s mother, unsafe sex practices (MMC rips condom packet open with teeth; no discussion of STI status or prevention), on page sex, food play, sex toy, alcohol, casual ableism...more
I’ve only read the second book in this series and it did not work well for me so I contemplated skipping the rest. But I was intrigued by the way BoneI’ve only read the second book in this series and it did not work well for me so I contemplated skipping the rest. But I was intrigued by the way Bones showed up in the first Carnage book. I’m glad I read it, even though it had its share of issues.
Bones was sweeter and more thoughtful than I was expecting, while also being a terrible communicator. He seemed much colder and impenetrable when I read Titan and he had his moments here but he fell harder and faster for Mia than seemed likely. Particularly since Mia doesn’t really have a personality.
Mia’s characterization was inconsistent. Is she weak and helpless or stubborn and fiery? Reckless or not? I get that she was sheltered from the world—her family literally hid her existence—but she still grew up as the daughter of a mafioso. It was difficult to believe she was that naive. She had no common sense whatsoever. At the very least, she should have known better than to go out in public or to not believe her brothers meant what they said.
Bones and Mia’s romance was similarly ungrounded. When did their feelings change? What does Bones see in her beyond hot sex, what does Mia see in him beyond a would-be protector? Related: how did they never discuss birth control?! It was willful on Bones’s part and likely Mia didn’t know any better but I cannot imagine not using a condom under those circumstances. Not practicing safe sex isn’t proof of love!
There were a number of loose threads and Tessier’s usual over-reliance on flashbacks. I did at least appreciate the way Bones called out Luca for failing Mia. I haven’t read Luca’s book but if I had, I imagine I’d view him even more negatively. What a tool.
Characters: Mia is a 20 year old white Mafia princess and a virgin. Bones/Dillan is a 26 year old white King and hotel and casino co-owner with a Jacob’s ladder piercing.
Content notes: sexual assault by FMC’s brother (view spoiler)[he gropes her and kisses her neck, threatens to rape her but someone else always tells him not to (hide spoiler)], sexual assault by trafficker while unconscious, attempted sex trafficking of FMC (view spoiler)[FMC’s brother abducts and sells her. This happens twice. MMC is able to buy her the first time and arranges for a friend to do it the second time since he’s being watched. (hide spoiler)], stories of women who were raped and murdered, image-based sexual abuse (view spoiler)[video taken of FMC while she’s been abducted and sent to her brother, who then shows it to MMC (hide spoiler)], suicidal ideation, physical and emotional abuse by FMC’s parents, intimate partner violence (view spoiler)[MMC physically abuses FMC under the guise of putting on a show for her abductors. FMC slaps MMC multiple times. (hide spoiler)], tracking device implanted without consent (MMC cuts it out), drug assaults, patricide, FMC’s brother strangles and abducts her, murder, attempted murder, torture, physical assault, arson, FMC’s brother is in drug-induced coma after he was shot in the chest and leg, food deprivation while abducted, misogyny (including slurs), purity culture, slut-shaming, FMC’s father killed his infant daughter for being a girl (her mom begged him to keep FMC when she was born), secondary character in recovery from substance abuse, past miscarriage (secondary character), pregnant secondary character, past career-ending injury (view spoiler)[MMC’s father hired someone to break his arm and ruin his chance of a baseball career (hide spoiler)], past death of MMC’s parents, infidelity (secondary character), past incarceration (secondary character), mute secondary character (view spoiler)[tongue was cut out and reattached…and it turns out he chooses to stay quiet but can talk (hide spoiler)], unsafe sex practices (no condom for penetrative sex without discussion of STI or pregnancy prevention. They never discuss it, purposefully be MMC but likely out of ignorance by FMC), dubious consent, on page sex, D/s, restraints, alcohol, inebriation, underage drinking, casual acephobia, casual ableism, gendered pejoratives, gender essentialism, ableist language...more
I would like to sign up for a handsome business exec who will hire me to travel to Italy to be his teen daughter’s chaperone and then fall in love witI would like to sign up for a handsome business exec who will hire me to travel to Italy to be his teen daughter’s chaperone and then fall in love with me. Hell, I'll just take the paid trip to Italy.
*The only part I really did not care for was the continued unprotected sex without ever making a plan or discussing STI prevention. Especially since she’s not on birth control! Danielle and Hugh are both grown adults and neither of them even thinking to buy condoms after the first time is inexplicable, regardless of their determination that they shouldn’t have sex again. As if.
Characters: Danielle is a 27 year old white chaperone and college student. Hugh is a 42 year old white international tire company executive. He has a 15 year old daughter named Candice. This is set in Atlanta, Georgia and Rome, Italy.
Content notes: past death of MMC’s wife (killed in a car accident by a drunk driver three years ago), past divorce (FMC’s ex-husband cheated), FMC’s ex had a fitness obsession and critiqued what she ate and amount of exercise, unsafe sex practices (no condom for penetrative sex without discussion of STI or pregnancy prevention. FMC gets her period immediately after, which is lucky since she’s not on birth control. They have unprotected sex again toward the end of her period. MMC hasn’t had sex since his wife died, nor has FMC since her divorce. However, she does not share whether she was tested for STIs after learning her ex cheated.), on page sex, masturbation, alcohol, ableist language...more
I enjoyed this at first but now my feelings are all over the place. This is completely messed up and even more so since I thought I was reading an eroI enjoyed this at first but now my feelings are all over the place. This is completely messed up and even more so since I thought I was reading an erotic romance instead of a dark romance until about halfway through. Whoops. At first, Isaac came across as a punk and his complete turnabout with his nemesis coworker Atticus made me smile. But his obsession quickly took a dark turn. He was too pushy, to the point of sexual coercion. Atticus’s OCD cannot be cured via sex exposure therapy and I was extremely uncomfortable with what Isaac made him do. It crossed the line for me, even as a reader of dark romance. I felt terrible for Atticus. I didn’t see any true feelings between them, nor could I trust Isaac wouldn’t someday turn on Atticus. I’ve loved some of May’s other dark romances but this didn’t make me believe Isaac and Atticus really had something.
Characters: Atticus is a white barista and a virgin with pierced nipples and frenum piercing. Isaac is a barista.
Content notes: reproductive assault (Isaac removes the condom in the middle of sex without telling Atticus, knowing that he has a fear of bodily fluids and using a condom was the only reason Atticus went along with having sex), sexual coercion, intimate partner violence (verbal and physical abuse), OCD, germaphobia, ableism, workplace bullying, health code violation (sex inside the coffee depot work area), dubious consent, painful first time, on page sex, D/s, sadism, masochism, somnophilia (not pre-negotiated), impact play, choking, degradation, fluid exchange, spitting, leashed to bed, masturbation, alcohol, vaping, misogynist insults, gendered pejoratives, ableist language...more
I couldn’t put this down and yet this workplace romance didn’t come together for me and that was all Director Ewan Blair’s fault. Kenna deserved WAY bI couldn’t put this down and yet this workplace romance didn’t come together for me and that was all Director Ewan Blair’s fault. Kenna deserved WAY better. Despite being noticeably and immediately drawn to her in the middle of a company meeting and going so far as to bring the new hire to his office on her first day, something he never does, Ewan is sure she can’t be his mate since his mate died 200 years ago. And thus begins his hot and cold dance, which includes abducting her in dragon form and stalking her, on top of trying to keep her close while telling her there’s no long-term prospect for them.
And that’s not even factoring in how inappropriate their relationship is without basic guardrails in place. Ewan needed to talk to Kenna about what a sexual relationship would mean for their workplace. It’s not clear whether workplace fraternization is okay, nor the rules for people in leadership positions. There are some allusions to how Ewan could get in trouble if this became known…not a good start. That makes it more unconscionable that he wouldn’t address it with her and make sure protections are in place for her job, which has already been affected by him kidnapping her in dragon form while she was in public. They should have discussed the rules for how to interact at work, if at all. He should have known better than to make any romantic overtures at work or use the interoffice messaging system to contact her. Like come on!! It did not endear him to me, that’s for sure.
Plus, he’s doing this under the misguided belief that there’s no way she can be his mate so all of these risks are ultimately very selfish on his part. She has the most to lose and he’s the one who won’t let her go. This was resolved way too late AND he did nothing to demonstrate that he had changed. I wish Kenna had stayed strong instead of letting him back into her life.
Characters: Kenna is a 27 year old curvy white Community Outreach graphic designer and communication assistant and an aspiring book illustrator. Ewan is a 500 year old white Bureau Director, dragon shifter, and former pirate. (He looks like he’s 40.) This is set in Seattle.
Content notes: MMC abducts FMC while he’s in dragon form, stalking (FMC blocks MMC’s phone number and friends refuse to give out her whereabouts but he tracks her down anyway), FMC’s date kisses her without consent, unethical workplace relationship, anti-paranormal sentiment and bigotry, past death of MMC’s mate (200 years ago; ship was attacked), past abduction of secondary character by her abusive ex, past death of MMC’s parents, unsafe sex practices (no condom for penetrative sex without discussing STI prevention/status; he takes medication that makes him dormant and unable to impregnate and she’s on the pill), on page sex, sex toy, mating bite, skinny dipping, alcohol, gendered pejorative, ableist language...more
Picture the Julia Roberts Conspiracy Theory gif and you’ll know what I looked like while trying to make sense of this ridiculous plot. Tessier has so Picture the Julia Roberts Conspiracy Theory gif and you’ll know what I looked like while trying to make sense of this ridiculous plot. Tessier has so much promise as a writer but I wish she’d find a better developmental editor and some beta readers that care about logistics.
In the first half, we get to see Ashtyn falling for Saint and his obsession with her. It’s not necessarily a healthy relationship, nor does Ashtyn have any choice in the matter since the daughter of a Spade brother is always given to a Spade from the next generation. But they do seem compatible at least as far as sex goes. However, Ashtyn has no idea what Spade brothers or Lords do, which befuddled me. Her dad is a Spade brother and their whole world in Barrington is related to the Lords. How can she be that clueless?
It’s that cluelessness combined with curiosity that gets her into trouble. She winds up shooting Saint in order to escape Carnage. Despite the Lords purportedly having more power and resources than anyone, it takes Saint and his brothers four years to find her. And it’s not like she was doing a good job hiding!
That brings me to my continued issue with this series. The Spade brothers aren’t any better at their jobs than the rest of the Lords. How are we supposed to believe they’re the biggest and baddest and Carnage is impenetrable when they’re so easily set up and almost taken down? The Lord’s purportedly only take the best but they’re drawing from the sons of current Lords and we all know nepotism doesn’t mean they’re getting the finest and brightest. There are easy fixes to the plots to show the Spades/Lords are indeed worthy of being feared. I hope this will be addressed in the next book because despite my issues, I still find this series to be incredibly immersive and compelling.
All Ashtyn does is cry and want to have sex, regardless of her situation. She engages in a ton of risk-taking behavior and basically has a death wish. She needed more of a personality and any kind of emotional arc that isn’t connected to how much sex she is or isn’t having. Saint’s arc isn’t much better. The second half of the book is focused on Saint punishing Ashtyn for leaving him. He didn’t seem to have any end game and the punishment was mostly depriving Ashtyn of orgasm. Which okay. Then somewhere in the middle of Ashtyn being kidnapped, his feeling toward her changed, for reasons I’m still not clear on. I also don’t understand the exact role of the Spade brothers at Carnage vs. the guards they employ or even where the guards come from. Are they Lords too? How can all of the Spade brothers leave Carnage at the same time? How does any of this actually work?!
There’s a lot of repetitiveness within the plot and because it overlaps with first three books. The pacing really struggled as a result. There were too many sex scenes, which is not something I say very often. About halfway through I was kicking myself for not taking a tally for every sex scene just out of curiosity. At least half could have been cut for the sake of keeping the plot moving along and developing the characters. The author’s attempts at subterfuge made no sense. So many scenes refer to “the man” or “the woman” instead of identifying the person by name. Just say who they are! Characters don’t think like that when they someone around the corner, answer the phone, or run into someone when they actually know the person’s identity. It doesn’t help keep readers in the dark…and if an author does want to employ that strategy, it should be used very sparingly and with purpose. That was not the case here.
Lastly, the depiction of sexual assault did not sit well with me. Rape/sexual assault is not a requirement for dark romance. Similar to my other issues, if an author chooses to include it, it should make sense for the characters AND there should be space for process and healing from the trauma. Neither of those things happened here. I’m still confused about who her rapist was or why he wanted revenge against Saint or how he was so easily able to get to Ashtyn for all those years. Ashtyn went through the ringer, blames herself, and then the plot moves right along or else the book ends without her having a chance to deal with any of it. Not to mention, we learn the Spade brothers allow prison rape and their dads were perpetrators. That is vile stuff. It’s not like I was ever going to think of Saint as anything more than an anti-hero but there are still certain lines that should not be crossed.
Maybe some of this will be cleared up in the next book, along with (view spoiler)[if her dad is dead, who put the hit on Adam, who killed the elder Spade fathers, and who the woman who trained the Spade brothers was (Blakely’s bio mom?) (hide spoiler)], but I’m doubtful. And even if it is, Ashtyn deserved better in her own book.
Characters: Ashtyn is a 21/25 year old white college student and virgin and eventual (view spoiler)[stripper (hide spoiler)]. Saint is a white college senior, Spade brother, and Lord with Jacob’s ladder piercings. This is set in Barrington, PA.
Content notes: rape (view spoiler)[FMC is raped repeatedly by abductor and hit with a belt. FMC believes she’s having sex with MMC as she comes home to find a man there wearing the mask that MMC usually wears. Instead, it was a man who her mother paid to rape her. She does not learn that it wasn’t MMC until later when she becomes pregnant and her therapist informs her about the rape. The Spade brothers allow prison rape but unclear if they rape prisoners themselves; their dads did. (hide spoiler)], guard threatens to rape FMC and physically assaults her, sexual assault by MMC (view spoiler)[runs his knuckles over FMC’s breasts while she’s drunk and passed out. (hide spoiler)], sexual assault by abductors, reproductive assault (view spoiler)[MMC removed FMC’s IUD without her knowledge or permission. Her rapist wants to get her pregnant. (hide spoiler)], intimate partner violence by both MCs (view spoiler)[MMC is controlling and becomes verbally abusive as well as physically aggressive. He threatens to kill FMC if she ever leaves again. FMC slaps MMC. She eventually shoots MMC in order to escape. (hide spoiler)], physical abuse by FMC’s mother, drug assaults, nightmare, stalking by MMC, implanted tracking device in FMC without consent, nonconsensual cameras by MMC and FMC’s father, captivity, abduction, murder, attempted murder, torture, torture of prisoners, anal cavity search (prisoner), knife wound, lacerations, gunshot wound (secondary character), forced amputation (secondary character), burning corpse, physical assault, secondary character fakes his death, secondary character ordered a hit on her daughter (hired daughter’s ex-boyfriend who drugged and raped her before overdosing her), toxic parents/emotional neglect, past attempted drowning by MMC’s mother as a child (never saw her again), fear of drowning, forced and consensual branding, arson, car accident, solitary confinement, forced hysterectomy of female Carnage prisoners, order of forced abortion if prisoner is pregnant, misogyny, sexual shaming by mom and accusations of being a sex addict, forced therapy by mom (unethical and abusive therapist), purity culture, slut-shaming, disordered eating (FMC’s mom), parental infidelity, substance abuse (secondary character), missing high school and college girls (some were kidnapped and murdered), pregnant secondary characters, off page labor and delivery (secondary characters), unplanned pregnancy (no options counseling but FMC immediately plans to continue the pregnancy), pregnancy loss (view spoiler)[earlier it seemed like she might have had an abortion after she escaped Carnage but later she states she “lost the baby,” which makes it sound like a miscarriage), pregnancy epilogue, gambling, past breast augmentation, vomit, forced abstinence, virginity misinformation (FMC isn’t allowed to use sex toys that penetrate), painful first time (mandatory bleeding for virgins), unsafe sex practices (no condom for penetrative sex without discussion of STI or pregnancy prevention when FMC is not on birth control; anal sex without enough prep, UTI from over-frequent sex. MMC has unprotected sex with FMC knowing she’s had multiple partners without STI testing. FMC has sex with strip club client without condom; she’s on birth control. FMC’s ex-boyfriend doesn’t “like” condoms and finishes via blowjob.), dubious consent, on page sex, D/s, public ritual sex, MFM menage, degradation, light praise kink, domestic discipline, pain play, breath play, bondage, rope play, impact play, consensual and nonconsensual somnophilia, sex show, forced orgasms, orgasm control, masks, gag, anal play, sucker as dildo, nipple clamps, sex tape, outdoor sex, deep throat training, sex toys, porn, masturbation, alcohol, excessive drinking, inebriation, hangover, mixing drugs and alcohol, drugs, pain medication used recreationally, marijuana (secondary character), casual plastic surgery shaming, p-in-v sex is the only “real” sex, gendered pejoratives, gender essentialism, ableist language, references to past suicidal ideation (hide spoiler)]...more
I fully admit there can be a sameness to Adams’s romances. This follows a similar blueprint to her other escort books and yet this still made me cry. I fully admit there can be a sameness to Adams’s romances. This follows a similar blueprint to her other escort books and yet this still made me cry. On the one hand, Giselle read as much, much younger than 27. On the other hand, I completely bought how both she and Steve were trying to protect themselves from getting hurt, even while taking steps toward each other. Not my favorite of hers but I still really enjoyed it, outside of the unnecessary catty ex-girlfriend.
This is a white world with limited characters but unlike her other work, one of Steve’s male coworkers has a husband, though we don’t see him on page. (It’s entirely possible he was present but never identified. Most of Steve’s coworkers are mentioned as a bulk unit without identifying individuals beyond his ex.) I think this might be the first time there’s been even a hint of a queer person in Adams’s books, at least so far as I’ve read. I hope this is a step in the right direction.
Characters: Giselle is a 27 year old white escort and history PhD student. Steve is a 31 year old white software developer. This is set in Boston and Atlanta.
Content notes: Evil Ex trope, FMC’s father left when she was 11 (he cheated on her mom), past death of MMC’s parents (not really addressed), unsafe sex practices (no condom used for penetrative sex without discussion of preventing STIs or pregnancy; FMC is not on birth control but she gets her period in the middle of this incident), on page sex, car sex, half-asleep sex, masturbation, alcohol, diet culture, anti-fat bias, ableist language...more
Neighbors-to-lovers + marriage-in-trouble set during Ramadan is a nifty combination! Razia has just gotten back into town after a six month stint in HNeighbors-to-lovers + marriage-in-trouble set during Ramadan is a nifty combination! Razia has just gotten back into town after a six month stint in Holland for an art program. Notably she and her husband Danyaal have not talked in all that time. She’s back home and she’s ready to file for divorce. Danyaal, on the other hand, has used this time apart to do some soul-searching and make significant changes, including renting the apartment across from hers.
I enjoyed this a lot but it's a novella and the short form did not work in its favor. The back story is light on details, as are the characters. Razia and Danyaal married after dating six weeks; the issues that led to the splintering of their relationship seemed in keeping with such a short courtship. However, then we learn this Ramadan would mark their fourth wedding anniversary and I was completely taken aback. When did the cracks start to form? Were they having these arguments the entirety of their relationship? Why would Razia even apply to a program in Holland in the first place when their life is wherever this is set? What did she do for work before this? What kind of IT company does Danyaal actually own and why did his business partner pull out? The author tries to make the case that Razia and Danyaal were more focused on their own interests instead of what was best for them as a couple but it didn’t add up. Nor did the reconciliation. It was too hasty given the issues and the amount of hurt, nor did it explain why Danyaal didn’t contact his wife at all during those six months if reconciliation was his goal.
Additionally, there was a subplot about Razia’s estranged father that was dropped in like a bomb and then never dealt with again. Details in the content notes below. She just never follows up with her mom?? I also didn’t care for her sister’s advice that they should just forgive their father and let him back in their life. That kind of rhetoric is applied in the face of all kinds of toxic and abusive behavior and it is simply not right, no matter what your religious beliefs are.
This seems to be the author’s debut. There was enough promise there that I would try something else by her in the future. I really liked the way she structured the arc through Ramadan and how those traditions drew the couple back together in spite of Razia’s initial wishes.
Characters: Razia is a Muslim artist. Danyaal is a Muslim Desi IT company owner. They’ve been married for four years and separated for six months.
Content notes: marital separation, FMC is estranged from father (he left when she was 4 and went back to his first wife; (view spoiler)[mom reveals she didn’t want to be a second wife anymore and she was the one who ended the marriage, not him. She’s also the reason he didn’t visit while FMC and her sister were growing up. (hide spoiler)], toxic parents, pregnancy epilogue, family pressure for babies, religious fasting, off page/fade to black sex, ableist language...more
I never knew where this erotic fantasy was going. It’s essentially a selkie retelling + BDSM but it turns out it’s not a romance so I was let down by I never knew where this erotic fantasy was going. It’s essentially a selkie retelling + BDSM but it turns out it’s not a romance so I was let down by the ending. That’s not to say it’s a bad ending: (view spoiler)[Greg and Rhona had lessons to teach each other but the plot really seemed to be pushing them together for more than that. I was torn because I loved Rhona and Greg together as much as I loved Rhona with Nuada. I wasn’t as much a fan of Greg with Tiana but maybe that’s just because she’s still a cop and ACAB. (hide spoiler)]
This is really about processing grief and figuring out when it’s time to take a chance. For Greg, that means mourning the death of his wife Laurie, making peace with how long it took him to solve a serial killer case, and deciding whether or not he can try BDSM and still be a good person. For Rhona, that means selling her house and ultimately (view spoiler)[returning to her long-time lover Nuada and trusting he will not steal her selkie coat. (hide spoiler)]
The selkie myth was incorporated in some interesting ways but the story was heavy on flashbacks and got repetitive. Greg’s guilt about wanting to explore BDSM became very tiresome, as did Rhona’s waffling about with Nuada.
However, this was hooooot and so I can forgive a lot. Even though I still think my preferred ending would have been ever better: (view spoiler)[Rhona would be in a polyamorous vee with Greg and Nuada. (hide spoiler)]
Characters: Greg is a white retired detective and baby Dom. Rhona is a bisexual white artist, selkie, and Switch. She has an adopted adult son. This is set in Bittersweet, a town in southeastern US.
Content notes: nightmares, past death of MMC’s wife (car accident; she was in remission from breast cancer when she died), past death of FMC’s spouses, past serial killer case, past domestic violence cases, past child abuse (secondary character; FMC adopted him), murder, battlefield, gunshot wound, past soldier violence, secondary character hospitalized for heart issues, past heart attack and open heart surgery (secondary character), past theft of selkie skin (she knew where it was the whole time and chose to stay with him), internalized kink-shaming, secondary character missing one hand, blood, vomit, no condom (selkies can’t get STDs or pregnant by humans), on page sex, D/s, MFM menage, impact play, bondage, orgasm control, blindfold, wax play, phone sex, alcohol, gendered pejorative...more
It’s not fair to compare a standalone spinoff to the first three books in the Villains and Virtues series but Celeste and Reeve lacked the same spark It’s not fair to compare a standalone spinoff to the first three books in the Villains and Virtues series but Celeste and Reeve lacked the same spark as Damien and Amma. Celeste and Reeve had potential as characters but didn’t quite come together for me. I didn’t care about the problem of Syphon and felt Celeste’s history of abuse at her sister’s hand needed a defter touch. This was also unfortunately riddled with intellectual ableism.
That’s not to say it was all bad. Plum the wyvern stole my heart and I loved the way Reeve went out of his way to take care of Celeste (once he got past thinking she was evil and wanting to kill her, that is.) The townspeople were good additions too.
I’m excited Xander gets the next spinoff! Hopefully it’ll work better than this one did.
Characters: Celeste is a 26 year old white nox-touched woman. She has a pet wyvern named Plum. Reeve is a 26 year old Holy Knight of Valcord and a virgin. He has a talking sword named Sid.
Content notes: verbal abuse by villain, MMC tries to kill FMC and she imprisons him (he initially believes she’s evil), recent death of FMC’s sister, FMC’s sister was emotionally abusive, FMC’s sister enslaved her ex-boyfriend and sexually and physically abused him (past), past child physical abuse (some of whom died in the temple), murder, explosion, physical assault, missing child (found safe and sound), coma, lacerations, past plague (many children were orphaned), animal death (boar), animal and human corpses, intellectual ableism (not countered), secondary character with memory loss, past death of fellow knights, past execution of FMC’s parents, MMCs parents gave him away to the temple because they thought he was possessed, on page sex, bondage, masturbation, alcohol, inebriation, hangover, “manhood” as euphemism, gender essentialism, ableist language...more
3.5 stars. Ryat is the quintessential “touch her and die” MMC. That hasn’t really appealed to me before but maybe I just haven’t read books that execu3.5 stars. Ryat is the quintessential “touch her and die” MMC. That hasn’t really appealed to me before but maybe I just haven’t read books that executed it well. On the one hand, Ryat is going to treat Blakely however the hell he wants. On the other hand, he’s not going to let anyone else hurt her. That includes her parents: I loved how he told both of them off. Her mom was the true monster but her dad enabled a whole lot of BS too. I’m not 100% convinced Ryat and Blake have a good relationship—I wish she had way more agency—but it was satisfying to read and I’m glad she had at least one person in her corner.
I read this series completely out of order and it didn’t matter in the least. I thought I might struggle with the college setting so I wanted to save this one for last but it turns out I enjoyed Ryat and Blakely’s dynamic the most. It helped that Ryat does not at all seem like a college student and they don’t spend much time going to class past the beginning. As much as I enjoyed these characters, the plot didn't hold up, hence rating it a little lower than the others.
The world of the Lords is completely antithetical to everything I believe in and yet I find myself completely entranced by it anyway. Perhaps because the Lords as an entity embody my worst nightmare and I’m always trying to figure out what they’re actually doing with their power when they’re not killing each other off.
However, so many plot choices undermine the Lords’ supposed power. (view spoiler)[The Lords should have killed Matt after the botched assignment. They’ve never needed proof in the past and given the reveal at the end that the woman never actually died, wouldn’t she have just told them what Matt did? There’s no purpose in keeping that quiet or keeping Matt around unless the Lords aren’t as infallible as they want to appear. And if that’s true, then the entire organization should have collapsed by now. (hide spoiler)]
Not to mention, it’s already difficult to believe they give college students as much responsibility and power as they do. Ryat is supposed to be a judge someday and he’ll graduate from college even if he doesn’t go to classes. That is a terrifying notion. Particularly because it seems like he doesn’t even have to go to law school?? Like WHAT?! It’s not surprising how many mediocre white men fail upward but it’s a leap to believe they would be able to maintain these networks without at least properly attending college. Especially since they’re already guaranteed to get into Barrington and probably didn’t even do the bare minimum to graduate high school.
This needed a much stronger developmental edit. There’s an over-reliance on flashbacks for things that just happened or don’t add to the narrative. The plot completely went off the rails at the end and I still can’t make heads or tails of it. (view spoiler)[How did her parents hide the fact that they were a Lord and Lady her whole life? How was her biological mother in hiding and covering up her death (to what purpose?!) while also orchestrating this whole thing? I’m still not clear why the Lords would have made Blakely's biological mom give her up as an infant in order to go undercover and “marry” another guy…and then stay with him for 20 years?! How did her adoptive mother turn against Blakely so thoroughly that she would plan for Matt to abduct and rape her? (hide spoiler)] Tessier’s plots aren’t her strong suit but I keep hoping for improvement.
Lastly, this is a completely white cishet world. Not surprising given how much similarity the Lords have with Republicans but just as concerning.
Characters: Ryat is a white college senior and Lord. Blakely is a 20 year old white college junior and virgin with glasses and a naval piercing. This is set at Barrington University in Pennsylvania.
Content notes: attempted rape by FMC’s ex-boyfriend, rape by MMC (view spoiler)[somnophilia that occurs while she’s drugged; anal fingering and plug while she’s drugged (hide spoiler)], intent of reproductive assault (view spoiler)[MMC was going to replace FMC’s birth control with placebos but she ran away and left her birth control behind so it didn’t matter (hide spoiler)], drug assaults by MMC, intimate partner violence (ex-boyfriend attempts to kill FMC but MMC jumps in front of the bullet, ex-boyfriend then abducts her), MMC was shot 4 times and FMC believes him to be dead (friends found him and got him to hospital in time), video cameras record FMC without her knowledge, MMC implanted a tracker in FMC without her knowledge, controlling MMC, MMC is physically aggressive with FMC, sexual assault (view spoiler)[secondary character (who is FMC’s ex) gropes a woman who’s asleep and intends to rape her (hide spoiler)], stalking by MMC, infidelity (FMC’s boyfriend is cheating on her), murder, attempted murder, torture, physical assault, branding, solitary confinement, accidental murder of secondary character’s child (hit was intended for him), wound cauterization, broken nose, FMC’s mom slaps her (never done it before), learning a parent isn’t the biological parent (view spoiler)[FMC’s biological mother was forced to give her up and leave her husband so she could do undercover work for the Lords, it was supposed be temporary but dad remarried and she believed her adoptive mom was her mom (hide spoiler)], unplanned pregnancy (view spoiler)[with twins (hide spoiler)], (view spoiler)[FMC’s mom (hide spoiler)] plans on stealing her baby once it’s born, toxic parents, misogyny (including slurs), purity culture, slut-shaming, internalized kink-shaming, past kink-shaming by ex, past rehab for drugs and alcohol in HS (secondary character, still partakes), past arrest of neighbor for drugs, vomit, unsafe sex practices (no condom used for penetrative sex without discussion of pregnancy or STI discussion; he knows she’s on the Pill from snooping in her apartment), dubious consent (FMC is very drunk; MMC does not explain or obtain consent for most of what he does to her or ensure they’re playing safely), on page sex, D/s, CNC, breath play, choking, impact play, bondage, praise kink, fluid exchange, voyeurism, mirror sex, sex next to dead body, sex ritual/public sex, sex tape, hood, mask, blindfold, gag, biting, anal play, sex toys, masturbation, alcohol, underage drinking, excessive drinking, inebriation, hangover, prison rape jokes, STD stigma, p-in-v sex is only “real” sex, gendered pejoratives, ableist language, sex compared to addiction, mention of past pregnancy complications in epilogue (view spoiler)[emergency C-section and hysterectomy after the birth of third child (hide spoiler)]...more
I tore through this fantasy romance! It’s my exact kind of marriage of convenience. Warrick completely misunderstands who Elina is and what she’s abouI tore through this fantasy romance! It’s my exact kind of marriage of convenience. Warrick completely misunderstands who Elina is and what she’s about and then falls gobsmack head over heels for her. She desperately needed someone in her corner and I loved all the ways he looked out for her, right down to (view spoiler)[figuring out she was being poisoned and rooting out the betrayer. (hide spoiler)] Unfortunately, Warrick doesn’t always get things right and when he screws up, Elina cuts their marriage ribbon out of heartbreak. What she doesn’t know is that (view spoiler)[the magic has made them dead to each other so she can’t see him but he can see her. He’s literally accompanying her the whole trip, building her fire and trying to get through to her!!! (hide spoiler)] MY HEART. The ending (defeating the Big Bad) was anticlimactic but the romance was just what I wanted.
Characters: Warrick is a barbarian (whose gift is to see ghosts) and a virgin. Elina is a 25 year old Queen and a virgin.
Content notes: FMC is dying of a wasting disease (view spoiler)[turns out she was being poisoned and not actually cursed (hide spoiler)], off-page withdrawal from poison (referred to as “the purge”), murder, past and present assassination attempts, near drowning (mudbeast attack), demon attacks, poisoning, imprisonment, ghosts, stone sickness (people turn into statues), fleas, FMC’s uncle stole her throne and has tried to have her killed, bigotry toward barbarians, MMC rescued enslaved people from being sold, past murder of FMC’s mother (poisoned by FMC’s brother), FMC is estranged from her father, forgetting to eat, vomit, purity culture (queen required to be a virgin before marriage), pregnancy epilogue, p-in-v sex is the only “real” sex, on page sex, food play (berries), alcohol, casual ageism, ableist language...more
Cute! If you enjoy “no plot, just vibes”, it will probably work well for you. That’s not so much my thing, however, so I was hoping for something moreCute! If you enjoy “no plot, just vibes”, it will probably work well for you. That’s not so much my thing, however, so I was hoping for something more to propel this neighbors-to-lovers plot along.
Deeper characterization would have been appreciated, instead of endless scenes of Edd baking and visiting elderly people and talking to Ozzie (exhausting) or Harriet (lovely). In contrast, Carey is a fiber artist and I loved learning more about visible mending and how they’ve turned it into a career. I would have been more interested in a Carey-centered story, although I do wish they were in therapy.
A personal preference: (view spoiler)[There was no reason for Carey’s ex-husband to call OR for said phone call to derail them so completely. I wasn’t clear why they hadn’t progressed further in healing or what the point was in having the ex call at all. It kind of defeated all the vibes up to that point and the romance didn’t recover. Carey would have been better off doing some intensive counseling sessions. Edd too, for that matter, since his personality consists of him trying to fix other people’s problems. (hide spoiler)]
Characters: Carey (they/she) is an agender/nonbinary white fiber artist and vintage blanket and clothing seller. Edd (he/him) is a gender-nonconforming white lottery winner, amateur baker, vegetarian, and unofficial volunteer with the elderly. This is set in Clover Hill.
Content notes: divorce one year ago (Carey was married 10 years), misgendering by character with dementia, secondary character with dementia, elderly friends with various illnesses, diet culture, Edd’s parents had difficulty conceiving and adopted four children before getting pregnant with him, implied intellectual disability (Edd’s brother), past death of Carey’s grandfather (dementia), fade to black/nonexplicit sex, mentions of alcohol (Carey doesn’t drink, Edd can take it or leave it)...more
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