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elegantfantasy_blogs's reviews
1479 reviews
How to Con a Crime Boss by Cynthia Eden
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
“You are an absolute ray of sunshine.” He stared straight into her eyes. “And I am grateful every day for the moment we met.”
This was an okay read. I was very invested in the beginning and I liked how Harley was so bold and forward. Seth was a good guy and it seemed like he downplayed his strength. The plot was interesting but it dragged on a lot and each time I felt like I got some answers, something new was revealed which was confusing tbh. Also, I wished that there was some more development between Seth & Harley because I felt like they barely knew each other. The insta-love was really disappointing. So, compared to the previous book in the series, this one was kind of average.
This was an okay read. I was very invested in the beginning and I liked how Harley was so bold and forward. Seth was a good guy and it seemed like he downplayed his strength. The plot was interesting but it dragged on a lot and each time I felt like I got some answers, something new was revealed which was confusing tbh. Also, I wished that there was some more development between Seth & Harley because I felt like they barely knew each other. The insta-love was really disappointing. So, compared to the previous book in the series, this one was kind of average.
How to Heal a Heartbreak by Cynthia Eden
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
“You get scared, you come to me. Some jerk tries to hurt you, you come to me. You know the rules. We’ve always had them in place.”
This was such an amazing second chance romance! I loved how Holden & Claudia loved each other so deeply and seeing them be concerned for each other was just so heartwarming! Holden was a perfect match for Claudia because all he wanted was for her to be safe and happy no matter what the cost was. He was a great guy and I liked how he didn't hide anything from her and always was open and honest. The plot also was very intriguing but somewhat predictable. And I felt like some parts dragged on unnecessarily tbh. But everything else was good and the added humour with Holden & Copper's fights was also well written! Overall, this was an absolute page turner and the little glimpse about Harley & Seth has me excited to read the next book in this series!
This was such an amazing second chance romance! I loved how Holden & Claudia loved each other so deeply and seeing them be concerned for each other was just so heartwarming! Holden was a perfect match for Claudia because all he wanted was for her to be safe and happy no matter what the cost was. He was a great guy and I liked how he didn't hide anything from her and always was open and honest. The plot also was very intriguing but somewhat predictable. And I felt like some parts dragged on unnecessarily tbh. But everything else was good and the added humour with Holden & Copper's fights was also well written! Overall, this was an absolute page turner and the little glimpse about Harley & Seth has me excited to read the next book in this series!
Out of the Woods by Hannah Bonam-Young
medium-paced
1.0
I've read and enjoyed some of the author's previous books so I had huge expectations from this one especially because it had one of my favourite tropes- marriage in trouble. Sarah & Caleb were cute and the whole story about her losing her mother and then getting married young was touching but I didn't feel connected with them tbh. And the conflict felt forced because Sarah whined so much and I got tired of her constantly diminishing her own self confidence. Caleb was somewhere at fault too but all he wanted was for her to be happy and mend what she thought was broken. I felt like their problems were not shown properly and if they just sat down and communicated, more than half of Sarah's disputes would've been solved. Honestly, she should've went to therapy right after her mom passed away. She got mad at Caleb for helping with money when she wasn't even earning. So as her husband, he did what he had to, so I didn't understand why did she get mad at him lol. Caleb only wanted to support her and I wanted to see the spark being rekindled between them but this book focused more on Sarah's individual growth rather than the romance which I wished to see. And all the flashbacks back when they were young, just felt meaningless to me. I don't think it added any depth to the plot and could've been written better. The side characters (except Bo & Win) were good but not impactful. I was so excited for this book ever since it was announced but unfortunately, it was disappointing.
Duke of Pryde by Mariah Stone
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
tense
fast-paced
3.75
She could never love someone like her husband—insensitive, pompous, and self-centered. And he could never love someone he believed was so far beneath him.
This was an enjoyable and delightful read with some emotional moments and undeniable chemistry between Constantine & Modesty. Though they had their social differences, it was nice to see both of them slowly take time to understand each other. And Constantine's character development was really good. All the side characters were also well sketched and the setting was perfectly illustrated. But, towards the end, Modesty's hasty decisions looked stupid to me and I felt like the last half was kind of rushed tbh. Still overall, this was a sweet and engaging story and I can't wait to read the next book in this series! My rating for this is a solid 3.75 stars.
I received an ARC in exchange of an honest review
This was an enjoyable and delightful read with some emotional moments and undeniable chemistry between Constantine & Modesty. Though they had their social differences, it was nice to see both of them slowly take time to understand each other. And Constantine's character development was really good. All the side characters were also well sketched and the setting was perfectly illustrated. But, towards the end, Modesty's hasty decisions looked stupid to me and I felt like the last half was kind of rushed tbh. Still overall, this was a sweet and engaging story and I can't wait to read the next book in this series! My rating for this is a solid 3.75 stars.
I received an ARC in exchange of an honest review
The Way We Score by Tia Louise
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
“This is weird.” Garrett’s voice is low. “Things have never been weird between us.” My shoulders lift in a shrug. “Things change.”“Not this much. This is new, and I don’t like it.”“I don’t like it much either.”
This was a quick and easy read. The chemistry between Garrett and Liv was amazing and I liked how Liv always felt safe with Garrett and he was the only one who could get her to instantly calm down. The way he gave up everything to be by her side was good but I couldn't get how he left his sports career to be a sheriff out of all the things tbh. And Liv also gave up on her career so easily. It was unbelievable especially because in the first half, they talked about how passionate they both were about their dreams in highschool and even had to separate because of it. The conflict should've been more focused on but instead, everything was resolved with only a few conversations which was kind of a let down and because of that, I felt like the plot wasn't solid enough and some parts felt dragged. Still, I liked the side characters and Liv & Garrett were a good match. Also, I can't wait to read Hendrix & Raven's book next! Overall, this was a 3.5 star read for me.
This was a quick and easy read. The chemistry between Garrett and Liv was amazing and I liked how Liv always felt safe with Garrett and he was the only one who could get her to instantly calm down. The way he gave up everything to be by her side was good but I couldn't get how he left his sports career to be a sheriff out of all the things tbh. And Liv also gave up on her career so easily. It was unbelievable especially because in the first half, they talked about how passionate they both were about their dreams in highschool and even had to separate because of it. The conflict should've been more focused on but instead, everything was resolved with only a few conversations which was kind of a let down and because of that, I felt like the plot wasn't solid enough and some parts felt dragged. Still, I liked the side characters and Liv & Garrett were a good match. Also, I can't wait to read Hendrix & Raven's book next! Overall, this was a 3.5 star read for me.
My Dark Prince by L.J. Shen, Parker S. Huntington
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
"I’d spent the last fifteen years ensuring I had a plan before I began anything, but just like that, I’d started pursuing this woman, who I knew would break my heart. Or worse—set it on fucking fire."
I've read book one from the series and I was both excited and nervous to start Oliver's book because he was portrayed to be such a fuckboy that I thought there will be lots of OW drama but thankfully, his manwhore ways were downplayed lol. His lovestory with Briar was very sweet and I was literally rooting for them to end up together because it was obvious how despite the separation of fifteen years, these two still had unresolved feelings for each other. Oliver was always so fun and carefree and I thought he would be incredibly cocky and shallow but it was nice to see another side of him that was not only humorous but also compassionate and vulnerable. Briar was definitely the light of his life and I liked how she didn't make it easy for him to weave his way back into her life! Their banter was amazing and never failed to make me laugh! Also, the group chats between him, Romeo, Zach and Farrow were so fun to read. I forgot how entertaining Dallas could be and it was great seeing her again! The only thing I didn't like in the book was: that both Oliver & Briar were with other people during the separation. It was understandable why Briar chose to move on because she thought Oliver had cheated on her and left her when she needed him but it was unbelievable how Oliver had so many one night stands because he claimed that she was the only love of his life and he should've been lamenting over his actions and busy looking after Sebastian to even have time for all these flings lol. Also, Sebastian's story also felt incomplete and I hope he gets his own book because I'm very intrigued! But 99 chapters were really too much tbh. The last half kind of felt stretched with all the "long distance" thing they tried out and it could've been avoided, ngl. Still overall, the book was enjoyable, drama free and I couldn't put it down until I finished it. Can't wait to see of there's anything more coming from this world!
I've read book one from the series and I was both excited and nervous to start Oliver's book because he was portrayed to be such a fuckboy that I thought there will be lots of OW drama but thankfully, his manwhore ways were downplayed lol. His lovestory with Briar was very sweet and I was literally rooting for them to end up together because it was obvious how despite the separation of fifteen years, these two still had unresolved feelings for each other. Oliver was always so fun and carefree and I thought he would be incredibly cocky and shallow but it was nice to see another side of him that was not only humorous but also compassionate and vulnerable. Briar was definitely the light of his life and I liked how she didn't make it easy for him to weave his way back into her life! Their banter was amazing and never failed to make me laugh! Also, the group chats between him, Romeo, Zach and Farrow were so fun to read. I forgot how entertaining Dallas could be and it was great seeing her again! The only thing I didn't like in the book was:
Cherry Auction: Angsty Dark Romance by Stasia Black
medium-paced
1.0
The blurb and the cover were eye catching and I was excited to read this book because I was in the mood for some dark romance but unfortunately, the beginning itself disappointed me. With the way some things were described, I couldn't understand what was going on in the world and the character introduction also wasn't proper tbh. Mads had a confusing personality but things about it made sense after the second half. But Domhnall was just unlikeable to me. There was nothing appealing about him and I wanted to see him grovel but that did not happen which was another disappointment. There was too much smut and not enough focus was shed on the character development and relationship building between the main characters. The side characters were also very dull and played a small part but contributed nothing to the story. </spoiler > The plot definitely had potential but the execution was poor which runied the book for me, ngl.
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review
This Wild Heart by Karla Sorensen
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
"I forgot where we were. That we weren’t alone. That this wasn’t real. It was just her and me. And I wanted to kiss my wife again more than anything I’d ever wanted in my entire life."
The book had so many tropes that I loved and the chemistry between Anya & Parker was palpable ever since the beginning! The execution of the plot was perfect and the emotional moments with all the family members were heartwarming! Anya was so understanding and deserved the absolute best. And Parker was a surprise, I went in thinking that he will be a grump but he was so playful and just needed someone to understand him. Overall, I enjoyed reading this book and it was good seeing Isabel and the entire family again! Highly recommend if you're into sports romance with a big family dynamic and an accidental vegas wedding!
I received an ARC in exchange of an honest review
The book had so many tropes that I loved and the chemistry between Anya & Parker was palpable ever since the beginning! The execution of the plot was perfect and the emotional moments with all the family members were heartwarming! Anya was so understanding and deserved the absolute best. And Parker was a surprise, I went in thinking that he will be a grump but he was so playful and just needed someone to understand him. Overall, I enjoyed reading this book and it was good seeing Isabel and the entire family again! Highly recommend if you're into sports romance with a big family dynamic and an accidental vegas wedding!
I received an ARC in exchange of an honest review
The Kiss Lottery by Ilsa Madden-Mills
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
I remember his laughter. His dimples when he smiled at me. His arm around my shoulders. He was my anchor. My tether. Until he wasn’t.
This was a fast paced and light hearted, second chance romance! The chemistry between Beckett & Everly was undeniable. I liked how they talked openly about their past mistakes and regrets. The slow burn was also satisfying and I was rooting for both of them to end up together because it was obvious that they were a perfect match. I felt like the plot was predictable but the romance and their childhood connection was sweet so it didn't ruin anything. Still, there were a few parts that could've been better. But overall, this was an enjoyable read for me and I can't wait to see what's coming next by the author!
I received an ARC in exchange of an honest review
This was a fast paced and light hearted, second chance romance! The chemistry between Beckett & Everly was undeniable. I liked how they talked openly about their past mistakes and regrets. The slow burn was also satisfying and I was rooting for both of them to end up together because it was obvious that they were a perfect match. I felt like the plot was predictable but the romance and their childhood connection was sweet so it didn't ruin anything. Still, there were a few parts that could've been better. But overall, this was an enjoyable read for me and I can't wait to see what's coming next by the author!
I received an ARC in exchange of an honest review
Taming Waves by Amber Kelly
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
“I hate you,” I quip as I grab my glass and down the rest of the cool liquid. “No, you don’t. You just hate the fact that you don’t hate me.”
This was a sweet and quick and easy read. Audrey & Parker had some unresolved issues between them but Parker was determined to show Audrey that he was changed and wanted to complete their fairytale. I liked all the side characters and the chemistry between Audrey & Parker was palpable. But I felt like the story lacked depth and was rushed towards the end tbh. Still overall, this was an enjoyable read, so my rating for this is 3.5 stars.
I received an ARC in exchange of an honest review
This was a sweet and quick and easy read. Audrey & Parker had some unresolved issues between them but Parker was determined to show Audrey that he was changed and wanted to complete their fairytale. I liked all the side characters and the chemistry between Audrey & Parker was palpable. But I felt like the story lacked depth and was rushed towards the end tbh. Still overall, this was an enjoyable read, so my rating for this is 3.5 stars.
I received an ARC in exchange of an honest review