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shanaepraystoo's reviews
887 reviews
Deuce (The Dillinger Chronicles Book 1) by Kimberly Brown
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Yet another 5 star read from the very talented Kimberly Brown. She writes fast-paced, highly engaging stories that draw you in. With relatable characters and funny banter, it's easy to fall in love with the characters and want the best for each of them. Deuce (The Dillinger Chronicles Book 1) is just as good as every other Kimberly Brown book. Salima Navarro, the FMC, might be one of my favorite female characters that she has ever written, while the MMC, Deuce/Stanley is 100% a certified book bae...I need him IRL NOW! Lol. I highly recommend Deuce to anyone who appreciates a true crime family book. I am looking forward to the next book in The Dillinger Chronicles series.
Note: I listened to the audiobook and the narration is superb. Ja'Air Bush is great as usual, but in my Black narration spaces, the male narrator Myles Washington, gets a ton of flack (unnecessarily in my opinion), however, in Deuce he is *perfection.* He was perfect for this role and I hope he is the narrator for the rest of the The Dillinger Chronicles series.
Note: I listened to the audiobook and the narration is superb. Ja'Air Bush is great as usual, but in my Black narration spaces, the male narrator Myles Washington, gets a ton of flack (unnecessarily in my opinion), however, in Deuce he is *perfection.* He was perfect for this role and I hope he is the narrator for the rest of the The Dillinger Chronicles series.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Sexual content, Violence, Kidnapping, and Pregnancy
Minor: Drug use, Sexual violence, Abortion, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Secure in the Arms of a Thug 2 by Tatum James
dark
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Secure In The Arms of a Thug books by Tatum James are fast-paced engaging urban romances with two dynamic, albeit stereotypical, characters. The MMC, Syre Reign, is everything you want in a book bae, especially when you're reading dark or urban fiction. The FMC, Royelle Jacobs, is irritating but I think that's what every FMC is - she's stubborn, jumps to conclusions, and simply refuses to let a rich man take care of her lol. In book 1 a little bit of ground work is laid about Syre and Royelle's relationship, but you really see it bloom in Secure In The Arms Of A Thug Book 2 as the two overcome secrets, grief, and loss. The result? A different kind of urban romance where the topics of grief, forgiveness, and mental health are intertwined so closely in what would 100% be a toxic relationship in real life, but is totally ideal in the land of urban fiction. I was thoroughly impressed by Tatum James's storytelling, though there were some grammatical errors and some repetition, I thought the story flowed nicely and the writer kept me engaged. I want to read the rest of the Dark Reigns Dynasty series, which includes Promised To A Street King about Syre's older brother Bishop. There's also a spinoff (?) not included in the Dark Reigns Dynasty about Syre's younger brother Psalm called Psalm. I look forward to catching up with the rest of the Reign family.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Minor: Gun violence, Infidelity, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and Abandonment
Secure in the Arms of a Thug by Tatum James
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I thoroughly enjoyed Secure In The Arms Of A Thug Book 1 of the Dark Reign Dynasty Series by Tatum James. I haven't read an urban fiction book that grabbed my attention this way in quite a while. I'm not a big fan of a series, but this one had such great reviews that I had to give it a read. The characters aren't particularly diverse, but there's something unique about them all that keeps you reading. I'm ready for book 2.
I took one star off because I don't think the wedding, the catalyst for much of what happens in the book, should've been written as a flashback.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Cursing, Gun violence, Infidelity, Medical content, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death, Drug use, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Ho! Ho! Ho!: A Christmas Short by Rilzy Adams
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
As far as erotic shorts go, Ho! Ho! Ho! by Rilzy Adams might be one of the best - lovable characters, character development, and an engaging story that, despite being erotica, doesn’t compromise on storytelling for sexual appeal.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Infidelity
Promised to the Snowman by Kami Holt
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Promised To The Snowman is a fast paced arranged marriage mob story with a grumpy sunshine trope — everything I love in a romance novel. Add in the Christmas element and I was sat. I quickly read this engaging story with lovable characters. This is a solid 4 star read. hig recommend Promised To The Snowman.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Sexual content, Medical content, Grief, and Pregnancy
Minor: Alcoholism, Death, Gun violence, Violence, and Blood
Gideon & Rhian: A One Eighty Christmas by Charity Shane
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Decent follow up to the One Eighty book. I wish we also learned more about Brie and Amon in this Christmas novella. I recommend it to anyone who enjoyed One Eighty.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Pregnancy
With Love, This Christmas by Kimberly Brown
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Awww I really liked Noelle and Kane and their families. I’m not crazy about friends to lovers romances, but this one hit its mark for sure. I highly recommend this novella to anyone who loves the friends to lovers trope, themed romances, and Kimberly Brown books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Sexual content
Minor: Pregnancy and Alcohol
Hood Holiday With A Chicago Menace by Dominique Nikail, Dominique Nikail
dark
emotional
fast-paced
3.0
Hood Holiday with a Chicago Menace is a solid, short read. Engaging and fast paced, I’d recommend this to staunch fans of urban fiction.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Violence, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Pregnancy
Minor: Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
Christmas in Spite of You by K.C. Mills
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I really really enjoyed K. C. Mills's book Christmas In Spite of You.
I listened to the audiobook every chance I could get because I kept thinking about the book. I wanted to listen to the story to see how it unfolded. I loved the characters and the story so much, it read just like one of my favorite Christmas movies on Hallmark. I recommend Christmas In Spite of You to anyone who likes romance novels with the forced proximity and grumpy-sunshine tropes. They're two of my favorites and I can confirm that author K. C. Mills does everything just right in Christmas In Spite of You. The book will also put you in the Christmas spirit, just what you're looking for when you read a Christmas romance novel.
Spice Rating: 3/5 -- There aren't many spicy scenes, but the few that are in the book are descriptive, vivid and overall well-written. They advance the story for sure.
I listened to the audiobook every chance I could get because I kept thinking about the book. I wanted to listen to the story to see how it unfolded. I loved the characters and the story so much, it read just like one of my favorite Christmas movies on Hallmark. I recommend Christmas In Spite of You to anyone who likes romance novels with the forced proximity and grumpy-sunshine tropes. They're two of my favorites and I can confirm that author K. C. Mills does everything just right in Christmas In Spite of You. The book will also put you in the Christmas spirit, just what you're looking for when you read a Christmas romance novel.
Spice Rating: 3/5 -- There aren't many spicy scenes, but the few that are in the book are descriptive, vivid and overall well-written. They advance the story for sure.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing and Toxic relationship
Minor: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Where Hearts Lie by Kimberly Brown
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Perfect. This is how you write Black love, this is how you write a second chance romance. I was engaged from the beginning to the end and I loved it. I recommend this to everyone who loves second chance romances and Christmas novellas.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Sexual content, and Abandonment