Tag: books

If Good Reads let you give a book a half star, I’d totally throw Till Summer Do Us Part a daring 4-1/2 stars, no doubt about it. It was so hilarious that I couldn’t help but laugh out loud at the outrageous humor, which definitely caught the attention of everyone around me. The witty dialogue and relatable characters made it such a fun read that I just couldn’t get enough. It was one of those feel-good stories that lifted my spirits, keeping me on a high even after I flipped to the last page. Meghan Quinn always knows how to hit the spot with my reading cravings; her ability to mix humor and heart in her stories is nothing short of brilliant. Every page was packed with charm and cleverness, making it impossible to stop as I eagerly devoured all the crazy twists and turns in the characters’ wild lives.

BOOK 98 OF 2025📚

TILL SUMMER DO US PART

By: Meghan Quinn

STAR RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Bride by Ali Hazelwood was such a wild ride that had me hooked from the very first page—I just couldn’t put it down! I was up until 3am, totally absorbed by the amazing mix of drama and intrigue. The chemistry between the FMC (Misery) and the MMC (Owen) was off the charts, packed with clever banter and tension that kept me on the edge of my seat. Their playful back-and-forth felt super real and relatable, making their connection something special. And even though the story features a Vampire and a Werewolf, don’t get it twisted; it’s not just your typical “fantasy.” This book goes way deeper, diving into serious themes of love, identity, and the raw struggle for belonging in a world that loves to draw lines between us.

BOOK 97 OF 2025📚

BRIDE

By: Ali Hazelwood

STAR RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#2025readingchallenge #goodreads #readingwithrese

I just immersed myself in The Pale Court Series by Liv Zander, choosing to review them collectively rather than dissecting them one at a time. The first book, King of Flesh & Bone, was a real challenge for me. Although I’m usually a fervent admirer of Liv Zander’s storytelling, this installment struck me as tragically underdeveloped, with prose that often felt like a relic of an old poem—delightfully intricate yet frustratingly difficult to navigate. Though I followed along with the audiobook, and shoulders some blame on the narrators, the truth remains: the book failed to seize my heart. Yet, ever determined and unwilling to leave a story unfinished, I pressed on, and by the time I reached book 2, Queen of Rot & Pain, I was rewarded with a significant shift. Perhaps this was due to a deeper storyline mingling with less overt sensuality this go-around. Don’t misunderstand me; I relish a passionate scene as much as anyone, but there’s an exquisite balance to be found between eroticism and narrative depth. Still, it was hard to ignore the evident lack of world and character development—an aspect that yearns for attention.

BOOK 96 OF 2025📚

QUEEN OF ROT & PAIN

By: Liv Zander

STAR RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

#2025readingchallenge #goodreads #readingwithrese

I just immersed myself in The Pale Court Series by Liv Zander, choosing to review them collectively rather than dissecting them one at a time. The first book, King of Flesh & Bone, was a real challenge for me. Although I’m usually a fervent admirer of Liv Zander’s storytelling, this installment struck me as tragically underdeveloped, with prose that often felt like a relic of an old poem—delightfully intricate yet frustratingly difficult to navigate. Though I followed along with the audiobook, and shoulders some blame on the narrators, the truth remains: the book failed to seize my heart. Yet, ever determined and unwilling to leave a story unfinished, I pressed on, and by the time I reached book 2, Queen of Rot & Pain, I was rewarded with a significant shift. Perhaps this was due to a deeper storyline mingling with less overt sensuality this go-around. Don’t misunderstand me; I relish a passionate scene as much as anyone, but there’s an exquisite balance to be found between eroticism and narrative depth. Still, it was hard to ignore the evident lack of world and character development—an aspect that yearns for attention.

BOOK 95 OF 2025📚

KING OF FLESH & BONE

By: Liv Zander

STAR RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

#2025readingchallenge #goodreads #readingwithrese

First off, let’s get one thing straight—I never wanted to dive into another incomplete series, but here we are. I genuinely believed this was a standalone, so the jaw-dropping ending hit me like a freight train. Surprise! This book is just the beginning of a 3-book saga. Great, right? It’ll be a torturous two years before I uncover how it all ends. But let me set that disappointment aside for a moment, because this book? It’s nothing short of AMAZING!! Sure, it shares traits with the typical fare of this genre, but it also delivers a fresh twist. Just when I thought I had the plot figured out, Devney Perry flipped the script and left me reeling. And that cliffhanger at the end? Absolutely unforgettable. The way she intricately weaves the characters and builds the tension is downright masterful. I am practically on the edge of my seat, craving to see how this story evolves in the upcoming books. A definite 5-star read that demands your attention!

BOOK 94 OF 2025📚

SHIELD OF SPARROWS

By: Devney Perry

STAR RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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I find myself torn about Priest by Sierra Simone; the Catholic girl within me gasped, “I can’t believe I just experienced that!” while the smutty girl in me yearned, “I crave more of Tyler Bell in my life!” So, I settled somewhere in between and gave it a 3. At its core, this is a riveting tale of a man who stumbles upon love, bravely navigating the tumultuous seas of his emotions while wrestling with the heavy burden of his faith. His internal conflict is both haunting and relatable, as he daringly questions everything he once held to be sacred, ultimately facing a heart-wrenching choice between God and Poppy—an enchanting woman who fiercely challenges every belief he clings to. The electrifying tension between his sacred duties and his deepest desires envelops you, pulling you into a story where passion, spirituality, and the relentless search for personal identity collide, leaving you breathless and contemplative about the sacrifices we willingly make for love. Would I recommend this book? It all depends on which side of me you ask.

BOOK 93 OF 2025📚

PRIEST

By: Sierra Simone

STAR RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

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You can never go wrong when you pick up a Christina Lauren book, and The Paradise Problem was no exception. It danced between laughter and heartbreak, pulling at my very soul. I was utterly captivated by the FMC; her chaotic charm was a vibrant contrast to the MMC’s stoic demeanor. This story is a breathtaking exploration of opposites attracting in the most enchanting way.

BOOK 92 OF 2025📚

THE PARADISE PROBLEM

By: Christina Lauren

STAR RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Wow! I think I went through an entire box of tissues! The last book, Goldfinch, in The Plated Prisoner Series by Raven Kennedy was an exhilarating emotional rollercoaster! One moment, I was poised to hurl the book across the room in sheer frustration, and the next, I was teetering on the edge of my seat, utterly entranced. I was a blubbering mess, completely consumed by the overwhelming intensity of it all. My heart aches for more! I felt an undeniable spark between Emonie and Ryatt, leaving me desperately yearning for their story to continue. If you crave a series that will bring you to your knees and lift you back up again, you absolutely must read this.

BOOK 91 OF 2025📚

GOLDFINCH

By: Raven Kennedy

STAR RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#2025readingchallenge #goodreads #readingwithrese

I went into the fifth book of The Plated Prisoner Series bracing myself for disappointment. Auren and Slade spent the entire book apart, and I was convinced it would fall flat, but how mistaken I was! It delivers two captivating worlds and four intertwining stories, all poised on the brink of convergence. To my surprise, I found myself growing fond of Queen Malina, her depth adding layers to the narrative. The experience was utterly heart-wrenching and nail-biting, leaving me gasping at the cliffhanger. I’m yearning for the last book to arrive, even though my heart isn’t ready to bid farewell to this incredible journey.

BOOK 90 OF 2025📚

GOLD

By: Raven Kennedy

STAR RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#2025readingchallenge #goodreads #readingwithrese

Raven Kennedy – you’ve done it again! You absolutely crushed it with the fourth installment of The Plated Prison Series, Glow. I have to confess, I was a bit anxious at first. The opening half of the book didn’t grip me like Gleam did, but wow, it transformed into a whirlwind of emotion. That first half masterfully explores the strength and love shared among the characters, grounding them so that when the heart-wrenching twists hit, we’re blindsided. By the end, I was sobbing uncontrollably. I can’t wait another second—I’m diving straight into the next book!

BOOK 89 OF 2025📚

GLOW

By: Raven Kennedy

STAR RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#2025readingchallenge #goodreads #readingwithrese