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karenmsecrest's reviews
296 reviews
A Rogue by Any Other Name by Sarah MacLean
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Gambling! Revenge! Sex! Threats of ruination! The first in a series. It's Sarah MacLean, so the story and dialogue and writing are basically perfect. But, the hero starts out as a real asshat and his manipulation and obsession with revenge makes him my least favorite rake in the MacLeanaverse.
No Good Duke Goes Unpunished by Sarah MacLean
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
A big tough Duke, a feisty lady, a gaming hell, a nearly fatal fight, revenge, justice, and a sick bed.
A top 5 Sarah MacLean book.
A top 5 Sarah MacLean book.
A Holly Jolly Ever After by Sierra Simone, Julie Murphy
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Contemporary holiday romance with HIGH spice level. Very sex positive, lots of representation, tons of steam. Part of a series, though I read as a stand alone.
There is a pregnancy plot for much of the book.
There is a pregnancy plot for much of the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy
Merry Inkmas by Talia Hibbert
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Great for: a novella-length holiday read with representation.
Not great: distracted by the anatomical impossibility of the bedroom scene.
Not great: distracted by the anatomical impossibility of the bedroom scene.
Content Warnings
Minor: Domestic abuse
Three Holidays and a Wedding by Uzma Jalaluddin, Marissa Stapley
Did not finish book. Stopped at 6%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 6%.
Read the reviews. Zero spice. Returned to the library so someone else could read it.
The Finest Print by Erin Langston
Did not finish book. Stopped at 50%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 50%.
Ok? I wanted to like this, but not invested in the characters and the first smutty scene is generic.
Desert Star by Michael Connelly
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The Bosch series is 20+ years old, but this latest release does a good job balancing a police mystery with the distrust and “bad apples” in today’s zeitgeist.
When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Small and the Mighty: Twelve Unsung Americans Who Changed the Course of History by Sharon McMahon
inspiring
fast-paced
5.0
Inspiring stories of Americans, (some known, some unknown) who did the next needed thing to improve their communities and the country.
Told in an engaging voice, with humor, wit, and a focus on the people who are often overlooked in history books.
Told in an engaging voice, with humor, wit, and a focus on the people who are often overlooked in history books.
A Fire in the Sky by Sophie Jordan
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
First in a series and my first time reading a “romantasy” about dragons. Magical elements! Twist! Spice!