Alejandro's Sorceress

Review:

Rose is a witch, Alejandro is an agent with the paranormal FBI. Alejandro and his partner are tasked with removing a basilisk in Rose's family's garden. After it turns Alejandro's partner to stone, things get interesting. 
While I liked the writing and the banter/interplay between the characters (grandma is funny), there was no world building. It mentioned the paranormal were "out" and Atlanteans, but not anything else. I would have liked more on Alejandro's background too.

 

 

 

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1883466/alejandro-s-sorceress

Duke of Midnight

Review:

I thought Artemis was such a kick-ass heroine. She does what she can for her brother and later Maximus. I thought Maximus started out just okay. It took most of the book for him to get his head out of his ass. Did get answers about Maximus's parents murder that he blames himself for. 

[spoiler]

He was a spoiled brat whose 14 yr old self threw a hissy fit. They were in St Giles looking for him when they were killed.

[/spoiler]

I am interested in Apollo and am interested in finding out what happened the night he was drunk (and 3 of his friends bloody bodies were found next to him). Does he clear his name? I also really want to read Phoebe's story (I think her book is after Apollo's....).
Asa made a brief appearance at the end. He appears to be friends with Apollo.

 

 

 

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1883464/duke-of-midnight

Absolutely, Positively

Review:

Better than book 2. I liked the mysteries and how they tied into each other. I really liked Lucy's full acceptance of her abilities and how she slowly is learning more it herself. I wish Sean would open more for Lucy- he does in this one, but I think he stills to do more since Lucy is pretty much an open book.

[spoiler]

Sean is a former foster kid. His brother Sam isn't his biological brother, but rather chosen family. Lucy's parents are back together- for now. I also still think that while Cupid Curse may have had power at one time, it's power lies mainly in the individual's mind. Do they believe it or not? 

[/spoiler]

 

 

 

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1879424/absolutely-positively

Indigo

Review:

As someone who enjoys historical romance, the majority of the books are set in England with titled people meeting and falling in love. As a Lover of Romance (LOR) if I want to read a different setting, time period, etc, I have to look for it. So when a Buddy Read was announced, this was the perfect time to pick this one up.
Hester (or as Galen calls her, Indigo) was born a slave. She was found and freed by her aunt. She sees love as a weakness and something to be avoided because her father gave up his freedom to marry her mother who was a slave. Slavery killed him and separated her from her mother. However, her mother at the foresight to cut off part of her pinky so someone could identify her. Her feet and hands are indigo from working on an indigo plantation.
Her aunt was an active participant with the Underground Railroad and Hester continues her work. That's how she meets Galen. I understood her resistance to him at first, but he proved to be serious and eventually earned her trust. If memory serves, he also professed his love first too. I didn't like the circumstances of their marriage. 

[spoiler]

After proposing more than once and Hester telling him no each time, he publicly proposed in church and forced Hester's hand. 

[/spoiler]

Someone in their community is a traitor. After learning who it was, I liked that it wasn't straight up "this person is bad!" There were (realistic) reasons for their actions, with both the opportunity to make it right and have forgiveness. 
Both Hester and Galen are relate-able, strong, empathetic and I loved reading their story. The time-period and background is one I haven't found in historical romance. I also learned some things (the Free Produce Movement). 
I would like books for Raymond & Gail
One thing that took me out of the book was being consistently reminded of Hester's innocence/virginity. "virgin's curiosity" & "virgin's body." I. Get. It.

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1878263/indigo

Nasty Women

Review:

This took me awhile to get through; mainly because I opted to read 1-2 each day. As someone who did not vote for this asshole (I refuse to say his name), but know many people who did (and continue to think he is doing a great job!), it's refreshing to know there so many out there who think as I do. I loved the varied viewpoints in this (Asian, Black, Latino, Native, White, gay, non-binary, straight). At the end, I had to ask myself what essay stuck out to me? I can't do a top 3, so here are the top 5 (and this was hard, but these are the ones that resonated the most with me): 
Trust Black Women by Zerlina Maxwell (Black women show up and vote for the Dems)
As Long As It's Healthy by Sarah Michael Hollenbeck (disability)
All American by Nicole Chung (who is an American?)
Nasty Native Women by Mary Kathryn Nagle (discrimination of Native Women)
Dispatches From a Texas Militarized Zone by Melissa Arjona (living along the border)
That being said, all of these have something worthwhile to say. In a perfect world, this would be mandatory reading before the next election.

 

 

 

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1878251/nasty-women

Rock Hard

Review:

This is Charlotte's story (Molly's BF from Rock Addiction). While this is part of a series, this stands by itself just fine. It was hinted at a something traumatic happening to Charlotte in RA. As a result, I enjoyed the slow burn romance (and could believe the attraction) as Charlotte slowly builds confidence. I could see Gabriel and Charlotte together as they each help the other out. I think they complimented each other very well. Enjoyable.

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1875489/rock-hard

Forever Wicked

Review:

I'm surprised at how much I liked this; it had a lot of my pet peeves. A couple who do not talk, trust, and make assumptions about each other. Jason got Gia benched (which could make case she would have been benched anyway since she wasn't following protocol- or got dead. But either way it was high ended and I didn't like it). All that aside, I was pleasantly surprised.

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1874177/forever-wicked