ashley_webb13's reviews
117 reviews

Earth Boys Are Easy by C. Rochelle

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adventurous funny medium-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? It's complicated

4.0

Space Daddy and Babygirl for the win! 
How I loved this story. I loved the Villainous Things series and this was just as good. 
Micah is so sweet and kinda sensitive. His family doesn’t seem to see how amazing he is. Ziggy is a bit aloof at first, we’ve met him in past books. Being around Micah helps opens Ziggy up, allows him to trust others, and to love. 
Like the books in the Villainous Things series, Earth Boys Are Easy had me cackling throughout the entire book. We also have the sweet and cutesy moments between the characters, and of course the jealousy, as our boys make their way through galaxy on their space adventure. 
Then towards the end, I really thought all hope was lost for Ziggy and Micah, I maybe even shed a tear, but our boy Ziggy was pretty genius. 
This is an amazing book with wonderful characters. The side characters (aliens) are awesome and I hope we get to see more of them if there are future books. 
Temperance by Lark Taylor

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emotional fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The way I have been waiting for Toby and Blaise, omg! I devoured this book, much like the rest of the series. During Harlow’s book Devil May Care (my favorite🩶), I didn’t think I could like Blaise to be honest, but throughout the series and then the connection series we see a lot more of Blaise and he started to peak my interest along with Toby the tiny vampire. 
Toby and Blaise are hot together, they have Dom/Sub relationship at first, plot twist, Toby being the Dom. These two are both broken in different ways. Toby tries to help Blaise find happiness in life again but what about him? I loved seeing them navigate through their feelings and to be honest stubbornness.  
This book is a must read. 
Outplayed by Courtney W. Dixon

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funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Aspen and Cooper were adorable to be honest. Cooper moves in with Aspen, at that point they’re strangers but quickly become friends. 
Aspen has this happy go lucky, live life to the fullest attitude. I loved Aspen from the very beginning. Cooper was a bit more reserved, a little shy and timid. He basically lives his life to please everyone but himself. 
Aspen and Cooper hear a story about “bro-jobs” at a small get together and that sparks the idea with Aspen so he propositions Cooper who agrees, no strings attached, no feelings. We all know how the “no feelings” thing goes and they both develop feelings. 
This was a great read to me, probably one of my faves by Courtney so far and I typically like the grittier books. Not to say this book didn’t have all the emotions. My poor baby Aspen went through it. I defiantly recommend this book, it’s fun, spicy, emotional, and we get our HEA. 
Restless by Willow Thomas

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funny hopeful medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Omg this book! I loved it so much. This is the first book I’ve read by Willow Thomas and now I need to go back and read Lexi’s story because I gotta know what happened there. 

Giovanni (Gio) is a cheerleader and Tucker is a football player at the same college. Sort of in the same friend group. Tuckers ex cheated on him so when he approaches Gio with the idea of them going out Gio thinks he’ll be a rebound so is constantly turning Tucker down. Finally he gives in but says it’s just sex but Tucker is determined to make Gio his.

I absolutely loved Tucker! The things he said and his inner monologue had me cackling. Gio is a little more broody but had a big heart. These two have great chemistry and are just adorable. Gio’s family is amazing. I loved the entire friend group. That epilogue was perfect! I’m so glad they got their HEA. I’m looking forward to more books in the series. 
*arc review*
Shutter Bug by Vari Scott

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medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I devoured this book omg! This is my first book by this author and it did not disappoint. Bowie and Mason are everything!

Now this isn’t the typical billionaire romance because I’ll be honest that’s not my favorite trope. Usually it’s a slightly older, grumpy, douche of a billionaire that meets their golden retriever, sunshine partner. However in Shutter Bug we get Mason, a young (24), rambling, golden retriever/sunshine type billionaire and Bowie, a slightly older (30), grumpy photographer (he’s very successful as well but no billionaire).
These two meet when Mason is doing the 30 under 30 shoot for a magazine. 

Bowie is grumpy and  jaded because of a bad breakup but deep down he has a very sweet side. Mason was so sweet, and embraced his newfound sexuality, he even went as far as to go to a gay bar to see if he was attracted to men or if it was just Bowie. That’s when things get really interesting as Bowie happens to be there thinking he may be able to stop thinking about Mason if he can find someone else BUT he sees Mason dancing with two men and gets crazy jealous, even though there’s nothing between them at the time. 

Bowie and Mason start as a friends with benefits type thing, under the rouse of protecting Mason from being taken advantage of. They agree only sex, no feelings but they catch feelings and only Mason seems to be able to own it, as Bowie is still hung up on being hurt by his ex. These two had some amazing chemistry. I also really loved the side characters, both MCs had a great support group and I really loved that. 

There were a lot of times I wanted to punch Bowie in the throat for the way he jerked Mason around, hot and cold, afraid of his feelings. And the whole mess with Cara towards the end, he was a straight up douche and that’s the only thing I had an issue with, Bowie should have had to freaking grovel on his hands and knees to have Mason back. 

I’ve read strictly MM for over a year now but I kinda want to go back and read Teddy’s story and Wyatt’s when it comes out. I definitely recommend this book. 
*arc review*
Jaxon by Ruby Raynes

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funny lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Hello Daddy Jaxon! Whew. This is my first book by Ruby Raynes and it did not disappoint. 
Alex and Jaxon are already… sort of friends? They’re in a friend circle so they know each other. Alex is crushing on Jaxon so hard and tbh I don’t blame him at all. The characters inner monologuing is hilarious.
Our poor Alex literally has his world falling apart around him and Jaxon offers for Alex to stay in his home as long as he needs. Jaxon for the win! 
Jaxon fights his attraction for Alex having been hurt before, it’s an age thing. He quickly realizes that it’s no use fighting what they both want and Alex is nothing like the man who hurt him. 
Both characters have trauma they work through throughout the story but I love the support group they have in their friends. 
Now I need to go back and read Finn because I need to know what happened there. Totally looking forward to the next book.
This Is My Church by Sasha Avice

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emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

This book was interesting. We’ve met Lacy in previous books but I didn’t realize his extracurriculars were so….extreme. Then we have Thad who is super religious. There’s a pretty heavy religious aspect to this book, so just know that going in. 
The story as a whole wasn’t bad at all. I did enjoy their friendship build up during practice, and hanging out and then the inevitable relationship. Both characters had a lot of issues, Lacy with his drug usage and sex parties and Thad with his religious hang ups to the point where he wasn’t really living life in my opinion. 
One thing I didn’t realize was that even once Lacy and Thad were together, Lacy still wanted to participate in these “parties” even though Thad would be there…..watching. I didn’t quite understand his NEED for these parties, it was a lot. I don’t want to yuck anyone’s yum, I can handle reading about sex parties and multiple partners at once, however I expected that to stop once the main MCs were together but Thad just went along and let other men use Lacy and that was that, he felt like Lacy was safer as long as he was there and could tell them to stop. 
There is a breakup in the book so there’s a bit of time jumping. That was kinda difficult for me because Lacy claimed to love Thad but still slept with others soon after their breakup. They do, however, eventually get their HEA.
*arc review*
Summer of You by Joelle Lynne

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emotional hopeful medium-paced

4.0

Summer of You is a sweet, second chance, MM romance.
Nathan moves back into his mom’s home after graduating college and not being able to find a job. Nathan’s mom boots him out for partying too much and has him go stay with his uncle and work. 
Enter Chase the boy (now man) that Nathan left behind 4 years prior and swore he would come back for. Chase that poor baby has been through so much, his character resonated with me due to his loss. Chase and Nathan work together over the summer and start to rebuild their relationship. 
Chase still holds on to a lot of hurt and resentment towards Nathan and Nathan still harbors a ton of guilt. I loved seeing them navigate  through their new relationship. They really had to learn to forgive each other and themselves. There were times I wasn’t sure if I liked Nathan, especially when he tells Chase his reason for not coming back. 
There’s not a lot of angst in this book, but definitely some spice. I definitely recommend this story, it’s sweet, steamy and we get our HEA.
*arc review*
Not So Casual by Ashley Rayne

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lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Not So Casual is a sweet and spicy novella. We follow Alexander and Elias in this story. Alexander is Elias’s boss. They are both attracted to the other but have never acted on because of the work relationship. 
After a pretty embarrassing night where Elias ends up calling Alexander while drunk at a club, Alexander comes in (somewhat jealously) and takes Elias home and tends to him (nothing happens here). Elias gets bold in the office come Monday and comes on pretty strong and things take off quickly from there. 
They try to keep things casual even though Elias isn’t really one for “casual.” They both start to develop feelings for each other and things end up not so casual after all. 
There’s not a lot of drama in the book. It’s a quick, fun, and spicy read. I loved it and definitely recommend. 
*arc review*
Just a Taste by Briar Prescott

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emotional funny medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

I enjoyed this story, however I felt the ‘marriage of convenience’ and ‘step-brother’ tropes were a bit loose fitting once I got into the story. 

I honestly thought, going into the book that the marriage of convenience was going to be a big part of the story, however we get through the marriage and then poof it’s 6 months later. I expected…. More…? I actually found myself wondering if they were still married. 
Tbh the stepbrother thing was pretty much irrelevant, no one knew about it and that parent had passed away. There’s something else to that as well but I don’t want to spoil it.

Ryker is sweetheart, he really has always looked out for Lake. When he finds out Lake won’t be able to receive financial aid anymore he propositions Lake with the marriage of convenience to basically access the trust fund that Lake’s father left to Ryker instead of Lake. 

There’s definitely physical chemistry between the two. Ryker is having his bi-awakening and is going through all the emotions. 
Lake was definitely the grumpy to Ryker’s sunshine. Lake is constantly pushing Ryker away and keeping him at arms length, serious abandonment issues that one has and understandably so. Lake finally comes to his senses and wants to go all in with Ryker and then Ryker gets put through the wringer and tbh it was kind of refreshing, Lake getting a little taste of how he treated Ryker. 

It ends in a HFN, I guess there may be another part to their story but I don’t want to assume, however I do wish I had known before hand, i usually wait for both books to be out before reading. Overall I enjoyed this book I just wish the tropes played out more throughout the story. 
*arc review*