ljamison01's reviews
919 reviews

Meant for Gabriel by Natasha Madison

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lighthearted 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? No

5.0

I’ve read 3 of the 4 books in this series and it’s always great when old characters from previous books show up in the new books. Good to check in with old favorites. In this book Zara is all ready to get married and after finding her perfect dress she finds her fiancé in a delicate situation with his coworker. So she decides it’s time to leave town and go off and regroup. Well her first night there she visits the local bar and ends up spending the night with Gabriel. Now it’s few days later when she discovers Gabriel is the cousin of her sister in law. Gabriel is really so smitten with her. He wants to get to know her and spend lots more time together. She’s adamant that she’s only there for a short period of time so let’s have fun and then I’m leaving. However, after leaving she finds out that there are ramifications from their intimate moments. Now is this city girl willing to go back and commit to this cowboy or will these two with their large meddling families try to find a middle ground they both can agree too. Great fast paced romantic story with wonderful main and secondary characters. A terrific read even if you haven’t read the other books in this series. 
Imperfect Match by Vikki Jay

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

5.0

Charles is a grumpy boss. He prefers to a be around his family and very few other people. He doesn’t like crowds or the media. However, he is up for a very big job and since he keeps his life very private. The board doesn’t know if he will be a good fit even though it’s his family’s company. They want to see him involved in a relationship something to show he is somewhat human. Now Daisy is his secretary and she’s a little out there with her style and colors. She drives him crazy with pink post it’s and pink napkins. She is trying to inject color into his gray world. They co-exist and seem to get along well in the office. However, when the idea is proposed to him that he get married for convenience the only person he will consider is Daisy. Now Daisy may be flattered but is clearly not interested she’s just getting out of bad relationship. However, she agrees and suddenly this relationship is on different footing. They are seeing each other in a different light. Charles is getting possessive of her and protective and Daisy is falling in love with her grumpy boss/husband. Very cute story. I actually liked Charles and didn’t perceive him as a grump just very particular. This is definitely a slow burn but the story was enjoyable. 
The Summer I First Saw You by Elizabeth O'Roark

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funny medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

I hate coming in on the end of something. I believe this is the last book in the series and I hadn’t read the other four so I felt at a disadvantage. However, this book reads as a standalone although other characters are mentioned. Harrison is the great guy that everyone can rely and depend on. Whereas, Daisy is a little wild, mischievous and very sunshiny happy. Daisy traveled to California to spend the summer with her mother and when that doesn’t work out she persuades/tricks Harrison to let her stay with him in his house. Now, Harrison is just getting over his divorce and he’s drinking too much and really in just a bad slump. Daisy has had a crush on this man just about her whole life. So what she really wants is to get Harrison back into a good place. So she does what she can to help him and he does what he can to avoid her. She is his best friend’s niece and he feels weird being attracted to her. I love an age gap romance and this is my very first book by this author and I was not disappointed. I enjoyed their story and I loved the cute banter between them. 
Emperor of Wrath by Jagger Cole

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

5.0

In this book, Annika and Kenzo are forced to marry to create a treaty between the Yakuza and the Bratva. Kenzo and Annika have a history. In a previous book we knew that Kenzo was searching for Annika and that something had occurred between them. Well Annika had taken something from Kenzo and he wanted to make her suffer. Kenzo is now my new favorite book boyfriend, he is tough, aggressive, possessive, a great dirty talker and so loving towards his family (who I am assuming will be featured in future books.) As in all Jagger Cole’s book this one had mystery, violence, action and lots of spice. I’m a little perturbed that the kink that Kenzo liked wasn’t featured more in this book. But, I loved the story between them and their relationship was so good. Annika appeared to be a very strong character in a previous book and in this one I found her not as strong and I was a little disappointed. Annika was able to steal and swindle others but emotionally she was very fragile and I just expected her to be more of a strong force. Great book besides my minor disappointments. If you love his books, this one will not disappoint in any way. 

Dirty Rotten Cheating Husband: A Second Chance Romance by Katie Landry

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

5.0

Clementine was a shy mousy woman who married a very attractive accountant that was lying to her. She thought this strong, handsome man was the answer to her dreams, she had no idea he was her nightmare. Grayson was an FBI agent who was cheating on her and lying about everything. This book does not shy away from the cheating, it is upfront and in your face and I appreciated that. It is told from both POV’s so you can see how both characters feel. I loved the confrontations between the two and how Clementine grew and evolved from the lying and cheating. This book has an exceptional grovel. When Grayson realizes how much he has blown it with Clementine he does his best to grovel, apologize, accept scraps and take all the abuse he is due. I loved this book. I applaud the author for tackling a trope that many refuse to read or write about. I noticed that there are other cheating books by this author that I intend to read. The cheating trope is a hard to find trope and I’m glad that this author is willing to fill that void.
Tackled in the Stacks: A Love Letters Prequel by S.J. Tilly

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

5.0

This short prequel to Love, Utley reads like a novella. Hannah is new to the college campus and see Maddox the football star on campus and she is intrigued by him. Maddox is equally fascinated by her. In fact he tries to follow her to get to know her and she accidentally hits her nose on his hard body. Hannah is a junior accounting student and Maddox is a senior. He quickly finds out that Hannah works in the library and stalks her. This is a very cute, short interlude in the life of Hannah and Maddox before the book. Great lighthearted short story. 
Red Zone by Nicole Dykes

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emotional medium-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

Poor Dallas. How awful to feel different and have to suppress it because of others. Dallas is a senior in high school, he’s a football player and a confused young man. Dallas’s actions caused a man to lose his job and for Dallas to do some foolish things. Now that senior year is here Dallas just wants to keep his head down and hope this year flies by. Unfortunately on his first day he is confronted by Colt. Colt is a great guy who got out of his small town so that he could live. He loves his family and wants the best for his sister. Now, Colt is accusing him of fathering his nephew and thinks that he needs to step up. Dallas is being browbeaten by his parents, his pastor, the coach and his teammates. He has one legitimate friend. But, no matter what Dallas does or says Colt will not give up on him. Colt wants him to take a DNA test but he agrees to getting to know Dallas first. The getting to know each other is the interesting part, Colt admits to being bisexual. Poor Dallas’s mind is blown since he had no idea there were other ways people could identify themselves. Colt really does try to be there for Dallas and help him understand he is not bad or wrong. This is truly a sweet, story you can’t help but feel for Dallas and hope that there aren’t places as backwards as this place is. I loved this story this was my first book by this author however, I see that there is one previous book about the town of Big Bend Bear. She also has other books that I intend to read. If you enjoy books about men discovering their love for other men in such a wonderfully sweet, considerate and thoughtful manner please give this book a try. 
Broken Pact by Penelope Black

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mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Coraline was finally about to achieve her goal of opening up her own bakery and suddenly she’s being harassed by the new landlord demanding more rent and an ex boyfriend. Coraline is at her wits end until her ex Jagger decides to step in. Jagger and Coraline had been involved in a relationship and they had broken up over some misunderstandings and Coraline really resented Jagger. But, at the first sign of trouble he was there to help her and provide her with a fake relationship. Coraline was a tough, sassy woman who was strong and capable. Jagger was a great guy who was very possessive and protective of his woman. 
Although this book is considered a standalone it was very apparent that previous book lay the foundation of this book. It explains previous characters and relationships and even provided information on Jagger and Coraline. So to fully enjoy this book one must read the previous books by Penelope Black. This book had mystery, suspense and spice. I love a second chance romance because I enjoy angst and there is plenty in this book. But, read the back list books of this author to fully appreciate this book. 
One Wealthy Wedding by Sophia Travers

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funny lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This is my favorite book by this author. I have read several books by her but this book just seemed to have everything. It’s an enemies to lovers, rich reversal book. Cat grew up very wealthy but had a terrible relationship with her father and stepmother. She was neglected and ignored. As she got older her father tried to control her by forcing her to marry a particular man who was under his thumb. Her father wants her controlling shares of the company he has been running for 30 years and since Cat refused to comply her, he has disinherited her and thrown her out of her home. She is currently destitute and working as a bartender until she can get someone who isn’t afraid of her father to marry her so she can inherit the company shares and several properties. Who walks into her bar but Theo, the housekeeper’s son. Theo grew up poor but because his mother loved Cat, and since Theo and Cat shared the same birthday they spent a lot of time together. They were both very infatuated with each other. After a kiss that happened and some misunderstanding they both think the other person broke off with them. So now Theo is wealthy and willing to marry Cat for the year, but neither has told the truth about all those years ago. Theo has no idea of Cat’s true situation. Ohhhh the angst. I loved it. Theo wants Cat. Cat wants Theo. The attraction and feelings are there but there is so much muck to swirl in. This was a page turner for me, interesting, great banter, nice spice and I just loved the fact that they both were so obviously smitten with each. Great book if your looking for a lighthearted romance.


Look, Don't Touch: A Dark Billionaire Romance by Meg Everly, Meg Everly

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

5.0

I love books where someone is in or going to therapy, maybe because as I child I wanted to be a psychiatrist and I truly think everyone could benefit from seeing a therapist. So knowing that Arlo was seeing a therapist to help with his issue of not liking touch or to touch others was great. But, his therapist Hailey is also suffering since she is unable to connect to others (specifically men). So we have these two dysfunctional people working together and both have had trauma in their lives and unfortunately are still working through it. I enjoyed the therapy sessions between these two because the banter was incredible. Although Arlo wants her help he’s not going to make it easy for her. The majority of the book is told from only Hailey’s point of view which is great but I desperately wanted Arlo’s POV on certain moments. However, when we finally get his it certainly adds a different dimension to this book. This book is very spicy and there are BDSM aspects as well. There are trigger warnings so be mindful to read them. This book is the first in a trilogy and the ending of this book sets us up nicely for the next book