missdevo's reviews
290 reviews

 This book seriously spoke to my soul. The character of Marcela feels so familiar to me because I can see so much of my own experience in her. For this to be Gabriella Gamez's debut novel makes me excited to see more from her! I know that we all share large parts of the human experience, but as a seriously bookish girl who grew up plus size and Mexican-American, this story felt almost created for me.
The way that Gamez writes the inner thoughts and feelings of Marcela as she navigates the world feels authentic to the point that she could have been reading my diary. It's so real. The 1st person POV we get only from Marcela really drives the emotional tension as we try to figure out the motives of those around her through her eyes. Her world is colored by her experiences as a bigger girl, and they felt very familiar to me. I really appreciate the nuanced characterization Marcela is given. It's not one cliche after another, and it eventually causes her to challenge why she's been settling for less. This is one of the first times in my adult life that I've read a book where I really felt like I had so much in common with the main character. I also loved that the story is dramatic and messy, and had real stakes to it.
There's an argument to be made that Theo could be one of the great book boyfriends. He falls first, and we love that for Marcela. He sees her in a way that no one really has before. He appreciates her enough to make a real effort to woo her. Theo is the essence of "if he wanted to he would" in this novel. Is there anything sexier than a man who listens and pays attention to what you care about and value in the world?
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well written spicy rom-com. This book contains some of my favorite tropes, the long term pining, the angst of unrequited love, best friend's older brother, and more make for an engaging read from start to finish.
Thank you so much to Netgalley, Gabriella Gamez, and Forever(Grand Central Publishing) for the ARC opportunity. 

 Charlotte Fournier is the little sister of professional hockey player Harrison Fournier. Harrison plays for the New Orleans Phantoms alongside his childhood best friend Jace Theriot. Mateo Reed and Roman Martinez are also teammates and best friends who find themselves, along with Jace harboring their teammate's off limits little sister while she tries to find her footing after an ugly breakup. All that togetherness has the heat climbing in their shared apartment.
This why choose hockey romance has some of my favorite romance tropes in it. It's MMFM with sword crossing, hand necklaces, brother's best friend, bi-awakening, it was always you... and more. With 4 main characters there's a lot of character development to get through, but it doesn't feel labored. Once the spice hits though, it's got most of the bandwidth of the rest of the book. I'm not mad about it though. Jace has been suppressing his feelings so long that when he breaks, his feral unhinged release made me want to kick my feet and giggle. Add in Mateo's brash dominant energy, and Roman's regimented routines, and Charlie never stood a chance. Not that she wanted to... I really enjoyed this story, and hope this is the start of a series in this world. It won't be easy to redeem Harrison after he acted like such a douche, but I do love a good redemption story. I hope he and Meghan get their own book too! 

Backcheck Heart is the first story in the LA Crush Hockey series by Kat Summer. It's a novella, but it still packs a wallop. Morgan has a big sunshiny personality, and some people in her life have made her feel like she's too much. Enter our grumpy Czech hero Radek "Ralphie" Nokavik, a secret cinnamon roll who falls hard and fast for Morgan and can't wait to show her he can't get enough. 
     I loved the theme that's woven into this story about never being "too much" to the right people. The emotional journey for Morgan is well written and pulled me in completely. I appreciate her ability to open up to Ralphie after her past experiences. Ralphie is top tier book boyfriend material. He's so sweet and afraid of being too forward that someone who's been through what Morgan has isn't sure quite where she stands. Like all the greats though, when it's go time, his switch flips and he unleashes the filthy mouthed protective stud inside. 
     This book is a quick fun read with some emotional impact. Novellas can be hit or miss for me, but this one definitely made me want to read more in this series. Thanks to Yours Truly PR & Kat Summers for the ARC opportunity to review. 

     This is a dark college bully romance between the star hockey player at Crown Point University and the former ballerina he is obsessed with. Greyson Devereux is a little twisted, a lot vindictive, and super compelling. While Violet starts out in position of the victim of the story, the development of her character takes twists that are unexpected and engaging. He's not as strong as he appears, and she's not as weak as she seems. The push and pull between them while they battle it out leads to some seriously hot and spicy scenes. I appreciate that Violet doesn't cower, and that she makes Greyson work for it.
     I listened to the audio of this book, and the narration by Teddy Hamilton and Heather Firth is great. Personally, I like to go into books blind, but if you've got some sensitivities you may want to check the content warnings. 
     

Down the rabbit hole I go...
4.5 ⭐
     This book pulled me in so fast. My anxiety creeped higher and higher as the meter on my kindle got to 70%, 80%, 90% - and I needed more! This one ends in a doozy of a cliffhanger, but thankfully the wait won't be long for more from this series since the next book comes out later this summer. 
     This book is the first in a new series (The Boys of South Chapel), and I am ready to admit I'm hooked and along for the ride. I enjoyed the tension building as the narrative jumped back and forth in time. The time jumps are handled masterfully while trickling details from multiple points of view along the way as we get to know the characters. 
     When I tell you this book will have you turned any which way but loose, I mean it. Ms. Millsaps knows how to put her readers through the ringer and they still come out begging for more. We're taken from the depth of trauma and tragedy to the heights of spice and sizzle. I laughed, I gasped, I blushed, and I couldn't put this book down. I don't want to spoil anything, but I will say this book could be difficult to read for people with certain sensitivities. I would suggest checking the content warnings if you have concerns. As for me, I am impatiently awaiting the next installment. 💙

From the ridiculous to the sublime...
 Lauren Blakely has another smash on her hands. The characters, the story, the emotional hook, and the delicious spice all come together in this delightful package. I've been a long time fan of this author's work, so I was excited to see her enter the hockey romance subgenre in a big way. I was not disappointed!
Blakely is a rom-com icon, and her chops are definitely on show here, starting with the great cat rescue of Ms. Frances Furbottom from the dastardly clutches of Briar's ex boyfriend and his new girlfriend. The story slides from slapstick to sensuous, and for me, it's the spice where she really shines. It's super hot, emotional, and varied. Sometimes in a spice heavy book, things can get repetitive and I start to skim- not so here. I savored every well written spicy scene like a decadent dessert. The journey for Briar to be comfortable enough with her own pleasure to ask for, and describe what she wants is so rewarding. I also appreciate the mental health rep we get with the character development in both Briar and her men, from anxiety and control issues, to struggles with vulnerability. Rhys, Hollis, and Gavin are friends that feel like family, and I loved that once they fell for Briar it was a priority to put everything on the line up front with each other to preserve their bond aside from their feelings for her.
I read the book on my kindle, but I will definitely be checking out the audio soon too because I am an avid audiobook girlie. It's narrated with a full cast including Samantha Brentmoor, Jason Clarke, Connor Crais, and Teddy Hamilton! I can't wait to hear some of the scenes I read with this talent bringing them to life. 

 "I am terrified of weather 'cause I see you when it rains." - Noah Kahan
If you're looking for a story to tear you apart and then put you back together, you've found it. This book is such a journey. It's Noah Kahan coded, and that tracks really well through the book (I highly suggest listening to the song that matches the chapter title as you go), but the author is also a self-proclaimed Swiftie, and let's face it - this has TTPD written all over it too. My previous reads by this author have all been Rom-Coms, which she is masterful at writing, but this book is different. With inspiration from Sweet Home Alabama and the Notebook, this second chance rock star romance will draw you in quickly and had me in a chokehold until the final page.
This book feels so grounded and real and emotional in a whole new way. Stella is like a raw nerve in the world. She's so exposed by what she's experienced that she's taken every step she can to just shut out the world and keep surviving. The descriptions of her emotions and mental state are so well done. From childhood best friends with Riggins to falling in love and the devastating growing pains ahead, there is an underlying sweetness to the angst that honestly makes me think of melancholy love songs even without music being a central element in the story.
Riggins's story arc is no less traumatic. He knows he screwed up and hurt Stella badly, and the majority of the book is us watching him attempt a top tier book boyfriend grovel. The pining just rips at you in the best way when you learn his story. The then/now chapters bounce back and forth masterfully revealing the truth of all things you thought you understood.
If you love an angsty story full of pining and the ultimate grovel, READ THIS BOOK! It is now my favorite Morgan Elizabeth book. Check the content warnings if you have sensitivities, but from my perspective everything is handled with care and nothing is gratuitous.
Thank you to Valentine PR for the ARC and opportunity to review. 

 The book is great. I love a grump with a filthy mouth. The amount of time it took for the secret to be revealed was teetering on the edge of annoying me, but the story was really good. The audio however leaves quite a bit to be desired to my taste. Neither narrator really seemed to fit their character. They might as well have been reading a picture book to kindergartners for all the heat in their voices. To best enjoy this one, stick to the book. I would love to see it redone in a duet style with a much more growly male voice though! 

 An emotional slow burn second chance story
Both of our main characters have had some rough times. Benji was abandoned by his father after the death of his mother, and Liv hid her teen pregnancy from everyone so that Benji could have his shot at escaping their small town through his talent playing hockey. Their emotional baggage stands between them when secrets get revealed in this slow burn spicy second chance romance.
I liked the fact that once everything is revealed, it wasn't instant forgiveness. The character journey of getting to that point was really well done. The Liv and Benji we meet in the beginning are not the same people at the end, and it all makes sense how he gets there. The healing isn't easy, but it's believable. There are times you want to smack Benji in the back of the head and tell him to get over himself.
I also want to acknowledge the body diversity portrayed in this book. In a lot of books I've read with "curvy" or "plus size" heroines, they are still described in ideals. Most often they are portrayed as blessed in the bra as an acceptable trade off for their size. As a plus size woman who is not built that way, to see something different was great. My blessings are similar to Liv's in the book, and I really appreciated seeing a character who isn't a Jessica Rabbit style of "curvy" with idealized larger shape still being seen as desirable.
Overall I enjoyed this read for the depth of the characters and overall plot and pacing. Thank you to the author for the ARC and chance to review. 

The wait between books feels longer and longer as Abby Jimenez cranks out banger after banger. I know going in that the mix of emotion and humor usually means I'll need a tissue before it's all said and done, and this book is no exception. The drama here is heavy, but several well timed comedic scenes provide levity and a release valve for the tension. Travel nursing has been more talked about since the pandemic, so it was cool to step a toe in that world and learn more about what that experience is like for Emma and Madd
The character development is always so good with this author. Justin and Emma come off the page as real complex people, and their emotional battles strike readers deeper for this reason. The writing makes me feel for them and with them. The trigger warnings are real for this one, so if you have sensitivities I would suggest checking them out before diving in. The mental health representation is handled with care, without stripping it of impact to the story. 
I have loved everything of Abby's that I've read, and while I wouldn't rank this as my favorite, it's still an excellent read. I love finding all the little "easter eggs" written into the story from the "Abbyverse" too.