unusablebooklore's reviews
322 reviews

Out of the Blue by Lila Rose

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adventurous tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix

3.5

Starts 10 years in the past, chapter 3 jumps into the present. 
 
Hawks MC series adjacent but is stand alone. The side characters from what I gather are the focus of the main MC book series. 
 
I’m not an MC novel reader and I found it a little tough and to be frank a little OTT with the “family” and “brother” comments. It all felt a little overly dramatic. Like the Fast and the Furious if you take away all the explosions and unlimited up shifting 🤣 
 
The book really felt like it was distinctively segmented. Pre relationships, post first pairing (very insta love) and then once Parker joins the thrupple. 

The book was pretty spicy though out, right from the jump, in the flashback there is some heavy steam.  But the first time Parker joins in “just watching” 🥵. Well yeah...that's going to live in my brain for a little while...
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Seeking Sword: An Erotic Orc Story by Diablo Ambrose

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fast-paced

2.0

Way more fantasy than the cover lead me to believe it would be.

To be honest I was overwhelmed by all the alternative terminology for...well everything?

Pretty thrilled I picked this up in a sale and didn’t pay for it. I’m sure others may like it more, if you're into more fantasy it could be right for you. Was was hoping for something more monster romance like.
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Sign in: A short story by H.M. Fanning

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fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No

1.0

This had a great premise. Very 00’s. Boy is chatting with online person. They are both boys assuming they are talking to girls. They figure out their mistake and make plans to meet up irl. 

The online paramour walks up to our MC and lo and behold it’s the most popular boy in uni! Who then proceeds to take advantage of our MC with some very dubious (not really there) consent. The popular boy has experience with boys, and also knows our nerdy not popular MC by both first and last name. Shock! It all feels very catfishy. 

So many silly sideline bits and bobs. The MC’s parents hate him. The boys use the L-word within 24hrs. They are under 20 and only bang twice in an empty house all day? 
 
Story ends SUPER abruptly. 

In its current state 1 star was generous, it could have been great. 
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Love in a Truck Stop Bathroom by Sebastian O'Connor

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adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

At 8% in I had a sneaky suspicion I was going to love this novella and be devastated that it’s short…I was right. I LOVED THIS. 
 
Dual POV 
Anonymous messaging (and hooking up) 
Coworkers 
Jock/nerd 
 
Be still my heart! 

I genuinely thought this was just going to be some gnarly spice, but it was just so good. The characters are fully rounded, the story didn't feel rushed or like it was missing pieces, it was spicy 🥵.
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Pulling Doubles by Christina C. Jones

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emotional funny tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes

3.5

Narrator: Sean Crisden 😍 
 
BIPOC M/F MCs 
#MiddleLifeRomace (FMC 29/MMC 34)
Doctor and Nurse practitioner - workplace 
bff's boyfriends brother romance 🤣

Overall I thought it was good, I liked the tension and push and pull of the MC's. I understand the need for a character like Devyn's ex but I really didn't like him or how he was managed by the characters in the book. I also appreciated the depiction Devyn's health and body image. 

Spice level was excellent. 

Sadly I think I'll likely end this series here, I just didn't vibe with the main characters for the last book.
Getting Schooled by Christina C. Jones

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funny lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

Narrator: Sean Crisden 😍 
 
BIPOC M/F MCs 
Disability rep 
Mental health rep (PTSD/depression/anxiety) 
 
Super cute late 20’s matureish student romance (FMC 26/MMC 28). Grad student and mature undergrad love to hate and love each other. 
 
Just over 5 hour read felt super short compared to my last few reads. Spice level was excellent not too much and fit perfectly with the rest of the novel. 
 
I will instantly be reading the second book of this series.
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The Secret by May Archer

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

4.0

My favourite of the Love in O'Leary books. I adored the dynamic between Con and Micah. 

Middle age (gap) 24/40 
 
Third O’Leary instalment. Like the first two books this one is entirely standalone but takes place in an overlapping timeline with the first two. I've seen other people complain about this but I personally really enjoyed it. 
 
Con is young and feels the need to make up for his teenage sins after almost a decade. His mom takes 1000% advantage of his willingness to make amends. Micah is 40 and seriously committed to making his business work and pulling string to help Con. 
 
These guys are so foolish but in love (at least during the 3rd act break up). 
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The Fall by May Archer

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adventurous challenging mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix

3.5

MM #MiddleLifeRomance MCs are 38/29 
Mild Mystery
A hurt comfort donut 🍩
Friends to Lovers
 
Chronically single cop (Silas) meets widower (Everett). Silas fall hard first. Everett is deeply affected by his grief. 

It was okay but having read the first 3 books of this series now, it was my least favourite of the bunch. 
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The Gift by May Archer

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funny mysterious medium-paced

3.5

Queer awakening 
#MiddleLifeRomance
Fake dating
Friends to lovers
 
Adorable stand alone but snuggs into the world of the first book. The story lines run parallel for the first half of the book but don’t have any real overlap, and no interdependence. 

An adorable book loving Veterinarian (Julian) falls for the new town recluse (Daniel). In haste to defend/alibi Daniel to the town Julian tells everyone they are dating. Fake dating drama follows and a whole lot of real feels.

Only real critique is that I felt like so much of the drama between the boys was due to a lack of communication from Daniel. He allowed his real identity to remain a secret too long, and once it was exposed it felt like it was just glossed over. 
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Cirque du Slay by Rob Osler

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adventurous lighthearted mysterious tense fast-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? No

4.5

Second book in series - stand alone but first book will help you know the characters 
Single POV 
Found family 
Murder mystery 
Amateur sleuths 
 
Seldom do I veer out of my romance rut, but a reading challenge prompt and an interest in the blurb for this book had me keen to give it a read. I thought I would be mentally speculating more, instead I found myself following along with the characters as they evaluate the evidence. I’ve literally raved about this book to my whole extended family who are Mystery fanatics. 
 
I adored the easy LGBTQ+ representation. I think everyone will find a character they can relate to at some point. It was wonderful. 

The narration was fantastic.

- 0.5 of a star for not enough kissing... 
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