unusablebooklore's reviews
322 reviews

Their Boy by Cara Dee

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slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.0

Middle Life - DD's are mid 30's and 40's while lb is in his early 20's
Age gap 
Poly 
DD/lb 
Primal play 
 
Really fun until about 50% when Kit’s little really comes out. Then it really starts to feel samey-samey and I had a difficult time wrapping my head around Kit’s internal monologue and his little persona when alone. Not personally being a member of this particular community I can’t suggest if the depiction of a little is accurate. 
 
I considered DNFing at 65%, but stuck it out. I’m not upset I did and even considered reading more books in The Game series; but the characters just didn’t draw me in enough. 
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Top Priority by Cara Dee

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funny fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.0

MMCs 29/36 
Kinky novella 
 
Single POV 
 
Essentially setting up the relationship of the two Dommy MCs in “Their Boy” 
 
I liked it and the characters enough to immediately pick up Their Boy. More than once I found my self stressed out with Lucas and teetering on the cusp of some heavy emotions. There was a good balance of heat and story. I hope it follows through into the rest of the series. 
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System Overload by Saxon James

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funny fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.0

Middle life - 42/27 
Age gap 
BFFs dad 
Pansexual rep 
 
A guide to help you get your bffs Dad to see you as an adult/sexual object - Hint: sleep walk and require a cuddle buddy. 
 
The Divorced Mens Club and their antics are back at it. We’ve met all the players in other Saxon James books. These books are consistently good for me. Some better than others, but all varying degrees of good. 
 
Keller and Will worked well together, even if I was a little uncomfortable at first; as it felt a little like Will had feelings that reminded me of hero worship. As the book progresses it is pretty obvious Will’s feeling have been for a long time and run deeper than simple idolisation. 
 
My biggest question, which I started asking myself pretty early in the book was: Why didn’t Keller just talk to Molly and be all “so I think I’d like to bang your bestie…is that cool?”, as the Dad he can be forgiven more easily, if Molly responded badly and then they at least would have known if they needed to be stressed out…I guess it would have made for a less fun book. 
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Charles by Con Riley

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challenging emotional inspiring reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

First times - both actual and mental 
Hurt comfort donut 
Scars of war - PTSD and physical
So unbelievably sweet and packed with feels 
Neurodivergent Rep (Dyslexia) 
 
Around 15% I started to get into it. 
 
Not a massive fan of Charles’ background, and the language he uses. At first it’s hard to read him as relatable and not just a rich guy, as the book progresses you realise his depth. As well as the depth of his family. They aren't what they appear at first. 
 
I initially thought it was gradually paced…not slow…just steady like a stroll. But I was wrong…it’s slow…like SLOW slow… 
I’ve never wanted such a good book to come to an end. 
 
There are so many emotions and such compassion shown by both characters. They felt like they naturally fit together like two pieces of a puzzle that fit so well they pull each other together. 
 
98% - F you Con Reily I was not planning to sob into my oatmeal this morning 😭 
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Doctor Gray by Sharon Woods

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slow-paced

1.5

Wow, this book I have no idea where to start with the review…I’ve never taken so many notes for a book… 
 
Middle life FMC 25 MMC 38 
Brothers Bestie 
Single dad 
Sex work - cam girl 
She’s had a crush for years 
 
So the first few chapters I was willing to put my reservations aside as I’ve read a few age gap romances recently I didn’t hate. But by chapter 14 I was startled to find out that the FMC (who went into seggs work to pay her bills…) has a brother, she’s very close with, that is a billionaire? Something should have tipped me off as she lives in her parent’s guest house…but she’s a cam girl for money? 
 
Around 50% this moderately paced book seems to pull the breaks and finally around 65% the MCs hook up in a bathroom. Because that’s what the first half of the book felt like it was leading towards, as the book transitions from a novel (trying to have) substance towards spicy. 
 
Between 75% and 85% there is a whole lot of creative writing for the progression of the story. It requires a whole lot of suspension of belief if you have a tiniest grain of understanding of American geography, time zones, the passage of time, daylight… 
 
At 88% I seriously had to question my life choices and why the heck I hadn’t DNF’ed the book before the FMC gushes about how sweet it is that Dude could use Google to figure out how to pour water on a tea bag (which he was perplexed by) and only passed because he had 50/50 odds of steeping for the right length of time… 
 
In the end, we have no idea if the FMC paid her tuition. Her money woes ended when the seggs started. 
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Canadian Boyfriend by Jenny Holiday

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emotional funny reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

Middle life MMC 34-35 / FMC 29-30 
Single/widowed Dad 
Ballet/hockey 
Mild heat
Duet narration 
 
Is it second chance? Kinda… 
 
I’m not sure what I was expecting when I requested this ARC. I was 100% going off the title/cover. 
Romancy? Check. 
Hockey? I’m in. 
Canadian plot line? My blood is red for a reason, eh? 
 
What I thought would be a light funny romance filled with, “isn’t it funny” moment’s, instead was a wonderfully emotional story of hurt, growth and love. I’m not saying this book isn’t funny, it was, but this book was wonderfully complex. Both the FMC and MMC were working through their own hurt and trauma, helping each other without even knowing it. Rory’s parent woes were incredibly relatable even for this plus sized non-ballerina. 
 
While this book was slightly slower paced in my opinion, I was just happy to listen. 
 
The narration was a whole thing for me. I didn’t realise Joshua Jackson was a narrator until I started the book - I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t super weird to listen to Pacey Witter reading to me…sadly he wasn’t the narrator of my dreams. I guess it just goes to show that screen acting and voice acting are different skills. Emily Ellet - Super job I could listen to her all day. 
Another Shot by Kit Oliver

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

3.0

0-26% - felt…all over the place? Like we should know more about Cal than we do. Tim seems like a dick. 
Maybe I was just tired? 
40% - hold on…is Tim the doctor that Billy is friends with? Bad divorce…baby bi? Why don't these boys talk?!
50% - **Giant revelation**
68% - The book is doing the confusing thing again - Maybe I’m tired again… 
100% - Kinda ambiguous HEA 

I love Kit Oliver but this one fell a little short for me. More than once I felt like the book was confusing me...having to reread sections that still felt weird. I have no doubt that some people will love this, mistaken identity novella. I just don't think it was for me. 
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Long Time Coming by Ava Olsen

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

4.5

Second chance 
Middle life 
Single dad 
Enemies - to lovers (Journalist - business man) 
 
So cute- perfect length (very short). Snapshot into a reconnection 

I have ZERO idea how this book came to live on my kindle. I can't find it on the Zon or GR. If you come across this give it a read. It was lovely. So lovely I'm going to have to check out other books by this author.
Game On by Amy Aislin

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adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

Hockey Romance 
Roommates to Lovers 
Not quite middle life - MCs 28/29 
Set in Canada 
So many Parent issues 
Adorable fecking pooch - poppy 🥰 
Slow burn - 61% finally a kiss! 
 
Damian’s a hard headed trooper, my goodness, the loads of baggage he’s lugging around from his youth. But a hulking hockey player, a tiny pup and a found family melt him into a big ol bag of squish. 
 
While this book was a pretty slow burn there is a whole hockey sock full of pining, and once the first accidental “baby" happens (Dorian doesn't even acknowledge it!) things kick off and don’t hold back. 
 
Last book in the Vancouver Orcas trilogy. Gah these Shore cousins. 
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Game Changer by Amy Aislin

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

Hockey Romance 
Edge of middle life -  MCs are 29/30 
Boss/assistant 
Set in Canada 
 
Book 2 in the Vancouver Orca’s series staring the Shore cousins. Charlie Shore needs money, and Blair needs a Charlie. Blair and Charlie intertwine into a jumble of emotions and body parts that blur the lines of a typical employer/employee relationship. This book gave me so much foot kicking and all of the tingles. 
 
Charlie is super hung up on relationships ending…his parents divorce effed him up, so Blair is big time off limits. Also, it was gut wrenching to see Charlie struggle, like so many people, he wasn’t equipped with the financial acumine needed to thrive as an adult and his struggle is really relatable. 
 
As I’ve found with all Amy Aislin books the characters are great, I fell madly for all of the Shore cousins and cannot wait for Dorian’s book. 
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