**spoiler alert** After loving Limerance and then reading Redamancy reviews, I was really apprehensive going into this book. The build up was epic and**spoiler alert** After loving Limerance and then reading Redamancy reviews, I was really apprehensive going into this book. The build up was epic and I was bracing for disappointment. I have to say that, in the end, Redamancy was better than I expected after reading reviews but definitely worse than I hoped for after reading Limerance. HC Dolores is a talented writer and the quality of writing was there. However, this read more like an outline than a finished product. Lots of wasted potential here and I have to agree with the reviews that suggest that maybe the author rushed the release. The ideas were there, but the execution was sorely lacking. I needed so much more from both characters. What happened during their separation? What was the extent of Adrian's manipulation? What about his parents? How was he ok with Poppy barely making ends meet? Why force her out of her apartment if he was going to frame her for murder anyway? So many questions left unanswered. The ending was so abrupt I got whiplash. All in all, I still enjoyed the book but it left me unfulfilled. ...more
With the Kingpin's Call, Girl Annika Martin returns to the dark romance genre. This is the story of the head of Albanian mafia and a college student wWith the Kingpin's Call, Girl Annika Martin returns to the dark romance genre. This is the story of the head of Albanian mafia and a college student who is inadvertently recruited to spy on him in the guise of a call girl. I enjoyed the book overall. I will say that, despite the setting and subject matter, this didn't read as a dark romance to me. I enjoyed both MCs and their banter. The author clearly did a lot of research into Albanian culture and history. The plot really kept me turning the pages. Where the book lost a star was, ironically, the romance. I felt like it was all very insta and I would've liked to see more relationship development. ...more
This book had so much potential, but it didn't quite deliver on what it set out to be. I couldn't really connect with either character nor their romanThis book had so much potential, but it didn't quite deliver on what it set out to be. I couldn't really connect with either character nor their romance. I did. however, enjoy the secret society aspect and the world the author created. Overall, while I was underwhelmed by the romance, I was still entertained....more
Overall, I enjoyed this dark-ish romance by Kitty Thomas. The first half was a solid 5 star read for me, despite the Maddie and Aidan not really havinOverall, I enjoyed this dark-ish romance by Kitty Thomas. The first half was a solid 5 star read for me, despite the Maddie and Aidan not really having much on page time together at this point of the story. These two met at 6 years old when Aidan developed his obsession and Maddie was quite mean, as 6 year-olds sometimes tend to be, in her rejection of him. That didn't deter Aidan and he proceeded to be a total creep and stalk and pursue her until the age of 13 when he got expelled and transferred to a different school. While most people didn't seem to like Maddie, I actually enjoyed her character. Is she a bit shallow and spoiled? Sure. But she was still prepared to make sacrifices for her family even when they didn't deserve it. I enjoyed her sense of humor and self awareness. I liked the cat and mouse and the mystery of the "courtship". I was quite conflicted when it came to Aidan's character. While I understood his background and the reasoning for his behavior, I just didn't quite jive with his chaotic presence. He just didn't give off the "mafia boss" vibe and was not at all in control. Also, while I got Maddie's reasons for refusing to give him a chance, I really couldn't see the basis for his obsession beyond the physical. Where the book lost some steam for me was after the wedding. It just felt very watered down on the intensity at that point. There wasn't much spice either, with the "I won't touch you till you beg" theme permeating that aspect of the relationship. It just felt like Kitty was going for a more PC vibe here, which is fine, but not what I've come to expect from her books. Overall, I think this is a great place to start if you're new to dark romance and to Kitty's work....more
**spoiler alert** I was really intrigued by the premise of this book, but the execution lacked depth that was required here. Overall, I enjoyed the fa**spoiler alert** I was really intrigued by the premise of this book, but the execution lacked depth that was required here. Overall, I enjoyed the fast pace and the action, as well as the world building. The romance, such as it is, lacked depth and MC's interaction felt repetitive. They kept going in circles of "I will never love you, let me go; just wait you will love me eventually" and so on and so forth. I appreciate that the FMC was quite flawed. She was spoiled and shallow as well as completely dependent on technology. There's a history of trauma that could've been explored quite a bit more. Especially, since that trauma illuminates the FMC's behavior. At the same time, the impact of certain MMC's actions didn't feel explored and acknowledged in the light of that trauma. All in all, this is the type of story that could've been really impactful on both the intellectual and emotional level if it had sufficient depth. There were certain brilliant moments in addition to the interesting premise that kept me turning the pages....more
This was a nice light smutty Cinderella story that worked despite the insta-everything and kind of cringey smut. I loved the way Keller took care of CThis was a nice light smutty Cinderella story that worked despite the insta-everything and kind of cringey smut. I loved the way Keller took care of Claire and bulldozed all over her life to get her. Claire was likeable enough. There isn't much plot, but I didn't come for it anyway......more
I really enjoyed this after almost dnf-ing in the beginning. This story is definitely rough around the edges, not because it's poorly written, but ratI really enjoyed this after almost dnf-ing in the beginning. This story is definitely rough around the edges, not because it's poorly written, but rather because of the gritty lack of sugar coating that just hits you in the face. This isn't some glamorous mafia boss taking advantage of a poor girl while secretly being in love with her and, after a brief dub-con interlude, treating her like gold. Geo is a gang leader, he's coarse, he has no use for women (well, maybe one use), he is a stone cold rapist and killer, among many other things. He was definitely hard to like and I didn't till very late in the book. Though I appreciated the depth of his manipulation and strategic thinking in the end. It definitely wasn't something I would've expected from his character. Rue also got on my last nerve with her constant mouthing off - like, girl, you're supposed to be smart? The sharing scene was out of character and I could've done without it. The smut, what there was of it, wasn't really great for something called "dark erotica". yet, somehow, despite all these issues, the book gripped me. I was invested in the characters, maybe even got a bit of a Stockholm syndrome of my own by the end. This one is dark, without the glitz and glam of the fictional "underworld", but there's a love story, however unlikely, that kept me glued to the pages as the story went on....more
DNF. This book sounds like something I'd normally enjoy, but I just couldn't connect with the writing. Between weird dialogue and purple prose, this jDNF. This book sounds like something I'd normally enjoy, but I just couldn't connect with the writing. Between weird dialogue and purple prose, this just wasn't for me....more
Not quite sure how I feel about this one. Horror-mance is the right name for sure, with a much bigger element of horror than romance. I cringed many tNot quite sure how I feel about this one. Horror-mance is the right name for sure, with a much bigger element of horror than romance. I cringed many times while reading this. The entire Jane subplot???!!! The bigger issue for me is that I didn't really feel emotion while reading this like I did with Harper and Royal. Their story was quite brutal, but it evoked emotion. Here, I felt disconnected and like I was reading something written for shock value. I didn't really get to know Mabel very well. And the twins... Duke is clearly in love with Colt and struggling with his own sexuality. Baron and Mabel make sense on paper, until one of them kill the other. Also, back to Jane, because wat was that??? I was really looking forward to the twins, especially Baron and this left me hollow and like he's a much more basic version of who I thought he might have been. Selena is a talented writer and that hasn't changed. This is very well written, but I question whether she herself knows where she is going with these characters. I guess we'll see......more
This was an unexpected gem! Perfect gothic vibes combine flawlessly with mystery and dark romance with the kind of anti-hero that keeps you guessing. This was an unexpected gem! Perfect gothic vibes combine flawlessly with mystery and dark romance with the kind of anti-hero that keeps you guessing. This was dark and messed up in the best way possible and still delivered on a satisfying HEA. Definitely my favorite from this author!...more
Dnf at 20%. The combination of my most disliked "evil daddy" trope and the weak MMC just didn't do it for me. Also, the MMC wants to be a singer and wDnf at 20%. The combination of my most disliked "evil daddy" trope and the weak MMC just didn't do it for me. Also, the MMC wants to be a singer and we were treated to SEVENTEEN pages of him singing a duet with the FMC. Yes, I counted. In addition, nobody's motivations really make sense. This is a new author and I think she has promise, but this one is a miss for me....more
I really enjoyed getting the backstory for these two. Their push and pull, teen angst, religious guilt, sibling bonds, and raging hormones all createdI really enjoyed getting the backstory for these two. Their push and pull, teen angst, religious guilt, sibling bonds, and raging hormones all created a toxic cocktail of lust and obsession that put the event of Corrupt Idol into perspective. I will say that the book got a bit repetitive as it went on but, aside from that, I really enjoyed it and will be re-reading Corrupt Idol to see if it hits differently now. A bit bummed as it seems that the sequel is a long way off......more
DNF. I'm already frustrated with how repetitive it is, not to mention, lacking any depth. DNF. I'm already frustrated with how repetitive it is, not to mention, lacking any depth. ...more