what the fuck kinda magical writing was this to not only get me to read something I'd normally hate but keep me hooked to it and make me feel things lwhat the fuck kinda magical writing was this to not only get me to read something I'd normally hate but keep me hooked to it and make me feel things like sobbing out loud!?
Istg, If Aspen had been even a little less exactly the way she was written, I'd be dragging this book through the mud.
I love this woman. 50% of the book is grovelling which is splendid. But the first half is generally what would be the problem getting through in any other case, but because apparently Aspen is the queen of the perfect balance that lies in self respect and compromise, I FUCKING FELT THE GUT PUNCH MOMENTS.
And you only feel that if you don't hate the person it's happening to. Worse if you can empathize with her because her personality and her inner monologue makes it easy to love her.
goddamn this was AMAZING.
I fear i won't do enough justice to her character but FFS if there's ever a chance you consider making an exception to your consideration of this trope, PICK THIS UP.
She ain't nobody's doormat much less Ryan's. ...more
FUCK YOU RONAN, FUCK YOU FOR MAKING ME CRY EVERYTIME.
____________________________ Initial review - Dec 2024 : __
“Am I that easy to leave, kotyonok?”
FUCK YOU RONAN, FUCK YOU FOR MAKING ME CRY EVERYTIME.
____________________________ Initial review - Dec 2024 : ____________________________
It's always a gamble I take when I go on a hunt to pick a mafia romance. The ones that I avoid like a plague are the ones with heroines who are - submissive, magnanimous, have high morals, want to "fix" the criminal hero, cannot stand violence.
The Darkest Temptation was the only book left in this series for me to read. Gianna is the heroine best suited for me. Generally that's the type of heroine I love. And yes I absolutely loved her there too. Her daughter? Kat? Ahahahahhahaa SHE IS SUCH A MINI GIANNA. Made me so happy seeing their family cameo. I'd forever be happy to read their extended epilogue/bonus novella/another book if I just get to see Gianna and Christian with her little family of heathens. ...more
This was everything I didn't think I'd ever feel with a dark romance ever again. It's been so long, soo long since I loved“Name it.”
Exhilarating.
This was everything I didn't think I'd ever feel with a dark romance ever again. It's been so long, soo long since I loved this kind of dark romance.
Nathan White is a fictional man I wouldn't call my book boyfriend, wouldn't simp over him and call him the "standard" because this man isn't a standard. He isn't. Truly. He is a lawless psychopathic megalomaniac and it's just so fascinating reading about him like he is a subject of a case study.
This fascination with a dark romance hero is what I find exhilarating. And it's been so long since I felt this way. The need to own this book is something I've not felt in a long time. I know I keep repeating this but fuck, I'm speechless.
Lawless God by Lola King is Haunting Adeline if it was better and had a plot. A heroine who isn't just "strong and fierce" who keeps fighting back. But a motherfucking queen who is known for her ruthlessness and someone who everyone is scared of.
Jesus christ. Nathan, this man. I have no words for his depravity. Rest assured every sexual activity between them was dub-con. But other things? Oh fuck me, there's unhinged and then there's Nathan who manipulates you but never hides the fact that he does. He will never lie. Everything he plans on doing, including the fact that Stockholm syndrome is his end goal, he'll put it all upfront.
All I can say is if you try to get mad at the heroine for giving in to him, she is already well aware of her masochist tendencies, yet at the same time you can't stay angry for long because that'd underestimating her. And underestimating Kayla King is something even Nathan White learns to never do.
Cue the laughter. Because that's something I never expected yet when I laughed out loud so many times whenever Kayla does something to Nathan it was beyond hilarious seeing it from Nathan's pov. Every time Nathan commands her to do something by saying "...like a good little wife" she manages to turn that task into a physical fight and it's so fun. Also every interaction of Nathan and Sam too!!! Not to mention the people she kills and threaten when she is possesive of Nate.
His antisocial behaviour disorder and his inability to understand people's emotions makes him study reading emotions like it's an academic course. And my god, everytime I try to hate him, he does something so unexpected WHILE remaining non-chalant about it, I just can't control my fascination.
All I know is when I get this urge to own a book, it's serious commitment. That means I want the characters to be with me and claim ownership of them and it's that feeling of strong desire and impulse that makes me put this book in my 'all-time-fav' shelf.
I fear I won't ever be able to do this book justice by putting it all in correct words. For now, I'll show you some scenes and quotes below which frankly? won't ever be enough.
I wave a hand dismissively. “The girl has a horrible concussion, and someone just tried to drown her.” “Could that someone be you, maybe?” “Well, not all proposals are done with flowers, Sam. My point is, she’s going to need some rest over the next few days before she plans anything.”
***
“This is kidnapping.” His eyes widen, and his mouth drops open as he gasps before bringing a hand to cover it. “No? Oh my god, no. Call the police.” With a dramatic shudder, his face goes blank again. “Kidnapping? Do you think that’s the worst thing I’ve ever done? Stop wasting my time, will you?”
***
“How long, Nate? How long are you going to make me pay?” “How long was I in prison?” “Practically four years,” I huff. We both know that. He didn’t need to make me repeat it. “I guess we’ll start with four years, then. Who knows, you might be the one who decides to stay after that. Stockholm syndrome is a wonderfully complicated thing.” I try to be discreet, but I don’t control my small step back. “It’s okay,” he says softly. “You won’t realize it. All you’ll feel is happy and in love, and you won’t believe anyone who tells you otherwise.”
***
“I do understand,” I say flatly. “Drying tears, snot, the redness of your cheeks. Your pulse is beating so hard that the skin at your throat is moving along with it. Your hands are shaking, your shoulders hunched, your leg bouncing. You’re terrified.” I turn to Sam, proudly showing him how good I am at this. He rolls his eyes.
***
“You want to mark me, Nate?” I hiss in his face. “I’ll mark you back.” He blinks up at me, and a smile spreads on his lips. “That hurt, little sunflower.” He can’t move his left arm, the pain in his shoulder probably too intense. But his right hand snatches my wrist, holding the knife closer against his skin, pressing, dragging red liquid to the surface. He bucks his hips, pushing into my core. The motherfucker is hard. “You’re fucking sick.” “It turns me on to know you can fight back. It’s like you’re begging me to go harder on you next time.” I shove my knees into his ribs. “There is no next time. Let me out of this fucking house.” “But baby, look at us. We’re so compatible.”
***
I’ll recognize her tone of voice and the features on her face. It’ll make it simple to read her. She names it, and I can study it. She names it, and I can remember what it looks like on her. I can’t emphasize and feel bad or ever share her joy. I can only attempt to learn. Sometimes, I can link it to something I’ve been through, but that is a lot of work because I hardly ever feel much. But if I learn what everything looks like on her face, in her body, in her breathing. If I learn all her emotions by heart, there will be nothing she can hide from me. Utter control. What a fun game to play.
***
“My dear wife,” I murmur against her mouth. “Will you cook me an omelet for breakfast? I’ve been craving one.” She doesn’t answer, but she takes a step back and walks to the counter. Pointing at different cupboards, she asks, “Pans?” I nod when she points at the right one, then go back to my phone. I could get used to this. My wife making me an omelet before I head to my first meeting of the day. “Nate?” “Mhm?” My thoughts still focused on how to help with night terrors, I turn toward her voice. I barely catch her shadow when the pan hits me right in the side of the face. The sharp pain drags a grunt out of me as I fall to the floor. I notice her towering over me, pan in hand. She looks down at my lying form, a beautiful, sick smile spreading on her lips. “How’s your omelet, darling?”
***
You and I, Kayla, we could rule the world. I will worship every fucking thing you touch. I will burn down your enemies, I will bury anyone who ever made you feel like you weren’t enough, like all you could do was stay in your shitty town and rule your shitty gang. You were made for the greatest things that ever existed. You were made to build your own path, and I want you to be with me when that happens. I want to see you sit on your throne and watch everyone else bow to the goddess you are.”
***
Kayla is becoming a passion. Something I want to see everywhere. I want her to be the subject of every conversation I have with everyone. I want to go to rallies in her name. I want to find someone who understands me so we can discuss her for hours like fangirls do about their favorite band. Oh, it’s bad. It’s bad, but it’s not love. Because love feels like…like… “What does love feel like?” I blurt out.
OKAY ENOUGH I think I need to stop. There are 100 more scenes and dialogues I've annotated and it's not possible to put it all in. JESUS. How will I ever enjoy any other dark romance after this???...more
“Diary, You don't know what it's like. To wake up and see her there. But I do. Draco”
Read : 22 May 2024
I don't know shit aRe-read : 3 September 2024
“Diary, You don't know what it's like. To wake up and see her there. But I do. Draco”
Read : 22 May 2024
I don't know shit about Harry Potter universe. Never been able to read any famous fics because of this lack of knowledge. Not until a friend of mine recommended this to me, saying it doesn't require being well versed with this world.
And I was fully expecting it to be something I'd drop in the middle, or wouldn't be able to understand. I wasn't planning on being hooked to this, liking it, then loving it, then giggling over it, then being heartbroken over it, then crying over it. Overall, I wasn't expecting myself to devour this and claim it as one of the best hurt-comfort books I've ever read.
From Draco's diary entries to his cursing, from Hermoine's need to fight for him to her sheer strength of surving everything, from Theo to Pansy.
THIS WAS THE BEST ROMCOM/FANTASY I'VE EVER READ. If there's a "most unique and refreshing book" contest THIS IS THE WINNER FOR ME.
I HAVE NO WORDS FOR THIS WAS THE BEST ROMCOM/FANTASY I'VE EVER READ. If there's a "most unique and refreshing book" contest THIS IS THE WINNER FOR ME.
I HAVE NO WORDS FOR THIS. ZERO. I just pity the readers who are yet to meet Minnie and Marlowe.
Oh god HOW WAS THIS NEVER DONE BEFORE? HOW IS THIS SO PERFECT?
I LOVE YOU VERONICA LANCET. I mean, romcoms? I don't read them. Fantasy? Very rarely. MAKE THE HERO A SERIAL KILLER NEURODIVERGENT AND THE HEROINE A SUPERNATURAL BEING WHO IS HOMELESS WITH GORE AND MURDER AND YOU EXPECT ME NOT TO READ THIS??
Any book which makes me laugh this much is an immediate 5 star read. MOST FUN I'VE HAD THIS YEAR.
Dare I say that Marlowe beats Aaron Warner in terms of his delusion in every best and worst possible ways??? Oh dear lord, Marlowe is not just one in a million, there is nobody like him. ...more
“I’ve done bad things, Valentine.” I brush my lips over her pinkened cheek. “But I’ll always be good to you.”
FaDing ding ding. We have a WINNER!!!
“I’ve done bad things, Valentine.” I brush my lips over her pinkened cheek. “But I’ll always be good to you.”
Fav of the month!!!! Cannot believe this book was a whole freaking package. Not just another dark romance. The fact that it was CUTE??? like adorable???? Sweet??? Not only that, it was HILARIOUS??? like with laugh-out-loud funny banter??? Emotional???? The freaking tears I shed because of the h????
They are just so fucking sweet??? Ahhhh!!!
Coincidentally, Christmas day was a pivotal aspect of this book related to the h trauma and I read it on the 25th as well. So Merry Christmas to me ig.
I'm pretty sure if I read this series from the beginning, meaning, read the first two stories of the other couples, I would love them too.
But anyways, I CANNOT GET OVER THIS COUPLE. And oh yesssss!!!!! The freaking TATTOOS??...more
➺ I've had 4-5 star recent reads, however, very few made it to my all-time-fav list. So it comes as no surprise that a book by6 "No Take Backs" Stars✰
➺ I've had 4-5 star recent reads, however, very few made it to my all-time-fav list. So it comes as no surprise that a book by Jewel E. Ann is now joining that exclusive group. It's difficult for me to precisely pinpoint what i loved in this story. If I were to describe the couple's extraordinary and endearing way of expressing their love through hilarious banter, resulting in delightful moments and scenes, I would essentially be reiterating what I've mentioned in all my previous JEA reviews. Maybe that's why I hadn't read all of her books until now. I didn't want to keep encountering perfection. It's challenging to explain why, but I suppose I wanted to avoid meeting the books which have the potential of ruining me for other more regular, ordinary and mundane ones that are prevalently popular. It's almost as if I've subconsciously been practicing a self-preserving act until this point, which has led me to the decision of unearthing and binge-reading JEA's older works.
➺ This was a slightly different story from her usual extraordinary tales, since I don't recall ever reading about a virgin Harvard aspirant heroine with a scarred back, a troubled past fueled by insecurities, and an older, enigmatic guy who happens to be eight years her senior (she is 21).
“I notice everything about you, but I only see the things that matter.” He has no idea what those words mean to me, there’s no way he could. There’s also no way I can hold back the tears that fill my eyes.
However, i was sold the moment i read these lines of the blurb :
Oliver’s days are predictable and his nights are lonely until he meets Vivian on the subway. Her long raven hair, green eyes, and mile-long legs are achingly sexy, but the way she "innocently" fingers and licks her Boston Kreme doughnut can only be described in two words—complete torture.
Oh, how wonderfully entertaining and saucy scenes were sparked by her notorious obsession with doughnuts! ...more
4 days later I'm writing this review of my first favourite HR which put me in a slump only Tessa Dare can get me out of. This book got me binge watchi4 days later I'm writing this review of my first favourite HR which put me in a slump only Tessa Dare can get me out of. This book got me binge watching Outlander. I don't read much HR, I can count on one hand how many I've read before. Thanks to my good friend Venus who recommended me this masterpiece, I am hooked.
➺ I did NOT knew HR could be this humorous with witty banter, Aaron Warner spice (yes thats a thing), a unique premise and a relatable, lovely, blunt and hilarious heroine. The writing style? one of the reasons I couldn't get into HRs but here? its chefs kisses. Folks, I believe I found the one. The one who can get me addicted to this genre. Her name is Tessa Dare.
Letter : My dear imaginary Captain MacKenzie, you are not real and never will be. I, however, am a true and eternal fool. Because, you see, you are mad for me. Utterly consumed with passion after just a few chance meetings and walks along the shore. You made me a great many promises. I was reluctant to accept them, knowing how our nascent love would be tested by distance and war. But you assured me that your heart is true, and I . . . And I have read too many novels, I think.
“Loving you is realizing heaven isn’t a place, but a person.”
➺ I'm surprised by how much i love this book. This couple. Their banter. Their hilar“Loving you is realizing heaven isn’t a place, but a person.”
➺ I'm surprised by how much i love this book. This couple. Their banter. Their hilarious conversations and literally every fucking thing they do when they are with each other. I initially was planning to give this 3 stars until i realised there's 50% of the book still left.
➺ Fake relationship isn't the trope i prefer to read voluntarily. However, i went into this blind and thus this trope came outta nowhere and smacked me in the face. But the way that it happened made me feel a little less uneasy because it wasn't something i thought was going to be sticking around for a long time.
With this trope comes certain obvious things like characters second guessing every romantic moment between them and chalking it up to it being fake and something the other one clearly did for the "show". And that's something i dislike.
She’s like a rainbow after the storm, and I’ll be damned if she fades away once the sun breaks through the clouds.
➺ Here comes a twister. I saw i just reached 50% and there's still half the book left so i continued. And OMFG!!! They are perfect! They are cute! But most importantly, THEY ARE FUCKING HILARIOUS.
I don't think anyone understands me when i say I'd love to read funny romances where the MCs are actually hilarious like laugh-out-loud funny and not just some sarcastic remarks here and there. It's honestly rare to find.
➺Forget them fake dating and shit, they are so fucking cute, I honestly had to put the book down yesterday night to sleep because my single ass can't handle sweetness.
“Loving you is like being stranded in a desert without food or water. Like I’m half delusional, wondering if this whole damn thing is a mirage, because nothing should feel or look this good.”
➺ The fact that this book also deals with a serious topic of people dealing with disability and Santiago's obvious emotional struggle with his low self-esteem was phenomenally portrayed. And i absolutely freaking loved Chloe for always showing him she's sticking with him in such badass ways
➺ How she never gives up on him while also not being a doormat (mainly because Santiago is smitten and not an asshole despite being a grump) shows what rarely ever occurs in adult romances and it's : The couple sticking with each other, having each other's back, helping each other fight their demons and progress to a healthy relationship through communication and not just assumption. I loved how they just straight up came out with it and said they'll give this relationship a real chance and went from there, instead of assuming shit and never being on a same page.
➺ It's honestly amusing to me how I unknowingly chose the last book of this series and it ended up becoming not only my fav but also the author's most underrated one. Compared to the dreamland series -atleast the first two books- this is so much better and much worthy of being hyped imo!
I’ll love Santiago Alatorre for as long as the wildflowers keep growing in beautiful chaos.
Um wow. I was expecting the acknowledgement of this story being inspired by Daemon × Rhaenyra because this is exactly what it would be like if Daemon Um wow. I was expecting the acknowledgement of this story being inspired by Daemon × Rhaenyra because this is exactly what it would be like if Daemon × Rhaenyra were in a modern mafia romance.
Before reading the acknowledgment i had the whole list in my mind I'd be mentioning stating the similarities that i loved between the two– down to the character appearances. But now I'll just state what i loved in this story without comparing it to HOTD.
➺ him willing to bend the knee for her. AND kill anyone who refuses to do the same. Accepts her as the rightful heir and doesn't ever undermines her power just because she's a woman. Never once thinks she can't handle gruesome details about the business and actually shares with her these things like an equal. Is more than happy to be her supporter and her being the actual boss.
➺ Her being a mafia boss bitch which is so rare (infact Ruthless People by J.J McAvoy is the only time I've ever encountered one) where she not only isn't averse to violence but actively takes part in it, demands it and has been this way since she was a child.
➺ The moments where we get to know he is actually the one who has always taken her on this wild life and never shielded her from the brutal side of the mafia business. As an example, he gives her a present which she loved. The present was their enemy's eyeballs ...more
The thing I love the most about Shadowman is the fact that he says the most beautiful things to ever exist and they Re-read III : Aug 26, 2024 Review :
The thing I love the most about Shadowman is the fact that he says the most beautiful things to ever exist and they are so romantically poetic yet he is the person who cannot feel emotions so he says them as universal and scientific facts more than anything else. Like, you could expect this from Dante, he is a really feeling person and you could expect this from even Tristan sometimes who is dark but only light for Morana. I don't even count alpha lol. But shadowman has the level of intensity that is so unparalleled to every other fictional man including the other dark verse men that everything he speaks, and when he speaks you know it means something and not a single word from his mouth is a waste. Even his simple "yes" or "okay" or "good" has power in them.
So yeah when I rank the books, these characters —it sounds so ridiculous when I say characters, because I feel like I know them as actual humans— I love Dante and Amara's story the most but Shadowman comes on top of my fav dark verse hero and then Dante. Book wise it's - Emperor, Annihilator, Reaper, Predator and Finisher.
Alpha and Zephyr are my least favourite characters and the story as well.
Blackthorne>>> After all, he is the most dangerous and the most powerful among all of them INCLUDING the whole Syndicate
Re-read II : Nov 19, 2023 Read : Feb 15, 2023
Initial review :
“Your trust, flamma, is the most addictive drug.”
Oh fuck. Oh fuck.
10/5 stars✰
“If there was any love in this world of mine, Lyla, it would be you.”
After reading this, now i feel like lowering the ratings of all the other books in the series (save for Dante's).
Because oh fucking hell.
THE SHADOW MAN CAN GIVE TRISTAN A RUN FOR HIS MONEY. I'm actually conflicted about who do i love more? Dante and Amara? Whom i loved from the very beginning, who were my all time fav couples and are my comfort characters? Or Blackthorn and Lyla? Who SURPASSED everyone and made me feel more than I ever thought possible?
If you ever choose another, make sure you kill me first. Because I—” he bent to whisper against her lips “—will annihilate the fucking world before I let you go.”
I don't know how should I describe the characters. I want to put all my fav highlighted quotes here but there are literally more than fucking 80.
Also, HATTS OFF TO THE AUTHOR for how she has left me speechless and it's still astounding to me how every little piece fucking falls into place in every book, and it all comes full circle in this Dark Verse series, how perfectly she has woven this world and everything connects so fucking flawlessly. Just ...more
This was so much better than AngeloRory story which i DNFed around 16% and even knowing how their story turns out from this book, i have no intention This was so much better than AngeloRory story which i DNFed around 16% and even knowing how their story turns out from this book, i have no intention of ever picking it up again either.
➺The heroine in this book is just chefs kisses really. I had my doubts about her personality when from the prologue we got to know there was going to be a "queen of hearts" who'll bring Rafe "to his knees" and let's be honest, it wouldn't be the first time a meek heroine is labelled as such.
Imagine my surprise when i not only found Penelope to be a wild firecracker, but also found myself loving the fact that even though she is averse to mafia violence and stuff which isn't anything new but she makes up for it by being such a fucking trickster. The amount of times she took me by surprise along with Rafe and manages to shock me by her boldness dissolved any doubts i had about her being his doom card.
➺Rafe, he is a made men who is a gentleman but not a gentle man. That about sums him up and the sexual tension between these two were not hot because it was written masterfully but rather how both of them were equally dominating. This is those rare mafia romances where i encountered an equal couple and not another Intimidating-killer-H & meek-submissive-h.
➺The length of these books bothers me because i don't see any point of a romance which isn't a fantasy being more than 350+ pages. Especially when this isn't even a standalone.
Can't believe I have rated this 4 when this deserves more than 10 stars. Proves I hadn't read it properly before. Because this? ThRe-Read : 16 Feb 2024
Can't believe I have rated this 4 when this deserves more than 10 stars. Proves I hadn't read it properly before. Because this? This is heaven. This is comfort. This is home. The minute I finished this today. I automatically went to Amazon and ordered the paperback. Changing my rating now.
As a reader who one-clicks every grovel-promising book, I firmly believe in the fact that the grovel can only be great if the receiving party lets the other one repent. And half of the times whenever I've encountered books where grovelling has failed to deliver, it's often due to the lack of resistance from the heroine.
Penny here? She is the "queen" in every sense of word. The perfect candidate to receive and make a grovelling epic because hell will freeze over before she'd back down.
The fact that I cried. like legit cried here???? And there wasn't even a character death. Jesus. This story. Penny. Rafe. Them together. Their words. Their scenes. Their unspoken actions. They brought tears in my eyes. And to think this was a reread. This is when you know you've discovered a true gem of a book.
------------------------- Initial review :
This did not disappoint! I'm interested to see how Gabe and Wren's story will unfold considering their dynamic might be the most unique one yet. What's with their polar opposite personalities and all. While i don't like to read about that kinda thing, i sure would give it a chance.
Anyways, my fav quotes/scenes from this :
“Since when did you start drinking vodka?” “Since you said you wouldn’t kiss me if I drank whiskey.”
♡♡
“I don’t want you, Penelope.” Before his omission has time to sting, he brings his hand to my jaw and grips me there. “But I’m going to take you anyway, and then I’m going to ruin you.” “Why?” I breathe. He doesn’t miss a beat. “Because it’s only a matter of time before you ruin me.”
♡♡
“Whose pussy is this, Penelope?” “Mine.” A growl rises up my throat, and I catch her garbled, “But we can share!” as my belt whistles through the air and breaks over her ass.
This is the bestest cutest most funniest adorable and my absolute favourite college romance book EVER!!
10 *IOU* Stars✰
oh god. What is this trope?? ThiThis is the bestest cutest most funniest adorable and my absolute favourite college romance book EVER!!
10 *IOU* Stars✰
oh god. What is this trope?? This "grumpy nerd in disguise hero" and this "silly but strong heroine" idk what to call this. BUT WHAT IS THIS MUSHY FEELING I AM HAVING INSIDE. I AM FEELING SO GIDDY reading about them, his pov where he is doing his best to "maintain a reputation" of being this scary intimidating guy infront of her but HE JUST CAN'T HELP HIMSELF.
I FEEL LIKE I'M INTRUDING IN THEIR DOMESTIC LIVES. AND WHAT IS HAPPENING?? WHY IS SHE SO CUTE AND CRAZY AND HILARIOUS AND WHY IS HE A GRUMP AND ALSO A NERD WHO IS HIDING A SOFT SPOT FOR HER??
WHY AM I TALKING IN CAPITALS?!!!!
Showing her I cared that she didn’t starve was the worst thing I could have done. It didn’t matter that I pushed an IOU across the table last night and barked out orders for her to remain scarce tonight. She’s not scared. Maybe she is a little; she did hustle out of the kitchen when I was yelling at Rowan on the phone earlier. But the air has shifted. Ainsley James realizes that I’m not as scary as the rumors make me out to be. Which. Is. A. Fucking. Problem.
***
It’s cute the way he acts like he doesn’t give a shit, but yet, he’s checking on me. Of course, his voice strains, like he had to force the words out, but the point is, the big bad wolf cares, even if he would love for me to believe he doesn’t.
***
I think you like people to believe you’re this big bad, beer-drinking, poker-playing god. But really, you’re just a water drinking nerd.”
***
The TV is on and playing her aquarium show. I moan. “Can we please watch something else tonight?” Her lips flatten, and she gives me the side-eye like how dare I request to watch something on my own TV
***
Maverick really is cute when he's being all awkward, looking around like he’s scared someone will recognize him at Crush It, a place where you can literally smash anything.
***
Thank you for saying all those nice things about me.” A groan vibrates in his chest. “Shut up.” “I mean it. It was really sweet.” He’s just a big old scary teddy bear
***
Any trivial thing she does, she gets an IOU. No, she’ll never pay them all back and honestly, I don’t expect her to. It’s just a game between us at this point. Once I surpassed the limit where I knew she would never escape me, I started writing them just for the fuck of it.
***
I love buying toothpaste once a month because you use all mine. I love waking up to you in my bed and burning macaroni and cheese on the stove.” A tear rolls down her cheek. I swipe it away and replace it with my hand. “I love watching your stupid walrus show.” That gets a laugh out of her. “They are sea lions, don’t act like you don’t know the difference.”
GAHH!!! how is it that I've NEVER encountered such couples even in the books which are actually advertised as a "grumpy guy who only has a soft spot for her" type of trope. Like THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO SEE. THIS. THIS AND THIS.
*sigh* i wanna own this book. It's so expensive here. And there's not a better cover. WHY GOD WHY?...more
I'm disgusted. And I'm hot. Then I'm disgustingly hot. Now I'm disgusted that i am hot. – Me throughout the book.
Now this is the literature my brainceI'm disgusted. And I'm hot. Then I'm disgustingly hot. Now I'm disgusted that i am hot. – Me throughout the book.
Now this is the literature my braincells are familiar with! This is the type of nonstop fucking i don't want to watch in porn but i can't help but love to read.
My experience with Shantel Tessier's dark romances has led me to reach this conclusion that she doesn't write the 'she is the light to his dark' type of characters, rather it's 'one is dark and the other is darker' and both the MCs just blend with each other and they are dark together.
When they are not constantly fucking each other, there are like a thousand mini plot twists and major ones which just comes out of nowhere and throws me off, and it's unlike any actual romantic thriller I've ever read.
::::quotes/dialogues::::
“What is one person’s heaven is another’s hell,” I state and then reach up and yank on her dress, pulling the thin straps down over her arms to expose her breasts to me. “You’re my heaven, and I’m your hell,” I whisper, making sure she understands her current situation.
**
He told me that my eyes were so beautiful that he wanted to cut them out and place them in a jar in his room so he could look at them every day. It made me wet. It also made me realize that I’m more fucked up than any patient my mother had ever seen.
or by it's title either if that's whats making you reluctant to read it.
BECAUSE THIS IS SOME TOP-TIER MASTERPIEDO NOT JUDGE THIS BOOK BY IT'S COVER!!
or by it's title either if that's whats making you reluctant to read it.
BECAUSE THIS IS SOME TOP-TIER MASTERPIECE UNDERRATED YET UNIQUE PIECE OF DIAMOND.
➺This features not only a neurodivergent heroine but a fucking rich one at that. Scratch that, a filthy rich billionaire heroine. The hero is a mechanic and this is a marriage of convience story which is something i don't like to read. Because of reasons such as misunderstandings, misinterpretations and miscommunication.
Reasons which are NOT HERE.
➺ My fucking god. the communication is chefs kisses. The way they are so fucking open and honest (from the beginning mind you) with each other about little things like doubting each other's feelings and where do they stand MAKES ME WANT TO GIVE THEM A FREAKING MEDAL.
There's literally no trace of misunderstanding because even if it occurs it gets resolves quickly because THEY TALK. THEY FUCKING TALK PEOPLE. LIKE FULLY GROWN ADULTS!
Do you know how fucking rare that is? And how frustrating it is to not see these basic things in romance?
➺ Anyways, Audrey (h) who schedules fucking everything, can't lie so she prefers to either be blunt or remain silent, takes everything literally, doesn't like to be touched, can't tolerate pain makes me so freaking happy because it leads to things like the hero sputtering because of her replying seriously to his very sarcastic remark and that one role-play scene, fucking HILARIOUS in ways you'd die from laughter.
➺ And if this doesn't convinced you enough, want to know something else? : THE SMUT IS OFF THE FUCKING CHARTS.
Ugh. This deserves to be popular.
Istg if this was a little less expensive here i would buy the paperback right this very second.
*sigh* back to reading romance books about adults who don't act like adults....more
“I want him to take me to wherever it is he goes and show me whatever it is he does and scare me and terrify me and make me fall so in love with hi“I want him to take me to wherever it is he goes and show me whatever it is he does and scare me and terrify me and make me fall so in love with him, I'll never see the light of day again.”
I'm apparently binge reading every book by Ms. Fantome now. And so far she has given me unhinged couples in love, heroines being beyond obsessed with the hero, two mentally fucked up humans ready to kill people for each other, and somehow each story is unique.
But the best part about her? Her eyes. Big, beautiful, green pools. The windows to her soul, telling me all her little secrets. You know what they say? They say want me. They say need me. They say I'm damaged. They say fix me. They say I will do anything for these things. Anything at all. Just make me believe.
Tell me how can I not love Stylo?????? I'm worshipping her at this point. I'm so high on this Fantome drug, i never want to come back down.
“Jesus,” he breathed, and his forehead fell to hers. “It's like I invented you. Where have you been all my life?” “In the deepest parts of hell, waiting for you.”
You want a heroine being obsessed like no other? This is the shit.
“I'll do anything you want, Church. Just don't ever stop talking to me.” “Never. I'll never stop with you, Emma.”
Two people couldn't be more perfect together as the couples in Ms. Fantome's stories.
A force of nature. We will tear through this life and we will leave destruction and we will make people remember us....more
“I see the fire in your eyes and all I wanna do is fuel it. Light me up, set my soul on fire. I’m yours.”
Oh just how corny this was. Cheesy, sugary“I see the fire in your eyes and all I wanna do is fuel it. Light me up, set my soul on fire. I’m yours.”
Oh just how corny this was. Cheesy, sugary sweet with goofy characters who won my heart with all their actions and banters. Ik this was a typical trope, what's with the hero being a infamous manwhore plus a popular hockey player and the heroine who is 'different' and 'special'.
“Let’s be scared together.”
What i didn't count on was how freaking cute and goofy Carter (H) was. How much of a perfect boyfriend he was. As someone who had never been in a relationship, he was the epitome of what a boyfriend should be. How he emphasize and understands the struggles of a relationship, and how honest conversations needs to take place in order to avoid silly misunderstandings and miscommunications, is one of the many reasons i loved him. How corny he was really? How much sugar can a man give you until you get diabetes?? This man knows no limits. He did a complete 180 from a manwhore we get a -typical- glimpse of in the beginning to this goofy doofus who is so perfect and head over heels for Olivia (h). You wanna choose your next book bf? Possibly husband? Consider him.
“I one thousand percent love you more than Oreos.”
Olivia was a five-foot-one sassy little shit. I felt like i needed to mention her height since this height difference between her and basically every other character, was frequently brought up in one way or another. And i thought i would be irritated but i found myself loving those realistic depictions of being a small-tiny lil thing among people who are taller than you. (Yes that was my subtle way of implying I'm 5 foot nothing– I don't wanna hear it). Sure yes I loved her from the beginning, her cute attempts of denying Carter but somewhere along the way i realised when they actually got into the relationship, she was surprisingly not as ready as Carter. She was the all-in type of girl, for Carter it was all new. But to my surprise Carter seemed to handle things way maturely than her at times. But once we get past that stage, all is good and we are back to Carter pulling the cute shit again.
“One kiss, Olivia. One kiss and I was done. My world obliterated the second my lips touched yours.”
I kid you not i was genuinely ready to give this a 1 star. Yes straight up 1 star because first of all it took me 9-10 long freaking hours to read this book. That was the length of the book. I mean i could've read atleast 2-3 novels in that span of time but ofc i was hooked to this one so i had to finish it. Reaching through 85% the story took a shitty turn in the name of conflict which i think was unnecessary and therefore made me freaking scared about this ending on a cliffhanger because (a) i did not just read this for 10 fucking hours to not get the freaking HEA i believed it freaking had. (b) will definitely not read the second book if that's the case.
“I need you to know that I’d never hurt you. Hurting you would break my heart, and you own that thing. You’re my Ollie girl.”
Fortunately, that ridiculous and predictable -i might add- conflict was resolved before we get to the good ending parts and i was all happy and smiling again.
“You’re my favorite kind of different.”
Did i think i would like this? Absolutely not. The way my life is going on nowadays though, it didn't hurt to smile and laugh involuntarily for a good few hours.
You want a book that would leave you with a sweet tooth and fill your heart with sugar? (If that's possible) Consider this.
“I’ve never felt this way about anyone before. Never, Ollie. I just want you to consider… consider giving me a shot. Consider me. That’s all I want, Ol. A chance with you.”