Library Lady

Doormat Meets Sadist with Zero Personality

Revisado: 05-27-21

I really wanted to like this one, but I just... Couldn't. It irritated me too much. I mean, I know it's dark romance, I expect dub-con and non-con, but our heroine, despite being a rape victim, was pretty nonchalant about being victimized throughout the book.

The heroine (Em) started out seemingly strong but by the second scene between her and Giovanni, she lost me. She gets in a car with a stranger who showed up at her apartment with a gun the night before because... She doesn't want to cause a scene? I mean, okay, I went with it because after the first scene where she seemed clever, I thought she must have something up her sleeve. Nope! She didn't.

She was equally passive at every further encounter. She didn't really seem to mind being kidnapped and raped, despite her past. I mean, she did have a few stubborn remarks or say he was hurting her, but then she quickly rolls over and lets him do whatever he wants to her bc... Orgasms, I guess? Apparently she "had to" have pain to get off, even though in the very first sexy scene, she gets off without any pain at all. Hmm. It kinda seemed like the author just added the pain thing as an afterthought later in the book to make the hero seem less cruel.

Giovanni was pretty much the typical alpha male, takes what he wants anti-hero, but he was a little too bland for me. I don't mind those scenes if he also shows he cares for her, or at least thinks it, or redeems himself later. But he actively enjoys hurting her, raping her with no prep until she bleeds, cries, and says no & that he's hurting her. I guess I just wanted him to also care about her or feel something, even if it was just unable to resist/overcome by lust/remorse after the fact... Something, anything, Bueller?! But nah, he never shows feelings or a personality. Saying you love someone even when you repeatedly rape her just to hurt her, even after knowing about her past, isn't all that convincing. I guess that made it cool for him to do it, but not her past rapists? I didn't really see the difference but okay.

This is obviously popular with the majority, just wasn't for me. I like my characters to have more depth and personality other than pushover & sadist. The readers were good, though.

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Fun Romantic Comedy

Revisado: 05-27-21

This was a fun, "fluffy" type read. It's the basic romantic comedy but with a curvy girl. The two main characters were very likeable and relatable. It did get a little slow in the middle for me. I like to see more than a prologue of the couple together, but it seemed like they got together and stayed together a little too long before the predictable drama/final crisis at the end. So, there was practically no conflict in this, but it was still an enjoyable read.

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First LJ Shen, won't be my last!

Revisado: 02-20-21

Okay so I've obviously seen this author's books all over Amazon for a few years now, but for some reason I was hesitant to start one. I'm not very good with alphahole heroes, so... I've read the reviews on her books and thought they might not be for me. But I bought a few to try and never got around to it. Finally I started one, partly convinced by the 1.99 audio add-on.
I was pleasantly surprised! Yes, West was all that, but the author did a great job balancing his jerk moments with nice ones so I never hated him, even when he was an ass.
Grace was a good heroine, quiet but strong. There were a few times when the author seemed to lose her grasp on her, though, and she'd do something completely out of character, spitting me out of the book. For example, Grace is scarred and doesn't like attention. Knowing full well that West gets tons of attention, she confronts him IN THE MIDDLE OF CAMPUS and causes a scene for a completely nonsense reason, when she could have just said it when they were at work where it was always just the two of them. It almost felt like the author just had to put in a chapter from West's POV so she forced something, and it made no sense. There were other scenes that felt just as far fetched and extraneous sprinkled through the book. Maybe she was trying to cater to her fans who like her darker books or add drama? At another point Grace tells West to treat her like anyone else. He says, okay, he's an ass to everyone so he'll be an ass to her. She screams, "You're a monster!"
Um, wut? She legit just told him to treat her the same, and she already knew he was a jerk to everyone... Plus that hardly makes someone a monster. He wasn't even being cruel, just a smartass.
I could name a dozen more just...off?...scenes, but you get the picture. Stuff like that.
Anyway, overall it was a really sweet, angsty, beautiful story. The ending was extremely satisfying. Side characters were good. I would recommend!

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A love story to pull at your heartstrings

Revisado: 12-21-20

This was a good, angsty love story full of feels. I really enjoyed it. There were a few little quirks in both the writing and narration that urk e me, but overall it was a classic love story. Both characters were likeable and relatable. Jude was arrogant but just stayed on this side of going too far into alphahole. Layla was a bit squeal-heavy, and def a virgin ingenue, but I don't mind those tropes so it didn't bother me. Both characters had pasts to overcome (hers physical, his emotional) to find true love.
Favorite part: Jude's growth as a character. I would recommend.

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Unexpected psycho H

Revisado: 03-06-20

I've read some of this author's later books, so I get that there's a pattern of damaged girl & perfect guy. And though the guys can be a bit much in the "every single word & action is perfect" way, it's a nice break from the current trend of straight psycho satan-like heroes. So, I was excited to go back and read McLeans first book (or one of the first?) Jake was predictably perfect for like half the book and then he goes from perfect to straight psycho in several scenes, which is never dealt with or overcome. in fact, no one even calls him on it! Apparently it's a-okay for a guy to go ballistic when his friend gives a ride to a girl he likes. So ballistic that he assaults his friend, makes his kid sister cry and run away and nearly get hit by a car. Hiw does he react? Instead of stopping, he screams at her some more. And then the girl he likes obeys him, and all is forgotten. say what!?

I mean, I don't really mind this type of stuff in my books of it's a bully romance or alphahole one. but when you're selling this guy as perfect!? um, no. Abusive and controlling. If this was a real life guy, I'd tell any woman to run far, far away. this is the charming guy who turns even your family against you because he had everyone convinced he's perfect while underneath he's a gaslighting sociopath.

Okay, rant over. Otherwise, just minor annoying things that seem to pop up with this author. Her FMCs squeal more than pigs in a wallow. Not sexy. They also shriek and cry nonstop. And in this book, there were zero obstacles keeping the couple apart, so it was frustrating that I didn't know why they didn't get together bc it's only explained in the last 10% of the book.

I'm glad I read this after some of this author's newer work bc otherwise I'd never pick up another book by her. Luckily I know how much she's improved, and I'm still a fan. But this book is a big fat no for me.

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so sweet it might give you a toothache

Revisado: 02-06-20

this book was really sweet. sometimes a little TOO sweet. the H was completely, unrealistically perfect in every single situation & everything he said. but despite that, it was a good story. it drew me in and kept me listening. the narrator was a little squeal-happy (as was the h) but it didn't bother me enough to ruin the experience.
I definitely appreciate the genre and will read many more by this author.

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great book

Revisado: 01-09-20

I love this author, so of course I had to read this. While I'm not a huge fan of the alphahole that's in like every single book published nowadays, Justin had somewhat endeared himself by the end of the book. January was the perfect heroine. The plot was complicated but good. My only complaint would be that I wanted more romance! lol. At the start, it skips ahead a year and then January keeps saying their relationship is toxic, but they have zero relationship at that point. As the book went on, they developed one, but I needs more cuddly cuteness! Justin barely became tolerable and then it was over. Sad face. I have a feeling he's going to be the best of her guys, and the rest will be even bigger jerks, so I have to get my game face on & prepare myself before starting book 2.

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Good intro to bully romance.

Revisado: 10-03-19

This was my first "modern" bully romance since the label came around. I wasn't sure if like it, but I ended up pleasantly surprised!
Sometimes I end up hating the love interests and thinking the MC is a spineless idiot for putting up with them. But the guys here were well done--just jerky enough but not unlikeable. The bullying is light and over quickly. And Harlow is a likeable character for the most part. Her live for her mom was sweet even if it was a plot device.
The writing is smooth except for the jarring & awkwardly placed curse words. Otherwise polished.
Since I haven't read much in this genre, I can't speak to the uniqueness of the storyline. There was one scene where a guy walks in on her getting dressed that was eerily familiar--pretty sure it was nearly identical to one in Fallen Crest (or Paper Princess?... Can't remember as it's been a while since I read those).
No other complaints. It's a solid, engaging read that will keep you going even if you guess the ending pretty far in advance.
The audio reader is perfect.

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Great book

Revisado: 01-12-19

I really liked this audiobook. The story was unique and layered. The characters were real , complex, and distinct from one another. The female reader was great. The male was way over the top exaggerated with the accent, which made it kind of comical at inappropriate times. Once I got used to him it was okay, though. I got really drawn in and wanted to keep reading. It's a "quiet" book that focuses on relationship between the characters. Overall, I would recommend.

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