• ARCs,  Book Reviews,  Fiction

    A Heart to Trust by A.L. Brooks | ARC Review

    30th November 2020
    Cover of A Heart to Trust (A.L. Brooks)

    A Heart to Trust by A.L. Brooks

    Click on the cover for my review on Goodreads.

    Content warning: mention of disowning, manipulation, divorce, inebriation

    While I loved Brooks’s previous book, Dare to Love (my review here), I only felt a fraction of that enjoyment for A Heart to Trust. That being said, I did enjoy all the interactions of the main characters with their respective friends but just not with each other.

    When C&V Inc acquires Jenny Quinn’s (29, gay) company, her job is in jeopardy. There are three PA openings for four candidates, so she has to prove her worth during the Project Catwalk collaboration with her friend Maxwell and two other PAs from C&V, Olivia Sinclair (lesbian) and Chrissy. Soon, there is evidence of sabotage but no one is sure what is going on. The only sure thing is the growing attraction between Jenny and Olivia, but Olivia is married to motor-racer Broderick Sinclair (31, ace/aro). What Jenny doesn’t know is that it is a fake marriage as Olivia struggles between her own sexual desires and previous arrangements with her close friend Broderick.

    Read More
  • ARCs,  Book Reviews,  Fiction

    Presidential by Lola Keeley | ARC Review

    13th September 2020
    Cover of Presidential (Lola Keeley)

    Presidential by Lola Keeley

    Content warnings: shooting, off-page deaths, parental loss, spousal loss, biphobia from antagonists, uses of ableist language

    There have been a lot of discussions on how this book closely resembles Aaron Sorkin’s screenplay The American President. Since I have never seen the film, I decided to read Presidential first, rate it, then skim through the script. Therefore, the similarities between the two works do not affect my rating. I consider Presidential as Keeley reimagining a queer, female The American President.

    Read More
  • ARCs,  Book Reviews,  Fiction

    Fair Game by Charlotte Mills | ARC Review

    28th August 2020
    Cover of Fair Game (Charlotte Mills)

    Fair Game (Payback #2) by Charlotte Mills

    Content warnings: stalking, poisoning, murder, attempted murder, death, self-harm in antagonist, blood, alcoholism, suspected cheating of minor character

    This book takes place about two months after the epilogue of Payback.

    Lexi Ryan (~34) now works at internet firm Shield Securities while her girlfriend ex-DCI Helen Taylor (~40) is settling down as a civilian. When Lexi feels like she is being stalked, Helen makes it her job to protect her and find out what is going on.

    Read More
  • ARCs,  Book Reviews,  Fiction

    Payback by Charlotte Mills | ARC Review

    27th August 2020

    Payback (Payback #1) by Charlotte Mills

    Content warnings: off-page arson, murder, suicides, pedophilia, rape, deaths of family members, sexual harassment; blood, cancer

    I did not expect the story to escalate like this.

    Dead body. Arson. Missing person. Throughout most of the story, I had trouble getting into the plot, connecting with detective Kate Wolf (34) and her boss Helen Taylor, as well as understanding their attraction. A lot of things did not add up for me, so it took me a very long time to get past the first few chapters and keep reading. Even as I was close to finishing, I couldn’t understand why everyone loved it so much. Until I did.

    Read More
  • ARCs,  Book Reviews,  Fiction

    Moon Fever by Ileandra Young | ARC Review

    20th August 2020
    Cover of Moon Fever (Ileandra Young)

    Moon Fever (The S.P.E.A.R. Mission Files #2) by Ileandra Young

    CW: speciesism from main character, ableist language from main character, blood, transphobia, sexism, loss of body parts, torture

    I have very conflicted feelings about this sequel. Danika’s egotistic actions irk me constantly, but I am still very invested in her story. In Both Ways, her stubbornness and rashness often lead her into horrible situations. And now? Things are worse. With her team investigating in recent werewolf attacks, she is drastically overpowered by the edanes and yet somehow thinks it is a good idea for her to get involved in their conflicts.

    Read More