📖Romance Books: reviews and recommendations📖 - Page 9

Originally posted by: LizzieBennet

Thanks, Q0D, this sounds interesting! I might give it a go once I'm finished with my current reading list. 😳

Ramadan mubarak to you! ❤️

Thanks. I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I did.

My favourite from MZ is The wall of Winnipeg and me. It had fake marriage, grumpy and sunshine sort of. Vanessa was hilarious as she did have a backbone and put him in his place. Aiden was literally dependent on her for everything which I had loved 😂

Originally posted by: Queen0fDarkness

They are a must read!!! 😂

I was like you, I was stunned at first when I came across first person pov and struggled the first few times then most authors have started writing in first pov and I’ve now gotten used to it. I now struggle with third person and trying to figure out who said what 😂

Originally posted by: LizzieBennet

Oh I’ve read a lot of first person narratives and I still haven’t gotten used to them. I came from reading a lot of Historical romances and almost none of them are in first person 😆 so I got used to the third person omniscient narrative style. I rather enjoy that it gives both perspectives when reading a scene. I think I will never love first person, though if the book is well-written I might tolerate it 😆

Yes, historical romances aren’t in first person pov. I do enjoy them from time to time. I have to be in the mood for them. What’s your favourite?

One I recently read was Silent Revenge by Laura Landon. This was one that was different and had a working woman which is almost never a thing in historical romances as the women are seen as home maker or duchesses attending the several tons looking for husbands.

My favourite historical romance is Annie’s song by Catherine Anderson. That is a book I revisit every couple of years.

Originally posted by: Queen0fDarkness

Yes, historical romances aren’t in first person pov. I do enjoy them from time to time. I have to be in the mood for them. What’s your favourite?

One I recently read was Silent Revenge by Laura Landon. This was one that was different and had a working woman which is almost never a thing in historical romances as the women are seen as home maker or duchesses attending the several tons looking for husbands.

My favourite historical romance is Annie’s song by Catherine Anderson. That is a book I revisit every couple of years.

Title: Haunting Adeline by HD Carlton (Cat & Mouse duet #1)

Sypnosis:

The Manipulator

I can manipulate the emotions of anyone who lets me.

I will make you hurt, make you cry, make you laugh and sigh.

But my words don't affect him. Especially not when I plead for him to leave.

He's always there, watching and waiting.

And I can never look away.

Not when I want him to come closer.

The Shadow

I didn't mean to fall in love.

But now that I have, I can't stay away.

I'm mesmerized by her smile, by her eyes, and the way she moves.

The way she undresses...

I'll keep watching and waiting. Until I can make her mine.

And once she is, I'll never let her go.

Not even when she begs me to.

Review

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Writing: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Hero: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Heroine: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Cliffhanger ending

Spice level: 5/5

Genre: Dark romance (REALLY dark romance)

Trope: Enemies to lovers

Possible Triggers: Trafficking women/children, child abuse, stalker, killer, sexual assault, non-con, dub-con, kidnapping, blood and gore, torture

Okay, let me start with if you’ve got any triggers, heed to that and do not read this book.

I did not know what I expected especially when everyone recommending kept telling me its dark and you’ll need a breather. I did not read any of the reviews as I did not want to be swayed by them so I borrowed on kindle unlimited and bought the audiobook for half the price as I had quite a busy day ahead of me.

I started the book on audio at first and when it started with the creepy mansion where Adeline moved in. I had to take a pause and take a breather because I’d started listening at night and I was alone at home for the first couple of days. I so regret that and I slept with a light on for a couple of nights.

Anyway, moving on. Once I got into the listening and then reading the book on my kindle, I devoured the book. There was so much to uncover and it was unpredictable especially when we’re getting the diary of her great grandmother as well who was in love with her stalker.

“Cat got your tongue, little mouse?”

Zade Meadows was a straight up psychopath but there was also something so good about him given what he did. Zade, known as Z to the world is trying eliminating child traffickers and the details of these scenarios were really sad and in the back of your mind you know this sort of thing happens but we try not to think about it so much and be blissfully ignorant. I loved how he tortures and kills them.

“I have never pretended to be a good person. But what I did do was create my own f******* morals to live by. I will keep killing every deranged individual who resides on this goddamn planet if it means children don’t have to die, and you don't have to live in danger.”

Some scenes between Zade and Adeline were uncomfortable, I did skim through their first sexual encounters because it was non-con. In real life, I would be telling Adeline to fly out of the country, change her name, her everything and run the other direction away from Zade. But it’s fictional. Plus, Zade will probably find her since he knows his shit when it comes to technology. When I was reading this, I reminded myself its fictional hence I was able to enjoy this book more because in real life, this would most likely be a horror story.

“The moment I saw her sitting in that bookstore, working to hide her nerves and anxiety, there I was—a grown-ass man, falling in obsession at first sight.”

Adeline is an author and comes across Zade when they bump into each other onto the street after some book event and from thereon, Zade is taken by her. He finds her and knows where she lives. She comes home to roses or an empty glass that has been used by her stalker. She’d reported it several times, but somehow the reports have disappeared.

Adeline could’ve ran but she was determined to stay and I’d say she’s probably got some psychotic tendencies within her given that being afraid she’s turned on by it. She loves everything horror and all.

“If I had fallen in love with a lie, I would’ve been devastated. I just wish he wasn’t such a bad guy. But then he’d be a different man—a man you might not be able to love.”

When you are being stalked, you do not open the front door or chase them down to see where they’re at. You also don’t go looking for them around the house if you know they’re present. You run the other way. Adeline doesn’t do that. She runs towards it. Even when she tries telling herself to be afraid and feels it, she’s also sort of enjoying this chase of cat and mouse. Their exchanges when it came to them finally messaging was fun. She had witty come backs as did he. They were entertaining.

What surprised me was when it came to Zade’s pov, you find out that he’s wanting love and not just for her to become a temporary thing. I really enjoyed his thoughts when it came to Adeline, his obsession and love for her was on another level. Psychotic level maybe but it was sooo good to know how obsessively in love he was with her. And all he wanted in return was her love.

“What you’re seeing now is what I see every day. No matter how far I run, how hard I try to escape you—you’re everywhere I go. You’re everything I see. Loving you is like being trapped in a house of mirrors, little mouse. And I’ve never felt so at home while being so lost inside you.”

Whilst there is focus on them coming together, Zade comes to learn Adeline has captured the attention of the society. Adeline is his most prized possession, obsession. The society want her. She’s become a target and Zade tries to find them before they get to her.

The introduction of Sibby and her *imaginary* 4 henchmen. I absolutely loved. I know she’s supposed to be scary and off the rails, but I found her hilarious. Even more in book 2. Zade appropriately named her demon slayer. 😂

So much happens and I do not want to give any other spoilers because there is so much going on. I couldn’t stop reading until I finished, and I didn’t even wait long before I jumped into the second. When I finished the second book, this book was not even considered dark to me anymore. The second was midnight black dark!

Everything is graphic in this book and I will repeat do not read if you have any triggers, and I do NOT support any such action. If you are going to try this out, remember it is FICTION.

“When you make someone fall in love with the darkest parts of you, there's nothing you can do that will scare them away.”

Originally posted by: LizzieBennet

I have a whole bunch of favourites! HRs were my thing! 😎 I have a post floating somewhere with all my HR recs, need to find it 😆 Courtney Milan writes about working women a lot. Evil Dunmore’s series is based off of the suffragette movement I think

Oh, I shall check that out. Thank you! I love the working women a lot especially in HRs.

Originally posted by: Queen0fDarkness

Lol it does seem great and I know I won’t be disappointed when I start the book again. The third is always somehow better for most series.

- My God I thought it was only me who caught onto this but SO TRUE. Book 3 is the star of any series whatsoever...no question. Cannot wait for Lucian's book, probably gonna break my vow and preorder it. I've never not once pre ordered it before release. Have you finished with Nash's book?

I’ve started the dreamland billionaires and from booktok, the third one has been praised much more. I’ve only read the first and tempted to jump into the third but wanna read all the brothers stories.

- Awww what a coincidence I'm reading the Dreamland Billionaire series again, like right now lol. Already read the third one too. Practically the same day it released. IT IS MAD FUNNY. I CAN'T- Callahan is the superior brother out of the three. Plus there's a child in there...sweet lord...Cami and Cal give full vibes. Melt your heart into puddles, plus Cal + Iris + Zahra have a group chat along with the Kane family group lol. Their chats are so funny. Can't go through with a straight face. (Cal has Declan's named saved as 'D*ck-Lan' and all chats show that 🤣)

My only concern with it was that it was a bit longer than I felt necessary but overall solid read. I didn't like Rowan's book as much as I thought I would. Sure had it's moments and all but mostly an average skim through read.

I’m also into another series - the Mile High club by TL Swan. I’ve read first two and my favourite is Tristan who is from the second but again the third brother is somehow being raved about most 😆

- I've heard so much about this! Will come to it some time again.

Originally posted by: Queen0fDarkness

Thanks. I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I did.

My favourite from MZ is The wall of Winnipeg and me. It had fake marriage, grumpy and sunshine sort of. Vanessa was hilarious as she did have a backbone and put him in his place. Aiden was literally dependent on her for everything which I had loved 😂

Winnipeg is a great read! MASSIVE slow burn...😆

Like maddening slow burn but a great read all with it. Funny and swoon-worthy!

The way he manages his meals when she stops cooking for him 🤣🤣

Originally posted by: LizzieBennet

I have a whole bunch of favourites! HRs were my thing! 😎 I have a post floating somewhere with all my HR recs, need to find it 😆 Courtney Milan writes about working women a lot. Evil Dunmore’s series is based off of the suffragette movement I think

Thread two of Bridgerton discussion I believe! 😳 Initial pages mein...there's the list.

Zade Meadows is booktok's one of the kryptonites lol...Along with Aaron Warner and others.

The quote - "Meadows... baby...our last name is Meadows" appears on my feed at least thrice a day 😆

Haven't gotten to it yet! Some said it's too much!

But the way it keeps on reappearing...might have to go ahead and get to it.