Last Reads of 2023

Hoarded by the Dragon by Lillian Lark

Rating: ✩✩✩✩✩

I am really enjoying this series and while I have some quibbles, this book delivered everything Lillian Lark readers enjoy. You are going to get classic tropes like grumpy-sunshine, surprise pregnancy (my most hated and honestly what made me drop one star from the rating) and instalust. The spice is spicy and the supernatural world building is solid. The gentle intertwining of the bathhouse throughout the series is a nice little bonus for fans. However, I found these two main characters to be completely uninteresting. Lark can usually build a fun group of leads, but these were too archetypical. He is the classic "damaged male" who basically refuses to use his eyes and brain at the same time. She, despite the premise that she is a master thief who is a well-researched perfectionist about everything, knows seemingly nothing about anything. While still a fun read in this world, it just missed the mark for me.

Published on 3 November 2023 by Thistles, Thorns & Fables

Book #117 of 2023

Two for Tea: Welcome to Azathé by C.M. Nascosta

Rating: ✩✩✩✩✩

If you are looking for a classic C.M. Nascosta blend of smut and plot, this will not be the book for you. If you want a very cozy story with amazing autumnal cottagecore vibes, then this might be what you want. While in some ways the novella is an interesting look at grief and healing, in other ways...just not much happens. Overall it feels like a precursor to what could be a very interesting story, but in and of itself, it just read as incomplete. With all that said, being back in Cambric Creek is always fun and the world building is impeccable as always.

Published on 29 September 2023 for Kindle Unlimited

Book #118 of 2023

Superbia: A Monster Romance by Colette Rhodes

Rating: ✩✩✩✩✩

For some reason (despite the fact that I could offer criticisms all day) this series is becoming one of my favorites. This second in the series continues the tales of former monster hunters turned monster mates and their adventures in the Shadow Realm. Featuring a solid enemies to lover trope (I mean, these two HATE each other) and some great world building in terms of the political intrigue that reintroducing humans to realm has created. While I didn't really like either of the main characters, somehow Colette Rhodes spins a tale you want to keep reading.

Published on 3 March 2023 by the National Library of New Zealand

Book #123* of 2023

Gula by Colette Rhodes

Rating: ✩✩✩✩✩

For some reason (despite the fact that I could offer criticisms all day) this series is becoming one of my favorites. This third in the series continues the tales of former monster hunters turned monster mates and their adventures in the Shadow Realm. This time we get a female shade and a male human who makes it to the shadow realm. While I could have lived without how much Selene's character depended on the classic "not like other girls" trope, but it was still a solid story. I am still loving the world building and the background thread of political argy-bargy resulting from the kingdoms in the Shadow Realm and the introduction humans into them. Waiting impatiently for more books in this series.

Published on 30 September 2023 by the National Library of New Zealand

Book #119 of 2023

A Holly Jolly Mess: A Cambric Creek Holiday Monster Romance by C.M. Nascosta

Rating: ✩✩✩✩✩

Exactly what's on the tin. In a "Love Actually" homage that happens in Cambric Creek. As seems to be the theme with my recent Cambric Creek books, this was fun in the world building but the stories themselves were only OK. I could really only get invested in one pairing and sometimes the shifting perspective was less "quirky intertwined tales" and more "confusingly undeveloped." Even with the disclaimer that this is just a little interlude with some characters from the world, a lot of it felt rushed and like there was no conclusion or direction for further stories. A quick cozy (and spicy) Yuel-tde read, but not Nascosta's best work.

Published on 12 December 2023 by Meduas Editoriale

Book #120 of 2023

Pucking Wild by Emily Rath

Rating: ✩✩✩✩✩

This was a real mixed bag that I can recognize as a badly written book that I really enjoyed for some reason.

The good:

• Age-Gap Romance where the FMC is older. A fun twist on the trope even if it requires ALL the suspension of disbelief that a whole-ass lawyer in her 30s would put up with a man in his 20s because...in real life? NOPE.
• Sports romance which I somehow like even though in my actual life sports basically don't even exist to me.
• Solid HEA with a dash of "vengeance is mine" for the cruddy ex-husband.
• Spicy-spice. The sex here is pretty hot and well written (if you can ignore the lack of chemistry-see below)

The bad:

• If you thought Rachel and her collection of spouses were annoying before, they are insufferable here even as supporting characters.
• I didn't really feel connected to either of the main characters, both were tropey and Tess' switch between "damaged baby bird" and "cool girl who is not like other girls, but also feminine and perfect in every way" gave me whiplash. Again, in real life, these people would be a nightmare.
• Lack of chemistry. I want to be all in on instalove/lust, but I just don't feel it with these two. This takes some of the shine off the spice (which Rath does nail (pardon the pun)).

Overall, I did not dislike the book, but it was a long book for characters who don't really change. I am keeping my fingers crossed for the next book in the series...Poppy's story looks like a trainwreck and I can't wait!

Published on 21 August 2023 by Emily Rath Books

Book #121** of 2023

* I read this back in the spring, but somehow never recorded or reviewed it. 

** Book #122 is The Obelisk Gate by N.K. Jemisin, but I am waiting until I finish the whole series to do a review.