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Sparrow
Sparrow
L. J. Shen | 2016 | Contemporary, Romance
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I've had this one on my Kindle for a few years now, putting it off for one reason or another so it's about time I read it.

This starts with Troy Brennan going to church confessional to kill the priest who gave private information to someone who then went and killed Troy's dad. Fast forward three years and we meet Sparrow who is suddenly finding herself marrying Troy but doesn't know why and isn't happy about it.

When I decided to read this, it hadn't registered with me that it was going to be a little dark. It isn't that bad, really. We see Troy kill the priest at the beginning but other than that he doesn't really do anything that bad. It's just it's Christmas and reading something like this at this time of the year feels a little wrong - and I think after the "All for the Game" trilogy I read that I'm done for Dark books for the rest of the year.

I didn't entirely understand the romance in this one, either. Half the time Troy wasn't even interested in her and she was pretty much just a way for him to have sex so I wasn't really feeling it. Not even towards the end when everything came out and they mellowed towards the other. Maybe as I mentioned above, I just wasn't in the mood.

This is something like my sixth or seventh book by the author but it isn't my favourite.
  
ABEL 3: Shattered (Phoenix Club, #3)
ABEL 3: Shattered (Phoenix Club, #3)
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
3.5 stars.

So I finished this a little before midnight last night. Once again I was caught up in the emotions of Abel and Devlin and really felt their pain. It seemed so cruel that the actions of one man could ruin their entire relationship.

In relation to Kaplan, I'll admit that I softened towards him just not enough for me to enjoy reading the various sex scenes between him and Abel (In fact, I skipped some altogether). It just seemed wrong to me. But he's a nicer guy than I first thought. And I'm intrigued by the thought of something happening (again) between him and Max.

As for Cole and Gabe it always seemed kinda obvious that they would get together properly instead of just hooking up every now and then. They're good for each other.

Back to Abel and Devlin. I'm glad that they finally ended up talking to each other, without someone running off in despair, and got everything out in the open. As everyone kept pointing out throughout: they are great for each other and so in love

And I must confess that, although I could barely see through my tears, I really liked the ending. It was different but so good. I was waiting for an unhappy, throw my kindle at the wall, ending but it all turned around so quickly and nicely and I was wearing a big smile by the end.
  
Addicted to You (Addicted, #1)
Addicted to You (Addicted, #1)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I received a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars.

I liked this but it’s really hard to put my feelings into words.

The insight into what it’s like for a sex addict was eye-opening, the way it’s almost a physical pain for her to ignore the urge to sleep with someone. You really sympathise with Lily on this, it’s not like she enjoys it, especially when her and Loren decide to try a proper relationship together.

Loren–Lo–Hale is an alcoholic, has been for many years and Lily has been his crutch, hiding his addiction from everyone, like he does with her. His feelings for Lily are fairly obvious from early on and in a way I felt sorry for him, knowing that she spent the night with one or more guys almost every night…

The thing is they both really care about each other and sometimes choose to ignore the other’s addiction rather than confront it when it causes problems.

Dealing with their affluent families also takes it toll on them all. Lo and his alcoholic father who ignores him half the time unless he’s done something wrong and Lily and her meddlesome parents and sisters. It’s a good job they have some well-meaning friends by the end.

It’s nicely written and instead of judging the characters you tend to sympathise with them instead.
  
Sparrow
Sparrow
L.J. Shen | 2016
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I've had this one on my Kindle for a few years now, putting it off for one reason or another so it's about time I read it.

This starts with Troy Brennan going to church confessional to kill the priest who gave private information to someone who then went and killed Troy's dad. Fast forward three years and we meet Sparrow who is suddenly finding herself marrying Troy but doesn't know why and isn't happy about it.

When I decided to read this, it hadn't registered with me that it was going to be a little dark. It isn't that bad, really. We see Troy kill the priest at the beginning but other than that he doesn't really do anything that bad. It's just it's Christmas and reading something like this at this time of the year feels a little wrong - and I think after the "All for the Game" trilogy I read that I'm done for Dark books for the rest of the year.

I didn't entirely understand the romance in this one, either. Half the time Troy wasn't even interested in her and she was pretty much just a way for him to have sex so I wasn't really feeling it. Not even towards the end when everything came out and they mellowed towards the other. Maybe as I mentioned above, I just wasn't in the mood.

This is something like my sixth or seventh book by the author but it isn't my favourite.
  
A is for Aftercare (The Alphabet of Desire #1)
A is for Aftercare (The Alphabet of Desire #1)
Colette Davison | 2021 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
focuses more on the care a Daddy gives
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarain, I was gifted my copy of this book.

Archie gets a job as PA for his favourite author and finds himself wanting to do so much than manage his diary. Hamish is is a grumpy so and so, but the young Archie becomes his muse very quickly. When one of Archie's brothers gets an invite to an adult party, both Archie and Hamish see the other in a different way.

I really really enjoyed this! It focuses more on the CARE a Daddy gives, in all ways, rather than the sex part, and I loved that I found it equally warm and fuzzies/too stinking cute and smexy!

It's not especially taxing on the brain, no complicated plot line or too much trauma to either of them, and I appreciated that right about now.

I loved that Archie and Hamish get on well together, as boss/employee, as friends, and then as Daddy/boy. They really are perfect for each other, they fit so well together. I loved Hamish's friends, and seeing how they might fit into future books. I loved the ABC triplets and I really look forward to reading Blake and Corey's tales!

It says 230 odd pages, but I didn't think it was that long. I really got sucked in with these two and time flew.

4 good solid stars

**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
  
Yakuza Moon: The True Story of a Gangster's Daughter
Yakuza Moon: The True Story of a Gangster's Daughter
Sean Michael Wilson | 2011 | Comics & Graphic Novels
8
8.3 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
This book tells a story of Shoko Tendo, and it was a manga version of her memoir. Her life was pretty brutal and filled with bad decisions, drugs and sex. She got mixed with the wrong crowd at a very young age, and that got her into drugs, countless horrible and abusive relationships, mostly with married men. I didn’t like Shoko at all, she continuously made poor decisions in her life, and it all started with her being “Know it all” in her young days.

The narrative of this novel is filled with violence, and it got sadder and more miserable as I was reading through this book. This book is a great example of how poor decisions can ruin one’s life. Even though it was a sad book, I absolutely loved the illustrations used to portray this story. I found this novel quite educational, I learned how people were getting by in Japan in 1990ies, especially women.

This book is quite nerve-racking and upsetting, and the chapters are quite long, but it is a one-sitting read and pages just fly by. The ending of this book rounded up the story very nicely, but I wanted a different ending for Shoko.

So, to conclude, it was an unusual and shocking journey for me, but at the same time an invaluable experience gained throughout the pages, and I would strongly recommend it to everybody.