Slaying Books Blog

I inadvertently squeeze the keys too hard and the car bleeps in protest. I jump a little, but the scowl fades from Kane’s face, and his lips twitch. Good. He’s amused by me again. I can be the plucky comic relief. I can’t be the girl he cares about. That role in the book is already taken. ~Edie, 48% The excerpt above is from one of the many hilarious, sweet, and swoony scenes in Storybound, that had me smiling like a lovesick doof. I really liked the concept of Storybound, because it felt like a story that was especially written for me, and others like me. Those of us who have found at least one book series that feels so real, that it’s like you know the characters on a personal level. You’re sad when they’re sad, angry when their angry, and you fall completely head-over-heels for a guy (or girl), when they do. Those of us who would consider trading a kidney, just to be in the presence of our true book boyfriend ~ swoon. I liked how Kane, and the other characters in his fantasy world...

If I was rating this book solely on the relationship-building between the MCs in this book, I’d give it 5 stars. There’s a truckload of hilarious, sweet, sexy, and irritating moments that the MCs share, that had me smiling and sometimes cringing at. Unfortunately, this book focuses 95% on moments spent between the two MCs, with little-to-no time spent on developing the setting and fleshing out the side characters. It was as if the MCs were in a bubble, and everything outside of the bubble didn’t matter. There’s not a single moment in this book where our FMC is spending time with her friends without the MMC either there in person or him texting her. The same goes for the MMC. Yes, we hear about his practices and wrestling matches, but they aren’t actually scenes we experience. This book was terribly unbalanced. It was 75% sexual tension and 25% sex. We never get to know what the FMC’s goals are, where she comes from, what her relationship with her family is like. She was smart, caring,...

  Compelling and multifaceted main characters    Great variety of side characters  Engaging storyline  Sweet romance  Perfect mix of humor and drama  This NA contemporary romance had it all! My Rating:   ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Publication:  April 25, 2019 Publisher:  Self-pub Genre:  NA, Contemporary Romance, Sports Pages:  342 Goodreads Link

This book (like it’s female MC) was quirky, funny, and fun. I finished the book in one sitting! Even though I really liked this unique book, with its great and lovable characters, I’m not sure if or when I’ll read book 2. The thing that this book lacked for me, was romance. The author states that this isn’t going to become a RH, however, there’s a handful of guys, and I’m fearful that eventually there could be a love triangle or worse, and that’s such a huge turnoff for me. I especially don’t want to wait for at least three books or so before any true romantic relationships blossom, which from the reviews I’ve skimmed, seems to be the case. My Rating:   ★ ★ ★ ★ Publication: September 14, 2018 Publisher:  Dark Owl Fantasy Inc. Genre:  NA, Paranormal, Comedy Pages:  312 Goodreads Link

                                           This book wasn’t perfect. It had a couple small plot points that were hastily slapped together, and some that seemed a bit far-fetched. But overall, it was a swoony, romantic, emotional roller coaster read, that I’m so glad I was able to discover. It made me chuckle out loud and tear up. It really pulled the emotion from me, throughout. I especially loved our main characters, and how they connected over different childhood traumas. They started out indifferent (well, mainly the fmc), became best friends (super sweet moments), and then became lovers ( ). I was entirely invested in these two, the moment they met, and knew I’d be finishing the book quickly. My Rating:   ★ ★ ★ ★   Publication: February 24, 2020 Publisher:  Penelope Ward Books Genre:  YA, Fantasy, Romance Pages:  311 Goodreads Link