[SHORT REVIEWS] #22 or Will I want to read it after the first passage.

There is a thing about the first passage don't you think?

Sometimes the attraction starts with first few sentences. You get quite intrigued. This actually showcases the writer's ability to start at least. Some books have very simple, but very intriguing beginnings that will make you want to inquire about - what is going to happen next?

My TBR; is already extensive I think and it might look intimidating. But what to choose? As a person who reads mainly according to their mood I am not a good judge of those things. I just find that there is no need to really stress it out, read what you want, never follow trends, explore on your own it's fun.

So this is why I was in the mood to open a lot of potential reads and check out just first few passages to see, will there be magic?

Here is the list of books I opened:

A skeleton in every house by Isabella Duke

Catriona Winters. Book 1

I already mentioned this book previously. I read up to 12%. And I'll be honest, I'm not completely sold on it, but actually A Whisper of Death that I reviewed earlier also had a rough slow start. Here it feels a bit the same. Catriona is a lady actually, her father own a publishing house/newspaper. She aspires to have her own investigation during the time when a body is found at the docks.

The detective who is following the case is called Thomas Marlowe, but he is pretty tight-lipped not to let the "press" in the face of Catriona know more details she ought to know.

I'll see how it goes, I want to give it justice, it's not bad at all.

Also Marlowe is not her first interest (if she will ever develop one in him), because she is attracted to a man and it might be another plotline along the investigation.

Accomplice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

Assistant to teh Villain. Book 3

It recently came out and I'm onto it, because as I mentioned when I reviewed book 1 and 2 that I want to get to the center of it all.

I liked Book 1, I let a lot of things slide when it came to the first in the series, but I was not tender with a second one and ripped it to shreads, at least in my imagination, because it was too much of pining, too little of the world or the plot, everything felt weird, underwater cell scene still haunts me till this day. And their dumb relationship development. And the fact that the storyline and main event that could have happened in few chapters actually takes so long and we see it at the very end of the book. But I do want to find out what happens next. Even if it's my pile of trash I need the answers.

A PERILOUS UNDERTAKING by Deanna Raybourn

Veronica Speedwell. Book 2

I did not like the first book and thought it was kinda not great. Veronica felt hypocritical in her pursuits of female freedom, while she herself did not risk her reputation as well. In a way she felt insuffarable in her actions and thoughts. But this series has so many books and so much positive feedback I want to give it aother chance, maybe it will become my next guilty pleasure of hate-reading it.

I want to give it a try also because the "mystery" of the first book was not it, it was more about the origins of Victoria which kinda dragged on and the result was brought by a coincidence imo, but if they plan to be actually investigating cases from now on, it might become more exciting. Especially the task mentioned in the summary to this novel - save a man who is accused of murder.

Even if I read the first few pages and Veronica is still insufferable lol.

Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater

Regency Faerie Tales. Book 1

I want to read one of the books by Olivia Atwater is because she and her husband (if I'm not wrong) helped Jacquelyn Beson with her Raiders of the Arcana series that I fell deeply in love with and will not stop recommending. So when a person likes and mention another person with such warmth, I want to read their books, also I saw this series mentioned so many times on Booktube.

This is a story of a girl, well, with half a soul. Just like the title. It also has a magical element to it and those who read it all rave about it.

And the first few lines inspired to follow through.

The Fire in the Glass by Jacquelyn Benson

The Charismatics. Book 1

Speaking of Jacquelyn Benson. While waiting for the 3rd book in Raiders of the Arcana series I want to try out her previous series called The Charismatics. Because it is her and I have so much faith in her already ahaha.

It's a story about a girl named Lily, who has visions and wishes to stop the killer. For that she must confide to someone she does not wish to and let them give a helping hand in catching the culprit.

It also has a paranormal aspect to it which is present in Raiders as well.

Edit: Following Jacquelyn on IG I found out that the series is getting new covers in few weeks. The spoilers are blurry but not completely illegible and the colors are something. Plus it has the overall aesthetic of the Raiders of Arcana style and I love those covers. I must admit they attracted me at first and I was SO skeptic about them, since they were pretty. A lot of pretty covers are used as a hook, while the book isn't good. 

Edit: Completed.

Murder at the Mayfair Hotel by C.J. Archer

Cleopatra Fox. Book 1

Another detective girl. Cleopatra has to move into a hotel owned by estranged uncle after the death of her grandmother. Basically alone she has to depend on others now and has no idea what to expect from the future. Then there a murder happens (by poison). 

Cleo, I suppose, wishes to find the murderer before things get really dreadful, because it also affected the hotel's reputation where it all happened. Cleo does not trust anyone and wants to get to the truth.

I've read the first chapter or so and it felt quite interesting.

The Wedding Bargain by Victoria Alexander

Effingtons. Book 1

It is a re-read for me. I've read this book a long time ago and read few books and I remember I liked them, they were quite fun. But still time passed and I can't recall it or where I stopped lol. I can only recall the good feelings.

I love when the series is about a family and is inter-connected. And Effingtons is an extensive series just right for the task. It had some interesting an non-typical FMCs.

The first book talks about a Pandora Effington and her "bargain" or offer to Maximillian Wells. I remember the plotline was light-hearted, a bit silly, but fun. As if - you wanna get me? Try to impress me hottie~.

Released in 1999, before trends of what is popular nowadays kicked in. It's all about the society, balls, romance and burning passions.

Because I love that period of writing I want to read it.

The Black Lyon by Jude Deveraux

Montgomery /Taggert. Book 1 (by publication order)

Talking about books from older ones. Another "oldie" is this book which is also the first in the series about Montgomery/Taggert series. I wonder if it was in this one where it is mentioned - this book is written in British English lol. Just IMAGINE someone reads a book and later sends a letter - you have some serious editing to do, I saw so many typoes. And they have to make sure.

I also read the intro of this one. But the summary says it's a stormy romance and marriage first, but later the characters go through trials of time and lies of others.

FMC is called Lyonene but MMC nickname is Black Lion, so yeah very 1980 ahaha

But I want to read some of older books for this purpose - to get a different taste of HR.

A Brazen Curiosity by Lynn Messina

Beatrice Hyde-Clare. Book 1

The beginning. She thinks about how a man she dislikes would look like if she threw some of the meals served at the dinner would look on this man's head. And it was described with quite a wit that I was sold in a second.

It's another Murder Mystery set in historical setting. 

Quote: "Nothing ruins a lovely house party like bloody murder."

She stumbles upon a body during a party and well, becomes a suspect? Intrigued. Especially when the guy she wants to throw food at is MMC.

Edit (21/8/25): It has a great beginning. The FMC is kinda unhinged inside, she has a pretty rich inner world compared to her "mousy" interior of being terribly shy. Due to her growing up under someone else's care. The first scene is literally her imagining throwing food at who I am assuming will be the MMC and they both stumble upon the dead body in the library. Must say they don't have the best beginning because she is so against his personality. Which is her own perception, while from what he says he was trying to tone down the bragging man. So yeah, they're kinda thorny, at least she is for sure. I think the descriptions are fine and the language is okay. I cross my fingers, because the beginning sounds promising, I knocked on the wood.

Edit (26/8/25): I'm on book 4. I had no idea I will be so involved into it. Ref. to reviews❤

Edit (25/12/25): I finshed 7 books from the series, they're amazing, but I decided to make a pause not to gobble it all up and get tired of it.

Shadow at the Morgue by Cara Devlin

Spencer & Reid. Book 1

Another Murder Mystery but with couples. Although cover looks not good.

Honestly, in first few passages she works on a body in a morgue and a guy rushes in with a knife and threatens her to give him a bag that belonged t the person, but she continues to do her work nonchallant lol. This kinda impressed me.

Also because I fell for Dr Julia Lewis, another lady connected to similar profession was most welcomed.

Edit (17/8/25): I read a bit of it, well, let's say the girl is indeed special, first few chapters and we know that she is a survivor of some gruesome murder, she was also picked up by an investigator and he cared for her a lot, before she was picked up by her relatives. She helped her adoptive relative in the morgue, though sh eis not supposed to (not even licensed for that..).

This inspector also adopted a boy. Who is the MMC of the book.

Anyway the gist is that the man in question who demanded the bag, shut her in the closet but stayed a moment and took away a locket from another victim who has no connection to the man and the bag.

oh yeah, forgot to mention FMC has really good memory.

I'll return to the story some day, it's not a long story, but I wasn't as involved. It's my thing and my headaches. 

A Whisper at Midnight by Darcy Burke

Raven & Wren. Book 2

I do want to continue with these two. Although the first book was an okay one, but the last phrase in the book 1 was a catchy one. I didn't mention it in the review.. well, it's kinda a spoiler but the official summary will say it all - Tilda is called to investigate a divorce case of a woman who dumped Ravenhurst. I did not read the summary for this book, I only know that one phrase and this is the point where the novel starts from. So we continue~!

Edit (17/8/25): 39% in, and I must say, it feels like the first book, the progress feels really slow. You know I feel almost demure while reading by the way they act, which certainly creates atmosphere of that time. So it lacks dynamic for sure. But also can feel kinda repetitive.

The starting point is the case involving murder of Mr. Chambers, the man Ravenhurt's fiance cheated with and later married. And it's not really subtle how she almost hangs herself on Hadrian all the time since he appeared. Found it so weird, because even if this lady had a horrible relationship with her husband but he just died. I bet the girl thought she meant something. While Ravenhurst would not admit out of good manners that he was glad he never married her.

Because Darcy Burke is mainly a romance novel author, it feels, there are already some emotions going on between Hadrian and Tilda. Like being jealous seeing another woman trying to get his attention, inner interest if the other person is interested in them or smth like that.

And also like in the first book as soon as we find a name and a person in question who could shed a light, we find that something happened with them, same trick.

Edit: Completed. Read the review❤

Nine Rules to break when romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean

Love by Numbers. Book 1

I've seen MacLean in recommended a lot, so I decided to try it out. Good old cheap-looking Avon covers from 2010 ahaha But I'm not sure if I ever read her books or not, this is why I treat it as a first-time experience.

And a story about a girl who wants to break rules after following them for so long and (getting humiliated in first few sentences, according to her))) what brought her nothing good. And for that she finds herself a rakish partner. The book really starts from above-mentioned 9 rules, which are close to what a man would do. And what women are not supposed to do. 

A wicked husband 악인 남편 by 사하

I actually easily read like first 60 chapters of this one.

FMC has a deep psychological trauma, but she is still quite good-natured. You really need to read more to get her motivation, otherwise she will feel kinda weak.

MMC is a reborn person, from his verbal outbursts we can deduce what exactly happened in the past life, which was quite horrid. Not the best way to deliver to the reader how things turned out in the past, but this is how we have it, also almost everyone repeated the same thing over and over how he changed. He is quite possessive now, obviously, and wants to protect FMC at all costs, but he also doesn't want her continue living in a glass castle and be the same, this is why he allows, almost encourages something to happen to her.

The story has flaws, but so far it's an easy read. But mainly concerns their relationship and several incidents that from MMC's pov will help FMC grow. 

I won't be abandoned twice by 세리안

Pretty cover, but I easily DNF'd it after first chapters. It's the type of story that screams - It will be bad - from the get-go. Sometimes the first chapter is all it takes to give you the idea of style, story, portrayal.

FMC was led by her nose almost, we have another character, a hysterical Empress who ruined her sister (FMC), who acts like not the smartest person.

I just can't with FMC like these.

When her husband returns she asked like three times the same thing. Not to mentioned she acted weirdly before. You don't go around telling people you have something going on.

But I decided to mention it anyway, because my instinct screamed "bad" with flashing red alarms.

I Won’t Pick Up The Trash I Threw Away Again 버린 쓰레기는 다시 줍지 않는다 by 배고픈

This feels like the thing I would hate to read, but might enjoy. And it also has a word 'trash' in title, my inner raccoon is here. Plus tags like drama and revenge~ but the synopsis starts from FMC fiance taking back a woman and a child back. And I instantly can smell it.

Sigh, what are they doing, these gorgeous covers are killing me.

The downside it hasen't been translated for a long time, I'll look out for spoilers if I decided to start it.

Edit: I read first few chapters. Once again big expectations, poor execution. The style is the same melodramatic as usual. Absolutely nothing new. After that I just spent time in the spoiler thread to see how it goes, when she finally breaks off engagement, who is the true ML, how the story proceeds. And I have no desire to read it. It's not about the story as a whole and that I resent her for not leaving right away. The justification is there. It's the style of writing and portrayal which is so banal. The above-mentioned woman/mistress acts liek a green tea bitch in Chn novels, if you know the type you know, she acts like she is all weak and pitiful, while the man believes all her nonsense and also berates FMC at every turns as if everything is her fault and she is so cross and villainous. I hate this type of writing, especially in books that try to be something more than just average trash. Another point that I could not handle is that it's written in 1st person POV and it's my pet peeve.

The Tyrant’s Aide Wants To Resign 폭군의 보좌관은 퇴사가 하고 싶다 by 김미카

I wanted to try it out because it seems like a traversin girl who became an aide, which sounds very much like a modern secretary type of story that gets fed up with her boss. I tried seevral stories with similar premises and I want to see a Korean take on it with their beloved European ambience.

Also I do not include any fancy summaries here, because official ones are shite anyway and they leave me with absolutely nothing.

Edit (1/9/25): Save me from juvenile writing, impossible to read this seriously.

When the Bitter Wind Blows 삭풍이 불어오면 by 우유양

Well, this had an interesting premise, FMC was falsely accused and sent to the northern regions where a lot of rumors originated, but she might find a far better place for herself and even love.

This is surprisingly shorter than anyone else.

[MOVIE] The Princess Bride (1987)

This movie should be watched, should be re-watched. It is so quotable, so hysterical, has so many great parts that when you start to quote them and when you realize you quoted the whole thing.

I still want to know how they did that scene when Buttercup falls in/under the sand during the Fire Swamp scenes. 

I LOVE the movies of that period, so much of love and soul. 

[Animation] Wyrd Sisters (1997)

When Duke Felmet murders King Verence and takes over the small country of Lancre on the Discworld, three witches are involuntarily tasked with protecting the king's baby son.

Wyrd Sisters is the animated version of Terry Pratchett's book which goes by the same title and is the sixth book in his Discworld cycle.

I confess, I think I never read a book by him. Or maybe I have (I know that in my childhood we got a lot of popular books read, but that memory is hazy). Pratchett stays a big name in the fantasy world.

This animation doesn't look the best (although it stands out, meaning you won't mix it with something else, I suppose?), but I swear, the dialogues and voice acting is what made it work for me. Especially the play on words etc. And the characters are very distinctive, not because they look different, but it's how they act. The drunk Nanny omg.

I know the Discworld is very massive and basically doesn't follow the singular plotline in which case the books can be read as stand-alones. And I'm aware that the animation may be the adaptation that does not follow the book to a t.

But I'm super glad I stumbled upon this by accident and gave it a chance. I won't set flags by saying - I will try reading Pratchett. Maybe I should, after all it promises a better read than a lot of trashy stuff I feed my brain.

And I miss fantasy as a genre. I always feel that I'm not really lucky with it, the epic fantasy I mean, since I've read book and reviewed some that had fantasy elements (meaning I don't pick up books that will make me feel close to what I want to see in epic fantasy), also I miss the type of fantasy that has magic and spells and all types of creatures and lots of it. And immersive colorful world that will not be heavy, more exciting. I wish too much ahaha

[Historical Romance] The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare

Since his return from war, the Duke of Ashbury’s to-do list has been short and anything but sweet: brooding, glowering, menacing London ne’er-do-wells by night. Now there’s a new item on the list. He needs an heir—which means he needs a wife. When Emma Gladstone, a vicar’s daughter turned seamstress, appears in his library wearing a wedding gown, he decides on the spot that she’ll do.

His terms are simple:

- They will be husband and wife by night only.

- No lights, no kissing.

- No questions about his battle scars.

- Last, and most importantly… Once she’s pregnant with his heir, they need never share a bed again.

But Emma is no pushover. She has a few rules of her own:

- They will have dinner together every evening.

- With conversation.

- And unlimited teasing.

- Last, and most importantly… Once she’s seen the man beneath the scars, he can’t stop her from falling in love…

Girl Meets Duke. Book 1

Was it a trashy novel? Unmistakenly.

But did I have fun? Absolutely.

The thing is this novel hardly passes as a historical romance. Outside the fact that author confessed to name badminthon earlier than the real name of it appeared, this book reads as modern one.

It's not only about the words they use, it's about how they talk.

But modern contemporary romance would not allow a plotline like that. Which is absolutely bonkers.

The relationships in this one are quite shallow, although author tries to insist on the opposite.

I still had my fun with this ridiculous novel because of those dialogues between FMC and MMC. They are not realistic at all, my brain simply separated them from the plot that is so ridiculous.

I'm the raccoon of my pile, I can sniff the trashiness, because basically the story starts right away and it's outside the scope of my imagination. Emma comes to him demanding to be paid for her work on his ex-fiancee's dress (don't question details from here on out, because there's too much to ask) and she refused to back down in front of a duke whose face (by his own words) scares children into hysterics. On the contrary our girl is unlike anyone else and sees him as manly or a good ass.

Ash needed a wife and soon (what's the hurry who knows, we don't even know his age..I believe, but I repeat, don't question the details) and Emma seems to be just right.

Seamstress to Duchess doesn't surprise anyone.

His reason for this marriage may not be that dumb, but hers is. You go girl. She knows she may get a house where she can help a young girl who was deceived to.. basically deceive others. Because she was pregnant, couldn't confess to her loving father and wanted to conceal the fact of her pregnancy and birth. No exploration from Emma's side into the loving father, she acts just because of the girl's words. Just because she was thrown out like that once. Remarkable, but as turned out off the mark.

So they marry within a week. And they procede to procreate (not my word, direct quote).

Honestly they have that insta-lust from the first touch. Which eventually turns into love because well, they don't need much, they just treat each other as human beings, while other wither betrayed or did something hurtful.

The only good side to modernity of their conversations from the get-go is the fact that they communicated a lot and did not have misunderstandings. The two times they did it felt so forced, like please. I laughed so hard. But they needed a conflict to confirm their feelings so here we are.

Ash acted like a mixed media, sometimes he's an utter ass, sometimes he can be nice.

In the end both admitted that all the previous rules they decided to invent for their marriage did not work and they love each other.

I have no idea why someone mentions Pride and Prejudice, because of his smashed mirror I thought of Beauty and the Beast. She comes, she heals, happy ending.

What I also find quite flat is Emma's relationship with future protagonists of their own books. Honestly, we know nothing about them outside of bare minimum, their name and occupations. But the friendship aspect that author tried to promote fell flat to me, because their connection was so thin. Penny invited Emma just out of the blue, Emma liked this small circle of "outcasts" thus she stayed. I always find the supporting female friendship cute, but I honestly wished more, but since this novel is the level of flat floor surface I couldn't do anything if it felt shallow.

Very contrasting experience. Maybe because I switched off my perception of everything else outside of joke. You can't convince me that this is something more than an average fun book that is totally not serious. If one will find the jokes and everything else crude, I can see that too. I kinda clicked with the humor, so I was done with this book in no time.

Maybe later I will collect another post for short reviews, I've been on a search lately and had more to the collection of historical mystery with couples (as I call it). And I think I will do it after I'll filter through several Korean novels I found lately. As for Chinese novels as my main food, I'm not in the mood for any of the bookmarked I have.

RATE: 3/5.

[NOVEL] A Slash of Emerald by Patrice McDonough

London, 1867: Among the genteel young ladies of London society, painting is a perfectly acceptable pastime—but a woman who dares to pursue art as a profession is another prospect, indeed. Dr. Julia Lewis, familiar with the disrespect afforded women in untraditional careers, is hardly surprised when Scotland Yard shows little interest in complaints made by her friend, Mary Allingham, about a break-in at her art studio. Mary is just one of many “lady painters” being targeted by vandals.

 

Painters’ sitters are vanishing, too—women viewed by some as dispensable outcasts. Inspector Richard Tennant, however, takes the attacks seriously, suspecting they’re linked to the poison-pen letters received by additional members of the Allingham family. For Julia, the issue is complicated by Tennant’s previous relationship with Mary’s sister-in-law, Louisa, and by her own surprising reaction to that entanglement.

 

But when someone close to them commits suicide and a young woman turns up dead, the case can no longer be so easily ignored by ‘respectable’ society. Layer after layer, Julia and Tennant scrape away the facts of the case like paint from a canvas. What emerges is a somber picture of vice, depravity, and deception stretching from London’s East End to the Far East—with a killer at its center, determined to get away with one last, grisly murder . . . 

Dr. Julia Lewis. Book 2

I must say I don't agree with this official synopsis. It's better not to read it all-together. Partially it's true what is said, but partially it gives attention to something that wasn't the central part of the book for a very long time.

There are several episodic instances that lead us to what we explore in this book:

- Julia is asked by Tennant to observe a girl Annie O'Neill who was arrested and was suspected to prostitute, but happened to be a female model for painters;

- A horrific incident on the lake in Regent's Park (real incident) where Julia comes across the Allingham family (fake characters of course);

- Mary Allingham's studio has been vandillized by the unknown person, there are blackmailing letter addressed to almost every female painter and as we know - sitters too (above-mentioned Annie O'Neill) So the story starts from a slash of emerald;

And then happened the suicide, which was the first layer to scrape off.

I find this book more interesting in general. First book was more a book of revenge with a pretty depressing tone. Doesn't mean this has fun topic, on the contrary. But author doesn't shy away from them to produce some posh literature without any of the gruesome details. First book pretty much reflected the script of a movie where the main perpetrator won't be discovered until the very end, because they need to finish what they started. It kinda made sense in my head. With this one we have no killer's POV, we have a real case that developed pretty fast with the help of many.

A plethora of characters move this plto forward.

Of course if you're keen on things you will notice some of those early on and have your answer.

I will repeat myself but I love this idea of connecting reality and fiction. Some of events are real, as well as participants, some simply inspired this book.

Although it is indeed sad, but this book at least was not without some positive sides.

I just don't want to spoil it too much, because at least some of it came as a surprise for me and in mysteris it's essential to keep the main secret.

Also Julia and Richard may have some progress, but again it's very subtle, fitting their era.

And it's not as dramatic as the synopsis showed. Julia had no idea about the real connection between Richard and Louisa Allingham. All she knew that they knew each other and Louisa relied on Richard a lot when they met again. Indeed, she had her own thoughts on this, which again were subtle and not straight to the point. (e.g. she would never look at Louisa hanging on Richard's arm and say - bitch, get away from my man, I was eyeing him first).

But both of them were kinda circling around undecided. You might find it annoying, I don't. This book is at least more opened on affection instead of subtlety of the first one, especially Richard who dreams of Julia, nothing dirty, just him thinking how it would look like if she was by his side in a daily life. Yet I will repeat myself that I'm really not mad at their lack of "progress". Their progress is also a progress. They need time, even if they feel connection.

The third book will be the final ("Murder by Moonrise" I believe), planned release next year in February (at least that's in acknowledgements that Patrice signed for three books, if this series will get a continuation after that who knows).

RATE: 5/5.

[Korean BG novel] The Duchess and The Devil 악마를 교화하는 방법 by Mongsu 몽슈

This novel is present on NU and I already left a review there, but I wanted to vent on my own blog as well.

Summary: After few years in loveless marriage, Judith saw her husband's health decline and after few weeks he died. But an interesting thing happened, he "revived" in few days, which shocked everyone and Judith especially. Can't he die in peace? But soon she found out that the one who returned is not her husband at all.

No way~ *sarcastic*

I once again wrote my own synopsis of this, because the way Koreans write blurbs is unbearable, or it is not translated well.

And these deceptive covers!

In general, this book is like 50% corn* and 50% plot that is not really interesting and imo means not much because it is interspersed with corn so much (*c=p).

So it's perfect for those who prefer more spice, which is not for me. 

The story covers the period right after the funeral. When her new husband awakens and she realizes that he is not her previous husband. We find out he is a devil, literally. He confesses himself. And they make a deal.

It's all spoilers actually, but some details are easily picked up early on.

Judith hated her husband Derrick/Dereck, he was a cheating bastard who could not go without flirting or chasing skirts all day. Their marriage was an arranged one and she was not disillusioned. He tried to flirt with her like with other women, but it left her not impressed. And then her husband acted like those men who slide into DMs and try to flirt, but if you don't answer in the same way they call you a whore and you should be thankful for their attention, because he's so "good".

Her husband cheated on their marriage night, because she acted cold with him. I mean I can't blame her. And after that he fell in love with a woman and was like possessed. He could only see that woman.

There is a story behind it, which Judith had no idea about, she basically was humiliated by his cheating and although no one said a word into her face directly, but the innuendos were countless. Not to mention that they actually never consummated their marriage.

So after few years like that he dies suddenly with no true reason why his health declined. Judith is now alone but her husband is revived. She finds out from him that he bears the same name and he is a devil. There is a trick to kill a devil - confine him to the mortal body. But the one who betrayed him seems to be in the human body now as well.

We later find out it's that mistress Sylvia, who looks like an innocent deer lost in the woods.

But Derrick can return his mana, because they're devils they can do it through sex. Judith agreed, because she wanted a heir, so she can become a dowager and live without troubles.

This is where the entire amount of sex comes from.

This is the part where I got tired of it and skipped. No worries, the ending actually brings up and explains what was missed. Though maybe the wiser choice was to stick to it (plot and skip all the 19+), but I don't regret.

Because they knew the traitor is among the people they know, they actually had three suspects. Author tried to throw shade on all of them, but it was kinda obvious too.

Among them there was her brother, who just changed his way because he cared for his sister. Emperor who has always been a sleazy guy and Sylvia.

From what I caught Judith did not participate when the two fought (as if they did it behind the scenes, I may be wrong).

Later Derrick returns, but as a different person. Which I think is great. It will sound awful, but I thought it's good for Judith to not be tied to the previous husband with a child, which she lost. Of course it's bad for her and Derrick would have accepted the kid anyway. But they had a new beginning.

Oh yeah, kind a nice touch in a way, that Sylvia's dad spread rumors about her, she was proven innocent, but it did not stop him. Her reputation always had setbacks because of her husband and his mistress, it was haunting. Although she felt sympathetic, but she stood her ground against him, proclaiming how his daughter seduced her husband and she was no innocent in this. Because the body possessed by a devil will die when the devil's soul will leave the body, thus Derrick and Sylvia were dead when they fought.

Although the premise (as I found out) is not new. Basically there are stories with the same setting of husbands awakening and they're not like before or different people. This kinda had potential, but I did not expect much from it and I didn't get much in the end.

Outside the motivation to have a child, it actually explains a lot of the past events that shaped her as she is now. And pretty much explains her hatered for her husband. I mean her husband is HAUNTING the poor girl. All his actions made her lose her own confidence with time. She also could not handle so much of inquiring eyes from the public, so she stayed mostly cooped up at home. Her life really reflected his actions.

And some commented that she shouldn't have acted so coldly, but I think she should not act like a rag with a cheating husband like that. Even if we later find out that he was bewitched. In which case she couldn't have done a thing. But I believe the way he was, even without Sylvia, he would have cheated multiple times and cause her only anguish. Because this is how her ex-husband was.

In general it is an okay story I suppose. But again, the balance was tilted because of how much of corny stuff was there. The plot moved at the turtle speed because of that.

My problem with such novels with so much corn leave me with one afterthought - why should I care? The fact that he is a demon, there is something going on in his world, but he chooses her instead is all nice and dandy, but honestly partially I couldn't care about the settings. The fact that devils can recuperate their mana through sex sounds so silly to me, just an excuse on the abundant amount of sex scenes.

Whatever.

RATE: 2/5.

[NOVEL] King of Greed by Ana Huang

Well, I'm starting to type this when I'm 59% in and it's been going hard. And partially I need to vent some of it out of my system.

He had her, he lost her…and he’ll do anything to win her back.

Powerful, brilliant, and ambitious, Dominic Davenport clawed his way up from nothing to become the King of Wall Street.

He has everything—a beautiful home, a beautiful wife, and more money than he could spend in a lifetime. But no matter how much he accumulates, he’s never satisfied.

In his endless quest for more, he drives away the only person who saw him as enough.

It isn’t until she’s gone that he realizes there may be more to life than riches and glory…but by then, it may be too late.

***

Kind, intelligent, and thoughtful, Alessandra Davenport has played the role of trophy wife for years.

She stood by her husband while he built an empire, but now that they’ve reached the top, she realizes he’s no longer the man she fell for.

When it becomes clear that she’ll always come second to his work, she finally takes charge of her life and puts herself first—even if it means leaving the only man she’s ever loved.

But what she didn’t count on was his refusal to let her go…or for him to fight for their marriage, no matter what it takes.

Kings of Sin. Book 3

This book has a setting that I'm not really a fan of - lack of communication among couples, which leads to divorces.

And the two times when Alessandra asked herself if things wuold have been different if she spoke up more about their problems.

And I would tell her "yes" it would have. You either inform your spouse that you're not happy or he will be a disappointment and you realize that he's an ass that changed and you need to leave him.

My issue with Alessandra became that she admittedly dropped things after the first try. Like she planned for a therapist, but of course Dominic was somewhere, eventually she thought it's pointless and never returned or mentioned it again.

I mentioned this somewhere before - but you have no idea how a frying pan creates wonders, you hit first and then you solve your problems.

The fact that Dominic got too used to Alessandra's silence is not excused by the fact that she did not use the magic of a frying pan on him.

I find that they both contributed. And the point is that they love each other so much. Alessandra may not admit it as often as Dominic in her inner thoughts, but they do, at least Dominic can't immagine himself with anyone else, this is why he goes after his wife to win her back. 

But honestly, it's almost 60% of only their emotional drama and no plot.

"Oh, I'm not happy, let's divorce"

"I will not let you go"

"Let me go"

"I'm signing the divorce papers not because I want to, but because you asked. I will win you back"

Honestly, I'm kinda irritated atm.

But the peak of it did not come from them mulling this topic, but actually an acciden at her new store that is being repaired. EACH FUCKING BOOK. It's not even funny lol how they all have to do something with a deadline and every time there is an accident.

Just keep the track: Vivian was getting ready for her big gala that will boost her career.

Isabella was writing her book and was not done before deadline, of course because of an accident.

Sloane may not have any business to open, instead Xavier was opening a club and they had an accient.

Now Alessandra is ready to open a physical store and they had a flood because a pipe burst out.

Lol is it a template ahahaha

Back to the romance. I finished (it's night the same day, I wrestled it through).

The romance and all that jazz indeed take up to 70% of thi book. It's all same old how they have flashbacks to their past to how they live now. How Dominic stepped back from his job to be with her and chase her back.

But several months later after the divorce Alessandra actually tried to date other men (talking herself she will start getting used to it, she hasn't been on a date in 10 years, outside her husband.. what a weird way to phrase it lol). Left bad taste in my mouth tbh. But of course she couldn't forget Dominic after all. Tbh such a weird change and almost time skip to several weeks of them just banging. Before the girl finally gets it together. She gave him a chance and he took it.

The final part creates the same type of moment to frame this book with similar beginning and ending. At start he chooses his work and forgets his promises, while at the end of course he chooses her.

But honestly, how can a person prove that they will be better. You simply can't you can only go with it for a time. Although I can understand she didn't want to get cozy with Dominic and get her heart hurt the second time. Don't set flags for yourself people.

All in all it is indeed my least favorite situation. Break up, chase, we're together again. They weren't that long apart if you look at it haha.

I just wanted to finish it, so I can finally fill the gap of the 3rd book missing. Felt wrong. Although it's really not obligatory to do that.

Sloane is still my favorite girl and her book is my favorite. Outside these four I am pretty skeptical I want to continue with the series.

5th belongs to the Serb and supermodel Ayana. Honestly Vuk is like this series mascot, almost comical, he is elusive, but he appears on ALL social occasions mentioned in these books. I have no idea why he was mentioned so much. While I think we have no idea who will be the main characters of book 6 and 7. But honestly I kinda don't really care about them because others are OUTSIDE of this fishbowl with four main girls. Vuk appeared for more than for 5 seconds only in the 4th book (of course, right before his own). But what about Ayana, she is always mentioned but we don't see or hear about her at all. I'm really not sure I want to return. These books were easy to read, but were they anywhere near as gripping, not to me. Outside of Book 4. Which is a normal occasion and generally just good to like at least one. But overall not as thrilling to continue. 

RATE: 2/5.