My March 2024 Reading Roundup – A Book Review

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

Okay, so yes this post is a little late. Sorry! Last week was Spring Break, so the week was filled with appointments, kid stuff and a Hilton Head vacation. Plus I’m still writing my novel. So, my blog has been taking a back seat lately unfortunately. But I did read a lot last month, so I wanted to give you all the reviews of the nine (9) books I read in March. Here goes!

Book Lovers by Emily Henry

I listened to this one through my library’s audiobook system. It was okay. It was kinda forgettable. I found myself not caring. I didn’t love Charlie and I didn’t feel their (Charlie and Nora’s) love. It had good banter throughout. But it wasn’t hot. It was kinda blah. The sister, Libby’s, story I didn’t care about either. Emily Henry isn’t my favorite author but I do enjoy her dialogue. My favorite one of hers is The People We Meet on Vacation. You can read my review for that one here.

2/5 stars

Ice Breaker by Hannah Grace

I read this one through my library’s audiobook system. Another just okay read for me. This was definitely over-hyped. I felt the writing was lazy. There were no real stakes. Aaron’s B.S. was never fully explained. He was just a sociopath. The friend Henry was cool. The other hockey friends were too let’s talk about how great your girlfriend is. It was unrealistic. Nate was an okay book boyfriend. He did all the right things I guess.

Stass was annoying. There was too much unnecessary sex and cursing. The sex should take us on a journey and it didn’t. There was no real plot. The two main characters just liked to bang. And doing sex stuff in an Uber with your friends in the car and nobody noticed? Unrealistic.

When she fell through the ice at the lake and Nate had to come to her rescue? Eye roll. It’s everything I want to avoid as a writer. I didn’t feel their love. It was basic and likely only popular because of all the sex scenes.

1/5 stars

One Second After by William R. Forstchen

This was not my typical read. I picked the audio up from the library because it was on the bestsellers list. The way it was written, you don’t really feel close to any of the characters. It was just a cautionary tale of what would happen if we were attacked by a foreign adversary and were not ready for it at all. The breakdown of society was scary and it just reminds us what we can do now to prepare ourselves with rations, medical supplies, drugs and weapons. Was it a great story? No. But it did make you think.

3/5 stars

Manipulate (Book 6 of the Deliver Series) by Pam Godwin

I listened to this on audible. A lot of messed up, disturbing stuff happened in this book. And I can’t really talk about it without giving anything away. There are at least 2 rape scenes in here. Both disturbing. But the love between the 3 main characters was amazing and hot. I liked it, but didn’t love it. Tula, at the end, was a total badass taking down the bad guy. Lots a secrets and shockers in this one.

4/5 stars

Unshackle (Book 7 of the Deliver Series) by Pam Goodwin

Listened to this one on audible. Luke and Vera. I liked this one too. Luke was a gentleman throughout. He only had to act ruthlessly toward the mysterious woman to keep up appearances, as he was infiltrating the sex trafficking ring. The twisted crime siblings and their incestuous relationship was awful, but I guess that made them good villains. There was a nice surprise at the end too.

3.5/5 stars

Punk 57 by Penelope Douglas

I read the hard copy from my library. Loved the premise. Sometimes it was a little mysterious and spooky. I didn’t like Misha in the beginning. He was a jerk to Ryen, but he came around.

I really identified with Ryen. All the sex was hot. I felt it didn’t need the fast forward to college years and then the fast forward to adulthood at the end. It could’ve ended after the prom. I liked the surprise at the end with certain characters and their relation to Misha. Overall, I enjoyed it.

4/5 stars

Dominate (Book 8 of the Deliver Series) by Pam Godwin

I listened to this on audible as well. I liked it ’til about halfway through. Tomas starving Rylee, making her suffer and then killing her rapist were all good. But the insta love thing was like huh? He fell in love way too fast for me. I didn’t feel it. The sex was hot as always. But the quick turn to love? I didn’t like the ending either. This was my least favorite of the series.

2/5 stars

Complicate (Book 9 of the Deliver Series) by Pam Godwin

I listened to this last one on audible as well. I enjoyed their love story. Lydia was out of her league and Cole knew it. I totally wished I’d read the Tangled Lies series before this one. I would recommend doing just that because there’s spoilers in this book about the Tangled Lies series.

Cole is a strong book boyfriend. I liked how her partner Mike was mysterious. The sex was super hot as always. The Freedom Fighters gang carried on taking down the bad guys. Nice way to end the series.

4.5/5 stars

One is a Promise (Book 1 of the Tangled Lies series) by Pam Godwin

Loved loved loved! So good. Wished I had read it first. The best friend, Trace, was dirty dirty, keeping secrets from her. And seeing Cole get super upset over her dance partner was disappointing. But she had chemistry with both of them. I liked Danni. She was caring, not shy and generous. It sucked that her and Trace’s first time sleeping together was a hate-filled misunderstanding. But now I appreciate it. I loved the cliffhanger ending. Trace has some explaining to do.

5/5 stars

Thanks so much for reading! You can check out my reviews for the rest of the Deliver series here. Happy reading!