Bookish Love

A stream of consciousness about the books I read

[illyrianbooklover]

You know your taste in romance novels is on the darker side when you start getting sponsored ads for jewellery like this 😂

[illyrianbooklover]

My “new” favourite thing about reading is being able to annotate and tab. I’m new to the annotating game but the joy it brings me is unparalleled.

[illyrianbooklover]

A day off work well spent. A good book, and a view of the Night Court.

[illyrianbooklover]

Book lovers…

Annotating… yay or nay?

Annotators…tips?

[illyrianbooklover]

I really need to stay away from incomplete series, because these cliffhangers are killing me. And book 2 doesn’t release until April 2026 😭 (I’ll never learn though, I’ll keep devouring the cliffhangers…)

Really enjoyed this one. Spicy insta-love with a dash of slow burn angst and a suitably growly and moody male.

My favourite quotes for this book…

A low growl from Rafe on that particular comment curled up inside Ruby like a pet.

His kiss was hungry and wild, like he hadn’t done it in a long time, but like he’d really fucking missed it.

“You smell delicious,” he rumbled. Ruby nearly slid out of the booth into a horny little Ruby puddle on the floor.

He looked positively feral and it made Ruby want to run. Run so he could catch her.

“Is that what you wanted, brave girl? You wandered through the woods hoping the big bad wolf would find you?”

He wanted her more than he wanted his next sunrise, more than his next race through the woods, more than any part of his own worthless life.

“I love you, you big idiot. I love you and I want you and I need you.”

[illyrianbooklover]

Nash Carson is a walking red flag. If a man ever behaved with me the way he does with Savannah, I’d be reporting him straight to the police. However…if I was Savannah, living in that book, I’d surrender to him too. Probably a lot quicker than she did. I really enjoyed this. I do love a fictional, dominant red flag.

My favourite quotes for this read…

I’ll be gentle with you. Now be a good girl and put that beautiful mouth to work.

Good morning, my devious sweetheart. What delight are you making to poison me with today?

But after our argument, he could go to hell on a scabby donkey for all I cared.

Because it means something to you, sweetheart, and you mean everything to me.

[illyrianbooklover]

It’s been 17 days since I finished Onyx Storm and Xayden “well-the-fuck-aware” Riorson still consumes the majority of my thoughts.

[illyrianbooklover]

My bookclub read for February was ‘The Crash’ by Freida McFadden.

I swear this woman sprinkles crack between her pages, because I can’t turn them fast enough. I ate this one up and was caught out by a couple of the twists. A brilliant read. Hank stole the book for me. Loved that big bear of a man.

My favourite quotes:

*If you light a candle before you chop onions, it burns the toxins so your eyes don’t water.

*Polly, she stabbed you with a fork today. She’s not giving you her baby.

*I’ve spent so many years of my life focusing on the child I wanted so badly. But Hank is my family, and he’s given me more love than I would have gotten from a dozen kids. It took almost losing everything to realise how blessed I am.

[illyrianbooklover]

Audiobook of the moment is Quicksilver by Callie Hart.

I’d been looking forward to listening to this (I loved the book when I read it) because I knew it was narrated by Anthony Palmini (Rhysand in ACOTAR graphic audio). And, my god, that man’s voice. Just got to the scene where Kingfisher first appears… I’m a sucker for that man’s low growl 🥵

[illyrianbooklover]

Actually screaming at Fairyloot’s announcement today about the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Beasts of the Briar books!! I might book the day off work so I don’t miss the sale opening. Seriously.

[illyrianbooklover]

I first read this when I was in my late teens, almost twenty years ago. I think I enjoyed it more this time around, with more maturity and life experience behind me. Despite the dark subject matter, I found it to be a study of the very worst of human nature, as well as showing how hard it is to move on from trauma.

My memorable quotes for this read…

* I was a grey. Thin and white and a little bit see-through. Nothing at all left in me. A ghost.

* …she looked up at the ring of mountains, dark like an opened ribcage set in the land…They would hold her like a claw…Then Nanking would have her and use its weak, acid air to dissolve her slowly into its heart.

* “I’m going to get all the way inside you,” he said quietly. “All the way. But don’t be scared, I’m going to do it very, very slowly.”

[illyrianbooklover]

I’ve been enjoying a mini break in Dublin this week, so I haven’t had much time for reading.

That hasn’t stopped me from exploring the beautiful independent bookshops here, though…

[illyrianbooklover]

When you’ve finished a book that has altered your brain chemistry and you need a “palate cleanser” before you’re ready for another romantasy read…

The Devil of Nanking by Mo Hayder, here we go…

[illyrianbooklover]

Another Sunday spent sobbing into the pages of a book. Ruthless Vows was everything I wanted the ending of this duet to be. So beautiful and heartbreaking, filled with love and hope.

My favourite quotes from this book…

*…I cannot hold those I love in a cage, even if it feels like protecting them.

*I want to hear from you at all hours. I want to read your words. I am greedy for them. I am hungry for them.

*I would love to see you burn with splendor. I would love to see your words catch fire with mine.

*Did you think that I would let him steal this last moment from me? When I would surrender only to you, take you in my hands, and burn with you before the end comes?

* “Write me a story where there is no ending, Kitt. Write to me and fill my empty spaces.” Roman held her gaze, desperation gleaming in his eyes. An expression flickered over his face, one she had never seen before. It looked like both pleasure and pain, like he was drowning in her and her words. They were iron and salt, a blade and a remedy, and he was taking a final gasp of air.

*He kissed her goodbye. And he wanted to be gentle, but it was a clash of their mouths, nips with their teeth and gasps that made a shiver trace his bones. He felt Iris cling to him, and he knew if he didn’t pull away from her in that instant, he never would. He would follow her into her flat. He would peel away their damp clothes and lie beside her in bed. He would hold her to his heart and pray the morning never came.

My heart… 🩶🤍

[illyrianbooklover]

Roman Kitt. Roman C Kitt. Roman Carver Kitt. I love him. He is stoically adorable. I love him.

[illyrianbooklover]

Rebecca Yarros being the queen of the cliffhanger. Again. No spoilers because I’m not mean but #onyxstorm has ruined me. Utterly. Can’t even form coherent thought right now.

Not my art, but beautiful all the same. #fantasyartworks