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Lonely Souls #1
Spineless
Eight years ago, I believed I’d finally found a place to call home. My mother’s marriage to Vincent Sharpe meant security and three stepbrothers who were already my best friends.
But Mom’s mysterious death one week before the wedding turned my world upside down. The day of her funeral, I was whisked away to live with my aunt in Kansas, and I never heard from the Sharpes again...
Until a devastating tornado leaves me destitute.
Now, Vincent is offering me the opportunity of a lifetime—he’ll pay for my tuition and expenses at an exclusive university. All I have to do is move back in with him and his sons.
Knowing this is my one chance to discover what really happened to my mother, I grudgingly accept. But if I thought living in the same house with a potential murderer was going to be my biggest obstacle, I couldn’t have been more wrong.
Leo, Hayle, and Tristin Sharpe are no longer the boys I remember. They're all grown up, with the adult attitudes, tensions, and sex appeal to prove it. They aren’t my problem anymore. Yet, somehow, they keep drawing me into their web of drama.
I might be the only person who can fix what’s broken between them. But I don't trust that they won't shatter me in the process.
*The Lonely Souls trilogy is a contemporary reverse harem series inspired by the main characters in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz...except, this version of Dorothy and her friends is a little twisted.
But Mom’s mysterious death one week before the wedding turned my world upside down. The day of her funeral, I was whisked away to live with my aunt in Kansas, and I never heard from the Sharpes again...
Until a devastating tornado leaves me destitute.
Now, Vincent is offering me the opportunity of a lifetime—he’ll pay for my tuition and expenses at an exclusive university. All I have to do is move back in with him and his sons.
Knowing this is my one chance to discover what really happened to my mother, I grudgingly accept. But if I thought living in the same house with a potential murderer was going to be my biggest obstacle, I couldn’t have been more wrong.
Leo, Hayle, and Tristin Sharpe are no longer the boys I remember. They're all grown up, with the adult attitudes, tensions, and sex appeal to prove it. They aren’t my problem anymore. Yet, somehow, they keep drawing me into their web of drama.
I might be the only person who can fix what’s broken between them. But I don't trust that they won't shatter me in the process.
*The Lonely Souls trilogy is a contemporary reverse harem series inspired by the main characters in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz...except, this version of Dorothy and her friends is a little twisted.
326 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 9, 2020
1066 people are currently reading
1540 people want to read
About the author
Autumn Reed
27 books783 followersAutumn is a lifelong bookworm with a penchant for sarcasm. She loves cloudy days, fluffy dogs, and murdering succulents. When she isn't bringing daydreams to life on the page, she can be found behind the lens of a digital camera or binge-watching Veronica Mars.
To learn more about Autumn Reed, visit www.autumnreed.com.
To learn more about Autumn Reed, visit www.autumnreed.com.
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July 9, 2020
I largely enjoyed this book, aside from a couple of glaring issues. A quick roundup:
Plot
This is actually lightly inspired by the Wizard of Oz, but it took me ages to work it out. 18-year-old Thea lives with her aunt in Kansas, as she has ever since her mother died before she could marry Vincent Sharpe. Vincent has three sons, Leo, Hayle, and Tristin, who were friends with Thea before she was forced to move away. Before she left Thea heard Vincent say he had murdered her mother.
Fast forward eight years. Thea's aunt dies in a tornado, and Vincent appears to take her in and offer to pay her tuition at his local Harbour University. Thea accepts with the intention of working out exactly what he did to her mum. She finds that Tristin is now a juvenile delinquent, Leo is a grownup flirt, and Hayle has a girlfriend.
The Good
✔️ The writing is good. No typos, and no grammatical errors, like too many RH authors have.
✔️ The heroine isn't a virgin, which actually really surprised me. She's portrayed as very emotionally closed off, which made me prepare for her to have never experienced desire before until she encounters the gorgeous heroes, but she has had sex! This helped me deal with the OW issue I'll detail below.
✔️ Thea is quite an unemotional heroine which I also liked. She actually reminds me a little of Sam from Fallen Crest. Her feelings are kept tightly locked up, though she has a mild snarky mouth I enjoyed.
✔️ These are very tortured heroes in a very relatable way. Leo and Tristin feel a lot of twisted emotions and guilt over them drink-driving and being responsible for injuring a girl. I liked that there was a realistic depiction of how they dealt with it, and their cowardice/anger/nerves weren't glossed over.
The Bad
❌ I'm sorry, but... there's pretty much no plot. The book kind of drifts its way through life, gazing thoughtfully at a couple of plot points, then shrugs its shoulders and meanders on. I read 70k words of this today and I'm not even totally sure what most of them were about.
❌ Tied to that point: THEA, WHY AREN'T YOU ACTUALLY DOING THE THING YOU CAME TO DO? She said she accepted Vincent's offer to find evidence of his guilt, but she did NOTHING at all to further this goal. The more I think about it, the more this actually bugs me. She was the most incredibly passive heroine in this respect - it was like she only paid lip service to the idea of getting justice for her mother. Vincent was barely in the book at all, and Thea showed no inclination to go after him.
❌ There is some OW drama; Hayle has a girlfriend whom he doesn't break up with until after Thea sees him fingering her. This ordinarily would be a total hard limit for me, but she goes out and sleeps with Tristin almost immediately, so I didn't mind too much. Plus she wasn't a virgin and I have a higher threshold for OW drama in RH novels anyway.
[Blog] - [Bookstagram]
Plot
This is actually lightly inspired by the Wizard of Oz, but it took me ages to work it out. 18-year-old Thea lives with her aunt in Kansas, as she has ever since her mother died before she could marry Vincent Sharpe. Vincent has three sons, Leo, Hayle, and Tristin, who were friends with Thea before she was forced to move away. Before she left Thea heard Vincent say he had murdered her mother.
Fast forward eight years. Thea's aunt dies in a tornado, and Vincent appears to take her in and offer to pay her tuition at his local Harbour University. Thea accepts with the intention of working out exactly what he did to her mum. She finds that Tristin is now a juvenile delinquent, Leo is a grownup flirt, and Hayle has a girlfriend.
The Good
✔️ The writing is good. No typos, and no grammatical errors, like too many RH authors have.
✔️ The heroine isn't a virgin, which actually really surprised me. She's portrayed as very emotionally closed off, which made me prepare for her to have never experienced desire before until she encounters the gorgeous heroes, but she has had sex! This helped me deal with the OW issue I'll detail below.
✔️ Thea is quite an unemotional heroine which I also liked. She actually reminds me a little of Sam from Fallen Crest. Her feelings are kept tightly locked up, though she has a mild snarky mouth I enjoyed.
✔️ These are very tortured heroes in a very relatable way. Leo and Tristin feel a lot of twisted emotions and guilt over them drink-driving and being responsible for injuring a girl. I liked that there was a realistic depiction of how they dealt with it, and their cowardice/anger/nerves weren't glossed over.
The Bad
❌ I'm sorry, but... there's pretty much no plot. The book kind of drifts its way through life, gazing thoughtfully at a couple of plot points, then shrugs its shoulders and meanders on. I read 70k words of this today and I'm not even totally sure what most of them were about.
❌ Tied to that point: THEA, WHY AREN'T YOU ACTUALLY DOING THE THING YOU CAME TO DO? She said she accepted Vincent's offer to find evidence of his guilt, but she did NOTHING at all to further this goal. The more I think about it, the more this actually bugs me. She was the most incredibly passive heroine in this respect - it was like she only paid lip service to the idea of getting justice for her mother. Vincent was barely in the book at all, and Thea showed no inclination to go after him.
❌ There is some OW drama; Hayle has a girlfriend whom he doesn't break up with until after Thea sees him fingering her. This ordinarily would be a total hard limit for me, but she goes out and sleeps with Tristin almost immediately, so I didn't mind too much. Plus she wasn't a virgin and I have a higher threshold for OW drama in RH novels anyway.
[Blog] - [Bookstagram]
June 19, 2020
Thea's childhood was unsettled, so when her mom got engaged to Vincent Sharpe, Thea thought that she finally had the home she wanted complete with three stepbrothers, her best friends Leo, Hayle, and Sharpe. But then her mother died one week before the wedding and she went away to live with her aunt in Kansas. She didn't hear one word from the Sharpes from the moment she left. It was as if the color had bled out of her world. She lived a life lacking love with her aunt. Then a tornado destroyed her home and killed her aunt leaving her with nothing and bringing Vincent Sharpe back into her life. He offered her a home and to pay for her college if she would agree to live with him and his sons. Unable to pass up the opportunity to get answers to her childhood questions, Thea accepts his offer. Once there she discovers that the boys she left behind are no longer boys and nothing like the friends she remembered. They are broken and as much as she wants to ignore them, Thea can't help herself. She's drawn to them once again and needs to help piece them back together. Now if only they don't break her.
This is a subtle, intelligent, somewhat twisted retelling of The Wizard of Oz. I was impressed with its cleverness. Some of the comparisons to Oz are apparent, others take thought. It makes a compelling story. There is a mystery and several unexpected twists. It's sexy and sad. The main cast of characters is complex and there are several worthy side characters that make it a richer story.
Thea is an intelligent woman with a smart mouth. Her sass amused me. The guys are closed off. The years since Thea left have damaged them. They are lacking. Lacking courage, lacking brains, lacking heart. But as they accept Thea's return they start revealing themselves more and more. I couldn't get enough. The connection between Thea and the guys is evident but this is slow-burn. It has to be. They may have been best friends at one time but the foundation was destroyed. It must be rebuilt. The guys have all changed, Thea too, and this grown-up Thea surprises the guys. Not growing up in their world, her normalness stands out to them. She’s a breath of fresh air. They are so off track and she puts them back on the yellow brick road. But their journey is only starting and it is going to be on a long, winding road.
This is a subtle, intelligent, somewhat twisted retelling of The Wizard of Oz. I was impressed with its cleverness. Some of the comparisons to Oz are apparent, others take thought. It makes a compelling story. There is a mystery and several unexpected twists. It's sexy and sad. The main cast of characters is complex and there are several worthy side characters that make it a richer story.
Thea is an intelligent woman with a smart mouth. Her sass amused me. The guys are closed off. The years since Thea left have damaged them. They are lacking. Lacking courage, lacking brains, lacking heart. But as they accept Thea's return they start revealing themselves more and more. I couldn't get enough. The connection between Thea and the guys is evident but this is slow-burn. It has to be. They may have been best friends at one time but the foundation was destroyed. It must be rebuilt. The guys have all changed, Thea too, and this grown-up Thea surprises the guys. Not growing up in their world, her normalness stands out to them. She’s a breath of fresh air. They are so off track and she puts them back on the yellow brick road. But their journey is only starting and it is going to be on a long, winding road.
April 21, 2021
I really struggled with this book which was a bummer because I thought it started really good. I kinda love the besties to lovers trope and as the heroine and the men were besties until 8 years ago when her mother died, I knew this was a reunion I would bring popcorn to. Unfortunately I didn't really love any of the characters. I think the MCs bestie back home is the better choice for her and I'm now wondering if he'll end up part of the harem or slowly disappear from her life as she thinks will happen. Not sure if I'll continue on with the series. I didn't form any attachment to them and really only care about her solving the mystery behind her mother. There's a minor cliffy with her relationship with one of the men coming to light so I imagine the growth of the harem and her men being accepting of it is to come but along the way I'm sure will be filled with more annoying unnecessary drama. Have to let this resonate a bit before I decide to go on or not lol
July 8, 2020
What a great read from Autumn, I really do think that this has become my favorite from her so far. Just everything about it just really hooked me. From the characters and their story to the plot itself. So going in you know that this is a retelling of sorts of the Wizard of Oz, I am not a huge fan of these, but I do read them. This could change my mind.
So Spineless is centered around Thea, her mom was going to marry Leo, Tristan and Hayle's dad. But her mom suddenly died. She left to go and live with her aunt. Eight years later through fate, she is back in their lives. But these are not the boys that she remembers, they are men. Men with problems that she cannot help but want to fix. Add in the fact that she wants to finally find out what exactly happened to her mom.
Guys I am telling you this was so good. There is a cliffhanger, not as bad as some. The pace is fast, the characters so very interesting and the plot had me addicted. Definitely a must read.
So Spineless is centered around Thea, her mom was going to marry Leo, Tristan and Hayle's dad. But her mom suddenly died. She left to go and live with her aunt. Eight years later through fate, she is back in their lives. But these are not the boys that she remembers, they are men. Men with problems that she cannot help but want to fix. Add in the fact that she wants to finally find out what exactly happened to her mom.
Guys I am telling you this was so good. There is a cliffhanger, not as bad as some. The pace is fast, the characters so very interesting and the plot had me addicted. Definitely a must read.
July 9, 2020
I'm obsessed. I devoured this one like I devour every Autumn Reed book that pops up on my kindle.
We've got mystery, angst, and lots of sass that had me hooked from the beginning. It's a brilliant RH take on The Wizard of Oz.
When reading RH I typically have a favorite man but, as with all of Autumn's books, #whychoose is never more true. Thea, Leo, Hayle, and Tristen are so well developed and easy to connect to. I really enjoyed how we slowly learn about these characters as the story progresses.
We end on a cliffhanger, but its so worth it! I cant wait to see where this story leads.
Autumn Reed is my top recommendation for RH lovers and newbies because she really know how to deliver a slow-burn. She has become one of my all time favorite authors and I will continue to read every book she puts out.
We've got mystery, angst, and lots of sass that had me hooked from the beginning. It's a brilliant RH take on The Wizard of Oz.
When reading RH I typically have a favorite man but, as with all of Autumn's books, #whychoose is never more true. Thea, Leo, Hayle, and Tristen are so well developed and easy to connect to. I really enjoyed how we slowly learn about these characters as the story progresses.
We end on a cliffhanger, but its so worth it! I cant wait to see where this story leads.
Autumn Reed is my top recommendation for RH lovers and newbies because she really know how to deliver a slow-burn. She has become one of my all time favorite authors and I will continue to read every book she puts out.
January 24, 2022
En cuanto me entere de la existencia de este libro quise leerlo. Es decir, una chica que pretende investigar la extraña muerte de su madre pero termina envuelta en un drama romántico con tres hermanos que, a su vez, casi fueron sus hermanastros? ¿Quién no querría leer esto?
Los personajes son simples, pero se ganaron mi cariño rápidamente. Creo que falto mas misterio en cuanto al tema de la madre, es como si en el camino ese tema se hubiera desdibujado en el drama de los hermanos.
No tengo mucho mas que decir, tal vez lea el siguiente solo para averiguar que pasa. Fue muy entretenido y adictivo, lo recomiendo si estas en busca de algo que te saque de un bloqueo lector o simplemente quieres divertirte un rato.
Los personajes son simples, pero se ganaron mi cariño rápidamente. Creo que falto mas misterio en cuanto al tema de la madre, es como si en el camino ese tema se hubiera desdibujado en el drama de los hermanos.
No tengo mucho mas que decir, tal vez lea el siguiente solo para averiguar que pasa. Fue muy entretenido y adictivo, lo recomiendo si estas en busca de algo que te saque de un bloqueo lector o simplemente quieres divertirte un rato.
July 14, 2020
Introduction
Autumn Reed is one of my unicorn authors. No matter what she writes or what genre she writes it in, I fall immediately in love with her stories. This story is certainly no exception. In fact, it’s quickly become one of my new favorite reads from this talented and imaginative writer.
Review
Spineless is book one in this series of books inspired by The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, which is one of my all-time favorites (both the book and movie. I’m also going to include the musical Wicked because it rocks my socks off) and I love what Autumn‘s done with this reimagining.
There are a couple of twists that enriched this story in a way I couldn’t have anticipated. The *main* twist added to this story absolutely blew my mind and I have no idea how Thea–and the guys, once they find out–is going to handle this throughout the rest of the series.
Also, I love the beginning of the book where you get a bit of an understanding of their relationships when they were kids. The difference between the boys as children and the men as adults is astounding and proves just how much people–and circumstances–can change in a relatively short time. I loved getting that peek into their past together.
The Heroine
Thea–short for Dorothea–has quickly jumped to the top spot of my favorite Autumn Reed heroines. She’s independent, resilient, sarcastic, and takes no sh*t. She’s a little broken and a lot jaded, but she’s also strong and empathetic. When we first meet her as an adult, all she really wants is to leave the small Kansas town she’s been living in since her mother died. She has no delusions of grandeur; she just wants to get away and live her own life.
"I wasn’t one of those girls who dreamed of a glamorous life in New York City or even a quiet existence in a village by the sea. Probably because I didn’t dream. Well, of anything but leaving this dusty farm behind and never looking back."
Thea has been through a lot in her young life. She lost her mom when she was a kid and then went to live with her aunt Emmy, who was very brash and cold. It wasn’t that she was abusive to Thea, but she came across as uninterested in her and had no warmth toward her at all. It was super sad to read Thea’s description of what her life with her aunt had been. While the way she grew up definitely helped shape her into the person she’s become, I think all children deserve a little nurturing–especially those who’ve suffered trauma–and it’s sad that she grew up with someone who was so apathetic. I don’t think Emmy intentionally meant to hurt Thea–I think that’s just the way she handled life in general–but it definitely wasn’t all sunshine and roses, either.
The Heroes
Leo, Tristin, and Hayle–inspired by the lion, tin man, and scarecrow, respectively–are all incredible. They’re all so different and they each have baggage in different ways. There’s Leo, the star athlete; Tristin, the “juvenile delinquent”; and Hayle, the brain. These men are so much more than the labels that imprison them, but they hold themselves under the weight of their “titles,” so to speak, and I think it’s going to be a slow-moving process for them to break free from these bonds.
They’re all kind of dickish at first, but the attraction is immediate and undeniable for all of them. Hayle even has the added complication of a girlfriend–who is terrible, by the way–and despite being in a relationship, he is clearly super into Thea, much to his awful girlfriend’s chagrin. And look, I know it’s super cliche to hate any girl who isn’t the heroine, but seriously–this girl is awful and Hayle deserves so much better, even if he does have his head up his butt for most of the book, lol.
I also want to give an honorable mention to Tobias–inspired by, of course, Toto–who is Thea’s best friend back in Kansas. There’s kind of a will they/won’t they thing between the two of them in the beginning, and I’m not fully convinced he’s completely out of the running yet.
Bullet Points
*The angst! Oh, the angst in this book. For someone who has severe anxiety, you’d think angsty books would be a deal-breaker for me, but man, do I love them. While this one definitely doesn’t make you want to bawl your eyes out every three seconds, the angsty tension is palpable through every encounter. It’s what I refer to as “delicious angst”–the kind of emotional turmoil that adds that extra quality to a book and keeps the story moving.
*All the Wizard of Oz references!! I mean, obviously, there are going to be plenty with a book that’s inspired by The Wizard of Oz, but I felt like such a fangirl looking for all the little Easter eggs while reading. It was amazing, lol.
*Each dude is so incredibly sexy that the interactions between them and Thea were giving me a fever. ESPECIALLY when you throw in a few sexy interactions here and there. Hot damn, you guys.
Conclusion
I absolutely loved this book and I can’t wait for the next one! There are so many questions that need to be answered and I’m dying to see what happens next with the guys. There’s so much potential for the rest of this series and I’m so excited!
If you’re a reverse harem fan, then you definitely need to read this book!
Original review: Alated Bibliophile's review of Spineless
Autumn Reed is one of my unicorn authors. No matter what she writes or what genre she writes it in, I fall immediately in love with her stories. This story is certainly no exception. In fact, it’s quickly become one of my new favorite reads from this talented and imaginative writer.
Review
Spineless is book one in this series of books inspired by The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, which is one of my all-time favorites (both the book and movie. I’m also going to include the musical Wicked because it rocks my socks off) and I love what Autumn‘s done with this reimagining.
There are a couple of twists that enriched this story in a way I couldn’t have anticipated. The *main* twist added to this story absolutely blew my mind and I have no idea how Thea–and the guys, once they find out–is going to handle this throughout the rest of the series.
Also, I love the beginning of the book where you get a bit of an understanding of their relationships when they were kids. The difference between the boys as children and the men as adults is astounding and proves just how much people–and circumstances–can change in a relatively short time. I loved getting that peek into their past together.
The Heroine
Thea–short for Dorothea–has quickly jumped to the top spot of my favorite Autumn Reed heroines. She’s independent, resilient, sarcastic, and takes no sh*t. She’s a little broken and a lot jaded, but she’s also strong and empathetic. When we first meet her as an adult, all she really wants is to leave the small Kansas town she’s been living in since her mother died. She has no delusions of grandeur; she just wants to get away and live her own life.
"I wasn’t one of those girls who dreamed of a glamorous life in New York City or even a quiet existence in a village by the sea. Probably because I didn’t dream. Well, of anything but leaving this dusty farm behind and never looking back."
Thea has been through a lot in her young life. She lost her mom when she was a kid and then went to live with her aunt Emmy, who was very brash and cold. It wasn’t that she was abusive to Thea, but she came across as uninterested in her and had no warmth toward her at all. It was super sad to read Thea’s description of what her life with her aunt had been. While the way she grew up definitely helped shape her into the person she’s become, I think all children deserve a little nurturing–especially those who’ve suffered trauma–and it’s sad that she grew up with someone who was so apathetic. I don’t think Emmy intentionally meant to hurt Thea–I think that’s just the way she handled life in general–but it definitely wasn’t all sunshine and roses, either.
The Heroes
Leo, Tristin, and Hayle–inspired by the lion, tin man, and scarecrow, respectively–are all incredible. They’re all so different and they each have baggage in different ways. There’s Leo, the star athlete; Tristin, the “juvenile delinquent”; and Hayle, the brain. These men are so much more than the labels that imprison them, but they hold themselves under the weight of their “titles,” so to speak, and I think it’s going to be a slow-moving process for them to break free from these bonds.
They’re all kind of dickish at first, but the attraction is immediate and undeniable for all of them. Hayle even has the added complication of a girlfriend–who is terrible, by the way–and despite being in a relationship, he is clearly super into Thea, much to his awful girlfriend’s chagrin. And look, I know it’s super cliche to hate any girl who isn’t the heroine, but seriously–this girl is awful and Hayle deserves so much better, even if he does have his head up his butt for most of the book, lol.
I also want to give an honorable mention to Tobias–inspired by, of course, Toto–who is Thea’s best friend back in Kansas. There’s kind of a will they/won’t they thing between the two of them in the beginning, and I’m not fully convinced he’s completely out of the running yet.
Bullet Points
*The angst! Oh, the angst in this book. For someone who has severe anxiety, you’d think angsty books would be a deal-breaker for me, but man, do I love them. While this one definitely doesn’t make you want to bawl your eyes out every three seconds, the angsty tension is palpable through every encounter. It’s what I refer to as “delicious angst”–the kind of emotional turmoil that adds that extra quality to a book and keeps the story moving.
*All the Wizard of Oz references!! I mean, obviously, there are going to be plenty with a book that’s inspired by The Wizard of Oz, but I felt like such a fangirl looking for all the little Easter eggs while reading. It was amazing, lol.
*Each dude is so incredibly sexy that the interactions between them and Thea were giving me a fever. ESPECIALLY when you throw in a few sexy interactions here and there. Hot damn, you guys.
Conclusion
I absolutely loved this book and I can’t wait for the next one! There are so many questions that need to be answered and I’m dying to see what happens next with the guys. There’s so much potential for the rest of this series and I’m so excited!
If you’re a reverse harem fan, then you definitely need to read this book!
Original review: Alated Bibliophile's review of Spineless
January 27, 2021
*3.5 stars
December 23, 2024
No words
June 25, 2020
I knew when I started Spineless it would be based on a modern day twist on the Wizard of Oz, which happens to be one of my favorite stories. I wasn’t really sure how the story would be told, which aspects would be kept while others not included. I was not disappointed one bit. Autumn masterfully wove the very premise and soul of the Wizard of Oz into her characters and storyline. What I appreciate the most is that it was not a complete retelling, certain character traits were similar and storyline held true but the plot and the characters stand on their own.
I love Thea. She is someone I would absolutely love to be friends with. She’s snarky, sarcastic, playful, and an alpha in her own right. She has zero tolerance for attitude and bullying, regardless of who it is (even from the guys!) Her relationship with Leo, Tristin, and Hayle develops well throughout the entire book, it’s not insta-love by all means. Although I like Leo and Hayle, Tristin is my favorite and if you read Spineless (which I REALLY hope you do), then you’ll see why.
There is a cliffhanger, nothing too terrible but I kept wanting to read more! I was that invested in her characters and storyline. There is mystery, suspense, humor, romance, all wrapped into one fantastic package! I can not wait for book two!!
I love Thea. She is someone I would absolutely love to be friends with. She’s snarky, sarcastic, playful, and an alpha in her own right. She has zero tolerance for attitude and bullying, regardless of who it is (even from the guys!) Her relationship with Leo, Tristin, and Hayle develops well throughout the entire book, it’s not insta-love by all means. Although I like Leo and Hayle, Tristin is my favorite and if you read Spineless (which I REALLY hope you do), then you’ll see why.
There is a cliffhanger, nothing too terrible but I kept wanting to read more! I was that invested in her characters and storyline. There is mystery, suspense, humor, romance, all wrapped into one fantastic package! I can not wait for book two!!
June 24, 2020
This book was brilliant!
Thea has had more than her fair share of heartache and turmoil in her life! She’s living with a secret that is stopping her from reconnecting with her former best friends when she’s thrust back into their lives but it hasn’t been all sunshine and rainbows for them either and she has to come to terms that. Not only has she changed but so have they and with obstacles at every turn, along with her secret knowledge from a conversation she overheard this story has you on the edge of your seat! I loved the Wizard of Oz spin within the book and the ending has me NEEDING more.
Can’t wait to see what comes next for this lot!
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Thea has had more than her fair share of heartache and turmoil in her life! She’s living with a secret that is stopping her from reconnecting with her former best friends when she’s thrust back into their lives but it hasn’t been all sunshine and rainbows for them either and she has to come to terms that. Not only has she changed but so have they and with obstacles at every turn, along with her secret knowledge from a conversation she overheard this story has you on the edge of your seat! I loved the Wizard of Oz spin within the book and the ending has me NEEDING more.
Can’t wait to see what comes next for this lot!
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
July 9, 2020
Spineless
A contemporary spin to the Wizard of Oz story? Color me intrigued!
I had no idea what to expect, but reading Spineless, it is clear that this author really pulled it off. There is romance, the same giddy feeling I have when I watch the Wizard of Oz movie, there is suspense and there are obvious and less obvious references to the original. The latter makes me want to reread both, just to spot all of them.
This is a very compelling read, which I thoroughly enjoyed and I'm looking forward to more of Thea and the Sharpe brothers.
A contemporary spin to the Wizard of Oz story? Color me intrigued!
I had no idea what to expect, but reading Spineless, it is clear that this author really pulled it off. There is romance, the same giddy feeling I have when I watch the Wizard of Oz movie, there is suspense and there are obvious and less obvious references to the original. The latter makes me want to reread both, just to spot all of them.
This is a very compelling read, which I thoroughly enjoyed and I'm looking forward to more of Thea and the Sharpe brothers.
October 25, 2020
New author to me went in blind so glad I did off to read the next one
April 4, 2021
I loved this story. It managed to grab me from the first page, despite being a teen drama. At this point I find out it's a retelling of the Wizard of Oz, which I know nothing about, so I can't draw any parallels.
We start off seeing Thea going from believing she has a future to being left with nothing by the death of her mother and being alienated from the three boys who were her friends.
Eight years have passed and there is nothing left of the Thea of ten. Instead we have a strong, independent, sarcastic, emotionally closed, somewhat broken, but with a huge heart.
When she returns to live with the boys she didn't think she would find that there was no trace of them, instead there are three teenagers, almost men, with big problems that she finds it impossible not to want to fix, even though in her previous life bitterness helped her avoid getting involved with anyone.
Since there is nothing left of her friends from eight years ago, she must practically start from scratch to rebuild their friendship, get to know them and fight her attraction to the three of them.
As a backdrop we have the death of the mother and her desire to know what really happened as she continues to win the boys over, trying to fix them while discovering what she wants out of life.
The three brothers couldn't be more different and all show interest, but who will win their hearts?
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
We start off seeing Thea going from believing she has a future to being left with nothing by the death of her mother and being alienated from the three boys who were her friends.
Eight years have passed and there is nothing left of the Thea of ten. Instead we have a strong, independent, sarcastic, emotionally closed, somewhat broken, but with a huge heart.
When she returns to live with the boys she didn't think she would find that there was no trace of them, instead there are three teenagers, almost men, with big problems that she finds it impossible not to want to fix, even though in her previous life bitterness helped her avoid getting involved with anyone.
Since there is nothing left of her friends from eight years ago, she must practically start from scratch to rebuild their friendship, get to know them and fight her attraction to the three of them.
As a backdrop we have the death of the mother and her desire to know what really happened as she continues to win the boys over, trying to fix them while discovering what she wants out of life.
The three brothers couldn't be more different and all show interest, but who will win their hearts?
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
October 15, 2020
I really enjoyed this contemporary new adult series starter inspired by The Wizard of Oz. It’s not paranormal at all (for those that would matter to). I think the author did an amazing job at writing the kind of college romance with a strong heroine and sexy, damaged heroes that is popular right now, while paying homage to a beloved classic story. There is a mystery in the background, and characters you come to care about, as well as the beginnings of a nice reverse harem romance. To top it all off, the editing is almost perfect (happy sigh). I’ll be moving on immediately to book two.
4.5 ⭐️
4.5 ⭐️
December 31, 2020
DNF 29%
Okay... let me start off by saying I really wanted to like this book. When I read the synopsis, it sounded right up my alley and I was in the perfect mood for it. And while it started out good, things quickly went downhill. The writing wasn’t my favorite and when the first male love interest was introduced, I immediately didn’t like him. I tried to push through but after not liking him and after a couple of plot holes, I decided to give up.
Okay... let me start off by saying I really wanted to like this book. When I read the synopsis, it sounded right up my alley and I was in the perfect mood for it. And while it started out good, things quickly went downhill. The writing wasn’t my favorite and when the first male love interest was introduced, I immediately didn’t like him. I tried to push through but after not liking him and after a couple of plot holes, I decided to give up.
January 15, 2021
This story
This is such a cute story. I loved the characters and especially the FMC. She’s strong and determined. The boys are going to blossom with her around. I look forward to the next book
This is such a cute story. I loved the characters and especially the FMC. She’s strong and determined. The boys are going to blossom with her around. I look forward to the next book
July 10, 2021
Not in Kansas anymore
Interesting take on the characters from wizard of oz
Slower burn than I normally like but very enjoyable and I like the glimpses into the guys pov as well. Just downloaded book 2
Interesting take on the characters from wizard of oz
Slower burn than I normally like but very enjoyable and I like the glimpses into the guys pov as well. Just downloaded book 2
July 27, 2020
Love it❤️❤️
This was a great book and the little nods to the WoOz were awesome. Can’t wait for the next book ❤️❤️
This was a great book and the little nods to the WoOz were awesome. Can’t wait for the next book ❤️❤️
November 23, 2020
Thea darling why did not you do the things that you came to do?
July 21, 2020
Home is with the ones you love
I've been a fan of this author for a few years and have loved all of her series. I have a feeling that this one will be at the top as well! I'm still trying to grasp my heart back into my chest at the ending line... It's not so much a cliffy but more of a heart breaking statement that I need to be resolved pronto! First of all this was a great book with amazing characters. It's a contemporary RH with a wizard of Oz twist. It's not a retelling so the story is very different, but borrows some of the themes and character traits.
Thea is strong, but it takes her awhile to see it. She starts off very morose and clouded in her perception. It's a great likeness to the story being in black and white at the beginning. Thea has been living with her aunt and has been going through the motions not really loving and holding people at arm's length. She sees the world through that lens and has no direction. She ends up back in the last place she expects... The place her mother was killed. Thea thinks it is to just figure that out, but soon realizes she was missing 3 pieces of heart. As she starts to weave her curious way back into their lives she realizes how little she was actually living till then. She meets some other characters that she befriends and help her along the way.
Leo, the cowardly lion is struggling with guilt and shame after an incident that changes his and his brother's lives. He is charming and affable most of the time but weighed down by his own grief and guilt.
Hayley, the scarecrow is more of a background character in the beginning. Mostly by his own choice. Always feeling like he has more to prove and doesn't fit with his brother's. It's all his perception though. He is very cold and aloof at times. I'm hoping to see more of him in the next book. I think he is an interesting character.
Tristan, the tin man definitely stole my heart. In a moment of self sacrifice and love for his brother he made a decision. He didn't expect to have to sacrifice so much though and that left him feeling bereft, alone and full of rage and resentment. He feels so much but has learned that it is a weakness so he shuts it all off and hides away his compassion.
Thea is drawn to them all and is not sure what to do. They were once her whole world, but now they feel so far away and lost to her. She starts off as a prickly pear but starts to let her sharpness be dulled by others as she lets them into her life.
There is a mystery on top of all of this that us underlying all of their actions. I'm not sure who is all involved or what is really going on yet... Mystery mystery mystery.
The end though... Big things happen and then heartbreak. I'm sorry is the last line. I need them to all talk and figure this out! Like now! But things keep getting in the way... Just got to trust in the HEA and the journey to get there.
Multiple POVs, though mostly Thea. Medium Steam at this point. No MM. Some depression undertones, but I didn't feel like there were any triggers or that it was a dark book. More lonely broken people looking to find a home within each other. I'm so glad that the second book releases soon!
I've been a fan of this author for a few years and have loved all of her series. I have a feeling that this one will be at the top as well! I'm still trying to grasp my heart back into my chest at the ending line... It's not so much a cliffy but more of a heart breaking statement that I need to be resolved pronto! First of all this was a great book with amazing characters. It's a contemporary RH with a wizard of Oz twist. It's not a retelling so the story is very different, but borrows some of the themes and character traits.
Thea is strong, but it takes her awhile to see it. She starts off very morose and clouded in her perception. It's a great likeness to the story being in black and white at the beginning. Thea has been living with her aunt and has been going through the motions not really loving and holding people at arm's length. She sees the world through that lens and has no direction. She ends up back in the last place she expects... The place her mother was killed. Thea thinks it is to just figure that out, but soon realizes she was missing 3 pieces of heart. As she starts to weave her curious way back into their lives she realizes how little she was actually living till then. She meets some other characters that she befriends and help her along the way.
Leo, the cowardly lion is struggling with guilt and shame after an incident that changes his and his brother's lives. He is charming and affable most of the time but weighed down by his own grief and guilt.
Hayley, the scarecrow is more of a background character in the beginning. Mostly by his own choice. Always feeling like he has more to prove and doesn't fit with his brother's. It's all his perception though. He is very cold and aloof at times. I'm hoping to see more of him in the next book. I think he is an interesting character.
Tristan, the tin man definitely stole my heart. In a moment of self sacrifice and love for his brother he made a decision. He didn't expect to have to sacrifice so much though and that left him feeling bereft, alone and full of rage and resentment. He feels so much but has learned that it is a weakness so he shuts it all off and hides away his compassion.
Thea is drawn to them all and is not sure what to do. They were once her whole world, but now they feel so far away and lost to her. She starts off as a prickly pear but starts to let her sharpness be dulled by others as she lets them into her life.
There is a mystery on top of all of this that us underlying all of their actions. I'm not sure who is all involved or what is really going on yet... Mystery mystery mystery.
The end though... Big things happen and then heartbreak. I'm sorry is the last line. I need them to all talk and figure this out! Like now! But things keep getting in the way... Just got to trust in the HEA and the journey to get there.
Multiple POVs, though mostly Thea. Medium Steam at this point. No MM. Some depression undertones, but I didn't feel like there were any triggers or that it was a dark book. More lonely broken people looking to find a home within each other. I'm so glad that the second book releases soon!
December 8, 2020
What?
This book was so much less than I thought it would be. I get slow burn but it isn’t reverse harem if the character has to choose. And I kid you not, that is exactly what happened at the end. I’m hopeful that the next book clears that up but I’m not about to find out. The premise of the story is to find out more about the death of the FMC’s mother. Absolutely nothing was done on that front except finding a breakup letter in a box of old belongings. Instead there was a bunch of situations that just cause more drama, with very few answers. Waste of my time, unfortunately.
This book was so much less than I thought it would be. I get slow burn but it isn’t reverse harem if the character has to choose. And I kid you not, that is exactly what happened at the end. I’m hopeful that the next book clears that up but I’m not about to find out. The premise of the story is to find out more about the death of the FMC’s mother. Absolutely nothing was done on that front except finding a breakup letter in a box of old belongings. Instead there was a bunch of situations that just cause more drama, with very few answers. Waste of my time, unfortunately.
January 21, 2021
This was one of the best Reverse Harem books I've read in a long time. I was intrigued when I read that it was inspired by the Wizzard of Oz and once started, I couldn't put it down. Thea neary became the stepsister to Leo, Tristan and Hayle when she was ten years old. But then her mother died and Thea heard something before she left regarding her death. Her aunt takes her back to her farm in Kansas and eight years later after a tornado destroyed everything, Thea is back in the house where her mother died and everything is different now. The three boys she adored and was friends with are men now and no longer are tight with each other. Something happened and Thea is going to find out what and she is also determined to find out how her mother died. Was it an accident or was it murder? And how will she resist the attraction she feels for all three brothers? How can she choose when she craves all of them? Someone is going to get hurt...
I loved this book and couldn't put it down. The writing was irresistible and half way through the book I ordered the other two and pre-ordered the next book about Violet. Can't wait to start the next one. Autumn Reed did a fantastic job and I already put her other series on my to-read list for later. The Wizzard of Oz thing was definitely very interesting and I already know who is spineless. Now, let's see who is heartless. If you like a slow burn reverse harem story, you should definitely give it a try.
I loved this book and couldn't put it down. The writing was irresistible and half way through the book I ordered the other two and pre-ordered the next book about Violet. Can't wait to start the next one. Autumn Reed did a fantastic job and I already put her other series on my to-read list for later. The Wizzard of Oz thing was definitely very interesting and I already know who is spineless. Now, let's see who is heartless. If you like a slow burn reverse harem story, you should definitely give it a try.
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March 13, 2025DNF: Hayle has a girlfriend who he doesn't break up with until after the FMC sees him fingering her. IDK why this happens
February 19, 2021
More like a 3.5 stars. There wasn't really a plot in this book and honestly, I didn't really mind it... I know, shocking. Thea returns after 8 years of living in Kansas with her Aunt to live with the Sharpe family. She wants to learn more about her mother's death, but Thea doesn't really do that. She reconnects with Leo, Tristan and Hayle and tries to fix their relationship with each other. I liked that it was kind of second chance because Thea was best friends with the guys when she was 10. I liked that Thea had a strong backbone and was kind of closed off. She reminded me of Sam from Fallen Crest. It took me the longest time to figure out which guy was based on which character from The Wizard of Oz. I finally think I narrowed it down: Leo: Lion because he's scared to take responsibility for messing up. Tristan: Tin man because he's closed off and also Leo refers to him as Tin. Hayle: Scarecrow which doesn't make sense because he is the smartest out of all of them... idk. I liked Thea's friend Petra and her budding friendship with Violet. The aspect that Tristan was released from juvie the same day Thea returns to the Sharpe mansion is very interesting. We get some activity from Vincent, but Thea hasn't explored his secrets yet. Overall, it was a fine read. I hate when people automatically assume something when it's false (Tristan doing the thing at the party). Anyways, idk if I'll continue with the series, but it was fine.
July 14, 2020
I absolutely loved this modern take on Wizard of Oz. In this book you aren't going to Oz but are still in the modern world however there are plenty of Wizard of Oz references and the story line was absolutely amazing. I could not put the book down! This was definitely a suspenseful book and there were a lot of twists that I absolutely did not see coming. I cannot wait to see more of the Sharpes in the next series and hopefully learn more about Vincent. If you haven't picked up this book yet I would definitely recommend grabbing this!
There is a whole lot of sexual tension but at the same time you see Thea open up a lot more with everyone and slowing not being as closed off. I loved that in this book you also got some chapters from the guys perspective and not all is as it seems. The one character that I cannot wait to see more of in the next book in Hayle, he was such a sweet guy and my heart broke for him towards the end, at the same time he definitely started going for what he wanted. There is also a really steamy scene that you definitely will need a cold shower for as well but it was hot for sure! I definitely need it to be the end of August already!
There is a whole lot of sexual tension but at the same time you see Thea open up a lot more with everyone and slowing not being as closed off. I loved that in this book you also got some chapters from the guys perspective and not all is as it seems. The one character that I cannot wait to see more of in the next book in Hayle, he was such a sweet guy and my heart broke for him towards the end, at the same time he definitely started going for what he wanted. There is also a really steamy scene that you definitely will need a cold shower for as well but it was hot for sure! I definitely need it to be the end of August already!
September 3, 2020
A romantic suspense inspired by the Wizard of Oz? Um, yes, please. Sign me up.
I like Thea a lot. She's thrust back into this world that she ran away from, and none of the boys know why she left in the first place. She soon realizes that the boys she grew up with are now fully grown men, each with their own baggage and drama; something Thea learns that she's going to have to navigate even though she's got other plans and motives for being there.
This book is full of angst, subtle humor, and intense relationships. These are people with history, and a lot has changed in the 8 years Thea's been gone, but that doesn't stop the simmer of attraction between Thea and these boys from growing with each page.
While I didn't love that Thea's main reason for being back seems to have gotten pushed aside for a majority of the book, there is more to come so I'm not too worried that she got sidetracked. Autumn Reed throws a lot of drama at you, and it's more than enough to wade through while Thea figures herself out in this new environment. I'm sure whatever comes next will be a doozy because the way this book ends? *chef's kiss* cliffhanger moment.
I like Thea a lot. She's thrust back into this world that she ran away from, and none of the boys know why she left in the first place. She soon realizes that the boys she grew up with are now fully grown men, each with their own baggage and drama; something Thea learns that she's going to have to navigate even though she's got other plans and motives for being there.
This book is full of angst, subtle humor, and intense relationships. These are people with history, and a lot has changed in the 8 years Thea's been gone, but that doesn't stop the simmer of attraction between Thea and these boys from growing with each page.
While I didn't love that Thea's main reason for being back seems to have gotten pushed aside for a majority of the book, there is more to come so I'm not too worried that she got sidetracked. Autumn Reed throws a lot of drama at you, and it's more than enough to wade through while Thea figures herself out in this new environment. I'm sure whatever comes next will be a doozy because the way this book ends? *chef's kiss* cliffhanger moment.
October 29, 2020
I did enjoy this and the Wizard of Oz themes throughout this book. My only complaint was that we didn't get much into her investigation of her mother's death, I thought it would be a major part of the book but it wasn't instead we did get other investigations for new different incidents. I did like Thea as a character overall but I did feel as if she was very wishy-washy on her stance regarding the boys throughout this book. I mean it was the first book so I didn't just assume she would be all in with them especially since its been 8 years since she last saw them but she kept changing her mind regarding whether she was going to be apart of their lives or staying at a distance from them. To go along with Thea I did like the boys, all 3 of them have so much growth they need to go through and I really can't wait to see them go through it. Overall this was a good 1st book in this series and I really did enjoy the subtle Wizards of Oz hints throughout it (ps. I loved that she has a pretend dog named Toto) and I kinda can't wait to see what happens next.
July 7, 2020
Spineless involves a new and refreshing take on The Wizard of Oz. I personally love The Wizard of Oz movie as well as the original L. Frank Baum books (and obviously Wicked too). If it involves the Wizard of Oz in some way, it's definitely something I'm interested in checking out. That's why I feel like this book is so refreshing. We see the framework of the characters we're familiar with, but it's an entirely new story. Autumn's clever usage of names and themes allows us to figure out who each character aligns with out of the original characters (ex. Leo for the Lion) and we're able to see how she incorporates their known traits as well (no brain, no heart, no courage). This book is not the expected Wizard of Oz re-telling that we're all familiar with, but one that will draw you in and keep you hooked to see what happens next.
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September 18, 2020Review for books 1 & 2:
Fun. Kind of reminded me of Tijan's Fallen Crest series (first: Fallen Crest High) and Erin Watt's Royals series (first: Paper Princess) - girl enters boy household, romantic interested in at least one of the boys, boys plus girl are a united team against the world.
I have enjoyed so far. Set up at the end of book 2 you could see a mile coming, but we'll see where she goes with it in book 3. Not a new favorite author, but it was good enough that I'll read the next book.
Borrowed from Kindle Unlimited.
Fun. Kind of reminded me of Tijan's Fallen Crest series (first: Fallen Crest High) and Erin Watt's Royals series (first: Paper Princess) - girl enters boy household, romantic interested in at least one of the boys, boys plus girl are a united team against the world.
I have enjoyed so far. Set up at the end of book 2 you could see a mile coming, but we'll see where she goes with it in book 3. Not a new favorite author, but it was good enough that I'll read the next book.
Borrowed from Kindle Unlimited.
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