i did not click with this book the way i thought i might, and on reflection i think that has more to do with audiobook performance than the content ofi did not click with this book the way i thought i might, and on reflection i think that has more to do with audiobook performance than the content of the novel itself. overall the book was fine, but not for me.
the plot itself is fine, set against a backdrop of highland games- which is somehow both present and decidedly not as present as i expected it to be. the girls were interesting, if seemingly one track focused on dance enough to be the only major trait either of them had for a majority of the novel. while i did find kenzie in particular annoying, i also recognized that as the fact that the characters were very young adults. 20 may be an adult, but is for all intents and purposes still quite young.
my main complaint feels so petty, but the audiobook performance used the exact same voice for both of our main characters. this tripped me up the first few chapters as i didn't realize we were changing perspective at first. they also pronounced "room" as "rum" the entire time and it was genuinely annoying....more
**spoiler alert** 3.5/5 i have mixed feelings on this. there were things i liked about the story, namely the abductors and the saviors were different t**spoiler alert** 3.5/5 i have mixed feelings on this. there were things i liked about the story, namely the abductors and the saviors were different types of aliens, the struggle to communicate, the explanation of how the ice planet is populated, and the update to being able to communicate. but there were a number i didn't love, mostly the lack of warnings, meeting the hero thru molestation, or surprise baby by the end. i realize that warnings are a mostly recent addition, and i can understand it.
from a purely smutty perspective, this was fun! it was fairly vanilla in spite of being an alien, as i guess that's enough spice for this situation. fun enough that i will be listening to at least one more in the series, and we'll see how that goes....more
i had a really delightful time listening to this audiobook. the actors were each unique, and brought charm to the cast of even the most unlikeable chai had a really delightful time listening to this audiobook. the actors were each unique, and brought charm to the cast of even the most unlikeable characters. i really enjoyed both the alternating pov of the married couple, as well as ruby's letters being mixed in as well. it was a great balance of the troubles of the past, the potential it could be, and ruby's stories. that allowed for slower reveals in certain ways, and some delectable drama build up. overall, this was really enjoyable, and i will be recommending it....more
i listened to the audiobook of this, and while i greatly enjoyed the performances i wasn't wowed by the story. it was fine, i guess. i didn't hat3.5/6
i listened to the audiobook of this, and while i greatly enjoyed the performances i wasn't wowed by the story. it was fine, i guess. i didn't hate it, and i can see how there's potential to make an epic movie from it. but i didn't feel an attachment to any of the characters, or much interest in what happened to them. the name duncan idaho is fantastic, however....more
this was a very cute enemies to friends historical romance novel. i was a bit confused in the time setting as it's supremely vague on whe4.5/5 rounded
this was a very cute enemies to friends historical romance novel. i was a bit confused in the time setting as it's supremely vague on when this is supposed to happen. it didn't impact the actual story at all, but i found myself confused for the first ~20% because of it. the audiobook narrators did a fantastic job, both with their respective characters and voicing each other. while the cover gives a pretty solid direction on how the story is going to go, it was really lovely to watch it unfold. i really loved getting the balance of both romances as well as being able to see gwen and art go from strong dislike bordering on hatred of each other to such solid friendship. the alternating pov's within one consistent timeline was wonderful. this was super cute and very delightful. i would both recommend it to those interested in a light romance, and read it again myself....more
i finished this book but honestly was not a fan, and made it thru most of it out of sheer spite. i don't know if my qualms come from poor aging, or ifi finished this book but honestly was not a fan, and made it thru most of it out of sheer spite. i don't know if my qualms come from poor aging, or if this book has simply always not been for me.
olivia is a barely adult teen who gets kidnapped and sold to darcy, proprietor of a high end brothel, and makes her escape before the story starts. noah is a recluse of half native and half white heritage (oh did i mention it's the early 1800s) who's left a life of navigating the rivers after an accident that cost him his eye. the basic story is overcoming and escaping your past, and learning to grow from it.
i have one main issue with this book, and it's the way that olivia talks about her experiences at the brothel prior to escaping. at one point darcy says he's never raped a woman, however it is so far into the book, and so far into reading how olivia was repeatedly effectively SA'd that i don't believe him. i think this in particular is poor aging, as we have a much better understanding of rape and SA now. while the characters in the book might believe it wasn't either, as a reader it definitely read as such. and that made it really hard to not completely drop the book.
other far more minor quibbles are the almost constant POV shifting. there are 5 over the course of the book, and some only last a page or so at a time. it was really jarring the first time we jumped to darcy's POV, though arguably necessary for the plot. it was a lot, and got annoying to jump at times. i wasn't a fan of the age gaps here, or that both of them had the same type of pattern- teen girl falls for man 10+ years her senior. i'm sure there are arguments of "it was a different time" or whatever, but i don't care- it was weird in this context.
while this was a quick read, i would not recommend it, and will not be reading again. ...more
this is exactly what it says: a romance with a door. you can't take it too seriously or it'll probably drive you mad; and reading the warning is absolthis is exactly what it says: a romance with a door. you can't take it too seriously or it'll probably drive you mad; and reading the warning is absolutely needed.
all that being said, i had a lot of fun reading this one. it's a quick read, and while a wild concept, it's fairly grounded in it's world. i was not expecting the door sentience to be given from the gods but honestly it makes as much sense as anything else. did i expect her to fuck the door more than once? no. did it make sense in the story? yeah it did. i won't be mentioning this book to my mom but i would probably read it again when i want something fun, fast, and a little sexy....more
much like Robin figuring out what the hell was going on, it took me a bit to really get into this book. but when i did, i had a great time. i knew notmuch like Robin figuring out what the hell was going on, it took me a bit to really get into this book. but when i did, i had a great time. i knew nothing going in, so i had no expectations, and was unaware it was going to verge into romance. the way magic works in this world intrigues me, and i look forward to continuing the series....more
i wanted to like this book more, but i didn't personally vibe with persephone for most of the book. she's young, and that was more obvious in book onei wanted to like this book more, but i didn't personally vibe with persephone for most of the book. she's young, and that was more obvious in book one, but she acts her age more this time. i liked the overall story, and getting to know more of the gods as persephone does. i also liked the 3 act structure, but personally act 2 felt drawn out. it was fine, but any interest i have in continuing will be based on if i remember the series and the audiobooks being easily available....more
4.5/5, rounded i went into this book fairly blind, and genuinely enjoyed the audiobook experience. i liked the split perspective with paralleling plot4.5/5, rounded i went into this book fairly blind, and genuinely enjoyed the audiobook experience. i liked the split perspective with paralleling plots, and thought both narrators did a lovely job.
i enjoyed the part of the story set in the 70's, and the aspects of the modern plotline that tied to it, more than emily's life. chess drove me a little mad, but thankfully it wasn't constant. i loved the story ending with mary, and was not expecting the revelation she had. while i do have a few gripes, i would read/listen to this again.
however, i wouldnt consider this a thriller, and didnt realize it was meant to be one until perusing reviews when i finished. i do think i would rec it with a minor calcification on the genre....more
i have really mixed feelings on this one now that i've finished. i like the characters, and i like the general plot. i really enjoyed the structure ofi have really mixed feelings on this one now that i've finished. i like the characters, and i like the general plot. i really enjoyed the structure of the book, with the chapters ending with fic excerpts, show scenes, etc. i didn't like the primary conflict. while it was something that did feel real for the characters, from a reader perspective it kinda felt like he was being intentionally dumb about it. anyone could see that trying to keep that secret was doomed, and he was really just digging his own grave.
as a fellow fat person, i found april to be relatable, in all the good and bad ways. while i wish her fatness was less central to her story, i did see the importance of that, especially if readers aren't fat and haven't experienced what she talks about firsthand.
overall i did have fun, but wouldn't read or recommend this book. especially if you're not actively familiar in fan/fan fic spaces. i'm not sure how well that would translate to the unaware even fairly simplified....more
this was an interesting listen. while i did not find myself relating to this story at all, i found the structure interesting. i**spoiler alert** 3.5/5
this was an interesting listen. while i did not find myself relating to this story at all, i found the structure interesting. it took me longer than i care to admit to understand the jumps occurring, but did enjoy it as a unique mechanic for the story. the ending is by and far the thing i was most intrigued by, and the actual end caught me off guard. i expected more, and generally don't like open ends; however i find this one very fitting....more
this is a sweet, seasonal romcom, and while it's decidedly not the season to read it currently, it was exactly the kind of soft read i needed. i do ththis is a sweet, seasonal romcom, and while it's decidedly not the season to read it currently, it was exactly the kind of soft read i needed. i do think both halves of this story could be split into fuller, longer novels if desired, but i really ended up liking the duo nature. it was a great way to get a balance of both stories and cities, as well as each woman's life, and see what they were escaping from however briefly. i wish there had been a bit more to both stories, but overall this was a very sweet read, and i would recommend it for those looking for a less traditional christmas season romcom.
i received an ARC thru a goodreads giveaway....more
i didn't know anything about this book going in (i dont think i even glanced at the summary) but i knew i wanted to read 'Legends & Lattes' and this ci didn't know anything about this book going in (i dont think i even glanced at the summary) but i knew i wanted to read 'Legends & Lattes' and this came first. i had SUCH a delightful time. i listened to the audiobook, and there's an extra special spark from the author literally voicing their characters. overall super fun, and would read again....more
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