I was really into the premise of this book. Best friends to lovers, stalker vs. protective ex-Navy Seal, coastal South Carolina town -- all of 3 1/2 ⭐
I was really into the premise of this book. Best friends to lovers, stalker vs. protective ex-Navy Seal, coastal South Carolina town -- all of this is a big yes. I liked all the characters, most of the time (more on that later) and I'm interested in reading the other three books in the series because of this. And I did enjoy a lot of the book, until I snagged on things I didn't. I have mixed feelings, really, and a ton of notes. Buckle up.
* Julia and Jaxson's friendship, before it gets too complicated. We see hints of their hidden infatuation with each other and the closeness between them. It's really sweet. It's not very evolved of me, but I really like that she's gentle and innocent and he's more worldly and protective of her.
* The side characters. Grace seems nice, though her invention and creative naming of pies while working at a diner reminds me maybe too much of Waitress. I'm curious to see the inevitable pairing of her and Sawyer, who is just a fun character. Cade is a little quiet and broody, but solid. Kayla is fun, like Sawyer, and even though Cooper has anger issues like Jaxson, he's a solid guy.
* The glimpses into their time in Iraq, while held by the trafficking ring.
What I didn't:
* Jaxson and Coop are in serious need of anger management classes. Faces or walls, doesn't matter; if they're pissed, something is getting punched. Grow up and get your shit together.
* Julia's less-than-endearing TSTL tendencies. She becomes besties with Jaxson as a teenager because she goes into a cemetery in the middle of the night and almost gets raped and he saves her.
She ignores the warnings of her friend and the actual town sheriff about Wyatt, who tell her they know things about him that prove he's dangerous to women. She dates him anyway and he becomes obsessed and delusional. From here, it goes downhill. He scares her and hurts her, so she's strong-armed into getting the restraining order she should've been willing to get in the first place. Keeping this threat of violence and her witnessing how unhinged Wyatt is in mind, she lives alone but leaves her door unlocked and doesn't check her peephole before opening the door, falls asleep on the beach alone while nursing the concussion Wyatt gave her, doesn't call Cooper (the sheriff) right away when Wyatt shows up and threatens her physically and verbally to drop the restraining order, even though she was told to call him immediately if Wyatt initiates contact of any kind, and doesn't tell anyone when she starts to get regular hang-up calls.
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* The wishy-washiness of Jaxson and his "honorable" hesitancy to commit to Julia (because he's unworthy, of course) while he strings her along for 6 years.Hated this. At 45% I made a note: He's still determined that he won't get into a relationship with her, but he reinserts himself into her life after she cut him out, kisses her all the time, gets into her personal space, calls her baby, treats her like a girlfriend, acts possessive, and constantly tells her how horned up for her he is -- usually while grinding his boner against her body. Talk about mixed signals!
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Bear in mind that this was after taking her virginity on his military graduation night, knowing that she loved him and declared she'd wait for him, then refusing to see her again for the next five years. He's tortured in Iraq and has Cooper turn her away from the hospital without seeing him after she dropped everything and spent all her savings for an emergency flight to Germany to be by his side. This is when she finally cuts him out of her life, and a year after this is when he forces himself on her again with no shame and a hefty dose of heavy-handedness.
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Oh, and she had one boyfriend in all this time after she called it quits on waiting for him to come around. He had a steady stream of bedwarmers from the time they met until possibly just before the incident in Iraq.
* The thriller/stalking aspect of the story is all but nonexistent until Wyatt breaks in and strings up a gutted coyote over her kitchen table at 72%. Up until then it was just a red flag raising date with her getting hurt accidentally due to his rough handling, a threatening visit when he found out she was filing a restraining order, and the hang up calls.
Honestly, the stalking angle is secondary to all their relationship ups and downs. It has an anemic showing until the last 14% of the book, where it suddenly escalates into the climax of the book. It's a shame, because the story would've been better served focusing more on the thriller aspects and the impact on Julia and Jaxson rather than their self-created drama.
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Random notes:
* Kalya going all Carrie Underwood and smashing Coop's truck was...a lot. Yes, it looked like he was cheating, but she went 0-100 apeshit. Too far, Kay-Kay. Too far.
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* There are no real surprises in this book; them getting together, her pregnancy at the 81% mark after revealing she was told she can't get pregnant in the chapter before, the guys buying the gym (and therefore having a reason to stay in town), etc.
* A not-so-quick rant, post pregnancy announcement: So after all the crap they've been through and the ways he's insinuated that he loves her and wants to be with her forever, plus the fact that she has PCOS and wants a baby badly but doesn't think she'll ever have one, his response to her finding out that she's pregnant is to yell at her, punch her fridge repeatedly, break her crystal vase full of flowers against the wall, grab her by the arms and tell her (when she says they love each other) not to put words in his mouth, and that he warned her to stay away (after HE came after her when she cut him off for a year) and tell her he doesn't want it. Like what is she supposed to do, abort her miracle baby because he's lashing out at her due to his daddy issues? "I don't want the fucking baby." Then he storms out of the house like a little piss baby. Fuck him. Seriously. "Men of Honor" my ass. His friends have to literally and figuratively clean up after him afterwards? He takes off for almost 2 days after this? No.
[image] (Dean disapproves, too.)
He destroys a hospital room when he finds out they were run off the road and she was dragged out of the car and hit unconscious. It would serve him right if the worst happened to her, not that I would ever want that. But I guess now he wants to take all his asshattery back. "That son of a bitch took my girl and my baby. He's fucking dead." Oh, you mean the girl you just rejected and abandoned to have a temper tantrum and the baby you said you "don't fucking want"?
Even in the final throes of this book, Jaxson's anger issues are too much. She has to beg him not to bug out at the hospital before they arrive while she's in labor, and later praises him for only yelling at the staff twice.
Delightful, as always! Not gonna lie, the conclusion of the spouse selection, and especially the last chapter, really tore me a new one. I don't know Delightful, as always! Not gonna lie, the conclusion of the spouse selection, and especially the last chapter, really tore me a new one. I don't know if I'm just extra emotional today or what, but (view spoiler)[Dina's childhood inn being found dying, then the hope of the living branch, and finally that branch fusing with Gertrude Hunt and settling where Maud and Helen live (hide spoiler)] made me ugly cry. The combination of the writing and the performance did me in.
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One thing I love about this awesome writing duo is you can always trust the stories are fair and just. Those who deserve it are punished, and for the most part those who are good find their happiness. They're kind to their eager readers in this way. You're not going to see your favorites splattered in some gruesome death just because, and if the main character doesn't dole out justice, someone will. Pair this with exciting storytelling and multidimensional characters (even minor ones) and you've got a serious chef's kiss of a book. I can't wait for the next installment!
Don't let the short run-time fool you, there's a lot packed into this novella! Peace treaty negotiations, neighborhood sex scandals, philosophizing spDon't let the short run-time fool you, there's a lot packed into this novella! Peace treaty negotiations, neighborhood sex scandals, philosophizing space chickens, alien moth men, family drama, and an operetta in two acts about the quest to make the perfect fast food burger and the disillusionment of meeting one's heroes -- all performed to perfection with a full cast, music, and sound effects.
I may be biased since IA are my among my favorite authors, but it's a comfort knowing I'll always have a good time reading their books. The humor is dry and unexpected, the world-building is creative and fresh, and the characters are full-bodied and substantial. I've read entire series with characters who have less dimension than a side character in an IA novella has. Masters, I tell ya.
This is less a real review and more just notes with my thoughts:
* The heartbreaking situation of the Hiru and the reason they're hunted was so well doThis is less a real review and more just notes with my thoughts:
* The heartbreaking situation of the Hiru and the reason they're hunted was so well done. I got a little teary-eyed in the end, not gonna lie.
* I demand to read more pop culture broken down by alien perspective.
*Helen is the literal best. Not surprised though, since I&G always do a great job with child characters. They're always precocious, but not obnoxiously so, and though most the ones I've read have suffered trauma, they've maintained their innocence beneath the tough exterior they've created to protect themselves. The authors always strike a skillful balance.
I knew nothing about this series until I started reading it, other than it was an IA series, which meant it had to be awesome. Was surprised it was a I knew nothing about this series until I started reading it, other than it was an IA series, which meant it had to be awesome. Was surprised it was a lot more sci-fi than their usual fantasy fare, but the characters are fun and fully formed -- as would be expected from IA. The world-building is so cool, and feels like it could actually be real, in an alternate universe where Men in Black is a real thing. I can honestly say I've never read anything like it!...more
I love this series, and it hurts to rate any part of it as less than 5 stars, but unfortunately this one missed the mark for me. Something about it raI love this series, and it hurts to rate any part of it as less than 5 stars, but unfortunately this one missed the mark for me. Something about it rang hollow and felt separate from the rest of the series. Grier feels like a secondary character in her own story, and even though were in a trilogy of epilogues, the final threats to Grier and her patchwork family, Volkov and co. are still out there. There's definitely room for more, but it's been 4 years since this one was released so I don't have high hopes. ...more
Another great installment! I'm going to be bummed when I finish the series. Linus continues to be a squishable little love muffin of a reaper. Love hiAnother great installment! I'm going to be bummed when I finish the series. Linus continues to be a squishable little love muffin of a reaper. Love him!
Can Lethe calm down a little with the food? I was surprisingly annoyed, being that this isn't even real, by how she devoured all the catering and cake samples for someone else's wedding. Her antics are funny a lot of times, but she can be too much. ...more
Boaz continues to be a raging tool, but Linus is the sweetest lovebug! Very happy with how things are progressing. This whole series has been such a pBoaz continues to be a raging tool, but Linus is the sweetest lovebug! Very happy with how things are progressing. This whole series has been such a pleasant surprise!...more
Can y'all hear that? It's the sound of my heart melting. Adios, Bore-az.Can y'all hear that? It's the sound of my heart melting. Adios, Bore-az....more
Each installment of this series is better than the last! But first, a rant in three acts...
(view spoiler)[ 1) I knew this would happen, but I'm still aEach installment of this series is better than the last! But first, a rant in three acts...
(view spoiler)[ 1) I knew this would happen, but I'm still annoyed that the author is downplaying the relationship Grier and Boaz were building. By just about anyone's standards they were dating, and within the context of their shared history there was an understanding that this was heading somewhere serious. It wasn't a situationship. In fact, but the end of book 2 it was so obvious that poor Linus was carrying a torch for Grier and she would end up with Boaz. I was already primed for hopelessly shipping "team throuple." [image]
2) I liked Boaz a lot before, and I get why taking this path of least resistance was the most logical, but he did Grier so dirty. It was never a fair fight, and he was trash for how he handled this. You have someone who's been in love with you since childhood, who has endured relentless trauma and is still trying to get her life together. A young woman with no romantic experience, who stuck her neck out for your sister and saved her, despite what she did, despite Ambrose almost killing her, and despite her dangerously tenuous position within the society. Someone who is as good as family, but better.
You don't start something with a woman like this unless you mean it. She isn't the flavor of the week. You don't move in the shadows behind her back and continue on like nothing changed. You don't make all these permanent plans with another woman while she's at home waiting for phone calls that won't come, thinking she finally gets her much-earned happily ever after with you. Thinking she's special and different from the other women you've played with. [image]
He enjoyed the adoration and dangled hope in front of her each time he flirted without a thought. Must have been quite the ego boost. He lied and maneuvered and was slimy enough to still act affectionately to her face. He had the nerve to lecture her and try to order her around, and made snide comments about Linus and insinuate that no one would choose Linus over him, and that he trusted Grier to be faithful to him. [image]
I'm done with Boaz. Good luck to Addie, who I hope never knows the man she's about to spend a super long life with said, "Does it matter what her name is? It doesn't matter to me as long as she gets to the Lyceum in time." [image]
3) Amelie's involvement in this is pretty bad, too. After everything she'd done, after Grier bailing her out and saving her from Atramentous, she conspired with Boaz to act like everything is peachy while slowly pushing a knife into her back. Cherry on top, she doesn't even realize she's placing all the blame on Grier. You know, the one who actually has been victimized throughout the series. "But, but, all these awful things that happened to you were so hard on meeee!" [image] (hide spoiler)]
Whew, I feel better!
I'm excited to see where the story and the interactions between Grier and Linus goes. I've had a theory since book 2 that Linus's mom pushed Linus's visits on Maud while he and Grier were kids because she expected an arranged marriage to take place between them. Of course, this was all derailed when Grier went to Atramentous, but if I'm right the Grand Dame's plans haven't changed. Possible drama to come? We'll see if my theory is true.
Random thought before I go: Hubert gave off strong Mr. Collins vibes. [image]
"If there's anything I can do for you, as the excellent son of the most exalted Lady Catherine de Bourgh Grand Dame, I am your humble servant."...more
Firstly, I read a little of this on KU and was completely confused. The first two sentences of the synopsis is a giaI don't even know where to start.
Firstly, I read a little of this on KU and was completely confused. The first two sentences of the synopsis is a giant spoiler for book 3, but I didn't expect this entirely new story to be happening from the jump as though it was a different series. So after reading a couple chapters, I hopped over to listen to How to Break an Undead Heart. After a couple hours of that, I was...not happy.
I see from the release dates that this is a retcon, hence being titled after his redemption. At this point in the series I'm not feeling the redemption very much.
(view spoiler)[ Scratch what I said in #2 about Boaz and Linus being in a throuple with Grier. He's being a complete dick here. Grier isn't some random girl or a hookup. She's his sister's best friend, the person who bailed her out, and the woman he knows has been in love with him since childhood. He seemed to love her too. Why would he choose to pursue her now, with the society stacked against them, if he hadn't decided he wanted to be with her?
I understand why he needs to marry Addie, even though the plan to make Amelie Addie's sister is weird. What I don't understand is why he's playing with Grier too, and being a massive coward by not letting her know what's going on. She's at home, thinking they're together (though it looks like the author might pull a "but they sort of aren't exclusive" justification, which would be BS.) Meanwhile he's out here with a whole fiancee on the side while she's totally clueless.
Where I stopped in book 3, he's ghosting her, but shows up after she bites off part of her tongue during training. He acts like nothing changed. He tells her she has to stop the training with homegirl (can't think of her name right now) because she's too rough, and basically scolding Grier when he was the one who asked that chick to train Grier in the first place, all while knowing she has a reputation for being savage. Make it make sense.
And how does he have the balls to be snarky about Linus? Basically saying, "Are you into him?" like it's his right, and then saying, "He's Linus and I'm Boaz." like it would be ridiculous for anyone to be attracted Linus over him. As though she's supposed to be waiting until her dying breath for him while he knows he's going to crush her heart. Then saying, "I trust you." Duuuuude. YOU can't be trusted, because again, you have a whole ass fiancee on the side! Points for sheer audacity, I guess.
He has no right to keep flirting with her, dangling her on the end of his string. I really liked his character up until this. All of the passages where he's emotionally bonding with Addie was upsetting, knowing Grier is totally in the dark. After what she's been through, after what she's done to help Amelie, for the love she always had for Boaz and Amelie, and for who she is as a person, she deserves better.
I liked Cass a lot, and Addie is just as clueless about this as Grier is, sadly. Before I start How to Break and Undead Heart again I'm going to guess that he slides through this with minimum consequences. I already know, ugh. Thanks, I hate it.
(view spoiler)[ I'm liking Linus a lot and am officially requesting a Grier/Linus/Boaz throuple. Feeling bad for Amelie, but she knew how high the sta(view spoiler)[ I'm liking Linus a lot and am officially requesting a Grier/Linus/Boaz throuple. Feeling bad for Amelie, but she knew how high the stakes were -- how could she think inviting that thing to possess her was worth it? The vamp attack seemed like an afterthought, plot-wise, but she got lucky Ambrose didn't just kill those vamps for fun. She's lucky she dodged prison, but her mom was savage. She wouldn't accept Grier's money for bail, then disowned Amelie just like that? Matron Stick-Up-Her-Butt suuuuucks. Boaz and Amelie are better off without her.
Oscar the Edwardian ghost child is a little sweet potato. I love the addition of him in the story, and I'm glad he gets to stick around! (hide spoiler)]...more
Great start! The reader is dropped into the story without much context, but the world reveals itself as you go without much trouble. This kind of seriGreat start! The reader is dropped into the story without much context, but the world reveals itself as you go without much trouble. This kind of series is right up my alley. I'm disappointed that one of the possible love interests isn't what I hoped he would be, but I'm looking forward to seeing what else the series has in store. Love settling into a long one that follows the same MC, and this one has 9 installments as of now.
Here be spoilers
(view spoiler)[Ugh! I was really digging Volkov. I hope there's an understandable reason for what he did and we get the rare good love triangle, and I feel kind of bad for Lena, the maid. Maybe she's not dead. I'm guessing the master vampire is Grier's unknown father, considering her unique powers (which would be super rare being they stem from a child of a a necromancer and master vampire, so it tracks) and that she had a bedroom at his house. I'm shocked she didn't put that together herself or even question how Lena knew and brought her favorite toy to her, said the childish bedroom was hers and that she was home, and hummed a tune she remembered. (hide spoiler)]...more
I did not want to finish this book. I listened to it as an audiobook (and I always really like this narrator's performances), but this is one I plan tI did not want to finish this book. I listened to it as an audiobook (and I always really like this narrator's performances), but this is one I plan to buy to add to my physical library. I loved it. So. Much.
Mariana Zapata is the queen of slow burn romance. She's great at taking moments that should be cheesy and making them deliciously sweet and beautiful instead. Her heroines are always strong and loveable, her heroes always tough with a cinnamon roll interior that only a select few are privy to, and easy to fall in love with. There are always great side characters in every book. The stories are immersive. I've seen reviews say Zapata's books are too long, but I think the slice-of-life and more subdued scenes where it seems like nothing much is going on are important. It's like she takes us readers by the hand and says, "Come on. I want to take a stroll with you through this world." As a result I always feel invested in the characters and their problems because I live in the story thanks to her writing style, instead of just visiting.
I could go on and on, but instead I'll stick to some bullet points. Here be spoilers. (view spoiler)[ *I love Sal's dad. He's a squishable little lovebug.
*The Under Locke cameo -- yes. Just, yes.
*This is an audiobook performance note, but the way Kulti would just say, "No." That tone. That "don't give a shit" attitude, that people will do what he wants because that's just how it is -- and it is. It's kind of hot.
*Sal's character is solid. She doesn't use her grandfather's fame to her benefit, she's a hard worker, she has integrity, and she's a strong and independent woman who thinks for herself while still being empathetic to others. Zapata writes great female leads.
*The friendship between Sal and Rey, and how it develops, is great. I love the juxtaposition of him being her uber-famous idol and childhood super crush against the reality of the man he really is and her acceptance of his broody nature. His public life is chaotic, but the time they spend alone is calm and grounding.
*Their food nicknames for each other are too cute. ❤
*All the generous gestures to show he loves her, without every looking for praise or even telling her that he's doing it all for her. He's telling her with actions instead of words, "I'm doing this thing for the benefit of people or things you care about because I want to." For a man with a huge ego, he shows none of it when it comes to the things he does for Sal.
*The scene with the fan letter she wrote when she was 6 or 7 absolutely melted my heart. I may have shed tears. We'll keep that between us.
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*He's unbelievably supportive of her. He basically tells her he'll follow her around the globe and devote himself to her career, putting himself aside to devote himself fully to her. And then, he does.
*This quote: “My schnecke. My little snail, do you know that’s what it means? It’s a term of affection in my country. My love. My snail. I don’t want to waste more time. I have nothing to hide and neither do you.”
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*I thought this was kind of funny; The last chapter ends with her saying something like, "I never give up on anything." Epilogue starts with. "Kulti (her new last name) retires!" Made me laugh a little. (hide spoiler)]
The only thing I didn't love was how often Kulti was referred to as "The German." I can see why it was used throughout a lot of the book, if it was meant to be a way of drawing a line between him and Sal, and underscoring how imposing and unapproachable he was. At a certain point, though, it was unnecessary and redundant. But honestly, who cares? This book was awesome. It's a great summer read, 10/10 highly recommend!
Nice, spooky vibe in this one! Although I understand why more of this book was in other POVs, I've noticed since book 2 that we're getting away from CNice, spooky vibe in this one! Although I understand why more of this book was in other POVs, I've noticed since book 2 that we're getting away from Charlie's POV more and more. This is just my personal preference, but I'd rather see the series through Charlie's eyes and a little more interaction between her and Jason, and that definitely could've happened here while she was in the woods. Instead there was a large chunk where it seemed like the focus was on the cousins and not too much was happening.
Also, Charlie is being too hard on Tom. I mean, come on. Seems like Jen is digging him though......more
This is a fun series! I started out thinking I'd missed an installment or a short story between books 1 and 2, but I guess some things developed "off This is a fun series! I started out thinking I'd missed an installment or a short story between books 1 and 2, but I guess some things developed "off screen." I also thought the epilogue of book 1 ended with Charlie and Jason beginning a relationship and going slow, but I must be misremembering because there's none of that here.
Really liking the new character, Tom! I listened to the audiobook, so I imagined his last name must be spelled Charon. It seemed really obvious to me what he was as soon as the misunderstanding in the woods was cleared up. I mean, ALL the signs were there, and we didn't have any more information as the readers than these seasoned witches.
Charlie's ex is still the worst in a good chunk of this installment, and it's strongly hinted at that he has hit her in the past (though that's retconned later to just emotional abuse.) Things at least take a turn for the better at the end on that front, so there's that....more
Is Sarah Adams becoming one of my favorite romance writers? Yep, I think so! Prior to this, I picked up The Cheat Sheet and two of her other titles atIs Sarah Adams becoming one of my favorite romance writers? Yep, I think so! Prior to this, I picked up The Cheat Sheet and two of her other titles at my library's books-for-donation rack on a whim, thinking it may be donated back without reading. I love it when I'm pleasantly surprised, because The Cheat Sheet was one of the sweetest romances I've read. Her stories are the book equivalent of snuggling up on the couch with your favorite rom-com.
Sarah Adams delivers another fairly wholesome story with likeable characters and great banter. If there's a such thing as a cozy romance without getting too sickly sweet and disingenuous to real life, then she's a leader in the genre.
One of my favorite takes on the fake dating tropes is the "tutor" angle, though I do like a nice business arrangement for the trope, too. Here we have Annie, the sweet youngest sister of an orphaned family of 4 (literally Orphan Annie), but her gentle temperament comes at the expense of her own sense of self. Then there's commitment-phobe Will, the sexy bodyguard executive protection agent assigned to a short stint in Annie's small Kentucky town. The town itself is full of the most obnoxious, quirky busybodies, but they're like a big loving (albeit nosy) family.
The story takes place in the space of a month, but the personal development between the two characters, the funny banter, and the way they lift each other up makes it seem like they've known each other for much longer. Both have spent their lives pushing their own feelings down to protect others, with Will making a career out of it. They find strength and balance in each other, and together they give themselves permission to look after themselves and strive for their own happiness for once.
I borrowed this from the library, but quickly started to mark pages with removable tabs. I rarely do that. This book has actually compelled me to buy my own copy and do some serious annotating -- unheard of for me!
Some favorite parts: (view spoiler)[ *Their silliness with "shopping" for each other at the grocery store.
*Him stealing her half-read sexy pirate romances for research (though I would be SO annoyed, so mixed bag there.)
*Her teasing him with all the possible iterations of Will, trying to guess his full first name.
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