This book was awful. Horribly written. It seemed like a 14 year old writing a oversexed cartoon. The dialogue was immature at best. Neither the so calThis book was awful. Horribly written. It seemed like a 14 year old writing a oversexed cartoon. The dialogue was immature at best. Neither the so called hero nor heroine have any redeeming qualities. The hero is a walking red flag. He starts to isolate the heroine right away. Everything goes how he says without input from her. I’m also grossed out by a 30 year old sexing up an 18-19 year old. Though the heroine seems to be some kind of sex addict based on her inability to control her impulses and the way her family/town talk about her.
This is listed as insta-love, but it’s more of an jnsta-lust with poorly written sex scenes. So not a romance really. You can’t even really call it erotica as the sex is not part of the overall story as much as the title would have you believe.
If you’re a young adult or teen or college age and reading this book please know this is not how a health loving relationship should work. And if you’re in a relationship that looks like this it’s ok to reach out to DV hotlines for help. ...more
It took me quite awhile to read but I honestly enjoyed the entire book. It’s one of her long ones, 500+ pages. Those are sometimes hit or miss becauseIt took me quite awhile to read but I honestly enjoyed the entire book. It’s one of her long ones, 500+ pages. Those are sometimes hit or miss because she writes them and releases them as serials so they can be fairly repetitive. I don’t know if she changed up her writing formula for this serial but it didn’t seem as repetitive as some of the others.
I enjoyed seeing both characters in a very awkward situation. The MMC really learned and grew a lot. I’m not sure I loved how Ruby described him, I know the Praxian are cat like people, but he seemed more large cat walking on two legs than the others have. I typically picture “Thundercats” when I picture Praxian, but this was more like a white tiger without stripes. Kind of an ick, so I tried not to think too much about how much more fur he had.
I always like a heroine who doesn’t quite fit in. But she was so outgoing and willing to just do things o found it very courageous.
I’m now intrigued by his brother, looking for that villain redemption arc.
Of course there were a few editing errors, but not so many it pulled me out of the story. ...more
I feel like I must have read a different book than so many people, I’m surprised it’s not rated higher.
I didn’t go in expecting a 4.5 stars rounded up
I feel like I must have read a different book than so many people, I’m surprised it’s not rated higher.
I didn’t go in expecting a spy thriller but was please try surprised. I love a good intrigue romance with some good mystery. And this book had that.
It starts off sad when they’re children with (view spoiler)[ the mass murder of her family and the everyone at the estate they both lived at as children. (hide spoiler)]
Both characters we’ve seen over the series and I enjoyed how they came together. She’s strong and fierce and it’s what he falls in love with....more
Not bad, heavy on that action/adventure, light on the romance. Stories like this always remind me of the end of the movie Speed where Sandra 3.5 stars
Not bad, heavy on that action/adventure, light on the romance. Stories like this always remind me of the end of the movie Speed where Sandra Bullock’s character is hooking up with Keanu Reeve’s and one says relationships based on intense situations never work out and they agree to base theirs on sex. The movie has a HFN and that’s how I feel about this book. Do they actually have anything in common? Where do they stand on other things that make a relationship? We just don’t get to see any of that to truly know and feel that deep love between them. Instead we get forced proximity lust. Which is fine, but not really romance.
The heroine is pretty bad ass but the hero has some unchecked misogyny.
I don’t know full how police ranking and what not work, but is it possibly/plausible for someone who’s been a cop for only 1 year to be a detective already?
This book really needed a map at the front of it, there was so much descriptions of trails and ridges and valleys and rivers, I could never really picture how/where they were traveling in relation to everyone else. ...more
This was a good one, but unfortunately no steam or it would be 5 stars. I love a good amnesia story, and this one was that. Norah was a great female lThis was a good one, but unfortunately no steam or it would be 5 stars. I love a good amnesia story, and this one was that. Norah was a great female lead. She wasn’t some strong badass, but she was a smart, take no crap woman. She calls out the toxic masculinity when she sees it, she’s about to point out bad relationships and recognize the for what they are and know when you have to cut someone out of your life. She’s emotionally mature and not stunted like we often see in Harlequin novels.
Cal was much harder to like. Even st the end I’m not sure I liked him. He did have some character growth, most of it brought on by Norah. He takes awhile to get his head on straight, and it’s hard to watch, because in real life I’d tell my friend to leave a man like him. But both the author and heroine are aware if this and make sure we know this isn’t acceptable. That is probably y favorite kart of this book. Often we read problematic characters and writers tend to write them as if they’re telling us these issues are ok, but thankfully this author was able to convey “hey, hero has issues, the heroes doesn’t seem them but w do, and we know they’re not acceptable.”
Looking forward to the rest of the series since I started at the end ...more
I was too annoyed and tired the night I finished this to write a review.
I only gave it 3 stars instead of 2 because the action/suspense portion of theI was too annoyed and tired the night I finished this to write a review.
I only gave it 3 stars instead of 2 because the action/suspense portion of the book, which is about 75-80% of it, was really good Harlequin suspense and I enjoy this author for the most part.
However I do not view this as a romance. The characters are sleeping together without strings attached before the books starts, the spend the majority of the book apart. Basically all of the action. The so called hero tells the heroine and the reader he’s not interested in more than sex between them. He’s upset she’s pregnant and thought the book only refers to the baby as “his”, never “theirs”. We find out very early on that the heroine is in love and is hurt by the hero through the book in not only his dismissiveness when she tries to talk about their relationship, but in how he doesn’t think she’s capable. We see it first hand in the book right up to the end. There is no real growth by the hero and no chance fora relationship to build and grow in the book.
At best I’d call this a “happy for now” (HFN) book but I expect the strong heroine to wise up and leave. ...more
I don’t like cheating. I can’t really call this a romance. He was with his girlfriend for about the 65%-70% of this book. Just not good vibes. He’s a I don’t like cheating. I can’t really call this a romance. He was with his girlfriend for about the 65%-70% of this book. Just not good vibes. He’s a bad boyfriend to his girlfriend even outside of the emotional cheating amp kissing. It seems to run in the family, his brother Nate is a horrible boyfriend too. He’s so bad that Blaine tells him so. It was laughing hysterical.
I feel for Rosie at the beginning, and probably through the first 50% of the book. Life after high school doesn’t always work out the way we plan. We make mistakes. Rosie’s seems to be jumping in too fast with the wrong type of guys. But she has more and more TSTL moment as the book nears its conclusion.
In the end I didn’t really like either of the MCs. They didn’t have enough redeeming qualities individually or together.
Some large plot holes as well and nonsensical plot points.
Not bad but I didn’t feel overly connected to either of the main characters. I really wanted Faith to not be dead and for them to find her trapped someNot bad but I didn’t feel overly connected to either of the main characters. I really wanted Faith to not be dead and for them to find her trapped somewhere. Don’t ask me why, I don’t know, just seemed like it would make it exciting. >.<
I did have a few issues, and they pulled me out of the book, so that could have been why I didn’t feel overly connected. First: No way in a town of only 250 people would there be some of the things they had. (e.g. funeral home, there is no way for enough annual deaths to keep something like that in business) Second: this is not just with this book but often in “Christmas” titles books, this had absolutely zero to do with Christmas. Cold weather and snow were mentioned 2-3 times that’s the closest anything could be to making this a Christmas book. I get Harlequin doesn’t care once you buy the book, their marketing team has done their job, but sheesh stop using Christmas (or other holidays) to sell books that have zero to do with it. Third: I’m obviously not an expert in CIA special forces or whatever but I find it highly improbably that he’d hav ALLLLLLLL this real world experience and have been burned and hunted by the time he was 30.
I was happy that the heroine was strong. She wasn’t a doormat. She didn’t require the hero to tell her what she was worth. She knew her own worth. She was strong and independent.
Anyway, it wasn’t bad, would probably rate it 3.5 stars if there were half stars.
I have the next one so I’ll read that but not sure about the rest of the series....more
This one was one of the best in this series as far as mates and their connection.
I think Sessah and Sam were perfect for one another especially after This one was one of the best in this series as far as mates and their connection.
I think Sessah and Sam were perfect for one another especially after we learn if her past. Though o was expecting? Wanting? More details. But I should know by now Ruby Dixon likes to touch on hard/dark topics but not really delve into them, which is frustrating where there is so much drama in her books.
The cat man plot was a little odd and out of left field, it was just too convenient. But it did it’s job I suppose and Sam found her own strength.
I do wish they’d used their red signal flag and Ashtar could have assisted. I don’t like a huge secret like this being kept from the entire tribes at both locations. Even just telling Vektal and Raahosh would have worked.
I really enjoyed this one. Must be something about those Aliens with R names.
I was worried a magical dick would fix her hearing. I liked seeing a herI really enjoyed this one. Must be something about those Aliens with R names.
I was worried a magical dick would fix her hearing. I liked seeing a heroine who had something besides fear that made landing on the planet a struggle. It was great seeing how Rokan was so willing to learn from her so they could communicate.
I’m so intrigued too now about the metlaks and the new cave. I need more of all of that.
Thankfully Vektal was only in this book momentarily. But it was again for a scene of bad leadership. The non-exile for Hassan totally went against everything he proclaimed about Raahosh. He’s a poor leader and not an overly strong character in general. Hope to see less and less of him....more
I think I went into it expecting something different and it wasn’t that.
It was good but much slower than I’d been anticipating. Felt like it took forI think I went into it expecting something different and it wasn’t that.
It was good but much slower than I’d been anticipating. Felt like it took forever for him to find her, and considering we didn’t get anything from her viewpoint until she awakens it made all of the otherworldly political intrigue not that intriguing.
The world building- I definitely felt like I was in another world. That part was great. However something were hard to figure out even with context clues until you’re much deeper into the book. I would have really liked to understand some terms and aspects of the world better. I don’t often need or want a glossary but this is a time I think it would have been infinitely helpful.
It is very much a slow burn and though it end with them together it is a cliffhanger. I’d like to know what else happens but it’s two more books and they’re not quick reads. They’re also slightly more than I regularly spend on ebooks so if I do decide to read the rest of this series it might be a bit before I can buy the books.
The writing was great though so I’d like to read more but this writing duo. ...more
I read this for a Dark Erotic group read. It was neither. Not even close.
This was written with a high YA feel to it. If the talk of sex was Yeah, no.
I read this for a Dark Erotic group read. It was neither. Not even close.
This was written with a high YA feel to it. If the talk of sex was removed it would be 100% a YA Hunger Games wanna be type book with more sarcasm and humor. It seems that book just could not really figure out what it wanted to be. But in no way was it a romance or "reverse harem" (if that's even a good term to use for a ménage with multiple men and one women). The guys are awful, I wanted more of the focus on the main female since we see the whole book through her POV. I needed her to focus less on the guys that don't care about her.
Quite a few inconsistencies as well. Right at the beginning the main character states she doesn't know what she is, even if she is female or not but everything else in the story points to her knowing and acting as one. Just very odd to point that out right in the beginning when literally mentioned every other page throughout the book.
I don't think I'll be continuing the series. ...more
I’m really happy with this book. Took me a little longer than i would have liked to finish it but life gets in the way sometimes and it was no fault iI’m really happy with this book. Took me a little longer than i would have liked to finish it but life gets in the way sometimes and it was no fault if the book.
I don’t recalling having read a book by Rita Herron before but I. Dry could have back in the early 2000s when I read Harlequin more frequently. I’m looking forward to reading more by her soon.
Lindsey’s story was so good. This was her book. The back story was strong and you could feel her pain and strength. Gavin was a bit weaker of a character so I was never in love with him, he fell a little flat compared to Lindsey and the plot.
I didn’t mark the book down for this but why was there so much I’ll/we’ll “pray for you”? Maybe because of the time we’re living in where thoughts & prayers are disingenuously offered up to grieving parents, it came off as cringy and not heartfelt. it will give him applause for stepping up when he finds out about the baby and realizing right away he’s at fault and not blaming or being horrible to Lindsey.
Good stand alone if you’re look for suspense with light romance....more
This was pretty good. I did take a long break in the middle of reading it (I do that sometimes), but it held up when I can back to it and ended well.
SThis was pretty good. I did take a long break in the middle of reading it (I do that sometimes), but it held up when I can back to it and ended well.
Some of Darcy Coates’ fall a little flat, like they build but then nothing really happens, or it does but it’s not big enough for the build up. I didn’t feel this book had that issue.
It was spooky and realist which adds to the fear/anxiety the reader experiences.
This would be my top recommendation of her books along with Voices In The Snow....more
This is what I call horror lite, though it was pretty creepy about the last 50% and did take a few turns I wasn’t expecting. Has very much a Haunting OThis is what I call horror lite, though it was pretty creepy about the last 50% and did take a few turns I wasn’t expecting. Has very much a Haunting Of Hill House vibe to it but it’s not that, it goes in a different direction which I was happy about.
Darcy Coates knows how to make her books flow and keep the reader reading. I read about the last 2/3 tonight and finished it easily.
A few thing I didn’t like; the main one, especially as a romance reader, was the “I’m in love” so quickly. They hardly had any interactions and on his part it seemed mainly physical. It wasn’t really a believable romance but since this is a horror novel I didn’t knock it down much for that. Also if felt a little under developed. The characters weren’t deep enough. Plus way too much time in Sophie’s head with her thoughts.
I will most likely read the second book in this series while I wait for the next book in the Grave Keeper series....more
Not a horror story really, more just paranormal with some suspense.
It was good but nothing going bump in the night like the blurb on the ba3.5 stars
Not a horror story really, more just paranormal with some suspense.
It was good but nothing going bump in the night like the blurb on the back makes you think. The spirits don’t whisper, she actually can’t hear them at all. They’re also not out to get her.
I enjoyed the ghost whisperer/medium aspect and am glad it’s a series (too bad the next book is so far away though). I’m looking forward to more but I’m glad I’ll know what they’re like going into them and not expecting them to be something they’re not.
This could easily be read by teens. It’s really not scary at all so if you’re looking for something suspenseful yet light this is a good choice. ...more
New to me author. I don’t read horror very often and didn’t feel this one was too scary though I had to read something lighter after it each evening bNew to me author. I don’t read horror very often and didn’t feel this one was too scary though I had to read something lighter after it each evening before going to sleep but I’m sure it’s nothing for hardcore horror readers.
It’s touted as a apocalyptic novel, and I suppose it is, but it seems more like a things-that-go-bump-in-night novel.
It had three “horror” sub-genres to it: 1) Flowers In The Attic messed up family sh!t (I think this areas could have used more development) 2) Things that go bump in the night, this was the strongest aspect of the story 3) Apocalyptic level world catastrophe (some but again needed more)
I am looking forward to the next book in this series and seeing where it goes.
One thing I couldn’t figure out though was where it takes place. US? UK? Australia? ...more
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