Okay this one was by far THE best book of the series. I loved it! There's absolutely no denying the fact that we had not been given much in Smith in tOkay this one was by far THE best book of the series. I loved it! There's absolutely no denying the fact that we had not been given much in Smith in the first three books, save for the fact that he was The General, Quin's right hand and of course an important part. But this book did him justice, and boy was just so right.
Jenny was the perfect heroine as well. I haven't read the Mallick brothers series (I'm going to read it after this) and so I don't know how big a part she played in that, or even that she did or maybe it was just written in passing y'know? But here, what I got to see was a woman who had been so brutally abused by her husband over the years, trapped in a soulless and loveless marriage. And the way she brought herself out of that was amazing.
The two of them together were the least dramatic and the easiest yet so different couple to fall into this in my opinion because there was a sort of direct-ness, the feeling of it being a natural thing like the sun rising and setting.
So, even if I liked them all, this one was the best! And Jessica Gadziala writes one of the best epilogues ever.
Merged review:
Okay this one was by far THE best book of the series. I loved it! There's absolutely no denying the fact that we had not been given much in Smith in the first three books, save for the fact that he was The General, Quin's right hand and of course an important part. But this book did him justice, and boy was just so right.
Jenny was the perfect heroine as well. I haven't read the Mallick brothers series (I'm going to read it after this) and so I don't know how big a part she played in that, or even that she did or maybe it was just written in passing y'know? But here, what I got to see was a woman who had been so brutally abused by her husband over the years, trapped in a soulless and loveless marriage. And the way she brought herself out of that was amazing.
The two of them together were the least dramatic and the easiest yet so different couple to fall into this in my opinion because there was a sort of direct-ness, the feeling of it being a natural thing like the sun rising and setting.
So, even if I liked them all, this one was the best! And Jessica Gadziala writes one of the best epilogues ever....more
Boy was this series ENGAGING. I might be trash for this series and Desmond Flynn, but I'm ✨ quality ✨ trash.Boy was this series ENGAGING. I might be trash for this series and Desmond Flynn, but I'm ✨ quality ✨ trash....more
Considering this was my last book of the year, I wouldn't say I ended this year with a bang but let's be honest- even the year wasn't bang-worthy *sigConsidering this was my last book of the year, I wouldn't say I ended this year with a bang but let's be honest- even the year wasn't bang-worthy *sigh*.
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Frankly, this author never disappoints me. And I did like this one, just not as much as some of her other works.
This could be one of those 'it's just me' sort of books for me because I really (view spoiler)[wanted a slow burn but then this turned out to be the complete opposite of that with the insta-lust trope and I just felt cheated. I know, that is my problem but (hide spoiler)]...more
I cannot in good conscience recommend this to anyone who is against murder because there's more murder in this short book than there is in a 500 pagesI cannot in good conscience recommend this to anyone who is against murder because there's more murder in this short book than there is in a 500 pages mystery novel but if you like cats, OTT characters and short bursts of laughter- then yes, go for it!...more
Okay SERIOUSLY- did I not get the same book as everyone else? What is it with all the 4 and 5 star rat1.5 star and all of that for the effort it took.
Okay SERIOUSLY- did I not get the same book as everyone else? What is it with all the 4 and 5 star ratings because I'm totally confused plus, like 101 thousand something ratings are mocking mine. Because believe me when I say this, the version I read was problematic, disjointed and felt like a watered down version of an actual story which otherwise could be viewed as one with a solid plot.
So basically, lately for me it's been.......
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My problems with this one are many. I liked the concept, the premise, otherwise I wouldn't have picked it right? But as I got further into it, as much as I wanted to dispense the unrealistic and blatant disregard of personal spaces in this book, I just could NOT. I did finish it but with a hope that it'd get better.
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Let me just say it all (It's choke full of SPOILERS, so if you wish, you can stop reading here)-
1. Jo was a pathetic character for me. Her conversations show her to be invasive, hypocritical and ignorant of other's problems. Plus, she seemed more delusional than optimistic. She was emotionally manipulative too at some levels.
2. The writing was not good. Full stop. The conversation was lifeless, choppy, emotionless and if not for a little mystery feel of the book, I'd have DNFed this earlier, but as they say, curiosity killed the cat and I'm a masochist.
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3. The way Jo viewed the relationship between Gabe's mother and the man she (the mother) was cheating with for over a decade, at the very least, was disturbing on so many levels, I can't even begin to explain here.
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4. Gabe tells her that he hates his face because he's the biological son of the aforementioned man his mother had been cheating with, and thus he kept his beard and what does Jo do? She shaves it, just like that, the next day without even giving him chance to think about it, to open up to the possibility of facing some of his bad memories. She tells him that he needs to face it and thus she's 'helping' him. Yeah, no thanks. Here he says that he has never been kissed, she gives him his 'first kiss' without even asking him. I mean if that's not sexual harassment,I don't know what is. If her being a cancer victim inspired some sympathy in me, it all went down the drain because of these things.
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5. Her view of his depression is delusional, ignorant and way too childish. She thinks that it's just a thing he can get over with and move on, when he's battled with it for almost half his life. The way the topic of depression and agoraphobia was dealt with here was insensitive and lousy.
6. Gabe wasn't much at fault, except maybe for falling for Jo? He was at fault in some places but it was discountable, because believe me, people have done horrible things for lesser reasons and he didn't do a single bad thing except maybe ghosting Ursa and Jo for a few days because he didn't want any emotional entanglements, which is clearly expected from someone who has never had any sort of relationship with anyone except family.
7. The girl Ursa came across as bratty and I feel bad for her because she came across as bratty. I know, my brain is a strange place you don't want to visit often.
8. The author tried to touch on everything and dealt with it in a frivolous and superficial manner and I personally think that had there been less to deal with and more depth to what was already there, it could've been better. But my second thought was:
Edit: I come back to this book a lot but I'm never able to review it objectively. Because there're so many grey areas in this book that I just can't cEdit: I come back to this book a lot but I'm never able to review it objectively. Because there're so many grey areas in this book that I just can't clearly set aside what's right and what's wrong, and I don't know if that's a good or a bad thing. This book just makes me rethink all the life decisions - theirs, not mine. The latter would take eternity lmao.
3-3.5 stars
First: The book has way more depth than the lake on its cover.
Second: I could've loved this way more but the morally questionable deeds of certain secondary characters were too much of a worry for me to enjoy the romance happening between these two.
PS: And it's most definitely not a rom-com....more
4-but-not-quite stars Edit: I upgraded the rating because a) The moments that were good were really good and I can't let the bad overshadow them. b) I 4-but-not-quite stars Edit: I upgraded the rating because a) The moments that were good were really good and I can't let the bad overshadow them. b) I am not grumpy anymore.
I'd start by saying that this would be a really good one for anyone who loves chick lit novels and/or cute kids and animals. (I mean, I understand- that's my kind of shit too)
This started off amazingly well and I'd like to say that it retained the flavor till the end, but nope, my fate woke up with the aim to demolish any chances of me rating any book higher than three stars, as it has been since the past weeks.
I loved Evie but Jake as a man was sometimes good and sometimes okay for me. However Jake as a Dad is is 100/10 from me, I mean I'll even put up a sign around my neck. He would definitely be in the top 0.1 percentile of the Dad Club.
Evie was so full of life and such a kind hearted, generous and real person because she had her insecurities, didn't have any fake bravado or the I'm better or I'm different game playing. She was an amazing female MC and I love her type of characters. Jake was nice too and sometimes did make me love him but sometimes I felt that even though he had insecurities and trust issues, thanks to his ex-wife, he was older and supposed to be more mature in terms of relationships than Evie. But as a father he soooo played the part and seriously that could be enough reason for some to fall in love with him. His banter with his daughter and the way he cared for her was so sweet and endearing to read about that I had a goofy smile on my face the entire time, sometimes because of them and sometimes during Jake and Evie show. I mean, he watched Gilmore Girls, was reading Twilight (uh-huh no judgement here, it was to determine whether it's appropriate for her or not) and so many other things just to make sure that he could understand his daughter better when the time came. He slept on the floor in her room for six months so that he could be there if she had an epileptic attack, took great care of her as a single dad, giving up on hours of a job he loved just so he could be with her. If this is still not sufficient, idk what is.
There were few instances where I found the plot too short and not as fleshed out as I'd have preferred but overall it was nice, sweet, funny and oh yep, a clean romance and I love them, not because I'm a prude *eyes all erotica books I've read* but just because I like the getting to know part more than the getting to bed part sometimes....more
This was my first Ella Goode novel and I have now discovered I really am not built for reading the short books. (See what I did there?)
I know2.5 stars
This was my first Ella Goode novel and I have now discovered I really am not built for reading the short books. (See what I did there?)
I know, I know! I should never have picked it up if I believed so but it was midnight and I really didn't want to start anything long lest I had to stop reading it when I had just got hooked in. Reading 90 pages at that time didn't sound much and this wasn't bad but just, not for me.
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But, if I review this while ignoring all that short and too soon shindig, it was good albeit very very OTT. Abel was hilariously outrageous and sort of psychopath-y when it came to Pepper, I mean, possessive is not just an adjective for him but his personality in a nutshell. Pepper was okay-ish for me. Like....meh.
Overall it was okay- short and entertaining....more
This was a short read and since it was short I expected it to be sweet and kinda fast and it was quick but the writing was also very disjointed at somThis was a short read and since it was short I expected it to be sweet and kinda fast and it was quick but the writing was also very disjointed at some places and switched to third POV when the whole of it is going in first POV for both the characters. Usually I ignore these things if they happen once or twice but even thrice in a short book irritates me. I think that this needed some serious editing and the plot felt eerily similar to this book which I had loved.
This one was just a disappointment for me, unfortunately....more
Not the best one I have read by her (and definitely the one I've rated the least as of yet) but still okay.
Let me clear one thing first: I love books Not the best one I have read by her (and definitely the one I've rated the least as of yet) but still okay.
Let me clear one thing first: I love books by this author. Absolutely adore some of them, sometimes even because of the OTT-ness of the plot aside from romance. It's not always the romance that is OTT but the plot itself and I love it. Plus her writing style is really good, with the right amount of humor, the badass vibes and the sexual tension between the MCs. Though this one didn't do the trick for me, and I might be to blame because I haven't been able to like a lot of stuff these days after reading a certain book *side eyes From Blood and Ash*. If you think I'm going through a book hangover......you think correct my dear friend.
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First the starting was a little rocky for me. It felt like I was dropped into an already simmering pan instead of being slowly taken to the boiling point, which wouldn't have been that much of a problem if we had been given some flashbacks of the eleven-or-whatever months they spent pining for each other.
But still, I persisted and personally felt that Tru was an all bark-no bite character and literally, not even kidding, I think Liam spoke more in the last chapter than in all the previous chapters combined. Smh, I wanted more of his character and not just the cliff notes version which is what I got. At least it felt like that.
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Plus there were communication gaps, big ones. I'm not talking about miscommunication people, but about absolute lack of conversation about certain things that deserved to be brought to the discussion table. We all want books that have more show and less tell, but certain situations demand both show and tell, and a situation where you were just abducted and are being enthusiastically persuaded to be physically intimate with someone, even if you happen to have the hots for them requires an explanation BEFORE something happens. I was pissed at this but it was somewhat salvaged for me when he did give her a choice once. Just once. I tried to be vague so as to not spoil it a lot, and some people who have read it might not think it's that bad but in my dictionary IT IS.
It's time we move on to the good part now.
The main point of attraction in the whole book was DECLAN. If his book isn't the next after Killian's I'm gonna stage a riot.
The ice blue eyes and the Irish accent are just the berry on top. I mean, see for yourself:
This twisted logic:
“So she’s a fighter. That doesn’t make it right.” ��Aye,” he agrees, nodding. “But maybe it makes it a little less wrong.”
Thank FUCK they weren't talking about abduction or anything rapey or I'd have been:
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Then this:
“Declan.” “Aye?” “What do you do when you have to decide between two impossible choices?” Our eyes meet in the mirror. He says, “Create a third.”
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After a pause, Declan turns to me. “Just out of curiosity, what does pinche puto whatever-he-said mean?” “Fucking faggot pubic hair slugs.” Declan makes a face. “Well, that’s not right. Nobody says ‘faggot’ anymore. It’s pejorative.” "But you’re okay with the pubic hair slug part?” Declan shrugs. “It’s creative. Interesting imagery"
Only he would think something like that is interesting imagery.
I seriously wanted to just-
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But I still love him and I want his book so bad, my head hurts, my whole body hurts and Ms Geissinger please, just one more, and I'll ask no more. Just the one!
Am I the only one or does anyone else want a book (or a series or two) based on Janus Soleil? Just me? Oh what the hell then, I ain't changi3.75 stars
Am I the only one or does anyone else want a book (or a series or two) based on Janus Soleil? Just me? Oh what the hell then, I ain't changing my mind at ALL. He deserves one.
To be honest, I thought I had a lot to say about this book, but now I realize that if I say it, I'll eventually end up spoiling everything ...more
After reading the second book I had really low expectations from this one and I think that it helpe4.25 stars
Major spoilers, proceed at your own risk.
After reading the second book I had really low expectations from this one and I think that it helped me like this more because of that. It's no surprise that I was dying to know more about Desmond's life before Callie and about the deeper workings of the fae world. I got more than I expected, it still wasn't as much as I wanted but it was more than expected for sure.
The first half of the book focuses on his quest for revenge and the factions of his life intermediate to the achievement of his goal. What I think is that Laura Thalassa has the potential to write a book based solely on the paranormal/fantasy aspect without depending on romance, thought it would only add to the plot. BUT, I felt that in the first two books, she depended more on romance than on the fantastical world or the mystery around which it should revolve. One disappointment that I had to contend with was that the disappearance of the soldiers is not mentioned in the book and I wanted to see what his first reactions were because hellooo, it all started even before he met Callie, so obviously we don't know how it all started! But still, we shall persevere till the next book.
Now, onto the story:
Larissa Flynn
That mother of mine saved me when he’d have me dead. Rather than hate me because I was his, she loved me because I was hers.
First, all hail to the woman who had the courage to escape the Shadow King, protect her unborn child from the Purge and rub it into his nose even when she knew he was going to kill her someday, and gave us one of the most selfish, caring, loving, bastardly fairy- Desmond Flynn. This woman is officially one of the best female characters in this series, even though she has like two three chapters where she's in the spotlight. She had violet eyes. She was perfect in everything - being a spy or a mother.
Galleghar Nyx Alternately known as the Shadow King, he was a tyrant, a selfish, narcissistic, sick piece of trash. He killed his own children because of a prophecy and had hundreds of concubines, or wives. I mean, Disgusting ™.
The one thing that really really creeped me out was that Desmond looks like him, almost exactly. My mind just can't accept this fact and has therefore tried to imagine him as some lookalike of Voldemort but every time we're reminded of it in the book, it takes away a second from my mortal life.
Desmond Flynn
This book made me love him even more while at the same time actually making me understand how selfish, lethal and cruel he once was. But only to those who actually deserve it because, and I quote, "You don't fuck with the innocents".
Second- the fairy dude is almost 270 years old. I was curious about his age and he is....younger than I expected...more
Not rating this... not at all. Not because it doesn't deserve one but because I can't think of an appropriate rating. Just can't, smh. I think if I reNot rating this... not at all. Not because it doesn't deserve one but because I can't think of an appropriate rating. Just can't, smh. I think if I read the further books, I'll just have to start with a new shelf after all.
You know that mood? The mood that strikes you when you want to read something that doesn't make sense at all but still ends up entertaining you? Yep, I was in that mood.
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This was nothing like I've read before and strange. Very strange indeed. Plus the non-con thing....ehhhh. AND I admit being a little perturbed at the horns and the tail.
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But somehow, I made through and.......... sort of liked it.
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Judging you. Myself.
But since I left all my brain cells at the corner of Stupid decisions that may cause Regret:
This started off nice and I mean it was a little quirky too, but somewherI liked it, but not as much as I:
1. Expected to like it. 2. Wanted to like it.
This started off nice and I mean it was a little quirky too, but somewhere it just lost its charm for me and I couldn't feel the characters anymore, I started skimming and yes.....it just couldn't pull me in as much as I thought it would.
When I started reading the book, I was enjoying it and the light-hearted feel of the book was a good break from the other book I'm currently reading (that one isn't dark but it is emotionally exhaustive at certain points, at least for me). So, naturally I built expectations based on the promising, albeit a little cliche, starting.
I went from this:
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to this:
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by the end of the book.
This had the Sunshine and the Grump trope and I'm ALL for it.
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and me whenever I find an author who writes it with ✨ perfection ✨:
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I like those buoyant and bubbly heroines when I'm in the mood for it and I was. And no doubts, I liked Persy/Persephone but it was Lang I didn't really root for in the book and let me tell you: I'm a rooter. I need to root for the MCs or the book just loses a few points in my eyes. She points it out and I agree: He gave her mixed signals and (view spoiler)[not just as her neighbor but also as the text-buddy, imo (hide spoiler)]. I wouldn't have been this disappointed if there would have been some grovelling and taking time to come to terms with everything that has happened, but there was no such thing and I just couldn't hold it in any longer. Plus, the writing was good, a little cheesy and even though Lang/Ford waxed poetic sometimes, it was more like speaking hearts and flowers in general and not something substantial to them. When I look for hearts and flowers, I want something that is uniquely them and doesn't sound like a rip-off of those anniversary cards of gift shops, duh.
At the end of writing this, I feel that I'm being generous with my three star rating but I did enjoy the family moments they had with their siblings, so it compensated for the elements that I felt lacking between the couple. I'm not saying I hated this, but I didn't love it either....more
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