I didn't expect to like this as much as I did. I'm not into Bigfoot stuff. But.... It was a cute, and surprisingly emotionally impactful book. I likedI didn't expect to like this as much as I did. I'm not into Bigfoot stuff. But.... It was a cute, and surprisingly emotionally impactful book. I liked the subtle Christian element (faith is used to help guide a person and to help them through difficult situations and not as a weapon against others). I also liked how quirky and funny it was in parts. Although some difficult themes are addressed in this book, it was also a pretty wholesome in a good way young adult (kind of read more like middle-grade, to be honest) book . It has some good lessons presented in a very non-preachy way. I'd read more in this series. I'm still skeptical about Bigfoot though!
This is a genuinely scary book. The author does an incredible job of building and sustaining tension, and manages to incorporate some shocking momentsThis is a genuinely scary book. The author does an incredible job of building and sustaining tension, and manages to incorporate some shocking moments that feel very edgy, but also age appropriate. There are some hard-hitting themes about grief, loss, and moving on from both here along with the horror elements. While the transition between the frame story and the story of Tasha is a bit jarring and uneven, overall Tales from Cabin 23: The Boo Hag Flex is a very enjoyable and thrilling middle grade horror novel with much to recommend about it.
Reviewed for Affaire de Coeur Magazine: http//:affairedecoeur.com.
Advanced Review Copy provided by Netgalley courtesy of HarperCollins Children's Books....more
This book was a breath of fresh air. I haven't been much of a contemporary romance fan, but I confess that I do love a warm, cozy story where you justThis book was a breath of fresh air. I haven't been much of a contemporary romance fan, but I confess that I do love a warm, cozy story where you just get the chance to know some unique folks who seem like real people, and watching them form connections, and for their lives to be get better. In real life, that doesn't happen all that much. And I love a sweet love story. I think they are underrated.
Iris is a down on her luck woman who has always been treated like an f-up by her family. She has never fitted in, and she's felt like a failure in everyway. When she inherits her great-aunt's house in St. Claire, Illinois, it's like a gift. Now she can start a new life away from the judgmental eye of her overbearing mother and two sisters (one of whom stole her boyfriend). The house is a bit of a wreck, but it's livable. Iris gets the idea to rent out some of the rooms to help with her empty pocketbook. Before she knows it, she's forming her own little quirky family.
I loved just about everything about the book, but I'll freely admit that Eli was without a question my favorite thing about this book. He was so sweet and adorable and kind. He was such a peach. I loved the developing romance between Iris and Eli. I also appreciated Eli's backstory. That's part of why I was so mad about something that happens near the end. I have to admit, I had to take off .75 stars just for that. Otherwise this book would have been a five star read.
This book reminds me of what I love about Jodi Thomas books, except with paranormal thrown in, and a lot more representation and diversity. The cozy, warm feeling of love and companionship between the pages (and not just eros love). Yeah, I'm a sucker for that. As I said, the level of diversity was great. There's a big mix of ethnicities and gender/sexuality, and also characters of different ages. That made me so happy.
I haven't read other books in the "Fix-It Witches" series but it didn't affect my appreciation for this book. It made me curious to go back and read those for more vibes.
Now I just want to read more of these cozy paranormal romances.
I picked this up after I heard about it on Booktube, and this was a very good listen. The narrator did take a bit to grow on me, however, she absoluteI picked this up after I heard about it on Booktube, and this was a very good listen. The narrator did take a bit to grow on me, however, she absolutely fit the personality of the main character. She sounds very cynical, which turns out to fit Nora pretty well. This is the book for readers who enjoy media about con artists, and the dark side of that way of life, and particularly how it would impact the child of a con artist who has been raised to be a part and pawn in the con. This could have been a lot darker, had it not been targeted to a YA audience, but believe me, it has a very dark edge that grounded the story in the sordid reality that our main character lived in.
Nora happens to be in the bank when it's robbed by two accomplices, and she must use all that she's learned in the trade to get herself, her girlfriend, and their best friend (and her ex) out alive. Told in time jumps between the present in the past, the narrative allows the reader to see things through Nora's eyes as she integrates the parts of her past selves and introduces/reveals herself to the readers. Nora has played different girls through the engineering of her mother, and Nora uses all of those girls to navigate through an increasingly dire hostage situation at the bank.
What I appreciated was how Nora is both vulnerable and warrior-like. She is not just either. Nora has been the victim in multiple situations and has the scars to prove it. Some of the situations that Nora has been put in thanks to her mother made my hair stand up on in, so there are some trigger warnings. In some ways, the story reminded me of the Sigourney Weaver and Jennifer Love Hewitt movie Heartbreakers but with none of the levity. Nora's mother is about 1000x times worse than Sigourney Weaver's character, and Nora is more sympathetic and layered. The confrontation at the end between Nora and her mother was award winning.
I also appreciated how the story depicts how love can evolve into different things over time, but the intensity of it doesn't change. It's clear that Nora still loves Wes deeply, even though they are not together anymore. Iris is now her girlfriend, but they are all very close friends. I was still a bit confused as why Nora and Wes were not talking, even though it's emphasized that it's not because Nora is with Iris now (unlike what the blurb implies). Wes always tries to play the hero, but it's Nora who's wearing the cape and has often had to protect Wes from some very ugly things in his own life. Some of those scenes were the best in the book. Although I feel like the flashbacks almost always stole the show from the present. Perhaps it's because the bank robbers felt a little cardboard. I loved Nora's sister and how her sister would burn the world down for her. I definitely feel that way about my own sister.
This is a very good book for readers who like a heroine who has plenty of flaws and has a rough past, which they are able to overcome and to learn from and use to make them emotionally stronger. I think this would be an excellent adaptation to film or television.
One of the folks I follow on Booktube raved about this book, and for good reason. This was such a fun, unique, fascinating read. The narrative strikesOne of the folks I follow on Booktube raved about this book, and for good reason. This was such a fun, unique, fascinating read. The narrative strikes a really good balance between intrigue and some scary dark fantasy moments and fun whimsy. Morrigan is such a great kid, you cannot help but root for her. It's terrible how her family treats her because she was born in a cursed year. Her father is a jackass and he really should be ashamed of himself. If he's going to be angry at someone, be angry at himself. His job as a father is to love and support his child, and he failed on that on every level. From the beginning, I felt sympathetic for Morrigan and I was so excited when she was given the opportunity to get out of the bad situation she was in when Jupiter North picks her to be a contestant to join the Wondrous Society of Nevermoor instead of grimly waiting for the day of her death. She begins a new life in Nevermoor full of wonders, challenges, and will find herself headed towards a confrontation with a deadly adversary of legend.
This book is full of interesting characters and storylines. Morrigan is an underdog that you root for throughout the story. I spent the whole time wondering what was going to happen with the contest, as there was no evidence that Morrigan has a talent like the other kids she encounters. And her losing the contest would lead to her being expelled from Nevermoor and sent back to Jackalfax where her fate to die awaits her. However, her lack of a talent makes her a very resourceful and thoughtful person who uses her wits and will to get through the parts of the challenge.
Jupiter has a crazy uncle vibe that I really liked. I feel like he's still very mysterious by the end of this book, so I imagine there will be some interesting revelations about him in future books. The employees at his hotel Hotel Deucalion are definitely characters, including Fenestra the maid, who's a large talking cat. The Hotel itself is an enigma that responds to the personality of its inhabitants.
I really loved listening to this audiobook. The narrator has a British accent and is very good at doing different voices. They are also great at acting out the drama and tension in the story. I'm guessing the print books have pictures, so I hope to read those one day, but I still would recommend the audiobook.
Fun, exciting, in some parts scary, and quirky in the best way (like Willie Wonka), I loved this book. Looking forward to the next books in the series....more
This book was a reminder that sometimes, you have to hang in there. To me, this was a slow starter. And then it gets pretty weird, and I was brought tThis book was a reminder that sometimes, you have to hang in there. To me, this was a slow starter. And then it gets pretty weird, and I was brought to ask myself what was going on. Maybe it was so different from what I expected and that threw me off. Ultimately, I enjoyed the book, but I had a few issues with it that brought my rating down.
Paola, or Pao as she's called, has a huge chip on her shoulder. However, I do like that she is self-aware of her anger issues and how it makes her relationships with others complicated. Pao has a rocky relationship with her mother, as they are polar opposites. Pao is an empiricist, and is very focused on the scientific method (she is fascinated with space), whereas her mother is spiritually-minded, believes in healing crystals and candles. Pao blames her mother for their poor situation in life, not having a lot of money. Pao comes off as quite bitter at times. This is pretty important to the story as things go along, but it was a bit of a drawback.
The plot had a sense of vagueness that I didn't care for. In general, I learned what was going on behind the phenomena, but I don't feel like the mechanisms were explained enough for me. It was left to a superficial explanation that didn't work for me. I was left with this feeling that the author just wanted us to accept that things could happen because of magic. But there is a natural component brought up that made me wonder if some of the phenomena is not related to the location where it occurs and not just because of magic. I feel like this was a missed opportunity, as Pao, a scientist, conceivably would have wondered about that.
Yeah, I know, I'm over-thinking this book. Having said all that, I appreciate what this book does well. I loved how it shows people of Latinx cultures and how they are not a monolith, although it also shows how there are shared values that are foundational to their community. It's a story of loving your parents and giving them the benefit of the doubt that they are doing the best they can for you even if it doesn't seem like it. I loved the way that the narrative allows Pao to look at how her behavior and attitudes are a form of self-sabotage. That was so important to her growth as a character as she starts out borderline unlikable in parts. It also looks at the importance of friendships in which you are accepted as your authentic self, warts and all. The book also touches on the bigotry experienced by Latinx people, including unjust treatment by law enforcement and a lack of economic opportunities.
I can't say I 100% liked the direction the author took with the La Llorona legend, but it was an interesting twist. Overall, this was an enjoyable book, and I'm glad I was able to get the audiobook from my library, as it has one of my new favorite narrators, Frankie Corso. She's read a few of Silvia Moreno-Garcia books, and I love her voice. There's a lot to recommend about this book, despite any shortcomings. I will always support narratives by people who write about their own culture, and I can't get enough of it. I'll keep reading this series.
I like werewolf stories. But I have a confession. I watch very few werewolf movies because I don't like the gore. The great thing about this book is iI like werewolf stories. But I have a confession. I watch very few werewolf movies because I don't like the gore. The great thing about this book is it satisfied my appreciation for werewolf fiction without too much flying blood, guts and body parts. Having said that, it doesn't skimp on the body horror. What do I mean? This book is about the fear of change, transformation, and a lack of control over one's body/the loss of autonomy. The metaphor of undergoing a change into a beast with uncontrollable urges, along with the consequences of living with that monster under your skin for all the other days of this month is the essence of this book. The body horror is an inescapable component of such a story.
Rory is used to living life her way and doing what she wants to do. She left her childhood behind and avoids dealing with it as much as possible, including limiting her trips to the town she grew up in. When her sister gets pregnant and asks her to come stay with her and help her, Rory returns home. Not only does she have to deal with a difficult relationship with her mother, she's survives a brutal attack by a creature. Her troubles aren't over as she begins to develop physical changes that make her convinced she is becoming a werewolf.
Rory's POV explores repressed childhood trauma, the uncertainty of adulthood and relationships as not only do people around you change, but you do as well, juxtaposed to the horror of her changing body and realization that she is no longer just a regular human being.
I liked that Rory isn't strictly speaking, all that sympathetic. While she is a caring person, she has cultivated a layer of selfishness (likely for her own survival). She taught herself not to become emotionally involved with others (her sister being, in my mind, her only exception). When the truths about what happened during her youth are revealed, it's understandable why she lives her life the way she does. As this novel progresses, she finds herself becoming vulnerable to those feelings she always ran away from.
I really enjoyed her budding relationship with Ian. I was frustrated at how she pushed him away more than she let him in, but I understood why. Ian is a very good guy and I feel like Rory had trouble believing that someone like him would love her selflessly because I think deep down, she is a lot more insecure than she acknowledged (with her past, it's understandable).
I do think Scarlett's character was under-developed. For her to be such an important part of Rory's life, I feel like she should have been more described. I think the author expected us to take her reasons for being separated from her long-term boyfriend on surface level, but I think this could have been more explored.
Back to the horror, this is not going to be super scary for more seasoned horror readers (and movie fans). I didn't find it overly scary, but there were some very thrilling moments, and I think the descriptions of Rory's transformations were very well done. The climactic scene was a make or break moment and it made the read for me. I came to some conclusions before we got to that moment, but the reveal was still satisfying. I will say that if you want a big body count, this book isn't for you. For myself, I liked that about the book. For me, horror doesn't have to be about gruesome deaths, but it's just as much about the fear of the unknown, the loss of control, and the loss of identity. This book hits on a specific type of horror. Menstruation (the monthly cycle and shedding of flesh and blood) and pregnancy (the loss of control of one's body and the body being transformed into something different). As Rory finds her body changing into a werewolf, her sister Scarlett is in the last stage of her pregnancy and all the discomfort that comes along with it. Also the fear of the unknown that they both share. For Rory, it's the realization that she's a werewolf and everything that comes along with that. For Scarlett, it's the responsibility of having a new life.
I was not expecting to love this book so much. Hear me out. I didn't like Saxon because of some of the events of the first book, The Evil Queen. As a I was not expecting to love this book so much. Hear me out. I didn't like Saxon because of some of the events of the first book, The Evil Queen. As a result, I wasn't too enthused about him as a romantic lead. However, I am so happy to say that I was wrong. Saxton definitely won me over. The audiobook is excellent. Ashley and Saxton have different narrators for their parts, Caitlin Kelley and James Fouhey, which worked very well. I enjoyed both. Can I say, I was so seduced by the narrator who voiced Saxton's parts? His voice was so deep and silky. I have loved other books narrated by Kelley and I definitely plan to look for more books read by Fouhey.
This book is for fans of fairy tale retellings that don't just follow the script line by line, and also those who love the metafictional analysis of fairy tales, where you look at the subjects and story elements from the inside in and people in the story also are self-aware of the fairy tale stories they are living through.
Ashley is The Glass Princess of Flora. She has been mistreated by her father and her people because of her heart infirmity. Ashley still has dreams that she strives for, her goal to be a maker of her weapons that she designs. She desires a simple life, and to live. However, Ashley has a problem. Her body is inhabited by an evil persona who sometimes makes her do bad things. Additionally, that persona is the sworn enemy of Saxton, the boy for whom she has unrequited feelings. Apparently, that persona has destroyed his previous incarnations and caused trouble for his people, the Avian. Saxton is holding a grudge and has a plan to make sure that persona can never both him or his people ever again.
It did take me a little while to get invested, but it wasn't for dislike of Ashley. I loved her from the beginning. I didn't like the way Saxton was treating her initially. It kind of reminds me of how the hero would treat the heroine in Harlequin Presents books (admittedly I love them). I wasn't sure what way this story would go, but I'm glad that I kept listening. Ashley is so sweet and just a wonderful person. She's suffered so much, but never gives up. She is very resourceful and thoughtful. Her view of the world just lit up my heart. I think that her character is very good disability representation from the standpoint of a character whose body doesn't work optimally, how she's treated by others, and how she works around and through those issues. People with chronic illness and fatigue issues will probably appreciate her character. I wanted her to have the world. I just wasn't sure I wanted her with Saxton. But oh, when Saxton turns around, he turns around so good. I love that there is no stupid misunderstanding or big lie or anything like that. Instead, they join forces to fight for their love and life together.
Saxton did have a lot of qualities that were extremely appealing. He turns into such a devoted hero. He's intelligent, a formidable warrior, and really cares about his people and those who are important to him. I'm so glad his point of view was very well developed, because it made falling for him possible. If I was only seeing the story from Ashley's perspective, I don't know if that would have happened. But seeing the way his feelings change for Ashley and how it feels so natural and so right, and how it's so clear he would burn down the world for her (I'm a sucker for that), made me just adore him.
Although this is a young adult book, it doesn't quite feel like that. For one, it's very violent. Much of the plot revolves around a type of gladiator game that Saxton and others participate. The fight scenes are really quite gruesome. I won't spoil too much, but there are some scenes where Ashley is harmed that were so hard to listen to (not sexual and not by Saxton). In contrast, while there are love scenes, they are more sensual and about the emotions than with physical descriptions. I also feel that it's written with a type of maturity that I appreciated as I don't think young adult books should be babyish. The concepts of family legacy, the desire to help one's people, and having hopes for one's life in the face of serious obstacles are very impactful. Also there are some interesting themes of fighting against oneself and the warring inside a person's own psyche (admittedly through the lens of possession and reincarnation).
Readers who enjoyed the previous book will appreciate seeing characters from that book and catching up with them. I am a huge Everly stan, so I was glad she was in this book so much. In fact, I loved the contrast between her and Ashley, and I love Ashley just as much.
As I said when I reviewed The Evil Queen, I've been a fan of Gena Showalter's writing for a long time. I think she is topping her previous works with these books. I can see influences there from other media, but she's made this story her own and infused it with so much depth. I literally couldn't stop listening to this book. I listened to it in the car when I ran errands and I had to put it on when I was cleaning up and cooking dinner last night because I had to know what was going to happen next. This is absolutely a five star read for me. I hope there are more books in the series. ...more
Short and sweet and perfectly lovely. It's so nice to genuinely like both characters in a book. I love Emmaline and Johnathan together. Emmaline was sShort and sweet and perfectly lovely. It's so nice to genuinely like both characters in a book. I love Emmaline and Johnathan together. Emmaline was so cute with her nerdiness. Johnathan clearly adored that and everything else about her. Made me sigh. I am excited for the secondary romance as well. I hope that is the next book. I also want to see the happy endings for Emmaline's sisters. This book gave me a happy feeling as I finished it.
The Lights of Sugarberry Cove is a charming magical realism novel with a cozy, small town feel. The characters are well-developed and endearing in allThe Lights of Sugarberry Cove is a charming magical realism novel with a cozy, small town feel. The characters are well-developed and endearing in all their imperfections. The storyline is very relatable, which makes the magical realism aspects even more special, endowing the everyday with a sense of hope and possibility. This is a feel-good story that also tugs on the heartstrings.
I really enjoyed this book. I'm not ashamed to say it made me cry.
I found this a very refreshing read. I haven't had the time to read many Harlequin Presents books lately, and I realized how much I miss reading them.I found this a very refreshing read. I haven't had the time to read many Harlequin Presents books lately, and I realized how much I miss reading them. Having said that, this book is on the surface a standard HP type book, but deep down, it's a book about marriage and keeping the love and the emotional intimacy alive in a relationship that is challenged by external factors such as overbearing family, over-full schedules, and workaholic spouses. I loved the fact that it is quite dialogue heavy. It was crucial with this kind of novel. Both characters are human and have the accompanying flaws, but both are likable. They both had to commit to changing what was wrong and striving to make their marriage what they wanted it to be.
I liked this book a lot, and it was a quick, enjoyable read.
This wasn't as good as the first two books in the series, but I think I liked it a bit more than The Target. It was interesting to learn about Will's This wasn't as good as the first two books in the series, but I think I liked it a bit more than The Target. It was interesting to learn about Will's backstory and what drives him as a person. Will has a terrible event that occurs to him while he's on a job, and it causes some trauma that impacts his ability to do his job. Around the same time, he finds out that his father has been arrested for murder. Will has to go home to see if he can help his father, and so he does. Basically, the book is really about going back to your past and trying to make sense of it, how it has crippled you emotionally. To be honest, this book reminds me why I am not a small town person. I don't like the idea of everyone knowing me and and my business to that intimate degree. I could feel how awkward and frankly painful it was for Will to revisit his past. The resolution of Will's relationship with his father turned out to be very satisfying at the end, but it took a long time, and I wasn't feeling that connection until near the end of the book.
Baldacci went in a different direction from his other books in the series. This is a mystery more than an action story. Of course, there are some good action moments where Will demonstrates his skills. And I ain't gonna lie, like Will, I was waiting for Jessica to show up. I love Will as a character, and it was good without Jessica, but the two of them shine together. I loved that Jessica was there to support Will, and she seems a lot more open and in peace in this book.
It was interesting to see Will off his game and kind of uncertain about things. I liked the deeper character development. The novel gives the reader time to get to know Will, which wasn't necessarily the case with the first three books.
This book reminded me oddly of Agatha Christie. The idea that such evil could lurk beneath such a banal facade is pivotal to this story. I don't want to spoil it, but my goodness, the killer is truly awful. I guessed who the killer was, but I still feel that the reveal was done very well, that had some textures and layers I didn't expect, and there were some nice twists and turns getting to the end. ...more
I don't even know what to say about this book except the lead character is a hot ass mess. She is one of those narrators that you know is full of it, I don't even know what to say about this book except the lead character is a hot ass mess. She is one of those narrators that you know is full of it, and really can't be trusted. But at the same time, you get the impression she's telling the truth because essentially she has not filter and can't be bothered to lie. It's a family drama wrapped in a mystery wrapped in a dysfunctional character study.
Readers looking for a genuinely scary graphic novel should look no further. "Coffin Hill" is the kind of story I would be too afraid to watch the moviReaders looking for a genuinely scary graphic novel should look no further. "Coffin Hill" is the kind of story I would be too afraid to watch the movie if it was made. It's the story that "The Craft" aspired for. A story about a young woman who is a hereditary witch with a dark legacy of familial sorcery and a deal for power they can't escape.
Eve barely survives a night with friends in which they perform a spell that leads to the horrible death of one friend and another ending up in a coma. She's phenomenally changed as well. Eve moves away and gives up witchcraft, becomes a cop. When she's shot and has to resign, she goes back to Coffin Hill. Only to find that the evil they awakened has not left.
That's when things get weirder. The story gave me the shivers because a black magic story always does. The creatures that lurk in the forest are evil and horrific. Also, there is an element of human evil, which is in its way more scary. The mystery is interesting enough to keep me reading and wanting to get to the bottom of things.
The storyline doesn't explain how Eve's powers work or how she taps into them. I think I would have appreciated that explanation. The book just explains that she is very powerful and has the ability to deal with evil. I tend to question how evil can fight evil, so I choose to believe that Eve has conquered her evil demons and is determined to vanquish the evil of Coffin Hill. The gothic aspect comes from the fact that witchcraft runs in Eve's family and there is also a legacy of barely-retained sanity or members of the family coming to a bad ending. Eve doesn't know all of this until she comes back to Coffin Hill as an adult.
I liked it. It was nicely scary and I do like a good wicked witch story. Eve is a complex lead character-a good guy but deeply flawed. I wasn't crazy about most of the secondary characters. The verdict is still out on Nate. He treats Eve like crap. I mean I get why he would have residual issues from when they were younger, but he is more than willing to hit that and then goes back to being a jerk to her.
Looking forward to reading further volumes. ...more
I will be blatantly honest. If I was rating this book by part I, it would be getting three stars and nothing more. However, the book in whole gets fouI will be blatantly honest. If I was rating this book by part I, it would be getting three stars and nothing more. However, the book in whole gets four. The beginning of this book is probably one of the most unromantic starts to a romance I've ever read. A hero who has a serial history of paying for mistresses for six months for the better part of ten years but is so tied up and proper, they can't even call him by his first name? The heroine interviewing for him naked? No thanks! She's not allowed to touch him or be seen with him and has to call him, Mr. Nakamura. She does all the work in bed?
No is really unsympathetic and actually rather robotic at the beginning. I don't even understand why he would hire mistresses. He seems like he shouldn't even have a sex drive. He is so tied up and controlled, it's hard to believe that he could fall in love with a woman. Much less have sex with so many women. Perhaps that's his only outlet, but I would have found this more believable if he had actually been more reactive in bed. I get where the author was going with this. She wanted us to see how being with Ana changes No, and how she was different from other women. She wanted Ana to stand out from the crowd, but it was too gradual for my tastes.
Lili/Ana I liked from the beginning. I have to say she really loves her brother and niece. I don't know if I could interview naked to be some rich guy's mistress for my family. Thank God I haven't had to do that! She does have a sense of innocence, but at the same time, she is remarkably blase' about the paid sex thing. I think without her internal monologue, I would have been very confused.
Japan seems very real in this book. I felt as though the author is very well acquainted with it and rather in love with the country. I've read books set in Tokyo, but not in Osaka. It was lovely to get introduced to that city. It's always good when you read a book and it makes you feel like you're visiting the place.
Now, I am the biggest Harlequin Presents fan on the planet, and the mistress scenario is a big plot in that line. I can't say I've ever been a huge fan of mistress stories, but I'm not averse to a preposterous plotline that works well. It was certainly something different. Overall, despite it's start and some parts that I didn't gel with, I walked away from this book satisfied. I wasn't sure I wanted to read it, but I was intrigued, so I read a sample on my Kindle. I ended up borrowing it from Amazon and finishing it in less than 24 hours. That says a lot right there.
As to the sex. I think that the initial sex scenes are way clinical to me, and I didn't like the thing that No would do to make Lili climax. All I can say is 'ouch!' I didn't care much for the blunt sexual language. I'm not a big fan of that. It's not that romantic to me. I'm fine with descriptive sexual scenes, but not with some of the descriptors. Lust is easy to find, but where's the love and romance?
I really love Asian guys. It's a huge surprise to me how much No didn't appeal to me for the first part of the book. He did start to appeal to me when he gets mad and decides he wants revenge. He actually starts acting like a human being and not a robot at that point. I like pissed off No much more than Billionaire, Proper Japanese Businessman with an Erection But No Other Emotions No. I liked how he changes and thaws and starts reacting normally. I know that his family is seriously screwed up. I realize that Japanese culture is very rigid in expressing emotions and requires strict public etiquette. I liked him much better after he comes to the US to start a company with his friend and to get revenge on Lili/Ana and his father. Angry No is Hot No. At the beginning, I didn't find him attractive because he seemed so emotionless. I did kind of like how proper and buttoned up he was, but I would have preferred if he turned into a wild man in bed instead the way he has sex with Ana for their six months together. I also liked how he nursed her when she was sick and how he seemed to want to spend more time with Ana, despite his intentions. While I normally like a coldly ruthless hero, I think No didn't work for me at the beginning because he wasn't cold in the still waters run deep, but too robotic acting.
One thing that made this book stand out, but in some ways had a problematic execution was the thread of suspense/thriller that ran through it. I had no idea how cutthroat the Japanese businessworld is, at least based on this book. I don't know how much of that's true, but the fact that No's family is samurai on both sides gives their behavior an authentic feel. When you find out how truly heinous the behavior of a certain person is, it's chilling. This makes for a much darker than book that one would expect. I think it was problematic in that some of the action aspects weren't well described. I'm picky about action scenes, because it's a huge love of mine. And when you throw in katana-wielding ninja and samurai, my expectations go up very high. But, despite that, I found it charming.
I like over the top when it's done well. The OTP in this book was done charmingly. I could have been a little better executed, if I'm honest. But despite that, I did have a smile on my face when I finished the book.
I have been hard on this book, and i realize that. I do think Ms. Taylor is a gifted author. I have such a deep love for interracial romance, I am hard on the genre. I hate that the romance part seems to be taken for granted. I think Ms. Taylor seems believe in romance, but with a bit of a more jaundiced eye than I would like. I'm excited to read His Pretend Baby: 50 Loving States, Oregon...more
I was verra much enamored with this book. A great match between the very tortured hero and heroine. I like my Highlanders brawny and intense, and LiamI was verra much enamored with this book. A great match between the very tortured hero and heroine. I like my Highlanders brawny and intense, and Liam definitely fits the bill. I have found another historical romance series to follow!
This series is back on track after the second volume, which I believe was a misfire. It wasn't focused enough on Forever, who clearly is the heart of This series is back on track after the second volume, which I believe was a misfire. It wasn't focused enough on Forever, who clearly is the heart of this series. I appreciated the storyline of all the Lazari meeting together for their conclave. Interesting contrasting their personalities with Forever's. Forever continues to have a vulnerability to her nature, despite her lethality. She really does want to be loved and cherished by her family, but it's an impossible goal. I was glad that she did choose to do the right thing (in my mind, even though it was disobeying orders). The fight between her and her friend who is another Lazarus, was incredible. You tend to think a fight like that wouldn't play well with a graphic novel, but it was done very well, with excellent play by plays. I'm really glad that I liked this so much more than Volume 3....more
Although this wasn't terribly exciting, I really like Manda Collins' gentle, sweet, humorous voice and her very likable lead characters. For that reasAlthough this wasn't terribly exciting, I really like Manda Collins' gentle, sweet, humorous voice and her very likable lead characters. For that reason I would still give it four stars. It's just the thing if you want a pleasant Regency romance that has characters you would enjoy being around in real life.
Danielle The Book Huntress
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