I am absolutely loving this gut-wrenching series! I’m a long-time fan of Alden’s books and I feel so lucky to have snagged an ARC!
One thing I love abI am absolutely loving this gut-wrenching series! I’m a long-time fan of Alden’s books and I feel so lucky to have snagged an ARC!
One thing I love about Alden, aside from her prolificness as a writer, is that she isn’t afraid to really go there in order to provide her fans with that gut-punch angst! Heed the trigger warnings on this one. There’s some big ones! It was an emotional roller coaster, but also such a beautiful tale of true love, perseverance in overcoming hardships, and deliberate reclamation of self-love.
Though this book is dramatic with many tropes I devour such as overheard, betrayal, uncovered, angst, and grovel; it also delivered great character depth and plot development. The characters were emotionally mature and pragmatic. I flew through this book. READ IT if you love old school romances and imperfect, relatable characters.
I REALLY appreciate how forthcoming Alden is about all the tropes and trigger warnings of all of her books. She’s setting a standard!
I absolutely loved this book. It was fast-paced, entertaining, hot, and it even had angst! The characters were emotionally mature too, which was a nicI absolutely loved this book. It was fast-paced, entertaining, hot, and it even had angst! The characters were emotionally mature too, which was a nice change from some of the NA books I’ve read recently. Loved the angsty setup of the H torturing the h and then the forced proximity. I’m also one of those odd readers out who LOVES the dead wife trope. I want to binge the whole series now.
Merged review:
I absolutely loved this book. It was fast-paced, entertaining, hot, and it even had angst! The characters were emotionally mature too, which was a nice change from some of the NA books I’ve read recently. Loved the angsty setup of the H torturing the h and then the forced proximity. I’m also one of those odd readers out who LOVES the dead wife trope. I want to binge the whole series now....more
**spoiler alert** I could’ve swore I reviewed this and it disappeared! This is one of my favorites by Alden. I read it earlier this summer and reread **spoiler alert** I could’ve swore I reviewed this and it disappeared! This is one of my favorites by Alden. I read it earlier this summer and reread it today. So much angst and poignancy. Loved every bit of this baby! I wish Alden would quit putting her epilogues on her website/newsletter though. I still haven’t gotten around to reading about the baby!...more
I LOVED IT! Alden is one of those authors brave enough to really go there. I enjoyed every word of this angsty story. Oh, and the grovel…. SO GOOD. AlI LOVED IT! Alden is one of those authors brave enough to really go there. I enjoyed every word of this angsty story. Oh, and the grovel…. SO GOOD. Alden is one of my one-click authors for sure....more
It took awhile to get through this one, but I loved the world building. There were some aspects of the book that were a bit YA for me, the h was a bitIt took awhile to get through this one, but I loved the world building. There were some aspects of the book that were a bit YA for me, the h was a bit stereotypical in many ways with her stubbornness. Overall this is a fantastic beginning to the series and I will be reading the next book!...more
I LOVED THIS BOOK OMG! While I’d previously enjoyed the previous story about June and Drew, this one was so much more satisfying to me. I hated the doI LOVED THIS BOOK OMG! While I’d previously enjoyed the previous story about June and Drew, this one was so much more satisfying to me. I hated the double standard and how Loralei was so vilified. I still think Drew is a POS....more
I really enjoyed this book. I needed an epilogue though. Love Stuart’s writing, loved the suspenseful plot, loved the chemistry and unconventional MC’I really enjoyed this book. I needed an epilogue though. Love Stuart’s writing, loved the suspenseful plot, loved the chemistry and unconventional MC’s.
NOTES FROM
Ice Blue
Anne Stuart
May 1, 2024 Summer had given up dignity long ago, along with trust, love and the remote possibility of a happy ending. She’d put her faith in a murderer. May 1, 2024 “It was just a fuck, Summer,” he whispered. “To take your mind off things.” May 1, 2024 “Sometimes you give up what you love to stay alive.”“Have you ever had to do that?”He turned his head to look at her for so long it should have been dangerous, but he seemed to have a sixth sense when it came to the road. “It’s coming,” he said. May 1, 2024 He’d shamed her, rejected her, destroyed her family home. She even knew he’d planned to kill her. Any tender feelings she might have for him would be burned to a cinder of hatred. May 1, 2024 Don’t look at me like that. You know you’re a job. You were easier than I expected, but in the end it doesn’t make any difference. Everyone’s expendable, May 1, 2024 For the first time in his life he’d climaxed without anyone touching him, without him even being aware of what was happening. May 1, 2024 He’d finally made her cry. He should have held her. Should have turned her in his arms and held her as she wept.But he couldn’t. Instead he let her sink slowly down onto the carpeted floor of the bedroom, a tangle of arms and legs and pain, and he left her there, walking away May 1, 2024 She had a woman’s body—round, soft, comforting. The kind a man stayed with. May 1, 2024 He was death and he suspected she’d been seeking him on and off for most of her life. May 1, 2024 Yes, he would have to break her. Or kill her.Or maybe both. May 1, 2024 If necessary, he was to destroy a priceless piece of Japanese art, culture and history, and execute the woman who held the key to where it belonged. And he wasn’t supposed to think twice about it. All Excerpts From
Stuart, Anne. “Ice Blue.” Apple Books. This material may be protected by copyright....more
I loved this story. It was messy, messy, messy. It was angsty yumminess that hurt and thrilled my little heart. I would’ve loved an extended epilogue.I loved this story. It was messy, messy, messy. It was angsty yumminess that hurt and thrilled my little heart. I would’ve loved an extended epilogue. I do wish the H would’ve done more chasing and reassuring at the end, but I still adored this story!...more
I absolutely loved this book. It was my first read by this author. I loved the angst and it has one of my favorite tropes— dead mate. Great book. I’llI absolutely loved this book. It was my first read by this author. I loved the angst and it has one of my favorite tropes— dead mate. Great book. I’ll definitely read more!...more
**spoiler alert** I enjoyed this book despite the lack of groveling and the vagueness of aspects of the plot and initial accident. I needed more grove**spoiler alert** I enjoyed this book despite the lack of groveling and the vagueness of aspects of the plot and initial accident. I needed more groveling, especially after what Zach did. I felt so bad for Phoenix. There is no way Zach could make up for what he did, and he didn’t work hard enough for me.
I loved Phoenix, but I didn’t love the betraying body syndrome. I also hated how Zach continued calling Emmaline his daughter and she called him “Daddy” while Phoenix was still Phoenix. I just never got the satisfying feeling that all wrongs were righted. Zach didn’t deserve Phoenix. Also, the 180 from hate to love gave me whiplash.
Despite the complaints, I enjoyed the book and couldn’t put it down. ...more
Loved the action and setting. Loved the plot and intrigue. The romance took a back seat to the action, but it was okay. Removing a star because we didLoved the action and setting. Loved the plot and intrigue. The romance took a back seat to the action, but it was okay. Removing a star because we didn’t get the promised groveling and it ended up being okay what he did because of *reasons*. ...more
* How did the book make you feel?: I’m so, so happy I found this author! This book had the angst and storytelling I**spoiler alert** *** Book Q & A***
* How did the book make you feel?: I’m so, so happy I found this author! This book had the angst and storytelling I crave!
* How do you feel about how the story was told?: The world building and the plot were so good! I couldn’t put this book down.
* What did you think about the main characters?: This was a very character-centered story. The characters were so intriguing and very well-developed. I loved the angst!
* Which parts of the book stood out to you?: Kalos has two, ahem… and the steam… wow!
* What themes/tropes did you detect in the story?: grumpy x sunshine, monsters, surprise baby, forced proximity, dead wife (one of my all-time favorite tropes)
* What did you think about the ending?: I would’ve liked a bit more groveling from Kalos, but I still loved it. I need to read the extended epilogue.
* What is your impression of the author?: Off to binge read the rest of her books!
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Possible Triggers and Safety: H (mostly) and h pushing away, H lost mate and child off-page
* How did the book make you feel?: This book was magic. I’m obsessed.
* How do you feel about how the story was told**spoiler alert** *** Book Q & A***
* How did the book make you feel?: This book was magic. I’m obsessed.
* How do you feel about how the story was told?: I couldn’t put it down. I was engrossed by the plot and the prose. This book had a magical quality to it and the fairy tale contributed to the romantic setting.
* What did you think about the main characters?: I absolutely loved Edward. He was this lovely juxtaposition of alpha and insecure. Anna was such a forthright heroine. I loved how their romance developed and how the genuinely cared for one another. The colorful side characters greatly enhanced the story.
* Which parts of the book stood out to you?: OMG the brothel scenes! ...more
* How did the book make you feel?: This book made me feel SO MANY feelings! The H was maddening, but I totally got **spoiler alert** *** Book Q & A***
* How did the book make you feel?: This book made me feel SO MANY feelings! The H was maddening, but I totally got his appeal. There was angst, slow burn, and spiciness and it was so good!
* How do you feel about how the story was told?: The plot was perfectly paced. The characters were complex and infuriating. I loved the setting of city lawyers who were also werewolves! This story was just so good.
* What did you think about the main characters?: Grayson was absolutely infuriating but so hot. He was self-absorbed, yet he had a capacity to care about people. Vanessa was driven and pragmatic. I loved that she went after what she wanted. They were so well-written
* Which parts of the book stood out to you?: The slow burn was agonizing, as was the MC’s refusal to admit their feelings to one another. I loved the Lupercalia festival.
* What themes/tropes did you detect in the story?: law office, coworkers, cranky mean boss, shifter romance, workplace romance, slow burn
* What did you think about the ending?: I would’ve loved more grovel from Grayson. It was a HFN. Would’ve loved to see their HEA, but it was still satisfying.
* What is your impression of the author?: I have thoroughly enjoyed everything I’ve read by this author! I enjoyed this darker story. I love the world-building and this author has such a unique voice.
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Possible Triggers and Safety: office place harassment, MC’s have relations with other people, short separation, h and H pushing away, abortion, shifted sex, public sex, HFN
* How did the book make you feel?: I was fortunate enough to receive the ARC from the author herself and I absolutely devoured this b*** Book Q & A***
* How did the book make you feel?: I was fortunate enough to receive the ARC from the author herself and I absolutely devoured this book! I’m an ‘80’s child, and it was so fun reading a story set during this period. I loved the dreamy, glamorous setting of Monte Carlo combined with the more gritty setting of Dallas.
* How do you feel about how the story was told?: I love Wells’ voice as an author. She is a one-click author for me. I liked the dual POV. I was pleasantly surprised by Marco’s intense perspective. I think Wells writes the male perspective so well.
* What did you think about the main characters?: I absolutely loved Diane’s pragmatism. Yes she was naive, but she was so young when Marco swept her off her feet. Marco’s backstory was sad and explained a lot of his issues, as did Diane’s. The secondary characters were also awesome and so well-written.
* Which parts of the book stood out to you?: Oh my goodness the CNC was so spicy and so well-executed. I bow down to you Cate!
* What themes/tropes did you detect in the story?: Some of my favorites!!! Abandoned wife, mean in-laws, other woman drama, age gap, 80’s setting, surprise baby, business tycoon, innocent vs. experienced, bedroom secrets, groveling, unrequited love
* What did you think about the ending?: I loved it, especially the epilogue!
* What is your impression of the author?: Cate C. Wells can do no wrong in my opinion! I read all of her stuff!
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Possible Triggers and Safety: death of a parent (off-page), consensual non-consent, no cheating, short separation, H pushing away, HEA
I loved this book! Ash was such a lovable grump. I really felt for him and his scars. Emma had a lot of pluck and I liked that. I appreciated that theI loved this book! Ash was such a lovable grump. I really felt for him and his scars. Emma had a lot of pluck and I liked that. I appreciated that they talked about things and solved problems like mature adults. There was a little angst thrown in for good measure....more
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