**spoiler alert** This was an okay story for me. I liked the premise, but I wasn't such a fan of the delivery. For one, I was bullied very badly growi**spoiler alert** This was an okay story for me. I liked the premise, but I wasn't such a fan of the delivery. For one, I was bullied very badly growing up, like Rafi was. And I know for a fact, that if one of my biggest bulliers showed up like Isaac, I would not forgive him that easily and let him become that involved in my life in such a short period of time. It would take weeks, months, maybe even years to be able to trust them so deeply. And for Rafi to pretty much go from hating his guts to wanting to spend eternity with him in a week is ridiculous and far-fetched.
I think the story could have been so much better if it'd been expanded, if Rafi had actually talked in detail about his issues with Isaac and the past, instead of just dismissing them, if we got to see how Isaac's teammates reacted to the news that Isaac is gay, and if there was an actual conflict of some kind. This seemed more like an edited, beginning of a story than just an actual story, though it is a short story for a collection, so it couldn't be novel length. However, the story could have been easily improved with the addition of just a few pages or so.
Anyways, this was a fairy tale type story, where everything works out fine in the end and nothing goes wrong. If you want to read that kind of story, go on ahead and give this book a try, you might like it. As for me, this was an okay read, but not something I'll read again.
Merged review:
This was an okay story for me. I liked the premise, but I wasn't such a fan of the delivery. For one, I was bullied very badly growing up, like Rafi was. And I know for a fact, that if one of my biggest bulliers showed up like Isaac, I would not forgive him that easily and let him become that involved in my life in such a short period of time. It would take weeks, months, maybe even years to be able to trust them so deeply. And for Rafi to pretty much go from hating his guts to wanting to spend eternity with him in a week is ridiculous and far-fetched.
I think the story could have been so much better if it'd been expanded, if Rafi had actually talked in detail about his issues with Isaac and the past, instead of just dismissing them, if we got to see how Isaac's teammates reacted to the news that Isaac is gay, and if there was an actual conflict of some kind. This seemed more like an edited, beginning of a story than just an actual story, though it is a short story for a collection, so it couldn't be novel length. However, the story could have been easily improved with the addition of just a few pages or so.
Anyways, this was a fairy tale type story, where everything works out fine in the end and nothing goes wrong. If you want to read that kind of story, go on ahead and give this book a try, you might like it. As for me, this was an okay read, but not something I'll read again....more
Good start to a new series. I loved all the worldbuilding and that we got to see POVs from multiple characters (though some of the villain’s were pretGood start to a new series. I loved all the worldbuilding and that we got to see POVs from multiple characters (though some of the villain’s were pretty ick), as it really added to the mystery and stakes. I also loved the glossary, character list, and other supplemental indexes at the end of the book, as they definitely helped me keep track of everything and really added to the worldbuilding. I will say, a LOT is thrown at you and introduced in this book, which led to pacing issues at times and felt overwhelming at times. Also, I was expecting more from Luc and Rory’s romance, and yet it was less of a focus. I’m assuming based on the ending that that will change in the rest of the series.
Speaking of, since this book spent so much of its time setting everything up vs. actually resolving anything, it is absolutely not a standalone book. It ends on a cliffhanger, and a bittersweet one (poor Athan), which I wasn’t expecting and not really my cup of tea. Overall though, if you’re okay with committing to a series from the start vs. dipping your toe in to test the waters, I would recommend giving this series a shot....more
This was a fun mystery. Kinda dark, but also wickedly hilarious at times, I felt it was a good balance. I loved the Southern humor, and burst3.5 stars
This was a fun mystery. Kinda dark, but also wickedly hilarious at times, I felt it was a good balance. I loved the Southern humor, and burst out laughing at different times. I also liked Maisie, and I think this is a strong start to a new series.
But damn, I did not see that cliffhanger ending coming. However, because of said cliffhanger, the ending felt rushed, as we didn’t get much time to revel in the resolution before being (force) rushed into the next book, which I wasn’t a fan of. It just felt abrupt and left me with wrap-up questions that I don’t know if we’ll get answered in book 2. So that took it down a star for me. Overall though, a solid, fun mystery if you don’t mind your mysteries being a little dark....more
I’m not really a novella girlie. I perpetually want to know more, especially if I really like the characters. So when I go to read novellas, I try to I’m not really a novella girlie. I perpetually want to know more, especially if I really like the characters. So when I go to read novellas, I try to give the benefit of the doubt to the author and look at the book as it is versus what I think it could have been.
However, that was hard to do in this case. It felt like the author was trying to throw so many details and ideas into a small story and so things didn’t get fleshed out satisfactorily. It felt like a constant speed run, and while I don’t want to get spoilery, I didn’t really see the end coming because it came out of left field, and not in a good way. I really feel this story had so much potential, and should have either been longer or had some content removed.
I also wasn’t a fan of Prince. He made a bad first impression, and it never got better, which honestly? Okay with that. Serena though? I had mixed feelings. Maybe it’s because I’m in my villainess era, but I was down for her to get revenge, and she’s what kept me reading to the end. Her last lines to Vance? Perfection (end of chapter 8 especially so). However, I was shocked at the ending, and found it bittersweet, which I feel like is the overall point of the series looking back on it. I honestly just felt bad for Serena by the end and wanted to give her a hug.
Overall, I think this was an okay read, with a strong FMC and a cool idea, but rushed execution and not quite my cup of tea (I hate bittersweet endings, and if I’d known that going in, I probably would have avoided it). Also, pretty dark, so if that’s not your cup of tea, I’d steer clear....more
Since there were two novels in one, I rated each novel individually and then added a combined rating for the overall book.
Cold Case Reopened 3.5 starsSince there were two novels in one, I rated each novel individually and then added a combined rating for the overall book.
Cold Case Reopened 3.5 stars This was a fun, suspenseful read. I liked the setting in rural Colorado, as it helped add to the suspense. It was darker than I was expecting, which I honestly enjoyed more than I thought I would. It was a good balance overall, and I really liked Jackson and Rhea’s interactions.
Ice Cold Killer 2.5 stars So this is apparently part of a series, so the story ends on an open ending and without catching whodunit, which I wasn’t expecting since the packaging and blurb made it seem like a standalone. So that’s what kept this from being a 3 star review for me. So much of the book built up this killer and the suspense, and not catching the bad guy at the end was dissapoining. Also, Darcy and Ryder didn’t make much of an impression on me as a couple, and I didn’t sense much chemistry between them. I don’t know if that’s because this is just book 1 of 4, but nevertheless, I didn’t have any desire at the end to read on and continue the rest of the series.
This book was a powerful, moving read about dealing with grief and learning how to live your life to the fullest. I thought the topic was handled realThis book was a powerful, moving read about dealing with grief and learning how to live your life to the fullest. I thought the topic was handled really well, and I liked how even though there is romance, it’s just a hint, and didn’t overwhelm Liz’s journey through grief. As someone who’s seen people find love while going through grief IRL, I think it worked well. And as someone who’s learnt surprising things about my grandparents long after they passed, I could relate to Liz’s desire to explore and learn more about her grandma.
My only complaint was the story dragged at times, and I feel like bits could have been condensed or removed without impacting the story. For example, I assumed the road trip was going to be pretty much from the beginning, but it took a while to actually get there. Once we did though, I think the story flowed really well, but again, certain parts felt a tad bit dragged out. All in all though, this was a great read....more
It’s hard to review this book without spoiling it, so I’m gonna be a bit vague to prevent from spoiling it. But wow, I was not prepared for this book.It’s hard to review this book without spoiling it, so I’m gonna be a bit vague to prevent from spoiling it. But wow, I was not prepared for this book.
To start, I feel that the blurb is misleading, but truthfully, this is a hard book to reduce to a blurb. I think that’s part of why I didn’t enjoy it as much as I could have. If I’d gone in with a better idea of what the story was about, I think I wouldn’t have felt so displeased at where the book went at times.
Pros: the writing is beautiful, well-done, and topnotch. I feel the writing style added to the overall vibe of the story, and I really liked it. I also really liked Max and Finn, and I especially resonated with Max’s struggle, and enjoyed his sections a lot. I also really liked the mystery and time travel aspects, and all the twists and turns associated with them. You can tell the author put a lot of time and effort into thinking these things out, not to mention a ton of research to add to the authenticity, which I loved.
Cons: while I enjoyed the mystery, there were questions left unanswered that I was upset about. It left me feeling like a cliffhanger, but with no promise of a resolution.
Second, I had a hard time connecting with Isabel. I understand this was her about her growth journey and discovering who she was, so I was sympathetic and gave her the benefit of the doubt, but I never quite resonated with her, and I can’t really put my finger on why. But that made it harder to understand some of her choices. Which leads me to my other biggest gripe: the ending.
I was conflicted on the ending. While on one hand, I do understand that people change and that the ending made more sense maybe for Isabel’s journey, I do wish it had ended at an earlier point and in a different way. Iykyk. Again, this is where the blurb really didn’t do the book justice, because I had an expectation in my head based on the blurb, and the book didn’t deliver based on that. I can appreciate the author choosing the hard ending, versus the HEA, but it just didn’t work for me because it wasn’t hinted at at all, and therefore came as a shock near the end.
Overall, I think this book had a lot of promise, and if I’d gone in better prepared so to speak, probably would have been a 4 star read. But due to the blurb and the first 70% of the book leading me to believe the story was going in a completely different direction, I went with a solid 3 stars....more
I love cat shifters, which was what drew me to give this series a shot. And overall, I feel the book was a solid 3-star read. I went in expecting a ceI love cat shifters, which was what drew me to give this series a shot. And overall, I feel the book was a solid 3-star read. I went in expecting a certain kind of romance book, and for the most part, this delivered. Going off some of the complaints in negative reviews: Yes, it was predictable and depth-lacking. Yes, it wasn’t the next great American novel.
But if I wanted to read The Grapes of Wrath, I would have read that. Temptation Rising was a fun, sexy, light-hearted read. I was surprised at how long the romance took to come together, but it worked, and I liked how the author kind of flipped my expectations for this genre on its head to drag out the will they, won’t they in a way that worked. And while I didn’t really buy Kalina as a narcotics cop, I did like the surprise twist at the end of the book (kinda was predicting it, but not the full reveal).
And more on the cons side, the paranormal aspect wasn’t as present as I was expecting, but I also feel that’s because this is book one and both us and Kalina were being introduced to this world. In addition, there was a lot of info-dumping and sections that I feel should have been cut out, but again, I feel like that was because this is book one of the series.
While I wish the set-up for the series was integrated into the story more organically, I am interested to see where the series goes from here, because I did like the larger world-building hinted at and introduced, and I dislike not knowing what happens next when a book has a cliffhanger ending....more
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