I did end up buying this and it was excellent to read as stupid fireworks were going off nonstop. These are just really wonderful characters who are bI did end up buying this and it was excellent to read as stupid fireworks were going off nonstop. These are just really wonderful characters who are both SO STUPID SOMETIMES (but in an endearing, relatable way). And yes, established relationship!
Audiobook Re-Read January 2020
(view spoiler)[Cooper apologizing "for being me" and Park telling him that's an awful thing to say means a LOT to me. (hide spoiler)]...more
I decided to give this one a shot, since it was back to the wolves, and it's certainly not a BAD book, but yeah. I think I have just moved on. A couplI decided to give this one a shot, since it was back to the wolves, and it's certainly not a BAD book, but yeah. I think I have just moved on. A couple of more specific comments. (view spoiler)[Memory was definitely too well adjusted. If I remember correctly, there was a line about how this was tied to her abilities, but I just . . . that didn't work for me. Either give her a less extreme background or give her more struggles. As is, I guess it just feels disrespectful. And sigh. Once again, we have a hero who has some kind of death sentence (that might be the wrong phrase here) that obviously is going to work out just fine. So . . . actually maybe the hero was too extreme and the heroine not extreme enough? (hide spoiler)] ...more
(view spoiler)[Yay, Amory's pregnant! I mean, I'm terribly inconsistent because I also want more heroines who don't have or want kids, but it seems ri(view spoiler)[Yay, Amory's pregnant! I mean, I'm terribly inconsistent because I also want more heroines who don't have or want kids, but it seems right for them and I'm excited to see how it works with the series. (hide spoiler)]
Overall, I liked this one! I'm not sure I entirely followed the mystery, but I really liked the settings, new characters, and the current state of Amory and Milo's relationship.
Re-read March 2022
I lost some steam on my re-read, but still enjoying myself....more
There just wasn't much to this. They met, they liked each, they spent time together, they had a half-hearted "just talk to each other" conflict, and tThere just wasn't much to this. They met, they liked each, they spent time together, they had a half-hearted "just talk to each other" conflict, and that was it....more
Hey, look at this! I read this last night and am writing my review. Go team! Anyway, I liked this a lot and it was basically just what I expected, butHey, look at this! I read this last night and am writing my review. Go team! Anyway, I liked this a lot and it was basically just what I expected, but there's no point in reading it if you haven't read the main series, ha....more
So the word I kept thinking of while reading this is "beautiful." The writing, the relationship, the characters, their passions, just BEAUTIFUL.
I don'So the word I kept thinking of while reading this is "beautiful." The writing, the relationship, the characters, their passions, just BEAUTIFUL.
I don't know if this will be a minority opinion, but for me, both the same sex relationship and the women pursuing science were the exact right balance of realistic for the era while not being gloom and doom about all the challenges such things present for the era. (OR THIS ERA FOR THAT MATTER.)
Anyway, for sure I want to read more Olivia Waite, though I might wait a bit to check out her backlist, since it seems this seem like somewhat of a new direction for her....more
Yesssss. I do love the Andrews. Their storytelling and writing is so great.
THAT SAID. I am a little disappointed that Catalina became another one of tYesssss. I do love the Andrews. Their storytelling and writing is so great.
THAT SAID. I am a little disappointed that Catalina became another one of their standard heroines. I liked the shy version of her and would've been so into seeing her as a heroine. I think the Andrews just aren't interested in writing that character, which is fine! I did enjoy her still. But . . . I would've liked to see that character who reminded me of me at that age. We skipped over a LOT of her development in the time between books. Again, maybe they're just not interested in writing that! But it would've been cool.
(view spoiler)[To some extent, this goes for Alessandro, too. Of course he's more than he appears! But he ended up fitting the standard mould for them. (hide spoiler)]
Anyway! Overall, into it. Into the series. Give me more now. (view spoiler)[And tell me what's going to happen with Linus Duncan! (hide spoiler)]...more
Per the author, this series is inspired by Austen, but the books are not retellings. Which did allow some interesting choices, like Harriet/Lydia seemPer the author, this series is inspired by Austen, but the books are not retellings. Which did allow some interesting choices, like Harriet/Lydia seem to be the same character. Emma thinking she knows best was toned down a little. Maybe TOO much because it made the conflict between her and "Knightley" never quite gel for me.
This "only" gets four stars because while it's a very good book, it is not a very good last book in a series, which it appears to be right now. Like, This "only" gets four stars because while it's a very good book, it is not a very good last book in a series, which it appears to be right now. Like, I want more of all the characters, but (view spoiler)[Lorna/Saif (hide spoiler)] just feels unfinished....more
I might feel differently about this someday, but for now . . . I just didn't get it. Which was fine at first, but eventually I needed to understand thI might feel differently about this someday, but for now . . . I just didn't get it. Which was fine at first, but eventually I needed to understand things better. Maybe the book was just too long....more
Hmm, I don't know if I have a ton to say at this point. Some of is a bit dated (Justin's heritage in particular), but also! Serena didn't let him get Hmm, I don't know if I have a ton to say at this point. Some of is a bit dated (Justin's heritage in particular), but also! Serena didn't let him get away with "protecting" her, which, wow, feels rare in modern books.
Definitely looking forward to spending more time with this family....more
Sigh, I need to get back in the habit of reviewing books sooner. It's been a few days, so I've lost some thoughts
But this was very good. Just a few tiSigh, I need to get back in the habit of reviewing books sooner. It's been a few days, so I've lost some thoughts
But this was very good. Just a few ticks off from great. Excellent background characters and a wonderful friends to lovers stories. Rae's being in love with Tommy for years didn't bother me (I have a pining problem! But they were so close that it just made sense) and I mostly understood Tommy being stupid about it. No real drama . . . it just worked.
I am for sure interested in going back and reading the books in the series I missed. (I read the first and I have the next one.)
Thanks to the author and her awesome mailing list for the book!...more
I should re-read this someday because I read it in fits and starts, but it gave me enough moments of pure emotion that I'm going with five stars.
That I should re-read this someday because I read it in fits and starts, but it gave me enough moments of pure emotion that I'm going with five stars.
That said, it did fall into the "too modern" trap a lot. Soooo much talk about condoms and a lot of modern sexual attitudes in general.
But I was into the fake engagement that her father knew about it and that she wasn't in love/thought she was in love with the guy she was trying to get it. All of that worked very well for me.
(But I don't know if I want to read the next one? I don't want to jump ahead yet!)...more
So I did enjoy this, but not as much as I expected. I wanted more hate! Also, (view spoiler)[him being a spy is WAY less fun than them being rival arcSo I did enjoy this, but not as much as I expected. I wanted more hate! Also, (view spoiler)[him being a spy is WAY less fun than them being rival archeologists. (hide spoiler)]...more
So I liked this a lot. I liked that the characters and romance were mostly sensible, but MOSTLY it left me really excited for the next book, which I'vSo I liked this a lot. I liked that the characters and romance were mostly sensible, but MOSTLY it left me really excited for the next book, which I've already started....more
This was cute! I think the final conflict felt a little too . . . obligatory, like in real life, the characters would've just been together and that'sThis was cute! I think the final conflict felt a little too . . . obligatory, like in real life, the characters would've just been together and that's it, but fiction means they have to have one last problem. But I finished it a few days ago and I mostly don't remember what I thought....more
Hmm, so my usual Kelley Armstrong caveat: As a general rule, I love her writing and characters, so I like her books and am not a harsh judge.
But I wasHmm, so my usual Kelley Armstrong caveat: As a general rule, I love her writing and characters, so I like her books and am not a harsh judge.
But I was disappointed that some of the world details were wrong? (view spoiler)[Olivia says Gabriel bought their cabin--no, she did! And she mentions she only found 2/3rds of the gargoyles, when the main series ended with her finding them all. (hide spoiler)] These are pretty mild things and I'm generally not a detail orientated reader, but I return to this series a lot, so they stood out to me.
Anyway, I will conclude with my other standard Armstrong thing: I love so much that she gives us more novellas in her worlds!...more
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