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| 178689839X
| 9781786898395
| B0CP8DWQ4R
| 3.58
| 390
| unknown
| Jun 06, 2024
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it was amazing
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I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review Now, I am my own creation, and it’s far too I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review Now, I am my own creation, and it’s far too late to change me. Told in a lyrical and bard style, Bright I Burn breathes historical fiction life into the first recorded person condemned for witchcraft in Ireland, Alice Kyteler. The story brings readers in when Alice is nine years old in 1279 Kilkenny, Ireland. At this age, Alice learns an important truth of how woman are valued, their ability to give their husbands heirs and to always remember to stay at least one step ahead of the men in her life. Her desirability is a hindrance, first avoiding her father, and a help as it leads to her being able to marry who she wants. I liked how the story did touch on Alice's privilege, class and race, and how that protected her at times. From this important formative year, the story jumps year to year as Alice grows, plotting, planning, and maneuvering to gain riches for herself and her son, knowing this leads to protection and choices. Successful women don't always fair well in history, though, and knowing an important part of the historical outcome, each year that goes by, with Alice marrying and playing a part in her widowhood, jealousy, envy, and anger grow among the townspeople and certain men in power, there is a feeling of dread. There are moments, where you want to start to agree with her son, have her be less for safety, but then you rally and know she shouldn't have to. However, Alice isn't portrayed a perfect character, she has pride, desire, and selfishness, making her all the more accessible. She feels stifled by her first husband, has her sexual liberation with her second, grows more centered with her third, and lets some of her rage out on her fourth. The story was throughout good with dripping with disdain pointing out the hypocrisy of the church and it's clergymen. When Bishop of Ossory, Richard Ledrede arrives in Kilkenny, you could feel the rising tension and building fervor of him using economic strife and men's fear and want to control women, from the pulpit to slowly poison. Alice in her late fifties/early sixties alluring and intimidating men, them not knowing how to deal with these feelings causing anger, felt like a tale as old as time. While the true historical texts don't know what ultimately happened to Alice, I liked the ending the author imagined. An historical fiction story that took a real life and imagined filled in places, it will make you want to rage and, maybe, wish for a time that poisoning wasn't so detectable. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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May 28, 2024
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Jun 04, 2024
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May 13, 2024
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Kindle Edition
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| 0063291746
| 9780063291744
| 0063291746
| 4.02
| 2,002
| Jun 13, 2023
| Jun 13, 2023
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it was amazing
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4.5 stars I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review They couldn't marry him. Picking up 4.5 stars I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review They couldn't marry him. Picking up right were The Rogue Crown left off, we have Talhan Catullus winning the hand of Neelo Emberspear after a duel set up by Neelo's mother, the Queen of the Southern Court. This series is set in a fantasy world where fae, witches, and humans live in five kingdoms. Each book stars a different main couple but also continues the storyline of the battles and politics happening in the fictional Okrith, with a progressive plot of some mysterious enemy behind all the disruption in each kingdom. While I thought it would be challenging but possible to jump into the series like I did with book three, I think this fourth addition would have a lot of newcomers too lost to start here. A faceless storm was coming for their court, and they needed to unmask it before the South befell the same fate as the assassinated Western Court Queen. Growing up in the pleasure seeking Southern court, Neelo, who is nonbinary and has social anxiety, never felt comfortable with the sexual pleasure seeking and free use of drugs society their mother encouraged and actively participates in. They dress in black baggy clothes to try and not be defined by their body and always carries a book/s with them to be able to disappear in when they get overwhelmed. With their mother fading even faster because of a new tea brew that seems laced with an even more powerful drug than usual, the time for them to take the crown and rule is here but they don't want it. Their solution is to try and find out who is supplying the tea and get deliveries stopped to save their mother, but this leads to them uncovering a plot that ties into the book series continuing plot of kingdoms being upheaved and finally uncovering who is behind it all. Neelo immediately relaxed their jaw. “Maybe you just make me nervous,” they muttered. “Maybe.” Laughter tinged Talhan's voice. “Maybe being nervous in this case is a good thing. Maybe you make me nervous too.” If you've read the previous books, the name Talhan Catullus “The Golden Eagle” will sound familiar. He's the fae's best warrior and fought in a big previous battle that almost left him dead. He's the twin brother of one of the female lead characters in book three and he was childhood friends with Neelo before they were separated by the wars starting. It's pretty obvious from the beginning that he loves Neelo and is just gently but stoutly never going to leave their side and simply waiting until they trust in his feelings and work through their emotional issues of self-worth. This is a slow burn romance that I could see some tapping their watch for Neelo to finally relent but there were enough cracking scenes from Neelo that I thought there was enough burn scenes to carry it to the finally giving in end. I mean, we get a library desk scene, steamy bath house, and others to tide readers over. “You know I'm not here for a crown or a title,” he whispered. While the first half had me highlighting passage after passage and I loved how Neelo and Talhan's relationship was developing, you're going to have to want to focus on that romantic plot pretty fully for some duration. I know some fantasy readers want action but that doesn't come until the latter end of the book. I did find the story slowing some in the second half with the slow part of the burning dragging out for some pages too many and the tie-in continuing plot of discovering who is behind the disruption of kingdoms also taking one too many scenes to finally get to. They dropped their eyes and Talhan reached out to bracket their cheek with his hand. His thumb slid under Neelo's jaw and tipped their chin up to look him in the eyes. “I'm not going anywhere,” he said. “Not even if you tell me to leave. That's just one more thing we'd have to disagree about. If I have to chain myself to a bookshelf to prove that, I will.” He lifted Neelo's chin higher and they smirked. “That's how much I belong with you.” Neelo shuddered and Talhan hummed. “Keep reading.” The latter second half brought in almost all the previous characters from the earlier books and we get a few action scenes. Since I haven't read the first two books in the series yet, I'm not sure if they were more action heavy and these middle two books have slowed down before the series ramps back up again with a last big battle but if you're looking for less battle heavy fantasy with a starring main romance couple, this would definitely be for you. I liked the interaction and relationships all the characters seem to have and while I enjoyed how much we got of Neelo and Talhan, I would have liked to have these previous characters show up more because of how well they work as an ensemble. “You are mischief, Neelo Emberspear, and I love it. No one else gets to see it: the boat-commandeering, book-stealing mischief-maker you are. But that's who you've always been around me and you never have to change.” His footsteps didn't pause as if he was just casually chatting, but his words made Neelo feel like they were free-falling. They were mischief...and he loved it. There was something about them that Talhan Catullus loved. This was told all from Neelo's point of view but, like I said, Talhan's feelings were obvious from the beginning. I loved how quiet, reserved, kind of grumpy Neelo paired with outgoing, gregarious Talhan and how Talhan especially saw Neelo for who they were and liked them because of it and treated them the way they wanted to be treated, all while just waiting for Neelo to finally be able to grow to a place that they could accept Talhan's love. There were times of frustration by Talhan, but he was always there in the ways Neelo needed him to be. “There is only one person who can wield this magic over me.” His eyes pinned Neelo with a heated look. “You are a magic all your own, Neelo Emberspear. I've known it my whole life.” Along with Neelo finally accepting the love from Talhan and taking their rightful place in the Southern Court, the ending names the villain and gives the reason for why they're doing what they're doing. It's clear that the battle for the Eastern Court is next and I have a feeling Talhan's sister Carys and a certain Southern Court Lord of Arboa, Ersan, who once broke Carys' heart might be the main couple of that story. I'll be curious about that second chance love story, if a reappearing past villain will become King of the Fae, and if a violet witch will make do on her revenge. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jun 18, 2023
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Jun 27, 2023
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Jun 10, 2023
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Paperback
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| 1250801583
| 9781250801586
| 1250801583
| 4.10
| 2,010
| Dec 27, 2022
| Dec 27, 2022
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it was amazing
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4.5 stars I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. She had to give him something wort 4.5 stars I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. She had to give him something worth living for. Even with their siblings and cousins crossing into enemy territory and getting married (A Reckless Match and Daring Pursuit) Harriet and Morgan still play into the family rivalry of never turning down a dare from a Montgomery or Davies. It's a tradition that goes back to their childhood days and while Harriet and Morgan's animosity may seem more provocative than combative, they both feel locked into their roles. When Morgan is getting ready to ship out to fight Napoleon, Harriet tries to hide her fear by making him a bet, if they win the war and Morgan comes home, she'll grant him three kisses. Morgan, of course, takes that bet and we have the bet that will finally bring these two together. He’d returned to England with two specific goals: seduction, and revenge. A Wicked Game is third in the series but new readers could pop-in here, you'd be missing some scenes that teased the chemistry between Harriet and Morgan and some history on why the Montgomery and Davies families have a low-angst combative relationship but otherwise, the only thing you need to know, is prepare for some spine-tingling moments. After the bet is made in the first chapter, the next chapter jumps us two years and Morgan is coming back home after having been imprisoned by a sadistic French general named Da Caen. Morgan was captured because he was using maps he'd lifted off a French vessel he'd previously took, unfortunately, those maps had been planted by the English. The English hired a mapmaker, Crusoe, to falsify maps to hopefully get French vessels lost or run aground on reefs they didn't know were there. Morgan spends six weeks as a prisoner before Napoleon is finally defeated and he and his crew can be let go back to the English. Morgan comes back to England bent on revenge on this Crusoe and to collect his three kisses from Harriet. While at sea and prisoner, he realized that he loved Harriet and is ready to convince her of not only his feelings but her own that he is sure she has. Even if he hadn’t ruined her in strictly technical terms, she’d ruined him. For every other woman, ever. She’d won, and she didn’t even know it. Within the first fifteen percent, Morgan learns that Harriet is “Crusoe” and that Da Caen has been spotted in London trying to find Crusoe maps. It's rumored that Da Caen stole Napoleon's treasure and ended up using one of Crusoe map to hide it, so in order to find the gold again, Da Caen needs another Crusoe map. This was a very low on plot angst story. Yes, Morgan was taken prisoner and tortured but we don't get flashback scenes, only short re-tellings of some of what happened and Morgan isn't overly broody over it. While Da Caen is brought up right in the beginning, the vast majority of the story forgets about him as the focus is solely on Harriet and Morgan's chemistry. There's actual fun little historical additives in this, mapmaking history, a shout out to Jeanne Baret, how cataracts was treated, and other time period placing trivia but I'm going to have to go back and reread to catch and appreciate them all, I was locked into every spine-tingling moment Harriet and Morgan had around each other. He slid his fingers down her arm and caught her hand, then gently turned her so her back was to him. His soft exhale lifted the hairs on her exposed nape and she could feel the heat of his body all along her back, even though they weren’t touching. And then his lips pressed her shoulder and his arms slid around her waist, his fingers spreading across her stomach, and even through the fabric of her stays and chemise, it burned. A heavy pounding started in her blood. Morgan already realizes he loves Harriet and wants to marry her, normally I like to “see” the falling in love but, again, The Chemistry. It was also just nice to have the male main character so focused on the female main character, Morgan delighted in their teasing, challenging relationship and clearly found her sexy, I love that in my romance couples. Morgan also realized that Harriet wasn't ready to believe in his love, this clearly was to keep them apart and you kind of have to go along with Harriet being so blocked from understanding what is between them. Morgan decides to use the three kisses to seduce Harriet but then gets uncomfortable thinking he is forcing her somehow and we get Harriet taking the reigns a little by making a new bet that she clearly set-up to win to show Morgan she wants this. By fifty percent the three kisses have been given and Morgan declares his love but Harriet doesn't believe he truly wants to marry her. Still, she raised her brows. “And you can’t get to know me better because—?” He flashed a glance at something over her shoulder and grinned as he leaned closer to whisper in her ear, “Because you’re the captain’s woman.” The second half has Harriet dancing with a man who was under Morgan's command and learning that Morgan spoke of her all the time, using her to sometimes keep his men under control and inspire them, always with a sense of love and awe. At around 60% Harriet admits to herself that she loves Morgan but still can't quite believe he loves her. Past main couples also come in to point out and wake-up Harriet to how Morgan has been showing her how much he loves her, helping her father get the cataract surgery he needs, intimidating a rival mapmaker to stop copying her maps, and generally being there for her. At 80% Morgan makes one final push and asks her to give him one week to prove he loves her. She opened it to find Morgan on the step, his broad shoulders made even broader by a heavy greatcoat, his face shadowed by a tricorn hat. The last twenty percent has Da Caen coming back into the picture and interrupting our grand declaration of love. There's some danger, some taking care of business, and finally a quiet but incredibly sweet moment of I love yous (I hope there is an ordering campaign using the charming Map of the Heart). I remember thinking to myself around kiss three that I had lost the plot but, I think the book did, too. However, the chemistry is the star here and my god did Harriet and Morgan have it and thank you to the author that didn't follow the recent trend of fade-to-black or closed door; parlor and bedroom doors get blown open, folks. A Wicked Game has hot building tension and crackling chemistry, don't miss Harriet and Morgan's story. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Dec 06, 2022
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Dec 12, 2022
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Jun 14, 2022
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Mass Market Paperback
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| 0373778473
| 9780373778478
| 0373778473
| 4.02
| 1,043
| Dec 20, 2013
| Feb 18, 2014
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really liked it
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4.3 stars I buddy read this, for full comments and thoughts: Jade Temptress Buddy Read I'm going to tell you all now, get those bets in on Mingyu for my 4.3 stars I buddy read this, for full comments and thoughts: Jade Temptress Buddy Read I'm going to tell you all now, get those bets in on Mingyu for my favorite lead in the Romancies awards. She's a powerhouse in this and I'd read this a million times over solely because of her. That blow had quieted her momentarily, but it did not silence her forever. Mingyu had never forgotten. I have some complaints and struggled with the ultimate way the murder mystery wrapped up, it felt really loose with some reveals and even though they were red-herrings some characters really faded away to the sides making the ending of the murder mystery feel really sedate. Xi Lun's character purpose really fell apart for me. The romance was restrained underlining emotion but the last 20% I spent wanting to wring Kaifeng's neck and some of the previous work done, especially by Mingyu felt ignored, which was really disappointing. But, that last 5%ish had my eyes watering because of how Mingyu and Kaifeng were together. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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May 02, 2022
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May 08, 2022
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Apr 20, 2022
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Mass Market Paperback
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| 1250804043
| 9781250804044
| B08WKZST6V
| 3.43
| 2,087
| Oct 19, 2021
| Oct 19, 2021
|
it was amazing
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I speak of this as if it were instantaneous. Gods-like in its swift retribution for our foul existence. But it wasn’t. It was achingly slow, delibe
I speak of this as if it were instantaneous. Gods-like in its swift retribution for our foul existence. But it wasn’t. It was achingly slow, deliberate. Hubris could not shield us from the sun’s heat, from the boldness of below-surface creatures caressing the innocent flesh of our curious young ones. We were the finest coastal traders of the continent. Sea-battling vessels, fish, fruit, and labour were our currency. We were hardbacked and hardworking. We were proud. And now we are dying.
Flowers for the Sea was a story of grief, anger, and how those two emotions not only change us but carry on to our children. Set in a fantasy, horror, scifi world in which climate change has forced them to take to the sea, Iraxi has been surviving on this ship for 1,743 days. Told all from Iraxi's point-of-view, readers are brought in as she's pregnant, surviving through the pregnancy longer than anyone else has. She doesn't seem happy about it and as we view this world through her lens, it's cloaked in her disdain for the people she's surviving with, the filthiness of not being able to properly wash, and the ever present fear. My sister and I shared quarters the size of my room on the ship. Back then, I’d complained of suffocation. Now, I choke on the emptiness. While in the present we're seeing Iraxi's life on the ship, she does think back, with some flashbacks, to how life has lead her to this moment. We learn that they are from a coastal village and that Iraxi was propositioned by a prince but she refused him because she was in love with someone else. This lead to her family being murdered in a house fire and the people of the ship having resentment for her not joining with the prince and therefore their villages combining, thinking that could have saved them somehow from having to abandon to the ship to escape the encroaching water. The anger and grief Iraxi feels from her family's murder is palpable, I mean the line “Now, I choke on the emptiness.” is a gut punch. The child giggles. And I scream. At a little over a hundred pages, the story moves fairly quickly and while we get some background, Iraxi starts giving birth pretty quickly in. The author doesn't shy away from bringing us in and describing the pain of birth and with an added scifi element, it's gritty. Iraxi passes on her anger to her child and through that child, Iraxi gets some of her revenge. Look, on a good day, I'm mildly disturbed by children, so this baby was capital H-orror to me. Fire refused me. And so, I surrender to the sea. I was impressed with how in such a short page count, we got all the dynamics of the important relationships, the background to understand the world and Iraxi, and all the fantasy, scifi, and horror elements. There was so much to explore here, Iraxi's phoenix emerging, climate change ramifications, fear, survival, and generational trauma, all told through a grief and anger coloring that was sharp toothed and guttural. I haven't even mentioned the appearance of mermaid like creatures, so yeah, there's that, too. Recommended if you can handle gut churning poetry. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Oct 24, 2023
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Oct 26, 2023
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Sep 09, 2021
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Kindle Edition
| ||||||||||||||
| 1496725190
| 9781496725196
| 1496725190
| 3.76
| 16,128
| Feb 23, 2021
| Feb 23, 2021
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it was amazing
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4.5 stars I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. “ 4.5 stars I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. “It's the golden hour.” Will is fifteen when his mother takes him to the apartment of an uncle he never even knew existed. He's outside about to talk to a girl on a balcony, that unknowingly dropped tomatoes on his head, when he overhears his mother begging her brother to take him. His uncle refuses saying Will is probably like her, rash, reckless, and selfish. Hearing all this dramatically impacts Will and he decides then and there to grow-up, which he does as his mother and father cling even more to each other through his father's sickness and then the ten months after his father's death, his mother passes away too. When he sends her obituary to the uncle and never hears anything back, Will begins calling himself an orphan at seventeen. The girl on the balcony from sixteen years ago, and the woman he met this morning. That...could not be. Nora loves her hour of quiet time on her balcony, four a.m., or the golden hour, as she likes to call it. When the person that inherited the downstairs apartment comes onto their patio, she can't help but try and take a peek. After accidentally knocking some potting soil on him, she meets Dr. Will Sterling. There's an instant awareness but after she inherited this apartment from her nonna, she and the other apartment dwellers are worried about this new guy, they love their little community and don't like change. When Will reveals that he plans on using the apartment as a sort of Airbnb, Nora declares war to get him to change his mind. She first plans to kill him with kindness but when that doesn't work, she plans on showing him how unsuitable this apartment building would feel to vacationers because of how weird and quirky the building dwellers are. It's a battle between two sides that can't help consorting with each other. Everything he saw when he looked at Nora, it was still a problem: his weakness, his past, his fear for how he figured he was destined to turn out, if he let himself get too close to her. Love At First, is a story that is all sweetly aching heart. The story fabric is woven a little differently, the set-up alludes to fate and soulmates, so the love between Will and Nora feels present by the third chapter. Since the love already feels developed, their journey is more about navigating the emotional pitfall maze to reach it. Will's parents all consuming loving each other to the point of ignoring him and then his abrupt loss of childhood has made him a self-sufficient but tender and scared to love man. Nora's parents were dedicated to their career but she had her grandmother and the apartment building's residents to create a family with. Their parental similarities and Will's gentle pushing to get Nora to accept change enough to live her own unique life and Nora showing him that human connection doesn't have to be scary showcased how well these two went together. She laughed quietly, the sound somehow so intimate. What else could it be, really, to laugh with someone in your bed? It felt like the most secret, private, special thing. It felt like a fever dream. She gave up on thinking there was anything normal or casual about it. Some of the first half had me questioning how Nora and Will already had these deep feelings, which I think is where the soulmates comes in, but the middle had the characters opening up more and layers get colored in and understanding why Nora and Will were the way they were becomes more clear. This story also had some of the best use of secondary characters I have ever read. They were stars in their own right and provided emotional heft not only in support of Nora and Will but the overall story. The residents of the apartment provided heartfelt depth to some of the underlining message of the importance of human connection and how valuable found family is. Gerald, Will's boss, who dances between a pseudo father and friend, ends up slyly softly giving the story and Will one of it's most important messages, that loving can be learned and unlearned, as long as you put the acknowledgment and effort in. You don't have to love people the way you learned to love at first. This enemies-to-lovers was all about the gentle emotions instead of sparking heat and it really worked. These two do have some open door bedroom scenes but I got the most hits to the heart when every time Nora made Will feel and that connection made him pull away in fear. Nora and Will's first two meetings, sixteen years apart, were sweetly cute but their second chance romance ending balcony scene, will have your heart aching in all the best ways. If you're looking for something a little quiet, a little soft, and a little subtle, Love At First will deliver. She thought about his laugh and his way of making conversation with almost anyone; she thought about the secret, tender heart that hid behind his practicality, and she thought about how he pushed her, so gently, in the directions she always wanted to go herself. She thought about the way she wanted him, the way she could be a certain version of herself with him, some different from who she was with anyone else in her life, ever. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Feb 07, 2021
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Feb 09, 2021
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Dec 19, 2020
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Paperback
| ||||||||||||||
| 0063000806
| 9780063000803
| 0063000806
| 3.86
| 56,454
| Nov 10, 2020
| Nov 10, 2020
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it was amazing
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4.5 stars I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. “ 4.5 stars I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. “I’m at my wits’ end with my brother’s matchmaking,” Darcy explained. “And you . . . you want your family to think you can hold down a relationship?” Written in the Stars draws a little inspiration from Elizabeth and Darcy's personality conflicts from Pride and Prejudice and adds some fake relationship to produce a fantastic romcom (I know Romancelandia is wearing thin on everything being called a romcom but I swear, this is actually one). Elle, along with her roommate Margot, run Oh My Stars on social media sites, they produce astrology content. They've recently teamed up with OTP (One True Pairing), a dating app, to help match people. Brendon is the genius behind OTP and as Elle and him work together and get to know one another, Brendan decides Elle would be perfect for his sister Darcy. Elle is a sweet free spirit and even though she thinks about the ramifications of getting involved with her boss' sister, she agrees to go on the date with good intentions. Darcy on the other hand, is tired of being sent on blind dates that her overly romantic brother keeps forcing on her and after Elle is late to the date, she's already over it. “Just because it started out fake doesn’t mean it can’t become real, right?” The opposites attract is clear right away but what I enjoyed about Elle and Darcy's connection was that with their initial and mutual physical attraction, with each meeting, it was clear how emotionally they were fitting into each other's grooves. Elle was the more free spirited one but I liked how the author kept her from being the tired silly naive trope who needed the more serious and buttoned up Darcy to mange her and get her life on track. Elle is smart and in a serious career and financial deal with OTP, her family doesn't respect her career and that leads to feelings of inadequacy for her but she has control in her life. While on paper, Darcy would come across as the more stable one, she's actually the one who needs the most help. Her issues stem from her mother being emotionally crushed by their father and never recovering, leading Darcy to equate love with pain and she's coming off a broken engagement where her partner was cheating on her. Darcy has a tough exterior wall but with each date with Elle, it cracks and she lets her in more and more. Elle loved herself, but what a feeling it must be, being loved by someone else exactly as you are, quirks and warts and all. Darcy wants Brendon to stop looking at every woman as a potential life partner for her and Elle is sick of being single at family holiday get togethers, so the fake dating trope fits to get these two together. This is a character driven story and I enjoyed how through that, we actually get to see their relationship develop and go on the emotional journey with them. Secondary characters played their roles well but I could have stood for even more background and personality from some, Margot, Annie, and even more Brendon; they seem like they could be future stars of their own books in the series, so getting even more of them to entice interest would have been good. This was an open door romance to spice it up a bit but the funny, sweet, and heartfilled romcom tone was strong throughout. This is definitely a romance I would recommend and I'll be anticipating the always on the lookout for that HEA brother of Darcy, Brendon's book. Darcy had miscalculated; she wasn’t falling, she’d fallen. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Nov 09, 2020
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Nov 20, 2020
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Aug 08, 2020
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Paperback
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| 0440000181
| B07S1K42R2
| 4.01
| 161,118
| Feb 18, 2020
| Feb 18, 2020
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it was amazing
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4.5 stars I am hunting the hunter, and he suspects it. The game is on. Carly learns that her aunt disappeared without a trace in 1982 and after her 4.5 stars I am hunting the hunter, and he suspects it. The game is on. Carly learns that her aunt disappeared without a trace in 1982 and after her mother's death, decides to investigate it. She travels to Fell, NY and winds up getting the same job and schedule that her aunt had at the Sun Down Motel. What follows is an engrossing mystery involving ghosts and a killer. The format with the author switching chapters from Carly's pov in 2017 to her aunt Viv's in 1982 fit the story perfectly. Carly would find a clue in 2017 and then we would go back to Viv in 1982 and see how that found clue developed and the who and what involved with it. This had a very Cold Case tv series episode feel to it and I think will definitely hit the right spot with people interested in the true crime vibe that is popular right now. The Sun Down Motel was a perfect setting to raise the hair on your arms and while the ghosts weren't outright scary, they definitely added some spookiness. The message threaded through the story of how women aren't taken seriously or listened to and how they live with the constant heaviness of how just being alone in public can be a danger will strike a cord with a lot. When the line: “I’m the one you didn’t kill,” is spoken, I felt my eyes water up out of nowhere. It felt in some small way, women victims of such crimes getting justice through this one moment. Secondary characters were utilized perfectly but I did think the attraction Carly had towards Nick came off immature at times and really felt misplaced in the overall tone the story had (I know, me saying the one sort of romance plot wasn't needed, crazy!). I really hope they make this into a movie or limited tv series; the story and characters would translate perfectly. If looking for a mystery that has some set you on edge factor, this one was engrossing and I recommend. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Sep 09, 2020
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Sep 13, 2020
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Mar 06, 2020
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Kindle Edition
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| 1721284443
| 9781721284443
| 1721284443
| 4.03
| 279,972
| Jun 20, 2018
| Jun 20, 2018
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it was amazing
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4.5 stars
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Notes are private!
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1
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not set
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Dec 06, 2019
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Dec 06, 2019
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Paperback
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| 0593099087
| 9780593099087
| 3.85
| 8,578
| Dec 03, 2019
| Dec 03, 2019
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it was amazing
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4.7 stars I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Anahe 4.7 stars I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Anahera is going back to her hometown, a place that she never wanted to return to but somehow finds she needs the comfort of. While there, Miriama, a young beautiful girl disappears while out jogging and Anahera finds herself helping the new town cop, Will, uncover the secrets of Golden Cove and it's residents. She returned home two hundred and seventeen days after burying her husband while his pregnant mistress sobbed so hard that she made herself sick. In this standalone, Singh has written an intoxicating mystery suspense. The writing was smooth in a way that sucked me in and wouldn't let me go; I was lost in the beautifully dark atmosphere. Readers are pulled in with the character of Anahera, a woman who grew-up in Golden Cove. Her father was an abusive alcoholic who her mother didn't kick out until he began to turn his abuse on Anahera. While she still has friends that live in Golden Cove, it's not a place of happy memories for her. The background Singh creates for Anahera, abusive father, widowhood that surprises her with a husband who cheated on her, and a miscarriage, all perfectly shapes the character we see on the pages, steely contained, strong, and heartfelt willing. “Everyone has secrets,” he repeated after completing the maneuver. “It's often the people who look like they have no secrets at all who turn out to have the biggest ones.” While we're led into the story by Anahera, she gives us the lay of the land and townspeople, the emotional aspect, the new town cop Will leads the technical, murder mystery part that takes over the middle of the story. As a reader, I was emotionally locked in the story because of how Singh quickly and thoroughly created a web spun with the townspeople from Anahera's experiences and feelings about them. This made me eager to follow along with Will as he gathered evidence and tries to piece together the how and why about Miriama's disappearance. While I didn't connect as much with Will, he had his own layered backstory of how he ended up in Golden Cove and gave credence to his feelings and actions. The focus of the story is the mystery of Miriama's disappearance but for those looking for it, the bonding relationship that develops between Anahera and Will, infuses the story with a slow burn romance. That was the thing with this town---the way the gossip flowed, you'd think you knew everything. But there were secrets here, a thick tide of lava beneath the surface. Along with the atmosphere and emotions evoked, the details that Singh includes made this story a cut above for me. How Will goes about the investigation and the facts and alluding he finds or is told along the way kept my eyes on everyone. When Will finds out that three woman hikers disappeared from the Golden Cove area fourteen years ago too, the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. If you weren't feeling the atmosphere as much as I, I could see how the middle could drag a touch, as there might be considered one too many red-herring dancing to and away reasons given out. I also thought the villain(s) reveal started to creep into info dump reveal as it went on a beat too long. The ending also felt abrupt but it could be me just not wanting to say goodbye to these characters. A Madness of Sunshine was a small town mystery suspense that showcased the good, bad, and ugly of a small New Zealand town while chilling me to the soul at times and at others, having me smile through the tears. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jan 10, 2020
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Jan 23, 2020
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Oct 21, 2019
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ebook
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| 1492661570
| 9781492661573
| 1492661570
| 4.11
| 455
| Aug 27, 2019
| Aug 27, 2019
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it was amazing
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4.5 stars I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. S 4.5 stars I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Someone in his unit, someone they trusted with their lives, had murdered a suspect in custody— here in the ultrasecure facility right under their noses. The Gray Box is a so deep undercover organization in the US government that even people in the know don't know about it, and they have a mole. The first in the series, Every Last Breath, introduced us to the Gray Box and the men and women working to keep America safe. The idea of a possibility of a mole is talked about there and by the end confirmed, Nothing to Fear is the story of Gideon, known as Reaper, going rogue to protect one of their programmers and hackers, Willow, from being set-up by the mole. You could start the series here but you'd miss out on the foundation of character relationships and the author does such a great job of constructing the plot that I think it is worth it to read the series in order. When he looked at her, he didn’t see a target or a mission. Only an exquisite woman, tender and sweet, ready to open herself. She was giving him the precious gift of her trust— a miracle and a mistake inextricably tangled. Nothing to Fear was just about a non-stop action ride that I highly enjoyed. As this is romantic suspense, I do think the romance could have been a bit stronger but if you enjoy action and a strong plot, this is a must read. For me, not completely feeling Gideon's character contributed to the romance not feeling as strong. He's infused with more emotional bearing than the typical alpha males in this sub-genre but the slower reveal of his background kept me from knowing him. At the end there was also a bit too much, “I'm not good enough for her/I'm too damaged” that starts to feel angst for angst sake after reading the majority of the story where the couple has already fallen in love. Our heroine Willow felt more like a complete character and her always feeling like an outcast because of being on the spectrum will tug at some hearts. The power she had, to have him unraveling with a look. This is the second book I've read by this author and while I've enjoyed the lead romances, I think where this author really shines is her ability to construct these twisty turn-y, high action plots carried out by main characters you want to fall in love and secondary characters you become wildly impatient to read their books. The concept of a super secret government group isn't new to the romantic suspense world but I do feel this author is top notch at pulling it off. The ending conclusion and wrap-up on some of the mole plot was a little rushed (the main baddie had a background that I would have actually liked explored more) but for the vast majority I was locked into the action and flew through this book. If you like romantic suspense, I highly recommend this series. The romance does take a backseat at times but you'll find yourself invested in all the characters and the engaging plots. I can't wait for the next in the series. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Sep 16, 2019
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Nov 06, 2019
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May 06, 2019
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Mass Market Paperback
| ||||||||||||||
| 149762035X
| 9781497620353
| B00J84KU5E
| 3.77
| 2,974
| 1990
| Apr 01, 2014
|
really liked it
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3.6 stars "You come to me." His mouth lowered, but he didn't quite kiss her. "To forget. To not hurt any more—" She bit her lip. "To hurt all my life 3.6 stars "You come to me." His mouth lowered, but he didn't quite kiss her. "To forget. To not hurt any more—" She bit her lip. "To hurt all my life." "I won't hurt you," he whispered. She closed her eyes. "You tear me apart." "Leigh," he said, "I love you." The intensity in his voice made her turn her face away. "Leave me alone," she said. Gawd, the emotion in this one. Quickly, Leigh travels from England to France looking for "The Prince of Midnight" a highwayman that the people of her town looked upon as Robin Hood. Her town has been taken over by a cult leader and she thinks the Prince of Midnight will be the legend that can break the townspeople's blind following of Rev. Jamie Chilton, she also wants the Prince to teach her how to fight so she can kill Chilton. When she finds the Prince, he turns out to be S.T. Maitland, deaf in one ear and experiencing serious balance problems because of it. He's a forced into retirement highwayman living in an abandoned castle with a pet wolf. S.T. rubbed the wolf's ears and smiled to himself. He'd charmed wilder things than a dour girl, after all. To say the least, Leigh is crushed, her savior can't even ride a horse. In what is a bit of a role reversal from what we usually see in our heroines and heroes, Leigh is the cold, shun love, and blindly bent on revenge while S.T. is the romantic, heart just wanting to burst with love, more sensitive one. S.T. was a little uneven in the beginning for me because his love and trust in a woman is what led to the end of his highwayman career but he is pretty instantly all-in on his want of Leigh. What saved this insta for me was the author underlying acknowledging that it was insta. It is mentioned how S.T. hasn't had a woman in 3yrs, insta-lust of Leigh, and as the story goes on, you see how love and human contact is necessary for S.T.'s personality but as S.T. and Leigh travel and spend more time together, we begin to see S.T. actually get to know her, which I need to believe in couple's love. It's a bit, well, S.T. got lucky in his love at first sight but I can't help it, I really enjoyed his yearning and putting himself out there for Leigh, while, with insight from personal thoughts from Leigh, the reader could see and feel how hard Leigh was fighting her feelings. "He murdered my family. My mother, my father, and my two sisters." There wasn't a tremor in her voice, not a trace of emotion at all. S.T. gazed at her cool moon-washed face. She stared back at him, unblinking. "Sunshine," he whispered. ******** "The others are frightened." "Such cowards as that?" "No." She shook her head, watching the ground ahead of her. "Not cowards. Frightened." He considered that. It was a telling point, a subtle, crucial difference. Miss Leigh Strachan was no fool. "Of what are they frightened?" "Of what happened to my sisters," she said. "They have daughters, too." "Wasn't a tremor", "not a trace of emotion", ugh, I could barely take Leigh's pain. There is definitely a solid background and foundation behind Leigh's tough exterior and her telling the story of what happened to her family, while trying not to breakdown, had me breaking down a bit. The author wonderfully conveyed how hard Leigh had to keep herself together, another brick in the character's personality wall, because if she didn't, she would shatter. The events that lead up to and the scene where Leigh finally does breakdown was heartbreaking. I thought it was masterful how the author used S.T.'s working and relationship with animals to mirror what was happening with Leigh. "I don't want your rotting gratitude," he said. She lay perfectly still, a mirage of the impersonal moonlight, as lifeless as the ruins. He couldn't even feel her breathing. "Then I'm sorry." She spoke suddenly. "Because that's all I have to give." ***** Forbidden worlds. Wild joy and romance. A midnight ride with an outlaw prince, and life, and life, and life. He burned with it. And she would have gone. Her throat grew thick with longing. She thought: you should have come sooner. You should have come when I could feel. I can see how some readers would have issues with Leigh (I read some reviews not liking her coldness) and while she frustrated me at times, again, the author provided credible reasons for it. Leigh was a painful character and every time S.T.'s reaching out was cruelly rejected or bounced off her wall, I was mad but I still understood her. The only misstep I think the author did was not having somewhat of a grovel scene, I demand it of my heroes when they have personalities like Leigh.I think if the author had shown the scene where, I'm going to put this in spoiler tags because it deals somewhat with how the story ends, (view spoiler)[Leigh worked to get S.T. pardoned for his highwayman crimes and how she missed him in London, showing her longing for him and how she was nervous to proclaim her love for him, I think readers would have softened to her more. It was kind of glossed over at the end and I think some missed feeling how she was ready to open herself up to him finally. (hide spoiler)] As it was, it kind of felt like S.T. constantly beat himself against Leigh's wall and Leigh never repaid or responded in like to prostrate herself like he did. She closed her eyes. When she opened them, the horse was still there. The Seigneur was still there. She was still hurting, still alive, still drowning in love and grief and rage. ****** She'd gone to France to find the Seigneur with no family and no future and no fear, with a well-spring of hate in her heart. But now she was afraid. Now she was cornered and desperate. Now she had something to lose. The plot involving the cult leader was interesting but towards the end when the author tied it into The Hellfire Club, it got a bit loose and didn't completely work for me; felt like forced danger added in. This had quite the epilogue, lol, but I enjoyed seeing these two happy together. Overall, this was a painfully emotional read at times and I enjoyed these two together, their pain, their yearning, and their connection, there is no doubt that these two fought for their HEA. There was a lot of layers to the story and I would suggest reading this a little slower to let it soak in. I wanted a little more from Leigh, S.T. was so earnest in trying to connect with her that I would have loved seeing her put herself out there too, but maybe the argument could be made that just isn't her personality. Anyway, read this for S.T.'s loving soul, Leigh's tightly contained heartache, and Nemo. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Mar 30, 2019
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Apr 06, 2019
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Mar 30, 2019
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Kindle Edition
| ||||||||||||||
| 0062872842
| 9780062872845
| 3.60
| 166,047
| Jun 11, 2019
| Jun 11, 2019
|
it was amazing
|
4.7 stars I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Th 4.7 stars I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. They could be friends, him and Georgie. That’s what was wrong. He didn’t want one—especially her. She was too young, too positive, and too related to his best friend. Starting off the Hot and Hammered series, Fix Her Up is a perfect sweet and hot summer read. Georgie has been in love with her brother's bestfriend Travis ever since she can remember but has never been able to get him to see her any other way, she can't even get her family to see her as an adult. When Travis comes back to his hometown, Georgie can't stand seeing him depressed over having to retire from baseball because of an injury and decides to try some tough love. Travis' father always said he'd never amount to anything and even though he's won the World Series, Travis is back right where he started. After living the flashy life as a star baseball player, Travis is struggling with who he is now. His bestfriend Stephen's little sister is pushing him to put the bottle down and clean his apartment and all the while Travis can't stop thinking about how sexy she has become. Georgie and Travis are sick of being stuck in a box and so they make a plan to fake date to get people to see them a different way, but there will absolutely be no real feelings, nope, nope, nope. But the more she got to know Reality Travis, the more Fantasy Travis started to fade, leaving this real, breathing, complicated man in his place. He appealed to her even more. So much more. I thought this story was an absolute delight, a perfect summer read. Georgie was a combination of sweet, goofy, determined, and vulnerable. She works as a party clown, which doesn't help getting people to see her as an adult, and wishes her family would see her more than the “baby” of the family. I thought the author did a good job moving Georgie from childhood infatuation to getting to know Travis on a deeper level to make her love for him seem more solid. Georgie finds Travis sexy and grew up starry eyed over him but as she deals with his grumpiness, depression, and abandonment issues, the reader can see a stronger foundation start to grow. Travis was the perfect amount of grumpy and soft towards Georgie, he's never blatantly mean towards her and I delighted in seeing him starting to crack against his will. He's about five years older than Georgie, so he was off playing baseball when she grew up and when they meet up again, he firmly tries to put her in the no touch little sister friend zone. He fails at this and it is not only because he finds her attractive but because she reaches him and connects with him in a way no in his life ever has. Travis and Georgie's chemistry, rather it be friendship or sexual, popped off the pages and I loved every second they made me smile or sent a tingle down my spine. There was a little bit of abruptness to their first sexual encounter and from there, it's on with these two. You'll get a kissing in the rain moment that morphs into a Georgie on her knees in a dugout, along with some other heat inducing scenes. For a sexy summer read, I thought there was a good balance between sex scenes and relationship building; the author doesn't completely abandon the emotional aspect. Seeming at odds with himself, he eventually wrapped an arm around the small of Georgie’s back, tugging her into the warmth of his chest. “A few minutes won’t hurt,” he muttered, seemingly to himself. She nuzzled into his chest hair to hide her smile. The fake relationship plot doesn't happen until a little later in the book and you kind of have to just go along with it for the sake of the story. There was also a mini-subplot mainly involving Georgie, her sister, sister-in-law, and a friend where they form a “Just Us League”, a group of women supporting each other to accomplish their dreams, that came off a bit series baiting. It was a way to introduce and get to know some secondary characters that will probably get their own stories later on. It wasn't intrusive and actually added some nice women bonding time while flushing Georgie's character out more but it was also obvious as series baiting. I thought Travis' relationship with Stephen could have been shown more and the issues he had with his parents definitely was missing some depth but even though Travis and Georgie's relationship moves a wee bit quickly, they still felt true. There were times were it came close overly focusing on Travis being so much more experienced than virgin Georgie but stopped shy of being harped on. These two were there for each other and the way Georgie sunshines her way into Travis' grumpiness, “forcing” him to commit some seriously sweet actions was at turns adorable and sexy. This girl could make a man crawl and had no idea. The ending wrapped up far too quickly, in regards to a last minute mess up by Travis and having no epilogue. However, thinking of Travis and Georgie embarking on their new adventure together, left a smile on my face. I'm also dying for Rosie and Dominic's story, a highschool sweetheart couple that has lost their connection, there is a scene between the two that will have everyone turning into a thirst factory for their book. As a summer read Fix Her Up excels, sweet, vulnerable, hot, and oh so sexy. She’d set out on a sneaky mission to make Travis believe in himself, but he’d slowly been doing the same for her. They’d been doing it for each other, hadn’t they? ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jun 2019
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Jun 08, 2019
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Mar 06, 2019
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ebook
| |||||||||||||||
| 0515115878
| 9780515115871
| 0515115878
| 4.06
| 473
| Apr 01, 1995
| Apr 01, 1995
|
it was amazing
|
I read this as a buddy read, for quotes, comments, and discussion: Bliss Buddy Read "Dis non." I am wrung out from reading this, I quoted and talked I read this as a buddy read, for quotes, comments, and discussion: Bliss Buddy Read "Dis non." I am wrung out from reading this, I quoted and talked a lot in the buddy read, so I'm going to let that for the most part talk for what I thought about this book. This was published in 1995, it has a bit of different rhythm to it. The heroine and hero are solidly introduced on their own and their characters are established before they meet (around 35% mark), this completely worked for me and if you're looking for depth to your characters that creates an incredibly emotional story, then it will work for you too. These characters weren't perfect, our hero is addicted to ether, has some struggles with not being the "hot, talented artist" anymore and our heroine is escaping a reputation that gave her a nickname "Miss Seven Minutes in Heaven" and wants a romantic easy life in Paris. It was the underlining truth to these emotions and characters that will have me thinking about these characters for a long, long time. It was passages like this: In the musty dark of the attic, Hannah felt heartened at last. And so very impressed with the real Nardi de Saint Vallier. He might not be a prince, but he was heroic: a man ready to face his nemesis, all that had worn him down before. Better than the fancy trousers and pretty coats that had once impressed her, this man had a magnificent fortitude. that had me absorbed. The author brilliantly interweaves societal issues and family dynamics through characters' thoughts and actions; these characters were not perfect but they grew. Secondary characters had me desperately wanting a Director's Cut of the book so I could get a more thorough look at them. If you can find this book, grasp it with both hands, I've rarely read a book that had such amazing depth to emotions. Read this, read this, read this (then go the buddy read and comment so I can talk about this book more and for years to come :) "You should know, Hannah, that I would marry you over and over, as many times as it takes to make the world see I love you." ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jan 25, 2020
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Feb 07, 2020
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May 22, 2018
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Mass Market Paperback
| ||||||||||||||
| unknown
| 4.27
| 392
| 1993
| Mar 2016
|
it was amazing
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4.5 stars It was never going to be anything other than it was. The route to being rid of him.’ Second in Stella Riley's Roundheads and Cavaliers ser 4.5 stars It was never going to be anything other than it was. The route to being rid of him.’ Second in Stella Riley's Roundheads and Cavaliers series, we're once again immersed into political, societal, and familial drama during the second part of the English Civil War (1640s). The first in the series (The Black Madonna) was about the build up and first part while also introducing us to three families and other assorted characters that represented sides of the war. While the first installment mainly followed a Roundhead family along with an outsider's perspective, our heroine is a Cavalier and forced to marry a Roundhead. While in the first, I thought the author had too many irons in the fire that lead to a somewhat fractured story, she nails the inclusion of real historical events and people with her fictional characters. Our hero Gabriel is a Colonel in the Roundhead army and thus, we are given an amazing inclusion and relay of the events of the day. ‘So that,’ concluded Venetia, ‘is it. I’m required to forget the man I’ve been betrothed to for five years in order to marry a base-born Roundhead usurper. If you read the first in the series, you'll remember Venetia and her betrothal to Ellis Brandon. She's a heroine that will make you feel like she takes stubbornness and obstinate actions to the next level for the majority of the story. Her forced hand and lack of control in instances of vital importance are worth remembering but mirrored against Gabriel's strong, steadfast, and generous attitude, will have you feeling very frustrated with her. Their romance is very slow burning and the turmoil swirling around them are much more front and center; this is historical fiction with a thread of romance. That is not to say that their romance isn't inspired, Gabriel is a hero you'll fall in love with, just that I couldn't help reveling in all the historical drama taking place. Said Algernon Sidney, ‘The King can be tried by no Court; and no man can be tried by this Court.’ ‘I tell you,’ replied Cromwell, ‘we will cut off his head with the Crown upon it.’ The way the author relayed history and wove it into a story that was entertaining along with intellectually stimulating deserves a standing ovation. I was lost into the various different factions of the Army, Parliament, rising up of Levellers, and various others fighting for control, and bringing and introducing new ideals that pop up in our government today. This was living breathing history that directly shaped and impacts us today. I felt the passion of Free-born John, the self-righteousness of Cromwell, the weariness and fear of the people, and the monumental moment of trying a King. Our heroine and hero have a bit of side story and drama but I thought the author did a better job, than the first, of integrating it into the overall and spotlight deserving Army and Parliament battles of the Civil War. Books like this is how you reach people who think history is boring, they'll learn, it will spark thinking, and be entertained. I can't wait to read on in the series to follow along with these characters Riley has created to see what becomes of them, not mention England's growth struggle. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Nov 16, 2018
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Dec 2018
|
May 17, 2018
| |||||||||||||||||
| 145553918X
| 9781455539185
| B01FRAS8JC
| 3.71
| 2,794
| Dec 05, 2017
| Dec 05, 2017
|
really liked it
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3.5 stars I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Disil 3.5 stars I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Disillusioned early on about rakes, Sarah St. John has always given Adam Rutledge, Viscount d'Arque, the cold shoulder. When he shows up unexpectedly at her home and is forced to spend Christmas, the complicated feelings she's always had, start to get even more complicated. Adam would do anything for his grandmother; even spend a week celebrating Christmas at the St. John residency. Thinking to entertain himself challenging Sarah, he soon finds it backfiring on him, as he's the one left feeling outgunned. The last installment in the Maiden Lane series, you could easily pick this up as a standalone; you would miss an early glimpse of d'Arque in a previous book but there is really no connection to the series overall. Sarah St. John should have been utterly forgettable. This is a novella slightly under 100pgs and I'm here to tell you that you're going to end up feeling cheated. The weather is cold, there is a search for some holly and an ending Christmas Eve ball but I did think this lacked a solid holiday read feel. However, this doesn't matter because the reason for the season is d'Arque. Nothing else. The absolute caring way he treats his grandmother was shown brilliantly and provided some depth of character. His sheer sexiness though, steals the show. He's able to keep himself rather emotionally contained, except when he gets around Sarah and then we get to see cracks form in the façade; I live for the cracks. He's sexy, smooth, sparking, and a bit unraveling when he's with her and I loved every second of it. Sarah St. John loathed rakes. Sarah was the perfect combination of stiff and melting when she was around d'Arque. Her past hurt helps us understand why she tries to keep d'Arque at a distance but it also ends up feeling rushed and forced as the emotional pain isn't given enough room to develop with the small page count. I loved how she stepped up to d'Arque's challenging but also how she softened to his touch. Her family round out the secondary characters and I missed seeing more interactions with her sisters as I think this would have filled out her character even more. "Careful, sweetheart," he rasped in her ear, his breath brushing her neck, and it was strange because she could've sworn there was real concern in his voice. "you nearly fell at my feet just then." There's some mini trials and tribulations going on in this novella but the core of the story and why you're going to want to read it, is the interaction between Sarah and d'Arque. They are the couple who give you shivers up and down your spine. They snap, spark, crash, and melt together in a way that make you want to reread their story as soon as you finish. I will spend more time of my life than is healthy wishing the author had chosen to write a full length novel for them. There's a point where d'Arque says: "I want you." He fought to keep his voice level. Civilized. "In every way." The way this is dragged out of him had me thinking of Sebastian St. Vincent. In a full novel, I think d'Arque would have seriously challenged St. Vincent in the eyes of many romance readers for favorite rake. Hoyt is very good at small impactful emotions and outside the main couple's relationship, there is a scene where Sarah's sister starts to blame herself for a man's actions and after her family support, their mother says the line: "I shall have to warn my friends about him.”. This may be a case of what's in the news timing but this little scene hit me in the feels. The women's network; created out of necessity, caring, and bravery. In the past and present, sometimes we women have been the only recourse and this added scene is again one of the numerous reasons I read romance, it understands, tells, and celebrates us women. Look, issues get brought up and moved on from quickly (d'Arque's parents' death) and the ending is so outrageously abrupt. Seriously, Hoyt gives us one of my favorite proposal lines ever and then slammed me into a "the end" wall. I loved what Hoyt gave me of d'Arque almost as much as I hated how little she gave me of d'Arque. At the end of the day though, if you're looking for a quick escape, d'Arque won't disappoint. He broke their kiss and laid his forehead against hers. "Make me stop." "I can't," she whispered. "Then we're doomed," he said, his voice husky and low. "For I'm unable to stop myself. I want you. Day and night and all the time in between. I want you." ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Nov 28, 2017
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Dec 04, 2017
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Nov 01, 2017
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ebook
| ||||||||||||||
| 0425153290
| 9780425153291
| 0425153290
| 3.93
| 838
| May 01, 1996
| May 01, 1996
|
really liked it
|
Someone smarter than me needs to review this book. Like, STAT. This would make an incredible book club selection, the conversations and discussions wo
Someone smarter than me needs to review this book. Like, STAT. This would make an incredible book club selection, the conversations and discussions would be great. Ok, so like a Rose Lerner and Courtney Milan book, this is impossible for me to write a coherent review because of thoughts and feelings. The gist is Geraint grew up in Wales with people thinking he was a bastard but at age 12 he is whisked away because his mother didn't lie, she was married to an Earl's heir and Geraint is now the heir. His grandfather forbids him any contact with his mother and past friends, Marged and Aled, from Wales. After a little over a decade away, he returns and is pretty much shunned by everyone because of how awful the economic system has been running, poor getting taxed to death. The author uses the real historical Rebecca Riots as a plot point and to help Geraint integrate himself with the people. But oh my dearies, this book is so much more, the economic and class issues are the main theme with sexism also being touched on. To be honest, the romance took a definite back seat for me and I actually liked the secondary couple better than the main. The first three chapters or so give this a really slow beginning but stick with it, the author weaves an incredible tale. It is emotional, thought provoking, and intelligent; I don't find books like this too often. This has been in my garage sale book box for many years and I'm actually glad it took me so long to get to, I don't think I could have appreciated this when I was younger; I think this would be better for a mature audience. I would call this a mash-up of Rose Lerner (class/economic issues) and The Rose in Winter by Kathleen Woodiwiss (main couple's relationship). This is a book to help you get it, why and how people's fear and helplessness create anger because they have nowhere to turn to or recourse and the courageous and dangerous acts this produces. I am disappointed this doesn't have a re-issue in ebook format. I also want to start the battle cry for Idris to get his own book. If I was a part of book club discussion: But the challenge of journalism is to try to separate truth from prejudice and hysteria and report accurately what is fair to both sides. I don't think the relevance of this book will ever die out but this line hit me extra hard. The importance journalism plays in this story, well, it will remind you why we need to keep fighting for a free media system. But Geraint had always felt disliked. Not that he had ever been self-pitying about it. But he had built defenses, of which Aled, as his one close friend apart from Marged Llwyd, had been aware. The defense of not caring a fig for anyone as a child. The added defense of aloofness as an eighteen-year-old and the firm hiding behind his newly acquired Englishness and his gentleman's manners. We don't get heroes like Geraint very often; he was the epitome of still a hurt, lonely child inside mixed with strength, compassion, and courage. The author did an amazing job showing how people create defense mechanisms to help them survive and how this can help and hinder them in their personal relationships. "Goddammit," Geraint said, "we were friends, Aled. You and Marged and I. Marged told me to get away from Ty-Gwyn. She told me I could shove my sympathy for her down my throat---I believe she was itching to suggest a different location. She told me I was not welcome. And you tell me I have a vivid imagination. Don't make this lonelier for me than it has to be, many. What have I done?" When Geraint finally returns to Wales, he finds he can't just waltz in and be accepted. He's rich and part of the system destroying the people's lives, like his old friend's Aled and Marged. Aled was such a great character, shy but bold in his strength. Aled was the friend who tells it like it is, without anger or hate towards Geraint but with a calm open your eyes and educate yourself. "Ignorance is no plea, is it?" he said. Not then and especially not in 2017. Most were enthusiastically in favor of showing their displeasure and their frustration---and their fear---in some active manner. Fear was a dreadful emotion when it was accompanied by utter helplessness. Something was wrong. It would have been farcical if it were not also deadly serious. Using the Rebecca Riots was brilliant and helped educate me (I had to immediately go and research it further) on a personal little known historical occurrence. It beautifully showcased all the angles people take when injustice is massively tipped to one side. And yet he saw now more than ever before that people of his class could not act as individuals for all their privileges. If they did not act as a class, as a unit, they might all crumble. Again, the author was brilliant in showing all sides and directions of classism and how that can create injustice and as Geraint discovers, there is no easy fix because it is a system and not an individual person to easily attack. The necessity for rebelling in order to draw attention would be past. "I am fighting against a system, Marged," he said, "against an injustice that is larger than one person. I do not hate anyone." "It shows," she said. "You are so very careful that no one if hurt during the smashing of gates, either on our side or on the other side. And somehow you arrange it that those who suffer material loss are compensated. You are a compassionate man. Is that why you are doing this, then? You are fighting against a system rather than against people?" "Yes," he said. "It is better than hatred," she said. "Hatred---hurts." People as a whole don't want to constantly be at odds, they want to be a part of society and contribute. They want the system fixed or the first step at bare minimum to be taken, acknowledgement that the system is broken and needs to be fixed. She was still angry. Perhaps angrier with him than she might have been because she was angry with herself. Oh, Marged. I can see some great discussions happening about this heroine. The quickest and easiest assessment to make of her is bitter and hateful. Our heroines have to be kind, softhearted, and forgiving at all times, don’t they? Marged burns that thought to the ground. Marged is angry, she's angry that Geraint left her when she loved him as a child, she's angry at the system that killed her husband, and instead of crying on the inside, she flings her anger at Geraint. Hatred, she was discovering, was too powerful an emotion. Too like love. Sometimes the two were indistinguishable. Perhaps if she had not loved him, she would never have hated him. She would merely have disliked and despised him. Marged's anger and helplessness finds a convenient and pretty undeserved target of Geraint. Her warring of emotions gave their relationship passion. For every review I see that says they hated the heroine, I want thesis after thesis discussing the complexity of burdens of womanhood, their rights and privileges during this time period, how women are “allowed” to behave, and how individuals deal with convoluted emotions. She also helped to provide the story with some romance angst ;) "I am glad you were so stubborn," she said. "I am glad we never married, Aled." He swallowed awkwardly. "I love you, cariad," he said. "No," she said. "It is something other than love that rules your life, Aled. It is hatred and the desire for revenge. It is the desire for destruction and violence." "It is the desire for a better life," he said, "and the conviction that we have a right to it. It is the belief that I owe it to myself and to my neighbors and to my unborn children---if I ever have any---to do something I cannot allow others to do for me, cariad." "Neither could Eurwyn," she said bitterly. "But he died and left Marged and his mam and gran to manage without him. And no one has a better life as a result of what he did." He lifted one hand to cup the back of her head. "It is what you are afraid of?" he asked softly. "That I will die and leave you alone? It is better, you think, not to marry me and not to have my little ones if I recklessly court death?" She was crying then and trying to pull away from him. But his arms closed about he like iron bands. And he kissed the top of her head, the wet cheek that was exposed to him, and finally the wet face she lifted to him. He kissed her mouth with hunger, parting his lips with his own. "Tell me you love me," he whispered against her lips. "It has been so long since I heard you say the words. Tell me I am your cariad." But she struggled then and freed herself and turned back to face the gate, his coat held about her shoulders with both her hands. "No," she said. "You are not my love, Aled. And I do not believe Marged is my friend any longer. I am sorry for it. Marged is causing mischief and you are talking of breaking down tollgates with perhaps hundreds of men to make a mob. Someone will get hurt. It may be you or it may be Marged. But worse, it may be someone else, hurt because of you or Marged. I cannot love you any longer. No, let me put it differently. I will not love you any longer. But you knew that. We have argued it out before. Let there be an end now. No more scenes like this. It is over." "And yet," he said, "you still love me." "You were not listening." She released her hold on his coat and let it slide to the ground. "Ah, yes," he said sadly, "I was, cariad." She said nothing more. And he could think of nothing more to say either. She would not give up her conviction that protest and violence were never justified, and he would not give up his conviction that they were and that if he wanted to see change and thought someone should do something about effecting it, then he must be willing to do his part. He could no longer stand back and let the Eurwyns of this world do his fighting for him. He must fight for himself. Even if it meant giving up the one good thing in his life that had given it meaning and direction for the past six years. For four of those years he had worked long , hard hours in his forge, making himself worthy of her, making for her a secure future and preparing a comfortable home. And now for two he had taken the course best calculated to drive her away forever. But there was nothing he could do to change that. For if he could not offer her his integrity, then he had nothing worth offering at all. Aled and Ceris were the secondary romance and I ate them up with a spoon. Talk about two sides of a coin and a wonderful showcase of how society needs both ways of thinking in order to challenge and change the system and keep societal civility. If Aled and Marged were the hundred reasons to passionately act out, Ceris was the hundred reasons to intellectually not to. Aled and Ceris' relationship, gah, their quiet love for each other just killed me. This is a little slow at times and to ensure a happy ending, two very serendipitous moments had to occur but it was all so worth it for me. If you're looking for more romance, this probably wouldn't be for you. If you're looking for a quick and easy story, this probably wouldn't be for you. If you're looking for complexity in thought and emotion, this is definitely for you. This whole story felt like a very intimate peek into people's lives, they weren't just characters to me. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Aug 31, 2017
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Sep 10, 2017
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Aug 31, 2017
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Mass Market Paperback
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| 0062566733
| 9780062566737
| 0062566733
| 3.71
| 7,384
| Jul 25, 2017
| Jul 25, 2017
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it was amazing
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I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Growing up as I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Growing up as the pseduo prince and princess of their families, it was almost inevitable that Nicholas and Livvy would end up together. However, their world gets shattered when tragedy strikes and they find themselves ripped apart. Ten years later and Livvy is back home to take care of her mother and maybe get back some of what was lost to her. Nicholas wants something too, more than one night a year. First in the new Forbidden Hearts series, Hate to Want You lends itself to the easy comparison to Romeo and Juliet. We have two families brought together by hard work and determinism, only to be broken apart two generations later by hurt, innuendo, secrets, and pain. Our couple's grandfathers started a grocery store that has been built up over the years to develop into a chain. When the heroine's father and the hero's mother are killed in a car accident together, painful questions are raised. Then the hero's father does some suspiciously underhanded dealings to buy heroine's family half of the grocery chain. Thus, begins the cold war between the families and the fracturing of Livvy and Nicholas' romance. In terms of pure pleasure and relief, he imagined the feeling he got when he received a text from Livvy was similar to what an addict felt when they got a hit of whatever drug they craved. We are started off with Nicholas' point of view and what a deep emotional start it was. We learn that on Livvy's birthday she texts him her coordinates, he travels to her, and they have sex for that one night a year. Except she didn't do it this year and he finds out she is in town where she hasn't stepped foot in ten years. Our first look at the couple is so filled with emotion and sexual tension, you'll be hooked. Nicholas starts off as the brighter focus of the two with his barely contained torment, weight of struggling to take care of the business and his family, and inability to stop craving Livvy. There is a tiny little bit of martyr syndrome to him, but ultimately, his character and heart was wonderful to read. All those years ago, she'd lost her father to death, her mother to grief, her brothers to hate. And then she'd lost him. While I thought Nicholas started off with a stronger spotlight, Livvy grows brighter and brighter with each new insight to her character. Livvy was such an amazing look at strengths and weaknesses that were laid bare with inner struggles that were a painful beauty to behold. Her struggle to try and manage her feelings to what she thinks is acceptable and still respect her herself had so much depth. We also learn of a very real struggle she deals with, I loved how the author didn't use to define her but showed how she is in some ways fashioned from it. Our heroines don't always get to be everything; Livvy was a fantastic multi-faceted woman. There is no way I can do justice in relaying to you the complete picture of story and characters Alisha Rai gives us. The family dynamics going on here were tremendously done, with the emotions feeling real and raw. There's obviously more to be discovered about the instances that tore these two families apart, the introduction to the secondary characters that are connected by these story threads will have you dying to get the complete picture. Nicholas and Livvy's siblings aren't thrown out there as series bait but rather fill out the complete story; I'm salivating for their stories (Put me on team pairing up Eve and Gabe!). Now, this has more intense sexual talk and scenes than your average contemporary, you could probably put an erotica tag on it. They are gritty, raw, and of course sexual with the author not shying away from pearl clutching language. I would argue though, that what makes them feel so raw are the deep emotion between Livvy and Nicholas, but look, the spanking and hair pulling also helps. What I personally loved about their sex scenes were the powerful dynamics happening. There's a blowjob scene where Nicholas is the more vulnerable participant, even while physically we know he's the more powerful, he's shown to be incredibly emotionally vulnerable. There's been a little bit of a trend to portray "Me Tarzan, you Jane" sex, the power and emotion dynamics sex scenes here blow those depictions out of the water for me. I was a huge fan of what felt more like consensual and emotionally balanced sex. What I'm trying to say, is spanking and hair pulling sex scenes can be amazing when you add depth of emotion. The hint of humor and lightness between our couple, which gets bogged down sometimes from the pain and circumstances, also plays a big part here, even if regulated to the edges. Deep, emotional, raw, and hot, Hate to Want You is an incredible lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers romance. Nicholas and Livvy's desire and love for one another is the stuff of Shakespearean plays. Alisha Rai has set up a series with a world and characters that I can't wait to return to and read about. "You're not my secret anymore. My love for you is bigger than anyone who might try to tear us apart." He paused. "I won't leave you, Livvy. You don't have to trust me completely right now, but watch me. Watch me fight for you this time." ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jul 10, 2017
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Jul 14, 2017
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May 11, 2017
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Mass Market Paperback
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| 1496707443
| 9781496707444
| 1496707443
| 3.83
| 9,482
| Mar 28, 2017
| Mar 28, 2017
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it was amazing
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4.5 stars She was Ellen Burns, and she was going to help destroy the Confederacy. I'm way late to the party on this one but, oh yes, do I agree with 4.5 stars She was Ellen Burns, and she was going to help destroy the Confederacy. I'm way late to the party on this one but, oh yes, do I agree with the majority of you all, this is my highest rated book of the year. Our heroine Elle definitely is the stand-out character, the hero Malcolm was very overshadowed in the beginning but began to shine brighter in the middle and end. Working on behalf of the Union in a ring of spies called the Loyal League, Elle is placed in a southern senator's household as a mute slave to gain and pass on as much information as she can. Malcolm spies for the Pinkerton Agency and is currently posing as a Union soldier. Malcolm is immediately drawn to Elle, a bit insta-lust, but what saves their romance from my personal dislike of insta, is Elle's thoughts and feelings. When they first meet, Elle is a slave and Malcolm a Union soldier but even after their undercover roles are revealed, Elle is a Black woman and Malcolm a white man in 1862 America. [...]one wrong word from him and she would lose her life, whereas his sex and skin color inoculated him from harm at her hand. I've complained many times about forced angst or conflict in stories contrived to keep heroes and heroines apart, yeah, nothing forced here. The author deeply provides us with Elle's thoughts and emotions about the danger of having feelings for Malcolm. This is shown not only personally, the immediate bodily danger to Elle and the personal stake she has in the Civil War but also outwardly, the encompassing work they are doing for the Union and the importance of the information they have to pass on. In beginning notes I took, I mentioned that the heroine was crotchety, which I appreciated because the heroes always get to be the surly ones fighting the romance and struggled with because of personal thoughts of just accept this sexy awesome dude already. As the story went on though, the author does such an amazing job putting you in the historical context, place, and time, and it becomes felt how the stakes are very real for Elle. This isn't a light falling in love but a hard hand gripping leap of faith. “Help me to understand,” he said. He was still asking of her when he should be giving, but he didn’t know how else to proceed. “We don’t want revenge, Malcolm.” She looked at him like he was the densest bastard to ever walk the earth. “We want life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, just like any damned fool in these United States is entitled to so long as he isn’t Black or Red. So you can keep your outrage. All I can do is try to make a difference.” This didn't have a lot of overall reaching Civil War tidbits dropped in, it is more of an immediate spotlight on how networks of spies could gain knowledge and help their side and one take on how a women in Elle's position could have fallen in love. I don't often mention how a character's emotions and thoughts help set the time period for me but Elle was a huge component for placing me in the story. The clothing, atmosphere, incidentals, and society were all there, too. Tied into the spying for information battle and danger, was some awesome ironclad ships and blockade talk. This may seem like a weird thing to get excited about but this is why I read historicals, to get little nuggets of information to gain knowledge and understanding with a feel of the time. This was who she was when she was allowed to be free from fear. Malcolm didn't quite leap off the pages for me, due to spying being a waiting game for info at times there was some slowness, and I would have liked some outer happenings (more big Civil War happenings going on, more of the Loyal League people, structure, and happenings). I know this is first in series, so maybe some information was held back about the Loyal League but in a contrarily way (I complain a lot about first in a series syndrome and how authors focus too much on setting up characters for future books) I could have stood for more character presence from ones that will star or appear in future installments in the series. Secondary characters gave without stealing the show, this "little" line from Mary: “I was just worried, is all,” she said, adjusting the ragged lace trim on Elle’s sleeve. “You remind me of my daughter sometimes. She had eyes just like yours . . . Caffrey sold her down South to pay off a debt. Every time I look at you, I wonder if she gonna grow up to be as pretty as you. And I hope she won’t.” "I hope she won't", devastating. There was also Timothy, who Elle feared his judgement about her relationship with Malcolm but he informs her that he is part Seminole and a host of other characters that show that "kind" people can participate and be blind to atrocities. This book made the list of several best of 2017 lists and I completely see why. The historical richness is great, there are some awesome emotional and thought provoking on fire comments/commentary, and the consequences, angst, and attraction between Elle and Malcolm are felt, but read this book for Elle. Her anger and underlining pain give way to such a well of strength; she's the heroine you want to read about, hope you're a little bit like, and inspire to be. (The author notes that some of her characters were based on real life people: Elle was based on Mary Bowser, Malcolm by Timothy Webster, and Robert Grand by Robert Smalls. There was also a reference guide of books the author used for research in the back. Historicals with history! Give me more historicals like this) ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jul 25, 2018
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Aug 11, 2018
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Feb 28, 2017
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Paperback
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| 4.28
| 83
| Feb 28, 2017
| Feb 28, 2017
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it was amazing
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4.5 stars This was so wonderfully fresh, non-cookie cutter that I reveled in it. How has this author escaped me before??? Like I said in an update, the 4.5 stars This was so wonderfully fresh, non-cookie cutter that I reveled in it. How has this author escaped me before??? Like I said in an update, the hero is left of center and the almost gothic tone with bdsm threads bubbling under the surface (I fully expect them to see daylight in the next book in the series), is not going to be for everyone. If you usually like books I do, abandon your friends and family to go out, buy this book, and cocoon yourself for some uninterrupted reading time. *I want to note, because of the over-saturation, and in my personal opinion, not well done bdsm themed books, this is not like the typical ones you all are tired of. This is a first in the series with the hero and heroine's relationship just developing, so first off, sanely and emotionally maturely, we don't get active (well, one scene could sort of kind of fall into this) scenes of bdsm play. However, because the hero is aware of his personal proclivities and the heroine is, at turns consciously and unconsciously responding to these proclivities, it is bubbling under the surface. I wish I could write a coherent review of this story but it kind of took me off guard and all I have are quotes (I highlighted the hell out of this and whittling them down so I didn't get in trouble for posting the whole book was agony, I tell you!) and excited emotional disjointed thoughts. I think it was this friend's review, Jaci ,that alerted me to this book (if I'm wrong, please let me know if you are the one who told me about this book so I can smother you in you're my new bestfriend praise and credit). Read her review for a coherent take. Ropes, ravens, murder, and poison is only the beginning. [image] His presence whispered of a dominating man with very high standards of sophistication edged with unnerving patience and…darkness. Mr. Ridley. A backstory that is Dexter-ish, we get a sketched and shaded in relay of his past but even more wonderfully, we get a fully in depth emotional written character from the author. He's intriguing, nuanced, complex, sweet, hot, smart, darkly witty, and the list goes on; I could read about this man all day. [image] “It was not your analogy to use. It was my analogy. An analogy I used with respect. Do you have any idea how many white British men have referred to me and my people as being animals?” His features flickered. “Kumar. Cease. That wasn’t what I was—” “Be mindful of how you speak to me.” His voice softened. “I will. I’m sorry.” It was something. “Be mindful.” “I will." Jemdanee. For as strong a character Mr. Ridley is, she more than matches him (I would say surpasses him at the end even). She's young (18 to his 32) but her childhood and living and life situations have given her the strength and maturity older than her years. Instead of just telling us this, the author did a magnificent job of crafting Jemdanee's character and personality to reflect this, thus creating a believable and chemistry sparking relationship between her and Mr. Ridley. Gothic tone: She swallowed and turned toward him in the darkness, his undefined features in the shadows close behind her. “Your house makes too many sounds at night.” “It’s the books,” he whispered. “Some are as old as the Crusades and they’re all telling stories. They try to crawl out of the pages and drag you in with warped words. The ones in the attic are by far the worst. They’re piled high enough to enable you to stand on them and reach the rafters where all the old ropes from the building hang." The murder, tone, and atmosphere gave this more of a dark and bleak feel but with Halloween coming up, I thought it provided a darkly enticing welcome. Also with Gothic feels, sometimes the drama gets a bit Drama and the dark mystery gets a bit Dark Mystery but it was all in darkly spooky drama fun for me. Chemistry sparking: Skimming her bare shoulders and the exposed upper rounds of her breasts sitting above the corset, he paused. Their eyes locked and her heart seemed to rush to her head and every toe. His steady gaze bore into her with the heat of sandstone. It was the only acknowledgement she needed as a woman. She almost, almost smiled but thought that would be over-flirting. “It must have fallen.” His eyes grew flat and unreadable. “Along with whatever respect you have for yourself. Wit over tit, Watkins. Pull it up.” "Wit over tit" Y'ALL. “Few will ever point out their own flaws, but I will be the first to admit I carry the greatest one of all. I deny myself nothing and regret everything.” Ridley quirked a brow. “Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Control.” She feigned surprise. “Allow me to introduce myself. My name is None.” Bubbling: She swallowed and sank back down onto the mattress, her body burning as she released his hands. “I have desires and feelings much like any woman. Yet you refuse to acknowledge it. Why?” He set his shaven chin against her throat. “I am acknowledging it by not permitting you to have control. Don’t throw yourself at things you have no understanding of. There is more to me than even I understand. Leave it be.” ******* “Learn to kneel.” His voice grew gruff and ominous. “It’s Mr. Ridley given I do not belong to you. Just as you are and will always be Kumar, because you do not belong to me. We belong to ourselves and not to each other.” [image] ;) "Whilst we may never see each other again, I wish to offer you this parting advice: You need to be your own person, Kumar. You need to belong to yourself first before you can belong to anyone else, especially someone like me. Do you understand?” ****** She jerked toward him, refusing to let him command her. “What did you mean by one day?” “As in not now.” He flicked her forehead. “Cease letting your body dictate what you want. At your age, even a finger resting in your mouth seems exciting.” His tone hinted he was mildly amused. “You were riled by it, weren’t you?” He tsked. “Call on me in five years. In the meantime, do you need a towel for those moist thighs? Because I’d hate for you to slide off the bed and hit the floor.” The restraint and coinciding slow burn weaved into this story, was/is EVERYTHING. Jemdanee eyed it and him. He thought a woman choked by rope was…beautiful? His finger traced it, his voice fading. “I only point her out to those I trust.” Which hinted it meant something to him. The build up to Mr. Ridley showing this hint of truth and vulnerability and cracking the door open to Jemdanee, should be material for a writing, building romantic genre relationships class. I feel like I should take a moment to very briefly and roughly sketch out the story premise. Jemdanee is in England, having traveled with a guardian, gets arrested due to wrong place, wrong time and racism. Mr. Ridley who investigates murders takes on her case. The chemistry and relationship building I've been going on about. Murder investigation, drug overdose, pasts, and futures interwoven throughout. There are secondary characters that add to the story and our main couple's characters and could probably have novellas of their own. The ending is cliff-hangerish in the sense Jemdanee and Mr. Ridley's story is clearly not over but not an abrupt cut-off, this felt like a complete book/story. Back to the quotes that I hope make you want to read this: Deranged as she was, it made her want to reach out a hand and push aside the ferns. Those soulful eyes reflected a granite-like strength that were as charming as they were feral. Very few people knew that crocodiles had soft bellies. And this crocodile had the softest belly of them all. Kali save her from falling in love with him for she knew he was too dark to ever love her in any normal way. It was there in his eyes which taunted. His heart was slumbering in the deep cave of his chest, yes, but it had not seen much light for it to grow into anything normal. I know the age difference will be off-putting for some and in contemporaries this usually bothers me, but the author's crafting of the characters shows, tells, and gives reason to their attraction. Something primitive within her emerged as her pulse roared and she grew…wet. There was no shame in it because she had made herself wet. He hadn’t forced her to be wet. Something within her body and mind wanted to prove to him that she was ready to know real passion. The sort women rarely got to touch without labeling themselves as whores. Oh yes, there is seemingly innocuous but nuanced points and discussion on sexism, racism, imperialism, consent, and power dynamics. [image] She tilted her head. “Shall we agree to meet in Calcutta in five years?” He dragged in more smoke. “Are you insinuating you would wait five years?” Was that an offer? Or was he teasing? She couldn’t tell. She sat up and propped her shoulder toward him, trying to exude the sort of grand sophistication he required. “If I am promised something worth waiting for, why would I not?” He said nothing, merely drew in more smoke. Turning a page, he kept reading. Like I said, this is not the end of their story and after this, I'm dying to continue reading about their relationship, especially since Jemdanee will probably be of an age Mr. Ridley deems ready to embark on something with him. For she at her mere eighteen had a taught a man at two and thirty that without self-respect, no life was worth living. She was right. But that didn’t mean he had to stay wrong. Like I said, Mr. Ridley captured my attention first and is an incredibly alluring character (for all his mystery and dark, we also get tears from him) but Jemdanee ultimately emerged as the stronger one (her personal strength and self-respect will touch many women). I rarely come across such intriguing characters that feel different, while still encapsulating some tropes, and are amazingly chalk full of depth and emotional. Like I said, read this so I have more people to talk about this couple! ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Aug 19, 2018
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Aug 27, 2018
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Feb 24, 2017
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ebook
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WhiskeyintheJar
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|
| 4.01
|
it was amazing
|
Sep 13, 2020
|
Mar 06, 2020
|
|||||
|
| 4.03
|
it was amazing
|
Dec 06, 2019
|
Dec 06, 2019
|
|||||
|
| 3.85
|
it was amazing
|
Jan 23, 2020
|
Oct 21, 2019
|
|||||
|
| 4.11
|
it was amazing
|
Nov 06, 2019
|
May 06, 2019
|
|||||
|
| 3.77
|
really liked it
|
Apr 06, 2019
|
Mar 30, 2019
|
|||||
|
| 3.60
|
it was amazing
|
Jun 08, 2019
|
Mar 06, 2019
|
|||||
|
| 4.06
|
it was amazing
|
Feb 07, 2020
|
May 22, 2018
|
|||||
|
| 4.27
|
it was amazing
|
Dec 2018
|
May 17, 2018
|
|||||
|
| 3.71
|
really liked it
|
Dec 04, 2017
|
Nov 01, 2017
|
|||||
|
| 3.93
|
really liked it
|
Sep 10, 2017
|
Aug 31, 2017
|
|||||
|
| 3.71
|
it was amazing
|
Jul 14, 2017
|
May 11, 2017
|
|||||
|
| 3.83
|
it was amazing
|
Aug 11, 2018
|
Feb 28, 2017
|
|||||
|
| 4.28
|
it was amazing
|
Aug 27, 2018
|
Feb 24, 2017
|
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