What do you think?
Rate this book
His #1
His Horizon
Temperatures rise when there are two cooks in Jude’s kitchen...
Jude’s drowning in guilt when he can’t save his family business single-handed. The last person he expects to throw a lifeline is Rob, a rival chef who once beat him to first place in a cooking contest.
Two chefs working together won’t be easy. Not when Rob is everything Jude isn’t—popular, extroverted, and a one-time hook-up. What’s worse is that Rob wears his heart on his sleeve while Jude’s still in the closet.
Jude’s dilemma doesn’t end there. Rob’s rescue package comes with conditions that mean sharing everything from the profits to Jude’s sleeping quarters. Sleeping with the enemy will either be a disaster or signal a much brighter future, but only if Jude can meet Rob’s final condition and love him in the open.
Featuring opposites who attract, rivals to lovers, and an out-for-you storyline dripping with hurt-comfort feelings, His Horizon is the first in a shared-world series of standalone MM romance novels from Con Riley.
Jude’s drowning in guilt when he can’t save his family business single-handed. The last person he expects to throw a lifeline is Rob, a rival chef who once beat him to first place in a cooking contest.
Two chefs working together won’t be easy. Not when Rob is everything Jude isn’t—popular, extroverted, and a one-time hook-up. What’s worse is that Rob wears his heart on his sleeve while Jude’s still in the closet.
Jude’s dilemma doesn’t end there. Rob’s rescue package comes with conditions that mean sharing everything from the profits to Jude’s sleeping quarters. Sleeping with the enemy will either be a disaster or signal a much brighter future, but only if Jude can meet Rob’s final condition and love him in the open.
Featuring opposites who attract, rivals to lovers, and an out-for-you storyline dripping with hurt-comfort feelings, His Horizon is the first in a shared-world series of standalone MM romance novels from Con Riley.
9 pages, Audible Audio
First published June 30, 2020
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 206 reviews
August 26, 2020
Darn, I really wanted to like this.
The blurb is so promising: chefs, rivals to lovers, coming out and lots of other things that are totally my cup of tea.
However, I’m sorry to say, the book wasn’t.
The reasons are manifold, but the main ones are listed here:
.) The blurb is a bit misleading. This is first and foremost a story about Jude dealing with grief, guilt and coming out. All the other themes are pretty secondary, with the cooking falling totally sideways and the enemies-to-lovers hardly present at all. Rob loves Jude right from the beginning, so if there is any animosity, it fizzles out quite soon with a teeny puff.
.) The writing, although very eloquent, is very slow and dragged in bits, and I admit to skipping and skimming, Particularly, when conversations are broken up by two page monologues between each sentence. I’m sorry to say that my brain simply can’t cope with that, and I often had to page back wondering: Hmm, what did he ask again?
.) I found that people often act odd or illogical, for me at least. I asked myself too often; Why did he do/say that? How did that happen? Is he for real? What the heck? No way, he did that!
.) Rob is too shiny and nice and wonderful, while Jude is moody and unreasonable and strange. I never felt their connection deeply or any sizzling chemistry.
.) The plot seems too far-fetched for me. We get so many coincidences, so many incongruities right down to blaring contradictions, for example
Unfortunately, I could go on, there are so many small things like that which felt odd or off to me, I really had to push myself to finish.
As for the finale – I really could not believe that the author went with that solution, which left me with a lot of questions. Of course the answers might have been in one of those monologues I skipped….
I know I'm the odd one out here, but I'm sorry to say, this clearly wasn't for me.
The blurb is so promising: chefs, rivals to lovers, coming out and lots of other things that are totally my cup of tea.
However, I’m sorry to say, the book wasn’t.
The reasons are manifold, but the main ones are listed here:
.) The blurb is a bit misleading. This is first and foremost a story about Jude dealing with grief, guilt and coming out. All the other themes are pretty secondary, with the cooking falling totally sideways and the enemies-to-lovers hardly present at all. Rob loves Jude right from the beginning, so if there is any animosity, it fizzles out quite soon with a teeny puff.
.) The writing, although very eloquent, is very slow and dragged in bits, and I admit to skipping and skimming, Particularly, when conversations are broken up by two page monologues between each sentence. I’m sorry to say that my brain simply can’t cope with that, and I often had to page back wondering: Hmm, what did he ask again?
.) I found that people often act odd or illogical, for me at least. I asked myself too often; Why did he do/say that? How did that happen? Is he for real? What the heck? No way, he did that!
.) Rob is too shiny and nice and wonderful, while Jude is moody and unreasonable and strange. I never felt their connection deeply or any sizzling chemistry.
.) The plot seems too far-fetched for me. We get so many coincidences, so many incongruities right down to blaring contradictions, for example
Unfortunately, I could go on, there are so many small things like that which felt odd or off to me, I really had to push myself to finish.
As for the finale – I really could not believe that the author went with that solution, which left me with a lot of questions. Of course the answers might have been in one of those monologues I skipped….
I know I'm the odd one out here, but I'm sorry to say, this clearly wasn't for me.
July 26, 2020
Wow. Just…wow. I have a bookshelf deemed ‘oh my heart’ and at this rate, I think I should rename it ‘Con, here’s my heart’ because that’s how I feel every time! But this time, I want to scream to the cinema gods because THIS BOOK NEEDS TO REACH ANOTHER AUDIENCE. I close my eyes and I hear the sea and feel the salt on my lips from the gusty breeze…I see the beauty of Porthperrin in my dreams and it’s simply stunning. From elite sailing to gourmet cooking, the crystal clear writing paints the pages. I love it when reading a story becomes a physical experience. I always adore slipping into one of Riley’s worlds but this particular case was special. I was sitting on the edge of my seat and biting my fingernails as the emotional storm crashed and calmed. There was so much going on but it was never ‘too much’. I was captivated, entranced, or possibly even lovesick but I wouldn’t have had it any other way. This was a glorious escape when I needed it the most…thank you Con, you’re a star!
Speaking of stars, Britain’s latest cooking contest boils down to the top two contenders and they clang and clash in the kitchen. That is, until Jude up and leaves just before the finale. Rob believes it’s personal…and it is, just not the way he thinks. Then to complicate matters, Rob appears in Jude’s safe haven. It’s not familiar or even safe anymore. How are you supposed to find your sea legs when the ground continues to shift under your feet?? Jude has lost a piece of himself at sea but to his great surprise, Rob becomes an anchor and shelter from the turmoil he has found himself in. Rob is full of life and desperately in love with Jude. Tragic that Jude is locked in the closet. Will he find the key? Can he claim his happiness in the one place that has always called to his soul?
Riley delivers a multifaceted tale with rugged terrain that swept me off my feet. Extraordinary secondary charters with a family-focused core and two saucy chefs will take you on an adventure you won’t soon forget. I do hope you give them a chance to see how the sky and land meet off the shores of Cornwall. It’s a token I shall cherish and can’t wait to see them again!
Beware of: A cold shoulder becomes a fevered fall. Family can be magnificent and maddening, often at the same time. And hang tight and hold on, because answers will come and the ending is sure to leave you breathless.
This book is for: This story is anything but smooth sailing but if you’re searching for a family-focused journey with heartache, humor, and heat….hop on, you won’t want to miss this ride.
Book UNfunk
Speaking of stars, Britain’s latest cooking contest boils down to the top two contenders and they clang and clash in the kitchen. That is, until Jude up and leaves just before the finale. Rob believes it’s personal…and it is, just not the way he thinks. Then to complicate matters, Rob appears in Jude’s safe haven. It’s not familiar or even safe anymore. How are you supposed to find your sea legs when the ground continues to shift under your feet?? Jude has lost a piece of himself at sea but to his great surprise, Rob becomes an anchor and shelter from the turmoil he has found himself in. Rob is full of life and desperately in love with Jude. Tragic that Jude is locked in the closet. Will he find the key? Can he claim his happiness in the one place that has always called to his soul?
Riley delivers a multifaceted tale with rugged terrain that swept me off my feet. Extraordinary secondary charters with a family-focused core and two saucy chefs will take you on an adventure you won’t soon forget. I do hope you give them a chance to see how the sky and land meet off the shores of Cornwall. It’s a token I shall cherish and can’t wait to see them again!
Beware of: A cold shoulder becomes a fevered fall. Family can be magnificent and maddening, often at the same time. And hang tight and hold on, because answers will come and the ending is sure to leave you breathless.
This book is for: This story is anything but smooth sailing but if you’re searching for a family-focused journey with heartache, humor, and heat….hop on, you won’t want to miss this ride.
Book UNfunk
June 5, 2020
Disclaimer: I alpha read this book for Con, and also proofread it, so blame any stray commas on me not catching them 😁
But, having got that out of the way, I think anyone looking at my book reviews would already know just how much I am in love with the way Con writes. She has a unique way of getting into the heart of what makes someone fall in love.
In this quintessentially British romance, set in the beautiful wilds of the Cornish coast, she gives us two men both driven for quite different purposes.
Jude has been on a mission since his parents' boat disappeared during a storm. Rob has been doing his best to keep the small pub which belongs to Jude's family afloat after a similar devastation destroyed the main tourism attraction and at the same time, prove to his father he doesn't need his leg-up to be a top chef.
Jude is also closeted and dealing with all kinds of grief and rage over the loss of his father, who he believes would never have accepted his sexuality.
The slow burn tensions are delicious in this book, Rob and Jude's lives become inescapably linked during the battle to keep The Anchor going, compounded by a snotty London food critic who might be the making, or the ruination, of all their efforts.
There's a glorious cast of secondary characters and the setting is so vivid I could smell the salt air, hear the seagulls and the crashing waves against the harbour breakwater. The idea of family and what makes one is also put under the microscope and friends turn up in unexpected places.
Steamy, sweet, emotional - I actually cried when reading this book and believe me, that's a rare occurrence - humourous, warming, I fell for Rob big time and it took me longer to warm up to Jude's prickly hide.
But beneath that exterior is a man who needs to adjust to knowing he's deserving of love on his own terms and when he does, oh my heart just melted.
Wonderful start to this new series and let me tell you, from the sneaky insider information viewpoint book two is going to be even better 😉😘🚢
But, having got that out of the way, I think anyone looking at my book reviews would already know just how much I am in love with the way Con writes. She has a unique way of getting into the heart of what makes someone fall in love.
In this quintessentially British romance, set in the beautiful wilds of the Cornish coast, she gives us two men both driven for quite different purposes.
Jude has been on a mission since his parents' boat disappeared during a storm. Rob has been doing his best to keep the small pub which belongs to Jude's family afloat after a similar devastation destroyed the main tourism attraction and at the same time, prove to his father he doesn't need his leg-up to be a top chef.
Jude is also closeted and dealing with all kinds of grief and rage over the loss of his father, who he believes would never have accepted his sexuality.
The slow burn tensions are delicious in this book, Rob and Jude's lives become inescapably linked during the battle to keep The Anchor going, compounded by a snotty London food critic who might be the making, or the ruination, of all their efforts.
There's a glorious cast of secondary characters and the setting is so vivid I could smell the salt air, hear the seagulls and the crashing waves against the harbour breakwater. The idea of family and what makes one is also put under the microscope and friends turn up in unexpected places.
Steamy, sweet, emotional - I actually cried when reading this book and believe me, that's a rare occurrence - humourous, warming, I fell for Rob big time and it took me longer to warm up to Jude's prickly hide.
But beneath that exterior is a man who needs to adjust to knowing he's deserving of love on his own terms and when he does, oh my heart just melted.
Wonderful start to this new series and let me tell you, from the sneaky insider information viewpoint book two is going to be even better 😉😘🚢
September 18, 2020
When a book takes me days and days to read and doesn't hold my interest it's either a DNF or battle through. I battled through this one because of all the wonderful reviews, so the problem is with me and not the book. I really wanted to love it but sadly I didn't. 🤷
Ariana's review pretty much sums up my feelings on this one https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Ariana's review pretty much sums up my feelings on this one https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
August 2, 2020
If I have a use one word to qualify this contemporary MM romance set up in the Cornish coast, it would be “atmosphere”. And I love that.
The tropes ? listed in the blurb : opposites who attract, rivals to lovers, and an out-for-you storyline dripping with hurt-comfort feelings. And it delivered aplenty. I could add to that the impacts of assumptions : how it can ruin relationships, whether familial or romantic.
Jude left his family and the pub where he grew up for making a career as a chef. To do so, he entered a cooking contest where he met Rob, his opposite in character and background and with a “not-so-ugly-mug” if Jude dared to admit. But just before the final, Jude quits everything to look for his parents who has disappeared during a world-boat trip after hitting a typhoon.
One year later, fruitless, he returns to his village, his sister and the pub, facing challenges and uncertainties. And unexpectedly facing Rob as well. Could Rob be the anchor he needs ?
As I said, a lot of “atmosphere” coming from the story and from the writing : I was transported into this village and into the pub, and I felt the grief, the angst, the questioning and was drowned into the familial dynamics. As for Jude and Rob, they complimented each other very well and gave and received in equal measures.
The ending around Jude’s parents left me perplexed though and shadowed a little bit the wrap-up, but apart from that, the emotions were there and was glad I read this book.
ARC of “His Horizon” was generously provided by the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The tropes ? listed in the blurb : opposites who attract, rivals to lovers, and an out-for-you storyline dripping with hurt-comfort feelings. And it delivered aplenty. I could add to that the impacts of assumptions : how it can ruin relationships, whether familial or romantic.
Jude left his family and the pub where he grew up for making a career as a chef. To do so, he entered a cooking contest where he met Rob, his opposite in character and background and with a “not-so-ugly-mug” if Jude dared to admit. But just before the final, Jude quits everything to look for his parents who has disappeared during a world-boat trip after hitting a typhoon.
One year later, fruitless, he returns to his village, his sister and the pub, facing challenges and uncertainties. And unexpectedly facing Rob as well. Could Rob be the anchor he needs ?
As I said, a lot of “atmosphere” coming from the story and from the writing : I was transported into this village and into the pub, and I felt the grief, the angst, the questioning and was drowned into the familial dynamics. As for Jude and Rob, they complimented each other very well and gave and received in equal measures.
The ending around Jude’s parents left me perplexed though and shadowed a little bit the wrap-up, but apart from that, the emotions were there and was glad I read this book.
ARC of “His Horizon” was generously provided by the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.
July 1, 2020
There's not a Con Riley book I haven't loved, and this one, the first in a new series, was no exception. Another thing I tend to expect in one of Con's novels is grief in some form, and the pain that comes with it. Again, this book was no exception. I'm going to do my best to keep my review spoiler-free.
We open the book to Jude's coming home from a long trip that took him halfway around the world to search for his parents who disappeared with their boat during a huge storm while sailing. Gay, but closeted, and having left home as soon as feasible to escape potential judgment, Jude not only deals with the loss of his parents, but also believes that his father would never have been okay with him being gay, and now he'll never get the chance to even find out for sure.
Just before his parents' disappearance, Jude was a participant in a cooking contest, where he met Rob so there's a bit of history between the two. Upon returning to his home in a small village on the Cornish coast, expecting to find only his sister waiting for him and to help her with their parents' inn/pub The Anchor, Jude finds the business mostly in tatters but in the process of being changed into a B&B, and the other man occupying his room.
Rob won the cooking contest after Jude's hasty departure to search for his parents, and has used his winnings to help The Anchor stay afloat, while working with Louise to turn the inn/pub from its previous incarnation as a beach tourist summer spot into a boutique hotel/restaurant.
This is a slow-burn, out-for-you romance, as well as a family drama, filled with grief, tears, fear, and moments of despair and anger, but also friendship, family and love. As always, Con's vivid and descriptive writing transported me directly to this small town on the Cornish coast. I could see The Anchor in my mind's eye in full color, and almost smell the delicious food Rob and Jude whip up in the kitchen.
The UST is high pretty much from the start, with both men lusting after one another, but Jude is scared of Louise finding out that he's gay, and Rob is unwilling to push for what he wants most. It's clear that Rob is invested in developing a relationship, but he also knows that Jude likely won't give up the search for his missing parents and will leave again to continue looking for them.
The supporting cast, some of whom are people in the same town, and someone who has some history with Jude's father (which has influenced some of Jude's assumptions about his father's reaction to his being gay), was really well done. I enjoyed meeting those folks, and I think that all of them brought something to the table, including the haughty food critic who turned out to not be haughty after all, and even Rob's father. That's another plot point that causes some angst and anger, again based on an assumption.
The climax of this story had me on the edge of my seat. I didn't entirely understand the how, but tried to follow along as best as I could, and then when... well, let's just say I was very emotional at that point. The way this was all woven together, how the plot points converged, how everything just came together - so well done.
I couldn't put this book down for any length of time. The emotions just drip off the pages, whether they be angst or joy, and I was fully engaged from the start. Highly recommended.
** I received a free copy of this book from its author in exchange for an honest review. **
We open the book to Jude's coming home from a long trip that took him halfway around the world to search for his parents who disappeared with their boat during a huge storm while sailing. Gay, but closeted, and having left home as soon as feasible to escape potential judgment, Jude not only deals with the loss of his parents, but also believes that his father would never have been okay with him being gay, and now he'll never get the chance to even find out for sure.
Just before his parents' disappearance, Jude was a participant in a cooking contest, where he met Rob so there's a bit of history between the two. Upon returning to his home in a small village on the Cornish coast, expecting to find only his sister waiting for him and to help her with their parents' inn/pub The Anchor, Jude finds the business mostly in tatters but in the process of being changed into a B&B, and the other man occupying his room.
Rob won the cooking contest after Jude's hasty departure to search for his parents, and has used his winnings to help The Anchor stay afloat, while working with Louise to turn the inn/pub from its previous incarnation as a beach tourist summer spot into a boutique hotel/restaurant.
This is a slow-burn, out-for-you romance, as well as a family drama, filled with grief, tears, fear, and moments of despair and anger, but also friendship, family and love. As always, Con's vivid and descriptive writing transported me directly to this small town on the Cornish coast. I could see The Anchor in my mind's eye in full color, and almost smell the delicious food Rob and Jude whip up in the kitchen.
The UST is high pretty much from the start, with both men lusting after one another, but Jude is scared of Louise finding out that he's gay, and Rob is unwilling to push for what he wants most. It's clear that Rob is invested in developing a relationship, but he also knows that Jude likely won't give up the search for his missing parents and will leave again to continue looking for them.
The supporting cast, some of whom are people in the same town, and someone who has some history with Jude's father (which has influenced some of Jude's assumptions about his father's reaction to his being gay), was really well done. I enjoyed meeting those folks, and I think that all of them brought something to the table, including the haughty food critic who turned out to not be haughty after all, and even Rob's father. That's another plot point that causes some angst and anger, again based on an assumption.
The climax of this story had me on the edge of my seat. I didn't entirely understand the how, but tried to follow along as best as I could, and then when... well, let's just say I was very emotional at that point. The way this was all woven together, how the plot points converged, how everything just came together - so well done.
I couldn't put this book down for any length of time. The emotions just drip off the pages, whether they be angst or joy, and I was fully engaged from the start. Highly recommended.
** I received a free copy of this book from its author in exchange for an honest review. **
Shelved as 'dnf'
June 18, 2020DNF
It's very rare for me to be so pissed off by a book before even reaching the 20% point. I always start books on an optimistic note. But this book just pushed all the wrong buttons.
First of all the writing. I didn't like it. There were so many breaks in continuity. Jude, the MC, is talking to his sister who's standing a couple of feet away. A few lines later, he feels her tears on his shoulder because apparently, she hugged him at some point and the author just decided not to tell us. But I could've gotten over that. Unfortunately, there were also the characters.
Jude is the one I don't have any particular issue with. His sister, despite being in most scenes, has no personality beyond crying and her hero-worship of the other MC, Rob. Rob seems like a self-absorbed ass because all he's done so far is complain about Jude leaving the cooking competition without talking to him. Jude had just found out that his parents had been lost at sea! A guy he kissed once is not a priority!
But the worst problem is one of the choices the author made when it came to storytelling. Jude and his sister needed to have a conversation about the things that happened while Jude was at sea trying to find any clue as to what happened to their parents. And instead of having one long-ish conversation, it was broken into a dozen smaller conversation with a bunch of pointless shit thrown in! They'd talk a little bit, one person would suggest moving to another room, they'd put the conversation on hold, start talking again in the other room, someone would interrupt... Rinse, repeat. It drove me fucking crazy.
So yeah, even though this was an ARC and I feel bad about not finishing it, I can't continue reading. Which fucking sucks because I was excited about reading a Con Riley novel. I've heard good things about the author. Is it possible that the issues are specific to this novel? If so, let me know.
It's very rare for me to be so pissed off by a book before even reaching the 20% point. I always start books on an optimistic note. But this book just pushed all the wrong buttons.
First of all the writing. I didn't like it. There were so many breaks in continuity. Jude, the MC, is talking to his sister who's standing a couple of feet away. A few lines later, he feels her tears on his shoulder because apparently, she hugged him at some point and the author just decided not to tell us. But I could've gotten over that. Unfortunately, there were also the characters.
Jude is the one I don't have any particular issue with. His sister, despite being in most scenes, has no personality beyond crying and her hero-worship of the other MC, Rob. Rob seems like a self-absorbed ass because all he's done so far is complain about Jude leaving the cooking competition without talking to him. Jude had just found out that his parents had been lost at sea! A guy he kissed once is not a priority!
But the worst problem is one of the choices the author made when it came to storytelling. Jude and his sister needed to have a conversation about the things that happened while Jude was at sea trying to find any clue as to what happened to their parents. And instead of having one long-ish conversation, it was broken into a dozen smaller conversation with a bunch of pointless shit thrown in! They'd talk a little bit, one person would suggest moving to another room, they'd put the conversation on hold, start talking again in the other room, someone would interrupt... Rinse, repeat. It drove me fucking crazy.
So yeah, even though this was an ARC and I feel bad about not finishing it, I can't continue reading. Which fucking sucks because I was excited about reading a Con Riley novel. I've heard good things about the author. Is it possible that the issues are specific to this novel? If so, let me know.
February 23, 2022
I understood Jude's feelings of learning that his parent's boat was lost at sea, but his leaving to go look for them seemed way over the line. This was the OCEAN, not a lake. Leaving the searching to the experts seemed to be a better idea. I know that worry will create some odd behavior, but Jude seemed to be full of decisions that weren't thought out very well. In spite of that it is a journey full of hope and loss, heartbreak and happiness, and rediscovering the truth of things that you didn’t realize for so long, and most of all, love.
August 27, 2020
This was my first book by this author and I don’t think we mesh well. The romance was sweet, but I felt like the book dragged forever and I was bored out of my mind.
I found the blurb very frustrating so I’m writing a spoiler review. Rob and Jude were both competing in a chef contest and there were lots of sparks. Rob was crazy about Jude. Just as they kiss for the first time, Jude disappears without a word and breaks Rob’s heart. So not really an enemies to lovers story, which is what I expected based in the blurb.
Why did Jude disappear? His parents were lost at sea, all the way across the world. He left to go look for them. He looks for months, and finally comes back to help his sister with the family pub. When he comes back, he finds that everything has changed. And Rob is there working with his sister. Ok, what? That’s weird.
Jude is closeted and that seems to be a deal breaker for Rob, but still they pick up where they left off. Eventually he comes out. But he still wants to leave at the end of the summer to look for his parents.
And I’m probably a horrible person, but the whole parents lost at sea part bored me to death. I just couldn’t get myself to care. Also I felt the writing was impersonal, I didn’t really feel all the feelings I was supposed to feel. And the sex scenes were so short I was like “Wait, they both came already? What did I miss?”.
It’s possible that I don’t mesh with the author. It’s also possible it was just my mood. :::shrug:::
I found the blurb very frustrating so I’m writing a spoiler review. Rob and Jude were both competing in a chef contest and there were lots of sparks. Rob was crazy about Jude. Just as they kiss for the first time, Jude disappears without a word and breaks Rob’s heart. So not really an enemies to lovers story, which is what I expected based in the blurb.
Why did Jude disappear? His parents were lost at sea, all the way across the world. He left to go look for them. He looks for months, and finally comes back to help his sister with the family pub. When he comes back, he finds that everything has changed. And Rob is there working with his sister. Ok, what? That’s weird.
Jude is closeted and that seems to be a deal breaker for Rob, but still they pick up where they left off. Eventually he comes out. But he still wants to leave at the end of the summer to look for his parents.
And I’m probably a horrible person, but the whole parents lost at sea part bored me to death. I just couldn’t get myself to care. Also I felt the writing was impersonal, I didn’t really feel all the feelings I was supposed to feel. And the sex scenes were so short I was like “Wait, they both came already? What did I miss?”.
It’s possible that I don’t mesh with the author. It’s also possible it was just my mood. :::shrug:::
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 15, 2020
This is the first book I’ve read by British author Con Riley; she’s been recommended to me a few times by friends with similar tastes, and as His Horizon is the first in a new series, it seemed like a good place to start. It’s a charming character-driven romance in which a chef and his former rival end up working together to save the family business – but don’t go into it expecting a full-on enemies-to-lovers story. Despite the what the blurb says about sleeping with the enemy, that isn’t the vibe here at all; in fact most of the rivalry has already happened by the time the novel begins. Once you’ve adjusted your expectations though, you’ll find a sweet, low-angst and emotional story about acceptance, grief and coming to terms with loss.
Jude Anstey was on his way to winning a prestigious television cooking competition when he received the terrible news that his parents had been lost at sea and were presumed dead. He dropped everything and left to search for them, ending up as chef and crew on a luxury yacht which followed a similar route and enabled Jude to ask questions and even search for wreckage along the way When His Horizon begins, Jude is returning home to Cornwall, dejected, frustrated and burdened by guilt, in order to help his sister Louise through the summer tourist season at The Anchor, the pub his parents had run for years.
He’s surprised when his key won’t fit in the lock, but as he’s returned in the very early hours of the morning (without letting anyone know), he decides against knocking on the door and waking Louise, and instead takes himself to the boathouse intending to sleep there. Here, there’s another surprise in store; this time, the sight of Rob Martin – who was his main competition on the cooking show (and who went on to win it) – asleep in the bed that had been Jude’s as a kid.
Later that morning when he enters the pub, Jude is confused and angry at all the changes he sees – this isn’t the place he called home. But after learning the reason for it – that Porthperrin’s tourist industry has been devastated following a terrible storm – he understands why a radical re-think was needed in order to stop the business from going under, and why, when Rob reached out after winning the competition, Louise decided to accept his offer of a partnership. Together they’ve worked hard to get The Anchor ready to open as a boutique hotel complete with fine dining from “Britain’s best new chef.”
Jude is, fortunately, not stupid, and understands that Louise acted for the best – but that doesn’t stop him feeling dreadfully guilty about not having been home to help, and wondering what Rob is doing working round-the-clock to try to save a failing business – that might fail yet – when he could have had a cushy life as heir to his father’s London restaurant empire.
The romance between Jude and Rob develops at a leisurely pace, with Jude starting to learn more about Rob and Louise’s vision for The Anchor and and getting to know Rob better. During the competition, Rob had been like an annoying thorn in Jude’s side, always cracking jokes or playing silly practical jokes… as he says later, if Jude had had pigtails, Rob would have pulled them! But Jude – closeted because of his fears of his father’s rejection should he ever come out – just kept his head down and ignored practically everything except the competition, until the night after the semi-finals when he and Rob shared a passionate kiss… right before Jude received the devastating news about his parents.
There’s a nice undercurrent of mutual attraction running between the pair that evolves naturally and without any overblown drama. In fact, the storylines about getting the hotel ready and about Jude’s search for his parents play almost as big a role in the story as the romance does – which isn’t to say the romance is sidelined, because it isn’t; rather it’s part of a bigger picture in a story that wouldn’t work nearly as well without any of the other elements.
Jude and Rob are opposites in almost every way. Rob is chatty and outgoing, the sort of guy who puts people at their ease and always knows the right thing to say, while Jude is quiet and introspective. After realising he was gay, Jude decided that cooking was a way to get away from Porthperrin, and he left home as soon as he could because he couldn’t bear feeling that he was unable to be truly himself there. Coming from a family who were so obviously devoted to each other, I did find it difficult to believe Jude’s reasons for thinking his parents wouldn’t accept his sexuality; he made a rather large leap of logic about his father’s reaction to something that felt somewhat tenuous. But Jude isn’t the only one with ‘daddy’ issues, as becomes clear as the story proceeds; Rob struggles under the weight of his father’s expectations, but Rob’s determination to move out from under his shadow and make something on his own blinds him to the fact that he is making some serious misjudgements of his own.
The author brings the Cornish setting to life – the decsriptions of the cobbled, narrow streets and the gorgeous views are really evocative – and speaking as a Brit, it’s always a treat to read a romance set in England by someone who gets the speech patterns and colloquialisms right… so why does the author use words like “pants” and “vacation”, which threw me right out of the story every time?
His Horizon was an enjoyable read featuring two engaging protagonists and a wonderfully rich setting. The humour and brighter moments are nicely balanced by moments of sadness and reflection, Jude and Rob are engaging protagonists (although the secondary characters are not all that well developed) and while the whole story is told in Jude’s PoV, Rob is so well depicted through his eyes, that I didn’t feel the lack of a second perspective. I did have a problem with the ending though – and this is going to sound odd considering that we’re all here for the HEA – because it was just TOO pat. I know, I know, it’s an oxymoronic complaint to say that the happy ending was TOO happy… it was just a bit overly sweet and the big red bow was just a bit too neat.
But I enjoyed the book overall, and if you’re looking for a low-angst, feel-good read and don’t mind a bit of syrup, His Horizon might just fit the bill.
Jude Anstey was on his way to winning a prestigious television cooking competition when he received the terrible news that his parents had been lost at sea and were presumed dead. He dropped everything and left to search for them, ending up as chef and crew on a luxury yacht which followed a similar route and enabled Jude to ask questions and even search for wreckage along the way When His Horizon begins, Jude is returning home to Cornwall, dejected, frustrated and burdened by guilt, in order to help his sister Louise through the summer tourist season at The Anchor, the pub his parents had run for years.
He’s surprised when his key won’t fit in the lock, but as he’s returned in the very early hours of the morning (without letting anyone know), he decides against knocking on the door and waking Louise, and instead takes himself to the boathouse intending to sleep there. Here, there’s another surprise in store; this time, the sight of Rob Martin – who was his main competition on the cooking show (and who went on to win it) – asleep in the bed that had been Jude’s as a kid.
Later that morning when he enters the pub, Jude is confused and angry at all the changes he sees – this isn’t the place he called home. But after learning the reason for it – that Porthperrin’s tourist industry has been devastated following a terrible storm – he understands why a radical re-think was needed in order to stop the business from going under, and why, when Rob reached out after winning the competition, Louise decided to accept his offer of a partnership. Together they’ve worked hard to get The Anchor ready to open as a boutique hotel complete with fine dining from “Britain’s best new chef.”
Jude is, fortunately, not stupid, and understands that Louise acted for the best – but that doesn’t stop him feeling dreadfully guilty about not having been home to help, and wondering what Rob is doing working round-the-clock to try to save a failing business – that might fail yet – when he could have had a cushy life as heir to his father’s London restaurant empire.
The romance between Jude and Rob develops at a leisurely pace, with Jude starting to learn more about Rob and Louise’s vision for The Anchor and and getting to know Rob better. During the competition, Rob had been like an annoying thorn in Jude’s side, always cracking jokes or playing silly practical jokes… as he says later, if Jude had had pigtails, Rob would have pulled them! But Jude – closeted because of his fears of his father’s rejection should he ever come out – just kept his head down and ignored practically everything except the competition, until the night after the semi-finals when he and Rob shared a passionate kiss… right before Jude received the devastating news about his parents.
There’s a nice undercurrent of mutual attraction running between the pair that evolves naturally and without any overblown drama. In fact, the storylines about getting the hotel ready and about Jude’s search for his parents play almost as big a role in the story as the romance does – which isn’t to say the romance is sidelined, because it isn’t; rather it’s part of a bigger picture in a story that wouldn’t work nearly as well without any of the other elements.
Jude and Rob are opposites in almost every way. Rob is chatty and outgoing, the sort of guy who puts people at their ease and always knows the right thing to say, while Jude is quiet and introspective. After realising he was gay, Jude decided that cooking was a way to get away from Porthperrin, and he left home as soon as he could because he couldn’t bear feeling that he was unable to be truly himself there. Coming from a family who were so obviously devoted to each other, I did find it difficult to believe Jude’s reasons for thinking his parents wouldn’t accept his sexuality; he made a rather large leap of logic about his father’s reaction to something that felt somewhat tenuous. But Jude isn’t the only one with ‘daddy’ issues, as becomes clear as the story proceeds; Rob struggles under the weight of his father’s expectations, but Rob’s determination to move out from under his shadow and make something on his own blinds him to the fact that he is making some serious misjudgements of his own.
The author brings the Cornish setting to life – the decsriptions of the cobbled, narrow streets and the gorgeous views are really evocative – and speaking as a Brit, it’s always a treat to read a romance set in England by someone who gets the speech patterns and colloquialisms right… so why does the author use words like “pants” and “vacation”, which threw me right out of the story every time?
His Horizon was an enjoyable read featuring two engaging protagonists and a wonderfully rich setting. The humour and brighter moments are nicely balanced by moments of sadness and reflection, Jude and Rob are engaging protagonists (although the secondary characters are not all that well developed) and while the whole story is told in Jude’s PoV, Rob is so well depicted through his eyes, that I didn’t feel the lack of a second perspective. I did have a problem with the ending though – and this is going to sound odd considering that we’re all here for the HEA – because it was just TOO pat. I know, I know, it’s an oxymoronic complaint to say that the happy ending was TOO happy… it was just a bit overly sweet and the big red bow was just a bit too neat.
But I enjoyed the book overall, and if you’re looking for a low-angst, feel-good read and don’t mind a bit of syrup, His Horizon might just fit the bill.
January 18, 2021
I actually bought this last summer, but I couldn't get into it, and when I saw that a second book in the series was about to be published, I picked it up again and read it in two days.
What a beautiful, evocative and emotionally layered book this is.
His Horizon is obviously about romantic love, between two men who yearn for each other, each with their own issues - to so with sexuality, family, money. Sometimes it feels that these issues will overwhelm them but the friendship and love they build is strong, and their communication is as well.
I cried reading this, but while there is sadness, it is not a sad book, it really is a very beautiful and uplifting one.
What a beautiful, evocative and emotionally layered book this is.
His Horizon is obviously about romantic love, between two men who yearn for each other, each with their own issues - to so with sexuality, family, money. Sometimes it feels that these issues will overwhelm them but the friendship and love they build is strong, and their communication is as well.
I cried reading this, but while there is sadness, it is not a sad book, it really is a very beautiful and uplifting one.
June 30, 2020
Meh...
I read so many dual POV books that when I read a single POV book it can be jarring.
I really really wanted to know Rob’s feelings! I think the story would have been more well rounded with his perspective and musings. AND... Jude was such a clueless sod. It was annoying. His sister too was UGH. AND I felt their “love” story was almost on the low list of priorities in the book.
The find the parents story line was first, save The Anchor was 2nd , Jude’s conflict with his dad, Rob’s conflict with his dad, then Rob and Jude’s story.
Was it even love when it had no priority 🤔
Then there were a couple of plot points left unexplained that I won’t get into because I’m not into giving spoilers but one was a crater sized plot hole.
Maybe those questions will be answered in book 2.. 🤷♀️🤷♀️🤷♀️not sure I’d want to go down this road again. 😬
I read so many dual POV books that when I read a single POV book it can be jarring.
I really really wanted to know Rob’s feelings! I think the story would have been more well rounded with his perspective and musings. AND... Jude was such a clueless sod. It was annoying. His sister too was UGH. AND I felt their “love” story was almost on the low list of priorities in the book.
The find the parents story line was first, save The Anchor was 2nd , Jude’s conflict with his dad, Rob’s conflict with his dad, then Rob and Jude’s story.
Was it even love when it had no priority 🤔
Then there were a couple of plot points left unexplained that I won’t get into because I’m not into giving spoilers but one was a crater sized plot hole.
Maybe those questions will be answered in book 2.. 🤷♀️🤷♀️🤷♀️not sure I’d want to go down this road again. 😬
January 19, 2022
Malinconico, struggente e intriso di tanto ma tanto amore 🥰
January 11, 2021
Jude and Rob - 5 overwhelming stars
From the very first page the story kept me in its enchantment, it was intriguing and captivating!
Jude made it as a semi-finalist in the best-chef competition of Great Britain but left London and it all behind before the final.
Rob is deeply hurt, he thought he won already by gaining one desired kiss.
Now Jude is unexpectedly back home after months of searching the sea. Home to the small Porthperrin to his sister and the family pub. He’s upset to know the new chef is... Rob. Not only that, but it seems Rob was their savior, without him there was no pub.
Jude isn’t out, he has his reasons...
The story is far more complex, layered, and meaningful than the very short introduction I gave above. That’s just a small part of the beginning. Gosh, it was so much more.
There is an excellently captivating storyline. It was stunning!
I loved every part of it. So many misunderstandings, hurt and unfinished matters.
An overwhelmingly good thought out and genius plot, I was stunned and in awe, well build-up and well detailed. The whole story from first till the last page was entertaining and so well written. I couldn’t put the story down, I had to read on.
The main characters were absolutely engaging and lovable. They captured my heart from the very first introduction.
Highly recommended!
From the very first page the story kept me in its enchantment, it was intriguing and captivating!
Jude made it as a semi-finalist in the best-chef competition of Great Britain but left London and it all behind before the final.
Rob is deeply hurt, he thought he won already by gaining one desired kiss.
Now Jude is unexpectedly back home after months of searching the sea. Home to the small Porthperrin to his sister and the family pub. He’s upset to know the new chef is... Rob. Not only that, but it seems Rob was their savior, without him there was no pub.
Jude isn’t out, he has his reasons...
The story is far more complex, layered, and meaningful than the very short introduction I gave above. That’s just a small part of the beginning. Gosh, it was so much more.
There is an excellently captivating storyline. It was stunning!
I loved every part of it. So many misunderstandings, hurt and unfinished matters.
An overwhelmingly good thought out and genius plot, I was stunned and in awe, well build-up and well detailed. The whole story from first till the last page was entertaining and so well written. I couldn’t put the story down, I had to read on.
The main characters were absolutely engaging and lovable. They captured my heart from the very first introduction.
Highly recommended!
December 24, 2020
I received a copy from the author and this is my unbiased review.
I write this with a heavy heart....
I had such high hopes for this book, and when I was offered a review copy, I jumped at the chance. But, it fell flat for me, for many reasons...
1. The writing is poetic, but most of the time it was too poetic. It dragged and got boring.
2. The Rival/Enemies to lovers wasn't actually portrayed. They were rivals before the story began and we don't actually see it on page. This makes the blurb a bit misleading.
3. The sex was like... Blink and you miss it.
4. I SKIMMED. ALOT.
5. I found myself saying... Why did he say that? Why did this happen? Some things didn't add up. Many contradictions and many inconsistencies.
6. The mood swings of the characters were off-putting.
7. The ending....
I would have loved to actually read about them being in that contest together, when they were rivals and hiding their attraction at the same time. Maybe it would have made me love Rob more, because he was 1 dimensional and too nice.
I wanted to love this. I tried to love it. I put it down and got back to it so many times, and that should have been my clue.
I write this with a heavy heart....
I had such high hopes for this book, and when I was offered a review copy, I jumped at the chance. But, it fell flat for me, for many reasons...
1. The writing is poetic, but most of the time it was too poetic. It dragged and got boring.
2. The Rival/Enemies to lovers wasn't actually portrayed. They were rivals before the story began and we don't actually see it on page. This makes the blurb a bit misleading.
3. The sex was like... Blink and you miss it.
4. I SKIMMED. ALOT.
5. I found myself saying... Why did he say that? Why did this happen? Some things didn't add up. Many contradictions and many inconsistencies.
6. The mood swings of the characters were off-putting.
7. The ending....
I would have loved to actually read about them being in that contest together, when they were rivals and hiding their attraction at the same time. Maybe it would have made me love Rob more, because he was 1 dimensional and too nice.
I wanted to love this. I tried to love it. I put it down and got back to it so many times, and that should have been my clue.
July 29, 2020
4.25 stars from me.
Have read everything that Con has written, and enjoyed them all, but I just couldn't connect with this one as much as some of the others, although I did like Jude and especially Rob. Will assume it's 'first book of new series' nerves, and things will improve as the series progresses.
Have read everything that Con has written, and enjoyed them all, but I just couldn't connect with this one as much as some of the others, although I did like Jude and especially Rob. Will assume it's 'first book of new series' nerves, and things will improve as the series progresses.
July 15, 2020
Man oh man! Seriously, this might be one of the best I've read this year. The last 20 pages or so I had to keep putting my iPad down and wiping my eyes. Over and over. :) I was a complete mess. I wanna give it six stars.
March 9, 2023
This book was exhausting. So wordy. So many storyline’s. The blurb didn’t even know what was going on! I think the author had lots of great ideas for this book and shoved them all in when it probably would have benefited from a less is more approach. The romance and main characters took a backseat to everything else going on. I truly couldn’t identify what Rob was like as a person..was he outgoing or shy? A spoilt dick or a super nice dishrag of a guy? He didn’t have a clear character and I didn’t understand why he did half the things he did. A lot of the things people said and did had me going “why would he do/say that?” so I didn’t really connect with the characters. Also being dropped into the middle of the story and missing their initial meeting and time together felt really disjointed. There was so much time spent waffling about other things I wish we had more of Rob and Jude actually connecting.
I‘m disappointed by this one as there was some really lovely emotional moments here but they were overshadowed by everything else. I don’t mind when the romance takes the back seat to a mystery or a cool plot but there was so many half baked storyline’s here I lost interest in them all. Just to name a few we had the cooking contest drama, the lost parents, Jude and Lou’s grief, Jude coming out, saving the pub, Robs random as hell appearance at the pub, Robs estrangement from his father, Lou’s feelings about everything and her relationship with Marc, the whole Trevor thing, Jude’s searching the ocean fetish, oh and the set ups for the books of Mitch and then also Guy.
Just. Too. Much.
I‘m disappointed by this one as there was some really lovely emotional moments here but they were overshadowed by everything else. I don’t mind when the romance takes the back seat to a mystery or a cool plot but there was so many half baked storyline’s here I lost interest in them all. Just to name a few we had the cooking contest drama, the lost parents, Jude and Lou’s grief, Jude coming out, saving the pub, Robs random as hell appearance at the pub, Robs estrangement from his father, Lou’s feelings about everything and her relationship with Marc, the whole Trevor thing, Jude’s searching the ocean fetish, oh and the set ups for the books of Mitch and then also Guy.
Just. Too. Much.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 15, 2023
DNF ~20%
We're dropped sort of in the middle of the story and are missing a lot of the background context for the relationship. I didn't care about the characters, didn't feel the chemistry, and maybe I'm missing details that would be revealed later, but Rob acting like Jude was a selfish dick who broke his heart when they'd shared one kiss and Jude had very legit reasons for disappearing just pissed me off. As did his sister just springing a fuckton of changes on him. IDK, not for me.
We're dropped sort of in the middle of the story and are missing a lot of the background context for the relationship. I didn't care about the characters, didn't feel the chemistry, and maybe I'm missing details that would be revealed later, but Rob acting like Jude was a selfish dick who broke his heart when they'd shared one kiss and Jude had very legit reasons for disappearing just pissed me off. As did his sister just springing a fuckton of changes on him. IDK, not for me.
January 13, 2022
Con è sempre magica.
May 9, 2021
I loved all the food descriptions, and the tremendous local culture Con Riley writes so well. Well written characters, with interesting dynamics. The twist with the dad's military buddy is a good one, I'd just have preferred a little bit different ending.
Beautifully narrated by Cornell Collins.
Beautifully narrated by Cornell Collins.
August 6, 2021
Melancholy, sweet, longing, and maybe not my jam as far as the sex scenes go....
Anyway this book reminded me of a conversation in which I vented last week. The book is filled with types of grief. Grief isn't my favorite. So a book underscored with grief-type feelings is difficult for me to like.
But I really liked this. Take that for what it's worth. I plan to read more from the author.
Anyway this book reminded me of a conversation in which I vented last week. The book is filled with types of grief. Grief isn't my favorite. So a book underscored with grief-type feelings is difficult for me to like.
But I really liked this. Take that for what it's worth. I plan to read more from the author.
July 2, 2020
I have only reacquainted with Con Riley's writing since Must Like Spinach; this is her latest book and I realized (after reading other reviews as well) that Riley's writing might not be for everyone. There's that tendency to pause so it's not exactly like smooth sailing. But somehow it connects with me. Especially if the hero is like Jude.
His Horizon is written solely from Jude's perspective, and the way he is not exactly chatty, that he takes time to form his words and thoughts, match with the writing. It takes a while for Jude to get his point across because he tends to take everything in first.... and that's why people like Rob is perfect for him. Rob is both Jude's anchor and horizon. Their romance is more quiet, takes time to get warm, and that's just lovely to read...
There were several scenes in this book that made me all teary eyed. I had my hand on my heart!
I still wonder about the whole logistic though...
His Horizon is written solely from Jude's perspective, and the way he is not exactly chatty, that he takes time to form his words and thoughts, match with the writing. It takes a while for Jude to get his point across because he tends to take everything in first.... and that's why people like Rob is perfect for him. Rob is both Jude's anchor and horizon. Their romance is more quiet, takes time to get warm, and that's just lovely to read...
There were several scenes in this book that made me all teary eyed. I had my hand on my heart!
I still wonder about the whole logistic though...
April 20, 2021
I’ve really enjoyed some of Con Riley’s books, but this was a complete bust for me.
There is no chemistry between Jude & Rob, and I feel like that is largely because their entire rivalry happened prior to the events of the book, so at this point, Rob is already in love and Jude has apparently been mooning after Rob, too.
I don’t get how Louise can be frustrated that Jude wasn’t around to help while wanting him to be out looking for their parents and kept him in the dark about the state of the business, the village, and Rob’s investment. And then she gets to have a big dramatic moment because Jude never told her he was gay, as if that was owed to her. Jude apologizing for that pissed me off.
And it was never explained why Rob invited Louise into bed when sleep talking.
The plot was ridiculous. And the book dragged so much. I admit, I skimmed most of the last 45%.
At this point, I’m not sure if I will continue with the series, as this was such a huge miss for me.
There is no chemistry between Jude & Rob, and I feel like that is largely because their entire rivalry happened prior to the events of the book, so at this point, Rob is already in love and Jude has apparently been mooning after Rob, too.
I don’t get how Louise can be frustrated that Jude wasn’t around to help while wanting him to be out looking for their parents and kept him in the dark about the state of the business, the village, and Rob’s investment. And then she gets to have a big dramatic moment because Jude never told her he was gay, as if that was owed to her. Jude apologizing for that pissed me off.
And it was never explained why Rob invited Louise into bed when sleep talking.
The plot was ridiculous. And the book dragged so much. I admit, I skimmed most of the last 45%.
At this point, I’m not sure if I will continue with the series, as this was such a huge miss for me.
Shelved as 'dnf'
November 6, 2022DNF at 4% because I couldn’t take the enormous background dump via a conversation that was basically a monologue by a side character.
September 7, 2021
Lovely
I enjoyed listening Cornell Collins brilliant narration of His Horizon ; a low angst , heart warming , slow burn romance between Rob and Jude .
I liked many things about this story, beginning with the gorgeous and atmospheric setting . Con Riley description transported me to the quintessential English coastal small town and it was lovely.
The main characters , as well as , the secondary characters were interesting , relatable and compelling.
His Horizon has a slow moving plotline that grabbed my attention . It made me feel emotional and invested in the characters lives.
My rating fall between a 4 and 4.5 stars .
I enjoyed listening Cornell Collins brilliant narration of His Horizon ; a low angst , heart warming , slow burn romance between Rob and Jude .
I liked many things about this story, beginning with the gorgeous and atmospheric setting . Con Riley description transported me to the quintessential English coastal small town and it was lovely.
The main characters , as well as , the secondary characters were interesting , relatable and compelling.
His Horizon has a slow moving plotline that grabbed my attention . It made me feel emotional and invested in the characters lives.
My rating fall between a 4 and 4.5 stars .
September 8, 2021
Starts in the middle.
So much drama backstory.
Atmospheric, though.
So much drama backstory.
Atmospheric, though.
June 24, 2021
DNF ok. 25%
Ależ mam czarną serię 😱 W wakacje 😱
Ten tytuł wybrałam z pełną świadomością - pierwsza książka tej autorki, którą przeczytałam, czyli Be My Best Man, była świetna, fantastyczna, ważna. Pomyślałam, że kolejna nie może być zła - musi trzymać jakiś poziom.
Głupia ja 😕
Najmniejszym problemem jest blurb. Wprawdzie tak wszystko jest w nim pomieszane, że chyba ktoś go musiał pisać po pijaku albo na niezłym haju, ale cóż - nie miałabym najmniejszego z tym problemu, że nie oddaje tego, co jest w książce, gdyby książka była dobra...
Ale... no właśnie tutaj jest problem. Dobra nie była...
Będzie od groma i ciut spoilerowania, więc kto nie chce, niech nie czyta...
Po pierwsze (a może po drugie już, wliczając blurb? 😉) - skończyłam na ok. 25% i CIĄGLE byliśmy w pierwszym dniu historii. Uwielbiam slow-burny, ale tutaj wyjątkowo wszystko toczyło się wolno, naprawdę wolno... W dodatku rozmowy były przerywane monologami wewnętrznymi, tak ni z gruchy, ni z pietruchy. I jeden POV. Ale ciągle to jeszcze pikuś...
Historia ma w zasadzie trzech bohaterów - dwóch głównych, Jude'a i Roba, oraz siostrę Jude'a, która jest niemalże potraktowana na równi z nimi... I tutaj się zaczynają schody.
Książka niemalże od samego początku przejeżdżała mi po nerwach dźwiękiem paznokci jadących po tablicy. Nie tylko nie rozumiałam bohaterów, ale wręcz wkurwiali mnie na maksa. Zwłaszcza Louise, siostra Jude'a. Drugi był Rob, Jedynie do Jude'a nie miałam zastrzeżeń - wręcz współczułam mu, że musi z takim palantami mieć do czynienia...
Obydwoje traktują Jude'a protekcjonalnie, jakby dzieciak przyjechał na wakacje, którego trzeba pogłaskać po głowie i powiedzieć mu, że problemami zajmą się dorośli, a on niech idzie poplotkować z sąsiadami, jakby on się w niczym nie liczył, jakby nie miał ani głosu, ani zdania... Bogu ducha winnego i zdezorientowanego na maksa obrotem sytuacji Jude'a, którego jedyną winą jest to, że siedzi ciągle w szafie (wie o tym jedynie Rob), traktują tak, jakby wszystko było jego winą, jakby to on był samolubny i egocentryczny, a oni tymi tytanami pracy, robiącymi jego robotę i biorącymi na swoje barki jego odpowiedzialność...
Nie wiem, ale muszę przyznać, że tak mnie ta część, którą zdążyłam przeczytać wkurwiła (bo innego słowa nie da się użyć), że mam dość i prawie - mówię pas, bo nie mam zamiaru się dalej denerwować i to w zdecydowanie złym tego słowa znaczeniu... Może to kwestia tego, że mam naprawdę parszywy dzień dzisiaj, ale prawda jest taka, że czytać zaczęłam wczoraj...
Dwie gwiazdki tak naprawdę daję z sentymentu za Vanyę z "Be My Best Man" i awansem, że po tej pierwszej historii, którą przeczytałam, ta musiała być jakimś wypadkiem przy pracy...
Ależ mam czarną serię 😱 W wakacje 😱
Ten tytuł wybrałam z pełną świadomością - pierwsza książka tej autorki, którą przeczytałam, czyli Be My Best Man, była świetna, fantastyczna, ważna. Pomyślałam, że kolejna nie może być zła - musi trzymać jakiś poziom.
Głupia ja 😕
Najmniejszym problemem jest blurb. Wprawdzie tak wszystko jest w nim pomieszane, że chyba ktoś go musiał pisać po pijaku albo na niezłym haju, ale cóż - nie miałabym najmniejszego z tym problemu, że nie oddaje tego, co jest w książce, gdyby książka była dobra...
Ale... no właśnie tutaj jest problem. Dobra nie była...
Będzie od groma i ciut spoilerowania, więc kto nie chce, niech nie czyta...
Po pierwsze (a może po drugie już, wliczając blurb? 😉) - skończyłam na ok. 25% i CIĄGLE byliśmy w pierwszym dniu historii. Uwielbiam slow-burny, ale tutaj wyjątkowo wszystko toczyło się wolno, naprawdę wolno... W dodatku rozmowy były przerywane monologami wewnętrznymi, tak ni z gruchy, ni z pietruchy. I jeden POV. Ale ciągle to jeszcze pikuś...
Historia ma w zasadzie trzech bohaterów - dwóch głównych, Jude'a i Roba, oraz siostrę Jude'a, która jest niemalże potraktowana na równi z nimi... I tutaj się zaczynają schody.
Książka niemalże od samego początku przejeżdżała mi po nerwach dźwiękiem paznokci jadących po tablicy. Nie tylko nie rozumiałam bohaterów, ale wręcz wkurwiali mnie na maksa. Zwłaszcza Louise, siostra Jude'a. Drugi był Rob, Jedynie do Jude'a nie miałam zastrzeżeń - wręcz współczułam mu, że musi z takim palantami mieć do czynienia...
Obydwoje traktują Jude'a protekcjonalnie, jakby dzieciak przyjechał na wakacje, którego trzeba pogłaskać po głowie i powiedzieć mu, że problemami zajmą się dorośli, a on niech idzie poplotkować z sąsiadami, jakby on się w niczym nie liczył, jakby nie miał ani głosu, ani zdania... Bogu ducha winnego i zdezorientowanego na maksa obrotem sytuacji Jude'a, którego jedyną winą jest to, że siedzi ciągle w szafie (wie o tym jedynie Rob), traktują tak, jakby wszystko było jego winą, jakby to on był samolubny i egocentryczny, a oni tymi tytanami pracy, robiącymi jego robotę i biorącymi na swoje barki jego odpowiedzialność...
Nie wiem, ale muszę przyznać, że tak mnie ta część, którą zdążyłam przeczytać wkurwiła (bo innego słowa nie da się użyć), że mam dość i prawie - mówię pas, bo nie mam zamiaru się dalej denerwować i to w zdecydowanie złym tego słowa znaczeniu... Może to kwestia tego, że mam naprawdę parszywy dzień dzisiaj, ale prawda jest taka, że czytać zaczęłam wczoraj...
Dwie gwiazdki tak naprawdę daję z sentymentu za Vanyę z "Be My Best Man" i awansem, że po tej pierwszej historii, którą przeczytałam, ta musiała być jakimś wypadkiem przy pracy...
May 25, 2021
This book has the emotional tenor of a well-meaning straight-to-TV romance. I don’t mean that in a derogatory way, but it’s not something that will stick with me. It has all the elements of a good story but they somehow didn’t gel for me. I like the idea of Rob and Jude - rival chefs forced to work together - but that’s actually not this story. That’s like an intro bit then it becomes about navigating grief and uncertainty and being an adult. I found it a bit prosaic. The pacing is also just bonkers. The first third of the book describes a single day and then things just happen so quickly, barely any tension or build up. Then there’s the ridiculous ending, like honestly what? We all like a happy ending but I do not understand the decision making there. It was an okay read, but I think I was just expecting something different.
Read
April 13, 2022DNF. Bailing at 20%. I’ve forced myself to finish too many books lately that I wasn’t enjoying and I don't have it in me to do it again atm.
Weird stuff in this book:
*Jude is searching the OCEAN, for months on end, trying to find his shipwrecked parents?? What?? How does that even work? Like he expects to sail around and suddenly and randomly come upon the flotsam and jetsom of their ship that sank months ago?
*He comes home to find his enemy and sorta crush, who he competed against on a chef reality show, working at his family’s pub?
*There was a tremendous storm that wrecked all kinds of major havoc on the village where he grew up, yet he knew nothing about it until he goes home? Maybe in the 1900s, sure, but in the 21st century? No.
*Rob is offended that Jude left after his parents went missing at sea and is miffed that Jude didn’t keep in touch (while he searched the flippin’ OCEAN for them)? What a dick.
Bottom line too much confusion and frustration to continue. No rating.
Weird stuff in this book:
*Jude is searching the OCEAN, for months on end, trying to find his shipwrecked parents?? What?? How does that even work? Like he expects to sail around and suddenly and randomly come upon the flotsam and jetsom of their ship that sank months ago?
*He comes home to find his enemy and sorta crush, who he competed against on a chef reality show, working at his family’s pub?
*There was a tremendous storm that wrecked all kinds of major havoc on the village where he grew up, yet he knew nothing about it until he goes home? Maybe in the 1900s, sure, but in the 21st century? No.
*Rob is offended that Jude left after his parents went missing at sea and is miffed that Jude didn’t keep in touch (while he searched the flippin’ OCEAN for them)? What a dick.
Bottom line too much confusion and frustration to continue. No rating.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 206 reviews