3.5 stars “Depravity” is way off the mark, and it could use some streamlining. But I liked it overall, would definitely try other books by this author3.5 stars “Depravity” is way off the mark, and it could use some streamlining. But I liked it overall, would definitely try other books by this author. ...more
I really loved most of this. And if the author could get over her penchant for throwing her heroines into extremely painful and traumatic situations tI really loved most of this. And if the author could get over her penchant for throwing her heroines into extremely painful and traumatic situations that we totally agonize over with her, only to rescue said heroine at the last moment with a too-neat fix in service of a HEA, I would love these books even more....more
I had an epiphany as I read this. I was trying to work out why I found the last three books I read by this author so compelling, even when I know 3.5
I had an epiphany as I read this. I was trying to work out why I found the last three books I read by this author so compelling, even when I know the characterizations are pretty simple and the stories always wrap up pretty neatly as you’d expect. They are angst porn! I love angst porn! Like modern versions of vintage Harlequin romances. It’s mostly that same age group, too, as well as the reassurance that no matter how convoluted things become, you’ll still get a happy ending.
I do like that within the framework of fairly predictable plots, the author usually also comes up with unexpected scenarios and reactions that ring very emotionally true. For example, two of the characters discover they’ve been deeply betrayed, and suddenly, believably take it out on a random object in a satisfyingly cathartic way. The bursts of emotion feel real, as do the nuances of mother/daughter relationship. I also liked the atypical reactions of the daughter’s boyfriend, though he, like many of the characters, seems too good to be true and isn’t terribly complicated.
I don’t really mind that so much, though, since that switch has been activated so I can see these kind of fill the same hole that vintage Harlequins used to: dramatic, fast reads that pull you out of your life for a few hours and will end okay. To me, Colleen Hoover books still sit solidly in NA vs adult fiction or regular romance, but they are very enjoyable if you’re in the mood for something that pulls you in, but doesn’t expect too much out of you. ...more
So this is the first time I’ve really gotten why Colleen Hoover’s books are so hyped. I read her debut way back when it came out and New Adult was sorSo this is the first time I’ve really gotten why Colleen Hoover’s books are so hyped. I read her debut way back when it came out and New Adult was sort of just becoming a thing, and thought it was pretty melodramatic and facile. I found Verity pretty eyeroll-worthy, too, though both obviously have a huge number of fans.
But this one—it starts as a typical NA novel, but it becomes a fairly nuanced look at a serious subject. Trigger warning:(view spoiler)[ for physical abuse and attempted sexual assault, though non-graphic (hide spoiler)]. I appreciated how realistically and compassionately all the characters were dealt with, and the author’s note at the end reveals she has had first hand experience with these scenarios, so the complexity of emotions are portrayed especially well.
The author’s writing has also come a long way in a decade—in fact, something about it is compulsively readable. I went straight into the sequel after reading this one and zoomed right through that, too.
3.5 stars, bumped up for the honesty and bravery of emotions on display, and tackling something so difficult. ...more
Nice narration and mildly pleasant scenarios, but two hours in, nothing much had happened other than her acquiring a dog. Then there’s an accident andNice narration and mildly pleasant scenarios, but two hours in, nothing much had happened other than her acquiring a dog. Then there’s an accident and still nothing interesting was going on, so…onwards....more
This is the second Alice Feeney book I’ve listened to and it will probably be my last. Soap opera melodramatics/bare bones characterization/farfetchedThis is the second Alice Feeney book I’ve listened to and it will probably be my last. Soap opera melodramatics/bare bones characterization/farfetched plot better suited for a mass market airport paperback than a proper adult psychological thriller. I refuse to shelve this on my “major plot twist” shelf, too.
Audio Notes: Stephanie Racine’s voice is pleasant enough, but her arch, exaggerated narration style really annoyed me. (Even when you’re supposed to not like the character she’s reading, it’s too much.) Richard Armitage’s voice, though—his is an absolute dream to listen to. He even does female characters well, which is a rarity in male audiobook readers....more
Occasionally a bit flappier than the first (like people flapping about in confusion and upset), and it works a little too hard to manufacture ChristmaOccasionally a bit flappier than the first (like people flapping about in confusion and upset), and it works a little too hard to manufacture Christmas magic at the end. But still a cute, quick holiday audiobook experience for when you don’t want to think too hard. ...more
I’ve never read a cozy mystery before. I picked this one because I thought it would be fun to listen to a Christmassy audiobook while I was baking scoI’ve never read a cozy mystery before. I picked this one because I thought it would be fun to listen to a Christmassy audiobook while I was baking scones. It’s exactly the right type of story for that kind of thing—pleasant, mild-mannered, uncomplicated, undemanding. And if I occasionally wanted a little more oomph and a little more romance, well, there are other books for that.
Audio Notes: Allyson Ryan does a nice job with a variety of voices. Her narrative voice is a little on the dry side, but it’s probably a good fit for the usual audience for this type of mystery....more
I picked this up for the Sarah Mayberry story, and it’s the only one I liked. Short but good, I really miss her and I hope she gets back to writing boI picked this up for the Sarah Mayberry story, and it’s the only one I liked. Short but good, I really miss her and I hope she gets back to writing books soon.
The first story by Emilie Richards is incredibly dated and simplistic, with very basic writing style and syntax. The second one was better, but it still didn’t really hold my interest, so I went for the Mayberry not too far in.
The SM is also the one that handles the overarching story about the quilt best as well. It felt overdone and made me impatient in the other two. ...more
*Salted caramel whiskey marshmallows *Butter *Christmas movie night *Apology crepe cake *Ice skating *Crown roast *TWO ovHow can you not be charmed by:
*Salted caramel whiskey marshmallows *Butter *Christmas movie night *Apology crepe cake *Ice skating *Crown roast *TWO ovens in his home kitchen * Ella Fitzgerald *The pie crust she’s built around her heart?
Short, could have used a little more time with the actual romance, but sweet. I loved how much they both love baking and how much they appreciate that love in each other. If food is your love language and you love Christmas, don’t miss this one!
Started off pretty cute, and it has some cute holiday stuff. But:
—it becomes very very NA in the way it’s written —it takes way too long for the “big Started off pretty cute, and it has some cute holiday stuff. But:
—it becomes very very NA in the way it’s written —it takes way too long for the “big secret” to be revealed, which you will know from the very beginning, but everyone talks around it and poor Finn takes a million years to put two and two together — and despite a trigger warning for body dysmorphia in the beginning, the story doesn’t really handle the subject in any meaningful way. I’m actually uncomfortable with the number of times he refers to her tiny size and her tiny hands over and over and over. (view spoiler)[To be clear: he’s not a jerk and makes an effort to say he is attracted to both her thin blonde current self and photos of her curvier brunette self, but there seems to be an unconscious bias there. It should have been handled a lot better, if it was going to be included at all. (hide spoiler)] There is really just too much emphasis on looks and gorgeousness in general, really—at least with him, you see him being romantically creative, smitten with her, being funny, and teaching kids to ski. With her, it’s almost entirely about her gorgeous looks and feeble references to how she used to be really fun before she was betrayed. So sad.
I did appreciate the distinction about why she feels so betrayed. (view spoiler)[That is, her sister’s betrayal cut deeper than her cheating boyfriend’s, and how it was their not telling her that was the worst part. The description of her walking in on them also felt jarringly, if briefly, explicit, since the rest of the book is pretty vanilla in the makeout scenes. (hide spoiler)] If this had had some polishing up and editing/reshaping, it might’ve been a solid holiday romance. But alas....more
So disappointing, considering how good the first two anthologies were.
Eva Leigh, Nicola Davidson, Sierra Simone - 2 stars. Adriana Herrera - 1.5 starSo disappointing, considering how good the first two anthologies were.
Eva Leigh, Nicola Davidson, Sierra Simone - 2 stars. Adriana Herrera - 1.5 stars. Set-ups are dark and dirty, but I was just kind of bored and vaguely annoyed with these. Ending up skimming most of all four of the stories.
Joanna Shupe — 3.5 stars. Started off so good, but loses a lot of its edge near the end. In the space of this novella, I don’t think the separation after the climax (when she discovers her father’s hypocrisy and Bax is injured) was necessary. This story was the best of the lot (despite lots of repetition and maybe being the most conventional story) but still nowhere near as good as her novellas in the previous two collections.
Color me cranky and dissatisfied. Naming this “villains” sets up the expectation for characters much more exciting than this....more
Not earth-shattering, but compelling enough, mostly due to the forbidding snowy Scottish setting and fairly interesting narrative work. It doesn’t delNot earth-shattering, but compelling enough, mostly due to the forbidding snowy Scottish setting and fairly interesting narrative work. It doesn’t delve too deeply, but there are nice moments with Heather’s past (and what compelled her to seek out this lonely job), as well as interesting interplay between a group of longtime friends. The writing is solid—it reveals clues about the characters without their seeming to know it, though the plot ends up being pretty much what you’d expect.
I enjoyed listening to this overall, though, especially because the voice actors do fine work in their portrayals of flawed, posturing, and sometimes desperate people. ...more
Wendy Darling
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