CJ Bailey

Library book, had to return. However had no interest in continuing - not as engaging as previous installments in the series. Still, I might try again later. 

This was a nicely atmospheric book with a hint of spookiness, which I'll admit almost got me once or twice. The main character annoyed me to begin with, but I warmed up to her by the end, and I appreciated that she was older than your typical heroine. The mystery, however, was predictable and evident halfway through the book, which made it irritating that the characters were so oblivious. 

Definitely enjoyed this book more the second time around - maybe because I knew what to expect (and what not to) this time. It still hurt to watch these characters (especially Simon and Baz) stumble around and wonder if their relationship is salvageable. But that's mostly because I adore these characters. 

That being said, I love books with the road trip trope. I loved Shepherd (maybe the best part of this book?? Well, him and Baz's fashion choices.) And I liked getting to see into after the “happily ever after” even if it wasn't so happy. 

This book needed another round of edits, and I would have liked more resolution to the attempted murder plotline. Quinn seemed to take things in stride to a questionable degree - nothing seems to faze this woman, not an attempted murder, not being rescued by a kraken. This begs the (unanswered) question about whether humans know there are supernatural creatures among them or that exist on the planet; it's clear that the races? species? largely keep away from humans, but the only way Quinn's reaction makes a shred of sense is if she knows, at least tangentially, that krakens and other supernatural creatures exist. Speaking of which, it would have been nice if we'd gotten to meet more of them.

My last complaint is that pretty much all we see Quinn doing is cooking (besides spending time with Jorah); does she not have any other hobbies or interests? For several days, she gets up, cooks all day, and goes to bed. Thankfully, they find a way to off load some of this food, so it doesn't all go to waste. But if less time had been spent of Quinn cooking and more on the relationship (you know the main plot), it wouldn't have felt so insta-lovey. I get that with fated mates, there is always an element of insta-love, and I get that I'm taking this silly little monster novella way too seriously - it is what it says on the tin. However, this story actually had a lot of potential. I really like the world the author created. I'm a sucker for magical communities and found families - I just really wish we'd gotten more of these elements (and more relationship development between Quinn and Jorah) and less of Quinn cooking for scene after scene. Don't get me wrong, I really like it when a character has a passion for something (besides their love interest) and like to see them doing it; it just feels like the balance was a little off, especially for such a short book.

Also, an extra half star off for the “resolution” to the attempted murder. Quinn seems to feel smug that her attacker is getting punished, but she did nothing to bring it about (and seems to have no lasting effect over being nearly murdered! No, I'm not letting this go). I wanted a scene detailing the consequences for him, a confrontation to resolve the inciting incident; instead, we got an after-the-fact newspaper clipping. Unlike all my other (relatively) petty nick-picks and grievances, this genuinely annoyed me. But then I enjoy seeing people who cause harm get what's coming to them. They don't usually in real life, so I like my fiction to rectify that. 

All in all, this was fine. Not especially memorable, but I was in the mood for a quick summery read to kick off Pride month, and it did the job. 

I have mixed feelings about this book. There were several things that I really liked, but a few that bugged me. 

I really enjoyed the main characters, especially Artemis, and the banter, as well as the family bonds. In fact, I wish we'd gotten more of this. I liked the aspect of the FMC, Artemis, being a secret writer and her aspirations of opening a women's college; I also wish we'd gotten more of this, especially involving her plans or maybe even gotten to see her in action. I liked how much of a role Artemis' books played in the story. I really liked the respect Artemis and Dominic had for each other, and the way Dominic encouraged her dreams; I also really liked that there was no third-act misunderstanding-fueled breakup; Dominic could easily have made a huge deal over discovering Artemis' secret, and he handled it with maturity. I really appreciated that. 

However, I wasn't such a big fan of the writing style in some places - it felt overwrought and overwritten (which was maybe intended to go with the time period in which the book was set but it occasionally felt over the top and pulled me out of the story. A few times, I caught myself rolling my eyes. But then, I've never been the biggest fan of Gothic romances, so maybe it just goes with the territory.) I also wasn't a big fan of how the story occasionally dipped into almost soap opera territory (or just over the top plot twists) but again, maybe that just goes with the territory of a Gothic romance and I'm merely judging the book for following expected tropes. Another thing that bugged me a bit was the pace at which Dominic and Artemis' relationship moved - the “I love you”s seemed to come too soon, especially considering Artemis seemed to think she was holding out on him. Maybe this is simply because we're not given a clear timeline? And lastly, the villains seem so one-dimensional, especially the male villain. He's bad because... he's bad? 

Overall, I did enjoy this book - the positives outweighed the negatives - and I plan to continue with the series... Eventually.  

 Well, the plot sounded promising. I even read the first chapter before purchasing; I was all on board. I liked Luna and her relationship with her brother and his fiancé. She was quirky and fun (if a bit manic but I can work with that). I enjoyed the relationship between Declan and Cohen. I was all “Cute names, adorable relationships, DIY/crafty goodness!” This is gonna be great!  Or at least a fun time.  

Then, for no apparent reason, Thad ruined it all. I hated the prologue. Absolutely loathed it. The tone was all over the place; it was crude and offensive for absolutely no reason. And I genuinely want all bad things for Thad. (I get why his brother “betrayed” him; I don't know what Alec did but I'm pretty sure Thad deserved it. And I'm genuinely concerned for his fiancée - I'd tell her to get out while she still can.) It's been a while since I had such a visceral reaction to a character, let alone let one character poison an entire book. But here we are. 
 
So, I took to goodreads to see if I was alone or if the book improved (or if Thad had a personality transplant... or a good old-fashioned lobotomy). Nope, he just gets worse. So, I'm saving myself the trouble (and the seething rage) and calling it quits now. 

On to (hopefully) better reads, though all things considered, that's not a high bar. 

This series is a lot of fun, but in light of the past few years, this one... hit a little close to home. The way they were so glibly talking about creating a pandemic was a bit off-putting. I know this book came out several years before 2020, so I can't fault the authors or their creativity, but I didn't enjoy this one as much as previous installments. And that's almost certainly because of when I read it. That being said, I really like these characters, and I enjoy how the authors manage to up the ante each time. 

Well, I finished it, and I wanted to know how everything would work out, so the book had that going for it. However, I didn't particularly like any of the characters, and none of them felt particularly well fleshed out. The twist was, frankly disturbing, and not in the way the author was going for, I don't think, and at the same time it was a bit of a let down, sort of a “Oh, this the direction we're going in?” The trauma was not handled respectfully, or at all in some cases. The ending felt rushed. And there were so many unanswered questions. It was evident, fairly early on who the “villain” was not, and while I am glad there was ultimately another responsible, there is no explanation for the supposed villain's behavior. On a related note, why are all the men (sans maybe one) such terrible humans in this book?! 

Oh well, I've wanted to read this book for a while, and now I can say that I have. On to the next one...

I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. Typically, I wish novellas were longer because they feel rushed - either in characterization or plot-wise. But despite the shortness, this one didn't feel too rushed.  I wish it was longer because I genuinely liked the characters.  

I was honestly surprised by how much I enjoyed this.

 Three stars feels a tad generous, but two stars feels like a discredit to all the hard work that undoubtedly went into this, so three stars it is! That being said, several things bothered or even irritated me. The artwork was inconsistent; most of the male characters were indistinguishable; Claire's boobs???? (This is nitpicky, I know, but Scotland is cold, and Claire is not going to be walking about the countryside in so little clothing. Most of the time her clothing is not all that different from the dress that had the Scotsmen debating her virtue.) And who the heck was Kenneth, and why was he even included???? He really didn't add anything to the plot but confusion and irritation because I felt like I was missing something, even though I've read the book and seen the show.

Also, the portrayal of both Geillis and Laoghaire felt off - the first for being too manipulative (isn't that supposed to be a surprise? I much prefer her character in the book/show; I also really like the friendship between her and Claire in the show, and this completely tossed that out the window) and the second for not being manipulative enough. (If we're getting the truth about Geillie then why not Laoghaire? Who, by the way, comes across as innocent in this, which makes me want to slap somebody. Also, I just like Geillis better. Justice for Geillis! She may have had it coming in Voyager, but I really like her character in book 1.)

Finally, this was supposed to be from Jamie's point of view? Right? It honestly was more from Murtagh's. I like Murtagh - don't get me wrong (especially the version from the series), but I didn't need the story from his POV. Actually getting the story from Jamie's perspective could have been really interesting.

Also, the graphic novel felt really, in some cases oddly, abbreviated, though I know, in order to do the full story justice, it would have had to be nearly quadruple the length... though I wouldn't have minded if that were the case, especially if we had gotten some of the scenes that were cut from the series (“Fretful porpentine” anyone?) If anything, this made me want to go back and read book 1 again. 

Overall, I enjoyed this book more than it frustrated me. I liked the dynamics between the main pair (not only their relationship but the situation they found themselves in). I really liked the premise and the fairy tale aspects (though I do wish they had been used to better effect. )And the cover! It's one of the prettiest covers I've come across and what initially drew me in.

However, the execution was not great. As for the FMC, Helena, we're constantly told how smart she is, but none of her plans seem to back that up and she seems somewhat juvenile for her 24 years. And Declan, the MMC, has some pretty high stakes if he doesn't complete the job he was let out of prison for, and yet he never really tries. (Don't get me wrong, I liked the dynamic, and it was necessary for the plot, it just seems like there should have been more of a struggle on his part and it should have taken longer then a few hours for him to jump ship and be team Helena.) The side characters were mostly flat and one-dimensional, even the antagonists. The conflict was... underwhelming. The dialogue was occasionally stilted and even eye-rolling at times. The historical anachronisms were... jarring (especially regarding undergarments. I won't rant about how the dresses relied on undergarments for their shapes and that it would have been exceedingly obvious if the FMC wasn't wearing anything under her gown. Which she did, in public. Twice.) Also the sex scene was... weird and frustrating and almost made me put the book down. What was with all the rolling? And could he not prepare her, even a little?! This man supposedly loves her and isn't inexperienced himself - he should know what to do. Honestly, it came across as the author not knowing how the female body works, which might have been acceptable in the older historicals, but haven't we moved beyond that by now?  Also the name Knightly Snow. Just no. 

But I digress. On the whole, it was a cute, fluffy story with some emotional depth; it never got dark, though I did feel for Helena's predicament. I do wish we could have gotten a little more side character development (especially with the sisters, the “potential duchesses”, and the antagonists) and more in the epilogue - like her parents' reaction to the marriage and an elaboration on the status of her relationship with her sisters and Declan's family. 

Over all, this could have been really good, and while I mostly enjoyed it, the more I think about what could have been done with this story, the more disappointed I am. That being said, it's not a bad read, and I might continue the series at some point. Hopefully, the rest of the series will be better. 

I'm not sure how I feel about this book; that almost never happens. I... suppose I cared about most of the characters, in that I didn't want to see any of them die, except perhaps Callum, but that was so clearly the  intended reaction, it feels a little like being manipulated to go along with it - ironically. I also didn't see the twist at the end coming, or rather twists. This books feels highly intelligent, but perhaps too much so at times? The magic system was interesting, in that it felt grounded and real, but it was also a little bogged down by all the science-y-ness (yes, that's a word now) which, ironically, lessened the magical feel. In short, it feels as though this book quite possibly short-circuited my brain (which isn't necessarily a bad thing), and I'm not going to rate it until I figure out how I feel about it.  

It took me several days to read this book, not because I wasn't enjoying it, but rather because I didn't want it, and by extension this series, to end. I absolutely adored this book and all the characters. I identify with each of the Brown sisters in different ways. Fingers crossed this isn't the last we'll see of them. I could definitely go for a book about Tessa, or Alex, or Mont, or hey, a book for each! 

This book was by turns funny and frustrating, lighthearted and at times a little horrifying. It is by far the most creative and whimsical dystopian I have ever read.  

So, I needed a book to listen to while I worked out and saw this one was available through my library. Guess I'm going ahead with the series sooner rather than later.

I still enjoyed this one, and it seemed even shorter than the first, or at least to go by faster, even though I think they're about the same length. The mystery was engaging, and it did not work out like I expected. I'm still enjoying the secondary characters, and the grim reaper aspect continues to intrigue me. 

However, there were a few things that bugged me. Though I kind of get why Charley is the way she is, her flippant attitude occasionally comes across as frustrating or even cold-hearted. I also don't get why she was so dead-set on ignoring Reyes' decision with regards to his body; I get that she didn't want him to “die” but he'd still be around, they'd still have the relationship that they do now, and it seems like the danger would be (at least temporarily) averted. I'm also not sure I get why they like? Love? each other. There hasn't been much of an actual relationship. And I get that Charley wants one, but how is that going to work with him potentially incarcerated for the next who-knows-how-many years? 

I'm definitely continuing with the next book soon because I want to know how things will work out and because my library happens to have the complete series. And in audiobook no less. I love it when that happens. Fingers crossed the books don't decline in quality/readability. 

Overall, I very much enjoyed this one. It did drag just a little in the middle. The issues with Aidan's family genuinely made me angry, but the MCs' reactions (especially Maggie) aligned with what I would have liked to say in the situations, which almost never happens. (I do wish Sheryl had been punched honestly. It would have been cathartic.) I also wish we'd gotten at least a hint about his family situation in the epilogue, even if he no longer has a relationship with any of them; it's such a big plot point, and it's left feeling slightly unresolved. Other than that, my complaints are nitpicky.  

I wanted to like this book. There were so many things about the premise that appealed to me, but ultimately it was a chore to slog through, and after two months of forcing myself to pick it up, I'm calling it quits. I thought Jane could do better - Rosie actually irritated me, and their relationship came across as kind of toxic. The supporting cast had very little depth, and I even found myself struggling to remember who was who a couple of times. The sex scenes were lukewarm at best. And the third act conflict felt unnecessary. 

I got the recommendation from a booktuber and couldn't... not check it out. It was both better and worse than I expected. Better, in that it's surprisingly wholesome (at least the relationship between the main couple); I really like the world that C.M. Nascosta is creating here, as well as the side characters; there was no third act break up, which was nice; and the ending was happy, without including marriage and babies (which is fine - I'm not anti-marriage and babies when it makes sense for the story/characters; I simply appreciate the less typical direction this story took). I also quite like the main pair, and found Violet to be extremely relatable. (Floundering millennial, struggling with anxiety and recovering from perfectionism? Present.)

Now the not-so-greats: there were some pretty noticeable errors that pulled me out of the story (including one where I had to flip between pages, trying to determine if I missed something or if the pages were out of order). The timing of the story was... a little confusing at times, with unexplained or poorly explained time-jumps. And several scenes that would have benefited the story to be fleshed out were skimmed over, told in hindsight, or simply left to be inferred. Also, the majority of the relationship aspect between our main couple is focused on the build up to the relationship; once they get together, the story feels rushed and summarized. 

All that being said, I did enjoy this book. I will continue the series. I just wish it had been better fleshed out (even an additional fifty pages would have been nice) and done more showing and less hindsight telling.   

This book ended a little abruptly; it would have been nice to get an epilogue. Maybe the author chose not to because this is the first book in a series, and we'll see Ben and Philip again, but I just wanted a little more resolution.

Speaking of Philip - he is largely why this book is rated so low. While he did eventually grow on me, and I came to even enjoy his point of view, for the first several chapters I actively despised this man. I get that he's all grumpy and miserable, but I honestly wanted to drop kick him all the way back to his ship. Ben and the children caried the story in the early chapters, and the only reason I didn't want to see Philip choke on a cactus was purely for the sake of his children. (I mean, he was mad that his oldest son had a nickname that he didn't know about?! My guy, you weren't there, being a parent to your children, of course you don't know them! And his constant judgement about how wrong things were if they weren't exactly like his experiences on his ship. I can't even... Just no. Boo, Philip. Boo, in the bin with you! And Ben, my sweet sunshine boy, can you stop mooning over the grumpy asshole and just slap him like I know you want to? Please? As a personal favor?) 

Needless to say, Philip did improve (or this would have been a 2 star book, if I hadn't stopped reading altogether) - in that he stopped bossing everyone around, stopped blaming other people for his problems, and stopped thinking military precision and punishment were the only way to manage his children. By the midpoint, I was actively rooting for the pair to be together, though I wasn't sure how the author would manage it when both men seemed to want such different things.

All in all, this was a sweet story and a quick read with enough spice to keep things interesting. My favorite part by far was the familial plotline with Ben and Philip getting to be adorable gay dads, and watching Philip mend the relationship with his kids was heartwarming. I actually wish we'd gotten more of this. 

This was one of my first Katee Robert's. It's pretty meh; she has much better books. But it's short, sweet, steamy, and well-written - good for getting over a reading slump or boosting your TBR count. It's also a good book to dip your toes in the romance genre. Of course, it could have been a lot more fleshed out - and perhaps that's the reason for the meh-rating. But, it's surprising how this feels like a complete story; we get just enough backstory to understand who these characters are and their past. There is no instalove, which is always a plus. And I have to admit, the epilogue almost got me emotional. 

Lost interest. Attempting to clear out my 2021 in-progress books before year's end. Might try again later. 

Dang, was this a long book! Even listening to the audiobook, it seemed to take forever. And yet, for the most part, I enjoyed this book - there are some events that are impossible to enjoy, but I do love these characters, and I like following along with their adventures. That being said, my favorite scenes are the quiet family moments when they're all gathered together, without threat or immediate danger, simply enjoying each others' company.

I've already seen the show, so I knew most of what was coming, but there were still some surprises - plot points that were omitted or handled differently, and it was nice to get more detail on some of the events from the show as well. Overall, this is another good addition to a wonderful series, not my favorite but certainly not my least favorite. The ending is a bit abrupt, however.  

After thoroughly enjoying the last two, I was pretty disappointed by this one. Let's just say I have mixed feelings about it. There were several things I found charming, but Anne herself frustrated and even horrified me a little. The cat scene, need I say more? Actually, I will - if they had actually killed the cat, I would have put the book down and not picked up another one. Why do most of the characters seem to hate cats?! What did poor Rusty do, besides having the misfortune of liking Anne and being “disreputable looking.” As is, the fact that Anne went along with the cat-murder plot left me feeling betrayed. Oh! And the same goes for Mr. Harrison who killed his dog (twice) simply because he was tired of him. What. The. Hell? Also, her refusal to examine her feelings for Gilbert at first felt adorably naïve and true to life but quickly became tiresome, especially her borderline catty commentary about Christine. The side-story with Mr. Douglas, his mother, and Janet, whom he'd loved for over twenty years, just irked me. I don't know if his mother's two-faced cruelty or the man's lack of backbone bothered me more. And Janet was way too forgiving in my opinion. I know the series was written for kids and has lessons and morals, but they just feel a little too heavy-handed sometimes. However, all that aside, it was mostly an enjoyable read and a little bittersweet to see everyone growing up, and I'm glad Anne stopped being such a dolt about her feelings for Gilbert, even if that part felt needlessly rushed, but I guess it makes sense considering the target audience. 

I have mixed feelings about this one. Some elements I liked, others not so much. Sometimes the characters come across as almost caricatures, and the writing can be a little clunky at times. One thing that really bugged me was Evie's character in this one: she went from interesting and independent in her own story to being completely defined by her relationship with Mateo. Also, did we get a scene with just the sisters and none of the guys? While I like the romantic relationships - and I love how inclusive and welcoming the Savoie family is (found family/single, loner welcomed into a big, chaotic family is one of my favorite tropes) - I wanted a little more sisterhood in this one; it feels as though the romantic relationships are slowly eclipsing the familial ones. It may be nitpicky, but it's something that's bothered me about the last two installments in this series, but especially this one. 

Also, really looking forward to Henry and Clara's story. They've been teased for so long now, why is their story the last one?! I mean, it will be nice to finally get to the bottom of the Jules/Ruben storyline, but I'm actually more interested in Clara's story.