Lili V

Solid RH series, 3.5 stars.

So hard to find RH series that don't make me sigh in exasperation these days. I hopeful that there's more out there that I just haven't discovered, and series like this are the source.

Definitely a slower burn RH but as the protagonist grows more comfortable in her own skin, the chemistry with the love interests grows naturally. While I'm not entirely comfortable with toeing the line of consent, I don't think the author is harmful in her portrayal of the protagonist's “persuasive” abilities. Since we do find out what the main character is at the end of this book, I'm even more invested in discovering what happens next for her and her love interests. I hope there isn't too much more “she's dangerous/desirable, she must die/be mine” because that could quickly dissuade me from continuing on with the series.

Not as exciting as the first book but still a solid sequel with an interesting plot twist on discovering who started the fires.

willnevergiveuponRH

Two words. Loved it.
Four Syllables. Hi-la-ri-ous. That's four syllables, right? Omg, my gut hurt sooo bad. One of my favorite lines: “Having a seizure. I didn't know the human neck could move like that.” Man, you don't even have to know what the book is talking about at that specific moment and you still burst out laughing. I especially love the main-character's sense of humor, no doubt the irritating Finn–whose name I cannot, under any circumstances, comprehend–he's just the right type of annoying, that whenever he says something it looks like your having an aneurysm because your trying not to laugh, lol turning all purple and shit. But, seriously I've got to give props to Scott, although I've only read one other of her books (Perfect You) I have no doubt that her romantic-comedies will sell out one day. Even if they're not intended to be in that specific genre.
One word. Sad. And so realistic that I couldn't get through a specific sad sentence without a tear forming in my eye. But that's just me, I tend to cry very easily, yet haven't cried in a long time–not counting the times I read books of course. Anyway, I personally felt that this book was written especially for me–and I know that sounds cliched, and quite shallow, but still doesn't mean its not true. I've had my own fair share of dad problems–still do–but there was one special sentence, I guess you can say, that really caught me. And yes, I actually did underline it in the book. (Do not mock me, it was very touching) Anyways, here it is: “Jose showed me love isn't about getting what you want, but about being there–really being there–for your family.” Okay, so you probably don't know who Jose is but that's not the point. I can relate to the main character so much its heartbreaking, but of course my father does not have half- or fully-naked women in his house–or at least I hope not, because if he does....Ewww.
Before I start giving away too much about the book, I just want to say that I have to give Scott major props for this one; it will always be one of my all time favorites.

Ddlg. Not as good as Hale's Little Dancer.

Grade: B-

2.5 stars, just kind of disappointed.

The author tried to pull off a science fiction with some physics and fantasy with some paranormal religious figures hybrid and it made for a very underwhelming story with a lot of info-dumping.

I liked the main love interest (because this is very much slow burn reverse harem) but the protagonist and the rest of the harem were boring and unremarkable. Sam would have been my second favorite as the flamboyant bisexual best friend but he just didn't get enough “screen time” so I had no time to get attached to him.

Overall, just disappointed because execution was really lackluster and the tropes were grating more than anything.

4.5

Baldwin's writing is 10 out of 10 in this book. The way you can deeply feel every emotion, picture every landscape and seamlessly immerse yourself into the minds of each character with all their complex relationships and emotions...
I really don't care that this didn't have a plot at all. It's a character study of all the characters that share center stage and their complicated yet undeniably human interactions with the people they love.

I have to say what everyone thinks about this graphic novel when they first encounter it: the representation is great and very well-appreciated. The art was enjoyable, though less polished (though I don't think that's the exact word I'm looking for) than I normally like. I liked the galactic setting though I don't think it added anything to the story than as a writing tool to comment on “old-fashioned” approaches to relationships in our current Earth-ways. It was cool to see that being in an open relationship was the norm for the “first-generation”-ers but it also excluded the option of monogamy. I loved the main character's personality and her body confidence was again, very well-appreciated.

I would definitely like to see more rep of this nature, I just don't know if I enjoyed its storytelling in this graphic as much as I thought I would.

This was so good! I love Tijan's angsty teenage-aged characters out of any YA I've ever read. She writes teenagers living with difficult home situations and crafts their growth beautifully.

This one had to deal with loss, grief and eventually facing inner demons. Absolutely brilliantly done.

A MC Ddlg smut book basically. Enjoyed it for what it was, didn't care about the plot though it was authentically dark af.

Ugh, these books always get me! Stayed up all night reading this one, of course. I HAVE to know what happens with the slow-burn romances in this author's books. Always and forever.

I liked the relationship between the characters in this one more than I liked the characters themselves. I didn't connect that much with Jasmine in this book because while we learned a lot of the struggles she went through growing up, I don't think there was enough of her personality in the book. I understand the author wanted to portray that her life revolved around figure-skating but the developmental moments she highlighted of Jasmine's childhood only centered around the qualities that she would constantly point out made her “different”. Her vulnerable moments were few and far between, and then nothing would come of them. The story would just go on as if the two main characters didn't just share a MOMENT.

The main thing I didn't like about Jasmine was one of her character flaws so obviously this was a subjective preference on my part. She was all about being “anti-fake” and keeping to her promises, and being different than she was before because she's grown. Her refusal to confront her own bullshit was the most annoying thing to read. She sounded like a two year-old instead of a twenty-six year-old woman whenever she would have back and forth arguments with Ivan. And honestly, how...how could she not know that he was teasing her because he liked her? That's one of the oldest tricks and so blatant from the very beginning that her shock later on was a bit extra.

Liked the introduction of the new love interest, and it was interesting to learn more about the shevari people. Decent read overall.

This ticks so many of my personal pleasure-read boxes: heroine dropped into a remote environment and has to figure what's what, reverse harem of love interests that are searching for their mate to protect and love forever, and most importantly putting in the work and effort to communicate effectively their thoughts and feelings to each other when they don't speak the same language.

This series is seriously an awesome mix of LKH's Anita Blake and Merry Gentry series'. It almost reads like an origin story of Merry finding her monstrous lovers and they were all variations of a vampire.

Well, fuck. Thought I could be like the cool kids and hate this book on principle, really try to understand why someone would say “I'm never reading Sally Rooney” (wouldn't work for me anyway since this is the third I've read from her). But no, I had to go and like the damn thing.

But I promise I didn't like all of it. In fact, if I didn't listen to the first half on audio, I think I would have given up long ago. But it was so compulsively readable, I couldn't put it down or forget about it for long. Another story about the complicated nature that we like to twist relationships into when we're young and inexperienced (though it didn't seem experience helped the older “couple” in this one). There were things I didn't enjoy but those things were the things I wasn't supposed to enjoy - in fact, it hurt to read this book. But Rooney did that whole “wrap-up ending by learning a lesson” that left me happy, and oh she's good.

For those who know better than me, forgive me. I couldn't forsake the flawed characters, inept interactions, and fraught relationships, (their relationship with privilege and money was atrocious and made me roll my eyes, though) because it felt natural The writing definitely felt like I was going back and reading her first work but it's not any less compelling for it.

I'm sorry I can't be a cool kid. Truly. All my love -

Gah! So long! Only complaints were Theon's character in general were so not a good plot twist. Other than that I'm glad all the Starks are still alive in this book and are relatively safe for the moment. Favorite character in this book was definitely Tyrion because of his conniving and cunning ways. Also got to like Sansa a little better than before but still think she's an idiot. Arya is freaking awesome and is still kicking ass but I hope she finds and reunites with Nymeria soon. Really liked this installment, it was very engrossing like the first and forces to see all the characters stories till the end.

Finally done with The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter and whoa, gotta think this one through a bit more. I love the whole “Have to face the new day” ending, and Biff's POV was the best to end with. But how did McCullers come up with this at 23? In the 1940s with Civil Rights barely beginning to boil? The spiels between Copeland and Jake Blount? Two characters that could not have been more different yet share the same ideology....I need to get my hands on more books like this, that make me contemplate human nature and its restrictions.

A-

willnevergiveuponRH

7/10/20
I can say that I definitely remember this book a lot more than I have the previous books in the series. I enjoyed the reread and knowing that I could just skip over the superfluous descriptions of eyes, guns, etc. (see review below for more info). I look forward to the next book because this installment definitely got me interested in the series again. I hope to see more character development which is pretty much all I'm here for at this point in the series.

9/8/18
This was honestly better than I expected. The last few books have been subpar and not memorable whatsoever. Like I didn't even remember that a certain male from the main polygroup died in the last one. Heck, I even forgot that the last one took place in Ireland.

This time we're in the Florida Keys. (As someone who's lived in FL for most of her life, it's a damn shame that I've never visited.) I thought the snake people would have taken a bigger role in the main story line but the author was subtle about incorporating it into the wedding plans shenanigans that WAS the main plot of the book.

I was surprised and excited to see the Four Horsemen back together again! I think the books with them around the mid-series time frame were some of my favorite because of the camaraderie they all shared; their thirst for the violent thrill underscored all of their adventures and made for a more thrilling read.

I didn't dislike the slower pace in this took with the wedding plans and the bridesmaids drama. I think it actually livened up the book and made it more lighthearted than we usually see in this series. But what let those moments really shine was the actual development of the main characters themselves. They're always rehashing the same therapy issues every book (not to mention the same damn descriptions about the males' eyes from the main polygroup, the type of guns they're carrying, where on their bodies they're carrying them, UGH JUST STAWP I DON'T CARE).

There were little interactions here and there between the Four Horsemen that got me all giddy and made me remember how I much I used to love this series. There was definitely much more potential here for the supernatural mystery to have taken the forefront but I don't mind the way the author handled it. I will always just wish for more growth and interaction between my favorite characters above all else.

Something I have to mention that I've been thinking about for the past 5 or so books is that I don't believe in Anita's character a lot of the time. What I mean is, her love, the way she displays affection sometimes doesn't translate well on the page. I just don't feel it. She can say that she loves them but I don't really see the actions that show it. She goes from extreme to extreme when displaying her affection - it's either a passionate embrace/full-on sex or a subtle intimate touch. I believe her anger more than I believe her love. I feel like she's been fighting her inner angst and pushing against her partners for so long that it's all that I expect of her character. Without it, there's like a blank space that ate her essence/personality.

This was a long ramble while running on VERY little sleep but it makes me wonder how much of this book I'll remember by the time the next one rolls around.

willnevergiveuponRH

We figure out the mystery behind the main characters and the boys figure out the main character should not be taken for granted. I liked the backstory behind the main characters and the foundation of their relationship. It was very well-written and the beginning action portion was thrilling and fun to read.

2.5 stars

Solely for the art and the potential of the story. But mostly the art because I really loved it.

Unique slow burn start to an RH series but I'm not in love with the main character though the ending was sweet. Not a huge fan of the solving crimes trope but I do want to read the next in the series more for the character relationships than anything else (as always :).

The execution of each of the books I've read thus far in the series has been immaculate. I think the only changes I'd wish for would satisfy my inner writer and morph it into a story I'd want told, not the story that it already impeccably is.

Fade isn't what you would normally call a fun, funny, good-time book. But hey, half of the books in this nation aren't like that so why should this one be any different? Much like its debut novel–Wake–Fade has it secrets and mysteries, only this time its future–or should I say her future–is a whole lot more gloomier. The fate the awaits Janie, is nothing like what she expected–except she's not that surprised, especially with the way things are going on now with the dreams.
Yes, Janie is a dream-catcher, yes she thinks that her boyfriend Cabe is the most understanding person in her life rigt now, and yes she likes working undercover for the police because it gives her “ability” a purpose....But will her next assignment be too much for her and Cabe to handle, or will her upcoming future tear them apart? I recommend this novel (as well as its former, Wake, if you haven't read it already) to anyone interested in the tragedies in risking your well-being to save other's.