Em
When I first picked up this book I struggled to connect and checked the audiobook back into the library. Then I was given the hardcover as a gift. Digesting these bite sized essays in print made me want to go back to the audiobook which is read by the author. The second time around. I loved the audio and will definitely keep the hardcover as a “time capsule” piece in my collection.
Overall, I enjoyed this book, but it took me a bit to get into it. In the beginning I found the narration stilted and somewhat annoying. That seemed to get better as the book progressed so I chalked it up to my just needed to get used to it. For me, the modern timeline seemed almost ancillary to the historical fiction timeline. Unfortunately it felt like there was more attention/development in that modern timeline. I felt the beginning of the book was almost too descriptive and may have contributed to it feeling slow, but then the last part of the book felt rushed and not fully formed. The pacing was just never really in that Goldilocks zone. I didn't love or hate this book so I have given it 3 stars.
This is a romance rather than a story and too much explicit in the first few chapters for my tastes
