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First things first. I have bought approximately fifteen copies of this book for the library I work at. It is hugely popular, we can barely keep copies on the shelf. I picked it for the "Book to Art" book club program I lead and made the mistake of being influenced by it's popularity and by the pretty, innocuous looking cover. I DID NOT READ THE BLURB. Oops.
Spoiler alert and trigger warning, there are two graphic rapes in the first eighty pages.
The cover is widely misleading. This is a depressing historical fiction tale set during WWII and after, told in alternating third person narratives by three narrators. Two are based on historical figures. Herta, a German Nazi "doctor" who performs horrific medical experiments on concentration camp prisoners and Caroline Ferriday, an American socialite who's war-time charity work eventually transforms into a campaign to assist the survivors of these medical experiments. Kasia is an amalgamation of real survivors of the Ravensbruck concentration camp medical experiments, women called "rabbits."
I understand the impact and importance of the story, I just didn't want to read it, found it graphically disturbing, and a slog to read. The different POVs are inconsistent, and I'm in no mood to be in the mind of a Nazi or to even feel one hint of sympathy for her plight, even if she is raped by her employer who forces her to sew condoms before he assaults her. What the actual f.
The book is entirely focused on the "rabbits" who are almost entirely made up of Polish Catholic women, women who were political prisoners. Not sure how I feel about that right now.
I enjoyed the post-war portion of the story far more than the first half, as most similar books end with the war. I appreciated Kelly showing that while America was moving on, tired of hearing "sad stories," the rest of the world was still traumatized and barely recovering, especially places under the Iron Curtain.
I'm also growing tired of the world considering books like this "literature" because of the historical context. If it isn't depressing and horrific, it can't be worthy, right? Forget it. I'm back to my HEAs.
Spoiler alert and trigger warning, there are two graphic rapes in the first eighty pages.
The cover is widely misleading. This is a depressing historical fiction tale set during WWII and after, told in alternating third person narratives by three narrators. Two are based on historical figures. Herta, a German Nazi "doctor" who performs horrific medical experiments on concentration camp prisoners and Caroline Ferriday, an American socialite who's war-time charity work eventually transforms into a campaign to assist the survivors of these medical experiments. Kasia is an amalgamation of real survivors of the Ravensbruck concentration camp medical experiments, women called "rabbits."
I understand the impact and importance of the story, I just didn't want to read it, found it graphically disturbing, and a slog to read. The different POVs are inconsistent, and I'm in no mood to be in the mind of a Nazi or to even feel one hint of sympathy for her plight, even if she is raped by her employer who forces her to sew condoms before he assaults her. What the actual f.
The book is entirely focused on the "rabbits" who are almost entirely made up of Polish Catholic women, women who were political prisoners. Not sure how I feel about that right now.
I enjoyed the post-war portion of the story far more than the first half, as most similar books end with the war. I appreciated Kelly showing that while America was moving on, tired of hearing "sad stories," the rest of the world was still traumatized and barely recovering, especially places under the Iron Curtain.
I'm also growing tired of the world considering books like this "literature" because of the historical context. If it isn't depressing and horrific, it can't be worthy, right? Forget it. I'm back to my HEAs.
So, this was delightfully silly, cute, and fluffy. Honestly, I could really give to flips about rescuing bunnies especially with the state of the world we are in, but once I let that go I enjoyed this a lot.
Marshall is a total grump who is brought around by a firm, yet sunny, veterinarian who makes him work for every chance he gets with her. Dr. Augusta "Gus" North is the competence porn heroine of your dreams, who can both wear a suit and heels with aplomb but can also castrate a rabbit in ten minutes or less.
The titular "kissing contract" comes about because Gus doesn't want Marshall to distract her while they count and remove the bunnies that have overrun his private island work zone, but they've already kissed once before they make it, so we all know the heat is for real between these two. I adore when characters hook up right away, then deny their feeeeelings and hormones while constantly coming this close to riding the train to pound-town.
Also, there's a loophole found in regards to oral (him on her) sex, and that was a fun good time for me too!
I received a free copy in exchange for a fair review
Marshall is a total grump who is brought around by a firm, yet sunny, veterinarian who makes him work for every chance he gets with her. Dr. Augusta "Gus" North is the competence porn heroine of your dreams, who can both wear a suit and heels with aplomb but can also castrate a rabbit in ten minutes or less.
The titular "kissing contract" comes about because Gus doesn't want Marshall to distract her while they count and remove the bunnies that have overrun his private island work zone, but they've already kissed once before they make it, so we all know the heat is for real between these two. I adore when characters hook up right away, then deny their feeeeelings and hormones while constantly coming this close to riding the train to pound-town.
Also, there's a loophole found in regards to oral (him on her) sex, and that was a fun good time for me too!
I received a free copy in exchange for a fair review
Oh my gosh. This novella is perfection. ✈
Absolutely devoured LAYOVER by Katrina Jackson tonight, as evidenced by my hasty 1am post I felt compelled to share. 🎧
A delicious blend of character building, ennui, grief, sexual tension, and romance, absolutely a must-read 🛫
Absolutely devoured LAYOVER by Katrina Jackson tonight, as evidenced by my hasty 1am post I felt compelled to share. 🎧
A delicious blend of character building, ennui, grief, sexual tension, and romance, absolutely a must-read 🛫
Astro Poets on Twitter is my go-to for all my astrological needs. I'm Sagittarius AF as Alex speaks to my archer on a fundamental level.
This will be a must-have for library zodiac collections. Each section is very thoughtfully laid out with familiar elements but the Astro Poet elan for language and description.
I received a free copy in exchange for a fair review.
This will be a must-have for library zodiac collections. Each section is very thoughtfully laid out with familiar elements but the Astro Poet elan for language and description.
I received a free copy in exchange for a fair review.
She flew with her own wings, and I had to let her. She’d come back to me in due time, and she’d come home, too.
Just when I thought I couldn't love an audio book more after listening to The Walshes #5, the Spire featuring Shannon and Will, boom, Dr. Nick Acevedo and Erin Walsh's story hits me right in the heart.
If you haven't listened or read any of the Walsh books yet, stop right here. Massive spoilers ahead.
Content warning behind spoiler
Okay - ready for this?
Throughout the Walsh books, we've kind of known Erin and Dr. Nick have a thing. What that thing is besides Nick having his hand up Erin's skirt at Matt and Lauren's wedding I did not know.
WELL - as Canterbary so craftily does, she gives a big hit right in the prologue. Nick asks Erin to come home for the birth of Shannon's first baby and says he needs HIS WIFE to finally come home. WHAT. HEAD EXPLODES.
Then Canterbary shuttles us back to Will and Lauren's wedding, where Dr. Nick immediately falls for Erin, love at first sight. Erin, despite her wary ways, is also enchanted. She dares him to marry her on a lobster boat. He says yes. They do!
What commences is the hottest, most drawn out courtship that starts with marriage and ends with forever for two people who are absolutely perfect for each other, but are willing to accept they can't be together just yet.
Nick loves Erin with his whole heart, but he allows her to find her way home, allowing her choices, allowing her to use him as her true north. He demands, but only ever enough to make sure she knows he'll always be there. Super hot texts and video chats, and emotional weekends together.
I stayed up way to late finishing this one and I'm just in love. Also-the narrator's southern accent for Dr. Nick is just, yes.
2nd Listen
My gosh this story just hits me in all my feelings and it makes me so happy and makes my heart ache, and just hearing the Nick say "darling" to Erin makes me want to weep with joy and my ovaries explode. The way Nick loves our prickly Erin is absolute perfection, and Erin's coming to terms with her past, with her family, and with herself is such a great journey. Plus, these two's chemistry is off the charts. I could listen to their emails all day long, and that's saying something. Perennial favorite, and the narrators are AMAZING too.
I get the appeal of Neil Gaiman, I love all of his ideas, I've just decided that the actual prose doesn't really work for me personally. I am absolutely a dialogue lover, and Gaiman is a master of setting the scene. I'm just like GET TO THE PART WHERE THEY TALK.
Also, 2019 Beth is totally over the all the old witches in this book want eternal youth (thus want the star). Forget it, let's revel in being hags.
But, that said, this is an enchanting fairy tale for adults, my Book to Art Club loved it, and now I need to watch the movie.
Also, 2019 Beth is totally over the all the old witches in this book want eternal youth (thus want the star). Forget it, let's revel in being hags.
But, that said, this is an enchanting fairy tale for adults, my Book to Art Club loved it, and now I need to watch the movie.
Oh, this giant, imposing, and stern man is just getting blown away by the slightly improper and scandalous Lady Margaret. My heart
**I received a free copy in exchange for a fair review**
Literary editor catches her fiancee cheating just days from their wedding and decides to take the Ireland honeymoon she booked as a writing retreat, a chance to finally give herself the time and space to explore her passion project. The cottage she ends up staying in on the wild sea coast puts her in close proximity with a sexy Irish professor who is also striving to complete his work while struggling with his personal issues. Two lonely souls, one delicious escape, until reality comes crowding back in to Tully Cross.
Some spoilers ahead:
A promising debut from an author to watch, but I struggled a bit with the overall arc. I adored Antonia, I loved seeing her take a chance, give her writing a shot, but I wanted her to have maybe had a bit more distance from her failed relationship. I loved Antonia's family, her sister and her mother, and hope maybe they show up in future stories! The descriptions of Ireland and the way Aiden said "Jaysus" were also completely satisfying.
The resolution of the very real issues that broke these two apart felt rushed. There was a lot of internal monologue where the characters talked themselves in to believing the best of the other, and I wanted more action and showing me why. Aiden's daddy-issues back story also didn't really interest me, I just wanted to get back to Antonia.
I'm happy for these two, but I don't know if I was convinced by the end that Aiden deserved her, but I think I just like her so much more as a character. And I mean, Aiden is hot and employed and sweet so, fine. I'm just happy to read about a Black woman finding her happily ever after on her terms.
I also want to point out that Antonia is a Black woman and there were great moments that showed her experience being a Black woman in a super white country, in a super white professional field. In the way her ex-fiancee's parents wanted her to act, wanted her to dress, wanted her to do her hair. All reasons I'm glad she left the dolt behind! He may have also been a secret-sex addict? I don't know, there was a lot going on there that felt a bit unexplored. There were also great conversations between Antonia and the very white Irish Aiden. I say this with the caveat I am reviewing as a white, cis-hetero woman, so please seek out Black reviewers (which I will do too) to see what they are saying.
As a final note, I was not pleased Antonia was able to secure personal contact information, including a HOME ADDRESS, for Aiden from the innkeeper after they broke up. Don't put service people in this situation. They don't know you, I don't care if "you are in love." Not okay. Antonia certainly knew where Aiden was a professor so she easily could have found his school email from the website.
Literary editor catches her fiancee cheating just days from their wedding and decides to take the Ireland honeymoon she booked as a writing retreat, a chance to finally give herself the time and space to explore her passion project. The cottage she ends up staying in on the wild sea coast puts her in close proximity with a sexy Irish professor who is also striving to complete his work while struggling with his personal issues. Two lonely souls, one delicious escape, until reality comes crowding back in to Tully Cross.
Some spoilers ahead:
A promising debut from an author to watch, but I struggled a bit with the overall arc. I adored Antonia, I loved seeing her take a chance, give her writing a shot, but I wanted her to have maybe had a bit more distance from her failed relationship. I loved Antonia's family, her sister and her mother, and hope maybe they show up in future stories! The descriptions of Ireland and the way Aiden said "Jaysus" were also completely satisfying.
The resolution of the very real issues that broke these two apart felt rushed. There was a lot of internal monologue where the characters talked themselves in to believing the best of the other, and I wanted more action and showing me why. Aiden's daddy-issues back story also didn't really interest me, I just wanted to get back to Antonia.
I'm happy for these two, but I don't know if I was convinced by the end that Aiden deserved her, but I think I just like her so much more as a character. And I mean, Aiden is hot and employed and sweet so, fine. I'm just happy to read about a Black woman finding her happily ever after on her terms.
I also want to point out that Antonia is a Black woman and there were great moments that showed her experience being a Black woman in a super white country, in a super white professional field. In the way her ex-fiancee's parents wanted her to act, wanted her to dress, wanted her to do her hair. All reasons I'm glad she left the dolt behind! He may have also been a secret-sex addict? I don't know, there was a lot going on there that felt a bit unexplored. There were also great conversations between Antonia and the very white Irish Aiden. I say this with the caveat I am reviewing as a white, cis-hetero woman, so please seek out Black reviewers (which I will do too) to see what they are saying.
As a final note, I was not pleased Antonia was able to secure personal contact information, including a HOME ADDRESS, for Aiden from the innkeeper after they broke up. Don't put service people in this situation. They don't know you, I don't care if "you are in love." Not okay. Antonia certainly knew where Aiden was a professor so she easily could have found his school email from the website.
A lovely novella, perfect to bridge the Hidden Legacy series from Nevada and Rogan to Catalina and her arc! I loved getting a chapter in Nevada and Rogan's POV, then switching over to Catalina. The mystery was fun, and just fraught enough to be high stakes, but nothing where it threatened the loves of my heart's wedding for real. I'm so very interested to see Catalina's journey, cannot wait for Sapphire Flames!
So that was a ride. Whoa. I'm not entirely sure how I feel about how intent Mirceo was on convincing Cas to have sex with him and the consent issues are like whoa in this book. BUT, about halfway through I felt this got super hot and sensual and I kind of loved it? Ugh. Kresley what are you doing to me?
But then I hated the ending. I wanted more of a reassurance of their HEA.
That said, there was some Lothaire and I love Lothaire, so fine. I am glad I got this book from ILL and did not purchase it because I doubt I'd read it again.
But then I hated the ending. I wanted more of a reassurance of their HEA.
That said, there was some Lothaire and I love Lothaire, so fine. I am glad I got this book from ILL and did not purchase it because I doubt I'd read it again.