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What I was hoping would be an easy, light hearted steam filled enemies-to-lovers/best friends younger sister story turned into a very mediocre read.
The writing style made it hard for me to get into the story. I would describe the style as very simplistic: a lot of “I did this this and this and then he did this this and this.” Every single thing was described and it made the story very clumpy, not easy-flowing and quite repetitive at time.
Once I did manage to get into the style and read chunks of the story at a time I found a lot of aspects of the book unbelievable. To begin with Conor (the male MC) is straight up mean to Darcey (the female MC) not in a cute oh he likes her so is mean to her way either but a straight up bullying sort of way, and I don’t like that this was romanticised. Secondly, there is a lot of inconsistencies with part of the plot that deals with Conor and Darcey’s older brother Chase enrolling in the army. They start by doing four years training and in the entire time don’t get to see their families once. I didn’t find this believable as I’m sure you have leave and would never go four years not seeing your family at least a little bit.
Overall as well as the unbelievable plot points, a lot of them were tragedy after tragedy for a dramatic affect that didn’t make it dramatic at all. I think they were probably added as plot points but to be honest it just made the story seem kind of bad. By the end you were thinking to yourself “what else could possibly go wrong”.
The book does have a happy ending and there’s enough romance and steamy scenes sprinkled throughout to make the book bearable but it’s not one I’d find myself recommending or reading again.
Some serious trigger warnings for this book: attempted sexual assault, serious injury, abduction, torture, PTSD, anger issues, army life, discussion of miscarriage
The writing style made it hard for me to get into the story. I would describe the style as very simplistic: a lot of “I did this this and this and then he did this this and this.” Every single thing was described and it made the story very clumpy, not easy-flowing and quite repetitive at time.
Once I did manage to get into the style and read chunks of the story at a time I found a lot of aspects of the book unbelievable. To begin with Conor (the male MC) is straight up mean to Darcey (the female MC) not in a cute oh he likes her so is mean to her way either but a straight up bullying sort of way, and I don’t like that this was romanticised. Secondly, there is a lot of inconsistencies with part of the plot that deals with Conor and Darcey’s older brother Chase enrolling in the army. They start by doing four years training and in the entire time don’t get to see their families once. I didn’t find this believable as I’m sure you have leave and would never go four years not seeing your family at least a little bit.
Overall as well as the unbelievable plot points, a lot of them were tragedy after tragedy for a dramatic affect that didn’t make it dramatic at all. I think they were probably added as plot points but to be honest it just made the story seem kind of bad. By the end you were thinking to yourself “what else could possibly go wrong”.
The book does have a happy ending and there’s enough romance and steamy scenes sprinkled throughout to make the book bearable but it’s not one I’d find myself recommending or reading again.
Some serious trigger warnings for this book: attempted sexual assault, serious injury, abduction, torture, PTSD, anger issues, army life, discussion of miscarriage
I’m going to try not hate on this too much I swear.
This is a re-read for me and I’ll be the first to admit I was OBSESSED with Twilight when I first read/saw it at the age of 11. But oh boy was ignorance bliss.
This was always my least favourite book and I’ll happily admit it’s because there’s minimal Edward because despite it being a terrible love, you can not argue Edward was not the one she was IN LOVE with - all you team Jacob’s can go bite me.
Now that being said, for the first time I also understood how some people could form a team Jacob in this book because Bella is an absolutely horrible person and completely takes Jake for a ride in this book. She leads him on, and let’s him be led on, all because of her selfishness and her “need” to have people stay in her life.
Honestly what was mostly highlighted by this book was how damaged Bella is. I would have much preferred to see a healthy dose of therapy rather than a werewolf. She is so incapable of being by herself that she throws herself fully into relationships - first Edward then the friendship with Jacob - and refuses to give either up even when it’s not good for anyone involved.
Whilst I admit Bella was incredibly cruel to Jacob, he also has some issues. Bella made it quite clear that she was never going to be more then friends with Jacob but he just doesn’t except this? And says he’ll wait because in his head obviously she’ll change her mind. This is also not acceptable behaviour. If a person tells you that you will not be more then friends, no one has the right to try and make them change their mind. Accept it and move on pal, because you forcing your intentions on someone is not okay.
Then there’s Edwards flaws. If we ignore that Bella is clearly in need of some mental help, the way that Edward left, by removing himself completely lately from her life, forcing his family to disappear overnight and leave Bella with really no friends or support, is also unacceptable. Also I’m sorry, but who leaves someone in the woods?!
By the end of this ridiculously unnecessarily long book full of mostly absolutely nothing happening except Bella’s inner monologue I was very bored. About three things happen in this book and it could have been covered in max 250 pages instead of over 400.
Honestly there’s so many things wrong with this book there aren’t enough spaces to tell it all, but basically Bella needs therapy, it’s a terrible love story, and honestly Stephenie Meyer did us so wrong. I’m so sorry for all the 11-20 year olds who grew up thinking this once a good romance.
This is a re-read for me and I’ll be the first to admit I was OBSESSED with Twilight when I first read/saw it at the age of 11. But oh boy was ignorance bliss.
This was always my least favourite book and I’ll happily admit it’s because there’s minimal Edward because despite it being a terrible love, you can not argue Edward was not the one she was IN LOVE with - all you team Jacob’s can go bite me.
Now that being said, for the first time I also understood how some people could form a team Jacob in this book because Bella is an absolutely horrible person and completely takes Jake for a ride in this book. She leads him on, and let’s him be led on, all because of her selfishness and her “need” to have people stay in her life.
Honestly what was mostly highlighted by this book was how damaged Bella is. I would have much preferred to see a healthy dose of therapy rather than a werewolf. She is so incapable of being by herself that she throws herself fully into relationships - first Edward then the friendship with Jacob - and refuses to give either up even when it’s not good for anyone involved.
Whilst I admit Bella was incredibly cruel to Jacob, he also has some issues. Bella made it quite clear that she was never going to be more then friends with Jacob but he just doesn’t except this? And says he’ll wait because in his head obviously she’ll change her mind. This is also not acceptable behaviour. If a person tells you that you will not be more then friends, no one has the right to try and make them change their mind. Accept it and move on pal, because you forcing your intentions on someone is not okay.
Then there’s Edwards flaws. If we ignore that Bella is clearly in need of some mental help, the way that Edward left, by removing himself completely lately from her life, forcing his family to disappear overnight and leave Bella with really no friends or support, is also unacceptable. Also I’m sorry, but who leaves someone in the woods?!
By the end of this ridiculously unnecessarily long book full of mostly absolutely nothing happening except Bella’s inner monologue I was very bored. About three things happen in this book and it could have been covered in max 250 pages instead of over 400.
Honestly there’s so many things wrong with this book there aren’t enough spaces to tell it all, but basically Bella needs therapy, it’s a terrible love story, and honestly Stephenie Meyer did us so wrong. I’m so sorry for all the 11-20 year olds who grew up thinking this once a good romance.
So this was September’s #botm for @romancethequebookclub and it took a lot of people out of their comfort zones and into the dark romance genre.
It’s hard to sum this book up but overall I did enjoy it. It had a great pace to it, the writing was really great, and I loved the ending. I think the three main characters are explored well, and I think a lot of thought was put into exactly who each character would be, they all had their own voices. The level of detail put into the story about ships and the pirate life seemed really well researched and were believable. The only trouble was half the time I didn’t know what was being talked about on the ship
It’s hard to sum this book up but overall I did enjoy it. It had a great pace to it, the writing was really great, and I loved the ending. I think the three main characters are explored well, and I think a lot of thought was put into exactly who each character would be, they all had their own voices. The level of detail put into the story about ships and the pirate life seemed really well researched and were believable. The only trouble was half the time I didn’t know what was being talked about on the ship
This book is short, sweet and steamy. All three things I really like especially when in a bit of a slump. I could have finished this book in a day but as I was buddy reading with some amazing ladies I took my time and it was actually fun to savour it.
It follows Zara, an emergency call dispatcher, who receives a phone call one evening from a scared little boy. The events that then follow are sure to change her whole world forever, especially when she meets Pasha - the destined Roma King.
I love the characters in this book. They are all very normal/regular people. In fact most of them are over the age of 30.
I also really enjoyed learning about the Roma tradition a little bit throughout the book. Some of the customs sound so bizarre to me but others are quite magical ✨
The friendships in this book are also just wonderful to read. A very random group of people come together and all form their own family and reading about the way they love and are willing to protect each other is lovely.
There is so much tension between Zara and Pasha you feel like an intruder on their scene. And their chemistry makes for some very steamy scenes together
It follows Zara, an emergency call dispatcher, who receives a phone call one evening from a scared little boy. The events that then follow are sure to change her whole world forever, especially when she meets Pasha - the destined Roma King.
I love the characters in this book. They are all very normal/regular people. In fact most of them are over the age of 30.
I also really enjoyed learning about the Roma tradition a little bit throughout the book. Some of the customs sound so bizarre to me but others are quite magical ✨
The friendships in this book are also just wonderful to read. A very random group of people come together and all form their own family and reading about the way they love and are willing to protect each other is lovely.
There is so much tension between Zara and Pasha you feel like an intruder on their scene. And their chemistry makes for some very steamy scenes together
TW for the review: Abortion and Hostage Situations So I didn’t really have any preconceptions going into this book, and honestly I wasn’t 100% sure what it was really going to be. But I ended up really liking it.
This story takes place in the only abortion centre in Mississippi, over the course of one day, when a anti-abortion believer with personal ties to the centre holds it hostage at gunpoint.
What I love about this book is that it’s all character driven. The book begins at the end of the day, and each chapter works backwards an hour so that you get to see what brought each and every single person to the clinic that day. There are 10 people involved in this day, and whilst the story starts with Wren - a 17 year old girl who’s only at the centre to get contraception - and her father Lieutenant Hugh McElroy - the hostage negotiator - you hear a little bit from all 10 characters in every chapter.
Whilst this may for some be confusing, as you have to get used to 10 people’s different voices and speech tones, I think it worked brilliantly. It really gets you invested in each and every person, and you try as each chapter goes on to work out the exact reason why each person is at the clinic.
This book also opens up some really interesting conversations about abortion no matter how you feel about the topic. I personally am completely pro-choice and as a scientist who has in fact studied embryology (the development of an embryo) I also know the facts about when you can really count a foetus as a human or not. However it was still interesting to see the completely different attitudes of people - with the book set in the south, religion is a large part of this debate - and also how the laws in American, at least in the state of Mississippi, really take away some women’s choices.
This is definitely a book I’d recommend people read, especially if they like a real character filled book. It also has a few twists and turns in it to keep the intrigue going, but is ultimately a story that I think is worth being read.
TW for the book: abortion, fetal tissue, blood, shooting, hostage, rape, sexual assault
This story takes place in the only abortion centre in Mississippi, over the course of one day, when a anti-abortion believer with personal ties to the centre holds it hostage at gunpoint.
What I love about this book is that it’s all character driven. The book begins at the end of the day, and each chapter works backwards an hour so that you get to see what brought each and every single person to the clinic that day. There are 10 people involved in this day, and whilst the story starts with Wren - a 17 year old girl who’s only at the centre to get contraception - and her father Lieutenant Hugh McElroy - the hostage negotiator - you hear a little bit from all 10 characters in every chapter.
Whilst this may for some be confusing, as you have to get used to 10 people’s different voices and speech tones, I think it worked brilliantly. It really gets you invested in each and every person, and you try as each chapter goes on to work out the exact reason why each person is at the clinic.
This book also opens up some really interesting conversations about abortion no matter how you feel about the topic. I personally am completely pro-choice and as a scientist who has in fact studied embryology (the development of an embryo) I also know the facts about when you can really count a foetus as a human or not. However it was still interesting to see the completely different attitudes of people - with the book set in the south, religion is a large part of this debate - and also how the laws in American, at least in the state of Mississippi, really take away some women’s choices.
This is definitely a book I’d recommend people read, especially if they like a real character filled book. It also has a few twists and turns in it to keep the intrigue going, but is ultimately a story that I think is worth being read.
TW for the book: abortion, fetal tissue, blood, shooting, hostage, rape, sexual assault
I actually read this book when it first came out and honestly I didn’t remember a single thing
So this was #romancethequebookclub July BOTM and yes I’m only just finishing it now
So good I stayed up all night to read it!
The description I read was “beauty and the beast mixed with the taming of the shrew” and honestly it couldn’t have been described better.
I have never read a steamy romance set back in time but since reading this book I would again as I enjoyed it so much. Some of the language used just made it a more enjoyable read and definitely made the sex scenes seem racier. A classic telling of enemies to lovers but with little twists and turns as the story goes. The chemistry between the characters was palpable all the way throughout. You didn’t have to wait three quarters of the book either before the characters came together which is a pet hate of mine with some enemy to lover books.
Been recommending this to everyone who’ll listen and honestly the only fault is I didn’t want it to end!
A fantastic retelling of some classic stories with those added steam bonuses.
LOVED
The description I read was “beauty and the beast mixed with the taming of the shrew” and honestly it couldn’t have been described better.
I have never read a steamy romance set back in time but since reading this book I would again as I enjoyed it so much. Some of the language used just made it a more enjoyable read and definitely made the sex scenes seem racier. A classic telling of enemies to lovers but with little twists and turns as the story goes. The chemistry between the characters was palpable all the way throughout. You didn’t have to wait three quarters of the book either before the characters came together which is a pet hate of mine with some enemy to lover books.
Been recommending this to everyone who’ll listen and honestly the only fault is I didn’t want it to end!
A fantastic retelling of some classic stories with those added steam bonuses.
LOVED