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hollanddavis's Reviews (904)
A very easy audiobook to fall into! The narrator, Derek Perkins, did a wonderful job and made me enjoy the book even more than if I'd read it in print.
The main characters, Rory and Elysande, are easy to root for and didn't do anything eye roll worthy. It's amazing how much more enjoyable a book is when there isn't miscommunication or a third act break up (imagine that)
I came into this series on the 9th book (because it was the only one available on Libby), and I was ready to DNF if the book needed too much background knowledge of the previous installments, but it wasn't bad! The previous MCs were mentioned but didn't feel overwhelming, and the story largely focused on Rory and Elysande and didn't rely too heavily on cameos.
The main characters, Rory and Elysande, are easy to root for and didn't do anything eye roll worthy. It's amazing how much more enjoyable a book is when there isn't miscommunication or a third act break up (imagine that)
I came into this series on the 9th book (because it was the only one available on Libby), and I was ready to DNF if the book needed too much background knowledge of the previous installments, but it wasn't bad! The previous MCs were mentioned but didn't feel overwhelming, and the story largely focused on Rory and Elysande and didn't rely too heavily on cameos.
Gemma Tate’s brother dies only hours after witnessing a murderer discard a body, and she’s determined the two are linked. Inspector Sebastian Bell is the man assigned the case of the Highgate Angel: the women murdered and displayed in a cemetery on All Hallows Eve. When Gemma approaches Inspector Bell about the link between her brother’s death and the body found in the cemetery, they start to work together toward a common goal: catching a murderer.
This book definitely has you putting puzzle pieces together once the investigation starts, and it came to a very satisfying conclusion. It felt like Shapiro was spoon feeding the readers a bit along the way. If a character is nervous during an interview, shifting in his seat or not making eye contact, leave it up to the audience to interpret what that means. There was a tendency for both characters, Gemma and Sebastian, to over explain every clue to make sure the reader picked up on it. This is also a book that had a lot of “gut instincts”, whether it was that a witness was telling the truth or where to look for a clue, it felt a bit much, and I would’ve liked a little bit more deduction from the detective. I usually like to end mysteries by looking back at the clues I missed, but I didn’t have with this one.
I didn’t know going into this book that there would be such explicit detail about sexual assault cases, so here is a warning to future readers incase that is something you would like to avoid.
I don’t know if I felt the connection between Gemma and Sebastian like I was supposed to, but can appreciate a slow burn and look forward to what Sharpiro has in stall for the next book.
Thank you Storm Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC!
This book definitely has you putting puzzle pieces together once the investigation starts, and it came to a very satisfying conclusion. It felt like Shapiro was spoon feeding the readers a bit along the way. If a character is nervous during an interview, shifting in his seat or not making eye contact, leave it up to the audience to interpret what that means. There was a tendency for both characters, Gemma and Sebastian, to over explain every clue to make sure the reader picked up on it. This is also a book that had a lot of “gut instincts”, whether it was that a witness was telling the truth or where to look for a clue, it felt a bit much, and I would’ve liked a little bit more deduction from the detective. I usually like to end mysteries by looking back at the clues I missed, but I didn’t have with this one.
I didn’t know going into this book that there would be such explicit detail about sexual assault cases, so here is a warning to future readers incase that is something you would like to avoid.
I don’t know if I felt the connection between Gemma and Sebastian like I was supposed to, but can appreciate a slow burn and look forward to what Sharpiro has in stall for the next book.
Thank you Storm Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC!
I was so excited to read the second book in the Bromance Book Club series, but I should’ve known that an entire book about my least favorite characters from book #1 wasn’t gonna hit.
Mack and Liv have such big chips on their shoulders, I honestly don’t know how they came to any kind of resolution. The arguments felt surface level, and they was always all or nothing. So what if your boyfriend of 24 hours hasn’t told you every secret about himself? Was it worth the third act break up? No. Have a conversation like a normal adult.
Also this entire book was centered around a sexual assault case, but Liv’s victim blaming and self-centeredness was too much. I know it’s addressed in the book, but too little too late. Left a bad taste in my mouth for her character that was hard to come back from.
And seriously, the fart scene? Come on. What are we 12?
Mack and Liv have such big chips on their shoulders, I honestly don’t know how they came to any kind of resolution. The arguments felt surface level, and they was always all or nothing. So what if your boyfriend of 24 hours hasn’t told you every secret about himself? Was it worth the third act break up? No. Have a conversation like a normal adult.
Also this entire book was centered around a sexual assault case, but Liv’s victim blaming and self-centeredness was too much. I know it’s addressed in the book, but too little too late. Left a bad taste in my mouth for her character that was hard to come back from.
And seriously, the fart scene? Come on. What are we 12?
Apothecary Lucy Peterson’s formula for a croup salve goes missing only months after her rival stole her lozenge formula, so she knows who’s behind it; she only needs help proving it. Reformed pugilist Jonathan Thorne is the private agent from Tierney and Company that she hires to track down her formula and right this wrong before her business suffers. Will they find who did it? Will it grow into more?
If there’s one thing Everett never fails to do, it’s write complex characters. Lucy and Thorne both have depth to them that brings the reader into their story. They have character flaws that make sense with their background and experiences. And they have clear motivations and react within reason when questioned and put to the test. The Love Remedy is going to have that grumpy/sunshine dynamic, but their personalities don’t rely too heavily on tropes so it never falls flat.
This book definitely felt more relationship heavy (romantic, platonic, and familial) than mystery, but it was still enjoyable. The two don’t necessarily work together to find who’s behind the missing formula (Thorne does most of it on his own while Lucy is working), but they’re around each other during the investigation. If forced proximity does it for you, this one may be up your alley.
Overall, if you enjoyed The Secret Scientists of London Series, I think you’ll enjoy this one too. It’s in the same world, but focuses more on working class than the aristocracy so it feels new.
If there’s one thing Everett never fails to do, it’s write complex characters. Lucy and Thorne both have depth to them that brings the reader into their story. They have character flaws that make sense with their background and experiences. And they have clear motivations and react within reason when questioned and put to the test. The Love Remedy is going to have that grumpy/sunshine dynamic, but their personalities don’t rely too heavily on tropes so it never falls flat.
This book definitely felt more relationship heavy (romantic, platonic, and familial) than mystery, but it was still enjoyable. The two don’t necessarily work together to find who’s behind the missing formula (Thorne does most of it on his own while Lucy is working), but they’re around each other during the investigation. If forced proximity does it for you, this one may be up your alley.
Overall, if you enjoyed The Secret Scientists of London Series, I think you’ll enjoy this one too. It’s in the same world, but focuses more on working class than the aristocracy so it feels new.
This felt like three separate books:
1. A first about the Salem Witch Trials
2. A second about the American Revolution
3. A third about 20th century exorcisms
Given the book’s description, this was not what I expected. I genuinely enjoyed the first half about the history leading up to the Salem Witch Trials and the account of the trials themselves, but once the book kept going it started to lose me. It was obviously well written and thoroughly researched, and maybe I would’ve been more receptive if I’d known what I was signing up for, but it was jarring without a heads up.