Review originally posted on my book blog where it's a part of my reading challenge for 2017. The reading challenge point I covered with this novella wReview originally posted on my book blog where it's a part of my reading challenge for 2017. The reading challenge point I covered with this novella was a book set in Africa.
I chose this short story specifically for this point and had no big expectations for it. Hell, I even kind of expected some erotica to be thrown in, but what I really got was a really short simplified romance novel where the author gives you some information about couple, but in reality there's a bit too little page room for them to be together for the reader to even kind of root for them. And no erotica!
I guess the author attempted to give the reader more background information, but I had my usual grievances because I like my (romance) novels long and wordy because then I can get into the characters' heads and understand them better. Due to the shortness of this novella and the fact that the author wrote more about our heroine doing some chores, I simply didn't get a feel for the relationship aspect of things.
Also, the African setting? Almost non-existent in my opinion as there were a few mentions of a lion here or there, but you can take a hot bath or do some chores practically anywhere. I definitely expected more from it.
Merged review:
Review originally posted on my book blog where it's a part of my reading challenge for 2017. The reading challenge point I covered with this novella was a book set in Africa.
I chose this short story specifically for this point and had no big expectations for it. Hell, I even kind of expected some erotica to be thrown in, but what I really got was a really short simplified romance novel where the author gives you some information about couple, but in reality there's a bit too little page room for them to be together for the reader to even kind of root for them. And no erotica!
I guess the author attempted to give the reader more background information, but I had my usual grievances because I like my (romance) novels long and wordy because then I can get into the characters' heads and understand them better. Due to the shortness of this novella and the fact that the author wrote more about our heroine doing some chores, I simply didn't get a feel for the relationship aspect of things.
Also, the African setting? Almost non-existent in my opinion as there were a few mentions of a lion here or there, but you can take a hot bath or do some chores practically anywhere. I definitely expected more from it....more
I hoped for more with this one as I felt that the characters were a bit too good to be true. Magnus is way too good with his charities and stuff, RobeI hoped for more with this one as I felt that the characters were a bit too good to be true. Magnus is way too good with his charities and stuff, Robert Belle's character was also a bit too goody two shoes. Sure, the men kind of fit together with them both being a bit too perfect, but I didn't really see what drew them together nor did I really comprehend how much time had passed between point A and B. The action simply blurred together for me.
If there hadn't been these odd moments where I found myself even smirking a tiny bit, I would've given the book a lower rating.
I hoped for more with this one as I felt that the characters were a bit too good to be true. Magnus is way too good with his charities and stuff, Robert Belle's character was also a bit too goody two shoes. Sure, the men kind of fit together with them both being a bit too perfect, but I didn't really see what drew them together nor did I really comprehend how much time had passed between point A and B. The action simply blurred together for me.
If there hadn't been these odd moments where I found myself even smirking a tiny bit, I would've given the book a lower rating.
Paul, Vince, Sandy, Darren (and the rest) are back with their shenanigans. This time round it's all about the preparations for Paul's and Vince's weddPaul, Vince, Sandy, Darren (and the rest) are back with their shenanigans. This time round it's all about the preparations for Paul's and Vince's wedding, and let me tell you - it was both adorable and hilarious. Sexy Paul and Toxic was just priceless to read about as I'm pretty sure I haven't laughed this hard in quite some time.
I also awwed at their wedding because Vince's speech was just so adorable and I totally get why Paul did what he did.
I loved the hell out of this novella and if TJ Klune decides to write something for Corey/Kori as well, I'm most definitely going to check it out as I need more of these characters and their outlandish humour.
Paul, Vince, Sandy, Darren (and the rest) are back with their shenanigans. This time round it's all about the preparations for Paul's and Vince's wedding, and let me tell you - it was both adorable and hilarious. Sexy Paul and Toxic was just priceless to read about as I'm pretty sure I haven't laughed this hard in quite some time.
I also awwed at their wedding because Vince's speech was just so adorable and I totally get why Paul did what he did.
I loved the hell out of this novella and if TJ Klune decides to write something for Corey/Kori as well, I'm most definitely going to check it out as I need more of these characters and their outlandish humour.
My first Nancy Drew book and I must say that I'm not all that impressed since the story seemed simplified and just plain silly to me.
I wonder if I hadMy first Nancy Drew book and I must say that I'm not all that impressed since the story seemed simplified and just plain silly to me.
I wonder if I had liked the book more if I had started with the Nancy Drew series a bit earlier - both age-wise, for instance, had I been 10 years old, I would've probably liked it better, and also had I started with the 14th book in the series instead of the 104th, the characters would've maybe made more sense to me and maybe I could've gotten the humour behind it all too. The way it was now, the story just felt too simple and simplified for my likes. I didn't understand all that well who all those side characters were and to be honest, I may or may not have mixed a few of them up a couple of times.
But would I recommend the book? Maybe to people who like their mystery stories short and really simple, otherwise stick to the classics such as Agatha Christie....more
Oh my. This one worked really well for me. It ticked quite a few of the boxes that I adore in romance - such as slow burn romance, age difference, tenOh my. This one worked really well for me. It ticked quite a few of the boxes that I adore in romance - such as slow burn romance, age difference, tension, attraction, understanding the characters ... The only thing I didn't quite like about the novel was the abrupt ending and some of the events in the last chapter. But these complaints are pretty minor in compared to the things that made me fall head over heels in love with the story.
I loved how the relationship evolved slowly but surely. While it was pretty clear from the start that these guys are *it* for one another, it took them time to get to know one another, get over some hang-ups and you know, just let their relationship go where it needed to go without the physical part interrupting the way the emotional connection grew. It took them a whole lot of time before they even kissed, but the wait was totally worth it and when it finally happened, I almost squealed from joy.
I really have no idea what I love about age gaps, but there's something unbelievably captivating about it for me that I simply can't not love it. It just does it for me.
The pacing throughout most of the novel is perfect for me. The last chapter is the only one I'm not really happy about as it left things hanging a bit before giving the reader the HEA in the epilogue. I wish there had been a chapter or a few that the author had spent on the time after the events of the last chapter because, really, it was kind of cliff-hanger-y.
But overall, the story just did it for me. It was just the thing I needed now and I'd easily recommend it to others as well....more
I was led to believe that this is a slow burn romance novel by this list and although I kind of believe that there are some roActual rating 2.5 stars.
I was led to believe that this is a slow burn romance novel by this list and although I kind of believe that there are some romance elements to the overall story, it's more of a mystery novel than a romance novel. While I quite liked the novel, I have to admit that it didn't work for me like I wished it to, but it may have had a lot to do with the fact that I looked more for a romance than a mystery novel.
I wanted to see attraction and tension and some good old anticipation, and while I got all of them, I didn't get them the way I wanted to. I wanted some tension and anticipation romance-wise, but most of the tension in the story and anticipation had something to do with the danger Darrow and Emlyn were constantly in. In other words, I didn't really see the attraction between the guys.
I really liked the whole part with counterfeiting as it was something I had never really read about before and I feel like I learned a lot about this topic and it felt like Tamara Allen really did her research in that aspect. While I'm in no way knowledgeable about the topic of economics in 1890's US, it sounded realistic and Allen's writing left no questions hanging for me.
My thoughts this time round: - I both cannot stand and kind of really like Abelardus. He is both funny and frustrating, and I think that there so much My thoughts this time round: - I both cannot stand and kind of really like Abelardus. He is both funny and frustrating, and I think that there so much more to him that I'd love to find out. - Oh wow how upfront and *embarassing* Alisa can be! Like really. She's been giving Leonidas some pretty direct "hints" for quite some time now, but this time round she really outdid herself. Although, high five for being so upfront and honest about her wants and needs. - Poor Leonidas! I thought that he was just being aloof and indifferent to Alisa, but there's actually so much more to his story that simply made me gasp out loud when it was revealed. - And when is Alisa finally going to get some real hints about her daughter's location? It's taking forever and while she should be looking for her daughter, she's simply carting around the not so nice Alejandro on his dubious quest. - I want more!
What exactly happened here? A lot of action. Plenty of dialogue that makes the reader chuckle quite a lot. A romance that kindActual rating 3.5 stars.
What exactly happened here? A lot of action. Plenty of dialogue that makes the reader chuckle quite a lot. A romance that kind of is there but kind of isn't. Some ill-timed, yet funny humor. More action and even more banter. The perfect recipe for a book that I might love.
There's something going on between Alisa and Leonidas and I'm rooting for it like crazy! There's nothing but a few glimpses and some wishful thinking (on Alisa's part) but the tension is definitely there and I love it!
This short prequel story gives quite a lot of information about Leonidas while still keeping him rather mysterious to the reader. When I read the firsThis short prequel story gives quite a lot of information about Leonidas while still keeping him rather mysterious to the reader. When I read the first book back in August, I didn't like Leonidas quite so much, but after reading this short story, I feel like I understand him quite a bit better and I think I made a good decision by reading #0.5 before continuing on with book #2.
Also, I think it made some things quite a bit clearer to me when I was reading Honor's Flight than I would've understood if I hadn't read Last Command before. Some hints seemed quite obvious to me now, but I don't think I could've understood those hints so well if I hadn't read this prequel shortly before.
I may have stayed up quite late to finish this book, because once you start a Buroker novel, you really cannot stop before youActual rating 3.5 stars.
I may have stayed up quite late to finish this book, because once you start a Buroker novel, you really cannot stop before you're done. I may or may not also have read two more short stories in the same sitting as well just because I had no sleep and I was currently in the middle of a Buroker read.
A friend who read these books before me told that the Fallen Empire gets better with each book. I read the first book a couple of months ago, but if my memory serves me right, she's not mistaken. The series does get better the more you read.
Although Honor's Flight is a rather good read for me, I still feel like her Emperor's Edge series has an edge on her other series (that I have read). I feel that there are some similarities between the Fallen Empire and the Emperor's Edge series, but Emperor's Edge is simply better. Not saying that Fallen Empire is bad, but simply based on the books that I have read so far - not much is happening while a lot is happening, but the characters basically at the same place when the story started.
Buroker is really awesome at creating all these different scenarios and in keeping all of the plotlines in a more or less straight line in her head, but what she is missing, is some common sense in regards to the fact that if one's space suit is losing air in space, one does not survive a 1000 meter jump. One dies quite soon even if one is a cyborg. But the characters are really good. I especially like Leonidas the cyborg with his dry humor, Mica the pessimist, and Alisa the optimist.
Informative, yet I find myself missing REFERENCES. This is my second Hourly History book - neither of them had ANY references, but I think that they sInformative, yet I find myself missing REFERENCES. This is my second Hourly History book - neither of them had ANY references, but I think that they sorely need them. Also, this Tesla book may need some editing for some information is repeated more than once....more
I was actually quite baffled in the end how much I actually liked this one despite the topic I'm usually not a very big fan of.Surprisingly engaging.
I was actually quite baffled in the end how much I actually liked this one despite the topic I'm usually not a very big fan of. I usually stray from books where one of the characters is married and finds someone new while still married, but honestly, I was not the tiniest bit bothered by it this time round because Adam's marriage was a farce. Had always been and his new relationship with Fleur, while a teeny tiny bit fast for my usual tastes, simply worked for me as a reader.
I liked that the hero and the heroine came together on their own, they had mistakes that the other one was aware of. I adored the fact that they communicated and how they came together slowly, but surely. Yes, of course, the slow burn lover in me wouldn't have minded if it had taken them even longer, but Balogh managed to write their story quite beautifully in a way that did not make want to throw my Kindle against the wall. Also, I honestly quite forgot the fact that Adam was married for a while reading because it was obvious that he was attracted to Fleur and vice versa.
If you're looking for a romance novel with a lot of sex scenes, then this is not it. However, if you're looking for an old school romance novel with some real story, then this is it. Definitely made me want to read something else by Balogh sometime soon.
If you're looking for some serious history book about The Black Death, this is book isn't it. However, if you're looking for some cursory, yet really If you're looking for some serious history book about The Black Death, this is book isn't it. However, if you're looking for some cursory, yet really interesting, information with no real references to the sources, then this is it. I liked it for it gave some really interesting facts about The Black Death back in the 1300s - how it spread and how it was perceived, but I really, really would've loved to see some references at the end of the book because the way it is in its current state may just as well be something the author came up with all by himself....more
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