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cwrose's reviews
395 reviews
Ballad of Sea and Sky by Madeleine Eliot
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
This author is new to me, but I can definitely see why she’s known for cozy romantasy!
I always love a tale of forbidden romance, races at war, and mythology retellings. We have sea-dwelling selkies, sky-dwelling sirens, kelpies, and krakens. It makes my mythology loving heart so happy. And I loved the unique siren-selkie romance.
I enjoyed a lot about this story. The development of the romance, Marina as a character (and I could 100% relate to her being asthmatic), and the air and sea magic they had. I wasn’t sold on Caspian at first, but he had grown on me by the end of the book (I thought he was your typical sarcastic alpha a**hole MMC but he actually turned out to be caring and sweet). And the spice was spicy, with a promise of more to come in book 2.
The side characters seemed interesting at first glance and I do wish we had seen more of them, though I’m hoping they’ll play a bigger part in the sequel.
This story was what I expected - a cozy fantasy romance that’s a bit light on plot, and heavy on romance. And it seems to be gearing up toward an explosive sequel, so I’ll be looking forward to that!
I always love a tale of forbidden romance, races at war, and mythology retellings. We have sea-dwelling selkies, sky-dwelling sirens, kelpies, and krakens. It makes my mythology loving heart so happy. And I loved the unique siren-selkie romance.
I enjoyed a lot about this story. The development of the romance, Marina as a character (and I could 100% relate to her being asthmatic), and the air and sea magic they had. I wasn’t sold on Caspian at first, but he had grown on me by the end of the book (I thought he was your typical sarcastic alpha a**hole MMC but he actually turned out to be caring and sweet). And the spice was spicy, with a promise of more to come in book 2.
The side characters seemed interesting at first glance and I do wish we had seen more of them, though I’m hoping they’ll play a bigger part in the sequel.
This story was what I expected - a cozy fantasy romance that’s a bit light on plot, and heavy on romance. And it seems to be gearing up toward an explosive sequel, so I’ll be looking forward to that!
America's Next Reality Star by Laura Heffernan
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I got exactly what I was expecting with this book - a fun read about life behind the scenes at a reality show.
I found Jen, our protagonist, to be a relatable MC, despite her not being likeable at times. But, the reason she behaved the way she did was understandable. Stiff competition makes us do things that we wouldn’t normally do.
We are also introduced to and get to know the other contestants on the show, all who have their unique personalities and were easily distinguishable. The blossoming romance between her and another contestant felt well done and the angst was real.
It’s told entirely from her POV in first person. The pacing felt on point. The ending felt a little abrupt (the reason for 4.5 stars), but showed Jen’s growth as a character.
Overall I enjoyed this read, and would recommend it to people who love reality-show based rom-coms. This is book 1 in the Reality Star series.
I found Jen, our protagonist, to be a relatable MC, despite her not being likeable at times. But, the reason she behaved the way she did was understandable. Stiff competition makes us do things that we wouldn’t normally do.
We are also introduced to and get to know the other contestants on the show, all who have their unique personalities and were easily distinguishable. The blossoming romance between her and another contestant felt well done and the angst was real.
It’s told entirely from her POV in first person. The pacing felt on point. The ending felt a little abrupt (the reason for 4.5 stars), but showed Jen’s growth as a character.
Overall I enjoyed this read, and would recommend it to people who love reality-show based rom-coms. This is book 1 in the Reality Star series.
The Sea Rose by Mariella Hunt
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The concept of The Sea Rose sucked me in immediately. I adore anything mermaids, so to read about noblemen and women and mermaid descendants, who are society’s outcasts, who lived in land? I was sold.
And the story did not disappoint. It’s told from 3 POVs, yet for such a short novel, I didn’t feel that it was too much. Our main characters are all written beautifully and with such depth. Meredith’s story, in particular, simultaneously warmed and broke my heart. Peter and Rose’s romance (and I am a sucker for the childhood friends to lovers trope) was so sweet and seemed so fitting for the historical time period this book is set in. All three of them were so easy to root for.
All of our characters are forced to discover who they really are and make choices that bring them out of their comfort zones. A great story of romance, survival, and identity.
And it ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, but fortunately, book 2 is available now :)
And the story did not disappoint. It’s told from 3 POVs, yet for such a short novel, I didn’t feel that it was too much. Our main characters are all written beautifully and with such depth. Meredith’s story, in particular, simultaneously warmed and broke my heart. Peter and Rose’s romance (and I am a sucker for the childhood friends to lovers trope) was so sweet and seemed so fitting for the historical time period this book is set in. All three of them were so easy to root for.
All of our characters are forced to discover who they really are and make choices that bring them out of their comfort zones. A great story of romance, survival, and identity.
And it ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, but fortunately, book 2 is available now :)
The Haunting of Ashburn House by Darcy Coates
4.0
This was the first time I'd ever picked up a horror novel, and it did not disappoint. I enjoyed it from beginning to end, definitely kept me turning the pages, wondering what the big mystery was...and what was really going on. Some truly creepy parts in the story and mysterious going-ons.
The writing flowed and was easy to read. And, the book had a satisfying, good ending that wrapped up all loose ends, and by the end, everything had been explained. I liked our heroine, Adrienne, and I rooted for her and her cat, Wolfgang, as well. Being a pet owner myself, I understood their bond and could relate to it, so for me, that was a big plus in the story!
I can't say I absolutely loved the book, but I definitely liked it. Only minor complaint was that I found it a little slow in some parts, but overall, a good read, and I would pick up another book by Ms. Coates in the future.
The writing flowed and was easy to read. And, the book had a satisfying, good ending that wrapped up all loose ends, and by the end, everything had been explained. I liked our heroine, Adrienne, and I rooted for her and her cat, Wolfgang, as well. Being a pet owner myself, I understood their bond and could relate to it, so for me, that was a big plus in the story!
I can't say I absolutely loved the book, but I definitely liked it. Only minor complaint was that I found it a little slow in some parts, but overall, a good read, and I would pick up another book by Ms. Coates in the future.
Only the Truth by Adam Croft
4.0
An action packed thriller that was enjoyable, with a couple little nitpicks. This was my Kindle First pick for February. I'll be honest, I wasn't that excited going into it, but I thought it sounded the most interesting out of what was being offered. I don't regret picking it up at all! Kept my attention from page one to the very last page.
It starts off quickly and doesn't let up until the killer is revealed at the end. A few twists and turns here and there. I had a small inkling of who the killer might be, but was still surprised at the end. Lots of action and very few (if any) slow scenes.
Even though I didn't find our hero to be particularly endearing (but I don't think he was meant to be) and not very likeable, he was written very realistically. I didn't agree with everything he did, but being in the same situation, I think I would have done the same thing, and I understood why he did what he did. We don't learn too much about other characters, other than our hero and a little bit about the young woman who goes on the run with him. Also enjoyed the chapters about our hero's past, and while I didn't think there was too much of a point to them, it did flesh out his character a little more and explained his actions.
There was one other part I didn't quite understand, when he meets two Eastern European men. Without revealing any spoilers, the situation felt unresolved at the end, and left me scratching my head as to what the point of those scenes were. Thought it would lead somewhere, but it didn't.
Other than that, I enjoyed the book and Mr. Croft's writing. I would pick up this author's other, and future works.
It starts off quickly and doesn't let up until the killer is revealed at the end. A few twists and turns here and there. I had a small inkling of who the killer might be, but was still surprised at the end. Lots of action and very few (if any) slow scenes.
Even though I didn't find our hero to be particularly endearing (but I don't think he was meant to be) and not very likeable, he was written very realistically. I didn't agree with everything he did, but being in the same situation, I think I would have done the same thing, and I understood why he did what he did. We don't learn too much about other characters, other than our hero and a little bit about the young woman who goes on the run with him. Also enjoyed the chapters about our hero's past, and while I didn't think there was too much of a point to them, it did flesh out his character a little more and explained his actions.
There was one other part I didn't quite understand, when he meets two Eastern European men. Without revealing any spoilers, the situation felt unresolved at the end, and left me scratching my head as to what the point of those scenes were. Thought it would lead somewhere, but it didn't.
Other than that, I enjoyed the book and Mr. Croft's writing. I would pick up this author's other, and future works.
Crown of Lies by Pepper Winters
3.0
I saw this on my Goodreads recommendations, and couldn't wait to finish the book I was reading before this, to start on this one. And, with all the 5-star reviews that it had, I was so sure I would love it and eagerly look forward to lapping up the second installment.
Except...I liked it, but I didn't love it. Won't put down a synopsis here since so many other reviewers have done it much better than I could ever have.
The good: I liked Elle as a character, at least, for the first 50% of the book. I liked that she was a strong, independent woman who didn't necessarily need a man to make her complete, as in so many romance-type novels (I'd later find out that this wasn't really a romance, but anyway!). I thought the way she thought and spoke was pretty accurate for a young woman her age, and she seemed like she was a good person, or at least tried to be. Ms. Winters' writing is fantastic. The prose flowed well and although the story dragged in some spots, the way she wrote was interesting enough to keep you reading until the end. Love scenes were sexy, for the most part, if a bit repetitive. And being a pet-owner myself, I liked the addition of Elle's cat =)
The bad: I really didn't like Penn, nor did I find him sexy or alluring, despite his looks and wealth. I don't like men who are controlling, or are verbally abusive, or treat you like dirt, likely because I've seen too many of those relationships IRL turn out badly. And I dislike it when authors and books try to portray them as sexy/mysterious/attractive, just because they're good looking and rich. Borderline abusive/controlling is NOT sexy!! One major reason I never got into Twilight or Fifty Shades of Grey. I also liked Elle less and less as the book carried on and she got involved with Penn. It was as if she suddenly turned from a strong, independent woman to a simpering little girl who just did whatever he want, and became more and more immature. Then, the book ended on a massive cliffhanger. It just....ended, with no or partial resolution of everything. It was like a movie that you watch which ends suddenly, and you're sitting there thinking "What? That's it??" It's not that I don't like cliffhangers. I actually don't mind them if they're done well. And a personal peeve, but too many F-bombs for my liking (And I have nothing against swearing, again, when it fits).
While I enjoyed the first half of the book, and while Ms. Winters is incredibly talented as a writer and storyteller, this book just didn't excite me enough to care about what happens next and to have all the questions answered, and to read the next installment. I have heard good things about her other books and series, though, and would definitely read some of her other works.
Except...I liked it, but I didn't love it. Won't put down a synopsis here since so many other reviewers have done it much better than I could ever have.
The good: I liked Elle as a character, at least, for the first 50% of the book. I liked that she was a strong, independent woman who didn't necessarily need a man to make her complete, as in so many romance-type novels (I'd later find out that this wasn't really a romance, but anyway!). I thought the way she thought and spoke was pretty accurate for a young woman her age, and she seemed like she was a good person, or at least tried to be. Ms. Winters' writing is fantastic. The prose flowed well and although the story dragged in some spots, the way she wrote was interesting enough to keep you reading until the end. Love scenes were sexy, for the most part, if a bit repetitive. And being a pet-owner myself, I liked the addition of Elle's cat =)
The bad: I really didn't like Penn, nor did I find him sexy or alluring, despite his looks and wealth. I don't like men who are controlling, or are verbally abusive, or treat you like dirt, likely because I've seen too many of those relationships IRL turn out badly. And I dislike it when authors and books try to portray them as sexy/mysterious/attractive, just because they're good looking and rich. Borderline abusive/controlling is NOT sexy!! One major reason I never got into Twilight or Fifty Shades of Grey. I also liked Elle less and less as the book carried on and she got involved with Penn. It was as if she suddenly turned from a strong, independent woman to a simpering little girl who just did whatever he want, and became more and more immature. Then, the book ended on a massive cliffhanger. It just....ended, with no or partial resolution of everything. It was like a movie that you watch which ends suddenly, and you're sitting there thinking "What? That's it??" It's not that I don't like cliffhangers. I actually don't mind them if they're done well. And a personal peeve, but too many F-bombs for my liking (And I have nothing against swearing, again, when it fits).
While I enjoyed the first half of the book, and while Ms. Winters is incredibly talented as a writer and storyteller, this book just didn't excite me enough to care about what happens next and to have all the questions answered, and to read the next installment. I have heard good things about her other books and series, though, and would definitely read some of her other works.