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gwenswoons's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I loved this! A super-fast lovely holiday romance — listened in audio on one day and it was such a treat while driving and then unpacking, lounging, and resting at home. The two main characters, Saira and Dorian (and their lovely narrators Charlie L. Wood and Tony Roberts!) had so much chemistry and such fully drawn personalities and identities and backstories! I loved it. The MCs also had really believable and significant family and friend relationships, as well as work that they cared about a lot — important to me in a romance or rom-com!! And I always love a bookish protagonist like Saira. I found the sex writing SO HOT (despite generally finding the word “yoni” icky and that being the author's word of choice, hahaha, but it didn’t ruin it for me which is saying a lot honestly).
I thought a few moments were very expository in a sort of heavy-handed way — like in Dorian’s initial chapter where he basically lists out in chronological order the tragic circumstances of his wife’s death leading to his current life as a (hot) widower! Just those and a few other writing-y things that slightly didn’t work for me — a handful of exact-wording repetitions, etc. But overall a delight and will for sure be really excited to read more by Charity Shane’.
I thought a few moments were very expository in a sort of heavy-handed way — like in Dorian’s initial chapter where he basically lists out in chronological order the tragic circumstances of his wife’s death leading to his current life as a (hot) widower! Just those and a few other writing-y things that slightly didn’t work for me — a handful of exact-wording repetitions, etc. But overall a delight and will for sure be really excited to read more by Charity Shane’.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
c_ci22's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Adorable! Atmospheric! All the Christmas spirit/spice!
I think it’s so clever when authors create characters that are also authors. Overall the characters were super well rounded and actually had depth! Sometimes that’s lost in cozy romance.
Some mild TW about loss/grief
For me this opened up my eyes to a sub genre of romance that I thoroughly enjoy: finding love after loss
The journeys are always so sweet, soft and intentional
I think it’s so clever when authors create characters that are also authors. Overall the characters were super well rounded and actually had depth! Sometimes that’s lost in cozy romance.
Some mild TW about loss/grief
For me this opened up my eyes to a sub genre of romance that I thoroughly enjoy: finding love after loss
The journeys are always so sweet, soft and intentional
Content Warnings
Minor: Cancer, Chronic illness, and Grief
kbairbooks's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
❄️ Dreamy ❄️ this was romance in the sweetest, most realistic, tiny-moments-make-up-the-big-picture, lovely, Christmas read full of funny family and friends, hot drinks, and even hotter moments in the bedroom.
There were a few moments where it felt off but I don't think I'd be able to verbalize why exactly. But the delightfully blackity black black cast and the bundled up, beautifulness that is this book made up for it. So glad I picked this one up this holiday season.
There were a few moments where it felt off but I don't think I'd be able to verbalize why exactly. But the delightfully blackity black black cast and the bundled up, beautifulness that is this book made up for it. So glad I picked this one up this holiday season.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Sexual content, Terminal illness, and Grief
Moderate: Cancer, Chronic illness, Cursing, and Death
Minor: Toxic relationship