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devanreadsbooks's review
2.0
It’s not so much a Christmas book, but rather, a book that takes place during and around Christmas.
- some of the things Cash says, are totally unrealistic
- Like, who tf speaks like that in real life? No one I’ve ever met.
- Bailey goes from being perfectly normal, to a tortured soul just like Cash, just by their proximity to each other
- 73% in and they still haven’t fucked?
The first half of the book is so much better than the second half. It feels rushed, the character development is all happening behind the scenes, which is dumb bc it’s written in third person. I really didn’t like this, but I gave it 2 stars bc I really do like Talia Hibbert’s writing most of the time. It’s unfortunate that this one just so happened to fall short for me.
- some of the things Cash says, are totally unrealistic
- Like, who tf speaks like that in real life? No one I’ve ever met.
- Bailey goes from being perfectly normal, to a tortured soul just like Cash, just by their proximity to each other
- 73% in and they still haven’t fucked?
The first half of the book is so much better than the second half. It feels rushed, the character development is all happening behind the scenes, which is dumb bc it’s written in third person. I really didn’t like this, but I gave it 2 stars bc I really do like Talia Hibbert’s writing most of the time. It’s unfortunate that this one just so happened to fall short for me.
forestatdawn_reads's review
4.0
It was a great read and there was a great supporting cast. I really wish we could have seen more but I understand that there was constraints as it is a novella. I especially like the dynamic between John, Cash and Bailey, and had hoped that there could have been more of that in the novella. But a very good Xmas read.
autumnwitch14's review against another edition
lighthearted
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
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Domestic abuse, and Stalking
Moderate: Medical trauma, Classism, Alcohol, Pregnancy, Mental illness, Death of parent, and Physical abuse
Minor: Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, and Pedophilia
the_chefanie's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
amlibera's review against another edition
4.0
Closer to 3.5 stars - this novella is PACKED with characters, back story and incident. I liked all of it but didn't quite feel as if it all was given the time to cohere.
jackiehorne's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 Another interracial romance winner from Hibbert, this one a holiday novella set in a tattoo shop. Our hero is hot/cold emotion-wise tough-guy white Cash, the owner of the shop, and our heroine curvy, take no guff black Bailey, who finds herself drawn to him, despite having watched her own mother fall far too often for guys who did not end up staying. The central question here is one asked by Bailey's friend John:
"He's very 'tortured artist.' You know?"
" 'Tortured artist' is code for 'attractive arsehole'"
"Only when they're faking it. Have you considered that he might have some genuine baggage?"
How much baggage should a woman put up with? And why?
The answer: adults talk things out, call each other on bullshit behavior. And agree to treat each other better. And trust yourself not to hurt the other.
Half a point off because the opening of the novel, in which Cash and Bailey join together to aid a homeless man, made me really uncomfortable (Cash pays for him to live in a hotel and gets him a job, without knowing anything about him except that Bailey, whom he has been obsessing over but whom he has never interacted with before outside of the coffee shop where she works, says that he's a good guy). The whole thing felt like it was there to make Cash (and Bailey) into the good guys, even though the homeless character, John, does feature in small ways throughout the rest of the story.
"He's very 'tortured artist.' You know?"
" 'Tortured artist' is code for 'attractive arsehole'"
"Only when they're faking it. Have you considered that he might have some genuine baggage?"
How much baggage should a woman put up with? And why?
The answer: adults talk things out, call each other on bullshit behavior. And agree to treat each other better. And trust yourself not to hurt the other.
Half a point off because the opening of the novel, in which Cash and Bailey join together to aid a homeless man, made me really uncomfortable (Cash pays for him to live in a hotel and gets him a job, without knowing anything about him except that Bailey, whom he has been obsessing over but whom he has never interacted with before outside of the coffee shop where she works, says that he's a good guy). The whole thing felt like it was there to make Cash (and Bailey) into the good guys, even though the homeless character, John, does feature in small ways throughout the rest of the story.
kenwashburne88's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0