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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a pretty enjoyable read. I loved how causal and domesticated a lot of the book was—just the family slowly learning to trust each other. I was impressed with the author’s ability to showcase difficult circumstances. I do wish that the ending wasn’t so rushed and the conflict had a more satisfying ending.
4 stars
This is the second book I have finished from CCW and I can see the patterns... the very good patterns that she has and that she masterfully threads out in her books. That woman is a genius. Her writing feels so much authentic and gripping with raw, visceral feelings. In both this book and [b:The Tyrant Alpha's Rejected Mate|59046399|The Tyrant Alpha's Rejected Mate (Five Packs, #1)|Cate C. Wells|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1632234964l/59046399._SY75_.jpg|93098768], though they have different universes, I can the similarities in the book mechanism: a young, vulnerable but resilient and courageous heroine; a strong, righteous but somewhat oblivious to realities hero; a small community full of prejudices but still down, very human in their flaws and realities. CCW has not invented the wheel, but she clearly knows how to use basic romance tropes and twist them simply but effectively into a compelling heart-gripping romance, full of slow dripping sweet angst.
Shay was a wonderful heroine. Full of doubts, hurt and bad experiences, but she stands good. She knows her weakness, she knows that part of herself is her enemy but she has her eyes wide open on herself and the ugliness of the world around her and this helps her steel her spine and forge her way forward. Her relationship with Mia was beautiful to watch. CCW wrote in a simple but so effective way the feelings running inside Shay's head and how she embraced the perfection of Mia's quirks. And Mia was just adorable; I am glad that now she has her parents and family, as she deserves.
Kellum was a perfect book boyfriend. Solid, present, responsible, patient, listening, even-tempered. So perfect that CCW does not hesitate to show us his flaws, namely of never believing the worst of his close family and friends despite all the evidence before him. The community of Stonecut comes up beautifully as full of rot behind the charming veneer, and Kellum is as much a victim of his good heartedness as he is 'part of the problem'. At first, I was very dubious on how he could have seduced young Shay and then not made any effort to see how she was after. CCW gave a good realistic rationale for what happened, how Kellum always lived his life doing what was expected of him without asking too many questions and just assuming that things could continue this way, with no real feelings. In a way, Shay was fated for him, fated to turn his world upside down, to make him remove his blinkers and at last live his life in the real world - full of love, hope and joys but also heartache and disappointments. In this way, their romance felt very real and genuine. I loved reading about their everyday lives. It felt very real to read.
Apart from a few inconsistencies (e.g. the bankruptcy story with the ex-wife, practical issues with the Trust, Kellum's mum being sudddenly a Miss Wall) that I can set aside, I felt that the climax of the book, where Shay let Kellum know about the ultimate threat of his uncle and how Shay and Kellum dealt with it was a bit too weak. Shay should have gone all out, in her quiet way, to tell Kellum verbatim what Van threatened and what happened when she went to pick up the check and sign the papers. If Kellum had to open his eyes to reality, better that he was aware of the whole ugly truth so that he can scale up the danger accordingly and take measures. The confrontation with the uncle, in front of the family, felt flat as home truths were not spelt out so that everyone would see how ugly and real it was. Too much mild verbose and not enough firmness imho. Also, after all the problems raised by Van over the years, the epilogue was not satisfying enough for a reader like me to feel avenged. I wanted blood for sure, but I know that the realism of the story would not handle it so primally, but I still wanted to see harsh consequences... instead of the vague 'something is going on' conclusion.
The book was quite long and slow burn, which was very appropriate for the atmosphere that CCW has created, and so I expected that the conclusion would be as slow and long and with enough details to satisfy the wait, but no, the conclusion felt suddenly rushed and incomplete. And not just about the family/ community drama, but even for the story between Shay and Kellum. I am glad they have now a solid relationship but I guess I am hungry for more. All in all, it was a book that I enjoyed (with the tell tale heart squeezing at the tragic beginning of the romance between Shay and Kellum). The last 10% could have been much more long and detailed to better mirror the first 90%'s awesomeness, but I will live
emotional
tense
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Oh cate has got me HOOKED yall. I read cash’s book first, and I must Say that he was like sooo good for me so he is my preferred wall brother at this time, but I loved The depth of this story and how Kellum and Shay’s relationship grew. I also Lovedddd Mia, she was so wonderful. A girl who loves fish critters is a girl after my own heart. Kellum was a little too straight laced good boy for me, but all in all a really fun read! Immediately cracking Dina’s book next!
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This one was fine. I didn't get a strong sense of chemistry between Kellum and Shay. Also I felt the background plot was resolved too quickly.
hopeful
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
Omg four stars!
Normally in romance books, we encounter heroines who do stupid things on repeat.
Well Cate C Wells has flipped the script and has given us a hero who is TOO STUPID TO LIVE.
J/k I really liked the hero Kallum and I LOVED the heroine,
Shay.
Kallum suffers from being raised a good old boy, privilege, and taking off your rose-colored glasses is hard.
I loved that the daughter is neurodivergent. Everything Cate wrote about the differences between the rich and poor was brutal but true.
Shay is a great lead, that looks at the difference between the haves and have-nots with the eye of a woman who has been through the wringer.
Bravo.
Wanted a better epilogue but this is the Cate C Wells way.
Normally in romance books, we encounter heroines who do stupid things on repeat.
Well Cate C Wells has flipped the script and has given us a hero who is TOO STUPID TO LIVE.
J/k I really liked the hero Kallum and I LOVED the heroine,
Shay.
Kallum suffers from being raised a good old boy, privilege, and taking off your rose-colored glasses is hard.
I loved that the daughter is neurodivergent. Everything Cate wrote about the differences between the rich and poor was brutal but true.
Shay is a great lead, that looks at the difference between the haves and have-nots with the eye of a woman who has been through the wringer.
Bravo.
Wanted a better epilogue but this is the Cate C Wells way.
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Couple: Kellum & Shay
❋❋❋❋❋
❛I want to touch her, more than I’ve wanted anything in years, but I also want her to let me—let me touch her, protect her, care for her. For Mia. I want her to trust me.❜
❋❋❋❋❋
This book was definitely no fairy tail, and I liked that a lot. It had a realness to it and both Kellum and Shay were products of their upbringing. No quick fixes, and a lot of toughness with a big dose of naiveness sums up these two. I'm not sure I've ever read a couple that needed to learn how to communicate more than Shay and Kellum, I wanted to shake them. I enjoyed Mia and the way Kellum grew his relationship with her. I also felt bad for him too, he had some major eye opening experiences that he needed to get his head around. In the end it kind of wrapped up fast but I thought they got a good happy ending.
Couple: Kellum & Shay
❋❋❋❋❋
❛I want to touch her, more than I’ve wanted anything in years, but I also want her to let me—let me touch her, protect her, care for her. For Mia. I want her to trust me.❜
❋❋❋❋❋
This book was definitely no fairy tail, and I liked that a lot. It had a realness to it and both Kellum and Shay were products of their upbringing. No quick fixes, and a lot of toughness with a big dose of naiveness sums up these two. I'm not sure I've ever read a couple that needed to learn how to communicate more than Shay and Kellum, I wanted to shake them. I enjoyed Mia and the way Kellum grew his relationship with her. I also felt bad for him too, he had some major eye opening experiences that he needed to get his head around. In the end it kind of wrapped up fast but I thought they got a good happy ending.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes