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trist_2art's review against another edition
5.0
I’ve read a lot of romances, from basic Hallmark-esque-straight-Christmas-Tales to smutty-gay-alien-stories, and I got to say that this is not your standard romance. Aspen in Moonlight is a slow burn sapphic love story, fueled by an academia inspired adventure to answer the questions of art historian Melissa’s favorite art pieces that she inherited from her grandmother. I felt apart of Melissa’s idyllic vacation with vivid sceneries, and I enjoyed the many facts on conservation and art history intertwined into the story. I don’t suggest this if you’re not into slower paced/ very descriptive stories. The overall plot of the story is cute and I’m happy to have read it.
Note: I know the author so I wanted to mention the potential bias of my review. I can see a lot of the author’s passion for art and the environment in this book which warms my heart.
Note: I know the author so I wanted to mention the potential bias of my review. I can see a lot of the author’s passion for art and the environment in this book which warms my heart.
zefrien's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
astraeal's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this story, the chemistry between Sula and Melissa was the best of the book, but other aspects such as lots of nature (flora and fauna), interesting characters (art historian Melissa who was kind and fascinated by everything which make me like her very much since the beginning, and Sula (aka mountain woman) who can shift into a bear), and all the research about the paintings and their history behind made me feel like I was into the story myself.
Like I said, Melissa and Sula's relationship was my favourite part of this book, they're just so great together, they fit and I was not bored one moment with them. I wish there would have been more time for the Big Reveal at the end, I was waiting for it since the beginning and how it happened did not disappoint me but I would have prefered more time talking about it, and especially more time of Sula in bear form.
While I really liked this book, there's one thing that just didn't sit well with me and it's how Melissa, after learning two women were lovers immediately said they were lesbians even though one of them had a husband after. What she said about it could be right, I don't know, she doesn't really either, but the fact that is was either straight or gay like there's no inbetween really left me that big bad impression.
Like I said, Melissa and Sula's relationship was my favourite part of this book, they're just so great together, they fit and I was not bored one moment with them. I wish there would have been more time for the Big Reveal at the end, I was waiting for it since the beginning and how it happened did not disappoint me but I would have prefered more time talking about it, and especially more time of Sula in bear form.
While I really liked this book, there's one thing that just didn't sit well with me and it's how Melissa, after learning two women were lovers immediately said they were lesbians even though one of them had a husband after. What she said about it could be right, I don't know, she doesn't really either, but the fact that is was either straight or gay like there's no inbetween really left me that big bad impression.
rogue_lurker's review against another edition
3.0
I'm a big fan of paranormal romances and I'm also pretty hard on them if they disappoint. When I saw this book on the upcoming releases I was totally stoked. A shifter/paranormal romance without wolves? Yes please. I love a good wolf shifter book, but it's nice to switch stuff up and a bear shifter sounded like a great twist. Once I started reading, I began to realize that this is more of romance than paranormal so I had to reset my expectations and read the book on its own merits rather than what my pre-conceptions.
Aspen in Moonlight is a well written novel that is more romance than paranormal. That's not a bad thing. Professor Melissa Warren travels to Colorado to research a three paintings she has inherited - paintings that have fascinated her since she was a child and are largely responsible for her pursuing a career in art history. As part of her research she reaches out to Sula Johansen, the Executive Director of the Colorado Bear Conservancy who turns out to be the great-granddaughter of the artist. The romance is a nice slow burn as the relationship builds - both characters are obviously intelligent, passionate about heir careers and mature in their actions and reactions. Their own personal passions about conservancy and art are woven into the story as is the absolutely beautiful setting in Colorado. The paranormal aspects are hinted at and pretty much in the background for the majority of the book with the big reveal (and after-effects) as part of the climax and denouement.
There's no question that Ms. Wacker writes well; but, at times the book was a bit too heavy on the narrative - lengthy descriptions and explanations tended to bog down the pacing and made the book seem to be longer than it actually was. You can tell that Wacker herself is passionate about art and conservation - she conveys this through a narrative that is well researched and obviously important but sometimes it verges into the professorial realm (which she seems to recognize when one character teases the other about being in professor mode). I don't mind a book that provides insight and makes me think - but sometimes the information was a bit clunky.
Thank you to Netgalley and BSB for providing an advance copy for review
Aspen in Moonlight is a well written novel that is more romance than paranormal. That's not a bad thing. Professor Melissa Warren travels to Colorado to research a three paintings she has inherited - paintings that have fascinated her since she was a child and are largely responsible for her pursuing a career in art history. As part of her research she reaches out to Sula Johansen, the Executive Director of the Colorado Bear Conservancy who turns out to be the great-granddaughter of the artist. The romance is a nice slow burn as the relationship builds - both characters are obviously intelligent, passionate about heir careers and mature in their actions and reactions. Their own personal passions about conservancy and art are woven into the story as is the absolutely beautiful setting in Colorado. The paranormal aspects are hinted at and pretty much in the background for the majority of the book with the big reveal (and after-effects) as part of the climax and denouement.
There's no question that Ms. Wacker writes well; but, at times the book was a bit too heavy on the narrative - lengthy descriptions and explanations tended to bog down the pacing and made the book seem to be longer than it actually was. You can tell that Wacker herself is passionate about art and conservation - she conveys this through a narrative that is well researched and obviously important but sometimes it verges into the professorial realm (which she seems to recognize when one character teases the other about being in professor mode). I don't mind a book that provides insight and makes me think - but sometimes the information was a bit clunky.
Thank you to Netgalley and BSB for providing an advance copy for review
mxphoebesviewpoint's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Aspen in Moonlight is an explicitly detailed paranormal romance. Kelly Wacker gives you history from everything from the type of cameras used to take the photos that the characters are looking at to the different types of paints used on a canvas. I could probably look at the same maps that Sula and Melissa had and tell you their hiking route (smile).
Beyond the details is a romance that might have been fated to be as the characters walk a similar path as an ancestor has before. There are some secrets, but the story has to have some twist to cause despair (laugh).
I loved the information of bears and conservancy throughout history and in the present. I also now know to plant clover in with my grass to promote growth and they are connected to bees. Long story...you have to read Aspen to get further details (laugh).
The only area that there really isn’t any detail are the love scenes. I would have labeled this story PG-13 if not for one line which might come across as Rated R so I went with the higher rating. Sula and Melissa have plenty of chemistry and Wacker focuses on their repartee versus the physical intimacy.
If you want to take a trip to the beautiful wilderness of Colorado, Aspen in Moonlight is for you. Wacker makes you feel as you are hiking in the woods, riding a horse, or even fly-fishing. Snuggle down this winter with this warm and fuzzy romance.
I got this book from my library. I love my local library and you should check out yours too. Request LGBTQ+ books and they will stock them! #ebooksforall
synth's review
1.0
Overly descriptive with stilted (and overly descriptive) dialogues. Curiously for a story about human shifting into animals in North America, zero respect for Native American cultures which are present for literally 2 seconds and only in order to be used as a prop in the formulaic post-breakup reconciliation at the end (not to mention that Inuit culture is far from Colorado and local native peoples probably have their own beliefs and myths about such phenomena). Literally more time is passed on the Norse "wannabee berserkers".
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