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khylabevibin's review
4.0
I received an ARC for free from BookSirens and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I’m giving this book four stars solely because of the last three chapters. To see Gwen finally verbalize the feelings that weren’t exactly shown throughout the book was so satisfying.
The book it self was written beautifully but a lot of it was unnecessary. So much extra writing that didn’t help the setting, more like reaching a word count.
I found myself annoyed with the lack of chemistry between the characters. So much potential for what could’ve been a hot firey romance.
That being said, if you’re reading this book for a hot passionate romance- I recommend leaving it for a slower day
But if you’re reading it for a good plot despite the dud romance, I do recommend
00leah00's review
Dnf @ 20%
Both women seem to have issues and that’s fine, it makes the story realistic and interesting. However, Frankie seems to have a temper and resorts to mild violence at least twice that I’ve seen so far. One time was hitting the other mc. I’m not interested in that.
Both women seem to have issues and that’s fine, it makes the story realistic and interesting. However, Frankie seems to have a temper and resorts to mild violence at least twice that I’ve seen so far. One time was hitting the other mc. I’m not interested in that.
khieeae's review
4.0
I received an ARC for free from BookSirens and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I’m giving this book four stars solely because of the last three chapters. To see Gwen finally verbalize the feelings that weren’t exactly shown throughout the book was so satisfying.
The book it self was written beautifully but a lot of it was unnecessary. So much extra writing that didn’t help the setting, more like reaching a word count.
I found myself annoyed with the lack of chemistry between the characters. So much potential for what could’ve been a hot firey romance.
That being said, if you’re reading this book for a hot passionate romance- I recommend leaving it for a slower day
But if you’re reading it for a good plot despite the dud romance, I do recommend
judeinthestars's review
5.0
4.5* – I really have to stop equating Christmas romances and light and fluffy. Some are dark and broody and they deserve just as much love and attention.
Frankie and Gwen were best friends from the time they met at 6 and 7. Their friendship led to teenage kissing but not much more as one day, Gwen left without saying goodbye and never came back. Until twelve years later.
The way it began, this should have been a hard story to read. Gwen and Frankie grow up in dirt-poor single-parent households in Williamsburg, Virginia. Gwen’s father is abusive and a drunk. Frankie’s mother is a loving woman with a bad reputation. Most of the book takes place when Gwen and Frankie meet again, as adults, but their childhood and what both went through as children weighs heavily on their lives and on their relationship. Lust and resentment have to fight it out before love can make its way into the fray. A lot has happened since the last time they saw each other as teens and Gwen is now a successful businesswoman, Frankie heads a busy renovation company and is the mother of an unusually bright child. A lot is unsaid too. How did Gwen manage to become one of Seattle’s most sought-after venture capitalist? Why did Frankie inherit Gwen’s father’s house? So many questions that need time, serenity and bravery to be answered. For all Gwen’s convinced she and Frankie are made for each other, getting to know each other again and not let their bodies set the pace isn’t that easy. The ending is slightly rushed yet remains plausible given the characters’ history.
Midas Touch is my first book by this author – Alex Hall is the pen name of Sarah Remy, a non-binary queer author – and it made me rush to check what else they have written. Their writing style ticks all the boxes of what I like. I could feel the heat, I could feel the cold, I could hear Gwen’s drawl. I could smell the river and the earth, I could feel the mud between Frankie’s toes, I could hear the house creaking. And because of all that, of that way of describing not with long sentences but with the exact right words, the right pace and rhythm, I could feel the undeniable chemistry between Gwen and Frankie, and understand from within why Gwen calls Frankie the sun to her moon.
Let’s hope Alex Hall writes a lot more lesfic, they’re really good at it.
A copy was given to me from https://lezreviewbooks.com for a honest review
Frankie and Gwen were best friends from the time they met at 6 and 7. Their friendship led to teenage kissing but not much more as one day, Gwen left without saying goodbye and never came back. Until twelve years later.
The way it began, this should have been a hard story to read. Gwen and Frankie grow up in dirt-poor single-parent households in Williamsburg, Virginia. Gwen’s father is abusive and a drunk. Frankie’s mother is a loving woman with a bad reputation. Most of the book takes place when Gwen and Frankie meet again, as adults, but their childhood and what both went through as children weighs heavily on their lives and on their relationship. Lust and resentment have to fight it out before love can make its way into the fray. A lot has happened since the last time they saw each other as teens and Gwen is now a successful businesswoman, Frankie heads a busy renovation company and is the mother of an unusually bright child. A lot is unsaid too. How did Gwen manage to become one of Seattle’s most sought-after venture capitalist? Why did Frankie inherit Gwen’s father’s house? So many questions that need time, serenity and bravery to be answered. For all Gwen’s convinced she and Frankie are made for each other, getting to know each other again and not let their bodies set the pace isn’t that easy. The ending is slightly rushed yet remains plausible given the characters’ history.
Midas Touch is my first book by this author – Alex Hall is the pen name of Sarah Remy, a non-binary queer author – and it made me rush to check what else they have written. Their writing style ticks all the boxes of what I like. I could feel the heat, I could feel the cold, I could hear Gwen’s drawl. I could smell the river and the earth, I could feel the mud between Frankie’s toes, I could hear the house creaking. And because of all that, of that way of describing not with long sentences but with the exact right words, the right pace and rhythm, I could feel the undeniable chemistry between Gwen and Frankie, and understand from within why Gwen calls Frankie the sun to her moon.
Let’s hope Alex Hall writes a lot more lesfic, they’re really good at it.
A copy was given to me from https://lezreviewbooks.com for a honest review
elvang's review
4.0
I was impressed with this second-chance romance with more drama and pathos than we are used to seeing in fluffy holiday reads. Frankie and Gwen were childhood best friends and in their teens shared stolen kisses. An event they share changes their lives and sends them off in different directions in life. Frankie remains in their hometown becoming a sought after home renovator while Gwen makes it big on the west coast. It’s been twelve years since Gwen left Colonial Williamsburg but the purchase of her father’s newly renovated mansion brings her home, not realizing that Frankie has done the renovations. Their meeting is far from smooth and ghosts from their past surface quickly. Can Frankie forgive Gwen for leaving her without a reason and can Gwen ever live in the house that holds so many bad memories for her?
Alex Hall has the ability to pull you into a scene and hold you there, wondering what is going through the minds of their characters. Life in a tourist town is described so well that you want to visit this town while being thankful you didn’t have to grow up there. Frankie and Gwen dance around their feelings while trying hard to guard their hearts and their personal lives. The irony of the opening scenes with Frankie’s need to soar above her small life when it’s Gwen who leaves town and makes it big were not lost on this reader.
If you want more depth in your romance reads, give Midas Touch a look. You won’t be disappointed.
ARC received with thanks from publisher via BookSirens for review.
Alex Hall has the ability to pull you into a scene and hold you there, wondering what is going through the minds of their characters. Life in a tourist town is described so well that you want to visit this town while being thankful you didn’t have to grow up there. Frankie and Gwen dance around their feelings while trying hard to guard their hearts and their personal lives. The irony of the opening scenes with Frankie’s need to soar above her small life when it’s Gwen who leaves town and makes it big were not lost on this reader.
If you want more depth in your romance reads, give Midas Touch a look. You won’t be disappointed.
ARC received with thanks from publisher via BookSirens for review.
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