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lurker_stalker's review
5.0
Karis Walsh is solidifying herself as my go-to author when I want a touching romance filled with smart, witty, grown-ups. Liberty Bay has just the right amount of angst, good pacing, sweet romance and relationship building, and characters I can relate to and believe in. I loved these two women together.
I know this is a short review but I can sum up my feelings about the book simply by saying I loved the story, the setting, and Gina and Wren. Now I wait for the next release by Ms. Walsh.
Thanks to BSB and NetGalley for the ARC. It was nice to wrap my 2020 reading with this lovely novel.
I know this is a short review but I can sum up my feelings about the book simply by saying I loved the story, the setting, and Gina and Wren. Now I wait for the next release by Ms. Walsh.
Thanks to BSB and NetGalley for the ARC. It was nice to wrap my 2020 reading with this lovely novel.
jennabeebs79's review
3.0
I'm always excited when Karis Walsh publishes another book! This book, like all of her others, includes beautiful descriptions of the Pacific Northwest, which I really appreciate. I loved the witty banter between Wren and Gina, but honestly, the rest of the book was quite boring. There really wasn't much for the reader to grab onto and run with. I knew there was going to be a HEA and a few times I wanted to quit reading altogether because I didn't really care, but kept reading because I love this author and wanted to see how she tied everything with the doxer went. This is a good book but not nearly as good as some of her other books.
I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
claire60's review
4.0
Really enjoyed this, a much needed light read. It's an opposites attract romance, Gina is an online influencer who has to leave the city after being doxed, Wren lives off the grid across the bay from Seattle where she has a smallholding and trains horses. Wren needs to make more money and her friend suggests she has an online presence to her market her business, Gina is the best applicant and soon moves in above the horse barn. There is mutual attraction, however, it's the witty banter between them that sells this book, it is a different way to show a relationship building and I enjoyed that. I also really liked that they learnt from each other and that their opposing positions were a bonus and helped rather than hindered their relationship. Not sure i've seen that before, especially when Wren is sympathetic to Gina's experience rather than huffy about the online experience. The presentation of city life versus the quiet country life is also well argued, no secret which the author is promoting and you could see why! Lovely life enhancing story.
With thanks to the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
With thanks to the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
judeinthestars's review
3.0
3.5⭐️ – Karis Walsh‘s books are hit-or-miss for me, and while this one is not as much of a miss as for other reviewers, it’s not a huge hit either.
Gina is an influencer, the internet is her safe place. Until a disgruntled follower doxes her, forcing her to lay low, at least temporarily. Wren loves her life off the grid, with her horses and not much else. She needs to find a way to pay her bills, however, so when her friend and accountant Dianna sends Gina to help her set up a marketing strategy to bring more students her way, Wren has no choice but to welcome her.
I was wary at first of the whole social media influencer thing but I really liked how the author wrote Gina. She’s not in the least shallow or superficial, she takes her work very seriously and I can see how, after the childhood she’s had, she would care so much about her career and her life in the city. I also like that Wren is as wary as I was at first but quickly learns there’s more to Gina than meets the eye (what meets the eye seems quite nice too).
Gina and Wren couldn’t be more different, and it’s what makes them perfect for each other. They’re both sweet and respectful of the other’s choices and wants. I like the way Walsh writes the inevitability of the first kiss and all that comes after.
The writing, however, is a bit repetitive, as if the author felt the need to insist on why her characters should resist the attraction. And once they do get together, the focus is, once again, on how they want different things (or think they do). I would have liked a little more of their time together as a couple beyond the physical aspects.
If you’ve never read Karis Walsh’s novels, I’d recommend [b:Sit. Stay. Love.|42847638|Sit. Stay. Love.|Karis Walsh|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1542418096l/42847638._SY75_.jpg|66612129], which was one of my favourite books last year.
ARC provided to Les Rêveur for an honest review.
Gina is an influencer, the internet is her safe place. Until a disgruntled follower doxes her, forcing her to lay low, at least temporarily. Wren loves her life off the grid, with her horses and not much else. She needs to find a way to pay her bills, however, so when her friend and accountant Dianna sends Gina to help her set up a marketing strategy to bring more students her way, Wren has no choice but to welcome her.
I was wary at first of the whole social media influencer thing but I really liked how the author wrote Gina. She’s not in the least shallow or superficial, she takes her work very seriously and I can see how, after the childhood she’s had, she would care so much about her career and her life in the city. I also like that Wren is as wary as I was at first but quickly learns there’s more to Gina than meets the eye (what meets the eye seems quite nice too).
Gina and Wren couldn’t be more different, and it’s what makes them perfect for each other. They’re both sweet and respectful of the other’s choices and wants. I like the way Walsh writes the inevitability of the first kiss and all that comes after.
The writing, however, is a bit repetitive, as if the author felt the need to insist on why her characters should resist the attraction. And once they do get together, the focus is, once again, on how they want different things (or think they do). I would have liked a little more of their time together as a couple beyond the physical aspects.
If you’ve never read Karis Walsh’s novels, I’d recommend [b:Sit. Stay. Love.|42847638|Sit. Stay. Love.|Karis Walsh|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1542418096l/42847638._SY75_.jpg|66612129], which was one of my favourite books last year.
ARC provided to Les Rêveur for an honest review.
mjsam's review
3.0
ARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I’m a fan of Karis Walsh, but this wasn’t her best. For some reason, it just didn’t gel for me. This is an opposites attract story featuring Wren, who owns a horse farm and lives off the grid, and Gina, a social media influencer who is being stalked and needs a safe place to stay. Wren needs help building a social media presence, so Gina comes to stay with her.
I honestly couldn’t warm to Gina at all. I don’t get the whole social media influencer thing at all, can’t honestly think of a more superficial and self-centred way to make a living and nothing in this book convinced me otherwise. Wren was almost unbelievable in how far opposite Gina she was technology wise. I also didn’t really feel any chemistry between them, so the relationship never really took off for me.
There’s some nice supporting characters, and the banter between the leads was amusing in places, but there’s a lot (too much) of introspection from the MCs, which didn’t help with making the characters appear fully drawn. It’s an ok read, but I’d recommend [b:Sit. Stay. Love.|42847638|Sit. Stay. Love.|Karis Walsh|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1542418096l/42847638._SY75_.jpg|66612129] or [b:Set the Stage|34644787|Set the Stage|Karis Walsh|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1490054071l/34644787._SY75_.jpg|55806146] over this. 3 stars.
I’m a fan of Karis Walsh, but this wasn’t her best. For some reason, it just didn’t gel for me. This is an opposites attract story featuring Wren, who owns a horse farm and lives off the grid, and Gina, a social media influencer who is being stalked and needs a safe place to stay. Wren needs help building a social media presence, so Gina comes to stay with her.
I honestly couldn’t warm to Gina at all. I don’t get the whole social media influencer thing at all, can’t honestly think of a more superficial and self-centred way to make a living and nothing in this book convinced me otherwise. Wren was almost unbelievable in how far opposite Gina she was technology wise. I also didn’t really feel any chemistry between them, so the relationship never really took off for me.
There’s some nice supporting characters, and the banter between the leads was amusing in places, but there’s a lot (too much) of introspection from the MCs, which didn’t help with making the characters appear fully drawn. It’s an ok read, but I’d recommend [b:Sit. Stay. Love.|42847638|Sit. Stay. Love.|Karis Walsh|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1542418096l/42847638._SY75_.jpg|66612129] or [b:Set the Stage|34644787|Set the Stage|Karis Walsh|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1490054071l/34644787._SY75_.jpg|55806146] over this. 3 stars.
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