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mrsbooknerd's review
1.0
I just didn't understand the hype about this book at all. I was hoping for a light erotic romance, but this was so light it almost floated away.
I didn't feel any real emotion between the lead characters. There was lust and sex but I didn't get the sense of a deep, emotional connection. Heck, they barely even had a conversation about anything real. At one point we are told that they've had a two hour long conversation about everything, but I didn't experience that at all, so it felt lifeless.
The whole sub-plot with the building and the bookstore was so gosh-darn obvious that I almost, almost stopped reading there. I only carried on because it was so short and I may as well see it through.
The book is essentially a novella, which I usually avoid because they don't have the pages to have a developed story. This one certainly did not.
I didn't feel any real emotion between the lead characters. There was lust and sex but I didn't get the sense of a deep, emotional connection. Heck, they barely even had a conversation about anything real. At one point we are told that they've had a two hour long conversation about everything, but I didn't experience that at all, so it felt lifeless.
The whole sub-plot with the building and the bookstore was so gosh-darn obvious that I almost, almost stopped reading there. I only carried on because it was so short and I may as well see it through.
The book is essentially a novella, which I usually avoid because they don't have the pages to have a developed story. This one certainly did not.
moza_jf's review
3.0
Sweet but predictable
Nice little read, if you're looking for something light. The cause of conflict was obvious early on, as was the resolution,and could have been avoided by, you know, talking to each other.
Was a bit disappointed that around a third of the page count is previews and promos. It left the ending feeling a little abrupt.
Nice little read, if you're looking for something light. The cause of conflict was obvious early on, as was the resolution,and could have been avoided by, you know, talking to each other.
Was a bit disappointed that around a third of the page count is previews and promos. It left the ending feeling a little abrupt.
crazychriss93's review
3.0
Apart from the fact that our heroine acts like a 20 year old instead of like a 34 year old, the book was interesting.
The plot was a bit cliché of course but lovely.
Plus, it's not a very long novel. I wouldn't call it a novella but it's not a 500 pages novel either.
Hot steamy scenes.
A bit disappointing that there was only a hint at some scenes but they don't really 'act' them 'out' in real life ;)
Writing style?
Very well written, hardly any mistakes. Very nice.
I think it was a bit disappointing that we were only in the female character's head and never had the point of view of our male character but yeah...
Characters?
Yeah, don't know, didn't fall for them, to be honest...
Still, I liked it :D
The plot was a bit cliché of course but lovely.
Plus, it's not a very long novel. I wouldn't call it a novella but it's not a 500 pages novel either.
Hot steamy scenes.
A bit disappointing that there was only a hint at some scenes but they don't really 'act' them 'out' in real life ;)
Writing style?
Very well written, hardly any mistakes. Very nice.
I think it was a bit disappointing that we were only in the female character's head and never had the point of view of our male character but yeah...
Characters?
Yeah, don't know, didn't fall for them, to be honest...
Still, I liked it :D
miztrebor's review
4.0
Tell Me a Story is the first episode in a five part serial. It's been awhile since I've wanted to read a serial novel, and I'm glad I did. This one's only five installments, and each are a reasonable length. Both are a plus. Along with them all being released at the time I discovered them helped even more.
Like most serials, there wasn't too much character development in the grand scheme of things here. This aides in my wanting to continue onto the next episodes. There was just enough to get into Emma's head and start to enjoy her. On the other hand Caleb is still very mysterious and has most to reveal later on. I'm still on the fence about him, as I'm sure the reader should be.
As for the story itself, I'm even more intrigued after reading it than I was starting. The story brothel event at Emma's bookstore was a fun idea. I really like how that's worked into the story outside the bookstore, too. I also thought it was great that the author didn't make the bookstore life out to be glamorous, as I've seen done elsewhere. Emma's facing real-world problems as a business owner and there are big consequences. Lush was able to bring a lot out in episode one, even if a few elements may have hurt because of this. That's what the rest of the serial is for, after all.
I'm looking forward to reading more about Emma and Caleb. I'm also crossing my fingers a certain other set of characters gets their own story in the future.
Like most serials, there wasn't too much character development in the grand scheme of things here. This aides in my wanting to continue onto the next episodes. There was just enough to get into Emma's head and start to enjoy her. On the other hand Caleb is still very mysterious and has most to reveal later on. I'm still on the fence about him, as I'm sure the reader should be.
As for the story itself, I'm even more intrigued after reading it than I was starting. The story brothel event at Emma's bookstore was a fun idea. I really like how that's worked into the story outside the bookstore, too. I also thought it was great that the author didn't make the bookstore life out to be glamorous, as I've seen done elsewhere. Emma's facing real-world problems as a business owner and there are big consequences. Lush was able to bring a lot out in episode one, even if a few elements may have hurt because of this. That's what the rest of the serial is for, after all.
I'm looking forward to reading more about Emma and Caleb. I'm also crossing my fingers a certain other set of characters gets their own story in the future.
nbiblioholic's review
3.0
This was my first read from Tamara Lush and so I didn't know what to expect. Although this installment was short, it was interesting and quite steamy. If this is what I have to look forward to in this series, then it's off to a good start.
I liked the premise of the story because it was unique (to me). Emma was a bookstore owner/erotica writer who particiapted in an event in which she reads aloud to a "reader" for charity. Her "reader" on this particular day was Caleb. As she read to him, the sexual tension seemed to leap from the pages.
With her own brand of insta-feelings (primarily lust from my viewpoint), the author gave a great introduction to these characters.
I liked the premise of the story because it was unique (to me). Emma was a bookstore owner/erotica writer who particiapted in an event in which she reads aloud to a "reader" for charity. Her "reader" on this particular day was Caleb. As she read to him, the sexual tension seemed to leap from the pages.
With her own brand of insta-feelings (primarily lust from my viewpoint), the author gave a great introduction to these characters.
the_sassy_bookworm's review
4.0
3.5 Stars
Copy provided by NetGalley for an honest review
Good start to this 5 part serial. Well written and sexy as hell. I liked both characters. Though the heroine got on my nerves a tiny bit. I enjoyed it enough that I will probably continue on to the next book.
Copy provided by NetGalley for an honest review
Good start to this 5 part serial. Well written and sexy as hell. I liked both characters. Though the heroine got on my nerves a tiny bit. I enjoyed it enough that I will probably continue on to the next book.
emmybird86's review
4.0
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review. This was a hot steamy romance. The narrator was great. The story was interesting too. I love that Emma has a book store and the Book Brothel was awesome! I would read more by this author.
caffeinatedbibliophile's review
3.0
This story started off really well for me. Emma seemed cute and quirky and fun, plus she owns a bookstore, so I wanted to be her best friend. She wasn’t one-dimensional, she was a damsel in distress (sort of), but didn’t want the prince to come and save her because wanted to save herself, and she had a great personality. Caleb had a nice sense of humor and was pretty sexy, I won’t lie. They both had possibly "tragic" backgrounds, but neither of them were in need of being "fixed," which I really appreciated. My only issues with either of them were his blue eyes (I’m just sick of so many characters having blue or green eyes) and Emma’s attitude about their relationship, which got a bit repetitive for a while. I would have liked to get more info about both of them, but I imagine that’s going to happen in later installments. Overall, though, I’d give this a ⅘ stars for characters.
While this is shelved on goodreads as “erotica,” and it does have quite a bit of explicit sex, I...just...wasn’t feeling it, I guess. I wanted to, and I think it had potential to be hot, but I honestly found Emma’s story within the story more erotic at times. I think the scenes were just too short or something. I’m not entirely sure what didn’t work for me, but it just didn’t. I thought it was kind of hot, but not “get lost and feel like you’re living vicariously through the characters” hot, if you know what I mean. I really liked Emma reading to Caleb and the build-up of their sexual tension, though. That was probably my favorite part of the whole story. So the steaminess gets a ⅗ stars.
The first half of the book was really good, but I think it could have used a little polishing, which would have made it great. I enjoyed the pace and the mostly light-hearted stuff that was happening, but I felt like the story kind of lost some steam about the three-quarter mark (not sexy steam, momentum steam, that is) and I struggled to stay in the world while I was reading. The last quarter was just a bit flat for me. I still liked it, but I’m not sure I liked it enough to pick up the next installment when it comes out later this week. I might, but I’m not sure yet. (Full disclosure: there’s a sneak peek of Tell Me a Desire, the second book, at the end of Tell Me a Story, but I haven’t read it yet because I didn’t want it to potentially influence my review of the first part.) So the story gets ⅘ stars, I think.
I might continue this series, but I’m undecided right now. I think I will definitely keep it in mind, though.
**I received a free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review via Net Galley**
While this is shelved on goodreads as “erotica,” and it does have quite a bit of explicit sex, I...just...wasn’t feeling it, I guess. I wanted to, and I think it had potential to be hot, but I honestly found Emma’s story within the story more erotic at times. I think the scenes were just too short or something. I’m not entirely sure what didn’t work for me, but it just didn’t. I thought it was kind of hot, but not “get lost and feel like you’re living vicariously through the characters” hot, if you know what I mean. I really liked Emma reading to Caleb and the build-up of their sexual tension, though. That was probably my favorite part of the whole story. So the steaminess gets a ⅗ stars.
The first half of the book was really good, but I think it could have used a little polishing, which would have made it great. I enjoyed the pace and the mostly light-hearted stuff that was happening, but I felt like the story kind of lost some steam about the three-quarter mark (not sexy steam, momentum steam, that is) and I struggled to stay in the world while I was reading. The last quarter was just a bit flat for me. I still liked it, but I’m not sure I liked it enough to pick up the next installment when it comes out later this week. I might, but I’m not sure yet. (Full disclosure: there’s a sneak peek of Tell Me a Desire, the second book, at the end of Tell Me a Story, but I haven’t read it yet because I didn’t want it to potentially influence my review of the first part.) So the story gets ⅘ stars, I think.
I might continue this series, but I’m undecided right now. I think I will definitely keep it in mind, though.
**I received a free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review via Net Galley**
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