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alessiasbooks's review against another edition
5.0
Il massimo ma per motivi diversi dal primo, ci mostra ciò che altri libri non mostrano, emozionante!
julylovesbuyingbooks's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
karenmaloney's review against another edition
2.0
This book could have ended AT LEAST three separate times, but no... Simons chose to keep going - so much so that I really didn't care about the characters anymore. At one point I was reading it on my Kindle and got up to switch the laundry over to the dryer. My husband asked me how my book "was going" I did an eye roll and said, "Well, I thought I was done, but it turns out I still have another 25% to go." She writes beautifully and has obviously done a metric crap ton of research, but ugh... most of the book was superfluous.
maria_pulver's review against another edition
3.0
Well, it was extremely bad idea to finish the series.
Though the idea of people disfunctioning after a major trauma is a good one, the way it's written makes the book absolutely terrible. All the previous problems are here: flat characters, illogical plot movements, failure to check basic facts and acceptance of domestic violence as a norm. The part that concerns Vietnam seems completely outrageous to me, but I do not know enough about that war to be sure the events could not have happened.
I'm only giving 3 stars here in accordance with Goodreads guidelines - after all, I've finished the book (do not ask me why - there is no acceptable explanation). My recommendation here is a huge NO to the entire series. If you want to read about WWII in Russia, or a love story, or both - pick other books.
Though the idea of people disfunctioning after a major trauma is a good one, the way it's written makes the book absolutely terrible. All the previous problems are here: flat characters, illogical plot movements, failure to check basic facts and acceptance of domestic violence as a norm. The part that concerns Vietnam seems completely outrageous to me, but I do not know enough about that war to be sure the events could not have happened.
I'm only giving 3 stars here in accordance with Goodreads guidelines - after all, I've finished the book (do not ask me why - there is no acceptable explanation). My recommendation here is a huge NO to the entire series. If you want to read about WWII in Russia, or a love story, or both - pick other books.
xhez's review against another edition
5.0
Spoilers from the first two books!!! Do not read this if you have not read [b:The Bronze Horseman|6323104|The Bronze Horseman (The Bronze Horseman, #1)|Paullina Simons|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1362314485s/6323104.jpg|12615171] and [b:Tatiana and Alexander|7180853|Tatiana and Alexander (The Bronze Horseman #2)|Paullina Simons|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1362314851s/7180853.jpg|594714]! And if you have not read them, then what the hell are you waiting for?
What an amazing journey this book has been for me!! I really am not capable of starting a new book after finishing reading this one!! I need some time to recover myself....
.
.
.
.
.
.
Anyway, now I have to start writing a review, something I haven't done for months (reviews only with gifs don't count). Why? Because I am lazy, I can't see to find the time and things like that but I couldn't let one of my favorite books of all time without a review. Yeah, you read it right!! One of my favorite books of all time!!!!
I'm a teen and as all the girls, I dream finding my true love one day. I (all the girls) dream of that perfect ending. This epic love history doesn't end with the reunion of the main protagonists who have finally married and on top of that are also having a baby,( having endured famine, death, defeat, unimaginable losses and war). It continues because there are still despicable humans (Dimitri I'm abhorred by you!) who try to come between their immense love. So book one finishes and of course we move on immediately to book two. Their longing for each other in this book is so tangible. Their desperation and starvation and hope for each other tore my heart. Finally when I've read more than three-quarter of the book they meet in one of the most horrible places. But luck shines to them this time. They can finally return to America when their little son, Anthony is waiting.
Well it seems like there can't be anything separating them anymore. I literally thought there could not be anything!! But boy, was I so wrong!!
This book is the most special one of the trilogy (based solely on my opinion) because it shows how a great beautiful love survives in the everyday post-war America. Alexander and Tatiana are faced with their greatest obstacle: a normal life when their souls are left in Leningrad and shattered by war. Can Tatiana save her newly-formed family? She doesn't know this new Alexander. Alexander doesn't entirely know his Tania.
However they struggle to come out of their dark abyss because they LOVE unconditionally irrevocably helplessly each other.
And so on and on, this book continues covering 60 years of these amazing characters introducing new believable well-crafted ones who make us feel profound emotions.
At one point, I seriously freaked out! I thought that Tania and Shura reached their breaking point!!! Fortunately they passed yet another test and may I add, with flying colors!!!
And as for the other characters:
1)My heart wept for Anthony...for this incredible strong man just like his father.
2)I felt sorry for Vikki and her character had just the right (a little too convenient?) ending.
3)I felt respect for Rechter and Sam Gulotta!
4)I clenched my fists in anger every time Carmen would show up in the book.
5)I liked Francesca (she taught Tania so many Mexican recipes, how could I not like her?)
6)I couldn't stand Alexander's boss of that building company and his son (see, I can't even remember their names!!) I seethed with anger every time their disgraced faces would show up.
7)And of course I couldn't let without mentioning Pasha, Harry and Janie, these adorable children who in the end of the book are having their own babies.
If in the previous books of the trilogy I somehow managed to not cry, this book succeed in this department, not once but twice!!!
What really shocked the though, not only on this book, but on the entire trilogy was the verity and genuineness with which this great love is described. These characters are so real that I feel like I can meet with any of them in a street someday. And I loved the interludes in this book and in the second one because we are able to see how Tatiana and Alexander, these two immensely strong determined characters passed their childhood.
To conclude, Simons' writing style is detailed, enriched, full of raw emotions. I definitely recommend [b:The Summer Garden|7155362|The Summer Garden (The Bronze Horseman, #3)|Paullina Simons|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1311924479s/7155362.jpg|2098474] to anyone and make no mistake folks, this book, despite the first ones, was not about love, but LIFE filled with love.
What an amazing journey this book has been for me!! I really am not capable of starting a new book after finishing reading this one!! I need some time to recover myself....
.
.
.
.
.
.
Anyway, now I have to start writing a review, something I haven't done for months (reviews only with gifs don't count). Why? Because I am lazy, I can't see to find the time and things like that but I couldn't let one of my favorite books of all time without a review. Yeah, you read it right!! One of my favorite books of all time!!!!
I'm a teen and as all the girls, I dream finding my true love one day. I (all the girls) dream of that perfect ending. This epic love history doesn't end with the reunion of the main protagonists who have finally married and on top of that are also having a baby,( having endured famine, death, defeat, unimaginable losses and war). It continues because there are still despicable humans (Dimitri I'm abhorred by you!) who try to come between their immense love. So book one finishes and of course we move on immediately to book two. Their longing for each other in this book is so tangible. Their desperation and starvation and hope for each other tore my heart. Finally when I've read more than three-quarter of the book they meet in one of the most horrible places. But luck shines to them this time. They can finally return to America when their little son, Anthony is waiting.
Well it seems like there can't be anything separating them anymore. I literally thought there could not be anything!! But boy, was I so wrong!!
This book is the most special one of the trilogy (based solely on my opinion) because it shows how a great beautiful love survives in the everyday post-war America. Alexander and Tatiana are faced with their greatest obstacle: a normal life when their souls are left in Leningrad and shattered by war. Can Tatiana save her newly-formed family? She doesn't know this new Alexander. Alexander doesn't entirely know his Tania.
However they struggle to come out of their dark abyss because they LOVE unconditionally irrevocably helplessly each other.
And so on and on, this book continues covering 60 years of these amazing characters introducing new believable well-crafted ones who make us feel profound emotions.
At one point, I seriously freaked out! I thought that Tania and Shura reached their breaking point!!! Fortunately they passed yet another test and may I add, with flying colors!!!
And as for the other characters:
1)My heart wept for Anthony...for this incredible strong man just like his father.
2)I felt sorry for Vikki and her character had just the right (a little too convenient?) ending.
3)I felt respect for Rechter and Sam Gulotta!
4)I clenched my fists in anger every time Carmen would show up in the book.
5)I liked Francesca (she taught Tania so many Mexican recipes, how could I not like her?)
6)I couldn't stand Alexander's boss of that building company and his son (see, I can't even remember their names!!) I seethed with anger every time their disgraced faces would show up.
7)And of course I couldn't let without mentioning Pasha, Harry and Janie, these adorable children who in the end of the book are having their own babies.
If in the previous books of the trilogy I somehow managed to not cry, this book succeed in this department, not once but twice!!!
What really shocked the though, not only on this book, but on the entire trilogy was the verity and genuineness with which this great love is described. These characters are so real that I feel like I can meet with any of them in a street someday. And I loved the interludes in this book and in the second one because we are able to see how Tatiana and Alexander, these two immensely strong determined characters passed their childhood.
To conclude, Simons' writing style is detailed, enriched, full of raw emotions. I definitely recommend [b:The Summer Garden|7155362|The Summer Garden (The Bronze Horseman, #3)|Paullina Simons|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1311924479s/7155362.jpg|2098474] to anyone and make no mistake folks, this book, despite the first ones, was not about love, but LIFE filled with love.
brookens_'s review against another edition
5.0
Wow fantastic series loved the trilogy such a beautiful story that you can't help but to fall in love with!!
blondy05's review against another edition
5.0
Great book, very emotional and angsty, I didn't want it to finish.
kimberly_b's review against another edition
2.0
I was so disappointed with The Summer Garden. I wasn't expecting it to be another The Bronze Horseman, but I was at least expecting a compelling story. Instead, Simons not only rehashes the past (which I expected), she even recycles the main plot from Tatiana and Alexander by sending Alexander to rescue Anthony! The flashback "Interludes" as they were called were a complete waste of print. In the end, the only purpose they served was to exemplify two silly morals that Tatiana learned as a teen. Again, as I've said in both my TBH and T&A reviews, WHERE WAS THE EDITOR?!
Also, I have to say that if Alexander smokes 2 to 3 packs of cigarettes per day, how in the heck does he have beautiful white teeth as Simons repeatedly mentions? Tatiana's breasts/nipples are also referred to so many times it became OTT. Nearly every sex/intimate scene (of which there are several in most chapters) mentions them again...and again...and again. I've heard people complain about breast references in the Outlander series, but that's nothing compared to TSG.
In the end, I really wish that Simons had edited out some of the redundancies in TBH and then added a bit to the end to give us a nice HEA in that book. Instead, I think she drags down her characters and their romance by her less than stellar writing in T&A and way more so in TSG. The indiscretions and abuse in TSG were just plain sad.
After writing this review, I'm left contemplating what I even liked in TSG and I really can't come up with much. I thought the very last couple pages were sweet...I'm happy Tatiana and Alexander finally found happiness...that's about it. I can't believe it, but I'm rating this 2 stars. It was just 'ok' for me.
Also, I have to say that if Alexander smokes 2 to 3 packs of cigarettes per day, how in the heck does he have beautiful white teeth as Simons repeatedly mentions? Tatiana's breasts/nipples are also referred to so many times it became OTT. Nearly every sex/intimate scene (of which there are several in most chapters) mentions them again...and again...and again. I've heard people complain about breast references in the Outlander series, but that's nothing compared to TSG.
In the end, I really wish that Simons had edited out some of the redundancies in TBH and then added a bit to the end to give us a nice HEA in that book. Instead, I think she drags down her characters and their romance by her less than stellar writing in T&A and way more so in TSG. The indiscretions and abuse in TSG were just plain sad.
After writing this review, I'm left contemplating what I even liked in TSG and I really can't come up with much. I thought the very last couple pages were sweet...I'm happy Tatiana and Alexander finally found happiness...that's about it. I can't believe it, but I'm rating this 2 stars. It was just 'ok' for me.