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3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
When she was a child, Naomi Carson followed her father into the woods surrounding her family's home. She followed him thinking he was hiding her birthday present and as a result, her father, a seemingly mild mannered deacon, was found out to be a serial killer and was subsequently arrested. The arrest tore Naomi's childhood apart and as an adult she sought privacy and control in the Pacific Northwest. A commercial photographer by trade she starts to put down roots in a behemoth of a house that needs large scale rehabilitation. In hiring the construction team, Naomi meets Xander Keaton, a mechanic and musician, who tries to break through her (understandable) emotional walls.
The book was engaging and the characterizations and dialogue kept it humming along at a brisk pace. The setting of the town came off as homey and interesting with just enough background characters to allow for the feeling of world building and the ability to care about the larger community. Naomi is smart and tough and her interactions with Xander reflect people who are growing and trying. When problems occur, they talk out situations. I've read too many "big misunderstanding" books recently so this was nice to see. The mystery and suspense element is a little lacking, as the big mystery was a little easy to figure out. But overall the book was interesting read and meets my "I would pick it up again on a rainy afternoon" test.
The book was engaging and the characterizations and dialogue kept it humming along at a brisk pace. The setting of the town came off as homey and interesting with just enough background characters to allow for the feeling of world building and the ability to care about the larger community. Naomi is smart and tough and her interactions with Xander reflect people who are growing and trying. When problems occur, they talk out situations. I've read too many "big misunderstanding" books recently so this was nice to see. The mystery and suspense element is a little lacking, as the big mystery was a little easy to figure out. But overall the book was interesting read and meets my "I would pick it up again on a rainy afternoon" test.
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
dark
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Diverse cast of characters:
No
I’m not one for 5-star reviews, but I absolutely could not put this down. Crime thriller + romance + house renovation, what more could a girl want? Sign me up for more Nora Roberts.
dark
medium-paced
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Fast-paced, switch-yer-brain-off read. Loathed the male love interest, who is arrogant with a tendency to manhandle the female protagonist. She may have liked it, I did not.
Also, the main character is a professional photographer who makes a living, a good one, from taking what sound like incredibly cheesy pix & flogging them online. Every description of a sunrise or similar photograph evoked those corny backdrops to insta inspirational quotes.
Also, there's a serial killer plot & I copped halfway through who the killer was.
Kept me turning the pages, nonetheless.
Also, the main character is a professional photographer who makes a living, a good one, from taking what sound like incredibly cheesy pix & flogging them online. Every description of a sunrise or similar photograph evoked those corny backdrops to insta inspirational quotes.
Also, there's a serial killer plot & I copped halfway through who the killer was.
Kept me turning the pages, nonetheless.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Suicide, Death of parent
This book grabbed me from the very beginning with an page-turner of an intro. Then it sloooowed down and dragged....To the point that I fast forwarded to the last few chapters and was very unimpressed by the ending. I had such high hopes for this one.