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thisisabooktracker's review against another edition
2.0
Didn't live up to the hype
I don't know why this has such high reviews on Amazon. It started out slow and only got less likable. The relationships were shallow and the heroine was idiotic. Fun game: drink every time she says "Hell's bells" and enjoy your alcohol poisoning.
I don't know why this has such high reviews on Amazon. It started out slow and only got less likable. The relationships were shallow and the heroine was idiotic. Fun game: drink every time she says "Hell's bells" and enjoy your alcohol poisoning.
cowmingo's review against another edition
1.0
The male MC was awful. Over the top alpha, embarrassing and misogynistic.
aspygirlsmom_1995's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jonetta's review against another edition
4.0
Quick summary
Amelia (Mel) Bennett was abducted by a cult when she was 12-years old. Her suffering was further exacerbated by the media. Cache Calder was the photographer for the article that exploited her story, creating an indelible image of her that no one's forgotten. It's 20 years later and he and his editor are off to Alaska for a follow up interview with the reclusive subject. Cache believes he has her consent...not.
What I enjoyed
Alaska is one of those places that is both fascinating and terrifying to me. This story elevates both my fascination and fear as Helmer does a great job of bringing to life the awesome beauty and the rawness of the state. It added to the suspense and the romance. Mel's story slowly unfolded throughout the story, which normally doesn't work for me but the setup of the prologue laid the foundation perfectly. Her romance with Cache seemed to develop a bit quickly but it took a hard hit later, forcing them to take a step back that made it even better.
The mystery and suspense was very well done. I honestly didn't figure out who was after Mel until it was revealed.
The narration
While the narrator enunciated and paced the story flawlessly, her tone wasn't the best for the suspenseful aspects. She was a bit too sweet and upbeat for the tense moments. Otherwise, she was fine.
The bottom line
I enjoyed this story, especially it's Alaskan setting. I'm looking forward to continuing the series.
(I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review)
Amelia (Mel) Bennett was abducted by a cult when she was 12-years old. Her suffering was further exacerbated by the media. Cache Calder was the photographer for the article that exploited her story, creating an indelible image of her that no one's forgotten. It's 20 years later and he and his editor are off to Alaska for a follow up interview with the reclusive subject. Cache believes he has her consent...not.
What I enjoyed
Alaska is one of those places that is both fascinating and terrifying to me. This story elevates both my fascination and fear as Helmer does a great job of bringing to life the awesome beauty and the rawness of the state. It added to the suspense and the romance. Mel's story slowly unfolded throughout the story, which normally doesn't work for me but the setup of the prologue laid the foundation perfectly. Her romance with Cache seemed to develop a bit quickly but it took a hard hit later, forcing them to take a step back that made it even better.
The mystery and suspense was very well done. I honestly didn't figure out who was after Mel until it was revealed.
The narration
While the narrator enunciated and paced the story flawlessly, her tone wasn't the best for the suspenseful aspects. She was a bit too sweet and upbeat for the tense moments. Otherwise, she was fine.
The bottom line
I enjoyed this story, especially it's Alaskan setting. I'm looking forward to continuing the series.
(I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review)
jadeshea's review against another edition
3.0
This story begins with us getting a pretty graphic and crazy Prologue. Then it sets us up for Cache a photojournalist who is being assigned a new job. The job is going to take him back to the past to see how the star of the story that made his career is turning out years later. So, he goes to Alaska to meet her.
The problem is that she doesn't really know what he does for a living, and she's keen on keeping her life private, and people away from her. She suffored something really horrible years ago, and Mel just wants to get away from it all. Hence living in Alaska with very few friends, and hardly ever speaking with her family. But when the handsome Cache comes into town he brings a whole lot of feelings, and trouble she never wanted. Along with her sister she has a whole lot of things to worry about, and is unaware of the danger lurking around every corner.
This audio book was my first to listen to. It was actually really interesting, and had me hooked from the start. The suspense was pretty good, and most of the characters were very interesting. The only thing I didn't like was the drama between the sister and Mel. I sort of wish the story had pulled more suspense and romance into it. But it was still a very good interesting read. And I've discovered that I enjoy audio books, and I do recommend this one!
The problem is that she doesn't really know what he does for a living, and she's keen on keeping her life private, and people away from her. She suffored something really horrible years ago, and Mel just wants to get away from it all. Hence living in Alaska with very few friends, and hardly ever speaking with her family. But when the handsome Cache comes into town he brings a whole lot of feelings, and trouble she never wanted. Along with her sister she has a whole lot of things to worry about, and is unaware of the danger lurking around every corner.
This audio book was my first to listen to. It was actually really interesting, and had me hooked from the start. The suspense was pretty good, and most of the characters were very interesting. The only thing I didn't like was the drama between the sister and Mel. I sort of wish the story had pulled more suspense and romance into it. But it was still a very good interesting read. And I've discovered that I enjoy audio books, and I do recommend this one!
esquiredtoread's review against another edition
2.0
DNF at 30% because I continue to be a hater.
There is a lot about the characters and writing that turned me off and it only got worse. I don't read adult romantic suspense for a POV of an annoying teenager. PLZ do not do this to me unless you have forced me to care about the kid for three books and trick me into tolerating it like Rachel Caine did.
This is available on Audible Plus though if you want to give it a chance! I'm not counting this as a book read this year though.
Moving on...
There is a lot about the characters and writing that turned me off and it only got worse. I don't read adult romantic suspense for a POV of an annoying teenager. PLZ do not do this to me unless you have forced me to care about the kid for three books and trick me into tolerating it like Rachel Caine did.
This is available on Audible Plus though if you want to give it a chance! I'm not counting this as a book read this year though.
Moving on...
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