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3.42 AVERAGE
3.42 AVERAGE
1.75 ⭐️
Our fmc goes back to dipshit mmc in one night after reciting all these big wonderful speeches about empowerment. The end.
.75 star is honestly for the setting, that’s all
Our fmc goes back to dipshit mmc in one night after reciting all these big wonderful speeches about empowerment. The end.
.75 star is honestly for the setting, that’s all
I am reading another book that seems simple and direct, but is actually not that, and I found myself after a tough day not wanting to sink into a book that required much of me. I wanted to escape and be entertained. When I am in that sort of mood romance always works, and the romances of Tessa Dare are especially restorative and transporting. I hopped onto Hoopla, and looked at what Tessa Dare was available, and was thrilled when this popped up, an audiobook novella rather than a full length novel seemed ideal.
This book had a pleasing beginning and I liked both main characters. Christian's story was pretty implausible, but I don't look for a boatload of verisimilitude from my romance reads., and he was smart and sexy. Also, the audiobook reader was Mary Jane Wells, and she is a goddess whose voice and understanding of the characters just pulls me in -- she is a spectacular reader and a really great voice actress. So, there was a lot about this novella that was pleasing. The problem was that this should not have been a novella but rather a novel. A novella is the length it is and tells a story perfectly at that length. I recently read another novella, Ted Chiang's Story of Your Life, and was blown away by its perfection -- not a word wasted and not another word needed. That was not the case here. There was a great story to be told here, and it felt lazy not to tell it. There were enormous holes and the author had not set us up to fill them in. This made aspects of the book really unsatisfying. The book did not give us enough backstory on the characters' relationship prior to the night before he disappears to help the reader connect, and not enough storyline about the feelings Violet experienced as she waited to be reconciled at the end. It also doesn't reveal how Violet would be able to explain her chosen future to her family and freinds so she could stay connected to loved ones. I often read reviews that say a book really should have been an article or short story rather than a full length book. I am saying the opposite here. Great set up, so much promise, but it needed more story. Violet, Christian and I all deserved more.
This book had a pleasing beginning and I liked both main characters. Christian's story was pretty implausible, but I don't look for a boatload of verisimilitude from my romance reads., and he was smart and sexy. Also, the audiobook reader was Mary Jane Wells, and she is a goddess whose voice and understanding of the characters just pulls me in -- she is a spectacular reader and a really great voice actress. So, there was a lot about this novella that was pleasing. The problem was that this should not have been a novella but rather a novel. A novella is the length it is and tells a story perfectly at that length. I recently read another novella, Ted Chiang's Story of Your Life, and was blown away by its perfection -- not a word wasted and not another word needed. That was not the case here. There was a great story to be told here, and it felt lazy not to tell it. There were enormous holes and the author had not set us up to fill them in. This made aspects of the book really unsatisfying. The book did not give us enough backstory on the characters' relationship prior to the night before he disappears to help the reader connect, and not enough storyline about the feelings Violet experienced as she waited to be reconciled at the end. It also doesn't reveal how Violet would be able to explain her chosen future to her family and freinds so she could stay connected to loved ones. I often read reviews that say a book really should have been an article or short story rather than a full length book. I am saying the opposite here. Great set up, so much promise, but it needed more story. Violet, Christian and I all deserved more.
I loved the heroine, but it seemed very gullible of her to fall for what seemed like an elaborate ploy to get her in bed. Luckily it's romance so you know nothing bad will happen but the situation felt much more like an opening to a noir crime novel than a romance. I like the Spindle Cove series but I'd suggest steering clear of this one. 2.5 stars just cuz it's Tessa Dare.
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Christmas novella at its best. A mini adventure second chance.
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Quick, fun, dramatic novella. Recommended for Spindle Cove fans.
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No