Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
2.5 rounded to 3– just not my favorite CK book. Little boring and didn’t really feel like much happened
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book did its job. It was entertaining. The suspense wasn’t very suspenseful. It didn’t really connect to the main characters.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Stalking
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail
Some spice, but definitely not the most explicit I’ve read. Not sure how I felt about the suspense or the way things worked out, but overall a good story.
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Great characters, missing passion
The first in the highly anticipated Haven Brothers series. I'll start by saying that Josiah absolutely lives up to his moniker of being a lumbersnack! He's every bit the growly, grumpy, gruff mountain man he's billed as. And I adored him. He's written so well, and he's just as simple and to the point in his dialogue as he is in his head and it was really really well done.
Audrey is adorable. She's relatable and sweet, with enough independence to not be a doormat, but still kind and easily swayed by her mother. Which made her feel very real and genuine.
Max was so cute! Sometimes pets in books can get annoying, and he never did. His derpy, enthusiastic, good boy was perfect.
All that being said, there were some aspects that really let me down.
First, the spice. If you're looking for the level of spice you enjoyed with the Bailey brothers, you won't find it here. The intimate scenes were so toned down and brief, I would have preferred closed door. What was on the page lacked heat, connection, and true intimacy. I have no problem with a sweet romance, or fade to black, but only when I know that's what I'm getting ahead of time. Based on the spice in the Bailey novels, this was such a let down. For me, it made me think Josiah wasn't a good lover.
Second, the mystery. Much of the book revolves around Audrey having a stalker. And I know this is more a cozy mystery and not a suspense thriller, but I figured out who the stalker was at around 18% and their motive at 30% in. Which just made me annoyed with the attempts at deflection, or lack there of. What I anticipated happening was a lot more interesting and suspenseful than what ended up happening.
Overall, Claire Kingsley fans will enjoy the first in this new series. It still has the same level of excellent prose and conversational, relatable writing with great characters. But for those of us who love the passion and way two lovers get caught up in one another, this didn't hit the mark.
The first in the highly anticipated Haven Brothers series. I'll start by saying that Josiah absolutely lives up to his moniker of being a lumbersnack! He's every bit the growly, grumpy, gruff mountain man he's billed as. And I adored him. He's written so well, and he's just as simple and to the point in his dialogue as he is in his head and it was really really well done.
Audrey is adorable. She's relatable and sweet, with enough independence to not be a doormat, but still kind and easily swayed by her mother. Which made her feel very real and genuine.
Max was so cute! Sometimes pets in books can get annoying, and he never did. His derpy, enthusiastic, good boy was perfect.
All that being said, there were some aspects that really let me down.
First, the spice. If you're looking for the level of spice you enjoyed with the Bailey brothers, you won't find it here. The intimate scenes were so toned down and brief, I would have preferred closed door. What was on the page lacked heat, connection, and true intimacy. I have no problem with a sweet romance, or fade to black, but only when I know that's what I'm getting ahead of time. Based on the spice in the Bailey novels, this was such a let down. For me, it made me think Josiah wasn't a good lover.
Second, the mystery. Much of the book revolves around Audrey having a stalker. And I know this is more a cozy mystery and not a suspense thriller, but I figured out who the stalker was at around 18% and their motive at 30% in. Which just made me annoyed with the attempts at deflection, or lack there of. What I anticipated happening was a lot more interesting and suspenseful than what ended up happening.
Overall, Claire Kingsley fans will enjoy the first in this new series. It still has the same level of excellent prose and conversational, relatable writing with great characters. But for those of us who love the passion and way two lovers get caught up in one another, this didn't hit the mark.