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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
And as I fell asleep, warm and safe in his arms, I fell a little bit in love with Josiah Haven.
I was very much looking forward to the Haven brothers series - so much so that I picked up this book to read even though there is no release date set for book 2. I have loved Claire Kingsley's other books - especially the Bailey Brothers series - but this one just didn't hit the mark for me. I never got to the point of wanting to DNF but this was billed as romantic suspense and as someone who has read a lot in this genre, it disappointed me that I was able to pick the "baddie" from their first appearance on page. I kept hoping I was wrong but I wasn't and so there was no shock or reveal for me - it was just confirmation. Couple that with the lack of small town / family character development and this just didn't work for me. I could handle the lack of spice (Claire mentioned in her author group that this is in part due to losing her husband last year - writing those scenes is just that much harder) but I just couldn't handle the other negatives.
I won't be picking up the other Haven Brothers books as they release - which is a shame. Perhaps one day I'll give them a try but life is too short to read unsatisfactory books.
I was very much looking forward to the Haven brothers series - so much so that I picked up this book to read even though there is no release date set for book 2. I have loved Claire Kingsley's other books - especially the Bailey Brothers series - but this one just didn't hit the mark for me. I never got to the point of wanting to DNF but this was billed as romantic suspense and as someone who has read a lot in this genre, it disappointed me that I was able to pick the "baddie" from their first appearance on page. I kept hoping I was wrong but I wasn't and so there was no shock or reveal for me - it was just confirmation. Couple that with the lack of small town / family character development and this just didn't work for me. I could handle the lack of spice (Claire mentioned in her author group that this is in part due to losing her husband last year - writing those scenes is just that much harder) but I just couldn't handle the other negatives.
I won't be picking up the other Haven Brothers books as they release - which is a shame. Perhaps one day I'll give them a try but life is too short to read unsatisfactory books.
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Not my favorite, but still excited for the seriesโฆ
I jump at every Claire Kingsley book that comes out - and while this one wasn't my favorite, I am definitely continuing the series.
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ: Obsession Falls by Claire Kingsley, the first in her new Haven Brothers series.
๐๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ: Romantic suspense, grumpy/sunshine, small town romance, touch her and die.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Josiah Haven has been burned in the past, so he's pretty much keeping to himself nowadays. But that's before he meets Aubrey, who moves in to one of his rental properties and immediately gets his attention. But Aubrey's got a stalker, and she's only in Tilikum short term, so he knows he shouldn't get attached.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Claire Kingsley is the queen (at least to me) of character series. I've read her entire backlist, and I am so ready to devour this new Haven brothers series.
The first book, though, landed a bit flat. It wasn't bad by any means, but it just wasn't well balanced. The suspense and small town aspects overtook the romance. There wasn't the CK signature spice I am used to - and quote often. The suspense portion ended in a little bit of a cheesy way.
It wasn't a bad read - I still got through it in less than a day. It was nice to go back to Tilikum and see the cameos of my favorite couples. I just wasn't entirely pumped when I put it down. And that's ok - sometimes you just run into a dud. But as I've said, I am still very much going to continue this series. There sure are a lot of Haven brothers to love.
๐๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 3/5 โญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 2.5/5 ๐ถ๐ถ
๐๏ธ on KU
I jump at every Claire Kingsley book that comes out - and while this one wasn't my favorite, I am definitely continuing the series.
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ: Obsession Falls by Claire Kingsley, the first in her new Haven Brothers series.
๐๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ: Romantic suspense, grumpy/sunshine, small town romance, touch her and die.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Josiah Haven has been burned in the past, so he's pretty much keeping to himself nowadays. But that's before he meets Aubrey, who moves in to one of his rental properties and immediately gets his attention. But Aubrey's got a stalker, and she's only in Tilikum short term, so he knows he shouldn't get attached.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Claire Kingsley is the queen (at least to me) of character series. I've read her entire backlist, and I am so ready to devour this new Haven brothers series.
The first book, though, landed a bit flat. It wasn't bad by any means, but it just wasn't well balanced. The suspense and small town aspects overtook the romance. There wasn't the CK signature spice I am used to - and quote often. The suspense portion ended in a little bit of a cheesy way.
It wasn't a bad read - I still got through it in less than a day. It was nice to go back to Tilikum and see the cameos of my favorite couples. I just wasn't entirely pumped when I put it down. And that's ok - sometimes you just run into a dud. But as I've said, I am still very much going to continue this series. There sure are a lot of Haven brothers to love.
๐๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 3/5 โญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 2.5/5 ๐ถ๐ถ
๐๏ธ on KU
I was so excited to be back in Tilikum- anyone who knows me knows how much I LOVED Bailey brothers, beginning to end! The nostalgia was so real- I liked seeing some from Asher and a bit of Anika, the squirrels, a cameo by Harvey, and places we are familiar with.
This story was sweet, with a touch of suspense, and little bits of humor. Josiah was your typical grumpy MC in flannel and Audrey was a funny, sweet FMC with the cutest pup around.
I have to be honest though- the book did not live up to a lot of my expectations, which was sad for me as a reader.
It for sure wasnโt a spicy book. This was not what I had come to know from this author in regards to spice- I would consider this a fade to black book or if you donโt like that term- then just a zero spice book, which truly was so disappointing knowing what this author is capable of, and being told it was the same feels of Bailey brothers, including spice. It upsets me that this author was not honest with her readers at all.
I also was bummed to not have any mystery or storyline brought up that will prove to be carried out through the series - like we had with Miles Family and Bailey Brothers. I also wish we had had more from the family itself- I donโt feel like we got a lot of them or their relationships. And there seemed to missing the depth and emotion for the characters I know Claire can do - both Josiah and Audrey felt a bit flat for me overall.
Bummed this wasnโt to the level of this authors past series.
This story was sweet, with a touch of suspense, and little bits of humor. Josiah was your typical grumpy MC in flannel and Audrey was a funny, sweet FMC with the cutest pup around.
I have to be honest though- the book did not live up to a lot of my expectations, which was sad for me as a reader.
It for sure wasnโt a spicy book. This was not what I had come to know from this author in regards to spice- I would consider this a fade to black book or if you donโt like that term- then just a zero spice book, which truly was so disappointing knowing what this author is capable of, and being told it was the same feels of Bailey brothers, including spice. It upsets me that this author was not honest with her readers at all.
I also was bummed to not have any mystery or storyline brought up that will prove to be carried out through the series - like we had with Miles Family and Bailey Brothers. I also wish we had had more from the family itself- I donโt feel like we got a lot of them or their relationships. And there seemed to missing the depth and emotion for the characters I know Claire can do - both Josiah and Audrey felt a bit flat for me overall.
Bummed this wasnโt to the level of this authors past series.
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
It was okay, I expected something different and I enjoyed it. Although the scenes where they ended up in bed were so bland they didn't have to be written at all. I kinda liked the town and the people, the mendling aunt. I wish we could have seen a little bit more of the other bothers because now I'm not tempted to read the books about them.
I really enjoyed this, i haven't read that much romantic suspense but this was so enjoyable and kept me guessing who it could be for a while and it was a curveball I didn't see coming but it was so good
I love how natural and easy Josiah and Audrey's relationship was and that there wasn't any big drama or angst with it
I really enjoyed going back to Tilkium and seeing it years later through a different set of eyes
Looking forward to moved of the Haven brothers and reading more if Claire's work
- romantic suspense
- small town
- low spice
- opposites attract
I love how natural and easy Josiah and Audrey's relationship was and that there wasn't any big drama or angst with it
I really enjoyed going back to Tilkium and seeing it years later through a different set of eyes
Looking forward to moved of the Haven brothers and reading more if Claire's work
- romantic suspense
- small town
- low spice
- opposites attract
this is my very first Claire Kingsley book! I know I'm super late to the game but I cant wait to go back and binge Claire's backlist. I loved the narration of this book. this audiobook was super unique for me since there was a third voice- which was the voice of the stalker. I thought it was honestly really cool that you got to hear his inner monologue with a different voice and he also had a timeline of what the dates were. like if it were a journal entry. I loved Claire's style with how she wrote their banter for the grumpy x sunshine. I loved seeing Josiah slowly let down his walls and let Audrey in. him being so protective of her made my heart melt. there was so much chemistry between them. I love how she wasn't supposed to become his problem, but he easily started to claim her as his. I also LOVED the whole vibe of this small town of Tilikum. the meddling aunt also gave me some fun laughs! we love a man who is grumpy on the outside and a cinnamon roll on the inside. and lets not forget the plot twist!!!! I loved this as my first book by Claire- and I cannot wait to go back and read more!
4.5 stars
tropes:
- small town
- romantic suspense
- grumpy x sunshine
- forced proximity
- house flipper / landlord x journalist
4.5 stars
tropes:
- small town
- romantic suspense
- grumpy x sunshine
- forced proximity
- house flipper / landlord x journalist
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
4.5 โญ๏ธ
i have to start this off by saying that claire kingsley was pretty much my introduction to small town romance, and the bailey brothers-series is one of my favorite comfort series of all time. i jumped into this with pretty high expectations because of how much i loved her other books, and i was definitely not disappointed. this book was full of the hilarious small town rumors that might be familiar to you if you've read about the bailey's, and i also loved seeing grace and asher bailey again. this was a classic grumpy/sunshine romance, and i felt like audrey and josaiah complemented each other so well.
i cannot express how much i love this town, and i'm so excited for the rest of this series! it's gonna be nice to see the haven brothers finding their happily ever afters as well.
thank you for the arc
i have to start this off by saying that claire kingsley was pretty much my introduction to small town romance, and the bailey brothers-series is one of my favorite comfort series of all time. i jumped into this with pretty high expectations because of how much i loved her other books, and i was definitely not disappointed. this book was full of the hilarious small town rumors that might be familiar to you if you've read about the bailey's, and i also loved seeing grace and asher bailey again. this was a classic grumpy/sunshine romance, and i felt like audrey and josaiah complemented each other so well.
i cannot express how much i love this town, and i'm so excited for the rest of this series! it's gonna be nice to see the haven brothers finding their happily ever afters as well.
thank you for the arc