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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
First, you should know that this book is REALLY long. Second, you should know it's worth it. I'm still conflicted over the books, especially the characters, so I'm not sure how effective this review will be. I'm probably going to end up just posting some random thoughts.
Just in case...
Ashley made Max perfect - like, perfect, perfect - which I wondered about (seriously, really perfect) until I realized that she wasn't going to create any major flaws in his relationship with Anna, save the fact that she's dead. This is the issue I struggled with the most. I think it would be really hard to have a relationship with a widower when the relationship he had with his wife was really good, and he, by his own admission, would have been happy to be with her forever. Maybe it's just my age/immaturity shining through, but I found this a difficult pill to swallow on Nina's behalf.
Nina's reaction to the situations she's placed in/puts herself in is pretty much why this book got 5 stars from me. The surrounding plot, etc. is interesting and engaging, don't get me wrong, but Nina is an awesome heroine, and her relationship with Max is fun, frustrating, sweet, and sexy.
I'm SO exhausted today cause I stayed up till 1 in the morning finishing this, but it was worth it :) :) :)
PS am I the only one who finds it weirdly WEIRDLY hot, the way all of Ashley's leading men talk?? So hot... :D
Just in case...
Spoiler
Ashley made Max perfect - like, perfect, perfect - which I wondered about (seriously, really perfect) until I realized that she wasn't going to create any major flaws in his relationship with Anna, save the fact that she's dead. This is the issue I struggled with the most. I think it would be really hard to have a relationship with a widower when the relationship he had with his wife was really good, and he, by his own admission, would have been happy to be with her forever. Maybe it's just my age/immaturity shining through, but I found this a difficult pill to swallow on Nina's behalf.
Nina's reaction to the situations she's placed in/puts herself in is pretty much why this book got 5 stars from me. The surrounding plot, etc. is interesting and engaging, don't get me wrong, but Nina is an awesome heroine, and her relationship with Max is fun, frustrating, sweet, and sexy.
I'm SO exhausted today cause I stayed up till 1 in the morning finishing this, but it was worth it :) :) :)
PS am I the only one who finds it weirdly WEIRDLY hot, the way all of Ashley's leading men talk?? So hot... :D
Not for me
This book was just not for me. Gave it 2 stars instead of 1 simply because I finished it and I liked the setting.
First expect all the situations to be completely over the top. There is murder, rape, suicide attempts, kidnapping, abuse, cheating, woman getting beaten up described in detail, etc. It’s so over the top you can’t help but cringe or roll your eyes.
Second, and the biggest point for me, what literally made me rage at this book for a good hour and almost stop reading it, is the extremely unhealthy relationship between Nina and Max. Max was ALWAYS right, every single argument these two had was won by Max, even when he was wrong! This makes Nina seem like a weak minded female that lets others walk all over her. Half the time he would just steamroll her, just talk all over her while she kept calling his name trying to get a word in (this happens MULTIPLE times). Max is overbearing, domineering, sexist, you name it. This guy seems to be stuck in the 60s. I bet she is trying to portrait a strong mountain man that will take care of his woman, but I am pretty sure we all left the caves a while back and have decided we want to be equal partners at this thing called life, not just the little ladies at home popping children and taking care of the men. This angered me so much, this is literature directed at women, why would a woman want to be treated this way? I just can’t deal.
The only thing I liked was the small town life and the peripheral characters, and even that was annoying at times since the first 80% of the book Max is portrayed as a yes man and they are constantly, to the point of being ridiculous, interrupted by townsfolk.
Anyways if you stuck with this review this far here is a quick summary of the book:
Nina is an American living in England that has decided to take a break from her fiancé (who is a cold, disinterested jerk) before she goes ahead and finalizes wedding plans. She goes to Colorado for vacation. She arrives in a blizzard to find her rental occupied by the owner. Immediately falls sick and he takes care of her. Once she is better Max takes her keys and forces her to stay (cringey) because he likes her (kidnapey?). Then she starts getting involved with all the drama happening in the town and all the different townspeople. They start developing feelings for each other, but there are several things in their way before they can have their happily ever after.
I will not continue reading this series. Probably won’t be reading anything else by this author. Just not my thing.
This book was just not for me. Gave it 2 stars instead of 1 simply because I finished it and I liked the setting.
First expect all the situations to be completely over the top. There is murder, rape, suicide attempts, kidnapping, abuse, cheating, woman getting beaten up described in detail, etc. It’s so over the top you can’t help but cringe or roll your eyes.
Second, and the biggest point for me, what literally made me rage at this book for a good hour and almost stop reading it, is the extremely unhealthy relationship between Nina and Max. Max was ALWAYS right, every single argument these two had was won by Max, even when he was wrong! This makes Nina seem like a weak minded female that lets others walk all over her. Half the time he would just steamroll her, just talk all over her while she kept calling his name trying to get a word in (this happens MULTIPLE times). Max is overbearing, domineering, sexist, you name it. This guy seems to be stuck in the 60s. I bet she is trying to portrait a strong mountain man that will take care of his woman, but I am pretty sure we all left the caves a while back and have decided we want to be equal partners at this thing called life, not just the little ladies at home popping children and taking care of the men. This angered me so much, this is literature directed at women, why would a woman want to be treated this way? I just can’t deal.
The only thing I liked was the small town life and the peripheral characters, and even that was annoying at times since the first 80% of the book Max is portrayed as a yes man and they are constantly, to the point of being ridiculous, interrupted by townsfolk.
Anyways if you stuck with this review this far here is a quick summary of the book:
Nina is an American living in England that has decided to take a break from her fiancé (who is a cold, disinterested jerk) before she goes ahead and finalizes wedding plans. She goes to Colorado for vacation. She arrives in a blizzard to find her rental occupied by the owner. Immediately falls sick and he takes care of her. Once she is better Max takes her keys and forces her to stay (cringey) because he likes her (kidnapey?). Then she starts getting involved with all the drama happening in the town and all the different townspeople. They start developing feelings for each other, but there are several things in their way before they can have their happily ever after.
I will not continue reading this series. Probably won’t be reading anything else by this author. Just not my thing.
One of my favorite literary missions is to discover romances that break the mold. This one is at the top. It's long; has a plot deepened by mystery and intrigue; has mature main characters; and develops several surrounding townspeople so vividly that the story becomes more about the daily doings of the cast than the two protagonists. Everyone comes alive. They're fun to spend time with.
The audio version of this book was spectacular - it came alive even more with the perfect accents and intonation. I love every time Nina gets called "duchess." Adorable.
The audio version of this book was spectacular - it came alive even more with the perfect accents and intonation. I love every time Nina gets called "duchess." Adorable.
The dialogue is so repetitive. And, her insistence at being called Ms. instead of Miss was super annoying. I think the narrator of the audiobook made it worse.
This book was such a good read. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved the banter between Nina and Max...the story tugged on my heart strings a little. This may be the first time I have read one of Kristen Ashley's books, but it will definitely not be the last.
Initially read ebook 7-12-2015
Re-read via ebook and audio book 4/21/2016
Re-read via audiobook and ebook 10/10/2016
After reading KA's last release in this series Bounty I felt compelled to do a read re-read of this series. I really love this series and enjoyed the book the second time just as much as the first.
Re-read via ebook and audio book 4/21/2016
Re-read via audiobook and ebook 10/10/2016
After reading KA's last release in this series Bounty I felt compelled to do a read re-read of this series. I really love this series and enjoyed the book the second time just as much as the first.
Wow! What a great book! Definitely my favorite Kristen Ashley book so far!
dark
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes