Scan barcode
jengirlreads's review against another edition
3.0
This was really more like 2.5, but I like Lisa Kleypas in general, so I'll round up. Her historical books remain more to my liking, although I liked Dream Lake more than I expected.
alandd's review against another edition
3.0
I'm not sure about this, and I must say I'm very disappointed. I was waiting MUCH MORE from this book. I'll talk about it later...
desiree_mcl's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars.
4 stars for the story. 2.5 stars for the romance.
As always I was sucked right into the story. Lisa Kleypas is fantastic at keeping me engaged and making me want to turn the page. While the story kept me interested, the actual romance was luke warm at best.
Justine is the owner (or one of the owners) of a bed and breakfast. Justine is also a natural born witch who wants a normal life or as normal as she can have being a witch. Jason Black is rich, a well known video game designer, and he doesn't have a soul but he knows what he wants and he'll stop at nothing to get it.
Justine discovers that there has been a spell/curse placed upon her and she does a spell to get rid of it. She's tired of being lonely and the spell is keeping her alone.
Now Jason is staying at the bed and breakfast for a deal with Alex that was mentioned in the previous book Dream Lake. However there is something else that brings Jason to Friday Harbor, Justine's spellbook.
This should be a hot, spellbinding, and magical romance. Jason and Justine's chemistry should have been flying off the page but I didn't feel much in the way of sparks. Jason liked Justine almost immediately, Justine liked him too fairly quickly. The only two problems they seemed to have was the curse on men who witches fall in love with and the fact that Jason was initially there to steal/borrow her spellbook.
Which is another thing that I had some issue with, Jason didn't seem all that sorry that he stole something precious to Justine. Yes it was shown that he didn't let the book out of his sight but there wasn't enough or clear enough remorse for me. And lastly although Jason was a bit possessive and protective I never got that feeling that he was in love with Justine. He said he was but I never got that feeling. Which is so sad because LK can and has many times before taken me on wonderful journey's of adventure, romance, and love but here it was rather tepid.
I was rather surprised about the massive amount of witches and magic that was put in this novel. While we've had the mention of fairies in the first book, then we had Lucy being able to change glass into living things in book 2, and in book 3 there was a ghost. All of those I didn't mind and I enjoyed the light touches of the paranormal but in Crystal Cove it was just a bit too much. I love paranormal romance but here it seemed like too much, it was just a touch here and there it was saturated with it.
Crystal Cove is a good read. The plot is good and I liked the characters but the lack of chemistry and romantic moments made me lower the rating a bit.
4 stars for the story. 2.5 stars for the romance.
As always I was sucked right into the story. Lisa Kleypas is fantastic at keeping me engaged and making me want to turn the page. While the story kept me interested, the actual romance was luke warm at best.
Justine is the owner (or one of the owners) of a bed and breakfast. Justine is also a natural born witch who wants a normal life or as normal as she can have being a witch. Jason Black is rich, a well known video game designer, and he doesn't have a soul but he knows what he wants and he'll stop at nothing to get it.
Justine discovers that there has been a spell/curse placed upon her and she does a spell to get rid of it. She's tired of being lonely and the spell is keeping her alone.
Now Jason is staying at the bed and breakfast for a deal with Alex that was mentioned in the previous book Dream Lake. However there is something else that brings Jason to Friday Harbor, Justine's spellbook.
This should be a hot, spellbinding, and magical romance. Jason and Justine's chemistry should have been flying off the page but I didn't feel much in the way of sparks. Jason liked Justine almost immediately, Justine liked him too fairly quickly. The only two problems they seemed to have was the curse on men who witches fall in love with and the fact that Jason was initially there to steal/borrow her spellbook.
Which is another thing that I had some issue with, Jason didn't seem all that sorry that he stole something precious to Justine. Yes it was shown that he didn't let the book out of his sight but there wasn't enough or clear enough remorse for me. And lastly although Jason was a bit possessive and protective I never got that feeling that he was in love with Justine. He said he was but I never got that feeling. Which is so sad because LK can and has many times before taken me on wonderful journey's of adventure, romance, and love but here it was rather tepid.
I was rather surprised about the massive amount of witches and magic that was put in this novel. While we've had the mention of fairies in the first book, then we had Lucy being able to change glass into living things in book 2, and in book 3 there was a ghost. All of those I didn't mind and I enjoyed the light touches of the paranormal but in Crystal Cove it was just a bit too much. I love paranormal romance but here it seemed like too much, it was just a touch here and there it was saturated with it.
Crystal Cove is a good read. The plot is good and I liked the characters but the lack of chemistry and romantic moments made me lower the rating a bit.
joyousreads132's review against another edition
4.0
This past weekend, I decided to challenge myself by picking a random shelf and reading the books that are currently on it. Two books in and things are looking hopeful. Then I went to the bookstore and saw this. I started reading it on our way home from the bookstore; I read until one in the morning. The next day, I decided to skip my Sunday shift at my other job because I needed to finish this. It was that engrossing. I loved every single moment of this romantic, mystical novel.
You should know by now, that while I'm a romantic reader at first, I don't set out to buy romance books. I like the romance in the paranormal; the romance in a dystopian setting, even the romance in a good mystery novel. But I don't buy romance because of the romance. Lisa Kleypas, though is an exception to this rule. And while I'm not a fan of her historical work, her Friday Harbour is an auto-buy. The best thing about this series, is that you won't have to read the rest of them to enjoy the latest. The novels can stand on their own and you won't have to give yourself an aneurysm trying to remember what had happened in the previous book.
Anyway, this is Justine's story; a witch who gave up the chance to become a part of a high magick coven because she wanted a steady, normal life. Not at all like the nomadic one her mother led when she was a child. These days, Justine's quiet life is becoming a bit lonely. So much so that she decided to cast a spell to find love. Laugh all you want but you can't know the kind of desperation that would drive a woman to resort to such an act. While consulting her Triodecad, she finds out that someone had put a curse on her. A curse that she may never find true love (I can hear you snickering in the background). Anyway, long story short, she broke the curse but it created a domino effect that could endanger her life and the man who was to end her lonely existence.
Classic, classic Kleypas. It was sweet, romantic, funny. It had a half-Japanese hero who had all the intense charisma characteristic of all her heroes. He's got that quiet explosiveness that you can sometimes find in a dominant character. And yet, for all his intensity and need to order everyone around him, he's so easily overcome by one feisty heroine.
This was such a fantastic instalment that just made me more anxious to read the next book. Lisa Kleypas can spin tales without being redundant. Each book will make you fall in love with the setting and its characters. If you're looking to read a true-blue adult romance, you should add these books to your list, kids.
You should know by now, that while I'm a romantic reader at first, I don't set out to buy romance books. I like the romance in the paranormal; the romance in a dystopian setting, even the romance in a good mystery novel. But I don't buy romance because of the romance. Lisa Kleypas, though is an exception to this rule. And while I'm not a fan of her historical work, her Friday Harbour is an auto-buy. The best thing about this series, is that you won't have to read the rest of them to enjoy the latest. The novels can stand on their own and you won't have to give yourself an aneurysm trying to remember what had happened in the previous book.
Anyway, this is Justine's story; a witch who gave up the chance to become a part of a high magick coven because she wanted a steady, normal life. Not at all like the nomadic one her mother led when she was a child. These days, Justine's quiet life is becoming a bit lonely. So much so that she decided to cast a spell to find love. Laugh all you want but you can't know the kind of desperation that would drive a woman to resort to such an act. While consulting her Triodecad, she finds out that someone had put a curse on her. A curse that she may never find true love (I can hear you snickering in the background). Anyway, long story short, she broke the curse but it created a domino effect that could endanger her life and the man who was to end her lonely existence.
Classic, classic Kleypas. It was sweet, romantic, funny. It had a half-Japanese hero who had all the intense charisma characteristic of all her heroes. He's got that quiet explosiveness that you can sometimes find in a dominant character. And yet, for all his intensity and need to order everyone around him, he's so easily overcome by one feisty heroine.
This was such a fantastic instalment that just made me more anxious to read the next book. Lisa Kleypas can spin tales without being redundant. Each book will make you fall in love with the setting and its characters. If you're looking to read a true-blue adult romance, you should add these books to your list, kids.
jordan1978's review
emotional
hopeful
medium-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? No
4.0
cheesehead_reader's review against another edition
2.0
Lisa Kleypas is one of my favorite authors and an automatic buy for me.... so 2 stars? Yes, first if you hover over the stars, two stars is "it was ok"... and that's exactly how I felt about this one. I had a number of issues with it. First, the pace was way too fast... if you hadn't read the first books in the Friday Harbor series, you would barely know anything about Justine by reading this book. The character development on both of the main characters is weak. I don't like when romance stories move too slow but holey moley, this one moves at warp speed from meeting to strip truth or dare to sex to happily ever after. How am I supposed to believe that these two belong together?
Which leads me to my biggest issue with their story. Jason steals something very important... oops, sorry, "borrows" something. Justine is pissed off and then in her next breath says oh well and forgives him so they can move on. It all was so improbable to me... I couldn't stand it. Jason is a selfish bastard who expects to get everything he wants no matter the cost. I just don't see them lasting.
I believe there is another book coming in this series but I don't know who the couple is and at this point frankly, I don't care.
Which leads me to my biggest issue with their story. Jason steals something very important... oops, sorry, "borrows" something. Justine is pissed off and then in her next breath says oh well and forgives him so they can move on. It all was so improbable to me... I couldn't stand it. Jason is a selfish bastard who expects to get everything he wants no matter the cost. I just don't see them lasting.
I believe there is another book coming in this series but I don't know who the couple is and at this point frankly, I don't care.
keepcalmandcurl86's review against another edition
2.0
This was an alright story. I gave it a try because it was a new author featured at the library. The plotline was a little off for me - the background of the main character wasn't really well explained. I understood that she was a witch, but it never went into detail about her relationship with her family, which I think would have made me understand her a bit more. There was a lot more sex than I was expecting (and I don't mind books with sex in them, but it just seemed to take over the plot and story). I don't know if I'll read more of hers. This just wasn't what I was expecting.
kimberly_b's review against another edition
3.0
This was my last favorite of the Friday Harbor series. I just didn't feel the chemistry between the main characters. Overall, I still liked the book though.
laurenjodi's review against another edition
3.0
Crystal Cove
3 Stars
Crystal Cove reminds me of the film Practical Magic only not nearly as entertaining or satisfying. It seems to have all the right ingredients but simply falls flat.
Justine starts out as a feisty, take no prisoners heroine but turns into a submissive doormat willing to forgive all transgressions merely because she has the hots for Jason. She is also the worst witch I've ever encountered.
Jason has potential as a tortured hero and his description as "a man without a soul" is very intriguing. Unfortunately, his character is underdeveloped and he ends up coming across as your typical manipulative jerk turned redeemed lover with no real explanation for his transformation other than the "love at first sight" trope, which is completely inconsistent with his characterization.
The elements of magical realism from the previous installments turn into fully fledged paranormal traits and the descriptions of magical potions, rituals and spells is excessive and adds little to the romance.
Zoe and Alex from book #3 have small cameo appearances but the other characters from the series are nowhere to be seen, which is unfortunate, as the sense of family and closeness is missing. The Fiveash family of witches almost compensate for this but it is too little, too late.
Overall, this latest installment in Lisa Kleypas's Friday Harbor series is a disappointment and emphasizes the fact that Kleypas foray into magical realism/paranormal romance is not all that successful. Perhaps she should return to the tried and true genre of historical romance.
3 Stars
Crystal Cove reminds me of the film Practical Magic only not nearly as entertaining or satisfying. It seems to have all the right ingredients but simply falls flat.
Justine starts out as a feisty, take no prisoners heroine but turns into a submissive doormat willing to forgive all transgressions merely because she has the hots for Jason. She is also the worst witch I've ever encountered.
Jason has potential as a tortured hero and his description as "a man without a soul" is very intriguing. Unfortunately, his character is underdeveloped and he ends up coming across as your typical manipulative jerk turned redeemed lover with no real explanation for his transformation other than the "love at first sight" trope, which is completely inconsistent with his characterization.
The elements of magical realism from the previous installments turn into fully fledged paranormal traits and the descriptions of magical potions, rituals and spells is excessive and adds little to the romance.
Zoe and Alex from book #3 have small cameo appearances but the other characters from the series are nowhere to be seen, which is unfortunate, as the sense of family and closeness is missing. The Fiveash family of witches almost compensate for this but it is too little, too late.
Overall, this latest installment in Lisa Kleypas's Friday Harbor series is a disappointment and emphasizes the fact that Kleypas foray into magical realism/paranormal romance is not all that successful. Perhaps she should return to the tried and true genre of historical romance.