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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Actual rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice level:
Actual rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice level:
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Rating,
Frozen Hearts: 5 ⭐️
Plot: 4.5 ⭐️
Characters: 4.75 ⭐️
🚨 Check the trigger warnings. 🚨
That ending! It had me sobbing and so many more emotions. Big shout out to the author for evoking such emotions. Read this in under twenty four hours, I could not put it down.
I highly enjoyed the setting of this book. The description of locations and objects is perfect. It wasn’t too much nor was it too little, a perfect balance. The flashbacks are great as well!
There are four different POV, all done extremely well. Each has their own voice. I liked how slow the author brought in all of the main male characters. The writing is addictive! The dialogue is great too.
The male characters in this book give me whiplash.
Logan character was the one character the author wanted the reader to root for, oh I knew there was a catch. Logan character was too good to be true. He is a yes man, even when it’s wrong on sooo many different levels. But he’s like a golden retriever, so you can’t stay mad at him. ⬇️
"But don't hide from me again, Shortcake. I don't care if you're embarrassed. Your innermost thoughts; your insecurities and vulnerabilities are the aspects of who you are that I most want to know. The pieces that no one else gets to see."
Royce has won my heart. Love how layered his character is. His character will right his wrongs and the wrongs of others. ⬇️
“The truth was heard all right. Like whistles blasted in my ear loud enough to burst the drum. Permanently enough that I will forever bear the scars. The lesson learned. The consequences doled out.”
This inner promise melted my heart. ⬇️
“I will be her protector. Her silent shadow in the night. Her invisible weapon to wield. The soldier at her side. The shield at her back and the breastplate over her heart. I will be whatever and whoever she needs to feel safe in this world.”
Grayson character would be better off as a villain. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, could not be any more truer. It’s going to take extremely good writing for the reader to trust him or even like him.
Riley character is complex and at the exact same time not. Her character has the weight of the world on her shoulders. Riley’s character goes through hell twice. Sometimes it’s hard to stomach what she had to endure. Love her attitude through out the book. ⬇️
“However, it’s more than that. I don’t want to fit in. I don’t want to be someone I’m not. I’ve spent so much of my life being unhappy, putting on a fake smile, and pretending I’m not wasting away on the inside. I’m done with that shit. If you don’t like me for who I am, then that’s your fucking problem.”
On a side note the author did an outstanding job writing Riley’s character. But there are some things that didn’t fit with Riley’s trauma, and because of it took me out of the story. Example chapter five, page 72: “throwing my arms carelessly around him.”
Page 73: “One minute I’m praising Logan, and the next his warm lips are pressed to mine, and all rational thought has fled the building. His lips are soft and supple, and I’m helpless to do anything other than kiss him back when his tongue runs along the seam of my lips.”
No one with this kind of trauma would even think about putting themselves in a situation like this. But a specially if that person is one you don’t know very well or for years. I would understand if they knew each other when they were younger.
Another thing is Riley’s clothes, I feel like the author was lazy about it. Leggings and a baggy sweatshirts? Come on, leggings show way too much. There was so much potential. Cargo pants, jeans, mid waist trousers, overalls and jumpsuits to name a few. For tops layers, over size sweaters, cardigans etc.
One thing that felt weird was the characters seemed like millennials instead of genz. The way they acted, thought, and spoke was more like millennials. The biggest thing is genz’s are much more likely to understand their mental health and talk openly about it.
Would I recommend? Yes!
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
That cliff hanger! Man, oh man, r.a sure knows how to keep you in a choke hold. 5 stars easily! Beware, you will have all the feels! Riley is the best! And these men ooff Royce especially chefs kiss! I literally couldn't put this book down . Talk about a book hangover! I need book 2 like yesterday
Riley has been through hell and back and thought she finally escaped when she enrolled at Halston U. There, she encounters Royce, Logan and Grayson and her path is completely altered. My heart broke for Riley and everything she’s been through in this book and I hope she gets back at the guys for putting her through hell. I love anything R.A. Smyth puts out and this is no exception. So ready for the next book!!
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Riley, Grayson, Logan, and Royce. This book was interesting. Ends on a cliffhanger. I skimmed a lot of parts that weren’t Dialogue. The use of exclamation points made me cringe. Grayson kinda forcing himself on Riley was really gross. I’m glad Royce & Logan believe her. I like how at the end Royce knows about Rora. I want the second book to be out now. Poor Riley. This book is about Riley and how she was raped by her stepdad at the time (Grayson’s dad) and Grayson doesn’t believe her. She has a kid by the rapist tho that she defends is her niece to other people. Her mom blackmails her for money and she’s a shit person. By the end the other two boys believe Riley.
dark