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a_phoenix_bookcorner's Reviews (58)
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
“Oh Pretty Girl… I’ll be whatever you want me to be.”
He’s undercover. She’s the unknown target. They are both twisted and broken. Can these unlikely duo heal and mend each others wounds and find love? Can they forgive lie after lie?
I really enjoyed this installment from the Never After Series. This book was probably a little more on the darker romance side as far as the triggers for the spicy scenes but I was here fore it. I also appreciated the twist at the end. I was not expecting that one at all. I was so caught up in trying to figure out how Evaline was going to forgive Nick that I missed the red flags for the twist.
The only thing I didn’t really like was in the first half of the book how it was hard to believe that Nick would keep making the same mistake. Especially with his history. He seemed to cave in way too easily.
I think this has been the best book so far of the series, but again, check your trigger warnings. I would recommend this book to anyone who liked Haunting Adeline for the spicy scenes and the other Never After Series. I do wish there would have been just one more spice scene but I’m overall very pleased with the story and ending.
He’s undercover. She’s the unknown target. They are both twisted and broken. Can these unlikely duo heal and mend each others wounds and find love? Can they forgive lie after lie?
I really enjoyed this installment from the Never After Series. This book was probably a little more on the darker romance side as far as the triggers for the spicy scenes but I was here fore it. I also appreciated the twist at the end. I was not expecting that one at all. I was so caught up in trying to figure out how Evaline was going to forgive Nick that I missed the red flags for the twist.
The only thing I didn’t really like was in the first half of the book how it was hard to believe that Nick would keep making the same mistake. Especially with his history. He seemed to cave in way too easily.
I think this has been the best book so far of the series, but again, check your trigger warnings. I would recommend this book to anyone who liked Haunting Adeline for the spicy scenes and the other Never After Series. I do wish there would have been just one more spice scene but I’m overall very pleased with the story and ending.
Oh Sainte.. I haven’t fell in love with a MMC like this since Lorian. (Iykyk) I really did thuroughly enjoy this read! I thought that the plot was unique and yet it was easy to follow. The build up and slow burn to this relationship was phenomenally done. I do wish that we would have had just a little bit more of the spark and the after burn than what we had though. I’m not sure if the romance was a sub plot or part of the main plot. Reading it, it seemed more main plot but in retrospect, I would think it is a little more sub plot. The primary plot seems to be driven by the MFC sort of coming of age and maturing and stepping into a role she never knew could be hers. The ending was a little rushed and that is the reason for 4 stars vs 4.5. I hope to see more of Sainte in the future!
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I enjoyed this read! It had a sprinkle of a love/hate relationship with a hint of a choice between 2 men. The story is compelling with the ending confirmed what I had started to suspect throughout the read. So in that way, it was mildly predictable. But still very enjoyable. The banter was great. I also think the author did a good job at world building without spending too much time on it.
adventurous
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
3.5! Sci-fi usually isn’t my genre. The author did a good job at world building and explaining the sci-fi components. The ending made me go “Wha!?” (Think minions) And then I was slightly mad because I wanted to know more. Perhaps there will be a second book? The characters were likable and I enjoyed the dual POV as well as how the two characters helped each other to grow in their own way. It was very humorous at times which was a nice change for me. The story was good but it wasn’t jaw dropping. But I did appreciate the uniqueness of the different worlds and species!
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was very well written. It made me think about how easy it could be to revert back to slavery or at the very least how we really aren’t that far off from when it was reality. I did feel like the ending was a little anti-climatic but over all a fantastic read. I really loved how the end of the book had discussion questions. It was perfect and I wish more books would have this since I read it as a family book club. I also think the narrator did a good job with the different characters. I did wonder if Kevin truly did do the things he said he did in the 5 years Dana was gone. Or if he just said he did. 🤔
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was a pretty intriguing story. I wasn’t sure how it was all going to connect until the very end which is what kept me reading. I have read other reviews that talk about how this book touches on Irish folklore. I wish that could have been explained a little bit more for someone who is not familiar. I think this book was more literary fiction with a essence of magic and mystery. I enjoyed it and will look to read another book by the author. The story was very unique.
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
4.5 stars! This book at me page turning like crazy! I loved how it kept me on the edge till the end. The way the author wrapped everything up was nice. I would definitely say check your trigger warnings though. This was a fun little thriller that definitely had my “criminal minds brain” going like crazy! I also appreciated how the author staged the book into the 5 stages of grief!
challenging
dark
informative
sad
slow-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
2.5 stars. I found the first 50-60% of this book hard to get through. I was not invested in the characters until the last third of the book. It felt like I was getting a history lesson and that made it difficult to get through. I was hoping for a little more of the courtship and love story than what we got. However, I do think this author brings to light a relatively unknown part of Vietnam history that I think should be talked about more. For that alone I give 1 star. The other star and a half I give goes to the last third of the book where I began to get emotionally invested in the characters and what happened to them and I do think it had a beautiful and poetic ending. But I almost didn’t make it to the end. This book came dangerously close to being my first DNF. But something told me to keep going. I did and am glad for it because I learned a lot but I do not think I would recommend this book for anyone’s enjoyment. It fell flat on that front. But I would recommend it on the sole purpose of learning more about Vietnams history.
funny
informative
reflective
slow-paced
This memoir was very intriguing. I couldn’t put it down during the first half. The second half was a little tough for me to get through because it just felt like it was dragging a little and slightly repetitive. But I still think that it was very interesting to hear from a sociopath. Her theory about sociopathy being potentially on a spectrum (much like autism) is insightful. If you find sociology and psychology interesting than this might be a book for you.
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Wow- what a book. It was a a little predictable but in this story- it didn’t matter. The POV from the octopus kept a light hearted and comedic relief to the darker under tones of the book. The Author does a great job weaving the two main characters’ stories together. I don’t say I wish I could read a book for the first time again very often. But this is one of them.