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ratetheromance's Reviews (659)
Steamy and sweet!
After I have read a few PG romances in a row I need some series "sex payoff". Know what I mean? Well, yesterday I felt exactly that way. Less SWEET. More SMUT. I knew exactly which book on my TBR shelf to read: Counting On Cole.
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Cynthia Eden's "Wilde Ways" is a series I can turn to when I need really great writing, compelling stories, and STEAM. FOR. DAYS.
After I have read a few PG romances in a row I need some series "sex payoff". Know what I mean? Well, yesterday I felt exactly that way. Less SWEET. More SMUT. I knew exactly which book on my TBR shelf to read: Counting On Cole.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Cynthia Eden's "Wilde Ways" is a series I can turn to when I need really great writing, compelling stories, and STEAM. FOR. DAYS.
This is a really tricky book to review, but here goes anyway.
THE GOOD: I have never laughed out loud so often while reading a Contemporary Romance as I did while reading BY A THREAD. It was absolutely hilarious and stunningly witty. I adored the hateful banter between Ally and Dominic so, so much.
This story is complex and has great characters that are sympathetic and also very likable. I loved the main characters.
THE BAD: There were a few plot lines/scenes in the book that I disliked. There is an entire scene in which a female strips for money at an amateur night at a strip club and also gives a private lap dance to a male. This scene really turned my off, NOT because I'm opposed to dancing/stripping, but because it showed a vindictive and manipulative side of the female character which I felt was incongruous with her character in the rest of the book.
But I really took issue with a scene where a female walks in on a male in his office bathroom while he is pleasuring himself. The male repeatedly and clearly asks her to leave and she doesn't. She stays and tries to seduce him. Had the genders been reversed, this scene would never be considered okay. I feel an important part of consent is consent from BOTH GENDERS, not just men respecting women's boundaries. In a book that very thoroughly addresses the #MeToo movement, this scene grossly missed the mark.
This book is sweet and romantic, but readers should be aware that it is verrry steamy. I love this author's Blue Moon series and where those books would get an R rating in a US movie theater, BY A THREAD is definitely NC-17.
THE GOOD: I have never laughed out loud so often while reading a Contemporary Romance as I did while reading BY A THREAD. It was absolutely hilarious and stunningly witty. I adored the hateful banter between Ally and Dominic so, so much.
This story is complex and has great characters that are sympathetic and also very likable. I loved the main characters.
THE BAD: There were a few plot lines/scenes in the book that I disliked. There is an entire scene in which a female strips for money at an amateur night at a strip club and also gives a private lap dance to a male. This scene really turned my off, NOT because I'm opposed to dancing/stripping, but because it showed a vindictive and manipulative side of the female character which I felt was incongruous with her character in the rest of the book.
But I really took issue with a scene where a female walks in on a male in his office bathroom while he is pleasuring himself. The male repeatedly and clearly asks her to leave and she doesn't. She stays and tries to seduce him. Had the genders been reversed, this scene would never be considered okay. I feel an important part of consent is consent from BOTH GENDERS, not just men respecting women's boundaries. In a book that very thoroughly addresses the #MeToo movement, this scene grossly missed the mark.
This book is sweet and romantic, but readers should be aware that it is verrry steamy. I love this author's Blue Moon series and where those books would get an R rating in a US movie theater, BY A THREAD is definitely NC-17.
Oh, how I adored the characters in this book! Willa and Everett and so perfect for each other and their sweet romance left me smiling from ear to ear.
The heroine, Willa, has wonderful character development and we get to see her actions and her internal dialog strengthen as she heals from an abusive marriage and sets firm emotional boundaries with her mother. I absolutely loved the latter since I feel most books in the romance genre show lead characters forgiving abusive family members and making a new healthy relationship with them. And that is WONDERFUL, but not always realistic in real life. Sometimes you need to remove toxic people from your circle regardless of wether they are a family member. This situation was perfectly written to illustrate that point.
Everett is a great hero character with flaws and insecurities that make him human and lovable.
I so wish that we had got some more closure in regards to the villain in this book. After a confrontation we just don't hear an ending that satisfies the reader. Even just a paragraph explaining where he ended up. It's not explained if these confrontations are at an end point.
The heroine, Willa, has wonderful character development and we get to see her actions and her internal dialog strengthen as she heals from an abusive marriage and sets firm emotional boundaries with her mother. I absolutely loved the latter since I feel most books in the romance genre show lead characters forgiving abusive family members and making a new healthy relationship with them. And that is WONDERFUL, but not always realistic in real life. Sometimes you need to remove toxic people from your circle regardless of wether they are a family member. This situation was perfectly written to illustrate that point.
Everett is a great hero character with flaws and insecurities that make him human and lovable.
I so wish that we had got some more closure in regards to the villain in this book. After a confrontation we just don't hear an ending that satisfies the reader. Even just a paragraph explaining where he ended up. It's not explained if these confrontations are at an end point.
This book was just okay for me.
There was good chemistry between the lead characters and I liked their shared history. There were some funny moments and some sweet moments between them and I was routing for them to get together.
One issue I had was how implausible most of the storyline was. There is a series of disastrous events that are supposed to lend comedy, but they felt forced. There were many times when the reader says to themself, "Well why didn't they just __________?" and after a while that starts to get annoying.
Overall a decent read, but not one of my favorites.
I received an ARC of this title from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
There was good chemistry between the lead characters and I liked their shared history. There were some funny moments and some sweet moments between them and I was routing for them to get together.
One issue I had was how implausible most of the storyline was. There is a series of disastrous events that are supposed to lend comedy, but they felt forced. There were many times when the reader says to themself, "Well why didn't they just __________?" and after a while that starts to get annoying.
Overall a decent read, but not one of my favorites.
I received an ARC of this title from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
3.5 STARS
I really like this author and her books are very well written. My issue with this particular book is lack of conflict. I run into this periodically while reading romances: a story whose only conflict is the characters being gun-shy of relationships because of past hurt. It's just not enough to build an engaging story around, in my opinion.
The chemistry between the main characters was sizzling hot and so were the bedroom scenes. I just wish a little more had happened in their story. Instead of plot points there was just pages and pages of internal dialog with characters debating wether to risk getting hurt again.
This book was not for me, but I'll definitely continue reading books by this author in the future.
I really like this author and her books are very well written. My issue with this particular book is lack of conflict. I run into this periodically while reading romances: a story whose only conflict is the characters being gun-shy of relationships because of past hurt. It's just not enough to build an engaging story around, in my opinion.
The chemistry between the main characters was sizzling hot and so were the bedroom scenes. I just wish a little more had happened in their story. Instead of plot points there was just pages and pages of internal dialog with characters debating wether to risk getting hurt again.
This book was not for me, but I'll definitely continue reading books by this author in the future.
This is the second book in the Creek Water series of romances. I read the first and liked this second book even better!
I especially loved the writer's inclusion of found "family" and how eccentric some of the main characters were. I love books that show really dimensional characters and this book did it well. I will definitely read coming books in this series.
My only issue with this series of books, this one included, is the main character's using minor deception and games in relationships. I don't love the idea of pretending interest in another for the sole purpose of making someone jealous. It kind of taints the romances for me a bit.
Overall, a fun and flirty read with great characters and a sweet story.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest feedback.
I especially loved the writer's inclusion of found "family" and how eccentric some of the main characters were. I love books that show really dimensional characters and this book did it well. I will definitely read coming books in this series.
My only issue with this series of books, this one included, is the main character's using minor deception and games in relationships. I don't love the idea of pretending interest in another for the sole purpose of making someone jealous. It kind of taints the romances for me a bit.
Overall, a fun and flirty read with great characters and a sweet story.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest feedback.
This is a well-written and engaging book with plenty of heat! NOTE: You are going to have to completely suspend your awareness of In-Office Sexual Harassment to enjoy this book! It's an HR nightmare in the real world, but this book is cheeky and fun.
I have to say I was unaware that this book is a PREQUEL to the other books in this series (my mistake) so the ending was rather abrupt and the story did not reach a satisfying conclusion. I wouldn't call this a "stand alone". Knowing that now, I would definitely recommend reading this only AFTER reading the books in the series.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a digital copy of this title in exchange for my feedback
I have to say I was unaware that this book is a PREQUEL to the other books in this series (my mistake) so the ending was rather abrupt and the story did not reach a satisfying conclusion. I wouldn't call this a "stand alone". Knowing that now, I would definitely recommend reading this only AFTER reading the books in the series.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a digital copy of this title in exchange for my feedback
C.J. Burright does an excellent job of writing complex characters with complex back stories and Every Breath is no exception. It is beautifully crafted with depth and loss and sorrow and joy. This is no easy meet cute followed by a fast HEA. These characters overcome challenges, past heartache, and choose to be together.
I love how much substance this book has along with plenty of wit and smolder. Definitely my favorite book of this series.
Thanks to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my feedback.
I love how much substance this book has along with plenty of wit and smolder. Definitely my favorite book of this series.
Thanks to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my feedback.