3.5 rounded up to 4. This was a fairly good, more adult, Beauty and the Beast retelling. It had everything you could expect (the mirror, the scatterbra3.5 rounded up to 4. This was a fairly good, more adult, Beauty and the Beast retelling. It had everything you could expect (the mirror, the scatterbrained father, the evil guy from town, the horse, the snow, the lovely older woman running the house) plus smut. I did get tired of Louvaen constantly harping on about her sister's chastity. I get that it's a thing during a lot of history, and they do acknowledge it being stupid at some point, but oh my goodness it got exhausting. I am not generally a fan of smut and, honestly, I had kind of hoped the story would slow burn a bit longer than it did because the tension between Louvaen and Ballard was top tier. That said, the smut wasn't bad, but I did skim a lot of it because it's just not my kinda thing.
Honestly, my biggest issue with this book is that Louvaen is described as older (she's widowed and has been for 3 years at the time of this story) and not necessarily traditionally beautiful, with a striking nose, high, sharp cheekbones, and full lips. The cover art looks like a 19 year old conventionally attractive woman. >:(
Overall, if you're looking for an adult retelling of Beauty and the Beast with some teeth, there are many worse choices than this one. Would recommend....more
This book looked me dead in the eyes and said it was gonna send me on an emotional roller coaster but that I’d thank it at the end and, gosh dang it, This book looked me dead in the eyes and said it was gonna send me on an emotional roller coaster but that I’d thank it at the end and, gosh dang it, it was right. Easily my favorite of the series so far. No idea how Beau’s or Cade’s books could top this one for me....more
This was a really cute story. The beginning was a bit cringe to me but once it hit about 30% and moved into more offline interactions and growth, it hThis was a really cute story. The beginning was a bit cringe to me but once it hit about 30% and moved into more offline interactions and growth, it hooked me. ...more
This was fun, ridiculous, and dumb. Exactly what I hoped for. Why did he have to serenade her though. My actual nightmare lol. Skipped those two pages.
Sharp Teeth reigns supreme still but this one was a good time. 3.5⭐️ rounded up Sloane was very relatable to me, as someone very risk adverse and anxiouSharp Teeth reigns supreme still but this one was a good time. 3.5⭐️ rounded up Sloane was very relatable to me, as someone very risk adverse and anxious. I enjoyed watching her grow past it the few times she did, I guess, but it didn’t feel fleshed out. Maybe it just tried to do too much in too few pages but we didn’t really see sloane embrace living until the epilogue even. The entire rest of the book she’s just a sort of morose troubled person. Naomi was somewhat annoying. Like, girlie, look at what you’re doing and then maybe think why Sloane may be annoyed with you. I don’t think the dots are hard to connect but I will agree Sloane does do a lot of high horsing.
I’m also not the biggest found family fan. This had that and somewhat insta love or lust. It felt very all over the place with things like that. We barely meet these people (or ever get to know them much at all tbh) but suddenly they’re family and this one guy with dirty hair is obsessed with our leading lady of the night. Ok? I think she needed to either lean more into the paranormal or less into it. It’s hard to make the almost fated mates esque trope work if it’s barebones fantasy world imo.
Oh my gosh and don’t even get me started on Alice. What was that? We get it. Women have a shelf life in society. Ok. Beat me over the head with it I guess. But again, that was yet another thing tossed out and barely explored, never to be mentioned again outside the pdf-file in the basement.
I initially rated this four stars but I think i feel better at 3.5⭐️ after writing this out. If I was looking to reread a book about sisterhood and coming into yourself, I think I’d pick Cackle up before reaching for this one again....more
Rachel Harrison continuing to prove to me why she’s one of my new favorite authors.
I had no idea where this was going to end and I’m so happy it endedRachel Harrison continuing to prove to me why she’s one of my new favorite authors.
I had no idea where this was going to end and I’m so happy it ended where it did. I just love how this author turns completely relatable real life experiences into fantastical horror novels. This one follows Annie as she’s dumped by her long time boyfriend and has to figure out how to start over on her own in a town that seems quaint and perfect, magically so....more
I absolutely loved this. Rachel Harrison’s style of writing is my perfect cup of tea and I love the way that she explores trauma through supernatural I absolutely loved this. Rachel Harrison’s style of writing is my perfect cup of tea and I love the way that she explores trauma through supernatural elements. The comparison of Rory becoming a werewolf and her sister going through an unplanned pregnancy was really poignant for someone terrified of what pregnancy does to a body. Obviously, that wasn’t all that it kind of represented in the story but it was the part that hit me the hardest. My only criticism is not with the book itself but the summary on goodreads and book itself. I did not personally find the romance to be “comedic”. No idea where that descriptor came from. This book did have me laughing to myself but I would never necessarily describe this as “comedic”....more