Light historical fiction with an ill-fated romance--sort of below-stairs Downton Abbey, if Mrs.Hughes was a young woman running from her past3.5 stars
Light historical fiction with an ill-fated romance--sort of below-stairs Downton Abbey, if Mrs.Hughes was a young woman running from her past and one of the footman was hiding secrets that could destroy them.
Best parts for me were the time spent on describing the running of the household and setting the scene for how rigidly the rules kept the staff in check, both physically and in mindset. All those period details were great, though I would have liked more of that. Also mostly liked the characters and the romance, though ultimately I think the plot could have been a bit more exciting, the separation could have been charged with more anguish and longing, and just punching up of emotion in general since there is so much focus on the romance. (It's not volume of description, just focused writing to make me feel empathy vs my brain's sympathy for the characters.) As is, it could have been edited down more for my taste.
Audio Notes: I very much enjoyed the audiobook experience, though. And I'd try another book by this author....more
Liked the writing and mystery. Not overly impressed by the perpetrator of the crime(s). A lot of time was also spent on details I really didn't care aLiked the writing and mystery. Not overly impressed by the perpetrator of the crime(s). A lot of time was also spent on details I really didn't care about or make much difference to the story or characters, such as Ireland to California and all the assorted minutia described.
I would try another one of her books, though.
Audio Notes: I very much enjoyed the audiobook narrated with a lovely Irish accent by Jessica Regan, however. And while I was somewhat taken aback at first by the epilogue with "here's what this character is doing now" style wrap-up, I was rather charmed by it in the end, even though it's not really in keeping with the rest of the story....more
-- rivalry done well (considering it's about competing gym owners, that's saying a lot!) -- really fun banter -- nice chemistry -- interesting seconPros:
-- rivalry done well (considering it's about competing gym owners, that's saying a lot!) -- really fun banter -- nice chemistry -- interesting secondary characters -- aspirational lifestyle/business smarts/social media portrayed believably, among the best examples I've come across in contemporary romance -- she is smart, determined, and sticks to her principles FOR REAL, not the half-hearted way some heroines do -- he respects her and is the one who commits first
Cons:
-- it loses momentum about halfway through. They're at a conference, it's done well, and then a bunch of overused tropes get thrown in without conviction (forced proximity, mildly stalkery/controlling behavior, etc.) and it sorta drags from there. -- some noticeable typos -- weirdly square language. Like I haven't experienced this many "gosh" "darn" and "hecks" like...ever. Not in 1950s children's books, not in 70s/80s YA, not in fade-to black romances, not in a weekend’s Leave it to Beaver marathon.
I have to admit, that last con became really distracting to me--at first, it was mildly amusing, maybe even a touch charming, but there is so much of it, and it is so weirdly old-fashioned and mannered, that every time it happened, it really took me out of the story. This won't bother everyone, but it did chafe for me.
I have zero problems with books that are not explicit or show characters who are more reserved, formal, whatever, but I do tend to stay away from books specifically labeled "clean" because there's usually a whole host of other issues that come along with that. I dug a little after all those folksy non-swears and found that the author has referred to her books as "clean," but I'm glad I didn't know that ahead of time, since this one manages to be modern, feminist, fun, and sex-positive despite that. I just found the language got under my skin.
3.5 stars If the momentum of the first excellent half had been sustained, and if the down-home exclamations had just been cut out altogether, this would have been rated higher. Willing to try some of her others, though, there are a lot of smarts and sparks in this despite my issues....more
Audio Notes: ...and add that Ariel Blake's voice is a dream to listen to and a perfect matI'm just going to refer you to Richard's excellent review...
Audio Notes: ...and add that Ariel Blake's voice is a dream to listen to and a perfect match to this thoughtful work of speculative fiction. I skipped back multiple times to listen to her short, endearing renditions of a hum's song because I loved it so much. The gentle chimes in the beginning and end are perfect, too, they set the scene without being intrusive....more
Well-written overall, but I really could’ve lived without (view spoiler)[the magic baby (hide spoiler)]. Are we still doing this?Well-written overall, but I really could’ve lived without (view spoiler)[the magic baby (hide spoiler)]. Are we still doing this?...more
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