This was my first introduction to B.B. Reid’s work. I found her writing style very reminiscent of Tijan’s work. What I mean by that is the reader isn’t hand-fed the story. There’s several times I had to make an assumption or conjecture to continue with the story. Some may love this type of writing but for me I’m not always certain that what I’ve guessed is accurate. Perhaps I’m a lazy reader and just don’t want to work for my story. 😉
For the story itself I was sucked in with the intriguing description. The juxtaposition of disgustingly rich to the floundering poor. From pearls & designer heels to motorcycle helmets & coveralls. Sounded fan-freaking-tastic! All the elements mixed together with love, hate, angst, jealousy, and absolutely no parental involvement…I was hooked. I found all of the characters involved were a tad melodramatic and some of the dialog and actions repetitive. (Hence the 4 star rating.)
Will I read the next book in the series? Maybe. I’m not itching for it but I enjoyed the premise enough to continue the series.
Elodie’s character was a unique spin on the classic contemporary romance heroine. She’s brash, edgy, and admits to wild child behavior as a child including…shoplifting (gasp)! For a “goody two-shoes” like me these were not necessarily welcome attributes. As the story and characters progressed I found value and density (weird description but it’s apt) in her early years, struggles, and rough edges.
Hollis’ character was well-crafted. Aloof yet endearing. Handsome yet moody. A successful and career-driven professional who’s also the custodian of his 11 year old niece and a comical bird named Huey. (Perhaps my only gripe is that there weren’t enough “bird” scenes in the book.) As a single mom with 2 young kids I loved the realism and challenges that both Hollis and Elodie faced to balance their responsibility for Hailey and their desire to explore their relationship. It’s a constant balancing act that requires patience and flexibility.
The “twist” towards the end was as beautiful as it was painful to read about. I won’t mention any more as to not ruin it for new readers. Trust me… it’s juicy!
These authors can do no wrong! Both their individual and co-author projects are always literary gold. They develop unique characters and setting with just the right pacing and mixture of steamy and intrigue EVERY.SINGLE.TIME.
I re-read this book in honor of it going into movie production.
In a time when so many romances focus on first loves and characters in their early twenties it was refreshing to visit Magdalene and meet so many enchanting “forty somethings”. While some of the dialog (Josephine) was over-the-top I’ll happily overlook those scenes because of the overall beauty this story possesses.
Now I’ll not so patiently wait for the movie’s release. Looking forward to seeing the film version of Jake “The Truck” Spear, his adorable children, and the ever glamorous Josephine.
One of my favorite tropes (damsel in distress) mixed with one of my least favorite (virgin) – an interesting combination but it worked out for the better.
Alright- so first I’ll admit that when the story begins I was confused. Based on the synopsis I (incorrectly) assumed that our damsel in distress Emmy Barton had always been just that…a damsel in distress. For the record Emmy Barton and her brother live a comfortable lifestyle and is on equal (or at least closer) footing with Stephen Hastings in their youth. I mention this in case you as a reader also go into the book with that preconceived notion. Now that we’ve got that cleared up I’ll continue with the review.
Emmy Barton is a strong single mother. Several times during the story I wanted to give her a high five or a hug for putting her son’s needs first. As a single mother myself I immediately felt connected to her character. Her ex is a dickwad, her son has special needs, and Emmy does her best to stay afloat.
Stephen Hastings was an interesting character. He was slower to evolve throughout the book compared to many romance heroes. Most stories you’ll read the male love interest will fall in love and immediately want to tie down his lovely lady in holy matrimony. This is not the case for Stephen. While he steps in to assist Emmy and her son his interest in her is temporary with no long term plans to be in their lives.
While I liked Emmy and Stephen’s characters the real highlight of the book for me was Stephen’s aunt. Through her meddling she put Stephen on the path to discover Emmy’s plight. She was wealthy but not judgemental, quick to accept Emmy, and generous in her affection and celebrations. Truly a refreshing character that I found charming.
The perfect contemporary romance book! Adorable animals, a woman with a heart of gold, hunky military pilot, and LOTS of junk food.
From the very first chapter I fell in love with Lilah Young. She’s down-to-earth (rocking her Carnhardtt’s), goofy (don’t trust her to back up the truck!), animal rescuer (the duck Abigail is over-the-top adorable), and a junk food lover extraordinaire. What makes Lilah particularly beautiful is the combination of strength, compassion, and honesty. Jill Shalvis created a beautiful character that was so endearing you celebrated her story.
Brady Miller – Take a moment to close you eyes (after you read this description, of course!) and imagine a handsome former soldier, skilled in piloting any aircraft. Exuding confidence and testosterone. Slow to react and loyal to the core. Scarred from years of foster family transfers -he comes across as aloof but genuine. Brady’s character is believable (at least I want to believe men like him exist!) because he wasn’t over-the-top. What I mean by that is Jill crafted a character that was realistic. Not obscenely wealthy, perfect, or boasting inhuman strength. Brady is flawed and watching his personal growth throughout the book was engaging.
Reading this book will give you all the happy, glowing satisfaction of reading two endearing characters find their happiness. There was no over-the-top danger or drama. If you have a stressful life I’d recommend slipping into this beautiful book for a few hours. It’s the perfect prescription to overcome a chaotic day.
Boy, oh boy…what an ending! A more accurate reaction would be “Boy, oh boy! What a series!”. I’m not quite sure how I stumbled upon this literary gold. Perhaps it was during one of my browsing sessions on “kindle store recommendations”. Whatever it was that brought me to being a lucky reader, I’m forever grateful.
For those of you considering this series (which you definitely should!) be sure to start with Written with Regret! You would rob yourself of some fantastic reading by jumping straight to this one.
Written with You picks up right where the previous book and mind-blowing cliff hanger left off. It’s true what they say…it’s a cruel, cruel world out there. I finished the first book in this series and had to wait 5 days until this book was released. 5 WHOLE DAYS of suffering. Luckily, when the book was delivered to my kindle i was able to wrap myself into the story of Hadley, Rosalee, Caven (gorgeous, perfect Caven), and Willow. The dynamics between the characters, the pacing, and foreshadowing lured me in and kept me captive. Perhaps it’s the sign of true talent (or my dark heart) but I’m completely satisfied with the tragic events that unfolded. There is so much more that I want to say but I’m stumbling over the words in my head, afraid that I’ll unintentionally spoil parts of the book.
Bottom line, this is an author I am going to be following. If her other work is as creative and intriguing I’ll most likely start a fan club and establish myself as president.
This was my first introduction to Aly’s work… and what a splendid encounter it was! Equal parts tragic, lusty, and adorable. First and foremost I want to mention how well crafted the characters were. Multidimensional and genuine. (Is it fair to label fictional characters as genuine?) I found myself intrigued and couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. From boiling rage and turmoil, heartache, excitement, amusement, and steam. This story took me everywhere I wanted to go as a reader.
Fantastic story- highly recommend to all you book buddies out there!
Eleanor & Grey is a story that spans almost 2 decades. The first half is set when Eleanor and Grey are in high school. Grey’s grandfather has recently passed from cancer. He’s the popular boy who’s surrounded by people but desperately lonely. Eleanor’s mother is also battling cancer. This half of the book is absolutely beautiful. Two sad souls finding peace and strength in each other. I loved the juxtaposition of their youth side-by-side with the maturity and gorgeous love they have for each other. Endearing and heartbreaking…I soaked up every word and praised the “Kindle Unlimited” gods for sending me this book.
The second half revisits these characters 17 years later. Truth be told I finished the book a day ago and am just now writing my review. My thoughts were all over the page and I wanted to give you lovely book friends an accurate review. I’m sorry to share that when the story re-introduces Eleanor and Grey…two characters you’ll be enchanted with from the first half…they don’t even resemble the people they once were. Don’t get me wrong, the second half of the story has beauty, moments of sorrow, triumph, and humor. It just seemed like a different book, featuring different characters.
The author is obviously very talented. She wove a story that not only spanned almost 2 decades, but a variety of emotions, settings, and issues. I kept hoping to see more redemption, perhaps more of the characters they resembled in their youth. In an effort not to give away spoilers I’ll just say I think Eleanor deserved more prominence and instead feel like the book ended with her in more of a supporting role.
Whew- this book took me on a roller coaster ride that I’m not quite sure I enjoyed.
From the description I would assume most readers go into the story knowing there are going to be certain dark elements and sadness. The first 30% of the story the sense of loss and melancholy is almost palatable. The author does a fantastic job of walking the reader through the almost insurmountable pain they are experiencing. Brilliant writing! As a reader I was hooked but also ready to move on from the pain and watch the characters grow within themselves and lean on each other.
What I got instead was two adult “children” who bickered, slut shamed, and then had sex with each other. The author didn’t craft a path for growth or redemption. I’m at a loss…
Book friends- For Lila, Forever has earned a 5-star glowing review from me! I knew I’d be posting a gushing review when I woke up at 4am, unable to sleep until I finished the story. If you are prone to manic book reading sessions take note! Perhaps dive into this book over a long weekend when you can supplement your sleep loss with naps? Just a suggestion. 😉 Now let me detail why this book had me so excited.
The setting for this story (or at least the most pivotal moments) is an private island called Rose Crossing. The author does a fantastic job describing the gorgeous, yet desolate island for readers. The story would not be plausible without the island being crafted or introduced in a very specific manner. For example, the island is accessible by boat but only at certain times of the week and under the supervision of the island’s controlling owner and/or his loyal staff. It also has extremely limited cell service, cable, internet, etc. This means that although the residents and guests of Rose Crossing are enjoying luxurious accommodations they are (for all intents and purposes) at the mercy of the island’s owner…who just so happens to be an maniacal and calculating man.
ATTENTION LADIES- I’m going to introduce you to your next book boyfriend! Thayer Ainsworth is everything beautiful in this world. Even as a young child his family admires his amiable and relaxed manner. He has a soft heart that welcomes others and is slow to judge. His loyalty even in the most difficult times- is unwavering and relentless. Swoon! Lest not you worry! The outside is just as gorgeous as the inside! At one point in the story Thayer is enlikened to a Greek god. Tall, dark, and handsome….oh, and he’s also set to inherit millions of dollars and a private island. Yes, please!
After reading that description I’m sure you’re wondering what lucky lady could possibly be worthy of such a man… Lila Hillard arrives at Rose Crossing to work alongside her grandparents after her mother suddenly passes away. She’s blonde with long legs and carries a negative outlook on life. Lila is constantly waiting for the proverbial other shoe to fall. Even though life has handed her a rough start she’s a hard worker, smart, and shows moments of strength. While I will share there were missed opportunities for her to rise above her circumstances I don’t want that to overshadow your reaction to the story.
I’m worried to go further into the plot and characters without giving away spoilers. Rest assured there’s equal parts of cute romance, frustration and angst, anger towards the wicked, and hope for the characters to overcome all that they’ve lost. I loved this story and hope you do also!
