Reblogged
Tiffanie DeBartolo's God-Shaped Hole is on sale for $2.99 If you haven't read this, you are missing out on a beautiful, yet devastating read. I cried for days after finishing it.
Reblogged from hippieed perceptions
2
2
Reblogged
Reblogged from Bettie's Books
4
Image
She moved like a poem and smiled like a sphinx.
(finally) reading this one and really enjoying it so far.
Image from this really cool tumblr:
http://gilldoesbookstuff.tumblr.com/
Reblogged URL
from Flavorwire.com
Reblogged from It's a Hardback Life
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"It’s the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.
Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can’t touch
My inner mystery.”
Phenomenal Woman, Maya Angelou
Have a great weekend.
Happy reading!
When the chocolate, the mushy TV shows and torturing happily-ever-after movies don't work for you, you can always turn to books behind the link.
i'm off to yoga.
source:goawayimreading.tumblr.com
2
![](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=http://curiouser.booklikes.com/post/956545/we-fill-in-gaps-we-shade-them-in-we-gloss-over-them-we-elide&media=http://booklikes.com/upload/avatar/27/85/fd73274ad9f2c6c03218e59d582ecfaf.jpg&description="We fill in gaps. We shade them in. We gloss over them. We elide.” )
Review
Review
4 to 4.5 STARS
Cameron Post is a young girl living in a small town in Montana, in the late 80s-early 90s. During one hot summer day, on a dare, Cameron shares a kiss with her best friend, Irene, this makes her feel guilty and scared, but also excited. Soon after, during a sleepover at Irene’s, Cameron receives the news that her parents died in a car crash.
Cameron feels guilty, she begins to wonder if her parents knew about her actions and if that could have any influence on their fatal accident. She tries to reconcile these feelings of guilt with the realization that she likes girls and also the implications of being a lesbian in her very religious and conservative town.
(minor spoilers ahead!)
We follow Cameron’s self-discovery, the confusion, tension and pressures of living in such environment while also being aware of a different reality (knowledge provided by Lindsey, a girl from Seattle, who elucidates Cameron on acceptance and pride, which are viewed as sin in her hometown).
We also follow her first crush, sexual experimentation and first love which leads to one of the first heart-wrenching moments of the novel that happens when Cameron is outed and her aunt decides to send her away to a religious camp where they “cure” homosexuality.
The Miseducation of Cameron Post, gives a candid approach to subjects like identity, sexuality and religion, it delivers a heavy dose of reality and serves as a reminder of how devastating can be the consequences of forcing a person to deny his/her own identity.
I really liked this book, the writing is very vivid and the first moments of the novel reminded me of my own childhood, living in a small town, when the summers seemed endless, it was also very easy to empathize with the protagonist. While its length and slow pace can be challenging for the reader, it is important to recognize the relevance of the story, its message and inspirational quality.
A really moving, meaningful, realistic coming-of-age story.
[book trailer]
Cameron Post is a young girl living in a small town in Montana, in the late 80s-early 90s. During one hot summer day, on a dare, Cameron shares a kiss with her best friend, Irene, this makes her feel guilty and scared, but also excited. Soon after, during a sleepover at Irene’s, Cameron receives the news that her parents died in a car crash.
Cameron feels guilty, she begins to wonder if her parents knew about her actions and if that could have any influence on their fatal accident. She tries to reconcile these feelings of guilt with the realization that she likes girls and also the implications of being a lesbian in her very religious and conservative town.
How could I pretend to be a victim when I was so willing to sin?
(minor spoilers ahead!)
We follow Cameron’s self-discovery, the confusion, tension and pressures of living in such environment while also being aware of a different reality (knowledge provided by Lindsey, a girl from Seattle, who elucidates Cameron on acceptance and pride, which are viewed as sin in her hometown).
We also follow her first crush, sexual experimentation and first love which leads to one of the first heart-wrenching moments of the novel that happens when Cameron is outed and her aunt decides to send her away to a religious camp where they “cure” homosexuality.
I told myself that I didn't need any of that shit, but there it was, repeated to me day after day after day. And when you're surrounded by a bunch of mostly strangers experiencing the same thing, unable to call home, tethered to routine on ranchland miles away from anybody who might have known you before, might have been able to recognize the real you if you told them you couldn't remember who she was, it's not really like being real at all. It's plastic living. It's living in a diorama. It's living the life of one of those prehistoric insects encased in amber: suspended, frozen, dead but not, you don't know for sure.
The Miseducation of Cameron Post, gives a candid approach to subjects like identity, sexuality and religion, it delivers a heavy dose of reality and serves as a reminder of how devastating can be the consequences of forcing a person to deny his/her own identity.
I really liked this book, the writing is very vivid and the first moments of the novel reminded me of my own childhood, living in a small town, when the summers seemed endless, it was also very easy to empathize with the protagonist. While its length and slow pace can be challenging for the reader, it is important to recognize the relevance of the story, its message and inspirational quality.
A really moving, meaningful, realistic coming-of-age story.
I just liked girls because I couldn't help not to.
[book trailer]
Review
5+STARS
It's 3AM. I've finished reading this book around midnight and i'm a bit awestruck and still thinking about it.
This is more a reaction, not really a review and I won't go into details here. I must say that, before reading The Goldfinch, I didn't know much about the story, I didn't read any reviews before, which was good. I only read the blurb and some articles about it and because of that, I had relatively high expectations.
They were more than exceeded.
Right from the first chapters, I was compelled by Theo's longing, grief, melancholy and truly captivated by the unique concept, the uncertainty and mystery of the story. I'm not the most patient reader but, in this case, even in those parts where the narrative became a bit slow, I was always engaged and never bored. I was truly invested in this story and all its unique characters.
These last five days, I never felt restless because of its length and when I couldn't read, I often caught myself eager to go back to Theo's story.
I will probably re-read this book in the future.
The Goldfinch is full of meaning,emotion, beauty.
It is heart-piercing, thought provoking, challenging, powerful.
The writing is absolutely brilliant.
An unforgettable work of Art.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
BR with Ash Wednesday! <3<br/>(pics found on Tumblr)
It's 3AM. I've finished reading this book around midnight and i'm a bit awestruck and still thinking about it.
This is more a reaction, not really a review and I won't go into details here. I must say that, before reading The Goldfinch, I didn't know much about the story, I didn't read any reviews before, which was good. I only read the blurb and some articles about it and because of that, I had relatively high expectations.
They were more than exceeded.
Right from the first chapters, I was compelled by Theo's longing, grief, melancholy and truly captivated by the unique concept, the uncertainty and mystery of the story. I'm not the most patient reader but, in this case, even in those parts where the narrative became a bit slow, I was always engaged and never bored. I was truly invested in this story and all its unique characters.
These last five days, I never felt restless because of its length and when I couldn't read, I often caught myself eager to go back to Theo's story.
I will probably re-read this book in the future.
The Goldfinch is full of meaning,emotion, beauty.
And the flavor of [her] kiss - bittersweet and strange - stayed with me all the way back uptown, swaying and sleepy as I sailed home on the bus, melting with sorrow and loveliness, a starry ache that lifted me up above the windswept city like a kite: my head in the rainclouds, my heart in the sky.
It is heart-piercing, thought provoking, challenging, powerful.
The writing is absolutely brilliant.
An unforgettable work of Art.
And as much as I’d like to believe there’s a truth beyond illusion, I’ve come to believe that there’s no truth beyond illusion. Because, between ‘reality’ on the one hand, and the point where the mind strikes reality, there’s a middle zone, a rainbow edge where beauty comes into being, where two very different surfaces mingle and blur to provide what life does not: and this is the space where all art exists, and all magic.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
BR with Ash Wednesday! <3<br/>(pics found on Tumblr)
0
Review
Estes últimos meses, tenho evitado livros categorizados como violentos, porque acho que o que está a acontecer no mundo de hoje é horrível o suficiente, não me quero expor ainda mais a violência durante a leitura.
Neste caso, o "hype" em torno do novo programa de TV foi o catalisador para iniciar a leitura de Outlander. Antes de ler Outlander, eu deveria ter quebrado outra regra e ler comentários com spoilers, como eu fiz com o The Summer Garden por Paulina Simmons, um outro livro popular que eu não terminei, por causa de conteúdo semelhante.
Eu tive problemas com esta história desde o início: enquanto a premissa é intrigante, achei os primeiros capítulos enfadonhos e não achei a escrita ou o humor bons, mas a minha decisão em não terminar esta leitura surge depois de ler estas duas cenas :
...
Para alguns leitores de romance, traição/adultério ou triângulos amorosos são deal-breakers, o meu é a violência contra a mulher. Eu leio livros com cenas de violência, mas tenho problemas quanto os autores romantizam estas ações e os seus intervenientes.
Não vou terminar de ler Outlander pelo facto da autora romantizar tanto a violência como o abuso sexual. É impossível para mim considerar este protagonista desejável ou equacionar qualquer redenção para o mesmo, após as suas ações violentas.
Seria romântico sim, se em vez de bater, humilhar e violar a sua esposa, este "herói" desafiasse as normas sociais, mostrando um tipo diferente de comportamento em relação à mesma.
O facto de este tipo de comportamento ser considerado normal para os homens no século XVIII, não é um fator atenuante porque, na minha opinião, independente da época a que se refere, ter um comportamento violento não é romântico. Quando eu estou a ler um romance, é revoltante ver a violência doméstica e sexual identificada como uma expressão de amor.
Outlander é ficção histórica, mas, também é um romance, por isso, independentemente da definição ou contexto histórico, em romances, considero a utilização deste tipo de dispositivos de enredo, repugnante.
Neste caso, o "hype" em torno do novo programa de TV foi o catalisador para iniciar a leitura de Outlander. Antes de ler Outlander, eu deveria ter quebrado outra regra e ler comentários com spoilers, como eu fiz com o The Summer Garden por Paulina Simmons, um outro livro popular que eu não terminei, por causa de conteúdo semelhante.
Eu tive problemas com esta história desde o início: enquanto a premissa é intrigante, achei os primeiros capítulos enfadonhos e não achei a escrita ou o humor bons, mas a minha decisão em não terminar esta leitura surge depois de ler estas duas cenas :
-Não vou deixar que me batas- disse com firmeza, agarrando-me à coluna da cama.
-Ah, não? - Ergeu as sobrancelhas ruivas - Bem, vou dizer-se, rapariga, que acho que não tens grand escolha. És minha mulher, quer gostes ou não. Se eu quiser partir-te o braço, deixar-te a pão e àgua ou trancar-te num quarto por vários dias... e não penses que não me sinto tentado...podia, quanto mais aquecer-te o rabo.
(...)
E se eu não cooperar? - perguntei com a voz trémula.Ele apanhou o cinto e bateu-o contra a perna com um estalido desagradável.
-Então, terei de colocar um joelho nas tuas costas e espancar-te até me doer o braço e aviso-te já que te vais cansar muito antes de mim.
...
-Não!-exclamei,arquejante.-Pára, por favor, está a magoar-me! (...) As minhas coxas doíam com a repetição do impacto e os meus pulsos pareciam estar prestes a partir-se, mas ele manteve-se inexorável.
Para alguns leitores de romance, traição/adultério ou triângulos amorosos são deal-breakers, o meu é a violência contra a mulher. Eu leio livros com cenas de violência, mas tenho problemas quanto os autores romantizam estas ações e os seus intervenientes.
Não vou terminar de ler Outlander pelo facto da autora romantizar tanto a violência como o abuso sexual. É impossível para mim considerar este protagonista desejável ou equacionar qualquer redenção para o mesmo, após as suas ações violentas.
Seria romântico sim, se em vez de bater, humilhar e violar a sua esposa, este "herói" desafiasse as normas sociais, mostrando um tipo diferente de comportamento em relação à mesma.
O facto de este tipo de comportamento ser considerado normal para os homens no século XVIII, não é um fator atenuante porque, na minha opinião, independente da época a que se refere, ter um comportamento violento não é romântico. Quando eu estou a ler um romance, é revoltante ver a violência doméstica e sexual identificada como uma expressão de amor.
Outlander é ficção histórica, mas, também é um romance, por isso, independentemente da definição ou contexto histórico, em romances, considero a utilização deste tipo de dispositivos de enredo, repugnante.
Review
1 star.
Warning:the book and the review contains possible triggers.
These last few months, I've been avoiding books labeled as dark or violent because I find what's happening in the world today, horrific enough so, for the sake of sanity, I chose not to expose myself to even more violence while reading.
In this case, the hype surrounding the new TV show got me, and curiosity won over good sense. Before reading Outlander, I should've broken another rule and read reviews with spoilers, like I did with the Summer Garden by Paulina Simmons, another popular book that I did not finish because of similar content.
I had issues with this story since the beginning: while the premise is intriguing, I found the first chapters to be tedious and I didn't particularly enjoy the writing or the humor but, I only decided to DNF the book after reading these two scenes:
...
Violence,rape?
"How romantic!"
said no one ever.
For some romance readers, cheating/adultery or love triangles are "deal-breakers", mine are violence against woman and rape. I've read books with violent scenes, my problem is when the author romanticizes its perpetrators and their actions.
I DNFed the Summer Garden because of a scene of domestic abuse and I'm not finishing Outlander because of both violence and rape. It's impossible for me to find this male MC desirable or redeemable after those violent actions towards the protagonist.
Call me naive but, it would be romantic if, instead of beating, humiliating and raping his wife, this "hero" defied social norms, showing a different kind of behavior towards his wife, I don't find this kind of male protagonist attractive, for me, Jamie Fraser is more like a nightmare in a kilt.
I don't care if this was considered normal behavior for men in the 18th century because IMO, violence is not a romantic behavior in any era so, when I'm reading a romance novel, it is revolting to see domestic and sexual violence being identified as an expression of love.
This is historical fiction but it is also a romance and regardless of the setting or historical context, in romance novels, I find the use of this kind of plot devices, abhorrent.
Warning:the book and the review contains possible triggers.
These last few months, I've been avoiding books labeled as dark or violent because I find what's happening in the world today, horrific enough so, for the sake of sanity, I chose not to expose myself to even more violence while reading.
In this case, the hype surrounding the new TV show got me, and curiosity won over good sense. Before reading Outlander, I should've broken another rule and read reviews with spoilers, like I did with the Summer Garden by Paulina Simmons, another popular book that I did not finish because of similar content.
I had issues with this story since the beginning: while the premise is intriguing, I found the first chapters to be tedious and I didn't particularly enjoy the writing or the humor but, I only decided to DNF the book after reading these two scenes:
“Oh, you won’t?” He raised sandy brows. “Well, I’ll tell ye, lass, I doubt you’ve much to say about it. You’re my wife, like it or not. Did I want to break your arm, or feed ye naught but bread and water, or lock ye in a closet for days—and don’t think ye don’t tempt me, either—I could do that, let alone warm your bum for you.”
“I’ll scream!”
“Likely. If not before, certainly during. I expect they’ll hear ye at the next farm; you’ve got good lungs.” He grinned odiously and came across the bed after me.
He pried my fingers loose with some difficulty, and pulled firmly, hauling me to the side of the bed. I kicked him in the shins, but did no damage, not having shoes on. Grunting slightly, he managed to turn me facedown on the bed, twisting my arm to hold me there.
“I mean to do it, Claire! Now, if you’ll cooperate wi’ me, we’ll call the account square with a dozen strokes.”
“And if not?” I quavered. He picked up the strap and slapped it against his leg with a nasty thwapping sound.
“Then I shall put a knee in your back and beat you ’til my arm tires, and I warn ye, you’ll tire of it long before I do.”
I bounced off the bed and whirled to face him, fists clenched.
“You barbarian! You … you sadist!” I hissed furiously. “You’re doing this for your own pleasure! I’ll never forgive you for this!” Jamie paused, twisting the belt.
He replied levelly, “I dinna know what’s a sadist. And if I forgive you for this afternoon, I reckon you’ll forgive me, too, as soon as ye can sit down again.”
“As for my pleasure …” His lip twitched. “I said I would have to punish you. I did not say I wasna going to enjoy it.” He crooked a finger at me.
“Come here.”
...
“No!” I gasped. “Stop, please, you’re hurting me!” Beads of sweat ran down his face and dropped on the pillow and on my breasts. Our flesh met now with the smack of a blow that was fast crossing the edge into pain. My thighs were bruising with the repeated impact, and my wrists felt as though they would break, but his grip was inexorable.
“Aye, beg me for mercy, Sassenach. Ye shallna have it, though; not yet.” His breath came hot and fast, but he showed no signs of tiring. My entire body convulsed, legs rising to wrap around him, seeking to contain the sensation.
I could feel the jolt of each stroke deep in my belly, and cringed from it, even as my hips rose traitorously to welcome it. He felt my response, and redoubled his assault, pressing now on my shoulders to keep me pinned under him.
Violence,rape?
"How romantic!"
said no one ever.
For some romance readers, cheating/adultery or love triangles are "deal-breakers", mine are violence against woman and rape. I've read books with violent scenes, my problem is when the author romanticizes its perpetrators and their actions.
I DNFed the Summer Garden because of a scene of domestic abuse and I'm not finishing Outlander because of both violence and rape. It's impossible for me to find this male MC desirable or redeemable after those violent actions towards the protagonist.
Call me naive but, it would be romantic if, instead of beating, humiliating and raping his wife, this "hero" defied social norms, showing a different kind of behavior towards his wife, I don't find this kind of male protagonist attractive, for me, Jamie Fraser is more like a nightmare in a kilt.
I don't care if this was considered normal behavior for men in the 18th century because IMO, violence is not a romantic behavior in any era so, when I'm reading a romance novel, it is revolting to see domestic and sexual violence being identified as an expression of love.
This is historical fiction but it is also a romance and regardless of the setting or historical context, in romance novels, I find the use of this kind of plot devices, abhorrent.
0
Review
3 STARS
Wife Number Seven revolves around Brinley, a young woman who grew up inside a fundamentalist religious sect and is part of a polygamous relationship, based on polygyny, in which a man is allowed and encouraged to have more than one wife.
The book explores some of the elements that characterize religious polygynist communities: strict gender roles, the pressures that coerce woman into these kind of marriages, the role of the religious leader and the blind acceptance of his commands by the members of the sect and also different types of abuse that woman and children are often exposed in these communities.
It’s a controversial and intriguing subject, Polygyny is inherently unequal and denies women's fundamental rights. In this case, we have the perspective of a young woman who grew up in a sect, who only knows this reality and is the product of an upbringing in a context that doesn’t encourage women to think for themselves. Brinley is someone who grew up isolated from the outside world (believing that there isn't any good in the world outside her community) and who was pressured into marriage, influenced by this sect’s belief system.
This makes Brinley, a very unconventional heroine in the contemporary romance/NA genre. I think the way the author portrayed this reality is this novel’s greatest strength. It presents a straightforward, comprehensive approach to the life inside this kind of community, to the relationship dynamics between the sister-wives and to the MC inner conflict, it really shows a thorough research from the author’s part.
Brinley is keeping a big secret from her husband, something forbidden, that goes against the main role of the woman in her community for the 3 years that she’s been married, she’s been taking the pill in order to delay having children with her husband , so Brinley is presented as someone curious about the outside world, someone who questions the rules of her community and even contradicts them with her actions.
The book had a promising start, my issues with the story begin once she meets her love interest: Porter, an exile sect member. For such an original premise, the relationship between Porter and Brinley used some common tropes in the NA genre, I wouldn’t call it insta-love, or love at first sight, it's more like a sudden intense connection at first touch, literally.
They have two encounters and no meaningful conversation and after that, they have a physical contact which has a deep effect on both of them. When they meet after this moment, they suddenly share this intense connection. This felt forced and it was the first aspect that affected my interest in the romance between them.
My other issue with the romance is the male MC substance abuse.
Brinley and Porter first interaction occurs when he steals her bag because he needs money to feed his addiction. Maybe it’s just me but, I have a big problem equating romance in a situation like this. In this case, we are talking about a male MC who is a METH ADDICT. When we first meet him, he is STEALING TO FEED IS HABIT, this fact made it even more difficult for me to envision an auspicious progression to this romance.
Maybe the author’s intention was to make the male MC lifestyle contrast to the sect ideals but this is a superficial approach to meth addiction. Throughout the story, the issue surfaces as a way to bring more drama into the story - first the hero promises to get clean for the MC, he gets sober for 2 months,(because love, of course) but after that, he relapses and ultimately goes to rehab.
I felt that the inclusion and superficial treatment of this topic didn’t add value to the story and when it comes to an heavy subject like meth addiction, I appreciate a more in depth approach. This element, turned the romance between them even more unappealing to me.
The romance is a big part of the story and it is strongly connected with the female MC breakthrough. As Brinley and Porter’s relationship progresses, Brinley’s internal dialogue reinforces the fact that she’s changing, a transformation that she attributes to Porter’s presence in her life.
We have an MC that, from a young age, shows curiosity about the outside world and that acts against her community’s core beliefs and wants more for herself than a loveless marriage. But, even before Porter was in the picture, for 3 years, Brinley maintains regular contact with a cousin who left the same sect and built a life for herself. This cousin also encourages Brinley to leave the compound so, it was underwhelming to have Porter being identified has the main catalyst for her change and for her yearning for freedom.
I felt that the romance overshadows Brinley's character growth and that her "awakening" and motivation to change is mostly connected to her romance with Porter. I think the story could’ve had an inspirational quality if the MC's breakthrough wasn’t so attached to her relationship with the male MC, if the focus was more on a change for herself and in her growth as an individual.
Throughout the story, there were other aspects that, if explored with more depth, could’ve add more value to the story (e.g. Rebecca’s children storyline and the absence of their father, the children’s role in the sect).
While I recognize the interesting and innovative quality about this story (within the NA/CR genre), and also acknowledge the author’s effort in approaching this controversial subject, I was disappointed with the direction it took (concerning the development of the love story and the approach given to the heroine’s evolution).
This affected my enjoyment of this book and reflects the rating and my review. Despite that, the story is well written and entertaining so, if you’re curious, you should give it a try and see for yourself.
ARC provided by author in exchance for an honest review
Wife Number Seven revolves around Brinley, a young woman who grew up inside a fundamentalist religious sect and is part of a polygamous relationship, based on polygyny, in which a man is allowed and encouraged to have more than one wife.
The book explores some of the elements that characterize religious polygynist communities: strict gender roles, the pressures that coerce woman into these kind of marriages, the role of the religious leader and the blind acceptance of his commands by the members of the sect and also different types of abuse that woman and children are often exposed in these communities.
It’s a controversial and intriguing subject, Polygyny is inherently unequal and denies women's fundamental rights. In this case, we have the perspective of a young woman who grew up in a sect, who only knows this reality and is the product of an upbringing in a context that doesn’t encourage women to think for themselves. Brinley is someone who grew up isolated from the outside world (believing that there isn't any good in the world outside her community) and who was pressured into marriage, influenced by this sect’s belief system.
This makes Brinley, a very unconventional heroine in the contemporary romance/NA genre. I think the way the author portrayed this reality is this novel’s greatest strength. It presents a straightforward, comprehensive approach to the life inside this kind of community, to the relationship dynamics between the sister-wives and to the MC inner conflict, it really shows a thorough research from the author’s part.
A voice inside told me I didn’t belong here, that there was another life waiting for me. And with each passing year, that voice became louder.
Brinley is keeping a big secret from her husband, something forbidden, that goes against the main role of the woman in her community for the 3 years that she’s been married, she’s been taking the pill in order to delay having children with her husband , so Brinley is presented as someone curious about the outside world, someone who questions the rules of her community and even contradicts them with her actions.
The book had a promising start, my issues with the story begin once she meets her love interest: Porter, an exile sect member. For such an original premise, the relationship between Porter and Brinley used some common tropes in the NA genre, I wouldn’t call it insta-love, or love at first sight, it's more like a sudden intense connection at first touch, literally.
They have two encounters and no meaningful conversation and after that, they have a physical contact which has a deep effect on both of them. When they meet after this moment, they suddenly share this intense connection. This felt forced and it was the first aspect that affected my interest in the romance between them.
My other issue with the romance is the male MC substance abuse.
Brinley and Porter first interaction occurs when he steals her bag because he needs money to feed his addiction. Maybe it’s just me but, I have a big problem equating romance in a situation like this. In this case, we are talking about a male MC who is a METH ADDICT. When we first meet him, he is STEALING TO FEED IS HABIT, this fact made it even more difficult for me to envision an auspicious progression to this romance.
Maybe the author’s intention was to make the male MC lifestyle contrast to the sect ideals but this is a superficial approach to meth addiction. Throughout the story, the issue surfaces as a way to bring more drama into the story - first the hero promises to get clean for the MC, he gets sober for 2 months,(because love, of course) but after that, he relapses and ultimately goes to rehab.
I felt that the inclusion and superficial treatment of this topic didn’t add value to the story and when it comes to an heavy subject like meth addiction, I appreciate a more in depth approach. This element, turned the romance between them even more unappealing to me.
The romance is a big part of the story and it is strongly connected with the female MC breakthrough. As Brinley and Porter’s relationship progresses, Brinley’s internal dialogue reinforces the fact that she’s changing, a transformation that she attributes to Porter’s presence in her life.
I was changing. My thoughts, my desires, my ideals – all were altered by each contact I had with Porter. I was tired of resisting the effect he has having on me. I was tired of resisting felling like an actual person, rather than just a cog in a wheel.
We have an MC that, from a young age, shows curiosity about the outside world and that acts against her community’s core beliefs and wants more for herself than a loveless marriage. But, even before Porter was in the picture, for 3 years, Brinley maintains regular contact with a cousin who left the same sect and built a life for herself. This cousin also encourages Brinley to leave the compound so, it was underwhelming to have Porter being identified has the main catalyst for her change and for her yearning for freedom.
I felt that the romance overshadows Brinley's character growth and that her "awakening" and motivation to change is mostly connected to her romance with Porter. I think the story could’ve had an inspirational quality if the MC's breakthrough wasn’t so attached to her relationship with the male MC, if the focus was more on a change for herself and in her growth as an individual.
Throughout the story, there were other aspects that, if explored with more depth, could’ve add more value to the story (e.g. Rebecca’s children storyline and the absence of their father, the children’s role in the sect).
While I recognize the interesting and innovative quality about this story (within the NA/CR genre), and also acknowledge the author’s effort in approaching this controversial subject, I was disappointed with the direction it took (concerning the development of the love story and the approach given to the heroine’s evolution).
This affected my enjoyment of this book and reflects the rating and my review. Despite that, the story is well written and entertaining so, if you’re curious, you should give it a try and see for yourself.
ARC provided by author in exchance for an honest review
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Review
Taboo fuckaroo! WANT :P
"The taboo turns me on.
The dirty. The filthy. The nasty.
The man your mother f*cking warned you about – is me.
Hold onto your panties, ladies.
Lucas Carter is here to show you the dark side of the sheets.
***WARNING: This is a dark romance erotica – meaning lots of violence, sex, and emotionally disturbing inner dialogue. However, there is *NO* kidnapping, rape, or other forms of misogyny. Lucas Carter is an anti-hero, but he doesn't disrespect women. The entire book is told in his point of view."
Lucas Carter
please.be.good. That's all.
"The taboo turns me on.
The dirty. The filthy. The nasty.
The man your mother f*cking warned you about – is me.
Hold onto your panties, ladies.
Lucas Carter is here to show you the dark side of the sheets.
***WARNING: This is a dark romance erotica – meaning lots of violence, sex, and emotionally disturbing inner dialogue. However, there is *NO* kidnapping, rape, or other forms of misogyny. Lucas Carter is an anti-hero, but he doesn't disrespect women. The entire book is told in his point of view."
Lucas Carter
please.be.good. That's all.
0
