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Window Shopping Collection #3
Party Wall
An enemies to lovers lesbian romance about crossing lines that hold us back. From the moment Freya looks in the window of the brash, new sex shop in Grasstree Flat she knows it will be nothing but trouble. For a start, it will clash with her own new-age store next door. And she’s right. Outgoing newcomer Lily begins to intrude on Freya’s well-ordered life. Freya’s friends, lifestyle, and even her cat are all affected by Lily’s magic touch. Even Freya’s yoga classes rub shoulders with Lily’s sexual-expression workshops. Lily stands for everything Freya has lost in life—playfulness, spontaneity, delight in the physical, and sex. But does Lily have more in common with Freya than the wall that divides them?
244 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 20, 2017
6 people are currently reading
737 people want to read
About the author
Cheyenne Blue
96 books469 followersG’day and welcome. I’m Cheyenne Blue. I write big-hearted sapphic romance with strong women, mainly set in Australia.
My fifteenth romance, Sometimes We Fly is out April 2025. A closeted celebrity, a furious neighbour, and a whole lot of sexual tension charge this late-in-life coming-out lesbian romance set in rural Sydney.
I hope you enjoy all of my sapphic romances featuring strong women finding love.
You can find out more about me on my website cheyenneblue.com, Facebook or on Twitter @Iamcheyenneblue
My fifteenth romance, Sometimes We Fly is out April 2025. A closeted celebrity, a furious neighbour, and a whole lot of sexual tension charge this late-in-life coming-out lesbian romance set in rural Sydney.
I hope you enjoy all of my sapphic romances featuring strong women finding love.
You can find out more about me on my website cheyenneblue.com, Facebook or on Twitter @Iamcheyenneblue
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
September 10, 2017
This is my first Cheyenne Blue book. I have some of her others, just have not had the chance to read them yet. I heard such great things about her Girl Meets Girl series, that I was excited to finally read one of her books. Unfortunately, this book was just okay for me. There was nothing really wrong, but nothing that made it oh so right.
The story is about Freya, who owns a spiritual woman's empowering shoppe (that's the best way to describe it). When the shoppe next door is rented, she finds her new neighbor is putting in a sex shoppe for women. Freya is incensed and thinks it is degrading to women. She wants nothing to do with that shoppe or the new owner Lily. Lily is a vibrant woman full of life, she is hoping to make friends with the woman next door. But reality is far from it and Freya is making things hard for her. Will these two ever get along, and could there be a chance for anything more?
A lot of people have mentioned how they really disliked Freya. Well yeah she is the definition of a bitch to Lily for sure. But honestly, I didn't really mind her. There are reasons why she is so closed off and cold to Lilly. Actually, shortly after the 80% mark, you find out Freya's truth for her actions. That part actually choked me up a bit. So yes Freya is not very likeable, but honestly I was okay with her. Lily, is very sweet and patient, but almost too much so. I think she might be bordering on sainthood in this book.
One thing I did not care for is the pace of this book. This book is not very long. Funny, Goodreads is saying it's over 1,000 pages for the ebook. That is wrong, and not even close, this is a shorter book. But my problem was it seemed long. There was too many times the pace slowed way down. I love when you finish a book and think "where did the time go?". This was the opposite, the time went by slowly. The only part in the book that had a little excitement, had to do with a secondary character, one of their friends. Just not enough going on to really keep my interest.
My last issue, not enough chemistry. At the end of the book I felt good about them as a possible pair, but the whole rest of the book I was lost. I did not feel the connection. I did not get why Lily was so insistent on wanting to be with Freya. I love the whole build up and courting faze in a romance. When you can see the sparks and the chemistry is jumping, that just was not the case for me with this book.
I think this is going to be a book with mixed reviews. Blue does write well, so some may like this more. If you look for a lot of chemistry, in a romance, you might feel more like I did. Just to make clear again, this book is not bad, just not better than okay. I'm not giving up on Blue though, and I still am looking forward to reading her Girl Meets Girl series.
An ARC was given to me by YLVA, for a honest review.
The story is about Freya, who owns a spiritual woman's empowering shoppe (that's the best way to describe it). When the shoppe next door is rented, she finds her new neighbor is putting in a sex shoppe for women. Freya is incensed and thinks it is degrading to women. She wants nothing to do with that shoppe or the new owner Lily. Lily is a vibrant woman full of life, she is hoping to make friends with the woman next door. But reality is far from it and Freya is making things hard for her. Will these two ever get along, and could there be a chance for anything more?
A lot of people have mentioned how they really disliked Freya. Well yeah she is the definition of a bitch to Lily for sure. But honestly, I didn't really mind her. There are reasons why she is so closed off and cold to Lilly. Actually, shortly after the 80% mark, you find out Freya's truth for her actions. That part actually choked me up a bit. So yes Freya is not very likeable, but honestly I was okay with her. Lily, is very sweet and patient, but almost too much so. I think she might be bordering on sainthood in this book.
One thing I did not care for is the pace of this book. This book is not very long. Funny, Goodreads is saying it's over 1,000 pages for the ebook. That is wrong, and not even close, this is a shorter book. But my problem was it seemed long. There was too many times the pace slowed way down. I love when you finish a book and think "where did the time go?". This was the opposite, the time went by slowly. The only part in the book that had a little excitement, had to do with a secondary character, one of their friends. Just not enough going on to really keep my interest.
My last issue, not enough chemistry. At the end of the book I felt good about them as a possible pair, but the whole rest of the book I was lost. I did not feel the connection. I did not get why Lily was so insistent on wanting to be with Freya. I love the whole build up and courting faze in a romance. When you can see the sparks and the chemistry is jumping, that just was not the case for me with this book.
I think this is going to be a book with mixed reviews. Blue does write well, so some may like this more. If you look for a lot of chemistry, in a romance, you might feel more like I did. Just to make clear again, this book is not bad, just not better than okay. I'm not giving up on Blue though, and I still am looking forward to reading her Girl Meets Girl series.
An ARC was given to me by YLVA, for a honest review.
February 20, 2018
I ended up liking this book a lot more than I thought I would. "Party Wall" is the first book I've read by Cheyenne Blue but it encourages me to read her other books. She's a solid writer.
The summary is that Lily, an incredibly warm and gregarious woman, starts a woman-centric sex shop next to Freya's woman-centric spiritual store. Physically, a thin wall divides their spaces, and everything that Lily does, from the sounds she creates and the space she takes up to her very presence, inadvertently triggers Freya, bringing out Freya's ice-queen. The two clash constantly in a way where Freya creates the confrontation but, interestingly, Lily doesn't take the bait. Lily isn't a doormat and intelligently responds, having way more patience than most.
I don't know. I just found the story interesting and different from the usual fare.
The writer was smart to give us the story in alternating perspectives between Lily and Freya so we could get their take on the other and why. Freya is cold to the max but we get to see her be warm with other people and realize something specific about Lily is bringing out her raging ice-queen side. We don't find out what that is until late in the story but we at least do get a reason.
I was wary of the "spiritual" aspect of the book, 1) because I'm atheist and 2) I have some not great experiences with "spiritual" shops and new age type religions but the spiritual element was centered on mindfulness, really. Mindfulness is the practice of observation without judgement and is now often used as a therapeutic strategy for trauma survivors so I got what Freya was doing.
The plot, characters, dialogue, and pacing were all fine to me.
I think what was missing that I would've liked to have seen more of was Lily actually falling for Freya. I believe this was meant or implied to have occurred over the weeks/months of Lily seeing Freya in different settings (yoga instructor, with her friend, etc) but it wasn't shown too much. That or have more time with Freya and Lily as a couple together after they acknowledge their feelings. But, these are fairly minor complaints.
For diversity, Lily's character is Cuban-Australian so there's some ethnic diversity in this. Lily is also depicted as a plus size woman and Freya is not considered conventionally physically attractive which was a nice change from the supermodel leads we often see.
On the whole, I enjoyed the read.
The summary is that Lily, an incredibly warm and gregarious woman, starts a woman-centric sex shop next to Freya's woman-centric spiritual store. Physically, a thin wall divides their spaces, and everything that Lily does, from the sounds she creates and the space she takes up to her very presence, inadvertently triggers Freya, bringing out Freya's ice-queen. The two clash constantly in a way where Freya creates the confrontation but, interestingly, Lily doesn't take the bait. Lily isn't a doormat and intelligently responds, having way more patience than most.
I don't know. I just found the story interesting and different from the usual fare.
The writer was smart to give us the story in alternating perspectives between Lily and Freya so we could get their take on the other and why. Freya is cold to the max but we get to see her be warm with other people and realize something specific about Lily is bringing out her raging ice-queen side. We don't find out what that is until late in the story but we at least do get a reason.
I was wary of the "spiritual" aspect of the book, 1) because I'm atheist and 2) I have some not great experiences with "spiritual" shops and new age type religions but the spiritual element was centered on mindfulness, really. Mindfulness is the practice of observation without judgement and is now often used as a therapeutic strategy for trauma survivors so I got what Freya was doing.
The plot, characters, dialogue, and pacing were all fine to me.
I think what was missing that I would've liked to have seen more of was Lily actually falling for Freya. I believe this was meant or implied to have occurred over the weeks/months of Lily seeing Freya in different settings (yoga instructor, with her friend, etc) but it wasn't shown too much. That or have more time with Freya and Lily as a couple together after they acknowledge their feelings. But, these are fairly minor complaints.
For diversity, Lily's character is Cuban-Australian so there's some ethnic diversity in this. Lily is also depicted as a plus size woman and Freya is not considered conventionally physically attractive which was a nice change from the supermodel leads we often see.
On the whole, I enjoyed the read.
September 2, 2017
Ah, if only I could read Cheyenne Blue books all the time... Wonderful, heart-warming lesbian romance with excellent writing.
November 14, 2018
This was an ok read, but I didn’t like it as much as the first two books in this series. I found it difficult to connect to the main characters. Also the story didn’t really speak to me, it felt a little unreal, not quite of this time anymore, as a result I couldn’t get absorbed in this story. Not a lot of chemistry either between the main characters. So, 3 stars.
September 24, 2017
4.5 stars
This story is told in third person and from both heroine’s point of views. Given both Freya and Lily are such complex characters, it’s the perfect style of narration.
I got to know both ladies extremely well, and sure, Freya is a prickly character but I understood her, and could see that beneath the hard exterior she was a good person. I’m so so happy Lily recognized that in Freya as well. I get that a number of people possibly won’t understand why Lily persevered, I love that she did, bless her.
Freya’s friend, Carly, plays a big part in this story. I liked her initially but then she irked me. At times, I felt like she played Freya off against Lily and vice versa. I could’ve done without the saga between her and Andy. It rubbed me the wrong way and for reasons I can’t go into without spoilers.
I loved the setting, Aussie, and appreciated reading terms I’m familiar with.
A day after finishing this book, I picked it up wanting to read more, only to remember I’d already turned the last page. The fact these ladies got under my skin – they’re real, I swear – is what made this story a winner for me.
Very enjoyable read indeed.
Review originally posted at Les Rêveur - https://lesreveur.com/2017/09/16/part...
This story is told in third person and from both heroine’s point of views. Given both Freya and Lily are such complex characters, it’s the perfect style of narration.
I got to know both ladies extremely well, and sure, Freya is a prickly character but I understood her, and could see that beneath the hard exterior she was a good person. I’m so so happy Lily recognized that in Freya as well. I get that a number of people possibly won’t understand why Lily persevered, I love that she did, bless her.
Freya’s friend, Carly, plays a big part in this story. I liked her initially but then she irked me. At times, I felt like she played Freya off against Lily and vice versa. I could’ve done without the saga between her and Andy. It rubbed me the wrong way and for reasons I can’t go into without spoilers.
I loved the setting, Aussie, and appreciated reading terms I’m familiar with.
A day after finishing this book, I picked it up wanting to read more, only to remember I’d already turned the last page. The fact these ladies got under my skin – they’re real, I swear – is what made this story a winner for me.
Very enjoyable read indeed.
Review originally posted at Les Rêveur - https://lesreveur.com/2017/09/16/part...
September 10, 2017
Freya is the owner of A Woman’s Spirit. Her shop is a new age refuge for the soul, a place where women can shop for fair trade products from around the world or browse through racks of books on feminism and spirituality. She runs yoga and meditation classes from the attached studio. She is upset that someone would have the nerve to open a shop called A Woman’s Pleasure next door to her own peaceful oasis. What kind of a person would open a sex shop in the small town of Grasstree Flat? Enter Lily, larger than life and full of energy, vivid colours, and enthusiasm. She is just the person to disrupt Freya’s careful life. Two strong women going head to head is sure to create some sparks.
Cheyenne Blue brings us two memorable characters in Freya and Lily. Love them or hate them, they are an unforgettable pairing. Lily is an interesting mix of patience, kindness, and strength of conviction. She is dauntless in her pursuit of pleasure and sharing her passions with others. For all her strength, she has a soft and vulnerable side and it’s that vulnerability which makes her so special. She is so accepting of others. The reader is drawn to Lily, to her self-awareness and to her goodness.
Freya is all sharp edges and mean spirit. She is rigid, inflexible, and remote. She is a hard character to like and yet Lily is drawn to her brittle neighbour. It may be a stretch for readers to believe that Freya is worth the effort, especially when she repeatedly shuts down Lily’s advances. This ice queen is slow to thaw. She has her reasons but the chill surrounding Freya would be insurmountable for most love interests. The author may have succeeded too well in giving us this antithesis of a goddess of love as her name implies. There was not enough time once Freya and Lily overcame their differences for the reader to accept they had the chemistry necessary to make this an HEA and not a HFN.
3.5 rounded up to 4 stars for these two well developed memorable characters and a setting which was easy to visualize. The cover featuring the colorful cockatoo and the comfortable chair could not be more perfect.
ARC received with thanks from Ylva for an honest review.
Cheyenne Blue brings us two memorable characters in Freya and Lily. Love them or hate them, they are an unforgettable pairing. Lily is an interesting mix of patience, kindness, and strength of conviction. She is dauntless in her pursuit of pleasure and sharing her passions with others. For all her strength, she has a soft and vulnerable side and it’s that vulnerability which makes her so special. She is so accepting of others. The reader is drawn to Lily, to her self-awareness and to her goodness.
Freya is all sharp edges and mean spirit. She is rigid, inflexible, and remote. She is a hard character to like and yet Lily is drawn to her brittle neighbour. It may be a stretch for readers to believe that Freya is worth the effort, especially when she repeatedly shuts down Lily’s advances. This ice queen is slow to thaw. She has her reasons but the chill surrounding Freya would be insurmountable for most love interests. The author may have succeeded too well in giving us this antithesis of a goddess of love as her name implies. There was not enough time once Freya and Lily overcame their differences for the reader to accept they had the chemistry necessary to make this an HEA and not a HFN.
3.5 rounded up to 4 stars for these two well developed memorable characters and a setting which was easy to visualize. The cover featuring the colorful cockatoo and the comfortable chair could not be more perfect.
ARC received with thanks from Ylva for an honest review.
February 2, 2020
Freya is not an easy character to like, especially considering how judgey and downright awful she is to Lily. I don’t know that I would have finished the book if it weren’t for seeing her interact with friends, especially her best friend Carly. That let us see enough of Freya’s softness to realize that she has some serious hangups that inform the way she treats Lily. I won’t spoil it here, but I was glad to see that she was so hostile for a reason that made sense, even if I didn’t agree with any of her behaviours. Freya has the biggest character arc, having to grow a lot to even allow friendship with Lily into her life, let alone a romantic relationship. She truly is a transformed woman by the end of Party Wall and I was so happy to see she got a happy ending that is just right for her.
Lily is too lovely for words. She’s warm and bubbly, exactly the kind of person I want to have as a friend. She’s also stronger than she looks at first glancing, taking charge of her destiny by opening the shop after her life took an unexpected turn. I loved seeing her resilience in the face of Freya’s iciness and that Lily was always true to herself. She didn’t have much of an arc in this story, having gone through her own changes before she arrived in Grasstree Flat, and that worked well because it allowed for maximum focus on Freya’s growth.
Full review: http://www.thelesbianreview.com/party...
Lily is too lovely for words. She’s warm and bubbly, exactly the kind of person I want to have as a friend. She’s also stronger than she looks at first glancing, taking charge of her destiny by opening the shop after her life took an unexpected turn. I loved seeing her resilience in the face of Freya’s iciness and that Lily was always true to herself. She didn’t have much of an arc in this story, having gone through her own changes before she arrived in Grasstree Flat, and that worked well because it allowed for maximum focus on Freya’s growth.
Full review: http://www.thelesbianreview.com/party...
September 27, 2017
I love Cheyenne Blue and although I want too, I just can not say that I loved this book as much as the others I have read. Don't get me wrong, this book is good, just not as good. Make sense? Maybe my expectations were too high.
There are two main characters. Freya who I found to be a total bitch and Lily who is kind of a pushover. What is weird it is Lily who owns the sex shop and Freya is into empowering women shop. But for some reason Lily persevered with Freya. She seemed to look past Freya's bitchy exterior. Why I am not sure but in the end I was glad that she did. I would argue opposites attract but I am not sure if that is the case here. There was a third person Carly, but I am still wondering what her true role was.
I reckon this book will get reviews right across the spectrum. You will either love it or hate it. I am giving it 3.75 stars rounded up to four. My reason being I am still at odds with myself if I liked it or really liked it. I loved the setting and I love the author. This just doesn't meet what I wanted.
*ARC provided by publisher via Ylva Publishing*
There are two main characters. Freya who I found to be a total bitch and Lily who is kind of a pushover. What is weird it is Lily who owns the sex shop and Freya is into empowering women shop. But for some reason Lily persevered with Freya. She seemed to look past Freya's bitchy exterior. Why I am not sure but in the end I was glad that she did. I would argue opposites attract but I am not sure if that is the case here. There was a third person Carly, but I am still wondering what her true role was.
I reckon this book will get reviews right across the spectrum. You will either love it or hate it. I am giving it 3.75 stars rounded up to four. My reason being I am still at odds with myself if I liked it or really liked it. I loved the setting and I love the author. This just doesn't meet what I wanted.
*ARC provided by publisher via Ylva Publishing*
March 5, 2018
Party Wall was next on the to-read list for Book Club buddie D. and me. I'm a big fan of Cheyenne Blue’s writing, be it her shorter erotica stories or her standalone novels. This was D.’s first encounter with Blue.
Party Wall gives us a slice of rural Australian life when Lily (a recent transplant from Sydney) opens a sex shop for women in the small town of Grasstree Flat, right next door to Freya who runs a spiritual shop. Both women live above their business, the spaces divided by only a very thin single plank wall (aka party wall). As soon as Lily moves in, everything about this woman (her warmth, her joy, her exuberant presence) seems to rub Freya the wrong way and it awakens her inner ice-queen. She clashes with her new neighbor, this usurper of her peace and quiet and does everything she can not to like Lily. But Lily does not let herself be goaded into a fight and very creatively (and patiently) tries to break down Freya’s walls, one brick at a time.
I love how Cheyenne Blue manages to transport us down under with her vivid descriptions of Aussie wildlife and climate. I also love how her characters are never the flawless beauties we see too often in romance novels. Instead her women are very human, very relatable.
It was not easy to love, or even like Freya. Her cold attitude towards Lily is out of character, even for her. But the author makes us privy to both women’s inner thoughts and so we gradually see what motivates Freya to behave the way she does towards Lily. It culminates in a beautiful and emotional (and so close to home it got me all choked up) scene at the beach and it made so much clear.
So for me (and D.) it was a very enjoyable experience.
f/f explicit
Themes: Australia, yoga, love and loss, second time around, oh my… Freya is such a prickly pear, but I can understand where she comes from, kitties!, vegans, I would have loved a bit more time for the romance part between our ladies.
4 stars
Party Wall gives us a slice of rural Australian life when Lily (a recent transplant from Sydney) opens a sex shop for women in the small town of Grasstree Flat, right next door to Freya who runs a spiritual shop. Both women live above their business, the spaces divided by only a very thin single plank wall (aka party wall). As soon as Lily moves in, everything about this woman (her warmth, her joy, her exuberant presence) seems to rub Freya the wrong way and it awakens her inner ice-queen. She clashes with her new neighbor, this usurper of her peace and quiet and does everything she can not to like Lily. But Lily does not let herself be goaded into a fight and very creatively (and patiently) tries to break down Freya’s walls, one brick at a time.
I love how Cheyenne Blue manages to transport us down under with her vivid descriptions of Aussie wildlife and climate. I also love how her characters are never the flawless beauties we see too often in romance novels. Instead her women are very human, very relatable.
It was not easy to love, or even like Freya. Her cold attitude towards Lily is out of character, even for her. But the author makes us privy to both women’s inner thoughts and so we gradually see what motivates Freya to behave the way she does towards Lily. It culminates in a beautiful and emotional (and so close to home it got me all choked up) scene at the beach and it made so much clear.
So for me (and D.) it was a very enjoyable experience.
f/f explicit
Themes: Australia, yoga, love and loss, second time around, oh my… Freya is such a prickly pear, but I can understand where she comes from, kitties!, vegans, I would have loved a bit more time for the romance part between our ladies.
4 stars
September 7, 2017
Lesbian romance novels are often hit and miss for me. Exceptionally good writing and well-drawn, believable protagonists can always overcome my considerable personal biases. (I am not religious or spiritual and I find ‘New Age’ stuff vaguely ridiculous – I’m a lefty politically, and not into warmongering or capitalism.) If I can understand what motivates a character and can be made to ‘feel’ it, then any personal antipathy can be overcome. So if the main character is a soldier, or head of a large corporation, or even a vicar, it doesn’t matter as long as I can find a way to identify with her and find her likeable.
Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case with this book. There’s nothing really wrong with it. The writing is OK and the story is well constructed – which is a lot more than can be said about many books. But I didn’t like Freya. I couldn’t relate to her and I didn’t like the glimpses of her personal thinking when the story was told from her point of view.
I found her ‘conversion’ too sudden and unconvincing. Others may feel differently, because there were hints that Freya had not always been the same way. I certainly could not understand why Lily would be attracted to Freya unless she was a masochist, and there was no suggestion that she was.
I can’t say I disliked this book, and it’s better than just OK. So it’s really two and a half stars from me, but rounded down to two stars, rather than up to three stars. Just remember that this is a very subjective review, though, and others may really like it.
I was given an advance copy of this work in exchange for an honest review
Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case with this book. There’s nothing really wrong with it. The writing is OK and the story is well constructed – which is a lot more than can be said about many books. But I didn’t like Freya. I couldn’t relate to her and I didn’t like the glimpses of her personal thinking when the story was told from her point of view.
I found her ‘conversion’ too sudden and unconvincing. Others may feel differently, because there were hints that Freya had not always been the same way. I certainly could not understand why Lily would be attracted to Freya unless she was a masochist, and there was no suggestion that she was.
I can’t say I disliked this book, and it’s better than just OK. So it’s really two and a half stars from me, but rounded down to two stars, rather than up to three stars. Just remember that this is a very subjective review, though, and others may really like it.
I was given an advance copy of this work in exchange for an honest review
October 7, 2017
Weirdly, and contrary to popular opinion, I actually think this is Cheyenne Blue's best book so far. It's a great study of grief that needs to be read slowly, rather than devoured, to fit the realistic pace of the main protagonist's, Freya's, slow reawakening to the physical world and her reconnection with the visceral and carnal planes of existence after having been frozen in escapist etherialism (not a word but I like it) following the death of her partner.
December 31, 2017
Enjoyable read!
Emotional intensity, full of drama, laughs, beautiful scenery, older ladies, neighbors, two totally different workshops, slow burn romance, sometimes frustrating, one main character I truly enjoyed, one main character wasn't it for me, a great friend, two cats, an excellent ending, love the writing style and the storyline was great. I for sure can recommend it.
Emotional intensity, full of drama, laughs, beautiful scenery, older ladies, neighbors, two totally different workshops, slow burn romance, sometimes frustrating, one main character I truly enjoyed, one main character wasn't it for me, a great friend, two cats, an excellent ending, love the writing style and the storyline was great. I for sure can recommend it.
October 1, 2017
This is a slow-burn romance between Freya, a yoga teacher and wellbeing shop owner, and Lilly, her next door neighbor and sex shop owner. At the beginning their different personalities and lifestyles clash but their feelings eventually change following the formulaic plot of 'hate and then love' relationship.
I've read a couple of books by this author and for me her books are a bit of a hit and miss. This book is well written but the reason behind my 3.5 stars is that I couldn't empathise with Freya. Mind you, there were reasons why she acted coldly and arrogantly, but those reasons were explained nearly at the end of the book when I've already lost any sympathy for her.
On the positive side, the book explores an interracial relationship between two women of different size and shape which is a breath of fresh air with so many lesfic characters who are white, slim and beautiful.
Overall, an ok read if you can put up with an annoying character. 3.5 stars
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
See all my reviews at www.lezreviewbooks.wordpress.com
I've read a couple of books by this author and for me her books are a bit of a hit and miss. This book is well written but the reason behind my 3.5 stars is that I couldn't empathise with Freya. Mind you, there were reasons why she acted coldly and arrogantly, but those reasons were explained nearly at the end of the book when I've already lost any sympathy for her.
On the positive side, the book explores an interracial relationship between two women of different size and shape which is a breath of fresh air with so many lesfic characters who are white, slim and beautiful.
Overall, an ok read if you can put up with an annoying character. 3.5 stars
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
See all my reviews at www.lezreviewbooks.wordpress.com
September 25, 2024
This is a story about two women , Freya who is silently mourning her dead wife and Lily who is joyfully happy.
They each own shops that are side by side and they start out as enemies and end as lovers.
Freya’s character was cold and aloof and I never felt I got to know her well enough. Lily ‘s character was much more open and easy going. I guess for some, opposites attack but for me I didn’t feel the connection between them.
The best part of the book for me was the description of the small costal Australian town. I’d love to visit it. And the side character, Carly, she and her husband’s relationship added to my interest in the story.
I’m a big Cheyenne Blue fan and I’ve read most of her books.
Thanks to Ylva Publishing and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
They each own shops that are side by side and they start out as enemies and end as lovers.
Freya’s character was cold and aloof and I never felt I got to know her well enough. Lily ‘s character was much more open and easy going. I guess for some, opposites attack but for me I didn’t feel the connection between them.
The best part of the book for me was the description of the small costal Australian town. I’d love to visit it. And the side character, Carly, she and her husband’s relationship added to my interest in the story.
I’m a big Cheyenne Blue fan and I’ve read most of her books.
Thanks to Ylva Publishing and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
September 11, 2017
Freya is the uptight and stoic owner of A Woman’s Spirit which is just what is says, a spiritual shop for women. Lily is new to town. She is bold and happy and boisterous living life to the fullest. Unfortunately for Freya, Lily opens A Woman’s Pleasure a women only erotic shop, right next door! The apartments they live in above their respective stores share a thin wall and with the added noise of Lily’s presence, Freya is about to go off the deep end. Can these two women find a way to get along or is Freya too much of a stuck-up bitch to Lily to be bothered with…and why is she so hateful and why only to Lily?
I loved Lily. She is so determined and hopeful, she refuses to let Freya take her joy. As the story progresses Ms Blue does a great job showing how and why Freya is sometimes so aloof and closed off. I really enjoyed watching Freya grow as she questioned and re-evaluate herself and her life as she sought her own joy. The ending was wonderful, just as it should be. Thanks Ms Blue!!
I loved Lily. She is so determined and hopeful, she refuses to let Freya take her joy. As the story progresses Ms Blue does a great job showing how and why Freya is sometimes so aloof and closed off. I really enjoyed watching Freya grow as she questioned and re-evaluate herself and her life as she sought her own joy. The ending was wonderful, just as it should be. Thanks Ms Blue!!
December 2, 2017
This was my third novel by Cheyenne Blue.
As always the protagonists are well developed. I fell instantly in love with the lively and sunny Lily. Her friendly and joyful being was captivating. In contrast, the grumpy and bitchy Freya. I needed some time, to feel some sympathy for her and to see the real person beneath the harsh demeanor. She was only slowly showing her real personality. It was nice to see, that there was more to Freya than her life in spirituality. I liked how the author describes the personalities of the women.
Cheyenne Blue has a wonderful way to tell the stories of life. Bit by bit you recognize, why the women are the way they are. I also loved the bitching and banter between the two women. The second character, Carly, Freya`s best friend, and her own drama was a bonus plot to the story.
I give this book 4 stars.
Thanks to Ylva for receiving an ARC for a honest review.
As always the protagonists are well developed. I fell instantly in love with the lively and sunny Lily. Her friendly and joyful being was captivating. In contrast, the grumpy and bitchy Freya. I needed some time, to feel some sympathy for her and to see the real person beneath the harsh demeanor. She was only slowly showing her real personality. It was nice to see, that there was more to Freya than her life in spirituality. I liked how the author describes the personalities of the women.
Cheyenne Blue has a wonderful way to tell the stories of life. Bit by bit you recognize, why the women are the way they are. I also loved the bitching and banter between the two women. The second character, Carly, Freya`s best friend, and her own drama was a bonus plot to the story.
I give this book 4 stars.
Thanks to Ylva for receiving an ARC for a honest review.
September 9, 2017
The story is well written, but personally I found it hard to connect to the romance between the 2 mcs. I just could not take to freya, and found it difficult why Lilly would go there. She is the sort of person you would cross a street to avoid.
I find lesbian romances hit and miss, and just could not connect to this one.
The writing is good, but storyline and execution just not my cup of tea.
Arc from ylva for honest review.
I find lesbian romances hit and miss, and just could not connect to this one.
The writing is good, but storyline and execution just not my cup of tea.
Arc from ylva for honest review.
December 21, 2018
Ratings: 3.25 ⭐️
September 24, 2017
My advice to you, reader, is that you start from the 80% mark and call it a short.But if you're like me you'll skip the intimate scenes as there's no tenders or good feels leading up to that point to have any buy in. So all in all you'll probably be left with a very small percentage of the book to enjoy. Sorry about that. Wasn't my doing, it was the author.
This could be a case study in how *not* to write a book. Create a character that is so unlikable that it makes the reader cringe. Then introduce the other MC as someone who absorbs all that negativity and without any prompting whatsoever proclaims her love at the 75% mark. Then shift all of that negativity with ZERO transition into having an intimate relationship at around the 80% mark. Slap a cover on it and call it good.
Meh. I don't think so.
This could be a case study in how *not* to write a book. Create a character that is so unlikable that it makes the reader cringe. Then introduce the other MC as someone who absorbs all that negativity and without any prompting whatsoever proclaims her love at the 75% mark. Then shift all of that negativity with ZERO transition into having an intimate relationship at around the 80% mark. Slap a cover on it and call it good.
Meh. I don't think so.
September 24, 2017
This is my 3rd book by Blue. Somehow I started on book 2 of 3 in the Girl Meets Girl series. I loved both of the books. I have purchased book 1 just need to read it. I was very excited to read her newest book. This book is hard for me to review. I enjoyed the book, and I like Blue as an author, but I am not sure about Freya and Lily. I was happy about the secondary characters introduced during this book, which could make excellent future reads. Freya was not easy to wish on anyone. If I were a friend of Lily’s I would have told her to run, move out, stay away from her. For the first ½ of the book I loathed Freya. I didn’t particularly like Lily either. At some point… after that half smile on the bed… right before turning away… Freya grew on me. At first I was questioning Lily’s judgement. By 80% I had decided maybe Lily saw something all the rest of us missed. This is only because I didn’t see any of it. Freya still wasn’t likeable, and not even close to my favorite Blue character but by the end I was willing to buy it. Not really a happily ever after, but maybe a happy for now. I didn’t really feel any chemistry between the characters, not even in the end. The book is still worth reading, because I have my hopes for secondary to main characters in upcoming books. 3.5 stars rounded to 4.
September 24, 2017
Party Wall has many plu's, many details I love to read; Atypical body type, age difference, different ethnicity representation, strong woman characters, beautiful friendship and more.
The writing is witty and clever, generally well done. I knocked down. 75* because to me a chapter was missing between 'we are tentative friends ' to 'let's be romantically involved '.
I knocked an other .25 because of the useless epilogue and an other .25 for the slow -limit boring- start.
It's a book for you if you like;
- Australia set story,
- Romance,
- New Wave stuff,
- Positive representation of the sex industry,
- Feminist book,
- Story about overcoming trauma.
Trigger Warning for mention of heart break and death.
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The writing is witty and clever, generally well done. I knocked down. 75* because to me a chapter was missing between 'we are tentative friends ' to 'let's be romantically involved '.
I knocked an other .25 because of the useless epilogue and an other .25 for the slow -limit boring- start.
It's a book for you if you like;
- Australia set story,
- Romance,
- New Wave stuff,
- Positive representation of the sex industry,
- Feminist book,
- Story about overcoming trauma.
Trigger Warning for mention of heart break and death.
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 11, 2017
OK it doesn't happen often but this story made me cry for the feelings that Ms. Blue was able to bring out in her writing. It was a very well developed and flowing story that made me stay up way too late to finish considering work the next day. This was a great read and I look forward to the authors next book.
October 29, 2017
Freya, the proprietor of the New Age boutique “A Woman’s Spirit”, aspires to elevate herself and her customers above the level of base sexual desire. Convinced that she no longer needs the physical connection she shared with her deceased partner Sarah, she lives a spare, disciplined life, spending her days teaching yoga, selling candles, crystals, herbs and tea, and offering advice to her straight best friend Carly.
When Lily moves to Freya’s small town from the big city and opens “A Woman’s Pleasure” next door, the stage is set for major conflict. It’s not just that Freya disapproves of the sort of merchandise Lily’s shop purveys—lingerie, spicy books and sex toys. The Cuban woman’s lush curves, colorful clothing, rowdy music, and sexual openness disturb, offend and anger Freya. However, nothing can alter the fact that Freya and Lily live side by side, with only a thin wall separating the flats above their respective stores where they reside.
Lily makes it clear that she wants Freya for a friend, and maybe more. But Freya’s not ready to allow another lover to tarnish Sarah’s memory, especially someone as exuberant and bold as her neighbor.
I love Cheyenne Blue’s erotica. Party Wall is the fourth romance by Ms. Blue that I’ve read and reviewed, and in my opinion, the best. She does an impressive job evoking the complex, shifting emotional dynamics between Freya and Lily, shaping two full-fleshed, believable characters. She also writes exquisite passages that capture the unwelcome desire Freya experiences, despite her attempts to suppress this. Meanwhile, Lily tries with mixed success not to push herself on Freya, who has made it clear she’s not interested in having Lily as a lover.
There’s a lot of sexual tension in this book, even though there’s no actual sexual activity until the very end. In one of my favorite scenes, Lily and Freya are both consoling Carly, after she has left her cheating husband. The three of them sleep in Lily’s large bed, with Carly in the middle for comfort. Despite the summer humidity, Freya dons flannel pajamas, to hide herself from Lily’s eyes, then is so uncomfortable she’s unable to sleep . The heat she feels is more than just the effects of the temperature.
Party Wall has the inevitability of romance. We know that Lily and Freya will ultimately get together, but up until very late in the novel, it’s hard to imagine how. That’s meant as a compliment!
My one criticism of the book has to do with its treatment of men. Man, actually. There’s only one significant male character in the book, Carly’s husband Andy, and unfortunately, he’s an utter bastard. Not only does he cheat on his wife with his secretary, he also breaks into Lily’s apartment, insults, threatens and ultimately attacks both Lily and Freya, and tries to force Carly to come back home with him. He’s violent and abusive, to the point that one wonders why someone like Carly ever married him.
I know, of course, that there are men like Andy out there, men who think they own “their” women, who believe that they’re justified in using physical force to take what is “belongs to them”. However, in this case, I think the author could have achieved her goals without making the character so extreme. As it stands, Andy’s character feeds the oft-voiced popular opinion that lesbians are “hostile to men”. I really worry that some people will dismiss Ms. Blue’s book with this sort of criticism.
Overall, though, Party Wall is a delightful book. If you’re a fan of lesbian romance, I recommend it highly.
When Lily moves to Freya’s small town from the big city and opens “A Woman’s Pleasure” next door, the stage is set for major conflict. It’s not just that Freya disapproves of the sort of merchandise Lily’s shop purveys—lingerie, spicy books and sex toys. The Cuban woman’s lush curves, colorful clothing, rowdy music, and sexual openness disturb, offend and anger Freya. However, nothing can alter the fact that Freya and Lily live side by side, with only a thin wall separating the flats above their respective stores where they reside.
Lily makes it clear that she wants Freya for a friend, and maybe more. But Freya’s not ready to allow another lover to tarnish Sarah’s memory, especially someone as exuberant and bold as her neighbor.
I love Cheyenne Blue’s erotica. Party Wall is the fourth romance by Ms. Blue that I’ve read and reviewed, and in my opinion, the best. She does an impressive job evoking the complex, shifting emotional dynamics between Freya and Lily, shaping two full-fleshed, believable characters. She also writes exquisite passages that capture the unwelcome desire Freya experiences, despite her attempts to suppress this. Meanwhile, Lily tries with mixed success not to push herself on Freya, who has made it clear she’s not interested in having Lily as a lover.
There’s a lot of sexual tension in this book, even though there’s no actual sexual activity until the very end. In one of my favorite scenes, Lily and Freya are both consoling Carly, after she has left her cheating husband. The three of them sleep in Lily’s large bed, with Carly in the middle for comfort. Despite the summer humidity, Freya dons flannel pajamas, to hide herself from Lily’s eyes, then is so uncomfortable she’s unable to sleep . The heat she feels is more than just the effects of the temperature.
Party Wall has the inevitability of romance. We know that Lily and Freya will ultimately get together, but up until very late in the novel, it’s hard to imagine how. That’s meant as a compliment!
My one criticism of the book has to do with its treatment of men. Man, actually. There’s only one significant male character in the book, Carly’s husband Andy, and unfortunately, he’s an utter bastard. Not only does he cheat on his wife with his secretary, he also breaks into Lily’s apartment, insults, threatens and ultimately attacks both Lily and Freya, and tries to force Carly to come back home with him. He’s violent and abusive, to the point that one wonders why someone like Carly ever married him.
I know, of course, that there are men like Andy out there, men who think they own “their” women, who believe that they’re justified in using physical force to take what is “belongs to them”. However, in this case, I think the author could have achieved her goals without making the character so extreme. As it stands, Andy’s character feeds the oft-voiced popular opinion that lesbians are “hostile to men”. I really worry that some people will dismiss Ms. Blue’s book with this sort of criticism.
Overall, though, Party Wall is a delightful book. If you’re a fan of lesbian romance, I recommend it highly.
September 22, 2017
I have been looking forward to the new Cheyenne Blue book as I have loved everything I have read from this author before. I loved it.
I live in Queensland these days and I could see the town these ladies Freya and Lily have settled in to live and love and explore their lives. There was such clever symbolism having the two shops, A Women's Pleasure and A Women's Spirit, with their entrance doors side by side and angled toward each other. Clever.
I have wandered through many a shop such as A Women's Spirit in my time but I can't think of a shop equivalent to A Women's Pleasure. I am pretty sure it would be a shop I would enjoy exploring if I found one in my town.
Such different but similar shops and equally so, such different but similar women. Freya at first seemed so sharp and judgemental, seemingly at odds with her role in her shop and yoga teachings, but it didn't take me long to see the calm "spiritual" demeanour she functioned with in her daily life was a protective layer for great pain that had not been dealt with. And then along came Lily and her very presence was enough to crack the facade.
I loved the read. I would loved to have had time enough to read it all in one sitting. I am a person with a definite "slightly out-there" spiritual view on living so it all just made sense. I am also in an age range that sees many people around me who function daily only by burying their pain and putting on a mask some that all rang true.
It can see Freya and Lily continuing their story from this point of change forward, I wonder where it will take them.
I am left wanting to taste some of the amazing food Lily prepared and served. I think I could be tempted to the other side........the vegan side, if I was served food like this.
Yummmmm.
A fabulously enjoyable read.
I live in Queensland these days and I could see the town these ladies Freya and Lily have settled in to live and love and explore their lives. There was such clever symbolism having the two shops, A Women's Pleasure and A Women's Spirit, with their entrance doors side by side and angled toward each other. Clever.
I have wandered through many a shop such as A Women's Spirit in my time but I can't think of a shop equivalent to A Women's Pleasure. I am pretty sure it would be a shop I would enjoy exploring if I found one in my town.
Such different but similar shops and equally so, such different but similar women. Freya at first seemed so sharp and judgemental, seemingly at odds with her role in her shop and yoga teachings, but it didn't take me long to see the calm "spiritual" demeanour she functioned with in her daily life was a protective layer for great pain that had not been dealt with. And then along came Lily and her very presence was enough to crack the facade.
I loved the read. I would loved to have had time enough to read it all in one sitting. I am a person with a definite "slightly out-there" spiritual view on living so it all just made sense. I am also in an age range that sees many people around me who function daily only by burying their pain and putting on a mask some that all rang true.
It can see Freya and Lily continuing their story from this point of change forward, I wonder where it will take them.
I am left wanting to taste some of the amazing food Lily prepared and served. I think I could be tempted to the other side........the vegan side, if I was served food like this.
Yummmmm.
A fabulously enjoyable read.
September 8, 2017
An engaging story of finding love for the second time, this very Australian book was a pleasure to read. I had one important reservation but I loved the natural friendships, supportive community, and slow-burn love between the characters. These are the north coast women that I know.
Prickly Freya lives above her small-town new age store with her cat, Dorcas. She teaches yoga, diary writing and austerity to a collection of queer and straight women. She’s generous with her friends, but stoic to a fault and closed off to the world. Freya is furious when a sex shop opens next door, despite the gorgeous open-hearted owner, Lily, and her focus on women. The two share a rivalry, many frustrations as Freya is difficult and Lily a bit intense, sometimes friendship. Their chemistry is immediate but their vastly different characters mean it is denied by both. It’s almost an enemies to lovers story, but in a way that is true to ordinary life.
The setting was critical to the romance. While reading this, I felt like I lived in the warm North Queensland town of Grasstree Flat, hung out in its shops and cafes, alongside its many women. My favourite parts of this book were the fierce and kind ways in which these women connected and the warmth of the many relationships.
All of the characters are beautiful and individual. The women are grey-haired and strong or fat and beautiful. They are also imperfect: irritable or needy or oblivious, but good people. Their hearts are flawed in human ways. I could imagine being friends with all of them.
I love that this is a book about women over forty finding love. Both are bruised and their characters are deeply affected by their pasts. One of them has given up any hope of love again.
The writing is down to earth, layered but not complicated and as Australian as its characters. It has magical moments. Lily’s yoga pants are “so bright that even when Freya looked away, she saw the flash of colour on the edge of her vision”. Freya ran: “Her feet flying along the gravel path through the peeling paperbarks, the red jewels of banksia flowers.” The colours of Australia are everywhere.
I have reservations about the way the characters handle Freya’s relationship with sex.
Freya does not identify as asexual, but twice Lily describes her as asexual: “a seemingly asexual woman who had no desire to change that status” and an “empowered asexual being”. Lily means this in a monastic sense and not an identity sense. But I wish Lily, who teaches classes about women’s sexuality, would consider whether Freya is actually asexual. I wish Lily and Freya wouldn’t assume that romance must mean sex. I know this is true to the characters, who may not know people who identify as ace, but it’s a way this romance and many others could allow for a more varied understanding of sex and asexuality in romantic relationships.
Also importantly, Freya is focused on being “above” sex for difficult background reasons that make sense to her character. I appreciate that no one suggests there is something wrong with her for this. They speak highly of her strength. But I wish they put that talk into action. Instead friends pressed Freya into attending Lily’s very sweet sexuality class. I also wish Freya’s preferences about privacy and sex were a bit better heard by the other characters.
I believe the relationships all these women have with one another and with sex are realistic, and true to the characters, especially in a small Australian town. I appreciate the variety within this book and the way the community accept one another. But I think there is an ongoing conversation to have about how best to include and recognise asexual identities in romantic fiction.
Overall I loved this book. It’s a small town second chance at love for two older women. I connected with the characters and wanted the best for them. The book is full of beautiful grown-ups with all their past hurt and past love, all the mistakes they’ve already made and learned from, and all their realism and hope.
Prickly Freya lives above her small-town new age store with her cat, Dorcas. She teaches yoga, diary writing and austerity to a collection of queer and straight women. She’s generous with her friends, but stoic to a fault and closed off to the world. Freya is furious when a sex shop opens next door, despite the gorgeous open-hearted owner, Lily, and her focus on women. The two share a rivalry, many frustrations as Freya is difficult and Lily a bit intense, sometimes friendship. Their chemistry is immediate but their vastly different characters mean it is denied by both. It’s almost an enemies to lovers story, but in a way that is true to ordinary life.
The setting was critical to the romance. While reading this, I felt like I lived in the warm North Queensland town of Grasstree Flat, hung out in its shops and cafes, alongside its many women. My favourite parts of this book were the fierce and kind ways in which these women connected and the warmth of the many relationships.
All of the characters are beautiful and individual. The women are grey-haired and strong or fat and beautiful. They are also imperfect: irritable or needy or oblivious, but good people. Their hearts are flawed in human ways. I could imagine being friends with all of them.
I love that this is a book about women over forty finding love. Both are bruised and their characters are deeply affected by their pasts. One of them has given up any hope of love again.
The writing is down to earth, layered but not complicated and as Australian as its characters. It has magical moments. Lily’s yoga pants are “so bright that even when Freya looked away, she saw the flash of colour on the edge of her vision”. Freya ran: “Her feet flying along the gravel path through the peeling paperbarks, the red jewels of banksia flowers.” The colours of Australia are everywhere.
I have reservations about the way the characters handle Freya’s relationship with sex.
Freya does not identify as asexual, but twice Lily describes her as asexual: “a seemingly asexual woman who had no desire to change that status” and an “empowered asexual being”. Lily means this in a monastic sense and not an identity sense. But I wish Lily, who teaches classes about women’s sexuality, would consider whether Freya is actually asexual. I wish Lily and Freya wouldn’t assume that romance must mean sex. I know this is true to the characters, who may not know people who identify as ace, but it’s a way this romance and many others could allow for a more varied understanding of sex and asexuality in romantic relationships.
Also importantly, Freya is focused on being “above” sex for difficult background reasons that make sense to her character. I appreciate that no one suggests there is something wrong with her for this. They speak highly of her strength. But I wish they put that talk into action. Instead friends pressed Freya into attending Lily’s very sweet sexuality class. I also wish Freya’s preferences about privacy and sex were a bit better heard by the other characters.
I believe the relationships all these women have with one another and with sex are realistic, and true to the characters, especially in a small Australian town. I appreciate the variety within this book and the way the community accept one another. But I think there is an ongoing conversation to have about how best to include and recognise asexual identities in romantic fiction.
Overall I loved this book. It’s a small town second chance at love for two older women. I connected with the characters and wanted the best for them. The book is full of beautiful grown-ups with all their past hurt and past love, all the mistakes they’ve already made and learned from, and all their realism and hope.
December 27, 2024
This novel was “fine”. All of the important elements were there, but it was relatively underwhelming. It was not a bad novel by any means, it just didn’t do it for me. There were a lot of little elements and moments that I liked about this novel. There was some great banter at times between characters, particularly in scenes that involved Carly. The protagonists backstories were very well developed and their behaviors in the present made a lot of sense and flowed naturally.
My Rating: "C+"
GoodReads: 3-stars
I didn’t find that the protagonists had very much chemistry together. It was like they were antagonistic, and then suddenly they were together, without much of a reason or a transition period. The conflict between the protagonists was also somewhat repetitive and dull, with Freya simply refusing to engage with Lily and not much beyond that. I simply didn’t click with them as a couple. Overall, the entire novel felt like that; good pieces that didn’t quite come together. I found that although the novel was relatively short, it dragged on at times as I wasn’t very invested in the story.
Still, there was a good foundation here and there wasn’t anything particularly wrong with this novel. I can’t get excited about it, but I also don’t have any significant complaints. Its possible it simply wasn’t the right novel for me in particular, which sometimes happens.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
My Rating: "C+"
GoodReads: 3-stars
I didn’t find that the protagonists had very much chemistry together. It was like they were antagonistic, and then suddenly they were together, without much of a reason or a transition period. The conflict between the protagonists was also somewhat repetitive and dull, with Freya simply refusing to engage with Lily and not much beyond that. I simply didn’t click with them as a couple. Overall, the entire novel felt like that; good pieces that didn’t quite come together. I found that although the novel was relatively short, it dragged on at times as I wasn’t very invested in the story.
Still, there was a good foundation here and there wasn’t anything particularly wrong with this novel. I can’t get excited about it, but I also don’t have any significant complaints. Its possible it simply wasn’t the right novel for me in particular, which sometimes happens.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 17, 2017
Free ARC Copy for an honest review
When I read the summary of this book I thought it could be interesting. I normally have fun and enjoy books where there's plenty of banter between the 2 main characters. So I had good expectations for this new story. Unfortunately it didn't go well. I could not connect with any of the characters but specially Freia. She was rude, uninteresting, boring and her reasons as well as her turn around didn't make any sense to me. I found the story boring and struggle to reach the end.
I gave 3 starts because writing a book is a lot of work and every author deserves my respect, however I believe the author needs to mature her characters before start writing. It's not the first book I read from her and I always have the same feeling, something is missing, not with the plot but with her characters.
When I read the summary of this book I thought it could be interesting. I normally have fun and enjoy books where there's plenty of banter between the 2 main characters. So I had good expectations for this new story. Unfortunately it didn't go well. I could not connect with any of the characters but specially Freia. She was rude, uninteresting, boring and her reasons as well as her turn around didn't make any sense to me. I found the story boring and struggle to reach the end.
I gave 3 starts because writing a book is a lot of work and every author deserves my respect, however I believe the author needs to mature her characters before start writing. It's not the first book I read from her and I always have the same feeling, something is missing, not with the plot but with her characters.
September 3, 2017
Party Wall. A beautifully crafted story of two dynamically opposite women living and working beside each other. Freya and Lily are strong independent characters. One is irresistible and the other cantankerous. The character development relies on impeccable pacing by the author. It is nice to see the use of older characters for us over 30 readers. This is a great read and you will find it hard to put down once you have started.
September 7, 2017
I rec'd an ARC from Ylva Publishing in exchange for an honest review. No synopsis needed.
This is another smartly written romance from the author. Rarely disappointing, she has once again hooked me with the lead characters Freya and Lily, making me read through the night. Kudos Ms. Blue!
4.5 stars.
This is another smartly written romance from the author. Rarely disappointing, she has once again hooked me with the lead characters Freya and Lily, making me read through the night. Kudos Ms. Blue!
4.5 stars.
September 27, 2017
This romance novel had a different writing style than her other novels. However, Cheyenne Blue delivers another strong romance novel with main characters that have slight personality flaws. It is these flaws that weave the characters together to create a strong plot and an enjoyable read.
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