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Gold
When you spend your life at the top, there’s only one direction you can go. Pro alpine skier Aspen Archer’s downfall happened in the worst possible way—a career-ending crash on a gold medal run at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. Aspen packed up her broken life, picked up her broken body and now hides in comfortable obscurity at ski resorts around the world, coaching tourists and ignoring her problems. Cate Tierney knows who Aspen Archer is, but the last place she expected to meet the former Olympian was during a ski trip to Australia. Hurt by a past relationship, and with a teenage daughter to protect, Cate’s initial reluctance is quickly overcome by her intense attraction. But with Cate’s vacation ending in a few short weeks and Aspen’s aversion to staying in one place, can their encounter be anything more than a fling? When Cate discovers Aspen’s secrets, Aspen is forced to face everything she’d been trying to forget. And everything she’d forgotten she wanted. Aspen already knows the route from start to finish doesn’t always go as planned. Now she needs to figure out how to get herself back on course for good.
283 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 14, 2018
91 people are currently reading
1866 people want to read
About the author
E.J. Noyes
19 books1,975 followersE. J. Noyes is an Australian transplanted to New Zealand, which may be the awesomest thing to happen to her. She lives in the South Island with her wife and the world’s best and neediest cat, and is enjoying the change of temperature from her hot, humid homeland.
An avid but mediocre gamer, E. J. lives for skiing (which she is also mediocre at), enjoys arguing with her hair, pretending to be good at things, and working the fact she’s a best-selling and award-winning author into casual conversation.
If you want (very) sporadic emails about what E. J. is doing, you can sign up for the E. J. Noyesletter at: https://ejnoyesauthor.com/
An avid but mediocre gamer, E. J. lives for skiing (which she is also mediocre at), enjoys arguing with her hair, pretending to be good at things, and working the fact she’s a best-selling and award-winning author into casual conversation.
If you want (very) sporadic emails about what E. J. is doing, you can sign up for the E. J. Noyesletter at: https://ejnoyesauthor.com/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 338 reviews
May 23, 2018
Loved it! Anyone who knows me knows I’m an unapologetic E.J. Noyes fan. I just love her books. Her writing absolutely clicks for me. I happily would and do recommend her book Ask, Tell to anyone looking for great lesfic. I have anxiously been waiting for this her third book to arrive. I loved her first book and her second, would I love her third? I’m so happy to say yes.
Olympic medal winning skier Aspen Archer has been running away since a horrible accident cut her career short. She deals with chronic pain, panic attacks and self-loathing, but she still is able to teach skiing. After meeting Cate, the parent of a kid she was teaching, Aspen can’t get her out of her mind. The chemistry is intense but both women have baggage galore. Can these two women overcome their issues for a real relationship or is a fling all they can ever have?
I actually started reading this book the night before. I thought I would get in a few chapters in before bed. I ended up reading until 5am, and was a zombie at work. I could not put this book down. Just one more chapter, one more, I was completely hooked in. I read a lot of pure romance, but rarely does a romance draw me in like this. That’s when I know I am reading a book that really works for me. I purposely slowed myself down and finished this book tonight. It might be 2019 before I read another book by Noyes; I needed to savior this more.
The character of Aspen was just wonderful. She is the kind of character you don’t soon forget because she was such a sweetheart. Cate on the other hand could be a little prickly. It took me longer to warm up to her, but she did truly care so she won me over. I did really like them as a potential couple. I thought they balanced each other out quite a bit. It was a little of opposites attract in some ways, but it worked.
In so many romances lately you watch two people get together, than some big angst drama moment happens at the 85% mark. They break up and then the characters get back together right at the end of the book, never really working out their issues. I don’t want to spoiler anything so I will just say that this was not the case in this book. This book is exactly the way I wish romance authors would get back to writing romance. This is what I want to read. Thank you E.J. Noyes!
Just a few other quick things I want to mention. This book made me cry. I cry more easily now than I did when I was younger, but I’d keep a tissue by you since you will probably need it. Noyes knows how to make her readers feel. Lastly, I forgot to mention the sex scenes were good and steamy. A perfect amount that switched up enough that they were never repetitive, just hot and steamy.
If you are a Noyes fan, get this book. If you are a romance fan, get this book. I didn’t even talk about the skiing… if you are a skiing fan, get this book. As a big Noyes fan I might be a little bias, but this book just really worked for me. I hope everyone enjoys it as much as I did.
An ARC was given to me by Bella, for a honest review.
Olympic medal winning skier Aspen Archer has been running away since a horrible accident cut her career short. She deals with chronic pain, panic attacks and self-loathing, but she still is able to teach skiing. After meeting Cate, the parent of a kid she was teaching, Aspen can’t get her out of her mind. The chemistry is intense but both women have baggage galore. Can these two women overcome their issues for a real relationship or is a fling all they can ever have?
I actually started reading this book the night before. I thought I would get in a few chapters in before bed. I ended up reading until 5am, and was a zombie at work. I could not put this book down. Just one more chapter, one more, I was completely hooked in. I read a lot of pure romance, but rarely does a romance draw me in like this. That’s when I know I am reading a book that really works for me. I purposely slowed myself down and finished this book tonight. It might be 2019 before I read another book by Noyes; I needed to savior this more.
The character of Aspen was just wonderful. She is the kind of character you don’t soon forget because she was such a sweetheart. Cate on the other hand could be a little prickly. It took me longer to warm up to her, but she did truly care so she won me over. I did really like them as a potential couple. I thought they balanced each other out quite a bit. It was a little of opposites attract in some ways, but it worked.
In so many romances lately you watch two people get together, than some big angst drama moment happens at the 85% mark. They break up and then the characters get back together right at the end of the book, never really working out their issues. I don’t want to spoiler anything so I will just say that this was not the case in this book. This book is exactly the way I wish romance authors would get back to writing romance. This is what I want to read. Thank you E.J. Noyes!
Just a few other quick things I want to mention. This book made me cry. I cry more easily now than I did when I was younger, but I’d keep a tissue by you since you will probably need it. Noyes knows how to make her readers feel. Lastly, I forgot to mention the sex scenes were good and steamy. A perfect amount that switched up enough that they were never repetitive, just hot and steamy.
If you are a Noyes fan, get this book. If you are a romance fan, get this book. I didn’t even talk about the skiing… if you are a skiing fan, get this book. As a big Noyes fan I might be a little bias, but this book just really worked for me. I hope everyone enjoys it as much as I did.
An ARC was given to me by Bella, for a honest review.
September 4, 2022
**'There's no secret skill or password to being a really good writer..'
Delightful read!
An evocative and absorbing story with great chemistry between the main characters and a bunch of good secondary casts. A highly recommended book!
Delightful read!
An evocative and absorbing story with great chemistry between the main characters and a bunch of good secondary casts. A highly recommended book!
December 29, 2018
Gold by E.J. Noyes is a romance novel for my favorites shelf. The title is evidently a good omen for this book, as it is topnotch -- golden all-over. I love everything about it -- the setting, the protagonists, sweet and convincing romance, a nice bunch of secondary characters, the skiing... The writing is excellent with great dialogue and pacing. There is some well-placed angst along with a really believable conflict. On top of all that, the ending (the entire last chapter) is truly great. I love when the author knows how to write a really satisfying ending.
All in all, E.J. Noyes did an admirable job here. Kudos to her!
Highly recommended.
5 stars
May 27, 2018
*A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher.*
All in all, E.J. Noyes did an admirable job here. Kudos to her!
Highly recommended.
5 stars
May 27, 2018
*A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher.*
January 2, 2020
Audiobook update: I need to figure out how to change the voice on the sat nav in my car to that of Abby Craden. There's just one problem. If she tells me to slow down or that I've reached my destination using that voice of hers I just might drive right into a lamp post. What a start to 2020 that would be!
Don't read this without your AC on or something cold nearby!
Another fantastic book by E.J. Noyes who has become one of my favorite lesfic authors in a very short time considering every book she has written so far has made it onto my favorites list and this book is no different. I won't bother recapping the book but instead will point out the things that made me once again get totally lost in this story and develop a character crush. (Though Audrey from Turbulence still makes me swoon)
The first would be the writing. It seems obvious to point this out but what I mean is that everything from the pacing to the development of the characters has been written exceptionally well. I liked that the focus remained on Aspen (mainly) and Cate even though they both had a lot of other things going on. Sometimes authors focus too much on the relationship between a main character and a secondary character and it ends up overpowering the main story line but that is not the case in this book.
The second thing might also seem very obvious to point out but it's the relationship between Aspen and Cate. Yes they have fantastic chemistry and yes the sex scenes are (scorching, blazing, polar ice cap melting) HOT but these characters have layers upon layers upon layers as well. (Cate honestly made my brain melt because to me there is nothing sexier than a woman who knows what she wants and isn't afraid to ask for it.) The story is told from Aspen's POV and therefor we don't learn a lot about Cate and her inner demons but boy does she have them. (She's actually my second character crush written by Noyes.)
The third thing that made me once again fall in love with this book were the secondary characters. As much as I adored Gemma and Phoebe and all the others, my weak spot was really Danielle. She cracked me up every time she spoke. If there should ever be a sequel (please write a sequel 🙏) I would like to see more of her.
On a final note, am I the only one who tracks their year by book releases and not by birthdays, anniversaries or vacations? (Oh the hardships of being a bookworm.) if you haven't seen it already there is a sequel in the make to Ask, Tell called Ask Me Again so mark your calender's.
Full 5* rating and more for this sexy snowball!
Don't read this without your AC on or something cold nearby!
Another fantastic book by E.J. Noyes who has become one of my favorite lesfic authors in a very short time considering every book she has written so far has made it onto my favorites list and this book is no different. I won't bother recapping the book but instead will point out the things that made me once again get totally lost in this story and develop a character crush. (Though Audrey from Turbulence still makes me swoon)
The first would be the writing. It seems obvious to point this out but what I mean is that everything from the pacing to the development of the characters has been written exceptionally well. I liked that the focus remained on Aspen (mainly) and Cate even though they both had a lot of other things going on. Sometimes authors focus too much on the relationship between a main character and a secondary character and it ends up overpowering the main story line but that is not the case in this book.
The second thing might also seem very obvious to point out but it's the relationship between Aspen and Cate. Yes they have fantastic chemistry and yes the sex scenes are (scorching, blazing, polar ice cap melting) HOT but these characters have layers upon layers upon layers as well. (Cate honestly made my brain melt because to me there is nothing sexier than a woman who knows what she wants and isn't afraid to ask for it.) The story is told from Aspen's POV and therefor we don't learn a lot about Cate and her inner demons but boy does she have them. (She's actually my second character crush written by Noyes.)
The third thing that made me once again fall in love with this book were the secondary characters. As much as I adored Gemma and Phoebe and all the others, my weak spot was really Danielle. She cracked me up every time she spoke. If there should ever be a sequel (please write a sequel 🙏) I would like to see more of her.
On a final note, am I the only one who tracks their year by book releases and not by birthdays, anniversaries or vacations? (Oh the hardships of being a bookworm.) if you haven't seen it already there is a sequel in the make to Ask, Tell called Ask Me Again so mark your calender's.
Full 5* rating and more for this sexy snowball!
July 7, 2018
Oh, hark! Lo, the lesbians doth communicate in this romance and act like adults. Let the readers rejoice!
Take heed other writers. Please make your characters follow in this vein. It doesn't detract from the quality of the read nor the drama.
Many others have written great reviews of this book. I'll just say that I enjoyed it as well and think this is my favorite of my three Noyes reads so far. It was refreshing, non-cliche, and all around solidly written. 4.6 stars.
Take heed other writers. Please make your characters follow in this vein. It doesn't detract from the quality of the read nor the drama.
Many others have written great reviews of this book. I'll just say that I enjoyed it as well and think this is my favorite of my three Noyes reads so far. It was refreshing, non-cliche, and all around solidly written. 4.6 stars.
June 2, 2020
UPDATE: I listened to the audio recently, and what a perfect accompaniment on my morning commute featuring empty streets/highways during Covid. This story kept things light and fun and steamy and was one of the best brain-breaks a girl could ask for after intense work days. 5/5 for the wonderful prose and great narration!
_______________________________________________
OK...I don't know what was wrong with me on my first read of Gold many months ago. At that time I think I rated it at a 2 or 3, something to do with "not feeling it."
I have come up with a list of potential reasons for the above atrocity. All highly probable and believable:
1) I inadvertently got locked in a room in which Nickelback was playing on bust and would only turn off when I finished Gold.
2) The husband-wife baker team down the street decided to shake things up and lace their scones with crack and I ate 4.
3) I was promised a million dolla bills if I read Gold as fast as possible while holding my breath underwater.
4) I attempted to translate it word for word to Spanish, and I don't speak Spanish.
5) I was reading it in the window seat on a 12 hour flight and blocked in by my seatmate who was bathed in so much patchouli that it killed off all my lesfic lovin' brain cells (I fucking haaaaate patchouli).
Seriously, on my second more clear-headed non crack-induced read, I found this to be complex, layered story about a former athlete trying to rediscover who she is, as her former identity has been damaged after a debilitating injury. Having some access to athletes and knowing how regimented, focused and passionate they are about their sport, plus working in mental health, I found Aspen's journey highly believable and well written. I'm a sucker for a solid deep emotional pull at the heart-strings, the sensitive flower that I am.
Her building a relationship with Cate, who has her own shaky foundation due to a rather traumatic past relationship as well as raising a teenager as a single parent, sets a precarious balance for the two. The story takes a few turns that I actually didn't expect. Though the story is told through Aspen's POV, I really liked Cate and she is now in my top 5 of favourite lesfic characters ever. I am jealous of her confidence (drooool), her maturity is most welcome, and the chemistry between the two a solid 5/5. SOLID. DamnDamnDaaaammmmnnn.
Ms. Noyes just seems to have hit all my happy buttons with her stories. She knows how to be witty and self-deprecating. She goes deeper than surface emotions. She doesn't seem to follow the same formula for her books. Her intimate scenes are raw, sensual, hot, varied, and satisfying, without being over the top, and keep the story going at a great pace. I laugh out loud at the humour but also feel my heart-ache at the dramas.
A half-point knocked off for all the ski talk though, because well, I'm a snowboarder. 'Nuf said. ;)
_______________________________________________
OK...I don't know what was wrong with me on my first read of Gold many months ago. At that time I think I rated it at a 2 or 3, something to do with "not feeling it."
I have come up with a list of potential reasons for the above atrocity. All highly probable and believable:
1) I inadvertently got locked in a room in which Nickelback was playing on bust and would only turn off when I finished Gold.
2) The husband-wife baker team down the street decided to shake things up and lace their scones with crack and I ate 4.
3) I was promised a million dolla bills if I read Gold as fast as possible while holding my breath underwater.
4) I attempted to translate it word for word to Spanish, and I don't speak Spanish.
5) I was reading it in the window seat on a 12 hour flight and blocked in by my seatmate who was bathed in so much patchouli that it killed off all my lesfic lovin' brain cells (I fucking haaaaate patchouli).
Seriously, on my second more clear-headed non crack-induced read, I found this to be complex, layered story about a former athlete trying to rediscover who she is, as her former identity has been damaged after a debilitating injury. Having some access to athletes and knowing how regimented, focused and passionate they are about their sport, plus working in mental health, I found Aspen's journey highly believable and well written. I'm a sucker for a solid deep emotional pull at the heart-strings, the sensitive flower that I am.
Her building a relationship with Cate, who has her own shaky foundation due to a rather traumatic past relationship as well as raising a teenager as a single parent, sets a precarious balance for the two. The story takes a few turns that I actually didn't expect. Though the story is told through Aspen's POV, I really liked Cate and she is now in my top 5 of favourite lesfic characters ever. I am jealous of her confidence (drooool), her maturity is most welcome, and the chemistry between the two a solid 5/5. SOLID. DamnDamnDaaaammmmnnn.
Ms. Noyes just seems to have hit all my happy buttons with her stories. She knows how to be witty and self-deprecating. She goes deeper than surface emotions. She doesn't seem to follow the same formula for her books. Her intimate scenes are raw, sensual, hot, varied, and satisfying, without being over the top, and keep the story going at a great pace. I laugh out loud at the humour but also feel my heart-ache at the dramas.
A half-point knocked off for all the ski talk though, because well, I'm a snowboarder. 'Nuf said. ;)
May 2, 2020
[May 2nd, 2020: Review updated after I listened to the audiobook]
April 2019 review:
So many feelings! What can I say? Read this book. It’s good. It’ll make you feel good.
A word of warning, though: Aspen suffers from anxiety and panic attacks, which are very accurately described. If you’re worried you might be triggered, maybe wait for the right time, when you’re feeling strong, to read this book, which is totally worth it.
May 2020 review:
When I read this book a year ago, I rated it 5*. I wish I had more stars to give the audiobook version. E. J. Noyes is an incredible writer, Abby Craden is an incredible narrator, and the combination of the two works perfectly every time.
After an accident brought an end to her career as an Alpine skier, Aspen Archer became a ski instructor, losing herself in the sports she loves despite not being able to compete anymore. On holidays in Australia, Cate Tierney hires Aspen to give lessons to her daughter Gemma, then for herself. The attraction between the two women is instant. Cate is everything Aspen wants in a woman: smart, beautiful, kind, and a mother to a clever and sweet kid. Cate’s feelings are just as strong but she comes with baggage (who doesn’t?) and is wary of asking too much from Aspen, who is a few years younger than her.
Pain, whether physical or mental, is a recurring theme is E. J. Noyes’ books, or, more specifically, the way her characters deal or do not deal with that pain. How they grow from it, with it, away from it. How they conquer it. In Gold, Aspen is living with physical pain from her accident and with anxiety and panic attacks that probably go back to way before that. Cate is recovering from an abusive relationship. Both are scared of themselves, of not being strong enough, and of not being able to be there for the other. What makes Noyes such a great writer (among other things) is her ability to always hint at hope, making the reader root passionately for her characters, feel optimistic even in the darkest times.
E. J. Noyes is also one of those writers who completely stump me and my review-writing skills. Nothing I write will do her books justice. I have so much respect and love (yes, love) for her words that mine fade, as if they weren’t worthy of coming so close to the sun. So I’ll leave it at what I wrote in my first review: read (or listen to) this book. It’s good. It’ll make you feel good.
April 2019 review:
So many feelings! What can I say? Read this book. It’s good. It’ll make you feel good.
A word of warning, though: Aspen suffers from anxiety and panic attacks, which are very accurately described. If you’re worried you might be triggered, maybe wait for the right time, when you’re feeling strong, to read this book, which is totally worth it.
May 2020 review:
When I read this book a year ago, I rated it 5*. I wish I had more stars to give the audiobook version. E. J. Noyes is an incredible writer, Abby Craden is an incredible narrator, and the combination of the two works perfectly every time.
After an accident brought an end to her career as an Alpine skier, Aspen Archer became a ski instructor, losing herself in the sports she loves despite not being able to compete anymore. On holidays in Australia, Cate Tierney hires Aspen to give lessons to her daughter Gemma, then for herself. The attraction between the two women is instant. Cate is everything Aspen wants in a woman: smart, beautiful, kind, and a mother to a clever and sweet kid. Cate’s feelings are just as strong but she comes with baggage (who doesn’t?) and is wary of asking too much from Aspen, who is a few years younger than her.
Pain, whether physical or mental, is a recurring theme is E. J. Noyes’ books, or, more specifically, the way her characters deal or do not deal with that pain. How they grow from it, with it, away from it. How they conquer it. In Gold, Aspen is living with physical pain from her accident and with anxiety and panic attacks that probably go back to way before that. Cate is recovering from an abusive relationship. Both are scared of themselves, of not being strong enough, and of not being able to be there for the other. What makes Noyes such a great writer (among other things) is her ability to always hint at hope, making the reader root passionately for her characters, feel optimistic even in the darkest times.
E. J. Noyes is also one of those writers who completely stump me and my review-writing skills. Nothing I write will do her books justice. I have so much respect and love (yes, love) for her words that mine fade, as if they weren’t worthy of coming so close to the sun. So I’ll leave it at what I wrote in my first review: read (or listen to) this book. It’s good. It’ll make you feel good.
August 1, 2018
Goooooooooooooooold!!!!!!!!
What a stu.pen.dous book! E.J. Noyes has scored a hattrick with Gold, an excellent feel good romance that ticks all the boxes. I’m such a fan of this woman’s writing. I was swept off my feet after her debut novel Ask Tell and will buy everything she puts out, don’t even need to read the blurb.
I could go on and on and explain in great detail what I loved about this book but what’s the point if fucking everything was bloody perfect?! The romance is awesome, I had such a character crush on Cate, I would marry her in a heartbeat (sorry Aspen).
There are not many books that leave you euphoric after you finish them. This one does. I’m high as a kite right now on lurve. Lol!
Buy this book, people. Enjoy it and sing E. J. Noyes’ praises far and wide and let her know how much you love and appreciate her fabulous contribution to the lesfic community.
f/f off the wall sexual chemistry!
Themes: I was ambivalent about skiing but I love it when Noyes writes about it, prescription drug addiction, such a wonderful romance, there is some relationship related angst but not of the stupid kind, this was constructive to the story and none of that where-at-the-80%-mark-lets-throw-in-some-bullshit-angst-to-stirr-the-pot-for-no-reason angst.
5 Olympic stars
What a stu.pen.dous book! E.J. Noyes has scored a hattrick with Gold, an excellent feel good romance that ticks all the boxes. I’m such a fan of this woman’s writing. I was swept off my feet after her debut novel Ask Tell and will buy everything she puts out, don’t even need to read the blurb.
I could go on and on and explain in great detail what I loved about this book but what’s the point if fucking everything was bloody perfect?! The romance is awesome, I had such a character crush on Cate, I would marry her in a heartbeat (sorry Aspen).
There are not many books that leave you euphoric after you finish them. This one does. I’m high as a kite right now on lurve. Lol!
Buy this book, people. Enjoy it and sing E. J. Noyes’ praises far and wide and let her know how much you love and appreciate her fabulous contribution to the lesfic community.
f/f off the wall sexual chemistry!
Themes: I was ambivalent about skiing but I love it when Noyes writes about it, prescription drug addiction, such a wonderful romance, there is some relationship related angst but not of the stupid kind, this was constructive to the story and none of that where-at-the-80%-mark-lets-throw-in-some-bullshit-angst-to-stirr-the-pot-for-no-reason angst.
5 Olympic stars
September 27, 2018
*Sigh* And now it's finished. I've been skirting around this book for ages now waiting for the right moment to read it. I was fairly certain I would like it and wanted to give it my full attention. I was so certain that I'd like it that I chose to be the last book of my 2018 reading challenge. I more than liked it, I loved it. Noyes creates characters who become complete people in my head and I found myself completely immersed in their love story.
Even though Gold is told in first person from Aspen's point of view I never felt that Cate, Gemma or any of the other characters, were lacking in depth. This really is a superbly told story.
Even though Gold is told in first person from Aspen's point of view I never felt that Cate, Gemma or any of the other characters, were lacking in depth. This really is a superbly told story.
November 27, 2022
🏳️🌈👭📚🇦🇺 🇺🇸👩⚕️👩👩👧🎿⛷️⚢👩❤️👩🏳️🌈
🏅 GOLD 🏅 was on my never ending "must-be-read-ASAP"-list since a long while and I couldn’t wait to read it … But I had to … until it came to me as part of a Christmas gift .. Gosh !! I feel blessed ‘cause I really have some friends in gold 😉 …
Since I as a child my preference has always been for third person narration (even in French). So, logically, when I began to read in English I wasn’t a fan of the first person narration. But, since, I’ve read a few amazing novels written from one of the main characters’s perspective and I changed a lil bit my mind…
In GOLD, the story is told from Olympic medal winning skier Aspen Archer’s perspective & it’s not bothering, at all .. Why ??? => Because none of the other characters (starting by the gorgeous Cate), the even more secondary characters, children (like Cate’s teenage daughter Gemma but a few others too) and adults alike are well defined and have their own distinctive voice … And the way the story is told , we (readers) can see not only everyone but also everything else in 3D … Yeah … EJ Noyes’s writes well (the story is well balanced between enjoyment and angst), with style & humor and her vivid descriptions of the Australian mountain landscape first &, then, the American one will blow you away and give you the desire to visit the sites by yourself even if you’re not a skier yourself …
I love novels like this one where at least one of the main characters has a disability. Don’t get me wrong, it’s nice to read about women with perfect bodies & who have it all in life but, personally I think those kind of character is more a fantasy than everything for (plenty of) people & it’s not what I’m looking for, as a matter of fact, it’s not my cup of tea. Those not so perfect women are so much better from my POV, more interesting ‘cause their past, their wounds (physical or psychological ones), their disabilities (due to a trauma or not) are what makes them more realistic … more human …
Aspen got a major ski accident which crashed her pro career a few years ago. & Cate has a quite heavy past in the relationship area (which doesn’t help) & a teenage girl she wants to protect. My feeling is that GOLD is a bautiful romance about self-development, an internal journey about how to find the best version of yourself and the courage to fight your biggest demons to heal (finally ..) with the help of true Love which also bring you a family (‘cause yeah, family isn’t always a matter of blood … it a matter of Heart) … alongside the love story there are a few love scenes .. they are well written as well, easy to picture .. A pure delight, very sensual, even erotic some times, it’s allowed by the chemistry between the Aspen and Cate and their lovemakings embellishe both of them and their relationship ...
Update (11/22)
I’m more than happy to recommend this novel & the entire "Ask, Tell" series as well.
Where the other novels by EJ Noyes's are concerned, even if I haven't read them (yet), they are on my TBR list …
No hesitation needed here guys & gals : grab your copy !!!.
Enjoy your reading !!!
🏳️🌈👭📚🇦🇺 🇺🇸👩⚕️👩👩👧🎿⛷️⚢👩❤️👩🏳️🌈
🏅 GOLD 🏅 was on my never ending "must-be-read-ASAP"-list since a long while and I couldn’t wait to read it … But I had to … until it came to me as part of a Christmas gift .. Gosh !! I feel blessed ‘cause I really have some friends in gold 😉 …
Since I as a child my preference has always been for third person narration (even in French). So, logically, when I began to read in English I wasn’t a fan of the first person narration. But, since, I’ve read a few amazing novels written from one of the main characters’s perspective and I changed a lil bit my mind…
In GOLD, the story is told from Olympic medal winning skier Aspen Archer’s perspective & it’s not bothering, at all .. Why ??? => Because none of the other characters (starting by the gorgeous Cate), the even more secondary characters, children (like Cate’s teenage daughter Gemma but a few others too) and adults alike are well defined and have their own distinctive voice … And the way the story is told , we (readers) can see not only everyone but also everything else in 3D … Yeah … EJ Noyes’s writes well (the story is well balanced between enjoyment and angst), with style & humor and her vivid descriptions of the Australian mountain landscape first &, then, the American one will blow you away and give you the desire to visit the sites by yourself even if you’re not a skier yourself …
I love novels like this one where at least one of the main characters has a disability. Don’t get me wrong, it’s nice to read about women with perfect bodies & who have it all in life but, personally I think those kind of character is more a fantasy than everything for (plenty of) people & it’s not what I’m looking for, as a matter of fact, it’s not my cup of tea. Those not so perfect women are so much better from my POV, more interesting ‘cause their past, their wounds (physical or psychological ones), their disabilities (due to a trauma or not) are what makes them more realistic … more human …
Aspen got a major ski accident which crashed her pro career a few years ago. & Cate has a quite heavy past in the relationship area (which doesn’t help) & a teenage girl she wants to protect. My feeling is that GOLD is a bautiful romance about self-development, an internal journey about how to find the best version of yourself and the courage to fight your biggest demons to heal (finally ..) with the help of true Love which also bring you a family (‘cause yeah, family isn’t always a matter of blood … it a matter of Heart) … alongside the love story there are a few love scenes .. they are well written as well, easy to picture .. A pure delight, very sensual, even erotic some times, it’s allowed by the chemistry between the Aspen and Cate and their lovemakings embellishe both of them and their relationship ...
Update (11/22)
I’m more than happy to recommend this novel & the entire "Ask, Tell" series as well.
Where the other novels by EJ Noyes's are concerned, even if I haven't read them (yet), they are on my TBR list …
No hesitation needed here guys & gals : grab your copy !!!.
Enjoy your reading !!!
🏳️🌈👭📚🇦🇺 🇺🇸👩⚕️👩👩👧🎿⛷️⚢👩❤️👩🏳️🌈
August 11, 2018
Now that’s a nice one :) loved every second of it!!
June 21, 2020
Update to my review:
Two years ago I read the book and now I listen to the audiobook, and if I could I would give a star more for the conversion to audio by Abby Craden. She gives the character her own personality. And Mrs. Craden did an excellent job.
This is a Gold winning romance.
I liked everything in this book, the story itself, the main characters, the secondary characters, and the romance. Just wonderful. It’s my second book by Noyes, first I’ve read it was "Ask, Tell", and that was a fantastic book too.
The story is written in Aspen’s POV. And in this case, it’s just perfect. Aspen is hiding in a ski resort in Australia, as far away as possible from her former life as a medal-winning pro alpine skier. She had to retire from the professional sport due to her horrible accident, during an Olympic medal run in Vancouver. She still suffers a lot of pain, panic attacks, and can’t get over what she has lost the day the accident happened. The only thing she still has, is skiing, not for competition, just for teaching, and she pays a lot for that. So she travels the world from resort to resort. But when she meets Cate Tierney, a US physical therapist, some things shifted inside her. Cate made her dream again.
I fell in love with Aspen from the beginning. I could understand her troubles, to accept, that her body isn’t able to endure big efforts anymore. I have my own share of problems with joints and ligaments, and can’t do every sport anymore too. Aspen’s such a great person with a wonderful character. Noyes did a really good job to narrate Aspens point of view. You can perceive what she feels, her pain, her anxiety, her doubt, and her love. And it’s also nice to get to know Cate at the same time Aspen does. Cate is wonderful too, a great mom and a caring person.
The romance is sweet, the setting wonderful, the dialogues great, the conflict is real and the flow of the story is perfectly paced. It isn’t a sports novel in the conventional sense, there is some skiing but no competition. You don’t have to be a sports fan to enjoy this book. The secondary characters are well integrated and gave the story another layer. Especially Gem and Stace are amazing.
I highly recommend this book to everybody.
My rating 5 stars
Two years ago I read the book and now I listen to the audiobook, and if I could I would give a star more for the conversion to audio by Abby Craden. She gives the character her own personality. And Mrs. Craden did an excellent job.
This is a Gold winning romance.
I liked everything in this book, the story itself, the main characters, the secondary characters, and the romance. Just wonderful. It’s my second book by Noyes, first I’ve read it was "Ask, Tell", and that was a fantastic book too.
The story is written in Aspen’s POV. And in this case, it’s just perfect. Aspen is hiding in a ski resort in Australia, as far away as possible from her former life as a medal-winning pro alpine skier. She had to retire from the professional sport due to her horrible accident, during an Olympic medal run in Vancouver. She still suffers a lot of pain, panic attacks, and can’t get over what she has lost the day the accident happened. The only thing she still has, is skiing, not for competition, just for teaching, and she pays a lot for that. So she travels the world from resort to resort. But when she meets Cate Tierney, a US physical therapist, some things shifted inside her. Cate made her dream again.
I fell in love with Aspen from the beginning. I could understand her troubles, to accept, that her body isn’t able to endure big efforts anymore. I have my own share of problems with joints and ligaments, and can’t do every sport anymore too. Aspen’s such a great person with a wonderful character. Noyes did a really good job to narrate Aspens point of view. You can perceive what she feels, her pain, her anxiety, her doubt, and her love. And it’s also nice to get to know Cate at the same time Aspen does. Cate is wonderful too, a great mom and a caring person.
The romance is sweet, the setting wonderful, the dialogues great, the conflict is real and the flow of the story is perfectly paced. It isn’t a sports novel in the conventional sense, there is some skiing but no competition. You don’t have to be a sports fan to enjoy this book. The secondary characters are well integrated and gave the story another layer. Especially Gem and Stace are amazing.
I highly recommend this book to everybody.
My rating 5 stars
September 16, 2020
Yowza. Smoking hot tale of a ski pro and a gorgeous vacationer enjoying more than downhill lessons together at a resort in Australia. Hundreds of reviews so all I’ll say is may we never take for granted how EJ Noyes’ stories are above and beyond most other books.
What surprised me the most about this story? I knew the heat was coming but what really floored me was the growth of the characters. What easily could have been written as stereotypes instead became a skilled creation of flawed human beings which in the end gave a more satisfying ending. I listened to Abby Craden’s blissful narration and then read those same passages behind it. Just wonderful.
What surprised me the most about this story? I knew the heat was coming but what really floored me was the growth of the characters. What easily could have been written as stereotypes instead became a skilled creation of flawed human beings which in the end gave a more satisfying ending. I listened to Abby Craden’s blissful narration and then read those same passages behind it. Just wonderful.
November 10, 2022
I read this in preparation for the YA sequel that’s coming out this month. I’ve had it for a few years now but was resistant because I’m not a fan of skiing or snow or sports so…but I finally gave in. And I am happy to report I was pleasantly surprised.
The chemistry was great and it’s just a really nice read. The reason I’m not giving it 5 stars is because the romance happens way to quickly for me. It’s such a short amount of time and I just didn’t see how they could develop such overwhelming feelings that fast. Also, this is only told from Aspen’s pov and I wasn’t 100% sold on Cate…
Still loved this and would recommend this to anyone who hasn’t yet read it :)
The chemistry was great and it’s just a really nice read. The reason I’m not giving it 5 stars is because the romance happens way to quickly for me. It’s such a short amount of time and I just didn’t see how they could develop such overwhelming feelings that fast. Also, this is only told from Aspen’s pov and I wasn’t 100% sold on Cate…
Still loved this and would recommend this to anyone who hasn’t yet read it :)
December 21, 2018
Ladies, we had a live avalanche in this story so for those who have yet to read this beauty , do click on the green want to read button OR skip that and click on purchase.
Gold was my 2nd winter sports / romance lesfic. When I read it, my YouTube was simultaneously on to fangirl the ladies as they stormed down the hills with either their skis or boards. If you're not a fan, don't worry as the romance was superbly written and the sports terminology was comprehensible to non-skiers..myself included.
This was my 2nd by Ms.Noyes and I fell for it, not as hard as Turbulence but closed enough. If you clicked on her name and saw the ratings / read the reviews that she got for all her work you'd know that E.J. Noyes was an author that you can trust to ignite all sorts of emotions in you and made you think whether to keep your ####### on or off as the weather down under became unpredictable - from drizzling to thunderstorm.
I loved almost everything in this book, Aspen Archer had issues as big as the mountains that she couldn't live without but a brooding heroine, she was not. Meeting Cate made her realized how much more she wanted in her personal life after being alone and involved in a non committed relationship for quite some time.
Cate had her own yeti monster to slay, being a single parent made her extra careful when pursuing a relationship. Her alluring vibe not only did a number to Aspen, I was hooked too. I was surprised that the weather remained extremely cold when these two got together.
Aspen + Cate - I didn't need a crystal ball and changed my name to Madam Jyn Erso ( I didn't mind the name changed actually ) to say that the hs were a perfect fit, they completed each other and their broken pieces served as reminders on how blessed they were going through the ugliness to reach the beauty in the end.
Gold was my 2nd winter sports / romance lesfic. When I read it, my YouTube was simultaneously on to fangirl the ladies as they stormed down the hills with either their skis or boards. If you're not a fan, don't worry as the romance was superbly written and the sports terminology was comprehensible to non-skiers..myself included.
This was my 2nd by Ms.Noyes and I fell for it, not as hard as Turbulence but closed enough. If you clicked on her name and saw the ratings / read the reviews that she got for all her work you'd know that E.J. Noyes was an author that you can trust to ignite all sorts of emotions in you and made you think whether to keep your ####### on or off as the weather down under became unpredictable - from drizzling to thunderstorm.
I loved almost everything in this book, Aspen Archer had issues as big as the mountains that she couldn't live without but a brooding heroine, she was not. Meeting Cate made her realized how much more she wanted in her personal life after being alone and involved in a non committed relationship for quite some time.
Cate had her own yeti monster to slay, being a single parent made her extra careful when pursuing a relationship. Her alluring vibe not only did a number to Aspen, I was hooked too. I was surprised that the weather remained extremely cold when these two got together.
Aspen + Cate - I didn't need a crystal ball and changed my name to Madam Jyn Erso ( I didn't mind the name changed actually ) to say that the hs were a perfect fit, they completed each other and their broken pieces served as reminders on how blessed they were going through the ugliness to reach the beauty in the end.
August 23, 2018
What a beautiful love story. I loved the authentic feel to the post career life for many professional athletes. Aspen's scars, both physical and emotional keep her relationship with Cate from developing into her white picket fence, wife, dog and kids dream. Lots of soul searching and growth needed for this former Olympic ski racer. Loved the passion and obvious connection every time Cate and Aspen shared moments together.
It's been a while but this book tops my list for best last line in a novel. Loved it.
It's been a while but this book tops my list for best last line in a novel. Loved it.
June 25, 2018
Noyes is one of those authors that I almost wish I didn’t find until she had a huge library of books available because once I finish one, I just want more. And right now, 2 minutes after finishing ‘Gold,’ I really just want more.
‘Gold’ is written in first person POV and that is usually a POV that really works well for me, at least in the romance genre. A large part of that is because we discover so much about the main character’s love interest at the same time the narrator does and I enjoy that element in these types of stories a lot. I don’t want to have all the answers up front and too often, third person from the perspective of 2 characters leaves a lot to be desired for this precise reason. I’m in two people’s heads, I know what they’re both thinking, and I spend way too much time thinking ‘what the hell is wrong with you two?! Why can’t you f’ing communicate?!’ Here, I didn’t spend one second thinking this because I was too busy being interested in what was next for Aspen and Cate.
I liked both of these characters a lot and I could absolutely feel the love. It was in words they shared, in intimate touches, how they were always protecting one another…and holy-hell was the sex between these two on fire. This is not a book I’d recommend reading in public unless you 1) don’t mind closing the book when you get to those scenes or 2) you really don’t care if some nosy person (like myself) reads over your shoulder (I’ve been guilty doing this on airplanes without even thinking about it…I see words and I just want to read them!) and finds you reading smut (this book is not smut, not what I’m saying, but the sex scenes are really well written, they are explicit, and quite lengthy). Noyes is not shy about her word choices, Cate is one vocal lady, and blushing is inevitable…
So, yeah, I’ve said nothing about the actual storyline. I don’t think I’m gonna. I’m going to be lazy and just point you in the direction of the synopsis and/or other people’s reviews. 'Gold' is going on both my 'favorites' and 'to-re-read' shelves. I recommend this to any and all pure romance fans full stop.
‘Gold’ is written in first person POV and that is usually a POV that really works well for me, at least in the romance genre. A large part of that is because we discover so much about the main character’s love interest at the same time the narrator does and I enjoy that element in these types of stories a lot. I don’t want to have all the answers up front and too often, third person from the perspective of 2 characters leaves a lot to be desired for this precise reason. I’m in two people’s heads, I know what they’re both thinking, and I spend way too much time thinking ‘what the hell is wrong with you two?! Why can’t you f’ing communicate?!’ Here, I didn’t spend one second thinking this because I was too busy being interested in what was next for Aspen and Cate.
I liked both of these characters a lot and I could absolutely feel the love. It was in words they shared, in intimate touches, how they were always protecting one another…and holy-hell was the sex between these two on fire. This is not a book I’d recommend reading in public unless you 1) don’t mind closing the book when you get to those scenes or 2) you really don’t care if some nosy person (like myself) reads over your shoulder (I’ve been guilty doing this on airplanes without even thinking about it…I see words and I just want to read them!) and finds you reading smut (this book is not smut, not what I’m saying, but the sex scenes are really well written, they are explicit, and quite lengthy). Noyes is not shy about her word choices, Cate is one vocal lady, and blushing is inevitable…
So, yeah, I’ve said nothing about the actual storyline. I don’t think I’m gonna. I’m going to be lazy and just point you in the direction of the synopsis and/or other people’s reviews. 'Gold' is going on both my 'favorites' and 'to-re-read' shelves. I recommend this to any and all pure romance fans full stop.
January 6, 2019
I always like to read a book after all the excellent reviews have already been written for two reasons. 1. I see the book was great so I know it’s a slam dunk for me and 2. I can just provide my shitty, half-assed review that provides basically zero insight into the book. So here’s my lazy caveman review for those who have not read this book yet:
(In caveman voice) “You now go read book.” Grunt.
And I apologize up front about this next crass comment. Here goes...There is some serious Olympic Gold fucking in this book. Oh and the story and characters are pretty darn good too.
(In caveman voice) “You now go read book.” Grunt.
And I apologize up front about this next crass comment. Here goes...There is some serious Olympic Gold fucking in this book. Oh and the story and characters are pretty darn good too.
July 23, 2018
EJ Noyes - has become one of my automatic reads. Loved it!
4.5 Stars rounded up to 5 Stars. It will most probably be full 5 Stars upon reread. I read most of it while waiting in lines at the San Diego Comic Con. Not conducive for me to absorb everything I was reading. But I couldn’t put it down!
I’m looking forward to her next book, a sequel to Ask, Tell - Ask Me Again
4.5 Stars rounded up to 5 Stars. It will most probably be full 5 Stars upon reread. I read most of it while waiting in lines at the San Diego Comic Con. Not conducive for me to absorb everything I was reading. But I couldn’t put it down!
I’m looking forward to her next book, a sequel to Ask, Tell - Ask Me Again
October 26, 2022
Reread audiobook October 2022. I decided to refresh my memory before reading Schuss and it’s still as good as ever. On to reading Schuss now.
August 12, 2018
Well I loved this. I'm so pleased to find EJ Noyes' writing - it's fresh with a witty turn of phrase and engaging from the first page. The characterisation in Gold is authentic and enticing. There's genuine chemistry between the women and the sex embellishes the characters and their relationship. The crisis is fundamental to the heroines' personalities and their story and it all makes for a very satisfying romance.
March 7, 2020
Revisiting E.J. Noyes and her fabulous Gold in audiobook format two years after I read the book. I was swept away again by the story, the characters and the superb narration of Abby Craden. What a rush!
5 Olympic stars
5 Olympic stars
May 20, 2019
Oh my god! Gold is one hell of a gem - an excellent read! I should have read Gold from the time I bought it instead of letting it sit on my shelf for so long... The plot is engaging, the writing is excellent and flow nicely, the banters are hilarious, protagonists are sexy with chemistry which are simply off the chart. Oh how I adore Cate; a woman who knows what she wants and has no qualms getting/asking it. Such confidence! And the steamy scenes, oh my, are just so HOT.... I just couldn’t put the book down once I got started. Kept telling myself another ten minutes on the book won’t hurt anyone and before I knew it, I’ve spent a third of the day reading and finishing Gold. Household chores be damned!
Highly recommended!
Solid 5 ⭐️
Highly recommended!
Solid 5 ⭐️
June 18, 2018
4.25 Nicely done, E. J. Noyes!
I just finished Gold by E.J. Noyes and was pleasantly surprised. Noyes is another new author for me and I’m always a little leery when I try new authors. On top of that, the book is written in first person. My preference has always been for third person, however I do make an exception on occasion. The upside is that I’ve always liked books about athletes (for whatever reason) so it helped draw me in. But truthfully I don’t see many contemporary romance in first person, not sure why. In the end, neither first person, nor first time reading the author kept Gold from being a thoroughly enjoyable novel.
The story is told from Aspen Archer’s perspective. She is an Olympic skier turned instructor, following the winter season around the world. She doesn’t really need the money but it allows her to run from past failures, injuries, and failed relationships. Her world is changed when she meets a woman who is vacation at Aspen’s resort in Australia. Cate Tierney is the mom of a teenage girl, and perhaps its fate that has Cate and her daughter living only an hour away from Aspen’s home in Colorado. Their love affair lasts the entire three weeks that Cate, her daughter, and friends are on their trip. There is also a nine year age gap between the two but not enough to make it unbelievable as Archer is in her 30’s. The biggest question of the book is if what they’ve built over such a short of time can overcome both women’s fears, and draw Archer back to the home that loss chased her away from.
I liked both the characters, including the daughter. I also found myself connecting with Archer and rooting for her as she was forced to face and accept that her chronic pain from old traumatic injuries was a disability in and of itself. A disability that was outside the anxiety and panic attacks. And her changes are prompted by none other than Cate holding up a metaphorical mirror for Archer to see her behaviors and understand the motivations of them.
This is a story about an internal journey, but it’s also a tale of love and healing. It was well-written and had a cute ending.
This ARC was given to me in exchange for an honest review.
I just finished Gold by E.J. Noyes and was pleasantly surprised. Noyes is another new author for me and I’m always a little leery when I try new authors. On top of that, the book is written in first person. My preference has always been for third person, however I do make an exception on occasion. The upside is that I’ve always liked books about athletes (for whatever reason) so it helped draw me in. But truthfully I don’t see many contemporary romance in first person, not sure why. In the end, neither first person, nor first time reading the author kept Gold from being a thoroughly enjoyable novel.
The story is told from Aspen Archer’s perspective. She is an Olympic skier turned instructor, following the winter season around the world. She doesn’t really need the money but it allows her to run from past failures, injuries, and failed relationships. Her world is changed when she meets a woman who is vacation at Aspen’s resort in Australia. Cate Tierney is the mom of a teenage girl, and perhaps its fate that has Cate and her daughter living only an hour away from Aspen’s home in Colorado. Their love affair lasts the entire three weeks that Cate, her daughter, and friends are on their trip. There is also a nine year age gap between the two but not enough to make it unbelievable as Archer is in her 30’s. The biggest question of the book is if what they’ve built over such a short of time can overcome both women’s fears, and draw Archer back to the home that loss chased her away from.
I liked both the characters, including the daughter. I also found myself connecting with Archer and rooting for her as she was forced to face and accept that her chronic pain from old traumatic injuries was a disability in and of itself. A disability that was outside the anxiety and panic attacks. And her changes are prompted by none other than Cate holding up a metaphorical mirror for Archer to see her behaviors and understand the motivations of them.
This is a story about an internal journey, but it’s also a tale of love and healing. It was well-written and had a cute ending.
This ARC was given to me in exchange for an honest review.
January 1, 2020
Audiobook update: I have been wanting to read Gold again for months. Yet, I uncharacteristically held out knowing that Noyes’ books were being published as audiobooks. To my great delight, the audiobook is out and narrated by none other than Abby Craden. If you have not read this, do. It is a great book. The narration was, as everyone has come to expect from Craden, superb. By the time she made this insignificant character that was shoveling sound out of breath, I had to smile at how great Craden is and what a treat it is to listen to her bring a book to life. And not just any book, but one of my favorites. Happy listening!
Another wonderful story from Noyes. I think you can find reviews and summaries around, we seem to agree as to how good this author is. This story was a little like her previous book where the two main characters find each other early and you get to see the relationship develop. Author is so good at that-you get to know the characters and learn to love them and their relationship even from the single first person pov. Speaking of first person pov, I love, love, love it. Noyes’ witty, brilliant writing just shines. I often find myself laughing along. A couple of turns in the story kept me interested and just plain invested. Is someone working on a Noyes’ fan club? I’m in! I will read whatever this gal writes. Would recommend all three of her books.
Another wonderful story from Noyes. I think you can find reviews and summaries around, we seem to agree as to how good this author is. This story was a little like her previous book where the two main characters find each other early and you get to see the relationship develop. Author is so good at that-you get to know the characters and learn to love them and their relationship even from the single first person pov. Speaking of first person pov, I love, love, love it. Noyes’ witty, brilliant writing just shines. I often find myself laughing along. A couple of turns in the story kept me interested and just plain invested. Is someone working on a Noyes’ fan club? I’m in! I will read whatever this gal writes. Would recommend all three of her books.
June 22, 2018
Fantastic story about a retired skier meeting the love of her life, the mother of a teenager she was teaching.
The story is told in first person from the perspective of Aspen Archer, the retired skier, and I must say I love it. Did I say it's a fantastic story?
The story is told in first person from the perspective of Aspen Archer, the retired skier, and I must say I love it. Did I say it's a fantastic story?
December 10, 2019
Reread / Buddy Read with Paradise Lost 💕
Do you remember how it feels to be in love for the first time? How the first few weeks or the first few months/years just fly by and you are so blinded by love and attraction that you don't see beyond that. Don't you sometimes want to go back in time and relive those moments so you can slow everything down and soak it in once again? Noyes' work is exactly like that.
What is it with Noyes' brilliant mind in writing alluring/ irresistible love interest? Yes, I do love Isabelle and Aspen but Audrey and Cate are just damn great, no one will be able to not fall in love with them. Noyes also has the gift to write sex and kissing scenes that are sexy, utterly sensual and pretty explicit + polite yet at the same time they read like a lovely poem to your sensitive body parts. No, not like how the nose reacts to dust but a whole different ballgame and the only thing to do to tame the itch is by setting a date with the object/s in your bedside drawer/s as you read the highlighted scenes. Whoever says we can't read and play at the same time clearly haven't been Noyesed.
As for the starting point to Aspen and Cate's relationship, what if sometimes - just sometimes, it takes someone seeing that something inside of you first and loving it before you can love yourself? That’s a possibility too, right? Aspen and Cate are the perfect match for one another. They feed each other strength, comfort, understanding, sympathy and, above and beyond - love. While Aspen impresses me with her inner and outer strength, there's no getting around to point out how much I adore Cate. Seriously, she is a wonderful lead - Mouth-wateringly hawt, absolutely gorgeous, perceptive, giving, caring, an intelligent and mature woman. Granted, she makes mistakes but it makes her even more human. Her persistence and sensitivity, however, should be an example for other leads because it doesn't get any better. Audrey, you are so much more, you are still the one for me!
Gold, Turbulence are all kinds of amazingly beautiful, romantic, endearing and sweet. The very good kind of swoon. No artificial cheese nor sugar. The kind of beauty that infuses your heart and you want to lock it away for a long time, so you can get lost in fond memories whenever you go back to that special place for a visit.
My heterosexual book budget is begging me to go back to being a straight romance reader as Lesfic is EXPENSIVE. Besides paying for Audible, Escape, Scribd, more withdrawals are made from the family's book fund to purchase books that are not available on any of the apps but for authors like Noyes, I'm willing to pay more for her books and to own all the editions.
It's the season of greetings/giving, so if her books are still unknown to you, then give your bank account a break by putting a stop to purchasing books about relationShit and get books about authentic - all the feels relationship by E. J. Noyes. Our resident Noyes stalker... Err expert, Tere informed me that Gold read by Abby Craden will be out at the end of December.
A few memorable quotes 😁
" Have you spent much time down under, Aspen? "
" You're the thing that's going to make me fly."
" You know, I never asked outright but I assume, given you came to dinner with me and how your gaze has been lingering on my cleavage for the past hour, that you're not seeing anyone. "
Do you remember how it feels to be in love for the first time? How the first few weeks or the first few months/years just fly by and you are so blinded by love and attraction that you don't see beyond that. Don't you sometimes want to go back in time and relive those moments so you can slow everything down and soak it in once again? Noyes' work is exactly like that.
What is it with Noyes' brilliant mind in writing alluring/ irresistible love interest? Yes, I do love Isabelle and Aspen but Audrey and Cate are just damn great, no one will be able to not fall in love with them. Noyes also has the gift to write sex and kissing scenes that are sexy, utterly sensual and pretty explicit + polite yet at the same time they read like a lovely poem to your sensitive body parts. No, not like how the nose reacts to dust but a whole different ballgame and the only thing to do to tame the itch is by setting a date with the object/s in your bedside drawer/s as you read the highlighted scenes. Whoever says we can't read and play at the same time clearly haven't been Noyesed.
As for the starting point to Aspen and Cate's relationship, what if sometimes - just sometimes, it takes someone seeing that something inside of you first and loving it before you can love yourself? That’s a possibility too, right? Aspen and Cate are the perfect match for one another. They feed each other strength, comfort, understanding, sympathy and, above and beyond - love. While Aspen impresses me with her inner and outer strength, there's no getting around to point out how much I adore Cate. Seriously, she is a wonderful lead - Mouth-wateringly hawt, absolutely gorgeous, perceptive, giving, caring, an intelligent and mature woman. Granted, she makes mistakes but it makes her even more human. Her persistence and sensitivity, however, should be an example for other leads because it doesn't get any better. Audrey, you are so much more, you are still the one for me!
Gold, Turbulence are all kinds of amazingly beautiful, romantic, endearing and sweet. The very good kind of swoon. No artificial cheese nor sugar. The kind of beauty that infuses your heart and you want to lock it away for a long time, so you can get lost in fond memories whenever you go back to that special place for a visit.
My heterosexual book budget is begging me to go back to being a straight romance reader as Lesfic is EXPENSIVE. Besides paying for Audible, Escape, Scribd, more withdrawals are made from the family's book fund to purchase books that are not available on any of the apps but for authors like Noyes, I'm willing to pay more for her books and to own all the editions.
It's the season of greetings/giving, so if her books are still unknown to you, then give your bank account a break by putting a stop to purchasing books about relationShit and get books about authentic - all the feels relationship by E. J. Noyes. Our resident Noyes stalker... Err expert, Tere informed me that Gold read by Abby Craden will be out at the end of December.
A few memorable quotes 😁
" Have you spent much time down under, Aspen? "
" You're the thing that's going to make me fly."
" You know, I never asked outright but I assume, given you came to dinner with me and how your gaze has been lingering on my cleavage for the past hour, that you're not seeing anyone. "
June 19, 2018
This is so bloody good I can’t even begin to explain how happy I am to have found this. From one of my favorite authors, E.J. Noyes, comes another tragically beautiful tale about internal struggles and finding yourself while finding love and family.
The narrator of this book is Aspen Archer, a professional alpine skier that had a career ending crash at the Olympics. She’s suffered more than physically, and now avoids fanfare and life by living wherever winter is in the world at various ski resorts as an instructor. In strolls Cate Tierney, mother to the adorable Gemma, who is taking a skiing lesion from Aspen. They hit it off immediately, and during Cate’s entire three week vacation spend the time getting to know one another (intimately, and oh, is that fun to read. Noyes makes all things steamy but also meaningful and deep) until her eventual departure..
I’m not going to spoil the ending, as it’s important to see Aspen and everything she goes through. Her internal struggle, coupled with her physical pain and how those intermix weave such a realistic emotional and psychological journey that I savored. Usually I rush through good books, and I took my time with this. One of the rare books that makes you THINK and FEEL while also being steamy. Very highly recommended.
The narrator of this book is Aspen Archer, a professional alpine skier that had a career ending crash at the Olympics. She’s suffered more than physically, and now avoids fanfare and life by living wherever winter is in the world at various ski resorts as an instructor. In strolls Cate Tierney, mother to the adorable Gemma, who is taking a skiing lesion from Aspen. They hit it off immediately, and during Cate’s entire three week vacation spend the time getting to know one another (intimately, and oh, is that fun to read. Noyes makes all things steamy but also meaningful and deep) until her eventual departure..
I’m not going to spoil the ending, as it’s important to see Aspen and everything she goes through. Her internal struggle, coupled with her physical pain and how those intermix weave such a realistic emotional and psychological journey that I savored. Usually I rush through good books, and I took my time with this. One of the rare books that makes you THINK and FEEL while also being steamy. Very highly recommended.
November 18, 2022
Update after third listen: *swoon* I've probably listened to Abby Craden narrate at least a hundred of books at this point and I'm always amazed when she adds a new voice to her wheelhouse. Cate's voice is unique. As is Audrey's in Turbulence. Both completely delicious. Really enjoyed revisiting this one. Now I'm absolutely ready for Schuss. Bring it on!
Original review:
After a relatively short time in publishing lesfic, E.J. Noyes has quickly become a go-to favorite of mine. From the Ask, Tell series to Alone, to Turbulence, to this work, her subject matters vary widely - keeping things interesting - and her first person narrative pulls me deeply into her stories.
Of all her books so far, I probably considered Gold my least favorite. Like in the way when you have a plate of your favorite delicious cheesecake options and you have to choose which one you are going to devour first. Then she releases this audiobook performed by Abby Craden and DAMN - it's SO GOOD - and you have to re-think that!
Abby just has a way of elevating an already good story into a great one, or an excellent story into a
fabulous one. What a talent! She makes me melt, swoon, cry, laugh and exclaim, "JEEEZUS!" during deliciously intimate love scenes and God knows E.J. excels at writing them!
I think I'm going to have to start considering my feelings about E.J.'s books like I would my own children (if I had any - lol) where they're all my favorites for various reasons. My God - how can you choose?? If you could only get one format of this book, I would go with the audio. It's just fantastic!
Original review:
After a relatively short time in publishing lesfic, E.J. Noyes has quickly become a go-to favorite of mine. From the Ask, Tell series to Alone, to Turbulence, to this work, her subject matters vary widely - keeping things interesting - and her first person narrative pulls me deeply into her stories.
Of all her books so far, I probably considered Gold my least favorite. Like in the way when you have a plate of your favorite delicious cheesecake options and you have to choose which one you are going to devour first. Then she releases this audiobook performed by Abby Craden and DAMN - it's SO GOOD - and you have to re-think that!
Abby just has a way of elevating an already good story into a great one, or an excellent story into a
fabulous one. What a talent! She makes me melt, swoon, cry, laugh and exclaim, "JEEEZUS!" during deliciously intimate love scenes and God knows E.J. excels at writing them!
I think I'm going to have to start considering my feelings about E.J.'s books like I would my own children (if I had any - lol) where they're all my favorites for various reasons. My God - how can you choose?? If you could only get one format of this book, I would go with the audio. It's just fantastic!
December 6, 2022
Update 5/12/2022: reread to prepare for Schuss. It’s still amazing. Aspen is wonderfully flawed and loveable.
E. J. Noyes, what more is there to say. This book is amazing. This is what I think a romance should be. It’s sweet, but has some drama. Lots of personal development, great characters and in this case lots of snow and skiing.
Skiing is something I like but don’t really get to do, also I kind of suck at it. I blame it on living in a mountainless and almost snow free country. Anyway, back to the book. Aspen is a former Olympian, won medals but has been hiding from her past, a big fall at the Vancouver Olympics. Aspen is a sweetheart and I instantly liked her and felt bad for her, she seemed lost. And that feeling only grew further along in the book. You want the best for her and you hope she can “fix” herself. Cate is a bit more together and has a kid to worry about, never mind a horrible ex that left her feeling like the worst person and mother in the world. Gemma, Cate’s daughter, is a cute teenager, great addition to the story.
In a lot of romances you see characters getting together and breaking up somewhere around the 80% mark, not in this one. This one is different, I can’t tell you how and why without spoiling, you will have to read it yourself. And trust me it’ll be worth it.
I still have a couple of Noyes’s books to catch up and I am so happy for it. She is an amazing writer and I can’t wait to pick another one of her books up!
E. J. Noyes, what more is there to say. This book is amazing. This is what I think a romance should be. It’s sweet, but has some drama. Lots of personal development, great characters and in this case lots of snow and skiing.
Skiing is something I like but don’t really get to do, also I kind of suck at it. I blame it on living in a mountainless and almost snow free country. Anyway, back to the book. Aspen is a former Olympian, won medals but has been hiding from her past, a big fall at the Vancouver Olympics. Aspen is a sweetheart and I instantly liked her and felt bad for her, she seemed lost. And that feeling only grew further along in the book. You want the best for her and you hope she can “fix” herself. Cate is a bit more together and has a kid to worry about, never mind a horrible ex that left her feeling like the worst person and mother in the world. Gemma, Cate’s daughter, is a cute teenager, great addition to the story.
In a lot of romances you see characters getting together and breaking up somewhere around the 80% mark, not in this one. This one is different, I can’t tell you how and why without spoiling, you will have to read it yourself. And trust me it’ll be worth it.
I still have a couple of Noyes’s books to catch up and I am so happy for it. She is an amazing writer and I can’t wait to pick another one of her books up!
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