Collaroy > Recent Status Updates

Aaah! Things were going so well with me and this book! And then the MC does something. so. beyond. stupid (no, it's not the kissing the wrong person) that I know I won't be able to respect her any more. Ugh! I hate when that happens.

So far so good! Doesn't dwell too much on unnecessary details, but is fast-paced and entertaining so far.

What a relief- either the writing has calmed down with the cowboy talk a little or I don't notice any more. Either way, I now think I'll be enjoying this!

Well, the reviewer complaining about the cowboy talk wasn't lying- it feels clumsy, overdone and fake. If it weren't for what I know from the plot this would be a quick DND, but I'll stick with it a bit longer.

Oooh! So far, this book does everything right. The MC is feisty and courageous, but not in an imprudent, stupid ego way. She knows (a little how and when to fight, but also how to call for help (and the author mentions that she gives her address- one of many small details that made me happy). So far I'm super happy with the book!

Very, very promising! Fingers crossed it doesn't take a disappointing turn, because I like what I read so far and I have all the other books of the series on my reader already.

The only reason I'm still reading is because I love the relationship of the resident-but-at-risk couple. Their problems seem totally real and relatable. Everyone else is just drinking way too much and has clits throbbing at the drop of a hat. The amount of sex scenes that did absolutely nothing for me (even though I usually love top/bottom dynamics!) is astounding.

Much darker than The Raven and the Reindeer, and it might turn out too dark for me. But for the time being, I (somewhat cautiously) like it. Kingfisher sure writes great female characters that pique my interest!

This book is so CUTE!!!

This book is so CUTE!!!

Wow... this book is definitely unusual and so incredibly promising! The writing is excellent (the spelling mistakes are not even a tiny bit overdone like I had feared), the story is captivating, and Sarah Agnes Prine might be the greatest and at the same time most unassuming main character I've read in a looong time (if ever)! Can't wait to keep reading!

First Harper Bliss book for me. Not sure if I like the writing- it's not bad, just very ... basic. Not sure if it'll get emotions across very well later on. We'll see. The premise is interesting enough.

Most overused phrase: "her heart swelled with [love/affection/gratitude]". Seriously, in one sex scene it's twice on one page. Other than that, the book is okay, but a little too nice. So far, the only drama is an accident, but never fret: no lives were endangered while writing this book.

Haha! I thought this was figure skating- turns out it's hockey. Should read review more closely. :D Considering the MCs are supposed to have been legendary rivals, they both seem to be very chill with being thrown together. It's early so let's see what happens, but so far the book could use some more drama.

Ugh. The plan is so obviously doomed to fail that I realize I don't want to keep reading. With a heist book, you know even the most meticulous plan will fail, and it's fun to find out how. But here, I feel like they're all really big fools. Putting this on pause.

Haha! I think I'm going to like this book. Early to say, but it definitely looks promising!

I love the relationships of these characters. But the major flaw is why would their customer want the target alive if not for using him? Why retrieval and not assassination? Betrayal is so obvious, why do none of these smart protagonists question this at all? Also, the entire plan is really, really bad and riddled with uncertainties. All in all, I'm not too impressed with the heisting abilities of the gang.

Great so far! Fast pace, plot coming together, interesting relationships. But why are all the characters teenagers? I get hardships make you grow up quickly, but they don't talk, act or read as teenagers at all. It seems unnecessary. I think I'd find it more believable if they were at least a few years older. As it is, every time someone's age gets mentioned I'm "Huh? ...oh, right".

This book's been sitting in the pile next to my bed for 4 years- let's see what all the hype is (well... was) about! The first chapter is getting very intense very quickly. Definitely promising.

Ugh. It started promising but the length the author goes to to invent reasons for the MCs to NOT be together are really ridiculous. Even after talking about their mutual feelings and kissing several times... they continue to be friends. Why don't people write novellas instead of novels where 30% is just filler material?

Really liking this so far, but sometimes slow-burn is so hard to believe. Instant mutual attraction, two months of training together with lots of sensual, physical touch, meeting friends, getting very close... who would believe that even after finally admitting the attraction, they go to bed to ... sleep chastily side by side?? C'mon. Never! Even couples taking it slow would kiss or something. COME ON!

Reread! I loved the book when I first read it (early 2000s) and I actually even remember some of it. It looks like this one has aged well. We'll see.

First reread since reading it 4, 5 years ago. Curious to see if I still love it as much!

Ugh, now I'm mad! Wren's apology goes from "I'm sorry, I know you didn't want this, I fucked up!" to "what's the big deal" in one page (literally!), which is really so incredibly inconsiderate of Madison's feelings! And Madison, instead of telling Wren to go fuck herself, says "I need to sleep on it.". So now, in the space of just 10 pages, I lost respect for BOTH MCs and sympathy for the side characters. UGH!

Sadly, I'm not loving it. The interactions are a bit stilted, I feel like I don't *get* a lot of it. And now the non-celeb is being pushed into a fake relationship despite clearly not wanting to and I feel like that's incredibly rude and trespassing on her life. One side character, supposedly a friend, did that just for kicks. It was a 3.5 before but now it's more like 2.5.

Only 4 pages in and thanks to some heavy-handed info-dumping, you already know the MCs backstory, the main chip on her shoulder, her 3 brothers' jobs and ages, the town and its social injustices, the fact that her mother died when the MC was 15 and that her father is a kind, loving man. That does not bode well... but we'll see.

This book is giving me ALL the feels!