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Kristy H (1252 KP) rated A Stranger on the Beach in Books
Aug 5, 2019
Caroline Stark is proud of her new gorgeous beach house, carefully designed for vacationing and showcasing her perfect family. But that perfect life is crumbling around her. At a party debuting the home, her husband of 20 years, Jason, shows up with another woman. Her daughter, Hannah, is off at college now and doesn't need her. When Caroline, spots Aidan Callahan, a local bartender, watching her from the beach outside her home, she wonders if he's casing her house. Then Aidan is the bartender at her party. But as her marriage falls apart around her, Caroline finds herself turning to the much younger Aidan for support. They have a one-night-stand; then Caroline thinks there's a chance she can reconcile with Paul, her husband. But Aidan is obsessed with Caroline, calling her constantly and following her everywhere. Suddenly Caroline doesn't feel safe. She jokingly told Aidan to get rid of her husband, but she meant it as an anger-fueled joke. But will the obsessed younger man see it that way?
I'd heard a lot of excited buzz about this one and was looking forward to reading it, but--unpopular opinion time--this one wasn't one for me. I kept waiting the entire time for the book to excite me or draw me in, but I found it irritating and predictable. (I know! I'm sorry!) I figured out immediately how things were going to play out and then read it hoping I was wrong. I was not.
The shtick in this one is that it's told from both Caroline and Aidan's perspectives. We get most of the same events filtered through each of their lenses. It's clear early on that we're dealing with unreliable narrators. Either one or both of them are not telling us the whole truth. The problem with this is that it's also really freaking repetitive. I don't want to hear the same thing told to me twice, with a bit of a twist. I also didn't care for Caroline. She's annoying. The woman did not make smart decisions, and she couldn't even find the breaker box in her own home. I'm sorry, even if you're "not handy," be able to manage basic things. (I may have some pent up anger against Caroline to deal with.)
"There was a stranger on the beach. He was standing in front of my house, staring at it like he was casing it to rob. Sometimes fate sneaks up on you. But Aidan Callahan didn't sneak up on me. He was brazen. He stood there in the middle of the sand, staring up at my brand-speaking-new beachfront house, looking like he was up to no good."
As for Aidan, we have to hear about a million times about a previous violent incident involving his best friend. I don't know why. I was just over the repeating of things, in all forms. Aidan's brother is the Chief of Police in the small town where Caroline has built her beach house, and he's basically struggling to rebuild his life. I definitely felt more sympathy toward him, but also annoyance, because his obsession toward Caroline was just that, an obsession, and nothing good was going to come from this. From any of this! Just go home, dude, and stay out of trouble. She is so not worth it.
"Caroline. She was his good-luck charm, come to rescue him, and he loved her for it. Hell, he plain loved her, as she sat there laughing, her skin glowing, tendrils of golden hair curling around her face."
About 3/4 through the book, the perspective changes a little and things picked up a bit, but by then I was too irritated to be truly glad. I had also guessed everything from the beginning and this shift did nothing to alter that or surprise me, so yes. Sigh. There's definitely some drama in this one, but it felt forced to me. Oh, the power goes out just as you arrive at your beach house on the run? Wow!
Anyway, most people really love this book, and so take my bad mood review with a grain of salt. Hopefully you will love it much more than me! 2.5 stars.
I'd heard a lot of excited buzz about this one and was looking forward to reading it, but--unpopular opinion time--this one wasn't one for me. I kept waiting the entire time for the book to excite me or draw me in, but I found it irritating and predictable. (I know! I'm sorry!) I figured out immediately how things were going to play out and then read it hoping I was wrong. I was not.
The shtick in this one is that it's told from both Caroline and Aidan's perspectives. We get most of the same events filtered through each of their lenses. It's clear early on that we're dealing with unreliable narrators. Either one or both of them are not telling us the whole truth. The problem with this is that it's also really freaking repetitive. I don't want to hear the same thing told to me twice, with a bit of a twist. I also didn't care for Caroline. She's annoying. The woman did not make smart decisions, and she couldn't even find the breaker box in her own home. I'm sorry, even if you're "not handy," be able to manage basic things. (I may have some pent up anger against Caroline to deal with.)
"There was a stranger on the beach. He was standing in front of my house, staring at it like he was casing it to rob. Sometimes fate sneaks up on you. But Aidan Callahan didn't sneak up on me. He was brazen. He stood there in the middle of the sand, staring up at my brand-speaking-new beachfront house, looking like he was up to no good."
As for Aidan, we have to hear about a million times about a previous violent incident involving his best friend. I don't know why. I was just over the repeating of things, in all forms. Aidan's brother is the Chief of Police in the small town where Caroline has built her beach house, and he's basically struggling to rebuild his life. I definitely felt more sympathy toward him, but also annoyance, because his obsession toward Caroline was just that, an obsession, and nothing good was going to come from this. From any of this! Just go home, dude, and stay out of trouble. She is so not worth it.
"Caroline. She was his good-luck charm, come to rescue him, and he loved her for it. Hell, he plain loved her, as she sat there laughing, her skin glowing, tendrils of golden hair curling around her face."
About 3/4 through the book, the perspective changes a little and things picked up a bit, but by then I was too irritated to be truly glad. I had also guessed everything from the beginning and this shift did nothing to alter that or surprise me, so yes. Sigh. There's definitely some drama in this one, but it felt forced to me. Oh, the power goes out just as you arrive at your beach house on the run? Wow!
Anyway, most people really love this book, and so take my bad mood review with a grain of salt. Hopefully you will love it much more than me! 2.5 stars.
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Kara Skinner (332 KP) rated War Bride in Books
Sep 10, 2019
Genre: Medieval, Fantasy, Adult
Goodreads rating: 3.7 out of 5 stars
My rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
I’m going to earn your trust, Emery Toustain, he thought as he released her hand. Perhaps, if you let me, I’ll earn more than that.
The first time I read War Bride was several months ago. It was so good I actually missed a call from my boss because I was so busy reading it. No, really. I didn’t even “ignore” the call. The fact that my phone was ringing didn’t even register because I was so absorbed in the book. I ended up finishing it in less than a day.
I just finished it for the second time today, and it’s still incredible.
Emery Calliot kicks ass.
Emery will never be like other noble ladies. She always preferred wearing men’s clothing to dresses and learning archery to needlepoint. She has a tendency to ramble when she’s nervous and she can’t tame her hair for the life of her. But she had always wanted to marry eventually.
That is, until the night of King Rowan’s Treason, when she had been unspeakably hurt beyond repair. Now the idea of marriage makes her blood curdle.
But with the peace treaty between Dinasdale and Daleria shaky as it is, she doesn’t have any choice but to marry Dinasdalian lord, Leofred Toustain, a man she’s never met before, who looks terrifies her.
Yes, he was quite magnificent with skin like polished ebony and glittering eyes akin to chunks of onyx. Hawkish features were made more prominent by the absence of the beard most Dinasdalian men favored. His sharp jaw, slashing cheekbones, and arrogant nose made his hooded eyes darker and more mysterious. Leofred was beautiful in the way a panther might be—nice to look upon from a distance, but quite frightening up close.
Leofred isn’t looking forward to marriage any more than his bride-to-be is. He had always hoped marry for love, not someone had never met before. But he sees his new bride as a challenge, and he’s determined to break through her barriers and make her trust him.
“Nonsense. Everyone is capable of love. Right now, you are not capable of physical intimacy, but that is only a small part of what love between a man and a woman is. For the nonce, I would be happy if you would let me become your husband in other ways. Let me be your confidant and your friend. Let me hold your hand when we walk, and tell you I think you’re beautiful every day. Let me prove to you just how capable of love you are, and when you are ready, I will show you how beautiful making love will be between us. Only when you are ready, Emery. Not before.”
Leofred is incredibly sexy, and completely perfect for Emery. He’s gentle, nice, and very patient with her, which is exactly what she needs. They have a great story and the dialog between them is fantastic.
Before the wedding yesterday, I took the liberty of procuring a lady’s maid for you. However, if you want, I will send her away.”
“No, don’t do that. Please, send her in. As you can see, I need the help.”
He smiled at her again. “No, you don’t.”
The only thing I didn’t like was how he dealt with Caden at the beginning of the book. Caden knows what happened with Emery and wanted to warn Leofred to be patient with her. Leofred brushed him off and told him to mind his own business.
Later he blames Caden for his awkward and tense wedding night because Caden didn’t tell him what was wrong with Emery.
Whatever (Caden) knew and would not speak about had ruined his wedding night.
This is a bit of a dick move on Leofred’s part. But this is honestly the only time that he’s not a perfect gentleman. And he never mistreats or disrespects Emery.
I love the Chained series, and War Bride did not disappoint. It’s definitely worth the read.
Goodreads rating: 3.7 out of 5 stars
My rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
I’m going to earn your trust, Emery Toustain, he thought as he released her hand. Perhaps, if you let me, I’ll earn more than that.
The first time I read War Bride was several months ago. It was so good I actually missed a call from my boss because I was so busy reading it. No, really. I didn’t even “ignore” the call. The fact that my phone was ringing didn’t even register because I was so absorbed in the book. I ended up finishing it in less than a day.
I just finished it for the second time today, and it’s still incredible.
Emery Calliot kicks ass.
Emery will never be like other noble ladies. She always preferred wearing men’s clothing to dresses and learning archery to needlepoint. She has a tendency to ramble when she’s nervous and she can’t tame her hair for the life of her. But she had always wanted to marry eventually.
That is, until the night of King Rowan’s Treason, when she had been unspeakably hurt beyond repair. Now the idea of marriage makes her blood curdle.
But with the peace treaty between Dinasdale and Daleria shaky as it is, she doesn’t have any choice but to marry Dinasdalian lord, Leofred Toustain, a man she’s never met before, who looks terrifies her.
Yes, he was quite magnificent with skin like polished ebony and glittering eyes akin to chunks of onyx. Hawkish features were made more prominent by the absence of the beard most Dinasdalian men favored. His sharp jaw, slashing cheekbones, and arrogant nose made his hooded eyes darker and more mysterious. Leofred was beautiful in the way a panther might be—nice to look upon from a distance, but quite frightening up close.
Leofred isn’t looking forward to marriage any more than his bride-to-be is. He had always hoped marry for love, not someone had never met before. But he sees his new bride as a challenge, and he’s determined to break through her barriers and make her trust him.
“Nonsense. Everyone is capable of love. Right now, you are not capable of physical intimacy, but that is only a small part of what love between a man and a woman is. For the nonce, I would be happy if you would let me become your husband in other ways. Let me be your confidant and your friend. Let me hold your hand when we walk, and tell you I think you’re beautiful every day. Let me prove to you just how capable of love you are, and when you are ready, I will show you how beautiful making love will be between us. Only when you are ready, Emery. Not before.”
Leofred is incredibly sexy, and completely perfect for Emery. He’s gentle, nice, and very patient with her, which is exactly what she needs. They have a great story and the dialog between them is fantastic.
Before the wedding yesterday, I took the liberty of procuring a lady’s maid for you. However, if you want, I will send her away.”
“No, don’t do that. Please, send her in. As you can see, I need the help.”
He smiled at her again. “No, you don’t.”
The only thing I didn’t like was how he dealt with Caden at the beginning of the book. Caden knows what happened with Emery and wanted to warn Leofred to be patient with her. Leofred brushed him off and told him to mind his own business.
Later he blames Caden for his awkward and tense wedding night because Caden didn’t tell him what was wrong with Emery.
Whatever (Caden) knew and would not speak about had ruined his wedding night.
This is a bit of a dick move on Leofred’s part. But this is honestly the only time that he’s not a perfect gentleman. And he never mistreats or disrespects Emery.
I love the Chained series, and War Bride did not disappoint. It’s definitely worth the read.
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