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see_sadie_read's review against another edition
3.0
3.5
I'm having a hard time deciding how I feel about this book. I finished it last night, with time to review it, but waited until today in order to consider my own response to it. You see, I can't decide if I didn't like certain aspects of the story full stop or if I just didn't like that it wasn't the story I wanted it to be (if that distinction makes any sense outside of my head).
Before I talk more about that let me add here that I like erotica. Not that I would qualify this as erotica, there isn't that much sex in it. But my point is that I have no problem with sex in books. I like a lot of m/m romances. I also like finding a little surprise kink thrown into either one. So, my complaint isn't based just on not liking D/s, BDSM, rope and/or pain play in the book. (Though, I have to admit, anytime a character refers to something by its name, like 'pain play,' it feels too proper to be realistic to me. It rings the same cringe-bell as stiff dialogue in my head. But that's a whole 'nother matter altogether.)
Having said all that, I didn't like the BDSM, etc. aspect of this book. I think it was probably well written; that's not my complaint. And it was kinda hot; that's not my beef either. It just didn't feel natural in the story. This is the first Z. A. Maxfield book I've ever read, so I'm not coming from a place of comparative knowledge. But to me it FELT like it was all thrown in just to catch readers from the current D/s popularity wave. I don't know if it really was, but that's how it felt to me.
You see, Dare comes home to Palladian with no discernible interest in being dominated in any fashion. Doesn't even seem to be consciously aware of the lifestyle. But on meeting up with Finn he immediately starts wanting things he's never wanted before. He allows Finn control he'd never previously even considered giving up and he does it with no discussion, explanation or even verbal request (from either party). Now, consent is very clearly established, as are stop words and such. I don't mean anything like that. I just mean there must have been some psychic communication going on for Finn to know what Dare wanted and for Dare to know Finn could/would provide it, especially on Dare's part.
I did like Dare and Finn. Don't get me wrong. I liked them. I just kept thinking that the things they were doing didn't fit the otherwise sweet romance that was trying desperately to establish itself. This is also were my 'did I just not like it' or 'did I not like that the blurb sent me in expecting something else' internal debate comes in. Either way, it was jarring to me.
Then there was the whole Fraser twist. Surprisingly, I also like Fraser. I had fewer problems with he and Finn's activities than Finn and Dare's. It felt more natural there, maybe because it had had years to develop. However, unless there is going to be a sequel that deals with Fraser and his issues I'd have to call it a giant loose end.
I also liked the, I believe the phrase is penetration politics. Dare is your average hulking police alpha (as is Fraser), Finn is as you would expect. He's smaller, finer boned, prettier, gayer (or at least more openly so). Based on m/m norms you would expect Dare & Fraser to top almost exclusively. It was nice to see this trope played with.
The mystery was a good one. It wasn't too hard to figure the historic aspect of it out. It was pretty obvious, actually. But that obviousness just made the part happening in 'real-time' more interesting because you had this tantalising part of the puzzle that Dare didn't.
The writing and editing were both pretty good. I was a bit bothered by all the full names. Palladian is meant to be a pretty small town and everyone's supposed to have known each other since childhood. So I can't imagine they'd so often need a full name to identify someone. I also thought the author had a few catchall phrases she repeated (the plug & socket comparison, for example). But really these are minuscule complaints in the grand scheme of things.
I'm feeling fairly torn about how I feel or how I want to rate this book. So, I'm splitting the difference with a 3 and a bit.
I'm having a hard time deciding how I feel about this book. I finished it last night, with time to review it, but waited until today in order to consider my own response to it. You see, I can't decide if I didn't like certain aspects of the story full stop or if I just didn't like that it wasn't the story I wanted it to be (if that distinction makes any sense outside of my head).
Before I talk more about that let me add here that I like erotica. Not that I would qualify this as erotica, there isn't that much sex in it. But my point is that I have no problem with sex in books. I like a lot of m/m romances. I also like finding a little surprise kink thrown into either one. So, my complaint isn't based just on not liking D/s, BDSM, rope and/or pain play in the book. (Though, I have to admit, anytime a character refers to something by its name, like 'pain play,' it feels too proper to be realistic to me. It rings the same cringe-bell as stiff dialogue in my head. But that's a whole 'nother matter altogether.)
Having said all that, I didn't like the BDSM, etc. aspect of this book. I think it was probably well written; that's not my complaint. And it was kinda hot; that's not my beef either. It just didn't feel natural in the story. This is the first Z. A. Maxfield book I've ever read, so I'm not coming from a place of comparative knowledge. But to me it FELT like it was all thrown in just to catch readers from the current D/s popularity wave. I don't know if it really was, but that's how it felt to me.
You see, Dare comes home to Palladian with no discernible interest in being dominated in any fashion. Doesn't even seem to be consciously aware of the lifestyle. But on meeting up with Finn he immediately starts wanting things he's never wanted before. He allows Finn control he'd never previously even considered giving up and he does it with no discussion, explanation or even verbal request (from either party). Now, consent is very clearly established, as are stop words and such. I don't mean anything like that. I just mean there must have been some psychic communication going on for Finn to know what Dare wanted and for Dare to know Finn could/would provide it, especially on Dare's part.
I did like Dare and Finn. Don't get me wrong. I liked them. I just kept thinking that the things they were doing didn't fit the otherwise sweet romance that was trying desperately to establish itself. This is also were my 'did I just not like it' or 'did I not like that the blurb sent me in expecting something else' internal debate comes in. Either way, it was jarring to me.
Then there was the whole Fraser twist. Surprisingly, I also like Fraser. I had fewer problems with he and Finn's activities than Finn and Dare's. It felt more natural there, maybe because it had had years to develop. However, unless there is going to be a sequel that deals with Fraser and his issues I'd have to call it a giant loose end.
I also liked the, I believe the phrase is penetration politics. Dare is your average hulking police alpha (as is Fraser), Finn is as you would expect. He's smaller, finer boned, prettier, gayer (or at least more openly so). Based on m/m norms you would expect Dare & Fraser to top almost exclusively. It was nice to see this trope played with.
The mystery was a good one. It wasn't too hard to figure the historic aspect of it out. It was pretty obvious, actually. But that obviousness just made the part happening in 'real-time' more interesting because you had this tantalising part of the puzzle that Dare didn't.
The writing and editing were both pretty good. I was a bit bothered by all the full names. Palladian is meant to be a pretty small town and everyone's supposed to have known each other since childhood. So I can't imagine they'd so often need a full name to identify someone. I also thought the author had a few catchall phrases she repeated (the plug & socket comparison, for example). But really these are minuscule complaints in the grand scheme of things.
I'm feeling fairly torn about how I feel or how I want to rate this book. So, I'm splitting the difference with a 3 and a bit.
leelah's review against another edition
1.0
DNF at 53%.
I didn't like where this story went...
Spoiler
It went to kink and I didn't find it believable at all. Guy went from bicurious to gay curious to D/s curious in matter of pages, but I didn't buy it.It also felt disjointed with other parts of story- like there were 3 guys: one investigating death in beauty salon, another one trying to find out truth about his father and third one goes through trysexual phase.:(
josy's review against another edition
5.0
~ 4.5 stars ~
This was a great story and I enjoyed it immensely!! So why not 5 stars? Well... The end was a bit disappointing. One more chapter or an epilogue would have been great! I needed a tiny bit more to see how Dare and Finn make a life together.
I enjoyed [a:Shannon Gunn|6996772|Shannon Gunn|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]'s narration. He's a new-to-me narrator and I think he did a really good job! Sometimes he sounded a bit too forceful or aggressive during the sex scenes but overall, he put a lot of emotions into his voice to portray what the characters were feeling.
This was a great story and I enjoyed it immensely!! So why not 5 stars? Well... The end was a bit disappointing. One more chapter or an epilogue would have been great! I needed a tiny bit more to see how Dare and Finn make a life together.
I enjoyed [a:Shannon Gunn|6996772|Shannon Gunn|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]'s narration. He's a new-to-me narrator and I think he did a really good job! Sometimes he sounded a bit too forceful or aggressive during the sex scenes but overall, he put a lot of emotions into his voice to portray what the characters were feeling.
slide_key's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Gun violence, and Homophobia
suze_1624's review against another edition
4.0
High 3.5/4* read.
One of ZAM's that pulled me in right at the start. At the start it is largely about the people - left behind Finn, how has he survived small town issues, working two jobs, taking care of his ill aunt, life couldn't get much worse. Dare, returned in shame from Seattle, trying to fit in, trying to exorcise demons he doesn't even acknowledge, trying to reconnect to a new Finn. Others in there are Lyddie, Bill, all the ' good 'ol boys'.
Then it moves on to change pur initial perceptions of the people and the town - scratch the surface and a different picture emerges. Finn has been built hard by the issues life has thrown at him and expresses this in a domineering way! Dare struggles even more with his feelings. Why Bill is as he is comes to be known and so changes your perception of him. Small town circling the wagon on the crime against Finn is not totally unexpected.
Then the threads of both Finn's mothers and Dare's fathers deaths 15 years ago start unravelling, throwing more light on contort self image and the mindset of small town-isms.
Dare and Finn together didn't grab me particularly hard but I really enjoyed peeling back all the layers in this story.
One of ZAM's that pulled me in right at the start. At the start it is largely about the people - left behind Finn, how has he survived small town issues, working two jobs, taking care of his ill aunt, life couldn't get much worse. Dare, returned in shame from Seattle, trying to fit in, trying to exorcise demons he doesn't even acknowledge, trying to reconnect to a new Finn. Others in there are Lyddie, Bill, all the ' good 'ol boys'.
Then it moves on to change pur initial perceptions of the people and the town - scratch the surface and a different picture emerges. Finn has been built hard by the issues life has thrown at him and expresses this in a domineering way! Dare struggles even more with his feelings. Why Bill is as he is comes to be known and so changes your perception of him. Small town circling the wagon on the crime against Finn is not totally unexpected.
Then the threads of both Finn's mothers and Dare's fathers deaths 15 years ago start unravelling, throwing more light on contort self image and the mindset of small town-isms.
Dare and Finn together didn't grab me particularly hard but I really enjoyed peeling back all the layers in this story.
kaje_harper's review against another edition
4.0
This book has a different feel from most of this author's other stories - more complex, darker, and full of flawed characters. There are no knights in shining armor here (other than perhaps Finn's Aunt Lyddie.) Every character has made major mistakes in their life. Every one has dark places inside them, regrets, blind spots about themselves, others, and the past. I loved that about this book - I enjoy heroes, but I often identify most with the flawed main character who has to fight himself as well as life for his HEA.
Finn is the small, odd-looking, bullied home-town boy who appears trapped in his fishbowl oppressive town by the needs of his dying aunt. But as the story goes on, you find out that that's far too simple a view of such a complex character. Finn has resources that are unexpected, and the factors that hold him in his current life are as much about the past as the present.
Dare was Finn's older best friend as kids, until Dare's father's suicide drove his mother to move them out of the state. In that move, Dare deliberately let go of his friendship with Finn, which had been vitally important and yet strained by ill-defined hero worship and the deaths of Finn's mother and Dare's father. It was easier to walk away.
When Dare messed up on the job as a Seattle detective, in a moment of drink-clouded misjudgment, he needed a sponsor to find a new position. A hometown friend of his father's stepped up for him and he has come home to work for the local police force. Inevitably, he has to meet Finn again. In that first meeting, there is an echo of the older protector and worshipful follower they once were, but it is immediately clear that their current status is a long, long way from those childhood roles.
Death and vandalism in town force Dare to investigate crime in Finn's aunt's hair salon, tangling the personal with the professional. Dare feels obsessed with Finn, but he quickly discovers that the boy he remembers has gone through a lot, and taken paths to adulthood he'd never have envisioned. The BDSM in this story isn't heavy but plays a vital role in the confusion and the complexity of relationships, and not just between Dare and Finn.
This was close to a five-star story for me, but I felt like things moved too fast between the MCs somewhere in the middle. I loved some of the twists and turns, loved that the secondary characters also turned out to be living in the shades of grey, but was unconvinced that all the whiplashes of emotion, need and understanding could have happened quite at the speed with which they did. Still this is one I'll reread to see the story from the beginning, colored with the knowledge from the end.
If you like a mystery, complex and deeply flawed heroes with weaknesses, emotional BDSM relationships, and second chances, give this book a try.
Finn is the small, odd-looking, bullied home-town boy who appears trapped in his fishbowl oppressive town by the needs of his dying aunt. But as the story goes on, you find out that that's far too simple a view of such a complex character. Finn has resources that are unexpected, and the factors that hold him in his current life are as much about the past as the present.
Dare was Finn's older best friend as kids, until Dare's father's suicide drove his mother to move them out of the state. In that move, Dare deliberately let go of his friendship with Finn, which had been vitally important and yet strained by ill-defined hero worship and the deaths of Finn's mother and Dare's father. It was easier to walk away.
When Dare messed up on the job as a Seattle detective, in a moment of drink-clouded misjudgment, he needed a sponsor to find a new position. A hometown friend of his father's stepped up for him and he has come home to work for the local police force. Inevitably, he has to meet Finn again. In that first meeting, there is an echo of the older protector and worshipful follower they once were, but it is immediately clear that their current status is a long, long way from those childhood roles.
Death and vandalism in town force Dare to investigate crime in Finn's aunt's hair salon, tangling the personal with the professional. Dare feels obsessed with Finn, but he quickly discovers that the boy he remembers has gone through a lot, and taken paths to adulthood he'd never have envisioned. The BDSM in this story isn't heavy but plays a vital role in the confusion and the complexity of relationships, and not just between Dare and Finn.
This was close to a five-star story for me, but I felt like things moved too fast between the MCs somewhere in the middle. I loved some of the twists and turns, loved that the secondary characters also turned out to be living in the shades of grey, but was unconvinced that all the whiplashes of emotion, need and understanding could have happened quite at the speed with which they did. Still this is one I'll reread to see the story from the beginning, colored with the knowledge from the end.
If you like a mystery, complex and deeply flawed heroes with weaknesses, emotional BDSM relationships, and second chances, give this book a try.
the_novel_approach's review against another edition
5.0
I’ve read several books by this author and thoroughly enjoyed every single one. This was no exception. ZA Maxfield does it again.
At first glance this is a friends-to-lovers story. While that may be true in a sense, it becomes clear that it’s so much more. The author gives us a murder mystery, some BDSM, and romantic suspense set in the small town of Palladian, Oregon. A town in which some dark secrets are kept. Secrets that were never to see the light of day.
From the first page to the last, I was captivated by this story. As we know from the blurb, Dare is coming back to his hometown in disgrace. After an incident forces him to resign as a Seattle Detective, his only job offer is in the town he left many years ago. I really felt the author did a great job of getting the emotional turmoil the two main characters were going through down on page. I felt the anguish, confusion, and despair from both of them.
When Finn and Dare knew each other as children, they didn’t have the easiest time. Finn was bullied relentlessly in school, and lost his mother in a horrible accident. Dare dealt with his father’s suicide at a young age and had to move away from the only home he knew. These earth shattering events rounded out who they became as adults. I loved the way the author gave us little snippets of their time together when they were younger. These flashbacks made me understand their adult relationship and the pull they had towards one another. It was interesting to watch them in roles they weren’t used to playing, one going from the protector to the submissive, the other going from the victim to the one in control. The author portrays these characters realistically and very likably. While their renewed relationship isn’t 100% sexual, we see them beginning to gain each other’s trust and reevaluate what they mean to each other.
The pacing and flow of this story was smooth. Just when the author has you wondering what’s going to happen next, another layer is peeled back and the answer is revealed. The mystery element to this story was genius. While reading this, I never knew who was responsible for the mayhem running amok around the town. I believe the author did a fantastic job laying out the clues and hints to give the reader just enough to wet their palate and wanting more, and boy, does this author give us what we need. With twists and turns as only a good mystery can have, the conclusion to the “whodunit” question is just perfect. I’m not going to give anything away, but it was a person I least expected. Kudos to the author for not making it obvious.
The secondary characters definitely added some flavor to this tale being told. From Finn’s dying aunt to Dare’s co workers and the people we meet along the way, they were all very interesting and added a little something to an already wonderful read.
Overall, I enjoyed this very book very much. I highly recommend Home the Hard Way to those who love a good mystery with a nontraditional love story and a little BDSM on the side.
At first glance this is a friends-to-lovers story. While that may be true in a sense, it becomes clear that it’s so much more. The author gives us a murder mystery, some BDSM, and romantic suspense set in the small town of Palladian, Oregon. A town in which some dark secrets are kept. Secrets that were never to see the light of day.
From the first page to the last, I was captivated by this story. As we know from the blurb, Dare is coming back to his hometown in disgrace. After an incident forces him to resign as a Seattle Detective, his only job offer is in the town he left many years ago. I really felt the author did a great job of getting the emotional turmoil the two main characters were going through down on page. I felt the anguish, confusion, and despair from both of them.
When Finn and Dare knew each other as children, they didn’t have the easiest time. Finn was bullied relentlessly in school, and lost his mother in a horrible accident. Dare dealt with his father’s suicide at a young age and had to move away from the only home he knew. These earth shattering events rounded out who they became as adults. I loved the way the author gave us little snippets of their time together when they were younger. These flashbacks made me understand their adult relationship and the pull they had towards one another. It was interesting to watch them in roles they weren’t used to playing, one going from the protector to the submissive, the other going from the victim to the one in control. The author portrays these characters realistically and very likably. While their renewed relationship isn’t 100% sexual, we see them beginning to gain each other’s trust and reevaluate what they mean to each other.
The pacing and flow of this story was smooth. Just when the author has you wondering what’s going to happen next, another layer is peeled back and the answer is revealed. The mystery element to this story was genius. While reading this, I never knew who was responsible for the mayhem running amok around the town. I believe the author did a fantastic job laying out the clues and hints to give the reader just enough to wet their palate and wanting more, and boy, does this author give us what we need. With twists and turns as only a good mystery can have, the conclusion to the “whodunit” question is just perfect. I’m not going to give anything away, but it was a person I least expected. Kudos to the author for not making it obvious.
The secondary characters definitely added some flavor to this tale being told. From Finn’s dying aunt to Dare’s co workers and the people we meet along the way, they were all very interesting and added a little something to an already wonderful read.
Overall, I enjoyed this very book very much. I highly recommend Home the Hard Way to those who love a good mystery with a nontraditional love story and a little BDSM on the side.
melaniebopp's review against another edition
2.0
Full review available on All About Romance - http://likesbooks.com/cgi-bin/bookReview.pl?BookReviewId=10351
I love flawed characters. They make a story so much more interesting. I don’t know about anyone else, but I don’t want to read about a perfect hero and heroine (or in this case, hero and hero.) I want the characters to be approachable, and since I am in no way perfect, I want to read about people like me. I think this is a fairly universal thing. But the problem comes in trying to make someone a flawed but likeable character - it is such a fine line to tread. I was hopeful for Home the Hard Way, but sadly it just didn’t quite hit the spot.
Dare Buckley is back home in small town Palladian, a place he thought he left behind with the memories of his father’s suicide as a teenager, after leaving the Seattle Police Department in disgrace. Apparently, Palladian was the only place to offer him a job. Not long after Dare returns, however, a suspicious death in the local beauty shop, currently run by none other than Finn Fowler, a childhood friend who worshiped Dare as a hero. But Finn is nothing like he remembers, and Dare is having trouble adjusting to his old hometown even before he starts to realize how many secrets are hiding beneath the small-town vibe, including those around his father’s death.
First, I have to get this off my chest - some things should just not be a surprise. Specifically in this book, surprise BDSM did not work for me. There was absolutely no lead in, just one character watching as the other character played out a scene ending with a “good boy” moment - it just didn’t fit, and I had no idea we would be playing in a dom/sub sort of world. I have no problems reading books that include power play or bondage, or whathaveyou, but there should be some hint of it either in a summary, or earlier on in the story. And there really were other issues with that particular part of the story as well. For example, inebriation does not equal consent. It’s an irresponsible person,or an especially irresponsible dom, who would accept a decision to enter that lifestyle for the first time while drunk. Seriously, it bears repeating: DRUNK =/= CONSENT!
I love flawed characters. They make a story so much more interesting. I don’t know about anyone else, but I don’t want to read about a perfect hero and heroine (or in this case, hero and hero.) I want the characters to be approachable, and since I am in no way perfect, I want to read about people like me. I think this is a fairly universal thing. But the problem comes in trying to make someone a flawed but likeable character - it is such a fine line to tread. I was hopeful for Home the Hard Way, but sadly it just didn’t quite hit the spot.
Dare Buckley is back home in small town Palladian, a place he thought he left behind with the memories of his father’s suicide as a teenager, after leaving the Seattle Police Department in disgrace. Apparently, Palladian was the only place to offer him a job. Not long after Dare returns, however, a suspicious death in the local beauty shop, currently run by none other than Finn Fowler, a childhood friend who worshiped Dare as a hero. But Finn is nothing like he remembers, and Dare is having trouble adjusting to his old hometown even before he starts to realize how many secrets are hiding beneath the small-town vibe, including those around his father’s death.
First, I have to get this off my chest - some things should just not be a surprise. Specifically in this book, surprise BDSM did not work for me. There was absolutely no lead in, just one character watching as the other character played out a scene ending with a “good boy” moment - it just didn’t fit, and I had no idea we would be playing in a dom/sub sort of world. I have no problems reading books that include power play or bondage, or whathaveyou, but there should be some hint of it either in a summary, or earlier on in the story. And there really were other issues with that particular part of the story as well. For example, inebriation does not equal consent. It’s an irresponsible person,or an especially irresponsible dom, who would accept a decision to enter that lifestyle for the first time while drunk. Seriously, it bears repeating: DRUNK =/= CONSENT!
mscupoftea's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
mxmreads's review against another edition
4.0
Well, this is a tough one to rate for me.
Firstly, I want to say that I loved the writing here. It was eloquent, flowing right, hitting me right where I wanted it to. So, that was not the issue.
I also liked the MCs. Dare, going back home after a wrong decision wrecked havoc with his life, has a hard time dealing with the fallout of his past actions. Alcoholism certainly plays a part in it, even though I felt like it was dealt with a little... off-handedly, maybe? Not sure that is even the right word, but I can't describe it better. I just didn't feel completely comfortable with it.
Same goes for the D/s scenes, or at least partly.Being drunk during a scene - a first even - isn't exactly my definition of safe, sane and consensual. Mainly because it seems hard to express your full consent when you're drunk off your ass.
Other then that, I'm a little torn on the rating. I liked Dare, but also had my tiny little problems with him. I really felt for him, that wasn't a problem. He just wasn't my most favorite person. Finn on the other hand, was a completely different ball game. I got a lot of his motivations and issues. His secret, though, was a little hard for me to swallow. I couldn't buy it 100%. Also, at times it felt like I was reading about two completely different persons, not one guy with a lot of baggage and personality traits.
*sighs*
I just don't know. It was good, but not really good. I liked it, but didn't love it. The writing was great, the mystery okay, everything was fine, but didn't sweep me off my feet.
So all in all, probably a 3.5, rounded up to 4 stars because I enjoyed parts of the story very much, just not all of it.
Firstly, I want to say that I loved the writing here. It was eloquent, flowing right, hitting me right where I wanted it to. So, that was not the issue.
I also liked the MCs. Dare, going back home after a wrong decision wrecked havoc with his life, has a hard time dealing with the fallout of his past actions. Alcoholism certainly plays a part in it, even though I felt like it was dealt with a little... off-handedly, maybe? Not sure that is even the right word, but I can't describe it better. I just didn't feel completely comfortable with it.
Same goes for the D/s scenes, or at least partly.
Other then that, I'm a little torn on the rating. I liked Dare, but also had my tiny little problems with him. I really felt for him, that wasn't a problem. He just wasn't my most favorite person. Finn on the other hand, was a completely different ball game. I got a lot of his motivations and issues. His secret, though, was a little hard for me to swallow. I couldn't buy it 100%. Also, at times it felt like I was reading about two completely different persons, not one guy with a lot of baggage and personality traits.
*sighs*
I just don't know. It was good, but not really good. I liked it, but didn't love it. The writing was great, the mystery okay, everything was fine, but didn't sweep me off my feet.
So all in all, probably a 3.5, rounded up to 4 stars because I enjoyed parts of the story very much, just not all of it.