wanderinglynn's review
1.25
I did not like Hyacinth at all. I'm actually not sure why I even finished the book because I disliked her that much. I know that opposites attract, but in this case, I can't see why they would at all.
Hyacinth was rigid, selfish, and downright hateful to Robbie. She was written so much so that even the paltry amount that came out about her backstory still didn't earn any sympathy. She was too one-dimensional, almost robotic in her lack of feelings.
Then again, Robbie, who was her complete opposite, was also written one-dimensionally. He went from being a junior high school-esque clown to having some depth. But there was no balance in it. I never had any idea why he wanted to be with her. I got nothing. And there certainly wasn't any spark. No witty repertoire. And this book is beyond PG. No spice. The "romance bits" were skipped over.
So I guess my issue with this book is characterization. It wasn't well done. There wasn't enough balance, enough give-and-take.
Hyacinth was rigid, selfish, and downright hateful to Robbie. She was written so much so that even the paltry amount that came out about her backstory still didn't earn any sympathy. She was too one-dimensional, almost robotic in her lack of feelings.
Then again, Robbie, who was her complete opposite, was also written one-dimensionally. He went from being a junior high school-esque clown to having some depth. But there was no balance in it. I never had any idea why he wanted to be with her. I got nothing. And there certainly wasn't any spark. No witty repertoire. And this book is beyond PG. No spice. The "romance bits" were skipped over.
So I guess my issue with this book is characterization. It wasn't well done. There wasn't enough balance, enough give-and-take.
kaleys23's review against another edition
lighthearted
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
stacyroth's review
medium-paced
2.0
Hyacinth Dawson is happy with her structured life and is working hard to reach her goals. She is certain that getting her bridal shop featured on an episode of popular reality show All Dressed In White will give her the boost she needs to take her career to the next level. However, she knows she will need a celebrity client to make the show happen. Robbie McTavish may play professional hockey for the local team, but he grew up in a family who owns and works one of the premier wedding venues in Scotland. When he sees a bride through the window of Hyacinth’s shop, he can’t resist rushing in to help because the silhouette of the dress she is trying on is all wrong for her body type. The last thing Hyacinth wants is his help, especially when he gets ice cream on one of her $8000 dresses. One of the bridesmaids videos the encounter with Robbie, and the video goes viral. Hyacinth is mortified until All Dressed in White calls to say that they want to feature her shop on their show – as long as Robbie will be in the episode, too.
Not one, but two of Hyacinth’s best friends told her, “He must really like you if he had to blackmail you into going out with him." Yeah, that is a gigantic <b>red flag</b> for a relationship, not a sign that you should be with the guy. I did not feel the connection between them, and if they were a real-life couple, it’s hard to imagine them staying together long term. Courtney Patterson did a good job with the audiobook narration. This is the second book in a series but can easily be read as a standalone.
Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an audio ARC of this book.
a_stylish_bookworm's review
medium-paced
3.0
Thank you Carina Press for a copy of Smooth as Silk. This was a cute small town romance. I love the supportive friendships in the book.
I thought Robbie stole the book with his charming personality. I had a hard time with Hyacinth’s personality and her obsession with her store. She just just a bit rigid for me and the romance between Robbie and Hyacinth was one I had a hard time getting on board.
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