honey1382's review
4.0
I was impressed! I knew I would enjoy this story just because I love Ms. James' writing, but I wasn't sure how to take big wig New Zealander in NYC. It worked really well, and I was surprised for being such a closed off man, how he turned around. I would love to read more stories if this turns into a series or not. The twists and turns keep you reading. I couldn't put it down!
elenajohansen's review
2.0
I liked how this was basically a trope-subverting, non-toxic deconstruction of what BDSM romance has become in the wake of more infamous works in the genre.
Hope is not a doormat, and while Hemi displays poor sensitivity skills at times, he's not abusive.
It directly addresses the power imbalance inherent in any relationship they would have--a strong point in James' work I've read to date. I've mostly gone off CEO/workplace romances because they often completely ignore this, acting like one or both of the characters involved is too stupid to understand dating a coworker could have negative consequences.
It also involves a lot of direct, honest communication, a vital part of most healthy relationships, and something I wish I saw more of in all fiction, not just romances.
But this didn't have a lot of life to it. In working so hard to fix the common mistakes of the subgenre, the story felt a lot like it was ticking off a list of boxes: have the heroine stand up for herself immediately, have her refuse an expensive gift, walk out on dinner, etc.
In creating the character of Hope to withstand all efforts to coerce or overpower her into Hemi's bed, she became this stubborn yet harried parody of a woman, someone just confident enough to stand up for herself in the moment, but who immediately doubted herself and her motives afterward--which was sadly necessary for the story to happen, because if she'd been any "stronger" she would have walked away from him that first time and kept going.
Leaving us with no story at all.
Hope is not a doormat, and while Hemi displays poor sensitivity skills at times, he's not abusive.
It directly addresses the power imbalance inherent in any relationship they would have--a strong point in James' work I've read to date. I've mostly gone off CEO/workplace romances because they often completely ignore this, acting like one or both of the characters involved is too stupid to understand dating a coworker could have negative consequences.
It also involves a lot of direct, honest communication, a vital part of most healthy relationships, and something I wish I saw more of in all fiction, not just romances.
But this didn't have a lot of life to it. In working so hard to fix the common mistakes of the subgenre, the story felt a lot like it was ticking off a list of boxes: have the heroine stand up for herself immediately, have her refuse an expensive gift, walk out on dinner, etc.
In creating the character of Hope to withstand all efforts to coerce or overpower her into Hemi's bed, she became this stubborn yet harried parody of a woman, someone just confident enough to stand up for herself in the moment, but who immediately doubted herself and her motives afterward--which was sadly necessary for the story to happen, because if she'd been any "stronger" she would have walked away from him that first time and kept going.
Leaving us with no story at all.
21shermon's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
kluv's review against another edition
5.0
Fabulous! I'm going straight into book 2 in this series. Experiencing both Hope and Hemi's emotions and thoughts in this novel was great!
People always leave! Except when they stay. And this book delves into that so well. It doesn't hurt that it also displays some steamy love scenes.
Great work!
People always leave! Except when they stay. And this book delves into that so well. It doesn't hurt that it also displays some steamy love scenes.
Great work!
beereading's review against another edition
5.0
Very good story
I liked the build up and the realism of both characters. They both frustrated me and made me love them. I am very excited for the next book.
I liked the build up and the realism of both characters. They both frustrated me and made me love them. I am very excited for the next book.
allenfarm's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this story so much. Hemi Te Mana is a self made man who has worked hard his entire life in the fashion industry, and has the added responsibility of taking care of so many in his whaunau with their hand out. Hope is struggling just to hold on to what she has...a dingy apartment, a crappy job, and a teenage sister on the brink of adulthood. What starts out as a would-be-affair turns into so much more, and maybe both Hemi and Hope can learn to trust for the first time.
Hemi was always the good guy in this book, even when he was being bad, and even when he didn't know he was being good. Hope and her mixed signals brought out the worst and ultimately the best in Hemi. I think all along Hemi wanted to be what Hope needed, even as he didn't think it was possible. But when Hope needs him the most, he's there to save her entire world, and to maybe convince her to let him stay in it. The characters felt real. It wasn't just another billionaire rich guy story. This was my favorite Rosalind James book yet, and I've read them all!
Hemi was always the good guy in this book, even when he was being bad, and even when he didn't know he was being good. Hope and her mixed signals brought out the worst and ultimately the best in Hemi. I think all along Hemi wanted to be what Hope needed, even as he didn't think it was possible. But when Hope needs him the most, he's there to save her entire world, and to maybe convince her to let him stay in it. The characters felt real. It wasn't just another billionaire rich guy story. This was my favorite Rosalind James book yet, and I've read them all!
k_nastran's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
zeebookdragon's review against another edition
4.0
A steamy ride
Solid character building. Natural disclosure of the hero's and heroine's sad backstories. Very steamy dialogue and bedroom activities. A spunky heroine who is not interested in being bought. An all around great read.
There is a sequel but this book also works as a standalone.
Solid character building. Natural disclosure of the hero's and heroine's sad backstories. Very steamy dialogue and bedroom activities. A spunky heroine who is not interested in being bought. An all around great read.
There is a sequel but this book also works as a standalone.
bookit's review
2.0
Loved Rosalind James' rugby series so I thought I would give this one a try. I'll give her props for making an attempt to make the "CEO billionaire alpha male seduces lowly intern/secretary/etc" story line less skeevy and sexual harrassment-y by giving the h some backbone but at the end of the day, the boss/subordinate romance trope just doesn't work for me.
aimee70807's review
4.0
Rosalind James' writing is always top notch, and this book is no exception. Where she sometimes loses me is with the characters. Some I adore...some not so much. The heroine in Fierce is spot-on, but the hero is extremely unlikable for most of the book. Added to that, the dominance-type sex scenes (numerous and long --- I guess this is erotic romance) were not my cup of tea at all. As a result, the book made me tense instead of letting me float in a happy sea of romance novel, thus the four-star rating.