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finny's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Non male ma neanche eccelso, rimane un libro nel limbo. Anche perché la protagonista è abbastanza bidimensionale rispetto al protagonista maschile, che ho apprezzato e che ho trovato più approfondito. La trama è prevedibile e l'impressione è che sia un libro capace di intrattenere ma anche molto dimenticabile.
jade's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
valenosoriom's review against another edition
5.0
What a book, absolutely beautiful way of ending the series. Definitely worth the wait
cheerbrarian's review against another edition
4.0
All right. Let's just get this out the way: I'm not going to be completing my Cannonball this year, i.e., read 52 books. I've got a few reviews still up my sleeve, but mid 40s is as good as I'm going to get. But in any year, that's okay, and in this year ESPECIALLY it is okay. I went from a 2 1/2 hours in the car each workday to, well, zero, which cut into my audiobook time. Plus ya know, the crippling pandemic and whatnot put a severe damper on the ability to read and focus. (I say this in order to convince myself, and hopefully to support others in the same boat).
So, with that disclaimer out the way, on to my review! Something new that 2020 brought to me is romance novels. I had never in my life read one and was looking for something fun and different and a good friend of mine loves them so I sought her counsel and started with some Lisa Klepyas. This is the third I have read in this series (I even read them out of order! Another first for me!) but I know it won't be my last romance novel.
I definitely am a historical romance gal and enjoy it, as long as the female characters are a bit ahead of their time, i.e., willful and strong and pushing back against expected norms. For this reason it took me a bit to warm up to this book, as Cassandra is moreso the marrying kind, in need of protecting, but despite that I still enjoyed it. Tom Severin was of course NOT the marrying kind, the gruff so-and-so who did not know how to express the full range of human emotion, or even, a few of them, until Cassandra who went from object of his desire to his other half. It was charming to see his rough edges smoothed over, and they complemented each other well. Overall, it was fun and I'm now interested to go back in and finish the rest of the series, may be a fun way to kick off 2021.
So, with that disclaimer out the way, on to my review! Something new that 2020 brought to me is romance novels. I had never in my life read one and was looking for something fun and different and a good friend of mine loves them so I sought her counsel and started with some Lisa Klepyas. This is the third I have read in this series (I even read them out of order! Another first for me!) but I know it won't be my last romance novel.
I definitely am a historical romance gal and enjoy it, as long as the female characters are a bit ahead of their time, i.e., willful and strong and pushing back against expected norms. For this reason it took me a bit to warm up to this book, as Cassandra is moreso the marrying kind, in need of protecting, but despite that I still enjoyed it. Tom Severin was of course NOT the marrying kind, the gruff so-and-so who did not know how to express the full range of human emotion, or even, a few of them, until Cassandra who went from object of his desire to his other half. It was charming to see his rough edges smoothed over, and they complemented each other well. Overall, it was fun and I'm now interested to go back in and finish the rest of the series, may be a fun way to kick off 2021.
riareadsromance's review against another edition
3.0
Again, I'm finally marking this one as read even though I didn't technically read it to the last chapter this time round (it was a re-read). I love this series and I love Lisa Kleypas, she is far and away my favourite HR author. But. Once in a while she delivers a story that just doesn't have the same amount of heart and charm that her books usually possess (see Tempt Me At Twilight in the Hathaway series - Harry SUCKS). I have to say, Tom Severin is definitely a more likeable character that Harry Rutledge because he at least seems to have more of a compassionate way about him than Harry's sheer ruthlessness. I know in the other Ravenel books we are told more of Severin's ruthless manner but we never really witness it first hand in this book and never in relation to his relationship with Cassandra. He chases her, yes, but he respects her wishes and he doesn't treat her like an object to be won and placed in a cage in the same way Harry does.
I'm not sure I can put my finger on what exactly is off about this book, it might be that Cassandra herself isn't as charming as Kleypas' other heroines, she obviously needed to be different to her very quirky twin, Pandora, but the role of shy wallflower was taken by her sister Helen (from Marrying Winterborne ) so I guess Cassandra is actually that rare HR heroine of a ...normal girl? She's not quirky or nerdy or shy or awkward or loud. She's just a pretty, even-tempered normal girl. No significant trauma from her past to colour her story. I think this is probably intentional because she is a balm to Tom's relative chaotic personality but the story kind of lacks any real heat.
Don't get me wrong I enjoyed it well enough it just didn't quite hit the spot for me in the way Kleypas' novels usually do.
I'm not sure I can put my finger on what exactly is off about this book, it might be that Cassandra herself isn't as charming as Kleypas' other heroines, she obviously needed to be different to her very quirky twin, Pandora, but the role of shy wallflower was taken by her sister Helen (from Marrying Winterborne ) so I guess Cassandra is actually that rare HR heroine of a ...normal girl? She's not quirky or nerdy or shy or awkward or loud. She's just a pretty, even-tempered normal girl. No significant trauma from her past to colour her story. I think this is probably intentional because she is a balm to Tom's relative chaotic personality but the story kind of lacks any real heat.
Don't get me wrong I enjoyed it well enough it just didn't quite hit the spot for me in the way Kleypas' novels usually do.
kelseyreadshr's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Chasing Cassandra is the sixth book in the Ravenels series.
Like some of the books in this series, there’s not a lot of action going on and more time hopping than the last one but I still really liked this one and may be my favorite of the series (thus far).
Tom has been teased since book one so I had an idea of the ruthless businessman we’d be getting but I loved him more than I thought I would. He was much more of a snob than I expected and surprisingly it endeared me to him. He’s intelligent but loved all the ways the author weaved his knowledge with interesting tidbits through the story. How he allowed himself only five emotions but the minute he meets Cassandra he knows something’s different. All of these things combined with his journey and the way Cassandra was always the exception made me love him and found him sweet.
Also throughout the series, Cassandra has been the beautiful one and loved how in the beginning that she says she wants to be known for more than her beauty. She’s not empty headed but kind, clever and more vulnerable than expected. She’s had some weight gain that she struggles with until Tom quite beautifully tells her his opinion of these intrusive thoughts.
I loved how the novels Tom reads comes full circle in the end. Basil was also a sweet addition and loved what he added to the story.
There are four encounters that were again tender and steamy.
CW: there is a brief on page scene with SA involving the heroine.
Like some of the books in this series, there’s not a lot of action going on and more time hopping than the last one but I still really liked this one and may be my favorite of the series (thus far).
Tom has been teased since book one so I had an idea of the ruthless businessman we’d be getting but I loved him more than I thought I would. He was much more of a snob than I expected and surprisingly it endeared me to him. He’s intelligent but loved all the ways the author weaved his knowledge with interesting tidbits through the story. How he allowed himself only five emotions but the minute he meets Cassandra he knows something’s different. All of these things combined with his journey and the way Cassandra was always the exception made me love him and found him sweet.
Also throughout the series, Cassandra has been the beautiful one and loved how in the beginning that she says she wants to be known for more than her beauty. She’s not empty headed but kind, clever and more vulnerable than expected. She’s had some weight gain that she struggles with until Tom quite beautifully tells her his opinion of these intrusive thoughts.
I loved how the novels Tom reads comes full circle in the end. Basil was also a sweet addition and loved what he added to the story.
There are four encounters that were again tender and steamy.
CW: there is a brief on page scene with SA involving the heroine.
bre_ganz's review against another edition
3.75
Wasn’t my favorite of the series, but I still thoroughly enjoyed it!
annamariahz's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
strawberrymatcha's review against another edition
4.0
i really liked it until the celebrity cameo and infinity necklace