kerickertful's review against another edition
3.0
3.5. Easy fluff. The audiobook was great. Don’t think i would’ve made it through reading this.
lesliemoore72's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I found myself thinking about Evi, Eamon & Dalton for days after I finished reading. The morning after I finished I couldn't wait to get back to their story, and then I realized there wasn't more to read, and it made me kind of sad. What first attracted me to this book was the title and location - Kentucky. A chunk of my heart is in Kentucky. As I was drawn into the story, I discovered parts of it take place in the U.P. What?!! My two favorite places in one book. Whiskey & Ribbons is told from three perspectives. The writing is really beautiful. I'm very happy I finally gave this one my time after sitting on my TBR the longest of any other book.
bericson13's review against another edition
4.0
an achingly beautiful story of love and grief and hope and healing and family. this was gorgeous and hopeful.
margaretefg's review against another edition
2.0
There were many things I liked about this book...the different narrative voices and the way the story came together by interweaving the past with the longest snow day ever. But I thought it was going to be a powerful adoption story, and then when it turned out that Dalton and Eamon share the same biological father and that father goes from being a gentle, loving role model to a despicable philanderer in his sons' eyes, I found it jarring. Didn't seem to fit and in other ways, seemed like too simple a telling for an otherwise more complicated story.
lingfish7's review against another edition
4.0
I loved Leesa's book "This Close to Okay" and that book made me curious to read her debut novel - Whiskey & Ribbons. Although I prefer This Close to Okay, this book was just shy of a masterpiece in terms of prose, deep emotions, processing grief, and redemption.
If you're not into prose then you probably wouldn't like it as much as I did because the plot was a little laggy and slow. It's super artsy though, so I read it slowly and relished each sentence and artistic expression.
1. She has 3 interweaving timelines which makes the book feel like you're constantly going back and forth from present to future, but in a way that makes it mysterious and beautiful. This might drive some people crazy but I loved it.
2. The book is structured around the theme of music and each chapter is like a part in a symphony.
3. The main characters are super artistic, from Evangeline's ballet to Dalton's piano playing. I appreciated how art was woven throughout the book in all of these creative ways.
If you're not into prose then you probably wouldn't like it as much as I did because the plot was a little laggy and slow. It's super artsy though, so I read it slowly and relished each sentence and artistic expression.
1. She has 3 interweaving timelines which makes the book feel like you're constantly going back and forth from present to future, but in a way that makes it mysterious and beautiful. This might drive some people crazy but I loved it.
2. The book is structured around the theme of music and each chapter is like a part in a symphony.
3. The main characters are super artistic, from Evangeline's ballet to Dalton's piano playing. I appreciated how art was woven throughout the book in all of these creative ways.
dwcofer's review against another edition
1.0
Oh my gosh, where do I start. "Whiskey & Ribbons," by Leesa Cross-Smith was just horrible.
First, the writing. Ms. Cross has obviously never studied writing seriously. The book is all telling, no showing. I wanted to scream, "Show me, please!" The book could have been improved so much by showing me the action instead of a flat telling me what happened.
Second, the characters are so flat and not developed. They are not even underdeveloped. They are not developed at all. By not showing us their action and providing enough dialogue, I never felt like I got to know and relate to them. The characters were nothing more than just names. They all had the same voice, and all spoke alike.
Thirdly, the premise was a good one, but fell way short due to the inadequacies of the author. Who at the publishing house told her this was a good book? They lied to her. Again, the premise of grief, love, and memory are good ideas, but they needed the hand of a skilled craftsman to bring it alive for the reader.
Finally, Ms. Cross tries to hard to make this a literary piece of work. She uses flowery language when it is neither needed nor appropriate. The "romance" story is so cliché it is sickening. Ms. Cross is trying to create something (a work of literary fiction) in which she is incapable of doing.
Save your money and skip this book.
First, the writing. Ms. Cross has obviously never studied writing seriously. The book is all telling, no showing. I wanted to scream, "Show me, please!" The book could have been improved so much by showing me the action instead of a flat telling me what happened.
Second, the characters are so flat and not developed. They are not even underdeveloped. They are not developed at all. By not showing us their action and providing enough dialogue, I never felt like I got to know and relate to them. The characters were nothing more than just names. They all had the same voice, and all spoke alike.
Thirdly, the premise was a good one, but fell way short due to the inadequacies of the author. Who at the publishing house told her this was a good book? They lied to her. Again, the premise of grief, love, and memory are good ideas, but they needed the hand of a skilled craftsman to bring it alive for the reader.
Finally, Ms. Cross tries to hard to make this a literary piece of work. She uses flowery language when it is neither needed nor appropriate. The "romance" story is so cliché it is sickening. Ms. Cross is trying to create something (a work of literary fiction) in which she is incapable of doing.
Save your money and skip this book.
librarystan4lyfe's review against another edition
4.0
Beautiful, all-consuming, real. Such an unusually written, stunning book.
shannanh's review against another edition
3.0
I was able to finish it. It took me a while, but I didn't really get the hype.
thelexingtonbookie's review against another edition
4.0
A heartbreaking love story, set in Kentucky, in the midst of a snowstorm? Yes, please.
The reader is introduced to Eamon Royce, a Louisville cop, and his brother, Dalton, a bike-shop owner. These boys were born six days apart, grew up together, and their mothers had been best friends. When Dalton's mother passed away, the Royce's adopt Dalton and treat him like he had always been a part of the family- because he had been.
When Eamon meets Evangeline "Evi", a dancer and ballet teacher, he knew he it was love at first sight, and that one day they would be married. From there, it's a blissful whirlwind romance. Eamon knows Evi worries about him while he's on duty, but she never once asked him to give up the job he loves.Deciding that he'll do anything to make sure that Evi is always taken care of, he makes a pact with Dalton. Dalton agrees that if something were to ever happen to Eamon, he would take care of Evi. Image result for Louisville Police Dept
While miles apart on a fishing trip, Eamon receives a call from Evi- she's pregnant, and he's over the moon, joyous. Dalton can't be more thrilled for the two of them, and he ups the ante with the pact- he will take care of Evi and this unborn child.
Then, the worst and unexpected happens- Eamon is killed in the line of duty, sixteen days before Evi gives birth to baby Noah. She is distraught, and Dalton knows he has to be strong for her, but he's also swallowed by grief. Determined to keep his promise, Dalton makes sure that Noah is loved and cared for, as well as Evi. He knows that no matter what, he will never replace the love that Eamon had for these two, but it's more than the pact keeping him to his promise- it's the fact that these two are his family. He loves them both. And as time passes and the sharp ache from the loss dulls, Evi and Dalton learn that the two of them have more than kind feelings towards each other. Dalton and Evi end up snowed in together with baby Noah at his grandparents. Now, the two of them have a chance to sort out their tangled feelings of past loves and the future of their relationship.Image result for Whiskey & Ribbons
Cross-Smith has made a gorgeous debut novel with Whiskey and Ribbons, and a new fan out of me. The writing is beautiful, and the word choice shows, rather than tells, the reader how the characters feel. I loved the repetition of certain words and phrases, giving them deeper meaning and allowing the reader to roll them in their mouths or swirl them in their minds. And the development of the characters is wonderful, especially Dalton's as the man who has always been in the shadow of Eamon's family.
Overall, it's an intimate story line full of family, faith, love, duty, and grief. I absolutely recommend you give it a read, but prepare to have your heart broken.
The reader is introduced to Eamon Royce, a Louisville cop, and his brother, Dalton, a bike-shop owner. These boys were born six days apart, grew up together, and their mothers had been best friends. When Dalton's mother passed away, the Royce's adopt Dalton and treat him like he had always been a part of the family- because he had been.
When Eamon meets Evangeline "Evi", a dancer and ballet teacher, he knew he it was love at first sight, and that one day they would be married. From there, it's a blissful whirlwind romance. Eamon knows Evi worries about him while he's on duty, but she never once asked him to give up the job he loves.Deciding that he'll do anything to make sure that Evi is always taken care of, he makes a pact with Dalton. Dalton agrees that if something were to ever happen to Eamon, he would take care of Evi. Image result for Louisville Police Dept
While miles apart on a fishing trip, Eamon receives a call from Evi- she's pregnant, and he's over the moon, joyous. Dalton can't be more thrilled for the two of them, and he ups the ante with the pact- he will take care of Evi and this unborn child.
Then, the worst and unexpected happens- Eamon is killed in the line of duty, sixteen days before Evi gives birth to baby Noah. She is distraught, and Dalton knows he has to be strong for her, but he's also swallowed by grief. Determined to keep his promise, Dalton makes sure that Noah is loved and cared for, as well as Evi. He knows that no matter what, he will never replace the love that Eamon had for these two, but it's more than the pact keeping him to his promise- it's the fact that these two are his family. He loves them both. And as time passes and the sharp ache from the loss dulls, Evi and Dalton learn that the two of them have more than kind feelings towards each other. Dalton and Evi end up snowed in together with baby Noah at his grandparents. Now, the two of them have a chance to sort out their tangled feelings of past loves and the future of their relationship.Image result for Whiskey & Ribbons
Cross-Smith has made a gorgeous debut novel with Whiskey and Ribbons, and a new fan out of me. The writing is beautiful, and the word choice shows, rather than tells, the reader how the characters feel. I loved the repetition of certain words and phrases, giving them deeper meaning and allowing the reader to roll them in their mouths or swirl them in their minds. And the development of the characters is wonderful, especially Dalton's as the man who has always been in the shadow of Eamon's family.
Overall, it's an intimate story line full of family, faith, love, duty, and grief. I absolutely recommend you give it a read, but prepare to have your heart broken.
mooncrab's review against another edition
4.0
Broke my damn heart, but such a good read. This was hard to put down but I needed to take breaks from the emotion of it. I love Leesa’s writing so much and it’s wholly evident that each word is carefully chosen, and each sentence meticulously crafted to paint a vivid picture. She writes relatable, realistic characters and reveals their stories in a really engaging way. It was so neat (and gut-wrenching) to read Eamon’s chapters knowing the voice is coming from a dead man; this is a unique choice and added a real depth of intensity to the story. There were certainly parts of the book that were triggering to anyone grieving, but there’s also a relatability that is strangely comforting. Highly recommended if you are looking for an emotional read, but be prepared to seek out happier books as a palette cleanser afterward!