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sambrooke's review
4.0
Wow. Well that was one hell of a dark read. I went into this thinking it had a completely different plot-line. Mine was less tragic.
lmrivas54's review
5.0
First, I have to say that I pulled an all-nighter, I just could not put this book down. Everything I expected this book would be was just not. It is dark and twisted and it felt like mouses running in a convoluted maze, taking all the wrong turns and never arriving at a good place. Reading this book involves feverishly turning the pages, desperately wanting to know what happens next and how it will end.
There’s no way to review this book without giving spoilers, so I will just express my emotions: my heart hurt. Evelyn is the light that shines through the soul of all the characters that revolve around her. Her moral compass is unbreakable, she is broken from her mother’s death and on top of her loss, she’s dealing with her husband Ronin’s otherworldly baggage, her best friend Lila’s unhappiness and Graham Cracker’s arrogance and presumptions. In the midst of all the chaos, when she feels that all hell has broken loose, she keeps calling her mother’s phone, listens to her still existing voice mail message, and unloads all her woes, hoping for some celestial advice from her mother. She needs to make a lot of calls, nearly fills the voice message box, because she feels alone and needs her mother. In the end, she heeds her own conscience, she remembers her mother’s experiences and she chooses her children, Franz and Anna, above all and every time.
Make no mistake, this is a romance story and it will have an HEA, but during the process, the author will crunch up your heart, squeeze it bloodless, dry your tear ducts, make your heart beat out of your chest, and then give you an ending that will be bittersweet at best. I have a book hangover, I’m sad and satisfied for a book that wrung my heart and made me feel, and relieved because Evelyn’s light was never extinguished or limited. My heart hurt for Ronin and how he always tried to do the best he could do, even when circumstances were against him, and poor Lila who was a victim of her love. Graham Cracker I could cheerfully grind into cracker dust and fry in a breaded something.
There’s no way to review this book without giving spoilers, so I will just express my emotions: my heart hurt. Evelyn is the light that shines through the soul of all the characters that revolve around her. Her moral compass is unbreakable, she is broken from her mother’s death and on top of her loss, she’s dealing with her husband Ronin’s otherworldly baggage, her best friend Lila’s unhappiness and Graham Cracker’s arrogance and presumptions. In the midst of all the chaos, when she feels that all hell has broken loose, she keeps calling her mother’s phone, listens to her still existing voice mail message, and unloads all her woes, hoping for some celestial advice from her mother. She needs to make a lot of calls, nearly fills the voice message box, because she feels alone and needs her mother. In the end, she heeds her own conscience, she remembers her mother’s experiences and she chooses her children, Franz and Anna, above all and every time.
Make no mistake, this is a romance story and it will have an HEA, but during the process, the author will crunch up your heart, squeeze it bloodless, dry your tear ducts, make your heart beat out of your chest, and then give you an ending that will be bittersweet at best. I have a book hangover, I’m sad and satisfied for a book that wrung my heart and made me feel, and relieved because Evelyn’s light was never extinguished or limited. My heart hurt for Ronin and how he always tried to do the best he could do, even when circumstances were against him, and poor Lila who was a victim of her love. Graham Cracker I could cheerfully grind into cracker dust and fry in a breaded something.
xokylajoe's review
5.0
Okay I understand how this book has a 4 star rating but I also don’t.
It was very well written.
I give mad props to a book/writer for being able to have me feel such big emotions. Even if it was mostly anger
It was very well written.
I give mad props to a book/writer for being able to have me feel such big emotions. Even if it was mostly anger
carleyreis's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
ahermann89's review
5.0
So hear me out.
Loving this duet the way I did makes me question who I even am as a reader and a little bit as a person.
This duet is also the reason I get scared recommending JEA to anybody who reads your everyday romance, regardless of the fact that JEA writes the most stunning love stories. Her stories are second only to her ability to write the greatest MMCs.
Truthfully, I felt every emotion available during this series. There was a moment when I was so conflicted as a person, and honestly, I felt a little sick over it. If that isn't incredible writing, then I don't know what is.
Was this a rollercoaster that left me kind of hating myself at certain moments? Oh, absolutely.
Did I feel alive as fuck reading all 720ish pages within 24 hours? You bet your cute butt.
Would I tell you to drop everything and read this ASAP? Ehhhhh. I'd have to confirm that you're a little fucked in the head like me before actively offering this one out...but if you find yourself in a little "I hate everything I read" slump, then I think this duet would revive you 100%.
A true 5 Star duet, and I will die on this hill.
Loving this duet the way I did makes me question who I even am as a reader and a little bit as a person.
This duet is also the reason I get scared recommending JEA to anybody who reads your everyday romance, regardless of the fact that JEA writes the most stunning love stories. Her stories are second only to her ability to write the greatest MMCs.
Truthfully, I felt every emotion available during this series. There was a moment when I was so conflicted as a person, and honestly, I felt a little sick over it. If that isn't incredible writing, then I don't know what is.
Was this a rollercoaster that left me kind of hating myself at certain moments? Oh, absolutely.
Did I feel alive as fuck reading all 720ish pages within 24 hours? You bet your cute butt.
Would I tell you to drop everything and read this ASAP? Ehhhhh. I'd have to confirm that you're a little fucked in the head like me before actively offering this one out...but if you find yourself in a little "I hate everything I read" slump, then I think this duet would revive you 100%.
A true 5 Star duet, and I will die on this hill.
rihoward's review against another edition
5.0
4.6 stars
Wow. Rarely, if ever, can I be rendered speechless. However, this book/duet definitely did it. This is a complex story. There is a lot in it that makes me truly ponder other possibilities of this thing called life. These characters are unlike others that I have read and their story is intense.
I cannot say anything else other than to read this duet, be open minded, and prepare for one unbelievable journey.
Wow. Rarely, if ever, can I be rendered speechless. However, this book/duet definitely did it. This is a complex story. There is a lot in it that makes me truly ponder other possibilities of this thing called life. These characters are unlike others that I have read and their story is intense.
I cannot say anything else other than to read this duet, be open minded, and prepare for one unbelievable journey.
sianny's review against another edition
4.0
an impossible review
Things start to get dicey for Evelyn and Ronin. Will they make it out of all the complications alive? Together? Happy?
I’m so lost for words that I don’t know how to review this book.
Honestly, I hated every single thing that happened except the end. Every. Single. Thing. But I didn’t hate the book itself. The writing is so gripping and immersive, and I was so completely invested which is why I felt so strongly about all the events that took place.
So many lies, so many secrets, not an ounce of communication. And I don’t just mean between Evie and Ronin. All of them. So so so much could have been avoided if they’d just been honest with each other!
I mean, why didn’t Ronin just tell her he could feel Lila the moment it happened? When it was still innocent and they could have figured out a schedule or a way to harness their connection in a non-marriage-destroying way???
Why didn’t Lila tell anyone the truth once she decided she no longer cared? No longer wanted to live?
I can almost understand why Evie didn’t tell Ronin or Lila about Graham’s inappropriate comments, threats and advances. But I don’t understand why she kept pushing Lila onto him.
And how in the actual fuck did neither Evie nor Ronin figure out that Graham was abusing Lila? It’s like they didn’t even suspect it when it was just so obvious!!!
I hated the cheating bit so much. So so much. I appreciate that the heat of the moment and feelings etc made it hard to resist, but they shouldn’t have been in that position (literally) in the fucking first place.
Could I put this book down? No. Would I recommend it? Only to people who like a bit of soul destroying in their reads. Did I love the writing? Yes. Would I read it again? No. I can’t put myself through that again. Will I have a book hangover from this? I already do.
Things start to get dicey for Evelyn and Ronin. Will they make it out of all the complications alive? Together? Happy?
I’m so lost for words that I don’t know how to review this book.
Honestly, I hated every single thing that happened except the end. Every. Single. Thing. But I didn’t hate the book itself. The writing is so gripping and immersive, and I was so completely invested which is why I felt so strongly about all the events that took place.
So many lies, so many secrets, not an ounce of communication. And I don’t just mean between Evie and Ronin. All of them. So so so much could have been avoided if they’d just been honest with each other!
I mean, why didn’t Ronin just tell her he could feel Lila the moment it happened? When it was still innocent and they could have figured out a schedule or a way to harness their connection in a non-marriage-destroying way???
Why didn’t Lila tell anyone the truth once she decided she no longer cared? No longer wanted to live?
I can almost understand why Evie didn’t tell Ronin or Lila about Graham’s inappropriate comments, threats and advances. But I don’t understand why she kept pushing Lila onto him.
And how in the actual fuck did neither Evie nor Ronin figure out that Graham was abusing Lila? It’s like they didn’t even suspect it when it was just so obvious!!!
I hated the cheating bit so much. So so much. I appreciate that the heat of the moment and feelings etc made it hard to resist, but they shouldn’t have been in that position (literally) in the fucking first place.
Could I put this book down? No. Would I recommend it? Only to people who like a bit of soul destroying in their reads. Did I love the writing? Yes. Would I read it again? No. I can’t put myself through that again. Will I have a book hangover from this? I already do.