stucknbooks14's review against another edition
4.0
trigger warnings will be at the bottom of this review, to avoid spoilers
(there’s multiple deaths involved, as well as the safety of children)
I’m balancing the tightrope between three and four stars. But because I genuinely enjoyed it, I have to go with four stars. We get information slowly, in little sprinkles. And none of it really makes sense as separate pieces. There was too much time making assumptions. Everything was building, and ready to explode. At times, it was hard to remember/easy to forget this was about a group of well established, fully lived 30 somethings. Some actions felt like inexperienced 20 somethings. Lia is alive, but not living. She’s living in a dark cloud of grief. Asher is trying his hardest not to lose his mind because of his soon to be ex wife, who he is very happily divorcing. And in the midst of all the chaos, Asher decides it’s time to drop his unrequited love bombshell. (Big fan of that though.) But it was easy to see from the very beginning of the book that it wasn’t actually unrequited. That’s just a little too hard for Lia to grasp though, with that dark cloud and all. They’re both mentally and emotionally stretching themselves thin. And I FELT it! The author really said, “this hurts, but I’m going to make it hurt even more”.
My Favorite Quotes:
• “You have this. I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”
• “I keep thinking about you.”
• “Don’t give up on me. Please.”
• “You have no idea how much I like hearing my name from your mouth.”
• “If you say that again, I’m going to kiss you, and screw the consequences.”
• “I want them to know you’re mine.”
• “I would’ve waited longer. For you.”
• “Not good enough. I said scream.”
• “You’ve always been mine.”
8/10 Dirty Birdy
4/10 Forced Proximity
7/10 Second Chance
6/10 Slow Burn
10/10 Single Parent
5/10 Workplace Romance
Trigger Warnings include:
death of a spouse, death of a parent, Huntington’s, grief, panic attacks, depression, marital cheating (not between MCs), Breast Cancer, suicide and suicidal thoughts, custody threats/battle, postpartum depression, death of a child/infant, child neglect
(there’s multiple deaths involved, as well as the safety of children)
I’m balancing the tightrope between three and four stars. But because I genuinely enjoyed it, I have to go with four stars. We get information slowly, in little sprinkles. And none of it really makes sense as separate pieces. There was too much time making assumptions. Everything was building, and ready to explode. At times, it was hard to remember/easy to forget this was about a group of well established, fully lived 30 somethings. Some actions felt like inexperienced 20 somethings. Lia is alive, but not living. She’s living in a dark cloud of grief. Asher is trying his hardest not to lose his mind because of his soon to be ex wife, who he is very happily divorcing. And in the midst of all the chaos, Asher decides it’s time to drop his unrequited love bombshell. (Big fan of that though.) But it was easy to see from the very beginning of the book that it wasn’t actually unrequited. That’s just a little too hard for Lia to grasp though, with that dark cloud and all. They’re both mentally and emotionally stretching themselves thin. And I FELT it! The author really said, “this hurts, but I’m going to make it hurt even more”.
My Favorite Quotes:
• “You have this. I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”
• “I keep thinking about you.”
• “Don’t give up on me. Please.”
• “You have no idea how much I like hearing my name from your mouth.”
• “If you say that again, I’m going to kiss you, and screw the consequences.”
• “I want them to know you’re mine.”
• “I would’ve waited longer. For you.”
• “Not good enough. I said scream.”
• “You’ve always been mine.”
8/10 Dirty Birdy
4/10 Forced Proximity
7/10 Second Chance
6/10 Slow Burn
10/10 Single Parent
5/10 Workplace Romance
Trigger Warnings include:
death of a spouse, death of a parent, Huntington’s, grief, panic attacks, depression, marital cheating (not between MCs), Breast Cancer, suicide and suicidal thoughts, custody threats/battle, postpartum depression, death of a child/infant, child neglect
krisreads_'s review against another edition
I really liked this but the constant pov change in the middle of scenes got soo confusing, idk who’s speaking or even thinking anymore.
energyrae's review
5.0
Asher has loved Dahlia from the first time he met her as a teenager, and because of her interest in Doug, he had to walk away. That never stopped him from loving her, even when he was trapped in a loveless marriage for the sake of his son, it was always Dahlia. Dahlia too was trapped in her marriage for her daughter. Her husband cheated on her, made her feel less than, and in the end, took a valuable choice away from her. So she carries the scars of his loss, but even more, the scars of his infidelity. So when these decide to start being friends again, it's clear from the start that Asher wants more, but Dahlia is scared that Asher's lifestyle is exactly like Doug's, and she doesn't want to do that route again.
I absolutely loved Asher's character, he made the book shine. His devotion to his son is so endearing. His ability to talk Dahlia down through her panic is heart-melting. I love his dedication to getting Dahlia to see him as an individual and not as the philanderer her husband was.
I didn't like that Dahlia refused to see Asher as he was and constantly compared and worried that he would cheat on her like her ex. That's a personal preference as I prefer characters that know they've been hurt but are able to look at each new love prospect with a fresh slate. But the relationship between the two was great. Dahlia is an incredible mother and I adored her friendship with her daughter. I loved that she was both a parent and a close friend and she made it work.
When these two get together, things turn *hot*. Padgett has made their connection palpable, and with the exception of him not returning some phone calls, she has made a great book boyfriend in Asher, I think a lot of women would be willing to take on Dahlia if she wasn't so perfect for him. I loved Sweet Solace, I loved that it was a standalone making it a true series, and I look forward to book 2.
I absolutely loved Asher's character, he made the book shine. His devotion to his son is so endearing. His ability to talk Dahlia down through her panic is heart-melting. I love his dedication to getting Dahlia to see him as an individual and not as the philanderer her husband was.
I didn't like that Dahlia refused to see Asher as he was and constantly compared and worried that he would cheat on her like her ex. That's a personal preference as I prefer characters that know they've been hurt but are able to look at each new love prospect with a fresh slate. But the relationship between the two was great. Dahlia is an incredible mother and I adored her friendship with her daughter. I loved that she was both a parent and a close friend and she made it work.
When these two get together, things turn *hot*. Padgett has made their connection palpable, and with the exception of him not returning some phone calls, she has made a great book boyfriend in Asher, I think a lot of women would be willing to take on Dahlia if she wasn't so perfect for him. I loved Sweet Solace, I loved that it was a standalone making it a true series, and I look forward to book 2.
lakea's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, and Sexual content
Minor: Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Cursing, and Toxic relationship
lrn_af62693's review against another edition
5.0
A story that rocks your world in more than one way. Alexa Padgett has created a series that feels so real. Where is the movie?
No, really, she writes a story full of heart, anxiety, sadness, and love. As we follow Dahlia and Asher try to fight this connection, as they go through their struggles, you can’t help but want to see them together. I enjoyed this story, so much. This is the first in the Seattle Sound series, I started with the fourth book, I knew some of Dahlia and Asher’s story but this is so much better than I anticipated.
It deals with real life issues, divorce, anxiety disorders, panic attacks, and so many other things. There are so many twists and turns that it does throw your for a loop because you don’t know what’s going to happen. I highly recommend this book and this series to anyone, who wants to read a contemporary romance that feels like it could be happening right in front of your eyes. I did receive an ARC.
No, really, she writes a story full of heart, anxiety, sadness, and love. As we follow Dahlia and Asher try to fight this connection, as they go through their struggles, you can’t help but want to see them together. I enjoyed this story, so much. This is the first in the Seattle Sound series, I started with the fourth book, I knew some of Dahlia and Asher’s story but this is so much better than I anticipated.
It deals with real life issues, divorce, anxiety disorders, panic attacks, and so many other things. There are so many twists and turns that it does throw your for a loop because you don’t know what’s going to happen. I highly recommend this book and this series to anyone, who wants to read a contemporary romance that feels like it could be happening right in front of your eyes. I did receive an ARC.
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