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lurker_stalker's review
3.0
A fine novella that had too many other people non-related to the main couple developing their relationship. I'm guessing they're from other books I haven't read yet but could be wrong.
kb13's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This was a short and cute story. I would say the main reason I'm giving this a 3/5 is because I couldn't really buy in to the fact that their one encounter in law school was the reason they were so hung up on each other. I guess you could argue it wasn't just that one event but it was brought up so much and just didn't make sense. Otherwise, the characters were interesting and I enjoyed this read. I think I might have liked this more if it was a longer book and shared more of the intrigue or details of the case that brought them together.
banrions's review
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
This is a little shorter than I realized when I first got it—so I had to adjust my expectations a little bit. I picked this audiobook up because I love this narrator. I’ve never read anything else by this author so I’m not sure if it’s their general style, or if this was just meant to be a shorter more… shallow or lighthearted story, or if this is their regular style. I found myself wishing more than once that they would to a bit more showing rather than telling as the romance progressed. That said, it is a short and sweet romance and I enjoyed it!
apostrophen's review
4.0
Really enjoyed this, and it meant the doggo got an extra hour of walking over the last two days. I love low-angst so much, and Rey is a master of putting just enough between the romantic leads to make them not have a clear path without even a hint of contrivance. Professionalism and gun-shyness from a previous encounter are more than enough, and make the eventual arrival at a happy ending feel like a genuine payoff.
rhodered's review
3.0
It was fine. A strong sense of place (New Orleans)and just the right work/romance/life balance. It felt calmer than I’d expected. Everyone acts like pleasant, intelligent adults.
The cover is confusing because the hair’s wrong - the blonde woman should have short cropped hair and not be dressed quite so femme. Also, I felt like the first quarter of the book introduced too many secondary characters who we never saw or barely saw again. I know there were reasons (showing both leads had lives full of people), but it was too many names and backstories for people who then dropped off the page.
The cover is confusing because the hair’s wrong - the blonde woman should have short cropped hair and not be dressed quite so femme. Also, I felt like the first quarter of the book introduced too many secondary characters who we never saw or barely saw again. I know there were reasons (showing both leads had lives full of people), but it was too many names and backstories for people who then dropped off the page.
jenreadsromance's review
3.0
Yes, it's $10. Buy the books you want to see in the world and in the RITAs.
This is a lesbian romance set in New Orleans. The two main characters are Parker and Elisa. They actually knew each other back in law school and hooked up one night, but it never went anywhere. It's vaguely "second chance" but without all the baggage. The conflict is 100% angst---all emotional. Parker is a big shot lawyer who has been in NYC and she's returning home to NOLA. Elisa dreads her arrival at the firm, always having bad feelings about that hook up.
Pluses: Solidly written with well-developed characters for a novella. Elisa seemed a bit more well-rounded than Parker. Lots of thinking about feelings, which I enjoy when it's well-done. No big dramatic blow-ups, just two adult women working thru together. Sexy when it happens.
Wishes: Although Elisa is a WOC based on her last name and a brief description of her family, the rest of the extensive cast does appear to be white. There are actually lots of characters and I think some of them were in earlier books by the author (at least it read that way) So I can't say that everyone was white except Elisa bc I haven't read other books.
This book was competent--it hit all the notes, but it was also predictable. There wasn't anything exciting or unpredictable, but it was solid.
Verdict: I see why it made the finals. I think it's very hard to do strong character development in a novella, and that is the real winner here.
Copied & Pasted from Twitter as part of a project where I'm reviewing the 2019 RITA finalists.
This is a lesbian romance set in New Orleans. The two main characters are Parker and Elisa. They actually knew each other back in law school and hooked up one night, but it never went anywhere. It's vaguely "second chance" but without all the baggage. The conflict is 100% angst---all emotional. Parker is a big shot lawyer who has been in NYC and she's returning home to NOLA. Elisa dreads her arrival at the firm, always having bad feelings about that hook up.
Pluses: Solidly written with well-developed characters for a novella. Elisa seemed a bit more well-rounded than Parker. Lots of thinking about feelings, which I enjoy when it's well-done. No big dramatic blow-ups, just two adult women working thru together. Sexy when it happens.
Wishes: Although Elisa is a WOC based on her last name and a brief description of her family, the rest of the extensive cast does appear to be white. There are actually lots of characters and I think some of them were in earlier books by the author (at least it read that way) So I can't say that everyone was white except Elisa bc I haven't read other books.
This book was competent--it hit all the notes, but it was also predictable. There wasn't anything exciting or unpredictable, but it was solid.
Verdict: I see why it made the finals. I think it's very hard to do strong character development in a novella, and that is the real winner here.
Copied & Pasted from Twitter as part of a project where I'm reviewing the 2019 RITA finalists.
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