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ccgwalt's review
4.0
4.5*
Grade A
Breath on Embers is an emotional story. Calhoun's characters feel human and vulnerable. Perhaps Ronan is a little too good to be true. Perhaps Thea's grief is more excessive than usual, but as a reader I never doubted either character. There are people like Ronan, and we all respond differently to tragedy.
I was wary of ready this story because I've rarely found real depth in stories that border on erotica. When sex plays such a huge part in a story, it often leaves little room for the character or story development. But in this case Calhoun manages to make the sex scenes part of the character and story development. While steamy and well-written, and worth reading for the own sake, the sex scenes show Ronan's attempts to reach Thea, and Thea's continued resolve to use sex to keep the darkness at bay.
The writing is beautiful, and I can't wait to read more by this author. Why 4 stars? It comes very close to 5 stars for me, but I felt the change in Thea was a little too abrupt, plus I'd love to have known more about both main character's backgrounds. In other words, I wish this had been longer.
Highly recommended.
Grade A
Breath on Embers is an emotional story. Calhoun's characters feel human and vulnerable. Perhaps Ronan is a little too good to be true. Perhaps Thea's grief is more excessive than usual, but as a reader I never doubted either character. There are people like Ronan, and we all respond differently to tragedy.
I was wary of ready this story because I've rarely found real depth in stories that border on erotica. When sex plays such a huge part in a story, it often leaves little room for the character or story development. But in this case Calhoun manages to make the sex scenes part of the character and story development. While steamy and well-written, and worth reading for the own sake, the sex scenes show Ronan's attempts to reach Thea, and Thea's continued resolve to use sex to keep the darkness at bay.
The writing is beautiful, and I can't wait to read more by this author. Why 4 stars? It comes very close to 5 stars for me, but I felt the change in Thea was a little too abrupt, plus I'd love to have known more about both main character's backgrounds. In other words, I wish this had been longer.
Highly recommended.
asmushy's review
5.0
Rating: 4.5/5
This story was so complex and dark and poetic and sad, it tugged at my heart strings and left me sobbing and smiling and fanning myself at more than one time.
Few months after loosing her husband in a car accident, Thea moves to Manhattan but unfortunately not with her life. An emotional minefield, she freaks out at the mere mention of anything that would remind her of her late husband.
Thea broke my heart with her grief, she was going under, all this dark weight downing on her, only music loud and noisy would anchor her in the now and prevent her from completely losing it. Her other mean of escape was Ronan. Hot, romantic, rugged firefighter Ronan to drown out her grief, with what she hoped was sizzling yet emotionless, meaningless sex. Except it wasn't. He wouldn't let her use him just for that. He's got many layers to him. He could see through her her and could keep up with her no matter the pace she set.
And Good God that man oozed sexiness and hotness from everywhere.
Thea's biggest fear was realizing that she and Ronan had was real and unique. She was in denial and refused to face the fact that they were more than what she liked to think of. He made sure of that. He was determined to show her what they are together and what they could be if she only opened her eyes.
For a short story, it was unbeluvably and surprisingly good and emotional. Extremely hot and sweet and so sensuous. The author painted her characters with such immense depth and complexity that i completly loved them and cared for them and ached with their pain. I hope reading from this author again and very soon.
This story was so complex and dark and poetic and sad, it tugged at my heart strings and left me sobbing and smiling and fanning myself at more than one time.
Few months after loosing her husband in a car accident, Thea moves to Manhattan but unfortunately not with her life. An emotional minefield, she freaks out at the mere mention of anything that would remind her of her late husband.
Thea broke my heart with her grief, she was going under, all this dark weight downing on her, only music loud and noisy would anchor her in the now and prevent her from completely losing it. Her other mean of escape was Ronan. Hot, romantic, rugged firefighter Ronan to drown out her grief, with what she hoped was sizzling yet emotionless, meaningless sex. Except it wasn't. He wouldn't let her use him just for that. He's got many layers to him. He could see through her her and could keep up with her no matter the pace she set.
And Good God that man oozed sexiness and hotness from everywhere.
Thea's biggest fear was realizing that she and Ronan had was real and unique. She was in denial and refused to face the fact that they were more than what she liked to think of. He made sure of that. He was determined to show her what they are together and what they could be if she only opened her eyes.
For a short story, it was unbeluvably and surprisingly good and emotional. Extremely hot and sweet and so sensuous. The author painted her characters with such immense depth and complexity that i completly loved them and cared for them and ached with their pain. I hope reading from this author again and very soon.
onthesamepa9e's review
5.0
Wow
This is maybe a perfect novella— Deeply emotional, super sexy and just a beautiful love story
This is maybe a perfect novella— Deeply emotional, super sexy and just a beautiful love story
tracyann6's review
5.0
This is a beautiful story. Someone described it as “soulful erotic.” The eroticism seems to further the story rather than being gratuitous. The Christmas setting captures the spirit of the book and the themes of new birth and love rather than being too gimmicky.
marisaelainegettas's review
5.0
This was romance novella perfection. It's emotional and angsty. It’s romantically swoony. It handles a the topic of 'grief' with a deft hand. I ugly cried 4 times reading this novella. It really burrowed itself into my person.
It is so good I'm putting it into my holiday reread folder that includes Tiffany Reisz's MEN AT WORK TRILOGY. I will re-read this novella, every Christmas. That’s how much I loved it.
It is so good I'm putting it into my holiday reread folder that includes Tiffany Reisz's MEN AT WORK TRILOGY. I will re-read this novella, every Christmas. That’s how much I loved it.
kazen's review
3.0
This is much better than the length and genre suggest - a touching examination of overcoming loss in less than 100 pages. Perfect for erotica readers that like to have their heartstrings tugged.
melonreads's review
4.0
I’ve been really in the mood for holiday novellas. This one was sexy and yet heartbreaking, dealing with loss and grief and all the heartache that comes with not being able to find your way back to the light.
clak5686's review
3.0
Ronan O'Rourke stared seeing Thea Moretti but they don't really date. He wants to move their relationship in that direction. Thea says she can't and won't do that. Ronan takes small steps to show her that he cares which really scares her. She has not been able to get past the loss of her husband. Ronan takes a drastic step to show Thea they have a relationship not just sex.