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mxsallybend's review against another edition
4.0
Rosie and I just clicked from page one. I got her, I identified with her, and I immediately cared about her - I needed to see how her story played out. I loved the pairing of her and Sam, with their histories and backstories making their romance not just compelling but significant. I identified very strongly with Rose, but it was Sam's story - and her place within Muslim culture - that I found most fascinating.
The contrast between Sam and Caroline, two very different types of strong, dominant women who bring out complete opposite reactions in Rosie was one of my favorite aspects of the story and showed some real insight into the power-exchange. I struggled a bit with the central BDSM scene, knowing how uncomfortable I'd be in such a situation, but I appreciated Sam's playful, caring nature and recognized the power of limits in making Rosie feel safe.
Oh, and the last paragraph (at least, before the epilogue)? That went straight to the heart . . . absolutely my kind of journey, my kind of happily ever after.
The contrast between Sam and Caroline, two very different types of strong, dominant women who bring out complete opposite reactions in Rosie was one of my favorite aspects of the story and showed some real insight into the power-exchange. I struggled a bit with the central BDSM scene, knowing how uncomfortable I'd be in such a situation, but I appreciated Sam's playful, caring nature and recognized the power of limits in making Rosie feel safe.
Oh, and the last paragraph (at least, before the epilogue)? That went straight to the heart . . . absolutely my kind of journey, my kind of happily ever after.
gracerichards11's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
tense
slow-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
4.5
night_owl_84's review
5.0
Warning….This might end up being a long review because I have a lot to say!
I want to start out by saying that Max Ellendale is #1 on my favorite author list and here’s why:
1. She does an amazing job with writing in the first person point of view. I wasn’t really a fan of first person but she has definitely changed that for me. She has a way of connecting you to the main character that honestly leaves me speechless. I have an INFJ personality type and I’m all about depth, authenticity and connecting. Max hits all of those marks perfectly. Everytime I finish one of her books I’m completely satisfied with the depth of the story, the authenticity of the characters and their story/relationships and connecting on so many different levels...it’s beyond amazing!
2. The characters are amazing! Each one has their own unique personality that makes you fall in love with them! For example Ainsley made a huge impact in this story and she wasn’t even one of the main characters. I literally highlighted a few of the scenes with her in it. I don’t highlight in books...that says a lot! I also fell in love with Rebecca! Her mantra and advice throughout was amazing and really impacted me. I loved the relationship between Rosie and Rebecca it’s so sweet and inspiring. The love and protection coming from Rebecca melted me.
3. The Universe she’s created is fantastic! I love that so many characters make reappearances from her previous books so you get a taste of their life without a full sequel. I’m usually a fan of sequels and series but having new characters with bits of scenes mixed in with previous characters is very satisfying!
4. Hello Book covers! Victoria Miller does an amazing job creating a visual preview of the story. And they’re absolutely gorgeous!
5. I love how every story Max writes impacts me in some way. Some stories I relate to certain characters, some to the situations that happen, and some to hopes I have for my own future. It’s beautiful watching the journey of each character as they develop, grow and heal (physically, emotionally and within the heart).
Now let’s dive into Nocere…
Being an introvert myself I related to Rosie a lot and enjoyed watching her story unfold. I have some of the same struggles she has/had so it was nice to see how she improved or overcame some things. Large gatherings are not my favorite and it was interesting to see how she reacted in those scenes because I did/do a lot of the same things she did. Does that make sense? Hope so...moving on…
If I summed up this story in one word I would probably go with: Sexy. There were a lot of intense and emotional scenes, but wow there’s a lot of sexy situations. I was surprised to discover that I was really excited for the light BDSM scenes. I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but Max did an amazing job with putting situations on the table, making invitations, setting boundaries and making sure everything was consensual. Bravo Max! I’m definitely open to seeing more BDSM within the stories I read, because I enjoy the aspect of trust, deeper intimacy and pleasure that develops between the couple.
There were so many “Aww” moments, interesting things that happened and tons of affection/romance. When I finished reading I was left feeling completely satisfied, excited for what’s to come and another Max Ellendale book was added to my reread list.
Definitely worth the time to read/reread!
I want to start out by saying that Max Ellendale is #1 on my favorite author list and here’s why:
1. She does an amazing job with writing in the first person point of view. I wasn’t really a fan of first person but she has definitely changed that for me. She has a way of connecting you to the main character that honestly leaves me speechless. I have an INFJ personality type and I’m all about depth, authenticity and connecting. Max hits all of those marks perfectly. Everytime I finish one of her books I’m completely satisfied with the depth of the story, the authenticity of the characters and their story/relationships and connecting on so many different levels...it’s beyond amazing!
2. The characters are amazing! Each one has their own unique personality that makes you fall in love with them! For example Ainsley made a huge impact in this story and she wasn’t even one of the main characters. I literally highlighted a few of the scenes with her in it. I don’t highlight in books...that says a lot! I also fell in love with Rebecca! Her mantra and advice throughout was amazing and really impacted me. I loved the relationship between Rosie and Rebecca it’s so sweet and inspiring. The love and protection coming from Rebecca melted me.
3. The Universe she’s created is fantastic! I love that so many characters make reappearances from her previous books so you get a taste of their life without a full sequel. I’m usually a fan of sequels and series but having new characters with bits of scenes mixed in with previous characters is very satisfying!
4. Hello Book covers! Victoria Miller does an amazing job creating a visual preview of the story. And they’re absolutely gorgeous!
5. I love how every story Max writes impacts me in some way. Some stories I relate to certain characters, some to the situations that happen, and some to hopes I have for my own future. It’s beautiful watching the journey of each character as they develop, grow and heal (physically, emotionally and within the heart).
Now let’s dive into Nocere…
Being an introvert myself I related to Rosie a lot and enjoyed watching her story unfold. I have some of the same struggles she has/had so it was nice to see how she improved or overcame some things. Large gatherings are not my favorite and it was interesting to see how she reacted in those scenes because I did/do a lot of the same things she did. Does that make sense? Hope so...moving on…
If I summed up this story in one word I would probably go with: Sexy. There were a lot of intense and emotional scenes, but wow there’s a lot of sexy situations. I was surprised to discover that I was really excited for the light BDSM scenes. I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but Max did an amazing job with putting situations on the table, making invitations, setting boundaries and making sure everything was consensual. Bravo Max! I’m definitely open to seeing more BDSM within the stories I read, because I enjoy the aspect of trust, deeper intimacy and pleasure that develops between the couple.
There were so many “Aww” moments, interesting things that happened and tons of affection/romance. When I finished reading I was left feeling completely satisfied, excited for what’s to come and another Max Ellendale book was added to my reread list.
Definitely worth the time to read/reread!
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