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lesburrata's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
sleepysamreads's review against another edition
3.0
You can find this review and others on my blog SleepySamReads!
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I'm not really sure what to think of this one. I enjoyed the plot and characters a lot, but I found myself having to push myself to finish it because I was just so bored by it. I can't put my finger on why.
I really liked the main character, Julia. She is running from her past when her car breaks down in small town Colorado. I always enjoy stories of people on the run from their past, and I also love stories where city people find themselves falling in love with the country.
The author really had a way of describing Colorado. I came away from the book a little bit in love with the mountains and ranch life.
Elena is everything I want in someone, so I definitely loved her a lot. Older, more serious, but with a soft side?? Hell yes. I also really adored her son, Cole, though it's mentioned that he's 16 and everyone seems to treat him way younger. Even going as far as still calling him 'little man'. I have no idea if that's normal in small town Colorado, but I can tell you that no 16 year old boy here would tolerate that.
It was not a bad book at all and I did enjoy it, but something is holding me back from rating it higher. I just wish I knew what.
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I'm not really sure what to think of this one. I enjoyed the plot and characters a lot, but I found myself having to push myself to finish it because I was just so bored by it. I can't put my finger on why.
I really liked the main character, Julia. She is running from her past when her car breaks down in small town Colorado. I always enjoy stories of people on the run from their past, and I also love stories where city people find themselves falling in love with the country.
The author really had a way of describing Colorado. I came away from the book a little bit in love with the mountains and ranch life.
Elena is everything I want in someone, so I definitely loved her a lot. Older, more serious, but with a soft side?? Hell yes. I also really adored her son, Cole, though it's mentioned that he's 16 and everyone seems to treat him way younger. Even going as far as still calling him 'little man'. I have no idea if that's normal in small town Colorado, but I can tell you that no 16 year old boy here would tolerate that.
It was not a bad book at all and I did enjoy it, but something is holding me back from rating it higher. I just wish I knew what.
sandra_emma's review against another edition
5.0
I love this book with all my heart. I've read it three times now and I just can't get enough. So I thought it might be time to write a review basically just so I can rant about how much I love it.
I feel like I can relate to a lot of things in this book and I think that's what makes me love it so much. Plus I'm always a fan of the whole ''ice queen'' middle-aged women on a horse, yes please. I love the whole setting to the story, after reading this I was set on selling all my stuff, getting a horse and go live on a farm.
The relationship between the two characters was great, the chemistry was there, the slow-burn... I loved it. There was also a lot of funny moments that made me laugh even after reading it three times.
The only thing I had a hard time with and something I usually dislike it the typical crazy ex-girlfriend. I feel like a lot of authors need to bring this in to put some extra angst in there but I don't think it's always neccesary. It didn't stop me from loving the story though and my rating will still be 5/5 stars.
I also really enjoy Erin Zak's writing, something about it is almost addicting and makes me want to read the book again the second after I finish it. I will definitely read her future books.
**update**
I just finished reading this for the fourth time and I'm honestly never going to get tired of this book, it's officially my go-to book whenever I feel like I'm in a reading slump or feeling down.
I feel like I can relate to a lot of things in this book and I think that's what makes me love it so much. Plus I'm always a fan of the whole ''ice queen'' middle-aged women on a horse, yes please. I love the whole setting to the story, after reading this I was set on selling all my stuff, getting a horse and go live on a farm.
The relationship between the two characters was great, the chemistry was there, the slow-burn... I loved it. There was also a lot of funny moments that made me laugh even after reading it three times.
The only thing I had a hard time with and something I usually dislike it the typical crazy ex-girlfriend. I feel like a lot of authors need to bring this in to put some extra angst in there but I don't think it's always neccesary. It didn't stop me from loving the story though and my rating will still be 5/5 stars.
I also really enjoy Erin Zak's writing, something about it is almost addicting and makes me want to read the book again the second after I finish it. I will definitely read her future books.
**update**
I just finished reading this for the fourth time and I'm honestly never going to get tired of this book, it's officially my go-to book whenever I feel like I'm in a reading slump or feeling down.
queerlitloft's review against another edition
5.0
This is the first solo book i've read by Erin Zak - i've previously read her colloboration with other authors, in the book titled Swift Vengenance (go read it, it's ace!)
I really enjoyed Breaking Down Her Walls, i'm not a huge romance reader but i feel like Zak could be the one to win me over to reading more from this genre.
There's a unique style to Zak's writing that i can't quite put my finger on, but it makes for great story telling.
Breaking Down Her Walls is an emotional journey for all involved, but particularly the main characters, Julia and Elena. Their individual and shared journeys to overcome their past traumas and to learn to trust again is touchingly sweet. It's also set over what i feel, is a realistic timescale, and as such you'd probably consider this a slow burn romance.
That's not to say that the heat doesn't ramp up - Zak clearly knows how to take sexual tension to the brink and back again, before skillfully writing the inevitable explosion of hotness.
Aside from the main romance arc, there's a few supporting characters that fit well into the overall plot, in particular Cole and Elijiah are firm favourites - who add a dash of light heartedness and humor inamongst all the angst and emotional tension.
Zak also does a really good job of providing just the right level of information about ranching and riding horses. It's enough to properly set the scene and bring you, and all your senses, into the story without being so detailed as to be overbearing and detract from the story being told. The depiction of Julia's relationship with her horse Leia, is another level entirely and made me want to go ride a horse by the time i'd put the book down.
Overall, a really great read. An emotional rollercoaster on all fronts, but with a healthy dose of heat and light heartedness in there too.
Plus i picked up a new word - 'lollygagging', which is always a welcome bonus!
I really enjoyed Breaking Down Her Walls, i'm not a huge romance reader but i feel like Zak could be the one to win me over to reading more from this genre.
There's a unique style to Zak's writing that i can't quite put my finger on, but it makes for great story telling.
Breaking Down Her Walls is an emotional journey for all involved, but particularly the main characters, Julia and Elena. Their individual and shared journeys to overcome their past traumas and to learn to trust again is touchingly sweet. It's also set over what i feel, is a realistic timescale, and as such you'd probably consider this a slow burn romance.
That's not to say that the heat doesn't ramp up - Zak clearly knows how to take sexual tension to the brink and back again, before skillfully writing the inevitable explosion of hotness.
Aside from the main romance arc, there's a few supporting characters that fit well into the overall plot, in particular Cole and Elijiah are firm favourites - who add a dash of light heartedness and humor inamongst all the angst and emotional tension.
Zak also does a really good job of providing just the right level of information about ranching and riding horses. It's enough to properly set the scene and bring you, and all your senses, into the story without being so detailed as to be overbearing and detract from the story being told. The depiction of Julia's relationship with her horse Leia, is another level entirely and made me want to go ride a horse by the time i'd put the book down.
Overall, a really great read. An emotional rollercoaster on all fronts, but with a healthy dose of heat and light heartedness in there too.
Plus i picked up a new word - 'lollygagging', which is always a welcome bonus!
owls_rainbow's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
fast-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
4.0
Ebook provided by NetGalley for review. Thank you.
Julia Finch is running away as usual. But after taking a detour due to a blocked road her car ends up breaking down in a small town in the middle of nowhere. Despite Julia's somewhat hostile manner a chance conversation leads to a man named Ed offering to pay to get her car fixed in exchange for a job and a room on the ranch he helps manage. Julia is not an animal person and loathes the idea of being in debt to someone but no car means no getaway so she reluctantly says yes.
Ranch owner Elena is not happy about some city slicker working on her ranch but then she sees that Julia has an instinctive touch with the horses and allows her to stay. Elena is a very guarded person, her wife died in a car accident leaving her a single mum to now-teenage Cole, and then when she opened her heart to previous ranch hand Penn, she suddenly abandoned them.
The brilliant thing about this book is the title about "breaking down her walls" applies to both of them, Elena's been hurt before and Julia's chequered past in foster care makes her unwilling to open up and both have trust issues. This was beautiful and I loved the slow-burn development of their relationship. I did want more of the after and I wanted to know more about the side characters, they weren't as well developed.
Julia Finch is running away as usual. But after taking a detour due to a blocked road her car ends up breaking down in a small town in the middle of nowhere. Despite Julia's somewhat hostile manner a chance conversation leads to a man named Ed offering to pay to get her car fixed in exchange for a job and a room on the ranch he helps manage. Julia is not an animal person and loathes the idea of being in debt to someone but no car means no getaway so she reluctantly says yes.
Ranch owner Elena is not happy about some city slicker working on her ranch but then she sees that Julia has an instinctive touch with the horses and allows her to stay. Elena is a very guarded person, her wife died in a car accident leaving her a single mum to now-teenage Cole, and then when she opened her heart to previous ranch hand Penn, she suddenly abandoned them.
The brilliant thing about this book is the title about "breaking down her walls" applies to both of them, Elena's been hurt before and Julia's chequered past in foster care makes her unwilling to open up and both have trust issues. This was beautiful and I loved the slow-burn development of their relationship. I did want more of the after and I wanted to know more about the side characters, they weren't as well developed.
rakhya's review
3.0
I really enjoyed Zak's description of the work at the ranch, and the interaction with the animals.
Unfortunately I could not like the two main characters nearly as much.
Their behaviour, and the unavoidable drama between them, seemed a little too juvenile considering one of them is in her forties.
And by the end of the book, Elena's teenage son Cole seemed more mature than any of the two leading ladies.
Unfortunately I could not like the two main characters nearly as much.
Their behaviour, and the unavoidable drama between them, seemed a little too juvenile considering one of them is in her forties.
And by the end of the book, Elena's teenage son Cole seemed more mature than any of the two leading ladies.
Spoiler
Penn's role as the catalyst for the two leads' conflict seemed a little exaggerated, painting her as the root of all evil for 90% of the book only to make it all go away in a final mind-boggling appearance.phantomlimb's review against another edition
3.0
Although the characters are interesting. The book is written in present progressive tense third person, and it is kind of hard to adjust.
https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/present-tense-books
I don't think I like it.
https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/present-tense-books
I don't think I like it.
tseyi's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-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
4.25