Willy W. reviewed Crystal Cove (Friday Harbor, Bk 4) (Audio CD) (Unabridged) on + 503 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
Good news LK fans: sexy love scenes have finally come to Friday Harbor. Any Lisa Kleypas fan knows that the woman can write some smokin' hot love scenes. So it came as a bit of a surprise and disappointment that the Friday Harbor series has been so...PG (by comparison.)
The bad news is that the improvement in the bedroom came at the price of a weak story and a kind of (gasp) forgettable hero. LK has long dabbled with the paranormal (anyone remember the ghost in MineTil Midnight, the first Hathaway book?). Friday Harbor has taken it to the next level by making it an element in each of the books. However in this book it comes front and center, magic being in fact the primary plot. Unfortunately, Kleypas just doesn't sell it here. It was easy to accept Justine as magical since that was revealed in previous books, but without revealing too much, there were other mystical elements as key plot devices that just didn't work for this reader. Furthermore, Jason just wasn't all that strong. He's not awful, but he isn't memorable. The soul thing really cost too much in terms of character and direction. I wish LK had found a different way to get the story to gel. And a small quibble: somewhere I'd gotten the impression that Jason Black was going to turn out to be a long lost bastard brother of the brothers Nolan, was I dreaming?
Complaints aside, the book did get me thinking about some of the assertions made about metaphysical stuff. Like can you really exist without a soul? Some theorize that the soul and life are not connected. Some say it is an integral fact of all human life, that the soul is what makes us aware, able to love or make choices that aren't just nature calling. It is interesting to think about.
Overall, even a less than perfect LK book is better than most other romance out there, and with those hot love scenes, she still gets my three stars.
The bad news is that the improvement in the bedroom came at the price of a weak story and a kind of (gasp) forgettable hero. LK has long dabbled with the paranormal (anyone remember the ghost in MineTil Midnight, the first Hathaway book?). Friday Harbor has taken it to the next level by making it an element in each of the books. However in this book it comes front and center, magic being in fact the primary plot. Unfortunately, Kleypas just doesn't sell it here. It was easy to accept Justine as magical since that was revealed in previous books, but without revealing too much, there were other mystical elements as key plot devices that just didn't work for this reader. Furthermore, Jason just wasn't all that strong. He's not awful, but he isn't memorable. The soul thing really cost too much in terms of character and direction. I wish LK had found a different way to get the story to gel. And a small quibble: somewhere I'd gotten the impression that Jason Black was going to turn out to be a long lost bastard brother of the brothers Nolan, was I dreaming?
Complaints aside, the book did get me thinking about some of the assertions made about metaphysical stuff. Like can you really exist without a soul? Some theorize that the soul and life are not connected. Some say it is an integral fact of all human life, that the soul is what makes us aware, able to love or make choices that aren't just nature calling. It is interesting to think about.
Overall, even a less than perfect LK book is better than most other romance out there, and with those hot love scenes, she still gets my three stars.
Sherri H. (mamadoodle) -
Helpful Score: 1
ASTRONOMICAL disappointment.
Krista L. (Kristalo) reviewed Crystal Cove (Friday Harbor, Bk 4) (Audio CD) (Unabridged) on + 70 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
I just couldn't figure this book out. In one way it drew me in and captivated me. In others, like the very detailed sex scenes (even BDSM) it revolted me. Lisa Kleypas is a romance author, but she's never done anything this graphic before. The hero was not likeable, and did not deserve Justine. I did finish the book, even though a lot of pages were flipped without being read. I really wish the cover or a reviewer had mentioned the sexual details were so strong. Even though I loved the first 2 books in this series, I would not have read this one. The only reason I gave it 2 stars is because I finished it.
Jen of Red Hot Books has the perfect review. It matches my thoughts exactly: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/516676776
Jen of Red Hot Books has the perfect review. It matches my thoughts exactly: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/516676776
Yvonne L. reviewed Crystal Cove (Friday Harbor, Bk 4) (Audio CD) (Unabridged) on + 929 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Kleypas may add some supernatural elements in her books but this one falls fully onto paranormal romance category. I love paranormal romance so the first half of the book was pretty good for me. SPOILERS AHEAD.
Even though the sex scenes were graphic they weren't sexy. Just very cold and removed. I think Kleypas failed to illustrate the passion behind dominance sex play. It might have worked better with Zoe and Alex instead. Perhaps Jason was too contradicting to be naughty that way. Overall Jason's character wasn't put together well.
After Jason betrayed Justine, she basically turns into a huge pushover as a way to move the plot along. Because for a woman with trust issues she forgave way too quickly and believed what everyone told her at face value. And for someone who claims repeatedly she couldn't be bought, that's basically what he did. I lost all respect for her and ended up skimming the rest of the book. Their time together after that became more shallow.
The ending is extremely predictable and I was hoping Kleypas would put some surprises in there.
A huge disappointment, especially because the beginning was so good. Don't waste money or credits on it.
Even though the sex scenes were graphic they weren't sexy. Just very cold and removed. I think Kleypas failed to illustrate the passion behind dominance sex play. It might have worked better with Zoe and Alex instead. Perhaps Jason was too contradicting to be naughty that way. Overall Jason's character wasn't put together well.
After Jason betrayed Justine, she basically turns into a huge pushover as a way to move the plot along. Because for a woman with trust issues she forgave way too quickly and believed what everyone told her at face value. And for someone who claims repeatedly she couldn't be bought, that's basically what he did. I lost all respect for her and ended up skimming the rest of the book. Their time together after that became more shallow.
The ending is extremely predictable and I was hoping Kleypas would put some surprises in there.
A huge disappointment, especially because the beginning was so good. Don't waste money or credits on it.
Jane M. (broomhilda222) -
Helpful Score: 1
I have to agree that this book was not a typical Lisa Kleypas and I was very disappointed. I didn't have a problem with the sex scenes, I just couldn't bond with the male character. She is still one of my fav authors and I will continue to read her.
