Arden Steele

This has everything that the Blackhaven Manor series had but add more. The characters are actually developed and some world-building was done. Relationships were developed and connections made. There was an actual plot that the story built and the ending was satisfying with a denouement. The murder mystery was nicely done, but a bit too easy to figure out.
Overall this was a satisfying read. While some are whimpering about missing the short easy reads of the original series, I find that the added detail is far more satisfying. I would rather the more developed story than the easy bang.… (mer)

What an interesting idea - taking apart a love story from the author's POV. I wonder if the extended getting to know you ' period was in response to many early negative comments re: earlier books in this series, about not building a relationship between MCs? If so it was a bit silly as the whole fated mate genre means the relationship building comes after the 'bite'. All this did was take up time and space that could have built the plot - which kind of disappeared.
The title also confused me as a trope is a device in literature - often overused like "ooops only one bed" How does a trope become a 'tight-rope' to walk? Overall - ehhh - okay. Not one of my favorites.… (mer)