I have mixed feelings about this book. The pacing was uneven, too slow at times and then fast at the end. The plot was interesting and I enjo3.5 stars
I have mixed feelings about this book. The pacing was uneven, too slow at times and then fast at the end. The plot was interesting and I enjoyed the mystery aspect. There were several surprises that left me shocked. The writing was easy to follow and engaging, but it was average. I enjoyed reading the story from both Darcy and Lizzie’s perspectives, it was interesting to see how the events varied based on their perspectives. I like Lizzie, she was brave, hardworking, ambitious, fierce, but she was also stubborn and didn’t make the bast decisions. I also liked Darcy but he felt flat at times, I didn’t quite feel the depth of his emotions. The side characters were fun especially Lizzie’s family, Darcy’s sister, Georgina, Guy (adorable dog), and Sally. I enjoyed the banter between Darcy and Lizzie as well as the tension. I didn’t quite feel the spark between them and the development of their relationship could’ve been explored more. There was also a lack of romantic scenes between Lizzie and Darcy. I’m glad that the mystery was resolved but I was there was more of a bit explanation on the reasoning behind the mystery. I enjoyed the ending, but it felt rushed. Overall this book was okay, but the pacing was uneven, the romance was underdeveloped and the ending was rushed. ...more
“Lizzie.” He exhaled her name like an oath. “I’ll follow you till the ends of the earth, if you’ll let me.”
I enjoyed this book, although ther3.5 stars
“Lizzie.” He exhaled her name like an oath. “I’ll follow you till the ends of the earth, if you’ll let me.”
I enjoyed this book, although there were a few aspects that could have been developed more. The plot was interesting, I enjoyed the mystery aspect of the book. The pacing started off well but slowed down in the middle. The writing was witty, engaging and easy to follow. I enjoyed that this book was a retelling of Pride and Prejudice, but I felt that some of the characters weren’t quite the same. The descriptions of the setting made me feel like I traveled to London during the 1800s. I appreciated that the author discussed important topics of the time period such as women’s rights, marriage and feminism. The characters were relatable and interesting. I liked Lizzie a great deal, she was brave, independent, outspoken, intelligent, fierce and loyal. Lizzie’s development was great, she grew in her determination and confidence in her ability to solve the mystery. I also liked Darcy, he was intelligent, loyal, protective of Lizzie, but there were times when he didn’t stand up for himself. I hope to see more depth of Darcy’s character in the next book. I loved how sweet and protective he was of Lizzie. The side characters were interesting as well especially Henry, Lizzie’s sisters and parents, and the Dashwood sisters. The tension and angst between Lizzie and Darcy was amazing! I enjoyed the banter between them as well. The slow burn romance was well done, I’m glad that their relationship is developing over time. I hope to continue to see more depth in their relationship. I’m glad that Darcy let Lizzie be her own person. There were several shocking reveals and surprises. The resolution of the mystery was disappointing, justice wasn’t quite served. I’m excited to read the next book!...more
“I want you,” he says. “The years I spent with you were the happiest I’ve ever been. I chased that feeling and I couldn’t find it. So no, I don’t care“I want you,” he says. “The years I spent with you were the happiest I’ve ever been. I chased that feeling and I couldn’t find it. So no, I don’t care about family and a marriage or any of those things I thought were important. I care about being with someone who makes me happy. In whatever way they want to be with me.” ❤️
I have mixed feelings about this book. The plot was interesting and the pacing was well done. The writing was descriptive, engaging and poetic. There were some fall vibes but I was hoping for more. I appreciated the mental health and anxiety representation, but the author could have explored it in more depth. For most of the book I was not a fan of June, she was very indecisive, annoying, inconsistent and didn’t think about the consequences of her decisions. At the end she developed a little bit she finally communicated about her feelings and made good decisions. I liked how she treated Adam’s family, she was friendly and thoughtful to them. I liked Adam, he was sweet, charming, talented, hardworking, but he didn’t communicate to June very well. I loved that Adam was a chef, he was talented and thoughtful. I adored the side characters especially Adam’s sister, mom and dad, Chloe, and Lucia. I loved the interactions between Adam’s family and June. The chemistry and tension between Adam and June was great. I did like that their relationship was slow burn but they didn’t communicate well at all and were inconsistent about their feelings. Also the development of their relationship was inconsistent, they were great friends to each other, then they were more and then they went back to being friends without a discussion. There were a few sweet romantic scenes between June and Adam. The ending was sweet and heartwarming. Overall this book was okay, but the main characters were inconsistent, the communication was lacking, and the relationship development was inconsistent. ...more
“He would die for her, and he would kill for her. More importantly, he will live for her. She’ll be the purpose driving every second of his every day.“He would die for her, and he would kill for her. More importantly, he will live for her. She’ll be the purpose driving every second of his every day.” ❤️
This book was fun and intriguing paranormal romance about love, power, friendship, and bravery. Mate follows Serena, a Human-Were hybrid was supposed to end a centuries long fight between humans and Weres, but made her a target. Koen, an alpha decides to protect Serena from the Vampyres and other Weres as well as people from her past.
"You can keep me forever."
I was invested in this paranormal romance from the first page. The plot was interesting throughout the book and the pacing was perfect. The writing was engaging and easy to follow. The world building was underdeveloped, I wished the author explained the history of the world and why certain groups are fighting. I appreciated that the author also highlighted important topics such as trauma, anxiety, cults, and how power can effect people in impactful ways. The characters relatable and complex. I loved Serena, she was stubborn, brave, strong, resilient, and fierce. She was guarded and secretive at first but when she opened up she was very loyal. I'm proud of her for overcoming her past and finding happiness in the present. Serena grew throughout the book, in the beginning she was uncertain of herself and didn't feel that she belonged, but by the end she was confident about her place in the pack. I also loved Koen, he was protective, brooding, strong, brave, and a leader. Koen's character development was great, he showed a soft side around Serena. The side characters were great, especially Lowe and Misery. I loved Serena and Misery's interactions, they acted like sisters and protected each other no matter what. The chemistry and tension between Serena and Koen was amazing! I'm glad that their relationship developed over time and they protected each other in many ways. The banter between Serena and Koen was so great, I laughed at several scenes. There were several romantic scenes that made me giggle and blush. The spice was awkward and cringey at times. The ending was exciting and hopeful, I'm glad it ended on a happy note.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves paranormal romance, awesome characters and great chemistry between the main characters....more
This book was great! The pacing in the beginning was slow but by the middle of the book I was immersed in this book. This series was about survival, fThis book was great! The pacing in the beginning was slow but by the middle of the book I was immersed in this book. This series was about survival, finding your path in a broken world, power and resiliency. I enjoyed the focus on the history of the world and how the past has shaped the present time. The author created such an intricate world that included detail about the landscape, the history, the languages, terminology, the people and the magic. The writing was descriptive and engaging. I enjoyed viewing the world in several different perspectives and comparing the differences among them. The characters were complex and interesting. I enjoyed learning about Hoa’s past and discovering how he viewed the world. I have mixed feelings about Essun, she was stubborn, had a bad temper and didn’t show Nassun much affection. She was strong and resilient. Also the interaction between Essun and Nassun was underwhelming and wasn’t resolved. I liked Nassun a great deal she loved affection, was resilient, strong and fierce. There were times when her character was inconsistent, one moment she believed something wholeheartedly and the next she didn’t. I also liked Schaffa and how he interacted with Nassun. I wished that the author explored his past and experiences. The side characters were interesting such as Ykka, but others didn’t have much personality. I’m glad that the ending was resolved but it was disappointing and I’m left with more questions than answers. Overall this was an intricate and interesting series. ...more
I enjoyed this book immensely. This series continues to fascinate me and intrigue me. The author created such a complex and detailed world which incluI enjoyed this book immensely. This series continues to fascinate me and intrigue me. The author created such a complex and detailed world which includes a unique language, land, magic, and peoples. I was confused about the world at times but I continued to learn more about the history which shaped the present in many ways. The pacing was uneven in the beginning and middle but picked up during the second half of the book. I’m glad that the author included an appendix at the back of the book to explain words unique to the story and their definition. The writing was descriptive, and cinematic. The characters were complex and flawed. I enjoyed being introduced to new characters as well as seeing previous characters develop. I liked Essun, she was resilient, strong, tenacious but there were times I didn’t agree with her decisions. She was also flawed which made her relatable. Nassun was a great character, she was brave, resilient, strong and she wanted to be loved and cared for. Nassun learned a lot about herself and the risks that she was willing to take. The side characters such as Ykka, Hoa and Schaffa each had their own personalities and challenges. The author highlights important topics such as otherness, hate, racism, climate change, and colonialism. The ending was intriguing and shocking. I can’t wait to read the next book!...more
This was such a heartwarming and fun cozy fantasy about found family, responsibility, romance, and finding your path in life. A Fellowship of LibrariaThis was such a heartwarming and fun cozy fantasy about found family, responsibility, romance, and finding your path in life. A Fellowship of Librarians and Dragons follows Doli, a dwarf who inherits a dragon egg and now must take care of a baby dragon. Doli’s friends and family help her with the dragon and she learns responsibility. Doli also meets a gargoyle librarian Sarson who she becomes close to.
I was immersed in this cozy fantasy from the first page. The pacing was almost perfect, it only slowed down in the middle and then picked up again. The plot was interesting and engaging. I loved that this book featured even more magical creatures than the first book including dragons, gargoyles, wizards and more. This book felt like a warm hug and I loved the fall vibes! I appreciated that this book showed that the little moments matter and took a break from battles. The magic was so fun and unique especially the baking magic. I wished I learned more about the history of the world but I’m also glad that there was no information dumping. I loved the characters, they were relatable and complex. I loved Doli, she was so sweet, loyal, hardworking, bubbly and resilient. Doli’s character development was great, she became more confident as the book went along and was able to rekindle her relationship with her parents. I also loved Sarson, he was helpful, kind, hardworking, aloof at first but then he opened up. I related to both Doli and Sarson since they both love to read. I hoped to see more backstory on Sarson’s character. The side characters have my heart too, especially Evvy the baby dragon (she was so chaotic and sweet), Theo, Taenya, Jez and Arleta. I wasn’t a fan of Doli’s parents at first but then they apologized and I liked them more. Doli and Sarson were great together, they had many things in common and understood one another. I loved that their relationship developed over time. The chemistry between them was lacking and it was missing a spark. There also wasn’t a talk about feelings or the future for their relationship. The ending was heartwarming but it also ended abruptly.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves cozy fantasy, awesome characters and unique magic. ...more
“You are everything I will ever want. You are magic—more than magic.”
This was such a heartwarming and cozy fantasy! I was completely immersed in this “You are everything I will ever want. You are magic—more than magic.”
This was such a heartwarming and cozy fantasy! I was completely immersed in this cozy fantasy from the first page. The plot was engaging and the pacing was perfect. This book felt like a warm hug on a chilly fall day. I loved the fall and heartwarming vibes. The baking competition was so fun, it reminded me of watching the Great British Baking Show but with magic. I enjoyed the inclusion of fantasy characters including elves, dwarfs, orcs, fennex, fauns and more. The writing was whimsical, descriptive and engaging. I loved the descriptions of the food, it made me crave all the delicious bakes in the book. I’m glad that the author added the recipes of the desserts in the back of the book. The characters were relatable and complex. I really liked Arleta, she was hardworking, friendly, resilient, but she was very stubborn near the end. I’m glad that she became more confident in her ability to bake and that she deserved to be in the competition. I loved Theo, he was so sweet, charming, loyal, kind and selfless. I loved how generous he was and didn’t want anything in return. There were several scenes that made me smile and blush at what he said to Arleta. I loved the side characters especially Doli, Jez and Taenya. In the beginning Taenya was not friendly but by the end her character development was great and she was very generous. The romance was great but I felt that a spark was missing and the development of the romance was lacking a bit. The tension between Arleta and Theo was well done and the connection was better at the end. The ending was heartwarming and sweet.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves cozy fantasy, awesome characters and wonderful cozy vibes....more
I have mixed feelings about this book. I loved the fall vibes and the setting was great! The pacing was well done and there a few fun scenes. On the oI have mixed feelings about this book. I loved the fall vibes and the setting was great! The pacing was well done and there a few fun scenes. On the other side the drama was over the top, the main character was inconsistent and selfish and the romance was underwhelming. The writing was engaging but it was average. I enjoyed the fun fall activities in the book and the description of the setting brought the small town to life. The characters were inconsistent for me. Ellis was fine at some points, but then she made a decision I didn’t agree with and she was dramatic and selfish. She also didn’t have much character development till the end. I didn’t like how to she treated her mom during the most of the book, although she did apologize. I liked Cooper, he was sweet, helpful and hardworking, but he was inconsistent with his feelings. At one point he hated Ellis and then loved her and then didn’t like her again. I enjoyed that Cooper was a great baker. I liked several of the side characters including Ellis’ mom, Sloane and Fern. The romance was lacking and there wasn’t much development of the relationship. There were several romantic scenes that were sweet and heartwarming, but I was hoping for more that would show the depth of their feelings. I wasn’t a fan of the third act breakup, although it was resolved quickly. I liked how the book ended, but one relationship was still not quite resolved. Overall, I enjoyed the fall setting and activities but the characters were inconsistent, the romance was lacking and I didn’t like the third act breakup....more
"I love this woman. I don't know how it happened. It slipped over me so softly, like the changing of seasons. The seeping scent of baked bread first t"I love this woman. I don't know how it happened. It slipped over me so softly, like the changing of seasons. The seeping scent of baked bread first thing in the morning. A wistful sigh on a perfect fall day."
This book was great! It was such a heartwarming and wonderful cozy romance about love, family, finding happiness again and realizing that the little moments matter too. If It Makes You Happy follows Michelle who takes over her mother's Bed and Breakfast in a small town in Vermont after her mother passes away. Cliff is a baker and next door neighbor to Michelle and they meet when Cliff offers her help at the Inn. Michelle is only running the Bed and Breakfast until her sister finishes college but then Cliff and Michelle become very close. Will Michelle go back to Seattle or stay in at the Inn?
"He knows how to make people feel seen. Sometimes too seen. He's so different from me. If I'm autumn, he's spring. He's all smiles and glowing warmth."
After the prologue I was swept away by this wonderful fall book and the characters that brought the book to life. The fall vibes were immaculate, I loved the descriptions of the small town festivities as well as the fall treats. It made me feel that I was experiencing fall in a small town just as the characters were. The plot was interesting and the pacing was nearly perfect. The writing was engaging, witty and descriptive. I loved that this book took place in the 90s it made every moment feel wholesome and the references were perfectly executed. This book felt like a cozy blanket on a breezy fall day.
"I want you to be happy and-" His next words almost came out in a whisper. "Have you ever thought I might be happy with you?"
The characters were relatable and well developed. I loved Michelle, she was intelligent, independent, strong willed, hard working, kind and protective of the people she cared about. Michelle kept her walls up to protect herself but once she took the walls down she was less rigid and had a fun side. I related to Michelle because my sister is one of my favorite people in the world. I wished that Michelle spoke her mind more and reflected what she actually felt. I also hoped for more of an exploration of why Michelle and her mom had a strained relationship before her mom died. I'm in love with Cliff, he was funny, caring, hard working, thoughtful and protective of his kids. Cliff was such a great dad, he was patient and understanding with his kids. I enjoyed the side characters immensely as well especially Emily, Brittany, Rocket and Michelle's neighbors. I wished that Emily's relationship with her mom was resolved more and that she apologized to Emily. The romance was fantastically done, I loved the slow burn and the chemistry was amazing. I'm so glad that the romance was developed slowly, Cliff and Michelle were friends for a long time first and then slowly reflected on their feelings for each other. The sweet and romantic scenes made me smile a great deal. The ending was so wholesome and heartwarming.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves fall romance, awesome characters and engaging writing....more
“You make my world better. Every day, in a million ways. You brought me to life.”
This book was great! It was such a heartwarming and magical cozy fant“You make my world better. Every day, in a million ways. You brought me to life.”
This book was great! It was such a heartwarming and magical cozy fantasy about family, second chances, love, finding your purpose in life and never giving up. This book felt like a warm hug on a chilly day. I loved the fall and winter vibes. The magic in the book was great, especially the talking plants and the spells. I loved the fantasy creatures including the cat with wings, the tiny dragons and the magical plants. The writing was engaging and witty, the description of the setting was well done. The plot was slow at times, but I was invested in the book because of the writing and characters. The characters were also a highlight of the book. I loved Terlu, she was bubbly, fun, helpful, kind, outgoing and resilient. Terlu’s character development was wonderful, I loved watching her find her purpose and have a second chance on life again. I also loved Yarrow, he was gruff at first but inside he has a heart of gold and was cinnamon roll. I loved that he’s a great cook and baker. Yarrow was such a sweetheart to Terlu, he helped her in any way he could and was protective of her. I was swooning at all the sweet things he did for Terlu. I liked a side characters immensely as well especially Lotti, Dendy, Marin, and Rowan. The romance and chemistry between Terlu and Yarrow was amazing! They cared and understood each other by communicating. The ending was heartwarming and I’m glad it ended on happy note.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves cozy fantasy, awesome characters and a magical world. ...more
“Leah. You remind me of the greatest sculptures, who can turn marble into the impression of billowing silk, the coldest stone into something soft. I s“Leah. You remind me of the greatest sculptures, who can turn marble into the impression of billowing silk, the coldest stone into something soft. I suppose what I’m trying to say is that everything you touch turns beautiful. The world becomes beautiful, as long as there’s you.”
This was a wonderful and heartwarming young adult romance about family, trusting others, discovering your passion and love. Never Thought I'd End Up Here follows Leah who is sent to China on a travel program after she by accident wished her cousin a depressing marriage and poor health in Mandarin. Then Leah finds out that Cyrus the guy who told a lie about her that had a negative effect on her life and she decides to get revenge. Will she forgive Cyrus and learn to trust him?
I was invested in this book from the very first page. The plot was engaging and the pacing was perfect. I appreciated that the author discussed important topics including unrealistic beauty standards, racism and anxiety. The writing was witty, descriptive and engaging. I enjoyed reading this story from Leah's perspective, she was relatable and emotional. I loved Leah, at first I wasn't a huge fan of her lying to classmates but the throughout the book I learned that she was brave, hardworking, resilient, and soft on the inside. I also thought her revenge towards Cyrus was petty, but I'm glad that she learned to trust him. I'm proud of Leah for overcoming her fears, trusting people again and becoming more confident when speaking her native language. I'm in love with Cyrus, he was so sweet, thoughtful, brave, smart and would do anything for Leah (he's such a simp). Cyrus' character development was great, he was cynical at first but then realized that he was a sweetheart and a romantic. I was swooning at the thoughtful things he did for Leah. I really liked the side characters especially Daisy (who was such a great friend to Leah) and Oliver (he was funny and charming). The tension and chemistry between Leah and Cyrus was amazing! I'm glad that their relationship developed over time and they learned how to communicate to each other. The slow-burn made their relationship more realistic. There were several romantic scenes that made me smile and blush. The ending was well done, I enjoyed how it was resolved.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves young adult romance, awesome characters and amazing chemistry between the main characters. ...more
“You have been my downfall, Evie Sage, and now I…I will be your undoing.” ❤️
I have mixed feelings about this book. The plot was very chaotic, at some “You have been my downfall, Evie Sage, and now I…I will be your undoing.” ❤️
I have mixed feelings about this book. The plot was very chaotic, at some points it was boring and then there was too much happening. Also the pacing was uneven, slow at times and too fast paced at other points. The writing was descriptive and easy to follow. I felt that the character development was lacking and the characters didn’t reflect on aspects of the story. Additionally, there were too many perspectives, I wished the book focused more on the Villain and Evie’s perspectives instead. I enjoyed the side characters especially Gideon, Kingsley, Clare, Becky and Tatianna, but I wanted to see more interactions from the Villain and Evie.
I loved how protective the Villain and Evie were of each other. I adored that the Villain only showed a soft side to Evie. The tension and angst between the Villain and Evie was amazing. I also could feel the connection between them and I loved the banter. I loved the romantic scenes between them. The development of their relationship was lacking and there wasn’t space for them to discuss their feelings for each other without being interrupted. There were times when both the Villain and Evie were inconsistent about their feelings and didn’t communicate about it enough. I enjoyed the ending, there were several surprises and it was exciting. Overall I enjoyed the tension and chemistry between the main characters but the plot was chaotic. ...more
"My home is your home. My arms are a haven for you to rest. My last name is yours if you desire it. I will love you to my grave, and even beyond it.""My home is your home. My arms are a haven for you to rest. My last name is yours if you desire it. I will love you to my grave, and even beyond it." (My favorite quote).
I absolutely loved this book!! ❤️ This was a stunning and heartbreaking romantic fantasy about love, loss, fate, power, and courage. Wild Reverence follows Matilda, the youngest goddess in her family and she is a messenger who carries letters throughout the worlds. The gods are after her powers and she must fight to stay alive. A mortal man, Vincent dreamed of Matilda as a child and now as an adult he writes to her asking for her help. Vincent and Matilda are fated for each other and they will have to make sacrifices that will change them forever.
"Let me fill and satisfy every longing in your soul. May your hand be in mine, by sun and by night. Let our breaths twine and our blood become one, until our bones return to dust. Even then, may I find you soul still sworn to mine."
Thoughts I fell in love with this fantastic story and the characters from the very first page. The plot was engaging and the pacing was perfect throughout the book. The world building was stellar, the author spent a decent amount of time expanding on the world and explaining the history of the gods. I loved the addition of new magic and expanded worlds. The writing was phenomenal and the story was crafted with so much heart and emotion. The letters were so beautiful and warmed my heart. I felt every emotion while reading this book including happiness and sadness. I was transported into this world world and felt a raw connection to the characters as well as the story. This book reminded me why I love reading and it gave me a feeling of being in a happy space. The ending was so beautiful and heartbreaking. My heart broke and healed at the same time. This story will stay in my heart for a long time.
"The desire to drop everything and run to him. He was a place where I knew I would be safe."
Characters The characters were excellent and well crafted. I loved Matilda, she was brave, strong, resilient, relatable, caring and protective. Matilda's character development was wonderful, as a child she was uncertain of her space in the world and not trusting, but as she grew up she became a strong, determined and inspiring goddess. I also loved that she was herself she didn't let anyone change her into a hateful goddess. I'm in love with Vincent, he was so sweet, caring, strong, hardworking, and he never gave up on Matilda. His yearning for Matilda was so beautiful and made me very emotional. Vincent's character development was excellent, near the beginning he was hardened and not as sweet as he was as a child, but then he was optimistic again and was so caring to Matilda. I also loved Bade, he was caring, dependable, protective and a great father figure to Matilda. The scenes where he protected and cared for Matilda were wonderful. Adria was an excellent character too and I loved how sweet Bade was to Adria.
"I will those stars to always burn, because I could not bear to imagine them ever going dark"
Romance I loved the romance between Matilda and Vincent. The chemistry and tension between them was amazing! I also loved that their love transcended time and space. I blushed and swooned at many of the romantic scenes. I could feel how much they cared for each other and the yearning on both sides was beautiful. Matilda and Vincent deserve each other and I'm so happy that they found one another. I loved Bade and Adria's relationship too, they were great together and Bade had such a soft spot for her.
More beautiful quotes: "He dreamt of me before I knew of him. His soul found mine before I even knew how to look for his."
"I am yours, Red. I will always be yours. Not even Death can change that."
"I would wait a thousand years for you. If you asked me, I would wait for you until only my bones remained on the altar." (My heart, I love him!)...more
I have mixed feelings about this book. The first 300 pages of the book had uneven pacing and the plot was boring and I lost interest. The last 200 pagI have mixed feelings about this book. The first 300 pages of the book had uneven pacing and the plot was boring and I lost interest. The last 200 pages were great, the pacing was better and the plot was interesting. The world building was lacking, I enjoyed learning about the gods but didn’t learn anything new about the history of the world. The writing was okay in the beginning, but by the end the writing was descriptive and flowed better. Additionally, in the first half of the book the characters felt flat and I didn’t connect to them. The characters felt more rounded and relatable at the second half. Mische felt flat in the beginning and I didn’t connect to her, but she showed strength and resiliency at the end that I liked. I was inspired by her determination and grit at the end. Similarly, Asar didn’t have much personality at first but then near the end you could see how much he cared about Mische and that he would do anything to safe her. I loved seeing the cameos of Raihn and Oraya. I loved them both so much and it made the book more bearable in the middle. The romance between Mische and Asar wasn’t great at first. I didn’t feel a connection between them but then near the end the chemistry was developed and I saw how much they cared for each other. The development of their relationship was uneven but the ending made of for it. The ending was well done, it was sad but also healing. Overall, this book was okay but the first half of the book had uneven pacing, the plot was boring and the characters felt flat....more