Liz Loves Books
I love to read and to talk about books. I review many of the books I read. I do not accept any author/publisher submissions for reviews. I do not read or review ARCs. I do not enter any giveaways or contests. I obtain the books I review by purchasing them at the same price they are offered to the general public at the time of purchase. My reviews are intended for the use of my fellow readers. They are not advertising or promotion. They are not beta reads or constructive criticism or editing or advice to the author. My only obligation to the author is to pay the price charged for the book at the time of purchase. My reviews are sometimes critical and I will not stop posting critical reviews just to spare delicate authors' feelings. I am happy to make new friends, but friend requests from authors or promoters who have few or no books (and/or friends) in common with me and write or promote categories I do not read (especially new adult) will be ignored. I used to read more self-published books. After recent meltdowns by self-published authors, I now only read self-published authors I've previously read or who have been recommended to me by fellow readers I trust. I also used to read young adult/new adult books but rarely do so now.
Shut Up and Kiss Me Review
This funny romantic suspense novel set in small town Texas seems to be either a big hit or a big miss with reviewers. It was a big hit with me. I thought the balance between humor, romance and suspense was excellent. I loved Ms. Craig’s version of “quirky” characters. I have an intense dislike for the sloppily written, cliched and caricatured type of “quirky” character that is a staple of both southern romance and southern cozy mysteries. But these quirky characters come off as genuine individuals and I think that for the most part Ms. Craig put a lot of thought and care into developing both the main and secondary characters.
I found much of this book hilariously funny and some of it very touching as well. I enjoyed the lead characters’ path to their HEA. I do agree with some reviewers that the number of secondary characters and the attention paid to them does take away from the main relationship. But I think that is a trade off for the secondary characters being well developed and the suspense plot having as much of a share of the book as the romance. There is one character who came off as strong sequel-bait but I do not see a second book with him in it in any lists of Ms. Craig’s books. I hope she does write it someday.
Overall I thought this was a fun, lightweight read with a lot of heart and great characters.
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