Fiona Cole

This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.

Introduction
Voyeur is the first book in the "Voyeur" series by Fiona Cole. This is also my very first book by this author here. So I was intrigued to see how my experience with her writing would go. I was able to participate in this read with the "Dark Romance Book Club" I am a part of. (If you love dark romance and want to join in, DM me) But anyways, I absolutely adored the way that this story was written and immediately I was sucked into the story and so loved it. Its a fabulous mix of steam and heart and character growth that just tugged at my heartstrings!

My Outlook
This was such a precious story and I highly recommend that if you like contemporary romance with higher steam levels or voyeurism being explored that you definitely get to experience that with this one. I simply couldn't get enough of it and really respected how it was developed on this story. Fiona Cole really tackles this taboo so well. I normally am not into Voyeurism but when its written well I can really get behind it. And this is so much more than a taboo romance. I wouldn't even necessarily call it a dark romance to be honest. It didn't really have "dark romance vibes" at least not for me. The way that Fiona Cole tackled this story was brilliantly done. We slowly see the couple have a connection before they even officially meet and I just loved seeing that. The way that the hero's character growth and seeing him deal with his past and the trauma that has disabled him in relationship was so well focused on and especially in how the heroine was able to connect with him and be so sensitive to his needs was so inspiring. I absolutely adored these two together and even the third act conflict I was on board with. The author really made it be believable.

Rating Evaluation:
Plot: 5
World Building:4.5
Cover:4.5
Hero: 4.5
Heroine: 4
Steam:4.5
Heart & Feels:4
Ending:3
Overall View: 4… (más)

I was enormously frustrated with this book. I had such high expectations, and it sat on my TBR for so long, cause I heard so many great things about it. But no. It was one massive disappointment.

"Voyeur" is an age-gap romance between a student and her professor. They meet in a sex club and start their relationship there. It's angsty and forbidden, but that doesn't stop them.

The very first thing I want to note is the amount of drinking and driving in this book! WTF? I don't know how such a popular author can promote that kind of behavior. At least a few times the main character drank a bit (two beers, two shoots, or a little bit of whiskey) and then drove. This is dangerous and I am so frustrated as a driver to see it represented and included.

Then to the actual plot and characters.

I am so sorry, Fiona, but I found the book to be not for my taste. The plot was messy, with so much pushing and pulling my head started to ache. The characters were unlikeable (but that's whole another point I have) and the chemistry didn't exist.

But let's go back to the characters. I hated them, both.

Oaklyn was just stupid at times. But I think that was her main problem, while Callum was just abusive. I hated him, and I usually love my broken heroes. He was mean and addicted, and I hated every interaction. I just can't imagine these two having a normal healthy relationship in the future. They should have just split up and met other people.

And let's not even start with how negatively sex work is portrayed in the whole book.

So once again one big disappointment.… (más)

Una storia tanto prevedibile e scontata da risultare del tutto intuibile già a partire dalla prima battuta e sino all’ultima. Si legge, volendo, ma non aspettatevi chissà quale colpo di scena o svolta sostanziale nel corso della narrazione perché tutto scorre sempre nella maniera più prevedibile possibile.
Alexandra vive nella miseria più nera in una squallida roulotte insieme alla sorella drogata e al suo losco fidanzato. La fame e la necessità la spingeranno a mettere in vendita la sua verginità per poter racimolare una cifra che le consenta di uscire da questa terribile situazione. Verrà salvata da Erik, un uomo bello e misterioso e con un passato che ha lasciato profondi segni nella sua anima e che le offrirà anche il modo per crearsi un futuro.
In sostanza nulla di nuovo, una storia trita e ritrita con personaggi poco approfonditi e anche incoerenti e contraddittori come, ad esempio, Erik che viene descritto come il paladino e difensore delle donne ma, in realtà, nella vita privata nei loro confronti si comporta come un maschio sciovinista della peggior specie.
Peraltro, vengono toccati anche argomenti sensibili e di spessore ma sono trattati comunque con estrema ingenuità e totale inadeguatezza.
Traduzione ed editing non sono di certo il meglio, il congiuntivo è il solito “animale” sconosciuto e si incappa a volte in frasi tradotte in maniera talmente pedestre che in quanto a senso e chiarezza avrebbero necessità di spiegazione.
Scene di sesso banali e anche “volgarotte” che, alla resa dei conti, non sono altro che delle descrizioni minuziose e unicamente meccaniche per come sono prive del tutto di qualsiasi pathos e sentimento.
Insomma, un libro di cui si può fare di certo a meno e che, a volerlo leggere, oltre a non suscitare alcuna partecipazione o emozione, si dimentica più che in fretta.
… (más)

Another great story by Fiona Cole. Eric and Alexandra met under very upsetting circumstances and he is a good man based on what he does with his business and his money. That said, Eric is a real jerk. He was intentionally hurtful to Alexandra over and over again. He thought he was doing what he had to do but, wow. It made me like Alexandra all the more. She is tough and in a truly desperate situation. She was willing to put up with what was happening out of pure survival.
Despite Eric not being one of my favorite heros in this series, the story was so good and absolutely worth the time to listen.
Narration by Aaron Shedlock was great. Kathryn Lynhurst was also very good as Alexandra.… (más)