Linda Kage

Vacancy is a book that I have no clue why I put off as long as I did. Because this book was pretty amazing. And seeing a regular contemporary new adult author tackle a paranormal romance just really worked for me. Its not too heavy in the paranormal elements but there are aspects of it here. This story basically has a setup of where the heroine gets a lease on a apartment in a house where her roommate is a ghost but she doesn't know that she is a ghost and this ghost is the dead sister of our hero. Their meet cute is pretty hilarious, but now Damien has a conflict...how does he tell the girl he really likes that she is seeing a ghost without hating him? Honestly, I really felt for Damien. He and Oaklynn have bonded quickly and he doesn't want to lose her or what they have and he also doesn't want to come off as crazy either. I love the way that the Seven really comes together and tells him the truth on this but he doesn't really listen lol But honestly I am kinda on his side here, how on earth do you tell your girl she is seeing mystical things?

There is also a fabulous murder mystery that plays out within this story and what we see develop is so well built within the story. And if you think you know who the villain is....YOU really don't know who the villain is and man I loved the twists and turns within this one. Linda Kage is definitely growing as an author and you can see it within this story. Another aspect that I loved was the Seven dwarf personalities within the group of male friends, definitely couldn't get enough of that.… (más)

Mason Lowe is amazing

I’ve loved this series since I stumbled upon it several years ago and it always is my go to rereads when I’m in between books or in a slump. I had no idea the author was planning on this story but I was so excited when I found out we got to have Mason’s side of things. It totally made me fall in love with him again and I went back to do a side by side read. I absolutely loved this and we got to see where he went, what he did, and his thoughts during those times he tried to stay away from Reese. My heart hurt for him even more because we got to see how he was degraded and treated. Thank you to the author for giving us this story I am beyond grateful because it was written so well that even though it’s the same story as Price of a kiss it was like reading a new story and I enjoyed every second of it.… (más)

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

Book Evaluation:
Plot: 🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️.5
World Building:🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎
Cover:📔📔📔📔📔
Hero: 🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻
Heroine:🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️
Intimacy Level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Relationship Building: 💒💒💒💒.5
Heart & Feels:💞💞💞💞.5
Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: 😂😂😂😂
Page Turner Level:📖📖📖📖.5
Ending:🧧🧧🧧🧧
Overall View: ✨✨✨✨.5

First Impressions
The Quiet is the most recent release from Linda Kage and is also a standalone so you can easily read this on its own if you are new to this author. Linda Kage has become a personal favorite when it comes to contemporary and especially new adult romance. I absolutely adore the combination of elements that she delivers into a story and she really writes the most come to life characters that I have ever read. The Quiet was a delighter, interracial romance that delved into relatable issues and brings together the most unlikely couple that have the most beautiful connection that resonates deeply. The Quiet is a beautiful small town romance that I couldn't get enough of.

First Line
The bruise around Mama's eye hadn't even faded yet when we rolled into town that year.

The Main Protagonists
The Hero: Zac Topper
Bad Boy, Outcast of the town, Gruff and grumpy and a jack of all trades and a hard worker but a lone wolf type who has had limited human touch.

The Heroine: (Heroine's Name)
Mariana Ruiz, a hispanic young woman who is mute from a trauma she experienced as a child. She is intelligent, a poet and sees the beauty in human contact, joy and nature.

Summary
Zac Topper came to the small town of Peril when he was but a young boy and his mother was being abused by her boyfriend. This was to be a fresh start for them. But Zac in his growing years was treated like an outcast of sorts, bullied and treated horribly and the town believes his bullies over him and thus created a bad reputation and only works the jobs that no one wants to do to support himself and his mother. Then we have Mari, who became a mute due to the trauma of losing her parents in a car accident and Mari has a sweet loving spirit. Instantly she is drawn to Zac and has the urge to bring him love and affection as its apparent he is starved for human touch and connection. Zac and Mari instantly grow together when they find common ground and connect over the beauty in the nature surrounding them. But as they build their relationship, there are enemies that wish to separate them and only by believing in each other will they rise above the storm ahead...

What I Loved
I really adored the way in which we see these two come together. From the very beginning, I was all in for these two to be together. Their meet cute was so heartfelt and real and I instantly gravitated towards these two who deserve so much and have been treated so poorly in this small town. Especially in how the law enforcement treated Zac especially but seeing his strength and courage and determination to work hard and provide for himself and his mother was poignant at times. Then we have the way that Mari is with Zac. She sees the good soul that he is and always believes in him. She has such a sweet caring nature that heals the wounds of bad treatment that Zac has felt. Seeing these two lost come together and find such common ground with each other was truly endearing. And their connection to the nature around them and their poetry was instantly so deep and I related so much with some of their talks they have with each other. This is definitely one of the most profound romances I have ever seen this author write and it left me so satisfied and happy as a clam for what these two find together.

What I Struggled With
Not much to be honest, I wish that there had been a bit more justice in the wrongs committed against the couple a bit. But it didn't really reflect badly on the story itself.

Overall View
I found The Quiet to be a heartfelt romance that tugged at the heartstrings in deep pivotal ways. Its a story of healing, growth, and the power of connection amidst a setting of distrust and loneliness.

Favorite Quote(s)
“You could lead me anywhere, and I’d be happy to go. Because I’d be with you.”

Book Details (also in my shelves)
Sub Genre: Contemporary Romance, New Adult
Character Types: Bad Boy, Blue Collar, Hispanic Heritage
Themes: Small Town, Pining Heroine, Heart/Emotional, All the Feels
Tropes: Unrequited Love, Friends to Lovers, Opposites Attract, Grump/Sunshine

Book Perspective
Duo POV

Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict
A Mix

Song This Book Inspires
Place in Me by Luke Hemmings

Steam/Spice Explanations

Steamin' up the room -the sexual content is more explicit in the language and tone, heavier amount of sexual scenes.… (más)

I had a great time with this one. This book is a bit shorter than what I am used to with this author. But its a solid contemporary office romance. It had a bit of angst and the third act conflict I wasn't a huge fan of as I felt like it was dragged out way too long for comfort and I would have liked to see this couple trust each other more. But the heroine did have to do a grovel, which she needed to. She is the one with the lack of faith. The hero is a gold star in the book. I love his work ethic, his devotion to family and never giving up. He has such a heart of gold. And he deserved so much better than the hand he was dealt, but loved seeing him finally get his deserving HEA. The ending was a bit rushed and ended way too quickly especially for a standalone story. There should have been a extended epilogue for these two here.… (más)