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Running Close to the Wind
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Archive > IBR - Running Close to the Wind by Alexandra Rowland

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message 1: by Ashley, The Tipsy Challenger (new)

Ashley Basile (smashreads) | 5622 comments Mod


Members Starting the BR: Amanda, Jackie, Kirsten, MN Lisa
Challenge: Book Quest Adventures
Book: Running Close to the Wind by Alexandra Rowland
Running Close to the Wind by Alexandra Rowland

Anyone is free to join in this Buddy Read! Happy Reading!


Amanda (bookoutbelow) | 1472 comments Just started this one and already loving it. Very ridiculous and fun.


message 3: by MN Lisa, Mistress of Mayhem with a Method (new) - added it

MN Lisa (lisa713mn) | 1777 comments Mod
I was able to get the Audio on Everand so I'm gonna start listening on Wednesday I think.


Kirsten | 1235 comments I’m starting right now.


message 5: by MN Lisa, Mistress of Mayhem with a Method (new) - added it

MN Lisa (lisa713mn) | 1777 comments Mod
Whoops. wrong book. I got Everand for Remarkably Bright Creatures. i'm picking this book up from the library today. and will start tonight.


Amanda (bookoutbelow) | 1472 comments I think this might be too ridiculous and pushing humor for you Kirsten. I’m really enjoying it, but I know that’s not always your bag.


message 7: by Kirsten (last edited Apr 08, 2025 03:30PM) (new) - rated it 4 stars

Kirsten | 1235 comments I was little worried about this book because I am all about the One!True!Pairing! but I think it's going to be okay. I am going with it.

The humor is fine, because I love Avra (he's adorable!) and I really like Rowland. I loved Yield Under Great Persuasion so hard, even though humor and fantasy aren't usually my things, and this is tons like that.

I'm about 25% through and having a ball. Somehow there's a difference between this and AJ Sherwood et al--I think it's that Rowland is a better writer and the stakes are higher. I never feel like they're reaching for a joke, or just trying (too hard) to be funny.


message 8: by Kirsten (last edited Apr 08, 2025 03:29PM) (new) - rated it 4 stars

Kirsten | 1235 comments Still bitter I can't make Evil All Along work this week, btw, but I am re-reading Daniel Cabot, which I adore.


Amanda (bookoutbelow) | 1472 comments Kirsten wrote: "I was little worried about this book because I am all about the One!True!Pairing! but I think it's going to be okay. I am going with it.

The humor is fine, because I love Avra (he's adorable!) and..."


I'm glad to hear Rowland's other works are good because I'm adoring this one! It' just a lot of fun.

I agree RE: the forced jokes. I also liked Sherwood specifically early on, but then it felt like she was told she was funny and it started to feel more and more forced in there. At some point "witty banter" was the absolute goal of MM Romance and to do it right really is an art


Kirsten | 1235 comments I just love this! All the backstories, all the kindness and intelligence! I think I’ve figured out the mystery of the serpent juice. I think I can get behind the love story. I don’t mind the closed door.

I don’t think it’s funny so much as sweet and zany.

If you like it, definitely read Yield Under Great Persuasion. 5 stars


Amanda (bookoutbelow) | 1472 comments I finished this morning and absolutely adored it! I do think the ending was abrupt as far as the romance goes and wish it was just a chapter or two longer. I’m fine with it continuing to be closed door! But I just wanted it to feel a little more settled


message 12: by MN Lisa, Mistress of Mayhem with a Method (new) - added it

MN Lisa (lisa713mn) | 1777 comments Mod
I only finished Chapter 1, but this is great so far. Avra is a kook and i love him.


message 13: by MN Lisa, Mistress of Mayhem with a Method (new) - added it

MN Lisa (lisa713mn) | 1777 comments Mod
Through Chapter 5 and not sure how much I still like it. Avra is getting on my nerves a bit.


Amanda (bookoutbelow) | 1472 comments Uh oh. Avra definitely does not calm down so hopefully he grows on you again


message 15: by MN Lisa, Mistress of Mayhem with a Method (new) - added it

MN Lisa (lisa713mn) | 1777 comments Mod
I can power through 20 Pages a day...


Kirsten | 1235 comments Oh no... I loved him, but I can totally see why someone wouldn't. I just zipped through it, and I think that maybe works, to not get bogged down on all the ways he's super annoying.


Amanda (bookoutbelow) | 1472 comments I loved him as well! But where you're at might also be where I made the comment that it might be a little too ridiculous. But then I understood Avra so much more and I loved him


message 18: by MN Lisa, Mistress of Mayhem with a Method (new) - added it

MN Lisa (lisa713mn) | 1777 comments Mod
I just finished Chapter 5. He was in the rope locker and Tev is explaining that he must be kept alive. It weird, I don't really like Avra as he's super annoying right now, but I don't like that people want to just throw him overboard either. Its like I can't decide if I want to save him or shut him up. :)


Jackie | 1488 comments I'm just starting.


Kirsten | 1235 comments It will be interesting to see if it works for you--we three were very mixed.


Jackie | 1488 comments It took me about a third of the way in before I started enjoying it. It's really just too silly but entertaining.


Kirsten | 1235 comments I'm glad you're liking it now.


Jackie | 1488 comments I finished. I liked Tev and Julian but Avra had to grow on me. He was so annoying in the first part of the book that I almost gave up on it. Over all, it was entertaining but just too silly for me.


Jessica S | 604 comments This is definitely a love or hate it book. I was on the side of loving it, but all that build-up and it ends before the wild threesome? 😂 I don't need sex in books but it's the principle. You can't hint and it all the way through the book then do end scene.

The beating seagulls to death was kind of unhinged as well 😂. I feel like Rowland definitely has some childhood trauma with seagulls, like my sister who will never forger when two seagulls dived at her from opposite directions and stole her prawn sandwich.


Kirsten | 1235 comments Yes—I agree about closed door. Don’t make sex central to the plot and not actually have it happen.


message 26: by Benedicte, Bookmark First, Ask Later (new)

Benedicte | 508 comments Mod
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