Member Reviews
Thank you for the eARC of this book! I enjoyed reading, I thought the spice was nice and the characters had good chemistry. I liked the addition of some heavier topics as well. However, at some points, I felt like there was too much going on and that the author could have cut out some unnecessary drama. Additionally, I didn't find it very believable why the two main characters could not date and had to remain friends, which was one of the main points of conflict in the book. Overall though I would recommend!
What a wholesome spicy sapphic romance! I loved Quinn and Chloe so much and how they fought their connection and attraction. This is the kind of love story I love to see. That undeniable force that tethers them together and they won’t be able to fight any longer. I really couldn’t put this book down because the angst and tension really had me at the edge of my seat.
A whole lot of spice!!! If you love a spicy romance then it’s for you.
I could really relate to the main character, as she suffered mental health issues. through.
Quinn is a snowboard instructor with an easy manner and a thousand stories to tell. Chloe is working at her family’s business with plans to move in six months to learn different aspects of the company. Her plan is to step into her father’s shoes once he retires. All though heading in opposite directions in life, their initial meeting was lust at first sight.
At this time I am not sure if they altered the cover to better reflect the quality of story and if they had not, then please look past the cover. There is much more that lies between the covers.
This debut novel has a sugar coated beginning that slowly delves deeper into Quinn’s personal history and trauma. Be that said, Lynford shows a deft hand at writing about the darker sides of life.
Crossing Bridges will take you to unexpected places by its end. This is why you should not miss out on this outstanding novel.
I received an advance review copy from Bold Strokes Books through NetGalley. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The story had everything a great romance needs, kept me on the edge of my seat, and at times had me worrying about the outcome of the relationship at play, but it had all the wonderful moments of a passionate and exciting romance that meant I knew it would all be okay in the end.
Chloe and Quinn are two real characters with flaws and I liked the way they were written. Solid main characters and a good supporting cast, surprisingly the plot went a little deeper than you'd expect and it made for a better book in my opinion. Maybe also a bit in disbalance as the first half or so was the typical romance coupled with a lot of (hot) sex where the plot seemed rather flimsy, while the second half is where the story for me got a bit better and more substantial. All in all a good read and I'd encourage you to read past the halfway mark if your're put off by superficial books.
***Thank you Netgalley and Bold Stroke Books for giving me the chance to read and review this book***
I received an error when I tried to open this file. I was unable to access the book to read even though it had not expired yet.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Book for this ARC.
Content warnings:
* Previous sexual trauma
* Depression
The target audience for this is adults, as it's a sapphic romance with characters who are in their mid to late 20s. This book's cover should show melting snow with how hot some of the love scenes were. I wasn't a huge fan of how conveniently wealthy each main character was, but it did help to drive parts of the plot. Emotional and family drama, along with unsurprising communication challenges, kept the book interesting. Overall I enjoyed the book, and am glad I read through to the end.
I’m unsure of how I felt about this book. There were aspects of it that I thought were tackled really well and there were aspects that I just couldn’t get into. I had to keep going back to the book in between others as I wasn’t gripped. But some of the themes tackled in the book were unusual and I respected the way they were handled
A story that gave me all the feels
Chloe's life is planned and perfect as it is. Even if working for six months in a Vermont ski town, away from the city, for her family business, will be hard on her. That's when she meets Quinn, a fun-loving snowboarding instructor. Between them, the attraction is immediate and undeniable. It's easy to keep it casual because they both know Chloe won't be here forever and their lifestyles don't match. But when feelings get in the way, nothing is clear anymore.
I really enjoyed this story. It was full of a lot of emotions that had me going through everything while reading, which I loved. I felt like I was having fun with the characters, and then I was loving, crying, struggling and aching with them. Both Chloe and Quinn are easy to relate to and love, which made the book all the more enjoyable, and I loved how the author talked her through their struggles and flaws. The story was fun, intense and emotional as well, which kept me hooked from start to finish. It's a classic "opposites attrack" romance and it was really beautiful to see. The writing was addictive and immersive, which made it all the more fun to read. I had a blast.
I really recommend this exciting sapphic romance!
"If this was love, she could do this for the rest of her life."
I was really quite surprised by some of the depth in this book, it definitely isn't just the fluffy romcom the blurb suggested, but in a really good way!
Both main characters, Quinn and Chloe, were likeable from the start, and I loved reading a book where there was no beating around the bush when it came to their attraction to each other. But with both women hiding something from each other, it was always clear they were in for some drama. Both women are dealing with some serious emotional trauma and processing it in completely different ways, and it was interesting to see how they both leant on each other and also pushed each other away when times got tough. Quinn was my favourite of the two, a true golden retriever of a character, who just wants to love and be loved, without quite knowing how to ask for it. Chloe is a little more reserved, and her desire to live up to her family's expectations led her to make some decisions I wanted to slap some sense into her for, but was still really easy to root for.
I think there was possibly one too many plot lines, as it got a little drawn out towards the end, but overall I really enjoyed the writing style and would definitely pick up a Chelsey Lynford book again.
Thanks to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really struggled with this book. I tried to read this many times, taking a break and coming back to it, but I finally gave up around the 60% mark. I did enjoy the premise of Crossing Bridges, the meet-cute hook up, the wild twins, the friendships showed the beginnings of a great book. However, Crossing Bridges lost its lustre throughout and had to DNF it.
DNFd it, wasn’t my cup of tea, too sexual, but written well otherwise. I really appreciate that more sapphic books are being written and published, and different ones for different readers — smut readers, older and younger people, fantasy and romance and so on.
When Quinn Kennedy was younger she had a rough time. Born to wealthy parents she never wanted for anything but some attention from either of them would be nice. At the age of sixteen her life changed and when she finally recovered she decided to spend her time snowboarding and teaching others how to ride the boards. Good times spent with her friends and the community at large but every once in a while life catches up to her and she has to take some time for herself.
Chloe Beckett has always known what she wanted and that is to take her father's place running the family business. Growing up she stayed focused on learning all there was to learn and that meant going around the country, working in different departments. Both her sister and brother did the same thing but they still found time to live a normal life, something Chloe could never figure out.
When the two women meet the attraction is off the charts. While both have money both Chloe and Quinn want to earn their own way. While they are the stars of this book Ms Lynford has done a great job with the supporting cast.
Nicely paced with a wonderful plot that makes putting the book down difficult. Simply a very, very enjoyable read.
ARC via NetGalley/Bold Stroke Books
I wasn't a huge fan of this story, but the author writes well and developed a great plot. The premise of the book is that one MC is a ski instructor and juggling family problems, and the other is a chronic workaholic. They have a lot of tension and attraction, and agree to have a casual fling. As typical things go, the fling turns into something much less casual, and more serious. I was definitely rooting for these characters, but I just couldn't get into the story. The author writes well, but there's a lot of scene breaks in each chapter, and I just wished some were carried out a little more. Good, fun, light-ish read. There was quite a lot of spice, if you're looking for that.
A lot deeper than the cover would lead you to believe. The instant connection between the two mains was quite believable. Honestly, I was happily surprised by this book and author. Sweet love story that weaves in serious topics like depression and sexual assault. I only wish this cover for this book was different. I think it makes it look less serious. Thank you!
This has a really strong start of a hot holiday hook up between “local” snowboard instructor Quinn and out of towner guy girl Chloe.
Back in her world of business and trust funds Chloe , meets Quinn again at a family party and find out they are more alike than she thought and is actually the granddaughter of senator. While they may come from the same worlds Quinn is a wild card and is full of mischief and adventure forging her own path.
The chemistry from their first night is still simpering under the surface but decide to be just friends as Chloe is only in town for the next 6 months for business.
As they become friends , the feelings evolve and secrets are revealed. Can Quinn convinced Chloe there is more to life than the path set out by her parents and can Chloe give Quinn the stability she has been craving.
I ended up DNF at 80% after a third act break up.
Hands down one of the best romance books I’ve read this year.
The book jacket doesn’t really convey how heartfelt and honest this portrayal is of a love story between two women who are both flawed humans not looking for love, but finding it in each other. Chloe moves to Rowan Valley, Vermont for a six month rotation with the family orchard business when she meets Quinn, a gorgeous snow boarding instructor and daughter of the local real estate magnets. They fall into a romance quickly, with sizzling physical chemistry (the sex in this book is 10 outta 10!).
But there’s more to the story as the two come together in the name of a casual relationship that quickly becomes much, much deeper. Quinn is beautiful, fun and charming her outward exterior belies the struggle beneath. She battles crushing depression and deep trauma from her past. Chloe seems to have it all together, with her Ivy League degrees and high power career at her family business but struggles with panic attacks and the weight of the expectations of her family for her life. Together, they support and communicate with each other, showing each other tenderness and kindness and forging a deep romantic connect despite the ticking clock on their romance.
The timeline of Chloe leaving feels a bit manufactured (since when is long distance an issue for lesbians anyway?) - but we can all appreciate that real relationship have real world obstacles. A long distance relationship IS a challenge, and both MCs realize that.
Overall, this is a highly enjoyable Queer romance with relatable and well developed characters that you can’t help but root for as they grow into love.
I recently read the book Crossing Bridges by Chelsey Lynnford and thoroughly enjoyed it. The story follows Chloe Beckett, a driven city girl who is temporarily working in a Vermont ski town for her family's business. There, she meets Quinn Kennedy, a fun-loving snowboarder who is looking for a good time. Despite their different backgrounds and lifestyles, the two women are immediately drawn to each other.
The characters in the book are well-developed and relatable, and I found myself rooting for Chloe and Quinn as they navigated their relationship. The story is also filled with interesting supporting characters, including precocious twins and larger-than-life family members.
One of the things I appreciated about the book was how it dealt with serious issues such as family expectations, tragedy, and the challenges of letting go of what you thought you wanted. The author handles these themes with sensitivity and insight, adding depth to the story and making it more than just a simple romance.
Overall, I would highly recommend Crossing Bridges to anyone looking for a well-written, engaging, and heartfelt novel. The book has plenty of heat and romance, but it also has substance and heart, making it a satisfying and enjoyable read from start to finish.
This story felt real felt a lot more relatable. The first half of the book, I have to admit. I struggled with. Don’t get me wrong, I love spice, but it felt constant. Felt like it was the only plot behind the book. I was close to a DNF, but the second half changed my mind. The mental health representation felt real. I felt I could understand what the character was going through. This story went a lot deeper than I thought it would, and for that, I kept going.
I’ll be keeping an eye out for more books from this author
Thank you to NetGalley for allowing to review this book