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Where Love Meets Destiny #1
Archer's Voice
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Best Romance (2014)When Bree Prescott arrives in the sleepy, lakeside town of Pelion, Maine, she hopes against hope that this is the place where she will finally find the peace she so desperately seeks. On her first day there, her life collides with Archer Hale, an isolated man who holds a secret agony of his own. A man no one else sees.
Archer's Voice is the story of a woman chained to the memory of one horrifying night and the man whose love is the key to her freedom. It is the story of a silent man who lives with an excruciating wound and the woman who helps him find his voice. It is the story of suffering, fate, and the transformative power of love.
Archer's Voice is the story of a woman chained to the memory of one horrifying night and the man whose love is the key to her freedom. It is the story of a silent man who lives with an excruciating wound and the woman who helps him find his voice. It is the story of suffering, fate, and the transformative power of love.
345 pages, ebook
First published January 25, 2014
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February 19, 2014
First, here's my casting for Archer:
I absolutely L_O_V_E_D this book!!!!! 5 STARS!!
Archer's Voice was one of the most heartwarming and uniquely beautiful stories I have ever read. Mia Sheridan's ability to convey strong emotions and vivid imagery through her writing is absolutely captivating. This was a gorgeous tale of survival and the healing power of love. I strongly encourage everyone to read it!! Without a doubt, it is now one of my top favorite books!
Before anything, I just want to mention though is that this is a standalone novel. Yes, it is a part of the Sign of Love series, but that is a series of standalone novels -- each main story is separate from the others. You do not have to read any other book before this and it has a complete resolved ending that beautifully wraps up this entire story.
I really thought that this book's blurb did a perfect job of describing the story without giving too much away. I've thought long and hard over how much I should tell you of the story and decided to just post the blurb here instead of saying anything about it because I really feel like this is one of those stories where the less you know up front, the more you'll love it as you read:
When Bree Prescott arrives in the sleepy, lakeside town of Pelion, Maine, she hopes against hope that this is the place where she will finally find the peace she so desperately seeks. On her first day there, her life collides with Archer Hale, an isolated man who holds a secret agony of his own. A man no one else sees.
Archer's Voice is the story of a woman chained to the memory of one horrifying night and the man whose love is the key to her freedom. It is the story of a silent man who lives with an excruciating wound and the woman who helps him find his voice. It is the story of suffering, fate, and the transformative power of love.
This is one of those stories that really grabbed my heart from the first word. I was barely 2% into the book before I had tears in my eyes. I was already completely invested in the story. I truly think that that's a sign of great writing because I mean, I didn't even know these characters yet but I already cared so much!! My heart was breaking for them and I desperately wanted to know more.
We were told the story mostly from Bree's POV but with a few flashback scenes from Archer's childhood. This was perfect really because it allowed us to follow her story while still connecting emotionally to Archer. And then later on, we also a few present day scenes here and there from his perspective as well.
The story unfolded beautifully in layers. With every little bit I learned about Archer, my heart broke more and more. The pacing was wonderful -- there was no insta-love, and nothing was rushed, but I still felt that sizzling connection between them right from their first encounter. My heart was literally just bursting as I watched them get to know each other.
It was absolutely beautiful to watch their connection build. They became friends first but you knew there was so much more between them. I was completely drawn into their story. Their interactions were perfectly detailed -- every glance, every gesture, every little exchange between them captivated me just a little bit more.
Archer Hale stole my heart. I really mean it. He's now definitely one of my top favorite book boyfriends. Mysterious, misunderstood, sweet, silent, beautiful, broken, shy, powerful, protective.... I can go on and on but this man just had the biggest heart you can imaging and every single time he grinned, my heart melted.
Bree Prescott was such a wonderful heroine. She was just genuinely a good person -- kind hearted, caring, and sweet. I was never annoyed with her and I loved her for what she did for Archer and for the way she say right into the real him.
Their chemistry was scorching. This is genuinely an Adult romance and once things got going between them, holyyyyy hell was it ever H.O.T. Even just their first kiss had me swooning. Totally butterflies-in-my-stomach moment.
"He... broke his lips from mine to look down questioningly into my face, to see if I was okay with what he was doing. His gentleness and his concern with what I desired made my heart squeeze tightly, and I smiled a small smile. "Yes," I breathed out. "Yes."
Archer Hale was not your typical hero but he made my heart melt like few others ever have.
"His eyes told me everything… We communicated a thousand words, without a single one being spoken."
This book took me through every possible emotion. I laughed, I cried, I fell in love. The story was slow building but perfectly paced for this story -- taking the time to fully develop Archer and Bree's connection to each other, and the reader's connection to them. It felt real and I experienced every moment right alongside them.
It was so wonderful to see Archer's trust build as their love grew. Every little act meant SO much and my heart literally ached with love for him.
"I want to be able to love you more than I fear losing you, and I don't know how. Teach me, Bree. Please teach me. Don't let me destroy this." He looked at me beseechingly, pain etched into every feature of his face.
Oh God, Archer, I thought, my heart squeezing tightly in my chest. How do you teach a man who has lost everything, not to fear it happening again?
The thing I appreciated most about this book was that there was no unnecessary drama. I understood and respected both Archer and Bree's decisions. I loved them together, and also individually.
As the book built towards the ending, things got more intense and I couldn't flip the pages fast enough but I finished it with happy tears in my eyes and literally just sat there for several minutes smiling and just feeling everything. It was a beautiful, emotional, and entirely unique story -- so different from anything else I've ever read. I can't recommend it highly enough!!
Also -- can this please get made into a movie???? Seriously - I can picture every scene in my head. It would be absolutely incredible!!
"He smiled back and put his lips against mine, mouthing, "I love you, too," against my mouth, as if he was breathing love into my body."
Rating: 5 STARS!!! Read this book, guys!!
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September 3, 2014
Where to start, where to start...
Story : 3 stars
Writing : 1 star
Sometimes, I think that the majority of books should be written in teams. Maybe if there was one person to come up with the story and another person to execute it, we'd have more winners out there.
I hate when books suffer from good story/weak writing syndrome. It's so hard for me to get past the surface stutters and find the best parts of a story when I'm having to re-read sentences in order to figure out what exactly is going on.
Okay, so that's not a huge deal. I suppose you can drive a bike. I, however, prefer to ride a bike and drive a car, which made me have to read the passage more than once.
Archer's Voice was filled with many random little hiccups in writing which made me pause. It was also filled with repetitive behaviors (yes, the same person did wink at two different people on the same page) and the standard romance terms which are always sure to make me cringe.
You can always tell when romance writers read too much romance. Body parts will weep or leak or flood (Bree had a lot of wetness pooling between her thighs), wombs will clench (in this book it was a tummy clench), and everything is felt in someone's core. I tend to think of "core" as an exercise or yoga definition used to describe the area you're needing to work out, and not some mystical part of my body where all of my good time sensations are felt. I don't think this author used every one of the standard terms, but there were a couple in there which made me do the "yep, that person's a romance reader" head shake to myself. I'm never a fan of musky as a description or even a scent being described as "male." I'm also not a fan of phrasing such as this : the taste of peaches and Bree exploded on my tongue.
I make a motion to strike the word core from all romance books from here on out.
So, so deep. So, not so deep.
When Fifty Shades are not enough...
I think I'm wandering around in my own review now, not even caring if I'm on track. Focus, woman. Focus.
Why I wanted to read this book : I heard there was a beta male. I might have a wee bit of an obsession with beta males at the moment.
Why this book had potential : The small town setting was charming. I was also interested in how the lead male was a reclusive mute who had very little interaction with people.
Why the story kept me reading : I liked Archer. I liked the setup of how Bree and Archer got to know each other. I especially liked seeing Archer come out of his shell and become a stronger person than he was pegged for. He also had the ability to learn things fast, which was super convenient for bedroom times.
All in all, the story itself was decent. I might recommend the book to someone looking for an unconventional romance. If you can overlook some hiccups with the writing, the romance is actually charming and quite enjoyable to read.
How the writing fell off the rails :
1. I never bought into the "person owns the town" angle. It reminded me of Pollyanna. Does anyone remember Harrington or Harringtown or whatever it was (Aunt Polly owned that town)? I felt like I'd been swept back in time without warning. I guess, in a way, this is how some parts of small town America still are...but it was a bit odd reading from the perspective of someone who's always lived in towns which aren't actually owned.
2. There were far too many coincidences. Bree knows sign language because her father's deaf (which meant she could sign to Archer), Bree lost both of her parents (as had Archer), etc. If you find yourself thinking oh, how convenient more than once or twice in a story, it's probably all too convenient.
3. The writing was in need of further editing.
Employee's eat for free? I don't even know what that's about.
I listen to your breathing and the way you dig your fingers into my hips right before you're about to come. She can hear his fingers digging into her hips?
With a gun in his hand. A look of pure hate on his face, and zigzagging. Wut?
Her eyes popped open and she looked at me with round eyes. There has to be a better way to phrase this. Perhaps : Her eyes suddenly opened, appearing large and round? I don't know. Anything has to be better than what was on the page.
Some scenes were just plain awkward to read. Bree has a dream where the water is caressing her skin and she wakes up with hard nipples. Uh...okay. I should probably mention that a man was indeed on top of her in that dream, but the sentence transition kind of effed the whole thing up.
4. I didn't buy that Bree was able to get through to Archer so easily. If someone's been a recluse for near 20 years, it might take more work than she had to put in. I'm actually kind of surprised she didn't try harder, considering how she had a "feeling of loss" when Archer walked away from her THE FIRST TIME THEY MET.
I wish I were kidding.
5. Bree had flashbacks. Flashbacks are for movies. It works better to use dreams or triggered memories in books.
6. And lastly, this :
...the hell?
Yeah.
Story : 3 stars
Writing : 1 star
Sometimes, I think that the majority of books should be written in teams. Maybe if there was one person to come up with the story and another person to execute it, we'd have more winners out there.
I hate when books suffer from good story/weak writing syndrome. It's so hard for me to get past the surface stutters and find the best parts of a story when I'm having to re-read sentences in order to figure out what exactly is going on.
Two days later I drove past Archer's house on my way back from lying on the small lake beach and his gate was slightly open. A thrill shot down my spine as I got off my bike.
Okay, so that's not a huge deal. I suppose you can drive a bike. I, however, prefer to ride a bike and drive a car, which made me have to read the passage more than once.
Archer's Voice was filled with many random little hiccups in writing which made me pause. It was also filled with repetitive behaviors (yes, the same person did wink at two different people on the same page) and the standard romance terms which are always sure to make me cringe.
You can always tell when romance writers read too much romance. Body parts will weep or leak or flood (Bree had a lot of wetness pooling between her thighs), wombs will clench (in this book it was a tummy clench), and everything is felt in someone's core. I tend to think of "core" as an exercise or yoga definition used to describe the area you're needing to work out, and not some mystical part of my body where all of my good time sensations are felt. I don't think this author used every one of the standard terms, but there were a couple in there which made me do the "yep, that person's a romance reader" head shake to myself. I'm never a fan of musky as a description or even a scent being described as "male." I'm also not a fan of phrasing such as this : the taste of peaches and Bree exploded on my tongue.
I make a motion to strike the word core from all romance books from here on out.
Maybe there was no right or wrong, no black or white, only a thousand shades of grey when it came to pain and what we each held ourselves responsible for.
So, so deep. So, not so deep.
When Fifty Shades are not enough...
I think I'm wandering around in my own review now, not even caring if I'm on track. Focus, woman. Focus.
Why I wanted to read this book : I heard there was a beta male. I might have a wee bit of an obsession with beta males at the moment.
Why this book had potential : The small town setting was charming. I was also interested in how the lead male was a reclusive mute who had very little interaction with people.
Why the story kept me reading : I liked Archer. I liked the setup of how Bree and Archer got to know each other. I especially liked seeing Archer come out of his shell and become a stronger person than he was pegged for. He also had the ability to learn things fast, which was super convenient for bedroom times.
All in all, the story itself was decent. I might recommend the book to someone looking for an unconventional romance. If you can overlook some hiccups with the writing, the romance is actually charming and quite enjoyable to read.
How the writing fell off the rails :
1. I never bought into the "person owns the town" angle. It reminded me of Pollyanna. Does anyone remember Harrington or Harringtown or whatever it was (Aunt Polly owned that town)? I felt like I'd been swept back in time without warning. I guess, in a way, this is how some parts of small town America still are...but it was a bit odd reading from the perspective of someone who's always lived in towns which aren't actually owned.
2. There were far too many coincidences. Bree knows sign language because her father's deaf (which meant she could sign to Archer), Bree lost both of her parents (as had Archer), etc. If you find yourself thinking oh, how convenient more than once or twice in a story, it's probably all too convenient.
3. The writing was in need of further editing.
Employee's eat for free? I don't even know what that's about.
I listen to your breathing and the way you dig your fingers into my hips right before you're about to come. She can hear his fingers digging into her hips?
With a gun in his hand. A look of pure hate on his face, and zigzagging. Wut?
Her eyes popped open and she looked at me with round eyes. There has to be a better way to phrase this. Perhaps : Her eyes suddenly opened, appearing large and round? I don't know. Anything has to be better than what was on the page.
Some scenes were just plain awkward to read. Bree has a dream where the water is caressing her skin and she wakes up with hard nipples. Uh...okay. I should probably mention that a man was indeed on top of her in that dream, but the sentence transition kind of effed the whole thing up.
4. I didn't buy that Bree was able to get through to Archer so easily. If someone's been a recluse for near 20 years, it might take more work than she had to put in. I'm actually kind of surprised she didn't try harder, considering how she had a "feeling of loss" when Archer walked away from her THE FIRST TIME THEY MET.
I wish I were kidding.
5. Bree had flashbacks. Flashbacks are for movies. It works better to use dreams or triggered memories in books.
6. And lastly, this :
He had a crease in each cheek, not dimples exactly, just the way his cheek muscles moved when he smiled. I stared at those creases as if they were twin unicorns that he'd been hiding from me under his beard. Magical.
...the hell?
Yeah.
September 9, 2023
am i.... missing something? am i reading a different book? HOW do people like this book?
⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻
listen. i have a heart of ice. maybe i don’t deserve a romance, ever, whether in book form or in real life.
because i felt absolutely nothing reading this. possibly some rage. but that’s it. but this time, i know it’s because this book was genuinely so bad, not because i’m a picky asshole when it comes to romance.
my head is literally empty. i don’t know what to even think of this because of how bad it was. i have NO thoughts. i have literally lost my ability to think. i do not think therefore i am not.
HOW HOW HOW does this have a 4.4 rating. HOW.
as with my other one star reviews, i am going to put my review in bullet points:
SPOILERS AHEAD (but read it because you don't want to read this book anyway):
• insta love is strong here. bree sees archer and it’s almost immediate love. the silent, brooding town outcast? why not? because as soon as you see a hot mysterious guy, you HAVE to fall in love, right?
• speaking of badly written things, the two characters were so two dimensional it hurt.
• this girl saw her dad shot and was almost raped at gunpoint. and then her ptsd gets magically cured….just by sleeping next to the hot guy she met a month ago? what the absolute fuck? how did this author write that and go “yes. totally fine”.
• don’t! fucking! write! trauma! if! you! are! going! to! do! it! badly!
• “my sweet mute boy” -> WHAT? WHAT? did i read that correctly? is that supposed to be romantic? it’s just so so cringey. i got second hand embarrassment every time she called him like “my mute boy” or “my kind silent man”. literally cannot take this seriously.
• there are great romances that have some sort of tragedy as a background. this is not it. she weirdly romanticizes bree’s PTSD and archer’s disability in a way that feels so slimy and icky and made me uncomfortable reading it.
• the stripper scene. holy shit. what even was that? don’t even have to elaborate. it was the worst. also, bree forgave him so easily. babe, grow a spine.
• as soon as they confess their love for each other, they just only have sex. at one point, i started getting tired of it. like smut is great but do they not have anything else to do other than just fucking? is that it? it literally felt like even the author herself didn’t believe that they were compatible and the only chemistry she could write was sexual chemistry. absolutely no emotional connection. and the romantic dialogue was so cheesy even hallmark would have rejected it.
• archer having no idea how sex worked or relationships worked. do you really expect me to believe that? also, on that note, him just leaving bree? i just literally don’t understand how you’re supposed to root for these characters.
• the ending. how fucking cliche. i am all for cliches and tropey romances but wow. no words for the miracle ending. i actually felt nauseous.
⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻
listen. i have a heart of ice. maybe i don’t deserve a romance, ever, whether in book form or in real life.
because i felt absolutely nothing reading this. possibly some rage. but that’s it. but this time, i know it’s because this book was genuinely so bad, not because i’m a picky asshole when it comes to romance.
my head is literally empty. i don’t know what to even think of this because of how bad it was. i have NO thoughts. i have literally lost my ability to think. i do not think therefore i am not.
HOW HOW HOW does this have a 4.4 rating. HOW.
as with my other one star reviews, i am going to put my review in bullet points:
SPOILERS AHEAD (but read it because you don't want to read this book anyway):
• insta love is strong here. bree sees archer and it’s almost immediate love. the silent, brooding town outcast? why not? because as soon as you see a hot mysterious guy, you HAVE to fall in love, right?
• speaking of badly written things, the two characters were so two dimensional it hurt.
• this girl saw her dad shot and was almost raped at gunpoint. and then her ptsd gets magically cured….just by sleeping next to the hot guy she met a month ago? what the absolute fuck? how did this author write that and go “yes. totally fine”.
• don’t! fucking! write! trauma! if! you! are! going! to! do! it! badly!
• “my sweet mute boy” -> WHAT? WHAT? did i read that correctly? is that supposed to be romantic? it’s just so so cringey. i got second hand embarrassment every time she called him like “my mute boy” or “my kind silent man”. literally cannot take this seriously.
• there are great romances that have some sort of tragedy as a background. this is not it. she weirdly romanticizes bree’s PTSD and archer’s disability in a way that feels so slimy and icky and made me uncomfortable reading it.
• the stripper scene. holy shit. what even was that? don’t even have to elaborate. it was the worst. also, bree forgave him so easily. babe, grow a spine.
• as soon as they confess their love for each other, they just only have sex. at one point, i started getting tired of it. like smut is great but do they not have anything else to do other than just fucking? is that it? it literally felt like even the author herself didn’t believe that they were compatible and the only chemistry she could write was sexual chemistry. absolutely no emotional connection. and the romantic dialogue was so cheesy even hallmark would have rejected it.
• archer having no idea how sex worked or relationships worked. do you really expect me to believe that? also, on that note, him just leaving bree? i just literally don’t understand how you’re supposed to root for these characters.
• the ending. how fucking cliche. i am all for cliches and tropey romances but wow. no words for the miracle ending. i actually felt nauseous.
October 13, 2022
i finished this book and now i’m having withdrawals…
Archer Hales is single-handedly the most innocent, kind, selfless, caring, thoughtful, loving, and courageous fictional man to ever exist. and it quite frankly makes me sad af because i know a man like him will never exist. they simply don’t make his kind in the real world. i’d never say this about any man and maybe not even a fictional one but for Archer Hale, i would lay my life down for him if i have to. the things he’d say and do for Bree without even thinking about it…god he deserves the world and nothing less.🫶����🫶🏽🫶🏽
Bree omg i’m so happy that she is the woman that she is. patient, resilient, caring, selfless, brave, and beautiful inside and out. she never once judged Archer, a man that’s been judged all his life. Archer and Bree’s souls are so cosmically intertwined and are destined to be together in any lifetime. 🥹🥹🥹
this book really does a ringer on you. it’s a love story (which is different from a romance) so it’s gonna be deeper and soul crushing. BUT OH MY FUCKING GOD?!?!!!!! the way my heart gave out reading those last few chapters and then was revived?!?!!! the SCREAM i 😫😫scrempt?!?? the way my brain short circuited!!??!? GOD it felt like death…not even fucking joking. the endless pain i felt was all new and foreign…i can’t even put it into words…
tears staining the fucking pages as if my mom died. me screaming into my pillow as if i had just been shot. and i don’t regret a single thing about it. i’ve never smiled as much as i did reading that ending. it could not have been more perfect. this is one of the best love stories i’ve read in my entire life. idc what anyone says… this book is so tender and deep. i literally wanna be buried with it.
archer and bree are my babies and i will protect them at all costs. don’t fucking play with me 💖💖💖
Archer Hales is single-handedly the most innocent, kind, selfless, caring, thoughtful, loving, and courageous fictional man to ever exist. and it quite frankly makes me sad af because i know a man like him will never exist. they simply don’t make his kind in the real world. i’d never say this about any man and maybe not even a fictional one but for Archer Hale, i would lay my life down for him if i have to. the things he’d say and do for Bree without even thinking about it…god he deserves the world and nothing less.🫶����🫶🏽🫶🏽
Bree omg i’m so happy that she is the woman that she is. patient, resilient, caring, selfless, brave, and beautiful inside and out. she never once judged Archer, a man that’s been judged all his life. Archer and Bree’s souls are so cosmically intertwined and are destined to be together in any lifetime. 🥹🥹🥹
this book really does a ringer on you. it’s a love story (which is different from a romance) so it’s gonna be deeper and soul crushing. BUT OH MY FUCKING GOD?!?!!!!! the way my heart gave out reading those last few chapters and then was revived?!?!!! the SCREAM i 😫😫scrempt?!?? the way my brain short circuited!!??!? GOD it felt like death…not even fucking joking. the endless pain i felt was all new and foreign…i can’t even put it into words…
tears staining the fucking pages as if my mom died. me screaming into my pillow as if i had just been shot. and i don’t regret a single thing about it. i’ve never smiled as much as i did reading that ending. it could not have been more perfect. this is one of the best love stories i’ve read in my entire life. idc what anyone says… this book is so tender and deep. i literally wanna be buried with it.
archer and bree are my babies and i will protect them at all costs. don’t fucking play with me 💖💖💖
April 12, 2023
5 Archer stars
I am in awe of this book. It hit all my five star plus buttons. I know it’s early, but I can already tell this is going to be in my top 10 of the year. I loved it that much!
Archer Hale has spent his life in solitude. Something traumatic happened to him when he was seven years old and left his voice box so damaged he could no longer speak. He lived with his uncle, never leaving the property. His uncle passed away a while ago, and he’s been alone ever since. He knows it’s not normal, but it’s what is best for everyone.
Archer is hesitant to let Bree in. He has been isolated and secluded for so long, he finds it hard to be around her at first. Bree Prescott is a very determined individual. She knows what she wants, and she wants to be friends with Archer Hale. She hates the way everyone in town sees him, but Archer doesn’t seem to mind. She only wishes everyone could get to know the real Archer. The Archer she’s come to know.
Archer and Bree start making a habit of seeing one another every day. Little by little, she gets him to break out of his shell. Then there is the haircut. Who would have thought something so simple as a haircut could bring some feelings to light. Archer is obviously inexperienced when it comes to women, but he wants Bree, and he thinks she feels the same.
Bree more than wants Archer. She is falling for him.
Bree tries to get Archer to come out more, to join the land of the living. He’s not sure if thats something he can do, but for Bree, he’ll try.
With the friendship and love Archer and Bree are developing, there is also some drama and suspense going on in the background. Archer’s family is full of secrets. His aunt and cousin run the town. He’s lost those most important to him and he has secrets. Secrets he’s never told a soul. Until Bree. Archer’s cousin Travis appears to have Archer’s best interests at heart, but it becomes evident early on thats not the case. Bree tries to protect Archer from it all. Archer doesn’t want her protection. Just her love. She is everything to him. He never thought he could have a love like this. Never dreamed it could happen.
Archer gets ideas put in his head. Can Bree really be happy in this life, small town Maine, a guy who can’t talk, isn’t social? He worries he will be a burden to her and thats something he can’t handle.
Bree and Archer together are magnificent. Everything between them was beautiful and genuine. Their friendship turned relationship was wonderful to watch grow and develop. It is a rarity, but when I find a book where I love the hero and the heroine equally, it makes me a very happy reader. That is the case here. Bree is sweet, strong, understanding, patient and kind. She is sincere. The way she treated Archer with kindness and respect from the start made me love her even more. Then there is Archer Hale. The silent, beautiful man who stole Bree’s heart. Archer is broken, awkward, shy and enigmatic. He is not your typical hero, but that only made me love him more. He had the sweetest soul and that is what made me fall in love with this beautiful broken man. The love, the chemistry, the friendship, the communication, the attraction and the understanding made their relationship special.
This was such an exceptional book for me. Bree and Archer’s story will stay with me for a long time. A memorable story about two remarkable people who find love in an unforeseeable situation. An emotional journey that had me laughing, crying, and swooning. The writing was exquisite, every page captivated me. This has taken the spot of my favorite book in 2014 (so far). I would highly recommend it to all!
I am in awe of this book. It hit all my five star plus buttons. I know it’s early, but I can already tell this is going to be in my top 10 of the year. I loved it that much!
Archer Hale has spent his life in solitude. Something traumatic happened to him when he was seven years old and left his voice box so damaged he could no longer speak. He lived with his uncle, never leaving the property. His uncle passed away a while ago, and he’s been alone ever since. He knows it’s not normal, but it’s what is best for everyone.
I was a freak. I was out here alone and isolated for a reason- I was to blame for so much tragedy, so much pain. I was worthless.He comes to town every once in a while to buy necessities, and most just ignore him. That is until Bree Prescott shows up. Bree leaves her hometown of Cincinnati Ohio (which just happens to be MY hometown ;)) to head to the small lakeside town of Pelion Maine. Tragedy has struck her as well, and she needs to get away for a while. Start fresh. There are things she’s leaving behind. Things that haunt her, but she’s working on it.
“You are going to be okay, Bree. You are strong and you are going to be happy again. Do you hear me? There’s something good about this place. Do you feel it?”The first time Bree runs into Archer, she can tell there is something about him. Something she wants to know more about. She asks around about the mysterious Archer Hale and finds out that he can’t speak. Bree doesn’t let that stop her. After living her life with a hearing impaired father, she knows how to sign. She wants to talk to Archer.
Archer is hesitant to let Bree in. He has been isolated and secluded for so long, he finds it hard to be around her at first. Bree Prescott is a very determined individual. She knows what she wants, and she wants to be friends with Archer Hale. She hates the way everyone in town sees him, but Archer doesn’t seem to mind. She only wishes everyone could get to know the real Archer. The Archer she’s come to know.
If they only knew.
If who only knew what?
Everyone in town. Some of them think you’re not right in the head, you know. It’s laughable really. Why do you let them think that?
Just easier that way.
I don’t like it.
It’s been this way for a long time, Bree, it’s fine. It works for everyone involved.
Archer and Bree start making a habit of seeing one another every day. Little by little, she gets him to break out of his shell. Then there is the haircut. Who would have thought something so simple as a haircut could bring some feelings to light. Archer is obviously inexperienced when it comes to women, but he wants Bree, and he thinks she feels the same.
Did you... want me to kiss you yesterday? Did you want me to touch you?
Yes
I wanted to kiss you, to touch you. I just didn’t know... if you wanted that too.
Bree more than wants Archer. She is falling for him.
Bree tries to get Archer to come out more, to join the land of the living. He’s not sure if thats something he can do, but for Bree, he’ll try.
You are a real person, you can live a life like other people do.
With the friendship and love Archer and Bree are developing, there is also some drama and suspense going on in the background. Archer’s family is full of secrets. His aunt and cousin run the town. He’s lost those most important to him and he has secrets. Secrets he’s never told a soul. Until Bree. Archer’s cousin Travis appears to have Archer’s best interests at heart, but it becomes evident early on thats not the case. Bree tries to protect Archer from it all. Archer doesn’t want her protection. Just her love. She is everything to him. He never thought he could have a love like this. Never dreamed it could happen.
“What are your dreams, Archer?”
‘I didn’t know enough to dream you, Bree, but somehow you came true anyway.’
Archer gets ideas put in his head. Can Bree really be happy in this life, small town Maine, a guy who can’t talk, isn’t social? He worries he will be a burden to her and thats something he can’t handle.
‘This is that burden I was talking about, Bree. This is what the burden of loving me looks like.’When both of their pasts come rearing to the future, will they be able to handle it? Be able to stand together and be there for one another?
“Loving you isn’t a burden. Loving you is an honor and a joy, Archer.”
Bree and Archer together are magnificent. Everything between them was beautiful and genuine. Their friendship turned relationship was wonderful to watch grow and develop. It is a rarity, but when I find a book where I love the hero and the heroine equally, it makes me a very happy reader. That is the case here. Bree is sweet, strong, understanding, patient and kind. She is sincere. The way she treated Archer with kindness and respect from the start made me love her even more. Then there is Archer Hale. The silent, beautiful man who stole Bree’s heart. Archer is broken, awkward, shy and enigmatic. He is not your typical hero, but that only made me love him more. He had the sweetest soul and that is what made me fall in love with this beautiful broken man. The love, the chemistry, the friendship, the communication, the attraction and the understanding made their relationship special.
This was such an exceptional book for me. Bree and Archer’s story will stay with me for a long time. A memorable story about two remarkable people who find love in an unforeseeable situation. An emotional journey that had me laughing, crying, and swooning. The writing was exquisite, every page captivated me. This has taken the spot of my favorite book in 2014 (so far). I would highly recommend it to all!
I was finally home. Not the place, but his arms. Archer’s arms were my home- the only place i wanted to be, the place where I felt safe. The place where I felt loved.
July 10, 2023
even though he literally does not exist, Archer Hale must be protected at all costs.
May 6, 2018
I mean, I felt nothing.
I am in the minority here, but I felt so empty reading it. Nothing about the plot or the characters was convincing. Everything about it was so calculated and juvenile. And I don't mind cliches but this book takes the cake. It was cheese galore.
Nope. Just no.
I am in the minority here, but I felt so empty reading it. Nothing about the plot or the characters was convincing. Everything about it was so calculated and juvenile. And I don't mind cliches but this book takes the cake. It was cheese galore.
Nope. Just no.
June 20, 2023
re-read, 5 ⭐️ of course 🥹
protect Archer Hale at all costs!! This re-read just reminded me why I love this book so much.
protect Archer Hale at all costs!! This re-read just reminded me why I love this book so much.
April 3, 2017
★★★★★! Archer’s Voice (stand-alone) A gripping tale of painful pasts & healing love!
“It suddenly occurred to me that Archer Hale had taught himself an entire language, but hadn't had a single person to talk to. Until me.”
I will try to write a better review when I catch up.
College graduate Bree Prescott flees to a lakeside town and meets a 23-year old recluse who doesn’t speak, Archer Hale. Who is he? What is his story? And what is Bree running from?
A feel-good read! Loved it! Suspense, angst, reflection and an epic love that will melt your heart. 5 stars!
***I am happy to report that Mia sold the screenplay so hopefully we’ll soon see this on the big screen.
***
Hero rating: 5 stars
Heroine rating: 4.5 stars
Sexual tension rating: 5 stars
Sex scenes rating: 4.5 stars
Sex scenes frequency: 4.5 stars
Plot rating: 5 stars
Dialogue rating: 5 stars
Storytelling rating: 5 stars
Story ending rating: 5 stars
**********************************************
Overall rating: 5 stars
Would I recommend this book: Yes.
Would I re-read this book: Yes.
Would I read future books by this author: Yes.
May 29, 2020
this is a beautiful story and it holds such an important message - everyone has a voice. they may sound different, but everyone can and deserves to be heard.
i love this lesson and i appreciate how this book so stunningly teaches it. its no secret that i love books about love. and maybe its just me becoming soft in my old age, but this story in particular touched me profoundly. i get goosebumps just thinking about the pure beauty of this story. its a story about two broken people, their courageous survival, the healing power of their love, and the strength in the voices they create.
its one of those stories that any reader can connect with on such a basic human level. i think anyone who has ever felt like they have no voice or has struggled to be heard will be able to relate with this in such a tender way. and it also shows the importance of understanding the difference between hearing and listening, and the necessity of being a good listener.
im just so in awe and deeply thankful that a story like this has been told told. yes, i originally read it for the romance and swoon-worthy feels, but i walked away with so much more. a full heart and content soul. <3
p.s. there are so many good quotes from this book. here are some of my favourites.
↠ 5 stars
i love this lesson and i appreciate how this book so stunningly teaches it. its no secret that i love books about love. and maybe its just me becoming soft in my old age, but this story in particular touched me profoundly. i get goosebumps just thinking about the pure beauty of this story. its a story about two broken people, their courageous survival, the healing power of their love, and the strength in the voices they create.
its one of those stories that any reader can connect with on such a basic human level. i think anyone who has ever felt like they have no voice or has struggled to be heard will be able to relate with this in such a tender way. and it also shows the importance of understanding the difference between hearing and listening, and the necessity of being a good listener.
im just so in awe and deeply thankful that a story like this has been told told. yes, i originally read it for the romance and swoon-worthy feels, but i walked away with so much more. a full heart and content soul. <3
p.s. there are so many good quotes from this book. here are some of my favourites.
‘and sometimes, thats all it takes – one person whos willing to listen to your heart, to the sound no one else has ever tried to hear.’
‘sometimes an understanding silence was better than a bunch of meaningless words.’
‘the loudest words are the ones we live.’
↠ 5 stars
July 19, 2023
— 3.5 stars ✰
“she asked me the sign for love
and i spelled out your name.”
archer and bree.
archer and bree.
archer and bree.
i went into this book without knowing anything, i know i‘m late to the trend but i‘m glad i finally made myself read the book. they‘re the softest couple to ever exist, so raw, so heart-wrenching and so beautiful together. i just wanted to hug both of them the entire time.
“i didn't know enough to dream you, bree,
but somehow you came true anyway”
bree escapes her home town to find peace in the small town pelion, maine. right on her first day, she collides with archer hale, a man who is ignored by everyone. of course that has peaked her interest so she seeks him out and since then, everything started rolling.
archer is such a poor soul, when you read this book you just want to hug him and never let go. the things he had to endure his entire life, not bonding with one single soul since his accident broke my heart. he seriously raised the standards, if my boyfriend doesn’t walk a mile in the rain for me just to make sure i’m safe, i don’t want him.
“what are you doing here?”
“you don't like thunderstorms”
“you walked a mile in the rain bc i don't like thunderstorms?”
bree is a ray of sunshine and the best thing that could’ve happened to archer. she’s just kind hearted and sweet, seeing her bond with archer was so beautiful and pure. even if he was cautious of their friendship and her intentions, she never gave up to befriend him and make him feel safe and wanted.
“it suddenly occurred to me that archer hale had taught himself an entire language, but hadn't had a single person to talk to. until me.”
i must say that i felt sorry for both characters right in the beginning. the writing made me emotional for them and i didn’t even knew bree and archer that long. their chemistry was unmatched but i must admit that it’s pretty fast paced and felt like insta love.
“i bree you” 💕💘💞💗
— i’m not going to lie, the book could’ve should’ve been a hundred pages shorter, there were so many unnecessary chapters and the melodrama in the entire book at the end of the book kinda threw me off. there were so many some cringy scenes for sure, sentences where i shook my head and wished they wouldn’t have said that buuut it’s still a good book nonetheless.
tho, the fact that there’s smut in the book is bugging me so hard, for me they’re such a soft couple so it really didn’t fit the vibe at all.
spoilers
ok but like.. archer leaving bree near the end of the book was so predictable. he always told her he’d be a burden since he needs reassurance and is scared to love and loose her, so i already saw it coming and the “plot twist” really wasn’t plot-twisting 🫣 the flashback chapters intrigued me at first but at some point it was just obvious
“she asked me the sign for love
and i spelled out your name.”
archer and bree.
archer and bree.
archer and bree.
i went into this book without knowing anything, i know i‘m late to the trend but i‘m glad i finally made myself read the book. they‘re the softest couple to ever exist, so raw, so heart-wrenching and so beautiful together. i just wanted to hug both of them the entire time.
“i didn't know enough to dream you, bree,
but somehow you came true anyway”
bree escapes her home town to find peace in the small town pelion, maine. right on her first day, she collides with archer hale, a man who is ignored by everyone. of course that has peaked her interest so she seeks him out and since then, everything started rolling.
archer is such a poor soul, when you read this book you just want to hug him and never let go. the things he had to endure his entire life, not bonding with one single soul since his accident broke my heart. he seriously raised the standards, if my boyfriend doesn’t walk a mile in the rain for me just to make sure i’m safe, i don’t want him.
“what are you doing here?”
“you don't like thunderstorms”
“you walked a mile in the rain bc i don't like thunderstorms?”
bree is a ray of sunshine and the best thing that could’ve happened to archer. she’s just kind hearted and sweet, seeing her bond with archer was so beautiful and pure. even if he was cautious of their friendship and her intentions, she never gave up to befriend him and make him feel safe and wanted.
“it suddenly occurred to me that archer hale had taught himself an entire language, but hadn't had a single person to talk to. until me.”
i must say that i felt sorry for both characters right in the beginning. the writing made me emotional for them and i didn’t even knew bree and archer that long. their chemistry was unmatched but i must admit that it’s pretty fast paced and felt like insta love.
“i bree you” 💕💘💞💗
— i’m not going to lie, the book could’ve should’ve been a hundred pages shorter, there were so many unnecessary chapters and the melodrama in the entire book at the end of the book kinda threw me off. there were so many some cringy scenes for sure, sentences where i shook my head and wished they wouldn’t have said that buuut it’s still a good book nonetheless.
tho, the fact that there’s smut in the book is bugging me so hard, for me they’re such a soft couple so it really didn’t fit the vibe at all.
spoilers
ok but like.. archer leaving bree near the end of the book was so predictable. he always told her he’d be a burden since he needs reassurance and is scared to love and loose her, so i already saw it coming and the “plot twist” really wasn’t plot-twisting 🫣 the flashback chapters intrigued me at first but at some point it was just obvious
June 17, 2023
Every single person needs to read this book right now. I don’t give a fuck what your doing or reading. You need to pick this book up and read it instead because it one of the best books I’ve ever read, and so you need to read it too, trust me you will be doing yourself a favour
This book is so wonderfully written. its not like any romance book I’ve ever read before and it’s just so heartbreakingly beautiful. When two tortured find each other and help each other heal it warms my heart.
Let me tell you. Y’all are sleeping on Archer Hale. He is top tier book boyfriend material. He walked to her house in a thunderstorm to make sure that she would not be alone because he knows she hates them. He fixed her front step because it was dangerous. He even went through bags of chips to find the ones (the folded over chips) because he knew they were her favourite.
You know what he’s so in love with her he would probably take a bullet for her too.
Okay he’s literally perfect. How have I never seen a video where someone mentioned him?
See just another reason on why you should read this book
✨archer hale✨
I’m literally so alone it’s not even funny
I loved how this book was not your typical romance but it was more about each character healing because of the other and how experiences can shape you. The trauma that they both had just made this book so real and heartbreaking. No but for real I was ugly crying last night for a full 10 minutes.
Live footage of me throughout this book:
IT WAS JUST SO BEAUTIFUL
Omfg but the one person that I COULD NOT stand was fucking Travis taking advatage of my baby Archer. The things i want to do to this man and not in a good way.
More like:
Murder
Choking him (not in a sexy way more like life threatining)
Death
Maybe cutting his dick off but that MAY be a bit extra.
Anywaysss moral of the story is that I HATE TRAVIS AND HE CAN DIE.
Other than that DISPICABLE characterevery single most of the characters were just amazing and BREE
We love Bree. She is so amazing and cute and sweet and we stan her for standing up to everyone for Archer. And what she went through……and i'm crying again. Fan-fucking-tastic.
If i havent already convinced you that you have to read this book then here:
boy is obsessed over girl.
Boy is the literal king of a book boyfriend
Girl and boy connect on a amazing emotional level
This will get you crying……don’t worry babes i only recommend the best, i gotchu
overcoming trauma
A beautiful romance story
SMUT……GOOD SMUT
Now if that did not convince you, all hope is lost in the world.
Go read this right now. You are doing yourself a favour.
Can’t wait to see all your opinions on this.
Oh yeah and before I forget to look up TW for this book please.
Bye babesss, have fun reading
{previous review}
eeeeeeeeeeeee not to set my standards too high or anything but i think that im going to LOVE this book
This book is so wonderfully written. its not like any romance book I’ve ever read before and it’s just so heartbreakingly beautiful. When two tortured find each other and help each other heal it warms my heart.
Let me tell you. Y’all are sleeping on Archer Hale. He is top tier book boyfriend material. He walked to her house in a thunderstorm to make sure that she would not be alone because he knows she hates them. He fixed her front step because it was dangerous. He even went through bags of chips to find the ones (the folded over chips) because he knew they were her favourite.
You know what he’s so in love with her he would probably take a bullet for her too.
Okay he’s literally perfect. How have I never seen a video where someone mentioned him?
See just another reason on why you should read this book
✨archer hale✨
I’m literally so alone it’s not even funny
I loved how this book was not your typical romance but it was more about each character healing because of the other and how experiences can shape you. The trauma that they both had just made this book so real and heartbreaking. No but for real I was ugly crying last night for a full 10 minutes.
Live footage of me throughout this book:
IT WAS JUST SO BEAUTIFUL
Omfg but the one person that I COULD NOT stand was fucking Travis taking advatage of my baby Archer. The things i want to do to this man and not in a good way.
More like:
Murder
Choking him (not in a sexy way more like life threatining)
Death
Maybe cutting his dick off but that MAY be a bit extra.
Anywaysss moral of the story is that I HATE TRAVIS AND HE CAN DIE.
Other than that DISPICABLE character
We love Bree. She is so amazing and cute and sweet and we stan her for standing up to everyone for Archer. And what she went through……and i'm crying again. Fan-fucking-tastic.
If i havent already convinced you that you have to read this book then here:
boy is obsessed over girl.
Boy is the literal king of a book boyfriend
Girl and boy connect on a amazing emotional level
This will get you crying……don’t worry babes i only recommend the best, i gotchu
overcoming trauma
A beautiful romance story
SMUT……GOOD SMUT
Now if that did not convince you, all hope is lost in the world.
Go read this right now. You are doing yourself a favour.
Can’t wait to see all your opinions on this.
Oh yeah and before I forget to look up TW for this book please.
Bye babesss, have fun reading
{previous review}
eeeeeeeeeeeee not to set my standards too high or anything but i think that im going to LOVE this book
May 5, 2021
4 stars ✩⋆
it's really bad that i read this when i was 15 years old because now my standards are way too fucking high for my liking 🤠✋
this book made me cry and it's not because it's sad, i'm crying because this book made me feel SO FUCKING SINGLE. yes, i know this is the second book this month that made me feel this way but i swear, books that make me feel like this are my villain origin story. you want me to feel alone and painfully single? fine.
honestly, this book was such a nice, wholesome (but kinda cheesy) reread after the month i endured with nonstop exams and studying. i remember this book being one of my favorites and i know a 15/16 year old shouldn't have read this back then because this is kinda nsfw but wattpad made me read this okay!!
✧ p l o t
do i still like this to the same degree as i did back then? eh. you think my standards for men are high? lol my standards for books are highER. i still like this though. i just think that, even when this book made me feel single, some scenes were a bit cheesy that i cringed. sorry.
but whatever, if you guys wanna read something where it's all emotional connection, virgin hero so that means the heroine "teaches" him *wink*, small town, the MCs bonding together over past trauma and add in a little bit of family drama and angst then i recommend this.
let's talk about the characters first okay? okay.
➷ ｡ Archer Hale (H)
ahh. my second favorite ✨v-i-r-g-i-n✨ hero (first being, james alexander malcolm mackenzie fraser of course). and yes, that's right besties!! we actually have a male love interest who's not a ho?? whaaaa-?
it's a miracle really.
some of you might be put off by the fact this dude has no skills in that area in the beginning but ya know what? i'm so tired of man ho Hs who are basically the same fictional dudes with different fonts. we need a shy, loner hermit who can also break your back from time to time 🥺👉👈
also, gotta love a man who fixes himself and doesn't treat his girl like a therapist aww 🥰 (even though, this happens waaay at the end and wish i saw more of his time away from Bree).
➷ ｡ Bree Porter (h)
i don't know who was more swoony, Bree or Archer? Archer has his way with words, while Bree has her way with actions. this woman is loyal and so devoted, like damn b do you want me to fall in love with you too?? i liked Bree. though, i thought she was a bit too nosy from time to time, but bish so am i so i can't really fault her for that.
•─────⋅ ღ r o m a n c e ღ ⋅─────•
as for the romance, i've read tons of romance books now and i know that if a hero is a virgin, we're in for an emotional rollercoaster and that's exactly what happened here so basically, i will just show you some quotes:
let's take a moment of silence for all the single people who had to read this...
...
...
...
okay? okay. imma give y'all another quote because if i'm in pain, y'all need to feel the pain too:
haha ha i feel attacked because-
okay sometimes, these two are so romantic that it's borderline cheesy. i guess i cringed a bunch of times now that i've reread this as i've turned a bit cynical throughout the years but eh whatever they're still cute. but then there's the whole love is subjective therefore my word for love is Bree THEREFORE i bree you. OHHH i archer you too mehhh blah blah blah and to be honest, i don't know if i should cringe or swoon- there's literally no in between.
but the haircut scene still lives rent free in my head to this day.
•─────⋅ ☆ d r a m a (spoilers) ☆ ⋅─────•
there's some family drama here about Archer's and Travis' parents where there's affairs, a secret baby (Archer is obviously the secret son), car accident that lead to Archer's parents' death and Travis' mom basically shunning Archer because she's a bitch and her husband loved Archer's mother. basically, their story is a soap opera drama.
and then there's the whole // OW/OM drama // with dickhead Travis. this is gonna be a mini rant (again) so get your popcorn ready...
... ready? okay.
so basically, in the beginning, Bree went on a date with Travis and they shared a kiss but she wasn't interested. this all happened before she developed a friendship with Archer. and then, right after Bree taught Archer the *wink* b a s e s *wink* Travis suggested to take Archer out on a boys night out and Bree agreed. dickhead Travis took him to a strip club and poor innocent, naive Archer believed his manipulative ass and then Travis paid this stripper to take Archer in a private room to sleep with him.
first of all, everyone was a dumbass in this situation because:
i'll just show you guys a little snippet of the stripper scene because again, i don't wanna be alone with this pain:
respectfully, i just wanted to-
yes, i wanted to punch Archer but i also wanted to punch Travis more. it was going so great ya know? and then this happens literally right after they've already kissed and did other things? Archer... dude. don't worry, he did nothing and left right away. do i forgive him tho? eh. i don't know. i hold grudges so.
⊰•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⊰⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅∙∘☽༓☾���∙•⋅⋅⋅•⋅⋅⊰⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⊰
speaking of dickhead Travis i have two moods for this asshole because I HATE THIS DUDE BUT I ALSO WANT THIS DUDE TO HAVE A REDEMPTION ARC.
it's a dilemma y'all.
and funny story, when i was rereading this, i manifested for a Travis book because, ya know, i have a thing for villains with redemption arcs because why not right? but anyways, i want him to have his own book because he really needs to make up for it after years of neglecting Archer and that stripper incident i still haven't forgiven him to this day. so anywho, my point of all this is that i manifested for this book and the book is coming out in july... that means i'm basically a ✨ wizard ✨
also? the small town people who are just now talking to Archer after years of neglect (since he was a child by the way!!) and had the audacity to stare at him and act like he's this weirdo which made him feel shitty whenever he did have the courage to go out-
tsk tsk. y'all need to grovel more.
can't wait to read dickhead Travis's book and to see him grovel to Archer!!
* * *
— original rating (april 2015) : 5 stars aww my 15-year-old self really thought this was the “hottest book ever”aww my poor, innocent, sweet summer child.
* * *
Hale brothers
#1: archer's voice — archer x bree ↠ 4.25 stars
#2: travis' story (title tba) ↠ tbr
it's really bad that i read this when i was 15 years old because now my standards are way too fucking high for my liking 🤠✋
this book made me cry and it's not because it's sad, i'm crying because this book made me feel SO FUCKING SINGLE. yes, i know this is the second book this month that made me feel this way but i swear, books that make me feel like this are my villain origin story. you want me to feel alone and painfully single? fine.
honestly, this book was such a nice, wholesome (but kinda cheesy) reread after the month i endured with nonstop exams and studying. i remember this book being one of my favorites and i know a 15/16 year old shouldn't have read this back then because this is kinda nsfw but wattpad made me read this okay!!
✧ p l o t
↳ so this book is about Bree (h) running away from home after experiencing a traumatic event and ended up bonding with a small town's "loner mute", Archer (H). they become friends to friends with sexual tension to teaching inexperienced Archer how to kiss and... ya know to are they dating or are they not?? to lovers. it's very cute.
do i still like this to the same degree as i did back then? eh. you think my standards for men are high? lol my standards for books are highER. i still like this though. i just think that, even when this book made me feel single, some scenes were a bit cheesy that i cringed. sorry.
but whatever, if you guys wanna read something where it's all emotional connection, virgin hero so that means the heroine "teaches" him *wink*, small town, the MCs bonding together over past trauma and add in a little bit of family drama and angst then i recommend this.
let's talk about the characters first okay? okay.
➷ ｡ Archer Hale (H)
"I want to be able to love you more than I fear losing you."
ahh. my second favorite ✨v-i-r-g-i-n✨ hero (first being, james alexander malcolm mackenzie fraser of course). and yes, that's right besties!! we actually have a male love interest who's not a ho?? whaaaa-?
it's a miracle really.
some of you might be put off by the fact this dude has no skills in that area in the beginning but ya know what? i'm so tired of man ho Hs who are basically the same fictional dudes with different fonts. we need a shy, loner hermit who can also break your back from time to time 🥺👉👈
also, gotta love a man who fixes himself and doesn't treat his girl like a therapist aww 🥰 (even though, this happens waaay at the end and wish i saw more of his time away from Bree).
➷ ｡ Bree Porter (h)
"Sometimes an understanding silence was better than a bunch of meaningless words"
i don't know who was more swoony, Bree or Archer? Archer has his way with words, while Bree has her way with actions. this woman is loyal and so devoted, like damn b do you want me to fall in love with you too?? i liked Bree. though, i thought she was a bit too nosy from time to time, but bish so am i so i can't really fault her for that.
•─────⋅ ღ r o m a n c e ღ ⋅─────•
as for the romance, i've read tons of romance books now and i know that if a hero is a virgin, we're in for an emotional rollercoaster and that's exactly what happened here so basically, i will just show you some quotes:
"Someday … when we're old and gray, I'm going to look at you lying in bed beside me, just like this, and I'm going to look into your eyes and know that it's only ever been you. And that is going to be the great joy of my life."
let's take a moment of silence for all the single people who had to read this...
...
...
...
okay? okay. imma give y'all another quote because if i'm in pain, y'all need to feel the pain too:
"Each night before I fall asleep, I make it a point to turn to my wife and silently say "Only you, only ever you". And her love slips quietly around me, holding me, anchoring me, reminding me that the loudest words are the ones we live."
haha ha i feel attacked because-
okay sometimes, these two are so romantic that it's borderline cheesy. i guess i cringed a bunch of times now that i've reread this as i've turned a bit cynical throughout the years but eh whatever they're still cute. but then there's the whole love is subjective therefore my word for love is Bree THEREFORE i bree you. OHHH i archer you too mehhh blah blah blah and to be honest, i don't know if i should cringe or swoon- there's literally no in between.
but the haircut scene still lives rent free in my head to this day.
•─────⋅ ☆ d r a m a (spoilers) ☆ ⋅─────•
there's some family drama here about Archer's and Travis' parents where there's affairs, a secret baby (Archer is obviously the secret son), car accident that lead to Archer's parents' death and Travis' mom basically shunning Archer because she's a bitch and her husband loved Archer's mother. basically, their story is a soap opera drama.
and then there's the whole // OW/OM drama // with dickhead Travis. this is gonna be a mini rant (again) so get your popcorn ready...
... ready? okay.
so basically, in the beginning, Bree went on a date with Travis and they shared a kiss but she wasn't interested. this all happened before she developed a friendship with Archer. and then, right after Bree taught Archer the *wink* b a s e s *wink* Travis suggested to take Archer out on a boys night out and Bree agreed. dickhead Travis took him to a strip club and poor innocent, naive Archer believed his manipulative ass and then Travis paid this stripper to take Archer in a private room to sleep with him.
first of all, everyone was a dumbass in this situation because:
1) Travis: should take his toxic masculinity out ot the club and sit the f down and should learn how to take a rejection because god forbid no one wants his entitled ass.
2) Bree: girl, why would you even make your new man hang out with a guy you went on a date with and kissed literally just a few days before you started a relationship with Archer? damn.
3) Archer: b, i know you're inexperienced and naive, and drunk during this time but COMMON SENSE BRO. why the f would you trust a man who you've never trusted before in your entire life? come on, dude.
i'll just show you guys a little snippet of the stripper scene because again, i don't wanna be alone with this pain:
“Her breasts popped out and she grabbed my hands herself and planted them on her. My dick throbbed in my jeans. I rubbed her nipples the way Bree liked and Amber tossed her head back, moaning. I squeezed her lightly. Her breasts were bigger than Bree’s, but they felt different—not soft, but almost overly firm, and the skin stretched and shiny.”
respectfully, i just wanted to-
yes, i wanted to punch Archer but i also wanted to punch Travis more. it was going so great ya know? and then this happens literally right after they've already kissed and did other things? Archer... dude. don't worry, he did nothing and left right away. do i forgive him tho? eh. i don't know. i hold grudges so.
⊰•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⊰⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅∙∘☽༓☾���∙•⋅⋅⋅•⋅⋅⊰⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⊰
speaking of dickhead Travis i have two moods for this asshole because I HATE THIS DUDE BUT I ALSO WANT THIS DUDE TO HAVE A REDEMPTION ARC.
it's a dilemma y'all.
and funny story, when i was rereading this, i manifested for a Travis book because, ya know, i have a thing for villains with redemption arcs because why not right? but anyways, i want him to have his own book because he really needs to make up for it after years of neglecting Archer and that stripper incident i still haven't forgiven him to this day. so anywho, my point of all this is that i manifested for this book and the book is coming out in july... that means i'm basically a ✨ wizard ✨
also? the small town people who are just now talking to Archer after years of neglect (since he was a child by the way!!) and had the audacity to stare at him and act like he's this weirdo which made him feel shitty whenever he did have the courage to go out-
tsk tsk. y'all need to grovel more.
can't wait to read dickhead Travis's book and to see him grovel to Archer!!
* * *
— original rating (april 2015) : 5 stars aww my 15-year-old self really thought this was the “hottest book ever”aww my poor, innocent, sweet summer child.
* * *
Hale brothers
#1: archer's voice — archer x bree ↠ 4.25 stars
#2: travis' story (title tba) ↠ tbr
August 9, 2016
3.5 Stars
I am definitely in the minority here. I liked it, don’t get me wrong but it was nowhere near a five star book for me. This author seems to be a hit or miss for me. Leo, I did not really like. Stinger, I loved it….
I think my expectations were way too high. Note to self, don’t read a book on Release Date unless you are absolutely sure that you will love it.
Every single one of my friends who has read it gave it 5 stars. Pressure was too much and it did not work for me…
It is a lovely story, the characters are nice, the prose flowed but there was something missing to give it that little push for a four or five star review.
It felt more like a YA read than a NA read…. At 48, I might be a bit long in the tooth for these stories…
I hope you enjoy it if you do read it.
I am definitely in the minority here. I liked it, don’t get me wrong but it was nowhere near a five star book for me. This author seems to be a hit or miss for me. Leo, I did not really like. Stinger, I loved it….
I think my expectations were way too high. Note to self, don’t read a book on Release Date unless you are absolutely sure that you will love it.
Every single one of my friends who has read it gave it 5 stars. Pressure was too much and it did not work for me…
It is a lovely story, the characters are nice, the prose flowed but there was something missing to give it that little push for a four or five star review.
It felt more like a YA read than a NA read…. At 48, I might be a bit long in the tooth for these stories…
I hope you enjoy it if you do read it.
August 6, 2021
Maybe there was no right or wrong, no black or white, only a thousand shades of gray when it came to pain and what we each held ourselves responsible for.
This is one of the most beautiful, tender, and heartwarming love stories I've ever read.
TW: mentions of abuse, alcoholism, death of a loved one, attempted rape
Archer’s Voice is described as a love story. A love story between Bree Prescott who moves into a small town in Maine to move a little bit away from her past. There, she meets Archer Hale, a boy who cannot speak and has been outcasted by everyone in his community. But Bree doesn’t see Archer as everyone else does—a person who can’t communicate, is heartless, and does not show emotion. She sees someone worth fighting for, someone who needs someone who can speak his own language, someone who understands him. And Bree became just that.
But this is more than a love story.
It is a story of two people finding strength in each other. It is about confronting your demons and nightmares, the obstacles in your life who make it difficult to continue moving forward. It is about moving forward after another and understanding that there will consistently be something more worth battling for.
I supposed we all coped in our different ways—pain and healing as individual as the people who experienced them.
When I read Leo and Leo's Chance, I was already doubting Mia Sheridan. I had heard so much about her and her Sign of Love series, so, naturally, I started in order. I didn’t like Leo or Leo’s Chance at all, but Archer’s Voice reminded me why it’s important to give an author another chance because Archer’s Voice is one of the sweetest stories I’ve ever read. It is not too drama or action filled, the plot stays balanced out, the characters are likable and even relatable, and the romance is warm, sweet, and soft all around. It is full of grief and mourning, of anguish and sadness, as well as happiness and love, courage and determination.
Then I would have come for you. I would have fought for you. But don’t you see, I had to fight for myself first. I had to feel like I was someone worthy of winning you.
Bree is a very likable heroine. She’s in her 20s trying to get a new start in her life after witnessing her father’s murder. Without forgetting that traumatic night, she struggles with her phobia of thunderstorms. She felt really genuine, as if she were a character I was walking around with. I loved her inner thoughts because of how realistic they felt. There were times when I would feel embarrassed for her, but it was all in a good way. She didn’t feel fake, and I loved how she was someone who didn’t see Archer as everyone else did.
Bree’s fear of thunderstorms and flashbacks to her traumatic night bring more emotion to the story. Dealing with phobias is really difficult, and sometimes, you can get lucky and have someone special that takes that pain away. I understood how Bree felt with wanting to get out of her town and move out. She set out with no plan, a few set of clothes, her dog, and barely enough money to survive a little bit, but she survived nonetheless and settled in. I loved her courageous act for doing that. I loved her new friends, especially Anne, her neighbor, and how easy she was to be approached by others. Honestly, sometimes it’s just best to read a story with no toxicity anywhere. Regardless of the drama surrounding this story, I love reading about characters who aren’t dramatic in every aspect and are easy to connect with. Bree was just that—energetic, lovable, approachable, and overall, determined.
And her love slips quietly around me, holding me, anchoring me, reminding me that the loudest words are the ones we live.
Archer is one of the most pure and most caring heroes I’ve come across reading. There’s something about virgin and shy men who let the lady take control until it’s finally their turn. Seriously, experience is overrated. Give me shy inexperienced men like Archer Hale—men who will ask their girl to teach them what they like because they don’t know what to do.
Some may think that it's unappealing, yet I think that it's sweet. Society has normalized women being inexperienced and men being experienced too much that women get called a whore or slut and men are seen inferior for their lack of sexual activity. There’s nothing wrong with either, and I find it ridiculous how things such as virginity determine someone’s worth.
Besides Archer being a virgin, shy, and self-conscious around Bree (which I found to be adorable), Archer is sweet and tender. I loved how comfortable he got to Bree to the point of forming a connection with her. I loved how he stepped out of his comfort zone to make her happy because that was all he cared about. His adoration and love for her was lighthearted and authentic for what it's worth, and I loved how he gradually let her inside his internal air bubble. I also appreciated how Bree herself was not someone to push Archer for any reason, whether it be sexually or romantically, and I appreciated how she didn't overstep boundaries. They were both so respectful of each other, and their relationship was one of the healthiest I have read about.
She carried the guilt of not fighting when she thought she should have, and I carried the scar of what happened when you did.
As I was reading, I made small notes on my phone with Archer appreciation questions, and it’s made me realize my standards are now out of this world for how high they are. This is what I wrote:
Do men like Archer Hale exist? Let’s see...
1. Will he walk 1 mile in the pouring rain so he can be at least near you because he knows you hate thunderstorms?
2. Will he go through multiple potato chip bags just so he can get the ones you specifically like, aka the folded ones?
3. Is he a virgin, self-conscious, and asks you to teach him what you like because he’s unsure?
4. Will he step out of his claustrophobic self by hanging out with his horrible cousin just because you asked him to and because all he cares about is your happiness and if you’re happy he’s going out then he’s happy?
5. Will he give you a bouquet of Almond Joy candy bars because that’s how you two met?
6. Will he let you give him a haircut and do whatever you want?
7. Will he notice the smallest things of you, like the way your smile forms and the color your hair turns under the sun?
8. Will he ask you what some of your lists are, like a calm list, to keep you entertained and occupied as you’re on a road trip?
The answer is most likely no, or none of us have met anyone like him.
There’s nothing to find out. What I know, is that you walked through my gate that day, and I lost my heart. But not because it could have been any girl—because it was you. I lost my heart to you. And, Bree, in case you’re wondering, I don’t ever want it back.
The sex in this was nothing but gentle. Sweet and gentle are really the words to describe this entire book. It was slow and kind, and I thought it was portrayed, described, and written really well and realistically. Besides Bree teaching Archer a few things, I loved how careful he still was. He was still new to it all, but he also didn’t rush. While he caught up fast and learned quickly, he treated Bree with nothing but gentleness and protectiveness. Not to mention how much better I found it to be compared to Leo and Leo's Chance. The chemistry and sexual tension between Archer and Bree was heartfelt through every occasion. Even though Archer is deaf and cannot speak, his love and care for Bree was shown in his actions. The love they both had for each other didn't need to be spoken because it was felt in every other way.
But aside from the sweetness and tenderness, what really tugged at my heart is Archer’s muteness and disability.
He was defined for his disability, and he couldn’t really do anything about it. I don’t have a hearing disability, but I have a neurological disability, and there’s been moments where I’ve been defined by it. People assume that because of it, I can’t go out and hang out with them, or they believe it’ll cause some sort of conflict. Archer’s muteness didn’t define him, but others did. He was alone and isolated, and he couldn’t communicate with anyone. Everyone assumed he was weird or mentally ill because of it, and it really shows how ignorant people can be. You can tell a lot about someone who judges without knowing the persons full story.
I pitied Archer, and I hate using that word, but I did. He needed someone in his life to help with the pain he was carrying of being alone. He was misjudged, looked down upon, and cast away, and he had no way to defend himself. When Bree ran away from him, I felt his emotions and how much it hurt him to see her run off from him because he couldn't call out to her.
I had learned recently that often, love was all about learning to speak a person’s language.
A lot of the moments between Archer and his disability brought sadness to me and tears on other occasions. He deserved nothing but love and comfort, and while I was glad Bree was there for him, a lot that happened to him made me realize something: People truly care about you when you're gone.
My dad told me that nobody in this world is your true friend unless 1) they visit you in jail and 2) they visit you in the hospital bed. He told me that it isn't until you are gone from this world that people begin to mourn you and feel your absence. My dad doesn't want to be buried and doesn't want a funeral. He tells me, "What's the point? I'm dead anyways."
I finished this at around 2 AM. I started crying at around 1:30 AM. I couldn’t bring myself to finish the last pages (if you’ve read this, you most likely know why), and I was worried I wouldn’t be able to trust Sheridan again. But alas, folks, she wasn’t that ruthless. I cried for Archer and Bree, but I also cried for the love between them. It felt so real, and I became so emotionally connected to the two of them, that I couldn't imagine them being apart from each other. Their love felt so vivid, clear, and real.
Archer and Bree, without a doubt, have become one of my favorite couples. They make me believe in love during the times I don't, and they bring comfort to the times I feel like love is dying. Fictional or not, love stories like these bring a sense of comfort to me. There is something beautiful about finding your soulmate in the places you least expected to.
Behind all the delight and heartbreaks, Archer's Voice is about finding and using her voice. It is a message to those who cannot speak, and a message to those who choose to listen. It is a lesson worth learning, one that teaches you to listen to others, and to listen to other's stories, because you never know how much pain someone is going through until they tell you.
Thank you, Mia Sheridan, for making me believe that love is possible in all forms.
And remember to always try and practice kindness.
“My wounded healer, my beautiful Archer.”
October 22, 2020
"Sometimes an understanding silence was better than a bunch of meaningless words."
A soulful journey through the heart of a man, speechless & Lonely. Mia hasn't allocated even whispers to her Mute, Loner - Archer Hale but readers feel them regardless. His silence, expressions, eyes, touch our hearts like feathers falling from the sky. Love really need no language, words or tunes. All you need is a willing heart
"She had told me my voice mattered, and her love had made me believe it might be true. And sometimes, that’s all it takes—one person who’s willing to listen to your heart, to the sound no one else has ever tried to hear."
Love at its purest and finest form, almost like a prayer. Like we can't see God or touch him or see him, just feel his presence, Archers quiet demeanor doesn't need words for validation of his radiance.
"more light shines out of those who have the most cracks."
Archer can't talk but his personality filled the corners of Bree's heart and dispelled her darkness and nightmares somehow. I've never read a more stirring story before.
I'd read this book somewhere in 2016, but I wasn't a reviewer then, so that had to be rectified immediately. Hence the reread.
The best part about it is that the narrative speed and path. Though it's not a huge book, Mia pays attention to character development. Nothing is rushed. She give Archer ample time to go from a shy recluse to a hesitantly confident man. The growth of their individual personalities and their love bond is slow & steady on a gradual upward incline, skipping no steps yet keeping readers spellbound. That is a genius writing technique
I don't have to sing too many praises, it's a renowned fact that the story written from the heart, touches the hearts of readers. It doesn't need any gimmicks or cheesy lines or caricature characters. This story went against all the set norms and still could teach a whole generation of indie authors how to write love story.
"Archer Hale’s voice was one of the most beautiful things in the whole wide world."
5 stars for Awkward boy. Sweet, silent Archer Hale
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A soulful journey through the heart of a man, speechless & Lonely. Mia hasn't allocated even whispers to her Mute, Loner - Archer Hale but readers feel them regardless. His silence, expressions, eyes, touch our hearts like feathers falling from the sky. Love really need no language, words or tunes. All you need is a willing heart
"She had told me my voice mattered, and her love had made me believe it might be true. And sometimes, that’s all it takes—one person who’s willing to listen to your heart, to the sound no one else has ever tried to hear."
Love at its purest and finest form, almost like a prayer. Like we can't see God or touch him or see him, just feel his presence, Archers quiet demeanor doesn't need words for validation of his radiance.
"more light shines out of those who have the most cracks."
Archer can't talk but his personality filled the corners of Bree's heart and dispelled her darkness and nightmares somehow. I've never read a more stirring story before.
I'd read this book somewhere in 2016, but I wasn't a reviewer then, so that had to be rectified immediately. Hence the reread.
The best part about it is that the narrative speed and path. Though it's not a huge book, Mia pays attention to character development. Nothing is rushed. She give Archer ample time to go from a shy recluse to a hesitantly confident man. The growth of their individual personalities and their love bond is slow & steady on a gradual upward incline, skipping no steps yet keeping readers spellbound. That is a genius writing technique
I don't have to sing too many praises, it's a renowned fact that the story written from the heart, touches the hearts of readers. It doesn't need any gimmicks or cheesy lines or caricature characters. This story went against all the set norms and still could teach a whole generation of indie authors how to write love story.
"Archer Hale’s voice was one of the most beautiful things in the whole wide world."
5 stars for Awkward boy. Sweet, silent Archer Hale
Follow me on:
Email🌻 Bookbub 🌻 Twitter🌻 Instagram🌻 Blog🌻 Facebook🌻 Amazon 🌻
June 30, 2022
4.5 ⭐️
Review to come!!
Review to come!!
September 19, 2021
“I lost my heart to you. And, Bree, in case you're wondering, I don't ever want it back.”
someone explain to me the hype around this book please. i honestly felt nothing and maybe it could be me but i have a lot of issues with this book to know its not me
dont expect me to feel bad just cause its a popular book and pull the ”its not the book; its me” bullshit because it is very much the book
the fact i havent heard like any criticism on this book makes me wonder if i didnt read this right?? but some people agreed with me so… imma stick to my view
the beginning gave me hope. there was potential. the first chapter?? it hit me and i was convinced that this book would be like a really good book
and was i fucking wrong
theres a lot of ”pick me” action going on with bree over in her little corner with her thinking ”im gonna be different and get close with the odd guy no one talks to” like congratulations, would you like a fucking medal??
i felt like my braincells were deteriorating like yeah, ig it was somewhat sad but are we gonna just ignore how poorly it was all laid out??
the romance? way too fast. the plot? dont know where it went. the solution? rushed. the characters? not that likeable.
PLOT ˎˊ˗
uhhh so basically bree prescott runs away to a small town after experiencing something very traumatic. archer hale lives in the town where she ran to and also has experienced something traumatic when he was very young therefore making him mute. they somehow connect and then yeah the rest is history ig?
yeah umm this plot kinda just confused me. i thought they were trying to like get over their trauma and talk about it more?? imo there was more ”i love yous” and lovey dovey shit then talking about the issue at hand itself.
ofc things were addressed but it was all super rushed like that ending?? wtf what that. i didnt even know how things were wrapped up?? i thought there’d be more to both stories but it was like ”this happened to me.” and then problem solved??
like where was all the explanations and building on what they went through??? it wasnt fucking there
ROMANCE + SMUT ˎˊ˗
yeah, definitely not a fan of their romance. it was so fast like how are they already loving each other after like what, a couple of weeks?? i mean you do you boo but no.
“And in that moment, I knew. I was falling in love with the beautiful, silent man staring down at me. If I hadn't already fallen.”
like… how is she falling in love???
even like just how their friendship started was just so random?? idk like wow, he helped her and she thought ”oh lemme just find out this dude’s mystery” and just like that they hit it off??
there wasnt even a gradual build up to how they got to being friends and before i could even process that they were friends these two were like getting it on -_-
cant they let me fucking process??
the smut was ok. idk i wasnt really paying attention to the smut because i wanted to know about their stories and hey, nice that we were fed on about their sex lives but that isnt the point gosh
the only thing id say was cute??? was this part :
“What are you doing here? I asked.
You don't like thunderstorms, he answered.
I tilted my head, confused. You walked a mile in the rain because I don't like thunderstorms?
He hesitated for a second, looking away, frowning slightly. Then he looked back at me and said simply, yes. He paused, his expression pained. I know I'm probably the last person you want to see right now, but I just thought if I sat on your porch, you wouldn't be scared. You wouldn't be alone.”
like ok. thats very sweet. you get a gold star archer now moving on
CHARACTERS ˎˊ˗
bree prescott :
⤷ she was fine until she wasnt
i found her story sad. it was like ”ok wow i did not see that coming” then it kinda just went to shit and i was underwhelmed by how her story was solved
she got annoying and i kinda didn’t understand why she did half the things she did?? i was very conflicted and at many moments i wanted to just slap some sense into her
and why does she keep referring to archer as ”her mute man” or ”her silent boy” like ma’am?? its not cute please stop
i didnt enjoy her character and at times i felt bad for her and understand her pain etc but idk i just couldnt really connect with her because her story shouldve been talked about more, not her relationship with archer
archer hale :
⤷ sweet?? ig?? idk what to feel about him
i had not many issue with archer. still the same about bree and how i also wanted his story to be told more. it just was so vague imo and wasnt talked about enough
he was sweet and just idk theres really nothing much to say about him. he definitely grew in his character and im happy for them
!! spoilers so just ignore this small segment !!
are we not gonna talk about how archer asked bree to teach him driving and while she’s helping him drive, she goes and fingers herself?? BITCH WHAT??? this was like a huge step and this bitch is sticking her fingers down her pants like…. huh?
the whole reason why he doesnt drive is because he got into a fucking accident in a fucking car. his mother fucking died in the car accident like why is she thinking ”oh lemme just turn him on rq”
like huh??????
i mean, he enjoyed it. sure. good but still?? you shouldnt do that especially when this literally links what had affected their life for like ages???
and then the whole ”travis” fiasco like… he’s a fucking walking red flag and there was literally nothing on him at the end. he just got a redemption and it was like ”yup. ok. next.”
seriously, what was up with that?? travis was root problem to majority of the shit between bree and archer. so why was it just swept under the rug. i am conflicted uhhh
CONCLUSION ˎˊ˗
this book wasn’t that sad, was pretty overhyped, and overall a disappointment. im sorry if this review wasnt a nice, sappy love review on this book but if you did love it then please give me reasons why because it would really help me understand better dkskfkkg ok bye <3
September 22, 2022
“I love you, I love you, I love you,” I whispered, smiling, trying to make this moment a happy one. He smiled back and put his lips against mine, mouthing, I love you, too, as if he were breathing love into my body. ❤❤❤
MY GOD!!! This is my 6th time of reading this book but still it makes me so happy... Ahhh I'll never get tired of reading this beautiful book. 😊
Update: Archer's Voice is going to be a movie. Mia's official announcement is in the below.
OMG I can't wait to see Archer on the big screen!!! :)
--------------------------
My original review:
WOW what a remarkable story. I LOVED it so much and all I can say is this book was truly AMAZING. I felt pure love, joy and happiness every single word. My God, it was perfect. You must read it. You must meet Archer Hale. You MUST... :)
Ps. I read this book 4 times in English and 1 time in Turkish. I just can't get enough of it. And I still can read it over and over again... ❤❤❤
--------------------------
“You brought the silence, The most beautiful sound I'd ever heard, Because it was where you were.
And now you've taken it away.
And all the noises, all the sounds in the world, Aren't loud enough to pierce my broken heart.
I look up at the stars, endless and forever, and whisper, Come back to me, Come back to me, Come back to me.”
“I'm afraid to love you. I'm afraid that you'll leave and that I'll go back to being alone again. Only it will be a hundred times worse because I'll know what I'm missing. I can't…” He sucked in a shaky breath. “I want to be able to love you more than I fear losing you, and I don't know how. Teach me, Bree. Please teach me. Don't let me destroy this.”
“This is that burden I was talking about, Bree. This is what the burden of loving me looks like.”
“Loving you isn't a burden. Loving you is an honor and a joy, Archer.”
“I know I'm probably the last person you want to see right now, but I thought if I sat on your porch, you wouldn't be scared. You wouldn't be alone.”
“I know you like my hands in your hair. Show me other ways you like to be touched. Teach me what you like, he said”
“How do you teach a man who has lost everything, not to fear it happening again?”
“I didn't know enough to dream you, Bree, but somehow you came true anyway. How did that happen?”
“I'm here for you. I'm here because of you. I'm here because you saw me, not just with your eyes, but with your heart. I'm here because you wanted to know what I had to say and because you were right...everyone does need friends.”
“Someday, when we're old and gray, I'm going to look at you lying in bed beside me, just like this, and I'm going to look into your eyes and know that it's only ever been you. And that is going to be the great joy of my life, Bree Prescott.”
“I’m in love with you too. I am so desperately in love with you. Is it enough, Bree?”
“..the loudest words are the ones we live.”
“Sometimes an understanding silence was better than a bunch of meaningless words.”
“You brought the silence,
The most beautiful sound I’d ever heard.”
“I lost my heart to you. And, Bree, in case you're wondering, I don't ever want it back.”
MY GOD!!! This is my 6th time of reading this book but still it makes me so happy... Ahhh I'll never get tired of reading this beautiful book. 😊
Update: Archer's Voice is going to be a movie. Mia's official announcement is in the below.
OMG I can't wait to see Archer on the big screen!!! :)
--------------------------
My original review:
WOW what a remarkable story. I LOVED it so much and all I can say is this book was truly AMAZING. I felt pure love, joy and happiness every single word. My God, it was perfect. You must read it. You must meet Archer Hale. You MUST... :)
Ps. I read this book 4 times in English and 1 time in Turkish. I just can't get enough of it. And I still can read it over and over again... ❤❤❤
--------------------------
“You brought the silence, The most beautiful sound I'd ever heard, Because it was where you were.
And now you've taken it away.
And all the noises, all the sounds in the world, Aren't loud enough to pierce my broken heart.
I look up at the stars, endless and forever, and whisper, Come back to me, Come back to me, Come back to me.”
“I'm afraid to love you. I'm afraid that you'll leave and that I'll go back to being alone again. Only it will be a hundred times worse because I'll know what I'm missing. I can't…” He sucked in a shaky breath. “I want to be able to love you more than I fear losing you, and I don't know how. Teach me, Bree. Please teach me. Don't let me destroy this.”
“This is that burden I was talking about, Bree. This is what the burden of loving me looks like.”
“Loving you isn't a burden. Loving you is an honor and a joy, Archer.”
“I know I'm probably the last person you want to see right now, but I thought if I sat on your porch, you wouldn't be scared. You wouldn't be alone.”
“I know you like my hands in your hair. Show me other ways you like to be touched. Teach me what you like, he said”
“How do you teach a man who has lost everything, not to fear it happening again?”
“I didn't know enough to dream you, Bree, but somehow you came true anyway. How did that happen?”
“I'm here for you. I'm here because of you. I'm here because you saw me, not just with your eyes, but with your heart. I'm here because you wanted to know what I had to say and because you were right...everyone does need friends.”
“Someday, when we're old and gray, I'm going to look at you lying in bed beside me, just like this, and I'm going to look into your eyes and know that it's only ever been you. And that is going to be the great joy of my life, Bree Prescott.”
“I’m in love with you too. I am so desperately in love with you. Is it enough, Bree?”
“..the loudest words are the ones we live.”
“Sometimes an understanding silence was better than a bunch of meaningless words.”
“You brought the silence,
The most beautiful sound I’d ever heard.”
“I lost my heart to you. And, Bree, in case you're wondering, I don't ever want it back.”
May 4, 2015
I had put off reading this book for awhile because I had heard all the hype and was worried that I'd be disappointed. Now, I'm kicking myself for waiting so long! 'Archer's Voice' lived up to the hype and surpassed my expectations. I loved this story!
It didn't take me hardly any time to fall in love with Archer. The socially awkward and reclusive man had a spot in my heart from the start. Even at his worst, he pulled at my heartstrings.
Bree was also a character that I felt drawn to immediately. She was strong and so caring. I loved her kindness and persistence.
I don't want to give much away here, because this is a story that deserves to be read. I loved every minute of it and it is definitely a new favorite of mine. I'd give it more stars if I could. :)
It didn't take me hardly any time to fall in love with Archer. The socially awkward and reclusive man had a spot in my heart from the start. Even at his worst, he pulled at my heartstrings.
Bree was also a character that I felt drawn to immediately. She was strong and so caring. I loved her kindness and persistence.
I don't want to give much away here, because this is a story that deserves to be read. I loved every minute of it and it is definitely a new favorite of mine. I'd give it more stars if I could. :)
February 17, 2023
3 Stars
I am definitely in the minority on this, but I just didn't love this one as much as most of my friends seemed to.
Don't get me wrong, it had a lot of really sweet elements and themes weaved throughout the story (e.g. the whole dandelion thing), and Archer and Bree were really cute (if somewhat flat?) characters, but it was just missing something for me.
Probably just me though.
I am definitely in the minority on this, but I just didn't love this one as much as most of my friends seemed to.
Don't get me wrong, it had a lot of really sweet elements and themes weaved throughout the story (e.g. the whole dandelion thing), and Archer and Bree were really cute (if somewhat flat?) characters, but it was just missing something for me.
Probably just me though.
September 21, 2022
"And sometimes, that's all it takes-one person who's willing to listen to your heart, to the sound no one else has ever tried to hear."
Ok, this book is 100% worth all the love and adoration it receives from the Archer fan club. Clearly I'm riding the caboose of this hype train, and I'm not sure what I can add in a review that hasn't already been said a thousand times over, but this book truly was everything and more. I found my heart in my throat multiple times, and was relived that it was emotional, but not so much that I couldn't function after the fact. And that hair cut scene? Have Mercy. 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 If you by some miracle haven't read this book yet, let me assure you that it is a worthy investment of your time, and may I humbly recommend the audiobook if you are of the listening variety? More quotes below:
"I think love is a concept, and each person has an individual word for what sums it up for them. My word for love is Bree."
"You brought the silence,
The most beautiful sound I'd ever heard,
Because it was where you were.
And now you've taken it away.
And all the noises, all the sounds in the world,
Aren't loud enough to pierce my broken heart.
I look up at the stars, endless and forever, and whisper,
Come back to me,
Come back to me,
Come back to me."
"And her love slips quietly around me, holding me, anchoring me, reminding me that the loudest words are the ones we live."
"And I thought to myself, Archer Hale's voice was one of the most beautiful things in the whole wide world."
Ok, this book is 100% worth all the love and adoration it receives from the Archer fan club. Clearly I'm riding the caboose of this hype train, and I'm not sure what I can add in a review that hasn't already been said a thousand times over, but this book truly was everything and more. I found my heart in my throat multiple times, and was relived that it was emotional, but not so much that I couldn't function after the fact. And that hair cut scene? Have Mercy. 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 If you by some miracle haven't read this book yet, let me assure you that it is a worthy investment of your time, and may I humbly recommend the audiobook if you are of the listening variety? More quotes below:
"I think love is a concept, and each person has an individual word for what sums it up for them. My word for love is Bree."
"You brought the silence,
The most beautiful sound I'd ever heard,
Because it was where you were.
And now you've taken it away.
And all the noises, all the sounds in the world,
Aren't loud enough to pierce my broken heart.
I look up at the stars, endless and forever, and whisper,
Come back to me,
Come back to me,
Come back to me."
"And her love slips quietly around me, holding me, anchoring me, reminding me that the loudest words are the ones we live."
"And I thought to myself, Archer Hale's voice was one of the most beautiful things in the whole wide world."
January 23, 2020
okay, so before I started this book I had just dnf-ed an NA book that was absolute trash and I was feeling a little let down by the genre. thankfully this book turned that around.
the story revolved around Bree who travels to Pelion to find an escape after some traumatizing events in her life. once she gets there she meets the hot social leper, Archer, whose only reason for being a reject is that he can't speak because of his traumatizing backstory.
yes, yes, everyone's damaged.
but ya know what, it totally worked.
THANK YOU MIA SHERIDAN for writing characters with damaged pasts that try to work through them in healthy ways. i don't want to spoil the book for anyone, but around the 60% mark i started feeling a little apprehensive about a certain character's behavior but then.... THEY TRY AND CHANGE IT THEMSELVES!!!! they actually go out and try to help themselves. i think it really took me by surprise how simple that is but how most characters in books don't do that (example: "i'm just a creepy stalker but i'm so in love with you... you're just going to have to deal with it, that's just me").
i also felt like the relationship that developed was perfectly paced and had basis in reality. there's no insta love but it wasn't painfully slow burn either. just two people who speak each other's language (literally lol) and find common ground.
the only thing I didn't love was the ending; some of the things that happen at the end are mildly unbelievable. but that's like 90% of NA honestly, and this book didn't go too overboard.
first read: 11.18.17
last read: 1.22.20
the story revolved around Bree who travels to Pelion to find an escape after some traumatizing events in her life. once she gets there she meets the hot social leper, Archer, whose only reason for being a reject is that he can't speak because of his traumatizing backstory.
yes, yes, everyone's damaged.
but ya know what, it totally worked.
THANK YOU MIA SHERIDAN for writing characters with damaged pasts that try to work through them in healthy ways. i don't want to spoil the book for anyone, but around the 60% mark i started feeling a little apprehensive about a certain character's behavior but then.... THEY TRY AND CHANGE IT THEMSELVES!!!! they actually go out and try to help themselves. i think it really took me by surprise how simple that is but how most characters in books don't do that (example: "i'm just a creepy stalker but i'm so in love with you... you're just going to have to deal with it, that's just me").
i also felt like the relationship that developed was perfectly paced and had basis in reality. there's no insta love but it wasn't painfully slow burn either. just two people who speak each other's language (literally lol) and find common ground.
the only thing I didn't love was the ending; some of the things that happen at the end are mildly unbelievable. but that's like 90% of NA honestly, and this book didn't go too overboard.
first read: 11.18.17
last read: 1.22.20
June 8, 2023
The story started out nicely and the plot, though predictable was laid out satisfactorily following the generic NA formula- two nice people with broken, painful past somehow finding each other in a small town. The mild twist is that Archer couldn’t talk, “a beautiful, silent man”. (Bree made sure I knew that because she mentioned it only a couple hundred times.^^) It’s told by the alternating voices of Bree and Archer but mostly by Bree. Her narrative, though a bit monotonous and unnecessarily detailed (“I brushed my teeth...I used the curling iron to curl my hair”), was forgivable because anyway it’s just the beginning. The introduction even reminded me of Nicholas Sparks novels- sweet and comfy at start, just prepare oneself for the tragic ending.
But then Bree cut Archer’s shaggy hair and then, holy burnin’ smokes! The story drastically turned into a hundred percent erotica or perhaps my copy was just defective because I’m pretty sure somebody printed the wrong half of the book and printed the pages of a manual teaching how to enhance somebody’s sexual life. *insert peace sign here.*
It’s not that I’m against that, it’s just that I honestly didn’t expect this to be that blatant. I was eager for that “lyrical” narrative about true love and moving on and stuff like those but unfortunately, I found nothing poetic about the severely strong sexual language that would describe intimate moments unabashedly and would take up fifty percent of the entire book’s pages.
Two things good about the book though: The happy ending (Nicholas Sparks lost this round, ha!) and giving me plenty of chances to exercise my facial muscles from too much cringing.^^
Maybe, I just really read this the wrong way or maybe I read the wrong book so please do not pay too much attention on this review and do read my wonderful friends' reviews. Pearl's and Beatrice's.
*Bracing myself for the rotten tomatoes I'm sure will come my way*
But then Bree cut Archer’s shaggy hair and then, holy burnin’ smokes! The story drastically turned into a hundred percent erotica or perhaps my copy was just defective because I’m pretty sure somebody printed the wrong half of the book and printed the pages of a manual teaching how to enhance somebody’s sexual life. *insert peace sign here.*
It’s not that I’m against that, it’s just that I honestly didn’t expect this to be that blatant. I was eager for that “lyrical” narrative about true love and moving on and stuff like those but unfortunately, I found nothing poetic about the severely strong sexual language that would describe intimate moments unabashedly and would take up fifty percent of the entire book’s pages.
Two things good about the book though: The happy ending (Nicholas Sparks lost this round, ha!) and giving me plenty of chances to exercise my facial muscles from too much cringing.^^
Maybe, I just really read this the wrong way or maybe I read the wrong book so please do not pay too much attention on this review and do read my wonderful friends' reviews. Pearl's and Beatrice's.
*Bracing myself for the rotten tomatoes I'm sure will come my way*
December 24, 2020
5/5 stars.
Mia Sheridan is my new hero.
Great writing, brilliant plot, deep message. This is all you need to turn a romance book to a life changing book. Yes, I mean it- life changing. And let me explain why.
Archer's Voice is a book that has been waiting on my shelf for several years. I have no idea why, every time I wanted to read a romance book, I skipped this one. But you know what? It doesn't matter, because here I am, after a long reading slump, looking for books that will take me back to the wonders of reading. And this book is the answer.
Both Bree and Archer are struggling with a traumatic past. Bree is running away from her past and problems to a small town, that same town that Archer had his own trauma. Bree comes across Archer in a little awkward situation, but what really bothered her was the fact that he didn't respond to her non-stop awkward babbling. She gets curious, so she starts asking questions. Who is he? Why isn't he talking? What happened? But the answer was never helpful. The town people didn't know much. He's a loner. A ghost. Invisible. He's in the background, and no one cares. All they know about him is the accident that happened when he was just a kid, and all they can do is assume he's deaf.
When Bree and Archer bump into each other again, she makes sure he can read her lips, but when he hasn't responded much, again, she walks away. But before she could get far she understood something - he didn't even look at her lips, he looked into her eyes.
A bit later, she and Archer begin to communicate with sign language. Our loner begins to open up, to have a friendship for the first time in years. Bree teaches him so much, and he's a great student. Soon enough, from friends, they become lovers. Archer's lack of social knowledge brings some problems, and the environment is bringing problems as well. But it's part of the development, we as humans need to win.
Both Bree and Archer were great characters. They weren't shallow, they weren't perfect, they made mistakes... They just were real. And I love real characters. This book makes you understand that every person is important. Everyone has their own demons and fights them each and single day. It teaches us that every person is enough, no matter if he's different from most of us.
The ending was beautiful, and the epilogue made me smile.
If you want a cute, romantic, a bit clichéd and deep book, I highly recommend this book.
Mia Sheridan is my new hero.
Great writing, brilliant plot, deep message. This is all you need to turn a romance book to a life changing book. Yes, I mean it- life changing. And let me explain why.
Archer's Voice is a book that has been waiting on my shelf for several years. I have no idea why, every time I wanted to read a romance book, I skipped this one. But you know what? It doesn't matter, because here I am, after a long reading slump, looking for books that will take me back to the wonders of reading. And this book is the answer.
Both Bree and Archer are struggling with a traumatic past. Bree is running away from her past and problems to a small town, that same town that Archer had his own trauma. Bree comes across Archer in a little awkward situation, but what really bothered her was the fact that he didn't respond to her non-stop awkward babbling. She gets curious, so she starts asking questions. Who is he? Why isn't he talking? What happened? But the answer was never helpful. The town people didn't know much. He's a loner. A ghost. Invisible. He's in the background, and no one cares. All they know about him is the accident that happened when he was just a kid, and all they can do is assume he's deaf.
When Bree and Archer bump into each other again, she makes sure he can read her lips, but when he hasn't responded much, again, she walks away. But before she could get far she understood something - he didn't even look at her lips, he looked into her eyes.
A bit later, she and Archer begin to communicate with sign language. Our loner begins to open up, to have a friendship for the first time in years. Bree teaches him so much, and he's a great student. Soon enough, from friends, they become lovers. Archer's lack of social knowledge brings some problems, and the environment is bringing problems as well. But it's part of the development, we as humans need to win.
Both Bree and Archer were great characters. They weren't shallow, they weren't perfect, they made mistakes... They just were real. And I love real characters. This book makes you understand that every person is important. Everyone has their own demons and fights them each and single day. It teaches us that every person is enough, no matter if he's different from most of us.
The ending was beautiful, and the epilogue made me smile.
If you want a cute, romantic, a bit clichéd and deep book, I highly recommend this book.
September 4, 2022
This book ruined me & put me back together. FIVE STARS.
June 1, 2019
5 stars.
"Only you, only ever you.”
This book is so good. DAMMIT.
This was such a heartwarming, raw, and beautiful book. I felt everything deep in my chest. This is a book about two broken beautiful people. About the courage in surviving. About healing with love. About having a voice, even when you can’t actually speak.
"I'm here for you. I'm here because of you. I'm here because you saw me, not just with your eyes, but with your heart. I'm here because you wanted to know what I had to say and because you were right...everyone does need friends.”
Bree Prescott moved to a lakeside town escaping a traumatic accident that happened to her. That’s when she met Archer, the town’s outcast who doesn’t speak. She felt some kind of connection towards him, and she decided to get to know him. Archer was hesitant at first to let her in, But Bree was determined to get to know him hating how no one before her tried leaving him completely alone. After spending a lot of time together, their feelings became too much to deny. But there are many secrets. Manipulative People who are trying to keep them away from each other. And then there’s Archer’s insecurity because he has never been with anyone before, and the fear that he’s a burden or that Bree would get tired and leave him.
He brought his hands up and said, I didn't know enough to dream you, Bree, but somehow you came true anyway. How did that happen?
Bree is so broken and traumatized after a horrible accident that happened to her. But still she wake up every morning deciding to fight and to move on. She saw the beauty beneath Archer. She didn’t judge him by what everyone said. And the best thing about her is that she’s so understanding. She wasn’t stupid or naive. She didn’t jump into conclusion. She was so mature and strong.
And her love slips quietly around me, holding me, anchoring me, reminding me that the loudest words are the ones we live.
Archer Hall is beautiful in his own way. Despite his worn out clothes, his long hair and Unshaved beard, he is so beautiful. He’s such a good person. Completely misunderstood. He has been alone for so long, but he started trying more, all for Bree. He’s shy, sweet, and so vulnerable. And can I just say that I want to hug him. I just want to hug and hold him. Because what happened and still happing to him is so unfair! Archer taught everyone that you don’t have to speak loudly to have a voice.
I stand by my logic though. I think love is a concept, and each person has an individual word for what sums it up for them. My word for love is Bree.
The writing is flawless. The story is beautiful. The characters are well developed and amazing. Their chemistry is undeniable. There was no unnecessary drama. The book is so emotional. My heart was breaking for them. I loved it.
And I thought to myself, Archer Hale's voice was one of the most beautiful things in the whole wide world.
Song recommendation:
Words by Christina Perri
Fragile by Kygo ft. Labrinth
Unsteady by X Ambassadors
"Only you, only ever you.”
This book is so good. DAMMIT.
This was such a heartwarming, raw, and beautiful book. I felt everything deep in my chest. This is a book about two broken beautiful people. About the courage in surviving. About healing with love. About having a voice, even when you can’t actually speak.
"I'm here for you. I'm here because of you. I'm here because you saw me, not just with your eyes, but with your heart. I'm here because you wanted to know what I had to say and because you were right...everyone does need friends.”
Bree Prescott moved to a lakeside town escaping a traumatic accident that happened to her. That’s when she met Archer, the town’s outcast who doesn’t speak. She felt some kind of connection towards him, and she decided to get to know him. Archer was hesitant at first to let her in, But Bree was determined to get to know him hating how no one before her tried leaving him completely alone. After spending a lot of time together, their feelings became too much to deny. But there are many secrets. Manipulative People who are trying to keep them away from each other. And then there’s Archer’s insecurity because he has never been with anyone before, and the fear that he’s a burden or that Bree would get tired and leave him.
He brought his hands up and said, I didn't know enough to dream you, Bree, but somehow you came true anyway. How did that happen?
Bree is so broken and traumatized after a horrible accident that happened to her. But still she wake up every morning deciding to fight and to move on. She saw the beauty beneath Archer. She didn’t judge him by what everyone said. And the best thing about her is that she’s so understanding. She wasn’t stupid or naive. She didn’t jump into conclusion. She was so mature and strong.
And her love slips quietly around me, holding me, anchoring me, reminding me that the loudest words are the ones we live.
Archer Hall is beautiful in his own way. Despite his worn out clothes, his long hair and Unshaved beard, he is so beautiful. He’s such a good person. Completely misunderstood. He has been alone for so long, but he started trying more, all for Bree. He’s shy, sweet, and so vulnerable. And can I just say that I want to hug him. I just want to hug and hold him. Because what happened and still happing to him is so unfair! Archer taught everyone that you don’t have to speak loudly to have a voice.
I stand by my logic though. I think love is a concept, and each person has an individual word for what sums it up for them. My word for love is Bree.
The writing is flawless. The story is beautiful. The characters are well developed and amazing. Their chemistry is undeniable. There was no unnecessary drama. The book is so emotional. My heart was breaking for them. I loved it.
And I thought to myself, Archer Hale's voice was one of the most beautiful things in the whole wide world.
Song recommendation:
Words by Christina Perri
Fragile by Kygo ft. Labrinth
Unsteady by X Ambassadors
February 20, 2015
4 1/2 Stars
A very sweet and unique love story that's well written and emotional. It's as heartwarming as it is heartbreaking and has the perfect blend of real-life issues, powerful romance and heart-and-soul.
I loved it.
A very sweet and unique love story that's well written and emotional. It's as heartwarming as it is heartbreaking and has the perfect blend of real-life issues, powerful romance and heart-and-soul.
I loved it.
February 9, 2023
“Someday … when we're old and gray, I'm going to look at you lying in bed beside me, just like this, and I'm going to look into your eyes and know that it's only ever been you. And that is going to be the great joy of my life.”
There must be something wrong with me, because this gave me 0.1 emotions when, according to various reviews, I was supposed to experience plenty.
Am I a robot? Have all the dark romance books I've read lately desensitized me for all things good? Or is this book secretly one of those overhyped social media sensations that only rely on impact and stray quotes, and I've been fine all along?
🐕𝗔𝗥𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗥'𝗦 𝗩𝗢𝗜𝗖𝗘 - 𝗕𝗬 𝗠𝗜𝗔 𝗦𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗗𝗔𝗡🐕
★𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦: ⭐⭐½
★𝗬𝗔/𝗡𝗔/𝗔: 🅽🅰/🅰
★𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗦: 𝚂𝚃𝙰𝙽𝙳𝙰𝙻𝙾𝙽𝙴
★𝗚𝗘𝗡𝗥𝗘 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗥𝗧𝗢𝗡𝗘𝗦: 𝚁𝙾𝙼𝙰𝙽𝙲𝙴 - 𝙲𝙾𝙽𝚃𝙴𝙼𝙿𝙾𝚁𝙰𝚁𝚈
★𝗣𝗢𝗩: 𝙳𝙾𝚄𝙱𝙻𝙴 𝙿𝙾𝚅 - 𝙵𝙸𝚁𝚂𝚃 𝙿𝙴𝚁𝚂𝙾𝙽 - 𝙿𝙰𝚂𝚃 𝚃𝙴𝙽𝚂𝙴
★𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗦: 𝙸𝙽𝚂𝚃𝙰 𝙻𝙾𝚅𝙴 - 𝙻𝙾𝚅𝙴 𝙾𝚅𝙴𝚁𝙲𝙾𝙼𝙴𝚂 𝙴𝚅𝙴𝚁𝚈𝚃𝙷𝙸𝙽𝙶 - 𝚂𝙼𝙰𝙻𝙻 𝚃𝙾𝚆𝙽 𝚅𝙸𝙱𝙴𝚂 - 𝙽𝙴𝚆 𝙶𝙸𝚁𝙻 𝙸𝙽 𝚃𝙾𝚆𝙽 𝙶𝙴𝚃𝚂 𝙰𝙻𝙻 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙱𝙾𝚈𝚂 𝙱𝙴𝙻𝙻𝙰 𝚂𝚆𝙰𝙽 𝚂𝚃𝚈𝙻𝙴𝚉
★𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗦: 👥👥/5
★𝗪𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ✍🏼✍🏼/5
★𝗣𝗟𝗢𝗧: 📜📜/5
★𝗗𝗔𝗥𝗞 𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗦 & 𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗚𝗘𝗥 𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦: 💀💀💀/5 (𝙰𝚃𝚃𝙴𝙼𝙿𝚃𝙴𝙳 𝚁𝙰𝙿𝙴 - 𝙳𝙴𝙰𝚃𝙷 𝙾𝙵 𝙿𝙰𝚁𝙴𝙽𝚃𝚂 - 𝙿𝚃𝚂𝙳 - 𝚃𝚁𝙰𝚄𝙼𝙰 - 𝙿𝙷𝚈𝚂𝙸𝙲𝙰𝙻 𝙰𝙽𝙳 𝙿𝚂𝚈𝙲𝙷𝙾𝙻𝙾𝙶𝙸𝙲𝙰𝙻 𝚅𝙸𝙾𝙻𝙴𝙽𝙲𝙴 - 𝙲𝙷𝙴𝙰𝚃𝙸𝙽𝙶 𝙺𝙸𝙽𝙳 𝙾𝙵?)
★𝗦𝗠𝗨𝗧 𝗤𝗨𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗬: 🔥🔥🔥/5 (𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙲𝙾𝚄𝙲𝙷 𝚂𝙲𝙴𝙽𝙴 𝚆𝙰𝚂 𝙷𝙾𝚃 𝙽𝙶𝙻)
★𝗦𝗠𝗨𝗧 𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗡𝗦𝗜𝗧𝗬 & 𝗤����𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗧𝗬: 🚒🚒🚒/5 (𝙻𝙾𝚂𝚂 𝙾𝙵 𝙼𝙼𝙲 𝚅𝙸𝚁𝙶𝙸𝙽𝙸𝚃𝚈 - 𝙿𝙴𝚃𝚃𝙸𝙽𝙶 - 𝙾𝚁𝙰𝙻 𝚂𝙴𝚇 - 𝚃𝙾𝙽𝚂 𝙾𝙵 𝙵𝙸𝙻𝙻𝙴𝚁 𝚂𝙴𝚇)
★𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗧𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗦: 🤐🤐🤐/5 (𝙶𝚁𝙰𝙿𝙷𝙸𝙲 𝙳𝙴𝚂𝙲𝚁𝙸𝙿𝚃𝙸𝙾𝙽𝚂 𝙾𝙵 𝚂𝙴𝚇 𝙰𝙽𝙳 𝚅𝙸𝙾𝙻𝙴𝙽𝙲𝙴 - 𝙼𝙰𝚃𝚄𝚁𝙴 𝙻𝙰𝙽𝙶𝚄𝙰𝙶𝙴)
★𝗥𝗢𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘: 🌹🌹/5
★𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘 𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗟𝗘: ✔️❌
★𝗠𝗔𝗜𝗡 𝗥𝗢𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘: 𝙵/𝙼
★𝗥𝗘𝗣: 𝙼𝚄𝚃𝙸𝚂𝙼 - 𝙿𝙴𝚁𝙼𝙰𝙽𝙴𝙽𝚃 𝚂𝙲𝙰𝚁𝚂
★𝗘𝗡𝗘𝗠𝗜𝗘𝗦-𝗧𝗢-𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗦: 𝙽𝙾𝙽𝙴
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I always feel bad when people recommend me a book, praise it to the moon and back, and I end up just finding it mediocre, at best.
I don't know if I'm more disappointed in the book or more disappointed in myself for being disappointed.
Archer's Voice is...okay. Sadly, unfortunate just okay.
I feel like I would have loved this better if I read it something like 15 years ago, when I was still not used to reading every day, and I only had access to books I borrowed from my mom's library, which was filled with Nicholas Sparks and Harmony romances.
That's the feel I got from this book and, ironically enough, this felt like a mix between Sparks' Safe Haven and Amy Harmon's Making Faces.
Right from the beginning, I felt like something was missing and, at the same time, I felt like something was out of place.
In my opinion, this could have benefitted from being a tad more realistic, more serious, but the dialogues and some situations felt impossibly like rom-coms. I didn't expect all the lightness and juvenility I was faced with, to be honest.
Sheridan's writing is alright, although I found her repetitiveness and all her frills a little tiring; what really throw me off, was her main heroine and hero's characterization; you can't parade around characters who are described as these flawed and damaged people, characters with deep-rooted childood traumas and have them be superficially and magically healed by the power of love *insert sparkle emoji*. I wish there was more to Bree and Archer than what they decided to tell the reade. I struggled with the narration, struggled with the dull and prolonged moments, especially considering this was a double pov but we spent the majority of our journey inside Bree's flavorless mind.
And speaking of Bree. There were moments I felt like she was really pushy towards Archer, like how she insisted in having him hang out with his evil cousin even after Archer told her he treated him badly during their childhood, or when she basically crawled her way into his life even after it seemed like all he wanted was to be left alone.
I don't know if it was on purpose, but it rubbed me the wrong way, and I felt bad for him and mad at her, to the point I never once rooted for them, even when I probably should have.
On the other hand, I appreciated how Archer reacted to her loving him. It was very realistic and also very altruistic on his part to warn her about the complications caring for a disabled person comes with. It seemed like, for most of the book, she kept ignoring this or just downplay it in her favor, saying stuff like "it's okay, it doesn't matter". But it does matter. You need to be fully aware of what you get yourself into, because starting a relationship with someone who's been damaged by their past, requires patience and commitment on both parts.
To put it bluntly, they both needed therapy and I'm annoyed neither had to go through it and still managed to overcome their fears and trauma so easily and conveniently because ✨L✨U✨V✨.
But again, we're talking about a woman whose painful trauma and consequent ptsd tied to her attempted rape and father's omicide, was erased with an orgasm.
All this aside, I found Bree impossibly immature and, although she kind of redeemed herself in the last few chapters, couldn't stomach being in her company or in her head.
I also have my doubts believing this instant connection Bree and Archer had right from the start would have happened so quickly (or at all, if we had to be picky) if he wasn't attractive. And what were the chances she casually spoke sign kanguage? I don't remember if it was mentioned before that moment that her father was deaf, but I felt like it was a coincidence so impossible I had to stop my eyes from rolling to the back of my head, because, come on???
The third act drama got me both anxious and annoyed. It felt unecessary and done for the sake of creating conflict. Like, couldn't Archer tell Bree he needed to experience world outside his cottage, outside the small town he lived in, before he decided he was ready to be completely loved by someone? If she loved and understand him for real, she would have gotten it and would have been happy he was finally leaving his comfort zone for the sake of healing. And he just took and went away, leaving his dog and her puppies, like nothing. I don't think they were even mentioned when they didn't serve the purpose of having these two platypuses be in the same room (or garden).
I'm also mad that a recluse loner who was homeschooled, rarely interacted with people his age or otherwise, and never owned a phone, suddenly knew how to text and wrote tons of LOLs of all things.
Overall, Archer's Voice was an okay story that could use more reasoning and a little less smut. Ironic coming from me, I know, but I felt like all the sex (except the first times that were kinda fitting for Archer's character - and yet, of course, he was a sex god with sex godly skills) spoiled the depth this story was trying to pass on to.
I feel like this should have also been shorter and less descriptive; it dragged so much in certain parts that I had to resist the urge to skim.
The epilogue was kinda cute, but the ending before that gave me a heart attack ( and, honestly, I wouldn't have minded the bittersweet ending) and a headache. No way in hell this guy who couldn't go to the grocery store for years without having panic attacks, managed to become the little town's Bruce Wayne overnight, with the power of pussy.
*Put Some Sugar On Me chorus starts playing in the background*
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