Swan Hearts (Plum Valley Cowboys Book 4)

Okay. I don't really know where to start. First of all, this was a story I wasn't super excited for and even paused the series for me because I wasn't motivated to read on, but all in all surprised me. The story is basically one big miscommunication, and while that's something I don't like in books, the story still was beautiful. But in my eyes the timeframe was too long for that level of relationship problems - this also bothered me in the first Plum Valley book as I didn't think it's super realistic to have a 30 years on-and-off relationship/close friendship and that huge mis-/noncommunication standing between you. But I understand why the specific timeframe was important (or them reaching that specific age), I still think it should have been a shorter time period for the story - also because of my next critical point: The time jumps. I've read the book in one day, so it was quite easy not to get lost, but if I imagine I'd read it over several days or even weeks, I believe it'd be difficult to follow the story. Besides that main criticism (and it sounds like much, but overall the book really was beautiful), I had a good time - I even cried a little multiple times, because their story touched me. And Emmy's writing style really is special. I'm always immediately submerged into the story and am basically flying through the pages. It was a while ago I last read a book in one day and didn't get distracted. The setting also was beautiful as usual, and I especially loved the work glimpses of both of the MCs - even tho Jake's for sure was emotionally draining. It's definitely not low angst over the whole story for several reasons.<spoiler>As for the curse: As someone with GAD, I can understand irrational fears better than most people and how you're sucked into those and really can't control them. I loved the perspective Jake brought Nash about living each day to the fullest, but I still didn't understand how that fear or anxiety wasn't more present regarding medical check ups for example. I kinda wished for that, so the whole "curse" thing would have felt a little more reasonable.</spoiler>

Dnf .... Well, I didn't expect that, but after 100 pages, I dropped it. This was just unacceptable. The entire storyline spans 30 YEARS! Bro, what the? That's half a lifetime! Nash is in denial, or not denial, but he uses the MC, sleeps with him, and does God knows what else, but refuses to accept that being together is the best thing. Seriously, even if everyone in his family dies young, spending a little time together is worth more than no time at all. You were already best friends who spent every minute together and loved each other-what difference does officially being together make? None at all. That kind of childish drama, where one person thinks he knows better while still using the other, is something I refuse to deal with.