Book Review: Archer's Voice

"...his eyes told me everything that his voice couldn't. We communicated a thousand words, without a single one being spoken." 

Archer's Voice

Mia Sheridan

Description:

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.

Rating: ★★⋆ (2.5)

but I rate it as 3★ in Goodreads.

Finally decided to pick one of the romance books I saved for later reading, just in case I wanted to feel something. I actually had expectations for this book because I like the trope - a hopeless romantic kind of romance between a person with a disability and a girl looking for her safe place. I mean, I'll commend the book for having a trope that I like but I wasn't really satisfied after reading it - definitely, not giving it higher than 3 even if I felt a little bad seeing that my Booksta friends who voted it on my poll (between Archer's Voice, In Five Years and You've Reached Sam) read/rated it with 5 stars.

All throughout the time I was reading it, it did not give me a big emotional connection* - it felt flat and quick to read -- like I am just reading it to finish already. It's actually another romance book wherein I feel like it's only the guy who carried the story for me to finish it, not the couple. I like how awkward, sweet, kind, and observant Archer Hale though. And he read books! 

* I guess this is one of the reasons why I don't really like seeing reviews with -- nakakaiyak, tear-jerker, etc. kasi naspoiled na yung emotions ko. Kasi andun yung feeling na dahil sabi nila nakakaiyak, na heavy yung mararamdaman ko, I conditioned myself na dapat maiiyak ako and all. I actually thought this is a heavy drama kind of romance. 

✹ This part of the review includes spoilers. Read at your own risk.

For the record, after reading it, I had a moment to think about the genre - is this under spicy romance or not? Because I actually expected that it isn't but it's already smutty for me. I was hoping that it is a story about overcoming the struggles of their lives together - Bree finding her safe place, and Archer living a normal life. There are lots of sexual scenes, but it's not the transformative power of love in my mind. Hahaha. 

However, these lines of Archer's are fine by me: 

Also, Bree, I'm going to stop talking now and use my hands for other things, okay?

Show me other ways you like to be touched. Teach me what you like.

 I like driving.

 And these heart-warming ones: 

 I didn't know enough to dream you, Bree, but somehow you came true anyway. How did that happen? Who read my mind and knew exactly what I wanted, even when I didn't?

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. I want to be able to love you more than I fear of losing you, and I don't know how. Teach me, Bree. Please teach me. Don't let me destroy this.

What I was hoping for happened, yes - but as I read the book, it appeared to me that the author wants Bree to become the hero for Archer by trying to change him? I felt like Bree is too pushy and clingy for Archer, not providing a safe space between them even though it is very important for the both of them??? And how about her own problems?

I think Archer deserved better even though I don't know any better and of course, I can't dictate to him who to love. It's just that, I'm not fascinated with Bree, especially during these times:

1. Bree entered his house (with a different motive/feeling other than following her dog) -- I mean, is it really necessary to stand outside the house? Isn't that creepy to think of - a new person in the area, asking about details of a person?
2. Not telling Archer that she and Travis had a moment -- I think involving yourself with someone like Archer needs constant truths and no secrets
3. Trying to push Archer to make friends with Travis even though Archer felt differently about it.
4. There were also many times she told Archer's feelings and secrets first to other people. 

There's just a lingering thought in me that Bree fell in love with Archer because she was initially curious about him, and only developed later on when she became aware that he is mute (quite similar to her father). And Archer, for having the first time getting the attention he needed, fall in love right away. 

Was loving him enough to heal from her own trauma and problems?

Am I wrong to see it this way after reading it?

Plot: ⭐⭐⭐ (2.5)

Spicy level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ (3.5)

Characters: 💥💥💥 (2.5)

Writing: 📝📝📝 (3)

Background photo grabbed from Pinterest.