Final survey (To be completed after finishing the story you are reading)
Name of story: A Dash of Cinnamon
1) What was the biggest challenge for you when reading this story? The fact that it's a Brian-centered story was a challenge for me. If there hadn't have been the Nick/Group component to go along with it, I don't think I would have had nearly as much interest as I ended up having, though.
2) Did you find yourself looking forward to reading as you were going along or did it feel like homework?I enjoyed the beginning a lot, I waned a bit in the middle but when things really got going near the end I powered through the last couple of chapters. I kept hitting next and had to go back and review because I wanted to see how it ended.
3) What was your favorite scene/chapter in the story?It's going to be typical of me to say this given my fandom preferences, but my favourite scene was in chapter 33 when Nick went to bat for Brian. His friend was at risk of having his forbidden relationship found out and he went above and beyond, without concern for what people would think or say about him, to protect him. I just liked that whole sequence as a group scene, also with Howie trying to get over the fence and AJ flipping out.
4) Was your favorite character at the halfway point still your favorite at the end?I really felt for Brian at the beginning but I didn't like him as much at the end. Sure, it was a happy ending but I felt like the process to get to that point was a bit selfish since he was totally willing to put his child's future with him on the line for a woman.
5) Who was your least favorite character and why?Leighanne lol
6) If there was a sequel to this story would you be interested in reading it?If I were a Brian fan, I'd eat it up. As for me, I probably would only find myself reading it for challenge purposes.
7) Were you happy with the ending?Yeah, I was. It didn't look like it was all going to work out at first because things did really go downhill. I was happy to see that all the conflicts that were presented were concluded and nothing was left hanging.
8) Name the biggest surprise in the story and did you see it coming? (If there was one)I guess from the story's perspective the fact that Kayla is Canadian is meant to have a big reveal, but I saw hints of that dropped along the way and had figured it out before it was disclosed. For me though, the biggest surprise in the story was that she found Nick SO REPULSIVE. Should get her some glasses!
9) What was this stories biggest strength?The writing, for sure. There was a very clear story arc throughout and the transitions were really smooth as it moved from introduction into conflict and resolution.
10) What was it's biggest weakness?This line from the summary:
During an on-the-road visit, the unsettling background of one C.P.S. worker results in a disappointing revelation for Nick and ultimately forces Brian to make a potentially life-changing decision.I don't think this is a big enough plot point to put that much focus on. I didn't think her background was unsettling as it didn't do anything to change her as a character. It was a piece of her background that didn't play into the plot in a major aspect at all. It was a very minor point and I don't think specifically the unsettling revelation was what lead Brian to make the life-changing decision, it was everything else that was happening.
Perhaps you wanted that plot point to be a pivotal point, but I think there were so many larger issues that it kind of gets lost in it all.
11) Did reading this story make you want to try another one from this author?Absolutely, I think she's a great writer!
12) Give us one final review that sums up your experience reading this, maybe explain why you gave the kind of feedback you did or if you would have perhaps picked a different story from this one?As I said in my review, I wish I had been able to provide more constructive feedback but there wasn't much I could say. If you're a Brian fan looking for a good Brian romance and a side of bromance, this would undoubtedly be on high on the list.
A lot of us (myself included) fall into a rut of focusing on one BSB and maybe throwing in another just to remind everyone they're in the group but this story really did a great job of embracing all of them and highlighting them all really well, not just Brian.
13) Did the author respond to your feedback?She did! I just left a whole bunch though, so I'm sure she'll reply to it later
14) Any final thoughts or questions for the author?If you were to go back and change one thing about this story, what and why?