I have mixed feelings about this novel. I ended up liking it quite a bit, but I also almost DNFed after the first few chapters. It took a long time foI have mixed feelings about this novel. I ended up liking it quite a bit, but I also almost DNFed after the first few chapters. It took a long time for the heroine to grow on me, and it's single POV so she's the only entry point to latch onto. I thought it would be one of those clumsy infuriating heroines forced through 'reasons' to be subservient to a Domity-dom grumpy billionaire books... but it turned out to be more than that. Ria's infuriating actions are rooted in her self-sabotaging behavior over the past decade, which was born out of untreated depression and guilt. I thought I was gonna hate her, and then she had to be so damned relatable.
This is a single POV book and I really REALLY wanted it to be dual. Adrien's feelings are pretty clear by the 60% point--he wears his heart on his sleeve--but I desperately wanted his POV for several key moments. (view spoiler)[How I wanted to see the scene of him confronting and then beating up Josh instead of just hearing about it after the fact. UGH. (hide spoiler)] I did LOVE the moment when he (view spoiler)[confesses that he's never spanked anyone before Ria, that all his 'kinky dommy billionaire' personality is just for her. (hide spoiler)]
Overall, a surprise hit for me. Sure, Adrien is a billionaire and fuck billionaires. (Not entirely sure how he became one--like a lot of romance novel billionaires, I guess he goes to the business factory and does a business...) Ria started out annoying AF, but grew on me until I was tearing up for her at the gut-punch moment. Snappy banter abounds, and the slow-burn spice when we get to it is scorching. If only it'd been dual POV, then it'd be nearly perfect....more
Sweet omegaverse about a girl who hires a hot pack of escorts to be her date at her sister's wedding--because her dickhead ex is the best man. TroperiSweet omegaverse about a girl who hires a hot pack of escorts to be her date at her sister's wedding--because her dickhead ex is the best man. Troperiffic rom-com setup but the part I thought was especially well done was Isolde slowly realizing how terrible her relationship with Beau had been. He did a number on her, starting with love-bombing and then boiled-frogging her with increasing emotional abuse until her self-esteem was in tatters.
Her pack of escorts instantly realizes she's their scent-matched mate, but in this OV, omegas don't know until their heat hits. The pack goes into super courting mode and does everything they can to woo Isolde and help her heal from Beau's abuse, part of which is helping her realize there was abuse in the first place. Cue tons of delicious spoiling and pampering.
I would have liked more on the guys' backstories. How did they end up with each other? Why did they decide to do the work they do? Etc. But overall a sweet and emotional omegaverse with some gentle kinky spiciness. ...more
4.5. A lovely mostly low-conflict omegaverse romance between two independent people in their thirties, neither of whom were looking for love.
Margot g4.5. A lovely mostly low-conflict omegaverse romance between two independent people in their thirties, neither of whom were looking for love.
Margot grew up in a toxic family environment with a father who valued looks over brains (for women, at least) and is deeply concerned with "appearances". Margot wasn't as conventionally beautiful as her sisters, and was taught at a young age never to go out without a full face of makeup. An incident in a pool led to her public rejection by the boy she thought she'd mate with. Now, years later, she's still unmated but has a successful career as a lawyer and a few good friends.
Kit's a well-known travel photographer who jets around the world, never staying in one place for long. His mother and his college friends try to set him up constantly, which leads him to propose a fake dating scheme to Margot, who is facing the same sort of pressure from her father.
Omegaverse stories with older omegas are pretty rare, and this one was delightful. There's all the pampering and praise that often comes with 'sweet' omegaverse, with experienced (and jaded) protagonists who suddenly realize they don't have to suppress the part of them that wants all that. Both have to learn to trust each other and themselves. Just a sweet, lovely story. Mostly single POV, with two chapters from Kit's POV. If I had a nitpick, it'd be that I want a little more from his POV (and maybe a chapter or two with all the haters getting their noses rubbed in all Kit and Margot's happiness). ...more
A college/sports RH with fake dating and a shy heroine who goes from frump to fabulous in a "why Miss Jones, you're beautiful!" move by taking off herA college/sports RH with fake dating and a shy heroine who goes from frump to fabulous in a "why Miss Jones, you're beautiful!" move by taking off her glasses and letting her hair down. Mostly cute and appealing but I didn't love that all the other women in the book (with the exception of the awesome sassy best friend) were 'skanks' and gold diggers. *eyeroll*...more
Funny, cute, and spicy spicy spicy. Layla's insecurities and hangups were relatable and realistic--you totally get why this beautiful, smart, driven wFunny, cute, and spicy spicy spicy. Layla's insecurities and hangups were relatable and realistic--you totally get why this beautiful, smart, driven woman hasn't been able to open up enough to form a real romantic partnership before. Same goes for the guys. Each has genuine reasons for why they haven't settled down yet. I do think Layla let Zack and Luke off the hook way too easily, though. What they did and said was so hurtful and hit at precisely all of Layla's most vulnerable spots, I wanted to punch them in the nuts. Not Josh though. A good portion of my brain would've been perfectly happy if Layla had ended up with just Josh. Whaaaaa? But then it wouldn't be a RH! Still. I wanted more grovel. I wanted suffering that goes on for pages and pages. Giiiiive it tooo meeee. ...more
Cute fake dating romance where the regular girl has to pretend to be the famous boy's girlfriend for Very Important Reasons. Funny and sweet. I just wCute fake dating romance where the regular girl has to pretend to be the famous boy's girlfriend for Very Important Reasons. Funny and sweet. I just wish there'd been a taaaad more grovel. ...more
Super cute slow burn academic rom-com. Single POV and I really do wish it could've been dual. I wanted to know what was going on in KyloAdam's head oSuper cute slow burn academic rom-com. Single POV and I really do wish it could've been dual. I wanted to know what was going on in KyloAdam's head once in a while....more
Grumpy/Sunshine and far sweeter than I had expected a 'bully' romance to be. I effin' love a sunshiney himbo.Grumpy/Sunshine and far sweeter than I had expected a 'bully' romance to be. I effin' love a sunshiney himbo....more
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