Opinion Breakdown The Good: The overall premise, the side characters (the h's friends from the previous book and the H's sister mainly), and 3.5 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The overall premise, the side characters (the h's friends from the previous book and the H's sister mainly), and the steamy scenes.
The Not-So-Good: There was something about the first part of the story (not the prequel) and characters that felt extremely familiar. I even double checked at one point to see if I had read it before, but I hadn't. It was the bully being a bully because of his Dad forcing him to work for him by blackmailing him about the h when all he wants to do is work on cars (that's a secret), and he has a emotionally checked-out mom and a younger sister that he fiercely protects. If anyone knows what book that was, please let me know ~ it's driving me crazy!!
The Bad: The pacing towards the end and overall amount of conflicts.
Overall: This was enjoyable and had a lot going on that I didn't expect. I think the author did mostly well with it all, but at about the 2/3 mark, I felt like I was done. I'm not even sure why! I guess I just felt like it was too much thrown in at that point and while I understand the need to give closure for (view spoiler)[the Dad stuff (hide spoiler)], I wasn't feeling it. I also understand that Reed needed to (view spoiler)[realize he loved Callie (hide spoiler)], but that made it feel a little too stretched out for me. I didn't get as emotional as I hoped, but that seems to be par for the course lately with this funk I'm in. I liked it, but because of the last 1/3ish, I am going to rate it just a little better than just okay 3 stars.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Callie and Reed's story. Reed and Callie's older brother are enemies, so her crush on him isn't anything she feels she do anything about it until she meets Reed's younger sister and gets taken to his party. At the party, she talks to Reed for the first time and his pursuit of her begins. Reed is damaged and dysfunctional and Callie is sweet, innocent, and overprotected by her 4 older brothers. There are some conflicts, some sexy times, and some sweet moments...and they get a HEA ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between (mostly) Callie and Reed's POV. I wanted more of Reed's tbh.
Overall Pace of Story: Good until the last 1/3ish where it seemed to get super slow (for me at least). I struggled not to skim but I didn't.
Instalove: No, this is more like a bully/forbidden romance that takes a while.
H (Hero) rating: 3.5 stars. Reed. I liked him but then I didn't sometimes. He was damaged and an ass but also redeemable. OTT protective/possessive for those reader that like that!
h (heroine) rating: 3.5 stars. Callie. I liked her and I appreciated her growth through the story, but I wanted her to sometimes push a little more.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed (sadly)
Push/Pull: Yes (view spoiler)[They both push away (H emotionally more so) and I'd say that the H is the main pursuer of the relationship (hide spoiler)]
Heat level: Hot. They have some hot tension, chemistry, and some scenes -- but not so many (only towards the end) and not so much it takes away from the story. (view spoiler)[definitely some breeding/pregnancy kink goin' on and dirty talk (hide spoiler)]
Separation: Yes (view spoiler)[They are separated for about 2 years, and there was mention of one OM that the h kissed and the H says he tried to get over the h but couldn't get past kissing OW either (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[Blackmail/bully/assault (on page), the h was a virgin (on page), and unexpected pregnancy (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This ends in a good place and what I would call a HEA ending (view spoiler)[they're married with their baby (hide spoiler)]
Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers (view spoiler)[ - Does Not have cheating - Does Not have a descriptive sex scene with OW/OM - Does have both the h and H pushing away - Does have a ~2 year separation between the h and H - Does Not have abuse (though can probably be considered borderline emotional abuse) - Does have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)]...more
Brief Opinion: This was intriguing. This had me engaged enough to want to go to the next book. While it did tap into my emotions, I wanted mo3.5 Stars
Brief Opinion: This was intriguing. This had me engaged enough to want to go to the next book. While it did tap into my emotions, I wanted more. I'm hopeful that I'll get that in the next book, the final book of this duet, This Life and All the Rest. They were completely dysfunctional, but I do like dysfunction sometimes. On to the next...
Safety: Probably Not Safe(view spoiler)[Cheating (H at least kisses OW who is his on again off again f-buddy and the h sees after they have kissed and established feelings, and there is an OM that is pursuing the h that it could be considered she cheats on emotionally with the H - on page), loss of a parent to OD/bipolar (off page), drug/alcohol abuse/use/addiction (on page), child abuse/abandonment (off page), and the h's dad and the H's mom get married making them step siblings (on page) (hide spoiler)]...more
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise and the characters.
The Not-So-Good: The mcs didn't really have a conflict to overcome.
The Bad: Not ne3.5 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise and the characters.
The Not-So-Good: The mcs didn't really have a conflict to overcome.
The Bad: Not necessarily bad, but the main reason for not giving a higher rating is my lack of emotional connection to the story.
Overall: This was enjoyable. I like the mob/bad guy theme every once in a while and this was good enough that I think I'll look into the rest of the series. If any of you have a recommendation as to which other book from this series to read next, please share! I liked the characters and it's no secret I'm a sucker for both arranged marriage and disabled mc themes, so this worked for me. I just wanted more depth of feelings while reading it. Especially because I felt like there was the potential for them!
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Sienna and Drago's story. Sienna gets forced into an arranged marriage by the Don of a crime family that her older brother works for. Drago wants the relationship with the Italian mob boss to improve after previous issues. Sienna is expected to spy on the Serbian mob boss, but she quickly realizes that she likes his family and him too much to put them in danger, so this causes some conflict for her. There are some suspenseful scenes, some sweet moments, and some sexy times...and they get a HEA ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Sienna and Drago's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: No, but instant attraction (view spoiler)[he claims he fell in love at first sight later, but he wasn't saying or thinking it at that point (hide spoiler)]
H (Hero) rating: 4 stars. Drago. I liked him. He was OTT possessive and might not be everyone's favorite, but I liked him.
h (heroine) rating: 3.5 stars. Sienna. I liked her. She was quirky and funny, but I think I wanted her to allow herself to be more vulnerable with the H.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes, but mild (view spoiler)[ the h pushes away emotionally for a while, but it was pretty mild (hide spoiler)]
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: No
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: No
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[Arranged marriage/blackmail/criminal activity/murder (on page), loss of loved ones (off page), the h was a virgin (on page), the H has partial hearing loss (on page), and the H is ~15ish (?) years older than the h's 20 (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This has a few jump ahead epilogues that we're cute and gave good closure, so I would call this a HEA (view spoiler)[they're still married with 3 children (hide spoiler)]
Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers (view spoiler)[ - Does Not have cheating - Does Not have a descriptive sex scene with OW/OM - Does have the h pushing the H away emotionally - Does Not have a separation between the h and H - Does Not have abuse by mcs - Does have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)]...more
Quick brief opinion: This was a fun start into the fantasy series. It was a little too much smut for me and I wanted more to happen. I predic3.5 Stars
Quick brief opinion: This was a fun start into the fantasy series. It was a little too much smut for me and I wanted more to happen. I predicted the big twists that are revealed at the end, but not in a way that I found it annoyingly easy. The characters and world are good. There are definite parallels to other wildly famous fantasy series, but again, not in a way that was annoying. Ig was just different enough to feel new and interesting. This ending leaves me on a cliffhanger, so I'm ready to start the next book, A Kingdom of Blood and Betrayal...
Safety: (view spoiler)[the h is betrothed to the H's half brother, so you can technically call it cheating because she develops feelings for the H and is intimate with him. But, it is a forced betrothal and she doesn't hide that it isn't what she wants, so there is that (hide spoiler)]...more
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise, the tension, and the characters.
The Not-So-Good: the fact that we go from the big conflict solution 3.5 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise, the tension, and the characters.
The Not-So-Good: the fact that we go from the big conflict solution right into a HEA in an epilogue. It made it feel kinda like it wasn't fully resolved.
The Bad: Not necessarily bad, but the H's daughter's reaction and continued feelings were a little annoying to me.
Overall: This author has a tough job of writing the next Still Beating! Even though I tried not to, the idea of some yummy similar angst was super enticing and I know that I had my hopes way too high. I didn't dislike this or anything! I enjoyed their connection, I cried, and I liked the characters. I just think I did it to myself with setting those expectations up there. Overall, it was an enjoyable forbidden romance, and if you like the romances that sit in the grey area, this will be a good read for you! If you haven't read Still Beating yet, read this first -- then make sure to read that one ...more
Quick Opinion: I read this to step out of my box and because it's been on my tbr list for what seems like forever. I'm glad I read it, but I 3.5 Stars
Quick Opinion: I read this to step out of my box and because it's been on my tbr list for what seems like forever. I'm glad I read it, but I wouldn't say that I'm a definite fan of the thriller genre. I will try hard not to make this my deciding opinion on it, because I was a little underwhelmed. I didn't dislike it or anything, I just wasn't all that invested in the characters like I was hoping I'd be. I think I need that investment to feel the feels that I had expected came with reading a "thriller."
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise, the humor, and the steamy scenes.
The Not-So-Good: The h and how she projected her ex's behavior on t3.5 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise, the humor, and the steamy scenes.
The Not-So-Good: The h and how she projected her ex's behavior on the H.
The Bad: If I have to say something it's the lack of closure.
Overall: This was cute. I liked the first half better than the second, but it was still enjoyable throughout. I wish it had more closure or time experiencing the HEA, but that very well could be my greediness showing! I liked the premise and I'm finding that I like this author's voice. I'll probably read her next book, Breaking the Billionaire's Rules, eventually...
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Lizzie and Theo's story. Lizzie is in a bad place after her con of an ex leaves her with major debt. She just needs to get through 30 days of her miserable job to get the sign on bonus to help pay off a loan shark. When her boss tells her to set up a wake up call service for the demanding CEO, she ends up doing it herself because he has burned bridges with every company she reaches out to. Only the wake up call doesn't go as expected and things start to heat up quickly. There are some secrets revealed, some past baggage they have to work through, and some sexy times...and they get a HEA ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Lizzie and Theo's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good, I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: No, but instant connections.
H (Hero) rating: 4 stars. Theo. I liked him. I appreciated how he cared for the h.
h (heroine) rating: 3 stars. Lizzie. While I liked her sassy, confident self, she was a little too hung up on her past drama with her ex and applying it to the H a little too much for me.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes (view spoiler)[ the h pushes away most of the book with the H being the main pursuer of the relationship (hide spoiler)]
Heat level: Hot. They have some hot tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Mild (view spoiler)[there is the h's ex boss that has a thing for the H and causes some mild drama (hide spoiler)]
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: Not really since they weren't really "together"
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[Loss of loved ones (off page) and the h was scammed by her ex and he left her with major financial problems (mostly off page) (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This ends with a cute epilogue, but right after the conflict was resolved. I would call this a HEA, but just barely (view spoiler)[they're getting married in the epilogue (hide spoiler)], and I definitely would've liked more.
Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers (view spoiler)[ - Does Not have cheating - Does Not have a descriptive sex scene with OW/OM - Does have the h pushing the H away - Does have a separation between the h and H - Does Not have abuse - Does have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)]...more
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise, made family aspect, and the H's son.
The Not-So-Good: The unanswered questions in the end that I had 3.5 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise, made family aspect, and the H's son.
The Not-So-Good: The unanswered questions in the end that I had.
The Bad: The ending. I wanted way more closure.
Overall: This was a cute single dad/athlete story. I also liked that the h had a career too. I liked the side characters and the made family they have by the end. The H's son was too cute and their interactions with him were probably what stood out to me as my favorite. The ending was underwhelming, sadly, as I did enjoy the rest of it for the most part.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Miller and Kai's story. Kai went through yet another nanny when his coach tells him he is going to use his daughter, Miller, who is taking a break after being burnt out from being a famous pastry chef that travels around consulting menus for fine restaurants. They bump heads at first but then start to see more in each other than they initially had and become important to each other. There are some sweet moments with the H's son, some funny scenes, and some some sexy times...and they get a HFN ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Miller and Kai's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good until the very end. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: No, they take a while to develop deeper feelings.
H (Hero) rating: 4 stars. Kai. I liked him and especially how he was for his son.
h (heroine) rating: 3.5 stars. Miller. I liked her but I was also frustrated with how she pushed the H away.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes (view spoiler)[ they both push away (h more so) and also pursue the relationship at times (H more so) (hide spoiler)]
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: No, just mild jealousy
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: Yes (view spoiler)[They are separated for a while (couple weeks/month?), but there was no mention or suggestion of other partners during this time. (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[Loss of a parent/child abandonment (off page) and the H is ~7 years older than the h (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This ends too abruptly for my liking. I would call it a HFN ending (view spoiler)[they get engaged (hide spoiler)]
Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers (view spoiler)[ - Does Not have cheating - Does Not have a descriptive sex scene with OW/OM - Does have both the h and H pushing away - Does have a separation between the h and H - Does Not have abuse - Does Not have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)]...more
Quick Overall Opinion: This was a good read. It evoked the feels with some unrequited love type angst, which I'm all about. I enjoyed the fir3.5 Stars
Quick Overall Opinion: This was a good read. It evoked the feels with some unrequited love type angst, which I'm all about. I enjoyed the first 3/4 of the book. I even liked the back and forth from past to present, which I know many readers don't like, but I thought the author did pretty well. The ending really sucked though. They resolved the conflict that was going on for the whole book with sex right at the very end. No good grovel, no good jump-ahead closure, and no epilogue. It was cute, but it just left me really disappointed in the end.
**Due to some recent time-suck events in my life, I'm not doing my typical review format**
Quick Overall Opinion:While I enjoyed parts of this3.5 Stars
**Due to some recent time-suck events in my life, I'm not doing my typical review format**
Quick Overall Opinion:While I enjoyed parts of this, it took me (what felt like) a long time to read. I also felt like it dragged in parts even though I never skimmed. It was also a fluffy for my liking, but my daughter recommended it and I'm sure many other readers will love it too! I didn't hate it or anything, but I just didn't love it either....more
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise and the H!
The Not-So-Good: The lack of any real conflict. Or at least anything that evoked the feel 3.5 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise and the H!
The Not-So-Good: The lack of any real conflict. Or at least anything that evoked the feels...
The Bad: The last 1/4ish was a little too slow and sweet for my tastes.
Overall: This was a sweet story with minimal conflict and a great H. Did I love it as much as I'd hoped I would with all the 5 star ratings? Not so much. I did enjoy parts of it though! I might have gotten my hopes a little too high for this one, but it definitely wasn't too much of a disappointment.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Hazel and Rory's story. They've known each other for years and have a flirty banter going on as if they don't like each other even though they always have. When Hazel's ex ends up assigned to her caseload for being a physiotherapist for the NHL team, she turns to Rory to be her fake boyfriend when she is put on the spot. Rory runs with it because he's been trying to get Hazel to give him a shot for a long time. There is some past baggage they have to work through, some family drama, and some sexy times...and they get a HFN ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Hazel and Rory's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Alright until the last 1/4ish, where it seemed to slow down and become just a bunch of fluff.
Instalove: No, but they've known each other for many years.
H (Hero) rating: 4.5 stars. Rory. He was an excellent blend of cocky but sweet, loyal and possessive, and he allowed himself to be vulnerable with the h.
h (heroine) rating: 3.5 stars. Hazel. I liked her at times but I also wanted to shake her too, and that might've been because I really liked the H and she kept pushing him away.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes (view spoiler)[the h pushes away a good bit because she was burned in the past by her ex and she thinks the H is just like him, and I'd say the H is the main pursuer of the relationship (hide spoiler)]
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Yes (view spoiler)[the h's ex causes some drama and kisses her (unwillingly) on page (hide spoiler)]
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: No
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[Borderline emotional abuse by parent (mostly off page), the h was cheated on by her ex (off page), and body image issues (side character) (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This ends in a good place where I'm sure many will be fine calling this a HEA, but I will call it a HFN (view spoiler)[they get engaged (hide spoiler)]
Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers (view spoiler)[ - Does Not have cheating - Does Not have a descriptive sex scene with OW/OM - Does have the h pushing the H away - Does have a separation between the h and H - Does Not have abuse - Does Not have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)]...more
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise, the scene where they meet, and the H.
The Not-So-Good: The epilogue could've been so much better!
The 3.5 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise, the scene where they meet, and the H.
The Not-So-Good: The epilogue could've been so much better!
The Bad: The lack of time together navigating their majorly different lives after the conflict was resolved.
Overall: I didn't really realize that I had read a book from this series until I was already into this book, but there was a good bit of overlap for the two books (The Bride Goes Rogue). That being said, I don't think it's necessary to read the other books to enjoy this one, but it might help know a little of the backstory. After reading my review for the other, I felt mostly the same about this one, so I'm going with the same 3.5 star rating here too.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Nelly and Lockwood's story. They meet one night during a midnight swim in the ocean that results in a heated kiss and plans to meet again. Only to find their identities the next day where Lockwood is the Duke that one of her best friends has been talking about and is about to get engaged to. Nelly then puts plans into place to prevent that from happening even though Lockwood is in America to find an heiress to marry to save his ducal properties after his father died leaving him in a bad place. There is some back and forth, some tension that eventually comes to a head, and some sexy times...and they get a HEA.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between and POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: No. Instalust? Yes.
H (Hero) rating: 4 stars. Lockwood. I liked him. I liked him in the other book I read from this series, but a lot more. He was a great combination of a gentleman, a dirty talker, and a romantic that's super loyal.
h (heroine) rating: 3 stars. Nelly. I liked her, but I struggled with her when she continued to push away. I appreciated her strength and wits.
Sadness level: Low/moderate. I shed some tears but never needed any tissues.
Push/Pull: Yes (view spoiler)[ the h pushes away a good bit and I'd say the H is the main pursuer of the relationship (hide spoiler)]
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: No, only mild jealousy
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: Yes (view spoiler)[They are separated (couple months?), but there was no mention or suggestion of other partners during this time. (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[Loss of a parent (off page), domestic violence (side character off page), and the H has a heart condition and shortened life expectancy (on page) (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This ends in an alright place but I would've loved a farther and more extensive glimpse into their future. I would call it a HEA (view spoiler)[they're married (hide spoiler)] even though I was disappointed in the end.
Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers (view spoiler)[ - Does Not have cheating - Does Not have a descriptive sex scene with OW/OM - Does have the h pushing the H away - Does have a separation between the h and H - Does Not have abuse - Does have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)]...more
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise, the characters, the build up, and the ending.
The Not-So-Good: There felt like a disconnect between t3.5 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise, the characters, the build up, and the ending.
The Not-So-Good: There felt like a disconnect between the sexy times and the other sweet/romantic interactions. Not bad or anything, but not so good either.
The Bad: The conflict. There wasn't much of a conflict.
Overall: This was enjoyable. I was looking for something sexy and even on the shorter end since I just re-read the A Court of Thorns and Roses series. I saw a friend's review (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) saying that this was well developed even though it was on the shorter side, and jumped right in! I'm glad I did. Is it going on my favorites shelf? No, but it was worth the read and served as a good palate cleanser after being in a fantasy world for a while.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Delta and Brooks' story. Delta is a famous young gold medalist snowboarder and Brooks ends up making his orthopedic surgeon career with treating her hip injury. As the years go on, they develop feelings past patient and client or even friends, but when her injury gets worse, Brooks can't help but cross some lines. There is some family drama, some big life changes, and some sweet and sexy times...and they get a HEA ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Delta and Brooks' POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good considering this is short. It didn't feel too short and I thought it flowed well. I never skimmed.
Instalove: Kind of, this story starts after they have both developed feelings for the other (not my fave).
H (Hero) rating: 4 stars. Brooks. I liked him. I always like my aspies!
h (heroine) rating: 3.5 stars. Delta. I liked her, but I wanted her to stick up for herself with her dad more.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes (view spoiler)[ the H pushes away some because of their age difference and I'd say they both pursue the relationship at times (hide spoiler)]
Heat level: Hot. They have some hot tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story. Some light bdsm elements (view spoiler)[ spanking with hand and with ruler, bondage, mild humiliation, dirty talk, rough sex, etc. (hide spoiler)]
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: No
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: No
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[Emotionally abusive father (h - on page), the H is on the autism spectrum (on page), the H is ~18 years older (aren't romantic/physical until after she is 20), and the h is a virgin (on page) (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This ends with a cute epilogue and what I would call a HEA ending (view spoiler)[married with babies (hide spoiler)]
Safety: This one should be Safe or Safe with exception for most safety gang readers depending on personal preferences (view spoiler)[ - Does Not have cheating - Does Not have a descriptive sex scene with OW/OM - Does have the H pushing the h away - Does Not have a separation between the h and H - Does Not have abuse by mcs - Does have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)]...more
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise. Scottie. The notes/inside jokes.
The Not-So-Good: The ending could've been better. The first sexy scen3.5 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise. Scottie. The notes/inside jokes.
The Not-So-Good: The ending could've been better. The first sexy scene felt odd and kind of disconnected.
The Bad: The lack of angst.
Overall: This was an enjoyable read. I'm kind of disappointed that it wasn't as angsty as I'd hoped. I wouldn't say they "hated" each other or that the tension was what I had expected with those feelings. I thought they disliked each other for silly miscommunication reasons. I think it would've been better if there was more tension in that respect and more angst. I know this is an unpopular opinion -- but maybe some flashbacks to when they had encounters in the past? Other than that, Scottie and their interactions with him stole the show for me! I have a son on the spectrum, but he is high functioning so it's not the same (not that anyone on the spectrum is the same), but it was heartwarming to see him connect to these two in his own way.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Carly and Josh's story. They both jump in to help when they find out that the adult brother with autism, Scottie, of their deceased fiancé and best-friend is needing care after his dad died. Only they weren't expecting each other to be there. They had not necessarily liked each other in the past when the fiancé and best-friend was alive 2 years prior, so there is a lot of miscommunication that needs to be sorted out. There is some Scottie drama, some sexy times, and some baggage they have to work through...and they get a HFN ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Carly (mostly) and Josh's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: No, more like (not hate but) dislike-to-more
H (Hero) rating: 4 stars. Josh. I really loved his relationship and ease with Scottie. I just got tired of the hot and cold.
h (heroine) rating: 3.5 stars. Carly. I liked her. I appreciated how she stepped up with Scottie and how she was caring, but I don't feel like we got very deep into her character.
Sadness level: Low/moderate. I shed a few tears but nothing that needed any tissues.
Push/Pull: Yes (view spoiler)[ they both push away and pursue the relationship at times (H more in both cases) (hide spoiler)]
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story. If I'm completely honest, the first scene with them doing anything I was convinced was going to be a vivid dream because it felt out of nowhere! Kind of odd actually.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Yes (view spoiler)[ they both go on dates with OP to try to distract from their feelings for one another (hide spoiler)]
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No (view spoiler)[ closest is that after feeling start to develop, the H tries to go out with previous hookup and kisses her but nothing further happens (confesses this to h and is not on page) (hide spoiler)]
Separation: Yes (view spoiler)[They are separated for ~ a month, but there was no mention or suggestion of other partners during this time. (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[Loss of a loved one (off page), non-verbal autism (side character), neglectful parent/child abandonment/cheating parent (off page) (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This ends in an a cute place and while I'm sure others might call this a HEA, I'm calling it a HFN ending (view spoiler)[they get engaged and are living together (hide spoiler)]
Safety: This one should be either Safe or Safe with exception for most safety gang readers depending on personal preferences (view spoiler)[ - Does Not have cheating - Does Not have a descriptive sex scene with OW/OM - Does have both the h and H pushing away - Does have a separation between the h and H - Does Not have abuse - Does Not have a HEA ending IMO (hide spoiler)]...more
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise, the opposites attract aspect, and the characters.
The Not-So-Good: The pacing towards the end and how3.5 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise, the opposites attract aspect, and the characters.
The Not-So-Good: The pacing towards the end and how we didn't get an explanation of how the drama with the h's dad impacted everything else (especially the H)
The Bad: The ending and lack of closure.
Overall: This was different! It has the storyline where people from totally opposite lifestyles connect despite their differences -- which I'm always a sucker for. The H was really darkly intense and the h was sugar sweet, so they were kind of an awesome match! I didn't like how they were separated up until the very end and how it ended. I also didn't like that the epilogue/very last chapter was more about setting up the next book than about giving us more closure. Other than that? I enjoyed it.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Alex and Xi's story. Alex is the mega rich daughter of a senator that finally gets to get away from his severe expectations when she goes off to college a few months after a traumatic event. She constantly meets Xi, a guy from the wrong side of town, when she finds herself in need of saving. They start up an intense relationship that gets messy quickly when feelings develop and secrets are exposed. There are some suspenseful moments, some big changes, and some sexy times...and they get a HFN ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Alex and Xi's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: No, they take a while to develop stronger feelings (instalust for sure)
H (Hero) rating: 4 stars. Xi. I liked him, but it feels weird saying that. He was probably a sociopath that became obsessed about the h and did some crazy things without hesitation ...more
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise, the starting 3/4ish, the beginning angst, the H's daughter!
The Not-So-Good: The closure. I know I sa3.5 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise, the starting 3/4ish, the beginning angst, the H's daughter!
The Not-So-Good: The closure. I know I say below in the "bad" about the end, but I think there were too many other unanswered questions not necessarily about the mcs' romance that I felt I wanted closure with.
The Bad: The last 1/4ish. It started getting to be OTT drama and then it ended abruptly with not nearly enough closure! After ~448 pages on my kindle app, I invested a lot of time and attention for such a lackluster ending!
Overall: I was totally digging and excited about this book for the first probably 3/4ths! Then it took a turn to not turn out the way I was hoping. This author offers an extended epilogue if you sign up, but if you follow me you know I just don't do that. I am bummed that this turned into such fast-forward super drama! It was angsty enough with the bad timing they already had -- it didn't need the OTT soap opera stuff! I honestly don't know how to rate this one...
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Savannah and Levi's story. Savannah would seek out her friend, Levi, to escape her home growing up. When she runs away from home after they share their first kiss at 15, they think that goodbye is forever. Only they meet again at 18 and the feelings for each other flood back in. But their timing is bad again. Fast forward and Savannah is a famous rockstar and Levi is a single dad trying to get by with his architectural company. There are some secrets revealed, some hot sexy times and some sad and some sweet moments...and they get a HFN ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Savannah and Levi's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good until the end. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: No, they've known each other most of their lives.
H (Hero) rating: 4 stars. Levi. I liked him. He was a good combo of sweet, protective, loyal, and sexy.
h (heroine) rating: 4 stars. Savannah. I liked her too. I appreciated her spunk and how she was loyal. I also loved her relationship with the H's daughter and her fans.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes (view spoiler)[ the h pushes away and I'd say the H is the main pursuer of the relationship (hide spoiler)]
Heat level: Hot. They have some hot tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Yes (view spoiler)[ the h's friend/band mate/ex causes some drama and their label demands that the h pretends to be engaged to him even though she told him no when he had proposed (hide spoiler)]
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: Yes (view spoiler)[They are separated for ~3 years and then ~8 years, and both of them had other partners during at least the 2nd time. (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[Domestic violence/drug abuse and addiction by parent/assault/drug abuse and addiction by h (on page), date rape (side character), loss of a spouse to cancer (off page), the H has a daughter with his dead spouse (on page),the h is a stripper when they reunite at 18 (on page), and the h was a virgin (on page) (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This ends in an alright place but I felt like it was way too abrupt and not nearly enough. I would call it a HFN ending (view spoiler)[they've shared "ILYs" and are living together (hide spoiler)]
Safety: This one should be either Safe or Safe with exception for most safety gang readers depending on personal preferences (view spoiler)[ - Does Not have cheating - Does Not have a descriptive sex scene with OW/OM - Does have the h pushing the H away - Does have a few separations between the h and H - Does have abuse - Does Not have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)]...more
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise and the characters.
The Not-So-Good: The POV. I would've loved to have some of the H's POV! I think it3.5 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise and the characters.
The Not-So-Good: The POV. I would've loved to have some of the H's POV! I think it would've contributed so much!!
The Bad: I wanted more development and I think that could only come with more length.
Overall: This was enjoyable and the pacing was better than I expected for a short book. It did, however, feel underdeveloped in some aspects and I think that was because it was so short. I do like this author's voice and her world building as Last Light is one of my favorites, so I think I was also expecting a little too much here. But oh well ~ I still enjoyed it! Thanks Jess for the recommendation ...more
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise, the banter, and the characters.
The Not-So-Good: The chemistry. I thought they had great banter, but 3.5 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise, the banter, and the characters.
The Not-So-Good: The chemistry. I thought they had great banter, but the steam/tension/chemistry was very mild.
The Bad: The ending. I wanted much more closure!
Overall: This was cute and enjoyable. I definitely wanted more in the end and I was disappointed because of it, but I didn't hate it or anything. I liked the characters, the banter, and the overall premise was good. I think this might be a new-to-me hr author I might look for in the future!
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Prudence and Gideon's story. Prudence and her sisters are on the run from their abusive grandfather. One of them must marry to be able to support themselves, so when their great uncle demands that Prudence, the oldest plain sister, has to be the first to find a husband -- this puts a wrench in their plans and quick timeline. Prudence makes up a secret betrothal to a hermit Duke she read about but when her uncle says he will call on him the next day, she must get ahead of her lie and get things in order. Only the infamous rake Gideon pretends to be his cousin, the Duke, and gets thrown into the middle of her antics. There are some secrets revealed, some funny moments, and a few sexy times...and they get a HFN ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between focusing on Prudence and Gideon in 3rd person narrative.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: No, they take a while to develop stronger feelings.
H (Hero) rating: 4 stars. Gideon. I liked him. I liked how he was witty and smitten with the h in a not off putting way.
h (heroine) rating: 3.5 stars. Prudence. I liked her loyalty, strength, and how she was with her sisters.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes (view spoiler)[ the h pushes away and I'd say the H is the main pursuer of the relationship (hide spoiler)]
Heat level: Alright. They have some tension and a few scenes at the end -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Yes (view spoiler)[ there is an ex mistress of the H that causes a little bit of mild drama and the h believed to be betrothed to OM for 4.5 years prior but he was a scam artist and this causes drama too (hide spoiler)]
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: No, they aren't really considered together to be considered separated IMO
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[Loss of parents (off page), domestic violence/emotional abuse (mostly off page), and assault (on page) (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This ends kind of a abruptly and it was disappointing. I would've loved to see farther glimpse into their future with a true HEA. I would call this a HFN ending (view spoiler)[they get actually engaged(view spoiler)[
Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers (view spoiler)[ - Does Not have cheating - Does Not have a descriptive sex scene with OW/OM - Does have the h pushing the H away - Does Not have a separation between the h and H - Does have abuse - Does Not have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)](hide spoiler)](hide spoiler)]...more
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise. The uniqueness of the story. The characters (mcs and side)!
The Not-So-Good: I found this book in an 3.5 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise. The uniqueness of the story. The characters (mcs and side)!
The Not-So-Good: I found this book in an angsty hr list. While I did feel bad for the h's circumstances, I never really got that emotional. This was a little disappointing.
The Bad: The ending. I really would've enjoyed a farther glimpse into their future.
Overall: This was a cute read that was unlike anything I've read -- which says a good bit since I read so much! I enjoyed the novelty of it and I really liked the characters. I just wish that I would get a better ending! But I do know this about this author, so I won't complain too much.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Lily and Alex's story. When Lily hears that her younger, sweet sister is betrothed to the grumpy Alex, she knows she needs to step in to stop it. She has been estranged from her family, but that doesn't stop her from going to Alex's country home where they are and stirring things up. They butt heads for a while, but in their conflict they start to see each other in a different light. When things go a little too far and a wager is made, they cross the line and become lovers. Only Lily has some major secrets that she is keeping that has her unable to hold on to the new happiness. There are some secrets revealed, some fun banter, and some sexy times...and they get a HEA ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between focusing on Lily and Alex in 3rd person narrative.
Overall Pace of Story: Good for the most part. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: No, more like hate-to-love
H (Hero) rating: 4.5 stars. Alex. I really liked him! He was a big softy inside his gruff exterior.
h (heroine) rating: 4 stars. Lily. I liked her. I just wish she trusted the H sooner.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes (view spoiler)[ The h pushes away a good bit and I'd say the H is the main pursuer of the relationship (hide spoiler)]
Heat level: Food. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Yes (view spoiler)[ dead fiancé jealousy and jealousy of the h's male friend (that nothing happened with) and rumored lover (hide spoiler)]
Sex scene with OW or OM: No (view spoiler)[Closest thing is the H kisses the h's sister before anything happens with the h (and they're engaged) (hide spoiler)]
Cheating: Not between mcs (view spoiler)[ You can probably say the H cheated on the h's sister because the mcs kissed and started to develop feeling while he was engaged (hide spoiler)]
Separation: No
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[ Loss of a loved one (off page), kidnapping of her child (off page), blackmail (on page), and the H was engaged to the h's sister (on page) (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This ends in an alright place, but with seemingly all of Ms. Kleypas' works, not nearly enough closure for this greedy reader. I will still call it a HEA though (view spoiler)[they're married and she's pregnant (hide spoiler)]
Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers (view spoiler)[ - Does Not have cheating between mcs - Does Not have a descriptive sex scene with OW/OM - Does have the h pushing the H away - Does Not have a separation between the h and H - Does Not have abuse by mcs - Does have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)]...more
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise, the H, and the h's brother!
The Not-So-Good: The h's stubbornness. I usually don't mind the sassy, st3.5 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise, the H, and the h's brother!
The Not-So-Good: The h's stubbornness. I usually don't mind the sassy, stubborn hs that are often found in hr, but it might've been because I liked the H so much that she bugged me at times.
The Bad: The ending. It ended too quickly after their conflict was resolved!
Overall: This was cute and enjoyable! I just wanted more in the end and the h rubbed me the wrong way.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Isabel and Nick's story. Nick gets asked to find a Duke's missing sister and he jumps at the opportunity because a recent women's article has deemed him a "Lord to land" that has him eager to leave town. Only in his search he encounters Isabel, who needs him to appraise her marble statues to sell. She secretly runs a safe home for women and since her fathers passing, she has been drowning in debt and this is a last resort. Only the more time they spend together, the more they like each other. There is a little bit of suspense, some sexy times, and some sweet moments...and they get a HEA ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between focusing on Isabel and Nick in 3rd person narrative.
Overall Pace of Story: Good until the end (see closure section below). I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well otherwise.
Instalove: No, they take a while to develop stronger feelings.
H (Hero) rating: 4.5 stars. Nick. I really liked him! I liked how loyal and protective he was.
h (heroine) rating: 3.5 stars. Isabel. I liked her but I really wanted to shake her at times for the H's sake.
Sadness level: Low/moderate. I shed a few tears but never needed any tissues.
Push/Pull: Yes (view spoiler)[the h pushes away a good bit and I'd say the H is the main pursuer of the relationship (hide spoiler)]
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: No
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: Yes (view spoiler)[They are separated shortly (week?), but there was no mention or suggestion of other partners during this time. (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[Neglectful/bad parenting (off page), domestic abuse/unexpected pregnancy (side characters off page), and the h was a virgin (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This ends a little too quickly for my liking even though I would call this a HEA (view spoiler)[they're married and she tells him she's pregnant (hide spoiler)]. I would've liked more time after their conflict was resolved and maybe a more in-depth glimpse into their future.
Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers (view spoiler)[ - Does Not have cheating - Does Not have a descriptive sex scene with OW/OM - Does have the h pushing the H away - Does have a short separation between the h and H - Does Not have abuse by mcs - Does have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)]...more
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