[image] [image] Honestly. I devoured this like a chocolate buttercream donut after a months-long keto diet.
“I'm an arrogant control freak, baby. You're
[image] [image] Honestly. I devoured this like a chocolate buttercream donut after a months-long keto diet.
“I'm an arrogant control freak, baby. You're going to hate me even as you crave what I do to you.”
Chemistry is Queen with me. It's that indefinable thing that takes an average romance and takes it to another level. Ms. Martin has impressed me with the chemistry she generated between Lizzie and Theo, and alot of it is their very banter-y dialogue.
Here's the sitch - asshole grumpy hero hiding soft gooey center, falls for his wakeup call girl heroine, who is doing it so as not to lose her job working for him, though he has no idea who is calling him. This leads to lots o' hot yet surprisingly emotional chats, that lead to some great self love scenes and eventually a big climax (heh) when the truth finally comes out.
It's not perfect, there's some continuity issues, the story loses a wee bit of steam between that climax and the final obstacle, and it dances on that line of problematic and just testing limits.
I had a good time reading it, so I'd recommend for those who love that billionaire trope with alot of dirty talk, and a shedload of contentiously hot chemistry....more
I’m mixing all the points together because it’s hard to categorize. You’ll see what I mean. Here we go: -The heat and banter I expect. When [image]
I’m mixing all the points together because it’s hard to categorize. You’ll see what I mean. Here we go: -The heat and banter I expect. When i read a Hunting romance, I know she’s going to give me great physical chemistry between her characters, sexy flirty banter and funny bits. I got that and more. -The emotional scenes that I crave. With the earlier books in the series, I’d enjoyed them, but I had wanted more of an emotional connection between the characters. I never doubted they were hot for each other, but I always wanted just a bit more. I got it with this book. Now, it took a while, but when the emotional scenes come along, boy was I ready for them. I thought Rian was great - a sexy, smart heroine who’s carrying alot of guilt around because of things her parents did. You don’t find out exactly what happens, but I completely sympathized with her and when those final big scenes play out, I was firmly on her side. -Works as standalone. This is part of a series, but it is absolutely NOT necessary to read the earlier books, as they are loosely tied to each other and those characters do not play a huge part in this story. -Frustrating at times. Part of what I loved, loved, loved (Pierce’s pursuit of Rian and always being the first to put himself out there) contributes to a bit of an imbalance. As the reader, we can see how genuine and sweet and sexy Pierce is. Rian is the guarded one, the one who pulls back, who’s suspicious and judgy and makes him WORK FOR IT. I’m totally ok with that. Some folks may not be. But by the end, I understood her reasons, I saw the regrets and recriminations, and it ends on such a hopeful note that I think it’s worth the moments of mild frustration. -Real estate is backdrop but never turns into HGTV. Finally, I liked that the renovation/flipping element of the story isn’t completely pointless, actually plays its part but doesn’t get bogged down in descriptions of fixtures and furnishings. If you like the idea of big real estate wheeling and dealing, but don’t want to actually watch the Property Bros., this would work for you.
[image]
I really liked this. It has the blend of heat, heart and funny that I crave in my romances. It’s my favorite of the series and I definitely recommend.
**ARC provided by publisher via netgalley for review**
I liked it. However, it is not among my favorite Dawson romances and I’m going to just say it - there were alot of shortcuts in this story whic[image]
I liked it. However, it is not among my favorite Dawson romances and I’m going to just say it - there were alot of shortcuts in this story which didn’t quite work for me. As a standalone, the story does just fine. Although heroes and heroines from earlier books make appearances, they don’t impact the main story so much that you need their history as well.
Now, Sophie and Ryder start off on the very wrong foot from the moment they meet. I can only guess that, because of the length of the story and the characters’ lack of history together, that there was a need to develop an antagonistic relationship quickly without a whole helluva lot of foundation. This approach didn’t quite gel for me, and even when things improved, I was still a little eye-rolley.
Now, I truly can appreciate a prickly heroine, but I need to understand the reason for that prickliness. Sophie starts off with a chip on her shoulder, making alot of assumptions and judgments, and unfortunately it just made me think she was childish and ridiculous.
However, when the focus was more on their attraction and acknowledgment that their bickering was simply sexual tension, the story picked up steam. There are plenty of moments I did enjoy, although I wished there was more of an emotional connection between them. They certainly wanted each other physically, so if you’re really into bickering/arguing between leads with loads of sexual chemistry, you may enjoy this.
**ARC provided by publisher via netgalley for review**
[image] -Kindle Unlimited read, which is always a welcome way for me to explore new authors. I picked up this book and the next in the series on the re[image] -Kindle Unlimited read, which is always a welcome way for me to explore new authors. I picked up this book and the next in the series on the recommendation of GR friends, and while flawed, I did enjoy my time with the Perdition MC.
-Pretty quick read and I tore through this book in a day, which was fun.
-A kinder, gentler MC book, although still pretty standard with the stereotypical club sluts, and yet there’s something here that has potential. WTFery is about 1 (they’re reformed bikers, yo) and Ever’s a decent heroine who doesn’t take crap from anyone. It’s fairly low on the angst scale as well and my main complaint is that the one “danger” felt contrived as it is all resolved quickly and the reader is only told about it in snippets. It needed a bit more action.
-I can understand the comparisons to KA’s Chaos series, and even the initial setup reminds me of Chaos (heroine hooks up with biker hero and he treats it like a one night stand has shades of Motorcycle Man, though it’s not a carbon copy). Much like Ms. Ashley, Ms. Wroth has hooked into the bickering dialogue and some good humor, which allows this romance to shine at times, even if it stumbles on more than one occasion because of the grammatical errors galore. As a published author, an occasional typo or incorrect word I can ignore, but there’s a crazy love of commas and incorrect verbiage that’s distracting more than entertaining.
[image] The Bottom Line 3 stars Editing issues aside, I did enjoy this read and I’m more than willing to continue with the series and see how Ms. Wroth grows as an author.
[image] The Good, The Bad and Everything In Between
The Good: I love the idea of a female bodyguard and this is the second one I’ve read this year. Actually I’ve been impressed with the concept Ms. Jewel has used for this entire series, selecting male dominated professions and using it as a showcase for romance. In this book, Delaney has struggled to be accepted in her position and finally completes the challenge to be allowed on her first assignment - protecting Jaxson Shields, millionaire hotelier and at first, gigantic a-hole.
The chemistry is good between Jax and Laney and the story moves along at a good clip. There’s some action, as Laney actually protects Jax from several attempts on his life and there was alot of time spent showing the daily routine of a bodyguard, which lent a bit of realism I appreciated.
The Bad: The first book in this series suffered from a seriously ditzy heroine and I’m glad Laney isn’t as ditzy. However, she’s also not that professional either. It was distracting and it felt like she was more lucky than skilled. I don’t need it to feel like a documentary, but I would have loved to have felt as if Laney was mentally tough and not so insecure. I would have loved to have seen her journey be more about other characters accepting her, and less about her believing in herself. Her confidence in her skills was pretty weak and it was just less than I hoped for.
Everything in Between: The rest of the story is fairly standard and enjoyable, although I would have loved to have seen more done with her co-workers (besides the obvious Kyle) and the villains, who were sparsely drawn. They served a purpose of putting the characters in danger, but nothing more than that and the stakes didn’t feel that high because you barely see anything of them. [image] I enjoyed it. I just needed a little more confidence in the heroine and I would have loved it alot more. I would still check out more in this series.
**ARC provided by publisher via netgalley for review** ...more
[image] Want to hate you: Hunter Dade was unceremoniously dumped on his wedding day and it still stings. His wussy bride couldn’t tell him, so she sent[image] Want to hate you: Hunter Dade was unceremoniously dumped on his wedding day and it still stings. His wussy bride couldn’t tell him, so she sent her maid of honor, Tess McKenzie, to deliver the news. The same maid of honor who told/nudged the bride into not going through with it because said wussy bride was in love with someone else. Ouch.
Hate to want you: Fast forward several months later, and Hunter runs into Tess when she’s working the tenth circle of hell, otherwise known as dinner theater. Now, Hunter and Tess had clashed from the very first time they met and now that he’s not engaged, well he’d like to kill two birds with one stone - he needs a fake fiancee and he can’t seem to deny that the sparks they’ve been throwing off aren’t of just the hate-you kind.
The scheme: He offers Tess one hundred thousand dollars to pretend to be madly in love with him and that will fund her dream of a local theater in Chicago.
Fantastic dirty talkin’: This is a skill that should be acknowledged - to make sex scenes sexy and dirty without going into cringeworthy territory is not easy to do and Ms. Meader certainly has the gift. Tess and Hunter’s sexual chemistry is on point, and if it were only good for smut, it would still be satisfying, but…
Excellent character development: It’s not just the dirty hot sex, though there's plenty of that. It’s that Tess and Hunter’s connection is well fleshed out through their dialogue and heartfelt conversations. It was great to see that their motivations, as well as the revelations that they have way more in common than they originally thought, add layers to what could be a fairly standard romantic trope of the fake fiancee. Hunter is protective, but his reasons were heartbreaking and believable. Tess’s is protective of her heart, but never to the point where she’s oblivious to the pain she causes. I thought she was a solid heroine, and a great match for Hunter’s fiercely protective hero instincts.
Not alot of hate: If anything, I would have loved to see more angry banter and more tension on that front, because neither one really gave that hate vibe all. Yes, there was tension, but really angry sex? Not really. However, the resolution to that final obstacle gave some closure to all the dangling plot points and ultimately satisfying, so this is very minor quibble in the grand scheme of things.
[image] I really enjoyed it. If you love contemporary romances, I definitely recommend checking this out - Tess and Hunter’s romance is worth the read.
[image] This is my favorite billionaire romance by Ms. Clare so far - I reFull review to be posted on http://afterdarkbooklovers.com/ on July 22, 2015.
[image] This is my favorite billionaire romance by Ms. Clare so far - I really connected with Edie, and Magnus really came through in the end. I’d definitely recommend for those who love a little prickly banter (and lots of cats) in their romances.
Michael Anderson, stuffed shirt businessman who wants everything in order in his life, meets Mia Argaropolis, artist and basically anything but orderlMichael Anderson, stuffed shirt businessman who wants everything in order in his life, meets Mia Argaropolis, artist and basically anything but orderly. Sparks fly, disaster strikes often, and in the midst of all that, romance happens.
[image] -Had the feel of a screwball comedy, at first: Then things settled into a humorous, not too wacky read. Their first meet was probably the most screwball yet fun, and there are some very adorable moments with the Queen Bs and Clancy, the dog. The humor never went too crazy and was paced fairly well.
-Michael and Mia have decent chemistry...: The big three (first meet, first kiss, first love scene) were a mixed bag for me. The first meet and kiss were very good, the first love scene took quite a while to get to and was a bit of a disappointment. Their feelings changed like lightning, instead of feeling gradual and organic to the story. It could change in the space of a paragraph and I wanted to side more with Mia, but the miscommunications...oy vey.
-The dreaded Big Mis: Those miscommunications were pretty much all at Mia’s feet and I wish it had been a bit more even in terms of screwups. The big ones, which lead to their separation, were all Mia jumping to conclusions, which wasn’t as satisfying for me.
[image] It was cute, though the miscommunications felt a bit forced and didn’t quite work for me. It was an enjoyable enough afternoon read that I would give this series another shot.
**ARC provided by publisher via netgalley for review** ...more
The Bottom Line Based on chemistry alone, it would be an easy 4-5 star read. But the angst factor overwhelmed the story, so I had to settle for merely liking this installment. That said, Ms. Rayven’s writing has intrigued me, so I’d be willing to see what happens with Elissa and Liam.
**ARC provided by publisher via netgalley for review** ...more
The sixth book in the Neighbor from Hell series features Darrin Bradford and his best friend MaryBeth. They’ve been best friends since they were childThe sixth book in the Neighbor from Hell series features Darrin Bradford and his best friend MaryBeth. They’ve been best friends since they were children and for some reason Mary Beth is struggling against becoming more than friends. As usual, romance happens.
[image] The usual Bradford humor: Silliness abounds in this installment, and there's no shortage of food humor and a strange competition between Mary Beth and Darren where they're constantly daring each other. Unfortunately, the silliness is the centerpiece instead of the garnish to a romance. The jokes wore thin and I wasn’t laughing the way I used to.
More like the last book than the earlier books in the series: Now, I loved this formula and I don’t have a problem with a formula, but it has to work. I understand and usually applaud the desire to change up the formula in a long-running series. Things can get stale and using the same types of characters in the same types of situations can lead to boredom. However, in this instance I feel that it didn't really come together. To change the tone so drastically was jarring. There needs to be a balance and unfortunately there really isn't much of one. The heart of the story and the main obstacle, man did I struggle with it. Alot.
SPOILER ALERT This is my big sticking point but it does give away alot, so if you want spoiler free, look away. If it doesn’t bother you, read on.
(view spoiler)[
Disliked tying the heroine’s self esteem to her uterus: To say that I disliked this is to put it mildly. I despised the fact that Mary Beth was so convinced that her worth as a woman was tied to her uterus. The way MaryBeth kept saying she wasn’t “worthy” or “deserving” of being with Darrin because of her inability to have children truly bugged the ever loving hell out of me.
There were different ways to handle such a serious health issue that didn't involve such an offensive take on the value placed on a woman’s reproductive system. Mary Beth could have simply wanted kids for herself and really struggled with it. I could have accepted that. But that it’s all about Darrin? No. Just. No.(hide spoiler)]
This is a personal issue of mine, so it may not offend others as much as it did me but it really ruined whatever little enjoyment I had reading this book and angered me in some spots to the point where it was difficult for me to remain objective. I just hated it.
[image] No es bueno. It pains me because I really loved the earlier books in the series but the last two haven't been the strongest, and this one really didn't work. In trying to end this on a more positive note, however, I did read the blurb for the next book and it gives me hope the things will get back on track.
Hannah and Garrett have Ethics together. Hannah has aced the class, while Garrett? Not so much. So he plans to hound Hannah until she agrees to tutor Hannah and Garrett have Ethics together. Hannah has aced the class, while Garrett? Not so much. So he plans to hound Hannah until she agrees to tutor him. Hannah wants nothing to do with the captain of the hockey team, aka a dumb jock. But Hannah wants Justin, a football player to notice her, so she finally makes a deal with Garrett - help her win Justin, and she’ll tutor him through Ethics. But then so much more happens, and along the way, so does romance.
The Good, The Bad and Everything In Between (and honestly, it’s all good)
-Excellent writing: I’ve been a fan of Elle Kennedy’s Out of Uniform series, and when I heard about this book, there was no doubt I was going to 1-click it. It’s got three of my favorite things - hockey, music and the “boy helps girl get other boy until he realizes he wants her for himself” trope. Nothing’s as satisfying as seeing the player fall in love and this completely lived up to my expectations. I would have devoured this book in one sitting except for that pesky need to sleep and actually go to work, which believe me, ticked me off when all I wanted to do was keep reading. I couldn't seem to stop myself from highlighting the witty banter (as you can tell from my fave quotes), and there is so much more to be found. Ms. Kennedy’s writing style flows so well, and she can create characters that you absolutely adore, but aren’t cookie-cutter perfection. Such as...
-Incredibly likeable leads: Hannah and Garrett are fantastic, fully realized characters who have lives outside of this romance. You see them live those lives with friends, and their school lives are explored in detail without weighing down the narrative. Hannah stands up for herself, but not shrewish or unsympathetic. Garrett can be crude and completely full of himself, but he's also loving, loyal and determined. The ‘verse builds slowly and in a believable way and allows you to get to know them, and see them run the gamut of emotions. They aren’t friends at first, but they come together out of necessity, but you truly get to the chance to see them become friends then lovers.
-There’s some angst, but not by the bucketful: As fully realized characters, neither have had the ideal pasts. Garrett’s was heartbreaking and Hannah’s in particular, is a difficult but an all too common tale. It’s not fair, and it isn’t wrapped up in a bow, but like life, they move on and they live theirs. Even when things go wrong, and it’s a romance, so it’s bound to happen, they eventually talk it out and act like the young adults they are. They're determined to live, not wallow and I adored that about them.
“Well, that’s the best revenge right there, Garrett. Living well and being happy is how we get over the shit in our past.”
MILD SPOILER ALERT (view spoiler)[-They’re friends at first, so there are other people involved: Fair warning, Garrett does have a random or two but it never detracts from the overall romance. Hannah has a huge crush on Justin and it doesn’t just miraculously disappear but once Hannah and Garrett really connect in a romantic way, there is no one else. (hide spoiler)]
-I even loved the secondary characters: All of Garrett’s teammates intrigued me. From Tucker and his cooking, Logan and his need to acronym the hell out of everything, Dean and his man-hoish ways, I want to get to know these guys better, and I really hope that they get a chance to hook up with Hannah’s friends or meet new girls and let me see their stories play out as well.
The Bottom Line I loved it. It's an enjoyable story that I can see myself reading again and again, so I highly recommend it. There’s a full ‘verse just waiting to be explored at Briar and I’m really eager to visit it again. ...more
In the third Gully’s Fall book, Ryder and Dee have been doing their version of the mating dance for years, but when another man starts to pay attentioIn the third Gully’s Fall book, Ryder and Dee have been doing their version of the mating dance for years, but when another man starts to pay attention to Dee, Ryder starts to realize (very slowly) that what he’s been searching for has been in front of him all along. And then, romance.
The Good, The Bad and Everything In Between
-Always enjoy visiting Gully’s Fall: Ms. Verdenius has created a lovely little ‘verse of characters in Gully’s Fall. She’s painted a lovely picture of a quiet little town in Australia and the family and friendships there are a highlight of this book. The romance is an appealing part of this story, for sure, but the chemistry between the friends is very well done. They tease and snark, but there is genuine affection and I loved the scenes where both Ryder and Dee had their friends helping them figure out their feelings for each other. It really adds an extra layer to the story.
-Ryder is a loveable dumb bunny: Dee’s heart hasn’t been in question, but Ryder...well, he’s a bit more of a dodo when it comes to his feelings or Dee’s. He’s very alpha in his sexual confidence and it’s incredibly appealing.
-Dee takes no prisoners: Dee’s a sharp, strong, likeable heroine. She’s been the smart mouth of the group of friends, and she’s not afraid to tell it like it is, but she has enough soft edges to round out her character. She doesn’t wallow in self-doubt, and she’s more likely to confront a problem than back away. While she has her moments of self-doubt, she shook it off and pulled up her big girl panties, and I adored that.
-Best sexual chemistry: I love AV books, but I usually love it for the characters, not necessarily for the sexual heat between them. Here, I’ve loved the bickering between Dee and Ryder since the start of this series and I loved the sexual tension between them. Sometimes when a romance begins as a friendship I have trouble seeing the the heat and chemistry between the leads, but here that is NOT an issue. AV has taken the tension they’ve always had and really kicked it up a few notches. When they finally make love, it was a grand payoff to all that anticipation.
-Mild suspense: There’s a sub-plot involving someone who’s stalking Dee and vandalizing some property that adds non-romantic tension to the story. I love a character-driven piece, but sometimes that leads to a lack of excitement. This sub-plot helped There’s also a little twist at the end that sets up possible future story for one of the secondary characters.
-Not necessarily a standalone: I think it would be difficult to really appreciate the cast of characters and the individual relationships without having read the other books in the series first.
-A touch of purple prose: this is a minor, minor quibble, but some of the descriptive words during the love scenes distracted me, and tended to feel a bit OTT, but this is part of AV’s style. There was so much heat and real sexiness between Ryder and Dee that I got over it pretty quickly.
The Bottom Line I really liked this book. I think it's my favorite AV read. Ryder and Dee's story has been building up through the earlier books, but I loved how it all paid off in this installment. Very happy with this read :)...more
Anna Jones, fierce philosophy major, and Drew Baylor, star quarterback, meet in class and it’s lust at first sight. She hates that she wants him. He jAnna Jones, fierce philosophy major, and Drew Baylor, star quarterback, meet in class and it’s lust at first sight. She hates that she wants him. He just wants her. And well, you know the drill.
The Good, The Bad and Everything In Between
-Scribd book: very happy to read this with my subscription, and even if you don’t have a subscription, it’s currently available for $2.99 at Amazon - a bargain IMO.
-Insanely hot chemistry: Anna and Drew’s chemistry fairly leapt off the page. Ms. Callihan really managed to convey their intense sexual attraction, scene by scene, through their actions, their thoughts, and their dialogue….a real “showing vs telling” in the best sense of the phrase. I loved that you could almost feel it right alongside them.
This is a pretty steamy read, but the sex progresses naturally and wasn’t overdone for the sake of upping the cock count. I liked that while Anna and Drew have no shortage of sexy love scenes, it was more about their emotional connection - the afterglow and their talks, not just the hot sex. There’s even a bit of a Pretty Woman-like rule at first (no kissing, too personal) that just upped the angst and the anticipation. When they finally kiss, that was possibly the hottest scene of the entire book.
-Drew’s love for Anna is so incredibly attractive: Drew’s love for Anna was a highlight of the book for me. I love when the hero actually does the pursuing, instead of just telling the heroine that she’s his. He’s a gamma kind of hero, alpha qualities with a beta’s sensitivity. He's benefitted from seeing a true, loving relationship from his parents, so he doesn't shy away from his feelings for Anna and the intensity of them. He knows from the moment he sees her that he wants Anna, and while I normally turn a jaundiced eye at that, Drew (and Ms. Callihan's writing) completely sold it for me. He’s not perfect, and his struggles towards the end of the book just made me want to comfort him, but through it all, I never doubted in his love for Anna - not once.
-Anna’s a well-developed heroine...in more ways than one: Much is made at first of Anna’s curves, but I loved that she’s well-rounded emotionally. She smart and funny, loyal and caring, confident and insecure, and at times, defensive and angry. She’s not perfect but she’s completely relatable. I’ve read many books with insecure heroines, but there is an art to writing an insecure heroine that doesn’t cross the line into needy and cloying. Her struggles are believable and painful and completely understandable - to be involved with a star athlete, to have everything about you held up to intense scrutiny by people more than willing to tear you down? That would be difficult for most women to deal with. She screws up, but she recognizes her faults and by the end of it all, her really steps out of her shell and she is more than a match for Drew.
-Excellent writing: I was really impressed at the way Ms. Callihan painted a vivid picture of college life, especially for a star athlete. In my opinion, the true test of a well-written story are the supporting players - if the characterizations are shallow, it’s like seeing a play performed with really shoddy sets. The higher quality of secondary characters, the stronger the story will be overall. Here, I could easily see myself reading a book featuring any of the supporting characters, from Drew’s teammates to Anna’s friends, they were all done well, with distinct personalities and little idiosyncrasies that made them feel real...even the ones that drove me a bit nutty (yes Iris, I may side-eyeing you hard, but I kinda get you too).
-That cover...oy: On a shallow note, I’ll admit, the Scribd cover doesn’t bring to mind a hunky quarterback. The Amazon one’s vague but works so much better. But that’s pretty much my only complaint.
The Bottom Line I loved it. January 2015 has been a good reading month for me - having several four and five star reads is a fantastic way to start the year. This is my second five star read so far in 2015 and I just regret not reading it sooner. I highly recommend this, and I would happily read more from this author....more
In the fourth book in the Sex, Love & Stilettos series, Alex and Emma have a complicated history together. In the beginning, all we know is they were In the fourth book in the Sex, Love & Stilettos series, Alex and Emma have a complicated history together. In the beginning, all we know is they were engaged but never got married. Seven years later, they run into each other again as their jobs and circle of friends intersect. And then, romance happens...again.
The Good, The Bad and Everything In Between
-I’ve really enjoyed this underrated series: I haven’t heard alot about this series on goodreads and that’s a shame because I think it’s a really good, character driven contemporary romance series. There are no flashy action sequences, or OTT Alpha-holes, and no real kinky eff(fuck)-ery, but if you want to settle in for a good romance with some angst, between two characters who you get to know and understand before they fall in love, this is a great series to dive into.
It’s got a little bit of a Sex and the City vibe, since most of the characters live and work in NYC and the majority are writers or work at Stiletto, a women’s magazine and their brother magazine, Oxford. Their relationships have evolved over the course of the series, and their banter is definitely one of the highlights of these reads.
-Part of series, but works as a standalone: While I would recommend reading the entire series, and there are mild spoilers for the earlier books, you can read this book on its own. Since I have read the entire series, I definitely enjoyed seeing those couples enjoying their own HEAs while Alex and Emma work their way towards theirs.
-Alex and Emma’s relationship is complicated: Alex and Emma start in a slightly different place than the couples in the earlier books and the mystery of what exactly happened to break them up is a big part of what drove me to keep turning the page. Emma and Alex are closed off emotionally, and seeing them open up to each other and struggle to let go of the hurt was touching and made me root for them to work it all out. They’re definitely perfect for each other.
-Lots o’ sexual tension, not alot of sex: I was impressed at how much of the story had gone by before I realized that they hadn’t really connected physically. Of course, as soon as I noticed it, I wanted them to kiss immediately, so be forewarned it’s a slow burn. But when it kicks in, their love scenes do not lack the heat factor and it’s quality not quantity that I think matters the most.
-Both were frustrating at times: My main issue with the story would be that, while I enjoyed the mystery of finding out exactly what happened to derail their wedding, it made me super frustrated with Emma and Alex and I thought it was dragged out a bit much. It’s not until the final hour that I finally understood Emma and by then, I struggled to let go of my frustration. Alex is not blameless either. Frankly they were both hotheaded and young and I thought they foolishly lost seven years to stubborn pride and yes, basically I wanted to smack them both upside the head. I really would have liked to see them have their big conversation earlier in the story, instead of waiting almost until the end.
The Bottom Line An excellent entry in an underrated series, I really enjoyed this slightly bittersweet second chance romance and I would recommend it for those just looking for a good old fashioned contemporary romance.
**ARC provided by publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review** ...more
The third book set in Tarpon Springs, Florida and the Worth the Fight Academy features Francesca and Tony. Tony’s a fighter who is struggling with a cThe third book set in Tarpon Springs, Florida and the Worth the Fight Academy features Francesca and Tony. Tony’s a fighter who is struggling with a comeback, though he won’t acknowledge it. Francesca is struggling with dropping her emotional wall, though she won’t admit it. And then, romance.
The Good, The Bad and Everything In Between
Tarpon Springs, where hot MMA fighters roam free: Hurricanes aside, it’s an interesting town populated with very hot fighters, pretty beach houses...and um, did I mention hot fighters? Yeah, I would go there. Better yet, as the ‘verse keeps building, the more I like the characters and the camaraderie between them. The couples from the earlier books appear and enhance the story, but don’t take over. The teasers for future couples are there of course, and I’m interested to see the next couple, Cain and Violet, get their story.
Tony’s all machismo: Tony’s a passionate Cuban male, all testosterone with a touch of insecurity that he covers with his posturing. He never holds back what he feels, for better or for worse. He’s almost too emotional at first, talented with sticking his foot in his mouth and and for a thirty-four year old, he needed to grow up. He’s not a perfect alpha male, just a flawed one. The glimpses of him working with kids softened his hard edges though, and I could see why Frankie’s so attracted to him.
Francesca’s a bit prickly: Francesca, or Frankie, or Frances, whatever you want to call her, spends ALOT of time holding all her emotions in. She is the complete opposite of Tony, but she has her irrational, emotional moments too, which...ok made me want to slap her upside the head, but, still. From the earlier books, I would have never pictured her to be as uptight as she really is, so I actually enjoyed seeing how much she hid from everyone. As she relaxes and learns to let go, she became much more tolerable. Seeing her interaction with her ex-husband Rodrigo, you get a well-needed peek into what made her so carefully controlled and I would have liked to seen even more of that explored.
Yes, I have to mention the dogs! and kitties!: Drogo and his brood make an appearance and there’s Disney princess kittens and Winston. An adorable break in the action.
Tony’s family is very familiar (in a good way): As a member of a loud Hispanic family myself, Tony’s mother had me cracking up.
“his mother’s voice had only two volumes: loud and super-fucking-loud”
TRUTH, people, truth. But underneath the fussing and the nagging, the love was clear and I really liked the added dimension it gave to Tony’s character, to see where he came from.
More emotions, less sex please: Now, Frankie and Tony both had the combined maturity level of a pouty teenager for a good portion of the story, but they did grow and eventually learn to get over themselves. I know it’s a bit odd, but I would have liked to have read more about them having emotional conversations, and less sex scenes. They’re not the strongest part of the story anyway, and they began and ended fairly quickly, so I would have preferred to see them spend that time talking. I know I’m strange, but what can I say? The feels mean more to me than sex.
The Bottom Line A bit of drama, a bit of funny and a bit of romance - I liked visiting Tarpon Springs again in this easy read. I’d recommend for those interested in the lighter side of MMA fighters.
**ARC provided by publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review**...more
**ARC provided through netgalley in exchange for honest review**
Maggie, to placate her BFF Ava, makes a pact to date at least once a month for a year,**ARC provided through netgalley in exchange for honest review**
Maggie, to placate her BFF Ava, makes a pact to date at least once a month for a year, or pay for spa treatments. Tyler is living next door to Maggie and isn’t looking for a relationship either. Then, romance!
The Good -Very sexy: excellent sexual chemistry between Maggie and Tyler and the anticipation leading up to a physical relationship was very well done. -Likeable leads: Tyler and Maggie are sympathetic and have a good friendship established before sex happens. -Plausible emotional baggage: Tyler’s reason for not being available for a relationship was very sweet, a bit unexpected. Maggie being gun shy was laid out well and when things turned it was handled in a mature manner, yet very angsty, which I liked. -Enjoyable secondary characters: I like Ava, Sam and Ford. Their friendship was wacky but fun, and I can see Ava/Sam hooking up in the next book.
The Bad and Everything In Between -More show vs tell on their earlier conversations would have been helpful when they were getting to know one another. -The plot is a bit thin: once you get past Tyler and Maggie’s issue (which is essentially the same thing - severe case of tunnel vision), it’s a bit thin. There’s almost no real background set up for either Maggie or Tyler. They could exist in a vacuum and their professional lives would have almost no impact on the story. Maggie’s conflict was work-related, but even that was more for plot’s sake. -Title doesn't really fit: It's more about the pact than any game of truth or dare, but perhaps it's just catchy IDK.
The Bottom Line (3.5 stars) The chemistry between all the characters and the dialogue made this an enjoyable read. I’ve never read anything by Ms. Kelly, but I’d definitely read more....more
Jillian is bait - she meets unsuspecting married men and positions herself to get propositioned - then gets it all on tape to be shown to their spouseJillian is bait - she meets unsuspecting married men and positions herself to get propositioned - then gets it all on tape to be shown to their spouses. It’s a dirty job, but Jillian knows all too well the pain of infidelity and the damage it can cause to a family. She’s good at her job and she’ll never trust a man. She never gets physical - until Marcus Brody walks in....he’s bought out Catch A Mate, the company Jillian works for. Marcus works as bait too, and knows women can’t be trusted from his personal experience. Too bad they can’t seem to stay away from each other…. The Good -Funny, angry banter -Sexy chemistry between the MCs -Easy read
The Just Okay -Too much time spent hating each other in a short period of time. Had the timeframe been longer than a few days, it would have given more time to explore Jillian and Marcus working together, developing a relationship instead of going from nothing to true love in what felt like seconds flat.
The Bottom Line A bit unbelievable, but overall still a funny, sexy, enjoyable read. ...more
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