Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise, the side characters, the emotions, and the paper rings.
The Not-So-Good: The vague details of their dat4 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise, the side characters, the emotions, and the paper rings.
The Not-So-Good: The vague details of their dating lives while separated and I wanted the H's POV.
The Bad: The length of their separation and horrible communication.
Overall: This was a fun surprise! I'll fully admit that I do judge a book by its cover! While this illustration is perfectly cute and nothing aesthetically wrong with it per se, I've come to be cautious with these types of covers. I've found that the cutesy illustrated covers are usually over hyped and often disappointing reads. Don't hate me ...more
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise, the humor, the characters, and the steamy scenes.
The Not-So-Good: The fact that in order to get the ex4 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise, the humor, the characters, and the steamy scenes.
The Not-So-Good: The fact that in order to get the extended epilogue, I had to sign up for the author's newsletter-- pet peeve of mine for sure.
The Bad: If anything would be considered "bad" I'd say that it's the fact that we don't get the H's POV. I think this prevented me from fully connecting with him. I know we got other people's opinions on him to help shape our opinion, but I didn't feel like it was enough-- I wanted to know what he was thinking many times.
Overall: This was much better than expected! There were a few things that I think could've brought it to a higher rating for me (more closure in the end, the H's POV, and more connection with side characters). That being said, I liked it! Good surprise as it tapped into my emotions, had some hot steamy times, and left me with a smile.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Jamie and Jackson's story. Jamie has been working for a matchmaking agency and on Jackson's case for over 8 months when she and her coworkers decide to send her on a date incognito to see what really was the problem. Only Jackson finds out who she really is and she finds out that her initial thoughts of him sabotaging the dates was true. Jackson's aunt is basically blackmailing him into using the service, and now she demands that he work with Jamie on what they call an immersion program that requires her to be his shadow, living with him and being his dating coach, for a month. There is some butting of heads, some secrets revealed, some funny moments, and some sexy times....and they get a HEA ending.
Point Of View (POV): This was told in Jamie's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: No, more like a hate-to-friends-with-benefits-to-more
H (Hero) rating: 3.5 stars. Jackson. I liked him but I really wanted more into his psyche and I think having his POV could've really helped with that, because I don't feel like we got as deep into his character as I would've liked.
h (heroine) rating: 4 stars. Jamie. I liked her. She was sassy and said it like it was but not in an annoyingly bitchy way.
Sadness level: Moderate. I shed some tears but never needed any tissues -- this was a surprise!
Push/Pull:Yes (view spoiler)[ They both push 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)[there are a few OW that the H goes on dates with (per his requirement) that cause some jealousy, and one OW tries to kiss him but he doesn't allow it (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This ends in a cute place with what I would call a HEA ending (view spoiler)[they're married (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 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 MCs, the side characters, and the setting
The Not-So-Good: The amount of closure for this greedy re4 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise, the MCs, the side characters, and the setting
The Not-So-Good: The amount of closure for this greedy reader
The Bad: Not necessarily bad, but I would've liked more groveling by the sister
Overall: This was cute and better than expected! When I read the blurb, I automatically thought of the movies, Wedding Date and Anyone But You. While this definitely had those vibes, it was also unique in its own way. I would've liked to have the farther glimpse into their future without having to sign up to get an extended epilogue, but that's me being greedy. Overall, I liked it.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Paisley and Klein's story. Paisley has to be maid of honor to her younger sister who is marrying her ex at a weeklong island wedding. She bumps into Klein, who unknowingly kinda broke her heart in college, and they realize that they can help each other out. Klein agrees to be her fake date and she agrees to use her marketing firm's resources to help him find a publisher for his book. They realize that the instant connection they felt one drunken night in college wasn't a fluke and those feelings start coming back. There is family drama, some funny moments, some sexy times...and they get a HEA ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Paisley and Klein's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: No, they knew each other in college.
H (Hero) rating: 4 stars. Klein. I liked him. I thought he might've been a little too perfect, but that might have also been because he seemed to fall first (and that's not my favorite)
h (heroine) rating: 3.5 stars. Paisley. I liked her. I appreciated her loyalty and her personal growth in the story.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes, but mild (view spoiler)[the h pushes away a little but not too much 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 is marrying her younger sister and he causes some drama by being jealous and not over her (hide spoiler)]
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: No
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[ the h's sister is marrying her ex (on page), cheating (side character off page), and the H has dyslexia (off page) (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This ends with a cute epilogue and what I would call a HEA ending (view spoiler)[they get married (hide spoiler)], but he author offers an extended epilogue if you sign up (I'm not going to)
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 Not have abuse - Does have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)]...more
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise, side characters, and sarcasm/banter.
The Not-So-Good: The tension/steam (it was pretty mild) and I woul4 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise, side characters, and sarcasm/banter.
The Not-So-Good: The tension/steam (it was pretty mild) and I would've liked to have the H's POV
The Bad: The ending.
Overall: This was actually better than I expected! This author has been a hit or miss for me, so I've been hesitant to read anything else from her -- but I'm glad I did! I liked the premise. I liked that they became best friends first and then more. It made it so much more than a revenge/rebound type relationship for me. I hate how meh the ending was though! I can see so many different ways that the author could've taken us to get more closure, which is what I was missing, but no. It was a lackluster chapter that left me wanting. Overall, I liked it.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Daphne and Miles' story. Daphne's fiancé breaks up with her after his bachelorette party and she finds herself living with a practical stranger that was with the woman her fiancé left her for. They become friends that bond over their hurt that accidentally becomes a fake relationship that turns into more. There is a good bit of past baggage they both work through, some cute and funny moments with side characters, and some sexy times...and they get a HFN ending.
Point Of View (POV): This was told in the h's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I wanted more in the end but I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove:No, more like friends to more.
H (Hero) rating: 3.5 stars. Miles. I liked him but I really would've liked to get his POV.
h (heroine) rating: 3.5 stars. Daphne. I liked her. I appreciated how she continued to hope and trust others even when she didn't necessarily want to.
Sadness level: Low/moderate. I shed some tears but never needed any tissues.
Heat level: Alright. They have some 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 fiancé leaves her for his childhood best friend, which is the H's long term girlfriend and they get engaged (hide spoiler)]
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: Not between mcs (view spoiler)[they both are left by exes that get together and claim to have loved each other (hide spoiler)]
Separation: Yes (view spoiler)[They are separated shortly (couple weeks?), but there was no mention or suggestion of other partners during this time. (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[Both mcs have parental issues (abandonment and invalidated feelings) (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This ends in a good place but not nearly enough closure for me. I would call it a HFN ending (view spoiler)[they're living together again (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 short separation between the h and H - Does Not have abuse - Does Not have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)]...more
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The banter/dialogue and premise.
The Not-So-Good: I liked the H so much that I wanted the h to consider him a little 4 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The banter/dialogue and premise.
The Not-So-Good: I liked the H so much that I wanted the h to consider him a little more at times.
The Bad: The closure, or lack there of.
Overall: This was better than expected! Sadly, it still didn't quite hit the mark for me though. I liked it and I was feeling this it had the potential for being on my favorites shelf about halfway through, but sadly it didn't end that way for me. I needed way more closure than what we got. I wanted scenes of them making their permanent lives together! I wanted scenes where they worked through the h's trauma! I felt like the ending was way too abrupt and left me with way too many questions. I loved the instant banter and dialogue between the mcs and the premise was super cute. I also wasn't mad about the idea of mental illness and making them more human with their struggles. I just needed some...more in the end. Still a win with 4 stars from me though!
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Emma and Justin's story. Emma reaches out to a Reddit post that Justin wrote about having a curse of the people he breaks up with go on to meet their soulmate next because she has the same curse. They start texting and Justin comes up with the idea that if they date each other they could break the curse, so they give it a try. Only life gets complicated with the appearance of Emma's abusively flighty mom and Justin now being in possession of his three younger siblings, making an already gun-shy Emma even more scared. There are some cute and funny moments, some past trauma they have to work through, and some sweet moments...and they get a HFN ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Emma and Justin's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well (up until the abrupt ending).
Instalove: No, but instant connection (they do claim to have loved each other from first site at the end)
H (Hero) rating: 4.5 stars. Justin. I liked him a lot. I think I just wanted him to be a little more alpha ...more
Overall Opinion: My youngest daughter is a big true crime fan and we needed something to listen to for a road-trip, so I borrowed thi4 Stars Audiobook
Overall Opinion: My youngest daughter is a big true crime fan and we needed something to listen to for a road-trip, so I borrowed this audiobook from my local library. I had just watched the Zach Efron movie about Ted Bundy on Netflix myself and I thought, why not? It was interesting to hear the timeline and this author definitely had a bias that had my daughter and I talking about a few times. We're convinced she was in love with Bundy herself, because she kept on saying how handsome he was and how she couldn't believe he was guilty despite all the evidence saying otherwise. I also thought it was interesting that she hardly talked about that woman that he married in court or any of her involvement (Carol, I think?)...
But! If you need something to listen to on a long road trip and you like true crime type of stories, this is probably a winner for you. We enjoyed it and it was interesting enough and fast paced enough to get us there and back!
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The characters, the premise, and the steam. I also liked the H's family and the side characters.
The Not-So-Good: Th4 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The characters, the premise, and the steam. I also liked the H's family and the side characters.
The Not-So-Good: The lack of conflict. This was pretty smooth sailing for the two.
The Bad: The end. Too rushed at the end and not enough closure (see closure section below)! Why couldn't there be (view spoiler)[time with them as an actual outed couple navigating their new careers on page (hide spoiler)]?!
Overall: This was an awesome surprise! I liked it. I wasn't expecting to be wowed for some reason going in, but I like being surprised this way! I think my safety gals will really like this one. Good characters, good development, and steamy sexy times! If only that ending was better...
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Nora and Theo's story. When Nora thinks she's being called into her boss's office for the promotion she's been working for, she is shocked to meet the new guy and her competitor, Theo. Theo has a chip on his shoulder and he wants it when they are told they are both up for said promotion. Their bumping heads gets too much and they lose Nora's biggest client and their boss sends them to fix things in person. They see each other in a different light and being enemies no longer applies. There are some funny moments, some sexy times, and some sweet scenes...and they get a HFN ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Nora and Theo's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good until the very end. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: No, more like hate-to-love.
H (Hero) rating: 4.5 stars. Theo. I really liked him! He was rough, judgmental, and growly at first, but turned into an awesome H!
h (heroine) rating: 4 stars. Nora. I liked her. I appreciated her smarts, independence and self confidence.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes, but mild (view spoiler)[ the h pushes away a little bit because of her past 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.
Closure: This is my biggest frustration! Why do I need to sign up for some good closure?! I would call this book a HFN ending (view spoiler)[they've moved in together (hide spoiler)] but the author offers an extended epilogue that I didn't read.
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 (mildly) pushing the H away - Does Not 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 characters. The small town feel. And the h's relationship with the dog!
The Not-So-Good: How all th4 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise. The characters. The small town feel. And the h's relationship with the dog!
The Not-So-Good: How all the drama was so easily resolved. I think that it was a little too easy to the point that it didn't feel believable.
The Bad: The heat. I wouldn't necessarily say this was "bad," but it definitely was mega slow burn, which isn't my favorite.
Overall: This was better than I thought it'd be! In the past, this author has just been kind of meh for me but with all the good reviews from my GR friends, I wanted to give her another shot. I'm glad I did! This was reminiscent to one of my faves, Kiss an Angel, with the h being out of her element but strong enough to keep barreling along. I like strong heroines, so this was a great aspect to the story for me. Overall, I liked it!
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Meredith and Jack's story. Meredith gets away from her husband that has everyone fooled is the best guy ever and runs to Texas, where her estranged half-sister lives. Only her half-sister in in Paris while her home is under renovations. She ends up becoming a housekeeper for her half-sister's grumpy (but hot) boss, because all she had with her are the clothes on her back when she escaped. There are some funny moments, some big secrets revealed, and a few sexy times...and they get a HEA ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Meredith and Jack's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well. It did end at 93% in my kindle app with a sample of another book.
Instalove: No, more of a hate-to-friends-to-more dynamic.
H (Hero) rating: 3.5 stars. Jack. He was definitely a jerk at first but he comes around and is good for the h.
h (heroine) rating: 4 stars. Meredith. I liked her sassy ways and I appreciated her strength in getting away from her ex.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes (view spoiler)[ They both push away and I'd say they both pursue the relationship at times too (hide spoiler)]
Heat level: Alright. They have some tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not very many and not so much it takes away from the story. Definitely a slow burn because (view spoiler)[they don't even kiss until 73% in my kindle app and don't have sex until 88% (hide spoiler)]
Cheating: Not IMO but... (view spoiler)[She is technically married to OM when feelings start to develop and they kiss and do other things (except sex) but they are separated (hide spoiler)]
Separation: No
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[The h is technically married to OM, h's ex was verbally abusive/gaslighter, and loss of parents (H-off page) (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This ends with a cute epilogue and what I would call a HEA ending (view spoiler)[they're married and she's pregnant (hide spoiler)]
Safety: This one should be either Safe with exception or Not Safe for most safety gang readers depending on personal preferences (view spoiler)[ - Does Not have cheating IMO (see above) - Does Not have a descriptive sex scene with OW/OM - Does have both the h and H pushing 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 (even though it has definitely been done before), the feelings development, the H and h's relationship 4 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise (even though it has definitely been done before), the feelings development, the H and h's relationships with the H's son, the side characters (to where I might read their books), and the steam!
The Not-So-Good: I had a few unanswered questions (view spoiler)[what happened with the ex after their meeting, did the h adopt the son, and what did the h end up doing career-wise? (hide spoiler)] that I was bugged were not addressed.
The Bad: I'd say the one thing I didn't like was the lack of concrete closure. Its no secret I am dang picky when it comes to my "HEA" label, but it really bummed me out that I didn't feel right unless I was consistent with my previous ratings and gave this a HFN.
Overall: This was actually a fun surprise and better than I expected! It was definitely hotter than I expected and I appreciated the connection I experienced developing. I did struggle with a few things, but overall I liked it!
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Willa and Cade's story. Cade is struggling to find a new nanny when his soon-to-be-sister-in-law suggests her best friend, Willa. Only Willa and Cade met before their introduction and had an interesting start. Cade is not trusting of females, and Willa doesn't hesitate to show him her true colors, but Cade has to hire her after witnessing her sweet interactions with his son. There is some tension, some fun banter, some hot sexy times, and some sweet moments...and they get a HFN ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Willa and Cade'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.
H (Hero) rating: 3.5 stars. Cade. I liked him, but he was a little too judgmental (especially at first) for my liking.
h (heroine) rating: 4 stars. Willa. I liked her actually more than the H. While she had her insecurities, she was comfortable in her own skin and didn't hesitate to be loyal to those she cared about.
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 ex wife comes around and causes some drama and there are a few OM that cause some jealousy for the H (but the h doesn't do anything) (hide spoiler)]
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: Yes (view spoiler)[They are separated shortly (days/week?), but there was no mention or suggestion of other partners during this time. (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[The H has a son with ex wife that she abandoned (mostly off page) and the H is ~13 years older than the h (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This ends in a good place but for consistency's sake, I would call it a HFN ending because it lacked a concrete commitment for the mcs. I'm sure other readers would be fine calling this a HEA because (view spoiler)[they have a baby (hide spoiler)], but I needed 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 and H both pushing away - Does have a short separation between the h and H - Does Not have abuse by mcs - Does Not have a HEA ending (see above) (hide spoiler)]...more
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise, the characters, the h, and the connection.
The Not-So-Good: The H not realizing what he really wanted s4 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise, the characters, the h, and the connection.
The Not-So-Good: The H not realizing what he really wanted sooner. I got a little frustrated tbh.
The Bad: The ending left me wanting. I wanted to experience (view spoiler)[the H and h properly entering/being accepted by society together, maybe them maybe playing the hiding game like he remembered of his parents with their children, and some more closure with both of their family drama (hide spoiler)]
Overall: This was a fun surprise! I enjoyed this one. I liked their dialogue and the overall story. I think I need to look into more of this author's works...
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Catherine and Luke's story. Rumors say that Luke has killed a man, so when Catherine needs to have someone dealt with, that is who she turns to. Luke remembers Catherine because, while never properly introduced, she has never backed down from his bad reputation and that has made him drawn to her. When Luke realizes that Catherine can help polish his future betrothed to be in titled society, he strikes up an agreement with her. There is a friendship formed, some lines crossed, some suspenseful moments, and some secrets revealed...and they get a HEA ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between focusing on Catherine and Luke in 3rd person narrative.
Overall Pace of Story: Good, I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: No, but they have an instant attraction and connection
H (Hero) rating: 4 stars. Luke. I liked him. I did want to shake him at a few points, but I appreciated how he took care of people and was humble.
h (heroine) rating: 4.5 stars. Catherine. I really liked her. She was smart, independent, loyal, and sassy.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes (view spoiler)[the H pushes away a good bit because he has planned on marrying and taking care of OW for a long time, but I'd also say he is the main pursuer of the relationship with the h too (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 plans on marrying OW and is upfront about it (hide spoiler)]
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: It's complicated...(view spoiler)[the OW the H decides he wants to marry loves him only as a brother type figure and cannot find a way to tell him. So, while he gets with the h and falls in love with her, he's technically not cheating on that OW. However, the mcs don't know her feelings and he does propose to this OW -- so I guess you could take it either way (hide spoiler)]
Separation: No, I don't consider them to be "together" for them to be separated
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[loss of parent/s (off and on page), the H claims to be in love with and want to marry OW (on page), domestic violence (side character off page but aftermath), mentions of rape and murder (off page), and the h is a virgin (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This ends a little abruptly with what I would call a HEA (view spoiler)[they're married and she's pregnant (hide spoiler)], though I would've really liked for a more detailed and farther glimpse into their future.
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 (I personally think, but look at spoiler tag above under cheating section for more details) - 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 mc - Does have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)]...more
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The messiness and darkness. The true H. How the twists and turns resulted in the end. 4 Stars
Combined Duet Rating: 4 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The messiness and darkness. The true H. How the twists and turns resulted in the end. The steamy scenes.
The Not-So-Good: The ending. I liked what happened in the ending! I just wanted much, much more! This was yet another one that gives us the epilogue right after the conflict resolution. I had some unanswered questions in the end and I really wanted to experience the HEA!
The Bad: The h. Still. I didn’t struggle with her as much as I did in the first book, but she still bugged me. See below h section.
Overall: This was an enjoyable duet. I appreciated the fact that it wasn’t stretched out too much as that seems to happen way too often these days so the authors can sell two books instead of one. Overall, I liked it and would recommend to anyone that likes the messy and dark romances!
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is the conclusion of Eden, Cain, and Damien’s story. Again, it’s best if you go in blind. I will, however, still make note of the summary privately if anyone wants to pm me for the spoiler details.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Eden, Cain, and Damien’s POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: No
H1 and H2 ratings: Cain and Damien. I’m not gonna say. I think it should be experienced. I will say, though, that my original predictions about these two was pretty spot on ...more
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The intrigue. The Hs. How it kept me engaged and eager to finish.
The Not-So-Good: The deviousness of so many charac4 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The intrigue. The Hs. How it kept me engaged and eager to finish.
The Not-So-Good: The deviousness of so many characters. I get that politics is a nasty business but for everyone to be so evil was disheartening. I like to believe the best in people and look at my world with those rose colored glasses, I guess ...more
Overall Opinion The Good: The characters. The maturity of the author’s voice. The banter! The side characters. Nora’s growth.
The Not-So-Good: T4 Stars
Overall Opinion The Good: The characters. The maturity of the author’s voice. The banter! The side characters. Nora’s growth.
The Not-So-Good: The sexy times. It felt odd to me. I think I might’ve even liked fade to black more than this because it was a weird in-between descriptive and not. I also felt like the author missed a big opportunity with only following Nora. I think it would’ve been really nice to get some of Charlie’s POV, especially with his family dynamics because it felt like a lot of unfinished business in the end for me.
The Bad: The ending. I don’t think it’s very fair to say it was “bad,” but it was the sole reason for my lower rating. I needed much more closure! (view spoiler)[Why not experience them in the city together? Or opening their own firm? Or anything more than what it was! (hide spoiler)] It left me frustrated tbh.
Overall: This was cute! I’m glad I didn’t let the cutesy illustrated book cover or the hype that surrounded this author to keep me from trying this book out. I enjoyed the author’s voice and her story development enough that I very well might go back and look into her other works ...more
Overall Opinion The Good: The overall premise. The characters. Their unlikely friendship. The last chapter!
The Not-So-Good: While I liked the H4 Stars
Overall Opinion The Good: The overall premise. The characters. Their unlikely friendship. The last chapter!
The Not-So-Good: While I liked the H, I wanted much more to help understand him! Was he on the ASD spectrum? He sure seemed like it. Was he just damaged from his upbringing? The air of mystery that surrounds him was fun but got a little old for me. I also would’ve really liked to have more time focused on them developing feelings! There were time jumps and references of time spent together off page that I think could’ve been handled better to get us to feel their connection more.
The Bad: While I enjoyed the last chapter, I still had too many unanswered questions in the end. (view spoiler)[What happened to True, Susana, and Rip? When and how did it go telling Milla’s family about her son? Did she make up with her siblings? Did they get justice for the other kids on the list?etc. (hide spoiler)]
Overall: I liked this! I’m happy I gave it a shot as Ms. Howard has been a little underwhelming for me with the highest rated book I’ve read of hers at 3 stars. Every once in a while I get the itch to read a romantic suspense book and this worked well for me…I might just give her another shot with the right book (if anyone has any recommendations ...more
Overall Opinion: This was a good surprise! I liked it more than I thought I would. I’m going to try something new here…
The good: I liked the ch4 Stars
Overall Opinion: This was a good surprise! I liked it more than I thought I would. I’m going to try something new here…
The good: I liked the characters. I liked their banter and hate/love type dynamics. I liked the angst. I liked that I got emotional for these two. I also really liked their HEA for a change!
The not so good: While I got through it and didn’t feel too lost, at times I felt like I needed to know the back story for the other characters in the other books in the series. It just didn’t truly feel like a stand-alone to me. There were way to many references to things that I didn’t get because I didn’t know those storylines. I would’ve also liked to have some more time with them as adults in a healthy relationship before the HEA.
The bad: The pacing. It had a lot of time jumps. Like I say below, I get that this story spans a long time period so they were necessary. I just didn’t like the way they were executed. It felt choppy and confusing at times.
Overall: This was an angsty story about two broken people that find solace and love in each other. I am a sucker for these types of stories, so this was right up my alley! I might need to try out the other books in this series because I liked this author’s voice. I liked it!
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Evie and Ridge’s story. They meet one night their sophomore year of high school in a junkyard when Evie is running away from her mom’s druggie boyfriend and Ridge is drinking off the fact that he has to rely on a brother he doesn’t know after moving across country because he doesn’t have anyone else. They both see the damage they have in each other and instantly bond even when they don’t want to. Through the years of high school they play a cat and mouse game that eventually comes to a head the summer before Ridge is set off to college. They agree to a summer fling, feelings get developed, life gets messy, there’s some sexy times, years go by…and they eventually get a HEA ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Evie and Ridge’s POV.
Overall Pace of Story: I struggled here. I get that it covered a span of about a decade, but the time jumps didn’t feel all that smooth and a lot of the time I was confused by them. I never skimmed though.
Instalove: No. Instant connection and attraction? Yes.
H (Hero) rating: 4 stars. Ridge. I liked him. I appreciated how protective he was and how he allowed himself to be vulnerable with the h.
h (heroine) rating: 4 stars. Evie. I liked her. I appreciated how she cared for those she got close to and she was a pretty tough cookie.
Sadness level: Moderate. I shed some tears but never needed any tissues.
Push/Pull: Yes (view spoiler)[ They both push away 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)[Jealousy for both from them being with OP (hide spoiler)]
Sex scene with OW or OM: No (view spoiler)[Closest is the h sees H getting bj by her hs nemesis, but this is before anything really happens between her and the H and not on page (just talked about afterwards) (hide spoiler)]
Cheating: No
Separation: Yes (view spoiler)[They are separated for over 4 years, and they both had other partners during this time. (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[Loss of a parent to OD (H- off page), drug addicted/neglectful parent (both h and H - off page), domestic violence (on page w/h’s mom and her bf), attempted rape/murder (h - off page but aftermath), casual drug use (both mcs on page), loss of a close friend (H - off page), child abandonment/poverty (h - on page), and sexual coercion (h - off page) (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This ends with two cute epilogues and what I would call a HEA ending (view spoiler)[they’re married with kids (hide spoiler)]
Safety: This one should be either Safe with exception or Not Safe 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 have abuse (not by mcs) - Does have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)]...more
Overall Opinion: This was a cute surprise! I thought it tapped into my emotions more than I was expecting. While it still could've been deeper 4 Stars
Overall Opinion: This was a cute surprise! I thought it tapped into my emotions more than I was expecting. While it still could've been deeper with the family drama and dynamics as well as how the conflict was truly resolved (especially on the H's side), I thought it was enjoyable. It was a fun college sports romance that I always tend to seek out and one-click without hesitation! The lack of closure in the ending and the vagueness of the conflict resolution are my biggest complaints-- but otherwise, it was good!
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Giana and Clay's story. Giana is on the PR team for the college football team that Clay is a star on. When Clay has a messy breakup with his high school sweetheart and he sees that Giana is struggling with a guy she likes, he proposes a fake relationship. They start out great but when Giana reveals that she's a virgin and asks Clay to give her some experience, things change between them. There is some family drama and drama with the other people, some hot sexy times, and some baggage they have to worth through...and they get a HFN ending.
Point Of View (POV): This was told in alternating Giana and Clay's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: No, they become friends to fake relationship to more.
H (Hero) rating: 4 stars. Clay. I liked him. I appreciated his loyalty and how he was always trying to help others. There was a time where I really wanted to shake him though.
h (heroine) rating: 4.5 stars. Giana. I really liked her. I appreciated her strength, smarts, loyalty, and love for smutty books!
Sadness level: Moderate. I shed a few tears but never needed any tissues.
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)[ There is an OM the h is interested in and the H's ex is around and both cause some drama (hide spoiler)]
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No (view spoiler)[ The closest is one scene where the H is trying to seem like a bad boyfriend to the h for the OM she's interested in and he does a body shot of OW and kisses her (before anything romantic happens between mcs) (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)[ addict/mentally ill mother (some effects on page but mostly off page) and virgin h (on page) (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This ends in an alright place with what I would call a HFN ending with not nearly enough closure for me. There is an epilogue that sets up what I think will be the mcs for the next book.
Safety: This one should probably 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 by mcs - Does have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)]...more
Overall Opinion: This was a fun surprise! I have decided that I like the hr stories where they are from different social classes! It adds some4 Stars
Overall Opinion: This was a fun surprise! I have decided that I like the hr stories where they are from different social classes! It adds some good angst that these stories sometimes lack. I really enjoyed their banter, I actually felt the instalove connection with their first encounter, and I enjoyed how it all was straightened out. If I had to list what didn’t work it would be that there wasn’t any of them navigating their public lives after deciding to get married and I would’ve liked to see Benedict become his own person with his “thing” if that was art or whatever — he needed to become Benedict instead of just “number 2” in his family. Otherwise, I liked this one!
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Sophie and Benedict’s story. Sophie is an illegitimate daughter of an earl and her step-mother has turned her into a servant after her father died. She sneaks out for the masquerade ball of the season with the other servant’s help and she meets and falls for Benedict. Benedict spends ~2 years searching for the mystery woman he fell for at the ball with no luck. When he is at some party, he saves Sophie from some handsy men and ends up taking responsibility for her even though he doesn’t realize she’s the woman he’s been looking for. There are some big secrets revealed, some fun banter, and some sexy times…and they get a HEA ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between focusing on Sophie and Benedict in 3rd person narrative.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: Yes, but not the kind that typically bothers me.
H (Hero) rating: 4 stars. Benedict. I liked him. I appreciated how he cared for Sophie regardless of her social standing.
h (heroine) rating: 4 stars. Sophie. I liked her. I appreciated her strength and how she (mostly) stuck to her values and remained kind even when her situation was rough.
Sadness level: Low/moderate. I shed some tears but never needed any tissues.
Push/Pull: Yes (view spoiler)[The h pushes away a lot 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 very many scenes and 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 for ~2 years, but there was no mention or suggestion of other partners during this time. (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[Verbal abuse/neglect (h - some on page) and the h was a virgin (on page) (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This ends in a good place, but I’m greedy and really wanted some more (view spoiler)[specifically of them navigating their lives together in society and interacting with their children (hide spoiler)]. I would still call this a HEA ending though (view spoiler)[they’re married with mention of some children and she’s pregnant (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 by mcs - Does have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)]...more
Overall Opinion: I enjoyed this so much more than I expected! The title sucks though tbh. I don’t get where it even comes from…maybe I missed 4 Stars
Overall Opinion: I enjoyed this so much more than I expected! The title sucks though tbh. I don’t get where it even comes from…maybe I missed something ...more
The Not-So-Good: I was not a fan of (view spoiler)[Chase (hide spoiler)] from the beginning. I also felt like the conflict was a little too drawn out but that also might have been because the ending was so quickly after it.
The Bad: If I had to say anything was "bad" it would be the lack of closure. The author offers a glimpse into this couple in another book, but that was frustrating because I had already invested over 500 pages! Why not give us a good HEA and then elaborate in that other book?!
Overall: I went in mostly blind to this book from my daughter's recommendation. I'm not sure why I put it off because I really didn't know much about it, but for some reason I had. I'm glad I finally gave it a shot! I really enjoyed parts of this, and overall, I liked it. There were a things like the ending, the slow start, and a few other small things here and there that made it not a 5 star rating -- but for a while, it felt like it might end up being one!
I'm not following my typical review format and I'm putting a spoiler tag because I really do think everyone should go into this blind ~ so click at your own risk! (view spoiler)[
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Arianna, Chase, and Noah's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Mostly good. It did start out slow and it ended abruptly, but otherwise I thought it flowed well. I never skimmed. It was on the long side (538 pages on my kindle app), but other than the beginning, it didn't feel like it.
Instalove: No
h (heroine) rating: 4 stars. Arianna. I liked her. I appreciated her strength, wit, and how self confident she was.
H1 (hero 1) rating: 2 stars. Chase. I struggled with him a lot from the beginning, but it might also be because from the beginning I was team Noah.
H2 (hero 2) rating: 5 stars. Noah. One of the best H's I've read!
Sadness level: Low/moderate. I cried but I never needed any tissues.
Heat level: Good. 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)[there is a OW that the H is good friends with and dated in high school, but they're just friends -- this causes jealousy (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes *BIG SPOILERS*(view spoiler)[ Love triangle (on page), h was a virgin (hide spoiler)], parent with medical issues (on page), loss of a loved one (on page), unexpected pregnancy/miscarriage (on page), and accident with memory loss (on page)<\spoiler>
Closure: This is where I was mostly disappointed. It ends shortly after the conflict is resolved and there isn't nearly enough closure for me. If you follow my reviews, you know that I'm picky with what I call a "HEA," so you might be fine calling it that, but I will call this a HFN ending (view spoiler)[they get engaged (hide spoiler)]. I would've really liked to have a farther glimpse into their future maybe where (view spoiler)[he has his fb career set, she's a stay at home mom, and he is coming home to her (like he had claimed was his dream) (hide spoiler)]
Safety: This one is probably either Safe with exception or Not Safe for most safety gang readers depending on personal preferences (view spoiler)[ - Does have cheating/love triangle - Does have a descriptive sex scene with the h and both Hs - 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)](hide spoiler)]...more
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