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
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The potential for angst with the premise
The Not-So-Good: The h and her communication skills
The Bad: The H and his w2 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The potential for angst with the premise
The Not-So-Good: The h and her communication skills
The Bad: The H and his words/actions and especially how the crazy OTT OW's behavior took away some of his accountability for them
Overall: This was rough for me. I didn't necessarily like either character. I didn't get emotional like I hoped to with the angsty potential of this premise. While I'm not fully opposed to the cheating storyline every once in a while, mainly for the potential angst, but this H was infuriating. I don't think what he did, or mostly said, was forgivable for me. The h put up a good fight for a bit, but didn't communicate enough for him to know what her issues were. The OW was OTT manipulative and vindictive to the point I was rolling my eyes. A good bit of my GR friends enjoyed this, so it very well could've been a me thing since I seem to be in a rut rn...
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Isla and Cillian's story. They are each others first love and when Cillian moves away to start his professional hockey career, they both feel as though they will be just fine with long distance. Only there is another woman that always seems to be around and the phone calls and promises seems to be falling short after a while. When Isla finds out he cheated one her, she blocks him out of her life, and it isn't until ~4 years later that he's now of the professional hockey team that her dad coaches and she works for that she has to reveal some big secrets herself. There are a good bit of secrets revealed, some fighting, some sexy times...and they get a HEA ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Isla and Cillian's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Okay. I skimmed a good bit after about the 70ish% mark because I was bored and irritated at that point.
Instalove: No, they still have feelings from before
H (Hero) rating: 2 stars. Cillian. I struggled with him. I didn't think he had any room to be so mad at the h after his words/actions
h (heroine) rating: 2.5 stars. Isla. She was alright, I wanted her to be stronger and communicate better though.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes (view spoiler)[they both push away (h more so) and I'd say they both pursue the relationship (H more so) at times (hide spoiler)]
Heat level: Alight. They have some tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story. I honestly skimmed most of these scenes because I was irritated.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Yes
Sex scene with OW or OM: Yes (view spoiler)[ see spoiler below and there are other nude pictures of the H with this OW the h gets sent from OW (hide spoiler)]
Cheating: Yes (view spoiler)[the H cheats on the h, unknowingly confesses to some of it when she overhears, and FaceTimes the h while OW is giving him a hand job (hide spoiler)]
Separation: Yes (view spoiler)[They are separated for ~4 years, and both mcs had other partners during this time. (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[Cheating - emotional and physical (on page), bullying by OW (mostly off page), drugging/assault with a weapon/stalking (mostly off page), and unexpected pregnancy/secret child (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This had a decent ending with what I would call a HEA ending (view spoiler)[they're married with children (hide spoiler)], but tbh I was skimming a lot by that point so I really just fully read the (view spoiler)[daughter's pov (hide spoiler)]epilogue
Safety: This one is probably Not Safe for most safety gang readers (view spoiler)[ - Does have cheating - Does have a descriptive sex scene with the H and OW - Does have both the h and H pushing away - Does have a ~4 year separation between the h and H - Does Not have abuse by mcs - Does have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)]...more
Brief Opinion: This was wayyyy too long. It became boring and I skimmed from about 70% to the end and I don't feel like I missed out. I wDNF @ 70ish %
Brief Opinion: This was wayyyy too long. It became boring and I skimmed from about 70% to the end and I don't feel like I missed out. I was forcing myself to continue at that point and I don't know why I felt the need to get that far. Maybe because I liked the first part and the characters. It just wasn't enough to stick with it until the end for me. I'm sure other readers will like this, and I think it definitely could've been better with some major editing down, but it's just wasn't my cuppa ...more
The Bad: How everything was just thrown in but not given the attention it ne2.5 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise.
The Not-So-Good: The end.
The Bad: How everything was just thrown in but not given the attention it needed.
Overall: I honestly don't know what to say about this. This felt so all over the place. The pacing, the multiple characters (old and new), and the story in general. It felt like maybe the author was on a deadline but wasn't at all prepared and just threw some stuff together. I didn't feel their connection. I felt like I liked the h way more in the first book of this series than this one. I felt like the conflicts were thrown in way too late and not addressed completely, or enough, to do them justice, especially considering how intense they were. It also felt like everything in Ms. Kennedy's bag of tricks were thrown in here. It overall felt....sloppy.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Diana and Shane's story. They know each other because their best friends are married. When Shane moves in next door and accidentally tells his ex that he's been stuck on that he has a girlfriend, Diana steps in to help him out. She asks him to return the favor because her ex won't take the hint and leave her alone. Diana also convinces Shane to be her dance partner for an upcoming competition after her partner left her hanging. There are some funny moments, some sad moments, and some sexy times...and they get a HFN ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Diana and Shane's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: All over the place. I was bored in some parts and then it felt super rushed at times too.
Instalove: No, more like hate-to-love at least for the h
H (Hero) rating: 4 stars. Shane. I liked him. I appreciated how he cared for others.
h (heroine) rating: 3 stars. Diana. She was okay. I just didn't like how she judged the H and took so long to see him.
Sadness level: Low/moderate. I shed a few tears but never needed any tissues, but I can see where others might be more emotional.
Push/Pull: Yes (view spoiler)[ the h pushes away a good bit and I'd say that 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)[ both the h's and the H's exes cause some drama (hide spoiler)]
Sex scene with OW or OM: Yes, but...(view spoiler)[the h and H have sex in front of their friend and he gets himself off, but doesn't touch them or get close (hide spoiler)]
Cheating: No
Separation: No
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[ Domestic violence (on page), Loss of a parent to cancer (on page), and a scene with OM watching them be intimate (on page) (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This ends kind of abruptly with what I would call a HFN ending. I definitely felt like we needed more closure.
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 have a descriptive sex scene with OM with both mcs - 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)]...more
Quick Overall Opinion: This was alright read. It dragged at times, had a little too much smut, and had a really lackluster ending. Otherwise it3 Stars
Quick Overall Opinion: This was alright read. It dragged at times, had a little too much smut, and had a really lackluster ending. Otherwise it had some cute hate-to-love moments with the potential to get deep and tap into the feels with the H's past trauma. I just feel like it didn't quite get there. Fixing everything with their sexual chemistry felt....boring tbh. I know that probably sounds harsh but it is what it is ...more
Quick Opinion: This was pure smut. Nothing wrong with that and I should've known better when discussing being naked together was in the blurbDNF @ 49%
Quick Opinion: This was pure smut. Nothing wrong with that and I should've known better when discussing being naked together was in the blurb! I just needed more. More substance, more romantic connections past sex, just...more. I saw the writing on the wall for some soap opera drama with Liam's ex being (view spoiler)[Sebastian's sister (hide spoiler)] and I wasn't into it.
If you're looking for some smut with a GFY theme, this might work great for you! It sadly wasn't enough for me and I'm honestly surprised I read this far......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
**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 characters, the banter, the premise.
The Not-So-Good: The pacing. The depth of feelings as a reader.
The Bad: T2.5 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The characters, the banter, the premise.
The Not-So-Good: The pacing. The depth of feelings as a reader.
The Bad: The lack of real conflict and the ending.
Overall: This was cute and I definitely liked the beginning, where it sucked me in, the most. It was just a little too fluffy for me. It was too underdeveloped for some things and even felt rushed at times and this feels like it was because of the length. For example, their shared "ILYs" seemed sudden even though I'll admit they were headed that way. Not a win for me, but I'm sure others will really enjoy it!
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Abbi and Weston's story. They've both been crushing on each other as Abbi is a waitress at Weston's hockey team's after game hangout bar. When Abbi overhears that Weston offers himself up as a fake date for Thanksgiving, she decides to hire him because she needs a buffer to her uncomfortable step-step family's event. Weston isn't eager to have it end at Thanksgiving and ends up asking Abbi to act as his fake girlfriend for Christmas with his uncomfortable family dynamics. They start up a friends with benefits relationship that has them developing stronger feelings, there is some past baggage they have to work through, and there are some sexy times...and they get a HFN ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Abbi and Weston's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Alright. I thought this flowed well and I never skimmed, however, it was on the short side (245 pages on my kindle app) and I thought it could've been longer to include either more of a conflict, depth, or more closure.
Instalove: No, they take a while to develop stronger feelings (though their mutual crushes started before this happened)
H (Hero) rating: 3.5 stars. Weston. I liked how positive he always was and kind, but I also wanted him to allow himself to be a little vulnerable more often.
h (heroine) rating: 3.5 stars. Abbi. I appreciated her strength and how hard she tried to get past all the crappy life circumstances she was given, but I also wanted her to stick up for herself a little more.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes (view spoiler)[they both push away emotionally and they both pursue the relationship at times. (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)[an ex ONS comes to the H's house and expects more and the h overhears it all (hide spoiler)]
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: Kind of, but very short (view spoiler)[They are separated very shortly (day/s?), but there was no mention or suggestion of other partners during this time (though they were not really official to make it a separation) (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[Sexual harassment (on page), loss of a parent (off page), parents with hostile divorce (partially on page), and the H was a manwhore/against relationships before the h (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This ends in an alright place but I would've liked a farther jump ahead to get what I would consider a HEA. I would call this a HFN ending.
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 (short) separation between the h and H - Does Not have abuse by mcs - Does Not have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)]...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 side characters.
The Not-So-Good: The chemistry. It might be because it was pretty much fade to b2.5 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise. The side characters.
The Not-So-Good: The chemistry. It might be because it was pretty much fade to black, but I also felt the emotional chemistry was lacking.
The Bad: The drama with the girlfriend and the mom's boyfriend. It was a little eye roll inducing.
Overall: This was a little less than 3 "just okay" stars. I feel weird saying this, but it was oddly too much dialogue. I know that I sometimes struggle when books are too much inner thoughts, but this was the opposite. I felt like it was all dialogue! I also didn't really feel their connection and I'm surprised I stuck with it, especially with the ott mom's boyfriend drama.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Keira and Dante's story. Dante is in town to rehab his shoulder after a potential professional baseball career ending injury. He meets Keira in a bar in the small town when she mistakes him for her date from a dating website. They hit it off instantly but the timing is bad for both of them. There is some family drama, some girlfriend drama, and some personal baggage they have to work through...and they get a HFN ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between focusing on Keira and Dante in 3rd person narrative.
Overall Pace of Story: Alright, it did feel slow at times but I never skimmed
Instalove: No, they take a while to develop stronger feelings
H (Hero) rating: 3 stars. Dante. He was alright.
h (heroine) rating: 3 stars. Kiera. She was alright too.
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: Super mild. They have some mild tension, chemistry, and non-descriptive scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Not really, pretty close to fade to black
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Yes (view spoiler)[the H is dating OW when he meets h and the OW causes a lot of drama for the couple (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[ the H has a girlfriend when they meet and they kiss (on page), loss of parent (off page), emotionally abusive/negligent parent (off page), and blackmail/murder/stalking/arson (side characters) (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This had alright closure but not nearly enough for me to call it a HEA, so I'm calling it a HFN ending (view spoiler)[they share "ILYs" and make plans to move in together (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 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 Not have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)]...more
The Not-So-Good: The ending. Why not have his dream come true??
The Bad: The conflict. It was super a2.5 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise.
The Not-So-Good: The ending. Why not have his dream come true??
The Bad: The conflict. It was super annoying and even a little confusing. I also thought the romantic chemistry was lacking once they started their arrangement.
Overall: I really should've trusted my gut with this one. I wasn't all that invested when I finished the sample, and I should've just moved on. I struggled a good bit to even finish this. I know lots of readers will love this, but it simply isn't my cuppa.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Charlotte and Burke's story. Burke finds out that he inherited his best friend's grandparents old house when he and his wife die unexpectedly. Burke was recently forced into retirement after an injury in professional football and he isn't all that thrilled to take over the falling apart historical home. Charlotte was working with Burke's best friend and wife to historically restore this home and she'll do just about anything to keep her job. They butt heads but form a friendship of sorts that turns into a FWB situation. There is some heavy baggage for them both to work through, some sexy times, and some interesting side characters...and they get a HFN ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Charlotte and Burke's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Alright. It did feel slow at times but I never skimmed.
Instalove: No, they butt heads at first.
H (Hero) rating: 2.5 stars. Burke. I liked him alright until the conflict.
h (heroine) rating: 3.5 stars. Charlotte. I liked her strength and smarts.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes (view spoiler)[ the H pushes away and I'd say they both pursue the relationship at times (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 (weeks?), but there was no mention or suggestion of other partners during this time. (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[ Loss of loved ones, controlling/combative/emotionally abusive parents (off page), and H is divorced (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This ends in an alright place that I would call a HFN ending but I'm sure others will be fine calling it a HEA (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 by mcs - Does Not 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
Overall Opinion: I'm bummed with this one. I felt like it was a little too much inner dialogue, and not enough interaction. While I really did 3 Stars
Overall Opinion: I'm bummed with this one. I felt like it was a little too much inner dialogue, and not enough interaction. While I really did enjoy the characters themselves, I didn't fully feel their connection to each other. I know that I usually need to feel the connection well for a low steam book to work for me, but sadly I didn't get that here and it felt lacking in the steam department as well. Don't even get me started on that epilogue! What was that?! I liked the side character whose POV it was told in, but I wanted more closure with the mc's relationship instead! I'm so tired of sounding like a broken record with the lack of good closure in books, so I'll just say I was disappointed 😕
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Olivia and Memphis's story. They meet when Olivia reluctantly returns home after her world gets turned upside down. Memphis is training under her uncle as a fighter in her family's gym. She has seen the ugly side of loving a fighter first hand with her mother so she is not interested in following in her footsteps, but the pull towards one another is too strong to fight. There are some big secrets revealed, some family drama, and some sweet moments...and they get a HFN ending.
POV: This alternated between Olivia and Memphis's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good until the ending. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well otherwise.
Instalove: No
H rating: 4.5 stars. Memphis. I really liked him! He was a great combination of sweet, protective, and hot!
h rating: 4 stars. Olivia. I liked her. She was pretty strong considering all she had been through.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Not in the usual way.
Heat level: Mild. They have one scene -- so it is pretty low on the heat.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW/OM drama: No (view spoiler)[But -- The h does have to deal with her exes mess after being with the H (hide spoiler)]
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: Not really. Once they get together they stay together.
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[ Neglect/emotional and physical abuse/criminal activity/murder/child abandonment (off page), assault (on page), homelessness of vet side character, and parent with a stroke. (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This was another book that I felt completely ripped off with the ending! The epilogue was told in a side-character's POV, and while I liked that character I felt like it wasn't enough! I would call this a HFN ending (view spoiler)[they are going to get 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 Not have the h or H pushing away - Does Not have a separation between the h and H - Does have abuse - Does Not have OTT sad parts - Does Not have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)]
Merged review:
3 Stars
Overall Opinion: I'm bummed with this one. I felt like it was a little too much inner dialogue, and not enough interaction. While I really did enjoy the characters themselves, I didn't fully feel their connection to each other. I know that I usually need to feel the connection well for a low steam book to work for me, but sadly I didn't get that here and it felt lacking in the steam department as well. Don't even get me started on that epilogue! What was that?! I liked the side character whose POV it was told in, but I wanted more closure with the mc's relationship instead! I'm so tired of sounding like a broken record with the lack of good closure in books, so I'll just say I was disappointed...more
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise, the very beginning, and the steam.
The Not-So-Good: The end. The connection to the characters.
The Bad2.5 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise, the very beginning, and the steam.
The Not-So-Good: The end. The connection to the characters.
The Bad: The attempt of having the H be a bully type character when they meet again at school. Also the mushiness and mom drama towards the end.
Overall: The first part of this book? I mostly enjoyed it. While I did find the author's attempt at making the H a bully type character confusing and a little cringey at times, I did enjoy the silly high school peer and relationship drama. The rest of the book is where I really struggled. They are separated and then reunited again and this is where it took a sharp turn downhill for me. The fact that it was a 2 year separation was pretty ridiculous when we get the reasoning for it. Then it was super mushy and even repetitive in the inner thoughts. Then the crazy h's mom drama was frankly weird and it felt disconnected from the rest of the story. I guess if I was asked for one word to describe how I felt at the end of reading this, it would be confused ...more
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise, revisiting the old characters, and the chosen family/teammates dynamics.
The Not-So-Good: The speed in 3 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise, revisiting the old characters, and the chosen family/teammates dynamics.
The Not-So-Good: The speed in which the drama was resolved towards the end. It was like someone hit the fast-forward switch and all sorts of things got ironed out very quickly
The Bad: The lack of emotional connection. There were some elements here that I felt had the potential for tapping into the feels, but didn't quite get there.
Overall: This still is not up to par with the Off Campus series where the h's parents get their story told. I think I've been waiting for that success from Ms. Kennedy every time I see a new release from her and jump right on it, but sadly I don't feel they are ever as good. I didn't hate it or anything, but I didn't necessarily connect emotionally like I wanted to either. It was a just okay 3 star read for me.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Gigi and Ryder's story. Ryder's school closes down and his hockey team is being absorbed by their rival, Briar college, where Gigi is a hockey player too. Ryder gets assigned as co-captain along with Gigi's ex and the two teams are not meshing at all. Ryder really wants the opportunity to help coach a charity hockey camp with Gigi's famous father and Gigi desperately wants to earn a spot on the US Olympic team, so they work out an agreement to get what they both want. Only they start up something else too when the tension gets too high and they start a friends with benefits agreement that eventually turns into more. There is some past baggage they both have to deal with, some current drama, and some sexy times...and they get a HEA ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Gigi and Ryder'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: 4 stars. Ryder. I liked him. I appreciated how he became vulnerable and opened up towards the end.
h (heroine) rating: 3 stars. Gigi. I liked her independence and self confidence, but she ticked me off a little when/how she pushed the H away
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
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)[ the h's ex is a co-captain of the H's hockey team and is still trying to win her back (hide spoiler)]
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: Not really. They get in a fight, but not necessarily "separated"
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[ H witnessed his father killing his mother when he was young (off page), H was in abusive foster homes (off page), and the h was cheated on by her ex (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This ends in a pretty good place but I would've like a farther glimpse into their future to see how it all worked out (view spoiler)[they're married (hide spoiler)]. I would call this a HEA ending.
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 banter and the steam.
The Not-So-Good: The lack of grovel from the H2 when he pushed away and just basically tha3 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The banter and the steam.
The Not-So-Good: The lack of grovel from the H2 when he pushed away and just basically that whole conflict situation was not so great.
The Bad: The ending. How it went from conflict resolution straight to the epilogue. Even the epilogue was lackluster. I also wanted much more depth for these two mcs!
Overall: This was smutty fluff. Not hating! It just didn't have much depth in the feelings and there was a lot of sex. I just found it kind of meh tbh where I tend to really enjoy the friend to more mm storylines. I also started this series here and while I didn't have issues following along, there were a lot of references to other characters that I didn't really get or understand the purpose of.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Tanner and Luke's story. They've been close friends for a while but when a dare makes them see each other differently, lines get crossed. They become secret friends with benefits and develop stronger feelings. There are some funny moments and some sexy times...and they get a HFN ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Tanner and Luke's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Mostly good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well for the most part (except the very end).
Instalove: No, they've been close friends for a while though.
H1 (Hero #1) rating: 4 stars. Tanner. I liked him more because he was brave to be vulnerable and communicated better.
H2 (Hero #2) rating: 3.5 stars. Luke. I liked him but he also ticked me off when he pushed away.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull:y Yes (view spoiler)[the H2 pushes away and I'd say they both pursue the relationship at times (hide spoiler)]
Heat level: Hot. They have some hot tension, chemistry, and scenes -- and a lot of it. I would say this is tippy-toeing that line into erotica for me because there were times where I think it was the main focus and did take away from the storyline.
Separation: Yes (view spoiler)[They are separated shortly (weeks?), but there was no mention or suggestion of other partners during this time. (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Not really
Closure: This ends in an alright place but I would call it a HFN ending because I needed much more (view spoiler)[they've shared "ILYs" and it says they moved in together in the epilogue (hide spoiler)]. This is yet another one that ends right after the conflict is resolved.
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 H2 pushing the H1 away - Does have a short separation between the H1 and H2 - Does Not have abuse - Does Not have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)]...more
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise, the friendship to more, the supportive side characters.
The Not-So-Good: The depth. I wanted to know th3 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise, the friendship to more, the supportive side characters.
The Not-So-Good: The depth. I wanted to know these characters a little deeper. I liked them! I just felt like I could've liked them more.
The Bad: The lack of a conflict. I need something! I guess for them it was (view spoiler)[the distance they had to deal with (hide spoiler)], but I didn't feel like it was a true conflict they work through together.
Overall: This was some cute smutty fluff. Nothing against it! Just don't go into this expecting something deep or angsty -- and I'm sure you'll enjoy it!
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Burk and Shaw's story. They've been best friends, teammates, and housemates for a while when a special delivery makes them cross the line into more. They start a hot fling that turns into more when they realize how much they care about one another. There is some hot sexy times, some big life changes, and some sweet moments...and they get a HEA ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Burk and Shaw's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: No, they're best friends before this begins.
H1 (Hero #1) rating: 3.5 stars. Burk. I liked him and how he cared for the H2, but I wanted a little more depth in his character.
H2 (Hero #2) rating: 3.5 stars. Shaw. I liked him and his positivity but I also felt like we could've gotten more deep into his character.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Not really
Heat level: Hot. They have some hot tension, chemistry, and scenes. It did feel like a lot at some points to where it was taking 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)[Sibling with health issues/homelessness as a kid (off page) and verbally abusive parent (mostly off page) (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This ends in a good place and 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 Not have the H1 or H2 pushing away - Does Not have a separation between the H1 and H2 - Does Not have abuse - Does have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)]...more
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise, the banter, the sex scenes, and the side characters!
The Not-So-Good: The lack of grovel. Yes, he did3.5 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise, the banter, the sex scenes, and the side characters!
The Not-So-Good: The lack of grovel. Yes, he did do a big statement and she was not necessarily upset with him because she owned her mistakes, but I thought it needed more because he was hurtful!
The Bad: While I commend the author for tackling such heavy topics that she did here with both mc's pasts, I felt like it wasn't fully addressed in a way that felt sloppy. Why introduce them all and briefly focus on these things not to give us good closure for them?! And the h's family bomb at the end just was weird and frankly I didn't feel it was necessary. I think that was the author's attempt and closing some doors, but there were way too many issues and these being serious issues that were left wide open and unanswered....it felt kind of like she bit off more than she could chew.
Overall: This was better than I expected! I'm going with a rating better than "just okay," but with my issues I mention above, I don't think I can justify a higher rating.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Francesca and Tucker's story. They meet at a masquerade sex club and have an anonymous hot night together. Only they soon find out that they live in the same building and even though both of their lives are chaos, they are drawn to one another in a way neither of them can deny. There are some hot sexy times, some secrets revealed, and some big life changes...and they get a HEA ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Francesca and Tucker'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. Tucker. I liked him but I wanted so much more for him! I wanted to experience him working through his issues and grovel more in the end.
h (heroine) rating: 4 stars. Francesca. I liked her. I liked her confidence and comfort in who she was and how loyal and her wit with those she cared about.
Sadness level: Low/moderate. I shed some tears but never needed any tissues.
Push/Pull: Yes (view spoiler)[ They both push away and also pursue the relationship at times (H more so) (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 2 exes come around pursuing her and the H is friends with his ex and she's around and tries to imply to the h that they're more than friends (hide spoiler)]
Sex scene with OW or OM: No (view spoiler)[ the H does kiss ex (and h sees) after the club but before they realize who each other are (hide spoiler)]
Separation: Yes (view spoiler)[They are separated shortly (week/s?), but there was no mention or suggestion of other partners during this time. (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[Child abandonment/bipolar parent/suicide of parent/domestic violence/foster home issues (off page but discussed), H is on depression/anxiety meds (on page), and unexpected pregnancy (on page) (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This ends with a cute epilogue and what I would call a HEA (view spoiler)[they're married with children (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 between mcs - Does Not have a descriptive sex scene with OW/OM with mcs - Does have both the h and H pushing away - Does have a separation between the h and H - Does Not have abuse by mcs - Does have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)]...more
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