Overall Opinion: This was better than I expected! I loved experiencing the drastic chan4 Stars (Originally Read 10/22/2021)
4 Stars (Re-Read 6/25/2023)
Overall Opinion: This was better than I expected! I loved experiencing the drastic changing of dynamics between these two and how they come into their fierce love. It was traumatic, so anyone with triggers probably needs to check my trigger spoiler below and stay away. Also, yes — he was with her sister, but I think that is what makes it so much more tragic and brought on the emotions! So, if you don’t think you can handle that he was with her sister before her, I would suggest staying far away as well. I only had a few reasons for this not being higher rating. The h bordered on cruel sometimes with her hot/cold treatment of the H. It might be that I loved his character so I couldn’t tolerate his mistreatment — but it bugged me. I also wanted more time between when their conflict was resolved and the epilogue. I would’ve loved to experience them (view spoiler)[dating and out with other people (hide spoiler)]! Then there was a feature that I hate in books with cheating…(view spoiler)[the author made the h’s sister expose that she had cheated on the H (hide spoiler)]. I wish authors would leave well enough alone! There doesn’t need to be that for it to justify the mc’s actions!! Otherwise, I still liked it.
Re-Read Note:. I don't have much to add here. Same rating and same issues (h's hot and cold, the ending right after the conflict solution, and the justification). I enjoyed re-reading it. It for sure isn't a fluffy unicorn and rainbow story. It seems like I gravitate towards the messy romances like this one -- so that makes sense to me!
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Cora and Dean’s story. Cora barely tolerates her sister’s long-term boyfriend and when they both wake up in a basement chained to a pole by a madman, she learns to appreciate his presence. Dean has always loved pushing Cora’s buttons, but knows things are changing between them the longer they are forced to do things and spend fearful days under a psycho’s hold. Once they get out, neither can deny that things have changed between them and they have to navigate their trauma and new realities both together and on their own…and they get a HEA ending.
Point Of View (POV): This was broken down into parts with alternating between Cora and Dean’s POVs.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: No. They thought they hated each other before they turned into allies and then into more.
H (Hero) rating: 5 stars. Dean. I loved him. He was a great guy!
h (heroine) rating: 3.5 stars. Cora. I liked her but she was kind of cruel to the H at times where she rubbed me the wrong way.
Sadness level: Moderate/high. I shed some tears and needed a tissue here and there.
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: Yes (view spoiler)[ The H was with the h’s sister before (and some after) their abduction (hide spoiler)]
Sex scene with OW or OM: Yes, but not in the typical way (view spoiler)[ The h is forced to be with their abductor (hide spoiler)]
Cheating: Yes (view spoiler)[The H was with the h’s sister when they are forced to be intimate during their abduction and feelings have developed afterwards for emotional cheating IMO. They aren’t intimate again until after he breaks it off with the sister. (hide spoiler)]
Separation: Yes (view spoiler)[They are separated for ~8 months, but there was confirmation that neither had other partners during this time. (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[Abduction/assault/rape/murder (on page), the H was with and engaged to h’s sister for ~15 years (on page), loss of parent (off page), parent with cognitive decline (on page), loss of a dog (on page), and miscarriage (off page) (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This ends with a cute epilogue and what I would call a HEA ending (view spoiler)[they’re married with kids and dogs (hide spoiler)]
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 being forced by OM - Does have both the h and H pushing away - Does have a separation between the h and H - Does have abuse - Does have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)]...more
Overall Opinion: This was a fun read! I read a few reviews and the blurb and was immedia 4 Stars (Originally Read 4/1/2020)
4 Stars (Re-Read 2/23/2023)
Overall Opinion: This was a fun read! I read a few reviews and the blurb and was immediately sold when I saw (what I thought was) the parallels between one of my favorites, The Golden Dynasty, and this book. After reading it, I wouldn't say it's all that similar though. The only similarity I really saw was the alternate universe thing. Which is fine! This was all on its own and an enjoyable story. It was long! It didn't feel that long to me though which I also feel is a good thing. I've enjoyed this author's storytelling capabilities in the past, especially with the unusual type of romances -- and that's no different here! She wrote a strong h, an alpha H, a whole new world, and an actual complete-a-task-type-adventure for us to experience! It was fun ...more
Overall Opinion: This was still an enjoyable read! I am super happy about the big chang 4 Stars (Originally Read 4/22/2019)
4 Stars (Re-Read 9/25/2023)
Overall Opinion: This was still an enjoyable read! I am super happy about the big change that happened in the romance department and I am still loving the world and the characters! Those reasons alone have me upping my rating to 4 stars. It did, however, feel a little slow at times -- especially the beginning where it was a little too depressing which made it feel slower. It picked up a lot in the last half and ends on a pretty good cliffhanger, so I am anxious to see how this all wraps up in the last book, A Court of Wings and Ruin...
Re-Read Note: This was an enjoyable re-read. Definitely like this one and felt the pacing was much better here than in the first. Ready to jump into the third book and nothing much to add here...
**I am going to put a spoiler tag here for the rest of my review. I do not recommend continuing on with my review unless you have read the first book, A Court of Thorns and Roses, as this might have some spoilers for that book as well**
Brief Summary of the Storyline: I'm going to keep this vague in hopes of not ruining it. This is Feyre's story. It continues where the first book left off and Feyre finds her world turned upside down because she is now a faerie with unknown powers. She struggles with her new reality and has nightmares of the traumatic events she went through. There are some more big changes in her life, but she continues to work hard to protect her human family from the evil forces in the faerie world.
POV: This was told in Feyre's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: This was pretty long (735 pages in my Scribd app). It felt long, or slow, in some parts. I never skimmed, but I definitely wanted to (especially at the beginning).
Instalove: Not really, it takes a while to develop.
H rating: 5 stars. (view spoiler)[Rhys (hide spoiler)]. Called it! I was totally rooting for him in the first book, so I was super happy about this development. Love him! Soooo much better.
h rating: 4 stars. Feyre. I still like her. It was kind of hard to take her at the beginning because she was so depressed and low, but I understood why she was that way so it made be go along with it.
Sadness level: Low/moderate. I teared up a few times at the beginning, but I never needed any tissues.
Push/Pull: Yes (view spoiler)[ The h pushes away a good bit, and I'd say the H is the main pursuer of the relationship. (hide spoiler)]
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story. I still felt like it could've been better though.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW/OM drama: Yes (view spoiler)[ The h is with two different Hs throughout this story (not at the same time). There is also a scene where the H is flirting with OW to get information out of her which makes the h jealous. (hide spoiler)]
Sex scene with OW or OM: Kind of (view spoiler)[There are intimate scenes with the h and both Hs. (hide spoiler)]
Cheating: Not IMO (view spoiler)[The H of the story changes in this part of the series. The h is intimate with both H's in this book as well. She had ended things with one before being with the other, so I don't consider it cheating. (hide spoiler)]
Separation: Yes (view spoiler)[They are separated shortly (after they finally are together), but there was no mention or suggestion of other partners during this time. (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[Change of H (on page) and violence/kidnapping/captivity/depression/murder/fantasy violence (on page) (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This ends on a cliffhanger, but the final book of the trilogy has already been released.
Safety: This one is probably Safe with exception for most safety gang readers depending on personal preferences. (view spoiler)[ - Does Not have cheating (see above) - Does have a descriptive sex scene with the h and OM (see above) - Does have the h pushing the H away - Does have a separation between the h and H - Does have abuse - Does Not have a HEA ending and ends on a cliffhanger (hide spoiler)] (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)](hide spoiler)]...more
Overall Opinion: It seem like I'm actually similar in my GR friends for once! I had p 3.5 Stars (Originally Read 12/29/2018)
3 Stars (Re-Read 6/8/2023)
Overall Opinion: It seem like I'm actually similar in my GR friends for once! I had put this series off because of the whole "ghosts and reincarnation" aspect. I am a Kristen Ashley fan, but I wasn't too sure about going that far with her (and also since I haven't had much success with pnr in the past). But! After big success in the fantasy series, and especially The Golden Dynasty, I thought I needed to give it a try. I'm glad I did. The pnr aspect isn't too overwhelming, and I thought that it was more focused on the romance tbh! Just what I like! Am I going to put this in my favorites shelf? No (mainly because of the H and the epilogue). But...I'm glad I gave it a shot, I enjoyed it, and I'll definitely be looking into the other books in the series.
Re-Read Note: I find myself in a book funk lately and thought I'd give KA a shot to get me out of it with one of the other books of hers that I enjoyed (and not one of the 4ish that I re-read all the time). This was enjoyable, but I don't think it helped my funk. Either the funk is effecting how I enjoyed it or I just didn't enjoy it as much this time 'round. It was just alright. I didn't get emotional or really all that invested. I lowered my rating -- but please don't get me wrong! I didn't hate it or anything! I think I'm just hard to please these days or something ...more
Overall Opinion: Wow! I totally wasn't expecting to enjoy this one as much as I did! I 4.5 Stars(Originally Read 10/2/2018)
4 Stars (Re-Read 9/16/2020)
Overall Opinion: Wow! I totally wasn't expecting to enjoy this one as much as I did! I guess I was judging a book by its cover or something, but I was just thinking that I'd be getting some good smut along with hoping for some good banter along the way. It was that and more though! I really liked the characters and the connection between them. I appreciated the overall message of the importance of being happy for yourself and not others. It was hot! And it also hit me with the feels a few times! It has rescue dogs and kookie punk rock parents! My only reason for not giving it 5 stars was the h's ability to hold on to her grudge and not seeing the big picture with the H when he messed up. BUT I'd definitely recommend this to anyone that enjoys a good opposites attract story ...more
Overall Opinion: I saw this as a KA standalone book that I hadn't read before, and I k3.5 Stars (Originally Read 10/9/2018)
3 Stars (Re-Read 6/28/2020)
Overall Opinion: I saw this as a KA standalone book that I hadn't read before, and I knew I had to get on it! Does it measure up to the standalones in my favorite Colorado Mountain series of hers?! Not quite. It was still enjoyable though. I like the cowboy type story every once in a while, so this also fed that craving. The main characters were likable, the side characters were great, the connection to each other was spot on...but something just felt a little off. I don't even know how to pinpoint it tbh. I just didn't get that feeling that it would go on my mental "to re-read" list that I sometimes get after I finish a book of hers. Didn't hate it, but didn't love it either -- a little better than 3 "just okay" stars for me.
Re-Read Update: This was way too slow for my liking. It had a ton of time jumps and just didn’t hold my attention like I was hoping. I’m dropping my rating to 3 “just okay” stars because overall I just felt kind of meh about it ...more
Re-Read Update: I'm not going to add much to this review after my re-read, because I still feel mostly the same about the book. I did enjoy it more (hence my increase in stars) and didn't have as many issues with the h as I did before. That could very well be because I remembered how everything works out and wasn't experiencing it for the first time. Still loved the H (and pictured him as Jason Momoa ...more
Re-Read Update: I found this enjoyable for a re-read. I'm actually raising my rating to 4 stars, because I really liked the h and it provided me with a great HEA. I still wish we got some flashbacks to their relationship before and it did still feel too insta because it was insta and based on feelings from their past. It did feel a little slow at times, but I'm pretty certain that this is attributed to the nasty book funk I'm currently in the middle of...
2nd Re-Read Update: I decided to put my rating back because this felt too slow this time. I still liked the characters -- including the many side characters, but I just felt kind of meh about it all. I think that is highly attributed to the fact I've already read this a few times. That doesn't mean it was bad! Just that I don't think this is going to be one that I re-read a bunch
Overall Opinion: The only other book I've read in this series is At Peace, and I knew after reading that one I wanted to see what would happen with Mike. He was a likable character in that book, but I was happy he got Dusty here and his HEA. Dusty was flippin' amazing! I loved her outlook on life and her strength. I also appreciated the fact that the H had to grovel after he messed up and it was the h that demanded better treatment, because I feel like the roles are usually reversed in KA's books. Maybe that is why I liked this h so much! I do wish that we had a little more backstory and/or flashbacks to their relationship when they were younger just because I like the development of feelings in my books. In this it seemed like a lot of the feelings were built upon their past -- which ended up making it feel kind of instalove-y. Overall, I enjoyed the story but it's probably not going to go down as one of my favorites.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Dusty and Mike's story. The story begins at Dusty's older brother's funeral. She had left town many years ago and returns for the funeral. Mike is a policeman and still living in their hometown and has a connection to the family, so he doesn't hesitate in giving Dusty a piece of his mind about a wrongdoing he believes she has done to her family. What he doesn't expect is for her to stick up for herself and prove him wrong and for them to have a strong connection that has them ending up in bed together. Immediately, they are both in it for the long haul because they can't deny the connection that they've always felt to each other. There is a good bit of family drama, some ex drama, a budding new romance between Dusty's nephew and Mike's daughter, some suspenseful moments, and some sexy times...and they get a HEA ending.
POV: This alternated between mainly Dusty's 1st person POV and third person narrative focusing on Mike. There were some sections that were 3rd person narrative focusing on some of the other side characters as well.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: Yes. They've known each other for years and old feelings were present when they were reunited.
H rating: 4 stars. Mike. I liked him. He definitely had his moments that I wanted to shake him, but he also was good and understanding where he went wrong and making it better. He actually gave some good grovel when he messed up!
h rating: 5 stars. Dusty. Awesome h!! She's definitely up there for me with being one of my favorite KA heroines! She was so strong, loyal, and confident in who she was that I found it hard not to like her.
Sadness level: Low/moderate. I teared up some, but I never needed any tissues.
Push/Pull: Yes (view spoiler)[They both push away at times (H more so), but I would say that the H is also 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/OM drama: Yes (view spoiler)[The H's ex wife causes some drama, and the h also has an ex boyfriend that causes some drama for the couple as well. (hide spoiler)]
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: Yes (view spoiler)[They are separated shortly, but there was no mention or suggestion of other partners during this time. (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[The H had been in a relationship for (I think) 2.5 years with the h's sister and even took the sister's virginity when they were younger, the H is divorced with two children from marriage, and violence/stalking/blackmail/bullying/assault (on page) (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This had an awesomely thorough epilogue that answered all my questions and not only gave a HEA for the h and H but also for the H's daughter and the h's nephew whose relationship we experienced from the start.
Safety: This one should be either Safe or Safe with exception for most safety gang readers depending on personal preferences. (view spoiler)[ - Does Not have cheating - Does Not have a descriptive sex scene with OW/OM - Does have both the h and H pushing away - Does have a separation between the h and H - Does Not have abuse - Does have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)]...more
Overall Opinion: I was totally kicking myself when this book was recommended to me, b 3.5 Stars (Originally Read 3/12/2018)
3 Stars (Re-Read 6/15/2023)
Overall Opinion: I was totally kicking myself when this book was recommended to me, because for some reason I didn't think to look for other books that Katherine Allred authored. This is especially frustrating because one of her books, The Sweet Gum Tree, is one of my favorites! Oh well. I do think after reading the blurb and the many high reviews from my GR friends, I got my expectations a little too high. I still enjoyed it though! But, sadly, this isn't joing the other on my favorites shelf. I have to say this -- the cover is atrocious!! It had me thinking of death, and it also had me making my own predictions throughout the book that were totally off base. Ms. Allred -- you might consider an update there, just saying ...more
Overall Opinion: This was a super cute and enjoyable read! I enjoyed it, especially be 4 Stars (Originally Read 6/25/2017)
4 Stars (Re-Read 12/18/2020)
Overall Opinion: This was a super cute and enjoyable read! I enjoyed it, especially because of the H. I floved him! My heart broke for all that he went through and how misunderstood he was for his time. I also really appreciated how the h cared for him how he was, and never tried to change who he was. I would recommend this for anybody trying out the HR genre. I don't normally read the HR genre, but this has to be one of my favorites so far ...more
Overall Opinion: This was actually better than I thought it'd be! I enjoyed the characte 4 Stars (Originally Read 5/7/2017)
4 Stars (Re-Read 5/28/2021)
Overall Opinion: This was actually better than I thought it'd be! I enjoyed the characters, the setting, the suspense (IKR?!), and the romance. I did think it got a little too mushy lovey-dovey for my liking towards the end, but I didn't mind it too much as we had a lot of suspenseful and sad moments to counteract. I had no idea the horrors families go through with having albino children in Africa, so it was very enlightening as well. Overall, it was an unique story and an enjoyable read.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Rodel and Jack's story. Rodel's sister and Jack's daughter were both killed in a bombing. When Rodel goes to Africa to collect her sister's things, she learns that her sister was planning to transport some children for their safety to an orphanage/school specifically for albino children. She decides to take over her sister's job, and ends up needing Jack's assistance. Jack reluctantly agrees to help. After spending more and more time together, they find it harder to fight their attraction and end up falling in love. There are some sad and funny moments, some sexy times, and some suspenseful times...but they do get a HEA in the end.
Re-Read Note: This was an enjoyable re-read. I was in the mood to revisit this unique setting and mc circumstances again. I didn’t feel the emotions like I did the first time and I also felt like the last 20ish% super lagged to where I skimmed, but it didn’t bother me enough to change my rating. Still a good read ...more
Re-Read Update: This 4 Stars (Originally read 4/16/2017)
4 Stars (Re-Read 2/11/2019)
4 Stars(2nd Re-Read 12/2/2019)
3.5 Stars (3rd Re-Read 10/12/2020)
Re-Read Update: This was an enjoyable re-read. I'm going to keep my rating the same. I did have some issues with the h leading on Mike while still emotionally attached to Joe, but I also understood what she was doing (and Mike knew what she was doing). There were some moments where I felt the length of the book. I never skimmed, but it felt long. I also felt like that ending was a total let down and not at all up to par for what I come to expect out of Kristen Ashley books.
2nd Re-Read Update:Nothing really to add here -- still bugged about Mike, still felt a little too long at times, and the ending still let me down...but! I like these characters and their story enough to keep my rating at 4 stars.
3rd Re-Read Update: Same issues as before, but seemed to lag a little bit more and didn’t quite pack the emotional punch as it previously had. Very well could be the fact that I’ve re-read this so many times, or it could be simply attributed to my book funk ...more
Overall Opinion: This was an enjoyable read. If you want a grittier mc romance, this s 4 Stars (Originally Read 11/3/2016)
3 Stars (Re-Read 9/20/2022)
Overall Opinion: This was an enjoyable read. If you want a grittier mc romance, this series is what you need! It definitely isn't rainbows and unicorns, but I still enjoyed it. There were some actions by the h that ticked me off, but otherwise I thought that the angst and connections were pretty spot on. This has a good bit of connection to the first book, Undeniable, because we get a lot of what is going on with Deuce and Eva in this one. I'm pretty sure this can be read as a stand alone, but I would recommend reading the first book to fully understand the dynamics in this one (and it was good anyways IMO and only $0.99 on Amazon right now ;D).
Re-Read Note: This is one that I've been wanting to re-read for a while now and finally jumped into. I think it was when I re-read Own the Wind (a good while ago) and it made me think of this because it has a similar premise -- daughter of mc president and mc member. It definitely is grittier! I just didn't necessarily like how much was about Deuce and Eva and I felt like it ended way too abruptly. I wanted to experience them as an actual outed couple! I also was really frustrated with how the h treated ZZ! I don't really think I'll re-read this one again because it didn't hold up quite as much as I'd hoped and I'm dropping my rating down to 3 stars.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Danny and Ripper's story. Danny is the mc president's daughter, and Ripper is sent to pick her up from her disastrous prom. One thing led to another, and they end up spending the night together. Neither of them can deny the pull that they feel from that night, and they eventually give in and have a secret affair. There is some family and club drama, some hot sexy times, and a few sad and sweet moments too...and they get a HEA ending.
POV: This alternated between focusing on Danny, Ripper, Deuce, and Eva in 3rd person narrative. I did find it kind of odd that there was as much focus on Deuce and Eva as there was, but it worked somehow...
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I did skim very briefly during the club drama, but that is definitely a "just me" thing (because I always seem to do that with mc romances)! I thought it flowed well overall.
Instalove: Kind of. They connect instantly once they become physical, but I felt like it a was believable progression into stronger feelings.
H rating: 3.5 stars. Ripper. I felt really bad for his past trauma, and I liked the way he loved the h. I do wish he (view spoiler)[kept it in his pants during their separation (hide spoiler)].
h rating: 3 stars. Danny. I liked her, but then I had BIG issues with how she handled the H's return and treated ZZ.
Sadness level: Low/moderate. I teared up a few times, but I never needed any tissues.
Push/Pull: Yes (view spoiler)[The H is adamantly against coming out with their relationship, so in a way he pushes the h away emotionally. The H also pushes her away when some big drama goes down. They both pursue the relationship at times. (hide spoiler)]
Heat level: Moderate. They have some hot chemistry and scenes, but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
Safe sex: Yes and no. (view spoiler)[Mentions of birth control and condom use (not always). The H mentioned never being without a condom, but no mention that I remember about the h's past practices (she does use a condom with OM) or STD statuses. (view spoiler)[The h does end up unexpectedly pregnant and has an abortion during their separation (hide spoiler)](hide spoiler)]
OW/OM drama: Yes (view spoiler)[ The h is another man's old lady when the H returns, and this causes a lot of drama. The H had a club whore that he was regularly with in the past, and she causes some drama too. (hide spoiler)]
Sex scene with OW or OM: Yes (view spoiler)[ There is a descriptive scene of the h and OM. There is mentions of the H's sexual activities, but I don't remember any descriptive details. (hide spoiler)]
Cheating: Yes (view spoiler)[ The h is another man's old lady when the H returns and she sleeps with the H. So, she cheated on the OM in my book. (hide spoiler)]
Separation: Yes (view spoiler)[ They are separated for ~1 year. They both have other partners during this time (H hooks up randomly and h becomes another man's old lady). (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[ 14 year age difference between h and H, H had been mutilated with a knife and is missing an eye (flashbacks), rape (flashbacks), violence/murder/drugs (harder but typical mc stuff), unexpected pregnancy, and abortion. (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This had a cute jump ahead epilogue with a HEA ending.
How I got it: I paid the $3.99 on Amazon.
Safety: This one is probably Not Safe for the safety gals. (view spoiler)[ - Does have cheating - Does have a descriptive sex scene with h and OM - Does have the H pushing the h away - Does have a ~1 year separation between the h and H - Does have abuse (not by mcs) - Does Not have OTT sad parts - Does have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)]...more
2nd Re-Read Notes: This was an enjoyable re-read for 4 stars (original rating)
3.5 Stars (Re-Read 10/4/2016)
3.5 Stars (2nd Re-Read 3/18/2019)
2nd Re-Read Notes: This was an enjoyable re-read for me. I was in the mood for some KA and one where there were kids and the mcs meet each other on page. This was a surprisingly hard combo to find in her books! If anyone has any recommendations-- I'm all ears! My rating will stay the same. I didn't have issues with the h like I seemed to with the first re-read, but I did find it slow and dragging this time 'round. I also was still annoyed with the OM all vying for the h's attention. I counted 6 this time with the man in the bar, Coert, Mickey, Henry, Amond, and Boston! Kind of OTT in my opinion. Overall an enjoyable re-read to fit my current mood, but still won't be going down as one of my top KA books.
Overall Opinion: This was an enjoyable read for me. Did I love it? No. Is it going down as my favorite Kristen Ashley book? No (that is reserved for Sweet Dreams). It was definitely reminiscent of the Colorado Mountain series, but it just wasn't as good IMO. I found the h's quirkiness fun for the most part, but it also got old after a while. I also felt like the OM drama was a little too much (I mean -- we get it! She is a classy, sweet, and attractive female! Do we really need to have 4 OM vying for her attention at some point in the story?!?).
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Josie and Jake's story. Josie is back in Magdalene, Maine for her grandmother's funeral. She is shocked find out that her grandmother left her to Jake in her will. They form a friendship of sorts while Jake helps her out through the grieving process. That friendship grows into more, and they fall in love. There is some OW and OM drama, some family issues, a lot of sweet and sexy moments, a few sad times...and they get a HEA ending.
POV: This alternated between Josie and Jake's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Ok. I did actually find it a little slow. *gasp* I know! I typically like the length of KA books, but this one dragged at times. I never skimmed though.
Instalove: Kind of. The had an instant connection, but it took a long time for them to share "I love yous".
H rating: 4 stars. Jake. I liked him. He was the typical KA hero, with a little more protectiveness (if that's possible ;D).
h rating: 3.5 stars. Josephine/Josie. I enjoyed her, but her monologues got a little tedious.
Sadness level: Low/moderate. I teared up at times, but I never needed any tissues.
Push/Pull: Yes (view spoiler)[ The H pushes the h away and just offers friendship at first, but then slowly pursues more with her. The h pushes away at one point (that causes their short separation). They both pursue the relationship at times. (hide spoiler)]
Heat level: Moderate. They have some hot chemistry and scenes.
Descriptive sex: Yes.
Safe sex: Yes and no. No condoms were used the first time, but they were used every time after (until H was tested and h has been on birth control). I don't remember any mention of past practices.
OW/OM drama: Yes (view spoiler)[A good bit of it tbh. There is 2 OM that actively pursue the h, an ex hook-up/now friend that's around, and the h's employer professes his love for her after 20+ years of her having feelings for him. The H's ex is delusional in thinking that they'll get back together, and she is around because she has 2 kids with him. All of these do add some level of drama to the story. (hide spoiler)]
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No (view spoiler)[ The h's boss does profess his love and kisses her after she had been with the H. I didn't consider it cheating, but some might (hide spoiler)]
Separation: Yes (view spoiler)[They are separated for something like 2 days, and there is no mention or suggestion of other partners during this time. (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[The H has been married and divorced 3 times prior to meeting h, he has 3 children with 2 of his ex wives, h had past abuse by father and ex-boyfriend, loss of a loved one, and loss of a friend to cancer. (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This had good closure with a jump ahead epilogue and a HEA ending.
How I got it: It was part of my scribed subscription.
Safety: I'd say that this should be either Safe or Safe with exception 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 very short separation between the h and H - Does Not have abuse in present tense (but mentions of past abuse) - Does Not have OTT sad parts - Does have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)]...more
*Re-Read/Listen update: This was an enjoyable audiobook. I felt like the4 Stars (Originally Read 8/29/2016)
4 Stars (Re-Read/Listen Audiobook 7/2/2019)
*Re-Read/Listen update: This was an enjoyable audiobook. I felt like the narrator did a great job with the different voices and storytelling. I enjoyed the story again and realized that KA is an author that I need to seek out her stories for long road trips because her audiobooks are so long! It worked for this trip for sure! I enjoyed the story the second time around too. Yes, both mcs ticked me off again with being stubborn -- but I felt like that was balanced well with the good stuff to make it forgivable. I'm going to keep my rating at 4 stars, because I do feel like I liked it again.
Overall Opinion: I am really liking this series! I'm not quite sure why I put it off for so long, but I'm so happy I gave it a chance. I started out with it being an audiobook, but I was so into it I had to download the ebook to read along. It is really low drama for being a "mc romance", but that's ok with me because that means it's higher on the romance side. Hop was a pleasant surprise for me, because with experiencing him in Motorcycle Man along with Tyra -- I wasn't that huge of a fan of his tbh. They were an awesome couple, a little frustrating at times with their stubbornness, but awesome! I was smiling and happy when I finished with their HEA :)
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Lanie and Hop's story. Lanie has been around Hop because her best friend is married to his mc's president. They have always been friendly, but Lanie decides to take it a step farther and proposition him for a ONS. He accepts, but doesn't agree to the "one night" part of their agreement. They start a hot secret affair and stronger feelings start to develop. There is some major baggage that they have to work through, a little family and mc drama, some hot sexy times...and they get a HEA ending.
POV: This was told mainly in Lanie's POV with a few chapters in Hop's.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed, and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: No. They've known each other for years.
H rating: 4.5 stars. Hop. He's going up there in my top favorite KA heroes (with Tate and Tack still being my 1 & 2). He was unexpectedly sweet and gentle with the h, but also the typical hot alpha family man that I come to expect in KA books.
h rating: 4 stars. Lanie. She was a little crazy, but I liked her crazy.
Sadness level: Low. No tissues needed.
Push/Pull: Yes (view spoiler)[ The h just wanted a ONS, but the H wasn't having that. There is a time when both the h and H push away, and both of them pursue at varying times. (hide spoiler)]
Heat level: Moderate. They have some hot chemistry and scenes.
Descriptive sex: Yes
Safe sex: Yes. There is mention of condom use, std status, and birth control. I don't remember any mention of past practices.
OW/OM drama: No (view spoiler)[ The closest is that they both carry baggage from their relationships with their exes. (hide spoiler)]
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No (other than mention of side characters cheating).
Separation: Yes (view spoiler)[ They have a short separation, and there is no mention or suggestion of other partners during it. (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[The H's fiancé was murdered in front of her (past tense memories), the H was married before and cheated on, alcoholic parent, cheating parent, and some mc violence (mild). (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This had a great epilogue that made me feel happy because they got their HEA :D
How I got it: I got the audiobook through my scribed subscription, and the ebook on loan through my library.
Safety: I think this should be Safe for most 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 (not sure how long - few weeks total?) - Does Not have abuse - Does Not have OTT sad parts - Does have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)]...more
Overall Opinion: I had put this off for a while n3.5 Stars (Originally Read 5/29/2016)
3.5 Stars (Re-Read 8/21/2021)
3.5 Stars (2nd Re-Read 11/25/2022)
Overall Opinion: I had put this off for a while now, and I'm not really sure why. It might be that I saw such mixed reviews and I thought I might have huge issues with the H like I did in A Ruthless Proposition. I did have huge issues with the H. He was a jerk of the biggest kind, and I cried at how he made the h feel! BUT once things came to light as to certain misconceptions he had about his marriage, I actually sympathized with him and ended up liking him more than the h! The h irritated me at times with her grudges. And it get it! Mean words can cut deeper than physical! But she took it to a level that became annoying to me. She's the reason for it not being a 4 star read. Oh, btw! I thought this narrator on KU was amazing! I hope I'll find more audiobooks with her in the future :)
Re-Read Note: I decided to revisit this one after one of my GR friends said that this is one of their most re-read books. I still cried through a lot of this and I felt the unrequited love drama that I (masochistically) enjoy, but I’m going to stick with my initial review and rating. I ended up rolling my eyes at the h a few times towards the end about her not communicating and making assumptions and I also still felt a hate/like connection with the H. Overall, I enjoyed the re-read but it’s not making its new home on my favorites shelf.
2nd Re-Read Note: Nothing really to add here -- I enjoyed it, shed a few tears, and rolled my eyes/got annoyed with the h again! I honestly don't know why, but for some reason around holidays I seek out the angst and this was one I instantly thought of...
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Theresa and Sandro's story. This story starts when Theresa has had enough of the indifference and mistreatment she is getting from Sandro, and asks for a divorce. He demands that she give him a son in exchange for the divorce. She starts pushing away and makes big efforts to not take is mistreatment anymore. After some startling discoveries about the events that lead up to their marriage, both of them start to look at each other in different lights. They have some major obstacles to get over, but they do get a HEA ending.
POV: This was told in Theresa's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: No. They are married at the beginning of the story with their own feelings mostly developed.
H rating: 3.5 stars. Sandro. I hated him at first with a passion, but I actually ended up liking him more than the h! If that's not good storytelling I don't know what is!
h rating: 3 stars. Theresa. I had some issues with her stubbornness, and that she didn't just have outright conversations about what was bothering her instead of being passive aggressive at times.
Sadness level: Low/moderate. I personally cried a good bit when she was being hurt by the H, but I don't think everyone will. I've always been a crybaby in the unrequited love type scenarios.
Push/Pull: Yes (view spoiler)[ The H takes out his resentment about their marriage on the h by treating her poorly, but once he realizes that she didn't have anything to do with it he is distraught about his behavior. He then actively pursues her and tries to get her to forgive his behavior and love him again. The h does pushing away because of his past mistreatment of her up until the end. (hide spoiler)]
Heat level: Moderate. They have some good chemistry and scenes.
Descriptive sex: Yes
Safe sex: No and yes. They are trying to get pregnant, and then condoms are used when they aren't.
OW/OM drama: Yes (view spoiler)[ There is a woman back in Italy that the H had previous relations with that he thought he loved when he first got married to the h. The h believes that he still loves this OW, and some of his family is still adamant that he still loves her too. He claimed that he stopped having feelings for her and never had anything physical with her after he was married to the h. (hide spoiler)]
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: (view spoiler)[ No. Though the h believes that the H had other partners. When he thought she was part of the arrangement, he would parade other women in front of the media -- but he claimed to never have done anything with them. (hide spoiler)]
Separation: Not technically (view spoiler)[ They are physically separated when he goes to Italy, but they aren't broken up. (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Mild (view spoiler)[ Borderline emotional abuse, arranged marriage, and loss of a parent. (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This had a cute epilogue with a HEA ending.
How I got it: It was part of my kindle unlimited subscription.
Safety: Safe/Safe with exception 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 (maybe borderline emotional abuse before story started) - Does Not have OTT sad parts - Does have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)]...more
Well, I had finished Law Man not that long ago and thought I needed to go back and give this one a try. Sa3 Stars (Read 5/10/2019)
DNF @ 19% (8/2/2016)
Well, I had finished Law Man not that long ago and thought I needed to go back and give this one a try. Sadly, it didn't work out so well.
I hated the way the h was expected to just get over what the H had done to her. (view spoiler)[ He was an undercover DEA agent and was investigating her and her relationship with her ex (who ended up being some big drug distributor). He dated her for 4 months under a false identity, and even slept with her! (hide spoiler)]. She was upset about it and the H leaves her alone for 3 months and then shows up and says "you're done being mad" and then she was!! I know, I know -- it's the typical KA pushy, alpha man. But it just didn't work for me AT ALL in this one. I felt like he needed to do some major groveling, or at least acknowledge how hurtful his behavior was.
I also didn't like that we start the book already into their relationship. I like to experience the development of feelings, and both the h and H seem to already have strong feelings from the start.
Kristen Ashley is one of my favorites, so I won't be quitting on her now...but I just have to pass on finishing this one.
**5/10/2019 Update**
I needed an audiobook to listen to and this book came up. I've had some pretty decent success with Kristen Ashley books as audiobooks in the past and even though I couldn't even finish this the first time, I thought "why not?" and gave it another shot. I was in the mood for some old school KA especially after (the train wreck that was) The Slow Burn. After listening to this enough (and I think the audiobook delivery made it more tolerable too) to get past the cringeworthy beginning and what bothered me so much the first time I read it, I downloaded this ebook from my library to start reading. I won't lie. I still had some major issues with how they were reunited. I skimmed a good bit because of it. I still didn't like how the H didn't really grovel and just told her to "move on" without really acknowledging that he did something hurtful. It also had a lot of OW/OM drama that I know other people don't like (their exes), but honestly doesn't bother me too much. Otherwise, this had the old KA vibe that I was looking for with the bevy of side characters/family and the right amount of suspense to keep me interested. I still struggled, it's not going down as one of my favorites -- but I got through it and I didn't really hate it either...so I'm going with middle of the road 3 Stars. ...more
Overall Opinion: Well, I'm a little underwhelmed with this one. Its no secret that I'3 Stars (Originally Read 1/25/2017)
3.5 Stars (Re-Read 8/14/2021)
Overall Opinion: Well, I'm a little underwhelmed with this one. Its no secret that I'm a KA fan, so I'm sad to rate this one so low. I just couldn't get into the H at all -- and that is usually my favorite part of KA's books! Yes, he had the typical jerky, alpha attitude...but he was also too secretive, and I didn't like the way he pushed the h away. I also wasn't satisfied with the level of grovel here. I wanted more! The epilogue was cute. But for the queen of HEAs, again, I was underwhelmed. I know that some people loved this, but it just wasn't my favorite -- but keep in mind that for me 3 stars ain't bad ;)
Re-Read Note: I was looking for a KA re-read that wasn’t my typical re-read and this came up while browsing my shelf. I’m glad I re-read it because I liked it better this time, but I still didn’t love it. I agree with my initial assessment and that I didn’t get into the H as much as I would’ve liked. I got emotional for the h and how he was keeping secrets that ended up hurting her and I didn’t think he groveled nearly enough. I did, however, like the epilogue here even though I would’ve liked some time between the conflict resolution and the epilogue. So! I’m not sure this will be one I re-read again tbh, but I’m raising my rating some because I think I liked it more this time round.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Kia and Sam's story. Kia is released from her Hell of an abusive marriage when her husband is murdered. She takes off to travel Europe, and is shocked when she is seated next to her celebrity crush. She tries hard to ignore him, but Sam won't let that happen and asks her out. They end up in a whirlwind romance that follows them back to the states. They both have some major baggage that they have to work through in order to find their HEA (which they do).
POV: This was told in Kia's POV. I think the story would've benefited greatly by letting us get some of Sam's POV! It might've made him more relatable/likable and would help us understand his reasoning for his behavior/secrets.
Overall Pace of Story: Ok. The ending felt a little abrupt, but otherwise it flowed well and I never skimmed. In typical KA fashion, this is on the long side @ 712 pages in my scribed app.
Instalove: Kind of. Instalust, and an instant attraction. They don't share ILYs until later in the book though.
H rating: 2.5 stars. Sam. Sadly, I think he's one of my least favorite KA heroes. He said nasty things (which isn't all that unusual for KA), he kept secrets, and he pushed the h away too much for my liking. I get that he finally shared with her, but I didn't feel like it was enough for what he did.
h rating: 4 stars. Kia. I liked her. She was pretty strong considering all she went though. I liked her loyalty and sense of humor.
Sadness level: Low/moderate. I cried a few times, but not so much I needed tissues or it to turn into an ugly cry.
Push/Pull: Yes (view spoiler)[The H pushes away emotionally until close to the very end. The H is also the main pursuer of the relationship. (hide spoiler)]
Heat level: Moderate. They have some good chemistry and scenes, but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
Safe sex: Yes (view spoiler)[They use condoms until std status is checked. The h is on birth control, and they don't fully mention their previous practices. (hide spoiler)]
Separation: Yes (view spoiler)[ They are separated for ~1 month, and there is no mention or suggestion of other partners during this time. (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[Domestic violence, murder, h was cheated on my her husband, loss of a spouse, ptsd, and loss of a loved one with being stuck in the grieving process (side character). (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This had pretty good closure. Not the best KA ending, but still better than a lot of books. I would call it a HEA.
How I got it: It was part of my scribed subscription.
Safety: This should probably be either Safe or Safe with exception depending on personal preferences. (view spoiler)[ - Does Not have cheating - Does Not have a descriptive sex scene with OW/OM - Does have the H pushing the h away - Does have a ~1 month separation between the h and H - Does have abuse - Does Not have OTT sad parts - Does have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)]...more
Overall Opinion: I always enjoy Kristen Ashley, and always have expectations when p 4 Stars (Originally Read 10/17/2015)
3.5 Stars (Re-Read 11/4/2019)
Overall Opinion: I always enjoy Kristen Ashley, and always have expectations when picking out her books. I expect strong characterization for our main characters, great side character relationships, true love type connections, drama and even suspense at times, and sweet moment that make me happy...and I got all that with this book. As a mom, I also always love when her characters have interactions with kids...so that aspect of this book didn't disappoint either. The only reason I have it as a 4 instead of a 5 star read is that the ending seemed a little drawn out. Not the jump ahead epilogue type parts -- but the part before that felt like it could've been edited down to me.
*Re-Read Update*: I enjoyed it, but like I said in my original review, it felt too drawn out in the end. It also felt a little too mushy. I still liked it though! ...just probably isn't going to be one of my go-tos for a KA re-read
Storyline: This is Sylvie and Creed's story. They meet one night when Sylvie is taking a walk to get away from her Dad fighting with her step mom, and Creed is doing the same with his Mom and her boyfriend. They bond instantly once they realize that they have this big thing in common. They build an amazing connection over the years that just continues to grow. When Sylvie finally turns 18, they have a plan to run away together and start new lives together away from their parents. Only Creed doesn't show up when and where they were supposed to meet. Some other things happen that I don't want to ruin, but we get to the part where they are reunited 16 years later while assigned to partner on a job assigned by Knight (from the first book in the series, Knight). There are truths revealed, adjustments to be made, and lots of happy times to make up for...but the couple do all of that and get their HEAs.
POV: This was primarily in Sylvie POV, and Creed's POV for a few sections.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. KA books always run on the long side, but I never feel it. I always breeze right through. I did have some issues with the ending (before the epilogues) moving along too slow, but I didn't feel the need to skim. No instalove for sure, since they have known each other since Syvie was 6 and Creed was 11, but we do get them 16 years later when the feelings are already developed (but we do get flashbacks to give us the development of those feelings).
H rating: 4 stars. Creed. I liked his ability to put Syvie in her place, but at the same time wait patiently for her to get there. He was really sweet at times, and an overall good man.
h rating: 4 stars. Sylvie. I loved her bad_ss ways, she was extremely loyal, sweet when she needed to be, and I loved her relationship with Knight, and Charlene (and her kids) too.
Sadness level: Moderate. I did tear up a few times, as it covers some heavy themes.
Heat level: Moderate. Typical KA with a good bit of sexy times, but not so much that it takes away from the story.
Possible Triggers: (view spoiler)[ Rape - mentions of it, domestic abuse - both h and H grew up around it. (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This had a complete HEA. It didn't have an epilogue per se, but it had many time jumps so we can see their happiness through different milestones and it was sweet.
Worth the $?: It was part of my scribed subscription, so yes! But at $3.99 on Amazon, I'd still say yes....more
Original Review:I hate this. I've never given KA such a low rating, but this was just ki3 Stars (Originally Read 9/12/2015)
2 Stars (Re-Read 7/29/2020)
Original Review:I hate this. I've never given KA such a low rating, but this was just kind of meh for me. I think I messed up in reading this as the first in the series. I thought the storyline was interesting, so I went for it. In the past, I've read some of her books out of order and have been fine like reading Motorcycle Man and then Mystery Man...but I was given a lot of information in this one that I feel probably ruined the other ones for me. I liked both the H and h, but I didn't get the full impact of their connection. I'm convinced it's because I didn't read the others and didn't experience their friendship before the second book book. I kept on pushing myself to finish (which is a lot of pages -- typical KA), and I did finish it. I drew the line at the epilogue though. It was about our h and H but also ties up all the other couples in the series, and I didn't want to ruin the chance I might try other books in the series in the future. I'm sure if I had read those I would have loved it, because I am all about a good epilogue! I truely feel like this was on me and not KA writing skills, so I'm not going to do my typical review. Sorry for the low rating.
Re-Read Note: Welp. That felt like it took 5 years to finish! It was a watered down version of Complicated, but I think this came out before that one...so maybe that book is a better version of this one ...more
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