Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise & road trip adventures.
The Not-So-Good: The lack of steam. I get why it didn't have it, but I think i2.5 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise & road trip adventures.
The Not-So-Good: The lack of steam. I get why it didn't have it, but I think it could've helped with the chemistry.
The Bad: The ending was too abrupt and I wanted more closure.
Overall: This was a Disney movie. Not that this is bad! I just didn't think it was going to be so tame and fluffy. I have read retellings before and didn't seem to have this struggle, so I was kind of disappointed overall. Great for a recommendation for a reader new to the genre and is still scandalized by sex scenes, but also was kinda too fluffy for an old veteran like me ...more
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The banter and chemistry.
The Not-So-Good: How the h allowed others to treat her at the beginning (she does come arou3 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The banter and chemistry.
The Not-So-Good: How the h allowed others to treat her at the beginning (she does come around though)
The Bad: The H's attitude at first (he does give good grovel at the end)
Overall: This definitely was more morose than I had expected. It has a big trigger of a parent with cancer, so if you are like me and had that experience yourself, consider yourself warned! I enjoyed parts of it, but others not so much. I didn't necessarily love the H's POV at first since he was so deep in his denial that he even thought like a douche and not only acted like it. I'm honestly kind of torn on how to rate this one, so I'm going with middle of the road 3 "just okay" stars.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Maddie and Chase's story. Maddie is trying to move on with her date when she comes home to find her ex on her doorstep. Chase's dad is sick and he needs Maddie to pretend to still be with him because his family (and he) needs her, so he uses her sweet nature to ask her to pretend for a while. Maddie reluctantly agrees because she still cares for him and his family even though things ended bad between them. There are some sad moments, some funny scenes, and some sexy times...and they get a HEA ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between (mainly) Maddie and Chase's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: I did find the beginning a little slow, but otherwise it was good. I never skimmed.
Instalove: No, but residual feelings were there from when they were together before the book.
H (Hero) rating: 3 stars. Chase. He was pretty damaged from his past relationship (see trigger spoiler tag below), but I really wanted to shake him because he was in such strong denial for most of the book.
h (heroine) rating: 3 stars. Maddie. I liked her and I appreciated her growth as a character, but I wanted her to be stronger in the beginning.
Sadness level: Low/moderate. I shed some tears but it was mainly because I had lost my mom to cancer and this brought up some feels.
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 is casually dating OM when the H approaches her for help, but she was open in communicating what the situation with the H was with the OM (hide spoiler)]
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: Not technically (view spoiler)[ see trigger spoiler tag below and the h was kind of dating OM that she kissed but was open with him about her situation with the H (hide spoiler)]
Separation: Yes, they are separated before the story begins (view spoiler)[They are separated (off page). The h dated OM (but only kissed him and was forcing it) and the h's coworker that's also the H's neighbor told her that there were different OW coming and going from his home during this time (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[Loss of a parent/parent with cancer (on page), the h thinks he H cheated on her (view spoiler)[she was waiting in his apartment for him and he knew it and allowed her to believe he was with another woman that he brought with him because he was having cold feet about the relationship they had when he realized how deep they were getting (hide spoiler)], and the H was cheated on by his ex fiancé that married his cousin that was raised like his brother (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This ends in a good place with what I would call a HEA ending (view spoiler)[they're married with a baby (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 (see above) - 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 off page before the story starts - Does Not have abuse - Does have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)]...more
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 premise, the humor, the characters, and the steamy scenes.
The Not-So-Good: The fact that in order to get the ex4 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise, the humor, the characters, and the steamy scenes.
The Not-So-Good: The fact that in order to get the extended epilogue, I had to sign up for the author's newsletter-- pet peeve of mine for sure.
The Bad: If anything would be considered "bad" I'd say that it's the fact that we don't get the H's POV. I think this prevented me from fully connecting with him. I know we got other people's opinions on him to help shape our opinion, but I didn't feel like it was enough-- I wanted to know what he was thinking many times.
Overall: This was much better than expected! There were a few things that I think could've brought it to a higher rating for me (more closure in the end, the H's POV, and more connection with side characters). That being said, I liked it! Good surprise as it tapped into my emotions, had some hot steamy times, and left me with a smile.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Jamie and Jackson's story. Jamie has been working for a matchmaking agency and on Jackson's case for over 8 months when she and her coworkers decide to send her on a date incognito to see what really was the problem. Only Jackson finds out who she really is and she finds out that her initial thoughts of him sabotaging the dates was true. Jackson's aunt is basically blackmailing him into using the service, and now she demands that he work with Jamie on what they call an immersion program that requires her to be his shadow, living with him and being his dating coach, for a month. There is some butting of heads, some secrets revealed, some funny moments, and some sexy times....and they get a HEA ending.
Point Of View (POV): This was told in Jamie's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: No, more like a hate-to-friends-with-benefits-to-more
H (Hero) rating: 3.5 stars. Jackson. I liked him but I really wanted more into his psyche and I think having his POV could've really helped with that, because I don't feel like we got as deep into his character as I would've liked.
h (heroine) rating: 4 stars. Jamie. I liked her. She was sassy and said it like it was but not in an annoyingly bitchy way.
Sadness level: Moderate. I shed some tears but never needed any tissues -- this was a surprise!
Push/Pull:Yes (view spoiler)[ They both push away and I'd say the H is the main pursuer of the relationship (hide spoiler)]
Heat level: Hot. They have some hot tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Yes (view spoiler)[there are a few OW that the H goes on dates with (per his requirement) that cause some jealousy, and one OW tries to kiss him but he doesn't allow it (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This ends in a cute place with what I would call a HEA ending (view spoiler)[they're married (hide spoiler)]
Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers (view spoiler)[ - Does Not have cheating - Does Not have a descriptive sex scene with OW/OM - Does have both the h and H pushing away - Does Not have a separation between the h and H - Does Not have abuse by mcs - Does have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)]...more
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise, the humor, the side characters
The Not-So-Good: The epilogue being right after the conflict was resolve3 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise, the humor, the side characters
The Not-So-Good: The epilogue being right after the conflict was resolved -- which always bothers me
The Bad: The H's switch (see below)
Overall: This was better than I thought it'd be, but still was not as good as I now think it could've been. I was really bothered by the lack of on page work on the H's issues and how a switch just seemed to be flipped and it was all okay. I get that we were getting to the ending of the book and the author needed to tie things up, but it felt waaay too easy and kinda unbelievable. It tapped into my emotions at times, which was unexpected, but that switch had me frustrated in the end. I thought it was overall 3 "just okay" stars
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Lynsey and Josh's story. They meet when Josh confronts Lynsey for working in the hospital cafeteria for months on her thesis where he a doctor. They meet later that day through mutual friends and end up having a hate filled ONS. Only months later after an epically failed tinder date, they meet again when Lynsey is in the ER and they find out that she's pregnant with his baby. There is a lot of life changes, a bunch of personal baggage they have to work though, and some sexy times...and they get a HEA ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Lynsey and Josh's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: No, more like hate-to-lust-to-friends-with-benefits-to-more
H (Hero) rating: 2.5 stars. Josh. I struggled with him. I understood he had trauma but I didn't like how he was so detached and then did a complete 180.
h (heroine) rating: 3.5 stars. Lynsey. I liked her a little more than the h but I also wanted her to be a little more understanding at times (especially as a psychologist) or at least demand better from the H for their child.
Sadness level: Low/moderate. I shed some tears but never needed any tissues.
Push/Pull: Yes (view spoiler)[ they both push away (H more) and also 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 (few days?), but there was no mention or suggestion of other partners during this time. (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[Loss of a loved one/psychological trauma (off page), unexpected pregnancy (on page), and the H is ~7(?) years older than the h (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This ends with a cute epilogue and what I would call a HEA ending (view spoiler)[they're married and 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 short separation between the h and H - Does Not have abuse - Does have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)]...more
The Not-So-Good: The ending was cute but not the best.
The Bad: The lack of connection to anything (mcs2.5 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise
The Not-So-Good: The ending was cute but not the best.
The Bad: The lack of connection to anything (mcs, their connection, side characters, world, etc)
Overall: This was disappointing. I felt like it was just a ACOTR ripoff...and not in a good way. I'm fine with authors taking inspiration from other authors, because I think that just happens. But this was hard to follow or at least get into at first because the world wasn't presented in a smooth way -- enough that I was even wondering if I missed a book at one point. I just didn't feel the connection between the mcs and they didn't have hardly any enjoyable side characters to relate to either. I struggled to finish this tbh and I'm sad I'm in the minority yet again.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Opal and Dade's story. There is a war going on and it is between the two types of fae and, as a strategy to get more military help, Opal's dad offers her hand in marriage to a human prince. Only the other fae attacks and things go wrong. Opal finds herself with the other fae's king and they are connected in an unexpected way. There are some suspenseful scenes, some sexy times, and some big changes...and they get a HEA ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Opal and Dade's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good for the most part. I did skim some, but that was mostly because I was bored.
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise and Holden's (side character) relationship with the h
The Not-So-Good: The lack of connection I felt tow3 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise and Holden's (side character) relationship with the h
The Not-So-Good: The lack of connection I felt towards the characters.
The Bad: The ending was very much focused on setting up the next book, which is a pet peeve of mine (and I ended up skimming tbh)
Overall: This was alright. It took me a while to read and I think that alone says a lot. I wasn't all that eager to get back to it when I would get distracted. I guessed pretty much right away who the bad guy was and his motives, so that took away from it for me too. I felt indifferent towards the characters, and that became a struggle when being motivated to finish this. It seems like I'm in the minority yet again, so it very well could be the book funk I find myself in where I'm not feeling all that inspired...
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Evangeline and Phoenix's story. Phoenix surprises Evangeline by showing up at her parents' party for her birthday after being in prison for years. They have a past together that makes her all of a sudden having to marry him complicated. Phoenix is out for revenge after Evangeline put him in prison and forcing her to marry him is one of the first steps. They also have a mysterious stalker that is very much contributing to their relationship. Some major secrets get revealed, some old feelings come rushing back, and there are some sexy times...and they get a HEA ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Evangeline and Phoenix's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good for the most part. I did end up skimming here and there because I wasn't really engaged.
Instalove: No, but residual feelings are there from before.
H (Hero) rating: 3.5 stars. Phoenix. I liked him more than the h, but barely.
h (heroine) rating: 3 stars. Evangeline. She was alright. I think I didn't really feel one way or the other about her.
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: No
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: Not between the mcs on page
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[Blackmail/Assault/Kidnapping/Drugging/Attempted Murder (on page), murder/loss of a loved one/imprisonment (off page), and the H was going to marry the h's sister (view spoiler)[more of a help a friend out thing and not romantic/intimate (hide spoiler)](hide spoiler)]
Closure: This ends in a good place with what I would call a HEA ending (view spoiler)[they're married (hide spoiler)]
Safety: This one should be either Safe or Safe with exception for most safety gang readers depending on personal preferences (view spoiler)[ - Does Not have cheating - Does Not have a descriptive sex scene with OW/OM - Does have both the h and H pushing away - Does Not have an on-page separation between the h and H - Does Not have abuse by mcs - Does have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)]...more
Quick Opinion: This was disappointing. So disappointing that I don't even feel like writing my typical review. It was anticlimactic. They fin2.5 Stars
Quick Opinion: This was disappointing. So disappointing that I don't even feel like writing my typical review. It was anticlimactic. They finally get together and it's over. I hate that! I didn't even cry and I was expecting to, so that in itself was disappointing. It's definitely Not Safe for my safety gang gals, since there is cheating.
Quick Opinion: This was the end of the duet and I felt like it was just alright. It was full of miscommunication (which already isn't my favori3 Stars
Quick Opinion: This was the end of the duet and I felt like it was just alright. It was full of miscommunication (which already isn't my favorite) and then when they finally communicated, it was the end of the book. And then! I needed to sign up for a newsletter to get an extended epilogue! While I was greatly tempted because I had invested in these characters by reading two books for this, I didn't because I had already invested by reading two books! Nowhere near enough closure. Their conflict was resolved at the very end and there were so many unanswered questions. I also wanted to shake both mcs to just talk to one another! I would call this a HFN ending (view spoiler)[they've shared "ILYs" and she moved back from Paris (hide spoiler)]. I didn't hate it, but I'm definitely in the minority because I didn't love it. I might read the 3rd book because it's about side characters, but only if I know I get a HEA for them...
Safety: I would call this Safe with exception depending on your personal preferences. **BIG SPOILERS**(view spoiler)[Drug use/abuse/addiction (mostly off page), cutting (on page), unexpected pregnancy/miscarriage (off page), parent with health issues (on page), the H got injured in the military (off page), the mcs are step-siblings, and the h was with many other men (off page) while the H was celibate during their ~4 year separation (hide spoiler)]...more
Brief Opinion: This was intriguing. This had me engaged enough to want to go to the next book. While it did tap into my emotions, I wanted mo3.5 Stars
Brief Opinion: This was intriguing. This had me engaged enough to want to go to the next book. While it did tap into my emotions, I wanted more. I'm hopeful that I'll get that in the next book, the final book of this duet, This Life and All the Rest. They were completely dysfunctional, but I do like dysfunction sometimes. On to the next...
Safety: Probably Not Safe(view spoiler)[Cheating (H at least kisses OW who is his on again off again f-buddy and the h sees after they have kissed and established feelings, and there is an OM that is pursuing the h that it could be considered she cheats on emotionally with the H - on page), loss of a parent to OD/bipolar (off page), drug/alcohol abuse/use/addiction (on page), child abuse/abandonment (off page), and the h's dad and the H's mom get married making them step siblings (on page) (hide spoiler)]...more
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise and the story's potential.
The Not-So-Good: The ending. I know I didn't sign up for the extended epilogu3 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise and the story's potential.
The Not-So-Good: The ending. I know I didn't sign up for the extended epilogue because I'm stubborn like that, but it wasn't enough closure the way it was written for me.
The Bad: The lack of emotional connections to both the characters and the story itself.
Overall:This was alright. I wanted more of an emotional connection to the story than I got, because this had some great potential to be a pretty angsty read. I liked the characters, but they too felt lacking. I wanted more depth all around I guess. I didn't hate it, but I definitely am part of the minority, yet again it seems, in not loving it ...more
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise and banter.
The Not-So-Good: The h.
The Bad: The off page slight time jumps that took the place of on pag3 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise and banter.
The Not-So-Good: The h.
The Bad: The off page slight time jumps that took the place of on page connection between the mcs -- it felt like I was just told they connected instead of experiencing it with them.
Overall: This was alright. I'm honestly surprised I made it through because the beginning was slow and I didn't really like the h. I liked the premise and banter, so I think that's what had me sticking with it. I would've liked more time with them connecting on page because I do feel like some of that was done off page in slight time jumps. This, potentially, would've made me feel their connection to each other more, which is probably my biggest issue.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Duffy and Riggs story. Duffy catches Riggs in a compromising position with her married high-profile boss and takes advantage of the situation by blackmailing him into marriage for her visa that is about to expire. Riggs agrees to it to get his own boss off his back and to prevent it coming out that he is the billionaire he is. They bump heads and eventually give into their attraction to become f-buddies while married and waiting for the immigration meeting and end up catch feelings for the first time with one another. There is some ex drama, some secrets revealed, some baggage they both have to work through, and some sexy times...and they get a HEA ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Duffy and Riggs POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good for the most part. The beginning felt slow. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well otherwise.
Instalove: No, more like hate-to-f-buddy-to-more
H (Hero) rating: 3.5 stars. Riggs. I liked him but he really was immature a lot of the time.
h (heroine) rating: 3 stars. Duffy. I struggled with her a lot at first but I appreciated her character growth by the end.
Sadness level: Low/moderate. I shed a few tears but didn't get as emotional as I thought it would.
Sex scene with OW or OM: Yes (view spoiler)[there is a scene at the very beginning of the H and the h's boss, who is his f-buddy (hide spoiler)]
Cheating: Not between mcs
Separation: Yes (view spoiler)[They are separated shortly, and both said there were no other partners during this time. (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[Loss of a parent/child abandonment (off page), loss of a parent to Huntington's Disease (on page), cheating by side character (off page), the H was a manwhore before the h (mostly off page), and growing up in poverty (off page) (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This ends in a cute place with what I would call a HEA ending (view spoiler)[they're still married and she is pregnant (hide spoiler)]
Safety: This one should be either Safe with exception or Not Safe for most safety gang readers depending on personal preferences (view spoiler)[ - Does Not have cheating - Does have a descriptive sex scene with the H and OW - 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
Quick brief opinion: This felt like filler to me. I think it's the stereotypical cursed 2nd book in a series. It felt like not that much happen3 Stars
Quick brief opinion: This felt like filler to me. I think it's the stereotypical cursed 2nd book in a series. It felt like not that much happened except the h being a little annoying with holding her anger way too long, a bunch of steamy scenes, and a climactic cliffhanger to get us to get the next book. Was it still enough for me to go on to read the next book now? Yes. But I feel like I'm toeing that line of calling it quits if it doesn't pick up soon...
Safety This should be safe for my safety gang gals...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
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise and the side characters.
The Not-So-Good: The lack of chemistry.
The Bad: The lack of emotional connect2.5 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise and the side characters.
The Not-So-Good: The lack of chemistry.
The Bad: The lack of emotional connections. The abrupt ending.
Overall: This had the potential of being a fun fantasy story but I struggled to connect to the characters and I don't think it was all that romantic. Yes, they form feelings for each other. But I didn't feel any emotional connection to those feelings. I didn't feel anything past entertained by the fantasy aspect/different world/kingdom politics of it. It might be because of the lack of steamy scenes, but I don't think so. Even the kissing scenes were very meh. Since the scenes are towards the end and the whole book had mostly been told by that point, I would expect some tension or feelings of something with those kisses! Nope, just meh, they kissed ...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
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise and first part of the story.
The Not-So-Good: The pacing.
The Bad: The mush.
Overall: This was cute. I can3 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise and first part of the story.
The Not-So-Good: The pacing.
The Bad: The mush.
Overall: This was cute. I can see where many readers might love this. I honestly liked the first half-ish better because of the angsty feelings I got. Once they get together, it felt like a totally different story to me. It was too fluffy/mushy. While I can appreciate that they were exactly what each other needed, it was a little too quick and easy after that. I didn't hate it or anything, but I just felt like it was alright.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Chloe and Warren's story. Chloe finds out she is the next of kin for her biological mother's newborn. She knows that by being adopted herself after being taken away from her mother, that she has to step up for her new sibling and do all that she can. She gets approved as a guardian for all the requirements but steady income since she is a freelance graphic designer, so she gets paired up with Warren, who is in the same boat with his 15 year old brother and needs housing that Chloe already has secured. They move in together and while it is rough at first, they start to develop feelings,.... and get a HEA.
Point Of View (POV): This was told in Chloe's POV (with epilogue in Warren's).
Overall Pace of Story: It was alright. Once they got together, it got a little too mushy for my tastes and felt slow. I skimmed a little here and there because I didn't feel like anything was happening.
Instalove: Kind of, more like hate-to-love but it was like a switch was flipped
H (Hero) rating: 4 stars. Warren. I liked him. I appreciated how he cared for the h, her sister, and his brother. He did have his own issues, but he did seem to try to do the right thing by them.
h (heroine) rating: 3.5 stars. Chloe. I liked her strength and kindness. I did appreciate her character growth, especially because she didn't stick up for herself very well at first.
Sadness level: Low/moderate. I shed some tears in the first parts but never needed any tissues.
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[Addict parent/child abandonment/loss of parent to overdose/growing up in foster system (off page), anger issues (H mildly on page), and H's brother and h's adopted dad are deaf (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This ends with a cute jump ahead epilogue with what I would call a HEA ending (view spoiler)[they're married and have adopted the h's sister (hide spoiler)]
Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers (view spoiler)[ - Does Not have cheating - Does Not have a descriptive sex scene with OW/OM - Does have both the h and H pushing away - Does Not have a separation between the h and H IMO - Does Not have abuse by mcs - Does have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)]...more
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise, the suspense, the pacing up until the very end.
The Not-So-Good: The chemistry/romantic connection. I g3 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise, the suspense, the pacing up until the very end.
The Not-So-Good: The chemistry/romantic connection. I get that they had a lot going on otherwise, but I would've liked some more tender moments for the romantic connection to shine through.
The Bad: The ending and lack of closure.
Overall: This was an enjoyable duet. I didn't feel like it was enough though tbh. I was drawn to this because it looked like it was 2 books for their story to be told (which it seems isn't al, that usual for fantasy), but I didn't get nearly enough closure and I definitely wasn't happy with their ending. I guess I could continue on with the series, but I'm disappointed that it didn't end in a place where I felt that was necessary! Any recommendations for a fantasy stand-alone or short series would be appreciated!
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Lara and Aren's story. It continues where the last book ended and Lara is now the "traitor queen." When she finds out that Aren has been taken by her father in a more than likely attempt to lure her to him, she is eager to save him. There are some secrets revealed, some kingdom politics they have to navigate, and some suspense...and they get a HFN ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Lara and Aren's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good until the end. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well otherwise.
Instalove: They're already in love when this begins.
H (Hero) rating: 3 stars. Aren. He was the king of mixed signals. He didn't know what to do with the h and I found it a little frustrating at times.
h (heroine) rating: 3.5 stars. Lara. She was a fighter for sure! "Little cockroach," while such an ugly nickname, was pretty well suited!
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes (view spoiler)[ the H pushes away for most of the story and I'd say the h is the main pursuer (hide spoiler)]
Heat level: Alright. They have one scene.
Descriptive sex: Yes and No, not super descriptive.
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: No
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: Yes (view spoiler)[They are separated for a while, but there was no mention or suggestion of other partners during this time. (hide spoiler)]
Closure: This ends kind of abruptly and with what I would call a HFN ending (view spoiler)[they've shared "ILYs," the H's kingdom is in an alright place, and the H has said he wants her to stay (hide spoiler)]. I was worried when I hit the 91% mark on my kindle app and it wasn't looking like I was going to get the closure I liked (especially after 2 books), and I was sadly right. Nowhere near enough for me!
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 and the side characters.
The Not-So-Good: The lack of conflict and emotional connection for me as a read3 Stars
Opinion Breakdown The Good: The premise and the side characters.
The Not-So-Good: The lack of conflict and emotional connection for me as a reader.
The Bad: I wouldn't necessarily say this was "bad," but the fact that the HEA epilogue was right after the conflict was resolved is one of my pet peeves.
Overall: This was a cute, quick read. Nothing too memorable tbh since I even had to remind myself of their names when writing this review (granted I did sleep in between ...more
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