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theblackstepford's review against another edition
I just didn’t care. Sparked no interest. Didn’t care to finish. Didn’t care about the characters.
jigsawgirl's review against another edition
2.0
I gave it two stars because I liked Dylan. I liked Madison. enjoyed their back and forth, the wittiness, the sarcasm, the build-up of sexual tension. What I didn't like was when the story became ridiculous.
I thought the storyline was moving along and then Maddy got the call from her boss. The book went downhill from there into a level of ridiculousness I couldn't imagine. The deal Maddy offered was so far fetched. The fact that Dylan even considered it and agreed made was so crazy and so seemingly out of character I kept waiting for the other shoe to fall.
Then the truth came out. How could she possibly be surprised, or even angry?
On top of ALL of that, the book felt very rushed. Once Maddy offered the deal, it was like speed reading. They went to the ranch. Things happened. Then it was six months later. The ending was abrupt.
The book left me with so many questions. Why couldn't there have been a compromise? Why was it all or nothing? Why was no more time spent on his relationship with his siblings? After the storm, they didn't even bother to go back to the ranch. Why not? What about his friendship with Eli, and how their next move happened?
I'm glad I read this through KU. After reading the first books, if I had paid for this, I would have been really upset. The truly frustrating thing is that if the book had continued they way it began, it probably would have been pretty enjoyable.
I thought the storyline was moving along and then Maddy got the call from her boss. The book went downhill from there into a level of ridiculousness I couldn't imagine. The deal Maddy offered was so far fetched. The fact that Dylan even considered it and agreed made was so crazy and so seemingly out of character I kept waiting for the other shoe to fall.
Then the truth came out. How could she possibly be surprised, or even angry?
On top of ALL of that, the book felt very rushed. Once Maddy offered the deal, it was like speed reading. They went to the ranch. Things happened. Then it was six months later. The ending was abrupt.
The book left me with so many questions. Why couldn't there have been a compromise? Why was it all or nothing? Why was no more time spent on his relationship with his siblings? After the storm, they didn't even bother to go back to the ranch. Why not? What about his friendship with Eli, and how their next move happened?
I'm glad I read this through KU. After reading the first books, if I had paid for this, I would have been really upset. The truly frustrating thing is that if the book had continued they way it began, it probably would have been pretty enjoyable.
bookish_notes's review against another edition
2.0
This review is also posted on my blog.
I think character-wise, this book was much stronger than The Bodyguard, but the plot ended a little too ridiculous for me. Or maybe, the premise AND the ending didn't really work for me. This story is about Dylan King, the estranged King brother who has been essentially in hiding all these years. He only ever spent one summer at the King Ranch and hadn't seen his sisters in years. He has no ties, that I can see, to the family, but upon hearing that his youngest half-sister gets kidnapped, he decides to drop everything and rush home? I don't know. I don't buy it.
For me, Dylan has no ties to his sisters, other than the oldest sending him email updates throughout the years, but none of them really know each other. But the threat remains. If Dylan returns before the time slated in their father's will, then everything his father owned (save for roughly 20 acres of land) will go to Dylan instead of Clayton, the hero from The Tycoon.
Basically, no one really knows Dylan or what he's going to do, so Madison, the King family lawyer, is set to delay Dylan when he arrives in the United States.
I liked Dylan and I liked Madison. I love their interactions and how they can face off against each other. The sexual tension between them is THICK. I think Madison's a lawyer who has overcome a bad childhood, and risen quickly within her law firm. She's not here to play games and she does do her job well. However.
A sketchy bit in their backstory, is that Madison used to (or still does, actually) have a PI on Dylan and used to do it to get updates to Dylan's whereabouts for his father. Madison has developed a bit of an obsession over him, and it's kind of creepy no matter how you put it. Dylan's father is dead, and there's no real reason to keep tailing him. Sure, you can make the excuse it's to keep tabs on him because of his father's will, but it's made pretty clear that Madison is beyond attracted to Dylan. It would definitely be stalkery if the genders were flipped, so I do find issue with Madison in this case.
There's a deal that makes no sense to me. Because SPOILER. Dylan is attracted to Madison, but has to give up his family millions and millions of dollars just to have the opportunity to have sex with him for a week? The consent part here also gets a bit iffy, because it's like they both agree that Madison won't be able to say no and he'll be able to take her however he wants? The scenes in the book addressing consent were good until this book. At which, the story started to lose me.
The ending was so ridiculous and thrown together that I just can't EVEN. It seemed like it was thrown together last-minute to stick Dylan and Madison into some life-and-death situation where they'll realize their true feelings and fall in love. I like campy or trashy plots, but this isn't one of those plot twists I enjoy. Maybe it's just me, but I feel let down by this book. I did like all the characters meeting up and I can't wait to read Bea's story.
***I was provided an ARC in exchange for an honest review***
I think character-wise, this book was much stronger than The Bodyguard, but the plot ended a little too ridiculous for me. Or maybe, the premise AND the ending didn't really work for me. This story is about Dylan King, the estranged King brother who has been essentially in hiding all these years. He only ever spent one summer at the King Ranch and hadn't seen his sisters in years. He has no ties, that I can see, to the family, but upon hearing that his youngest half-sister gets kidnapped, he decides to drop everything and rush home? I don't know. I don't buy it.
For me, Dylan has no ties to his sisters, other than the oldest sending him email updates throughout the years, but none of them really know each other. But the threat remains. If Dylan returns before the time slated in their father's will, then everything his father owned (save for roughly 20 acres of land) will go to Dylan instead of Clayton, the hero from The Tycoon.
Basically, no one really knows Dylan or what he's going to do, so Madison, the King family lawyer, is set to delay Dylan when he arrives in the United States.
I liked Dylan and I liked Madison. I love their interactions and how they can face off against each other. The sexual tension between them is THICK. I think Madison's a lawyer who has overcome a bad childhood, and risen quickly within her law firm. She's not here to play games and she does do her job well. However.
A sketchy bit in their backstory, is that Madison used to (or still does, actually) have a PI on Dylan and used to do it to get updates to Dylan's whereabouts for his father. Madison has developed a bit of an obsession over him, and it's kind of creepy no matter how you put it. Dylan's father is dead, and there's no real reason to keep tailing him. Sure, you can make the excuse it's to keep tabs on him because of his father's will, but it's made pretty clear that Madison is beyond attracted to Dylan. It would definitely be stalkery if the genders were flipped, so I do find issue with Madison in this case.
There's a deal that makes no sense to me. Because SPOILER. Dylan is attracted to Madison, but has to give up his family millions and millions of dollars just to have the opportunity to have sex with him for a week? The consent part here also gets a bit iffy, because it's like they both agree that Madison won't be able to say no and he'll be able to take her however he wants? The scenes in the book addressing consent were good until this book. At which, the story started to lose me.
The ending was so ridiculous and thrown together that I just can't EVEN. It seemed like it was thrown together last-minute to stick Dylan and Madison into some life-and-death situation where they'll realize their true feelings and fall in love. I like campy or trashy plots, but this isn't one of those plot twists I enjoy. Maybe it's just me, but I feel let down by this book. I did like all the characters meeting up and I can't wait to read Bea's story.
***I was provided an ARC in exchange for an honest review***
smutnut429's review against another edition
4.0
Cold Hearted Love
This book was lovely. I wish I could give it the review it rightly deserves. I thoroughly enjoyed the love hate relationship between Dylan & Maddy. The way they fought for their love was very fiercely satisfying. They were perfectly matched for each other and even when the literal and proverbial storm hits they fight their way through it. The story was endearing and incredibly sexy. 4 well deserved stars from me.
This book was lovely. I wish I could give it the review it rightly deserves. I thoroughly enjoyed the love hate relationship between Dylan & Maddy. The way they fought for their love was very fiercely satisfying. They were perfectly matched for each other and even when the literal and proverbial storm hits they fight their way through it. The story was endearing and incredibly sexy. 4 well deserved stars from me.
528's review
2.5
Die Handlungen der Charaktere haben für mich öfters keinen Sinn gemacht. aber Hauptsache tausendmal schreiben wie schlau sie doch sind.
emlickliter's review
4.0
The Bastard (King Family, #3) by Julie Kriss --This is a kindle unlimited recommendation, and it was a pretty nice little series. Each book has a different author, so each set of main characters really sound like individuals. This one has a great prodigal son arc! Happy Reading!
kristi814's review
3.0
I enjoyed this book with the unknown tension of the long lost brother coming back. One critique is that I wish it was lingers. Wanted to see more of him.
melonreads's review
2.0
Meh. Unlikable, hard to root for characters make it difficult to get that invested.
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