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rcoffey22's review
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
michelle904's review against another edition
4.0
This was the Summer book for Romanceopoly 2020.
Pack: Sun
Square: Summer
Challenge: Read a book where it: has a brightly colored or multicolored cover; has the beach, sand, or the sun on the cover; is a summer holiday read; has a summery word in the cover.
Pack: Sun
Square: Summer
Challenge: Read a book where it: has a brightly colored or multicolored cover; has the beach, sand, or the sun on the cover; is a summer holiday read; has a summery word in the cover.
canra's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
liz_newbern's review against another edition
4.0
Quick, fun read!
This is the third installment in Flynn’s Ice Knights series and it is a quick fun read that takes you from an isolated cabin in the woods to a cross-country tour as Ian and Shelby try to navigate their not so casual relationship awhile dealing with Ian’s family drama. It’s definitely got a few steamy scenes sprinkled in, but is overall a pretty light hearted sports romance with a great HEA.
This is the third installment in Flynn’s Ice Knights series and it is a quick fun read that takes you from an isolated cabin in the woods to a cross-country tour as Ian and Shelby try to navigate their not so casual relationship awhile dealing with Ian’s family drama. It’s definitely got a few steamy scenes sprinkled in, but is overall a pretty light hearted sports romance with a great HEA.
reeyabeegale's review against another edition
2.0
I am so disappointed with this. When I read the synopsis as I was buying a copy, I was so excited — I rarely came across books that feature women who are not physically “perfectly” put together.
Character-wise, I think both Ian and Shelby lived up to how they were described — Ian being a grumpy guy and Shelby being her normal self. What disappointed me most are the lack of build-up and consistency.
From wanting to be isolated and coming into terms with a life-changing secret, to being stuck with the person who “caused” everything to fall apart, to then suddenly lusting after each other. There was no build-up, like they didn’t get along the night before and the next day, they were all touchy touchy. I don’t mind insta-love (just like what I always say), but it has to be done well to be believable, because as funny as it might sound, though insta-love happens in real life, it’s got a touch of realism (if that makes sense).
The complete lack of smooth transition and flow had me scratching my head. If their arrangement was a one time thing-no strings attached, then fine because it’s a trope I love reading in romance books anyway, but it take on several directions every time that annoyed me. I think the best way I can put it is that Loud Mouth tried to incorporate multiple tropes all at once without consitency. It fell short in a lot of the scenes — I wouldn’t mind a flighty hero but their inhibitions were too out of control to even be entertaining.
Also, I didn’t like how the matter between Ian and Alex were approached. I know they were bestfriends prior and in reality that would easily be resolved as both of them came to their senses. But I would’ve appreciated a bit of heartfelt confrontations than just BAM — we are back to our normal selves. Feeling betrayed and coming into terms with that and what comes after takes a lot more than just a simple banter.
I liked a few things about the book:
1. The twist in the Cabin, that was fun and hilarious.
2. The idea that Shelby was a recovering alcoholic — amazing. As far as I can recall, this was the first book I read where the heroine had a struggle with alcohol/substance abuse because most often than not, it’s always the hero in the book with that kind of struggle or challenges.
3. I loved the epilogue, for some reason I liked how straightforward it is. No marriage proposal scenes or teary wedding ceremonies, it’s a good picture of a simple HEA.
I read The Parental Guidance and Tomboy by the same author. No questions asked, I really enjoyed Tomboy, but it’s got me thinking if my head was straight when I read The Parental Guidance since I tried reading the second book of Ice Knights and found myself bored at the 3rd chapter, haven’t picked it up since.
I’d love to try and read another work of Avery Flynn before deciding if her writing style isn’t for me or what. Hopefully the others who will read Loud Mouth will enjoy it more than I did.
Character-wise, I think both Ian and Shelby lived up to how they were described — Ian being a grumpy guy and Shelby being her normal self. What disappointed me most are the lack of build-up and consistency.
From wanting to be isolated and coming into terms with a life-changing secret, to being stuck with the person who “caused” everything to fall apart, to then suddenly lusting after each other. There was no build-up, like they didn’t get along the night before and the next day, they were all touchy touchy. I don’t mind insta-love (just like what I always say), but it has to be done well to be believable, because as funny as it might sound, though insta-love happens in real life, it’s got a touch of realism (if that makes sense).
The complete lack of smooth transition and flow had me scratching my head. If their arrangement was a one time thing-no strings attached, then fine because it’s a trope I love reading in romance books anyway, but it take on several directions every time that annoyed me. I think the best way I can put it is that Loud Mouth tried to incorporate multiple tropes all at once without consitency. It fell short in a lot of the scenes — I wouldn’t mind a flighty hero but their inhibitions were too out of control to even be entertaining.
Also, I didn’t like how the matter between Ian and Alex were approached. I know they were bestfriends prior and in reality that would easily be resolved as both of them came to their senses. But I would’ve appreciated a bit of heartfelt confrontations than just BAM — we are back to our normal selves. Feeling betrayed and coming into terms with that and what comes after takes a lot more than just a simple banter.
I liked a few things about the book:
1. The twist in the Cabin, that was fun and hilarious.
2. The idea that Shelby was a recovering alcoholic — amazing. As far as I can recall, this was the first book I read where the heroine had a struggle with alcohol/substance abuse because most often than not, it’s always the hero in the book with that kind of struggle or challenges.
3. I loved the epilogue, for some reason I liked how straightforward it is. No marriage proposal scenes or teary wedding ceremonies, it’s a good picture of a simple HEA.
I read The Parental Guidance and Tomboy by the same author. No questions asked, I really enjoyed Tomboy, but it’s got me thinking if my head was straight when I read The Parental Guidance since I tried reading the second book of Ice Knights and found myself bored at the 3rd chapter, haven’t picked it up since.
I’d love to try and read another work of Avery Flynn before deciding if her writing style isn’t for me or what. Hopefully the others who will read Loud Mouth will enjoy it more than I did.
abbyreads2's review against another edition
3.0
I was looking forward to this book. I was expecting more. And the ending was kind of too cliche and done many times in books before. It was too familiar. I mean, an airport? Really? I liked the idea of the book and it is a good read if you want to pass the time. I personally didn't like it very much. I liked the characters but there wasn't enough going on. They didn't go in depth with her addiction or his issues. They kind of just mentioned it then went on with the story. It was too focused on the romance part and I didn't like that. I wanted to know more about the characters, their struggles, their emotions, their feelings for each other and etc. I wanted more talking and getting to know one another. And in my opinion, this book didn't have much of that. It wasn't bad though, it just wasn't good enough for me. To me.
sara_says_'s review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
caitybell's review against another edition
2.0
The audiobook killed this one for me, but I also have come to hate the trope in romances where all is forgiven just because they are “family”. No thanks.
kaydanielsromance's review against another edition
5.0
Adorable, laugh out loud addition to the Ice Knights series!
The sparks fly when Ian and Shelby are locked away in a remote cabin together (an infamous Lucy setup? maybe...), but what happened in that zip code doesn't stay in that zip code. Ian and Shelby brought the sparks back with them and their chemistry is so hot it basically melts the ice in the hockey rink.
Even though Shelby didn't advertently release information about Ian and Alex's parentage (two men and best friends from the same hockey team), it was leaked nonetheless. The outcome of that information was disastrous and a friendship between Ian and Alex was ruined along with the potential of a season championship. Shelby feels horrible, hence why she's hiding out at a cabin all alone, or at least she thought she was. That was until Ian shows up at the same secluded cabin.
Ian is angry. He feels like the rug has been pulled out from under his life at the secrets and lies that both his father and Alex, the man whom he called his best friend, have been keeping from him. His own half-brother has known this secret for years and never told him so he's angry, which is why he's decided to hide out at a remote cabin and lick his wounds alone. Or at least he thought he was until he is stun gunned by a feisty woman, the very one who outed his family secret.
While Ian and Shelby work out their forgiveness, by ways of their instant chemistry, the team wants Shelby to work her magic on Ian and Alex so they can reconnect their friendship and the team can bring home a championship. Somethings may be easier said than done.
Shelby joins the team for a long away road trip and gets very cozy with Ian and Alex every night at dinner so she's able to create an exclusive story about the two, allowing them to reconnect, but also allowing Ian and Shelby to inadvertently grow closer making their relationship almost impossible to shy away from.
Could these two really make it work? The hockey player and the media loud mouth? I believe they sound like a match made in Ice Knight heaven!
The sparks fly when Ian and Shelby are locked away in a remote cabin together (an infamous Lucy setup? maybe...), but what happened in that zip code doesn't stay in that zip code. Ian and Shelby brought the sparks back with them and their chemistry is so hot it basically melts the ice in the hockey rink.
Even though Shelby didn't advertently release information about Ian and Alex's parentage (two men and best friends from the same hockey team), it was leaked nonetheless. The outcome of that information was disastrous and a friendship between Ian and Alex was ruined along with the potential of a season championship. Shelby feels horrible, hence why she's hiding out at a cabin all alone, or at least she thought she was. That was until Ian shows up at the same secluded cabin.
Ian is angry. He feels like the rug has been pulled out from under his life at the secrets and lies that both his father and Alex, the man whom he called his best friend, have been keeping from him. His own half-brother has known this secret for years and never told him so he's angry, which is why he's decided to hide out at a remote cabin and lick his wounds alone. Or at least he thought he was until he is stun gunned by a feisty woman, the very one who outed his family secret.
While Ian and Shelby work out their forgiveness, by ways of their instant chemistry, the team wants Shelby to work her magic on Ian and Alex so they can reconnect their friendship and the team can bring home a championship. Somethings may be easier said than done.
Shelby joins the team for a long away road trip and gets very cozy with Ian and Alex every night at dinner so she's able to create an exclusive story about the two, allowing them to reconnect, but also allowing Ian and Shelby to inadvertently grow closer making their relationship almost impossible to shy away from.
Could these two really make it work? The hockey player and the media loud mouth? I believe they sound like a match made in Ice Knight heaven!
groovygirl858's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25
Not a typical heroine I like to read about. Feels very, "she's so aggressively different just so she can say she's different", that it makes me roll my eyes. It doesn't come across as natural and genuine. It comes across as teenage rebellion. For this reason, I couldn't take the heroine seriously, which made it difficult to enjoy the story.
The hero and heroine had no chemistry and their dialogue was uninteresting. There was no time for tension to build up because they went from hating each other to sex very quickly. After that, there was really no reason for them not to be together besides miscommunication/no communication. The FMC, in her inner monologue, reveals one of the reasons she has hesitation is because they work together, but this reasoning is not explored AT ALL in the story. Instead, it's just because they agreed to one night and they don't like each other. A simple conversation could fix this, as they both wanted more than one night and had growing feelings. This story needed more of a reason for them to try to stay away from each other than that because their lack of communication being the reason is just frustrating and makes both characters look immature.
Overall, I'm giving this story 2.25 stars. I liked the plot involving the hero's brother and how their relationship is repaired throughout the book. They had several entertaining scenes together. The romance had a couple good moments, but was largely underwhelming (mostly due to the FMC's characterization, pacing and lack of real conflict.)
The hero and heroine had no chemistry and their dialogue was uninteresting. There was no time for tension to build up because they went from hating each other to sex very quickly. After that, there was really no reason for them not to be together besides miscommunication/no communication. The FMC, in her inner monologue, reveals one of the reasons she has hesitation is because they work together, but this reasoning is not explored AT ALL in the story. Instead, it's just because they agreed to one night and they don't like each other. A simple conversation could fix this, as they both wanted more than one night and had growing feelings. This story needed more of a reason for them to try to stay away from each other than that because their lack of communication being the reason is just frustrating and makes both characters look immature.
Overall, I'm giving this story 2.25 stars. I liked the plot involving the hero's brother and how their relationship is repaired throughout the book. They had several entertaining scenes together. The romance had a couple good moments, but was largely underwhelming (mostly due to the FMC's characterization, pacing and lack of real conflict.)