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3.41 AVERAGE
3.41 AVERAGE
This was my first experience reading a book written by Jennifer Blackwood.... I absolutely love, love, love this book! The story line, the characters, everything hooked from the word go. I certainly hope there are additional books coming soon.
Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars
Unethical follows the story of Payton Daniels. Payton's entire world is turned upside down by her mother's death and the scandal surrounding it. Two years later, Payton is in college pursuing a medical degree and just trying to move on. All is going well until she runs into her ex. She's terrified of him telling everyone who she really is and to make matters worse they share two classes together. Will Payton be able to move on and keep her past a secret? Will she be able to forgive her father and understand his actions? Will Payton be able to give Blake a second chance??
Unethical started off really well. I enjoyed the story-line and found it to be really unique. I liked how the author drew you in and made you question medical decisions that doctor's are faced with. This story was not just one of a second chance at romance, but also about Payton getting a new start and a second chance at her life.
Unfortunately, I had a really hard time connecting with Blake and Payton. Don't get me wrong, they had some really steamy, swoon-worthy moments that I really enjoyed. However, I would have liked to see how their issues from the past tore them apart and how they worked to get past it. I needed more passion, angst and fight from them.
I also would have liked to have seen more of Payton's roommate Jules. I thought she was an interesting character with a lot of potential.
Overall, i did like Unethical. Unethical was a quick and easy read for me. I liked the medical drama and the moral debate. It did have some good humor, angst, romance and drama. This is Jennifer Blackwood's debut novel and I think that she has a lot of great potential. I look forward to reading more from her in the future.
*An ARC copy of this book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review*
Unethical follows the story of Payton Daniels. Payton's entire world is turned upside down by her mother's death and the scandal surrounding it. Two years later, Payton is in college pursuing a medical degree and just trying to move on. All is going well until she runs into her ex. She's terrified of him telling everyone who she really is and to make matters worse they share two classes together. Will Payton be able to move on and keep her past a secret? Will she be able to forgive her father and understand his actions? Will Payton be able to give Blake a second chance??
Unethical started off really well. I enjoyed the story-line and found it to be really unique. I liked how the author drew you in and made you question medical decisions that doctor's are faced with. This story was not just one of a second chance at romance, but also about Payton getting a new start and a second chance at her life.
Unfortunately, I had a really hard time connecting with Blake and Payton. Don't get me wrong, they had some really steamy, swoon-worthy moments that I really enjoyed. However, I would have liked to see how their issues from the past tore them apart and how they worked to get past it. I needed more passion, angst and fight from them.
I also would have liked to have seen more of Payton's roommate Jules. I thought she was an interesting character with a lot of potential.
Overall, i did like Unethical. Unethical was a quick and easy read for me. I liked the medical drama and the moral debate. It did have some good humor, angst, romance and drama. This is Jennifer Blackwood's debut novel and I think that she has a lot of great potential. I look forward to reading more from her in the future.
*An ARC copy of this book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review*
This was my first book by Jennifer Blackwood and it won't be my last. I love a good reunited lovers story and this was a really good one. Payton and Blake are obviously dealing with some issues and I liked that the author didn't let these issues overtake the story. There was definitely angst - don't get me wrong. But it didn't weigh the story down and I can truly appreciate that. I'm interested to see what Blackwood has in store for the next book in the series.
Find this review and more at kimberlyfaye reads.
I'm a sucker for a second chance story and, while Unethical might have been a bit angstier than I typically like my books, it was a good, quick read.
Payton is trying her best to move on from some pretty bad stuff in her past. Her dad is in prison, about to stand trial for helping her mother commit suicide while she was dying from cancer. She ran away from home after graduation and left everyone behind. Including Blake, the love of her life. He wasn't there when she needed him most, so she cut all ties and left him. Now she finds herself face-to-face with him at Drexler University, where they're both in med school. Can the old flame be reunited or has it been too long? Will her father's indiscretion keep her from her lifelong dream of med school? Will she ever repair her relationship with her dad? So many questions. So much drama.
I hate to admit, I never fully connected with the characters in this book. It wasn't that either of them were unlikable, but more that I had a difficult time relating to them as they made one bad decision after another, sometimes with what seemed like the intent of hurting one another. Payton was dealing with a lot, but she didn't make things any easier on herself. It was obvious she still loved Blake, yet she was pushing him away and dating one of his frat brothers (who was a real jerk). Blake kept his feelings for Payton hidden pretty well as he dated her roommate. That was all a bit much for me to deal with. Wanting to move on is one thing. Doing it with someone who you know will hurt the other person is cold. Don't get me wrong. It's not all bad. Payton and Blake can be quite sweet together when they let themselves.
One thing I really did enjoy about the book was the friendship between Payton and her roommate, Jules. With so many "girlfriends behaving badly" instances in books, I always applaud an author for showing true friendship. With the complications of Payton's past – both with her family and with Blake – it would have been easy to go down the frenemies path with Payton and Jules. Jules is a complicated character who is going through a lot herself during the course of Unethical. If this is the start of a standalone series, I hope the next book is about her. I'd love to know more about her.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
I'm a sucker for a second chance story and, while Unethical might have been a bit angstier than I typically like my books, it was a good, quick read.
Payton is trying her best to move on from some pretty bad stuff in her past. Her dad is in prison, about to stand trial for helping her mother commit suicide while she was dying from cancer. She ran away from home after graduation and left everyone behind. Including Blake, the love of her life. He wasn't there when she needed him most, so she cut all ties and left him. Now she finds herself face-to-face with him at Drexler University, where they're both in med school. Can the old flame be reunited or has it been too long? Will her father's indiscretion keep her from her lifelong dream of med school? Will she ever repair her relationship with her dad? So many questions. So much drama.
I hate to admit, I never fully connected with the characters in this book. It wasn't that either of them were unlikable, but more that I had a difficult time relating to them as they made one bad decision after another, sometimes with what seemed like the intent of hurting one another. Payton was dealing with a lot, but she didn't make things any easier on herself. It was obvious she still loved Blake, yet she was pushing him away and dating one of his frat brothers (who was a real jerk). Blake kept his feelings for Payton hidden pretty well as he dated her roommate. That was all a bit much for me to deal with. Wanting to move on is one thing. Doing it with someone who you know will hurt the other person is cold. Don't get me wrong. It's not all bad. Payton and Blake can be quite sweet together when they let themselves.
One thing I really did enjoy about the book was the friendship between Payton and her roommate, Jules. With so many "girlfriends behaving badly" instances in books, I always applaud an author for showing true friendship. With the complications of Payton's past – both with her family and with Blake – it would have been easy to go down the frenemies path with Payton and Jules. Jules is a complicated character who is going through a lot herself during the course of Unethical. If this is the start of a standalone series, I hope the next book is about her. I'd love to know more about her.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Note: This ARC was provided by Entangled Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
"Unethical" is the first book in the "Drexler University" series and the debut novel of author Jennifer Blackwood. It's about two young people who were once very much in love but, both feeling betrayed for two different reasons, had their relationship come to an abrupt end. Now, they find themselves in the very same university as pre-med students, are thrown together in the same Medical Ethics class, and are up for the same internship. Will the fact that they're still both in love with each other allow them to have that second chance at forever or will the two years of bitterness after their split prevent them from finding happiness again?
Two years ago, Payton Daniels' life changed forever and she did the one thing she felt she needed to do: run away. She moved to a different state, changed her family name from Cooper to her mother's maiden name, and left behind her family and the only boy she had ever loved. She felt betrayed by her parents for keeping a secret from her and then by her boyfriend, believing that he wasn't there when she needed him the most.
Now, she finds herself keeping a secret of her own from her best friend, classmates, and professors. When she's faced with that secret in her Medical Ethics class, it takes everything within her to keep from reacting and letting people know. Then, she sees the one person who knows her and the past she's been running from--her ex-boyfriend and now-fellow pre-med student, Blake Hiller.
This was an engaging story about second chances, not just in romantic love but in life in general. Payton felt betrayed by the people she loved the most but her running away was a betrayal in itself, to the memory of her mother, to her father, and to Blake. When she learns of certain truths, her thinking and feelings begin to change as well but her tendency of running from the things that she can't handle is a bad habit that she seems she hasn't been able to rid herself of.
There were moments that Payton didn't exactly endear herself to me. For a smart girl, she had a habit of making some really bad choices. I wasn't sure who the real Payton was--the flirty, sometimes bordering on slutty, girl who was rubbing on one of the Blake's fraternity brothers, or the jaded and overly cautious girl who was simply trying to pursue her dream of becoming a doctor. Thankfully though, she seemed to finally make up her mind who the real Payton actually was within the last couple of chapters of the book.
"Unethical" was a good read, especially since it tackled a hot button issue like assisted suicide. It makes you pause and think about what your own personal views are on the subject and what you would do if you were in the same position as Payton's parents and if you would have reacted the same way that Payton did. The book had NA-related angst, drama, and some humor and I would gladly recommend it for NA fans who enjoy second chance stories and an honest-to-goodness good guy (for a change). ^.^ Four stars for "Unethical"!
"Unethical" is the first book in the "Drexler University" series and the debut novel of author Jennifer Blackwood. It's about two young people who were once very much in love but, both feeling betrayed for two different reasons, had their relationship come to an abrupt end. Now, they find themselves in the very same university as pre-med students, are thrown together in the same Medical Ethics class, and are up for the same internship. Will the fact that they're still both in love with each other allow them to have that second chance at forever or will the two years of bitterness after their split prevent them from finding happiness again?
Two years ago, Payton Daniels' life changed forever and she did the one thing she felt she needed to do: run away. She moved to a different state, changed her family name from Cooper to her mother's maiden name, and left behind her family and the only boy she had ever loved. She felt betrayed by her parents for keeping a secret from her and then by her boyfriend, believing that he wasn't there when she needed him the most.
Now, she finds herself keeping a secret of her own from her best friend, classmates, and professors. When she's faced with that secret in her Medical Ethics class, it takes everything within her to keep from reacting and letting people know. Then, she sees the one person who knows her and the past she's been running from--her ex-boyfriend and now-fellow pre-med student, Blake Hiller.
This was an engaging story about second chances, not just in romantic love but in life in general. Payton felt betrayed by the people she loved the most but her running away was a betrayal in itself, to the memory of her mother, to her father, and to Blake. When she learns of certain truths, her thinking and feelings begin to change as well but her tendency of running from the things that she can't handle is a bad habit that she seems she hasn't been able to rid herself of.
There were moments that Payton didn't exactly endear herself to me. For a smart girl, she had a habit of making some really bad choices. I wasn't sure who the real Payton was--the flirty, sometimes bordering on slutty, girl who was rubbing on one of the Blake's fraternity brothers, or the jaded and overly cautious girl who was simply trying to pursue her dream of becoming a doctor. Thankfully though, she seemed to finally make up her mind who the real Payton actually was within the last couple of chapters of the book.
"Unethical" was a good read, especially since it tackled a hot button issue like assisted suicide. It makes you pause and think about what your own personal views are on the subject and what you would do if you were in the same position as Payton's parents and if you would have reacted the same way that Payton did. The book had NA-related angst, drama, and some humor and I would gladly recommend it for NA fans who enjoy second chance stories and an honest-to-goodness good guy (for a change). ^.^ Four stars for "Unethical"!
I liked it, it was amazing, but it was a cute story and I'm excited to read the rest of the series.
3.5 stars for this angsty second-chance romance! Payton is a pre-med student who is running from her past and a family scandal. Blake is the ex boyfriend she left behind when she ran away and he just happens to be in her medical ethics class. He knows her secrets and who she really is. I enjoyed the idea behind this book and the storyline with Payton's dad - it was really interesting and unique. A couple of issues I had with this book were more personal preference - it was way too angsty for me, I hated Andrew and I am not sure how much I really liked Payton. I also didn't really feel the connection between Payton and Blake as much as I would've liked- they seemed to go back and forth too much. However, I really did enjoy the steamy scenes! Overall, I think this was a good story and I look forward to reading more by this author.
**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**
**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**